A Rainbow in Rochester

Another post! If I can keep this pace up I might actually grow up to be a Real Blogger!

Part of the frenetic pace this blog has taken as of late (at least compared to my first several post which were spaced out by about a month at a time) is the fact that so many exciting events have been going on in the region as of late! I fully confess that I have been unable to keep up 100% with telling you all the awesome things that are going on here that you can’t really find elsewhere.

Across the country, June has quite recently been declared Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Month, and here in New York State many cities are celebrating Pride this weekend, the annual celebration of acceptance of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Here in Rochester, our Pride is a bit belated this year, celebrated July 10th – 18th but that doesn’t mean the Finger Lakes LGBT community is any less active.

I have heard say in the past that Rochester had actually made a list of top ten gay-friendly cities. Although I am not sure as to the veracity of this statistic – or, even if it is accurate, how old it is – I can say that while there are certainly pockets of intolerance and ignorance, as a whole the Flower City is pretty darned open-minded, I think. We have several gay bars, many of which feature weekly drag shows. We have stores that are openly gay-friendly, whether be it because the owner/s are gay, they support gay employees, or sell rainbow products – and I can even think of one particular adult-store that caters largely to the Leather and BDSM subcultures (although no, one does not have to be gay to enjoy either subculture). There is Equal Grounds, a coffee shop in the trendy South Wedge neighborhood that is openly an LGBT-happy java stop (with some kick-ass hot cider in the fall, by the way). There is even the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus and Lilac Squares, a gay square-dancing group (I totally didn’t know about the latter until doing some background searches, and it made me smile far more than it should have when I did)!

At the forefront of the LGBT Community here in Rochester is the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley (GAGV), an organization with a mission to help those who are gay, bi, transgender, questioning, or otherwise identify as Queer. They publish a monthly newsletter called The Empty Closet addressing local and national LGBT news. They run youth programs for LGBT and Questioning teens, as well as programs for Rainbow Seniors. On a weekly basis, free STD rapid tests are offered to anyone who comes to their office.



They are also very active in terms of getting out into the community for education. For example, I recently graduated from a Master’s program in Mental Health Counseling. Two representatives of GAGV (who also happened to be wives to each other) came into our course on Counseling Diverse Populations to discuss not only what is not helpful in counseling someone who is not straight, but also to describe the Coming Out process (no, it’s not just a singular event) to those who might not have been in the know.

They do also run lectures at their home base including a class series called InQueery. I for one wish I had not had my own class to attend last night (one last class to officially get that diploma!), because I could have gone to a lecture describing Rochester’s particular history during the Stonewall Era and beyond. I think it would have been a fascinating history lesson, and I am sorry to have missed it. Look at their calendar and see what else is coming up!

Tonight through Saturday, 6/26, another agency is offering a fundraiser to benefit Pride 2010: Method Machine, a local performance and art company (of who, I confess, I didn’t hear about until now) is presenting The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. This production revisits those originally interviewed in The Laramie Project, a landmark play written from speaking with those in the town of Laramie, Wyoming following the brutal murder of Matthew Shepherd, a college student who was killed for no reason other than the fact that he was gay. Tickets are available at the aforementioned Equal Grounds, Outlandish Gifts (the adult store mentioned above), and the GAGV website for $10 each.

No matter which way you slice it, growing up as a LGBT or Questioning kid has a large likelihood of sucking a lot more than other kids’ youths if that Rainbow child does not have a supportive environment. Although kids can still be cruel and some families just as hateful, to me it is an encouragement to have such a wide-reaching, positive agency in the area like the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley. If their message can reach these kids, tends, or even adults who might feel they aren’t accepted, these former outcasts can rest assured that at least somewhere in this world, they are welcomed exactly as they are.

Flour-Less in the Flour City

Today I was surprised and also somewhat ashamed to discover that if one runs out of bacon, yet is craving something salty and vaguely meat-like, frying Oscar Mayer bologna in the pan is a fairly acceptable alternative. Certainly not a perfect substitution and nowhere near as fulfilling as bacon, don't get me wrong, but in a pinch it can make do.

Unlike most people, before I boldly slapped my bologna in the pan, I not only read the ingredients, I Googled more specific nutrition facts. Daring, I know - a terrifying notion to most - but in my case, I had no choice: Just prior to New Years 2010, I was diagnosed as having gluten intolerance, aka Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disorder that prevents the body from digesting the gluten protein.

Gluten is found in many naturally occurring grains (such as wheat, rye, barley, bran, bulgur, durum, einkorn, faro, semolina, farina, spelt, triticale, kamut - just to name a few) but where it becomes tricky is all the hidden gluten to be found in food, particularly artificial ingredients that might have a gluten-containing base. Even trickier are those foods that are naturally gluten-free, but are prepared in areas where gluten-containing foods are as well, thus contaminating what should be "safe" foods (oats are a good example of this: naturally gluten-free, but prepared with wheat or other "dangerous grains"). Thus my quest to learn all the unsavory parts I was contemplating consuming in my bologna before just going ahead with my mad culinary scheme.

As you can probably guess from reading the above list - a list which I assure you is by no means comprehensive (side note: this list is incredibly helpful to learn more about safe/unsafe foods for someone with gluten intolerance) - changing from a "normal" diet with no limitations to a gluten-free diet is incredibly challenging. Think about it: After years and years of eating anything and everything you wanted, now you can't have traditional bread, crackers, pasta, croutons, pastries, pizza, beer, anything breaded (deep fried is difficult too because the vat of oil may be shared with gluten-containing items) - and now all of a sudden those polysyllabic artificial ingredients in your processed foods become pretty darn important to know what they actually mean. It forces one to become more conscious of what one eats, which is not always a fun thing.

At this point I find it appropriate to inform you lovely people that one of the first nicknames of Rochester is the Flour City, owing to the mills along High Falls making the then-fledgling city the number one flour producer in the United States in the mid 1800s. Nowadays the moniker has been changed to the Flower City, honoring the bounty of blooms in Highland Park so celebrated during the Lilac Festival. A homonym, I know, but to me the newer version sounds much cutesier and thus pleases me more. But I digress.

So with all this temptation around me - an abundance of bakeries, a gaggle of gourmet pastas all locally made - why not just give in and eat gluten anyway? After all, I had been eating it all these years. Well, as I mentioned, Celiac Disease means the body can't digest gluten. When a person with Celiac consumes gluten, it produces a wide variety of symptoms, most commonly severe intestinal distress, but also migraines, asthmatic responses, depression, anxiety, vitamin deficiency, even neuropathy, delayed puberty, short stature, and difficulties with fertility; my own doctor informed me that Celiac Disease manifests in so many different ways, that one could tell her any number of physical symptoms was due to Celiac Disease, she wouldn't be surprised. It really is something that can affect any body system, and as a result it often gets misdiagnosed as other illnesses like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and a variety of other ailments.

So you may be wondering to yourself, "Dude, why did it take so long for you to get diagnosed? Didn't you know something was wrong? Didn't your parents take you to a doctor as a kid? What tomfoolery is this?!" Well, believe it or not, my situation is pretty common. Since the symptoms are vague, it's not always a doctor's first suspicion. Hell, I only got tested when my older sister was diagnosed in November since there tends to be a genetic link. It is estimated by the Center for Celiac Research that approximately 3 million Americans have Celiac Disease, most of whom are undiagnosed.

Sadly, in this country medical research tends to be largely funded by the pharmaceutical companies. However, there is no pill that can cure or treat Celiac: the only treatment is to follow a gluten-free diet. Since there is no money where there is no option of a cure, research for Celiac Disease in this country is profoundly lacking.

Those of us affected by Celiac Disease know this is a huge problem. This Saturday, 6/12/10, is the ninth annual fundraiser Making Tracks for Celiacs, a walk to raise money towards Celiac research. It is the hopes that the more research is funded, the sooner people will be diagnosed with Celiac Disease and possibly the more food producers will be aware of the need for clearly labeled products and the need to prevent cross-contamination. In the Finger Lakes region, the walk will be taking place at Brockport High School with registration starting at 9AM and the walk kicking off at 10:30AM.

You may be asking, "Lex, you've only known you have Celiac Disease for, like, six months. How are you able to talk so much about this fairly new diagnosis?" Well firstly, when you know the only way to treat your ailment is to avoid certain foods, you learn quickly to adapt - admittedly with some growing pains (I can't count how many times I wailed, "I JUST REALIZED I CAN NEVER EAT *INSERT GLUTEN-CONTAINING FOOD HERE* AGAIN!"), but acceptance does come, in time.

Secondly, I cannot be grateful enough for the help of the local chapter of the Gluten-Intolerant Group, the Rochester Celiac Support Group. They have not only basic information on Celiac Disease for neophytes like myself, but a compilation of members' recipes, local shops that carry gluten-free products (some even specialize specifically in gluten-free baked goods!), and my personal favorite, a list of restaurants that have gluten-free options. While not comprehensive, it was a good jumping off place for me: The diagnosis, for me, meant a lot less eating out, but I didn't want to completely deprive myself of the occasional bite out, and it was good to know there were options out there that would understand my dietary needs and not just cock their head and ask "Wait, you're allergic to what?!" Their listserv is quite active and offers helpful hints as to local offerings that are safe - and also not so safe. Their information has made going flour-less in the Flour City not such a challenge.

Two members spoke on the local news on the upcoming walk in Brockport, as well as some basic information about Celiac Disease. There is no link for just the video, but you can watch it here.

If you have gluten intolerance or know someone who does, please look at the website for Making Tracks for Celiacs and consider donating. This is something that would not just benefit Rochester and the Finger Lakes, but overall health nationally. I know both my sister and I would have had considerably fewer health problems throughout our lives if we had been diagnosed sooner and we both feel much healthier than we ever have following a gluten-free diet. We'd like to see a world where other kids don't have to struggle to figure out what was wrong as we had to. My sister is even participating in the walk (yay!). No dollar amount is too small - if you are able, anything would be appreciated.

When You Don't Know Who to Call

There are times in life that we are down and out, at the end of our rope. At those times it cam be difficult to know where to turn for help. Sometimes people even think the only way they have out of their situation is to kill themselves.

There is help available to help in these dark hours. 2-1-1/LIFE LINE, a program of ABVI-Goodwill has been a hotline since the 1970s (then known only as LIFE LINE) as a support for the community. From a resource for agencies in the community assisting with certain needs to support for mental health crisis, 2-1-1/LIFE LINE is free and confidential and available 24/7/365. It is a non-profit agency that receives the majority of it support from United Way.

What do I mean when I say "agency referrals?" Well, for example, let's say you're having a hard time making ends meet: Money is running low and you need help getting food in the house. You can call 2-1-1/LIFE LINE, provide your zip code, and someone will look up for you the closest food pantries to your area that can assist you. Looking for a depression support group? Trying to find the phone number to that community center down the street? In need of emergency shelter? Not sure who to contact for free legal representation? 2-1-1/LIFE LINE can assist with all these needs and more.

And what exactly do I mean by "mental health crisis?" It's a time when you are overwhelmed and need to talk things out, when you don't know where to turn, maybe even feeling desperate. 2-1-1/LIFE LINE is available to assist people who are feeling suicidal and looking to talk out these feelings and hopefully find something to hold on to here. But a person does not need to be suicidal to talk to the telecounselors at 2-1-1/LIFE LINE: If you're distressed, confused, upset, and need someone to talk things over with, the service is available to you.

Crises arise at all hours and sometimes your own therapist, if you have one, may not be available. 2-1-1/LIFE LINE workers are trained phone counselors, but not professional therapists/mental health counselors/other mental health professionals. Please know that despite the wonderful support this service can provide, it is not a substitute for long-term counseling. If you would like to get linked with long-term counseling (including agencies who work on a sliding scale for those for whom money is tight or those whose health insurance - if any - does not cover mental health services), 2-1-1/LIFE LINE can look up agencies that can assist you.

How do you reach 2-1-1/LIFE LINE? The good news is there are several different phone numbers to get through! Those in its service area (Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Seneca, Livingston, and Cayuga counties) should be able to dial 2-1-1. If for some reason the phone will not dial 2-1-1 (sometimes cell phones don't go through to it), you can also dial locally at (585)275-5151 or toll-free at 1-877-FLNY-211 (1-877-356-9211) or 1-800-310-1160. They do also have the majority of their agency referrals available on their website. Having trouble navigating the website? There is online chat available at times (the hours are not set for chat availability, but in general it is available until 11PM seven days a week).

2-1-1/LIFE LINE prides itself as being "who to call when you don't know who to call." It certainly succeeds on this front. From talking about the struggles you are having to seeking an agency that can provide assistance for free clothing, 2-1-1/LIFE LINE is an integral support to the community.


*If you are in mental health crisis and/or considering suicide, and you are not located in the above New York State counties, there is help available. Please call National Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). It is free and confidential.*