Quorum Columbus September 2013

#WANTLOCAL

SCHOOL SHOPPING EDITION

GAY FOR GOOD COMMUNITY GIVES BACK

AND

Latrice Royale

EXCLUSIVE CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS

The Shade of it all, Mary!

QUORUM COLUMBUS LGBT MAGAZINE

ALEX “UNIQUE” NEWELL

SEPTEMBER 2013

back to school

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NEW MENU. NEW HAPPY HOUR. BEST LOYALTY PROGRAM IN COLUMBUS

quorum crew Isaac Bendele President Publisher

Mickey J. Hart Editor

Bowen Marshall Feature Writer

Evan T. Robinson Columnist

Sara Ernest Columnist

Patrick Butler Graphic Designer Illustrator

Briden Schueren Graphic Designer Lead Photographer

JM Rayburn Graphic Designer Social Media Manager

Jerry Turnes Web & Digital Media Developer

Amy Tannenbaum Photographer Columnist

Craig Chadwell The Taste Buds Columnist

Mike Moffo The Taste Buds Columnist

Shaun Whybark Columnist

Que Jones Columnist

Kris Littler Contributor

Erik Hays CFO

Josh McConaughy Scene Contributor

Also on the crew: Andrew Johnson, Assistant Editor Jackie Vanderworth, Columnist Ray LaVoie, Photography Clare Hughes, Graphic Designer Heather Doughty, Graphic Designer

Michael Greenhouse Fitness Columnist

This month’s contributors: John Henry, Columnist Bryan Lutz, Contributor Lotte Brewer, Contributor Tera McIntosh, Contributor

Michael Lovett Scene Contributor

John Lathram Ill, Contributing Photographer Emma Parker & Brenton McCuskey, Cover Model

SEPTEMBER ‘13

6 FIRST PERSON Our GSA Gives Me Security and Perspectives

CONTENTS

10 SCENE Viva Virginia!

14 #WANTLOCAL School Shopping Edition 16 PERSPECTIVES | Sara Shares Living Social Saved My Life 17 THE TASTE BUDS A Stroll Through Tony’s 18 DISPATCHES: FROM IOWA Transitions and Observations 20 BARTENDER OF THE MONTH Marla Hicks, Bossy Girl Pinup Joint 22 CELEBRITY Q & A Glee’s Alex “Unique” Newell 26 DEVELOPMENT Recycling on High 27 CULTURE “High Society” Survival Guide 28 CELEBRITY Latrice Royale & her Columbus Court 31 FITNESS Bodyweight Training 32 COUPLE Laurel Murphy + Julie Rowell 35 MOSIAC A Year of “Lasts” 38 SEXPERT Back to Basics 40 TRANSlation Advice from Jackie

For more information go to: QuorumColumbus.com About,Abbi Simms, our September Featured Photographer: I have been interested in photography since about age 3. Because of my involvement in anything and everything related to photography, I have been able to do amazing things. When not taking pictures, I enjoy music, movies and spending time with the people I love. My inspiration for my art comes from my friends and my family. They are all very supportive and are always there when I need them. I enjoy traveling and being able to capture moments in time that nobody gets to see. The best thing that I get to do with my art is that I can tell a story with just one click of a button and share it with everyone to see.

CONVENE

EDUCATE... | MICKEY J. HART

No matter how you define “back to school,” the period seems saturated with new hope for a fresh start. The summer is fading and it is time to refocus on learning and what lies ahead. Social media has added a new element to this excitement with the recent flood of “first day of school” photos cropping up. When I see these, I recall the photos of me in crisp and stiff new clothes, with my white blonde hair gleaming in the sun, head cocked to one side with the all too familiar Hart family sundiminishing squint-eyed grin. I bet you can recall similar photos of your school days.

If you are a fan of the movie Grease 2 (or as I like to call it, “The Best Worst Musical Movie Ever”) then you have most likely been hearing a bit of the opening song “Back to School” playing in your head by this point. (It is a nice soundtrack for this issue.)

Speaking of musical high schools, this month we caught up with Alex “Unique” Newell, one of the newest main cast members of Glee, today’s favorite campy high school musical dramas.

Our Taste Buds have been extra busy this month. Not only do they take us to Tony’s Italian Ristorante, for some old-school Italian fare, but they also serve up a tasty exchange with RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar, Latrice Royale. They caught up with Latrice on her most recent visit to Columbus, the city she has referred to as her second home. Latrice is quite colorful and she does not disappoint here.

I see this issue as a lovely yearbook of sorts. We kick off with high schooler Lotte Brewer sharing lessons she has learned from her school’s GSA, we head to Iowa with Bryan Lutz as he continues his graduate studies, and we learn about the unexpected lessons we can gain in the classroom from Erin Upchurch.

There’s the bell…time to go.

Mickey J. Hart

Editor

mickey@quorumcolumbus.com

Our GSA Gives Me Security and Perspective | Lotte Brewer

GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) defines a Gay-Straight Alliance as “a student club that works to improve school climate for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.” At The Wellington School, our GSA strives to protect LGBTQ rights within our community, and it serves as an overall support group composed of LGBTQ people AND their straight allies.

To me, it is a place where people can feel safe.

I always feel safe at Wellington in the sense that I don’t have to worry about someone pulling a knife on me or giving me a swirly between classes, but in room 508 on Friday mornings I feel emotionally safe. I can express my opinions and feelings and no one will judge me. Instead they will comfort me, educate me about the world, and help me move forward in life. I know this from experience—not from assumption.

I spent that school day silent. At first I wrote on a notepad, and then I realized that this day was not about not communicating verbally—it was about not communicating at all. If a screaming Matthew Shepard couldn’t reach Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson with his voice, writing a letter wasn’t going to make any difference.

Writing notes felt like cheating to me, so I continued that day absolutely silent and on my own. I felt lonely, and my talkative, extroverted self felt odd. But that’s what the pain and ignorance of others can do to a person—make them feel alone and like they can’t be themselves. I wanted to respect and try to understand the pain that so many others go through, people who do not volunteer to be isolated but who are forced into it as a means of survival.

When I was a freshman, my GSA leaders had a way of suggesting small changes to our school that quickly accumulated and made a difference. One of their first actions was getting some official school forms to read “parents” instead of “mother” and “father.” At the time I didn’t get the connection. When we brainstormed ideas, I was thinking big (large presentations, signs, videos), but our leaders reminded me that to do something big, you have to start small. I thought we would continue with similar small changes around the school but, once again, I was wrong. They immediately started involving the whole school in events and discussions about the LGBTQ community—specifically LGBTQ youth and the bullying that many go through.

Last year I participated in Wellington’s production of “The Laramie Project,” the play that chronicles reactions to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard. Our theatre department even brought in a speaker from the Matthew Shepard Foundation to talk to our GSA and other student leaders, and I was humbled to be part of this powerful theatrical experience.

I also participated in the “The Day of Silence,” to draw attention to anti-LGBT harassment and discrimination. This day has a special place in my heart because I was bullied when I was younger. It was not for being gay (since as far as I know I am not), but for things like my weight and overall appearance. The day felt as if somewhere in the universe there were many people who supported me, even if they didn’t know who I was.

Although a Gay-Straight Alliance is about informing ourselves and others about serious issues in the world, we do have fun. In May, a group of friends and I went to the locally-sponsored “The Other Prom,” for LGBTQ youth who might feel uncomfortable at their school’s prom. We let loose—it took my mind off my 10 page paper due the next day, and I ended up having a dance-off with a transgender girl who was sassier and spicier than RuPaul. Our Wellington GSA also marched in this year’s LGBTQ Pride Parade, where we passed out information about our club and received high fives from drag queens and many others. It was the highlight of my summer.

in roo m 508 on Friday mornings I feel emotionally safe.

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Last Months Entertainment

Hosted by: Brooke Cartus Septembers Line up: -Sumukh Torgalkar -Lindsey Martin -Lauren Bencaz -Andy Luttrell

| Tera McIntosh The Columbus CHAPTER of the national Gay for Good (G4G) organization strives to build positive relationships within the community and among each other. It also aims to shine a light on the positives of the gay population, to meet new people in a different setting and to change the image of what some people might think the GLBTQ community is all about.

We don’t ask for financial contributions; we simply ask for your time and manpower once a month. We partner with local nonprofits/organizations and help wherever they might need us. G4G Columbus also plans to host quarterly social events, beginning in the fall.

GAY FOR GOOD

Begins in Columbus

On August 10th, we joined with the E.L. Hardy Center and Foresters Insurance to commit our time to building a playground in just eight hours. The playground will eventually serve more than 16,500 people within the Linden community. It was a rewarding event and Gay For Good was happy to bring 21 volunteers who wanted to donate eight hours of their Saturday.

Anyone looking for more information can join our Gay for Good Columbus Facebook group, like our page or sign up at gayforgood.org to receive updates on our upcoming events.

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SCENE

| MICHAEL LOVETT THE PHRASE “VIVA LAS VEGAS” has nothing on the phrase “Viva Virginia.” I have not had the pleasure of visiting Las Vegas, but if Virginia West’s on-stage tribute to Sin City is accurate, then I’m all in.

In true Virginia West fashion, the show started with a bang and kept the adrenalin rushing till the very end. Virginia and her showgirls were definitely the main attraction on the strip with a guest appearance from Lawanda Jackson. Let me say, if I attended the show late and saw Ms. Jackson on stage, I would have called my momma to tell her that Tina Turner was in Columbus and performing at Axis. Lawanda rocked a full house!

If you attended “Virginia’s – Viva Virginia”, odds are you enjoyed it as much as I did; I would unquestionably call your bluff and double down if you said otherwise. Not only was the show ridiculously entertaining but also greatly philanthropic. Virginia and her showgirls raised more than $1,900 for Peace for Paws and The Community Kitchen in one weekend.. That is just one demonstration of the community support that we have in Columbus.

With that said, purchase my ticket and deal me in.

It’s Vegas or bust! I can’t wait to see how Virginia ups the ante for her next performance.

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#wantlocal

“Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” | Anna Lappé | JM RAYBURN KREMA NUT COMPANY krema.com Grandview Heights

/KremaNutCompany

The Krema Nut Company has been a Columbus tradition since 1898! In fact, it is one of the oldest peanut butter companies still manufacturing in the US today.

The company manufactures natural peanut butters and sells fresh roast nuts, Gourmet Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches and a variety of confectionery.

It’s common knowledge that Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is committed to using local ingredients as often as possible, and one of their favorite companies is the Krema Nut Company in Grandview Heights. Try Jeni’s Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Pistachio & Honey, and Whiskey & Pecans - all made with products from the Krema Nut Company.

Peanut butter sandwiches and Jeni’s ice cream sounds like a perfect start to the school year!

BINK DAVIES binkdavies.com Short North

@binkdavies

Looking for a modern-day general store with an eclectic variety of goods for the modern home, palette and sense of humor? Bink Davies has it all. Their goal is to make you, or the person you are selecting a gift for, smile. Fortunately, the store is located just footsteps from my apartment. I shop at Bink Davies for one-of-a-kind pieces to decorate my apartment and to buy Ohio-centric gifts for my friends close by and afar. If for nothing else, visit the store for the fabulous window displays. You won’t be disappointed.

THE BOOK LOFT bookloft.com

German Village

/thebookloft

The Book Loft of German Village is one of the nation’s largest independent book stores. The pre-Civil War era buildings that once were general stores, a saloon and a nickelodeon cinema, now are home to 32 rooms of Bargain Books.

You’ll love the old-fashioned bookshop experience: strolling down German Village brick pathways, gazing through windows the likeness of a Charles Dickens era, and then losing yourself within the 32 rooms of books. I have frequented The Book Loft in the past for English literature books as well as foreign language materials. It’s a great escape from the campus crowd too (wink).

D A E H THE F

edition

Back to School

Downtown

OF

S S A L C BACK TO SCHOOL IS BETTER HERE. ROBERT MASON CO. robertmasoncompany.com Robert Mason (RM) is a boutique, fashion-forward office, school, art and n Masoon inspiration store. I first discovered the store while on a visit to Sugardaddy’s Robert Gay Street. I was so impressed by the inventory and products throughout the store as it screams young professional stationary and student gear. You’re back to school shopping is not complete until you pay Robert Mason a visit!

Know of a local business that deserves the spotlight?

Give them a shoutout on our Twitter @quorumcolumbus with the hashtag #wantlocal. You can also sumbit suggests QuorumColumbus.com/wantlocal-contact-us.html

PERSPECTIVES

SARA SHARES LIVING SOCIAL SAVED MY LIFE | SARA ERNEST LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. We’ve all heard that saying, right? How about “If you’re not learning, you’re not living”? My favorite comes from my grandma: “I learned something new today, I can go back to bed.” It’s especially humorous to use her line when I learn something before 10 a.m. Not that I ever follow through on that sentiment, but it’s still fun to think about.

Many people probably forget about learning when they get done with school, but that is something we should be doing until we’re no longer capable. Learning is an essential function of being alive. We should always be striving to improve ourselves, and we can’t do that without learning something new.

Many of us are busy raising or aiding in the upbringing of the previously mentioned children, so maybe we don’t always have time to check in with our learning goals. Each new school year is a great time for us to take stock of what we have or, haven’t learned and what we could be learning on a regular basis. Sometimes we may not even be paying attention to the lessons life has taught us, so it’s a good time to evaluate where we are.

My partner, Lori and I are big fans of LivingSocial, Groupon and other similar sites that offer deals. At first we would pick up the deals so we could have an evening with friends at Clay Café or $20 of sushi for $10 at Lemongrass.

Recently, I have found them to be a great way to learn new things.

Learning something through an online deal website can be as simple as taking advantage of a deal to tour a local distillery. Spending a Sunday afternoon with my better half and two of our best friends listening to a local entrepreneur explain not only how to distill spirits, but also what the process was like for him, was enlightening.

We’ve also had the pleasure of learning about something I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been drawn to the image of the knight in shining armor wielding a sword and galloping off into the sunset.

How happy was I when we found a deal for a local fencing studio run by a world-class fencing instructor, right around

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the corner in Gahanna? Without the LivingSocial deal, I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get some insight into something that had intrigued me for as long as I can remember.

WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE STRIVING TO IMPROVE OURSELVES. If it wasn’t for an online deal, I probably wouldn’t be writing this column. When the opportunity to work with this publication came up, I was able to provide Isaac and Mickey with samples from the class I took online.

This column is in no way an advertisement for a specific deal website. I am simply very excited about the things that I have learned over the past year. The best part about taking these classes is that I’ve learned things about myself as a person and had opportunities I wouldn’t have had without taking advantage of these deals. I urge everyone to look for anything that gives them the opportunity to learn. Signing up for LivingSocial may be a better deal than people realize. It changed my life.

| Mike moffo and Craig chadwell When you stroll into Tony’s Italian Restaurant at the corner of S High and W Beck Streets in German Village, you’re smacked in the face with atmosphere. Every time we walk in there, we picture Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr sitting at the table in the corner. It is that kind of place.

We call it Disney Italian. It’s so magically perfect, that it almost can’t be real. Yet there you are, standing right there. Ahead lies one of the best experiences in fine dining that Columbus has to offer. You expect the servers to call you “Cat.” You expect a guy with a cigar to be banging out the Blues or Swing on the baby grand that greets you at the front door.

You will, on most nights, find Tony, the boss and owner. Often times, Tony will be the person to seat you. He will engage you in conversation simply to let you know that he is genuinely happy that you chose to come to his restaurant. The service staff is there to help you make the best choice for you, not to make a tip. At Tony’s, there are no bad choices. There are freshly made, unique and traditional Italian dishes with a variety to suit any mood.

TasteBuds

We highly recommend listening to the daily specials. They are not your typical, boring foods. They are intricate with spices and sauces. Creative and delicious, they’re always reasonably priced.

You can’t go wrong with the traditional pasta dishes. Linguini and meatballs – we could have written the article with those three words.

House-made sauce covers just enough of the pasta that there’s some in every bite, but not so much that you can’t taste the perfectly crafted noodles. And the meatballs. Yes, the meatballs. They’re in a word: stupendous. There is a texture about them that screams “Grandma Elisabetta’s meatballs.” (You’ve gotta do the Italian, hand in the air, thumb-touching-fingers gesture when you read “Elisabetta.”)

Other favorites have been the Fettuccine Madonna (spinach, garlic and olive oil, capers, walnuts, chicken, etc) and the “Oh my goodness there is no way it is actually this good, but it is” lasagna. They just call it Lasagna al Forno Formaggio. Our foodie-in-training 13-year-old daughter described it this way: “There is the perfect amount of cheese. There’s the perfect amount of cheese. Usually, I don’t like crumbly cheese. But it has melted and crumbly both. The pasta is dense and there are legit tomatoes in there”. Yep – just like that, only I think there were a few “likes” in there, perhaps.

Photo | Mike Moffo

And for the love of all things holy, the homemade Tiramisu is a must. If there is one thing you must do when you are in that area, you must try the Tiramisu. Yes, you must.

Since on this review, the #tastebuds brought our fabulous foodie-to-be daughter, we have six hands between us – and six tasty, sauce covered thumbs fly sky high for Tony’s, Cat. Yeahhh… {And three borsalino hats tipped in kudos to Tony’s Italian Ristorante.}

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Transitions and Observations |Bryan Lutz I RECENTLY MOVED back to Iowa State University to pursue a PhD. The struggles I face are typical for any graduate student. It is, after all, a transition. But I am also faced with an unfamiliar challenge, or perhaps a challenge I know well but was surprised to experience in a college town. Here in Ames, my identity as a queer man is regarded as something, well, queer.

I consider myself a child of Columbus. I first found love in the residence halls of OSU and I first found my career working with the college’s faculty. My coffee shop is Café Kerouac. My bars are Union and Club 20. My restaurants are Tai’s Asian Bistro and Lavash Cafe. I came to Columbus for school, but like so many queer-identified men, I came to Columbus to find myself amongst its queer community—whatever I could define that to be. That definition changes by the day, but it is constituted by candid conversations with thoughtful people in a more open city. I am saying Columbus is where I found myself in concert with a diverse, supportive community.

Though far from perfect, Columbus is generally a place where love is commonplace and appreciated for its many flavors. We talk openly about sex. And in my experience, we have a necessary honesty about where sex is complex, dynamic, and often silly. We have jocks and divas, twinks and bears, lipsticks and butches, and kings and queens. I miss that variety terribly.

Here in Ames Iowa, however, I am met with a different audience. I try to speak openly about how my experiences as a queer man shape my understanding of the world, and I remark playfully about the ways in which my experience both compliment and contradict more national narratives of LGBTQ life, just as I would in Columbus. But in Ames, the reaction of friends communicates the same discomfort we may expect from the one Midwestern straight guy lost at a Mary Anne Brandt show. There is a chuckle with a sly eye. A reaction but not a regard. An internal question peering from behind the eyes, “should I laugh at this?”

In that part of Iowa, people favor modesty about sex and sexuality. In contrast to candid conversations of sex and gender, talks of relationships seem to revolve around their economics. There is discussion of rearing children, of balancing careers, and of which partner picks the movie on movie night. Such talk is familiar to me, but it lacks candor. Absent are discussions of the sex or of sexuality. In Ames, these conversations are uncommon, if not impolite.

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Curious. Iowa is a state where same-sex marriage is legal, which is something Ohio has yet to achieve. So why that gilded artifice? Maybe that is not a surprise. Marriages are about economies, and Iowans virtuously accept gays and lesbians in that context. Having access to a partner’s benefits and rearing children are realities Iowans are proud to recognize about same-sex couples. Yet the realities of sex and the identities associated with them are not visible here in ways that I am used to.

What I am recognizing, perhaps, is that my experiences in Ames have encouraged me to appreciate what I left behind. Columbus offers members of the LGBTQA community a candor about sex, sexualities, and all the possible identities associated with them. Ames has marriage, but it does not have The Garden, so to speak.

While Columbus is not always so accepting of “queer”— as kiss-in’s in front of Pint House will attest— I for one cherish the fact that Columbus generally has that kind of culture, and I would invite the good people of Columbus to preserve this candor as a form of visibility for “queer.”

Visibility and openness move beyond just the economies of sex and recognizes its ecologies.

Visibility and openness move beyond just the economies of sex and recognizes its ecologies. Columbus’ candor is celebrated through the relationships we share and through drag and camp and queer yoga. That candor celebrates variety in relationships, and that candor both employs and subverts the artificial categories we place on each other, while pluralizing our definitions of ourselves and, especially, of love. In this way, Columbus seems to embrace new ways of understanding relationships, even if the State of Ohio continues to struggle with appreciating a fuller spectrum of love. And maybe that is what Columbus has to teach a nation struggling with accepting the queerest among us. That openness to queer, Columbus, is a powerful legacy. A culture of transience, and one I take with me as I transition back to the Ames.

Bryan Lutz is a PhD student in Rhetoric and Professional Communication at Iowa State University. When not in Iowa, he lives in Clintonville with his boyfriend.

SEPTEMBER’S BARTENDER OF THE MONTH comes from a new addition to the LGBT bar scene. Marla Hicks has been working at Bossy Grrl’s Pinup Joint since it opened in March, where she says the customers and staff all feel like family. The Old North Columbus bar has no cover, and she encourages everyone to check out Monday Mayhem, where both professionals and amateurs try their hand at burlesque.

Marla, from a small town north of Marion, says that her life has changed completely since she moved to Columbus. “I think Columbus is growing into something very special. The local music scene is amazing, and the community is becoming more and more progressive and accepting. The special thing about Bossy Grrl’s is that we strive to make everyone feel welcome and accepted. We are an everybody bar that emphasizes acceptance and above all things a really fun time.”

Marla is currently a 6th year senior at The Ohio State University; she’s working on a psychology and sexual studies double major and a minor in Romanian. Moving forward, she hopes to be a sex therapist and help to council survivors of rape. “It’s a lot,” she says, “but I have a lot of passion and drive.”

WHO:

Marla Hicks

WHERE:

Bossy Grrl’s Pin Up Joint 2598 North High Street Columbus, OH 43202 614.725.5402

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COCKTAIL:

Vicious Bitch: Vodka + Pickle Juice + Tobasco Sauce. Salty and spicy!

FUN FACT:

In addition to bartending, Marla also performs burlesque herself!

ALEX “UNIQUE” NEWELL

The Glee Superstar has a celebrity Q & A with Quorum Columbus | Isaac Bendele A few minutes speaking with Alex “Unique” Newell and his fierce passion comes bursting out. Quorum Columbus was lucky to get some time with him to see where he draws his “Unique” inspiration. With moments of humility mixed with a splash of diva, the conversation was anything but ordinary.

Q: Do you have a color you are drawn to?

A”U”N: My favorite color is purple. It is the color of royalty and it looks really good on me. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Don’t get me wrong; every color looks great on me. It makes me happy when I wear purple.

Q: Many people, at some point while growing up have a moment or small moments that they start to realize their sexual orientation may be different than some of those around them. Did you experience moments like this and how long did it take to process before you shared your I experience?

A”U”N: You know, most people have just a thought and you just live that way, not thinking that you are hurting anyone or doing anything against anyone. I feel like when I told my mother, she had already known. I mean, I wasn’t the typical regular boy doing normal boy things. Instead of playing football I would go shopping. I thought that was fun. I would rather spend most of my time with my aunt rather than my uncles. I never really knew anything other than how I would live my lifeI never really had that moment.

Q: Did it make you a little apprehensive dancing and singing with so many people you respected on Glee?

A”U”N: It always made me nervous. I mean, Heather Morris literally touched Beyonce! I am Beyonce’s worshipper. I love her dearly. It was a bit scary. I’m dancing with these people who have done this longer than me and who are all older than me. Obviously it would make me nervous. I was only 19, walking on the set with these amazing talents that have been working and perfecting their craft,. Now I get to walk in their steps doing the same.

Q: So, you are a bit of a fashion guru. What are some of the places you gain inspiration?

A”U”N: I get inspiration from every walk around life. I could literally walk down the street and see something and say I need to recreate that any way I can. Gwyneth Paltrow, at the 2012 Oscars, wore this extremely elegant white, cape

by Tom Ford. That was my inspiration for the SAG awards this year. I could look at a tree, and if looked like I could pull it off as an outfit, I’d probably come up with an idea to make it. It’s literally anything.

Q: Is there advice you would offer those who want to get into performing or the music industry?

A”U”N: Work as hard as you can until you are the best at what you do. You can’t always assume that someone will like you just because you are you. You have to find that, and I hate saying that word, the unique part about you.

Everyone giggles when I say that word myself. You have to always be confident in your talent. If you know you’re the best, nothing can stop you.

Q: Do you find that memorizing your lines and lyrics comes easily to you, or is that something you’ve had to work at?

A”U”N: I find it’s not sentences, it is actual words. I will forget how to say a word. When I sang “Meadowlark” from “The Baker’s Wife,” I would always say wind (stream of air) not wind (change direction). The line is, “Of the meadowlark who lived where the rivers wind.”

Don’t ask me why I’d been saying wind I don’t know what was my problem. Words and I don’t go together.

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Q: Do you see yourself pursuing more acting or looking toward Broadway?

A”U”N: I don’t know yet, I’m still young. Every role on Broadway is older. Nobody who is 20 is playing a 50 year old. If “Dreamgirls” comes to Broadway, I’d kill every black woman who decided she’d want to play Effie White just so I could play Effie White. But I just want to see what is out there for me.

Q: Glee had you experiment some with gender. How important do you think it is to show things of that nature on television?

A”U”N: Its extremely important to show people what actually goes on in life. Most people in America lash out about things they aren’t educated on. If you educate them, they get a better understanding. You can’t really judge something if you know nothing about it. And until you know something about it you can’t judge it. And you still can’t judge it because you aren’t the person who is going through it. So it is definitely important for me and others to show trials, tribulations and happiness that go on in day-to-day life.

Alex “Unique” Newell is beginning filming for Glee’s fifth season as part of the main cast. If his past performances and tenacity his for improving his talent is any sign of what to expect, audiences are in for a show!

Photos | Clinton Henning Gaughran

RECYCLE ON HIGH DEVELOPMENT | JM RAYBURN RECYCLING. The first thought that comes to mind should be the Portlandia episode where the Sanitation Twins, Marcus and Madeleine Harris, attempt to sell us their particular brand of recycling. If you have no idea what I am talking about, Google it.

In this article I’m going to put on my sanitation hat and sell you on the Columbus brand of recycling. Building on the success of its residential recycling program, Columbus has launched a new pilot program to increase recycling along High Street between Broad Street and Lane Avenue. Crews have installed 130 recycling containers next to existing litter containers in an effort to increase accessibility for pedestrians to recycle in downtown Columbus, the Short North, and University District. The recycling containers are “all-in-one,” which means you don’t have to worry about sorting out the glass, paper, and plastic (sorry Portlandia).

Perhaps we can lobby to put a bird on them. The “Recycling on High” program is made possible through a partnership between the City of Columbus and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

“I am proud of the continuing efforts we are making to improve our recycling habits,” Mayor Michael B. Coleman said. “Increased recycling opportunities allow Columbus to continue in its growth as a leader in sustainability.”

The City of Columbus, in conjunction with the Short North Alliance, is also piloting a bar and restaurant recycling program to compliment the High Street recycling containers. That is because one bar generates an estimated five tons of glass per month, and 90 percent of Ohio’s glass currently ends up at a landfill. At maximum capacity, the program is expected to divert 1,500 tons of materials from the landfill during the 10-month period from August 2013 to June 2014. With the success of the pilot program, the city hopes to demonstrate recycling as a cost effective option for businesses.

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Increased recycling opportunities allow Columbus to continue in its growth as a leader in sustainability.

- mayor michael b. coleman

Rumpke Recycling, currently responsible for collection of household recyclables, will collect both the restaurant and High Street recyclables for transport to their processing site for sorting. The glass will be sorted from other materials at the Rumpke facility and then transported to the Glass Processing Plant located in Dayton, Ohio. Once there, 60 percent of the glass will be used for insulation and sent to companies such as Johns-Manville in Defiance, Ohio and Owens Corning in Newark, Ohio. The other 40 percent will be used for glass bottles and sent to Owens-Illinois in Zanesville, Ohio and other various locations. The initiative will include up to 40 Columbus bars and restaurants that are located on High Street from Broad Street, to Lane Avenue.

The City of Columbus will provide bar and restaurant owners with recycling containers, employee training, and collection three times per week during the pilot year.

Interested parties can contact 614.645.3111 for more information. Participating businesses are also invited to join Mayor Coleman’s GreenSpot Program to be recognized within the city as an environmentally conscious organization.

For additional information, please visit:

ColumbusGreenSpot.org

CULTURE

| QUE JONES As the season of art gallery openings and symphony concerts approaches what can you do to prepare for these high-class events? Say you are going on a date with a new potential partner or even a significant lover. He/she decides on a museum gala, opera, symphony, or some other cultured event. Here are a few quick tips to not only survive but also enjoy these high society events.

1. What do you wear?

For musical concerts the general rule is dress one level below the performers. An opera, where the characters are in elaborate concerts, is the exception. If it is a symphony where they are all wearing tuxes, you must wear at least a suit and tie. If the musicians are just wearing suits, a button up and tie is acceptable. Black-tie wear is usually expected for high-society events such as a symphony gala or fundraiser. Art galleries will have a much wider variety of dress; though when impressing a date you can never go wrong with a button up and tie. Just play it safe and don’t be that artistic person who showed up in cut off jeans and a t-shirt…; nobody is going home with them!

2. How do you act?

Do NOT touch the art, unless it is an interactive work where they ask you to touch it. In some more modern pieces it is hard to tell what is art and what is simply a chair in the room. Play it safe and follow the lead of some of the more experienced art goers. Most importantly, don’t try to be too deep in discussing a work you don’t understand. This will often lead to you looking foolish.

At a musical concert make sure your cell phone is off!

Nothing is more embarrassing than that techno-phonic ringtone going off in the middle of Brahms. Oh you think you can turn it off without everyone seeing? NOPE! They all know it was you and you are forever shunned in their minds.

– Wait for appropriate times to clap; in a multi-movement work clap at the end of the piece, in jazz after the solos, and in opera at the end of each aria. There are a lot of rules to remember so the easiest way is to fake it. Wait until you hear everyone else, clapping, standing in ovation, or yelling Bravo, and follow suit. Your date will never be the wiser.

3.

How do you appreciate what you may not understand?

In many situations where you are at your first gallery show, or musical event you may not know what to like and what not to. Be honest! If you truly don’t get something, admit it! This will look way better than trying to fake admiration.

With artwork, look for the motion in the piece. If it is abstract try getting very close (DON’T TOUCH IT!) and see the motion of the brush strokes; are they big, small, furious, calm? See the underlying work an artist put into a piece and comment on that. Another thought is don’t try to make everything look like something; we are not watching clouds here. Say exactly how it makes you feel. This could be a memory, an emotion, a vibe, whatever, but these feelings will open you up to your date and make the time more memorable.

In a musical event take the same approach. Read the program notes and see if any of the historic culturally relevant material strikes interest to you. If not, start listening and create a story. Hear the different motifs, sounds, emotions, and turn them into characters. Entertain yourself in a way to keep up appearances of attentiveness and interest. Nothing looks worse than someone falling asleep at your favorite symphony concert. If you find yourself drifting off… SIT UP! Often times just sitting with your back off the chair can keep you awake. Finally when all else fails, just ask your date what he/she thought.

In the high-society world of art and music there are many taboos. Follow the above guidelines and you will appear affluent and educated at any event. Most importantly your date will be impressed and if it doesn’t work out, you know it wasn’t because you embarrassed him/her.

IN THE HIGH-SOCIETY WORLD OF ART AND MUSIC THERE ARE MANY TABOOS.

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LATRICE ROYALE and her Columbus Court

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| Craig Chadwell & Michael Moffo With the number of hours drag queens spend painting face, dressing up in lavish costumes, and blinging-up with shiny jewelry, it’s natural to want to see who is behind the mask. We recently learned that when Timothy Wilcots finishes the makeup and the wardrobe, Latrice Royale emerges. We also learned to expect the unexpected from Latrice. Not only in what she had to say, but we learned that there is a very real, intelligent, compassionate person beneath the makeup, dress, and jewelry.

Even with all of her fame which blossomed as a result of her appearance on “Ru Paul’s Drag Race,” she states everything with a refreshing ease and openness. From her broken home upbringing in Compton, CA, to her time in prison, it’s all genuine conversation from a genuine person.

The weekend of August 2-4, 2013, was a busy one for Latrice. With Friday night in New Jersey, Saturday in Columbus, then Sunday in Austin, TX, we were grateful that Latrice gave Quorum Magazine this exclusive interview about giving, community, and life. We initially shared with Latrice that we are actually “The Taste Buds” – the food writers for Quorum. “That is flattering because, well look, I’m all about food! So you’re not really too far off course,” she quickly quipped. “This was a match made in heaven!”

Her Friday New Jersey performance was a cancer benefit.

In a rare moment of breaking her drag character, she became emotional onstage.

“I didn’t expect it to overtake me the way it did,” she said. “(Cancer) is something very and near and dear to my heart I’ve performed ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ tons of times, but it’s never been received that way it was received last night.

Latrice has turned her life around since her 18-month prison sentence for drug possession. She is doing all she can to use her life lessons and fame and do positive work for any she can touch.

“That’s what it’s about for me and it always has been.

Giving back to the community – a lot -- is what it’s all about for me,” she said. “It’s just natural and it’s important that people see the different side of drag ...I don’t have that ‘diva mentality.’ I know too closely how all of this can be taken away in a second.”

Latrice finds drag in Columbus to be special.

“Columbus is very different. I’ve been calling Columbus my second home. It’s like family,” she said. “When I come here, it’s not like work for me at all here... The money or whatever, that’s all secondary.

It’s about coming here and being with my people here. They love me, and I love them.”

But Latrice takes herself very seriously. She considers herself an ambassador of the gay community to all communities.

“I think every community is my community because I’m gay. I’m a drag queen!,” she laughs.” I’m all about inspiring.

I get to be myself. I don’t have to put on airs.”

Gesturing to her out-of-costume moccasin-style shoes, she added, “ Got them at a jailhouse yard sale!”

Again, she refers to her past experience in prison in such a nonchalant manner, that you realize it is a part of her, and it was part of the evolution that brought her here. “You know what, there’s nothing I can do about what I did. I don’t try to front, honey. It’s my heart,” she said.

Her heart is now in what she considers to be her first, real relationship. “I have a boyfriend now and have opened myself up to dating, she said, adding “I’ve never been in this good place in my 41 years. For the first time, I’m in love. “ She’s now a wedding officiant who recently was honored to help a long-time friend get married in New York, and her thoughts on relationships and marriage are evolving to the positive.

“I’ve been calling Columbus my second home. It’s like family.”

“Get up. Look sickening.

And make them eat it.”

“I tell myself I deserve it, but I was so fearful. If I’m in, I’m in.

If it goes south, I feel like a failure. I’ll try to hold it together as long as I can until I know it ain’t right. It takes work and you’ve got to keep it moving and keep communicating.

That’s the big thing,” she explains. “I think that’s why this is going so well. I ain’t doing none of the things I used to do, number one. And I’m just in a total different emotional headspace. I’m different. My life is different. I’ve been focusing the last eight years keeping myself out of this hole I was in being in prison.”

Latrice’s mother passed away while Latrice was in prison, but she still attributes one of her greatest life lessons to her mother. “My mother told me something as a kid. And I was grown when I finally realized what she was saying to me.

She says, ‘Bought sense is the best sense in the world.’ I was like, ‘BOUGHT sense?’ Meaning, what you’ve got to pay for – what you learn from – that’s gonna be the best (lesson to learn.)”

FITNESS

| MICHAEL GREENHOUSE

Many people do not realize the tremendous advantages and benefits of Bodyweight Training. In almost every fitness magazine you see, there are dudes in the gym hitting weights. With all training, there is a regression and progression to every exercise – an opposite movement that strengthens the effect of the initial exercise. An example of a regression for hanging leg lifts would be performing a plank. The progression would be performing the movement with a medicine ball between your feet.

The bench press is a prime example where people tend to push too hard or are frequently injured. Many people can’t do a conventional bench press because of existing shoulder issues, bad form, or no access to proper equipment. There is no need to do a bench press unless you want to put high levels stress on your rotatorcuff and hope not to get hurt while trying to look like a body-builder.

Push-ups are a great, simpler alternative to bench presses. Not only can you perform push-ups with various hand positions that target different muscles groups, but you can add difficulty by performing them from an elevated surface. The elevated surface extends the range of motion for the shoulders, thereby engaging more muscle fibers like the core and back muscles.

The many benefits of bodyweight training are why I preach these movements and always add some sort of bodyweight exercise in all of my fitness programming.

My top benefits list of bodyweight training: 1. No need for a gym or exercise equipment 2. Versatile, so the amount of exercise variation is limitless 3. Can be done anywhere (office/park/home) 4. Improves motor skills and muscular coronation 5. Improves muscular control and strength 6. Improves flexibility and balance 7. Chance of injury is greatly reduced Many of my students have never used a machine and love the fact that they are in great shape without the aide of a machine. They are their own machines, and they look great.

I have asked many of my students what is their favorite body exercise. The list consists of simple, but effective, movements: 1. Push-ups • The simplest and best known of all body weight exercise; some use them as a punishment • I use push-ups as a progression assessment; the day you double the amount of push-ups you have done before is a great day.

2. Squats • The most effective way to build strength in your legs and mid-section 3. Planks / Bridge • A great way to test and improve core strength and stabilize the muscles 4. Pull-ups • The best strength-building exercise out there; if you can do a complete military pull-up, you are a stud.

Bodyweight is not a new approach to fitness, but it is a somewhat-lost form. Today, many people seem to feel the need to hit the gym and push weights around when, in truth, that is not needed and often not even beneficial to end-goals. There is a reason that so many gyms promote state-of-the-art fitness machines and then, shortly thereafter, close their doors. The reason is written in the saying “Machines do not make the body,. Knowledge and hard work do.”

Laurel Murphy & Julie Rowell COUPLE

| Amy Tannenbaum

L

‘‘

aurel Murphy teaches 8th grade English & Literature in Columbus. This year she is entering her 16th year teaching – but to many of her students, she has been more than just an educator; she has been an advocate. Laurel doesn’t brag about how much she means to her students, but her partner, Julie Rowell, is quick to sing her praises.

“Columbus needs more teachers like Laurel”, says Julie, a chemist for the city of Columbus. “I’ve seen how her students react to her - it’s like a moth to a flame.” In fact, old students continue to keep in touch with Laurel long after they’ve graduated – even after they’ve returned from deployment in Afghanistan. And for the majority of her teaching years, Laurel has been out to her students, their parents and her colleagues.

And it doesn’t necessarily have to do with the fact that’s she’s gay. Not all of her students are gay, but all of them do a have a role model upon whom they can rely. Laurel has created a safe environment for her students in her classroom: a place where they can avoid being scared, bullied, or harassed. She stands up for students who may not fit in, for whatever reason, and she makes a difference in the lives of her students by simply being true to herself.

She may not get paid enough to put up with the crazy antics of middle schoolers, but she doesn’t do it for the money, but as Julie explains, “she does it for the love of it.”

That’s not to say she hasn’t had parents knocking at her door asking, “where’s the gay teacher?” But once they give Laurel a moment to explain, they are won over. “I explain, I am who I am,” Laurel says. “I’m not going to hide who I am, because I want them to be who they are.” She stands up for others because she stands up for herself. “Once you explain that to them, they realize, ‘oh, you love my kid; okay.’”

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I’m not going to hide who I am, because I want them to be who they are.

Columbus Schools has also been supportive of her authenticity, as their nondiscrimination policy includes sexual orientation, and they provide same-sex benefits.

The Teacher Union, also supportive, even marches at Pride with school’s Gay-Straight Alliance – also co-run

by Laurel.

Laurel, originally from Cincinnati, came to Columbus seeking a teaching opportunity at a diverse school within an inclusive city. She and Julie met through their own children, when Julie’s ex moved into Laurel’s neighborhood in 2010. Together they’ve created a blended family, with Maddie, 9 and Grace, 7. “It’s cool because we’re the only blended family we know, and stepfamilies in the gay community are especially rare,” says Laurel. “The kids can’t wait for us to get married so they can be sisters!”

But for now, despite some discussions about running off to New York to get hitched, Laurel and Julie are holding off on getting married until the laws in Ohio change. “If it became legal, I’d drag her [Julie’s] ass downtown,” says Laurel with a laugh. “Quick, before someone appeals this!”

In the meantime, this fall, you can expect to see former students stopping her Clintonville home to say hello, or offering to help put together her classroom for the school year. Says Julie: “If every school had someone like Laurel, Columbus would be a better place to go to school.”

Want to be a Quorum Couple?

Email at: Feature@QuorumColumbus.com

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For more Info go to:

ColumbusFoodTruckfest.com

A YEAR OF “LASTS”

| BOWEN MARSHALL I LOVE THE FALL. I love how the world changes as wind and sunlight work their wizardry to create shows of dancing leaves that traipse down streets. I love the feeling that the world is growing up, that time is passing, as school kids embark on adventures that will bring them new friends, new ideas, and new chances for self discovery and exploration.

As I enter what seems like the 25th grade, three thoughts catch in my mind 1.) I am very excited for an excuse to have four legitimate costume changes a day, 2.) I desperately hope someone will be my NY-152 and buy me a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils, and, 3.) I am struck that this is the beginning of the end of the school chapter in my life.

Setting off into this unknown last year is exciting and nerve racking, and it gives me a renewed sense that the world is filled with electric energy. I find myself stopping to study moments that I call “lasts.” The last time I will register for classes, the last time I will anxiously await for a grade, and the last time I can call myself a student.

Being the Instagram fanatic that I am, I try and capture each moment I want to remember in a perfectly filtered photo; but the truth is I can’t. These are my “lasts” of being a student. They are the increasingly loud tolls of time telling me that the end, like it or not, is coming.

It may seem odd to talk about going back to school in terms of the end of school; I do so because endings are powerful creatures. They have power that precedes their presence, reaching back to reshape all the moments and times that come before.

I remember backpacking through Europe with my mom. One night when we were staying in Paris, I went to the Eiffel Tower with a stranger we met in a hostel to see the dazzling night show (the one Carrie Bradshaw looks for in Sex and the City).

It was one of those perfect moments when my new friend and I were lost in conversation under the Parisian stars, and I wished that moment would never end.

I remember the first time I went to a dance club when I was 19 and my date did not check to see if it was a 21+ club; he left me outside. One of his friends spoke to the bouncer and got me in, but my date was off flirting with someone else. I remember walking out and waiting at a nearby park for 45 minutes for my mother to come and get me. I remember how humiliated I felt and how much I just wanted the night to be over.

I remember when I took the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) and in the middle of it thought, if I get up and leave right now, this will be over. I can end this right now. But I did not. I stuck it out and got through it. And I am so grateful I did, because if I had not seen it through the end, I would not be in school now.

THE END IS COMING, SO CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING I share these stories because each ending had a very different meaning. In Paris, the end was something I hoped to avoid.

At that dance club, I begged for the end to come. On the GRE, the end was something I was afraid I would never reach. But in each case, the end came and I had to go on with my life.

As you start this school year, this new job, a new relationship, or whatever adventure you are embarking upon, I hope you savor it. I hope you have experiences that challenge you and help you grow, I hope you collect stories that you can laugh at with friends for years, and I hope that when you are going through difficult times, you find people who lift you up and you hold on to them fiercely.

The end is coming, so celebrate the beginning. Have a glorious school year.

And if you feel so moved, send someone you love a bouquet of sharpened pencils. But make sure they aren’t too sharp; getting poked in the eye is not the happiest of endings.

If you’d like to share the story of your school year, think about publishing it with us. Email your story to us at: Feature@QuorumColumbus.com

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For more information visit: www.FranklintonArtsDistrict.us

SEXPERT

BACK TO BASICS | JOHN HENRY WE ALL HAVE A TENDENCY to focus on “the big picture” from time to time. The fine details of any activity can be overlooked or viewed as secondary. We lose sight of the important role minor details play in our ultimate success or failure. That can be especially true when it comes to sex. Clearly, we all want to get off. We have sex for the physical, mental and emotional release that it offers through orgasm. For many of us, we focus so much on the goal of sex that we miss out on all the fun sex can offer ; the result of said encounter can be lacklusterat best.

However, it has the potential of so much more than that brief and fleeting o-face moment.

The first step to unleashing the full power of your sex life is getting to know you. Exploring your own body and discovering your likes, dislikes and desires is both healthy and necessary.

It is difficult for any partner to help you “get there” if you don’t know what you want. Find out what works for you as well as where you draw the line. Because human sexuality and desire have the potential to change or evolve, that should be an ongoing process. Some kinks can be difficult or even dangerous to try on your own, but for the most part, personal exploration is a good thing. Knowing that information is central to finding a compatible sex partner and getting the most out of sex.

The next step is finding someone that can fulfill those desires.

One night stands and casual hook-ups can be fun but often have a greater potential of being awkward and unfulfilling.

In order to avoid that, get to know your partner and have a conversation about what he/she likes; be sure to include your own dos and don’ts. Again, the only way to fulfill your or someone else’s desires is to know what those desires are. It is always best to start where you both are comfortable and slowly integrate those more challenging or exotic fantasies. Some say that sex is better with someone you love, which is probably true. What is undeniably true is that sex with a stranger is never great. It may seem hot and exciting at the time but often ends up being uncomfortable and unsatisfying.

Last but most important of all is safety. There is nothing sexy about STIs (sexually transmitted infections), and reading on someone’s profile that he/she is “clean” or “D/D free” should never be enough to convince you that you are safe. Most STIs have few or no symptoms at all, and many people who have an STI do not

know it. So, it’s not that they are lying or trying to trick you; they honestly do not know. The only way to be sure that you or your partners do not have an STI is to be tested. The question should not only be “have you been tested?” but also “when was your last test?” and “have you had unprotected sex since your last test?”

People often ask, “what if they lie?” That is a completely valid concern, but that immediate response to those questions, regardless of the answers, can tell you a lot. If someone is hesitant to answer or freaked out by the question, that’s a red flag. The truth is they probably don’t know. Even after all those questions, USE PROTECTION. The risks of unprotected sex far outweigh the benefits. It may feel good and seem exciting at the time, but the result is often a very long, stressful and anxiety-ridden wait until your next test. It kind of kills any fun that may have been had because all you can think about is “what if?” Avoid after-sex stress by knowing your own status, asking your partner’s and using protection every time.

For some of you, those suggestions may seem obvious and I would redirect those readers to the title of this article. The fact is that these seemingly simple aspects of sex are overlooked all the time. We get caught up just going through the motions and forget the basics of a healthy and enjoyable sex life. The next time you are presented with an opportunity for sex, ask yourself these questions: “what do I want?”, “can we fulfill each other’s needs?” and “will I regret this in the morning?”

If you can honestly answer all of those questions and still want to have sex, game on!

Free confidential HIV and STI testing is available at ARC Ohio’s locations. Anonymous HIV testing is available. For more information call 614-299-2437 or visit www.arcohio.org

CRAB RACING WITH KRIS

| KRIS LITTLER GREAT NAMES Cru-Shell-a Deville, Big Fat Conch, Claw me Maybe, Lenny Crabbitz, the Great Crabsby, NasCrab, Claws, but no Cigar, Claw-Kwork Orange, Who Framed Roger Crab-bit?, Gladys Crabitz, Crab Pitt, Helen Sheller NOT SO GREAT...

Boy, Claw, Fancy, Number 2, Clark, Sir Super Crab Crab Crab Esquire, The Hardy Boys tried to flush me, Crabnah Montana, the only Buckeye Not in Jail, Fondue...is a Fondon’t and I had a really Good Name last week but I forgot it.

Let’s think of some winning names! A great name makes a great crab’ otherwise it’s just going to be a crab-tastrophe.

Local Bar has been rocking the house with racers. On Aug. 12, more than 100 people poured into the bar for the races. That’s on a Monday night! Do the math; it breaks down to a heck-of-a-lot-of-people-to-crab ratio. So a tardy racer could be crab-less. To be early is to be on time and to be on time is late!

FOLLOW THE CRABS! / CRABRACINGWITHKRIS

Exile bar hosted the Dr. Seuss-themed 1 Crab, 2 Crab, Good Crab, Bad Crab, crab race on Aug. 15th for Bear Camp.. More than 70 crabs were on the table that night.

Fascinating Fact Hermit crabs have been heard making croaking sounds. It is still being studied to try to find out if this is a means of communication or what the croaking might mean.

Come Join the Race: Local Bar: Mondays at 9:30p.m.

Exile Bar: Thursdays at 9:30 p.m.

wANT TO ASK JACKIE A QUESTION ABOUT LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING? GET SOME ANSwERS! JACKIE@QUORUMCOLUMBUS.COM

| JACKIE VANDERWORTH Q #1 Dear Jackie, I’m starting college in the fall at OSU and am nervous about moving to a big city and leaving home for the first time. Also, I am worrying about roommates, crowds, and the crime. It’s getting to the point that I’ve almost talked myself out of going and may just stay home and go to a community college. Being a loner and overweight, I am very insecure about this next big step in my life. Any thoughts on my situation? ~ James Dear James, Tell the negative committee that meets inside your head to sit down and shut up! College can be a wonderful growing experience, intellectually and socially. Go and give it at least one semester to see if you like it or not. Try visiting coffee shops, the student union, local bars and game activities. There are plenty of things to do off campus as well. If at the end of the semester you still don’t like it, you can always go back to Small Town, USA. Why deny yourself the chance that you may just like it. Spread you wings and Fly! ~ Jackie Q #2 Dear Jackie, There’s this guy I have been dating that I really like. He’s fun to be around, cute, well-built, and the life of the party.. The problem is that he is so into himself, and at 35, he is still going to circuit parties, using recreational drugs, and drinking, He’s also addicted to the gym. My friends think he is overbearing, cruel, sarcastic; they really don’t like him. And I think he hooks up with other guys, too. I really have fun with him when I am “allowed” to be with him. Other times, he’s out with his friends, working out, or travelling. At times, I do feel left out and am a third wheel when I’m with him. But I really really like him. I don’t want to lose this hot guy, so how should I handle this? ~ Sean

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Dear Sean, It seems like he has a bad case of NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder). Whether he truly has it is up to the local psychiatrist to determine, and you don’t have time for that. That kind of party boy can be fun to hang out with, as a friend, but can be very annoying to date/live with when he’s the boyfriend. And when friends don’t like your boyfriend, that is usually a big rainbow flag waving in the sky. It sounds like he is too in love with himself to have any left over for someone else. So cut this egomaniac off and let him live in the big gay circuit party in his head. He’ll always be #1 there and you certainly don’t want to be his #2! ~ Jackie Q #3 Dear Jackie, My girlfriend is very casual and doesn’t like dining at fancy restaurants. She says they are overpriced. She only wants to cook at home or order pizza. If we do eat out, it’s fast food. So I usually fine dine with my friends or on business trips. When I mention going to a nice restaurant, she pooh poohs it and puts me down for liking expensive, pretentious places. Even though we are opposites, it does work except for this one contentious subject. How can I get her to dine out and stop the complaining? ~ Sue Dear Sue, Even though you can’t eat the atmosphere, it is part of the dining experience and adds to the “sense of taste!” Try compromising and getting her to go out to atmospheric but fun places like Starliner Diner or NorthStar. Then move on to fancier places for special occasions.

Lunches are less expensive, and you can save money by ordering appetizers or sharing entrees if she’s worried about the cost. If that doesn’t work, keep fine dining with your friends and bring her home a doggie bag from Lindey’s! ~ Jackie

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DRINK.

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

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

EAT + DRINK. 11 12 21 23 25

La Fogata Grill Short North 790 N High St 614.294.7656 Level Dining Lounge Short North 700 N High St 614.754.7111 Union Short North 782 N High St 614.421.2233 Circus Short North 1227 N High St 614.421.2998 Barrel 44 Short North 1227 N High St 614.421.2998

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

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

MERION VILLAGE

BREWERY DISTRICT SOUTH SIDE OLDE TOWNE EAST

EAT + DRINK.

DRINK. 3 6 7 15 17 20

24 Explorers Club Merion Village 1586 S High St 614.725.0155

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

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

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MUNITY RESOURCES

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

ARC Ohio 800-252-0827 www.arcohio.org Fghts the spread of HIV, works towards reducing its transmission, stigma and the resulting discrimination through education and awareness, and provides HIV/AIDS.

BRAVO (Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization) 614-294-STOP www.bravo-ohio.org Works to eliminate violence perpetuated on the basis through prevention, advocacy, violence documentation and survivor services.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Queer Resources Directory www.qrd.org and everything queer including families, youth, politics, resources, media and more.

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

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

Evolution Theatre Company 614-233-1124 www.evolutiontheatre.org A semi-professional theatre company that presents musicals, dramas and comedies that have not been Broadway shows as well as new works and world Imagine Productions 614-398-1110 www.imaginecolumbus.com theatrical troupe committed to entertaining and educating community stakeholders in the Columbus Metro area through performing arts. We believe in inclusiveness, openness, and tolerance, and recognize that empowerment and growth occurs with audiences and performers, alike.

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

and educational programs, as well as a store and a café (Heirloom), all under one roof in an architectural landmark.

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

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

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

The Crystal Club 614-214-4828 www.thecrystalclub.org transsexuals, female impersonators, and other transgender individuals.

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

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

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

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

ADJOURN | ERIN UPCHURCH

When I was in second grade we moved from Newark, Ohio to “a special place” called Darby Estates in Galloway, Ohio. I remember that the house we bought had horrible pea green and blue carpet with a gold lame mirror in the foyer. There was a great swing set in our yard, and a neighbor named Tony who let me play with his Star Wars and He-Man action figures. My best friend Tracey lived three doors down and was with me the night a cross was burned on our fence; she was Hawaiian and lived with her single mom.

The first day of school that year is a distant memory outside of the fact that I was one of three students named Erin; the idea of being the only brown face was lost on me until later in third grade when Todd G. called me “Blackie.”

That was the first and last time that I was in a class or work environment with three people having my same name.

It was not, however the last time I was the only person of color in any space, school or otherwise.

Looking back through my elementary school years, I have come to realize that Brown Elementary was the birthplace of my consciousness, advocacy, and activism. The first time I was called out for the color of skin, my internal response was that of wanting to make a correction; my skin was brown and I could not ascertain why the word “Blackie” would be hurled my way. While I remember Todd getting into some type of trouble, the bigger and lasting impact was my personal awakening to the fact that I was different than all of my schoolmates. Not different as in unique, but different as in unable to comfortably blend in. For the years following, I spent significant amounts of time in the mirror trying to make my lips look just a little smaller and my hair stretch a little straighter.

have to switch classes and navigate unfamiliar social circles and understand new norms. Our daughter, who remains in elementary school, will be attending a new school herself as she was accepted into the gifted and talented program. She had the option of staying at her previous school, however after interviewing programs, she bravely and boldly chose to leave her comfort behind and travel a new road.

At a time when I thought I would be nervous and scared for their new adventures, I find myself pleasantly calm and confident. There is something magical in watching another’s history being formed.

You see moments you know they’ll never forget and as a parent/caregiver, are intimately involved in their missteps and life lessons. While I don’t wish any of my own heartbreak on my children, I do hope they in some way come to know their own strength and measure of resilience.

I am who I am today because of the hard days and times I was forced to find my own power. If not for the opportunities to stand up and use my voice, I may have never known that it does indeed exist.

“We are powerful because we have survived…” ~ Audre Lorde

And then there was Stacy, my friend whose family had an awesome pool in their backyard. She was one of the only other girls in my grade who was at least my height, if not slightly taller. Sometimes the group of girls I considered my friends were mean to her. They left her out of activities and would pass notes with jokes made at her expense. It is because of the mean girls and my desire for everyone to feel included, that my innate sense of fairness came alive.

These memories resurface as my own children continue to grow and independently navigate the world. As their playground broadens, so does the scope of hatred and discrimination. Tomorrow morning our son will enter the doors of middle school; and for the first time will not have the benefit of attending his moderate-sized neighborhood school, where literally every teacher and school personnel knew his name. His gentle and easily distracted heart will

Erin Upchurch is a social worker, diversity educator,and advocate living in Northwest Columbus. She is a founding member of New Leaf Columbus and currently serves on the board of TransOhio where she works with transgender/gender-non conforming youth. Erin and her partner Michelle are “imperfectly raising two vibrant and wonderful children”

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