2012-09-01 outlook columbus by Outlook Media, Inc

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the mellifluous issue

sept 2012 • vol 17 issue 4

inside: Robby Stephens ARC Ohio Medical Center columbus Symphony cap pride band & cgmc girlz rhythm n rock camp jbros’s nicole rachelle scotty niemet & lydia beatz annie leibovitz @ the wex interview: frenchie davis & Local celebrity bloggers

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2 sept 2012

What goes on at the Hollywood, stays at the Hollywood.

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you are here

snapshot

6 qmunity

SALES DIRECTOR Chad Frye / cfrye@outlookmedia.com

small pond

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & ART DIRECTOR Christopher Hayes / hayes@outlookmedia.com EDITOR Erin McCalla / emccalla@outlookmedia.com

music is political First off, I want to tell you that I am in love with this Creative Class issue. I have waited patiently for September to come, because like the people we feature in these pages, music has always been a passion of mine. I love to sing, dance, and listen to all genres - and we cover everything from classical to choral to rock to hip-hop in these pages. We even have a karaoke roundup for those who can’t resist the allure of a microphone and a penchant for Melissa Manchester’s “Don’t Cry Out Loud.” (I’m looking at you, Brian.)

something for everyone.

Last, but certainly not least, we have a feature on ARC Ohio’s new medical center and pharmacy. This endeavor is huge and unprecedented in Ohio, and will provide HIV/AIDS patients with comprehensive care in one building. I was lucky enough to tour the facility as the builders were still at work, and I can say it will be an impressive facility both in figure and function. The ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for September 24, but you can get a sneak peek of the space on September 12 as ARC is hosting Network Columbus. Check out our Facebook event page for For someone so excited about the music issue, more info. The following week, on September 22, you would think I would have contributed an arti- you should attend Art for Life at the Columbus cle or two, right? Well, I had planned on interMuseum of Art, where local and national artists viewing the author of a recently released Freddie have donated their work to benefit ARC Ohio. This Mercury biography, but the book was so dull and is their most significant fundraiser of the year, non-descript that I didn’t want to put you through and the night is sure to be filled with “glitz and the torture I went through reading it. I would glamour.” have thought that such an interesting subject matter would produce a page-turner. It didn’t. With all the food and drink consumed at both However, I DID learn that Freddie Mercury never Network and Art for Life, you can then burn off officially came out as gay, that he had two long- those calories on October 7 at the Central Ohio time female lovers/companions and that he was AIDS Walk. outlook has teamed up with Pants born in Zanzibar - all which could be gleaned Camp to walk, increase awareness and raise from a quick Google search. Luckily, this biogra- funds for the 5k. If you aren’t familiar with phical disappointment didn’t dilute my pleasure “Pants Camp,” buy Briggs a drink, and I’m posiin singing loudly along to “Don’t Stop Me Now” tive he’ll regale you with stories of delightful deand “Somebody to Love” - two of many Queen bauchery. tunes written by Mercury. Please attend one or all of the events, and And speaking of queer singers/songwriters/per- maybe donate to the cause. Every dollar and formers: this issue and our city are full of them! every step counts. We spoke with Nicole Rachelle, saxophonist for The Fabulous Johnson Brothers and Hairplane!; Now you can see why I’m so pumped about SepSuzie Simpson, who organizes and puts on Girlz tember. There are a lot of bands to hear and Rhythm and Rock Camp, DJ Lesley James from events to attend - and outlook is even sponsoring CD102.5, Columbus’s independently owned and Hot Times!, the community music and arts festioperated alternative radio station; the Colum- val September 7-9. A few of the artists menbus Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Gay tioned in this issue will be performing, so it’s a Men’s Chorus and the Capital Pride Band. There perfect opportunity to check them out. For more is a piece on the Annie Leibovitz exhibit, a living information, visit hottimesfestival.com. legend of a photographer who once shot iconic photos for Rolling Stone among others, and we Have a fantastic and melodic September! even dive into the homophobia that is often accompanied with hip-hop and reggae and the Erin McCalla artists who have set out to change that. There is Editor

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qmunity: ARC Ohio

Hello outlookers!

OWNER & PUBLISHER Christopher Hayes

the other side CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chris Azzopardi, Mikala Back, Alisa Caton, Andrew Keller, Erin McCalla, Marcus Morris, Tom Musyka, Mario Pinardi, Romeo San Vicente, Dan Savage, Regina Sewell, Christa Sidman, D.A. Steward, Brandon C. Walker, Mickey Weems, Mackenzie Worrall, Jennifer Wray

super mario world

feature: symphony

feature: cgmc + cap pride

calendar

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Robert Trautman

feature: cd 102.5

feature: girlz camp

INTERNS Mikala Back, Alisa Caton, Chuck Carnahan, Nick Frye, Orie Givens, Jayra Harris, Andrew Keller, Michelle Menuez, Tom Musyka, Brandon Walker

feature: nicole rachelle

feature: djs

feature: karaoke

creative class

deep inside hollywood

interview: frenchie

fashion forward

savage love

local celeb bloggers

scopes

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Erin McCalla, Brandon Walker, Justin Routzohn Annie Lebowitz, Carey Whitt, Gracie Umana, Robert Trautman, Chris Hayes

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 of 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 ©2012 by Outlook Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

NEXT MONTH:

the polisigh issue

Chris still has his forty-five record case. It has the Superfriends on it.

sept 2012

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BOOK READING @ ST ONEWALL

07.31.2012

CROSSFIT CHALLENGE 08.05.2012

Briggs traveled from the future to read us a book

Jump ropes aren’t gay, but this guy... is?

Congrats, Derek! You’re a Crossfit God. (Hi, Tim)

NETWORK @ TECH COLUMBUS

NETWORK @ TECH COLUM BUS

NETWORK @ TECH COLUMBUS

08.09.2012

“Yay! I’ve never been in Snapshot before!” -Alisa

These skyscrapers should play bball in the Gay Games

If those suspenders are holding up jorts, we’re out.

I wonder what photog Ray would think of this pic?

MUMFORD & SONS 08.14.2012

TOLEDO PRIDE 08.14.2012

Wolf Attack!

“Your shirt looks like a tablecloth.” -Erin’s ex-BF

And now... Arctic Clam

Equality Express: What a success! (Rhymes)

TOLEDO PRIDE 08.14.2012

ARC OHIO PREVIEW 08.16.2012

Dr. Michael Para’s son Alex is super hot. -CPF

I wish they would have worn their hard hats!

07.31.2012

Gregg Shapiro: lover of cranial accessories

NETWORK @ TECH COLUM BUS

08.09.2012

Elliott is proud of his gay, gay, ginger, guncle, Fruitcake.

04 sept 2012

BOOK READING @ STONEWALL

Ladies and Gents, again... Arctic Clam

We’re a photogenic bunch, naturally. More pics at outlookcolumbus.com.

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Remember the days when being blood brothers didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require a complete sexual history?

sept 2012

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The Legacy Fund Honors Steven Shellabarger

tinuing trend of disproportionate violence and murder against transgender and gender nonconforming people of color.

The Board of The Legacy Fund of the Columbus Foundation is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2012 Legacy Fund Honors Award is long time Columbus resident and activist, Steven Shellabarger. For over thirty years, Steven Shellabarger has been a driving force for LGBT equal rights. We commend and celebrate him as a relentless champion of equality. Steve’s tenacious devotion to the LGBT community and its allies, both in Central Ohio and nationally, will have resonance into the future.

NCAVP’s most recent report, Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Communities in the United States in 2011, documented 30 antiLGBTQH murders, the highest yearly total ever recorded by the coalition. This is an 11% increase from the 27 people murdered in 2010. Transgender women made up 40% of the 30 reported hate murders in 2011, while representing only 10% of total hate violence survivors and victims. Of the 30 reported hate murder victims Steve joins a distinguished list of prior recipients in 2011 87% were LGBTQH people of color. In including Rhonda Rivera in 2006, Fred Holdridge this report, NCAVP provides specific recommendations for policymakers, funders, and commuand Howard Burns in 2008, and Lynn Greer in nity members to reduce and prevent violence 2010. against transgender people of color. The tribute ceremony and reception will be held on Thursday, September 13 at The Columbus Foundation. The Columbus Foundation is located at 1234 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205. The reception will begin at 5:30p. The short program will begin at 6:15p. The event will conclude at 7p.

NCAVP is committed to ensuring that violence affecting transgender and gender non-conforming people is accurately and respectfully identified through training and technical assistance, advocacy to increase data collection on LGBTQ violence, and documenting this violence annually in our national reports. NCAVP encourages Tickets to the event are available at www.TheLe- anyone who has experienced violence to contact a local anti-violence program for support and to gacyFund.org. document this violence. For help locating an anti-violence program in your area, please conGender Non-Conforming tact us at info@ncavp.org or visit Kendall L. Hampton in www.ncavp.org.

of State Fire Marshal. South Bloomingville Church is an open and affirming church to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities. Bishop Scott Davis stated “Our focused goal when we opened up the parish was to be an accepting and affirming church for everybody in the community,” Davis said. “We love you, accept you. We want you to come into the church.” Hate crimes are intended to send a message of hate and fear to the entire congregation and community. All too often hate crimes go unreported and people are left with cleaning up and restoring their sense of safety and security on their own. In 2011, BRAVO reported that 111 incidents of anti-LGBT hate crime took place in Ohio. According to Gloria McCauley, Executive Director of BRAVO, “It is sad that Ohio is still facing this kind of crime so often, this is truly an exhibition of ignorance.”

Equality Express Tour a Success

via Facebook: Equality Express 2012: A Project of Equality Ohio.

World Rainbow Hotels Launch Website To Help LGBT Customers Find & Book Genuinely Gay & Lesbian-Welcoming Hotels Gone are the days when gay or lesbian couples need be concerned that at check-in their double room will be changed for a room with two single beds. Gay and lesbian customers can now search and book more than 850 genuinely gaywelcoming hotels worldwide on the newly launched World Rainbow Hotels website www.worldrainbowhotels.com.

Campus Pride Calls On College Students To Share 5 Simple Facts About Chick-fil-A

Campus Pride calls on our nation’s student leaders to share the truth about Chick-fil-A and its After weeks of traveling the state, the inau- funding of radical-right-wing organizations and gural tour of the Equality Express returned to documented hate groups. Columbus on July 3rd. Lee Reinhart and eleven crew members visited nine cities and “The real issue at hand is not freedom of towns and completed a myriad of volunteer speech, but Chick-fil-A’s secretive funding of projects, from working with United Way to documented anti-gay hate groups. There is no helping improve housing for individuals and justification for such a business operating on nonprofits. our nation’s campuses,” said Shane Windmeyer, Cincinnati Murdered Join NCAVP in our efforts to prevent and respond executive director of Campus Pride. Additionally, the Equality Express collected to LGBTQH violence. To learn more about our naThe National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs “While Chick-fil-A’s leadership has every right to (NCAVP) learned of the fatal shooting of a gen- tional advocacy, receive technical assistance or voter registrations, thousands of Voter First petition signatures, along with more than support, contact us at info@ncavp.org. its views, beliefs and voice, students and adder non-conforming (GNC) person identified as 2000 postcards to legislators supporting the ministrators alike need to know that revenues Kendall L. Hampton, 26 years old, who was reEqual Housing and Employment Act, enumergoing to Chick-fil-A drive funding for groups that South Bloomingville portedly engaged in sex work in Cincinnati, Ohio. ation of Ohio’s Safe Schools Law and Marare almost certainly in conflict with campus NCAVP has been working with our member orAffirming Christian Church riage Equality in Ohio. non-discrimination policies,” he said. ganization in Ohio, Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Destroyed by Arsonist Organization, (BRAVO) to determine if there was Campus Pride released the following 5 Simple an anti-LGBTQH and/or anti-sex work motive in The staff and Board of BRAVO (Buckeye Region “The tour was a complete success,” says Equality Ohio Community Organizer Lee ReinFacts About Chick-fil-A: this homicide. Anti-Violence Organization) express our sympa- hart. “I think it’s safe to say we changed a lot thy as well as our support for the congregation 1. Chick-fil-A profits fund documented hate Including Kendall Hampton, NCAVP has learned of South Bloomingville Christian Church and the of hearts and minds across the state and touched many lives along the way.” groups that aggressively work against LGBT of nine murders of transgender or gender nonCommunity of Hocking County who were recently people, advocating for their criminalization, psyconforming (TGNC) people so far this year. These victimized by arson. Equality Ohio is grateful to the many people chological abuse or death. murder victims include Deoni Jones in Washingwho hosted crewmembers along the route, 2. Chick-fil-A profits support the radical-rightton, DC, Rosita (last name unknown) in Miami, Local Township volunteer firefighters were called supported the tour financially and donated wing group Eagle Forum, which supports LGBT Florida, an unidentified woman in Riviera Beach, to South Bloomingville Christian Church at apfood and other items. Your dedication to this people being considered criminals. Florida, Coko Williams in Detroit, Michigan, proximately 2:55 a.m. on the morning of Friday, project contributed to its success and helps 3. Chick-fil-A profits support Exodus InternaPaige Clay in Chicago, Illinois, Brandy Martell in August 17, 2012. Firefighters were unable to to pave the way for future tours. Thank you! tional, which claims to “cure homosexuality” Oakland, California, Desean Bowman in Baltisave the structure. The cause of the fire was through psychological coercion of LGBT people. It more, Maryland, and Donta Tiffany Godden in later determined to be arson by The Ohio Division Take a peek at the Equality Express in action says LGBT people are “perverse.” Chicago, Illinois. NCAVP is concerned by the concontinued

6 sept 2012

Congrats Steve!

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qmunity continued

Youth this Winter

The Ruth Ellis Center’s Second Stories 4. Chick-fil-A profits support Focus on The Ruth Ellis Center is launching a Drop-in Center is currently open three major crowd-funding and awareness the Family (FOF) and its off-shoot days per week and offers youth regroup, Family Research Council (FRC), campaign, End the Chill: Where Home- sources such as full meals, gender less Youth Sleep this Winter, to bring aid identity support groups, on-site mental which has been designated as a hate group by Southern Poverty Law Center. this winter to Detroit’s homeless leshealth therapy, laundry facility and FOF aggressively defames LGBT people bian, gay, bi-attractional, transgender clothing, a cyber center, and recreation. and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, many as a threat to children and FRC spent $25,000 to stop the US Congress from of whom live in horrifically unsafe and For more information visit Ruth Ellis unsecured conditions. The funds will condemning Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” Center’s http://www.ruthelliscenter.org. policy that would execute all gay people. ensure that the Ruth Ellis Center’s Second Stories Drop-in Center is open ad- Author & Psychologist 5. Chick-fil-A profits come from YOU. When you choose Chick-fil-A, you help ditional days as a warming station for Launches Kickstarter the youth. fund hate groups. Campaign for Book on To download the handout 5 Simple Underrepresented The Ruth Ellis Center’s goal is to raise Facts About Chick-fil-A, go to $20,000 by the night of its annual benwww.CampusPride.org/ChickFilA. If your LGBTQ Communities student organization, student govern- efit, Voices, to be held September 20 at ment or campus officials would like as- the Museum of Contemporary Art DeAuthor and psychologist Gayle Pitman sistance from Campus Pride with this troit (MOCAD). Actress and comedian has launched a Kickstarter campaign Wanda Sykes, who is making a special to fund her new book project, titled issue, please email info@campuspride.org or call 704.277.6710. To learn guest appearance at Voices, will anFringe: On The Edges Of The Mainmore about Campus Pride’s statements nounce the results of the End the Chill stream Gay Community. Written in a on Chick-fil-A, visit the Campus Pride campaign at the event. science-journalism, narrative voice, Blog at www.CampusPrideBlog.org. Fringe will explore the experiences of “It costs approximately $1,700 per day queer people who exist on the edges of to operate the Second Stories Drop-in the LGBTQ community - people who are Ruth Ellis Center Center. If we reach our fundraising goal, bi, poly, kinky, HIV+, non-white, disLaunches End the Chill we can keep the drop-in center open abled, poor, intersex, trans, genone more day per week throughout the derqueer, old, or otherwise outside the Campaign to Warm winter months,” said Hughes. Homeless LGBTQ mainstream. To bring these experiences

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to life, Fringe will incorporate interviews with people who are active in these communities, including lesbian and aging activist Phyllis Lyon, rap and hiphop star Qui510, intersex activist Hida Viloria, trans writer and activist Max Wolf Valerio, WPATH President-elect Jamison Green, and bi/poly/genderqueer activist and author Dany Atkins, among others. Intended for a general audience interested in LGBTQ issues, Fringe would be the first book of its kind to weave together the various experiences of people in queer edge communities, and to address the limitations of trying to blend in with mainstream culture. To learn more about Fringe and the Kickstarter campaign http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ 1674949952/fringe-on-the-edges-ofthe-mainstream-gay-communit or www.activevoicepress.com.

Over 4200 Coloradans Ask Masterpiece Cakeshop To End Gay Wedding Cake Ban Last month, a Denver area cake shop

Someone is making lemonade.

told a gay couple that they would not make them a rainbow wedding cake for the couple’s upcoming wedding in Providence, MA. David Mullins, 28 and Charlie Craig, 31 say they were shocked when they showed up for a wedding cake tasting at Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado and were turned away by the shop’s owner and master baker Jack Phillips. The couple immediately posted their experience at Masterpiece Cakeshop on Facebook prompting over 1000 people to send angry messages to the bakery owner. Macklin MacKenzie, a 19-year-old resident of Denver and a member of the LGBT community, heard about the couple’s plight through a friend and was outraged. He started a petition on SignOn.org and over 4,125 Coloradans have joined his campaign. MacKenzie explained, “By denying service to gay couples, they are essentially slapping us all in the face, and I simply cannot stand idly by while such shameful behavior is allowed to continue. I am not sure how the cakes taste, but I know bigotry and hate tastes disgusting!” You can sign the petition here: http://signon.org/sign/boycott-masterpiece-cakeshop.

sept 2012

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Hope on High Street: AIDS Resource Center Ohio Medical Center and Pharmacy Opens in Columbus by Mikala Back If you’ve been strolling down High Street recently, you might have noticed changes being made to the building across from Bodega restaurant in the Short North. This building, come September 24, will be home to the brand new AIDS Resource Center Ohio (ARC Ohio) Medical Center and Pharmacy. While ARC Ohio already serves the state with 11 offices around Ohio, Columbus’ new Medical Center and Pharmacy will be the first of its kind in the state, providing an entirely new level of healthcare for those living with HIV and AIDS. You can preview the medical center on Wednesday, September 12 as ARC welcomes Network Columbus to the facility, and then come back on September 24 for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. ARC Ohio’s CEO Bill Hardy stresses the significance of the center’s best-practices approach to healthcare. “Already, we are providing services to more than 3,500 HIV-positive individuals across Ohio. But this will be the first center of its type in the state that integrates specialized HIV healthcare with primary healthcare, along with medical case management, mental health therapy, housing assistance and all of the other services that we provide, as well as our new pharmacy,” says Hardy. “And true to our holistic approach to care, support and vital services, everything will be integrated into a single experience at one location.”

liminary test result after only 20 minutes. The test consists of a swab of the gums and doesn’t require any blood being drawn. Despite great progress, most people living with HIV in the U.S. are still not getting the treatment they need. Again citing CDC data, Hardy states, “Only a third of HIV-positive Americans are on antiretrovirals, and only a quarter are ‘virally suppressed’ or have the virus under control.” In 2009, 393 individuals in Columbus were newly diagnosed with the HIV infection, making it #21 among U.S. cities for new HIV infections. For those with a positive diagnosis, the center will link the individual to the medical care they need. ARC Ohio has working relationships with over 150 collaborating organizations, including health care providers, clinics, testing sites, mental health and substance abuse treatment centers, housing assistance and others. These links provide patients with a specialized plan of treatment, enhancing their quality of life, extending the length of life, and preventing future transmission. With all the resources available, according to Hardy, “There is absolutely no reason individuals should not know their HIV status.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, of the 1.1 million individuals living with HIV, one out of five is unaware that they are infected.

In fact, with the help of modern medicine and early diagnosis of the virus, it is possible for an infected individual to live about as long as someone who is uninfected. “We couldn’t have believed this just a few years ago,” says Hardy. With the latest treatments and drug therapies, along with holistic healthcare available, the ARC Ohio Medical Center and Pharmacy is doing its part to ensure this high level of hope and health in the region.

The good news is that the new medical center provides rapid oral HIV testing, which gives a pre-

The onsite pharmacy will provide the most advanced and effective HIV/AIDS medications, as

8 sept 2012

well as, professional assistance on how to properly use the treatments. In addition, the pharmacy will have medications available via mail order for patients who may be outside the Central Ohio area, and offer basic pharmaceutical services such as refill reminders and payment assistance. One of reasons that ARC Ohio is a great resource to the community is that, as a nonprofit organization, the ARC Medical Center and Pharmacy will be providing services to clients regardless of their ability to pay. As the pharmacy begins generating income for the organization, ARC Ohio’s major sources of funding have historically come from government grants and fundraising events, which are held to ensure that HIV/AIDS patients can continue to receive optimal treatment without worrying about finances. ARC Ohio has two such events coming up to raise funds and engage the community: Art for Life and the AIDS Walk Central Ohio. Since 1989, Art for Life has been the largest fundraising event for the Central Ohio part of ARC Ohio that was formerly the Columbus AIDS Task Force. Scheduled for September 22 at 7:30p (6p for VIP ticket holders), this year’s Art for Life will take place at the Columbus Museum of Art, located at 480 E Broad St. Historically attracting a crowd of about 2,000, Art for Life 2012 is expected to raise about $500,000, all of which will be reinvested back into the community in the form of services provided by ARC Ohio. OSU President E. Gordon Gee will return as Honorary Chair for the biennial event, which will include a live and silent auction for supporters and art lovers alike. In a huge show of support for the work of ARC Ohio, over 150 artists have come forward to donate paintings, photographs and sculptures to be auctioned off.

Those sidewalks are must smoother in the artist rendering than the real things.

General admission tickets to the silent auction and party are $100 per ticket, and VIP tickets to participate in the live auction (as well as the silent auction and party) are $150. VIP tickets are limited, and all tickets can be purchased at www.artforcolumbus.com. Later this year is the AIDS Walk Central Ohio 2012, which is the largest annual fundraising event for HIV/AIDS in Franklin County. Organized by ARC Ohio, the Dr. Robert J. Fass Memorial AIDS Walk is a community-building event in addition to a vital fundraiser, bringing Columbus together under the banner of AIDS awareness, remembrance and hope for a cure. AIDS Walk Central Ohio is scheduled for October 6 at Bicentennial Park, and the 5k walk will begin at 10:30a. Registration will begin at 9:30a, or you may register online ahead of time at www.aidswalkcentralohio.com. These events make it possible for ARC Ohio to do the work it does, and to open the doors on its new medical center and pharmacy in Columbus. There is still much work to be done, and ARC Ohio is here to help. “We are an innovative, tenacious and compassionate organization that will continue to lead Ohio’s fight against HIV, empowering our clients to live longer, healthier lives,” says Hardy. So get excited, Columbus. Get your beret for the art auction, and your walking shoes for the 5k. If support for this organization isn’t the greatest display of civic pride, I don’t know what is. Network Columbus is Wednesday, September 12 from 6p-8p at the ARC Ohio Medical Center located at 1033 N High St. RSVP at http://www.facebook.com/events/255410511243684/. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about ARC Ohio services and events, go to www.arcohio.org.

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Find us every second Wednesday! RSVP on our facebook event pages for a printed nametag.

sept 2012

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Robby Stephens, Insuring Families and the Short North Future by Alisa Caton

Canal Winchester.

Nine years ago, Dayton native, Robby Stephens was transferred to Columbus for work, and our community has been reaping the benefits ever since. Proud owner of his own business, Robby Stephens Insurance Agency of American Family Insurance, and relentless volunteer and contributor to numerous organizations around town, it’s no wonder that Robby says he feels this city has welcomed him with open arms.

Four years ago, Robby decided that he wanted to open up his own insurance agency, so he bought an office space on High Street and on his first day he had only three policies for his first customer: himself. “I started by myself with a desk, a laptop and a phone.” Today, Robby has three employees and 1,200 clients.

Before moving to Columbus, he remembers visiting his first ever Pride and experiencing how open the city was to the GLBT community. “I came to Columbus and it’s all white collar and the 5th largest gay city in the United States,” said Robby. “I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t believe anything like this existed.” The moment that had the largest impact on him was seeing a man carrying a sign at the festival that read, “I’m really proud of my gay son.” He was working as Regional Programming Manager for Sunrise Senior Living at the time, and when they offered him the opportunity to transfer to Columbus, he jumped at the chance. “I feel so fortunate to only be a little over an hour away from my family but be in an area that is so safe for gay people,” said Robby. Once here, he accepted a job with the American Cancer Society overseeing large-scale charity events. He was the development director for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and started Relay for Life in Upper Arlington and

10 sept 2012

“It makes you feel great about putting the work in,” said Robby. “I’m really excited to see where it’s at, at this stage.” While his client count speaks for itself, Robby has also filled his office walls with awards. He was won Agent of the Month for American Family Insurance four times, in July and September of 2010, and again this year in April and June. These are given based on production as an agency, customer satisfaction score and customer retention scores. The award that Robby is most proud of is the three times he won State Life Professional of the Month, which he won in January 2011 and earlier this year in February and June. These were given based off of his sales and customer satisfaction pertaining specifically with life insurance. Robby said he is the most passionate about this award because he has had to deal with a close death in his family, and the struggles that come afterwards. “I know what its like to lose someone unexpectedly,” said Robby. While he was in the middle of finishing his life insurance class to be-

come an agent, his brother was in an accident, making his passion and career choice even stronger. “It gives me a lot of piece of mind as an agent and an advisor to know we really have that person fully protected,” said Robby. “It makes you feel really good to know that your customer is really taken care of.” Aside from caring for his customers, Robby spends the majority of his free time taking care of the community. He volunteers for multiple organizations, helping events get off the ground and working from the promotion aspect. This gives him the opportunity to support groups he is passionate about and work with and promote other local small business owners. “A lot of volunteer work I do is the fundraising piece,” said Robby. He continues to support the American Cancer Society by sitting on the Daffodil Day Board, volunteers for the Human Rights Campaign and donates to the local food bank every month. He is a Sunday Brunch Bowling League member, and a player and supporter of the Columbus Gay and Lesbian Softball Association and their Bat-NRouge event. He is a founding volunteer with staff member Shaun Whybark in helping establish “A Reason to Dine.” The event raises thousands of dollars for the Aids Resource Center of Ohio by local restaurants and vendors donating a percentage of their revenue on World Aids Day. The fundraiser has become so popular that it is now going to be held twice a year, once in December and May. Robby is also helping to promote the Art for Life event, on

Robby and loyal ladies

September 22 at Columbus Museum for Art, and the Aids Walk for Central Ohio, on October 6 at Scioto Mile, through fundraising and promoting the events on social media. Another large contribution he has made is to Pride weekend every year. American Family Insurance donates $5,000 every year, allowing Robby to have given $20,000 to Pride thus far in his career. “Its great to be a small business owner and have the co-op relationship with them,” said Robby. Aside from the GLBT community, Robby also helps within the Short North neighborhood by sponsoring the Short North Alliance Gala, and does the fundraising for the Short North Stage and Garden Theatre. Robby said that often many new agents ask him how to decide which organizations to support. “I say, ‘only get involved in things that you personally care about, because then it won’t be work,’” said Robby. Being so involved in Columbus has allowed Robby to meet all different types of people, an opportunity he is excited about. “I have such a diverse variety of friends, from all walks of life. Also, the different kinds of things I get invited to, one night I could go camping and the next at a $500 a plate gala,” said Robby. “I love Columbus, and I really care about the Short North. I feel really good about anything I can do to help the neighborhood. Its fun to be involved.” Visit Robby at his Short North office at 847 N High St or call him at 614.299.9660.

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That smile is enough to make me want to go!

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Finding the Song of Your Soul by Regina Sewell Coca Cola tells us to, “Have a coke and a smile,” Mars, Inc. tells us, “Snickers satisfies.” Retailers tell us that we will feel like a million dollars in the latest Wonderbra, Hilfinger tighty-whities, Gap jeans or Prada shoes. The beer companies all tell us that beer makes everything better. And Procter and Gamble’s bears tell us that bliss can be found by wiping our butts with Charmin Ultra Soft. The message that happiness can be bought is fueled by sexual promises. It is through this very warped lens that most of us gain our understanding of desire. Desire, we learn, rests on the surface, and must be fulfilled if we are to be happy. But the happiness we experience when we buy that new shirt, drink that beer, eat that candy bar, wipe our butts, drink that Coke or scratch that sexual itch is fleeting. It may keep us from feeling our uncomfortable emotions for a while. But as soon as the high wears off, we want something else to bump us back into happiness. It’s easy to get lost in the spin of desire. We get so busy chasing our cravings and running from uncomfortable feelings that we lose connection with our selves and either ignore or forget about our deepest longings. We slide into autopilot, going through the motions of life so mindlessly that our life dreams get lost. We lose track of what we truly want. But those unmet desires don’t go away just because we ignore them. They call to us. If we don’t pay attention, they resort to anger so that we either find ourselves seething in resentment and lashing out at the people who populate our world or we turn the anger inward and slip into depression. Ironically, the way out of the spin of these surface level desires is through them. We have to observe them and see where they take us. When you are craving chocolate, a new pair of shoes, caffeine, alcohol, sex, or whatever your addiction is, ask yourself the question, ““If I weren’t craving __________, what would I be feeling?” Sit with the question for awhile. If tears come, let them roll down your cheeks. If anger comes up, sort out who you are angry at and what the anger is about. If fear comes up, trust that it’s simply an electrical impulse that will move through your system like the weather and watch it. Whatever the feeling, let yourself feel it. Find where it is located in your body and breathe into it. See if you can make bigger. Describe it to yourself in detail. Go beyond, “It’s really big.” Flesh it out. For example, “My heart feels like it will pound out of my chest but it can’t because it’s locked into a box that’s two sizes too small. And my gut feels like it’s been turned into a grey rock.” And then sit with this feeling and watch it as it changes. When thoughts come up, which they will, ask yourself, “Is it really true? Will I really totally screw up this presentation? If so, will I really

12 sept 2012

Bet she’s got some Katy Perry flowing through those headphones.

get fired or lose my professional standing? And even if I do, will I die? Is there no other way out? Really?” And keep breathing. This is the most important part. Keep breathing. It also can be helpful to look at the belief that drives the desire. Play it forward. Ask yourself, “What kind of trouble will ‘scratching this itch’ get me into?” For example, “Will this bottle of vodka really make me feel better? Or is it most likely going to remind me of all my exes and make me feel sorry for myself, cause me to embarrass myself if I happen to talk to people, and maybe cost me my license if I get behind the wheel of my car?” In the meantime, our deepest longings are calling out for attention. And just as the link to surface desires lies in the body, so too does the link to our deepest longings, the desires we need to fulfill in order to follow our bliss. Spaceship inquiry – cruising through your body and thoughts as if you were an alien exploring a new planet – is one of the best ways to make sense of surface desires. Music is one of the easiest gateways to discovering your deepest longings. Music works on several levels. First, the pure sound of music can help you focus your attention on something besides the thoughts generated by those crazy little hamsters in your brain. Second, music is vibration. Whether you are listening to Mickey Hart make magic on the drums or listening to a Bartok symphony, you can feel the vibration move through your body. This visceral experience can help you focus your attention inwards. Third, music can help you evoke feelings and it can help you shift them. We feel perky when Rhianna’s “Raining Men” blasts from the speakers and empowered when we hear Gloria Gaynor singing, “I Will Survive” and Aretha Franklin belting out “R*E*S*P*E*C*T.” Cranking up the volume and shaking your fist to ACDC’s “Shook Me All Night Long” is a great way to move through anger. And dancing to whatever sort of music that gets your spirit moving can get you into your body more fully than a two hour yoga class… if you let it. That is especially true if you can let go of your ego, stop worrying about what other people think and just let yourself be with the flow. The wonderful thing about getting into your body is that once you get past the aches and pains that you may have been ignoring for years, you get into your body, you are present with what’s happening now, and you are fully in the moment. You can let the past rest in the past where it belongs and let the future play out on its own. And if you wait long enough, you can hear the voice of your true self telling you what it wants, what it needs, and even direct you how to get there. 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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The Best Education for a Hands-on Career!

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Stressed out about the upcoming elections? Get active then get a massage!

sept 2012 13

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Saying No to Murder Music: Majah P by Mickey Weems For years, Jamaica has been synonymous with Gay-hate. It’s not like Jamaica is the most homophobic country in the world. Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran and Uganda are just as bad or worse. What put Jamaica on the radar for LGBT was the spread of murder music, dancehall and ragga songs with lyrics that incite people to shoot, cut, burn and hang Gay people. Murder music was spread from the island across the world wherever Jamaican reggae, dancehall and ragga artists gave concerts, especially Europe, Canada, the USA and all over the Caribbean. Given permission from local music superstars, homegrown Jamaican homophobes did what the songs recommended, at least the shooting and cutting options. Gay men were the biggest targets. They were attacked with automatic weapons and machetes and nothing was being done about it because churches and media spread the rumor that the crimes were Gay-onGay. It was useless to appeal to the police, who were accused in one instance of disguising themselves and firing into a Kingston Gay bar, then beating and arresting men who fled. As in the USA, children were easy targets. A father beat his son in public for having a picture of a naked man in his backpack. Dad even invited bystanders to join in the beating. Women were not exempt, either, with Lesbians fearing for their lives, should their orientation be made public. But Jamaica is changing. The biggest sign of reform was the election of a woman who said she would not dismiss anyone from her cabinet if that person were Gay. This simple statement marks a turning point in a country where too many prominent politicians and religious lead-

14 sept 2012

ers either openly condemned the LGBT community or remained silent. The dancehall community, however, has remained silent on homophobia or even pushed back in righteous Gay-hate anger. An attempt to end murder music a couple of years ago produced the Reggae Compassion Act, signed by some of the biggest names in Jamaican music. But it did not take long for many of those same musicians to go back to their old ways. The Reggae Compassion Act was only for concerts overseas, they said, so they sang those same hurtful lyrics in Jamaica when not on tour. Or they stood on stage and encouraged their fans to sing the words, thus technically keeping their side of the bargain. Clever. But in 2011, a reggae artist from Jamaica named Mista Majah P decided to speak out. Majah P was born and raised in Kingston, moved to Canada and currently lives in California. He released an album called Tolerance, which includes a message for a Gay-bashing former Jamaican prime minister (“Letter to Bruce Golding”) and different LGBT issues (“Gay Adoption,” “DADT,” “Gay Bullying”). These songs reflect the tradition of message-based lyrics found in Caribbean genres such as Jamaican reggae/dancehall and Trinidadian soca.

The second moment: there was this dance going on in my neighborhood… Papa Biggy was chanting on the mic and I was spellbound. I could not pull myself away. Then and there, I knew that was my calling. No matter how I tried to resist thinking about music, I could not. I started sneaking out at night to go chant on the mic in my area. It felt good, no matter how much whopping I got [at home from the folks]! I could not stop, that’s how bad I wanted it. I knew I was born to be an entertainer.” His Change of Heart “My defining moment to stand for the LGBT community came in two parts. First I was doing a show in Canada. After the show, I was visiting a friend and we were talking about our children when the subject [of Gay people] came up. One of my good friend’s sons told his dad that he was Gay and his dad rejected him. He could not bear the thought of his father’s rejection - he went and hanged himself. My buddy was from Jamaica - when he found out that his son had killed himself, it tore him up. He wept like a baby. He said he should have accepted his son no matter what his lifestyle was. He told me he was so sorry that he could not tell his son how much he loved and missed him. He wished he was more tolerant and more educated on Gay rights.

The following are some excerpts from an interview that this reporter had with Mista Majah P in May.

“When he told me that, I felt real bad. It did not click at first, but his story got my attention.”

Love of Music: Worth the Whopping

Walking in Our Shoes

“I was coming home from school and there was a music competition going on. It was called Tastee Talent Contest and Yellow Man was performing. I felt this energy pulling me onto the stage and it felt good! But I resisted.

“After I returned from Canada to the States, I had a life changing experience with a Gay person who made me feel like how he felt: hated, discriminated, scorned. I knew he was Gay, but that did not bother me because I have Gay friends, but this individual looked at me with

Mistah Maja P, Mistah Amazing.

contempt and it started to affect me … I finally confronted him and was shocked at what he had to say. He told me, ‘The reason I did not like you was that you are from Jamaica. You got dreadlocks, you sing reggae music and you are one of those reggae artists who are calling for the killing of Gays’ … I was speechless. “Then I said to him, ‘I can’t blame you for feeling that way or holding me responsible for what other Jamaicans or reggae artists have done.’ Then I explained to him my position on the issue and we both apologized. Later that evening, I sat down and thought of the whole incident and realized that something has to be done to right the wrong that Jamaican reggae artists have done, the pain and hurt that their music and behavior have cost the Gay community. I knew then I had to make a stand. I had to make a bold statement. I knew I was the chosen one by the experiences I had, so I sat down and penned my first single for the LGBT community, a song called “Rights,” and thus the movement was born. “The response I have gotten since coming out for the defense of the LGBT community is mixed. I have gotten a lot of threats of death, people telling me not to come back to Jamaica. Most of my friends shun me. They don’t call me any more, don’t want to work on stage with me. Promoters don’t book me for certain reggae shows. The good part about all this is people are being more aware of what’s going on. My music has a lot of radio DJs scrutinizing what they play.” Mista Majah P’s music can be found on his website: mistamajahp.com. Give it a listen. Ask Stonewall to invite him for Pride 2013. There are more than a few people in Columbus who love Jamaican reggae and dancehall – it would be good for them to experience an artist that openly celebrates our community.

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Live Local! Columbus Holiday Shopping Guide on Streets Mid November! Reserve your space today! Call Chad Frye: 614.268.8525

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Everyone at the outlook offices is now wearing stretch pants thanks to Whitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

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Homo-Hop: The Revolution Will Be Auto-Tuned by D.A. Steward When famed lyricist and singer Frank Ocean declared to the world that his first love was a man over the July 4th holiday weekend, the world went berserk. Facebook became overrun with closed readings of the lyrics in his songs (is he talking about men or women?!?) and sensationalized speculation (is he gay or bisexual?!?). Gays across the country, who had never even heard of Frank Ocean, let alone his music, before seeing his name, chiseled jaw line and the words “gay” pasted across a Huffington Post headline, clamored to preorder his new CD, Channel Orange, on Amazon.com and set their DVR’s eagerly anticipating his first appearance post “coming out” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. In just a matter of minutes Ocean became a gay icon, the first openly gay hip-hop artist in history. Technically Ocean’s vibrato on Orange, and debut mixtape Nostalgia, falls under New Wave R&B, but his background lies with the hip-hop collective Odd Future, led by the newly notorious Tyler, The Creator - who recently won an MTV Video Music Award amidst controversy, as he spits some of the most homophobic lyrics in modern hip-hop. Ocean has yet to actually discuss his sexuality in any public manner, beyond the liner notes of Orange, yet we can’t stop talking about him. After his “announcement,” most were saying “Anderson who?” and many claimed this a changing tide in hip-hop, the last of the overtly homophobic frontiers, much like pro sports.

Deep Dickollective, Katastrophe, Tori Fixx and GodDes & She. No, these aren’t porn names; they’re some of the artists featured in “Pick Up the Mic,” a critically acclaimed documentary about the underground LGBT hip-hop movement otherwise known originally as homo-hop. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2005 at the height of homo-hop’s heyday. The homo-hop movement saw it’s beginning during the early 2000s when many of the names mentioned above started the PeaceOUT World Homo Hop Festival in California. The festival ran annually from 2001 to 2007 and saw spin-offs in New York City, Atlanta and even London. Unfortunately, the collective homo-hop community dissipated with the popularity of its founding artists. But today the underground rap movement is being flooded with a resurgence of homo-hop artists, but this time they’re operating in a more modern realm, as simply rappers who happen to be gay. It’s become more about the hook than the movement. “Frank Ocean was progress, but it’s small progress, hiphop is still very stuck in its ways,” said Jasmine “Yung

Snazz” Lyons, an up-and-coming hip hop presence in Detroit. “It has to start with the upbringing of these artists. I don’t think, at this point, [Ocean’s coming out] is going to change anything right now.” Originally a poet, Snazz has been performing professionally for four years now, just putting out her first full-length project, “Summertime in Detroit” in July. According to Snazz, most of her fans are heterosexual, and she’s never faced discrimination because of her sexuality. “Ever since I figured out who I was I’ve been out,” she said. “And I’ve been lucky to be one of those few LGBT artists who haven’t been held back because of it.” Up in New York City, Harlem-bred Richard “Loco Ninja” Ruperto feels a major change in hip-hop is closer than most think. “Just based on people I’ve talked to in the industry, the feeling is not if it’s going to happen, it’s when and who,” said Ninja who’s been slowly climbing the hip-hop ladder himself for several years. He released his third mixtape, “So Close But So Far,” also in July. His original claim to fame comes from an appearance on The Tyra Banks Show during its heyday in 2008, which led to several MTV reality show

“I’m proud of [Frank Ocean],” said Ninja, winner of Best Mixtape (Flame On) and Best Video (“I’m in Love” ft Lumidee and Carmen Barretta) at the 2011 Out Hip Hop Awards. “People felt it was a publicity stunt, but truthfully everything today is a publicity stunt, but I don’t care. With him being young and black, it was something different. He’s made history for our community.” Ninja, who’s worked with top charting singer Lumidee and Lisa D’Amato (America’s Next Top Model) with plans to put out a project soon helmed by Somaya Reece (Love & Hip Hop), thinks a mainstream gay rapper could happen in our lifetime, but it’s about the buy-in from the major labels, which definitely aren’t on board. “I think it’s always going to be an issue until myself or someone is signed to a major label,” he said “It’s still an issue in every scenario, even when I want to buy studio time somewhere just to record, I’ve been turned down because I’m gay. They think recording an openly gay artist is a waste of time.” Terrence “TTGotIt” Wilson from the Chicago rap duo Freak Boiz agrees. “I don’t think the world is ever going to be ‘ready’ per se, we’re going to have to make them ready. “[Ocean] was a big deal for fans, but not for the industry. He was already out in the industry. Now it’s time for executives to start recognizing that gay artists do exist in the public eye.” The Freaky Boiz exploded onto the scene just last year, after several viral YouTube videos garnered them national attention; rife with comparisons to Nicki Minaj. Now, after a summer for touring Pride festivals across the country, they’ve released their first original song and music video with “Bounce.”

But why is Ocean so special? Many have speculated that his coming out was simply a publicity move to ensure high sales for Orange, saying he’d been out within the industry for years. Others are calling him the Harvey Milk of hip-hop.

Pierre “P-Weezy” Phipps, Freaky Boiz’s other half, thinks their modern sound could put them over the top. “A big executive needs to give people like us a chance. Once that happens nothing will stop us.”

But regardless of what’s being said, the truth is Ocean did change the game. Hip-hop moguls Russell Simmons and Jay-Z have come out in support of Ocean’s decisions to go public and the backlash has surprisingly been slim. Orange has been critically lauded across the board and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, despite speculation that homophobia would hurt sales.

“Hip-hop is a masculine sport and a lot of people say we’re going to ‘soften the game,’ but with all the support we’re getting from big names like Jay Z and Russell Simmons, it’s just a matter of time,” Ninja said. “I think Lil Wayne could even be the first to bring on a gay artist. He brought on Nicki Minaj and I know he sees that LGBT people are buying her albums.”

And though Ocean may be the first celebrity of his kind, many have been paving the way for such an event. Many who have been living their truth while navigating the sometimes-treacherous waters of the hip-hop underground.

16 sept 2012

appearances and a featured spot in the PBS doc “Out In America.”

Go online to find out more about the artists featured in this article. Yung Snazz: YungSnazz.bandcamp.com, Freaky Boiz: Facebook.com/FreakyBoiz and Loco Ninja: TheLocoWorld.com

I’m all for boys doing the no pants dance.

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death cafĂŠ with

Lizzy Miles

September 27 7-9pm A Death CafĂŠ is a pop-up event where people get together to talk about death and have tea and delicious cake. stonewallcolumbus.org/deathcafe or call 614-930-2265 to register Friday, September 19 @ 12pm Art & Architecture Tour of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center and Lunch at Milestone 229

LGBT Adults (50+)

OUTings

Friday, October 14 - Day Trip US Air Force Museum Tour and Dinner at The Winds Tuesday, October 16 @ 10am BalletMet: Dracula Wednesday, October 24 @ 10am CATCO: Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

stonewallcolumbus.org/trailblazers or call 614-930-2262 to register

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Arts of all flavors for audiences of all kinds.

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Music and Lyrics by Mario Pinardi The hum of a vibrator and the pounding of a good bass line is one of the hottest duets that I can think of that does not involve Ricky Martin. Music is a universal language, and the connection that music has to our hearts and our minds (and our loins) is a bond that is hard to sever. We remember significant events, such as last night’s trick, because of a song we heard. We feel joy, sadness, despair, loneliness and myriad of other emotions due to a simple four-part harmony. I recently went to see a cabaret show in Provincetown, Massachusetts and I was moved and inspired to make changes in my current state of being - yes, music is that powerful - and to start a revamped life journey. We struggle to find ways to become inspired, to express ourselves, to become passionate and to find our way in daily life – music is the solution to this block. Technology has given us easier access to music, and whether we gather it legally or illegally, we have thousands of songs at our fingertips 24 hours a day, everyday. Yes, some people are not music zealots like me and many of my friends, and for some, music can be a relative term - I mean is a “Superpussy Mix” of an Adele tune really music? Calling a remix “Superpussy” gives me a scary vision of my fat kitty attacking me over her lack of kibble. Does this make me a music snob? Probably. I am old and I have seen hundreds of concerts where the singer does not need to lip sync or does not require auto tuning. However, I

18 sept 2012

don’t want you to think that I shut myself off in a room with just me and my 8-Tracks - I do like a lot of current music and there are some really excellent songwriters out there; but Britney or Ke$ha are not two of them. The words of the song or the expression of the lyricist, is what can move you to extreme emotions and cause changes in your life. When I went to this cabaret show in Provincetown, the performer sang a beautiful song from a lyricist who was described as “knowing how to be poetic with images and able to fill your heart with emotion.” This description resonated with me - every song that truly moves me has lyrics that are fluid, poetic and are emotional, at some level or another. I mean who doesn’t think Morrissey’s morbidity is romantic? Who doesn’t shed a tear at a Sarah McLachlan song? It is partially because of the chords and harmony, but when you listen to the lyrics of the song - feelings will intensify. One of my favorite romantic songs is The Smiths “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”; the bridge of the song says it all for me, “If a double-decker bus smashes into us, to die by your side is a heavenly way to die,” – so morbidly romantic, like me. Now, we all have different “ears” for music and music moves us in unique ways - just understand the power of music can give you, and spare me the email telling me that I am gross or a pop music hater or both. Along with giving us ease of access to music, technology has given us a way of communicating without contact. This lack

Looks like a Girl Talk concert up there.

of contact can protect us, but it can also hinder us from showing true feelings. My thought is that we start to use music to express how we feel. If you want to give some love to a friend or if you want to tell some that you want to fuck them into the next century, send them a tune via email. Most digital music portals allow you to email links to songs. If you want to be a backwards, passive-aggressive twat towards someone without contact, send them a tune (preferably country). If you want to say you’re sorry for peeing in your friend’s bed, send them a tune (something punk, probably). My point is that communication has drastically changed due to technology, but the art of expression through music has not. In one electronic message, with a song, you can express passion, hate, sadness and lust (and all of these words might just fall into one whiney “emo” tune). We all march to the beat of our own drum and even sometimes, to someone else’s drum. Music is a part of our being and holds significant meaning in all aspects of our lives. If you are feeling horny, play, “I Touch Myself” by The Divinyls. If you want to tell someone how much you love them, “I’ll Be… ” by Edwin McCain is a good choice. And, to say “thank you” for reading my mess on a monthly basis, I dedicate “Thank You,” by Natalie Merchant. Please remember to always be a survivor and never be a victim, and now, I need to send an “I hate you, you homophobic fucker” song to some asswad here at work. Any suggestions?

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No attitude, no nonsense, yes showers.

sept 2012 19

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The Changing Face of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra by Andrew Keller Robert Firdman is lucky; when many Americans nowadays are still searching for jobs, Firdman has two. Aside from his normal job, he is hired on the side to bring his unique talents to weddings across Columbus. This strategy, he says, is necessary to maintain a level of financial security, as his industry is shrinking. “Do what you love and love what you do, but be creative in the way you market yourself,” he said. Whereas this lifestyle in the past has been stereotypically applied to aspiring artists and actors, Firdman is neither; he is a violinist for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, representative of the shrinking landscape that orchestras, and specifically the CSO, are all facing in this day and age. The Columbus Symphony Orchestra has undergone many difficulties in the past 20 years, suffering from massive budget deficits and being forced to cut its season nearly in half. But as the times change, the orchestra is also adapting to draw in new demographics, reaching out to young people and evolving to become more inclusive of minority groups, including the LGBT community. By even US standards, the CSO is quite young; according to CAPA President and CEO Bill Conner, it was born in 1951 as the ‘Columbus Little Symphony’, run and managed by the Columbus Women’s Association. By the mid 1980s the orchestra was a success, boasting a multi-million dollar budget and home in the luxurious Ohio Theater. It was when the 2000s hit that trouble began brewing in the Ohio Theater. “In the face of a $1.5 million deficit for the 200910 season and insufficient cash flow to continue operations past April 5, the Columbus Symphony

20 sept 2012

Orchestra, the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts and the Symphony musicians had to band together to ensure the CSO’s survival,” said Conner. This lack of patronage, according to Firdman, is endemic to the business, and is in many ways representative of how lowly the US as a whole values orchestral music. “It has really affected everyone,” he said. “I try and accept the fact that the arts is something that in this society is not a value. There are other orchestras where you do have a certain amount of security, but some, like the Fort Lauderdale Orchestra, just died.” When it comes down to it, he says, education is a leading factor in this attitude. “Unfortunately, since arts are being cut in schools, you don’t have an understanding of why we exist,” he said. “There’s hundreds of years of history behind what we do, with wonderfully inspirational composers who have given us these pieces, and we recreate them. As far as that, if we don’t have people educated about why we exist, it’s hard for people to give money and support to keep it living.”

that require heavy orchestras, such as musical theater, are becoming younger and gayer in their audiences. The CSO, like other orchestras around the country, is taking note, and tailoring both the workplace and the season to these demographics. As a workplace, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra is overall receptive to LGBT employees. According to Conner, the CSO strives to create a safe and nondiscriminatory work environment, while also providing a benefits package that includes full domestic partnership health coverage. Daren Fuster, Orchestra Personnel Manager for the Symphony, said that he was very satisfied with the workplace. “It’s an awesome work environment,” he said. “I work for the symphony alongside CAPA, and everybody here is just excellent.” Fuster, who worked for the Cincinnati Symphony before, noted the difference in the two work environments’ openness to LGBT individuals and employees, and suggested that it was Columbus itself, which lent itself to such a work environment.

Bill Conner, however, believes that, after some soul searching and innovative adjustments to the funding model, the CSO may have finally found a model that will work for it in the future. CAPA, the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, took over management of the CSO in 2010, consolidating the bureaucracy between the two to save money, and the musicians themselves negotiated and agreed to a 23 percent pay cut in the 2010-2011 season, saving money. According to Conner, the CSO is partnering with both private donors and the city and county to raise money and maintain a balanced budget.

“Cincinnati’s definitely not as accepting I would say,” said Fuster. “It’s not as open, not as large. It’s totally different up here.”

But the budget issue isn’t the only thing the orchestra is evolving on. As time goes on, areas of music

The only instance he mentioned where the environment became uncomfortable was when he played

Firdman, on the other hand, while he agreed that the environment was good and welcoming for LGBT individuals, still thought that overall, more could be done to make the work environment a healthy one. “It’s nothing in particular,” he said. “It can always be improved on. There could be more outreach towards the gay community.”

Juggling two jobs? I can sympathize.

in a joint show with the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus, and due to their discomfort, some members of his orchestra declined to join in. Firdman said that the recent seasons, however, are more tailored to gay and younger audiences to begin with. “We had a pops concert series with Idina Menzel, and there were a lot of gay people at that, and certain other acts tend to draw people in as well,” he said. The CSO, according to Conner, is trying to reach out to larger demographics in general as a marketing strategy, and young people of every demographic are often the target. “We began a new series at the Southern Theater last season that is more informal and has more adventurous programming, offering the opportunity to discuss the music both before and during the concert,” said Conner. “In addition to our new series in the Southern Theatre, we have also begun utilizing Groupon to connect to younger audiences, and it has been very successful.” Overall, Conner said that the goal of this is to drive home the message that symphonic music can be, and should be, for everyone. “We would like the CSO to have a relevancy and value to the community both on and off the stage to help eliminate the ivory tower perspective many people have of classical music and the musicians that perform it,” said Conner. “Classical music is not some untouchable thing for an elite group of people. It’s something everyone can enjoy and appreciate.” For more info on the Columbus Symphony see http://www.columbussymphony.com.

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When did Aurora get skinny? And why is Mary Margaret chained to her leg?

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by Alisa Caton

Sounds of Columbus Capital Pride Band Over 10 years ago, trumpet player Kevin Vaselakes, attended the annual Bat-N-Rouge charity event to play alongside the cheerleaders. Musicians Leigh Briggs, David Tomola, Rahn Kanipes and Jim Keller soon joined him. Today, the small pep band has grown into the near 80-member Capital Pride Band. In 2003, the band made their marching and performance debut as the Capital Pride Band, taking Pride by storm. The parade has now become a tradition, and only a foundation for the performances they give through out the year. On March 13, 2005, the band gave their first public concert at King Avenue United Methodist Church, another milestone for this group with such a humble beginning. “It was very emotional and rewarding, especially after that first standing ovation/encore at King Avenue Church on opening night,” said Kevin. “The 10-week rehearsal period leading up to the concert truly demonstrated the band’s mission, which is ‘to create quality musical and social experiences for our members and community through a variety of performances,’ and to ‘provide an open, inclusive, and fun atmosphere while promoting the joy of music, friendship and personal growth,’ and laid the groundwork for future success.” The band now performs two concerts a year. The fall concert will take place November 2, 8p, at the King Avenue United Methodist Church, and again on Sunday, November 4, 4p. The theme is, “Pulling Out All The Stops – A Tribute to King Avenue Church.” Pipe organist of the church, Andrew Willis, will join the band in this performance. On Saturday, February 23, 2013, 8p, the band will give their second concert of the season at Lincoln Theater. The “Dearly Departed” show will feature music of artists that have passed, like Whitney Houston and Donna Summers. Kevin said they will also showcase “music from or related to eras and fads that have gone by the wayside.” Kevin said one of the band’s most significant

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concerts was this past March at Lincoln Theater, “A Tribute to the Columbus Bicentennial.” “(It was) noteworthy because the delivery of our most difficult concert repertoire was executed at our highest level of musicianship to date, and it was the first time we sold out a concert venue,” said Kevin. “The quality of the concert recording inspired Leigh to raise the possibility of it being the first CD of our music that we actually sell to the general public.” Aside from the two annual concerts, the band continues to march in the Columbus Pride parade, and also has traveled to other Pride weekends in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. Some band members have formed into smaller ensemble groups, performing around Columbus throughout the year. One ensemble, the Pep Band, will perform at the OSU/GLBT Alumni Tailgate party on October 6 and the Beat Michigan Pep Rally on November 23. The Holiday Brass ensemble will perform at the German Lights on December 2, and many of the band’s tuba players perform with TubaChristmas on December 17 at Capital University. The High Street Sax Quartet plays many weddings and other private parties when concert bands are too large for the occasion. Kevin said the band has grown not only in size, but level of musicianship. “The depth of sound, resonance, intonation, technical ability and playing together as an ensemble continues to mature,” said Kevin. Leigh Briggs, artistic director of Capital Pride Band, said their style has also grown over the years. “Both concert and marching bands play a wide variety of musical styles including everything from classical orchestral transcriptions to big band swing, jazz, rock and roll, marches, Broadway and today’s Top 40,” said Leigh. The Capital Pride Band practices every Tuesday at 7:15p at the King Avenue Church during concert season, and in the Battelle parking lot in Victorian Village during marching season. There is an “all are welcome” policy with band, so even those who haven’t touched a musical instrument since high school are invited to join. Visit cappride.org for more information.

Looking to bring out your musical side this season? Whether you’re a singer, instrumentalist or simply a devoted audience member, Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus For 23 years the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus (CGMC) has been one of the elite musical organizations in Columbus, and this upcoming season they plan to continue that tradition. The main chorus is 80 voices strong, and also produces two smaller ensembles, Vox and Illuminati, that go out into the community for separate performances. Between all three groups, the CGMC will be making a lot of music this year. Tim Sarsany, in his third year as artistic director, said the he has seen the choir continually improve. “The artistic level continues to increase,” said Tim. “Our position in the community has grown as well.” The choir collaborates with many other performance groups in the city, and this fall the ensemble Vox is working with BalletMet for the show, “American Songbook.” The show will run the weekends of September 21 through October 7 and will be held at BalletMet. The musical partnerships that CGMC have made in the past have proven to be successful. In March 2011, they performed with the Columbus Children’s Choir and the YouTube video of their version of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” has over 25,000 hits, and is used by the Trevor Project, an organization that works to prevent suicide for LGBTQ youth. “The guys loved it and the kids had a good time as well,” said Tim. Also this fall, the choir will give their annual holiday show, “Joy to the World,” December 7-9 at King Avenue United Methodist Church, where they have held the show for 12 years. “It’s almost a tradition for a lot of people. Their holiday starts when they come to the show,” said Tim. “It shows how the community supports us and we support the community.”

there is plenty to see and do this season between the Capital Pride Band and the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus. And we have some exciting news: these two are planning a collaboration in October of 2014! by, and insightful of, the history, losses and turning points of this pandemic.” The show will be March 22 and 23 at the Lincoln Theater. “Social justice is a big part of what we do as well. If we can just change one mind it’s worth it,” said Tim. Illuminati, CGMC sacred ensemble, also performs a spring concert performing spiritual songs. This ensemble was created about 10 years ago and is conducted by Michael Crandall. They sing at various churches around town, throughout the year, and typically per the request of a congregation. “It’s a way we can go out into the community when they can’t come to us,” said Tim. “Those guys love to sing that music, but they also love to do the outreach.” The Illuminati concert is May 19, at Worthington United Methodist Church. The main chorus plans to wrap up their season with the “Motown in Our Town” show. Tim said this will be one of their liveliest performances with dancing, an aspect that the members always have fun with. “We’ve had to add a more visual element, just because that is the way things are going,” said Tim. The Motown show will be June 28-30. Tim said that outside of all the performances and practices, the friendship of the chorus is one of the most rewarding. “We are a family, we always help each other. The camaraderie and spirit is just great,” said Tim. “The music is important but the camaraderie and the community is vital. It’s a great bunch of guys to lead. They work so hard at what they do.” Interested in joining Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus this season? All experience is welcome! Auditions, or voice placements, are Sept. 16 and 23 at Ohio Theater, 5:30p. New singers are invited to sit through rehearsal first and auditions will be held afterward. Visit CGMC.com for more information.

In February, Vox will perform a Valentine’s show, “What I Did for Love,” and in March the main chorus will put on “Until There’s a Cure.” The performance will focus on the effects of HIV/AIDS and the songs “will be both inspired

That dance move puts the “gay” in Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus.

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Wizard Frye “wizarded” all of those lightning bolts.

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out & about

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 SHIVER ME TIMBERS National Talk Like A Pirate Day

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 MY BIG FAT FESTIVAL Greek Festival @ Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 555 N High St, 614.224.020, www.greekcathedral.com: Opa! Enjoy this end-of-the-summer festival and take in all of that Greek cuisine and dancing. Everyone loves the taste of some good Greek meat. Festival runs Friday-Monday. 11a12a; $5 Adults, $4 Seniors, 2 yrs and under free. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 PUPPY PLAYTIME Pups in the Plaza @ Mill St and Creekside Plaza, 123 Mill St, Gahanna, www.visitgahanna.com: Sometimes dogs need a night out too. Bring your pup out for some raffles, giveaways and good ole canine socializing. Goes on every Thursday through November 1. 4:30p-8p; free.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 BREWS & BOOZE Columbus Microbrew Festival @ North Market, 59 Spruce St, 614.463.9664, www.northmarket.com: It is the 5th annual microbrew festival and all of your favorite local ales will be in attendance. Beers are being poured through Saturday. 5p-9p; $20. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 LOCAL THEATRE AT ITS BEST Short North Stage: Cabaret @ Garden Theater, 1187 N High St, 614.725.4042, www.shortnorthstage.org: It’s opening night for this neighborhood production. If you love a good romance and scandal, this is a play you won’t want to miss. The show runs through October 7. $12-40.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 NUDES FOR CHARITY Art For Life @ Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E Broad St, 614.340.6715, www.artforlifecolumbus.or g: Food, drink, charity, and a reclining nude or two: what more could you ask for? 6p-11:30p; free for kids, $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 ‘CAUSE DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND Diamond Hunter: Revenge of the Diamond @ Wallstreet, 144 N Wall St, 614.464.2800, www.wallstreetnightclub.com: “Revenge of the Diamond” themed drag show featuring Diamond Hunter, Rushena, Falon Fontaine, Helena Troy, Patricia Garrison & Cory. Doors open one hour prior to each show. 6p and 9p; $5. 18+

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 NETWORK FOR A GREAT CAUSE Network Columbus: Introducing The ARC Ohio Medical Center @ AIDS Resource Center of Ohio Medical Center, 1033 N High St, 614.299.2437, www.networkcolumbus.com: Come get a sneak peak at the brand new Medical Center & Pharmacy, and hear from the people who made this innovative treatment facility possible! Bill Hardy, President and CEO of ARC Ohio will be speaking, along with Dr. Para, Medical Center Director. 6p-8p; free.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 YOU PROBABLY HAVEN’T HEARD OF IT Independents’ Day 2012 @ corner of Gay St & Pearl Alley, www.thisisindependent.com. No, not Independence day - that already came and went this year. Here is a chance for you to celebrate everything indie and artisan with your fellow Columbusites… Columbians? Whatever. Enjoy some live music, artists, street performers, food trucks and more. 11a-11p; free. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 THE HILLS ARE ALIVE... Screen on the Green: The Sound of Music @ Goodale Park, corner of Goodale Blvd and Park St, movies.shortnorthcivic.org: High on a hill was a lonely goatherd, Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo… can we make this is a sing-along/yodel-along viewing? If not, there are still contests and activities to accompany this outdoor viewing. Movie begins at sundown; free.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 LIVING LEGEND Annie Leibovitz @ Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N High St, 614.292.3535, www.wexarts.org: This exhibit will feature more than 200 photographs, including works from Leibovitz’s “ Master Set,” Pilgrimage project. As a photojournalist she’s worked for Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Vogue and has taken some of the most iconic photos ever. 12p-7p; $5.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 MAKE THAT KITTY PURR ZenCat Galllery Fall Art Show & Silent Auction @ Sidebar 122, 122 E Main St, 614. 228.9041, www.ZenCatGallery.com: Eat, drink and save a kitten. Fill up on appetizers while scoping out cool 4x4 artworks. Place your bids and get some great items to support the “Feline Assistance Fund.” 5p-8p; free.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 SHAKE RATTLE & ROLL The American Songbook- Vox in Association with BalletMet @ BalletMet Performance Space, Columbus State Community College, 322 Mt Vernon Ave, www.cgmc.com: What songs make your toes tap, your hands clap, and your booty wiggle and jiggle? You’ll be bobbing your head all night with performances celebrating America’s classics. 2p; $35.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 STRIPPERS WITH THE QUEEN BINGO and Strippers @ Cavan Irish Pub, 1409 S High St, 614.725.5502, www.facebook.com/pages/CavanIrish-Pub/135094086956: Win money, get drunk, and get laid, all in a Sunday night. Play free BINGO, hosted by The House Queen Lady Brianna from 9-11. Then it’s stripper time! 9p-1a; free.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 CIVIC PRIDE IS THE NEW BLACK Sounds on the Town: A 200Columbus Celebration @ Easton Town Center, 160 Easton Town Center, 614.416.7000, www.eastontowncenter. com: For the last Sounds on the Town installment of the summer, Easton will treat us to a special bicentennial jazz performance to celebrate our city’s 200th birthday. 6p-9p; free.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 STRICTLY FOR THE LADIES Ohio Lesbian Festival @ Frontier Ranch 8836 York Rd SW, ohiolesbianfestival. wordpress.com: Get comfy, shop the merchants and prepare for a weekend of all things lesbian, morning to night. Workshops, games and activities, Buckeye Game with tailgating, comedy performers and much more. 5p-9p gates open; $25-75. Runs through Sunday.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 PARTY ON PARSONS Hot Times Community Arts & Music Festival @ 240 Parsons Ave, www.hottimesfestical.com: Sunday is the last day of the 3-day festival that includes vendors, a poetry slam, art, cars and music. As loving tribute to Columbus hero Kate Schulte, the event features the Jazz Poetry Ensemble and special guests D.D. Jackson and Edward “Kidd” Jordan. 11a-9p; free. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH ZACH DEPUTY Zach Deputy @ Woodlands Tavern, 1200 W Third Ave, 614.299.4987, www.woodlandstavern.com: Come hear him perform songs from his new album, Another Day. Soulful, warm and mellow, it’s another side of Zach. 9:30p; $12.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 WHO KILLED MOLLY RINGWALD? Mayhem and Mystery Dinner Theater: Eighties Epilogue @ The Spaghetti Warehouse, 397 W Broad St, 614.464.0143, www.mayhemmystery.com: Not only is there scandal and crime, big hair and 80s threads are involved. So tease it up and enjoy some spaghetti while you try to solve this mystery every Tuesday night through the end of October. 7-9:30p; $25.95. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 FOR ALL THE HGTV FANS OF COLUMBUS Short North Show of Homes and Gardens @ Short North and surrounding neighborhood, 614.299.8050, www.shortnorthcivic.org: Walk the neighborhood or ride in a trolley, and explore the architecture that makes this neighborhood one of a kind. The preview tour, dinner and cocktails are Saturday, 4-7p, and the general tours begin Sunday, 10a6p; $100 for the preview, $15-$20 general tours.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 WAS HE JUST SOMEBODY THAT YOU USED TO KNOW? Gotye @ Lifestyles Community Pavilion, 405 Neil Ave, 614.461.5483, www.promowestlive.com: Disregarding the fact that the radio plays that song way too much, Gotye’s raw talent really can’t be denied. (Don’t pretend you still don’t want to belt out those lyrics.) 6p; $42.50.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 FAIRIES & LOVE SPELLS Actor’s Theatre: A Midsummer’s Night Dream @ Columbus Commons, 160 S High St, 614.444.6888, www.theactorstheatre.org: Shakespeare fan? Or are you into Fairies because of True Blood? Maybe you just like some outdoor theatre in the park? The Actor’s Theatre is performing this well-known classic through Sunday, September 23. 7:30p; free.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 ARE YOU YOUNG? ARE YOU A PROFESSIONAL? DO YOU LIKE WINE? CYP Wine Tasting @ Camelot Cellars Winery, 958 N High St, 614.441.8860, www.CYPClub.com: Meet fellow young professionals, mingle over wine and snacks. 3p-5p; $30.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 NOT FOR YOUR ORAL PLEASURES The Masterpieces of Jelly Belly Bean Art Collection @ COSI, 333 W Broad St, 614.228.2674, www.cosi.org: Tired of the same old oil paintings, regular brush strokes? Kristen Cummings was, see her eight-piece exhibit made entirely of Jelly Belly jellybeans. Pieces include Mona Lisa, The Starry Night and Girl With a Pearl Earring. Your favorite candy plus your favorite paintings - just try not to taste the art supplies. 10a-5p; $12-16.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 DO YOU LIKE YOUR CHICKEN FRIED? Zac Brown Band @ Columbus Crew Stadium, 1 Black and Gold Blvd, www.crewstadium.com: Yee-haw! Slide on your cowboy boots and rev up the trucks; it’s a country concert Friday night. 7p; $46-72.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMEBER 29 EARLY SCARES The Scare-A-Torium @ Former Big Bear, 6765 Dublin Center Dr, Dublin, 614.761.FEAR, www.columbushauntedhouse.com: With October about to begin it is time to start Halloween festivities. Get your scares in early and visit this haunted house with 53 scenes and 80 actors. The house will be giving out scares through October 28. Thursday 7:30p-10p, Friday and Saturdays 7:30p-Midnight; $7-$30.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 HOLY SCHMIDT! Columbus Oktoberfest @ the Ohio Expo Center, 717 E 17th Ave, 614.444.5908, www.columbusoktoberfest.com: Guten Tag! Bust out your lederhosen and drink until the beer brings out your inner beer maiden - cleavage and all! Wait, that doesn’t make sense… oh well - Prost! Runs through Sunday. 5p-12a Friday, 12p-12a Saturday, 12p-8p Sunday; free.

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out & about

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 SHIVER ME TIMBERS National Talk Like A Pirate Day

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Alternative Rock! by Tom Muzyka CD102.5. The alternative station. CD101. It goes by several names, but it’s one of the most recognized independent radio stations in the world, ranking fourth in a 2006 listing of top 20 alternative rock radio stations in the United States. Columbus’ music scene benefits from this recognition, as the station is able to bring in a variety of artists, big name as well as up and coming. Due to this recognition, DJs are able to travel to international festivals and stay up to date on the music scene, bringing the music back with them. Lesley James, Program Director and Afternoon Drive DJ talked with me about her own travels to Lollapalooza. “Lollapalooza was great! [It was] my 7th year in a row,” she told me. “Honestly, I saw only 3 acts: Florence & the Machine, Bloc Party and M83, because I was behind the scenes interviewing artists all weekend. Oh, the 90,000 attendees did get evacuated on Saturday because of bad weather, but all was good and music resumed a few hours later.” You can see performances from the concert on the blog featured on the CD102.5 website. Lesley went on to talk about CD102.5’s local

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concert, Summerfest. “Summerfest was very special! It always is, because it’s the radio station’s birthday celebration and it’s a ‘thank you show’ for our listeners. We would not be able to do what we do every single day if it weren’t for the CD102.5 supporters.” The festival, marking the 22nd anniversary of the station, featured such artists as, Metric, Ben Kweller, Atlas Genius, Tanlines, Maps & Atlases, The Lumineers and local band Forest & the Evergreens. It’s easy to see that listeners appreciate the thank you, as the show sold out in just 14 days. Summerfest is just one event; the station connects listeners with the music scene year round through its various programs. Frontstage features local artists, which is great if you’re musically-challenged like me, and need help finding who’s hot. Up and coming artists can submit their demos to Independent Playground, which features only music from bands on independent labels and makes special note of Ohio independent artists. Lesley personally directs the station’s specialty weekends, which each have a different theme. “Our next specialty weekend, ‘Undercover,’ (cover songs) is coming up October 5th-7th.” There is live music, as well. The Big Room Brunch hosts artists, local and otherwise, every

Sunday, “allowing fans to get up close and personal with their favorite artists.” The Brunch is a smaller venue than your typical concert and provides a different setting in which to interact with music, featuring such artists as Bombay Cycle Club, Mumford & Sons and Neon Trees. The station hosts actual concerts as well, through the various venues scattered around the city. Morrissey, AWOLNATION and Gotye are just some of the big name artists arriving in the next few weeks. And many of the events they hold, such as the Big Room, are free; listeners can gain entrance simply by tuning in and winning passes or cashing in “listener appreciation club” points that accumulate throughout the daily broadcast. CD102.5 wants you to earn your perks, not pay for them. CD102.5 focuses on more than just music; it is heavily involved in Columbus’ social scene and has always been a supporter of the queer community. The station is an annual sponsor of the Pride Festival, with their iconic black and white tent pitched in the park to hand out free swag. The tent is also at many festivals and community events throughout the year; their events calendar doesn’t have an empty weekend and few empty weeknights. I would have to say my

Who wants to arm wrestle me?!

favorite CD102.5 community project is Stress Breaks, which involves a truck driving to your work and giving you ice cream. Yes, ice cream. At work. Talk about service to the community. Lesley encourages fans that want to join the station’s community involvement to volunteer. The Andyman-a-Thon, a fundraiser dedicated to local children’s charities, is celebrating 20 years this December and can always use support. “It’s 48 hours, where we encourage listeners to call in to offer donations in return for song requests. Our goal is to raise awareness for families and children’s charities in Central Ohio,” she said. There’s also the Green Team cleanup for those who want to get outdoorsy and eco-friendly. Its mission is to promote environmental awareness and fight environmental abuse. “Dedicated to the beautification of Columbus,” the Green Team is a perfect example of the station’s ability to initiate community members’ involvement with the city. You can keep up to speed with CD102.5 by visiting their website. For a complete calendar of events, playlists, event photos, live video recordings of artists, or to volunteer with the station, go to www.cd1025.com.

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Open recruiting, but really, you’re there for the short shorts.

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Sing Out, Sister: Teaching Girls To Take The Stage by Christa Sidman Adele. Alicia Keyes. Taylor Swift. They’re strong women and gifted performers. Girls everywhere dream of being like them. But most lack the skills and confidence to do it. Suzie Simpson, a local music producer and event coordinator, is helping girls achieve their dreams of on-stage performance. And in doing so, she gives them the tools to achieve whatever they set their minds on. Suzie’s girlhood played out on a small stage - the town of Freeport, Ohio, population tiny. But Suzie had her sights set on bigger things. The Ohio State University drew her to Columbus, and she immediately felt at home. “I stayed because of the community, the gay community and the art scene. People here were so welcoming and supportive,” she recalls. “And Columbus has a lot of great music.” Suzie had always loved music. “It feeds my soul,” she confesses. But back in the day (the late ‘70s), female musicians faced an uphill climb. “Nobody would let us play,” she explains. Undeterred, Suzie began playing mandolin for a quirky feminist band called Lotta Crabtree, named for a mid-19th century child entertainer who performed for miners during the Gold Rush. (Unlike the original Lotta Crabtree, Suzie’s band was never showered with gold coins!) As time went on, Suzie’s skills began leading her down a different path. She and a friend started a remodeling business, and in 2007 she took a part time job as Center Coordinator for Stonewall Columbus. She also got involved in the music and production end of several high-profile events, including Pride. Suzie soon realized she was better at organizing concerts than performing. And her new role came with a major perk: the power to open doors for central Ohio’s female musicians. The more talented women Suzie booked, the richer and more exciting the local music scene became. Then, in 2001, Suzie heard about the Institute for the Musical Arts (IMA) in Goshen, Massachusetts. Founded by rock guitarist June Millington and her partner, Ann Hackler, the organization supports women and girls in music and music-related businesses. And its

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offerings included a summer Rock ‘n Roll program for girls and young women. It was an “aha” moment that would change many lives, including Suzie’s own. In the summer of 2002, Suzie and several friends started their own overnight music camp, the Girlz Rhythm N Rock Camp. The only requirements: a passion for music and the desire to learn. Their mission was not just to teach girls to play, sing and perform in front of an audience, they also wanted them to build self-confidence, to learn to set goals, to work together and to have and become positive female role models. All while having a blast. Each weeklong summer session is comprised of 20 to 24 girls between the ages of eight and 18. “Our camp has always been very diverse,” Suzie explains, “and we don’t tolerate bullying. The girls respect each other. They feel safe in the environment we’ve created.” The campers split into bands based on their musical interests (country, hip-hop, punk, etc.)—no music experience required. By the end of the week, each band writes two original songs and performs them on stage in front of an audience. They also write a group song together. According to Suzie, band names can get pretty creative. “One group of nine-year-olds called themselves ‘The Mustachios.’ They wrote their song about mustaches and took the stage wearing fake mustaches. And they invited audience members who had mustaches to stand behind them while they performed!” The camp’s curriculum is tailored to the needs of each group of girls. “If they’re mostly beginners, we’ll teach a lot of basics,” Suzie explains. Throughout the week, the girls attend workshops on songwriting, drumming and vocal and performance techniques. They create logos and marketing posters to promote their bands. They make masks and hand drums they can use when they perform. This year, they learned about cables and how to repair them.

Where’s all my soul sisters?

Performing on stage takes stamina, grace and confidence as well as musical skill. “I also bring in dancers I know to teach Afro Rhythm Aerobics, belly dancing and more,” says Suzie. Campers can stay centered with morning yoga classes and get fierce while learning self-defense. One thing the girls don’t do is talk on their phones. “When we started the camp, we barely had them and we got terrible reception,” says Suzie. “Now, we have a no-cell-phone rule. We want them to focus on music and getting to know each other.” This intense experience can lead to lasting friendships. When their sessions are over, some of the girls create YouTube sites where they post the songs they’ve written and keep in touch until camp starts again. Some bands choose to play together year after year. “One group of girls started out as a ‘70s hippie group but returned the next two years as a punk and then a country band,” says Suzie. And former campers often apply to return as counselors. It’s a real community, and Suzie and her staff work hard to ensure that the $350 fee is not a barrier to entry. At least half the girls get full or partial scholarships. “Thanks to generous donations, we’ve never had to turn a girl away,” she says proudly. Supporters include Ani DeFranco and Pearl Jam as well as local restaurants, businesses and private citizens. Whether it’s money, time, goods, or services, every donation makes a difference. What are Suzie’s dreams for the future? “It would be awesome if we had our own campground or buildings we could use whenever we wanted,” she admits. “If we did, we’d run programming all year long.” But at the end of the day, it’s all about the girls. “Their personal transformation and growth when they perform the songs they write is amazing … especially those who’ve never been on a stage before,” says Suzie. Stand back. They’re the future, and they’re ready to rock the world. FYI: This year’s girls will play Sunday, September 9 at the Hot Times Festival. To make a donation or register to attend next year, visit http://www.girlzrhythmnrockcamp.com/.

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This photo looks familiar...

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Nicole Rachelle Really Blows... That Sax by Mackenzie Worrall “Thank goddess for second chances.” One of my all-time favorite ploys as a journalist is to weasel someone’s life story out of them, and then turn around and ask them how it would read if it were a Tweet. Nicole Rachelle (saxophonist for Fabulous Johnson Brothers and Hairplane!) gave me this gem. Which sounds like a great idea for a song. Nicole has been with local act the Fabulous Johnson Brothers since the mid-2000s. Together, they’ve run the gamut of very popular to not-so known and back again. If you don’t think you’ve heard of them, you may know the band from either this year’s Pride performance, or from Fox’s 2007 reality show, The Next Great American Band. They placed as alternates, but that’s pretty good compared to the other 6,000 bands that applied. Local act, national résumé. A fair portion of the drive behind JBros is Nicole Rachelle. Which is no surprise when you know how driven she’s been her whole life. Raised in Ashland, OH, Nicole suffered from the same small town mindset that many LGBT youth do. The town has a sign proclaiming itself to be “The World Headquarters of Nice People,” but they mean it in a good, Christian way. There were opportunities for the budding musician, though. Her high school had an award winning jazz band, and Nicole traveled to the Richland Academy in Mansfield to take jazz improv classes. For college, she escaped to Capital University (where she met a slew of queer people for the first time) and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Studies. She then went on to front Urban Jazz Coalition for 11 years, where she was instrumental in their popularity. The coalition is still around, and Nicole is still in Columbus. Her parting from them was heartbreaking and necessary. “Although I was very successful with that band and we were just reaching the beginning of the gravy-train, I was very unhappy because I was struggling with my identity,” Nicole says. Her journey to being an out-and-proud trans woman has presented challenges in her professional career as a jazz musician. When she

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was 23, her therapist suggested meeting some LGBT people and hitting the scene. Long story short, a trip to Wall Street affirmed for Nicole that she was not a gay man. Shortly thereafter, she realized she was not a man. Her therapist then referred her to Meral Crane’s Gender Program. In a short time, she began taking hormones. That’s when the Urban Jazz Coalition stood in her way of happiness. “The bandleader, who was unable to cope with my changes, demanded I stop using hormones,” Nicole says. “I made a big show of throwing them in the trash, but later refilled the prescriptions and starting taking them again. […] One day in 2005, Urban Jazz Coalition had a photo shoot and I neglected to use ACE bandages to cinch down my growing boobs, and the meds were giving me nipple-hard-on. While standing in close quarters for the photo, my breast rubbed against the bandleader’s back, and he was done with me.” Sometimes when your world falls apart, you can put it back together the way you want it to be. The day job Nicole used to pay the bills became her job-job. The circle of people she had was gone. All she still had was hormone therapy. Soon after, several bands welcomed her with open arms and Nicole’s musical life was back on track. Two bands, Jamnesia and Flypaper, got her back on her feet. Brian Yarbrough and Jim Mayr played trumpet for both Jamnesia and the Fabulous Johnson Brothers. One night at Skully’s, Jamnesia played in a doubleheader with JBros, and they decided then and there to offer her a spot in the band. “My chemistry with the JBros was instant,” she explains, “and I gave my heart to them.” Nicole’s life, her fabulous and promising life, embodies her gratefulness for second chances. She’s ended up in a good place, with a band that’s going, and has gone places. With JBros, Nicole also makes contact with agents and bookers around the country, part of which involves creating videos and electronic press kits. “This is my next big push. Right now I’m looking for a job as a bartender to finance business trips to California so I can meet with the agents I have established contact with, so I can push my own

Hairplane! is my product of choice.

career and the JBros forward into bigger markets.” The woman is not afraid of new challenges, and that’s something I really admire about Nicole. “I am a hacker,” Nicole says. “I hack computers, I hack cars and I hacked my own body.” Having spent time as a technician, Nicole definitely knows about computers. And, since she went on after this to explain how she’s fixed up both her and her wife’s cars in words I didn’t even recognize, I’m willing to take her at her word on the car knowledge. The moral of the story is that she makes objects do what she wants them to do. Computers, cars, even the human body. Nicole doesn’t take ‘can’t’ for an answer. In the next month, you can see Nicole in a lot of places. Whether its with JBros or Hairplane!, the smooth jazz sister band of JBros, you’re going to have a good time. Here’s the schedule: 9/06, 7p, Fabulous Johnson Brothers @ Columbus Commons outdoor and family-friendly 9/08, 8p, Hairplane! @ Hot Times Festival 9/14, 10p, Fabulous Johnson Brothers @ The Lazy Chameleon 9/16, 12p, Hairplane! @ North Market Microbrew Fest 9/21, 10p, Fabulous Johnson Brothers @ The Barn 10/06, 10p, Fabulous Johnson Brothers @ Park St Tavern Last year’s Comfest was a highlight for Nicole, but she thinks this year’s Pride tops that. “I think I did way better in 2012,” she says, “mainly because I’m finally getting my wardrobe together. It’s challenging as a woman who grew up as a boy, because I had to go through the 12-14 year-old makeup and clothing catastrophe while I was in my late 20s, publicly, and on stage.” She’s modest about her dancing too, but credits Brian Yarbrough and the rest of JBros for getting her to the point of graceful. We salute Nicole for being successful by being herself. Cheers to the continuing success and improvement of Nicole and her band mates. See them before they’re even more famous. For more info on the Fabulous Johnson Brothers see http://thejbros.com. For more info on Hairplane! see http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hairplane/137328659620907.

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Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to unite myself with the blondie up front.

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Sweatin’ to Party Trash by Brandon C. Walker There’s a lot of diversity in the music scene in Columbus, but most of our popular bars and clubs in the Short North, like Union and Axis, cater to the Top 40 popular music fans. What about the alternative, Goth and club kids? Never fear - DJs Scotty Niemet and Lydia Beatz got you covered. “I’ve always been into music. After class, I went home and listened to records from artists like, Prince, read music sheets, and looked at the [album] sleeve’s artwork,” says Scotty Niemet. By the time he started high school, he was living in Westerville and was becoming a full-on punk kid, rebelling against mainstream anything. “Growing up I always knew I was different than the rest of the kids.” By his junior year, he started attending Columbus College of Art and Design, where Lydia Beatz was a student. While taking Media Studies courses at CCAD, Scotty started exploring the campus area. “When we weren’t skating or record shopping, we snuck into bars, like Mean Mr. Mustards and Purity.” Being queer, he was still trying to find himself in that scene and would ride his bike down to The Garage when he wasn’t seeing punk shows on Ohio State Universtiy’s campus. Scotty also got a job at Avalon, a clothing store for ravers, punk, and alternative apparel and the spot to find out where the hot shows were around town. Working at the store helped expand his involvement in the Columbus underground music scene. “I always worked with ravers and DJs, and was able to see the parallel universe of the punk and rave scene, the whole do it yourself effort,” explained Scotty. Scotty and a few friends moved into an old dental fraternity on Neil Avenue, and soon after, began throwing house parties where punk, hardcore and indie rock bands, like The Promise

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Ring and Party of Helicopters, would perform. While throwing parties and promoting bands, Scotty transitioned into DJing and started working with Fabric and Grapevine. Once those clubs closed, he and some friends started a monthly dance party called, “Sweatin’” which is now held every third Saturday at Carabar on Parsons Ave. He’s also starting “Mighty Real” at Wall Street every 2nd Saturday. In his sets, he spins dance party, house music and classics, like “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. “A DJ set is like a story, it’s supposed to fluctuate, and make you feel different things,” says Scotty. In 2009 Scotty started Leave Em Records, his record label and has worked with bands like, Triceratops and Surroundings. “It’s just another element of me contributing to the hardcore punk community,” says Scotty. Currently, the label is on hiatus as he prepares to marry his fiancé Josh next month.

Chicago clubs. Party Trash gives people an opportunity to experience a different aspect of gay lifestyle in Columbus. “I’ve always been an avid music lover, and love going out dancing,” explains Jody. “But the bars here in Columbus play the same [music] like, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Beyonce. While that stuff might be fun, it gets old. If someone wants to hear other types of music, there are no places to go.” Jody also hosts an Industrial Goth Night where it’s not unusual for attendees to dress in head-to-toe black with eyeliner painted heavily on their lids. “When I was 15, I got into the Goth industrial scene. It kind of allows you to dress more creatively. I’ve branched a little bit away from that; I’m not just spooky. I like to dress almost costume-y, more like club kid attire in general, and yes I do my own make-up.”

Scotty and Jody met when one of Scotty’s friends was modeling in Jody’s senior thesis fashion show at CCAD. “She had these elaborate installation fashion pieces; I was pretty blown away.” Shortly after the show, Jody asked Scotty for his DJing services, and they’ve been friends every since.

Part of her attire comes being a visual artist, and she studied fashion design for a year at CCAD. You can find her crazy, wearable sculptures in the club while she’s DJing, and there is even the possibility of a clothing line in the future. But right now, her main focus is on pleasing the crowd as they hit the dance floor and look to be moved by her beats.

Jody Krevens came into the DJ scene as Lydia Beatz, a name her friend Lex Vegas, from the Cadaver Dogs gave her, a reference to Goth girl, Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice. Jody, a Grafton, Ohio native, started her DJ career when her friend Doug requested she spin at his birthday party. After that night, others began hiring her for their events, which culminated in her first big gig at the Ravari Room’s Goth Night Suicide Ball.

And in order to keep the crowds coming, you have to keep current while giving people their favorite classics at the same time. Lydia says she stays current with music by doing research on YouTube, and asking people what they want to hear. Like Scotty, Lydia understands there’s a balance when it comes to playing music. “You don’t want to play all safe songs, you always need to add something new and fresh.”

She now promotes her own parties, such as Party Trash at Circus Bar, every third Saturday night each month. At this alternative queer night, you will hear disco, 80s and grunge, which was a format she created after going to similar parties in

Scotty and Lydia are always looking to push the envelope for the next new beat.To get the latest news for Sweatin’ visit: http://www.facebook.com/groups/41276217272/. If you want Party Trash visit: http://www.facebook.com/groups/148464995277295/

Time to get out that guyliner.

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I wonder, is that a Wonderbra?

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The Great Karaoke Roundup

by Andrew Keller Whether you’re a total goof-off or a worldclass chanteur, everybody loves karaoke. Watching it, partaking in it, laughing at the clearly intoxicated as they try to tackle it, it’s generally a guaranteed good time. To give you a wide variety of locales to show off that prodigious hidden talent of yours, we’ve compiled a list of Columbus’ best venues to let your inner singer shine. This is the short list - all the gay bars and one bar from each part of town - but go to http://outlookcolumbus.com/resourceguides/ for the master list of every karaoke we could find in town. Gay Bars AWOL Bar Mondays and Thursdays; 10p-2a 614.621.8779 49 Parsons Ave Ready to belt the National Anthem like you’re the head singer at a baseball game? Come to this military themed gay bar and club for some fantastic karaoke action. Cavan Irish Pub Tuesdays; 10p-2a Hosted by Futuristic Karaoke 614.725.5502 4409 S High St Hop on over for a wee stint at this great Irish Pub on south high street. Future Karaoke’s Paul is certain to show you a good time. Club Diversity

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Sundays; 7p DJ Calvin 614.224.4050 863 S High St Sundays at 7 bring you karaoke with DJ Calvin. Specials on well drinks, Miller Light and Bud Light also go on all day. Club 20 Fridays; 10p Hosted by Futuristic Karaoke 614.261.9111 20 E Duncan St Never a cover, always a show! Everyone 21 and up is welcome every day to this club, including for all the Karaoke goodness. Exile Columbus Wednesdays after All Request Bear Happy Hour; 9:30p-2a 614.299.0069 893 N 4th St Come join the Columbus Ursine Brotherhood for a roaring good time at Exile Columbus. The event is hosted by KJ Monte. Featuring $3.50 Smirnoff Drinks all day. Inn Rehab Thursdays; 10p 614.754.7326 627 Greenlawn Ave Come get ½ off burgers and draught beer specials at Inn Rehab when you sing your heart out each Thursday! Level Dining Lounge Sundays; 10p 614.754.7111 700 N High St Come in for Broadway Brunch from 11a-4p, sip some mimosas, and stick around to flex your

vocal muscle for Sunday Located in the suburb of night karaoke. Dublin, this popular neighborhood favorite Brewery District offers a relaxing atmosphere in which to watch Claddagh Irish Pub games and sing to your Open Mic Night favorite tunes. Wednesdays; 7p-11p 614.224.1560 East Side 585 South Front St The Breakway Lounge A nice Irish Pub located Fridays and Saturdays; in Geneva Commons, 8p-2a complete with a heated 614.751.1398 patio. Hosted by Sam 1058 Country Club Rd Wyatt and Johnny Z every Wednesday. $2 Budweiser and Bud Light specials during Clintonville the day, and karaoke at night! Breakaway Porter’s Pub Lounge starts singing at Wednesdays; 9p 8p, but will go until peo614.436.4480 ple are tired out. 5225 N High St Easton Karaoke starts at 9, but from 4-7p you can come KDB-Easton to happy hour here to Thursdays; 9p-12a get $3 wells and $1.50 614.418.7147 domestic bottles. Stick 65 Easton Town Center around after that and you’ve got a karaoke Come on over for not night at this local north only Karaoke, but also Clintonville establish$5 martinis and halfment. priced appetizers, well drinks, and select pints. Downtown Gahanna Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace Dolphin Lounge Mondays; 9p-1a Open Stage - Wednes614.824.4673 days; 9p 248 S Fourth St Karaoke - Thursdays; 9p 614.348.3634 Karaoke Mondays are 345 Agler Road also ‘I Love Columbus’ Monday nights! This bar is known for its Ohioana dogs, fries, and open stage and mic a Frostop Root Beer for nights, so come join in $5 after 10p. Add a shot with either karaoke or of your favorite liquor for an open mic! Starts at a buck. 9p and runs until the bar closes. Dublin Grandview Heights Draught Haus Mondays; 9p-1a Mickey’s Bar 614.766.4287 Wednesdays-Saturdays; 5800 Sawmill Rd. 9:30p-2a, Sundays; 9p12:30a

Hosted by One More Round Karaoke 614.488.3566 1230 W 5th Ave

shine. Northland

Otani Sushi Bar Karaoke is a staple of Karaoke 7 days a week Mickey’s, and it goes on at 7:30p here five nights a week. 614.431.3333 There is a two-drink 590 Roche Dr minimum, but otherwise it’s free to sing. Re- Karaoke was invented member to stop by the by the Japanese, so ATM, because this bar is where better to get your cash only. groove on than in a combo sushi bar and Italian Village karaoke hall? Offering drinks from beer, to Exile Columbus sake, to ‘saketinis’, Wednesdays after All Otani is sure to give you Request Bear Happy a good time. Hour; 9:30p-2a 614.299.0069 Northeast 893 N 4th St Groucho’s Lounge Come join the ColumFriday 9p-2a bus Ursine Brotherhood 614.882.5439 for a roaring good time 5770 Emporium Sq at Exile Columbus. The event is hosted by KJ Regular Friday night Monte. Featuring $3.50 karaoke has been runSmirnoff Drinks all day. ning here for awhile. Happy hour is from 2pMerion Village 7p, getting you a quarter off beer and $.75 off Triple L Lounge liquor. Fridays and Saturdays; 10p-1a Northwest Side 614.445.9671 1203 Parsons Ave Filling Station Open Mic Night Posh and dimly lit, wel- Wednesdays; 10p come to your place for a 614.761.9766 suave karaoke getaway. 8765 Smoky Row Rd Every Friday and Saturday come for some This northern Columbus classy karaoke. bar is looking to give you a good time. Open Reynoldsburg mic night is the first Wednesday of every Scotty’s Bar and Patio month. Open Mic Night Mondays; 8p 614.755.9407 Old Town East 6224 E Livingston Ave AWOL Bar Every Monday at Scotty’s Mondays and Thursis Blues Jam! Come out days; 10p-2a to celebrate the blues 614.621.8779 with open mic night, 49 Parsons Ave and let your inner star

A complete guide to cbus karaoke places is at http://outlookcolumbus.com/resource-guides/

Ready to belt the National Anthem like you’re the head singer at a baseball game? Come to this military themed gay bar and club for some fantastic karaoke action.

614.459.5990 1802 Henderson Rd Serving authentic Japanese and Korean cuisine for you to dine on while you wait your turn to sing! Karaoke is almost nightly, and will commence after 9p.

Short North/Victorian Village

University District: BBR Columbus Tuesdays; 9p-1:30a 614.365.7625 106 Vine St

Ace of Cups Sundays; 9:30p 614.262.6001 2619 N High St

Come out for “You Be the Star” karaoke nights every Tuesday at this Vine Street locale. Offering a $20, 100 oz beer tower with free pizza.

Come out each Sunday to party with Excesss Karaoke until the bar closes! Event is for those 21 or older.

South Side

Westerville

Sand Pebble Lounge Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 9p-1a 614.444.6383 1913 Lockbourne Rd

Cushions Billiards Bar and Grill Wednesdays; 9p-2a Hosted by DJ Howie 614.882.5986 5986 Westerville Rd

In their own words, “We’re happy here all the time!” No cover charge to get in, but drinks go up a quarter in price during karaoke. Southwest Columbus

Happy hour lasts until 7p on Wednesdays, with half price domestic bottles and half priced liquor. Karaoke starts at 9p, and lasts until people are done singing.

Evolution Social Lounge Worthington Mondays; 9p-2a 614.465.2496 Old Bag of Nails Pub 5610 Hall Rd Third Thursday each month; 8p Come out and release 614.436.5552 your inner Rock Star and 663 High Street sing karaoke and play free pool with beer spe- Doors for the Karaoke cials and to chance win open at 8pm and this Gift certificates. event has a $5 cover. There will be Upper Arlington drinks/cocktails available for purchase at this event. Silla Restaurant & Karaoke Bar Tuesdays-Sundays; 9p2a

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Look out Friday and Saturday, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new party day in town.

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Annie Leibovitz

at the Wex by Jennifer Wray Get ready: The work of noted photographer Annie Leibovitz will be at the Wexner Center for the Arts in an exhibition that fills all of the galleries, September 22–December 30. This show will be the first opportunity anywhere to see the whole of Leibovitz’s “Master Set,” a selection of 156 images personally chosen by the artist and featuring work spanning her four-decade career. Says Wexner Center Director Sherri Geldin, “We are thrilled to present this unique constellation of Annie’s work, particularly the entire Master Set. Taken together, these images underscore the profound impact Leibovitz has had on our very perception of contemporary culture; uncanny in their ability to capture the essence of a given persona, her photographs become virtually synonymous with their subjects. She has captured our collective history over the past four decades with bold and distinctive images that remain seared in our minds.” Also on view will be images from her Pilgrimage project, a series of photographs of historically significant interiors, landscapes, and talismanic objects Abraham Lincoln, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emily Dickinson, Georgia O’Keeffe, Annie Oakley, and Elvis Presley, among others. Pilgrimage was organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Annie Leibovitz will also include a special lobby display with portraits and related working prints taken by Leibovitz of artists who have appeared at the Wex over the years.

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Wexner Center curator-at-large Bill Horrigan - working in collaboration with Jill Davis, director of exhibitions management - organized Annie Leibovitz, which was made possible by EXPRESS. Both Horrigan and Davis worked closely with the artist and her studio to conceive the unique presentation. Opening events include a member preview on September 21 (join now to attend that special event). Annie Leibovitz began her career as a photojournalist for Rolling Stone magazine in 1970, while she was still a student at the San Francisco Art Institute. By 1983, when she joined the staff of the revived Vanity Fair, she was established as the foremost rock music photographer and an astute documentarian of the social landscape. At Vanity Fair, and later at Vogue, she developed a large body of work that expanded her collective portrait of contemporary life. Leibovitz has had unique access to many of the most notable figures of our time. She has photographed U.S. presidents from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama, as well as, hundreds of athletes, actors, artists, dancers, musicians, fashion designers, scientists and business leaders. She has also created several influential advertising campaigns, including her award-winning portraits for American Express and the Gap. Designated a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, Leibovitz captured the top two of 40 slots in the American Society of Magazine Editors’ 2005 compilation of the best magazine covers of the previous 40 years - No. 1 for the photograph of John Lennon and Yoko Ono taken for Rolling Stone the day Lennon was shot, and No. 2 for the pregnant Demi Moore in Vanity Fair. Earlier this year, Leibovitz was

the recipient of the 2012 Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art Award to Distinguished Women in the Arts. Wexner Center gallery hours are Tuesday – Wednesday and Sunday 11a-6p; Thursday – Saturday 11a8p; closed Mondays. Admission is $8 for adults (18-64); free for Wexner Center members, college students, visitors under 18, school groups, and visitors with a ticket to a Wex film or performance that day; $6 for senior citizens (65 or older), non-school groups of 10 or more, and Ohio State faculty and staff with BUCK ID; free to all Thursdays from 4p-8p and the first Sunday of the month. Keep an eye out for additional related events throughout the fall. They include the following: • Look: Contemporary Portraiture on Oct 4; Nov 1, and Nov 6, all at 7p. Using the Annie Leibovitz exhibition as a classroom, participants will learn about the recent history of portrait photography, including works by such artists as Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus, Catherine Opie and others. Participants may attend a single session or multiple sessions; each will cover different artists and different aspects of portraiture. The class is free, but advance registration is requested. • Super Sunday: Picture Yourself on Sunday, Nov 4, from 12p-5p. Our Super Sundays take place once during each set of exhibitions at the Wex and are designed to engage all ages. This open house celebrating Annie Leibovitz features free gallery admission, photo stations, and engaging, fun activities for visitors of all ages.

Chad Frye wore the same outfit just last week. Can you guess who wore it better?

• Drink It In: Star Power on Wednesday, Oct 24, from 6p-8p. A guided tour of the Annie Leibovitz exhibition will be followed by an exploration of the world of “celebrity wine” (wines produced by or in association with a celebrity) in a guided tasting with Donnie Austin of House Wine. Drink It In is $15 for the general public; $12 for members, seniors, and students (must be 21 years old). Complementing the exhibition of Annie Leibovitz’s work in our galleries are performances of SONTAG: REBORN by New York’s The Builders Association November 15–18. The stage portrait provides insight into the formative years of prolific author and activist Susan Sontag (Leibovitz’s longtime partner). Called a “touching and exquisitely rendered portrait” by the New York Times, the multimedia performance was adapted verbatim from the first volume of Sontag’s journals (written between 1947 and 1963) by performer Moe Angelos, who plays the title character. The SONTAG: REBORT outlines Sontag’s time as a student and aspiring writer, her sexual awakening as a lesbian, and her internal struggles as a wife and a mother. Tickets for SONTAG: REBORN are $20 for the general public, $17 for members, and $10 for students and can be purchased at our box office or online. Jennifer Wray is the Marketing & Media Assistant at Wexner Center for the Arts a member organization of the Columbus Arts Marketing Association. For more information, visit www.columbusartsmarketing.org. Read weekly columns by CAMA members online at outlookcolumbus.com. Additional information on these events and other programs at the Wexner Center is available at wexarts.org, or by calling 614.292.3535.

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Do you think Santigold will actually play this time? Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already cancelled twice.

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by Romeo San Vicente

FINALLY, A DAVID SEDARIS MOVIE

David Sedaris has, over the past 20 years, turned into one of America’s most beloved humorists The next time you see Jodie Foster in front of (though he’s spent most of that time living in Euthe camera it’ll be in District 9 director Neill rope – look, the food really is a lot better in France). Blomkamp’s 2013 sci-fi epic Elysium with So you’d think that in all that time somebody, Matt Damon. And though her own directorial somewhere could have gotten one of the author’s career has hit its share of potholes lately with hilarious, first-person stories shaped into a decent the disastrously received (and, frankly, fairly script with some funding. This, however, has not underrated) The Beaver, Foster has a new di- taken place, mostly because the author himself is rection: television. She will executive produce legendary for saying no. Until now. C.O.G., based on and direct a female-fronted mafia drama for a story from Sedaris’s best-selling collection Naked Showtime titled Angie’s Body. Written by Rob (about his time working as an apple-picker in OreFresco (Heroes, Jericho), all the available ingon), will begin production in October with young formation indicates that this is The Sopranos filmmaker Kyle Patrick Alvarez behind the camera. if they were run by Carmela instead of Tony. Alvarez already won the “Someone To Watch” IndeNow, that may sound gimmicky, but in a post- pendent Spirit Award for his 2009 film Easier With Sopranos world, we need something entertain- Practice and his dogged determination to win over ingly mafia-based and right now the best the reluctant author paid off with Sedaris’s blessing we’ve got is Mob Wives. Now if Foster will just and cooperation. Now, who’ll play his sister Amy? tell us for sure if she’s the star of the show and we’ll be all in. SUCH GOOD PEOPLE CASTS SUCH A LOT OF GAY PEOPLE HUGH JACKMAN JOINS LEE DANIELS MLK This might sound more like the casting of the latest DRAMA round of Hollywood Squares, the all-homosexual Precious director Lee Daniels had a couple of version, but it’s not. It’s something a little more period Civil Rights Movement dramas in the mysterious than that. It’s a film called Such Good hopper, Selma and The Butler, as his follow-up People and it’s being billed as “a gay screwball to the Oscar-winning film. But then he made comedy.” It has its own Facebook page and Twitter The Paperboy with Zac Efron and Nicole Kidaccount, both of which just went up in August. And man instead. (The one where, yes, really, she it has a cast of almost exclusively lesbian and gay urinates on him and apparently it’s completely names: Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), Lance Bass, Sanunhinged and they hated it at Cannes – com- dra Bernhard, Bree Turner (Grimm), stand-up comic ing soon to a theater near you.) So now it’s Alec Mapa, Jon Polito (The Big Lebowski), Drew back to the drawing board of the 1960s, this Droege (aka the internet’s own “Chloe Sevigny”), time with a different story called Orders to Kill, Mitch Silpa (“Flight Attendant Steve” from Bridesstarring Hugh Jackman as controversial attor- maids) and Randy Harrison (Queer as Folk). What ney William Pepper, a man who argued for else is it about? Nobody knows; that’s why it’s kind decades that James Earl Ray, the convicted of mysterious. So if you want to pretend you’re the assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wasn’t Sherlock Holmes of film production and spy on the the man behind the crime (his belief: the process unfolding in real time, just go link up to the United States government did it). Hopefully movie on social media. You’ll know everything beit’ll all come together and be received enthusi- fore the official press releases get underway. astically in the wake of The Paperboy’s evenRomeo San Vicente’s whole life is a gay screwball comedy. He tual success. Lee Daniels did not just pay us can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollyto say that. Promise. JODIE FOSTER GETS MARRIED TO THE MOB

wood@qsyndicate.com.

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Will someone please order this poor woman a burger?

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She wore lemon...

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Frenchie Speaks Out Voice finalist gets serious about her sexuality and talks upcoming album by Chris Azzopardi Everything happens for a reason in the life of Frenchie Davis. Ten years after getting disqualified from American Idol for her Internet porn past, she became a finalist on The Voice, sang with Christina Aguilera and, now, is preparing to release her debut album later this year. In our interview, she put it all out there again: Davis addressed the stigma of being bisexual and black, how she doesn’t regret the Idol ordeal and why her upcoming album - and entire solo career - almost didn’t happen. Chris Azzopardi: Before you came out publicly in a recent interview, how out were you in your own life? Frenchie Davis: I first told my mom that I was attracted to boys and girls when I was 16 years old. A lot of my friends and family weren’t really surprised to hear that I had “come out,” because all I did was answer a question

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honestly in an interview and it ended up becoming a headline. I didn’t plan to come out. I fell in love with someone who I think I could be with forever, and I’m used to, in casual conversation, talking about my partner. That’s what ended up happening in the interview and what ended up being my coming out. It wasn’t something that I had planned. It wasn’t something I was being secretive about, either. I’ve performed at so many HRC and GLAAD events and gay Prides – and made out with so many girls in college. I don’t think it was a secret to anybody! (Laughs) CA: You just got involved with the It Gets Better campaign. For you, how did it get better? FD: My mother was very accepting and understanding, but I actually didn’t tell my father right away. I think he definitely knew because he came to visit my dorm room and was like, “Wow, you’ve got a lot of pictures of halfnaked girls on your wall.” (Laughs) CA: You were just idolizing those girls … right? FD: Yeah, just idolizing them – sure. And thinking they were hot. My dad read so much into it, and it’s been really interesting seeing my dad embrace all of this – that has been the most heartwarming part of it. I mean, my father and I never really talked about it. My mother knew; she met whatever girls and guys I dated in high school. But with my dad, we never really talked about it until he met my partner and was like, “You look happy. I like her.”

My dad is super conservative and Republican. Black Republican, I know. Don’t even get me started. He was the one I was afraid to tell. When it all ended up being in the headlines, he was afraid that me being open and honest about who I am would affect my career negatively or negatively affect the way people look at me. You know, he’s my dad; he just wants to protect me. It really meant so much to me when (my coming out was) all in the headlines and my dad called me and was like, “I just want to call and say I’m really proud of you.” Moments like that have reminded me that it indeed does get better. There were times where it was hard, like in high school. And not even having to do with being bisexual, but being a big girl, too. People called me fat; they called me a dyke and all those things. I know what it feels like to not fit into the mold of what society thinks you’re supposed to be. CA: Bisexuality in the gay community is looked at as taboo or “just a phase.” Have you felt stigmatized because of it? FD: It absolutely is something I’ve had to fight. For a long time that’s why I dated mostly men, because when I would meet a woman that I was into – a lesbian – she would be turned off by the fact that I was bisexual. So I’ve experienced criticism and people looking down on it in the straight community and in the gay community. CA: How does being black and bisexual change things? FD: I honestly thought that we were a lot farther, and then I did an interview with the Tom Joyner Morning Show and was completely taken aback by the way that went. The interview ended with a guy shouting, “Let a man into the bedroom!” That’s how disrespectful it was. It was bad. It really broke my heart, because I know what it’s like to be black in America and I know what it’s like to be a woman in America, and to be treated with disdain and disrespect by members of my own community was hurtful. It hurt me to the core.

She’s come a long way since getting kicked off American Idol.

CA: Christina Aguilera’s diva behavior makes a lot of headlines. What is she really like, and what surprised you most about working with her on The Voice? FD: (Hesitates) I’m never going to bad talk her, publicly. I’m just never gonna do it. But I will say this: I was pleasantly surprised by how amazing her ear is. Her ear is on point. Even when she’s not trying, that instrument is right. She definitely is a pop diva for a reason. CA: She has a reason to be a little catty, is what you’re saying. FD: No! I’m not saying that! That’s what you got out of that? (Laughs) CA: What can we expect from the upcoming album and your debut single? FD: It’s gonna be dance-pop and the first single is called “Love’s Got a Hold on Me,” and it was written by Janice Robinson and I’m really excited about it. I shot a video for it with Brian Friedman as the co-director and choreographer. A lot of people know Brian from his work with Britney Spears and he’s a creative director for X Factor. Brian jumped on board because he believed in me enough to be like, “Yeah, I’m gonna bring in the dancers and make it fierce for you.” CA: Is there pressure to stay in the closet on shows like American Idol or The Voice? FD: Not at all. I didn’t feel any pressure to not be out when I was on those shows. In all honesty, some of the people who’ve been most successful on those shows have been members of the LGBT community. Look at Adam Lambert – and America loved Beverly (McClellan) and loved Vicci (Martinez), so I didn’t feel any pressure at all. I can’t really speak for Idol because I didn’t stay on the show long enough to really have a fair comparison between Idol and The Voice, but I can speak from my experience on The Voice, and I can say that they were very welcoming to LGBT contestants. I don’t think anyone there felt pressure to not be open about who they are. And that was an amazing experience. Who would’ve thought 10 years after being on Idol that I’d be singing “Lady Marmalade” on national TV with Christina Aguilera?

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Did you know? Hot Times is the sister festival to ComFest.

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My Eye on Style by Marcus Morris

Fashion is not something I could write about. Most of my columns are about style. Fashion is a minute, but style is a millennium. This fall, there is a lot of fashion on catwalks and magazines, but what fashion is doing is just rehashing style. I want this month’s column to be about those people in the fashion industry who I think are just making the best clothes, pictures or moments. To me, these are the people who I think create style rather than fashion.

Fashion likes to look back, and lately, the 90s have been on my brain. My obsession with the supermodels is a wellknown fact. I can tell you anything you ever wanted to know about Linda, Christy and Naomi. Whereas little straight boys idolized the quarterbacks and star pitchers, I worshipped the catwalkers. Linda Evangelista is the queen of course. Nothing is, or ever will be as gorgeous, beautiful or inspiring as that Canadian beauty. When she curls the upper lip and fixes the eye, it launches a thousand magazine covers. The “Supes” were an essential part of anything fashion related in the 90s, and I remember watching House of Style and loving Cindy Crawford’s big hair and classic mole. I also secretly danced to RuPaul “Supermodel” while the video played on MTV. I thought Ru was so glam and always looked like a brown version of the Barbie. Now I blast that shit on the subway and give a little twirl while walking through Soho.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the very chic and ultra-wealthy twin actresses, who started out as adorable twins on the show Full House, became designers and started a clothing line called The Row. The Row is simple, but it is fucking fierce. It is expensive as hell, but I would kill for these clothes. These are women’s clothes, mind you. They are so minimal and elegant and genius that I’d wear anything in the line for the chance to walk around in such finery. Their Fall 2012 was brilliant. The first model to walk out, the lovely Cailin Hill, set the mood for a show recalling the American beauty of Slim Keith. MK and Ash are the ones I look for each season. This summer, the Council of Fashion Designers of America named them Womenswear Designer of the Year. I salivate for what is next.

In NYC, the fashion capital, I am shocked that every single person isn’t a walking editorial. The reality is: there are a lot of shitty clothes. Not everyone can afford a mink fisherman’s sweater from The Row, or a cashmere trench from Celine, but there are options for someone with a little imagination. I almost only buy clothes from Uniqlo. The Japanese clothier knows how to keep it simple and when to stop with the details. I bought a pair of navy cotton shorts that I wore all summer. Their socks are so divine and come in a rainbow of colors so you won’t get bored. I also replaced all my underwear with their trunks and managed to purchase a really chic striped oxford that I will wear until the threads are bare. I cannot wear their clothes enough. It is a shame for my wallet that they are around the corner from my office.

Hedi Slimane makes fashion cool. The lean Frenchman with the saucer eyes makes photographs and clothes that are infused with a sense of youth that comes from hanging out in shitty bars with the kids who make tomorrow’s songs. When he first hit big over a decade ago at Dior Homme, the fashion pack rushed out to wear skinny pants and gold lame Cuban heels. Women wore the menswear, and the boys looked like doe-eyed girls. I was so obsessed with the Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane aesthetic that I begged the salesgirl at Marshall Fields for any free samples of the Dior Higher fragrance. She did me an even better deal by stealing me a full tester of the cologne, and I was in heaven. I used to daydream about the male mode Eric Von Nostrand in the campaign. Hedi is now the creative director of Saint Laurent Paris. We are already obsessed with what we don’t already know.

My only ever real style advice is to dress for pleasure. Sometimes that means dressing for you, and sometimes that means dressing for the world. Don’t ever dress in clothes that are uncomfortable. I feel much more chic in a hole-ridden flannel than a tuxedo or suit, and I am sure that I register as someone who is more confident when I am feeling comfortable. Whenever I get the chance to dress up, I try to remain myself. A suit feels silly, so I relish the chance to add my own touch by pairing it with a simple black oxford shirt or a plain white t-shirt. I’ll leave the flashy fabrics and tacky design details to the rest of the queens. I’ve become a slave to the less-is-more approach. Last weekend, I went for a walk in Brooklyn Heights in a pair of well-worn jeans, a white undershirt, and simple pair of black boots. I could have walked into any room and felt perfectly dressed. I think I have found my own style.

When I started writing of this column again after a two-year hiatus, I was transitioning from a column about my boring life to writing about fashion again. Sometimes it feels as though I am still telling my story, although I am writing about clothes. To me, this is more interesting than discussing trends, because the minute something is fashion, it is dead.

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We can play this staring game all day long...

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