We're a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer bookstore that also carries pansexual, feminist, and Leather/BDSM works. We carry all genres of books: fiction and non-fiction. We're proud to be an independent bookstore, a member of the American Booksellers Association and affiliated with BookSense. We've got 3 locations on the East Coast of the USA: Washington DC, Baltimore MD, and Rehoboth Beach DE.

This is our blog/LiveJournal community. Our Online Bookstore can be found at http://www.lambdarising.com/ and our MySpace page can be found at http://www.myspace.com/lambdarising. And, of course, syndication of this blog can be found here (Atom) and here (RSS).

Bring your love of glbt books, your dedication to the community, and your eager personality to Dupont Circle's legendary gay & lesbian bookstore & giftshop. Let's see what magic we can make together. We are always looking for special people to add to our staff in a variety of positions: store managers and assistant managers, full time and part time booksellers, shipping & receiving personnel, buyers, etc. Experience is nice, but a good attitude is better. Are you a real cheerleader with your coworkers and customers? Do you think quickly on your feet? Do you understand the difference between ringing a register and actually providing knock your socks off service to your customers? Are you artistic? Have computer skills? Love to put just the right book in the hands of a customer? Know how to motivate others? Tell us what makes you the perfect match for an eclectic bookstore that has always been much more than "just a business." Bring your resumé, references and salary requirements/history to: Lambda Rising, 1625 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20009. You can also pick up more complete job descriptions at the front counter. Please note that we do not accept applications by email; you must bring or deliver your application to our Dupont Circle location. Tell us why you should be the next person we ask to join our staff.

Branded Ann by Merry Shannon

This book isn't for everyone. It's gritty, very gritty. Unlike most lesbian fiction where a main character starts out evil then immediately their true heart-of-gold comes out when they meet their true love, Captain Ann is a cold-blooded, ruthless pirate, and remains so throughout the book. Even when dealing with Violet, she doesn't soften. Eventually, we are allowed to see what motivates her and in some cases it is surprising. Actions that we would believe unimaginably cruel she finds to be difficult but necessary and sometimes even compassionate.

As the story unfolds, we begin to learn more about the two main characters, Captain Ann and Violet. Every person is a composite of their own experiences, and this is quite true in this book. Both appear at first to be quite simplistic. Slowly their layers are exposed to the reader, but only to the reader. Each layer is carefully pealed away. I said that Captain Ann remains a cold-blooded, ruthless pirate - but that's not entirely true. They both change over the course of the story. Yet every change follows a natural progression, with reasonable and logical justifications.

One thing I really enjoyed about this story is its intensity. This story had just the right amount of tension to keep me reading, but not so much as to make me check the back of the book to see how it ended. When that happens, I generally find I can't finish the book.

Almost everything that happens is foreshadowed, but only slightly. It was just enough that, in retrospect, you could say "I should have seen that coming;" yet not enough so you knew everything before it happened. In fact, there was only one event that I saw clearly when it was foreshadowed - but that was partly due to the synopsis on the back of the book. Other events took me completely by surprise and, in fact, shocked me.

If I had to include a criticism of this book it would be...
I honestly can't think of any.
This is only Merry Shannon's second book. I found her first to be exceptional as well, but this one completely blows me away. I can only look forward to more books from her.

My standard disclaimer
I only give reviews/recommendations of books I consider exceptional.

The Washington Blade has an article on Transparent: Love, Family, and Living the T with Transgender Teenagers by Cris Beam.

Check it out! http://www.washblade.com/2008/1-25/arts/books/11939.cfm

Note: I read a lot of books, but only review books that I strongly recommend.

It's All Smoke & Mirrors (First Chronicles of Shawn Donnelly)
by
Therese Szymanski


It all started out simple enough, with a weekend get-a-way among old college friends. I suspected it was going to go the way a lot of mysteries do - someone finds a body, people try to figure out who did it and why. But, it really wasn't all that simple.

I was reading along when suddenly the rug was pulled out from under my feet. Managing to follow along again, things got back on track. All was going well right up till....what? I think "gobsmacked" would be the correct word. Never saw that coming.

Then, we get back down to the business of murder. In my mind, there is a very limited number of suspects. Which means at this point, I don't really trust anyone except Shawn. Who's a friend and who's not a friend? There are the usual stake-outs and searches along with a budding romance. And, well this is Therese Szymanski we're talking about, there is good, hot sex.

I reached a point where I thought the story ended, but I still had a good third of the book yet to read. Having already learned not to trust, I cautiously continued along to see what could possibly be left to happen. Yes, more does happen.

It is very rare for a writer to leave a trail of clues and still surprise me. Therese did exactly that in this story - not once, not twice, but three times. I know that has never happened to me before.

Since the title has the words: First Chronicles, I am going to assume there are more to follow. If so, all I can say is she has set the bar very high. I don't know how she can create another story that is as twisted and involved as this one. But I'm looking forward to finding out.

A gem of a book - well, rather a pearl. (Sorry, couldn't
resist)

The Spanish Pearl by Catherine Friend.

This was not a book I had planned to read because it was set in a place and a time that held no interest for me. Also, the main character Kate) was already in a longterm relationship and I'm not a fan of stories that break up couples. However, a review I read made me rethink this book, and I'm very glad I did.

As the synopsis states, Kate travels back in time and ends up in 1085 Spain. Not a good time for women, especially not ones with modern clothes (shorts) and an attitude. Kate ends up being rescued by Luis. She is quite confused by her attraction to Luis because she's a lesbian and Luis is a man, or so everyone believes.

First I have to congratulate the author on some excellent research. While not boring me with historical details, she managed to slip quite a lot of it into the story. It's a violent time. Christians are fighting Moors with Mercenaries going back and forth between the two factions. Sometimes the enemy is your friend and sometimes your friend is the enemy. Quite a confusing, but the author kept me fairly clear on who was on which side - even as people changed sides. She also had just the right amount of foreshadowing. An alert reader could pick up clues that would lead to "ah-ha" moments later in the story.

Imagine plopping a modern woman into that era and location. There were several instances where Kate's mouth should have caused her to be killed. But she didn't and again the author did an excellent job of providing me with believable reasons for that. Of course Kate's mouth and attitude also provide humor as she relieves the frustration of not being able to change behaviors by corrupting their language with modern expressions. I found it very interesting (and believable) to watch as Kate acclimated to the time, while still not losing herself. Sometimes just her irreverance was cause for laughter.

It's not always an easy book to read. Sometimes it was painful. At times it is quite descriptive and assualts all of the senses. Nearing the end of the book I felt heartsick. As I trudged along with them, a deep sorrow came over me that I've only felt with one other book.*

If I have any complaints about this book it was the times that I wanted to slap Kate for her mental slips that could cause Luis's death. I can't say much about that, as I don't want to give away too much of the story.

A warning: The teaser she put at the end of the first book was just plain cruel. If that wasn't enough, there was a snippet from the sequel. Fortunately the sequel is already in print so I immediately snapped that up and hope to have it by the weekend.

*I know someone is going to ask - so - the other book is Tiopa
Ki Lakota. Yeah, I'm still stuck on that book. Both managed to reach deep inside me and pull out emotions I normally keep locked securely away. Just like "Tiopa" this is a book I will hold and re-read time and again.

Disclaimer: I only post reviews for books I strongly recommend.

You are cordially invited to attend

DC Radical Faerie Yule:
Legend of the Snow Prince

December 8, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Universalist National Memorial Church
1810 16th St NW
Washington, DC

Who is this "Snow Prince"?

"Legend of the Snow Prince" is an original play by the DC Radical Faeries inspired by Japanese fairy tales. Kikori, the woodsman finds love and danger in the arms of Yuki, prince of the court of Winter. What will be their fate? Come and find out!

What will happen at Faerie Yule?

Enjoying snacks and warm beverages!
Singing jolly seasonal tunes!
Dancing traditional social dances!
Being astounded by theatrical wonder!

Is there a fee?

We will graciously accept donations of $5.00 or more upon arrival. But DC Radical Faerie Yule is open to all who wish to attend. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

What should I bring?

Do: Bring friends and family!
Do: Bring your dancin' shoes!
Do: Bring colorful items to add to our seasonal altars!

Do Not: Bring food or drinks as they will be provided

Who are the DC Radical Faeries?

The DC Radical Faeries is a community-based organization of men and women who explore queer spirituality. We promote an understanding of Earth-based religions and interfaith cooperation. We welcome all queer spirits, straight, gay, bi, trans, two-spirited or searching. We welcome people from all walks of life who want to share and nurture their essential fabulosity.

For additional questions or information please contact Fritter at:
info@dcradfeys. org

Jane Rule
(1931-2007)

American-by-birth, Canadian-by-choice writer Jane Rule wrote Desert of the Heart in 1961. It was unapologetic in its accurate depictions of a young woman and an older divorced woman loving each other and living creative and engaged lives.

Find out more about Jane and her influential writing in the obituary article by Xtra.ca. They also include an archive of her work, so you can get to know her better through selected writings.

The New York Times just put out the 100 Notable Books of 2007 list, and 7 of them are books that we carry. Check 'em out below the cut!

( And the winners are... )

I swear, I'll be done with these for today.

http://gaygamer.net/
http://gaymer.org/

And one of the first groups for GLBTQA FPS (first person shooter) players... the Fraggot Clan. (For non FPSers, to "frag" someone is to kill them.) http://www.frgt-clan.net/

To go with the 2 from the other day.

Feminist Gamers

If I don't post any more today, have a happy Thanksgiving!

Oh, and come shop with us on Black Friday! We're open!

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Contact:
De Sube
(757) 409-2568
HmptRdDayofRemem@AOL.COM


2007 TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE ANNOUNCED
Eighth annual event focuses on anti-Transgender murder and violence

The 2007 TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, an annual event designed to recognize those murdered due to anti-Transgender violence, has been announced for Tuesday, November 20, 2007. This will be the event’s eighth year and the second in Hampton Roads, Virginia. This year’s event is sponsored by New Life MCC Transgender Outreach and will be held at Church of the Ascension Episcopal, 405 Talbot Hall Road, Norfolk, Virginia 23505 at 7:00 PM.

The guest speaker this year is Pastor Reg Richburg, the newly named Pastor of New Life MCC of Hampton Roads. Ms. Tona Brown and Mr. Chris Byer will provide musical entertainment.

The Day of Remembrance began in 1999 as a way to draw attention to the issue of anti-Transgender violence. The event was initially created to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of a Massachusetts Transgender woman, Rita Hester. Her death remains unsolved.

“People of all backgrounds are amazed at the amount of hate and violence directed toward Transgender people. The 2007 TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE is one way of educating the general population about Transgender,” said De Sube of the New Life MCC Transgender Outreach, “and reducing the amount of violence directed toward the Transgender population.”

The Remembering Our Dead project has chronicled 10 deaths this year through July, 2007, with six of those being within the United States. Last Year’s event chronicled over 350 events throughout the world.

The Remembering Our Dead project www.rememberingourdead.org exists to honor individuals murdered as a result of anti-Transgender hatred and prejudice, and draw attention to the issue of anti-Transgender violence. Remembering Our Dead is a project of Gender Education and Advocacy, Inc.

1.) Transgender Day of Remembrance, this coming Tuesday (Nov. 20). Candlelight vigil @ the Whitman-Walker Clinic. 1407 S. St. NW. 6-8 pm. Be there.

2.) There's now a great new website for girls who like girls who also love to play video games. http://lesbiangamers.com/
Some of the articles are really good, on stuff I never have thought about before, like visibly butch character creation. (And this right on the heels of Cerise, which is an online magazine about women and gaming, for gamer gals. Very diverse articles, from making your own dice bag (for tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons) to interviews of female video game designers to the adventures of a first time LARPer (Live Action Role Player) told alternating between her character's story and an analysis of being a woman gamer in an almost all male game.)

(x-posted from dcdykes, written by the fantastic pegsioux)

People:

This kickass event is guaranteed fabulousness, and WILL sell out...consider yourself warned!



What is HIPS?
HIPS mission is to assist female, male, and transgendered individuals engaging in sex work in Washington, DC in leading healthy lives. Using a harm reduction model, HIPS’ programs strive to address the impact that HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, discrimination, poverty, violence and drug use have on the lives of individuals engaging in sex work.

Why should I care?
Um...let's see, because sexworkers are just as important as everyone else, but are routinely judged as less than, or dirty, or terrible people because of how they make a living? And because sexworkers have less access to healthcare and social services and who the fuck knows what else? Or gee, how about because when a sexworker is raped, the police don't care and/or some shitbag judge rules it as a theft of service?

What can I do?
Show up to the benefit. Donate money to HIPS.org. Ponder the radical idea that sexworkers are actually people, just like YOU. Give needed things like office supplies, technical help, warm clothing or unused beauty supplies to HIPS.

See you tomorrow night at the benefit for DCATS!

Something I forgot to mention when I talked about coming out a few weeks ago.

Working here makes me come out FAR more often than I used to have to come out before. When someone asks what you do and where you work, more often than not, I answer with "oh, I work in a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender bookstore". People automatically assume you're queer when they find out you work in a queer bookstore.

Two items of note today.

The Dieux de Stade 2008 calendar comes out tomorrow! This huge calendar filled with rugby "Gods of the Stadium" is a huge hit and always sells out extremely fast! Stop by and pick up a copy or 3! It makes a fantastic gift.

Also, the new Hairspray musical movie comes out on DVD on November 20th. I don't know if you remember how excited I was about this movie... it's absolutely fantastic, tons of fun for the whole family. Stop by our store and preorder it now!

And now... a little eye candy for all of you out there who like men with the physique of an athlete. Here's a hot preview image from Dieux du Stade 2008!

( Naked Rugby Player Inside(TM), boy bits covered. Possibly NSFW. Not exactly dial-up friendly. )

So The Hill, Capitol Hill's political newspaper, noticed the signs we had in our windows during the Values Voters Summit (touting a 20% discount to badgeholders to the conservative conference, saying that no toe tapping was necessary), and decided to write a little about our "good book values".

Check out the article on their blog! http://thehill.com/under-the-dome/good-book-values-2007-10-23.html

Thanks for such great press, The Hill! :-)

I'm going to be on vacation in NYC all of next week, so the soonest you'll hear from me is the 29th. So if you try to post to our community during that time, I won't be here to approve it. It'll just sit in my inbox and wait.

Just an FYI. Enjoy the week!

deaconmac requested that I post this for you all.



My thoughts? I don't know enough about what's going on to find him innocent or guilty, but I do have 2 pieces of commentary.

1.) For all those who say that he's lying about not being gay or about loving his wife... there is something called bisexual, you know. It's not just gay or straight. There's a chance that he DOES love his wife... he just also likes guys, too, or at least enjoys having sex with them. (Not saying that him cruising for sex and also voting vehemently anti-gay doesn't make my blood boil. Just trying to be fair... something he's not interested in, whether or not he was cruising.)

2.) As Greta Christina pointed out (in an extremely good article... I'd highly recommend reading it)... cruising for sex in public is not illegal. It's HAVING sex in public that's illegal. To someone not in the know, all he did was shuffle his hands and feet around. He didn't do anything overtly sexual or say anything overtly sexual. Shouldn't we all be a little more disturbed that they're trying to crack down on people doing a perfectly legal thing... cruising for sex in public? And they didn't set out that day with trying to arrest a US Congressperson. They set out that day to try to arrest "dirty faggots". To put a sting operation on a legal act, looking for sex in public (don't we all do that when we go to the bars looking for a fun night?) or signifying one's interest in having sex in public, most likely because of the people committing the act. This bothers me.

The New York Times has an excellent article on aging GLBTQ people having problems with homophobia in nursing homes and nursing care.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/us/09aged.html

It raises interesting questions. As the baby boomers get older, the generation of people to lead the way in being out, how will nursing homes change? Will they change? How can we help older GLBTQ people get the support they need from staff as well as their fellow nursing home residents? How can we help them not have to be in the closet or face ostracism and depression? Everyone deserves to be themselves... even the elderly.

I'd love to hear your comments and ideas. Are you worried about this for when you're old enough that you'll need assisted living? Or if we have any senior GLBTQ readers/bloggers here, I'd love to hear about reality for you.

Unfortunately, there's few books written on the subject so far. I see this changing in the next 5-15 years.

The Gay Man's Guide to Growing Older
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Aging: Research and Clinical Perspectives
Midlife and Aging in Gay America: City University of New York
Midlife and Older Adults and HIV: Implications for Social Service Research, Practice, and Policy

So a few days ago, I wrote about coming out as GLBTQ. But there was another kind of coming out I forgot to mention.

Coming out as an ally.

For those not in the know, an ally, in the broadest sense of the term, is someone who supports another or a cause. It's come to be used in the GLBTQ community as a straight person who supports GLBTQ rights.

There are many, many people in this country that support GLBTQ folks and their rights. Some of them are family or friends of a GLBTQ person. Some of them have never met a GLBTQ person in their life, but still think it's important to stand up for equality and justice. Allies come as diverse as GLBTQ folks are. Old and young, every race and ethnicity, conservative and liberal, and of every religion (and of no religion). Suburban soccer moms and urban hipsters. Grandmotherly types and middle school students. Midwestern farmers and coastal lawyers.

Allies make a tremendous impact in the way other people view GLBTQ people. Allies speak out against homophobic comments and jokes. Allies raise greater awareness of the plight of GLBTQ people. Allies in schools speak out against bullying and namecalling. Allies put a face on the people who believe in fairness and equality. And the very presence of straight allies can show that it's not just "those people" who want "special rights" for their "lifestyle". That there are indeed straight people who support GLBTQ people. A homophobe who, sadly, might not listen to the message of equality presented to them by a member of the GLBTQ community might change their mind if a straight person whose opinion they respect speaks out against homophobia.

GLSEN, (the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Educational Network), along with GLAAD (the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and the Matthew Shepard Foundation, is celebrating Ally Week this week, October 14-20, 2007. Whereas they're calling for students and teachers and administration to come out against GLBTQ bullying and harassment, I'm calling for ALL allies to come out in support of GLBTQs everywhere.
( What are some of the best things allies can do? )
Here at Lambda Rising we adore our allies & straight supporters and try to make everyone who comes through our door feel at home, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or presentation. We have books to educate, inform, and amuse you, as well as stickers, pins, and other goodies to show that you're straight but certainly not narrow.

So they say that coming out is a lifelong process. That the first time you come out is only the beginning. That it's not just today, National Coming Out Day, that you come out on. It's at the point that it's becoming clicheéd. But, you know, it's true.

In the situations that you'd never expect to have to come out, you do. Any time that you find yourself talking about your lover, you have to think "Should I tell the truth or should I play the pronoun game?" I don't like the pronoun game. I'm not a very good liar, and trying to remember to keep switching the pronoun confuses me and I inevitably slip. It's just easier for me to not try to play it.

And this happens all the time. Any time I go somewhere, any time I meet new people, I wonder if it's going to be necessary to come out to them. I don't usually volunteer the information, but people in our lives, past and present, have a way of coming up in conversation, and I'm not going to hide that one of my last exes was a woman, and I'm not going to hide that I'm currently dating a man. I have to explain to people that I'm bi on a semi-regular basis.

And you'll find yourself coming out to people you'd both expect and never expect. Your plumber. The lady at the laundromat. The nice couple sitting next to you in church on vacation. Your realtor or landlord or landlady. Your car insurance agent. The girl at the checkout. Your therapist. Your doctor. Your yoga teacher. Your personal trainer. Your veterinarian. The postal worker that delivers your mail. Your new neighbors. The friends of your friends. The people you game with online.

And coming out isn't just for GLBTQ folks. Many people have many different things to come out over. At the Piratez Tavern the other night, I was talking with some folks who were Pagan, and the woman mentioned how many Pagans are closeted and it's not always easy to tell who it's safe to come out to. Many people of other religious minorities have similar experiences. A person could be polyamorous... imagine trying to go to a company picnic and introducing your Significant Other and your Other Significant Other. A person could be kinky and have to explain to apartment maintenance what the implements of "torture" in your apartment were all about. And some people of color are able to "pass" as white. They come out, too.

And it happens with the frequency that you have to come out about being GLBTQ. I'm currently in a polyamorous relationship with a man who has a wife. Just last night, I signed on to World of Warcraft, an extremely popular online role playing game. I'm in a guild, a group of players. My guild leader greeted me over guild chat and asked what I was up to. I replied "Oh, the guy I'm dating was just over here, but we just said goodbye and now he's driving home to his wife." He made a curious reply and I had to let him know that it was ok, that we were polyamorous, that she's a wonderful lady and has given her blessing to our relationship. He accepted it and then mentioned "That sort of thing could never happen here." (he lives in the deep South) and I replied that, actually, poly people live everywhere... they're just usually more closeted about it when they're in an environment where it might not be safe to be out. Just like GLBTQ people.

Coming Out Day isn't about revealing your sexual orientation or your gender identity. It's about having the courage to live your life freely and honestly. It's about accepting the things that make you different and making the world accept them, too. It's about raising consciousness, to borrow the old feminist phrase. It's about screwing your courage to the sticking place and becoming more open with other people. It's about battling fear, living with integrity, and opening people's eyes to the reality around them.

RFD Magazine Release Party

Celebrating the DC Radical Faeries writers, poets and artists who created the content and cover of the Fall 2007 issue of the RFD magazine documenting the history, art, culture and community of the Radical Faeries of Washington DC.

Thursday, Oct 18th 7:00 pm
at Lambda Rising bookstore
1625 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009

Please mark your calendars and bring your friends to help us celebrate!

See you there!

Sorry for the silence... there's just so much going on and coming up!

Saturday's the National Book Festival on the National Mall here in downtown DC.

Today through Saturday is the Out & Equal 2007 Workplace Equality Summit. We're their Official Bookstore, so they've been keeping us busy!

This coming Saturday through the next Saturday is Banned Books Week.

October is GLBT History Month, and holds National Coming Out Day on the 11th. (The Blade has a neat section where you can share your coming out stories. Check it out!)

Oh, and yet again, we've been voted Best Bookstore by the readers of the Washington Blade in their Annual Best of Gay DC contest. (Not to toot our own horns, but we've won so many years in a row now that we've lost track of how many times we've won!)

And we've got readings and signings and drop ins for you. Mike Warren tonight, Bob Smith with Selfish and Perverse on Oct. 3rd, and Lambda Literary Award winning Alex Sanchez (of Rainbow Boys fame) with his newest title, The God Box, on October 17th!

Oh, and of course, Cheryl Spector's Memorial service on this Sunday, the 30th. Someone told me all the various details (as there's actually 3 different services happening in a row), but I can't find them anywhere on the internet. However, I do know that if you go to The Circle in Dupont Circle on Sunday either at 1, there's gonna be something going on there, and they'll tell you how to get to the other events (Drag kings and queens and burlesque and the like).

October Echoes by Roselle Graskey

I read the synopsis of this book. Basically: a seven year old boy is kidnapped and Sara, an FBI agent pledges she'll return him to his mother. To do this, she and her partner must team up with Nora, an Irish terrorist in an American prison. Nora is released from prison into the custody of Sara and her partner.

It sounded interesting, but so far-fetched that I figured I'd have to check my brains at the door. Imagine my surprise when I found myself buying into the story.

Neither Sara or Nora were innocents, and found themselves sexually attracted to each other. So, yes they did have casual sex - pretty hot casual sex. But that still didn't mean they trusted each other. And it certainly doesn't mean they fall in love...did it?

I've met the author and based on my knowledge of her military experiences, I am sure the military aspects were very accurate. As for the Irish Terrorist underworld and the workings of the FBI...all I can say is that I believed what she wrote.

Nora spoke with an Irish dialect. I'm not generally fond of special dialects in books - but it wasn't over done and I found hers very easy to follow. In fact, for a couple of days after reading the book, I found myself thinking with a bit of an Irish dialect.

The book has many surprising twists and turns. I would have to say it is one of the best adventure books I've read. If you like adventure, intrigue, betrayal, conspiracy theories and hot sex, you will definitely love this book.

The Washington Blade's annual Best of DC selection process has started. You can go to http://www.washblade.com/bestofdc/ once each day and cast your votes for your favorite people, places and things around GLBT DC. We'd love it if you voted for Lambda Rising as the Best Bookstore! Voting will continue only until Sept. 25th, so get your votes in soon!

Tell your friends!

That URL again is:

http://www.washblade.com/bestofdc/

Cheryl Spector

With deepest regrets, I have to inform you of the passing of Cheryl Spector, local GLBT activist and member of the local Leather community, at 5 am today. Cheryl was battling leukemia at the time of her death, a 10 week struggle. She passed on quietly, surrounded by loved ones.

Cheryl was a very involved individual. In fact, that's an understatement. If there was a GLBT or Leather event happening in DC, you'd see her there. A quick search on the Internet reveals her activity with AGLA, the Human Rights Campaign, Servicemember Legal Defense Network, Reel Affirmations, Queer Nation, the Lesbian Avengers, the Rainbow History Project (where she was the vice chair for a while and served on the Board of Directors at the time of her death), the DC drag community (especially the drag king community), and Whitman-Walker Clinic's Max Robinson Center. Inspired by her brother's suicide after a positive diagnosis of HIV, she was involved in many HIV/AIDS related groups, including doing needle exchanges with ACT-UP! and distributing safer sex kits for women with the group Oppression Under Target (OUT/DC!), which she founded in the late 1980s. Cheryl was also involved in preparations for the Marches on Washington in 1987 and 1993. She attended services at Bet Mishpachah, the GLBT synagogue in DC, as well as the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington. She organized "the memorial commemoration for Gay martyrs of the Holocaust at the Holocaust Memorial Museum on the weekend of the museum's dedication in 1993, coinciding with the March on Washington that year," according to Barrett Brick of the GLAA. Among many other community awards, she received the GLAA Distinguished Service Award in 2004 and will receive the Mautner Project's "Unsung Hero Award" on September 29th.

Cheryl was the unofficial videographer of the DC GLBT & Leather scene for 20 years, recording the above events, drag king performances, Capitol Pride, and funerals of AIDS victims. She was often seen at events with a camcorder in her hand. Unfortunately, a few weeks before her diagnosis of leukemia, an apartment fire took 2 decades of videos, photographs and memorabilia with it. The loss included over 500 videotapes from as far back as 1986 and an almost complete collection of the Washington Blade and the Metro Weekly newspapers.

Personally, I never really got to know her beyond her name and face, but she was one of those people that was always present at the events I attended, a stalwart fixture. Her passing means one less familiar face in the crowd. Her passing means we all have some pretty big shoes to fill doing service for the GLBT and Leather communities in DC. Those who knew her well talk about her energy, her friendship, and her love of life. EDIT: Actually, thinking about it more, I did have the chance to interact with her personally. This Passover, I went to a Seder (ritual meal) at a friend's house and she was attending.

A memorial service for her will be held on September 30th. More details to follow.

For anyone headed to Dragon Con or the Decatur Book Festival this coming week, Gaylaxicon will be at Dragon Con with a table where you can get your membership for $50 for the weekend. The dates for Gaylaxicon are October 5-8, 2007 and the web site for guest information and event schedule is www.gaylaxicon2007.org. This is the nation's only GLBT sci-fi convention and is occurring in Atlanta this year. I hope you can make it.

www.gaylaxicon2007.org

Butch Girls Can Fix Anything by Paula Offutt.

Finally a book about regular people. No one in this is exceedingly wealthy or drop dead gorgeous. It also, unusual for most books, offers us a secondary character with a disability. (or to be politically correct...physically challenged)

I'm generally not a fan of stories with children in them, and was surprised to find that Lucy, the nine-year-old daughter of Grace, stealing the scenes. My partner and I both laughed out loud at Lucy's comments and actions.

This seemed more like a story about people I know, than fiction. While it didn't pull out the strong emotions (heavy angst or heart throbbing love) that some books do, it was a complete and very enjoyable read. It was quite a step up from most first novels. I am very much looking forward to her next, and future novels; especially if she keeps writing about people just like us. Be sure to Paula on your list of "authors to watch for."

The Meadowlark Sings is post apocalyptic book. Although in this case the apocalypse is that California broke off from the US with the ever anticipated major earthquake. I can't really remember any hot steamy sex.

They've found a gene which indicates whether or not someone is straight or homosexual. The new island (old California) is opened as a new homosexuals only country. US citizens did not have to migrate, but if they chose to remain and were caught engaging in ANY homosexual activity (including just holding hands or kissing) they were arrested for an indeterminate amount of time.

A new law was passed that all new born children were tested to see if they carried the gay gene. If so, by the age of 3 they had to be sent to the new gay country and were adopted into loving gay & lesbian homes. And anyone who did not carry the homosexual gene could not step foot in the new country. And there was no contact allowed between the people in the new country and the people in the US.

The MC ends up traveling, as a visiting dignitary, to the US where she manages to fall in love with the President's daughter. One who doesn't have the gay gene! Yet, interestingly enough the President's daughter also falls in love with her too.

While most of the story revolves around the MC, there is a second romantic love that plays out. One that doesn't detract from the main story. There are other emotional elements in this story. There is the heart-wrenching decision that had to be made, in the early days, by homosexual parents who had to choose between the person they love or remaining in the US to be with their children.

There is also the heartbreak felt by parents who had to relinquish their homosexual children by the age of three to be given a new identity and sent to the new country. Parents and children who would never again know each other. Parents who have no idea whether or not their children are happy. Children who will never know who their biological parents were.

While it's fantasy...it's realistically set up. I didn't see any possibility of a happy ending - for anyone. One of the very few books that made me cry real tears several times during the story. Of course...that's all I'm going to tell you. *evil laugh*

Note - I only write reviews on books I loved.

PS. - Sorry, I forgot to include the link my the first submission

There's a great article in the San Francisco Weekly about transyouth and this new drug that's letting them delay puberty so they can decide whether or not they want to transition using hormones under the right gender or not. It's about 6 pages long and it bring up many great issues. Go check it out.

http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-07-11/news/girl-boy-interrupted/1

Need a refresher course on trans issues? Check out the Trans 101 entry I wrote.
Want some books? Check out our Classics & Essentials page for Trans and our Trans New Releases.

Comic Book Resources is having a series on "Homosexuality in Comics". Part I is up now... and it's really good.

Check it out!

(BTW, the things that Devin Grayson says about gender and not fitting in in the women's community and people having problems with fluidity? Yeah, I feel like she's gone into my head, taken my thoughts, and expressed them in her own words. I wish I had an email address for her, 'cause I'd like to email her and go... OMG, you UNDERSTAND. I've never met someone before that has GOTTEN it the way she GETS it.)

Thanks to heldc for reminding me to put something up about this event!

On August 4th at 1pm, there's going to be a gathering of GLBT and allies, to fly rainbow kites on the Mall (the Northwest corner of the Washington Monument) as a political statement that yes, GLBTQ people do exist. No shouting, no banners, just simply flying rainbow kites. There's a kite flying practice day this Saturday, July 28th from 2-4 pm. More info can be found at gbltkite and in this flyer (PDF format).

Don't forget we've got LOTS of rainbow kites of various styles and difficulties here at Lambda Rising, including the diamond model you see here. These are only available through our brick-and-mortar stores, though, so drop on by and pick up a kite today!

From the Magnetic Poetry website

In our tiny little kitchenette in our DC store, we have a full sized refrigerator. And on the front of it, we have some Magnetic Poetry. The words we have are a mix of a special sheet of words that have to do with trade show conferences that we got from the MagPo booth at BookExpo America 2006 (the American Booksellers' Association trade show) and some leftover words from the Romance, Love and Innuendo packs that wouldn't fit on my fridge at home.

Therefore, we have poetry on the fridge. And with the minds of the people who work here, it inevitably ends up being naughty poetry. And some of it is trade show naughty poetry. :-)

I thought I'd share some of the poetry we've come up with with you today. (Mainly so I can get them written down somewhere so we can clear off some space for people to write new poetry!)

special buyer
feel their good schwag
gift of flesh in aisle II
-webweirdo_lrdc.

in the booth we give head
catalog your touch inside
order rep to take me into the night
-webweirdo_lrdc.

I love a hard dark boy

could you caress what's under the suit?

I'm sister busy pants
it taste like tuna
nice wet pink clam honey
-Anonymous.

Don't forget, we can always order you a copy of the Magnetic Poetry Queer Kit®! Just come into one of our stores or send an email to store@lambdarising.com!

You know, there's also MagPo calendars and books, too! Check 'em out!

Lavender Secrets
by Sandra Barret

The story starts with the somewhat unusual situation of ex-lovers now happily co-existing as just roommates. Somehow they managed to maintain their friendships. Some people may find that unrealistic, but I lived it for two years, so I know it can happen.

The main character, Emma, has an unrequited love for her English Professor, Nicole. She manages to catch the attention of the professor, but is surprised to learn that her gaydar didn't work right because Nicole is engaged and trying to deal with her future mother-in-law who wants full say in the wedding.

Through her mother's work as a professional wedding planner, Emma is also experienced as a wedding planner. Without realizing the consequences, Emma offers to be Nicole's paid wedding planner. This allows her the bitter-sweet opportunity to spend time with Nicole.

I loved the dialog. It is crisp, sharp and completely natural. The main characters are well developed and realistic. While the story is primarily a love story, every time I started to feel complacent, Sandra threw another curve into the story.

This story is filled with interesting twists and turns involving the secondary characters. Sandra managed to create fully developed secondary characters, something I find too often missing in stories by debut authors.

My only complaint about this story is that I felt one of the darker elements in the story was too easily overcome. However, that was a minor distraction and it is highly possibly that my life experiences made me more aware of the ramifications of the situation than most people.

If you're looking for an enjoyable love story that doesn't always follow tried and true paths, I highly recommend this book and look forward to seeing more from this author.

Note: My apologies to the mod(s) for my "duh" moment. I've also modified my posts elsewhere. Jean.

So there's this webcomic called Unshelved. I read it every day, and it gives me my 3 second happy boost for the day. It's set in a library so there's quite a bit of book humor.

Well, every Sunday, Unshelved puts out a comic that describes a real book to get people to read it. They call it their Unshelved Book Club. Sometimes these books are GLBT books. This past Sunday, there was a guest strip by Paul Sizer (personal website). Now, Paul's a sequential artist whom I had the pleasure to meet and chat with at the American Library Association conference that was in town 3 weekends ago. (more on the conference later) Paul's latest work is an absolutely amazing graphic novel called Moped Army that has a GLB and/or T character. (I can't tell you the specifics w/o spoiling some of the comic.) Inspired by the real life organization of moped riders and devotees, it won the ALA's 2007 Great Graphic Novel for Teens award.

Set in the year 2277, a young woman named Simone has to decide between the upper class but soulless life she's expected to live in the elevated New Bolt Harbor and a poorer, grittier but much more rewarding lower class life in "Rust City", the lower old half of Bolt Harbor, with a motley but loyal group of riders-for-right called the Moped Army who have to build their own bikes and acquire the illegal gasoline their bikes need to run. I enjoyed the comfortable art style of the novel and was impressed at the extremely diverse characters of the Moped Army, who come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, ethnicities and lifestyles (from a tattooed, mohawked punk guy who loves Bert from Sesame Street to a dark-rimmed-glasses-wearing technogeek to a beret-clad prep). I was also highly impressed that Paul alluded to a woman deserving to gain pleasure from sex and to having a female character masturbate to orgasm to please herself. It's done extremely tastefully and in an entirely appropriate way for a young adult graphic novel, but it gives an understated but powerful message to those who listen to it. The main character, Simone, is also treated like property by her dolt of a boyfriend, but throughout the novel starts standing up for herself and exposing him and his friends as the immoral men they are. It's probably one of the few graphic novels I've read that I'd say is feminist, yet it's subtle with it... never overbearing. If you're interested, he has the first 23 pages up on the website.

I had never met Paul before ALA, but he was such a wonderful person and his GN is so awesome (and you know me, I read a lot of graphic novels, so I'm picky) that I'm already a big big fan! He did a caricature of my friend fritterfae from the DC Radical Faeries and the DC Public Library in a FABULOUS dress and a caricature of me as well that really looks like me. And he signed our copies of Moped Army. So yeah... big fan.

Anyway, HE'S a big fan of Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. In his guest appearance on Unshelved, he talks about what ensued when Alison showed up in his booth at ALA. As well as talked a bit about Fun Home.

So... go check out the Unshelved guest appearance Paul Sizer did talking about Alison Bechdel and her GN Fun Home!. And if you don't have Fun Home already, what are you waiting for? It's out in paperback, you know! Or, if Moped Army sounds more your style, check out Paul's webpage for it and then pick up a copy of it here!

Lambda Rising is committed to keeping GLBTQ books and magazines available and in circulation for today’s readers and for future generations. To that end, we always welcome donations of used GLBTQ books, magazines, or DVDs and videos, whether current popular fiction or vintage erotica.

Need to make some room on your own bookshelves? Just bring in your books and magazines and drop them off. We’ll see that they get recycled so others can enjoy them. Some will be sold to help support the bookstore, while others may be donated to various non-profit groups, libraries, archives, or prison projects. And if you have some rare first editions, autographed copies, or other collectable titles, talk to us about selling your collection to us.

For further information, leave your name, phone number and/or email address at the front counter and we’ll get back to you with details, or call and leave a message for Deacon Maccubbin at 202-462-6969. You can also write us at shop@lambdarising.com.

Looking for a job? Work for your favorite GLBT bookstore... work for Lambda Rising!

Bring your love of GLBT books, your dedication to the community, and your eager personality to Dupont Circle's legendary Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender bookstore & giftshop. Let's see what magic we can make together. Currently interviewing for manager (F/T) and sales staff personnel (F/T & P/T). Experience is nice, but a good attitude is better. Are you artistic? Have computer skills? Tell us what makes you the perfect match for an eclectic bookstore that has always been much more than "just a business."

Bring your resumé, references and salary requirements/history to: Lambda Rising, 1625 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20009. You can also pick up a more complete job description at the front counter. Please note that we do not accept applications by email; you must bring or deliver your application to our Dupont Circle location. http://www.lambdarising.com

6-17: The first look at the Events schedule is now available! Its still early days, and there's still great deal more to come, but most of the key 'big events' have been scheduled.

Take a look at it at www.gaylaxicon2007.org!

We will have day passes for Gaylaxicon. They will be $25 per day. Friday will be the film festival hosted and prepared by Timothy Caswell of the OUTer Film Festival held every year in Austin, TX.

Saturday will be filled with Jeopardy, guest panels and the Spectrum Awards!

So get your memberships now. It's still just $50 for the whole weekend.

We will be at ATLANTA Pride this coming weekend at Booth B-49 and will be taking money for memberships.

Hope to see you there!

Who?: Alison Bechdel, author of the multiple award winning Fun Home and of the Dykes to Watch Out For comic series
Where?: Lambda Rising's DC location: 1625 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC, 20009
When?: Monday, June 25th, 2007 @ 7pm
What?: Author appearance to celebrate the release of Fun Home in paperback



About the Book:
This breakout book by Alison Bechdel takes its place alongside the unnerving, memorable, darkly funny family memoirs of Augusten Burroughs and Mary Karr. It's a father-daughter tale pitch-perfectly illustrated with Bechdel's sweetly gothic drawings and like Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis story exhilaratingly suited to the graphic memoir form. Meet Alison's father, a historic preservation expert and obsessive restorer of the family's Victorian house, a third-generation funeral home director, a high school English teacher, an icily distant parent, and a closeted homosexual who, as it turns out, is involved with male students and a family babysitter. Through narrative that is alternately heartbreaking and fiercely funny, we are drawn into a daughter's complex yearning for her father. And yet, apart from assigned stints dusting caskets at the family-owned "fun home," as Alison and her brothers call it, the relationship achieves its most intimate expression through the shared code of books. When Alison comes out as homosexual herself in late adolescence, the denouement is swift . . . graphic . . . and redemptive.

About the Author:
Alison Bechdel has been a careful archivist of her own life and kept a journal since she was ten. Since 1983 she has been chronicling the lives of various characters in the fictionalized "'Dykes to Watch Out For"' strip, "'one of the preeminent oeuvres in the comics genre, period"' (Ms.). The strip is syndicated in 50 alternative newspapers, translated into multiple languages, and collected into a book series with a quarter of a million copies in print. Utne magazine has listed DTWOF as "'one of the greatest hits of the twentieth century."'

Oh, and in case you're curious what exactly I meant when I said "multiple award winning", I don't mean just 2. Check it out!:


Holy crap, that's a lot of awards!

And in case you're still not convinced, if you want to read more reviews, the Dykes To Watch Out For website has a TON of links to them. Here's one of them that's up on LJ, written by susanstinson : http://susanstinson.livejournal.com/113017.html (BTW, the book that she reviewed was the hardcover version. The stuff she says about the cover doesn't apply to the paperback version.)

Anyway, come on out and meet Alison (she's a real great person) and get your book(s) signed!

So tomorrow's the Pride Parade and Sunday's the Festival. I've been going to it for, what... 4 years now? 5 years now? Yeah, I think 5 years. Wow. 5 years.

And everyone knows about the festival and the parade, and even some of the parties.

But tomorrow's also the Dyke March. And Wednesday was Be:Bi @ Be Bar, the first officially sanctioned Bi Pride event at Capital Pride ever. And Sunday was the first Trans Pride we ever had.

And these smaller events aren't as well known as the giant parties or the Mardi Gras parade or the ginormous festival, but I think they're just as important. Specifically because they're not so mainstream.

Pride has a special place in our hearts here at Lambda Rising. Our owner deaconmac started the first continuous Pride celebration here in DC many years ago. It was "just" a block party with a few thousand people (it musta been a heck of a party!), but look what it's grown into! A whole week of events, from an Interfaith Service (which I participated in and it moved me to tears at many points) to bar nights!

But it started out with a party and a message. An important message. It was the 70s, and there was still a LONG way to go for Gay Liberation. Heck, it's still a long way to go today. Things are much better now, but there's still progress to be made.

The very fact that it wasn't until 2007 that DC had their first Trans Pride and Bi Pride events at Capital Pride shows how far we have to go. Yes, they put in the B and the T years ago, but it's not until this year that it was any more than just a nod to 2 groups of people that they're "supposed" to care about.

I didn't go to Trans Pride (I wish I would have), but I *did* go to the Bi Pride event.

It was the first time I ever saw the Bi Pride flag flown in DC by someone other than myself as a private individual. There were people of all ages. People who started the bi movement back in the day as well as some of our youngest bi-lings. (Is that a word? It is now.) There were plenty of bisexuals (of course), pansexuals, multisexuals, PoMosexuals and people who don't like labels but have affection/attraction to more than one gender, but there were also a number of open-minded gay men and lesbians, too. The bar was cozy and gracious and had FABULOUS drink specials. (I drank all night, as well as bought a drink or 2 for an attractive lady, for $12 + tip. Best drink specials ever.) The atmosphere was comfortable. Everyone talked to everyone. There were no uncomfortable barriers in the "hmm... can I hit on them? Are they the orientation that's attracted to people like me?" department... which REALLY put me (and I'll bet others as well) at ease. Flirting happened, but serious discussion about bisexuality and the bisexual movement happened, too. After people got a couple of drinks in them, the questions that monosexuals always wanted to ask bisexuals started coming out of peoples lips. And those bisexuals asked the monosexuals things that they had always wondered, too, but never had the courage to ask (or always had the tact NOT to ask). Greater understanding of sexual orientation was brought about over candy flavored martinis. Words were said to the crowd by Pride organizers and bisexual activists. (One of the activists taught us an old bi chant that I'd never heard before: "2, 4, 6, 10/ We love women, we love men! 1,3,5,8/ We also love to masturbate!" I think I know what I'm chanting at the Dyke March tomorrow. ;-))

Yeah, I got the digits of a lovely, intelligent young lady and a handsome & fun guy, but you know what? As awesome as that is for me, I don't think that's the best part of the experience. I think the best part really was the connection and the relaxation and lack of inhibition I felt (and that wasn't just the gummy bear martinis, I swear). I usually hate the bar scene, but I felt comfortable and at home in that environment. Comfortable enough that I could talk to strangers, get to know people, share my experiences as a bisexual woman/genderfluid person and learn from their experiences as bisexual men and women, and as monosexual men and women, too. Yes, it was a great time at the bar, and more than one person had too many drinks, and many people will probably get laid as a result of Wednesday, however, it's the connections that people made and and the greater understanding brought about between people that really shines to me. Because that's what Pride's all about.

(X-posted to my personal journal)

So I'm updating the Staff Picks page and it's my turn to add in a new book or 3 and to write a little bit. So I wrote a little bit about the book that's at the top of my want list: S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College by Heather Corinna, the genius behind the erotica site ScarletLetters.com and the sex ed site for youth (that I use when I want the facts), Scarleteen.com.

"Heather's debut release is the book that I would write if I sat down and wrote a book on sexuality. Comprehensive, easy and fun to read, accurate... all those years of writing erotica for scarletletters.com and sex ed material for scarleteen.com show in this masterpiece of a manual. I've been thinking for years that the world needs a comprehensive guide to sexuality... I'm glad Heather wrote it so I wouldn't have to! (P.S. Don't let the title deceive you... it's not just for high schoolers and college "kids". Everyone needs a copy of this in their library.)"

www.gaylaxicon2007.org

Our Friday night film fest is being programmed and will be hosted by Timothy Caswell of The OUTer Gay and Lesbian Sci-Fi / Fantasy Film Festival of Austin, TX. Timothy has put together a great program (about 95 minutes total) of independant short films.


Now in its fourth year, OUTer is an annual event that hosts filmmakers, has workshops, and programs the best that is currently happening in GLBT SF/F filmmaking. For more information on OUTer, please visit their website.


The OUTer Film Fest at Gaylaxicon will take place on Friday night beginning at 10:30 p.m. Timothy Caswell will be our host for the event. Details are still being worked out, and will be posted here as they are determined. The program runs about 95 minutes.

Program:

ALONE
JOKERS CARD
LAS ROLLERAS CONTRA DR. SANTANICO
OEDIPUS N+1
MARS NEEDS BIBLES
COW JUMP
LEGEND OF THE WESTEND WEREWOLF
TACO CHIC AND SALSA GIRL
plus
THE OUTER 2K7 TRAILER

I know, this list has been out since the 31st, but I just realized I forgot to put it up here:

( Lambda Literary Award Winners for 2006 )

Congratulations to all the winners! (And, heck, the nominees too!)

Award winning author Felice Picano is going to be at our DC store on Thursday, June 21st at 7pm with his new books, Tales: from a Distant Planet and Art and Sex in Greenwich Village: A Memoir of Gay Literary Life After Stonewall. Ian Ayres over at QueerWriters.com did an interview with Felice on Tales: from a Distant Planet. Go check it out!

Interview with Felice Picano

BTW, he's also going to be at our Baltimore and Rehoboth Beach stores on the 22nd and the 23rd, respectively.

Interested in more information? Check out the links below!

DC Signing: Thursday, June 21st @ 7 pm

Baltimore MD Signing: Friday, June 22nd @ 7 pm

Rehoboth Beach DE Signing: Saturday, June 23rd @ 2 pm

Well, it's not so important, but it makes me very happy.

colleencoover, the wonderful bisexual comic book artist and writer who did the wonderful girly porno comic Small Favors, well, she's putting out another issue!

Go check out the first 3 panels from it on her LJ! http://colleencoover.livejournal.com/122607.html

Oh, I could just SQUEE! ...I think I will.

SQUEE!!! :-D

Vigil for Ryan Keith Skipper
Saturday, April 14 at 6:30 pm
Dupont Circle - Washington, DC

A few weeks ago, 25-year-old Ryan Keith Skipper was viciously murdered and his body left on the side of a Florida road in an anti-gay hate crime.

Ryan's murder was not an isolated incident, but rather the latest in an epidemic of anti-gay hate violence in Florida and around the nation. Anti-gay hate crimes are at their highest level ever in Florida, and second only to racist attacks in overall numbers.

Vigils are being held around the country on April 14 to mourn Ryan's tragic death and spotlight the terrible impact of hate violence at the local, state and national level.

You can read more about Ryan and his murder on the Equality Florida website.

(x-posted from washingtondc)

Did you know that, while DC residents pay federal taxes, they don't have representation in Congress? It's true. They do not have any Senators, and they have one Honorary Representative who does NOT have voting rights.

There was a war that was fought over this (and other reasons) over 200 years ago. It was called the Revolutionary War. It's how we became a country. And yet over 600,000 United States residents are left with taxation without representation. It was wrong 200 years ago and it's wrong now.

So help do something about it. DC Vote is holding the one of the biggest voting rights marches ever on April 16th.