08.07.08 Outlook Weekly - 2008 Election Preview by Outlook Weekly

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06 O 3N 1 OL V 08 0 32 1 UG A -

P ECA R Y T EO S E W NINA • S A L G HIV RATES • INTERVIEW: GLENN DOU

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

SNAPSHOT

CLGSA GATHERED AT U CAFE ON FRIDAY FOR A FUNDRAISER SUPPORTING THE 2010 WORLD SERIES BID. FIVE DOLLAR COSMOS WERE THE HIGHLIGHT AS WELL AS SHOOTING THE PROMOTIONAL VIDEO. YAH GAY SOFTBALL!

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.

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008 VOLUME 13 NUMBER 06

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

SNAPSHOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........2 ABOUT TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....3,30 COMMENTARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........4 COMMUNITY CORNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........6 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........8 HEALTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........9 POLI-SCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......11 EXAMINED LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......13 EARTH TALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......15 FEATURE: ELECTION PREVIEW . . .. . . . . . . . . . .18-20 DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......22 ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......22 INTERVIEW: GLENN DOUGLAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......24 FILM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......25 LOCAL CELEBRITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......26 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......27 PUCKER UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......28 SAVAGE LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......29 THE LAST WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......31 SCOPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......31 NEXT WEEK: ESCORTS & PORNSTARS!

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 3

ABOUT TOWN by Chris Hayes

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7 EAT GREEN Farmers Market @ Columbus Public Health’s Near East Side Campus, 240 Parsons Ave, www.publichealth.columbus.gov: More than 20 central Ohio growers will offer a colorful variety of fresh fruits and vegetables at Columbus Public Health’s Fourth Annual Farmers Markets. The markets will be held Jul 31, Aug 7 and Aug 14. 10a-1p, free. See page 30 for more info. FREE MUSIC IS BEST SERVED UP AND DIRTY Downtown Live Summer Concert Series @ the corner of State and Third Streets in the plaza in front of the Hyatt on Capitol Square, www.downtowncolumbus.com: Continuing with the tradition to keep downtown music-filled during the summer for downtown residents and employees, Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District continues the summer line up for Downtown Live (previously called Party on State). This free summer concert series held on Thursdays through Aug 28. Tonight hear the Dirty Martini. San Francisco Oven and Darby’s, restaurants located off of the plaza, will remain open and sell food and beverages to concert attendees. 5:30p; free FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 VOX - THE GROUP NOT THE VODKA Summer Fridays Free Lunch Concerts presents CGMC @ The Ohio Statehouse, High St (btw State & Broad), www.ohiostatehouse.org: VOX of The Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus will entertain the audience with a variety of musical numbers from previous shows at this FREE lunch-time outdoor performing arts series taking place on the West Plaza (High Street) of the historic Statehouse each Friday throughout the summer. Summer Fridays provide an opportunity for the public and downtown community to gather on Capitol Square to experience Columbus’ diverse arts groups and to visit the beautiful Capitol building. 12p; free. WATCH THAT CLIFF Mame @ Axis, 775 N High St, 614.291.4008, www.centerstageplayers.com: Center Stage Players present MAME the musical live on stage. Everyone wishes they have an Auntie Mame, don’t they? I do. That’s why I’m going to this show to bask in the fantasy of traveling the world with my eccentric Aunt. Show runs Aug 8, 9, & 10. Fri & Sat 8p, Sun 4p; cover. WHEN PIGS FLY Flight Of The Lawnchair Man @ Mathile Theatre at the Schuster Center, 1 W 2nd St, Dayton, 937.228.3630, www.ticketcenterstage.com: Encore Theater Co presents The Regional Premiere of a modern day musical story about following your dreams. This august, Dayton’s prestigious aviation history takes a quirky new turn. Fri & Sat, 8p Sun 3p; $15. HAPPILY EVER? 3 in 30 @ MadLab, 105 N. Grant Ave, 614.221.5418, www.madlab.net: The newest feature of Afterwords, Madlab’s latenight series, is 3 in 30. MadLab will present 3 original 10-minute plays based on a common theme. This month’s theme is After. The plan is that in every 2-month cycle a new theme is presented, pitches pitched and selected, plays written, directors and casts selected, and the plays rehearsed and performed. And then the cycle begins again. Aug 8 & 15. 10:30p; $5.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 SEPARATING THE BALL PLAYERS FROM THE BALL BOYS CGLSA Tournament Weekend @ Berliner Park, Greenlawn Ave: Come Celebrate the end of the softball season with the CLGSA this weekend. The Columbus Lesbian and Gay Softball League wraps up its season this weekend with its annual end of year tournament. The games will be played both Saturday and Sunday at Berliner Park between 11a-4p. The championship games are scheduled for 3p on Sunday. The long-term weather forecast for the weekend is gorgeous (80 and sunny) so come out to Berliner and help us celebrate the end of the season. They would love to have a bunch of rowdy fans to cheer on the championship teams. The CLGSA would also like to recognize Tradewinds Grizzlies and Somewhere Else Oz who will be traveling to Seattle to represent Columbus in the Gay Softball World Series August 25-30. DEFENSE IS THE BEST OFFENSE Safety and Self Defense for Women Who are Caregivers to Children or Other Vulnerable Loved Ones @ Susan B. Anthony Memorial Unrest Home Womyn’s Land Trust Feminist Education Center, Womyn Only Campground & Residential Community 740.448.6424 ,SuBAMUH.com: This discussion and training will focus on prevention and self-defense for womyn who care for young children or other vulnerable loved ones. See page 30 for more details. 12p 3p; $15. SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 SUNDAY…IN THE PARK Short North Sunday Jazz @ Goodale Park Gazebo, Park St: Spend an afternoon in Goodale Park and enjoy the brilliant vocals of some of the city’s most dynamic women of song. Today hear Actual Proof with Jeanette William. Noon – 1:30; free. MONDAY, AUGUST 11 HAPPY IS A DISH BEST SERVED BY SAM Manic Monday Happy Hour @ Score Bar, 145 N 5th St, 614.849.0099, scorebarcolumbus.com: Uncle Sam is looking for a few good men and woman to help start the week off right. Head to Score where you can score $2 domestics, $1.50 wells and free popcorn and Wii. 4:30p-8p; free. TUESDAY, AUGUST 12 JAZZALICOUS Jazz Mary @ Club Diversity, 863 S High St, 614.224.4050, clubdiversity.com: Martini it up and jazz it out with Jazz Mary. Jazz hands not included. 9:30; free. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13 IT’S ALL IN WHO YOU KNOW Network Columbus @ Wall Street, 144 N High St, 614.464.2800, www.wallstreetnightclub.com: Outlook presents Network Columbus, a chamber of commerce for gay-owned and allied companies and gay and allied business professionals offering networking events, educational programs, business advocacy and linkages with other business and professional organizations to lead and support economic growth within the central Ohio gay community. This month it’s Stacie Boord from Shadowbox talking about their move downtown. Relaxed business casual atmosphere, lots of prizes and free food. Come and network already! 6p-8p; free. AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

4 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

LETTERS

Bigotry in Bloom... Again Letter to the Editor

As a Columbus resident I must say I am completly horrified that you would put such (dare I say it) trash in public places easily accesible to children and young adults. As one who believes that the homosexual lifestyle is a sin, I naturaly oppose your newspaper. However, although I strongly disagree with the agenda of your paper, I do believe that you do have a right to a voice. Because of such I don’t throw your paper out at my own college campus and other places only populated by adults. To put your paper in libraries and other places heavily trafficked by children is another story. Just to be fair I did give your paper a glance over once and in this particular paper a young man explicitly describes how he was semi-rapped by another man in a homosexual bar. This is by no means material fit for young readers. I say this on a personal note considering my 5th grade brother picked up your newspaper at our local library since the front page talked about presedential candidates. He naively thought he could use the article for a school project. Thank God I found this edition of Outlook before my brother could use it for his research and be exposed to the highly indecent material inside. I do warn you that until you decide to make it a policy to put your papers totally out of reach of children I will continue to dispose of all the Outlook papers I find at my local library and other indecent places (and I have already thrown many stacks away already). I thank you for your concern and your time. Alycia Dear Ms. Hartley, Thank you for writing us. I can sincerely appreciate your position, though of course I disagree with it entirely. We have worked extensively with libraries and

other places where we distribute, and it is at their discretion where our publication is placed. Several challenges have been mounted and all have failed, as the First Amendment protects our right to print and distribute our publication, so long as we stay within the confines and scope of content laws. Let me assure you, we are well within those parameters. It is also incumbent upon me to advise you that your comments that you have already thrown away multiple stacks of our publication constitutes, in the eyes of the law, a crime of theft, and I shall be forwarding your comments on to our attorneys for review and possible legal action. With best regards, Michael Daniels

Obama Flip Flips Toward GOP To The Editor: The majority of registered gay voters overwhelmingly support Barrack Obama for President. Nonetheless, after almost six weeks of a constant Obama lead, generally in the five- to seven-point range, some daily tracking polls show a tie between Obama and presumptive GOP nominee John McCain. What happened to the Democrat’s lead? Most of the slippage is Obama’s fault. Obama has carried flip-flopping to new heights. In the space of a month and a half, this candidate — who we don’t really yet know very well — reversed or sharply modified his positions on many key issues that make him seem equivocal and even supportive of GOP policies: * After vowing to eschew private fund-raising and take public financing, he has now refused public money. Bring on the corporate fat cats. Obama even says some corporate tax rates could be cut. * Once he threatened to filibuster a bill to pro-

tect telephone companies from liability for their cooperation with national security wiretaps; now he has voted for the legislation. Yet many gays and civil libertarians oppose Obama’s new position supporting wiretaps. * Turning his back on a lifetime of support for gun control, he now recognizes a Second Amendment right to bear arms in the wake of the Supreme Court decision, sounding as conservative as Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. * Formerly, he told the Israeli lobby that he favored an undivided Jerusalem. Now he says he didn’t mean it. * From a 100 percent pro-choice position, he now has migrated to expressing serious doubts about allowing partial-birth abortions. Very Republican. * For the first time, he now speaks highly of using Bush’s church-based institutions to deliver public services to the poor. Obama no longer concerns himself with the separation of Church and State. * Having based his entire campaign on withdrawal from Iraq, he now pledges to consult with the military first; who are likely to effectively counsel him against too early of a withdrawal. * During the primary, he backed merit pay for teachers — but before the union a few weeks ago, he opposed it. * After specifically saying in the primaries that he disagreed with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) proposal to impose Social Security taxes on income over $200,000 and wanted to tax all income, he has now adopted the Clinton position. Watch your wallets gay senior citizens. * Obama vehemently told Democratic voters that he would repeal the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA). Now he supports Reagan’s NAFTA and says his previous criticism was just “over-heated rhetoric”. * Obama uses GOP buzz words when he tells the NAACP that “Blacks must take ‘personal responsibility’ for their actions”. * Obama’s GOP buzz words now inundate

The Reader Poll Last week we asked:

What is the number one issue you'll have in mind when voting in November? • Ending the war • Who will support the GLBT people. • Economy turnaround • Anyone but another Republican! • The friggin' shitty economy • The ecomomy • GLBT Equality • Electing Barack Obama, and getting this country back "on track!" • Economy • Health Care • Erosion of civil liberties - which candidate will deprive us of the least • Economy (which includes alternative energy & Iraq since they all link to each other). • Returning the Whitehouse to the Democrats is my number one issue.

NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION:

continued

• Have you ever paid for sex?

Got something to say? We want to hear from you!

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

Email us at editor@outlookmedia.com or logon to www.outlookweekly.net.

28 SO U RC

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

E : HARRIS

CATEGORY

NOV 2 ’04

AUG 4 ’08

DIFFERENCE

AMERICAN DEAD

1,122

4,128

3,006

AMERICAN WOUNDED

8,124

30,464

22,340

IRAQI CIVILIAN DEAD

16,342

94,327

NATIONAL DEBT

$7,429,629,954,236

$9,585,479,639,200

DAYS ‘TIL 2008 ELECTION

1,463

77,985 $2,155,849,684,964 (1,371)

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 5

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

6 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

LETTERS

Southern states with television commercials bragging about his “family values” and his Kansas upbringing. Hello Reverend Fred Phelps. * Voters shouldn’t be surprised. Obama has said publicly that he wants to “be like Ronald Reagan and change America.” * Obama says he is for gay rights. Yet he has out spoken gay-bashing black preachers traveling with him in the South. Obama’s breathtaking chameleon behavior is materially different from McCain’s changes in policy. While McCain had opposed offshore oil drilling and now supports it, the facts have obviously changed. Obama’s shifts have nothing to do with altered circumstances, just a change in the political calendar. As a candidate who was nominated to be a different kind of politician, Obama has set the bar pretty high. And, with his flipping and flopping, he is falling short, to the disillusionment of his more naïve gay supporters. Meanwhile, McCain and the Republicans have finally found an issue — oil drilling — exposing how the Democrats oppose drilling virtually anywhere that there might be recoverable oil. Not in Alaska. Not offshore. Not in shale deposits in the West. The Democratic claim that we “cannot drill our way out of the crisis in gas prices” begs the question of whether, had we drilled five years ago, we would be a lot less dependent on foreign market fluctuations. Obama also says we need to become more like France, which is propelled mostly by nuclear energy; but Obama opposes nuclear energy. The truth is that the Democrats put the need to mitigate climate change ahead of the imperative of holding down gasoline prices at the pump. If there was ever a fault line between elitist and populist approaches to a problem, this is it. In fact, liberals and so-called progressives basically don’t see much wrong with $5 gas. Many have been urging a tax to achieve precisely this level, just like Europe has done for decades; so say many gays. Obama said that he was unhappy that there was not a period of “gradual adjustment” to the high prices, but seems to shed few tears over the current levels. If Obama softens his aversion to drilling, it may be the final straw for some of his gay liberal supporters. Where would they go? Nader is still a possibility. But McCain can attract liberal votes. He doesn’t need to bleed Obama only from the right. His own stands against drilling in Alaska and torture of terror suspects and for immigration reform make him suspect on the right, but quite acceptable to the left. If moderate liberals — gay or straight — are disgusted by Obama’s obvious attempts at chicanery and repositioning, they might just cross the aisle and vote for John McCain. Respectfully submitted,

Join the Garden Party Host Committee Matthew Veritas Tsien

Greetings! If you haven’t already joined the growing list of individuals below, I would like to invite you to AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

COMMUNITY

continued

be a part of the Host Committee or Garden Club for the 2008 Kaleidoscope Youth Center Garden Party. Please contact our Host Committee Chairperson, Gregg Dodd, by August 15 at greggdoddcmh@gmail.com to become a member of the 2008 Kaleidoscope Youth Center Garden Party Host Committee or Garden Club. The Garden Party is Kaleidoscope Youth Center’s annual keystone event. This year’s Garden Party will be held on Sunday, October 5 from 4p-7p at the lovely home of Tom Havens and Mark Hubbard in Powell. With your help, this year’s event will be the best one to date. Your support of the KYC Garden Party is needed. By becoming a member of the Host Committee or Garden Club, you will be helping to propel the Center’s work, and in turn, the many youth who are coming out and dealing with other issues. The youth that we serve represent the next generation of leaders in our community. For the last 14 years, Kaleidoscope Youth Center has provided vital services and advocacy to hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people and their families in the Central Ohio area. Kaleidoscope has been the place where coming out and being out is shared, instead of isolating; celebrated, instead of condemned; and safe, instead of dangerous. For more information about Kaleidoscope Youth Center, visit www.KYCohio.org. Your tax-deductible host committee contribution will have an important impact on our LGBT youth community. Please don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this exciting event. Please choose which level of support is best for you: • Host Committee Member $100 (Individual): Includes one event ticket & your name will be listed on the invitation as well as the Sponsors Board at the event • Garden Club Member $250 (Individual or couple): Includes two event tickets, your name will be listed on the invitation as well as the Sponsors Board at the event • Event Sponsorships (Individual, Group or Corporate): Many Corporate Sponsorships are available. For more information on how your group or organization can support Kaleidoscope, please contact Jeff Whiting at jeff@helpwizards.com or by phone at 614.291.4357 ext 1. Please join this growing list of supporters including Host Committee members Kimberly Fiske, Rick Harrison, Michael Council, Phil Martin, Jeff Redfield, Curtis Davis, Greg Cunnigham, Tim Morbitzer & Giancarlo Miranda, Timothy Straker & Michael Ebright, Kelly Jaeger, Scot Dewhirst, Lynn Greer, Julie Lamere & Angie Wellman, as well as Garden Club members Gregg Dodd, Paul Feeney & Chad Braun, John & Kellie Kromenacker, Greg Kromenacker, Jeff Smith & Dwayne Sattler, Tom Tootle, Eunice Hornsby and Marsha Watkins, Jack Miner & Brian Dozer, Russ Goodwin, Michael Maly & Gregory Espinoza, Brian Maxwell, Shannon Ford, Jeff Whiting and Zack Lynn, Greg Cunnigham, Scott Robinson & Doug Swartz, Michael Leonard, David Whitehair & Rod Green, Susan White and Anne Casto, Darla Luebbe & Elaine Stewart, Cheryl Carter & Toni Saitta, Tom Grote & Rick Neal. By agreeing to become a member of the KYC Garden Party Host Committee or Garden Club, your commitment will be highlighted through

the listing or your name on the event invitation. Due to print piece deadlines, commitments need to be received by August 15 to ensure that your name will be included in the printed invitation. Your check, however, is not needed until October 1. (Checks can be mailed to: Kaleidoscope Youth Center, PO Box 8104, Columbus, OH 43201) Please contact our Host Committee Chairperson, Gregg Dodd, by August 15 at greggdoddcmh@gmail.com to become a member of the 2008 Kaleidoscope Youth Center Garden Party Host Committee or Garden Club. Thank you in advance for your support. Sincerely, Angie Wellman, Executive Director

Spring Cleaning To the Editor:

I remember reading an article a few years ago about colonics. Do you happen to have the woman’s contact information? I’m very interested in having this done. Thanks. James H Columbus Hey James: Time for a good flushing is it? Still one of the most commented on issues ever and one of my favorite covers. Our May 26, 2005 cover story titled “Colon Love” was on my experience getting a Colonic or Colon Hydrotherapy. Unfortunately it’s not online yet, but the person you want is Vicki Gibbs who can be reached at 740.654.3884. Tell her Outlook Weekly sent ya! Enjoy and happy colon health to everyone!

I Want More Conversion Therapy

PFLAG AT LARGE by Peg Allemang Denny and I spent a fun, memorable day of our summer vacation marching with our son Dean in the 2008 San Francisco Gay Pride Parade. What an experience! Our first surprise was the enormous size of the parade - although we know it is the largest in the country. We were especially impressed with the number of marchers in the PFLAG contingent. There were banners representing more than a dozen surrounding towns. Apparently, each has its own chapter - one chapter rented a double deck city bus, which had enough riders, including Denny, to fill the top deck. All totaled, I would guess there over one hundred people in the PFLAG section alone. Dean and I marched carrying a Columbus Ohio banner with the PFLAG logo and wearing matching shirts with the same logo. We were energized when parade watchers shouted “Go Bucks!” and “OH!” from the sidelines. Not surprisingly, the theme of the parade was “Marriage In the Air” celebrating the two week old California Supreme Court decision making gay marriage legal. The Dykes on Bikes even shed their traditional garb for wedding dresses and veils flowing in the breeze behind their bikes. Further back in the parade, a lesbian couple held hands and displayed a “Just Married” sign while marching in uniform with fellow San Francisco firefighters. The HRC and the ACLU were indeed visible along with other area activist groups, entertainers and local politicians using the festival and parade to campaign against a “Marriage Repeal” act. Also, a “California Straight People for GLBT Rights” group, which appears to be similar to our local Speak Out organization, specifically formed to fight this discriminatory legislation, marched in support of same sex marriage rights. No surprise, California conservative groups instigated this amendment right after the decision, in time for California’s November ballot. If passed, this legislation will overturn the California Supreme Court decision and reinstate the ban on same-sex marriage. According to the latest LA Times poll, passage is a toss-up. Not only will no more same-sex marriages be sanctioned, but all those performed up to the date the law takes effect will be deemed illegal. We can only hope that common sense will prevail over biased radicalism and the issue will fail. The overall experience of participating with such active PFLAGers was invigorating, and I came home with some ideas about how we can be more active right here in our own chapter.

Hello, I noticed in the June 12 - 18 edition, Adam Lippe wrote a “Straight Up” article titled, “The Art of Conversion - Part 1” At the end of the article, it mentions that Part 2 will follow in 2 weeks. I have been unable to find it, however. I noticed that this publication, Lippe’s column was included, but still no part 2? Can you help me find the second part? Perhaps I missed it? Thanks, Steve Classing Hey Steve: There was actually so much going on with this article, we decided to make it a feature. Look for it in our September 11 issue. Thanks for reading and spread the word - you’re fine just the way God made ya! C

INSTINCT WANTS YOU...TO BE THE NEXT UNDERGEAR MODEL STAR! “Are you man enough?” Here’s your chance to make your dreams of stardom come true! In partnership with UnderGear, Instinct’s “Model Star” 2008 model search is under way. The winner will receive a modeling contract with Undergear and will appear on an upcoming cover and in a fashion spread in Instinct Magazine. Model search “Open Call” events will be held throughout the summer in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles. Entrants are also encouraged to apply to the contest at Instinct’s website (instinctmagazine.com/modelstar). So what do you have to do to enter? UnderGear and Instinct want to see your best modeling shots that reflect the “look” you have come to expect from UnderGear and Instinct. If you’re entering the contest online, snap a pic or shoot a quick video clip of yourself looking your model best and apply via the Instinct site starting July 1. Otherwise, check the magazine’s website for the details on when and where to show up at the four events listed above, and be prepared to strut your stuff for the judging panel. For Model Star questions contact Marcus Reynaga at mreynaga@instinctmag.com. Sponsorship opportunities available. Additionally, Instinct’s 10 City Tour to celebrate the publication’s 10-year anniversary is well under way, and next hits Columbus on Aug 16. See page 30 for all the details or instinctmagazine.com.

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 7

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

8 â&#x20AC;˘ OUTLOOK WEEKLY

SPORTS

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Columbus Lesbian & Gay Softball Association (Week 10) Team

Division Win Loss Tie PCT

Score

Roberts 15

0.775 263

161

Tradewinds Grizzlies

Roberts 11

0.625 218

190

Q-Bar

Roberts 10

0.525 172

197

Switch Hitters (Edward Jones) Roberts

RA PTS

0.475 210

212

Axis

Roberts

0.375 208

224

Otero's

Roberts

0.225 123

220

Homewreckers (Q-Bar)

Akers 2 15

0.800 245

150

Village Pet Supply

Akers 2 15

0.750 283

145

Union / Hard Times

Akers 2

0.475 240

188

Team X (La Forgata)

Akers 2

0.475 215

335

Molly Woo's

Akers 2

0.325 231

247

Planet Score (Planet Smoothie / Score)

Akers 2

0.125 107

256

Akers 1 10

1.000 174

Somewhere Else / Oz

Akers 1

0.800 141

Plugged Nickel

Akers 1

0.600 100

100

Red Devils (Pierceology)

Akers 1

0.550 118

115

Renegades (Tradewinds)

Akers 1

0.400

107

Stix-n-Chix (Carriage Trade Reality)

Cutters (Creative Foundations) Akers 1

0.350

Bottom's of the 9th (Q-Bar)

Akers 1

0.200

115

Orange Crush

Akers 1

0.100

162

River Rats (Franklinton CTC) St. Clair

0.750 116

St. Clair

0.750 110

Club Diversity

St. Clair

0.700

Pyramid II

St. Clair

0.700 139

Exile Pirates

Chase

St. Clair

0.450 114

110

Mo Money (5/3 Bank)

St. Clair

0.300

120

Ford's Fielders

St. Clair

0.250

131

New Creation / MCC Metz

St. Clair

0.100

150

www.clgsa.net **This concludes the regular softball season. This weekend starts the tournements

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OUTLOOK WEEKLY â&#x20AC;˘ 9

HEALTH

GROWING EPIDEMIC IN GAY & BISEXUAL MEN IN THE UNITED STATES HEIGHTENS THE CALL FOR A NATIONAL AIDS STRATEGY BRIDGING RACE & SEXUALITY In the wake of disturbing news about higher HIV rates in the United States, people living with HIV and allies are calling for a national AIDS strategy that confronts the homophobia, violence and bias at the heart of the U.S. epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the new figures released on Saturday, August 2 reflect a "stable" epidemic, albeit one with a higher level of annual infections than previously estimated. However, the data reveal an ongoing and persistent increase in rates of infection among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), many of whom are Black and/or Latino. "The new estimates confirm that a vast majority of new infections in the U.S. occur in gay and bisexual men, and that Blacks are significantly more heavily impacted than other racial/ethnic categories. However, the data fail to clearly link the two, perpetuating a longstanding, damaging polarization," explained Walt Senterfitt, CHAMP board co-chair and an epidemiologist living with HIV who served as a Visiting Scientist at CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. "We need CDC to clearly show the HIV incidence numbers in gay men and other MSM of color." "A substantial number of Black people infected every year are gay or bisexual, and a substantial proportion of gay and bisexual men infected are Black. In fact, the heaviest impact is at the nexus of the two - being both black and a man who has sex with men. Yet this population is significantly marginalized, even stigmatized within both larger populations of which it is an integral part. A national AIDS strategy must tackle this fundamental challenge," he added. Advocates state that CDC's response to the new estimates, despite acknowledgement of the U.S. epidemic as majority gay/bisexual, does not challenge the pervasive homophobia that the federal government refuses to confront. They point to research on gay men who experience bullying and violence in adolescence and later have higher rates of drug use, intimate partner violence, and HIV/AIDS. According to the National Anti-Violence Project, there was a 24% increase last year in the number of victims reporting anti-LBGT violence. "The rising incidence in our communities is a direct result of years of policies and pro-

grams that demonize and ignore the sexual health needs of gay men, especially AfricanAmerican and Latino gay men who bear the brunt of the epidemic in the United States. Gay men of all colors face significant health disparities that directly impact the incidence and prevalence of HIV in their lives," said Jim Pickett, Director of Advocacy at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. "We must prioritize a holistic, asset-based gay men's health agenda that goes well beyond a 'navel to knee' focus. We must also address their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health needs that, when neglected, foster conditions in which HIV thrives." Activists note that the national AIDS program of the Mexican government's public health department sponsored public campaigns against homophobia in subways and buses, television spots, school programs and by working with telenovela and movie producers. "If this socially conservative country, with far fewer resources than its wealthy neighbor to the north, can ambitiously confront homophobia with government sponsorship and funding, why can't the United States?" asked Coco Jervis, CHAMP's Director of Policy. "CDC talks of the need to develop more and better prevention messages, including more prevention interventions for Black gay men and gay men of all races. But such strategies will never be sufficiently effective or taken up by those most at risk until - and unless - homophobia is directly confronted," added Kenyon Farrow, National Public Education Director for Queers for Economic Justice. "Instead, politicians of both parties and the Department of Health and Human Services have caved into pressure from right-wing politicians, squelching not only sexuality research but anti-homophobia and pro-sexual diversity messages in HIV prevention and general health promotion alike. Will our next administration buck this trend, or will it be more of the 'business as usual' that's decimating my community?" The Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) is dedicated to HIV prevention justice, bridging HIV/AIDS, human rights, and struggles for social and economic justice to ensure the development and use of a broad and effective range of HIV prevention options in the next decade. CHAMP sponsors AIDS2008.com, a community blog at the 2008 International AIDS Conference.

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10 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 11

POLI-SCI

OBAMA LEADS MCCAIN BY 46 POINTS AMONG GLBT ADULTS Among All Registered Voters, Obama Leads McCain by 9 Points With less than six weeks to go until the Democrat and Republican Presidential conventions, the general election is almost officially here. Results from a new Harris Poll show that: • In a four way race, Barack Obama leads John McCain among registered voters 44 percent to 35 percent, while Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate and Ralph Nader each receive 2 percent. Sixteen percent of registered voters are not sure who they will vote for yet; • Among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) adults (though not specifically registered voters) 60% of GLBT adults favor Obama while 14% favor McCain. Three percent of GLBT adults favor Barr, while 1% choose Nader. Six percent choose “other,” while 17% of all GLBT voters are not yet sure which candidate to support – comparable to the general population. • John McCain is holding onto just slightly more of his base as just over three-quarters of Republicans (77%) say they will vote for him versus just under three-quarters of Democrats (74%) who will vote for Barack Obama; and, • Among Independents, Obama has a 12point lead (38% to 26%), but one-quarter of Independents (25%) are not sure, 4 percent would vote for Bob Barr and 3 percent for Ralph Nader. These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,690 U.S. adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive® between July 3 and 11, 2008. Like all polls conducted well before an election, this should not be read as a prediction, but rather as a snap shot of the presidential “horse race”. Additional results include: • Half of Matures (those over 63) say they would vote for John McCain, while three in ten (29%) would vote for Senator Obama, indicating that some of McCain’s strongest support comes from this generation;

• Half (51%) of the youngest generation or Echo Boomers (those aged 18-31) would vote for Barack Obama while just onequarter (24%) would vote for Senator McCain; • Ninety percent of African Americans are voting for Senator Obama, as are six in ten Hispanics (60%). Whites, however, are leaning towards Senator McCain over Senator Obama (40% versus 34%); Over two in five men (42%) and women (43%) say they would vote for Senator Obama, while over one-third of men (36%) and three in ten women (30%) would vote for Senator McCain. This suggests that the gender gap doesn’t really exist this year; and, Half of single women (51%) would vote for Senator Obama while just one-quarter obeygiant.com (25%) would vote for Senator McCain. Married women are more closely divided – 37 percent would vote for Obama and 36 percent would vote for McCain. So What? While Americans are thinking of summer vacations and the beach, November 4th may seem like eons away. However, in reality, the election is just 15 weeks from now. That means that everything from this point on in time definitely matters. Regina Corso, Director of The Harris Poll, said, “Senator Obama’s lead seems solid, but there are some troubling spots to watch for in his campaign. First, Matures are solidly behind John McCain, and this is a group that goes out and votes in the strongest numbers among all age groups. Further, the divide among married women is also extremely close. With almost one-quarter of this group (22%) undecided, the candidate that can win the lion’s share of those undecided Americans can move these overall numbers.”

HOWLING TO BE TOP DOG OF ELECTION ’08 BARK OBAMA & JOHN McCANINE Official canine-didate tees now available at www.petsvote.com! Everyone from the highly-paid punditry to the average voter agrees that it’s a flat-out dogfight for the U.S. Presidency, from here to Election Day. But as the votes of women, the working class and America’s emerging minorities are watched more closely than ever before, what of our country’s 72 million pet dogs? For the first time, that under-served ch’wing vote will have a chance to declare its political pawsition www.PetsVote.com. As the thrilling party primaries give way to the summertime political conventions, leading to the November 2008 national election, Americans face the gnawing question: “Which major-party candidate will take up residence in the White House...and which of them will be left in the doghouse?” From now through the November conclusion of the U.S. Presidential campaign, New York-based company Psychedelic Fur™ will be tracking the pupular vote for John McCanine and Bark Obama online at www.PetsVote.com, updated daily. Dog lovers can also register their votes through a exclusive line of adorable pet

tees and accessories by Psychedelic Fur ™, emblazoned with official campaignstyle logos supporting Bark Obama and John McCanine – a declaration of your pup’s faith in our great American electoral system, as well as your warm and fuzzy feelings for the big dog who’ll be running the country, come next January. The PetsVote.com tally will be derived from the running total of orders for the items of each candidate. Over the years, consumer goods with the names of Presidential candidates have at times been surprisingly predictive of actual election outcomes. The Bark Obama and John McCanine line will launch with tee-shirts for each candidate. Sizes available for dogs of all walks of life, from 3 to 80 lbs with sizes ranging from XS – XXL. Collars, water dishes and more will follow. A portion of the proceeds will benefit North Shore Animal League America, the largest no-kill animal adoption and rescue organization in the world. Who’s the top dog of Election 2008? John McCanine or Bark Obama? Paws up at www.PetsVote.com!

OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNOUNCES FULL-TIME JEWISH OUTREACH COORDINATOR Ohio Native Matt Ratner Will Lead ODP’s Efforts to Organize and Mobilize the Jewish Community The Ohio Democratic Party today announced the appointment of Matt Ratner as Jewish Outreach Coordinator. The Shaker Heights native will lead the ODP’s efforts to organize and mobilize the Jewish community in support of Barack Obama and the entire Democratic Ticket. As Jewish Outreach Coordinator, Ratner will serve as the party’s liaison to key Jewish leaders, community groups and organizations. “In making the choice to dedicate a fulltime position to Jewish outreach, the Ohio Democratic Party is demonstrating a clear understanding of the significance of the

Jewish vote statewide,” said Ratner. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to reach out to Jewish voters, not only on behalf of Barack Obama, but on behalf of Democratic candidates at every level.” Born and raised in Ohio, Matt Ratner is a graduate of Shaker Heights High School and attends Park Synagogue. Ratner has been working for the Obama campaign for the past year, beginning at the Chicago headquarters and moving on to serve as an organizer during the Iowa caucuses and engaging in Jewish outreach during the Ohio primary. AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

12 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 13

THE EXAMINED LIFE by Tom Moon, MFT

On Turning Sixty I was born in San Francisco in 1948, and celebrated my sixtieth birthday this year. I say “celebrate” deliberately, because in my conversations with young gay men, I hear an almost universal terror of growing older. After about age forty, so many believe, you get put on the shelf. All opportunities for sex and love end (since only youth makes anyone attractive or lovable), and there isn’t much left to do except sit on the porch and whittle. You become an Aging Queen - sexless, loveless, lonely and useless. Far better to “die young and leave a beautiful corpse” than to have to live like that. Fortunately, my personal experience hasn’t fit that picture, nor has that of most of the older gay men with whom I’m acquainted. I met my partner, Craig, when I was 56, and now find myself in a relationship far deeper and more gratifying than anything I experienced when I was younger. Maybe that’s due to dumb luck, but I believe it’s true that I’ve also become less defensive and more open to experiencing all forms of love as I’ve matured. That must surely be partly why I find myself feeling less alone than at any previous time in my life. It’s also true that the urgency of sexual desire has cooled considerably, and that my body has become invisible to more and more men as I’ve aged. My general vitality has also declined: today what I call a “workout” was a

“warm-up” in my twenties. I’ve mourned those changes. The Japanese have a beautiful word aware, which means “the mood of the sigh.” It refers to how we feel in autumn or in late afternoon when the shadows lengthen and the colors begin to deepen; and also to the mood of melancholy that arises as our youthful energies wane. That poetic word aptly describes what I’ve felt. But these feelings don’t need to lead to despair or panic. When my hormones stopped raging so fiercely, I not only felt sadness and loss, but a sense of relief, because I also began to experience more contentment and peace of mind, states which I found much rarer when I was young. Another benefit of these changes is that when we’re no longer so urgently driven by our own needs it’s easier to take a greater interest in the well-being of others. Friendships can deepen and become more important, and commitments to the welfare of the larger community become easier to sustain. In Erik Erickson’s eight-stage schema of human development, the challenge of middle and late adulthood is what he terms “generativity.” In his view, the early stages of life are necessarily self-centered. Younger adults are concerned with finding themselves, with the storms and stresses or romantic love, and with establishing their place in the world. But after forty-five

or so, while these things remain important, they’re typically less problematic, and interest can broaden to concern the welfare of others and society at large. This is the period of life when productive work, creativity, career fulfillment, a spiritual perspective, and service to the community become important concerns. Our community is in great need of elders who embody these values. Aging and maturation are two different things. Aging happens by itself, but we mature as a byproduct of the values we pursue and the decisions we make. Those who don’t mature as they age do experience aging as a victimizing experience. Fortunately, however, the kind of maturity that makes aging livable is not the rare event that some people seem to think it is. One comprehensive study of older gay men, for instance, found that they weren’t more likely to be lonely or isolated than younger gay men; usually had many friends; that they dated and had relationships; and active sex lives. Almost 75 percent were content with the quality of their lives. Another myth about aging that hasn’t materialized in my life is the idea that we become more pessimistic as we get older. My experience has been exactly the opposite. In my twenties my outlook on the human enterprise was thoroughly dark and pessimistic. It is

decades of life experience that has turned that perspective on its head. When I realized, in the summer of 1962, that I was gay, “gay community” was essentially illegal in America. In those days there was no gay movement that could have been visible to a typical gay fourteen year old boy who was lusting after the Beaver’s older brother and Little Joe Cartright on Bonanza. Even to mention homosexuality in “polite company” was considered an unforgivable breach of good taste, and most people accepted as a matter of course that it was right and just to throw “deviates” in jail merely for being who they were. What an incredible distance we’ve traveled! This year, as thousands of gay couples are getting married – legally – in my home state I find myself full of optimism and hope about the prospects for my people and my species. When I was young I thought despair was “deep”: today I say that happiness is the real wisdom. Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. His website is tommoon.net.

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14 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 15

EARTH TALK From the Editors of E

Dear EarthTalk:

I really want to eat healthy and organic but am constantly traveling and on the go. How can I eat fast food without having to always end up at McDonalds and Burger King?

Are sunscreens safe? Which ones do you recommend that will protect my skin from the sun and not cause other issues? Bettina E., New York, NY

Dylan Baker, Seattle, Washington The latest trend in fast food is healthy and organic, and luckily for conscious consumers, several chains offering just such fare are taking root in different parts of the U.S. One of the leaders of this small but scrappy pack of fast food upstarts is O’Naturals. The small chain currently runs two stores of its own in Maine (Falmouth and Portland) and one in Acton, Massachusetts, and franchises out additional locations in Kansas and Florida. O’Naturals’ menu contains lots of vegetarianfriendly items, including “build-your-own” flatbread sandwiches, salads, noodle stir-frys and soups. The meat the restaurant does serve is grass-fed and hormone-free, while the chickens are free-range and the Alaskan salmon is wild. Another healthy option is EVOS, which currently runs five “quick-casual” restaurants in Florida and is planning a major expansion into the western U.S. Vegetarians can rejoice in the chain’s wide selection of vegetarian and vegan items. While its hormone- and antibiotic-free burgers are still only about as healthy as red meat gets, their soy burger satisfies without the guilt or the cholesterol. Also, EVOS uses organic field greens in its wraps and salads, organic milk in its milkshakes, and fresh fruit in its smoothies. Additionally, the restaurant airbakes its fries and other typically deep-fried items to keep the fat content as much as 70 percent lower than the same kinds of foods found elsewhere. Meanwhile, Seattle-based Organics-To-Go, with five locations in Washington and California, lays out a wide array of “grab-and-go” organic and natural foods so customers can make up their own meals out of a cornucopia

of healthy choices. Other fast food alternatives offering lots of health (as well as vegetarian and vegan) options include Au Bon Pain, Bruegger’s Bagels, Noah’s Bagels, and World Wraps, while Subway and Quizno’s alike can be good options for those willing to study the menu carefully. Even though many alternatives exist, it is hard to beat the reach of the major fast food chains, several of which are making small steps toward healthier menus and will undoubtedly continue to do so if consumers bite. McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King and Wendy’s have reduced or eliminated trans-fats. Burger King now offers a veggie burger, and McDonald’s is testing one in California. Taco Bell offers many non-meat options, including a bean and cheese burrito, a veggie fajita wrap, and a 7-layer burrito, which can be had without the cheese and sour cream. Carl’s Jr. also has many tasty and healthy vegetarian options despite an otherwise standard fast-food menu. Vegetarians and vegans looking for more ideas about what to eat when time is of the essence should consult any number of websites with pages devoted to the topic, including Vegetarian-Restaurants.net, VegCooking, FitWise and Vegetarian Resource Group. And remember, nothing beats seeking out local restaurants when you’re on the road, to soak up some of the local culture. And with trends as they are it shouldn’t be too difficult to find many that do serve healthy menus just not quite as fast as “fast food” but probably fast enough.

Getting a little sunshine is important for helping our bodies generate Vitamin D, an important supplement for strong bones, and f or regulating our levels of serotonin and tryptamine, neurotransmitters that keep our moods and sleep/wake cycles in order. Like anything, though, too much sun can cause health issues, from sunburns to skin cancer. For those of us spend more time in the sun than doctors recommend - they say to stay indoors between 11a and 3p on sunny days to be safe - sunscreens can be lifesavers. Getting too much sun is bad because of ultraviolet radiation, 90 percent of which comes in the form of Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays that are not absorbed by the ozone layer and penetrate deep into our skin. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays make up the rest. These rays are partially absorbed by the ozone layer (which makes preserving the ozone layer crucial for our health), and because they don’t penetrate our skin as deeply, can cause those lobster-red sunburns. Both types of UV rays are thought to cause skin cancer. Yet while most sunscreens block out at least some UVB radiation, many don’t screen UVA rays at all, making their use risky. According to the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG), by far most of the commercially available sunscreens do not provide adequate protection against the sun’s harmful UV radiation and may also contain chemicals with questionable safety records. In all, 84 percent of the 831 sunscreens EWG tested did not pass health and environmental muster. Many contained potentially harmful chemicals like Benzophenone, homosalate and octyl methoxycinnamate (also

called octinoxate), which are known to mimic naturally occurring bodily hormones and can thus throw the body’s systems out of whack. Some also contained Padimate-0 and parsol 1789 (also known as avobenzone), which are suspected of causing DNA damage when exposed to sunlight. Furthermore, EWG found that more than half the sunscreens on the market make questionable product claims about longevity, water resistance and UV protection. As a result, EWG has called on the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to establish standards for labeling so consumers have a better idea of what they may be buying. In the meantime, consumers looking to find out how their preferred brand stacks up can check out EWG’s online Skin Deep database, which compares thousands of health and beauty products against environmental and human health standards. The good news is that many companies are now introducing safer sunscreens crafted from plant- and mineral-based ingredients and without chemical additives. Some of the best, according to Skin Deep, are Alba Botanica Sun’s Fragrance-Free Mineral Sunscreen, Avalon Baby’s Sunscreen SPF 18, Badger’s SPF 30 Sunscreen, Burt’s Bees’ ChemicalFree Sunscreen SPF 15, California Baby’s SPF 30, Juice Beauty’s Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer, and Kabana’s Green Screen SPF 15. Natural foods markets stock many of these, or they can be found online at websites like Sun Protection Center and Drugstore.com.

CONTACTS: O’Naturals, www.onaturals.com; EVOS, www.evos.com; Vegetarian-Restaurants.net, www.vegetarian-restaurants.net; VegCooking, www.vegcooking.com; FitWise, www.fitwise.com; Vegetarian Resource Group, www.vrg.org. Environmental Working Group, www.ewg.org; Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database, www.cosmeticsdatabase.com; Sun Protection Center, www.sunprotectioncenter.com, Drugstore.com, www.drugstore.com.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? E-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

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16 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 17

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18 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

FEATURE STORY

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble

by Michael Daniels

Ohio General Election Moves Into Full Swing

For those of you who do not have televisions, radios, or access to print media, let me be the first to lift up the rock under which you live and announce that the November 4 general election campaigns are in full bloom, and some critical races – and ballot initiatives – for the GLBT and allied communities are on the ballot. Sit back, grab a venti halfcaf no-foam soy vanilla latte – or a beer – and take note! While this article does not contain our endorsements – those will come on Oct 9 after extensive and exhaustive interviews and dozens of hours of research – it will attempt to address the races, the issues, and the strategies leading up to election day. What’s at Stake

In the race for President: After eight years of Prezudint Dubya, voters have an opportunity to make a major change in the White House, and thus a major change in policies that affect us all. Senators Barak Obama and John McCain have squared off in what is certain to be a hard-fought, hard-hitting, and hard-impact battle to lead the country. Their policies and attitudes toward a host of issues, from economic policy to foreign policy to domestic issues could not be more different. Healthcare, the economy, and the war in Iraq will grab national headlines. Issues directly impacting the Outlook community will not garner as much mainstream attention. Here’s where the candidates stand: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell - Obama supports repealing DADT and allowing gay and lesbian servicemembers to serve openly. McCain supports the current policy. Federal Marriage Amendment – Obama opposes a federal marriage amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman, and opposes state amendments and legislation of similar intent. McCain opposes a federal amendment, but strongly supported Arizona’s state amendment to do the same, appearing in a television ad for the AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

ban in his home state. Defense of Marriage Act – Obama opposes DOMA and is in favor of same-sex couples receiving federal rights and benefits if they are legally married in a state that allows same-sex marriage. McCain voted for DOMA. Employment Non-Discrimination – Obama supports a federal ENDA bill to protect GLBT employees the workplace. McCain has voted against previous ENDA efforts. Federal Hate Crimes Legislation – Obama supports inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in a federal hate crimes bill. McCain has voted three times against such legislation. US Supreme Court Justice Appointments – Obama has pointed to Justices Ginsberg and Breyer as examples of the kind of jurist he would appoint to the Supreme Court. Both Ginsberg and Breyer have track records of being strongly supportive of GLBT equality. McCain has pointed to Justices Alito and Scalia, both of whom have track records of opposing GLBT equality. HIV/AIDS Policy – Obama supports comprehensive HIV/AIDS funding, including sexual health education and removing the ban on HIV+ individuals from immigrating to the US. McCain supports HIV/AIDS funding which favors abstinence programs and opposes safe-sex education in schools, and previously voted to maintain the HIV+ immigration ban. Note: The US Senate recently approved lifting the HIV+ immigration ban as part of H.R. 5501 (Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008); neither Obama nor McCain were present for the vote. Both of Ohio’s senators – Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich – voted for the bill.

Mary Jo Kilroy squares off against State Senator Steve Stivers for the seat being vacated by Deborah Pryce. Kilroy and Stivers, in their respective current and former positions, have supported GLBT rights – but as this race develops, Stivers appears to be backing off from his pro-GLBT stance. Kilroy has authored GLBT equality legislation and policies on the Columbus Board of Education and on the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, including this year’s county ENDA resolution. She opposed Issue 1, opposes a federal DOMA and the FMA, supports the repeal of DADT, supports HIV/AIDS and sexual health funding, and opposes the HIV+ immigration ban. Stivers has not so much been “pro GLBT” but has, until this year, been “anti anti-GLBT,” opposing Issue 1 and the State’s DOMA. Stivers also opposes a federal DOMA and FMA. We will flesh out his position on DADT and HIV/AIDS legislation in our interview process before our endorsements issue. This race also will once again put the Human Rights Campaign on the spot when it announces its endorsement(s). HRC stirred quite a bit of controversy in 2006, when it endorsed both Kilroy and Pryce, and is poised to do so again should it choose to co-endorse Kilroy and Stivers. Terry Penrod, the Columbus-based member of HRC’s Board of Directors, told Outlook in a written statement, “Considerations [for endorsement in the OH-15] are still underway and we expect to make announcements in the next several weeks.” Stay tuned to these pages for coverage of this endorsement, and analysis and reaction from both campaigns, as well as Outlook’s editorial position.

clude Ted Celeste holding his seat in HD24, Carlton Weddington keeping Joyce Beatty’s seat blue in HD27, John Patrick Carney’s attempt to capture Jim Hughes’ seat (Hughes is running for Stivers’ vacating senate seat) in HD22, and close races in HD19, 20, and 21 – all currently held by Republicans but with Democrats well within striking range. The SD16 race between Danielle Blue and Hughes will be interesting – Hughes hopes to keep this seat in the R column, while newcomer Blue has worn out more than one pair of shoes doing door-to-door campaigning. Democrats have virtually no chance of taking a majority in the senate, but could make inroads in its current 21-12 minority. Ohio Attorney General Current Ohio Treasurer Rich Cordray and Republican D. Michael Crites will face off for the dubious honor of trying to restore credibility to the office of Ohio Attorney General after the resignation of disgraced former-AG Marc Dann. Cordray enjoys an advantage both in time and money, and runs from the cover of his current office.

In the Franklin County Races:

In the US House:

In the Ohio General Assembly:

In the Ohio 15th, David Robinson challenges incumbent Pat Tiberi. Robinson trails greatly in fundraising. Tiberi has a highly-mixed voting record on GLBT issues. In the Ohio 12th, Franklin County Commissioner

State Democrats are foaming at the mouth with the chance of taking back control of the Ohio House of Representatives. They need only to gain a net four seats to accomplish this goal. Central Ohio races play greatly in this quest. Races to watch in-

Commission president Marilyn Brown is the only commissioner’s seat not open this year, as Kilroy is running for the US House. Incumbent Paula Brooks faces off against challenger Angel Rhodes, while current Clerk of Courts John O’Grady meets Jeff Miller in the race for Kilroy’s seat. O’Grady won a hotly-contested primary against former City Councilmember and judge Cindy Lazarus in a race that caused much angst and some division in the GLBT community. Current City Councilmember Maryellen O’Shaughnessy is running for O’Grady’s job, officially against Dorothy Teater, though the county Republican Party almost certainly will replace Teater on the ballot before election day with another candidate.

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 19

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20 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY In the Judicial Races: Only two Franklin County judicial races are contested, but both have a direct link or impact for the GLBT community. In the race for Common Pleas, General Division, incumbent Judge Richard Sheward is being challenged by openly-gay lawyer Shawn Dingus. Dingus is the fourth gay candidate to run for judicial office in the County in recent memory and hopes to be the first to actually take the bench. Perhaps the most overlooked but critically important race for the Outlook community is Judge Eric Brown’s challenge to Judge Lawrence Belskis for the probate bench. When most people hear the word probate, they think only of the process of disposing of the estate of a deceased person, yet probate court is responsible for so much more. Consider these situations that members of the Outlook community are likely to encounter: adopting a child • correcting a birth certificate/record • being appointed conservator for a physically or mentally infirm person • contesting a will • determining heirship • disposing of an estate • inheritance of property or money • obtaining guardianship of a minor or another person who is not able to care for him/herself • legally changing one’s name All of these issues are handled by the probate judge or his/her appointed staff members, attorneys, and magistrates. It then becomes obvious as to why having a probate judge who understands GLBT family and partner relationships, and respects those relationships as normal, loving – and most important – valid, is of paramount importance to our community.

In the Ballot Initiatives: Voters will weigh in on a variety of issues in ballot initiatives. Among the most important: Columbus City Schools funding – the district will be asking for an increase in millage to fund operations for the upcoming years. Expect tough questions regarding the size of the levy and the district’s usage of funds. It will also be interesting to see how Weddington splits his time campaigning for the House and campaigning for the levy. City of Columbus voted bond package – Aside from the usual bond uses, this $1.66B package will fund sanitary sewers ($551.9 million), water ($524.7 million), streets and highways ($345.6 million), recreation and parks ($124.2 million), safety and health ($86.1 million), and refuse collection ($32.2 million). Money for streetcars is not part of the package – dammit!. And remember, bonds don’t hit our wallets – they have to be approved by the voters, but they won’t touch our taxes. Casinos – the perfect storm may be brewing for casino supporters, as high unemployment, slow economic conditions, acceptance of keno, and a desire to keep funds in-state align in a way that AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

may put monetary considerations over moral objections and bring gambling to the Buckeye State. Payday lending – mix legalized loansharking, confusing language, and conflicting paragraphs within the same law, and you get this year’s ballot initiative that would vacate the Ohio legislature’s efforts to cap payday loan interest rates – or would it? – maybe? As this initiative now stands, we’re not sure anyone understands what it says or what it would do. We’ll sort it out for you by Oct 9. Hint: ignore all the television advertising on this issue – it’ll make about as much sense as French spelling and grammar. Clean Ohio – a $400M bond issue to allocate $200M to clean up industrial sites and $200M to preserve farmland and other green spaces has bipartisan backing from the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, and Senate President. Other Considerations, Ramifications, and Fallout: OK, if your head’s not spinning yet, grab another latte or brewski and re-read the article up to this point. But wait, there’s more. Consider the political musical chairs game – who’s running from cover, who’s leaving cover, and who’s circling the potentially empty seats. President: Neither Obama nor McCain is up for re-election to the US Senate. One will be President, one will join Hillary and a host of others in the disgruntled section of the Capitol. Illinois and Arizona both have Democratic governors – so whoever is elected President will almost certainly be replaced by a Democrat. Don’t even get us started on the what-ifs of VP candidates … Attorney General/Treasurer: Cordray is running from cover of the Treasurer’s office. Crites runs from the private sector. Whoever loses keeps his current job. If Cordray wins, Governor Strickland appoints a Democrat as Treasurer. US House: Both Kilroy and Stivers are leaving cover and risking their current offices in their bids for US House. Whoever loses returns to the private sector and is in demand as a lobbyist. O’Grady and Hughes face heavy pressure to hold these seats. Ohio House/School Board: Weddington runs from cover of the school board to run in this deep blue district, and his victory would leave an open seat to be filled by appointment. Look for Stephanie Groce, the maverick Democrat, to be pivotal as the Jinga tower of Board philosophies takes on a whole new structure. Also look for Democrat Betty Drummond to be lobbied and courted and wooed to make her re-election plans known sooner rather than later. Probate: Brown runs from cover on the common pleas bench. If he should lose, he stays where he is. Franklin County Clerk/City Council: O’Shaughnessy leaves cover on Columbus City Council to run for O’Grady’s seat, and her victory would leave an open seat to be filled by appointment. Look for the GLBT community to once-again put forward a candidate for Council and the emotion that always ensues as a result. O’Shaughnessy’s departure would give the Council an opportunity to reassign committee leadership, and whoever replaces her as chairperson of the public service and transportation committee will be crucial to any streetcar or expanded light rail/streetcar/mass transit plans. Her departure would also create an interesting replacement search dynamic, as she is the most experienced in economic development, and is the only non-African-American female on Council. Anyone want to join in a write-in campaign to bring Mary Jo Hudson back to City Council and solve this in one fell swoop? Anyone?

Candidate List - General Election - November 4, 2008 President of the United States (D) – Barak Obama (IL) (R) – John McCain (AZ)

Ohio House – 21st District (D) – Jay Perez (R) – Kevin Bacon

Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division (D) – Eric Brown (R) – Lawrence Belskis

Ohio House – 22nd District US House – OH-12 (D) – David Robinson (R) – Pat Tiberi

(D) – John Patrick Carney (R) – Michael Keenan

Franklin County Commissioner

Ohio House – 23rd District

(D) – Paula Brooks (R) – Angel Rhodes

(D) – Keith Goldhardt (R) – Cheryl Grossman

(D) – John O’Grady (R) – Jeff Miller

Ohio House – 24th District

Prosecuting Attorney

(D) – Ted Celeste (R) – Tim Rankin

(D) – Tomi Lynn Dorris (R) – Ron O’Brien

(D) – Joseph Russo (R) – Maureen O’Connor

Ohio House – 25th District

Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas

(D) – Peter Sikora (R) – Evelyn Stratton

(D) – Dan Stewart (R) – Daryl Hennessy

10th Court of Appeals

Ohio House – 26th District

(D) – John Connor (R) – David Goodman

(D) – Tracy Heard (R) – Joseph Healy

(D) – Richard Brown (R) – Lisa Sadler

Ohio House – 27th District

Ohio Senate – 16th District

(D) – W. Carlton Weddington (R) – Jim Hunter

(R) – Robert Montgomery

(D) – Danielle Blue (R) – Jim Hughes

Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Treasurer

Ohio Attorney General

(R) – Daniel Hogan

(D) – Ed Leonard (R) – Stephanie McCloud

(D) – Richard Cordray (R) – D. Michael Crites

(R) – David Fais

Engineer

(D) – Shawn Dingus (R) – Richard Sheward

(R) – Dean Ringle

Ohio House – 19th District (D) – Marian Harris (R) – Brad Lewis

(D) – Tim Horton

Ohio House – 20th District

Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

(D) – Nancy Garland (R) – Jim McGregor

(R) – Dana Preisse

US House – OH-15 (D) – Mary Jo Kilroy (R) – Steve Stivers Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court

(D) – Maryellen O’Shaughnessy (R) – Dorothy Teater Sheriff (D) – Jim Karnes Recorder

Coroner (D) – Jan Gorniak (R) – Elaine Lewis

• REGISTER TO VOTE • Fill out and mail in the voter registration card inserted into this issue of Outlook Weekly. YOU MUST REGISTER BY OCT 6 TO VOTE ON NOV 4. If you have never voted, GET OFF YOUR APATHETIC ASS AND DO SO THIS YEAR. If you have moved or changed your name since the last election, RE-REGISTER WITH YOUR NEW INFORMATION. If you are unsure if you are registered or where to vote, visit HTTP://VOTE.FRANKLINCOUNTYOHIO.GOV/BOE/VOTER/INDEX.ASPX

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22 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD by Romeo San Vicente

THE NEW SEXUAL ORIENTATION OF OLD CHRISTINE Plenty of TV shows have replaced actors in a role. If you turned your back for a minute, Roseanne had a new Becky, and Dynasty a new Steven. But The New Adventures of Old Christine is getting an entirely different sort of makeover, at least for a while. Latest reports are that star Julia Louis Dreyfus’ character (the “old” Christine of the title) will marry a character to be played by Wanda Sykes (Curb Your Enthusiasm). Why this is happening, how long the plotline is meant to last, and what it means to Christine’s prior heterosexuality are all open to speculation. Call it “gay for ratings” maybe. But now you’ll probably be tuning in, even if you never did before, right?

DANCE, LANCE, DANCE

JUDY GOLD TO HOST NEW NEWLYWED GAME

SEAN HAYES COMES OUT AS BI-COASTAL

Sure, Justin Timberlake is the most famous former member of ‘N Sync, but it could well be argued that Lance Bass is the coolest. Evidence: he got outed by the tabloids and didn’t seem to care that much; he lets criticism roll off his back; and he’s willing to goof around on camera with pal Kathy Griffin on My Life on the D-List. So it’s no surprise that the erstwhile boy-bander is jumping on board for the next season of the hugely successful Dancing with the Stars. Of course, the talk is all about his partner - will he be paired with a female or male contestant? At this point, only the ballroom dancing powers that be know for sure, but no matter who he winds up twirling, he’s going to be tough to beat.

Once upon a time, it might have seemed a little odd for a gay man or a lesbian to host a game show for newly married straight people. But times have changed, and so, apparently, has The Newlywed Game. For its latest incarnation on cable network GSN, the spousalembarrassment-for-prizes game is taping a pilot with a lesbian host, stand-up comic Judy Gold. And since Rosie didn’t wind up hosting The Price Is Right, this may well be a first, so here’s hoping Ms. Gold stays on board after the pilot. But the big question is, will gay and lesbian couples who’ve gotten married in Massachusetts and California be considered as contestants? It stands to reason that they should be allowed to squabble about how often they “make whoopee” like any hetero pair. Make it happen, please, GSN.

Does it really matter if Sean Hayes ever goes public with his own mysterious sexual orientation if most of the characters he’s played are gay anyway? That’s the question that will surely surround his latest project if it eventually makes it to an HDTV near you. The pilot on his mind is called Bi-Coastal, a sitcom about the secret, complicated life of man with a wife and kids in California and a boyfriend in New York. And that’s the essence of comedy, really - taking pain and turning it into laughs. There’s no word yet on whether Hayes would simply be the show’s creator or if he’d star as the bi guy in question. Either way, it all sounds pretty “funcomfortable.”

Romeo San Vicente is all gay all the time, no matter what coast he’s on. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.

ARTS by Jennifer Sciantarelli

BalletMet Receives Prestigious Grant to Present Historic American Choreography BalletMet Columbus has been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and Ohio Arts Council American Masterpieces fund to stage the Company premiere of Othello, a powerful work choreographed by American dance master John Butler and commissioned in 1976 by La Scala Ballet. Othello will be presented in BalletMet’s Hot Nights, Cool Dance, Aug. 14- 24 in BalletMet’s Performance Space located behind the studios at 322 Mt. Vernon Ave. Additionally, audiences will have the unique opportunity to watch open rehearsals and artist talkbacks July 30-Aug. 8. The work will also be featured in the Company’s Cool Nights, Hot Dance, Nov. 7-15. American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius is a major initiative to acquaint Americans with the best of their cultural and artistic legacy. Through American Masterpieces, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Ohio Arts Council will be funding the arts disciplines of chamber music and dance AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

in Ohio this year. BalletMet is honored to be one of only three projects in the state chosen to receive the NEA and Arts Council funding. John Butler is esteemed internationally as an American Master, having choreographed for the world’s most renowned and diverse companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre and Paris Opera Ballet. Butler’s work – a fusion of modern technique and classical ballet – is regarded as being ahead of its time when created, yet still relevant today. With choreography that is modern and romantic with a gripping tale, Butler’s Othello portrays the dramatic tale of Desdemona, Othello and Iago, exploring timeless themes of love, jealousy and betrayal. The work is a 17-minute pas de trois (a dance for three dancers) set to Antonin Dvorak’s Othello Overture. Commissioned for its world premiere in 1976 in honor of La Scala Ballet’s 200th Anniversary, Othello has been set on companies including Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Ballet

West, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Dance Theater of Harlem. BalletMet’s performance of the work will provide local and regional audiences with a unique opportunity to see this rarely staged masterpiece. Othello will be set on BalletMet by Lawrence Rhodes, a noted Butler repetiteur who is currently Director of the Juilliard School Dance Division and also serves as a Trustee of the John Butler Foundation. During his dance career, Rhodes served as Butler’s muse and was his first choice to perform the role of Iago in Othello following the La Scala premiere. BalletMet will recreate the original costumes and scenery by Luisa Spinatelli, with technical assistance from the John Butler Foundation. Rhodes was in Columbus to work with BalletMet the week of July 21.

Open Rehearsals: Aug. 6-8. Artist Talkbacks: 5:30-6:15pm, July 30-Aug. 1 and Aug. 6-8. Performances: Aug. 14, 7:30p; Aug. 15, 8p; Aug. 16, 8p; Aug. 17, 1 & 5:30p; Aug. 20, 7:30p; Aug. 21, 7:30p , Aug. 22, 8p , Aug. 23, 8p , Aug. 24, 1p* & 5:30p Jennifer Sciantarelli is Communications Manager for BalletMet, a member organization of the Columbus Arts Marketing Association. CAMA’s mission is to promote awareness of and participation in the arts and cultural opportunities in Greater Columbus through collaborative marketing and public relations projects, and to provide professional development opportunities for members. For information visit www.camaonline.org.---

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 23

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24 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

INTERVIEW by Spencer Young

GLENN STEPS OUT Brooke Hogan’s Best Friend is a 10 Gay Dubbed “a dancing entrepreneur” by The New York Times, choreographer Glenn Douglas Packard has worked behind-the-scenes with some of the biggest acts in entertainment including Pink, Missy Elliot, Nelly Furtado, Whitney Houston, Usher and Liza Minelli. He even nabbed an Emmy nomination for his fancy footwork on Michael Jackson’s 30th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Garden. In his latest role - as Brooke Hogan’s best friend and roommate on VH1’s hit reality show, Brooke Knows Best Glenn finally steps out from behind the scenes and into the spotlight; exactly where he ought to be. SY: On the first episode of Brooke Knows Best, Brooke’s Dad (wrestler Hulk Hogan) asks you to rate your gayness on a scale of 1 to 10. You say you’re a 10. Are you really that gay? GDP: When you have all those cameras around you and it’s your first day on the set and you get asked a question like that, you have a million things running through your head. My original reply to Hulk was “On a scale of 1 to 10, how straight are you?” But my question was edited out. I know who I am and I’m comfortable with my gayness so yes, 10 seems right to me. I’m no gay preacher dancing with jazz hands or anything. SY: Did you just say you’re that gay so that the Hulk would allow you to live with his daughter? GDP: I can take him. Or, at least, he wouldn’t be able to catch me. Plus we gays love to wrestle. SY: Tell us about living with Brooke. I know she’s your best friend, but Glenn, the girl is kind of a handful, no? GDP: I’m not living with Britney or Paris. Brooke really is a normal girl, just trying to go for a dream and having to be involved with all the Hollywood drama bullshit. She is smart, hot, an amazing talent and a really great friend. SY: How did you first meet her? GDP: She was 13 years old. I was working on a project with Lou Pearlman, and Hulk was looking for a manager for his daughter. So Lou encouraged the Hogans to meet me. In walked this awkward tall teen with her matching little dance outfit. She was so nervous and couldn’t move to save her life. But her determination and dedication to want to get the movement and style right was evident from the start. So her Dad and Mom came up to me after and asked if she had what it takes and I said, “She’s got it.” SY: For those who don’t know, Lou Pearlman was the man behind the super boy bands of the late 90s. Groups like The Backstreet Boys and ‘NSYNC. You must have some great stories from those times. Did you ever get it on with Lance Bass? GDP: I have stories that will be in my tell-all book due in a book store near you soon. Lance had already left the Pearlman clan when I arrived so we’ve never met. I wish he had been there to warn me! When we do meet, we are going to have to go bowling and share our stories. SY: Was Lou aware you were gay or did you hide it from him and the rest of the group? GDP: It was a big secret. No one knew. Well, except for the one guy in the group I was sleeping with. SY: You were sleeping with one of the other boy members? GDP: We were boyfriends, which was even more of a scandal. I’m telling you the book is going to be juicy! SY: What did you think when Lance came out? GDP: As surprised as every one else was, which means no,

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

not surprised. SY: How did you parlay your brief boy band stint into a full-fledged choreography career? By the way: choreography. That’s pretty gay. Maybe you really are a 10 gay. GDP: Easy, I was a farmer too, is that a 10 gay? SY: Depends what you were doing with the ears of corn. GDP: No comment. SY: Fair enough. So how did you go from boy band to choreographer? You’ve worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment. GDP: I was a choreographer first. I had completed Michael Jackson’s special and Lou Pearlman was at the show. He approached me about being a part of the new boy-group he was putting together. SY: Before we get to MJ, please tell us about working with Liza. GDP: I met Liza in the most unusual way. I was at the Manhattan Center in NYC with singer Crystal Waters, goofing off to a song I loved. Liza happened to be in the building and saw me dancing like a fool. She said she loved the way I moved and gave me her number and asked me to call her to arrange private lessons. We would meet at Radio City Music Hall and dance together. SY: Can Liza really move at this point? Or does she just rock back and forth? GDP: She has such a kid like spirit so she would do her best. She loves dancing. SY: You were nominated for an Emmy for your choreography of Michael Jackson’s 30th Anniversary special. Please describe choreographing for the king of pop. GDP: Well, when I was told I got the job, I was like ‘holy shit! Where do I go from here?’ I had to make it the best show ever. And it happened and it was amazing! Of course, Michael is different from you and me, but I worked with him on a professional level and he was always 100%. To see him do his thing is quite a sight to see. The show was the 9th and 10th of September in 2001. The next day was September 11th, when of course, everything changed. SY: You know you’ve made it when you’re teaching the man who invented the moonwalk new moves. GDP: The funny thing is I don’t think I realized it at the time. I was working so hard and so much. It was interesting trying to come up with new ideas on how to recreate “Beat It.” We decided to open the show with Whitney, Mya, Usher, and Bobby Brown singing “Wanna Be Startin’ Something.” Bobby didn’t show up the day of taping so Usher was forced to do his part too. SY: What have been some of your other career highlights? GDP: Dancing for the King of Morocco was major. I loved doing Saturday Night Live. I also recreated the image of Chippendales in 2000 and that was a lot of fun doing the shows in NYC, Las Vegas and throughout Europe. I got some great stories from that time too. SY: How did all your success lead you to moving to Miami and starring on Brooke Knows Best with Brooke Hogan? GDP: After the boy band was going no where, I contemplated moving to NYC. But then the Hogan divorce was happening and Brooke asked me to move to Miami. That’s when we became roomies.

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 25

SY: Was it a fun experience? Did you enjoy the cameras following your crazy antics? GDP: Having a pimped out penthouse in Miami with Brooke and our other roommate, Ashley, is pretty fun.

FILM By Adam Lippe

SY: Is it true you recently went on your first Spring Break? GDP: Yes! Brooke, Ashley and I partied in Panama City. It was one of the best times ever. The show followed us but I can’t imagine they’ll be able to show everything we did! SY: Did Brooke hog all the good-looking guys or were you able to finagle some action? GDP: Its funny, we never compete but we do like the same type of man. We both like guys that look like they are in a boy band. We’re also both into black men. SY: That Ashley is a hottie too. But she’s Janet hot. You know, like in Three’s Company? She’s cute but gets outshined by Chrissy. GDP: I know what you mean. I call her the Jessica Alba of the show. Ashley is girl next door hot. She’s got a JLo bootie. SY: How does it feel to be Jack Tripper in our scenario? GDP: The weird thing is I bring up the Three’s Company similarity in the show when Ashley moves in. We are the reality version of Three’s Company, except I really am gay! I don’t think Brooke has ever seen the show. SY: Wouldn’t it be a hoot if you really weren’t gay at all, just pretending to be so you could live with Brooke? GDP: Maybe I’m just playing gay to get with Brooke and her boobies. SY: The fact that you call them boobies is 10 gay. GDP: Next question. SY: Have you and Brooke done anything Hulk Hogan would be surprised to find out? GDP: I can’t say. Hulk might read this! I do see Brooke naked almost everyday. She loves to walk around the penthouse naked when the cameras are off, and she should, her body is beautiful. But it does nothing for me. SY: What are some fun things we can look forward to in the season? GDP: Tune in to see. It’s about a girl coming of age and enjoying life. SY: Does the show get into any of the Hogan family drama? GDP: How can we not? We had cameras around during that time in her life. It was hard. Imagine your family’s divorce being seen on national TV and in the press? It’s a hard time for anyone going through that stuff. You never want to see the two people you look up to the most and love to be hurting. SY: How is Brooke handling the current turmoil with her brother in prison? GDP: She’s a strong girl and she really tries to be the rock in the family. She has been turning to her music, so I think her next album will tell a lot of the story. SY: In the future, when you look back at this time in your life, what will you remember most fondly? GDP: Thanks for this question. I think the life I’ve lived has been Forrest Gump-like. The adventures and things I’ve seen along with the people, friends and family I’ve made along the way is what I’ll remember the most. Brooke Knows Best airs Sundays at 10p on VH1. For more info, go to www.glenndouglaspackard.com.

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS The most surprising thing about the Seth Rogen-James Franco vehicle Pineapple Express obviously isn’t its pot humor, overt silliness, and the pushing of women to the side (this is a Judd Apatow production, after all). The surprise is that it is the most baldly homoerotic Hollywood buddy film since Damon Wayans stuck his gun up Adam Sandler’s bare ass in Bulletproof. Except in this case, it is entirely on purpose. The heterosexual relationships aren’t remotely convincing. And that seems intentional, especially coming from a canny, smart director like David Gordon Green (George Washington, Undertow, All the Real Girls); an effective, but thoroughly strange, choice considering from the outside, Pineapple Express looks like a lazy Cheech and Chong update. No, this movie is really about men repeatedly declaring their love for each other, which cleverly hides its satirical jibes at action movies and lowbrow comedy (the most sexual moment in the film is a sensuous tracking shot covering all manners of pot plants). That Rogen, who co-wrote the script, sprinkles very funny lines throughout, guarantees that no matter what audience sees it, they will enjoy it for their own reasons. How can you dislike a movie that has its constantly baked pot dealer talk about his “second-favorite civil engineer?” THE [MOTOR]CYCLES OF THE FILM INDUSTRY It is no secret that Hollywood loves to be environmentally conscious by recycling product. What starts out “pure” gets used and then thrown in the trash where it is crushed to make several different products. This purity in movie terms would be represented in an “original vision,” and something that could be easily replicated. The vision of the future, post-apocalyptic, was formed in film, at least in the last 25 years or so, by two films, The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2) and Escape From New York. Both of these 1981 films were under the radar, ambitious B movies, that eventually developed enormous cult followings. Hollywood produced a slew of rip-offs, but the more interesting development was the way there seemed to be an entire industry in Italy, and eventually The Philippines, that was dedicated to ripping off these two films. The reason is, it is so cheap to make these types of films, all you need is a desert, decrepitlooking cars, and abandoned property that you can pretend represents the remainder of society. The sub-genre lasted until the early 1990’s, until it eventually splintered off into cyborg and roller skating films. A few years passed until someone felt it had been long enough to revive the genre and throw tons of money at it, considering that was the perceived problem with it. The result was Waterworld, a nearly scene for scene “homage” to The Road Warrior, only on water. Its failure and the financially prohibitive way it was filmed meant that the genre was to disappear again. It made a brief resurgence with the Resident Evil films, but until Doomsday, from writer/director Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, The Descent), and just released on DVD, we never got such an unabashed [well-funded] steal from the two fathers of the genre, even going so far as to mimic Escape From New York’s legendary synth score. This sort of cinematic cannibalism is nothing new; Quentin Tarantino has made a career out of it. But does Doomsday know better than to take itself seriously, embracing its trashiness, like the Italian and Filipino forebearers? I decided it was only fair to compare the films. So before starting Doomsday, I watched rip-offs of varying quality and competence. I started with two Road Warrior rip-offs, The New Barbarians (Italy), and Wheels of Fire (Philippines) and ended with an Escape From New York rip-off, the surprisingly ambitious 2019: After the Fall of New York (Italy).

The New Barbarians was both fantastically goofy and surprisingly wellmade. Ejector car doors used as weapons, flying green orbs, a hilarious overuse of dummies as bodies, and a costume designer with apparently no concept of consistency (one character wears a headband and spandex, the villains are dressed like Star Wars stormtroopers, and a female character wears clear plastic clothes, go-go boots, and eye glitter). The movie has logic issues, but several things make it stand out. First there’s the scene where low-budget stalwart Fred Williamson shoots the head off one of his enemies and he does a double-take as the body is still riding its motorcycle. The other surprise is what normally would be unacknowledged: blatant homoeroticism. In this case, it is the initiation ritual by the villains, which includes being tied up and forced to bend over and be sodomized publicly by the leaders. For a genre generally aimed at short-attention-span teenagers, this was quite a revelation. Wheels of Fire finds none of this ingenuity and simply goes through the paces. Primarily made up of sped-up racing footage, sloppy editing, music that appears to be ripped off from the Batman TV show, no gore, mostly offscreen kills, the obligatory rape-sex of the females (who suddenly love being pillaged), terrible English dubbing, women with mullets, a rather loud, incomprehensible midget, and a constantly shameless duplication of the most famous shots from The Road Warrior. The only saving graces are the opening riot, which looks like the KKK fighting a Filipino gang, and the insane translation of the dialogue such as, “I always like when we peel their skin off… We haven’t done that in a while.” 2019: After the Fall of New York is a huge step up from Wheels of Fire. Its conclusion even attempts profundity regarding the inherent violence of the human race, though it clearly overreaches. Even so, the movie is constantly trying new things, and not just with its silly-looking NY miniatures or the midget who asks the heroes to take him with them by hiding him in a suitcase. Basically, this is a Death Race 2000, Children of Men, The Warriors, Escape From New York mash-up, which works for its ability to get away with certain logic gaps. But it is well-made enough to almost stand on its own, to the point where you kind of wish it didn’t cave to sloppiness. Because it incorporates everything about these types of B-films, it is never dull, and you may find yourself enjoying the film in a legitimate way. If any of these films were granted $30 million to evoke their vision, they probably would have been overwhelmingly happy, and overwhelmed. Cheapness can be endearing and lets you forgive a lot of problems. Doomsday has the post-apocalyptic despair that the other films lacked, but not the economy. Hence, the bloated running time - nearly 2 hours in the unrated cut. Comparatively, Wheels of Fire, while not having a moment of invention, at least gets in and out in 77 minutes before the end credits. On the Doomsday director’s commentary, Marshall says that he intended to make “a post-apocalyptic movie… with an edge.” This is a pretty stupid statement, because what differentiates these movies is their abundant violence and quirkiness. Marshall’s comment also reveals his major problem, because he acknowledges his influences and somehow felt the need to cram them all in. So the movie plays like an unstructured video game. Once we are past the virus-gone-amuck level, we move on to the Escape From New York level, followed by the attack by the feral and unruly villagers on your tank, which leads to your capture and eventual escape… to the Lord of the Rings level which eventually gets you the medieval castle level with knights, castles, and horses. In fact, Marshall doesn’t even get to his Road Warrior-esque sequences until the 90 minute mark, long after most of the other retreads would already be wrapped up. In his haste to copy all of his favorite childhood movies, Marshall forgot that one genre is plenty to steal from in its entirety. Anything more is overkill. AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

26 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

LOCAL CELEBRITY Opening Presentation – 1st place, Nina West Talent – 1st place, Nina West On-Stage Question – 2nd place, Nina West Gown – 1st place, Nina West. And on top of all of this, she still managed to win Miss Congeniality! As she was being crowned, the audience (many who traveled from Columbus) chanted her name, and Nina looked terrified for a moment. I can’t say I blame her. Nina had walked into a national competition a relative unknown, and destroyed all twentysix of the extremely talented and renowned contestants. I think one of the scariest and most powerful things anyone can possibly face is the exquisite nakedness of their own potential, realized and exposed. Winning means that for the next year, Nina West is the chief administra-

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could to help me succeed –emotionally, physically, financially. I am blessed and proud to represent Columbus on the National level. It is just one more way to show the country that Columbus is truly where it is at!!! Columbus, THANK YOU.

NW: The gown concept itself was established by myself and Dee Ranged, former National Entertainer of the Year 2007, and then I took the idea to Gustavo Bustos, a designer out of New York. It all just meshed so well. I did stone the gown myself, with the help of some friends – a total of about 250 gross of stones are on the gown – there are 144 stones in a gross…sooooooo…around 36,000 stones on the gown! It took two solid weeks to stone the gown.

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

CH: What’s it mean to you to be a National Pageant Title holder? What does it mean for Columbus? NW: I am still trying to navigate what it may mean to me…I have been on this perpetual Cloud 9 since I got back to Columbus last Monday. It is such a huge honor to be able to travel this country as National Entertainer of the Year, and it means so much more, being the first National title holder to come from Columbus, Ohio. I am so proud of what I have accomplished, but it is so important that I stress that I did not do it alone, nor could I ever have done it by myself. There were so many people who were so instrumental in making this possible that it really was a group effort – from my dancers to my dresser, from my set and props people to my video work –and all of my sponsors!! These are all my friends, my extended family and each and everyone of them calls Columbus home. This was a Columbus win. Not just a Nina win…a Columbus win. Columbus was on my side and gave whatever they

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Chris Hayes: You always said you weren’t a pageant queen? Why now and why this pageant? Nina West: I think that I had the wrong perception of what “pageant queen” meant, and as a result, never related to what I thought the ideal of that concept was, until I really did some research on the Entertainer of the Year system. EOY is a system all about talent and creativity. I really saw myself in this system and what it represented…sure there is an evening gown category, but it is all about being creative. And I could show Nina in all of that. I never once, while competing for this title, compromised who I was s an entertainer or what the character has evolved into over the last seven years. That is when I knew I could do EOY and not second guess myself or the pageantry system!

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tor and representative of this pageant system. This entails numerous lucrative out-out-of-town bookings, administrative duties involving the preliminary competitions held throughout the country, and attending basically every major pageant in the United States. All of this adds up to Columbus seeing less of Nina over the next twelve months, though she has made assurances that she will do her best to meet all of her obligations to Columbus, including her shows and appearances at various Roy G. Biv establishments. So what does her win mean to Columbus? Well, if one of our natives going to a national pageant and massacring the competition wasn’t enough, it also means that her win elevates the profile of our community. We have our first native national title holder, and even if you

T WI TH THE

CH: When will Columbus get to see the winning production that won you EOY? NW: Well, I thought long and hard about how I would show Columbus what we did at nationals, and I decided that the best way to do it would be to do both the living gown and the final night talent at my annual benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Columbus AIDS Task Force. XXXposed3 will be October 19 at Axis and will not only feature both the gown and the talent but will also feature all of the people who helped me reach my goal of National Entertainer of the Year…it will be an amazing night! Watch for tables to go on sale soon!! CH: Your creative evening wear was off the hook (in more ways than one). How many stones are on your dress? I heard you did it by hand, how long did that take?

don’t follow Drag, know that there are many pageant queens that do. Many of them are going to want and need to see the “shim” who just competed against some of the most talented people in the country, palmed their collective heads like basketballs, and made shot after shot. Nina West, who we’ve always known was ridiculously talented, is now a national attraction. In fact, I fully expect a small alpine-esque resort town to spring up around her more than ample bosom. I also have a feeling that said resort town will be entirely staffed by Beverly Ford and her nine-million heavy-drinking offspring, all dressed in Nina’s ubiquitous Sound of Music costumes. A Chad Frye can dream, can’t he? The day after the pageant, Nina and a few of us went to brunch at a deliciously whimsical little restaurant called Lynn’s Paradise Café. It was a gaudy, campy place with a novelty shop in the front and mismatched chairs in pastel colors. Nina walked around the store laughing at a host of idiotic curios, pointing out the funny décor and looking generally exhausted. After we were seated and I began to sip on the largest mimosa I’ve ever seen, a faintly make-up covered Andrew (Nina’s alter ego) looked about the table at all of his friends. He thanked us all profusely for our help and support, and then spoke again, a glimmer in his eye. “So, I need to pick a theme for the pageant next year, when I have to give up my crown. Now call me crazy, but this is what I was thinking…” No one called him crazy. After the weekend in Louisville, no one could. I don’t know what that means to you, but to me it means that the dude might look like a Lady, but that Lady looks, thinks, and acts like a winner.

As a member of the community in Columbus, I think you’d have to be entirely daft to not know about Nina West. She’s the tall, funny one who raises thousands of dollars for charity, and continues to wow us with huge production shows twice a year. She’s also the Mary Poppins impersonator who simulates farting on stage with the zeal and carelessness of a geriatric Chipotle-addict. See? Of course you know who she is. Well, over the weekend of July 28th, Columbus’s favorite funny girl made her first foray into the dangerous, hilarious and sometimes dramatic territory that is Drag pageantry. Nina had decided that if she was going to be involved in a pageant, the Entertainer of the Year pageant was the logical choice. Entertainer of the year (or EOY), held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, is unique among the big pageant systems. It places great emphasis on creativity, talent, artistic expression, and places no restrictions upon the competitors other than that they must be eighteen years old and male. This lack of restriction usually yields extremely stiff competition, and this year was no exception. Some of the most talented Queens in the country were at EOY including Kitty Litter, Armani, Trinity Taylor and Camille Simpson. So how did our girl fare against the crème de la crème of the Drag world? I am not exaggerating when I say that Nina slaughtered the competition. I could go on and on about her performances, but I think I’d do them a grave injustice. If you’re really curious, there are videos all over YouTube, and I think that seeing, in this case, really is believing. In the meantime, I’ll let the results speak for themselves:

NEW

CH: What will your schedule be like now that your EOY? How much will you be gone and will you still do your shows here? What’s first on your duties as EOY? NW: Nina is gonna be all over the place for the next year and I am so excited about that! I will be everywhere from Phoenix to Buffalo, and places in between! I will say that my schedule as National Entertainer of the Year will require some flexibility on my part as to what shows will be done and when, but I am fortunate enough to work for a company that supports me and this dream! You will see my October show at Axis Nightclub – OCTOBER 11, 12 and the XXXposed Benefit on the 19th. I will also

be maintaining as close to my current Columbus schedule as possible, with little changes made here and there! Monthly showtunes shows and Long Island shows will still happen and I will be there! But, there is no doubt, I will be gone a lot too! My first duty as National Entertainer of the Year will be in Chicago, Illinois, as I represent EOY at the Miss Continental pageant! It is going to be an amazing time Labor Day weekend! CH: It says in your resume that you graduated with a bachelor of fine arts. How will that experience translate into representing the EOY pageant system? NW: AHHH! My onstage question! Damn you, Hayes! I am organized, fun, and fabulous. AND WORLD PEACE. I love Denison University!! CH: There were a ton of Columbusites that came down to support you. What does it mean to you to have such loyal fans? What does that say about Columbus? NW: I am blessed to live in a city where I have made such strong bonds of friendship with so many wonderful people. When a friend called the Kentucky Center to order tickets to the final night of Entertainer of the Year, the ticketing woman said she imagined that around 250 seats alone were sold to Columbus residents. THAT IS INSANE. They are not just loyal fans - each one of these people who came down and supported me, wished me luck, called from Columbus while I was competing in Louisville, sponsored me in some way are all my friends. In the almost 8 years that I have been living in this community and creating and evolving the character of Nina West, I have made lasting relationships. Columbus is the heart of it all and I am so proud to call it my home. It is filled with the best people who have the biggest hearts .

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 27

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Saturday, August 23

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

28 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

PUCKER UP by Tristan Taormino

What If the Bachelorette Was Polyamorous? How TV shows represent open relationships - and how they could do better

ADVERTISE WITH OUTLOOK CALL MICHAEL TODAY 614.268.8525 It’s Soo ooo Wo rth

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

It!

I watched The Bachelorette. There, I said it. I’ve always been fascinated by these reality dating shows where one person has multiple girlfriends or boyfriends simultaneously. Not only do all the suitors know about each other, but they live together, and some are even friends. On paper, the setup sounds like a recipe for a progressive vision of non-monogamous relationships. The execution is, well, a little trickier. For example, when 25 women vie for one man’s affection on The Bachelor, I can’t get over the subtext of patriarchal privilege: It always feels like a cross between a never-ending catfight and a bad harem fantasy. But when a new season of The Bachelorette (one girl, 25 guys) returned in May (this was the fourth one, compared to 12 installments of The Bachelor), I was anxious to see if, this time, it might live up to its radical potential. Imagine: an empowered woman with multiple partners, calling the shots! See, when it comes to open relationships on television, there’s pretty slim pickin’s, starting with the scripted HBO series Big Love, which follows the trials and tribulations of a Mormon family consisting of husband Bill Henrickson, his three wives, and their seven children, all living in suburban Utah. They grapple with living in a non-traditional relationship, being in the closet about it, and clashing with their crazy relatives - most of whom live on a cult-like fundamentalist compound full of child brides in prairie dresses. The interactions here are often complex and nuanced, and can even resonate with people who identify as polyamorous. However, it’s all framed in the context of a controversial religious practice. I’d love the show a lot more if they got rid of the Mormonism and the wacky fundamentalists. But then it would probably last 10 minutes. Coming up on its fifth season, The Girls Next Door (on E!) stars the three current girlfriends of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner: Holly, Bridget, and Kendra. Unlike Big Love, this one is unscripted, yet it rarely feels like real life - it’s more a commercial for the Playboy brand than a show about alternative relationships. There are very few negotiations or conflicts between the three women in Hefner’s life: We rarely hear a confession of one woman feeling envious, another requesting more one-on-one time, or the third feeling relegated to the bottom of the pecking order. Instead, their polyamorous life resembles the women themselves - pink, perky, and not too deep. CBS’s Swingtown is the newest kid on the block, and I’m convinced it only made it on the air because of the writers’ strike. First problem: Since it’s on network TV, there’s not a lot of sex. It does, however, break the mold of one man with three faithful partners - now maybe the ladies will get their turn! And they do, to be sure, but since the show is still so new, the question remains as to whether it will be liberating and thoughtful, or just another 13-week “wife-swapping” party from hell.

Beyond exploring open-relationship styles, these shows have few other similarities. Big Love is an example of plural marriage or polygyny, the practice of one man having several wives or female partners. The media incorrectly calls this “polygamy,” a term synonymous with Morman fundamentalist marriage practices, which technically is just one person having multiple partners. Real people don’t use terms like “polygyny” and “polygamy” to describe their marriages, though. While The Girls Next Door may appear to be modern-day polygyny (just devoid of religious overtones), it really falls under the umbrella of polyamory, the practice of having multiple sexual/romantic relationships simultaneously. (I’d label it a mono/poly combo, since Hef is polyamorous and his partners are monogamous.) Swingtown, of course, focuses on swinging, and most swingers consider themselves emotionally monogamous and sexually non-monogamous. But I think there’s a subtler thread running through this trio: All three shows delve into alternative partnerships while portraying them as foreign, exotic, and inaccessible in some way. Most people cannot identify with three women who call the Playboy Mansion home and Hugh Hefner their honey. I mean, how many people do you know who spend 80 percent of their lifetime in silk pajamas and robes? Hef might as well be from another planet. For Big Love, everything is shrouded in a strange, secretive culture defined by religion. Swingtown distracts us by gorging on kitsch and camp. (Look at the carpet and those pants! Check out Grant Show’s mustache!) So I held out hope for The Bachelorette, since, unlike the others, it portrays “real” people. As in previous seasons, once the dating got under way, the men coped with jealousy, possessiveness, and competitiveness, while Bachelorette DeAnna Pappas dealt with developing feelings for several men at the same time. The show’s formula always seems to be headed in the right direction. After all, in past seasons, when the central character gets down to two or three suitors, she usually confesses to the cameras that she has developed intense feelings or even fallen in love with more than one guy (this has been true in The Bachelor as well). Cue screeching brakes, folks, because that’s where my fantasy ends. After that, it reverts back to its monogamous ways, emphasizing that she must choose. She must pick one. It’s always been about The One all along. Why couldn’t she have ridden into the sunset with both Jason and Jesse? Why didn’t one of the relatives suggest this idea during one of those hometown-dates-cum-interrogations? Why couldn’t the men make a pact to make it work - because, after all, they both love her. DeAnna, listen: You didn’t have to break anyone’s heart! You could’ve picked them both and been the first truly polyamorous Bachelorette! Please visit my websites, puckerup.com and openingup.net

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 29

SAVAGE LOVE by Dan Savage

I’m a 22-year-old female, and the older I get, the more often I am ridiculed by straight men for being ugly. Just last night, a man asked me if I was jealous of my pretty friends and if I wished I could look like them. I know I’m unattractive, but I’ve met wonderful girls who I think are at least as physically unattractive as me who have managed to find someone to love them. I need to know if I should even bother anymore - it’s hard to find a job, make friends, and basically just find people who will treat me like a human being. I shower every day, try to dress well, and wear makeup, but none of it seems to help. It appears that my only options are plastic surgery or suicide, and the older I get, the more appealing the latter becomes. And no, I don’t have body dysmorphic disorder, I am absolutely sure. Anonymous P.S. I can’t trust my friends to tell me the truth, because they love me, which either (a) clouds their judgment, or (b) makes them reluctant to hurt my feelings. The only commentary I have to go on comes from people I don’t know who feel a need to inform me that I’m ugly. But I’m not sure. Should I send you a picture? You can send me a picture if you like, Anonymous, preferably one taken by the brand-new therapist that you’re going to get. Because you may or may not have body dysmorphic disorder, and you may or may not be ugly, and your friends may or may not be shining you on, but you clearly need more help than I can give you in this space. But I’ll accept your self-diagnosis and say this much… Things will get better as you get older. Not your looks, Anonymous, if your looks are truly the problem, but your peers. People are assholes in their 20s, and pouring alcohol into assholes doesn’t make ’em stink less. Straight boys raised to believe that women exist for their pleasure will sometimes feel personally affronted by unattractive women, and alcohol makes them feel entitled to comment. But the passage of time makes monsters of us all, Anonymous, and the young, relatively hot straight guys tormenting you today are the bald, paunchy, and if there is a God, burn victims of tomorrow. So the numbers of guys who can appreciate what you bring to the table - your humanity, your compassion, your ability to love - will grow over time, kiddo, and you may find in middle age what your girlfriends found as young adults. Unless you off yourself in the meantime, Anony-

mous, in which case you won’t be around to watch those cruel, drunken boys deteriorate, wither, and die. And why would you want to cheat yourself out of that? I’ve been with my husband for two years and married for one. We eloped in June of last year and didn’t have any sort of honeymoon. Instead, about a month later, my husband went on an overseas trip with an old college friend. “Bill” is poor and my husband is well-off, so my husband paid Bill’s way. I joked at the time about how my husband was going on his honeymoon with Bill. Fast-forward to last week: My husband tells me he is going to a conference in Europe and meeting Bill there. I thought, okay, no big deal. Well, the day my husband was leaving, I found out that he was spending the first four days with Bill, Bill’s fiancée, and Bill’s sister just hanging out, and that the actual conference didn’t start until the end of the week. I didn’t say anything before he left, because I was so caught off guard. Today I went to a therapist who, after hearing all this, asked me if I thought my husband was gay. We only have sex once a week, because I’ve forced him to make it an appointment with me. He does not have a sex drive at all: nothing, nada. So my question is, should I dump the therapist or is she on to something? My husband comes back from his trip on Sunday and I’m dying inside. Help! Really Uncertain Do you really want to stay married to a man who makes you feel this way, RU, even if he is straight?

Republican party would be a mad gay orgy.) Too Sad For A Pseudonym Your points are well taken, TSFAP, and I hear you. Hell, I agree with you; I frequently tear into faggots who play up their disgust with female genitals in a misguided attempt to justify their gayness. But my comparison of female genitals to canned hams dropped from great heights wasn’t grounded in disgust, TSFAP, so much as it was unfamiliarity. And, hey, I deserve some credit for comparing women’s genitals to something I will put in my mouth. Ham? Love it! Baked or canned, dropped from a great height or grilled to perfection - can’t get enough! It would have been infinitely ruder of me to compare women’s genitals to something I would never, ever put in my mouth, something like… uh… women’s genitals. And, excuse me, but haven’t you been paying attention? The entire Republican party is a mad gay orgy. Brace yourself, TSFAP! So, Dan, I agree that men in their 30s and 40s who “date” legal teenage boys have a good chance of being scummy. But what about men who make no bones about just wanting some of that sweet twink ass and are honest with their just-out-of-high-school playmates? Is the 40ish man who says, “I am not in love with you. I might think you’re cool. I do think you’re hot. Let’s fuck!” a refreshingly honest learning opportunity for a barely-legal boy just out on his own? Or does the inherent power imbalance mean all older guys are self-deluding scumbags? Thirtysomething Realizes Oldsters Lack Luster

It’s been weeks now since you republished that “canned ham” comment about the aesthetics of women’s genitals. The battle of the sexes is creepy enough, Dan, when it’s being fought by people who want to fuck each other. At the end of the day, straight and bisexual men and women know that they want what the other side has got. But when lesbians and gay men do it, not only is it cruel and dehumanizing, but it makes Republicans smile. Conservatives already do a fantastic job of making it seem like lesbianism is the ghastly consequence of man-hating; the more gay men keep going on about how much women disgust them, the more it makes them seem like deranged misogynists, rather than sane men who just want to sleep with other men. (Never mind that if misogyny caused gayness, the entire

The campsite rule applies here: So long as older persons leave younger persons in better shape than they found them, it’s all good. And emphasizing to a young, horny, potentially lovestruck teenager that, while there may be a mutual attraction, love isn’t in the cards is one way an older person honors the campsite rule. But, as I wrote last week, since almost all older men willing to sleep with teenagers - gay or straight are total scumbags, the older person should be regarded as scum until proven otherwise. Download the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at www.thestranger.com/savage. mail@savagelove.net

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

30 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY

ABOUT TOWN by Chris Hayes Saturday August 9, 12p - 3p

SAFETY AND SELF DEFENSE FOR WOMEN WHO ARE CAREGIVERS TO CHILDREN OR OTHER VULNERABLE LOVED ONES

At the Susan B. Anthony Memorial Unrest Home Womyn’s Land Trust Feminist Education Center, Womyn Only Campground & Residential Community, this discussion and training will focus on prevention and self defense for womyn who care for young children or other vulnerable loved ones. Discussion will occur on strategies in our home, car or on the street regarding risk reduction and self defense. Most womyn would not run and leave their loved ones behind, therefore it is important to think through how one might defend against an attacker and protect others at the same time. Effective verbal and physical skills will be covered to deter being targeted and to defend against a physical attack, attempted abduction, etc. All womyn are welcome! Lunch will be provided and swimming is available after the training. Fee sliding scale $5-$15. Free childcare with advance notice. Cheryl Cesta has been teaching self-defense and Bando training for 30 years. susanbanthony@frognet.net or 740.448.6424 to register.

Saturday, August 16 2008

INSTINCT MAGAZINE’S 10 CITY TOUR COMES TO COLUMBUS Columbus, get ready! Instinct’s 10 City Tour is heading your way. In case you still didn’t know, Instinct magazine is on tour for 2008 in celebration of our 10 Years in the publishing industry. For our boys in “The Arch City”, we have: • Drink specials compliments of Instinct featuring our presenting sponsor 360 Eco Luxury Vodka • Live music featuring some of the hottest DJ’s around the country • A designer fashion show featuring sponsors 2(x)IST & Rocket Dog • Hot guys schmoozing on & off the catwalk • Raffles, Prizes & Giveaways from all of our sponsors, including Joico, Esurance & GPTMC • and of course, much, much more! Raffles, prizes & giveaways include: • Gift package of Joico haircare product complete with travel case • Rocket Dog Shoes gift certificates • A chance to be animated into an Esurance ad (Drawn to Esurance Sweepstakes ) for Instinct Magazine & a trip to Aspen Gay Ski Week • A chance to win a trip for 2 to Philadelphia including airfare & stay courtesy of the GPTMC, and • 2(x)IST product giveaways There is no purchase necessary to win any of the raffles, prizes or giveaways. They do ask that you donate anything you can to benefit the host beneficiary - GLBT National Help Center. Anything you can give goes to provide free and confidential telephone and e-mail peer counseling, information and local resources to GLBT and questioning callers across the United States. All donations made go to benefit our 10 City Tour beneficiary The GLBT National Help Center! Be sure to inquire on how you too can donate and help GLBT people all over the United States. Join the party Saturday, August 16th 2008 from 10p-2:30a @ Q Bar & Nightclub located at 205 N. Fifth St. Columbus, OH 43215. 21 and up. See you there! For additional information, www.instinctmagazine.com/tour.

COLUMBUS NEXT MEETING: AUG 13, 6P-8P; LOCATION: WALL STREET NIGHTCLUB (144 N WALL) SPEAKER: STACIE BOORD OF SHADOWBOX • WWW.NETWORKCOLUMBUS.COM

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008

OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 31

fin

THE LAST WORD by Wayne Besen

Messages That Lead To Murder

This week, I attended the Commercial Closet’s Images In Advertising Awards in Manhattan, which honored corporations that produced gay affirming ads. The pro-gay plugs showed genuine progress and highlighted that many leading companies “get it.” The work of Commercial Closet is vital because images matter and repeated exposure to messages shape our views and create positive change in society. The cleverness and creativity in these ads imparts to millions of people that homosexuality is nothing to be feared and that GLBT people are part of the human family. The awards ceremony was a welcome respite from reality, where there is no shortage of reminders that the world is still a very dangerous place. In Knoxville, Tennessee, a homophobic loser burst into a Unitarian Church where a children’s play was being performed and unleashed a fusillade of gunfire, killing two people and injuring six. According to police, Jim D. Adkisson, “had targeted the church because of its liberal leanings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country.” The New York Times reports that the killer was raised in a strict Christian home and was openly anti-gay. He may have targeted this particular church because his former wife - who he had

threatened to shoot and then commit suicide had occasionally attended. He may also have been agitated by the church’s affirming stand on GLBT equality. The far right’s dirty little secret is that they depend on the threat of violence to retard the advancement of the GLBT movement. Without the fear of physical attack, the number of people who are out of the closet would quickly multiply. Gay couples would hold hands in every city in the nation. On each block, from San Francisco to San Antonio, gay and lesbian people would be visibly present. Each day, all but the bravest GLBT people make subtle or even significant adjustments to remain safe. Some dress a little blander in order to blend in. A number of gay men talk a bit deeper so they won’t arouse suspicion. Some lesbians apply make up so they won’t get beaten up. And, most loving couples act like buddies so they won’t get bashed. We tell ourselves comforting lies, such as “we don’t like public displays of affection,” to justify pushing a partner’s hand away at a romantic moment. But, the reality is, even the most confident and brave among us have something to fear. Of course, the overwhelming majority of people

are not violent and a significant minority of Americans fervently supports GLBT people. What the right wing realizes, however, is it only takes a small number of twisted fanatics to keep GLBT people in check. We rarely know who these lunatics are, as they often keep their hate closeted. But, each gay person knows these hidden ticking time bombs exist and could go off at any moment - shattering our lives. When Focus on the Family’s James Dobson says that giving gay people the freedom to marry will “destroy the earth” he is encouraging hate crimes. When Oklahoma state legislator Sally Kern says that homosexuality is the “death knell of this country,” she is promoting gay bashing. When Elaine Donnelly told a congressional committee that lifting Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell would let lesbians take pictures of people in the shower she was setting the stage for violence. When Ann Coulter authors, How to Talk To a Liberal (If You Must), people like Jim Adkisson may be influenced. What I find hypocritical is that the Religious Right will take any image it deems gay and claim it “promotes homosexuality.” This even extends to fictional characters such as Tinky Winky and Sponge Bob Square Pants. Yet, these same oversensitive preachers refuse to acknowledge that

their mean-spirited sermons might lead to violence. The extreme right fuels anti-gay ugliness, but it is pervasive all around us. As we applauded the winners of the Commercial Closet awards, two ads that subtract from the dignity of gay people were on the minds of those in attendance. The first was a Nike ad where a basketball star leapt over a defender who had the dunker’s scrotum in his face. The headline was “That Ain’t Right.” In a second ad for Snickers, a swishy speed walker is attacked by a machine gun wielding Mr. T in a truck who demands the walker “run like a real man.” He fires on the guy until he “corrects” his running style. Thanks to The Human Rights Campaign and the willingness of these companies, both ads were pulled. We live in a society filled with violently homophobic messages and images, yet the perpetrators - both religious and secular - feign innocence and say they can’t imagine how anti-gay hate crimes occur.

HOROSCOPES by Jack Fertig

LEO (Jul 23 - Aug 22): Your partner (or lack of one) seems especially aggravating now, and your sexual needs are not being properly met - probably because you are at some level reassessing them. A good political argument may somehow kick your priorities and needs into better focus.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21): Your playful jabs at social critique can get you a reputation. Will hosts send you invitations due to real affection or out of selfdefense? Focus that acuity on working more effectively, and you could accomplish a lot!

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 18): Sexual values and tastes change with age and experience. Although that’s normal, staying in sync with your partner may be the big challenge! Communication is always the key. Be open to exploring differences as well as common ground.

TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 20): Arguments at home need to be settled to avoid tension that can screw you up at work. Friends who want to play may keep you from what you really find entertaining and relaxing. Take time at home to contemplate your goals in work and in life.

VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22): Make a list of your worries. Cross off the ones you can’t do anything about, then list the steps you can take to deal with the others. A partner’s input may be helpful. An amorous retreat will be even more so.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 20): Arguments aren’t as likely to show that you’re right as much as that you insist on “being right.” A little humility and listening can go a long way. Better yet, playful word games are preferable to serious debate.

PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 19): Your ideas for improvements at work are, um, intriguing. Discuss them with a colleague or two, allowing that they may be a bit off the wall. Still, they could be the seeds of much better ideas. Focus on efficiency and economy.

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 20): You probably can’t avoid arguments this week, but you can pick and choose them. Remember the simple, obvious rules: logic has nothing to do with religion or sex; authorities should be criticized with extreme diplomacy and care; and friends who will forgive anything are the best to hang with!

LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 22): Nobody else will fix what’s bothering you, so what are you doing about it? Big as some problems are, you can make a difference! You could even bring friends into a volunteer effort as if it were a social event.

CAPRICORN (Dec 21 - Jan 19): Arguments about sex, sexuality, and gender issues can easily get out of hand. If you must react as if your mother’s honor were at stake, think of how she’d want you to be civil in your debate.

ARIES (Mar 20 - Apr 19): Struggles at work might make you feel you’re on the wrong team. What’s easier to change your job or your attitude? Time out, playful relaxation, and self-care (massage? acupuncture?) are needed to keep your balance.

CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22): Arguments about sex can come up easily, especially if you’re unclear about what you really want. You need some guidance, a new philosophical or spiritual perspective. Explore those intangibles, and the touchyfeely will be easier to work out.

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.

AUG 07 - AUG 13 2008