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Dear Readers, New year. New decade. New magazine. JFK once said, "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." OMG! Magazine had a very successful year in 2009. It became the fastest growing publication in the Florida GLBT market, expanding its presence in the southern Florida region. Change is essential to the growth of any business. With 2009 behind us, OMG! has once again changed some more. Mike Halterman and Chris Zenger have recently joined OMG! as the magazine's Editor-in-Chief and resident photographer and graphic designer. Yours truly has also just become a member of the OMG! family. With my experiencing throwing the largest and most popular creative events in the Tampa Bay area and my heavy involvement with the arts and community, I will be creatively guiding OMG! Magazine as their Managing Editor into another successful year. I look forward to bringing OMG! to the masses with stories that speak to not only today's generation but tomorrow's. Sincerely, Okesene Tilo, Managing Editor OMG! Magazine Hi, everybody! All of us at OMG! are going to bring our fabulousness full-force this year, bringing you the best in content that clearly shows we're a step above the rest. Our columns will continue to educate and make you laugh, our interviews will still inspire, and our human interest stories will make you go "OMG!" more than ever before. E-mail me at mike@omgmag.com and give me your feedback! What would you like to see in OMG! this year? Shoot me a message and let me know. With your help, we will grow even more than we already have, and we'll continue our commitment to publishing the best GLBT magazine in Florida. -Mike Halterman Editor-in-Chief, OMG! Magazine
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The case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger started on January 11, and continued under a cloud after the Supreme Court ruled on the 13th, with a vote of 5 to 4, that the trial cannot be broadcast live to various places across the country, including via the Internet. The case, which seeks to overturn California's 2008 voter initiative which banned gay marriage, Proposition 8, is now being broadcast behind closed doors. But how closed are they? Before the Supreme Court ruling, the case was widely hailed as one of the first LGBT civil rights matters which would be broadcast in real time to the public. The Supreme Court hoped to put a damper on that, but in this day and age, where electronics are not only advanced but ubiquitous, "closed" does not mean what people think it means anymore. Immediately, twitters could be heard in the courtroom...and not your grandmother's definition of the word, either. The court's remarks, in real time, were broadcast from the get-go via Twitter, most notably on the account for the publication The Advocate. On the first day of the closed trial, Vaughn R. Walker, the judge presiding over the case, commented that he had received 138,000 comments regarding the issue of broadcasting the trial. The number of people against? Out of 138,000? Just 32. The highlights of the trial's first week include the testimony of the plaintiffs, gay couple Paul Katami and Jeffrey Zarrillo, and lesbian couple Kristin Perry and Sandra Steir, who described what it is like to live as gay Americans. historian Nancy Cott, described how "marriage has never been universally defined as a union of one man and
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one woman, and that religion has never had any bearing on the legality of a marriage," further going on to state that in history, "shedding inequalities" from the institution of marriage has only strengthened the institution, not weakened it. George Chauncey, a professor at Yale University, studied anti-gay scare tactics throughout history and compared the messages of homosexuality equating to deviance and child molestation in both historical references as well as pro-Proposition 8 media. For the defense, they hoped to find out "whether systemic bias against lesbians and gay men prevents them from being treated by others as equal citizens in the political process." Lawyer David Thompson noted that much progress had been made over the last two decades as far as social acceptance of homosexuality is concerned in American society. Among other things, Thompson cited the television series "Will & Grace" and the film "Brokeback Mountain" to argue the point that homosexuality is now assimiliated into American life. Ilan Meyer, sociology professor at Columbia University, testified that Proposition 8 was a "structural stigma" against the LGBT community, noting, “We are raised to think that there are certain things that we want to achieve in life. Proposition 8 says that gays and lesbians cannot reach that goal.� Meyer also mentions the phrase "minority stress" in the courtroom for the first time. He believes the community suffers from such stress, which stems from overt prejudice and discrimination. The answer to the question at the beginning of this article is clear: the trial isn't closed at all. The people have spoken and they want to hear more. OMG! will provide more trial updates next issue.
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'Notre Dame' Isn't French for 'Shitty Joke' Moving into the "lame jokes are lame" category, the student newspaper at Notre Dame published a cartoon this week which told a joke: "What is the easiest way to turn a fruit into a vegetable?" The punchline: "A baseball bat." Yes, REALLY. The three students who drew the comic were trying to go for Stephen Colbert-esque understated puns, with "a baseball bat" being said by an anthropomorphic saw, which was supposed to signify that only a "tool" like a saw would say something like that! ...Yeah.
WRITTEN BY MIKE HALTERMAN
Needless to say, it went over everyone else's heads too, and for good reason, because it's shitty humor. The editor of the paper, who was apparently absent the day that masterpiece made it to press, issued a tearful and apparently very sincere apology to GLAAD, and both the newspaper and the cartoonists wrote apology letters. Here, I have a joke! "What's the easiest way to shame Notre Dame?" Punchline: "You mean other than Charlie Weis?"
Bougie Kelis Taken to Task for Fur Addiction I can't vouch for Kelis's "Milkshake," but her letter was sure better than Ingrid Newkirk's! Newkirk, the founder of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), sent a letter to the R&B singer after she became aware of her passion for fur. Kelis fires off in a reply on her MySpace blog, which is appropriately scathing: "There is no humane way to kill anything, let me start there. It’s unfortunate but it’s part of life. With that being said, I would eat pterodactyl if you found some and you told me it was meaty and delicious," Kelis wrote. She continues on with "[By the way] it’s not just the look of fur. It’s warm as hell and feels glorious; ever rubbed faux fur on your body? Nothing luxurious about that. Then the letter proceeded to name [artists] and designers who don’t wear real fur. Great! More for me! I don’t judge them, don’t judge me." Whether you agree with fur or not, it's her choice and her money that's buying it, so let the woman have her pleasure and butt out of her business!
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"This is How Gay Psychos Fight!" I wouldn't have believed this story unless I actually read it and saw the crime scene photos. In Fort Walton Beach, an officer found a gay couple fighting in a car on New Year's Day; one was "wildly punching" the other. When questioned about the incident, the victim was "adamant that being hit was an acceptable behavior," according to the officer's report. So after the officer dealt with Tina, he went over to Ike, who assured the officer, "This is the way gay couples fight." I'm sorry, what? I've seen some pretty nasty fights, even involving some fisticuffs, among gay men before, but never anything to the level of Ike and Tina Turner rolling on the river like that. That is NOT the way gay couples fight, and quite frankly, it shouldn't be the way ANY couples fight. The panhandle sure can be a rough place, huh?
GOSSIP
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Turn on your television. Flip through every channel. Episodes of Jersey Shore, Tabatha's Salon Takeover, Celebrity Rehab, The Bad Girls Club and (insert any show that airs on Bravo here) saturate the airwaves. One would think that the writers were on strike again. The reality show boom did not truly explode until 2000’s first season of Survivor. Since then, Americans have sat through such pop culture phenomena such as American Idol (2002), The Osbournes (2002) and Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica (2003). But with every high must come a low. Think: Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire? (2000), Taradise (2006) and A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila (2007). With minimal budget costs and speedy post-production schedules, television execs continually served every single reality show concoction imaginable and rushed it all on-air. (Proof: the nowcanceled Jay Leno Show which replaced the 10pm drama time slot on NBC.)
Reality show stars such as the Kardashian sisters (from Keeping Up With The Kardashians) and Paris Hilton (from The Simple Life) became superstars. Others such as Omarosa (from The Apprentice: Season One) and Jerri Manthey (from Survivor: The Australian Outback) peaked and then faded alongside their finales. Dancing With The Stars gave descending stars a second chance to dance in a spotlight, while American Idol spawned the superstar careers of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. With all of these reality shows continually dominating the Nielsen ratings (American Idol is currently the Number 1 and 2 show in America), the reality show trend does not seem to be fading from television sets anytime soon. Here are a few potential reality show pilots that will undoubtedly be in the works by greedy execs across the nation:
The REAL Big Brother: Starring the eldest son of Octomom Nadya Suleman. America’s Next Top Scientologist: Each week, host John Travolta will eliminate a celebrity contestant based on "stress-test" challenges. Executive produced by Suri Cruise. TYRA BANKS WAS HERE!: There is no clear point to this series except to give producer Tyra Banks another avenue to talk about herself, show off photos of herself and plug herself. Created by Tyra Banks. Produced by Tyra Banks. Written by Tyra Banks. Edited by Tyra Banks. Hosted by Tyra Banks. The Bachelor: John Mayer: Jennifer Aniston will be eliminated at the end of each rose ceremony, only to return on the next week’s episode.
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THE GLAMOROUS LIFE
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hampagne anyone? Impromptu trip to the islands, or better yet, a red eye gambling excursion to Vegas? How about an eight-hour spa day and a phone call to your personal shopper to have your ensemble delivered to you no later than 8pm Friday night (of course with a backup just in case you are not happy with the initial selection)? I know what you’re thinking. The glamorous life can be so stressful and hard at times, and how do I do it? What would you do with out your glam squad? How would you function without someone else plucking, waxing, tailoring, massaging, styling, driving and even feeding you? Reader…is you still with me? Is this not a normal day for you? Wait, was I just in some sort of reality television dream world? Wishful thinking, right? No! I don’t care what anyone thinks the glamorous life is for everyone, and yes, you can absolutely afford a more scaled down personalized local version of it for yourself. Ladies and Gent…*Jorge clears his throat*... ladies welcome to your new Glamorous Life, starring affordable luxuries! You can do this by yourself or with your BFFs. On the way home from work, stop at the liquor store and pick up a bottle or two of champagne. Korbel is fine; what the hell do you know about champagne anyway except that rapper's rap about it and that it tastes good with orange juice? Immediately, put the bottle on ice. While the champagne is chilling, take care of any household
chores, phone calls, and dog walking. Give yourself a time limit and if you don’t finish, you don’t finish: remember, we are being glamorous. Now light some candles in your bathroom and start a bubble bath. If you don’t have Mr. Bubble, shampoo will work. If you live in one of those 10x10 square boxes downtown which some of you call condos, a hot, steamy shower will suffice. Run back to the champagne, pour yourself a glass, and go back your bath or shower. Spend at least 20 minutes relaxing in the water, steam and bubbles. When you're done with your makeshift spa treatment, it’s time to pick out your very best outfit and dress as if you were going to walk the red carpet at the Oscars with the intention of making the best dressed list. By now you should be feeling and looking good, and we are off! There is no need for the islands; we live in Florida, where the beach is 30 minutes away (and even closer for some of us). Vegas? Whatever! We have our own casino here at the Hard Rock. We can gamble and dance all night long and still make it home in the morning unless you prefer to just check in and wake up poolside. Give it a try, you know you want to. Who doesn’t want to feel like some android celebrity debutante every once in while? Try it and share your thoughts with me at jorge@omgmag.com. I can’t wait to hear from you as soon as my publicist, personal assistant and I get back from my spa excursion at The Palms Resort in Vegas!
May the Fierce Face be with you!
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Hey everyone!! Hope the new year is seeing you well! Welcome to the cross-dressing portion of OMG. For those of you that did not know, this is where you can find out all of the goings-on in the drag world across west-central Florida. Usually I am given a theme to go with, but this week I have been given free rein to ramble about whatever I want to. So here we go! Most of us know of the "Gospel Brunches" over at Streetcar Charlie's every other Sunday with Esme Russell and company. Well, now Charlie's is offering something new on alternating Sundays. Daphne Ferraro will be heading up all new themed brunches featuring an array of some of central Florida's hottest talent. The first of Daph's themed brunches was "Country Fried Queens" that took place last Sunday. The cast included Tiffany McCray from Melbourne, Crystle Chambers from Lakeland, Daphne, and the manager of Streetcar Charlie's, the very professional Melanie Minyon! It was a fun country-themed show with an amazing buffet supplied by head chef Darlene! Make sure you check it out sometime. Anyone who has ever seen Daphne knows that you are not going to get your typical drag show. Daphne specializes in over-the-top, campy drag. She loves to shock and entertain and knows how to get an audience chuckling. Daphne, aka Michael, got his start in theater in Spring Hill, later moving to Orlando where he became a character actor at Disney. One of my fave pics of Daph I have ever seen was when he played Maleficent in Disney's huge show Fantasmic! He was dead-on! After a stint in Orlando he moved back to the west coast and began a career as Daphne working mostly in New Port Richey at BTs and Waterside. Eventually Daphne OMG 28
made her way to Tampa. While here she decided to go to the International Academy of Design and Technology where she got her Bachelor's in fashion design and marketing. This led to a internship with Vera Wang in New York. I have seen a lot of his work and it is amazing! Currently Daphne has been working on his side project called "The Evolution of Drag." It is a fun stage show that provides an inner look at the history of drag and the different genres that drag is known for. It has had three showings at The Honey Pot and he is currently in talks with another venue to host the show. Aside from local shows, Daphne has also competed in pageants around the country. He has placed in the Top 10 at the Miss Gay America and the National Entertainer of the Year Pageants. These venues allowed him to show off his talents on a large scale. As far as what's next for Daphne, who knows, but I am sure it will be entertaining. He is a new homeowner and right now is just happy spending time at home with his babies Sachi and Bella! If you have any ideas or suggestions for upcoming articles, please feel free to contact me at JocelynSummers11@aol.com
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aiti has always been there. A nation on an island. A lilting, pretty accent. The homeland of popular musicians. The origin of a intricate language. But for many of us, Haiti wasn’t concrete. Haiti didn’t have a face. Now, as the world watches a nation struggle through the aftermath of a devastating earthquake, Haiti has many faces. Faces bleeding from head wounds and covered in eerie white dust. Haiti has many hands, reaching toward the sky in prayer or reaching out for help or reaching into the rubble for loved ones buried in the ruins of homes and shelters. Over here in Florida, not so very far away, we check websites for updates and watch heartbreaking stories on the news. We raised over $21 million by texting “HAITI” to 90999 on our cell phones. We researched donation drop off sites and sent blankets, durable goods, baby formula and shoes.
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We watch as huge airplanes circle Tampa Bay and land at MacDill Air Force Base and we wonder where they’ve been. And then, when we don’t have anything left to do, we go out to eat. We watch the Golden Globes and wonder what the hell Drew Barrymore has plastered to her hip. Is that a sea anemone? And when did she get so skinny? Life goes on even as life grinds to a screeching, horrible halt on an island that isn’t too far away from our sometimeshurricane-ravaged peninsula. It’s times like these that I find myself questioning the mundane, everyday occurrences that I bitch about. Traffic. Those idiots at Dunkin Donuts who can’t figure out that “easy” and “light” mean easy and light and not “please add a half a cup of sugar to my coffee.” The way sales racks always have XXL and XS. Who needs a ruffle skirt in those sizes? Not me!
Then I see a link to a video on the web and click on it and I watch a reporter pull an eighteen-month-old baby girl out of a cave where she’s been curled up against the corpses of her parents. I literally ache at the sense of helplessness and the knowledge that all of that suffering continues day in and day out while I live comfortably, healthy and intact. As you drive to work or make reservations for dinner or set the DVR to record American Idol, don’t wallow in guilt at what you have. But be thankful, in some way, for the awareness you’ve gained...for the fact that technology and progress have made it possible for you to contribute to relief efforts at the touch of a button... for the knowledge that heroes exist and are fighting, right now, to rescue and heal and love and rebuild. Our awareness has come at a deep cost— and we can’t afford to forget.
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Get Rid of Those “Pencil Pin” Legs and Gain Upper Body Strength While Doing It
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e’ve all seen them in the gym. The guys with the sculpted chests, massive guns, and shoulders so wide they have to turn sideways to fit through a door. And it all sits atop little itty, bitty toothpick legs. Unfortunately it’s a common issue with most exercisers. They think it’s enough to have that sculpted upper body and not worry about the legs. Besides, a thick pair of quadriceps aren’t really considered to be a showy muscle… and I don’t think there’s anybody out there who’s been asked to “flex his hamstring.” Everybody is so dead set on having a wide, thick upper body that they either forget about or ignore the lower body muscles. And I’ve heard just about any reason to avoid hard and heavy leg training, like “I just run to build my legs,” “squats are bad on my knees,” or some other lame reason. Well, you couldn’t be more wrong in this thinking. What most people don’t realize is that your lower body makes up between 60-70% of your total muscle mass. If you don’t train your lower body, your entire body will not grow as quickly or as large. Your body shape will also be more proportionate and look more attractive.
Most people imagine weight training is a simple cut and dried issue of “train muscle A using exercise B, and muscle A will get larger and stronger.” This simply isn’t true. A large portion of muscle growth comes about when the body as a whole is worked out. One reason is because the body releases more muscle building hormones when larger muscles are trained and they are one of the main factors in how much muscle a person can potentially develop. What's one of the most effective ways to do this? That’s right…Hard and heavy leg training! Squats, leg presses, lunges, stiff-legged deadlifts. If you’ve ever done these exercises, you know how difficult they can be when performed to a high level of intensity. After getting done with a full set of these lifts you may find yourself completely exhausted. This is because they involve the biggest muscle groups on your body as well as upper body muscles that allow you to move large amounts of weight. If leg training is not a consistent part of your workout routine, you are missing out on a lot of total body gains. Work in a hard and intense day of leg training into your weekly workout schedule. Focus on the basic compound lifts such as squats, leg presses and deadlifts. Do this for 4-8 weeks, and then shoot me a line and tell me what you experience. If you’re like most everyone out there, you’ll notice that your strength on your upper body exercise went up… and that your chest, back, arms and shoulders became visibly larger and more muscular as a result. It may not seem to make sense at first, but the simple truth is that intense and consistent leg training absolutely is one of the true “secrets” to a large, ripped and muscular upper body!
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beh in d. e l y t s ld o r Lea ve you
Centro Ybor Location Now Open 813-242-4080 South Tampa 920 W. Kennedy Blvd. 813-250-0208 OMG 36
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communities. We discuss gay issues on campus, in society, in politics, and in the media. Also, we plan and host GLBT friendly events, and have LOTS of fun doing it! This issue, OMG! spotlights the work being done by LGBT student organizations on college campuses, in their quest to promote understanding and tolerance. We interviewed the leaders of the LGBT student unions from two local public universities to show you how they help their respective communities. Stephanie Mold, 20, has been the co-president of the Florida Gulf Coast University Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) for over a year. Originally from Manchester, England, she moved to Naples at the age of 15, and found that her high school's LGBT club suffered from neglect, discouraging her. "Kids in high school can be really mean and lack understanding of various sexualities," she said early on in the interview. Stephanie came out just after graduating from high school, and she recounted that her mother cried for nearly two weeks, not because she disapproved of her daughter, but that she feared how Stephanie would be treated by society. Both her parents are very supportive, and even attend events organized by the GSA. Stephanie gives us the rundown on what her club is about: What kinds of things go on at a regular meeting? At the meetings, we provide a safe and welcoming environment for members of the GLBT and ally
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What kinds of events do you organize on campus, and which one has been your personal favorite? Our GSA participated in Relay For Life and won two awards for it. We have hosted guest speakers to come and talk about homophobia, we did a World AIDS Day fundraiser for ICAN, and we did a National Chalk Day Project on campus, inspiring words of love, hope, unity, respect, etc. All huge hits. My personal favorite event on campus that we do is definitely the annual Drag Bingo event. The most recent one, in October, welcomed over 200 students, and it was a completely free event with amazing prizes and a hilarious drag queen host! Whoever got the bingo first got an amazing bag of goodies. The drag queen is on our school senate board; the theme for Drag Bingo was "celebrities," so he came as Anna Nicole Smith! What would you say to people who want to come to your meetings and haven't gotten up the nerve yet? Don't be afraid, and understand that our meetings are a place of friendship, support, and respect, and we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. It's a fun and safe environment, and once you come, you won't want to stop!
Lara McDermott, 20, has been involved with her organization, the P.R.I.D.E Alliance (short for People Respecting Individual Diversity in Equality) at the University of South Florida, for the past three years. Originally from Pembroke Pines, she founded the Gay-Straight Alliance at her alma mater, Everglades High in Miramar, which was the catalyst for a fair bit of animosity in the community, although she credits her club advisor and principal for standing by her. First coming out to friends in the eighth grade, she made the big choice to tell her family at the age of17. Lara's father was raised, in her words, to "never hate and discriminate," and her parents have spoken at her organization's parents' day. Lara lets us in on the P.R.I.D.E. scoop: What kinds of things go on at a regular meeting? Usually we have a icebreaker of sorts, to help members remember each other's names, and to just get everyone in a more focused mood. Then the meeting goes to the topic of the week, which can range from the media to politics to safe sex... really anything affecting the LGBT community. We love having discussion groups where members can really interact with each other. What kinds of events do you organize on campus? Coming Out Day is usually a huge rainbow filled celebration. We have games, spray painting, and musical performers. We also have students getting up and telling their coming out stories. The Transgender Day of Remberance is a much more somber event; it takes place at night, with a candlelight vigil for all those lost to trans violence. We have musical performances and speakers and we really try and get the Tampa Bay trans community to come out and participate. With Our Ally Social, we partner up with our Safe Zone Program at school and it's really just a fun time where we encourage members to bring all of the allies they know so we can recognize them for all their support and encourge them to get Safe Zone certified. Freedom to Marry is held around Valentine's Day; we host a venue where we let anyone engage in mock wedding ceremonies with whomever they choose, usually exchanging Ring Pops. While the fun is going on though, we have information for the masses about the inequalities faced by the LGBT community with regard to marriage.
Parents' Day is our event when invite the parents of our members to join us and give us their prespective on their child's coming out process. It's very touching to a lot of the students who haven't told their parents, and also the parents that may have been cooler with it than others get to see how bad it can get, because we usually have a speaker who shares his story about how his parents utterly rejected him for his sexuality. It gives some kids more courage and spurs more parents to get involved. Our annual Drag Show is our big fundraiser for the year. We have students and professional drag kings and queens perform. Last year we had 400 people attend. The Day of Silence is where we try to exemplfy the message of the event just like every high schooler stuck in some podunk town: staying quiet for a day to teach our peers about the reality that we as LGBT people face. P.R.I.D.E usually constructs a "Hate Wall" where we encourage anyone (silently of course) to sign it with words which have been used against them in a hateful way. We have a huge "breaking the silence" rally at the end of the day when we literally tear down that wall (with baseball bats among other things) and just let people share the experiences about what happned to them that day or how their perspective changed. Which event has been your personal favorite? It has always been Coming Out Day. My freshman year of college, I was kind of thrown for a loop. I hadn't made any good LGBT friends and just went to the P.R.I.D.E meetings to give me a sense that I wasn't alone. I was quiet and not really involved but then the planning for COD was happening and the President and VP at the time asked me to help out. I had never put so much energy into planning an event like that before so when it came together, it was the spark I needed...I was asked to share my coming out story in The Oracle and it was the first time that I'd ever seen my story written down in words. Here I was, shouting to the world about the fact that I was gay, and perfect strangers were going to know...it felt empowering beyond all belief. If you attend either FGCU or USF and want to attend a meeting, meeting times are at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at FGCU and 7 p.m. on Thursdays at USF. Check the FGCU GSA page on facebook for room number; this semester USF's meetings will be held in Room 3705 in the New Marshall Center.
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SAY HELLO TO GIO
Facts: Age: 18 years old Height: 6’ 3” Weight: 190 lbs Zodiac: Aquarius Favorite car: Lamborghini Diablo Roadster VT Favorite Color: British Racing Green OMG 40
Photographed by Chris Zenger
Giovanni McFarlane Fitzpatrick
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e is only eighteen years old, but this strapping young college jock is not just another pretty face and flawless body. He’s got his life already mapped out and has the intellectual state of mind and raw determination of a seasoned Wall Street executive to guarantee that it happens. This kid is nothing short of awesome. I sat down recently to chat with him about his goals and aspirations and to find out what made this picture-perfect jock tick. While his ambitions don’t lack overwhelming challenges for anyone coming up in today’s competitive world, he sees it in very simple terms – like “ I got this.” Giovanni is a freshman at the University of South Florida (Tampa campus) studying political science. After he graduates, he wants to work on Wall Street, work as a political lobbyist, and eventually land the Treasury Secretary’s job at the White House. Giovanni says it doesn’t matter which president is in power, “I want to be in a government position where I have the power to make people’s lives better [through good policies], doing what I love.” Getting there is going to come natural to him as Giovanni sees it. He says college is a breeze for him and studying has always been something that rarely frustrates him. His course load this semester consists of Modern European History, Introduction to Ethics, American National Government and Environmental Science. When ask about the challenges of his academic workload this semester, he just shook his head and said, “it’s a cake walk, once I finish USF, I will go to Wharton School of Business or Harvard” he states with utter confidence. Whether he has intentionally been preparing himself to be a leader in American government or not, Giovanni has immersed himself in the studies of history and philosophy. He has read extensively the works of Aristotle and devoured Ayn Rand’s extensive body of work, including Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. (Remember, this kid is only eighteen!) When asked who he admires the most, expecting him to name a famous sports figure like Michael Jordan or Brett Favre, he paused for a moment and said “well, that would have to be Prince Klemens von Metternich of Austria, a 19th Century German-Austrian politician and statesman –
WRITTEN BY JAMES CLARK who was one of the most important diplomats of his era. I admire him because he was able to bring long-lasting peace to a region of Europe that would have otherwise never seen it during von Metternich’s lifetime." (Yikes!!!) At this point in the interview, I made a quick decision to change the subject before this kid started talking way over my head, so I asked him what his favorite music is and got a more modern response. “Well, let’s see, that’s easy,” as he started spitting out most of Michael Jackson’s hit list, "Billie Jean," "Smooth Criminal," "Bad," "Beat It," as well as other artists like songs by Slick Rick, Nat King Cole, Evergreen, and let’s not forget "I’m Your Boogie Man" by K.C. and The Sunshine Band. His favorite foods were more my taste as well. When asked, he had to compartmentalize the food groups. “Well, for meats, it’s fried chicken, veggies, broccoli, starch would be corn bread, and seafood would have to be lobster.” I would not have expected the fried chicken response as his favorite considering that he politely consumed two full entrées of buttermilk battered Southern fried pork chops and a whopping chocolate cake at his favorite restaurant, Streetcar Charlie’s, during our halfhour interview. His appetite for enjoying life is big too. As for his personal life, well, guys, he is single. Yes!!! He says flattering him about his looks will get you nowhere, but make him laugh and stimulate his mind and you will have him hooked. I know I was getting stimulated! He enjoys sports and plays rugby, tennis, track and baseball. As for sex, he says he is giving up sports to focus more on his schoolwork and to enjoy just being a young gay man. “My favorite places to go out are G-Bar and Honey Pot.” Surely, this catch will not be single for long, as there are so many other lovable qualities about this hot young man that would make anyone fall in love with him in a New York minute.When asked what he wanted people to know about him, in closing, he said "I live by a quote my father told me a long time ago − 'do not look down on people, let them look up to you.'”Giovanni McFarlane Fitzpatrick, remember his name because one day he may very well be what he wants, and I feel good about that.
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WRITTEN BY MIKE HALTERMAN
I'm sure many of you (myself included) made a New Year's resolution to save money. We're nearing the end of the year's first month...how well did we do? I, personally, could have done better. So I thought, why don't I help myself and help you all in the process? I've compiled one fun thing to do for each city in which we have readership; the following things cost little or no money, but are still great ways to explore and get to know your respective cities. Hopefully you can integrate them into your schedule soon and stick to your resolution in the process! Tampa Bay Want to get to know historic Ybor City, and not just for its nightlife? If so, you should consider a guided walking tour of 7th Avenue, sponsored by the Ybor City Museum Society. For the price, you get an informative guide pointing you to various spots which shaped Tampa's history, plus you get admission to the Ybor City Museum and La Casita, where the cigar workers lived at the turn of the 20th century. A nice way to spend a Saturday morning. Tours start at 10:30 a.m. Price: $8. Orlando The Harry P. Leu Gardens on Forest Avenue sounds like a great place to spend a date if you happen to be as romantic as those nice boys in every Mandy Moore movie. Admission is free on Mondays, and you can enjoy 50 acres of tropical flowers, fields of camellias, and mighty oaks older than most generations of families "native" to Florida! You should definitely take a look at founder's wife Mary Jane Leu's rose garden, boasting the highest number of rose varieties in Florida. Très romantique! Miami Pull out all the stops and be at Calle Ocho for Viernes Culturales (Cultural Friday). Held on the last Friday of the month, the Little Havana institution is a large street fair which will allow you to sample authentic Cuban cuisine for cheap! There are also OMG 52
inexpensive handicrafts on sale, with many businesses in the community setting up tents to show you what they have to offer. The feeling in the air is electric and absolutely caliente, making Viernes Culturales a must-see! Key West We all know that Key West is home to one of the most breathtaking sunsets in the world, and where else should you be to see day turn into night but Mallory Square? Mallory Square is a mini-circus in and of itself, with daredevils and tricksters performing shows right around dusk. Forget David Blaine or Criss Angel; some of the best mind tricks and illusions can be seen right here in the square. The good news for your wallet is that all the entertainment is free, but do tip if you liked the shows. Fort Lauderdale You wanna feel chic? Las Olas Boulevard in downtown is the easiest way to get away and feel like something you're not, if only for a few hours. Kick back at a cafĂŠ and watch the people go by. For some history, go on over to the Stranahan House, which is preserved to showcase Floridian living in the early 20th century. The Stranahan House has been a Fort Lauderdale institution ever since there was a Fort Lauderdale, so if you haven't been, what kind of good city-dweller are you?
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he row over South African runner Caster Semenya has intensified over the past few weeks, after originally reaching a fever pitch last August after she won her most recent gold medal in the women's 800 meter competition at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin.
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Semenya, who turned 19 on January 7, was born and raised in the Limpopo province of South Africa, one of the best-developed regions in the country. At the age of 14, she was introduced to running after being kicked off a girls' soccer team for being too rough with the other players.
She debuted as part of the South African national team at the 2008 World Junior Championships, later winning the gold in the 800 meter run at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India. After breaking her personal best time (and the world record) twice in 2009 by over eight seconds in the 800 meter run, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) felt it was "obliged to investigate," after her time improvements were deemed "the sort of dramatic breakthroughs that usually arouse suspicion of drug use." In addition to a drug test, the IAAF requested that Semenya undergo a gender test to prove she is female. Within just three hours, the news broke worldwide and a scandal was born.
going on to exclaim, "We Turn SA's Power Girl Into a Glamour Girl, and She Loves It!" In the magazine, Semenya admitted to never really being interested in very feminine things, as she liked sports, but was overjoyed by her makeover.
The IAAF's failure to stop the news of the gender test leaking to the media, and its handling of the events afterward, were criticized across the world. South Africa led the call most strongly, as they felt the IAAF were engaging in tactics to discredit South Africa as a country and to discourage black female runners from entering the world championships.
Confident and unconcerned about the pending gender test results, her image was boosted higher, and she mulled returning to running, at least in South Africa. The IAAF put a stop to that, barring Semenya from running professionally either in South Africa or in any other country until the results of her gender test were finalized. After months in flux, one is left to wonder: Is Caster Semenya paying the price for petty suspicion? Has her professional image been tarred for good by mere tabloid rumors? At the very least, the IAAF has ruled that she is allowed to keep her gold medal from the World Championships, since naturally produced hormones are not illegal performance-enhancers, and therefore did not willingly enable her to cheat.
Despite the negative publicity generated by the story abroad, Semenya was given a heroine's welcome back home in South Africa, famously appearing on the cover of lifestyle magazine YOU, glammed out after a makeover. "Wow, Look at Caster Now!" screamed the headline,
Whether Caster Semenya's mistreatment by the IAAF regarding her gender test will potentially harm female participation in professional sports or not, it can be agreed that the governing body did not respond well to what is a very delicate and personal matter.
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Wikipedia, the fifth most-visited website in the world, celebrated its ninth anniversary on January 15. At the forefront of this Internet innovation is St. Petersburg resident Jimmy Wales, who co-founded the popular online encyclopedia and spun-off the corporate Web 2.0 offering Wikia. Wales talked with OMG! about the project nine years on, and how his expertise can help the LGBT community. So it's been nine years! What were your expectations for Wikipedia then? The original vision of Wikipedia was to create a free, high quality encyclopedia in all the languages of the world, written by volunteers. From then until now, that basic vision hasn't changed. And we've been fairly successful, although of course there is still a lot of work left to do... particularly in terms of growth in the languages of the developing world, but also in terms of looking to get to the highest possible quality in English and the other large languages. Out of all the things to grow out of the Wikipedia base, what are you most proud of? Wow, that's a difficult question. I think what is most meaningful to me are comments that I get from people who have benefited in some way from the community's work. I'm very proud of the great care we generally take to get the facts right. Even with all the noise around Wikipedia, it's a great bunch of people. In my experience, people either love or hate Wikipedia. They either use it all the time
or deride it. What would you say to both groups of people? I'd say to the people who love Wikipedia - I love it too, and let's treat it with due respect, which means both being careful in our advocacy (let's not say it is better than it is) and also careful to try to always make it better as we use it. To the people who hate Wikipedia - well, I don't really know anyone who seriously hates Wikipedia - but for those with concerns, I'd say: help us make it better! And look again: it's probably a little better than you've been led to believe by wild media reports. You worked with Julia Gorzka last year to set up the Tampa Bay Homeless Resource Wiki. How can wikis help the LGBT community here, especially with up-and-coming business organizations like the GaYbor District? I think wikis can provide a great resource for inter-organization communication and cooperation. Many times we have multiple groups all working together for the same or similar goals, and by sharing updates and information on a wiki, they can better coordinate and inform each other. Another great use for a wiki is to engage the community. A small organization like GaYbor may not be able to build a great outreach project internally, but they have a strong community of supporters who are looking for a way to help out. I'd love to be of some help in this of course, as I do love Ybor!
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LIVE IT HAPPILY Hola niñas! How’s your day going? Let’s hope better than the past few days! lol. I got something I want to share with our young and older women. I know back then some of us were terrified to come out of the closet. You weren’t sure how the family would take it or if they would still accept you. Wondering if Britney is still going to be your best friend? What about your job? School? Everything starts to accumulate and it builds up, feeling like you just swallowed your soul! I’ve noticed some of the people that I’m acquainted with have confronted me about the way my family dealt with the situation when I came out. What did they say? Are they comfortable with the fact that their only daughter is gay? I see the agony in young people today and it bothers me that we get treated as if we were from another damn planet. Now these days’ gays and lesbians are running away, dealing with depression, going on hunger strikes, dealing with fanatical Christian bigotry, suffering rejection from parents...the reasons can go on forever. Lesbians and gays have fought for rights before some of us existed. We show our pride but once we reach the place we call home, it’s time to hide in the closet, hide the flag, wash our makeup off, and keep our lives private. Stop hiding! Just because you’re gay or lesbian, bisexual or transgender, whatever the case may be, how long are you willing to live a lie? LIVE IT HAPPILY!!
Now that you’re in your 20’s, 30’s or older, and everyone knows you’re gay, you are loving life since you've been out and enjoying the lifestyle with the rest of the world. However, one day you may hear one person who nags on your ass about being married to a handsome man. No matter what you do, feel 100% comfort in your sexuality and you won’t get rejected. Guess you can say some people won’t understand you ‘til they went a week in your shoes instead of criticizing you everyday. The majority of the time, it’s difficult to reach out to the ones we love and think, "Will mom still support me even if I’m a dyke who loves pussy!?" Hey, it’s true, right? Don’t feel ashamed of who you are. I’m hoping that one day some of you closeted lesbians will get out and live a little! If it makes life more easier, try practicing a speech with your pets, pretend they’re mom, dad, anyone. Hey! At least they somewhat listen; just give them a treat after the long conversation. It’s amazing to be yourself no matter what hell you have to go through. Just know that pretending to be something that you truly aren’t will get you nowhere. Please do know this: a lot of you aren’t alone. Questions, comments, concerns? Have a topic you’d like to see covered? E-mail me at LOL@omgmag.com
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n January 8, the Portuguese parliament passed a vote on gay marriage, which is a big and momentous step in one of the most deeply Catholic countries in Europe. Prime Minister Jose Socrates spoke to lawmakers in Parliament before the vote, saying, "I am of a generation, as we all are, which is not proud of the way it treated homosexuals... This is a step that will seem completely natural in the near future, in the same way that gender equality, abortion rights and unmarried couples living together are normal now. Gay marriage has been approved by numerous countries and will be approved by many more. I have no doubt about that." Homosexuality was verboten across most of Portugal until the last couple of decades, only thriving in underground scenes in the two largest cities; the capital, Lisbon; and Porto. Banned in the country starting in 1886, the attack against LGBT people in Portugal was at its most sustained during the dictatorship of Ant贸nio de Oliveira Salazar, who came to power in 1932. His regime, called the Estado Novo (the New State), ruled the country with
an iron fist until the peaceful Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974. Portuguese society had always been rooted in Catholicism, but Salazar's Estado Novo took the reverence of religion to another degree. The governmental platform and national society were essentially deemed to protect and uphold Catholicism as well as economic equality. Formal education was shunned in lieu of most of the population working in "morally honest" occupations such as farming. To make sure all Portuguese were loyal to "a P谩tria" (the Fatherland), the state's secret police, PIDE, regularly purged "undesirables" from communities, either by imprisoning and abusing them or sending them away to labor camps in the north or extreme south of Portugal. PIDE's frequent sweeps of neighborhoods and towns instilled a climate of fear across Portugal, including but definitely not limited to the LGBT population. Gay men and lesbians were frequently blackmailed for their legal infractions; they were seen
by Salazar's authoritarian regime as threatening the Portuguese future and the nature of Catholicism. The men were not seen as strong and masculine, therefore unacceptable, and the women chose not to fulfill Salazar's wish that they be the spiritual guide of their homes, being loyal wives and mothers, epitomizing Portuguese patriotic ideals in the process. The police's blackmailing ranged from homosexuals having to bribe police officers to "forget" such infractions, or at the regime's most brutal, forcing homosexuals to become police officers' sex slaves. PIDE would not act alone in these sweeps; like in most countries with secret police groups, tips from citizens led to arrests and humiliating punishments. One citizen's tip against a gay man ended in the accused having to scrub the entire length of his main street on his hands and knees. Another tip, this time by a prominent actress against her own son, caused him to "disappear" in the night, never to be seen again. Even Salazar's death in 1968 and the eventual downfall of the Estado Novo with the Carnation Revolution in 1974 did not bring the LGBT population to equal footing. The Movement for Homosexual Revolutionary Action published a manifesto outlining its demands for gay rights in Portugal shortly after the Revolution, the first time a dialogue had been attempted on a national level. Support for it was not publicly evident, especially after conservative General Carlos Galv茫o de Melo, who helped overthrow the old regime, spoke on national television, saying, "The Revolution was not done for the prostitutes and the homosexuals." Likewise, the Movement for the Liberation of Women, which included many lesbians among its ranks, did not pressure the government for anything past equal rights for women in society; sexual orientation was simply not discussed. Homosexuality was finally decriminalized in 1982, with a majority of the population against the measure.
Since then, leftist socialist governments have extended more and more rights to the LGBT community, including civil unions in 2001, and an anti-discrimination ban against LGBT persons added to the Portuguese Constitution in 2004. The road to equality has not been easy and is not yet complete, though, hitting speed bumps on a number of occasions. The Constitutional Court, the highest court in the country, just last year blocked a marriage attempt by two lesbians. Also, despite gay marriage coming into force in April with the passage of the vote this month in Parliament, same-sex couples will still not be allowed to adopt children, whether they are married or not. An interesting aspect of the legalization of gay marriage in Portugal is that most of the country does not support the measure, just as they didn't support most of the pro-LGBT legislation before that. A 2006 Eurobarometer survey showed that only 30% of Portuguese people were in support of same-sex marriage, improving to 42% in 2010 according to a survey by the Universidade Cat贸lica Portuguesa. In comparison, a CBS/New York Times poll showed 42% support for same-sex marriage in the United States in April 2009. In a rare turn of events for a Catholic nation, the religious majority kept silent on the issue of same-sex marriage. The Patriarch of Lisbon made a public statement saying that the issue was simply for the government to decide. Protests were nonexistent, a direct contrast to Spain, where protesters had the backing of the Catholic Church before its parliament legalized same-sex marriage in 2005. In another interesting twist, the majority of Spanish people supported same-sex marriage. Portugal's victory with regard to marriage equality has shown that despite any religious or moral differences, any country can make amends for their shameful history, and move into the new century making sound decisions for all. If Portugal can do it, hope still springs eternal for the United States.
Reality television is one of my favorite genres. What a good way to unwind and not have to think about things that matter! Although it's not for everyone, the genre continues to flourish, so clearly there are more than a few of you out there who are like me, and surely you have your own favorite reality shows you can't live without! Here are my three picks for favorite returning series this winter:
Survivor turns 10 this year and rolls out a star-studded 20th edition of the series, with a theme of heroes against the villains. If you're a Survivor fan, you'll find some great choices. For the heroes, my favorites are the motherly Cirie from 2006's Panama season, and the indomitable Sugar from 2008's Gabon. For villains, well, they definitely didn't disappoint, bringing back some of the people I've hated most in Survivor history, such as Gabon's Randy and "eccentric" (that's such a kind word) Coach from 2009's Tocantins. On the downside, "Boston Rob" is back (what, Amber wasn't interested in Reality TV Whoring: Round 26?), and so is Rupert, who quickly wore out his welcome with me last "all-stars" season. Hopefully they won't drag down what looks to be a very promising season! Starts February 11 on CBS.
After last year didn't bring as much drama as I would have liked, we're hoping this winter's installment will be a bit better! As always, race secrets are kept under lock and key, but the rumored addition of Big Brother's lovebirds Jeff and Jordan to the teams racing around the world will bring back interested "shippers"! Personally, I wouldn't give them much time on this show, as the two weren't exactly a brain trust the first time they were on TV, and they seem really susceptible to "read the clue"-itis, which proves fatal way too many times on this show. Loyal viewers in South America spotted the new teams completing tasks there, meaning they will be going there first this year. Germany and Singapore are other nations the teams will visit as they race around the world for a million dollars. Starts February 14 on CBS.
The Bad Girls Club is my ultimate trash TV addiction. Who can forget the ridiculous "Where's my juice?!" fight between Tanisha and Jennavecia in Season 2? It seemed like the show had hit a plateau of awesome after that, that is, until this current season. The new "bad girls" moved into the show's mansion to fight and bond in December, leading up to a shocking holiday cliffhanger in which high-strung Portia beats the pure stuffing out of trash-talker Natalie. Somehow, Tanisha and Jennavecia became distant memories. If you're looking for that special brand of "bad," we've found it for you. Although those girls won't admit it, they're totally here for your entertainment. Currently airing Tuesdays on Oxygen.
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Mar 20 - Apr 19 You are courageous and great at taking risks. Many Aires die the sort of death rescue parties like to joke about at parties. If you’ve ever been challenged in a “hop across the nearest highway at rush hour” game and lost, you’re an Aries Apr 20 - May 19 Try to overcome your pig headed stubbornness and accept the changes that this year brings. You’re going to make excellent ex-husband because of your determination never to let the past become the past.
Sept 22 - Oct 22 Your obsession with the desire to be loved, admired and wanted is getting old. Isn’t it about time to hang it up, this month doesn’t look any better for you darling.
Oct 23 - Nov 21 It would be great advice for you to take advantage of someone else's good luck, next week. (Seeing that you have none of your own) Grab what you can while you can.
May 20 - Jun 20 Just because you are the master of deceit and flattery doesn’t mean you get everything. Stop being deliberately late for dates that you expect him to be on time for! It’ll catch unto you
Nov 22 - Dec 21 Your self image is so exaggerated. Stop thinking everyone thinks your attractive. You love the pursuit of love more than the act. Quit building boys up to knock them down, Miss Thang, it aint cute.
Jun 21 - Jul 21 You must try to overcome the feeling that everyone uses you. You’re like an emotional pressure cooker without a valve. Loosen up and do what you do best, go make new friends that you’ll annoy until the dump you
Dec 22 - Jan 19 I applaud the fact that you are the most opinionated and self-centered person I know. You sound interesting, but in reality you’re old-fashioned and tired. I’m sure you will live to a ripe old age just to spite everyone.
Jul 22 - Aug 22 You have an irritating smug coldness and deal with everyone in a high handed manner. To you everyone is inferior, that’s all going to change with this month’s DUI. Good luck with someone putting up your bail!
Jan 20 - Feb 17 Beneath your good humor lurks a secret ambition to be famous and you'll betray anyone to get to the top. Keep it up, someone gotta do it!
Aug 23 - Sept 21 I’m glad you found your new Virgo mate. Together you'd make a great team and do all those boring things that no one else would dream of doing. Bird watching, stamp collecting and sex with the light off. Fun!
Feb 18 - Mar 19 Most people find your constant need for emotional reassurance irritating. You pretend you are innocent in order to get help from others and you think we haven’t caught on. That’s why your on our hide list on Facebook.
Note: precise dates vary slightly from year to year, and from source to source. These are not meant to be definitive.
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