01.24.08 Outlook Weekly - Pride Leadership

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INTERVIEW: A NDREW CHRISTIAN • P

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2 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY OWNERS AND PUBLISHERS Michael Daniels & Chris Hayes EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / ART DIRECTOR Chris Hayes hayes@outlookmedia.com

THE FIRST NETWORK COLUMBUS WAS HELD AT DOWNTOWN CONNECTION WITH SPEAKERS KARLA ROTHAN OF STONEWALL COLUMBUS & SHAYNE OF UNITED WAY. NETWORKERS PACKED THE HOUSE TO KICK OFF A NEW YEAR OF NETWORK photos by traut COLUMBUS EVENTS. NEXT EVENT IS WEDNESDAY, FEB 13 AT JAMES’ CLUB 88.

SNAPSHOT

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR / PHOTOS Robert Trautman traut@outlookmedia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mette Bach, Danielle Buckius, Wayne R Besen, Chris Crain, Jennifer Vanasco, Tom Moon, Regina Sewell, Leslie Robinson, Gregg Shapiro, Mick Weems, Julianne French, TF Barton, Romeo San Vicente, Jeff Fertig, Simon Sheppard, Tristan Taormino, Dennis Vanke, Mario Pinardi, Rick Kramer, Aaron Drake, Jennie Keplar, Scott Varner, Derrik Chinn, Dan Savage, Felice Newman, Tim Curran, Chris Hughes, Stephen J Fallon, Felice Newman, J. Eric Peters, Crystal Hawkins, Brent Wilder, Matthew Burlingame, Jacob Anderson-Minshall, Matthew Veritas Tsien, Cheri Meyers

Sisters are networking for themselves

Duck, duck, duck, duck...

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Where’s Waldo this week?

Old School Love: Beauty and the Beast

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JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008 VOLUME 12 NUMBER 30

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

Who wants to buy a house? Anyone?

SNAPSHOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..........2 ABOUT TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...3 / 26 COMMENTARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..........4 COMMUNITY CORNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..........6 EARTH TALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..........9 OUT BUSINESS NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........11 NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........12 GENERAL GAYETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........12 FEATURE: PRIDE LEADERSHIP . .. . . . . . . . . . 13-16 DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........18 ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....18 INTERVIEW : ANDREW CHRISTIAN . . . . . . . . ........20 EXAMINED LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........22 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........22 PUCKER UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........23 SAVAGE LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........25 THE LAST WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........27 SCOPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........27 NEXT WEEK: ANOTHER GREAT ISSUE

Voted best smiles 2 years running

Malcolm in the middle...literally

SEE MORE PICTURES AT: WWW.FLICKR.COM/OUTLOOKWEEKLY

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 3

ABOUT TOWN

by Chris Hayes FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 SINGLE MALT PLEASE Scotch Tasting @ James Club 88, 55 W Long St, 614.595.8072, www.promoproductions.net: Join James, Promo Productions and Dewards for a night of piano music, appetizers, friends and scotch. Sign up early as there is limited seating. 7p-9p; $25.

TWO FOR THE SHOW Christine Havrilla & Steph Hayes @ Club Diversity, 863 S High St, 614.224.4050, clubdiversity.com: Christine Havrilla’s introspective sounds range from raw, thumping acoustic guitars to the subtleties of violin. Steph Hayes is a true storyteller, engaging and unafraid. Her lyrics have been compared to those of Tom Waits and Conor Oberst.

Hear both tonight. 8p, free.

HO HO HO, GREEN GIANT The BFG (The Big Friendly Giant) @ Verne Riffe Center’s Capitol Theatre, 77 S High St, 614.469.1045: The remarkable story of two misfits – an orphan child and a giant and their extraordinary adventure brimming with breathtaking action, white-knuckle suspense, and side-splitting comedy. Through Jan 27. Fridays 7:30p, Sat 2:30p, and Sun 2:30p; $10- $20.

TRICK HIP Donna Mogavero @ Slammers 202 E Long St, 614.221.8880: Because she is turning 50 next week, Donna is going to do a special performance just for you all.

8:30p; free.

UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE Art Exhibition on Tolerance Opening @ The Patricia Scott Gallery, Bennett Hall of Ohio University-Chillicothe. Through Feb 27. See page 26 for more info.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 …THAT DRAG IN MOUSTACHES Rewind Revolution @ Wall Street, 144 N High St, 614.464.2800, www.wallstreetnightclub.com: “If I knew then, what I know now,” is how the saying usually begins.

Gavin Danger and Mason Dickson, co-founders of Dangerous Productions, are giving a very eclectic and extremely long list of drag/burlesque performers and dancers a chance to finish that statement. Head out tonight for the Rewind Revolution. This is truly a rare culmination of performers, and destined to be an epic show! Come observe what Dangerous Productions and their Dangerous Liaisons would do differently if they knew then, what they know now.

Call for table reservations. Doors 8p, show 10p; $8 - portion of the proceeds go to Qualia www.qualiaweekend.com.

SNOWBALLS AND CURTSIES Grande Winter Ball @ Ohio Statehouse Atrium, Broad & High St, 614.728.4185, mrupert@csrab.state.oh.us: Individuals of all ages are invited to attend the Grande Spring Ball hosted by Civil War re-enactors, Ohio Statehouse Battery A. Come dance or watch. Learn how to reel or waltz.

Dress in attire of the period or come as you are. Please RSVP to Mike Rupert at or by calling. 7p-9p; free.

BUMP SET SPIKE The AVP Crocs Hot Winter Nights Tour @ Nationwide Arena, 200 W Nationwide Blvd, www.avp.com: The excitement of beach volleyball indoors, with over 200 tons of sand and the most popular and talented AVP players.

7:30p; $15-$67.

SUNDAY JANUARY 27 I HAVE A DREAM A Time for Justice @ Unitarian Church, 93 W Weisheimer Rd, babbettebyrd@yahoo.com: PFLAG, Parents, Friends, of Lesbians and Gays, is showing a movie, A Time for Justice today. It is a movie about the civil rights movement that will be followed by a discussion with Perry Stone of Beacon Fellowship on the GLBT movement. 2p; free.

HOT FLASHES & FAN DANCING Menopause the Musical @ The Southern Theatre, 21 E Main St, 614.340.1896: Four women at a lingerie sale with nothing in common but a black lace bra AND memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more!. This joyful musical parody set to 25 classic

baby boomer songs from “Puff, My God I’m Draggin” to the disco favorite “Stayin’ Awake, Stayin’ Awake”, will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles! 2p & 5:30p; $45.

TUESDAY JANUARY 29 HOME IMPROVEMENT Free Financial Management and Refinance Brown Bag Lunch Workshop for Homeowners @ Columbus Public Library, Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave., 614.275.4663, www.hoth-cdc.org: Homes on the Hill CDC will hold a free brown back lunch workshop focusing on financial management for homeowners. The class will include tips on saving money, developing and using a household budget, and paying off debt, as well as advice on how to use home equity responsibly and when it is advantageous to refinance. Presenters will include Mr. Daniel Ruggiero, Community Development Specialist with Huntington Bank; Ms. Gayle Warren-Calloway, founder of BTFC Foundation for Financial Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to economic empowerment; and Homes on the Hill staff.

Homes on the Hill housing counselors will also be present to consult individually with homeowners. To register or for more information please call or visit our website. Today and Thursday. 12p-1p; free.

HUMAN RIGHTS & BALL GOWNS The 25th Anniversary HRC Dinner Committee Meeting @ Union Bar+Food, 782 N High St, 614.421.CAFE (2233), columbusnightlife.com: The HRC Dinner Committee will be hosting the first gathering for anyone interested in volunteering to help with the 25th Annual Gala. Would you like to help?Well then, get you butt on down to Union. They will be talking about the dinner and signing up volunteers to serve on committees and would love to see you there! No experience necessary. If you cannot make the event but still wish to help or have any questions about the event, email dinner Co-Chairs Mollie Levin mollielevin@yahoo.com and Ryan Fournier fournier.14@gmail.com. 6-7:30p; free.

CITIZEN C-BUS 2012 Citizen’s Meeting @ Columbus Convention Center Terrace Ballroom, 614.424.6204, columbus2012.org: Columbus will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2012 and usher in a new era of greatness. What’s your vision for the future of our City? Your opinion will help the 2012 Columbus Bicentennial Commission develop projects, programs and priorities to enhance the quality of life throughout Columbus. Please join Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Bicentennial Commission Co-Chairs Bishop Timothy Clarke, Dr. Gordon Gee and Abigail Wexner at the 2012 Citizen Summit. Program featuring the use of wireless keypad technology for all participants. Reservation required - logon or call. 5p-6p registration and refreshments, 6p-8:30p program; free.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 Contemporary Music Festival 2008 @ various locations, 614.292.0789, www.columbussymphony.org: For the fifth year, The Ohio State University School of Music is partnering with the Columbus Symphony to present the Contemporary Music Festival 2008 in Columbus. This year’s festival, slated for January 30-February 3, welcomes internationally acclaimed composer Osvaldo Golijov, whose volatile and category-defying style has won him Grammy Awards and a MacArthur Fellowship. Festival concerts will be presented Wednesday, Jan 30, and Thursday, Jan 31, in Weigel Auditorium on the OSU campus, and on Friday, Feb 1 and Saturday, Feb 2, in the Ohio Theatre downtown. On Sunday, Feb 3, Golijov’s frequent soloist, soprano Dawn Upshaw, will present a free masterclass at Ohio State. Logon or call for times and prices.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31 NO MORE WIRE HANGERS! 35th Annual Roe v. Wade Dinner and Lecture @ The Fawcett Center, The Ohio State University, 2400 Olentangy River Rd, 800.466.2725, FOCOhio@gmail.com: The keynote speaker is Dr. Susan Wicklund, a physician, prochoice pioneer, and author. She will share her harrowing and heart-wrenching experiences as an abortion provider.

Her story is one of a dedicated and passionate doctor, working to protect the lives of women in our country. 6p cash bar, 6:30p dinner, 8:30p lecture - followed by book signing and dessert; $5-$350.

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

HUCKABEE SCARES ME 4 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

COMMENTARY

by Jennifer Vanasco

Mike Huckabee is scary.

I mean George W. Bush scary –in fact, that is how many of his supporters think of him: as a “better” George W. As a George W. who will actually make “compassionate conservatism” a reality.

Of course, I have no idea what compassionate conservatism is.

It certainly isn’t a brand of conservatism that is compassionate toward gays and lesbians, since everyone who practices it is against us marrying, holding positions in churches, serving in the military, working without fear of being fired, and walking down the street without worrying that someone is going to call us a queer and hit us over the head with a baseball bat.

But Mike Huckabee, in the space of a week, has become the great white hope of evangelical Christians. He went from being a bit of a sideshow to showing real viability as a candidate in the Iowa caucus (I’m writing this before the New Hampshire primary, but my bet is that McCain will win. If Huckabee wins, he gets even scarier.)

Huckabee is warm and charming. He plays bass guitar, which he showed off by crossing a picket line in order to appear on Jay Leno. He is what everyone expected Fred Thompson to be – genuinely funny, radiant on camera, a presence, a good ol’ boy. He is, as supporters say – and as supporters said about George W. – a guy you might like to have a beer with.

Of course, no one who is gay would feel safe having a beer with a guy like that. A guy like that might shake your hand warmly and then call his friends out to the parking lot to beat the queer up.

Mike Huckabee is the candidate of the edge of the right wing. He is a NASCAR candidate, a tent revival candidate, a candidate who would likely be as at home selling some sweet but deadly syrup at a medicine show. He is the poster boy for the die-hard Red Staters.

Now that he is viable, the big wallets of the Evangelical movement are going to open up and support him. That’s one danger. But the other danger is that independents are swayed by him, too. They are swayed by his warmth and his seeming reasonableness.

Take my mom, for instance.

When I was home for the holidays, my mom said, “I like Obama. But I like Huckabee, too.”

“Huckabee?” I almost choked on my wine.

“Sure,” she said. “He’s like Obama. He wants everyone to get along.”

“He’s nothing like Obama!” I said.

I explained that Huckabee was a Baptist preacher who once agreed that women should be subservient to men. My mom was unmoved.

I said that he was a creationist, that he wanted to abolish the IRS and instead fund the government through threateningly high sales taxes, that he supported displaying the Ten Commandments in the public schools.

Still nothing.

I was turning purple, practically spinning in circles. How could my mom – a reasonable woman – consider supporting Huckabee, an incredibly unreasonable man?

Finally, in despair, I said, “Mom. You can’t vote for him. You just can’t. He doesn’t think my people should be able to get married. He doesn’t think gay bashing should be a hate crime. He once said that people with AIDS should be quarantined. He will set back gay

and lesbian civil rights.”

“Oh,” my mom said. “OK. That’s all you had to say, sweetheart.”

That’s all I had to say. And now I’m going to keep saying it. I’m going to say it to all the independents and Republicans I know, to my family and friends around the country, to people I meet on the subway.

I’m going to tell them that if they have a gay man or lesbian in their lives that they love, that they cannot vote for Mike Huckabee, because he scares us. And he scares us because he doesn’t believe that we have the same value as straight Americans. He doesn’t believe we should be able to adopt children. He doesn’t think there should be any additional AIDS funding.

Mike Huckabee has said “Until recently, who would have dared to suggest that the

practice should be accepted on equal footing with heterosexuality, to be thought of as a personal decision and nothing more?”

As important as it is to fight for our candidate of choice, we must also actively fight against Mike Huckabee as the Republican candidate for president. He will drag our civil rights fight backwards.

Huckabee scares us. And he should. Tell someone.

Jennifer Vanasco is an award-winning, syndicated columnist. She blogs daily on the gay political site VisibleVote08.com.

Column archive and blog: http://www.jennifervanasco.com.

32% SO U RC

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

E : ABC

CATEGORY

NOV 2 ’04

JAN 21 ’08

DIFFERENCE

AMERICAN DEAD

1,122

3,926

2,804

AMERICAN WOUNDED

8,124

28,870

20,746

IRAQI CIVILIAN DEAD

16,342

88,044

NATIONAL DEBT

$7,429,629,954,236

$9,190,316,700,166

DAYS ‘TIL 2008 ELECTION

1,463

288

71,702 $1,760,686,745,930 (1,175)

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 5

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

6 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

COMMUNITY CORNER SHORT NORTH GEARS UP FOR 41 BIKE PARKING POSTS The Short North Foundation is excited to have assisted in the purchase and installation of 41 bicycle bollards in the Short North Neighborhoods and Arts District along North High Street.

As part of this endeavor, six bike bollards were installed in the city parking lot at 709 North High Street, 12 are scattered along High Street in the Short North, and 19 will soon be placed in various areas of Goodale Park. Four will be positioned in the new Italian Village Park.

“Several civic organizations came together to make this happen,” said Stephen Weed, president of the Short North Foundation. “Thanks to rising gas prices and the notion to ‘go green,’ biking is more popular than ever. It’s crucial that we all work together to accommodate more cyclists and advance our neighborhood in the best way possible.”

Spearheading the project are the Short

TRANSOHIO RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE LEGACY FUND TransOhio has been awarded a $2500 grant from The Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation. The grant money will be used for administrative and operational expenses and the first TransOhio Transgender and Ally Symposium to be held March 7-9, 2008.

Two-thousand dollars has been allocated for administrative and operational expenses which will allow continued growth of the TransOhio organization, including office space at The Center on High.

The remaining $500 has been allocated for promotional materials and resources for their March symposium. Additionally, The Legacy Fund will match dollar-for-dollar funds raised by TransOhio for their Transgender and Ally Symposium, up to $1500.

TransOhio is an organization that serves the Ohio transgender and ally communities by providing services, education, support and advocacy which promotes and improves the health, safety and life experience of the Ohio transgender individual and community.

Over the last eighteen months, TransOhio has provided referrals and support for transgender and gender questioning Central Ohio individuals and their families, published a consecutive monthly newsletter since October 2006, held their first annual TransOhio Unity Picnic in June 2007 to coincide with Pride month, sponsored (2) 6-week self-defense workshops targeted for the GLBTQIA community, provided transgender identified speakers to various Columbus area universities and organizations, published an informational pamphlet called Transgender 101, sponsored the 9th Transgender Day of Remembrance in Columbus, gained fiscal agency with Stonewall Columbus, partnered with The Apothecary Shop and TruVoice and hosted a Thanksgiving Community Dinner.

“We’re excited that The Legacy Fund believes in TransOhio and has awarded us some funding that will help with our growth and outreach to the transgender community,” says Shane Morgan, Director of TransOhio. “There is a large transgender community here and it’s important that people have access to resources and services that are going to promote physical and emotional well-being for transgender people. Our voice is being heard.”

On March 8, 2008, TransOhio and Stonewall Columbus will be hosting the first TransOhio TransJAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

gender and Ally Symposium. “The Symposium is going to be fantastic. We’ve been working hard to plan an amazing weekend for everybody. Friday night, we’re going to have a meet and greet where attendees will be able to mingle and network with facilitators and other attendees. Saturday, we’ll have sessions about employment and legal issues in Ohio, coming out as transgender, transgender youth, and transgender health and safety. Saturday night we have entertainment by first class transgender performers and a leadership and attendee brunch the next morning,” says Morgan.

The Symposium will be held at the newly renovated Center on High. Morgan also says that “Stonewall Columbus has been an integral part of our mission, our vision - our success. They’ve provided us with a home and a firm hand of support and family love. TransOhio truly appreciates the collaboration and support.”

For more information about the TransOhio Transgender and Ally Symposium, visit the TransOhio website at http://www.transohio.org or email them at TransOhio@wowway.com.

CLEVELAND NORTH COAST INVASION (NCI) NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT Save the Date and Experience the Invasion! A weekend packed with great volleyball and amazing parties is guaranteed. There will be something for everybody! North Coast Athletics Volleyball (NCAV) will be hosting a national invitational volleyball tournament April 25 to 27, 2008. Sanctioned by the North American Gay Volleyball Association (NAGVA), this will be the final qualifying tournament for teams wishing to participate in the 26th Annual NAGVA Championships: Memorial Day 2008 holiday weekend in Miami.

NCI will be held at the same time as Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend (CLAW). Both events will attract several thousand participants to Cleveland.

Cleveland’s 6th national invitational is expected to draw teams from Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, New York, Louisville, Toronto, and many others.

The tournament will be at Cleveland State University’s Woodling Gymnasium on Saturday April 26 and Sunday April 27 from 8a-5p. Admission is free for spectators. The weekend kicks off with registra-

North Special Improvement District (SID), directed by Tim Wagner, and the Bicycle Bollards for Goodale Park Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Sabrina Bobrow from Westminster-Thurber Community.

Funding for the bollards in the Arts District along North High Street was provided by the Short North Special Improvement District ($1,650) and the Heffner Short North Neighborhood Endowment ($1,250).

Funding for the Goodale Park bollards (a $6,000 project overall) was provided by the Community Festival Grants Committee, the Victorian Village Society, and the Heffner Short North Neighborhood Endowment ($2,500).

Funding for four bollards in the new Italian Village Park, located off Hubbard Avenue, was provided by the Italian Village Society, the Johnstone Short North Neighborhood Endowment at the Columbus Foundation, and the Short North Foundation.

tion for participants at The Comfort Inn followed by the Tournament Registration Parties. On Saturday night, NCAV will host a dinner banquet followed by the “VolleyBall” dance party. The Awards Ceremony will conclude the weekend on Sunday evening.

For more information: Check out the NCI volleyball tournament link at www.NorthCoastAthletics.org. If you would like to participate as a volunteer, please contact: Mike Readinger, Tournament Director at mreadinger@aol.com.

EQUALITY OHIO UPDATE

by Lynne Bowman, Executive Director Equality Ohio Happy New Year from all of us at Equality Ohio! I hope you were able to spend some time with friends and family, and that you feel recharged and ready for an exhilarating 2008. Already, I have some exciting news to share with you.

Equality Ohio hosts 2008 Equality Federation summer meeting. Columbus has been selected as the location of the Equality Federation’s annual gathering of leaders from statewide equality organizations across the country. Equality Ohio is proud to host the meeting and bring to our state the strongest leaders in the statewide and national equality movement. While they are here, we will provide you with the opportunity to meet these amazing people from around the nation and hear about the successes in Oregon, New Hampshire, Alabama and Arizona first-hand from the people who are making it happen. Stay tuned for more details!

State Equality Fund lends its support. In December I learned that we were awarded a generous grant from the State Equality Fund, a combined donor-advised Fund supported by Tides Foundation, Gill Foundation and an anonymous donor. We received $65,000 for the Our Stories program to expand our effort to bring the true stories of LGBT Ohioans to the people and places across the state who most need to know who we really are, and why we deserve the full rights and responsibilities accorded all Ohioans. We are honored by what the Fund’s decision says about their faith in our future success.

Kate Clinton kicks off Lobby Day for Equality.

On May 14th we are hosting the third annual Lobby Day for Equality, and this year, we’ve added a new twist: acclaimed comedienne Kate Clinton will bring her newest set, Hilarity Clinton, to the Southern The-

The galvanized black bollards are being manufactured locally by Fortin Ironworks and will require minimal maintenance. Each post parks two bikes.

“Finally, bike riders in the Short North have something designed specifically for them,” said Sabrina Bobrow. “We hope that these bollards encourage people to drive less and pedal more.”

The Short North Foundation (formerly the Short North Neighborhood Foundation) serves to advance the creative spirit, diversity, and vitality of the Short North Neighborhoods and Arts District. Through its partnerships with The Friends of Goodale Park, The Harrison West Society, The Italian Village Commission, The Italian Village Society, The Short North Business Association, The Short North Special Improvement District, The Victorian Village Commission, and The Victorian Village Society, it reflects a collective vision of the entire Short North region.

atre the evening of Tuesday, May 13th. Tickets go on sale soon, and our Equality Council will have the first chance to purchase them. Stay tuned for your chance to join us for Kate in ’08!

Finally, I want you to know that with your help, we finished 2007 in a position of financial strength. Not only did we nearly double the size of our Equality Council in 2007, we also ended the year in the black and increased our cash-on-hand over end-of-year 2006. For organizations like us, so much of our fundraising success hinges on election cycles, and I am pleased that we were able to achieve this in our first off-election year.

We look forward to your continued support this year, as we: Introduce the EHEA in both the house and the senate with bi-partisan support; Help deliver Ohio to a pro-equality President; Help elect a pro-equality legislature; Continue to tell our stories to our fellow Ohioans and share our common humanity.

Thank you for your commitment to the movement for equality in Ohio, and for securing your place in its history.

CALL FOR ENTRIES - GET FRESH WITH NORTH CAROLINA SWEET POTATOES RECIPE CONTEST $5,000 in prize money up for grabs for the best soup, salad, side or sweet recipes The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission is sponsoring its first-ever national consumer recipe contest. A total of $5,000 in prize money will be awarded - one $500 prize for the winner in each of the four categories (soup, salad, side, sweet) and a grand prize of $3,000 to the winner chosen from the four category winners. A specially designated Web site is up and running and waiting for home cooks to submit their favorite sweet potato creations http://www.getfreshwithsweetpotatoes.com/.

Recipe submissions accepted now through April 15, 2008. Final judging will take place in test kitchens of Taste of the South magazine. Winners will be announced May 2008. Enter online at http://www.getfreshwithsweetpotatoes.com/ or mail entry(ies) to Get Fresh with North Carolina Sweet Potatoes Recipe Contest, P.O. Box 575, Selma, N.C. 27576. Complete rules are posted on the Web site, or contestants may send an SASE to above address with a request for a copy of rules.

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 7

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

8 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 9

EARTH TALK

© FLICKR

From the Editors of E

Dear EarthTalk:

Dear EarthTalk:

Where do the leading presidential candidates stand on the issue of climate change and other environmental issues?

Most of us know how to recycle paper, plastic and glass, but how do we find out about recycling the many other items we use that eventually break or die out, such as light bulbs, disposable batteries, portable electronics, and so on?

Max S

Elizabeth Lauer The outcome of the 2008 presidential election could very well have a big impact on a wide range of environmental issues, especially climate change.

All of the Democratic candidates - Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich - support reducing carbon dioxide emissions nationally upwards of 80 percent by 2050 in order to stave off global warming. Likewise, each would like to see fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks raised to at least 40 miles per gallon within the next few decades.

Meanwhile, only one of the major Republican contenders, John McCain, has even articulated a position on the issue of global warming, with most favoring expanding our base of greenhouse gas-spewing coal-fired power plants.

As for specific track records, Clinton has an impressive record of introducing pro-environment legislation into Congress, and for her time in the Senate scores a 90 (out of 100) on green voting from the nonprofit, non-partisan League of Conservation Voters (LCV). Obama is newer to the politics of the environment, but scored a 96 for his two years in the Senate from LCV, and has garnered kudos from environmental leaders for the aggressive climate and energy plan he unveiled in October 2007.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich wants to launch a Works Green Administration similar to the Works Progress Administration of the Great Depression, only this time to benefit the environment through the development of alternative energy technologies and infrastructures. Bill Richardson, who served as Secretary

of Energy under Bill Clinton and more recently as governor of New Mexico, wants to be the “energy president,” and has an 82 lifetime rating from LCV to back it up. He has proposed the most ambitious carbon reduction plan of any of the candidates (90 percent by 2050).

John Edwards was the first candidate to make his campaign carbon neutral in March 2007, and greens consider him perhaps the most progressive of all the Democrats on the climate issue.

On the Republican side, the environmental bright spots are few and far between. McCain is really the only choice with any declared concern for the environment. In 2003 he co-sponsored the first Senate bill aimed at mandatory economy-wide reductions. While the bill didn’t garner enough votes to pass, it set the stage for future iterations that could put the U.S. on par with European nations as leaders in the fight to cut carbon emissions. McCain is also the only Republican candidate specifically opposed to drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Mike Huckabee scores some points with greens for his willingness to consider a specific increase in automotive fuel efficiency standards and for his (limited) embrace of alternative energy. Mitt Romney is willing to consider a cap on emissions, but only if enacted on a global basis (including China and India, that is). The remaining Republicans (Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and Ron Paul) have best been non-committal on climate change and environmental issues in general.

It’s true that recycling items other than paper, plastic and glass is still no easy task. But if you’re committed to unloading something without adding it to a landfill, a little research can go a long way. Fortunately there are some great resources out there to help.

One of the best is a May 2006 article published in E – The Environmental Magazine by Sally Deneen entitled “How to Recycle Practically Anything.” Besides debunking myths about the ineffectiveness of municipal recycling programs, Deneen outlines where and how to recycle dozens of different types of household items not typically picked up by the recycling truck at your curbside.

Regarding compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) - which shouldn’t be thrown in the trash as they contain trace amounts of the toxic heavy metal mercury Deneen recommends first checking with your local household hazardous waste disposal facility to see if they will take them for recycling. If not, many hardware stores will take back spent CFLs. If none of these options pans out, a free online listing of companies that recycle CFLs can be found at the lampecycle.org website.

As for disposable batteries, Deneen says they, too, can usually be dropped off at municipal hazardous waste facilities, where they will be disassembled and their parts recycled for use in other products. If such facilities in your area won’t take them, some local or national retailers (such as Walgreen’s in some areas and Batteries Plus nationwide)

may - just call and ask. Another option is to pay for the privilege by sending them to Battery Solutions, a mail-order company that will recycle them for 85 cents per pound.

Another common question is how to recycle (or at least responsibly dispose of) portable electronics - cell phones, video games, MP3 players, etc. - given that they usually contain heavy metals and chemicals that can pollute soils and groundwater. Deneen recommends dropping them off at your local Staples, Office Depot or Radio Shack store, which should take them back free of charge even if you didn’t buy them there. Another option would be shipping the worn out items to CollectiveGood (4508 Bibb Boulevard, Tucker, GA 30084), which will recycle them and donate the proceeds to the charity of your choice.

If you’re stumped about how or where to recycle an item, check out the Earth911.org website. It offers a free keyword-searchable, zip code-based database of municipal and commercial recycling and hazardous waste disposal facilities across the United States. The frequently updated database, which is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as state governments and several non-profits, can also direct you to the proper municipal facility or local business to off-load potentially toxic items, like old tires or unused paint, in a safe and responsible manner. If you don’t have handy Internet access, give Earth911’s tollfree telephone hotline a call at 1-800CLEANUP.

CONTACTS: For more detailed information on specific candidates’ positions and track records on environmental issues, check out the League of Conservation Voters’ Voter Guide, www.lcv.org/voterguide. “How to Recycle Practically Anything,” www.emagazine.com/view/?3172; LampRecycle.org, www.lamprecycle.org; Battery Solutions, www.batteryrecycling.com; CollectiveGood, www.collectivegood.com; Earth911.org, www.earth911.org.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? E-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com • Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

10 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 11

OUT BUSINESS NEWS Dooley / Weatherford

WEATHERFORD RECEIVES TWO AWARDS FOR SALES PERFORMANCE On Dec 8, Bradley Weatherford, an associate with Dooley & Company Realtors, was awarded membership in the Columbus Board of REALTORS® Ten Million Dollar Club. The purpose of this award is to recognize REALTORS® who have achieved outstanding sales performance and commitment to the real estate industry. To qualify, applicants must have met or exceeded cumulative sales volume of $10 Million and served on a REALTOR® committee or as an officer of a related real estate organization. The Columbus Board of REALTORS® is central Ohio’s largest professional association, representing more than 6,300 real estate agents and brokers.

On Dec 18, Weatherford was also awarded Dooley & Company’s Realtor of the Year for sales performance during 2007.

GLSEN FOUNDER KEVIN JENNINGS TO STEP DOWN AS ED AUG 1 GLSEN to Enter New Chapter after 13 Years of Jennings’ Leadership GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is K-12 schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender poised to begin a new chapter in its organizational history with identity/expression. Today GLSEN has a national staff of 40, ofthe announcement today that Kevin Jennings, founder and exfices in New York City and Washington, D.C., 35 communityecutive director, will step down as of August 1, 2008, after 13 based chapters and an annual budget of more than $6 million. years of leadership.

Jennings helped start the first Gay-Straight Alliance in 1988, “It has been the privilege of my life to serve as GLSEN’s and today there are more than 3,700 GSAs registered with founding executive director, and I believe I will never again have GLSEN. With national programs like No Name-Calling Week, an experience that will be as rewarding and enriching as this which takes place next week, and the Day of Silence, and one has been,” Jennings said. “As I look at beginning my 14th through its support of Gay-Straight Alliances and individual year in this position on July 1, and as I near the 20th anniverstudent leaders, GLSEN’s work has touched the lives of millions sary of starting the first Gay-Straight Alliance at Concord Acad- of American students. emy in the fall of 1988, I feel the need to move on and find new “Words cannot express the difference that Kevin Jennings challenges in my life through which I can continue to help make has made to education in the United States,” said Bob Chase, our world a better place. chair of GLSEN’s Board of Directors and former president of the “While I won’t be involved in the organization’s day-to-day National Education Association. “While we are sorry to see him operations come August 1, I can’t imagine a time when I won’t go, we are confident the organization will continue to grow and be involved with this amazing organization. I’m looking forward thrive under new leadership by building on the remarkable to watching GLSEN grow and thrive in the years to come.” foundation his efforts have provided over the years.”

Under Jennings’ leadership GLSEN grew from an all-volunGLSEN soon will begin a national search for a new Executive teer group of Massachusetts teachers in 1990 to a national orDirector. ganization recognized as a leader in the effort to secure safer

Hedrick

O’Grady

Goodwin

LOCAL STONEWALL DEMS GET NEW LEADERSHIP, ENDORSE GOODWIN IN 12TH DISTRICT PRIMARY RACE, HOST O’GRADY AT FEB MEETING GOODWIN RECEIVES FRANKLIN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENDORSEMENT Russ Goodwin received the unanimous endorsement of the Franklin County Democratic Party Wednesday night. Goodwin, a 20-year, retired Navy veteran is expected to win the March primary and go on to face incumbent Pat Tiberi for Ohio's 12th Congressional district seat in November. The district is comprised of Delaware County, the western half of Licking County and parts of Franklin County "I am humbled by the overwhelming support from my Democratic peers, it is time for effective leadership in Ohio’s 12th District,” said Goodwin.

Franklin County Chairman Bill Anthony describes this years slate as, “… the strongest slate of candidates that we have had since I became Chairman.”

Goodwin served the majority of his 20 years in the Western Pacific Theater retiring from the USS Independence in 1997. He served off the coast of Iran during the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis and during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Strom. Far from a career politician, Goodwin brings a fresh perspective to Ohio's 12th Congressional seat.

During January annual meeting to elect officers, Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio, elected Bill Hedrick as President in a close race, returning him to the post he last held six years ago. Hedrick is the First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Columbus City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer's office, was a candidate for the Court of Common Pleas in 2004, and currently serves as President of the Board for BRAVO. “While reassuming the helm as Stonewall Dem's president is a big responsibility, there is simply too much at stake this year for the LGBT community in Ohio and National politics for me not to do everything possible to ensure we have a voice which is heard loud and clear by those seeking public office,” said Mr. Hedrick. “Going forward, Stonewall Democrats will ensure that the LGBT community, and our unique concerns, are embraced by the Democratic Party and it's national, state, and local candidates.

The Stonewall Democrats membership also elected: • VP Political Stragety: Don Geiner, • VP Membership: Brett Warner, • VP Communications: Robert Beattey, • Treasurer: John Manning, • Secretary: Rob Snyder

After the election of officers, the Stonewall Dems wasted little time getting down to business. The immediate past-President of Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio, Russ Goodwin, recently announced his candidacy to become the Democratic nominee for the 12th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Pat Tiberi (R-OH). Mr. Goodwin sought endorcement by Stonewall Dems of Central Ohio, and after reviewing the questionaire he submitted to the group, the membership unamiously voted to endorce Mr. Goodwin for the Ohio 12th race.

Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio is a voluntary association of individuals working with and within the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and who seek to spread word of events and activities important to the LGBT, Progressive Community on a local and national level. Sonewall Democrats' next monthly meeting will be on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, and will feature Special Guest John O'Grady, candidate for Franklin County Commissioner and current Clerk of Courts. The meeting will be at 6:30p at the new Franklin County Democratic Headquarters, 271 E State St on the 2nd Floor.

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

12 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL

by Mette Bach

GENERAL GAYETY

by Leslie Robinson

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE . . .

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of us talk about how we’re ‘so over’ the butchfemme thing. Boyish girls wrinkle their noses and tell me they’re resentful when their girlfriends expect them to open doors or carry bags. I understand that. Girly girls tell me they’re resentful when their girlfriends expect them to wear skirts on dates. I get that. Femmes have decided to boycott the idea that girly girls are divas and butches have decided to rebel against the stereotype that butches are old fashioned and chivalrous. Again, I understand.

When I look to the younger generation (even folks ten years my junior), I see far more gender ambiguity, bisexuality, defiance of labels, and rebellion against the patterns of the queer community. There’s more fluidity. There’s more acceptance. I really like what I’m seeing. I really enjoy watching all genders express themselves beyond the confines of singular identities.

I love watching people play, wearing boxers one day, thongs the next, mini dresses and camouflage, hoop earrings, studded belts and cowboy boots. The truly hip these days seem to take the best from all gender portrayals to create their fabulous complicated selves. Wonderful. It almost makes me want to join the ranks and start saying that I, too am ‘so over’ the butch-femme thing.

But then…

Serendipitously, a handsome butch will tip a hat at me or hold an umbrella over me or let me cut in front of her at the coffee shop because she knows I only have a fifteen-minute break and maybe she also only has fifteen minutes but she does this anyway and it makes my day. I smile, maybe touch her arm, thank her and hope to make her day in return. Those are the moments I realize I’ll ‘so never be over’ the butch-femme thing.

It seems to me that the old school butch is a bit of a dying breed in our culture.

Hence the term ‘old school butch’, I guess.

All of the ones I know are older than me. I JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

had the honor of being with one for two and a half years and, in that time, I became accustomed to certain luxuries. I didn’t have to take out the recycling. I wasn’t expected to deal with plumbing issues or tearing up the old carpet or putting in the new floor. She did those things.

She and her friends gathered around projects like that. If I assisted in any way, it was a bonus for them but they didn’t assume that I wanted to spend my Saturday hauling building materials to (and from) the dump.

Last night, I had the great pleasure of having a date with a cologne and leatherjacket-wearing gentlemanly butch. She showed up on my doorstep with red tulips and extended her arm to walk me to her car. She opened the door for me. She took me to a film she said she thought I would like. I did. In the theatre, she held the popcorn. She cradled my arm so that I wouldn’t have to lean against the cold and hard arm rest. She gestured for me to go first through every door. She was mortified when it started to rain and she didn’t have an umbrella so she offered to turn her coat into one so I wouldn’t get wet as we crossed the street. Am I crazy for liking this? Because I don’t just like it; I love it.

It may be old fashioned and out dated. It may be vaguely pre-feminist. There may be all kinds of criticisms from the new generation but it doesn’t matter. I’m so not over the butch-femme thing.

When she dropped me off at my house, my date insisted on walking me to my front door. She told me that she had enjoyed getting to know me and was looking forward to spending more time with me in the future.

In a world where dating has become as casual as afternoon coffee (literally), it is a true gem to experience the ultimate flattery that a good old-fashioned, old-school butch is capable of. Of course, she’s not that old fashioned. She text-messaged me the next day.

The first day of a new year brings change.

Whether in the form of New Year’s resolutions to quitsmokingloseweightgetorganized or in the form of new laws slated to go into effect that day, Jan. 1 is the date of change.

Except when it isn’t.

Last year Oregon’s legislature passed a domestic partnership law, due to take effect on Jan. 1. But that day came and went without a single gay couple registering as domesticated.

You see, a federal judge had placed the law on hold, pending a February hearing. He did that to the poor little law because of the squawking of gay rights opponents.

In 2007 opponents collected signatures to suspend the domestic partnership law and put it up for a statewide vote. Oregon officials declared the valid signatures fell just short of the required number. That prompted the opponents to ask the judge to intercede, claiming the state’s review process violated the signers’ rights.

These folks are, of course, supremely unconcerned that the rights of gays have been violated longer than Oregon has been a state.

On the plus side, Jan. 1 did usher in Oregon’s law forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation. Altogether, the first day of 2008 in the Beaver State reflected the unavoidable reality of our march toward equality: The march route includes speed bumps, Uturns and sinkholes.

On the other coast at the same time - all right, three hours earlier - another new law was truly, really going into effect. At 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, 37 gay and lesbian New Hampshire couples entered into civil unions. Held outdoors on the plaza of the New Hampshire Statehouse, the celebration began at 11:00 p.m.

Which means that by the time they were actually united, the brides and grooms must’ve looked stunning in matching icicles.

The state’s new law is, by current national

standards, expansive. It effectively gives same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as marriage, without the name. The domestic partner law in Oregon affords only some spousal rights, yet conservative Oregonians, with their last-ditch legal effort, are fighting as though Vikings have landed on Cannon Beach.

New Hampshire’s new law isn’t 100 percent safe, either. Part of the law says the state will recognize other states’ legal gay and lesbian unions. A clutch of Republicans in the legislature aims to erase that nicety.

No local protesters littered the Statehouse in Concord when the dozens of couples exchanged vows. The Associated Press talked to one concerned man, Michael Hein, who said he’d driven 180 miles from Augusta, Maine, in order to “report to the people of Maine that this is going on next door.”

I hope he at least wore a festive New Year’s hat as he glowered.

“Without our vigilance in Maine, (civil unions are) something that could occur as soon as next year,” he said. If they do, Hein might be protesting civil unions in Augusta, Maine’s capital, at the same time next year.

How pleasant to have a New Year’s tradition.

I wonder if Hein knew of the notable event taking place in Augusta the very next day, Jan. 2. The Gay Men’s Chorus sang the national anthem to kick off the 2008 session of the Maine legislature. It was said to be the first time a gay chorus has sung the anthem at the start of any state legislative session. Hein, presumably, was something less than proud.

So Jan. 2 joined Jan. 1 as a day of change.

That’s good for Jan. 2’s ego - it must be hard to be the date when so many New Year’s resolutions collapse.

Leslie Robinson lives in Seattle. E-mail her at LesRobinsn@aol.com, and read other columns at www.GeneralGayety.com.

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 13

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

14 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

FEATURE STORY

Columbus’ GLBT community will soon have a new way to make its voice heard. United Way of Central Ohio is launching its Pride Leadership program which is designed to prepare members of the GLBT community to serve in leadership roles on the boards of local nonprofit organizations.

“United Way brings people together to tackle community problems, and we know through long experience that the best solutions are crafted by diverse groups with unique perspectives and approaches,” said Janet E. Jackson, President and CEO, United Way of Central Ohio. “We actively seek the participation of people who represent a wide range of backgrounds JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

and experience, and we insist that the agencies we fund do the same.

Central Ohio is becoming increasingly more diverse, and to best serve our community, so must we.”

The Pride Leadership program is based on the successful model of United Way’s Project Diversity. That program uses lectures, hands-on workshops and other activities to prepare minority professionals for leadership roles in local nonprofit organizations. The initiative has been a tremendous success. Over the 18 years since it began, Project Diversity has prepared over 300 professionals, many of whom now serve on the boards of nonprofits, where they offer perspectives that might not otherwise be heard.

Shayne Downton, United Way’s director of Diversity and Inclusion, hopes to see the same kind of results for the GLBT community.

“We’ve built a model that we know works very well, and we are excited about using our experience to help increase GLBT representation at organizations that are important for the entire central Ohio community.”

The idea for Pride Leadership came about as a result of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s research and discussions on how the Project Diversity model could be used to train other important but perhaps overlooked groups. “The GLBT community stood out to the committee as a group with tremendous untapped leadership potential

that deserved to have a greater role in decisions made in central Ohio,” said Downton. “We believe there are a lot of people out there who care deeply and want to make a difference, and this program will give them the tools they need to do that.”

Once the decision was made to launch the Pride Leadership program, United Way began seeking sponsors. The Macy’s Foundation stepped up with a major grant to get the program off the ground.

Given the strong track record of Project Diversity, and the large number of active GLBT community members, United Way expects Pride Leadership to get off to a fast and successful start. (continued)

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 15

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Congratulations to Bradley Weatherford, CRS 2007 Agent of the Year!

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

Pride Leadership FAQs

16 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

Q. What is the Pride Leadership program and who are the intended participants?

A. Pride Leadership is a new 8-month training program of the United Way of Central Ohio directed at Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered professionals and designed to facilitate their placement onto volunteer boards and leadership roles on committees. The intent of the program is to give the GLBT population a greater voice in community leadership. The profile of Pride Leadership participants will vary but as a benchmark the program will normally be completed by young mid – level professionals who have demonstrated leadership skills that can easily transfer to a non-profit board setting.

Q. Why Pride Leadership?

A. As an organization focused on community impact, United Way of Central Ohio recognizes the need to have a broad spectrum of individuals represented in decision-making capacities within our community. As the number of diverse populations served by not-for-profit organizations continues to increase, the need for representation from different groups in leadership and governance roles has become a factor in ensuring that decision making is inclusive and represents diverse perspectives.

In response to the changing dynamics of our community, United Way of Central Ohio created the Cultural Competency Standards to help organizations serve an increasingly diverse central Ohio commu-

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

nity and work more effectively in cross cultural situations. Through Pride Leadership, individuals will have an opportunity to assist United Way of Central Ohio and its’ affiliate agencies in adhering to cultural competency standards within our community.

Q. Who sponsors Pride Leadership?

A. The program is an initiative of the United Way of Central Ohio and is supported by the Macy’s Foundation. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee, a board level committee of the United Way of Central Ohio currently oversees the program.

The committee consists of volunteers from corporations, donors, issue experts, organizations and community representatives.

Q. How much does Pride Leadership cost?

A. The cost of participation is $250 per participant. The majority of the program cost is paid by support from the sponsors.

In some cases, the cost is covered by the participant’s employer. A limited number of scholarships are available if an employer is not able or willing to make the investment.

Q. How are participants selected?

A. The application process will be very competitive. Participants will be chosen by a volunteer committee consisting of representatives from non-profit agencies, sponsors, GLBT community representatives and the Diversity and Inclusion Com-

mittee at the United Way of Central Ohio.

Q. How soon will participants be chosen and classes begin?

A. Selection and notification is expected to occur late- February 2008. The cycle will kick-off with an orientation for participants and employer representatives in mid-March 2008.

Q. What is the time commitment for Pride Leadership?

A. Pride Leadership is a big investment in time and energy. On average sessions are held once or twice per month during weekday mornings from 7:30am to 9:30am and/or at Noon. Special events are held at other times. Details regarding exact dates of workshops and special events will be provided at the orientation in mid-March.

Q. Does Pride Leadership guarantee me a board or leadership committee assignment once I graduate?

A. No, although many of the agencies that will solicit Pride Leadership graduates are funded by United Way of Central Ohio, there is no automatic placement for graduates. Participants are given the skills to be successful at navigating the search and interview process for selecting boards or committees on which to serve. Several networking opportunities are provided to connect participants to potential opportunities.

UWCO and GLBT United Way of Central Ohio has a long history of engagement with and support of the GLBT community. It has funded programs at the Columbus AIDS Task Force since 1990, and provided grants to the Legacy Fund of the Columbus Foundation, which focuses on GLBT issues. In 2003, the United Way board of trustees elected then Columbus City Councilwoman Mary Jo Hudson as a member, providing a very real “seat at the table” for GLBT perspectives. When Councilwoman Hudson became the State of Ohio’s Commissioner of Insurance she had to resign her board seat.

But it was soon filled by Tom Grote, the cofounder and current board chair of the Equality Ohio Education Fund, and a community volunteer who has long been active on GLBT issues.

Over the past two years United Way helped lead the GLBT Census, an anonymous online survey of GLBT households which will provide the most detailed information on central Ohio’s GLBT community ever compiled. One of the key findings of this soon-to-be-released survey is opinion of the respondents that the GLBT community lacks leadership. One way to address that opinion is by expanding the ranks of involved, GLBT leaders, which is exactly what Pride Leadership seeks to do.

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 17

United Way’s Impact Giving to United Way of Central Ohio is one of the best ways to ensure that your donation is helping people in our community with the most pressing problems that they face.

Through the efforts of volunteers and the contributions of donors, United Way has accomplished a lot.

United Way partnered with Stonewall Columbus and Columbus AIDS Task Force to design and conduct the first census of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community in central Ohio. This groundbreaking census will provide up-to-date information that will help United Way, its partners and the broader community better understand this important community.

United Way of Central Ohio’s early learning initiative Start Smart has increased the quality of early care and education by helping 89 local providers achieve national accreditation. As a result, 20 percent of centers in central Ohio are accredited, compared with 8 percent nationally.

Outlook’s Weekly Poll Results

United Way invests more than $4.2 million annually in after school and youth development programs. Last year, more than 41,000 young people in central Ohio participated in United Way-funded efforts that worked on reinforcement of educational goals and success, the development of positive social skills, relationships with adults and peers, leadership development, and prevention of risky behaviors.

United Way dedicated more than $3.1 million to support programs that help assure that people in crisis have access to emergency food, shelter and financial assistance. It helped provide direct food assistance to more than 138,000 people; funded more than 51,000 nights in shelters and helped leverage additional resources resulting in more than 336,000 nights of emergency shelter for homeless individuals and families.

United Way helped launch and lead the Franklin County EITC Coalition which provided free tax preparation services to more than

1,700 households, allowing them to receive $2.2 million. This money helps hardworking people build assets and financial stability while strengthening the local economy.

United Way is a longstanding partner in the Rebuilding Lives Initiative which has created 772 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless adults. This housing provides not just shelter but links to vital services like food pantries, health programs and job training. Last year, more than 90 percent of chronically homeless adults in Rebuilding Lives did not return to emergency shelter.

United Way partnered with Community Properties of Ohio, which manages 1,000 low-income housing units across Columbus, to develop an innovative Community Hub where residents can go and be quickly and easily connected to services for their children and themselves, including Head Start, immunizations and summer camp. One program has reduced infant mortality rates and the number of low birthweight babies by half.

United Way’s Community Care Day is the largest single volunteering effort in central Ohio. In September 2006 the event marked its 15th anniversary with over 4700 volunteers from 75 local companies tackling more than 130 projects, accomplishing in a single day what would otherwise have taken weeks of work, and over $400,000 dollars in equivalent labor costs.

The Neighborhood Empowerment Grant program engaged almost 1,300 volunteers in 24 different community-based projects designed to improve neighborhoods in 2006. A total of $137,500 was invested in projects that focused on community outreach/involvement, neighborhood identity, park improvements and health.

To find out more about United Way of Central Ohio’s work and to donate or volunteer please go to: www.uwcentralohio.org.

Last Week’s question:

Next week's issue is on United Ways Pride Leadership Training. Have you ever served on a board of a business or organization & were you out to the board?

Yes, out and proud 70.8% Yes, but wasn't out. 0.0% No 29.2%

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

18 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD

by Romeo San Vicente

PAUL RUDD SAYS I LOVE YOU, MAN

NATHAN LANE CASTS SWING VOTE

Does the success of Superbad and its teenage protagonists expressing love for one another however drunkenly - signal the beginning of a trend in the comic treatment of heterosexual male intimacy? Is this the age of the “bromantic comedy”? The new movie, I Love You, Man, makes that look likely. Co-produced by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) and starring Paul Rudd (whose willingness to “go there” with gay-related subject matter in films like The Object of My Affection and The 40 Year-Old Virgin is well documented), the film centers on an engaged man who finds himself without a best man. He has to find a male friend he considers close enough to fill that position.

Expect a lot of mock dating situations as the poor straight guy navigates gay(ish) waters.

Shooting this spring, here’s hoping it’s better than I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.

Like that’ll be hard.

He’s acting up a storm on Broadway right now with Laurie Metcalf in the new David Mamet play, November, but stage fixture Nathan Lane will be back on the big screen this new year, too, with a role in the ensemble comedy Swing Vote. Starring Kevin Costner as a low-achieving, apolitical American citizen, the movie concerns a presidential election that hinges entirely on Costner’s not-entirely-well-informed vote and the national chaos that results from it. Lane will co-star, along with Dennis Hopper, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, George Lopez, Mare Winningham, Willie Nelson, and political commentator Arianna Huffington as herself. Already wrapped, the film - if audiences vote for it with their ticket dollars - could find itself increasing poll turnouts. But not likely.

ADDAMS AND MAPA MAKE TRANSAMERICAN LOVE It was just a matter of time, really. Get ready for Transamerican Love Story, a reality dating show feature Calpernia Addams, a 36-yearold transgendered woman (whose life and tragic relationship with an Army private inspired the TV movie Soldier’s Girl). Addams will be the object of affection for a group of men competing to date her - all of whom will know about her formerly male body. Contrast that to the U.K. series, There’s Something About Miriam, on which the male contestants were not told about Miriam’s transgender status, and the new concept marks a bold step for the reality television genre. Actor and stand-up comic Alec Mapa will host the show that’s just been given the green light by gay cable channel Logo. The dating game begins later in 2008.

CHOOSING AMERICA’S PROM QUEEN For further evidence that pop culture is now dominated by entertainment designed for the High School Musical demographic, look no further than America’s Prom Queen. ABC Family has given the go-ahead for the new series that will pit a group of high school-aged young women against each other in the quest to be the fairest prom queen of them all. The contestants will reside in a mansion and compete in challenges that will show if they’ve got what it takes to wear a tiara in public and wave at less popular people; then they’ll stay or go based on viewer votes. But Romeo has one complaint: in an era when young men are routinely making the news after being voted prom queen at their school, why no boys allowed?

Romeo San Vicente - while in high school, mind you - was very popular with his share of prom kings. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.

ARTS

CATCO Presents The Drawer Boy Life on one Canadian farm is about to change forever Travel back to 1972.

Apollo 17 lands on the Moon. The Godfather is the highest-grossing movie in years.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are born. The Watergate scandal begins. Nixon is in China. Carly Simon’s Anticipation, Don McLean’s American Pie and Moody Blue’s Nights in White Satin top the pop music charts.

And on a small farm in Ontario, Canada, something big is about to happen. Two middleaged farmers – Army buddies – are about to discover the redemptive power of acknowledging the past and embracing the possibilities of what the future might hold. It will change their lives forever – and the life of a young, self-centered and hopelessly naïve actor who becomes their houseguest.

Their story will be shared in central Ohio Feb. 1-24, 2008, as the Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO) presents one of the most acclaimed plays of the decade, Michael Healey’s The Drawer Boy. All shows will be performed at the Studio One Theatre, Verne Riffe Center, 77 S High St. Winner of four Dora Mayor Moore Awards (Canada’s top theatre award), including one for outstanding new play, The Drawer Boy, which will be premiered in central Ohio for the first time. The play also received a Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama, the Floyd S. JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

Chalmers Canadian Play Award and Helen Hayes Award.

Selected by Time magazine as one of the Ten Best Plays of 2001, The Drawer Boy is about friendship and loyalty, love and loss, and pain and forgiveness. The Toronto Sun calls it “Wonderfully understated. Funny and deeply affecting.”

Veteran CATCO actor and director Jonathan Putnam will direct The Drawer Boy. Acting in the cast are CATCO founder and artistic director, Geoff Nelson; John H. Fields; and Terrence Mosley.

There are two previews for The Drawer Boy, Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, at 8p Tickets are $32.50 for the main level (rows A-M) and $20.50 for the balcony. Tickets for two $11@11a matinee performances Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 are $11.50 ($11 plus a 50-cent restoration fee); tickets for a $20@2 matinee performance Saturday, Feb. 23, are $20.50 ($20 plus a 50-cent restoration fee). All remaining tickets for regularly scheduled performances are $40 for the main level (rows A-M) and $25 for the balcony. Visit www.catco.org for more show details.

All tickets can be purchased at the box office at 41 E. State St., next to the Ohio Theatre, by calling 614.469.0939 or by calling or visiting any central Ohio Ticketmaster location.

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 19

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

20 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

INTERVIEW

by Michael A. Knipp

If you spotted clothing designer Andrew Christian pounding the star-studded pavement of Hollywood Blvd., you might mistake him for a cleaner-cut Colin Farrell or, perhaps, a more rugged Robin Thicke.

But Christian is neither a reformed drunk from Dublin or a pretty-boy R&B balladeer.

Still, the 29-year-old Christian seeps sex appeal with the best of ’em.

Especially in his underwear.

Born and raised in Fresno, Calif., and moving to Los Angeles at age 19, Christian is the proprietor of Andrew Christian Inc., the upand-coming clothier that’s giving Ginch Gonch and other alternative fashion houses a run for its money. Once a fledgling brand back in the late 1990s, Andrew Christian is now a popular and, more importantly, profitable endeavor that’s outfitting gay America from its skintight shirt obsession to its super-low-cut skivvies.

Perhaps you’ve heard of Andrew Christian. If you haven’t, then surely you’ve seen its ads.

They feature taut models in various positions of bare-chested brotherly love, clad in nothing more than a pair of briefs.

By now, every in-the-know homo should have stumbled upon the single-shot spots.

That’s because they’ve appeared in myriad fag rags from D.C. to Dallas, New York to Newport.

Beach, that is.

But while these scenes of PG-13 playtime emit an aura of sex and excitement, Christian’s company wasn’t always a label to which consumers flocked. In fact, it wasn’t until recently that anyone knew it existed at all.

Christian’s story starts out like most of those who head out west with twinkles in their eyes and a few dollars in their pockets. But unlike other hopefuls that land in L.A. seeking fame and fortune, Christian was content attending college to become proficient in his passion. Of the schools he applied to, L.A. Trade Tech – which the designer describes as “the more ghetto of the designs school in L.A.” – accepted him, giving him the experience he needed to eventually fly solo.

“I moved here to go to school for fashion deJAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

sign,” says Christian, from the floor of a Las Vegas fashion convention. “I worked for clothing manufacturers like KikWear and did freelance for Freshjive while working on my own line on the side. Even while working for these companies I knew I wanted to do my own thing. I used them as more of a learning experience, a steppingstone.”

While that springboard proved worthwhile, Christian encountered problems along the way, namely, moving his products. Although he describes the southern California fashion scene as easier to break into than other areas, it still wasn’t a weekend in WeHo. Like most companies, his startup was barebones and barely on its feet. Christian knew he had marketable merchandise, but he wasn’t sure he had the funds to follow through. Ever determined to claim his piece of the American pie, however, he buckled down and made the best of his most abundant resource – himself.

“I was basically doing as much stuff on my own as possible,” Christian recalls of the first few years on his own. “I kept my payroll as low as possible. I ran my own errands, cut patterns myself, invoices, packed boxes myself. I was working very long days and weekends.”

“The toughest thing was getting people to know who you are,” he continues. “There are a million different companies out there; that was the biggest obstacle to overcome. There were lean times when I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but I always believed I could do it. I just said, let me stick with this until I absolutely can’t do it anymore. Finally, it paid off.”

It’s paying off big time, too. Not only is Christian shipping his goods across the nation, he’s also exporting it to customers in other countries. In addition, he has a list of celebrity clients that includes comedian Alec Mapa and former “Queer Eye” guy Jai Rodriquez.

But why all this sudden attention? Why, after 10 years of snipping and clipping, has the Andrew Christian clothing line only recently taken off?

It’s simple, really: Christian became a con-

tender in the Battle of the Bulge.

When Andrew Christian underwear debuted earlier this year – it was strictly sportswear beforehand – the vast array of colors and styles wasn’t the only thing that demanded the attention of potential customers. Also peaking interest was an adjustable elastic strap sewn into the inside of each pair that worked as a sort of WonderBra for the nether region. That’s right, dubbed Show-It Technology, Christian’s groundbreaking briefs, boxer briefs and jockstraps featured a device that offered PR for the penis while holding the male anatomy proudly in place.

“Whether you’re male, female, straight or gay, it seems that most agree that size matters,” Christian says sheepishly. “Show-It Technology just facilitates the ‘bigger is better’ theory. It assists guys in showing off what they have.”

Or don’t have, as is sometimes the case.

But that’s neither here nor there.

Though the line initially helped secure Andrew Christian a place on the fashion map, Show-It Technology was discontinued just a few short months after its launch. Christian says that despite the “technology” helping to broaden Andrew Christian’s fan base, it ultimately scared a certain sect of its constituency.

“Seems like [Show-It] freaked out some people who are a little more conservative,” he admits.

While Christian hopes that eliminating Show-It from his underwear will help generate a greater acceptance of the line, it doesn’t mean that he has abandoned all attempts to innovate. Just the opposite is the case. Taking what he learned from his initial outing, the buff-bodied designer will launch a new feature in the near future.

“This month we’re introducing one style that has a sort of butt lifter in it, called the Flashback,” he reveals. “I just previewed it to all my stores, so we’re going forward with that for January.”

Another new announcement from Christian is his company’s association with runway-

walker-turned-reality-show-renegade Janice Dickinson. The pair have teamed up to place Dickenson’s models, from her eponymous modeling agency, in Christian’s clothing.

“We approached [Janice] about using her models in next year’s campaign,” says Christian about the world’s first and arguably most controversial supermodel. “We went in and did a model casting with her, as well as a photo shoot with her male and female models for underwear.”

As a result of this win-win spin on piggyback advertising, new models are now appearing on the Andrew Christian Web site, and “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” will air episodes featuring Andrew Christian for its third season in 2008.

Notwithstanding a brief turn as a stonefaced strutter – “At one point in the shoot Janice and I had to demonstrate to the newbie models how to runway walk properly,” Christian quips – the former Fresnan has since returned to the real world, where real work is required, to ensure that his supply of packagepromoting products meets its current demand.

That means nothing less than continuing to creatively pioneer everything that bears the Andrew Christian logo, a Swiss-inspired cross.

And you can bet that will include even more cheeky concepts.

“I definitely see us doing underwear, continuing with that,” the entrepreneur says. “New fabrics, more breathable fabrics, eco-friendly fabrics.

“We’re also trying to get actively involved in the communities. People appreciate us coming to them to show them our products so they can see the quality and understand that Andrew Christian is a real person and not just a big corporation that doesn’t really care about them.”

It’s a philosophy that, considering the source, gives bold new meaning to having a heart on.

Michael A. Knipp is a 26-year-old Baltimore-based freelancer and the founder of Line/Byline Communications. He can be reached at michael.knipp@gmail.com

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 21

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

22 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

THE EXAMINED LIFE

Cognitive Therapy for Permanent Weight Loss

by Tom Moon, MFT

Q: When I was a boy I was so skinny that my nickname was “Scarecrow.” Not any more. Beginning at about age 25, I started putting on extra pounds.

It used to be easy to lose them by going on a crash diet, but I’ve never been able to keep the weight off, and with every year I’ve gotten bigger and bigger. Now I’m officially in the obese category. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, I’m pre-diabetic, I’m low-energy all the time, and my doctor told me that unless I get control of my weight I’m setting myself up for a heart attack. My weight has ruined my sex life. I have a handsome face, and guys used to think I was hot, but as heavy as I am now, the men I want won’t give me the time of day. I don’t need to look like a movie star! I’d be happy if I could just have a healthy weight, but I’ve tried every diet under the sun, and they all just leave me right where I started. To tell you the truth, I’m feeling depressed and hopeless about my prospects. Have I been fooling myself in thinking I could ever get thin again? Am I just one of those people who are doomed to be fat?

A: I have two suggestions. The first thing you probably need is some hope, so I suggest you access the website of the National Weight Control Registry (nwcr.ws). This organization was formed to counter the common belief that people can’t succeed at long-term weight loss. The NWCR is currently track-

ing over 5,000 people who have lost significant amounts of weight and kept it off for long periods of time. It’s identifying the behavioral and psychological characteristics of weight maintainers, as well as the strategies they use to maintaining their weight losses. You might find some valuable information as well as inspiration on this site.

I’m sure you already know this, but it bears repeating: there’s no point in going on another “crash diet” to lose weight, because, as you’ve discovered, as soon as you go off the diet and return to your old eating habits, you’ll gain it all back. Your challenge is to commit to a healthy eating plan you can live with for the rest of your life.

But before you can do that, you finally have to accept and come to terms with the fact that your childhood days of eating whatever you want are over. But don’t think of that as a unique hardship. You’re actually in good company: virtually everyone restricts their eating in some way, women beginning in their teens, and most men by age 45.

Over time, your eating plan needs to become as

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automatic and second-nature as brushing your teeth every morning. That’s a major challenge because our eating habits are maintained by a whole matrix of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and habits which have to be overhauled for any meaningful change to occur. One reason so many people fail at dieting is because they see the problem exclusively as an issue of restricting their eating and give little or no attention to the many psychological changes that have to occur to maintain long-term compliance with their plan.

So my second suggestion is that you pick up a copy of The Beck Diet Solution, by Judith Beck.

Despite its title, this isn’t yet another diet book. It’s a six-week psychological self-treatment program that applies the tested principles of cognitive therapy to the issue of permanent weight loss. The stated goal of the program is to “train your brain to think like a thin person.” It doesn’t recommend any particular diet plan; instead it teaches you how to diet.

So, for instance, the program teaches students to distinguish between genuine hunger and food crav-

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ings (hint: hunger is usually felt as a pang in the stomach and craving as an uncomfortable yearning in the mouth and throat); and offers practical strategies for coping with cravings, stress, and strong negative emotions without resorting to emotional eating. Through specific exercises students learn to stop treating the feeling of hunger as if it’s an emergency; and to learn to treat bouts of overeating as a temporary and solvable problem, not a catastrophe.

Here’s Beck’s description of her program “…you’ll learn crucial Cognitive Therapy techniques that you’ll use for the rest of your life. They include planning what you eat, choosing healthy foods, resisting cravings, soothing yourself without turning to food, using good eating habits, and exercising, to name but a few. You’ll also learn essential skills to counter sabotaging thoughts that would otherwise lead to overeating, demoralization, and giving up.” Obviously, none of this is a walk in the park. Changing lifelong habits will require sustained effort, time and patience. But solid research and the success of many thousands show that it’s rational for you to believe that, if you do the work, you can finally gain permanent control of your weight. I suggest you give this program a try.

Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco.

His website is tommoon.net.

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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 23

PUCKER UP

by Tristan Taormino

Pucker Up Turns 200!

Celebrating a gala anniversary with a look back at a near decade of debauchery When I first met with a Voice editor in 1999 about starting this column, he had a concern: “What if you run out of things to talk about?” I assured him I wouldn’t. And I haven’t - this is my 200th column. For whatever reason, my 100th came and went without much fanfare no orgy, no cake. No girl jumping out of a cake, even. This milestone deserves better, and I want to celebrate by looking back on where I’ve been, what I’ve done, and what’s changed in the nine years since I began.

When I started writing Pucker Up, it was still illegal in many states to have consensual oral and anal sex. The meatpacking district was New York City’s sexual hub, home to the Clit Club and Jackie 60 at Mother, along with S&M dens Hellfire and the Lure. Viagra had been on the market for less than a year. You could still buy porn on VHS. And my very first column was about teaching an anal-sex workshop at Toys in Babeland. At that point, I’d done probably a dozen of these workshops, and people were still weirded out by the whole idea of butt sex. Since then, I’ve taught classes all over the world and definitely noticed a change in my students: They’re more open and less nervous, with much more advanced questions. (“Can anal sex really feel good?” has been replaced by “Do you recommend a certain kind of butt plug to warm up for fisting?”)

One of the most challenging columns to research was my piece on diaper fetishists.

Grown-ups who like to wear diapers are a very

private bunch, especially with regards to the press. (No wonder: The track record for coverage of folks with this predilection is awful.) They’re misunderstood and even shunned by other kinky people. So it took a long time to find someone to trust me, talk to me, and invite me to a gathering. Once I was in, I had to put aside my own hang-ups and judgments in order to get a true sense of what made these people tick. My contact, Daddy Russ, challenged me to don my own pair of Luvs in order to really, truly understand the fetish: It put me way outside my comfort zone, but I’m glad I did it.

A popular early column was The Queer Heterosexual, which was about straight people who challenge gender and sex norms. Queer culture’s effect on the mainstream is increasingly obvious and significant, and I’m not just talking about Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. My piece about the sex-toy ban in Texas got an enormous amount of hits; a legal case challenging the ban went all the way to the Supreme Court in 2006.

(The high court refused to hear the case, leaving the law on the books in George Bush’s home state.)

I’m most proud of my two-part exploration of the potential dangers of phthalates in sex toys.

In addition to getting a lot of reader responses, within weeks of its publication, several big companies, including Adam & Eve and Good Vibrations, announced they would begin phasing out toys with phthalates. Other companies responded to the issue as well, including Califor-

nia Exotic Novelties, which announced it would begin listing the materials used on each toy’s packaging.

A lot has changed, for better and for worse, in the world of sexuality. Mainstream media coverage and dialogue among everyday people has increased on topics like anal sex, bend-over boyfriends (straight guys who like to get pegged), porn, sex toys, and BDSM. There are more sex columnists at college newspapers and more bloggers devoted to writing about sex. The Internet has given people greater access to sexual entertainment and information, as well as to each other—online dating and mating has increased tenfold. The Web has also diversified sex, creating niche markets and communities around a specific turn-on, fetish, or kink. Science and technology has brought us innovations in birth control, DVD formats, interactive sex toys, and virtual online worlds.

But we’re still far from living in a sex-positive culture. There hasn’t been any more research on female ejaculation than there was when I wrote my first column about it in 1999.

Abstinence-only sex education continues to get more funding and support than other programs.

Right-wing hypocrites continue to get caught with their pants down, sending inappropriate IMs or making moves in bathroom stalls. Lame celebrity-sex tapes have become more popular than big-budget porn features. People who practice BDSM, polyamory, and other alternative sexualities are still demonized and misrepre-

sented. Meatholes.com still gets more traffic than planned parenthood.org. There are folks still writing to me every day that are struggling with confusion, disempowerment, shame, guilt, and a lack of knowledge about their sexual desires, fantasies, and identities.

Let me let you in on a little secret: Sometimes writing this column comes so easily, it feels like it writes itself - like when I’m a judge in Jamaica for a reality show to pick the next great porn star, or I find myself on the set of a transsexual-pornstar Buck Angel movie, or I’ve just hosted my first fist-a-thon at kinky summer camp. But other times, it’s really difficult - like when a politician’s sex scandal has been covered to death, or the big Vegas porno convention is uninspiring, or the latest sex toy someone sent me is crap. The highs and lows of my column mirror the ebb and flow of sex in general, whether it’s on television, in the headlines, or part of my own life. Sometimes sex is magical, exciting, and ripe with possibilities; sometimes it’s tedious, predictable, and just plain frustrating. Thank you, my readers, for sticking with me through it all. Here’s to the next 200!

For more about Tristan Taormino, please visit PuckerUp.com.

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

24 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 25

SAVAGE LOVE

by Dan Savage

While visiting my family for the holidays, my 72-year-old father informed me that a 29-year-old Russian woman was coming to America to be with him. He could hardly contain his excitement. Dad didn’t want me to tell my brother and sister, because he knew they would be critical of him being with a 29year-old Russian virgin. He’s correct. They would judge him. But I couldn’t care less who he fucks.

I did ask if he had sent this woman any money. He insisted that he had not. Over the next couple days, I got my father to confess to sending this woman more than $3,000 (he won’t give me the real number). A few days later he went to the airport to meet his lovely Russian girlfriend. Obviously, no Russian woman got off the plane.

I have since had some conversations with my dad about the likelihood that a legitimate 29-year-old woman - or even a 50-year-old woman - would want to be with a 72-year-old man in bad health. There is nothing exceptional about him. He is overweight, basically lives on social security with enough left in retirement savings for some luxury in life, has no special talents that would make a much younger woman attracted to him, i.e., he is not Jack Nicholson, etc. I encouraged him to think about more age-appropriate partners and did some internet searches for him on legit dating websites. He’s not interested in anyone close to his age. Those women are “old,” he says.

Dad says he’s lonely without female companionship. I don’t think this is about being lonely. He works on occasion for my brother, goes out with family and friends. I think it is about an old man who wants to recapture his youth by being with a younger woman. Which is fine. But as his son, I feel obligated to protect what little my father has. He has already been scammed once. We have always had a

good relationship. But he confides in me less now because I “lectured” him about his Russian girlfriend and the age difference.

Should I help him with the dream of finding a much younger woman? Or, do I continue down the path of convincing him to seek out women who, if not age-appropriate, at least have similar life experiences?

No Fools Like Old Fools If your dad admits to sending this woman $3K, NFLOF, he probably sent her 10 times that. Explain to your father that he can have a hot younger woman whenever he wants - by renting one, an honest pro, a decent whore, someone who only wants to take him for her reasonable, hourly rate. Yes, he’ll be paying for it, but he’ll be paying a lot less and actually getting it. With a little effort, you and your dad can find a kind, understanding pro, someone he can see regularly, and he can establish a “relationship” of sorts, one that involves a little companionship and affection, real or simulated, and not just sex.

It may not be legal, of course, but it’s the only way a man who isn’t rich and famous like Donald Trump or Fred Thompson - can land a 29-year-old bride.

And finally, NFLOF, you need to discuss what went down with your siblings and talk to your father’s doc, if he has one. If he’s dangerously out of touch with reality - like Donald Trump or Fred Thompson - you may need to step in and take over his finances before his next mailorder bride takes him for all he’s worth.

Here’s what’s up: My wife and I were making love the other night and after about 20 minutes of great sex she told me she was going to come. She went ahead and had a great orgasm and then pretty much shut down. I was left lying on the bed with a huge hard-on and

the expectation that she would “help” me out a little bit. But after a few minutes, it became apparent she had no intention of doing anything but going to sleep. We had a minifight about it later. She felt that since on other (rare) occasions I have had an orgasm and she hasn’t, it was okay to leave me the way she did. What gives? I have a case, don’t I? Incidentally, for some reason after 10 minutes of this bickering, we were both still turned on and we ended up having sex again - and this time we BOTH got off!

Loaded Question So long as you’ve offered to get the wife off on those occasions when you’ve come first - and made the offer with a smiling, upbeat, onlytoo-happy-to-do-it tone in your voice, LQ, and followed through - she is obligated to do the same. If, however, you’ve rolled over and passed out on those occasions when you’ve come first, she is under no obligation to treat your ass with any more consideration.

I have been dating my girlfriend for six months and we are passionate about each other, making love at least twice a day.

We’re very much in love. My girlfriend’s best friend is a gay male whom she dated in high school before he came out. I asked my girlfriend about taking a vacation together this year and she told me that she can’t because she’s going to Italy for two weeks with her gay ex. Is this screwed up or am I freaking out about nothing? I mean, she is going away for two weeks with her ex-boyfriend who now just happens to be gay?!

Jealously Justified

travel companions are concerned. And he’s GAY, you idiot. They dated in HIGH SCHOOL. He is, for all intents and purposes, her GIRLFRIEND now - he probably always was. Seeing as he’s just a friend, JJ, why shouldn’t she travel with him? What are you afraid of? That he’s going to streak her hair over there?

If you can’t be chill about this, you’re going to sabotage this relationship. You haven’t been dating that long, so she either made these plans before you met or before you two became serious. At a year and six months - maybe you would have a right to be aggrieved if she was running off for two weeks with a friend, preventing you two from getting away together.

But at this point, any bitching from you is going to raise red flags. If you’re smart - and the jury’s out - you’ll say, “Gee, I wish I was going with you - I can’t wait until we can travel together and fuck our way across Europe.” And, if you must, you can add, “I know it’s COMPLETELY IRRATIONAL, but I’m feeling a little jealous and threatened. Tell me again how COMPLETELY and THOROUGHLY and SCREAMINGLY gay your ex is, please.” Say that with a smile so she’ll laugh, then you fake a laugh, and then take them BOTH out to dinner, give them a travel guide, and tell ’em you hope they have fun over there.

And who knows? If you play your cards right, JJ, you might get invited along. But if you act like a jealous, irrational douchebag, you’re definitely going to get your ass dumped.

Readers respond to my advice for LIMP - the guy who can’t stop stressing over the size of his dick - at www.thestranger.com/savage/limp. Download Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at www.thestranger.com/savage. mail@savagelove.net

At six months, JJ, you don’t have the seniority to make demands on your girlfriend where JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

26 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

FINDING ACCEPTANCE

TH R O UG H AR T ABOUT TOWN

Ohio University-Chillicothe Stray Cats Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Straight Student and Community organization is holding a themed art show entitled Tolerance. The theme of Tolerance is all encompassing.

At one time or another we have all felt the detrimental effects of closed-mindedness. The goal of this exhibition is to in-

crease tolerance for all humanity regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, or sexual, political, and socioeconomic orientation.

Tolerance will be on display for public viewing January 25th through February 27th in Bennett Hall of Ohio UniversityChillicothe in the Patricia Scott Gallery 101 University Drive Chillicothe, Ohio 45601.

The opening reception is Friday, Jan 25

6-8p where the public can meet artists and discuss the importance of tolerance.

Light Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided in encouragement of discussion. Prizes will be awarded at this time.

For further information contact Stray Cats through Brandon Houseman at bwhouseman@yahoo.com.

The Mind and Body Connection Depression, stress, insomnia, and anxiety decrease our quality of life. While there are many causes for these conditions most members of the medical community agree that exercise and relaxation techniques may lessen these problems. In a recent LGBT survey conducted by the United Way of Central Ohio and community partner organizations, many participants indicated that they suffered from anxiety and depression but did not have the funds to seek help.

Responding to the community need to combat these problems Stonewall Columbus is creating a Healthy Minds, Healthy Body Series at the Center on High Two classes: Hatha for Beginners and Energy Work and Meditation will be offered free to up to fifteen participants. This series is made possible with a generous grant from the Legacy Fund of the Columbus Foundation.

Hatha for Beginners @ Studio One, Center on High, Stonewall Community Center, 1160 N High St, 614.299.7764, www.stonewallcolumbus.org: This course will be suitable for those who have never done yoga before to those who have some experience. Instructor Vanessa Schumm Welch will introduce body awareness, basic yoga poses and their components, breath work and relaxation techniques. Students will discover newly developed strength, flexibility and mind/body awareness at their own level in a relaxed, lighthearted atmosphere. This class is most appropriate for those who can easily get up and down off the floor.

Vanessa has been practicing yoga for 13 years. Originally a certified aerobics instructor, she was invited to attend a yoga class with a friend, falling in love with yoga during that first class and never turning back. Her first class was taught by Marcia Miller, one of the Yoga on High founding partners, with whom she still studies today. Vanessa was skeptical at first about yoga, being that her background was in

aerobics where alignment and the proper do’s and don’ts were applied. She was astounded and delighted that the yoga practice involved such attention to the body awareness, its placement, breathing and at a pace geared toward the individual’s ability. Her teacher was knowledgeable about the anatomy of the body and how that applied to everyday movement, individual limitations and injury prevention.

Vanessa currently studies at Yoga on High with the founding partners, Marcia Miller, Martha Marcom and Linda Oshins and attributes them with her continued knowledge and growth in her practice. She has also studied with several of the guest teachers at Yoga on High including Rodney Yee, Tom Myers, and Jean Couch.

Vanessa is a student of both the Hatha and Ashtanga styles of yoga and currently teaches both for Grandview Parks and Recreation.

Vanessa is a certified yoga instructor through NETA (National Exercise Trainers Association).

Six Classes: Sat, Feb 16 & 23; Sat Mar 1; Sun, Mar 9; Sat, Mar 15; Mar 22; free.

HEALTHY MIND & BODY SERIES

COLUMBUS NEXT MEETING: FEB 13, 6P-8P; LOCATION: JAMES CLUB 88, 55 W LONG ST ; SPEAKER:: MARY B FROM DAMES BOND • WWW.NETWORKCOLUMBUS.COM

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 27

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THE LAST WORD

by Chris Crain

Democrats Waffle On The Web The top three presidential hopefuls made all sorts of campaign promises on gay issues, but what are they telling the world on the web?

As the race for the Democratic presidential nomination really heats up, a lot of GLBT voters may feel pretty well informed about where the top candidates stand on gay issues and yet still left wondering which ones would step up and defend us in a pinch.

Like any other campaign constituency, it all boils down to how we avoid being lulled into falling for a candidate who says one thing to us as a candidate and then does another in office. One way is to see whether each of the leading Democrats is telling general audiences the same things on gay issues that they’ve promised in more comfy quarters to us directly.

After all, if they don’t have the mettle now to tell Democratic primary voters – and anyone else listening in – about where they stand on gay rights, then why should we expect them to stick with us as president when the conservatives invariably turn up the heat?

One of the first places voters and journalists go to learn a candidate’s position on any issue is the Internet, of course, and all three leading Democrats have put together pages on their campaign websites that outline some – though not necessarily all - of their gay rights views.

Keep in mind that even using a “LGBT” link to identify the page is hiding the ball a bit. As common as that acronym is to us, it’s uncommon to a general audience. The campaigns would argue labeling ease, but it’s also a convenient way to target the audience.

Assuming you’re “LGBT”-hip, then finding each campaign’s gay rights page can be a bit of an adventure. If you start on the home page of Hillary Clinton’s campaign website, it’s next to impossible. Under “issues,” she lists 10 general subjects, from “strengthening the middle class” to “a champion for women.” If for some reason you happen to click on “strengthening our democracy,” then there on the righthand side of the inside page is a link for “LGBT Community,” which takes you to her position page.

It’s more straightforward on John Edwards’ campaign home page, where if you click onto his “issues” page inside the site and scroll down about two-thirds of the way, there is a link for “LGBT.” Only Barack Obama has his “LGBT” link on the home page itself, listed between “Latinos” and “People of Faith” under the header “People” at the top of the page. Even still, if you clicked under “issues” and saw the first link was to “civil rights,” you would find an inside page that deals exclusively with African American issues and includes no “LGBT” link.

When you get to the candidates’ actual position pages, the contrasts are even more striking.

John Edwards offers up his overall philosophy on LGBT like this and follows it up with a wide range of positions, including his support on hot buttons like a full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, federal recognition of civil unions, and he is the only one of the three to mention immigration rights for gay binational couples and gay adoption, although the latter is not a federal issue.

Obama is almost as exhaustive in a fact sheet

on the same issues Edwards covers except for immigration rights, although that’s covered in another link to Obama’s questionnaire from the Human Rights Campaign. Most importantly, Obama states even more directly than Edwards that he backs “legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions.”

Clinton’s LGBT page offers a very different picture. No mention is made at all of her support for half-repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, immigration rights or federal recognition of civil unions or domestic partnerships. She includes “gender identity” with regard to hate crimes but on employment non-discrimination says only that it should cover “who you are and who you love.” Edwards and Obama were trans-inclusive on both bills.

Both Obama and Edwards pages also include a

series of statements released on gay issues during the course of the campaigns, while Clinton’s is the only one to include her actual record, as opposed to a statement of positions.

As it turns out, visiting the campaign websites can teach “LGBT” voters, donors and allies a lot about the leading Democrats, although what’s not there is at least as instructive as what is.

Chris Crain is former editor of the Washington Blade and five other gay publications and now edits GayNewsWatch.com.

He can be reached via his blog at www.citizencrain.com.

Campaign websites: Hillary Clinton: http://www.hillaryclinton.com, LGBT - http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/lgbt/ Barack Obama: http://www.barackobama.com; LGBT - http://pride.barackobama.com/page/content/lgbthome John Edwards: http://www.johnedwards.com LGBT - http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/lgbt/

HOROSCOPES

by Jack Fertig

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 18): Read up on martyrs, perhaps Martin Luther King Jr. or Harvey Milk. Amelia Earhart also died in pursuit of a dream. What’s important enough to die for? Better yet, what’s the most important thing to live for?

TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 20): Usually you hate to debate, but now you’re just itching to argue. Conquering some new craft or artistic technique could be a better use of that energy. Take on a difficult challenge, or you’re sure to become one!

LEO (Jul 23 - Aug22): When was your last visit to the doctor? No excuses - go!

A more thorough check-up may be in order, but if you’ve done that in very recent months (and even if you haven’t), indulge and pamper your skin.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21): You’re famous for your ability to keep a secret, but something is going to slip out. Damage control could include whispering something incredibly naughty into the ear of someone with whom you really want to share the secret - and the naughtiness.

PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 19): Sexual tension between you and a good friend will explode, changing the friendship. Resolve to stay friends no matter what happens. Your wildest - and scariest? erotic desires can come true, if you dare to let them.

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 20): Your erotic charm and enthusiasm could get you into a sexual situation that you may not feel ready for. Be honest about your desires and capacities, and careful about your company. With a little effort, you should be able to fulfill your wildest desires.

VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22): Your creative juices are gushing deep, nasty, and chthonic. Some people will admire your primordial expositions. Offending others with profound truths isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but you need to think strategically before you do!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 20): Money issues are looming large for you over the coming years. Now you get a taste of how your priorities and values will transform. Consider the three things you love most, then decide which you would be willing to sacrifice.

ARIES (Mar 20 - Apr 19): Your sexual skills and experiences (whether great or small) are getting talked about. If all that matters to you is that your name’s spelled right, this could be great advertising. If you’re the rare, shy Aries, just take it all with good humor.

CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22): Sex is only one issue in your relationship due for a confrontation, and it could lead to a break-up or a breakthrough to deeper commitment. (If single, take a thorough inventory of your erotic and relational values.) Accept challenges with honesty and grace!

LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 22): Very rude secrets are likely to explode in your face.

Past abuse? Community politics taking a dive into the sewer? For that matter, if you own your home, check the plumbing for potential trouble.

CAPRICORN (Dec 21 - Jan 19): We’re in the midst of an era shift that will affect you more than most. Imagine a revolution. Which side will you take? What values will you stand for? Think now about what you have to offer, as it will soon become a lot more important!

Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977, is a founding member of the Association for Astrological Networking. He can be reached for consultations at 415.864.8302, www.starjack.com, and by e-mail at QScopes@qsyndicate.com.

JAN 24 - JAN 30 2008