2016-06-01 Outlook Ohio Magazine

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The Voice of Ohio’s LGBT and Ally Community

2016 ohio pride holidays

vol 21 • issue 1

june 2016

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Outlook Magazine: Celebrating 20 years!

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Outlook Magazine: Celebrating 20 years!

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Outlook Magazine: Celebrating 20 years!

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the ohio pride holidays issue vol 21 • #1

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you are here snapshot

qmunity news briefs

commentary: Ohio’s real bathroom menace polisigh: 2016’s LGBT candidates

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commentary: one year after Obergefell qmunity: is queer here to stay?

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commentary: the South’s stubborn ways

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commentary: a trans aviator’s bumpy ride

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commentary: expecting more from Empire

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commentary: here’s why we need Pride

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commentary: Nina West’s gown of renown

commentary: ending our addiction to bars

snapshot

creative class: Evolution Theatre’s new season

creative class: Columbus Arts Festival amps up

creative class: Cincy Fringe Festival takes stage bookmark: Gregg Shapiro’s stories of gay life trippin’ out: Costa Rica’s pura vida, LGBT style

savage love: porn freeloaders

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62 65 66 71 75 76

the divine life: Pride horoscopes

HEADQUARTERS Outlook Media, Inc. 815 N. High St., Ste G, Columbus, Ohio 43215 614.268.8525 phone / 614.261.8200 fax

crossword puzzle/cartoons

pride bingo: spot the Pride staples

NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media / 212.242.6863

Outlook’s 2016 Pride Guide

pride roadtrip: Dayton, June 3-5

calendar: Western Ohio’s June events pride roadtrip: Cincinnati, June 25 pride roundup: Cincinnati

calendar: Southwest Ohio’s June events pride roadtrip: Columbus, June 17-19

pride: Columbus

interview: Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King

calendar: Central Ohio’s June events

calendar: Northeast Ohio’s June events

calendar: Northwest Ohio’s June events

NEXT MONTH: the resource guide

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bob Vitale / bvitale@outlookmedia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS James Blackmon, Brooke Cartus, Debe, Alana Jochum, Evan Jeshka, Paige Johnson, Rick Karlin, Aaron Leventhal, Austin Mariasy, Michael S. Miller, Dan Savage, Regina Sewell, Debra Shade, Gregg Shapiro, Brynn Tannehill, Bob Vitale, Mickey Weems ART DIRECTOR Christopher Hayes / art@outlookmedia.com

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Jessica Campbell, Don Drumm Studios, Don Lee, Aaron Leventhal, Emma Parker, Sam Malone, Dominic Presutto, Sam Little CYBERSPACE outlookohio.com outlookmedia.com networkcolumbus.com twitter / fb: outlook ohio Outlook is published and distributed by Outlook Media Inc., on the first day of each month throughout Ohio.

Outlook 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 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 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 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 ©2016 Outlook Media Inc. All rights reserved.

Cincinnati Men’s Chorus in Bloomington, Ind. 4/30/16 Kent State/U. of Akron Drag Competition Akron, 4/24/16

Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus @ Dayton Dragons Game 4/27/16 june 2016

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS Bob Vitale / Chad Frye

SALES Chad Frye: cfrye@outlookmedia.com Mike Moffo: mike@outlookmedia.com Kurt Mueller: kurt@outlookmedia.com Lena Smith-Buyak: lena@outlookmedia.com

snapshot

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PUBLISHER Christopher Hayes

puzzling solution - puzzle on pg 42 YSUnity End of the Year Picnic Youngstown, 5/8/16

Stonewall Democrats @ Columbus, 5/19/16

Email your event photos to bvitale@outlookmedia.com

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you are here

From a 6,000-person dance pavilion in Wisconsin to an LGBT tamale-eating contest in New Mexico, Pride takes a slightly different twist every where it’s celebrated.

It’s celebrated on the beach in some places and on skis in others. It’s celebrated in big cities and rural communities. It’s parades and drag and Jordin Sparks, who seems to be headlining a Pride a week this year.

It’s political, as it was when Pride began in 1970 as a commemoration in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago of the Stonewall uprising one year earlier. This year in Mississippi, organizers of Jackson Pride are trying to get LGBT and allied natives of their state - Lance Bass, Cat Cora, Tig Notaro, Diplo, Britney Spears, Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes among them - to come home and call attention to the fight for equality in their home state.

But it’s also stuff only our community can come up with. There’s a Crack of Noon Brunch in Washington, D.C., and a doggie drag show in Minneapolis. In Raleigh, N.C., supporters of the LGBT community pledge to donate money for each protester who shows up during the day.

We counted 276 Pride celebrations from coast to coast this year, in every state, in every month except December. Pride might be Gay Christmas, but Christmas is still Christmas.

In Columbus, the parade will start a half-hour earlier this year, but chances are it will run at least a half-hour longer than ever before. Back in 1981, some of the people who marched in the city’s first Pride parade did so with their faces covered for fear they’d be seen by employers or family.

equality and acceptance. Since June 2015, we have been seen much more happen than nationwide marriage equality: • The Pentagon announced it will end its ban on transgender Americans serving in the military.

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration eased its lifetime ban on blood donation by men who have sex with men.

• New Hampshire became the fifth state to ban “conversion therapy.”

• The Obama administration ordered U.S. public schools to allow transgender children to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

• The first openly gay head of a U.S. military branch was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Have we taken steps back on occasion? North Carolina seems to be digging its heels in on a ridiculous and dangerous law that tries to regulate restroom use by transgender people, and public opinion polls show people favor the bad idea.

But look at the backlash. North Carolina has lost millions in business from corporations changing plans to locate there, from conventions and celebrities cancelling events, and from other states and cities banning travel to the state.

And the pressure has worked. When an Ohio lawmaker announced plans to introduce a similar measure here, no one signed on.

So don’t get discouraged. Don’t dwell on the occasional defeat.

Stonewall Columbus Executive Director Karla Rothan says it’s because of those origins that she won’t put limits on the number of parade participants. As long as they meet the deadline, she told me last month, they are welcome to march.

Use Pride, whether it’s this month or later this summer, to celebrate the times in which we live, when barriers are falling one by one between LGBT people and full equality.

So let’s celebrate and enjoy another year of progress toward our communitywide goal of

Bob Vitale Editor-in-Chief

outlookohio.com

And stay proud.

This issue kicks off Outlook’s 21st year!

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Cleveland LGBT Center Unveils Plans for Bigger, Better Home

The LGBT Community Center of the Gordon Square Arts of Greater Cleveland plans to District, a revitalized and growing cultural hub on move - but not too far.

Cleveland’s West Side.

Center officials announced “We are embarking on the next plans on May 18 for a new home - as in newly designed, chapter of our storied role in newly built, bigger and better providing widespread visibility of Northeast Ohio’s LGBT and - that will be located less than a block away from the allied communities, and a safe place where individuals current building in the of all ages and backgrounds city’s Detroit-Shoreway can receive support, services neighborhood. and the chance to gather,” said Phyllis Harris, executive The current address: 6600 Detroit Ave. The new address: director of the LGBT Commu6705 Detroit Ave., across the nity Center. street where a Mr. Hero sandwich franchise now stands. Cleveland’s LGBT Community Center began in 1975. It’s the third oldest in the nation.

Construction will begin in 2017. The new center will be Bryan Bowser, president of almost three times as big and include more flexible the center’s board of direcspaces to accommodate tors, said: “Our new facility groups of all sizes. It will will be a visible, tangible have a dedicated youth symbol of hope, pride and space and a cyber center. equality for the members of the LGBTQ community.”

It also will have a modern, visible façade in the center Bowser said the new center

will include expanded programming and services for young and elderly LGBTQ people. The center plans to increase health and wellness services, expand advocacy efforts, increase social and cultural programming, and establish “a model genderrelated program.”

“We want the center to be a place where everyone in our community feels welcome and wants to be a part.”

The search for a new site and plans for a new center were put in motion by an anonymous gift of $1.8 million in 2014, just as Cleveland was getting ready to host the ninth international Gay Games. In addition, The Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation committed $500,000 in a matching grant to support an endowment fund for additional operating expenses of the new building.

Republican Anti-Bias Bill Excludes Trans Ohioans A Republican state lawmaker’s attempt to find compromise between LGBT groups and the religious right was quickly dismissed by Equality Ohio and the ACLU upon its late April introduction.

anti-LGB discrimination, meaning restaurants, hotels or any other business in Ohio could deny service to gay, lesbian, bi and trans people.

Other provisions would re-

State Rep. Bill Hayes of Pataskala told The Plain Dealer of Cleveland that he was making an “attempt to avoid a social civil war” with House Bill 537, but he won no support from LGBT advocates.

Equality Ohio Managing Director Alana Jochum said the statewide LGBT civil rights group will not support a bill without such provisions.

“Equality Ohio will never support a bill Hayes’ legislation would that fails to include ban discrimination in the transgender comhousing and employmunity,” she said. ment based on sexual “We need to show State Rep. Bill Hayes that Ohio is truly orientation. welcoming to all What’s wrong with that? quire county officials to LGBTQ Ohioans.” issue marriage licenses to It would exlude gender all who qualify. The bill ACLU of Ohio Policy Manidentity altogether, leaving also would allow judges ager Lisa Wurm said: “We transgender Ohioans still and other government offi- refuse to support legislavulnerable to being fired by cials who perform martion that carves out exceptheir bosses, evicted by riages to conduct tions for people that are their landlords, or being ceremonies for everyone or often the most vulnerable denied jobs and housing in no one; they couldn’t refuse and stigmatized. We will the first place. to marry same-sex couples not sacrifice the rights of while continuing to marry transgender people in our It also would exclude public opposite-sex couples. work for full legal equalaccommodations from ity.”

Gay Games Live With Akron Sculpture The Gay Games spirit lives on in Akron.

Gay Ohioan OK’d to Lead U.S. Army The first openly gay person to lead a branch of the U.S. military was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 17.

said Fanning is “widely viewed Eric Fanning, who has held as one numerous jobs in the Depart- of the ment of Defense, was Presi- most Eric Fanning dent Obama’s choice to be capable secretary of the U.S. Army. leaders in the Pentagon.”

The newspaper Army Times

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The Gay Community Endowment Fund unveiled a sculpture on May 15 that will be a permanent tribute to the 2014 Gay Games that were held in Akron and Cleveland.

The work by Akron artist Don Drumm depicts the sporting events hosted by the city in August 2014.

grew up in the Dayton suburb of Centerville and graduated from Centerville High School in 1986.

“Eric Fanning is a dedicated public servant,” U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said.

“His experience working for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army have prepared him to He’s also an Ohioan. Fanning lead our nation’s Army.”

Hayes told The Plain Dealer that his Republican colleagues wouldn’t approve a bill that includes civil rights for transgender people or that bans discrimination in public accommodations.

photo: Don Drumm Studios

You can weigh in on Rep. Bill Hayes’ proposal by calling his office at 614.466.2500

It stands outside the John S. Knight Center in the city’s Downtown. outlookohio.com

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Columbus Woman Dies En Route to Trans Symposium Jocelyn Gibson, 54, of Columbus, died on May 13 as she was running to catch a bus for TransOhio’s annual Trans and Ally Symposium.

Columbus police said Gibson slipped, fell and was struck by the bus.

Friends left pink, white and

tragedy happened.

“The symposium and her friends in attendance were a lifeline for her,” said friend George Byrd, who set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for GibJocelyn Gibson son’s memorial service. “She died blue flowers - the colors of the seeking the comfort and affirtrans pride flag - at the spot mation of friends that she so on N. High Street where the desperately craved.”

Ohio’s Brown, Beatty Back ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio was one of 18 Senate Democrats who signed onto legislation in May that would ban so-called “conversion therapy” nationwide.

The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act would make such therapy illegal under the au-

thority of the Federal Trade Commission.

or counseling centers. We must stand against conversion therapy and the emo“Conversion therapy has been tional trauma it can cause, especially on young people.” discredited time and time again,” Brown said in a blog post by Equality Ohio. “Experts U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, DColumbus, is one of 68 agree that the practice is cosponsors for a similar bill harmful and should not be used in health care facilities introduced in the U.S. House.

Vintage Stallion Poster Corralled in Massachusetts A man from Massachusetts posted this photo to the Facebook page of Cleveland’s Leather Stallion Saloon in May.

bar, along with other vintage leather bar and club posters, at an antique market in Brimfield, Mass.

“I’m overjoyed to see that He found a framed adveryou’re still open,” he tisement for the 46-year-old wrote.

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Around Ohio Akron: CANAPI, the Community AIDS Network/Akron Pride Intitiative, will host a Community Awareness Breakfast on Thursday, June 23, for people who would like to learn more or get involved in its mission. More info is in our Northeast Ohio calendar of events on Page 75 or at FB: CANAPI Community Awareness Breakfast.

Akron: The Rangers, Akron’s leather/Levi’s/uniform club, was named Club of the Year at CLAW, the Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend, which took place April 28-May 1. More than 2,500 people attended.

Columbus: Local groups are taking their shows on the road this summer. The Capital Pride Band will march in the Pittsburgh Pride parade on Sunday, June 12, and Flaggots Ohio will perform in the Chicago Pride parade on Sunday, June 26.

They’ll both be part of Columbus Pride on Saturday, June 18.

Cleveland: June means... well, two things. It’s the anniversary of nationwide marriage equality, sure, but it’s also the return of LGBT kickball! Stonewall Kickball-Cleveland kicks off its second season on Sunday, June 5. Visit FB: Stonewall Kickball - Cleveland for details.

Berea: Allies, the LGBT-advocacy group at Baldwin Wallace University, was awarded Student Organization of the Year at an April ceremony hosted by the office of Multicultural Student Services.

Dayton: The Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus sang the National Anthem - quite beautifully, we might add - at a Dayton Dragons baseball game on April 27. The chorus will perform its Pride concert on Saturday, June 4, at the Victoria Theatre. Ticket inBowling Green: BGSU Alumna Holly Horn, a member of the LGBT community formation is in our Western Ohio calendar who works in the municipal finance indus- of events on Page 52. try in New York, addressed graduates from the colleges of Business Administration Dayton: PFLAG Dayton has awarded and Education and Human Development three scholarships to area students: on May 7: “Some of you today may have a Madison Lewis and Devin Lutz each job lined up already and perhaps a wellreceived $2,000 Jim Wilger Memorial planned career path. Many of you may still Straight Ally Scholarships, and Rebecca be exploring what to do and looking for North received $3,000 in a PFLAG Dayton employment. I say to those who are still and LGBT Center Scholarship. trying to figure it out, don’t panic. Take it from a woman who has never really folSpringfield: Equality Springfield lowed a ‘straight’ path, neither profesraised $1,150 as of mid-May to buy sionally nor personally.”

23 rainbow-colored Springfield Pride banners for Fountain Avenue and City Hall Cincinnati: The Cincinnati Men’s Cho- Plaza. You can donate at rus traveled to Bloomington, Ind., to per- gofundme.com/SpringfieldPride16. form on April 30 and May 1 with the Springfield Pride is Saturday, June 11. See Quarryland Men’s Chorus. The Hoosiers our Western Ohio calendar of events on will return the favor on June 18 and 19 Page 52 for details. when they come to Cincinnati for the chorus’ annual Pride concert. More info is in Toledo: LGBT groups: You can reserve our Southwest Ohio calendar or events on space at Pride Center 419, inside the Page 61.

Collingwood Arts Center, for free. It accommodates up to 50 people. Email toriethorne78@gmail.com for info.

Cincinnati: Below Zero Lounge, The Cabaret and Tillie’s Lounge were among local bars boycotting Effen Vodka in May Youngstown: Youngstown Pride has after 50 Cent, who promotes the brand, started an “I Am Pride” campaign to proposted a video in which he made fun of an mote the festival scheduled for Saturday, autistic 19-year-old who works at the July 16. Folks have been submitting selfCincinnati/Northern Kentucky Internaies that are emblazoned with the camtional Airport. The rapper apologized. paign’s logo and the festival’s date.

Youngstown Pride is scheduled for Saturday, July 16. See you there!

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guest voices

The Phantom Menace

by Michael S. Miller

Rep. John Becker and Ohio’s Bathroom Bill Spoiler alert: We failed.

During a recent early evening family walk through our suburban Cleveland neighborhood, we saw a young boy nearly killed.

Clad in a red T-shirt and still a few years from his teens, he was tossing a football across a corner yard with a friend. In grand Cleveland tradition, the boy dropped the ball; it rolled/waddled off the sidewalk and over the curb. The boy chased the football into the street just as a green taxi bore down on the corner.

Ten of us met Becker and one of his aides late in the morning in a 12th-floor conference room of the Riffe Center in Columbus. I believe both sides were nervous and expecting hostility, but the angriest thing in the room was my internal monologue as Becker conducted one of the most surreal political meetings I have ever witnessed (and I spent a decade in Toledo media covering legendary kook Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, so I have plenty of experience with surreal).

der people “gain easy access to a smorgasbord of women and young girls.”

Of course, predatory and voyeuristic behavior is already illegal, and of course, transgender people are not suddenly going to sneak into opposite-sex restrooms in an effort to revive Sodom and Gomorrah-level carousing.

But Becker envisions a world in which shoppers carry birth certificates that must match their genitals for them to gain access to bathrooms. Worse, he would define what

If the driver had been looking at his cellphone or pondering dinner, he would have run over the boy, forever altering untold lives. But the driver jammed his brakes and skidded to a stop several feet shy of disaster.

As we walked on, we used the incident to reinforce some basic safety rules with our kids.

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His eyes gleamed as he pressed his audience into uncomfortable territory. He made me feel like a zoo animal in a cage being cooed to by a curious young boy, hoping to draw me close so he could spit on me through the cage bars.

One can imagine Becker arguing against black people using public water fountains in the 1960s. He even invoked the phrase “separate but equal” and spoke of openly gay state Rep. Tim Brown with the tone of “see, I have gay friends” allegiance that Archie Bunker once used to hold up Sammy Davis Jr., as evidence of his open mind.

There are infinite masked and unmasked dangers facing our children.

The last thing society needs is to add to the challenge by fabricating boogeymen to distract from real threats.

On May 5, I joined a group of advocates for transgender people, assembled by Equality Ohio, to meet with Rep. Becker and try to change his mind about sponsoring the bill.

I asked Becker why he equates transgender people with sexual predators, but he deftly dodged answers with platitudes and illogical semantics that seemed ignorant of LGBTQ culture but actually betrayed a clear awareness of hot-button issues.

His “Golly, y’all really need to help me understand all the fuss” demeanor did not mask his insensitive behavior. At one point, he addressed one of the advocates with, “You used to be a man?!? You transitioned WELL!”

It was close enough for me to have pulled my son close to cover his eyes.

But that is exactly what state Rep. John Becker, a Republican from Clermont County in Southwest Ohio, is doing with his proposed “Bathroom Bill” to prevent transgender people from using the restroom of the gender with which they identify.

sonal revelation by asking about acronyms and transgender culture at urinals and what he described as “gang showers.”

Becker insists his legislation is necessary because of Target’s recent affirmation of a company policy that encourages people to use the restroom with which they are most comfortable. The eccentric Becker describes Target’s policy as a “reckless” “threat to public safety” that will lead to “collateral damage” of male genitalia being “displayed, or visible to, women and children” as transgen-

transgender means in “exceptions” that seem to dance in his imagination like topless pagans around a sacrificial fire.

The assembled group shared stories of lives touched by transgender issues, striking alternate chords of empathy, hardship, compassion and harsh reality. Becker nodded, took notes and responded to stories of deeply per-

Becker told us: “I am a Biblethumping conservative, and I write my legislation as I believe Jesus would write it.” The night before our meeting, he informed his followers he was meeting with Equality Ohio and asked for prayers. “I’ll need it,” he wrote.

But whereas Christ deflected attention, Becker seeks it like a Flap-Necked Chameleon seeks heat. His Facebook post

Becker likes this Bible verse: “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.”

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fantasizes about his stance making him a target on Saturday Night Live. He was seated next to his aide for our entire meeting but dramatically posted on Facebook, “I had a 2½-hour meeting in Columbus with Equality Ohio, TransOhio and others today.

They had me outnumbered 10 to one, but it went very well.”

But it cannot be dismissed, because, as we tried to explain to Becker with all of the success one might have explaining Daylight Savings Time to a blobfish, even the discussion at a legislative level lends a wrongheaded credibility that is dangerous to transgender people.

I told him, after emphasizing that there is zero correlation His penchant for attention, between transgender bathdrama and manufactured room choice and sexual asself-glorificasault, “Your bill tion is disturbdoes not proing (and tect anyone ironically antiwho isn’t althetical to the ready in danger wishes of most from predators, transgender but it opens up people). He an entire popumet us in the lation of people conference to discovery room, wringing and danger Rep. John Becker his hands and they work very expressing concern about our hard to avoid.” ability to navigate the “media circus” downstairs, Since the meeting, Becker which consisted of exactly has taken to Facebook in a one TV reporter and his cam- failed attempt to further fan eraman. the flames of his fixation with transgender people and their This lust for exaggeration bathroom habits. and ministry adds an element of danger to his otherWe can pray he stops short, wise laughable rhetoric. like the green taxi that nearly Becker uses the “Bathroom ended a young man’s life as Bill” and his constituents’ he chased a football in the fear of sexual politics more street. complicated than the Missionary Position like a 5-year- But even without a single old uses a squirt gun to get drop of spilled blood, Becker’s his mom’s attention. confusion, rancor and malignant abuse of power has Becker’s proposed bill should crushed many spirits under be dismissible. Gov. John Ka- its wheels. sich has spoken against it, no other Ohio legislator has It remains a hazard on the yet endorsed it, and the DeLGBTQ road, a phantom partment of Justice is waiting menace of a solution looking with a Title IX hammer if it for a problem of its own doledoes get anywhere. ful imagination.

Michael S. Miller is a writer and communications professional. He was honored with Equality Toledo’s LGBT Ally Equality Award 2013 and the 2013 Founders Award for the LGBT Holiday With Heart Gayla. He and his wife are raising a transgender child in the Cleveland area. outlookohio.com

You can reach Rep. John Becker’s Statehouse office at 614.466.8134.

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polisigh

Tim Brown

Michael Johnston

Sandra Kurt

Whitney Smith

Nickie Antonio

THE RAINBOW TICKET LGBT Candidates Seeking State, County Offices Across Ohio

Tommy Greene

by Bob Vitale

fairly and with respect. Ohio should pass comprehensive nondiscrimination legislation. By Voters could more than double the number of doing so, Ohio can strengthen its economy and LGBT legislators in the Ohio General Assembly if attract businesses and employees from all over candidates running in the Cleveland and the nation.”

Columbus areas win on Nov. 8.

Greene faces Republican Dave Greenspan, a In all, seven openly gay or bisexual candidates Cuyahoga County Council member. The winner are seeking local or state office in Ohio this will replace Republican Nan Baker of Westlake, year. If all are successful, the state will see sev- who is term-limited out of office. eral more LGBT political firsts: Whitney Smith, • The first openly bisexual state legislator.

Ohio House District 18 In addition to seeking the legislative seat repre• The first LGBT state lawmakers from Colum- senting a Franklin County district that includes bus and Central Ohio.

Columbus’ Short North, Downtown, German Village and Franklinton, and the suburb of Grand• The first openly gay county commissioner. view Heights, Smith is spearheading Represent Columbus, a referendum campaign to add Ohio currently has two openly gay legislators. district representation at the Columbus City Democrat Nickie Antonio of Lakewood was the Council. first LGBT candidate elected to the General Assembly in 2010. She is seeking a fourth term If elected, she would be the first openly bisexual this fall. Republican Tim Brown of Bowling person to serve in the Ohio General Assembly Green was elected in 2012 and is seeking a and the second LGBT Republican elected to the third four-year term in November.

Ohio House.

Here’s the rundown on 2016’s LGBT candidates for state and county offices: Tommy Greene, Ohio House District 16 The 28-year-old former Equality Ohio staffer is running in a Cuyahoga County district that includes the Cleveland suburbs of Bay Village, Rocky River, Fairview Park, North Olmsted and Westlake.

LGBT civil rights are one of the cornerstones of the Democrat’s campaign: “Ohio is at its best when everyone is treated

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Kevin Wadsworth Johnson

Tim Brown, Ohio House District 3 The Bowling Green Republican became the second openly gay candidate elected to the Johnston, a Democrat, lost a race to Gonzales in Ohio General Assembly when he won his first 2014. He has vowed to back an expansion of term in 2012. His district covers all of Norththe state’s anti-discrimination laws to include west Ohio’s Wood County, which includes Bowlsexual orientation and gender identity: ing Green and the Toledo suburb of Perrysburg. includes sections of Columbus’ Northeast Side and the suburbs of Westerville, Gahanna and New Albany.

“No Ohioan should live in fear of discrimination, whether at work, in their homes, or in public, regardless of race, sex, religion or sexual orientation. ... There need to be comprehensive work/life protections that will guarantee no citizen can be subject to profiling because of their race, no one can be fired or refused housing because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and everyone receives equal pay for equal work - regardless of their sex.”

Nickie Antonio, Ohio House District 13 The first openly gay Ohioan ever elected to the General Assembly is seeking her fourth twoyear term representing a Cuyahoga County district that stretches from Lakewood to Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway area.

Smith supports expanding Ohio’s nondiscrimination laws, and she opposes anti-transgender She has been the primary sponsor of bills in legislation that would dictate the restrooms past legislative sessions to include gender trans people must use. identity and sexual orientation in Ohio’s antidiscrimination and hate-crimes laws.

She is running against Green Party candidate Constance Gadell Newton and Democrat Kristin “While our country has taken an historic step Boggs, who was appointed to office by a panel toward equality with the ... Supreme Court rulof Democratic legislators in January. ing on same-sex marriage, an Ohioan can still get married in the morning and get fired from their job in the afternoon just because of who Michael Johnston, they are or whom they love,” she said.

Ohio House District 19 The personal trainer from Westerville is challenging Republican state Rep. Anne Gonzales Antonio is unopposed for re-election. of Westerville. The Franklin County district

Brown faces Democrat David Walters this fall.

Kevin Wadsworth Johnson, Scioto County Commissioner The 67-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran has served on the Portsmouth City Council for six years. He won the Democratic primary for county commissioner in March with 53 percent of the vote and will face incumbent Commissioner Mike Crabtree, a Republican, in November.

Scioto County, with a population of 79,000, is on the Ohio River near the state’s southern tip.

Sandra Kurt, Summit County Clerk of Courts The former Akron City Council and Summit County Council member was appointed as Summit County’s clerk of courts in January, when fellow Democrat Daniel Horrigan resigned to take the oath as Akron’s new mayor.

The former Goodyear employee is seeking a full four-year term this year. She faces Republican Ann Marie O’Brien in November.

Outlook Editor-in-Chief Bob Vitale should’ve quit while he was ahead.

He was senior class president at Start High School in Toledo in 1983, but he lost a race this spring - badly - for the Franklin County Democratic Central Committee.

Outlook hosts Out With Our Elected Officials, June 8 at 6p @ the Columbus Museum of Art.

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You have us intrigued, Karate Cowboy...

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Outlook Magazine: Celebrating 20 years!

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equality now

rate!

Ce l

b e& Keepg

by Alana Jochum

in k r o W

Happy Pride, Ohio!

What a year it has been! At this time of celebration, I want to take a moment to reflect on the road we have taken to get here, and to prepare for the journey ahead.

In November 2004, voters in Ohio cast their ballots overwhelmingly in favor of Issue 1 to ban marriage equality in the state. More than 10 long years later, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that marriage for same-sex couples is a constitutional right.

It was a long battle, and Ohio played a key role. Cincinnati’s Jim Obergefell, for whom the case was named, filed suit against the state and took it all the way to the Supreme Court.

On June 26, 2015, moments after the court ruling was is-

sued, couples across Ohio were flooding courthouses to fill out applications for marriage.

Equality Ohio had been working for months behind the scenes to make sure that our courts were ready. With partner organizations and supporters, we organized clergy to stand outside of courthouses to perform marriages on the spot.

There were a couple rough patches - a few judges here or there who dragged their feet or for whom religion made the matter a personal struggle.

But advocacy by Equality Ohio and our partners, and clear guidance from the Ohio Supreme Court, quickly resolved those matters.

They Lost on Marriage, But Our Opponents Have Other Ideas modernize birth certificates to reflect marriage equality.

There’s now a parent option alongside mother and father.

Another issue we are still working on is that women can change their last names at the courthouse when submitting a marriage license, but men have to go to court.

So we won marriage and we can ride off into the rainbow, right?

Not quite. See, while marriage equality is a nonissue for us, it’s not a nonissue for them.

Marriage equality is the law of the land, and it is here to stay.

We won’t be going back on that. So some legislators are circling the edges, trying to Now - and it is beautiful to write these words - marriage is find vulnerabilities and striking where they can - all in an more or less a nonissue in effort to walk back the LGBTQ Ohio. There is related houseequality gains we have made. keeping we’re taking care of, and it is going well so far. We worked with the Ohio Depart- Take a look at what we’re talkment of Health, for example, to ing about...

HB 286: The ÂPastor Protection ActÊ Supporters say this bill is meant to protect pastors and ministers from being forced to perform same-sex marriages in conflict with their religiously held beliefs.

The issue? They already have that right.

That right is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.

Sure, Equality Ohio’s supporters could take the insult on the chin and turn the other cheek - make no mistake, that is the purpose of this bill – but it could actually muck up the process of getting a marriage outlookohio.com

performed at a courthouse.

What if the judge in your county happens to be an ordained minister and decides to opt out of performing your marriage based on religious beliefs while working at the courthouse?

The bill also speaks broadly in terms of religious societies in a way that is not clearly defined.

Some services offered to the public generally might be compromised to LGBTQ people in the name of religion.

HB 296: The ÂWonÊt They Think of the Bakers and Photographers ActÊ This bill gives explicit protections to businesses that offer services associated with weddings - think caterers, bakers, photographers - and would allow them to discriminate against same-sex couples planning their nuptials.

Many Equality Ohio supporters would rather give their money to someone who

is supportive and affirming of LGBTQ people, but we can’t let a law like this pass. There are many places in Ohio that don’t have a variety of business options.

This is a basic civil-rights issue. If you are a business operating in the public sphere, you are open for business for everybody. Period.

Two Bills That Try to Make Discrimination Against LGBTQ People Illegal Two bills in the Ohio House of Representatives are trying to do something similar: make discrimination against our community against the law.

Although 14 cities in Ohio have robust nondiscrimination laws in place protecting LGBTQ people, most of Ohio does not.

✔

✘

This means Equality Ohio supporters want a statewide law. HB 389 is good; HB 537 is not. Check out a comparison below.

HB 389 • Includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

• Protects against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

• Simply adds LGBTQ as a protected class like race, sex, national origin, etc.

• Allows recourse through the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (victims wouldn’t necessarily need a lawyer).

• Reinforces existing religious freedoms.

• Does not allow public officials to opt out of marriage.

HB 537 • Leaves gender identity/expression out and the transgender community behind.

• Does not address public accommodations.

• Introduces an entirely separate part of the Ohio code to deal with sexual orientation discrimination, codifying a second-class status into Ohio law.

• Only allows recourse through the courts.

• Introduces new, broad religious exemptions.

• Allows public officials to opt out of marriage.

The Work Ahead Equality Ohio supporters know that marriage was just the start. We have to defend our wins and plot the course forward. This means watching the Statehouse and continuing to educate friends, family and neighbors.

Please join us in the work! Email us at info@equalityohio.org.

Alana Jochum is the executive director of Equality Ohio. Equality Ohio advocates and educates to achieve fair treatment and equal opportunity for all Ohioans regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

You can join Equality Ohio at equalityohio.org.

Happy first anniversary to everyone celebrating June 26 weddings!

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qmunity

Is it Time to ord Get Used to a W emean Us? Once Used to D

by Austin Mariasy

The word queer is evolving.

In the past it was on the same level as fag, faggot and dyke as an epithet that heaped hate and disrespect on LGBTQ people.

Today, like other insults used against gays, lesbians, women, African-Americans and others, it has been reclaimed by many of its former targets. Now, even community organizations, schools, government agencies and media embrace queer as an umbrella term intended to bring LGBTQ people together.

The Public Health Department in Columbus has LGBTQ Health Initiative.

Wright State University in Dayton has an Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally Affairs. Denison University in Granville has a queer studies program, and Ohio University in Athens hosts an annual Queer Studies Conference.

There’s a national news website called LGBTQ Nation. Cincinnatians can attend readings by the Queen City Queer Theatre Collective, and Clevelanders can participate in a monthly discussion group called Queerland 216. Ohio State University’s LGBTQ graduate students can join a group called GradQueers.

Dustin Wimberley, 20, who lives in Toledo and identifies as gay and genderqueer, sees the reclamation of queer as a wonderful thing for LGBTQ people.

While gay men and women have reclaimed fag and dyke, some women embrace the B- and Cwords, and the N-word is considered the exclusive province of African-Americans, queer is the only former piece of hate speech that Wimberley thinks has been transformed into a

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widely embraced, positive and official term.

He sees it as one word that can represent people across the entire LGBTQ spectrum.

“Queer does an excellent job encapsulating all people who aren’t straight, cisgender and cis

“Queer does an excellent job encapsulating all people who aren’t straight, cisgender and cisromantic.”

-- Dustin Dustin Wimberley, Wimberley, 20 20

romantic,” he said. “There are are a lot of subcultures in the LGBTQ community, and queer can and does act as a unifying term.

Both a gay man, a transgender woman and an asexual can all be called queer.”

But it’s not a universally loved word.

When The Huffington Post changed its Gay Voices blog to Queer Voices in February, online comments were overwhelmingly negative.

Readers pointed out the original meaning of the word - unusual, odd, strange - as the reason it was pinned on LGBT people. They also shared their own painful stories.

Writer James Perron stopped contributing to The Huffington Post because of the change.

“The word is painful,” he wrote in his last piece for the website. “It was a point driven home to me with fists and kicks. It was the word vomited at me by bullies at school. ... If someone was queer it was OK to inflict pain and suffering on them because of it. That message came from staff at school, from coaches, house parents and the older boys. It was pervasive and universal. Let’s all play Smear the Queer.”

Phyllis Harris, 50, the executive director of the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, remembers herself as “a young dyke chanting

„The word is painful.‰ -Writer

James Perron

with others, ‘We’re here! We’re queer! Get used to it!” Now she would happily wear a shirt that says, I’m a Lesbian. Don’t Queer Me.

She said she has no issue with the word queer as long as people still are able to make the distinction between it and other identities in the community, such as gay and lesbian. Harris finds pride and power in her identity as a lesbian - more specifically, as a black lesbian.

“I identify strongly as lesbian and would like to preserve and uphold the power and pride it evokes for many of us,” she said.

Jordin Manning, 19, a Kent State University sophomore who identifies as identifies as a grayromantic, polysexual woman, uses the word as a vessel of empowerment and believes it’s best to reclaim queer.

“I see it as a way to say, ‘Yeah, I’m queer. What are you gonna do about it?!,’” she said.

But Manning acknowledges, “people lost their lives as a result of this word.” Because of that sensitivity and its history, she asks people if they have issues with the word queer. Only then will she use it.

GLAAD, the national group that fights antiLGBT bias in media, advises journalists and others to avoid the term unless describing someone who self-identifies as queer.

PFLAG advises: “Whether you personally like the word or not, desire to make it part of your personal repertoire or not, please remember to respect the identity a person chooses for themselves. To know how they like to be identified, by people in and outside of the community, remember to ask.”

Tommy Fisher, a 19-year-old gay sophomore at Kent State, follows that advice. He reserves use of the word mostly for when someone identifies as queer instead of lesbian, gay bisexual or transgender. He said he respects people’s personal choices of terms.

But Fisher also said he likes the idea of the LGBTQ community reclaiming the word.

“The only way to get over the hatred is to be proud of yourself and show that we are a community,” he said. “This word and the reclamation of it gives the LGBTQ community something to unite us, even if it is just a little bit.”

Austin Mariasy is a sophomore photojournalism major with a minor in LGBTQ studies at Kent State University. He was born and raised in Toledo.

Email bvitale@outlookmedia.com to share your thoughts on use of the word queer.

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Thanks to all our advertisers and readers for two decades of support! You rock!

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If they’re advertising in Outlook, you know they welcome your business!

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trans transpoint pointanalysis analysis

ROUGH RIDE,

SAFE LANDING

How a Navy Aviator Took the Controls of Her Own Life

by Brynn Tannehill As an experienced H-60 airframe helicopter aircraft commander, you knew the engines were having problems for way too long, but you tried to stretch it and get home anyway.

Big mistake. Less than halfway home, with a bang and then eerie silence, things just got much, much worse. Ng, TGT, rotor RPM are all dropping. Yup. Both No. 1 and No. 2 are gone.

The last landing zone you remember is way behind you. You doubt you have enough altitude and airspeed to make it back to that LZ, but it’s still a better option than any of the terrain in front of you. Ejection’s not an option, this is a helo. Even if it were, there are three packs in back who have no idea how bad it is up front. They’re counting on you to pull something off that you all can walk away from. No pressure.

airspeed. Roll right to 45 degrees and look for the spot. Your co-pilot is going out on guard calling mayday and our position. No answer.

Altitude is bleeding off so fast it’s almost not worth looking at. Where’s that damned spot?

changing to meet new realities. I had no idea if they would actually work. I just had to pray that they did.

One-hundred feet of altitude left. Start the gradual flare. Trade airspeed for distance.

Stretch it.

parental unit later, I was about to start over again at my new job as Brynn. I had no idea if I could fit in. I had no idea how others in the new environment would react. But I had committed to seeing it through.

You’re standing 50 yards upwind of the bird.

Headcount is complete, and you’re all in relaOriginally, I had carefully mapped out my tran- tively good shape. SAR team is inbound. The sition with HR to last 18 months. It was sup- bird is upright, if beat up and bent. Somehow, posed to be as graceful a change as possible. it might only be a Class B to repair. You don’t know if you’ll keep your wings for all the dumb Sixty feet and 60 knots pulling to 20 degrees decisions you made leading up to the engine failure. You can live with it, though. Everyone nose up. Control RPM with collective. It feels like you’re standing on the tail as the airspeed was able to walk away. bleeds off. The maneuver feels violent, and I’ve fully transitioned. I still have my family LZ’s in sight. And you’re not going to make it. now everything seems to be moving too and a job. I still have my life. I still have old quickly for comfort. friends and have made many new ones.

When I started transition, the challenges looked insurmountable. How would we avoid My carefully laid-out transition plan came I can’t say I’m proud of being trans. It just my father’s religious wrath? How would I hold crashing down when the Air Force canceled is what it is, and I didn’t have a say in the That’s how it felt being 35 years old, married, onto my job? Where would the money for tran- the Global Hawk program and most of the with three small children, and coming to grips sition come from? How would we hold a mar- R&D programs that went with it. I had to find matter. riage together? How would the children handle a new job and finish my transition at the with the reality that I am a transgender. My same time. What was to be 18 months was I am not proud of how I handled being transmarriage was disintegrating around me, even it? How would we? I could see a good end point, just not how to get there. now down to three. gender for most of my life. I ran from it, I was though the signs of it were mostly the awful dishonest, and in the end, the people I love quiet around us. It was my fault for not being Twenty feet, 25 degrees nose up, and 10 most had to ride it out with me. honest about the situation from the start. The There’s a flat area in front of the LZ, though. lies compounded upon the lies. But there we Looks like tall grass, but God only knows what knots. Rotor RPM is starting decay. Rock the nose forward hard, pull an armload full of col- But I am proud of how I stuck the landing. were, and how we got there was irrelevant to terrain is underneath. lective, and pray. figuring out how to survive now.

Brynn Tannehill is a former naval aviaOne by one, the obstacles were overcome. and former Xenia resident who can Two rounds of surgery, a name change, a court tor Drop the collective. Enter the autorotation. Set Sometimes things went as planned. Somebe found on Twitter @BrynnTannehill. times they didn’t. The plans were constantly date and a harrowing meeting with my the nose for 100 knots, maximum distance She writes Transition Point Analysis outlookohio.com

I had no idea what would happen when I came out to my wife. She desperately looked for assistance from other spouses who had come through their partner transitioning.

All she found were those whose marriages ended badly. Neither of us knew what we were going to do. Mostly it was pick a direction, aim for it and hope. Still, we knew the odds were very bad.

Ten months after saying it wants to allow trans service members, the Pentagon has yet to make it final.

every month for Outlook.

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IMHO

Away, Down South

Stubbornness, Intolerance Are Traditions to Dump

by James Blackmon

A real dick move, if you ask me.

I have a love-hate relationship with the South.

They say it’s all about religious freedom: the freedom to refuse services to people who live There’s a lot of great things about the region contrary to their “deeply held religious beliefs.” where I grew up. By far, the best eatin’ is down Bullshit! How is serving pizza or baking a cake South. I’ve lived all over the country, and the for LGBT folks against one’s religion? best food is cooked by the best cooks in the southern United States.

It’s typical, hypocritical, religious-based cherrypicking. No one in North Carolina is asserting a We also take that whole manners thing very “religious freedom exemption” to refuse to seriously. To us, calling a woman “Ma’am” grant marriage licenses to straight folks on isn’t an insult. It’s expected respect. A way of their third or fourth marriage. No one is standlife. In fact, at my husband’s parents’ request, ing at the trough at Golden Corral waving a I called them by their first names. Duane, how- Bible around and preaching the sinfulness of ever, calls my parents “Mr. and Mrs. Blackwoofing down that fifth plate of fried chicken. mon,” not by their request, but because... it’s the South, and that’s what you do.

A sin’s a sin, right? Apparently not.

But then there’s the arrogance. And the stubbornness. And the racist history. And the rampant uber-conservatism fueled by this hypocritical, right-wing, fundamentalist misinterpretation of Christianity that has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

They say these bathroom bills protect women and children from predatory men in dresses.

But they don’t. And in their zeal to humiliate transgender people, they’re also punishing many others. What about single parents with children of the opposite sex? Adult children with aging parents of the opposite sex? Men That’s why, even though Southerners are some who care for disabled wives and women who of the fattest, most gluttonous people on Earth, care for disabled husbands? they would NEVER pass laws to regulate overeating. (Gluttony is a sin in the Christian faith.) I have to say, though: Being a Southerner, I get it. Southerners are afraid of change, afraid of Yet they’re quick to pass laws outlawing or education, afraid of progress. Southerners love regulating anything related to LGBT civil tradition. They want everything to stay the way rights. As a group, Southerners were among it has always been. And change, education the loudest opponents of same-sex marriage and progress are threats to tradition. Ignobased on religious objections, but they’re com- rance is bliss, and tradition is comforting. pletely silent about divorce and remarriage.

The Bible clearly speaks against that in New For some, anyway. For others, these traditions Testament passages, including scriptures in are damaging, and new traditions are needed.

Matthew, Mark and Luke, just to name a few. They were very damaging for me. And other than to visit, I’ll never go back.

So is it really a surprise that North Carolina and Mississippi have passed laws restricting But in my heart, I am and always will be a the rights of transgender people, requiring Southerner. You can take the boy out of the people to use public restrooms that correspond South, but you can’t take the South out of me. with their birth certificates?

And therein lies the rub.

The North Carolina law is especially troubling James Blackmon is a musician, actor, because it was in response to the city of Chardirector and the artistic director of State lotte banning anti-LGBT discrimination. That’s of the Arts Productions in Columbus. right, North Carolina passed a law to overturn You can follow him on Twitter Charlotte’s ban on discrimination in that city. @MrJamesBlackmon. IMHO will appear 28

again in the July issue of Outlook. june 2016

Read about the state representative who wants to North Carolina-ize Ohio on Page 18.

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in the shade

‘Empire’ Strikes Black

Show Misses Opportunity to Reshape Attitudes

by Debra Shade

hate and the imprisonment of our hearts, our minds and our futures.

“Not after two lesbos and a strangled cat...”

Cookie’s line in Episode 15 of this season of Empire shook me.

Black people: You are KILLING me! I just can’t with y’all right now. I will never understand why, as black people, we seem to only be able to repeat what we see regardless of how unhealthy it is for us. We pass on to our children this hatred.

It’s 2016, and we are still using language like, “You know he’s that way.” “You know that she-boy is not welcome in my house.”

How can we possibly reach out to - or reach back for - any other black person when we hold ourselves behind the veils our elders have passed down to us?

The belief that homosexuality is a curse that can be forced out was a subplot in Tyler Perry’s The Haves and Have Nots and depicted in Empire in the episode with Alicia Keys.

Lucius celebrating his son not being gay because he slept with a woman and then using that act against him suggests that homosexuality is something you can fix, change or set aside.

In the black community, I hear that being gay is “OK as long as you don’t bring ‘that’ around here,” or if you’re a bisexual man it’s “OK as Black people, we are fighting our own rather long as he ain’t gonna take my man!” If you’re than bonding through acceptance of each lesbian, it’s, “Let me join y’all.” other and creating lasting change in the way we raise our next generations.

It drives me absolutely batty.

Will we always have the internal family abuse Empire appears to have chosen a perspective of being black and gay? Will our churches of unacceptance and conflict, that gay is fluid, always teach this? Will we always ostracize our sex is fluid, gender is fluid. That black parents own children because of their orientation or shun, verbally abuse and mentally scar us. identity?

This is reality, right? That is the problem. When Will we ever get to a point of acceptance? will black families stop acting this way?

These are questions this generation must It’s a reflection of what many of us deal with answer. daily in our families. I’m troubled at how the circular negative abuse of black gay men is But ask yourself what your role is in this hatred depicted in Empire, when director Lee Daniels and abuse. We have to have the conversation is an openly gay black man. that as black gays we are not safe from the people who are most responsible for raising, Empire portrays a bird’s-eye as to what being guiding, teaching and leading us. black and gay is: parental hatred and embarrassment toward you, siblings shunning you, Black parents most often come from the same support from anyone coming from behind veils. tree of life. Yet we cannot say to our children that they matter, regardless of whom they love.

The show’s reflection is drenched in so many punches to the community. It’s ammunition for Pull your families together, black people. We others to use against us. must - YOU must - get our families together.

We must stop hating gays so much that we believe being gay is something you can put on like a shirt and share like a pack of gum.

Black people, we have got to break these chains that hold us to the negativity and the outlookohio.com

Debra Shade is an author and owner of Shade Media. You can find her books at shademediallc.com, Amazon.com or Lion’s Den. In the Shade will appear again in the August issue of Outlook.

Empire was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series.

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complete the circuit

Nina’s Gown of Renown Columbus’ Drag Superstar Gets Some Much-Deserved Love

by Mickey Weems Fifteen must be Nina West’s lucky number, and April must be her lucky month.

She won the EOY title.

In correspondence with me via Facebook (she was in L.A. with the RuPaul crowd), Nina described the reaction of the audience to the performance: “The crowd went crazy! They were screaming and just going insane,” proof that the concept translated well onto the stage.

white, at Coachella in April. Sia tweeted Nina, thanking her, praising her talent, and inviting her to the performance at the festival.

“I am over the moon,” Nina said online about the tweet. “Sia is not only an artist and musician that I love and adore and have performed many times over the year, but as an activist, she has raised her voice for so many things that are so important to so many of us! This The interesting thing about her outfit was that includes LGBTQIA issues, animal rights, it started out as something completely differ- women’s rights and beyond. To even be acent. “The dress was a concept that initially knowledged ... I am speechless.”

Perks of the job. came from my idea to do an Austin Powers ‘Mini-Me’ dress,” she recalled. “I wanted to But Nina West is rarely speechless when it But that’s not all April had in store for her. have a little person come out with me in a comes to activism.

Nina inspired the singer Sia with an outfit she matching gown, but this proved problematic had made eight years ago. In the evening because I didn’t know any little people. So I Like Alan Cumming and Sia, Nina/Andrew has wear portion of the Enterworked for a variety of tainer of the Year pageant causes, such as LGBT back in 2008, Nina wore a youth, HIV/AIDS, animal dress onstage that was rights, cancer, homelessmuch more than what it ness and the queer elderly, seemed at first glance. helping raise more than $1 million dollars in all.

The grand ruffled dark-silver gown had a life of its She has given selflessly in own - well, actually, five her 15 years. Add to that a lives. Nina was wearing sparkling personality, great only one part of it. The volusense of humor and genminous skirt was in four uine talent, and it is no parts, each of which was worn by a different then evolved the idea into a more of an opwonder that she has become an icon in Ohio dancer. eretta concept. That also led nowhere. It all and beyond. happened organically and the idea for the The reveal was a treat in itself. Nina appeared dress came from there. I then took my idea to Nina also had this to say about Sia: “My hope standing on stage with all four sections sur- Gustavo Bustos of NYC, and he made the is that one day I can meet her and thank her rounding her body so they appeared as one. gown and the ruffles. Samantha Rollins made personally for the love and thanking me pubThe skirt began to pulse, then came apart as the body suits and attached the ruffles.” licly for the inspiration. I mean, a dream world each section dramatically moved away, leavwould be to collaborate on some level ... so ing Nina in a sparkling, form-fitting gown of Sometimes our setbacks are the source of our maybe if I put it out in the universe, it will the same color. greatest triumphs. happen?”

Nina - also known as Andrew Levitt - celebrated her 15th birthday as a drag queen in April. In that same month, the Columbus entertainer found herself hanging out with Alan Cumming during Equitas Health’s AIDS Walk Central Ohio. She interviewed him, and then she locked lips with him onstage.

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She didn’t smile at first, only looking wistfully about herself as if lost in contemplation - a perfect counterpoint to the eruption of the crowd in front of her.

But it might take a while - as in eight years.

The gown and Nina’s EOY performance has been on YouTube for years, but it gained a new following a few months ago.

After what transpired this April, no doubt the universe has more awesome surprises for Nina West.

Eventually, she did smile as she moved across the stage, poised, elegant and nonchalant, then left as her minions gathered behind her to form the train of the dress.

“The video went viral back in February and I assume Sia or one of her team saw it,” Nina said. However it came to her, Sia loved the concept and wore a version of the gown, in

Mickey Weems is a writer, educator and creator of The Qualia Encyclopedia of Gay Folklife. Visit mickeyweems.com or email him at mickeyweems@yahoo.com.

Complete the Circuit will appear again in the July issue of Outlook.

Nina also is in a new photo book, Why Drag?, by Magnus Hastings. We’ll have more on that in July.

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dyke like me

‘Why Even Go to Pride?’

Marriage, ‘Modern Family’ Belie Reality for Some LGBT People

by Brooke Cartus As a queer woman who grew up in the ’90s, my exposure to smooth and loving coming-out stories was minimal and a little petrifying.

From Justin and Brian in Queer as Folk to Hillary Swank’s portrayal of Brandon Teena in Boys Don’t Cry, LGBT kids in the ’90s did not have a ton of mainstream media examples of successfully coming out. And sure, I could have hopped on a bus for nine hours to New York City and found a feminist bookstore and discovered myself and been accepted by my chosen family (just like Better Than Chocolate), but I was a middleclass kid who didn’t like the Greyhound bus and, frankly, I wouldn’t have been able to fit all the snacks I would have needed for such a long journey into my hunter green L.L. Bean monogrammed backpack.

Nowadays (wow I am old), children are being raised in a world where successful gay individuals and queer families are portrayed in a wide range of media, from movies to TV shows, books and podcasts.

Pride is for people who never get to see Midwestern queer culture. For those teenagers to have a weekend where making out with your boyfriend on a grassy hill in a park isn’t condemned or even just tolerated. It is downright encouraged.

Still on the fence? Pride is about a space where high-schoolers who have zero access to legitimate sex education can encounter sex-positive vendors and individuals who can give them honest answers to real questions without the confines of abstinence-only education.

For the last five years, Pride has been all about LOVE. So many Pride themes throughout the country were inextricably intertwined with marriage. But the future of our fight for equality has way less to do with marriage than with safety and respect: homicides of trans women, especially trans women of color; transphobic bathroom laws; anti-LGBT statutes disguised as “religious freedom” bills; international adoption laws; trans medical coverage; trans, queer and gender non-conforming individuals and their high rates of unemployment, suicide and poverty.

“Pride is about

visibility.”

It’s the era of Modern Family, and *some* Pick any one of these issues, use the Google straight people realize that we gays aren’t out to (as I say to my mom) and dig in. These issues are turn their children into sex-crazed maniacs. Same-sex rich with sorrowful anecdotes of those in our community marriage is LEGAL. Gay people FINALLY have the same pressuffering, losing their dignity, their freedom and sometimes sure from their families to get married... just like straight peo- their lives. ple have been dealing with for centuries. Yay. I don’t mean to downplay the success of the last 10, 20, 60 So the idea of having one whole weekend, let alone a whole years in LGBT civil rights. Pride month is not just looking month (or given how spread-out Ohio’s Pride festivals are this ahead to where we have to go as a movement, but it’s also year, three whole months) to celebrate our collective identity to celebrate our past success. can seem outdated. I can sit on my girlfriend’s lap at a bar and make out with her like a lovestruck high-schooler at any I hope there is always someone at a bar in June saying, “Why bar in Columbus, regardless of what month it happens to be. do we even need a Pride?” But I also hope I can be next to that person to school them, convince them to buy me a whiskey, So why does Pride matter? and calmly explain how much further we have to go to achieve full equality for the entire LGTBQ community.

It’s hard to imagine Pride meaning more than rainbow Jell-O shots and amazing drag shows for some of us - and believe So let’s celebrate our success with flags, parades and the best me, I love me some Jell-O shots - but Pride means so much brunches anyone could ask for. And let us all look ahead. more to the community. Pride is about visibility.

Because we have work to do. Happy Pride Month to all, and to Pride is for the 15-year-old kids I met last year who had never all a good night. been around this many gay people. Pride is about that 25-year-old lesbian I met who came to Columbus after her car Brooke Cartus is a Chapstick lesbian from Columbus with a law degree from Ohio State University. You was vandalized in her church parking lot. Yes, her CHURCH can find more of her writing on her blog, Size L for Lady, parking lot. Why was it vandalized? Because she happened at brookecartus.com. She writes Dyke Like Me to be in love with a woman. every month for Outlook. outlookohio.com

See Page 62 for details on Brooke-hosted events on June 10, 11 and 14.

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insightout

A Place for Us?

Times Have Changed. So Should Our Addiction to Bars

by Regina Sewell

ment as crime victims in the legal system. In 1988, for example, Texas Judge Jack Hampton reduced Richard Lee Bednarski’s sentence because the two men he murdered were gay.

There’s a place for us, Somewhere a place for us.

Peace and quiet and open air Wait for us...

Until recently, gay bars were the closest places Somewhere. to somewhere that we had. They were the only - Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story places outside of our own homes (sometimes) where gay men, lesbians, and bi and transgenSomewhere has been an LGBT anthem for der people could meet and be themselves. decades. In 1957, when the lyrics were written, the notion that somewhere there would be a Some gay bars, such as New York’s famous place for us - for gay, lesbian, bisexual and Stonewall Inn, served as havens for young LGBT transgender people - seemed unimaginable. kids who had been kicked out of their homes or had run away from unaccepting families.

Sodomy was illegal. Punishment for same-sex sexual activity, even in private homes, ranged Still, gay bars served as stark reminders of our from light fines to life in prison, depending on outsider status. They were usually dives, operthe state in which one lived. As such, gay men ated secretly and/or illegally. Many were owned and lesbians were deemed criminals because of by members of the Mafia who bribed police to their sexual orientation. turn a blind eye.

Anti-cross-dressing laws also were prevalent. In 1848, Columbus was one of the first U.S. cities to pass a law that barred people from appearing in public in “in a dress not belonging to his or her sex.” More than 40 other cities passed anticross-dressing laws in the decades that followed.

Even though Illinois became the first state to remove its sodomy law from the books in 1961 (20 states followed in the 1970s), same-sex sexual activity remained illegal in some states into the 1990s and beyond. Remaining sodomy laws seemed destined to last forever when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld states’ power to criminalize same-sex sex in the 1986 Bowers v. Hardwick decision.

Public attitudes also left LGBT people feeling marginalized and unwanted decades ago. Until the 1990s, surveys showed that the general public was overwhelmingly against LGBT people. From 1973 through 1991, public attitudes held constant with 70 percent to 75 percent each year responding that same-sex sexual behavior was “always wrong.”

These attitudes had an impact.

They set LGBT people up as targets for violence and extortion, and they even affected our treat32

june 2016

Celebrate responsibly this Pride season.

Bar owners frequently took advantage of their patrons’ marginal status and treated their clientele badly. The bars and clubs often violated safety and hygiene codes. Stonewall Inn, for example, lacked a fire exit, and bartenders often served watered down drinks in dirty glasses.

Bar owners and staff often blackmailed affluent closeted clientele.

In West Side Story, Tony dies in Maria’s arms.

They never found their somewhere.

We have been more fortunate.

The courts and public have changed their tune.

Judges began striking down anti-crossdressing laws in the 1970s, and the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated all remaining sodomy laws in 2003.

Justices legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015.

Here there is a place for us. We no longer have to waste our lives and livers away. It’s time we find a new anthem.

Regina Sewell is a licensed mental health counselor. Visit reginasewell.com to ask a question, propose a topic, read about her approach to counseling, or check out her books and other writing.

Insight Out will appear again in the August issue of Outlook.

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creative class

both his music and stories from his life.

Several, in Fact: Columbus’ Evolution Theatre Readies for Its Second LGBT-Focused Season

The last offering of Evolution’s 2016 season is Abraham Lincoln Was a F*gg*t, written by Bixby Elliot. This wild, pop-music driven comedy tells the story of 17-year-old Cal as he tries to prove the homosexuality of his favorite president, Abraham Lincoln. Cal’s search takes him down a hysterical path and ultimately tests his theory that it’s better to be gay if you’re also famous.

There’s a Play for Us

by Paige Johnson

running mate. Congressman Gregory Highover the course of five months. man is his first choice, but Highman has a seColumbus’ Evolution Theatre Company has cret in his past that triggers concerns about The first offering, running July 14-23, is the announced its 2016 season of LGBT-themed right and wrong. musical comedy, Book of Merman, about what productions. Season subscriptions are on sale happens when two Mormon missionaries ring now.

In Shall I Run Again, the president thinks over the doorbell of the one and only Ethel Merman. his past as he tries to decide whether to run The musical features both parodies and origiEvolution started in 2011 and since 2015 has for re-election. nal music. It was written by Leo Schwartz and focused exclusively on LGTBQQIA material. will be directed by Bryan Adam, with musical The second week of the Local Playwright Festi- direction by Bryan Babcock.

The company, in association with CATCO, will val will feature the premiere of Skurdal’s start its season with the Local Playwright FesSticks and Stones. The Columbus resi- From Aug. 4-7, Evolution will stage POZ, ditival, which runs June 1-5 and June dent won the 2014 Greater rected by Greg Smith. POZ , written by Michael 8-12.

Columbus Arts Council Aman, tells the story of Edison, a young man and CATCO Playwith leukemia. Edison’s insurance will only The first week will feature wrights Fellowship cover his treatments if he is HIV-positive. four short plays, all foAward.

Robert is an older man who happens cused on LGBTQQIA isto be HIV-positive. The relationship sues and people in Sticks and Stones between the two men unfolds in a politics. They include A is the story of Kyle, comedic, touching and unconvenPoint of Diminishing Rea young transgen- tional love story. turns by Cory Skurdal, der artist, and JanAlexander the Great in Love ice, an arts critic.

Looped, written by Matthew Lomand War by Amy Drake, Vetted by Janice gives Kyle’s work bardo, will be staged Sept. 15-24. It Cory Skurdal Sheldon Gleisser and Shall I Run a poor review, and Kyle then tells the true story of an eight-hour Again by Jack Petersen. posts online that Janice is a closeted lesbian. recording session with Tallulah This leads to a court case that has both Bankhead, which consisted of the A Point of Diminishing Returns tells the story sides trying to understand themselves and legendary (and drunk) actress trying of Ulysses McKinley Rutherford Harding each other. to record a single line. Recording the Garfield Hayes III, an Ohio politician who whole thing is film editor Danny throws out his speech notes and speaks from The festival is a pay-what-you-want event.

Miller. Bankhead grumbles through the heart at a poorly planned venue.

Showtimes for the four short plays and Sticks the recording session and toys with and Stones are 8p on Wednesdays through Miller as she grouses over her faAlexander the Great in Love and War portrays Saturdays, with a 2p matinee on Sundays. vorite subjects. the historical figure’s thoughts on his Performances are at the Shedd Theater of the deathbed, in particular those related to his Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Make Me a Song by William Finn will partner, Hephaestion.

Franklin Ave., Downtown. run from Oct. 13-22. Finn is the composer behind Falsettos and The Vetted concerns sitting Vice President Tobias Evolution begins its own productions after the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Gatton as he picks over his own choices for a festival concludes. Five plays will be staged Bee. This musical revue features

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It runs from Nov. 10-19.

Evolution is selling subscriptions on its website, evolutiontheatre.org, for the entire 2016 season. Tickets for individual performances for The Book of Merman, POZ, and Looped are also available online for $25. Tickets are $20 for people 60 and older and $15 for students with a valid ID.

Paige Johnson is a summer intern with Outlook. She is from Grove City and will be a senior this fall majoring in professional writing at Capital University in Bexley.

Here’s a play idea: This reality TV star runs for president... Never mind. No one would believe it.

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columbus arts fest amps it up a notch

creative class

by Bob Vitale

Art festivals are like the Olive Garden of the festival world. Its Toyota Corolla. Its Cats.

Safe. Solid and steady.

Nothing too flashy. You’ll get what you came for, and you’ll go home satisfied.

Organizers of the Columbus Arts Festival are shaking things up a little this year.

More than 300 artists still will display their work from Friday, June 10, to Sunday, June 12, on both sides of the Scioto River, on the Main Street and Rich Street bridges, and along Rich Street into Downtown. You can listen to some music, drink some beers and eat all kinds of food, including your typical fair fare.

But here’s what’s new: • COSI will stay open late during the festival and offer special programming in its planetarium and giantscreen theater. Among them: a feature on the work of Ohio State University professor emeritus Charles Csuri, who’s recognized as the father of digital art and computer animation.

• Gallery of Echoes, a celebration of the Columbus arts community, combines original music, dance, spoken word and videography to reinterpret 20 works by local 34

june 2015

visual artists. It will take place at 9p on Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11, on the festival’s Main Stage.

The artwork will be exhibited at the Vanderelli Room, 218 McDowell St., in Franklinton, from June 4-26. The performances will be reprised from June 15-19 at Shadowbox Live, 503 S. Front St., in the Brewery District.

• A seventh entertainment stage, hosted by local music-production school Groove U, has been added at the riverfront at COSI to feature local young musicians.

Other stages will feature the big acts, jazz and blues, dance, acoustic music, spoken-word performances and more.

• Ten artists will work throughout the festival to create chalk masterpieces on - literally, on - Washington Boulevard, which runs along the west side of the river north of the Rich Street Bridge. You can watch them as they work and vote for your favorite. The winners will get prizes.

which organizes the annual event.

“We’ve been wanting to do something fun and colorful and also do something past the closing hours of the festival.”

Chroma! is that.

The after-hours outdoor dance party will take place in the COSI parking lot starting at 10:30p. Nina West, the queen of Columbus drag, will host, and DJ Charles Erickson will spin.

Throughout the party area, “transformation stations” stocked with spray-on and brush-on textile paints, spin-art machines, spray-in hair colors and face paints will allow you to turn yourself and others into colorful works of art. It’ll be good to wear white.

“Come as a canvas and leave as art,” festival promotions advise.

And then there’s something really big.

After the festival shuts down for the night on Saturday, June 11, the party starts.

columbusartsfestival.org

“We want to amp up the energy of the festival,” said Jami Goldstein, spokeswoman for the Greater Columbus Arts Council,

Email Outlook Editor-in-Chief Bob Vitale at bvitale@ outlookmedia.com to suggest stories for Creative Class, our monthly features on artists and events of interest to LGBT Ohioans.

Columnist Mickey Weems writes on Page 30 about Nina West’s brush with Sia.

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FRONT & CENTER

Cincinnati Theater Festival Offers 50 Shows Over 12 Days

four of the most influential artists of all time? Magritte, Van Gogh, Picasso and Warhol explore the freedoms and restrictions of their sexualities over brunch.

Playwright Robert Macke and director Nate Netzley are with the new Cincinnati collective Tongue of the Mind Theatre.

will be presented four times: Friday, June 3; Sunday, June 5; Wednesday, June 8; and Saturday, June 11, at OTR Community Church, 1310 Race St., 45202. Tickets are $15.

I Hate It Here This production is from SHEatre: Cincinnati Women’s Theatre.

Here are the numbers for the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, the annual experimental theater event now in its 13th year: 12 days → 50 shows → 11 venues → 8,000 people...

shows are Cincinnati productions.

Given the applicants were evenly split between locals and out-oftowners, Know Theatre Artistic Director Andrew Hungerford said the Cincinnati-heavy lineup is “a testament to the quality of the work of local Fringers.”

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Synopses of all 50 Cincinnati Fringe Festival shows are available at cincyfringe.com.

Playhouse and Reggie Watts. It’s a drag performance by Cupcake Hawthorne that uses vintage drum machines and synthesizers and stream-of-consciousness lyrics.

Thornton will perform four shows: Monday, June 6; Tuesday, June 7; Friday, June 10; and Saturday, June 11, at Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson St., 45202. Tickets are $15.

It’s about Shelly, an outgoing hypochondriac, and Margaret, a highly functional agoraphobe. The SHEnatra! couple try to eliminate their faults by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin face the music in purgatory and melding into one person. examinine gender issues as women.

Nothing that huge can be on the Abby Rowold and Caitlin McWethy fringe.

Sadie Bowman and Donna Kay started SHEatre in 2015. I Hate It Baby Mama: One Yarborough of Portland Ore., will Here is scheduled for five performBut what goes on stage is out there, Know Theatre organizes the annual WomanÊs Quest to Give perform five shows: Wednesday, ances: Thursday, June 2; Saturday, either in the subjects they present or festival and says its goal is to showHer Child to Gay People June 1; Saturday, June 4; Tuesday, June 4; Sunday, June 5; Thursday, the style in which they’re presented. case underrepresented voices. More The play tracks a birth mother’s true June 7; Friday, June 10; and SaturJune 9; and Saturday, June 11, at than half of this year’s shows are adoption journey from conception to day, June 11, at the Coffee Empothe Art Academy Auditorium, 1212 The Cincinnati Fringe Festival runs produced by women.

-close -andplacement.

It’s an up rium, 110 E. Central Pkwy., 45202.

Jackson St., 45202.

Tickets are $15. from Tuesday, May 31, to Saturday, personal night of storytelling.

Bring Tickets are $15 Several focus on LGBT themes: June 11, at Know Theatre and 10 hankies.

Please Call Me Cupcake other venues in Over-the-Rhine and The one-man show by Nashville per- Visit cincyfringe.com for the entire Downtown.

Golconda Produced by Mariah MacCarthy and former Kevin Thornton is described Cincinnati Fringe Festival lineup and If you can be anyone you wish in the Caps Lock Theatre of New York, it showtimes. as a mashup of Divine, Pee Wee’s world of online dating, why not be This year, almost two-thirds of the There will be five performances of Golconda: Wednesday, June 1; Saturday, June 4; Monday, June 6; Friday, June 10; and Saturday, June 11, at Art Academy Commons, 1212 Jackson St., 45202. Tickets are $15.

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bookmark

Gay Life

Short Story Collection Reflects the Lives of Gay Men

by Rick Karlin

You might know Gregg Shapiro’s work as an entertainment journalist.

What you might not know, though, is that he’s an acclaimed poet and fiction writer, with two books of short stories and three collections of poetry published in the past decade. His latest, How to Whistle (Lethe Press, $15), is a collection of 15 short stories from different phases of his life.

If it sounds like I’m bragging, I am. Gregg Shapiro is my husband. After 23 years of having him mine aspects of my life for his art, I get my revenge by asking him about his work...

Rick Karlin: Many of your stories focus on the teen and young adult years. What is it about that time of life that fascinates you?

time spent in gay neighborhoods such as Boystown on Halsted Street, as well as in Andersonville. Time and again, much to my surprise, I began to run into people with whom I went to high school. Some of them I had suspected might be gay; others completely took me by surprise.

It was both thrilling and terrifying, especially since I went to high school in the pre-gay/straight alliance dark ages. Our GSA was the theater department [laughs]. I was, for the most part, happy to see these people in this setting. Then I imagined what it would be like to run into someone I would be less pleased to see in a gay bar, and that’s how the story began.

RK: I know music is an important part of your life. Is that why so many of your stories feature musical references?

GS: Music is as important to me as writing, although I can’t sing or play an instrument. Music has been essential to me since I was very young.

Gregg Shapiro: Sometimes I think that I write about the teen and young adult years not because I’m fascinated with them but because it’s a way to reclaim and revise them, to take away the sting and smooth over the scars.

In looking through the book, I was reminded, as you pointed out, of the prominence of music in the stories, beginning with the first one, “Autographs,” which mainly takes place at, of all places, an Adam and the Ants concert. Also, as an entertainment journalist I get to share my adoration of music through my music review columns and my interviews with musicians.

RK: A few of your stories are about bullying, and I know that is something you experienced growing up.

The stories seem to be a way, as you say, “to take away the sting and smooth over the scars.”

GS: Yes, I was bullied.

But, of course, I wasn’t the only one. The epidemic of bullying, which is not new - although it is finally getting the attention it deserves - will probably never be eradicated. There are too many bullied people who become parents and then, in turn, end up bullying their children, who then bully their siblings and contemporaries.

RK: It must have been a kind of sweet revenge writing “Bully in a Bar” then! What was the inspiration for that story?

GS: You think?! Part of the inspiration for the story came from when I moved back to Chicago after living away for eight years. In my time away, I fully forged my identity as a gay man.

Going out with friends while living in Chicago often included 36

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RK: Who are some of your favorite musicians, and why do they resonate with you?

GS: Because words are so important to me, I would have to say that singer/songwriters rank highest among my favorites.

At the top of the list are the obvious ones: Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Laura Nyro, Carly Simon, Rufus Wainwright, Tom Waits, Joan Armatrading, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Rickie Lee Jones, Ani DiFranco and Randy Newman.

Gregg Shapiro will read from How to Whistle, along with award-winning gay poet Dan Vera, on Monday, June 6, at 7p at Stonewall Columbus, 1160 N. High St., 43201.

Rick Karlin is a writer, too.

He’s a frequent contributor to South Florida Gay News. Check it out at southfloridagaynews.com, if for no other reason than to print out the brisket recipes he posted in April.

We’ll brag on both of them: Rick and Gregg are both in the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.

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LGBTQ Q COMMUNIT Y DAY

Saturday, August 20 • 10 a.m.–5 p.m. .m.

Ohio History Center 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, OH 43211

Ohio History Connection and Outlook Media ia invite you to bring in your photos, documents ts and objects to be digitized to contribute to our digital collection. This is a Gay Ohio History Initiative (GOHI) project designed to preserve and share the stories of Ohio’s LGBTQ community ty.

This special day is free and will include: • A display of current GOHI collection items • Exhibitors from other Ohio LGBTQ organizations • Special curator talks • Living history performances • Hands-on activities for families

LGBTQ Community Day is a project of the Gay Ohio Historryy Initiative. GOHI was established by Ohio Historryy Connection and d Outlook Media to preserve and share the historryy and culture of Ohio’s LGBTQ citizens. This event is sponsored by the Ohio Histor orryy Connection, Outlook Media and the Common Heritage Grant fro om the National Endowment for the Humanities.

To make a an appointment to scan yourr items, or for mo ore information about LGBTQ Commun nity Day, please call 614.297.2663 or visit oh hiohistory.org/GOHIDay. outlookohio.com

Please bring your LGBTQ history from all over Ohio to our Community Day in Columbus!

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trippin’ out

View to the Pacific from Villa Roca Hotel & Resort.

Pura Vida

Manuel Antonio’s Playa Espadilla beach is surrounded by tropical vegetation.

Village of Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica’s LGBT-Friendly Getaway

by Aaron Leventhal

monkeys, as well as iguanas, sloths, lizards, boobies and pelicans.

A well-established gay scene has blossomed since the 1970s in Manuel Antonio, a small village on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

Jet-setting LGBT travelers from the world over have long-regarded Manuel Antonio as a dream destination.

Costa Rica has emerged as one of the world’s hottest tourist destinations, noted for its natural tropical beauty, friendly and hospitable Ticos (Costa Ricans), and a thriving ecotourism industry. About the size of West Virginia with a population approaching 5 million, this tiny Central American country is flanked by the Pacific Ocean to its west, the Caribbean to its east, Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast.

For the past decade, I have escaped Ohio’s winter chill and gloomy overcast days on numerous occasions for extended stays in the Central Pacific village of Manuel Antonio. The region’s rocky hillside cliffs covered with jungle vegetation; pristine, white sandy beaches; and crystal-clear warm Pacific waters provide the perfect setting for a remarkable vacation experience.

Its progressive residents welcome everyone, regardless of race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Manuel Antonio’s crown jewel is the worldrenowned, 1,600-acre Manuel Antonio National Park, home to 100 species of exotic wildlife and 200 species of birds. Along wellmarked hiking trails, visitors will see howler, Capuchin and the endangered Titi (squirrel) 38

june 2016

It’s best to explore the park with a licensed naturalist guide who can be found at the park entrance. It’s open Tuesday-Sunday, with a $16 admission. Nearby is Playa Espadilla, a free public beach.

The annual Pride parade and festival in the Costa Rican capital of San José is Central America’s largest.

Villa Roca welcomes everyone to enjoy the spectacular sunsets at its Open Pool and Happy Hour.

Where to Stay Hotel Villa Roca (villaroca.com), an exclusively LGBT world-class resort, sits on a rocky cliff overlooking the blue Pacific and lush, tropical landscape gardens and is within walking distance of Manuel Antonio National Park.

Other popular five-star, LGBT-friendly resorts include La Mansion Inn (lamansioninn.com) and Gaia Hotel and Reserve (gaiahr.com). La Mansion overlooks the ocean, rainforest and national park. It’s gay-owned and operated.

Four miles north of the park along a narrow strip of country road is the bustling town of Quepos. It’s crammed with cafes and cantinas, shops and galleries. A lovely Partners marina with fine Jörn and restaurants has Armin are yachts from around the originally from world moored at its docks.

Frankfurt, GerArmin and Jörn, Hotel Villa Roca Quepos is safe to explore day many, and have or night. It’s not necessary to owned and operated the have a car, since public buses are plenhotel since 1999. They have a tiful and taxi fares do not exceed $10 per trip. passion for providing an intimate and enchanting experience for their guests.

It should be noted that the LGBT community of Manuel Antonio and Quepos, which numEach of the inn’s 15 air-conditioned rooms bers in the hundreds, is well-organized and a has an ocean view. Full homemade breakvibrant force politically, socially and culturfasts are included, along with free WiFi, LCD ally. It is recognized as the most important flat screen TVs, security boxes, refrigerators and active LGBT community in Costa Rica and telephones. In the garden area, and, in fact, all of Central America. overlooking the lush rainforest and sea below, are a bar and a lovely outdoor pool Costa Rica doesn’t recognize marriage and Jacuzzi open 24 hours a day with equality, but a law enacted in 2013 offers clothing optional. some domestic-partnership benefits.

Homosexuality was decriminalized nationVilla Roca is conveniently located near nuwide in 1971. merous gay-friendly beaches, restaurants, bars, clubs and shopping. On Wednesdays,

The inn boasts fine dining in its Jacques Cousteau restaurant, as well as in its Sky Lounge with a 360-degree rooftop and Bat Cave Bar. The 20-room, luxurious Gaia has spectacular vistas, international cuisine and a full-service spa. There are also dozens of gay-owned and -operated, fully furnished villas secluded in the hillsides that are available for short and extended stays.

What to Do Two eco-adventure tour companies excel in exploring the beautiful natural habitats of the region: Gaytours Costa Rica (gaytourscr.com) and Rancho Los Tucanes (tucanestours.com). Both offer a diverse assortment of tours accompanied by LGBTfriendly, experienced guides.

Gaytours conducts daily tours from December through April, often catering exclusively to the LGBT community. Tours include whitewater rafting, canopy zip-lining, horseback riding, boating in the Damas Island Mangrove Estuary and hiking in Manuel Antonio National Park. Of special note are the romantic catamaran sunset sails and new bike tours through the countryside with guides

While you plan that vacation to Central America, check out Freedom Valley’s events on Page 75.

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Live music at Rafael’s Terraza.

and equipment included.

Rancho Los Tucanes is a Costa Rican family business established in 1993 with the purpose of sustaining the natural environment through informative and highly entertaining experiences in the great outdoors. The company offers many of the same tours as Gaytours, and several trips are planned each week for LGBT visitors.

Dining and Entertainment Rafael (Rapha) Fallas Zuniga, born and raised in nearby Quepos, owns and operates a dining and entertainment complex with his two brothers that is one of the most popular in Manuel Antonio. In 2010, he opened Raphael’s Terraza Restaurant, overlooking the Pacific and specializing in seafood and classic Costa Rican cuisine such as grilled fish, ceviche, seafood, plantains, and black beans and rice.

Soon after, he created the LGBT Mogambo & Bar Mi Casa on the second floor above the restaurant. It features a Happy Hour with two-for-one drinks every day, as well as an outdoor bar with a smoking area. His adjoining Liquid Lounge discotheque, with a dance floor and stage, features live music and karaoke. The venues serve as the unofficial party center for Manuel Antonio’s LGBT community.

El Faro, with an ocean view on the top floor of the El Faro Beach Hotel, features a daily Happy Hour with two-for-one mojitos and margaritas, as well as Asian, TexMex and Costa Rican fusion dishes. Other favorites include Mar Luna, Z Bar and Grill on Quepos’ outlookohio.com

Marina Pez Vela, and Emilio’s Café for delicious homemade dishes, ocean views and live bands on the weekends.

Popular clubs include Salipuedos, with an ocean view, live music and a Sunset Sunday Happy Hour; the Rainbow Lounge, the first membership club in town, located in Hotel California and open daily from 11a-11p with a pool, food and cocktails; and Karma Lounge, the newest gay bar, attached to Victoria’s Gourmet Italian Restaurant, with a late Happy Hour from 8p-10p and excellent music.

It’s best to visit Costa Rica from December through March, which is the country’s Dry Season. You’ll get warm, sunny days and temperate evenings. The lifestyle is completely laid-back, and T-shirts, shorts and sandals are appropriate for every occasion.

Costa Rica’s mantra is pura vida - the pure life. Nowhere is this more evident than in tropical, carefree Manuel Antonio. LGBT travelers can be assured of a relaxed and enjoyable holiday and a genuine welcome from the entire community For more information go to gaymanuelantonio.com or check out the website for Playita, the Gaylife News Bulletin, at gaytourscr.com/playita.html.

Travel writer Aaron Leventhal of Columbus has organized a trip to Manuel Antonio for March 2017. For more information go to leventhaltravel.com.

Thank you, Alternative Auto Care! And a happy 33rd birthday to you!

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savage love

by Dan Savage

GUILT RIDDEN

Over the years, I have consumed what I believe to be an average amount of porn for a 44-year-old hetero guy. I have never paid for it, and I am now facing a troubled conscience for that fact. I could obviously just subscribe to some site now, but that would benefit only one company and/or set of performers. Is there a Dan Savage–approved charity relating to the adult film industry to which I could donate?

Habib will host an online lecture/seminar about the upside of porn on Sunday, June 5. His talk is titled, “Pornworld: Why Pornography Is a Healthy Part of Our Culture,” and you can find out more by searching “pornworld” at eventbrite.com.

You can follow Habib on Twitter @ConnerHabib.

I didn’t talk to my nearly-70-year-old dad for most of my 20s. Now that I’m back trying to maintain relationships with my parents, I am struggling.

- Seeks Penance And Needs Knowledge “Porn performers almost never get royalties for their scenes when they work for big studios,” said Conner Habib, a writer, activist and porn performer. “If you buy into the trickle-down theory of things, then more money for the studio should mean more money for the performers. If you don’t buy into that - and not everyone does - there are other options.”

To get your money directly to the performers whose work you’re currently enjoying/stealing, SPANK, you can patronize smaller studios run by performers, book time with independent webcam models and purchase porn created by performers on sites like Clips4Sale.com.

To atone for your years of freeloading, SPANK, you can and should make large donations to two organizations.

The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (apac-usa.com) is the largest performer-based organization in the world, and its membership is made up entirely of performers, Habib said.

“Full disclosure: I’m the vice president, but no donation money goes to me or any board member. It all goes to the organization, which works to improve the working conditions, quality of life and safety of performers, as well as to fight anti-porn laws and stigma.”

Habib also recommended donating money to the Sex Workers Outreach Project (swopusa.org).

“This isn’t a porn-specific organization, but it works to protect and fight for the rights of all sex workers. Since many performers are doing other forms of sex work, donations go a long way to help porn performers.”

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Whaaaaaat? Pay for porn???!

My dad is the king of the overshare. He makes creepy comments about women who are about 30 to 40 years younger than he is, including women who were kids when he met them but are now grown-ups. Not something I want to hear. I don’t think he is abusing anyone, just being creepy, but I desperately want him to stop with the inappropriate comments.

He makes about one creepy comment per phone conversation. If he were a person at work, I would be able to stand up for myself and say, “That is not appropriate.” But when he says creepy stuff, Dan, I’m a deer in the headlights. I go silent, it’s awkward, and I keep hoping he’ll understand how weird he’s being.

I would say something, but bringing up things that anger me causes him to act overly sorry, and that routine is annoying, too.

I asked my mom (they divorced a long time ago), and she had no suggestions. She was just like, yeah, he’s like that. Any suggestions on what to say?

- Seeking Help Regarding Unpleasant Guy “Dad! It creeps me out when you make comments about women you want to fuck. I realize you’re a sexual person, and I honor that, and blah de blah blah blah. But these are thoughts you share with friends, Dad, not with your adult children. There’s no need to go into your oh-so-sorry routine, Dad, we just need to change the subject.”

You can email Dan Savage at mail@savagelove.net, follow him on Twitter at @fakedansavage or listen to his weekly podcast, Savage Lovecast, every Tuesday at thestranger.com/savage. Savage Love appears every month in Outlook and every week at outlookohio.com. outlookohio.com

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the divine life Gemini

by Debé

(May 21 - June 20) Come out, come out, wherever you are! Be proud of your ability to communicate ideas! That’s important now, as your sphere of influence is growing. It’s Pride month, and people are listening to you.

Take this opportunity to motivate and move others.

can be great fun, but it can also make you dizzy. You might be falling in and out of love all month. Wheeee!

Scorpio

October 23 November 21) Be proud of your sensitivity!

This will help you maneuver past any drama land mines in your path. It’s important to both go with the flow and Proud Gemini: Harvey use your powers of persuasion Milk, Melissa Etheridge, Laverne Cox, Lana Wachowski, to keep things moving in the right direction.

Jussie Smollett.

Cancer

(June 21 - July 22) Be proud of the depth of your feelings! But it’s time to banish any negative thoughts holding you back. To be understood, you have to put yourself out there spiritually. Putting out physically is entirely up to you.

Leo

(July 23 - August 22) Be proud of your ability to take care of the people you love! That could be tested when a little tough love is in order. You might see yourself as the white knight, but others may cast you as the villain.

Keep your cool.

Virgo

(August 23 September 22) Be proud of your ability to get organized! This comes in handy when someone tries to interfere with your carefully laid plans. You can either work around it or consider a major revision. They may be worth it.

Libra

(September 23 October 22) Be proud of your objectivity!

You need it this month as you are in a vortex of activity. It outlookohio.com

matters, and your caring nature shines through to everyone. That could come in handy as friends implode this month. Just keep your head above the fray.

Aries

(March 21 - April 19) Be proud of your takecharge attitude! That can be a little frustrating right now, Sagittarius as things are moving way too (November 22 slowly to suit you. Have December 21) patience, darling. You’ll Be proud of your ability to make it happen! You’ve been be leading the parade by overcoming one obstacle after month’s end. another. You go, girl! Just don’t borrow other people’s Taurus problems. Puh-leeeze, your (April 20 - May 20) dance card is already full.

Be proud of your sensuality and stamina! Pride month gives you opportunities to inCapricorn dulge both abilities, but you (December 22 might find yourself stubbornly January 19) at odds over your life’s overall Be proud of your ability to follow through! That talent direction. A stubborn Taurus?

Quelle surprise! will be put to the test this month, as the universe throws you a few curveballs. You can Handy Tip: still hit a home run, but you’ll Composite Whorl have to put in some extra Usually effort. found on the thumb or index finger, Aquarius this finger(January 20 print pattern February 18) resembles an “S”. The bearer Be proud of your amazing of this print tends to do things imagination! Be fabulously creative. Decorate the float - the hard way. Life is a bit of a roller coaster. I often see this or yourself - and step out of your comfort zone a little. Even print on the left thumb (representing family and commuAquarians need the occanity) of my gay brethren. sional push outside the box.

Pisces

(February 19 March 20) Be proud of your humungous heart! In this case, size

Debé is a palmist, intuitive adviser and metaphysical teacher in Columbus. She is available for personal readings, parties, events and workshops. Visit thepassionatepalmist.com. Look for The Divine Life every month in Outlook.

One more prediction: NO RAIN THIS YEAR FOR ANY PRIDE!

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Grace and Frankie Portrait on a Chair Across

1 Start of a favorite holiday 6 Drag queen on the make 10 Orchestra section 15 Stroke your boa, e.g.

16 La Traviata solo 17 Porno film ___ 69 18 Spanish painter, with “El” 19 Part of Mapplethorpe’s equipment 20 Try a Susan Feniger cookbook, e.g.

21 Start of what Grace said to Robert about a portrait on a chair 24 P-town summer hrs.

25 Rubber 26 Cluck of condescension 27 B. Bean’s greatest hits 29 Come out on the beach 31 Hot stuff 34 Army base 38 Greek fabulist

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42 Composer Copland 43 Soothing agent 44 Words before evil 45 More of what Grace said 48 Scores by David Kopay 49 Arena cry, to Lorca 50 ___-Magnon man 51 On the other hand 52 Suffix with prefer 54 Inventor Otis 57 Xena deity 58 End of what Grace said 61 Opportunity for Glenn Burke 63 Soon, to Shakespeare 64 My Fair Lady composer 67 Elizabeth Perkins’ role in Weeds 68 Billy Masters’ specialty 69 Wong in a 1960 film 70 Went down on a body part 71 Groups of games, to Navratilova 72 Playground retort

VDown

1 Car ad stat 2 It’s for sweaters 3 Boat bottom bumpers 4 Jenner’s Olympic event 5 Party to 6 Balls in battle 7 Gladiator area 8 Works the shaft 9 Out 10 Mel’s role with Jodie in Maverick 11 Signature dish of Auden’s land 12 Rainbow flag sticker sites, often 13 Are lousy 14 DC figure 22 “Let’s do it!”

23 Land of singer

S. O’Connor 28 Drummer managed by Brian Epstein 30 Opera villain, usually 31 Montmartre menu 32 “Surprise Symphony” composer 33 Like Pepper on Modern Family 34 Social workers’ work 35 “I Could Have Danced ___ Night” 36 Francois Ozon, to himself 37 Inclinations 39 South Beach cooler 40 When actors should come

41 Bishop and Teasdale 46 With 40-Down, Jackie’s designer 47 Interest, slangily 53 Intercourse while surfing?

55 Lint collector 56 Stallion’s sound 57 Collector 56 Stallion’s sound 57 Colette’s love 59 “Now!” in a hospital 60 Lanchester of Bride of Frankenstein 61 When doubled, defensive fire 62 Ann Heron’s One Teenager in __ 65 Ill. neighbor 66 Anti-discrimination letters

lesbians 101

Greg Fox, A&K, and Jym Shipman are all Ohio cartoonists!

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Thanks to all our advertisers and readers for two decades of support! You rock!

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Look for our Pride reports at outlookohio.com.

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pride 2016

show your

PRIDE!

It’s always someone’s first Pride.

Youngstown on Saturday, July 9.

It’ll be someone’s first Pride in Dayton on Saturday, June 4.

It’ll be someone’s first Pride in Mansfield on Saturday, July 23.

It’ll be someone’s first Pride in Springfield on Saturday, June 11.

It’ll be someone’s first Pride in Cleveland on Saturday, Aug. 13.

It’ll be someone’s first Pride in Columbus on Saturday, June 18.

It’ll be someone’s first Pride at Akron’s Flair Fest on Aug. 20.

It’ll be someone’s first Pride in Cincinnati, Yellow Springs and Chillicothe on Saturday, June 25.

It’ll be someone’s first Pride in Toledo on Saturday, Aug. 27.

parents she’s a lesbian.

It’ll be the first Pride for a 33year-old gay guy who’s finally coming out. It’ll be the first Pride for a bisexual 20-something who wants the world to see a strong, visible bi community. It’ll be the first Pride for a mature trans woman who wants the world to see her as she sees herself.

It’ll be the first Pride for a teenager who just told her

On the following pages, we offer details about this month’s Pride

It’ll be someone’s first Pride in outlookohio.com

Look for our Ohio Pride reports at outlookohio.com.

festivals and parades. We also offer ideas for making a weekend trip out of Prides in Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati.

We’ll do the same in our July issue for Youngstown and Mansfield, and we’ll do the same in August for Cleveland, Akron and Toledo.

And we’ll be celebrating along with you. Happy Pride, Ohio! june 2016

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Six or More Bears Amassed (Cross off any other box for free if you see 12 or more bears together)

The “It’s Complicated” Girl or Guy From Online Laughing it Up With the Significant Other and Looking Like it Isn’t That “Complicated” at All

A Gaggle of GLSEN Kids Body Paint in Circles Around Someone’s Nipples

Undercut With a Top Bun 46

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BRAVO Whistles

Fairy Wings

Community Group Literature Using an LGBTQ Acronym With More Than 8 Letters

Bi Pride Flag A Boa:

Snake or Feather

Earnest Young Queer Trying to Reason With a Protester

Tattered Tutu That Should Have Been Retired in 2002-tu

Lesbians Who Brought Their Own Food

Trans Pride Flag

Dog or Human

OUTLOOK TENT! (Come Say Hi!)

Beach Ball Killer (boooo!)

Drag King Breaking Out Some Bieber Moves

Protester Who Sets off Your Gaydar

Overflowed Porto-Potty

Newbie Volunteer Who Looks Totally Overwhelmed

Boobs

Someone Actually Taking Advantage of the “Free Hugs” Offer

A Real Rainbow

Post your bingo finds to @outlookohio on Instagram.

Drag Queen in a Rainbow Dress

Stray Pup:

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Back up, queens. Monica Day’s crown is from Miss Ohio.

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Outlook Magazine: Celebrating 20 years!

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pride 2016

! p i r T d a o R n o t y Da n Pride Dayto -5 June 3 nter.org e

nlgbtc

dayto

THE HAPS

FRIDAY, JUNE 3 Affair on the Square Pride Kickoff @ Courthouse Square, Main and 3rd streets, Dayton, 45402; 937.274.1776; daytonlgbtcenter.org: Performances by the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus and the Rubi Girls. Food from local food trucks. Beer sales benefit local LGBT groups. 5p-10p.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Breakfast @ MJ’s on Jefferson, 20 N. Jefferson St., Dayton, 45402; 937.223.3259; mjsonjefferson.com: A Dayton Pride tradition. 9:30a; $5 donation goes to Dayton Pride.

Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus: Unity @ Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, 45402; 937.228.3630; daytongaymenschorus.com: Songs about unity and acceptance and a special appearance by the Louisville Gay Men’s Chorus. 8p; $22-$32.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 5 Running With Pride 5K Run/Walk @ Welcome Park, 1601 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton, 45417; 937.274.1776; daytonlgbtcenter.org: Sponsored by PFLAG Dayton and open to people at all levels of fitness.

10a; $30 registration.

Spikes & Heels Kickball Tournament @ Welcome Park, 1601 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton, 45417; 937.274.1776; daytonlgbtcenter.org: Teams - they’re encouraged to dress in costume - compete in a singleelimination tournament. Noon-6p; $25-$50 registration.

THE DRIVE

From Akron: 200 miles

From Columbus: 70 miles

From Athens: 145 miles

From Findlay: 100 miles

From Cleveland: 210 miles

From Youngstown: 240 miles

From Cincinnati: 55 miles

From Toledo: 150 miles

THE SLEEPS

Crowne Plaza Dayton 33 E. 5th St., 45402 937.224.0800

Hilton Garden Inn Dayton Beavercreek 3520 Pentagon Park Blvd., 45431 937.458.2650

THE EATS

Wheat Penny

Salar

Pine Club

Pizza, Pasta, Sandwiches

Peruvian World Fusion

Steakhouse

515 Wayne Ave., 45410 937.496.5268

400-410 E. 5th St., 45402 937.203.3999

1926 Brown St., 45409 937.228.7463

Roost

Meadowlark

Modern Italian

Fresh American

524 E. 5th St., 45402 937.222.3100

5531 Far Hills Ave., 45429 937.434.4750

Dayton, Springfield and Yellow Springs all host Pride celebrations in June.

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THE DRINKS

Argos 301 Mabel St., 45403 FB: Argos Levi & Leather Bar

Stage Door 44 N. Jefferson St., 45402 FB: The Stage Door

Masque 20 N. Jefferson St., 45402 clubmasque.com MJÊs on Jefferson 20 N. Jefferson St., 45402 mjsonjefferson.com Right Corner 105 E. 3rd St., 45402 FB: Right Corner SparkyÊs Lounge 822 Watertower Lane, West Carrollton, 45449 FB: Sparky’s Lounge

THE GAY BIZ

Wheat Penny Oven & Bar A quote from the late Chicago Sun-Times food critic Pat Bruno is painted on the wall of the Oregon District restaurant owned by longtime friends Elizabeth Wiley and Liz Valenti: “Stress Does Not Exist in the Presence of a Pizza.” Not in the presence of Valenti’s pizza, anyways. Nor in the presence of Wiley’s vegetable creations: The Cauliflower T-Bone, deeply browned and garnished with a salsa of olives, olive oil, garlic, capers, raisins and orange, is incredible.

Meadowlark Wiley’s other restaurant also features delicious, elevated but not overly fancy fare. The brunch omelette comes with mushrooms and gruyere, and the veggie burgers are made in-house. The chicken is brined in pickle juice, and the pork tenderloin is served with a Jezebel sauce of peach preserves, mustard, horseradish and cream.

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Agnes & Orson Owner Josh Stucky, a founder of Dayton’s beloved Rubi Girls drag troupe and a coowner of Square One Salons, opened this gift shop last fall at 1132 Brown St., near the University of Dayton. He calls it a “sassy, classy” store with cards, gifts, glassware, planters and more.

And then there’s the sassy: “What we have found is we cannot keep gay and lesbian stuff on the shelves because there are that many people who are like, ‘Finally, there’s a store for us,’” he told Outlook in March.

Wicked ÊWich of Dayton Be on the lookout for a big purple truck (or click thewickedwichofdayton.com) to grab a sandwich from owners Katie Marks and Stephanie Gordon. Wicked ‘Wich is a food truck, in its second year serving what Marks describes as “diverse flavor pairings.” Most of the sandwiches have a sweet component, like the thin layer of black raspberry preserves that go with a smoked sausage patty and smoked gouda on the Smoked Out.

THE SIGHTS

The Oregon District On the southeastern edge of Downtown is the city’s oldest neighborhood and its youngest-feeling neighborhood rolled into one. The homes are elegant and historic and worth a walk along the district’s residential streets. Businesses - nearly all locally owned - are concentrated along 5th Street. Check out Bonnett’s Bookstore, which is packed floor to ceiling; Brim, an actual haberdashery; and the Neon, an independent moviehouse that often shows LGBT features. Visit oregondistrict.org.

Dayton Art Institute The world-class museum overlooking Downtown is divided into three main wings of European, American and Asian art. Its collection includes works

by Georgia O’Keefe, Edward Hopper, Edgar Degas and Peter Paul Rubens.

The museum also owns one of Claude Monet’s Waterlillies paintings. Visit daytonartinstitute.org.

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force The biggest military aviation museum in the world is located at Dayton’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It includes everything from a Wright 1909 Flyer to a B-2 Stealth Bomber. A new building opening on June 8, will house 10 aircraft used by presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Bill Clinton.

Yellow Springs The village 20 miles east of Dayton is famously LGBT friendly. It outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation in 1979. It’s home to Antioch College, the most liberal of liberal arts colleges. It’s also a great place to explore. Its Downtown, along Xenia Avenue, boasts a bunch of locally owned shops and eateries. There’s more than one locally owned bookstore, and Young’s Dairy (about a mile north of town on Springfield Xenia Road) offers up homemade ice cream and cheese, a petting zoo and mini-golf.

THE RETURN

Hauntfest on 5th Dayton’s biggest and longestrunning Halloween party - it’s in the bars and on the streets takes place on 5th Street in the Oregon District.

It’s in October, but the exact date hasn’t been set yet for this year. Dayton Air Show This year’s show - on June 18-19 at the Dayton The party includes costume con- International Airport - features the U.S. Navy tests for individuals and groups, Blue Angels and Capt. Katie Higgins, who in live music, alcohol, and food.

2015 became the first woman to become a pilot with the elite flight demonstration team.

The Advocate named Dayton as the Queerest City in America in 2015.

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Out & About in

Western Ohio

ica Amanda Sue and Miss Gay USofA Newcomer Mari Jane, 2013 Springfield’s Got Talent winner Karen Adkins and singer Mati Lyons.

Mayor Warren Copeland will speak. Noon-4p.

Patti LaBelle • Mr. Argos • Gem City Rollergirls

FRIDAY, JUNE 3 HAPPY DAYTON PRIDE! Affair on the Square @ Courthouse Square, Main and 3rd streets, Dayton, 45402; 937.274.1776; daytonlgbtcenter.org: Start the weekend off right with the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus and the Rubi Girls and food from local food trucks. Beer sales benefit local LGBT groups. 5p-9p.

HAPPY DAYTON PRIDE! 0.5K Bar Crawl @ the Fruit Loop, Dayton, 45402; 937.274.1776; daytonlgbtcenter.org: Nothing too strenuous; we’ve got a big day ahead. After the Affair, people are invited to hit the gay bars in the Downtown area affectionately known as the Fruit Loop. 9p.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 HAPPY DAYTON PRIDE! Breakfast @ MJ’s on Jefferson, 20 N. Jefferson St., Dayton, 45402; 937.223.3259; mjsonjefferson.com: You need a hearty breakfast, especially when your lunch most likely will be cocktails and festival food. MJ’s annual breakfast is a Dayton Pride tradition.

9:30p; $5 donation goes to Dayton Pride.

HAPPY DAYTON PRIDE! Dayton Pride Parade @ Cooper Park, 2nd and St. Clair streets, Dayton, 45402; 937.274.1776; daytonlgbtcenter.org: It’s the biggest assemblage of rainbow colors you’ll ever see in one place.

And every one of them symbolizes pride in ourselves, our community and our continuing march toward equality.

The parade ends at Court52

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house Square, where the Pride HAPPY DAYTON PRIDE! Festival takes place. Noon.

Spikes & Heels Kickball Tournament @ Welcome HAPPY DAYTON PRIDE! Park, 1601 S. Edwin C. Moses Dayton Pride Festival @ Blvd., Dayton, 45417; Courthouse Square, Main and 937.274.1776; 3rd streets, Dayton, 45402; daytonlgbtcenter.org: It’s a 937.274.1776; new event: the first-ever Daydaytonlgbtcenter.org: The fes- ton Pride kickball tournament. tival is bigger than ever this Teams of 11 will compete in a year. There will be a new youth single-elimination tournaand family area called Rain- ment. Teams are encouraged bow Land, a new and vintage to dress up - as in dress up car show, performances by but leave their heels on the Dayton drag legends and sidelines when games start. more. Noon-4p.

Noon-6p; $25-$50 registration.

Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus: Lunafest Unity @ VictoWomen’s Film ria Theatre, Festival @ The 138 N. Main Neon, 130 St., Dayton, E. 5th St., Day45402; ton, 45402; 937.228.3630; dayton937.222.8452; gaymenschorus.com: The neonmovies.com: Lunafest is songs - from standards of a traveling national program yesterday to pop music of of six award-winning short today - tell a story of accept- films (and one by Dayton filmance for the entire commumaker Aisha Ford) that tell nity. And unity will be on women’s stories through the display when the Dayton cho- lens of women filmmakers. rus is joined onstage by the Films are about a woman Louisville Gay Men’s Chorus, boxer, a deaf woman dealing making a combined voice of with cancer, the effects of 70. 8p; $22-$32. drug addiction and more.

Raising Ryland is about a 6-year-old transgender boy SUNDAY, JUNE 5 HAPPY DAYTON PRIDE! and his loving parents. 3p; Running With Pride 5K $10. Money raised at Lunafest Run/Walk @ Welcome Park, will benefit the Breast Cancer 1601 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Fund and Planned Dayton, 45417; Parenthood’s Southwest 937.274.1776; Ohio Region. daytonlgbtcenter.org: For those who aren’t Hung Over TUESDAY, JUNE 7 With Pride. The run/walk is Disney’s The Lion King @ sponsored by PFLAG Dayton Mead Theatre, Schuster Cenand is open to serious runners ter, 1 W. 2nd St., Dayton, and those who just want to 45402; 937.228.3630; walk and show their pride. victoriatheatre.com: The win10a; $30 registration. ner of six Tony Awards, this story of hope and adventure

features the music of Elton John and Tim Rice. 8p; $25$157. Performances are scheduled for 8p on Tuesdays-Fridays, 2p and 8p on Saturdays, and 1p and 6:30p on Sundays through July 3.

THURSDAY, JUNE 9 Human Race Theatre Company: Master Class @ 126 N. Main St., Dayton, 45402; 937.228.3630; humanracetheatre.org: One of the opera world’s greatest legends takes fictional center stage as Maria Callas gives three aspiring singers a rough introduction to the reality of performing.

This Tony Award-winning drama presents a revealing look at a commanding diva and the sacrifice for art. 8p; $27-$50. There are performances scheduled for 7p on Tuesdays, 8p Wednesdays-Saturdays, and 2p Sundays through June 26.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 HAPPY SPRINGFIELD PRIDE! Springfield Pride Festival @ City Hall Plaza, Fountain Avenue and High Street, Springfield, 45502; equality-springfield.org: Last year marked the first-ever Springfield Pride. This year features Miss Gay Ohio Amer-

meets on the second Tuesday of every month. 7p.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17 Electronica Dance Party for GLSEN Greater Dayton @ Therapy Café, 452 E 3rd St., Dayton, 45402; 937.545.1953 Dayton Contemporary Dance glsen.org/chapters/dayton: Company: Street Beats @ Local industrial techno group RiverScape MetroPark en(p)de will host this 18+ Pavilion, 237 E. Monument party - with special appearAve., Dayton, 45402; ances by local drag queens 937.228.3630; dcdc.org: and kings - to benefit GLSEN Enjoy a performance under Greater Dayton. It’s part of a the open sky. 5p; $15. series of concerts hosted by Musicians for Unity leading Mr. Argos Leather Competi- up to Gemfest 2. 8p. tion @ Argos Bar, 301 Mabel Ave., SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Dayton, 45403; HAPPY YELLOW SPRINGS FB: Mr Argos PRIDE! Yellow Springs Pride Leather Com- @ John Bryan Center, 100 petition: As the Dayton St., Yellow Springs, announcement 45387; FB: Yellow Springs says: “Let’s show Pride: Yellow Springs’ Pride our kinky side.” The day theme is kind of what Yellow also features a barbecue and Springs lives by every day: raffles. 3p.

“Be Yourself Here.” It features live music, speakers and a Maureen McGovern @ Spparade. Noon-6p. ingfield Arts Festival, Turner Pavilion in Veterans Park, Gem City Rollergirls 250 Cliff Park Rd., Homecoming Doubleheader Springfield, @ Hara Arena Complex, Ball 45504; Arena, 1001 Shiloh Springs 937.324.2712; Rd., Dayton, 45415; springfield937.309.0434; gemcityrollerartscouncil.org: girls.com: The night features The singer best Purple Reign vs. Derby City known for her 1972 and Gem City’s Violent hit, “The Morning After,” is a Femmes vs. the Hell Betties.

Youngstown native and 5:30p; $5-$10. longtime ally who has performed at SUNDAY, countless LGBT JUNE 26 community benePatti Lafits over the years.

Belle @ 8p.

Rose Music Center, 6800 Executive Blvd., Huber TUESDAY, JUNE 14 Dayton PFLAG Monthly Heights, 45424; 937.610.

Meeting @ Harmony Creek 0288; rosemusiccenter.com: Church, 5280 Bigger Rd., In addition to all of her musiDayton, 45440; cal accomplishments, the 937.640.3333; Godmother of Soul has been pflagdayton.org: The group active in the fight against for parents, friends, family HIV/AIDS since the beginning. and allies of LGBT people 9p; $45-$100.

As James Wright would say: “Patti! Patti! Patti! Patti! Pat-tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!”

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Chi Chi DeVayne will bring that Louisiana glamma to Ohio!

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pride 2016

cincinnati

! p i r T d a o R i c Cin Pride nnati i c n i C 25 June de.org ri p nnati cinci

THE SLEEPS

The Westin Cincinnati 21 E. 5th St., 45202 513.621.7700

Renaissance Cincinnati 36 E. 4th St., 45202 513.333.0000

THE HAPS

Festival: June 25 @ Sawyer Point 705 E. Pete Rose Way, 45202 Noon-9p

Hampton Inn and Suites/ Homewood Suites by Hilton 617 Vine St., 45202 513.354.2430 513.354.2440

Parade: June 25 @ 7th Street and Central Avenue, Downtown, 45202 11a

THE DRIVE

From Akron: 225 miles

From Athens: 150 miles

From Cincinnati: 240 miles

From Cleveland: 210 miles 54

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Salazar Restaurant & Bar

From Toledo: 200 miles

Boca Pasta, New American

114 E. 6t St., 45202 513.542.2022

Make Pride a weekend getaway!

Tavola Pizza, Sandwiches

1220 Vine St., 45202 513-246-0192

Farm-Inspired Menu

From Columbus: 100 miles

From Youngstown: 275 miles

Residence Inn Cincinnati Downtown 506 E. 4th St., 45202 513.651.1234

THE EATS

1401 Republic St., 45202 513.621.7000

From Findlay: 160 miles

21c Museum Hotel 609 Walnut St., 45202 513.578.6600

KruegerĂŠs Tavern Burgers and Sausage

1211 Vine St., 45202 513.834.8670

Pontiac Bourbon & BBQ Smoked Meats

1403 Vine St., 45202 513.579.8500 outlookohio.com

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xxx

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E NKS THE DRITH

Bar 32 701 Bakewell St., Covington, Ky. 41011 bar32covky.com FB: Bar 32 Cov KY

Saloon 13 Old St., Monroe, 45050 oldstreetbar.com FB: Old Street Saloon

Below Zero Lounge 1120 Walnut St., 45202 belowzerolounge.com FB: Below Zero Lounge

On Broadway 817 Broadway St., 45202 FB: On Broadway Bar

The Cabaret 1122 Walnut St., 45202 cabaretcincinnati.com FB: The Cabaret The Dock

603 Pete Rose Way, 45202

513.241.5623

Tavern 2401 Vine St., 45219 FB: HBT Pride Main Event 835 Main St., 45202 FB: Main Event Old Street

Simon Says 428 Walnut St., 45202 513.381.7577

IZ GAAYY BBIZ TTHHEE G

Home Base

FB: The Dock Complex

Rooster Patrick Hennessy and Shane Lamb have created a one-stop shop for all things mid-century modern at their vintage home décor and gift store at 923 Vine St. They carry a huge selection of barware and glass, and they’ve recently ventured more into vintage vinyl.

It’s a place to lose track of time, literally and figuratively.

College Hill Coffee Co. Not even the addition of “and Casual Gourmet” to Tina Stoeberl’s business in the College Hill neighborhood captures it all. Her 10-year-old coffee shop offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus desserts, plus art and pottery, plus clothing, plus candy, plus wine and beer, plus live music on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s at 6128 Hamilton Ave. 56

Rosie’s Tavern 643 Bakewell St., Covington, Ky. 41011 rosiestavernnky.com FB: Rosie’s Tavern

june 2015

TillieÊs Lounge Nigel Cotterill and JC Diaz opened their Northside bar in 2015 in the space at 4042 Hamilton Ave., once occupied by The Serpent, a gay bar. There’s a lovely deck out back, and Sundays include a Bloody Mary bar.

Macaron Bar: Patrick Moloughney and Nathan Sivitz create French macarons - those colorful, flavorful almond meringue cookies sandwiched around a filling of fruity or nutty or creamy ganache - for their four shops across Cincinnati. They’re in Over-the-Rhine at 1206 Main St. Try flavors such as Passion Fruit, Dark Chocolate, Pistachio, Rose and Earl Grey Tea.

THE SIGHTS

Over-the-Rhine It’s probably not as fun as it used to be the business roster in the 1800s included saloons, gambling dens, dance halls and burlesque theaters - but the neighborhood north of Downtown is again one of Cincinnati’s liveliest. For a sweet treat, try Taste of Belgium or Holtman’s Donut Shop. Overthe-Rhine and Columbus’ Short North also have cross-pollinated a few businesses: Cincinnati-born Bakersfield and the soonto-open Eagle Food and Beer Hall have headed expanded northward, while Columbus’ Homage and The Candle Lab are new to Vine Street.

Findlay Market You can’t find a place more bustling and diverse than the indoor/outdoor market north of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine.

Banh Mi and sweet Vietnamese coffee from Pho Lang Thang are perfect for a Sunday we-missed-brunch lunch.

Great American Ballpark The Cincinnati Reds are in the middle of a seven-game homestand during Cincinnati Pride. You can get tickets for as little as $14.

Sing the Queen City We can’t be the first gays who’ve thought of it, but a 13-foot-high set of letters spelling out “Sing the Queen City” is just tailor made for photos, don’t you agree? Located along the Ohio River near the Roebling Bridge, the words depict line in the last stanza of a crowd-sourced poem, “Seven Hills and a Queen to Name Them,” collectively written as an ode to Cincinnati.

Contemporary Arts Center The center has a special place in LGBT history: A 1990 exhibit of photos by the late Robert Mapplethorpe resulted in the only obscenity charges ever brought against an American museum.

THE RETURN

Oktoberfest You know they’re going to do it up right, right? Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is the biggest Oktoberfest in the United States and one of the three biggest outside of Germany.

More than 500,000 people are expected from Friday, Sept. 16, to Sunday, Sept. 18, on 5th Street Downtown. And it all kicks off with the annual Running of the Wieners.

DOGS! Visit oktoberfestzinzinnati.com.

Now, on to Cincinnati Pride events...

Bunbury Music Festival Forty-nine alternative groups will play three stages over three days along the Ohio River at Sawyer’s Point and Yeatman’s Cove, the same location as Cincinnati Pride. This year’s festival is from Friday, June 3, to Sunday, June 5. Visit bunburyfestival.com. outlookohio.com

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Mark your calendars now: Tegan & Sara at Express Live! on Tuesday, Oct. 25

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I T A N N I C CIN S T N E V EE

PRID

The parade and festival take up just one day of an entire week of celebration. Check out these other Pride events:

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 Cincinnati Men’s Chorus: Voices of the Heartland @ Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. 4th St., Cincinnati, 45202; 513.542.2626; cincinnatimenschorus.org: The chorus will be joined in its annual Pride concert by the Quarryland Men’s Chorus from Bloomington, Ind. 8p; $25. There’s another performance on Sunday, June 19, at 2p. Use promo code CincyPride to get 10 percent off tickets.

MONDAY, JUNE 20 Wiggin’ Out! @ The Cabaret, 1120 Walnut St., Cincinnati, 45202; 513.202.4052; cabaretcincinnati.com: Pride Week kicks off with the annual turnabout show. Staff from Below Zero and the Cabaret get dolled up and strut their stuff to benefit Cincinnati Pride. All tips go to the festival organization. 7p; $10 donation appreciated.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21 Pride Ride @ Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Cincinnati, 45202; cincinnatipride.org: The Urban Basin Bicycle Club hosts a not-very-difficult bike tour of Downtown. Last year’s inaugural ride took cyclists past notable spots in Cincinnati’s LGBT history. 6:30p.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 Summer Cinema: Clueless @ Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Cincinnati, 45202; 513.621.4400; washingtonpark.org: They’re showing a gay fave - Alicia Silvertone’s 1995 classic, Clueless - during Pride week. Wear plaid: There will be a contest. And what’s a Pride movie without Pride popcorn? Popcorn Pizzazz will return with its specialty and will donate all proceeds to Cincinnati Pride. The park sells alcohol. 9p.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23 Cincinnati Pride Interfaith Service @ Location TBA; cincinnatipride.org: LGBT-affirming faith leaders gather for the annual pre-Pride service. 7p.

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Visit cincinnatipride.org for the latest additions to the Pride calendar.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Community Recognition Ceremony @ Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. 6th St., Cincinnati, 45202; cincinnatipride.org: Honoring those who help our community. 7p; $30.

PRIDE DAY

But the big stuff is all on Saturday, June 25.

Here’s what you need to know: Easy Parking: How does a reserved parking spot sound? Go to cincinnatipride.org, pull down the Parade tab and click on Parking to compare Downtown parking prices and reserve a spot through Parking Panda.

Hitch a Ride: A pre-parade shuttle from 9a-12:30p will loop around the edge of Downtown with stops every 15-30 minutes at Sawyer Point, Culvert and 5th streets, and 9th Street and Central Avenue. A post-parade shuttle from 12:20p-9p will make stops every 20-30 minutes at 7th and Central Avenue, 6th and Vine, Culvert and 5th, Eggleston and 3rd, Sawyer Point, and Fountain Square.

Parade Route: It’ll step off at 11a from 7th Street and Central Avenue. It’ll head east on 7th to Vine Street, turn south and head past Fountain Square to Freedom Way, then east to Main Street, past Great American Ballpark and U.S. Bank Arena to the festival site at Sawyer Point.

Cheer Them On: We’ll be woo-wooing extra loud for a few parade entries. Given the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s crackdown on Catholic school employees who speak out in support of even their gay children, a group called Catholics Embracing All God’s Children deserves an especially vigorous wave of the rainbow flag. State Rep. Denise Driehaus (DCincinnati) is one of many politicians marching this election year, but here’s why she’s a true ally: She’s the sponsor of legislation that would protect LGBTQ kids by banning “conversion therapy” in Ohio. And the Red Hot Dancing Queens? It will take every ounce of self-control we have not to run out into the street and dance with these ladies. outlookohio.com

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THE HEADLINERS Karmin: Amy Heidemann has promised to sing her ass off and Nick Noonan has promised to play his ass off when they perform at 8p on the Mainstage.

It’s not Karmin’s first Pride performance.

They’re huge allies and veterans of Pride festivals in D.C., Boston, Phoenix and Louisville.

The rest of the Pride schedule is below.

Nick on KarminÊs Popularity with LGBT Fans: “I think it’s because of our performance style. The music is in the pop world, but our performance style is very musical theater. It has a lot of energy. They were really the first fan base to give a shit about us before we had the viral videos on YouTube.”

(Huffington Post interview, February) Amy on LGBT Audiences: “Every time we play a gay club, it’s always the most amazing audience. We’re very grateful for them, and we’ll always do whatever we can to support them.” (Huffington Post)

ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP BELTERRA PARK GAMING/ FIFTH THIRD BANK MAINSTAGE 2p: DJ Jules.

4:30p: TBA.

4p: Drag: Tina Hightower, Nikki Dimon, Icyee’s Entertainment Family, Chasity Marie, Aubree Dimon.

6p: Drag: Judith Iscariot, Bella Dolce, Sassy Meadows,

been performing alongside The Rocky Horror Picture Show in Greater Cincinnati.

3p: Drag: Kisha Summers, 5p: Drag: Aaliyah Milian, Savannah Judd, Velma Tra- Rita Dela Novah, Mirelle Jane They perform currently at the tion, Misty Phoenix St. James, Divine, The Dimon Girls, Esquire Theatre near UC, Jessica Dimon.

David Starr.

Danbarry Cinemas in Middletown and Rave Motion Pictures in Florence.

5:30p: DJ Charlee.

3:30p: DJ Jules.

6:20p: The Denton Affair: For 37 years, this group has

6:30p: TBA. 7p: DJ Jessica The Ripper.

8p: Karmin.

PNC STAGE 2:30p: DJ Jacob Hardesty.

4:15p: Drag: Tyese Rainz.

3:30p: Drag: Alice Hatter, Sarah Jessica Darker, Mari Jane, Kataleya Dimon, Marilyn Malicious.

4:30p: Drag: The Imperial Sovereign Queen City Court of the Buckeye Empire Show featuring Emperor Owen Cash and Empress Alana Reign.

4p: Neilly Fletcher: She’s a comedian from Cin City Burlesque. outlookohio.com

5p: MUSE Cincinnati Women’s Choir.

5:30p: Cincinnati Men’s Chorus 6p: The Bavarians: They’re a German oom-pah band.

We’ll see you in Cincinnati on June 25!

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Outlook Magazine: Celebrating 20 years!

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Out & Out About & in About in

Southwest Ohio Dolly Parton • Kristin Chenoweth • Bunbury Music Festival

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 Cincinnati Allies for Equality @ The Woodward in OTR, 1400 Main St., Cincinnati, 43215; 614.224.0400; equalityohio.org: The Equality Ohio event will honor six Cincinnati Enquirer journalists who brought stories about Jim Obergefell and John Arthur, Leelah Alcorn and others to national attention: Carrie Cochran, Sharon Coolidge, Glenn Hartong, Anne Saker, Meg Vogel and Julie Zimmerman. 5:30p-7:30p; $50-$100.

Cincinnati Fringe Festival @ various locations; 513.300.

5669; knowtheatre.com: The 13th annual theater and arts festival will feature 50 productions over 12 days at 12 locations. Almost two-thirds are local. LGBT fare includes: Baby Mama: One Woman’s Quest to Give Her Child to Gay People; Golconda; I Hate it Here and SHEnatra! See our story on Page 35 for dates and times. $15 per show.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3 Bunbury Music Festival @ Sawyer Point, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, 45202; 614.461.

5483; bunburyfestival.com: The threeday, threestage festival features 49 acts, including The Killers (Friday), Ice Cube (Saturday), Deadmau5 (Saturday) and Florence & the Machine (Sunday). 1p-10:45p; $89 per day.

The festival continues on Saturday, June 4, from 1:30poutlookohio.com

11:15p, and on Sunday, June 5, from 2:30p-11:15p.

Testosterone Workshop @ Heartland Wellness Center, 103 William Howard Taft Rd., Cincinnati, 45219; 513.549.4447; transwellness.org: Learn about safe testosterone administration.

It’s open to anyone taking or considering starting testosterone but limited to 20 participants. RSVP to info@ transwellness.org. 3p-5p.

Look What the Cat Drag In Brunch @ The Cabaret, 1122 Walnut St., Cincinnati, 45202; isqccbe.org: The Cincinnati Court will host a drag brunch to raise money for the Cat Adoption Team. 11a brunch and noon show; $15.

FRIDAY, JUNE 10 Patti Labelle and the Commodores @ Horseshoe Casino, 1000 Broadway St., Cincinnati, 45202; 513.252.0777; caesars.com/ horseshoe-cincinnati: She has SATURDAY, JUNE 4 been honored by everyone Northern Kentucky Pride from the Grammys to GLAAD. Festival @ Goebel Park, 501 She’s been singing for more Philadelphia St., Covington, than 50 years and has been a Ky., 41011; FB: NKY Pride Fes- friend of the LGBT community tival 2016: The day features for nearly as long. 9p; $45performances, more than 40 $100. vendors, a health and wellness fair, kids’ activities, and SATURDAY, a dunking booth with memJUNE 11 bers of Cin City Burlesque.

Dolly 2p-10p.

Parton @ Horseshoe MUSE, Cincinnati Women’s Casino, Choir: Phenomenally Woven 1000 Broad@ Walnut Hills High School, way St., Cincin3250 Victory Pkwy., Cincinnati, 45202; nati, 45207; 513.221.1118; 513.252.0777; musechoir.org: This 33rd an- caesars.com/ horseshoenual spring concert cincinnati: If she sings all of features four our favorites, the concert will newly com- last about 10 hours. missioned 9p; $59-$149. works, including a WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 piece by Summer Cinema: Labyrinth Rose@ Washington Park, 1230 phanye Elm St., Cincinnati, 45202; Powell based 513.621.4400; washingtonon Maya Angelou’s park.org: The movies start at poem, Phenomenal Woman. dusk every Wednesday, and 7p; $16.50 ($13.50 for stuthe park sells beer, wine and dents and seniors). There’s liquor. This week: Labyrinth, a another performance on Sun- 1986 movie by Jim Henson day, June 5 at 3p. and George Lucas, starring David Bowie as a goblin king who appears during a bed-

time story to cause all sorts of goetta. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Patty mayhem. 9p.

Brisben Foundation, which works to enhance women’s THURSDAY, JUNE 16 sexual health and well-being.

Out in Purple for LGBT 11a-2:30p; $25.

Alzheimer’s Awareness @ Unwind Wine Bar, 3435 Michigan Ave., Cincinnati Men’s Chorus: Voices Cincinnati, of the Heart45208; land @ 513.321.9463; Christ Church unwindhydeCathedral, 318 park.com: Wear E. 4th St., purple to raise Cincinnati, 45202; awareness of 513.542. 2626; cincinnatiAlzheimer’s Disease among LGBT people. But no matter if mens-chorus.org: The chorus will be joined in its annual you drink red or white - or Pride concert by the Quarrysomething else entirely - 20 percent of your tab will go to land Men’s Chorus from Bloomington, Ind. 8p; $25. the Alzheiner’s Association.

There’s another performance 6p-8p. on Sunday, June 19, at 2p.

Use promo code CincyPride to FRIDAY, JUNE 17 A Farewell Party for Howard get 10 percent off tickets.

Sharon @ The Woodward MONDAY, JUNE 20 Theater, 1404 Main St., Wiggin’ Out! @ The Cabaret, Cincinnati, 45202; FB: 1120 Walnut St., Cincinnati, Farewell PARTY for Howard Sharon: Roberta Bigg hosts a 45202; 513.202.4052; cabaretcincinnati.com: Pride celebration of Howard’s life Week kicks off with the annual that inturnabout cludes show to bencountry efit Cincinline dancing, nati Pride.

7p; $10 donaa drag show from tion appreciated. the Cincinnati WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 Court, free food Summer Cinema: Clueless and a cash bar. Friends can share their stories about the @ Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Cincinnati, 45202; late owner of Shooters, who 513.621. 4400; washingtonpassed away in March. 7ppark. org: They’re showing a midnight. gay fave - Alicia Silvertone’s 1995 classic, Clueless - durSATURDAY, JUNE 18 Brunched: A Boozy Breaking Pride week. Wear plaid: fast Club @ The Phoenix, 812 There will be a contest. And Race St., Cincinnati, 45202; Popcorn Pizzazz will return 513.721.8901; FB: with its Pride Popcorn and doBRUNCHED Presented by nate all proceeds to CincinCityBeat: Oh, CityBeat, you nati Pride. The park sells had us at brunch. Or was it alcohol. 9p. boozy? Either way, this is THURSDAY, JUNE 23 billed as “brunch heaven,” Cincinnati Pride Interfaith in which local restaurants Service @ Location TBA; offer up samples of all your cincinnatipride.org: LGBTbrunchtime favorites... and

Our full rundown on Cincinnati Pride starts on Page 54.

affirming faith leaders gather for a pre-Pride service. 7p.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 HAPPY CINCINNATI PRIDE! Cincinnati Pride Parade @ 7th Street and Central Avenue, Cincinnati, 45202; cincinnatipride.org: The route is a little different this year: It’ll take 7th Street to Vine, head south to Freedom Way, then east to Main Street, past Great American Ballpark to the festival site at Sawyer Point. 11a.

HAPPY CINCINNATI PRIDE! Cincinnati Pride Festival @ Sawyer Point, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, 45202; cincinnatipride.org: There are two stages of entertainment, dozens of vendors, comedy, burlesque, rock, choirs, an oom-pah band for cripes sakes!, and headliner Karmin.

Noon-9p.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra With Kristin Chenoweth @ Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati, 45230; 513.381.3300; cincinnatisymphony.org: She’s won an Emmy and a Tony. She has appeared on stage, on TV and in the movies. And she was featured in the May issue of Outlook. What a career! 8p; $15-$80.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Miss Drag You Out @ The Cabaret, 1122 Walnut St., Cincinnati, 45202; isqccbe.org: Are you a cis woman who has always wanted to be a drag queen for a day? Now’s your chance, and you can help the Cincinnati Court raise money for the breast cancer prevention team at the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati. 7p-10p. june 2016

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! p i r T d a o R s u b m u l o C ride b us P m u l o C 7-19 June 1 d e.o rg bus pri co lum

THE EATS

Level Dining Lounge

THE HAPS

Festival: June 17-18 @ Goodale Park 120 W. Goodale St., 43215 4p-11p/11a-8p

Pride Brunch: June 19 @ Columbus Athenaeum 32 N. 4th St., 43215 11a-1p

Parade: June 18 @ Front and Broad streets, 43215 10:30a

Bat-N-Rouge: June 19 @ Dodge Park 667 Sullivant Ave., 43215 Noon

THE DRIVE

From Akron: 125 miles

From Cleveland: 140 miles

From Dayton: 70 miles

From Toledo: 145 miles

From Athens: 75 miles

From Cincinnati: 100 miles

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From Findlay: 100 miles

From Youngstown: 170 miles

Contemporary American/ Gay Cocktail Lounge

Tacos

1227 N. High St., 43201 614.928.3909

700 N. High St., 43215 614.754.7111 Melt Bar & Grilled Grilled Cheese

840 N. High St., 43215 614.453.1150

Condado

Nada

Factory on 4th

220 W. Nationwide Blvd., 43215 614.715.8260

697 N. 4th St., 43215 614.745.1693

Contemporary Mexican

Sliders (Lesbian-Owned)

THE SLEEPS

The Westin Columbus 310 S. High St., 43215 614.228.3800

Hampton Inn-Downtown 501 N. High St., 43215 614.559.2000

Renaissance Columbus 50 N. 3rd St., 43215 614.228.5050

Red Roof Inn Downtown Columbus 111 E. Nationwide Blvd., 43215 614.224.6539

The Joseph: Le Meridian Columbus 620 N. High St., 43215 614.227.0100

A full rundown of Columbus Pride events is in our Central Ohio calendar on Page 71.

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THE DRINKS

AWOL 49 Parsons Ave., 43215 FB: Awol Bar Axis 775 N. High St., 43215 axisonhigh.com FB: Axis

The Back Door 1662 W. Mound St., 43223 FB: The Back Door Cavan Irish Pub 1409 S. High St., 43207 FB: Cavan Irish Pub Club Diversity 863 S. High St., 43206 clubdiversity.biz FB: Club Diversity

Exile 893 N. 4th St., 43201 exilebar.com FB: Exile

The Highball Tavern 1071 Parsons Ave., 43206 FB: The Highball Tavern Level Dining Lounge 700 N. High St., 43215 levelcolumbus.com FB: Level Dining Lounge O’Connor’s Club 20 20 E. Duncan St., 43202 FB: O’Connors Club 20

Bake Me Happy Letha Pugh and Wendy Miller-Pugh opened their gluten-free bakeshop at 116 E. Moler St., in the Merion Village neighborhood (south of German Village) after Wendy was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance. Try their take on nostalgic treats such as oatmeal cream cookies, cream-filled yellow sponge cakes (you know what we mean, right?) and moon pies. They’re closed on Sunday but open from 9a-3p on Saturday and should be selling goodies at Pride.

Kittie’s Cakes Mollie and Kelly Fankhauser bake a different selection of mini-cupcakes every day at 495 S. 3rd St., in German Village, everything from Ooey Gooey Chocolate and Classic Buckeye to Stout Mocha and White Lavender. And as if that’s not enough, they also have scones, whoopie pies and more. Visit kittiescakes.com.

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chicken in town, Firdous Express for falafel and hummus, Lan Viet for pho, Little Eater for vegan, and Omega Artisan Baking for focaccia. Sunday hours are 10a-5p. Visit northmarket.com.

Slammers 202 E. Long St., 43215 FB: Slammers Southbend Tavern 126 E. Moler St., 43207 FB: Southbend Tavern The Toolbox Saloon 744 Frebis Ave., 43206 FB: The Toolbox Saloon Tremont Lounge 708 S. High St., 43206 FB: Tremont Lounge Union Café 782 N. High St., 43215 unioncafe.com FB: Union Cafe

THE GAY BIZ

Laughlin’s Bakery Owner Jonas Laughlin serves up baguettes, croissant, pound cakes, madeleines and more at 15 E. 2nd Ave., in the Short North.

The lemon scones and date-nut bread are amazing. Visit laughlinsbakery.com.

THE SIGHTS

Robert Mason Co. Robert Grimmet (Mason is his middle name) lost his Downtown accessories and office supplies shop to a fire in 2014, but he’s back bigger and better at 17 Brickel St., in the Short North. He sells bags and briefcases, wallets, bracelets, shaving equipment and body products. robertmasoncompany.com.

OYO Spirits Look for Brady Konya’s vodka, whiskey, bourbon and rye in the bars or seek it out at your liquor store. The Stone Fruit Vodka is flavored with Montmorency cherries, peaches, apricots, almonds, hibiscus and a touch of wildflower honey. Middle West Spirits has stopped offering tours during an expansion of its Short North headquarters, but visit middlewestspirits.com to see where its products are available (and for a few cocktail recipes).

The Short North The area along High Street north of Downtown, where the Pride parade ends and the festival begins, is the still considered the gayborhood, even though it’s popular with just about everyone. It’ll be crazy on Saturday with Pride-goers, but it’s a good place for window-shopping - or better yet, actual shopping - on Sunday. It’s full of galleries, boutiques, shops and restaurants.

Check out our neighbors, Smarty Pants Vintage and Glean, for vintage clothing and locally made soap and gifts, respectively. There’s also a Jeni’s ice cream shop, Homage shirts, Rocket Fizz for candy, and Sole Classics for high-fashion sneakers.

Visit shortnorth.org.

North Market Middle Eastern, Indian, Polish, Vietnamese, Italian, you name it. Artisan doughnuts, gourmet popcorn, bread, pastries, bubble tea and enough hot sauce and salsa to flood the city. North Market hosts a Saturday morning farmers market outside and has more than two dozen vendors inside. Our favorites include Hot Chicken Takeover for the best fried

German Village Just south of Downtown is Columbus’ historic neighborhood, full of red brick homes built in the mid- to late 19th century. On their own, each place looks unpretentious; together the neighborhood saved from the wrecking ball in 1960s is a remarkable model of preservation and revitalization. Restaurant recommendations include Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus (but save room for a cream puff), Harvest Pizzeria (and the bar attached to it called Curio) and Barcelona (gay-owned). Kittie’s Cakes (lesbianowned) and Pistacia Vera are perfect stops for a sweet treat. Shop at the Book Loft and make sure you stop at Hausfrau Haven, the wine and gift shop that was started by longtime partners Fred Holdridge and Howard Burns. There’s a marker honoring the couple outside. Germanvillage.com.

Franklin Park Conservatory The 88-acre park on E. Broad Street east of Downtown offers indoor tours that include 400 different plant species and a daily butterfly release at 1p and 3p. Outside the 19th century Palm House, the botanical gardens include a collection of 850 varieties of daylilies; a rose pavilion; and a test garden of new annuals, perennials and vegetable varieties. Visit fpconservatory.org.

THE RETURN

High Ball Columbus’ annual Halloween street party is just a few years old, but it already ranks among the city’s premier events.

Fashion designers show off couture looks, and party-goers show off some amazing home-made numbers. There’s also live music, specialty cocktails and more on a stretch of High Street that’s shut down just for the occasion. It’s Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22, this year. Visit highballcolumbus.org.

Visit experiencecolumbus.com for more travel suggestions.

Ohio State vs. Michigan: If you know how to get tickets, tell us. Otherwise, come for the spectacle. Most every gay bar in town will have drink specials and the game on TV. If you’re not into football, come for a day of shopping. The stores will be empty. They play on Saturday, Nov:. 26, at Ohio Stadium. june 2016

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We’ll be checking out you checking out Exile’s patio!

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Columbus PRIDE: All You Need to Know GETTING THERE

Parking will be a mess. Try these instead: Bus: The CBUS Circulator is free and runs from German Village and the Brewery District up to the Short North. Buses run from 9a-midnight on Saturday. Look for the CBUS Circulator signs to know where they stop.

Bike: There will be a bike corral inside Goodale Park near Park Street and Buttles Avenue, and volunteers from Yay Bikes! will keep an eye on your bike while you enjoy the day.

Uber: If you’re a first-time user, enter the promo code 614PRIDE15 for a free ride. Uber will donate $5 to Stonewall Columbus for every ride taken.

HAPPY PRIDE! Family Area: On Friday from 6:30p-8p, it’s described as “the biggest, coolest play date of the summer.” Adults can listen to the Shelter Stage bands and meet other parents while the kids play.

On Saturday from 11:30a-4p, kids’ activities include crafts and games, magic, dress-up, facepainting and bubbles.

Relaxation Station: Whew! Shade!

And we mean the nice, cool kind, not the throwing kind. Hang out as long as you like; there will be tables and chairs inside.

Pride Leadership Lounge: A $600 outlookohio.com

donation to Stonewall Columbus gets you inside the only building in Goodale Park. It’s air-conditioned, has its own restrooms, and will have complimentary food and an open bar. You’ll also get to watch the parade in the VIP viewing area and receive two tickets to Sunday’s Pride Brunch. Call 614.930.2262.

Pride Patio: That concrete area at Goodale and Park streets across from Goodale Park will become another party area, with a DJ, dancing and beer trucks.

Trailblazers Tent: Age has its privileges. The Stonewall Columbus group for LGBTQA people 50 and older will set up a tent in the middle of Goodale Park with plenty of shade and seating.

Teen Village: Inside Goodale Park near the corner of Goodale and Park streets, LGBTQA youth ages 13-19 can celebrate together. On Friday from 4:45p-7p, there will be young performers on the Shelterhouse Stage. On Saturday from noon-5p, there will be temporary Pride tattoos, a fashion show, community resources and more.

Volunteer Tent: Go to columbuspride.org/volunteer to sign up before reading further. OK, now that you’re volunteering at Pride, you can get in before or after your shift to get free food, water and soda.

Outlook Swag: Stop by our tent and say hello! We’ll have free sunglasses, perhaps a few little items for sale and... hmmm, what else?

Oh yeah, magazines! We’ll have copies of all of this year’s issues for you.

BE SAFE Emergency Alerts: Go to columbuspride.org, click the Festival tab and look for the Columbus Pride Emergency Alert System icon to sign up for text alerts about lost kids, threatening weather or other emergency communications.

Tag Your Tot: At both entrances to Goodale Park, at Stonewall’s tent and at check-in for parade participants, you can fill out tags that will allow authorities to find you quickly should your child get lost.

Tag Your Bag: Put a luggage tag on any bags you bring with you to the festival and parade. It’ll help get any lost belongings returned quickly. Also, if you see an unattended bag, tell a Pride volunteer or security officer.

Ignore Protesters: They sure are irritating, but don’t engage. They want you react. Focus on the happiness around you, not the angry, unhappy haters.

Read the Parking Signs: The city restricts parking on many streets around Goodale Park to residents of the neighborhood. After a day in the sun - that’s right, we said sun!

- the last thing you want is to have to get your car out of some tow lot.

Don’t Leave Your Drink Unattended: At the festival, at the bars, anywhere. Not to sound like your mom, but you could get roofied. For real. It happened to the daughter of a friend of a lady I work with.

Enjoy Pride!

Stay in Touch: Let your friends know where you’re going. Don’t do your usual thing and just disappear. Tell them if you’re leaving.

Text them when you get home. They worry about you.

BE GENEROUS Stonewall Columbus not only puts on Columbus Pride, it also works every other day Five for Pride: Stonewall Columbus’ $5 for Pride Team will be marching in the parade and stationed at festival entrances.

Donate whatever you can - but $5 or more would be great - to help keep Pride growing.

Pride Dogtags and Wristbands: Visit stonewallcolumbus.org and click on the Store tab to buy $10 dogtags or wristbands.

Banner Project: Last June, 125 banners throughout Downtown showed our community’s Pride to the more than 117,000 commuters who drive in every day. To donate, visit columbuspride.org, click on the Donate tab and then click “Support the Banner Project.”

Pride Circle: This one’s for the big donors. For $600, you get two VIP wristbands for entry into the Leadership Lounge, special seating at the parade and two tickets to the Pride Brunch on Sunday. For $275, you get two Pride dogtags and two brunch tickets. For $125 you get one Pride dogtag and one brunch ticket.

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ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP FRIDAY, JUNE 17 GAZEBO STAGE

Still Bubbly After All These Years Gay Fans Have Loved Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King Since the Beginning

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 GAZEBO STAGE

1:30p: Columbus Women’s Chorus: The 5:30p-8:45p: Sarah Cooperider Presents a Singer-Songwriter Showcase: feminist chorus has been performing since Carole Walker, Alexis Antes, Tracy Walker, Eli 1990 (colswomenschorus.org).

Conley and Kelly Zullo.

1:50p: Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus: 1:30p: Cherry Chrome: The three9p: Codex With Sam Tolson: Codex is an And don’t miss the chorus’ next concert, woman “spunk-rock” band from Columbus alternative pop duo from Toledo. Its mem- “Finding Oz,” on June 24-25 (columbusalso will play at Comfest. bers are Sam Tolson and Angel Tipping. gaymenschorus.org).

10p: Noiseful Bliss: Any and all genres 2:10p: Stompers Columbus: The LGBT are fair game for this five-piece cover band country dance team also hosts monthly lessons and dance nights (FB: Columbus from Columbus.

Stompers).

SHELTERHOUSE STAGE 2:30p: Capital Pride Band: They’re 5p-6:45p: Youth Singers, Dancers and marching in the parade, and they’ll be performing on Park Street (cappride.org).

Drag: Columbus pop/soul vocalist Dasan Valentine and VJ David Emerson host.

2:50p: Flaggots Ohio: The LGBT flag group will perform on Park Street 7p: Liberty Deep Down: The alt-pop (flaggotsohio.org). former boy band from the Columbus suburbs is all grown up now.

3:10p: Tom Goss: He has a new album 7:45p: Jeffrey Austin: The Chicago-born out, but we hope he still sings his 2013 song, “Bears.” openly gay pop singer was a Season 9 finalist on The Voice.

4p: The Jeffs: The folk-rock group from Columbus are staples at local festivals.

8:45p: TBA 9:45p: Mojoflo: The Columbus neofunk/soul band features lead singer Amber Knicole.

PRIDE PATIO

5p: HIT M ENT: The entertainment group presents a lineup of singers, rappers, dancers and more.

SHELTERHOUSE STAGE

12:30p: Clubhouse: The Columbus 5:30p-10:45p: Comedian Brooke Cartus hosts the Royal Renegades drag- indie-pop band performs often locally and king troupe, DJ Michele Chaney and singer in Cleveland.

Jordan Alexander.

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2:30p: Jordan Alexander: AfterEllen predicts the singer-songwriter from Toronto will be the “the hottest lesbian pop star since Tegan and Sara Quin.”

3:30p: SayReal: The four-member pop/reggae/rock band from Los Angeles sings “Frederick’s Song (Freedom),” taken from the words of Frederick Douglass.

4:30p: Rayvon Owen: The openly gay pop/R&B singer from Richmond, Va., was a finalist on Season 14 of American Idol.

5:30p: Evelyn “Champagne” King: She debuted on the disco charts as a 17-yearold with the hit, “Shame.” (Our interview with Evelyn starts on this page.)

6:15p: Samwell: The openly gay singer became an internet sensation with the 2007 video, “What What (In the Butt).”

6:45p: The Fabulous Johnson Brothers: The eight-member Columbus soul/rock/pop band gets everyone dancing.

PRIDE PATIO 11a-7:45p: DJ and drag performances.

Read about Gregg Shapiro’s new book on Page 36.

by Gregg Shapiro

On the precipice of her 40th year in music, Evelyn “Champagne” King has lost none of her effervescence.

Perhaps best known for the 1977 dance music classic, “Shame,” the single was released just a year before disco reached its peak with commercial crossover acts including the Village People, Chic, Donna Summer and others.

These days King continues to be one of the genre’s most active and visible performers.

Whether recording and performing on her own or touring as one of the First Ladies of Disco with Linda Clifford and Martha Wash, King’s crown shines as bright as ever.

Scheduled to perform on June 18 at Columbus Pride, King was kind enough to take a break from her busy schedule to answer a few questions: Gregg Shapiro: Evelyn, for the uninitiated, where the “Champagne” in your name comes from?

Evelyn “Champagne” King: “Champagne” came from “Bubbles,” which is my continued on Page 68

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Thanks to all our advertisers and readers for two decades of support!

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family nickname. My mom gave it to me as a baby. She says I used to blow a lot of spit bubbles [laughs].

“Bubbles” was already there; “Champagne” was added when I was starting in the music business. They were trying to figure out a name to go with Evelyn King. Mom and Dad, and (Theodore) T. Life, who discovered me, decided “Champagne” sounds more fitting. Because Bubbles sounds like a stripper [laughs].

GS: Next year, 2017, is the 40th anniversary of the release of your smash hit debut single, “Shame,” a song that was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2004.

All these years later, what does that song mean to you?

ECK: To me it means longevity. The word itself [laughs] applies in every aspect of our lives. It applies to me more as being recognized.

My gay fans were the first to recognize the song. When I went to (gay disco) Jason’s in Boston, I knew it broke then. That was it. My gay fans made sure that Evelyn “Champagne” King was on the map. The (song)writers John Fitch and Ruben Cross, and the producer, T. Life, who discovered me, brought the song to me.

Once it became a hit, I knew that I was able to do what God had given me, which was sing. That’s always what I wanted to do.

GS: When “Shame” was released, you were just a teenager.

ECK: When I sang it, I was 15. It went to No. 1 when I was 16.

GS: Wow! As someone who grew up in the music industry, what was the best advice you were given?

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Outlook Magazine: Celebrating 20 years!

ECK: To be myself. That was from my mom. She always said, “Don’t be anyone else, be yourself, and always remember that you are no bigger than anyone else. You can be a star for the moment, but stars do fall.”

GS: After many years of being relegated to the underground, and being kept alive by the gay community, dance music has undergone a huge resurgence in popularity. As a dance music legend, what does that mean to you?

ECK: I can honestly say that for me, it never really left. It’s just now it’s coming back full-circle. They’re learning about where it started.

There’s more than just Evelyn. There were so many before me. We’ve lost quite a few of them already: Vickie Sue Robinson, Donna Summer. The icons that started disco. My producer who discovered me said, “I never recorded a disco artist. You are a dance artist.” He considered “Shame” to be dance, not disco. It was just around the disco era.

GS: You mentioned your gay fans.

You are performing in Columbus on June 18 as part of the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival. Was “Shame” when you first become aware of your gay following?

ECK: Yes, that was the first song for me that went gold. They recognized the lyrics as well as the music. The writers made sure that it was a song that could be sung as well as a song to dance to. That made it successful.

GS: There was a message in the song.

ECK: Yes! Everybody needs love, first of all. The main hook - “Mama just don’t understand/Oh how I love my man” - they were singing the heck out of it! Wherever I go to perform, outlookohio.com

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front of the audiences that I have. I have a following in R&B, dance and slow-jams; what I do is from me.

and they’re in the audience, they’re singing it to the hilt. They have something they can identify with.

There’s a personal experience in the song.

GS: Jennifer Hudson is currently performing on Broadway in The Color Purple. Would you ever consider performing in a Broadway musical?

ECK: Let’s put it this way, I did try. It was a gospel play called, Get Thee Behind Me. I, personally, don’t feel that that’s me.

I think what’s me is what I’m doing, and that is when I hit the stage in outlookohio.com

GS: You also perform with Linda Clifford and Martha Wash as part of the diva super-group First Ladies of Disco. How did that come to be?

ECK: It began with James Arena’s book First Legends of Disco. James Washington put the artists together.

He called me personally and asked me if I would join him and Martha Wash and Linda Clifford. We did a song, “Show Some Love.” People love the song, and we’re getting some great press.

I’m enjoying doing something outside of Evelyn “Champagne” King. I’m experiencing something with other women, women whose songs I love and respect.

It makes it like a happy marriage [laughs].

Gregg Shapiro is a freelance entertainment journalist and author whose work appears regularly in Outlook.

Read about his latest book, How to Whistle, on Page 36 of this month’s issue.

Thanks to all our advertisers and readers for two decades of support! You rock!

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Outlook will host another Pride Night with the Clippers on Friday, Sept. 2 vs. the Toledo Mud Hens.

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Out & About in

Central Ohio

Melissa Etheridge • Indigo Girls • HRC Gala

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 Evolution Theatre Local Playwrights Festival: One Acts @ Columbus Performing Arts Center Van Fleet Theater, 549 Franklin Ave., Columbus, 43215; 614.233.1124; evolutiontheatre.org: Four one-act plays by local playwrights all explore political themes: A Point of Diminishing Returns by Cory Skurdal, Alexander the Great in Love and War by Amy Drake, Vetted by Sheldon Gleisser, and Shall I Run Again by Jack Petersen. 8p; $15. More performances are scheduled for Thursday, June 2, through Saturday, June 4, at 8p; and on Sunday, June 5, at 2p.

Theater, Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Ave., Columbus, 43215; 614.266.4562; soartspro.com: One part A Prairie Home Companion and one part USO show, this production is full of music, dancing, live commercials and old-time sound effects.

Songs include “Love Is Here to Stay,” “That Old Black Magic,” “Blues in the Night,” and more.

8p; $15. There are more performances scheduled for Saturday, June 4, at 2p and 8p, and Sunday, June 5, at 2p.

Human Rights Campaign Columbus Gala @ Ohio Union’s Archie Griffin Ballroom, 1739 N. High St., Columbus, 43210; FB: HRC Columbus Gala: It’s the 33rd annual Columbus fundraiser for the national LGBT group. Sherri Saum, a Dayton native who stars in the Freeform (formerly ABC Family) show, The Fosters, will be honored. 6p; $100-$200.

Book Reading: Gregg Shapiro’s How to Whistle @ Stonewall Columbus, 1160 N. High St., Columbus, 43201; 614.299.7764; stonewallcolumbus. org: The frequent Outlook contributor will read from his latest book. 7p.

TUESDAY, JUNE 7 Film: Kings, Queens & In-Betweens @ Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St., Columbus, 43210; 614.292.3535; wexarts.org: This is the local premier of Gabrielle Burton’s documentary about Columbus drag culture, which explores identity and expression through the lens of drag kings, queens and transColumbus Gay Men’s Chorus gender performers. Burton and Fundraiser @ 750 S. Lazelle St., some of the performers featured Columbus, 43206; 614.228.2462; (Nina and Virginia West, the Rev, Nina and Virgina West Present columbusgaymenschorus.com: Cool Ethan, JAC Stringer and Two: Electric Boogaloo @ Axis, Chorus supporters Tom Dailey and more) will be there for a post775 N. High St., Columbus, Sung Jin Pak are hosting a garden screening discussion. 6p recep43215; 614.291.4008; party to raise money for the group. tion and 7p showing; $8 ($6 for Exhibit: Martin Wong: Human axisonhigh.com: It’s an unscripted 6p-9p; $50. students, senior and members).

Instamatic @ Wexner Center for evening of ridiculousness. 8p; There’s another screening and the Arts, 1871 N. High St., $12-$15, or tables for four for SUNDAY, JUNE 5 post-screening discussion on Columbus, 43210; 614.292.3535; $60-$75. There also are shows Pride Bicycle Ride @ Paradise Wednesday, June 8 at 7p. wexarts.org: The openly gay artist scheduled for Saturday, June 4, Garage, 921 N. High St., was described as a “visionary and Sunday, June 5, at 8p.

Columbus, 43201; 614.299.7764; WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 poet of the urban landscape.” His columbuspride.org: The scenic Network Columbus @ Columbus paintings captured the pre-genride - there are leaders for all difSATURDAY, JUNE 4 Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., trified, multicultural Lower East Pride Poker Run @ Slammers, ferent levels of riders - ends with Columbus, 43215; 614.268.8525, Side and Chinatown of the 1980s. 202 E. Long St., Columbus, food and drink at The Pint House x1; FB: Network Columbus: It’s Wong died of AIDS-related compli- 43215; 614.299.7764; in the Short North. Registration Outlook’s annual political kickoff cations in 1999. 11a-6p; columbuspride.org: The includes a post-ride brunch and to Pride. Come mingle with LGBT $8. The exhibit runs annual Pride motor- entry into the Pride festival. elected officials from across Ohio through Sunday, cycle event be9:30a; $20. and allies who support us. 6p-8p.

Aug. 7. The gins at Wexner CenSlammers Schoolhouse Rock Live! @ ShadEvolution Theatre Local ter is open and ends at owbox Live, 503 S. Front St., Playwrights Festival: Sticks and TuesdaysClub Diver- Columbus, 43215; 614.416.7625; Stones @ Columbus Performing Sundays, sity. Regis- shadowboxlive.com: If you’re of a Arts Center Van Fleet Theater, 549 and adtration certain age, you know all the Franklin Ave., Columbus, 43215; mission is includes a words to the Preamble of the U.S. 614.233.1124; free on post-ride Constitution, but you have to sing evolutiontheatre.org: It’s the world Thursdays cookout at Club them. This show is a live stage premiere of local playwright Cory after 4p and on D and entry into version of the ’70s cartoon shorts Skurdal’s work about the lives of the first Sunday of Columbus Pride. that educated a generation. 2p; Kyle, a transgender artist, and every month. 7p; $8 ($6 for Registration begins at 10a, $10-$25.

Janice, a closeted lesbian critic students, senior and members). and the ride begins at 12:15p; who’s outed after she writes a bad $25.

MONDAY, JUNE 6 review of his work. 8p; $15. More Wild for Pride Kickoff Event @ THURSDAY, JUNE 2 performances are scheduled for Film: Hockney @ Wexner Center Yoga Class @ Stonewall ColumHollywood Casino Columbus, 200 Thursday, June 9, through Saturfor the Arts, 1871 N. High St., bus, 1160 N. High St., Columbus, Georgesville Rd., Columbus, day, June 11, at 8p; and on SunColumbus, 43210; 614.292.3535; 43201; 614.299.7764; 43228; 614.299.7764; day, June 12, at 2p. wexarts.org: David Hockney’s pub- stonewallcolumbus.org: Another columbuspride.org: Your ticket lic success masked his private six-week session begins with includes a dog tag that gets you THURSDAY, JUNE 9 struggles with his art, relationinstructor Vanessa into the 2016 Columbus Bi Local Happy Hour @ Bossy ships and the tragedy of AIDS. Schumm-Welch. It’s Pride festival, heavy Grrl’s Pin Up Joint, 2598 N. High This documentary about one of suitable for those appetizers and St., Columbus, 43202; the great surviving icons of the who have never custom cocktails, bilocal614.org: The group for bi1960s captures a charismatic done yoga to one beverage sexual Central Ohio residents and multifaceted artist whose op- those with some ticket, and a meets on the second Thursday of timism, work ethic and sense of experience. performance by every month. 6p-8p. adventure are truly uplifting.

Bring your own Virginia West mat and blanket. and Nina West.

CapPride Uncorked! @ Camelot 11a-noon; $30 ($25 6p-9p; $25 ($20 FRIDAY, JUNE 3 Cellars, 901 Oak St., Columbus, State of the Arts Productions: for Stone-wall memfor Stonewall 43205; 614.325.1590; The 1940s Radio Hour @ Shedd bers), or $5 drop-in class fee. members). cappride.org: The Capital Pride outlookohio.com

Band’s fundraiser is a wine-tasting event that includes five different wines. The LGBT community band will receive $20 from every ticket. 7p-10p; $35.

FRIDAY, JUNE 10 Film: From This Day Forward @ Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St., Columbus, 43201; 614.247.4433; gatewayfilmcenter.org: Director Sharon Shattuck shares the story of her transgender father. Time TBA; $8 ($6.50 for students).

Columbus Arts Festival @ Downtown Riverfront, Columbus, 43215; 614.224.2606; columbusartsfestival.org: Works from hundreds of artists are the focal point of the 55th annual arts festival. There are also seven entertainment stages and a huge after-hours party. Read all the details on Page 34. 11a-10:30p.

The Columbus Arts Festival continues on Saturday, June 11, from 11a-10:30p, and on Sunday, June 12, from 11a-5p.

Pride Kickoff Comedy Showcase @ Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, 215 N 4th St., Columbus, 43215; 614.429.3936; FB: Pride Kick-off Comedy Showcase at WRB!: Brooke Cartus (that’s her up there with a delicious slice) hosts regional LGBT comedians, including Pat Deeting, Bianca Moore and Sam Gordon. 8p; $5.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 LGBTQ Hiking Club @ Slate Run Metro Park, 1375 Rte. 674 N., Canal Winchester, 43110; 614.930.2265; FB: LGBT Hiking Club - Stonewall Columbus: The Stonewall group meets monthly for hikes - all fitness levels can participate - through some of Central Ohio’s most scenic spots.

10:30a-noon.

Stonewall group for LGBTQ folks 50 and older will take in the CATCO production of the music of Johnny Cash. Get your tickets online through Stonewall’s website or call the number listed to pay by phone. You can park for free at Stonewall (space permitting) and get a ride to the theater if you wish. 11a (10a at the center if you want a ride); $20.

THURSDAY, JUNE 16 Nina West’s Pride Kickoff Show @ Axis, 775 N. High St., Columbus, 43215; 614.291.4008; axisonhigh.com: Guests include Virginia West and Freesia Balls.

9p; ticket info TBA. FRIDAY, JUNE 17 HAPPY COLUMBUS PRIDE! Columbus Pride Festival @ Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St., Columbus, 43215; 614.299.7764; columbuspride.org: Happy Pride, Columbus! Our complete Columbus Pride preview begins on Page 62. 4p-11p. #AAA Girls and Torso Underwear Fashion Show @ Axis, 775 N. High St., Columbus, 43215; 614.291.4008; axisonhigh.com: Alaska, Courtney Act and William headline, Nina and Virginia West host, and two dozen underwear models show off the newest in summer undies and swimwear.

Axis says all outdoor proceeds will benefit local LGBT groups. 6p; $12-$15.

Jaeger Run for Pride 5K @ Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St., Columbus, 43215; 614.299.7764; columbuspride.org: You can get your workout in on Friday and enjoy the weekend. 7p; $35.

CAPA Summer Movie Series: Mommie Dearest @ Ohio Theatre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, 43215; 614.469.0939; capa.com: This Ambush @ AWOL, 49 Parsons ain’t CAPA’s first Summer Movie Ave., Columbus, 43215; Series. And what’s better for Pride 614.621.8779; FB: AWOL Bar: It’s weekend than a camp classic? a lesbian dance party! We’ve been 7:30p; $4. needing one of those since Wall Street closed, eh? Comedian and Columbus Pride Show @ Tremont Outlook columnist Brooke Cartus Lounge, 708 S. High St., Columhosts. 10p; $3 cover after 11p. bus, 43215; 614.444.2041; FB: Tremont Lounge: Male dancers include Dane Decardeza and Tyler WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 Trailblazers Outing: Devereaux. 10p.

Ring of Fire @ Riffe Center Connor Maguire Studio Two @ AWOL, 49 ParTheatre, 77 sons Ave., S. High St., Columbus, Columbus, 43215; 43215; 614.621.8779; 614.299.

FB: AWOL Bar: 7764; The 2015 Grabby stonewallcolumAward-winning porn bus.org: The star pictured at left -

Kim Chi will be at Axis on Sunday, July 3; Bob the Drag Queen will perform on Saturday, Aug. 13.

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yes, the Grabbys are a real thing; we looked them up - is coming to town for AWOL’s Pride kickoff party. Mary Nolan hosts, and DJ Michele Chaney spins. 10p; $10, while $20 gets you into an 8p meet-and-greet. A $100 table for four includes the meet-and-greet.

Ch Ch Ch Changes: A Symphonic Tribute to the Music of David Bowie @ Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., Columbus, 43215; 614.469.0939; columbussymphony.com: The Columbus Symphony’s Picnic With the Pops summer series kicks off with a salute to the late legendary artist. Featuring the tribute band, Changes. 8p; $25-$85.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 HAPPY COLUMBUS PRIDE! Columbus Pride Parade @ Broad and Front streets, Columbus, 43215; 614.299.7764; columbuspride.org: We love to tease Stonewall Columbus about how long the parade lasts, but they have a fabulous reason for not turning anyone away. Times were so different that some people covered their faces at the first Columbus Pride in 1981, and organizers say they will never turn away anyone who wants to take part. 10:30a.

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HAPPY COLUMBUS PRIDE! Columbus Pride Festival @ Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St., Columbus, 43215; 614.299.7764; columbuspride.org: Happy Pride, Columbus! See Page 62 for our complete Columbus Pride preview and ideas to enjoy the whole weekend.

11a-8p.

Worthington Arts Festival @ McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington, 43085; 614.431.0329; worthingtonartsfestival.com: More than 150 artists and craftspeople from across the country exhibit everything from photography to furniture. There is music also. 9a-6p.

The festival continues on Sunday, June 19 from 11a-5p.

Naomi Smalls @ Axis, 775 N. High St., Columbus, 43215; 614.291.4008; axisonhigh.com: The RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 finalist headlines the annual indoor-outdoor party. Virginia West and Nina West host. Axis says all outdoor proceeds benefit local LGBT groups. 6p; $15-$30.

Picnic With the Pops: Indigo Girls @ Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., Columbus, 43215; 614.469.0939; columbussymphony.com: The Grammy-winning folk duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers will perform a selection of songs from their 30year career.

If you see people who look like them at Pride, it just might be them! 8p; $25-$85.

will be honored. Marriage equality plaintiff Jim Obergefell is the special guest. 11a-1p; $55 (or $50 for Stonewall members). Tables for 10 are $550.

SUNDAY, JUNE 19 Central Ohio Prime Timers Monthly Brunch @ Copious, 520 S. High St., Columbus, 43215; 614.885.0846; primetimersww.com/copt: The social group for mature gay and bi men meets for brunch on the third Sunday of every month at the Brewery District restaurant. 11a.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus: Finding Oz @ Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St., Columbus, 43203, 614.228.2462; columbusgaymenschorus.com: The chorus concludes its 2015-16 season with a show that explores the music and themes of different Oz productions. It also includes the music of Dorothy herself, Judy

HAPPY COLUMBUS PRIDE! Stonewall Columbus Pride Brunch @ Columbus Athenaeum, 32 N. 4th St., Columbus, 43215; 614.299.7764; columbuspride.org: Columbus Fire Capt. Lana Moore, this year’s Pride grand marshal,

Bat-N-Rouge @ Dodge Park,667 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, 43215; clgsa.com: It’s almost as old as Pride itself. Part drag show, part softball game (not a big part, really), the day-after-Pride is a true Sunday Funday. And it all benefits Stonewall Columbus, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Equitas Health and the Columbus Lesbian & Gay Softball Association. Noon; ticket info TBA.

Garland. 8p; $30. There are more shows scheduled for Saturday, June 25, at 8p; and Sunday, June 26, at 3p.

Comfest @ Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale Ave., Columbus, 43215; comfest.com: Here’s the best description ever of the 44-year-old Columbus festival: “Bring your dancing shoes, because we’re gathering again on common ground to celebrate common good, to awaken common dreams.

There are friends to laugh with, songs to sing, plans to hatch.

Let’s get started. Happy ComFest!”

Central Ohio Naturist Guy Alliance Free Farm Frolic @ location given to those who register online; congaline.org: The nudist group for men hosts a free weekend: “free of cost, free of structure, free of clothes!” You can camp, swim and picnic for a day or the whole weekend. There’s a picnic (bring your own food) on Saturday at 3p.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Picnic With the Pops: Melissa Etheridge @ Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., Columbus, 43215; 614.469.0939; columbussymphony.com: The Oscar- and Grammy-winning Film: From Afar @ Wexner Center singer/songwriter will perform her for the Arts, 1871 N. High St., megahits, “I’m the Only One,” Columbus, 43210; 614.292.3535; “Come to My Window,” and wexarts.org: This Venezuelan “I Want to Come Over.” And no, film about a middle-aged man she is not moving to Columbus. who seeks young hustlers on (She addressed that rumor in a the streets of Caracas won 2015 Outlook interview.) 8p; $25the Golden Lion award $85. at the Venice Film Festival. It’s deSUNDAY, JUNE 26 scribed as a gripGerman Village Society Haus ping, unnsenUnd Garten Tour @ German Vilsationalized thriller. lage, 588 S. 3rd St., Columbus, 7p; $8 ($6 for stu43215; 614.221.8888; dents, senior and mem- germanvillage.com: Satisfy your cubers). There’s another riosity about what lies beyond showing on Saturday, June 25, at those garden gates in Columbus’ 7p. historic German Village. 9a; $25.

That’s right. Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls, one week apart.

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Step back, queens! Monica Day’s crown was for Miss Ohio!

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Outlook Magazine: Celebrating 20 years!

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Out & About in

Northeast Ohio Phantom of the Opera • Gay Day at Cedar Point

FRIDAY, JUNE 3 TaDa! Series: Chocolate Therapy at the 9 @ the Metropolitan at the 9, 2017 E. 9th St., Cleveland, 44115; 216.651.5428; lgbtcleveland.org: The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland puts the fun in fundraiser with its annual TaDa! series of events. This one includes a full-course outdoor, sit-down feast 150 feet above the city at the 9’s sun deck and lounge. Afterward, it’s chocolate therapy with fruit, cheese, pastries, bourbon and wine. 6:30p9:30p; $150.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5 Taste of Lakewood @ Madison Park, 13201 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 44107; 216.226.2900; tasteoflakewood.com: The food and music festival showcases local chefs and restaurants and helps fund scholarships for high school students. 1p-7p; $1 suggested donation.

$124 per night for accommodations).

SUNDAY, JUNE 12 Cleveland Bears Roadtrip @ Lawnfield, 8095 Mentor Ave., Mentor, 44060; clevelandbears.org: Lawnfield is the home of James A. Garfield (pictured below right), the Ohioan who was the 20th president of the United States. The group Miss Summit County will have dinNewcomer Pageant @ I ner at a local nterbelt, 70 N. Howard St., restaurant Akron, 44308; 216.903.9634; after its tour. interbelt.com: Brionna Brooks 2p-3p; $7. hosts the competition whose categories include MONDAY, Doug Strahm creative evening JUNE 13 in Concert gown and Steak Roast @ Leather Stal@ Freethree-minute lion Saloon, 2205 St. Clair dom Valcreative pres- Ave. NE, Cleveland, 44114; ley entation.

216.589.8588; CampPerformers leatherstallion.com: A monthly ground, include Travis dinner includes a ribeye 1875 U.S. Martinez, Vacooked to order, tossed salad, 250 S., New lerie Valentino and baked potato, rolls and a side London, 44851; Lady J Martinez. 5:30p dish. Pre-order at the bar 419.929.8100; freedomvalley- registration for $50. through Sunday, June 12. camping.com: Doug Strahm 5:30p-8:30p; $15. is a singer and songwriter WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 and bear - whose songs inPlexus Network Night @ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 clude “Build Me a Bridge,” Clifton Martini & Wine Bar, Phantom of the Opera @ about moving toward full 10427 Clifton Blvd., ClevePlayhouse Square/State equality and acceptance. He’ll land, 44102; 1.888.PLEXUS9; Theatre, 1519 Euclid be at the men’s campground thinkplexus.org: Cleveland’s Ave., Cleveland, all weekend. $15 for day or LGBT Chamber of Commerce 44115; 216.241. night passes ($20-$124 per hosts its monthly get6000; playhousnight for accommodations). together. 6p-8p; $10 (free esquare.org: This for members). new touring production of Andrew Lloyd WebSATURDAY, JUNE 4 Teen Network’s Pride Prom FRIDAY, JUNE 10 ber’s musical includes new @ Unitarian Universalist Hawaiian Luau @ Freedom special effects, scenery, lightChurch of Akron, 3300 More- Valley Campground, 1875 ing, staging and choreograwood Rd., Fairlawn, 44333; U.S. 250 S., New London, phy. 8p; $10-$105. More 216.556.0960; glsen.org/ 44851; 419.929.8100; shows are scheduled for June chapters/neo: Anyone who’s in freedomvalleycamping.com: 21-24, June 28-July 1, and high school this year can at- Pig roast and potluck at the July 5-8 at 8p; June 16, 18, 25 tend. 7p-11p; $15. campground for men. Activi- and July 2 and 9 at 2p and ties run all weekend. $15 for 8p; and June 19, 26 and July 3 day or night passes ($20and 10 at 1p and 6:30p. outlookohio.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 17 Baby One More Time!

A Britney Spears Dance Party @ Twist, 11633 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland, 44102; 216.221.2333; FB: Twist Social Club: Twist’s third Kings and Queens of Pop Party is all Britney, all night.

9p.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Under the Big Top @ Freedom Valley Campground, North Coast Men’s Chorus: 1875 U.S. 250 S., New LonWork’ It! @ Cleveland State don, 44851; 419.929.8100; University’s Waetjen Auditofreedomvalleycamping.com: rium, 2001 Euclid Ave., Cleve- You can also be under a land, 44115; 216.556.0590; small top, but this isn’t ncmchorus.org: This concert about that. The men’s is a tribute to jobs, long hours, campground will host its low pay, coffee breaks, annual circus costume conSports for Sissies @ Freedom coworkers and the best thing test and circus food party.

Valley Campground, 1875 about working: vacation.

Funnel cakes, anyone? ActiviU.S. 250 S., New London, What a way to make a living, ties run all weekend. $15 for 44851; 419.929.8100; eh? 8p; $10-$35. There’s an- day or night passes ($20freedomvalleycamping.com: other performance on Sunday, $124 per night for accommoAll your favorite camp sport- June 19, at 3p. dations). ing activities with a fabulous flair possible only at a camp- SUNDAY, JUNE 19 SATURDAY, JUNE 25 ground for gay and bi Gay Day at Cedar Point @ Pop Pride Cleveland @ men. Activities run all Cedar Point, 1 Cedar Point Dr., Twist, 11633 Clifton Blvd., weekend. $15 for day Sandusky, 44870; FB: Gay Day Cleveland, 44102; or night passes at Cedar Point: It’s not an offi- 216.221.2333; FB: Twist ($20-$124 per night cial Cedar Point event.

Social Club: Twist hosts a for accommoda10a-10p; $65 celebration of gay tions). at the gate pop music from or $45 LGBT artists online at such as SATURDAY, JUNE 18 TaDa! Series: Red Rooftop cedarRuPaul, Adam Experience @ Red, the point.

Lambert, Steakhouse, 417 Prospect com.

Adore Delano, Ave., Cleveland, 44115; Tegan & 216.651.5428; Seminar: Sara, Alex Newell gbtcleveland.org: This event PrEP @ Cockand in the LGBT Community tails Cleveland, 9208 Detroit more. 9p.

Center of Greater Cleveland’s Ave., Cleveland, 44102; fundraising series includes a 216.961.3115; FB: Cocktails SUNDAY, JUNE 26 full-course rooftop steak din- Cleveland: Not your usual bar Arktos Bears Luau @ ner at the renowned Downevent, but it’s an important Leather Stallion Saloon, 2205 town steakhouse, plus a one to be sure. Learn about St. Clair Ave., NE, Cleveland, pre-dinner interactive cooking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a 44114; arktosbears.org: demonstration with Chef drug regimen that has proven Insert your own gettingJonathan Bennett. highly effective in preventing lei’d joke here. The night inVegetarian op- HIV. 1p. cludes a Best and Worst tions are Hawaiian Shirt contest. 6pavailable. midnight.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23 6:30p-9:30p; CANAPI Community $150.

Awareness Breakfast @ TUESDAY, JUNE 28 Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium, Indigo Girls @ Kent Stage, Opera Under the 2345 4th St., Cuyahoga Falls, 175 E. Main St., Kent, 44240; Stars @ Uptown Park, Public 44221; 330.252.1559; FB: 330.677.5005; Square, Medina, 44256; CANAPI Community Awarethekentstage.com: A July 330.722.2541; ormaco.org: ness Breakfast: Akron’s Com- show in Kent sold out Members of the Cleveland munity AIDS Network/Akron quickly, and this second Opera Theater bring opera Pride Initiative is hosting this show has been added to the and light opera favorites to free event for people who schedule. The lesbian duo Medina for a free outdoor would like to learn more about also will perform in Columbus concert. Pack a picnic, blan- the organization’s mission on Saturday, June 18. 8p; kets or lawn chairs; in case and how they can get in$50-$65. of rain, the concert will move volved. Register via Facebook. to the United Church of 7:30a-9:30a.

Cleveland Pride is on Saturday, Aug. 13.

Christ, 217 E. Liberty St., in Medina. 7p.

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Out & About in

Northwest Ohio Blue Man Group • Food Truck Fest • Foam Party

FRIDAY, JUNE 3 Toledo Repertoire Theatre: A Chorus Line @ The 10th Street Stage, 16 10th St., Toledo, 43604; 419.243.9277; toledorep.org: The musical that takes a behind-thescenes look at musicals debuted 41 years ago, and it ran for an amazing 6,137 performances.

What a singular sensation.

8p; $24.75. Performances are scheduled through Sunday, June 19.

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419.381.8851; stranahantheater.org: The group whose shows have been described as innovative, energetic and wildly entertaining also can be defined as an LGBT ally. They canceled a show in North Carolina because of that state’s new anti-transgender restroom law.

7:30p; $35-$73.

one scheduled per month this summer. 9p; $6 for 21+, and $10 for 18-20.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 Toledo Zoo Garden Tour @ Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo, 43614; 419.385.5721; toledozoo.org: If you also marvel at the lush landscapes of the zoo, here’s your chance to learn from the green thumbs who make them happen. This tour and session will focus on selecting plants that WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 fit your own garden. Register Toledo Bar Owners United online for this tour, which is Costume Contest @ Mojo’s, free with zoo admission.

115 N. Erie St., Toledo, 43604; 10:30a; $17.

567.315.8333; FB: Mojo’s: The owners of Toledo’s LGBT bars SUNDAY, JUNE 19 SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Old West End Festival @ are hosting monthly themed Gay Day at Cedar Point @ Parkwood, Robinwood, costume contests that will ro- Cedar Point, 1 Cedar Point Dr., Woodruff avenues, Toledo, tate among establishments. Sandusky, 44870; FB: Gay Day 43610; toledooldThe kickoff theme is “Alley at Cedar Point: This isn’t an westend.com: House tours, a Trashy,” so dress as trashy as official Cedar Point event, parade, art fair, music and you can. The top three get but LGBT folks annually yard sales highlight the an$250, $100 and $50, respec- schedule an outing for our nual celebration in Toledo’s tively. community. 10a-10p; $65 at near-Downtown neighborhood the gate or $45 online at of Victorian, Edwardian, and SATURDAY, JUNE 11 cedarpoint.com.

Arts and Crafts homes. 10a. Glass City Rollers vs. Ohio Valley Roller Girls and Dire The festival continues on SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Sunday, June 5.

Skates Roller Derby @ Crosby Festival of the Arts @ Skyway Rec Center, 525 Toledo Botanical Garden, 54-3 Toledo Food Truck Fest and Earlwood Ave., Oregon, 43616; Elmer Dr., Toledo, 43615; Collingwood Arts Center 567.698.7587; glasscity41.536.5566; toledogarden.

Variety Show @ Collingwood rollers.com: Toledo’s rollerorg/crosby-festival-2016Arts Center, 2413 Collingwood derby team has a new name. event: More than 200 artists Blvd., Toledo, 43620; FB: They’re taking on teams from from across the country will Toledo Food Truck Fest & CAC St. Clairsville, Ohio, and Rich- show their work. There’s a Variety Show: The Food Truck mond, Ind. 4p; free shuttle to the festiFestival - with art, food and $12. val from the Meijer live music - takes place from at 7249 W. Bretz Foam 3p-6p. The variety show Central Ave. featuring Bird’s Eye View Cir- Party @ 10a-6p; $8 cus, T-Town Tassels and more Bretz, 2012 (advance tickets - starts afterward.

Adams St., are $7 at The Toledo, 43604; Andersons stores).

419.243.1900; FB: The festival continues TUESDAY, JUNE 7 Blue Man Group @ StranaBretz Nightclub: Who doesn’t Sunday, June 26, from han Theater, 4645 Heatherlove a foam party? Who 10a-4p. downs Blvd., Toledo, 43614; doesn’t love four? Bretz has

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Toledo Pride is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26-27.

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Thanks to all our advertisers and readers for two decades of support! You rock!

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