‘09 4 B0 E F
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31 O 3N 1 OL •V
E VAG A S N • DA S R E PET WAYNE BES EN • TOM MOON • ERIC
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02 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY FEB 04 - FEB 10 2009
SNAPSHOT
GINGER’S BIRTHDAY MYSTERY BOX was open for the whole world to see at East Village Saturday, January 31. The venue was packed and the performers were packing. The b-day bash was one of the last shows to be at EV before they close this Saturday. Come say good by to the legendary gay stomping grounds this week before it’s too late. photos by Robbie
VOLUME 13 NUMBER 31
OWNERS AND PUBLISHERS Michael Daniels & Chris Hayes EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / ART DIRECTOR Chris Hayes hayes@outlookmedia.com ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR / PHOTOS Robert Trautman traut@outlookmedia.com
If you weren’t here, you missed out.
Feel the power of Jesus!
What you talking about, WIllis?
Two great donations to BRAVO.
The Fairy Princess holds court.
Yeah, I killed him...
MANAGING EDITOR Adam Leddy aleddy@outlookmedia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Leslie Robinson, Tom Moon, Wayne Besen, Gregg Shapiro, J Eric Peters, Victoria Vetere, Mary Ann Potter Lewis, Joel Diaz, Ariana Adams, Xenia Palus, Kimm Hrdlicka-Tigges, Merri Bame, Tim Woodard, Steve Baldzicki, Adam Leddy, Romeo San Vicente, Jack Fertig, Simon Sheppard, Dan Savage, Jacob Anderson-Minshall, Alana Manwaring
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MISS HAVANA - Freesia Balls gay up her Miss Havana crown to Bootsy at the camp contest Friday, January 30. Diamond Hunter, Noka Davers and a handful of others gave it their all while Nina played MC. Candi Panties, Patricia Taylor, and Chris Hayes judged, as they always do. Photos by Traut
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Miss Havana Bootsy and her underlings. I want one this big!
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Attack of the killer butterfly. READERSHIP: 210,000 PEOPLE / MONTH Outlook Weekly is published and distributed by Outlook Media, Inc. every Thursday throughout Ohio. Outlook Weekly is a free publication provided solely for the use of our readers. Any person who willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over copies of Outlook Weekly with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading it shall be considered guilty of the crime of theft. Violators will be prosecuted. The views expressed in Outlook Weekly are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or personal, business, or professional practices of Outlook Media, Inc. or its staff, ownership, or management. Outlook Weekly does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any interpretation, advice, opinion, or view presented. Outlook Media, Inc. does not investigate or accept responsibility for claims made in any advertisement. Outlook Media, Inc. assumes no responsibility for claims arising in connection with products and services advertised herein, nor for the content of, or reply to, any advertisement. All material is copyrighted ©2008 by Outlook Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
FEB 04 - FEB 10 2009
Has anyone seen my snack cake?
SNAPSHOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 ABOUT TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 / 30 COMMENTARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 POLL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 COMMUNITY CORNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 EXAMINED LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 OUT BUSINESS NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 POLI SCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13-15 TRANSNATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 FEATURE: NETWORKING . . . . . . . . . . . . .18-22 DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 INTERVIEW: GREG BEHRENDT . . . . . . . . . . .27 SAVAGE LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 THE LAST WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 SCOPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 NEXT WEEK: VALENTINES DAY
Dead can dance.
We weren’t ready for her jelly.
Wax off.
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 03
ABOUT TOWN WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 SPRING IS SPRUNG Spring Awakening @ The Palace Theatre, 34 W Broad St, 614.431.3600, www.broadwayacrossamerica.com: Broadway may never be the same after this groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality and rock & roll. Thru Feb 8. Tue-Fri 8p, Sat 2p & 8p, Sun 1:30p & 6:30p; $22.50 & up. See page 30 for more info. VIRGINAL VIRGINIA PRESENTS Wednesdays Are A Drag @ East Village, 630 N High St, 614.228.3546, www.columbusnightlife.com: No one does Hump Day like Virginia. Last Wednesday drag night at EV (see Saturday listing). $8 Bud Light pitchers, $5 appletinis, $7 burger & fries. 10p; free. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH, NOT IN YOUR HAND Melt @ Liquid, 1100 N High St, 614.298.3000, www.liquidhotspot.com: Men’s night at Liquid. Dance party with DJ Durty Dolce. 10p-2a; free. DIAMONDS ARE A BOTTOM’S BEST FRIEND Pre-Valentine’s Day Trunk Show @ Alexanders Jewelers, 689 N High St, 614.233.6666, www.shortnorth.com/Alexanders: Create your own wish list! Featuring pieces from Gottlieb & Sons, Sharon Wei, and the Carlisle Spring Collection 2009. 6p-8p; free.
by Adam Leddy
craft. Exhibit on view thru Feb 28. 6p-10p; free. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 SUPER FREAK Virginia’s Freakshow @ Axis, 775 N High St, 614.291.4008, columbusnightlife.com: Support Virginia, Nina West, Maria Garrison, Samantha Rollins, Alexis Stevens, Natasaha West, Candi Panties, Vee Love, Sherry Dribblelipz, Paige Passion, and Sandy von Lipshitz as they explore the inner workings of a freakshow! Feb 7-8, 8p; tables $40-$50, individual tix at the door. LET’S CRY TOGETHER Farewell Party @ East Village, 630 N High St, 614.228.3546, www.columbusnightlife.com: Say goodbye to EV. Live band. (Events will move to Havana as of Feb 8). 9p; no cover. SHOW SOME LOVE FOR THE KIDS Open Your HeART for Kids @ Short Stop Youth Center, 1066 N High St, 614.299.5541, www.dfyf.org: Check out (and place a bid on) photography from established and emerging artists, including the young artists at Directions for Youth and Families. Your chance to support the important work of DFYF. 6p-9p; $50/ind, $75/couples. DATING & CHARITY A Date 2 Remember @ The Vault, 35 E Gay Street, www.cypclub.com: A young professional date auction and fashion show for charity, presented by Columbus Young Professionals Club. No jeans! 7p-11p; $35.
TAKE YOUR SWEETIE Jazz Moves Take 2 @ The Capitol Theatre, Riffe Center, 77 S High St, 614.431.3600, www.balletmet.org/www.jazzartsgroup.org: A mesmerizing fusion of dance and music HELLO KITTIES perfect for V-Day. Thru Feb 14. Thur-Sun 8p; $28-$45. LoveCats Gallery Hop Exhibition @ ZenGenius Gallery, 433 E Prescott St, 614.220.9040, www.zencatgallery.com: SEXY NEVER LEFT ME, BABY Feline-inspired original works of art created by local Bringin’ Sexy Back @ Shadowbox Cabaret, Easton artists. 6p-10p; free. See page 22 for more info. Towne Center, 614.416.7625, shadowboxcabaret.com: Shadowbox redefines sex appeal with outrageous original SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 comedy sketches and raucous rock ‘n’ roll dedicated to HETEROS CROSS OVER America’s favorite pastime. Thru March 21. Thur 7:30p, Broke Straight Boys @ Score Bar, 145 N 5th St, Fri-Sat 7:30p & 10:30p; $20-$30. 614.849.0099, scorebarcolumbus.com: Dee Ranged and Score Bar put straight boys in some awkward positions. I LOVE FULL FRONTAL. AND FULL REAR. Gift bags and never-before-seen content. 9p; $3. Sketch You Can Believe In @ MadLab Theatre, 105 N Grant Ave, 614.221.5418, www.madlab.net: This year, Full JUST IN TIME FOR V-DAY Frontal Nudity takes a break from our usual Valentine’s Veda’s Jewelry Open House @ 996 Pennsylvania Ave, Day show to bring you the answers to all those questions 614.444.4532, www.vedagilpstudio.com: 25% off everyyou wished you could ask the president. No spin. No thing means you’d better get something shiny for your mercy. Thru Feb 14. 8p; $6-$10. sweetie. Sun 1p-4p, Mon 5p-7p; free. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 WE LOVE YOU TIM! First Friday @ Wall Street Nightclub, 144 N Wall St, 614.464.2800, www.wallstreetnightclub.com: Join friends and family from across the midwest for the club’s largest monthly party and say thanks to DJ Tim Reynolds for 20 years in the booth. 8p-close; $5 after 9p. FOR THE GIRLS AND GAY GUYS He’s Just Not That Into You @ Landmark’s Gateway Theater, 1550 N High St, 614.545.2255, www.landmarktheatres.com: Do yourself a favor. See this movie, and then stop calling him all the time. 8p & 10:40p; $6.50-$8.50.
MAD ‘ABOOT’ HOCKEY, EH? Ohio Mayhem vs. Fox & Hounds @ Chiller Easton, 3600 Chiller Lane, 614.475.7575, www.gayhockeyohio.com: See the gay hockey team in action. 7:40p; free. YOU BETTER WORK Columbus Fashion: From Cowtown to Catwalk @ COSI, 333 W Broad St, www.columbusmetroclub.org: We’re getting trendy all of a sudden. A panel of experts discusses fashion in our little town. 5:30p-7:30p; $5-$10.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 THAT’S JUST BATTY! Batsheva @ The Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N High DE-STRESS St, 614.292.3535, www.wexarts.org: Israeli dance comHealth Fair @ University of Phoenix Columbus, 8415 Pul- pany Batsheva is back! 8p; $10-$26. sar Place, Suite 100, 614.433.0095, phoenix.19gi.com/campus/Columbus,_OH: Yoga, dance, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 and meditation are among the stress-relief techniques GET WORKING ON YOUR NETWORKING! you’ll learn. 11a-4p; free. Network Columbus @ The Arena Grand Movie Theatre, 175 W Nationwide Blvd, 614.268.8525, http://networkSELL IT HARD columbus.com: This month, get your network on with faith Sales Workshop @ ActionCOACH Business Education leaders from across Columbus. 6p; free. Center, 716 Mt Airyshire Blvd, 614.602.5202, www.actioncoachgobig.com: Get some new ideas from the idea peo- THAT’S SO METRO ple at ActionCOACH. 8:30a-12:30p; $249-$349. Columbus Metropolitan Club Lunch Forum @ The Athletic Club of Columbus, 136 E Broad St, 614.464.3220, PRETTY SWEET ART www.columbusmetroclub.org: “Analog Blackout, The New Sugarcraft Opening Reception @ WhollyCraft!, 3169 N Age of DTV” 12p-1:15p; $17-$35. High St, 614.447.3445, www.sugarcraftproject.com: Walk the fading line between contemporary fine art and fine
FEB 04 - FEB 10 2009
04 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
The Reader Poll
COMMENTARY by Wayne Besen
Let Sam Adams Get Back To Work Portland’s openly gay mayor, Sam Adams, correctly decided to remain in office after acknowledging that three years ago he had a brief affair with an eighteen-year-old man. Calls for his resignation were politically motivated, homophobic cheap shots dressed in the guise of morality. Sadly, many gay and lesbian leaders got sucked into the sexual hysteria and puritanical pandemonium and called for the mayor’s resignation. If Adams had exploited an innocent youth or abused his power in office to obtain sex, I would not be defending him. The affair with Beau Breedlove, however, was consensual. Breedlove told The Oregonian newspaper, “I do not see any relationship that I ever had with Sam as me being taken advantage of. I do not feel like I was ever a victim.” Given this reality, I am having a difficult time understanding exactly why this is a controversy. The hypocrisy, double standard and anti-gay undertones are unmistakable. If a 42-year-old male politician had hooked up with an 18-year-old Hooter’s girl, he would get high fives. If he’s gay, people with pitchforks want to hang him from a high tree. For the conquering straight male, the affair would be a sign of virility. For the gay man, it is the mark of vulgarity. This all goes back to the despicable stereotype that evil homosexuals recruit children into the so-called “lifestyle.” People have to realize that sacrificing Adams won’t erase this insidious myth from the minds of ignorant people who choose to believe it. As in most self-righteous inquisitions, the pious finger pointers say it is “not about the sex, it is because Adams lied” to the media about the tryst. This is the same
disingenuous nonsense that Ken “Porn” Starr and the GOP used to rationalize their attempted coup of Bill Clinton. In my view, Adams is the victim of an overzealous media asking questions about a relationship that was none of their business. There were only two legitimate questions that should ever have been asked of Adams: Was Breedlove of legal age? Did Adams supervise him at work? We know the answer to the first question (barely legal), and Breedlove was an intern in the state capitol, which had nothing to do with the city council, where Adams had served as a commissioner. So, why is this a story? When asked about this affair during his campaign, Adams had every right to mislead reporters. What detractors call lying was really just personal discretion. What’s next - are we going to pass sunshine laws mandating that public officials must sign sexual disclosure forms listing all sexual liaisons and post their names on the Internet? Because that is essentially what people want when they insist Adams had an obligation to discuss his private life with the media. Like starving vultures, the press is now sensationalizing the issue. For example, ABC News’s website published an Associated Press story headlined, “Gay Teen Sex Scandal Mayor Won’t Resign.” This is misleading and irresponsible journalism that makes Adams appear to be a letch who hangs around middle schools with lollipops. To be fair, Adams did let down the GLBT community. When asked about the affair during his campaign, he should have either told the truth or said, “none of your busi-
ness.” Instead, he accused his primary opponent of gay baiting and complained, “This is one of the worst smears you can make against a gay guy. It preys on the homophobic stereotype that gay men cannot be trusted with young people.” Adams diminished the noble cause of equality when he hid behind it to conceal his relationship. He should have acted with more integrity and not made his personal saga about the larger GLBT community. Still, Adams did apologize profusely and should be allowed to move on. Human beings are not perfect, especially politicians. Last week, hundreds of citizens rallied in front of city hall in support of Adams, giving him the strength to fight on. Finally, I’m not begrudging those who think that it is irresponsible and wrong for Adams to have had sex with someone half his age. Those who believe that Adams does not share their values have every right to vote him out of office when he is up for reelection. But the notion that Adams should be recalled is nothing short of an ugly witch-hunt. The political judgment of Sam Adams is certainly questionable. There is no question, however, that his actions do not warrant the harsh judgment of those who demand that he resign. One may not like the mayor’s personal choices, but this so-called “scandal“ is nothing more than a fake crime scene in search of a real crime. Adams is no superman, as many supporters thought he once was, but he is also no scoundrel. It is time people stop taking potshots at the mayor, and let him return to work so he can repair the potholes his constituents elected him to fix. © 2008 Wayne Besen. All rights reserved. www.waynebesen.com.
Last week we asked:
Which networking events do you attend regularly?
Network Columbus 46.15% Big Fish 15.38% Positive Connections 7.69% Exp CBus Evening Exchange 7.69% Columbus Metropolitan Club 7.69% Dames Bond 7.69% YPC Exchange 0% Other answer... 7.69% including answer:Tradewinds Happy Hour
NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION:
Do you have a Valentine this year? Log on to: www.outlookweekly.net to take this week’s poll.
67%
SOURCE: GALLUP
FEB 04 - FEB 10 2009
CATEGORY
JAN 20 ’09
FEB 02 ’09
DIFFERENCE
AMERICAN DEAD
4,226
4,237
11
AMERICAN WOUNDED
30,934
31,004
70
IRAQI CIVILIAN DEAD
98,605
98,848
243
NATIONAL DEBT
$10,605,968,804,933 $10,631,474,866,187 $26,036,441,803
DAYS IN OFFICE
1
13
12
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 05
FEB 04 - FEB 10 2009
06 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
COMMUNITY CORNER
Pride Leadership Application Due Friday, Feb 6 The Pride Leadership program provides training to GLBT professionals to expand their leadership capabilities and facilitate the placement of participants onto volunteer boards and into leadership roles on committees. Through lectures, hands-on workshops, assignments and simulated activities, Pride Leadership helps mid-tosenior level GLBT professionals improve their leadership skills. Training focuses on governance, management, strategic planning, fiscal management, marketing, fundraising, parliamentary procedures, legal responsibilities and conflict resolution. The application is available at http://www.liveunitedcentralohio.org/site/prideleadership.html.
New Study Shows Pro-Marriage Legislators Win Elections Contrary to some political expectations, voting to support the freedom to marry and opposing anti-marriage measures helps politicians, a new study unequivocally shows. For many years legislators across the country have voted on laws aimed at ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. Others have been asked to vote on state constitutional amendments aimed at discriminating against same-sex couples and their children by denying them the freedom to marry and other legal protections. A review of all of these votes from 2005 to the present shows that legislators who vote to end marriage discrimination for same-sex couples are consistently re-elected. The success of more than 1,100 state legislators who voted to support the freedom to marry stands in bold contrast to the commonly held belief that supporting marriage equality ends political campaigns and careers. In fact, these legislators are re-elected no matter what party they represent or if they changed their vote from opposing to supporting marriage equality. Even better, legislators who run for higher office win after voting in favor of marriage for same-sex couples. “The American people deserve leaders who aren’t afraid to lead,” said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry and author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality and Gay People’s Right to Marry. “For politicians, standing up for marriage equality is not touching a third-rail, rather, it is a track to re-election and, happily, the path toward inclusion thatAmerica is traveling.” The study includes results from 21 different states representing all four major regions of the country and reviews statewide elections held from 2005 to the present. “As statehouse sessions begin across the country, legislators should take the findings of this report as proof that there’s no reason to back down from supporting the freedom to marry and opposing anti-gay measures,” said Wolfson. “ FEB 04 - FEB 10 2009
And those of us outside the legislature should not be afraid to ask our representatives to do the right thing, and should do our part to help them do it, by talking about the injustice of exclusion from marriage and how government should help, not hurt, all families.” Freedom to Marry is the gay and non-gay partnership working to win marriage equality nationwide. Launched in 2003, Freedom to Marry is headed by Evan Wolfson, nationally recognized as a central “architect of the marriage equality movement.” Freedom to Marry guides and focuses this social justice movement on a nationwide level, serving as a strategy and support center for national, state, and local partners, a catalyst that drives and shapes the national debate on marriage equality, and an alliance-builder fostering support from non-gay allies.
GLAAD Announces Resignation of President Neil G. Giuliano Neil Giuliano, the president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), has announced his resignation to pursue personal interests while completing his forthcoming book about his public and political life. Giuliano has served as president since September 1, 2005, and will continue as president until a date to be announced later this year. He served for ten years as the mayor of Tempe, Arizona, and is retired from a 25-year career as a university administrator and faculty associate at Arizona State University. “I have informed the national board of directors of my decision to step down as president later this year and look forward to a successful and smooth transition of leadership for GLAAD,” said Giuliano. “It’s been an honor and privilege to work professionally in the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality for the last three and a half years. The views of the American people on LGBT issues are clearly moving in the right direction, toward supporting full equality, and it has been a great experience to serve on the front lines, leading an amazing organization at such a historical time in the movement.” Under Giuliano’s leadership, GLAAD’s budget has grown from $7.5M to $11M, with expanded individual, corporate and foundation support for its media advocacy and anti-defamation work on behalf of the LGBT community. Giuliano expanded GLAAD’s influence as a national voice against the defamation gay people often face and began media programs reaching out to young adults, communities of religion and faith, and the vast sports media world while increasing GLAAD’s outreach and media relations support to local, regional, statewide and other LGBT advocacy organizations. Giuliano’s tenure is also marked by his focus on creating capacity and long-term sustainability for GLAAD. Under his direction, GLAAD successfully completed the their 2003 strategic plan and in Fall 2008 announced a new five-year plan to build on awareness, support, volunteers, programs and results for the maturing organization as a way to meet the growing expectation of its constituents and the greater LGBT movement.
“These programmatic areas are where GLAAD needs to be to further influence the culture and change the hearts and minds of people with regard to full equality for gay and transgender people,” said Giuliano. “The growth and expansion of GLAAD’s influence is due to the many stakeholders who support our work, especially those serving on the national board of directors.” The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.
Process Continuing on Park Art in Harrison West In September, the Harrison West Society teamed with the Columbus College of Art and Design for a student competition for five art pieces to be installed in the new Harrison Park along the Olentangy. The process is moving forward. On February 28, the Harrison West neighborhood, and indeed, the entire Short North, will vote on the design for the first two works of art at a community Open House and Reception. Voting will be from noon to 8p. The reception will be from 6p-10p. The competition and installation of the five art pieces will take approximately two years. The preliminary budget for the five pieces is approximately $70,000, most of which will come from the neighborhood TIF funds allocated to building the park. The winning designs will earn $3,000 each from the Harrison West Society. Harrison Park will occupy 4.3 acres. In addition to public art, the park will feature a gazebo and a playground for small children. The park is part of a multi-recreational trail that will link with existing parks along the river, making it one piece of the larger riverfront park system Money for the awards is being raised through grant applications and private donations. Donations to the Harrison Park Art Fund can be mailed to the Short North Foundation at 120 W. Goodale Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215. Checks should be made payable to “The Short North Foundation” and should include a note that the money is intended for the Harrison Park Art Fund. Donations are tax deductible. Awards for the first two art pieces will be presented at the March 18 Harrison West Society meeting.
Indianola Alternative Elementary School Hosts Mardi Gras Fundraiser On Friday, February 27, Indianola Alternative Elementary School will host its first annual Mardi Gras fundraiser, “MASQUE.” All proceeds will go directly toward purchasing math books for our K6 grades. We currently use the Everyday Mathematics books, but only through the arduous task of making copies from one book per classroom for each of our students. The books allocated by our school district are felt by teachers, administration, and parents to be insufficiently challeng-
ing and useful for our student body. We are collaborating to upgrade to the Everyday Mathematics text books that have been recently adopted by the Bexley and Upper Arlington school districts, considered to be two of the best school districts in Columbus. The cost for the entire student body to receive the benefits of better math books is approximately $10,000. MASQUE will be a family event that combines global music, dance, art, and culture with our community here in Columbus to make this both an exciting and educational experience for everyone involved. We are seeking sponsors from $100-$1,000. Interested individuals, businesses, and organizations should contact Stacy Cook, PTO president, at sjauer742yahoo.com.
The Ohio State University Alumni Association Accepting Award Nominations To nominate an alumnus for a 2009 Alumni Award, www.ohiostatealumni.org/awards. All nominations must be postmarked by March 31. These are the 51st annual Alumni Awards. Past winners include: Erin Moriarty, a television journalist with CBS News; Tom Wheeler, a member of Barack Obama’s presidential transition team; and Dr. Samella S. Lewis, the first woman in America to receive a Ph.D in art and art history. The 2009 Alumni Awards ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Sept 25, at the Hyatt Regency, 350 N High St. The Alumni Association is a dues-supported organization of graduates, former students, and friends of the university with more than 125,000 members. For more than 125 years, the Alumni Association has been dedicated to connecting alumni, friends and students to enhance and strengthen the traditions and reputation of The Ohio State University.
Friday, Feb 6 Is Wear Red Day in Columbus The Columbus City Council will present the American Heart Association with a Go Red For Women resolution to bring attention to the leading cause of death for women - heart disease and to serve as a call for change. Friday, February 6 will be designated by Columbus City Council as Wear Red Day in Columbus. The Council is supporting this effort by urging everyone to wear red in recognition of family, friends and neighbors who have suffered from heart disease. Columbus City Hall will adorn its outdoor lanterns and indoor staircase in red lights and provide free health information throughout the month of February. Additional businesses will light red the month of February, including LeVeque Tower and Mount Carmel East, West, New Albany and St. Ann’s. Heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of nearly half a million women each year about one death per minute. That’s one in three lives compared to one in thirty claimed by breast cancer. The American Heart Association is empowering women with the knowledge and tools they need to make health a priority. For more information please visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 1.888.MY.HEART.
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 07
FEB 04 - FEB 10 2009
08 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
THE EXAMINED LIFE by Tom Moon, MFT
The Fear of Fear In the depths of the Great Depression, when Roosevelt told the country “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” his words reassured a frightened and demoralized people. That famous statement has been on my mind lately because we’re now in a period not too different from that era. Roosevelt’s message of courage was exactly the right one for the time, but I have to admit that I’ve always had some trouble with his words, because if read literally, they seem to endorse the idea that it is reasonable to be afraid of fear. But psychologically, there are few things more destructive than the fear of fear. Fear has two components. There’s a cognitive element, the perception of danger, and an unpleasant emotional element, the “fight or flight” reaction. When danger is immediate, like a mugger or an oncoming train, we perceive danger, the heart rate picks up, the adrenaline level surges, and we act to diminish the fear by getting away from danger or fighting it. The system works very well when a threat is imminent, but the trouble is that we have highly evolved forebrains which can foresee all kinds of dangers which aren’t immediately present, but which, when imagined, can provoke the same fear reactions as imminent dangers. Most of our dayto-day fears aren’t about present dangers at all - we fear financial uncertainty, aging, our vulnerability to illness. We fear war, ecological destruction and other forms of human destructiveness. We fear abandonment, loss and rejection. Above all, we fear death. Thoughts of these things can provoke the same terror as an immediate crisis, but in most of FEB 04 - FEB 10 2009
these cases there isn’t any immediate action we can take to protect ourselves and thereby diminish the fear. So we all live with a certain amount of anxiety- a freefloating dread of the uncertainties and dangers of life. Most of us are afraid of our anxiety, because it’s painful, and because it leaves us feeling helpless, so we’ve developed strategies for getting away from it - our denial and wishful thinking, our distractions, diversions and entertainment, our alcohol and drugs. I’d never deny that a certain amount of selective inattention to life’s downers can be a good idea, but for too many it’s the only strategy available for dealing with fear. I experienced one of my worst bouts with anxiety years ago when I decided to go into private practice. Moving from the security of a regular paycheck to the uncertainty of self-employment mobilized every fear of destitution I had, and for a while it was intense and distracting. Finally, a trusted mentor gave me some advice. He said, “Fear is going to be your constant companion throughout this transition. Why not make friends with it? Invite it along for the ride.” These simple words made a huge difference. Like many men, I’d always thought of fear as the enemy, as something to be ashamed of, to hide, fight, and defeat. The idea of treating it as a normal part of life, even as a welcome companion on the journey was a new one. Over time I learned to become a kind of connoisseur of fear, to pay mindful attention to all the sensations I felt in my body when I was afraid, to breathe into fear, and to give it my full attention and respect. I found that, when I practiced this, I was less afraid
of it. It remained an unpleasant, but no longer intolerable, experience. I realized I didn’t have to feel driven by it, because I could relate to fear rather than from fear. The more I did this, the more I understood that unpleasant feelings are not in themselves emergencies. I acquired a deeper appreciation of the fact that no experience of fear lasts forever; each one has a beginning, middle, and an end. Since then, I’ve talked with many gay men about the anxieties that inhibit their lives - men who want to join a gym, for instance, but who are terrified to show their skinny or overweight bodies on the exercise floor - or men who are so terrified of rejection that they can’t bring themselves to make eye contact with the men they like. These men know on a rational level that “there’s nothing to fear,” but the knowledge doesn’t help because it is, in a sense, beside the point. What they’re really afraid of is fear itself. They believe that being afraid is so unbearable that they have to avoid it at all costs. The simple secret for managing such fear is to stop seeing it as the enemy, to get to know it, and to invite it along for the ride. Courage doesn’t mean fearlessness. It does mean learning not to run from the experience of fear. The more we run from it the more powerful it seems. But when we turn to face it with mindfulness, curiosity and compassion, when we actually work to get to know it, we find no solid and formidable enemy, only waves of feeling and sensation which, like the changing weather, arise, stay a while, and then move on. Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. His website is tommoon.net.
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 09
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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 11
Spotlight:
OUT BUSINESS NEWS by Adam Leddy
Steve Baldzicki
Big Fish Networking
Steve Baldzicki is the founder and president of Big Fish Networking, Central Ohio’s premier networking event since 1999. He is also a principal of Monarch Title Services and has over ten years experience in the real estate field. Steve is profiled in two books: Social Capital by Andy Chiodo and Foundational Networking by Frank Agin. Steve has also been regionally and nationally publicized for his efforts with Big Fish Networking and its growth over the past ten years. A frequent speaker at many networking organizations, companies, local colleges and universities, he also consults on event development and management, as well as marketing and sales strategy with Central Ohio businesses. Adam Leddy: Before we discuss Big Fish, how would you define “networking?” Steve Baldzicki: Networking to me is this: How can I make people better as a result of connecting with me? AL: Are there good and bad strategies for networking? Is there a wrong way to go about it? SB: Yes. Networking isn’t about hard selling. It’s about listening. Listen to the people you are networking with and meet them at their point of need, not yours. Help them and they will help you. The number one rule: be nice. Number two: give without expecting anything in return. It all comes back.
AL: Give us some dos and don’ts of networking, and some misconceptions about the practice. SB: Lots of people think networking is collecting business cards and just adding them to their databases. They think the more the better, when it’s really about creating relationships - two way streets - with other people. Some people think that just joining a networking group or attending a networking function equals networking. True networkers show up to truly help other people, because when you help someone at their point of need, the result is that they will help you. Be prepared. Have a 30-second commercial. Be Nice. Listen. Follow up. AL: How has networking helped your business? SB: Networking has made me who I am today. Without people believing in me and me in them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It has allowed me to meet great people and create great friendships. It has allowed me to surround myself with people who believe in me and allow me to learn from them and be successful with their support. AL: Big Fish has partnered with Network Columbus. How have the Big Fish regulars responded to the GLBT crowd? SB: The response we have received from our partnership with the GLBT community has been wonderful. Our members have really seen it as another resource and opportunity to ex-
pand their sphere of influence. Our members have really made it a point to say to me that this was a great move and they think it’s just going to bring out better opportunities, resources, and win-win relationships to Central Ohio. AL: What are non-GLBT people missing out on by not expanding their gay networks? SB: They are missing out on creating better relationships, resources, opportunities, help, information, referrals, etc. But more importantly, they are missing out on learning more about the community and city they live in, and learning how the GLBT community really supports our communities and city. I tell anyone who hasn’t gotten involved in the GLBT community that you are really missing out on forming some great friendships and business opportunities. AL: The Big Fish website links to dozens of other networking organizations. Is there a spirit of collaboration and cooperation among all of the groups? SB: Yes. I think with our partnership with Network Columbus/OutLook Media that this has really opened the door for other networking organizations to do the same. It’s a benefit to support each other and to allow our business communities more resources and opportunities to expand their networks and grow their sales, businesses, etc.
AL: How has networking changed over the years? SB: I think it’s become more valued and encouraged. It’s become more important than ever. With the economy the way it is, it’s even more important to have those relationships and networks than ever. I think people are exploring it more and wanting to learn more about how to do and do it right. AL: What’s coming up for Big Fish in 2009? SB: Big Fish has lot of new things for ’09. We are launching a new website that will allow our members more opportunities to advertise and get more out of Big Fish than ever before. We have lots of new events this year. We also have been working on partnering up with other groups like AMA (American Marketing Association), PC (Positive Connections), Scioto Ridge Job Networking Group, and many more. Big Fish has always been about supporting our members and making it all about them, because without them, we don’t exist. So for ’09, keep a look out for all the new things coming this year; visit our website (www.bigfishnetworking.com) to keep up on the latest new information.
HRCF Releases 2009 “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality”
Business Education Classes at The Neighborhood House
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today released its annual list of the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.” In 2009, 260 companies were awarded this distinction for their employment policies and practices that include LGBT workers. A complete list of the honored businesses is available online: www.hrc.org/placestowork. “As our nation faces unprecedented economic challenges, people are being forced to make important decisions about their careers and livelihood. ‘Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality’ helps job seekers identify the
The Neighborhood House, Inc Resource Center, located 1060 Mt Vernon Avenue, has space available in its winter 2009 business education classes. Class orientation scheduled for February 3, from April 23, 2009 6:30pm – 8:30pm. . Attendees will learn basic business concepts, how to write a business plan, how to project cash flows, and the responsibilities of a business owner in the areas of taxes, insurance, incorporation, and more. For more information, contact Mrs. Barker at 614.251.8262
most inclusive businesses for LGBT workers,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Though equal opportunity and benefits are not the only factors that prospective employees should consider, they are vital to ensuring that a business values and respects its LGBT workforce.” The “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality” distinction is awarded to businesses that scored 100% on the HRC Foundation’s 2009 Corporate Equality Index, the primary method for businesses to benchmark and evaluate their policies, practices and diversity efforts relating to LGBT workers. The
index evaluates non-discrimination policies, benefits, diversity training and other internal resources for LGBT workers, as well as external support for LGBT consumers and job seekers. Released in early September, the 2009 Corporate Equality Index report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei. The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
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Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay: OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 13
POLI-SCI by Eric Peters
“It came as no surprise when exit polls on Election Day showed that Prop. 8 was rejected by 51% of white voters yet supported by 70% of blacks.” (Rod McCullom, “Blackout on Proposition 8,” The Advocate, 12/16/08.) “By now, you may have heard that African American voters in CA supported Prop 8 by a wide margin. To my knowledge, it is still permissible to mention that in print, despite the best efforts of many of our national GLBT leaders and organizations. Any number of absurd theories have surfaced to either deny or dismiss the exit poll data. . .” (Outlook Weekly managing editor Adam Leddy, “’08/’09 (P)Review: The Year in Politics,” 12/25/08.) Even HuffingtonPost.com got snookered: “58% of the black voting population sees no irony in accepting a ‘separate but equal’ status for gays despite the fact that the Supreme Court freed us from just such subjugation with Brown vs. [sic] Board of Education; without it we would still be classifiable as second class citizens.” (Leonce Gaiter, “Black Blindness on Proposition 8,” 10/21/08.) How So Many Missed It All these writers implied (to some degree or another, though none stated it explicitly) that black voters in California supported Proposition 8 and opposed equal justice for GBLT Americans wanting to marry for one reason and one reason only: because they were black. Intentionally or maliciously racist? I doubt it. But negligent and hasty when overwhelmed by the shock of Prop. 8 passing in California - home of the gay capital, San Francisco? I think so. That implicitly racist opinion is wrong at least in that facts contradict it. If it were true that all (or even most) African Americans opposed equal rights for people who are gay, bi, lesbian or transgender, then analyses would find no (or very limited at most) support by African Americans for gay rights measures. This is not reality as shown by the actual actions of politically-engaged African Americans vis-à-vis four issues: Ohio’s Equal Housing and Employment Act, Ohio’s 2004 Defense of Marriage Act, bills in the US Congress and various cities’ policies. Ohio’s Equal Housing and Employment Act Equality Ohio’s rally at the Ohio Statehouse at 1:10p (EqOh might not get GST, but I do) on Saturday, January 31 and Equality Ohio’s Lobby Day on Wednesday, May 13 will focus on Ohio’s Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA). Last year’s senate version found co-sponsorship support among ten senators: one Republican (Sen. David Goodman) and nine Democrats (including Sen. Ray Miller, a member of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus who represents Central Ohio (my “The Politics of Sexism: Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy vs. Republican Steve Stivers,” Outlook, Oct. 22). Members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) gave tremendous support to EHEA. OLBC members, all Democrats with not a Republican among them (a fact that, by itself, is not sufficient to prove that the GOP is a racist organization), represent only 17 (or 12.9 percent) of the Ohio General Assembly’s 132 total members (both houses) but seven (26.9%) of the 26 co-spon-
California’s Proposition 8, the Black Vote and a GBLT Dilemma sors. OBLC members were more likely than other Ohio legislators to support GBLT equality. More than two out of five (seven or 41.2%) OLBC members signed on as sponsors, and we can expect even more votes from them for EHEA given that legislators are always more likely to vote for a bill than to sponsor it. Ohio’s DOMA In 2004 the Ohio Legislature passed another Prop 8-esque anti-gay attack on marriage, the Defense of Marriage Act. Republican homophobia pushed the heterosexist Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) through Ohio’s legislature. Every Democrat in Ohio’s Senate voted against DOMA, but that anti-gay legislation had the support of all but four Senate Republicans (including Steve Stivers and David Goodman). Thirty-two House Republicans sponsored DOMA along with one lone Democrat. One lone Republican (Marietta’s Nancy P. Hollister) and a majority of House Democrats voted against DOMA. But not even Democratic unanimity could have saved Ohio from the majority Republicans. Details show even stronger opposition to DOMA from the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus. The OLBC consists entirely of Democrats, and most (78%) of that caucus voted against DOMA (my “Homophobia Knows No Color,” Columbus Alive, 3/20/03). Why doesn’t Ohio’s Republican Party ever - in any year - elect any black legislators? They still haven’t, but that fact by itself is not adequate proof that the Republican Party is a racist organization. The Congressional Black Caucus The Human Rights Campaign’s 2008 Congressional Scorecard “evaluate[d] the members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representative in terms of their support for LGBT equality. Senators and representatives were evaluated on a wide range of LGBT-relevant issues including hate crime protection, options for HIV-positive immigrants and persons with low incomes, immigration rights of persons in same-sex relationships with U.S. citizens, tax treatment of domestic partnership benefits, anti-discrimination protection, HIV/AIDS prevention and repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” Democrats and Republicans differed markedly on these issues (“The Politics of Sexism”). Then-Senator Barack Obama earned a score of 94 by voting for the hate crime preventions in the Kennedy Amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Act and cosponsoring four pieces of legislation - the Early Treatment for HIV Act, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement and Hate Crimes Prevention Act, Uniting American Families Act and Tax Equity for Domestic Partner and Health Plan Beneficiaries Act - and for many other actions. President Obama, a former member of the Congressional Black Caucus, has demonstrated his real stand on these issues. The front page of the White House website links to the president’s agenda, including civil rights. Roughly two-thirds of the discussion of civil rights focuses on GBLT equality. But it’s not just Obama. The Congressional Black Caucus has 45 members, all Democrats
(although Republicans’ failure to elect a black Republican to Congress since J.C. Watts retired in 2002 is not sufficient proof that the Republican Party is a racist organization). Of those 45, onethird voted every single chance they got to support GBLT equality, and all but one voted more than 50% of the time to support us. It’s worth noting at this point that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), the Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) all show similar patterns. Of the 23 CHC members (all Democrats), 11 scored 100% and all scored at least 50%. The 10 CAPAC members (also all Democrats) each scored at least 75% and most (seven) scored 100%. NWPC members in Congress divided along party lines. The 52 NWPC Democrats each scored at least 55% and most (36) scored 100%; of the 21 NWPC Republicans most (13) scored big fat zeroes and none scored 100%. Group averages also merit consideration: (from top to bottom) CHC (96.7%), CBC (95%), CAPAC (93.8%), NWPC Dems (89.4%), all Senate Democrats (86.2%), all Democrats (83.9%), all House Democrats (83.0%), Democrats in none of the listed caucuses (77.9%), NWPC Repubs (32.8%), all Senate Republicans (22.2%), all Republicans (10.2%), Republicans in no caucus (9.2%) and all House Republicans (7.3%). Neither Republicans’ abysmal scores on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard nor their failure to get an African American elected to Congress, however, proves that the GOP (Greedy Old Pedophiles per ArmchairSubversive.com) is a racist organization. However, on a crude scale constructed by averaging together separate scores provided by the National Alliance for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Leadership Council on Civil Rights, all Democrats scored an average of 89% while 26.1% was the average for all Republicans. And that, my friends, is more than adequate proof that, in fact, the Republican Party is a racist organization. Black-Majority Cities Only six US cities have (or at least had in 2003) both African-American majorities and total populations larger than 400,000. Of those six, five (Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, New Orleans and Washington, DC) provided domestic partnership benefits (“Homophobia Knows No Color”). What Really Happened Superficially it may be accurate to say that black voters’ votes - taken as just that and nothing more - supported Prop. 8 and bashed GBLT equality. But stopping at that - and reacting to it without further consideration - obscures relevant and material facts and provides a grossly inadequate basis for forming opinions and developing strategies. No proof supports the widespread misperception that black voters, compared with other voters, were more likely, because of race, to vote for Proposition 8. In fact, considerable evidence reveals a strong pattern of African American leaders supporting GBLT people’s ongoing quest for equality and evidence. Other evidence supports alternative theories for the patterns noted by
some in Proposition 8’s exit polling. Economically poor voters were more likely to vote for Proposition 8; under conditions of America‘s pervasive racial injustice and cultural racism, African Americans are more likely than European Americans to be poor as revealed by census data. People with fewer years of formal education were more likely to vote for Proposition 8; census data demonstrate that black Californians are more likely to have less education. What Really Happened: More to the Point On Jan. 6 similar thoughts appeared when the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce distributed a report completed by two academics, Patrick J. Egan, Ph.D., assistant professor of politics and public policy at New York University, and Kenneth Sherrill, Ph.D., professor of political science at Hunter College, CUNY (City University of New York). The Task Force summarized it as follows: “An in-depth analysis of the Proposition 8 vote released today shows that party affiliation, political ideology, frequency of attending worship services and age were the driving forces behind the measures passage on Nov. 4. The study finds that after taking into account the effect of religious service attendance, support for Proposition 8 among African Americans and Latinos were not significantly different than other groups.” Four approaches make understandable Dr. Egan and Dr. Sherrill’s academic research. First consider their comparison of results from a survey of California voters who said they voted in last year’s general election with the Los Angeles Times’s exit poll results from 2000’s comparable Proposition 22 (commonly called the Knight Initiative). Egan and Sherrill very significantly found that support for banning marriage equality decreased over the eight-year (2000-08) period for every birth cohort (e.g. those born in 1940 who were 60 in 2000 and 68 in 2008, and those born in 1960 who were 40 in 2000 and 48 in 2008) except for two. Opposition remained steady or increased slightly among older voters, and majorities of younger voters have supported equality all along. In fact support for equal justice under the law increased broadly - among men and women, among those 18-29, 30-44 and 45-64, among whites, blacks, Hispanics and Asians, among liberals, moderates and even conservatives, among Protestants, Catholics and Jews and among Democrats and Independents - in fact, among every single group except two: the elderly and Republicans. Also the research looks at the percentage voting yes on Prop. 8 in every precinct in Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco Counties, the six counties in which reside 66 percent of California’s African American population. Peter Frase and the Center for Urban Research at The Graduate Center, CUNY developed and analyzed these precinct-level data reportedly. The statistical scatterplot displaying these data invites misinterpretation from those unfamiliar with multivariate analyses as demonstrated elsewhere in attempted criticism of this research. The data do show that the most FEB 04 - FEB 10 2009
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racially-segregated precincts (where African Americans make up six percent or less, or 50 percent or more, of the local population) tended to give more support to Prop. 8; those data do not show why. In fact the two political scientists caution against giving too much weight to their analysis, which “generated estimates of African American support of the Proposition 8 of 57 percent and 59 percent,” considerably less than the 70 percent sometimes mentioned. These data are neither adequate nor designed to test the implicitly racist hypothesis that it was because they were black that black voters supported mandatory discrimination. Third, Egan and Sherrill contrast (with other surveys) the National Election Pool exit poll that found 70%of African Americans and 52% of all voters supporting Prop. 8. Much less African American support for discrimination was found in Field’s 10/23 survey (53%), Equality California’s 11/11 survey by David Binder Research (58%) and SurveyUSA’s 10/30 (50%) and 11/19 (41%) surveys about which the report provides very few details. Finally the bulk of Egan and Sherrill’s analysis focuses on data from a survey by David Binder Research (DBR). Election Day was Nov. 4; Nov. 6 to Nov. 16 was the survey period. Random selection from state voter registration lists and further screened to include only registered voters who reported having voted were 1066 respondents including a purposeful oversample of 266 African American, Latino/a and Asian American voters. First their report presents a univariate analysis of the DBR data from looking at each variable individually and pretending officially that no other variables mattered. For example, without considering whether all the men were, white, highly religious and aged 18-29 or whether all the women were liberal Democrats who reported having no known lesbian or gay friends or family members, the initial data table superficially shows that most men (54%) supported Prop. 8 and most women (51%) opposed it, then the report looks at every other individual variable one at a time. This superficial analysis found the greatest differences in support for Prop. 8 to be associated with five variables: age (67% of those aged 65 and over but 45% of those 18-29 supported Prop. 8), religiosity (most religious 70%, least 30%), political party (Democrat 30%, Independent 53% and Republican 81%), political ideology (liberal 22%, conservative 82%) and awareness of associations with gay friends and family (yes either 40% or 49% depending on which of their figures had the typo; no 60%). Compared with these stark statistics little impact was found from race (Asian 48%, white 49%, black 58%, Hispanic 59%). Then Egan and Sherrill present a multivariate analysis and from that derive a second analysis. Multivariate analysis as a statistical technique can, for example, determine exactly how many votes actually came from being liberal and how many from being Democrat even if 90 percent of the liberals are Democrats and the liberals are 80 percent Democrats and 15 percent Independents. Statistically controlling for the effects of variable A while studying variable B allows this. Using these techniques the researchers found that race actually had very little effect on voting when controlling for the effects of religiosity (as measured only by reported frequency of attendance at organized religious services) and personal knowledge of gays and lesbians. Adding controls for political party identification and ideology sug-
gests that liberal Democrats who are African American or Latino/a were more likely to support Prop. 8 than were liberal Democrats who were white or Asian. Egan and Sherrill report their data indicating, “African Americans and Latinos were stronger supporters of Proposition 8 than other groups, . . . but not to a significant degree after controlling for religiosity. That is, much of the stronger support found for Proposition 8 among these groups is explained by their increased levels of attendance of religious services.” W.E.B. DuBois, a prominent figure in African American history, made the following very relevant statement. “[T]he kind of sermon which is preached in most colored churches is not today attractive to even fairly intelligent men; we have gotten into the widespread habit of letting preachers talk to us without given them any attention because we assume that most of [the] things they say are not worth attention.” DuBois co-founded in 1901 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, worked full-time for them for a period, joined very shortly after it formed the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established by African Americans (Alpha Phi Alpha), graduated from Nashville’s historically black college (Fisk University), and was listed in 2002 as one of the 100 greatest African Americans by Temple University Professor Molefi Kete Asante. The researchers finally interpreted two statistics to produce a third, a variable of considerable interest that “assess[es] how important each voter characteristic was in contributing to the vote on Proposition 8. [They] do this by multiplying the estimated effect of each characteristic . . . by the percentage of voters with that characteristic. This measure thus accounts for both the prevalence of a characteristic and the strength of its association with the vote. . . . For example, . . . 45.9 percent of California voters are male [and] men were 11 percentage points more likely to vote ‘yes’ on Proposition 8 than women. The contribution of this category of this variable to the ultimate result is therefore (.459 x .11 = .049), or [sic] 4.9 percentage points. Thus, the impact of gender was to affect the votes of 4.9 percent of Californians on Proposition 8.” Using this same method, Egan and Sherrill found that race affected only 5.5 percent of the votes while larger impacts came from four of the other six variables: political party identification (15.2%), ideology (14.6%), religiosity (11.8%) and age (8.7%). The Real Questions Why were so many GBLT people so eager to believe that black voters had, en masse, supported political gay bashing? Why were black voters in California even marginally more likely to support Prop 8? Why do so many GBLT community organizations have all-white staffs, all-white memberships and all-white volunteer pools? How can we change things so that inter-community relations between GBLT communities (including GBLT African Americans) and black communities (including black gays, lesbians, bis and transgendereds) more effectively respond to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s idea that injustice anywhere means injustice everywhere? What have you done to change those relations? What have I done? What have we done today, how can we do more and how can we do it better?
TRANSNATION
by Jacob Anderson-Minshall
Switch Hitter Tired of “watching trans movies where everybody dies or is really sad,” filmmaker Brooks Nelson felt compelled to film his own, Switch: A Community in Transition. The documentary suggests that communities shoulder much of the “responsibility” for their trans members’ gender transformations. “I didn’t change,” Nelson insists. “I became more who I am - so really, the burden falls on everyone [else]. I peeled back stuff to reveal who I really am.” Meanwhile, he says, friends and family members - and the tight knit progressive community in Portland, Oregon - were forced to switch gender pronouns, incorporate new names and examine their own assumptions about what it means to be male or female. “In all the different spheres that we all occupy,” Nelson argues, “people have different responsibilities to the person who is transitioning. My boss’s responsibility is really different than my partner’s responsibility. I’m expecting different things from him … like [to] step up as an employer and say, ‘This is a bad law for some of my employees,’ which means a lot more to somebody making those laws than you or me calling in.” Despite his conviction that his age, race, class and ability-diverse community had been “doing progressive political work for so long we know how to have really hard conversations,” Nelson admits he wasn’t happy with everyone’s reaction to his transition and the responsibilities it placed on them. “I really, really try to meet people exactly where they are. [But] I have a limit. At one point I reached this limit with this guy and I said ‘I will take you out back and beat the shit out of you. You just need to know that its not okay.’ He got it, at that point. And then I spent a lot of time thinking about that - was that some kind of guy thing? If I threaten to kick your ass then you have to do what I say?” Nelson says he hopes the film builds allies by normalizing transitions. “Everybody has change and transitions that they go through … how is this different?”
Nelson identifies as masculine, but he admits, “Am I a man? I don’t know. What is one?” “This push to declare gender pronouns … has been really tough. I was tenaciously holding onto the middle and then it just became too much energy. It’s really hard to be genderqueer…particularly when you have to move through a mainstream world. People come up to me and say ‘Dude, I get you’re trying to end oppression based on gender presentation, [but] I still need to know how to refer to you in the meeting.’ It was like, Okay, enough. I have a lot of different battles to fight; I don’t want to have to fight this one.” The longtime activist moved to Portland from Atlanta in 1986, but only began filmmaking a few years ago after joining the North West Documentary Arts. His first movie addressed the difficulties gender variant folk have utilizing public restrooms. Although the title, Switch, may conjure up sex changes and moving from one box to another, Nelson says that’s not what the he intended. “It’s really about language. That was the biggest change. And that was the biggest struggle for the people who are more on the periphery, [but] that’s the expectation that folks are going to have. No matter what your relationship is with the trans person, you’re likely to be asked to switch your language in some way.” Nelson’s production company, Boxxo Productions (boxxo.org), in association with Film Action Oregon, presents the first public screening of Switch on February 4 at Hollywood Theatre in Portland. It’s a date Nelson awaits apprehensively, hoping that viewers will take something away with them. “One of the goals I have set for the movie is that no matter who you are, when you’re watching it you see someone who either you are or you know. And number two … you walk away and have some thoughts about it afterwards. I don’t know if I accomplished it. I’m so fucking nervous!” Trans author Jacob Anderson-Minshall is the author of Blind Faith, the latest Blind Eye mystery, which is already garnering rave reviews. To view the book trailer and find out more, check out blindeyemysteries.com
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FEATURE STORY
by Adam Leddy
Network Columbus:
Past, Present, and Future
In the past twenty-four hours you’ve drawn breath, blinked, bathed, relieved yourself, dressed and undressed, eaten, and accomplished any number of other mundane tasks. You’ve probably performed these activities without any fear whatsoever. It would be irrational to be afraid of breathing or going to the bathroom; these are things that cannot be avoided. Yet we retain many silly, impractical fears about other activities that are as essential to our existence as anything I’ve enumerated here. Why are we afraid of things that come naturally to us? Take fundraising, for instance. If you’ve ever served on a host committee for a fundraiser, you know how hard it is to get people to commit to sell tickets or raise sponsorship dollars. After all, nobody likes fundraising. Or so they say. The truth, of course, is that we spend a great deal of our time fundraising without even thinking about it. When you recommend a movie or a new product, when you show off the features of your new phone, you’re fundraising for someone. When you complain about the labor or environmental practices of Wal-Mart, you’re fundraising for its competitors. If we were able to internalize this simple truth, wouldn’t we all spend more time raising money for the causes we care about? So it is with networking. While there are probably more natural networkers than natural
fundraisers, the idea of networking inspires a similar fear in many of us. Why? Perhaps we consider ourselves shy. We don’t like to get dressed up and rub elbows with our contemporaries. Maybe we resent the idea that human interaction can be reduced to transactions - we want to see other people as more than just the means to some selfish end of our own. Or maybe we’re too self-conscious about what we do for a living to hand out a business card to strangers. In reality, the vast majority of us are inveterate networkers. We talk to others. We get our kicks from helping others. We ask for help when we need it. When we divorce ourselves from the idea that networking is about schmoozing, or calling in favors, or using other people, we are free to see networking for what it really is: a chance to make our own lives better by helping other people and being helped in return. What’s so terrifying about that? Don’t take my word on any of this. We’ve collected networking tips from some of the best networkers in town for this issue. They all come from different walks of life and earn their livings in different ways. One thing they all have in common, however, is that they’re not afraid to do the things that come naturally to us. They breathe, they blink, they go to the bathroom, and they network.
Networking Leaders Alliance to Unite Central Ohio Networking Organizations by Steve Baldzicki Networking Leaders Alliance is an organization founded by Michael Daniels of Network Columbus/Outlook Media and Steve Baldzicki of Big Fish Networking/Monarch Title. The organization was started in November of 2008 with a group of organizations like PC (Positive Connection, Randy Daniels), Experience Columbus (Xenia Palus), Dames Bond, AMA (American Marketing Association), AmSpirit Business Connections (Frank Agin), and The Scioto Ridge Job Networking Group (Ken Lazar). The mission of forming such an organization is to bring together the top networking organizations in Central Ohio to support each other by sharing information, supporting each other’s events, sharing resources, and growing attendance/membership, with the ultimate goal of providing more to our communities and to Central Ohio. Networking Leaders Alliance will be an umFEB 04 - FEB 10 2009
brella of many networking organizations that will support each other and bring more value to our members. We are bringing together more groups everyday to join our organization … groups like Like Minded Moms, LinkedIn Columbus (Lewis Howes), CYP (Columbus Young Professionals), YPC (Young Professionals of Columbus), Buckeye Networking Group, BNI, GoldStar, Columbus Chamber, BPW, NAWBO, TRC (The Right Connections), and many more. Networking Leaders Alliance will be have joint events with all the organizations combined supporting it and being involved in it. The first event we will have will be a tradeshow event where all the organizations involved in Networking Leaders Alliance will be represented and we will have about five nonprofit organizations represented as well. This event will be focused on having people come out and learn about the many networking organizations in Central Ohio. Stay tuned for more details! Steve Baldzicki is the founder and president of Big Fish Networking, www.bigfishnetworking.com.
Since its inception more than six years ago, Network Columbus has grown into one of the largest networking events in town. Outlook Media’s owners, Chris and Michael have made it their mission to take the monthly networking events to exciting, new levels of utility for attendees and sponsors. Interviewing Michael Daniels about Network Columbus is a bit like taking a day trip into the psyche of a mad scientist, and I had the pleasure of doing just that in preparation for our networking issue.
business card to; it’s to see how many people you can make a business connection with. I’d rather leave with one or two solid business connections than a pocketful of business cards from people I didn’t get to know.
AL: What advice do you have for someone going into a Network Columbus event, or any networking event in general? MD: You’ve got to get out there and meet people. Fifty percent of success is showing up. I network in a different way from what everybody else does. I don’t have an elevator speech. People do business with people they like, and they’re not going to like you if you just thrust your business card at them, Adam Leddy: Even though it was founded before try to sell them on something, and then walk away. you arrived in Columbus, tell us about the begin- Be yourself and take a genuine interest in the peonings of Network Columbus. ple you’re talking to. Get outside your usual circle; it Michael Daniels: I always joke about Network being doesn’t do you any good to come with a group of six started as a Stitch & Bitch for gay business owners people and stand around with them all night. who were looking to get together and share ideas about common problems they were having and AL: What should we expect from Network ways to keep money inside the community. Now, Columbus in 2009? depending on how you word the Google search, it’s MD: We’ll continue the monthly networking funcgrown to be the largest or second largest free net- tions on the second Wednesday of every month. working organization in the city. Those will remain free of charge. We have a great set of sponsors who purchase print advertising in AL: How has Network changed since you and Outlook Weekly every week, and that funds our netChris assumed ownership of Outlook Media? working event. Elsewhere in this issue there is a MD: The changes that we’ve seen in Network piece from Steve Baldzicki about the Networking Columbus parallel the changes that we’ve seen in Leaders Alliance, spearheaded by Big Fish Netthe Outlook Media brand generally. Outlook Weekly working and Network Columbus. You’ll see all of is no longer a gay newspaper for gay people and those groups come together and do one huge gay businesses. Network Columbus is no longer a fundraiser citywide; details will be announced on gay networking organization for gay professionals. that. The entire media company has become the proMostly what you’ll see Network Columbus congressive media company here in town. Network tinue to do is what Outlook Media has done and will Columbus has become a progressive networking continue to do, and that’s build bridges where they organization for progressive folks. Three years ago, hadn’t existed before. There is no reason we probably 85% of the people who regularly attended shouldn’t be reaching out to the other 82% of Network self-identified as GLBT. Today I would Columbus that isn’t gay. As part of the Networking guess that number is about 50%. Leaders Alliance we’ll be reaching out to groups like Experience Columbus, the Columbus Young AL: What sets Network apart from other network- Professionals, Frank Agin’s AmSpirit, Randy ing organizations in town? Not just in who atDaniels’ Positive Connections group, and others. tends, but stylistically, in the look and feel of the And of course, Network Columbus will continue event? to be fun, fabulous, and free. MD: Network has always been designed as a social hour with a wee bit of programming thrown into it. AL: I’d like to host a Network Columbus event. It comes from the belief that people do business How do I do that? with the people they like. The only way I can decide MD: Send me an email at mdaniels@outlookmeif I like you is if I meet you in a social setting, shake dia.com. We generally book 8-10 months in adyour hand, perhaps share a cocktail, and so forth. vance. We ask that you have space to hold 125-150 We mirror very closely what you see with groups like people, provide food for the attendees, and have Steve Baldzicki’s Big Fish Networking. There’s a very some sort of bar. If you have a liquor license, do a short program: from the time I open the program to cash bar and we’ll ring your register on a Wednesthe time that door prizes are handed out, no more day night when you’d normally be dead. If you don’t than 20 minutes have elapsed. have a liquor license, then we need you to provide Other organizations have a different philosophy. beer and wine and so forth. To be a host or a They’ll have you sit around a room and do somespeaker at an event, just drop me an email. thing like speed networking, where you get two You do not have to be an advertiser with Outlook minutes to swap business cards with someone, or Media to host an event. In fact, we’ve had many you get two minutes to talk about yourself. To me, people host and speak at Network who were not adthat feels like Networkers Anonymous, where you sit vertisers but had so much success that they dearound and say, “Hi, I’m Michael, and I’m a netcided to become advertisers later on down the road. worker.” When I go to those meetings, by the time We’re willing to put our money where our mouth is we get to person number thirty, I’ve forgotten who and prove the concept first, and then later on we person number one is. can talk about partnerships if both sides are interThe idea with Network Columbus is that netested. working is not just a business card swap. The goal Network Columbus meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month. isn’t to see how many people you can give your www.networkcolumbus.com for details.
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FEATURE STORY
4 Basic Networking How-Tos by Kimm Hrdlicka-Tigges
A Networker’s Approach to Getting Started in a New City by Merri Bame
Networking for Nonprofit Professionals by Tim Woodard Networking: an opportunity to make a personal connection with others in hopes of a mutually beneficial business endeavor. Or at least that is the definition in the Woodard Dictionary. I embrace the practice and try to make the most of every networking event. It seems that networking is a big buzz word lately, but really it is a business practice that has been going on forever. The mechanics may have changed, but the philosophy is the same as when Christopher Columbus met Queen Isabella of Spain, and ultimately got financing for his voyage back in 1492. Wonder how he made that connection? In the nonprofit sector, networking is essential. It is so important to be active in the community, attend special events and take advantage of every opportunity to get your name and the name of your organization in front of as many people as possible. You never know who you might meet or where that introduction might lead. It is not that difficult either, just smile, shake hands and offer your business card. Do not be shy; networking is no place for wallflowers! So I ask you … “Is your net, working?” Tim Woodard is the senior director of development for The Buckeye Ranch Foundation.
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Eight months ago my partner, Kim, and I moved to Columbus from Northwest Ohio, leaving behind a business market in interpersonal communication coaching that I had planted and grown for over 8 years. At first when Kim told me she was offered a position with Equality Ohio that really excited her, I resisted seeing the opportunity it also held for me. Fortunately, I had learned networking lessons in NW Ohio that prepped me for what I needed to do in Columbus. My ability to jump right into networking came from my first networking lesson: use the people I already know to get to those I want to add in my new network. In this case I used my LinkedIn personal contacts to search for their Columbus contacts. Once my personal network prompted their Columbus contacts to meet me, I followed through with arranging face-to-face meetings. My second networking lesson - which is also an interpersonal tip - was to have conversations that allow the people you speak with to feel good about themselves. As any Certified Networker will tell you, when people feel good about themselves while with you, they will like you. And if they like you, they will find ways to be around you. After several meetings of my asking them more about themselves, they relaxed and enjoyed the experience. Eventually they asked about me and my interests. Now, they not only share great networking event options, they introduce me to key people, quote me in their material, and help me with qualified prospecting. After just eight months, today I can rely on a handful of key Columbus contacts whom I trust. To me, a network isn’t a group of salespeople pushing business; it’s people who grow to enjoy each other while looking out for each other’s interests. Merri Bame is an executive communications coach and the owner of Breaking Down Barriers, www.bdbcommunication.com.
To succeed for two decades in the industry of Network Marketing, I’ve had to learn the finer points of meeting new people at professional and personal events. We call this networking, and in today’s super sonic society it’s more important than ever to make connections quickly, especially when you think the person you’re talking to could be a prospect for your company, or even a friend. Connecting like this comes more easily to some people than others, but with practice and some basic how-to knowledge, even the most reserved professionals can learn how to tell that they have just met an influential contact. Here are some tips that I hope you’ll try. 1. Be interested, not interesting. Ask questions about the person you’re talking to. Sounds easy, but many people stall at this first step. Of course there are the usual openers: How are you? Isn’t this event fun? What do you do? Now take it to the next level and ask details about the person’s job. Too many times we hear a job title and pass it off as though we really understand what a person does. It doesn’t make you stupid to ask questions; it makes you interested. How long have they been there? What is their favorite aspect of their job? They, in turn, will ask you about your business - ta dah! The door is open and you can share briefly about your service or product. When you do, be sure to incorporate how you could be of service to them, which you’ll know since you’ve taken time to learn about them first. After your brief description, ask them another question to see how interested they would be to learn more about your business. If they’re not, that’s ok too. It gives you more time to mingle and find prospects who are. 2. Be aware of personal space. Yes, it gets crowded at functions, but don’t stand too close. This is one of my pet peeves. It’s uncomfortable to have people breathing and spilling their drinks on each other. 3. Be sincere, not flashy. The cute sales-type banter is out of date and will not gain you an acquaintance’s trust. For a lasting relationship, even in business, trust must be earned from the start with kind, honest conversation. If you give a compliment be sincere. Professionals can spot BS and will quickly find a reason to end the conversation. 4. A professional touch … and I do mean touch, with your hand, creates a bond. Touching someone’s elbow is kind and not too close to be uncomfortable. Shaking hands firmly while making eye contact is secure and confident. I’m still amazed that I meet at least one person at every event who gives the limp fish handshake. Yech! Don’t look around the room, look into their eyes as you chat with them. If you do need to keep an eye out for someone, let them know, so they understand it’s not them you’re avoiding. And a hug between friends is fine at events. A top corporate CEO I know says you must get three hugs a day just to stay sane! This is funny and a bit true. There are hundreds of studies to prove that human touch is vital in our lives and will take you to the next level in networking. Kimm Hrdlicka-Tigges is an independent regional VP with Arbonne International. She can be reached at kimmh@fromtheheart12.com.
Building Relationships: Why and How by Xenia Palus The value of any networking event is only realized by the amount that the individual invests! Stand on the sidelines and talk to no one and the guarantee is that you will have zero return. Put forth an effort and something - good, bad or new - will occur. “Something” is different from “nothing” - and something has value. The value is in what is learned … from the good and the bad. Someone new might become a good friend, a mentor, a colleague or someone to avoid! (Yes Martha, there are folks in the networking circuit we must learn to tolerate and/or sometimes avoid!) After registering at the event, scan the room. See where it is easiest to “move into the event.” Perhaps it is toward the food area or the information table. Shake someone’s hand, or if that is too personal or too much to manage, introduce yourself by name and tell the person that you really enjoy attending the Experience Columbus’s Evening Exchange afterhours. Ask the person if they are originally from Columbus. (That’s an easy icebreaker.) The return on that one question? An “aha” as to those who are “native” to Columbus, and new information that wasn’t available before the question was asked. And that information has value. Moreover, that one question can lead to a conversation: “What is there to see, do and/or know about Columbus?” And ultimately there should be an opportunity to exchange a business card (a must at any networking event). To attend an event and not have a new business card in hand is a waste of one’s time and energy. Evening Exchanges provide those who attend the ability to see the faces of the hospitality industry from hoteliers, general managers, directors of sales, catering and services to restaurant owners, chefs, shop proprietors, photographers, A/V sales people, and more. These are the people who either meet directly with visitors to Columbus or provide a product or service that is essential to the Columbus visitor. And, one might meet someone who has a good, a service or product that is needed by you or your company. That information will allow you to contact them at a later date to further a relationship, which ultimately might include them asking for your company’s product or service. In this current (and no doubt continuing) challenging economy, it is critical to be part of the community. The community of networking organizations, the community of the hospitality industry, the community of greater Columbus. But it is essential in these times to build relationships with others. To seek conversations, counsel and coaching from new, familiar, or trusted colleagues. Relationships can be achieved at any networking event. Relationship building leads to a greater solidarity - perhaps between you and another company representative or between your company and another business organization. It all depends upon how much you are willing to invest. Xenia Palus is Experience Columbus’s membership director. Experience Columbus Evening Exchange information is listed on www.ExperienceColumbus.com under the Members tab. Each month’s event is hosted at a unique venue in the greater Columbus area. Prepare your venture to attend any of the events by posting the schedule into your calendar.
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FEATURE STORY Hyde Park Fridays: A Weekly Networking Opportunity by Mary Ann Potter Lewis
A Columbus First: Social Networking for Cat Lovers by Victoria Vetere What do dog people have that cat lovers do not? A community. After noticing that dog people have many opportunities for social connection, but none really exist for the feline enthusiast, I decided it was time for a change. The change came with the birth of ZenCat Gallery (ZCG). ZenCat Gallery is a unique new presence offering community events for cat lovers, beautiful feline-inspired art and the compassion of a charitable enterprise. In February, ZCG has three wonderful “love” events. On February 7 from 6p-10p, ZCG will have a LoveCats Gallery Hop exhibition showcasing feline-inspired original works of art created by local artists. On Valentine’s Day from 1p-4p, ZCG will host a LoveCats Silent Auction Benefit. The auction benefits the Feline Assistance Fund (FAF), which supports those who help with feline population control, and also those who foster homeless kittens and cats. This in turn will assist local cat shelters by reducing the overflow at these facilities. On February 22 from 1p-4p, cat enthusiasts will have the opportunity to socialize with other feline lovers at the inauguration of ZCG’s LoveCats social salon. All events will be held at the ZenGenius Gallery (433 East Prescott Street) in the Short North. For more information about ZenCat Gallery, please visit www.zencatgallery.com.
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Mary Ann, do you know anyone who can take a decent picture of me? Mary Ann, can you introduce me to anyone in the (insert name of politician here) office? Mary Ann, can you watch my dog this weekend? Mary Ann can you be on the host committee for (insert the charity/fundraiser of your choice here)? And my personal favorite: Mary Ann, can your bank make me a loan to buy a house? Such is life on Friday night at Hyde Park on the Cap. What started off as a small happy hour with a couple of business associates interested in banking and real estate (Mary Ann Potter Lewis, Jeff Smith, Terry Penrod, Brent McMurry), has grown into a loyal group of at least forty, and sometimes over a hundred, gay, lesbian, and straight friends, and in my case several family members (shout out to Charlie, Jodie and Ed). We get together once a week beginning at 4:30p and ending by 7:30p (our happy hour martinis stop being $4.00 at 6:30) to catch up on each other’s lives. This is a HAPPY Happy Hour, not a place where you feel like you’re there to be picked up, although we are a darn good-looking group of friends. We discuss politics, network, celebrate birthdays, make dinner plans, and in the season entertain a great many politicians (judges, Congressional hopefuls, State Representatives and Senators, and Mayor Coleman) all of whom are there for a relaxing hour or two and to get the Hyde Park Happy Hour votes. Terry Penrod sends out a weekly notice to a few hundred people, just to remind them that they are welcome to come, and any news of the week (especially if Terry has been on the news). This group has grown to include doctors, ministers, landscapers, dentists, photographers, computer folks, store managers, artists, stockbrokers, lawyers, developers, OSU employees, college and graduate students, city and state workers, people looking for jobs, and some folks lucky enough to be retired. There are no dues to join this club, just show up on a Friday night (you’ll probably already know somebody there), order a topshelf four-dollar martini and tip the bartenders handsomely. Michael and Jeff are without a doubt the best bartenders in town. They are part of our Friday night family, and without them it wouldn’t be the same - they are the best! And by the way, the answer to “who can take a great picture?” is Ray LaVoie, a HPHH regular. Come join us - you’re invited! Mary Ann Potter Lewis is a vice president with First Community Bank, www.firstcommunitybank.com.
LinkOUT Focuses on Professional Growth Giving Back by Joel Diaz LinkOUT’s mission is to engage young LGBT professionals and connect them to LGBT-serving organizations and other communities in Central Ohio. As a group of young professionals from diverse fields and cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, we hope to serve as the voice for young LGBT professionals and provide a forum for issues that affect our community. We organize social and professional networking opportunities in order to help young LGBT professionals connect with each other and build relationships that will help them in their careers and personal development. We serve as a connection to community resources and support community building through our participation in a variety of philanthropic and service based efforts. We also are interested in giving back to our community so we plan a variety of community service and civic involvement projects in order to accomplish this goal. As an emerging young professionals group, we feel it is important that the LGBT community have a pool of resources to draw upon to help build the next generation of leaders. We place a strong emphasis on networking in order to ensure that our members are meeting both LGBT and non-LGBT professionals in Columbus and learning from each other to help them succeed in their professional and social development. We recognize the importance of building relationships, and we find that networking with others is the best method to help start and develop those relationships. LinkOUT provides a forum where ideas and thoughts can be exchanged in a comfortable and safe environment. I have seen the opportunities that are presented when you are ready and willing to take the next step in your professional and civic involvement. For me it all started with going out and attending a variety of different events and functions and finding others who share similar interests. I found myself meeting people who were able to connect me to a particular project or organization and finding ways to get more involved. Once you know someone they introduce you to someone else and the chain continues until you find yourself knowing more people than you ever thought possible. I think in particular for the LGBT community there is a real need for new leaders to emerge and help usher in a new era of change in our community. Our struggles are far from over and it’s up to us to keep the momentum going and carry the torch for our community forward. It’s my hope that LinkOUT will play a role in developing and building a new generation of LGBT community leaders and will help build a sense of community for those living in Columbus. LinkOUT hosts networking and general meetings the last Wednesday of every month beginning at 6:30p at Liquid Lounge. For more information and other events, please visit www.linkoutcolumbus.com. Joel Díaz is the community engagement and marketing manager for the Wexner Center for the Arts, http://wexarts.org.
Political Networking by Ariana Adams We first learn about politics as children, when we start school. Who rules the playground? Who sits with whom, and at which lunch table? Who are the popular people who decide the fate of every newcomer? It is only when we graduate to Politics with a “capital P” as adults, though, that we truly begin to see and understand the “game” of Politics. Not that those who don’t enter the arena of Politics don’t understand the underlying influence of office politics or the schoolyard social politics of our youth. But, to navigate a Political Network is something altogether different. Political networking is to social and business networking as high stakes poker is to church bingo. Not the game for everyone but, for those who dare, the risks and rewards are high. I will assume that if you are interested in learning about political networking you have a personal agenda. Wanting to network politically means you want to become a player in the game at some level. Your agenda could be to have political influence because of business, or you could aspire to be an elected official. You might be a dreamy democratic idealist or your agenda could be to become a political groupie. Or, perhaps your motive is completely noble and you want to become an activist. No judgment for whatever your reason is for beginning to network politically; just know your agenda. Your agenda will determine the strategy you will take for the game. Besides, people who play Politics can smell out an agenda at “hello.” The next bit of homework that must be done is learning who the players are and what realm of influence they have on the game. Blogs can provide you with political anecdotal research, while Gongwer, a web-based legislative news service, or a more conventional media forum can offer you insight. The number one game rule to remember is: the most powerful and influential person may not be the elected official. Again, think back to schoolhouse politics. It is not the principal who is the most powerful person in the school; it is the school secretary and the custodian. Find out who the political support team - staff, family and friends - is of elected officials and candidates. They are ultimately your key to politically networking. Fundraisers are the most obvious opportunity to see and have access to political players. Work the room by first assessing the room. Who is attending? Who is standing with whom? The more fundraisers you attend, the more you will begin to see who the “regulars” are. Get to know them. Ask a more politically connected person to introduce you to the group. As soon as you feel comfortable, offer to host a house party, also known as an intimate fundraising event. In this day of electronic networking, fundraising events are not the only chance to meet people. Joining political groups on Facebook or LinkedIn can give you an unprecedented access to political powerbrokers. Caveat: Not all elected officials or candidates manage their own accounts. An intern may be reading your posts. And, last, but definitely not the least, volunteering for a campaign, a political party or a political group can still do the trick. Political networking does include an element of relationship building like other networking. Politicos, however, are not by nature trusting people. Therefore, building a relationship and, eventually, a political reputation, takes time. So, if you are interested in high stakes gambling, Nicky Arnstein (circa Fanny Brice), don your ruffled shirt and start playing the game of political networking.
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DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD
MIRREN, GERSHON, JORDAN SADDLE UP FOR LOVE RANCH Do you want to see Helen Mirren as the madam of Nevada’s first legal brothel? Of course you do, and now you can. She and Joe Pesci will play real-life married entrepreneurs Grace and Charlie Botempo in Love Ranch, directed by Taylor Hackford (who’s also Mirren’s husband). The cast of gay-adjacent favorites also includes Gina Gershon and Bai Ling - playing, one would assume, “ranch hands” - as well as the hilarious Leslie Jordan (Sordid Lives, Will & Grace). Between Mirren and Gershon alone, there’s enough career-spanning cinematic Sapphic scenarios to melt your Caligula and Bound DVDs into liquid plastic, and that’s not even counting the cast members who are actually homosexual. Add Ling and Jordan - one brazen bisexual and one screaming queen, respectively - and it sounds like Love Ranch will offer lots of queer pleasure when it hits theaters later this year.
www.kerri-anne.com.au
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© walt disney pictures
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by Romeo San Vicente
TOMLIN SWADDLES SWEET BABY JESUS
CAN SHANKMAN MAKE BIRDIE FLY?
KATHY GRIFFIN MOUTHS OFF FOR 50 YEARS
Romeo loves a good Christmas movie - and if it’s got a whiff of sacrilege, so much the better. Sweet Baby Jesus certainly sounds promising; it’s about pregnant teenager Mary (Alison Pill of Milk), who returns to her hometown of Bethlehem, MD, at Christmastime. Mary’s got an older boyfriend named Joe - but he’s not the baby’s father, leading rumors to swirl among the locals that Mary is about to give birth to Jesus in his second coming. Directed by British comedy pro Steve Bendelack (Mr. Bean’s Holiday), the film offers an interestingly eclectic cast, including lesbian goddess Lily Tomlin, Christopher Guest regular Michael McKean, Freddy Got Fingered creator Tom Green, the ever-unpredictable Melanie Griffith, and bear pin-up Hagrid himself, Robbie Coltrane. With any luck, Sweet Baby Jesus will be a blessed theatrical event this December.
For years, Columbia Pictures has tried to launch a remake of its 1960s hit musical Bye Bye Birdie, about teenage hysteria over an Elvis-like rock icon going into the army. Tina Fey took a crack at a new script, and John Chu (Step Up 2 the Streets) was hired fresh out of film school to make a youth-oriented hip-hop version of the property. After those efforts failed to soar, the studio is now turning to one of the few people responsible for making screen musicals viable again - gay Hairspray director Adam Shankman. He’ll develop and produce a new version of Birdie, but he probably won’t direct; he’s already got Bob: The Musical and a new Sinbad adventure on his plate. Will Shankman be the wind beneath Birdie‘s wings? Watch this space for flight information.
What do you get when you cross Finding Nemo with An Inconvenient Truth? Presumably Around the World in 50 Years 3D, an upcoming animated feature about a sea turtle who hatches in 1959 and spends the next five decades traveling all over the Earth and observing what global warming and climate change are doing to the planet. You can’t make a cartoon without an all-star voice cast these days, and Around the World features gay icon Kathy Griffin. (Can you really still be on the “D List” after you’ve won two Emmys and been nominated for a Grammy? Discuss.) Also piping up for the film are Tim Curry, Jenny McCarthy, Anthony Anderson, and the exceedingly ecology-minded Ed Begley Jr. This 3D animated feature is set to turn your kids’ consciences green later this year or in early 2010.
Romeo San Vicente has tried for years to recycle ex-boyfriends. It doesn’t really work. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.
ARTS by Alana Manwaring
Get Jazzed for Valentine’s Day Dubbed a “Hallmark holiday,” the fast-approaching Valentine’s Day can seem predictable. If you’re searching for more than a cliché, why not celebrate this romantic season with an aphrodisiac better than dark chocolate or red wine: Jazz Moves Take 2, February 5-14 at the Capitol Theatre. Forget the tutus, the classical music, and the tight buns (well, at least the ones requiring bobby pins and hairspray). Ballet lets its hair down in Jazz Moves Take 2, an exciting collaboration between BalletMet Columbus and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra that will surely get you in the mood for love. The inaugural Jazz Moves premiered in 2006 and won the Artistic Excellence Award from the Greater Columbus Arts Council. Take 2 will feature favorite works from its predecessor as well as three highly anticipated world premieres with BalletMet and the CJO sharing the stage in an unforgettable live event. Perhaps the sexiest of American art forms, jazz predates rock-and-roll and hip-hop as the music parents didn’t approve. The Jazz Age was a time when the illicit speakeasy, complete with bootleg booze, smooth jazz and racy dance moves, was the hottest place to be. From introspective quar-
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tets in murky gin joints to tuxedoed big band orchestras on shiny stages, jazz has permeated the American culture and continues to evolve. Jazz Moves Take 2 blends timeless standards with modern jazz tunes for a rich, contemporary experience. The improvisational prowess of the CJO is interwoven with bold, electrifying dance from the versatile BalletMet Company dancers. The sensual choreography demands the flexibility, grace and strength necessary for classical ballet, but also shows off the dancers’ individual styles and inherent rhythm. The hot fusion of blue notes and ballet will surely please the eye and provoke the senses. Who knows, you may even find a few moves to try on your own. Even the costumes, inspired by Latin, ballroom, jazz and swing, are anything but traditional. Short skirts and tight shirts accentuate toned legs and abs, while flirty ballroom-inspired dresses and baggy pants leave more to the imagination. While the show is certainly a party, many of the works are moving reflections on American culture. Separation, choreographed by Stella Kane, is a solo dance piece that looks at the cultural divide a city faces between suburban and urban lifestyles. Testify stands out as a throwback to old tent re-
vivals, complete with zealous parishioners and gospel tunes. Choreographer Randy Duncan says “it’s visceral, uplifting and is testifying in the very basic sense.” Byron Stripling, artistic director of the CJO, accompanies the fast-paced piece singing “Get Right Church.” Stripling even performs a move or two with the Company dancers in a fun, flirtatious work by a national and newly local standout, Maurice Hines, the new artistic director of Columbus’s Lincoln Theatre. Choreographers Harrison McEldowney, Ron De Jesus and Margo Sappington join Hines, Kane and Duncan to create a wealth of stimulating and decadent dance works. And the CJO will also perform a special solo number that will have you tapping your toes and snapping your fingers like a true aficionado. A perfect opportunity to check out two of Columbus’s finest arts institutions, Jazz Moves Take 2 promises more than a fabulous performance. In addition to the show, you can enjoy postperformance talks with participating artists as well as a free pre-performance mini ballroom class at select performances. Visit balletmet.org for details and a sneak peek of the show. So if you’re ready to ditch the carnations and
find a new way to spice up date night this season, take your sweetheart to Jazz Moves Take 2. The irrepressible chemistry between the CJO and BalletMet will enthuse hopeless romantics and just might inspire ardor-deprived cynics. Alana Manwaring is marketing and communications intern for BalletMet, a member organization of the Columbus Arts Marketing Association. CAMA’s mission is to promote awareness of and participation in the arts and cultural opportunities in Greater Columbus through collaborative marketing and public relations projects, and to provide professional development opportunities for members. For information visit www.camaonline.org.
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INTERVIEW by Gregg Shapiro
Into Greg Behrendt Stand-up comedian turned self-help guru turned TV talk show host Greg Behrednt has a great sense of humor. That must be his stand-up comedian side. The movie version of his best-selling book He’s Just Not That Into You (co-written with Liz Tuccillo) has an all-star cast (including Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Connolly, Ginnifer Goodwin, Bradley Cooper, Ben Affleck, Justin Long and Kevin Connolly), all trying to navigate their way through the complicated world of dating, love and relationships. Behrendt has a good-natured attitude about the film adaptation, which might be helpful since the delayed release of the flick has created something of a buzz. Gregg Shapiro: Since the book He’s Just Not That Into You can essentially be categorized as an advice/self-improvement book, what was your initial response to the concept of it being dramatized for the purpose of a movie? Greg Behrendt: I think the response was, yes [laughs]! You can make it a Western. I don’t care. How exciting! I can’t believe the book’s as popular as it is, so it was all pretty exciting. I think the producers, Nancy Juvonen and Drew Barrymore, had a good idea for extrapolating all the information, and they had writers they wanted to work with and they seemed ready to go. I just sort of let the universe unfold. GS: Of the male lead characters - Alex (Justin Long), Conor (Kevin Connolly), Neil (Ben Affleck) and Ben (Bradley Cooper) which one would you say is most like you and which one would you say is the least like you? GB: I would say that I’ve been all those dudes in my life. That’s how I knew to write
the book. I’ve had all those experiences of being too busy or … certainly I’ve never cheated on my wife, so probably not the Bradley Cooper part. But I definitely was with girls that I didn’t want to marry and I ended up not marrying them probably because I knew I was never going to. That’s sort of where that came from. The Justin Long character, to a certain degree, because he’s the voice of the book. GS: You appear briefly in the movie as the minister at Paige’s wedding. Would you say that you consider the relationship work you’ve done over the years a sort of ministry? GB: No, God, no. I’m a comedian, first and foremost. [Laughs] I was asked to be in the movie and I found that the most challenging part of this entire experience, acting - with my eyebrow. But no, I’m the opposite. We never set out to start a religion. This is simply my opinion at the cocktail party of life. I always feel like people can take what they need and leave the rest. GS: Were you on the set on a regular basis or just when you were playing the minister? GB: No, just that time. I wanted to let them go do their thing. They’re filmmakers; they wanted to make a film. Certainly, I’ve worked in TV and other things, but with this particular project, it just seemed better to let them do their work. GS: What did you think of Baltimore - a city long known as John Waters’ domain as the setting for the movie? GB: I love Baltimore and I love John Waters. I think there should be more things about Baltimore. I think Barry Levinson’s done a nice job with the city as well. I love Tin Men. That’s one of the greatest movies
ever. I think more things should be set in Baltimore. And also the band Kixx was from Baltimore. That’s two Xs. GS: From the ’80s! GB: Right! You know it! GS: He’s Just Not That Into You which can be described as being about new beginnings is being released at the beginning of the new year, at a time when the country is also at the threshold of a new beginning with Barack Obama taking office as president. Do you think there is any significance to that? GB: I will say that the theme of the book, which is looking at what’s actually going on and understanding that it may be difficult but we have to make some changes, is very relevant. That’s just how things have line up. [Laughs] I’m not taking any credit for it. It seems like this current administration is trying very hard to look at what’s actually going on, looking at both sides of the equation, and saying, “how do we fix this?” And also, “it isn’t going to be easy.” But in the end I think we’re all going to be happy. GS: One of the most surprising elements of He’s Just Not That Into You is how gayfriendly the movie is. Drew Barrymore’s character Mary is a straight woman who works as an ad sales person at a GLBT newspaper in Baltimore and she convinces Conor to take out an ad in the paper for his real estate business. All of this is to say that the movie handles the gay characters with respect and integrity. GB: I’ve said this in a lot of interviews, about the information in the book - while the book is written for women, it’s for anyone who chooses to hear - gay, straight, male, female or otherwise. It’s about looking at your life and setting standards for yourself
and saying, “This is what I deserve and I’m not going to compromise. I’m not going to be in something where someone isn’t showing up.” The book was written for women basically because they’re the buying public for that type of book. But we include everybody. And I’ve done a few interviews with gay magazines, with men specifically who have read the book and enjoyed it. Also Drew and Nancy have a lot of integrity. GS: You have a new TV show forthcoming called Greg Behrendt’s Wake Up Call, in which you work with couples who are on the brink of ending their relationships. Are there any same-sex couples featured on the show? GB: No, but much to my dismay. We only shot six (episodes) and I lobbied for it. If we were to do it again, I would make that a part of doing it again. I think all relationships should be explored. We talked about it, but we couldn’t get it done. GS: On what other projects are you currently working? GB: I have a DVD coming out in March, a stand-up DVD, which is what I am and how I identify myself. The DVD is called Greg Behrendt Is That Guy From That Thing, which is how I’m most recognized. GS: You mentioned the band Kixx and I know that you are also a musician. Is there anything that you are listening to right now that’s blowing you away? GB: My own surf instrumental punk and ska band which is called The Reigning Monarchs. We gave ourselves a big title and you can find us over on myspace. I also like Band of Horses.
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SAVAGE LOVE by Dan Savage Please settle a difference of opinion that stumped our small group at the coffee shop: Why do guys wear socks on their feet in porn? I say it’s a tradition. My friends claim it is a footfetish thing. My credibility rides on this, so thanks for answering. Socked In Denver Socks in porn a tradition? Sorry, SID, but no. Socks on feet in porn - as opposed to socks on cocks? - are like zits on butts in porn or track marks on arms in porn. They’re incidental, not traditional. And unless someone licks socked feet or the socks are removed and used as gags, they’re not a “foot-fetish thing.” So it appears that neither you nor your friends have any credibility on porn attire, SID. I was recently on an airplane seated next to a man talking on his cell phone. The man stated that he “was excited to use his new strap-on tonight!” It made me wonder why and how a guy would use a strap-on. Wouldn’t he just use his own penis? When I glanced over at this guy, because I wasn’t sure how a man would use a strap-on, he told his caller he had to go as he was getting the “stink-eye” from me. I wasn’t disgusted, just curious because he acted like this was a normal toy for guys, not to mention an appropriate conversation to have on an airplane. All my gay friends were stumped, too. I was wondering if you could solve this mystery. Stink-Eye In 12E The most obvious answer: The strap-on was a late Christmas gift presented to him to be used on him, not by him. A slightly less-obvious answer: Some small-dicked men - ones who are not at all insecure - use strap-ons on partners who enjoy a “filled-up” feeling from time to time. The least obvious answer: The man on the airplane was a female-to-male transsexual who, like a lot of forward-thinking FTMs, declined to get an expensive phalloplasty during his transition and the pretty much nonfunctional penis a phalloplasty “endows” an FTM with. Instead, he invested in a high-quality, looks-like-a-prick, feels-like-asneaker strap-on. If your gay friends couldn’t come up with any of these answers, SEI12E, you need smarter, more insightful, more credible gay friends. Longtime reader, first-time writer. In last week’s column, there was a letter from JON, a young, just-out gay kid who is not ready for anal sex. Please excuse a question from a naive but well-meaning/curious straight
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guy … but what other kinds of gay sex are there? Just hands-on and oral, kind of like what us hetero folks do? Or are there other things that would blow my plain-vanilla-sex mind? Dumb-Ass White Guy You mean straight people haven’t heard of ear-holin’ and nose-bangin’ and socket-fuckin’ and piss-slittin’ and ann-coulterin’? You gotta get out more, DAWG. Actually, there are no mysterious gay sex acts, nothing that we can do that you can’t do better. And there are things we can’t do at all. We can call it “boypussy” and “mangina” all we want, but two gay men aren’t going to do vaginal intercourse as well as a hetero couple, and lesbians who want to snowball have to resort to creamcheese frosting cut with a little skim milk. The only pronounced difference between gay and straight sex - besides the hotness - is that most gay folks regard “hands-on” and oral as “real sex,” not as disappointing consolation prizes we’re handed when “real” sex, i.e., fucking, isn’t in the offing. Straight people - particularly straight men would do well to emulate queers in this regard. The more things you consider “real” sex, and the more things you consider hot sex, the more real, hot sex you’ll be having. Dan, your advice to LIMP - the man who was reluctant to use a vibrator on/with his wife was right on! I’m a 34-year-old woman who needs a vibrator to get off, and for years I felt “defective.” My husband didn’t exactly help at first, but he eventually asked me to show him how I did it. He wanted to try. Bingo - the look on my face was all he needed; he was a convert from that moment on. One of his issues with the vibrator, though, was the phallic shape; he felt like it was replacing him. Many men don’t like vibrators for that reason. It’s bigger, harder, and lasts longer - all of that can intimidate a guy. But you can buy tiny vibrators that are just a couple of inches long, egg-shaped ones, and butterfly-shaped ones. LIMP should visit his local adult-toy shop with his wife and pick out a silly one that doesn’t compete. Bottom line: She has been brave enough to share her needs with you. Would you prefer it if she faked it for your entire marriage and quietly took care of herself in private? Nothing Beats A Good Buzz Thanks for sharing, NBAGB.
SADDLEBACKING DEFINED: The votes are in, the people have spoken, our democratic ideals are renewed. But first: Anyone who picks up the January 24 issue of the Economist - I pick it up every week for the “Page 3 Boy,” sudoku puzzle, and horoscopes - will find this lead paragraph to a story about Barack Obama’s inauguration. “Any decision Barack Obama makes can cause a stir. He invited Rick Warren, a popular pastor, to say a few words at his inauguration. The aim was to stroke conservative Christians, thereby fostering a warm feeling of national unity. But some of Mr. Obama’s gay supporters were appalled. Though hardly a fire-breather by the standards of Southern Baptists, Mr. Warren holds old-fashioned views about homosexuality. Bloggers lamented Mr. Obama’s ‘betrayal.’ Dan Savage, a gay columnist, urged his readers to protest by coining a new meaning for ‘Saddleback’ - the name of Mr. Warren’s church. Many of the suggestions were unprintable.” Many of them were unprintable? Not true, Economites. I printed all of them right here in this space. So it’s not that the suggestions themselves were unprintable - there’s not one single profanity in the lot - it’s that you poofs just don’t have the balls to print them. That’s very different. And now … without further delay … the winning definition of “saddleback” … by a gaping margin … definition number 5. “Saddlebacking: the phenomenon of Christian teens engaging in unprotected anal sex in order to preserve their virginities.” After attending the Purity Ball, Heather and Bill saddlebacked all night because she’s saving herself for marriage. Here’s why this definition is perfect: Saddlebacking, like barebacking, involves one person riding up on another’s backside. But in this case, it’s not the bare-naked cock-in-ass that’s the most important feature of the ride, but the fact that the person being ridden has been saddled thanks to the efforts of the Rick Warrens of this world - with religious hang-ups and serious misconceptions about sex. Like the barebacker who casually tosses away his health - or his partner’s health - because he believes, quite erroneously, that “risky = sexy,” the saddlebacker offers up her ass because she believes, quite erroneously, that she can get fucked in the ass - vigorously, religiously - and still be considered a virgin on her wedding night. I’ve set up a website www.saddlebacking.com - to popularize the new definition. (Get to work, Google bombers!) Spread the URL far and wide, please, and let’s get this term into common usage as quickly as possible. Download the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at thestranger.com/savage. mail@savagelove.net
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CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED UNEMPLOYED? UNDEREMPLOYED? Do you routinely scan the classifieds? Are physical, emotional, or mental health issues or handicaps causing you roadblocks to successful and satisfying employment? Vision & Vocational Services and Outlook Weekly are partnering to provide free needs assessment. Call Rebecca Melton or Toi VanHorn at 614.294.5571 and mention this ad. You can Accomplish Anything - Outlook Media and Vision & Vocational Services are committed to helping you do so.
Josh Martin. 614.657.2366 or 614.446.0106. MERION VILLAGE AREA Cute 1-Bedroom apartment. 638 E Jenkins. 1 BR apartment with everything! Clean, new paint, ceiling fans, AC, washer/dryer unit, dishwasher, appliances. $350/month. Josh Martin. 614.657.2366 or 614.446.0106. OLDE TOWNE EAST 1096 & 1104 Bryden Rd, 1 BR apartments available, new kitchen, wd flrs, vaulted ceiling, $450/mo. More OTE rentals available. Call Beacon Property Mgmt. at 614.228.6700.
HOUSING/FOR RENT REAL ESTATE MERION VILLAGE AREA 2/3 Bedroom house for rent. 467 Hinman Ave. Wide treelined block. Privacy fenced yard. Huge 2-car block garage with opener. Cathedral ceilings in upstairs bedrooms. Marble bathroom, AC, new furnace, double-paned windows, large kitchen w/all appliances, dishwasher, washer/dryer. Great starter house. $500/month.
CAPE COD Two-bedroom Cape Cod with updates galore. Priced at $89,500. One mile from Westgate Park with friendly neighbors. Call Cindy Dunigan at 614.361.8400. MLS ID 2843973
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ABOUT TOWN Out Actor Lends Talents to Spring Awakening by Adam Leddy Spring Awakening is kind of a big deal. Based on an 1891 Frank Wedekind play, the musical dominated the 2007 Tony Awards, garnering eleven nominations and winning eight. At once heavy and humorous, the show touches on a number of universal themes and more than a few controversial ones. Spring Awakening lands in Columbus at the Palace Theatre Feb 3-8, exposing local audiences to what The New York Post called “the most explosive new musical since Rent.” Openly gay wunderkind Chase Davidson is the understudy for the role of Moritz, a poor student struggling with his sexuality. The twenty-three-year-old actor describes the character as a “lost cause,” and his story is one of the show’s tragedies. In ad-
dition to learning the part of Moritz, Davidson plays five male roles. “I have my work cut out for me,” he says. Chase grew up in a small town in Georgia, and to a degree, coming out there has helped him relate to the repressive environment of late-19th century Germany. It’s not an easy place to be gay. “Luckily, I was blessed with amazing, supportive parents,” Chase says of his coming out experience. Moreover, after Chase came out, several other extended family members followed suit.
Davidson says that GLBT people will enjoy Spring Awakening not only because it deals with gay themes and has an explicitly gay scene, but also because one of its driving themes is self-discovery. “The sexual discovery is something that the gay community will relate to,” he promises. Columbus audiences can experience those discoveries Wed-Sat at 8p and Sunday at 1p & 6:30p. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 614.431.3600.
Katie Reider Rocks Back on Valentine’s Day by Suzie Simpson On Saturday, February 14, please join us at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion (Promowest) at 405 Neil Ave for the Katie Reider Rocks Back benefit! Join us in honoring and celebrating the amazing life of one of our most cherished local musicians. A native of Cincinnati, Katie called Columbus home for many years. She awed us with her beautiful voice, filled us with her inspiring melodies, and made us laugh hysterically with her charming wit. Her following was loyal and like a family. An important part of Katie’s career was her participation in fundraising shows for organizations. Two of her favorites were Camp Sunrise, a camp for children impacted by HIV, and Girlz Rhythm n’ Rock Camp, a week-long camp where girls between the ages of 10 and 18 participate in music workshops. The girls write songs, play instruments, and perform together in bands. Katie not only did fundraising, but
also volunteered at the camps. She was an instructor from the very first year at the Girlz Rhythm n’ Rock Camp. She was a natural working with the girlz, helping them with their songs & stage presence - in other words, passing it on. Katie understood the importance of giving back to the community and she did it brilliantly. Katie was an amazing woman who spread light and laughter everywhere she went. I think I can speak for everyone when I say we are all deeply saddened by her passing last July. It is our hope (with your participation) to carry on Katie’s legacy, to pass on Katie’s story, music, and spirit of community service. What better a way than by having an annual fundraising show that shares her story, raises money for her favorite organizations, and helps connect the community to non-profits that need volunteers! This year’s event will include carnival games, ballroom dancing, drumming, DJs, drag, poetry, and of course, fantastic live music by musicians who were Katie’s friends.
Several of the performers will cover Katie’s songs. Some of the girlz from the music camp will perform. There will be a silent auction & raffle with prizes such as a guitar signed by the Indigo Girls, another signed by Tegan & Sara, a mandolin signed by Bitch, a two night’s stay at Pearl’s & Big Ruby’s in Key West, and many more! There will also be info tables set up from organizations like LBA, Stonewall, Kaleidoscope, OSU GLBT Cohorts, Planned Parenthood, Trans Ohio, Bravo, HRC, and Equality Ohio. These organizations need and rely on volunteers. Throughout February, there will be an art show on display at East Village with artists donating part of their sales to the benefit. So in the spirit of Katie, come out and show your support! Help us celebrate life, music and community. Tickets are $10 and are available through Ticketmaster, at the door, or at Stonewall, where you’ll receive a free raffle ticket for the signed Indigo Girls guitar. Come on out and show your love!
COLUMBUS NEXT MEETING: FEB 11, 6P-8P; LOCATION: ARENA GRAND THEATRE (175 NATIONWIDE BLVD); OUT WITH OUR COMMUNITIES OF FAITH • WWW.NETWORKCOLUMBUS.COM
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THE LAST WORD
SCULPTED STEREOTYPES by Leslie Robinson
I thought the only person who could antagonize most of Europe at once was George Bush. Now a Czech artist has given it a try. In Brussels where the European Union is headquartered, it’s the Czech Republic’s turn to take over the presidency of the EU. To mark the occasion, the Czech government commissioned homeboy artist David Cerny to collaborate on a work of art with artists from the other 26 EU countries. Even before the formal unveiling of the 172square-foot sculpture inside an EU building, Cerny had proved he’d taken the concept of a free society to heart and then some. The brochure he presented to his government describing all 27 artists was as fraudulent as the Hitler Diaries. Cerny and a few friends had actually created the entire sculpture. “We knew the truth would come out,” Cerny told the BBC. “But before that we wanted to find out if Europe is able to laugh at itself.” There’s a lot to laugh at. Called “Entropa,” the satirical sculpture looks like an unassembled plastic modeling kit, with pieces shaped like the EU nations, all 27 of which receive a lampooning. Belgium is depicted as a half-full box of partially eaten chocolates, while a strike banner covers France. Entropa presents Romania as a Dracula theme park. Germany is a network of highways somewhat resembling a swastika, ac-
cording to some observers, and England isn’t even present, a nod to its aloofness toward integrating with Europe. Bulgaria is represented by a series of connected squat toilets. Bulgaria is not happy about this. The government summoned the Czech ambassador to register its official disapproval. I bet government officials spitefully wouldn’t let the ambassador use their facilities. And then there’s Poland. In Entropa, Poland is presented as a group of Catholic priests hoisting the rainbow flag Iwo-Jima style. I’ll just let you absorb that image for a minute. Yup, clergy raising the gay flag in deeply Catholic Poland. I wonder what the late Pope John Paul II, a native Pole, would have to say about that. In the recent past Poland has been anything but gay-supportive. Polish President Lech Kaczynski has been the leading light of homophobia, forbidding Pride marches when he was mayor of Warsaw and last March railing on national TV against the EU’s proposed new charter of fundamental rights because it could - insert the Polish word for gasp here - lead to same-sex marriage in Poland. When casting about for some national characteristic to make fun of, Cerny chose this for Poland, the overheated relationship between the
nation, Catholic Church, and gays. I imagine Czech diplomats took one look at that piece of the sculpture and braced themselves for a rant from Warsaw. Or Rome. At this writing, neither has happened. More surprisingly, the Polish people don’t seem offended. Wikipedia cites an online poll of Poles in which 64% said Poland’s portrayal was “spot on,” and just 13% decreed it “an insult to Polish people.” Perhaps they‘re just glad they escaped Bulgaria’s toilet treatment. There’s another group that could be offended: American veterans. Some wouldn’t like the iconic image showing up in satire; others would be specifically irked that it’s the gay flag being raised. But since Americans generally don’t pay much attention to goings-on abroad, Czech diplomats probably need not lose sleep over an angry reaction from the American Legion. Last fall the Lithuanian foreign minister admitted that EU critics are correct in calling Lithuania the most homophobic country in Eu-
rope. But in Cerny’s sculpture, Lithuania consists of figures peeing on their eastern neighbors. Very educational, this sculpture. If Americans should want to start learning more about Europe, this might be the place to start. Leslie Robinson lives in Seattle. E-mail her at LesRobinsn@aol.com.
HOROSCOPES by Jack Fertig
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): “Retail therapy” is not therapy at all, but a symptom of deeper needs. When you get that expensive impulse, stop and ask what you really want. Deal with the deeper disappointments provoking a yen for compensation, and you’ll be stronger and richer!
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Wellmeaning friends offering “helpful suggestions” can unwittingly hit a nerve. Try to take it all in good humor, or just thank them for sharing. Political or philosophical arguments can be less personal and more enlightening. Speak up and state your opinions!
LEO (July 23 - August 22): Your eagerness to try new sexual techniques could leave you open to catching something very nasty. Think ahead on prophylaxis whenever you try anything (or anyone) new! And when was your last check-up? You’re probably fine, but make sure to get yourself tested.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Playful banter can lead you into revealing more of yourself than you intended. This can be good, prompting more intimacy and openness in your friendships. Spats along the way should be easily reconciled. Just don’t take yourself so seriously!
PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Wear more of the clothing or jewelry you’ve received as gifts. The mirror of your friends’ eyes can show not only sides of yourself that you rarely consider, but also more of your potential.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Someone in charge is taking an interest in you. It could be professional or sexual. This could be great for your career or just a lot of drama at work. Keep your eyes open and think ahead, and you’ll be fine.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Even if you’re long-partnered, this is a great time for innovative romantic fun and games. With the love of your life or an amour du jour, treat love as an art and explore new techniques.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Rather than acting on shopaholic impulses, use them as clues to think about what you want, what you really need, and how to practice more efficient economy. A household inventory can also spur a smarter approach to finances.
ARIES (March 20 - April 19): Trust those inspirational sparks that seem to come out of nowhere, even though they do need the guidance of a practiced expert - and some improvements you won’t think of - to help you bring them to successful fruition.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22): The stars offer a new romantic adventure! If you’re partnered, that could alleviate boredom, but include your mate in the fun! Anything sporty and sweaty is good, perhaps roller skating in the park or exploring some kink.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): You’ll get a better or more frequent workout if you figure out how to make it more fun. Exercising at home or with a group of friends you regard as family can help. At least shake it up with some variety.
CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Accept flattery and flirtations with good grace, enjoying them as passing pleasantries. Try practicing the art of compliments and flirtation yourself. It can be done without compromising your integrity!
Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977, is a founding member of the Association for Astrological Networking. He can be reached for consultations at 415.864.8302, www.starjack.com, and by e-mail at QScopes@qsyndicate.com.
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