by Samantha Pratt-Tyler

Created on: April 17, 2008   Last Updated: January 19, 2009

Success can be measured by many standards, but I feel my landlord who owns 3 properties is a successful LGBT entrepreneur and he got there by hard work and much difficulty.

We live in South Haven, Michigan, it is a town in Southwest Michigan along the shore of Lake Michigan. It is a city known to it's residents as racist and as he is trans-gender he has been harassed by people of the city and the police. In fact he got arrested in June 2007 for wearing a bikini to move the lawn, the arrest was for indecent exposure. He lost his case and was forced to wear long pants and a shirt for the next eighteen months. He is now free to wear whatever he wants but how long will it before he is arrested again, that is his concern. You can read his story at http://candykitty.blogstream.com, and the June 2007 issue has what and why he got arrested and tells a little about himself. His blog is very interesting from the standpoint of what it is like to be LBGT in our city and in our state.

He is also a successful film producer for the LGBT community and has won some awards for his work. A lot of it is done outside but since his arrest most has been done inside his apartment. Ever since I have known him he has been honest about who he is and what it has been like for him. His film making is just a way to be himself, Candy Kitty. He said he has been Candy Kitty all his life, and this is his way to express her. It is not unusual to see him dressed as her after one of his filming for he still has his makeup and fingernail polish on. I know a lot of people find that disturbing but I don't and I am glad he has an outlet in filming to be able to be who he really is.

And yes, as an aside, he is a cat lover, we have about 10 stray cats he takes care of along with his dog, Precious. Even though they cost him lots of money in cat food he can not bring himself to call the Animal Shelter, his love for anything living is incredible, he is a good example of love and patience.

My landlord does all the work on the properties he owns himself. He does the shoveling, mowing of the lawn, painting, and when a tenant moves out he redoes the apartment, cleans it till it is spotless and puts in new furniture. His generosity has made him a target for people who just want a place to live and not pay their rent. But he has an attitude of gratitude that he is still able to do what he has been doing and that basically there are people who will pay and who will not, it is always a gamble for him to rent a

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