Gay Life Volume 33, Number 13

Maryland is a constantly evolving, occasionally disappointing, but always interesting state when it comes to issues affecting the LGBT community. One of the more challenging aspects of our community is in fact how we all face different issues: we have different concerns, different priorities, and different ideas about how to move forward.

Several great ideas—and even more support—can be found in this issue’s feature story on our various local transgender groups. Maryland’s transgender community is a microcosm of diversity—not only in terms of race, gender, and personal stories of transition, but also regarding the different groups right here in our area that can provide guidance, acceptance, information, and understanding to transmen and transwomen, as well as their partners and allies. While transgender Marylanders face obstacles I can only begin to understand, I feel proud knowing that there are several groups within the GLCCB alone that are there to support their needs. I hope that these resources reach everyone who can benefit from the good work these groups achieve.

I’m very excited about this issue of Gay Life not only because we explore this important topic, but also because we highlight some of Baltimore’s brushes with celebrity: Read Chazz Palminteri’s interview (p. 5), learn about k.d. lang’s upcoming show (p. 6), meet some of Baltimore’s youngest filmmakers (p. 9), and find out what you can expect from Catherine Pancake and Mickey Mahoney (p. 17).

Maggie Beetz, Editor