My phone rang recently, and it was a local radio station asking me to respond to same-sex marriage still being the law of the land in Massachusetts. The measure calling for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage there was defeated by the full state legislature, 45 yes votes and a resounding 151 no’s.
Of course, my response was measured, delivered in appropriate sound bites, and echoing what everyone else is saying about the victory. It’s great for Massachusetts, but even greater for the rest of the country, where many LGBT people are still struggling to attain basic civil rights. The vote lets us put our resources into 2008 where they need to be - focusing on the presidential and pivotal state races, rather than having to pump tons of money into defeating another bad bill.
Ah, but truth be told, this victory is sweet but short, because now we need to turn our attention to defeating a bad nomination - that of Kentucky’s Dr. James W. Holsinger for U.S. Surgeon General. My initial response after reading about Holsinger was, “Who the hell is giving W advice these days?” Didn’t they see what would happen if they nominated a homophobic, radical Christian who started an ex-gay ministry? Did they think we wouldn’t notice?
On the face of it, Holsinger seems like a credible medical professional. He is a cardiologist who holds the University of Kentucky’s Charles T. Wethington Jr. Chair in the Health Sciences, and is the former chancellor of UK’s Chandler Medical Center. Just because he’s from the heart of the Bible Belt doesn’t mean we have to automatically jump to conclusions about his politics. After all, Abe Lincoln was born there, the LGBT community is gaining political strength in the Bluegrass State through the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, and they’ve even got an openly gay man in the state Senate - Ernesto Scorsone.
Well, maybe you should start jumping after all. Because as Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out put it, “Holsinger is an ideologue whose medical views on gay and lesbian people resemble sorcery more than sound science.”
Holsinger is not only a doctor, but a devout Christian who is a high-ranking lay leader in the United Methodist Church - you know, the folks who talk about “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” - except, of course, when it comes to us.
In his position on the United Methodist Judicial Council (the place where the buck stops in the Methodist Church), Holsinger’s record is anything but promising for LGBT people. He opposed the 2004 decision to allow Rev. Karen Dammann, a lesbian, to continue serving as a minister. He backed the defrocking of Rev. Beth Stroud, who came out to her Pennsylvania church community at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown. And, in one of the ugliest acts of religious discrimination, Holsinger backed a Virginia pastor who barred an openly gay man from church membership.
One could argue that those actions were his personal beliefs and wouldn’t interfere with him being the country’s top doctor.
Perhaps...but one need only read the Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality, a “scientific” paper Holsinger wrote in 1991 for the Church’s Committee to Study Homosexuality, to see how his personal beliefs impact his science.
The piece is available online at abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/Holsinger on Homosexuality.pdf. (If you want some laughs, Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report did a hilarious send-up of the paper and Holsinger - you can watch it at http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Colbert_Report_Why_are_gays_still_0614.html.)
One of my favorite passages reads, “...the logical complementarity of the human sexes has been so recognized in our culture that it has entered our vocabulary in the form of naming various pipe fittings either the male fitting or the female fitting depending upon which one interlocks within the other. When the complementarity of the sexes is breached, injuries and diseases may occur....Therefore, based on the simplest known anatomy and physiology, when dealing with the complementarity of the human sexes, one can simply say, Res ipsa loquitur - the thing speaks for itself!”
I guess the thing that is “speaking for itself” is a penis, which, in his estimation, belongs in only one place - a vagina. This is more like the science of a 6-year-old, not a 68-year-old.
I won’t get any more graphic. But if you want a great deconstruction of the paper, go to Jim Burroway’s www.boxturtlebulletin.com, a site that is devoted to debunking the lies told about us through research and well-reasoned writing. His conclusion puts Holsinger’s snake-oil chicanery in the proper perspective.
To add insult to injury, when Holsinger and his wife were congregants at Lexington’s First United Methodist Church, they helped their pastor form a new “outreach” congregation called the Hope Springs Community Church. Hope Springs sports an antigay ministry. According to them, being gay is just a lifestyle. With Christ’s love, anyone can be straight.
Next up are Holsinger’s confirmation hearings. When they’re scheduled, Holsinger will go before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, which is chaired by Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). Three Democratic presidential candidates - Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), Chris Dodd (Conn.), and Barack Obama (Ill.) - sit on the committee. Only Clinton has definitely said no to Holsinger. Dodd and Obama have strong concerns. John Edwards, although no longer in the Senate, opposes the nomination.
We won in Massachusetts. Conservatives are calling for the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” If there was ever a time for Democratic Party leaders to find their backbone, this is it. It’s time for truth to go a-calling - Holsinger’s homophobia has no place in medicine or in government.
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Libby Post is the founding chair of the Empire State Pride Agenda and a political commentator on public radio, on the Web, and in print media. She can be reached at LesbianNotions@qsyndicate.com.
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.