2011-07-01 outlook columbus by Outlook Media, Inc

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outlook july 2011 • vol 16 issue 2

inside: Snapshot pride CGMC’s New ED Michelle Mills Leslie Robinson TransOhio Pansexuals Gays and NASCAR Cars we like Diamond Rings & Local celebrity Mary

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july 2011

General Motors is the only automotive company to make a video for the Dan Savage â&#x20AC;&#x153;It Gets Betterâ&#x20AC;? project.

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transgender is political YAY! HUZZAH! WOO-FREAKINHOO! Let’s start by saying Thank You! To everyone. To Stonewall, who made it all happen. To our interns, who busted their asses and carried the boxes and sold the tickets and did all the other things that made our booth and our float so amazing. To our staff, who worked inhuman hours on superhuman tasks for subhuman wages. To DJ Moxy for spinning the set of her life at our Big Gay Dance Party, and yet again making a killer Outlook Pride mix. To everyone who danced to Moxy. To everyone who rode our Fairy Wheel and played cornhole and stopped by our booth. And especially to the people who joined in behind our float to carry our Pride up High Street. You simply can’t imagine the feeling of standing on our float, looking south down High Street, and seeing a literal sea of thousands carrying the Pride flag and falling in behind the parade to join in the festivities. Words fail.

Thank you. Merci. Grazie. Dziękuję. Dankeschön. Gracias. Todah. Diolch. Спасибо. Go raibh maith agat. Gratias tibi ago. Our office halls and floors and desks and tables still contain the disassembled Pride booth, and have been neatly – or not so neatly – pushed aside so that we can put together and bring you this July issue – full of Pride wrap-up photographs (more are available online - find us on faceparty: facebook.com/outlookcolumbus), and featuring three things we love – trans, pans, and automobiles.

folk, pansexual folk, and vehicles. From gay NASCAR fans to transgendered issues to an interview with Columbus City Councilmember Michelle Mills, this issue is a lot like our community the week after Pride – diverse, excited, and a little scattered. We hope you enjoy this serving of queer journalistic goulash, and that your Pride was as fun, as happy, and as inspiring as ours was. And if you find yourself with nothing to do next week, stop by the office and help us sort, fold, wash, dry, recycle, stuff, distribute, store, file, print, and archive our goodies so we can do it all again next year. But bigger and better.

I’m thinking petting zoo with Confession time: When Chris unicorns and erotic ring told me the cover theme, I toss. Anyone game? thought it was trans (as in the trans folks), pans (like Michael Daniels, things you cook with), and Co-Publisher automobiles (cars). Two out of three ain’t bad. It’s trans-

you are here

snapshot

11 hey!

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22 truth wins out 25

general gayety

27 super mario world 28

marcus’s morsels

monthly agenda

34 transpicuous 36

complete the circuit

feature : trans

feature: pans

feature: auto

deep inside hollywood

creative class

interview: 52 diamond ring

fashion forward

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NEXT MONTH: the creative class issue outlookcolumbus.com

OWNERS AND PUBLISHERS Michael Daniels & Christopher Hayes

ADVERTISING DEADLINES Reservations by the 15th of each month. Art in by the 20th. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & ART DIRECTOR Christopher Hayes hayes@outlookmedia.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Phillecia Cochran pcochran@outlookmdia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Regina Sewell, Romeo San Vicente, Jack Fertig, Simon Sheppard, Dan Savage, Mickey Weems, Michael Daniels, Chris Hayes, Jon Dunn, Phillecia Cochran, Ryan Harris, Gregg Shapiro, Mario Pinardi, Tara McKenzie Allison, Michael Straughter, Tay Glover, Erin McCalla, Shane Morgan, Ed Mullen, Wayne Besen, Marcus Morris, Abbey Miller, Debbie Gillum CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ray Lavoy, John Harding, Michelle Ropp, Linda Cox, Andew Williams, Rpbert Trautman, Chris Hayes. Gracie Umana, Tim Wildman CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Robert Trautman INTERNS Siobohn Tuck, Johnathan Harding, Jess Buse, Erin McCalla, Michael Straughter, Alisa Caton, Shelby Kretz, Tay Glover, Gracie Umana, Mackenzie Worral, Sam Malone, Tony Brost, Andew Williams CYBERSPACE http://www.outlookcolumbus.com http://www.outlookmedia.com http://www.networkcolumbus.com http://twitter.com/outlookcolumbus http://facebook.com/outlookcolumbus outlook columbus is published and distributed by Outlook Media, Inc. the first day of each month throughout Ohio. outlook columbus is a free publication provided solely for the use of our readers. Any person who willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than 5 copies of any issue outlook columbus with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading it shall be considered guilty of the crime of theft. Violators will be prosecuted. The views expressed in outlook columbus are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or personal, business, or professional practices of Outlook Media, Inc. or its staff, ownership, or management. outlook columbus does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any interpretation, advice, opinion, or view presented. Outlook Media, Inc. does not investigate or accept responsibility for claims made in any advertisement. Outlook Media, Inc. assumes no responsibility for claims arising in connection with products and services advertised herein, nor for the content of, or reply to, any advertisement. All material is copyrighted ©2011 by Outlook Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Above is the outlook Pride Flag in the parade at the last turn at Buttles and High. Thanks everyone who helped carried and cheered us on!

july 2011

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#) UNITY PICNIC JUNE 4TH, 2011

UNITY PICNIC JUNE 4TH, 2011

Proof that someone reads us.

Ms. Crystal Club 1981-Present

Lovely ladies

HRC DINNER JUNE 4TH, 2011

Lovely ladies, Deux

Human pretzels. Pretzels..nom, nom.

Coleman for Mayor!

Come back, Ted!

NETWORK COLUMBUS JUNE 8TH, 2011

BE WARNED: BOTH ARE VERY SASSY

JACOB CASUALLY ADMIRES MR FRYES SPERRY DECKSHOES

OMG!!! I LOVE PICKLES

45 politicians walk onto a ship...

WALL STREET BOYS JUNE 15TH, 2011

SONGS GAYS LIKE @ LEVEL JUNE 16TH, 2011

Such tiny ladies with such big hair...

Just a hint of color. (Use your imagination)

Even dogs love Ed! Watch out Republicans! -

HRC DINNER JUNE 4TH, 2011

WALL STREET BOYS JUNE 15TH, 2011

SUPER MARIO!!!

july 2011

Dial loves the tequila!

There are at least 33 gay-friendly automotive companies.

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Michael was gifted with his first car at the age of 16.

july 2011

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BIG GAY DANCE PARTY JUNE 17TH, 2011

BRO-MAN DUDE LOVIN’

Droppin' acid with Noka.

You betta' dance, Hayes!

BIG GAY DANCE PARTY JUNE 17TH, 2011

PRIDE PARADE JUNE 18TH, 2011

Two panties and Ging!

Photographer in a photo.

Hayes, Hayes, Hayes!

What's with all the gays?

PRIDE PARADE JUNE 18TH, 2011

High times.

Can we meet these friends? Are they single?

Fairy Princess and the novice.

A strange place for a billboard.

PRIDE PARADE JUNE 18TH, 2011

We hate nothing about these boys.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

y Best. Party. Ever.

BIG GAY DANCE PARTY JUNE 17TH, 2011

PRIDE PARADE JUNE 18TH, 2011

MajQa!

july 2011

Right track, baby.

Esurance is partnered with Gaywheels.com to provide gay-friendly car insurance.

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The first extremely popular car in America was the Model T, made by Henry Ford in the early 1900s.

july 2011

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PRIDE PARADE JUNE 18TH, 2011

Rocking hippy Mama

Dance ten, looks...ten!

Dj 'e ffing Moxy will melt your face.

PRIDE PARADE JUNE 18TH, 2011

PRIDE FESTIVAL JUNE 18TH, 2011

Their Royal Highnesses...?

That's what comes of too much pills and liquor...

Gay bashing.

Trauty Panties.

PRIDE FESTIVAL JUNE 18TH, 2011

Fairy Wheel!

Goth Sandwich

Siobhan rides it "hard"

Aminals haz Pride.

BAT N’ ROUGE JUNE 19TH, 2011

Great form, great form...

Collective BAC in the teens.

Be open to Betty.

PRIDE PARADE JUNE 18TH, 2011

BAT N’ ROUGE JUNE 19TH, 2011

Just a couple of gals at the game.

july 2011

Getting to second base.

Vladimir Luxuria, member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, is the first transgender member of Parliament in Europe.

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Road head is one of the top causes of accidents from car sex.

july 2011

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july 2011

In 2008, IN, OH, & PA provided protection against transgender discrimination, but only for public employees. Today it is only IN & PA.

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Bridging the Communication Gap

Use the Franklin County Prescription Drug Card

door, but I do advocate regularly and gently pushing out of our comfort zones and talking more freely about our daily lives. (Think of how easily So it’s possible to bring down the walls between straight people do this.) Too often, many of us unTo the Editor: LGBT people and conservatives, and here are some consciously protect other people from our truth – tips for how to do it: we don’t want to make things awkward or painful, Three years ago, Franklin County Commissioners or we’re plain afraid. So proceed slowly, but defirolled out a free prescription discount card de1. Don’t make assumptions about whom your al- nitely proceed. When we tell our neighbors, or our signed to help save residents money on their pre- lies are based on how they voted. I know, this one cousins, or our dads the most mundane facts scription medications. Last month, the savings to is hard when some candidates are so blatantly about our LGBT lives it makes it a lot harder for county residents exceeded two million dollars. anti-gay. I have felt at times that votes for homo- them to think about us in stereotypes and clichés. Franklin County is the first county in Ohio to surphobes were acts against me personally. But the pass the two million dollar savings mark; the 33rd conservatives in my life are almost exclusively con- 4. Don’t expect perfection. My 99-year-old in the nation. cerned about taxes and business regulation, and grandma told me that she doesn’t like to say “gay” often miss the right’s social agenda completely. or “lesbian,” and that she didn’t know what to call The program is available to Franklin County as a While a politician’s anti-gay stance may be my partner, Traci. Wife? Spouse? It all made her member of the National Association of Counties painfully clear to us, it isn’t to everyone. A little pa- uncomfortable. Sure, I’d love her to get it and use (NACo). Cards are available at most public build- tience and persistence is in order here. I’ve witall the right words, but my God, she lived through ings, including libraries, county buildings, and nessed several conservative friends and family WWI. So I went easy, though still insisting on a funsenior centers. They also come in Spanish. Resimembers change their vote, or write an impasdamental: “I don’t care what you call Traci, but dents can print a card online or request one be sioned letter to Congress once they understood the please don’t call her my ‘friend’.” She seemed to mailed to them at www.franklincountyohio.gov/rx. issues (my super right-wing grandma possibly understand, thought for a few moments and then being the oldest LGBT ally ever.) Those conservalit up: “I know what I’ll say – Traci’s your sweetThis program offers real savings to people that tives who aren’t already clear on the issues deheart!” need it. Families without healthcare coverage, or serve a chance for a rethink. gaps in their coverage, are able to save almost a Her way of being true to her own sensibilities, while quarter of the cost of their prescription. As we pull 2. Don’t diss Christians. When so much organized also respecting mine, was quite different than ourselves out of this recession, this program is homophobia is being led from fundamentalist pul- what I had in mind – and lovely too. I think about helping people get the medication they need and pits, it is important to remember that there are this when I want to be a purist about LGBT politics. still put food on the dinner table. hundreds of thousands of Christian churches in Purism closes the door to meaningful connections this country that are not declaring holy war on us. with allies we may not have expected. We should The cards may be used by county residents, reThose ministers and priests talk about charity, love speak up when Uncle Bob is blathering on about gardless of age, income, or existing health cover- and freedom from judgment instead – which isn’t all those guys trying to get into the military – but if age, and are accepted at most of the county’s as titillating as gays in hell. The numbers back this he is at all open to learning something new, we pharmacies. A national network of more than up: The same study I mentioned before also can give him a little grace and time to do it. 57,000 participating retail pharmacies also honors showed that the majority of Catholics and Mainline the Franklin County Prescription Drug Discount Protestants in the US support same-sex marriage. The goal isn’t total agreement with the people; it’s card. While the percentages are lower for evangelicals to create more understanding. This is the main and minority-focused churches – 23 percent and point of my book, Queer Questions Straight Talk. This card is free and easy to use. Simply present it 37 percent respectively – the point is the same: Human beings are good, mostly, even if we don’t at point of purchase, and you instantly receive sav- Christianity and LGBT rights are not mutually ex- understand their political/social philosophy at all. ings. No ID is needed, and it works almost everyclusive. In fact, churches from all points on the Let’s appeal to that essential goodness and create where. Christian spectrum are now taking public stands allies and friends with people we might have given in support of our community. It’s time to give them up on before. I urge those not participating to pick up a card recognition. today and take advantage of an average savings Abby Dees is author of Queer Questions Straight Talk. For of 24% on prescription drugs. 3. Talk to people. If we don’t talk to different kinds more info: queerquestionsstraighttalk.com. of people, then really, what’s the point of exchangSincerely, ing ideas with anyone? I have a good friend, a Ensuring Equal Rights For All smart Southern Baptist Republican from Alabama, Marilyn Brown, President who performed my gay wedding and took heat To the Editor: Franklin County Board of Commissioners about it too. She takes the “only God can judge you/government out of my bedroom” line on LGBT Equal rights for everyone, regardless of race, naBridging the Communication Gap rights. It is not exactly how I see the world, but tionality, gender or sexual identity is extremely imshe’s been a hell of an ally and I’m not going to portant. in a Conservative World quibble about why my friend has my back. One day I chatted with her about James Dobson and Focus I have introduced two pieces of legislation to enby Abby Dees on the Family’s assault on LGBT people, stuff that I sure equal rights for all Ohioans. thought was common knowledge. My friend was Sometimes it’s tempting to give up on people. I truly shocked and said, “That isn’t the James Dob- Under one bill, which I am sponsoring jointly with routinely despair that Conservative America will son I’ve always known…” She was actually a fan, state Rep. Nickie Antonio of the Cleveland-area, ever come around to embracing LGBT rights, despite those ever-hopeful Log Cabin Republicans. At but had never heard his extreme anti-gay message anti-bullying policies in Ohio’s schools must probefore. This makes me think that (a) the far right hibit harassment, intimidation or bullying that is least this is what it feels like when I accidently tune in to Fox instead of the Weather Channel one selective channels its homophobic message, or (b) based on traits such as sexual orientation or gender identity. number away. However, when I’m face to face with people overlook the homophobic talk because it individual conservatives, the picture changes dra- just doesn’t compute. Either way, there is an information vacuum and we need to keep getting our The bill defines that anti-bullying policies must matically: These folks tell me that conservatives prohibit harassment based on additional traits believe government should stay out of people’s pri- message in there. such as age, color, creed, national origin, race, relivate lives – LGBT private lives included. Now, I This doesn’t necessarily mean debating politics ei- gion, marital status, gender, physical attributes, can’t have magically found the few fair-minded exceptions; there are lots of conservatives like this. ther. There is no substitute for a personal connec- physical or mental ability, disability, ancestry, political party preference, political belief, socioecoA May 2011 survey suggests that at least 37% of tion when it comes to overcoming negatives Republicans support same-sex marriage.* Not the attitudes. No one needs to be shoved out the closet nomic status or familial status.

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best odds, but it’s better than Rush would have us believe.

Perhaps Chad Frye’s many car accidents were due to practicing the Doggy Dashboard.

I believe that every child, regardless of race, color, creed, sexual orientation or gender, deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education in a safe environment. Recent tragic events have raised awareness to an issue that has gone on unaddressed in our schools for years and I believe this legislation builds upon the belief that differences between everyone, our background, our heritage and our opinions are what make our community great. If our bill is enacted, Ohio will be the thirteenth state to pass legislation that specifically protects students on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The other states to pass similar legislation are: Arkansas, California, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Under the second bill of which I am the prime sponsor, penalties for hate or bias crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity committed in Ohio would be increased. My bill renames the offense of ethnic intimidation as “identity intimidation” and includes sexual orientation and gender identity to the classes of Ohioans that would be protected. If this bill is adopted, Ohio will cover the range of people protected as classes currently included in federal hate crime laws, making Ohio’s laws consistent with federal laws. Right now, state law prohibits ethnic intimidation, which is defined as certain offenses based on race, color, religion or national origin. Hate crimes are acts that target certain individuals with the intent of causing fear to an entire community. My bill sends a clear message that Ohio does not tolerate these sort of hateful acts. Also, at present, federal authority to probe and prosecute hate crimes is limited to those hate crimes that impact interstate commerce. Because of this, crimes committed in Ohio because of a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity cannot be prosecuted as a hate crime unless they meet the rigid interstate commerce requirement. My legislation will change current law and give Ohio’s law-enforcement officials the ability to more effectively prosecute hate crimes. According to the latest statistics from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, 48 percent of hate crime incidents in Ohio were related to race, 18 percent were related to disability, 16 percent were related to sexual orientation while 10 percent and 8 percent were related to ethnicity and religion, respectively. Right now, Ohio is one of only 14 states that do not have laws that address hate or bias crimes based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. These are common-sense bills that send a message that all of us, regardless of who we are, are equal in the eyes of the law. Michael Stinziano, State Representative Ohio House 25th District

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july 2011

The 2010 Acura ZDX is listed as the best car for the employed gay man. (about.com)--

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Equality Ohio Urges Voters to Help Take Discrimination Out of Ohio’s Proposed Budget

to the public and valet service will be available for guests.

Camelot Cellars is currently open, however the business is undergoing a radical transformation The proposed state budget passed recently in the back to the essence of an authentic winery. The inOhio House includes an obscure provision that will terior will soon reflect a vintage modern twist with Tuscan and French accents infused with local cusallow student groups at taxpayer-funded state universities to discriminate and exclude students tom-made tables and expanded wine bar. Retail from membership and leadership positions based offerings now include wine selections from around on religious beliefs or standards of conduct (Ohio the world available for purchase by the glass, by Rev. Code §3345.023). This means that our state the bottle and as your own handcrafted wine experience. Flights of wine are also available. Addiuniversities will not be able to withhold funding tional improvements include the winemaking lab, from student groups who exclude LGBT people; Jewish, Christian or Muslim people; women; people private wine tastings and a larger event space. who have had premarital sex; and, anyone else Camelot Cellars - an urban boutique winery - is that a particular religious student group deems unworthy of membership. Fair-minded Ohioans do dedicated to providing customers with the highest not want taxpayer dollars to fund discrimination. quality product, service and skill possible. The Camelot Cellars Winemaker handcrafts wine from Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opin- premier vineyard juices sourced from around the ion in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez uphold- world. The staff at Camelot Cellars provides the highest quality customer service, guidance and ing the constitutionality of a state law school’s “all-comers” policy because it is reasonable and education when it comes to wine and winemaking. viewpoint neutral. Justice Ginsburg wrote that “by bringing together students with diverse views, [the In 2011, Camelot Cellars has become a nationally policy] encourages tolerance, cooperation, learn- recognized winery, winning 16 medals in national and international wine competitions. ing, and the development of conflict-resolution skills.” After Ohio State University changed its policy recently to require student groups to accept all- Columbus Casino Might Be comers as members, the Christian Legal Society Chapter at OSU stated it was “yet one more oppor- One Of Penn National’s Most Profitable, Consultant Says tunity to welcome all students to attend CLS’s meetings and activities.” The study by state gambling adviser Moelis & Co. All-comers policies do nothing more than ensure says Penn National’s profitability margin for its that students are given an equal opportunity to revenue from the West Side facility could be higher engage, discuss, and collaborate with groups on than all but one of Penn’s 16 current casinos - the campus. Compelling student groups to adhere to Argosy in Sioux City, Iowa. the nondiscrimination policy is also fair because it ensures that no student will be paying part of his The report also quotes various Wall Street firms or her tuition or fees for student groups that will praising the gambling revenue climate in Ohio, innot allow him or her to become a member. An all- cluding FBR, which said, “Ohio is the largest comers policy does not prevent members of groups growth opportunity for regional gaming currently ... like the Christian Legal Society from practicing and will generate impressive revenue and solid retheir religion or associating with those with similar turns.” beliefs, but simply states that such groups cannot exclude certain students as members and receive The report indicates that Penn’s Hollywood Columuniversity funding. bus casino will do well because there are no competitors nearby. If racetracks are allowed to install Ohio residents: contact your State Senator today slots, Penn would need to move its Beulah Park and tell them to take discrimination out of the track to maximize profit at both venues. Ohio budget! Gov. John Kasich and Rock Ohio Caesars, which will operate casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Camelot Cellars Grand reached an agreement on Saturday for the comRe-Opening pany to give “substantially” more money to the state over the next 10 years. But Penn National, Janine Aquino, new owner of Camelot Cellars which will run casinos in Columbus and Toledo, and fourth generation wine professional, is backed out of the deal at the last minute. hosting a grand re-opening reception Wednesday July 6, 6p - 9p. The evening will include live entertainment and hors d’oeuvres Two East Side Neighborhoods from Edible Columbus, Food Embrace and Partner to Present 2011 “Sumother local food purveyors. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase wine by the glass mer Tour of Historic Homes” at special pricing and there will be a drawing for a Camelot Cellars Wine Making Experience The Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association valued at $200. The re-opening event is open (OTENA) and the Franklin Park Neighborhood As-

outlookcolumbus.com

In 1806, the first cars were powered by internal combustion engines.

sociation have partnered for the second year in a row to present the 2011 “Summer Tour of Historic Homes.” The tour will be held Sunday July 10, 2011 from 1p-7p and will begin at the Columbus Preparatory School for Girls at 1390 Bryden Road. This is the 29th year that Olde Towne East has hosted an annual tour of historic homes and gardens. This year’s tour will feature 16 stops (15 homes and one garden) exclusively along the Bryden Road Historic District. The Bryden Road Historic District was adopted in 1990 by the City of Columbus’ Department of Development and is regulated by city’s Historic Resource Commission. Each home on tour will feature a spectacular and historically significant renovation or preservation. The Tour of Homes functions as the primary fundraiser for OTENA. Funds the Association raises are used throughout the year in OTENA’s continued efforts to provide residents with a safe and vibrant community. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 day of the event. Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.oldetowneeast.org or at any of the following business locations: Black Creek Bistro (57 Parsons Ave), Columbus Metropolitan Library Store (96 Grant Ave), Dog Works/Cats 2 (195 Thuman Ave), and Piece of Cake (772 N High St).

Study on Stress and Sexual Behavior in Men Men who have sex with men are needed for an online research study about stress and sexual behavior. You may opt to receive $10 through PayPal or a $10 Amazon.com Gift Certificate for about 30 minutes of your time for completing this online survey as a “Thank you.” There are eligibility requirements - you must be 18 or older and live in a targeted area (we must be able to contact you to verify eligibility). Information about the study and how to participate is available at our website at http://tinyurl.com/ssimstudy, on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SocialStressinMen), or follow us on Twitter @ssimstudy. For more information, contact SSIMstudy@zoho.com.

Study on Brain Structure and Sexual Orientation in Women Help Wittenberg University researchers in a study of the biology of sexuality in women and how brain structure correlates to the sexual orientation of the person being studied. The study consists of the following: a) an initial phone interview; b) a series of tests administered over the course of about 2 hours; and c) an MRI. Applicants who qualify for the series of tests will receive compensation of $15.00 per hour. Should the applicant qualify for the MRI, they will receive a total compensation of $50.00. All confidentiality will be maintained by Wittenberg University and the Biology department. Contact Fallon White at Fallon D. White at s13.fwhite@wittenberg.edu.

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ducer. However, “José Luis Sin Censura” continues to air during the daytime in markets throughout the country, unaltered. NHMC and GLAAD are continuing to contact advertisers and affiliates. “AT&T, Time Warner Cable and these broadcasters In response to concerns raised by TLDEF and other have sent a strong message by refusing to suporganizations and individuals, the U.S. State De- port a show that promotes such violence against partment today published amended policy guide- our community,” said GLAAD President Jarrett lines for changing the sex marker on passports. Barrios. “Though we are encouraged by LiberAmong other things, the new policy guidelines a) man’s willingness to begin a dialogue, we conallow you to submit a doctor’s letter from any litinue to call on advertisers, broadcasters and the censed doctor, eliminating the burdensome physi- FCC to take a stand against this offensive concian specialty requirements; b) allow you to tent.” submit a letter from a doctor who has either treated you for “gender-related care” or who has “The advertisers and broadcasters that we are reviewed and evaluated your “gender-related recognizing today wisely chose to abandon their medical history”; and c) allow passport holders to relationships with this program. Not only does change their passport’s sex marker by presenting this demonstrate corporate responsibility, but also an updated birth certificate instead of a doctor’s that being affiliated with “José Luis Sin Censura” letter. For more info: is bad for business. I expect that others will follow http://transgenderlegal.org/headline_show.php?i in the near future, as they realize that obscenity, d=292. intolerance and sexism are out of style,” said Alex Nogales, President and CEO of NHMC.

State Department Issues Amended Policy Guidelines on Passport Sex Marker Changes

Major Companies Pull Advertising From “Jose Luis Sin Censura”

The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today announced that AT&T and Time Warner Cable have withdrawn advertising from “José Luis Sin Censura.” It was also announced that WSVN-TV in Miami, Florida and KCTU-TV in Wichita, Kansas are the first two affiliates to pull the show from airwaves. GLAAD and NHMC first filed an FCC complaint against “José Luis Sin Censura,” distributed by Liberman Broadcasting, earlier this year. Thousands participated in an online action to e-mail the FCC and support the complaint. In April, more than 30 organizations sent a letter to the FCC, urging swift action. GLAAD and NHMC have since started outreach to advertisers as well as broadcast television stations that currently carry the program to inform them of the highly offensive nature of the show. After viewing videos featuring some of the show’s violent and offensive content, Time Warner Cable committed to cease advertising on the program. To view the videos: http://www.glaad.org/jlsc. To read the letter to the FCC and for a list of partner organizations: http://www.glaad.org/jlsc/fccletter WSVN in Miami elected to pre-empt “José Luis Sin Censura” shortly after receiving a letter from GLAAD and NHMC. KCTU in Wichita informed the organizations that they removed the entire EstrellaTV network from its multicast channel late last year. “Shortly after agreeing to carry EstrellaTV, it became clear that much of its content was so objectionable that, at one point or another, half of its viewership had called us with a complaint. They are going for sensationalism. If an English-language network put out this content, they would be asking for trouble,” said Ron Nutt, President and General Manager of KCTU. Recently, Liberman Broadcasting Inc. reached out to NHMC and GLAAD to start a dialogue about its responsibilities as a broadcaster and content pro-

july 2011

agency for all families. Across the country, the issue of adoption by same-sex couples is heating up. In Virginia, the State Board of Social Services recently voted to strip legal protections against discrimination, based on sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, disability, political beliefs and family status, from final rules governing licensed adoption and foster care agencies. In April Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law SB 1188, which gives preference to married couples in the adoption process – essentially excluding same-sex couples and narrowing opportunities for single adults who wish to provide a loving home to children. In a bit of good news, the Arkansas Supreme Court in April upheld a lower court ruling that a law prohibiting adoption by unmarried couples whom live together violates the Arkansas Constitution. In Washington, D.C., Representative Pete Stark (DCA) reintroduced legislation, the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, to address discrimination against qualified, licensed LGBT foster and adoptive families nationwide.

living conditions of a significant segment of our pluralistic society,” the court wrote. “Such a view is not consistent with the evidence or the law as embodied in the Fifth Amendment with respect to the thoughts expressed in this decision. The court has no doubt about its conclusion: the Debtors have made their case persuasively that DOMA deprives them of the equal protection of the law to which they are entitled.”

Secretary of Education: Gay-Straight Alliance Groups Protected Gay-straight alliance groups should be afforded the same rights and protections as other student clubs at public secondary schools, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan affirmed in a Tuesday letter to the nation’s educators.

“Gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and similar student-initiated groups addressing LGBT issues can play an important role in promoting safer schools and creating more welcoming learning The “All Children – All Families” initiative, The original FCC complaint documented over twenty episodes that aired between June 18 and launched in 2007 by the HRC Family Project, aims environments,” Duncan wrote in the “Dear Colleague” letter. to promote agencies and policies that welcome December 7, 2010. The program contained imLGBT foster and adoptive parents. The program ages and language of the nature that is never displayed or is bleeped out of pre-taped English- seeks to enhance LGBT competence among child “But in spite of the positive effect these groups can have in schools,” he continued, “some such language programs of the same nature, including welfare professionals and educate LGBT people about opportunities to become foster or adoptive groups have been unlawfully excluded from the words “pinche” (“f*cking” in English) and parents to waiting children. ACAF has 50 partici- school grounds, prevented from forming, or de“culero” (“assf*cker”), anti-gay language, innied access to school resources.” pating agencies across the country, and has cluding epithets such as “maricón,” “joto” and “puñal” (or “f*ggot”), and anti-Latino slurs, such awarded 13 seals of recognition. More informaDuncan wrote that GSAs are protected under the as “mojado” (“wetback”). The program frequently tion about the initiative can be found at 1984 Equal Access Act, which requires that pubfeatured blatant nudity and female guests have www.hrc.org/acaf. lic secondary schools receiving federal funds enbeen shown in violent fights. Guests and audience members were often incited to engage in Bankruptcy Court Says DOMA sure equal access for student extracurricular groups. verbal and even physical attacks. Many episodes is Unconstitutional showed the audience standing and shouting Though originally sponsored by conservative lawanti-gay epithets and profanity at guests. A federal bankruptcy court in Los Angeles ruled makers to protect the rights of students who that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstituwanted to form religious-based groups, the Act A number of episodes that have aired since GLAAD and NHMC filed the complaint have con- tional in relation to a case involving a gay couple has also been cited by LGBT legal groups in cases that filed for bankruptcy in February. involving schools that have denied students the tained similar and sometimes even more egreright to organize GSAs. gious violations of FCC rules. Liberman Broadcasting, which distributes the program, has The ruling was signed by 20 of the 25 judges in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District The law, Duncan wrote, applies “to groups that self-rated many of these episodes as TV-14, or address issues relating to LGBT students and suitable for fourteen-year-olds, making it impos- of California in Los Angeles. matters involving sexual orientation and gender sible for even the most vigilant parents to block the program using the V-chip or similar technolo- Gene Balas and Carlos Morales, who were legally identity, just as they apply to religious and other married in California in 2008, filed for bankruptcy student groups.” gies. protection under Title 11 of the U.S. Code. The had been struggling financially after deal- Department of Education general counsel Charles Michigan Adoption Agency Earns couple ing with serious illnesses and unemployment. The P. Rose issued guidelines in conjunction with the Seal of Recognition for its Work United States Trustee moved to dismiss this case, letter that “[affirm] the principles that prevent citing DOMA. with LGBT Families unlawful discrimination against any student-initiated groups,” Duncan wrote. Under the direction of President Obama, the U.S. Hands Across The Water became the first adoption agency in Michigan to earn the All Children - Department of Justice announced the day before Eliza Byard, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian, Balas and Morales’s bankruptcy filing that it All Families seal of recognition. The Ann Arbor and Straight Education Network, called Secy Dunadoption agency earned the honor by meeting the would no longer defend DOMA in court. While the can’s letter “a clear signal to schools and school House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group has derequired criteria for fully inclusive policies and districts that they may not discriminate against cided to defend DOMA in court on the governpractices in working with the LGBT community. students who seek to form Gay-Straight Alment’s behalf, it did not intervene in this case. The Human Rights Campaign’s All Children - All liances.” Families initiative provides a comprehensive framework for agencies to establish policies and “In the court’s final analysis, the government’s “We are grateful to the Department of Education practices that welcome, support and affirm LGBT only basis for supporting DOMA comes down to for supporting students’ rights, attempting to an apparent belief that the moral views of the foster and adoptive parents. The seal was preprevent discrimination and affirming the positive majority may properly be enacted as the law of sented to Kathleen Nelson, LMSW, the Executive contributions Gay-Straight Alliances make to the Director of Hands Across the Water, for her leader- the land in regard to state-sanctioned same-sex life of our schools, right alongside other non-curship in establishing a truly welcoming, supportive marriage, in disregard of the personal status and ricular clubs,” Byard said in a Tuesday statement.

The “Gadget Gay” that wants it all is said to love the 2010 Infinity M.

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Check out the Outlook Blog to catch intern Sam shaking his ass to some “Rude Boy” by Rihanna-who loves to ride (she’s down, I’m sure.)

july 2011

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Erraticate

BULLYING by Ed Mullen Recently, there was a lot of buzz about a J. Crew advertisement featuring a mother and her male child with toenails painted pink. Laughably, anti-gay activists saw this as promoting homosexuality and a subversive attempt to make children transgender. But the fact that it touched a nerve among opponents of equality is not a surprise. People who oppose LGBT equality generally subscribe to strict notions of gender conformity - boys should act like boys and girls should act like girls!

say they feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation. LGBT young adults who did not conform to gender roles as adolescents reported higher level of anti-LGBT victimization, and significantly higher levels of depression and decreased life satisfaction in young adulthood.

Both victims and perpetrators of bullying are at a higher risk for suicide than their peers. Victims, perpetrators, and victims/perpetrators are more likely to be depressed, a major risk factor for suicide. Chronic bullying has long-term impacts on suicide risk and mental health. Notably, While many people who come out as gay, bullying is associated with increases in lesbian, bisexual or transgender experience suicide risk in young people who are vicdiscrimination and intolerance when they tims of bullying. come out, youth who have not yet identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender - LGBT students who are bullied are 2-4 or who never will - are frequently discrimi- times more likely to attempt suicide than nated against on the basis of gender non- their heterosexual peers. They must cope conformity; for example, how many times with developing a sexual minority identity have you heard, “You throw like a girl?” in the midst of negative comments, jokes and often threats of violence because of This discrimination often comes in the form their sexual orientation and/or gender of bullying, teasing, harassment and physi- identity or expression. At least 19 studies cal violence, starting when children are very link suicidal behavior in lesbian, gay and young and often increasing with frequency bisexual adolescents to bullying at school. and intensity throughout adolescence. These statistics represent real people, like During the 2007-08 school year, 32 percent Eric Mohat, a student at Mentor High of students aged 12-18 reported being School in Ohio (who did not identify as gay) bullied. Of those, 7% reported being bulwho shot himself after enduring relentless lied on a daily basis and 9 percent rebullying and taunts of “fag, homo and ported being physically injured as a result queer,” from which his teachers and school of bullying. administrators did not protect him.

policies are ineffective. With an enumerated anti-bullying policy, teachers will know that they need to intervene when one student calls another “fag” or “dyke,” something that is not routinely done with current policies. 2. Anti-bullying policies must include protection against cyber-bullying. Increasingly, bullying has moved from the school hallways to Facebook pages and other electronic means. But this bullying among students begins in the school and has a significant impact on students and the learning environment of the school. As such, schools should be able to discipline one student from harassing a classmate electronically.

This is, without question, a difficult legislative environment for passing legislation that specifically protects LGBT people, even if it also protects others. But we have significant bi-partisan support for many of the provisions that would strengthen existing law. We will not be able to move this comprehensive solution forward unless we have the strong support of the LGBT community and our allies. Please go to www.safeschoolsohio.org to see what you can do to help in this effort.

I recently painted my toenails bright blue in response to the buzz about the J. Crew ad. Now that it is flip flop season, I get to see the reactions of people who often do a double take as I walk by. If it gets them to think for a moment about their internalized 3. Anti-bullying policies must include provi- notions of gender conformity, I am happy. sions for training teachers and administra- But it also makes me see in very clear tors on their responsibilities under the ways the relationship between discriminapolicies. Often, teachers and administrators tion on the basis of sexual orientation and either fail to address bullying, or address it gender identity or expression. Long before in a way that calls unwanted attention to the many of us were aware of our sexual orienstudents being bullied - many times result- tation, we were acutely aware of gender ing in more isolation and bullying. norms and the importance socially of genLGBT youth experience more bullying at Equality Ohio is working aggressively to der conformity, and many of us chafed at school, including physical violence, than strengthen Ohio’s statewide anti-bullying their heterosexual peers. 90 percent of law to eradicate bullying and the that bul- 4. The anti-bullying law should have provi- those norms. That is just one more tie beLGBT teens report being physically or ver- lying that contributes to suicides. There are sions for enforcement. Currently, enforce- tween the “LGB” and the “T” and one more reason we need to work together to achieve bally harassed or assaulted based on their four main components to a comprehensive ment of Ohio’s weak anti-bullying bill is virtually non-existent. The State Auditor is full equality and inclusion for our commuperceived or actual sexual orientation or reform of our school anti-bullying policies: charged with enforcement and that is lim- nity. gender identity. 1. Anti-bullying policies must be enumer- ited to checking off a box during an audit Ed Mullen is the Executive Director of Equality Ohio, Students hear anti-gay epithets 25 times a ated, listing categories of people protected to say whether or not the school has an our statewide nonprofit organization founded in 2005 day, and teachers fail to respond to these by the law. This does not exclude any form anti-bullying policy. There is no determina- that advocates for the Ohio LGBTQ community. For tion of whether the policies are effective or more info: EqualityOhio.org comments 97 percent of the time; nearly 58 of bullying from the policies; it merely adds are being enforced. Without an enforcepercent of LGBT students have had property specific protection for groups that are ment mechanism, all of the laws and polistolen or deliberately damaged at school; more often the victims of bullying. Study cies are toothless. and, more than 64 percent of LGBT students after study shows that non-enumerated

july 2011

In 2009 Obama signed the first pro-transgender piece of legislation in this country.

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The Outlook Jeep is Chrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;! Start stalking!

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The Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus Changing Hearts and Minds With Song – Patrick Roehrenbeck Helps to Keep the Voices Aloft by Jon Dunn A performance by a choir, chorus or ensemble presents music in its original form, as created by the human voice. Long before names and rules were applied to music, humans reproduced the sounds through generations by memory. The relatively recent developments of harmony, rhythm and notation simply gave everyone a basic palette to work and share from, but at the root of all music is the beat of a human heart. Individual voices are like instruments, unique, adaptable and able to occupy a certain sonic realm with ease. They are selected for their range and timbre, then placed in the proper clef alongside other instruments that complement them. These voices are combined to create a single piece, like the components of a fine watch, working in time and harmony. Closing your eyes to let the distractions fall away as you listen, you no longer see the shape or color of these instruments; you simply hear their voice.

recently finished their 21st season, (they officially formed in 1990) one could assume that Patrick is the most recent holder of that office. “But,” he explained, “I’m just the second Executive Director. It was initially run by a working board of directors, then by Matt Arnold, the first executive director.” Patrick has been in his chair since March, when he found himself having to hit the ground running. But he’s settling into a groove now. “Right now we have approximately 85 active singing members, because it can fluctuate,” Patrick said. Besides the full chorus, whose members are not required to audition to participate, there are two smaller ensembles for the more intimate settings; the Vox ensemble and the Illuminati. The Vox Ensemble is an auditioned ensemble, comprised of 16 to 18 members, depending on the program and venue.

The second ensemble is the Illuminati, the sacred ensemble that performs in church and worship settings, sometimes including weddings. “We do a big outreach to churches,” explained Patrick, adding “We’re one of only two The Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus (CGMC) takes gay men’s choruses that do these types of pertheir voices to raise them in song and to raise formances.” awareness of the GLBT community here in central Ohio. Along with creating some beautiful Not long after Patrick got settled, the Chorus music, the CGMC brings a message of tolerhired a new artistic director, Dr. Timothy ance and acceptance for the GLBT community Sarsany. With the addition of the good doctor, with a common ground of song, asking listen- Patrick found the division of CGMC responsibilers to hear with their hearts as well as their ities to be well defined. ears. “He takes care of the artistic side and I handle Behind all of the performances is a group of the administrative side of things,” Patrick dedicated people who conduct the daily opera- laughed, then adding “It’s anything besides tions needed to keep all the pieces of the choir the artistic aspects of the business; I handle together and running smoothly, just like that the logistics, scheduling and coordinating the fine watch. You can see and hear it perform, rehearsals, the performance schedules and so but many of the key pieces of the machine are on. There’s a lot of administration in these behind the face. things, you need organization or nothing will get done.” Seeing that the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus

july 2011

Alongside the day-to-day operations of running the operation, Patrick focuses on fundraising and creating new opportunities to feature the chorus in places where their message can have a social education impact. “We are a 501C non-profit organization, and I think there are a lot of (fundraising) opportunities in Central Ohio that some may have not considered as viable,” he said, “But I like to try and create these unique opportunities by trying to think outside of the ordinary.” Patrick wants to give CGMC as much exposure as possible. “Also, a lot of my work is trying to promote and schedule these ensemble concerts,” he said. “I focus a lot of my attention trying to make connections in the community,” Patrick explained. “The chorus is a true educator; everyone knows that we’re willing and able to sing, but hopefully, we can use the performances to help change people’s minds and create an awareness.” That awareness is the spirit of the Chorus, whose credo is “Voices Raised, Lives Changed.” Patrick sees that message coming through as the performances attract more attention and more diverse audiences. “People would be surprised at the attendance at our December Joy concerts,” he said. “It’s mainly older suburbanites and lots of Baby Boomers. Some of the audiences were nearly two thousand people!” Their message also seems to be reaching deeply enough to affect change in the hearts of some who previously did not approve. “When we performed Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat two years ago, five of the children in the choir were not allowed to perform with us because the parents had objected,” Patrick remembered. “But this year, not one family said no. I think that’s an amazing sign.”

YouTube, with a clip that’s been viewed thousands of times and shows no signs of stopping. At one time, the pairing would have been considered controversial, but today it’s an online sensation. It’s the full Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus and the Columbus Children’s Choir performing a celestial version of Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful, and the message has been reaching far beyond Ohio. “It’s been featured on advocate.com and on Dan Savage’s It Gets Better Project website,” Patrick said proudly. Make sure that you check it out. The nature of his work aside, Patrick also feels that things are getting better, especially here in Columbus. “A lot of the change here in Columbus is because the younger generation is more tolerant,” he said. “We also do a lot of outreach in the community, we give something back when we can. We’re working on a pilot education program where we would perform at schools and then have question and answer sessions to show what music can do for you.” “Progress always has stumbles, we know that,” said Patrick, “We just always have to be open to what happens and we can’t be afraid of what people might say.” Reflecting on that for a moment, he offers. “Progress can come slowly, but it can also turn quickly and the results can be amazing.” The Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus was formed in 1990 and maintains the vision of its founding members to foster increased recognition, understanding and acceptance of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons. CGMC is a non-auditioned chorus open to all people regardless of vocal talent, musical abilities, race, gender, religion, age, physical abilities, sexual orientation or economic means. To learn more about the chorus, their performance schedule and how to participate, visit www.cgmc.com or call them at 614.228.2462.

Currently, the CGMC is making some noise on

Theresa Sparks was the first transgender police commissioner in San Francisco.

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Phileciaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life-long dream is to become the only female drag queen... that is a midget.

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EVEN

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Columbus City Councilmember Michelle Mills Rocks It Post-Pride by Michael Daniels In the scurry and scruff that is the outlook offices post-PRIDE, I found time to catch up with the newest member of Columbus City Council, Michelle Mills, and pick her brain on a few topics of interest.

end of every shift. I also want to make sure our Divisions of Police and Fire represent the diversity in our community, making sure we are inclusive when it comes to race, gender, and sexual orientation.

I also will work this fall to repeal Senate Bill 5, which in my opinion is an assault Michael Daniels: What was your biggest on the middle class in Ohio. As a city, we motivation in seeking a seat on Colum- are already working with our unions to bus City Council? craft responsible budgets that allow for Michelle Mills: My biggest motivation to responsible salaries and benefits for our seek a seat was to have an opportunity workers. to impact decisions and improve the lives of our residents while shaping pub- MD: How can the GLBT community get lic policy to build stronger, safer, more involved and help you achieve those economically stable neighborhoods. His- goals? torically, neighborhood leaders such as MM: I would appreciate any assistance Jane Addams led change for families in recruitment for qualified candidates and neighborhoods through active advo- for our safety teams, and encourage your cacy. Ms. Addams advocated on all isreaders to remain active and vocal on issues related to the quality of life for the sues and most importantly solutions in residents her advocacy was paired with the interest of the GLBT community. I the provision of services and the promo- also would welcome their participation tion of inclusion and self-sufficiency. in hearings and other opportunities when public comment is solicited. MD: Since being appointed, what has been your biggest joy? Your biggest MD: What is the one thing that outlook challenge? readers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about Michelle MM: My biggest joy has been the ability Mills, but should? to talk to the youth in our community, MM: I enjoyed many of the Pride week share with them my story as a commu- activities and have for many years spoke nity advocate and journey into public out about adoption laws that prohibit service. My biggest challenge is spend- joint custody/adoption for GLBT families. ing more time away from family. I am a former adoption social worker and I am keenly aware of the good homes MD: What are your major legislative overlooked. As a result, many children goals for the next couple of years? remain in foster care much longer and MM: Since I am the chair of the Public experience much more trauma instead of Safety & Judiciary Committee, I want to an opportunity for a happy and healthy make sure our safety forces, our police home with a family. We need to support and fire personnel, are the best trained those families that are willing to make and equipped in the nation. I want to lis- sacrifices and provide unconditional love ten to our men and women in uniform to for a child who will then grow up with be able to provide them the tools they the type of tolerance and love for all peoneed to keep us all safe and help them ple that could shape the world for many return home to their loved ones at the generations.

july 2011

Amanda Simpson was the first transgender woman to be appointed to a Federal government position by Obama.

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Chad Frye is so bad at driving he gave it up 3 years ago.

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Ralph Reed’s Con Artist Comeback by Wayne Besen A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the rancid “values” of those leading today’s, so-called, pro-family movement: Today, defining our opponents is not so easy, and sometimes vexing, because their values are so vacant and vacuous. Back in the day, a true conservative was defined by how one lived - not necessarily how one voted. But today’s soulless, corporate conservatism has nothing to do with the way one lives and everything to do with lazy political labels and one-size-fitsall prefab positions.

paid by other casino-owning Native American tribes that did not want competition from their tribal rivals. In other words, Reed had no problem profiting handsomely from a business he called a “cancer.” According to e-mails between convicted lobbyist Abramoff and Reed, the good Christian was simply trying to “hump in corporate accounts” to the tune of $4 million in casino money for Reed’s consulting business.

The danger of Ralph Reed is that he is one of only three archconservatives who are brilliant strategists - with the others being Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich. However, Rove is too mean and is tied to Bush’s failures, while Gingrich is too undisciplined and mired in personal scandal. Reed is the only GOP puppet master who has the savvy to match his proven skills as a top-notch organizer.

solely on our economic life to the neglect of our human life.”

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said that his top four “common-sense principles” were to turn America toward God, protect the unborn, oppose marriage equality and keep Americans secure. It is time that the media stops portraying Pawlenty as mainstream, because he has sounded like fellow Minnesotan Michele BachThere is a word for such people: Hypocrite. Reed doesn’t have much to work with, given the mann longer than he has sounded like the sorry state of Republican presidential media’s sanitized version of Tim Pawlenty. Five years have passed and the moral reprobate wannabes. But, the latest economic numbers is hoping Christians forget his sordid past provide a glimmer of hope to the GOP’s slate of So, what if Reed’s organization can effectively and he seems to be succeeding. Reed, ever the extremists. The unemployment rate is at 9.1 exploit the recession and help elect an extremist True to form, the ultimate con man, Ralph Reed, opportunist, says he is now organizing doe-eyed percent and the average length of unemploy(or a former moderate posing as an extremist is making a strong comeback after living in Christians and Tea Party enthusiasts, who he ment is nine months. Former Federal Reserve like Mitt Romney) to the Oval Office? All his exile following a disgraceful exit from politics refers to as his “sweet spot.” (What’s up with economist Morris Davis told the New York Times blustering base of scolds will have accomfive years ago. Back then Reed was riding high the creepy sexual terminology like “humping in that as many as a million homes slipped into plished is the glamorization of a morally comas the former head of Pat Robertson’s Christian accounts” and “sweet spot”? What’s next, foreclosure because of a lack of help for the un- promised kingmaker who has repeatedly turned Coalition, the chairman of Georgia’s Republican Ralph’s “money shot?”) The vehicle he has employed. evangelical Christianity and GOP politics into a Party, and a candidate for Georgia’s lieutenant cooked up for his comeback is a new organizanational punch line. (Slimy candidates like governor. tion he founded, the “Faith and Freedom Coali- Americans may conclude that tough times call thrice-married Newt Gingrich pushing the tion.” for radical measures, such as electing once-un- sanctity of marriage, further compounds this However, a political consulting firm he founded thinkable candidates like Sarah Palin or “family values” folly.) had ties to sleazy lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and Reed considers his new group a 21st-century Michele Bachmann. But thanks to powerbrokers that brought Reed down. For those who do not version of the Christian Coalition - with basilike Reed, even the alleged moderates in the What a wonderful example these purified remember, Reed exploited Christians who he or- cally the same agenda, except they now will use GOP have raced to the fanatical fringe, as evi- “Christians” have set for their children in their ganized - based on moral opposition to gaming Facebook and Twitter. denced by their statements at Reed’s “Faith righteous quest to create a “godlier” nation. - to oppose new Indian casinos. He once called and Freedom Coalition” event held in WashingWayne Besen is founder of Truth Wins Out. For more info: gambling a “cancer” that “is stealing food “Our goal is to build a file of 29 million conser- ton last May. Truthwinsout.org. from the mouths of children.” vative voters,” according to the New York Times. “We’ll e-mail them, we’ll call them, we’ll knock The supposed moderate, former Utah governor What Reed did not tell these poor conservative on their doors and, if necessary, we’ll drive them Jon Huntsman said at the conference “I do not supporters (suckers) was that he was being to the polls.” believe that the Republican Party should focus

july 2011

In 1966, Harry Benjamin published “The Transsexual Phenomenon,” the first work to explain transgenders.

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The first car accident happened in Ohio in 1851. We are sure Chadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ancestors were somehow involved.

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july 2011

Author Toni Newman was the first African-American Transgender.

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FLYING THE COLORS by Leslie Robinson At the start of June, citizens of Richmond, Va. noticed an addition to the flagpole outside the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, a private financial institution located downtown. Underneath the American flag waved a rainbow flag. The two banners, Old Glory and Newish Pride-y, flapped in the breeze.

So there was the rainbow flag, dressing up the downtown concrete monolith in Virginia’s capital city. And there were members of The Family Foundation enjoying their new headquarters, until they looked out their west-facing windows and spotted the flag. It’s a real shame the rainbow flag won’t permanently mar the view of these guardians of family values.

the Fed’s mission. “Moreover, the homosexual behavior ‘celebrated’ by your Richmond’s Federal Reserve Bank spokeswoman undermines the American economy, is a class six felony in Virginia (18.2 - 361, VA Code), shortens lives, adds significantly to illness, increases health costs, promotes venereal diseases, and worsens the population imbalance relating to the number of workers supporting the beneficiaries of America’s Social Security and Medicare Programs.”

Then gums flapped too, and within seconds, Richmond had its very own flag flap: A flap over the fag flag. Gag.

They blogged their displeasure, noting bank executive Sally I’m pretty sure we were on the grassy knoll, too. Green’s statement about inclusivity and complained, “ApparI’ll stop now. ently, that inclusivity doesn’t apply to those who do not condone Marshall continued, “The Richmond Fed’s endorsement of homosexual behavior.” costly, anti-social, immoral behavior is rejected by 6,000 years The rumpus began when PRISM, a year-old employee LGBT of Western Religious and moral teaching. You want the Amerigroup at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, asked to fly Honestly? How can you condone or not condone a naturally ex- can people to trust your judgment in economic matters when the rainbow flag to mark Pride month. Richmond.com reported isting group of people? It’s like saying you don’t approve of red- your spokesperson celebrates an attack on public morals?” that the bank agreed to fly the flag for all of June. heads, or left-handers, or Pygmies. Don’t forget I mentioned that. That Virginians trust Marshall’s judgment enough to elect him Richmond’s Pride actually takes place in September, but that’s is what is truly scary. not the point, so forget I mentioned it. The Cavalier State’s protectors pledged with stiff upper lips: “At The Family Foundation, we will simply choose to use this The legislator ended his fanciful rant with, “Mr. Lacke (sic), “We strongly support a diverse and inclusive culture at the flag . . . as motivation for the work that lies ahead.” Namely at- take down that flag!” Richmond Fed and have learned that it is important to value tacking gay, redheaded, left-handed Pygmies. and embrace differences, both seen and unseen,” said Sally As of this writing, the bank hasn’t. I’m fascinated to see if it Green, the bank’s chief operating officer. Bob Marshall, a Republican member of the Virginia House of withstands the attacks, and if the bank hoists the flag next Delegates, pitched in with a hysterical response to the Pride year. “We are flying the ‘Pride’ flag as an example of our commitflag. He dispatched a letter to Jeffrey M. Lacker, the president ment to the values of acceptance and inclusion,” said Green. of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. I know one thing: These colors don’t run... unless you wash them in the wrong temperature. Aren’t those great sentiments? I’d like to work for Ms. Green if I Marshall misspelled Lacker’s name, but hey, he was so upset Leslie Robinson lives in Seattle. E-mail her at didn’t have such a blanket distrust of any entity that might’ve he could hardly think straight. lesarobinson@gmail.com, and visit her blog, home to additional contributed to the world’s economic collapse. Forget I menfunny bits, at www.generalgayety.com. tioned that, too. The lawmaker questioned what flying the flag has to do with

outlookcolumbus.com

Median age of those who are transgender is 34-36 years old.

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july 2011

In 2003, Wesleyan University, CT, became the first college in the USA to provided specialized housing for its transgender students.

outlookcolumbus.com

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TAKING

TEST DRIVE

them would overstep their boundary by acting like a “father,” not a daddy, and I am not one to be controlled and manipulated. When the “dating” relationship reached this critical level, I would make up some bullshit break up excuse about “I really need to focus on my career/master’s degree/job hunt.” But in all reality, I just wanted to focus on getting this man’s dick out of my mouth and then running out of his bedroom. I know, I admit being an asshole, however, I learned from my bad behavior what I did not want in a relationship: a needy sedan.

Once I got tired of sedans, I started a trend of the economy cars – you know, the more modestly ticketed cars with decent gas mileage. This was a lovely and refreshing “dating” trend, For me, a prerequisite for buying a car has been that my 6’3” body has to be able to have hot as opposed to the pretty car seniors and the sedan daddies. With the “economies,” I often man sex in the back seat. Back in the day, I was one of “those” boys, so just call me “Rizzo.” knew where I stood, and the dining part of the “date” was always split in half. The economies Men and women use cars as a sign of social status, a mark of a social group and as a sign of had also a varying age range, where as the pretty car seniors and the sedan daddies were always older than I. “Dating” an economy could mean going out with someone my own age, a aging. Think about your car, and think about your personal pink posse. Most of you probably wee bit older and/or significantly older. And, with the varying age range, there were varying own the same type of cars, and you are all probably around the same age, plus you all probasexual techniques and fetishes. The economies I “dated” taught me a lot about my sexual bly date the same types. Cars & dating have been synonymous for decades, no matter what likes and limits - which often led to something comedic and gross. For example, I went out your sexual orientation may be. with a 30-something economy (and I was a 20-something at the time) and he wanted me to I love to see (and poke fun at) the 50+ homo honey with the under 25-year-old international go back to his place and “play around” - I had no idea that “play around” meant hot wax and shots of alcohol. After getting burned on the chest, while he was getting drunker, he decided accessory in the passenger seat of his very over-priced convertible – it reminds me of a Benetton advertisement. First of all, it is ballsy to be over 50 and to be shagging someone so that he wanted to flip me and bang me. He was only able to thrust his “love log” into me for young; it can both be stressful on your heart and on your vintage cock. Also, how do you know about three minutes, because he decided to projectile vomit all over my back and all over the that the under 25-year-old won’t find someone with a better and more luxurious car. I mean, bed. The evening ended quickly by me taking a shower, calling a friend to pick me up, and then making sure he was in the bathroom, finishing up his expulsion. I never “dated” this my experience with the 25 and under gay crowd is that they have the attention span of a guinea pig in heat. To them, discovering a new vintage dick = a new toy and prettier car. I will man again, and the last time I heard he was in Cincinnati, living a domestically calm life. Nothing says “bad date” like wearing his dinner on your bare backside. As I said earlier, both admit that at one point in time I was that under 25-year-old twat, and I learned that older men with pretty cars were just as bad as I. Once they got bored with me, they found another comedic and gross. pretty “car accessory” for the passenger seat. I know all of this sounds really cynical and Which ever car you pick out, make it a careful choice. Your car, along with your personal style, catty, and if you are now pissed at me, then you are probably guilty of this cycle of “accesis a reflection of you. Pretty car seniors are usually shallow and bored, sedan daddies are resorizing.” So, look in the mirror and be accountable or shut the fuck up. liable and are seeking stability, and the economies are seeking honest and equal footing, with no fluff. Currently, we have a Mini Cooper Clubman; her name is “Dulceta” (yes, we After years of “dating” (otherwise known as “blowing”) pretty car seniors, I started finding comfort in the sedan daddies. What is a sedan daddy? He is an older man with a relatively re- named our car with a flamboyant Italiana name). Dulceta is a sexy, yet stable car – just how liable car – nothing ostentatious or over-priced. These men tended to be romancers and very we, me and Hubby, view ourselves. And, the backseat is big enough for me to get some “lubricated love” from Hubby (don’t worry, we keep Dulceta tidy). Car and lovers – they are all sensual, and the sex would go on for hours and hours. These men were not platinum credit card holders, nor did they own many properties, but they were financially sound and enjoyed the same and both require a test drive. by Mario Pinardi

their career paths. I really enjoyed the sedan daddies. The only challenge was that some of

outlookcolumbus.com

Have a great July, create your own fireworks, and always be a survivor, never a victim.

Mr. Garrison of the cartoon South Park is the first animated character to have sex-reassignment surgery.

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Gay Fat by Marcus Morris

by 17, I weighed 190 pounds. With some cash from my new after-school job, I celebrated this victory and bought a pair of I got fat. I got gay fat. Not human fat. Not American fat. Not Wal- jeans in a much smaller size. From there, I spent my days cutting Mart fat, but gay fat. Gay fat is when you become heavier than calories instead of cutting class. My mom thought it was a you were, and you don’t become a gym bunny. It’s sort of like growth spurt, and I did everything I could to enable that idea. I’d “middle-age spread” when you are 28. Since my last article for heartily eat at dinner, and then not have anything until the next. I outlook, I have become a potato chip bunny. got invited to parties, got drunk and managed to crawl out of the shell I was in. My rapidly shrinking form was no match for my In the summer of 2007, I weighed 145 pounds, wore a size 27 ever-expanding personality. waist, and smoked a pack a day. In addition, my prime destination after work was The Short North Tavern or Surly Girl. I may not On the morning of high school graduation, I stood 6’1”, and have been the healthiest person on the planet, but I was glam- weighed 151 pounds. I felt as though I had conquered someorously thin, and having a fun amount of casual sex. So, I won, I thing. Not just education, but my body, my mind and my sexualthought. ity. I was still firmly in the closet, but I knew it was something to be controlled, like my weight or my fears. I have an association with thin that began my senior year in high school. By the time I was 16, I was a roly-poly adolescent with an Ten years from that day, I am a little different, a lot the same. I’m addiction to Little Debbie and The Rosie O’Donnell Show. After very open about my sexuality, but I still carry huge issues surband practice, I’d stop by the corner store near my house and rounding my body, weight and eating. When I came out, I went buy myself a Pepsi and Swiss Cake Rolls. At home, I’d watch through a lot of things. In addition to exploring my sexuality, the Rosie O’Donnell and consume my goods, in addition to reading old issues resurfaced. Weighing 145 pounds, the height of it all fashion magazines, jerking off and making a grilled cheese was not natural, but it felt good. I wore my weight and my sexusandwich - in that order. ality like a new diamond or hairstyle. Determined, I was to be the best. My best friend was shocked at my appearance because she When I was a chubby 16-year-old, I was humiliated in the cafe- couldn’t understand how I associated these feelings with power. teria by the basketball team’s star player, and I stopped eating Not to mention, I looked emaciated. Anything adverse, like a at school. I began going long stretches of time without eating. breakup, could be knocked aside with a bit of weight watching. It The headaches and nausea were far less painful than being was a pattern. If things were good, I would make healthy choices called “faggot” and getting my tray knocked to the ground. I was about my body, like going to the gym and then having a good not bullied like some of the kids, but the bullying I experienced meal, and probably smoking less. On the bad days, I’d exist on forced me to completely avoid the cafeteria for the remaining caffeine, cigarettes, and allergy medication. “Nothing tastes as time at high school. So I starved. good as thin feels” was my motto. When you don’t eat because you are avoiding something, you are highly unlikely to label yourself with an eating disorder. In fact, I used the time to do homework, practice the French horn and become better friends with the band geeks who also avoided the cafeteria. I never managed to get to a point where I wasn’t completely dreadful at the French horn, but life became more tolerable while I fasted at school. My weight evaporated and I viewed the results as a victory. I became consumed with it. At 16, my weight was 230 pounds, and

july 2011

Then, everything sort of changed. I fell in love and spent much more time consumed in my relationship, and less and less time thinking about my weight. The numbers on the scale were not equal to how happy I was. Instead of eating Lean Cuisine or having tater tots from The Short North Tavern for my daily meal, I was going to big Italian family dinners. The scale would get higher, but I felt higher. Unknowingly, I began to let go of myself. In hindsight, maybe I let myself go. I’ve gained 40 pounds since 2007. 185 is not a number I wanted to see on the scale. Clearly, I was beginning to eat more cake than cock.

My battle with the scale had me feeling like Oprah without the money. The revelation came last week when I got on the scale and I had a fucking ‘a-ha’ moment. I am not really interested in that sort of false-epiphany bullshit, but it is not a good feeling to be overweight. For someone who likes to have control, this thing with my body is a prison. Not a kinda hot S&M situation, but a pork and beans, yellow legal pad, awful slip-on shoe prison. I do not look good in a jump suit. My first inclination was to stop eating, which lasted until I realized we still had Girl Scout cookies in the house. So I texted Chris Hayes, smartly, he said, “Why don’t you just write about it?” The decision to write about this meant I had to confront myself. Yes, I made a lot of shitty choices about my body, but what was I going to do? I could not keep going to Graeter’s, because that was not helping. I had to get over myself, and start eating right and exercising. There is no cure. Also, there is no blaming anyone. Many times when a gay person has an eating disorder, or is fat, or pudgy, or whatever, they blame the gay community and its idolization of the body, blah, blah blah. I refuse. The gay community is not to blame for my fat ass. It was not to blame for my skinny ass either. The responsibility belongs to me, just as the victories belong to me. If I lose a pound, do I credit the gay community? My reasons for getting into shape are not because I want to dance in a speedo at the White Party. I want to wear clothes. My quest is clothes related. I cannot handle the muffin top! So, I have a goal in mind. It is not to be scarily thin. It is not to be a muscle queen. I want to be healthy and fit. I want to run a mile without freaking out. I want to not have fat falling over the top of my belt. I want some of my old clothes back. I want new clothes! I plan to use this space to chronicle myself. It may be rife with failures and successes, but the hope is to tell the story with a bit of optimism for the future - optimism for myself, for the gay community, and for the world. Maybe I will get my ass into shape. I am looking for a personal trainer as we speak. Hopefully, he is cute. Comment on Marcus’s piece at www.outlookcolumbus.com!

Singer/songwriter Sophie Hawkins is the only famous, openly omnisexual-also known as pansexual.

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Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing worse than getting stuck in a traffic jam, especially when you have to pee. My sister has used her floor mat in a pinch.

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11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 12:00 PM Streetsboro Family Days 7:00 PM Karaoke @ Club Diversity 7:00 PM Daniel Tosh Live @ Vets Memorial Center 8:00 PM Sunday Night Players @ Wall St 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

Lucas County Fair

Ohio State Fair @ Ohio Expo Center

11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 7:00 PM Karaoke @ Club Diversity 7:30 PM New Kids On The Block, Back! street Boys, and Matthew Morrison @ 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest

Celina Lake Festival

Ohio Union County Fair

and 2 more…

11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 1:00 PM BikeColumbus Festival @ COSI 7:00 PM Karaoke @ Club Diversity

Honoring Our Veterans Pow Wow

Party in the Park

Summer Moon Festival

Logan County Fair

and 6 more…

Youngstown Summer Festival of the Arts

North Market Food and Ohio Wine Festival

Summit County Italian American Festival

Cincinnati Pride Fe… @ Fountain Square

FCII Festival

Harrison County Fair

… Karaoke @ Club Diversity 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

Lughnasadh

… Karaoke @ Club Diversity 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 9:00 PM Viva Brother with 1,2,3 and 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

Lucas County Fair

… Karaoke @ Club Diversity 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 3:00 PM Couples Clay Workshop @ Clayspace 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

Carroll County Fair

… Karaoke @ Club Diversity 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 1:00 PM Free HIV and STD Testing @ Stonewall Columbus Center 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

Logan County Fair

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Trafik 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slammers 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 8:30 PM Willy Wonka & The Chocolate 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 12:00 PM History Exhumed Civil War Event @Heritage Park 7:00 PM Karaoke @ Club Diversity 8:00 PM Latin Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

4 … Karaoke @ Club Diversity 12:00 PM Old-fashioned 4th of July 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 8:00 PM Independence Day Celebration with Smokey Robinson @ Dublin Co"! man High School 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

Freedom Days

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Trafik 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slammers 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Trafik 7:30 PM Swingin’ Tuesdays @ The Big 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slammers 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Trafik 6:30 PM Summer Sparkle @ McConnell 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slammers 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Trafik 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slammers 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 8:00 PM A Midsummer’s Night Dream @ The Actor’s Theatre of Columbus, 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

Harrison County Fair

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Trafik 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 7:30 PM The British Invasion @ Grand! view Heights Public Library 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slammers 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

… Karaoke @ Club Diversity 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 6:00 PM Social Media Business Connec! tion @ TECHColumbus 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

10:00 AM Comfest @ Goodale Park 11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 7:00 PM Karaoke @ Club Diversity 8:00 PM Sunday Night Players @ Wall St 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

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Special Events

Pride Holiday Events

Networking

Ohio Festivals

Bars-Clubs

July 2011

12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Athlet! ic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

and 3 more…

12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Athlet! 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out"

The Pickerington Violet Festival

Ohio State Fair @ Ohio Expo Center

12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Athlet! ic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 7:00 PM Spanish Night @ Barcelona 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Athlet! ic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 6:00 PM Network Columbus-Sporty 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Athlet! ic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 4:00 PM Drink Up Cbus @ North Mar! 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

Ohio Hills Folk Festival

12:00 PM A LITTLE RIVALRY NEVER HURT NOBODY Columbus Clippers vs. Toledo Mud 12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Athlet! ic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

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4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 8:00 PM CW & HipHop @ Wall St 9:00 PM Tom Crumley at the Piano @ Club D 10:00 PM Trafik Jam @ Trafik

and 3 more…

4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 6:00 PM The 13th Annual Heritage

4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 4:00 PM Double Sexus: Hans Bellmer and Louise Bourgeois Exhibit @ Wexner 4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 8:00 PM CW & HipHop @ Wall St 9:00 PM Tom Crumley at the Piano @ 10:00 PM Trafik Jam @ Trafik

and 2 more…

$3 3 Olives Night @ Level 3 Wise Men @ Exile Restraint to Recognition @ Outlook Night w/ Clippers @ CW & HipHop @ Wall St Tom Crumley at the Piano @

Toledo Summer Festival

4:00 4:00 7:00 7:00 8:00 9:00

Summer Moon Festival

and 4 more…

4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 5:30 PM July Uncorked! @ Columbus

Cincinnati Pride Festival @ Fountain Square

FCII Festival

4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 6:00 PM The Actors’ Theatre of Colum! bus: A Midsummer Night’s Dream @Schiller Park 8:00 PM CW & HipHop @ Wall St 9:00 PM Tom Crumley at the Piano @ Club D 10:00 PM Trafik Jam @ Trafik

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4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 7:00 PM First Friday @ Wall St 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Traxx: Columbus @ Outlands 10:00 PM College Nite @ Wall St

and 2 more…

4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D

Cincinnati Music Festival

and 2 more…

9:00 AM Carroll County Fair 4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D

Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest

Celina Lake Festival

and 3 more…

12:00 PM Opera Columbus @ State! 4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 7:00 PM Dancing Tonight for the Stars

Historic Roscoe Village Band Organ Rally

Party in the Park

and 6 more…

North Market Food and Ohio Wine Festival

Summit County Italian American Festival

4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 6:00 PM Owl City @ The Lifestyle Com! munities Pavilion 7:00 PM First Friday @ Wall St 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Traxx: Columbus @ Outlands 10:00 PM College Nite @ Wall St

Freedom Days

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8:30 PM Best Ass Contest @ Exile 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St

and 2 more…

6:00 PM Butters Beer & Burrito Bash @ 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D

and 2 more…

12:30 PM Pride Cup 2011 @ Crew Sta! 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D

Dragon Boat Festival

and 3 more…

3:00 PM Volatility 2011 @ MadLab 4:00 PM Picnic with the Pups @ CHA

Honoring Our Veterans Pow Wow

and 4 more…

Youngstown Summer Festival of the Arts

8:15 PM Picnic with The Pops @ Colum! bus Symphony 8:30 PM Best Ass Contest @ Exile 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20 TALK SPANGLISH TO ME BABY Spanish Night @ Barcelona Restaurant & Bar, 263 East Whittier Street, German Village, 614.443.3699, www.barcelonacolumbus.com: Special 3 course unique paella dinner featuring a

TUESDAY, JULY 19 BECAUSE THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH GLITTER… Summer Sparkle@ McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening Street, 614.431.0329, http://www.mcconnellarts.org: From the wine to the “Blingo” prizes, this night is all about the sparkle. The event even raises money for the center’s future events, but we’ll take any excuse to wear some extra glitter. 6:30-9:30p; $25.

MONDAY, JULY 18 “OHH, MYY LOVE…MY DARLING”Couples Clay Workshop @ Clayspace, 831 S. Front Street, 614.449.8114, www.clayspace831.com: Remake the infamous sexy clay love scene from the movie “Ghost” in this couples clay workshop. 3p-9p; $80.

SUNDAY, JULY 17 FAMILY FUN! BikeColumbus Festival @ COSI, 333 W Broad St, 614.228.COSI, www.cosi.org: Need a summer hobby to get in shape? Come learn about the joys of biking, even your kids will like it. 1-4p; $9-$15.

MadLab’s Volatility 2011@ MadLab Theatre and Gallery, 227 N. 3rd Street, 614.221.5418, www.madlab.net: The tenth year of this fundraising event for arts spaces with food, bands, booze, improv, theatre, dance, standup comedy and a silent auction. 3p; $5.

MAD MONEY IN MY MADLAB

SATURDAY, JULY 16 THOSE HOT SUMMER DAYS CAN BE RUFF... Picnic with the Pups @ CHA Animal Shelter, 3765 Corporate Drive, 614.891.5280, www.chaanimalshelter.org: The Annual Picnic with the Pups event offers great fun for man’s best friend. Sponsors like CD101 team up to bring you obedience demos to keep your pup in check, doggie games, microchip clinic and a food/beer garden for the guardians of our four-legged buddies. Fun for the entire family! 4-8:30p; free.

Summer Fridays at the Statehouse: Opera Columbus @ Ohio Statehouse West Lawn, Broad &High streets; downtown Columbus, 614.728.2130, www.ohiostatehouse.org: Come experience some of Columbus’ diverse art groups while visiting our beautiful Capitol building-every Friday. 12p-1p; free.

something to do each day this month

about town FRIDAY, JULY 1 the crowd every week to host. 4steincenter.com: Sade belts out I LIKE TO MAKE MYSELF BELIEVE... 7p; free. her monotonic tunes while John Owl City @ The Lifestyle CommuLegend sings the blues. Get your nities Pavilion, 405 Neil Ave, THURSDAY, JULY 7 tickets. 7:30p; $58-$168. 614.461.LIVE (5483), www.proBOOZE AND CHEESE WITH CYP mowestlive.com: Come get “Fire- CYP CLUB Wine Tasting @ MONDAY, JULY 11 flies” with everyone’s favorite Camelot Cellars, 958 N High TESTING, TESTING, ONE…TWO? Minnesotan pop crooner! 6p; $32. Street, www.cypclub.com: Wine free. HIV and STD Testing @ tasting, door prizes, and socializ- Stonewall Columbus Center, 1160 SATURDAY, JULY 2 ing with young professionals. Take North High Street, 614.299.7764, PATRIOTIC PICNIC WITH THE POPS home some free wine as well. 7p; www.stonewallcolumbus.org: Picnic with The Pops @ Colum$30-$35. Columbus Aids Task Force will be bus Symphony, 55 E. State St. doing free HIV testing every Mon614.228.8600, www.columCOME GET SCREWED day 1-5:30pm upstairs. Cols. Pubbussymphony.com: Celebrate In- July Uncorked! @ Columbus Mu- lic Health Dept. is also here today dependence Day with the seum of Art, 480 E. Broad St, doing free STD testing. fantastic Columbus Symphony. 614.221.6801, http://www.columCome wave a flag and enjoy awe- busmuseum.org: CMA makes the TUESDAY, JULY 12 some renditions of patriotic tunes. perfect pairings of food and wine COME AWAY WITH ME… IN THE NIGHT Paired with wonderful fireworks, that is inspired by art. Come eat, A Midsummer’s Night Dream @ the evening should be a memodrink and talk art. 5:30p; $25The Actor’s Theatre of Columbus, rable one. 8:15p; free. $30. Schiller Park, 1069 Jaeger St, www.theactorstheatre.com: Is SUNDAY, JULY 3 FRIDAY, JULY 8 there a better way to see this clasBRING YOUR GUNS… PRIDE ISN’T JUST FOR JUNE sic summer play than for free? History Exhumed Civil War Event Cincinnati Pride Festival @ Yeah, we didn’t think so. 8p; free. @Heritage Park, 60 N. Cleveland Fountain Square, 513.763.8036 Ave. 614.794.0401, visitwesterhttp://www.equinoxcincinnati.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 ville.org: Another perfect way to : You’ve celebrated Pride in MY JOCKSTRAP BRINGS ALL THE BOYS TO celebrate America’s history by Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo and THE YARD watching the Civil War come alive. Dayton, now head down to Cincin- Network Columbus-Sporty GLBT It is a perfect event for the whole nati and cheers the queers for one @ Crew Stadium, 1 Black and family! 12-6p; free. more festival before you hang up Gold Blvd, 614.447.2739, www.networkcolumbus.com: Netyour rainbow wig. work Columbus talks sports with MONDAY, JULY 4 speakers, networking, and free RED, WHITE, KA-BOOM! FRIDAY, JULY 8 Independence Day Celebration appetizers. Come out and play for TODAY’S FORECAST CALLS FOR GOLDEN with Smokey Robinson @ Dublin SHOWERS your 2011 PRIDE Cup tickets. 6p; Coffman High School, 6780 Coff- R Kelly and Keyshia Cole @ free. man Rd., 800.245.8387, Jerome Schottenstein Center Value www.dublin.oh.us: Don’t miss one City Arena, 555 Borror Dr, 614THURSDAY, JULY 14 of music’s greatest at this free In- 292.2624, www.schottensteincen- I’VE GOT YOUR CRAZY dependence Day festivity. In addi- ter.com: The Pied Piper of R&B Restraint to Recognition: The tion to awesome music, hook line and... Keyshia Cole unite in a Changing Perception of Mental and sinker in the Sherm Sheldon show that apparently people were Illness @ The Ohio Historical CenFishing Derby, watch the parade demanding. Bring your raincoats. ter, 1982 Velma Ave, 614.297. and appropriately top the night off 8p; $59-$96. 2300, www.ohiohistory.org: Panby watching fireworks. elists discuss the diagnosis, medSATURDAY, JULY 9 ication, stigma, and treatment of TUESDAY, JULY 5 GET YOUR HEART ON mental illness, and how those MOONLIGHT MOVIES Walk With a Doc @ Highbanks have evolved in recent years. 7p; Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Metro Park or Polaris Fashion free. Factory @ East Town Center, 160 Place 9466 Columbus Pike or Easton Town Center, 1500 Polaris Pkwy, 614.273.8030. BALL OUT 614.337.2200, http://eastontown- www.walkwithadoc.org: Wake up Outlook Night with the Clippers center.com: Bring the family out with some healthy tips on the nice @ Huntington Park, 330 Huntingfor this timeless movie under the little walk with cardiologist Dr. ton Park Lane, 614.462.2727, stars. 8:30-10:30p; free. David Sabgir along with other www.huntingtonparkcolumbus.co healthcare specialists. All activi- m: Come have a ball or two. Join WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 ties are free: healthy snacks, Outlook out for a night with the FRIENDS? HOW MANY OF US HAVE THEM? blood pressure checks, recipes Columbus Clippers vs. The IndiGender Variant Peer Support and general information regarding ana Indians. Be sure to mention Group @ Stonewall Columbus a healthy lifestyle. 8:30a; free. you’re attending Outlook night Center, 1160 N High Street, when ordering tickets. 7p; $12614.299.7764, www.stonewallSUNDAY, JULY 10 $15. columbus.org: This is a peer led WEST SIDE! support group. Open to everyone - CAPA Summer Movie Series: FRIDAY, JULY 15 FtM, MtF, Cross Dressers, Gender West Side Story @ Ohio Theater, ALMOST AS SEXY AS MAKSIM Queer, Intersexed, etc. Facilitated 39 E. State St, www.capa.com: CHMERKOVSKIY... by TransOhio staff. 7p; free. Spend your Sunday afternoon Dancing Tonight for the Stars @ watching one of the greatest sap COSI, 333 W Broad St, 614.228. drama/classic! 2-4p & 7:30COSI, http://www.cosi.org: Bid on 9:30p; $4. local celebrities, elected officials and household names for a spin SMOOTH LIKE I LIKE MY BOOSE around the dance floor. Just don’t SADE and JOHN LEGEND @ step on your partner’s feet. ESPN’s Jerome Schottenstein Center Value Sage Steele and Jay Harris will City Arena, 555 Borror Dr, MC. 7p; $75-$125. 614.292.2624, www.schottenI GOT MY DRANK AND MY TWO-STEP Drink Up Columbus! @The North Market, 59 Spruce St, 614.463.9664, www.drinkupcolumbus.com: Every Wednesday go local with your happy hour at North Market. Local brews, food and bands. CD101 radio also joins

TUESDAY, JULY 26 SWINGERS? Swingin’ Tuesdays @ The Big Bang Dueling Pianos, 401 N. Front St. Suite 95, 614.467.0102, www.swingincolumbus.com : No, you won’t be putting your watch in a bowl at the door, but hey we still think it could be fun. Every Tues-

SUNDAY, JULY 31 FUNNY.0 Daniel Tosh Live @ Vets Memorial Center, 300 W Broad St, 614.221.4341, http://www.fcvm.com: Listen to Tosh as he pokes fun at pop culture. 7p; $45-$55.

starter, paella, and dessert. 7p; day you can remember the one hit $25. wonder “Mambo No.5” and dance the night away. 7:30-11p, $3-$10. THURSDAY, JULY 21 FREE. THURSDAYS! WEDNESDAY, JULY 27 Double Sexus: Hans Bellmer and “SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SHE DIDN’T Louise Bourgeois Exhibit @ MEAN A THING TO ME…” Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 Death Cab for Cutie @ LC PavilN. High St, 614.292.3535, ion, 405 Neil Ave, 614.461.5483, http://www.wexarts.org: The exwww.promowestlive.com: While I hibit shows off the work of two have my own bone to pick with Mr. artists whom never met, but both Gibbard for marrying the love of of them produced extremely sexu- my life, I’ll let it slide if he plays ally charged work that the world “405”. Indie rock band Death Cab now pairs them together. 4-8p; for Cutie brings their catchy, good free. love songs to Cbus again with opener Frightened Rabbit. This is FRIDAY, JULY 22 shaping up to be one of the GET YOUR MUSIC AND MEAT HERE coolest shows this summer. Doors Jazz & Rib Fest @ North Bank at 6:30p; $32-$34. Park/Arena District, Long St, 614.645.7995, http://www.hotrib- THURSDAY, JULY 28 scooljazz.org: There will be three “CRADLE OF JAZZ” stages for music and over 23 dif- The 13th Annual Heritage Conferent types of ribs at this cert Series@ The King Arts Comfood/music festival. It is a perfect plex Theatre, 867 Mount Vernon way to spend a summer Friday on Ave, 614.645.KING (5464), the riverfront. 11a-11p; free. http://www.thekingartscomplex.co m: bring a blanket out to Mayme SATURDAY, JULY 23 Moore Park and listen to Jazz, R&B SAVE THE BALL KICKING FOR THE FIELD and blues music. It’s the perfect Pride Cup 2011 @ Crew Stadium way to spend a summer night, oh, 1 Black and Gold Blvd., and don’t worry there will be food. 614.447.2739, 6-9p; free. www.thecrew.com/PRIDE: The best thing about the first LBGT soccer FRIDAY, JULY 29 tournament? Watching the athALL IS FAIR letes run up and down the field in Ohio State Fair @ Ohio Expo Censhorts. Equality in sports is nice, ter, 717 E. 17th Ave., too. Stay to watch how the pros 614.644.3247, www.ohiostateget it done when the Crew hosts fair.com: You probably know the the Portland Timbers at 8pm. drill by now. There have, after all, 12:30pm; $21. been 157 of these things. Like every year, there will be musical SUNDAY, JULY 24 performances, petting zoo, KidTHE BOY BANDS ARE BACK… dieland and a gazillion ways to fry New Kids On The Block, Backsomething. So come on out, pet a street Boys, and Matthew Morri- horse, eat something fried (really son @ Value City Arena, the fried) and maybe catch a country Jerome Schottenstein Center 555 crooner. Perfectly wholesome fun Borror Dr, 614.292.2624, for the entire family. Through 8/7. www.schottensteincenter.com: 9a-all day; $8-$10. And you thought you left these boys in the nineties… time to pull SATURDAY, JULY 30 out the old boy band posters and NOTHING SAYS “PHYSICALLY FIT” LIKE t-shirts! This is sure to be an ex- Butters Beer & Burrito Bash @ citing reunion. Doors open at Second Sole Gahanna, 315 7:30p; $40- $105. Stoneridge Ln, Gahanna, 614.478.3361: Have you ever had the desire to run a mile, eat a burrito and drink beer, and then go on to run another mile? Do you also have the desire to projectile vomit like The Exorcist? Yeah, us too. 6p; $22-$30. MONDAY, JULY 25 “O DARLING BUDS OF MAY…” Viva Brother with 1,2,3 and Kitten @ The Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 North High Street, 614.292.0330, www.wexarts.org: Check out what’s “Next @the Wex “ with a concert featuring the British-pop sounds of Viva Brother. 9p; $12

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LITTLE BOXES by Regina Sewell The Choice is yours. You can get with this, or you can get with that. You can get with this, or you can get with that. You can get with this, or you can get with that. I think you’ll get with this, for this is where it’s at. The Black Sheep X or Y? Pink or blue? Girl or boy? Socially, it’s a binary system and there is no allowance for any other options. When it comes to gender, “Resistance is futile*.” The two dominant belief systems, religion and medicine, have spoken. Those unfortunate square pegs who cannot or chose not to fit into the round hole are deemed to be either sinful, sick, or both. This binary hegemony remains despite scientific evidence of a wide degree of genetic and hormonal variation and the fact that this variation in genes and hormones creates diversity. A Perfect Storm Toronto parents, David Stocker and Kathy Witterick decided to not tell people whether their baby, Storm, was a girl or a boy. In May, the story went viral and created a feeding frenzy that extended even to mainstream media shows like The View, ABC News, NBC Today and Fox News. How, the guardians of the gender order ask, will others be able to categorize Storm when it comes time to check the box, “Male,” or “Female?” More importantly, should they expect Storm to become big, strong, loud, dominating and aggressive? Or will Storm grow up to be small, weak, passive, and submissive? And what about the pronouns? It is simply too damned complicated to say a person’s name all the time and all that extra effort of s/he him or her. Oddly, derogatory words like she’im, shemale and “chick with a dick” don’t seem to pose a problem. Perhaps a better question is why do we care? Storm is a baby. Babies eat, sleep, cry, make funny faces and poop. Developmentally, the key issue is the nature of the relationship babies have with their parents and care takers. Are the parents emotionally and physically present? Does the baby feel safe and unconditionally loved, or are they already learning that their needs won’t be met, that they aren’t safe, or that love is doled out conditionally?

Or perhaps SEPTA has another explanation for requiring passengers to have their monthly train passes and trail passes marked with an M or an F. What Would It Be Like? How much of your life has been dictated by playing the script that society, your parents, and your peers set out for you? And at what cost? What would it have been like to grow up in the kind of world David Stocker and Kathy Witterick are trying to create for Storm? What would it have been like to be able to discover for yourself how you wanted to be without fear of censure for violating the gender rules? What would it be like to be accepted just as you are? No matter what bits we have or don’t have, no matter how we’re shaped or how we’re driven, we’re all a bit unique. We all, in some way or other, have been a square peg forced through a round hole at some point or other in our lives. We’ve all paid the cost and could use some luvin’s to heal those bruises. Imagine someone who knows you well saying, “You are a good person” or having a note from your mother saying, “Honey, I love you all the way to the moon, around the dumpster, and back. I’m proud of you. I’m glad you’re mine.” Maybe you don’t have anyone in your life that showers you with love, or maybe you just can’t feel their love right now because of the flotsam and jetsam of relationships or the power of your own self-hatred. Maybe your mom isn’t really the note type or is so lost in her own fear and self-hatred that she has nothing to offer you. Maybe, ultimately, loving yourself is something you’ve got to learn to do on your own. If you need a little prompting on how to give yourself some luvin’s – here’s a starter batch of words and phrases. Feel free to create your own self-loving masterpiece. I love you. I know that you may not feel beautiful or successful, or even acceptable right now, but I see you. I see the beauty that shines like a diamond from your soul. It doesn’t matter that you were told so many times and in so many ways that you weren’t good enough and/or that you were too much. That bright, sparkling diamond that is you is still radiant. No matter how much you’ve been squashed by a world that sorts everything into little boxes, this or that, gay or straight, male or female, right or wrong, and good or bad, there is a part of you that has never been damaged, a part of you that is pure love and light. And that part shines through, even on the foggiest, most painful, most challenging days. Focus on your light and let it shine. Nurture your body with food that nourishes it and your soul with people and messages that let it breathe. No matter how hard it is, when you surround yourself with people that love you and understand you, you will find tears that wash away the pain and laughter that overcomes the fear. Keep following your inner truth and you will find the peace you have been seeking all your life. For now, remember that you are absolutely precious.

The Need to Know But people do care. The need to check the box, “Male” or “Female” never ends. At stores and airports, people want *Quote from Star Trek: The Next Generation to be able to address you as “ma’am” or “sir.” In letters, people want to address others as some variation of “Ms.” To ask Regina a question, propose a column topic, read about her approach to counseling, or check out her books and other writing, go to: Or “Mr.” And Philadelphia’s mass transit system, South- www.ReginaSewell.com . You can read her blogs at www.Regieastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA), believes naSewell.Wordpress.com, http://visionscounseling.wordpress.com, and that knowing whether someone is an “M” or an “F” is cru- http://possumcrossing.wordpress.com. Her most recent publication, cial to getting them to their destination safe and on time. “Sliding Away” can be found in Knowing Pains: Women on Love, Sex and Work in Our 40s, edited by Molly Rosen.

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In 1968, the International Olympic Committee tested chromosomes of athletes, and put a stop to transsexuals competing.

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THE IMPOSSIBLE WORLD OF

Trans Dating & Relationships by Tara McKenzie Allison, Esq. Of late, I have had reason to reflect upon the difficulties that transwomen have when it comes to establishing and maintaining relationships. While all the difficulties that can be found in traditional dating and relationships exist, there are also many more that arise for someone who is transgender.

(maturity, compatibility, etc.) I’ve also noticed that, occasionally, transgender people will end up in relationships with each other, but unfortunately, it’s another very small dating pool.

Obviously, there is a very small portion of the population that is willing to consider having an open relationship with someone who is transgender. Now, think about how difficult it is, out of that incredibly small dating pool, to then find someone who lives in close enough physical proximity What am I talking about? Well, bear with me for a minute… to conduct a relationship. Then out of that group, let’s see if we can find someone to whom we’re mutually attracted. Then out of that group, let’s First, let’s look at the options we have for available partners. find someone with whom we’re actually compatible – emotionally, intellectually, in age and maturity levels, in life goals, etc. Get the picture? For Straight women aren’t interested in us (trans-women.) By definition, a trans-person, finding someone to date might be more than just a straight women are not interested in having a relationship with someone daunting task; it can be nearly impossible. who identifies – and presents – as female. As a case in point, many straight, heterosexual marriages end when hubby finally decides to come There’s another level of difficulty that never really enters into this process out with the news that he’s trans and he intends to transition. Being in a for the general public. Once a trans-person finds that one person, male, “lesbian relationship” isn’t something that the straight, heterosexual female, lesbian, gay, straight, or bi (forgive me Lady Gaga), who doesn’t wife signed up for, when she got married. have a problem with having a partner who is trans, and who is available, mutually attracted and compatible, there’s another level of complexity Ok, what about straight men? For the most part, straight men aren’t in- that can still derail an otherwise promising relationship. I’m talking terested in a relationship with a trans-woman. They may be thrilled over about friends and family. The potential partner now must face the opinthe possibility of a completely prurient and secretive one-night stand to ions of their friends and family members. Will he or she be willing to satisfy their “t-girl fantasy” (as long as no one finds out about it,) but stand up to friends and family in defense of this new relationship? What they’re certainly not interested in an open and lasting relationship, built if family members threaten to completely turn their back on them? Will upon mutual admiration, commitment and respect. Straight men are, this new, budding relationship be important enough to them to stand up typically, far too concerned about their perceived sexuality among their to the loss of family ties? This final hurdle can often be the most diffipeer group; openly dating a trans-woman would jeopardize their hetero- cult. It’s one thing to put yourself on the line with your community of sexual status and subject them – at the very least – to ridicule and refriends, but it’s a whole other ball game, when it comes to the potential jection from their peers. So, straight men just aren’t an option. loss of familial relationships. I’ve experienced this personally. Despite the fact that someone was interested in developing a relationship with me, Gay men aren’t interested; they’re gay! By definition, they’re not interthey decided not to do so because they knew that their family wouldn’t ested in having a relationship with a woman. Even if the trans-woman is accept someone trans, and those familial relationships were just too im“pre-op,” the fact that she looks like a woman and has boobs is enough portant to this person to even try to establish a relationship with me. It to leave gay men completely disinterested. can be emotionally devastating to lose an opportunity to be with someone that you really care about because his or her family wouldn’t accept What about lesbians? Well, in my experience, lesbians are often more in- you. terested in natal women; they rarely will give serious consideration to a relationship with a trans-woman. About the only exception, with lesbian It’s easy to see why trans-relationships can be so difficult to find and to women, are those rare few that are either exceptionally strong persons or establish. Besides all the usual hurdles that everyone faces in finding a those that lean a little towards the “bi” side of the sexuality spectrum. partner, it takes an incredibly strong person to withstand the potential Even those individuals are often not willing to compromise their fully-af- criticism or rejection that he or she faces for the sake of a relationship firmed “lesbian standing” among their community of peers. No matter with someone who is transgender. how big the trans-woman’s boobs, the fact that she used to have (or maybe still does have) a penis (cue scary music) is enough to chase On a side note, another rather disturbing consequence to this reality is away most lesbians from any relationship with a trans-woman. that once a trans-person finds and establishes a relationship, they are often unwilling to do anything to “upset the apple cart.” It’s easier for a So, who does that leave? Well, among those groups, there are always a trans-person to settle for and maintain an unfulfilling relationship, than few exceptions to every rule…a very few. it is for them to take the chance of looking for a new relationship and never finding one. Unfortunately, those relationships can easily become All of this discussion assumes that the trans-woman’s sexuality is such abusive when the non-trans partner discovers the power that they wield that she is open to a relationship without regard to the gender of her over their trans-partner. It’s incredibly sad that the fear of spending life partner; that’s not always the case. While I happen to be “bi,” not all alone keeps people in an unfulfilling, or worse, an abusive relationship. trans-women are comfortable dating men, and some trans-women only want to date men. Sexual orientation among the trans-community is as Dating is difficult; finding someone to love is harder still, but for transvaried as it is among the general population. In most instances, one of people the difficulty can reach near impossibility. Nevertheless, the the genders among the dating pool isn’t even an option for the transsearch (and the hope) continues for most of us. Sigh. woman. Often, I’ve ended up dating people significantly younger than myself, simply because the younger generations seems to be far more tolerant and accepting of diversity in sexuality. Unfortunately, dating someone significantly younger than yourself often has plenty of its own drawbacks

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Tara McKenzie Allison, Esq., is a transgender attorney, who resides and practices law in Columbus, Ohio. She has served as a Board Member and Legal Counsel to TransOhio, a nonprofit organization serving the transgender community of Ohio. She currently serves on the Board of The Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation. She is an active speaker on transgender and legal issues, providing educational, informational, and legal services to the general public. She can be contacted by e ‐mail at tara_m_allison@hotmail.com.

In 2006 Felicity Huffman was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the movie Transamerica.

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Pansexuality has had a history of deviant behavioral and criminal association-what a surprise.

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Hermaphroditus powerful forces guaranteeing the continua- desperately poor and carelessly leaves money tion of human life from generation to genera- around for beggars to gather. This sacred young‘un ascended to Heaven on a crane During the nineteenth century CE, a magnifi- tion. while listening to music in a bar. cent spiritual being and holy symbol of universal humanity was officially turned into a Ardhanarishvara Oxumare monster by science. In Hinduism, the Cosmos is seen as the reThe Deity of the Rainbow Snake, Oxumare sult of Lila, or divine play, best expressed Fear of all things not heteronormative led when the God principle becomes two and the goes from female to male and back again, doctors to describe what they thought were sometimes having the physical attributes of sexual deformities in human body-minds. Al- two make love. both. This Holy One originated with the Fons though scientific in form, the language was people of West Africa as the all-powerful One example of this is Shakti and Shiva. influenced by Medieval Christian thinking that could not accept transsexual, transgen- Shakti has several manifestations: the good Danbala, and was adopted into the Yorubabased pantheon of African-Brazilian Cander identities or intersex bodies, even if God wife Parvati, the fierce protectress Durga, and the wild demoness Kali, all representing domblé. made a baby that way. “Hermaphrodite” (taken from Hermaphroditus, the Greek deity power in its most gentle, beautiful and terriwho embodies the characteristics of woman ble forms. The consort of Shakti is Shiva, the Oxumare represents transformation. When Distracted Holy One, who loves solitude in the appearing in ceremonies through mediums, and man, and came to represent the grotesque, the forbidden, back-room fetish or mountains and occasionally gets lost in his Oxumare dances with skill next to none. carnival freak, rendering of not only intersex own transcendence. Only a woman of great Necklaces associated with the Holy One are often rainbow sequences of beads. The rise people, but any transperson) sometimes ex- will can bring him back to this world. of LGBT awareness in Brazil has made Oxutended to include biologically - typical And she does so by bringing forth the might mare one of the most beloved patron saints women who had the guts to stand up for for its Gay community. of his greatest form: his lingam or erect themselves, or to men who behaved with penis. Sexual unions between Shakti and motherly kindness. Hatshepsut Shiva have been so monumental that the Let me make this perfectly, spiritually clear: Universe around them warp and shift with the greatest monsters in human history have their passion. In one example, they had sex in Trans identity in history may also be based on typically been unbalanced men who deemed a forest. Shiva sought to fill Shakti with un- political necessity. In the case of Hatshepsut, women inferior and weak, men who also saw controllable desire, so he turned himself into a woman became a God-King. a woman to pleasure her; all of life around any femininity within themselves as repulHatshepsut (1508 -1458 BCE) had the highthem became female as they made love. sive and who were especially horrified by est rank available to a woman in ancient those brave enough to cross from one sexEgypt: Great Royal Wife. But, she had someBut the most epic session of hot passion gender to the other. Or even worse, lived as happened when Shakti discovered Shiva had thing her husband and half-brother did not both. have. It was she who carried the royal blood been consorting with the Goddess of the of her grandfather, who died without a son, Ganges River. Shakti flew into a rage. As The following article presents a few of the Blessed Beings that bestow us with a unified Shiva sought to calm her and tenderly assure so he appointed his favorite general to rule her that she had nothing to fear, his caresses after him. and balanced version of our potential. went from soothing to XXX-rated. They went at it so hard that they melded into one Being, But neither the general nor the general’s son Hermaphroditus had a drop of royal blood, which is why the Ardhanarishvara. son married his half-sister, Hatshepsut. Let’s begin with the Sacred One for whom The Shakti-Shiva union symbolizes the uni- When the son died, Hatshepsut declared herthis article was named. Hermaphroditus is self Pharaoh, the God-King of Egypt. Hatfied Cosmos. In Addition, Ardhinarishvara the child of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love represents hospitality, parenthood, and true shepsut dressed as a man, had images and Hermes, the swift God of Communicamade of herself as a man, and promoted the tion and Healing. Love, plus communication love between man and wife. story of her miraculous birth as a boy-child of and healing: the perfect representation of divine lineage. The reason? A woman could humanity at our best. Hermaphroditus is rep- Lan Caihe not be pharaoh. resented as intersex, having biological charIn Chinese folklore there are Eight Immortals acteristics of female and male. Hatshepsut was an exceptionally fine ruler. In - powerful beings who renounced the world and gained tremendous power to help those order to maintain Cosmic balance through However, one myth from Roman times says the rituals a pharaoh was expected to do Hermaphroditus was originally male, but was in need. Among the Eight Immortals is Lan with his consort, she appointed her own transformed when bathing in a pool that was Caihe, a youthful figure who appears to be daughter as her Great Royal Wife, thus giving neither male nor female. home to a minor goddess who fell in love us an early example of a same-sex marriage. with him, and she clung so tightly to him that they fused together. It is more plausible Lan Caihe loves flowers and carries a basSo… that Hermaphroditus was understood to have ketful of them. A contrary being, Lan sports been born intersex, representing the best of only one shoe, wears thin clothing in winter We would do well to honor the balance of and bundles up in summer. Like the other his Divine Parents. human behaviors that Hermaphroditus and Immortals, Lan loves wine. other trans-intersex Holy Ones represent. Our Hermaphroditus guards the sanctity of marriage, protects brides, blesses weddings and Lan enjoys making people dance. The basket survival as a species depends on it. Insist on full rights and protections under the law for makes them strong. Along with brothers Pria- of Lan Caihe contains not only flowers, but Trans and Intersex communities. pus, God of Erections, and Eros, God of Sex- also herbs and medicines for a longer and healthier life. Lan is especially kind to the ual Desire, the three siblings are the most by Mickey Weems

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2 to 5 percent of the population is transgender.

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In 2008, Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Next Top Model had its first transgender participant, Isis, and she WORKED.

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TRANS AM

TransOhio : Educating People On What It Means To Say ‘I Am Trans’ by Shane Morgan

need to provide outreach and education to local and statewide agencies and institutions. I’m not For the purposes of this article, Trans is all-inclu- sure if the need for education and outreach will sive of all gender identities, expressions and ex- ever go away, maybe it will shift and take on periences. some other form, but I think there will always be a need. Ohio is an interesting landscape for transgender, gender non-conforming and intersex communi- That said, there are pockets of progress – and of ties. Our political landscape recently underwent progressives, as we’ve seen a number of Ohio great change. There are individuals coming out cities update their civil rights code to include much younger and for some, much later in life. gender identity and expression and sexual orienThere is expansion within the service provider tation (if that wasn’t already there.) The following community as they change their practices (and information has been adapted from Equality their minds) to be welcoming and affirming of Ohio’s Ohio Municipalities Chart: trans-identified individuals. There are more support and social groups forming across the state, Employment and for that matter, there’s been an influx of The following cities have Employment Non-Distrans-identified individuals (partners and allies crimination laws specifying Sexual Orientation too!) moving from across the country to Ohio for and Gender Identity: Columbus; Cleveland; the community and the growing professional re- Toledo; Cincinnati; Athens; Dayton; Akron; Yellow sources available within Ohio. We’re different Springs; Bowling Green; Oxford and Shaker races, religions, socio-economic statuses, a com- Heights. munity rich in diversity, expression and experience. For me, it’s a fascinating and amazing Housing community to watch and be a member of. The following cities have Housing Non-Discrimination laws specifying Sexual Orientation and There have been a lot of changes in Ohio since Gender Identity: Columbus; Cleveland; Toledo; the last election. Ohio went from being a Blue Cincinnati; Athens; Dayton; Akron; Yellow Springs; state to being a Red one. We are still without a Bowling Green; Oxford and Shaker Heights. statewide non-discrimination law (EHEA), which bars discrimination based upon gender identity Public Accommodation or expression, or for that matter, bars discrimina- The following cities have Public Accommodation tion based on sexual orientation. Non-Discrimination laws specifying Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity: Columbus; Cleveland; The Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA) Toledo; Cincinnati; Athens; Dayton; Akron; Yellow would ensure that people cannot be discrimiSprings; Bowling Green; Oxford and Shaker nated against in housing, employment or other Heights. “public accommodations” based upon their gender identity and expression, or sexual orientation, Hate Crimes in the same way Ohio law already prohibits dis- The following cities have Hate Crimes laws specicrimination based on race, gender, religion, an- fying Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: cestry, national origin or disability (as defined in Columbus; Toledo; Cincinnati and Lakewood. ORC 4112.) TransOhio and the Ohio Community And of course, we cannot forget that under Gov. TransOhio is our statewide trans advocacy and Ted Strickland’s leadership, state employees were support organization. TransOhio serves the Ohio protected by the Governor’s Non-Discrimination transgender and ally communities by providing Executive Order. At the start of Gov. Kasich’s services, education, support and advocacy which watch, gender identity was removed from the promotes and improves the health, safety and life Non-Discrimination Executive Order for state em- experience of the Ohio transgender individual and ployees, though sexual orientation was retained. community. This also clearly shows that there is an ongoing

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TransOhio has a 4-pronged approach to fulfilling its mission: Educate; Advocate; Support; and Community.

Support TransOhio hosts monthly meetings for people to connect with others who share similar experiences, or for those who are just interested in getEducate ting involved with TransOhio or the Ohio TransOhio provides educational opportunities for transgender community. TransOhio also pubfellow Ohioans on the legal, social, and economic lishes listings of resources of transgender friendly hardships transgender individuals face. We con- businesses, establishments and professional duct diversity trainings to small businesses and services, including medical and legal providers. large corporations, schools, colleges, universities, religious institutions and more. Additionally, Community TransOhio strives to provide educational opportu- TransOhio works to create safe spaces for comnities for the trans and ally community (i.e. per- munity to engage with one another, organize acsonal development seminars and workshops, tivities for individuals to come together for some career and networking resources, medical and lighthearted fun and extend a friendly hand to the legal informational seminars, etc.) spectrum of transgender identities and organizations within Ohio and its surrounding states. All During educational programs, we’re often asked of our events and groups are open to everybody, if sex and gender are determined at birth. Some regardless of one’s sexual orientation, or how one people think that gender is fixed and unchange- self-identifies their gender. able. That everyone is either a man or a woman, male or female. Gender, sex and identity are far All events and programs that TransOhio hosts are more complex than the description of one’s physi- open and welcoming to all aspects of diversity recal self. Gender identity is determined by many gardless of where an individual is on the gender factors, the most important of which is considspectrum. ered by some to be emotional, psychological and even spiritual, rather than physical. Additionally, This August, TransOhio will be holding its 4th Anresearch is now starting to show that a trans per- nual Transgender and Ally Symposium onsite at son’s brain, during fetal development, develops The Ohio State University Student Union and Mulin the pattern opposite to that of his or her physi- ticultural Center the weekend of August 5-7, cal sex. 2011. Advocate TransOhio works closely with other local, state and national GLBTQIA organizations to ensure that changes to policies and Ohio legislative changes are inclusive of gender identity and expression. They advocate for non-discrimination with regards to employment, housing, and legal status, the need for medical and mental health providers who are familiar with the treatment needs of transgender individuals, the inclusion of partners, family members, and allies within the community, the development of resources to assist companies with including gender identity and expression in their human resource policies and procedures, and assistance to companies who have employees transitioning on the job. TransOhio also embraces collaboration with nonGLBTQIA organizations and programs.

Chris Hayes is putting together the first ever binder clip symphony.

This year’s Keynote Presenter is Ignacio Rivera. Ignacio (aka Papí Coxxx) is a gender queer TransFormer born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Ignacio who prefers the gender-neutral pronoun “they,” is a performance artist, currently performing skits, spoken word, one-person shows and story-telling internationally. Ignacio is a lecturer, activist, new filmmaker and self-proclaimed sex educator. Ignacio is the founder of Poly Patao Productions. P3 is dedicated to producing sex-positive workshops, performance pieces, films, play parties, panel discussions, social/political groups and educational opportunities that are specially geared toward queer women, transgender, multigender, gender-queer, gender non-conforming and gender variant people of color. continued on page 40

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Christine Jorgensen was the first media sensation to have sexual reassignment surgery in the 1950s.

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Ignacio is also one of the founding board members of Queers for Economic Justice, a progressive non-profit organization committed to promoting economic justice in a context of sexual and gender liberation. This is the 2nd year we will be hosting Provider’s Day at the TransOhio Transgender and Ally Conference. Our partners for this special event are The Ohio State University College of Social Work, The Ohio State University Multicultural Center at the Student Union and the LGBT Committee of the Columbus Bar Association. Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) and Continuing Legal Units (CLU’s) are pending with the OSU College of Social Work and the Columbus Bar Association.

rently use to describe your identity” was pretty interesting. People self-identify in so many ways and in such personal ways, and responses reflected exactly that. In addition to the more commonly used terminology within the Trans community, (i.e. Transgender, Transsexual, FTM (female-to-male), MTF (male-to-female), Intersex, Gender non-conforming or gender variant, gender queer, androgynous, cross dresser, two spirit, etc.) we found that some people really label, or define their own identity, using, for example, some of the following: other girl; third sex; agender; neutrois; gender in the middle; pangender; non-gendered; bigender; shemale; gender fluid bigenderist femulator; middle walker; male-to-male and yes, some people did self-identify as “tranny.” What can be offensive to one person may not be offensive to another. Again, it’s important to remember that you might not agree with the language one uses to self-identify, but that doesn’t make their identity or experience less valid, less important, or for that matter, wrong. It just means that’s not how you self-identify.

Registration is now open, and can be completed online at http://transohio.wordpress.com. Scholarships are available, and this symposium is open and welcoming to all people, regardless of gender identity and expression, non-transitioning or transitioning, questioning, gender Responses about discrimination, physical violence and denial of medical services were prevalent amongst requeer, gender non-conformance or sexual orientation. spondents. TransOhio Board Member and Social Worker TransOhio is currently working on many issues that affect Lauren Haas-Gehres stated, “I experience discrimination the Ohio trans communities. We are constantly building in this world because I am married to a woman, but it is our database of trans-friendly service providers, and are not so ubiquitous and life-altering as the discrimination currently working to build trans community in the Cincin- and violence my trans friends encounter daily. Injustice nati, Dayton and rural areas. The issue of gender marker in any form is not ok. The injustices my trans friends exchanges to Ohio birth certificates is actively being perience are outrageous. For me it is a moral imperative worked on, as is training of local and state agencies on to get involved in social justice affirming work to ensure trans inclusion, health care, homelessness and employ- this world becomes a kinder place for fellow Ohioans who ment practices. This is just a short list, and unfortuare transgender. I call upon other GLB people to be intennately, a lot of it takes time. tional in their advocacy for our transgender neighbors, too!” Experiences of employment discrimination, insuffiIn August of 2010, TransOhio launched the first-ever cient medical and insurance services, violence, social needs assessment for Ohio trans community (either born and economic marginalization and prejudice are real, in Ohio, or currently residing in Ohio.) A version of the and they happen on a consistent basis to members of needs assessment was also available for the trans community. These are also experiences of partPartners/Spouses/Significant other’s of trans individuals, ners and allies. as well as a needs assessment for the Allied community. Data collection was open for 6 months, at which time we Results of this survey will be used to help TransOhio colreceived 532 respondents for the Trans-identified aslect information about the diversity of Ohio Transgender sessment, 91 respondents for the Partner-identified as- community, and guide future policy, programmatic, edusessment and 217 respondents from the Allied cational, outreach and support decisions. community. Being supportive of the community and being an ally According to TransOhio Board Member, JAC Stringer, “The goes a long way. We’re often asked, “How can I be suptrans community of Ohio is as sizable as other, perhaps portive?” And really, it’s not very demanding or complimore liberal states, but we have very few resources while cated. Here are a few tips: still being at high risk of discrimination and violence in our jobs, our schools and even our homes. We are work- • Educate yourself and others ing to change that.” • Use appropriate terminology and correct pronouns • Ask questions In the Trans community, there’s often heated discussion • Ensure privacy about terminology and language. Personally, I believe • Respect boundaries that this is something we may never agree on as an en- • Trust feelings tire community, given that everybody has a different ex- • Create a safe-space perience, socio-economic status, race and culture and experience growing up. Based upon those experiences, If there is something that is needed in your community, terms and language and how one identifies is just that: please don’t hesitate to contact us, or attend one of the Personal and unique to that person’s particular experisupport or social group meetings. ence. Some of the feedback from the “What term/s do you cur-

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Shane Morgan is founder of TransOhio. For information about TransOhio, please visit their website at http://www.transohio.org, office: 614.441.8167 or email: transohio@transohio.org.

Chad Frye has only had 18 car accidents.

GLBTQI MEETINGS General meetings are held monthly and are open to the entire GLBTQI and Ally community. Topics range from general support to special guest presenters, field trips and socials. The Akron TG Support Group facilitated by Jacob Nash 4th Tuesday of every month, 6p–9:30p, at the Emmanuel Fellowship Church (60 North Arlington Street, Akron, OH 44305). Email Jacob@transohio.org for group info. Columbus TG Support Group 1st Wednesday of every month, 7p - 8:30p, at The Center on High (1160 N High St, Columbus, 43201). Email shane@transohio.org for group info. Support Group for Transgender, Gender NonConforming/Questioning Youth Ages 5-11 1st Sunday of every month, 1:30p-3p, Parent permission required. Email Erin for group info: erin@transohio.org Gender-Scope Youth Group Meeting (Columbus) 1st Wednesday of every month, 6:30p-8p, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, (1904 N. High St, Columbus). A Support Group for Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming/Queer, and Questioning youth ages 12-20. Email Erin for group info: erin@transohio.org Toledo TG Support Group 2p-4p. The Village Church (3992 Monroe St, Toledo, OH 43606). Check www.transohio.org for meeting schedule. Partners’ Discussion Group 2nd Wednesday of every month, 7p-9p, The Center on High (1160 N High St, Columbus, 43201). The Partners’ Discussion Group is an opportunity for people to talk about common issues, to receive support, to exchange resources and to openly share personal experiences (personal frustrations and fears, the high’s and the low’s, dealing with children, friends, family, managing social situations and addressing issues of sexuality, personal identity, and social perceptions). This group is for Non-Trans partners (dating, married, co-habitation, etc) only. Contact for additional group info: sarah@transohio.org.

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In 2008, Matt Rice became the first pregnant man. Juice for JESUS!

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More free cars have been given to The Ohio State Football team than any other college team.

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They’re just saying that The Nebulous Purgatory of Bisexuality by Abbey Miller If you ask Freud or Kinsey, we are all a little bit bisexual. Of course, not everyone agrees. In fact, many scientists don’t even think true bisexuality legitimately exists. Instead of being regarded as its own sovereign orientation, bisexuality has become a nebulous purgatory between queer and straight that leaves those who bare the badge neither in with the in crowd, or in with the out crowd. In a study reported in the New York Times, scientists in Chicago and Toronto concluded after a series of genital arousal experiments on bisexual men, that “you’re either gay, straight or lying,” and essentially there is no true form of bisexuality. Each person that claimed to be bisexual showed strong preference to one sex, as opposed to both sexes, as their stated orientation implied. If relationships were based on boners alone, then I guess this would be an open and shut case, but like most things worth exploring, love is a bit more complicated. Nobody knows this better than Brittnie Sarnes, a 22-year-old bisexual who came out at the age of 11. After ending a three-

year relationship with a man, she met and bians,” she said. “Guys will hit on us at a became involved with her current girlbar because they don’t think we’re tofriend. gether. Once they find out they’re like ‘aren’t you supposed to be wearing a flan“A lot of people use the word confused, I’m nel shirt?’” Sarnes said. “I don’t have to not confused,” said Sarnes. be wearing a flannel shirt to prove I like girls, I do plenty of other things to prove I In fact, Sarnes believes it’s everyone else like girls.” who doesn’t know what’s going on. Misconceptions about her personally and bi- Straight guys and their preconceived nosexuality as a concept have been apparent tion that all lesbians have buzz-cuts to her since middle school. aren’t the only guilty party in bisexual stereotyping. “Some people got really sketched out by the fact that I liked girls. They’d say things The general consensus amongst the gay like ‘be careful changing your clothes in community is bisexuals are either going front of her,’ as if I was interested in every through some sort of phase, or making a girl I saw.” she said. “I had a friend come pit-stop on the road to full blown homoover to stay the night, the next day at sexuality, and have yet to come to terms school the girl told everyone was I was try- with themselves, as if they open up to both ing to get w/ her.” sexes because they don’t want to rule anything out, or that they haven’t reached a The misconceptions have carried into her point of true maturity to be comfortable current relationship. Sarnes is a natural with sexuality. This stigma builds a wall beauty with pouty lips and a hairstyle that around them, which hinders the growth of seems to change every few minutes. She is relationships. In essence, by opening up to the quintessential girly girl - and so is her either sex, they really alienate themselves girlfriend. Neither one of them fit the typi- from both. cal lesbian stereotype. The issue of proving the legitimacy of bi“People think we’re sorority lesbians, like sexual people and the relationships they we make out when we are drunk or some- have has been an issue for Andrea Haley thing, or they tell us we don’t look like les- as well. She was surprised that the people

raising an eyebrow were the same that promoted sexual equality. Haley is a 32-year-old married mother of two, and a bisexual. “As soon as the word ‘bisexual’ came out of my mouth, lesbians totally changed how they acted towards me,” Haley said. “They treated me like a red-headed step child.” “The lesbians thought I was always going to go back to men, and the men thought I was always going to go back to women,” Haley said. “The last time I really tried to date a woman, it didn’t work out because she thought I was going to go back to men the entire time. People think you just want to sit the fence and not make a decision, and that’s not true.” Andrew Bingman, a recent graduate of Tulane University came out as bisexual his freshman year of college. Since he is from a small conservative community in Ohio, he thought it would be the people back home that would react poorly. He was also unpleasantly surprised when the very community that promised open arms of acceptance was not quite as warm and cuddly as he had hoped. continue on page 45

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Stu Rasmussen was the transgender person to be elected mayor in the Untied States (Silverton, Oregon).

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November 20th is the annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance.

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“My friends back home gave me positive reactions. I don’t think I lost one of my old friends over being bisexual. I found it very hard to go to gay clubs and try to become a part of the gay community. Gays are bitchy,” he said. “I think the gay community doesn’t really buy that people are bisexual. If someone is bi, you think, ‘oh they’re gay, they’re just saying that.’ They think bi is a rest stop on the way to gay.” When legitimizing oneself as truly into both boys and girls isn’t a factor, legitimizing one’s intentions is. There is a definite hesitation for both gays and straights to enter into a relationship with a bisexual. Its as if they have this lingering feeling that just because we are open to both sexes means we have an innate inability to be truly monogamous. “I couldn’t even have a friendship with a girl without him thinking I wanted to bone her,” Sarnes said of her latest boyfriend. “It was like he thought, ‘if you like girls, you have to like all of them’.” But where do these misconceptions originate? Did it come from barrage of bisexual break-ups that tore through the gay community, leaving a trail of tears and broken hearts in its path? Or did the boom of free Internet porn make

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promises to gays and straights alike that bisexuals aren’t keeping? Though its probably a combination of many things, the most common problem is a breakdown of communication; namely, with the usage of the word bisexual. The word bisexual gets thrown around loosely at college campuses, in the media and by droves of people that mistake being sexually attracted to both sexes for being drunk, and in an impressionable state of mind. The term that should be used in those instances is bar-sexual. Bar-sexuals are a breed all their own. They are typical straight girls with a pension for kissing other straight girls when they are inebriated and then claiming bisexuality whenever it is convenient or advantageous. The world is so captivated by the kitschy naughtiness of this idea, that some very successful musical careers have been launched after hinting at participating in that behavior (enter Katy Perry).

you are exploring, you are inherently suggesting you are searching for something, and that something is either a good time or an answer - neither of which equate to bisexuality as a total concept. The effect: it ruins their credibility. It undermines every time they felt disenfranchised by their families or the gay community. It undermines the struggle for self-acceptance most have gone through. But most importantly, it undermines the sanctity of relationships. “We’re more honest with ourselves. We are in tune with who we are… and we don’t limit ourselves to one gender,” Sarnes said. “I liked girls before I liked guys, I was more drawn to girls’ bodies. I know who I am.”

At the heart of the issue, is the heart itself. Anyone who is straight, gay, bi, or trisexual, who has loved and lost, knows measuring the legitimacy of a relationship isn’t as cut and dry as the results on a line graph. I don’t think that it can’t be measured; I just think that science is These people say they are bisexual, because they aren’t ex- using the wrong measuring stick. Its not a study in physiactly sure what the word truly means. Just like the study ology, its a study in anthropology. No lab test can say what conduced in Chicago and Toronto, they are basing their feelings are real and where they exist. conclusion on an instance, which was a product of particular circumstances at a particular time. When you suggest

In January, Victoria KolaKowski became the first transgender to be sworn in as a trial judge in Alamedia Countyin California.

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Queers who steer by Michael Straughter and Tay Glover When most people think about what the GLBT community spends their money on, they may think about flamboyant clothing, gym memberships, pet products and expensive hair care lines. Many rarely consider that we spend our money on things that are important and essential to everyone, like automobiles. However, car manufacturers do take notice to the large, often ignored, GLBT consumer demographic.

in that GLBT households have more disposable income than heterosexuals, the very same executives who originally scoffed at the idea, started to realize the lucrative business potential that could arise.

motive companies are reaching out in other ways such as sponsorship and increased exposure in GLBT media.

While we (queers and straights) have some of the same advertisements in our marketed media, it is important to remember that GM’s Saab division was the first automotive company to advertise there is no differentiation between what gay car consumers want in the GLBT media, but it was Subaru’s efforts that officially estab- in automobiles, compared to what straight car consumers want. lished their company as the gay-friendly automotive brand. Saab, We don’t specifically buy cars just because they happen to look pretty. We aren’t looking to increase our chances of breaking down Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and Subaru are just some of the many car companies that have placed general market ads in gay media, on the side of the road. We ask the same questions before buying a car and want to make sure we are getting our money’s worth just cementing their status as progressive companies and forming There was a time when mentioning anything remotely related to like the average Joe or Sue. homosexuality to executives at an automotive company would get brand loyalty amongst the demographic. Presently, there are at least 33 definite gay-friendly automakers. These can be found on you laughed out of the building. The idea of marketing to the gay Financially, it will be in your best interest if your company is gaycommunity just seemed preposterous, and who could blame any- Gaywheels.com, the first automotive website to target the GLBT friendly. one for thinking like that? Cars and trucks have always been asso- consumer. Subaru is also considered the most consistent auto ciated with the institutions of patriarchy and masculinity, whether company to market to the GLBT community, with actual GLBT imStatistics show the effects of catering to our market. According to agery and messaging in its advertising. (GayMarketReport.) embodied in a man or woman and the family. outlook’s media audit, our readers purchase seven times the number of BMWs, eight times the number of GM Saabs, 1.8 times the Ford was the first American owned brand to place GLBT-specific Why market to a group that might not have their own domestic ads in gay media. Unfortunately for Ford, what could have been a number of GMCs, two times the number of Chrysler cars, 1.6 times families and presumably knows more about Kylie Minogue and the number of Lincolns and two times the number of Ford cars huge step forward ended up being a great example of how not to Madonna than the difference between automatic and manual transmission? (And yes, that refers to women and the gay pansies handle a controversial situation. While GLBT consumers and media than the general market. And guess what, people: those are all just like them.) Why protect these crazies with company work poli- lauded the company for its progressive and inclusive advertising, gay-friendly automotive companies. And to be clear, those readers are queer versus the general market. Also, we are 2.6 times more cies that are against discrimination? Why offer domestic car insur- the infamously conservative American Family Association (AFA) likely to buy a car, van, truck or SUV in the near future compared to ance incentives when our relationships were not, and still are not wrinkled their nose and shook their fists. They criticized Ford for the general market. supporting the “homosexual agenda” and called for a boycott of completely acknowledged in the same regard as heterosexual, the company. Soon afterwards, Ford announced it would no longer “normal” courtships and marriages? Oh, what a difference a couple of decades make. After a few politi- advertise in gay media. Ford denied that the decision had anything Aha! The sooner companies realize that the pay off for publishing GLBT specific imagery and advertisements is more profitable than to do with AFA, but the damage was done. cal revolutions and riots here and there, (The Homophile MoveEventually, the controversy blew over and Ford is considered a gay- any kind of backlash they receive, the better. Seeing ourselves in ment, Stonewall, etc.) the gay community has made strides to friendly company, but it left a profound affect on how the automo- advertising messages would give our community a sense of includispel the stereotype of the “prancing fairy gay” and the “dyke” tive industry advertises to the GLBT demographic. Brands continue sion and acceptance that has been missing from the mainstream and bridge the perpetual gap between heterosexuals and homomedia industry for so long. to advertise in gay media, however, the ads are nonsexuals. Today, those strides GLBT specific. The same ads that are placed in can be seen in the autoAnother example that highlights the extent of how problematic the Columbus Dispatch are published in motive industry. Also, stereotypes, binaries and naturalized gender performance is if we outlook. While this is not ideal since when factoring progressives decide to take to the markets to forward our movestudies show that customers are ment. Businesses could pay for it, literally, and it will make or more apt to respond to ads break their business. Masculinity and femininity is about as manwhere they can see themselves or self-identify - let’s made as automobiles. Queers are on a roll. put some smoking hot queers up in there - auto-

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The Outlook Subaru is Michael’s. Start stalking!

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Andii Viveros was the first Transgender to be elected prom queen at an American high school (2011).

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GAYS & NASCAR by Michael Straughter and Alisa Caton

hopes to bring new fans to the racing sport.

Gay NASCAR fans, surprisingly, are not just an urban legend. It’s time to throw out any preconceived notions about NASCAR fans. Just looking at local statistics, outlook readers are 50 percent more likely to follow NASCAR than the general public.

The Q4G page provides driver standings, news on NASCAR events, race ticket deals, charity The programs have been successful, allowing event details and iRacing, which is online racing many female, black and Latino racing hopefuls for the GLBT community. the opportunity to compete in developmental and rookie races, which also gives them the But surely he must face some kind of resentchance to compete in professional NASCAR ment. There’s no way he can just stroll into a events. Since the program inception, 42 new NASCAR event and be accepted with open arms racers have been brought in to the fold, winning by the other patrons, right? Not so fast. 38 races.

If you were anything like us, you would have never guessed in a million years that there was even one gay NASCAR fan, let alone several thousands of them. After getting over the shock that gay NASCAR fans even existed, we got in contact with Michael Myers, the founder of Queers4Gears.com, to gain a better perspective on the fan base. Myers, a gay NASCAR fan, started the website in 2009 and it has quickly blossomed into one of the premier go-to websites for gay motor sports. The site averages over 2,000 visitors per month and currently has over 1,800 followers on Twitter. Q4G is also part of National Motorsports Press Association and has gained notable attention in straight and gay media.

“The experiences I have had have been nothing but kind and welcoming,” Myers explains. “Everyone I have met at NASCAR, or at one of the tracks, has been very encouraging and supportive. NASCAR has more fans who are accepting of me being gay than gays have been accepting of me being a NASCAR fan.”

NASCAR has been working to combat stereotypes that arise about their fans as well. In 2004, they established the Drive for Diversity program, initiated to expose urban consumers to NASCAR and its products. The program has since partnered with two minority-owned com“There are as many misconceptions and stereo- panies, Vibe magazine and Revolution Racing, types about NASCAR fans as there are gay peo- with the goal to help develop minority and feple. I hope in some small way Queers4Gears.com male drivers and pit-crew members. A brilliant can help change that,” said Myers. He said he and viable idea, considering the individuals that

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make up NASCAR’s drivers and crew have been lacking a bit in the diversity department.

MX), Mackena Bell (Carson City, NV), Jessica Burnelli (Hayward, CA), Michael Cherry (Valrico, FL), Trey Gibson (Easley, SC), Ryan Gifford (Winchester, TN), Tayla Orleans (Randelman, NC), Bryan Ortiz (Bayamon, PR), Sergio Pena (Winchester, VA), and Darrell Wallace Jr. (Mobile, AL) NASCAR racers and raceways are also making efforts to reach out to new communities that they haven’t had a chance to interact with before.

When asked why no one has reached out to the LGBT community for this program, Revolution Racing told outlook’s Michael Daniels that they just hadn’t thought of it before. But progress is being made. In fact, they are running their first ad with outlook in this very issue.

Just this June, twin professional racers Angela and Amber Cope were photographed as a part of the NOH8 campaign, which is a response to the ban on same-sex marriage in California. The twins became the first drivers in NASCAR to openly support a notable GLBT cause.

For the 2011 Drive for Diversity program, more than 200 people applied to participate. Of these applicants, 36 were chosen to partake in an October try out sponsored by Sunoco at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Virginia. NASCAR and Revolution Racing officials judged and chose finalists for the 2011 Diversity class after competitors took part in races and interviews. Ten new racers from across the U.S, and even outside the country, were announced in January. They include: Jorge Arteaga (Aguascalientes,

And in Arizona, Myers works with the highly popular Phoenix International Raceway to occasionally provide discounted tickets for GLBT fans, in order to bring in this new audience to the sport.

Outside of the bedroom, the most common place for U.S. adults to have sex is in a car.

With all the strides being made to break the stereotype of NASCAR by the company and it’s drivers gay race fans have a lot to cheer about. Gay NASCAR fans can be proud to carry both your rainbow flag and checkered flag.

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The 2011 Ford Fiesta is listed as the best car for a gay teenage boy.

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HUGH JACKMAN CAN’T HELP LOVING MUSICAL THEATER

as each show (of the few left standing in this time of waning ratings and soap opera audience attrition) brings a gay or lesbian character on board, If you want to get technical about it, Hugh Jackit’s nice to pay attention to how it all turns out. And man has already made one movie musical: Happy so, on Days of Our Lives, the first gay person is Feet. Granted, you didn’t see him in the film, but going to visit Salem and it’s happening this very that was his singing voice coming out of one of week. Actor Freddie Smith (90210) plays the twenthose dancing penguins. So it kinda-sorta counts. tysomething Sonny, a gay man returning to the ficAnd yes, the Aussie action star has been all over tional town to find his family. But which family? Broadway and the Tony Awards and done his song- Still a secret. Boyfriend soon? Also a secret. Can and-dance thing at the Oscars. But now he might this storyline top the Noah/Luke saga on the nowget his first movie musical role in the long-awaited cancelled As The World Turns? Be sure to tune in film version of Les Miserables. He’s in talks right tomorrow. And the day after. And the day after… now to come aboard and play… well, who exactly, nobody knows. But safe bet it’s a big role like Jean LANCE BASS PLANS TO KEEP IT REAL Valjean and that the musical’s rabid, devoted, huge following will make it a hit when it finally Maybe it was dating Reichen and hanging out with lands in theaters sometime before… well, when Kathy Griffin that did it to him, but Lance Bass is exactly, nobody knows, either. Paul Bettany is also now looking to get his own reality series. Granted, it rumored to be among the actors in talks but, won’t be a “this is my life on a list, be it A or D” again, for what role is anyone’s guess. And they’re kind of show, but still, Lance Bass is climbing going to find a spot for Susan Boyle, right? Beaboard that wagon with VH1. And it has to be accause they should. knowledged that his best idea of the several he’s recently sold – an as-yet-untitled music competiDAYS OF OUR LIVES FINALLY GETS ITS tion series – is sort of genius. In Bass’s own words: FIRST GAY “I got a member from Backstreet Boys, A.J. McLean. A member from *NSYNC, Joey Fatone. A No, it’s not exactly groundbreaking at this point for member from New Kids on the Block, Joe McIntyre. a daytime drama to begin a gay storyline. It’s not And a member from New Edition, Bobby Brown. even groundbreaking when the show allows the They’re all going to form a boy band, each, from the gay character to be involved in a torrid same-sex most talented guys in America that I’ve scouted, kidnapping-and-blindness-and-paranormal-activ- and then they’ll go head-to-head in a competition ities-centered relationship. But it’s still news, and to see who the best band is, so it’s bragging rights

for the guy in the group, for sure.” Of course, technically, Bobby Brown hasn’t signed on yet. But there’s little chance he won’t. The Whitney Houston bus dropped him off a while back. The man has a living to make. Now, next question: Why is no former member of O-Town involved? WAITING PATIENTLY FOR MORE DOWNTON ABBEY? IT’S SHOOTING NOW. If good things really do come to those who wait, then American fans of the U.K. period drama series Downton Abbey are in for a serious treat early in 2012. The thinking person’s luxury soap, set at the start of World War I, starring Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville, has been renewed for a second season and a Christmas special that’s in production right now in England and is due to air there this autumn (the Christmas special in December). Now, for reasons unknown, audiences on this side of the Atlantic who aren’t up on how to locate illegal streams of their favorite TV shows online will have to be patient a little longer for PBS Masterpiece to get its broadcast rights. But sometime early next year all the class warfare drama – including the storyline with handsome Rob James-Collier as that evil, treacherous and gay “first footman” – will unfold. Naturally, this will all take place tastefully and will be served with some very expensive teas and cakes. Romeo San Vicente knows that the butler did it and in which linen closet it happened. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.

Chicago Comes To Columbus by Debbie Gillum

tresses challenging work in a professional environment. In past years, CCT Pre-Professional Company has performed The ProOne of Columbus’ secret summer gems is the annual production ducers, Rent, Sweeney Todd and Into The Woods. Critics have of the Columbus Children’s Theatre’s Pre-Professional Company, routinely praised CCT’s summer performances. In his review for in which high-school and college students put on a play or musi- Theatre Roundtable of last year’s show, The Producers, Dennis cal definitely not aimed at children. This year’s musical is the Thompson wrote, “The entire cast shines, both in comic moBroadway hit, Chicago. ments and in musical skill.” Many of CCT’s summer performances sell out, so make sure to get your tickets to see Chicago Columbus Children’s Theatre normally produces theatre for before its too late. young audiences. However, every July CCT produces a show geared toward older audiences that is performed by the CCT Pre- Unlike other musicals, Chicago was inspired by true events. “If Professional Company. This company is comprised of high you’d been there, if you’d seen it. I betchya you would have done school and college students through the age of 22. The majority the same!” So declares the chorus to “Cell Block Tango” that the of these young actors plan on pursuing a career in the theatre merry murderesses of Chicago affirm to an engaged audience. arts and usually musical theatre in particular. Many members of But the lyrics that the women sing are not far from the truth beCCT’s Pre- Professional Company have gone on to lead success- hind the real story of Chicago. Both the characters of Roxie and ful full-time acting careers and perform on Broadway and televi- Velma are based on two actual murderers: Beulah Annan and sion. For example, Josh Radnor performed in CCT’s production of Belva Gaertner. The real scenes took place in 1924 in the city of Jesus Christ Superstar (Pontius Pilate) and went on to star as Chicago when Beulah Annan (Roxie) was accused of killing the Ted Mosby in the hit TV show How I Met Your Mother. Other CCT “intruder” Harry Kalstedt while Belva Gaertner (Velma) was Alumni such as David Ayers, Michael Milligan, Steve Boyer, charged with murdering her husband. Both murders become Samantha Eggers, Stan Bahorek, and Lindsay Chambers have front-page stories in the Chicago Tribune when reporter Maurine gone onto Broadway. This summer show gives young adults a Watkins realized the sensational appeal the two personalities chance to perform in a show that is often more difficult and could draw through her tongue-in-cheek reports. The supposed challenging than what they are offered through other venues. pregnancy used to speed up the trial, the sleek lawyer who Also, this gives CCT the opportunity to provide actors and achelped define the media frenzy and the acquittal of both ladies

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sounded like a page out of Hollywood, when in fact they were actually real life. In 1969, Bob Fosse along with composer and lyricist John Kander and Fred Ebb began work on the musical adaptation of the play. The original Broadway production opened June 3, 1975, at the 46th Street Theatre and ran for 936 performances. Thirty-six years later, Chicago is still going strong and continues to wow audiences of all ages. Columbus Children’s Theatre’s production of Chicago will be directed by William Goldsmith and star Melissa Hall as Roxie Hart, Regan Goins as Velma Kelly, Ezra Todd Baker as Billy Flynn, and Jenna Lee Shively as Matron Mama Morton. The CCT Pre-Professional Company will present its production of Chicago July 7-24. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances take place at 7:30p and Sunday performances are at 3p at the Park Street Theatre, 512 N. Park St. This show is recommended for everyone ages 13 and older. Tickers are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. For more information or to buy tickets call the box office at 614.224.6672 or visit www.ColsChildrensTheatre.org. Debbie Gillum is Marketing Intern for Columbus Children’s Theater a member organization of the Columbus Arts Marketing Association. For more information, visit www.camaonline.org. Read weekly columns by CAMA members online at outlookcolumbus.com.

Car sex? Try the Doggy Dashboard. Please make sure you are not operating the vehicle.

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There are 26 states with absolutely no state-wide legal protection for transgenders.

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be DAZZLED an interview with Diamond Rings by Gregg Shapiro One of the most exciting debut albums of 2010, Special Affections by queer Canadian musician Diamond Rings (a.k.a. John O’Regan) is being reissued by Astralwerks in June. Arriving just in time for Pride month, it’s the perfect soundtrack for all the parties and pre-parade brunches. A one-man- band, Diamond Rings is sure to dazzle listeners on tracks such as “Wait & See,” “On Our Own,” “You & Me,” “Pre-owned Heart” and “All Yr Songs.” He recently opened for Robyn at the LC, and if you didn’t know him then, take a moment and get to know him now.

Gregg Shapiro: John, I want to begin by congratulating you on getting signed to Astralwerks. What does that mean to you? Diamond Rings: It means a lot to me, more just from the standpoint that it shows me and what I hope more than myself is that it shows other people, other aspiring artists and musicians, that if you work at something and are focused and dedicated and just really have a passion for anything really, anything in your life, that it’s possible to make it happen and to make what you love doing into something that’s real and that other people like, too. They are rereleasing an album that I essentially made in my bedroom on Garage Band. And they are releasing it on a label that puts out albums by Kylie Minogue and Bryan Ferry and Pet Shop Boys, all these fantastic bands who have been making great music for so long and who also kind of are pretty technically sophisticated. So that to me, I guess, just reaffirms my belief that if you work hard and really concentrate on doing your best that other people will recognize that.

GS: Are there any new tracks on the June 2011 Astralwerks reissue of Special Affections? DR: There’s going to be a reworked version of “Something Else,” which was the lead single from the album. When we were working on the deal, doing our record label dates, or whatever you want to call them, getting to know each other before deciding things, they booked me on some studio time in New York and I did an acoustic version of that song with a piano and some other things, kind of live off the floor, and it turned out really well. I did a few other songs too but there was this one version that we really liked. That’s going to be on the record as a bonus. GS: What is the genesis of band name Diamond Rings? DR: Originally, it was something that I just thought kind of fit with the sort of brash kind of flashiness of the kind of music and the kind of image that I was trying to project. A big part of what I was doing and am still doing, it was kind of a reaction to what was going on in Toronto at the time. There are a lot of great bands, but there weren’t very many that were, I think, really striving to perform and do something glamorous and exciting. Canada is a really self-deprecating place. The name was meant to, I suppose, allude to this kind of quality that I found was lacking in the music scene here. I really like Brian Eno and I’ve been reading a lot about him, in a recent biography about him there’s a quote from Robert Fripp, who was one of his guitar players. He was comparing artists like David Bowie and Brian Eno and himself to diamonds. Which I thought was really cool. And he was saying on the surface level people just talk about how brilliant

they are, and they’re flashy and bright and attention-seeking objects, but beneath that there’s a kind of toughness or hardness to the actual material. Like a diamond is really one of the hardest rocks there is. GS: They’re near the top of the hardness scale. DR: Yeah, there’s something solid. It’s not just a flash in the pan or a sizzle without the steak, or whatever you want to call it. I really understand and appreciate that there’s a double meaning to the diamond. And in a lot of ways there is a multiplicity of meanings to what I do as well. GS: Were there other names under consideration? DR: No, that was always the name. I mean, I have a tendency to come up with band names all the time; it’s like one of my favorite things to do. I’ll find a good name and be like, “Oh there’s a cool name for a band that sounds like this or a band that looks like this.” So, I come up with the name and more or less fit the concept for what I was going to do and what the music was going to sound like around that, if that makes sense. GS: You did a national tour with Robyn this year. What was that experience like for you? DR: It’s interesting that you mention that now because when that tour was going on I was doing a ton of interviews and I find, often times, when I’m in the middle of things I don’t really have any real perspective on it. You’d be calling and people would be like, “How’s the tour, how is it?” And I’d be like, “Well I’m in a van, and there’s a snow storm and I’m driving, we’re driving to try to get to the show, I don’t know, the tour is stressful” [laughs]. But, in hindsight, it was a really enlightening and eye-opening experience, for sure. Getting to see a performer like her, who has been making music and being a public figure for really like half of her entire life, getting to see that up close night after night, and learning from that, it was kind of invaluable. I feel very fortunate to have just been able to see the kind of work and dedication that goes into keeping a career going, making great music and engaging with the audience, it’s a lot of work. And I’m really fortunate to have been part of that experience. I learned a lot, and I think my own skill as a performer really improved a lot from that. It was a kind of sink or swim position to be in. You’re up there with two to three thousand people out in the crowd, by myself, the onus was on me to keep them entertained and engaged and excited and I think for the most part I was able to do that. Like I said, it’s an addictive feeling, once you feel that kind of energy in a room, and not only that but have some sort of part in creating or dictating the way people react and respond to what you’re doing, that’s really kind of fun. It just made me more excited to keep getting better. There’s more to read online! Read the complete interview at www.outlookcolumbus.com.

july 2011

Michael’s steering wheel cover is adorned with the fabulous Hello Kitty. Hear that kitty roarrrr.

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COMMUNITY RESOURCE PAGE

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Columbus, Ohio was the first city to pass anti-cross dressing laws in 1848.

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july 2011

Go Green purchased an electric hybrid car! Gays care about things like our environment, right?

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Luxe for Less by Ryan Harris

The second tip is to shop around. Most designer brands are not only available at their signature No matter where you were born, grew up, moved store, but also at a variety of department stores to, live now or plan to live later, if you are male, and other retailers. Although designers may set female, young, old, gay, straight - anyone can a suggested retail price, it can vary drastically fall prey to the desire of wanting the best. by location. If you love a new line by North Face, Whether you are watching Victoria Beckham it may be cheaper at a retailer, such as Macy’s, strut down the red carpet in $2,500 Christian than it would be to purchase it directly at the Louboutin stilettos, or happen to run into a guy North Face store. Larger retailers have the abilfrom high school driving a brand new Mercedes, ity to sale price items that signature stores anything can make you say to yourself, “I want rarely offer. that!” My third tip for finding a lower cost, must-have But let me ask you this; is it important enough item is to peruse discount stores. Discount retail to live paycheck to paycheck just to wear $300 stores, such as Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Filene’s denim jeans? Okay, I love my designer denim, so Basement and DSW, base their entire store conscratch that example. My point is that you don’t cept around purchasing overstocked items from need to spend your life savings to achieve qual- every designer possible, and pass the savings ity and style. It just means you need to be a bit on to you. And don’t think for a second that thriftier when it comes to getting what you these are last season items. Sure, you may find want, and I think I can help. items that were out last year or last season, but that certainly isn’t the case every time. For exMy first tip is to never buy anything when it first ample, I found a pair of the most amazing Engbecomes available in stores. For example, most lish toffee Cole Hann wingtips at Nordstrom that retail chain stores do markdowns every week. If were priced at $249. I wanted to buy them the you see a Dolce & Gabbana shirt that you are minute I put them on, but I ran across the street dying to have, give it a few weeks and it will be to DSW, and there they were! I was able to purhalf the price. If the store no longer has your chase the exact same pair for $149, and I resize, trust me, they can find it for you at another ceived an additional 30% off. My feet and location. You may have to pay a store transfer wallet were very happy. fee, but you will still save mucho dinero.

outlookcolumbus.com

Fourth on my tip list is to hit the Internet or apps on your phone. Not only do the majority of department and retail stores have online discounts, but they often have online-only items that are very affordable. When it comes to app shopping, you have many options. Practically every major designer has an app, or can be seen on the Style.com app. You are not given the option to make purchases on many of these apps, but they are a killer place for on-the-go inspiration. Larger retail chains have apps as well, and on these apps you can shop till your iPad battery dies. They not only have the same items available in the stores (with a few exceptions) but they also offer great discounts, and will almost always have the hard-to-find sizes. You can also check out a few apps that were created just to make shopping easier and more cost effective. I recommend ShopStyle or EBay Fashion. ShopStyle will find all the discounted or hard-to-find items for you, and with one click, automatically connect you to the designer or store website where you can purchase the item. EBay Fashion is just what it sounds like: an app that shows you only fashion items for sale on EBay. Be careful with this one though, as you never know for sure if you will get what you paid for, just like good old EBay. My final tip is actually more of a rule. Never, and I really mean never, buy fake. Most people can spot a fake fairly easily; don’t embarrass your-

Buck Angel is the world’s first FTM transsexual porn star.

self. Plus, every time you purchase a fake Gucci bag from behind the store, the price of a real Gucci bag increases in the store. The solution to getting the look without the grief from me is to impersonate, not imitate. I’m absolutely not suggesting you should sacrifice quality; just go with a more affordable priced version of what you really want. You will get the same look, and have more money in your pocket. Currently, Burberry has a trench coat that I would sell my right arm for, but the price tag is close to $2,000. Banana Republic has an almost identical trench from their monogram collection that retails for around $300. See what I mean? It may not say Burberry, but it’s still a high quality, great looking trench coat. Remember to wait before you buy, shop around, check out discount retailers, and download a few apps before you blow your savings on a must-have. Not only will you still get what you want, but with all the money you save, you may actually be able to afford your own sports car. Make every day a runway! Ryan Harris is a fashion consultant/stylist for Wardrobe Therapy LLC, the owner of RH Model Mentor, and the Style Chair for Fashion Week Columbus. Contact him at rhmodelmentor@yahoo.com, or for more style info visit www.wardrobetherapyllc.com.

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july 2011

The Model T was Michael Danielsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first car.

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by Dan Savage I’m a single 24-year-old gay actor/singer/comedian who’s going to be a doctor in a few years - I have varied interests - and I think being in a porn flick would be really hot. I don’t know what the ramifications of ramming on cam could be with regard to my future career. The field I want to go into is a very specific burgeoning branch of medicine generally unrelated to sex, but still involving patient care, and I want to be on the cutting edge of this type of medicine. I don’t know how much the world of medicine pays attention to this sort of thing when checking up on prospective doctors. Thoughts? Wants To Film Lusty Orgasmic Lovin’ I don’t know if appearing in porn will make going into medicine more difficult, WTFLOL, but it sure can fuck up a political career. Sigh.

live forever online, and maybe win a big cash prize, you can enter HUMP!, my annual amateur porn festival. Details at www.humpseattle.com.

make: Either you can adjust your expectations and stay with this guy, MM, and try to appreciate the things he brings into your life, or you can refuse to adjust your expectations and (1) be miserMy boyfriend and I have been together for 10 able in this relationship or (2) leave this guy and years. A few years ago, he informed me that he get out there and find someone else or die trying. was molested in high school by a teacher and was in a sexual relationship with this man until I’m a 22-year-old male with a vaginal fisting he met me. I don’t have a problem with him fetish. I have yet to tell my girlfriend of three being bisexual, but I do have a problem with years about this. First, although we’re in love, him not having a problem with his molestation. no relationship is 100 percent guaranteed, and He feels it was consensual; I feel this man fulfilling this particular kink would result in preyed on him. He used to drink to avoid deal- drastic and permanent physical changes that ing with his emotions. He stopped drinking could ruin her for anyone else if we don’t make when he met me, but this secret causes him to it. Second, I’m not sure how to ask. I can’t just have panic attacks. I help heal his wounds, but say, “Hey, hon? Mind if I jam my arm in there?” what do I get in return? Not what I want. I give Third, even if she were for it, I don’t know him love and I accept him - and he tells me where to start! that he doesn’t want kids and doesn’t want to marry me. He also hardly touches me. We’re Fetishist In Serious Turmoil better friends than lovers. If I leave him, he’ll have no one. If I stay, I feel alone. We have fun First, at three years, all your kink cards should be and make each other laugh, so it’s not all bad. lying face up on the table. She’s not obligated to But I’m pathetic, right? get into fisting to please you, as you’re aware, so you’re not going to “ruin her” just by broaching Midwest Mess the subject.

You know, for a few minutes it looked like Anthony Weiner was going to beat this thing. But the prudes and hypocrites - in Congress and the I’m going to get slaughtered for this: There are media - carried the day. people out there who have panic attacks and drinking problems, don’t want to get married or Back to you, WTFLOL: Considering the amount of have children, are cold, distant, withholding time and money that you’re going to invest in be- “lovers,” etc., who weren’t molested by highcoming a doctor, and considering the recent school teachers or anybody else. I’m not saying moral panic about a few stray dick pics, I would that your boyfriend’s history is unrelated to his advise you to err on the side of not appearing in other issues - I can’t say that - but if he doesn’t commercial porn, which would require you to regard that relationship as the source of all his show your face. But go ahead and show everytroubles, MM, you should stop insisting that he thing else on an amateur porn site like XTube feel terrible/victimized/damaged because that’s just edit out any shots that show your face and how you think he should feel. don’t let the camera linger on any distinguishing features (a distinctive tattoo that’s visible when Are you pathetic? No, MM, you’re not. You’re in a you’re clothed, the parasitic twin that juts from relationship that’s not living up to your expectayour neck). And, hey, if you want to make porn, tions, and it’s making you unhappy. Now you have it seen by thousands of people, not have it have a big choice and a smaller subchoice to

outlookcolumbus.com

ued. “That’s life altering. The stretched-out black-hole-of-doom is a myth. I’m 46 and can still walk up a flight of stairs without dropping the Ben Wa Balls - and that after plenty of fisting, with more than one partner.”) Speaking of gaping orifices: Rick Santorum told CNN’s Don Lemon that he has gay friends and he loves his gay friends and they love him back. The openly gay Lemon, oddly enough, did not demand names and contact information for these gay friends. I’d like to hear directly from the gays who love Santorum despite Santorum’s belief that gay people are no better than dog fuckers and child rapists, his promise to repeal the DADT repeal, his desire to write anti-gay bigotry into the US Constitution, his opposition to gay adoption, and his belief that consensual gay sex should be a felony. If Santorum’s gay friends love Santorum as much as Santorum loves his gay friends, I’m sure they would be only too glad to speak to the media about their love of Santorum.

Santorum told Lemon that his imaginary gay friends prove that he’s no homophobe. But if you Second, you say something like “I think vaginal believe - as Santorum has said repeatedly - that fisting is hot and I’m curious what you, the gays and lesbians are a threat to the family and vagina-haver in this relationship, think about it.” a danger to the country, then you should be openly and proudly homophobic. So either SantoThird, I’m tempted to say, “You start by removing rum is lying when he says we’re a threat to the your watch,” but no one wears a watch anymore family, a danger to the country, etc., or he’s lying and all wannabe vag-fisters should start by when he says he has gay friends. reading Deborah Addington’s A Hand in the Bush: The Fine Art of Vaginal Fisting. (“If fisting Which is it, Rick? ruined one for other partners, I’d have been fucked outta luck a long time ago,” Addington IN OTHER SANTORUM NEWS: The number-one said when I shared your e-mail with her. She rec- Santorum site - www.spreadingsantorum.com ommends plenty of lube and lots of Kegels, if your is now being regularly updated by a smart group girlfriend goes for it. “The only ‘drastic and perof new bloggers. For all your Santorum/santorum manent’ changes that occur are the changes of news, head to www.spreadingsantorum.com! mind and body that come when one realizes how much pleasure one can have,” Addington contin- Find the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday

Gaywheels.com is the only website designed for the GLBT automotive consumer.

at www.thestranger.com/savage. mail@savagelove.net

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by Jack Fertig

y r a M

Pay attention, Capricorn! by Chris Hayes To know this month’s local celebrity, is to love this month’s local celebrity, because Mary Malone is first and foremost about love and acceptance.

Originally from Marion, OH, Mary grew up with dreams of being a writer/tennis star/world traveler - all of which have come to fruition in one way or another. Raised a daughter of a railroader and a homemaker, Miss Mary came to Cbus to attend Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) studying broad base communications. Graduating in December of 1993, Malone made her way into the world earning an honest living in a variety of fashions, but mostly within the marketing and sales industries.

Over the some 20+ years since she had to earn a living wage, you may have encountered her professionally at the Standard Register Co. where she dabbled in marketing, managing an LA Weight Loss center on West Broad, at a print shop in North Carolina, substitute teaching, or selling advertising for Auto Trader, Cycle Trader, autotrader.com and/or now at Outlook Media (yeah us!) where she focuses on peddling our High Street Neighborhoods magazine. I first met Mary eight years ago when I first moved to town at, of all places, a Network Columbus meeting being held up at the Polaris Amphitheater (or was it Germain then?). I was a newbie Marketing Director at The Compact and she was a newbie marketing research and editorial intern at Outlook Weekly (ahhh, the weekly) and a newbie lesbian. We connected instantly over things like buying local, urban development and live music. It’s that same kind of connection that makes Mary such a celeb with her clients today. “My life has been about helping average business owners succeed,” she tells me. “My family was big into politics and I started canvassing when I was eight. The struggles of everyday people, carried forward into my work life where instead of just selling ads, I help businesses come up with comprehensive marketing plans and find ways to make their dollars stretch to meet their needs.” We love that and that’s why her title is The Greatest Show on Earth. The other great part of her job she quips is getting to be a face and an educational tool for our community out in the real world. Mary loves personalities and is great at fostering relationships with our market and the many communities that aren’t associated with it. Her clients love her for that. When not out making me money, Mary likes spends as much time as she can with her daughter Courtney, smooching her other honey Lisa, playing tennis, kicking my butt in golf, meditating and taking in all the live music her ear drums can handle. A true Dead Head, Malone’s favorite band is The Grateful Dead (poor Jerry, dead ya know) and full heartedly enjoys all kinds of jam band, hippy folk music. Not only our in-house hippy (we make her use the backdoor), Mary free loves it with organizations like the ASPCA, the Sierra Club, the Women’s History Museum, the Marion Historical Society, Sunday School, Pride, and The Democratic Party. One righteous babe, right! Mary’s favorite thing about Columbus is its laid back, eclectic mix of neighborhoods and people. If you see this month’s celeb out jam-banding it, show her she’s one of your favorites by buying her a vodka-soda-lemon-lime, a pinot noir, or a Stella and have a great conversation and some love.

july 2011

Mary is much to do about High Street.

Mercury in Leo, cranking up egos and voices, is at the end of a “yod” with Pluto and Chiron. The real challenge is to shut up, listen and adapt to difficult new realities. Venus making a T-square to Uranus and Pluto stresses relationships, forcing major adaptation. Your work is cut out! CANCER (June 21- July 22): Venus in your sign makes you more attractive, but not necessarily to whom you want to attract! Stick to your standards. Do not submit to pressure! A philosophical sense of humor will get you through awkward advances and other potentially ugly situations. LEO (July 23 – August 22): You need to clear the air and explore new ideas. Just be careful when and where! This is what friends are for, not your boss. Actually, once you have those ideas honed and polished your boss will probably love them! VIRGO (August 23 – September 22): Whatever you’re worried about, face the problem directly. Discussing it with your partner could solve it. (Not discussing it together could in fact be the problem!) If words fail you, try round one in the bedroom.

without arguing about them. Just consider them and see how they might be constructively applied. You love your theories, but practical experience is what proves truth and value. CAPRICORN (December 21 – January 19): Asserting yourself can create disaster at home. Pay attention and be ready to adapt. It may take some sacrifice, probably of some aspect of your ego, but foresight and your willingness to transform will save you. AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18): Pay close attention to what your partner has to tell you. Don’t argue! You don’t have to agree; you do have to think about it. Affirming roots and community will give you the strength you need to make necessary changes. PISCES (February 19 – March 19): Changes at work are likely to be a blessing in disguise. Friends’ advice that you don’t like will prove most helpful. It may need more discussion for you to fully understand. Keep an open mind.

ARIES (March 20 – April 19): Brash overconfidence is sure to get you into trouble. You do have what it takes, but consider slowly and carefully what your strongest virtues are. A little humility will give you perspecLIBRA (September 23 – October tive and enhance your 22): It’s your moment to shine. strengths. Worrying about family and relations could hold back your ca- TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): You reer, but understanding them can get away with almost anyas important support and rething, but second-guessing sources will strengthen you. It’s yourself will ruin this lucky all in your attitude and knowing streak. Meditation aids focus, how empowering your roots re- but don’t get trapped in distracally are. tion or dawdling. Stay clear on your ideals and purpose; they SCORPIO (October 23 – Nowill pull you through. vember 21): There is a special pleasure in getting to the truth GEMINI (May 21- June 20): As of the matter, but doing so usual, your mouth is the surest could be very disruptive to per- opening to trouble. Think sonal and work relationships. ahead! When in doubt, trust in Conspire with, not against, your your friends for appropriate potential allies in your search guidelines. Meditative reflecfor understanding. tion is helpful, not just for verbal discipline, but for clarity in SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – professional goals and partnerDecember 20): Allow yourself to ship. be challenged by new ideas Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977 teaches at the International Academy of Astrology www.astrocollege.com. He can be reached for personal or business consultations at www.starjack.com,

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What are the four non-gay-friendly automakers? -Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, Suzuki

july 2011

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