rage notes


“Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action.” — Mother Teresa


To say that 2017 has been a year of many changes thus far, is a complete and utter understatement. One wonders if we’ve been transplanted to a Martian landscape, or into some strange, alternate reality. At least that’s the way I’ve been feeling lately. The stories and endless chatter that makes up our endless news cycle, coupled with the relentless rhetoric of, well everyone, along with the outright lies bloviating from those in power, it’s enough to make a grown man cry. Life inevitably moves forward and one must


face the changes if offers and either rise to them or be run over by them. One of the most powerful interviews I’ve had the pleasure of doing is in September’s issue and the conundrum of falling to or rising above life’s challenges. The irony that this is our House and Home issue and the next conversation is not lost on me. In fact, I think it is one of the more seminal conversations I have had regarding what having a sense of home means. Moises Serrano, a queer, undocumented immigrant and I chatted about the many difficul- ties he faces around caring the weight of both those monikers. Through no fault of his own, he was brought to a country he loves and calls home at eighteen months and has been working to come out of the shadows around both issues. The documentaryForbidden: Growing Up Queer And Undocumented In Rural America, tells that story and draws many parallels between the process of coming out of the closet and how becoming a part of a larger community dispels the isolation and fear of being alone. He uses the wisdom gained by claiming his queerness as a way to do the same for his undocumented status, by shining a light on a vastly misunderstood reality and one of the most divisive topics in America today. He is a brave soul, and I am a better man for having known him. Finding a sense of who you are is another theme


that runs through this House and Home edition and Kirstin Maldonado, branded now simply as Kirstin is in the process of doing that very thing. Stepping away from the safety of her long journey with Pentatonix, Kirstin recently released her first EP this month. I love what I do, because I get to have conversations with people on the cusp of great evolutions in their lives and it was such a treat to have had the chance to chat about hers. She is a self-professed “geeky girl” who gets those needs met as part of an incredibly successful ensemble, has stepped out on her own as a powerful vocalist in her own right. WithL O V E, she is telling us about growing up, its many challenges, both good and bad and finding out who she is. Take the


8 RAGE monthly | SEPTEMBER 2017


time to get to know her, this woman is going to be around for a long, long while. Home is where the heart is. David Bromstad has become a permanent fixture on HGTV since his early days as the winner, then the host ofDesign Star. His quirky personality is always sunny, always excited and always laughing as he infuses the home improvement world with his ideas and advice. His latest endeavor is all about finding home as well, though it’s in a decidedly different format then before. He guides the latest big lotto winners, fresh and a little uncertain about their newfound wealth status and helps them to find their dream home. It’s fascinating to watch and as he says, extremely fascinating to be a part of. The common thread? Home and family, “The one common thread is that they want to stay close to home, move back home or be by family. It’s really incredible because it’s true for pretty much every single one of them, it’s really lovely.” I love that and what a perfect expression of what the most important lesson in life is, finding a family…Be it the one you’re born in or the one you create. A final thought and request. The recent hur-


ricane in Texas has been devastating for those who live there and will continue for years to come. That is no less true for the many LGBTQ Americans housed there. Many need our help and there is a way to target your money specifically to the LGBTQ community, two funds have been set up in the Houston area: The Montrose LGBT Center and the LGBTQ Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund, helps individuals and families rebuild lives through counseling and case management, by providing direct assistance with food, furniture, housing and more. (my.reason2race.com/dnicol/ hurricaneharveylgbtqdisasterrelieffund2017) The Transgender Foundation of America has also launched a fund specifically targeting trans, intersex, and genderqueer individuals. (tfahous- ton.com/all-catagories/news/trans-relief-fund).


Joel Martens,Editor in Chief


“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think


about it. Go out and get busy.” — Dale Carnegie


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