b'Gifts forMominSouthOrangeVisit these3 stores Jessica Kirson has four daughters and is pictured here with her oldest, Zoe Cali.right now that are just so devastatingonstage. Oh, shes funny. I like her a and upsetting. lot and maybe I am thinking in a ri-Kirson is not new to working withdiculous way.theLGBTQ+communityinNewAnd she is hysterically funny when GirlsJersey. We love Jessy K! North Jerseyshe does jokes about it. Theres people Pride has had a relationship with Jes- in the religious right that will say that SCHOOLS sica since the beginningshe helpedgay people want their kids to be gayuswhenweweregettingstartedbythat we try to make them gay, she says. arejoiningasourfirstfestivalemceeinAnd Im like, of course thats true. REVOLUTIONARY 2013, says C.J. Prince, Executive Di- Allwewantisforthemtobehuge rector of North Jersey Pride. [Kirson]dykes because itll be easier for them has always been an out and proud ad- inthisincredibleacceptingcountry. vocate for the LGBTQ+ community asYou know, were taking them to a lot of well as a courageous voice for equality,softball games and shaving their heads. and she is such a talented comic. IveWe blast the Indigo Girls and Melissa never seen her show (and Ive been toEtheridge in their ears every night. Its many) and not left with my sides hurt- hard to make this stuff funny because ing from laughing! its so upsetting. But I have to try to The fact that I have a huge follow- find humor in it. ing and that I can have some kind of power that I can speak for our com- Jessica Kirson performs at NJPAC Why all Girls?munityits the reason why Im do- in Newark on May 12 at 7:30pm ing this. Its really not so that I can getand 9:45pm. Visit njpac.org/event/It will change her life. applause and people can tell me Imjessica-kirsonformoreinforma-At the Mount, girls thrive in an atmosphere of great, says Kirson. tion.academic achievement, explore their passions fueled KirsonisntshyabouttakingherShe returns on June 9 for a per-show to parts of the country that areformance at SOPAC in South Or-by self-discovery, and lead with confidence as they less than welcoming to the Jewish andange. Visit sopacnow.org/events/jes-blaze their own trails. Get to know us! LGBTQ+communities.Theresansica-kirson for more information.www.msdacademy.org art to what I do when I go to all thoseVisit jessicakirson.com for all other places. I teach them and I talk to theminformation and social media.in a way that is condescending, but inDonny Levit is a writer and Maplewood a loving way. I dont attack them butresident. He is the author of Rock n Roll ItrytohelpthemunderstandhowLies, 10 Stories. You can hear him DJ ridiculousitiswhatsomeofthemhisindierockshowUndertheInflu-A Private College Prep School for Girls think, she says. I have to try to findence and his jazz show Kind of Pool 3 Ryerson Avenue, Caldwell, NJ | 973.226.0660humor in it, so that I can go on stageon Bone Pool Radio. Follow him on In-and not make it like an angry thing.stagram @undertheinfluenceradio and Maybetheyllthink,heresalesbian@kindofpoolradio and @newishradio.28/ matters magazine / spring 2023'