O&AN February 2013

FEB 2013

VOLUME 12 I ISSUE 2

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Rocketown employee allegedly fired for wearing pro-same-sex marriage T-shirt

by JOSEPH BROWNELL, CONTRIBUTING WRITER jbrownell@outandaboutnewspaper.com

Wes Breedwell, a seven-year employee of Christian music venue Rocketown, alleges he was fired from his job after wearing a T-shirt with a prosame-sex marriage message.

The news became viral after Breedwell posted a picture of the T-shirt in question on his personal Twitter account.

Jacquelyn Marushka, a publicist for Rocketown founder Michael W. Smith, released the following statement: “Rocketown does not comment on personnel issues, but, generally speaking, an employee would not be fired for expressing opinions on marriage,” Marushka said. “At Rocketown we are welcoming and accepting of all youth. We reach out to all kids, are inclusive and very much care about acceptance of youth from

different ethnicities, sexual orientations, financial backgrounds and religions.

Our mission is to provide a safe and drug-free environment where kids are welcomed, accepted and loved.”

Although Tennessee has no employment protection laws based upon sexual orientation, Breedwell is a community ally and identifies as heterosexual.

The Tennessee Equality Project has called on Rocketown to reverse its decision. “Our stake in it is the message sent to the youth that seek a safe space in Rocketown,” TEP’s Chris Sanders shared.

Breedwell has hired legal representation regarding his dismissal. Stay up to date with the latest developments at www. outandaboutnewspaper.com. O&AN

Photo from Wes Breedwell’s Instagram: @wesbreedwell Got fired from Rocketown today. Social media is what did it. So here is a picture to show my support for equality and free speech including social media.

Cheers to my friends for having my back through all of this. #sevenyears

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A letter from the new managing editor

615-246-2787 PHONE 615-596-6210

Brownell to take reins after national search To The Tennessee GLBT Community, There’s a change in the air for everyone. Who am I, you may ask? Let me take a moment to introduce myself.

My name is Joseph Brownell and while for the last decade I’ve called Atlanta my home, working tirelessly in the GLBT community and community at-large to foster unity, acceptance and showcase our successes as much as our struggles, it is with a frenzied enthusiasm that I become a Nashville resident.

But this isn’t the important part.

The bigger question is who are you?

As I prepare to make the transition to Managing Editor of Out & About Newspaper, that is the question I hope to successfully answer. See without readers O&AN wouldn’t have celebrated its 10year anniversary in October. If I have my way in another decade someone will be writing that same exact sentence again.

So what can you expect to see from O&AN next year? Well, in some ways, I hope what you see isn’t too far removed from what you’ve seen from us over the past couple of years. You can still count

on O&AN to provide you breaking news relevant to your experience as members of the GLBT community as well as the community spotlights that have helped us shine over the past decade. But as I said there is a change in the air for everyone and that includes us.

I’ll always remember that this publication is nothing without you, our readers. I want to know what you want to see in 2013. Email me at joseph@ outandaboutnewspaper.com with your comments and suggestions . . . even if you haven’t picked up a copy in a while, tell me why. I look forward to working with our community as we embark on a new year here. O&AN

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Out & About Newspaper welcomes volunteer writers, photographers and videographers throughout the year. If you’re interested in contributing to our publication, send an email to editor@outandaboutnewspaper.com with a resume, contact information and samples of your work if available. Our volunteer staff is unpaid, but contributors do receive credit for their work in our print publication and online. Those seeking an internship in journalism or mass communications are strongly encouraged to apply.

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LEGAL

Out & About Newspaper strives to be a credible community news organization by engaging and educating our readers. All content of Out & About Newspaper is copyrighted 2012 by Out & About Nashville, Inc. and is protected by federal copyright law and shall not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. All photography is licensed stock imagery or has been supplied unless otherwise credited to a photographer and may not be reproduced without permission. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representations does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of the person or persons.

Out & About Newspaper accepts unsolicited material but cannot take responsibility for its return. The editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit and submission. All rights revert to authors upon publication. The editorial positions of Out & About Newspaper are expressed in editorials and in the editor’s notes as determined by the editor. Other opinions are those of writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Out & About Newspaper or its staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged but may be edited for clarity and length. All letters sent may not be published.

Out & About Newspaper only accepts adult advertising within set guidelines and on a case by case basis.

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BNA Talent Group seeking nominations for Nashville INSPIRATIONAL Person of the Year Award

Foster Care PATH class set to start April 25

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& About Newspaper are not eligible for nomination BNA Talent Group's Nashville INSPIRATIONAL Person of the Year The nomination process Award presented with Out & About is being held exclusively on Newspaper, introduced this year, is outandaboutnewspaper.com. Any other meant to recognize one Nashville-metro form of nomination will not be accepted resident, that during 2012 inspired or reviewed. Nominations will be kept you and others in Nashville in a truly confidential, only being reviewed by meaningful and impactful way. the non-disclosed award selection “It's been a goal of mine to committee. Nomination period begins celebrate inspirational individuals on Feb 1 and ends at 11:59 p.m. March since launching my talent agency in 25. The recipient of the award will be Nashville,� Robbins said, owner of notified, by March 27.

BNA Talent Group. “This award gives The recipient and one guest will us the opportunity to recognize and be invited to attend the 2013 Nashville thank the people in our community that GLBT Chamber of Commerce provide inspirational moments, EXCELLENCE in BUSINESS actions or the impetus for all of Awards presented by CURB us to become better.�

Records, on April 3 at the The 2013 Nashville Schermerhorn Symphony INSPIRATIONAL Person Center, as esteemed guests of of the Year award will BNA Talent Group and Out & be recognized during a About Newspaper. special segment of the 2013 “I am absolutely thrilled Nashville GLBT Chamber of Scan the QR code to partner with Out and to nominate Commerce EXCELLENCE About Newspaper to present in BUSINESS Awards presented by this award, because of the track record CURB Records, on April 3 at The of excellence in media over the past Schermerhorn Symphony Center. This 10 years, as well as the commitment to award does not require Nashville GLBT local coverage this publication offers in Chamber of Commerce membership, print and online,� Robbins said. nor does it require a specific sexual Anonymous nominations will not orientation. be accepted, as the nominee may not “Although this is not a business be contacted for additional and relevant award, per se, I felt it was an incredible information. However, the actual opportunity to celebrate an inspirational nominee will not be told who nominated person in Nashville around our business them. leaders,� Robbins said. “I'd like to Participants in the nomination see this award being presented every process will have the opportunity to year at different venues and events opt-out of being contacted by different — maintaining the celebration and marketing partner services. The recognition.�

Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce The requirements for consideration will not accept nominations for this of the award, after nomination, include: particular award. The information requested during this nomination • A current resident of the process and pursuant to this award is to Nashville-metro community be provided voluntarily. • Provided personal inspiration to There is no legal requirement to a resident of Nashville-metro, or Nashville community inspiration provide any information. Failure to provide any of the requested information in general may result in disqualification for • Employees, staff or owners of consideration for the subject award. O&AN BNA Talent Group and/or Out

by O&AN STAFF REPORTS

N E W S

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with their parent’s anymore and it potential resource for GLBT youth in will affect them), have room in your need of a home? life for them, as well as learn and use Department of Children Services appropriate behavioral management is offering the Parents As Tender skills.

Healers (PATH) class at Covenant Pastor Greg Bullard said, “I am of the Cross located at 752 Madison excited that we can be the host venue Square in Madison starting April 25. for this set of classes. We want every This class is for those who wish to person that can to consider this for adopt through the state, become a the children in our community. This foster parent, or even be a place where is about the children because we are children/youth can go if their foster inviting every church, synagogue, parent has a need where the child faith group we have connection with cannot be with them for a few days. to participate, in addition to those of There are so many options available no faith.� and DCS is looking for your help and To register for PATH training, support for these children. please call (615) 445-8711. O&AN

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Cookeville starts PFLAG chapter

H&M to open in Opry Mills

by NEWSCHANNEL 5 and O&AN STAFF REPORT

by STEVEN DISNEY, CONTRIBUTING WRITER sdisney@outandaboutnewspaper.com

Just over an hour east of Music City, Cookeville becomes the latest Tennessee city to start a PFLAG chapter. A small but growing city, PFLAG joins an ever-expanding roster of organizations.

With members from very diverse backgrounds, the fledgling chapter has all the elements of a strong base for development. Gail Stover, the chapter’s Secretary, has many lofty goals for the organization.

“I personally would like Cookeville PFLAG to grow into a thriving hub,” Stover shared. “I would like for it to become a meeting place that reflects every microcosm of the local gay community and a welcoming, accenting place to unite them with straight allies.”

Stover is also quick to recognize the far-reaching potential that a successful chapter can bring to Cookeville. “With a focused LGBT community and their family and friends, we can fully utilize this huge block of voting power to better represent their needs in local and state government.”

Gene Skipworth, one of the chapter’s members at-large, hopes to work with local churches and their leaders to expand acceptance within the community. “When the occasion arises [my goal] is to engage the conservative side, individuals, small church groups or even coffee groups, in a very caring thoughtful posture of conversation,” Skipworth said. It’s worth noting that Cookeville’s chapter already has some church support in the form of a minister sitting on its board.

But those are not Skipworth’s only ideas. He hopes to speak with any individual or group with an open mind in addition to working with organizations outside of PFLAG that may be considered mainstream or straight events to foster dialogue and sense of community.

Shayne Bilbrey, the chapter’s youngest member at-large, brings a

youthful spirit that will be necessary to sustain growth. Integral in helping plan UC Pride 2012, Cookeville’s first pride event, Bilbrey is armed with the experience necessary to bring a GLBT organization to Cookeville- including the possibility of community backlash.

“We held [UC Pride 2012] in Dogwood Park, and the weeks before it we had people complaining about it and people planning to protest it,” Bilbrey lamented. “Then comes the day of the event, no protesters. None of them showed up, and we had about a 1,000 people show up for three hours in Dogwood Park.”

But an organization like PFLAG only succeeds through community involvement. Gay or straight, Stover reminds people that supporting and volunteering can be easily done through their Facebook page. Interested parties can also contact PFLAG Cookeville by email or phone. “And if remote joining is not your thing then just make an appearance at one of our monthly meeting. You will be glad you came and so will we.”

Information: You can find PFLAG Cookeville on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ PFLAGCookeville.

You can also email pflagcookeville@gmail.com or call (931) 954-2873.

PFLAG Cookeville meets the third Saturday of each month in the Founder's Hall of the United Church of Cookeville located at 502 Gould Drive. O&AN

Highly coveted fashion retailer H&M will open a store in Opry Mills Mall in Nashville.

A $1.45 million building commercial rehab permit has been issued by the Metro-Davidson Department of Codes for the Swedish company, known for its fast-fashion clothing for men, women, teenagers and children.

Monte Pennington said, “I do not care one way or the other. If it helps the local economy that is great.”

Many Nashvillians have wanted H&M to come to the city for years, and one faithful shopper even made a Facebook page asking the company to open in Nashville. “Well well well.

You guys can thank me later. Just kidding, who is SO excited!! I don’t shop anywhere else, I am so happy!!” said on the “Bring H&M to Nashville” Facebook page.

FEBRUARY 2013

According to the chain's website, the Opry Mills location will be the first H&M store in Tennessee.

The closest locations to Nashville currently are Huntsville, Ala.; Atlanta; Florence, Ky; and St. Louis. “I think it’s sad that it took so long. Nashville is always so behind the times,” said Jason-Greg Warren.

An opening date has not yet been announced. the world-wide retailer currently does not offer online shopping, but it’s rumored to happen this spring. O&AN

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CDC releases data on interpersonal, sexual violence by sexual orientation

by O&AN STAFF REPORTS

The first set of national prevalence data on intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence (SV), and stalking victimization by sexual orientation was released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The study found that lesbians and gay men reported IPV and SV over their lifetimes at levels equal to or higher than those of heterosexuals; with sexual orientation based on respondents’ identification at the time of the survey.

The survey also found that bisexual women (61.1 percent) report a higher prevalence of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner compared to both lesbian (43.8 percent) and heterosexual women (35 percent). Of the bisexual women who experienced IPV, approximately 90 percent reported having only male perpetrators, while two-thirds of lesbians reported having only female perpetrators of IPV. The data presented in this report do not indicate whether violence occurs more often in same-sex or opposite sex couples. Rather, the data show the prevalence of lifetime victimization of intimate partner violence, sexual violence and stalking of respondents who self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual at the time of the survey and describe violence experienced with both same-sex and opposite-sex partners.

“We know that violence affects everyone, regardless of sexual orientation. This report suggests that lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in this country suffer a heavy toll of sexual violence and stalking committed by an intimate partner,” said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. “While intervening and providing services are important, prevention is equally critical.”

The National Intimate Partner

and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) is designed to better describe and understand the level of IPV, SV, and stalking victimization in the United States. Using 2010 data from NISVS, this report is the first to provide national data that examines IPV, SV and stalking by sexual orientation.

Further research is needed in order to fully understand the experience of interpersonal violence that impact LGB individuals and their communities. This information is critical to informing prevention programs and policies aimed at reducing these types of victimization.

Other key findings include: • T he majority of women who reported experiencing sexual violence, regardless of their sexual orientation, reported victimization by male perpetrators.

• Nearly half of female bisexual victims (48.2 percent) and more than one-quarter of female heterosexual victims (28.3 percent) experienced their first rape between the ages of 11 and 17 years.

CDC will work to create resources to bring attention to these issues within lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. For more information about sexual violence, please visit www. cdc.gov/violenceprevention. O&AN Find us on Facebook Facebook.com/outandaboutnews

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Poll shows drop in Americans believing homosexuality is a sin

by RUSS RANKIN, LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN RESOURES

The percentage of Americans who believe homosexuality is a sin has decreased significantly in a year, according to a survey by LifeWay Research.

A November 2012 survey of adults in the United States found 37 percent affirm a belief that homosexual behavior is a sin — a statistically significant change from a September 2011 LifeWay Research survey asking the same question. At that

time, 44 percent answered, “Yes.” In contrast, the percentage of Americans who do not believe homosexuality is a sin remains nearly the same between the two surveys — 43 percent in September 2011 and 45 percent in November 2012 indicate this belief, with an increase in the percentage of those unsure of what they believe.

Seventeen percent in the November 2012 survey said, “I don't know;” an increase of four percent over the

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September 2011 survey.

Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, pointed out halfway between the two polls President Barack Obama changed his pre-election position concerning gay marriage.

“The president's evolution on homosexuality probably impacted the evolution of cultural values there is a real and substantive shift, surprisingly large for a one-year timeframe — though this was hardly a normal year on this issue,” Stetzer said.

The November 2012 survey also reveals Americans in the South (40 percent) are the most likely to select “Yes” to the question “Do you believe homosexual behavior is a sin?” as are Americans who attend religious services at least about once a week (61 percent), and those calling themselves “born-again, evangelical, or fundamentalist Christian” (73 percent).

Americans who never attend religious services are the most likely to say they do not believe homosexual behavior is a sin (71 percent).

These findings from LifeWay Research come as Pastor Louie Giglio on Jan. 10 withdrew from giving the benediction at President Obama's inauguration in the face of criticism regarding a 15-year-old sermon referencing homosexuality as a sin. Stetzer noted the connection, saying, “The culture is clearly shifting on homosexuality and this creates a whole new issue: How will America deal with a minority view, strongly held by Evangelicals, Catholics, Mormons, Muslims and so many others?” O&AN

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National Geographic Channel refuses to speak out against ban on gay Scouts

Geographic is providing support and publicity to an organization that harms young people simply because of who they are. If the network is truly committed to standing by its non-discrimination practices, it should have no problem airing a disclaimer to that effect.”

In the BSA’s October 2012 Progress Report of its National Council Strategic Plan 2011-2015, the BSA cites the show as a “strategic partnership” to accomplish the following objective: “Scouting is ‘cool’ with youth.” The Progress Report states the BSA will begin working on marketing plans with National Geographic for “leveraging the show with Scouting audiences and audiences outside of scouting.”

“It’s all too clear that this show is just a marketing ploy, crafted by the BSA to boost dwindling

membership and distract Americans from the Scouts’ long history of discrimination,” Graddick said. “National Geographic Channel is the means to that end and must therefore make it clear where the network stands.”

“By refusing to denounce the Boy Scouts' explicitly anti-gay policy, National Geographic Channel is condoning discrimination. As a gay Eagle Scout and a member of the National Geographic Society, I expect more from this pioneering media company,” Will said, whose Change.org petition has now garnered more than 3,700 signatures. “It is irresponsible to market the Boy Scouts of America without informing viewers, especially parents and children, about the policy. The stakes are too high.”

SCOUTS cont’d on page 12

by O&AN STAFF REPORTS

NEW YORK, NY - GLAAD, the nation’s GLBT media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, joined Eagle Scout Will Oliver and Scouts for Equality to urge National Geographic Channel to denounce the Boy Scouts of America’s ban on gay scouts and scout leaders. The channel, which is set to debut the new series, “Are You Tougher than a Boy Scout,” this spring, released a statement that it has chosen to stand by its partnership with the BSA, despite public outcry.

The BSA has heralded the partnership and will host a webinar on Jan. 24 that will teach Scouting participants “how [they] can help drive viewership, and more important, how [they] can use the show to drive interest in [their] local programming, recruitment, and fundraising.”

Will, a 20 year-old Eagle Scout in Chicago, launched a Change.org petition last week, calling on National Geographic Channel to speak out against the BSA’s anti-gay policy and air a disclaimer before each episode of the series. That petition is available at www.change.org/petitions/national-geographicchannel-denounce-the-boy-scouts-of-america-s-antigay-policy.

In response to public outcry over the show, National Geographic Channel released the following statement on Thursday: “National Geographic Channel is an international media company that is an equal opportunity employer.

We do not discriminate in any capacity. As it relates to our upcoming show with the Boy Scouts, we certainly appreciate all points of view on the topic, but when people see our show they will realize it has nothing to do with this debate, and is in fact a competition series between individual scouts and civilians.”

“That National Geographic would brush aside countless gay teens suffering at the hands of the BSA, shrugging off injustice as just another ‘point of view,’ is irresponsible,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “By airing this program, National FEBRUARY 2013

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ADVOCATE

SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT: Mary Jim and Don Shockley

SCOUTS cont’d from page 11

by LINDA BREWER, CONTRIBUTING WRITER lbrewer@outandaboutnewspaper.com

“It makes a painful experience all the worse,” said Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell, who in April 2012 was ousted as leader of her 7 year-old son’s Cub Scouts pack because she is gay. “National Geographic might think its show has little to do with the Boy Scout’s discriminatory policies, but for moms like me and for kids like mine who’ve been told we’re not good enough, the show is merely a reminder that some are willing to overlook the pain we’ve suffered.”

“Scouts for Equality is all for promoting the Boy Scouts to new audiences by way of a TV show,” said Zach Wahls, spokesman for Scouts for Equality, “But without airing a disclaimer, National Geographic risks fortifying a policy that the American Medical Association has described as 'psychologically traumatizing.”

GLAAD first started calls for the Boy Scouts of America to end its ban on gay scouts and scout leaders in April 2012 after Jennifer Tyrrell, a mom and den leader from Ohio was removed from her 7-year-old’s Cub Scout Pack for being gay. Tyrrell’s Change.org petition has attracted more than 330,000 signatures in support of ending the Boy Scouts’ ban on gay Scouts and leaders.

GLAAD and Scouts for Equality have also called attention to other Americans who are continuing to be harmed by the anti-gay policy, including 18 year-old gay Scout Ryan Andresen, who was denied his Eagle award in October 2012 because he’s gay. Andresen’s mom later launched a Change.org petition calling on the BSA to give him the award he has earned. That petition now boasts more than 460,000 signatures. O&AN Find the latest news, photos and more on Facebook, Twitter and online at outandaboutnewspaper.com FACIALS | PEELS | WAXING | EYELASH EXTENSIONS | LASER TREATMENTS | BOTOX

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So often our religious leaders speak against the gay lifestyle, calling it an abomination, giving their followers what they think of as a moral right to do everything in their power to put a halt to gay rights and in effect, creating prejudice against the GLBT community. And then there are people like Don Shockley.

Shockley is a retired United Methodist minister who began as pastor of a rural church at the age of 18, later becoming a university chaplain for the remainder of his career. Working with youth became Shockley's passion and he became a person they could trust with their deepest secrets.

“I can’t tell you how many times I have heard gay people say that they knew from childhood that they were attracted to persons of their same gender. But there seemed to be no one they could tell or ask about it. ... Had there been a trustworthy and compassionate adult to talk to early on this would have made a world of difference in their lives.”

Shockley and his wife, Mary Jim, have been active for more than 10 years in the Nashville chapter of PFLAG. “We joined the group because we have several gay and lesbian folks in our family.” The pastor has also been a part of PFLAG for well over 10 years, serving as co-chair with H.G Stovall for three of those.

“I first became aware of the issues LGBT folks deal with during the early years of my career-long service as a university chaplain. Students would come by looking for someone they could trust to listen to their concerns.

Much of my life has been spent listening to people of all ages. I know the healing power of listening; listening is the core of my spiritual life.”

In a speech Shockley prepared to give to the Tennessee legislative

FEBRUARY 2013

committee regarding the proposed “Don't Say Gay” bill, Shockley said, “This is really serious business. Scott Ridgway, director of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network spoke out against the bill you are considering, saying it would limit students’ access to the resource most likely to help them: the teachers and staff members of our schools.

He expressed the fear that this bill would lead to more suicides.

That you are considering legislation that might have this effect breaks this old chaplain’s heart. Please do not pass this bill!”

Shockley first became aware of the GLBT issues as a chaplain to university students, then later two of his children come out to him, so the issue became even more important to him as a father. “Suffice it to say that concern for the well-being of LGBT men and women has been, and remains, one of my chief concerns. I have felt a special obligation as a minister to speak out because much of the prejudice surrounding the gay community has come from the churches.”

Shockly wants more church participation for members of the GLBT community. “The sharpest pain in my soul is the failure of most of our religious leaders to do anything to welcome the full participation of gay and lesbian folks in the churches.

You can't be around PFLAG meetings for very long without realizing that much of the pain and suffering in the LGBT community has its origin in the churches,” he said.

Shockley added, “And I acknowledge this as someone who has spent his life in ordained ministry. The really important words in the Bible are such as love, justice, grace, kindness, and so on. The real abomination is to search the roughly 2,000 pages for words that can be used to disparage other people.” O&AN

N E W S

TECHNOLOGY

Announcing Out & Equal's LGBTCareerLink 2.0

by O&AN STAFF REPORTS

SAN FRANCISCO — Out & Equal Workplace Advocates unveiled its new LGBTCareerLink website, a career development tool connecting diversityminded employers with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender job seekers.

Many industry-leading companies who are committed to identifying, hiring and retaining LGBT talent have already signed onto the new service, posting job openings around the country, and developing employer profiles demonstrating how they support LGBT people in the workplace.

Out & Equal is proud to recognize early participants, BP, Brown-Forman, The Clorox Company, Comcast, Ernst & Young, Hewlett-Packard, PG&E, PNC, T-Mobile, UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint. Given its initial success, LGBTCareerLink is poised to become the leading source for LGBT talent recruitment.

When Torrance, an Out & Equal constituent, decided to come out at work, he thought it would

bring him closer to coworkers and lift the workplace stress that many closeted lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees experience.

Yet shortly after coming out, Torrance was fired simply for being gay. LGBTCareerLink was developed to help individuals find career opportunities with employers that not only acknowledge and value diversity, but put it into practice.

"People should be judged by the work they do, and never by their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. By connecting LGBT people with diversity-minded employers, Out & Equal's LGBTCareerLink will help individuals become more successful and productive by bringing their whole selves to the workplace," said Out & Equal Founding Executive Director Selisse Berry.

On the new LGBTCareerLink, job seekers can register for free, develop virtual resumes and employment applications, and apply directly to thousands of new jobs added every week.

Users may also upload their resumes to a searchable database available to recruiting companies, in addition to establishing job search agents that notify job seekers when new positions open up with LGBTCareerLink's partner companies.

Employers have the only available direct access to the LGBT workforce and can post one or one thousand job postings through a variety of subscription and

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partnership packages. The platform also provides access to a dashboard of analytical tools to track and measure the impact of LGBTCareerLink as a LGBT talent recruitment resource.

Despite suffering through the embarrassment of being fired, simply for bringing his authentic self to work, Torrance found a new employer through LGBTCareerLink that invites and celebrates his diversity.

Torrance's story is ultimately one of success, yet reflects the harsh reality faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community: regardless of educational level, past experience, or overwhelming success, LGBT people are often discriminated against in the workplace, and no federal level employment protections exist to shield them from discrimination.

Through LGBTCareerLink, Out & Equal hopes to advance equality for LGBT people in the workplace by linking employees and employers who mutually value authenticity. O&AN

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O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . CO M

13

N E W S

PERSPECTIVE LOCAL

Witnessing history ... again Managing Editor Patrick Armstrong shares what he witnessed at the presidential inauguration

by PATRICK ARMSTRONG, MANAGING EDITOR editor@outandaboutnewspaper.com

I think everyone is still in shock as I am from what President Barack Obama said in his inaugural address: “Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.”

14

When I was standing on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. hearing this, I cried. It was such a blunt statement and was said in a setting no one was expecting.

We all know he endorsed same-sex marriage last year, but to say it in this way was unexpected. It told me that he is really serious about making this one of his goals over the next four years.

I think it’s obvious that any kind

O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . C O M

of attempt to push legislation like this will have to wait until after the 2014 elections when a majority of House and Senate seats will be up for vote.

Democrats hold the majority in the Senate, but Republicans control the house by 33 members with two seats vacant at this time.

There was so much more energy this time than when I was there in 2009. Probably because I was a lot closer than last time, and there were about a million less people. But I noticed that people were more open to talking to one another.

While I was waiting for almost 10 hours in the cold, I tried to see if there were any GLBT signs or flags. From

FEBRUARY 2013

my position, there wasn’t. And I was curious as to where the gays were?

At some point during the long wait, I noticed one out of the corner of my eye: a rainbow flag waving.

The previous day I walked over to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

The crowd was massive and the atmosphere was chilling. It wasn’t because of his statue, but the quotes inscribed on the wall behind.

The quotes were not specific to issues of race and color, but broad for equality overall. In my mind he wasn’t talking about issues specific at that point-in-time, but looking forward towards the future.

Right before Obama mentioned

N E W S

PERSPECTIVE

All photos by Patrick Armstrong

“our gay brothers and sisters,” he mentioned this: “We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths — that all of us are created equal — is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.” When he said

this, I knew he was going there.

The history of our nation is very much centered on people rising up to make change and letting their voices be heard. If we are really serious about fighting for the rights we deserve, we need to embrace what King’s commitment to the Civil Rights movement and rally the people.

“Make a career of humanity, commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights.

You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in,” Washington, D.C. 1959. O&AN

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O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . CO M

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N E W S

OUTREACH LOCAL

Family shares story of son’s acceptance at Benton Hall Academy School to host Food for Thought event as fundraiser

by JOSEPH BROWNELL, CONTRIBUTING WRITER jbrownell@outandaboutnewspaper.com

Editor’s note: In order to respect the Editor’s note: In order to respect the anonymity of the family involved, Out and About Newspaper has removed names from this article.

When Dorothy clicks her ruby red slippers together and says “there’s no place like home” she wakes up in the safety of her own home. Growing up school becomes a home away from home and while we have the expectation that it will be just as safe that just is not always the case for GLBT youth.

“He just ended up so far behind

in school because he didn’t want to go,” his father shared of the barrage of bullying his son endured. “After that we knew we had to find a way to get him back into the world.” Armed only with the desire to give his child the best education he could, he sought the help of an educational planner in Nashville.

In order to rebuild his son’s confidence, they ended up sending him to Wilderness Therapy. “Out of the 70 days they were there learning, they must have camped out 60 of them,” his father shared. “It was great for him because if he wanted fire, he had to learn how to make a fire. [My son] was very proud of what he accomplished.”

After his son’s Wilderness Therapy,

he attended another small school out West. During this time he was diagnosed with a non-verbal learning disability. During these trips his son began to learn self-reliance but there was still the issue of what school to attend when he returned home.

For this Tennessee student Benton Hall Academy became a beacon of safety amidst a sea of bullying.

“It’s about 25 miles from our house for my son to meet a small bus that transports him about another 25 miles to school,” he shared. “One day we were waiting for the bus and it never came, but the teachers came in their personal vehicles to pick him up.” Just one of many instances this proud father recollected about Benton Hall Academy’s intense passion for education and its students.

Benton Hall Academy describes itself as an institution that provides children a safe and encouraging environment and is committed to encouraging every child to flourish both academically and socially. And for this Tennessee father, he is determined to give back to a school that has given his

Billy

son so much.

Food for Thought, an inaugural fundraising event for Benton Hall Academy, takes place Friday, Feb. 8 from 6-8 p.m., at the Nashville Famers Market. The event brings together private chefs and chefs from notable Nashville restaurants such as City House, Silo and Flyte for an evening of tasting, beer and wine and live entertainment-including the just announced performance of T. Graham Brown. In addition to the evening festivities, there will be an auction with all proceeds benefitting Benton Hall Academy.

Food for Thought tickets can be purchased at: foodforthoughtfarmersmarket. eventbrite.com for $40- an absolute steal considering the caliber of talent providing services for the event. Unable to attend the event? You can make a donation of any size on the event ticket page. Either way any school providing a safe environment for students to learn and be themselves, we’ll raise a glass to that. O&AN

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N E W S

OUTREACH LOCAL

Street Works launches Project UNO to combat HIV, AIDS in Nashville

by BETH ROTH, CONTRIBUTING WRITER broth@outandaboutnewspaper.com

Street Works, a local provider of counseling, outreach, education and care to those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, is launching a new program, Project UNO. UNO stand for U. New. Outstanding.

“Project UNO is Street-Works’ new SAMSHA grant program serving the population of young gay men battling substance abuse addiction with a heavy emphasis on prevention and care of those infected and affected with HIV,” explains David Long, the project coordinator of UNO. “This new program aims to uplift and inspire today's generation of young men with useful tips to sustain life after an positive HIV diagnosis. Potential clients do not need to be HIV-positive to get services. HIV-negative men will be educated on prevention and wellness to ensure an more powerful life. Clients will learn the strengths of journaling and sober social networking to empower their life.”

Clients are then monitored for six months and encouraged to focus on five fundamentals for successfully moving forward with their lives: sobriety, strength, status, self-purpose and safety.

As the program coordinator, Long oversees and develops treatments plans for all clients. He also recruits and identifies clients “via various platforms including colleges, social club settings and the Internet.”

In addition to reaching out to clients, Project UNO seeks to change the hearts and minds of not only those facing HIV and AIDS, but the

community as well.

“Project UNO aims to change the perception of young gay men by emboldening them to be stronger in their community, and stronger in their daily lives,” Long said. “I am asking the community, and churches in particular, to bring awareness that gay men are ‘regular’ men and should not be looked down upon due to their sexuality.”

Street Works was founded in 1997 by executive director Ron Crowder as a mobile outreach agency. They target youth, drug users, incarcerated persons, sex industry workers, and those engaged in other high-risk activities.

Through an aggressive program combining on-site counseling, a mobile outreach clinic/outreach center, community footwork, and home visits, Street Works combats HIV and AIDS where it most disproportionately affects American society: in the most economically disadvantaged communities.

Street Works provides education, prevention and care to those infected, affected or both by HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases on the inner city streets of Nashville. They are the only such agency to operate a 24-hour emergency help line and 24hour on-call counseling in Davidson County.

For more information about Street Works and Project UNO, visit their website www.street-works.org, visit their counseling centers at 2015 25th Ave. N. 37208, 83 University Court 37210, or 520 Sylvan St. 37206. You can also contact them through their 24hour help line: (615) 259-7676. O&AN

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O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . CO M

17

A look inside the world of Furries: It’s not all about sex in fur suits

by JENELLE GREWELL, CONTRIBUTING WRITER jgrewell@outandaboutnewspaper.com

18

hat is a furry? Being a furry is embracing an animal side, living with one or more alternate animal personas but despite embracing animal nature, it’s also about being human.

Even within furry communities there are variations to what being a furry means exactly. “Being a furry means to have a love of anthropomorphic creatures no matter what degree of animal characteristics,” said Knoxville resident Joseph Jackson.

Gaysian of Clarksville, who has asked to use his fetish community name as opposed to his real name, identifies a furry as "embracing animal-like characteristics with behavior or physical appearance."

Nashville resident James Tipton echoed both of these explanations. “A furry is someone who identifies with having an animal soul in a human body.

[They] may have a certain affinity for an animal or may be someone who wished they could be an anthropomorphic version of an animal.”

Still confused? Think of the Patronus Charm from the Harry Potter series- an animal is created from a person's individual personality to protect them.

A furry's animal identity is referred to as a fursona. While the three furries varied slightly on their definitions of a fursona, they agree it is essentially the part of themselves they relate to an animal.

Tipton uses his black wolf

W

All photos by Patrick Armstrong

fursona to envision himself as a natural means to him. "You have to find our leader. He faces his challenges head-on. own path, find your own meaning. You "I defend those people that are close to have to find out what comes with the me -like a pack)- and help others when I spirits," he said. “Finding out a fursona can," he said. can be done through many means, such Gaysian identifies spiritually with as meditation, tarot, spiritual reading three animals: a black panther, a white and physic means.” stallion and a black dragon. He calls Jackson talked more about the on each of his fursonas for different emotional impact of his fursona, a catsituations. person with milky, pearl white ears. "It's His black panther defines his not me, by definition my fursona, my every day personality. “Panthers are alter-ego, is everything I wish I could independent, strong-willed and at times be." affectionate, but should still be feared In actuality, Jackson sees his and respected,” Gaysian shared. He fursona as the characteristics he has finds himself purring, pawing at objects muted in order to fit in. "Other people like a cat, rubbing against objects may laugh at the fact that you talk to to leave his scent and other cat-like yourself. Others give them a name and behaviors. hold onto them because sometimes they His white stallion represents his may be everything you've ever wanted Korean heritage. It’s a symbol of to be and wanted screaming at you from mobility, wealth and power. He said he the back of your head." calls on this when he needs to hold his Gaysian said most people imagine head high; this fursona empowers him furries to be in the big suits going to with nobility. In order to be unbiased conventions to get together to have during the interview, he said he was sexual relationships. Jackson attributed trying to suppress his fursonas but felt this perception of furries to media his white stallion fursona present. portrayals. None of the three furries In regards to his black dragon, interviewed have ever had sex in a fur Gaysian is still working on figuring exactly furries "Not what that fursona have sex in fursuits.

all

Not

all race-car fans

drive Lamborghinis."

suit.

"Not all furries have sex in fur suits," Tipton said. "Not all racecar fans drive Lamborghinis."

Gaysian said the conventions are for people to let themselves be as they see themselves to be, and to be around people who feel the same way. "[There is] no perverted purpose behind it. It is a chance for people to be free," he said.

Tipton mentioned many furries form deep friendships with each other.

Another common misconception with being a furry is it's a way for people to legally practice bestiality. "It is more about the emotional connection as opposed to the sexual and physical one," Gaysian said.

Jackson said it’s a completely ludicrous thought that furries want to have sex with animals. He explained “Just because people want to have sex with the Playboy Bunnies doesn't mean that people want to have sex with actual rabbits,” Jackson joked. "People relate with the animal, not have sex with the actual animal." Jackson thinks it will take a long time to undo the black stain the media has painted on the furry community.

Like the others, Tipton says he enjoys women wearing furry ears and tails but he has no interest in real animals.

Ultimately for Gaysian, being a furry is just a part of who he is. "I present myself as I am and people either like it or don't like it." Now that’s one animal instinct we can all relate to. O&AN

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FEBRUARY 2013

P E R S P E C T I V E

OPINION

Love or infatuation?

by MICHAEL KIMMEL, BEYOND THERAPY beyondtheraphy@cox.net

Remember back in Junior High, when you had a “crush” on some hot guy or girl? How you could barely breathe when they were close to you?

You couldn’t stop thinking of them.

These “summer romances” weren’t expected to last for long. Indeed, they couldn’t, because they weren’t based in reality. You idealized this person and made them into something they were not. This is why it probably was so shocking when they fell off their pedestal and you saw them as who they really were: flawed, human and trying to survive, just like you.

As we get older, it’s not always easy to tell love from infatuation.

Infatuation can grow into love, but don’t count on it. Usually, infatuation turns into anger and disappointment when the glitter wears off and we see our idealized love object as he/she really is. Ugh, are we disappointed!

Sometimes we wonder what we ever saw in this person. Many affairs

are based on infatuation: your partner seems so boring after all these years, and this new person is so interested in you and interesting to you. If you consider leaving your partner for this person, however, often reality whomps you hard upside the head. You realize: I don’t really know this person, I have projected all my fantasies and unmet needs onto them instead of bringing them to my partner and talking about them.

This is when most affairs end… and then I see the (un)happy couple in my office for couple’s counseling. But, let’s back up a bit. What is infatuation anyway?

Infatuation is based in fantasy.

Hollywood movies with their happy endings are good examples of this kind of romantic fantasy. Swedish, French and Italian movies: not so much. They show the mess, the ambiguity and paradox of real love.

Carl Jung believed that the first six months of most “love” affairs are largely infatuation: we project our need for an idealized lover onto someone else and work hard to “ignore” the reality of how flawed and human they actually are. If your relationships rarely make it past six months, you’re stuck in

infatuation mode.

Freud defined infatuation as “the overvaluation of the (love) object”: everything about your new lover is great, and yet those red flags keep going off. Science has found that the brain scans of infatuated lovers look remarkable like the brain scans of cocaine addicts. Infatuation is an addiction, with measurable chemical effects on your brain.

Infatuated lovers will work very hard to keep their addiction (and the good feelings it generates) going. You feel so good you have a hard time focusing on anything else: you are “love sick.” A perfect description.

“Love Sickness” is more common the more unsettled and unbalanced we feel: we need it, we want it, our life is pretty crappy and this new woman/man lifts us up out of depression into a kind of heaven. Who wouldn’t want this?

Unfortunately, like any addiction, it has its dark side: it’s not based on reality, so, eventually, your new love (and your idealized vision of them) will crash and burn.

Some people — miracle workers of sorts — can transition from infatuation to real love. They do that by a slow process of replacing fantasy with reality.

FEBRUARY 2013

They get to know their new lover and stick around past the first argument, misunderstanding and disappointment.

They keep going through the snoring and the bad morning breath and their lovers’ awful best friend. They begin tip-toeing into real love and its three musketeers of affection, respect and reality.

The more you release your infatuation, the more clearly you see your loved one as they really are. No more delusions. You are willing to work on a relationship with this person, warts and all. We’re all terribly flawed, but whose flaws can you accept and — someday — even find amusing?

In conclusion, consider this:

- Love is hard work; infatuation is easy.

- Love takes time; infatuation can happen quickly.

- Love helps you find yourself; infatuation encourages you to lose yourself.

- Love is based on reality; infatuation on fantasy.

- Love can last; infatuation — by its very nature — cannot. O&AN

O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . CO M

21

E X C L U S I V E

GEORGE TAKEI general.

Takei will be appearing at Schermerhorn Symphony Center here in Nashville in Harmonic Convergence, as he narrates Schoenberg's “A Survivor from Warsaw,� which promises to be an emotionally astounding tribute to victims of the Holocaust.

Takei takes special interest in this project, having spent four years of his young life, for the duration of World War II, imprisoned in an internment camp with his family, behind barbed wire fences, “simply because we looked like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor.�

I an exclusive interview with Out & About Newspaper, Takei, a most enlightened and inspirational person, talks about his involvement in and support of GLBT rights.

‘Renaissance Man’ George Takei shares his coming out, advice for the GLBT community

by LINDA BREWER, CONTRIBUTING WRITER lbrewer@outandaboutnewspaper.com

The name George Takei brings several words to mind: actor, speaker, writer, civil and GLBT rights activist, not to mention humanitarian

extraordinaire. Most widely known as having played Mr. Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the Starship Enterprise on the original “Star Trek� series, Takei is also beloved for the part he plays in the pursuance of GLBT and civil rights in

Linda Brewer: Would you share with us your publicly “coming out�?

George Takei: “The press called my talking to the press (in 2005) as my ‘coming out’, but coming out doesn't happen with one conversation, it happens over a period of time. You first come out to your immediate family and some very close friends. Then you feel a little bit more comfortable sharing

with a little bit larger circle.�

Takei said his coming out, as the press deemed it, was prompted by a political event that happened in California when “Our California legislature, both houses, did an extraordinary thing; both houses passed same sex marriage. No other state legislature, anywhere in the United States, had done this. (‌) And we celebrated that. “But that law required the signature of our governor, (who) at that time was Arnold Schwarzenegger. When he ran for governor, Schwarzenegger advertised, saying, ‘I'm from Hollywood, I've worked with gays and lesbians, I'm comfortable with gays and lesbians and some of my best friends are gays and lesbians.’ But when that bill came to his desk (proposing same sex marriage) he vetoed it (and) that made me really angry. But for me to speak out on it, my voice had to be authentic, so I spoke to the press (about being gay) for the first time. And that's what the press has called my ‘coming out.’â€?

LB: You have always been active in politics, which prompts the question of whether you ever thought of making politics your career?

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FEBRUARY 2013

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GEORGE TAKEI Takei: “No, actually. I've been active in the political arena since before I could even vote. My father was a big admirer of Adlai Stevenson and so he took me (to the Stevenson for President headquarters). I was all of 16 or 17; he volunteered me, I didn't have to. I found it exciting and fun and thrilling, and very theatrical.”

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LB: What advice would you give young people in the GLBT community if they want to be politically active?

Takei: “I think it's very important for all Americans to be actively involved. Just to be a good citizen you have to cast an informed vote. Also know the issues for the candidate. Informed, that’s step number one. Step number two is if you have some time you can offer, volunteer if you can, and if you have money that you could contribute to an issue or to a candidate, contribute to the campaign if you can. Then you may be asked to serve on a commission or board, that means giving up a lot of your time.

Then the final step is when you offer yourself for elective office. Whether you are LGBT, or whatever you are, it’s very important in a democracy, for all our voices to be heard and certainly our votes to be counted. There are a lot of LGBT issues, and tremendous barriers to the LGBT community.”

Takei went on to tell the story of a same-sex male couple he knew who had spent their lives together and when one of them died, the estranged brother of the deceased partner, an attorney, swooped down and took everything, which left the surviving partner not only bereaved and alone, but without any rights to the physical attributes

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they had built together. “So here he was (the surviving partner),” Takei said, “mourning, and having lost everything they'd built together. These are (some of the) reasons why LGBT people need to be active in the (political) process.”

Takei proudly talks of what he calls his “legacy project,” the Broadway bound musical “Allegiance, A New American Musical,” an epic story of love, family and heroism during the Japanese American internment.

Allegiance's world premiere was in 2012 and got rave reviews. The always-busy actor also stars in the action-comedy series Supah Ninjas, which premiered in 2011 on Nickelodeon. Takei also has a book coming out entitled, “Oh My!” LB: Last question, if you had to describe yourself in two words, what would they be?

Takei: “Renaissance Man.” O&AN

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E X C L U S I V E

Compassion + Grace Robbins talks about HIV-positive diagnosis one year later

by JESSICA GIBSON, CONTRIBUTING WRITER jgibson@outandaboutnewspaper.com

Josh Robbins received the news on Jan. 24, 2012, that would change the course of his life permanently. On that day, Robbins found out he was HIV+.

He captured the moments leading up to, during, and just after receiving the results and placed the video on YouTube titled, “I'm HIV Positive I just found out I'm HIV-positive ... now what?� It is one of the extremely few, if not only, videos showing the moment

JOSH ROBBINS that a doctor informs a patient that they are now HIVpositive. That was the day that changed everything.

Except ... not really. Robbins found himself looking in the mirror soon after getting the news and realizing, “I’m still me. I’m still Josh.� Having been newly diagnosed, he found himself alone, not really knowing anyone who was HIV-positive.

It was then the idea for a blog began to take root, but it was when he informed the partner who had infected him that the idea for a platform to fight the stigma of HIV-positive infection really began to blossom into a life’s work. “There was a moment in the call when I broke,� he said. “I’m telling this guy what has happened, and letting him know he needs to get tested, and he says, ‘You mean I have to live for the rest of my life knowing that I infected someone with HIV?’ Suddenly I find myself being strong for him, and trying to be uplifting and encouraging.�

In a blog post exclusively presented by Out and About Newspaper, the gentleman who was the source of his infection spoke out about the guilt and the whirl of emotions he had faced. For his part, Robbins doesn’t harbor any ill-will or blame. “It takes two to tango,� he said. “There could be no blame. There was equal responsibility from both partners.�

He started the blog with two main goals in mind: 1. To call out the ‘HIV-positive Stigma’ and fight the stigma of living with HIV-positive by talking about it, by being open and honest about things.

2. To encourage newly-diagnosed men. “This is about compassion and grace, not judgment,� he said.

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One year later, he has learned that he sincerely underestimated humanity. “I was bracing for the end of the world. It didn’t come.�

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One year later, he has learned the power of one person’s voice. “When someone chooses to share something so intimate, it is a hugely powerful thing.�

One year later, he has now met quite a few HIV-positive men and women. They are some of the strongest, most “weathered� people he has ever met.

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24

O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . C O M

One year later, imstilljosh.com is a blog that has touched the lives of people all over the world. Recently, Robbins received a thank-you note from a man living with HIV-positive in a part of the world where simply having the virus makes you a criminal, and subject to penalty.

One person contacted him just to say they had found the blog the day after their diagnosis, and had been contemplating suicide until realizing, “I’m still me.�

FEBRUARY 2013

A R T S

GALLERY

Photos by Patrick Armstrong

Mikula set’s eye on Provincetown, opens gallery

by ELLEN ANGELICO, CONTRIBUTING WRITER eangelico@outandaboutnewspaper.com

One of Nashville’s fun visual artists, Trevor Mikula, is moving on to bigger and better things. “I'll certainly be sad to leave, but know I’ll be back.

I've loved living in Nashville and watching the city grow especially the art scene,” Mikula said.

He has had Provincetown, Mass., on his radar for a while, care of Tribe owner David Taylor. “For years he and his partner have gone up there and he’s always been like, ‘You should go up there and just paint and hang out!’ And this year I was talking to him and I thought, ‘That’s kind of a cool idea,’” Mikula said.

So soon, in an old whaling house on a commercial street, Mikula will be opening a gallery of his own in Provincetown. “It’s a great space,” he says. “I think it’s going to be really cool. You get the New York and Boston people without having to pay Boston or New York rent. “ A Nashville resident for the past 25 years and having only visited Provincetown twice, Mikula is understandably anxious. “It’s real nerve-wracking to uproot and especially to go someplace where you don’t know anyone,” he said. “Being able to be close to my friends and family is going

to be a bit more challenging. With my career I’ve built up a great clientele and a lot of them are my friends, who I’m not going to be able to see as frequently.”

Even so, he is optimistic. “So far, just from… trying to get into the space, I’ve met some cool people that have been super helpful. I don’t think it’s going to take long or be hard to find a group of friends.”

Mikula’s optimism is not misplaced. In addition to his promising Provincetown venture, he’s got eggs in all kinds of baskets, all over the country.

He will be doing a show in Venice Beach in early March, and his gallery in Santa Fe is doing a show for him in the spring as well. “It’s not like I’m just relying on one thing,” he said.

“I’ve got stuff in all these different places where if everybody sells one or two paintings, then I’m fine.”

He hopes to do well enough to spend more time traveling and visiting friends and family here in Nashville and in New York City. Based on how bright his future seems and how astute he is, it certainly seems to be a very realistic goal for this talented Nashvillian. O&AN FEBRUARY 2013

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25

A R T S

GRANTS

www.artsnashville.org

Metro Nashville Arts Commission begins new grant cycle Metro Arts awarded $1.867 million dollars in Community Arts grants in current fiscal year

by O&AN STAFF REPORTS

The Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission has announced the beginning of its fiscal year 2013-14 (FY14) grant cycle.

The program guidelines are available now in the Grants section of Metro Arts’ website at www.artsnashville.org. Online application forms, stepby-step instructions, evaluation criteria, among other items, will be posted by Jan. 31.

A series of grant workshops will be conducted from Feb. 5-9 to provide assistance to applicant organizations. The new workshop format will provide professional development in grant writing, evaluation, data collection, GivingMatters.com, grants management, advocacy and other topics critical to new and returning applicants. Organizations must RSVP by Feb. 1 via the Grants page on the Metro Arts site.

The 2013-14 application deadline is at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3.

In fiscal year 2013-14, Metro Arts will continue its focus on funding organizations and activities that help the city achieve the following outcomes:

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26

In the current fiscal year (2012-13), Metro Arts awarded $1.867 million dollars in Community Arts grants to 42 local cultural and community organizations. About the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission (Metro Arts): The Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, a commission of the Metropolitan Nashville Government, provides leadership that stimulates and advances the arts to enrich the human experience for the community.

Metro Arts receives operational support from the Tennessee Arts Commission, and additional information is available online at www.artsnashville.org. O&AN

O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . C O M

FEBRUARY 2013

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

MOVIES

Belcourt presents 2013 Oscar Picks Film fans can prepare for current Academy Awards with nominees and past winners

by O&AN STAFF REPORTS

The Belcourt Theatre presents Oscar Picks, an assortment of 2013 Academy Award-nominated films as well as selected Best Picture Winners from past years.

Oscar Picks, which runs from Jan. 25-Feb. 23, includes many of this year’s nominated films in various categories: Best Picture nominee AMOUR; Best Documentary Feature nominees 5 BROKEN CAMERAS, HOW TO SURVIVE THE PLAGUE, SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN; Best Animated Feature nominees FRANKENWEENIE and PARANORMAN; Best Shorts nominees in Animation, Live Action and Documentary; and others.

Past Best Picture Winners include THE APARTMENT, ANNIE HALL, ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, and THE DEER HUNTER. Tickets are available for purchase at belcourt.org or at the theatre’s box office.

Following the last day of Oscar Picks, film fans may attend the Belcourt’s 12th annual Oscar night viewing party — called OscarŽ Experience: Nashville — the best way to experience the year’s biggest awards show and the only officially sanctioned Oscar party in Nashville. This Belcourt fundraiser features the Academy AwardsŽ live telecast on the theatre’s large screens. Guests enjoy a red carpet party, a great silent auction, a glamorous VIP backstage lounge and more.

OSCAR Picks: Film Descriptions The Apartment

1960 Academy Award Winner for Best Motion Picture, Director, Film Editing, Original Screenplay, Art Direction

Tickets  available  at  all                      outlets, Â

ryman.com  or  (800)  745-­3000

Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 2-3

Annie Hall

1977 Academy Award Winner for Best Motion Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Actress (Diane Keaton) Monday, Feb. 4

Experience you need.

Results you want.

Benjamin Papa Attorney & Mediator

5 Broken Cameras

Currently an Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature Tuesday-Wednesday, Feb. 5-6

A Plague

Currently an Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature Tuesday-Thursday, Feb. 5-7

Searching For Sugar Man

Currently an Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature

• Adoption • Surrogacy

• Powers of Attorney

• Domestic Partnership Dissolutions • Probate • Domestic • Wills Partnership • Child Custody Agreements • Divorce

Tuesday-Thursday, Feb. 5-7 MOVIES cont’d on page 28 FEBRUARY 2013

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27

E N T E R T A I N M E N T MOVIES cont’d from page 27

Amour

Currently an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture, Foreign Language Film, Director (Michael Haneke), Actress in a Leading Role (Emmanuelle Riva) Opens Friday, Feb. 8

All Quiet On The Western Front 1930 Academy Award Winner for Best Motion Picture, Director Saturday-Sunday. Feb. 9-10

MOVIES THE ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES FOR SHORT FILMS 2013: Animation Currently nominated for Best Short Films: Animation

Friday, Feb. 15-Saturday, Feb. 23 • ADAM AND DOG, Minkyu Lee • FRESH GUACAMOLE, • PES HEAD OVER HEELS, Timothy Reckart and Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly • MAGGIE SIMPSON IN ‘THE LONGEST DAYCARE,’ David Silverman • PAPERMAN, John Kahrs

THE ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES FOR SHORT FILMS 2013: Live Action Currently nominated for Best Short Films: Live Action

Friday, Feb. 15-Saturday, Feb. 23 • A SAD, Bryan Buckley and Mino Jarjoura • BUZKASHI BOYS, Sam French and Ariel Nasr • CURFEW, Shawn Christensen • DEATH OF A SHADOW (Dood van een Schaduw), Tom Van Avermaet and Ellen De Waele • HENRY, Yan England

THE ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES FOR SHORT FILMS 2013: Documentary Currently nominated for Best Short Films: Documentary Wednesday, Feb. 20, Friday-Saturday, Feb. 22-23 • I NOCENTE, Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine • KINGS POINT, Sari Gilman and Jedd Wider • MONDAYS AT RACINE, Cynthia Wade and Robin Honan • OPEN HEART, Kief Davidson and Cori Shepherd Stern • REDEMPTION, Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill

SometimeS it’S hard to tell who’S being adoPted.

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The Deer Hunter

1978 Academy Award Winner for Best Motion Picture, Director, Supporting Actor, Editing, Sound Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 16-17

Paranorman

Currently an Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature Saturday, Feb. 16, 10 a.m.

Frankenweenie

Currently an Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature Saturday, Feb. 23, at 10 a.m.

For tickets, trailers and more, visit Belcourt.org. O&AN

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FEBRUARY 2013

10/16/12 12:34 PM

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

ACADEMY AWARDS

85th Annual Academy Awards Ballot

The 85th Academy Awards, will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 225 countries worldwide.

Best Picture • "Amour": Nominees to be determined • " Argo": Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney, Producers • " Beasts of the Southern Wild": Dan Janvey, Josh Penn and Michael Gottwald, Producers • " Django Unchained": Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin and Pilar Savone, Producers • " Les Misérables": Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward and Cameron Mackintosh, Producers • " Life of Pi": Gil Netter, Ang Lee and David Womark, Producers • " Lincoln": Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers • " Silver Linings Playbook": Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen and Jonathan Gordon, Producers • " Zero Dark Thirty": Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow and Megan Ellison, Producers Best Director • Ang Lee, "Life of Pi" • Michael Haneke, "Amour" • David O. Russell, "Silver Linings Playbook" • Steven Spielberg, "Lincoln" • Benh Zeitlin, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" Best Actor in a Leading Role • Bradley Cooper, "Silver Linings Playbook" • Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln" • Hugh Jackman, "Les Misérables" • Joaquin Phoenix, "The Master" • Denzel Washington, "Flight" Best Actress in a Leading Role • Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty" • Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook" • Emmanuelle Riva, "Amour" • Quvenzhané Wallis, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" • Naomi Watts, "The Impossible" Best Actor in a Supporting Role • Alan Arkin, "Argo" • Robert De Niro, "Silver Linings Playbook" • Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Master" • Leonardo DiCaprio, "Django Unchained" • Tommy Lee Jones, "Lincoln" • Christoph Waltz, "Django Unchained" Best Actress in a Supporting Role • Amy Adams, "The Master" • Sally Field, "Lincoln" • Anne Hathaway, "Les Misérables" • Helen Hunt, "The Sessions"

• Jacki Weaver, "Silver Linings Playbook"

Best Writing — Adapted Screenplay • "Argo": Screenplay by Chris Terrio • " Beasts of the Southern Wild": Screenplay by Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin • "Life of Pi": Screenplay by David Magee • "Lincoln": Screenplay by Tony Kushner • " Silver Linings Playbook": Screenplay by David O. Russell Best Writing — Original Screenplay • "Amour": Written by Michael Haneke • " Django Unchained": Written by Quentin Tarantino • "Flight": Written by John Gatins • " Moonrise Kingdom": Written by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola • "Zero Dark Thirty": Written by Mark Boal Best Animated Feature Film • "Brave": Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman • "Frankenweenie": Tim Burton • "ParaNorman": Sam Fell and Chris Butler • "The Pirates! Band of Misfits": Peter Lord • "Wreck-It Ralph": Rich Moore Best Cinematography • "Anna Karenina": Seamus McGarvey • "Django Unchained": Robert Richardson • "Life of Pi": Claudio Miranda • "Lincoln": Janusz Kaminski • "Skyfall": Roger Deakins Best Costume Design • "Anna Karenina" Jacqueline Durran • "Les Misérables" Paco Delgado • "Lincoln" Joanna Johnston • "Mirror Mirror" Eiko Ishioka • " Snow White and the Huntsman" Colleen Atwood Best Documentary — Feature • "5 Broken Cameras" • "The Gatekeepers" • "How to Survive a Plague" • "The Invisible War" • "Searching for Sugar Man" Best Documentary — Short Subject • "Inocente": Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine • "Kings Point": Sari Gilman and Jedd Wider • " Mondays at Racine": Cynthia Wade and Robin Honan • " Open Heart": Kief Davidson and Cori Shepherd Stern • "Redemption": Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill Best Film Editing • "Argo": William Goldenberg FEBRUARY 2013

• "Life of Pi": Tim Squyres • "Lincoln": Michael Kahn • " Silver Linings Playbook": Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers • " Zero Dark Thirty": Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg Best Foreign Language Film • Austria, "Amour," Michael Haneke, director • Canada, "War Witch," Kim Nguyen, director • Chile, "No," Pablo Larraín, director • Denmark, "A Royal Affair," Nikolaj Arcel, director • Norway, "Kon-Tiki," Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, directors Best Makeup and Hairstyling • " Hitchcock": Howard Berger, Peter Montagna and Martin Samuel • " The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey": Peter Swords King, Rick Findlater and Tami Lane • " Les Misérables": Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell Best Music — Original Score • "Anna Karenina": Dario Marianelli • "Argo": Alexandre Desplat • "Life of Pi": Mychael Danna • "Lincoln": John Williams • "Skyfall": Thomas Newman Best Music — Original Song • " Before My Time" from "Chasing Ice": Music and Lyric by J. Ralph • " Everybody Needs A Best Friend" from "Ted": Music by Walter Murphy; Lyric by Seth MacFarlane • " Pi's Lullaby" from "Life of Pi": Music by Mychael Danna; Lyric by Bombay Jayashri • " Skyfall" from "Skyfall": Music and Lyric by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth • " Suddenly" from "Les Misérables": Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg; Lyric by Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil Best Production Design (formerly Art Direction) • " Anna Karenina": Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer • " The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey": Production Design: Dan Hennah; Set Decoration: Ra Vincent and Simon Bright • " Les Misérables": Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Anna Lynch-Robinson • " Life of Pi": Production Design: David Gropman; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock • " Lincoln": Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson Complete list at outandaboutnewspaper.com O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . CO M

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E N T E R T A I N M E N T

SHOWS

Out & About Newspaper named exclusive media sponsor for comedy show

by O&AN STAFF REPORTS

Out & About Newspaper, Tennessee's largest GLBT publication, has been named the exclusive media sponsor for “Girl on Girl Comedy & Revue.”

“Girl on Girl Comedy & Revue” is a comedy series featuring the best regional female and GLBT comedians and performers. It is the longest running comedy and variety show in Music

“You never know what you are going to get when you come to a GoG show, but you will definitely have a good time,” said show host and organizer Christy Eidson.

“Out & About Newspaper is thrilled to be able to partner with this fantastic local showcase of talent,” said Jerry Jones, O&AN publisher. "It's part of our mission to showcase and promote the GLBT community and what better way than to support local artists and performers.”

Upcoming shows are held at Zanies. They are:

City, and it’s the only show of its kind in town, that caters to not only a female audience, but the GLBT community conjointly.

The show began as a showcase for the area’s top female and GLBT comedic talent. It has parlayed its show into an entertainment event by adding variety acts, such as music, magic, burlesque, and pole dancing.

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

National gay men survey finds two-thirds use dating apps Gay men still face barriers to meet potential mates as SCOTUS same-sex marriage cases draw closer

by O&AN STAFF REPORTS

Washington, DC – Stagg, a next-generation, mobile dating app for gay men that launched recently on Dec. 20, released the results from a nationwide survey of 537 gay men showing even though the country moves closer toward legal recognition of same-sex relationships, gay men still face significant barriers to meeting potential partners and future husbands. However, the same national survey conducted by the new mobile dating app for gay men, also shows that apps are becoming increasingly important in the ability of gay men to connect to other single gay men for long-term romantic relationships.

Stagg’s national survey shows that two-thirds of gay guys who use mobile dating apps said they use them in the hopes of finding long-term potential. Stagg was designed partly in response to this survey, which underscores a pressing need in the mobile dating app market for users to be able to learn more than just the

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O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . C O M

• • • • •

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 5, 7:30 p.m.

Zanies is located at 2025 8th Ave. S. Tickets Girl on Girl Comedy tickets are $10. Show time is 7:30 p.m. They have a full bar and menu, so come thirsty and hungry. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For ticket information, call (615) 269-0221. O&AN

APPS location of a potential match.

“The Supreme Court of the United States has announced they’d hear arguments in late March on two historic cases that could dramatically advance legal recognition of same-sex relationships,” said Brad Brenner, Ph.D., co-founder of Stagg and a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Washington, DC. “However, partly due to decades of stigmatization and discrimination faced by the LGBT community and, in particular, our romantic lives, gay men continue to find themselves too often wandering in bars, places of work, or online – our version of wandering in the wilderness – in search of potential long-term partners.”

Last week, The Huffington Post’s Gay Voices published an op-ed from Dr. Brenner on how the dating landscape for gay men has evolved politically, socially, and personally for many gay men. The full op-ed, including additional data from Stagg’s nationwide survey, is available here.

Highlights from Stagg’s culturally diverse, nationwide survey of 537 single gay men who ranged in age from 18 to 73, with an average age of 28 include: App users search for a deeper connection • 66 percent of the respondents said they use apps in the hopes of finding long-term potential, despite the almost universal perception that other guys on dating apps are looking for a hookup.

• 64 percent said that they use dating apps to find new friends.

FEBRUARY 2013

• 1 6 percent of respondents — 1 in 6 men — choose dating apps as the most promising place to meet someone for long-term potential, a surprisingly substantial result given the reputation of first-generation dating apps for hookups.

Apps move dating away from computer screens and into public and social settings • 56 percent of the respondents said that they use dating apps in public.

• More than one-third of all respondents, 37 percent, use the apps while with their friends.

Apps bridge communication and build connections • 78 percent said that apps help them to start a conversation that they wouldn’t have otherwise initiated.

• More than one-third of respondents, 35 percent, said that apps are a way to have fun with their friends.

Stagg satisfies the urgent dating needs of gay men.

• 77 percent of the men said that when it comes to dating they don’t know where or how to find guys who are like themselves.

• 65 percent stated that breaking the ice and starting a conversation is a serious impediment to meeting guys.

• 56 percent said that dating apps are not friendly, when compared to dating websites.

An open-ended question put to these 537 men about what is most needed in apps revealed that they are seeking more substance in the type of information and potential connection than first-generation apps can deliver. O&AN

Miranda’s

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Birthday

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Zodiac ID

GAY OWNED AND OPERATED

april 27, 1991 taurus Home + Current town

Although from Puerto Rico I grew up in Murfreesboro, but I am in the Air Force now stationed at Moody AFB in Valdosta, Ga. Photo by: Ethan James

all about d o m i n i q u e m i cha e l I feel most confident when:

My greatest achievement has been:

What’s your favorite food?

My favorite food is cereal! Had a bowl like an hour ago before the gym. Usually any kind of granola.

Most people would think I’d say deploying and helping locals of Afghanistan better home medical care but really I think it would being as independent as I was at the age of 15. I value that the most.

What’s one item you can’t leave home without?

What do you hope your next greatest achievement will be?

Boxers or briefs?

If you won $1 million (tax free) and had to give half of it away, who would you give it to?

After working out or on a dance floor. My Latin roots run deep.

My iPod and headphones. Was in Afghanistan this past summer and that literally was my safe haven.

Ha it’s awkward to say but I’m usually commando since sophomore year track season. Feels good to feel free. But if I had to choose, briefs

My next achievement hmmm ...

Definitely exploring the modeling and entertainment industry.

If I had that money I would give it to my mother and let her give it to whom ever she wanted or to spend however she would see fit.

She’s really my conscious, heart and soul.

Nashville

Nashville West

Jackson

Clarksville

822 5th Ave South 615/ 256-1310

5329 Charlotte Ave 615/ 383-2160

186 Providence Rd 731/ 424-7226

19 Crossland Ave 931/ 648-0365

Elkton

Chattanooga

Bucksnort

Greensboro (NC)

1166 Bryson Rd 931/ 468-2900

2025 Broadstreet 423/ 266-5956

4970 Hwy 230 931/ 729-2006

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FEBRUARY 2013

O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . CO M

31

E T C

NATIONAL LOCAL

Campaign to Fix the Debt partners with NGLCC

by O&AN STAFF REPORTS

WASHINGTON —The Campaign to Fix the Debt has announced its strategic partnership with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the foremost business advocate among GLBT business owners.

Representing more than 1.4 million GLBT businesses and entrepreneurs, the NGLCC recognizes the continued

recovery and long-term success of the U.S. economy, and the diversity that fuels it, hinges on lawmakers' ability to rein in the country's long-term debt and deficits. NGLCC is also a founding member of the National Business Inclusion Consortium which represents diverse communities that total more than $8 trillion in consumer spending power. “We've partnered with the Campaign to Fix the Debt because we recognize that business cannot grow in a climate of economic uncertainty,� said Justin Nelson, NGLCC co-founder and president. “We don't have to be partisan, but business leaders do have to be political. Businesses need certainty and predictability to stay on a steady growth trajectory and continue to drive this economy and create jobs.� “The Campaign is pleased to stand with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to call on Washington to temporarily put aside partisan politics and work together to truly stabilize and reduce the federal debt. The window of opportunity is closing. Right now lawmakers have a chance to work past our differences for the sake of our economy, and

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the economy of tomorrow,� added Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and head of the Campaign to Fix the Debt.

The Campaign to Fix the Debt is a non-partisan movement asking lawmakers to work together on legislation large enough to stabilize and reduce the national debt as a share of the economy. Members come from a broad range of social, economic and political perspectives with the belief that America's growing debt burden threatens our future, and that we must address it now.

The Campaign will mobilize key communities — including leaders from business, government, and policy — and people all across America who want to see elected officials step up to solve our nation's fiscal challenges.

For more information about the Campaign to Fix the Debt visit FixtheDebt.org. O&AN

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O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . C O M

WATCH LIVE

Gonirl irl G COMEDY

Patricia Snyder Attorney-at-Law

32

TODAY

FEBRUARY 2013

iLÀÕ>Ă€ĂžĂŠĂˆĂŠĂŠUĂŠĂŠ >Ă€VÂ…ĂŠĂˆĂŠĂŠUĂŠĂŠ ÂŤĂ€ÂˆÂ?ĂŠĂŽĂŠĂŠĂŠ >ÞÊnĂŠĂŠĂŠUĂŠĂŠ Ă•Â˜iĂŠx Featuring the Southeast’s best female & GLBT comedians.

$

10 / ticket

The show is rated R for sexual content, lewd references, vulgar language, adult themes, and mature subject matter.

Some shows also include variety acts such as burlesque and pole dancers.

facebook.com/ GirlonGirlComedy twitter.com/gogcomedy FOR MORE INFO:

GirlonGirlComedy.net ADVANCE TICKETS:

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Zanies Comedy Night Club ÓäÓxĂŠnĂŒÂ…ĂŠ Ă›iÂ˜Ă•iĂŠ-ÂœĂ•ĂŒÂ… Nashville, Tennessee

E T C .

LOCAL

Prime Timers are thriving in their third year

by JAMES GRADY, CONTRIBUTING WRITER jgrady@outandaboutnewspaper.com

Age is just a number, or so the saying goes, and one group of men, the Greater Nashville Prime Timers, is proving it right. With an impressive array of programs and activities, Prime Timers is an organization for mature gay and bisexual, and those who admire them, to connect with each other and form new and meaningful friendships, providing an environment of mutual support.

All photos courtesy of Prime Timers

The group also provides safe harbor to connect more deeply with the GLBT community, particularly for men who are perhaps becoming more open about their sexuality later in life and for Nashville newcomers.

According to chapter president, Wresch Dawidjan, regular group meals, both dining out and pot-luck events, easily draw twenty attendees. Past group activities have included trips to the Hermitage, the symphony, and even the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

For their support of the Nashville Ballet, the Prime Timers were admitted to a preview showing of “Sleeping Beauty.” Events such as these provide ample opportunities for meeting new people and catching up with old friends.

Things were not always so. Ten

years ago, the organization couldn’t manage to take hold in Nashville.

But now in its third year, the Greater Nashville chapter of Prime Timers Worldwide is thriving, having expanded its membership each year since its formation.

The group’s success, according to Dawidjan, is in part due to changing attitudes towards homosexuality in Nashville, as well as the city’s changing demographics. The influx of new businesses, as well as the rising profile of Nashville as an international tourist destination, seem to have contributed to the openness more and more mature gay men feel in expressing themselves publicly.

But the real success of Nashville’s Prime Timers is due to its vibrant and active membership, and its busy calendar of events that bring these men together around common interests, and engages them with the wider Nashville GLBT community. One of the

Timberfell Lodge

timberfell.com February 15 – 17 Valentine’s Day Sweethearts Weekend* Call us with your special requests to make your romantic weekend perfect! The Tavern will be open Saturday (12pm-5pm) for pool, beer, snacks, movies and Wii!!

March 1 – 3 Pajama Party Weekend* Back by popular demand…what do you wear to bed? Then wear the same thing to the Tavern Saturday night! The Tavern will be also be open Saturday (12pm-5pm) for pool, beer, snacks, movies and Wii!

Prime Timers’ most exciting program offerings, hosted at OutCentral on the third Wednesday of every month at 8 p.m., is their Classic Movie Night.

This event, free and open to the public, offers guests the opportunity to screen some of the most prominent, gaythemed movies ever made. This years featured films include “My Beautiful Laundromat” (February), “Mambo Italiano” (March) and “Mysterious Skin” (April).

Like classic cars and classic movies, some things age well, and the Greater Nashville Prime Timers are true classics.

For more information about all of the Prime Timers’ programming, as well as membership in the organization, visit their website www.tnprimetimers.org or contact Dawidjan at wresch@comcast.net. O&AN FEBRUARY 2013

*Winter Room Rate Specials “BUTTS IN BEDS WEEKENDS” 50% discount on weekend room rates January 4–March 31,2013.

Party all you want any weekend and walk back to your room with no worries! During our four themed weekends, the Tavern will be open on Saturdays from 12pm-5pm for pool, beer, snacks, movies, and Wii!

Come visit us in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.

2240 Van Hill Road Greeneville, TN 37745 FOR RESERVATIONS:

423-234-0833 1-800-437-0118 O U T A N D A B O U T N E W S PA P E R . CO M

33

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Parents.

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Farmers, the Right Choice for Insurance and Savings.

Moving equality forward.

LEARN MORE. GET INVOLVED. VISIT PFLAGNASHVILLE.ORG TODAY!

NASHVILLE

Supporting the LGBTQQI Community 615/366.0888 | info@pflagnashville.org

What are you doing tonight?

everybody, check out our calendar on the web. We look forward to meeting you !

Greater Nashville Primetimers

tnprimetimers.org

or

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