The Agenda

. 01 VOLUME 03, NO 14 20 SEPTEMBER

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VOLUME 03 ISSUE 01 SEPTEMBER 2014

The Agenda is published quarterly by the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with The Austin Chronicle and is financed entirely by the support from the membership of the chamber.

The views and opinions expressed in The Agenda and austinagenda.com do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (AGLCC), nor its officers or board of directors, nor The Austin Chronicle.

Any advice or opinions provided herein are for informational purposes only.

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ON THE COVER: Ebony Stewart, poet, awardwinning Austin Slam champ, and AISD junior high sex-ed instructor talks to Andy Campbell in, “The People’s Poet,” page 16

Copyright © 2014 Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.

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Editorial Editor-in-Chief KATE X MESSER Associate Editors SARAH MARLOFF,

WENDY MARTINEZ

Contributors ANDY CAMPBELL, JOHN EGAN, DAVID ESTLUND, SARAH MARLOFF

Art Design Director RACHELLE DIAZ Photography CELESTA DANGER,

DEVAKI KNOWLES Original Art RACHELLE DIAZ

Cover

Advertising Accounts & Sales Director JEFF ARNOLD Accounts & Sales, AGLCC Board: EDGAR GIERBOLINI president CECI GRATIAS vice president RICH SEGAL secretary RICK HOLMBERG treasurer AMY COOK membership ANNA POWELL programs JOHN EGAN communications

JEFF ARNOLD, JOHN EGAN, BRIAN ERICKSON, CHASE KINCANNON, FABIANA RAMIEREZ, LEEANN WICK, AND AARON YEATS at large

Photography DEVAKI KNOWLES

Distribution MOTORBLADE POSTERING SERVICE

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IT’S TRICKY Community is tricky.

It feels dismissive to call it a “cliché´” and pretentious to wave off as a trope. But the concept of one, united LGBTQ community is weird. And from the vantage point of one who’s been covering Austin’s from the inside-out for almost two decades (um, me), it is, if we are being completely honest with one another, elusive, hard-to-peg, and sometimes disingenuous. Go ahead and try to lump us all up under one happy rainbow Snuggie. It’s itchy under there.

Case in point: September, 2014. This month sees soooo many mega-, mondo-, community-embracing, out-of-towneralluring, Austin LGBTQ signature beacon events in one month – Splash Days, AGLIFF/Polari, the inaugural music StarGayzer Festival, and Austin and San Marcos Prides – which on the surface seem like great chances to take those vital litmus tests to learn who and what composes our community.

But with a few scratches to that surface, it’s clear that the crowds attending and supporting these events are not the entirety – let alone the mean, median, or mode – of Austin’s LGBTQ population.

Plus, there are many who just do come out. Further, there are populations, individuals, and many LGBTQ culture leaders in our town who intentionally or passive-aggressively ignore the dynamic and many different societies of what we label as one community. Sure, some groups must focus on certain specific population over others (due to playing fields that are and may never be level) to serve certain mission statements, but how much of that compartmentalization bleeds over into validating cliques?

As we move through this month and choose to go or not go out to these events, let’s ask ourselves: Am I choosing this event because it is tailor-made for me?

Do I go to connect and hang out only with people who are very much like me? Or am I truly open to other glimmering sides of this many-faceted gem of LGBTQers?

Will the ticket holders for StarGayzer also take in a film or two over at aGLIFF? Will the girls feel welcome at Splash?

Will downtowners who experience a lot of LGBTQ sense-of-belonging in Austin bring that confidence south as supportive ambassadors to San Marcos’ first ever Pride? Will Austin Pride goers try to meet new “neighbors” or gravitate toward the same comfortable crowd? And what portion of any of these gatherings feel accommodating to people of color in whitey white Austin?

Does it matter? Does anyone care if Chain Drivers and Iron Bears get along? Do the Lesbutante & the Boss group and the Rusty’s Reunioners ever mingle? Do they form an interesting Venn diagram of lesbian Austin? Do benefactors reach out beyond the pocketbook to the clients their money serves? Or is that money enough?

In this issue of The Agenda, we don’t answer any of these questions. Not directly, at least. But we do begin our third year/cycle of production, and attempt to honor the myriad expressions of LGBTQ community which Austin, Texas calls her own. We hope you enjoy Andy Campbell’s cover interview with Ebony Stewart, AISD junior high sex educator, slam poet, and regular Bedpost Confessioner, David Estlund’s exploration of the strange pushback Austin Pride encountered when trying to have rainbows painted in the crosswalks of Austin’s de facto gay district: Fourth Street, Sarah Marloff’s profile of Austin’s Lesbian and Gay Peace Officer Association, Andy’s trip to queer Italy, John Egan’s round-up of the LGBT candidates in the upcoming elections (and what does that all mean?), Sarah’s and my summation of this crazy September to remember, and of course, the current AGLCC member roster in all its glory.

We couldn’t do this without your support, dear readers, advertisers, AGLCC board and members. We appreciate the opportunity to enjoy and excavate and explore the twists and turns of all of this community with you. Hope to see you out in the melée.

Kate X Messer | The Agenda Editor-in-chief

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During this year’s Austin PRIDE celebration, we’ve got plenty to celebrate. Every day, it seems, LGBT residents of the United States make even more strides regarding equality.

The best example of that, of course, is the state-by-state march toward marriage equality. As of the writing of this letter, 19 states and the District of Columbia had legalized same-sex marriage. Sadly, Texas is not one of those states, but our day will come.

Even as far as we’ve come, though, the LGBT community must remain vigilant in combating hate-filled rhetoric and actions.

That’s especially important in Texas, as we seek LGBT inclusivity from El Paso to Austin to Beaumont.

Texas and in the U.S. Here in the Austin area, AGLCC’s mission is to cultivate, promote, and empower the economic well-being of the LGBT business community and their allies through collaboration, education, and community development. Those three pillars — collaboration, education and community development — are critical for LGBT and LGBT-allied businesses in our area to survive and thrive.

As we celebrate Austin PRIDE, we must commit to taking pride in local LGBT and LGBT-allied businesses by buying their products, by using their services, by spending our dollars with the businesses that support — and are part of — our community.

Together, we are stronger. Together, we can make a difference. We must not let internal strife dismantle our unity. A united front is much more solid than a divided front.

Economic strength is a powerful tool, and that tool is a vital one in the toolbox that the LGBT community is depending on to ensure our community secures all the rights that we deserve.

This united front includes the LGBT business community in the Austin area, in

Edgar Gierbolini | Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce President

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C R O S S WA L K

FRacAs

What’s a little rainbow between Fourth Street friends?

Apparently more than Austin Pride bargained for.

BY DAVID ESTLUND It’s been a long time since anything in Austin’s Warehouse District came close to resembling an actual warehouse. But since the early Nineties – before the upscale dining, before the condos, before the cozy cafes, before the retail, before the food trucks – the area has always been home to a number of gay bars – the longest running being Fourth Street anchor OilCan Harry’s.

Back then, OCH had the 404 (later Area 52 and Kiss & Fly), Nexxus (later Rainbow Cattle Co.), Kansas, the Boys Cellar, the Grrlz Cellar, and the Forum to call neighbors. Now it has Castro’s, Rain on 4th, the soon to open Highlander, and the Iron Bear close enough for a cuddle. Ever since its been safe to come out in Austin, local queers have called the zone around Fourth Street home.

As other potential Austin “gayborhoods” have popped up, disappeared, and sometimes reappeared, it’s safe to say that the area in question is still the part of town that any Austinite (and any well-informed visitor) could point to and say, “Yeah, that’s where the gays go.”

In 2012, Austin City Council acknowledged and affirmed this truth by renaming W. Fourth to Bettie Naylor Street, in memory of Austin’s longtime women’s- and LGBTQrights advocate and activist who deftly

wielded her political chops at local, state, and national levels. People who frequent the now-flourishing district and benefit from Naylor’s work may not even know who she was, let alone get her message on today’s muted civil rights struggle.

So when president of the Austin Pride Foundation Paul Huddleston wanted to honor the area for its importance as a known safe place for gays, to encourage the city’s commitment to LGBTQ and gender equality, and to celebrate the street’s landmark place as the grand finale of Austin’s annual Pride Parade, where close to half of the entire parade route’s spectators congregate for one night of Austin Pride, he proposed a literal and vivid tribute: Rainbows. Rainbow crosswalks to be exact.

Neighborhoods like San Francisco’s Castro district have flown rainbow flags from streetlights for decades now, but her Southern sister, West Hollywood started a phenomenon in 2012 when they painted the crosswalks at the intersection of San Vicente & Santa Monica Boulevards with the colors of the freedom flag. Cities such as Tel Aviv, Sydney, London, Miami, Toronto, and Vancouver have since followed suit, most without much controversy.

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When Huddleston met with Austin City Council member Mike Martinez, who was willing to bring the proposal before the council (after discussions with local business owners), the two were met with unexpected hostility from a number of businesses along the block. The businesses included the Hangar, Truluck’s, Cedar Street Courtyard, and Peché. “I was blown away by what I was hearing,” said Steph Smith, business development director of L Style G Style. “In a public meeting at City Hall, people were actually visibly angered by the idea. They were actually giving us the ‘haven’t we done enough for you people’ treatment.”

Afterward, Huddleston was contacted via email by one of Truluck’s regulars.

She’d caught wind of the management’s objections to allowing Austin Pride to paint

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at Halcyon were delighted to hear of the proposal. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day,” said barista J.T. Bundick. “It’s a small district, and they’re our customers and employees, too. We should show our diversity and solidarity.” Daniel Northcutt at Frank seems to think inclusivity is good for business: “Agree with Bettie Naylor’s politics or not, the whole city, state, and country could stand to take a note from her legacy of love.” A different story, however emerges from the Cedar Street Courtyard.

“I don’t know why we’re still talking about this,” said William Brenham. “It came up at the meeting that [painting the crosswalks is] not even legal, so the conversation is over.”

While Huddleston says someone asked the question of legality at the meeting, he asserts that it was never answered. So we made a few phone calls.

Texas’ adoption of crosswalk art actually predates the rainbow crosswalk idea by several years. Houston’s Museum of Fine

When you deviate from the norm, it could open a Pandora’s box

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Not so in Austin. You read right. A request to paint rainbows in the crosswalks of Austin, Texas’ best-known gay district is getting pushback.

the crosswalks and said she would not patronize their business until they stopped blocking Austin Pride’s project. The only reply from the restaurant was to ask to be removed from the discussion altogether. It’s not exactly a sign of a change of heart nor gesture of solidarity, but it is, at the very least, an acknowledgment that a blockade of this nature may not be so good for business.

Arts, for example, invited Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez to install kinetic op-art on several adjacent crosswalks in 2009. Minnette Boesel, special assistant to Houston Mayor Annise Parker on cultural affairs was quick to reply when contacted for comment on the legal and safety concerns, “There have been none that I am aware of.

Everyone loves the [crosswalks]. I’ve never heard anything but praise for them.”

One of the issues brought forth by the antirainbow business owners is the contention that they lose business when 40-50,000 parade-goers clog the area for one night for Austin Pride, asserting that the crowds simply return home or flood the gay bars afterward. Having thousands of potential customers crowded at one’s door could also be seen, however, as an opportunity to gain not just goodwill but actual customers – if but for one night.

The Texas Department of Transportation sets the basic standard for crosswalks. The City of Austin is required to follow standards set by TxDOT, and those standards are outlined in the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The manual simply states, “When crosswalk lines are used, they shall consist of solid white lines that mark the crosswalk. They shall not be less than six inches or greater than 24 inches in width.”

Obviously, the rainbow detractors are only one side of the story. Responses from businesses in the area were mixed. The gay bars are on board, and the employees

Houston’s crosswalks incorporated diagonal high-visibility ladder stripes into the design of the art. Most cities that have installed rainbow crosswalks simply plop the rainbow art between the two white standard stripes

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across the road. Downtown Austin uses vertical high-visibility ladder stripes for most of its crosswalks, including those in question.

The proposed rainbow colors would go between the white stripes of the ladder.

Regardless, all the cities on the rainbow list are not, thus far, in Texas. And in all the cities mentioned, most still bear the colors. In some cities, however, the Pride flag did not completely stick.

When conservatives in Sydney successfully campaigned to remove the rainbows shortly after they were created in 2013, the community responded by creating D.I.Y. rainbow sidewalks all over the city (some other locales across the globe created rainbow chalk-walks in support). Of course, all of this went viral on social media. In protest of Russia’s anti-gay crackdown this past year, Swedish activists painted rainbows onto the crosswalks near the Russian embassy in Stockholm, while Sydney’s ongoing “chalktivism” targeted their own Russian Embassy, with the added flourish of raising a rainbow flag on the embassy’s pole.

One of the Austin rainbow detractors, Rob Pate at Péché seems more concerned about the opposite taking place: “Oilcan’s, Castro’s, and Rain are absolutely wonderful neighbors, but when you deviate from the norm, it could open a Pandora’s box.” We’re not sure what he means by “deviate” or why what he considers “the norm,” but perhaps he means Pandora’s

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palette? Maybe he’s worried that Fadó will lobby for a shamrock crossing? Or Truluck’s will insist on a crab-themed step-and-repeat down the street? “If that were true, our streets certainly would be a little brighter,” offers Pride’s Huddleston.

Regardless of whether the concerns voiced are valid or deeply held, the context here is perhaps more important than the content.

As this minor spark of contention shows, despite our reputation as a liberal, tolerant, accepting, and purportedly gay-friendly oasis (in a state that can often feel like a briar patch of ignorance and bigotry), we still stand a chance of getting pricked from time to time.

As Huddleston diplomatically offers, “Our city is diverse and accepting, and being the capital of Texas, we have every viewpoint possible represented here. Austin is definitely a gayfriendly city, but just like anywhere, some of us have some growing up to do before we can all experience the love that builds a true community.”

David Estlund is a regular contributor to both The Agenda and The Austin Chronicle’s “The Gay Place,” where he presents “The AggreGaytor” each week day.

To lend support to Austin Pride’s efforts to make Fourth Street more colorful and proud, contact Paul Huddleston at president@austinpride.org.

Learn more about Austin Pride’s upcoming events in our feature “Party Over Here!” on page 27, in The Austin Chronicle’s special Pride month coverage in the September 5, 12, and 19 issues, and online at www.austinpride.org.

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The

People’s Poet Slam poet and Shakespeare-lover Ebony Stewart gets it, then tells us about it INTERVIEW BY ANDY CAMPBELL // PHOTOS BY DEVAKI KNOWLES

The crowd’s sides are already sore from laughing by the time Ebony Stewart spits the following lines: But then there are questions put into the box with Tim’s name attached as true as the Sun admits it’s a star, with print as small as the signature of a gnat.

Evenly folded to show me how careful I have to be in answering his questions: Mz Ebony, Why does liking the color pink make me gay?

And if I am, is it bad?

The room changes. Where levity reigned, there is now a tangible gravity. The silly questions which comprised the first part of her poem “Anonymous Box Questions a 6th Grade Boys Group Ask Their Sex Education Teacher” – questions such as, “Can a girl get pregnant if I put my peter in her ear?” or “What’s another word for balls?” – were the kinds of juvenile queries that welcome a crowd’s juvenile snickering. But now, with the skill of a surgeon, Ebony Stewart has made that precise incision between her audience’s self-congratulatory haughtiness and their own experiences with difference, fear, and humiliation. And like any good surgeon who knows how to cut, Stewart’s poem then goes on to stitch these two disparate experiences together.

Through Tim’s (literal, but not figurative) small question, Stewart shows her audience that those lines demarcating socially accepted gender display and sexuality is not an innate or intuitive thing, but something that we fumble towards. In fact, what seems like a sidewalk crack can yawn out into a crevasse. As a keen observer, Stewart recognizes that most of us just kind of… step into it, only to deal with the consequences later.

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Addressing the rest of her poem to Tim – whose question about pink is really an ask for acceptance – she advises: There is no skull and crossbones over your heart.

You are a good thing that someone will be dying to get next to.

Now Stewart’s audience is in tears.

Not that Stewart is solely defined by her role as a slam/spoken word poet (she’s got an album, a book or two, a theatrical career, and finds time for her day-jobwhich-is-really-more-than-a-day-job teaching middle school sex education), but she seems to epitomize the gift of slam: To bring audiences into contact with difference and desire, requesting that in the moment, whether it’s churlish or quiet, they relinquish their expectation for façade.

Vulnerable and bare, slam poets like Ebony Stewart are paradoxically the first to flay themselves, yet always the ones to have the final word. When The Agenda caught up with Ebony Stewart she was visiting home near Houston, and we talked about sexuality and gender, about family and speaking through others, about being black in Austin, and loving words. An ally and leader in Austin’s poetry slam world, Stewart represents her town with a ferocity that few others match – she’s the only adult female three-time slam champ of Austin, natch. Which is why this Gully Princess graces our cover – as an ally, her art helps bring challenge, clarity, and comfort to her audiences with respect to the array of differences that pock-mark our social landscape.

The Agenda (Andy Campbell): You call yourself “The Gully Princess.” Where did that come from?

Ebony Stewart: Way back in 2005, the title was given to me by Neo-Soul – a group I started with in Austin – because I would show up, having written the most angry stuff all the time. But off the mic, off-stage, I was really shy and to myself. So the NeoSoul folks were like, “Whoa, what is this monster of a woman, who then becomes really meek off-stage?”

AC: You started going to the Austin NeoSoul events while still a student at Texas State University in San Marcos. Was college the reason for moving away from home?

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ES: Well I had aspirations to be a dancer. Even though writing was something I enjoyed, I thought I was going to be a dancer. I was really rehearsed and practiced in ballet and Carribean dance. I wanted to go to Julliard, and my mom was like, “No! I don’t want you to go that far. I can’t come rescue you if something happens.” [laughs]. I went to Texas State because I was following my heart – a guy I was dating who was a horrible person. But in the long-run it was a good move.

AC: Texas State has changed a lot since that moment…

ES: Wow, yeah! Texas State, when I first got there, was Southwest Texas.

AC: Were you there for the name change?

ES: I was there for the name change! [laughs] Yeah, it was crazy. Literally one semester everything was Southwest Texas, and the next semester they were giving all the Southwest stuff away for free, and everything was Texas State. It was a good experience, however it was a culture shock for me, because I grew up in the Houston area. There were more people of color in Houston. At Texas State there were almost none.

AC: Coming from Houston, the black community makes up roughly a quarter of the demographic, whereas in Austin it’s only 10 percent…

ES: Coming from Houston – there is not a time when I’m not seeing a black person. I could go a whole day in Austin without ever seeing a black person. I’m not sure why that is, or how that is. And I do know that there are obviously black people in Texas. Culturally, it’s very different, and the adjustments you have to make growing up where I came from and moving to Austin, Texas…

AC: I would assume those adjustments are a continual process?

ES: Right, it is.

AC: I’d like to learn about the development of your voice when you perform. Not your writing “style,” but your literal voice. Because what I see when I see you live and watch videos of you perform, is a performer who is absolutely in control of her instrument.

From the plain-spoken honesty of a poem like “Transparent” to the righteous ferocity

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of “Hairitage”, you run the gamut of vocal styles. Can you talk a little about pitching your voice for each composition?

ES: I don’t write for slam; I know that there are a lot of poets who do. I write for myself, and to relate to others. I might write something, and it’s completely different on the stage. “Anonymous Box Questions” is a great example. It might look different on the page, grammar-wise, than it reads on the stage. I get to improvise a little or a lot on the stage. But I also get to decide when I’m rehearsing a piece, how I want certain lines to sound. I’ll go through, line-by-line.

Sometimes I want to sound like I’m powerful, other times, more subtle. I go through it a few different times and figure what is the tone I want to set. When I make that decision, I don’t see anything else after that.

The crispness of being cocky or meek, they are really rehearsed.

AC: I don’t think anyone can look at your performances and think otherwise, they’re technically precise. There’s an idea in writing that you’ve got to “write what you know” – and in your poetry, which is very connected to your autobiography, there are many moments when you lens out and represent those around you, close to you, sometimes even mimicking their words and vocal

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style. For example, when you speak Tim’s question in “Anonymous Box Question” with a quiet focus. How do you decide when that’s appropriate and when it might not be?

ES: Well the thing is, in college I was an English major and Communication Studies minor. I pay really close attention to the non-verbal. Mimicking people is one of my absolutely favorite things to do! If I can do exactly like someone else did something or said something, then that’s how I want to come across.

AC: I’m imagining baby Ebony trying to mimic everyone on the playground…

ES: [laughs] Yeah! It was something I did!

But my mom likes to mimic people. My family, they’re storytellers. They tell stories all the time, and when they do, they’re very animated. So I think it’s an inherited trait of wanting to make the audience as pleased with the story as you are. To do that, you have to really get into it. Over time, you start to perfect it, and it gets better, and you wait for the response you’ve become accustomed to. That’s how I generally try to convey the stories and the voices I’m mimicking.

ES: Hmm. I would say that when I wrote that piece it went through a lot of different drafts, because there has always been a lot of silence about my hair. I say silence mostly referring to myself, because often, I don’t know how to answer a question I might get about my hair. Someone might say, “Oh

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ES: I would say that I am always a borrower of my heritage.

AC: Those moments you’ve paid attention to, you’ve now made use of as an educator yourself. Perhaps this is a good moment to discuss “Anonymous Box Questions” from this vantage. We can talk about your job as a sex educator in Austin-area schools that inspired the poem, but you’re not only relaying a story about teaching 6th/7th graders about sexual health via

Shakespeare is dope, raw, and always writing about sex!

Breaking that down for kids who don’t know is a pleasure.

The students are really engaged.

my gosh, how does your hair do that?” and I don’t know how to answer that question because, you know, I woke up like this. It happened! [laughs] The most comforting thing I thought of to help me write that piece were all the times my grandmommy and my mom would do my hair, and how soothing that was. Thinking about hair-braiding as a way of telling stories through the hands.

I learned how to braid my own crown from the women in my family. It just started out that way. When I performed the poem at nationals [National Poetry Slam], I felt really good – strong and powerful. I remember there were two black ladies that were judges, and they were sitting right in front of me, and I was able to connect with them. It was like, “You know what I’m talking about!”

AC: “Hairitage” and “Anonymous Box Questions” share something in common, which is that they’re about transmission of knowledge. In “Hairitage” you do something great, which is to represent the perspective of a younger you in saying, and I’m paraphrasing here, “I don’t know what all of this braiding nonsense is for, can’t I just put my hair up in a ponytail and be done with it?”, and then literally being strong-armed by the women in your family who say, “This is why we do this…”

ES: Right!

AC: So it seems that a motif in your poetry are those educational moments about difference, and valuing difference whether that be race, gender, and/or sexuality.

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AC: Let’s talk about your poem “Hairitage.”

What was the genesis of that work and what moments in your life as a performer have you felt especially close to that poem?

the anonymous question box which is a curricular loophole, you’re also teaching the audience about difference and sexuality.

ES: Exactly. I think when I was constructing that piece I had a focus because of the note from “Tim” which is the question that makes up the bulk of the piece. But I also struggled with how many good questions there were.

And wondering if I have to keep coming back with new versions of the poem.

AC: When did you start teaching sex ed in schools?

ES: I taught English for a while. Then, in 2011, I moved to sex education, because it was unclear whether my contract would be renewed. Out of nervousness, I went ahead and applied for a sex educator position with LifeWorks, which I got. I went back to school and told them I had gotten a job, and although they were hurt they told me they were working hard on trying to keep my job. But look, I’ve got bills. I don’t have no “maybe” bills! I have real bills. When I switched over, it was a good change for me. Some things are the same: When I taught English, I would teach Shakespeare, and now as a sexeducator, he always comes up. Having to break that down for kids who don’t know, telling them that Shakespeare is dope, raw, and always writing about sex! Breaking that down is a pleasure. Having the opportunity to do that in a real setting, with a real topic, and the students are really engaged. Not a single person in those classes doesn’t want to be there.

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ES: Those things are so important because sexuality and gender are so important; it’s always something people make something else out of. When you talk about gender, or sexuality, you’re then also, by default, talking about acceptance. You’re also talking about norms. For me, it’s just a topic that comes up so frequently because it’s always a question.

Some have it figured out, and others don’t.

I know it’s engaging. And I’m still trying to figure it out myself. I live for the moments when someone comes up to me and says not just “thank you” but “I dealt with this too,” and we can have a dialogue and experience each other outside of poetry, in a real way.

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AC: What are some of those moments that you remember, when people use your poetry to think about themselves critically?

ES: There are so many, because you also have to take into account that I’m a black woman. There are probably some people that have already done some labeling about black women or black people in general.

And then they find you are maybe, possibly speaking in their favor! That’s how we experience each other now. I’ve had those moments when a person has said, “I didn’t think that race and gender would be an issue,” and I thought, that was so interesting: As though black people don’t deal with some type of discrimination. To me, it’s one and the same, that people who struggle with acceptance of their sexuality or gender and their rights – those are struggles that women deal with, or black people deal with.

There have been times when a parent has come up to me after hearing “Box,” and they say, “I really appreciate what you do and you

I write for myself, and to relate to others.

It might look different on the page, grammar-wise, than it reads on the stage.

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AC: Right, they’re actually really curious about sex. Why do you think it’s important to reflect on gender in this poem and in other poems. In “Anonymous Box Questions” you’re talking directly to a kid who thinks he might be gay – and these very tricky associations with gender and queerness…

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made me think that maybe I should start talking to my kid about this.” If that’s what you got out of it, great! Thank you!

AC: Yes. For all of us, do it! For me, “Box” is also about the kinds of language that you’d use in an official setting, like a school, versus the monologue that might be running through your head. Is that comparable to the words you say onstage versus the ones you say off-stage?

ES: I’m going to say something that might get me in trouble, but I think there are poets who aren’t living their poems. By that I mean they don’t practice what they preach. Now I am always negotiating with myself and thinking about what I want to say before I say it – so I want to be honest in the way a person is going to experience me. I value words, and I value listening. I do listen more than I speak when I’m off-stage.

I’m generally a quiet person with lots of things I’m thinking, but just because I say them onstage doesn’t mean I have no filter off-stage. Because you know, common sense! [laughs] Now depending on whom I’m around and how comfortable I feel with them, I filter my experiences or not.

AC: So what’s your relation with the term “ally”? I think by virtue of so many of the

24

topics you cover you could be considered an ally to many communities, including LGBTQ communities and non-black communities of color?

ES: I think my role in allyship is in direct relation to the packaging of the Platinum Rule: Treat others as they want to be treated.

I add to that, as a woman in practice of being a better human being everyday, I think it is important to do the right thing and protect those that are striving to do the same. Does that make sense?

AC: Yeah, it does. You’ve told me about meeting Amiri Baraka, and having him ask you what kind of writer you were, only to be flabbergasted in the face of such a fundamental question. So how would you answer his question now: “What kind of writer are you?”

ES: I’m a life writer. I write about my life.

Andy Campbell is a regular contributor to The Agenda and to The Austin Chronicle with a monthly studio visit column for the Arts section, extensive LGBTQ culture coverage, and a founding role in the early “Gay Place” blog.

You can keep up with Ebony Stewart, life writer, at ebpoetry.com.

John Doucette

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PARTY OVER HERE! Austin’s growing abundance of LGBTQ-fueled festivals means more gay/gay-friendly visitors

BY KATE X MESSER THE WELCOME MAT

It’s September in Austin, Texas, darling. Haven’t you heard? It’s our gayest ever. This year, not only do Splash!, aGLIFF, and Pride nestle pretty much right next to each other, but new kids StarGayzer and San Marcos Pride round out the month of the queer. Watch out, Greenwich Village, Castro, Provincetown, Fire Island, WeHo; Austin’s comin’ to getcha.

Back in 2008, The Austin Business Journal reported the findings of San Franciscobased LGBTQ research group Community Marketing Inc. which had issued estimates of the economic impact of LGBT travel in the U.S. The figure – gleaned from analyzing U.S. Department of Commerce travel and tourism industry data – rolled in at a cool $64.5 billion. For the year 2012, just four years later, the group estimated that “the annual economic impact of LGBT travelers is over US $100 billion per year in the U.S. alone.”

Wow. That’s a hefty leap in just four years.

Sure, we may be able to factor in more sophisticated methods of gathering data as the group became more experienced learning about us. And the notion of more accepting views of LGBTQ people may have had an affect on responses. But even factoring in those variables, it’s clear that the more we become aware of viable, welcoming travel options in safe, accepting destinations, the more we travel (and the more we travel out). And the more we travel and learn about what makes for a pleasant LGBTQ out travel experience, the more we

27

understand what people are looking for when they come to visit our city.

Austin’s appeal and notoriety for great festivals – SXSW, Fun Fun Fun, Star of Texas Rodeo, ROT Rally, ACL Fest – already has us on lock as a cool travel haven for a wide variety of tastes. Close your eyes and try to remember the Austin gay scene of 2008. While that’s only six years ago, so much has changed – the growth, move, and expansion of ‘Bout Time II and Chain Drive, Cheer Up Charlie’s phenomenal success, Tuezgayz owning that weeknight at nongay-bar Barbarella, Castro’s creating a solid Fourth Street bloc, the anticipation of V Nightclub and Highland Club to seal the Fourth & Colorado deal as Austin’s gay hub, and while we currently have no specific “lesbian” space, more and more businesses and groups are making sure lesbians have space and lesbians are sharing with sisters (trans, bi, ally) of all stripes: BookWoman, Lesbutante & the Boss, the Rusty’s Reunion crew at Maria’s Taco Xpress, Club Lezlife, Where the Girls Go – ATX. Special events have also blossomed and taken root: the eruption of Queerbomb, Austin Pride’s ever-steady and exciting growth, OUTsider, aGLIFF/Polari, StarGayzer, the International Drag Festival, and more. As word of our great LGBTQ fests spreads, it only stands to reason that our welcome mat is unmistakeable for visitors who either fit the bill directly (are gay) or who appreciate the openness that our city espouses and come out as allies because they know and love our reputation as an accommodating place.

AUSTIN PROUD The history of Austin Pride is not half as intriguing as its current state. Sure, how we got here informs where we are, but let’s save that twisted tale for another day.

Let’s mull over how the last few years, lead

by Austin Gay & Lesbian Pride Foundation president and local real estate honcho Paul Huddleston and curated/booked by the clever, creative, and very well-connected Nathan James Garcia have taken Austin Pride to other-worldly other levels. Since 2011, when this team began to reflect the sophistication of a mid-sized city – one that hosts international acts on a daily (nightly) basis. Once the annual parade took back the night, as it were, in 2012, the number of

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Austin Gay & Lesbian Pride Foundation president Paul Huddleston. Credit: CELESTA DANGER

participants and spectators began to climb skyward.

In 2011, the daytime parade maybe hit 10,000 viewers, but the number in 2013 destroyed that count that 10 times over.

Last year’s parade was a landmark with over 100 marching, rolling contingents and over 100,000 spectators.

Part of the story of Pride’s past includes Austin’s queer community decidedly breaking ranks and forming Queerbomb! a rally, procession, and after party that now takes Austin Pride’s previous slot on the first week in June to honor of the radical heritage which exploded in the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Austin Pride has, since 2011, occupied a September slot, and has put their stamp on the month as a fitting bookend to what could be seen – what with the state of Texas’ variety of Pride festival dates and the growth of the summer Splash! parties – as an entire summer season of celebration.

And for anyone who worried that Austin could not handle two LGBTQ fests or that the rift between Queerbomb and Pride communities would never meet, go hang out with the parade crowd this year. The energies between the two are similar and giddily palpable.

THE NEW KIDS AND THE OLD GUARD By the time this issue goes to press, September in Central Texas will already have already witnessed a veritable queer roll-out rivaling the packed schedules of any big-city gay party.

SMTX PRIDE Austin’s little sister city to the south, San Marcos, home of Texas State University just held its first ever Pride celebration.

SMTX Pride was – as cliched as it might read – the brainchild and labor of love of hard-working LGBTQ social-scenester Silvia Sandoval. Sandoval began hosting the city’s monthly Rainbow Nights in whatever venue would open its doors to the crew of LGBTQ revelers who wished for community party options closer to home than the necessary drives to either San Antonio or Austin that finding gay bars used to require.

Then last year, Sandoval decided to turn her June Rainbow Night into a de facto Pride party and the wheels started turning.

Over 200 people turned out at the VFW

SMTX Pride’s Sylvia Sandoval Credit: DEVAKI KNOWLES

hall that allowed the fiesta, and friends of Sandoval urged her to continue the tradition. Someone suggested that she consider holding the 2014 event later in the season, to accommodate the return of the Bobcat student population. It snowballed from there. Two dozen or so vendors expressed interest is setting up at the fest and by press time, over 60 parade participants had signed up. Since Sandoval solidified the schedule of the town’s first Pride, news broke that a local club owner would open a gay bar right on the square, a dream Sandoval had had for years and fully supports (because now, she doesn’t have to run it). For the first time, San Marcos may have a chance at an organized LGBTQ community.

AGLIFF/POLARI Austin’s gay film festival, much like Austin Pride has seen its share of roller coaster narratives over her 27 years.

But 2014 puts the beloved fest at home in the newly opened Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar and in the theatre chain’s ticketing system which will surely ease the distribution and increase sales to the various screenings, according to Aaron Yeats, current executive director.

Last year, the festival drew over 10,000

29

attendees, he says, “About 10% of them were from out of town.” The nonprofit’s decision to reemphasize the original name “aGLIFF,” which stands for Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival over the rebrand Polari from the last two years is a decision Yeats feels good about, too.

“People have been saying, ‘Oh, I’m glad you’re back!’ They thought we went dark, but we’ve been here!” He feels the namerecognition will help bring regulars and newcomers to fill the seats.

SPLASH! Even a parched Texas in drought can’t keep the boys off of the boats. The tradition of Austin Splash! goes back decades when the city drew folks from the dusty sticks to come frolic in the cool waters of clothingoptional Hippie Hollow during the day and in the clubs at night. Back then, the series of events (First Spash on Memorial Day weekend, a Splash around Fourth of July, and Last Splash! on Labor Day weekend) was hosted by the now defunct Austin Tavern Guild. Now the event is focused on

30

the last weekend of summer and has its own organization. The tradition of Texans from less-gay-friendly climes is alive and well at Splash! in 2014. It’s an essential cooling agent in the Texas heat.

STARGAYZER One popular component to Austin’s annual Queerbomb gathering is the procession’s after party. Local musician/DJ JJ Booya, aka Brent Hornsby, known by most as

Christeene’s DJ was also one of the original QB founders. One of his roles in QB was the party man, coordinating the afterparty’s sound and lights and taking a shift or two at the turntables.

Between his savvy at the QB party helm, his international experience touring with Christeene, and in doing sound and lights for the springtime’s GayBiGayGay postSXSW music showcase, StarGayzer makes perfect sense as a natural next step. With the combined forces of Tisha Sparks (DJ Young Creature) and Hornsby, the nascent queer music festival (with film, comedy, drag, and yoga -!- components) has managed to amass one of the best concentrated and most provocative line-ups of LGBTQ talent, local, national, abroad, and expressing a rainbow of proclivities: Big Freedia, JD Samson, Big Dipper, Yo Majesty. Kingdom, Mykki Blanco, The Crystal Ark, Cazwell, Cakes da Killa, Hi Fashion, Fea, and that’s not even a third. The inaugural fest ran three days and nights at Pine Street Station (the original HOPE Farmers Market site and where Fader Fort happens during SXSW).

INFORMATION, PLEASE Splash!

Annually on Labor Day weekend at Hippie Hollow and in many of the gay clubs. splashdays.com

SMTX Pride

First weekend in September on the Square in San Marcos. facebook. com/SMTX.PRIDE

aGLIFF/Polari

Annually in September at the Alamo Drafthouse South. agliff.org

StarGayzer

Annually in September, Pine Street Station. stargayzerfest.com

Austin Pride

This year, Sat., Sept. 13 - Sun., Sept.

21 at Fiesta Gardens and a variety of locations. austinpride.org

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+ + + + REPRESENT

+ + + +

BY JOHN EGAN

High stakes for LGBTQ interests spice up this upcoming election This year, six LGBTQ candidates have been on election ballots in the Austin area. Sounds quite impressive, right? Well, let’s do the math.

candidates just isn’t enough, especially given Austin’s high percentage of same-sex couples and Austin’s status as one of the country’s gay-friendliest cities.

One of those candidates, Celia Israel, now represents District 50 in the Texas House.

Another of those contenders, Josiah Ingalls, recently dropped out of his race for the District 7 seat on the newly configured Austin City Council. A third candidate, Garry Brown, lost his bid for the Precinct 2 post on the Travis County Commissioners Court.

“It is no secret that the Austin area is more progressive than the rest of the state; however, the LGBT community has few elected officials in Austin or throughout the state,” Minor says. “In Texas, we are craving more diversity and better representation among our elected officials. Candidates recognize the need, are stepping up, and placing their names on the ballot.”

This means the LGBTQ community already has one of its own in political office in the Austin area, leaving three local LGBTQ candidates still in the running: Louie Minor, who’s trying to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. John Carter, whose district covers Williamson and Bell counties; Tina Cannon, competing for the new District 10 spot on the Austin City Council; and Jimmy Flannigan, pursuing the new District 6 seat on the council.

Political observers applaud the number of LGBTQ candidates seeking political office this year, but they say half a dozen

Rich Bailey, treasurer of the Stonewall Democrats of Austin, says that the more LGBTQ candidates and elected officials there are in the Austin area, the more likely LGBTQ issues are to be taken seriously and discussed, and the less likely it is that antigay measures will be enacted.

“While our community has many wonderful pro-equality allies serving in elected office, they rarely have the personal experience of what the LGBTQ community has to deal with on a day-to-day basis,” Bailey says.

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Bailey points to a 1994 movement led by social conservatives that succeeded in

“

“The great irony of my race is that the only people who seem to care about my being LGBT are downtown liberals who think a gay guy can’t get elected in Northwest Austin,” Flannigan says. “The residents of my district have been very supportive and care only about my ability to work across the city to

The council’s new 10-1 setup could lead to more conservative voices and stances on what’s been a traditionally progressive council but having a politically HQJDJHG /*%74 FRPPXQLW\ DQG RXW HOHFWHG RIÀFLDOV can make all the difference

taking away domestic partner benefits for City of Austin employees. It took years to reinstate those benefits. “Having a politically engaged LGBTQ community and out elected officials are ways to guard against those types of things from happening again,” Bailey says.

Of course, the 2014 LGBTQ slate doesn’t constitute the first out candidates to run for – and win – political office in the Austin area. In 1991, Glen Maxey of Austin became the first openly gay member of the Texas House; he held the House seat until 2003.

Six years later, Margo Frasier was elected as the first openly gay sheriff not only in Travis County but also in Texas; she served until 2005. Three years after Frasier stepped down, Randi Shade became the first openly gay member of the Austin City Council; she lost her re-election bid in 2011. And in 2012, the Dr. Rev. Jayme Mathias was the first openly gay candidate to be elected to the Austin Independent School District’s Board of Trustees.

In 2014, though, the sheer number of LGBTQ candidates on various ballots in the region is the story. This demonstrates that the LGBTQ community can field “well-qualified, credible candidates across the board where their sexual orientation is merely a part of who they instead of their most visible qualification,” Bailey says.

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Indeed, LGBTQ candidates say voters have made little fuss over their sexual orientation.

By and large, voters are far more interested in how these candidates will address dollarsand-cents and quality-of-life issues, not social issues, candidates say.

“

“Transgender issues especially require a sensitivity that isn’t always readily understood by current elected officials.”

This is especially important for the City Council, he says. That’s because the council’s new 10-1 setup – 10 council members representing geographic districts and the mayor representing the entire city – could lead to more conservative voices and stances on what’s been a traditionally progressive council, Bailey says.

fix the problems we face in traffic, water, affordability, and public safety.”

However, this doesn’t equate to LGBTQ candidates dismissing LGBTQ issues. For instance, Cannon is advocating creation of an LGBTQ community resource center and is pushing for Austin to host the Gay Games.

At the federal level, Minor promises to seek passage of the long-stalled Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Cannon said her sexual orientation wasn’t a hindrance when she unsuccessfully ran for City Council in 2012 and hasn’t been one this time around.

“Austin is a welcoming town – this we all know. I am sure there are some out there that will not vote for me because of that [sexual orientation] or because I am prochoice or that I like the color green,” Cannon says. “People have their reasons, and as long as the dialogue is open and honest, we are all good.”

Nonetheless, there remain pockets of Austin and Travis County where being LGBTQ is a “nonstarter” for political candidates, Brown says. The current reality doesn’t dampen Brown’s hopes for the future, though.

“I think that we’ll see many more LGBT folks running for office and many more actually winning,” he says.

WHO’S WHO

in Central Texas’ LGBT political scene

Celia Israel

Louie Minor

Tina Cannon

Jimmy Flannigan

Garry Brown

Glen Maxey

On the flip side of Brown’s “nonstarter” reference, it’s worth noting that Cannon, Flannigan, and Minor are all from geographic areas that aren’t particularly liberal. Cannon’s and Flannigan’s adjoining districts consume big chunks of West Austin and Northwest Austin, while Minor’s district is dominated by suburbs like Round Rock and Georgetown, as well as by Fort Hood and its neighboring communities.

To Flannigan, this “shows that the experience and leadership required to run for office isn’t limited to certain parts of town, and isn’t limited based on one’s demographics.”

Maxey says: “The most important thing for candidates today is that the ‘negative’

of being queer has dissipated. It’s almost unheard of in Austin for an opponent to make an issue of someone’s sexual orientation.

There is not a district in Austin today where that can be done and have a positive effect for the gay-baiting opponent.”

Maxey says that even when he and Frasier were running for office, being openly gay actually was a “huge plus” in Austin and Travis County.

“Austin is a diverse community with a higher-than-usual number of LGBTQ folks residing here. It’s an inviting community for our families, and the gay community gives back in a big way. Just as the business and social fabric in Austin is laced with LGBT folks,

35

so is the political and voting community,” Maxey says. “Sexual orientation is not a negative in this city; in fact, it sets you apart as the progressive candidate.”

Bailey says this year’s LGBTQ political lineup in the Austin area portends a positive shift in the attitudes of local voters.

“In the future, the sexual orientation of a candidate will cease to be an issue and more LGBTQ candidates will run. Voters will look for the most qualified and capable candidates to address their concerns,” Bailey says. “With the projected demographic shift in Texas that will turn our state from red to blue and with the LGBTQ community overwhelmingly

36

Democratic, we need to be prepared for a new generation of leaders in the Legislature and around the state.”

AGLCC At-Large board member John Egan is editor in chief of SpareFoot, an Austin, Texasbased company that operates the country’s largest online marketplace for self-storage units. A graduate of the University of Kansas, John has more than 25 years of experience in journalism, brand journalism, public relations, and blogging.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2014, 7am-7pm. For information about local general elections as well as controversial new Voter ID requirements, check out the nonpartisan League of Women Voters at www.lwvaustin.org.

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37

THIN RAINBOW LINE

The Lesbian and Gay Peace Officer Association of Austin keeps a certain peace

BY SARAH MARLOFF

3838

S

INCE THE NEW YORK CITY BAR RAIDS that led to the 1969 Stonewall Riots, cops and the gay community haven’t had the most symbiotic of relationships.

Unsurprisingly, the murky history of abuse, neglect, and blind eyes has left a residue of mistrust between the two parties.

Enter the Lesbian and Gay Peace Officer Association of Austin and associations like it across the country. Formed in 2009, the LGPOA is hard at work to clean up that reputation and offer support to the greater LGBTQ community throughout the state of Texas.

“Growing up in San Antonio, [I never knew] a role model out there to educate young gays; no one was saying, ‘It’s okay to be gay, and you can still be successful,’” says Detective Mike Crumrine, the president and founding member of the non-profit organization.

“It’s a big keystone for us to dispel those old myths.”

With a not-so-small task at hand, the LGPOA uses their three core values – service, protection, and education – to achieve their mission. On any given day they can be found training new cadets, protecting both queer officers and civilians, and working with the general public in regards to LGBTQ equality. “I want the community to know that there’s an organization of cops who happen to be gay.

Not only are we part of your community, we’re here for you if you’re struggling with being gay,” Crumrine insists.

But in a world where actions speak the loudest, the organization knows it must lead by example to have greater impact.

In 2012 – less than two years after Dan Savage created the “It Gets Better Project” as a response to the horrendous number of queer youth suicides in 2010 – Austin’s LGPOA released their own “It Gets Better” video. “We were the second or third police association in the country to make one,” says Crumrine. The touching seven-minute long video received a tremendous amount of support. “Several youth who were being discriminated against wrote that we gave them hope, and that if there are gay police officers – in Texas of all places – saying life gets better, than it must.”

When they’re not busy filming inspirational videos, the organization can be found working with Out Youth. They also have big plans to collaborate with the Austin Independent School District, as well as

local universities, as a resource for LGBTQ students. But their focus is larger than just the queer community. A major goal of the association is to bridge the gap between the gay and straight worlds. For Crumrine, that bridge lies somewhere between education and visibility. “It’s hard to hate somebody once you see them as a person. All we are is a bunch of dudes and dudettes who just want to have the same benefits and experience, and love and tragedy that everyone else does.”

As with many others in the LGBTQ community, gay marriage is one of the major “benefits” – or rights – for which the LGPOA is actively fighting. Earlier this year, the association gladly signed on to an amicus brief for a federal court case, to declare their support for marriage equality. “This brief is a way to notify the court that are in support of one side of the case or another,” explains Crumrine. “We were contacted by friends of the plaintiff in order to lend support to their appeals.” Though the case was argued in San Antonio, it is now awaiting a hearing in the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal in New Orleans.

Though a large portion of the work they do is focused outside of the police force, the organization’s original goal was to make the force not only a safe place for gays to work, but also a positive one. “Most of us who formed this organization are older – we’re not gays in our 20s. Many of us distinctly remember when we’d be in gay bars and would have to hide when the cops came in,” says Crumrine, who admits that he too lived the same secret life in multiple departments within the force before coming to Austin.

Yet, even in Austin, the system needed some work. The creation of the LGPOA was spurred on five years ago, after two female officers didn’t receive promotions because their orientation was a topic of conversation between several senior [male] officers.

“We started to put our minds together when that incident happened in our precinct,” Crumrine explains. “But it was Sergeants Mary Hesalroad and Bruce Friar who were integral to our formation. It was their idea.”

Crumrine, Steven McCormick (former LGPOA president), and a dozen other officers took their idea and together created Austin’s first official – and “as far as we know”– only Lesbian and Gay Peace Officer Association in the state of Texas.

39

Screen shots from the Austin Police Department-produced video to participate in the national “It Gets Better” campaign

Unlike many associations within a police force, this motley crew of detectives, officers, commanders, and sergeants made sure to make their group as inclusive as possible.

“Usually these types of organizations are there to help sworn members, but few are for civilian staff members as well. We made sure that it was written into policy and procedure to protect LGBT individuals’ rights regardless of which department they work in.” The Austin association is also open to retired police officers.

For those on the outside, it can be easy to overlook the obstacles a gay person might face upon becoming a cop, and the discrimination one might face from both civilians and officers. “As an organization, we will continue to fight for officer rights, but we have the potential to do much more,” says Crumrine. “LGPOA members have the opportunity to be great role models for

40

the department and the youth. We realize that over the years, law enforcement and the judicial system have not been the most accepting of the queer community, and we want to change that.”

In regards to Austin’s LGBTQ community and the Fourth Street strip of gay bars, Crumrine says that – for the most part – the police force is respected. However, he admits that some people are less receptive to cops, regardless of their orientation. “It was a hard concept for me to learn when I became a cop. Some people just aren’t going to like me because of what I do.” But it all comes back to education and open dialogue. “Initially, those people who were quick to attack us, have later stepped in and stopped others from doing so,” says Crumrine.

“I’ll also add that as much as I’d like to say that everyone who’s wearing a badge is nice and

accepting, it’s not always true. But the vast majority of us take our job seriously. I have a partner, and a daughter, and a mortgage.

And my job is to take care of you as much as I can.” Protecting Austin is something Crumrine and the rest of the LGPOA take very seriously. He acknowledges that while hate crimes have been known to happen around town, they are few and far between.

Since its formation, the organization is becoming better known within the police department. In fact, for the last several years they’ve been given permission to participate in Austin’s Pride Parade. “Marching in uniform, with our cars, and holding hands with our spouses has been both an incredible and impactful experience,” says Crumrine, whose devotion to making Austin an even greater city reaches further than Pride.

“

Bridging the gap between the gay and straight worlds lies somewhere between education and visibility

“

“I want to the LGBTQ community to know that they’ll be believed,” Crumrine, who’s spent years working in the sex crimes unit, emphasizes. “If you’re being victimized, or in an abusive relationship we will be here for you, to protect you, because you are important. If you have questions or concerns – there are people here to help you.”

However, Crumrine also stresses that in an emergency, people should always call 911, instead of trying to reach the LPGOA. “If you want to follow up with us, mention it to the officers, and they’ll relay it to us.

But your safety is the immediate concern.

And I have the utmost confidence that any member of the Austin Police Department to respond well if my life, or a loved one, was threated.”

Sarah Marloff is a regular contributor to both The Agenda and The Austin Chronicle’s “The Gay Place,” where she pens a weekly online column and event organizing gig both named “Where the Girls Go – ATX.” She also works closely with WTGG’s founding chapter in Washington, D.C., and is the Entertainment Editor at SharpHeels. com.

Find contact information for the Lesbian and Gay Peace Officer Association of Austin on page 47 of our AGLCC member listings.

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42

The

Appian Gay

Finding community in historic and contemporary Italy

BY ANDY CAMPBELL

43

Siena, Italy, 1424. Some history:

St. Bernardino tells the gathered crowd that, as in nearby Genoa, they should move to burn all the sodomites in their city, “To the fire!” he screams. Even if – and this is perhaps the most important part of Bernardino’s reactionary sermon – “they had to burn every male in the city.” Not simply the hyperbole of a hyperventilating zealot, St. Bernardino’s damning invective points its finger at a culture of permissiveness that had sprung up regarding homosexual activity in several places in the loose conglomeration of states that we now identify as modern Italy.

There was no word for homosexuality in Renaissance Italy, as homosexuality had not yet coalesced into an identity category (that wouldn’t be until the 19th century). Instead, male-to-male sexual relationships were defined solely in relation to the biblical tale of Sodom and Gomorrah.

So pervasive was sodomy in places like Florence, that it became known in French as the “Florentine Vice.” The Germans even coined a euphemistic verb to describe the association, Florenzen, “to Florence.”

By the way: harder to pinpoint, yet perhaps as broadly practiced, woman-to-woman sexual relationships in Renaissance Italy (donna con donna), were largely left alone

44

by the religious preachings of St. Bernardino and his ilk. Their “friendships” were then associated with the pagan goddess Diana, who bathed her nymphs in preparation for marriage.

Fast forward to today: Italian cities host a variety of Pride celebrations, and each bespeaks something of the region. Most of the Italian Pride events are held in the month of June, and Italians’ Facebook pages are littered with reference to Stonewall and liberation – making the case that the Stonewall Riots have become an international symbol of LGBTQ resistance.

Within Italy, the Catholic Church, which despite currently having a more-liberal leaning/seeming Pope, still denounces homosexuality, and this dramatically inflects LGBTQI politics in the country.

Bologna is ground zero for gay Pride and gay rights organizations. The city, with its long-established university, has long been the center of left-leaning activism in Italy.

In fact, there are two Pride celebrations, the official Bologna Pride, and a counterPride, organized by queer-anarchist groups, throwing attention on issues of economic disparity, homelessness, and racism. This past year, counter-Pride demonstrations focused on the possible eviction of the 15-year-old Atlantide squat, long a hotbed

Photo credits: Roma Pride; Giovanni Rodella via wikipink

of radical queer politics. The Cassero LGBT center in Bologna (www.cassero.it) offers a variety of programs ranging from legal services to LGBT senior care. Arcigay is the national LGBT nonprofit consortium (www.arcigay.it) that has historically advocated for civil unions for Italians.

Their home-base, too, is in Bologna, but most gay clubs and bars require an ArciGay membership card to enter (a way, in part, to ensure the safety of their patrons).

Rome, considered one of the most cosmopolitan places in Italy, is also host to Vatican City. Historically this proximity has put something of a damper on gay cultural life in The Eternal City. But in the Summer months, Rome explodes. Gay Village (www.gayvillage.it) is a summerlong, outdoor music, film, and social festival held in historic parkland near Rome’s EUR (a district famed for Mussolini’s fascist building program). And Roma Pride (www. romapride.it), which celebrated its 20th anniversary this past summer, put forth “Ci Vediamo Fuori” (“Let’s see you out there”), a brilliant media campaign which invited local/ national officials and political activists to put rainbow-colored paint on their cheeks, as though they were going into battle. LGBTQI folks of every age and stripe gather in Piazza della Repubblica for dancing and drinking, and then march down to the Colosseum.

Named after Mario Mieli, an Italian activist and writer (“Towards a Gay Communism”),

The Mario Mieli Homosexual Cultural Circle (www.mariomieli.net) has been historically at the forefront of HIV/AIDS education and treatment since the early days of the pandemic. Often deploying flamboyant public campaigns, like their namesake, the group is a mainstay of Roman queer life. Recently, the Mario Mieli circle has also taken up Mario Mielli at the educational programs first Gay Film/ aimed at eradicating Theater/Music Fest in Parma, 1977. transphobia.

Strangely, although Florence has historically been associated with homosexuality, the city currently does not hold a Pride parade, festival, or rally. The closest Florence comes to a Pride event is a large musicalstyle review that takes place outside of the summer months. Rather, Florence is known for small and cozy spaces where LGBTQI folks can commune. One such space is Piccolo Café located near Piazza Santa Croce. By far, one of the most integrated (meaning you’ll see folks of all gender and sexualities) spaces in Italy, it plays host to art exhibitions, cultural events, and throws a mean dance party.

For the past two years Andy has been a faculty member with Texas State University’s study abroad in Florence program. He is currently figuring out how to get back for Summer 2015, to see the Venice Biennale, and have a Moscow mule at QueLo. Be sure to check our directory of AGLCC members in the back of the issue for resources to help with travel arrangements. The Friends & Family Travel listings are on page 57.

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Law Office of

KELLEY J. DWYER, PLLC WWW .DWYERLAWAU STIN. COM

Estate Planning Business Law

46

proud membe r since 20 09

friends & FamIly A directory of current AGLCC members

These LGBTQ-owned and -friendly establishments keep it real.

Show ‘em some love.

CIVIC A*FAB Help for fellow nonprofits. afabaustin.com ACC GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE 254/338-5688, facebook.com/accgsa AIDS SERVICES OF AUSTIN HIV/ AIDS care in Austin. 7215 Cameron, 512/458-2437, asaustin.org 6 AISD COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT This Austin Independent School District department links employees, parents, families, and the community to one another.

512/414-9832, austinisd.org ALLGO Statewide resource for LGBTQ people of color. 512/4722001, allgo.org AMERICAN MILITARY PARTNER ASSOCIATION Drop and give us 20 (hugs for partners and spouses of LGBTQ service personnel and vets). Ten hut! 202/695-AMPA (2672), militarypartners.org AUSTIN ART IN PUBLIC PLACES Local & national artists imbue Austin into cultural landmarks. austintexas.gov/department/art-inpublic-places

AUSTIN GAY & LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Austin’s colorful rainbow umbrella for gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses.

512/761-LGBT, info@aglcc.org, aglcc.org

AUSTIN LGBT BAR ASSOCIATION Working to promote and unite the LGBT legal community in the often byzantine realm of law. austinlgbtbar.org

AUSTIN GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL Founded in 1987.

512/302-9889, polarifest.com

AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION Standing in solidarity with the thin LGBT blue line. 512/474-6993, austinpolice.com

AUSTIN GAY & LESBIAN PRIDE FOUNDATION Austin + Pride You = AUSTIN ROUNDUP Sobriety in the The LGBTQ community’s biggest LGBTQIATX. austinroundup.com party, fest, and parade of the year.

512/468-8113, austinpride.org AUSTIN WEIRD CITY SISTERS Like real nuns, these sisses are all about the service (and the AUSTIN GAY & LESBIAN SENIOR getting down on the knees…).

SERVICES To ensure everyone’s weirdcitysisters.wordpress.com golden years are rainbow hued.

512/628-1694, aglss.org BOBCAT PRIDE SCHOLARSHIP AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FUND Support for our LGBTQ Texas Staters. Go, Bobcats!

Through faith in action, Austin bobcatpridescholarship.com Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. 512/472CAPITAL METRO Get around with 8788, www.austinhabitat.org Austin’s public transportation hub.

512/474-1200, capmetro.org AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL DRAG FOUNDATION, INC. Made up of THE CARE COMMUNITIES Caring a group of individuals of various for those living with HIV/AIDS backgrounds that have come and cancer. 512/459-5883, together through a common love thecarecommunities.org for the drag community. Providing exposure and support for the drag CLASSIC CHASSIS CAR CLUB artist community. 512/850-6707, AUSTIN Classic car enthusiasts. facebook.com/austindragfest classicchassis.org/austin

: = Gold Sponsor

9 = Silver Sponsor

6 = Bronze Sponsor

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EQUALITY TEXAS Our front line at the Texas Lege. 512/474-5475, allison@equalitytexas.org, equalitytexas.org

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN – AUSTIN Steering committee of the national organization. hrc.org/states/ texas

FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1314 E. Oltorf, 512/444-1314 faithpresaustin.org

JEWISH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTIN Enhancing Jewish life in Austin & around the world through community, philanthropy, education, social service, culture, spirituality & total wellness. 7300 Hart Lane, shalomaustin.org

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Welcome and inviting church.1201 Lavaca, 512/478-5384, contact@fumcaustin.org, fumcaustin.org GATHERING PLACE WORSHIP CENTER Bible-believing, Christcentered, spirit-filled church. 7801 N Lamar, 512/323-9501, gpwcaustin.org GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE WARRIORS These Texas A&M University GSA warriors fight for education, equality, and acceptance, regardless of how you swing and how you present.

1001 Leadership Place, Killeen, 254/501-5874 GENTLEMEN OVER 30, INC. A social organization that provides mature gay and bisexual men and others who enjoy their company opportunities to enrich their lives by building friendships in a safe and supportive environment. austinptww.org THE HANDSOME FATHER A community for gay dads and gay dads-to-be. 512/565-0506, brian. stephens@thehandsomefather.org, thehandsomefather.org HILL COUNTRY RIDE FOR AIDS Ride your bike; help fight AIDS. Raise funds in this late-April charity ride for non-profits fighting the good fight.

512/371-7433, hillcountryride.org

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THE JOULE SCHOOL Gay-friendly private school located in North Austin/Cedar Park. We have a hands-on academic program which includes Latin, Gardening, Programming, and Cooking in addition to a full complement of academic courses. 818/925-6853, www.jouleschool.com LEGALIZE HUMAN Envisioning a society where people are equal in all aspects of life. 512/659-6617, legalize.human@gmail.com, facebook. com/legalize.human LESBIAN & GAY PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION Supporting LGBT sworn, civilian, and retired members of the Austin Police Department. lgpoa-austin.org LIFE IN THE CITY SERVICE: FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Broadway fills us up when we didn’t even know we were empty.

512/478-5684, fumcaustin.org YOUTH & FAMILY ALLIANCE: LIFEWORKS Helping youth and families achieve self-sufficiency.

3700 S. First, 512/735-2400, lifeworksaustin.org LIZZY’S HOSPICE HOUSE Providing a caring, loving environment for pets that are terminally ill. 512/6999855, lizzyshospice.com

LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS OF AUSTIN Austin’s chapter. 512/4285475 THE OCTOPUS CLUB Raising the big bucks through fab parties for AIDS Services of Austin. octopusclub.org OUT YOUTH Support for our LGBTQ (or questioning) kids. 909 E. 49 1/2, 512/419-1233, out@outyouth. org, outyouth.org OUTSIDER FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL A multi-arts LGBTQIA festival based in Austin. 831/332-0878, www.OUTsiderfest.org PFLAG AUSTIN Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays 512/302-3524, PFLAGAustin.org PROJECT TRANSITIONS Serving Austin’s HIV/AIDS community.

512/454-8646, projecttransitions.org RAINFOREST PARTNERSHIP Tropical rainforest sustainability through civic engagement. rainforestpartnership.org SAN ANTONIO LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Where LGBT and LGBT-friendly biz concerns in SA meet. sagaychamber.com SANGHALINK Online connection and support for LGBTQ high school students. www.sanghalink.org START OUT Champions for LGBT entrepreneurs. startout.org STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF AUSTIN The Austin affiliate of the National Stonewall Democratic Federation, stonewallaustin.org

TEAM PROHOMO The beasts behind the weekly Queer Ride and other most excellent Austin adventures. teamprohomo.org TEXAS ADVOCACY PROJECT Free legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 800/374-4673, texasadvocacyproject.org TRANSGENDER EDUCATION NETWORK OF TEXAS Educating the State of Texas about gender diversity. 877/532-6789, info@ transtexas.org, transtexas.org THE UNITED COURT OF AUSTIN, INC. Providing financial and physical support to other charitable organizations. unitedcourtofaustin.org UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH Come worship with “Austin’s progressive voice of faith.” 2130 Guadalupe, 512/478-8559, ubcaustin.org UT AUSTIN GLBTQA BUSINESS STUDENT ASSOCIATION What do you have in your wallet? A stash of $3 bills, we bet. texasgbsa.com WATERLOO COUNSELING CENTER Austin’s nonprofit hub for LGBTQ support and support groups. 314 E. Highland Mall Blvd., #301, 512/4449922, waterloocounseling.org THE WRIGHT HOUSE WELLNESS CENTER Working to improve the lives of those living with, affected by, or at-risk for HIV and Hep C. 512/467-0088, thewrighthouse.org

DESIGN & MEDIA APROPOS PROMO Swaggy promotions suited to your specific needs. 10601 FM 2222 Ste R-163, 512/241-1479, 888/705-2522, apropospromo.com ART DIVA CREATIVE Specializing in print and web graphic design for small businesses, non-profits, and special events. 512/934-8088, artdivacreative.com THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE Free altnewsweekly. Home of the “Gay Place” column and blog. 512/4545766, austinchronicle.com/gay BAD JOHNPAUL PHOTOGRAPHY facebook.com/badjohnpaul BLOGPHILO NEW MEDIA Copywriting, filmmaking, and social media consulting. 512/5165544, brian.boyko@gmail.com, blogphilo.com BRENDA THOMPSON COMMUNICATIONS Providing strategic public relations counsel services 512/461-5644, brendathompson.com CELESTA DANGER PHOTOGRAPHY Brilliant art photography.

Specializes in unique and unabashed portraiture. celestadanger.com CORPOREAL.US A tech startup developing a platform for the LGBT community.

CURRY COMM Be it a brand new site, public relation polish, or just some good ol’ fashion social media, Curry Comm can make you shine. 919/623-1956, info@ currycomm.com, www.currycomm.com DRAKELIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY Pretty or gritty: photos of people, the fire in their lives and the passions they pursue.

512/850-6326, facebook.com/ drakelightphotography FUN LOVING PHOTOS Count on Devaki Knowles to capture your good side. 512/298-9249, devakiknowles@gmail.com, funlovingphotos.net GAY PLACE ONLINE Steer here, queers to the home of Dandy Unicornn, the Gay Place Krewe, the AggreGAYtor, Where the Girls Go/ATX, Mo’ Music, and the one, the only, the original gAyTX Fun Guide. 512/454-5766, gayplace@ austinchronicle.com, austinchronicle. com/gay JANA BIRCHUM PHOTO-VIDEO A photographer, video producer for the web, and a storyteller looking for a story to tell.

Specifically yours. 512/297-7821, janabirchum.com MERCURY MAMBO A marketing agency focused experiential marketing, digital and sales promotion with a Latin flare.

512/447-4440, mercurymambo.com OUTCAST, KOOP 91.7 FM Tune your FM to 91.7 every Tuesday at 6pm. info@outcast.com, outcastaustin.com

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POSTNET - FAR WEST For all your printy needs. 3571 Far West, 512/231-1321, postnet.com/austin-tx157 SHWEIKI MEDIA Heavy-duty industry publishers for all your gloss and matte needs. 512/4800860, shweiki.com SITE STREET From the ABCs of SEO to crossing the Ts and dotting the Is of your web presence. 3009 N. Lamar Ste 3, 832-8383, sitestreet.com THEREPUBLIQ Chase Martin’s publication. therepubliq.com TODD V. WOLFSON PHOTOGRAPHY For over 30 years, this regular Chronicle contributor has covered Austin’s creative class with class. facebook.com/toddvwolfson30years, toddvwolfsonphotographer.tumblr.com

ENTERTAINMENT AUSTIN CHAMBER MUSIC CENTER Expanding appreciation of chamber music. 3814 Medical Pkwy, 512/454-0026, austinchambermusic.org AUSTIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The high art part of the Live Music Capital of the Planet. austinsymphony.org CAPITAL CITY MENS CHORUS 512/477-SING, info@ccmcaustin.org, ccmcaustin.org CASTRO’S WAREHOUSE A boy bar named after the gayest neighborhood this side of the Mississippi. 213 W 4th, 512/3229981, www.castroswarehouse.com THE CITY THEATRE COMPANY New works, comedies, classics, and musicals. 3823 Airport, Ste.D, 512/524-2870, citytheatreaustin.org

DEPARTURE LOUNGE Upscale, high-tech coffee and wine bar/travel agency. 311 W 5th St., Ste.102, 512/322-9399, departurelounge.com DJS FINE & DANDY W/ KATE & ANDY 100% local, 100% loungey, 100% vinyl chill. 512/217-9223, facebook.com/djsfinedandywithkateandy DOZEN STREET We are a central East Side neighborhood bar with great art, music, and a full bar. 1808 E 12th, 512/236-1770, dozenstreet.com HIGHLAND LOUNGE Austin’s upscale gay bar, lounge and dance club located in the heart of downtown. 404 Colorado, highlandlounge.com

6 RAIN ON 4TH One of the mighty cornerstones of Austin’s gay warehouse district. 217 W. Fourth, 512/4941150, rainon4th.com STARBUCK WEDDINGS Minister, officiant, counselor. 512/9060163, info@starbuckweddings.com, sacredaffairs.com STARGAYZER EVENTS, LLC There’s a new queer music festival coming to town. Everyone’s invited; everyone’s excited. 512/571-3522, stargayzerfestival.com

WHERE THE GIRLS GO–ATX Austin’s queer grrrl promoters.

Putting the queer back in girl, and inclusive back in dance parties, THE IRON BEAR When the teddy these ladies offer trans-positive, bears leave the picnic, they hit up all-gender-inclusive, anti-isms/ists, their favorite party spot. 121 W 8th, pro-makeout spaces. facebook.com/ roger@theironbear.com, theironbear.com wherethegirlsgoATX LONE STAR LAMBDAS Boot scoot on over for a good time. 512/4181629, lonestarlambdas.org THE LONG CENTER Home of Austin’s creative community.

512/474-5664, thelongcenter.org OILCAN HARRY’S Made Fourth Street what it is today. Fag/faghag HQ. 211 W 4th, 512/320-8823, oilcanharrys.com PARAMOUNT & STATE THEATRES Premiere entertainment venues in downtown Austin. 713 Congress, 512/472-5470, austintheatre.org PLAY! THEATRE GROUP So new, the curtain hasn’t even risen yet. Coming to the Eastside, Fall, 2014. 2411 Princeton, 512/8090050, www.playtheatregroup.org

FINANCIAL AMY COOK, CPA Pride in managing your financial needs.

1514 Corona, 512/419-9696, amy@ acookcpa.com, acookcpa.com ARCHER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Customized investment advice and financial planning for high-income professionals and successful families. 800/840-5946, archerim.com BB&T, BRANCH, BANKING AND TRUST Banking services to help you reach your financial goals. bbt.com BROOKS WATSON BENEFITS Group benefits, individual medical, life insurance, and 401k retirement needs. 512/320-0123, brooks@ bwatsonbenefits.com, bwatsonbenefits.com

Insurance Agency home e | auto | commercial | life

Ian Punjwani Licensed Lic c Sales Agent 3435 3 43 3 Greystone Dr Ste 107 Austin, TX 78731 O Office (512) 345-0005 ia ianpunjwani@allstate.com anp

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COMERICA BANK Personal finance and business banking.

3801 Bee Caves Rd., 512/329-5095 comerica.com 6 CRUNCH TAX SERVICES Individuals and business tax preparation, planning, bookkeeping, consulting.

512/937-2776, crunchtaxservices. com DNA FINANCIAL GROUP Supporting your business growth through health, wealth, and accountability. 512/573-8800, dnafinancialgroup.com EDWARD JONES INVESTMENTS – STEPHANIE EMORY A personal approach to investing and financial planning to help you reach your longterm financial goals. 512/442-5321, stephanie.emory@edwardjones.com : MASSMUTUAL SOUTHWEST Help with decisions for long-term financial success.

512/527-0671, southwest. massmutual.com NEW YORK LIFE Life and longterm care nsurance, annuities, and mutual funds. aeford@ft.newyorklife.com SCHULZE & ASSOCIATES, INC. Over 30 years of financial experience. 512/371-1040, cole@ ledgersheet.net, ledgersheet.net THE SOLOMON GROUP Services for everyone regardless of financial status. 5508 W Hwy 290, Ste. 300, 512/484-9578, afowlkes@ solomonwealth.com, solomonwealth.com SOUTHERLAND & ASSOCIATES An independent insurance and financial services firm. 1715 Capital of Texas Hwy. Ste 201, 512/329-0108, saprotects.com

STRATEGIC PAYMENT SYSTEMS Full-service and cost effective solutions for payment needs.

2013 Wells Branch, 512/807-7015, spsinfo.com 9 VISA INC. Global payments tech company. visa.com WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE Steven Parrish, private mortgage banker. 512/703-0333, steven.parrish@wellsfargo.com, needamortgage.com

FOOD ALFRED’S CATERING Seasoned seasoning pros so thorough, “you’ll be a guest at your own party!” 512/785-8416, alfred@ alfredcatering.com, BeAGuest.net CHARLIEE’S HOT SPOT The only Puerto Rican food truck in Austin. 74 Rainey, 818/255-8110, charlieeshotspot.com CHEZ ZEE AMERICAN BISTRO Romancing Austin since 1988.

5406 Balcones, 512/454-2666, chez-zee.com CLAY PIT Contemporary Indian cuisine served with a warm and inviting ambience. 1601 Guadalupe, 512/322-5131, www.claypit.com

EL SOL Y LA LUNA A great place to bring your amigas y amigos for some of the best Migas on the planet. 600 E 6th, 512/444-7770, elsolylalunaaustin.com 6 FROT VODKA Fraught about where your money goes at a local watering hole? Fret not.

LGBT owned and operated.

512/966-4174, frotvodka.com GENUINE JOE COFFEEHOUSE LGBT and nerd haven up in the ‘burbs. 2001 W Anderson, 512/2201576, genuinejoecoffee.com GUSTO ITALIAN KITCHEN + WINE BAR Everyday flavors of Italian cuisine. 4800 Burnet, 512/4581100, info@gustoitaliankitchen.com, gustoitaliankitchen.com IN GOOD TASTE CATERING & DESIGN Make sure everyone leaves your shindig saying “Omnom-nom.” 512/825-7573, john@ ingoodtaste-catering.com, ingoodtastecatering.com NOURISHMENT PERSONAL CHEF SERVICES Your own private cook in your own private home, serving up local, organic fare. 203/4300196, celeste.gustafson@gmail.com, nourishmentpersonalchefservices.com

HEALTH & FITNESS

CRAVE RESTAURANT Fresh, Vibrant, American. 340 E 2nd, 512/469-0000, ABSOLUTE DERMATOLOGY & MEDI-SPA Medical to cosmetic www.cravetexas.com – you name it, Dr. Honeycutt does it. 1103 Cypress Creek Rd., DUE FORNI PIZZA & WINE Ste.100, Cedar Park, 512/257-7600, Two ovens. Two styles of pizza: absolutedermatology.com, contact@ Neopolitan and Roman. 30 outstanding wines by the glass. 106 absolutedermatology.com E 6th, 512/391-9300, dueforni.com

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ALPHA MEDICAL MASSAGE & REHABILITATION Massage the pain away. 595 Round Rock West Dr, Ste 601, Round Rock, 512/366-5483, alphamedicalmassage.com APOLLO WELLNESS Yoga, fitness training, and holistic care.

512/669-5695, apollowellness.com APRIL O. OWEN, PSY.D., PSYCHOLOGIST Teens, LGBTQ issues, love lives, you name it, she can help. 4425 Mopac S., Bldg.3, Ste.505, 832/421-4968, dr_o@live. com, owenpsychology.com AUSTIN GAMBLERS BOWLING LEAGUE We promised ourselves that we would not make cheap jokes about balls. But come on, you know they’ve got big ones.

512/786-4013, austingamblers@gmail. com, facebook.com/austin.g.league AUSTIN GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE Bounce balls. Shoot hoops. Sign up to play or come out and support.

512/814-6495, info@atxgbl.com, atxgbl.com AUSTIN TENNIS CLUB For LGBT people who ‘love’ to make a racquet. austintennisclub.com

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BIG BLUE EYE CONSULTING, LLC Helping families and individuals overcome chemical dependencies and dual disorders.

1715 Capital of Texas, S., Ste.201, 512/971-4567, kimgallen1@me.com

CYNTHIA NETTING COUNSELING Between couples and individuals, this psychotherapist is here to offer guidance.

1210 Parkway, 512/658-5452, cynthianettingcounseling.com

BODY BRITE A variety of treatments to ake your skin shimmer. 3701 Guadalupe, Ste.105, 512/454-2639, bodybriteusa.com

DEREK LEIGHTON, LMFT, LPC, NCC, CGP Promotes “healthy sexuality” and a better outlook on life. 3534 Bee Caves #114, 512/6582960, leightontherapy.com

BREAZEALE CHIROPRACTIC CENTER Bad back? They can help; have been for 20 years. 1515 Capital of Texas, S., Ste.220, 512/3283881, breazealechiropractic.com CATHERINE M FORD, PHD, PSYCHOLOGIST Psychotherapy for adults: individuals, couples/ family, group, grounded in psychological science and offered in a conversational style.

Specializing in GLB concerns.

512/842-2223, catherine-ford.com CITY OF AUSTIN HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES HIV counseling, testing, and outreach. 15 Waller, 512/972-5580, omar.lopez@ austintexas.gov, austinhiv.com

DR PEA’S ACTIVE HEALTH CENTER Safe and affordable alternatives to toxic drugs and surgery. 1309 Singleton, 512/289-3225, drpeas@ gmail.com, drpea.com FEELGOOD SYNERGY What’s better than a professional massage that comes to you?

Nothing, that’s what. 512/5653406, feelgoodsynergy.abmp.com 9 HAND & STONE MASSAGE & FACIAL SPA Professional massage, facial, and hair removal services. tevans@handandstone.com, handandstone.com

HARMONY HYPNOSIS, AUSTIN’S QUIT SMOKING HEADQUARTERS Stressed out? Smoking too much? Hypnosis can help: Are you getting sleepy? 7703 N. Lamar, Ste.250, 512/200-4249, harmonyhypnotist@gmail.com, hypnosisaustin.com HAUSMAN CHIROPRACTIC & ACUPUNCTURE Your body can heal without the use of traditional medication. 8015 Shoal Creek, Ste.110, 512/4191000, drrobhausman@gmail.com, hausmanchiropractic.com HUMAN MACHINE ATHLETIC CLUB Private training studio that offers experienced, certified trainers for one-on-one and small group personal training. All ages and fitness levels. 512/765-6025, humanmachinetraining.com JEFF LUTES COUNSELING & CONSULTING, LLC Psychotherapist in private practice with a specialty in helping LGBT couples. 512/419-0600, contemporarycouples.com THE JOINT Convenient, friendly, walk-in chiropractic services.

Open weeknights until 7pm and weekends until 4pm.

Memberships available.

9500 S. I-35, Ste. L-725, 512/2923500, dustin.sparks@thejoint.com, southparkmeadows.thejoint.com MIMIR HEALTH We define health intelligence as raw data transformed into actionable information. mimirhealth.com MOONTOWER COUNSELING A psychotherapist offering services to LGBTQA couples, individuals, and families. Helping clients address topics such as: relationship conflict, coming out, HIV and stigma, bisexuality and belonging, depression, anger, and shame. 512/565-6974, moontowercounseling.com PSYCHOTHERAPY – PAM GREENSTONE 512/689-7279, pamgreenstone.com PIAZZA CENTER FOR PLASTIC SURGERY AND ADVANCED SKIN CARE Cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

512/288-8200, practiceadmin@ thepiazzacenter.com, thepiazzacenter. com/blog

RIVER PLACE MOHS & DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY CENTER INSURANCE Experts in Mohs (chemo-) surgery, skin cancer treatments, reconstructive, and dermatologic ALLSTATE INSURANCE Home, auto, procedures. 10815 RR 2222, commercial, and life insurance Bldg.3a1, Ste.200, 512/767-7546, 512/345-0005 riverplacedermatology.com BRITTON & BRITTON Local allies RODAN+FIELDS DERMATOLOGISTS service all your insurance needs at The creators of Proactiv. 512/844- the best possible rate. 512/3346514, suzyjuncker.myrandf.biz 6330, 512insurance.com RUSS BOYD, MA, NCC, LPC INTERN Psychotherapist working with the gay community. 512/632-4731, russboydcounseling.com 6 SALUS CHIROPRACTIC Helping people of all ages live healthy lives, free from pain and illness. 512/255-5252, drditto@ saluschiropractic.com SOCO WELLNESS CENTER, PLLC Offers affordable, high quality, GLBTQAI counseling services for young adult and adult individuals, couples, and families in the Austin metro area. 512/621-5337, sococounseling.com SOFTBALL AUSTIN Players of all expertise levels wait on-deck at their turn to bat more than just eyelids. softballaustin.org TEXAS GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION This is Texas, darlin’. Of course there is a gay rodeo. 214/346-2107, tgra.org TEXAS MAMMA JAMMA RIDE Awareness and much needed funds for folks coping with breast cancer. mammajammaride.org TRU-SKIN DERMATOLOGY Botox and Dermal Filler treatments will give you a refreshed, rejuvenated, and rested look, rather than “done.” Corina’s artistry will have you saying “I woke up like this!” and mean it.

512/451-0139, tru-skin.com.

VOLLEYBALL AUSTIN Come out to set and spike the night away with these volley-lovin’ Q-ballers. volleyballaustin.com WORK IT PERSONAL TRAINING Get off your butt, and get fit.

512/426-2336, info@workittraining. com, workittraining.com

CHAD COOK, METLIFE AUTO & HOME Great for car and homeowners alike, and they’re gay-friendly to boot. 512/6443039, ccook@getmetagent.com HARRISON INSURANCE AGENCY INC. Jenny offers over 19 years of experience – and customer loyalty – to back up the statement: “We’re here if you need us, but let’s hope you don’t!”

512/377-6869, harrison-insurance.com LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE Competitively-priced. One of the few companies in the industry to recognize domestic partnerships.

512/591-2172, libertymutual.com/ andrew-chavez

LEGAL ADAMS, LONDON & WEISS LLC Helping you collect what’s your’s… from bad checks to merchandise recovery. 6250 Westpark, Ste.319, Houston, 713/266-7500, jdanek@ alwllc.com, alwllc.com AMINI & CONANT, LLP Lawyering for humans, by humans. We treat our clients like people, not cases.

512/222-6883, aminiconant.com CHRISTINE HENRY ANDRESEN, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Any family lawyer who puts a portrait of the Addams Family on her website is A-OK with us. 905 W. Oltorf, Ste. C, 512/394-4230, cha@chalaw.com, chalaw.com BARNETT & GARCIA, PLLC Collecting debts and representing businesses in litigation. 3821 Juniper, Ste.108, 512/266-8830, barnettgarcia.com OFFICE OF SUZANNE BRYANT Helping Texas LGBT families’ secure legal protection since 1995.

512/476-4760, suzannebryantlaw.com

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CAPPS LAW FIRM It’s all about family. And keeping it legal. 7718 Wood Hollow, Ste. 205, 512/338-9800, cappslawfirm.com CAROLE CALLAGHAN LAW Providing estate planning and probate services for the LGBT community. 512/861-2294, csclawaustin.com LAW OFFICE OF KELLEY J. DWYER It’s your estate. It’s your business.

Make sure they are protected, legally. 9442 Capital of Texas, Ste 500159, 512/343-3630, dwyerlawaustin.com 6 THE FOWLER LAW FIRM PC “Law is a ministry if you come in with a pure heart and a good attitude,” according to founder, owner, ex-Navy JAG, and law firm matriarch Laura Fowler.

919 Congress, Ste.900, 512/4411411, www.thefowlerlawfirm.com THE LAW OFFICE OF VIRGINIA W. GREENWAY Defense for people accused of crimes – from simple traffic up to first degree felonies.

811 Nueces, 512/573-3221, vwglaw@ austin.rr.com, virginiagreenway.com JAN JACKSON, ATTORNEY, PLLC Probate and estate planning with an emphasis on trusts. 106 E. Sixth Ste. 900t, 512/658-1784 6 LAW FIRM OF FRANCÉS J. JONES Specializing in entertainment and arts. 1108 Lavaca, Ste 110-405, 512/4768999

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LEE, GOBER & REYNA - LAW FIRM “Family” lawyers who handle family, personal injury, and criminal matters. 11940 Jollyville, Ste 220, 512/478-8080, rwleelaw.com LYNCH LAW FIRM Working with small companies to take care of business, all while minimizing expense. 4408 Spicewood Springs Rd., 512/298-2346, nlynch@lynchlf. com, lynchlf.com JORGESON PITTMAN LLP Central Texas Family Law and Estate Planning Law firm. 512/320-0999, jptexaslaw.com LAW OFFICE OF KENT SCHUSTER Personal and business law firm.

979/279-5118, schuster442@gmail.com 9 SHEFMAN LAW GROUP PC Personal injury trial lawyers.

1002 West, 512/386-8117, lenore@shefman-law.com, shefmanlawgroup.com LAW OFFICE OF ARMANDO ZUNIGA Specializing in criminal defense, wills and probate, and personal injury. 603 W. 12th, 512/739-9965, azuniga@ zunigalawfirm.com, zunigaLawFirm.com

LODGING HILTON AUSTIN Towering 31 floors in the heart of the city, Hilton Austin is the largest hotel in the downtown area. Signature service along with high tech conveniences and local charm. 500 E. Fourth, 512/682-2826, austin.hilton.com

LAKEWAY RESORT & SPA AAA Four Diamond award-winning resort nestled on the shores of Lake Travis. 101 Lakeway, 512/261-7396, gschneider@ lakewayresortandspa.com, lakewayresortandspa.com RENAISSANCE AUSTIN HOTEL Nestled in the picturesque hills of Texas Hill Country, this luxury hotel provides tranquil environment surrounded by nature trails and 95 breathtaking acres. Convenient proximity to downtown Austin and the metro area. 9721 Arboretum Blvd, 512/3432626, www.marriott.com/aussh SHERATON AUSTIN HOTEL Distinctively modern architecture, majestic downtown views, and warm, friendly service with a prime location: next door to the famed Capitol and just steps from the University of Texas, Sixth Street/Warehouse District, and more. 701 E.11th, 512/404-6942, sheratonaustin.com W AUSTIN HOTEL Austin’s step up in the hotel game, located close to the action, next to ACL Live and City Hall. 200 Lavaca, 512/542-3600, whotelaustin.com

PETS PAWS & MORE Sit! Humans sit with your pups and kits and more. While you’re away, your mice and gerbils and sugargliders will play. 512/6953131, pawsandmore.com

PEOPLE AND PETS ENERGETICS LLC Energy health & wellness coach that helps people and their animals. 210/775-2696, peopleandpetsenergetics.com WONDERCIDE Pesticide with a safe-for-pets twist. Treat your pets to some holistic loving, or rid yourself of unwanted house guests the natural way.

9415 Neils Thompson, stephanie@ wondercide.com, wondercide.com

REAL ESTATE ARNOLD, JEFF - BELLA CASA REALTY Full-time realtor working in the Austin metro area, happy to help you with your real estate needs. Jeff works with 1st time home buyers/ sellers all the way up to helping seniors right-size their lifestyle.

512/639-8838, JeffArnold.Realtor@gmail. com, TexasLandAndLifestyle.com

7 BILL DUNHAM, REALTOR AT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES TEXAS REALTY Diligence and intuition in finding the perfect home to fit clients needs and desires. 512/9401886, bdunham.com GAYINAUSTINTEXAS.COM Real estate services. 210/501-5435, www.gayinaustintexas.com GIVE REALTY Real estate services.

512/299-6916, www.giverealty.com GOODLIFE MORTGAGE Convenient, online mortgage info services. 1114 E. Cesar Chavez, 512/582-7878, smy866@gmail.com, goodlifeloans.com BRANDI HALE - INDEPENDENCE TITLE COMPANY Licensed directly in 22 counties and supported by every major underwriter in the U.S. 901 S Mopac, Plaza II, Ste.150, 512/329-5299, independencetitle.com

PATTERSON-RAUSCH TEAM KELLER WILLIAMS From “urban to suburban,” Darian Rausch and Rich Patterson of Keller Williams Realty have Austin covered.

1335 E. Whitestone, Ste.200, 512/6635826, urbantosuburban.com RIVER & OAKS REALTY LLC Stacy Bass specializes in outlying areas, like Driftwood, Lakeway, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, and more. 512/413-7893, stacybassrealtor. com RON REDDER, PRESIDIO With over 18 years experience, he might just be on to something. 1701 W. Koenig, 512/657-8674, ron@presidiogroup. com, presidiogroup.com CHRIS RODRIGUEZ, AUSTIN REAL PROS REALTORS Buying? Selling?

Navigate the home ownership world together. 512/921-1431, ChrisSellsAustin@gmail.com

SARAH SCHOENFELDER, REALTOR Texas and California real estate licenses and specialize in residential TROY HANNA, PRESIDIO real estate with a sub-specialty Representing the realty interests of in investment properties and Austin’s LGBT community for over a redevelopment projects. 512/343AUSTIN REAL ESTATE AGENT AT SKY decade. 1701 W. Koenig, 512/659-7093 4400, sjschoenfelder@gmail.com, simplyaustinhomes.com REALTY AUSTIN - TEAM ENSOR DENNY HOLT REALTORS Working Professional services for buyers, with buyers and sellers in all sellers, and leases. 4501 Spicewood price ranges. 8708 Primrose, 7 THE STAGING GUY Gussy up Springs, Ste.1029, 512/522-8196, 512/694-1103, denny@dennyholt.com, your home to make it irresistable morganmatthewe@gmail.com, dennyholt.com to prospective buyers. 7310 SkyRealtyAustin.com Manchaca Rd #152936 , 512/537HOMESTART Teaching Austinites 4489, thestagingguy.com BB&T - JESSICA TAYLOR about where to start with real Building on a tradition of estate and mortgages.

2500 Bettis, excellence, we continue to 650/409-7444, www.homestart.us ULTIMATE AUSTIN Real estate offer clients a complete range services. 512/921-1502, UltimateAustin. of financial services including com banking and lending solutions. & MIKESKA REALTORS 512/577-0735, bbt.com/jessicaw.taylor JACOBS Proudly Supporting the LBGT Community for 20 years!

KELLI M. BURNS, REALTOR 12+ RETAIL & FASHION AusTXrltrs@aol.com, years in the industry. 1801 S. Mopac, 512/462-1866, Ste.100, 512/423-2242, kellimburns.com jacobsandmikeska.com ANNA LANI MAKEUP UT Technical KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD HOMES COLDWELL BANKER - LISA Theatre grad lives to see creative Offering unique solutions for ANDERSON Finding a home theatre, film, and print projects unique situations.

512/297-3442, enhances the quality of your life. manifest. 361/442-3206, facebook. theresa@keepaustinweirdhomes.com, Lisa is committed to helping you com/AnnaLaniMakeup keepaustinweirdhomes.com achieve your real estate needs.

512/585-0755, LisaAnderson@cbunited. MAGPIE GROUP Building homes BLUE GENIE ART BAZAAR An com, cbunited.com/Lisa.Anderson Austin tradition during the holiday that Austinites want to live in. shopping season, open daily 512/814-7562, magpiehomes.com JOHN DOUCETTE, REALTOR 10am-10pm, through December - DOUCETTE PROPERTIES MIDTOWN INDEPENDENCE TITLE 24th at the Marchesa Hall & From downtown to Westlake When you cross the threshold into Theater. 6226 Middle Fiskville, and beyond. 512/828-2604, 512/222-7303, bluegenieartbazaar.com home owning this LGBT-owned DoucetteProperties@gmail.com, co, has got you covered. 3009 N. DoucetteProperties.com CAPRA AND CAVELLI Exceptional Lamar, 512/459-1110, midtowntitle.com shopping, quality clothing, and DICK DUNBAR: YOUR HOME tailoring since 1995. 3500 Jefferson LESLIE NEGRON - TEAM PRICE LOAN EXPERT Residential and Ste.110, 512/450-1919, capracavelli.com REAL ESTATE The needs of the commercial mortgages. 512/323- client always prevails. 832/8842644, dick@dickdunbar.com 7738, Leslie@TeamPrice.com AUSTIN HOMES REALTY Real estate brokerage making finding realty in Austin a reality. 512/5078252, austinhomesrealty.com

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CAT’S CUSTOMS Contemporary tie dye: psychedelic, hand-dyed clothing and accessories for the whole fam. 512/296-5697,facebook. com/catscustomsofaustin

A-ONE ELECTRIC Full “circuit” of residential and commercial electrical services. 512/4971513, aoneelectric@hotmail.com, aoneelectricaustin.com

COCO COQUETTE Wig out to look as divine as Divine. The higher the hair, the closer to Gawd. 2109 E. Cesar Chavez, coco-coquette.com

ARDEN COURTS MEMORY CARE Caring for your loved ones in a loving environment. 11630 Four Iron Drive, 512/918-2800, arden-courts.com AUSTIN CONSTRUCTION PROS Specializing in reducing the stress and increasing the joy of ARRANGING IT ALL Professional home ownership. 512/413-2129, organizers. info@arrangingitall.com austinconstructionpros.com ATRIA AT THE ARBORETUM An active lifestyle senior living center DEKLYND CHANNING HAIR with spectacular views and DESIGN Artistic hair design, upscale amenities. 512/346-4900, specializing in color with profound atriaseniorliving.com/atria-at-theresults. You … only better! 4303 arboretum-austin-tx/ Medical Pkwy., 512/323-6570, dc-hairdesign.com B2 MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING EXCEL GLOBAL PARTNERS Helping attorneys start, develop, Solutions to help accelerate and manage, and grow firms. 701 grow your business and navigate Rio Grande Ste.B, 512/381-1500, it through change. 512/501-1155, b2-mgmt.com excelglobalpartners.com BLUE DRAGON PLUMBING No extra charge for 24/7 service. No word on fire-breathing. 512/947GARBO SALON AND SPA Eclectic, 2491, gilbert@bluedragonplumbing. colorful, urban eco-friendly com, bluedragonplumbing.com salon ready to serve you with professional, cutting edge artCÉBÉ IT & KNOWLEDGE work that expresses you, not a MANAGEMENT LLC Information clone, seven days a week.7739 and knowledge management.

Northcross, Ste K-L, 512/458-4162, 7118 Las Ventanas, 281/460-3595, garboasalon.com cebe-itkm.com

COSMIC CONSIGNMENT Revamp your house with furniture from your grandma’s era, your mom’s era or just yours. Grab a secondhand guitar on your way out. 2604 E. Seventh, 512/547-6549, facebook.com/cosmicconsignment ROBERT M. PROSSER @ ETHAN ALLEN One-stop shopping for your home, with décor consulting.

2817 W. Anderson, 512-615-9990, rprosser@austin.ethanallen.com, ethanalllen.com 6 FASCINATIONS Premier intimacy enhancing retailer encouraging exploration of sexual health. 7816 Burnet, 866/386-5683, yourfascinations.com

GREAT OUTDOORS All things outdoors. 2730 S Congress, 512/4482992, greatoutdoorsnursery.com Q TOYS Phthalate-free, artisanal, and high quality sex toys will make you come… back for more.

512/772-1614, qtoysaustin.com SOUTH CONGRESS BOOKS Used, collectible, vintage, and unique books and paper. 1608 S. Congress, 512/916-8882, southcongressbooks.com 6 VAPOR JOY E-cig and vapor wellness center. info@vaporjoy. com, vaporjoy.com, facebook.com/ theoriginalvaporjoy YACHT OUTFITTERS Our passion for boating drives us to offer the best products available for yachts and cruisers. Luxury boat bedding is custom fitted for your specific mattress. www.yachtoutfitters.com

SERVICES A&A ILLUMINATORS Austinbased event decoration and décor rental company. 512/765-5206, anailluminators.com

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CITY OF AUSTIN SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Assistance and business solutions to emerging small businesses.

512/974-7800, austintexas. gov/department/small-businessdevelopment-program CITY OF AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Cultural arts, music, international and emerging technology programs. 512/974-7819, austintexas.gov/department/economicgrowth CLUB ONE CONCIERGE Austin’s only lifestyle management company to offer as-needed personal assistant services to individuals and corporations.

512/730-0637, cluboneconcierge.com 6 COOK-WALDEN Celebrate your loved one with a funeral and memorial service befitting of the life lived. 512/971-2449, cook-walden.com

CROWN TROPHY - NORTH AUSTIN Corporate, golf, educational and religious awards, trophies, plaques, gavels, promotional products, medals, ribbons, acrylics, crystal, name badges, and much more.

512/506-9790, crowncentral@gmail. com, crowntrophy.com/store-122

GREEN ISLAND CAR WASH AND DETAIL Full service car wash and detail shop. 12600 Research, 512/257-1799, greenislandcarwash.com HE’S FOR ME Find me a match, catch me a catch! Make a match, you busy gay professional. 300 Guadalupe Ste. 200, 855/443-7463, H4M-Austin.com INSTAFF Recruiting, hiring, motivating, leading. A staffing firm with integrity. 8015 Shoal Creek Blvd., Ste.210, 512/339-0777, instaff.com MCSWAIN CONSULTING,LLC Marketing consultant. 512/7504919, jennifer_mcswain@att.net MILLERSTEPHENS AND ASSOCIATES Focused on nonprofit, healthcare and social change initiatives. 512/422-6030, millerstephens.com PERSONALI-T-Z T-shirt printing with no minimum and no set up fees. 512/ 400-5023, personali-t-z.com

PRAXIS FUNDRAISING SOLUTIONS Product-based fundraising. It gets the job done and the dollars farmed. 512/739-0214, shannonm@ praxisfundraising.com, praxisfundraising.com POWER OF TWO PROMOTIONS We can put your logo on almost anything! PTwoPromo.com RAINBOW SPECTRUM MEDIA Screen printing and embroidery. terry@rainbowspectrummedia.com SEEDLINGS GARDENING A full-service landscaping and gardening company born and raised in Austin. The natural landscape of Central Texas holds a beauty that we cherish and that we strive to bring to our clients’ properties. 512/294-0064, seedlingsgardening.com SEND OUT CARDS Custom greeting cards to get your business noticed. 512/789-0267, getcardedonline.com SIXT RENT A CAR 512/524-1121, facebook.com/sixt35thst SPAREFOOT SpareFoot, based in Austin, TX, operates the country’s largest online marketplace for self-storage. 512/705-6208, sparefoot.com

SPECIALTY SPEED AUTOMOTIVE Quality used cars, mechanic work, and paint and body repair. 512/3182895, specialtyspeedauto.com SPOT ON CONSTRUCTION CLEAN 512/270-9283, regina@spotoncc.com, spotoncc.com 6 SUPERSHUTTLE & EXECUCAR OF AUSTIN Your choice of shared-ride van or a premier luxury sedan to/from the airport. 512/929-3900 TAILORED TEAM Let TT unlock your company’s full potential through their informative and fun training courses. 1103 Ridgecrest, 512/563-3845, bartnaustin@aol.com, jblmicrotraining.com STEVEN TOMLINSON Strategic communications consultant for Fortune 500 companies. st@steventomlinson.com, steventomlinson.com WINESHOP AT HOME In-home or In-office tastings and sales.

4800 Twin Valley, 512/750-7722, wineshopathome.com/christinebird

TRAVEL BALBOA TRAVEL, INC Ranked among the nation’s top 1% of travel companies and are IATA, CLIA, Virtuoso & a founding ASTA member. 512/732-9400, balboavacations.com CENTURY TRAVEL Luxury providers worldwide, first class.

2714 Bee Cave #101, 512/327-8760, centurytravelaustin. com COMPASS GAY & LESBIAN COMMUNITY CENTER OF PALM BEACH COUNTY LGBTQ community center for the Palm Beaches. 201 N. Dixie, Lake Worth, 561/533-9699, 561/533-9699, compassglcc.com KEY WEST BUSINESS GUILD & THE GAY KEY WEST VISITOR CENTER Promoting Gay Key West to LGBTQA travelers. 305/294-4603, 800/535/-7797, events@gaykeywestfl. com, gaykeywestfl.com, kwbgonline.org VISIT FLORIDA The Sunshine State’s best ambassadors have LGBT outreach. visitflorida.com/lgbt

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Love Thy Pet The ASPCA and American Humane Society have deemed October Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. But seeing as to how we’re all one big happy animal family, we figured we’d extend that invitation to all the feline fanciers out there too.

PHOTOS BY CELESTA DANGER

Where to start? Check out Lizzy’s Hospice House on page 48 and other pet service providers starting on page 54 in this issue’s Friends & Family section, the AGLCC Members Directory.

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Get seen in your scene.

Advertising in The Agenda is easy and aordable.

For more info, contact 512-761-LBGT (5428) advertising@austinagenda.com

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