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A VDIV D • ITY R A P S UR DI O G N I LABOR OF STAND LOVE 16 SCHEDULE • UNDER
2 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY OWNERS AND PUBLISHERS Michael Daniels & Chris Hayes EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / ART DIRECTOR Chris Hayes hayes@outlookmedia.com
SNAPSHOT
BEST OF VIRGINIA WEST @ AXIS SUNDAY AUG 24th: VIRGINIA AND HER FULL CAST DELIVERED A TON OF LAUGHS WHILE REPLAYING SCENES FROM HER LAST 20 SHOWS. EVEN A BROKEN TOOTH COULDN’T STOP VIRGINIA FROM PERFORMING HER CLASSIC VOGUE ROUTINE AND AN ENCORE OF VOGUE! PHOTOS © ROBERT TRAUTMAN
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 28 - SEP 03 2008 VOLUME 13 NUMBER 09
AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
SNAPSHOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........2 ABOUT TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....3,30 GENERAL GAYETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........4 COMMUNITY CORNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........6 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........8 COMMENTARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......11 INSIGHTOUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......13 OUT BUSINESS NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......15 FEATURE: A TALE OF TWO COMMUNITIES . . . . .16-19 ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......20 DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......20 DVDIVA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......22 INTERVIEW: CHRIS WILLIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......24 SEX TALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......26 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......27 SAVAGE LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......29 THE LAST WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......31 SCOPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......31 NEXT WEEK: GAY ARTISTS AT JUNCTIONVIEW
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 3
ABOUT TOWN by Chris Hayes
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28 CONSPIRACY THEORY 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: The Conspiracy Band takes the stage for the last night of Thursday downtown music. 5:30p; free THE CHANGE YOU SEEK? Obama Pride Columbus Convention Watch Party @ The East Village, 630 N High St, 614.221.6564 ext 124, s.pfendler@ohiodems.org columbusnightlife.com: Join Obama Pride Columbus, Ohio Democratic Party LGBT Caucus and Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown, Judge Eric Brown, Candidate for Common Pleas Court Judge Shawn Dingus to watch Barack Obama accept the Democratic nomination for President of the Unites States and to find out how you can get involved in the campaign. 9p-11p; free. DID YOU HEAR? Free Outdoor Film: The Talk of the Town @ The Lawn of The Ohio Statehouse, High St (btw State & Broad), www.ohiostatehouse.org: The Ohio Statehouse and Wexner Center have joined forces to bring the big screen to Capitol Square, Tonight see The Talk of the Town, the classic 1942 movie, where Cary Grant stars as a political activist who is framed for arson and must be hidden by his childhood sweetheart, played by Jean Arthur. This movie marks the last showing of the 2008 Wex Drive-in Outdoor Film Fest. Bring blankets for the lawn or chairs for hard surfaces. Expect food and alcohol sales and giveaways. Dusk (around 9p); free. FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 NO FREE LUNCH…WHATEVER! Summer Fridays Free Lunch Concerts @ The Ohio Statehouse, High St (btw State & Broad), www.ohiostatehouse.org: See Your Shadow Songwriting will entertain at this FREE lunchtime 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. WHO COULD EVER LOVE A BEAST? Kings Island Pride Night @ Kings Island Amusement Park, www.pridenight.com; Come gay it out at the park. The earlier date, allows The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati to show some love by offering free parking for the first time to our loyal guests. Pride Night proceeds help to cover the yearly operating expenses of the Community Center. This marks the twelfth year The Community Center and Kings Island have hosted this unique night of fun, rides and entertainment. As an added bonus – ticket prices will actually be less this year; so don’t miss the chance to be part of Pride Night 2008, where over 3000 family and friends meet. Online $6p-12a; 39.99, $42.99 gate.
PEANUT BUTTER AND JAM Art Jam @ mahan gallery, 1042 N High St, 614.294.3278, mahangallery.com: mahan gallery is proud to announce another exciting art jam, an innovative special event created by mahan gallery, that puts paint brushes in the hands of our guests and lets them experience the world of an artist for the night, surrounded by rich colors, vibrant music, good friends, and fine wine. $75 includes one canvas and art supplies (up to two painters per canvas), refreshments with soft drinks, and an open wine bar. Reserve your tickets by calling or email info@mahangallery.com. WHAT DO YOU WANT? Living the Law of Attraction with Victoria Vetere, Enlightened Life Coach @ Alphastate Pilates, Yoga, and Somatic Education Studio, 433 W 3rd Ave, www.enlightenedlifecoaching.com: Join Victoria Vetere, the last Friday of every month, featuring empowering information about creating the life YOU want (instead of the one you’ve settled for!). Victoria presents valuable broader perspective information how we actually create our lives. Lively discussion including Q & A from audience members make this an event you don’t want to miss. Come enjoy a fun and fascinating evening with others on-thepage of Enlightenment. This is a FREE offering, please call to register. 7:30p-8:30p; free. SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 WHERE’S THE PEYOTE? 2008 Labor Day Pow Wow Celebrating American Heritage @ Franklin County Fairgrounds, 4100 Columbus St, Hilliard: To celebrate, educate, and continue cultural traditions within the Native American community as well as an outreach to all peoples who would like to watch, learn, and experience. Through Sep 1. 11a-12a; $7. BATTER UP Ohio Village Muffins Hosts 17th Annual Ohio Cup @ The Ohio Historical Center, I-71 and 17th Ave, 614.297.2300, www.ohiohistory.org: This two-day tournament features 23 vintage men’s and women’s baseball teams. The teams will use rules, costumes and equipment of 1860 for the games. Through Sun. 9a-5p; $4-$8 plus parking. BUMP SET SPIKE Labor of Love 16 Volleyball Tournament @ Sports Barn Easton: See page 8 for more info. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 THEY DON’T CALL IT HUMP DAY FOR NOTHING Wicked Wednesdays Strippers @ Q Bar & Nightclub, 205 N. Fifth St, 614.222.2401, www.q-nation.com: Come help give hump day a whole new meaning. Strippers, $3 Bacardi, $2.50 Red Rull, and plenty of skin. 10p; free. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 LEGS AND BOUQUET Columbus Food and Wine Affair @ Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E Broad St, 614.645.8733, fpconservatory.org: See page 30 for more info. AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
4 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
The Reader Poll
GENERAL GAYETY by Leslie Robinson
Last week we asked:
Do you own your own business?
DOOM FOR MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY tions for the AFA choosing to question whether the recipient would be alive in 60 days. Perhaps the group’s membership is elderly and the AFA decided to be frank and rude. Or maybe the AFA folks, on principle, always allow for the possibility that the Rapture could alter the best-laid plans. But of course it was the second part of the statement that had me ripping open the envelope. What did Donald Wildmon and his American Family Association consider one of the biggest days in America’s moral history? I wish I’d guessed wrong, but the fellow is as predictable as Popeye with a can of spinach. It’s Election Day that Wildmon has in his sights, because that’s when Californians can undo their Supreme Court’s decision allowing same-sex marriage. In his letter to the faithful - and nosy others - he lamented how the court “overruled both the ‘will of the people’ and the design of Almighty God.” He bemoaned how out-ofstate gay couples marrying in California will unleash legal challenges all over the country. In the most highlighted statement, he aimed to scare the dickens out of his supporters: “On November 4 - about three months from now - if we do not stop the drive to legalize marriage between homosexuals, that battle will be lost.” As California goes, so goes the nation.
That big sucking sound is the U.S. of A. going down the morality toilet. What can citizens do to prevent the imminent demise of the Ty-D-Bol Man? “For the sake of your children and the future of our nation,” Wildmon knows precisely how Americans can help. Californians will be voting on Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment forbidding gay marriage, and the AFA is producing a documentary called “Prop 8 and the Case Against Homosexual Marriage.” The organization wants to distribute the film to its California members and churches working to pass the ballot initiative. “I’m counting on you to underwrite production and distribution costs of this documentary,” Wildmon wrote. That sounded a mite pushy to me, but when you consider that “it is crucial to our nation’s survival” that Prop 8 pass, how can I quibble? On the payment slip accompanying the letter the AFA supporter commits both to help pass Prop 8 and to pray for the nation. Apparently doing just one isn’t an option. As it happens, I feel like doing two things: promise my girlfriend no more snooping, and add the letter to the recycling. America will benefit from both.
NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION: Which of the following do you do to express yourself creatively ?
Leslie Robinson snoops in Seattle. E-mail her at LesRobinsn@aol.com.
• Painting • Music • Fashion • Sculpture • Writing • Dancing • Theater/Comedy • Photography • Digital Arts • Other Log on to: www.outlookweekly.net to take this week’s poll.
SO
AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
28%
S URC PO E: WASHINGTON
T
You never know what strange things you’ll find when you snoop. My girlfriend is away for several weeks, so I’m staying at her place, looking after the house and animals. While perusing her mail, I noticed a solicitation from Dr. Donald E. Wildmon of the American Family Association. A lesbian receiving mail from the AFA is like a Jew receiving mail from the American Nazi Party. Boy, I thought, did she get on the wrong list. Perhaps an angry ex wanted to do something more creative than key her car. Then I noticed the letter was addressed to her mother. That explained it. When it comes to conservative Christian fervor, her mom makes Pat Robertson look like he’s faking. The words printed on the front of the envelope guaranteed I’d take my snooping a step further. I had to open the envelope. I hope the U.S. Postal Service doesn’t hear about this. Here are the words that hooked me: “If you are alive in 60 days, you will witness one of the most momentous days in America’s moral history.” Were I the intended recipient, I’d be concerned. If I’m alive in 60 days? Does the AFA know something I don’t? I thought it was just indigestion. I can think of only two possible explana-
NO 54.3% YES 45.7%
CATEGORY
NOV 2 ’04
AUG 25 ’08
DIFFERENCE
AMERICAN DEAD
1,122
4,146
3,024
AMERICAN WOUNDED
8,124
30,561
22,437
IRAQI CIVILIAN DEAD
16,342
94,560
NATIONAL DEBT
$7,429,629,954,236
$9,618,645,199,394
DAYS ‘TIL 2008 ELECTION
1,463
71
78,218 $2,189,015,245,158 (1,392)
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 5
AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
6 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
SEPTEMBER 9
COMMUNITY CORNER LEGACY FUND HONORING A LOCAL LEGACY “Fred and Howard” - Fred Holdridge and Howard Burns are true icons of Columbus and the LGBT community. Their relationship started in the early 50’s when they met in Chicago. Well before most of you who are reading this were born, Fred and Howard were community leaders, living out their life together often in very public ways, and without the cultural guideposts we take for granted. Think about it: they were together for almost 20 years when the modern gay rights movement started in 1969 with the Stonewall Riots. When Fred and Howard came to Columbus there was no “gay community”. They created their own community. They opened Haus Frau Haven in 1972 and it was one of the first stops for just about everyone, gay and straight, who moved into German Village. In planning the September 9 tribute to Fred and Howard, we heard story after story from people who cited Fred and Howard as the first people they met in Columbus and how much they helped them navigate important passages in their lives. Their contributions to Columbus are vast and include their commitment to the development of German Village into one of the premier center-city revitalized neighborhoods in the entire country and their relentless support of the arts, particularly
GAY OHIO HISTORY INITIATIVE SEEKING BOARD MEMBER NOMINATIONS
More information can be found at www.ashantynolemon.com or www.gaycomedypodcast.com. Please direct all inquires to info@ashantynolemon.com.
The Gay Ohio History Initiative [GOHI] is seeking new board members and is accepting nominations to fill currently open seats. Board members serve three year terms and assist GOHI in its mission to preserve, archive and curate Ohio’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender history and culture. Board members will be selected in mid-September. Letters of interest clearly stating the prospective board member’s background and qualifications and/or a resume should be sent to thurber1961@aol.com no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, September 8, 2008. In January 2006, the Ohio Historical Society formed a groundbreaking partnership with Outlook Weekly and GOHI to preserve Ohio’s GLBT history and culture. More information about GOHI can be found at www.gohi.org.
SHORT NORTH ART AL FRESCO / PUBLIC ART EXHIBIT AWARDS ANNOUNCED
A SHANTY NO LEMON CANCELED Ohio’s Premier Podcast has decided to officially go on indefinite hiatus. The Columbus Ohio show has set new standards for the Podcasting community with its creative funny skits, in-depth political talk and local information within its three year run. Located in Columbus Ohio the Podcast has been featured in Outlook Weekly as well as the recent Columbus Ohio Gay Pride Parades. “We would like to thank our numerous fans for the support and dedication they have provided to us over the past three years. The dedication and support from our fans have been amazing and we really cannot express our love enough. It’s been a great run and a wonderful experience all around,“ says Anthony Anselmo the show’s creator and producer. Anthony has stated, “While we won’t say this is the end, we all are too busy right now to produce the show and unfortunately, job and family comes before anything else. We love getting together and having fun, but right now we all need a break. We may be back in the future so keep tuned to the RSS feed, you never know when we may pop up again.” Anthony also notes ‘We would like to thank our sponsors, our fellow GLBT Podcasters both local and abroad, and everyone that has downloaded or contributed to the show. Thank you all for your support.” AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
Art al Fresco made its debut on Saturday, August 16 in the heart of the Short North Arts District. And by every measure, it was a smash success. Over 5,000 guests showed up, touring High Street, cameras in hand, to experience dozens of public art installations and scores of live art performances. The Columbus Dispatch enthusiastically proclaimed: “Bohemians on the Loose!” A panel of judges toured the event bestowing special commendations to the art installations that impressed them the most. The panel consisted of Juli Rogers (owner of r design & printing and president of the Short North Business Association), Melissa Starker (Columbus alive!), Michelle Brandt (Kathryn Gallery), and Melissa Vogley Woods (Stitch in a Ditch). With so many well-executed installations, the judges debated vigorously over the merits of each. Ultimately, a striking mural installed on the sidewall of Betty’s Fine Food + Spirit in Brickel Alley was crowned “Best of Show.” The study on the dwindling population of honey bees in the U.S. was created on site by Ben LaPlaca, Clint Davidson and Scott Williams. The piece (pictured) wowed the judges with its beauty, form and message. “The color palette is the first thing I noticed. It’s absolutely striking,” commented Melissa Starker. “I was amazed by the way they combined a truly beautiful piece of work with a timely political issue,” observed Melissa Vogley Wood. “It’s perfect for the Short North. I hope it can remain on display for an extended period,” added Juli Rogers. The artists will
CATCO. Theirs was a very public relationship. They were together for 50 years until Howard died in 2001. For some in their wide circle of friends and acquaintances, Fred and Howard were the first same sex couple they had ever met. Their example surely influenced the political and business community in both their attitudes and actions in the LGBT community. Columbus is a better city because of Fred and Howard. Their legacy of creativity, compassion and commitment is significant. The Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation is proud to honor the legacy of Fred Holdridge and Howard Burns. Please join us on Tuesday, September 9 at the Garden Pavilion at Franklin Park Conservatory for The Legacy Fund Honors tribute event honoring Fred and Howard. Reception begins at 6:00pm. Tickets are $25 and are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Sincerely, Lynn Greer & Bill Brownson Legacy Fund Board Co-Chairs
receive $100 in cash and over $200 in gift certificates donated by area businesses. To view the complete roster of award recipients along with over 100 images of the works, visit shortnorth.org. To share your thoughts on the event, visit the new Short North Blog at shortnorthblog.com. The Short North Arts District extends a hardy congratulations to all the artists, performers, volunteers, and sponsors who helped christen the inaugural Art al Fresco. “We really loved the pure focus on the art and the artists,” shared Mark Wood of the Wood Companies, presenting sponsor of the event. “That focus is at the heart of the Short North.”
couples is unconstitutional. In March 2008, 15 friend-of-the-court briefs were filed supporting same-sex couples seeking the right to marry, and the right of their children to have the protection and support of married parents. Those briefs were signed by hundreds of Iowans including former Lieutenant Governors Joy Corning and Sally Pederson. To learn more about the briefs visit: http://www.lambdalegal.org/news/pr/iowa-amicusfiling.html. The final decision in this case will be made by the Iowa Supreme Court. The parties in the case are awaiting an oral argument date to be set by the Iowa Supreme Court. The Iowa case is: Varnum v. Brien Camilla Taylor, Senior Staff Attorney and Kenneth Upton, Senior Staff Attorney are handling the case for Lambda Legal. They are joined by former Iowa Solicitor General Dennis Johnson of Dorsey and Whitney in Des Moines.
IOWA’S MARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLE CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR OF MARRIAGE ON THE ANNIVERSARY INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM AT OF LAMBDA LEGAL’S VICTORY CONG. TIFERETH ISRAEL
August 30 will mark the one year anniversary of the first marriage of a same-sex couple in Iowa after Lambda Legal’s victory in which a district court ruled that barring same-sex couples from marriage is unconstitutional. “ We congratulate Tim and Sean on their first year of marriage,” said Camilla Taylor, Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Midwest Regional Office in Chicago and lead attorney on the marriage lawsuit in Iowa. “We hope that all same-sex couples in Iowa who would like to marry will be able soon to enjoy the same wedded bliss and security that Tim and Sean have.” “We can’t believe it’s been a year already. It has been amazing, and while we knew before we were married that we were committed to each other, actually being married feels different —- it is a special commitment,” said Tim and Sean McQuillan. “We hope other same-sex couples in Iowa are allowed to experience the transformations that only marriage can bring to a relationship.” In December 2005, Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit with the Polk County Court on behalf of six same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in Iowa, arguing that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates the liberty and equality guarantees in the Iowa State Constitution. In August of 2007 the district court ruled that denying marriage to same-sex
Beginning, Sunday, September 14, 11:15a12:45p, at 1354 E Broad St, Columbus’ most comprehensive and dynamic course on Basic Judaism will be taught by Rabbi Michael Ungar. The class meets on Sundays throughout the year for a total of 27 sessions. If you are Jewish but know little about your heritage or were a Hebrew School dropout, if you are not Jewish but are interested in learning more, or if you are considering conversion to Judaism this class is for you! This course covers: Jewish theology and philosophy, literature, history, holidays and observance and more. Tuition and fees also cover numerous special events during the year and a beginning Judaica library. For more information or to enroll, contact Rabbi Michael Ungar at 614.253.8523 or mungar@tiferethisrael.org. Michael Ungar has been a rabbi at Cong. Tifereth Israel since 2002. He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, and received a MA in Holocaust Education. He is called upon in the Jewish and non-Jewish community to give presentations on topics as varied as Holocaust Education, Jewish End of Life Issues and Basic Judaism.
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 7
AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
8 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
SPORTS
CLG SA W
YEAH US
INS 2010 WORLD
!
S E i R SE
D! I B
!
More info next week! Congrats everyone!
Labor of Love Volleyball Classic 16: SHUT UP AND DRIVE August 30-31, 2008 Tournament Information All NAGVA rules and regulations will take precedent for the Labor of Love Volleyball Classic 16. Absolutely NO TEAMS allowed to play their first game until registration is complete; including signed waiver by each player, tournament and NAGVA fees. FINAL REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO 8a ON SATURDAY or before you play your first match. All players must compete during Saturday’s pool play to be eligible for tournament play on Sunday. The facility this year is the Sports Barn (3599 Chiller Lan) which is located in the Easton area (east side) of town. Easton includes numerous shops and restaurants from Nordstrom to the Cheesecake Factory. It is only 5-10 minutes from the host hotel Ramada Plaza(4900 Sinclair Rd 43229) and will be easy to get to and there is also plenty of free parking! For more info on Easton Towne Center, please visit www.eastontowncenter.com. The Sports Barn will have concessions available both days and there are also plenty of fast food restaurants in Easton. If you do bring a cooler, you will need to leave it in your car or on the grass outside of the facility. NO COOLERS are permitted inside of the Sports Barn. We plan to have massage therapists on hand both days again this year and will be working for tips so please tip graciously! More info and confirmation will be available soon! Referees Each team is responsible for the full officiating crew for pool play matches on Saturday. If you do not have a NAGVA Certified Ref, your team will pay $40 (cash) per match for one to fill in as the 1st Referee. There will be an attempt to supply USAV officials for all tournament games on Sunday. For those of you seeking to renew or take the test for the first time, it is now available online to take. Please email Jonathan at officials@nagva.org to take your test! There will be no clinic at the tournament! Scorekeepers You may not know that NAGVA now requires each team to provide a certified scorekeeper. If you do not have a NAGVA Certified Scorekeeper, your team will AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
pay $40 (cash) per match including Sunday. For those of you seeking to renew or take the test for the first time, it is now available online to take. Please email Jonathan at officials@nagva.org to take your test! There will be no clinic at the tournament! Awards Teams awards and individual awards will be given out for 1st, 2nd & 3rd places. Five all-star awards and one MVP award will be handed out for each division. All awards will be handed out at the banquet on Sunday night at the Ramada Plaza (host hotel). For more info: www.columbusvolleyball.org/CAVE
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE Friday, August 29, 2008 4p - 6p
Hospitality Suite Open (Suite 151 at Ramada Plaza) 7p - 10p Registration - Ramada Plaza 9p Captain’s Meeting - Ramada Plaza (Hospitality Suite - Suite 151) Saturday, August 30, 2008 7:30a 7:45a 8a - 4p 5p - 9p 10p
Sports Barn Opens/Late Registration Captain’s Meeting at Sports Barn Pool Play - all divisions Hospitality Suite Open (Suite 151 at Ramada Plaza) Official Seeding Party @ Tradewinds (Seedings also posted at Ramada Plaza)
Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:30a 8a 3p - 7p 7p 8p 11p
Sports Barn Opens Tournament Play and Championships Hospitality Suite Open (Suite 151 at Ramada Plaza) Cocktail Hour - Ramada Plaza Banquet/Awards/Entertainment Ramada Plaza Official Closing Party @ Axis (775 N High St)
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 9
TRANSNATION by Jacob Anderson-Minshall
Circus Amok No Freak Show The classic American side show relied on exploiting racial and anatomical differences of its performers for the edification and entertainment of a white audience; while also demarcating the socially sanctioned line between ‘normal’ and ‘freak.’ A former sideshow performer, Jennifer Miller has mixed feelings about sideshows, which she contends were racist and have “a horrible history of marginalizing and freak-a-fying.” When she was performing with the Coney Island Sideshow in the 1980s, Miller says, “People went who would never go to the theater, who would never see a post-modern exposé on gender. I’d turn the thing upside down and go into a feminist rant and juggle knifes. But; there was always a banner on the outside that said ‘Bearded Lady’ - and that I hated; that [I] was part of the freak show.” Miller began growing a full beard in her twenties. Not interested in a cure, she doesn’t know - nor care - what sparked the growth. She’s also not interested in pinning down her gender identity, but she does have preferred pronouns. “I’m she. Pronoun: I can choose; we all know what’s comfortable. Gender: god knows! I don’t know what that means anymore! Although I am a woman with a beard, I don’t really identify as trans. I see that I transgress traditional gender signifiers; but I think the relationship of my beard to my gender identity is minimal.” Even before she grew her beard, Miller acted in high school plays, and learned juggling and clowning. At 17 she left home and quickly became involved in New York’s downtown dance scene. Later, Miller performed as a a bearded woman, juggler, and fire eater with several circus companies. In 1989, she founded her own, Circus Amok, which tours the parks and community gardens of the five burroughs. “It’s a one ring, no animal, political, queerly situated, free circus extravaganza! Each year we have a different social justice, political theme. This year, we’re talking about predatory lending and the mortgage crisis and the racist
history of credit exploitation; and we’re also talking about the particle accelerator.” The focus of the documentary, Juggling Gender, Miller has received numerous awards including the Obie, Bessie, and the Ethyl Eichelberger Award. Formerly with UCLA, Cal Arts, Scripps College and NYU, Miller currently teaches at the Pratt Institute. Women with beards fascinate society, Miller suggests, “because they…straddle gender boundaries; so it’s mysterious and confounding.” Recognizing that bearded women share similar issues with the transgender community, Miller contends, “In the interactive parts of our experiences, we share an immense amount. We [both] confuse our viewers, the people who we meet, our others. We confuse the people around us - unless we’re passing as one thing or another. Our effect on culture is [also] very similar…stirring up the culture around us and saying, ‘Women don’t look just like this and men don’t look just like that.’” “Who wants to walk into a bathroom and hear women shriek?” Miller asks, explaining another element of commonality with the trans community: a simple bodily function can be fraught with anxiety. “It’s not that I care that [women] get upset, I just don’t want to deal with their eruptions!” Miller says she frequently uses the men’s room, although she doesn’t feel entirely comfortable dong so. “It’s just easier. I pass in the men’s bathroom. But, if I’m in a comfortable place, where I’m known… I use the women’s.” Circus Amok (circusamok.org) is planning a wider touring program in the next year or so, but in the meantime, they will be performing at a different New York park every day in September. Tune in to Portland, Oregon’s KBOO radio, August 26th 6-6:30p PST as trans writer Jacob Anderson-Minshall (jake@trans-nation.org) joins Trannywreck Radio’s Rebecca Nay to co-host the pilot episode of their new radio show, Gender Blender, streaming live at KBOO.fm. © 2008 Jacob Anderson-Minshall
AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
10 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 11
COMMENTARY by Mickey Weems
THE SURGE IS WORKING! (FOR CHINA AND IRAN)
I heard the good news a couple of days ago: we are winning the war in Iraq. There’s even an ad featuring US war veterans (or maybe actors pretending to be US veterans, I’m not sure) that is giving the nation the good news. Yay! But I’ve also heard Prime Minister Maliki call for the US to get out of Iraq as soon as possible. And then the press released a statement by Maliki that he likes Obama’s timetable for withdrawal. The US government quickly stated that Maliki didn’t mean what he said about Obama. This didn’t stop the Iraqi government from demanding a timetable for withdrawal. Not a hypothetical “time horizon” that Bush talks about, but a timetable, like what we use for buses, subways. Except that for the Neo-Cons, a timetable for Iraq equals surrender, not arriving at a destination in a timely manner. We must ask ourselves: what does our government, the same government that stood with the president on an aircraft carrier in front of a banner with the slogan, “Mission Accomplished,” mean when it says the surge is working? Well, levels of violence have fallen. Iraq has been able to open another oil refinery, and perhaps oil production will go from half to two-thirds of what it was before the invasion. An airport has opened. Some neighborhoods are safe. Reality check, please But at what cost? The now-safe neighborhoods are separated from each other by force. Baghdad is under lock-down. All for the low, low price of 8 billion dollars a month! Over a million Iraqis have died because of the invasion. There is a catastrophic loss of rights for Christians, women, and Gays (yes, all 3 groups had more freedom under Saddam Hussein before Operation Iraqi Freedom). The best we can do is turn the country into a giant cell block. Iraqis have learned to fear our soldiers, hate our mercenaries, and not believe a word of what our spokespeople say. Our allies have pretty much gotten the hell out. Britain’s force, for example, is down to a tenth of what it was, and that fraction will be gone in a year. The good thing is the various factions in Iraq
are learning to get along, at least for now. This gives them the chance to tell us to get out and leave them to their own affairs. When America’s puppet dictator, Maliki, who desperately needs us to stay in power (and probably to simply stay alive) tells us we need to leave as soon as possible, there’s no hiding the fact that the US invasion was a mistake. The surge is working, but not for the goals for which we invaded Iraq in the first place: cheap oil, US bases in Iraq, and the necessary stepping-stone for the invasion of Iran. If cheap oil means the price has jumped to 5 times what it was before the war, then, wow, we are living large. At this point, we will have no future bases in Iraq besides maybe (and this is a big maybe) in Kurdistan, a nation in everything but name that pretends to be a part of Iraq as a matter of convenience. Watch and see: oil profits will not go to paying us back for an invasion that Iraqis didn’t want in the first place. But some of the oil profits may go to China. Spectacular Failure By any standard we’d like to use from an administration whose long-term goal for Iraq included wholesale conversion of Iraqis to Christian-based democratic principles, more oil and gas at cheaper prices, and military bases across the country, Iraq is a total, spectacular failure. Because of the invasion, Iran has gained major prestige and more influence in Iraq, a country that was its enemy when Saddam was in charge. Recently, the president of Iran made a scheduled visit to Iraq, something that was unthinkable before the US invasion. Unlike Bush and Cheney, Ahmedinejad announced his visit well in advance. What makes things worse is that the deaths of thousands of American soldiers, and the known disabilities that over 300,000 soldiers have suffered (yes, over 300,000 of them), are paraded before us as a reason for staying so that their suffering would not be in vain, which perversely would create even more disabled veterans. But China now has a billion-dollar-plus deal for
drilling oil with the Iraqi government. It’s good to know our troops aren’t fighting and dying for nothing. Only 3 things that Bush actually stands for have been accomplished: the illegal pre-dawn execution of Saddam Hussein, some success in kicking out newly-formed branches of Al-Qaeda that arose in response to the fall of Saddam Hussein (who despised Al Qaeda and didn’t allow it to flourish in his country before we barged in), and greater oppression of Gay folks. Recently, American soldiers in Iraq have obliquely voiced their disapproval of the war the only way they could without committing treason. It is against military law to criticize one’s superior officers, including the president and vice president. So our boys and girls in uniform have instead expressed enthusiasm for the chance to leave Iraq and fight in Afghanistan. This doesn’t count, of course the paid actors (war veterans and otherwise) who are in the ads on TV, telling us the surge is working, for us to stay the course and finish the job, a job that has never been completely spelled out for them, other than “fight terror.” Cutting And Running as Sound Policy If getting out of Iraq means cutting and running, so be it. Reagan cut and ran in Lebanon after terrorists blew up a US Marine barracks there. He realized it would do no good to put our people in harm’s way just so we could act like bad-asses. Besides, would you trust the policies of two known cowards when it comes to the lives of our soldiers? Bush and Cheney cut and ran during 9/11, and it wasn’t to save any American lives other than their own. When the planes started hitting, those two boys started hiding. They resurfaced after all planes were safely grounded, the chicken-shits. You’d best believe if George Junior and his sidekick Dick knew their sorry butts would be sent on patrol in Anbar Province in the near future, we’d be out in no time. Unlike our troops, the president and vice president sneak in and out of Iraq like thieves in the night.
I have absolutely no respect for either of them. When Michelle Obama said she was once again proud to be an American, I completely agreed with her. Bush and Cheney had effectively spearheaded a movement that undermined US moral authority at home and abroad. When our people finally stood up, went to the polls, and shouted their disapproval so loudly that rigged voting machines and unscrupulous secretaries of state in Ohio, Florida, and elsewhere couldn’t silence them as they had in the past, I finally felt proud to be American. I had spent far too many years ashamed of this government’s promotion of torture, curtailing of American civil liberties, complete disregard for international rule of law, and anti-Gay rhetoric. Not to mention cringing whenever I hear Bush speak, especially when he is overseas. The sooner we as Republicans realize how harmful the current administration is, how deceitful its representatives are, and how stupid we were for supporting them, the better off the nation will be. The sooner we as Democrats realize many of our own senators and representatives voted for the war despite overwhelming evidence that the president and vice president were lying, that our party’s hands may be less obviously filthy than our Republican siblings, but that they still have dirt and blood on them, the sooner we can get ourselves back on track. Speaking of scumbags: it was tragic to hear that Tony Snow and Jesse Helms died before publicly admitting their many sins against their own people. Neither man was repentant for the damage they caused the nation. As a nation, we should neither honor nor imitate either man. Like Bush and Cheney, they were traitors to their country, their consciences, and humanity. Give Iraq back to the Iraqis. If they want a bloodbath, let them have it. Only about 150 years ago, we had our own civil war, and we resented any outsiders that tried to interfere with our strong patriotic desire to kill each other. And we learned, all the way down to our bone marrow, that civil war was not an acceptable course. But we had to learn it on our own. AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
12 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 13
INSIGHTOUT by Regina Sewell
The Gaps Between Suffering is the itch we feel when we let ourselves fall into the gap between what is and what we want. Pain is inevitable. Suffering is a choice. (yoga expression) It’s August and I’m packing for a trip to Texas with a heavy heart. My mother has dementia and it’s progressing at breakneck speed. For awhile, her dementia manifested as a break in her short term memory. She would tell the same story and ask the same questions over and over and over. I staved off the tears by joking that talking to her was like talking to a pothead. But now the holes in her memory have grown. And her ability to navigate her world is also leaving. She gets lost on the way to the library and grocery store, places she used to go on a weekly basis. Even her long-term memory is fading. She struggles to remember the names of old friends and relatives. Sometimes she even has a hard time recalling my name. And it’s not just her memory that’s gone. Her vibrancy seems to have escaped as well. She was always on the move. Someone would call and say, “Hey, you wanna go to Canada next week,” and she’d say, “Yes! When are we leaving?” Visiting her used to be exhausting because I had to work so hard to keep up with her. Now, she spends her days in her reclining chair, reading the paper and napping with the cat. She rarely does anything or goes anywhere unless someone comes to pick her up. It’s as if the executive director of her mind-body system took the elevator up to the top floor, propped her feet on a spacious mahogany desk and took a nap. My heart can barely hold the pain I feel
when I think about her. The sadness in her voice when she can’t remember things quakes me to my core. I imagine how frustrated, frightened and vulnerable I would feel were I in her shoes. I want to save her, to say or do something, anything, to ease her pain. And there is nothing I can do but be present to her process and watch her fade away, one memory at a time. The process of bearing witness is all the harder because I haven’t let go of the hope that she could magically say or do something to make me whole. All my life, I longed to feel connected to her, to feel unconditional love streaming from her to me, to really feel that I was part of the tribe that is my family. I was the very tan sheep in a very white family and I think that if my mother had had a wish for me, it would have been, “May she be ‘normal.’” And ‘normal’ never fit. I was a loner who loved to read. I loved riding bikes, playing softball and building forts with my boy friends. But when it came to playing Dr., I always chose girls to play with. For years, I avoided coming out because I was so afraid that she would reject me. When I finally did come out, in my late 20’s, we navigated around the issue in a haze of “Don’t ask. Don’t Tell.” She pretended that my partner was my roommate and I didn’t press the issue much for fear of rocking the boat. For almost 20 years I have assuaged this pain by living several states away. Mind you, I pay a price for this “safety zone.” To live in the Yankee hinterland is an unfathomable choice for a native Texan. It’s as if I was born with a homing device that continually tries to beep me back home. And yet, when I do go home, the pain of not fitting in pushes me back to the safety that all those states in between me
and Texas provides. The result of this tug of war is sense of spiritual homelessness. The sages tell me that the real problem lies in my illusion that her inability to fully accept my uniqueness somehow makes me less than whole. This leads to the fantasy that if only she could love me unconditionally, I would be fine. My suffering, they say, is a choice because rather than accepting reality as it is, I cling to the fantasy of what I wish were reality. Mind you, somewhere in my brain, I feel great compassion for her because I understand that her inability to accept my vibrant, multicolored and unique self is not about me at all. It’s about her own deep rooted fear of not fitting in. But there is great truth to the notion that the greatest distance is the distance between the head and the heart. This distance makes a road trip back to Texas seem like a drive across town. The sages also say that the more you try to avoid your suffering, the bigger you make it. The answer, it seems, is to keep company with your suffering, to hold that wounded child within in the lap of compassion until the tears finally clear out all the pain. All those tears, they say, will create the space you need to connect with the higher level truth that you are whole and have always been so. Such an easy task on paper, and yet, in reality, keeping company with suffering is profoundly difficult. The Zen Buddhists have a saying, “Leap and the net will appear.” It occurs to me that I am much more likely to leap when the building is burning down around me. I know that in those moments when I finally have surrendered to my pain and let my tears flow, my pain subsided. I also know that every time I have surrendered to the grieving process in the
past, something has shifted in me and I have become more whole. In the midst of this pain, it’s hard to remember what it’s like to not feel pain. At the same time, the flames are getting harder to ignore. So as I pack, I am preparing to leap. The map I carry in the form of words from artists and mystics who have ridden through their own suffering adds to my burgeoning confidence that I’ll land safely. Here are some of the more helpful words I’ve read of late. When the Japanese mend broken objects they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold, because they believe that when something’s suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful. (Barbara Bloom) “The deeper sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain.” ~ Kahlil Gibran “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” (Pierre-Auguste Renoir) Perhaps when I emerge on the other side I too will carve a map for intrepid journeyers to follow. Regina Sewell is a mental health counselor with a private practice in Worthington, OH. To ask a question, propose a column topic, read about her approach to counseling, or check out her books and other writing, go to: www.ReginaSewell.com.
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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 15
OUT BUSINESS NEWS BORROWING FROM RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS A COSTLY MISTAKE By Jason Alderman The current housing crisis and other economic woes are taking their toll on people’s wallets. Caught between escalating mortgage payments and rising fuel and food costs, many folks are having difficulty paying their bills. Not so long ago, some people probably would’ve just taken out a home equity loan, but with property values plummeting, their equity may already be exhausted – not to mention, those loans are now harder to get. Which leads me to cite a disturbing behavior that’s on the rise: Tapping long–term retirement savings accounts to pay short– term bills. Loans and withdrawals from 401(k) plans, IRAs and other tax–sheltered plans are allowed in many cases but the financial consequences can be extremely costly, because of taxes, penalties and lost investment income. Here are a few cautions to consider before raiding your nest egg: 401(k) loans. Many employer–sponsored 401(k) retirement plans let participants borrow from their account to buy a home, pay for education or medical expenses or for certain other reasons. Usually you must pay back the loan within five years (sometimes the timeframe is longer for home pur-
REGENT MEDIA COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF PLANETOUT’S MAGAZINE, ONLINE AND BOOK PUBLISHING BUSINESSES Stephen P. Jarchow and Paul Colichman, Chairman and President of Regent Media, announced their company has completed the acquisition of PlanetOut’s publishing properties. The properties include PlanetOut’s two flagship brands: The Advocate, the world’s leading LGBT news source, and Out, the world’s leading LGBT fashion and style source. Additionally, Regent Media purchased The Out Traveler, the world’s leading LGBT travel source, and Alyson Books, the world’s leading LGBT book publisher. The brand’s corresponding web properties – advocate.com, out.com, outtraveler.com and Alyson.com - were also included in Regent Media’s acquisition. “Regent Media now owns the best-known and most respected brands in the gay and lesbian marketplace. Our brands signify the highest quality content for the LGBT community via television, magazines, books and the web,” said Jarchow and Colichman. “These seminal properties will continue to document and to enrich the culture and history of our nation.” The Regent Media brands now include: here! Networks, heretv.com, here! Films, here! Home Entertainment, here! Tunes, The Advocate, advocate.com, Out, out.com, The Out Traveler, outtraveler.com, HIV Plus, hivplusmag.com, Alyson Books, alyson.com and Gaywired Media, which encompasses entertainment and lifestyle sites gaywired.com, shewired.com and gaysports.com.
As part of the ongoing re-launch of advocate.com, The Advocate news team will cover the Democratic National Convention (DNC) with its inaugural video news broadcasts. Advocate.com’s DNC news team includes veteran broadcast journalist James Hattori, as well as The Advocate news editors Kerry Eleveld and Sean Kennedy. Hattori is best known for his work as a senior correspondent with CBS, NBC and CNN. “Advocate.com will proudly provide a unique perspective on the events of the DNC,” said Jon Barrett, Editor in Chief of The Advocate and advocate.com. “No other organization can serve our community with such an extraordinary level of resources and experience. Simply put, we are the best team in gay news.” Colichman and Jarchow jointly supervise the various divisions of Regent Media. Through their companies they have produced such films as the Academy Award-winning Gods & Monsters and Academy Award-nominated Tom & Viv. Their original television series include the entire here! production slate: Dante’s Cove, Paradise Falls, The Lair, The Donald Strachey Mysteries, The DL Chronicles and the annual Ribbon of Hope Celebration. For more information on Regent Media and its brands, log on to www.regentmedia.com.
SAVE THE DATE FOR NGLCC’S CONGRESSIONAL ADVOCACY DAY Mark your calendars for the NGLCC’s First Annual Congressional Advocacy Day! The event will take place on Thursday, November 6, in Washington, D.C. in advance of the 2008 NGLCC National Dinner on Friday, November 7.
chases). However, if you miss payments or leave your job, you must pay off the loan immediately (usually within 30 to 90 days) or you’ll owe income tax on the remainder – as well as a 10 percent early distribution penalty if you’re under 59 ½. That 10 percent penalty could quickly erase any investment gains your account might have earned. Another potential downside to 401(k) loans: Because you would now have a loan payment, you might be tempted to reduce your monthly contribution amount, thereby reducing your potential long–term account balance and earnings. 401(k) plan and IRA withdrawals. Some 401(k) plans also allow hardship withdrawals to pay for certain medical or higher education expenses, funerals, buying or repairing your home or to prevent eviction or foreclosure. You’ll owe income tax on the withdrawal – and often the 10 percent penalty as well. Unlike employer plans, traditional IRAs let you withdraw from your account at any time for any reason. However, you will be subject to income tax on the withdrawal – and usually the 10 percent penalty as well. With Roth IRAs, you can withdraw the money you’ve contributed at any time, since it’s already been taxed. However, if you withdraw the interest earnings before 59 ½,
Congressional Advocacy Day is a unique opportunity to lobby members of Congress on the issues that affect your business. You will be briefed on the Chamber’s top legislative issues in the morning, then attend meetings on Capitol Hill with your senators and representatives and/or their staff to present the concerns and positions important to the LGBT business community. As a part of the morning briefing, NGLCC will prepare you with background information and talking points on the issues, as well as tips on effective lobbying - everything you need to make your meetings on Capitol Hill a success. NGLCC staff will make all necessary arrangements for you to meet with your members of Congress and/or their aides. Keep an eye out for more updates on Congressional Advocacy Day between now and November.
IRS E-NEWS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: A TIME SAVER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE SELF-EMPLOYED Keeping up with federal tax requirements is not always easy in today’s fast-changing business environment. Even if small businesses and the self-employed use a tax professional’s services, they still need to know and understand their tax responsibilities. That’s why the IRS is working to provide businesspeople with timely information to help them understand and meet their tax obligations. IRS e-News for Small Businesses offers small
you’ll face that 10 percent penalty. Further tax implications. Note that with 401(k) and traditional IRA withdrawals, the money is added to your taxable income for the year, which could bump you into a higher tax bracket or even jeopardize certain tax credits, deductions and exemptions that are tied to your adjusted gross income. All told, you could end up paying half or more of your withdrawal in taxes and penalties. Compound earnings. Finally, if you borrow or withdraw your retirement savings, you’ll lose out on the power of compounding, where interest earned on your savings is reinvested and in turn generates more earnings. You’ll lose out on any gains those funds would have earned for you, which over a couple of decades could add up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income. Bottom line: Think long and hard before tapping your retirement savings for anything other than retirement itself. If that’s your only recourse, be sure to consult a financial professional about the tax implications; if you don’t know one, www.plannersearch.org is a good place to start your search. Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. Sign up for his free monthly e-Newsletter at www.practicalmoneyskills.com/newsletter.
businesses and the self-employed a real time-saver. e-News is a bi-weekly newsletter that alerts them to what’s new, hot and important for small business owners to know. It’s quick to read, easy to subscribe – and it’s free. e-News for Small Businesses is the IRS’s enewsletter for businesses with specialized content consisting of: • Important upcoming tax dates for small businesses • What’s new for small businesses on IRS.gov • Reminders and tips to assist small businesses with tax compliance • RS news releases and special IRS announcements • Direct links to a variety of Web sites and resources • Availability of IRS products, services, and training opportunities Businesspeople may also want to take a look at other IRS e-newsletters: • IRS Tax Tips – tax information via e-mail from the IRS daily during the tax-filing season and periodically the rest of the year • Retirement News for Employers – information about current developments and upcoming events within the retirement plan arena; issued periodically during the year. Subscribe to e-News for Small Businesses on IRS.gov at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=154825,00.html or other IRS e-newsletters at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/content/ 0,,id=103381,00.html, click on the newsletter title, click on “Subscribe Now” and enter your e-mail address. AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
16 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
FEATURE STORY by Michael Daniels
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. – Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Communities
Whether you are inside or outside of the GLBT community, it is often easy to fall into the trap of believing that the community itself is homogenous – economically and philosophically. But such is not the case. The conventional wisdom is that gays and lesbians are better educated, wealthier, have higher disposable incomes, and own homes in more affluent or gentrified communities – and a superficial analysis of the community bears that out. But a more in depth analysis of the community’s demographics reveals some deep disparities. Using survey and demographic data compiled by The Media Audit (Oct 07-Apr 08), an independent demographic survey organization, I set out to get a more accurate description of the central Ohio queer community, and to correlate how a lack of equality legislation and policies contributes to these disparities. Ed Note: It is important to point out that statistics from The Media Audit cannot unequivocally be broken down by sexual orientation – that specific question is not asked as part of their survey. However, it is possible to compare male Outlook readers to female Outlook readers. We readily, and proudly, acknowledge that not all Outlook readers are gay or lesbian, but it is logical and instructive to assume that Outlook readers are representative and reflective of the gay and lesbian communities. Queer Cash It is true that national statistics regarding queer purchasing power are growing, but the experts caution that these data should be taken in perspective. GLBT buying power is on the rise, agrees Bob Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs, a gay-owned marketing and communications firm. In a 2006 interview with MetroWeekly, Witeck said, “There are more people every year, so buying power goes up nationally, and every year there are more of us GLBT people – AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
more of us come out” and are therefore counted in GLBT survey results. In the same MetroWeekly article, Per Larson, the author of 1997’s seminal financial guide Gay Money, points out that for the queer community, discretionary income varies wildly depending on stage of life. “In our 20s,” he said, “we have a considerable amount of discretionary income. In our 30s, we do all right. In our 40s and 50s the ‘lavender ceiling’ is very much alive and kicking.” Larson also notes that our opponents on the far right often try to portray us as extremely wealthy, and therefore not in need of civil rights protections and equality legislation. Glass Ceilings, Pink Ceilings
For decades, organizations such as the National Committee on Pay Equity have tracked national statistics on the topic of equal pay for equal work. NCPE’s 2006 analysis of US Census Bureau data show that women make 77¢ for every $1 made by men. In the queer community, this pay equity divide is even more pronounced. Media Audit data confirm what we at Outlook have been saying for years – the average income of an Outlook reader is just above $72,000. But the gender breakdown is striking. The average male Outlook reader earns approximately $103,640; the average female Outlook reader $49,910. This means that, in the queer community, women make 48¢ for every $1 made by men. This disparity has many components. Outlook men are far more likely to be white-collar workers, professionals, or technicians (73.4%) than Outlook women (34.2%). This difference cannot be attributed to education level – both Outlook men (25%) and women (26%) hold at least one college degree, and another 60-70% of each gender are high
school graduates and/or have attended some college. It then becomes evident that Outlook women, like women in general, face the glass ceiling of hiring, promotions, and breaking into professional careers. Comparing Outlook readers to the community at large, Outlook men earn $1.49 for every $1 earned by men in general, while Outlook women earn 88¢ for every $1 earned by women in general. Outlook blue-collar workers of either gender tend to make less than their counterparts at large.
Employed, Underemployed, and Unhappily Employed If you don’t think being queer impacts job status, ponder this. 67% of Outlook readers have attended college or hold a degree. About average for central Ohio. 93% are employed, 7% are unemployed. Again, about average. (Sad, but true. Ohio unemployment stands at 7.2%.) But Outlook readers are over 3 times more likely to regularly read employment classifieds in print and online. On any given weekend, more than 30% of the queer community is searching for a new job. Nearly one in three. That statistic alone is staggering. Why the mass job search? In the book The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave, author Leigh Branham highlights the most commonly-cited reasons employees leave their jobs. The first three of these reasons are universal: • The Job or Workplace Was Not as Expected; • The Mismatch Between Job and Person; • Too Little Coaching and Feedback. The other four reasons may hit queer workers harder than most: • Too Few Growth and Advancement Opportunities – is there a pink or lavender ceiling at the company,
a point past which queer workers cannot or will not be promoted or recognized? • Feeling Devalued And Unrecognized – does the employer have a non-discrimination policy? Is it safe to be “out” at work? • Stress From Overwork and Work-Life Imbalance – can the employee take time off to care for a sick partner? Is the partner welcome at company events? • Loss of Trust and Confidence in Senior Leader – does the boss tell anti-queer jokes? Does corporate leadership respect and value alternative families? This lack of job satisfaction also leads Outlook readers to be more than 2.5 times more likely to be planning to take more college-level courses in the next year, with over 34% of our readers planning to go back to school. The Need for ENDA According to a study published in the Journal of Labor Research, and reported by TIME magazine (Oct 25, 2007), “Gay men who live together earn 23% less than married men, and 9% less than unmarried heterosexual men who live with a woman. Discrimination is most pronounced in management and blue-collar, male-dominated occupations such as building and grounds cleaning and maintenance, construction and extraction, and production.” The study’s authors go on to say, “Employers may disapprove of gay lifestyles and act on this bias in making [employment] decisions … [and] discrimination may occur as a result of anti-gay attitudes associated with AIDS and misunderstanding as to how HIV is transmitted.” The critical need for an Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that is inclusive of both sexual orientation and gender expression is obvious. It should be a criminal act for an employer to discrim-
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FEATURE STORY continued
inate in hiring, promotion, or pay scale for any employee based on any criterion other than job performance. The Ohio General Assembly and the US Congress should act immediately upon convening their new sessions in 2009 to pass comprehensive ENDA legislation. Little Pink Houses
before, and will again and again and again. Just not in this article. What is perhaps surprising from the Media Audit numbers is that only 17% of Outlook readers say they are in a two-income family versus 30% of all residents. Again, due to the nearly impossible survey definitions of family and household, it is ill advised to make major pronouncements on what these numbers mean.
Outlook readers live all over central Ohio. Approximately 66% own their own home – slightly lower … With Children than the average of 74% for all residents. 30% rent, compared to 23% of all residents. On the surface, Nearly 1/3 (32%) of Outlook readers have chilthese numbers are not strange. dren at home versus 46% of all residents. Gay and What is unexpected is that Outlook readers are lesbian parents are everywhere, and this demo66% more likely to have moved to their new apartgraphic is fast growing. No data exist to tell us if ment within the last year, and that statistic has held these are biological or foster/adoptive children, but constant for nearly three years. it really doesn’t matter. Queers have kids. A lack of housing discrimination protections may The need for domestic partner and insurance account for this high frequency of ‘apartment hopbenefits is magnified given these numbers. Regardping.’ Queer renters are more likely to be harassed less of what one thinks of gay partners, no one can by their neighbors or, in some cases, their landlords. argue that children – all children – should be withWith no sexual orientation/gender expression protec- out healthcare and insurance. tions on the books at the state or local level, these Legislation regarding same-sex couple adoprenters may feel they have no choice tions, dual-parent adoptions, co-parbut to move. enting agreements, and the office State-level State-level housing non-disof the probate judge are all critical housing non-discrimination legislation, and state issues for Outlook families with crimination legislation, children. We have covered many of and federal hate crimes and intimidation legislation are the only and state and federal these topics in our issues on queer mechanism for preventing antihate crimes and intimi- parenting and adoption and will do queer housing discrimination and so again. But the importance of dation legislation are harassment, and, like a comprefair, comprehensive, and non-disthe only mechanism for criminatory parenting rights must hensive ENDA, should be enacted preventing anti-queer be addressed, and any effort to bar immediately. housing discrimination same-sex or queer people from fosMary Jo ≠ Coverage tering or adopting children must be and harassment combated with vigor. Outlook readers continue to lag behind in insurance coverage. While 73% of central Heterogeneous Homosexuals Ohio residents report having some type of coverage, only 66% of the queer community has insurance. In summary, the queer community – the Outlook These numbers are similar for men (72% vs 62%) community – is a vibrant, important, dynamic, politand women (74% vs 69%). This disparity can be di- ical and economic force. We are made up of the rectly attributed to the inability of most employees to wealthy and the poor, the haves and the have nots, add their domestic partners to their insurance polithe blue collar and the white collar and the green cies. Not even Outlook Media employees can add collar. We are single and partnered, with and withtheir partners – we simply cannot find a carrier who out kids. We are white, black, and brown. We are offers the option! As a community, we must conunited. But we are not all the same. We deserve to tinue to put pressure on insurance carriers to offer be treated fairly and equally, both as a community partner benefits – especially carriers who service and as individuals. small to mid-size companies. And we must continue ENDA, housing equality, partner benefits, parentto praise and encourage those employers that do ing equality, marriage … these issues are now the offer partner benefits to champion those programs challenges where we must continue our campaign to their professional colleagues and associations. and demand our equality. As Mahatma Gandhi said of a winning strategy of Not Married … activism, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” We’ve been Whenever GLBT folks are surveyed and the quesignored and laughed at. We are currently being action of marital status is asked, the numbers are intively fought. We are less than a decade away from decipherable. I tell surveyors that I’m ‘married’ – winning. Rob and I consider ourselves as such. We could just Thank you all for being part of the Outlook family, as honestly say ‘single.’ Rob could say ‘never marand for ensuring that win. ried.’ And back in my misspent youth, I was married to a woman for three years, so I could say ‘divorced.’ References: The Media Audit, We could travel to Canada, or Spain, or Massachuwww.themediaaudit.com; National Committee on setts, or California … the question is becoming im- Pay Equity, www.pay-equity.org; TIME magazine possible to analyze from standard demographics. workplace blog, www.timeWhat is true is that those of us who are partnered blog.com/work_in_progress; Witeck-Combs Comneed to have about five times the legal documenta- munications, www.witeckcombs.com; MetroWeekly tion in place as couples who can be legally recog– Washington DC’s GLBT News Magazine, nized as married by the state and federal www.metroweekly.com. governments. We’ve covered the marriage argument AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
Fun Facts and Fairy Fiction We’ve all heard the stereotypes of gay men and lesbians, some of us believe them, some of us perpetuate them, and some of us just don’t know. Using the same Media Audit data that were used for this week’s feature story we take a look at some common stereotypes we’ve heard, and determine whether they are statistical fact or fantasy.
And what sports are they watching? Women proportionately prefer wrestling, college baseball, and professional basketball, while men are watching ice-skating, boxing, tennis, and wrestling. Everyone watches the Super Bowl and college football. Duh!
Mother Trucker Lesbians drive pickup trucks Well, yes, but not disproportionately. 28% of Outlook women own a pickup truck, but so do 29% of all central Ohio women. And Outlook men are twice as likely as central Ohio men to own a truck. Apparently we’re ALL more butch than we thought!
Gym Bunnies and Tossing Salads Gay men work out – a lot True. While only 24% of men in general report working out regularly at a health club, nearly 50% of Outlook men say they do. Outlook women are right there with the straight guys at 26%. Outlook readers are also 30% more likely to dine out frequently, and 60% more likely to be self-proclaimed ‘frequent dieters.’
Pussycats and Toasts Lesbians all own cats Not all of them, but a lot of them! 37% of Outlook women have a cat, compared to 30% of women in general and 26% of Outlook men. Dogs are the pets of choice for our men, with over 40% reporting that they have a canine.
What Not to Wear Lesbians shop in the junior boys department We can’t tell you what they’re buying or if they’re wearing it, but 20% of Outlook men have bought women’s clothes in the past year, while 37% of Outlook women have bought men’s clothes. Interpret that as you will …
Gay men drink liquor, Lesbians drink beer This one should just be called Gay Men Drink! Only 37% of Outlook women report visiting a bar or night club in the past 4 weeks, compared to 80% of Outlook men. Our men are 2.4 times more likely to go out, 2.6 times more likely to drink beer, and 3 times more likely to drink wine! The Media Audit doesn’t ask about hard liquor, but independent surveys of the GLBT community confirm that number is nearly 3 times more likely to drink cocktails, with Absolut being the brand of choice for more than 60% of them. Stage or Screen? Gay men love the theatre, Lesbians prefer the cinema Yes and no. 48% of Outlook women have attended a movie theatre in the past 4 weeks, compared to 24% of our men. But Outlook women also out-attend their male counterparts at the opera/symphony/theatre 35% to 24%. Queen of the Castle Gays and lesbians are more likely to renovate their homes and gentrify their neighborhoods True. 55% of Outlook men and 21% of Outlook women plan to do some sort of remodeling to their home within the next year, compared to 26% of people in general, and 68% of our readers actively participate in lawn/gardening activities. Sporty Dykes Lesbians play sports, gay men watch them True that Outlook women don’t watch many sports. Only 15% report having attended 3 or more sporting events in the last year compared to 50% of Outlook men, and 65% of our women follow sports on radio/TV compared to 82% of our men. But that doesn’t mean men aren’t playing, too. 65% of Outlook men have shopped at a sporting goods store in the past 4 weeks compared to only 18% of our women. Maybe the boys just need the newest toys, while the girls are taking better care of their equipment and using it year after year.
Lack of Sax? Gays and lesbians shop at highend stores True. But we’re picky. And bipolar. Outlook readers are overwhelmingly more likely than the average resident to shop at The Limited and Nordstrom (twice as likely at each), and slightly (30%) above average at Macy’s, but Sax 5th Avenue isn’t on our radar (twice as unlikely). We love Easton (50% above average), but seldom make it to Polaris (80% below average). And when we’re not at the pricey places, where are we? Well, we’re twice as likely to shop at Schottenstein’s and TJ Maxx, and above average at Big Lots, Dollar General, and Family Dollar. The mid-range places like Wal-Mart, Target, and Kohl’s don’t have much appeal. Cruisy and Scratchy Gays and lesbians travel more than their straight counterparts Absolutely true. 34% of Outlook women and 60% of Outlook men plan an ocean cruise in the next 2-3 years, and our readers are 2-3 times more likely to have used a travel agent 3 or more times in the past year. Our readers are also more than twice as likely to have frequent domestic and international air travel. Apparently we’re paying for these vacations with our lottery winnings, because both Outlook men and women are 30-50% more likely to have purchased lottery tickets in the past month. Making Asses of Ourselves Queers vote Democrat We can’t tell you exactly how Outlook readers vote, but we can tell you that they vote! Over 75% of our readers say they voted in the last local, state, or national election. 47% are registered Democrats, 37% Independents, and 13% Republicans. Registered Dems and Indys are 50% more likely than average to vote, registered Repubs are only half as likely to vote.
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 19
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20 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD by Romeo San Vicente
BOND, THE BISEXUAL EMPEROR
JAMES FRANCO WILL HOWL AS ALAN GINSBERG
ROSIE: THE NEXT ED SULLIVAN?
ZACK AND MIRI‘S GAY PORN COUPLE
When Daniel Craig emerged from the sea in those square-cut swim trunks in Casino Royale, he crossed over from art-house film gay pin-up to mainstream queer heartthrob before he even had a chance to towel off. So what better news could there be than to learn that the brutish Brit will play the bisexual 2nd-century A.D. Roman emperor Hadrian in a new movie? Maybe that Charlie Hunnam (the original U.K. Queer as Folk) will star as his part-time young lover Antinous? No word yet on who will play the long-suffering Mrs. Hadrian, but the rest of the known facts are that John Boorman (Deliverance, Tailor of Panama) will direct Memoirs of Hadrian, based on the 1951 book by Marguerite Yourcenar, and it’s set to hit theaters sometime in 2010, with a (hopefully naughtier, unrated) DVD sometime after that.
James Franco (Pineapple Express) just finished playing a gay man in Gus Van Sant’s Milk, where he co-starred as the late Harvey Milk’s (Sean Penn) partner Scott Smith. So as a follow-up, he’s stepping into Beat poet Alan Ginsberg’s shoes in Rob Epstein and Jeffery Friedman’s (The Celluloid Closet) film Howl. The title comes from Ginsberg’s most famous work, written at the height of the Beat movement, and reports are that the film is a documentary of sorts - Epstein and Friedman are Oscar-winners for The Times of Harvey Milk and Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt - with Franco playing Ginsberg in re-enacted moments from the gay writer’s younger years. (Or, as Franco himself has put it, “before he went bald and gained weight.”) Anything that allows eager gay audiences to see hot young actors making out with each other is a welcome addition to cinema... but who will play Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs?
Who knows why the variety show died, but it did. And that was a sad day for entertainment. The void is somewhat filled by American Idol and Dancing with the Stars, but where is today’s Ed Sullivan Show, Donny and Marie, or Carol Burnett Show? NBC thinks it knows, and is in the process of rebooting the concept for a modern audience. The Peacock thinks switching it up and presenting the concept on multiple nights with a variety of hosts is one answer, and one of their first picks is America’s favorite loose-cannon sweetheart, Rosie O’Donnell. She’s proven she can be sweet and scrappy, lovable and loud, and if the network can learn from The View‘s mistakes and meet the star’s needs, it could have some real must-see-TV on its hands again. First sketch comedy idea of the new show: Rosie in her A League of Their Own uniform, throwing fast balls at Donald Trump in a dunking tank.
Filmmaker Kevin Smith’s (Clerks, Chasing Amy) latest in-production comedy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, is about a heterosexual pair (Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks) venturing into the porn biz. But Smith loves the gays. And he especially loves to make his films’ characters talk about gay sex, the dirtier the better. So queer audiences who share the director’s raunchy comedy aesthetic were recently treated with the news that actors Justin Long (he’s the Mac guy) and Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) will play a gay couple in the film. Based on advance footage screened recently at Comic-Con in San Diego, Routh is the somewhat uptight boyfriend of Long, who’s a diva-like gay porn star. Also based on that advance footage and its filthy dialogue, no more details can be shared here. But trust us, it’s funny, and due in theaters for Halloween.
Romeo San Vicente thinks Kevin Smith should get a GLAAD award. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.
ARTS by Emily Cable
Latino Arts/OHIO 2008: Explore Latin Cultures through the Arts Celebrate the diverse and rich cultures of the Latino community through the arts as the City of Upper Arlington Cultural Arts Division presents Latino Arts/OHIO 2008, a visual, performing and literary arts exhibition on view in the Concourse Gallery August 25 to September 19. The Concourse Gallery is located at the Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road, and is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 8a–5p. Enjoy U.S. and world premiers of performing arts featured during a celebratory reception on Sunday September 7, beginning at 2p. El Calido Viento, an extremely talented quartet made up of four talented musicians including Rodolfo Vazquez on flute, Sean Ferguson on guitar, Betsy Sturdevant on bassoon and Anthony Lojo on clarinet will perform for the first time original compositions in the U.S. and the world during the reception. This quartet offers a cultural journey through the concert music of Latin America and Spain. Composed and performed specifically for Latino Arts/OHIO 2008, El Calido Viento will perform the following titles of compositions: Two Mexican Arts Songs - “Los Lagartos (Mr. & Mrs. Alligator),” S. Revueltas and “Mi Querer Pasaba el Rio (My Beloved Crossed the River),” B. Galíndo; U.S. premier of “Tocatta y Fuga,” J. M. Solare (Argentina), World premiers of “Tango Duo,” R. Cioffari (USA-Italy) and AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
“Canción de Cuna (Lullaby),” A. Alvarez (México). These pieces are presented in a didactic form and represent some of the finest music written by Hispanic composers. El Cálido Viento brings to their audiences what music really is in Spanish speaking countries. In addition, enjoy original poetry written and read by the following Latino poets during the reception: Mauricio Espinoza, Juan Armando Rojas Joo and Eduardo Jaramillo. Espinoza is a poet and journalist from Costa Rica, currently working as a science writer at The Ohio State University in Wooster, in addition to his poetry. Currently a professor at Ohio Wesleyan University, Juan Armando Rojas Joo is a poet and literary critic originally from Mexico. Also a college professor, Eduardo Jaramillo of Colombia currently teaches Spanish at Denison University. The visual exhibition features a fine arts exhibit curated by Egle Gatins and Elena Osterwalder showcasing a variety of artwork created by Ohio Latino artists including the following artists: Alejandro Rivera, Ana Luisa Sanchez and Juan Granados of Mexico, Elsie Sanchez and Wilfredo Calvo-Bono of Cuba, Hector Castellanos of Guatemala, Mabi Ponce de Leon of Argentina, Micaela de Vivero and Rafael Valdivieso both of Ecuador. All present and participating Latino Arts/OHIO 2008 artists will share their experiences, ideas, and creativity through a forum
discussion to synthesize the arts experience. Viewers will be able to enjoy the exhibit through multiple media including a gallery guide. Join in a conversation with the Latino Arts/OHIO 2008 artists to learn about the creative process through an Artspeak on September 17 at 12p and panel discussion lead by Rosa Rojas at 7p. The community has the opportunity to experience and appreciate the contribution of Latino artists to modern music, poetry and the fine arts. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational ex-
cellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Please visit the Cultural Arts Division at www.uaohio.net under Parks, Recreation and Leisure or call 614.583.5310 for more information. Emily Cable is with City of Upper Arlington Cultural Arts Division, 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.
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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 21
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22 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
DVDIVA by Gregg Shapiro MONTHS, WEEKS, DAYS AND NIGHTS
MORE JOY, LESS DIVISION
TONY N’ TINA AND TITTIES
My Blueberry Nights (Weinstein Company) You’re going to wish that you had a slice of warm blueberry pie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream to give you a little sugar buzz after sitting through Wong Kar Wai’s drowsy English language debut My Blueberry Nights. A post-modern road movie dipped in the candy colored neon of New York, Memphis and Nevada, it stars singer/songwriter Norah Jones making her acting debut as Lizzie (a.k.a. Beth and Elizabeth). After getting her heartbroken, she becomes yet another lover on the lam who leaves her keys in the fishbowl at the diner run by Jeremy (Jude Law). Jeremy’s keys are in there too, which we learn when he tells Lizzie the stories behind the keys and their owners. After nourishing herself and her spirit at the diner, she hits the road for Memphis where she attempts to make a fresh start. Waitressing at a diner during the day and a tavern at night, she meets Arnie (David Strathairn), a cop whose separation from wife Sue Lynn (Rachel Weisz) literally drives him to drink and worse. While on the road, Lizzie sends Jeremy postcards keeping him abreast of her situation. Following a tragedy in Memphis, Lizzie heads west and ends up waitressing in a Nevada casino where she meets Leslie (Natalie Portman), a Jaguar-driving gambler who gets Lizzie to go to Vegas with her to make amends with her father. Back in New York, Jeremy is finalizing the end of his relationship with Katya (Chan Marshall a.k.a. musician Cat Power, a prominent voice on the soundtrack). As the year comes to a close, Lizzie’s on the road again, and you don’t need a crystal ball to figure out where she’s bound. Already several minutes shorter than a previous version (thank goodness!), My Blueberry Nights isn’t a total failure, a stain on Wong Kar Wai’s resume (which also includes the gay-themed film Happy Together), but it definitely doesn’t live up to its sweet promise. DVD special features include a Q&A with the director, a “Making of” featurette and more.
Control (Weinstein Company) Famed photographer and music video mastermind Anton Corbijn makes his feature length debut with the accomplished black and white biopic “Control,” the story of the band Joy Division, and more specifically the late lead singer Ian Curtis, who committed suicide at the age of 23 on the eve of Joy Division’s U.S. tour. In 1973 Macclesfield, England, teenage Curtis (Sam Riley) listens to David Bowie and tries to rock a glam image, while quoting Wordsworth. Curtis snags Debbie (Samantha Morton) from a school chum, and before you know it he’s proposed to her and they are married. One night in the pub with friends Bernard (James Anthony Pearson), Peter (Joe Anderson) and Stephen (Harry Treadaway), who happen to be looking for a singer for their band, they recognize “posh bloke from TV” Tony Wilson (Craig Parkinson), who’s there to catch the Sex Pistols set. Shortly thereafter, Ian offers to be the singer for his friends’ band and things are set in motion. Keeping his day job at the Employment Exchange, Ian and his Warsaw band mates begin performing in clubs. With ₤400 they head into a recording studio to cut a record under their new name Joy Division. Soon they are being mentioned on Wilson’s TV program. After Ian “asks” Wilson about having Joy Division on his show, he attends a gig and is impressed with what he hears and sees. Resident club DJ Rob Gretton (Toby Kebbell) offers to manage the band just in time for Wilson to offer them a deal to sign with his Factory Records label. Just as things begin happening for the band, there are all sorts of setbacks. Curtis is diagnosed with epilepsy, but the side effects of the medication are almost debilitating. His marriage to Debbie starts to crumble. In spite of being a new father to baby Natalie, Curtis commences an affair with fanzine writer Annik (Alexandra Maria Lara). All the while, of course, Curtis and Joy Division are creating what would go on to be some of the most influential music ever recorded. Riley is the embodiment of Curtis and his performance is simply unforgettable. Corbijn’s eye for visual detail is almost unmatched and elevates the film to another artistic level altogether.
Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding (Emerging) Bringing the interactive, semi-improvised stage show Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding to the big screen might sound like a questionable concept. But to writer/director Roger Paradiso’s credit, it works better than you might think. Presenting the story from the viewpoint of the film, not video, crew hired to capture the special occasion, maintains the outsider perspective that is usually experienced by the audience/guests. The film crew is led by flaming Raphael (out actor Guillermo Diaz), with his period haircut (the movie is set in 1988) and his innate ability to be in the wrong place at the right time, with plenty of film in the camera. He also finds time to flirt with the bride’s gay brother Joey (Richard Robichaux). Groom Tony (NKOTB Joey McIntyre), whose family lives in Queens where his father (John Fiore) owns and operates a strip club. Bride Tina (Mila Kunis), on the other hand, comes from a family who left Queens and moved to Massapequa, Long Island in an attempt to better themselves. Her widowed mother (Priscilla Lopez) is a first rate drama queen and doesn’t approve of Tina’s choice in husbands. Essentially what you have is an Italian version of the feuding Hatfields and McCoys with the Nunzios (Tony’s family) and the Vitales (Tina’s family) playing those roles. Of course, the presence of Tina’s exboyfriend Michael (Adrian Grenier) doesn’t help matters. Neither does the array of bridesmaid and groomsmen who have problems with substance abuse and a distinct inability to behave appropriately in public. DVD special features include behind the scenes footage, a production gallery and wedding album and more.
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (IFC Films/Weinstein Company) In 1987 Romania, college roommates Otilia (Anamaria Marinca) and Gabita (Laura Vasiliu) face a personal crisis head on that will forever affect their lives and their friendship. In a country where abortion is a crime punishable by a 10-year prison sentence, especially after the fourth month, Gabita is in desperate need of terminating a pregnancy approaching that deadline. After scraping the money together in secret, and arranging a meeting with a black market abortionist known as Bebe (Vlad Ivanov), the women book a hotel room for the procedure. What is already a complicated, dangerous and degrading situation, takes an even more precarious turn when Bebe demands more than cash from both of them. In the midst of all of this, Otilia must also please her boyfriend Adi (Alexandru Potocean), who, on the night of the abortion, expects her to make an appearance at his parents’ house for his mother’s birthday party. It is ultimately Otilia’s perspective from which we experience most of the action and through the effective use of long takes, writer/director Cristian Mungiu communicates the extent of the toll taken on the lives of those involved. Not for the faint of heart, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days doesn’t shy away from the depiction of its subject matter and is as startling as it is sensitive. DVD special features include an informative interview with Mungiu and more.
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Joy Division (Weinstein Company) A companion piece, if you will to Anton Corbijn’s stunning biopic Control, the Joy Division doc is as visually compelling as it is informative. Interviews with surviving Joy Division band members Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris (all of whom went on to form the equally important New Order), and other essential players of the Manchester scene including Pete Shelley (of the Buzzcocks), graphic designer Peter Saville, and the late entrepreneur Tony Wilson, give Grant Gee’s film unquestionable authenticity. LGBT viewers should watch for the interview with trans music legend Genesis P-Orridge, as well as the segment about the late Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis’s meeting with William S. Burroughs. DVD special features include a wealth of additional interview footage.
Itty Bitty Titty Committee (Wolfe) Lesbian filmmaker Jamie Babbit’s 1999 feature-length debut …But I’m A Cheerleader was a delightful and colorful comedy about the ex-gay movement. The movie made you laugh, but it also had a message about love and the unreality of trying to change one’s sexual orientation. Babbit’s latest, Itty Bitty Titty Committee is even more of a message movie, with its focus honed on issues of female empowerment and body image. Anna (the nearly ubiquitous Melonie Diaz) is a young lesbian who lives at home with her accepting and supportive parents. The family is involved in the upcoming nuptials of Anna’s sister older Ellen (Marisa Ramirez). But Anna is distracted following a recent breakup with Justine. She is also mousy at work where Chris (Jimmi Simpson), her boss at the cosmetic surgery center, busty co-worker Maude (Leslie Grossman), and even the sandwich delivery guy walk all over her. One night after work, she encounters Sadie (Nicole Vicius), who is spraying graffiti on the window of her place of employment. They strike up a conversation and Sadie invites Anna to a meeting of Clits In Action or C(I)A, a radical group of young feminists intent on changing and eventually ruling the world. Soon, Anna is transported physically and mentally, out of the safety of her parents’ home into the world of downtown lofts, political actions and protests. Naturally, there is attraction between Anna and Sadie, who happens to be in a long-term relationship with the older and more established Courtney (Melanie Mayron). Courtney tolerates Sadie’s escapades with her girl gang, which also includes artist Meat (Deak Evgenikos), trans Aggie (Lauren Mollica), straight recovering lawyer Shuli (Carly Pope), and others. But when things begin to escalate in the C(I)A and with Anna, the relationship is threatened. Anna, meanwhile, is transformed from someone afraid to speak up for herself to someone who can’t stop speaking out. After the near-collapse of the gang, Anna rallies the troops with a plan that includes sabotaging both a talk show hosted by Marcy Maloney (Guinivere Turner) and the Washington Monument. Not nearly as entertaining as …Cheerleader, Itty Bitty… still gets an “E” for the effort it puts into getting its message across. DVD features include a featurette titled “The Nitty Gritty Behind the Itty Bitty Titty Committee” and more.
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 23
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24 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
INTERVIEW by Mikey Rox
Whatchoo Talkin’ ’Bout, Willis? Rejoice! Chris Willis – gospel singer-turneddancehall hitmaker – finally has something to celebrate. After years of lending his effervescent vocals to some of the world’s most successful acts – including Kelly Clarkson, CeCe Winans, Kenny Rogers and Quincy Jones – the powerhouse, along with his internationally known producing partner French DJ David Guetta, at last has earned a spot among the Billboard elite. In fact, just several weeks after its release, “Love is Gone,” the club banger that’s lifted Willis on high, has peaked on the perennial (and nearly impossible to penetrate) Hot 100, Pop 100 and Top 40 Mainstream charts in addition to becoming YouTube’s most popular video of all time in the electronic music category. But – divine intervention aside – how did it get there? In a recent interview, the wide-eyed Willis spills the milk on his storied past, including his pursuit of all things musical, raising God’s roof and how being gay ultimately turned him away, meeting his match in DJ Guetta, why he’ll never be considered a one-hit wonder, processing his success, and the most important lesson he’s learned so far. Like how it’s never too late for that one big break. MIKEY ROX: Although the mainstream public is just learning your name, you’ve been performing professionally for the better part of 20 years. What influenced you to pursue music? CHRIS WILLIS: A couple things. My parents were very musical – my mom played piano and my dad was a musician – so there was always music in our house. But it probably wasn’t until MTV happened that I was like, ‘Ah, that’s what I want to do.’ That was probably my biggest influence. MR: As an aspiring artist growing up in DayAUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
ton, Ohio, what experiences helped shape who you are today? CW: I started out in gospel, so we were always in church. I just kinda got involved – the local scene, singing in groups – and my brothers and sisters and I used to sing as a quartet, so we were constantly involved in music. In high school, it was show choir. When I went to college in Alabama I was involved in choirs and groups there; I just kept being involved in music, never really thinking about it as a career until after I finished school. My first job as a singer was out in California with a group that sang in churches, and we did, like, 300 concerts a year for two years. That was the point where I was like, you know what, I can do this for a living. MR: So from the beginning, until about 2003 when you came to New York, you were primarily performing gospel music? CW: Up until about 1998 I was doing mostly gospel. It wasn’t until after ’98 that I signed a deal with a small label. There was this big corporate takeover and they were buying all the small companies and letting go of all the artists that weren’t doing as much. I thought, ya know, I’m gonna embrace this as freedom and pursue a mainstream thing. MR: How did your sexuality affect your gospel career? CW: Very hard. I was very much in the closet, and I had all this angst inside. I always felt like God really understood – but that wasn’t the message I was receiving in the church. So, when I moved out on my own I really internalized that message that God makes us who we are and that it’s up to us to embrace that or not. I chose to embrace all those things as freedom, and that freedom begat the freedom I experience now. MR: Did being gay have anything to do with you transitioning from gospel to more main-
stream music? CW: Absolutely. I think there’s this unspoken denial that you go through in gospel – maybe so in other musical art forms too – but I just felt for me it just wasn’t easy to keep perpetuating that.
taken off here. Can you explain it? CW: I want more! (Laughs) No, it’s great! I’m so happy that it’s happening, because it’s the culmination of a lot of dreams and hopes after being in Europe for a long time. It’s nice to have some love at home.
MR: Would you be able to make it as an out gospel artist today? CW: I don’t really think about it that much. I just chose to go in another direction – and I’m really grateful that I did.
MR: I don’t want to jinx you, but how do you plan to avoid being a one-hit wonder? CW: Strangely enough, this is the only song that’s a big hit in America, but we’ve actually had four or five songs that were huge hits in Europe already. I don’t really think about it too much. I’m such a ‘live in the moment kind’ of person – the pressure obviously is on to recreate what you’ve done – but I pretend like it didn’t happen and just try to write the best song I can come up with. Ya know, I do what I love to do. If people love it, great. If they don’t – and it’s a great piece of work that I love and it’s gonna have legs – then it’s gonna do what it’s gonna do anyway.
MR: All right, so you met DJ David Guetta (pronounced Get-ta) – with whom you share credit on your latest hit “Love is Gone” – in Paris. How did that happen, and when did you start collaborating? CW: It’s part destiny, accident, serendipity. I was working with a band from France in Miami, just after ’98 when I finished with gospel, and as a consolation prize I got to go to Paris to do some publicity for them for their album that we had finished. One of the guys just happened to know David, and we were in David’s restaurant – David and his wife were running a few restaurants in Paris at the time – and we had a mild introduction. David, at the time, was working on an album and he was looking to do a compilation album with some instrumental tracks and some vocal. I’d been really used to meeting producers, so I sort of brushed it off like, ‘Oh, yeah, another producer.’ But, he invited to the studio, and said, ‘Hey, let’s just vibe and see what happens.’ Believe it or not, the very next day we wrote “Just a Little More Love.” MR: It must nice then, after 10 years or so, to see things come to fruition. CW: It’s always been my ambition to have some noise here in America. I’m so glad to see that happen! MR: That song – “Love is Gone” – has really
MR: What’s been the best of your journey so far? CW: The journey is an education. I always want to be in a position to learn something new. I love the travel – MR: What have you learned? CW: Not to take yourself too seriously. Because, ya know, it’s music, and I think when you read Billboard – and we were just at Billboard today, and it’s very serious business, a lot of money involved – but if you focus on that, it’s very easy to get frustrated. I really just try to dwindle things down to a matter of fun. If I’m not having fun, I don’t want to be involved. But as long as I’m having a good time and people respond to that – and it’s reflected in my work and my songs – that, I think, is the biggest lesson: Make it fun – have fun! Who is Mikey Rox? Who gives a fuck! But you can visit him at www.mikeyrox.com.
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 25
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26 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
SEX TALK by Simon Sheppard
SPEAKING OF:
EXTREME BODY PLAY There’s sex, there’s kinky sex, and then there are scenes that are, to most of us, pretty fucking far out there. Recalls one fellow, “The first time I went to a leathermen’s sex party, I saw a lot of stuff that I expected to see, like bondage and flogging. But what really made my jaw drop was a top man using a little electrical unit that sent current through wires running to a bottomboy’s buttplug. It was more mad-scientist than sexy, but when I talked to the bottom later, he happily said, ‘There’s nothing like it.’ I took his word for it; I’ve never had the courage to try it myself.” Shocking as electro-play may sound, there are other activities that are just as edgy. Stressful bondage can stretch bodies nearly to the breaking point. Suspension bondage leaves tied-up guys hanging in mid-air. And then there are skin-piercing scenes. In one of these “modern primitive” rituals, the “ball dance,” a participant hangs small weights or balls from thin hooks through his skin, then engages in trance-inducing choreography. Even edgier are “flying scenes,” in which hefty hooks are inserted through the flesh of the back and thighs of a guy who’s then hauled off the ground. Then there’s blood play, including scarification scenes where intricate designs are carved into a bottom’s flesh. For the sadomasochistic cowboys
AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
among us, there’s ritual branding. And out on the farthest edges of fun - shut your eyes if you’re squeamish - some truly twisted fellows have been consensually castrated. OK, it may seem sick or spectacular. But is it sex? There’s little doubt that there’s lots of overlap between erotic explorers and the body-play bunch. Explains one aficionado of the outre, “It may not be sex in the sense of ‘hard-on shoots sperm,’ but it certainly is sensual. It makes the whole body a field for eroticism, not just the crotch.” Beyond blurring the border between sex and everything else, such extreme body play erases the line between pleasure and pain. “Most everybody accepts that a bit of spanking can feel sexy,” continues the aficionado. “Well, heavy-duty body play is just the same, only more so.” And it’s a physiological fact that exposure to physical stress can cause the body to produce endorphins, natural opiates that many SM fans laud as the holy grail of pain play. But not everyone’s so sure. Protests one man who’s admittedly vanilla, “You can go on about endorphins or whatever. But if you require being sliced up to feel pleasure - or to feel anything then it’s safe to say that there’s something wrong.” Another guy, who’s been through a lot, concurs...sort of. “Back in the day, there was almost
nothing I wouldn’t do for a physical rush. I was kind of a thrill junkie, but let’s face it, even being whipped till you bleed can lose its appeal.” Our aficionado counters, “Pushing my body to its limit brings me to places I could reach no other way. I know some people might disapprove, but I always thought the point of sexual liberation is not to pass judgment about what other people do, as long as it’s consensual and safe.” Safety should certainly be an issue. Extreme body play, done carelessly, can cause serious harm, even death. If you’re going to bottom for someone in a heavy-duty scene, negotiate fully beforehand, making absolutely sure the guy knows what he’s doing. If you want to top, don’t just wade in. Learn firsthand from experts - ideally through apprenticeship. And always run scenes soberly and wisely. In any scene where skin might be broken, that goes double. The risky, over-the top nature of extreme scenes can be attractive to daredevils, but many in the body-play scene view their hobby less as a carnal roller-coaster ride than as a path to enlightenment. In fact, many body-play techniques are borrowed from Indian saddhus and other spiritual seekers. “In my opinion, ego loss and transcendence are goals of good sex,” says another longtime player, “and extreme play provides that more readily than a blow job, at least for us bottoms.”
Most of us, of course, will be content to suck and fuck, and perhaps that’s as it should be. Recalls our vanilla fellow, “I once went to a performance where a guy was whirled around by ropes attached to hooks through his chest. It was, I’m afraid, much more scary than sexy. Call me a coward, but I’ll just stick to blowing hunky dudes.” Simon Sheppard is the editor of Homosex: Sixty Years of Gay Erotica, and the author of Sex Parties 101, Kinkorama, and In Deep: Erotic Stories, and can be reached at SexTalk@qsyndicate.com. Visit Simon at www.simonsheppard.com.
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 27
CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
HOUSING/FOR RENT
HOUSING/ROOMMATES
FLORAL BUSINESS 70-year-old family-run floral business for sale. Established clients, great location. Please call Mary McCarthy at Sunbelt Business Brokers, 614.734.8338, for more information.
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EAST SIDE Eastside roommate in 2BR/1BA in safe neighborhood. $350/month plus 1/2 utilities. Professional/student preferred. Email shrafman@aol.com for details. 614.404.4121. Close to Dominican U/Capital U/CSCC/all highways/Easton/airport. SOUTHEAST Gay male looking for roommate, southeast of Columbus. Share home, rent. $400/month plus 1/2 utilities. Great location for professionals. Email awol695@yahoo.com. REAL ESTATE SECLUDED RETREATS 2 - 2BR secluded retreats for sale or lease. Both are recent builds with all the amenities. Each have open floor plans, pool, lake, picturesque and private. Both within 1 hour driving distance to Columbus. Call 740.607.4750.
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AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
28 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 29
SAVAGE LOVE by Dan Savage
After six months of marriage - I’m a straight male - the sex had become routine but enjoyable. To remedy this, my wife and I discussed new things we might like to try. We were both being shy, so I said the first thing that came to mind: “Anal?” My wife got quiet and the conversation ended. A couple weeks later, she brought up the conversation and showed me an article of yours that said if a man wants anal, he should take it first. I explained I wasn’t that interested and that I only brought it up to spark a discussion. That sparked an argument. She also told me that she had already spent a lot of money on a strap-on because “you wanted this so bad.” Now anytime I bring up any kind of sex, it restarts this argument. She insists that I would not have brought up anal if I didn’t really want it, and says I’m being unfair by not agreeing to give it up first. I just figured most couples at least experimented with anal. And while I understand you feel differently, I feel having sex with a cock, whether it is flesh or rubber, carries a homosexual implication. My One Way Orifice If having sex with a cock - flesh or rubber carries a homosexual implication, then it would appear that you’re an old pro at this gay sex stuff, MOWO, seeing as you’ve been having sex with a cock since you started giving yourself handjobs at - what? Twelve? Thirteen? Backing up a bit: Straight men who are curious about anal penetration - the penetration of their own anuses - often create elaborate fantasy scenarios in which they’re compelled to submit. Cruel-and-domineering-mistress scenarios, gay-rape scenarios, giving-it-up-toget-it scenarios. These fantasies, while totally legit (and sometimes terribly hot), are also very revealing. Many straight men, it seems, view anal penetration as a pure power-anddomination trip for the top, and receptive anal
sex as a nightmare to be endured. But, hey, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief, MOWO, and accept your rough and implausible premise: Your sex life went stale after six months of marriage despite the fact that you married the kind of woman who’ll run out and buy a strap-on dildo the very first time her husband broaches the subject of anal sex. Alrighty… It sure sounds like your wife is the one who’s really interested in anal, MOWO. It also sounds like your wife is trying to shift all responsibility to you - insisting that you’re the obsessed one - perhaps because, like many women, she believes (or worries that her husband believes) that “good” girls don’t have filthy butt-sex fantasies. By insisting that this is all about you, MOWO, your wife doesn’t have to admit to herself or to you that she’s a dirty, dirty perv. She’s just a nice, indulgent wife. But since she’s the one who ran out and bought a strap-on at the first hint of a discussion about anal sex, well, that’s a pretty good indication that your wife was harboring pegging fantasies - that is, a woman doing a man in the butt with a strap-on dildo - long before you broached the subject. Perhaps it was my column that perved her, or maybe she went to the kind of college where they screen Bend Over Boyfriend during freshman orientation. (Yeah, I’m looking at you, U-Pitt.) And yes, MOWO, I do happen to believe that the best way for a straight man to demonstrate to a straight woman that anal sex can be mutually pleasurable - that it’s not (necessarily) about dominance and degradation - is to do the gentlemanly thing and go first. Or if I may paraphrase Barack Obama: Straight men? Sometimes you gotta be the change that you seek. And yes, MOWO, there are “homosexual implications” to pegging. (There will also be homosexual exclamations: If she pegs your ass properly, you should be squealing like a gaypride-float dancer or an Idaho Republican.) But you can explore anal pleasure - your anus,
mutual pleasure - without a scary ol’ strap-on. Let her lay a vibrator over your asshole, not stick one in it. Or better yet, go buy a buttplug. Buttplugs looks like no dick you’ve ever seen outside of sci-fi porn, perhaps - and carry far fewer of those dreaded homosexual implications. My boyfriend and I have been monogamous for three years. We consider ourselves open, we enjoy different kinds of sex, and our toy collection is extensive. A couple of months ago, he brought up the fact that he has fantasized about me with other men. The term is cuckolding, right? Anyhow, at first I was slightly weirded out that he would even suggest it. But I’m starting to find the idea intriguing. After all, it’s a free pass to have sex with another man and it would turn him on. Now the questions: Are there any rules for this particular fetish? How do we know if we can handle it? And if I have sex with another man… does that mean I have to let him have sex with another woman? Any advice about this and other forms of “open” relationships would be GREATLY appreciated. New Experience Really Valuable Or Ultimate Screwup? “It’s interesting that when your boyfriend shared his fantasy with you, you jumped right to the term ‘cuckolding,’” says Tristan Taormino, columnist, pornographer, and author of the new book Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships. “By definition, a cuckold is a married man whose wife cheats on him behind his back. A cuckold fetishist, on the other hand, not only knows about his wife’s dalliances, but often enjoys the humiliation of being forced to watch his wife bang the other dude or dudes.” Only your boyfriend knows for sure if it’s cuckolding he wants, NERVOUS, and there are no assumptions in successful open relation-
ships - and no “free passes” either. “Nothing about responsible nonmonogamy involves a free pass of any sort,” says Taormino. “It’s absolutely possible for you to transform your monogamous relationship into one that’s nonmonogamous. But you need to sit down and hash out the details, including what’s okay and what’s not.” As for him sleeping with other women, it may well be that your boyfriend wants to give you permission to sleep with others without being able to sleep with others himself; that kind of power imbalance is a huge turn-on for most cuckolds. Again, you’ll have to talk to him. And a final word from Taormino: “The more you hash this out beforehand, the better you’ll both feel.” The last time cuckolding came up in your column you wrote: “Huge numbers of straight men have cuckolding fantasies.” As a straight man, I want to know: Are gay men with cuckolding fantasies few and far between? Ever Lost Innocence Until DNA tests came along, ELI, only maternity could be taken for granted; the cuckolding fetish is merely the boner-killing lemons of male sexual/paternal insecurity turned into deliciously perverted bonerade. Gay sex, on the other hand, doesn’t make babies, only messes (which is all straight sex makes 99.98 percent of the time). Which may explain why, as a general rule, ELI, gay men aren’t as threatened when our partners are “taken” by other men. Heck, many of us are only too delighted to share. In other words, ELI, when some other guy is doing my boyfriend, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m being violated. It usually means I’m having a three-way. Download the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at www.thestranger.com/savage. mail@savagelove.net.
AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
30 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
ABOUT TOWN
MAJOR WINE COMPETITION HELD IN COLUMBUS IN PREP FOR COLUMBUS FOOD AND WINE AFFAIR HELD SEPTEMBER 5th AT FRANKLIN PARK CONSERVATORY It may surprise you to learn that one of the largest wine competitions in the country isn’t held in San Francisco or New York City. This year’s competition held in conjunction with the Columbus Food & Wine Affair took place August 9 at the Columbus Fish Market on Olentangy River Road. Approximately 40 judges gathered to weigh in on the color, aroma, taste, texture and overall appeal of more than 400 wines - the same wines that will be featured at the Columbus Food and Wine Affair, September 5 at Franklin Park Conservatory. The Wine Competition has been an integral part of the Columbus Food & Wine Affair since it began in 2003. Rob Somers, Ohio Manager, Limestone Estates Division, Foster’s Wine Estates Americas co-chairs the competition with Ryan Valentine, Director of Beverage, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. The competition was started to add a level of excitement not only to the Columbus Food & Wine Affair but to the local wine industry itself. The competition is unique in that it is only one of two competitions in the country that require judges to be trained. Somers shares, “We want every judge to be on the same page when it comes to criteria for evaluation. The competition isn’t about personal preferences, it’s about objective standards. Objective standards can change and evolve over time; we address this in the training.” Judging is based on a modified version of the 20-point system developed in the 1950s by Maynard Amerine, a professor in viticulture at the University of California Davis. The scoring structure puts in place a system to objectively analyze the wines. Somers explains that wines were arranged into flights with an average of 10 wines per flight. Each wine was judged blind and by two separate tables of four judges each. When the competition ended, judges had tasted and evaluated about 100 wines in a span of about 3-1/2 hours. Judges included a unique balance of wine experts and enthusiasts from the community. Taking part are local retailers, restaurateurs, wine suppliers, distributor personnel, wine writers and wine enthusiasts. Categories for judging are not determined until entries are received. Wines are judged in peer groups with type and style. That is, Chardonnays are judged against Chardonnays and Cabernets against Cabernets. The number of categories is based upon the number of entries and,
as entries warrant, new categories are named. In 2006, the “value” category was added to include wines that are very high in their category and retail under $15. Somers expects the competition to grow each year and looks forward to adding more categories including “Best of Class.” Somers says the contest for the best wines creates a little more competition as well as exposure for those who enter. “This ensures that we get some really good wines,” he says. “And, I think one of the greatest benefits is that these wines are available at the Columbus Food & Wine Affair. Those who attend taste the wines that local experts and enthusiasts have said are great wines. They don’t have to rely on a wine magazine or the opinion of a New York writer. These wines are favored by those who live here and they are available here.” And try you will. Award-winning wines and culinary magic, this is where the Columbus Food & Wine Affair begins, but far from where it ends. This proven event provides the setting for more than 25 of Central Ohio’s finest restaurants to display their most delectable offerings, and it opens the door to over 450 international wines. Add to that an abundant silent auction and beautiful music, and you have all the ingredients necessary to create a spectacular evening. Best of all, the gala affair benefits a number of Columbus-area charities and the Central Ohio Restaurant Association. The Grand Tasting, open to the public, is set for 6:30p-10p, Friday September 5, at the Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E Broad St. In a relatively short time, the Columbus Food & Wine Affair has gained a reputation for bringing people together with a passion for great food, excellent wine and the opportunity to give back to the community. In its first five years, the event raised more than $250,000 for local charities. Proceeds from the Columbus Food & Wine Affair benefit the WBNS10TV Family Fund, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, United Way of Central Ohio, Adventures for Wish Kids, the Ian Adams Van Heyde Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Central Ohio Restaurant Association. Tickets for the September 5th Grand Tasting are $100 and can be purchased online at www.foodandwineaffair.com.
COLUMBUS NEXT MEETING: SEP 10, 6P-8P; LOCATION: CLUB DIVERSITY ; SPEAKER: PEG BUEHRI OF ACTION COACH AUG 28 - SEP 03 2008
WWW.NETWORKCOLUMBUS.COM
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 31
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THE LAST WORD by Chris Crain
A WITCH HUNT A T MANHUNT Political correctness and not effectiveness is behind the call to boycott a gay sex site because its co-founder is a Republican. They say politics makes for strange bedfellows, and that’s certainly true of the $2,300 contribution by a co-founder of Manhunt, the gay hookup site, to the campaign of Republican John McCain. Unfortunately, the boycott demands that came in response only prove once again that despite all our talk about prizing diversity, gay bedfellows make for strangers to tolerance – at least of the ideological variety. A lot of eyebrows got raised when word got out that Jonathan Crutchley, one of two original investors behind Manhunt.net, had donated the maximum allowed by law to a presidential candidate with a rotten gay rights record. The site, which boasts a staggering 1 million members who generate $30 million a year in revenue, dwarfs Gay.com and other web holdings of the struggling PlanetOut. With the motto “Get on, Get off,” it’s also an unlikely cauldron for conservative politics. News of Crutchley’s contribution to McCain could have been an opportunity for real discussion about why some gay folk prioritize other issues like national security – which Crutchley cited in his own defense – over “the gay agenda,” as he put it somewhat dismissively. Of course that’s not what happened. The blogs howled with angry calls for horny gay boys everywhere to cancel their Manhunt accounts in protest. The righteous outrage all but ignored that Online Buddies, Inc., which operates Manhunt, had nothing to do with the donation from Crutchley, who chaired the company’s board of directors. What’s more, co-founder and CEO Larry Basile is a long-
time supporter of Democrats and gay rights groups. If the angry boycotters really cared about who takes the White House in November, boycotting Manhunt is about the least effective way to do something about it. It doesn’t help Barack Obama or the Democratic Party or gay rights groups. Then again, the boycott threats were much more about political correctness than effectiveness. The ideological purists are always bloodthirsty for gay man and lesbians who give aid and comfort to Republicans. Once they feel quenched by the universal denouncement of Crutchley and his ilk, they can then savor that “special” sense of superiority. Imagine Dana Carvey doing his “Church Lady” dance if you need a visual. Judged by those standards, the witch hunt at Manhunt was a huge success, partially because Online Buddies was uniquely vulnerable to ideological attack, headquartered as it is in Cambridge, Mass., which practically gave birth to political correctness some two decades ago. I saw it firsthand, arriving at Harvard Law School primed to complete my transition from the Biblethumping conservative of my youth to open-minded progressive. But I was so repelled by the intolerance from the left that poisoned the environment there, I had moved back to the right by graduation. I don’t know what qualifications are required to serve on the board of Manhunt, but the directors there, along with CEO Bastile the self-professed liberal, clearly graduated from the same school of thought. They reacted with “disbelief” to Crutchley’s
donation and asked for his resignation, even though they’d known all along about his moderate Republican politics. It is especially ironic and even hypocritical for a company that profits off providing hundreds of thousands an anonymous way to get laid to be so judgmental of anyone’s personal beliefs and political contributions. After all, Manhunt isn’t about same-sex marriage as much as the right to privacy – though clearly not the ideological variety. Like most ideological witch hunts, this one sits on a slope so slippery no lube is required. Hundreds of gay-owned or gay-focused businesses have been launched or managed by homos with conservative tendencies. The owners and executives at these small business no doubt are overrepresented among the quarter of gay voters estimated to have backed George W. Bush’s re-election. So why aren’t we ferreting out their contributions so we can target their livelihoods? While we’re at it, what about gays with the temerity to be Catholics? The Vatican has had a far more pernicious impact on gay lives than Republicans ever could. For that matter, why should GLBT citizens from friendlier places like Western Europe and Canada continue to patronize gay businesses from the U.S.A.? Just think of the tax dollars going to benefit a government that happily expels gays from the military and refuses any form of relationship recognition or basic civil rights protection. Then again, this sort of demand for ideological purity is always situational because the intolerance
that motivates those who hunt the witches gives no weight to things like intellectual consistency. To be sure, there are times when it makes good sense to boycott a business based on personal politics, especially when the target owns a large share of the company and uses his wealth to directly harm gay interests – giving to groups and causes that are specifically anti-gay. Like most gays who donate or vote for John McCain, the man behind Manhunt supports gay rights, even if he gives our equality a lower priority than you or I would want. Almost all the gays who’ve stuck with the GOP have done so based on libertarian or conservative views about taxes, fiscal policy or national security – perfectly valid and important issues. Gay Republicans are less likely to listen to those voices that challenge their views in a respectful way if we are drowned out by the those who gleefully judge them as greedy, self-loathing hypocrites. The mean-spirited display of intolerance also reinforces a disgust for movement politics that is responsible for apathy among others. As wrong as we may think it is for the Crutchleys among us to help elect John McCain, we should be even more troubled by the arrogant intolerance that says they have no place in a community that flies rainbow flags to show pride in its diversity. Chris Crain is former editor of the Washington Blade and five other gay publications and now edits GayNewsWatch.com. He can be reached via his blog at www.citizencrain.com.
HOROSCOPES by Jack Fertig
LEO (Jul 23 - Aug 22): The big picture seems a bit off, and your efforts to correct it could be too all-encompassing to be effective. Focus on crucial details. What’s most important? Don’t be embarrassed to seek help from an authority.
SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21): Worrying about what others think will only clog up your brain. Focus on your personal goals and where you want to be in 10, 20, or 30 years. Meditation helps. Planning is even better. Doing both is best.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 18): Those arguments that seem so irresistible are not that important. Make your point and let it go. Take a quiet, amorous holiday, exploring techniques of pleasure. Discover what really works for you and your partner. Don’t fall back on habit or presumption!
TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 20): If having fun feels like too much work, try to have fun at work. A little creativity on the job can boost morale and encourage you and your colleagues to work smarter, getting more done with less effort.
VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22): Letting others choose your fun and games can get expensive. Don’t be afraid to set your limits and state your desires. Being a team player means compromises on all sides. You will all have more fun if you stand up for yourself.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 20): Real friends love you for your charms, not your generosity. Entertain and plan as if you were head of accounting. Be resourceful! You can be frugal and fabulous, which will also impress the people who count.
PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 19): Top? Bottom? Could be time to switch. Don’t be afraid to interrupt lovemaking to discuss needs, techniques, or other important issues, not necessarily sexual. An older friend, maybe an ex, may have very helpful insights.
GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 20): Fun may seem too important, and you could be frittering away energy that could be used in more satisfying - and yes, more deeply “fun” - ways. Start at home. Your partner, roommate, or even parent could have some very helpful ideas.
LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 22): Your current rush of energy could be easily exploited by a family member or housemate. Stop and think. What do you really want to do? Some volunteer work will do both you and your community a lot of good!
CAPRICORN (Dec 21 - Jan 19): Teamwork is the key to success. Do you really want to be in charge? You’re probably better as the power behind the throne. Your best ideas, important as they are, have room for improvement. Discuss them with an expert.
ARIES (Mar 20 - Apr 19): Your leadership skills can shine through if you’re a good follower. Let others take the lead, and be willing to work with them. Your suggestions and efforts as a humble part of the team will serve the team well, and you even better.
CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22): Working too hard at making your partner happy could backfire. A serious discussion can open up issues you need to work on. It sounds tough, but this is a golden opportunity to improve things tremendously.
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 28 - SEP 03 2008