Quorum Columbus March 2015

MUSIC

Featuring LGBTQA Musicians:

Donna Mogavero DJ Moxy

OC MARCH 2015 MAY 2014

THANK YOUME JUDGE BLACK! CELEBRATE WOMEN’S STEAL --TIMOTHY i’M HERSTORY FREE! OR QUORUM COLUMBUS LGBTQA MAGAZINE

Teddy Martin Ashleigh Vig

UNECC Dasan Valentine

2015

CONTENTS MARCH

6 SEXPERT A Women’s World

26 MOVIES Transparent Intent

8 SCENE Condom Couture

28 DEVELOPMENT Columbus is Truckin’ Along

10 SINGULARLY SINGLETON Green with Affinity 14 FROM THE ARCHIVES Kelly Coate: Wrapped In Sable 16 NEW BUSINESS Imitation Gayme: The Stereotype Enigma 18 BARTENDER Carly Million, Barrel Spirits on High 20 FEATURE Columbus: Music City, Ohio

30 SARA SHARES A Few Choice Words 32 COUPLE Betsy Sharp + Clara Stailey 34 UPCOMING The Yes List: 6 March Events 36 TASTE BUDS Signatures Mill Stone Tavern 37 PERSPECTIVE Staying HIV “Positive” 41 ADJOURN Next to Last - Mickey J. Hart

QuorumColumbus.com ENTERTAIN. ENLIGHTEN. ENGAGE. Quorum: noun \kwo r- m\ The number of members of an assembly, usually a majority, required to be present to transact business.

Quorum Columbus Magazine: We strive to be a broad, diverse representation, or quorum, of the Columbus LGBTQA community by representing the community’s supportive efforts, experiences, aspirations and victories. #JOINTHEQUORUM

On the Cover:

Quorum Columbus Magazine is published monthly by Qmunity, LLC. Quorum Columbus Magazine issues are FREE at distribution locations throughout the greater Columbus area. COPYRIGHT© 2015 Quorum Columbus Magazine. Reproduction without expressed written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. All rights in letters, manuscripts, photographs, drawings, illustrations, and artwork sent to Quorum Columbus Magazine will be treated as assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to Quorum Columbus Magazine and Qmunity, LLC terms and conditions. All models are at least18 years of age. All photographs included are posed for by professional models or willing participants in Quorum Columbus Magazine except as otherwise noted. Neither said photographs nor accompanying editorial is indicative of sexual orientation. The publisher of the magazine does not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers.

ALL CONTENT AND RELATED MEDIA ARE COPYRIGHTED © 2015 BY QUORUM COLUMBUS MAGAZINE. All rights reserved.

Models | Donna Mogavero, Teddy Martin, Unecc, DJ Moxy, Ashleigh Vig and Dasan Valentine Photographer | Ray Lavoie

STONEWALLCOLUMBUS

LESBIAN TENNIS MIXERS

Quorum Columbus Crew I saac B endele

M ickey J. H art

President & Publisher

Editor

P atrick B utler

Graphic Designer Illustrator

A ngel L emke

E rik H ays

J erry T urnes

A my T annenbaum

Managing Editor

CFO

Multimedia Creative Manager | Graphic Designer

Columnist Photographer

JM R ayburn

H eather D oughty

Jeffrey Wise

T iffany S alter

M ike M offo

Graphic Designer Social Media Manager

Graphic Designer

Feature Writer

Feature Writer

Columnist Account Executive

C raig C hadwell

S ara E rnest

M ichael G reenhouse

J ohn H enry , J r

A drian J ay N eil

T om Q ueen

Columnist

Columnist

Columnist

Columnist

Columnist

Columnist

S ile S ingleton

A llyson F ridley Also on the Crew:

Columnist

P hotographer

K ris L ittler

J oshua M c C arty

C ontributor

D istribution C oordinator

Ray LaVoie, Feature Photographer Heather Schuck, Copy Editing Calvin N. Cooper, Columnist Clayton Walter, Columnist Clare Hughes, Graphic Designer Mitch McGuire, Account Executive Kari Jasinski, Photographer

CONVENE

MAKING MUSIC | MICKEY J. HART Welcome to our March Music issue. Tiffany Salter and Jeffrey Wise team up to cover the local music scene with profiles of LGBTQA musicians: Teddy Martin, Donna Mogavero, DJ Moxy, UNECC, Dasan Valentine and Ashleigh Vig. Some are fairly new to the scene and some are respected longtime local favorites.

Collectively they add character to our city’s musical landscape and give voice to our community.

We also mark Women’s History month; John Henry focuses on the sexual health impact of social and political advances for women and Sara Ernst shares why she became pro-choice.

As always, our columnists deliver a variety of thoughts and insights. Calvin N. Cooper explores the enigma of LGBTQ stereotypes in scientific fields. Sile Singleton celebrates St. Patrick’s Day as only she can. Clayton Walter discusses the tension between celebration and criticism of queer characters in TV and movies.

Allyson Fridley shares photos from Planned Parenthood’s ever interesting and colorful Condom Couture runway show. JM Rayburn visits Jekyll and Hyde Salon to sample what you might #wantlocal this spring.

I wrap up this issue with our Adjourn column to share some reflections and my future plans.

Celebrate the women in your life!

Mickey J. Hart Editor mickey@quorumcolumbus.com

PHOTOS | RAY LAVOIE

#jointhequorum

SEXPERT | JOHN HENRY, JR AS WE CELEBRATE Women’s History Month, it is easy to focus on the important social and political advancements of the Women’s Movement in the United States: suffragettes fighting for the right to vote, the Equal Rights Amendment, fair pay and breaking the glass ceiling. While these are all monumental points in history, we often overlook the importance of women’s health advocates who fought for birth control, safe and legal access to abortion and preventative screenings like pap smears and mammograms. Moreover, we take these rights for granted as they are continually scrutinized and chipped away at by religious and political ideologues. We must constantly remind ourselves of the importance of these liberating advances and remain vigilant in defending and protecting them.

In 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the first clinic in New York City to offer women birth control options and family planning information. Although she was arrested 10 days later and the clinic closed, she would continue to fight for women and their reproductive right, and eventually forming the American Birth Control League which would evolve into what we know today as Planned Parenthood.

Although the FDA would not formally approve the birth control “pill” until 1960, the ability of women to control their reproductive system is a cornerstone of independence and self-determination.

Roe v. Wade is the Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 decision that established a woman’s right to safe and legal abortion. Prior to the ruling, all states had some restrictions on the procedure including full prohibition in 30 states. The ruling fueled a never-ending debate and enabled an entire generation of women to privately make decisions relating to their bodies and childbirth.

In 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. This law expands access to preventative health screenings for sexually transmitted infections, mammograms and annual women’s wellness exams to nearly 47 million women. In addition, the ACA outlawed the practice of “gender rating,” where women could be charged more than men for the same coverage, and denial of coverage due to “pre-existing conditions,” which could include having had a Cesarean section or being the victim of domestic violence or sexual assault.

The most important take-away from this brief women’s health history lesson is that this fight is not over. Recently, Planned Parenthood was described by a South Dakota lawmaker as “worse than ISIS.” The non-profit agency that receives a small amount of federal funding provides healthcare to roughly five million clients each year, the majority of which are low-income women. Abortions accounted for just three percent of their services and no federal funding is used for these procedures. Roe v. Wade is constantly under attack including right here in Ohio. The Ohio Legislature is once again considering the “heartbeat bill” which would essentially outlaw abortions after the first detectable fetal heartbeat which can be as early as six weeks into pregnancy. Then of course there is the Affordable Care Act, which has been brought to a vote in the United States Congress over 50 times in the past five years. It is clear that we still have work to do. Do not let these most basic rights protecting the health and well-being of our friends, sisters and mothers be eroded from history.

To learn more about Couples HIV Testing and Counseling, testing in general or to schedule an appointment, call 614.340-6720 or email JohnHenry@arcohio.org.

6

MARCH 2015

Coming soon to Polaris Culinary crafts done right. (discover what Cbus foodies, wine lovers, and beer aficionados are all talking about)

thecaskandbarrelpolaris.com 8745 Sancus Blvd.

SCENE Condoms become especially fashionable in Columbus each winter as part of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio’s Condom Couture runway show. The event, which was held on Friday, February 15, is a win-win for the community. It raises funds for reproductive health care and comprehensive sex education services. Plus, it allows local student designers the opportunity to produce wearable art made of condoms for cash prizes.

See photos of this and past years’ creations: Condom-Couture.com

PLANNED PARENTHOOD’S

8

MARCH 2015

CONDOM COUTURE

PHOTOS | A llyson

F ridley

SINGULARLY SINGLETON

Green with Affinity | SILE SINGLETON SCENE: ME AND SIX friends are sitting at a well known Columbus LGBTQ establishment waiting on our appetizers, chit-chatting. The conversation turns to plans for St. Patty’s Day. I have been asked if I am performing because one of the folks at the table had been to a couple of my St. Pat’s shows back in the day. I explained why I wasn’t doing those anymore: Mainly because I love to be out and about that day.

Next to us sat the quintessential gay dude, straight out of The Advocate; You know: Young-looking for his age, white, newest short cropped haircut, expensive cologne, tanned. When he hears my comment, he slaps his buddy on the arm and says to me, “What! Seriously?

You celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day? Why would someone Black do that? That’s hilarious. Good one. Crazy. Really?”

I wasn’t in the mood. I stared at him, sighed, waited for my friends to check him (all white, except one American adopted Asian). They didn’t. I didn’t. And it has been floating in and out of my consciousness, trying to find itself a shelf to light on amongst the daily barrage of completely ignorant comments that are made to me in “jest” with regard to what my skin informs folks that I am.

MEETING HER FELT LIKE LUCKY THE LEPRECHAUN PERSONALLY HANDED ME THE RAINBOW AND THE BUCKET OF GOLD. So never mind that I have always been fascinated with Celtic, specifically Irish and Welsh, culture; the same as I am of North African, Taiwanese and Indigenous cultures. It’s for the suspected reasons: The timbre and musicality of the “native tongue,” the absolute beauty of the land, the melancholy of its storytelling, the tenacity of its people and the perceived wildness of its spirit.

10

MARCH 2015

I wasn’t surprised when the love of my dreams turned out to be a third generation “Black Irish gal.” Green eyes, dark curly hair, a fiery temperament, and sturdy.

Meeting her felt like Lucky the Leprechaun personally handed me the rainbow AND the bucket of gold.

She does think it’s odd, me taking a personal day to don the emerald green, even intentionally hurrying downtown early to stakeout the best (meaning sunniest area near a public restroom) St. Patrick/Patty’s Day parade watching spot. Not because she is wondering why a person as pretty chocolate as myself would go to a Saint Paddy’s event, but really because she despises parades (I know...Who hates parades?) and has never met a marching band she didn’t want to “strike with a bowling ball.” Yep, she’s a “party pooper,” but I abhor ranch dressing so it makes us even.

I tell you this so you realize that March 17th isn’t just green eggs and beer for me. I love the clogging, the invasion of gingers everywhere, and I swear the wheezing melodies of the bagpipes and accordions transport me to a happy place. It could be those sounds remind me of the river and of me and Bub (my brother) fishin’ and just maybe that “country bumpkin” in me finds room to yearn for the simple pleasures of mud squishin’ through yer toes while nibbling on a PB&J waiting for the rock bass to bite. Whatever it is, its Irish-ness is like kin to me.

Somebody throw me a penny whistle, some clogs and a wooly flat cap! Maybe then I’ll be seen as a real “Irish Jigger!”

For more information & to schedule your private exam with our doctors,

call ( 614 ) 427-1680 now!

COLUMBUS DOCTORS

RESTORE SEX LIFE

Columbus

X $99 for a limited time!

www.columbusmensclinic.com

#wantlocal

wantlocal

Spring 2015 exclusive

JEKYLL AND HYDE SALON SETS TRENDS

| JM RAYBURN THIS EDITION OF #wantlocal shines the spotlight on a business that is artistic, refreshing and keen on detail. It’s a business that elevates expectations and standards. Locallyowned and independently-operated, the Jekyll and Hyde Salon started in 2012 on a small artist’s budget. Over the past few years it has outgrown its original space and set up shop at the intersection of High Street and Pacemont Road in Clintonville.

see at street level. The basement houses massage tables that even hold the promise of a couple’s massage. Overall the interior design and attention to detail sealed the deal for me. The space still retains much of the historic charm with ornate materials dating back decades. The salon features modern design additions and various examples of repurposed furniture to pay tribute to the history of the space. You really must pay a visit to appreciate it.

Jekyll and Hyde prides itself on being an urban, trendsetting salon that offers products and services at competitive prices. They strive to bring world-class hair designs to the Clintonville community. As part of that mission, the salon has recently become the first Columbus salon to offer full product lines and color lines exclusive to the Davines brand, which is a family-owned Italian company renowned for it’s all natural, eco-friendly

Appointments can be made by phone or on their website.

Jekyll and Hyde is an appointment-based salon, however walk-ins are welcome at anytime.

products.

An unsuspecting visitor to Jekyll and Hyde would be surprised to discover that the salon is more than what you

3169 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43202 614.725-4225 JekyllAndHydeSalon.com

12

MARCH 2015

“Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” — Anna Lappé

OI This oil might be the most amazing thing you will ever use to shampoo your hair.

The scent alone encompasses the perfect blend of masculine and feminine notes without being overbearing on either side. It delivers a nice shine, extreme softness and never makes your hair feel weighted with product. The Oi Oil gives the daily hot tool user an awesome heat protectant and locks in extreme shine. Oi Oil is part of the signature collection for Jekyll & Hyde.

LOVE SMOOTHING Excellent to introduce in your spring trend for it’s humidity blocking properties.

Before the May flowers, we have to deal with the April showers and the dreaded hair frizz. The Davines Love collection offers extreme humidity and smoothing properties with shine. The Love Shampoo has an Indian fig and grapefruit citrus aroma to wake up your senses. The Love Conditioner contains olive extract to help increase hydration and elasticity while working to tame any frizz. The Love Smoother is the perfect nourishing styling aid to seal in the hydration and add smooth shine within your style.

SU The Su Cleanser is an awesome UV protecting shampoo for your hair. It also prevents your fresh new color from fading in the sun.

AUTHENTIC LINE This is the signature Facial in the Spa. I really like its earthy aroma. It has a very fresh and natural earth scent, which I find soothing and refreshing.

PHOTOS | RAY LAVOIE

FROM THE ARCHIVES

kelly coate | TOM QUEEN IF YOU’VE BEEN fortunate to make the acquaintance of the luminous Sable Coate on a rare evening out in a swanky cocktail bar in our fair city you’ll know that the lady has big hair, long and luscious eyelashes, and is always dressed to “the nines,” with baubles a-dangling. In real life Sable’s portrayer Kelly Coate is a Columbus legend in his own right. Kelly grew up in Northwestern Ohio, in the “lakefront resort” town of Celina. In his own words, he couldn’t “run kicking and screaming to Columbus fast enough” to start his coming out process, entering OSU in 1977 where he studied industrial design and marketing.

Kelly recounted many tales to me of his early “gay days” when the watering holes were known by names such as Ty’s (located where the Columbus Commons now sits) and The Grotto (in German Village near Panera), the latter of which required women to wear dresses to be admitted.

The Grotto’s legendary Sunday Tea Dances featured pitchers of beer for a buck and an upstairs full of cozy little rooms for attendees who wanted “to get a little better acquainted.”

Kelly’s youthful adventures took him to Florida during a spring break, facilitating the introduction to a gentleman who was one of the major male fashion models at the time.

Soon after, Kelly was invited to New Year’s Eve festivities on a fancy yacht (which happened to be the site of a private party for Diana Ross, who was performing at one of the swanky hotels). The guest entertainment for the party was none other than the legendary KC and the Sunshine Band. Kelly and Harry “KC” Casey hit it off and made a connection. As the sun was coming up and the yacht party came to a close, Kelly and KC jumped off of the boat and swam ashore in the direction of Kelly’s hotel. Kelly and KC remain friends to this day.

Kelly worked in the hospitality industry in his younger days, including the Hyatt Regency downtown and later as the manager of Jillian’s (now the Flatiron) for Jill McDonald. In Kelly’s words: “The lesbians were screaming for a bigger place,” so he accompanied Jill when she opened the legendary downtown nightclub Wall Street, serving as its manager for several years. He later worked for Ed Tomsic as the manager of the former Columbus Eagle. Under his leadership it became the biggest Budweiser account of any bar in the state of Ohio!

It was at the height of the AIDS crisis that the legendary Sable Coate made her debut. She appeared for the first time in The Long Cold Nights of Winter at Wall Street in 1987. Sable’s infrequent stage appearances were usually for charitable events. She took over the hosting reins of Bat ‘n Rouge after the sudden passing of “Peg” (Craig Penn), and served as the charity event’s host for 11 years (including one memorable year when she and co-host “Action” were dropped off at home plate by a Yellow Cab!). Kelly shared, “Everybody should take some time to give back to their community, whether it be appearing in a charity drag show, working on a political campaign, or serving as a mentor.”

EVERYBODY SHOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY. Sable Coate has officially retired from performing on the stage, but can occasionally be seen at charitable events or on a random night of “Sableness” at a fancy watering hole around town. Kelly has had a successful career for 12 years as an agent for ReMax Premier, and in his own words, “business is booming.” He also buys properties on speculation and rehabs them for resale. Like many who have seen the changes that have happened in the LGBTQ community, Kelly wants the “youngsters” to be aware of the people who paved the way to make life so good. He challenges them to “think outside the box. Instead of going to [a club] every weekend, taking their shirts off and dancing, do something to help make Columbus a better place.”

PHOTO | KARI JASINSKI

NEW BUSINESS IMITATION GAYME: THE STEREOTYPE ENIGMA | CALVIN N. COOPER I RECENTLY WATCHED The Imitation Game, a movie depicting the life and work of Alan Turing, and I’m reminded of the impact that LGBTQ people have had, and continue to have, on science and technological advancement. Too often depictions of LGBTQ people fit within stereotypes informed by actors, TV personalities, fashion and music. Turing’s story is a testament to the diversity and intellectual contributions of LGBTQ people on society. The popularity of the movie is refreshing and helps dispel stereotypes that dominate pop culture. There’s a key line from the film that really stood out to me. Whenever prejudice or stereotypes rear their ugly heads be reminded that, “sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine.”

Turing reaches beyond the grave to inspire LGBTQ people everywhere. We should not limit ourselves by who we love.

Rather, we should strive to use our diverse talents and interests to make a meaningful impact on the world in which we live.

Alan Turing’s Life and Death Born in 1912, Turing was a British computer scientist, mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, mathematical biologist and marathon and ultra distance runner. The father of general theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence,Turing pioneered concepts of algorithm and computation with the Turing Machine. During World War II Turing was jointly responsible for breaking the German secret codes created by the encryption machines called “The Enigma.”

Historians estimate that this breakthrough shortened the war by as many as two to four years. By conservative estimates, had Enigma not been broken and the war had continued for another two to three years an additional 14 to 21 million people might have been killed. A number of sources state that Winston Churchill said that Turing made the single biggest contribution to Allied victory in the war against Nazi Germany.

In spite of his incredible contribution to the war, Turing was prosecuted in 1952 for homsexual acts and he was treated with oestrogen injection (chemical castration) as an alternative to prison. Turing died of cyanide poisoning just days before his 42nd birthday in 1954. His death was determined to be a suicide. In 2009 British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an official public apology and Queen Elizabeth II granted him a posthumous pardon in 2013.

Alan Turing’s Legacy Alan Turing continues to inspire young gay LGBTQ people. His life’s story helps serve as an example for people struggling to reconcile their sexual orientation with the pressure of fitting within culturally driven stereotypes. Eighteen-yearold inventor, scientist and cancer researcher Jack Andraka published an op-ed in The Advocate titled How Gay Genius

16

MARCH 2015

Alan Turing Got Me Through Middle School. Andraka wrote that Turing served as a role model for him and discussed the importance of LGBTQ scientists in shaping culture.

“We are lawyers, actors, and doctors who happen to be LGBT as opposed to LGBT people who happen to be lawyers, actors, and doctors. Such a distinction, while subtle, is critical to realize because it is we as a community that create society’s perception of us,” wrote Andraka. “We can choose to continue to be pigeonholed as a singular persona or we can choose to allow ourselves to diverge from this path and create role models for all LGBT youth, regardless of what profession they wish to pursue.”

Progress Beyond Stereotypes Andraka mentions that modern LGBTQ scientist role models are absent from the media, even within the LGBTQ community. He wrote critically about what he experienced during an LGBTQ icons of the year interview. He was asked about what clothes he was wearing and his relationship status, rather than his science. “The sacrifice of our intellectual diversity is one that is not necessary and simply not acceptable,” Andraka wrote.

“If we truly desire equality in our society, then we must break free from our stereotypes, making our foremost feature not our sexuality, but our potential to improve the world.”

There are many LGBTQ people who are doing great things in their respective fields. Apple CEO Tim Cook, who recently became the first CEO to come out while leading a Fortune 100 company, topped the 2013 Out 100 honorees list. Still, as Andraka points out, only three scientists made the list which is dominated by actors, fashion designers, lawyers and social advocates.

The need to highlight variety within the LGBTQ community isn’t limited to intellectualism. Much more can be done to showcase the diversity of talent, personality and individuality that exists among people who are LGBTQ. Gender and racial diversity are also lacking in the community. Narrow depictions of who LGBTQ people are, what they look like and how they behave are discouraging to people who do not fit within those limits. Cognitive dissonance due to this disconnect causes many to struggle to come out which inhibits progress for the whole community.

It’s encouraging that several leaders now serve as role models for young LGBTQ people struggling to be who they are. Business leaders, such as Tim Cook and venture capitalist Peter Thiel, serve as inspiration for younger generations of LGBTQ people who want to pursue fields that aren’t traditionally considered “gay.”

There has been a lot of progress made in recent decades for equal rights for LGBTQ people in the Western World. However, in the words of Turing himself, “we can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.”

SCENE BARTENDER

| MICKEY J. HART CARLY MILLION ENJOYS making customers happy and comfortable. She has been doing just that for over two years as a bartender behind Barrel’s bar.

Carly loves working in Barrel’s fun and fast-paced environment with the tight-knit staff. Carly says, “We are all friends and enjoy working with one another, which I think translates well to customers… they see that we are all having fun and really enjoy making their experience at Barrel a great one.”

Her favorite thing about Barrel is that they offer whiskey flights. Customers select three whiskeys and enjoy a one ounce pour of each. Carly adds, “It’s a great way to try new whiskeys…It’s always really fun to introduce people to new whiskeys.”

Carly touts Barrel’s great Tuesday - Friday happy hour from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. All draft beers and a select list of whiskeys are $3.00. Plus, most of their small plates are offered at $5.99. Carly says, “All of the small plates are delicious!” Can’t make happy hour? No worries. Barrel has several signature and seasonal cocktails in the $7-10 range to enjoy anytime.

Carly finds all the change happening around Columbus exciting and loves that she gets to work in such an open and accepting community.

She adds, “Working in the Short North is a great way to meet new people every day.”

COCKTAIL:

FUN FACT:

Xanadu - Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, muddled basil, simple syrup + grapefruit juice

Carly is studying to be a veterinary technician. With three dogs (Steve, Zeke and Penny) at home, that must come in handy.

18

MARCH 2015

Barrel Spirits on High 1120 N. High Street 614.564.9058 Facebook.com/Barrel44

PHOTO | JOSHUA MCCARTY

GREAT FOOD

Open Sunday Drink Specials Daily Live Music Fridays Music Trivia Saturdays

Mill 94Street

Gahanna

9 pm-1am

signaturesmillstonetavern.com

144 N Hamilton Rd Gahanna

1154 S High St Columbus

3732 Fishinger Rd Hilliard

FEATURE

COLUMBUS:

MUSIC CITY, OHIO | TIFFANY SALTER | JEFFREY WISE THE COLUMBUS MUSIC SCENE continuously hums across the city. No matter what kind of live music interests you, you can find it in this city—jazz, rock, folk, hip-hop, pop, soul, classical, R&B, singer-songwriter, punk, bluegrass, rockabilly. Any night of the week, music spills out onto the streets from restaurants, bars, venues and galleries.

Central Ohio is a great place for music lovers.

And it is supportive of music makers. We have radio stations that play local musicians—WCBE 90.5 and CD 102.5 are always supportive. We have audiences who show up and pay to hear and see live musicians, often making it possible for the musicians to make a living doing what they love—as several of the musicians profiled here speak about, music can be a day job in Columbus. And they have so many places to play: the Short North, downtown, each of our historic neighborhoods, and all over the suburbs. Our city may not be New York, Nashville or Los Angeles, but it’s a lot friendlier than those places, a lot more livable and a whole lot less shallow. And it’s home.

Quorum Columbus connected with some folks in LGBTQA community who are making music and playing live in the Cap City. Some you may never have heard of, some have been playing ComFest and Pride for years … even a few decades. We spoke to established names and up-and-comers in the music scene to find out how they feel about the venues, the other musicians, the music they make and the support of the community. These six musicians are the tiniest tip of the iceberg—there are so many musicians in Columbus that you should check out. Pick a venue and see what’s coming up. Ask co-workers about local bands they love. Ask friends where they last saw a local musician play in town and go there.

In the meantime, here are some of the music makers, the dreamers of dreams…

20

MARCH 2015

UNECC “I have been absolutely in love with music ever since I was a kid.” Nicole (UNECC) Williams was that kid walking around with headphones and a backpack on at all times, listening to every kind of music she could get. UNECC says if she could sing, she would be making very different music. Since she can’t, she decided to start rapping in middle school—she even started an all-girl group called The Fly Guys. After graduating from high school she decided she wanted to pursue music even though she had two scholarships to play basketball in college. She started off making mixtapes and by 2008 she put out her first album, Life is Beautiful.

UNECC then took a break to go to college to study production. Now with her production degree in hand— she finished this past December—UNECC has been working on a new album, It’s a Beautiful Life, expected to drop this summer. She’s been listening to older music while writing and producing for her new record: Stevie Wonder, The Doors, The Temptations, Hall & Oates, Smoky Robinson and Gladys Knight & The Pips. Since she gets to be the primary producer on her album she has a lot more control over the sound. She wanted to return to really solid musicians who believed in the craft of music and metaphor. She recently built a studio in her house, right across from her bedroom so she can work when she is most feeling it.

The other benefit of production is working with other musicians. When she produces a track that she likes but may not be right for her, UNECC can give it to another artist who is a better fit for the beat. And while she is beginning to charge competitive rates for her studio time, these tracks she gives to fellow musicians are given freely. Quality means future work for her when people go looking for a solid producer. And UNECC enjoys letting the light shine on other talent. She has never been in the business to become famous. At Pride every year, she plays the Gazebo Stage on the second night. People ask why she doesn’t play the main stage. “Why do 10 minutes when I can do two-and-a-half, three hours and bring out people who I want to showcase?” Why, indeed?

ASHLEIGH VIG “I gave up dating for Lent four years ago,” explains singer-songwriter Ashleigh Vig. To fill her newly freed time, Ashleigh decided to teach herself guitar. A friend took her on a road trip to buy a Craigslist guitar and her music career began. Ashleigh has long been a poet and diarist, so she took quickly to writing lyrics. But when she performed at her first open mic, her leg was shaking so hard that the guitar was moving. “It was literally like reading my diary at an open mic.” But then the bar went silent and Ashleigh explains it was the most amazing experience ever.

Though she still occasionally performs solo, her time these days is spent practicing and recording with her new band, Stone Jelly. And a few years ago, she started the annual TWAT Show—The Women’s Artistic Talent Night—where women comedians, burlesque dancers, singer-songwriters and local artists can perform. It happens once a year in the summer—this year, the TWAT Show will be in August at King Avenue Five. Ashleigh focuses on showcasing people who perform in their living rooms but have never been on stage. She remembers how special her first performance moment was and essentially she is giving them that moment. “I know they are good. I want them to feel the same thing I felt when I first performed on stage.”

Giving is part of Ashleigh’s identity. She works as a day habilitation specialist with developmentally disabled adults. “It is incredibly humbling and I love my job. I get to teach a songwriting class, and my music gets to be incorporated there too. I love to go to work on Monday.” Ashleigh believes in the power of music to bring people together and in the power of music to heal. “I am a free-spirit hippie.” She shares that she would love to purchase a crappy RV and travel the United States. She wants to “get around and get music made and learn from people and be free.” She would love to stop at any day habilitation program for developmentally disabled adults along the way and perform for free.

PHOTOS | RAY LAVOIE

FEATURE

TEDDY Martin Teddy Martin is a compact, energetic guy with a dazzling smile and a penchant for Batman— you can’t help but notice the Gotham City crime fighter’s logo on Teddy’s belt buckle, necklace, and even tattooed on his arm. But this Columbus native is friendly and a sincerely nice guy who wants to help people through his music. “I try to inspire people to do better,” he shares. “I’m not perfect, but we all have things that we can work on.” This out-and-proud musician/dancer/performer wants to be an inspiration to LGBTQ youth through his music.

If you listen to his work, you can tell that Teddy grew up on a broad spectrum of musical styles.

His step-father was a DJ and music was always playing in the house—everything from Janet and Michael Jackson to Britney Spears and even country music. “I want to incorporate the music I listened to growing up into what I am doing now.” He describes his sound as predominantly pop and hip-hop, and he loves to dance when he is performing on stage. Teddy began taking dance lessons at age 10—swing, hip-hop, everything. He still knows the choreo for Oops, I Did It Again and says he would love to open for Britney Spears. Or Childish Gambino. Or Drake, T.I., Kendrick Lamar…His list of influences and musical loves is long.

Go to Teddy’s Facebook page and you can hear some of his influences on the first few tracks from his forthcoming mixtape, A Classic Hollywood Story. He released Going Hard featuring J Booch this past December and Broken featuring Ms. Lindsay in February. These are two very different tracks that show his range, from hip-hop with a hard-hitting beat to rap over a pop beat with R&B backing vocals.

If you like what you hear you can check out Teddy’s Mixtape Listening Party on March 14 at Summit Church. Some of the artists featured on the mixtape will open before Teddy takes the stage to play five or so of the songs from the forthcoming mixtape. If you can’t make it to that, he’ll also be performing at benefit hosted at Axis Night Club on March 6 for Franklin University scholarships for LGBTQ students. Of course you can always check him out in June at Pride. Teddy has performed at several Columbus Pride Festivals and it is always his favorite!

22

MARCH 2015

DJ MOXY “Her name is a promise, her music is a testimony to her name.” This introduction summarizes who DJ Moxy is and what she does spectacularly. An evolving artist originally from Cincinnati, DJ Moxy has called Columbus home for much of her career and has become a force in the audio universe. Her focus on the “soul” of the audio medium has allowed her work to be recognized on the national and international levels.

As a young adult, DJ Moxy was exposed to club music through her friends. It was by listening to a Body Rock Thunderpuss Remix that the sparks of her own creativity began to emerge. In that particular moment listening to the remix, in her own words, “The music became alive and seemed to emerge from my chest, filling the room. It allowed me to see my future in music. It was like a visionary epiphany - it was profound.”

It took her four years to develop her art to the point of making a public appearance, but in the spring of 2005 she spun her first set at the Saks Fifth Avenue at Polaris. Using only her equipment connected to computer speakers, that first taste of what it felt like to connect music to people was the start of this incredible journey in her life. Part of her art is her ability to read the audience and weave the beats from a wide range of genres into a single show. She shows how we are all connected through music. Her music is meant to be a source of inspiration and purpose and, if you listen carefully enough, it is as if she is playing just for you.

PHOTOS | RAY LAVOIE

FEATURE

DASAN VALENTINE Dasan Valentine is a Columbus native who first found his singing voice in the sixth grade. It was while singing along to Alicia Keys that his mother first recognized his potential in music.

Although he has never had formal training, music has become his passion.

With Christina Aguilera as an inspiration, he practiced extending his range and vocal control to the point where he is now. In high school at Marion Franklin he was in the choir and marching band.

Dasan played in the low brass section.

He loves zombies and it was while playing Resident Evil that one of his friends referred to him as Valentine and the name stuck. Dasan met his fiance/ business partner Myster Masquerade in September 2011. Together they have supported each other and motivated each other to always strive to be the best they can be and it shows in their work.

Between Dasan, Myster Masquerade and their mixer, Ian Malachai, they have come together to bring an inspiring message to excellent music.

Dasan’s first public performance after high school was at the Basement at Promo West in 2012. He has performed there regularly, building his fan base.

Dasan opened for the Friday night performance for Columbus Pride in 2014 a mere two months after being signed by the Activate Entertainment record label. In the coming months they hope to announce the release of their new album Vigilante. Dasan’s love of superheroes has inspired many of his new songs. The theme of a vigilante coming in to combat the roots of bigotry and bullying is peppered throughout the upcoming album.

Dasan’s journey has only begun. What started as singing at home, in high school and at Union Cafe’s karaoke nights has become a passion and a medium for him to express his message of love and acceptance for all. Dasan says, “Sometimes superheroes sing.”

Through his efforts to share his gifts to lift those who might be in need of such a hero, perhaps Dasan may be becoming the singing superhero to bring a positive message to our community and the world. Stay tuned for the release of his album and see where his journey leads to next.

24 `

MARCH 2015

DONNA MOGAVERO If you want to know what the Columbus music scene was like in the 70s, ask singersongwriter veteran, Donna Mogavero. She’ll tell you what it was like when Columbus was a young city for music and there was no competition for gigs. While Donna will tell you she didn’t become a quality musician until the early 90s, she was a trailblazer and has been a staple in the scene for a long time.

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Because Donna has established herself in Columbus, she has had some fans for decades, and they support her wherever she goes.

“I’ve had the fabulous support of the gay community and the straight community all my life.” She explains that her straight fans have come to LGBTQ bars for her and the lesbians will go to the straight clubs. Donna plays between two and four gigs a week and has never had to have a day job—she loves that Columbus has given her the opportunity to be a full-time artist. “You can make a decent living here. You can have a craft and pay your rent. It’s accessible.” But of course, it is easier to make a living if you are a solo act. There are bands who are packing the clubs but Donna admits that it is much easier for one person. She lived for a while in Nashville and for a while in Los Angeles. Those towns are impossible to make a living in, even as a solo artist, and everyone is constantly scrambling all over everyone else. You never know who is sincere and who wants something from you. “Columbus lets you be who you are. The other places are so superficial.”

Donna loves the diversity of the music scene here. She explains that “Columbus doesn’t have a ‘sound’ because the scene is so diverse… bluegrass, country western, hiphop, punk, rock… and singer-songwriters.”

Other cities have a definite musical identity—Chicago has the blues, Nashville has country—but in Columbus, you can go into different venues and hear such a wide range of sounds. Donna also appreciates the gems Columbus has in their radio stations.

WCBE 90.5 and CD 102.5 are both great supporters of local musicians, making sure to play local music during the programming, and QFM96 sponsors events with local musicians all the time. Donna has also been playing Comfest for decades, which always does its job to feature a huge cross-section of the sonic landscape in the Cap City. Donna’s is a long-lasting love affair with Columbus and its music and musicians, and we would all do well to follow her lead and immerse ourselves in all the music our city has to offer.

PHOTOS | RAY LAVOIE

MOVIES

TRANSPARENT INTENT PHOTO | AMAZON STUDIOS

| CLAYTON WALTER IF YOU SPEND any amount of time on the Internet you quickly realize a strange truth about humanity: People want to be offended. People will nitpick any news story or cultural event, finding ways to slam it for insensitivity, bigotry or a general sense of ignorance. Sometimes, maybe even often, these qualms are justified. Other times the noise is a cry for attention.

As depictions of queer characters in pop culture become more common, so do viewers’ accusations of mishandling those queer characters. I encourage anyone who consumes stories to be careful, thoughtful viewers. Being sensitive to how these portrayals help or hurt minority communities is important because these portrayals help people realize that queer people are people, too, and deserve the same rights and respect as any other group.

26

MARCH 2015

However, being too critical can be a dangerous, and ultimately harmful, practice. I find especially loud outcry in response to the depictions of the two least-represented groups within the larger queer community: Bisexuals and transgender people. While there are plenty of movies and shows depicting gay men and lesbians, these other groups are still pretty rarely represented and not as well understood by the greater public. That’s one of the reasons I champion shows like Orange is the New Black and Transparent; they take on sexual orientations and gender identities that don’t often break into the mainstream.

Yet, these shows, too, suffer backlash from offended viewers. Recently, talking about the shows on Twitter with virtual acquaintances, a bisexual friend of mine criticized OITNB for not allowing Piper to “really claim” her bisexuality.

Similarly, a transgender friend slammed Transparent as being “transphobic,” which I found an especially startling accusation since the show is such a tender portrait of coming out and living authentically.

While I’m sure anyone from the communities being represented could find some fault in these shows, my hope is that even those who aren’t completely satisfied can celebrate that there are storytellers delving into subject matter where few writers and directors venture.

THESE PORTRAYALS HELP PEOPLE REALIZE THAT QUEER PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE, TOO. We’ve gotten movies representing bisexuals and transgender people this year, as well. Desiree Akhavan’s Appropriate Behavior is a Persian bisexual spin on Girls, which humorously navigates the tricky intersection of sexuality and culture. Eric Schaeffer’s Boy Meets Girl follows a transgender woman’s forays into love and is stunning in its loving portrayal of its heroine (portrayed by an actual transgender actress, Michelle Hendley). I found myself oddly tense while watching both films, wondering not if, but when, each would do or say something wrong to sully the goodwill I had for them for merely existing and for being quite enjoyable.

PHOTO | TILTED PRODUCTIONS

DEVELOPMENT

COLUMBUS IS TRUCKIN’ ALONG | JM RAYBURN FOOD TRUCKS MAY be nothing new in the United States, but in Columbus they define the culinary landscape and provide a pulse on emerging trends. To be successful one must be much more than your textbook entrepreneur. One must wear many hats: Mechanic, electrician, accountant, manager and promoter in addition to a chef. There are payoffs of course. Food trucks have lower startup costs, which can help to focus more on how to promote yourself and earn a following. A food truck entrepreneur is her/his own boss in an environment where creativity is expected and rewarded. To survive, one must experiment because there’s always a new style, technique or culinary fusion.

The food truck industry is grueling and highly competitive by nature, but the scene in Columbus is united through a sense of community. If one food truck succeeds, everyone succeeds. The industry’s growth has created a gravitational pull for others to set up shop in Columbus.

Catie Randazzo, owner and head chef of Challah Food Truck, moved back to Columbus because she saw an opportunity to mold and create the food scene.

She has 15 years of experience in the business, from Columbus to Portland to New York City. She’s back in the Capital City and serving up a new recipe for success.

28

MARCH 2015

Catie has wanted to open a food truck since living in Portland. She’s kept a keen eye on Columbus, waiting for the right opportunity. Catie learned many new processes and skills related to sustainability while in Portland. The farm-to-fork movement five years ago really left an impression on her. In response, she adopted the “local scratch” culinary manifesto. “If I can’t make it from scratch, I get it locally. If I can’t get it locally, I make it from scratch,” Catie explained.

She grew by leaps and bounds in New York City, both personally and professionally. The pace is much more intense and there is no shortage of passion. Both are needed to find success but only if there is a willingness to learn and grow. Humility is a fundamental ingredient in the recipe for success. To make it in the food truck business Catie suggests that an aspiring entrepreneur work in a restaurant to understand the expectations, customer service and overall stress. “It’s important to start with basics, and keep it simple,” she advises.

“That means to focus on ingredients and the quality of what you are doing.” Support from the Columbus community will follow suit. “If people like what you are doing and like your mission, then you’ll have a loyal following in relatively short time,” Catie asserted.

As members of the community we can do our part through support and patronage of local food trucks.

There is still a problem with the public perception of the burgeoning industry: Some hesitate to consume food outside a brick-and-mortar restaurant even though there are many safety regulations in place.

Giving back to the community is a big deal for Catie.

It should come as no surprise that she found a way to incorporate charitable events with the local food scene. Challah and other food trucks work in concert with NBC4 to collect donations for the annual Toys for Tots drive. She also helps to organize “knife fights,” which match two local chefs in a competition to create a minimum of two dishes within one hour using mystery ingredients. A percentage of the proceeds go to benefit the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and to further its mission to feed hungry people in our community.

Catie advocates for people in the LGBTQ community to stand up and serve as a role model for those who haven’t figured it out yet. “We have to have each other’s back,” she stressed. “Be proud of what you have done and what you have accomplished.

Reach out to people who need support.”

CATCH CHALLAH FOOD TRUCK AT SEVENTH SON BREWING CO. 1101 N. Fourth Street Sundays Noon - 3:00 P.M. Wednesdays 5:00 P.M. - 11:00 P.M. ChallahFoodTruck.com SeventhSonBrewing.com

SARA SHARES

A FEW CHOICE WORDS | SARA ERNEST BEING PRO-CHOICE is not a decision I came to lightly in my life. I was raised in a moderate Catholic household that was pretty mixed on which side of the aisle it landed depending on the social issue. The one thing that was unequivocal was that we were on the conservative side when it came to the issues of a woman’s right to choose.

I remember when I first moved to Columbus from the Toledo area, my mom’s frame of reference was how she got around downtown when she came here for Right to Life rallies in the 70s. It was clear to me from a very young age that we were a pro-life household and this was a very sensitive subject.

I AM PRO-CHOICE FOR THE WOMEN WHO ARE LEFT AFTER MAKING UP THEIR MIND TO DO THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ANYONE COULD DO. Throughout my early life I went to church every week and was even occasionally an acolyte at Mass. In high school I was active in my youth group and regularly went on weekend retreats with other kids from my church. It wasn’t really a question of whether I was pro-life or not. It was more of an understanding: This was something the church taught and I was active in the church.

I’m not sure what finally made me stop to think about my views on the Choice issue, but at some point I realized there is so much more to the issue than just whether a woman is ending the life of her unborn child or not. There’s that word we talked about last month again: Just.

30

March 2015

Until this column I haven’t openly shared my pro-choice views with everyone, even those I interact with on Facebook.

That realization smacked me in the face one day when I was scrolling through my feed and came across a post from a woman I hold in great esteem from the previously mentioned era in my life extolling her friends to “change minds” as they traveled to Washington, DC for the 2015 March For Life. My blood instantly started boiling.

As I said, I still hold this woman in very high regard and I understand that being the mother of a child with Down Syndrome she may have more cause than some to be vehemently anti-abortion. There are still many people who are encouraged to terminate pregnancies when they know their children will be a Down’s baby. This woman did not, and she is now a strong advocate for families affected by Down Syndrome. I wonder if she thought about the fact that she had a choice to keep her child and how ironic it is that she wants to take that away from a woman who is living through entirely different life circumstances.

I realized a long time ago that abortions are going to happen whether they are legal or not. People can stand their high moral ground and think that just because they don’t want them to happen they won’t, but that’s not true. We’ve all heard of back alley abortions and at least one crude joke about what a desperate woman can do with a wire hanger.

When abortions are legal women can be provided with adequate medical care to heal their bodies and psychological care to heal their minds.

Contrary to the belief of my friend on Facebook, there is no reason to change minds because the women who feel that terminating their pregnancy is their only option have already spent a great deal of time in their own minds coming to the decision that this is the only choice for them.

I am not pro-choice because I want anyone to indiscriminately kill babies. I am pro-choice for the women who are left after making up their mind to do the most difficult thing anyone could do.

COUPLE

| AMY TANNENBAUM

Betsy Sharp & Clara Stailey

Growing up across the country – Clara in Arizona and Betsy here in Ohio – it was a mutual love of country singer Chely Wright and a retweet that brought them together. Betsy had just watched Chely’s coming out interview on Oprah and thanked Chely in a tweet, which Chely retweeted. Clara took notice and promptly reached out. Betsy, fresh off a bad breakup, had her guard up, but felt flirting over Twitter with someone 1,800 miles away seemed harmless enough. Several tweets and direct messages later, Betsy offered up her digits.

Betsy says, “About a month before Carly Rae Jepson sang it, I gave her my number with the line, ‘call me maybe?’”

One month later, Clara traveled to Ohio so the two could meet for the first time. “I thought she was the cutest thing I’d ever seen,”Clara recalls. “I had only seen her through pictures and our Skype conversations; those were blurry.

But I can remember when I had flown to Columbus, and I was headed down the escalator and I thought, ‘Where is she?’ and then I saw her kinda tucked away in the corner with the sweetest smile and I knew it was all real.”

With their upcoming Columbus wedding in May just around the corner, Betsy and Clara are busy finalizing all the details.

At the time of their engagement in 2013, they decided to plan a wedding in Ohio a year and a half out, with the hopes that marriage equality would be reality by the big day. “It’s important for us to get married in Ohio, because it is where we live,” explains Betsy. “We were ever so hopeful last year when the district court in Cincinnati took on the appeals for our state and a few others, that it would be settled, but here we are, still waiting to be equal.” They were considering the idea of going out of state to at least get married legally, but are holding out in the hopes that a SCOTUS ruling may come in June.

Unfortunately, they don’t have the support of everyone in their families. While Clara expects two of her siblings to be at the wedding, both Betsy and Clara will have deeply religious family members opting not to attend. Fortunately, Betsy and Clara have a strong network of friends as a source of support. “I am so fortunate to have an amazing and loving group of people that I have grown up with, and met over the years from various places or backgrounds,” says Betsy. “Their support is what has

SHE WAS REAL, SHE WAS HERE, AND ALL THE BUTTERFLIES THAT HAD EVER LIVED OR FLOWN IN THE ENTIRE WORLD WERE NOW INHABITING MY STOMACH. Betsy was ready to take another chance at love, but a born skeptic, she wondered if Clara was too good to be true. “From the start, we just clicked,” Betsy remembers. “She laughed at my jokes, she had perfect teeth, she called and talked to me every night before I went to bed – despite the three hour time difference. Part of me thought I was getting punked.” When Clara came down that escalator, Besty got instantly nervous and hid behind an airport worker. “She was real, she was here, and all the butterflies that had ever lived or flown in the entire world were now inhabiting my stomach,” Betsy shares.

Six months flying back and forth between Ohio and Arizona followed, racking up plenty of frequent flyer miles. Betsy had made her loyalty for Ohio clear from the start and vowed that she would never leave. So Clara moved across the country to be with Betsy – and her toy shih tzu pup, Punkin.

In September of 2013, they travel to Las Vegas for their birthdays – which are just three days apart – where Clara popped the question to Betsy on top of the Eiffel Tower replica in front of the Paris Hotel. Betsy said yes and returned the favor several months later, surprising Clara with a ring in Nashville.

32

MARCH 2015

helped me through some dark days.” And they plan to do it up right. “We cannot wait to spend that day with those that love and support us,” says Clara. “It is going to be quite a party!”

As Clara and Betsy plan a future together, they see it here in Columbus. A typical day for them is spent with Punkin, cooking together, antiquing, watching the occasional drag show and wedding planning. “Columbus is home,” Betsy proclaims. “I’m a realtor and Columbus makes my job easy. It is not hard at all to sell people on this city!” Including Clara.

“I tell people back home and everywhere I go, including natives, how electric and great this city of Columbus is,” Clara says. “The diversity, the nightlife, everything. And I definitely converted and became a Buckeye fan!”

PHOTO | AMY TANNENBAUM

UPCOMING

THE YES LIST: Featuring 6 Not-To-Be-Missed Columbus Events in March

1

2

3

D: Wednesday, March 11 T: 4:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

L: Stonewall Center on High, 1160 N. High Street $: Free W: StonewallColumbus.org

D: Thursday, March 12 T: 7:00 p.m.

L: Saxbe Auditorium, Moritz College of Law, OSU campus $: Free

D: Sunday, March 15 T: Doors: 7:00 p.m. / Show: 8:00 p.m.

L: Wall Street Night Club, 144 N. Wall Street $: $8/ $40 = table

4

5

6

D: Saturday, March 21 T: Noon – 4:00 p.m.

L: Stonewall Center on High, 1160 N. High Street $: Free W: StonewallColumbus.org

D: Saturday, March 21 T: Noon – 6:00 p.m.

L: German Village route starts at Club Diversity L: Short North route starts at Union Café $: $25+

D: Thursday, March 26 T: 5:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.

L: Level Dining Lounge: Upstairs, 700 N. High Street $: Free

Holistic & Alternative Health Night Join Stonewall to explore a variety of alternate health options.

Health & Wellness Month: Sports Field Day & Tailgate Come play, have fun and learn about local LGBTQ sports leagues.

Film: Kate Bornstein is a Queer & Pleasant Danger Plus a live discussion with Kate Bornstein and director Sam Feder.

AIDS Walk Central Ohio’s Bar Crawl Enjoy a series of bars via shuttle bus to support this great cause.

Project Glamazon 2015 The House of Troy’s annual search for the next Glamazon.

Ohio University Alumni: Happiest of All Hours Gather with other LGBTQA Bobcats and Friends.

Say Yes, Columbus: Tweet your ideas to @QuorumColumbus and use #YesListColumbus

34

MARCH 2015

Entertain | Enlighten | Engage

THE TASTE BUDS

SIGNATURES MILL STONE TAVERN

BEER, BACON AND BUDDIES | CRAIG CHADWELL & MIKE MOFFO THE TASTE BUDS UNDERSTAND the price of gas and know how inconvenient it can be to drive a distance to dinner. We get it. We would only recommend something out of the city if it was worth the trip and Signatures Mill Stone Tavern on Mill Street in Gahanna is definitely worth the six mile trip!

Signatures is a sports bar. There are TVs everywhere playing every game you can imagine. The owners, Tim and Corey, are straight guys who truly love their customers - straight, LGBTQA or otherwise. During your visit it is pretty likely they will come to your table and strike up a conversation. They genuinely want to know about you: Who you are, what brings you to their establishment.

This care for the customer carries over to the rest of the staff, too. This is a pretty busy restaurant with a wide mix of customers, but you never feel ignored or rushed. The place is just plain good.

They have 28 beers on tap. We love beer. We love inexpensive beer even more. You can get a good craft beer in a 20 ounce glass for less than what you pay for a pint other places. Did we mention that we love beer? Because it is second only to bacon in our books.

Did we mention they also have bacon? They have an appetizer: It is a bacon skewer. We call it bacon crack. They take thick cut bacon and bake it. When it is almost ready, they drizzle it with a housemade brown sugar glaze and then fry it the rest of the way. It is to die for!

36

MARCH 2015

We could go through their entire menu but we would need to add extra pages to the magazine. They have a huge menu. While we can’t tell you about everything, we will highlight a few of our favorites.

If you like wings and you like them hot, their hot option won’t disappoint. All of their sauces are made in-house and they are all amazing. They have milder options, but the hot is SO good. If you are bold enough to think the hot isn’t hot enough, ask them to have the chefs bring out their special sauce.

You won’t breathe right for a week.

They make pasta chips, which are really fried dough triangles covered in garlic, served with a side of marinara. They are addicting!

You just can’t stop eating them and will want more when they are gone.

Everything on the menu is outstanding but the pizza deserves the blue ribbon. Their thin crust is worth going back for. They also have a wide selection of toppings, some of which may surprise you.

You also won’t want to miss their nightly events. From karaoke to live music to trivia, they have something for everyone! And with spring right around the corner it’s worth mentioning they have a fantastic patio.

We give every part of this old-time tavern our traditional four thumbs up. It is clean, it is delicious and you will be hard-pressed to find better service in the city. Check em’ out!

PERSPECTIVE

Staying HIV "Positive" | ADRIAN JAY NEIL IN 2009 I WAS diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. To be perfectly honest I did not know much about HIV/AIDS except that it was something I did not want. I was 24 and working as a Human Resource coordinator for one of the biggest grocery retailers, where I had been for nearly four years. At the time I was diagnosed, I only had very few white blood cells and a viral load six-figures long. These numbers are never a good thing.

After many hospitalizations, three near-death experiences and developing seizures, I am still here. I began working professionally in the HIV prevention/education field in 2013 when I moved here to work for the Greater Columbus Mpowerment Center as the Outreach Services Specialist.

Before that I was doing public speaking talks at various high schools, universities and organizations. I was sharing my unique story about how I wasn’t supposed to be still be alive.

That I was a miracle. That I had a unique strand of HIV… blah, blah, blah. It wasn’t until I moved to Columbus that I fully started my career in public health.

Now I know what you’re thinking: You’re thinking that you’re about to read another story about how someone living with HIV has overcome and been successful and how they’ve been able to live life “normally.” Well, you’re wrong. Yes, I am living with HIV. Yes, I am successful. And yes, I am healthy. But to be honest with you I am tired of HIV. Since moving here, I have been non-stop trying to make a name for myself in Columbus and in the field of HIV prevention/education everywhere. In a little over a year I have been able to accomplish a lot and I’m still just a baby in the field. I have worked hard and I am proud of myself, but at the same time I’m frustrated.

I am living with HIV and I work in the field of HIV prevention/ education which combined is not easy. If I’m not testing, I’m program planning or doing outreach. If I’m not doing those things, I’m speaking about my story or giving a presentation.

And if I’m not educating, I’m doing research or attending a conference. If that weren’t enough, I have to make sure I’m taking my medication, make sure I’m eating right, make sure I’m going to my appointments (the list goes on), in order for me to be holistically well.

It is very easy to get burnt out. There are moments when I want to run away from HIV. To pretend I am not positive, to change careers and to move. Of course I won’t and can’t do these things because I love my career, but those emotions are real.

THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN I WANT TO RUN AWAY FROM HIV.

HIV is ever present. Whenever I feel really tired or get a headache, I start thinking, “Oh no, I’m going to go in the hospital again.” Depending on other things I am physically feeling, sometimes I think the extreme: “Is this the day I am going to die?” With each pill I take or each time I go to get my blood drawn or when I go into the office or when I do a talk, I’m reminded that I am HIV positive. It gets hard.

There are still times I find myself crying in the middle of the night, asking God why. Don’t get me wrong, I truly believe that I would not be who I am today without HIV. It has made me a stronger as a person and a professional. That said, I am tired of HIV and have to work to stay positive.

4 5 9 16

E 5th Ave

13

23

8 19

11 21 2 18

10

GOODALE GOODALE PARK PARK

th N 4 St

rd N 3 St

Neil Ave

24

E 1st St

Warren St

25

12

T

N HIGH S th N 4 St

rd N 3 St

NORTH BANK

14

22

DDSTST AA OO RR WWBB

rinSgt St ng Sp E SEpri t St E LEoLnognSg

ORAODASDT ST W BERB

SHORT NORTH

DOWNTOWN ITALIAN VILLAGE CLINTONVILLE

OLD NORTH COLUMBUS

DRINK.

DANCE.

4 Club 20 Old North Columbus 20 E Duncan Ave 614.261.9111 8 Exile Italian Village 893 N 4th St 614.299.0069 10 Wine on High Short North 789 N High St 614. 294.8466 13 Local Bar Short North 913 N High St 614.670.8958 14 Slammers Downtown 202 E Long St 614.221.8880

2 Axis Short North 775 N High St 614.291.4008 22 Wall Street Night Club Downtown 144 N Wall St 614.464.2800

EAT + DRINK. 11 12 21 23 25

La Fogata Grill Short North 790 N High St 614.294.7656 Level Dining Lounge Short North 700 N High St 614.754.7111 Union Short North 782 N High St 614.421.2233 MOUTON Short North 954 N High St 614.732.4660 Cray Eatery & Drinkery Italian Village 697 N 4th St 614.745.1693

SHOP. 9 The Garden Short North 1186 N High St 614.294.2869 18 Torso Short North 772 N High St 614.421.7663 19 Torso (in Exile) Italian Village 893 N 4th St 614.299.0069

ENGAGE. 5 ARC OHIO Clintonville 4400 N High St 614.299.2437 24 ARC OHIO Medical Ctr + Pharmacy Short North 1033 N High St 16 Stonewall Columbus Short North 1160 N High St 614.299.7764

MERION VILLAGE

BREWERY DISTRICT SOUTH SIDE OLDE TOWNE EAST

EAT + DRINK. DRINK. 3 6 7 15 17 20

24 Explorers Club Merion Village 1586 S High St 614.725.0155

Cavan Irish Pub Merion Village 1409 S High St 614.725.5502 Club Diversity Brewery District 863 S High St 614.224.4050 Columbus Fuel Bar Merion Village 1312 S High St 614.725.0130 South Bend Merion Village 126 E. Moler St 614.444.3386 The Toolbox Saloon South Side 744 Frebis Ave 614.670.8113 Tremont Brewery District 708 S High St 614.445.9365

DRINK + DANCE. 1 A.W.O.L. Bar + The Barracks Olde Towne East 49 Parsons Ave 614.621.8779

E BROAD

ST

1 CAPITOL SQUARE

D ST W BROA

t St E ToEwTnowSn

COLUMBUS COMMONS

n SStt W W Toown

TOPIARY PARK

in SStt Maain EEM

ichhSStt Ric W WR th S 4 St

DODGE PARK

E EFrFran orrtt St ankf kfo

20

St

ee onoAnvAv HarHmarm

gStSt

sin g sin nn LLaa

W Whittier St 6

SS Oh OhioioAv Avee

rd N 3 St

h StT igH SSHHIG

SCIOTO AUDUBON METRO PARK

rso PaPa rso nsns AvAv e e

E Livingston St

Whihittitti EEW ererStSt

SCHILLER PARK

Gre Greenla wn Ave enlawn Ave

7 WW Jenk inin Jenk s Av e s Av

e

3

15

24

Moler EE M er St St

So Sout uthw hwoo ood Avee

Freb Fr ebisisAv Avee

Gil Gilbe bertrtSt St

LOU BERLINER PARK

SS44thth St St

McCOY PARK

Thur urmmananAvAv Th ee

17

MUNITY RESOURCES

LOCAL & STATE ORGANIZATIONS Stonewall Columbus 614-299-7764 www.stonewallcolumbus.org The leading visionary, inclusive and fun-spirited LGBT organization in Central Ohio – sets the pace for increasing the visibility and acceptance of the community. It continues to be the driving force on LGBT issues and our Center is the first stop for many in the LGBT and allied community.

ARC Ohio 800-252-0827 www.arcohio.org Fghts the spread of HIV, works towards reducing its transmission, stigma and the resulting discrimination through education and awareness, and provides quality services to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS. BRAVO (Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization) 614-294-STOP www.bravo-ohio.org Works to eliminate violence perpetuated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identification through prevention, advocacy, violence documentation and survivor services.

Equality Ohio 614-224-0400 www.equalityohio.org A statewide lobbying organization working to secure equality for LGBT Ohioans.

Kaleidoscope Youth Center 614-294-5437 www.kycohio.org Provides advocacy, education, support and a safe environment for LGBT youth in Central Ohio.

P-FLAG Columbus 614-806-8025 www.pflagcolumbus.org An educational advocacy group working to increase awareness and understanding. Education and advocacy are the primary means of creating a hospitable environment for Central Ohio’s LGBT citizens and our families, friends and allies.

Rainbow Sisters www.rainbowsisters.info A social and community-oriented group for lesbian women age 40 and over.

Sisters of Lavender www.sistersoflavender.org A social/support for women 40 and over. S.O.L. is the oldest lesbian organization in Columbus.

TransOhio 614-441-8167 www.transohio.org Serves the Ohio transgender and allied communities by providing services, education, support and advocacy to promote and improve the health, safety and life experience of Ohio transgender individuals.

NATIONAL ORGAN1ZATIONS GLAAD www.glaad.org National organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.

Human Rights Campaign www.hrc.com The nation’s largest gay and lesbian political organization.

NGLTF www.thetaskforce.org The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) is a leading progressive civil rights organization that has supported grassroots organizing since 1973.

The National Coalition for LGBT Youth www.outproud.org A wide range of resources available for youth and educators.

The Queer Resources Directory www.qrd.org The QRD contains over 20,000 files about anything and everything queer including families, youth, politics, resources, media and more.

ARTS & MUSIC Capital Pride Band of Columbus 614-325-1590 www.cappride.org An Ohio-based LGBT organization that formed in 2003 and currently has a membership of over 70 instrumentalists.Our "all are welcome" policy applies to anyone interested in membership, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age and sexual orientation.

Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus 614-228-2462 www.ColumbusGayMensChorus.com Singing out since 1990, this chorus presents a series of concerts year. Open auditions held prior to rehearsal for each show.

Evolution Theatre Company 614-233-1124 www.evolutiontheatre.org A semi-professional theatre company that presents musicals, dramas and comedies that have not been seen in the area before. Recent Off-Broadway and Broadway shows as well as new works and world premieres at an affordable price!

Imagine Productions 614-398-1110 www.imaginecolumbus.com Imagine Productions is a non-profit community theatrical troupe committed to entertaining and educating community stakeholders in the Columbus Metro area through performing arts. We believe in inclusiveness, openness, and tolerance, and recognize that empowerment and growth occurs with audiences and performers, alike.

Wexner Center for the Arts 614-292-3535 www.wexarts.org Internationally known contemporary arts center at

Ohio State, offering visual arts, performing arts, film, and educational programs, as well as a store and a café (Heirloom), all under one roof in an architectural landmark.

COUNSELING Randi Cohen, LPCC-S 614-267-1993 www.randicohen.com Private practice in counseling working with adults helping to create strong sense of self, good communication tools & to get a clearer sense of how others see you, by focusing on awareness and working in the present.

Shawn D. King, PhD., LISW 614-655-3554 www.shawnkingphd.com Providing individual, family, and group counseling services to the LGBT community. Specializing in relationship issues, anger management and mental health services including anxiety and depression.

HEALTH & WELLNESS CHOICES 614-224-4663 www.choicescolumbus.org Takes pride in being the premier direct service provider of accredited domestic violence programming in central Ohio. Since 1977 they have provided counseling, shelter, crisis intervention, education and community and legal support and advocacy to central Ohio residents facing domestic violence.

The Crystal Club 614-214-4828 www.thecrystalclub.org A non-profit support group for crossdressers, transsexuals, female impersonators, and other transgender individuals.

Huckleberry House 614-294-5553 www.huckhouse.org Established in 1970 to provide a safe place for runaway youth in Columbus. Today, it provides many programs to help teens all over Franklin County who are in crisis situations, who are homeless or runaways.

NetCare 614-276-CARE www.netcareaccess.org Provides twenty-four hour mental health and substance abuse crisis intervention, stabilization and assessment for Franklin County residents.

Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio, Inc. 614-224-2235 www.plannedparenthood.org The nation's oldest and largest sexual and reproductive health care organization. America's most trusted name in women's health.

Trevor Project 866-4U-TREVOR www.thetrevorproject.org Determined to end suicide among LGBT youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources including our nationwide, 24/7 crisis intervention lifeline.

N e xt

ADJOURN

to

L a st

| MICKEY J. HART Be careful what you say to Quorum Columbus’ publisher Isaac Bendele. Prior to moving to Columbus nearly three years ago, Isaac and I discussed his idea to start an LGBTQA community magazine. At the time I told him that once I moved to Columbus, I would “help with some editing.” Little did I know that this offer would morph into me helping shape Quorum Columbus from mission, to selecting our name, to assembling the crew, to printing our first issue, to serving as the founding editor.

The reality is that I should have known. This is not the first time in my life that I entertained the idea of helping with a new project or group only to become deeply involved in the infrastructure and fully committed to the cause.

I am proud of my history of starting new ventures and encourage others to do the same. Over the years I have been asked by students and community members about how to get involved in the LGBTQA community. The advice I give is simple and clear, yet somehow challenging: The way you get involved is you get involved. You have to show up, speak up, engage and return again and again.

I turned a weekend retreat during high school into over 15 years of service to a youth leadership substance abuse prevention program called Teen Institute. I went from helping fellow LGBTQ students find their voice during my undergrad at Ohio University to helping establish and expand the university’s LGBT Center. I went from accepting a social justice activism award from United Campus Ministry to serving on the non-profit’s board of directors for 12 years.

I attended a gathering in Columbus to discuss the need for a statewide LGBTQ rights organization nearly 10 years ago, then spent much of two and half years helping to create and guide the early work of Equality Ohio. And this was my second effort at helping to launch a statewide LGBTQ group.

(I often wonder if Ohio would be a better state for queer citizens had OutVoice taken hold in the early 90s.)

My past involvement is why I am so keen on supporting and promoting our local LGBTQA organizations and United Way’s Pride Leadership program. My involvement with Quorum Columbus has provided me a media megaphone to highlight the good works of these important organizations.

I have loved, grown from, helped to improve and ultimately moved on from each of my past experiences to pursue other interests and opportunities. But I never move on entirely; I maintain a connection with and an affinity for each involvement. The same will be true with this publication.

Next month marks the second anniversary for Quorum Columbus. The April issue will also mark my last issue as editor. In late January I let Isaac know that I needed to step down. My decision was not an easy one, but it was aided by attending Equality Ohio’s Allies for Equality event at Strongwater, which is housed in the same building as the 400 West Rich art studios. You see, my move to Columbus was in part to reconnect with my love of making art. I had a studio in that converted warehouse for several months, but made little time to be there due to another creative interest - this publication.

While I enjoy the work I do with the entire Quorum crew, I need to free up my schedule to make art. The event was a reminder that I also have an interest in contributing to the work, not just covering the events, of local LGBTQ organizations. My decision was reaffirmed in early February while helping with the grassroots volunteer effort to find a missing trans* teen.

While I am stepping down as editor, I am not stepping away.

I will continue to contribute to the publication and share my ideas with the crew for how best to tell the stories that celebrate the victories and the lives of LGBTQA people in this fine city.

I am extremely proud of what we have been able to produce in our first two years, and I look forward to seeing where and how the magazine grows in the future.

While there is always room for improvement and always room for more voices at the table, I am proud that we have lived up to the idea of serving as a quorum – a representative reflection – of the LGBTQA community.

Mickey Hart is the founding editor of Quorum Columbus magazine. He is a longtime LGBTQ activist and educator; he served as the director of Ohio University’s LGBT Center for 11 years and was a founder of Equality Ohio. He holds a B.F.A and M. Ed from Ohio University. His first editing position was co-editor of the Logan Elm High School’s The Elm Log. Mickey currently serves as the director of Residence Life at Columbus College of Art & Design and he resides in Italian Village. He now plans to focus more time on making art. Ask him about it.

2015 MARCH

41

614-594-0230