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‘Tis the season for movies, candy, costumes, and parties. Ghost, goblins, princess, and Divas. Children, adults, families and festivities. This is Halloween! I can recall as a child all exciting to dress up to get candy. These days not much has changed except its not just for the candy. There’s the fact of anyone and everyone being able to be anyone they choose and be accepted. No worries no stress celebrating the event known as “the Gay Christmas”(I don’t know how).Halloween has become a fun acting phenomenon, and with days till Halloween check out some of these events. Halloween Day Parade hosted by Miss Foozie Friday October 31. The theme is “Year of the Rats”, sign up is at Spin Night Club starting @5pm and Parade starts @7pm. Then shortly after the parade signup starts @9pm @Roscoe’s Tavern (3355 N Halsted) where Frida Lay host the Costume Contest, “Best Costume” and “Best Drag” with $4,000 in cash and prizes. Last minute costume ideas Beatnex sells great costumes and accessories. The 99th Floor next too Beatnex (3400 N Halsted) also carries great ensembles and shoes. Drag Queens for one night only easy inexpensive make-up why not try Walgreens in there Halloween aisle. Great wigs @“Heads and Threads”(1254 N Milwaukee Ave) sells great wigs and in expensive. No matter what it is you decide bars, parties, etc. Be safe and enjoy your weekend. Happy Halloween.

As long as I can remember, there were always three words that I couldn’t bare to tell someone close to me. I could only think of my girlfriend at the time that I have grown close to and did love, knowing I would have to tell her, my mother and everyone close to me those three words: “I am Gay”. With National Coming Out Day just passing, it reminds me of my coming out experiences. It’s never easy to tell anyone, so much harder when we hear stories of friends’ parents reacting or over reacting. My mother was not the easier parent to talk to; ironically, I found it easier to speak to a random stranger on the bus versus my own family. Being a teenager in New York City was not easy. Thankfully, I had an understanding girlfriend. This girlfriend was pretty cool and soon to become my only friend. C’mon who wants to be in the boy’s locker room with a fag, a fruitcake, or someone considered an abomination. This is why I only came out to a few friends in high school. My last girlfriend though was so understanding that not long after I told her, “I am Bi,” she introduced me to the guy to become my first boyfriend. I experienced actual love, tenderness and romance with him and four years later our relationship unfortunately turned sour. It was a great experience for at the start; a confused 16 year old with no one to answer any questions such as “why am I gay?” “Am I going to hell?” “Why can’t I be normal?” with a cousin of mine finding out and no way to cover up or hide what he already knew I had only one choice. Tell my mother myself or let her find out through my cousin or aunt. Yeah, my mom neither liked it, understood it, nor took it well. Over next few months my family telling me I’m not part of the family they want nothing to do with me hearing derogatory statements made. My family wanted nothing to do with me my relationship of four years was over my life sucked. I ran to a city where I could try to get a fresh start-start my life over where one knows me for miles, I moved to the city of Chicago. My past eventually caught up to me and with my mother coming to terms with this is who I am I was finally able to face my past. One year later Chicago would have to be ready for Mariah. Sticking my stilettos into the gay scene with the support of my mother and brothers I was expressing myself and being myself. Happy with the direction my life is going. 5 years of living in Chicago I love the life I have here, and proud of everything I have accomplished. On a daily basis I see so many resources I do wish were around when I was coming out. We see these gay teens being themselves, and I wish I could have expressed myself at their age. I admire those teenagers who are able to come out at 12, 13, 14, years old. My coming out age was only 20. That’s at least 8 years of me not being true to me. As an ending I am sharing information they may help you, or someone you may know who is going through coming out issues, self identity, HIV/AIDS questions and answers, Peer groups and more from organizations like Howard Brown Health Center recognizes the GLBTQ (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transsexual Queer/Questioning) and offers support groups for anyone. @Broadway Youth Center a program of Howard Brown teens from the ages of 14-24 who may be dealing with self identity, coming out issues, HIV/AIDS questions or can hang out with GLBTQ teens. South Siders have an adjacent program of Howard Brown called South Side Help Center GLBT location @113-04 S. Halsted. Adults also coming out can talk to someone @ The Center on Halsted in the mental health department.


Howard Brown Help Center
4025 N Sheridan Road
Chicago, Il
(773)388-1600
www.Howarbrown.org


Broadway Youth Center
3179 N. Broadway
Chicago, Il
(773)935-3151
www.Howarbrown.org

South Side Help Center
113-04 s. Halsted
Chicago, Il
(773)468-1233
www.southsidehelp.org

Center on Halsted
3656 N Halsted
Chicago, Il
(773)472-6469
www.centeronhalsted.org

How many times have you seen someone walk into a bar and heard someone else say negative things about them? Better yet, have you ever pointed a finger at someone labeling/mislabeling someone due to their appearance?
Why does everyone have labels?
Why do we need labels to identify someone?
In this community I hear labels such as "boy toy, fag, drag queen, tranny, dyke, fat, skinny, whore, slut, bitch, twink, ugly," and the list goes on. Yet there are many people who go out of their way to change themselves to be accepted or fit in with a crowd. Yet, I must ask, what are they changing?
I applaud someone willing to change for themselves as long as that person does it by their reasons and not to fit in. This brings me to my original question, why are we constantly labeling people? Think back to labels you received. I have been called fag, tranny, booger queen and bastard. Let me see...fag may fit me. Last time I checked, I don't in any way identify as a transsexual. Booger queen–I have no idea. Bastard, well considering my parents got married after my birth, I guess I am.
However, these names still ring in my ears and you (the readers) probably feel discomfort by reading them. These labels can discourage people and harm their self-esteem. As a community, lets think as one though we have all been singled out. Before we label someone again, let's think back to how it used to make us feel. Prior to leaving I must ask, "What are some labels you have been called and how did you deal with the situation."

Well I want to take this opportunity and thank everyone who read my blogs for these past 30 days. I must say I may not have mentioned you but doesn't mean I don't appreciate you. I appreciate everyone in my life. So many people I meet on a average basis new faces old faces familiar faces you are appreciated. One thing I like to add when I first moved to Chicago before Mariah before Mango before Boystown I never for a million years would ever think that I would be wearing dresses and stilettos lip syncing or entertaining people for the time being. Yet I have learned that me as Jesse couldn't do all that I have done without me knowing who I am first. Me loving me for me. Me being able to be myself. I am not here to be the next Miss Foozie nor Frida nor Mimi Marks. 3 remarkable women and though I may never be able to walk in their footsteps I as Jesse and Mariah can only be myself. I appreciate the life i have and had and the fans once again cause without supporters there will be no chance for Mariah to make it anywhere. Thank You all for your continued support.

Now today is the 30th, the last day of September, and last day of the Mimi Project and my final person is Tom S. Well why did I choose him? Lets see We aren't best friends, we Known each other since earlier this year, well those may not be good reasons, but the true reasons is since we first met he has done nothing but praise me cheer me on and make me feel like a superstar whatever that is. It is something genuine, not a well rehearsed act. He is someone always complimenting me making me feel that one day I will succeed in whatever it is I want. At first when meeting him one could swear I was the first impersonator he had met, but I treat everyone with kindness and as does he. I appreciate Tom he is a lot of fun genuine acting and knows how to make people all around laugh. Enjoying my days in the bar with him every time, and I must say as a show girl of some sort He is a great tipper...lol Tom has become a friend and someone I am truly grateful we have met and part of my life.