Fusion Magazine Fall 2010 issue by Fusion Magazine

FUSION WINTER 2011

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY

THATGAYMAGAZINE.COM

Robby Conte

Gay Furry

Days Cities Dates

Newly Discovered

Gay Dictionary The Voice of

ﾎ年GELO

Parents React COMING OUT

GAY

Films, Television, Music & the best of the season Books

3-D Furries SEVEN PAGES WORTH

Inside Front Pages

5 Winter 2011 Entertainment Preview

Winter doesn’t have to be any less entertaining following the holiday hustle with this guide. STREET SIGHTINGS

10 Not My Cup of Tea

The Tea Party may be here to stay, but that doesn’t mean you have to like it. ANSWERS

11 Shoes and Glass Muffins

Comedian Liam Sullivan, aka Kelly, shares his thoughts on YouTube stardom. EASY-ON-THE-EYES LISTENING

12 The Music of Δngelo

This gay musician from the bear state wants to put the men back in pop music. AROUND TOWN

14 The Four S’s of Ohio Eateries

The Ohio landmarks of roadside cuisine. We dabbled in each to find the cream of the crop.

54 The Last Gay Decade

We look at the last 10 years in terms of LGBTQ history. What will the next decade bring?

29 The 3-D Adventures of Furries 56 Last Thought

We ask you what’s in store for the LGBTQ community for years 2011-2020.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BROOKE DIDONATO

Kent State students join the “It Gets Better” campaign, encouraging youth to hold on to hope. Watch their message on ThatGayMagazine.com.

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FUSION MAGAZINE VOLUME 8 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2011

Justin McCraw

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/ART DIRECTOR

Raytevia Evans MANAGING EDITOR Brian Thornton FUSION ADVISOR Chris Sharron MEDIA SPECIALIST Stefanie Romba ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Amber Wade PAGE DESIGNER Kaylee Remington COPY DESK CHIEF Nicole Stempak COPY DESK CHIEF STAFF WRITERS

Matthew Lewis, Jessica Djukic, Brandi Shaffer, Laura Lofgren CONTRIBUTORS

Aaron Fowler, Kelli Fitzpatrick

THATGAYMAGAZINE.COM

DONATIONS/SUBSCRIPTIONS

Simon Husted WEB EDITOR Kathrine Dannemiller SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Donations can be sent to the address below, payable to Fusion magazine. Also, subscriptions are available for $10/year (two issues). Visit ThatGayMagazine.com for more information.

WEB WRITERS

Ryan Collins, Valerie Brown, Shannon Hauska, Dominique Lyons, Madison Brady, Olivia Stephens, Greg Porter, Kelley Stoklosa, Amber Cantrell WEB CONTRIBUTOR

Megan Wilkinson, Brittany Hill, Logan Gerken ADVERTISING SALES

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brooke DiDonato, Nora Rodriquez, Bobby Makar, Lindsay Frumkin PROOFREADERS

Jennifer Shore, Kelly Tunney

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MISSION

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, fusion 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.

Paul Gimmel Farin Blackburn ADVERTISING DESIGNER Tami Bongiorni ADVERTISING MANAGER Lori Cantor BUSINESS MANAGER

205 Franklin Hall Kent State University Kent, OH 44242 P: 330.672.2586 F: 330.672.4880 kentfusion@gmail.com ThatGayMagazine.com SPECIAL THANKS

Fusion magazine thanks the Gay Community Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation for its continued financial support and presence in the LGBTQ community.

FROM THE EDITORS

From the Editor-in-Chief Justin McCraw A lot has happened to the community this year. The LGBTQ youth suicides that occurred last year and entered the media’s short attention span, the closing of a prominent AIDS hospital in New York City and the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy filled 2010. When I was asked to be editor last July, I was interning in New York for a gay magazine and living the dream. I was reluctant to accept the offer for editor only because I was afraid of failure. As time progressed, however, I realized that this was an opportunity to enact change, to instill in people new ideas and to demonstrate a more diverse world than may first appear in Northeast Ohio. Within these pages we have stories of what it means, from a parent’s perspective, when a child comes out of the closet (page 20). We explore the world of gay furries at Kent State (page 22) and dispel some of the stereotypes associated with the furry community. And we also take a look at some of the phrases defining this community in a tongue-in-cheek way in our gay dictionary (page 48). The community within Northeast Ohio is no less diverse or exciting as that outside the state. We have our own problems and our own heroes and are making our own headways for civil rights and equality. While the election last November had some regional upsets, the decade ahead doesn’t look so dim for LGBTQ issues. An example is our story on Reverend David Pattee, Kent’s resident gay clergyman (page 44). His work with religion and teaching acceptance — not tolerance — in this small college town is commendable. The world outside is large, and it’s getting increasingly better for those who identify as L, G, B, T or Q. While some setbacks are inevitable, it’s not unthinkable to assume the next decade could be our best yet.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOBBY MAKAR

From the Managing Editor Raytevia Evans The writers, editors and photographers for Fusion have had quite an interesting fall 2010 semester. We hit the ground running and never really looked back or took the time to relax. We were on a mission, not only to complete the production of this magazine, but also to make sure it lives up to our expectations, as well as the expectations of our readers. The production of this Fusion issue has been filled with photo shoots in the men’s room, furry animal costumes, flaky sources and total chaos. And I’ve loved every minute of it. Watching this issue progress from a few ideas on a piece of paper to an informative, empowering and encouraging publication for those who are considered the minority in this society has been an invaluable opportunity for me. The most significant thing I noticed and appreciated was no matter tall, short, black, white, slim or fat, there seems to be no assumptions about anyone. Despite being discouraged by society because of their sexuality, the LGBTQ community is accepting of anyone interested, confused or just downright curious about their lifestyles, and I totally respect this way of thinking. Being a part of this magazine has been a learning experience, professionally and personally. Organizing photo shoots, setting up interviews and editing stories is exhausting. The final product, however, is something that we’re extremely proud of. I truly believe the people involved in the production of this issue — editors, writers and models alike — are advocates for making it known that this magazine, as well as the LGBTQ community, stands for uniting diverse people, ideas and lifestyles. I hope the stories in this issue inspire you and encourage you to look at things from a different perspective, and that you use them as learning experiences.

FUSION Winter 2011

Inside Features 16 30 Days, Cities, and Chances to Find True Love Simon Husted scribes the journey of adventurer Kevin Richberg’s foray into the wild world of dating during the traveler’s stop in Cleveland last year. Find out what 30 days of dating different people entails. Hint: Lots of gas money.

20 Now That They Know

As sexually diverse youth, we understand what coming out is, but what does it mean to other people? Raytevia Evans explores the concept in her essay on two families trying to understand their children’s sexuality.

22 A Fox in Boy’s Clothing

Robby Conte is gay. He’s also a furry. What he isn’t is someone who’s defined by such labels. Brandi Shaffer reveals the truths behind the furry community and what it means to think of oneself as less than human but in a good way.

44 Kent’s Gay Pastor

Reverend David Pattee helps lead the congregation at the United Church of Christ in Kent, but it wasn’t easy getting to the top of the Christian ladder. Matthew Lewis asks how gays and Christianity can coexist under the same roof.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY BOBBY MAKAR

48 Excerpts from the Gay Dictionary

Laura Lofgren uncovers pieces of the gay dictionary in this often funny, slightly squeamish, always gay take on the community’s lexicon. Now you can finally understand why people call you a nelly bottom cub or a poodle-balling yosie chicken.

WINTER 2011ENTERTAINMENT PREVIEW FILM

Winter may not be the season for blockbuster movies, but that didn’t stop contributor Aaron Fowler from finding these four gems sure to keep you entertained during those long stretches of dark and dreary.

Every Day

Restless Director: Gus Van Sant Actors: Henry Cooper, Mia Wasikowska Release: Jan. 28

Director: Richard Levine Actors: Liev Schreiber, Helen Hunt, Eddie Izzard Release: Jan. 31

From the mind of Gus Van Sant, director of the award-winning Milk, comes Restless. Shot in Portland, Ore., and starring relative unknowns Henry Cooper and Mia Wasikowska, the film focuses on young love and mortality in this modern day tale.Based on a play by Jason Lew, who also wrote the screenplay, Restless tells the story of a terminally ill teenage girl who falls for a boy whose quirky pleasures include attending funerals and claiming he can see the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot from WWII.

Ned (Liev Schreiber) is in the midst of a midlife crisis, writing for a television show he’s far from proud of. His teenage son (Ezra Miller) has officially come out to his family, and his youngest son has a phobia of practically everything. To make matters worse, his wife (Helen Hunt) is moving her sick father cross country, which puts even more strain on an already distressed marriage. Temptation arises when a seductive co-worker (Carla Gugino) turns up the heat. Every Day is an unyielding look at an average family making it through unexpected changes.

happythankyoumoreplease

Miral

Director: Josh Radnor Actors: Josh Radnor, Malin Akerman, Zoe Kazan Release: Feb. 18

Director: Julian Schnabel Actors: Freida Pinto, Hiam Abbass Release: March 25

happythankyoumoreplease is the directorial debut of actor Josh Radnor, best known as Ted on the hit comedy series How I Met Your Mother. Radnor, who also wrote the film, stars in this comedy-drama, which follows the lives of a group of fresh-faced New York residents caught juggling love, friendship and the looming shadow of adulthood. The film won the audience award and picked up a nomination for Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Even if you don’t like Radnor in Your Mother, happythankyoumoreplease may change your mind.

Based on a novel by Rula Jebreal of the same name, Miral chronicles Hind Husseini’s effort to construct an orphanage following the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. Flash-forward to 1978 — Miral is sent to Hind’s orphanage following her mother’s death. Ten years later, she is assigned to teach at a refugee camp where the realities of the world outside the orphange sink in. After falling in love with a political activist, Miral must choose between conflict and education as a means to peace. Miral is a tour-de-force surely not to be missed.

SONY PICTURES, AMBUSH ENTERTAINMENT/COLD IRON PICTURES, THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY, ANCHOR BAY FILMS

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Winter 2011 Entertainment Preview

TELEVISION

Kelli Fitzpatrick takes us through the season’s notable returns. While new series usually don’t start until the fall, these winter episodes should tide you over at least until the spring thaw.

RuPaul’s Drag Race Network: Logo TV Season: Three Returns: Jan. 24

Glee Network: FOX Season: Two, continued Returns: Feb. 6 The fantabulous musical dramedy continues its second season this February. Almost anyone who watches the show is a selfproclaimed Gleek, and even those who don’t watch know the premise and probably some of the songs they cover. “Glee” focuses on New Directions, the fictitious glee club at William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio. The club is made of a range of misfits who find a family through the club. “Glee” covers just about every high school drama imaginable in a surprisingly mature way. Head cheerleader, Quinn, has a baby; wheelchair-bound Artie deals with dating and fitting in; Aretha Franklin-esque Mercedes finds her individual voice in a sea of conformity; and fashionisto Kurt is the only openly gay person at his school. The journey of Kurt Hummel’s coming to terms with his sexuality is a highlight of the show. In the first season, Kurt has yet to come out and fosters a crush on Finn, a straight sports jock. Bullying is the focus early in the second season, when meathead Dave picks on Kurt because of his sexuality. After expelling rounds of verbal and physical abuse upon Kurt, Dave finally kisses him, revealing he, too, is gay but terrified of the truth. “Glee” keeps LGBTQ issues on the forefront of its storyline with much kudos to Chris Colfer, the brilliant and talented actor playing Kurt. More screen time is expected for Colfer, and hopefully a budding romance with Blaine, a gay student from a rival glee club, as the season continues after a two-month hiatus. 6

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Everyone’s favorite drag queen is back and blonder than ever when the third season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” begins in January. Host RuPaul and a team of judges lead a group of drag-queen hopefuls through an onslaught of different competitions. Interview videos of the 12 new fierce contenders are available on LogoTV.com. Among the newbies are Alexis Mateo, who is excited to represent “the diversity in America” as a Hispanic drag queen; India

Ferrah, who has called Dayton, Ohio, home and has been performing in drag since age 12; and Carmen Carerra, who promises to bring sophistication to the drag race: “Classy sex is what I do.” “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is the most fabulously guilty pleasure on television. Among the diva moments and makeup horrors, the reality show offers a glimpse into a place many may never experience: the glamorous drag-queen universe.

Modern Family Network: ABC Season: Two, continued Returns: Jan. 5 As a returning favorite, this hit comedy rakes in almost 15 million viewers. “Modern Family” stays on top by being exactly that— modern. The mockumentary centers on three fun and slightly dysfunctional families who are all related in some way. The show’s scene-stealers are Cameron “Cam” Tucker and Mitchell Pritchett, who form a loving gay couple raising an adopted daughter, Lily. The proud dads, played by Eric Stonestreet and Jesse

Tyler Ferguson, are equal parts hilarious and sincere as they create a positive depiction of a contemporary gay couple. The actors’ portrayals have received glowing reviews from the LGBTQ community: the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) awarded “Modern Family” with its Respect Award for “positive images and storylines that reflect a diverse America, including the depiction of a family headed by a gay couple.” FOX, LOGO TV, ABC

Winter 2011 Entertainment Preview

MUSIC

Tap your feet to the sounds of a new year with these winter releases from a hip hop veteran and pop up and comers, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears’ respective albums not included.

Take Control

No Mercy

“Gold Dust”

Artist: Dangerous Muse Label: Operational Art/Scarce Goods Release: Feb. 14

Artist: T.I. Label: Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records Release: Dec. 7

Artist: Empress Label: Your Hands Music Release: March

Comprised of Mike Furey and Tom Napack, Dangerous Muse is an electronic pop band stringing wicked thumps and low-key vocals. Their first single, “I Want it All,” from the boys’ album, teased fans for months before finally hitting the Web late in 2009. Having remixed Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” recorded three scenes for foreign film House of Boys and created a T-shirt design for H&M’s AIDS awareness campaign, Fashion Against AIDS, Dangerous Muse’s debut studio album has been a long way coming. If you like your pop ballads deep, with layers of masculinity, vulnerability and sex, let Furey and Napack Take Control. You’ll be glad you did.

Despite his run-ins with the law, Atlanta native T.I. dropped another album entitled No Mercy Dec. 7. The new release is the Grammy Award-winning rapper’s first album since his 2008 platinum-certified album Paper Trail. With guest appearances from Kanye West, Eminem, Christina Aguilera and Chris Brown, No Mercy is T.I.’s highly-anticipated seventh studio album. The deluxe version of the release includes two bonus tracks, special packaging and T.I.’s raw sex appeal.

Following the Nov. 15 release of their first single “Captain,” Empress is set to debut their next track this February. Titled “Gold Dust,” the single features more catchy electronica gold than you can shake a scepter at. Janee on vocals, Charlie Westropp and Owen Taylor on guitar, John Stevens on bass, and Ben Athey on drums round out the Empress quintet. Formed in 2009 and situated in the United Kingdom, expect to hear more from the band this summer when they release their first fulllength album sometime around August. Until then, check out their singles and Chatrouletteinspired music video.

Talk About Body Artist: MEN Label: IAMSOUND Release: Feb. 1 Led by vocalist JD Samson, MEN is an art house pop collective featuring Johanna Fateman, Ginger Brooks Takahashi and Michael O’Neil. JD Samson grew up outside Cleveland in Pepper Pike, Ohio, and came out at 15, according to her autobiography on the Le Tigre website, another band she’s a part of. She also founded her school’s gay/straight alliance and made the Northeastern Ohio All Star team for field hockey while attending Orange High School. As a member of the band, she helps MEN create smooth electro-disco ballads. “Off Our Backs,” the latest single from their album, could be an anthem to the prostitute’s plight for freedom. Whatever the interpretation, MEN shouldn’t be overlooked, drawn-on mustaches and all. MICHAEL ELTON, DARREN ANKENMAN, YOUR HANDS MUSIC, ANNE DE VRIES, CASS BIRD

FUSION Winter 2011

Winter 2011 Entertainment Preview

BOOKS What better way to spend a snowbound day than curled up next to a roaring fire with one of the editor-selected books below. Start a book club or read to your grandma, just pick up one of these gay page turners.

Author: Johnny Weir Publisher: Gallery Release: Jan. 11

Welcome to My World

Coming out of his Showtime reality television series, Be Good, Johnny Weir, the ambiguous figure skater himself, Johnny Weir, composes this book of anecdotes regarding skating, men and being a fabulous bitch. True, he was robbed during last year’s Olympics, but he returns to full form in this essay-filled expose that reveals his love of fur and sequins and talks about his sexual orientation for the first time. “Just finished ‘proofing’ the final manuscript of my book, Welcome to My World. I’m so excited for you all to see my story. #letsgetprinting,” he tweeted Nov. 4. We won’t have to wait much longer to find out what lies beyond the flesh-tone body spandex.

hidden

Author: Tomas Mournian Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp. Release: Jan. 25

Ahmed’s parents institutionalize him in order to cure him of his homosexuality. After 11 months of what amounts to torture, Ahmed escapes to a safe house in San Francisco where he changes his name and tries to lead a new life. This is made more difficult due to the close proximity of his housemates and the tensions that ultimately arise. Mournian wrote hidden as an expansion on his article and documentary Hiding Out, based upon real queer youth safe houses. Showcasing a slightly darker aspect of the community, hidden is no less revealing of how some youth are swept under the rug as sex workers and vagrants. For something to talk about, give hidden a try.

Blind Sight Author: Meg Howrey Publisher: Pantheon Books Release: March 29 Luke is the only male born into his family’s tradition of only producing female offspring. While writing his college entrance essay, he discovers his father is Mark, a mega-popular action movie star living in Hollywood. After the two are reunited, the men begin to bond in unexpected ways, finding deeper connections than they ever would have thought possible as father and son. When Mark reveals he’s gay to Luke, things get even more emotional and authentic as the two share in even more intimate details of their lives. Howrey tells the tale of Luke’s coming of age with poignant immediacy by molding each chapter as half first-person entrance essay, half third-person narrative. The writing is smart and quick and will leave you reeling following the final revelation that could unhinge Luke’s entire summer and recast his definition of a father. Blind Sight is a book that must be read. Period. 8

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Meg Howrey, the author, toured with Broadway’s Contact and won an Ovation Award in 2001 for her role, according to the back cover.

GALLERY, KENSINGTON, TRAVIS TANNER, Background: Used with permission from psdGraphics.com

FUSION Winter 2011

STREET SIGHTINGS

NOT MY CUP OF TEA

Jessica Djukic uncovers how the Tea Party movement helped birth the idea of a satirical line of T-shirts from Columbus resident Jeremy Kalgreen.

f you haven’t heard of one of the most controversial new pieces of clothing on the Internet, you must actually be voting Tea Party. Jeremy Kalgreen is the creator of the “That’s Why I’m Voting Tea Party” line of online T-shirts. Inspired by news websites that had collections of posters and signs from Tea Party rallies, Kalgreen uses his T-shirt site to create a funny spin on the Tea Party. His perception of the Tea Party is “taking anger people feel about being unemployed and redirecting it against liberals and what they stand for—a new conservative, far right liberal movement by the people.” His shirt concept first came about when he took a look at the major issues the conservatives and Tea Party members focused on. He then took it over the top to create shirts full of satire to give everyone a good laugh. Once he had the idea for the T-shirts, he made some examples and put the shirts up on his Facebook page. Within a week, he had the shirts up on his website, too. His idea for the shirt “Obama Wants to Let Gays Vote, That’s Why I’m Voting Tea Party” was chosen because everyone has the right to vote, and no one would seriously believe that gays are denied that right. He used the shirt concept knowing “no reasonable person could support that gays should not be able to vote because that is a right we all have.”

FUSION Winter 2011

The most popular of the Tea Party shirt slogans is “Obama Won’t Teach My Kids the Earth is Flat, That’s Why I’m Voting Tea Party.” His Tea Party shirts are a new collection to his website and have only been available to purchase online since July 2010. Kalgreen enjoys seeing people sporting his creations and sometimes stops them on the street to let them know that was his idea. The T-shirts are available to purchase at imvotingteaparty.com

WHAT IS THE TEA PARTY? According to USA TODAY, the Tea Party movement originated when CNBC’s Rick Santelli called for a “Chicago Tea Party” in February 2009. The conservative political group now advances its cause by backing candidates in local and state races, making prominent gains during the November elections. Tea Party members view the government as too large and intrusive. Of its membership, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, 78 percent are Republican or Republican-leaning Independents, 77 percent are non-Hispanic whites, 23 percent are younger than 35 and 83 percent believe President Barack Obama shouldn’t be re-elected.

Like the shirt? Enter Fusion’s raffle to win this and much more. Pick up a ticket today in room 205 Franklin Hall. PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY HARGUS

ANSWERS

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Web comedian and viral video vixen Kelly ... we mean, Liam Sullivan

1. I like to read spy novels. 2. I use a Mac. 3. I am a Boston native. 4. My YouTube success took me completely by surprise. The site wasn’t even invented when I made my most popular videos “Muffins” and “Shoes.” 5. Brazenly, I do crossword puzzles in pen. 6. I met my wife while dressed as a teenage girl (Kelly). 7. I am not a cell phone enthusiast. 8. I lived without a television for two very productive years. 9. I got recognized at a restaurant. The waiter brought me a free muffin. It was very nice. 10. Emerson said, “To be great is to be misunderstood.” If you can accept and enjoy being misunderstood, then your life will be great. Example: If you love Star Wars and cats and biochemistry, walk around with this in your head: “I’m a huge Star Wars fan; I love cats; and I’m going to be a biochemical engineer. THAT’S WHAT’S UP, MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!!” [Exclamation points added by Sullivan.] If you own it, they will come. It’s sexy.

Sullivan posted the video for “Shoes,” in which he plays the role of teen girl Kelly, on YouTube more than three years ago. Since the video went viral online, the original and full-length versions of it have garnered more than 40 million views combined. He has posted numerous other videos featuring the character and guest appearances from others such as guitarist Dave Navarro, comedienne Margaret Cho and musician Amanda Palmer.

PHOTOGRAPH PROVIDED BY SULLIVAN

FUSION Winter 2011

EASY-ON-THE-EYES LISTENING

ΔNGELO Download Angelo’s “Hands Down (Buffetlibre Remix)” on ThatGayMagazine.com.

Sex appeal with brains to boot, electro-pop maestro Angelo tells Justin McCraw he’s reintroducing pop to the Y-chromosome.

ehind the fauxhawk and rippled muscles, Angelo D’Agostino— just call him Angelo—is an Italian-Catholic boy who always knew he was different. But what he would initially attribute to his being an artist would later turn into his being gay. “I was one of these kids that very innocently and non-assumingly did not associate sexuality with any points of difference,” he recalls via telephone from New York. “I thought I was an artist and that I was different, and people saw me differently because of that.” When he was around 19 years old, Angelo collected enough money from part-time jobs to buy an eight-track recorder, a device capable of recording multiple inputs into one sound. Several weeks ago, Angelo says he found his old eight-track and two shoe boxes full of cassette tapes. “It was all very analog, what I was doing,” he says with a hint of nostalgia. “And it’s funny, sort of, in an ironic way. In terms of indie

FUSION Winter 2011

rock and indie pop music now, people are sort of reverting back to that sound.” Angelo says those initial choruses, harmonies and musical threads stuck with him in creating his newest project, an eight-track EP that should be available for purchase by the time this is published. He calls these songs pieces of him, like the piles of spiral notebooks diarists may fill composing their life’s story. “They’re pieces of me that I’ve kept in a mental drawer, and who knows where they’ll end up,” he says. “We’ll see if I can go about the arduous process of looking through all those to see if there’s anything to harvest.” “Hands Down” and “Terrible Heart” are songs from the EP Angelo is proud of and most excited for people to hear. But by and large, he can’t decide on just one or two as his favorite. He says, “…all Christmases are pretty kick ass if you’re a kid and you’re getting what you want. And to me, this project is like a Christmas present. I have eight little presents that I’ve been able to sort of unwrap for myself, and they all equally mean something to me.” “Narcissus Drowned,” another track listing, is what he calls “a little high-level for electro-pop music.” He says it illustrates not only his song writing, but also how he views himself best represented musically. And perhaps his music is a bit intellectual for pop, although he affirms he’s no “crazy poet or hard ass or something.” Graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in art history and language arts, Angelo says he wants people to know there’s more than just a one-dimensional musician meat bag crooning in people’s earbuds. “It’s important for me as a person for people to know that I do have a brain and that there’s more to me than just a sick beat or some plumped up bass,” he insists. “There’s something behind all this, and if that responds with someone, then great.” One of the most profound things Angelo does, besides craft songs with layers of depth that reveal themselves following each listen, is support the LGBTQ community just by living authentically. Last year, he recorded a video for the It Gets Better Project, an initiative created by columnist Dan Savage and his husband around the time LGBTQ youth suicides permeated the media last fall. In the video, Angelo sends his message of hope and acceptance, telling whoever watches that things really do get better. “There’s so much amazing art and writing and philosophy and so much dynamic social work that’s born out of oppression of sorts,” Angelo says. “And it’s hard sometimes when you’re in that situation, whatever that circumstance might be, to kind of look outside of yourself” and say what I’m experiencing now may be useful later. “My frustration is, when you get a little bit older, you start to realize how insignificant these experiences become in the scheme of things,” he continues. “If people could look into a crystal ball and see how life is going to play out, they’ll know that these sort of bumps in the road are just that. They’re bumps. They’re not mountains. They’re not insurmountable objects; they’re just bumps. So I say channel that energy into something productive.” Angelo’s EP, which he admits has enough songs to be a fulllength album, is available in both physical and digital versions from ASORADA Publishing, a division of ASORADA Creative LLC/ Tunecore Albums. “I’ve got all kinds of stuff brewing,” Angelo says. “I’m not going to rest on my heels. …Whether you want to dance, whether you want to swing one back after a hard week or whether you just want to sort of mourn the loss of a love that you never had, there’s something for you on this record. … I mean, I like it. But I’m a little biased.” n PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC SCOTT

FUSION Winter 2011

AROUND TOWN

THE FOUR S’S OF OHIO EATERIES

Ohioans love to eat, and these four Buckeye food joints know how to serve. We pick the best offerings from each and serve them up fresh for you to chew on. Just don’t forget to bring your bib. Strickland’s Frozen Custard

1. Strickland’s Frozen Custard started in Akron in 1936, and its popularity is still going strong in Northeast Ohio. Along with timeless flavors, Strickland’s offers “Flavor of the Day” options, such as maple custard. With a small town, mom and pop feel, Strickland’s special custard recipe will definitely have you licking your fingers in satisfaction. 2. Sherbet, Banana $2.85 (each) Scooped orange, lime and strawberry sherbet is blended and then stuffed into a waffle cone. Add a spoon for good measure. Banana rounds out the “Flavor of the Day,” keeping the whole menu rather … well, gay. 3. Strickland’s Chiller, $2.95 Blue raspberry slushy with a scoop of vanilla custard. Swirled together, the concoction is Strickland’s version of gaylights (see our Gay Dictionary on page 48).

Stoddard’s Frozen Custard & Yogurt

4. Since 1948, Stoddard’s has been serving up frozen custard of all flavors in Kent. With an outdoor seating area, the small, homemade custard shop offers great, creamy goodness and a place to park it. Stoddard’s is a seasonal shop that closes during the frigid winter months but reopens in March. 5. Clown Face Sundae, $3.25 One scoop of vanilla as the face, two separate whipped cream flourishes for the hair with rainbow sprinkles, a cherry for the mouth, M&Ms for the eyes and a waffle cone for a hat. 6. Cookie Dough on a Cone, $4.00 (M) Multiple scoops of custard blended with miniature bites of cookie dough in a waffle cone. After sucking this custard, you’ll have to swallow its cookie pieces.

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5 3

Swensons Drive In

9 7

7. An Ohio staple since 1934, Swensons Drive In restaurant is a throw back to oldtime, in-car dining. And if you like your boys bouncing, park as far from the main building as possible to recreate your favorite “Baywatch” scenes. Busboys and -girls do the math in their heads, the darlings. But we recommend double checking anyway. 8. Galley Boy and Onion Rings, $4.45 Two hamburger patties dressed with signature sauces sandwich American and other condiments on a toasted bun with a green-olive garnish. 9. Strawberry Milkshake, $2.65 (Regular) Viscous strawberry goodness will keep your lips puckered as you suck your way through all 18 flavors, plus seasonal delights.

Skyline Chili

10. Cincinnati’s chili and cheese over spaghetti has been tempting gays since it was first introduced in 1949. Not only does the heap of cheese resemble the hair of the trick from last night, but the whole mess may also be the cure for hangovers. Britney Spears may have liked it three ways, but the 5-Way Chili is the way to go. 11. 5-Way Chili, $5.79 (Regular) Spaghetti noodles covered with chili, onions, red beans and a mountain of cheese only the bravest should attempt to climb. Great for regularity. 12. Cheese Coney, $3.30 (for two) Skyline Chili dogs with mustard, onions and curls of cheese. Don’t expect any kisses after downing two of these puppies.

12 PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDSAY FRUMKIN, JUSTIN MCCRAW

FUSION Winter 2011

days cities

...and chances to find true love STORY BY

Simon Husted PHOTOGRAPH Nora Rodriquez

From March to the final days before October, Kevin Richberg invested hours every day drafting plans for a new adventure. However, this adventure was different from any journey Kevin embarked on before. Kevin didn’t need a scuba mask, a sleeping bag, or a belt of harnesses for where he planned to go and what he planned to do. Kevin, who at 32 years old has visited 89 countries, wasn’t searching for a challenge 2.5 kilometers below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, or on top of Africa’s largest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Kevin’s done that and more. In this adventure, Kevin planned to search for love on a 30-day-long road trip leading him to 30 dates across 30 U.S. cities — plus Beijing. If you think this is an exploitive dating experiment, you’re wrong. Like his other treks, Kevin treated this adventure as a learning experience more than anything else. Kevin started his cross-country dating adventure in New York City Oct. 1. He traveled as far south as Houston and as far north as Spokane, Wash. Pittsburgh was supposed to be Kevin’s last stop in the continental U.S., but on Halloween, Kevin surprised all of his Facebook, Twitter and blog followers when he announced plans for a 31st date in Beijing. Like something from a television drama, Kevin chose who he wanted to move forward with when he returned to the United States Nov. 10. But Oct. 29, 2010, Kevin graced Cleveland with his presence. He arrives at the downtown Starbucks I suggested to meet. No, I am not Kevin’s date, but that doesn’t mean Kevin is new to answering and asking questions. Aside from taking in the culture and sights of every city he visits, the largest portion of Kevin’s cross-country dating adventure is learning about who his dates are. Rarely any physical intimacy and absolutely zero sex is involved during his dates. Actually, that’s one of Kevin’s very few ground rules. Almost every guy he meets at each city plans the day’s events, just as long as the venue isn’t the man’s house, a suspicious club or any place potentially compromising the situation. The premise of each date is learning about one another. Although no part of his adventure appeared on cable, Kevin’s face and body certainly belong there. Kevin stands 6-feet, 2-inches tall with blue eyes, cropped brown hair and a build muscular enough to hint at his long history of traveling in the wild. Kevin’s appearance is ripped straight from daytime soaps — he’s the handsome male character straight female viewers cringe at when they learn he’s working for the opposite team. Even the 10 to 20 pounds Kevin claims to have gained throughout his adventure — a necessary price to pay when you indulge at restaurants with a new guy every day — is hardly noticeable. Kevin is more than just than a pleasant sight to stare at, though. The upstate New York native holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology

FUSION Winter 2011

from California Tech, and this past spring, Kevin earned his master’s degree in marine biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He hasn’t received a job offer to be a marine scientist yet, nor is it his intention to invest his life in that type of field. Kevin aims to make a living off travel writing. “I’ve been thinking too long that a career is something you are good at, not necessarily something you are passionate about,” Kevin tells me, adding he learned that lesson mostly from watching the career paths his mother chose. “She did a lot of things that she was good at and wasn’t very happy,” he says. Kevin’s passion for travel writing appears frequently throughout his blog. For every city Kevin stops to meet his next date in, he writes one, two or sometimes three blog entries that relate more to the city than the date itself. A gay stud on a cross-country dating adventure sounds perfect for a viral PR stunt, but it’s difficult to argue if fame and glitz are Kevin’s intention at all. The idea seems written for reality television, but aside from this story, answering questions on an LGBT radio show based in Orlando, Fla., and writing a few blog stories for Advocate.com, Kevin hardly seeks any media attention. He doesn’t try to exploit his adventure for monetary gain, either — regardless that his travel and hotel expenses rose to more than $5,000. Kevin’s blog isn’t even exploitive. The blog entries aren’t anything like other dating blogs.

FUSION Winter 2011

Kevin never writes about what clothes his dates wear or what inappropriate innuendos his dates suggest, nor does he post anything regarding drama between him and a date. Kevin provides details of whom he dates without judging them. For example, following his sixth date in Greenville, S.C., Kevin wrote a blog entry relaying a disturbing story his date shared. The story told of a husband who murdered his aggressive, dominant-mannered wife after she came home from work one day. The husband pulled out a gun from his pocket and shot her twice as she left her parked car. The wife collapsed dead onto the concrete, bleeding from the neck. The husband then shot his wife a third time before he surrendered to police and claimed everything he did was in self-defense. He said he feared for his life. Following Kevin’s summary of the story, he wrote “Was this poor soul my date in Greenville, South Carolina? Are you kidding me? Do you really think I would go out with a man who shot his wife twice to down her and then again for good measure … ? No sir … I had a spectacular date with this man’s lawyer instead.” In addition, Kevin writes other stories shared amongst his dates, such as coming out to parents and friends, personal struggles in life and career-path goals. Kevin even shared one date’s struggle with his mother who strongly disapproves of homosexuality. Kevin rarely provides photos of the guys he dates — something his Web audience begs

to see. Pictures of wildlife, landscapes and buildings far outnumber the nine dates who gave Kevin permission to post photos, their faces included. But the thing that stands out most from other dating blogs is the lack of negative remarks Kevin writes. “I’ve loved everybody and had a great experience with every single person,” Kevin says. His blog entries about the dates echo very similar messages. Kevin saves most of his negative criticism for Hertz, the rental car company that wasted an hour of Kevin’s time approving a necessary oil change, and a Baymont Inn that demanded a $15 fee for moving in four hours early, regardless that it had empty rooms. It’s not to say the people Kevin met were lame and the things he did during his dates were similar and boring. Not at all. In Fort Worth, Texas, Kevin unexpectedly paired up with two guys for a three-some date after one guy, who previously canceled, found out he could make the date after all. After giving the guy a second chance, Kevin asked his other date that day to bring along his three adopted children. Just like a gay adaptation of “Full House,” the three men and three kids visited the Texas State Fair together and ate at Texas Roadhouse afterward. Think that’s crazy though? In Boise, Idaho, Kevin drank glasses of vodka with a gay couple who have been together for five years but remain open to the idea of a committed polygamous relationship

Throughout his adventures, his 30 dates and 30 chances at love, Kevin took various pictures and posted them to his website. This is a collage of those photos, used with permission, showcasing some of his trip’s highlights.

— and who were a part of one not too long ago. “This is about me learning, not just about my future love life,” Kevin says of his nontraditional date in Boise. Kevin’s admirable respect toward each date, and his modest relationship with the media, may help explain why attention toward his blog slowly trickled down in the months following August. As of Jan. 6, the blog’s Facebook page had only 344 followers and its Twitter page only 235 — both less than the 398 friends Kevin has on his personal Facebook page. Kevin’s blog received much more attention this summer when he opened his cross-country dating adventure to men across the Web. Advocate.com, The TV Realist.com, Good Men Project.com, Popngraphy.com and Queerty.com all posted stories previewing Kevin’s quest and encouraging readers to answer Kevin’s call to action. The exposure helped Kevin earn worldwide attention. Before he left for New York City, the first leg of his journey, Kevin counted more than 1,000 proposals sent. The proposals asked prospective men to answer 10 basic questions and write a small blurb on why they’re interested in a chance to date Kevin. One of his closest friends, Joe Gumina, urged Kevin to at least let him find photos of what each date looked like before he made his final decision. Kevin refused. Instead, he based his selection mostly on how compelling each

proposal read and if its location and availability correlated well with the road trip’s stops. Kevin knew nothing more about each date until he met each one. Speaking of which, I had no idea Kevin and his Cleveland date were scheduled to meet up during the interview at Starbucks. Kevin’s date arrives at Starbucks 35 minutes into our interview, and it becomes clear the interview will have to end soon. Kevin answered all of the questions I prepared, and there are no follow-up items to further our time. Nevertheless, Nora, the photographer who accompanied me to Cleveland, and I are upset to realize we’ll have to part ways from Kevin shortly. The four of us exit Starbucks where Nora is ready to take portraits of Kevin as he is ordered around various backdrops of high-rise buildings and cars. “I didn’t know I was going on a date with a celebrity,” Kevin’s date says in a joking manner. Nora finishes her photo-op and the two men wish us best of luck on the story before they embark. Later, I learn through new entries on Kevin’s blog the two shared an outdoorsy date centered around urban farming, a trend that is gaining momentum in rust belt cities. Incidentally, Kevin’s date in Cleveland adopted the practice and is passionate about the cause. In the end, did Kevin choose his date in

Cleveland? I don’t know. Kevin won’t say. Against the cries of his Web followers, Kevin wants to keep that information private. “There is someone I’m seeing right now, but he would like it to remain completely private and just between the two of us,” Kevin wrote in a follow-up e-mail. He made that decision public on his blog a week after e-mailing me. Not many followers commented on whether they were disappointed, but I’m certain they were. I was. It felt like Kevin left the story unclosed, with a cliffhanger for everyone to gnaw at. But this adventure was never about satisfying me or any Web followers: It was about Kevin finding love in the most unconventional way possible. In this day and age, where everyone’s Twitter and Facebook page competes for the most followers, friends and likes, it’s nice to see someone put himself and his special someone on a higher pedestal. And who knows; maybe we’ll see pictures of Kevin and his beau soon enough on Facebook and the websites that made Kevin Richberg summer 2010’s most eligible bachelor. “It was never a foregone conclusion that I was going to find someone to love on this adventure,” Kevin scribes in his last blog entry. “You can date 10, 50, 100 people and never find love or the spark…or you can find it in the very first person who touches your heart. It’s never a numbers game, and 30 was just a number.” n

FUSION Winter 2011

Now That They Know What does it mean for someone to say they’ve “come out”? Raytevia Evans explores the concept with the help of LGBTQ youths’ parents.

“Mom, Dad…I’m gay.” When families hear these words from the children they thought they knew so well, their reactions may vary as broadly as their emotions. Anger. Confusion. Guilt. Pain. Denial. Coming out stories are common among members of the LGBTQ community, but the stories that sometimes go untold are those of the parents, sisters, brothers and other family members who love and care for them.

The Remington Family

Zachary Remington turned 18 years old Jan. 20, 2010. He celebrated by getting a tattoo, hanging out with some friends and making the decision to come out to his parents. “I sat them both down in their bedroom and just talked to them about it and told them,” he recalls. His parents, Janice and Shawn, say they may have known all along but hearing the words was still difficult. “I wasn’t shocked,” Janice says, “but even when you know, it’s hard to hear them say it. His dad was in shock even though he kind of knew, too.” Zach says he became curious the summer before entering middle school. Because he was still an adolescent, he says he didn’t understand this change in his attraction to men or what he should do about it. 20

FUSION Winter 2011

“At first, I was a little confused because I didn’t really know what it was at all and I didn’t understand what that meant,” he recalls. “So I kind of put it on the back burner until about ninth grade and didn’t really think about it.” Zach, now a freshman architecture major, came out to his best friend, Hailey, when he was in 10th grade. By the time he was in the 11th grade, all of his friends knew of his sexuality. “By then, I was open about it in high school,” he says. “So if anyone asked me in high school, I would say, ‘Yes, I’m gay.’” Zach’s older sisters, Erin and Kaylee, found out through their high school friends, but his parents were left in the dark. Zach may not have said it aloud to his parents, but mother’s intuition had Janice thinking about it anyway.

“I guess I always knew in the back of my mind,” Janice admits, “but I didn’t want to ask in case I was wrong.” When he finally decided to tell his parents the truth, Zach says he was prepared for anything. He recalls he was confident he would be all right no matter the outcome. “I think my mindset was, once I turned 18 I felt like there was nothing else holding me back,” he says, “because if I had to be on my own, I felt like I could handle it no matter which way the reaction would go because you always prepare for the worst and expect the best.” He wasn’t sure what their reactions would be. What he did know was his mother was raised Catholic, his father was raised Lutheran and he considered both sides of his family to be conservative. Shawn says hearing his son come out was difficult and made him very concerned. “It’s kind of like an injury,” he says. “A lot of things go through your mind. I thought, ‘Is he OK? Did we know this already?’ And I think we kind of did already know.” Janice remembers Zach watching television on his birthday like it was any other normal day. “It was about this tattoo,” she says. “He said he wanted to tell us about the tattoo and what it meant. He actually broke down, and my first reaction was just to hold him.” At first glance, Zach’s body ink may seem simple. But for Zach, the equal symbol on his right wrist represents everything he is and what he stands for. “For me it represents equality,” he says. “I am a firm believer in equal rights for both sexes, all races and all sexualities. I got it as a commitment to represent homosexuality in a positive light and as a promise to fight for our rights as humans.” Since coming out, Zach says his parents ask questions in order to better understand. “I think since then I’ve seen them very much embrace my lifestyle and my culture,” he says, “and they’re actively trying to include themselves in things.” Janice says family and friends have also embraced Zach’s sexuality. Janice says Zach is still the same person he has always been: her son. “I don’t feel any differently,” she says. “I’m actually proud of him for it.” Zach says he knows that in the back of their minds, his parents are concerned about anti-gay gestures. His sisters, he says, always tell him to be careful. Shawn says, “In a perfect world it wouldn’t matter.” However, his concern was about the reactions of the uninformed. “I wasn’t really worried about friends and family,” he admits. “I was concerned about ignorant people. People who aren’t educated about it.” Shawn says he would like to take some time to talk about it with Zach and the family, but he still doesn’t openly talk about Zach’s

sexuality because he’s still thinking it through. Shawn says he thinks his wife has digested Zach’s news quickly, while he has accepted it but is still processing it in his mind. “I think it’s natural for moms to process it,” he says. “It’s taking me longer to process it, but it hasn’t changed our relationship.” Both Shawn and Janice say Zach’s sexuality has not negatively changed their relationship. “We always had a good relationship,” Janice says. “It has changed, and I would say it has improved. It’s become more open.” Zach says he felt an “emotional release” once it was all in the open, and his parents’ willingness to continue to be involved and concerned gives him courage.

The Filler Family

Katrina Ann Filler, a junior child psychology major at Penn State-Altoona, was always active in sports, playing softball in high school and hockey when her parents owned an ice rink. Surrounded by male athletes and male employees at the ice rink, Katrina says she only had one interest when it came to interacting with her peers. “Well, I have always tried impressing the girls around me growing up,” she says. “I would go out of my way to talk to them and hang out with them.” Although she mostly played hockey with male teammates, Katrina says she was never interested in talking to them or the male staff at the ice rink. Katrina says she “officially realized it” when she was 15 years old. She didn’t tell any of her family members how she felt. Instead, she told someone else she had known for a long time. “I came out to my sister’s friend Kari first. I knew her all my life. She was friends with (my sister) Becca, and she was an out lesbian,” Katrina says. “I was even attracted to her growing up.” Eventually, the Filler family moved, and Katrina says she transferred to a Catholic school and quickly became close with a girl named Liz. A day of hanging out turned into making out, and Katrina experienced her first long-term relationship with a woman. Katrina says her friends became concerned with her relationship with Liz. “All of my

friends started figuring it out and questioning me and even my family questioned our relationship,” she recalls. “So I came out to my parents for the first time when I was 16 years old. I told them I was scared because I knew how they would react, but I didn’t care because I knew how I felt and I didn’t want it to go away.” Katrina and her older sister, Becca, are close. Becca affectionately nicknamed her younger sister “Peanut” when they were kids, and the name has stuck. Though she concealed her true sexuality from her family members for awhile, Peanut couldn’t get away with much without Becca figuring it out. “I already had my suspicions,” Becca says. “I was relieved to find out she finally felt she could tell me. We tell each other everything. However, I was fearful of what my parents would say.” Pamela, Katrina’s mother, says her first reaction to Katrina’s declaration was just personal guilt and fear for her future. “I felt that I had failed her as a mother,” Pamela explained. “I remember thinking that my child is going to have a very hard life ahead of her because of the prejudice that still exists today.” Katrina says her parents didn’t take the news well, and it caused some distance between parents and child. “They, of course being as religious as they are, freaked out and told me that it was unacceptable and they would never accept me for it,” she says. “They even went as far as taking my car away from me and telling me that I should probably move out as soon as possible.” Though Katrina remembers her parents asking her to move out, Pamela says Katrina was not forced to move away because of her sexuality. “She chose to leave in order to have her own freedom. When we started taking tangibles away from her, such as her cell phone and car, she came home. We did that out of love for our daughter. Freedom with limitations.” After a few years, Katrina says her parents asked her again about her sexuality to be sure it wasn’t just a phase. “They confronted me

about it again when I was 18 years old since it was pretty much ignored for a while, and again I said, ‘Yes, I am lesbian,’” she says. “Again, they said it was unacceptable.” Becca says she was afraid of what her parents would think of Katrina coming out as a lesbian. She says she knew the response would not be a positive one at first. “I knew my mom would feel guilty, like she failed my sister,” Becca explains. “My father was a lector at our church and was always preaching. Mostly, I feared they would worry what others, family and friends, would think.” After Pamela and William Filler deemed their youngest child’s sexuality unacceptable, Katrina moved out and lived with friends while trying to find a place to call her own. Her parents eventually asked her to return home, and she and Liz broke up. Katrina continued to date a few other girls until she met her current girlfriend, Katie Lowell, as her parents still tried to understand her and her lifestyle. The struggle between Katrina and her parents was something Becca first tried to avoid. She says eventually they understood that Katrina would not one day wake up and become a heterosexual female. “Honestly, I tried to stay out of it at first. It wasn’t until Katrina was 19, I think, that they actually understood that her choice wasn’t a phase, it was in fact her life and had been for a long time,” Becca says. “When I did talk to them, I tried to explain that though she wasn’t acting the way they desired, it did not change the person she is.” Becca says she will always be her sister’s support system. Katrina’s parents are now making an effort to better understand her and her lifestyle. She says they are concerned about her, but they are trying more to be a part of her life. With her big sister’s support, and the love she says she shares with Katie, Katrina says she has a better understanding of herself and wants nothing more than to be close with her parents again. “I still find myself kind of ignoring the situation,” admits Pamela, “but I still love my daughter very much.” n

Opposite: The Remingtons (clockwise from the top left), Zach, Erin, Shawn, Kaylee and Janice (provided by family). Far left: Zach’s equality tattoo he got inked with his 18th birthday (photo by Bobby Makar). Left: Filler (left) and her girlfriend, Katie Lowell, share a kiss, a common theme on the girls’ Facebook pages (provided by Filler).

Editor’s Note: For transparency, Kaylee Remington is a staff member of Fusion magazine but had no control over the writing of this article or its contents. Her participation was voluntary and uncompensated. FUSION Winter 2011

Fox

Clothing in Boy’s

Brandi Shaffer PHOTOGRAPHS Brooke DiDonato

FUSION Winter 2011

STORY

ia e-mail, Robert “Robby” Conte, 21, alludes to appearing “odd.” As I wait for him to arrive at our interview, I zero in on an extraordinarily tall man with scraggly, three-tone hair. But he wears a gray sweatshirt, and Robby said he’d be wearing a red and gray hoodie. No red, no Robby.

Another fellow sits in the darkest corner of Jazzman’s in the Kent State Campus Student Center with his hood secured tightly around his face, messing around on his laptop. Robby said he was into computers. Though the lighting is dim, I’m fairly certain his hoodie is borderline black. No red, no Robby. The second he walks in, I knw it’s him. Only, there is nothing odd about him, with his dark hair and average build. Once our eyes meet, he walks confidently toward me and sits down, wearing that red and gray hoodie he promised. We are in a public place, so I want to tread lightly. I muffle certain words, trying my best not to offend or embarrass my subject. After all, I’d heard that furries don’t much care for the media. “Just go for it,” Robby encourages. “Ask.” Robby, originally from Pittsburgh, stumbled upon the online furry community when he was 15 while looking for pictures for a class project. A six-paneled Web comic was enough to pique Robby’s interest, and he put that school project on hold for another day. With the help of MMOs (Massively-Multiplayer Online games) and IRCs (Internet Relay Chats), Robby found more and more people who identified as furries. “You can be bored, you can feel alone,” Robby says, “but there’s always this place where you can go to where you can be yourself and everyone is the same there.” A furry is anyone with an interest in anthropomorphic characters, a genre that gives human characteristics to animals — some real, some hybrid and some imaginary. Furries range widely in their levels of commitment to the community — from anthropomorphic artists, to full fursuiters, to the curious fur who only lurks on message boards. With no set rules or requirements, most furries struggle to define what, exactly, a furry is. If you consider yourself a furry, congratulations — you’re a furry. Most furries feel a connection to certain species and develop “fursonas,” which are portrayals of how they imagine themselves as animals. Robby sees himself as a red fox and even commissioned a badge of his fursona at Anthrocon, the biggest furry convention in the world. Furries wear badges that depict their fursona so online friends can recognize each other. “You know how you see yourself as a person in a mirror,” Robby explains, “this is how you see yourself as a furry in the mirror. My fursona constantly changes.” When he was 14, Robby knew he was gay but decided to keep it to himself. It wasn’t until he graduated high school that Robby told his family, who reacted with surprise and a bit of skepticism, but “no throwing of holy water.” For Robby, coming out as gay and coming out

Robby playing Team Fortress 2, his fursona watching in the background.

as furry were worlds apart. While people have their ideas and opinions about what being gay means, they tend to respond with crinkled, confused eyebrows when he tells them he’s a furry — not that everyone needs to know. “If I’m close to someone, I’ll be like: ‘Oh yeah, by the way …’ But I don’t feel the need to go around using a tail every day,” he says. “It’s not really a big deal to me. I don’t think it should be a big deal.” Last year, Robby attended Anthrocon in Pittsburgh for the first time. “On the way down, I was so nervous, and I was actually shaking because I had so much adrenaline running through my body,” he recounts. “I met my friends and it was this” — he exhales — “huge sigh of relief. Everything’s gonna be fine.” Furry conventions are a place for furries from all over the world to meet, exchange pieces of art, join in panel discussions and see one another’s fur suits. While some furries wear full body suits, others wear only tails, ears, paws or headpieces. However, not every furry dresses up. “No, I don’t have one,” Robby sighs. “They’re very expensive. If they’re made professionally, they’re very, very well made. And I’m a broke college student.” But if he did own one, he would wear it. “That’s part of the fun.”

FUSION Winter 2011

‘‘

There are rules when you have a fur suit on. When you’re in public, unless it’s an emergency situation, you shouldn’t remove your head — you should try to go to a place where no one can see you. If you believe your character doesn’t have a voice, don’t speak. Most people will wave rather than speak. 24

FUSION Winter 2011

‘‘

Easily the most memorable and recognizable part of furry fandom, fur suits are specially made with prices starting at $1,000. The more detail, the higher the cost. Robby finds public reaction to be mostly positive and curious. “People were walking around the streets of Pittsburgh and people come up to you and say, ‘Hi, aren’t you hot in that?’” he says. “Parents bring their kids around and the kids are like ‘I wanna give this large furry thing a hug,’ so it’s like everyone really loves you.” There are drawbacks to decking oneself out in a fur suit. Fursuiters have limited visibility, can overheat easily and are susceptible to lots of anonymous hugs. Fursuiters also abide by certain universally agreed-upon rules to help maintain the illusion of one’s fursona. “There are rules when you have a fur suit on,” Robby explains. “When you’re in public, unless it’s an emergency situation, you shouldn’t remove your head — you should try to go to a place where no one can see you. If you believe your character doesn’t have a voice, don’t speak. Most people will wave rather than speak.” Though Robby’s open to every inquiry, not every furry is so available to the press. Anyone

who has read the March 2001 issue of Vanity Fair wouldn’t blame them. The article’s initial focus is on one furry who continually refers to himself as “fucked up” and out of touch with reality. The article ignores the diverse interests within furry fandom and narrowly categorizes all furries as gay men with beards who love science fiction and indulge their delusions accordingly. What most readers remember from the article is a man who engages in bestiality and plushophilia, a sexual attraction to stuffed animals. The implication is that all furries enjoy the same proclivities. “It’s a gross misrepresentation of the furry community,” says Mike Brenner, a graduate student from Youngstown State University and furry who wrote a research paper about anthropomorphism. “They found the weirdest furry they could and made it seem like every furry out there is just like him.” Mike’s interest in studying the furry community stemmed from his American Studies course. He realized that many of the things we associate with American identity can be considered furry, such as Mickey Mouse, Tony the Tiger, and even the Thunder Cats. He contacted Dr. Kathy Gerbasi, psychology professor at Niagra County Community

College, one of very few social psychologists interested in studying furryism, to find information for his research paper. Gerbasi began studying furries in 2003 and turned to the misconceptions and assumptions made in the Vanity Fair article for material. With the blessing of the convention’s chairman, Dr. Samuel Conway, aka Uncle Kage, Gerbasi began her first official study of furries at Anthrocon in 2006. But she was warned that participation might be scarce. Using voluntary surveys that asked about gender, age, sexual orientation, interests, personality and careers, Gerbasi realized that responses were more varied than she imagined. In her 2008 study, she found that 86 percent of furries at Anthrocon who filled out the survey were male, 30 percent said they wear a fur suit, and 31.5 percent of male furries identified as homosexual. Of the 2,500 people in attendance at the convention, 246 individuals completed the survey. At the suggestion of the survey’s participants, Gerbasi asked a question she never would have thought of on her own: Do you consider yourself to be less than 100-percent human? Of those who responded, 46 percent said yes. “I was surprised by the less than 100 percent human question,” Gerbasi says. “These are actually appropriate questions for this group. It’s outside most people’s realm of thought.” Gerbasi would like to get her work published in a medical journal, but she meets resistance from the scientific community. “I’m surprised more people aren’t interested in this phenomenon from a scientific point of view,” she says. “It’s remarkable. There are people who believe they weren’t meant to be a human being. It’s hard to get people to actually work with.” Oddly, Gerbasi notes that barely any of the furries she surveyed used primates as their identity species. Furries who identified as canine or

feline species made up three quarters of those who named one. But when Gerbasi asked furries how they chose the species they did, she got more questions than answers. For Robby, the decision to build his fursona around a red fox is difficult to articulate. “It just is,” he says. “Some people feel that it brings them strength, it gives them courage. It’s something there that makes them more who they are. It’s an identity more than anything. It’s like trying to describe why you love someone, and not in the sense that ‘Oh I love this person’ and list all the reasons. It’s why are you drawn to this person and not someone else.” For the past few weeks, Robby has been dating David, a wolf from Pittsburgh. The last time we talked, he coyly gushed about a cheetah from Illinois. Robby believes the gay and fur communities are intermingled, and he has some difficulty drawing a line between the two. But it’s clear that the inclusiveness of the furry community is its biggest appeal. “The gay community is more intimidating,” Robby says. “If you look at it from the population aspect, more people say they’re gay than say they’re furry. I don’t like large crowds.” Because of inconvenient scheduling, Robby doesn’t take part in any gay organizations on campus. He doesn’t subscribe to any gay magazines or adhere to a single gay stereotype he can come up with — “I’m kind of like a breaker of all stereotypes.” A self-described chameleon, Robby prides himself on his ability to avoid standing out. “I don’t think you need to shout it from the heavens to be a part of something,” he says before trying five times to state a quote he heard on Futurama: “When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all.” Robby was raised Presbyterian and while he doesn’t pray every day,

The badge Robby commissioned at Anthrocon 2010. His fursona, the red fox, is just as much a part of him as his reflection in the mirror.

FUSION Winter 2011

he finds solace in believing he isn’t alone. He goes back and forth on whether he wants to have kids in the future, but he would like to get married someday. Of course, gay marriage is still a hotly contested issue and something Robby has a clear opinion on. “What gives you the right to say we shouldn’t have the same rights as you just because of the way we love people?” he says with the even tone he applies to nearly all his words. Even when he feels strongly about something, he speaks with calm, deliberate intonation. I ask what gay stereotypes infuriate him the most, and he doesn’t pause for a moment. “The biggest one for me right now is when you tell someone you’re gay and they’re immediately like ‘Oh, are you attracted to me?’ They’re immediately defensive,” he explains. “It’s like I should just have cards prepared to pass out.” Robby encourages me to log in to a chat room where many of his furry friends gather to see how they interact. The chat is open for anyone who wants to participate or just watch, I do the latter. They use animal-related names and talk about the same things anyone would — how each other’s days are going, what online game they plan on playing. There’s even mention of a recent job offer. What sets this chat apart from most are the animal behaviors weaved throughout — “strokes mane,” “chases tail,” “pets,” “f lies upstairs to room,” “pounces,” “purrs” — surrounded by asterisks to indicate action. “It’s really helpful for someone who is shy in public, like me,” Robby says. “At the Con, I felt more — I don’t know if ‘safe’ is the right word … You feel like you belong.” A group of Northeast Ohio furs meets on campus periodically for role-playing card games like BANG! and Zombie Fluxx. The group’s organizer, Jevin, wears a shirt with a computer-related joke I don’t get and waits quietly in the corner of the student center food court for his fellow furries to arrive. A few more trickle in, including a KSU alumnus, a few current students and a fellow who traveled from Columbus for this meeting. With ankles and fingers twitching, they answer questions, giggle amongst themselves and wonder out loud where Ally is every few minutes. Dan, the Kent alumnus, ponders the hypocrisy of asking why a nearby couple is wearing pickle and crayon costumes. They each dutifully describe their fursonas — fox, otter, ravenwolf (a wolf and raven hybrid) — but there’s no mention of animals again. Jevin explains how BANG! is played before they decide to go to Penn Station to commence the game.

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I meet the previously-absent Ally a week later. At 27, she’s not only a nontraditional KSU freshman, but also a nontraditional furry. She’s fearlessly outspoken about everything, including her opinions on the furry community. “There’s younger kids who come into it, and it’s a lot of socially awkward kids because furry’s like the bottom rung of the geek hierarchy,” Ally laughs. “So it’s like, if you don’t fit in anywhere else, be a furry because they take everyone… It’s something to cling to. But they’re welcome, and people in the fandom are very supportive of them. Some people just take it too far.” She sees the furry community with the clear perspective of an outsider, critical of the young furries who deny the darker side of the fandom — the perverts, plushophiles and “people who screw in their fursuits” — so their parents don’t get the wrong impression. “I’m always eager to see furry things in the media,” she says, “because I’m eager to see the fandom blow up about it. They freak out.” Each compliment she offers is accompanied by a biting critique. Though she may not agree with every facet of the community, Ally recognizes the importance of camaraderie in the fandom and is even dating a fellow furry artist. “A lot of the furries just like to get together with other furries. There are people who will only date within the fandom or who, I’ve heard, will only date someone within their own fursona species. They’ll only date canines, or they’ll only date horses. I don’t get it,” she laughs, unapologetically. It comes as no surprise that the dominant color in Robby’s room is red — his bedspread, laptop, headphones and German f lag of arms hanging on the wall. The only animals in his room are his fox badge and a stuffed dog he’s had since he was 2 years old. He’s actually allergic to cats and dogs. Robby passes through the narrow halls of the Eagles Landing Apartments he shares with two roommates, trying to fix his Internet connection. As he tinkers with loading Team Fortress 2 on his computer, David (the wolf ) calls, and Robby situates his phone beneath his headphones to keep it handsfree. After he hangs up, the game finally loads. Robby continues to answer questions and speaks when spoken to, but his eyes never leave the monitor. “If you have a stereotypical mindset about furries,” he tells me via the computer screen, “you’d think, ‘Oh, these people are weird, don’t talk to them.’ But you could be sitting right next to one and not know it.” n

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28 24

FUSION FUSION Winter Spring2011 2010

The specimen before you is not a fursuit. In metaphors, this is a man in rabbit’s clothing. While Fusion was unable to secure authentic fursuits, these mascots serve as reasonable facsimiles.

FURSUIT[ER]

OF A

ANATOMY

Mascots have dufus faces. Period. Real fursuits are personal artifacts of the fur within them and are therefore more unique in character.

Laurence “GreenReaper” Parry, founder of WikiFur.com and editor of furry news site Flayrah.com, approved the differencess noted below. Read up and then strap on your 3-D glasses because it’s furry time.

FUSION FUSION Winter Spring2011 2010

29 25

Fursuits are generally of a higher quality than mascot costumes. As is demonstrated by this picture, the rabbit mascot’s body resembles a sack of potatoes, or carrots. Fursuits are generally tailored to the wearer’s body.

You can see this rabbit’s shoes. What’s up with that? A fursuitter tries to remain in character. While sneakers may be used in construction, they aren’t generally visible within the final product.

Rabbits are white, but furries transcend reality. Most costumes feature embelishments such as jewelry or tattoos, as well as unique patches of fur or other colorations. This mascot does not.

The

3-D Adventures of Furries with excerpts from The Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton B. Burgess

3-D PHOTOGRAPHS BY

Brooke DiDonato

That is one reason you do not find him abroad much when it is raining or in winter when the snow is soft and wet. Reddy Fox is at home all over the northern half of this country, and everywhere he is the same sly, clever fellow whom you all know so well.

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TEXT USED UNDER PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

SPECIAL THANKS TO BLACK SQUIRREL RADIO FOR THE USE OF URL THE SQUIRREL

INSIDE THE SUITS: ANGELA HUFFMAN, ROBBY CONTE, WILLIAM PFEIFFER, JUSTIN MCCRAW

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He is so big and so strong that he can kill Lightfoot the Deer without trouble, and there is no one Lightfoot dreads moreâ&#x20AC;Ś He is especially fond of Horse flesh, and â&#x20AC;Ś he has killed so many young Horses that he has won the undying hate of man. FUSION Winter 2011

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“I suppose you are what is called a vegetarian, then,” said Happy Jack, to which Johnny Chuck replied that he supposed he was. “And I suppose that is why you sleep all winter,” added Happy Jack. “If I didn't I would starve,” responded Johnny Chuck promptly. “When it gets near time for Jack Frost to arrive, I stuff and stuff and stuff on the last of the good green things until I'm so fat I can hardly waddle. Then I go down to my bedroom, curl up and go to sleep. Cold weather, snow and ice don't worry me a bit.”

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He is a harmless little fellow and interesting because he is so queer.

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Vigil for Hope PHOTOGRAPH BY HANNAH POTES

The tragic suicides last year were remembered by Kent State students and others from around Northeast Ohio during a candlelight vigil co-sponsored by Delta Lambda Phi and PRIDE! Kent and recounted by Simon Husted.

andle wax, skin and fingers weren’t the only things burning Oct. 11, 2010. A flame of sorrow was growing among Kent State students in Manchester Field. Attendees at the vigil weren’t just mourning for Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University freshman who jumped off a bridge after his roommate and another student broadcast a sexual encounter between Clementi and another man. The attendees weren’t just mourning for Asher Brown, a 13-year-old Houston teenager who shot himself because of anti-gay bullying at school. And they weren’t just mourning for Carl Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old Massachusetts boy who hanged himself with an extension cord after bullies harassed him at school for “acting gay.” More than 200 people, comprised of students, public officials and university staff and faculty, gathered for reasons beyond paying their respect to the deaths of one 42

FUSION Winter 2011

or two students. The 12th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s murder isn’t what drew so many people outside in the mud-murked grass either. Students stood there with lit candles in hand to illustrate a message that anti-gay bullying is an issue that classmates and school officials need to battle head on. Too many lives have already been damaged and lost because a teacher, a classmate or a school administrator chose not to intervene against bullying when it was within their power to act. “I can definitely relate to the situation,” Allison Kukral, a senior early childhood education major who attended the vigil with members of her sorority to amplify the message that night, says. Kukral also had her own personal connection to the vigil. While attending Mentor High School, Kukral was friends with Eric Mohot, a student who killed himself, allegedly over anti-gay bullying. Mohot was a tall, skinny high school student who frequently wore pink shirts and played

the victim to names like “twiggy,” “fag” and “queer.” On the day Mohot shot himself with his dad’s registered gun, one kid at school told him, “Why don’t you go home and shoot yourself ? No one would miss you,” Mohot’s father recounted to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Students weren’t alone in their message. Public figures that day amplified the message with their presence and speeches. The speakers included Alfreda Brown, vice president of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Max Blachman, the regional representative for Senator Sherrod Brown — who was asked to speak on behalf of former Gov. Ted Strickland; Eric S. Van Sant, the vice chairman on the national board of directors for Delta Lambda Phi Social National Fraternity; and David Pattee, reverend of the United Church of Christ in Kent. Kent State President Lester Lefton was also among the crowd, holding his own candle in the vigil for students who ended their lives too quickly as a result of being pushed too far. n

FUSION Winter 2011

EQUALITY

JUSTICE

COMMUNITY COURAGE PEACE

HOPE LOVE These words f lash in bold, red letters across an electronic screen at the United Church of Christ (UCC) in Kent. Then comes the tagline: “God is still speaking.”

it down with David Pattee, the reverend at the UCC, and you’ll meet a man who’s full of passion — passion for his church, his faith and his community. Get to know him a little better, and you’ll learn that, beyond Pattee’s love for people and his zeal for justice, a man stands at Pattee’s side whom he lovingly refers to as his better half: his partner of 10 years, Andrew Snyder. “I wouldn’t just call myself openly gay,” Pattee says, as he laughs. “I’m happily gay.”

Matthew Lewis PHOTOGRAPHS Nora Rodriquez

STORY

FUSION Winter 2011

As Pattee sits down to the oval-shaped mahogany table in front of the desk in his office, he comfortably leans back in his chair and gets ready to tell his story as an openly-gay pastor. Just above his head hangs a dazzling rainbow-colored quilt that reads “Peace,” which is scrolled across the center of the fabric in white print. He says it’s one of the best gifts he has ever received from his congregation, and it represents great encouragement. Pattee then explains he has met many tribulations as a gay pastor, but the

FUSION Winter 2011

greatest challenge he’s faced is actually building the courage to attend church as an openly gay Christian. “The most offensive thing I do is show up in church and be myself,” Pattee says. “We show up as healthy and integrated human beings, and people are either running for cover or for their guns.” When asked if he’s received any criticism for his sexual orientation and career choice, he laughs and answers, “Oh, absolutely.” The UCC sits in close proximity to

many other area churches, and while the leaders of these churches didn’t run for their guns, Pattee certainly received discrimination for who he is when he gained a church leadership position in April 2008. Pattee says UCC pastors usually try to seek out spiritual leaders from surrounding churches in an attempt to build community connections. “There were people in the group who simply weren’t willing to have me at the table,” Pattee recalls. That table was the Kent Christian Ministerial Association, according to a Feb. 1, 2009, article written by Diane Smith, editor of the religion section of the Record-Courier newspaper in Ravenna, Ohio. According to the article, members of the group split after failing to “reach an agreement over the issue of homosexual clergy.” “But the great thing is, I had nothing to do with the conversation because I wasn’t invited to take part in it to begin with,” Pattee says. Smith’s article explains how Pattee withdrew from the association after realizing his presence caused internal strife among members. The discussion regarding gay clergy members, however, continued for some time following Pattee’s depature. He explains the article didn’t help the morale in these local churches. If anything, however, it’s made the leaders more accepting of diversity. He then stresses with great urgency that these other churches are just as loving now as his own, and they shouldn’t be judged for their actions. “It’s not at all an ‘us against them’ kind of situation,” Pattee says. “Every opportunity I have to come in contact and build community with them, I will. That’s what the gospel calls us to do.” The UCC has more than 500 members in its church, and Pattee says with a little excitement that student attendance is on a steady rise. “I think for some of them, as I understand their stories, we’re providing them an opportunity to rediscover Christianity in a way that feels more authentic, more grounded, more integrated and more hopeful,” Pattee says. Scottie Core, a member of the LGBT community and junior fashion merchandising and journalism major at Kent State, says he would only attend such a church if a friend went with him. “It’s nice to see there’s a church out there that’s loving and accepting of the gay community,” Core says. “Most churches today are filled with hate and use fear tactics to win people over, and that comes off really … rough.” Pattee agrees whole-heartedly. He says tolerance is easy, but it doesn’t get anyone anywhere.

Opposite: Reverend Pattee visiting his parish. Top:The church before it fills with the day’s congregation. Bottom: A brochure of the day’s events. “It’s another way of saying, ‘I’m going to choke back how much you disgust me,’”he says. “I’m not really interested in being tolerated. I’m interested in being engaged. And I demand to be engaged justly.” Pattee, who studied theology at the Chicago Theological Seminary, believes that telling people to conform to a certain way of life is not biblical, and it’s not the way Jesus preached. He says his church celebrates diversity rather than diversion, and it’s a place anyone can come and feel accepted. Sunday services begin at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. He then explains that one of the greatest joys he receives is when people from the LGBT community come into his church and feel like they’re right at home. “Building with community and connecting with people is where we need to be,” Pattee says. “We don’t need to be hiding.” n

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Ace Queen n.

FRAMES ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/BAKALUSHA PARCHMENT ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MAMMUTH

GAY DICTIONARY

EXCERPTS FROM WHAT MAY BE

THE

DEFINITIONS BY LAURA LOFGREN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOBBY MAKAR

After years of adventuring through the thick underbrush of Amazonia, we were able to extract these colloquialisms. Finally, the gay community’s lexicon comes one step closer to being deciphered.

HAIR AND MAKEUP BY SKULLZ SALON: ANGELIQUE MANNS, JEREMY WHITE, LIZZ MALARIK, HAYLEY FEDELISCHAK, LINDSAY HEROLD, A.J. REESE

MODELS: ALEXANDRA DELLAS, JAMIE GENTER, RACHAEL KEMMETT, ALEX LU, MEGAN OHNMEISS, ERIN PERKINS, DAVID

FUSION Winter 2011

Ace Queen — Gurl Ace Queen (n.): A man who appears as womanly as possible, with shaven legs, plucked eyebrows and lipstick-stained teeth. Aunty (n.): An elderly prostitute; an elderly gay man. Implies a sense of being effeminate, dainty and engaging in gossip.

Banana n.

Backyard (n.): Ass.

Baggage (n.): The excuse people use to punish their current partners for things their exes have done to them. Baiting (v., n.): Yelling and verbally attacking, threatening or insulting someone based on an assumed sexual orientation.

Chicken (n.): British. A young boy. Chicken dinner (v., n.): Sex with an underage boy.

Bald-headed mouse (n.): An erect penis. Ballad bar (n.): Gay bar. Juke Box consisting of mainly slow love songs. Maybe some cute boys, if you drink enough Long Islands.

Basket-watcher n.

Banana (n.): Dick. Basket-watcher, basket shopping (n.): Someone who flirtatiously keeps looking at a man’s crotch. Ogling a man’s genitals.

Breeders n.

Chelsea Boy (n.): Muscled twink. Shaves his body and his face. Always has an attitude. Usually wears a plain T-shirt and Levi’s jeans, goes to the gym every day and has 0 percent body fat.

Chicken hawk (n.): An older gay man who seeks sex mainly with young men.

Gaybie n.

Circle jerk (v., n.): A group sex activity in which several people link by masturbatory connections. Clockin’ (v.): 1. Attempting to make eye contact. 2. Selling crack 24/7. Cub (n.): A smaller, younger, inexperienced bear. Cuddle (v.): Sexual activity where no bodily fluid exchanges. Daddy (n.): A gay man who uses a boy for intimate purposes.

Bear (n.): A gay man described as husky, large and hairy.

Drag king (n.): Well, it’s the opposite of a drag queen.

Beefcake (n.): Masculine sex appeal. Hunky.

Fag hag (n.): Your best friend is gay. You’d rather go to a gay bar. You two go shopping every Saturday afternoon.

Bitter (n.): What some gays are destined to become.

Drag queen (n.): A man who dramatically dresses as a woman and performs. Fabulous!

Feigele (n.): A Yiddish term for “gay” that is derived from the word “bird.”

Gaylights n.

Bog Queen (n.): A gay man who frequents public toilets for sex.

Fruit fly (n.): See “Fag hag.”

Bottom (v., n.): Someone who likes to be on the bottom during sex.

Gaybie (n.): Child of a gay couple.

Breeder (n.): Slang for heterosexuals.

Gaylights (n.):Unnatural highlights in the hair that no straight man would ever sport.

Bronco (n.): A young gay male who is difficult to restrain during intercourse.

Glory hole (n.): That hole in the bathroom stall that leads to an adjacent stall and enables a gay man to offer his penis to an anonymous occupant next door.

Bug chaser (n.): A gay man who intentionally has unprotected sex with a man or a group of men in attempt to contract HIV. Bukakke (n.): Many ejaculating onto one.

Gold-Star Gay (n.): A gay person who has never had his cherry popped by the opposite sex.

Fag Hag n.

Camp (n., adj.): Obviously and obnoxiously gay. Cheesecake (n.): A lean, smooth nude or nearly-nude male body. The opposite of “beefcake.”

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Golden shower (n.): Peeing on your partner, usually during sex. Governmentinspected meat (n.): A gay in the armed forces. Gurl (n.): The first word of every gay man’s sentence.

Hasbian n.

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Gym Bunny — Zombie Gym bunny (n.): A troll who came to the realization that the only way he’d get laid is to work out every day.

Sprattie (n., adj.): Messy, matted hair. Spunk (n.): Jizzzzzzz.

Hasbian (n.): A lesbian who chooses a heterosexual lifestyle. Heyy (n.): A greeting. The more Ys. Intercrural sex (n.): Non-penetrative sex. A type of sex in which one male partner places his penis between the legs or thighs of another. A safer way to be intimate with a partner since no bodily fluids are exchanged.

Lipstick Lesbian n.

Kick rock (v.): GTFO. Kiki (n.): 1940s slang term for a lesbian comfortable with either a passive or aggressive partner. Lilies of the Valley (n.): Hemorrhoids. Lipstick Lesbian (n.): A very feminine lesbian. Opposite of butch lesbians. Manscaping (v., n.): Body maintenance, including shaving, trimming and the act of grooming itself.

My Judy n.

My Judy (n.): A dear, close friend. In reference to icon Judy Garland.

Nelly (n., adj.): A behaviorally-feminine gay male. Otter (n.): A thinner bear. Pancake (n.): A 1950s term among African-American lesbians to denote a butch lesbian who allowed herself to be flipped from “top” to “bottom” during sex. Philson sex (n.): Sexual activity in which everybody wants to get off, but nobody does. Significantly more intense than cuddling.

Stromo (n.): A woman’s worst misconception: a gay man who has the looks and demeanor of a straight man. “The cute ones are always gay.” Switch hitter (n.): A bisexual. Teabagging (v., n.): The act of placing the ball sack on a partner’s face or in a partner’s mouth.

Seafood n.

Top (v., n.): Someone who likes being on the top during sex. Troll (n.): Like from under a bridge, these older-than-you men creep out to see if you want to go home with them. A man in a cruising area who won’t take “no” for an answer. Twink (n.): A boyish-looking, young gay man. Often a blonde and skinny as hell. Two-spirit (n.): Term coined in the early 1990s by Native Americans during an LGBT gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It shows the dynamic balance of masculine and feminine energies within them.

Teabagging v.n.

Universe (n.): The space within a three-foot diameter of every gay man. Vacuum cleaner (n.): Someone who applies a lot of suction during oral sex.

Poodle balling (v., n.): Heard on “Will & Grace”: when two lesbians rub their hoohahs together for sexual stimulation.

Voguing (v., n.): Originating in the Harlem gay scene, the dance became popular in the ‘70s and ‘80s. A non-aggressive battle between two feuding individuals where fashion poses combined with dance moves are used to determine a winner.

Puff (n.): British. Outdated term that has been replaced with “poof,” meaning a gay male.

Wolf (n.): A more aggressive otter.

Willets (n.): British. Breasts.

Otter n.

Rough trade (n.): A one-night stand that you will pretend never happened. Sapphistry (n.): Lesbian love. Seafood (n.): A gay sailor. Shrimping (n.): Sucking on those toes. Size queen (n.): It’s all about size. This gay or bisexual man is obsessed with the size of his partner’s penis. 52

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Wrinkle-room (n.): A gay bar often visited by the aging. Yosie (n.): An inexperienced gay sex partner. Zombie (n.): What you become when someone cums in your eyeballs.

Voguing v.n.

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FUSION Winter 2011

National Equality March on Washington D.C. The LGBTQ community is a beautiful melting pot of personalities, and this past decade was full of them. Simon Husted takes us back in time to some of the most memorable happenings of the past 10 years. And as we look back on these pages, we can also look ahead in our Last Thoughts on the next page. This is your gay decade in review.

JULY 18, 2006 -- The U.S. House of Representatives falls short of a two-thirds majority vote needed for the Federal Marriage Amendment’s passage. The amendment would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman, thereby prohibiting states from extending marriage rights to same-sex and unwed couples.

AUG. 17, 2007 – Fictional soap characters Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer kiss during a dramatic episode of “As the World Turns.” The CBS soap opera makes history for featuring the first kiss by two gay characters on daytime television.

FEB. 20, 2007 -- Former NBA star and Cleveland Cavaliers player, John Amaechi, comes out in his memoir, Man in the Middle. Amaechi is the first openly gay NBA athlete.

>>>>>

DEC. 9, 2005 -- Brokeback Mountain premieres in select theaters. By the end of its run, it becomes one of the highest-grossing romantic dramas of all time.

NOV. 3, 2004 – Ohio voters pass a constitutional amendment banning gay couples from getting married in the state.

JUNE 26, 2003 -- The Supreme Court rules sodomy laws unconstitutional in the case Lawrence v. Texas. The ruling also overrules Bowers v. Hardwick, and becomes a precedent in other courts to justify support for legalizing gay marriage.

JULY 20, 2005 -- The United States’ northern neighbor, Canada, becomes the fourth nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

MARCH 9, 2002 -- The Laramie Project debuts on HBO. The tragic death of Matthew Shepard is unfolded to viewers on television.

JUNE 7, 2003 -- The Episcopal Church elects Gene Robinson as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire. Robinson becomes the first openly gay bishop.

JAN. 18, 2004 – “The L Word,” a television series about a cast of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, premieres on Showtime. The series runs for 70 episodes until the finale in March 2009.

MAY 18, 2006 -- The NBC sitcom “Will & Grace” ends its eightseason run. The two-hour series finale draws 18 million viewers.

NOV. 18, 2003 – The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court votes to legalize gay marriage. It is the first state to allow gay couples to marry and is used as an example by >>>>>gay marriage proponents that the sky did not fall.

SPRING 2001 -- Kent State institutes the LGBT Studies minor. Kent is the first university in Ohio to offer the minor.

JAN. 14, 2001 -- The first gay marriage ever recorded takes place in Toronto. Two years later, an Ontario Court rules that the marriage was indeed valid.

200120022003 20042005 20062007

This past decade was wonderful. We laughed as Will & Grace finished its run. We cried when Brokeback Mountain entered theaters and began changing people’s perspectives on the LGBTQ community. We went to arms when California voters repealed Proposition 8, effectively denying marriage to anyone who isn’t straight. We rallied for change during the election of the first black president of the United States. And we stood up when the change didn’t happen fast enough during the

IMAGES FROM CBS, FEDERATION OF GAY GAMES, MGN-ONLINE

TheGayDecad

AUG. 8, 2010 – U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker reverses California’s Proposition 8 and rules no majority should vote whether to deny a minority of its rights. The ruling is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

NOV. 3, 2008 -- Proposition 8 in California passes 52.2 percent to 47.8 percent. The voter-approved state constitutional amendment sets off a nationwide wildfire of outrage as the majority strips rights from the minority.

OCT. 10, 2008 – The Connecticut Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage, making Connecticut the third state to do such.

DEC. 18, 2010 — The Senate repeals the military’s controversial ban on gays serving openly in the armed services. Called the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, the repeal of this ban marks a cornerstone in LGBTQ rights and a completed campaign promise for President Barack Obama.

JULY 9, 2010 – Justin Aaberg, 15, commits suicide in Andover, Minn., as a result of anti-gay bullying. The subsequent suicides of gay teens over the next several months pushes anti-gay bullying to the forefront of the media.

MARCH 11, 2010 -- Kent State opens its LGBTQ Center in the Student Center. Kent State Professor Emeritus Dolores Noll also receives the first Diversity Trailblazer Award during its grand opening.

>>>>>

2010

SEPT. 29, 2009 – The Federation of Gay Games announces it has selected the Cleveland-Akron area for Gay Games 2014.

SEPT. 1, 2010 – Gay columnist Dan Savage and husband form the It Gets Better Project in response to the growing number of LGBTQ youth suicides. The campaign features videos by celebrities and everyday people encouraging others who are LGBTQ-identified to stay alive because things get better.

NOV. 3, 2009 -- Maine voters ban gay marriage, repealing same-sex marriage legislation that passed both the state legislature and governor six months before.

JUNE 3, 2009 -- Gov. John Lynch signs a bill legalizing gay marriage in New Hampshire. New Hampshire becomes the fifth state to legalize gay marriage. (It was the sixth before Maine voters repealed their same-sex marriage laws in November.)

SEPT. 15, 2009 – The Ohio House of Representatives passes the Equal Housing and Employment Act. The legislation, which protects Ohioans from housing and employment discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity, is currently awaiting a vote from the Ohio Senate.

APRIL 8, 2009 -- Anti-gay marriage group National Organization for Marriage, which helped overturn same-sex marriage laws in California, debuts its “Gathering Storm” campaign ad. The ad is later mocked when actor audition videos leak, revealing how insincere the television spot really is.

MAY 7, 2009 – Pop icon Lady Gaga attributes the gays to her early and continued success. She later becomes a gay rights activist and speaks at high-profile LGBTQ events such as the National Equality March and the It Gets Better Project campaign.

OCT. 28, 2009 -- President Barack Obama signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes >>>>> Prevention Act. Federal law enforcement agencies are now able to pursue and prosecute criminals who target gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered individuals with a hate crime.

OCT. 11, 2009 – The National Equality March storms Washington D.C. Organized by gay rights group Equality Across America, the event features celebrities and an effort to raise awareness for LGBTQ issues.

APRIL 19, 2009 -- Miss California Carrie Prejean responds to a judge’s question about gay marriage at the Miss USA Pageant. During her response, Prejean uses the famous phrase, “opposite marriage,” in explaining her opposition to same-sex marriage.

APRIL 7, 2009 -- Vermont legislators override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto against the state’s same-sex marriage bill. Vermont becomes the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage and the first to do so through legislation.

MARCH 20, 2009 -- West Point graduate and 1st Lt. Daniel Choi comes out on “The Rachel Maddow Show.” He is later discharged from the military and becomes a figurehead for the repeal of the NOV. 26, 2008 — Milk, a documentary chronicling military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. the life of one of the first openly-gay elected politicians, Harvey Milk, debuts in theaters. APRIL 3, 2009 -- The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously rules banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Iowa becomes the third state to legalize same-sex marriage following its repeal in California, and the first in the heartland.

AUG. 27, 2008 -- Kent State offers its faculty equal domestic partner benefits between married and unmarried partners. This offers professors with same-sex partners shared health insurance.

MAY 15, 2008 – A 4-3 court ruling legalizes gay marriage in the state of California, making it the second state to legalize gay marriage.

2008 2009

SPRING 2008 -- University of Akron alumnus Harry Jackson donates $25,000 to Kent State for scholarships and LGBToriented programming. It is Kent State’s largest LGBT-specific donation to date.

FEB. 12, 2008 -- Lawrence King, a 15-year-old junior high school student, is murdered for flirting with another male student.

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LAST THOUGHT

THE NEXT DECADE Looking to the future. As told to Kelli Fitzpatrick.

People just keep saying this is not a big issue — it’s a big issue. This is a very big issue. Gay people are people! We’re being discriminated against for really no reason. Alec Schumann, freshman, percussion performance major

FUSION Winter 2011

Erica Erkkila, junior, English major: I think the changes that are to come are very much like what was going on with the civil rights era. A very large group of people was denied their rights, much like the LGBT community. I think that the LGBT community is going to gain equal rights in every aspect of our society and demand that they are socially viewed as equals. The social consciousness of our society is going to radically change because of it. Alex Mott, student employee with the Center for Student Involvement: There will be more support in schools, communities and other environments. There have been recent issues in the media with suicides, from kids as young as 13 to college students being bullied. There’s a new generation of bullying — it’s all in the technology. So I think new support will be in play for the LGBT community. Honestly, they deserve support. I don’t know why this is even happening. Everyone, whoever you are, no matter your identity, should be recognized. Bridgette O’Reilly, freshman, advertising major: As our generation gets older, we’ve grown up being more comfortable and more open with the LGBT community. So things like gay marriage is more likely to be acceptable because we’re not as against it as, say, older generations, who have not experienced and not grown up in this kind of environment.

Joseph Howell, junior, communication studies major and Free Thinkers Club president: People are going to be slowly more open-minded. There may be a small backlash, but I think for the most part, people will be open. More celebrities will come out, and it won’t be such a big deal. The LGBT community has become more visible. We’re going to get what we put in. We’re putting in effort; we’d like things to get better. Amanda Finchman, senior, English major and vice president of PRIDE! Kent: I’d definitely like to see people stop complaining about gay adoption. I’d love to see gay adoption become more accepted. Gay marriage won’t be completely in effect. I don’t think all states are going to perform gay marriages, but I do think more are going to become inclusive. Basically, you get married in one state, and it’s recognized in a different state. And I’d like to see Ohio get some antidiscrimination laws against sexual orientation. Zachary Culler, sophomore, political science and public relations major: The LGBT community is closer than ever to obtaining civil rights. You can tell something is about to change for the movement because of the way it is being portrayed to the public. People are beginning to focus more on the individual victims of hatred instead of the mass demonstrations against it. The secret to gaining equality doesn’t lie in changing the minds of the hateful, it lies in moving the apathetic to care. And we’ve done that.

Have an idea for next issue’s Last Thought? E-mail us at kentfusion@gmail.com.

FUSION Winter 2011