2012-02-01 outlook: columbus

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outlook THE True blood issue

feb 2012 • vol 16 issue 9

inside: outlook endorsements short north stage makeda porter Living with HIV/AIDS bill harding tyler termeer donnie pangburn zoe whittall joan rivers & local Celeb Robbie

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True Blood’s Bill vs. Twilight’s Edward: who would win?

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you are here

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snapshot

6 hey!

SUBSCRIPTIONS & DISTRIBUTION Call 614.268.8525

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BUSINESS DIRECTOR Michael Daniels: mdaniels@outlookmedia.com

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polisigh: outlook endorsements

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small pond

ADVERTISING DEADLINES Reservations by the 15th of each month.

Art in by the 20th.

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Who’s ready for February?

This month is packed with holidays and days of recognition to keep your mind off how cold you are. That is, if we actually get any snow that stays around for a while. In the celebrating vein, we at outlook would like to wish everyone a Happy Groundhog, Valentine’s, Presidents’, International Condom, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Super Bowl, Freedom, Leap and Black AIDS Awareness Days!

This month’s issue is focused on HIV/AIDS. We have all become too apathetic when it comes to this pandemic. Proof of this lies in the accelerated rise in infection rates, here in Columbus and the world over. We have the knowledge to stop this disease in its tracks, but yet young people and people over 40 have jumped in new infections. Why is that? Is it because we fear has been taken out of the prevention curriculum? Could it be that we think that the meds will keep us alive even if we get it? Are we engaging in risky behaviors because we truly trust when our partners say they are clean or because we just want to believe that it doesn’t exist anymore?

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Maybe we are all just tired of the fight. Whatever the reasons, we need to reenergize our resolve to protect ourselves and those in our community.

In this issue we dive into topic, discussing what our local agencies, AIDS Resource Center of Ohio and Ohio AIDS Coalition are up to, the HIV vaccine, mixed status dating, the aftermath of becoming positive and activism. It’s an important and relevant issue we hope you will share with your friends and family alike.

Also important are the upcoming elections. Inside you will also find outlook’s endorsements for the May primaries and in some cases the November elections. The redistricting caused us some heavy talks in the back room as many of our allies have been drawn into districts where they are now pitted against one another and unfortunately we couldn’t pick them all.

In other news, progressive talk radio has returned to Columbus! With the Catholic Diocese buying 810am, the lease for 1580am was up for grabs and our good friend Gary Richards snatched it up returning WVKO 1580am to a

progressive point of view, including a GLBT show. That’s right, Radio Outlook has returned to the airwaves with a two-hour show every weekend. Enjoy the Great Local Babble and Talk of Michael and I from 9a-11a on Saturdays. It’s a lot of politics, pandering and philanthropy offered up in whimsical and irreverent tone. Tune in, call in and add your two cents to the discourse.

And last but not least, our venture in to retail comes to fruition this month. Our big gay store, Suite Q, is having a few opening events this month including a SNBA B2B meet and great Feb 1, the public Grand Opening Party Gallery Hop night February 4th and Network Columbus will be held in the store Wednesday, Feb 8th. Stop in and buy something, won’t ya? It is also the introduction of The Big Gay Art Hallway, which we hope will be a permanent space for GLBT artists to display and sell their work.

As always, thank you for continued support. We couldn’t do it without you.

And if you’re not here, where the hell are you?

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & ART DIRECTOR Christopher Hayes hayes@outlookmedia.com

marcus’s morsels

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not that kind of girl

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insightout

30 the other side

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Regina Sewell, Ed Mullen, Romeo San Vicente, Jack Fertig, Dan Savage, Marcus Morris, Mario Pinardi, Mickey Weems, Mette Bach, Michael Daniels, Chris Hayes, Michael Straughter, Erin McCalla, Abbey Marie Miller, Mackenzie Worral, Orie Givens, Lauren Strand, Jayra Harris, Bill Harding, Chris Azzopardi, Erin Hoppe,, Donnie Pangburn, D.A. Steward CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Robert Trautman, Chris Hayes, Beth Brickweg, Andrew WIlliams, Erin McCalla CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Robert Trautman

32 monthly agenda 35

complete the circuit

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features: HIV/AIDS

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deep inside hollywood

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creative class

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bookmark

54 interview: Joan Rivers 59

trippin’ out

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savage love

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local celeb

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astro forecast

Hearting you, Chris Hayes Co Publisher

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT REPS Mary Malone mmalone@outlookmedia.com

EDITOR Erin McCalla / emccalla@outlookmedia.com

24 super mario world Hey Lovers,

HEADQUARTERS Outlook Media, Inc. 815 N High St, Bsmt Ste Q Columbus, OH 43215 614.268.8525phone 614.261.8200 fax www.outlookmedia.com

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hiv/aids is political...

OWNERS AND PUBLISHERS Michael Daniels & Christopher Hayes

NEXT MONTH: the prodigies & partners issue

INTERNS Orie Givens, Lauren Strand, Jayra Harris, Michael Straughter, Andrew Williams, Payton Fugate-Laus, Karen Mosely, Chuck Carnahan 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.

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#) NYE 12.31.2011

NYE 12.31.2011

NYE 12.31.2011

“He thinks he’s Rocking a Deep V!”

Chris and his busty beauties

10 seconds til midnight who are you kissing, Ibby?

MISS GAY CAPITAL USA 01.09.2012

MISS GAY CAPITAL USA 01.09.2012

MISS GAY CAPITAL USA 01.09.2012

Congrats to Brent and his crowning jewels

Another Paige in drag history

Hey Sailor, want to see my mast?

Do you think he crushed her crown against the headboard that night?

NETWORK COLUMBUS 01.11.2012

NETWORK COLUMBUS 01.11.2012

NETWORK COLUMBUS 01.11.2012

NETWORK COLUMBUS 01.11.2012

Let’s play a new game: Hipster or prescription?

MD’s so happy Kimmy is back at Net work!

Lovely maidens holding court in Camelot

Forget the maidens, we wants the knights!

SEXAPALOOZA 01.15.2012

SEXAPALOOZA 01.15.2012

SEXAPALOOZA 01.15.2012

SEXAPALOOZA 01.15.2012

Ride ‘em hard, put ‘em away wet

He’s good looking, but so t wo dimensional.

Cheers to a fresh-faced 2012!

MISS GAY CAPITAL USA 01.09.2012

...bomb, sexbomb, you’re my sexbomb...

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Just a few more inches...

For more outlook photos, check out our facebook page!

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Mary Jo Kilroy: An able and passionate champion for the GLBT community.

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Cooper Tire Needs to Share the Wealth Dear Readers and Editor:

y Sometimes Democracy Requires a Bit of Tough Love To the Editor: Any improvement in democracy in the U.S. since 1750 is largely the result of various kicks in the pants that “we the people” have delivered to our leaders. It began with George Washington and his cohorts who, as we’d say today, kicked some British butt to get us going. The tradition continued with workers, women and blacks who put it all on the line for safe working conditions, fair pay, the right to vote and other civil rights.

Progress depends on people taking a stand. Most of us realize that peaceful strikes and protests are part of democracy. We know from history that change is often initiated or accelerated by grassroots activism and that heated tempers and even physical confrontation can be part of the process.

Today, money has too much influence on government and, related to this, not enough of it is going where it should. The ability of “we the people” to change this rests largely with our votes. At election time, however, we choose among candidates whose place on the ballot depends on their ability to raise very big bucks.

The result: the interests of big money are well-represented, often better-represented than those of citizens.

The folks occupying Wall Street and other streets across the country apparently don’t have a much clearer idea than the rest of us about how to remedy this. They see the state of affairs today: high unemployment, high income inequality, and high levels of debt incurred to fund bail-outs of the wealthiest of institutions.

They reject the options of maintaining our current path or of turning back time.

What then is to be done? There is support for election reforms to provide better representation of voter interests. Changes in financial laws or regulations to prevent massive taxpayer bailouts in the future are wanted.

I am writing to express my concern for the employees of Cooper Tire as well as my anger with this “American company”, who has millions of dollars in profits, taken free utilities from the city of Findlay, and how many other state or federal incentives over the years.

Now, they want to deny these loyal, hardworking employees quality wages and benefits.

At a time when recent studies indicate that 1 in 2 Americans are poor or low income, we continue to see corporations forgetting the very employees who helped them prosper.

Nationwide, homelessness, foreclosures, no healthcare, people and families without savings or retirements, many scraping to get by have become the norm. Struggling Americans are taxing public assistance programs, food pantries, and soup kitchens in record numbers! Food stamp usage in Ohio is at an all-time high. Meanwhile, reports confirm close to 100 corporations or more in this country pay no federal taxes. Where is the shared sacrifice? The Vatican over two months ago released an official document on corporate greed worldwide. This document decries corporate greed as a scourge on the individual, family, and worker… in particular, those in third world countries. I challenge those who tout their Christianity or family values to read the following link: http://wwwnews.va/en/news/full-text-note-on-financial-reform-from-the-pontif .

As a Catholic, the youngest of 15 children, my parents taught us from the Bible, the Ten Commandments, and the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I translate that into “what I want for me and mine, I should want for you and yours.”

Yes, shared sacrifice yields shared prosperity. These are my family values. What are yours?

Respectfully Submitted, Theresa Allen Forest, OH

Pro-equality Catholics Must Amplify our Voices in the Cultural & Political Arenas Dear Friends,

Tax reform is also on the agenda. Most of us are not happy that 30 percent of U.S. corporations with gross receipts of $50 million or more paid no income taxes (according to a 7/24/08 Government Accountability Office study covering 19982005). The situation in many states is similar when it comes to state corporate income taxes.

Overarching these concerns, though, are job creation and higher earnings. Increasing the earnings of the typical worker is perhaps the major issue, since the higher incomes would boost demand and create the jobs needed. It used to be thought that this could be accomplished through increasing output per worker that higher productivity would automatically mean higher wages. However, in 2010, hourly wages after adjustment for inflation were lower than in 1971, although output per employee was up by over 70 percent. In agriculture, productivity is now so great that less than 2 percent of the workforce is employed on farms!

Why don’t earnings reflect this tremendous growth of productivity? Wages depend on the bargaining power of the employee versus that of the employer. Unless an employee is a member of a union, has skills that enable him or her to easily find another job or has valuable personal connections, the power to negotiate over wages is limited. Fair pay becomes whatever an employer is willing to offer and a worker willing to accept.

There is currently no national consensus to protect and advance the well-being of Americans. Achieving such consensus is basic to moving forward and maybe, just maybe, the Occupiers will nudge us, including our corporate boards and shareholders, towards a shared national agenda that puts people at the top of our priorities.

Marianne Hill Activist with a Ph.D., in Economics

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In the past two years since Catholics for Equality and the Catholics for Equality Foundation launched, we’ve accomplished so much ... with very little. On a shoe-string budget we were able to bring Catholic soldiers to Capitol Hill to fight for the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. We brought together a groundbreaking “Catholic Family Discussion on LGBT Issues” at Georgetown University. We educated Members of Congress and their staffs on how to talk to Catholics about their support for LGBT equality. And we fostered Catholic organizing in battleground states across the country. We’ve become an important countervoice to the bishops in the political area and have been recognized in the press as the pro-equality voice of the majority of American Catholics.

The year ahead of us poses many challenges. The 2012 election cycle in already in full swing, and our country is being inundated with messages from presidential candidates that to be Catholic is to oppose LGBT equality. This couldn’t be further from the truth, but America will never know that unless pro-equality Catholics amply our voices in the political arena. More, our bishops have mounted a campaign to frame themselves the victims of “religious liberty,” misleading the public that privately funded, religious based, charitable and social services programs are being forced to comply with federal and state laws contrary to the will of the Vatican. This couldn’t be further from the truth, but America will never know this unless pro-equality Catholics amplify our voices in the cultural arena.

We need your support to be active and grow this year. Opportunities to engage and empower pro-equality Catholics arise every day, but without the resources to mobilize them, their voices are dwarfed by the conservative voices and their well funded communications machine. Please help us by make a contribution today at http://catholicsforequality.org. Together we can make 2012 “The Year of the Pro-Equality American Catholic!”

Yours in Christ and in the united stand for equality, Philip Michael James Attey, II Executive Director, Catholics for Equality

Who doesn’t need a little tough love every once in a while?

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Happy 200th Birthday Columbus!

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How Gay Populations Influence Housing Prices

by Eric Jaffe from The Atlantic Cities Exactly how gay populations affect the urban housing market is something of an open question. On one hand, surveys have found that gays and lesbians believe they’ve been targets of housing discrimination at times. If a neighborhood doesn’t want gay people to live there, one might expect its average home values to drop. On the other hand, research from 331 metro areas by our own Richard Florida has found that artist and gay populations increase housing prices in urban neighborhoods, because these groups produce amenities that are at a premium and reflect a tolerance that facilitates the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

New research, scheduled for publication in the March 2012 issue of the Journal of Urban Economics tries to settle these conflicting findings by focusing on a single city: Columbus, Ohio.

The leaders of the study, economists David Christafore of Konkuk University in Korea and Susane Leguizamon of Tulane University, wanted to see if home values in various neighborhoods of Columbus responded differently to the presence of gay populations. They wanted to discover whether any real estate fluctuations might turn on a single key factor: the neighborhood’s sociopolitical slant.

Christafore and Leguizamon used data from the 2000 Census to determine same-sex households in the Columbus metro area. They then gauged the political leanings of various neighborhoods of the city based on voting records from the “Defense of Marriage Act” in Ohio. In 2004, Ohio became the 38th state to approve the act, which defines marriage as between a man and woman and refuses to recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions. Christafore and Leguizamon presumed that areas where more people voted for the act were likely conservative, and those that voted against it were more liberal. Last, they evaluated more than 20,000 real estate transactions that occurred in the Columbus area in 2000.

Their results suggest a strong link between a neighborhood’s social ideology and its response to gay populations, as measured in housing prices. In areas where 59 percent or more voted against the marriage act - in other words, more liberal areas - the number of same-sex households was associated with a rise in home values. In areas that voted more vehemently for the marriage act - considered more conservative neighborhoods - housing prices dropped when same-sex households increased. (The mean vote for Columbus was 56

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percent approval.)

The extreme ends of the spectrum offered additional support for their argument. In the most liberal part of the city, where approval of the marriage act reached just 31 percent, an increase in just a single same-sex household in a thousand was connected with a full 1 percent rise in home price. In the most conservative neighborhood, where approval of the act reached 84 percent, adding one gay household in a thousand was linked with a full 1 percent decline. A closer look at the data revealed that gay males drove the shift in value; the presence of lesbians didn’t seem to influence prices as strongly.

Overall, the authors conclude, the results suggest “that prejudice against same-sex coupled households does exist in areas that are socially conservative.”

Senate Education Committee Unanimously Passes Safe Schools Bill that Includes Two Out of Three Provisions Promoted by Equality Ohio On January 9, the Ohio Senate Education Committee passed HB116, also known as the “Jessica Logan Act,” unanimously. This bill includes provisions that protect Ohio students from the rising trend of cyber-bullying and require school districts to provide more comprehensive training on anti-bullying policies. The bill, however, was amended in committee this morning to exclude a provision that would prohibit bullying based on any real or perceived characteristics of the student, such as race, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity, and the bill did not include enumeration of particular characteristics.

Since the current anti-bullying law was passed in 2006, Equality Ohio has worked closely with coalition partners, including the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, the Ohio Psychological Association, and the University of Toledo Law School Safe Schools Project, to pass a comprehensive bill that strengthens the law to include cyber-bullying, training, and enumeration. We are certainly pleased that the committee has passed provisions relating to cyber-bullying and training, and we look forward to these provisions becoming law in Ohio. “Protecting students against cyber-bullying and improving training on anti-bullying policies will have a positive effect on our schools and make them more safe for students,” says Ed Mullen, Executive Director of Equality Ohio.

However, Equality Ohio is very disappointed that enumeration was not included in the bill.

Academic studies and empirical evidence

demonstrate that enumeration is critical to a strong anti-bullying policy. Ohio Department of Education discipline data shows that bullying has risen nearly 50% in Ohio from 2005 to 2007, despite passage of generic anti-bullying legislation in 2006. In Ohio, nearly one-fifth (18%) of Ohio students at schools with generic policies felt unsafe, while only 2% of students at schools with enumerated policies did. Students who attend schools with enumerated policies are harassed far less often for reasons such as their physical appearance, their sexual orientation or their gender expression; are less likely than other students to report a serious harassment problem at their school; and are 50% more likely to feel very safe at school.

Enumeration is particularly important for already vulnerable groups of students. LGBT students in states that don’t require enumeration have the same experience of bullying as those without any anti-bullying and harassment laws at all. Enumeration provides teachers and other school officials the tools they need to implement anti-bullying and harassment policies, which makes it easier for them to prevent bullying and intervene when incidents occur.

The Ohio School Board Association opposed enumerating Ohio’s anti-bullying law because they were concerned about additional potential liability. “Ironically, the best way for schools to prevent liability is to implement and enforce strong anti-bullying policies that include enumeration. These policies will prevent bullying in many cases and enable teachers and administrators to respond effectively when necessary, reducing the risk of lawsuits. Moreover, the existence and enforcement of strong antibullying policies would be an effective defense to lawsuits that are filed,” says Ed Mullen.

A standalone bill that would enumerate Ohio’s anti-bullying law, HB208, is pending before the House Education Committee, and Equality Ohio will continue to work to move this bill forward.

Yellow Springs Love-In Weekend includes Ohio Same Sex Marriage Update Join in for peace, love, music and chocolate at the Yellow Springs “Love-In” Weekend, February 10-12. Twenty events for lovers, families, and single hipsters include “The Kiss” Public Performance Art, Wedding Vow Renewals, Tour de Chocolat (look for the big red heart), Live Music, T-Shirt Screenings and more!

“Love your body with yoga workshops. Love the earth with our anti-fracking campaign. Love each other with an update on Ohio same-sex marriage (from Ed Mullen, Exec. Director of

Who’s coming with me to the Love-In?

Equality Ohio). We’ve got something for everyone who wants to celebrate peace, love or music during this important Valentine weekend,” reports Joanne Caputo, the new Arts and Cultural Manager for the Yellow Springs Arts Council, who has coordinated the weekend events.

Beginning Friday evening, you can drop off the kids for valentine-making (at the 8th grade fundraiser), then hit the town for an evening of fun. There’s more peace and love all day Saturday, including Antioch College troubadours.

Sunday wraps up with “John & Yoko’s Memorial Love-In” and a Peace Open Mic. For details, visit www.yellow-springs-experience.org or on Facebook: Yellow Springs Experience.

February Family Films In honor of Black History Month, the King Arts Complex, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, and US Bank along with Clear Channel Radio Group, Bounce TV23, Columbus African American News Journal, Urban Spirits, The Fly Paper, Magic 106.3, Columbus Urban League, Columbus Chapter of the NAACP, outlook: columbus Magazine, Who’s Who Columbus and Mt. Vernon District Improvement Association invites everyone to join us for the February Family Films every Thursday in February at 6p in the Pythian Theater 867 Mt. Vernon Avenue.

Admission is Free!

February Family Films will focus on books that have become movies. The series embraces, reviews and acknowledges the power of literature that has influenced the power of films on cultural and social patterns of our society.

Each film will have dialogue led by community facilitators that will provide expertise in their field either by knowledge or interest.

This year’s February Family Films will feature: Imitation of Life on February 2nd facilitated by Retired Educator, Community Volunteer & Champion for Children, Catherine Willis; The Great Debaters on February 9th facilitated by Publisher and Editor of African American News Journal, Ray Miller; The Blindside on February 16th facilitated by Democratic Congressional Candidate 3rd District, US Congress Joyce Beatty, and The Help February 25th at 2p, facilitated by President of Columbus Chapter NBMBAA, Buffie Patterson.

In addition, there will be a Children’s Matinee of Peace Tree on February 9th at 10a and We Shall Overcome on February 16th at 10a. For more information, please contact us at 614.645.5464 or visit www.thekingartscomplex.com.

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Richard Cadbury, of Cadbury cream egg fame, invented the first box of Valentine’s Day chocolates in the 1880’s.

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The rate of HIV infection among African-American gay and bisexual men aged 18 to 29 increased 50 percent between 2006 and 2009, according to new data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS at the CDC, said this segment of the population was the only group to experience a significant increase in new infections during that period. Speaking at a press briefing at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta on August 16, Dr. Fenton said the rise took place even as the overall number of new HIV infections in the US held steady at 50,000 cases per year.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) launched a new online toolkit to assist veterans discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) or the prior regulations prohibiting gay and lesbian service in the military seeking changes to their discharge paperwork. These changes include upgrading of discharge characterizations, modifying the narrative reason for discharge, or changing the reentry code. Guidance from the Department of Defense, released in September 2011 as DADT repeal was taking effect, provides the pathway for making changes and upgrades.

It is estimated that as many as 100,000 veterans may qualify for such assistance.

Furthermore, the CDC estimated that nearly half of infected African Americans may be unaware of their HIV status. CDC researcher Dr. Alexandra Oster called infrequent testing and low awareness “a major concern,” with data indicating only 55 percent of this high-risk group is receiving adequate care. To increase rates of HIV testing and awareness among African American gay and bisexual men, the CDC is rolling out a new campaign called, “Testing Makes Us Stronger,” which will feature messages posted in ads as well as on social media and in outreach programs.

“Cleaning up these records is an important piece of restoring dignity and honor to these American patriots and closing the books on this shameful piece of our history. SLDN stands ready to assist all those who seek our help,” said Army Veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis.

“It is increasingly clear that rapid testing for HIV should play a larger role in the overall strategy to alleviate the suffering of at-risk populations as well as the population-at-large,” says Lawrence Siebert, CEO of Medford, NY-based Chembio Diagnostics, a New York-based developer and manufacturer of point-of-care diagnostic tests.

“These rapid tests are capable of producing a result in as little as 15 minutes.”

Chembio’s two FDA PMA-approved, CLIA-waived, rapid HIV tests are marketed in the U.S. by Alere, Inc. The company markets its HIV 1/2 STATPAK® and SURE CHECK HIV 1/2 line of rapid HIV tests internationally to government and donorfunded programs directly and through distributors. Chembio has developed a patented point-of-care test platform technology, the Dual Path Platform (DPP®) technology, which has significant advantages over lateral-flow technologies. This technology is providing the company with a significant pipeline of business opportunities for the development and manufacture of new products based on DPP®. Specifically, Chembio has developed a rapid oral fluid HIV test and also a Syphilis test, which are now in clinical evaluation as part of the FDA approval process.

Additionally, Chembio is working on making its unique SURE CHECK HIV over-the-counter test available for consumer self-testing, and foresees submitting it to the FDA for approval for this use.

The privacy and convenience of self-testing could encourage more individuals to determine their HIV status, and to pursue treatment if it turns out that they are indeed infected.

Please visit www.chembio.com to learn more.

SLDN Launches New Online Toolkit to Assist LGBT Veterans With Discharge Paperwork Changes

“We already have heard from more than 100 gay and lesbian veterans who were discharged under the discriminatory law and now want their discharge paperwork changed or upgraded. Sometimes it’s for reasons of personal pride and setting the record straight about honorable service to our country. But often, there’s also a very practical reason, like urgently needed VA medical benefits or issues of employment. Employers routinely request discharge paperwork when reviewing job applicants who have prior military service. A narrative reason for separation of ‘homosexuality’ or a negative reentry code can mean forcing veterans to out themselves to future employers or being denied employment altogether ,” he said.

Through the online tool, veterans who believe they may qualify are able to connect with the National Archives Veterans Records Office to obtain copies of their discharge paperwork, as well as provide necessary information to SLDN in just a few easy steps in order to begin processing.

“Since repeal, word has spread rapidly about this opportunity, and our attorneys have experienced a surge in calls from veterans seeking our services. This toolkit will streamline the process for them and help us get results for them more quickly. We urge anyone interested in this assistance to contact our office and let us help,” said SLDN Legal Director David McKean.

Since September, SLDN has served veterans seeking this assistance who were discharged as far back as World War II. An early success was on behalf of Melvin Dwork, a World War II veteran who served in the Navy and was discharged in 1944 for being gay. Dwork sought SLDN’s legal assistance in early 2011 to upgrade his discharge paperwork and it was granted in September 2011. The result was an “honorable” discharge in place of the previous “Undesirable” characterization, allowing Dwork to qualify for long overdue benefits, and with them, in his words, the satisfaction “of righting a wrong” that was nearly 70 years old.

Mitt Romney Welcomes Endorsement of Anti-Gay Extremist The Human Rights Campaign is condemning

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Mitt Romney for touting the endorsement of antigay fundamentalist Kris Kobach. Kobach, who now serves as the Kansas Secretary of State, is best known for using fear tactics to spread his anti-immigration agenda. He also is virulently anti-gay, and in 2004 made the claim that HRC and other LGBT equality organizations supported “homosexual pedophilia.”

Three days ago in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney proudly touted his opposition to discrimination against LGBT Americans. Now, as he vies for support in South Carolina, he is embracing an extremist who has put a great deal of time and energy toward spreading malicious lies about LGBT people. In a release, Romney said he was “so proud to earn Kris’s support.” Kobach echoed Romney’s positivity, adding: “I am pleased to stand with this true conservative.”

“Mitt Romney can’t have it both ways. He can’t tell an audience in New Hampshire that he has a strong record of opposing discrimination against LGBT Americans, and then tell people in South Carolina the next day that he stands proudly with someone who equates being gay with pedophilia,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

“Romney has a long track record of wild flipflops on LGBT issues. This is perhaps the most glaring example to date that he is a dangerous candidate who will say whatever it takes to get elected.”

Oklahoma Lawmaker Moves to Ban Gay and Lesbian Service Members from State National Guard The Human Rights Campaign is joining The Equality Network in condemning legislation Oklahoma Representative Mike Reynolds (R-Oklahoma City) is pushing that would implement a more extreme version of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) law, which would be applicable to the state’s National Guard. The bill would bar gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals from serving in the Oklahoma National Guard. The bill goes beyond the discrimination contained in the now-repealed DADT statute, and allows government officials to directly question someone about their sexual orientation – essentially removing the “Don’t Ask” component contained in DADT. “Since repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ last year, military leaders have testified that our nation’s military is stronger,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “It’s surprising that an Air Force veteran like Representative Reynolds would disagree with our nation’s military leaders and seek to weaken Oklahoma’s National Guard by introducing this legislation. This legislation serves no purpose but to prevent qualified individuals from serving their country and their state.”

“Mike Reynolds has a long-standing history of representing fringe views that rarely have the best interests of all Oklahomans at heart,” said Laura Belmonte, chair of The Equality Network.

“This legislation is demoralizing to Oklahoma’s LGBT community and our supporters, and it sends a message that it is acceptable to discriminate against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. At a time of growing momentum for equality at the national level, this

February 14th, 1984 - Elton John and Renate Blauel were married. Yep, that worked out.

legislation will turn back the clock on advancements at the state-level.”

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen said the day after implementation of repeal: “…with implementation of the new law fully in place, we are a stronger joint force, a more tolerant joint force, a force of more character and more honor, more in keeping with our own values.” Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said: “Thanks to this change, I believe we move closer to achieving the goal at the foundation of the values that America is all about: equality, equal opportunity and dignity for all Americans.”

If the bill were to become law, Oklahoma would join countries like China, Iran, Syria, North Korea and Pakistan in prohibiting gays and lesbians from serving their country.

Oklahoma’s new legislative session begins February 6.

New Study: Older Gay Men’s Mental Health Jeopardized by Sexual Minority Stress; Legal Marriage for Same-Sex Couples May be Protective Against Poor Mental Health Sexual minority stress, along with aging-related stress, jeopardizes the mental health of midlife and older gay men, according to a new study published by the American Journal of Public Health. In the study, sexual minority stress included the men’s perceptions that they needed to conceal their sexual orientation or that others were uncomfortable with or avoided them because of their sexual orientation.

The study also found that legal marriage for same-sex couples may confer a unique protective effect against poor mental health. Having a same-sex domestic partner or same-sex spouse boosted the emotional health of the studied men, but having a same-sex legal spouse appeared to be the most beneficial relationship arrangement.

Said lead author Richard G. Wight, MPH, PhD, Associate Researcher at the Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, and Visiting Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute at UCLA: “This study shines a light on the mental health of a generation of gay men who survived the early years of the AIDS crisis and came of age on the heels of the gay rights movement. Whether legal marriage benefits mental health within same-sex couples in the way it has been proven to benefit differentsex couples deserves much more empirical attention, particularly given that same-sex marriage is not available in most states and was only briefly available in California in 2008.”

The study’s findings further suggest that targeted campaigns may be necessary to address this generation of gay men’s heightened risk for poor mental health. In addition to sexual orientation stigma, the studied men’s mental health was also negatively affected by having experienced the loss of many of their peers to AIDS. General aging-related stress, such as concerns over finances and independence, also affected the mental health of these midlife and older gay men.

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The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.

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Primary Colors – outlook’s first round of election endorsements

by Michael Daniels & Chris Hayes With every single US and Ohio House district having been redrawn, the Presidency of the United States and the balance of power in the United States Senate on the line, and dozens of local offices to be filled, the 2012 elections take center-stage in our pursuit of equality and social justice. Here is our first set of endorsements.

FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – BARACK OBAMA President Barack Obama has done more for the GLBT community during his first term than any other sitting president in history. The White House itself has issued a whitepaper detailing that “the Obama Administration has taken decisive actions and made historic strides to advance Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality and strengthen LGBT families and communities, and continues to do so. Some of these accomplishments include: Preventing Bullying and Hate Crimes Against LGBT Americans: President Obama signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law – the first federal civil rights legislation to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity;” President Obama, Vice President Biden and other Administration officials record “It Gets Better” videos to address the

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issue of bullying and suicide among LGBT teens; The President and First Lady Michelle Obama host the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention; The Department of Education issues guidance to support educators in combating bullying in schools by clarifying when student bullying may violate federal education anti-discrimination laws; Supporting LGBT Families: Following a directive from the President, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires all hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to allow visitation rights and medical decision making rights to LGBT patients; HHS creates the National Resource Center for LGBT Elders; The Department of Labor clarifies that the Family Medical Leave Act ensures that LGBT federal employees can care for sick family members; The State Department clarifies that transgender applicants can obtain, under certain conditions, passports that accurately reflect their gender; The Justice Department clarifies that persons with HIV and persons with AIDS are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act and that it would be illegal to exclude them from occupational training and state licensing; The Justice Department issues a memo stating that federal prosecutors should enforce criminal provisions in the Violence Against Women Act in cases involving gay and lesbian relationships; HHS’s Administration for Children and Families is-

sues a memorandum to ensure that LGBT and questioning youth in foster care are protected and supported; The US Interagency Council on Homelessness releases “Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness,” the nation’s first comprehensive strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, including LGBT homeless youth; The Obama Administration works to ensure that the Census provides a fair and accurate count of all Americans, including LGBT couples; Ensuring Equal Access to Housing for LGBT families: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces the first ever national study of discrimination in housing against LGBT persons; HUD proposes new regulations to ensure that housing programs are open to all persons regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; HUD requires grant applicants to comply with state and local anti-discrimination laws; Supporting LGBT Health: President Obama releases the first-ever National HIV/AIDS Strategy; President Obama urges Americans to get tested for HIV; President Obama signs the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act; HHS issues recommendations to improve the health and well-being of LGBT communities; Despite challenging budgetary times, the President’s Fiscal Year 2012

“Quack, quack quack, Mr. Duckworth!”

Budget not only maintains, but increases domestic HIV/AIDS funding; Supporting Job Creation Among LGBTOwned Businesses: The Department of Commerce signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to support federal contracting and exporting; Setting Precedents in Hiring and Benefits for LGBT Americans: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announces that gender identity is a prohibited basis of discrimination in federal employment; President Obama expands federal benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees; OPM allows same-sex domestic partners to apply for long-term care insurance; President Obama sends the first U.S. Executive branch official to testify in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) before Congress; President Obama continues to appoint LGBT Americans to positions at every level throughout his Administration; Repealing the Discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Law: President Obama signs the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which will allow gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans to serve openly and with integrity; {cont pg12}

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I’ll take a poke, Dave.

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If smart phones are for smart people, why do you have one? Ooooh, BURN! (Feel free to borrow that one.)

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[endorsements cont from pg10]

Providing Global Leadership on LGBT Issues: The U.S. lifts the discriminatory entry ban for individuals with HIV; President Obama and his administration play active roles in protecting LGBT populations in Uganda, Honduras, Malawi and other countries; The U.S. leads an effort at the United Nations resulting in 85 countries supporting a resolution to end violence and human rights violations related to sexual orientation and gender identity; The White House announces a major three-year investment in combating global AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; In a speech at the United Nations, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on nations around the world to recognize that “gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.”

Clinton’s address builds on a memorandum President Obama issued earlier directing all agencies to “promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons;” Honoring LGBT History: President Obama honors the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall riots; President Obama awards the Medal of Freedom to Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King Supporting LGBT Progress: President Obama has called for the Congressional repeal of the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage Act” and has announced that in his view, Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional; President Obama also continues to support legislation that would directly impact the LGBT community, including an inclusive ENDA and the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act; President Obama believes that all students should be safe and healthy and learn in environments free from discrimination, bullying and harassment; that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation; and that Americans with partners from other countries should not be faced with a painful choice between staying with their partner or staying in their country.”

On the Republican side, we cannot endorse any of the candidates. Every one of them has signed a pledge solidly putting them in the anti-equality camp, even those who have previously suggested their support for our community and our equality (Ron Paul). None of them deserves a vote from the progressive, allied, or GLBT community.

We strongly endorse President Obama for both his primary bid and in the November general election.

FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE – SHERROD BROWN As a State, Ohio ranks nearly, if not absolutely, dead last in protections and codified rights for GLBT people. Yet in the US Senate,

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Ohio has the most progressive, socially forward, equality focused member of them all – Sherrod Brown. A long-time progressive and champion the working class, Brown brings savvy, class, and candor to what is too-often an old-boys club of quicksand-slinging bullies. His commitment to full equality, protection, care, coverage and inclusion of all people is without equal. His voting record is solid, unapologetic and unashamed.

His opponent, Josh Mandel, is the kind of anemic politician that right-thinking voters detest – one whose ego and ambition trump whatever conviction and mettle he might have. There is nothing he will not say, nothing he will not do, no position he will not change and no boundary to how low he will go in his tactics.

In this race, we’re either standing for something or we’re standing for nothing. Sherrod Brown stands by us, and we stand by him. We strongly endorse him for both his primary bid and in the November general election.

FOR THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – MARY JO KILROY, BILL YARBROUGH For the newly drawn, heavily Democrat OH-3 Congressional district, we endorse Mary Jo Kilroy in her primary bid. While we are blessed to have candidates in this race who all are friends of our community with a strong commitment to social justice, only Kilroy has been in the United States Congress, has voted to repeal DADT, has a generation of supporting our community, has supported national health care, has opposed renewing the Bush tax cuts and has brought tens of millions in economic development into Central Ohio.

Where we come from, you ‘dance with them that brung ya,’ and Mary Jo Kilroy brought us all from the very start.

For the solidly-Republican OH-12 primary, we endorse dark horse Bill Yarbrough. Yarbrough is a solid libertarian, having run on that ticket for state senate two years ago. He is the only candidate to have earned the endorsement of both the Tea Party and Outlook Media – read into that what you will. He believes in full equality for GLBT people, unlike his incumbent opponent who continues to vote to keep us as second-class citizens.

FOR THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OHIO – YVETTE MCGEE BROWN We endorse Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown for re-election in both the primary and general elections. A long-time friend, advocate and ally of our community, McGee Brown continues to break barriers for women and people of color, and carries a strong progressive philosophy combined with practical judicial restraint to the High Court.

She has earned our confidence and support.

FOR THE OHIO SENATE – JIM HUGHES

In the only contested state Senate race in the metropolitan area, we endorse incumbent Senator Jim Hughes in both the primary and general elections. A moderate, Hughes has had the courage to stand up to his party’s conservative base on important issues of fairness, such as SB5/Issue 2, and his courage and commitment have earned him another term.

FOR THE OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – MIKE CURTIN, MICHAEL STINZIANO, HEATHER BISHOFF, JOHN PATRICK CARNEY, W CARLTON WEDDINGTON, TRACY HEARD, CHERYL JOHNCOX, NICKIE ANTONIO, JIM HELMINK, STEVE NEWSOME, TIM BROWN Unopposed in their primary bids, we endorse Curtin (17), Stinziano (18), Carney (22), Weddington (25), Heard (26), and Johncox (86) for both the primary and the November general election. All are committed, solid votes for equality, fairness, and rationality in government.

We endorse the following openly-GLBT candidates for primary and general election: Antonio (13), Helmink (60), Newsome (30), Brown (3).

In the contested Democrat primary for OH-20, we endorse Heather Bishoff. We find her to be the type of elected official that the Statehouse needs – fiscally responsible and socially progressive. A mother of 4, a school board member and a community advocate, Bishoff has seen first-hand through experiences with family members the struggles of coming out and understands the issues facing the progressive community on social justice and privacy issues. She has also earned the support of two of our most ardent allies, former House members Marian Harris and Nancy Garland.

The other candidate, Marco Miller, has an impressive resume of public service, endorsements and residence in the district. We will support the winner of this contest for this open seat in the general election.

In the contested Democrat primary for OH-21, voters have a close decision among the three contenders. First-time candidate David Donofrio is no stranger to Statehouse politics, and shares our values and commitment to social equality. We are concerned, however, that he may lack a bit of self-control and political savvy based on his recent letter-writing initiative to The Dispatch. Trying to weaken one’s opponents in a primary, quite publicly, may indeed weaken the eventual Democrat nominee in the fall. Candidate David Robinson is a friend of our community and has earned our endorsement twice before, but we have reservations about his eventual electability – he has not made a good showing in his campaigns of 2008 and 2010 – and that he is a relative unknown in the district. Candidate Donna O’Connor brings experience as a teacher, union activist and social advocate, as well as a freshness, energy, maturity and professionalism that will serve the district well, and is the strongest candidate to defeat

Learn who supports LGBT progress.

a vulnerable incumbent, SB5-supporter Republican incumbent Mike Duffey, in the general election. In what we believe will be a very close primary, we give the edge to O’Connor.

We will support the winner of this contest against Duffey in the fall based on issues of equality and workers’ rights.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF FRANKLIN COUNTY – GILL, MCINTOSH, K. BROWN, MASON, GEER, REECE, CAIN, SCHNEIDER, O’SHAUGHNESSY, BRYANT, TYACK, LEONARD, SCOTT, TJ BROWN, O’BRIEN, GORNIAK, O’GRADY, BROOKS Of all the countywide races, only one has a contested primary – and our choice in that race is clear. In the Democrat primary for County Recorder, we strongly endorse Terry TJ Brown. Brown has a strong commitment to our community, having served as president of Stonewall Democrats of Central OH, and is known as a smart, thoughtful, and dedicated public servant. He earned our endorsement in his run for County Auditor, and equally earns and deserves it in his bid to become County Recorder. We endorse him for the primary, and are sufficiently confident of his victory that we also herein endorse him in the November general election.

In the other races, we are blessed and proud to have a cadre of candidates from both parties who are committed to serving all of Franklin County’s residents with honor, fairness, and distinction. We endorse the following for their primary bids and for the November general election: • For Franklin County Court of Common Pleas – Domestic Division: Elizabeth Gill, Jim Mason, Chris Geer • For Franklin County Court of Common Pleas – General Division: Stephen McIntosh, Kim Brown, Guy Reece, David Cain, Charles Schneider • For Franklin County Common Pleas Court Clerk – MaryEllen O’Shaughnessy • For 10th District Court of Appeals – Peggy Bryant, Gary Tyack • For Franklin County Treasurer – Ed Leonard • For Franklin County Sheriff – Zach Scott • For Franklin County Prosecutor – Ron O’Brien • For Franklin County Coroner – Jan Gorniak • For Franklin County Commissioner – John O’Grady, Paula Brooks The Ohio primary election is Mar 6, 2012.

Absentee/early voting begins Jan 31, 2012. Voter registration closes Feb 6, 2012. For more information, to check your voter registration, or to register to vote, visit the Franklin County Board of Elections at vote.franklincountyohio.gov, or contact them at 280 East Broad Street, Room 100, Columbus, OH 43215, or call 614.525.3100 between 8a-5p, Mon-Fri.

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To all massage therapy students:feel free to come in and practice on the outlook staff.

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by Ed Mullen Every year is an election year, but the Presidential election every four years draws more attention, voters and money than others. If you have been reading the news or watching TV, you know by now (and have probably known for too long now) that 2012 is a Presidential election year.

In the next 10 months, you will hear a lot in Ohio about the Presidential election and learn a lot from the media about the Presidential candidates, and you will easily be able to find out their positions on LGBT issues. You will also likely hear about the Senate race, with Senator Sherrod Brown facing a likely challenge from Republican State Treasurer Josh Mandel. Senator Brown has been a staunch supporter of LGBT rights throughout his career, and like President Barack Obama, he has been endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign.

Between now and March 6, you will also likely hear a lot about races around Ohio for U.S. Representative. After the March 6 primary, you are likely to hear much less about your Representative’s race because very few of the Congressional districts statewide are competitive.

The gerrymander of the U.S. House districts has also divided the LGBT community in Columbus and Cleveland, effectively diluting our power and influence with our Representatives. In Columbus, Clintonville is in one district (Pat Tiberi - R); Victorian Village and German Village are in another (Steve Stivers - R); and, Italian Village and much of Short North are in the new 3rd Congressional District (which leans Democratic and has four candidates who are LGBT supporters - Joyce Beatty, Ted Celeste, Mary Jo Kilroy and Priscilla Tyson). In Cleveland, the west side with Lakewood and Detroit Shoreway has been cut off from the rest of the LGBT-friendly neighborhoods downtown and to the east.

While the federal elections are important, state and local elections are often overlooked. However, there are 99 state representatives and 17 state senators (out of 33) up for election this year. Many of the districts do not have an incumbent because of redistricting, so the legislature will see a lot of new members. These are the legislators who will decide whether Ohio will have an anti-discrimination law preventing discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations; whether Ohio will pass a safe outlookcolumbus.com

schools bill that includes LGBT students; whether Ohio will allow transgender people to change their birth certificate markers; whether same-sex couples in Ohio will be able to jointly adopt children; and, ultimately, whether samesex relationships will be recognized in Ohio.

Openly LGBT Candidates To my knowledge, there are four openly gay or lesbian candidates for State Representative, but none for State Senate. Nickie Antonio (D), the first out member of the LGBT community elected to the Ohio General Assembly, is running for reelection. (www.nickieantonio.com) Nickie is the co-sponsor of the Equal Housing and Employment Act and the enumerated safe schools bill in the House, working closely with Equality Ohio on those bills, and she has been an outspoken and visible advocate for our community in the House. Nickie does not have a primary opponent, but she does have a general election opponent, though her district voted for Ted Strickland with 67.83% in 2010 and 75.1% for Barack Obama in 2008.

James Helmink (D), a former intern at Equality Ohio, is running for State Representative in the Lake County area. (jameshelmink.com) James is an attorney and graduated from Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law and Georgetown University. He is running a grass roots campaign and has knocked on over 4,000 doors! James is running in District 60, which leans slightly Democratic, but is likely to be one of the most competitive races statewide. He is running against Dan Troy and Laura DePledge (both current elected officials in Lake County) in a very competitive primary, and the winner will take on Lori DiNallo in the general election.

Tim Brown (R), a Wood County Commissioner, is running for an open seat in District 3, which is contiguous with Wood County. (www.citizensforbrown.com/index.html) Tim won reelection to his County Commissioner seat in 2010 with over 60% of the vote, facing both a Democratic challenger and a conservative challenger. Tim does not have a primary opponent, but he will face local businessman Kelly Wicks (who was a supporter of the Human Rights Ordinance in Bowling Green) in the general election. This is one of the 12 likely competitive statewide districts, with 51.17% voting for Strickland and 53.63% for Obama though the incumbent State Representative is a conservative Republican.

Steve Newsome (D) is running for State Representative in District 30 in the Cincinnati area. (www.facebook.com/stevenewsome, twitter.com/steve_newsome) Steve has served as the Political Director on the steering committee of HRC Greater Cincinnati and was supportive of Chris Seelbach’s city council race. Steve does not have a primary opponent, but he will compete against incumbent Louis Terhar in the general election. This is Terhar’s first election; he was appointed after Representative Meklenburg resigned after a scandal. The district leans heavily Republican - 28.38% voted for Strickland and 30.36% for Obama.

In addition, there are several candidates for local office. Sandra Kurt is running for an atlarge seat on the Summit County Council, a position to which she was recently appointed after serving on the Akron City Council. (kurtforcouncil.com) Phil Montgomery, who serves as an appointed Akron City Council member representing Ward 8, is running for election to a ward seat on the Summit County Council. TJ Brown, who many of you know as the former chair of Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio, is running for Franklin County Recorder. (www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24270855 5144&v=wall) Competitive Primary Races During the redistricting process, many of our strongest incumbent supporters were negatively impacted. Matt Szollosi (D) and Teresa Fedor (D) were drawn into the same District, as were Ted Celeste (D) and Michael Stinziano (D), while Denise Driehaus (D) was drawn into Louis Terhar’s (R) conservative Republican district.

Teresa Fedor moved into a new district and is running unopposed, and Ted Celeste opted to run for Congress rather than reelection to the statehouse.

Denise Driehaus (www.denisedriehaus.com) has also moved into a new District 31 (that includes a portion of her former district and leans strongly Democratic) with no incumbent, but she has drawn three primary opponents, Louis Brockmeir (lukeforohio.com), Sandra Queen Noble, and former State Representative Terry Tranter. Denise has been a strong supporter of Equality Ohio and all of our legislative priorities, and we endorsed her in 2010.

Know your LGBT candidates!

There are very few other competitive primary races that we are currently tracking, other than James Helmink’s race discussed above.

General Election While it is too early to analyze the general election, it is clear that there are only a handful of truly competitive races. Connie Pillich (D) will run for reelection in District 28 in Hamilton County, and her Republican challenger will be determined in a competitive primary. This is also one of the few districts where a Libertarian has filed to run. This was the most competitive district in 2010, with the result not determined until weeks after the election, and it is expected to be as competitive in 2012. Connie has been a strong supporter of Equality Ohio and our legislative priorities.

Locally, one likely competitive race is in District 20 in the southeast side of Franklin County where Republican Nathan Burd will take on either Heather Bishoff or Marco Miller. Other races in Franklin County with the potential to be competitive are District 21 (where incumbent Republican Mike Duffey will take on the winner of a competitive primary including David Robinson, Donna O’Connor and David Donofrio) and District 24 (an open seat where Democrat Maureen Reedy will challenge Republican Stephanie Kunze). Both of these districts lean Republican but may be competitive with strong campaigns and candidates on the Democratic side.

Cheryl Johncox, who has been a strong Equality Ohio supporter, is running a tough race against incumbent Dorothy Pelanda, who was recently appointed, in District 86, which includes several counties north and mostly west of Franklin County. While this would not otherwise look to be a competitive race on paper, Cheryl has been running an aggressive campaign in a district where SB5 may have a residual effect.

The election season is in its infancy, and much of what I have written might be outdated by the time you read this because politics are like fashion - one day you are in, and the next you are out. But I hope this has piqued your interest in the state races - the results affect your rights.

Equality Ohio will be registering voters, educating voters on the candidates’ positions on LGBT issues, mobilizing pro-equality voters, and working hard this year to make sure we have a proequality legislature in Ohio. Stay tuned. feb 2012

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Actors a Bloom at The Garden Theater

by Abbey Miller

North Stage’s unique niche.

The historic marquee at the Garden Theater in the Short North has been turned on again, but the real electricity is inside.

Though the theater’s history added to the charm, the renovations that needed to take place were vast. The box office and lobby were in decent shape, but the auditorium had to be gutted and restored. They knew it would have to be a multiphased renovation to get the entire thing done.

The Short North Stage theater company has taken up residency at the once vacant theater and breathed new life into the northern part of the Short North Arts District, both artistically and commercially.

“Our primary goal was to bring theater back to the Short North Arts district,” Short North Stage Board President Peter Yockel said.

The Short North Stage theater company came to fruition in August of 2010. A board was elected, and by November of that year they had applied for 501 (c)(3) tax status.

“We looked at three or four places, but the historic presence and the history of the Garden Theater made it our primary interest. It is the most predominant building in that area of the Short North,” Yockel said. “So we looked into it, checked out what kind of shape it was in, and found that there was no reason it could not be a theater again.”

According to Yockel, the Garden Theater is the second oldest theater in the Columbus area. Initial construction began in 1917, and it was the first Ohio theater to be air-conditioned. The theater also boasts some of Columbus’ first examples of Art Deco. In the 1970s and 1980s, the theater showed X-rated flicks.

Though it has some seedy roots as a former xrated movie theater, Yockel believes the vaudeville look of the space will only add to the Short

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To do this, the Short North Stage needed a sizable grant, which they received from The Greater Columbus Art Council. The company employed local theatrical based architecture firm, Hardline Designs to take on the project. Hardline Designs also did the revitalization of the Lincoln Theater.

Phase one created a platform stage in the main theater to get them up and running and money coming in. There are now two performing spaces: the main auditorium seats 155 audience members, while the second stage can hold up to 99 people. Future renovations include expansion of the dressing rooms and turning the theater into a 299-seat house. Changes will start taking place in June, after the season ends.

Yockel said the Short North Stage theater company will bring both familiar titles and some original works to the Short North. He believes this will be complimentary to the other fantastic performing art companies already at work in the Columbus area.

none that are the size of the Garden Theater,” explains Yockel. “We’ll have 299 seats, which would allow us to bring performances that can’t fill a venue as big as the Palace Theater. More locally organized productions, means more jobs for local actors, directors and designers.”

By the fall of 2011, the first shows were being performed. According to Yockel, excitement and support for the theater has already been overwhelming.

Both the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Short North Business Association are behind the project. Most importantly though, the patrons of the Short North have welcomed the addition to the district. Audience turnout for their first performance of Follies was eye opening for the theater company.

“Though there are lots of great bars and restaurants in the area, it is still one of the most vibrant art districts in Ohio, so we wanted to spearhead a resurgence of performing arts. We got a great response. We started showing Follies in October, and we sold out every showing. Because of the turn out, we decided to offer more showings of our next big performance. It was great,” he said. “We are hearing people say how excited they are for us to set up shop daily. I really think people in the Short North were hungry to have performing arts back in the arts district.”

“We are going to focus on doing musicals and showcasing different forms of performing arts,” Yockel said. “We want to bring in some cabaret type shows for the 99 seat stage.”

The revitalization of the Garden Theater isn’t only serving the arts community in Columbus, but also the business community. According to Yockel, the area is already seeing an influx of businesses.

“We have some great venues in the city, but

“It kind of seemed like the northern part of the

“So what’s your sign?” is NOT a good Valentine’s day pick up line.

Short North wasn’t really bringing in the businesses of the flourishing southern part. I think that is because the Garden Theater, one of the most prominent buildings on the block, was vacant. Once we turned on that iconic marquee, businesses started setting up shop,” Yockel said. “A shop owner who took up residency right on the corner of High and Fifth Avenue said that us opening the theater was one of the deciding factors in her picking that spot.”

Though the Short North Stage and the Garden Theater has come a long way, Yockel said there is still a ways to go.

“We are still doing renovations, and those will start again in the summer months. We want to expand the dressing rooms. But that won’t stop us from putting on a full-scale performance in the spring (the title of which will be announced at a later date,)” Yockel said. “Eventually we hope to establish a full-time paid staff of professional actors that produce about four or five shows per season like CATCO. We want to be a regional attraction. We are very excited.”

The Short North Stage will be showcasing their Cabernet Cabaret in the 60-seat Green Room venue through the winter.

In addition to putting on performances, Yockel said the Short North Stage also wants to offer educational programs for budding directors and actors.

“We want to help train aspiring young local theater professionals as well,” said Yockel .

For more information on the Garden Theater or the Short North Stage theater company, visit www.shortnorthstage.org, email info@shortnorthstage.com or call 614.725.4042.

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Lisa Lampanelli and I have a lot in common: We’re both Italian and into black guys.

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A Conversation with Makeda Porter, MSW, Prevention Services Manager, Sexual Health Program, Columbus Public Health

by Michael Daniels Makeda Porter has one of the most important jobs in the City, though you may have never heard of her before. Why? Because she works behind the scenes, in the trenches, keeping us safe and healthy. Here’s my interview with her on the why, the what, and the how.

Michael Daniels: I understand Columbus Public Health is working on a Sexual Health Campaign. Can you tell us about it?

Makeda Porter: This Sexual Health Campaign is an extension of the work we do every day to raise awareness for testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and for promoting safer sex in our community. However, with this new campaign, we will be looking at fresh new ways to reach those most affected. It will be a multi-faceted approach, including advertising, social media, YouTube, collateral pieces such as brochures, flyers and cards, and local bars and community centers to reach everyone who is sexually active and most at risk.

MD: Why a campaign now?

MP: The numbers tell us why. In Columbus, we continue to have high STI rates, and in the last few years we’ve had several outbreaks of syphilis and other major STIs in our communities. In 2010, Franklin County ranked 22nd for reported Chlamydia cases, 14th for reported gonorrhea cases and 30th in the nation for the most infectious primary and secondary stages of syphilis.

MD: Who will the campaign reach?

MP: While the campaign may reach many, we will focus our efforts on two key groups: young African American Gay men and men who have sex with men (MSM).

MD: What are the major STIs that you see in the Gay community?

MP: In Columbus, we continue to see high numbers of major STIs such as HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea.

MD: Are these STIs serious?

MP: Absolutely. HIV is a serious infection with no cure. And even though there is more management of HIV today, it is still difficult - and very expensive - to treat, and its affects the rest of your life. Syphilis can be cured, but it can also be very serious - even life threatening - if left untreated. It can cause you to go blind, get into

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Hallmark has over 1300 different cards specifically for Valentine’s Day.

your joints causing problems with walking, and eventually affect your internal organs and central nervous system. But, just like other STIs, HIV and syphilis are preventable.

MD: We continue to hear of syphilis outbreaks, are we having one right now?

MP: While we are not currently having an outbreak in Columbus at this time, the numbers are still high - and the threat of an outbreak remains very real. Cincinnati and now Dayton are both experiencing syphilis outbreaks. Because we live in a mobile society, we are at risk of the infection traveling further north to central Ohio.

MD: When will the campaign roll out?

MP: We have been hard at work on the campaign over the last few months, conducting focus groups and collecting information. We are now in the creative process and we expect to start rolling out the campaign in the next couple of months.

MD: Are you working with any other partners in the campaign?

MP: Health is not a solo act, so we are reaching out to all agencies that do HIV work in the community. The AIDS Recourse Center of Central Ohio (ARC) is already at the table lending expertise and we hope other groups will join us as well. It will take all of us working together to get maximum impact from the campaign so we can make a difference.

MD: What is the goal of the campaign?

MP: Our goal is to encourage all men who are sexually active to seek testing. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all Gay men get tested for syphilis and HIV every year.

Knowing your status is powerful- having another untreated STI increases the likelihood of transmitting and acquiring HIV. Seeking treatment will help protect you and your partners against these serious infections.

MD: What can Gay men do to protect themselves?

MP: Prevention is key. Condoms may not be sexy, but they are the best line of defense against STIs. And, getting tested and knowing your status is critical to protecting yourself and others.

For more information, contact Columbus Public Health, 240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, 43215, 614.645.7772, http://publichealth.columbus.gov/, or visit them on Facebook and Twitter.

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LOW (od

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Well, he said he’d be back...

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Caught In A Gay Romance

by Marcus Morris I want to do something different for Valentine’s Day this year. Last year I went to dinner. In 2010, I spent Valentine’s Day on a gay beach in Cape Town. That night, instead of some hot and steamy sex acts, I moaned in agony from the worst sunburn of my life. Since I thought it would be cute to wear a Speedo, I was rewarded with my inner thighs feeling like they had been torched. I wish I had received aloe vera for Valentine’s Day instead of something romantic. In 2009, I spent Valentine’s Day with my straight best friend since my husband was abroad. In 2008, I had an Anti-Valentine’s Day. I was not a proponent of romance in the slightest.

My friend Joe and I proceeded to get really drunk and I passed out on the living room floor. Classy. I am a waiter, so chances are, I’ll be slinging hash to couples wanting to be romantic with one another in one of the many fine establishments in the Short North.

I am going to celebrate on either February 13th or 15th.

My partner wants to save money, so I was thinking we should cook dinner. You might imagine that there is nothing more romantic than sharing the kitchen with one another. That is until you’ve been in a relationship for 3 years and you just want to eat and watch Rachel Maddow. My partner and I will battle over the chef’s hat, the menu, the drinks and what we will watch after.

That’s what relationships are all about. Feel the love.

In the real world, romance comes in the form of something other than chocolates and roses. Sometimes romance can be filling up the gas tank if you share the car. Just yesterday, I thought, “I really don’t want to stand in the goddamn cold filling up gas at $3.50 a gallon.” But, I decided to be “romantic” and stop into the local BP. That’s what romance is! I mean, I could Wal-Mart up the gesture by going into the convenience store and buying a stuffed animal made from polyester and pesticide-ridden cotton, but I chose to be subtle.

So, my Valentine’s Day present to you are ideas for romance that are not floral-scented or terribly cliché.

What about a jockstrap? Straight guys get to run to Victoria’s Secret and buy poly-blend lingerie for their wives and girlfriends and mistresses, so why can’t gay men buy jockstraps for their partners and fuck buddies? I would think that a jockstrap would go over quite well. I would much rather unzip pants and receive a jockstrap instead of a Whitmans Sampler. Plus, you can wear a jockstrap outside of Valentine’s Day. You can integrate a jockstrap into your every day life, and if the relationship doesn’t work out, you can slap on that jock and pick up a trick. We need to bring that back to the gay community too - turn off your Grindr and pick someone up the old-fashioned way.

Lube is a fantastic gift on Valentine’s Day. It’s a good way to get the conversation steered toward dessert.

Everyone has a preferred lube, so the romance is in getting it right. You don’t want to buy Gun Oil for someone who uses Wet Oil. Personally, I prefer Swiss Navy, but if an encounter is going to happen, I’m not really picky

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about the lube. Remember, we’ve all made the mistake of using a lube substitute - baby oil, Bengay, peanut butter - so it’s just a good idea to have the real thing on hand.

I know a few people who would love to get a bag of drugs. You don’t have to give the gift of crystal meth or anything that fucked up, but I don’t know anyone who would turn down a Vicodin drip after a hangover, or a few Ambien for those sleepless nights. If you are into the type of guy who is into video games or patchouli, what about a bag of pot? Some drugs are illegal in the United States, but there are a lot of gifts that should be illegal, like college football jerseys and fast-food gift cards… although you might want to give that fastfood gift card to the person as a companion to the bag of weed. The romance involved in passing a one-hitter and then sharing a 10-piece Chicken McNugget is timeless.

Paper is always a good gift. I propose researching vintage magazines and surprising your valentine. If you are into leather, why not get some vintage leather magazines from England in the 1950’s. Sir Gee is my favorite. I would take an issue and have a few images matted and framed. Wouldn’t it be hilarious for guests to walk in your place with images of an “English gent” spread-eagle with leather chaps on the wall? Also, Honcho would also be a great choice. I love vintage porn as art, and you can investigate the fetish of your loved one for bedroom purposes too. Also, don’t forget the lady porn. Even I would love some butch-dyke porn images in a frame. Check out some of the great lesbian porn from the past. On Our Backs would be a fantastic start.

If your partner isn’t into porn-as-art, then old issues of Good Housekeeping and Ladies Home Journal are chock full of irony and gorgeous photographs. Once, I saw a fab kitchen that was full of images of women baking and entertaining. This was in the household of a woman who couldn’t crack an egg, was a staunch feminist, and found the shit totally amusing. Personally, I’d like a few issues of old Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. The photographs are unparalleled, and you could frame an Irving Penn still-life, or a Louise Dahl-Wolfe photograph of the Southwest. A real print of Penn’s work could cost you $100,000, so this is a steal. Throw in a few old issues of COLT, and I’m happy.

Lastly, this gift is cliché, but a bottle of champagne is never dull or wrong. For my first romantic Valentine’s Day, I got a bottle of Veuve. Best gift you can give. If you don’t like champagne, save it for a party, serve it for brunch mimosas, or re-gift it to me. I enjoy the gift of champagne or good wine. Hell, I enjoy a bottle from Trader Joes! So, class it up and get a bottle of bubbly.

Some things are timeless: Pot is timeless. Porn is timeless. A jockstrap and lube are timeless. Some people give roses and chocolate and cheap lingerie. Don’t be that person. Give something a little different that might last forever. Or, until you have to get more lube at the end of the month.

Lube, leather and porn comprise most of my Saturday nights.

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His name’s gonna’ be Mudd... Wait, nevermind.

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Hot and Bloody

by Mario Pinardi If I really wanted someone to suck me, it wouldn’t be for blood. Gay boys and straight girls are way too obsessed with vampires and the made-up Hollywood stories that they are embalmed in. If you were to trick with a “true” vampire they would chomp your dick off or eat your clitoris. Duh. I understand the need for escapism (this is usually European porn for me) and fantasy, but vampires? And, I thought I was morbid. The more recent vampires are either portrayed as super, “Photoshopped” buff or sickly, emaciated carcasses.

Now, I will take anything buff for my “love monkey,” but I am not into the Skeletor look at all. Isn’t it gross to have a carcass blow you? I hope this trend of “glamour vampires” leaves soon, but I am not confident about this - we still hold on to stale trends here like the Hoarders on A&E. Those who are unfortunate enough to know me understand my thirst for education and fact-finding. Let’s look at “real” vampires and let’s see how glamorous they truly are.

In October 2008, ABC News did a story about real life “vampires” and how they exist in modern society. ABC interviewed modern vampires, scholars and physicians about the existence of vampirism. Vampirism doesn’t mean you are immortal and that you will pop out of a coffin. There is a definite diversity about the vampire community, some are the epitome of

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what we think vampires are, but many are not. First, not all real-life vampires drink blood. While “sanguine” vampires say they need to drink human or animal blood in order to energize them, “pranic” vampires say they can simply feed off the energy of other humans. Pranic, in this context, stems from the Hindu notion of prana, or energy. A pranic vampire can draw on the energy of people who are within 25 or 30 feet. When a pranic vampire begins to feel drained or their body is out of balance, they can either “sip” from the ambient energy of surrounding crowds or eat a “scheduled full meal” from a group of friends who have granted their permission. Friends and family of pranic vampires can feel “transparent” and depleted around their vampire friend. In fact, I think I may have had many pranic vampire friends that sucked the life out of me and my wallet - draining homos!

“Sanguine” vampires say they need to drink human or animal blood in order energize themselves and some cite the so-called Renfield’s syndrome, a condition used to describe an obsession to drink blood, as a diagnosis for their craving. Renfield’s syndrome is not recognized in medical literature and is rejected by medical doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists. There are rare cases in which people suffer from clinical vampirism, which is the psychotic delusion that you need blood to survive. Convinced that they need to drink blood,

these folks cut themselves or have killed loved ones to satisfy their need. Clinical vampirism is very different from forming a vampirish persona and participating in a subculture that celebrates it. Sanguine vampires feed by typically consuming an ounce or less of blood at a time and usually no more than once a week.

When “sanguine” vampires obtain blood from human sources, it is consensual and facilitated. So, yes, real-life bloodsuckers are not going to jump out of the bushes at night and bite your neck for some blood. If someone is going to jump out of the bushes at night at you, they are not seeking blood; they are seeking your fake-ass Prada wallet.

hard for a teen zealot to think clearly. And, if you are an adult who is a zealot that screams when they see R-Patz or the buff vampires of True Blood, you really need better meds. By the way, R-Patz and K-Stew are two hipster Hollywood kids who played out a morbid love story in film; they do not openly practice vampirism.

But, there were some hot vampires in this film series - would you date a bloodsucker? And True Blood – what a morbid romance. I love morbidity, but this show is so hokey that it is like a teen soap opera with nudity. Personally, I think the vampire craze is as absurd as Prince’s ass-less pants from the 1980s and it only gives kids another reason to shop at Hot Topic.

Like gays and straight girls, the vampire community is a tight knit group, in that they are protective about who knows they that practice vampirism, for fear of being ridicule or ostracized. Vampires usually date and mate within their own community. Sounds familiar? There are many vampire community websites that can help you join a vampire group or pack. www.sanguinarius.org and vampires.meetup.com are two sites that provide direction on how to meet other vampires.

The only correlation between the modern vampires and us is the community that modern vampires created for themselves in order to protect themselves. And, this is not a bad thing either. The GLBT community has been and still is struggling to achieve equality, and we tend to flock together to protect ourselves and to feel comfortable. Maybe we need a “vampire” pride for our vampire brothers and sisters?

I know you are thinking, “Halloween is not until October, what the fuck is he writing?”

Well, there is never a bad time to chat about vampires. There is so much trendy TV and film that are vampire-centric and there is so much press propaganda around this craze that it is

Lastly, this is the month of love, remember to love yourself first and always be a survivor, never a victim. Now, I think I am going to ask Hubby to buy a garlic necklace - I may have pissed off a few bloodsuckers, as well as a few homos.

Why do I suddenly feel like brushing my teeth?

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A massage by editor Erin Mc Calla makes you feel good inside and out.

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I wouldn’t miss these events - neither should you!

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The Other Doctor

by Mette Bach “Yeah, I know. I’ve been busy.”

I am sitting in my doctor’s office, reading Time Magazine, nodding along to their cover story on global protests. The person of the year is not a single person but a type of person: the protester. I like this article very much. So much that I don’t notice how quickly time passes. The doctor surprises me when she opens the door and rushes in. It’s a busy day at the clinic. She emanates it.

“How can I help?” she asks.

“Just a prescription refill.”

She is not the doctor I normally see. The doctor I normally see is someone my friends and I affectionately refer to as ‘the dyke doctor.’ We don’t know if she is a dyke, but we can all agree that we hope she is. She is thorough and smart, funny and practical. She has warm hands and a gentle smile and she isn’t judgmental about anything. We know. We compare notes. She has treated us for all kinds of things that we wouldn’t even bring up to other doctors.

Her colleague, the woman sitting in front of me, is obviously stressed by the amount of clients in the waiting room. The dyke doctor isn’t around today. I secretly hope she’s on a motorcycle trip with her amazing girlfriend. They are camping and loving life. I imagine she’s getting some well-deserved rejuvenation and she’ll come back fresh and eager to solve all our problems.

I’m ready to accept the simple prescription refill and get on my way when the other doctor flips through my file.

“You haven’t had a physical in a while,” she says. outlookcolumbus.com

“I don’t like giving you this prescription without checking you.”

“Oh,” I say. “You seem kind of busy today.”

Her body language loosens up. She gestures at the waiting room. “Oh, that,” she says, “That’s a constant. They can wait. Let’s check you out.”

arm is larger than the mounds I have in the front. I pay close attention to this every time I step out of the shower. I don’t talk about it.

part of my body. I am relieved to have a name for it. I feel complete, like the pieces of my puzzle fit together.

On a Saturday night, I go to a slumber party at Chrissy’s. It’s a big deal just to get invited and I bring my best nightie. All the Grade Seven girls want to know: if you could have plastic surgery on some part of yourself, what part would you change. I say my armpit. The girls don’t believe me, eat marshmallows, tell me to be serious or I won’t be invited again.

“So, what do you mean by deciding on a course of action? What kind of action?”

I’m impressed with the level of care at this clinic. Most places scoot patients out the door as fast as they can; at least that’s my experience. I hop up on the examination table and undo my shirt. The doctor runs her fingers down the sides of my throat. Her fingers are cold but I don’t mind. She asks me to take off my bra and I comply. She fondles my breasts. I am amazed by just how clinical the experience is. Not that it shouldn’t be clinical - it’s an examination, not a date. But still.

I don’t show them my armpit, don’t want to give them evidence for what I know to be true: that I am ugly, that God gave me this flaw to punish me. I am grateful the other girls don’t believe me; that they think I couldn’t possibly be serious when we all know that the right answer to the question is to say you’d get plastic surgery on your nose. Or liposuction. We all think we are fat.

She feels around my chest area and reaches beneath my armpit. Fondle, fondle, pause. Undecipherable inquisitive look. Fondle, fondle, pause.

The doctor’s silence fills me with tension. She tells me she wants me to get a scan. I insist that I have always looked this way. This blob, however strange it might be to her, has always been there.

“Hmmm,” she says, “What’s this?”

She is referring to a part of my body that I am uncomfortable with, a fleshy mound beneath my right armpit.

“In that case,” she says, “Let’s get you scanned so we can identify it for what it probably is - a third breast - and then we can decide on the proper course of action.”

“Oh, you know, surgery or whatever you want.”

“Surgery? Why? Is it dangerous to have a third breast?”

“No, it’s just…” she doesn’t finish the thought.

I have to pressure her.

“It’s just… what?”

“It’s just that most people would probably elect to have it removed.”

“Why?” “Oh, well, just…” her brain is scanning for the right way to say it, “It looks weird.”

“Oh,” I say. “I see.”

We don’t say anything to each other after that.

She writes my prescription down and gives me a note to see a specialist.

“Oh, that,” I say, “I’ve always had that.”

“Sorry. What? Third breast?”

“Really?”

“Most likely.”

As I walk home, I think to myself that most former incarnations of myself - my 12-year-old self, my teenaged self, myself in my 20s would have loved to have a doctor validate what I already believed: that there is something wrong with me. I would have loved an excuse to take a knife to my flaws.

“Yes.”

I am filled with serenity. It has been 23 years since the slumber party, which means it has been 23 years since I have talked about this

Next time the dyke doctor goes on vacation, I’ll be sure to stock up on my prescriptions ahead of time.

Suddenly, I am twelve. The mound beneath my

“They call me the Dr. Love. I’ve got the cure you’re looking for.”

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Gay Men’s Chorus? Yes, please.

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Status Talk

by Regina Sewell THIRTY YEARS AGO In 1981, gay men in California and New York began to show up in hospitals with Kaposi’s Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer usually found only among either older Mediterranean or Jewish men or young adult African men, and/or Pneumocystis Pneumonia Carinii (PCP), generally only found in individuals with seriously compromised immune systems. These men did not fit the script for either condition. No one knew why so many people who were getting sick were gay or what was causing the cancer and pneumonia. By mid-1982 the symptoms had become prevalent enough to spur the Center for Disease Control (CDC) into action.

Though they still didn’t really understand what was causing the Kaposi’s Sarcoma, or the PCP, they gave the complex of symptoms a name: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

It was a scary time, especially in the gay community. One to two people (mostly men who had sex with men) were being diagnosed with AIDS every day and by 1988, 45,000 people, most of whom were gay or bi-sexual men, had died.

Even though scientists discovered HIV - the virus that causes AIDS - in 1984, governmental officials and religious leaders viewed AIDS as moral reckoning and stood by and watched as members of our community died. They refused to back safer sex education and needle exchange programs that most likely would have reduced the rate of infection. Their message was simple. “Just say no.” In other words, “Don’t do it, and if you do, well, you can die with the consequences of your immoral behavior.” People (again mostly gay and bisexual men) continued to die a brutal death. Physically, people with AIDS were wasting away and sliding into dementia. Socially, they were often shunned by their families and friends and

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treated like shit by medical professionals who “forgot” the Hippocratic Oath and treated HIVpositive patients with disrespect or refused to treat them at all. This stigma followed many AIDS victims into death because many funeral homes refused to touch HIV infected bodies.

SILENCE EQUALS DEATH In 1987, drawing parallels between Nazi policies towards homosexuals during the holocaust and the social and political response to AIDS in the 1980s, six gay activists in New York plastered posters featuring a pink triangle on a black background stating ‘SILENCE = DEATH’ around the city. They made the point that ‘silence about the oppression and annihilation of gay people, then and now, must be broken as a matter of our survival.’ This became a rallying cry of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) and prompted many people to speak out and take action. Perhaps as a result, by 1997, pharmaceutical companies had developed a “cocktail” of drugs that kept the virus at bay in infected people. This meant that that contracting HIV was no longer an immediate death sentence.

AIDS AT 30: SILENCE STILL EQUALS DEATH Despite extensive research, scientists have yet to find either a vaccine or a cure for HIV. Although fewer people are dying of AIDS, the HIV infection rate has not gone down since the mid1990’s. The CDC documents nearly 50,000 new HIV infections each year. Over half of these involve male-to-male sexual contact. In Ohio, two-thirds of all new HIV cases involve gay and bisexual men. According to CDC estimates, transgender people and young men of color who have sex with men are at particularly high risk of infection.

While much of the responsibility for the continua-

tion of the epidemic falls on the shoulders of political leaders who refused to fund safer sex and HIV prevention education and needle exchange programs and instead advocated ineffective abstinence only education, at the end of the day it is our community who bears the brunt of the disease. We still have to keep breaking the silence in order to protect our community and ourselves.

First we have to keep pressuring politicians to fund safer sex and other evidence based HIV prevention programs. We also have to stay aware of political fighting as it relates to treatment for HIV-positive people. Obama’s Health Care Reform promises to have beneficial effects for people who are HIV-positive by expanding Medicaid eligibility, allowing state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) to pay “true out of pocket costs” associated with the Medicare Part D “donut hole.” Health Care Reform also protects HIV-positive people against insurance company discrimination based on health status and prior condition and promises to subsidize insurance for people making up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Since there doesn’t seem to be a move in Washington to topple the insurance companies or at least push them to reduce their profit margin and upper management benefits packages by reducing costs and increasing coverage and services, this subsidy is very useful.

However, Health Care Reform is not popular among some very powerful people and groups.

The act is already on the Supreme Court’s slate and political infighting could dismantle the reform completely. We have to fight for our rights no matter how the political winds change.

Second, we have to support agencies like the AIDS Resource Center that provide services to HIV-positive people, anonymous testing and evidence based prevention programming.

Finally, we have to keep breaking the silence at a personal level. Not only do we need to talk about

Necco Sweethearts: 100% fat free with only a mild chalk flavor

HIV with political leaders and community movers and shakers, we need to talk about HIV and other STD’s with our sexual partners. This means we have to know our status. Even if you don’t think you have engaged in risky behavior, get tested. If you’ve engaged in risky sexual activities or shared needles since your last test, get tested again. Encourage your sexual partners to get tested as well.

Unless you are absolutely certain that you and your partner (or partners as the case may be) is (are) STD free and HIV-negative, engage in safer sex. Protect yourself and your partner(s) by using condoms, dental dams, latex surgical gloves and/or plastic wrap. Remember to use latex condoms on your sex toys as well. And if you’re too drunk, stoned or otherwise impaired to get that condom on correctly, you’re probably too drunk stoned or otherwise impaired to have sex. Just a thought.

If you are HIV-positive, you need to tell your partner(s) before you have sex with them or at least as soon as you know. Finding out that someone knowingly withheld information about having an STD is a huge betrayal, especially if the sexual encounter results in the sharing of AIDS or some other STD. Positive status does not make you dangerous. It just means that it’s important to take precautions.

If you are HIV-negative, don’t be a jerk. Refusing to have sex with someone who is HIV-positive is not a legitimate prevention strategy. It’s discrimination. Worse, it makes it harder for everyone to honestly talk about their STD and HIV-status and makes it less likely that the rate of infection will go down anytime soon.

To ask Regina a question, check out upcoming workshops, or check out her books and other writing, go to: www.ReginaSewell.com .

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AIDS in Black (Gay) America - ARC Ohio Starts Greater Columbus Mpowerment Center to Fight HIV Among Young Gay Men of Color

by D.A. Steward Research by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that there are more new HIV infections among young black men who have sex with men (MSM) than any other racial or ethnic group of MSM. And that the number of new infections among young black gay men is nearly twice that of young white gay men.

This is a statistic that’s kept me up at the night for the better part of three years, when I first started volunteering in the prevention department at AIDS Resource Center Ohio, and has stumped decades of HIV prevention specialists and researchers from across the nation.

I recently took a full-time job with ARC Ohio’s newly developed Greater Columbus Mpowerment Center that will address this problem, and with National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day being February 7, outlook and I thought addressing this issue apropos. But hopefully by the end of this article you’ll realize this struggle is one that deserves your attention year-round.

There are 50,000 new HIV infections in America each year. Of those new infections, nearly 44 percent are African American. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that roughly 14 percent of Americans are black. Clearly black America has become disproportionately affected by HIV. But in the last few years, the infection rate among black gay males has reached epidemic levels, on par with the infection rate of white gay males during the initial “AIDS scare” of the 1980s. The CDC reports that in major U.S. cities nearly one in three black gay/bisexual men are infected with HIV, and 60 percent of them don’t know it.

Unfortunately, Columbus is at the forefront of this pandemic. Franklin County has the largest number of people living with an HIV diagnosis in Ohio (around 3,400), and the 25th highest rate of new infections in the nation. MSM still account for the highest affected demographic, actually rising from 63 percent of the reported HIV

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infections in Franklin County to 72 percent between 2003 and 2008, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The data also shows that of the 3,000+ living cases of HIV in Central Ohio, 25 percent are African American males, while 3 percent are “non-white.”

HIV is no longer The Boogey Man it once was. Information on how HIV is transferred, treated and prevented is now considered common knowledge. In November, Bill Hardy, ARC Ohio’s executive director, returned from the U.S. Conference on AIDS in Chicago with this quote from a researcher presenting there: “We really do now have the means to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”

So why three decades after the first AIDS diagnosis, are we seeing it ravage another marginalized demographic?

There are many theories: Not enough funds are being focused on HIV advocacy and awareness in the MSM, amongst MSM, including black MSM. The stark and belligerent homophobia that often pervades the African American community, often perpetuated by the “black church.” Along with an unfortunately common habit among black churches to ignore any issue dealing with sexual or mental health. Also the “down low” phenomena; and not the myths or media hype, but the oppressing reality of a group of men trapped in a debilitating cycle of self-hate and secrecy.

These hypotheses have been debated for years, and we may never reach a consensus, but regardless something needs to be done now to curb the devastating reality of the statistics.

The CDC has recognized the need for immediate action and back in September awarded $55 million ($11 million annually for five years) to organizations around the country for HIV prevention programs aimed at young gay men of color and young transgender persons of color. As many are aware, ARC Ohio was recently awarded $1.6 million (approx. $333,000 annually for five years) to create one of these pro-

grams. (With nine offices, ARC Ohio is the state’s leading provider of HIV awareness, advocacy and care.)

an Outreach Coordinator with Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Family and AIDS Clinic and Education Services (FACES) program.

ARC Ohio CEO Bill Hardy has been a strong advocate for more prevention and testing resources to reach gay and bisexual men.

The need for GCMC has been a long time coming. We’ve seen great work done on this issue by other community organizations but there’s never been a center that focuses not only on the need for HIV prevention, advocacy and awareness, but also focuses on the need for a collective mobilization within our community to combat this epidemic.

“Gay and bisexual men still bear an enormously disproportionate burden of this epidemic. Twothirds of all new HIV cases in Ohio are among this population, but less than a third of state HIV prevention dollars over the past years have been allocated to HIV programs specifically designed to reduce HIV among gay and bisexual men,” he said. “We have got to change the fact that every 25 hours someone in Central Ohio most often, a young, gay man - becomes HIV-infected.”

It was this disparity, Columbus’ large gay population, and our unfortunate distinction of having the 25th highest rate of HIV in the nation that led ARC Ohio to apply for the CDC grant.

The Greater Columbus Mpowerment Center’s mission is to be at the forefront of HIV prevention, education and advocacy for the same-gender-loving (SGL) black and Latino male community. We also strive to be a visible voice and a vehicle for accountability with the goal of ending stigma and providing mental and social support. The center provides free HIV testing, prevention programming, social and educational events and a general safe space for black and Latino men to congregate. GCMC is currently operating out of ARC Ohio, 4400 N. High Street, Columbus, but will soon move into its own yet-to-be-designated location. We hope to be located near downtown Columbus, and plan to be fully operating from there by March.

“In order to address the impact HIV is having on the youth and men of color a community-level approach is needed to address the various and complex issues faced by this community,” said Malcolm Varner, GCMC’s new director, formerly

Only the US, Canada, Mexico, France, Australia and the UK celebrate Valentines Day.

“I have witnessed firsthand the decimation of our community,” said Ron Murray, the center’s Mpowerment Program Coordinator, a born and bred Columbus native who’s been in the social work field for more than a decade. “What has remained a constant is that the numbers of new infections continued to rise. The uniqueness of GCMC and programs like Mpowerment is that it allows participants to identify the issues they’re dealing with - whether it be HIV prevention, treatment, dating or participating in high risk behaviors - and look at solutions from a more social and collective aspect.”

Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is February 7 and was established many years ago to shine a fierce and necessary light on the staggering statistics mentioned above. The CDC has taken a great first step, but this needs to only be the beginning. My personal hope is that by this time next year the doomsday media coverage of increased infection will be replaced with humaninterest spotlights on decreases instead.

Please join ARC Ohio at Columbus Public Health, 240 Parsons Ave., Columbus, Thursday, February 9, 6p-7:30p, for a Community Information Session about the new center featuring the GCMC staff. Can’t attend? More information about the Greater Columbus Mpowerment Center can be found at Facebook.com/ColumbusMpowerment, email gcmc@arcohio.org or 614.340.6717. More information about the work of ARC Ohio log on to www.arcohio.org. Info on the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day visit www.blackaidsday.org.

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10:00 AM Scott Antique Market @ Ohio Expo Center 11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 2:00 PM RENT 7:00 PM Karaoke @ Club Diversity 8:00 PM Latin Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

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11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 2:00 PM CityMusic Sunday Series: Alas! dair Fraser and Natalie Haas @ Via Vec! chia 2:00 PM RENT 3:30 PM Marmalade and Salt-Cured Lemons @ Franklin Park Conservatory 7:00 PM Karaoke @ Club Diversity 8:00 PM Latin Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

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9:00 AM Columbus Cartoonists: A Bi! centennial Celebration @ Ohio State University … 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

10:00 AM Presidents Day @ Columbus Zoo and Aquarium … 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

President's Day

… 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 Culinary Class: Handmade Chocolates @ Franklin Park Conserva! tory 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

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… Karaoke @ Club Diversity 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 8:00 PM FFN’s Date Night @ MadLab 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

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10:00 AM Vibrant Victoriana @ The Franklin Park Conservatory 11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 2:00 PM RENT 7:00 PM Karaoke @ Club Diversity 8:00 PM Latin Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

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9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 6:00 PM Food Embrace @ Wild Goose Creative 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slam! mers 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 12:00 PM WOSU Presents Columbus Neighborhoods: Franklinton/Down!

4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slam! mers 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

Valentine's Day

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 8:00 PM Blue Man Group @ The Palace Theatre 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slam! mers 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

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9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 5:00 PM Get Crocked at Wyandotte 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slam! mers 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

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12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Ath! letic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 7:30 PM Swingin’ Wednesdays @ NY! OHs Buckeye Bar 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

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9:00 AM BNI Group One-to-Ones @ Panera Bread (Bethel) 12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Ath! letic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 6:00 PM Network Columbus @ Suite Q 8:00 PM Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ Southern Theatre 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

7:00 AM Exhibit: Rosa Parks, The Pow! er of One @ Ohio Statehouse 11:00 AM CATCO: The Rubenstein Kiss @ Studio Two Theatre, Ri"e Center 12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Ath! letic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" 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 6:00 PM Pechu Kucha Columbus @ Columbus Museum of Art 8:00 PM CW & HipHop @ Wall St 9:00 PM Tom Crumley at the Piano @ Club D

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4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 6:00 PM The Bicentennial Birthday @ Battelle Grand, Greater Columbus Con! vention Center 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM College Nite @ Wall St 10:00 PM Traxx: Columbus @ Out! lands

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25 11:30 AM Queer Yoga @ FEVERHEAD 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level

18 11:00 AM OhioCentric @ OSU Urban Arts Space 8:00 PM Drake @ Schottenstein Center 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level

11 1:00 PM Echoes in Time Theatre: Mary Bowser, Servant and Spy in the South! ern White House @ Ohio History Cen! ter 1:00 PM Black History Month Highlight Tour @ Ohio History Center 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level

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10:00 AM RACE – Are We So Di"erent? @ COSI 4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 8:00 PM CW & HipHop @ Wall St 9:00 PM Tom Crumley at the Piano @ Club D 10:00 PM Drag Special @ Level

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Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Broad St, 614.645.8733, www.fpconVICTIMLESS CRIME? ME THINKS NOT CATCO: The Rubenstein Kiss @ Stu- servatory.org: Who knew the Orchid could be so fascinating? There will be dio Two Theatre, Riffe Center, 77 S High St, 614.469.0939, catco.org: The Orchid Talks, Orchid Walks, Orchid Sundays and an Orchid Society Show Rosenbergs find themselves in over and Sale while featured work from their head while living their double glass artist Debora Moore presents an life. Get ready to play the lying game imaginative interpretation on these with this historical look back as dewonders of nature. Runs through April ception, espionage and secrets are 8. 10a-5p; $6-11 uncovered. Runs through the 19th.

11a; $11.50-$40.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6 THIS JUST MIGHT BE ABOUT YOU SAVE A SEAT FOR ME Exhibit: Rosa Parks, The Power of FFN’s Date Night @ MadLab, 227 N One @ Ohio Statehouse, Broad and 3rd St, 614.221.5418, High Sts, 614.752.9277, www.madlab.net: Share any embarwww.ohiostatehouse.org: Black history rassing stories lately? Lets hope so! month at the Ohio Statehouse starts This Valentine’s Day, Full Frontal Nutoday. Kick off the month’s events with dity will tell a love story based on the K-third grade student art exhibits best and worst romance stories fans sponsored by COTA. M-F 7a-6p, Sa-Su have told them. Maybe not exactly the 11a-5p; free. way it went down but damn close, just a different point of view, new characTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 ters and new circumstances. Runs R&B ROYALTY REVISITED through the 18th, 8p; $6-10.

Dr. E’s Tribute to Jazz, Funk and Soul Queens @ McConnell Arts Center, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 777 Evening St, mcconnellarts.org: WHAT’S BLACK AND BLUE ALL OVER? Compared to an early Patti Labelle, Dr. Blue Man Group @ The Palace TheE is a songstress reviving the R&B atre, 34 W Broad St, 614.469.9850, and Jazz standards of the past bring- www.capa.com: A little random, a ing them to new audiences. Her talwhole lot of fun and sure to entertain. ented voice and smooth sound will BLUE MAN GROUP will transport you cure your emotional ailments. 8p-10; to a new place with their unique blend $5-12. of music, technology and comedy.

Tuesday-Sunday 8p; $38.10-91.95.

FAMILY FLICKS FOR FREE Human Services Secretary at the time, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 February Family Films@ King Arts DIAMONDS ON THE SOLES OF HER SHOES Complex, 867 Mt. Vernon Ave, Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ South614.645.5464, www.kingartscomern Theatre, 21 E Main St, plex.com: In honor of Black History 614.340.1896, www.capa.com: 3 Month, the King Arts Complex will host Grammys and counting Ladysmith a variety of films every Thursday Black Mambazo marries their native throughout February. The series will South African musical traditions to focus specifically on books that have the sounds and sentiments of Chrisbecome movies, such as Imitation of tian gospel creating a unique and inLife and The Help. A community mem- spirational sound. 8p; $28-33. ber will facilitate each film, so come out to screen some fabulous and free THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 flicks this February. There will also be WE’RE ALL PART OF THE SAME a few children’s films, so be sure to RAINBOW...JUST A DIFFERENT SHADE browse the website for more days, RACE – Are We So Different? @ times, and screenings! p; free.

COSI, 333 W Broad St, 614.228.2674, www.cosi.org: “Let’s talk about race FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 baby, let’s talk about you and me, let’s SNAPSHOT talk about all the good things and the So Different @ Marcia Evans Gallery, bad things we could be.” Through in8 E Lincoln, 614.298.8847, www.mar- teractive exhibit components, historiciaevansgallery.com:Scott Galloway, cal artifacts, iconic objects, Larry Hamill and John Malta collabo- compelling photographs and multirate on this installation featuring un- media presentations, the RACE Exusual photography, techniques and hibit at COSI explores differences collaged images. Show runs through among people and explains the realiMarch 31. ties of race. See this groundbreaking temporary exhibit at COSI January 28SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4 May 6, 2012 and add your voice to the MAN’S (OR WOMAN’S) BEST FRIEND conversation that will bring our comCesar Millan “The Dog Whisperer @ munity closer together. 10a-5p W-Sa, The Palace Theatre, 34 W Broad St, 12p-6p Su; $9.75-14.75.

614.469.9850, www.capa.com:Worldclass dog trainer Cesar Millan is mak- FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 ing a stop in CBus to entertain and IT’S THE BIG 2-0-0 educate about his favorite four-legged The Bicentennial Birthday @ Battelle friends. Millan travels the world to Grand, Greater Columbus Convention communicate with dog lovers on top- Center, 400 N High St, 614.595 ics such as training, behavior and an- 1387, 200columbus.com/birthday: imal care. Do your furry friend a favor The Columbus Bicentennial Birthday and check him out. 8p; $43.25-53.95. is the must-attend party of the year!

Celebrate our city’s Bicentennial as we come together for a ‘Celebration of the Centuries’ - an unforgettable evening of entertainment and festivities that SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5 I HAVE A THING FOR EXOTIC BEAUTIES Orchids! Vibrant Victoriana @ The

something to do each day this month

about town

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 YEAH HE ONE Drake @ Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr, 614.292.9908, www.schottensteincenter.com: Known initially for his role as Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi, Drake stepped out as a rapper and singer with pop appeal in 2006, when he initiated a series of mixtapes.

Thank you, Canada. Here’s hoping Justin Bieber doesn’t make a surprise appearance. Kendrick Lamar & A$ap Rocky will open. 8p; $29.75-69.75.

YAY FOR ART OhioCentric @ OSU Urban Arts Space, 50 W Town St, 614.292.8861, www.uas.osu.edu: In honor of the Columbus Bicentennial, City Center Gallery hosts its first juried exhibition: OhioCentric. City Center will transform into a showcase of artists from all over Ohio, past and present. While City Center typically focuses on the Columbus community, we are excited to include artists from all over Ohio in

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24 REAL MEN SING CHORUS Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus: Home and Country @ The Lincoln Theatre, 769 E Long St, 614.228.2462,

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 CHARDONNAY, ANYONE? Women Who Wine @ Wyandotte Winery, 4640 Wyandotte Dr, 614.476.3624, www.wyandottewinery.com: PM Women Who Wine is open to all women who enjoy great wine!

We meet monthly experiencing a presentation from local business owners that we think will be both educational and entertaining! Come to network, meet new friends or just have a night out with the ladies. Registration required. 7p-9p; $20.

honor the past, celebrate the present ment. It’s the story of determined pio- celebration of the capital city’s 200th and envision the future. The Columneers, devastating floods, a vision for anniversary. Runs through March bus Bicentennial Birthday will be a a state capital rising from higher 24th, Tuesdays-Saturdays 11a-6p; spectacular celebration that will inground, and flourishing theatres, free. clude interactive displays, vibrant per- churches, businesses, and governformances and wonderful diversity ment buildings. Event includes box SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19 all showcasing the excellence of lunch. 12p-1p; $5 ANTIQUING, ANYONE? Columbus. 6-11:30p, $125+.

Scott Antique Market @ Ohio Expo WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Center, 717 E 17th Ave, 888SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 MY MILKSHAKE BRINGS ALL THE BOYS...

OHO.EXPO, www.ohioexpocenter.com: UNDER COVER SISTA Boys Night Out @ Wall Street, 144 N Show Promotions Inc. presents the inEchoes in Time Theatre: Mary High St, 614.464.2800, www.walldoor Scott Antique Market with nuBowser, Servant and Spy in the streetnightclub.com: This long-runmerous antique and collectible items Southern White House @ Ohio Hisning Wednesday night party brings for sale. Just in case you need more tory Center, 1982 Velma Ave, gay boys and their admirers from far random stuff for your home, office or 614.297.2300, www.ohiohistory.org: A and wide. Enjoy all night drink speapartment, or aspire to be featured on freedwoman with a formal education, cials, go-go boys and the hottest “hoarders”. 10a-4p; free.

Mary Bowser worked as a servant in dance music spun by VJ Michele. 10pthe Confederate White House during 2:30a; free MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 the Civil War, letting her observe JefPRESIDENTS GONE WILD ferson Davis and visitors to his home THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Presidents Day @ Columbus Zoo and and office. Unaware of her backYOU DON’T SEE ME Aquarium, 4850 W Powell Rd, ground, they never suspected she was CAPA: Bill Blagg’s The Science of 614.645.3550, www.columbuszoo.org: a spy. Feb 4, 11, 18, 25, 1p & 3p; free Magic @ The Lincoln Theatre, 769 E To honor this national holiday, The with museum admission.

Long St, 614.228.2462, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is offerwww.capa.com:Illusionist Bill Blagg’s ing free admission to the Zoo on this BLACK IN OHIO one-of-a-kind educational experience day. Go see the penguins...they are Black History Month Highlight Tour takes you on a rare, never-before-seen adorable. 10a-4p; Free. @ Ohio History Center, 1982 Velma journey behind the scenes of the Ave, 614.297.2300, magic world. 10a & 1p; $5.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 www.ohiohistory.org: Hear stories HEALTHY FOODIE ADVENTURES about the African American experiFood Embrace @ Wild Goose CreTHE SOUND OF CHIT CHAT ence in Ohio on a guided tour of Ohio Pechu Kucha Columbus @ Columative, 2491 Summit St, History Center exhibits. Open Feb 4, bus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St, 614.859.9453, www.wildgoosecre11, 18, 25. 1p, 3p; $5 -10.

614.221.4848, www.columbusmuative.com:Embrace Cooking, is a seum.org: Young designers and cooking class series that focuses on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 artists have the chance to present learning how to prepare healthy meals A LITTLE TASTE OF SCOTLAND SANS KILT their work in this exciting and fast at home. Andrea Ratulowski is a CityMusic Sunday Series: Alasdair paced exhibition. While expanding health coach who has been blogging Fraser and Natalie Haas @ Via Vec- your mind during the presentations, about food and wellness for over three chia, 485 S Front St, 614.223.3093, feast on delicious foods from local years now. She’s a home cook dediwww.CityMusicColumbus.org: Scotfood trucks and vendors. 6p; $2 dona- cated to helping others learn how to tish fiddler Frasier teams up with Cal- tion. cook healthy and delicious meals. Join ifornian cellist Haas to make an us the third Tuesday of the month as eloquent duo full of talent and pasFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 we explore different topics and create sion perfect to cozy up to. 2p; $10-25. LET YOUR INHIBITIONS GO wonderful and simple meals RegisCMA Game Show 4 @ Columbus Mu- tration required. 6p-8p; $25.

Show Your Skills Out of the Bedroom seum of Art, 480 E Broad St, Marmalade and Salt-Cured Lemons 614.221.6801, www.columbusmuWEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 @ Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E seum.org: The wild, weird and queer is “ZOOT SUIT RIOT” Broad St, 614.645.8733, www.fpcon- back. Get ready for lots of laughs Swingin’ Wednesdays @ NYOHs servatory.org: Impress with your home while contestants compete for prizes. Buckeye Bar, 2871 Olentangy Rd, making talents after you learn how to Not into voyeurism? Mingle with hope- 614.467.0102, transform winter citrus into tasty jam ful contestants, do creative projects, www.swingcolumbus.com: No chaud, and take a jar home. 3:30p-5:30p; have a snack and a drink from the not that kind of swing. Beginners and $30-35. cash bar before taping. 8p-10p; $5experienced dancers flock to Buckeye 10 Bar for its weekly swingdown. Beginners can get lessons early in the night, and then later swing with the best. And if your dancing friend drags you against your will, at least you can enjoy drink and food specials. 7:30p11; $3 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13 BETTER THAN SEX? Culinary Class: Handmade Chocolates @ Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E Broad St, 614.645.8733, www.fpconservatory.org:Nothing sexier than a man drizzled in chocolate...well, strawberries work too.

Learn the secret to chocolate-dipped strawberries and make hand-rolled chocolate truffles. Take a gift box home for your Valentine. Pre-registration required. 6-8p; $30-35.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 WHERE IT ALL BEGAN WOSU Presents Columbus Neighborhoods: Franklinton/Downtown Premiere @ Ohio Theatre, 39 E State St, 614.292.9678, www.columbusneighborhoods.org/about: Join us for the premiere of the documentary that details the history of Franklinton/Downtown. Columbus’s historical roots are firmly planted in Franklinton, Central Ohio’s first settlement, and the downtown area, the seat of state govern-

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29 Controversy 2 @ Ohio History Center, 1982 Velma Ave, 614.297.2300, www.ohiohistory.org: A collection of relics from our past motivate visitors to critically think about race and stereotypes. A Nazi flag, caricatures of Blacks from the late nineteenth century and other items bring perspective on how racial stereotyping affected and still affects our society. W-Sa 10a-5p, Su 12-5; $5-10

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 HOT, STEAMY GOODNESS Get Crocked @ Wyandotte Winery, 4640 Wyandotte, 614.476.3624, www.wyandottewinery.com: Ten dollars gets you a crock of soup, bread and a glass of Wyandotte Wine. All you need is a Rom-Com for afterward to make this an relaxing evening. 5p-7; $10

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Columbus Cartoonists: A Bicentennial Celebration @ Ohio State University, 27 W 17th Ave Mall, 614.292.0538, cartoons.osu.edu: An extraordinary number of notable cartoonists have lived, worked or been educated in Columbus. In honor of the 200th anniversary of the city’s founding, this exhibition features original cartoon art and other artifacts created our native sons of artistry. Runs through April 27th. M-F 9a-5p; free.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Central Ohio Home & Garden Show @ Ohio Expo Center, 717 E 17th Ave, 614.461.5257, www.dispatchevents.com: Celebrate Columbus’ Bicentennial with a birthday party for the city! The gardens will be redesigned this year with a new format and themed to incorporate a party atmosphere! Honored with the highly prestigious “Show of the Year,” awarded by the National Association of Consumer Shows, the Central Ohio Home & Garden Show is renowned for its breathtaking live gardens, HGTV talent appearances, cooking demonstrations and interactive home and garden features boasting more than 400 exhibitors and attractions. Runs through March 4th. Tu-F 10p-9p, Sa 10-9, Su 10-6; $12.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 DOWNWARD DOG Queer Yoga @ FEVERHEAD, 1199 Goodale Blvd, 614.264.7025, www.feverhead.com: Whether you are as flexible as Gumby, or need a little help to get into position, Queer Yoga has a mat for you. Queer Yoga is Columbus’s first queer-focused yoga class that offers professional yoga instruction in a designate Safe(r) Space. Runs Saturdays through June 30th. 11:30a-12:30p; $5-8.

www.cgmc.com: In celebration of the Columbus Bicentennial, CGMC joins with the OSU Men’s Glee Club to celebrate the greatest city in Ohio!

8p, free.

outlo

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AIDS? What AIDS? Mickey Weems It’s easy to forget about nasty things.

Just look at American politics. Climate change, overpopulation, pollution; all three are huge threats to humanity, and all three are getting progressively worse. One party pretends they don’t exist, while the other one has proven grossly negligent when power was in its hands.

We have evidence stretching back a billion years to see what will inevitably happen. The fossil record tells us that the history of life on Earth has had periods of massive die-offs, when untold numbers of species disappeared and the sum total of complex living organisms decreased dramatically. One culprit is consistently visible: drastic climate change.

Five hundred or so years of scientific awareness and urban planning give us evidence of other factors at work. As a population increases, waste matter increases. For humans, our excrement is toxic to us in the long run because lethal diseases are transmitted through it. This is why we have toilets.

Human excrement is but one type of negative byproduct our species produces. We are surrounded by industry waste and our own garbage. We breathe, eat and pile up more every year. Many of us, however, have not made the connection between industrial waste and our own shit. One political party refuses to put sustainability on the table. The other party has tabled discussion of sustainability until further notice.

Thus, it is inevitable that we will experience more sickness, be it from pathogens or industrial poisons.

AIDS, SARS and antibiotic-resistant strep are just warm-ups for what’s on the horizon.

Rapture as Fact, AIDS as Fiction But it’s difficult to bring the reality check to our fellow Americans. A significant minority does not believe the world is more than 5,000 years old. An even bigger number believes that the

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world will end any day now, and that all the warning signs, such as industrial disasters, extreme weather and even AIDS, point towards the Rapture. Prayer is the answer (along with guns), not the need for sensible resource management, population control, zero-waste recycling and renewable energy.

Look closely at homophobic, anti-choice, anticlimate-change and anti-Occupy rhetoric. They all go hand in hand with an underlying hum of fear, whispers of hysteria sitting just beneath the surface, made stronger by a sneaky sense of uncertainty that comes with helplessness and soothed only by a well-stocked arsenal next to the big-screen TV. Just a few weeks ago, NPR interviewed a woman who was startled by a gas line explosion near her house. Her initial reaction: It’s the End Times. That was her first thought. I wonder if she realized the scarier truth: our infrastructure is falling apart.

At least with the Rapture, some of us will float away. With guns, we can shoot our enemies. As it stands with rupturing gas lines, massive oil spills, giga-tons of coal sludge and muchneeded trillions of dollars siphoned off by unregulated Wall Street gambling, there is no one to shoot, and none of us gets out unscathed, not even the one percent.

The End-Times-God-Versus-Satan rallying cry gets its power by convincing people that their group will be exempt from what is Second-Coming. It is an ethical stance as old as homo sapiens: My tribe over all others. Even if the shouting is clothed in Christian verse of love and mercy, the tone of it is a war chant, anger to the point of frenzy, in perfect sync with the ecstasy of a tent revival.

The Four Horsemen Where is the Gay tribe in this? Simple: we aren’t.

We don’t count because we are the living embodiment of birth control and rational discourse.

We don’t wave automatic weapons around during our Pride parades. We do not procreate irresponsibly and, like birth control, we get in God’s way, so God gave us AIDS. Environmentalists are

almost as bad as Gays. Preaching sustainability is to foresee a long-term future for humankind, which goes against the notion of the Last Days.

In Biblical terms, Gays, tree-huggers, women’s reproductive choice advocates and OccupyWall-Streeters are the Four Horsemen of the Anti-Apocalypse. We are the lemmings that don’t join the herd rushing madly over the edge of a cliff in the name of Team Freedom. The issues we address are therefore ignored.

But things were not always that way. Conservative silence concerning AIDS is a radical change from just a few years ago. George H.W. Bush, Sr. quit the National Rifle Association when it started bashing cops. George W. Bush, made AIDS funding a visible priority, and he recognized it was not just a homosexual problem. We can disagree with his methods (funding only those groups that pushed abstinence, for example), but not his message.

George didn’t support AIDS funding to please his Conservative base. I think he did it as a compromise with Progressives, but “compromise” became a dirty word with the rise of the Tea Party.

We are witnessing a throwback to the goldenshower-trickle-down days of Ronnie Reagan: AIDS=Gay, Gay=homosexual, homosexuality (like AIDS) is a disease/sin/crime. Any support of AIDS or Gays is on par with recognizing climate change (hoax), women’s reproductive rights (murder) or advocating environmental/economic sustainability (huh?). It is political suicide.

Just ask John Huntsman.

Come to (Progressive) Jesus All is not lost. Many Progressives fail to see that most Conservative homophobic anti-science bigots are also compassionate Christians who do their best to be a force for good in this world.

If we want to access the better angels of their nature, it’s just a matter of speaking their language.

We must first realize that AIDS, Gays, climate change, reproductive rights and ecological sustainability are jumbled up into a big incoherent mess inside their heads. We advance the cause of the LGBT community and AIDS funding when

Do you think Mickey Weems will miss this Ohio winter while he’s in Hawaii?

we advocate for the other 3 Horsemen. Here are some suggestions: Climate change: Forget the fossil record and focus on the immediate problem at hand. “God made a beautiful world for us that has functioned beautifully for 5000 years, but we will ruin it in the next 50 years if we don’t change our ways.”

If hard-core Creationists really piss you off, let them know that the whole dinosaurs-in-theGarden-of-Eden thing makes them look bad in the eyes of other Christians: “Roman Catholics laugh at you.”

Women’s reproductive rights: Forget the complete lack of proof concerning the Virgin Birth.

“Jesus was a planned pregnancy. Mary gave her consent first, and she did it without consulting Joseph.”

Sustainability: “Not one sparrow falls to the ground without God noticing it. God also knows if the sparrow fell because it died from pollution.” Tie that into climate change. The big lie coming from anti-environmental Conservatives is that human activity is not significant enough to affect the environment. Remind them that God pays attention to everything we do to His Creation.

Gays and AIDS: This one is tricky since the Bible condemns same-sex sex, and God uses plagues to punish sinners. A sure winner is Mother Teresa, the nearest thing to Jesus in our lifetime: “She took care of anyone who was sick, and made it a point to minister to people with AIDS without judging them or condemning them.”

Also, don’t be afraid to pimp out George Jr., or to point out AIDS funding actually began under Saint Ronnie, his silence on the subject before 1987 notwithstanding.

Finally, bring up the giant red ribbon that Obama had put up in front of the White House on World AIDS Day last December. If you are really feeling sassy, add, “Wasn’t that the most Christian thing our president could do to celebrate the Christmas spirit?”

I bet they never heard THAT on Fox News.

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Leading the Fight to The New Possible

by Bill Hardy Twenty-seven years ago this April, Larry Kramer’s angry, inspiring and prophetic play about AIDS, The Normal Heart, premiered in New York City. This work encapsulated the indescribable despair and decimation wrought

by AIDS that permeated the LGBT community in the early 1980s.

The horror and pain of that hellish era have begun to fade from the collective memory of those who lived through it. For younger generations, there has never been a time without HIV or the effective treatments introduced since the 1990s - and therefore no real understanding of what that time was like.

In three tumultuous decades we’ve made breathtaking progress. Today, we stand at the threshold of even more advances.

Consider this: There is a growing number of scientists, advocates, health officials and service providers who are openly saying something we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. It is this: Short of a cure, we now know everything we need to know to effectively end the modern HIV/AIDS epidemic. Not just “stem the tide” of HIV. Not just “reduce infections.” But actually end the plague that’s haunted us these last three decades.

But what challenges must we conquer to achieve “the new possible?”

Even with tests that provide results in just a few minutes, one-fifth of all HIV-positive Americans are unaware they are infected, and it is largely these individuals who are unknowingly transmitting the virus. And one-in-three indi-

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viduals in the US who test positive for HIV is diagnosed too late to take full advantage of the effective treatment now available.

Columbus now has the highest rate of HIV in Ohio, and the 25th highest in the nation. Every 25 hours in Central Ohio someone is newly-infected with HIV and here, as nationwide, twothirds of these continue to be among gay and bisexual men. Gay and bi men (or Men Who Have Sex with Men, MSM) are the only group in the U.S. in which HIV rates continue to increase. This is especially true among young MSM. As a gay man who has spent most of my adult life living under the shadow of HIV, I find this disturbing, frustrating and disheartening. We will never achieve an “AIDS-Free Generation” if we do not eliminate HIV infection among gay and bisexual men. And we will never reduce HIV transmission among MSM without addressing complacency, stigma and the lack of rights, privileges and legal protections for LGBT people and same-gender couples.

With early diagnosis and treatment, a person with HIV is less likely to transmit the virus and can now expect to live about as long as an uninfected individual. Yet only 28 percent of HIVpositive Americans are receiving effective care needed to keep the virus under control. In Ohio and across the U.S. there are still too many people with HIV/AIDS who face obstacles accessing and staying in care. The recurring crises in funding of state AIDS medication programs are one of the factors that contribute to treatment instability.

Achieving the “new possible” in HIV/AIDS will require structural changes to facilitate better

access to prevention, optimal health care, adherence counseling, behavioral health and other “wrap-around” services for those living with HIV, including marginalize populations.

The work ahead will be carried out in a starkly different landscape than the recent past. AIDS service organizations will have to restructure and re-tool to address the evolving epidemic, at a time when resources are thin and unlikely to improve anytime soon. This fact is evident in the number of ASOs facing significant funding challenges, and contemplating mergers, alliances, and even closures. Failure to adapt especially linking services to medical caremeans that organizations are at high risk of closing or disrupting vital services.

For ARC Ohio, responding to these challenges and opportunities has led to several significant, recent developments.

As many outlook readers already know, ARC Ohio merged with the Columbus AIDS Task Force and the Ohio AIDS Coalition last summer. With nine offices, we now provide testing, prevention, linkage to medical care and other direct services across two-thirds of Ohio; and patient advocacy and education for the entire state. These moves have been thoughtful and intentional, designed to enhance our capacity to serve and survive in troubled times.

ARC Ohio was also just awarded a multi-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement evidencebased HIV prevention, community-building, and sexual health programming for MSM, especially MSM of Color, in central Ohio. What this means is that a community at growing HIV risk will finally get some of the prevention

3% of pet owner’s will give Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets.

resources they deserve.

ARC Ohio has been a forceful advocate on a wide range of issues, including two that are of current, critical importance in Ohio: mobilizing to ensure that the Ohio HIV/AIDS Drug Assistance Program (OHDAP) is adequately funded to provide care to those who need it the most; and fighting to ensure that gay and bisexual men - who comprise two-thirds of Ohio HIV cases but have received only one-third of state prevention funding - have a fair portion of state resources needed to truly win the battle against new HIV infections.

ARC Ohio is now in the process of adding medical services, pharmacy and adherence counseling to our menu of care. This will allow us to integrate care and treatment, prevention services, and advocacy into one, seamless tapestry of programming, and will allow people living with and at risk of HIV to get what they need without undue barriers or fragmentation.

Finally, ARC Ohio always has been, and will continue to be, a community organization. Our services, relationships and resources will be carried out and invested right here, in the communities in which we live.

Our work isn’t over. But the task will end someday, if we refocus our energies and recommit to the same, ultimate goal. Fatigue and complacency must give way to new resolve and vigor: A world without AIDS is not a fantasy, but possible, and now within our grasp.

Bill Hardy is President and CEO of AIDS Resource Center Ohio, the state’s leading provider of HIV awareness, advocacy and care. He is now in his twentieth year with the organization.

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Take Some Advice from

XimeneS Ximenes loves two things: a good cigar and a great value. That’s why she suggests advertising in outlook: columbus. OC gets your business in front of the most diverse, affluent and loyal customer base in Central Ohio ... and that’s not blowing smoke up your ass. Contact Michael today at 614.268.8525 or mdaniels@outlookmedia.com.

Reserve your space in the following 2012 issues

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March 2012 Prodigies & Partners April 2012 I ♥ CBus People 2

May 2012 Green Eggs and Composting Ham

September 2012 Creative Class: Music

June 2012 Gay Pride Month

October 2012 Polisigh

July 2012 Safety & Slammers

November 2012 Feel Good / Health & Wellness

August 2012 Sporty Spice & Everything Nice and Sweaty

December 2012 The Hopeful & The Fallen: Religion

Valentine’s Day is the second largest card-sending holiday of the year with 1 billion cards being sent. Christmas is first with 2.6 billion sent.

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Columbus Welcomes Back Tyler TerMeer, Director of the Ohio AIDS Coalition

by Lauren Strand This month I had the opportunity to sit down with Tyler TerMeer, the new Director of the Ohio AIDS Coalition (OAC), which is now a division of the AIDS Resource Center of Ohio (ARC Ohio). Tyler is the Director of OAC, a cyclist, Ph.D. candidate, and young professional who has been living with HIV for the past eight years. Tyler shared some of his thoughts on Columbus, emerging trends dealing with HIV/AIDS in Ohio, OAC and a bit about his personal life.

Lauren Strand: Can you tell us a bit about your career trajectory and how you’ve come full-circle back to Columbus?

Tyler TerMeer: I was at OAC from 2004-2008 as the Director of Programs, where I oversaw aspects of educational and leadership programs for people living with HIV and providers in the field in Ohio, particularly with youths who were transitioning from pediatric healthcare to adult healthcare. I then moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 2008 to be the Director of Men’s and Youth Programs for Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, where I dealt mainly with prevention and infection reduction. Then, in 2010, I accepted a new position in Washington D.C. as a Manager in Prevention at the National Alliance of State and State and Territorial Directors (NASTAD).

Finally, in November 2011, I accepted the position of Director of the Ohio Aids Coalition.

LS: What drew you back to OAC and Columbus?

TT: My family is from Dublin and is still there, and being close with them is very important to me, so I think that it was always in the cards

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for me to come back. Perhaps the most deciding factor for me to return to Columbus, and OAC in particular, was my friend and mentor Kevin Sullivan. Kevin was the former Executive Director of OAC and had always provided me with guidance and empowerment, both personally and professionally. When I left Columbus in 2008, he encouraged me to do so, so that I could learn new things to bring back to Ohio and our community some day. With his passing earlier this year, it seemed fitting for me to continue his legacy in continuing to shape programs and policies in Ohio, while bringing with me the skills and knowledge that I had gained during the years that I was away from Ohio working on the national level.

LS: Are there any particular areas or new directions that you’re heading in the next few years at OAC? TT: My main vision for the next three years is to prepare people living with HIV in Ohio for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014. While there are still some potential gray areas with the act, it’s exciting that for the first time, people with preexisting medical conditions, such as HIV, will be able to have health insurance.

Also, because 2012 is an election year, we’ll focus a lot of voter registration and voter education - we want to be a hub of information about potential political changes and what the political landscape will look like over the next few years for the community.

LS: Can you talk a bit about what is the mission of OAC and what particular programs our readers should be aware of?

TT: We definitely hold true to our mission of providing hope, healing and empowerment to people living with HIV/AIDS in the state of Ohio and providers in the field. Some of the ways we do this is through medical-based education where we provide opportunities for people living with HIV to learn about the epidemic, learn how to become their own advocate and how to stay on top of their medication. We also have community forums, leadership training sessions and healing weekends where people can come together in a safe environment to discuss their situations and share their knowledge, hope and healing strategies.

One particular program of interest that will take place in March of this year is the 7th Annual Leadership Summit for HIV Positive Young Adults, ages 18-29. This annual event provides the educational tools and resources for young adults to cope with and accept their diagnosis, with the ultimate goal of recognizing that their positive status is just one aspect of their lives.

Many of the future leaders within the HIV community have been shaped at the summit - applications are available on the OAC website.

LS: What trends are you noticing in Ohio relating to the HIV epidemic?

TT: There are two main trends that I’m noticing.

First, there appears to be a “second wave” of the epidemic emerging, especially among young people who constitute the majority of new infections. Many young people are simply not aware of the risky situations that they are placing themselves in. I think part of this could be remedied through more compressive sex education in schools and also more sex-positive discussions, both in schools and in the

In 1866, candy manufacturer NECCO made the first “Conversation Hearts” called “Motto Hearts.”

home.

A second trend is that many long-term survivors who have been exposed to a variety of medications to treat HIV are developing illness such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and kidney failure. This really speaks to the point that the continuum of HIV care is not just about managing HIV, but is also about managing other areas of health that intersect with HIV and ensuring that HIV treatments do not negatively effect other areas of the peoples’ health.

LS: What else are you involved with outside of OAC, what do you do in your free time?

TT: Well, I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), Advocates for Youth (AFY) and Positive Pedalers (PosPeds). I’m also a dedicated cyclist and am participating in AIDS LifeCycle (ALC) for the fourth consecutive year, which means that I train regularly. LifeCycle is a seven-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money and awareness for the fight against HIV/AIDS. In 2011, cyclists raised over $13 million for the cause, which makes it one of the largest fundraisers for HIV/AIDS in the country. Finally, I’m also a Doctoral Student, pursuing my Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership at Walden University.

Tyler and OAC, a division of ARC, would love to hear from people living with HIV in Ohio or service providers in the field about ways that the HIV/AIDS community could be better served or ways in which Ohioans could better connect with national initiatives. Please visit www.ohioaidscoalition.org for more information.

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Nothing says romance like table dancing.

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A “Gift” You Can’t Return

by Jayra Harris In a perfect world, I will meet someone I find terribly attractive. He’ll be smart, funny, successful, interesting and interested. The good morning text will arrive every day by 8, he will call every night before bed, make time for me even though he’s busy, all the while being a perfect gentleman. Never having felt this before, my heart tells me he’s “the one.” I dream of the day he will present me with the perfect ring. We will have the perfect house and the sweetest children you’ve ever seen.

But what if this seemingly perfect man sat me down and said, “I have HIV.” In an instant, all that “perfection” slips away. Unsure of how to feel, I think he’s the love of my life, shouldn’t I be there for him? But I want to have kids, I want to retire with my husband, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life afraid I’ll get it too, risk giving it to my children, and watch the man I love die young from his disease. Is that the deal breaker? What could I do? What would you do?

This is a question you may have already had to answer, or might have to eventually. It’s probable you’ve never considered the potential of your lover being HIV positive. Have you asked all your partners what their status was? Did you use a condom with every sexual encounter? How long has it been since you got tested? If you don’t have definite answers to the previous questions, now is the time to get serious about your sexual awareness. The CDC reports the number of people living with HIV infection in the United States (HIV prevalence) is higher than ever before. CDC has estimated that more than 1 million (1,106,400) adults and adolescents were living with HIV infection in the United States at the end of 2006, the most recent year for which national prevalence estimates are available.

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The ability to accept someone and their HIV status is something Michelle Evans was forced to struggle with as a freshman in high school. Michelle explains that she just wanted to live life as teenager, be a little reckless and live in the present without thinking about the future. All of that changed after she got a boyfriend who was a senior in high school.

After dating awhile she found out she was pregnant. A month from giving birth, she received an anonymous call that needed to get tested because she had sex with someone who was HIV positive. Only having been with one man, Michelle knew whom it came from.

She got tested. Pregnant and now positive, she confronted her boyfriend. Why didn’t he tell her? Apparently, it was because of the way she answered his “hypothetical” question: “Say someone I know has a girlfriend who is pregnant, and he just found out that he’s HIV positive. What would you do in her situation?” Michelle answered, “I’d stop having sex with him.” To him, that was justification to never tell her. They broke up and Michelle gave birth to their son on August 1, 2003.

Michelle takes five pills a day to treat her HIV. Unaware of her status during her pregnancy, she was unable to prevent passing it to her son. He is now eight, and it was only recently that he learned he was HIV positive. Previously, he believed he was taking a lot vitamins, at different times of the day. When he decided to stop taking them, Michelle sat him down and explained what he had and why he takes medication. She used books tailored for children to aid her in this conversation. The guilt Michelle struggles with everyday causes a strain on their relationship. She tells me she does the best she can but fears it is not enough. To ensure her son gets all the love he deserves, he lives with his grandparents 15 minutes away.

Michelle is also a mom to two other boys, with another man. Her youngest son is about to celebrate his first birthday, and the other is almost two years old. With her medication, Michelle has an undetectable viral load. And by having c-sections with her youngest children, they were both born HIV negative. She has been involved with the father of her youngest children for seven years, never worn a condom and he has remained HIV negative.

They have a unique family arrangement. They live together with their two children but are currently not together. They are open to seeing other people, but Michelle is doing what she can to make it work. They’re currently thinking of having a threesome. Michelle was clear about taking the necessary precautions, informing them of her HIV status, and discussing potential consequences prior to the act. Whomever joins them will be able to make an informed choice. When asked if a threesome was risky behavior, Michelle replied, “I believe that it’s a risky behavior on its own, but why should I not be able to live as a young adult just because of my condition?”

Michelle explained that a threesome isn’t on her list of things to do but experimenting is; and if a threesome will make him happy, then she’ll try it.

to my place and he sat me down with the very serious phrase, ‘There’s something I need to tell you.’ And that was when I found out. So, I guess I only didn’t know for one day of the 10 months we dated.”

Michelle feels like she’s settling for her current situation because of her status, but doesn’t want to move on. “I’m too afraid. I’m afraid of judgment. I’m afraid of people who won’t accept me. I’m afraid of people who say they accept me but they don’t.”

Whether you’re the one who has HIV or you’ve dated someone who is positive, getting into new relationships is hard enough, adding the stigma of HIV it could make it seem impossible. I wonder if more people thought like Mackenzie, would Michelle still be so afraid?

Would the boyfriend that gave her HIV have told her when he found out? If everyone wanted to learn more and increase their understanding, would all people with HIV be more forth coming? Would people start protecting themselves and change their thinking to “this could happen to me?” Would this help decrease the spread of HIV? I believe it would.

Former outlook intern Mackenzie met someone online, a man looking for love and hoping for acceptance. He was the first man Mackenzie had dated with HIV. Unlike Michelle, Mackenzie was informed of his date’s status, “He told me at the end of our first date. After wandering around the Short North and Campus for a while, we went back

”For this was on Seynt Volantynys day whan euery bird cometh...”

When first learning about his new interest’s HIV status Mack says, “I was shocked, but mostly out of my own ignorance. I’d never known anyone before that was positive, or even knew of anyone. I wanted to know more, to understand and to be sure that we were safe. In the moment, right after he told me, I told him exactly what was true at that moment: that it didn’t change how I felt about him. Yes, I was scared, but how do you move forward without ever doing something that you’re afraid to do?”

The relationship ended but Mackenzie took something extremely valuable away from it, “I learned how to communicate better about sex and status. The experience reinforced the necessity of getting checked. I had a lot to mull on after we broke up. You usually do after a break up, but I had this whole first-positiveboyfriend thing floating around in my head, too. Dating him has only made me smarter about how I date.”

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Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone, on Valentine’s Day, 1876.

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More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold on Valentine’s Day.

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HIV and the Aftermath

by Orie Givens When Mark went to the health department in 2007, he had a feeling something was wrong.

For weeks leading up to his diagnosis, he had flu-like symptoms, was excessively tired and had swollen lymph nodes. It was an episode of Noah’s Ark that encouraged him to go see a doctor. He went into the clinic and got tested, then waited several days for the results. When he was finally called back in, something in the back of his mind knew the answer.

“I believe in signs, and in the health department’s office were all these posters about HIV and STDs,” explained Mark. The nurse informed him that he was HIV-positive on the 11th of January, just over four years ago.

Shortly after that, Mark told his friends and family, and began to adjust to his new reality.

People with HIV are people first, and although that seems silly to say, in our community there is still stigma attached to being HIV-positive.

In 2011, an HIV-positive student was denied entrance into the Hershey School in Pennsylvania, because of the potential risk to students that school officials perceived by having a HIVpositive student. All of us know what HIV is, but do we know what it’s like for someone who has it? And how do we replace stigma with compassion and awareness? For me, it meant putting a face on the illness. Mark was one of those faces.

I was one of the friends Mark confided in five years ago. Before then, I had never known anyone who was HIV-positive, and I found myself at a loss. I didn’t know what to say or how to be supportive. It became tangible, and hit close to home. At that moment, I realized that HIV could impact anyone, and it changes their life forever. From health and wellness, to disclosure, to dating and relationships, being HIVpositive can have impact in your life in many outlookcolumbus.com

ways. Mark, as a newly HIV-positive person, now had to deal with the aftermath.

“My friends were very supportive,” explained Mark. “The hard part was that I had to go home and tell my mother.” Knowing who, when and how to tell people close to you can be more difficult than coming to terms with the illness yourself.

Disclosure is a personal matter that each person must handle in his or her own way. Since stigma in the community still exists with regard to HIV, there is no right or common way to tell people. Clinical Director at ARC Ohio Sherry Inskeep says that it’s important to consider the reasons behind disclosing first and foremost.

“The first question you want to ask yourself is: why are you telling this person? Why do they need to know?” Inskeep explained. In Ohio, because of a law written seemingly to protect HIV-negative people, HIV-positive individuals must disclose their status before engaging in sexual relations with another person because of the potential risk for infection. Outside of that, whom you tell and when you tell is your business.

“I don’t just go up to everyone I meet and say, ‘Hi. My name is Mark. I’m HIV-positive,’” Mark exclaimed. He did tell the people close to him, and some couldn’t handle it. But he took those setbacks in stride. “The people that walk away, or the people that turn away from you, were not your true friends to begin with. That’s how you find out who the true players are,” Mark added.

That process can be difficult, however. Mark said that even today, people still stigmatize people living with the disease, in just a few simple words.

“If you’re online and you are looking at profiles, and one says, ‘You must be clean, drug and disease free,’ you think, what does that mean?

I’m clean. I take showers,” Mark laughed. Although he was making light of the situation, the perception of HIV-positive people as “dirty” is a major stigma placed on the community, and leaves many to feel isolated, especially when it comes to dating. He explained that people don’t know what they don’t know, and many people don’t proactively seek the information, which causes a lot of negativity in the community.

Because of Mark’s previous exposure to HIV, by having an HIV-positive partner in the past, he was more prepared to deal with the life changes than most. He knew about the disease, and was prepared to handle the new reality. Education about HIV, whether you are positive or negative is important, but it’s critical for those impacted by HIV directly or indirectly through relationships. Dena Boggs, Comprehensive Risk & Counseling Services Counselor at ARC Ohio says that knowing the basics is important. “I often times encourage people to get a really comfortable confidence about HIV 101, how it can be transmitted and more importantly, how it can’t,” Boggs explained. Much of the misconceptions surrounding HIV stem from bad information, and counteracting bad information with good information is the key to reducing stigma.

The major piece of the aftermath was dealing with the medically-induced lifestyle changes that must occur for HIV-positive people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. HIV is an illness that compromises the immune system, making it harder for you to fight off infections.

“Your health becomes your main priority,” said Inskeep. “Before, if you were sick you might let it go, but now you are going to pay more attention to it. Whereas you may not have gone to the doctor before, you will need to find a doctor that you can build a good relationship with, and you are going to see them regularly.”

One-third of all Valentine cards are accompanied by gifts.

Mark goes to the doctor regularly to have blood work done. For about a year and a half after diagnosis, he was able to go with taking medication, and now takes one pill a day, every day. This medication helps the body maintain resistance against the virus, keeping the viral load low. Taking the medication has caused him to be more focused on having routine in his daily activities, but doesn’t keep him from living life. His life overall hasn’t changed, but he has had to make adjustments, both to routine and finances. Mark’s medication costs around $1500 out of pocket, and without the services provided because of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program. Inskeep says that this program, a federal grant for communities to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS and their families, funds medications, medical services and other needs for people living with HIV/AIDS. I am sure there are many people like I was, living an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality in which HIV was compartmentalized into something that didn’t affect me. That compartmentalization causes insensitivity to not only the illness, but to the people who have it. At this point, I have a different perspective, mainly because of my friend who chose to confide in me, enabling me to see things differently - to see things through his eyes. In order to have compassion, you have to have understanding.

Because it could be your friend, your family member, your fraternity brother or co-worker. It could be you. But most of us, who are HIV-negative, have no idea what an HIV-positive person encounters unless we are connected to someone with the illness. And we have a responsibility to support our brothers and sisters living with HIV, to be responsible, and sensible, and to mitigate the stigma and misinformation with solidarity and education. For Mark’s sake and the sake of millions of other people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.

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C is for “cookie” as well as cock and clitoris. All delicious.

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How Sex Education Failed Men Over Forty

by Mackenzie Worrall HIV infection rates are on the rise. That’s not just globally. That’s here. The United States, Ohio, Columbus, The Short North.

Why? What has three decades of the largest epidemic in human history failed to teach us? Why do we still insist on carelessness that hurts ourselves and, more often than not, those closest to us too?

It may come as no surprise that new infection rates are up among younger men. After all, we pretend that the AIDS crisis is over and don’t properly educate young people who didn’t grow up during its darkest years. But what can explain the rise in new infections in men over 40?

The people who grew up with this on their TV every day. How can we possibly account for this swelling population?

There are a couple, smaller factors which contribute to the increase. In older adults, there is still a stigma that HIV/AIDS is a gay problem.

This stigma often keeps them from getting tested or even thinking that they are at risk for infection. And if you doubt the power of stigma, it’s the same reason HIV infection rates are rising alarmingly in young black men. In some black communities, the fear of being perceived as gay keeps away those who need help the

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most. Even our perceived notions of intravenous drug users are wrong. They are not all dying off from usage, the population there is aging, too.

On top of that, the age of first injection for heroin users is getting older.

One of the major factors, believe it or not, is still sex education. People over 40 do have sex, now more than ever. Stereotypes persist, however, of the sexless aging adult. Health professionals often omit safe sex counseling for their older patients because of how they are perceived. Just as it became apparent that sex education for children was necessary, we must also let go of our stereotypes of older adults.

One particularly disturbing study by Professor Zehava Grossman at Tel Aviv University in Israel revealed a main cause for the upswing in infection rates. By analyzing the molecular makeup of HIV strains in newly infected adults, Grossman discovered that most of them received the virus from an already medicated adult. Their strains were drug-resistant, and the only way to receive a drug-resistant strain is from a person already taking medication for it. The partners who infected them either A) did not disclose their status, or B) disclosed and they threw caution to the wind anyway.

Israel has seen an increase of 500% in new HIV cases in the past decade from the 1990s. Sadly,

this number closely reflects the trends in other developed countries. So if one of the main causes of infection is contraction from an individual who already knows their status, then more often than not they and their partner simply did not care enough. Medication does not mean that HIV is no longer contagious. And, as indicated

by Grossman’s study, most new HIV infections she studied in Israel could be traced back to a common source. This means that there were a handful of infected adults delivering the virus to most of the new patients.

I have personally met a few men in Columbus who will disclose their positive status, and then insist on bareback anal sex, or nothing else. To their credit, these few men are perfect gentlemen outside of that. They are even beyond normal, they care quite a bit about some things. But their sexual behavior is utterly reprehensible.

Lust will make you agree to stupid things – not that their partners are any less guilt-free. It is equally the responsibility of each to use a condom. Further, if their partners are willing to have unprotected sex with someone they know is positive, how much unprotected sex will they have with negative partners before they get tested?

Many gay men are in search of that perfect life, the perfect night, the perfect fuck. A recent study commissioned by Central YMCA, the Succeed Foundation and the Centre for Appearance Re-

The High Court of Love was established in Paris in 1400.

search at UWE Bristol reveals deep body image problems in the gay community, and a lot about our willingness to sacrifice for sex. 48% of gay men would sacrifice a year or more of their lives in exchange for a perfect body. There is some kind of inherent short-term thinking in the gay community if that’s how we really feel. Since the perfect body is a means for the perfect sex, just think about how many concessions you’d be willing to make on that point. No, really. Think about it. How much would you sacrifice just to get laid?

Here’s what we can do to help curb infection rates.

• Work with other community resources to encourage HIV and other STI testing. And I mean think outside the box. Churches, assisted living, the VFW. • Increase sex education and HIV/AIDS education, particularly on the primary care level.

• Stop going after the perfect fuck. You and your body are #1, don’t sacrifice that for anything or anybody.

• Insist on safe sex.

The media may think this thing is over, but we’re not even over the hump of this crisis yet.

Mackenzie Worrall is doing all the things in 2012. Stay tuned to this bio for more information.

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No Line On The Horizon: The Arduous Search for an HIV Vaccine

by Michael Straughter With the AIDS-related death toll well over 25 million since 1981, the race to find a vaccine has been an urgent, unsteady and particularly unsuccessful one.

In the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, very little was known about how the virus was transmitted, and even less was known about how it was caused. When the virus was isolated in 1985, Margaret Heckler, the United States Human Services Secretary at the time, infamously declared, “We hope to have a vaccination [against AIDS] ready for testing in about two years.” Ahem, about that…

In all fairness to Heckler, at the time, no one could have possibly imagined just how much of a handful the virus would turn out to be.

Even today, leading researchers agree that the development of an AIDS vaccine still has a long way to go, a search that could possibly last for decades.

To put it simply, HIV is not like any other common disease. The traditional vaccination method of controlling various viral diseases by preparing the adaptive immune system to recognize the envelope proteins of a virus have been ineffective. There are a number of factors that continue to stall the progress of the creation of a vaccination and why it requires different tactics of development compared to other diseases: • HIV is a daily risk while most vaccines pro-

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tect against infections that are infrequently encountered.

• Vaccines mimic natural infections, during which the body produces antibodies that kill the virus. But unlike other diseases, HIV doesn’t stimulate this kind of response. Our immune systems are virtually blind to the virus and are unable to effectively launch an antibody attack.

• To properly develop a vaccine that can mimic natural immunity against re-infection, a model must be observed to understand how a virus mutates. However, because no one has fully recovered from an HIV infection, there are no natural strategies to study.

• Isolated HIV strands are distinctly irregular and inconsistent. HIV can be categorized into a multitude of different subtypes with a high degree of differentiation. Therefore, the immune response caused by a vaccine needs to be comprehensive to account for this level of unpredictability, otherwise the vaccine will likely be ineffective.

• With so many complex factors hindering scientific medicinal progress for over two decades, it would seem that the prospect of creating a major restorative breakthrough would be relatively inconceivable; not that that’s stopped people from trying. Since 1987, there have been hundreds of attempts at creating a vaccination, with only about 30 candidates make the cut to undergo the comprehensive clinical trials. According to The HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the trials consists

of three phases:

the seemingly never-ending race.

• Phase I: A small number of healthy, uninfected participants at low risk of HIV infection, and primarily tests the safety of the preventive vaccine. Usually lasts 12-18 months.

According to the United States FDA, there are currently two Phase II, three Phase I/II, and seventeen Phase I ongoing clinical trials of preventive HIV vaccine candidates taking place. Most recently, in December 2011, the FDA approved Canadian researcher Dr. ChilYong Kang’s vaccine for human testing trials.

Using a whole HIV virus that’s been killed, as opposed to using different components of the strand as seen in other cases, Kang is confident this will make the end result more effective. “I feel that I have a better chance to have this vaccine work because it has demonstrated that this strategy works for polio, hepatitis A, flu virus, rabies virus and Japanese encephalitis,” Kang explains. “And there are 16 other animal virus vaccines using the killed whole virus strategy. They work to prevent infection.”

• Phase II: Hundreds of participants with varying degrees of risk to better characterize the safety of the vaccine and the immune response being caused by the vaccine. This can typically last 2 or more years.

• Phase III: Involves several thousand highrisk volunteers to further assess if the vaccine works in preventing HIV infection. Phase III trials can last 3-5 years.

• Along with these phases, it must be certain that volunteers in clinical trials cannot get HIV infection or AIDS by receiving an experimental vaccine.

It goes without saying that a vaccine has yet to have cleared all three phases but there have been a few notable exceptions. The most well known being The ALVAC/AIDSVAX trials, first started in 1991 and concluded in 2009, with a majority of test subjects being American men who have sex with men (MSM). While the results were mixed, the conductors of the study were able to conclude their vaccine prevented HIV infection by 31%. Not enough to be completely optimistic about, nor enough for The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve it, but it’s a valiant effort. Though the results were far from ideal, the ALVAC/AIDSVAX trial marked one of the first important milestones in

Roses are red, violets are blue, I’ve got a condom, how ‘bout a screw?

Could this be the much needed and long awaited advancement the world has been eagerly awaiting? It’s hard to say. Any new discovery needs to undergo trials lasting years, and must then be distributed around the world before its full benefits will be seen.

Though development may be slow and difficult, it is far too soon to give up hope. HIV was only discovered in the mid 1980s and it took many years to create vaccines against other diseases. Given the speed of technological and scientific progress, there truly is no end in sight as to what can be accomplished.

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Just don’t pull the tape off too quickly. (Unless you’re into that.)

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Logo-a-No-No: An Activist is Born in Response to an Ignorant A-Lister

by Donnie Pangburn It is estimated that 33.3 million people are living with HIV worldwide, with 1.2 million who are living with this disease right here in the United States.

My name is Donnie Pangburn, and I am one of 1.2 million people.

When asked to write a piece for outlook, I was apprehensive at first because I’ve only lived here in Columbus 2 months, and I haven’t had a chance to contribute anything to the community in relation to HIV/AIDS awareness or fundraising. (Although, I am very excited about my orientation with the AIDS Resource Center in February).

However, when I took a step back and assessed the big picture I realized that, one: this isn’t about a geographical location because HIV/AIDS affects everyone, everywhere in the world. Two: I had to take my ego out of the equation and also realize that this isn’t about me as a human being, but about how each of us has a voice which can do amazing things if we just take a stand, be honest and know that we can make a difference in the fight against this disease.

I contracted HIV in December of 2006 and never in a million years did I think I would speak out, write letters and tell the world I have a disease which many still consider the “gay disease” or the “old person’s disease that kills you.” Everyone has a breaking point where they say, “Enough is enough.”

Mine just happened to involve a cast member of Logo’s socalled reality show, A-List: Dallas.

In June 2011, while still living in Dallas, TX, I attended a going away party for a friend where there was also a fundraiser/raffle to support HIV/AIDS. Of course it made the evening even more enjoyable to me as not only have I been a volunteer for HIV and AIDS organizations

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for almost 15 years (in Cincinnati, Atlanta, Memphis, Dallas, and with Raising Malawi, a global initiative to help millions of children in Africa who have lost one or both parents due to complications of AIDS), but I personally know first hand the daily struggles one lives with having HIV. The producers of the A-List franchise were filming the new A-List: Dallas cast while they assisted with selling raffle tickets. At the time, I only knew of the A-List: New York, and after watching a few episodes, I was disgusted with the portrayal of 99.9% of the gay men on the show, and discontinued watching. I had no idea Logo had entered Dallas territory. (For the record, I have now seen a few episodes of the A-List: Dallas, and what I observed was nothing more than a promotion of drama, chaos, gossip, excessive alcohol abuse and references to having un-safe sex.

At the party, one of the A-List: Dallas cast members approached my group, requesting donations for the raffle. I immediately handed him $20 for tickets. I asked the cast member what they were raffling off, and he stated, “It doesn’t matter, it’s for a good cause; it’s for all those poor old sad people.” I asked who he was referring to; he just winked and said, “You know... them.” I replied, “No, I don’t. Who are you referring to?” He then whispered into my ear, “You know, those ones who have AIDS.” My response to him was, “I am HIV positive, and I’m not poor or sad.” His mouth dropped opened and walked away without saying a word.

The next morning reality set in with this nagging voice telling me to “seize this opportunity.” I have always been very candid and up front about my status, but when I woke up, I had to make a decision. Do I accept ignorance for what it is, or do I take the chance, tell the whole world I am HIV positive, and that the ignorance, discrimina-

A-List? More like A-Lost.

tion and the bigotry had to stop?

I decided to tell the whole world: I am HIV positive, but more importantly that I am a human being.

I remember sitting in front of my laptop with tears running down my face, and my fingers flying. I have no concrete recollection that I sat down and typed any letter at all, but there it was, staring me right in the face. Within hours, I had letters out to The Dallas Voice, the Resource Center of Dallas, AidsArm, and a few other organizations pleading that this behavior had to stop and that we have to educate our youth and everyone else about HIV/AIDS, because it was obvious something is being lost in translation. I believed that if I could reach one person, possibly preventing them from contracting this disease, then I had done something right in the world. Little did I know that this just wasn’t going to be enough for me.

I sent letter after letter to radio stations, TV stations, the mayor, and anyone I could find that would listen to my story. The Dallas Voice ended up being the first to publish my letter, which led to quite an uproar within the Dallas community. I started receiving threats that ranged from bashing my Jeep to hoping I die of AIDS. This only fueled my fire to take my account further. The Advocate took interest and published my story, many bloggers posted my letter, I appeared on a podcast and I plastered that letter all over Facebook. Therefore, my family members, friends and acquaintances learned about my HIV status. There was no way I was going to lay down and just take it. Something had to be done. Someone had to say “enough.”

and say that behavior like this will not be tolerated anymore.

HIV infections are on the rise within our youth due to misinformation.

My letter to Logo was published in the local newspapers (Logo to this date has yet comment on the incident), I created a boycott page that had almost 1,000 followers and I had the cast banned from filming in the major bars and restaurants. I still wasn’t satisfied. I knew I had to do more.

I spoke to the community’s youth; I created a Youth Community Forum consisting of physicians, vaccine researchers and anyone who wanted to tell their story. I have also created another Facebook page called, “How Would You Know?” an initiative to stomp out the stigmas of HIV/AIDS, and provide education and awareness to anyone who would read or listen. Unfortunately that Facebook page only has about 170 members.

Boycott- 1,000, How Would You Know?-170. It’s something to think about.

I’d like to say that I am not poor nor am I sad. In some respects, living with HIV forces me to look at life from a completely different perspective. I try and take nothing in life for granted and remind myself each day on this earth is a gift, and take responsibility for my thoughts, my actions and my words, and do what I can to make the world a better place to live.

The world in general seems to be in complete disarray. When do we stop turning our noses up at each other, judging those within our own community and start using our voices and our talents to end the hatred, the discrimination and the bigotry that surrounds HIV/AIDS? We all have a voice. So I ask you, will you use yours?

I quickly realized this was no longer about me, this was about every human being who is afraid or who can’t speak up outlookcolumbus.com

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Cupid, draw back your bow, and let your arrow go... straight to my lover’s heart for me... for meeeeee!

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By Romeo San Vicente HOUDINI IS HAPPENING WITH HUGH Hugh Jackman can’t stay away from Broadway.

The part-time Real Steel/Wolverine tough guy is, apparently, incapable of curing his song-anddance lust. So now that The Boy From Oz is a distant memory and he’s finished up with Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway, he needs a new reason to belt out the big numbers for matinee audiences. Enter Houdini, in the works for a couple years now with Jackman in mind for the lead and, at one point, set to feature music from Danny Elfman. Jackman is still the man in the title role but now the score will come from Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), the script from Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) and Jack O’Brien (Hairspray) will direct. And rather than a straightforward biography approach, Houdini will tell the story of a conflict the legendary magician encountered in the form of a trio of women known as “Spirtualists.” The women had convinced scores of followers, including editors at Scientific American and The New York Times, that they could communicate with the dead. Houdini, on the other hand, was less than convinced. If audiences believe - and they probably will - this could be the big hit of the 2013 season. Start planning your New York visits now.

FRANCO’S GAY STREAK CONTINUES James Franco is no stranger to playing gay. On

screen he’s been James Dean, Allen Ginsberg, Hart Crane, Harvey Milk’s boyfriend Scott Smith and an ambiguous stoner in the comedy Pineapple Express. So here he goes again, this time tackling the role of legendary contemporary artist Robert Mapplethorpe for an upcoming biopic. The controversial artist, who died of AIDS in 1989 and whose frankly homoerotic photographs caused a firestorm of censorship efforts among cultural conservatives in the late 1980s, is almost tailor-made for a big screen story. And given the artist’s huge personality and bravado, the actor who plays him should be equally unafraid, which makes it a perfect fit for Franco.

The upcoming film, among the first to receive grants through Tribeca Film Institute’s “All Access Program” and directed by documentarian Ondi Timoner, will be produced by Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s Eliza Dushku and her brother Nate Dushku, who was, at one time, expected to play Mapplethorpe. More news to come as production rolls on.

young Sissy Spacek was a deep dive into a terrifying world of religious mania, telekinesis and involuntary manslaughter (lots and lots of it).

Naturally, a remake is in the works and Boys Don’t Cry director Kimberly Peirce is in talks to take the helm. Hope she gets it; she’d be a great fit. Meanwhile, on the boys side of Hollywood, Gus Van Sant looks to be stepping into Matt Damon’s shoes as he takes over an untitled production that Damon was scheduled to direct.

Co-starring with John Krasinski is still on tap for Damon, who also co-wrote the script – one that people who’ve read it are calling “Capraesque” – in which the two actors play rival corporate executives whose values and greed are called into question. And Van Sant was the first and only director Damon called to take over, a no-brainer since the pair has worked together off and on ever since Good Will Hunting.

2012 TAKES ON NEW MEANING FOR 2012 DIRECTOR

young astrophysics student (why not?) whose destiny becomes linked with the election. The next question might be what it’s going to be called, because there’s no title just yet. And that’s just the start. Who’s going to star? How fast can they get it moving and on the air?

And most importantly, what’s going to happen to the story after the January 2013 inauguration? Stay tuned as this game of TV dice-rolling shakes out.

Romeo San Vicente plans to vote early and often.

DIRECTORS IN FLUX: PEIRCE TALKS CARRIE, VAN SANT REPLACES DAMON

Gay director Roland Emmerich’s end-of-theworld thriller 2012 ended with humanity’s final survivors fleeing for safety in giant arks, so it’s Post-Columbine, it’s been impossible to get a not like he’s ever at a loss for outlandish outhigh school outcast-gets-revenge movie anycomes, but which candidate will be safely enwhere near a studio’s production slate. But then sconced in the White House – not just in real there’s Carrie, a project that’s almost magically life, but in make-believe TV-land, too – when the exempt from any discussion of media blame director’s new 2012 Presidential campaignwhen real kids go on real life murderous ramthemed TV series wraps up its first story arc? pages. Based on the modern horror classic writ- That’s the first question you might ask about ten by Stephen King, the original film starring this pilot, picked up by ABC, which focuses on a

© Charlotte McGraw, Sally Choo Choo

Challenging Notions of Dis/Ability Art

by Erin Hoppe

acteristic. It may mean they have an adaptive tool that’s been fashioned to hold a paintbrush The 2012 Accessible Expressions Ohio (AEO) ex- because they cannot. It may mean they have hibit may be the most diverse art show you see persevered to overcome stereotypes. It definitely this year. The work is mischievous, clever, means they have found people and creative thought-provoking, beautiful and whimsical. ways to support their dreams. But it does not The 78 artists involved tell their stories through mean they hold themselves to a lower standard camera lenses, watercolor, tempera, pencil, than any other artist. metal and more. But until you know the stories or backgrounds of the artists you’d probably Each piece of art and biography portrays an innever guess each happens to have a disability. credible image of talent, passion and strength.

But don’t take my word for it. These artists Accessible Expressions Ohio is an annually ad- speak for themselves. Chris from Athens lives judicated, statewide exhibit and tour of visual life with a persistent mental health condition; art that began in 1996. The show is open to he describes his photography as “the surreal, Ohio artists of all ages and levels of profesthe marvelous and the absurd, in countless juxsional experience, with any disability. It includes tapositions, paradoxically renders our lives more hundreds of artists and is viewed by tens of accessible.” thousands across the state. As a program of VSA Ohio, the state organization on arts and Ricci from Cincinnati has been an artist for 30 disability, AEO provides a professional opportu- years, but abruptly lost her sight three years nity for artists to raise awareness about disabil- ago. As an artist, it is her “objective to create ity and the importance of access and inclusion. ‘public art’ to reach the masses and in a transcendental way achieve serenity among the If you talk to any of the involved artists, most hustle and noise of the city beat. My being is my prioritize their lives as artists and reluctantly art and both are powerfully present.” put their disability at the forefront. To these artists their disability is not their defining char- Paul from Columbus says, “I have for the last

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several years have been extremely interested in the relationships of people, in relationships to themselves, the photographer and the environments in which they find themselves. I deal with the emotions of darks and lights, contrasts and shadows. I deal with daily struggles in life and bring my fight with depression and bipolarism to my work.”

The creativity on display may be an outlet for healing, a source of income, or an exploration of form that results in new perspective for both artist and viewer. The process of creation, while primarily individual, is tied to layers of social construct and experience. You will see both internal expression and external interaction in this art. It is our hope that this show will challenge notions of dis/ability and inspire your own creativity and acts of inclusion.

The entire 88 piece Accessible Expressions Ohio 2012 exhibit will be on display at the Westerville Community Center (350 N. Cleveland Ave., Westerville, OH 43085) from March 3rd through 31st. After that it will divide into groups and tour across Ohio through the end of the year. For tour listings, updates, and images, visit www.vsao.org.

The oldest surviving love poem was written on a clay tablet from the Sumerians, inventors of writing around 3,500 B.C.

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Why stress? Just have a snow ball fight!

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Anxiety and Relationships

by Mackenzie Worrall “Most people probably daydream about winning an Academy Award, but I spend a lot of time imagining my funeral or how I’d look in a body cast. I don’t even get scared. I just like to imagine them, all these potential emergencies.” (Holding Still For As Long As Possible, Zoe Whittall, Anansi, 312 pages, $18.95 paperback) Less and less often do I come across a gay book that’s all about coming out, or parents, or first times. Gay and lesbian characters have moved on to what’s next. Much like us, after we come out, deal with our parents, and our first time, and then ask of ourselves, “What’s next?”

Zoe Whittall, I am proud to say, asks that question for the fictional trans person. Holding Still For As Long As Possible is a wonderful novel about anxiety, your 20s, and the line between friends and lovers. Yes, there is a trans character. Barring the fact that you heard it from me or that you, Beyoncé forbid, keep up with the Lambda Literary Awards, you wouldn’t know until Ms. Whittall tells you a substantial amount of the way through the book.

Personally, I related more to this story and how it addresses anxiety and listlessness. In relationships and anxiety, every little thing becomes a menacing, big thing. With any luck for Ms. Whittall, her novel will also become a big thing.

In her busy award-accepting schedule, she found time to talk to me about Holding Still.

MACKENZIE WORRALL: Your portrayal of anxiety is very honest and real. And I think the juxtaposition with the honest portrayal of lesbians helps prove both points. Do you have experience with anxiety yourself?

ZOE WHITTALL: Yes, I experienced anxiety disorder in my twenties.

It’s something I’m always recovering from, and it definitely informed Billy’s character, although her symptoms and mine were a bit different, and her path to recovery was also quite different.

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Irrational fear, or any fear really, is something I’ve always been fascinated with.

ride-alongs and got to see some exciting things - a dead body, for one.

MW: Why use Billy as a washed-up child star? What does that add to this experience?

ZW: Well, what does any aspect of a character’s story add to the experience of reading about them? I wouldn’t characterize her as washed-up; I’d describe her as someone who experienced fame, albeit on a small Canadian scale, and decided that it wasn’t for her. I think washed-up child star implies that the celebrity still wants to be famous and just can’t hack it as an adult.

I had a few trans male friends read it over to make sure Josh was reading as authentic to them as a trans guy. I also asked a lot of questions of my younger friends - ones who would have been the same age as Josh, Billy and Amy - to make sure I was getting the cultural references right.

I think there was an interesting period in the mid 1990s where female musicians were super interesting to the mainstream public - in a problematic way - and I liked being able to give Billy that background and kind of poke fun at that time in pop culture.

MW: Very rarely do I see a book with a transsexual character go more than 10 pages without commenting on it. And for you going up to 50 pages at a time without talking about it; I must commend you. Josh is real, and not steeped in patronizing explanations. I think that he may be the most loveable character. Did this novel evolve around him?

ZW: Thanks. I’m glad to hear that. It was important to me that Josh being transsexual not be a plot point. It’s funny, I am working on the film adaptation of the book right now, and my cowriter, Lisa Foad, and I decided that the movie version should be Josh’s story. It makes the most sense from an action point of view. And while Josh is a huge part of the novel, and his job really informs the theme of emergencies and anxieties around mortality, the book started as Billy’s story, and grew to include Amy and Josh. I see it as their book.

MW: What research did you do for this? What was that like?

ZW: I interviewed dozens of paramedics about their work life, trying to figure out the emotional repercussions of the job, and to hear the fascinating stories from the road. I also went on several

I’m not sure I’ve ever had a relationship that didn’t cause anxiety?

MW: So queer Canada. Dish. What’s the scene like? What is literary queer Canada like?

ZW: The Canadian scene is really varied, depending one where you live, just like in America. It’s one thing to be queer in Toronto with its vibrant nightlife and several queer communities, and quite another to be a lez in Moose Jaw or rural Newfoundland.

Queer literary Canada is very small. We have a lot of lesbian novelists who are quite popular in the mainstream literary world, like Emma Donoghue, Helen Humphries, Camilla Gibb, Anne Marie MacDonald and more, so that’s awesome. But writers who actually write about contemporary queer lives are quite rare. Of course there’s Ivan Coyote, Kristyn Dunnion, Michael V. Smith, Mariko Tamaki, Billeh Nickerson, to name just a few.

MW: You’re pretty up-and-coming. Next project?

ZW: Thanks. I am new to the American market but I’ve published seven books and have been doing this for a while. I’m currently working on a fourth novel about a family whose husband/father is arrested for a serious crime and the repercussions this has on the family while they await the verdict.

MW: Plugs, book recommendations, and fashion advice?

ZW: My favourite books of the year were The Antagonist by Lynn Coady and Jennifer Egan’s A Visit From the Good Squad, How Should a Person Be by Sheila Heti. I’m also in love with the band Dance Yourself to Death, who just released an EP called Fang.

Zoe Whittall is the author of two literary novels - the Lambda award-winning Holding Still For As Long As Possible and Bottle Rocket Hearts She won the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Dayne Ogilvie Award in 2008. She lives in Toronto.

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Come on, Divine’s on the poster - you know it’s gonna be a good time.

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Joan Rivers Takes Off the Face: Legendary Comedian on her ‘Other’ Self, Gay Crushes and Going Lesbian Again with Babs

by Chris Azzopardi

CA: You know, I’m glad this isn’t a face-to-face interview because, Joan Rivers has never been one to since you’re a member of the Fashquestion her actions. But today, she’s ion Police, you wouldn’t approve of doing just that: “I’m listening to Katy my outfit today.

Perry and I don’t know why.”

JR: You wouldn’t approve of what I’m wearing right now, either! I’m wearing Besides being a firework herself, a stolen hotel bathrobe. One of those Rivers has little in common with the white bathrobes that say, “Don’t take ubiquitous pop tart. There’s this, these.” Somewhere along the line I though: They’ve both kissed a girl and did.

– as the legendary queen of snark (and facial reconfigurations) admits CA: Do you always take things from in our recent chat – liked it. So much, hotels? in fact, that she’d be up for some JR: Yes. Always those little shampoos, more lez loving. But for now Rivers is little soaps, all those cute little things. focused on promoting her wacky real- Sewing kits - you can’t get enough of ity show, Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows those! (Laughs) Best, now in its second season on WE TV. CA: Which celebrity needs a little more gay fashion influence, and a In our interview, Rivers dished on the little less? new installment (what if her daughter JR: Oh, I don’t know. Every week it Melissa actually were a gay man?), changes so much and Melissa how her humor’s always been “gay,” (Rivers), the exec producer, throws a and her face – before she redid it. hundred pictures on the table and you start from scratch again, so it’s alChris Azzopardi: I’m a big fan – but ways changing.

I’m sure every gay man tells you that.

CA: You’ve been doing press interJoan Rivers: No, no. No gay men tell views for a long time. You must get me that. the same questions. What are you sick of talking about?

CA: I don’t believe you.

JR: No, you get different questions beJR: Well, every now and again. cause they come from different people. It’s like an audience: always

different every night. That sounds funny, but it’s true.

CA: What are we in for with the second season of Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?

JR: There’s an uber-WASP friends of ours who turns Jewish; Melissa breaking up with the boyfriend; taking (my grandson) Cooper to New York, and he gets lost. All of which is true. Things happen that are just fabulous. If you liked the first season of Joan Knows Best, you’re going to love the second season.

CA: And the freebies you take from hotels.

JR: That helps, too. That makes you happy.

JR: I hate to tell you: show tunes. You could sing it and I could tell you where it’s from. Yeah, show tunes my whole life. My housekeeper goes, “Ew, here comes the score of Bells Are Ringing.

Err!”

CA: What do you think you’d look like without plastic surgery?

JR: I imagine I’d look a lot like my sis- CA: Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best ter, and that worries me - because is in its second season and – she looks good! (Laughs) JR: It’s done. Thank god! But things never stop happening, that’s the trouCA: You’ve wasted all that money, ble.

Joan.

JR: It could well be. I could have my- CA: With you they don’t, because self really nice outfits. you’re a workaholic.

JR: Yeah, you’re right. I just went down CA: You get more plastic surgery CA: What don’t they tell you about to Williamsburg, Va. with Judge Judy during the first episode, “Skinterplastic surgery? and I thought, “Where are the camvention.” And Melissa does not ap- JR: Oh, I don’t know. I don’t listen. I eras?” It might be in the third season. prove. have a friend who wanted to know Things are always happening.

JR: No, she totally doesn’t. But you everything the doctor was going to do. know, it’s a business where we all I don’t want to know. He doesn’t ask CA: You recently joked about wishhave to look good. You look at anybody me how I write jokes and I don’t ask ing you could replace Melissa with a - I mean, Jane Fonda running around him how he operates. The less I know, gay son. How would the reality show with a whole new face and body and the better. be different if that were true? pretending she’s done that through JR: Well, it’d be a lot of different. We’d eating apples? You wanna go, “Oh CA: Right. That’s with a lot of things. have a whole episode devoted to Judy stop it!”

Like Katy Perry.

Garland. There’d be nothing to disJR: I’m trying like hell. She’s very cuss here.

CA: You didn’t get that face from pretty but I don’t get the music.

CA: Maybe even a whole season. eating apples?

JR: I got this face from eating artiCA: You’re not in a teenage dream? JR: A whole season on, “Was Judy happy?” chokes and apples and having a JR: No, not in a teenage dream. great diet. Yeah, right. All the above - (Laughs) CA: What does Joan know best? plus a great doctor!

JR: Being a good grandma. (Cooper) CA: What do you listen to?

continued

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I wonder how many cosmetic procedures ol’ Joan has had? Over/under 100?

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In the 1800’s physicians commonly advised brokenhearted patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining.

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will appreciate me after I’m dead a lot more. Right now I’m grandma, but later on when he’s in college with his friends, he’ll get how fun grandma was. She was not cool - that’s the wrong word - but she was crazy.

CA: Is anything off limits when the cameras are rolling?

JR: No. If you’re going to do a reality show, you have to show your real reality, otherwise it’s gonna be stupid. And they know, people are not that - well, I shouldn’t say that, because look at the Kardashians. So people are not, usually, that stupid.

CA: Anyone you won’t make fun of?

JR: No. If you’re in the public eye, you’re in the public eye.

And you have no right to say, “I’m off limits.” Nonsense.

Then you’re in the wrong business. Go work at Kmart and no one will care and you can have the most private life of anyone in the world.

CA: In the ’80s you became the permanent guest host on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Why don’t we have a woman hosting a late-night talk show on a major network currently?

JR: Because there just isn’t anyone good enough. Somebody that was great would be on. I don’t know what that means, but that’s what it means.

windows, and all the window display men were gay. We loved each other.

I think my humor has always been a gay kind of humor. Gay humor is the smartest humor in the world. And gay audiences make a show. If I look out in an audience and there are six gay men in the front row, I know we’re going to have fun tonight.

CA: You used to get a lot of flack for some of your jokes especially ones about AIDS. Is it easier to joke about taboo topics like that now?

JR: Oh, of course. But that’s the way you get people to pay attention. You know, I did the first AIDS benefit when it was still called “gay pneumonia.” We were in such danger that we had men on stage carrying guns because we got death threats.

CA: You ruffled some feathers recently when you told the Advocate that gay actors should stay in the closet because they were committing career suicide.

JR: You are. If I knew Tom Cruise was gay when I was a 7year-old girl, that would’ve been it. I would’ve put my fantasies on somebody else.

CA: Tom Cruise is gay?

JR: Oh, I don’t think so. Do you?

CA: How about Kathy Griffin or Chelsea Handler?

JR: Chelsea: I’ve never seen so I have nothing to say about her. Never watched the show but once and I thought, “This sucks.” And I don’t know if Kathy would want to do it, or even has the right equipment for it. It’s a very different hat to put on.

CA: You tell me. You’re the celeb guru.

JR: I don’t know. You hear so many rumors circulating. But I think in certain professions you can’t come out and be America’s romantic idol. Ricky Martin was brilliant in how he handled his career.

CA: So you’re saying it has nothing to do with gender but rather talent?

JR: It’s the talent. That’s why I think Jimmy Fallon is genius.

He’s got what Carson had. He’s a fan, he lets his people be funny; he doesn’t compete with his guests, and he just sits back and lets the guest do it. He’s amazing.

CA: But with the social climate changing, do you still believe that to be true?

JR: You’re not talking about that. You’re talking about somebody that young girls are going to pay money to see and fantasize about. I think it’s a very difficult position for somebody to be put in. It’s unfortunate, but it’s life.

CA: What about Ellen DeGeneres?

JR: Ellen is the most boring white woman in the world.

When I was a child, I was madly in love with an actor named Van Johnson - mad about him, had his picture up.

In third grade I did a whole notebook on Van Johnson. Then I grew up, he was still adorable but he was gay and he was wearing mascara and I thought to myself, “If I had known then, I wouldn’t have loved Van Johnson. I would’ve fallen for John Wayne.”

CA: But the most exciting lesbian in the world?

JR: Oh, that’s right. I forgot about that. One of the funniest episodes of her sitcom was when she announced it by mistake over the microphone.

CA: When I saw your 2010 documentary, A Piece of Work, I was really surprised by how much of a softie you can be.

JR: Everybody is. You show so many different things on stage. My act is one kind of talk. In real life, I can be something else. We’re all so different in different ways.

CA: So what’s Joan like off-camera?

JR: I like to cry a lot.

CA: What makes you cry?

JR: What doesn’t? Christmas carols make me cry.

CA: In Driftwood, you played Barbra Streisand’s – JR: Lesbian lover!

CA: Would you go lesbian again?

JR: If Babs is available. She was an amazing kisser! We still both laugh because that was our first scene – for both of us. She was still in high school.

So I think it’s a very difficult choice for an actor to make if he’s going to make his living as a romantic lead for young girls to adore. Or women. Well, men like to challenge women. Men love to challenge a lesbian: “Oh, I could turn her around.” That’s a good challenge for a man.

CA: As someone who’s had a gay following for years, what do you think of people claiming that Lady Gaga and Kathy Griffin pander to gay audiences and aren’t actually genuine?

JR: I don’t know and I don’t care. How about that? Couldn’t care less. I worry about myself. I love my gay audiences.

They’ve been with me forever, they’ll stay with me forever, and I’m very happy. It’s that simple.

Don’t miss a night with the Queen of Nips & Tucks when Joan Rivers graces the stage on Friday, March 2 at the Capitol Theatre, 77 S High St, 614.469.1045, www.capa.com. Laugh ‘til your stitches pop with the iconic Ms. Rivers in her uncensored, not-safe-for-QVC live show. Botox not included. 7:30p; $58.85-81.35.

CA: You were aware of your gay following early on, while performing at clubs in Greenwich Village. Why did you connect with gay people so instantly?

JR: I didn’t purposefully connect with them. It was always there. I worked all through college decorating Lord & Taylor

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A boa? Is her show now a burlesque act?

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It’s like WKRP in Cincinnati... but gay... and in Columbus.

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Don’t start a fire from heating up the backseat of that pink hummer!

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Defrost: Dance Off those Winter Blues at Winter Party - the Hottest Winter in the World

Leave your snowsuit in the closet, and ditch the suit and tie. All you need is a swimsuit when you escape to the hottest winter destination - the 2012 Winter Party Festival in beautiful Miami Beach aka South Beach! Join outlook at one of the most anticipated events of the year, featuring six action-packed days and nights, nine spectacular dance parties and over 10,000 guests from around the world.

One of the most fun events in the Circuit, it is also one of the nicest and most inclusive. Just imagine going to a place where everyone is there to just dance, listen to amazing DJs, hang out and have a good time. No attitude, no worries. It’s also a vacation with a purpose - Winter Party Festival proceeds benefit the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and local Miami nonprofit organizations that serve the LGBT community. Below is your agenda for the week. There are events geared toward men and women that you can pay for piecemeal, or passes are available at www.winterparty.com in a variety of prices that get you in at discounted prices. We highly recommend going. It’s a great break to get you through the winter.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29 Spark!

Ignite the week of heat and fun at the Winter Party Festival 2012! The Task Force and the newly renovated Surfcomber Hotel greet you for the welcoming night reception, SPARK! Come meet our guests, friends, local organizations and supporters and join the celebration of our achievements and our diversity. We welcome ALL to the Winter Party Festival!

THURSDAY, MARCH 1 ArtScape Miami Beach Botanical Garden (2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami

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Beach) Join us for the opening event of Women’s Winter Party at the recently renovated Miami Beach Botanical Garden. This urban greenspace in the heart of South Beach is your backdrop for an evening under the stars featuring a women’s art exhibition and auction, live acoustic set by Cat Shell and the sounds of local DJ Run Sevim Run. Cover includes open bar for selected cocktails and wine plus delectable hors d’oeuvres.

Ignite Get your fire started at the first dance party of the week. Italy’s superhot and super-sexy DJ Phil Romano ignites Winter Party Festival’s flame.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2 Passport to Lincoln Road Enjoy the scenery, people and shops of Lincoln Road while supporting the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Participating shops will be offering one-day discounts to Winter Party Guests while providing select complimentary beverages. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit the Winter Party Festival. Purchase something new to spice up the weekend!

Hell and Heaven at the Pool Winter Party Festival brings you a taste of Brazil’s hottest circuit event, Hell & Heaven, at our first outdoor dance party of the week. DJ Guga Rahner returns to the DJ booth at the event he helped launch last year, joined by fellow H&H resident DJ Rafael Calvente. There’s no better way to spend the first afternoon of Winter Party! Surfcomber guests receive free admission.

Pa’Ella Feel the heat at one of Miami’s coolest live music venues for a special per-

formance by Jesse, Angie & Nicolle of The Chirino Sisters and their band.

Plus a DJ set featuring a musical mix of classic salsa & merengue, sexy reggaeton and pulsating Latin house. All these sounds will be served up at Pa’Ella, our signature Latin event coproduced by Icandee Events. The rhythm is sure to keep you on the dance floor all night enjoying plenty of caliente eye candy. This event is sponsored in part by Tampico.

MATINÉE: Mercury Rising After an electrifying debut at last year’s Festival, Circuit giant MATINÉE returns to the Winter Party line-up for another mind-blowing event. The MATINÉE encore at the recently remodeled Space Terrace is a can’t-miss experience. DJ Taito Tikaro is back and will be joined by DJ Hector Fonseca, with an opening set by DJ Billy Lace, for an unforgettable night of music and overthe-top production. • VIP includes open Grey Goose bar from 10p-2am, express entry and private VIP area. VIP Upgrades will be available at the door for $39 SATURDAY, MARCH 3 Under One Sun Pool Party The sun is at its hottest when more than 2,000 people are dancing together underneath it at Winter Party Festival’s host hotel, the Surfcomber.

The Showtime Networks original series The Borgias presents Brazil’s Felipe Lira and Masterbeat maestro Brett Henrichsen for a sizzling afternoon.

Guests staying at the Surfcomber will receive 2 complimentary admissions per room.

VIP Cocktail Reception Mingle and enjoy an evening with VIPs, special guests, sponsors and Task Force Members at an elegant setting while enjoying complimentary

cocktails.

Industry The dancing continues at our annual Industry party featuring the sounds of DJ Whitney Day from New York City.

With her passion for funky and soulful dance, Hip-Hop, house and electropop music, Whitney is a staple in the NYC LGBTQ nightlife scene. Check your inhibitions at the door and come play with hundreds of women. Feel the energy as the music pumps and go-go dancers keep you moving all night.

Sweat – A Leather Event Get your gear ready and prepare to Sweat. Winter Party Festival’s leatherthemed event promises a night of hot and sweaty fun.

Flare The unstoppable DJ team of ROSABEL, now GRAMMY-nominated for their hit remix of Rihanna’s “Only Girl (in the World),” return to Winter Party to set Saturday night on fire at the fantastic Ice Palace Studios. Italy’s DJ Danny Verde, one of the hottest DJ/Producers in the world today, will heat up the dance floor as he makes his Winter Party debut.

award-winning main event, the Winter Party Beach Party. Join over 5,000 Winter Party guests as DJ Joe Gauthreaux takes you on a six–hour journey in one of the most beautiful settings on earth. VIPs enjoy a premium open bar all afternoon. For the ultimate VIP experience, purchase a ticket to the Beach Party Cabana Club, with access to our ultra-exclusive elevated deck overlooking the dance floor. Cabana Club members also enjoy complimentary bag check, snacks and an air-conditioned restroom trailer.

Boiling Point: Rome Is Burning Get your best Roman gear ready as we partner with Italy’s Gay Village to transform our Sunday night home, Cameo Nightclub, into Ancient Rome.

Gay Village is THE Summer event in Rome, with a weekly turnout of over 10,000 guests each night from all over Europe (and the world). HOT Italian dancers in over-the-top costumes will be flown in to join DJ Alyson Calagna and Gay Village Resident DJ Giangi Cappai for a night you won’t want to miss.

SUNDAY, MARCH 4 Sunday Brunch Relax, mix and mingle - preferably with a Mimosa or Bloody Mary in hand. Join us on South Beach for a sit down feast featuring your Sunday Brunch favorites. And although you’ll be sitting down for a delish meal, we won’t be surprised if you feel the need to tap into your inner Brazilian and sway to the tantalizing Bossa Nova sounds of Monica Da Silva.

MONDAY, MARCH 5 Afterglow Not ready to cool off? Then continue the party from dawn until dusk at Winter Party Festival’s final dance event. Afterglow will shine with the sexy tribal beats of DJ Paulo. Joining him for the first half of the event and making his circuit debut, is DJ Alain Jackinsky. Direct from Montreal, Alan collaborates with Paulo on remixes including Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and many others.

Winter Party Beach Party The Hottest Winter in the World lands on the Beach at Winter Party Festival’s

Winter Party runs Feb 29-March 5th in Miami Beach, FL. Direct flights are available from Columbus. Find out more info and purchase tickets at www.winterparty.com.

Rocky is lookin’ pretty hot in that sunhat.

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Rummy!

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By Dan Savage Have boyfriend. Several months. Love sex.

First time we sixty-nine, I notice he has a little turtlehead sticking out. You get me? Second time, he has bits of toilet paper stuck in that area. CAN I ADDRESS THIS? And how do I do it without giving him a permanently flaccid penis? I love this man to pieces and know this is a humiliating topic. Please help!

Mired In The Mud Got you. Wish I didn’t, but did.

If you don’t have the nerve to speak up when someone is grinding shitbuds and dingleberries in the vicinity of your nostrils, MITM, I’m not sure there’s anything I can say that’s gonna help. But for what it’s worth…

YES, YOU ADDRESS IT! IMMEDIATELY! When someone pushes your face into a dirty asscrack - or allows you to place your face in the general vicinity of a dirty asscrack - you say something along the lines of “What the fuck, dude, go take a dump and jump in the shower!

Christ!” His ego, to say nothing of his future erections, should be your least concern at a moment like that. So you say it without hesitation, without concern for his feelings, and you say it as you leap out of bed and reach for your shirt, pants, car keys, and phone. You don’t just lie there pretending that his buttrasta isn’t dangling over your nose. Even if he’s never able to get another erection with you, MITM, he’ll know to spot-check for cleanliness - are there no washcloths in Gilead? - before he crawls on top of anyone else.

I’m a 23-year-old gay guy. I’ve been talking to a nice guy who will possibly become my first boyfriend. The little quibble I’m having is…

I’m a virgin. It’s not that big a deal to me - it just hasn’t happened yet - but I was wondering if I should mention it to this guy. He made an aside about virginity (unprompted by me) during one of our chats: “No, I’m not a virgin, outlookcolumbus.com

that’s nothing that you should worry about with me.” That was probably my opportunity to tell him, but I didn’t. Should I have told him? What if I tell him during sex? Could that make it hot?

in-law wears, my brother’s chin and hair. If I recognized them, other family members might. What do I say?

Thank you for what you do. I found the courage to come out because of you.

Besides “Hey, bro, I’m kinky, too!”? (You “stumbled over” your brother’s kinky sex blog? How’d that happen? Did he leave it sitting in your driveway?) If you can’t bring yourself to say that, BBB, you say nothing and trust that moredistant, less-kinky family members are unlikely to “stumble over” your brother’s anonymous femdom blog anytime soon. And even if they do, they’re probably not familiar enough with your brother and sister-in-law’s home, jewelry, chins, etc., to recognize him.

Ready And Willing If you found the courage to come out to family and friends about being gay - which you found inside yourself, RAW, but thanks for the nice compliment - you can come out to this boy about being a virgin.

Don’t tell him during sex, RAW, and don’t tell him in a way that makes this relevant information about your sexual history - you don’t have one - seem like a character flaw, a cancer diagnosis, or a request for an open marriage six years after you began an adulterous affair with a congressional staffer. You’re just a 23-yearold virgin, RAW, there’s nothing wrong with you; it’s not like you’re one of Elizabeth Santorum’s idiotic gay friends or a cast member of The AList: Dallas. The next time you see this boy, initiate a casual, low-stakes, getting-to-know-you make-out session at a time when you can’t transition to full-on, no-holes-barred gay sex.

Relax, kiss the boy, be chill. Then pause and inform him that you’re not very sexually experienced - in fact, you’ve never been with anyone.

Reassure him that you’re not a duckling you’re not going to imprint on the first dick you see - but that you wanted him to know.

How are you supposed to react to the discovery - entirely accidental - that your youngest brother has a “femdom” relationship with his wife? I stumbled over my brother’s “anonymous” sex blog. It goes into detail about the “domestic discipline” she subjects him to: humiliation, spanking, “ruined orgasms” (whatever that is!), cuckolding. There are no names, but there are pictures. Their faces are blurred out, but I recognize their living room, their bedroom, the necklace my sister-

Biggest Big Bro

Congrats, Dan. It looks like you’ve got your first high-profile “monogamish” public figure: Newt Gingrich. You must be so proud.

paign has presented the holesome story of Newt and Callista’s courtship as a redemption narrative: Newt is a better man today thanks to Callista, he’s better suited to be president thanks to Callista, and he’s better prepared to defend traditional marriage thanks to Callista.

She’s been described as a “devout Catholic” in every profile written about her - so devout that her love brought Newt to the one, holy, Catholic, apostolic, and ever-more-rabidly anti-gay church. So it seems to me that it’s fair to ask if Callista knew in advance that Newt was proposing an open marriage to his then-wife and approved of the arrangement. (It might be more accurate to say that Newt informed his second wife that she was already in an open marriage and asked if she wanted to remain in it.) Did Callista know about Newt’s open marriage proposal? Did Newt bounce the idea off his devoutly Catholic mistress first? Maybe right after he finished bouncing himself off his devoutly Catholic mistress?

Savage Can’t Understand Monogamy For anyone who spent last week under a rock: Newt Gingrich, brave defender of traditional marriage, was still married to his second wife and still fucking the consecrated host out of his “devout Catholic” mistress - when he asked his second wife to agree to an open marriage. Newt had been fucking Callista, his devoutly Catholic mistress, for six years when he made the big ask. Newt’s second wife wouldn’t agree to an open marriage, according to Newt’s second wife, which is how she became Newt’s second ex-wife and Newt’s mistress - the devoutly Catholic Callista - became Newt’s third wife.

That’s not monogamish, SCUM. That’s CPOSish.

And lumping honest nonmonogamists - people who don’t lie or cheat - in with the likes of the Gingriches and Schwarzeneggers of the world, which whiny and insecure monogamists (who are not to be confused with reasonable and secure monogamists) are always doing, is simply unfair. Newt, like Arnold before him, didn’t succeed at nonmonogamy, he failed at monogamy.

Zooming out for a moment: The Gingrich cam-

I wonder if that turtle knows karate?

Would the devout Catholic still be Newt’s mistress today if the second Mrs. Gingrich had agreed to remain in the marriage that Newt had already opened?

This news alters the redemption narrative that the Gingrich camp set before the voters. So questioning Callista about the open marriage proposal - what did the mistress know and when did she know it? - seems like an entirely legit line of inquiry to me.

Callista Gingrich, like her vile husband, doesn’t believe that gays and lesbians should be equal under the law because, as a good Catholic, she believes that homosexuality is a sin and that homosexuals should remain celibate. Well, the Catholic Church considers adultery, divorce, and birth control sinful, too. Someone in the liberal media really ought to ask Callista to explain why her faith should place limits on my sexual expression but not her own.

Find the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at thestranger.com/savage. mail@savagelove.net. @fakedansavage on Twitter.

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by Jack Fertig

e i b b Ro

Care for yourself first, Pisces!

Neptune coming home to Pisces this Feb. 3 brings 14 years of heightened mysticism, romanticism, sensitivity, passions and decadence. The last time around (1848-1862) was the height of the “Romantic era” and the beginning of the spiritualist movements.

by Chris Hayes

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18): Flirtatious impulses can prove a bit too extravagant.

Remember, one perfect rose is more elegant than a dozen.

Don’t dwell on the years that have passed, but think about where you want to be in the future and how to get there.

Not to be completely self-serving, but this month’s local celeb is definitely all in the outlook family.

Robbie Daniels, was born and raised in Piqua, OH, and came out while attending Piqua High School (Go Indians! - is that PC?) at the age of 16, which in 1991 was rare, if not unheard of, especially in a small Ohio town. Always fearless, when he needed to break out of the his surroundings, Robbie took off for San Jose, CA where he lived for a year carving and selling pipes out of natural stone. Ahh, a crafter was born!

Having tasted the world, Rob decided it might be nice to stop living on the land and start living in a dorm, and so made his way to Dayton OH and began attending classes at Wright State University (Go Raiders!) with an emphasis in Psychology. “I always wanted to be a Psychologist,” Robbie tells me. “But when I found out I still had to go to med school and deal with dead bodies, I decided against it.” Interesting foreshadowing - see if you can follow.

From the birthplace of aviation Daniels moved to the Queen City (fitting) where he attended the International Academy of Hair Design. Upon graduating, this scissor sister worked for Taylor James and The March Hair salons where both bosses were Scottish. “I’ve had a draw to that culture for a long time,” he tells me. So much was his draw that he ended up marrying one. His husband and my business partner Michael, comes from a long line of kilt wearers.

Funny how things work out, no?

After a two-year stint back in Piqua to aid his mother in her fight with lung cancer, Rob finally came to our own Cap City in 2003, the same year I moved here… interesting. If you were lucky, he got his hands on your hair at MasterCuts in the Tuttle Mall or later at Concept Salon in the Short North, before he finally hung up his shears to become full-time foster parent with Michael. All in all the cou-

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PISCES (February 19 – March 19): With your co-ruler Neptune coming home to stay the next 14 years, you will feel more in tune with the times, a mixed blessing these days. Learn to focus and shield your sensitivity. To care for others effectively, care for yourself first.

ple played part in raising 6 children and were named Foster Parents of the Year in 2007. After the system decided to give a their baby Izzy back to her cracked addicted, cancer-ridden, prostitute mother, the two decided continually losing children had become too hard emotionally, and decided to focus on other things.

From there Rob went back to work first at Yankee Trader until they closed and then at Luxe de Vie sent shop. Having come from a retail lineage - his mom owned a gift shop Yankee really ignited his desire to run his own and it was the place he decided novelty was the way to go.

Now he just had to wait till the stars aligned, which they will this month with opening of Suite Q - outlook’s latest venture and launch into retail!

Whoop! Whoop! Robbie will reside as Shop Manager and your mistress of ceremonies of our big gay novelty, craft, book and home store. We can’t wait for you to come spend some money J. “I’m so excited to be able to give local artisans a venue to sell their wares and help promote people in the community,” he touts, “while giving our customers unique items you

won’t be able to get anywhere else or maybe only one time. Plus, I love the complete novelty of the store from the way it’s set up to our perpetually changing product line.”

When not attending to the shop, our celeb enjoys crafts, online games like Castleville, sky diving, collecting antique Barbies and tattoos, baking and attending to his husband, their three dogs - Meena (a Basenji), Milk (a Min Pin) and Barkley (a Papillion) and their Beta fish George. “Robbie’s a dork,” he says. “Noka is the outgoing one.” And by Noka he means his alter ego the Goth Rock Punk Drag Queen Noka Davers, whom, these days, makes only a few charitable and unforgettable appearances a year.

Our celeb says his favorite thing about our town is the diversity and the way that the whole community pulls together to solve problems.

Let’s show Robbie some of that pulling together by collecting our pennies and purchasing him a cocktail. If you should see this Italian Village resident out and about, buy him a dirty martini or IPA for his birthday; Robbie turns 36 this month! Happy Birthday, Baby!

ARIES (March 20 – April 19): Weird insights can make you wonder how much you really do know yourself. Pushing yourself harder can make things tough on those around you. Ask yourself why you do that and whether it’s really necessary.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): Who are your friends really?

The answers will be surprising, both good and bad. Focus on the good. As much as some people may deserve your wrath, be careful not to say anything you’ll regret later.

very likely in ways you don’t expect.

LEO (July 23 – August 22): Work on your relationship karma.

That’s mostly just practicing the golden rule. Find new, creative ways to do that. Being nice to your friends is too easy. Reach out to new people. If you have someone special do something special.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22): The ever-confusing element to personal relationships is about to get more deep and complex. Your efforts at charm and rationalization to clear the air are beside the point. Welcome the magic and mystery. It can do you a lot of good.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22): Wanting to be healthier and prettier is OK, but when self-improvement becomes competition with others look at what inner demons are feeding that jealousy. Don’t be the evil queen asking, “Mirror, mirror…” Meditation and self-examination bring out your deep, inner beauty.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21): Arguments at home are really about stresses outside: tensions with friends or worries over the future. Home should be where you can discuss your agitation and get better insights. Stay calm and focused and it could be.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 20): Getting too big for your britches undermines the respect people have for you. Humility, charity and a bit GEMINI (May 21- June 20): of self-deprecating humor will There is such a thing as being help. A critical review of recent too nice and there is a middle career moves can suggest new ground between needless con- directions, but don’t change troversies and sweeping impor- tack quite yet! tant issues under the rug.

Blowhard, diplomat or sycoCAPRICORN (December 21 – phant? The role you choose will January 19): Worries about your brand you for a long time. career are not entirely unfounded, but they are likely exCANCER (June 21- July 22): aggerated. Watch out for new What friends say about your sex opportunities. They will cost life is none of their business, you, but may be worth the but that doesn’t mean it’s not price. Look ahead and think true. Being sensitive, open and carefully! patient with others will help you to improve your reputation, 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,

According to the condom company Durex, condom sales are highest around Valentine’s Day, which are 20 -30% higher than usual.

outlookcolumbus.com

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outlookcolumbus.com

The phrase “Sweets for the sweet” is a line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 1.

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