07.17.08 Outlook Weekly - Camp Sunrise by Outlook Weekly

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MOS T A M TS • O H S P OUT BUSINESS NEWS • MORE PRIDE SNA

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

SNAPSHOT

Pride was wet, but Pride was fun. Here are more snapshots from the record breaking weekend. Photos by Stonewall, Chris Hayes and Robert Trautman. Can we sleep now?

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

BUSINESS & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Michael Daniels mdaniels@outlookmedia.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media - 212.242.6863 ADVERTISING DEADLINE Each Wednesday 8 days prior to publication. Call us at 614.268.8525. HOW TO REACH US Outlook Media, Inc. 815 N High St, Suite ii Columbus, OH 43215 614.268.8525 phone 614.261.8200 fax www.outlookweekly.net web www.outlookmedia.com business www.myspace.com/outlookweekly friends www.flickr.com/outlookweekly photos SUBSCRIPTIONS Call 614.268.8525

READERSHIP: 210,000 PEOPLE / MONTH Outlook Weekly is published and distributed by Outlook Media, Inc. every Thursday throughout Ohio. Outlook Weekly is a free publication provided solely for the use of our readers. Any person who willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over copies of Outlook Weekly with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading it shall be considered guilty of the crime of theft. Violators will be prosecuted. The views expressed in Outlook Weekly are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or personal, business, or professional practices of Outlook Media, Inc. or its staff, ownership, or management. Outlook Weekly does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any interpretation, advice, opinion, or view presented. Outlook Media, Inc. does not investigate or accept responsibility for claims made in any advertisement. Outlook Media, Inc. assumes no responsibility for claims arising in connection with products and services advertised herein, nor for the content of, or reply to, any advertisement. All material is copyrighted ©2008 by Outlook Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008 VOLUME 13 NUMBER 03

JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

SNAPSHOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........2 ABOUT TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....3,30 GENERAL GAYETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........4 IN MEMORIAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........6 COMMUNITY CORNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........6 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........8 OUT BUSINESS NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......11 TRANSNATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......13 INSIGHTOUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......13 FEATURE: CAMP SUNRISE . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .16-18 TRAVEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......20 MUSIC : MATMOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......22 ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......24 DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......25 INTERVIEW : RUE MCCLANAHAN . . . . . . . . . . . .......26 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......27 SEXTALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......28 SAVAGE LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......29 THE LAST WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......31 SCOPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......31 NEXT WEEK: HOCKING HILLS TRAVEL

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 3

ABOUT TOWN THURSDAY, JULY 17 SHOP TILL YOU DROP SN3TH @ various shops in The Short North, www.shortnorth.org: Starting today, more than 40 of your favorite shops will be open late every third Thursday of the month. Make a date. Start with happy hour, then stroll the strip, shop the shops and finish with a great dinner. Special sales, music, fashion, prizes and surprises. Till 9p; free. GET LINKED AND LIQUORED Thirsty Third Thursdays @ Score Bar, 145 N 5th St, 614.849.0099, scorebarcolumbus.com: Join LinkOUT for a thirsty tradition of “Thirsty Third Thursdays”! On the third Thursday of every month, LinkOUT will be hosting a happy hour around the city of Columbus. Tonight it’s at your favorite gay sports bar. Play all the Wii you can handle. 5:30p; free. FRIDAY, JULY 18 THE BIG SCREEN The CAPA Summer Movie Series Presents When Harry Met Sally @ Ohio Theatre, 39 E State St, 614.469.0939, www.capa.com: How well can you fake and orgasm? Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan star in this romantic comedy. When Harry and Sally share a ride to New York after graduating college, they agree on only one thing - men and women can never be “just friends.” As the years go by, they surprise themselves by proving their theory wrong - or do they? Rated R. 7:30p; $3.50 each. TAKE IT OFF! Rock-Esque Burlesque @ The East Village, 630 N High St, 614.228.3546, www.myspace.com/vivaburlesque: Burlesque, Bellydance, & Rockin’ Hotness. Viva!’s Red Light Girlie Show presents this fundraiser which will help raise dinero for the Ohio Lesbian Festival. Please come and support the cause! Get your $1’s out to tip the performers... to get the tippin’ started and get those donations rollin’! 10p; free. SATURDAY, JULY 19 WE CAN BE EQUALS Camp Equality @ TBA, www.hrc.org/campequality: July 19-20 in Columbus. Help make 2008 the Year to Win for GLBT individuals across the country. The Human Rights Campaign will be on the campaign trail every step of the way - and we want you to be there, too. That’s why we’re holding Camp Equality a two-day training session to develop and hone campaigning skills - in Columbus on July 19-20. See page 6 for more info. REMEMBERING KATIE Katie Reider Memorial Hang Out @ The East Village, 630 N High St, 614.228.3546, columbusnightlife.com: Come share your stories, listen to her music and swap pictures as we come together to remember our friend and artist, Katie Reider. Laugh and cry with your friends as we celebrate this great local artist. 8p; free. THE BIG SCREEN The CAPA Summer Movie Series Presents Christmas in July @ Ohio Theatre, 39 E State St, 614.469.0939, www.capa.com: Enjoy the spirit of Christmas in July with The Muppet Christmas Carol & White Christmas. Enjoy the classic Dickens holiday tale through the vision of Brian Henson in the first Muppets screen appearance after his father’s death. The comical antics of the Muppet characters coupled with Caine’s brilliant Scrooge makes for a delightful and sentimental film. “Light the lamp, not the rat! Light the lamp, not the rat!” Crosby and Kaye are Army buddies who become a post-war

by Chris Hayes

song-and-dance team. When their former general (turned Vermont inn-keeper) faces financial ruin, the boys vow to save the day! Beloved Irving Berlin songs include “Sisters,” “Snow,” “We’ll Follow the Old Man,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” and more! Muppets 10a, White 2p&7:30p; $3.50 each. UNSTABLE CHEMICALS MadLab’s Volatility @ MadLab, 105 N. Grant Ave, 614.221.5418, www.madlab.net This year marks MadLab’s seventh year of Volatility. In the past we have raised money to pay for our heating & cooling, electrical system, new ceilings and several other renovations that have been put to use in order to make your experience in our facility a better one. So please come support the only completely original, alternative arts space in Columbus and see a slew of great bands and entertainers in the process. Enjoy food, beer, door prizes, 50/50 raffle silent art auction & bands. The last band will go on-stage at midnight . Band Lineup Outside Stage 3:15 Judas Cow, 4:15 American Slang, 5:15 Billy Peake, 6:15 John Turck Trio, 7:15 Columbus Power Squadron, 8:15 Poophouse Reilly, 9:15, Woosley Band; Inside Stage 6 The Doggers, 7 Alpha Racetrack, 8 Sinister Jim, 9 The Handshake, 10 Bookmobile, 11 Black Owls, 12 Paper Airplane. 2p-1a; $5. TUESDAY, JULY 22 ROLL ON BY Ohio Roller Girl Tryouts @ Skate Zone 71, 71 & Morse Rd, www.ohiorollergirls.com: Do you have what it takes to become an Ohio Roller Girl? Are you 21 or older? The Ohio Roller Girls are looking for self-motivated, hardworking, athletic girls who possess positive attitudes for our 2009 skating season. No previous formal training is required; however you will need to display strong basic skating skills. If you do not skate on a regular basis, you should start doing so immediately, as well as begin some form of off skate training. Helmets, mouth guards, wrist guards, as well as elbow and knee pads are required for all Training and Tryout sessions – NO EXCEPTIONS! Tonight and tomorrow - both days required! See page 8 for more info. 9p-11p; free. WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 HOME COMING 2008 Thurber House Literary Picnics @ @ Thurber House, 77 Jefferson Ave, 614.464.1032, www.thurberhouse.org: Tonight’s author is Columbus native turned Brooklyn resident Heather Byer, a freelance writer, editor and, according to The New York Times, “a woman determined to play a man’s game. And win.” She will read from her most recent work, a memoir, Sweet: An Eight-Ball Odyssey. Guests can order a picnic dinner catered by Party Panache or bring their own. Each picnic offers a tour of James Thurber’s historic home given by the Thurber House pre-teen Young Docents. Tours begin at 5:20p; the picnics start at 6:15p; and the reading is at 7p; Dinner/reading, $65; Individual dinner/reading tickets, $25; reading only, adults, $15; children 12-under, $5 COSMIC POP SYNTH PORN MATMOS @ Wexner Center, 1871 North High Street, 614.292.3535, www.wexarts.org: Hear the latest direction from brilliant electonica duo Matmos - the sound developed for Supreme Balloon. They’re eschewing samples and off-the-wall sound sources for the pure electronic surge of synthesizers. They’ve rewired their ever-inventive soundscapes with a battery of synths, old and new, outdated consumer electronics, effect pedals, and even tabla drum machines imported from India. 8p; $14. See page 22 for interview and album review. JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

4 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

The Reader Poll

GENERAL GAYETY by Leslie Robinson

Last week we asked:

What is your best Pride '08 moment?

THE CASE OF THE RAGING GRANDMA Joyce Beddell will not be winning Grandmother of the Year. Right now she’s just trying to win her freedom. The 61-year-old from Reading, Pa., was arrested by police for beating the daylights out of her granddaughter after finding the 16-year-old in bed with another girl. Apparently Beddell has a strong opinion about lesbianism, and a strong arm to back it up. The Reading Eagle reported that Beddell’s granddaughter, whose name hasn’t been released, and another female 16-year-old from the neighborhood shared some afternoon delight one Thursday in mid-June. I immediately wondered if that was their way of celebrating the end of the school year. They had just finished their activities when Joyce Beddell walked into the upstairs bedroom and found them. Beddell beat her granddaughter with a cane. The other girl fled to her house nearby. Understandable, but not the most chivalrous action. Beddell’s fury must’ve been monumental; she beat her granddaughter with her cane until it broke. Neighbors saw Beddell leave the house, accompanied by her granddaughter, who was limping. Come to think of it, Beddell might’ve been limping too, her cane having just met a bad end. The pair’s destination was the house of the other girl. Grandma wanted to tell the girl’s mother what the two teenagers had

JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

been up to. The newspaper didn’t say whether she got her chance. Even without that scene, the events read like a young adult novel. Teenage lesbian love paying the ultimate price. Even if we’re not talking about ardent devotion but simply a case of ill-timed teenage lust, the tale has a clear villain: a Pennsylvania grandmother with a scary anger-management problem and humungous homophobia. After Beddell and her granddaughter returned from going visiting, Beddell resumed beating her, this time with a belt. Police arrived, thank God, investigating a report of child abuse. The police ferried the teenager to the hospital. She was in great pain, suffering from serious bruises on her legs and buttocks. Her afternoon certainly turned from pleasure to pain faster than you can say “lesbian-intraining.” Beddell told the cops that she hadn’t done anything wrong, and she should be allowed to discipline her granddaughter as she wished. The police begged to differ, charging her with aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child. I feel confident that Beddell would say concern for the child’s welfare was precisely why she beat the crap out of her. If smacking her with a cane keeps her from going gay,

then she’s going to lay in a supply of them. Raid all the drugstores in town. Knock them out from under old people. It’s for her granddaughter’s own good. Better crippled than a dyke! After arraignment before a judge, Beddell wound up in Berks County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail. If she’s still firm in her belief that she did nothing wrong, she must be furious at her granddaughter, whose perverted actions were the reason her poor grandmother’s keister landed in jail. Possibly Beddell is spending a lot of her prison time mentally designing a cane that won’t break. How would Joyce Beddell have reacted if she’d found her granddaughter in bed with a 16-year-old boy? Would she have beaten her just the same, or giddily celebrated that, while the girl might get pregnant, at least she isn’t queer? If Beddell’s granddaughter was in the closet, she sure isn’t now. Everybody in Reading knows what she was doing that afternoon, and how she paid for it. Out of the closet and into the hospital is a horrid teenage coming-out scenario. I hope she gets some help - from people who don’t wield canes.

The Girth & Mirth float with all the big men! NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION:

• Where is your favorite place to do outdoor activities (camping, hiking, canoeing, etc) ?

Leslie Robinson likes canes made of candy. E-mail her at LesRobinsn@aol.com, and read more columns at www.GeneralGayety.com.

Log on to: www.outlookweekly.net to take this week’s poll.

CATEGORY

NOV 2 ’04

JUN 14 ’07

DIFFERENCE

AMERICAN DEAD

1,122

4,116

2,994

AMERICAN WOUNDED

8,124

30,333

22,209

IRAQI CIVILIAN DEAD

16,342

93,594

NATIONAL DEBT

$7,429,629,954,236

$9,492,245,770,798

DAYS ‘TIL 2008 ELECTION

1,463

113

77,252 $2,062,615,816,562 (1,350)

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 5

JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

6 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

IN MEMORIAM LOCAL MUSICIAN KATIE REIDER DIES AT 30 Columbus lost a beloved musician on Monday, July 14, when Katie Reider succumbed to a rare, non-cancerous tumor after a courageous two-year battle. She was 30. A Cincinnati native, Reider moved to Columbus to attend The Ohio State University. After graduation, she remained here with her partner of 10 years, Karen Reider. The couple later welcomed two sons, Aiden, 3, and Koen, 1. While living in Columbus, the pop-folk singer-songwriter honed her musicianship and fan base, playing at various venues, including Comfest where she was a Gazebo Stage favorite. She shared the stage with the likes of Catie Curtis, Michelle Malone and Melissa Ferrick, among many others. Her songs earned national exposure when they were picked up by shows on ABC and Lifetime, as well as, on the series Dawson’s Creek. Although it was clear she had musical dexterity (and pedigree as the daughter of Cincinnati-based singer Rob Reider) at a young age, her music career essentially began in a small coffee shop in her hometown. Since then, Reider and her band, The Katie Reider Band, released four albums, Wonder (1998), No Retakes (2001), I Am Ready (2002) and Simplicity (2004). The latter featured Reider’s brother, Robbie, on guitar. Reider’s illness began with what was thought to be a toothache in February 2006. After many treatments, however, she was finally diagnosed in June

2007 with a rare myofibroblastic inflammation tumor that progressed from her sinus area to behind her left eye. She underwent numerous rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, maintaining a sense of courage and grace throughout. Ultimately, the illness affected Reider’s ability to sing and perform. However it did not silence her fans, which she kept in the loop throughout the treatment process via her MySpace page. One of those fans, Lauren Fernandes, launched a Web site in May, www.500kin365.org, to provide updates about Reider’s health and to help raise funds to go toward her medical bills. The site’s ultimate goal is to generate 500,000 visitors each willing to donate $1. In return, they will receive nine of Reider’s original songs. The site will continue until that goal is met. Surviving Katie Reider are her partner, Karen, and their two sons, as well as five siblings and her father. An impromptu candlelight vigil was held at Goodale Park at sunset on July 14, where an estimated 150 people attended. Information about the event was disseminated just hours before by word of mouth. Many, including John Keeny, Reider’s pastor at King Avenue United Methodist Church, spoke in reflection on the community’s loss. Services for Katie Reider will be held Saturday, July 26 at 11a at Crossroads Community Church, 3500 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45209. The Katie Reider family has asked anyone wanting to help that, in lieu of flowers, they visit and donate to the www.500kin365.org Web site.

located at 345 West Cedar St. To RSVP for the informational meeting, call 330.376.8522. The Gay Community Endowment Fund accepts operational, programmatic and capital requests from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and encourages collaborations between applicants. To be considered for a grant, return 10 copies of the completed application to Akron Community Foundation by Monday, September 15, 2008. Applications are available at www.akroncommunityfdn.org/glbt or by calling 330.376.8522. About the Gay Community Endowment Fund Founded in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund is a permanent philanthropic endowment of Akron Community Foundation. The fund’s areas of interest include organizations, programs and services benefiting GLBT youth, the arts, health issues, operational needs and programming with a connection to the fund’s mission. In 2007, the fund awarded six grants totaling $24,000.

first 300 for 2008. Executive Director, David Jensen, “We are excited to celebrate our 10th anniversary and are looking at a record number of entries this year. We are continually amazed with the quality of talent that comes through the door year after year.” Jensen continues, “We receive entries from around the globe and Hollywood is taking notice in a very big way. Many of our past winners are now hard working screenwriters” The ONE IN TEN SCREENPLAY CONTEST has gained respect and notoriety from Hollywood studios, agents and producers. Entries for 2008 are being accepted online at: www.OneInTenScreenplayContest.com Prizes for 2008 include cash, industry exposure and merchandise. The 2008 One In Ten Screenplay Contest is sponsored by: Cherub Productions, Final Draft Inc., scr(i)pt magazine, www.inktip.com, www.TopFilmFestivals.com, www.ScreenplayContests.com and Jungle Software. The submission deadline for 2008 ONE IN TEN SCREENPLAY CONTEST is September 1, 2008. Entry forms are available online through the contest website: www.OneInTenScreenplayContest.com. Entry forms may also be obtained through the mail by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to: CHERUB PRODUCTIONS One In Ten Screenplay Contest, Post Office Box 540, Boulder, Colorado 80306. For more info: 303.629.3072, www.OneInTenScreenplayContest.com or Cherubfilm@aol.com.

COMMUNITY CORNER CAMP EQUALITY COMES TO COLUMBUS This year, elections will occur for a new president, all U.S. House members, one-third of the U.S. Senate, and thousands of state legislators. The Human Rights Campaign will be on the campaign trail every step of the way - and we want you to be there, too. That’s why we’re holding Camp EqualityTM - a two-day training session to develop and hone campaigning skills - in Columbus on July 19-20. Whether you are just getting involved in the electoral process or are a campaign professional, Camp EqualityTM can help you learn how to become more effective at advocating your causes and your candidates. We will offer two training tracks Fundamentals Track: Designed to give you the step by step fundamentals necessary to be successful at the grassroots level. Topics will include: planning, recruitment, volunteer coordinating, event fundraising, earned media, and creating a local activist plan. You will learn the basic skills that are essential to putting your issue campaign or local committee in the best position to win. Advanced Track: For our more seasoned activist or campaign professionals. This track offers the fundamentals of political campaign management. During your sessions you will learn advanced techniques of fundraising, field organizing, media relations, volunteer coordination, targeting, candidate relations, and JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

the latest campaign technology. If you have ever thought about volunteering for a campaign or already have experience in campaigns, we hope that you will take advantage of this excellent opportunity to gain valuable knowledge that you can apply to all aspects of campaign operations. Registration for Camp EqualityTM is $35 and includes a one-year HRC membership This is an exciting opportunity that will prepare you to help make 2008 the Year to Win for GLBT individuals across the country. Register now at www.hrc.org/campequality! Want to see what Camp Equality is like? Check out the video: http://www.hrc.org/laws_and_elections/campequality.htm.

GAY COMMUNITY ENDOWMENT FUND SEEKS GRANT PROPOSALS, WELCOMES QUESTIONS FROM NONPROFITS The Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications for both existing and new programs that will positively impact local gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) communities and greater Akron as a whole. To coincide with the call for proposals, fund representatives will answer grant seekers’ questions during an informational session. It will take place Thursday, August 14 at 4:30 p.m. at Akron Community Foundation’s office,

INTERNATIONAL GAY SCREENPLAY CONTEST SEEKS SUBMISSIONS FOR 10TH ANNIVERSARY The One In Ten Screenplay Contest, a screenplay contest dedicated to the positive portrayal of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, trangender and queer individuals in film, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008. Entries are now being accepted online and are limited to the

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 7

JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

TAKE-OUTS WIN ENVY CUP

8 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

SPORTS

BECOME A ROLLERGIRL! TRY OUTS FOR 2009 Are you 21 or older? Do you have what it takes to become an Ohio Roller Girl? The Ohio Roller Girls are looking for selfmotivated, hardworking, athletic girls who possess positive attitudes for our 2009 skating season. No previous formal training is required; however you will need to display strong basic skating skills. If you do not skate on a regular basis, you should start doing so immediately, as well as begin some form of off skate training. Tryouts: Tuesday July 22nd and Wednesday July 23rd – you must participate in both days. Helmets, mouth guards, wrist guards, as well as elbow and knee pads are required for all Tryout sessions – NO EXCEPTIONS! If you have your own quad roller skates, not roller blades, feel free to bring them. Rental skates will be available for those without skates. There is no need to go all out and purchase top of the line equipment for Wannabe Tryouts; all protective equipment can be purchased at sporting goods stores and skate board shops, as well as stores like Target and Walmart. However, if you do become an Ohio Roller Girl you will be required to upgrade your equipment shortly after being accepted. DO NOT, under any circumstances, purchase the $40$60 roller skates found at sporting goods stores, you will be better off in rental skates, and will thank us later for not letting you waste your hard earned $$. Can’t afford to buy it all at once? Just ask around. Some of our skaters have extra pads or helmets they might be willing to let you borrow or even purchase at a discounted price. Feel free to log onto our forums and ask our current skaters for insight and recommendations at www.ohiorollergirls.com/forums.

WEEKLY STANDINGS

The following is a list of suggested equipment, as is stated above there is no need to spend top dollar on equipment for Tryouts, this list is merely to give you an idea of what you should be looking for and where you can find it. If you are serious about purchasing skates please don’t just order the size you think you need; go to Skate Zone 71, ask for assistance from our very own Harley Rider, and try some on. Trust us: there is nothing worse than trying to skate in the wrong size skates! RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT Skates: available through Skate Zone 71 or online at: www.sincityskates.com, www.rollerderbydepot.com, www.conniesskateplace.com or through ebay. ($100 $300+) Riedell R3 Sure Grip Rebel Riedell 711 Riedell Torq Sure Grip XL55 Riedell 122 Riedell Carrera Sure Grip XL75 Riedell 265 Pads and Wrist Guards: available at local skateboard shops and online at: www.sincityskates.com, www.rollerderbydepot.com, and www.prodesigned.com. ($20 - $75 per set) Knee Pads: Elbow Pads Wrist Guards: Rector Fat Boys – Highly recommended! Rector Fat Boys Pro-Designed Pro-Designed Pro-Tec Pro-Tec Pro-Tec Pro-Designed Triple 8 (gloved and anti-gloved) 187 Pro Knees Triple-8 EP55 TSG Force II 187 Killer Elbows Helmets: available at local skateboard shops and sporting goods stores or online at www.rollerderbydepot.com. Pro-Tec or Triple Eight ($30 - $60) Mouth Guards: available at any sporting goods store, Target or Walmart. Shock Doctor (in blue, green or pink) ($1 - $20+)

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The only goal in the third period was scored by GBTB. There were two penalties in the third period. The first penalty was on GBTB for interference and the Mayhem’s penalty was called on “Ruthless” Ryan Jones for hooking. Ryan insists it was his first ever penalty. We’ll have to check on that. The Mayhem sends a special thank you to Adam “Fighting Ice Holes” Wickham and Kurt “The Wall” Knazek for their awesome play in goal the last couple of weeks. And we wish a speedy recovery to Kyle who sprained his ankle a few weeks ago. With the 4-2 victory the Mayhem are now 7-2-1 (15 points). There are two games remaining on the schedule. If the Mayhem wins out they will finish in first or second place and will earn automatic promotion to D-League West. The remaining games are at Chiller Dublin (rink 2). As the Mayhem go for a repeat and promotion 7*(" from 1 D-League South we hope that everyone will come out to support the team despite the late game 1 times.

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The Ohio Mayhem won their sixth game in a row with a convincing 4-2 victory over GBTB (Get behind the Badge) last Sunday at the Chiller Rink in Powell, OH. The Mayhem had already clinched a playoff spot after beating the Mighty Mites last week. But they are now just one point out of first place. The Fireballs and The Brrr, the only teams that have defeated the Mayhem this session, are tied for first. As he has done in many games this season Forest “Ace” Edwards scored the first goal of the game six minutes into the first period. The goal was unassisted. Matt “Leatherneck” Betts pot the Mayhem up 2-0 when he scored four minutes later. The period ended with the Mayhem up 2-0. The Mayhem went up 3-0 when Forest scored his second goal of the game seven minutes into the !"#$%&$'()#()*+),-./-0//1 second period. The goal was Forest’s, team leading, twelfth goal of the23#45 session. Matt Betts had the as6*$) sist Forest’s goal. GBTB finally got on the board 0= 8 9*95$):;< when they scored two minutes later. Michael “Quiet 0 >5?@4#3)AAA Man” Davis put the Mayhem back up by three when0= . :B5)7;$4BC*D)E5<*4?#" he scored off of a brilliant pass from Betts. There 08 !F?&$')G3&$' were two penalties in= the period. One penalty was 08 on GBTB for hooking,Hand one was on the Mayhem’s8J 0):;4I5?()#$%)#):&$# Jim “Driller” Pun for ,tripping. KL5?MC*%M)N#"5()O;P( 8J

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able to use stellar jamming from Foxy Force and Alli Catraz to keep score deficits to a few points. A 9-point jam by StingRay late in the first half helped the Take-Outs enter halftime with a narrow lead of 33-28. Coming back to the 2nd half with the lead, the Take-Outs never looked back. Coupled with costly second-half penalties by the Bullies and great teamwork by the Take-Outs, the team in red and gold poured the points onto its lead. The Bullies tried to bring the Envy Cup back within reach, but the mistakes made proved to be too many to overcome.

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Ohio Mayhem Stats 7/13/08 Name G A PTSPIM Forest Edwards 12 1 13 2 Udo Schmidt-Sinns 4 3 7 2 Michael Davis 4 1 5 4 Matt Betts 3 2 5 0 Doug Massey 3 1 4 2 Jim Pun 2 2 4 4 Paul Betts 0 4 4 0 Kyle Kaliebe 2 1 3 4 Neil Rupp 1 2 3 4 Matt Reiter 1 0 1 0 Bill Thompson 0 1 1 2 Mike Hicks 0 1 1 0 Bob Aspel 0 1 1 0 Michelle Horn 0 1 1 0 Kiersten Turos 0 1 1 0 Clay Irwin 0 1 1 0 Ryan Jones 0 0 0 2 Eric Caridas 0 0 0 0 Mike Asher 0 0 0 0 Totals 32 23 55 26

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 9

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10 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 11

OUT BUSINESS NEWS by Chris Hayes

NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE BUSINESS MAGAZINE The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) announced the launch of BIZ, an online publication covering all facets of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) business world. BIZ’s Web address is www.nglcc.org/BIZ. As the only nationwide organization dedicated to promoting the concerns of LGBT businesses and entrepreneurs, NGLCC created BIZ to showcase the contributions of LGBT business owners and employees in communities all across America, to connect LGBT business owners with supplier diversity efforts in the corporate world, and to highlight the economic power of LGBT consumers. “BIZ not only shines a spotlight on the actions that NGLCC, its state and local affiliate chambers, and its allies are taking to ensure fairness and equality for LGBT businesses, it’s also a much-needed avenue for members of the LGBT business community to connect and find the vital news that they can’t get anywhere else,” said Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of the NGLCC. “BIZ focuses on the distinct yet interrelated segments of the LGBT business community and its corporate allies”, said Chance Mitchell, co-

RENTERS INSURANCE IS A MUST By Jason Alderman If you’re a renter and there’s an accident or burglary, the landlord’s insurance will pick up the tab, right? Not true. Landlords usually only insure the building structure itself, so you’re responsible for any lost or damaged possessions. And, if someone falls in your apartment or gets bitten by your dog, guess who they might sue? You. Given this level of risk exposure, it’s surprising more tenants don’t carry renter’s insurance. Many people feel their belongings aren’t valuable enough to insure, but suppose an electrical fire or burst pipe ruined everything: think how much it would cost to replace your possessions - not to mention pay for alternate housing during repairs. Here are a few tips for finding the right coverage: What it covers. Renter’s insurance commonly covers property that’s lost, damaged or stolen due to most occurrences including fire, lightning, windstorms, hail, explosions, smoke, vandalism, theft, plumbing leaks or falling objects. You’re also usually covered away from home - for example, if your suitcase is stolen, someone breaks into your car or you get mugged. However, flood, hurricane and earthquake damage usually isn’t covered, so you’ll need a separate rider. Inventory. Write down everything you own and how much it would cost to replace. Consider furniture, clothes, shoes, electronics (television, computer, DVD player, iPod, camera, etc.), watches and jewelry, art and other collectibles, kitchen appliances and dishes, books and CDs, sports equipment, etc. That’s the minimum coverage you need. Document everything. To help settle claims faster and verify losses for tax purposes, save receipts and photograph or videotape everything; store a copy of the file in a safe deposit box or other offsite location. Many personal finance software

founder and CEO of NGLCC. “BIZ is the voice of and for LGBT business owners, a voice that is often underrepresented in mainstream financial media.” “BIZ is also an indispensible resource for the many companies that buy from LGBT suppliers or have LGBT employees,” continued Mitchell. “The unique news and insights in BIZ will strengthen connections between LGBT entrepreneurs and corporate America.” BIZ also serves as a place for LGBT entrepreneurs to share their stories, best practices and insights about business, presenting their unique perspectives through columns, stories and postings, noted Mitchell. “Additionally, BIZ will focus a light on the crucial role LGBT consumers play in the economy”, according to Mitchell, who cited new WiteckCombs Communications figures estimating the buying power of U.S. LGBT adults at a whopping $712 billion. “LGBT consumers are famously brand loyal, much more so than their heterosexual counterparts,” he said. “But only those companies who know how to reach our community in the right way can tap into the tremendous buying power we

packages include an inventory program. Payout options. Actual cash value (ACV) coverage pays the amount needed to repair or replace your belongings, minus depreciation and deductible. The alternative method, replacement cost coverage, pays the amount needed to replace the items in today’s dollars (minus deductible). Here’s the difference: Say your TV cost $500 five years ago - it’s worth a fraction of that today. ACV would pay that depreciated amount, while replacement cost coverage would pay enough to buy a comparable new television. Replacement cost coverage is slightly more expensive, but probably worth it. Liability coverage. Most policies cover amounts you’re liable for (including legal fees) if you’re sued by someone harmed in your home. Given how expensive lawsuits are today, consider increasing this coverage well beyond the minimum amount. Loss-of-use coverage. Many policies pay an allowance for housing and living expenses if you’re forced to move out temporarily. Check if this is included or costs extra. High-value items. Standard policies typically place limits on how much they’ll pay to replace certain expensive items like jewelry, antiques, art and high-end electronics, so you may want to purchase additional riders to cover the difference. Here are a few tips to lower your premium: • Higher deductibles carry lower premiums. • Ask about discounts for added security devices like deadbolt locks, alarm systems and smoke detectors. • Many carriers offer discounts if you have multiple policies through them (auto, life). • Premiums often down after age 55. To learn more about renter’s insurance and other issues renters face, like leases and security deposits, visit Visa’s free personal financial management site, Practical Money Skills for Life (www.practicalmoneyskills.com/renters).

wield. “BIZ opens up a new world of market intelligence to companies who want to secure an LGBT customer base willing to back up their loyalty with every purchase,” Mitchell said. BIZ is co-published by NGLCC and OmniStudio, a Washington, D.C. strategic communications firm and an NGLCC-certified business. OmniStudio creates the content for BIZ, researching and writing articles, editing copy and producing video and audio podcasts. OmniStudio owner and president Eileen Kessler said BIZ is poised to become the definitive source for business news for the LGBT professional community and its allies in corporate America. “I have been inspired by the work of NGLCC and the passion of business owners who have brought creativity and economic vitality to their communities,” Kessler said. “And it’s fantastic to showcase men and women who are role models for the next generation of entrepreneurs. BIZ brings their contributions to the forefront and is a great way to foster long lasting professional relationships within our community.”

Nobody expects to be burgled or have a pipe burst, but you can lessen the pain by being properly insured. Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To participate in a free, online Financial Literacy and Education Summit, go to www.practicalmoneyskills.com/summit2008.

THE DIGITAL TELEVISION CONVERSION: WHAT EVERY CONSUMER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE END OF ANALOG BROADCAST TELEVISION At midnight February 17, 2009 television will undergo the biggest advance since the introduction of color: all over-the-air television stations will turn off their analog broadcast signal and switch over to 100 percent digital broadcast. With this change quickly approaching, consumers across the nation, are faced with confusion and misinformation about the digital television conversion. As a trusted resource for education and information, KOCE-TV, an Orange County, California based PBS station aims to provide straight-forward answers for consumers about the impending DTV transition. FIVE THINGS EVERY CONSUMER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE DTV CONVERSION: 1. It is Unavoidable: The government has mandated that old analog television transmitters cease broadcasting television signals in February of 2009. Although many people are aware of the transition, they may not be aware of what they need to do. Households may not realize that they need to buy a converter box for any analog television not connected to a cable or satellite service and install it by February 17, 2009 to continue to receive free, overthe-air television. According to a current Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) survey, 25 percent of over-the-air households said they “don’t

know” what steps they will take for the transition, and 19 percent said they would “do nothing.” 2. It Won’t Impact Cable or Satellite Reception: The DTV conversion will only affect non-digital TV sets receiving signals via rabbit ears or a rooftop or attic antenna. With rare exceptions, all TVs can be converted to digital, even black and white ones, but since technical understanding varies, many people mistakenly believe they will need to purchase an expensive HD television or begin cable or satellite service. 3. There are Two Ways of Continuing to Receive Over-the-Air Television: A great deal of confusion remains about the differences between HDTV and standard digital television. While both are digital formats, the cost implications of equipment are significant and consumers need to know what questions to ask before they buy a new television or sign a cable, satellite or broadband TV contract. a. Expensive Method: Buy a new digital HDTV and a digital antenna. b. Cheaper Method: Get a $40 dollar coupon from the government to help you purchase a $70 converter box that will turn digital signals from your antenna into an analog stream for your old TV. 4. $40 Coupons are Available: Government coupons are available to help consumers purchase converter boxes for old televisions. For information, visit www.DTVanswers.com. 5. Don’t Forget…that TV in the kitchen or the shop – these are often not fed by local cable or satellite providers. For more information, visit www.koce.org. Mel Rogers, president and general manager of KOCE-TV. Rogers has played a significant role in public broadcasting since 1984, leading two public television stations and serving for six years on the national PBS Board of Directors and three years as Chair of the California Public Television Association. Under his direction, KOCE-TV has become sixth-most watched PBS station in America with an estimated 5.8 million viewers monthly.

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12 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 13

TRANSNATION by Jacob Anderson-Minshall

WHAT’S IN A NAME? June has been a fruitful month for New Yorkbased Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF). Around 300 people attended their second-annual Transgender Health Fair; they raised more than $25,000 at their third anniversary fundraiser; and then they won a settlement in Khadijah Farmer’s lawsuit against Caliente Cab Mexican Café. After Farmer and friends stopped at the NYC restaurant for a 2007 post-Pride dinner, Farmer was thrown out when a Caliente bouncer decided she was too masculine to use the women’s restroom. In the settlement, Caliente agreed to add gender identity and expression to its corporate non-discrimination policy, adopt a gender-neutral dress code and amend its policies to allow patrons and employees to use facilities consistent with their gender identity and expression. Born female and identifying as a lesbian, Farmer’s case demonstrates how discrimination based on gender expression can impact non-trans members of the queer community: for anyone with gender variance or a non-conformitive gender expression, protection against sexual orientation discrimination alone is simply not enough. TLDEF’s recent successes are all the more amazing because the organization (transgenderlegal.org) accomplishes it with a bare bones staff.

“There are really very few people working at TLDEF,” acknowledges Barbara Shulman. “Basically, there’s Michael [Silverman] and me at this point.” In her first foray into trans activism, Shulman joined TLDEF less than a year ago; prior to that she spent three decades running various departments at the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. The 62 years-old Shulman, identifies as a Jewish woman “who happened to be transgender. That’s my history. I don’t identify as transsexual, but that is part of my experience.” She transitioned on the job five years ago and recalls, “I have the best transition of anyone that I know, at least work wise. They were really loving.” Unfortunately that was not entirely the case when it came to her family. “I was married and had 2 children. That was a big loss - my children are lost to me. But I’ve had

the strength to rise above those struggles. Now I have a loving partner and I’m very happy.” When she retired from the state in 2007 - the first time in four decades without a job - Shulman was quickly bored. After meeting TLDEF executive director Silverman at a party, she soon signed on to coordinate the group’s Name Change Program, which provides free legal assistance for trans folk seeking legal name changes. “It’s been a very good marriage,” Shulman says about the fit between her and the organization. “It’s like paying forward, helping other people. It’s great being able to help.” Though Shulman and Silverman are the only two paid staffers, she says plenty of people work for TLDEF. In addition to associated law firms and a cadre of volunteers, the organization has a number of interns and - with assistance from the North Star Fund - has been able to offer summer employ-

ment to several queer youths. After Shulman interviews clients, gathering the basic information needed to fill out name change forms she sends the intake material to law firms that have donated their time. They gather additional paperwork, file petitions and attend court dates - all at no cost to the client. In the first six months of the project, Shulman says she shepherded two-dozen folks through and had a similar number at various stages in a process that can take as little as three weeks and as long as four months, depending primarily on the ease of accessing critical paperwork like birth certificates and arrest records. “The name change itself is really important,” Shulman insists. “If you identify as a female or a male and if you’re carrying around identification that says something else …[and] you have to show identification…it leads to, in many cases, discrimination, in other cases, humiliation. It’s a very difficult thing to live with—this fear…not wanting to do anything, delaying going for a job, staying away from the school—because they worry about how it’ll fly when they have to present their identification.” Trans author Jacob Anderson-Minshall co-hosts QLiterati!, the monthly queer reading and open mic series held at Portland, Oregon’s Q Center. For more info contact jake@trans-nation.org. © 2008 Jacob Anderson-Minshall.

INSIGHTOUT by Regina Sewell

SEX, EGO AND BETTER LIVING THROUGH LOUS VUITTON If you’re a fan of Sex in the City and haven’t seen it yet, what are you thinking? Go already! Don’t pass go. Don’t collect $200.00. Get your butt into a comfy stadium seating theatre and get lost in the new millennium’s best soap opera. I spent a recent rainy Saturday afternoon watching Sex in the City with my girlfriend and was totally enchanted to reconnect to the enduring and endearing friendship between Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte. While the movie feels more like watching a 140 minute marathon of the HBO series than a stand alone movie, it’s well worth watching because its condensed nature highlights some essential lessons about the human condition and how we create our own suffering. Sex in the City grapples with the role that expectations and ego play in creating our unhappiness and promotes compassion and forgiveness as cures to this self-created misery. Expectations have long been targeted as a source of misery. I remember hearing a modern day translation of a Rumi poem that basically says, “Don’t be angry at the flat tire because it is not the problem. It was your expectation that the tire would stay perfectly inflated that was the problem. The nature of tires is that they go flat.” Sex in the City provides a similar message about the impact of expectations on relationships. When Carrie reads Cinderella to Charlotte’s daughter, she recognizes her longing for Prince Charming and corrects the “you’ll meet a prince and live happily every

after” expectation with, “You know, things don’t always happen like this in real life.” Miranda and Samantha also face their versions of Cinderella inspired expectations: Miranda comes face to face with her belief in, “till death do you part fidelity” in the presence of emotional and physical neglect, while Samantha faces her more sexualized expectation that dedicating her life to boy toy Smith Jared, will bring fulfillment. She and her growing belly also show the limitations of substituting food for sex and/or love, and more importantly, on basing one’s happiness on someone else. They all learn the limitations of those fantasies. Samantha sums it up with the pithy observation that life isn’t a box of Godiva chocolates: “Relationships aren’t always about being happy.” More recently, I’ve been reading Eckhart Tolle’s, A New Earth (the must read personal growth book recently embraced by Oprah). A follow up to, The Power of Now, A New Earth, focuses on how “Ego” (“the voice in the head that pretends to be you”) causes mental suffering. OK, I’ll admit that it’s a stretch to relate Eckhart Tolle to Sex in the City, but stay with me for the next few paragraphs. Sure, Sex in the City does not address the limitations of basing one’s identity on things and designer

labels (Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte are total material girls — Luis Vuitton practically co-stars and Chanel and von Furstenburg get prominent product placement billing) but it does tackle the issue of “Ego” as it relates to attachment, resentment, and a preference for making someone else pay for one’s own unhappiness, even at one’s own expense. Charlotte, for example, demonstrates the limitations of attachment when she almost has a fear related meltdown because she’s afraid that running, which she clearly loves to do, will cause some disaster to happen to the precious, unexpected fetus. Miranda drives herself into misery by her desire to punish her husband Steve for his fall into infidelity. It turns out that Miranda’s ego-driven attachment to her rage not only affects her, her husband, and her son, it also hurts Carrie in ways she never dreamed would be possible. Carrie also gets lost in ego-driven revenge when her beau, Big, freaks out. (Go watch the movie to get the rest of the story!) Only with compassion and acknowledgement of their own part in the mess they made in their relationships do Miranda and Carrie regain their contentment. Miranda sort of does this by acknowledging that her own workaholic

patterns and physical and emotional distance might have impacted Steve. (Just in case Miranda missed it, Samantha bluntly points this out in the bathing suit scene by pool.) However, it’s not until the proverbial shoe is on the other foot and Carrie refuses to accept her apology for venting to Big about the hopelessness of marriage that Miranda begins to understand Steve’s plight and come to a place of forgiveness. Carrie’s insight comes from looking at the mirror of her wedding plan behavior in the Vogue magazine article focusing on her upcoming wedding. When she finally realizes that her ego pushed her to focus on the attention, the designer labels, and the image rather than on her and Big, and looks at the situation from his point of view, her resentment craters. True to a post-modern version of Cinderella, however, what ultimately brings Carrie and Big back together is Carrie’s attachment to a pair of designer shoes. Tolle’s plan for awakening to life’s purpose apparently takes more than 140 minutes of screen time. Still, Sex in the City challenges all of us to look more carefully at our own responsibility in creating our misery and reminds us that compassion and forgiveness bring a lot more contentment than the satisfaction of “being right.” Regina Sewell is a mental health counselor with a private practice in Worthington, OH. To ask a question, propose a column topic, read about her approach to counseling, or check out her books and other writing, go to: www.ReginaSewell.com.

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14 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 15

FEATURE STORY by Jenn Bonito

CAMP SUNRISE: A STAR OF HOPE AND NORMALITY The first article written about Camp Sunrise (www.sunrisekids.org) took some finagling on the parts of Christin (Locke) Brown and Bruce Shumard, two people determined to launch the unique and desperately needed program for kids and families impacted by HIV/AIDS in Ohio. Their media coup took place one morning in the Short North about fourteen years ago, at a gay-owned, self-serve restaurant called The Bermuda Onion. Christin and Bruce, having eaten their own breakfast while surveying their targets Fred Holdridge and Howard Burns at another table, waited for the right moment to swoop in on the owners of Hausfrau Haven in the German Village. Napkins at the ready and coffee pots in hand, they doted on the two men as if employed by the New York-style delicatessen. One of the bewildered men finally asked them, “Who are you two, and why are you doing this?” It was the request they’d been hoping to elicit, so they sat down with the two gay men pillars of the community and writers of an avidly read weekly column - and told them their story. Holdridge and Burns wrote a “wonderful tribute,” says Brown wistfully. And perhaps because of their glowing article, there’s more to the story of how this camp came about. On one hand, it’s a simple story of supply versus demand; on the other, a complicated story of inspiration borne of heartache and suffering, of desperation and the desire to meet the needs of people throughout Ohio who were suffering from a lack of care and community. Back in the early ’90s Christin Brown was a social worker employed by The Ohio Department of Health as an HIV Manager for a feder-

ally funded program called the Ryan White Care Act. Money allotted to the state was shared out across Ohio’s 88 counties. Brown was responsible for Franklin and its six surrounding counties. And what she saw opened her eyes to funding and allotment issues, often having to do with cases of AIDS being reported for the counties in which tests were administered - not the small or rural community from which an individual may have traveled. And, while better-funded counties were providing some necessary services, she noticed that many women and children affected by the disease were not getting the support and services they needed. This discrepancy plagued her and she searched for something she could do to address the problem. Around this time she heard about Camp Sunburst in California, the first of its kind, for kids impacted by HIV/AIDS. She signed up to be a counselor and went three successive summers. Empowered and inspired by the experience and people she met there, she came home with a mission: “If people are doing this in California, so can we.” Able to send messages to AIDS service organizations across the state through her work, she toiled tirelessly outside of working hours to draft materials, build relationships, and to harness the information that proved Ohio’s need for just such a camp. She figured selling the idea of camp was the easy; after all, “people have been camping since the beginning of time!” The hard parts were funding, incorporation as a non-profit, and finding a host site for camp. Her friend Fred Sewards delivered what would turn out to be a golden suggestion; a lawyer himself, he suggested Christin approach Lawyers for Justice, a program initiated in 1993 that provides

pro bono legal services to individuals as well as non-profit organizations. After a detailed and moving presentation, fuelled by both her work and camp experiences, her proposal was accepted. Two corporate lawyers from Honda of America founded and incorporated Camp Sunrise as a non-profit before the end of 1994…and they donated $5,000 to the cause. Lawyers for Justice would also serve as power of attorney for Camp. Galvanized by this huge success, Brown set her sights on holding the first camp in the summer of 1995. To facilitate this, she quit her job with the state and became a nanny: “The pay was actually better, and I had the whole day to work on Camp Sunrise while Avery was at school - it was ideal!” She needed all that time too, as “many places [she approached] were brutally honest about refusing to host the camp”. They didn’t want ‘those people’ at their campgrounds; ignorance and stigma still dominated opinions about people with HIV/AIDS. After several rejections that shocked the 20something from liberal Oberlin, Ohio, YMCA stepped up to the challenge. “They knew they had a lot to learn, but they were eager to learn whatever was required to best serve us,” says Brown. Another milestone had been reached. Naming the camp proved harder than one might assume from the similarity to its California counterpart: “We toiled over that name,” says Brown. She and close friends from Columbus and California wanted to acknowledge the connections Ohio’s new camp shared with Camp Sunburst: “They lent so many policies and procedures to us,” acknowledges Brown of the practical influence Camp Sunburst had. “I liked ‘Sunrise’, because it marks the start of a new day, and that’s what this camp would be for those who participated in it,” she

shares. Little did she know just how profoundly it would affect so many lives. With support from staff and volunteers from California as well as volunteers from across Ohio, Camp Sunrise opened its doors to 35 kids that first summer. Parents also attended separate programming during the 10-day camp. The children varied in age from two years to the upper teens. Participation has only increased over the years - Camp Sunrise accepted a record number of youth to the program in 2007. “We were forced to cap enrollment at 120, and unfortunately had to turn away several applicants,” said Katie McKee, current Executive Director of Camp Sunrise. “The number of children living in families where one or both parents has HIV/AIDS continues to grow, as does the need for a safe, supportive environment like Camp Sunrise.” Since 1995, Camp Sunrise has served over 500 children of all ages who are, or were, impacted by HIV/AIDS. One by one, these kids are doing their part to educate people and decrease the negative stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS. They are the faces and voices that help to humanize this devastating disease. In addition to a week-long summer camp, Camp Sunrise now also provides year-round activities to give children further opportunities to meet new friends, catch up with old friends and talk about the pressures and challenges they are currently facing with people who truly understand what they are going through. Camp Sunrise delivers programs in urban communities such as Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Youngstown, and Toledo to help meet the need for HIV/AIDS services targeting children. Camp has created a therapeutic continued on page 18

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16 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

FEATURE STORY by Irene Alvarez

LOSING MY HEART TO THEM: A COUNSELOR’S STORY There are only a few experiences that I can unmistakably define as life-changing. Camp Sunrise is one of them. About four years ago, a friend mentioned he had volunteered with Camp Sunrise. It sounded interesting to me, like something I could do, but I always seemed to have a reason not to – whether I was moving, changing jobs, getting married, moving again… the list went on. I was a marathon runner in the never-ending rat race. I decided I needed to get over myself. So last year, in the midst of my hectic life, I decided it was time to give back. I submitted an application and was accepted as a volunteer counselor for Camp Sunrise. I took a week off of work, packed up my car and headed to Oregonia, Ohio. The truth is, the entire way there I was overwhelmed with anxiety. I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I wondered: Would I get along with other counselors? Would I meet the kids’ expectations? Would I completely suck at this? How would I feel through the week? How would I feel afterwards? During counselor training, I was relieved to have my first question answered. I clicked immediately with my co-counselors. Camp Sunrise counselors are truly some of the most remarkable people I’ve ever had the honor to meet. Throughout the week, I was amazed by their unconditional love and compassion for these children. I was also astounded by their JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

sacrifice. Some of them give up a week’s worth of pay to attend Camp Sunrise. Some of them use a week of vacation time to spend with the children of Camp Sunrise rather than spending that time with their own families. Some of them fork over hundreds of dollars for airfare without a second thought, flying in from different states. Many of them have been counselors for several years. All of them understand that unless you’re a counselor, you can’t fully understand why they do these things. More on that later. Around day 2 of the week, my fears that I wouldn’t meet the kids’ expectations were cast aside. The kids don’t ask for much, and all they expect is what they rightfully deserve – attention, care, respect and positive reinforcement. Unfortunately for some of them, these types of things are in short supply at home. Some kids are one of several children in a family. Some kids are the siblings of an HIV-infected child who requires the bulk of the family’s care and attention. Some kids have lost their parents to the disease, and some kids fill the role of caregiver in the home. That all goes away at camp, because the kids’ only responsibility is to have fun. As a counselor, I was more than happy to make that happen. That was all they really expected of me. What I didn’t expect was how readily and immediately I’d also give my love. True and unconditional love, to

kids that were strangers just days before. I also didn’t expect how readily the kids would give it right back. The answers to my last two questions about how the camp experience would make me feel are a little tougher to put my finger on. I’m still figuring them out nearly a year later, as I prepare to head into my second year as a counselor. During camp, I found myself feeling a lot of different things during the week. I remember feeling like a kid at times. How could I not, particularly when fighting for the ball during water polo or sharing my beauty products with teenage campers. Or the time when, during the night of a meteor shower, I had the privilege of seeing amazement in one of my camper’s eyes when she spotted a shooting star for the first time in her life. At other times, I felt sapped. Spending 24 hours a day for a week with a hundredplus kids will do that to a person. Sometimes I was trying to wake them for breakfast while wishing I had a bull horn. Other times I was trying to remember who needed to report to the clinic to take meds. And then there were times I was just trying to figure out how to respond to a kid talking to me about some pretty heavy things. I’ve been asked if the kids get along. Do they argue once in a while? Sure. If my cocounselors are reading, they’ll remember the night we had a scuffle among our campers at the dinner table. I’m still not sure exactly what happened, but I know

there was a plate’s worth of spaghetti no longer on a plate. Was my patience tested at least once during the week? Of course it was. That said, I know I can’t adequately put into words the amount of love and friendship that exists among the children at Camp Sunrise. It’s the type of environment that can only exist among kids who share an understanding of what it’s like to live with HIV/AIDS. Kids who are wise beyond their years, because they have to be. Kids who understand the value a “normal” childhood. As a counselor, I quickly noticed the way these children enjoy every moment they have to connect, to play, to relax together. I noticed the way they understand each other and look out for one another. The way they’d cheer each other on during activities and talent show performances. The way they understood that they were in an environment full of support and free from stigma. I felt overwhelmed and lucky to be a part of something so unique. There were moments that would fill my heart while also breaking it, like the last day of camp. Imagine buses lined up, kids everywhere, counselors everywhere, constant hugs and not a dry eye in the house. Some kids cried because they were going to miss their camp friends and counselors. Some kids cried knowing this was the day they had to go back to an unstable home. continued on page 18

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FEATURE STORY by Valerie Belt

CAMP SUNRISE continued from page 15

community designed to provide mental health and related services for children and their families. Camp Sunrise’s mission is to empower children and families infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS and it’s still Ohio’s only summer camp program catering specifically to the needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS. McKee, the Board, and other volunteers work hard every year to fund as many kids’ attendance as possible, endeavoring to make camp both memorable and empowering for every attendee. Since the overwhelming majority of individuals living with HIV/AIDS are also struggling with poverty, every child’s costs are fully subsidized. Funding covers the camp facility, the executive director, meals, insurance, supplies,

and transportation. Program services are coordinated by one full-time staff person and over 70 dedicated volunteers. Camp depends on many sources for funding, including foundation and corporate sponsorships, children’s charities, civic/service organizations, and the generous donations of individuals and small businesses. The GLBT community in Ohio has long been an important ally and advocate for Camp Sunrise. That kindness and support is greatly appreciated and critical to the continued success of the program. Our sincere thanks to Outlook Weekly for the space to tell our story one that’s been 14 years in the making, and hopefully far from over. To learn more or to contribute to this exceptional cause, visit sunrisekids.org.

LOSING MY HEART continued from page 16

JOIN CAMP SUNRISE FOR A MARTINI JULY 26 On Saturday, July 26, Camp Sunrise will host Moonlight and Martinis, A Summer Night to Benefit Camp Sunrise at One Miranova Place. Where will you be? Join us for an exciting evening of sipping cocktails at the open bar courtesy of Finlandia and Woodford Reserve. Or, hang out and enjoy the jazz music with friends. Dine on exquisite hors d’oeuvres from top local restaurants like Basi Italia, Bon Vie, Bluefish Grill, M, Union Café, Due Amici, Melissa’s Incredible Edibles and more. Peruse the valuables in the silent auction. All while you are making a difference and raising awareness for Camp Sunrise. Why a Martini Night? “In the past, we focused on several different events throughout the year to fundraise like a golf outing, a wine tasting, private parties, those types of events.” stated Katie McKee, Executive Director for Camp Sunrise “but we found that we spent so much time and money to host multiple events that it wasn’t the most productive or cost-effective way to direct our fundraising efforts and financial resources. We feel our time, resources and efforts will be better spent by focusing on one signature event each year and that’s how the idea for Moonlight and Martinis was originally born.” The overall goal is to have one signature event that will raise enough funds to subsidize the cost of camp and the other year-long programs. “It’s amazing that we are able to operate on such a tight budget considering the amount of medical and camp staff that is necessary to support the campers.” stated McKee, “We are truly appreciative of the many people who dedicate their personal time and experience to this special group of kids.” Unlike many other nonprofit organizations, Camp Sunrise operates on a shoestring budget with McKee as the only JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

paid staff member for the organization. The focus is and always has been on supporting the children and their families. With fewer and fewer grants available and our current economic situation, the need for corporate and individual sponsors is more critical than ever for Camp Sunrise. “We can do so much more for these children and their families throughout the year if we only had the financial resources to do so. So many of our campers are now reaching high school age and battling daily with the challenges and anxiety of normal teenagers, amplified by the fact that they are living with HIV or have a brother, sister or parent fighting the disease at home.” expressed McKee. “Seeing these children in a safe environment where they can hang out with friends, have fun and forget about all of the weight on their shoulders, even if it’s only for a week at camp, is truly a blessing.” How Can You Help? That’s Easy. Help us continue to enrich the lives of HIV/AIDS impacted children in Ohio. Join us for Moonlight and Martinis on Saturday, July 26. Invite your favorite circle of friends and make a night of it. Become a valued corporate or individual sponsor. Enjoy complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres from the best local restaurants and peace of mind knowing your money is making a difference in the life of a child. Don’t miss out on this exclusive event! Tickets are limited and going fast. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit MoonlightandMartinis.com. The website features more information about the event, our generous sponsors and a page where you can easily use your debit or credit card to purchase tickets. We hope to see you there!

Counselors cried knowing we’d miss the kids. And we wondered how our campers would do in their own worlds for the next year. Worlds they were used to, but worlds far away from the love and safety of Camp Sunrise. I cried knowing I had been fundamentally changed. It’s difficult to describe why or how I had changed, but a fellow counselor stated it quite simply when he hugged me and said, “Rini, you’ve been touched. You now know it, and you understand it, and it never leaves you.” By “it,” I believe he meant the magic

and the miracle that is Camp Sunrise. One week in southwest Ohio where pain gives way to peace, fear gives way to fun, and strife gives way to friendship. Kids get to be kids, and counselors lose their hearts to them. Alvarez is preparing to serve as a Camp Sunrise counselor for her second year this August. Throughout the year, she is an active member of the Camp Sunrise fundraising committee and can’t help but ask you to consider giving to a cause she finds to be like no other. Contact her at RiniAlvarez@yahoo.com or visit www.SunriseKids.org.

CAMP SUNRISE: THE POWER TO HELP KIDS Growing up is tough for a lot of people. If you’re different from your peers, it can be worse. If you are a child growing up with HIV/AIDS, there are times that may seem unbearable. For those children, what a difference a week makes. Camp Sunrise is a nonprofit organization that provides a week long summer camp each year for children throughout Ohio who are grieving, coping or managing a life directly impacted by HIV/AIDS. The week at camp gives the children a place to have fun, build friendships and simply be a kid again in a safe environment, free from the isolation and judgment so often associated with HIV/AIDS. Over 20% of the kids who attend camp are HIV positive and over 70% have brothers, sisters and/or parents who are living with or have been lost to this devastating disease. For 51 weeks a year, the Sunrise Kids face very adult problems. For one week a year, they can leave it all behind. In addition to summer camp, Camp Sunrise also provides year-round activities to give the children further opportunities to meet new friends, catch up with old friends and talk about the pressures and challenges they are currently facing with people who truly understand what they are going through. During Camp, kids age 15-17 are given the opportunity to become a part of the “Sundog Program.” The goal of this important program is to develop confidence, self-esteem and coping skills for older campers who would like more leadership and responsibility. The participants spend the week learning about their peers and themselves. The teens have a weekend retreat

prior to camp to help develop a stronger bond before working and playing together at camp. The Sundogs are respected leaders during the week of Camp. The respect they earn and their renewed confidence is something they take with them when they leave. For many of the kids, the one week at Camp is what helps them to cope with the 51 other weeks of the year. They come home from camp energized and more empowered and confident to talk about their own HIV status or to face the challenges of day-to-day life. One by one, the kids of all ages who attend Camp Sunrise are doing their part to educate people and decrease the negative stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS. They are the faces and voices that help to humanize this devastating disease. The GLBT community in Ohio has long been an important ally and advocate for Camp Sunrise. And that kindness and support is greatly appreciated and critical to the success of the program. Summer camp and the year-round programs are provided free of charge because of generous individual sponsors, corporate sponsors and gracious volunteers. To learn more or to contribute to this exceptional cause, please visit sunrisekids.org. Or join us for Moonlight and Martinis, A Summer Night to Benefit Camp Sunrise on Saturday, July 26 at Miranova. You’ll enjoy an open bar courtesy of Finlandia Vodka and Woodford Reserve, exquisite hors d’oeuvres from top local restaurants and great music. For more information visit www.MoonlightandMartinis.com.

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TRAVEL by Regina Sewell

CAPE MAY: THE GLBT DESTINATION ON THE JERSEY SHORE A month or so ago, my girlfriend and I heard the call of the sea. We listed all the usual GLBT beach destinations but rejected them all because we wanted to go someplace neither of us had been with an ex. Back to the drawing board, we found Cape May, a quiet, gay friendly beach with historic charm on the southernmost tip of the Jersey shore. Eight and a half hours from Columbus and an hour and a half from Philadelphia, it’s an easy day’s drive. There aren’t separate gay beaches, gay bars or dances, but Cape May has an active GLBT community and shop keepers and wait staff refer to couples as couples with the warmth that used to be reserved for heterosexual couples. Cape May, New Jersey is a quirky little town. The traffic police drive a white VW Beatle with little black spots. The weekend we were there, the town hosted a parade to celebrate the dedication of a new fire engine replete with a marching band and fire engines rolling down the street with blaring sirens. Most of its charm is rooted in history. Cape May is America’s oldest seaside resort and the whole town is designated as a National Historic Landmark. It hosts the highest concentration of Victorian buildings in the country. The downtown area is small enough to meander along the streets looking at houses on your own, or you can take a trolley tour to get more of the local history and color. For a more romantic sight seeing trip, you can roll along the Victorian neighborhoods in a horse drawn carriage. If looking at the houses from the outside isn’t enough to satisfy your craving for all things Victorian, you can stay in any number of historical Victorian Bed and Breakfasts or take a tour of the Emlen Physic Estate – a museum portraying life in Victorian times. If your historical interest lies more with the “dish” about local characters than with their JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

historical accomplishments, check out one of the ghost tours. You have several options. You can take a walking tour or a trolley tour, or even the Ghosts of the Lighthouse trolley tour that gives you a chance to climb up to the top of the lighthouse to view night sky after dark Spirits aside, the Cape May Lighthouse is one of the oldest operating lighthouses in the U.S. and has its own rich history. The docents will gladly tell you about some of the more memorable moments. The view of the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay and Cape May Point State Park make the 199 steps to the top worth the climb. The lighthouse is a nice walk up the beach from town, but the catch is that it’s 5 or 6 miles round trip. If you’re not really enamored with walking, the walk back gets old fast, especially if it’s hot, you’re hungry, you run out of water and your sunscreen wears off. My girlfriend and I learned this the hard way. When you’ve had enough history, check out the local shops. Cape May is a shopper’s paradise. Whether you’re looking for antiques, the obligatory beach vacation fudge and salt water taffy, hokey t-shirts (you gotta check out the ones sporting a glow-in-the-dark pirate), gifts, toys, jewelry, or surf boards, you can find it either in shops along Beach Drive or at the Washington Street Pedestrian Mall. Don’t get so focused on history and shopping that you forget the beaches! They’re gorgeous. Cove Point Beach is especially popular for everything from lounging or reading, to hunting seashells, to splashing in the waves, to boogie boarding or surfing. Sunset Beach, on the west side of the Cape, is a bit less crowded and offers a spectacular view of the sunset. Cape May is also an ideal spot for the nature lovers among our ranks. There are a number of wetland tours, a bird watching observatory, and whale and dolphin cruises.

You can even rent kayaks at the marina if you get the irresistible urge to paddle. Foodies will be interested in Cape May’s numerous restaurants. The locals recommend George’s, Sean’s, Backstreet Café and Gecko’s. All are BYOB (bring your own bottle), reasonably priced and have great food and great service. George’s and Sean’s both have a great vibe and really cute wait staff. George’s serves up amazing Greek food while Sean’s serves up an eclectic fair. The husband and wife team who run Backstreet Café are fanatics about fresh produce and have created an atmosphere reminiscent of cafes in Greenwich Village. Gecko’s has more of a Key West feel. They serve food with a southwest flair, and weather permitting, have outdoor seating. Though it’s a bit more touristy and the service isn’t quite as warm, Henry’s is the place to go for oceanfront dining. Overlooking the beach, it offers a nice seafood menu and great views of the sunset to the west. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of dolphins swimming by. Like the other restaurants, Henry’s is BYOB. If you decide to take advantage of the corking service, you might pick up a bottle of wine from the local Cape May Winery. Their red and white wines are worthy of the price. And by buying local, you can help reduce your carbon footprint. Cape May’s small size takes some of the stress off finding lodging. Although Cape May doesn’t scream “gay paradise,” it does host a number of GLBT friendly accommodations. Moreover, the Eldredge House is gay owned and the Cottage Beside the Point is lesbian owned. Both offer warm, friendly, helpful service. Built in 1780, the Eldredge House couples historical charm with the convenience of private baths, air conditioning and wireless Internet access. Local restaurants, shopping, Cove Point Beach, and a couple of gyms are all in

easy walking distance. And Todd is a wealth of scoop about where to go and what to do. If peace and quiet is what you’re after, check out the Cottage Beside the Point. Even though it’s only a mile and a half from downtown, you’ll feel like you’re in your own private getaway. The single studio apartment overlooks lush gardens with a naturally landscaped pond. The scenery is simply gorgeous. With a small but adequate kitchen and an outdoor grill, it’s easy to feel right at home. Other perks: the Cottage Beside the Point is in walking distance to Sunset Beach and the owners even provide beach passes and bikes for your stay. If the rising temperatures have you craving a peaceful, relaxing beach vacation with historical charm, set your aim for the Jersey shore and see why some of Cape May’s GLBT weekend residents prefer it to more explicitly GLBT beach destinations. For more information about accommodations: http://www.capemayeldredgehouse.com http://www.cottagebesidethepoint.com http://www.purpleroofs.com/usa/newjersey.html For information about the Cape May GLBT community: http://www.gablescapemay.com For more general information about Cape May: http://www.capenet.com/capemay http://www.capemaymac.org/index.html Regina Sewell is the author of We’re Here! We’re Queer! Get Used to Us! Survival Strategies for a Hostile World. She has a private mental health counseling practice in Worthington, OH. To ask a question, propose a column topic, read about her approach to counseling, or check out her books and other writing, go to: www.ReginaSewell.com .

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MUSIC by Robert Trautman

Matmos: Supreme Balloon at the Wex Matmos is an experimental electronic music duo from Baltimore. M. C. (Martin) Schmidt and Drew Daniel are the core members, but they frequently include other artists on their records and in their performances, including notably J Lesser. Much of their work could be classified as a pop version of the musique concrète genre. Martin and Drew Daniel are also a romantic couple, and have worked together as Matmos since the mid-nineties. Robert Trautman: Let me start with a nonalbum related, how are you enjoying living on the east coast in Baltimore? Martin: Baltimore is an incredibly poor city. With Drew being an assistant English professor at John Hopkins that translates into a nice house with a basement, which was unavailable previously in San Francisco. So for once we can sit side by side at the mixing board making everything smoother and more pleasurable. Also, the wealth of San Francisco had somewhat distorted our perspective of things, and energized us from being in such a different world now. RT: Was the album art for Supreme Balloon inspired at all by Buckminster Fuller? M: No. However the origin of the album art came from an audio analysis of the song Supreme Balloon by the number-crunching wizards at The Echo Nest. The analysis of the song was then given to Robert Syrett who came up with the really sweet original artwork and the whole package is lovingly layed out by Rex Ray.

baggage to fly from L.A. to Denver, so yes we are bringing some large synths and some sequencer systems. Though they are cumbersome in no way to we regret doing it this way. Otherwise the audience would not really be able to experience the album, and retain as much of the live process of the album as possible. Also on this tour we have J Lesser playing with us so we are a three piece. This enables us to perform some tracks from other albums; one we will be performing a few tracks from for sure is The West, which we just re-issued. RT: What was the reason to exclude the bonus tracks from the cd release? D: We wanted a more concise statement and curate the listener’s experience. Martin feels the cd version best represents the real core of the album, while Drew Daniel prefers the longer 11 song double LP vinyl format with the fancy gatefold artwork. With the Double LP the listening is more broken up and leaves room for the extra 4 tracks Drew has a fondness, especially the track with Terry Riley. RT: So Drew, what is the difference between the ballet and annoying hackysack motherfuckers? (A question left unanswered in a Brainwashed video interview) D: Ballet performers have better shoes and better training, however hackysack motherfuckers are far less pretentious

RT: So which of you was at the helm of Supreme Balloon? Drew: Martin was more in the lead on this one; he had the idea to create a no microphone album. I guess Supreme Balloon; an all synth album is what happens when we don’t use microphones.

RT: Drew, should we be expecting something from Soft Pink Truth anytime soon? D: I had done quite a few tracks while on this tour in Europe, though due to an overheated laptop I have lost the majority of them but I still about 80% worth of new material for an album. I’ve also been doing a lot of work with audio from the web, some of it involving audio from videos of frat boys encouraging each other to vomit. Checkout a sample track Party Pills off the SPT portion of the Brainwashed website.

How will this new sound translate to your live performances & are you taking any of the large synths on the road? D: Well we were just charged $500.00 for extra

Matmos is playing July 23rd at the Wexner Center, 1871 North High Street, 614.292.3535, www.wexarts.org Show starts at 8p; $14 all audiences

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Supreme dancing By Gregg Shapiro After years of augmenting their exotic and experimental electronic sonic creations with sounds from other sources, gay San Franciscobased electro duo Matmos – Drew Daniel and Martin C. Schmidt - has delivered its first all synthesizer album; the soaring Supreme Balloon (Matador). It’s important to note the quote on the second page of the Supreme Balloon CD booklet which reads “No microphones were used on this album.” The significance of that declaration can be traced to two of Matmos’s most well-received albums, A Chance to Cut is a Chance to Cure and The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast, because it was with said devices that the pair was able to record the various sound effects that would eventually morph into their musical manifestations. A Chance to Cut…, for example, took listeners under the knife, gathering its sound effectiveness from a variety of medical procedures including liposuction and plastic surgery, while queer-oriented The Rose Has Teeth…disc incorporated live garden snails, burnt flesh, a vacuum cleaner, semen, and roses, to paint the aural portraits of the disc’s queer subjects. Supreme Balloon’s album opener “Rainbow Flag” flaps in a futuristic wind and with it comes a vaguely Latin scent on the breeze. It’s the kind of song that requires some fancy footwork and the desire to make any movements seem effortless. The chunky “Polychords” lives up to its name, all Moog-inspired booty shaking, head bobbing and hand waving. “Mister Mouth” is a chattery percolating number that deserves appropriate facial expressions to accompany whatever dance steps it arouses. “Exciter Lamp and the Variable Band” is a robotic tap-dancing tune guaranteed to have dancers flapping, slapping, stamping, stomping and ball-changing for the length of the track, while “Les Folles Françaises” is more attuned to ballet moves. The disc’s epic title track, which clocks in at more than 24 minutes, is a levitating synthesizer symphony that takes listeners on a mini voyage, as “Cloudhoppers,” which closes the disc, remains aloft. The dynamic disco debut by Hercules and Love Affair (DFA) is easily one of the most exhilarating and gratifying dance efforts of the year, and as gay as it gets. Under the direction of Andrew

Butler and boasting an all-star cast of performers including Antony (Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons) and Tim Goldsworthy (of the DFA record label), the disc dips into Chicago house and vintage disco with equal amounts of esteem, enthusiasm and elation. “Time Will”’s nod to Frankie Knuckles is so steamy that eyeglass wearers are advised to take them off before the song starts. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting number to strut around under the “Hercules Theme” heading, dripping in strings and brass as it is. “You Belong” draws on the history of disco, with vocalists Nomi and Antony playing tug of war, and “Athene” is the soundtrack to Greek activity. “Blind,” the album’s centerpiece on which Antony emerges as the kid brother of Sylvester and Jimmy Somerville, is the musical equivalent of having an ecstatic vision. Butler himself takes the lead on the glittery “This Is My Love” and Antony reaches new elevations on “Raise Me Up.” Gay, straight or whatever, there’s no denying that The Presets have a firm grasp of the queer esthetic when it comes to making dance music. Described as “sexually fluid” on the Logo website, the Australian male dance duo (Julian Hamilton and Kimberley Moyes) throw down fists full of bouncing beats on Apocalypso (Modular), the follow-up to their acclaimed Beams disc. Shiny as silver ink, tracks such as “Kicking & Screaming” (which could have just that effect) and “My People” celebrate diversity and dancing. “This Boy’s In Love” could be the theme song to countless tea dance romances and the galloping “Yippiyo-Ay” conjures chaps in chaps. You might need a eucalyptus rubdown after the workout of “Eucalyptus” and “If I Know You” sounds like The Presets know something about Spandau Ballet and `80s synth-pop. Heloise & The Savoir Faire boost their beat blast with a dose of new wave attitude on Trash, Rats & Microphones (Yep Roc/Simian). The “feeling hot tonight” mantra of “Illusions” gives way to the bitches and switches of “Members Only”’s “nice asses and backstage passes.” The beatbox body work of “Datsun 280z” works well with the song’s nostalgic noggin, but it’s “Disco Heaven” that will take dancers to another “Shangri La-La” plane altogether. And, yes, that’s Deborah Harry on “Downtown” and the disco delight of “Canadian Changs,” not so much passing the baton as she is letting Heloise hold onto one end of it.

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ARTS BALLETMET OFFERS REFRESHING ESCAPE FROM THE SUMMER HEAT By Monica Morse, BalletMet Marketing and Communications Intern Looking to cool down on those final nights of summer? What’s there to do when the pool has been closed for hours, you haven’t heard that familiar melody of the ice cream truck in days, and you’re starting to think that squeezing into the freezer might be a good idea? Luckily for you, BalletMet Columbus has the answer. Its upcoming Hot Nights, Cool Dance program is sure to provide a muchneeded break from the summer heat… and not just because the performance space is air-conditioned! Kicking off BalletMet’s 2008- 2009 season, Hot Nights, Cool Dance will feature exciting new works from several American choreographers. It will also bring back Play, an audience-favorite set to Moby’s Grammy-winning album, and John Butler’s moving and legendary Othello, presented through the NEA American Masterpieces program. With its graceful balance of old and new, Hot Nights, Cool Dance will offer something for everyone. For this world- premiere show, BalletMet has commissioned choreographers to produce original works, each having his own unique dance background and choreographic vision. One choreographer, Adam Hundt, should be a familiar face for BalletMet regulars. He’s been a Company dancer for five seasons and was a featured choreographer for BalletMet’s innovative 30x30 program in its 30th anniversary season last summer. He was a recipient of a Fellowship Initiative grant from the New York Choreographic Institute, an affiliate of New York City Ballet, and creates pieces that combine classical technique with fresh, funky style.

The next choreographer on the roster is Darrel Grand Moultrie, and he is sure to spice things up. Born and raised in Harlem, he trained at The Julliard School and worked on Broadway before jumping into choreography. The New York Times has hailed him as “someone to watch,” and BalletMet invites you to watch this innovative artist. William Soleau returns to BalletMet for Hot Night after working on 30x30 last summer. As a dancer, he has toured to 30+ countries, while as a choreographer he has created 70+ ballets for companies throughout the world. Global flavor will shine through the work of this renowned choreographer. Warren Adams returns after creating the stirring boardroom dance drama, The Audacious One, for 30x30. Born and raised in South Africa, Adams’ choreography credits span Broadway, film and television. He has also danced with companies including Donald Byrd/The Group and Ballet Hispanico. Hot Nights will also feature the work of Aussie and former BalletMet Artistic Associate Stanton

Welch, and his contemporary masterwork Play. This piece is a BalletMet favorite, and won the heart of the Big Apple during BalletMet’s NYC debut at The Joyce Theater in 2004. It’s guaranteed to win even more hearts this summer as BalletMet’s dancers again play out Moby’s techno beats with intricate, electrifying movement. Still not sure if you want to escape the heat and see some cool, refreshing dance? Why not catch a sneak peak? Hot Nights, Cool Dance invites the public to experience the creative process, like last season’s 30x30. BalletMet invites you to witness the development of Hot Nights, Cool Dance during free rehearsals and $10 artist talkbacks. BalletMet is opening its rehearsal doors for two weeks to allow curious dance enthusiasts to experience behind-the-scenes action - the creative development and rigorous practice before a flawless performance. All will culminate in a series of performances in Aug, showcasing the polished products. And all events take place in BalletMet’s intimate and casual performance space, so you can get up-close and personal with remarkable talent and artistry.

So, what are you waiting for? Turn off that fan, hang up your swimsuit, and head over to BalletMet to see just how refreshing dance can be. The rehearsals, talkbacks, and performances will only run for a limited time… and the pool will still be around tomorrow, I promise! Showtimes are as follows: Open Rehearsals: July 30- Aug 1 and Aug 6-8, noon- 1p Artist Talkbacks: July 30- Aug 1 and Aug 6-8, 5:306:15p Performances: Thursday, Aug 14, 7:30p Friday, Aug 15, 8p Saturday, Aug 16, 8p Sunday, Aug 17, 1:00 and 5:30p Wednesday, Aug 20, 7:30p Thursday, Aug 21, 7:30p Friday, Aug 22, 8p Saturday, Aug 23, 8p Sunday, Aug 24, 1p and 5:30p Tickets: Rehearsals, free; Artist Talkbacks, $10; Single Performance, $30; Passport (includes all open rehearsals, artist talkbacks, and one final performance), $60. MetPass Member Performance Tickets: $15 Purchase tickets through Ticketmaster outlets (614.431.3600, Ticketmaster.com) or balletmet.org. To become a BalletMet Member-Subscriber or MetPass member call 614.229.4848. Group tickets are also available by calling 614.229.4848.

COLUMBUS’S MOST BELOVED PUBLIC PARK (OR WHERE TO HAVE A ROMANTIC SUNDAY AFTERNOON WITH GEORGE OR THOM OR SEAN OR…)

by Jennifer McNally

One of Columbus’s most romantic and interesting sites is a unique urban sanctuary. The Topiary Park is a one-of-a-kind interpretation of Georges Seurat’s famous Post-Impressionist painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grand Jatte in threedimensional green. The only topiary garden in existence based on a work of art, this landscape-of-a-painting-of-alandscape features 80 clipped yew trees trained into ornamental shapes of 54 people, eight boats, three JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

dogs, a monkey, and a cat, and a pond reminiscent of Paris’s River Seine. Visitors will notice that the topiary is done in exaggerated perspective to create depth. The figures in the front are 12 feet tall much larger than the figures at the far end of the pond. Visitors of all ages can literally enter the scene and become both physically and imaginatively engaged with the artwork and its environment. This sevenacre downtown sanctuary is accented with meticulously planted perennials, annuals, hanging baskets, and water lilies. The Topiary Park invites connections of ideas about art, ecology, landscape design, and urban green spaces. James T. Mason - the sculptor who conceptualized the topiary park - designed, created, and installed the bronze frames and yew trees. The park

opened to the public in 1992 on the former site of the Ohio School for the Deaf. Seurat’s pioneering pointillist (using tiny dots of color to create light) painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte was completed in 1887 and is considered to be one of the most important paintings in Western art history. The large painting seven by ten feet - now hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago. As Mason’s creation is both work of art and a work of nature, The Topiary Park is a grand homage to Seurat’s masterpiece. Located at Town and Washington streets in downtown’s “Discovery District,” The Topiary Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free. Dogs, cameras, and picnics are welcome. Selfguided tour information, a “tree walk” and bottled water are available in the visitors’ center, which is located at the gatehouse on Town Street. Friends of the Topiary Park was founded in 1991 to support park improvements and to provide tours and educational resources for thousands of visitors each year. The park is a project of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. Volunteers are always needed to help in the garden. Phone 614.645.0197 or visit www.TopiaryGarden.org for more information. Jennifer McNally is Executive Director of Friends of the Topiary Park, a member organization of the Columbus Arts Marketing Association. For more information, visit www.CAMAonline.org!

10 REASONS TO VISIT THE TOPIARY PARK: 1. It is a tres romantic place for a date or picnic. (The park was featured on the cover of Kissing in Columbus: Romantic Things to See and Do In and Around Ohio’s Capital by Amber Stephens.) 2. It is unique. 3. It is an ideal place to take out-of-town visitors of all ages - everyone is always impressed. 4. Great people watching (could include art students painting and drawing; downtown residents and workers walking their dogs, playing Frisbee, and stretching their legs after lunch; volunteers weeding and working in the gardens; tourists from around the world; colorful downtown characters). 5. Interesting architecture surrounds the park (Old Deaf School, Columbus Metropolitan Library, grand 19th-Century homes). 6. Free lunchtime concerts on July 15, 29, and August 5, 12, 19, and 26. 7. It is beautiful every day of the year. 8. Since the topiaries continually grow and change according to the season, the time of day, and the amount of rainfall, the park is different each time you visit. 9. It is conveniently located downtown and on-street parking is always available. 10. It is free

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 25

DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD by Romeo San Vicente

RIHANNA ENTERS BLACK WIDOW WEB

THE RETURN OF KEITH HARING’S UNIVERSE

PORTIA DE ROSSI PILOTS BUTCH AND FAY

LIVING PROOF‘S SWELLING CAST ROSTER

It was inevitable that pop sensation Rihanna would wind up in movies. The question was when. Now the hip-hop princess has taken on a starring role in the cast of Mama Black Widow, based on the 1969 fictional memoir by acclaimed African-American writer Iceberg Slim. Brian J. White (who already played a gay man once in The Family Stone) will star as Otis Tilson, described in the book as a “tragic homosexual queen, whose underworld life took him into the company of other outcasts.” The film will also star Kerry Washington, Anthony Anderson, rapper-turned-actor Mos Def, and singer Macy Gray, and will be directed by Darren Grant (Diary of a Mad Black Woman). And if she’s half as charismatic reciting dialogue as she is singing, Rihanna can expect to need an “Umbrella” to protect her from the downpour of future offers.

The late Keith Haring’s pop paintings of wiggly, exuberant humans and radiant crawling infants have become the most recognizable images to come out of the contemporary art world since Andy Warhol’s soup cans. Sadly, his death at a young age from AIDS only robbed the world of his brand of joyful artistry. Fortunately, a lovingly created documentary of his life now exists. The Universe of Keith Haring explores the baby-faced, glasses-wearing street artist’s rise from graffiti in subway stations to gallery fame to mainstream commercial juggernaut in the 1980s. The friends he made along the way Grace Jones, Yoko Ono, Madonna, David LaChapelle, and Andy Warhol himself - are all on hand in the film, some in archival footage with Haring, to remember and praise an artist whose time ended too soon. Currently making the film-festival rounds, it should have a theatrical and DVD release in the near future.

Portia de Rossi’s life before coming out professionally was one of living openly while discussing nothing, inhabiting the Hollywood glass closet. But in post-public-disclosure interviews, the acclaimed comic actress (Arrested Development) discussed that complicated life and its subsequent difficulties. Now she’s turning elements of that past into a sitcom. Called - for now, anyway -Butch and Fay, the pilot de Rossi is shopping around Hollywood concerns two actors, one gay and one lesbian, who marry in order to further their careers. And lesbian director and former Married with Children star Amanda Bearse will take the pilot’s helm. No word on whether or not de Rossi will star herself, but it couldn’t hurt the show’s chances of making it to the networks. Here’s hoping we hear more about it soon.

Producers Renee Zellweger, Craig Zadan, and Neil Meron went to their personal e-mail address books to wrangle the rest of the cast of Lifetime’s Living Proof, the TV movie starring Harry Connick Jr. as UCLA doctor Dennis Slamon, the man who developed the breast cancer drug Herceptin. Fortunately, those e-mails had a positive impact, as Angie Harmon, Amanda Bynes, Bernadette Peters, Swoosie Kurtz, Regina King, Jennifer Coolidge, Trudie Styler, Tammy Blanchard, Paula Cale, and John Benjamin Hickey all signed on to the film. Shot around New Orleans, the film’s mission is breast-cancer awareness, and, with a broad range of female-centric casting like this, it should accomplish that goal easily. Look for its premiere this October.

Romeo San Vicente obviously inspired the character named “Butch” - minus the closeted part. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.

JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

26 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

TV by Mikey Rox

RUE MCCLANAHAN: ‘SORDID’ LIFE How Rue McClanahan became a TV icon isn’t classified information: For 20 years, the veteran actress has brought syndicated love and laughter to millions of people via The Golden Girls’ Blanche Devereaux, America’s favorite over-the-hill whore. With the royalties that the 74-year-old McClanahan reaps from the still-popular sitcom – broadcast daily around the world to roughly 1.2 million viewers – you’d expect that the Healdton, OK., native would be eager, at such a tender age, to sit back and count her cash. Au contraire. The saucy septuagenarian continues to take on surprising – and sometimes scandalous – new roles. Her latest? Peggy Ingram, the matriarch of a colorful, crooked Texas clan in Del Shores’ Sordid Lives: The Series – based on Shores’ 1999 feature-length cult classic of the same name – premiering on Logo July 23. In a new interview, McClanahan talks about her long-awaited return to series television; the gigs that got her there; fan mail from convicts; the problem with Shreveport, LA.; her brave battle with breast cancer; her steamy Sordid Lives sex scenes; and the on-set drama that’s making everyone uncomfortable. It’s dish that Rose, Sophia and Dorothy would definitely be down for. Cheesecake, anyone? Mikey Rox: You’ve been in show business for a long time. I won’t take you all the way back to the beginning, but I did read somewhere that while playing maniacal nanny Caroline Johnson on Another World, a fan sent a letter advising you on the best poisons with which to kill the character Pat. That’s kind of frightening to say the least, but what other sort of scary letters have you received over the years. Any one that comes to mind? Rue Mcclanahan: No, that’s the only one. That was JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

enough. I got some letters from some convicts when I was doing Golden Girls, but I didn’t answer them. I’m not sure it would have been safe. MR: Speaking of Golden Girls, there’s no question that you’re best known for your role as Blanche Devereaux. How did that affect your life? RM: It gave me a lot more self-confidence. I realized that she thinks she’s the cat’s meow, crazy about herself, very outgoing, thinks that she’s beautiful. I figured, I’m playing the part – why don’t I start feeling that way too. I became much less shy. MR: At what point during the Golden years did you know that the show had made its mark on television history? RM: Several years ago. It started running in reruns in 1988, and it hasn’t stopped since. It dawned on me then that this might be an ongoing proposition. MR: In the mid-1980s, talk of homosexuality on TV was quite taboo – and even today the introduction of a gay storyline creates a lot of buzz – but Golden Girls was a pioneer for gay issues way back then. Why was the show so committed to these issues? RM: I think because maybe we could get by with so much. I heard Betty White say this so many times – ‘four old broads are so non-threatening.’ We could do and say a lot of things that shows with younger actors couldn’t. MR: You have quite a knack for playing excessive southern women, but in your new role as Peggy Ingram on Logo’s Sordid Lives: The Series – which will mark your return to series TV – your character is way out there, much different than anyone you’ve played before. Considering that this role is such a departure from how we’re

used to seeing you on TV, what made you decide to take on this project? RM: [Series creator] Del [Shores] sent me the script back in November. When I read it, I said this is the best thing I’ve read by far. It was a very funny script. Peggy is a departure, but of course she turns into a sexy maniac. But she starts out as a church mouse, never had a drink of beer, married to the same man for 34 years, never had an orgasm. It’s about the growing up of Peggy, her blossoming. And she’ll grow up even more. In the second season Del has so much up his sleeve. Peggy starts out really boring, quiet-spoken, carrying her little purse in both hands. But she goes to the beauty parlor in the 11th week and wants to go blond, platinum. God knows what will happen in the second season. MR: Had you seen the movie prior to receiving the script for the TV series? RM: No, I received the script then got the movie and watched it. I guessed that it had been directed by Del. Thank goodness. He’s just wonderful to work with. Almost all the people are wonderful to work with. There’s one person that isn’t awfully popular, but I won’t get into that right now. But most everyone is professional and cooperative. There aren’t any prima donnas. Well, except that one person. MR: Behind-the-scenes drama? I love it! I hear, too, that you have a steamy sex scene. And details? Would Blanche approve? RM: I have several steamy sex scenes – they’re wild and raucous. I suppose Blanche would probably approve. I also have a very sweet love scene. Blanche would be envious, if anything. MR: The series debuts on Logo on July 23. But before the show becomes this summer’s guiltiest pleasure, what can you tell me about life on set?

Any juicy details? RM: I think most of the juice is on the screen. But we were living under difficult conditions: bad food, low budget, long hours. Shreveport, [LA.], is a pretty redneck town, and there aren’t very good places to stay. We were working out of trailers, and during filming I was undergoing physical problems. I was dealing with a knee surgery that was only six months old. It was all swollen and there was a lot of limping. I was not at all happy with how I felt or how I looked, so for me it was very difficult. MR: Like so many women, you bravely battled breast cancer and beat the disease. What’s your health status today, and to what do you attribute your cancer recovery? RM: Excellent. I’m getting very, very healthy. Currently I’m at the Hipprocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, on a raw food diet. I attribute my recovery to my husband, Morrow Wilson. His support helped me through it. We had just met when I was diagnosed. He’s a brave man. MR: All right, so you’re 74 years old and you’ve been working all your life, bringing joy and comedy to so many people around the world, but at some point don’t you just wanna sit back and relax? RM: No, I want to work. Working is life – acting, writing; I like to write. I love acting in good things. I just shot a Hallmark movie with Ed Asner called Generation Gap that will premiere in late October. It’s things like that that keep me young. I don’t want to retire. Who is Mikey Rox? Who gives a fuck! But you can visit him at www.mikeyrox.com.

OUTLOOK WEEKLY â&#x20AC;˘ 27

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JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

28 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

SEX TALK by Simon Sheppard

SPEAKING OF

MONOGOMY

“Gay men have a reputation for fucking around,” says one idealistic guy in his mid-20s. “But my partner and I have been faithful to each other for over five years, and we both love it. Sure, some of our friends are skeptical, but we manage to make it work.“ It can sometimes seem that there’s a pitched battle in the queer community between men who put down promiscuity and guys who proudly identify as sex pigs. Says a fellow from the slutty side of the fence, “Sure, monogamy might seem like a nice ideal. But in reality? From what I can see, it rarely works over the long haul.” Other guys would beg to differ. Many men especially younger ones - view open relationships with suspicion and disdain. Sometimes, though, the considerations are more practical. Says our mid-20s monogamist, “One of the nice things about fidelity is that it simplifies matters. We’re still attracted to other guys, of course. But not giving in to - well, let’s call it ‘lust’ - reduces the risk of everything from jealousy to venereal disease. And by restricting our outlets, I know that when I’m horny, he’ll be ready, too.” It may not be easy for two men in love to maintain monogamy. As our monogamist proclaims, “Fidelity’s not for the faint-hearted.” Nature seems to have hardwired guys with an itch to mess around. Urban gay communities are full of tumescent temptations. And - let’s face it after having sex with the same guy for years, boredom can set in. But monogamy need not equal monotony. Being finely tuned to a steady partner’s responses can make things go better in bed, and trusting your partner can lay the groundwork for edgy sexual exploration. Still, the urge for variety is strong. Says one fellow in a decades-long partnership, “Though there are tricks to keeping the sexual flame alive, it’s almost certain to burn less hot with time. You either accept that fact and go on from there, or live a sex life of frustration. Or you can do what my mate and I did, and decide on what we call ‘modified monogamy.’” Such almost-monogamous relationships aren’t thoroughly open, but abide by mutually agreed-upon rules. Beyond good old “don’t ask, don’t tell,” there’s the once-only decree, the notin-our-bed agreement, and the only-on-business-trips escape clause. Our guy in a JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

decades-long relationship relates, “In our case, we decided to only have sex with other men in three-ways. That added welcome variety, but unfortunately led to jealousies when the third was more interested in one of us than the other. So now we have occasional one-on-one flings, and just trust that they’re not big threats. After all, our messing around on the side doesn’t mean we love each other any less.” It’s not only long-timers who face challenges. One young guy just starting his first steady relationship says, “I really love my hubby, and I’d like him to be my one and only. But he has a terrible self-image, and is just not into sex that much. Since I’m always horny, if I intend to stay with him, we’re either going to have to give up monogamy, or I’m going to end up jacking off three times a day.” Not everyone approves of such compromises, though. “Some gay guys can be such spoiled brats,” our faithful mid-20s man says. “It may be a trade-off, but I’ll gladly sacrifice the transitory thrills of tricking for the rewards of focusing in on one special fellow, and him alone. I can’t imagine wanting anyone else as much as I desire the man I love.” Ultimately, there’s no simple answer to the monogamy question. Is the one-dick decree a heterosexual invention that’s ill-suited to male/male relationships? Or is it a sign of deep and abiding love? Maybe both, depending. Circumstances change: child-rearing enters the picture, guys get older, emotions evolve. If fidelity is what both men want in their heart of hearts, it’s more likely to work out than if monogamy is prompted by jealousy or fear - or if one partner is guilt-tripped into it by the other. And, should one fellow slip up and screw around, forgiveness is more constructive than anger and reproach. The basis of the gay movement, after all, is that a one-size-fits-all model doesn’t work when it comes to sex and love. So whether you forsake all others, or fuck around on the side, be nice to each other, be honest, and don’t bring home crabs. Simon Sheppard is the editor of Homosex: Sixty Years of Gay Erotica, and the author of Sex Parties 101, Kinkorama, and In Deep: Erotic Stories, and can be reached at SexTalk@qsyndicate.com. Visit Simon at www.simonsheppard.com.

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 29

SAVAGE LOVE by Dan Savage

My boyfriend and I both like porn and toys, and we’re obviously open about everything and often play with them together. But recently he posed an interesting question that left me feeling like a prudish conservative: If virtual-reality technology is developed such that one can have a sexual encounter with a computerized person (insert favorite famous wanna-fuck object here: Brad Pitt, Jessica Alba, whoever), would that be too close to cheating? He says that it’s just a face attached to a sex toy and nothing more. If porn is okay and sex toys are okay, he reasons, why not combine the two? But I’m feeling a little jealous of my boyfriend’s virtual fuck buddy of the future. What’s your take? Worried About Virtual Promiscuity We can spend all day worrying about terrifying new sex technologies that have yet to be developed - virtual fuck buddies, horse-hung sexbots, Laura Ingraham’s vaginal canal - or we can make up our minds to cross those terrifying bridges when we come to, on, or in them. As for what constitutes infidelity, well, that is and always will remain a highly subjective matter, WAVP. Every couple gets to decide for themselves just what constitutes infidelity within their own relationship. One couple may draw that line at pornography - well, it’s usually the batshitcrazy half that draws the line at pornography and the sane half concedes the point under duress and masturbates in secret - while the couple next door draws the line at quadruple penetration. And speaking of infidelity: I’m gonna slap the next big, dumb gay opponent of marriage equality who whines about gay marriage being a plot to impose stultifying monogamy on us and destroy gay sex as we’ve come to blow and glove it. Straights don’t have to be monogamous to be married (or married to be monogamous) and neither do we. We can have our civil rights, full marriage equality, and our sexual adventures, too - just like straight people do. Gay people who say, “We shouldn’t want to get married because then we’ll all have to be monoooooooogamous!” are just as dishonest - and just as full of shit - as Bible thumpers who say, “They shouldn’t be allowed to get married because they’re not capable of being monogamous!” Drop it, you douchebags. Okay! I’m a bisexual woman who dated this amazing, beautiful, bisexual guy who was a bartender at the Gay 90’s in Minneapolis. (Shout out!) Obviously it didn’t bother me that he liked men, but the thing I just could not tolerate was that

after he would come on my stomach he would lick it alllllllllllllll up!!! OMFG I almost threw up every time! I never said anything, because I’m not one to knock someone’s kinks as long as they’re safe and respectful. But I’m dying to know if this is a gay thing or did he have some type of protein deficiency?

What proof do you have that these two were piss freaks, ILL? Pissing all over carpets and walls is a time-honored way for disgruntled tenants to fuck over perceived-to-be-evil landlords; it is not, generally speaking, a piss freak’s modus operandi. It’s been my experience - ahem - that piss freaks are neat freaks (outside of the tub), the turn-on being the violation of their own taboos and hang-ups around cleanliness.

Jizzed Upon In Minneapolis A gay thing? Not according to my mail - or your example, JUIM, seeing as this guy was bi. Getting back to my mail: All the panicky e-mail I get from people whose boyfriends, husbands, or FWBs suddenly lapped up their own come is from women. Either gay men don’t do this or they don’t regard the act as so troubling that they feel a need to ask me about it. But in my own personal sex life, JUIM, I’ve never seen a gay man lap up his own come - well, not unless he was ordered to. So where did this kink come from? Who knows? Who cares? We can look back through this bartender’s life and speculate - maybe his dad forced him to lick his plate clean, maybe he started eating his come as a teenager to destroy evidence of masturbation from disapproving parents, maybe he’s deeply concerned (and deeply confused) about his carbon emissions - but, generally speaking, attempting to identify the root cause of an adult person’s fetishes, turn-ons, kinks, etc., is a waste of time. It’s a much better use of our time, JUIM, to accept and enjoy our fetishes and our partners’ fetishes with good grace and a sense of humor. What turns us on turns us on, and angsting about it endlessly doesn’t change anything. I’m writing on behalf of a friend of mine who is too tired and disgusted to write. The advice is too late for her, but I was wondering if you could send out a few hints to those who partake in golden showers. My friend is a very nice landlady. She rented her basement apartment to a young woman whose boyfriend visited on weekends. After a couple months, the tenant moved out and my friend went down to clean. The place smelled disgusting and required hours upon hours of cleaning. The rugs in every room were soaked through and the walls were covered with dried urine. She had to rip out all the carpeting. I just assumed people had the sense to do golden showers in the tub. So, Dan, what are the golden rules?

I’ve been reading your column pretty much since you started writing it in the early-mid 1990s. When I moved to New Orleans, pre-interwebs, and discovered you weren’t represented in any local papers, I had a friend clip and mail your column every week so I wouldn’t miss out. The reasons for the longevity of my interest are not only because you write good ’n’ stuff, but because your advice always nails it. But while I feel that you’re correct 100 percent of the time, I’m curious if you feel that you’ve ever made a mistake. Are you infallible? Any regrets? Curious In Louisiana P’shaw, CIL, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. I remember one in particular: After giving out some erroneous information about the location of the clitoris (it’s not on the tailbone, as it turns out) and being called out for it, I explained that, on the few occasions that I slept with women, I didn’t make a close study of their vaginas, as that would have made it harder to pretend that their vaginas were, in actual fact, Keanu Reeves’s distressed ass crack. Then I added, for no good reason, that to me a vagina would always look like “a canned ham dropped from a great height.” I regret writing that, as people screamed and yelled, and I was even refused service in a lesbian bar over it. But luckily for me, the column in which I made that gynophobic but eerily apt crack - I mean, picture it: A canned ham falls from a great height, hits the ground hard, the weakest seam of the can splits, the meat product inside is pressed out through the long, narrow opening as the impact compresses the can, and pink meat unfolds like a delicate, if nonkosher, flower - is so old that it doesn’t exist on a web archive anywhere and I can plausibly deny ever having written any such thing. Download the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at www.thestranger.com/savage.mail@savagelove.net

Irked Lady Landlord JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

30 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

ABOUT TOWN

IAMBICS FUNCTIONING, PENTAMETERS LOCKED IN by Michael Daniels Shadowbox has done it again, bringing down the house with another of their musical productions. This time it’s Return to the Forbidden Planet, the jukebox musical by director Bob Carlton based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest and the 1950s science fiction film Forbidden Planet (which itself drew its plot loosely from The Tempest). For those of you who may not know – and shame on you – the plot follows the crew of a routine survey flight under the command of Captain Tempest. Their spaceship is drawn mysteriously to the planet D’Illyria where mad scientist Doctor Prospero and his lovely daughter Miranda are marooned. Suffice it to say, mayhem ensues. Under the direction of founder Stev Guyer, this version of Planet stars many of Shadowbox’s finest talents, many of them turning in their best musical performances to date. Tom Cardinal is the perfect blend of William Shatner and Paul Lynde as the foppish Captain Tempest, and Jerrod Wigton is his perfect straight man as the Bosun. Cardinal’s vocals are great, but his performance is thrown over the top by his mastery of physical comedy and sideways glances. You go, girl – er, I mean – boy! J.T. Walker III is in his element playing the aging Prospero, at once convincing as an old man, then breaking into dance and song worthy of a teenager. Nikki Fagin (Miranda) and Julie Klein (Science Officer/Gloria) give just the right amount of camp and strength to their performances, proving that indeed, this is a man’s world, but it ain’t nothin’ without a woman on Earth. Colin Hanson as Ariel, the robot, manages to convey emotion and body language, even though he is dressed in cardboard boxes, tap lights, and duct tape throughout the entire performance, and the chorus – special shoutout to Edelyn Parker in this role – are simply insane as the crew. With such familiar songs as “Wipe Out,” “Good Vibrations,” “The Shoop Shoop Song,” “Teenager In Love,” “Gloria,” and “The Monster Mash,” this production appeals to the Bardic Geek in all of us. A must see production. Oh, and there’s a monster, and local celebucaster Jim Ganahl! That alone should make you rush out to buy tickets. Return to the Forbidden Planet plays at Shadowbox Sundays 3p and 7:30p from Jun 22 – Aug 3. Tickets $30, $20 for students and seniors. Visit www.shadowboxcabaret.com. Outlook Weekly is the proud sponsor of this production.

COLUMBUS NEXT MEETING: AUG 13, 6P-8P; LOCATION: FRANKLIN PARK CONSERVATORY [1777 E BROAD] : THE COLUMBUS COMPACT • WWW.NETWORKCOLUMBUS.COM

JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 31

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THE LAST WORD by Wayne Besen

The Distortions of James Dobson It is remarkable that Focus on the Family’s James Dobson would accuse anyone of “distortions” considering his ignoble record. But, that is exactly what the right wing ideologue did this week when he said on his daily radio show that democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama distorted the Bible. “I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology,” Dobson said.” “ - He is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter.” Why do people still listen to what this serial liar has to say? In the past two years, at least seven researchers have accused Dobson of manipulating or cherry picking their results to back his antigay teachings. Letters and videos documenting the concerns of these respected professors can be viewed at RespectMyResearch.org. The first researcher to step forward was New York University educational psychologist Carol Gilligan, PhD. On Sept. 14, 2006 Gilligan wrote a letter to Dobson that stated: “I was mortified to learn that you had distorted my work this week in a guest column you wrote in Time Magazine What you wrote was not truthful and I ask that you refrain from ever quoting me again and that you apologize for twisting my work.” The most recent scientist to claim Double-Talk Dobson distorted his work was University of Minnesota’s Gary Remafedi, M.D., M.P.H. In a letter to

Dobson, dated April 28, 2008, he wrote, “I want to draw your attention to a gross misrepresentation of our research at the website of ‘Focus on the Family.’” Other leading researchers who have taken issue with Dobson’s use of their work include: Dr. Kyle Pruett, Professor of child psychiatry, the Yale University School of Medicine; Dr. Robert Spitzer, Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University; Angela Phillips, Professor, Goldsmiths College in London; Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc, Associate Professor, school of nursing, University of British Columbia; and Dr. Judith Stacy, Professor of Sociology, New York University. Never before has such an array of venerated professors courageously stood up and turned the ivory tower into a watchtower to protect scientific integrity. What each doctor has in common is that he or she was shocked and outraged when informed how his or her work was used and abused. While the sheer number of professors who have already stepped forward is unprecedented, it is clearly the tip of the iceberg. James Dobson’s bastardization of the truth is so immense and complete that one would have to build and staff a laboratory and a library to fully investigate and document his legion of lies. Yet, the wonderful “liberal media” continues to treat this man as if he is a God-fearing grandfather. What disturbs me, is that the one time Dobson was truly exposed as a kook was when he

suggested Sponge Bob Square Pants might be gay. This was worthy of laughs, but when some of the brightest minds in the world take Dobson to task for manipulating years of hard work, the media is largely MIA. Isn’t it time the media paint a full and accurate portrait of a man who has had the ear of many presidents? The reason Dobson is so facile with the facts and believes he can pick and choose who is a “real Christian” is because he has a God complex. The Associated Press’ Eric Gorski reports that, “A McCain campaign staffer offered Dobson a meeting with McCain recently in Denver. Dobson declined because he prefers that candidates visit the Focus on the Family campus to learn more about the organization.” Can you believe this egomaniac? He tells John McCain, a possible leader of the free world, that he must take a detour from the campaign trail to Colorado Springs to bow at the feet of King James. What next, McCain has to agree to roll a red carpet and feed Dobson fresh grapes? What is clear, is that the Democrat’s strategy of more God talk, following John Kerry’s defeat in 2004, is unnerving religious conservatives. Obama can speak the language of Scripture and is comfortable in the walls of a church. His genuine connection to people of faith will likely peel away a portion of churchgoers who are disillusioned by the broken promises and endemic corruption of the Republican party. Dobson’s latest

tantrum highlights his fear that the religious right is losing its grip as the face of faith in America. Dobson is not an ordained minister, nor is he a religious scholar. His is just a loud mouth, selfrighteous manipulator who screams and hollers. Until King James can explain why the world’s top professors keep giving him F’s in religion, ethics and science, the media should stop quoting him. While, I appreciate the need for balance, accuracy is the higher journalistic value - even when it comes to the charlatan of family values. © 2008 Wayne Besen. All rights reserved. Anything But Straight @ www.waynebesen.com

HOROSCOPES by Jack Fertig

CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22): This birthday may have you feeling old and overly aware of life’s annoyances. Give yourself an opportunity to rant and let off steam about your frustrations with career and authority figures. Just be very careful where you do that!

LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 22): Careers should be fulfilling, and relationships should alleviate stress - that’s the basic idea. A retreat from both seems tempting, but there is no escape. You need to work on the issues with your partner, who can then help you with the work problems.

CAPRICORN (Dec 21 - Jan 19): Having to be right about everything is only part of the stress you’re having at home, but it’s the first part you need to work on. Try to listen humbly to others, and to accept their point of view without necessarily understanding it.

ARIES (Mar 20 - Apr 19): Anything felt as a threat to your turf, family, or community may raise your ire beyond reason, or at least beyond strategic good sense. You may be wildly overreacting to unintended slights. Offer people a chance to explain before launching the missiles.

LEO (Jul 23 - Aug 22): Commitment to certain values is important. It’s also possible to take your own beliefs too seriously. You’re tempted to argue with others, but the challenge you really want is with yourself. Questioning a teacher can be helpful. Remember that you are the pupil!

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21): It’s a little too easy to come off as overly critical. Remember those sayings about throwing stones, whether first or from a glass house. Focus your acuity on yourself and on any improvements you’d like to make!

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 18): Meaner, harder, and kinkier might juice up your sex life, but is it really what you need? The answer is in your own heart, not in the fetish ads. If you do get kinky, be especially careful! Accidents are just begging to happen.

TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 20): Everyone is being a bit touchy. It will take more than the usual effort not to react. Your own reactions and resentments will surface with embarrassing ease. Give your frustrations a creative outlet, which will abate the problem, but only some.

VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22): It seems you are “supposed” to fit somewhere in your GLBT community, but you don’t. Being an individual and queer even among queers is fine, even if it gets you some flack. Still, making some compromises to fit in might be worth considering.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 20): Trying to have fun may seem more trouble than it’s worth. Perhaps you’re being too competitive. You need to excel in your work and some creative endeavors, but relax! The best fun is more about fun than about being best.

PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 19): Efforts to play with your partner may fall flat. Is your baby being clear about his or her needs? Are you really paying attention? The real problem may be more about a difference in values and priorities than in playing well together.

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 20): You may be at odds with your usual allies and friends. Conflicts between ideals and traditions appear to be at the heart of the problem. The answer is more likely found in your heart than in any doctrine or history.

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.

JUL 17 - JUL 23 2008