The Agenda March 2014

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S

I need a vacation.

I’m not kidding. As an editor, when I start dotting “T”s and crossing “I”s, I know it’s time to take a break. But you know how that goes: job, responsibility, cash flow… It’s not always easy to get away.

So when I need a break I can take at my desk, I drift off into memories of trips and adventures out of town. May I share a few with you?

There was that skydiving trip I took to shake off a break-up and to cure my aviophobia. I discovered that jumping out of an airplane definitely works better on the former than the latter, but mano-man, am I glad I did it (and never have to do it again!). Then there was that trip with my BGBF* Andy to the art biennial, where we discovered the mind-blowing works of art-activist Skylar Fein.

(Look him up, seriously.) Or that time I took my anti-watersliding girlfriend to Schlitterbahn and she discovered that flipping upside-down in a water tube is a flipping riot.

Hmmm, I just realized that in each example, I used the word “discovered.”

And the same can be said about reflecting on my Summer 2013 road trip to the Sunshine State, I realize that my quest was less relaxation, and more about discovery – two discoveries, specifically: One to touch my home state and my roots, and two, to find the state of LGBT community in Florida.

Travel is all about discovery. Whether you’re answering the “All aboard!” call of an Olivia cruise ship or from the conductor on the assertively

LGBT-welcoming Amtrak, you’re headed for new experiences. Whether you’re waiting to see if the reassuring voice that says, “This is your captain speaking,” matches the gorgeous pilot you’ve imagined, or you’re just happy to finally get on the I-10 after your Mardi Gras buddy took too long to pack and crammed your economy rental with steamer trunks, you’re off for an adventure.

In this issue of The Agenda – the only gay chamber of commerce publication produced in collaboration with an alternative newsweekly, (The Austin Chronicle) – we launch our first ever travel section, and we are heading to Florida. Recent trips taken by me and by chamber prez Jimmy Flannigan christen this first journey. We hope you enjoy it.

Also in this issue, we have chats with our cover model, Noel Arredondo, cofounder of philanthropic spirit dealers, Frot Vodka, as well as the educators of the Transgender Education Network of Texas, and automotive maven, Casey Jordan. Many thanks to our AGLCC advertisers, our new travel partners, and our dedicated staff of writers, editors, tech and art folk, without whom, our train may have sailed.

P.S. In this issue, you will find inserted the one, the only, and the original gAyTX Fun Guide, an annual tradition here at The Agenda to celebrate the arrival of many LGBTQ travelers to Austin for SXSW. Welcome! * (best gay boyfriend)

Kate X Messer | The Agenda Editor-in-chief

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In 2010, the Austin metro area welcomed nearly 20 million visitors who spent close to $4 billion. This major economic engine drives plenty of opportunity, and the number of visitors and the amount of spending continue to grow.

What is unknown, however, is what percentage of the visitors and the spending in the Austin area can be attributed to LGBT tourists. With a coordinated and communitywide effort, how many more visitors and how much more spending could our region see from LGBT tourism?

Thanks to Austin City Council Member Laura Morrison, Austin soon should be able to answer that question. The City Council recently approved a resolution sponsored by Council Member Morrison that calls on the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to work with the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau and the City of Austin on an initiative to bolster LGBT tourism. This initiative will go a long way toward fully leveraging Austin’s stellar reputation as a destination for tourists from all walks of life.

Hundreds of thousands of LGBT tourists are just waiting to be asked to visit Austin — one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the country.

What could a boost in LGBT tourism mean for Austin? For one thing, more money. Statistics show an LGBT tourist spends $2,300 per trip, compared with

The Agenda is published quarterly by the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with The Austin Chronicle and is financed entirely by the support from the membership of the chamber.

The views and opinions expressed in The Agenda and austinagenda.com do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (AGLCC), nor its officers or board of directors, nor The Austin Chronicle.

$1,500 per trip for a straight counterpart.

Just imagine what that rise in spending could mean for Austin and the local LGBT community.

An LGBT tourism initiative wouldn’t just grow Austin’s economy — without growing our full-time population. It also would increase the resources available to address the needs of our growing city.

To be sure, a solid commitment to LGBT tourism would generate more money and more jobs for LGBT-friendly bars, restaurants, retailers, and hotels in Austin. But it also would generate more money and resources for the community events that predominantly drive LGBT tourism. That means an increase in LGBT visitors would help Equality Texas fight for our rights. It would help allgo support queer people of color. It would help the Transgender Education Network of Texas educate Austinites about the challenges faced by the transgender community. It would help OutYouth save another LGBT teen from depression or even suicide.

Yes, tourism is about encouraging visitors to spend money in the local economy. But it’s also about improving the lives of everyone living in Austin — across the entire spectrum of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and straight-allied community.

Jimmy Flannigan | Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce President

Copyright © 2014 Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.

Unsolicited submissions (including resumes, articles, artwork, and photographs) are not returned.

PO Box 49216, Austin, TX 78765 512/761-LGBT (5428) contact@austinagenda.com

Any advice or opinions provided herein are for informational purposes only.

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THE PEOPLE IN OUR GAYBORHOOD Everyone knows: Austin has no Gayborhood. So we have to go out and look for each other. Guess what?

We’re everywhere.

This issue, we caught shots at three events: the AGLCC State of the Chamber event at El Sol y La Luna, National Black HIV/AIDS Day, and the Bent queer art show at the Romani Gallery.

 Photographer Dave Inman

photos by Lizzie Jespersen and Kate X Messer

 Artist Selena Fara

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 City of Austin Health & Human Services at National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: Omar Lopez-Jara (in window) and crew

 Theresa Bastion and Rodney Campbell, Keep Austin Weird Homes

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 New ALGCC board member Brian Erickson

 Steve Ruimveld and Joanna Brown

 Artist Nathan Dance

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 Sharrianna Rice

 James Mescall

 Artist Karlizzle

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 Judy Wilder and Laura Barton, Barton Wilder Custom Images

 Natalie “Mrrmaid” Mears

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 Shannon and Shane Howard Owners, Romani Gallery

 Christina Barboza

 Artist Bean Noneya

 AGLCC volunteers, Fei Meng, Frank Peña, Alex Quezada

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 Seattle filmmaker, Angela Herr

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 Victor Celania, Van Michael Farmer, Brad Hayden

AU STIN GAY & L E SB IAN

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Chip Burleson (left) and Noel Arredondo (right)

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INTERVIEWED BY KATE MESSER // PHOTOS BY BAD JOHNPAUL Once I made my way though the magnificent arch at the entrance of Austin’s celebrated Driskill Hotel, I half expected to find Frot Vodka co-founder and owner Noel Arredondo awaiting the start of our meeting in the opulent lobby, dripping in mink and having his cigarillo lit by by some attentive, shirtless boy.

So it came as a bit of a shock to see the guy I’ve come to affectionately note – whenever I run into him at some social smack down – as a “Sex and the City gay,” studiously tapping away at his laptop, intently staring at his screen, while looking smart in his button-down with the sleeves rolled up, all TCB: Takin’ care of business.

But that’s Noel – one minute, the effusive party guy, chatting up the gayluminatti, and the next, the fella who’s sealing the deal with a handshake and a hug.

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The Abilene native came to town in Central Texas’ wild mid-Nineties. About a decade into official Austinite status, he met the dude he would fall for. On the dance floor. At Rain. (“He thought he had some dance moves. I thought he had dance moves. My honey likes to break it down.”)

Since then, eight years later, he and partner Chip Burleson own, promote, and manage Frot Vodka, a brand that has become synonymous with… Well, the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce summed it up when they bestowed upon the men from Frot, their annual award called, “They’re Giving It Away” for the duo’s fundraising parties, charitable cash and in-kind donations to local nonprofits. Since Frot’s founding just over one year ago, they’ve earned the reputation as fellas who roll up their sleeves to get things done –probably a good idea, with all those cases of vodka they’re hauling around.

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KXM: How did you come to own a vodka business?

NA: We were approached to invest in a vodka company. The concept was Italian vodka – a brand associated with models, models, models, Ferraris, Italian clothes, and getting into all the cool clubs.

Basically, they wanted to do a bunch of partying (laughter).

We were interested in philanthropy, and it occurred to us that we could marry selling vodka with giving back to the community. But the investment proposal turned out to be just a guy looking for investors; they had never actually formed a company.

We decided, Hey, let’s just do one thing a day to achieve our goal – sending out email, doing some research, discussing something that we learned that day. We knew we would eventually hit that goal.

After about a year, it all came together.

Then it was time to pull the trigger and make it happen.

I think if everyone did one thing a day to reach their goal, they would achieve their goals pretty rapidly.

KXM: So, you two kept each other accountable.

NA: This was five years ago.

NA: Absolutely. “What did you learn today?” “Remember we talked about that yesterday.” But I’ll be honest, it’s also aggravating at times, because it’s like Oh, my god, stop talking about it!

Let’s just eat our dinner!

KXM: Ahh, the cusp of the vanity vodka trend …

KXM: You “pulled the trigger” and decided to launch the business, when?

NA: Yes, everybody was wanting to promote vodka. We heard how great the business was to invest in. But we never heard actual numbers. Once we started looking at real numbers and figuring out if it was even feasible, viable… We found out it was – just not per their business plan.

NA: Just over one year ago. We launched January 22, 2013. Next thing you know, it’s South By Southwest (SXSW), and we’re everywhere. We sponsored at least one, sometimes two events every day. I remember losing my voice discussing Frot Vodka to so many people over loud music, but it was a blast.

KXM: When specifically was this?

KXM: So, you wanted to figure out if the vodka biz could sustain your philanthropic interests?

NA: Yes. Chip and I have been affected by close friends and family members who were gay who committed suicide at very young ages. You know, it’s a crazy number... something like 30% of all teenage suicides are gay suicides.

That’s always tugged at our hearts. We chose to give time and money to the Trevor Project and a few other groups.

Since then, a lot of these nonprofits have begun to do extremely well. We decided to focus on something local.

Care Communities, for instance. Those guys do a great job. Every dollar counts.

KXM: What were your next steps?

NA: We knew it was not going to happen overnight. We knew that it would take a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and giving away a lot of vodka. But we told each other, Look, this is doable!

Here we are a year later, and we’re in many retail outlets from Georgetown all the way down the I-35 corridor to San Marcos. We’re also in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and College Station.

KXM: What do you think it is? How much of your business is the vodka, and how much the image and the philanthropic reputation?

NA: I think it’s both. We’ve been told by some that they love the fact that we’re giving back. We get hit up on our Facebook page by people who come to us wanting to volunteer to help, as if we are a nonprofit.

KXM: In light of Putin’s statements about LGBT, a lot of people disavowed vodka. Russian vodka, mostly, but folks conflated vodka with the politics of the country. Did the Russian vodka fracas cause you any concern?

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NA: At first I thought, Oh, here we go.

We should take a stance, introduce ourselves, and get people to understand who we are. Ultimately, the controversy really didn’t affect us. But the reality was, regardless of where they stood, we needed to hold true to our mission.

NA: I’ve got to tell you: Chip wasn’t a big vodka fan. After about Day Three of tasting vodkas and recipes and having the shakes the next morning (laughter), we realized, Hey, this is no longer fun.

KXM: Let’s talk vodka?

NA: In Denver, Colorado. Our master distillers have a glass column. There are only three glass columns in the world, that we know of. The glass column alleviates the problem in distilling where items stick to the usual material used, like brass or metals. That and the Colorado spring water makes a huge

NA: Other than me drinking it and knowing that I like it (laughter)?

KXM: How much did you know about vodka or spirits in general when you started?

KXM: Where is it distilled?

Are you crazy?! Are you kidding me?

Are we selling vodka or are we looking for Dirty Sanchez?!

NA: I assumed I would be able to sit down with the distiller and learn everything I needed to know. We spent months working with the master distiller who made our recipe. There was a lot of trying, tasting. They taught us about ingredients, how to filter it, the distilling process.

difference in our recipe. We tried to use just tap water and other types of water, and it just wasn’t smooth.

KXM: Did you buy someone’s existing recipe, or is Frot your own creation?

KXM: All-American?

NA: We had six months of nightmares before we found master distillers to work with. They have their own vodka brand and know the process extremely well. They taught us what makes for a very smooth vodka. They wanted us to come up with our own recipe and not just purchase one.

We’re glad they encouraged us, because the one thing I didn’t want was to purchase someone else’s vodka and be like, This is ours!

KXM: Stick a label on it!

NA: Yeah, I didn’t want to do that.

KXM: How long did it take for you to learn the process well enough to guide your own recipe?

KXM: And Frot is corn-based?

NA: That’s correct. Good ol’ American corn.

NA: All-American and gluten-free.

KXM: And Texan.

NA: Our ideas was to get a foothold in Texas. From what I understand, introducing a spirit into Texas is a very difficult proposition. The gay community and the gay bars gave us that foothold.

Thank you very much, guys (laughter)!

This is our shout out.

Now we have the brand recognition that we can take to another state.

Louisiana is really calling our name. We get approached all the time by people and distributors in Louisiana. We’ve also been approached by larger distributors to go national, but right now, we want to focus on really doing a good job here in Texas.

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Noel Arredondo

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KXM: In what other states are you talking to potential clients?

NA: We’ve got some hits from Florida.

Originally, our business plan called for us to cover Texas, then hit Florida, and move up the East Coast, Atlanta definitely. But distributors have specific regions.

KXM: How many different distributors are you working with now?

NA: One. Honestly, right now, we’re most interested in those small towns that need our support. I come from Abilene, Texas, and I wish they had more visibility and more support. We aim to extend ourselves out to these small communities.

KXM: In communities like that, the bars are the lifeline.

NA: Absolutely. They’ve got to know that something else is out there. We’ve all been there. We’ve all been to those small communities. Some of us are from those small communities. Come on now. We gotta show some support.

KXM: Let’s talk about love and business. You are in one of those – cue the music – “partner in business… and in life” relationships. That’s got to be a challenge. What are the differences between your work style and Chip’s?

NA: He’s the very tight CEO, and I’m the visionary. He’s able to deal with the finances and our camp of gays in the organization hitting him with crazy ideas. He has to put his foot down: Here’s the budget! If it weren’t for him, I would have blown all our cash and given away all of our vodka in week one.

I do all the marketing and the fun stuff.

We’ve got two mascots. One of them is Dirty Sanchez. He’s a stuffed Dirty Sanchez. We lost him during our launch party. You can see pictures of him on our Facebook page. The last place I saw him was with Bobby Cook from Rain… in Mexico.

Maybe he’s hanging out with Lindsey Lohan somewhere? He’s not coming home, so we replaced him with Golden Shower.

He’s also a stuffed mascot. You’ll see him out during SXSW at the Big Gay Kick Off at Oil Can Harry’s.

Back to Chip: So these are some of ideas we’d take to him, and he’s like, Are you crazy?! Are you kidding me? Are we selling vodka or are we looking for Dirty Sanchez?!

(Laughter…) But we actually work very well together.

KXM: What’s disagreement?

been

your

biggest

NA: Growing the business into different markets. My DNA is very: Grow, grow, grow.

Sell, sell, sell. His is: Let’s be cognizant of the message, of the inventory levels. Let’s work in one area before we grow to another.

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KXM: You mentioned your “camp of gays in the organization.” Do you have a street team?

NA: Yes, we use drag queens for in-store tastings, and they help us with volunteer work at Care Communities.

KXM: What’s the most challenging thing about gay community in Austin?

NA: I would really like to see more people from other cities at our events, more tourism. I mean, we do have big events like SXSW and Circuit of the Americas.

But I’ve often thought that our Splash weekend… Well, do you remember the days when every hotel was booked during Splash, and everybody brought out their boats? We’d love to help revive Splash.

Dallas spends millions of dollars on gay tourism. Austin does not. We want to help connect all of those dots, and show off how we keep it Austin-friendly.

KXM: Speaking of SXSW, what are your plans for it this year?

NA: We’re definitely doing the Big Gay Kick Off party. After having been spread so thin last year, we’re being very selective. We’re hoping that Cheer Up Charlie’s will be open soon. I’m not gonna throw any dates or details… I’ll leave it hush-hush.

KXM: Well, by the time we put together our calendar for the conference, maybe you’ll share. But back to the rest of Texas, you said you work with one main distributor. Are you in the chains?

NA: We’re in Spec’s Liquors, a very large, Houston-based organization.

KXM: How have stores responded to your marketing ideas?

NA: At King Liquor on Burnet, I explained that we’d like to do a tasting with our drag queen Barbie for a Valentine’s kissing booth. And the manager said: Done!

Our brand is selling at Spec’s; they’ve embraced it. We had a meeting with the executives and pitched having drag queens do the samplings. Anyone can have a cute boy or a cute girl, there’s nothing wrong with that, but we wanted in-your-face drag queens, And glitter!

They offered to let us work with the stores individually. In some locations, our ideas will not work as well as they will in others. That’s cool.

In the meantime, they’re like: So what is ‘Frot?’ What does it stand for? And I’m like, Brace yourself!

KXM: Oh good! Now I don’t have to ask you. I can’t let you go without hearing your explanation for the name. Do tell.

What were you thinking?

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NA: Frot is short for frottage: dry humping and sexual rubbing without penetration.

NA: We haven’t. We originally thought we would.

KXM: Um… yes.

NA: Well, I had to learn this for myself. It was presented to me by Chip. I was like, What?! He says, “Frot. You know, like when someone bumps into you on the subway and they rub up against you. You’ve been frotted.”

Here’s a great story: Bull McCabe’s on Red River was one of our stops on our route.

These guys are Irish. We’d go in and have a couple of beers when we were tired of promoting and tired of drinking vodka.

Once they learned about what we did, they started carrying Frot Vodka. Now they call it “gay vodka.”

I’m like, What are you talking about?! He reads books. He’s got a better vocabulary (laughter). I looked up “Frot,” and sure enough there was a picture in Wikipedia!

Then I wondered if we could pass that by the government, because you literally have to have your label get the approval. It worked!

They’re actually one of our bigger sellers.

They take the bottle and call out, Who wants gay vodka?! Then they run around the bar handing out Frot Vodka shots. Love those guys, Irish accents, the whole nine yards.

They turn people on to our vodka. These guys are gay allies. Who would’ve thought?

Then we thought, how are we going to sell this to conservative types? Oh, we’ll just let them know that it’s safe sex (laughter)! We haven’t had any negative feedback other than from our families who kinda gave us the side eye. They’re from the South, after all.

KXM: It’s so good to hear that you’ve had such great reception. Allies come in all stripes, don’t they?

KXM: Have you encountered any real antigay sentiment or ugliness?

One last question: What’s your personal drink of choice?

NA: The Moscow Mule… with Frot Vodka, obviously.

AU STIN GAY & L E SB IAN

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KEY WEST How far would you go for acceptance? For a place that has the official motto, One Human Family? That boasts an openly gay police chief? That treats everyone born there like royalty (aka “Conchs”) and every visitor like family?

double at any time during the high season between Thanksgiving and Easter. Cruise ship schedules and special summer events – like Pride, Tropical Heat, and Women’s Fest – ensure that the island’s calendar is packed all year long.

Matt Hon is the Event Coordinator for Gay Key West (gaykeywestfl.com) and the Key West Business Guild (kwbgonline. org) membership marketing organization, host of the island’s annual Pride street fair and parade (keywestpride.org). The guild is one of the oldest LGBT-A chambers of commerces in the U.S., boasting over 450 Would you go to the ends of the earth? paid members. “We market Key West as How about just to the southernmost tip of a fabulous place for the LGBT and allied the continental U.S.? community to visit – what the rest of the world should be like.”

Welcome to Key West, where life is all that and a basket of conch fritters, according That’s a mighty big claim for a non-Texan, to over 250,000 LGBT visitors who come but Hon is proud of his island. “I went annually to the small Florida city with to an LGBT conference; a woman from a population of only 25,000 full-time Seattle was bragging about their fabulous residents. That population, of course, can little gayborhood. She said, ‘It’s very

photo credit: Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO

What if this utopia were ribboned by bright pristine sand surrounded on all sides by crystal blue water? Where you may count on wearing shorts and flip-flops any time you visit? What if it greeted each new year with a glamorous drag queen dropping out of the sky in a cha-cha heel chariot?

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Listening to Hon, you’d think the streets were blanketed in rainbows. Well, in 2003, they were. That year’s Key West Pride (keywestpride.org) celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first rainbow flag with an unfurling that stretched the width of the island. The entire length of the mileor-so parade route along Key West’s iconic Duval Street (their Sixth Street with a bit of SoCo thrown in), stretched a flag that had been hand sewn by Gilbert Baker, creator of the first pride flag in 1978 for Harvey Milk. The flag stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, a sea-to-sea rainbow, making it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the the world’s longest Rainbow Flag.

jawed face of the carefully cultivated machismo that lured residents such as Ernest Hemingway, David Allen Coe, Jimmy Buffet, and Kenny Chesney. (Then again, our “side” has Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Kelly McGillis, as well as fashion gods Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. So there’s that.)

And really, are the sides all that different?

“Live and let live” defines Key West – where people applaud the sunset (sunsetcelebration.org) every night and a beautiful drag queen named Sushi slides into a giant high-heeled shoe every December 31 and “drops” to mark the new year. For those of us from Austin, some of this might feel very familiar.

photo credit: Bob Krist/Florida Keys News Bureau

comfortable to hold your partner’s hand.’

And I’m sitting there thinking, ‘They have a gayborhood. We have a whole island.’ Go to the post office in Key West: You’ll see out gay couples. Go to Winn Dixie to do your grocery shopping: Lesbians are arm in arm behind the cart.”

AGLCC president Jimmy Flannigan recently enjoyed a day trip to the island as a part of a Caribbean cruise. “While the time I spent in Key West was all too brief, I was overcome by the overt gay friendliness and laid-back atmosphere. Rainbow flags fly over more than just gay bars. Key West feels less like a This grandiose expression of LGBT pride tourist trap and more like a sea-side Austin is right in line with Key West’s bold, set to island music.” nonconformist ethos. Its reputation as a gay mecca may seem to fly in the strong- So, how far would you go?

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YBOR CITY, TAMPA Within the city of Tampa, Florida, lies a district that lures creatives, artists, entertainers, and general weirdos to her streets: Ybor City. And within that district lies the gay wonderland, simply known as GaYbor.

photo credit: Robert La Follette/Visit Tampa Bay

“city hall,” gay information hub, and gossip center, MC Film Festival (813/247-6233, mcfilmfest.com), a fun and campy homage to film, filled with pop cult tchotchkes and all sorts of gay staples (boas, tight tank tops, and rainbow everything) run by GaYbor District Coalition president Carrie West, Ybor City was founded as a major cigar and his partner of over three decades, production sector in the 1880s and Mark “Tea Cup” Bias, who also doubles as thrived as a Cuban-, Spanish-, and Italian- a notoriously beloved local bartender at neighborhood well into the mid-1900s. By the dishy and swishy Hamburger Mary’s World War II, the area began its slow churn (813/241-6279, hamburgermarys.com/ into urban neglect and sat that way until tampa) just around the corner. These two the 1980s, when artists and DIY business- bon vivants and LGBT-scene know-it-alls types began setting up shop.

– recent Grand Marshalls of nearby St. Pete Pride (727/342-0084, stpetepride.com)– And where you find creatives, you find are a must-visit for any trip to GaYbor. the gays. GaYbor (gaybor.com), the logical extension of this renaissance, formally The GaYbor District Coalition boasts four founded in 2007, now shines with over accommodations to keep you close to the 300 businesses in its coalition of LGBTQ- action: The famous boutique hotel, Don friendly businesses and concerns. Ybor, Vicente de Ybor Historic Inn (donvicenteinn. by extension has become such a gay com), the gay-owned and operated Ybor destination that it has its own de facto Resort & Spa (yborresortandspa.com) and

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two Hilton properties with friendly, and especially gay-friendly/sensitive staffs: the Hilton Garden Inn (hiltongardeninn3. hilton.com) and the Hampton Inn & Suites (hamptoninn3.hilton.com), where I stayed and was treated like family (and clued into some great off-the-calendar event info by a sassy and affable front desk staff).

(Florida Legends of Wrestling, facebook. com/FloridaWrestlingLegends) and Shine (shinewrestling.com).

photo credit: Kate X Messer

Ybor City is also home to the Tampa-area’s alternative newsweekly, Creative Loafing (813/739-4800, cltampa.com), captained by an openly gay editor and housed in a building that used to be a cigar factory, Ybor City’s main “attraction” is the nine- fitting considering the waves of LGBT block stretch of Seventh Avenue (not unlike entrepreneurs responsible for the spark of Austin’s East Sixth and Dirty Sixth districts) revitalization in the district. where most of the action happens. Mixed G and L crowds tend to line up between the Nearby St. Petersburg, Florida is the Honey Pot Cabaret (813/247-4663) and home of the state’s LGBT civil rights lobby G.Bar (813/247-1019, facebook.com/GBar) Equality Florida (813/870-3735, eqfl.org) (proximate in the way Austin’s Warehouse shepherded by beloved Florida activist District makes hopping between favorite Nadine Hughes, the group’s CEO since its watering holes a snap). Across the street inception in 1997. on certain nights at Bradley’s on 7th (bradleyson7th.com), in addition to its Full immersion in your community is regular array of glamourous drag reviews, possible, even for newbies in the Tampa/ it’s off with the wigs and up with the St. Pete area. A great place to kick off regulation wrestling ring. Yes, perhaps your exploration is GaYbor, and if you you will be as lucky and befuddled as I was see a stunning Amazonian drag queen when I stumbled into the club’s side bar to with a freshly rolled cigar hanging out of see a spectacle like no other I have ever her mouth, follow her, you might end up encountered: Drag queens hosting local at the best wrestling match you’ve ever pro wrestling federations, like F.L.O.W. witnessed.

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THE PALM BEACHES The thundering herd.The ripple of taut, lean muscle and the swing of the mallet. Gay Polo in the Palm Beaches is positively pulsating.

“It’s more than just sitting underneath a tent watching matches. It’s about being together as a community, walking around socializing, and stomping the divots,” says Ana Lucia Zagazeta, the marketing director of the nearby Compass Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Palm Beach County (561/5339699, compassglcc.com), of the halftime tradition that has spectators take to the field and replace scuffed sod with their human hooves.

photo credit: Alex Pacheco

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and balling.” No, really. It’s OK. That’s what they call it.)

Across town on Dixie Highway in Lake Worth the mod blue waves on the walls of Compass (compassglcc.com) invite all to the 14,000 sq-ft facility, the largest LGBT community center in the Southeastern U.S. The center is the host of the areas annual Pridefest (compassglcc.com/pf.html) and is a great first stop for visitors to the county, with a fabulous and gracious staff well-versed all things “gay,” from social services to social life.

Here, you might learn about H.G. Roosters’ Monday BINGO nights (561/832-9119, Annually, the Grand Champions Polo Club hgroosters.com), the chili cook-off at Penny’s of Wellington plays host to the International at the Duke (561/318-7359), where the boys Gay Polo Week, and the horses aren’t the (of a certain era) are, aka Fort Dix (561/533only ones whinnying. It is a social scene 5355), or where the girls go, aka BLAST (Bi, unparalleled with the well-to-do, the well- Lesbian and Straight Together, meetup.com/ to-don’t , and the oh-no-she-di’ints mixing BLASTwpb). The center also hosts an array of in a festive “tailgate” setting, all to support health, discussion, social, and support groups: out players in the Sport of Kings (where it is Imagine the services of our Out Youth, perfectly acceptable, even in this context, to Project Transitions, Austin Gay & Lesbian refer to that thing polo players do as “stick Senior Services, and more, all under one roof.

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How much sweeter and easier my life would have been had Compass been around when I was a kid. I grew up in the north central part of Palm Beach County, in the small town, Riviera Beach. Away from the throb and pulse of the gay scene, Singer Island, founded by sewing machine magnate Paris Singer, is the barrier island just east of Riviera. The island is one of the best-kept-secret chill zones in South Florida. While the direct access to LGBT culture is a tad removed (the bars in West Palm and Lake Worth are about 15-30 minutes away), Singer Island is an accessible getaway. The Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort and Spa (561/340-1700, palmbeachmarriottresort.com) offers condo-style suites with incredible views and excellent conceirge service for recreational hook-ups like jet skies, rental bikes, sailing junkets, fishing cruises, and more.

again, I’d never say that in front of a Palm Beacher. Hollywood-worthy Mediterranean Revival Addison Mizner visions set the tone, with eye-popping white facades, framing majestic arches, capped by heavy red Spanish tile.

photo credit: Kate X Messer

The more subtle Brazilian Court (561/6557740, thebraziliancourt.com), an elegant hotel within a short walk to Worth Avenue, evokes similar Mediterranean influence but blended with warm and homey elements of Dutch Colonial style. Her lush courtyards and intentional quiet space provide peaceful respite to the state’s hub of high society.

Across the Intercoastal, in West Palm Beach, the gay-owned Grandview Gardens Bed & Breakfast (561/833-9023, grandviewgardens.com) provide a similar respite in an historic neighborhood and walking distance to the mainland’s bustling city center Across the inlet to the south is the island of featuring quaint cafes, stylish boutiques, Palm Beach, a time-capsule of class and eateries, theaters, and nightclubs. It’s just distinction, where discussions about 1% of a short drive back over the bridge to the the world’s 1% is no exaggeration. It’s Florida’s island of Palm Beach, wheren Thursdays, Beverly Hills, if you will, but please don’t tell gayluminatti come together at the nearby them that: Palm Beachers are a breed apart. Polo bar in the Colony Hotel for an off-thePerhaps the comparison of shopping mecca record happy hour drawing the well-heeled Worth Avenue (worth-avenue.com) to Cali’s and their colleagues.

Rodeo Drive is a bit easier to swallow, but

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SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI Can you hear the ooonce-ooonce? Can you hear the thump and flutter of the hottest DJs from around the globe setting off the fiercest floorfulls of papis and mamis turning beat into body poetry? But Miami’s not just swelteringly sexy clubs, like Twist (twistsobe.com) and MOVA (movalounge.com/miaevents.html). It’s also a living, breathing work of art.

like the Bass Museum of Art (bassmuseum.org) and festivals like Art Basel (artbasel.com), held on Miami Beach each December, and the glittering Miami Beach Gay Pride (miamibeachgaypride. com) which streams her rainbows every April.

For those with an eye for kink, the island is also home to WEAM, the World Erotic Art Museum (866/969-WEAM, weam.com).

The world renowned art deco hotels of Miami’s South Beach beckon design nerds and artists from around the planet. In addition to the island’s infamous deco tours, the Miami Design Preservation League offers a Gay & Lesbian Walking Tour (mdpl.org/tours/gay-andlesbian-walking-tour). The long slide of South Beach’s Ocean Drive is a non-stop strip of classic design, featuring awe-inspiring pleasure palaces like the Delano (morganshotelgroup.com/ delano/delano-south-beach)andtheNational (nationalhotel.com).

Despite the nightly clog of cruisers lined up along Ocean Drive (settle down, I mean in cars), taking in and showing off the sights, Miami Beach is pedestrian and bike friendly. Last summer, I took advantage of the ample, affordable, and convenient DecoBike (305/532-9494, decobike.com/miamibeach) bike rentals that have stations available on many street corners and adjacent to most points of interest, like popular pedestrian thoroughfare and shopping hotspot, Lincoln Road (lincolnroad.org).

Art is in every eyeful, from the architecture, to the fashionistas that come for modeling shoots or simply just inspiration, to galleries and museums

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The dress here is everything from beach casual to SoBe fabulous, so be fabulous, and pack a few extra snazzy shirts or dresses to take on the serious nightlife.

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TALLAHASSEE

photo credit: Shawn Bayern

The good folks of Tallahassee probably throw shade whenever anyone jokes about the shape of their capitol building in the same way that South Austinites eye-roll when people make fun of the Austin Motel sign’s errr, thrust. But someone decided it was a good idea to center a tall narrow office building right in between two ample domes. Perhaps we underestimate the architect’s wry sense of humor and political commentary.

Either way, the Florida State Capitol is a jaw dropper –especially if you’re driving in on the hilly Apalachee Parkway (Hwy27) – and filled with all sorts of fertile goodness and even a few penal codes (sorry, we couldn’t resist).

The capital of Florida is by no stretch the “gayest” city in the state. Its inclusion in this first LGBT travel section may not seem as obvious as the tropical queertopias of South Florida, et al. But any place that is home to Parliament/

Funkadelic’s George Clinton as well as rapper T-Pain (the “T” stands for Tallahassee) is cool by us. Plus, the region is home to the state’s government, two major universities – Florida State and Florida A&M – as well as its public/private tourism office Visit Florida (visitflorida.com), which features extensive LGBT resources on its site.

Public relations manager Kenneth Morgan attends the annual International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association conferences specifically to network the LGBT angle for the entire state.

The annual Tallahassee PrideFest (pridefest.familytreecenter.org) is held each year in April and hosted by the Family Tree, Tallahassee’s LGBT Community Center (850-222-8555, familytreecenter.org). As far as yearround nightlife, live music venue Rehab

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with cute uses of “K” and “Z” in their names. No more judging. I promise.

North-Central Florida is gorgeous with stately century-old trees dripping in Spanish moss, crystal clear springs, access to the Gulf, and lush rolling hills.

Whenever I pass through or plan a stop, I feel my blood pressure ease and an inner calm wash over, the way I felt upon discovering the green, yet urban, oasis of Austin back in the 1990s. And sure, political centers can raise the blood pressure on anyone, but keep Last summer, when driving through this in mind: No matter the politics Tallahassee, I had a chance to finally (and no matter your particular political check out the W Hotel’s hipster business leaning), Tallahassee has one of the class line, aLoft (866/932-6282, most educated populations in the state alofttallahassee.com) and was impressed and it shows in its thoughtful, laid-back, with the chain’s colorful streamlined welcoming attitude toward LGBT. aesthetic. It felt very much like home – or more precisely the home of one So, kick back under a live oak in your of my stylish and tidy gay boyfriends. mental chaise lounge, pour yourself Sadly, I had but one night in town, but an imaginary Sweet Tea, and make a my dinner at Kool Beanz Cafe still makes plan to drive across I-10 to meet some it onto my list of highly recommendeds. Tallahassee lassies… and their GBTQ and Their signature Black Bean Cakes and allied friends.

Tortilla-encrusted Grouper have forever changed my attitude about restaurants

AU STIN GAY & L E SB IAN

photo credit: Visit Tallahassee/aLoft Hotels

hosts the weekly Friday Relapse (facebook.com/relapseparty) produced

by Victory Productions (facebook.com/ whatvictorylookslike). On the first Fridays of each month, popular art locus Railroad Square (850/224-1308, railroadsquare. com) hosts the very open and friendly First Friday Gallery Hop. The square is home to over 80 hyper-local art studios and galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and more – kind of like a year-round Blue Genie or Armadillo Bazaar, but in an old refurbished train depot.

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The Out Youth House, Home of the Texas GSA

WRITTEN BY DAVID ESTLUND PHOTOS BY DEVAKI KNOWLES

Back row (l-r): Dana Althen, Dani Glover, Kayden Althen, Leah Montgomery, Shea Pullen.

Front row: (l-r) Jack O’Grady, Castillo.

The transgender community has been spotlighted, front and center, due to recent political events, media mishaps, and – on a somewhat positive note – some interesting role models in television and cinema, all providing opportunities for cultural conversation. Our trans brethren are often dismissed or labeled uptight when standing up for or defining themselves to folks even within the LGB and Q spectrum. It’s not so long ago that gays and lesbians were tarred in much the same way. As society becomes more sophisticated to the realities that exist in our diverse communities, sensitivity is not such a difficult goal to achieve. We can help lead the way in bridging gaps of understanding toward a world where trans people aren’t interrogated on ridiculous things, like the status of their genitalia, let alone expected to live in the dreadful knowledge that so many are beaten, raped, killed, or ignored just for being different. I had the opportunity to speak with three representatives of the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) to discuss these issues: Stephanie Guerra, Vice-Chair; Dr. Oliver Blumer, Chair; and Kayden Althen, our local Regional Coordinator, to discuss these issues.

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as GSA

David Estlund: There has been a lot of work going on politically with regard to transgender civil rights in other states, of course – such as California and Utah. What are your thoughts on Texas’ potential for progress?

Oliver Blumer: Most of the work we do is with businesses and at community meetings, doing “Trans 101,” educating on pronouns and bathroom use. California has implemented statewide law protecting transgender students’ right to participate in sports and use the bathroom according to their identity, and Utah is discussing the same. We’d be as excited as anyone to see this discussion happening here, but for now we see schools coming forward and dealing with the issue case by case. Just this fall, a student was told he had to wear a skirt for his yearbook picture, and TENT formed a coalition to inform the school that this was harassment, and the student was allowed to have his picture taken in a tuxedo. We haven’t heard much about bathrooms with students, but with adults it does come up frequently.

But let’s be honest here: These are the quick and easy fixes. 28% of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals report verbal harassment in a medical setting.

21% report being refused medical care due to bias, and 79% of trans individuals experience harassment or mistreatment at work. Nationally, 41% of trans adults and 47% of trans youth have attempted suicide.

Education programs to help our youth gain confidence within schools and churches take priority. The political movement is important, but we must constantly lay the groundwork.

Stephanie Guerra: As a charitable organization, we can provide testimony if asked, but we do not seek to influence legislation or electoral politics. We are here to educate the public. Here in the capital region, we have strong collaborative bridges with organizations like AIDS Services of Austin, allgo, and OutYouth to provide a resource toolkit to help address issues that come up.

We focus mostly on adult issues such as workplace education. We rely on OutYouth and similar organizations to help keep us in the conversation with trans youth. Through these groups we hope to show trans youth that there are teachers, people who can guide and support them through their challenges.

DE: In terms of harassment in a medical setting, haven’t the American Medical Association and American Psychological Association both moved on this issue?

OB: The AMA released two white papers in 2007 and 2008 regarding gender dysphoria and its treatment. As a medical disorder, the symptoms are all a result of being assigned a gender that does not comport with a person’s identity, and the treatment is relatively straightforward: allow the patient to transition. This is a medical treatment, and it has proven results. Transitioning, however, has many meanings: a person doesn’t necessarily need a specific regimen of hormone treatments and reassignment surgeries. A transgender person is trans before they decide to have any sort of medical procedures, and they are most atrisk as well.

In fact, many of us can’t afford any of these procedures in a legitimate medical setting, or even a roof over our heads due to systematic discrimination, and we turn to underground economies, often sex work, to survive. Because of that, trans women are at the highest risk of HIV infection.

SG: I’ve lived as a trans woman for many years, and I have not undergone every medical procedure assumed to be standard for transitioning. I have a normal life, and have had the good fortune to not experience what I see on a daily basis with clients, which, for a Latina trans woman, is three times lucky.

As far as what’s happening in the state, where we see the most movement is in schools. We get a lot of cases where students are being bullied for being gay or lesbian when their gender expression is actually the issue. Our biggest opportunity is in settings where “open and affirming” is already part of their policy, but they don’t really understand what the T in LGBT means.

We have to teach them about gender, about prejudice, and also about privilege. Those of us who have privilege within the transgender community must use that privilege to help others. We aren’t just one community, we’re a number of different communities who share one characteristic.

DE: We’ve mentioned prison populations, and Houston has been making news with its new policies regarding the treatment of trans inmates. What’s the scene like elsewhere?

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hen

SG: To my knowledge, Texas doesn’t have any cases like in Maine and Wisconsin where a trans inmate has asked for surgery, but as with any medical condition, withholding treatment goes against the rights of any incarcerated person. Just as they can’t take insulin away from a person with diabetes, they shouldn’t take away the medication that gives a person their sense of wellness and completeness. It could force them towards crisis or even suicide. Here in Dallas, our sheriff has put in place very trans affirmative policies, and I know Travis County is making inroads too.

This has to happen locally because sexual orientation and gender identity are not acknowledged at the state level.

OB: In state prisons, unfortunately, it varies from case to case, because Texas does not acknowledge these issues. If a person already has a medical record and ongoing treatment, it’s typically respected, but it can be problematic to start a regimen while incarcerated.

DE: Denying an inmate their treatment is a major plotline on Orange Is the New Black.

What do you think of the recent headlines from the show’s star, Laverne Cox, or Janet Mock’s complicated appearances on Piers Morgan Tonight?

OB: I think when there’s a movement, there are going to be people who come forward to articulate that movement’s agenda for the public. Of course they speak for themselves first; no one can speak for every transgender person’s experience, but by putting across the very facts that I’m giving you, and that Laverne Cox gave to Katie Couric, we’re making progress.

The fact that Katie Couric wanted to focus on the medical aspects just goes to show how the media wants to splash us across the screen, to make a spectacle of us.

DE: You wouldn’t ask Wilford Brimley about his insulin regimen…

Kayden Althen: It’s important to remember that the people in the media who are making these slip-ups are our self-professed allies. They aren’t necessarily hating on us. For example, the recent interview with Janet Mock: she went on the show to talk about her memoir, and it’s not that anything he said was necessarily wrong. The issue was that he was sensationalizing one aspect of her past. “She’s so beautiful, she looks like Beyoncé, can you believe she used to be a boy?” It ignores that she’s a trans woman of color representing a community that’s largely disenfranchised.

There’s so much exposure right now that I hope people are gaining an understanding that being an ally is more than asserting your position; it’s being willing to listen.

We’ll tell you how to be our ally and whether you’re living up to it. Piers Morgan considered himself an ally and was so outraged by her objections that he brought her back, not to make amends, but to prove that he was right. He had a slip-up and didn’t take the time to listen to what she was saying. You can’t just take a position about us and leave it at that.

It’s not how friendship works, and it’s not how being an ally works.

DE: Speaking of slip-ups, within our own LGBTQIA community, there are some complicated points on language and labels that trip us up and sometimes cause harm. I’m thinking of a couple of words in particular: “queer” and “tranny.”

OB: Situation is everything. What is the environment, what is the intent, what is the context? When we don’t stop to consider that, words that have this kind of nuance within a tribe can be damaging. People who take “queer” and own it, sanding the negative emotions off of it, actually draw power from their ownership. “Tranny” is the same thing. It’s used among those who would otherwise have it used against them. But you can’t use it outside of that context, like in a newspaper, or to someone in a different tribe or age group. The most important thing to remember is that the recipient of the word is not the one responsible for its impact.

OB: Right. The point is that transgender and gender nonconforming people are not treated equally here. We don’t have the same privileges, the same access to health care, housing, etc., and people need to know this. Our bodies are our business, and every time we try to humanize our stories and our situations, there is an effort KA: The only person who can truly reclaim to dehumanize us. a word is the person it’s been used against, to whom it’s done the most damage.

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“Tranny” is a word that’s primarily been used against trans women, and as a trans guy, even I’m not entitled to use it. The only people who can reclaim that word are trans women themselves. It’s thrown around a lot, but even within the queer community, it has a negative connotation.

It essentially means that someone looks like a mannish woman. It means insufficient presentation of femininity. It denies her identity, obliterating her. Even if one trans woman tells her gay friends that it’s fine, that’s not a license to throw it around indiscriminately. It may be fine for her, but there are plenty of trans women who wouldn’t appreciate that.

SG: The problem is that they have meaning, they’re contextual and nuanced, so saying they’re hurtful isn’t going to make them go away, just like the N-word.

“Tranny” has been adopted by bullies and bigots, but it came from our own population. When I was growing up, we used it to refer to ourselves, but now it’s totally inappropriate.

DE: Right, “transgendered” implies some kind of gender mishap, and “transsexual” takes you right into the Katie Couric stirrups.

SG: I think Katie Couric even used the term during her interview. It’s in the dictionary, as something like someone who changes their sex through surgery.

People think they’re being precise and politically correct when they use it, but it’s really not appropriate.

DE: Exactly: we don’t ask strangers what they’ve done with their genitalia, unless we’re on Grindr. How about “genderqueer” or “genderfuck?”

KA: As far as TENT goes, we’ve always said that anyone who has a gender has a home with us. Anyone with a gendervariant identity, even cis-gender allies, is welcome to the conversation. People sometimes experiment with gender, mock it, step outside of it, and explore it in their own ways, and it can be part of an important journey of self-discovery.

DE: I always thought it meant It’s not exactly all “transgender,” but it’s “transvestite,” like a dude in a dress. I don’t definitely in our wheelhouse. think transvestism is even considered a thing anymore; it’s just boring old straight Now that the groundwork is laid on the kinksters playing dress-up for kicks and trans community and their role in the drag queens now. larger LGBTQ movement (and our role in theirs), we can explore a little of the lived SG: Another outdated term that still gets experience of an out queer trans man. used by the media is “transsexual.” They Stay tuned for Part 2 of “T Time in Texas: seem to think it’s a medical term. My It Gets Personal,” in the June, 2014 issue father asked me if I was going to become of The Agenda, where I get uncomfortably a “full-blown transexual,” and I told him I close to Kayden Althen, Capital Area was transitioning.

Regional Coordinator for TENT. AU STIN GAY & L E SB IAN

graphic design

business branding/ brochures business services identity cards (512) 231-1321 postnet.com/tx157

Far West

DESIGN

PRINT

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mailouts

3571 Far West Blvd.

Austin, TX 78731

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Written By Andy Campbell Photos By Celesta Danger agenda-v2n3.indd 49

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I

f America’s love affair with the automobile ever needed a spokesperson, Austin’s Casey Jordan could be that guy. “I ask people what they drive. It’s a great conversation starter,” says independent automotive consultant. “If they don’t know I’m a super car guy, they think I’m trying to gauge their status, so some people get a little defensive. But once I break through that barrier, I find many reasons why people have the cars they do.”

Raised in the context of car culture (his father worked for Ford Motor Company), Jordan will tell you with an easy laugh that he’s “been into cars longer than I’ve been into men.” A self-described “car nut” Jordan’s career in automotives has passed through almost every part of the industry that accounts for approximately 4% of the United States’ GDP.

In fact, Jordan admits that, “I have spent part of my professional career in the closet, and part of it out.” Out to family and friends, Jordan knew that being out in a professional context wouldn’t always serve him. “There’s a heterosexual chestthumping vibe to the industry.” Moving to Austin in 2007, Jordan felt more at home and welcome here. For three years he served at the automotive correspondent for KVUE news, and it was in this role that Jordan began to build a public persona of the trustworthy car advice-giver.

“My first time out the door, I didn’t know where anything was going, so I kept my public persona more low-key. But after awhile, I joined the AGLCC and got more involved. KVUE was an open place, and I thought, being out wouldn’t make any difference. I didn’t want to be ‘The Gay Car Guy’; I was more interested in people

A car is freedom, opportunity, and about possibilities.

At 10 years-old, in the state of New York, Jordan began to repair cars with his father.

By the time he was in high school, he was managing used car lots. After a stint in the credit and insurance industries, Jordan provided digital infrastructure and support to dealerships via his work with Edmunds.com and ADP Dealer Services.

Oh, and he was also a part-time stunt and race car driver. “I was in Los Angeles at that time, and my former partner was with Spelling Entertainment, so I got to do a few stunts. Nothing spectacular, no fireball chases…” Jordan modestly explains. “But I’ve been a race car mechanic and driver, and that was fun.”

The automotive industry was not always a welcoming place for Jordan. While he is quick to point out that “there are quite a few gay people in the automotive industry – not necessarily more than any other industry,” many are, “not out.”

seeing me as an automotive expert.”

Viewing Jordan’s segments at KVUE, what shines most brightly is the control and confidence with which Jordan opines about cars and the automotive industry.

Able to answer the most trivial concern with equal patience and good-will as the bigger, life-changing questions, Jordan remembers his time at KVUE fondly as a time for self-growth: “I have to say that having done of over 50 segments with KVUE, it gave me a bit of cache, and after that, it was hard not to have that confidence.”

During his time at KVUE Jordan worked as an independent automotive consultant, but all of that changed one day when Jordan got a call from his friend, Lisa Copeland, general manager of Fiat of Austin, who asked him to join her team at the Austin Fiat dealership. Part of the Nyle Maxwell Chrysler family of dealerships

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(Fiat has recently fully acquired Chrysler), Austin’s Fiat dealership at the Domain has famously broken national sales records for the Fiat 500, inviting a visit by the CEO of Chrysler Group Sergio Marcchione.

Fiat’s success in Austin, Jordan is quick to point out, is predicated on two things: “The first is Lisa Copeland.” Copeland was recognized by Marchionne for leading her sales team in selling more than 100 Fiat 500s in a single month. He rewarded her with a custom hot pink Fiat Albarth.

“The second is that Austin is open to new ideas and new experiences,” says Jordan. “People in Austin are looking for something new, and they’re also looking for something stylish. Fiat makes small, city cars, and there’s a certain core of Austin that’s not looking for excess.” Is it an interest in the exotic European brand – a kind of modest Europhilia – I wondered aloud. Jordan demurs. As opposed to other places he’s lived and worked as an automotive professional he asserts, “Even though Austin is the most liberal part of Texas; Texans are Texans.”

Still, Jordan himself is a fan of all things Italian. And few things this side of Fellini, gelato, Sophia Loren, pasta, and communicating via wild hand gestures project the playful, practical, yet sleek and stylish aesthetic of Italy as well as the Fiat 500. In 2003-04, Jordan spent time in

the small Italian town of Lucca, where he learned how to cook from fresh market ingredients and visiting various sites in and around Tuscany.

Jordan feels that Fiat lends itself easily to a LGBTQ clientele, “I’ve always thought of gays and lesbians as a little more stylish and image-conscious. The Fiat 500 gives its buyers a big color palette to choose from. The Fiat 500 has a tri-color interior.

The brand gives its buyers lots of different choices, and there’s a brightness to it.”

While Jordan no longer works for Fiat of Austin – a 2013 accident broke his femur in three different places forcing him out of the workforce for now – he still speaks of his time with Fiat fondly. Now he continues his work as an independent automotive consultant, helping people with the practicalities and emotions of purchasing, repairing and selling their cars.

Citing the growing availability of choice on the car market (“Growing up there were only three brands of car to choose from – Ford, Dodge, and Chevy – now there are so many more”) and recent innovations in technology, Jordan feels certain there is a place for a practiced and knowledgeable independent automotive professional. “A car is freedom, opportunity, and about possibilities,” says Jordan, repeating a deeply mythological American mantra.

We couldn’t agree more.

51

AU STIN GAY & L E SB IAN

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AU ST IN G AY & LE S BIA N

A directory of current AGLCC members

ENTERTAINMENT

THE IRON BEAR When the teddy bears leave the picnic, they hit up their favorite party spot. 121 W. Eighth, roger@theironbear.com, theironbear.com

3 OR LESS PRODUCTIONS New, local KAREN2 BARTENDERS visual media production company.

512/897-7304, contact@3orless.com, EXTRAORDINAIRE Let these mobile bartenders take care of your next 3orless.com party. 512/537-1789, bartendersextraordinaire.com AUSTIN CHAMBER MUSIC CENTER Expanding appreciation of chamber music. 3814 Medical Pkwy, 512/454- LONE STAR LAMBDAS Boot scoot on over for a good time. 512/418-1629, 0026, austinchambermusic.org lonestarlambdas.org AUSTIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA THE LONG CENTER Home of The high art part of the Live Music Austin’s creative community.

Capital of the Planet.

512/474-5664, thelongcenter.org austinsymphony.org BRASS HOUSE AUSTIN Lounge near the Convention Center.

115 San Jacinto, 512/649-1253, brasshouseaustin.com

NJ PHOTOGRAPHS Capturing the essence of life, love, culture, and art.

208/389-8152, njphotographs@gmail. com, pinterest.com/njphotographs31

ACC GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE 254/338-5688, facebook.com/accgsa AIDS SERVICES OF AUSTIN HIV/ AIDS care in Austin. 7215 Cameron, 512/458-2437, asaustin.org AISD COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The central place for up-to-date information about the Austin Independent School District. Our mission is to build stronger links with employees, parents, families and the community. 512/414-9832, austinisd.org ALLGO Statewide resource for LGBTQ people of color. 512/4722001, allgo.org AUSTIN ART IN PUBLIC PLACES Local & national artists imbue Austin into cultural landmarks. austintexas. gov/department/art-in-public-places

OILCAN HARRY’S Made Fourth Street what it is today. Fag/fag-hag AUSTIN GAY & LESBIAN CHAMBER HQ. 211 W. Fourth, 512/320-8823, OF COMMERCE Austin’s colorful oilcanharrys.com rainbow umbrella for gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses. 512/761CELEBRATIONS EVENT PLANNING LGBT, info@aglcc.org, aglcc.org PARAMOUNT & STATE THEATRES Complete event planning for all of Premiere entertainment venues life’s celebrations. 512/567-7875, in downtown Austin. 713 Congress, AUSTIN GAY & LESBIAN PRIDE planningcelebrations.com 512/472-5470, austintheatre.org FOUNDATION Austin + Pride You = The LGBTQ community’s biggest THE CITY THEATRE COMPANY New party, fest, and parade of the year.

PREMIERE PARTY CENTRAL works, comedies, classics, and 512/468-8113, austinpride.org Rentals for tenting, specialty musicals. 3823 Airport, Ste.D, 512/524linens, glassware, flatware, decor.

2870, citytheatreaustin.org 512/292-3900 or 512/870-8552, AUSTIN GAY & LESBIAN SENIOR SERVICES To ensure everyone’s CONNECTATX Creative agency that austinpartycentral.com golden years are rainbow hued. specializes in video production and 512/628-1694, aglss.org brand development. connectatx.com SHOWLISTAUSTIN.COM A list of can’t-miss shows in Central Texas.

AMERICAN MILITARY PARTNER DEEP STACK POKER CLUB Austin’s 512/484-4708, showlistaustin.com ASSOCIATION Drop and give us 20 premiere free poker league. (hugs for partners and spouses STARBUCK WEDDINGS Minister, facebook.com/Deep-Stack-Poker-Club of LGBTQ service personnel and officiant, counselor. 512/906vets). Ten hut! 202/695-AMPA (2672), DJS FINE & DANDY W/ KATE & ANDY 0163, info@starbuckweddings.com, militarypartners.org sacredaffairs.com 100% local, 100% loungey, 100% vinyl chill. 512/217-9223, facebook.

URBAN BARTENDERS, LLC AUSTIN LGBT BAR ASSOCIATION com/djsfinedandywithkateandy Hire them for your next affair.

Working to promote and unite the LGBT 512/206-4450, UrbanBartenders.com legal community in the often byzantine DEPARTURE LOUNGE Upscale, highrealm of law. austinlgbtbar.org tech coffee and wine bar/travel agency. 311 W. Fifth, Ste.102, 512/322AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION 9399, departurelounge.com Standing in solidarity with the thin LGBT blue line. 512/474-6993, HUMMINGBIRD HOUSE Not your austinpolice.com garden variety event venue.

512/614-1953, hhouseaustin.com A*FAB Help for fellow nonprofits.

AUSTIN ROUNDUP Sobriety in the afabaustin.com LGBTQIATX. austinroundup.com CAPITAL CITY MENS CHORUS 512/477-SING, info@ccmcaustin.org, ccmcaustin.org

CIVIC

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STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF AUSTIN The Austin affiliate of the National Stonewall Democratic Federation, stonewallaustin.org

THE AU alt-new Place” c 5766, au

LIFE IN THE CITY SERVICE Broadway fills us up when we didn’t even know we were empty. 512/478-5684, fumcaustin.org

TEXAS ADVOCACY PROJECT Free legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 800/374-4673, texasadvocacyproject.org

BAD JO faceboo

LIFEWORKS Helping youth and families achieve self-sufficiency.

3700 S. First, 512/735-2400, lifeworksaustin.org

TEAM PROHOMO The beasts behind the weekly Queer Ride and other most excellent Austin adventures. teamprohomo.org

AUSTIN WEIRD CITY SISTERS Like real nuns, these sisses are all about the service (and the getting down on the knees…). weirdcitysisters. wordpress.com

LESBIAN & GAY PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION Supporting LGBT sworn, civilian, and retired members of the Austin Police Department. lgpoa-austin.org

BOBCAT PRIDE SCHOLARSHIP FUND Support for our LGBTQ Texas Staters. Go, Bobcats! bobcatpridescholarship.com THE CARE COMMUNITIES Caring for those living with HIV/AIDS and cancer. 512/459-5883, thecarecommunities.org

EQUALITY TEXAS Our front line at the LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS OF AUSTIN Texas Lege. 512/474-5475, allison@ Austin’s chapter. 512/428-5475 equalitytexas.org, equalitytexas.org THE OCTOPUS CLUB Raising the big FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH bucks through fab parties for AIDS 1314 E. Oltorf, 512/444-1314 Services of Austin. octopusclub.org faithpresaustin.org OUT YOUTH Support for our LGBTQ GATHERING PLACE WORSHIP (or questioning) kids. 909 E. 49 1/2, CENTER Bible-believing, Christ512/419-1233, out@outyouth.org, centered, spirit-filled church. 7801 N outyouth.org Lamar, 512/323-9501, gpwcaustin.org PFLAG AUSTIN Parents, Families, GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE WARRIORS and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Texas A&M’s GSA 1001 Leadership, 512/302-3524, PFLAGAustin.org Killeen, 254/501-5874 POLARI - THE AUSTIN GAY & UT AUSTIN GLBTQA BUSINESS LESBIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM STUDENT ASSOCIATION What do FESTIVAL Founded in 1987. 512/302you have in your wallet? A stash of 9889, polarifest.com $3 bills, we bet. texasgbsa.com PROJECT TRANSITIONS Serving HILL COUNTRY RIDE FOR AIDS Austin’s HIV/AIDS community.

Late-April charity bike ride.

512/454-8646, projecttransitions.org 512/371-7433, hillcountryride.org RAINFOREST PARTNERSHIP HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN – AUSTIN Tropical rainforest sustainability Steering committee of the national through civic engagement. organization. hrc.org/states/texas rainforestpartnership.org JEWISH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTIN Where Jewish living and learning can thrive. 7300 Hart Lane, shalomaustin.org

SAN ANTONIO LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Where LGBT and LGBT-friendly biz concerns in SA meet. sagaychamber.com

LEGALIZE HUMAN Envisioning a START OUT Dedicated to creating society where people are equal in all great business leaders by fostering aspects of life. 512/659-6617, legalize. LGBT entrepreneurs. startout.org human@gmail.com, facebook.com/ legalize.human

TRANSGENDER EDUCATION NETWORK OF TEXAS Educating the State of Texas about gender diversity. 877/532-6789, info@ transtexas.org, transtexas.org THE UNITED COURT OF AUSTIN, INC. Providing financial and physical support to other charitable organizations. unitedcourtofaustin.org UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH Come worship with “Austin’s progressive voice of faith.” 2130 Guadalupe, 512/478-8559, ubcaustin.org WATERLOO COUNSELING CENTER Austin’s nonprofit hub for LGBTQ support and support groups. 314 E. Highland Mall Blvd., #301, 512/4449922, waterloocounseling.org

DESIGN & MEDIA ALT CREATIVE Philanthropic design firm. 512/535-0444, info@alt-creative. com, alt-creative.com APROPOS PROMO Swaggy promotions suited to your specific needs. 10601 FM 2222 Ste R-163, 512/241-1479, 888/705-2522, apropospromo.com ART DIVA STUDIOS Rachelle Diaz: visual artist and graphic designer. artdivastudios.com

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JANA B Profess video p media f storyte 512/297

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THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE Free alt-newsweekly. Home of the “Gay Place” column and blog. 512/4545766, austinchronicle.com/gay BAD JOHNPAUL PHOTOGRAPHY facebook.com/badjohnpaul

MERCURY MAMBO Hispanic marketing agency focused experiential marketing, digital, and sales promotion. 512/447-4440, mercurymambo.com OUTCAST, KOOP 91.7 FM Tune your FM to 91.7 every Tuesday at 6pm. info@outcast.com, outcastaustin.com

JANA BIRCHUM PHOTO & VIDEO Professional photographer and video producer specializing in visual POSTNET - FAR WEST For all your media for the web. Born and bred printy needs. 3571 Far West, 512/231storyteller. Let me bring yours to life. 1321, postnet.com/austin-tx157 512/297-7821, janabirchum.com PROSOCIAL MEDIA COACHING & MARKETING Social media and BLOGPHILO NEW MEDIA Copywriting, filmmaking, and social marketing strategies. 979/229-3157, brad@prosocialmediacoach.com media consulting. 512/516-5544, brian.boyko@gmail.com, blogphilo.com THEREPUBLIQ Chase Martin is the BUMPERACTIVE Custom stickers and man about A-town’s gay-town with decals of all kinds . 8711 Burnet, Ste A-4, the 411 on what’s going on in the gAyTX. 512/200-3040, therepubliq.com 512/465-9306, bumperactive.com CHERICO CREATIVE And we mean creative. jonn@chericocreative.com, chericocreative.com

FINANCIAL ARCHER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Customized investment advice and financial planning for high-income professionals and successful families. 800/840-5946, archerim.com BB&T, BRANCH, BANKING AND TRUST Banking services to help you reach your financial goals. bbt.com BROOKS WATSON BENEFITS Group benefits, individual medical, life insurance, and 401k retirement needs.

512/320-0123, brooks@bwatsonbenefits. com, bwatsonbenefits.com COMERICA BANK Personal finance and business banking. 3801 Bee Caves Rd., 512/329-5095 comerica.com

SHWEIKI MEDIA Heavy-duty industry publishers for all your gloss AMY COOK, CPA Pride in managing and matte needs. 512/480-0860, your financial needs. 1514 Corona, shweiki.com 512/419-9696, amy@acookcpa.com, CELESTA DANGER PHOTOGRAPHY acookcpa.com flickr.com/people/celestadanger SOUL MATTERS MEDIA GROUP INTERNATIONAL A select company CRUNCH TAX SERVICES This where soul matters. 512/476-8999, crew can sort your business and FUN LOVING PHOTOS Count fjonesesq@gmail.com on Devaki Knowles to capture personal stress. 512/445-2800, your good side. 512/298-9249, crunchtaxservices.com devakiknowles@gmail.com, SPOT ON ADS Expert HD ad distribution at affordable rates. funlovingphotos.net DNA FINANCIAL GROUP Supporting Multiple delivery options available. your business growth through Closed captioning, watermarking, FLYINGDOGDESIGN Top dog David health, wealth, and accountability. and asset management services.

Carroll boasts 140 dog years of 512/573-8800, dnafinancialgroup.com 512/689-3394, spotonadsaustin.com experience. 512/914-1270, david@ flyingdogdesign.com, flyingdogdesign.com EDWARD JONES INVESTMENTS SITE STREET From the ABCs of SEO – STEPHANIE EMORY At Edward to crossing the Ts and dotting the Is Jones, our financial advisors offer GAY PLACE ONLINE Steer here, of your web presence. 3009 N. Lamar a personal approach to investing queers, for all things gay in the Ste 3, 832-8383, sitestreet.com gAyTX. 512/454-5766, gayplace@ and retirement planning to help you austinchronicle.com, austinchronicle. reach your long-term financial goals. com/gay BRENDA THOMPSON 512/442-5321, stephanie.emory@ COMMUNICATIONS Providing edwardjones.com KILLER DESIGN TX Interior design for strategic public relations a complete graphic image makeover. counsel services 512/461-5644, EDWARD JONES: MICHELLE brendathompson.com rick@killerdesigntx.com, REYNOLDS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR killerdesigntx.com Develop a strategy to help achieve TRUE-FM ONLINE LGBT RADIO your long-term financial goals. 1211 L STYLE G STYLE 512/443-3663, alisa@ Texas LGBTQ music, talk, news.

W Sixth, Ste #200, 512/480-8003, lstylegstyle.com, lstylegstyle.com truefmonline.com edwardjones.com

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MASSMUTUAL SOUTHWEST Help with decisions for long-term financial success. 512/527-0671, southwest.massmutual.com

TITLEMAX Getting you the most bill$ for your car title since 1998.

8505 Springdale, 512/605-6037, ricky. guerrero@titlemax.biz, titlemax.biz

NEW YORK LIFE Life and longterm WORTHPOINTE WEALTH care nsurance, annuities, and mutual MANAGEMENT Award-winning funds. aeford@ft.newyorklife.com investment manager and advisor.

512/445-2800, wpwm.com NP FINANCIAL Individual and small businesses insurance. 512/567VISA INC. Global payments tech 0681, n.pastuhov1@gmail.com, company. visa.com bestinsurancecheap.com WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE SCHULZE & ASSOCIATES, INC. Over Steven Parrish, private mortgage 30 years of financial experience. banker. 512/703-0333, steven.

512/371-1040, cole@ledgersheet.net, parrish@wellsfargo.com, ledgersheet.net needamortgage.com THE SOLOMON GROUP Services for everyone regardless of financial status. 5508 W. Hwy 290, Ste. 300, 512/484-9578, afowlkes@ solomonwealth.com, solomonwealth.com SOUTHERLAND & ASSOCIATES An independent insurance and financial services firm. 1715 Capital of Texas Hwy. Ste 201, 512/329-0108, saprotects.com STRATEGIC PAYMENT SYSTEMS Fullservice and cost effective solutions for payment needs. 2013 Wells Branch, 512/807-7015, spsinfo.com

BAR MIRABEAU & RESTAURANT JEZEBEL Genteel atmosphere and delicious menu. 800 W Sixth, Ste 100, barmirabeau.com

FROT VO your mo hole? Fr operate

BEEF CAKE SHOP Classic comfort foods and familiar flavors custom crafted into delicious bite-sized patties. 512/554-4849, beefy@ beefcakeshop.com, facebook.com/ beefcakeshop

GENUIN and ner 2001 W. genuine

CAPITAL CITY BAKERY All-vegan cupcakes and other small pastries that everyone can enjoy. 512/6667437, capitalcitybakery.com CHARLIEE’S HOT SPOT The only Puerto Rican food truck in Austin. 74 Rainey, 818/255-8110, charlieeshotspot.com

WERLE CONSULTING LLC Texas CPA. Invididuals & business. Tax preparation & planning. Bookkeeping. CHEZ ZEE AMERICAN BISTRO Consulting. 512/937-2776, joseph@ Romancing Austin since 1988. 5406 werleconsulting.biz, werleconsulting.biz Balcones, 512/454-2666, chez-zee.com

FOOD ALFRED’S CATERING Seasoned seasoning pros so thorough, “you’ll be a guest at your own party!”

512/785-8416, alfred@alfredcatering. com, BeAGuest.net

DUE FORNI PIZZA & WINE Two ovens.

Two styles of pizza: Neopolitan and Roman. 30 outstanding wines by the glass. 106 E. Sixth, 512/391-9300, dueforni.com EL SOL Y LA LUNA A great place to bring your amigas y amigos for some of the best Migas on the planet. 600 E. Sixth, 512/444-7770, elsolylalunaaustin.com

GUSTO BAR Ev cuisine.

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FROT VODKA Fraught about where your money goes at a local watering hole? Fret not. LGBT owned and operated. 512/966-4174, frotvodka.com

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GENUINE JOE COFFEEHOUSE LGBT and nerd haven up in the ‘burbs.

2001 W. Anderson, 512/220-1576, genuinejoecoffee.com

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GUSTO ITALIAN KITCHEN + WINE BAR Everyday flavors of Italian cuisine. 4800 Burnet, 512/4581100, info@gustoitaliankitchen.com, gustoitaliankitchen.com IN GOOD TASTE CATERING & DESIGN Make sure everyone leaves your shindig saying “Omnom-nom.” 512/825-7573, john@ ingoodtaste-catering.com, ingoodtastecatering.com KREMER CREATIONS German cuisine from Kremer’s kitchen to your table. 512/589-1064 SATAY RESTAURANT Fine South Asian cuisine. 3202 W. Anderson, Ste.205, 512/467-4731, satayusa.com THIRD BASE SPORTS BAR Locally owned bar/restaurant. 9600 S IH 35 ; 13301 Hwy 183,B ldg E; 3107 S IH 35, Round Rock, thirdbaseaustin.com

HEALTH & FITNESS ALPHA MEDICAL MASSAGE & REHABILITATION Massage the pain away. 595 Round Rock West Dr, Ste 601, Round Rock, 512/366-5483, alphamedicalmassage.com AUSTIN GAMBLERS BOWLING LEAGUE We promised ourselves that we would not make cheap jokes about balls. But come on, you know they’ve got big ones. 512/786-4013, austingamblers@gmail.com, facebook. com/austin.g.league

AUSTIN GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE Bounce balls. Shoot hoops. Sign up to play or come out and support. 512/8146495, info@atxgbl.com, atxgbl.com

HAUSMAN CHIROPRACTIC & ACUPUNCTURE Your body can heal without the use of traditional medication. 8015 Shoal Creek, Ste.110, 512/4191000, drrobhausman@gmail.com, AUSTIN TENNIS CLUB For LGBT people who ‘love’ to make a racquet. hausmanchiropractic.com austintennisclub.com HUMAN MACHINE ATHLETIC CLUB BODY BRITE A variety of Private training studio that offers treatments to ake your skin experienced, certified trainers shimmer. 3701 Guadalupe, Ste.105, for one-on-one and small group 512/454-2639, bodybriteusa.com personal training. All ages and fitness levels. 512/765-6025, humanmachinetraining.com RUSS BOYD, MA, NCC, LPC INTERN Psychotherapist working with the gay community. 512/632-4731, DEREK LEIGHTON, LMFT, LPC, NCC, russboydcounseling.com CGP Promotes “healthy sexuality” and a better outlook on life. 3534 CAPITOL DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES Bee Caves #114, 512/658-2960, Comprehensive dermatologic care leightontherapy.com for patients of all ages. 11410 Jollyville #2101, 512/345-8688, capderm.com JEFF LUTES COUNSELING & CONSULTING, LLC Psychotherapist CITY OF AUSTIN HEALTH & HUMAN in private practice with a specialty in helping LGBT couples. 512/419-0600, SERVICES HIV counseling, testing, contemporarycouples.com and outreach. 15 Waller, 512/9725580, omar.lopez@austintexas.gov, austinhiv.com PIAZZA CENTER FOR PLASTIC SURGERY AND ADVANCED SKIN CARE Cosmetic and reconstructive DR PEA’S ACTIVE HEALTH CENTER plastic surgery. 512/288-8200, Safe and affordable alternatives practiceadmin@thepiazzacenter.com, to toxic drugs and surgery. 1309 thepiazzacenter.com/blog Singleton, 512/289-3225, drpeas@ gmail.com, drpea.com RODAN+FIELDS DERMATOLOGISTS FAMILY TREE DENTAL GROUP Keep The creators of Proactiv. 512/844your choppers in tip-top ship-shape. 6514, suzyjuncker.myrandf.biz 5310 Burnet, Ste. 108, Austin, 200 N. Red Bud, Round Rock, 512/458-5999, SALUS CHIROPRACTIC Helping familytreedentalgroup.com people of all ages live healthy lives, free from pain and illness. 512/2555252, drditto@saluschiropractic.com CATHERINE M FORD, PHD, PSYCHOLOGIST Psychotherapy for adults: individuals, couples/ SOUTH AUSTIN MEDICAL CLINIC family, group, grounded in Family medicine clinic, we see all psychological science and offered in ages 2555 Western Trails, 512/892a conversational style. Specializing 6600, southaustinmed.com in GLB concerns. 512/842-2223, catherine-ford.com SOFTBALL AUSTIN Players of all expertise levels wait on-deck at HAND & STONE MASSAGE & FACIAL their turn to bat more than just eyelids. softballaustin.org SPA Professional massage, facial, and hair removal services. tevans@ handandstone.com, handandstone.com

Insurance Agency home | auto | commercial | life

Ian Punjwani Licensed Sales Agent 3435 Greystone Dr Ste 107 Austin, TX 78731 Office (512) 345-0005 ianpunjwani@allstate.com

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TEXAS GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION HARRISON INSURANCE AGENCY INC. This is Texas, darlin’. Of course there Jenny offers over 19 years of is a gay rodeo. 214/346-2107, tgra.org experience – and customer loyalty – to back up the statement: “We’re TEXAS MAMMA JAMMA RIDE here if you need us, but let’s hope Awareness and much needed funds you don’t!” 512/377-6869, harrisonfor folks coping with breast cancer. insurance.com mammajammaride.org LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE URBAN DENTISTRY Offering state Competitively-priced. One of the of the art, gentle dentistry in a safe few companies in the industry to environment. 512/440-5900, admin@ recognize domestic partnerships. urbandentistry.com, urbandentistry.com 512/591-2172, ethan.mckay@ libertymutual.com, libertymutual.com/ VOLLEYBALL AUSTIN Come out ethan-mckay to set and spike the night away with these volley-lovin’ Q-ballers.

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE volleyballaustin.com Personalized insurance and financial services. 512/360-8497, nationwide.com WHITEHEAD CHIROPRACTIC Providing fast, gentle and effective relief. 5775 Airport #300, 512/4510115, whiteheadchiro.com

LEGAL

WORK IT PERSONAL TRAINING Get off your butt, and get fit. 512/4262336, info@workittraining.com, workittraining.com

INSURANCE

BARNETT & GARCIA, PLLC Collecting debts and representing businesses in litigation. 3821 Juniper, Ste.108, 512/266-8830, barnettgarcia.com BRENNER LAW OFFICE Estate and family legal services for the Austin LGBT community. 512/217-8289, ebrenner@bajb.com, brennerattorney. com

CHRISTINE HENRY ANDRESEN, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Any family lawyer who puts a portrait of the Addams Family on her website is A-OK with us. 905 W. Oltorf, Ste. C, 512/394-4230, cha@chalaw.com, chalaw.com BUTCHER & CALLAGHAN, P.C. Business law, family law, and estate planning. 1504 West, 512/861-2294, butchercallaghan.com CAPPS LAW FIRM It’s all about family. And keeping it legal. 7718 Wood Hollow, Ste. 205, 512/338-9800, cappslawfirm.com CYPERT LAW FIRM Dedicated to assisting the Texas LGBT community with estate planning, probate, guardianship, and business law needs. 1016 MoPac, 512/5355008, texasdomesticpartnership.com LAW OFFICE OF KELLEY J. DWYER It’s your estate. It’s your business. Make sure they are protected, legally. 9442 Capital of Texas, Ste 500-159, 512/3433630, dwyerlawaustin.com

THE LAW OFFICE OF VIRGINIA W. GREENWAY Defense for people accused of crimes – from simple traffic up to first degree felonies.

ALLSTATE INSURANCE Home, auto, 811 Nueces, 512/573-3221, vwglaw@ commercial, and life insurance 512/345-0005 CAROLE CALLAGHAN LAW Providing austin.rr.com, virginiagreenway.com estate planning and probate JAN JACKSON, ATTORNEY, PLLC BRITTON & BRITTON Local allies services for the LGBT community.

Probate and estate planning with an service all your insurance needs at 512/861-2294, csclawaustin.com emphasis on trusts. 106 E. Sixth Ste. the best possible rate. 512/334-6330, 900t, 512/658-1784 512insurance.com

LAW FIR Special arts. 11 512/476

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LAW FIRM OF FRANCÉS J. JONES Specializing in entertainment and arts. 1108 Lavaca, Ste 110-405, 512/476-8999 LEE, GOBER & REYNA - LAW FIRM “Family” lawyers who handle family, personal injury, and criminal matters.

11940 Jollyville, Ste 220, 512/478-8080, rwleelaw.com LYTTLE LAW FIRM, PLLC Immigration attorney with experience on LGBT legal issues. 1524 S. I-35, Ste.175, 512/215-5225, austinimmigrationlawyerblog.com JORGESON PITTMAN LLP Central Texas Family Law and Estate Planning Law firm. 512/320-0999, jptexaslaw.com LAW OFFICE OF KENT SCHUSTER Personal and business law firm.

979/279-5118, schuster442@gmail.com SHEFMAN LAW GROUP PC Personal injury trial lawyers. 1002 West, 512/386-8117, lenore@shefman-law. com, shefmanlawgroup.com

nestled on the shores of Lake Travis. homes/lifestyles. 3571 Far West #226, 512/639-8838, jeffarnold.realtor@ 101 Lakeway, 512/261-7396, gmail.com, TexasLandAndLifestyle.com gschneider@lakewayresortandspa. com, lakewayresortandspa.com AUSTIN HOMES REALTY Real estate brokerage making finding realty RADISSON HOTEL AND SUITES in Austin a reality. 512/507-8252, AUSTIN DOWNTOWN Ideally situated in downtown Austin. 111 E. austinhomesrealty.com Cesar Chavez, 512/473-1529 radisson. com/austin-hotel-tx-78701/txaustdt AUSTIN REAL ESTATE AGENT AT SKY REALTY AUSTIN - TEAM ENSOR SHERATON AUSTIN HOTEL Professional services for buyers, sellers, and leases. 4501 Spicewood Distinctively modern architecture, majestic downtown views, and warm, Springs, Ste.1029, 512/522-8196, friendly service with a prime location: morganmatthewe@gmail.com, next door to the famed Capitol and just SkyRealtyAustin.com steps from the University of Texas, Sixth Street/Warehouse District, AARON W BEEMAN - CENURY21 and more. 701 E.11th, 512/404-6942, SUNSET REALTORS Hill Country sheratonaustin.com proud, Fredericksburg friendly. 408 W Main, Fredericksburg, 210/884-7654, aaronbeeman@me.com

PETS

MUD PUPPIES Boarding, grooming, playcare, dog wash, and training.

12233 FM620 N. Ste.110-A, 512/2492498, edward@mud-puppies.com, facebook.com/pages/Mud-Puppies

ATTORNEY ERIC TORBERSON Criminal Defense attorneys. 512/340- PAWS & MORE Sit! Humans sit with 7300, attorneyeric1@gmail.com your pups and kits and more. While you’re away, your mice and gerbils and sugargliders will play. 512/6953131, pawsandmore.com

LODGING

HILTON AUSTIN Towering 31 floors in the heart of the city, Hilton Austin is the largest hotel in the downtown area. Signature service along with high tech conveniences and local charm. 500 E. Fourth, 512/682-2826, austin.hilton.com

PEOPLE AND PETS ENERGETICS LLC Energy health & wellness coach that helps people and their animals. 210/7752696, peopleandpetsenergetics.com

KELLI M. BURNS, REALTOR 12+ years in the industry. 1801 S. Mopac, Ste.100, 512/423-2242, kellimburns.com CASTLE & COOKE MORTGAGE, LLC Using the latest technology, application to funding takes only eight days. castlecookemortgage.com JOHN DOUCETTE, REALTOR DOUCETTE PROPERTIES From downtown to Westlake and beyond.

512/828-2604, DoucetteProperties@ gmail.com, DoucetteProperties.com DICK DUNBAR: YOUR HOME LOAN EXPERT Residential and commercial mortgages. 512/323-2644, dick@ dickdunbar.com

TRAINING BY TARA LLC Specializes in BILL DUNHAM, REALTOR AT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY “misunderstood” dogs. 512/402HOMESERVICES TEXAS REALTY 4229, trainingbytara.com Diligence and intuition in finding the perfect home to fit clients needs and desires. 512/940-1886, facebook.com/ realtor.billdunham

HYATT REGENCY AUSTIN Perfect balance of the city’s vibrant energy and resort-like tranquility. 208 Barton Springs, 512/480-2036, christi.rein@ hyatt.com, austin.hyatt.com ARNOLD, JEFF - TEXAS LAND & LIFESTYLE LLC Working with everyone LAKEWAY RESORT & SPA AAA Four from 1st time home buyers/sellers Diamond award-winning resort to seniors looking to rightsize their

REAL ESTATE

THE GAFFORD GROUP AT KELLER WILLIAMS Specializing in Round Rock, Cedar Park. and surrounding areas.

512/439-3768, TheGaffordGroup.com

Helping people of all ages live happy, healthy lives without pain or illness.

15004 Avery Ranch Blvd. A|200 ~ Austin, 78717 saluschiropractic.com ~ 512.255.5252

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BRANDI HALE - INDEPENDENCE TITLE COMPANY Licensed directly in 22 counties and supported by every major underwriter in the U.S. 901 S Mopac, Plaza II, Ste.150, 512/329-5299, independencetitle.com

KRIEGEL & ASSOCIATES REALTOR Make your buying or selling experience special. 512/547-9525

MAGNUM PROPERTY INSPECTIONS Pre-transaction inspections for business and home. 512/560-5967, TROY HANNA, PRESIDIO Representing magnumpropertyinspections.com the realty interests of Austin’s LGBT community for over a decade. 1701 W. MAGPIE GROUP Building homes Koenig, 512/659-7093 that Austinites want to live in.

512/814-7562, magpiehomes.com JAN HILL MORTGAGE Help you with your financial homeownership needs. MIDTOWN INDEPENDENCE TITLE 512/431-5223, jhill@janhillmortgage.

When you cross the threshold into com, janhillmortgage.com home owning this LGBT-owned co, has got you covered. 3009 N. Lamar, DENNY HOLT REALTORS Working 512/459-1110, midtowntitle.com with buyers and sellers in all price ranges. 8708 Primrose, 512/694-1103, MISSION RESOURCES Real Estate. denny@dennyholt.com, dennyholt.com Investments. Community. 512/5415826, missionresourcestexas.com HULSE PROPERTY GROUP AT KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY Michael Hulse MARK MOECKEL - CHICAGO TITLE - Realtor, Hulse Property Group OF TEXAS, LLC For over 160 years, at Keller Williams. 1801 S. Mopac, expertise in Title Insurance, deep in Ste. 100, 512/689-0867, michael@ the heart of Texas. 4310 Spicewood michaelhulse.net, searchaustintxhomes. Springs, Ste 100, 512/345-6525, net chicagotitleaustin.com JACOBS & MIKESKA REALTORS Proudly Supporting the LBGT Community for 20 years!

512/462-1866, AusTXrltrs@aol.com, jacobsandmikeska.com

LESLIE NEGRON - KELLER WILLIAMS The needs of the client always prevails. 12515-8 Research #100, 832/884-7738, lnegron@kw.com, lnegron.kwrealty.com

KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD HOMES Offering unique solutions for unique situations. 512/297-3442, theresa@keepaustinweirdhomes.com, keepaustinweirdhomes.com

BRADLEY POUNDS, WATTERS INTERNATIONAL REALTY Guaranteed Sale Program for sellers and Buyer Advantage Program for buyers. 7801 N. Capital of TX, Ste. 220, 512/736-3353, BradleyPounds.AustinTexasResidence.com

RIVER & OAKS REALTY LLC Stacy Bass specializes in outlying areas, like Driftwood, Lakeway, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, and more.

512/413-7893, stacybassrealtor.com RON REDDER, PRESIDIO With over 18 years experience, he might just be on to something. 1701 W. Koenig, 512/657-8674, ron@presidiogroup.com, presidiogroup.com SARAH SCHOENFELDER, REALTOR Texas and California real estate licenses and specialize in residential real estate with a sub-specialty in investment properties and redevelopment projects.

512/343-4400, sjschoenfelder@gmail.com, simplyaustinhomes.com THE STAGING GUY Gussy up your home to make it irresistable to prospective buyers. 7310 Manchaca Rd #152936 , 512/537-4489, thestagingguy. com

RETAIL & FASHION ANNA LANI MAKEUP UT Technical Theatre grad lives to see creative theatre, film, and print projects manifest. 361/442-3206, facebook. com/AnnaLaniMakeup BLUE GENIE ART BAZAAR An Austin tradition during the holiday shopping season, open daily 10am10pm, through December 24th

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CAPRA shoppin tailoring Ste.110,

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6226 Middle Fiskville, 512/222-7303, bluegenieartbazaar.com

GREAT OUTDOORS All things outdoors. 2730 S Congress, 512/4482992, GreatOutdoorsNursery.com

ACE AUCTION COMPANY Going once, going twice, sold! . 512/ 219-0209, aceauctioncompany.com

CAPRA AND CAVELLI Exception shopping, quality clothing, and tailoring since 1995. 3500 Jefferson Ste.110, 512/450-1919, capracavelli.com

PACKAGE AUSTIN & TAPELENDERS High end men’s athletic clothes, swimwear, and underwear.

1114 W. Fifth, #201, 512/472-0844, packagemenswear.com

ALL BRITE POOL SERVICE Proudly serving CenTX for over 20 years.

512/567-1596, allbritepoolservice.com

COCO COQUETTE Wig out to look as divine as Divine. The higher the hair, PRIDE SOCKS How better to rock the closer to Gawd. 2109 E. Cesar one’s inner unicorn than to don Chavez, coco-coquette.com hooves in rainbow tubes of stretchy, nostalgic comfort? pridesocks.com COSMIC CONSIGNMENT A variety of antique, vintage and Q TOYS Phthalate-free, artisanal, contemporary furniture as well and high quality sex toys will nake as used musical instruments and you come… back for more. 512/772musical equipment. 512/547-6549 1614, qtoysaustin.com FASCINATIONS Premier intimacy enhancing retailer encouraging exploration of sexual health. 7816 Burnet, 866/386-5683, yourfascinations. com FIAT OF AUSTIN The nation’s number one Fiat dealer. Ask for chamber member Casey Jordan.

11011 Domain Ste.124, 512/2283428, cjordan@nylemaxwell.com, fiatofaustin.com THE FLOWER STUDIO Stay out of the doghouse with a lovely arrangement. 1406 W Sixth, 512/2360916, cobyneal.com

REGALÉ FINE JEWELRY Jewelry retail, repair, and service concierge.

512/442-2500, RegaleJewelry.com

ARRANGING IT ALL Professional organizer s. info@arrangingitall.com ATRIA AT THE ARBORETUM An active lifestyle senior living center with spectacular views and upscale amenities. 512/346-4900, atriaseniorliving.com/atria-at-thearboretum-austin-tx/ AUSTIN AREA LANDSCAPING Residential and commercial lawn and landscaping services. 512/487-8820

AUSTIN QUEER WEDDINGS Erica Nix wedding photography. Over a decade experience working with SOUTH CONGRESS BOOKS Used, collectible, vintage, and unique books “family.” austinqueerweddings.com and paper. 1608 S. Congress, 512/9168882, southcongressbooks.com B2 MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING From setting up a new office to day-to-day bookkeeping to special projects, we will bring our expertise and over 25 years of legal management experience to support you and your firm. 512/381-1500, b2-mgmt.com A-ONE ELECTRIC Full “circuit” of residential and commercial electrical services. 512/497-1513, aoneelectric@ hotmail.com, aoneelectricaustin.com

SERVICES

Hassle Free Printing We Take Printing Seriously…Not Ourselves.

SHWEIKI Visit us at www.shweiki.com Email samplEs@shwEiki for a frEE quotE or call 512-480-0860

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BLUE DRAGON PLUMBING No extra charge for 24/7 service. No word on fire-breathing. 512/947-2491, gilbert@bluedragonplumbing.com, bluedragonplumbing.com BOB SALON Welcoming, positive energy and approachable luxury.

3703-A Jefferson, 512/914-7078

GARBO SALON AND SPA Eclectic, colorful, urban eco-friendly salon ready to serve you with professional, cutting edge art-work that expresses you, not a clone, seven days a week.7739 Northcross, Ste K-L, 512/4584162, garboasalon.com

SPAREFOOT SpareFoot, based in Austin, TX, operates the country’s largest online marketplace for selfstorage. 512/705-6208, sparefoot.com SPECIALTY SPEED AUTOMOTIVE Quality used cars, mechanic work, and paint and body repair. 512/318-2895, specialtyspeedauto.com

GLOBAL SEDANS, INC. Late-model sedans, SUVs, and 9-passenger CENTRAL TEXAS IMPORT CAR REPAIR Lincoln Town Car limousines. 512/416- SUPERSHUTTLE & EXECUCAR OF 512/560-5967 5466, kingdomcls.com AUSTIN Your choice of shared-ride van or a premier luxury sedan to/from CÉBÉ IT & KNOWLEDGE HE’S FOR ME Find me a find a match, the airport. 512/929-3900 MANAGEMENT LLC Information and catch me a catch! Make a match, you knowledge management. 7118 Las busy gay professional. 300 Guadalupe TAILORED TEAM Let TT unlock your Ventanas, 281/460-3595, cebe-itkm.com Ste. 200, 855/443-7463, H4M-Austin.com company’s full potential through their informative and fun training CITY OF AUSTIN SMALL BUSINESS JACKIE HUBA Author, keynote courses. 1103 Ridgecrest, 512/563-3845, DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Assistance speaker, business consultant 512/394- bartnaustin@aol.com, jblmicrotraining.com and business solutions to emerging 8832, jackiehuba.com small businesses. 512/974-7800, STEVEN TOMLINSON Strategic austintexas.gov/department/smallINTELLIGENT LIGHTING DESIGN communications consultant for business-development-program Cutting edge iDesign LED lighting Fortune 500 companies. series for special events and st@steventomlinson.com, CITY OF AUSTIN ECONOMIC weddings. 5002 Burelson, 512/553-4226, steventomlinson.com DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT events@ildlighting.com, ildlighting.com Cultural arts, music, international BUD TWILLEY LANDSCAPES and emerging technology programs. LJB SERVICES Personal assistance Landscape design and installation 512/974-7819, austintexas.gov/ office management, landscaping, 512/708-1640, budtwilleylandscapes.com department/economic-growth house and pet sitting, general property maintenance and cleaning. ljbaus@ WINESHOP AT HOME In-home or COOK-WALDEN Celebrate your loved yahoo.com In-office tastings and sales. 4800 Twin one with a funeral and memorial Valley, 512/750-7722, wineshopathome. service befitting of the life lived.

MCSWAIN CONSULTING,LLC com/christinebird 512/971-2449, cook-walden.com Marketing consultant. 512/750-4919, jennifer_mcswain@att.net TIM YOUNG One-stop shop for CROWN TROPHY - NORTH AUSTIN increasing your business: product Corporate, golf, educational and MILLER-STEPHENS AND ASSOCIATES creation and funnels, Internet and religious awards, trophies, plaques, Focused on non-profit, healthcare and creative marketing, social media, press gavels, promotinal products, medals, social change initiatives. 512/422-6030, releases, copywriting, and more. 1216 ribbons, acrylics, crystal, name millerstephens.com E. Seventh, 443/722-3286, timyoungjd@ badges, and much more. 512/506-9790, gmail.com, milliondollarpizzaparty.com crowncentral@gmail.com, crowntrophy. NATIVE EDGE LANDSCAPE, LLC com/store-122 Creating responsible landscapes for a sustainable future. 512/507A CUT ABOVE, MAINTENANCE, 2006, info@nativeedgelandscape.com, REMODEL + DESIGN Specializing in expresslawnaustin.com reducing the stress and increasing the joy of home ownership. 512/413-2129, NEW QUEST STAFFING SOLUTIONS BALBOA TRAVEL, INC Ranked among linkedin.com/pub/caleb-thompson/89/ Staffing resource and office solutions the nation’s top 1% of travel companies aab/7a0 at your service. 210/884-3321, and are IATA, CLIA, Virtuoso & a g.drake@newquestss.com founding ASTA member. 512/732ETCH OF CLASS Awards in most media: 9400, balboavacations.com glass, metal, wood, acrylic, stone.

NOETIC OUTCOMES CONSULTING 512/785-4435, etchofclass.com Business management doc diagnoses COMPASS GAY & LESBIAN COMMUNITY and prescribes ways to assist.

CENTER OF PALM BEACH COUNTY EXCEL GLOBAL PARTNERS Solutions 5501-A Balcones #136, 512/386-1402, 561/533-9699, compassglcc.com to help accelerate and grow noeticoutcomes.com your business and navigate it CENTURY TRAVEL Luxury through change. 512/501-1155, PERSONALI-T-Z T-shirt printing with providers worldwide, first class. excelglobalpartners.com no minimum and no set up fees.

2714 Bee Cave #101, 512/327-8760, 512/ 400-5023, personali-t-z.com centurytravelaustin. com FRI Interior design and business furniture dealer. 9737 Great Hills #305, POWER OF TWO PROMOTIONS KEY WEST BUSINESS GUILD & THE 512/371-1232, fri-texas.com We can put your logo on almost GAY KEY WEST VISITOR CENTER anything! PTwoPromo.com 800/535-7797, gaykeywestfl.com, FRIENDLY CAR CARE Earth-friendly, kwbgonline.org community-friendly, and people RAINBOW SPECTRUM MEDIA Screen (LGBT)-friendly. 9110 Burnet, 512/821- printing and embroidery. terry@ VISIT FLORIDA 3300, friendlycarcare.com rainbowspectrummedia.com visitflorida.com/lgbt

T a A

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SEND OUT CARDS Custom greeting cards to get your business noticed.

512/789-0267, getcardedonline.com

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