Fusion's Fall 2011 issue by Fusion Magazine

FUSION

FUSION winter 2012

d o n’t a s k

kent state university

d o n’t t e l l r e p e a l

ohiofusion.com

u.s. military opens the closet doors

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table of contents

p 8 — cel ebri t i e s on gay m a rri age

p 46 — photo spre a d: you’re on m y gay da r

You’ve probably heard pop stars like Lady Gaga and Carrie Prejean spew their opinions of gay marriage, but here’s a list of celebrities whose stance on same-sex unions may surprise you.

Our photo spread takes you inside the world of Fusion’s fabulously accurate gaydar.

p 10 — m a r r i a g e e q u a l i t y i n o h i o

In spite of gaining support among Ohio universities, the future looks bleak for same-sex marriage coming to the Buckeye State, and we’re going to tell you why. p 14 — g a y w e d d i n g h o t s p o t s

New York has NYC, and Massachusetts has Boston, but we’ve put together a list of unique locations in each of the six states attracting couples to tie the same-sex knot. p20 — gay m a rr i age

a p oca ly p se

Get out your bedazzled umbrella and prepare for the shit storm that’s OBVIOUSLY coming if gay marriage continues to exist! p 2 4 — f rom sm a l l t ow n t o big ca m p us

Hear from Kent State LGBT students who made the big leap from conservative small towns to Kent State’s main campus and how the transition has changed their lives. p 3 0 — t h e r a i n bow m a m a

Mary Smith’s family keeps growing and growing as she continues to support the LGBT community at Stark State and adopt gay children who need help or a place to live. p32 —the kent bar scene

LGBT students are fleeing to Youngstown, Akron and Cleveland to enjoy the bar scene, but what will it take to find a dedicated home for LGBT nightlife in Kent? p38 — cov er: ou t a nd prou d in t he m i l i ta ry

The repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” not only overturns a nearly 18-year military policy, but it opens the door for people like Kent State’s Jay Steiner to enlist and be open about sexuality.

p58 — “husbands” web series q&a

We got on the horn and reached out for a Q & A with Jane Espenson and Brad Bell, writers of the popular web series “Husbands,” to find out what’s in store for season two. p 6 0 — e v e r y g ay ’s wor s t f e a r s

Sure, there’s the dark or spiders, but here’s a couple things LGBT students are certainly afraid of—promise!

FROM THE EDITORS

Julie Sickel, Managing Editor

I came to Ohio from New England—a place where “gay” seems to be naturally more out in the open. With Massachusetts leading the charge on same-sex marriage and Providence, RI, boasting a gay Italian Jewish politician as its mayor, it’s safe to say New Englanders have a higher local exposure to gay culture than someone living in the Midwest. I didn’t realize that about New England until I came to Ohio. I applied for the managing editor position of Fusion last semester in the midst of the printing controversy. When Fusion’s regular printing company refused to publish the magazine because of a controversial photo spread, I knew it was the kind of bold, challenging magazine where I wanted to work.

You’ll get to see our recommendations for gay marriage hot spots in the six states that allow gay marriage (four of which are in my beloved New England), find out why Kent doesn’t have a gay bar and learn the 15 reasons gay marriage will clearly result in the apocalypse! (Insert sarcastic gasp here.) Also check out my Q & A with Jane Espenson and Brad Bell from the new web series “Husbands,” a hilariously fast-talking look at love between an unlikely pair determined to make marriage work. Enjoy.

I’m happy to say we’ve kept up our reputation of creating a fun and interesting magazine that will continue to turn heads. Inside the pages of this issue you’ll read stories like one on LGBT students who came to Kent State from small towns or the piece on Mary Smith, a Northeast Ohio woman who “spiritually adopts” gay children.

Simon Husted, Editor

In middle school, I was renowned for calling classmates “gay homosexuals.” That phrase flew out of my mouth whenever a peer teased or annoyed me. It meant, at least to my immature understanding, that not only were you stupid—as in the gay-stupid—but you also liked kissing men—a gross thing to imagine, for sure. I never aimed the words at anyone openly gay, but the fact I combined both terms into an offensive phrase made me into twice the homophobe. Not to mention, I looked like a dumbass whenever I said, “My gawd, you’re such a gay homosexual!” During those years, I watched WWE pro wrestling for more than your typical entertainment, but I didn’t identify as gay. The only things I knew about gay people were the few things I saw on TV—they were weak, obnoxious, never had any male friends and were never really important. Picking on the gay community was just part of growing up, I thought. Every kid my age was doing it, and I never saw a teacher or parent object to the rude comments and teasing. No one even objected to my use of “gay homosexual.” My perception on sexuality and gender has changed a lot since then—mostly because I met lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people at Kent State. Before then, though, my attitude changed because media changed. Once I reached high school, I no longer perceived the LGBT community as this abstract, taboo lifestyle that blanketed anyone attracted to the same sex. News and entertainment media outlets, like MTV, MSNBC and even my local daily newspaper,

began telling stories of people who were lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. This is what Fusion is about: telling the stories of real people with an LGBT-community angle. Stories like those include Jay Steiner continuing her college education because of the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” LGBT students moving between their small towns and Kent State’s main campus, and a mother adopting ostracized gay teens. You’ll also find other great stories in the magazine that answer why the city of Kent lacks a gay bar, where are great destinations for a gay wedding and how much longer it will be until Ohio legalizes same-sex marriage. In case you’re not into heavy reading, this issue also pokes fun at gaydar and other crazy misconceptions with fun satirical pieces. Fusion isn’t simply an LGBT magazine; it’s a magazine about how LGBT trends, norms and prejudices affect students around Ohio. After reading this winter issue, I hope you will come to the same conclusion.

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from the editors

L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I T O R S

STORY TITLE

fusion

editor-in- chief simon husted

a dv iser

m a nagi ng edi tor

bruce zake

julie sickel

art director

photo editor

web editor

cody wallis

brooke didonato

greg porter

Volume 9 · Issue 1 Winter 2011

sta f f w ri ters

promotions tea m

kelli fitzpatrick kate murphy maranda shrewsberry meghan bogardus matthew lewis jackie bergeron

jackie bergeron, social media editor nora rodriguez, marketing director

oh iof usion.com bl og ger s

matthew lewis jakie demate tyeasha clarke maranda shrewsberry kelli fitzpatrick

photogra phers

nora rodriguez hannah potes jacob byk amy loomis robert sustersic emma borrelli

con t r i bu t i ng oh iof usion.com w r i t er s

kate murphy tami ehrman kara bindus raytavia evans

designers

katherine armstrong jim lightcap melanie fiorille

busine s s sta f f

korie culleiton, advertiser tami bongiorni, advertising manager lori cantor, business manager chris sharron, media specialist

copy editors

brittany nader katy coduto

mission

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, fwusion is “a merging of diverse, distinct or separate elements into a unified whole.” Fusion magazine addresses sexual minority issues within the general university population. The magazine strives to unify people of different backgrounds through education and awareness.

con tact us

donations

205 Franklin Hall, KSU Kent, Ohio 44242

Donations can be sent to the address at left, payable to Fusion magazine. If you’re interested in advertising in our next issue, please contact our advertising manager at the phone number or email at left.

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a dv ert isi ng

special thanks

Fusion magazine thanks the gay community endowment fund of the Akron Community Foundation for its continued financial support.

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Editorial Staff Members

art director

photo editor

socia l media editor

Cody Wallis

Brooke DiDonato

Jackie Bergeron

Cody Wallis is a senior visual communication design major and the art director of Fusion. If there is anything he cares about more than LGBT advocacy, it’s utilizing uncoated paper in magazines.

Brooke Didonato is a senior photojournalism major and the photo editor of Fusion. She’ll tell you she’s a sucker for dramatic lighting.

m a r k et i ng m a nager

w eb editor

Nora Rodriguez

Greg Porter

Nora Rodriguez is a senior photojournalism major and the marketing director of Fusion. When not staring longingly at homeless cats, she collects ugly sweaters, watches re-runs of “Gilmore Girls” and plays her ukulele.

Greg Porter is the web editor of Fusion and a staff writer. He is a senior visual communication design major with a minor in writing. When not flaunting his sexuality in front of churches and advocating special rights for LGBT individuals and other sinners, he enjoys making fun of Mormon writers and talking about penises on his blog.

Jackie Bergeron is a junior magazine journalism major and the social media editor of Fusion. She likes collecting hotel key cards, beating small children at board games and kayaking like a BAMF. She GTLs better than “her people” from New Jersey and is usually so hyped up on Speedway icees that she can’t control the volume of her voice.

NEWS YOU’VE MISSED

the hot and juicy goss you’ve been waiting for

Text by Jackie Bergeron

m ay

june

j u ly

May 5, 2011 Presbyterians Can Have Same-Sex Marriages

June 4, 2011 France Hits Weird Milestone

July 24, 2011 Wedding State of Mind

A French lesbian couple was married June 4 in what was said to be France’s first legal same-sex marriage. The only reason it is legal, however, is because one of the women transitioned from a man to a woman and never legally changed her sex.

Same-sex marriage officially became legal in New York, and a record 659 couples said “I do” that day. New York is the sixth state to recognize same-sex marriage.

The Presbyterian Church approved a constitutional amendment stating that the clergy can be ordained to perform same-sex marriages.

June 16, 2011 Human Rights Council Declaration For the first time, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a declaration condemning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It also commissioned a worldwide study of anti-gay discrimination. June 24, 2011 Marriage Equality Act Passes The New York Senate approved the same-sex marriage law with a vote 36-26 after adding exemptions for religious organizations similar to those pertaining to interracial or interfaith marriages. The New York Assembly passed it that day as well. The law would come into effect 30 days later.

July 26, 2011 LGBT Meets UN The International Gay and Lesbian Association has been granted consultative status according to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. ILGA can now attend UN meetings, speak at meetings and provide information to UN bodies pertaining to the treatment of the LGBT community.

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august

september

october

nov em ber

August 4, 2011 Obama’s Proclamation against Oppression

September 19, 2011 Chaz Bono Takes the Dance Floor

October 11, 2011 National Coming Out Day

November 2, 2011 Tax Write Offs for Trans

President Obama signed a proclamation that states the State Department must bar anyone who has engaged in oppression against various groups from entering the United States. Groups defined as “sexual orientation or gender identity” are included.

The 13th season of “Dancing with the Stars” premiere created a shit storm of controversy by featuring its first transgender cast member, Chaz Bono.

If you check ohiofusion.com, you can see all our staff coming out stories! To commemorate National Coming Out Day, the LGBTQ Center at Kent State held a vigil. Participants released balloons in Risman Plaza to honor LGBT youth who had been harassed or bullied into suicide. GRR at KSU lined Summit and Main streets with signs asking rush-hour drivers to honk for love to celebrate National Coming Out Day.

The Internal Revenue Service, a.k.a. the dreaded IRS, announced that transgender tax payers can deduct the cost of general reassignment surgery as a medical expense. Through a “note of acquiescence,” the IRS said to abide the 2010 decision stating some medical expenses from such surgeries could be used as deductions from income tax filings.

August 13, 2011 Pride in Prague Prague had its first gay pride parade. Several thousand people marched, and the police managed to keep things pretty peaceful between the marchers and people protesting against it. August 26, 2011 Nebraska Rules for Same-Sex Parents The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that a woman who served as a parent to her former partner’s child during their relationship can pursue custody and visitation. This ruling comes as clarification for the state’s same-sex parenting rights. August 29, 2011 Kent State Holds First LGBT Reception This year, Kent State hosted its first ever LGBT social event during Welcome Weekend. Students, faculty and staff were treated to rainbow colored cupcakes and candy at the meet and greet event. The Student Success Program and the LGBTQ Center organized the event that is hoped to become an annual occurrence.

September 20, 2011 DADT Ends After its ugly 18-year reign as the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military, “don’t ask, don’t tell” was over. Members of the military who were discharged under DADT are allowed to re-apply. September 26, 2011 Leisha Hailey Booted off Flight After Liplock Leisha Hailey, an actress from “the L-Word,” and her girlfriend were kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight after kissing. Hailey took to Twitter to tweet her outrage after a flight attendant told her it was a “family flight” and stating she had a video of the incident. Southwest responded on their blog that the women weren’t kicked off because of the kiss but rather because fellow passengers deemed the manner in which they were kissing as inappropriate. September 28, 2011 Wal-Mart Adds Transgender Protection The megastore everyone loves to hate added a new section to its employee non-discrimination policy. The provision is a safeguard from discrimination and/or harassment based on both gender identity and gender expression. Perhaps this is a solution to amend their not-so-LGBT-friendly past?

October 12, 2011 Uncivil Union: An Exercise in Marriage Equality at Kent State On their two year anniversary, Kent State architecture major Yana Grinblat “married” her girlfriend Kelly Robinson, a Kent alumna. The Uncivil Union was hosted by the Kent Liberty Alliance. Although their marriage wasn’t real, both Grinblat and Robinson hope to wed for real in the future. October 29, 2011 Gay Homecoming Couple is Crowned Rachel Arellano and her girlfriend, Haileigh Adams, were crowned Patrick Henry High School’s homecoming king and queen. Arellano was crowned king at the school’s pep rally, while Adams was crowned at the homecoming dance the following day. The California seniors have both been out since their freshmen year in high school and have been dating since their sophomore year. They are considered one of the first lesbian couples crowned as king and queen in a homecoming court.

November 3, 2011 Coco’s Wedding In what very well may be the very first on-air same-sex wedding, Conan O’Brien officiated the wedding of his longtime costume designer and his partner. Scott Cronick and David Gorsh exchanged vows on the same day that marked O’Brien’s one-year anniversary of his show on TBS. To celebrate this anniversary, the show spent a week in New York City, which is why the marriage is legal. November 8, 2011 Gleeks Lose It After talking about what it means to have sex and lose your virginity for a whole episode, two “Glee” couples experienced their first time, one of them being gay. The episode, which outraged the Parents Television Council, also featured a snippet of the gay bar scene in Ohio.

CS TE LO ER BY RTI ITTI LE ES O N G A Y M A R R I A G E

NOT WITH IT

celebrities against marriage equality

Text by Kelli Fitzpatrick

Celebrities—they’re just like you and me. They pick up dog poop and run errands in sweats. They have opinions on gay marriage and broadcast them loud and clear in the instant-gratification world of Twitter, blogs and beyond. But Lady Gaga and Sarah Palin aren’t the only ones with strong views on gay matrimony…

Celebrities who are totally not with it:

Victoria Jackson The squeaky-voiced former “Saturday Night Live” star has no qualms about speaking her mind. On her bible-thumping blog, she wrote, “Everyone knows that two men on a wedding cake is a comedy skit, not an ‘alternate lifestyle.’” To each her own, Miss Jackson. To each her own. Photo: David Shankbone via Flickr, Creative Commons license

Chuck Norris

Stephen Baldwin

The redheaded martial artist and gym equipment aficionado frequently airs his support of Proposition 8 in his column on the ultra-conservative townhall.com. Norris wrote, “We should be upholding and building…up [traditional marriage] by voting ‘yes’ on Proposition 8.” He called Prop 8 protesters “bitter activists…[who] have placed the brainwashing blame upon” religious figures and Prop 8 supporters.

Standing on the other end of the issue from his brother Alec, Stephen expressed anti-gay marriage views to English newspaper The Guardian. Baldwin, who has appeared on “The Apprentice,” spoke on the issue: “I don’t believe any minority has the right to create changes that impact on the majority.” He also showed support of men who “turn away from that [gay] lifestyle.”

Photo: Cpl. Zachary Dyer, Official U.S. Marine Corps website

David Tyree

Karl Lagerfeld

Alas, not all football stars can share the open-mindedness of Michael Strahan. A former New York Giants player, Tyree spoke in a video for the National Organization for Marriage. “What I know will happen if [gay marriage] does come forth is this will be the beginning of our country sliding toward…anarchy,” he said in the video.

He may be one of the most prominent figures of the fashion world, as he designs for Chanel and dresses better than the models, but Lagerfeld breaks the mold and does not agree with the idea of gay marriage. In March 2010, the designer told Vice magazine, “I’m against [gay marriage] for a very simple reason: In the ‘60s they all said we had the right to the difference. And now, suddenly, they want a bourgeois life.”

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WITH IT

celebrities for marriage equality

Celebrities who are totally with it:

Alec Baldwin

Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Christopher Meloni

Upon hearing the news of New York granting gay marriage equality June 24, the suave “30 Rock” star tweeted his appraisal. He then responded to a follower’s negative remark: “It’s all cool honey. Jesus is down with the gay marriage thing. He called me. In fact, he’s very happy.”

You read that right. The outspoken conservative co-host of “The View” expressed her support in an August interview with Xfinity Fancast. “I actually support gay marriage,” she said, an opinion she knew “would definitely surprise people.”

The hunky actor, of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” fame, received the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Award in 2006 for his ongoing support of LGBT rights. Most recently, Meloni took part in the HRC video campaign leading up to the passage of New York’s marriage equality laws. “I believe in love, in family and in fairness,” he said in the video. “That’s why I’m a New Yorker for marriage equality.”

Steve Martin

Barbara Bush

Eminem

The veteran actor also comically tweeted his support of New York’s passing the marriage equality law. Martin most recently co-starred in “It’s Complicated” and seemed to have a complicated situation on his hands: “I’m gettin’ married in the mornin’,” he tweeted. “Wait. I am already married. NEW LAW REQUIRED.”

Taking her mother’s lead, not George Dubbya’s. Bush supports marriage equality and also appeared in a Human Rights Campaign video. The former First Daughter, who had never publicly expressed her stance on the issue before this PSA, said, “I’m a New Yorker for marriage equality. New York is about fairness and equality. Everyone should have the right to marry the person that they love.”

The oft-controversial rapper tends to throw around the word “faggot” in his lyrics, but that doesn’t mean he hates the homos. “If two people love each other, then what the hell?” he told The New York Times in June 2010. “Everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable [in marriage], if they want.”

MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN OHIO

MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN OHIO ANY TIME SOON? don’t hold your breath.

Eight years have passed since Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage. Five more states, Canada and the District of Columbia have since adopted marriage equality, but those victories haven’t answered the question, “When will Ohio’s turn come?”

Text by Meghan Bogardus Photos by Amy Loomis

Neither of the brides wore white. The man officiating lacked a license to marry. The ceremony itself lasted about five minutes. This wedding is a sham, but not for any of the above reasons. Well, except the second one. The wedding—called an “uncivil union”—was a demonstration organized by the Kent State Liberty Alliance in support of same-sex marriage. The brides were Yana Grinblat, senior architecture major, and Kelsey Robinson, a Kent State alumna. The girls chose to do the Oct. 12 wedding for many reasons near and dear to their hearts, including the fact that it was their two and a half year anniversary. Yet the most important reason was also the simplest. “I did it because I’m [in] love with my girlfriend,” Robinson says, shrugging her shoulders.

u n m a r r i e d i n o h i o , p r o b a b ly s t a y i n g t h a t wa y

According to research from Equality Ohio, it is true, statistically speaking, that Ohio is second to last in terms of basic equality laws. Ohio is among a group of states with an additional obstacle against gay marriage legislation. Along with 29 other states, Ohio has a constitutional ban on marriage between members of the same sex. Ohio’s constitution even bans civil unions. Because of the 2004 ban, Ohio voters would have to amend the state constitution first before state legislators could do anything about marriage equality. “We’ve got this additional hurdle,” says Kim Welter, the director of programs and outreach at Equality Ohio. “It’s an incredible hurdle because we have to have voters.” In May, marriage equality supporters reached a milestone when 53 percent of Americans said they favored gay marriage, according to a Washington Post/ ABC News Poll.

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Kelsey Robinson, right, wraps her arms around her girlfriend of more than two-and-a-half years, Yana Grinblat. In October, the couple volunteered to participate in an on-campus marriage demonstration against the state’s anti-gay marriage amendment.

This was the first time a national poll documented majority support for same-sex marriage. However, Welter says, polls don’t always measure approval among Americans who actually vote. Nor do national polls reflect the social attitudes of Ohio residents. Eric Hammer, 46, a member of the board of directors at LGBT Cleveland, who has been with his unmarried partner for 20 years, says he has seen a lot more support for same-sex couples in Ohio. But, maybe not enough.

“Right now we still have a culture that [thinks] it’s okay to discriminate,” Welter says. Welter hopes that an equal housing and employment act would be passed by 2014, and then after that, the organization would move onto other things like bullying. She says these kinds of issues should be the main focus of marriage equality advocates. “We need to have people talking to [legislators] about something they can do something about it,” Welter says.

“ I don’t even think we could get a Democrat to vote for marriage, let alone the Republicans.” “I would like to think that people are more accepting of [same-sex marriage],” Hammer says. Welter estimates it could require around 10,000 volunteer hours and $12 million for a repeal effort. Success would be crucial because the campaign couldn’t be easily repeated. “The money just isn’t there,” Welter says. That’s only the first step. Once voters lift the constitutional ban, then it would have to be taken to the legislature for a gay marriage vote. “I don’t even think we could get a Democrat to vote for marriage, let alone the Republicans,” Welter says. Welter says Ohio would have to wait until Republicans no longer control either house or until those Republicans have shifted their viewpoints. In other words, it could be quite a long time. coping and hoping

Although the constitutional ban is what legislatively makes Ohio’s effort different from New York’s campaign, which succeeded this summer, there are a slew of other things that keep our state far from accepting gay marriage. Welter says Ohio doesn’t have the foundation of crucial anti-discriminatory practices to approach something as large as marriage. For example, New York has had a sexual orientation non-discrimination act since 2003. This protects from discrimination in employment, housing and many other areas. As an organization, Equality Ohio is focused on passing a similar act.

Though the state is lagging behind, many cities in Ohio, including Cleveland and Cleveland Heights, have domestic partner registries so that couples have proof of their commitment. This is particularly helpful for things like domestic partner benefits that have been made available by many employers. Hammer and his partner are registered as domestic partners in Cleveland Heights. Hammer is employed as an accountant for Cuyahoga County, and through his employer he is offered partner benefits that are heavily taxed by the federal government. Fortunately, his partner is insured through his own employer, and they don’t have to utilize the benefits. To Hammer and his partner, a legal marriage would only make things more “iron-clad from a legal standpoint.” The pair had a spiritual commitment ceremony in 2000, attended by their friends and family. “We have a commitment to each other,” Hammer says. “It wouldn’t change that.” The faux-brides, Robinson and Grinblat, believe marriage equality is something they will see happen. Robinson said one of the biggest steps is to “put better people in government.” “I feel like it will be a generational thing,” Grinblat says.

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SO MANY OPT “GAY WEDDING 14

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IONS FOR A ” Now, more than ever, gay American couples are on the hunt for the perfect wedding spot.

Six of our 50 states recognize gay marriage—still a weak 12 percent of the country, but it’s a work in progress. Even more promising news is the U.S. 2010 Census, which recorded 131,729 married gay or lesbian couples. Today’s newlyweds have to know the top-notch wedding destinations in the country because, as everyone expects, a gay wedding is nothing if not fabulous.

To start planning the gay wedding of your dreams, check out these hot spots to get married in the six states that recognize gay marriage.

Text by Kelli Fitzpatrick

WAT E R BUR Y, V T.

Waterbury is an open and friendly community filled with a “live and let live” vibe. Vermont is the first state to pass marriage equality through legislature, not by the courts. “We’re pioneers in LGBT equality,” said Willie Docto, president and co-founder of Vermont Gay Tourism Association. The legislation “showed the people wanted it to happen.” Docto is also the innkeeper of the Moose Meadow Lodge, which has hosted more than 300 same-sex weddings. Waterbury is home to a wide selection of local restaurants, “not like major cities where they have all the same kind of chain restaurants,” Docto said. Cider House BBQ & Pub serves southern style dishes like chicken fried steak with “a variety of Vermont-made apple ciders,” according to the pub’s website. Cider House buys products from local farmers and even offers catering services.

Docto recommends the Vermont Liberty Tea Company, a gay-owned teashop. Liberty Tea brews tea with its own garden-grown herbs and hosts an Afternoon Tea every Sunday from Labor Day to Mother’s Day. Thinking of getting hitched in Waterbury? You should, Docto said. “No matter what color or sexual orient ation you are,” he said, “Vermont is just a very beautiful and friendly place to visit.” Photos courtesy of the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing.

GAY WEDDING HOT SPOTS

w h i te mou nta ins region, n.h.

The Granite State offers adventurous outdoor activities and a country-chic vibe. Hiking and skiing down the Appalachian Mountains are main attractions that never go out of season. The White Mountains Region has beautiful landscapes and optimal spots for “a mountaintop wedding,” according to New Hampshire Wedding Magazine. Ski resorts “are happy to host you and your guests in slope-side condos.” For the not-so-ballsy couple—no pun intended—the “lesbian paradise” hotel in Bethlehem offers a low-key wedding and honeymoon spot. Highlands Inn has been hosting commitment ceremonies since 1985.

So, why should gay or lesbian couples get hitched in the White Mountains region? “It’s a very gay-friendly space,” Newman said. “New Hampshire has had a gay rights law since 1990.” Besides the “wonderful ski season and best foliage in the world,” Newman said, the rural region offers taxfree shopping, zip lines and summer theater events. Photo courtesy of White Mountains Attractions Association.

“It’s great we can do [legal gay wedding ceremonies] now,” owner Grace Newman said. “We’ve been doing them [since] before they were legal anyway!”

d e s m o i n e s , i owa

Iowa is the shining beacon of gay weddings of the Midwest, as it is the only state in the area with marriage equality laws. One of the trendiest venues in Des Moines is West End Architectural Salvage. West End is a museum of sorts that houses an eclectic collection of salvaged items from larger cities and foreign countries. The unique pieces are all for sale, but its biggest selling point may be its use as a wedding venue. Next on the list is Des Moines’ Jasper Winery, recommended by Scott Stevens, owner of Iowa’s Gay Wedding Planner, an online resource for gay and lesbian couples looking to wed in the Hawkeye State.

hours, couples sometimes shack up in a hotel. “Bed-and-breakfasts have really taken off with the gay marriage ruling in Iowa,” Stevens said. Wineries and apple orchards are also great places to visit in the fall, Stevens said. Yet another must-see is the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park at Des Moines Art Center. This outdoor attraction is a possible wedding venue, replete with a walkway winding through a series of 27 exotic sculptures. Couples can explore the 4.4 acres of art or take part in its biannual Big Hair Ball. Photo courtesy of the Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Iowa requires a three-day waiting period from marriage license application to wedding day, Stevens said. To entertain themselves for those 72

mystic region, conn.

Couples looking for a peaceful seaside wedding spot can find their dream venue in Mystic, Conn. “It’s a little slice of heaven, right on the Connecticut shoreline.” said Connecticut Justice of the Peace and non-denominational minister Marie Wiley. Mystic is a prime spot for beach weddings, yacht weddings, boat weddings… “I’ve married them all over,” Wiley said. Some of Wiley’s clients’ favorite spots include Steamboat Inn, Stonington Inn and The Carriage House at 26 Pearl Street—a beach-side rental home. Another local venue and must-see tourist stop Wiley suggested is the Mystic Aquarium. “It’s absolutely beautiful,” Wiley said.

Once the couple ties the knot and the party is ready to explore, they “must get the New England experience,” Wiley said. This includes sampling the array of local seafood. Wiley recommends Lobsters In the Rough, which is open every weekend from Labor Day to Columbus Day. Obtaining a marriage license in Connecticut is as easy as “filling out a form for your driver’s license,” Wiley said. “There are no tests, no waiting, no witnesses.” Photo courtesy of Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT.

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m o u n t wa s h i n g t o n c o g r a i lwa y, w h ite mounta ins region

s k y l i n e o f d e s m o i n e s , i owa

m y s t i c s e a p o r t, c o n n e c t i c u t

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Families gather for fireworks

worce st er , m a s s.

b u f fa l o n i a g a r a , n .y.

at the waterfront in downtown

Massachusetts set the stage in 2004 by becoming the first state to legalize gay marriage. Seven years later it remains a gay wedding hot spot.

Buffalo has a little bit of everything, from its classic natural scenery and thriving bar scene to its active gay community.

The city of Worcester is the “quintessential New England spot” for a gay wedding, said Monica Elefterion, marketing and tourism coordinator for Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau.

According to visitbuffaloniagara.com, it has “the scenic grandeur of Niagara Falls and other natural wonders…complemented by a thriving cultural scene, historic architecture [and] restaurants to delight every palate.”

Buffalo, N.Y.

Worcester is the “magnet right in the middle of it all,” a 30-minute drive to other major cities and destinations, Elefterion said. “We’re a welcoming city for LGBT tourism and weddings” which has hosted a gay pride parade since 1976, she said. “A strong gay community” resides in Worcester, as does an array of gay wedding venues, Elefterion said. Tower Hill Botanical Garden boasts luscious indoor and outdoor areas available for weddings. Tower Hill “feels like you’re in an oasis,” Elefterion said. The Orangerie greenhouse accommodates up to 152 guests for a rental fee of $4,800. The Great Hall, a cozier room with a fireplace, fits up to 64 attendees and goes for the same rental cost, according to Tower Hill’s 2012 wedding policy. Orangerie is available for wedding receptions Memorial Day through Labor Day only, but is “a unique backdrop for wedding photographs,” according to Tower Hill’s website. Another trendy gay wedding venue is the Beechwood Hotel and its Maria Gill Wilson Chapel. Renting the historic Victorian chapel for the wedding ceremony costs $600, according to the Beechwood Hotel 2012 online wedding package guide. Central Rock Climbing Center is a sporty attraction for the wedding couple and guests of all ages. Central Rock hosts 14,000 feet of rock-climbing walls, some more than 40 feet high, according to the gym’s website. An adult day pass for the gym costs $15, not including equipment rental. Central Rock is the go-to gym for blowing off some steam before—or after—the main event.

One of the most sought-out venues for a gay wedding in Buffalo is Asbury Hall. “We are a renovated church from the 1870s,” said Asbury Hall event manager Austin Scaccia in an email. “We cater to all walks of life.” Asbury Hall has 3,800 square feet of space to rent, accommodating up to 250 wedding reception guests, according to the Asbury Hall Banquet Kit. Asbury Hall has hosted the Gay & Lesbian Youth Services’ Annual “Gayla,” according to the venue’s website, making it a prime gay-friendly location. Renting the hall from June through October starts at $1,000, and off-season rental costs start at $600. Buffalo Niagara also has a never-ending nightlife to indulge the newlyweds. Bars stay open until 4 a.m., no matter the weather, and Gay Pride Week in June draws thousands of people for the festivities. This “extravaganza gets bigger and better every year,” according to visitbuffaloniagara.com, including “theatrical presentations, concerts, lectures, workshops and other special events, all capped off with a Dyke March.” Photo courtesy of Visit Buffalo Niagara.

G AY MARRIAGE = APOCALY PSE

fifteen reasons why

GAY MARRIAGE WILL CAUSE THE APOCALYPSE Text by Greg Porter Illustration by Jim Lightcap

As everyone knows, homosexuality is akin to pedophilia, which is akin to polygamy, which is akin to bestiality, which is akin to rape, which is akin to murder, which is akin to treason! Is it any wonder that a gay soldier leaked the WikiLeak documents? Gay marriage will result in gay children, who will also get gay married! Then those gay married gay babies will have more gay babies who will have more gay babies until there are no more heterosexuals left on Earth. Homosexuality is unnatural, so letting two gay people get married is DOUBLE UNNATURAL. They’ll put decorative towels on everything. You won’t even be able to dry your hands on them! Did you ever see the movie “2012” with John Cusack? If gay marriage is legalized, you’ll be forced to watch that movie. Our God is an all-loving god, so it should come as no surprise that he HATES fags! Gay marriage will cause all rivers on earth to run red with blood and white with semen. And pink with bloody semen. Gay marriage will result in more gay orgasms, which will cause all active and inactive volcanoes on earth to simultaneously erupt, which will likely kill everything everywhere. Few people know that gays and atheists joined forces in the late 1600s to fabricate dinosaur bones. If gay marriage is legalized, these imaginary creatures will come to life, craving the flesh of straight people. Gay Nazis will ride upon velociraptors, wreaking havoc and eating regular babies—but not gay babies!w Gays will overthrow the government and elect Lady Gaga as president/goddess of the Universe. She’ll bedazzle EVERYTHING. If gays can get married, glitter will become an airborne virus.

Gay Marriage will cheapen your straight marriage! Kim Kardashian’s marriage will mean nothing anymore! Gays will pump cologne into the air—everything will smell like an Abercrombie store! Women will be bred like cattle and force-fed hormones to make more gays! Don’t believe me? It’s in the Bible! Well, it might not be, but I heard it from a guy holding a Bible outside Denny’s. All children’s fairy tales will be retold, but gay! Rumpleforeskin, Alice in Bonerland, Little Red Riding Wood, The Tortoise and the Hairy Ballsack, The Ugly Dickling, Pinocchio, Fruity and the Beast and Jackin’ off the Bean Stock. The horror!

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can work for an LGBT magazine

Although we don’t ask for an applicant’s sexual

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more than two-thirds of our staff either identify as

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STORY TITLE

from small town

TO BIG CAMPUS S T U D E N T S F R O M S M A L L T O W N S

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What comes to mind when thinking about small towns? The answer is usually rural areas, small high schools, dusty dirt roads and conservative values. Transitioning from a small town to a college campus can present challenges for any college student, but for LGBT students, the adjustment is arguably much greater. Among these three students, the change was at least a positive step.

Text by Kate Murphy Photos by Jacob Byk

around you and made fun of you in public a lot,” Brandon says. “In the locker room, they would assume I was looking at them. I would try to avoid it and ask teachers to write me notes to get out of gym class. I ended up getting a C- in gym. I tried to skip it so much because there was so much bullying.” The students in his school would also play cruel jokes

“ In the locker room, they would assume I was looking at them. I would try to avoid it and ask teachers to write me notes to get out of gym class. I ended up getting a C- in gym. I tried to skip it so much because there was so much bullying.” b r a n d o n r i c h a r d s , a u s t i n t o w n t o w n s h i p, o h i o

Austintown Twp. br a n d on r ich a r d s’ hom et ow n

popu l ation

land area

29,677

11.63mi

medi an household income

$40,428 pov ert y r ate

13%

For Brandon Richards, the change from high school to The Art Institute of Pittsburgh to Kent State has been a whirlwind adventure. Brandon, 22, is originally from Austintown Township. The town he lives in is so small that his high school comprised of students from several neighboring towns. Brandon described it as the type of area that if a mother saw two guys holding hands, she would cover her child’s eyes. Being out was not OK, and residents mostly rejected those who were. High school at Austintown Fitch was an uneasy atmosphere for Brandon. Coming out in 10th grade was a crucial, but cliques and bullies made it a difficult thing for Brandon to do. “When people started to find out, it was hell every day of the week,” Brandon says. “People made fun of me a lot. You would get random people yelling the word ‘faggot’ down the hall or knocking books out of your hand and trying to spread rumors. It was a very hard thing to overcome.” The constant bullying and being overlooked by others was a tough thing to deal with. The tormenting and ridicule affected his schoolwork negatively in a large way. “If people knew you were gay, they were awkward

on his car whenever it was parked in the student lot. Brandon says they poured Vaseline all over the windshield, left hateful notes and even keyed the siding. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh was the first college he attended after graduating high school. Coming from the small area of Austintown to a huge city like Pittsburgh was an enormous change. “Going to the Art Institute—it was a reality check. It was a big city; I had no idea what was going to happen to me,” Brandon says. “But it was a whole new experience. Things didn’t have to be a secret anymore. I would start pushing little things I could do to see people’s reactions. I would make comments on how cute a guy was or go up and approach someone, which I would never do before. Going out to gay clubs, you learn about the gay community, and you learn that you’re not just stuck all by yourself. I found support

FROM SMALL TOWN TO BIG CAMPUS

City of Green k at i e su m m er s’ hom et ow n

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6.9%

groups and a lot of people who were just like me. I didn’t realize it was possible. It felt like someone took weights off my shoulders.”

everyone else, and it was not a very tolerant school,” Katie says. “People would say it was a tolerant school, and it tried to pretend that it was, but it wasn’t.”

Brandon transferred to Kent State for personal and career reasons. He switched his major from fashion to advertising, and decided to move closer to home. He describes Kent as being very, very different than the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Surprisingly, he says Kent is more diverse and accepting. He has had almost zero problems with people’s reactions to his sexuality.

Katie was out in her high school as bisexual, but she also considers herself genderqueer. She wore guys’ sweatshirts and shoes in high school and kept her hair very short.

“I thought I was going to have to deal with the bullying from high school every day of my life. I thought it would never end. But Kent is so accepting of all people. To me, Kent is a little bubble like the peace capital of the world. College is way better [than high school]. My life is amazing now.” k atie su m mers, green, oh io

Katie Summers, 18, is a first semester freshman at Kent State and a broadcast journalism major. She attended Green High School in Green, Ohio with a graduating class of around 200 students. “In my school, everyone knew everything about

Her classmates were not very tolerant of how she expressed herself physically. She was called a freak among other derogatory terms. A student once walked up to her and blatantly called her a lesbian and said other hurtful things. Her mother got involved and talked to the principal about Katie’s harassment. Some students were asked not to get near Katie or talk to her anymore. “A few people think I claimed to be bisexual because I wanted the attention,” Katie says. “They always

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Grand Island, N.Y. t i m l ew i s’ hom et ow n

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medi an household income

$82,850 pov ert y r ate

1.7%

thought that because I never showed interest in women around the school, but that’s because there weren’t any women there I was interested in. People assume just because we’re LGBT that we’re interested in every person of the same sex, and that’s not how it is at all.” Katie participated in other activities in high school like the school band, which she treated like a sanctuary. Katie came to Kent because of the successful stories she heard about Kent State’s communications program. Although her hometown is in nearby Summit County, it was far enough to start fresh. Her favorite part about Kent State is how accepting the campus is. “I would have to say the most surprising thing coming from high school to college is the number of people and [how] few of them actually care about how you look and how you act. Nobody really cares what you do around here, and I like that. It is overwhelming to be at a big college sometimes. Some of my classes have more students in them than the amount of students I graduated with. But it’s nice to blend in sometimes, though. When you’re blending in, you don’t have people noticing you and picking you out of a crowd.”

The diversity of the campus, and the support she receives from PRIDE! Kent, a student LGBT organization on campus, has helped her transition from high school life to college. “Life is much more enjoyable here than it is at high school. I am so happy I came here. I love Kent.” t i m l e w i s , g r a n d i s l a n d , n .y.

Tim Lewis, 20, is in his second year at Kent State’s nursing program. He is originally from Grand Island, N.Y. It isn’t small, Tim says, but it feels like it is because 70 percent of the population is 65 years old or older. The town is filled with nursing homes. Also, because the island is so large, its population is spread out and makes it feel more rural than it actually is. He says its residents are very, very conservative.

FROM SMALL TOWN TO BIG CAMPUS

Tim says his high school was filled with drama and cliques. It was important to be a popular kid in his school. The area he comes from is ritzy, and if you didn’t have name brand clothes or a cool car, then you were not cool. “I had very few close friends,” Tim says. “I was ignored and pushed aside because of my sexuality. There were other people who were pushed to the side as well. I ended up becoming best friends with this girl who was Indian. We ended up being pushed towards each other because no one would talk to us because I

all over again and didn’t understand how that negativity seemed to follow him. “If you were one of the popular gays who were really skinny and wearing name brands, or if you were a drag queen, you’d be popular at [UB],” Tim says. “Or if you had major attitude problems, you were cool. If you had ever been labeled as ‘bitch’ to your face—that was a good thing. “ He found himself in a deep depression because the culture and atmosphere of the university was not what he expected it was going to be like. He thought

“ It was like, ‘He’s gay and we’re not allowed to talk to him because this is how we were raised, so let’s not talk to him.’” was gay and she was Indian. We were both minorities, so no one wanted to associate themselves with us.” Tim came out in his sophomore year of high school, a “very awkward” experience. The bullying didn’t get any worse, but more students ignored him. “Some people were blatantly rude to my face. A lot of people would throw out the word ‘faggot’ in front of me. But mostly the nature of the town is just to ignore the problems and things that would happen. People would avoid you. I have a really big personality, and they would just walk away from me and acted like I didn’t exist. It was like, ‘He’s gay and we’re not allowed to talk to him because this is how we were raised, so let’s not talk to him.’” Tim first attended the University at Buffalo following high school. Life was very different in Buffalo, and he was shocked at the changes. Grand Island to Buffalo was like moving halfway across the world with a completely different culture than what he was used to. “The biggest adjustment from high school to the University [at] Buffalo was being introduced to the gay community,” Tim says. “Going to the University [at] Buffalo, I got introduced to a lot of new things. I went from a very sheltered environment to a very open and very loud environment. It was a change.” The biggest surprise, however, was the similarities between his high school and the University at Buffalo. He found himself in the middle of cliques and drama

all the bullying and drama would have been left in the dust when leaving high school and entering college. He was severely wrong. “It was so catty and dramatic; it was impossible to deal with. Because of that, the whole culture of the school, the size and problems at home, it put me to the point of suicide. One night I was on top of one of their buildings just waiting for the impulse to jump off.” That is why Tim came to Kent State. He turned his life around, helped himself out of the depression and started a new life here in Ohio. “I had a really bad first year [in college], so everything is different here, and it’s fantastic. I can finally open up and talk about my problems,” Tim says. “It just makes me so happy that I got out of that place and now I’m in a really good environment.”

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VISIT OHIOFUSION.COM the official website of fusion magazine

Visit OhioFusion.com to read insightful, funny and informative blogs from the fall semester.

Katy Coduto Trip Through Your Wires

Jackie DeMate Fasionista Weekly

Kelli Fitzpatrick The “Glee” Review

Katy Coduto examines new artists, bands and genres every week that tickle her fancy and stray from the mainstream.

Jackie DeMate reveals what is fashionable, what is ugly and what belongs in an asylum.

Kelli Fitzpatrick reviews the episodes of Fox’s hit phenomenon, highlighting the good, the bad and whenever Brittany opens her mouth.

Greg Porter Things Gay Men Like

Matthew Lewis Love is So Gay

Inspired by Christian Lander’s book, “Stuff White People Like,” Greg Porter pokes fun at the common traits and stereotypes shared among gay men. People who are overly sensitive against gay jokes are advised to use caution while reading.

Love is So Gay: Matthew Lewis talks about love, sex and everything in between.

THE RAINBOW MAMA

mary smith:

THE RAINBOW MAMA Mary Smith’s family keeps growing and growing as she opens her doors to ostracized gay teens. grandchildren

kaitlyn travis

surrogate

“pooters”

ray

grandchild

mary smith

children

demitri

children

cal

biologi-

J.R.

allison

piper

austin emma

adopted

paige

children

michael pa r t n e r s

steven

Text by Julie Sickel

joel

adam

jeremiah

paul

A skateboard, a mini grill, a bicycle, some mismatched chairs and various other knickknacks scatter the floors and railings of a wraparound porch on the house at the corner of Sherrod Avenue in Sherrodsville. Inside, the house isn’t exactly messy; it’s just well lived-in. A number of people climb the porch’s steps each day and knock on the white door, ring the doorbell or simply wipe their feet and enter. The house belongs to Mary Smith. But you can call her “Mom”—everyone else does. “People ask me how many kids I have and I say ‘Well, what do you want, the short version or the long version?’” For years, Mary has been “spiritually adopting” children who have been kicked out of their homes for being gay. “I just believe that kids, no matter who they are, all deserve love,” she says, scooping up her orange

6-month-old kitten, Samuel Adams. “Especially with people who are gay, they have it 10 times harder. And just because their sexual preference is the way it is, it doesn’t mean that they don’t need love and respect.” At Stark State College, where Mary is a medical assistant, she’s a member of the campus’ lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student organization, LGBTS Global. Everyone there calls her the “rainbow mama.” Mary says she doesn’t go looking for children to take in; they just kind of find her. “Everybody knows that my house is the safe house where they can come get something to eat, something to drink, use the computer. I’m here for anybody and

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everybody. I’m never too busy to help someone out.” Current residents of the house include Mary’s two biological sons Michael, 14, and JR, 20—both straight—and Mary’s adopted son Joel, 26, and his partner, Steven. Joel is a paramedic and Steven is an EMT. Joel and Mary met nine years ago, about six months after Joel’s mother died. He grew close with Mary

It’s crazy, she admits, but she loves it. “Everybody just comes to the house. They know Mom’s here.” It’s worth mentioning that Mary doesn’t legally adopt every one of her children; otherwise, she might be setting some kind of record. Instead, she uses the term “spiritually adopt.”

“ I just believe that kids, no matter who they are, all

deserve love. Especially with people who are gay, they have it 10 times harder. And just because their sexual preference is the way it is, it doesn’t mean that they don’t need love and respect.” and eventually asked to move in with her. He also calls her “Mom.” Joel is Mary’s only legally adopted son. Sherrodsville is Joel’s hometown, and his biological father lives near Mary’s house. Mary said Joel continues to live with her because of their close friendship and her acceptance of his and Steven’s relationship. Joel’s father knows he’s gay, but still Joel lives with his “mama.” The soft murmur of his emergency radio can be heard from the living room where Mary is sitting on the couch staring up at a wall of framed photographs. She runs through the names of her children and grandchildren like she’s trying to solve some elaborate math equation. She counts each name on one of her fingers and pauses to think if she’s leaving out someone. It’s understandable. Anyone could get lost in the elaborate web of people surrounding Mary.

She says her two failed marriages have made her weary of formal titles and she decided she doesn’t need a piece of paper to tell her who she loves. “They know they’re my kids, and I know I’m their mom.” Last year, Mary made the decision to come out as bisexual to most of her family and club members. It’s something she said was difficult but possible because of the mutual support between her and her biological and adoptive children. “I’m not happy hiding who I am,” she says. “I’m just me and I am who I am. I accept all my children, and I knew they’d do the same for me.” Mary continues to get and give support across her community at Stark and in Sherrodsville. She says her motto is, “It only takes one person to have a child, but it takes a community to raise them.” For a small town like Sherrodsville, Mary says she’s felt a lot of acceptance from people about what she’s doing.

Outside of the four who live with her, there’s Travis, 36, her biological son from her first marriage and his “When people ask about my kids, I tell them ‘they’re four kids Kaitlyn, Ray, Demetri and Piper. Then her gay’ and if they don’t like it they don’t need to be my daughter Allison, 26, and her three kids Austin, Emma friends,” she says, pushing a strand of straight brown and Paige. Then there’s Elliot, a “surrogate grandson” hair behind her right ear. “No matter who or what you she looks after regularly for two fellow members of are, children need love and respect, and they need to LGBTS Global—but she calls him “Pooters.” Next are know that somebody is there that they can count on.” her other adopted sons Paul, 20, Jeremiah, 29, and Adam, 27. Mary also has some “adoptive daughters” in the form of JR’s girlfriend Rachel—who will soon give Mary another grandchild—and Brie, one of Michael’s classmates and date to the homecoming dance.

STORY TITLE

kent’s bar scene...

STILL LACKING THE GAY SCENE 32

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If you’re a college student who is 21 or older and hitting those books hard, you’ll agree that sometimes the best remedy for a stress-induced school week is a drink (or five) with your best friends downtown. But some Kent State students are wondering: Where are the larger dance floors, the bright strobe lights and the thumping music? Where are the men who actually move their hips and those fabulous drag queens and kings we love so much? 33

In a sea of booming bars with plenty of beer and brightly colored cocktails, where can Kent State’s largest LGBT student population really let loose and be themselves? The answer: Akron, Canton, Youngstown or Cleveland.

THE KENT BAR SCENE

Written by Matthew Lewis Photos by Brooke Didonato

“Downtown Kent offers a good mix of bars, but I think adding a gay bar to the scene would be very cool,” says Daniel McKenna, junior fashion merchandising major. “It would create an opportunity for individuals who may be intimidated to branch out and seek others exactly like them. Good music, great drinks, grand time!” But having a grand time at a local gay bar might be farther away than we’d like. According to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, Kent has reached its limit on the number of D5 liquor licenses it is allowed to have. This type of license allows an establishment to

thing over another, the circumstance might lend itself more helpful.” For example, there are provisions available to operate different types of facilities, Dan says. These provisions include a D-5i, which is a liquor license needed to operate a new facility that has 140 seats, at least 4,000 square feet in space, a place that offers full-course meals and no more than 25 percent of sales made from beer and liquor. It also requires the new facility invest a minimum of $725,000. So, who wants to start the first gay bar in

“ A lot of the guys I’ve met online are cool, but it’s

difficult going to a striaght bar and not knowing who is ‘available.’” open its doors until 2:30 a.m. and provide on-site consumption of beer, wine and what’s called spirituous liquor—you know, the stuff we really like. However, Dan Smith, Kent’s economic development director, says if one bar manager offers to sell his or her liquor license permit to another, it would cost thousands of dollars—to be more exact, $30,000 to $50,000. This process can be a little hefty, though, says Lyn Tolan, the director of communication with the Ohio Department of Commerce, who explained when it comes to prices like Dan suggested, there are a lot of variables taken into account. Lyn says business owners can obtain a liquor license in only two ways: Apply through the state and be placed on a waiting list, or make a business transfer from an existing bar owner, which also has to be done through the state with waiting lists involved. She says to obtain one D5 liquor license permit, the cost is $2,344, but “that’s the bottom of the barrel,” Lyn says, because most establishments have more than just a D5 license. The city of Kent has only 15 D5 liquor licenses—all of them are filled, and four businesses are waiting for a spot to open up. Other cities like Akron have a quota of 100 D5 liquor licenses, and Cleveland has 200—double Akron’s quota. The number of licenses available depends on the size and population of the city, Lyn says. In other words, Kent might be a huge college town, but it’s tiny compared to its neighbors.

“I think it’s really a question of what the opportunities are and what the needs of the customers might be,” Lyn says. “If one bar opens to specifically cater one

Kent with classy full-course meals and a late-night dance floor? Sign me up for attendance! Aside from the heavy logistics, gay bars and clubs have proved extremely beneficial for LGBT students in the surrounding area. The University of Akron’s LGBT student organization, Akron LGBT Union—commonly abbreviated as Akron LGBTU—actually has a lot of outings at local bars in Akron. Some of these facilities even welcome—but do not sell alcohol to—students under 21. Kacie Herron is one of the students at the University of Akron who frequents bars near campus, despite being only 20 years old. “Obviously I can’t get served because I’m underage,” Kacie says. “But I still go, and I still have a good time. I see friends and I dance—stuff like that.” She’s only experienced Kent’s bar scene once when she “helped babysit” a friend’s 21st birthday celebration. She quickly found out that unlike Akron, Kent lacks the number of bar venues for students younger than 21. In Akron, Kacie and her friends hang out at bars that welcome underage patrons. When they came to Kent “it didn’t even occur to me that ‘oh shit—[I] can’t go to any of these bars,’” Kacie says.

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Almost a dozen bars sit near the intersection of Main and Water streets. Kent State students looking for a bar or club that targets the LGBT community will have to travel to Akron, Youngstown, Canton or Cleveland.

“If I went to Kent, I would miss the bar scene here at Akron,” she adds. “I would miss that off-campus life.” Kacie doesn’t just see bars as a place to hang out with friends—they’re also a place where she connects with other members of Akron LGBTU. Every Monday night after the group’s meetings, Kacie and close to two dozen Akron LGBTU members gather at the Barley House on 222 S. Main St. for food, drinks and gossip. The Barley House isn’t a gay bar, but neither the group members nor the bar employees seem to care. Every time Akron LGBTU members walk in, their own personal waitress greets them. “Our after meeting is really an unofficial event,” says Chris Kuhn, president of Akron LGBTU. The student organization, started in 1985, does have official events at Akron bars though, namely Inferno Night Club and Interbelt Nite Club. He says Inferno even approached Akron LGBTU’s executive board about designing a day every two weeks where LGBTU members can have their own space reserved, and the bar will even offer the students discounted drinks. But bars and clubs have accommodated Akron LGBTU events in more ways than special deals. “It lessens the amount of restrictions we do as a student group,” Chris says. “If we wanted to

do anything with music and dancing on University of Akron’s campus, it’s very, very involved, and they make it such a long, drawn-out process.” Chris says that University of Akron students aren’t the only college students who frequent Akron bars. “I wouldn’t say it’s a huge, huge amount, but obviously for Monday nights at the Interbelt, I would estimate seeing anywhere between five and 20 (Kent State) students,” Chris says. But what do Kent State students think of having their own gay bar—one that is not a 15-minute drive away? Leora Gregory, freshman communication studies major, says she thinks a gay bar in Kent would be amazing, but preferably one that is 18+ friendly. “I think it would really help those of us looking for a social outlet in the LGBT community that isn’t PRIDE! or the Gay Rights Revolutionaries (GRR),” Leora says. “Even though both are wonderful organizations, I’d be psyched to see a gay bar come around before I graduate!”

THE KENT BAR SCENE

akron

Adam’s Street 14 miles

The Interbelt 16 miles

The Square 16 miles

cleveland

canton

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The Crew 38 miles c you ngst ow n

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youngstown ba

Utopia 46 miles cleveland

5mi

Bounce 40 miles

Twist 43 miles

canton d h ow fa r yo u r m o m h a s t o d r i v e t o g e t yo u t o t h e c l u b

Christopher Clevenger, PRIDE! Kent’s vice president, says having a gay bar in Kent would definitely be beneficial for the members of PRIDE!, giving them a great social outlet after meetings, but Christopher stressed that hosting events at a bar depends on the bar’s atmosphere. “It would definitely depend on who the owner is and how they felt about working with the university,” Christopher says. “There are a lot of hoops to jump through to host events at bars because of the alcohol issue, but it would definitely be an option.” Meanwhile, Christopher says PRIDE! is focused on hosting events like “Queers on Ice” at the Ice Arena and an equality ball some time in the spring semester. “So, right now we’re just trying to find all of the things we can do on campus,” Christopher says. Three minutes from campus, though, sit 11 bars that attract hundreds of college-aged visitors every weekend. Whether it’s a bar like Ray’s Place, Zephyr or 157 Lounge, students—gay and straight alike—are flooding the entrances. But Kent State students like graduate Bobby Phillips, a graduate student in exercise physiology, says he’s never been to any bar in downtown Kent but would consider otherwise if Kent’s bars offered a gay outlet.

“It would be nice to have somewhere close to campus to meet people rather than relying on the Internet or social networking apps,” Bobby says. “A lot of the guys I’ve met online are cool, but it’s difficult going to a straight bar and not knowing who is ‘available.’” “Not only does that (having a gay bar in Kent) sound like a blast, but it saves on gas money I use to drive all the way to Akron,” says Jori Blume, junior public relations major. “I have a good amount of friends in the LGBTQ community, so I would be there right along with them. I’m excited just thinking about the idea of one.” Reporting contributed by Simon Husted.

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D A D T

R E P E A L out and proud in the military Jay Steiner needs money for college. To finish school cost-free and without student loans, she enlisted in the military. Sounds simple enough. A year ago, this was not a viable option for the 21-year-old lesbian.

OUT AND PROUD IN THE MILITARY

Text by Kelli Fitzpatrick Photos by Emma Borrell

Jay always considered joining the military. She was denied enlisting for being too young at age 17. But it turned into a serious option when college became too expensive—and the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” was finally underway. Jay, a petite and reserved Massillon native, studied criminal justice at the University of Akron from 2008 to 2010 before transferring to Kent State Stark. She finished the Fall 2010 semester at Stark and moved to the Kent area in hopes of attending Kent State’s main campus.

With a buzz haircut, five tattoos and a butch wardrobe of T-shirts, button downs and jeans, “I thought it was obvious—I look pretty gay,” she says. And that’s not all, she says. “I have this ridiculous tattoo.” The tattoo of issue is an upside-down pink triangle on her left shoulder. When she enlisted in the Armed Forces, a recruiter took a photo of each tattoo for documentation. She was then asked to write a description for each marking.

“ I don’t see why gay people would not be able to serve

our country. I always thought that was silly—there’s always been gay people in the military.” Then she realized she couldn’t afford another semester of school.

“I ran out of money,” she says, “and that’s why I turned to the Army.” The Armed Forces pays for service members’ college tuition and student loans. After weeks of visiting with Kent recruiters, Jay took a day off from work and traveled to Cleveland on July 11 to be sworn in to the Army. being gay in t he m i l ita ry

The DADT policy was established in 1993, and it banned any inquiry into a soldier’s sexual orientation and prohibited gay and lesbian service members from serving openly. When Jay enlisted with the Army, President Obama had already signed the DADT Repeal Act in December 2010. But the repeal would not be official until the military announced it was “prepared to implement repeal in a manner that is consistent with the standards of military readiness,” according to the U.S. Department of Defense repeal reference guide. “I was really excited about DADT being repealed,” Jay says. “I don’t see why gay people would not be able to serve our country. I always thought that was silly—there’s always been gay people in the military.” Because the DADT repeal was not official when she enlisted, Jay felt some unease about entering the military as an open lesbian.

An upside-down triangle is a symbol for gay rights and female sexuality. But when it came to Jay’s pink triangle, “I wrote about inner strength because I didn’t want to mention homosexuality,” she says. “They didn’t figure it out.” Yet before the official repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” Jay was asked about her sexuality—and she did tell. Jay stopped by the Kent Army recruiting office for the first time in June 2011. She struck up a conversation with a recruiter, and soon they were “talking about random hot-button social issues, like abortion or something,” she says. The DADT repeal “got thrown in with the random stuff we shouldn’t have been discussing.” The recruiter “asked me if I was gay,” Jay says. “And I said ‘yes.’ He was trying to make me feel comfortable because I was the only girl in the program. I thought it was going to be miserable doing push-ups and running around with guys twice my size.” Jay says the recruiter even told her about two lesbians who had just shipped out.

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Jay wears an Army bracelet around her wrist as she and her girlfriend, Cassie, grip each other’s hands.

A few weeks later, a new first sergeant at the Army office checked in on Jay and other new recruits during a physical training session. He asked about family and if they were still excited about joining the Army. “I asked about the repeal and what that meant for me,” Jay says. “I kind of outed myself to him.” She told the first sergeant that she had been asked about her sexual orientation, and he said no one should have done that. “He basically said not to talk about it until [the repeal] goes into effect,” Jay says. “He said there’s nothing they’re going to do now, [but] he was trying to protect me.” fa m i ly, f r i e n d s a n d t h e a r m y

Jay comes from a military family: both her parents served in the Army and supported her interest in joining the branch. Jay’s mother, Patricia, joined the military in 1986 and is glad the Army today is a different place than when she was in service. “It was very difficult back then and there was a lot of fear,” Patricia says. She says she knew gay service

members who “were so afraid because they could lose their entire careers over it.” Patricia is optimistic for Jay’s Army service. “She’ll have the support she needs, and she’ll be comfortable being herself,” she says. Jay’s friend, Chris Kuhn, was a gay serviceman in the Air Force and encouraged her to enlist in the same branch. “When I told [Chris] that I wanted to enlist in the Army, he basically tried to discourage it,” Jay says. Although Chris believes the Air Force is the best branch to serve under, he says gay service members still had to keep a tight lid on their sexual orientation.

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Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell... Don’t Know? Since the 1700s, the U.S. military has discharged service members they suspected were gay, bisexual or lesbian. When President Bill Clinton signed the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy into law in 1993, it served as a compromise to allow gays and lesbians to serve in the Armed Forces—just as long as they hid their sexual orientation. Seventeen years later the ban, which discharged more than 13,000 service members, was lifted when President Barack Obama signed the “don’t ask, don’t tell” Repeal Act in December 2010.

“I personally witnessed people who were targeted for being gay and were kicked out,” Chris says. They “had to fight just to get an honorable discharge.” Chris, a senior computer information systems major at the University of Akron, joined the Air Force in 2003. He says a question on the application asked, “Have you ever engaged in homosexual activity?” He lied so he wouldn’t be denied military service. “One of the core principles in the Air Force is honesty and integrity,” Chris says. “You have to go against a core principle of the organization in order to get into the organization.” Chris estimates about a dozen service members knew he was gay during his service in the Air Force, but superior ranking officers never investigated his sexual orientation. That wasn’t the case with a few other gay service members Chris met. He says he lost one friend under DADT after a second lieutenant “led him on” just enough to expose his sexual orientation. “I was thoroughly disgusted by it,” Chris says. Chris was not discharged under DADT but was kicked out for underage drinking in 2004. He says he would have continued on with his service. Chris remains involved with the University of Akron’s Military Veterans Association and is president of Akron’s LGBT Union. He now shares his story with other gay and lesbian students and encourages them to join the military—specifically the Air Force. Chris met Jay through Akron LGBTU. When he learned of her interest in serving, he tried to sway her from joining the Army. “He thought [the Air Force] treated you better and thought it was a better living situation in general, not just that I’m a woman or that I’m gay,” Jay recalls. “He said [the Army] treat[s] you like you’re expendable.” Jay tried to contact an Air Force recruiter, but when no one returned her calls a week later, she decided to keep her mind set on the Army. “It really didn’t have anything to do with my parents’ experiences,” Jay says. “I guess I had already made up my mind at that point.” After meeting with Army recruiters and beginning the enlistment process, Jay felt “invested” in them, she says. Yet no matter which branch she enlisted with,

Jay’s primary reason for joining was still financial. “I’m really not patriotic by any means,” Jay says. “I don’t really want to fight for a country I can’t get married in.” But that didn’t keep her from signing up, especially when she knew she would be able to serve openly once the DADT repeal became official a few months later in September 2011. Had President Obama not signed the DADT Repeal Act of 2010, “I definitely wouldn’t have even tried [enlisting,]” Jay says. “I don’t know how to hide that [I’m gay]. I feel like it would be really hard to lie about.” Her mother, Patricia, also didn’t want Jay enlisting before the repeal. “It would have made me very uncomfortable to see her going in there because she would have to live under… that secrecy just to be a soldier,” Patricia says. The repeal “was something that should have happened a long time ago,” she says. “That’s no way for a patriot to live. They should have the freedom to serve just like anyone else.” Now, with DADT long gone, Patricia looks forward to her daughter’s Army career. “I am very supportive and very, very proud of her for wanting to do this,” Patricia says. “I’m excited for her, too. She has a real bright future ahead of her.”

OUT AND PROUD IN THE MILITARY

enact m en t of t h e repe a l

w h at l ies a hea d

When the Armed Forces announced its preparation to implement the repeal, all servicemen and women had undergone sensitivity training to understand the repeal and how guidelines had changed. Through training and adjusting, the Army maintains its fundamental value of respect for service members.

Jay participates in weekly physical training (PT) sessions in Kent. During PT, she and other recruits run, learn new skills and get ready for basic training. She is set to leave Jan. 17, 2012, for basic training in South Carolina, followed by Advanced Individual Training in Georgia for 25 weeks. Then, “I have no idea [where I’ll serve,]” Jay says.

“While it would be unrealistic to believe this change will occur without incident, strong leadership and a sustained commitment by all remain crucial to making this a smooth transition,” Diana Dawa,

She does know she will serve four years of active duty, then four years in the reserves, during which she will meet with her unit once a month.

“ It remains the policy of the Army not to ask service

members or applicants about their sexual orientation and to treat all members with dignity and respect.” deputy public affairs officer for the Army, says in an email.

“It remains the policy of the Army not to ask service members or applicants about their sexual orientation and to treat all members with dignity and respect,” Diana says. Jay heard a similar message when she enlisted. “When I asked about [the repeal,]” Jay says, “I had a peace of mind knowing it had already been addressed.” Diana says the DADT repeal does not affect many of the Army’s guidelines. “The repeal necessitated some changes to policies, but most of our policy required no change—they were already sexual orientation-neutral,” Diana says. This includes partner benefits. “Eligibility standards for benefits remain the same as they currently are,” Diana says. “Soldiers will continue to have various benefits for which they can designate beneficiaries regardless of sexual orientation, such as Service Members’ Group Life Insurance Beneficiary…[and] Survivor Benefit Plan Beneficiary.” As far as partner and family benefits go, Jay says, “I would honestly leave everything to my mother and my little brother.”

Jay will go back to school to complete her degree in criminal justice but is not sure where she’ll return. “I assumed that I would want to go to Kent—I love Kent!” she says. “But I’m gonna be really old. I don’t necessarily want to be in Ohio now, so I might not want to be in Ohio at all.” After graduation, Jay plans to work as a juvenile corrections officer. No matter where she ends up, the Army will be covering Jay’s finances and providing her with lifelong experiences that, before the DADT repeal, would not have been plausible. “I think it’s a great opportunity,” Jay says. “I think everyone should have the chance to join the military if they want to.” Reporting contributed by Simon Husted.

YOU’RE ON MY GAYDAR

you’re on my

GAYDAR Photos by Hannah Potes

Our gaydar experts shed some light on why your relationship is failing—there’s a good chance you don’t have the right equipment. Sure, even straight people are guilty of deep-throating a hot dog every now and then or perusing through some same-sex porn, but if these habits happen often, your boyfriend or girlfriend might be trying to tell you something.

Have your notebook handy as you flip through the next several pages.

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These dolls are plastic but, they might need some rubbers. Shit just got real.

P H O T O : B R I T N E Y

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P H O T O :

He’s your boyfriend and a professional manicurist? Sorry, you can’t have the best of both worlds.

N A I L S

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P H O T O :

N A I L S

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P H O T O : H O T D O G

Don’t worry, he doesn’t have a gag reflex. And with shorts like those, is it any surprise?

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P H O T O : H O T D O G

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P H O T O : B O T T L E

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Game overâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but with rules like these, everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a winner.

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P H O T O : I N T E N S E B A R B I E

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he has these two ladies,

he doesn’t need you. below—Still

looking for your

March issue of Playboy? Check your girlfriend’s bedroom.

P H O T O : P A S S I V E B A R B I E

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This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t what Grandma had in mind when she got these for your birthday.

A D

B R E A K

“HUSBANDS” WEB SERIES Q&A

Playing it straight

AS GAY NEWLYWEDS

“ They’re doing it wrong. That’s their right.” Interview by Julie Sickel

Boy meets boy. Boy falls for boy. Boy marries boy during a drunken celebration in Las Vegas the night same-sex marriage becomes legal. Hilarity ensues. That’s the premise of the web series “Husbands.” Veteran TV writer Jane Espenson—you’ve seen her work in shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Battlestar Galactica” and “Gilmore Girls”—teamed up with Brad Bell—or “Cheeks” as he’s known in the series and the acting world—to produce a show that’s gained quite a following. The show revolves around a famous “out” baseball player, Brady Kelly (Sean Hemeon), and a famous actor, Cheeks, who become the first gay couple to marry under the new Nevada law. Deciding they couldn’t possibly be the first divorced gay couple, they decide to go along with the marriage and try to make their six-week-old relationship work. Helping them every step of the way is Cheeks’ trainwreck of a best friend, Haley (Alessandra Torresani).

The first season manages to fit personality, humor and tenderness into each of its short 3 to 4-minute webisodes. It’s also worth mentioning the series is directed by Jeff Greenstein, executive producer of “Will and Grace.” I got on the line with Jane and Cheeks to talk about the series and to find out what lies ahead for Brady and Cheeks.

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“Husbands” co-writers discuss the web series’ success.

The first thing I need to ask is what’s in store for season two? Cheeks: We’ve got some ideas. If we end up doing season two online like the first season, it opens some interesting avenues for us. Like, do we want to lengthen the episodes? Do we want to tell one story broken up into 11 parts like we did with season one? Do we want to have each episode be its own thing? I think it will all depend once we know what we’re doing and who we’re going with. Jane: We definitely want to do Cheeks goes to meet the wives of the other players and how he fits into baseball culture. And there are other things, other stories that are demanding to be told. Cheeks: I want to meet the parents too. I think that Brady’s parents should meet Cheeks’ mom. I think he probably just has a mom and she’s really eccentric. I have this fantasy that it will be Jennifer Tilly. Have you gotten word from any networks interested in producing the series on TV? Jane: We haven’t taken it out yet. We’re still in the process of sending copies of the pilot, and we’ll see who’s interested. What do you think “Husbands” does well as a show to make it already so popular?

want to talk about feelings, and he hasn’t really thought about commitment and everything is “do we have to have a conversation about this?” So I think that by starting with stereotypes you’re able to produce the unexpected. Jane: I heard from a friend of mine who also had a web series with a gay character in it, and he talked about when they developed their show they made sure to expunge any hint of outrageousness from the gay character—anything that could be labeled as a stereotype—because they wanted him to be a completely real-life human being. And then he watched “Husbands” and looked at the Cheeks character and realized “there’s a character with everything we tried to avoid who is totally a real-life human being from the first word he speaks.” Cheeks: I didn’t want to be so sensitive to portraying stereotypes that we created a character built on anti-stereotypes. I don’t think it’s authentic to create a character that is in no way a stereotype because everyone is unique and different. Cheeks is a heightened version of me, but in a lot of ways he’s who I am. So if I’m a stereotype, then so be it. It doesn’t mean that I’m not three-dimensional. I love the tagline of the show. Tell me how you came up with it and how it contributes to the show’s overall message.

Jane: We went through a bunch of different taglines Cheeks: I think that we are really focused on the funny. and we even used some of them on a couple of our We wanted it to be as comedically tight as possible. documents. But the one that really stuck was I think that our subject matter is something that’s “They’re doing it wrong. That’s their right.” And it really important to people, and so there’s the emotional just came to me because I was playing with the aspect that’s resonating. Our characters like word “right.” Only after did we realize how powerful it each other, and even though they’re dealing with a was. The journalist Alyssa Rosenberg was the lot of different, less-than-ideal circumstances, first one to really point out how deep it was and that they still care about each other. I think that people the core of the series is about this couple that is enjoy that. I also think the fact that we’re keeping the absolutely fallible. episodes short is keeping people wanting more. They are making every mistake along the way starting Jane: It seems like such an obvious concept to have with getting drunkenly married after only knowing never been done. I love it. I think we got lightning in a each other six weeks. Part of the right to get bottle with this cast. It’s just one of those casts married comes with the right to do things wrong, to with instant chemistry and I think Cheeks and I did not have to be perfect, to be able to make mistakes some strong joke writing. It’s also well-directed—it’s like anybody else. Put them on equal footing with part of what gives us the feel of a real network show. every other newlywed couple out there. They’re not What kind of gay stereotypes do you think the better. They’re not different. They’re just another show perpetuates and how do you incorporate newlywed couple. those without making them offensive? Jane and Cheeks stressed that if “Husbands” is to Cheeks: I guess in a lot of ways I am a stereotype move forward into a second season, they need to because I do love Madonna and dancing and wearing continue to gain interest. ridiculous things. But I think it’s important to start Visit http://husbandstheseries.com to watch with expectations and stereotypes in order to be able webisodes, learn about the cast and see what others to subvert that and surprise your audience. I think are saying. that we set it up so that you expect Cheeks to be “the girl” and Brady to be “the guy” and then we come to see that Brady is much more the sensitive, commitment-oriented one and Cheeks is the one who’s a little bit more like a guy in that he doesn’t really

EVERY GAY’S WORST FEARS

every gay’s

WORST FEARS First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, the most famous under-wraps lesbian, once said to do something each day that scares the shit out of you. Well, that’s kind of how she said it. The point is, people need to overcome fears. The following list is every fear shared among the gay or bisexual. Don’t try to dispute my advice.

Text by Maranda Shrewsberry

t he inev ita ble deat h of cher

being too gay

fish

Photo by Emma Borrelli

and barbara streisand

This isn’t possible. Nevertheless, everyone goes through that obnoxious newly out-of-the-closet phase, and we’ll forgive you.

It’s a versatile protein, but definitely not for everyone.

Look, everyone dies. But at least your CD collection is complete. Neither of these lovely ladies have had much of a career since the ‘80s. Plus, thanks to YouTube, they’ll live on forever, right? hard liquor and beer

If it doesn’t have a mini umbrella in it, it’s not worth your time, huh? I guess cocktails are nice for the beginning of the night, but if you haven’t finished off the outing with a couple beers, it’s not a real bar crawl. grow i ng ol d

If you take care of yourself and lay off the appletinis every so often, you should still have that gleaming 106-pound frame in 60 years. Who knows, maybe you’ll even keep that 15-year-old glow, too.

ruined not being gay enough

This isn’t possible either. Wait—are your shoes made of foam? OK, maybe it is possible. va g i n a

You wouldn’t be here without one, so lay off a bit, OK? If you don’t have to deal with it, just think of it as a mysterious black hole. Unless that’s what you already thought it was. Then I understand your fear. people who make sw eeping gener a l iz ations of a community

Kind of like what I’m doing now. glitter going out of sty le

Don’t worry, a small splash of glitter is always a fun way to doll yourself up for a night out—just don’t go overboard. If you’re going through a tub of glitter a week, we have a problem. I still have mine from middle school.

you r m a nicu re get t ing

It’s not a crime to take care of those cuticles of yours, but if you obsess about nail maintenance then you give your manicurist all the power—and that’s not acceptable after she skimped out on your parafin wax treatment last week .

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DOES GAYDAR EXIST?

B A C K O F B O O K : G A Y D A R I L L U S T R A T I O N

GAYDAR: GOOD INTUITION? or about as fake as kim kardashian’s marriage?

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In my humble opinion, the concept of gaydar is both toxic and over-simplified. Toxic because it boils all LGBT people down to basic traits, completely ignoring the person. Over-simplified because it implies ability where there is none. What one calls “gaydar,” I call observation. Sure, you may be able to detect that a man is fashionable, and perhaps a bit flamboyant, but why must that mean he’s gay? Text by Greg Porter Illustration by Jim Lightcap

Gaydar, simply put, is the super amazing power that “I think ‘gaydar’ is just a social thing. It is based on picks up on obvious signs of homosexuality. I know a social cues that people give off and others receive lot of people who boast superior gaydar. But, in and/or misinterpret. ‘Gaydar’ can be accurate based reality, they are merely perceptive to behaviors and solely on how well the person is putting off that mannerisms often exhibited by LGBT individuals, social cue, or it can be inaccurate based on how such as flamboyancy in men, masculinity in females and other rejections of gender roles. In today’s society, poorly the person with ‘gaydar’ is at making however, there is a blurring of the lines between assumptions based on those social cues.” homosexual and heterosexual cultures. At what point —josh romig, junior english m a jor can we distinguish between a flamboyant gay man and a “metrosexual” straight man? What about a butch woman and a tomboy? As a community, is it “A gaydar is just another way to stereotype. Just irresponsible for us to enforce the concept of gaydar because someone looks or acts a way that gets off when it plays into unconstructive stereotypes your ‘gaydar’ doesn’t actually mean they’re gay. that we’re trying to convey as part, but not all, It means they are happy with who they are and feel of our community? free to act how they want, instead of trying to fit into I am not saying we should deny that some stereotypes gay or straight stereotypes.” are true, as denying them is just as dangerous as — k e l s e y “a l e x ” k e r s t i n g , s o p h o m o r e e n g l i s h embracing them as an umbrella interpretation of ma jor sexuality, but when we state that some traits are gay and others are straight, we are solidifying our place as separate from the rest of society. “Do I think gaydar exists? Absolutely. Do I think it’s some kind of sixth sense or special insight some The simple fact of the matter is that you don’t know if of us are born with or have some naturally someone is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer if they don’t personally tell you. That’s my take occurring talent for? Or course not. The fact of the on the issue, but let’s see what other KSU students matter is that the idea of gaydar is perpetuated have to say: through stereotypes. And as much as I hate to say it, a vast number of the stereotypes imposed on the “I definitely think gaydar exists, and I definitely have LGBT community by society are based on truth. an active one. It’s tough, however, to put my finger Not all of them are bad, though. For example, I’m not on what exactly makes me think someone could be ashamed to be stereotyped as having good fashion gay. I’d probably split my thought process into three sense or always smelling good because of my components: style, dialect and body language. orientation. They’re stereotypes, but they’re Though there are well-dressed straight boys, gay flattering rather than offensive. However, as far as guys tend to dress better. We tend to wear clothes gaydar is concerned, yes. The boy with his nails that fit closer to the body, cut our hair differently painted hot pink is probably a homo. Does that mean and hit current fashion trends. Our voices tend you have impeccable gaydar? No. It means you to sound, for lack of a better term, ‘gay,’ and we use a can pick up on context clues. So congratulations lot more gesticulation than most other people. on that one.” It’s not necessarily the stereotypical ‘hand in the air’ — j ust i n l agore, sophomore pu bl ic rel at ions thing, but there’s something about the way gay boys stand, gesture and move that just seems ‘gay.’ Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule—gay guys who don’t care about style or are too shy for a lot of gesturing—but gaydar definitely exists.” —jake

green, f re sh m a n pu bl ic h e a lt h m a jor

“Gaydar is just another tool to discriminate. Who cares if you think someone is gay by the way they dress or act? It shouldn’t matter.” — d aw n c u l p, j u n i o r z o o l o g y m a j o r

m a jor a nd secreta ry of gay rights revolu t iona rie s

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our awards Kent State University’s most diverse magazine takes an award-winning approach to cover KSU’s most hard-hitting and controversial topics.

a ssoci ation for education in journa l ism

society of professiona l journa lists m ark of

a nd m a ss com munication st udent

e x c e l l e n c e n a t i o n a l awa r d s :

m aga zi ne con t e st:

SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATION 201 Franklin Hall PO Box 5190 Kent OH 44242-0001 330-672-2572 (p) 330-672-4064 (f) jmc.kent.edu

Second Place: Best Student Magazine, 2009

Third Place: best article on people, Brandi Shaffer, “A fox in boy’s clothing,” 2011 Honorable Mention: best article on people, Simon Husted, “Jake Nash: speaking for the transgender commiunity,” 2011 Honorable mention for ongoing print magazine, 2011

society of professiona l journa lists m ark of e x c e l l e n c e r e g i o n f o u r awa r d s :

Second Place: Best Student Magazine, 2010 First Place: Best Student Magazine, 2009 Second Place: Best Non-Fiction Article, Ben Wolford, “A New Era,” 2009

a ssoci ated col legi ate press pa c e m a k e r awa r d s

Winner, Magazine Feature Category, 2010 Honorable Mention, Feature Story of the Year, Laura Lofgren, “The Importance of Being Aaron”, 2010 Finalist, Magazine Pacemaker Category, 2009

missouri student society for news design

Second Place: Overall Use of Photography, 2011

nationa l lesbi a n

gay journa lists

a s socat ion e xcel l ence i n j o u r n a l i s m awa r d s :

Honorable Mention, Excellence in Student Journalism Award, Laura Lofgren, “The Importance of Being Aaron,” 2010

Third Place: Best Non-Fiction Article, Sarah Steimer, “‘Anyone Can Come And Not Be Judged,’” 2009

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