sPectacular pop star! black history month! OCFEBRUARY 2014
WHOME HAS YOUR HEART? STEAL -- i’M FREE! OR QUORUM COLUMBUS LGBTQA MAGAZINE
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2014
CONTENTS FEBRUARY 6 PERSPECTIVE Bayard Rustin: A Man Without Limits
26 DEVELOPMENT Here’s to the City We Love!
8 SCENE Spectacular Pop Star
28 THE TASTE BUDS de-Novo: You’ll Fall in Love!
12 MOSAIC Gay-ming Up Your Night Out
30 SCENE Ravin’Raven
14 SEXPERT Condom Month
32 SARA SHARES How Private Are Your Parts?
16 FEBRUARY BARTENDER Greg Holcombe, Cavan Irish Pub
34 COUPLE Angela Pegan + Quyen Tran
18 MOVIES Cozy Queer Films for February
36 FITNESS Love Handles – What’s To Love?
20 Culture For the Love of Artists
40 TRANSlation Advice from Jackie
22 FEATURE Michael J. Willett, Our G.B.F
45 ADJOURN Dwayne Steward On the Cover:
Michael J. Willett | Actor Kate Romer | Photgrapher
For more information visit: QuorumColumbus.com
quorum crew Isaac Bendele
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Jackie Vanderworth, Columnist Ray LaVoie, Photographer Clare Hughes, Graphic Designer Alex Copeland, Contributor Clayton Walter, Contributor
This month’s Contributors: Contributor
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Zack Dezon, Photography Kate Romero, Photography Dwayne Steward, Adjourn
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THE POWER OF LOVE |MICKEY J. HART In college I had a friend who spent Valentine’s Day in her room crying if she did not have a boyfriend. Her ritual seems as odd now as it did then. I’ve never considered Valentine’s Day to be just about a special someone. I think of it more broadly. Perhaps, this is rooted in the community nature of grade school Valentine’s Day parties with foil-covered shoeboxes and the exchanging of Valentine cards. (Of course, I always loved these parties. This artistic gay boy knew how to decorate a shoebox!) To me, the month is about considering how we care for and treat all the people in our lives. As we make our way through this unusually frigid winter, I am hopeful February brings some warmth – even if it is only the warming of hearts around Valentine’s Day. If you’ve been looking for a G.B.F, Quorum Columbus has one we think you will like. Actor Michael J. Willett shares his thoughts on his new film G.B.F., playing gay characters, his musical interests and more.
I love that the movie has a Columbus connection with local musician Matthew Paul contributing to the soundtrack. This issue opens with Adrian Neal, Jr.’s Black History Month spotlight on Bayard Rustin. Bowen Marshall offers tips on how to be on your game during group nights out. We welcome Clayton Walter with his list of must-see LBGTQ movies for Valentine’s Day. JM Rayburn celebrates our city’s February 14, 1812 founding. Sara Ernest explores the recent media kerfuffle over private parts and trans celebrities. Journalist and activist Dwayne Stewart adjourns this issue with a reminder that there is a treasure of lost history of LGBTQ people of color to reclaim.
Mickey J. Hart Editor
PERSPECTIVE
Bayard Rustin: A Man Without Limits | ADRIAN NEIL, JR AS WE CELEBRATE Black History month, I can’t help but think about the lack of importance and knowledge of African American history not only among youth but even adults. Many people know about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Madame C.J. Walker, but what about those who remained in the shadows but still played an intricate role in not only African American history but history in general?
An example of this is Bayard Rustin. Even though I am ashamed of this, I will admit I did not know who Rustin was until I started doing research on topics for this month’s column. Honestly, not many of the African Americans who are in my life know who he was or what he did for our country. Rustin played a vital role in the planning and execution of the March on Washington and the Civil Rights Movement. Additionally, he had an influence on the Gay Rights Movement. Rustin believed in equality for everyone and believed in standing up for what is right, in a peaceful and non-violent way. He adapted this ideology from one of his first mentors, A.J. Muste, who stated, “Violence cannot do away with violence”. Because of the fact he was very open about his sexual orientation, especially for that time period, Rustin was an easy target. Some individuals were not only opposed to the civil rights efforts, but to what Rustin stood for in general and attempted to use Rustin’s sexual orientation as a tool to discredit him and the work he was doing. When King and Rustin were planning to stage a demonstration at the National Democratic Convention, Rep. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. feared that their demonstration would undermine his power. In an effort to stop the demonstration, Powell called King and threatened to spread a rumor that Rustin and King were having an affair, which wasn’t true. Because of this, King stopped working with Rustin. It has been reported that because of this, Rustin felt betrayed yet kept focused on the goal of the movement.
“The proof that one truly believes is in action.”- Bayard Rustin
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PHOTO | LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
After three years of exile and with the progression of the opposition to the Civil Rights Movement, Rustin was called on to assist in the organizing of the 1963 March on Washington. Once again, there was an attempt to discredit Bayard. This time by Sen. Strom Thurmond, the segregationist (and antigay) politician from South Carolina, who declared the march, was being organized by a “pervert.” This time leaders stood by Rustin because Thurmond was considered a bigot. Because of the faith that movement leaders, including King, had in Rustin, the march was the successful touchstone we know today. While there may be people who are familiar with Rustin’s story, there is still far too many who do not know his contributions. My goal here was to pay homage to a man who against all odds was not afraid to be who he was. He was someone who stood up for equal rights for all of humanity and believed it should be done peacefully. We must all follow in Rustin’s footsteps and continue to peacefully make a difference.
ADDRESSING THE UNIQUE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY. Addressing the unique financial challenges faced by people in the LGBT community. At Prudential, that’s a challenge we can meet. Call me today and let’s talk about how we can help you. Benjamin Schlotterer Financial Professional Associate The Prudential Insurance Company of America 4349 Easton Way, Suite 100 Columbus, OH 43219 Office 614-383-3769 Benjamin.Schlotterer@Prudential.com
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club diversity 863 South High Where there is NEVER a Cover Mon: Freedom Ohio Happy Hour Tue: Movie Night Wed: Prime Timers Happy Hour Thur: Tom Crumley on Piano Fri&Sat: Live Music Sun: Karaoke with Calvin & Jason
SCENE
POP STAR
Wall Street Nightclub played host on January 10 and 11 to packed crowds on a jet-set tour of U.S. concert venues with some of today’s greatest Pop Stars. The show featured Deva Station and a stellar lineup: Britney Blaire, Diamond Hunter, Ashley Austin Ferrah, Sabrina Heartt, Pretty Punasti and Helena Troy. Special guest Blair Williams, Miss Gay America 2013-First Alternate, added to the fun! Donations collected during the encore went to benefit Camp Sunrise.
PHOTOS | ALLYSON FRIDLEY
HRC COLUMBUS GEARS Up for 2014 SCENE
| MICHAEL LOVETT WE WORK HARD and play hard. It’s no secret that members of HRC Columbus are hard workers. We also know how to celebrate the milestones and great strides the organization has accomplished. Last year’s HRC Columbus Gala was one of the most successful galas held in Columbus and we plan on doing it again this year. More than 100 people gathered recently at Bar Louie to kick off the preparations for the 2014 HRC Columbus Gala, which will take place May 31, 2014. HRC is always welcoming new volunteers and leaders into the organization.
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February 2014
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MOSAIC
| BOWEN MARSHALL IT WAS A NIGHT out on the town with all the ingredients for a good time ready to be thrown in the shaker: fabulous company, dressy jeans for days and smart phones to document the shenanigans. Fast forward to brunch the next day, the ingredients still in place but now laughing at the night before. We had just heard the end to a hilarious story when a friend leaned over and said, “I don’t know how it happens, but we always seem to have the best time when we’re all together.” His comment made me smile, because it was true. This got me to thinking, how do we hit so many homohome runs when it comes to nights on the town? Is it just luck, or is there some rhyme and reason to it? I wouldn’t go so far as to say that going out is a second career of mine, but I would say that to me going out for a night on the town is this gay American’s national pastime; and if an evening out were the ball park, I’d be in the dugout with the boys making the game happen. To me, going out is like a fantastic real-life game where we all get to be players. What I’ve found though in my many innings at play is that some players seem to knock the night out of the ballpark time and time again while others find themselves on the social bench. The biggest difference between these players that I’ve come to realize is that many don’t have strategies for planning and navigating a night out. So, let me offer a few winning strategies that have helped take our nights to the World Series of Nights Out. 1.) Feed your team. Great nights rarely spontaneously happen, especially on an empty stomach; hungry homos are angry homos. Book a reservation so you don’t have to wait and add an extra seat while you’re at it. The extra perch is great for visitors, that unexpected additional guest or an impromptu coat rack. 2.) Walk it out. Pick an after-dinner bar within walking distance. This means that people can meet you out later if they missed dinner and you don’t have to hassle with moving cars.
Plus strutting is one god’s gift to the gays, so fit it in whenever you can. 12
February 2014
3.) Go gay or go home. Be happy and gracious and gay to every acquaintance. People go out to see and be seen. So see them in a big way by greeting them with enthusiasm and excitement. They’ll remember you and you may just find your next best friend or lover. 4.) Drunks are skunks; they can actually and metaphorically stink. Focusing on your drinky-drink may seem like the point, but if you do that and only that you are missing the point which is to be in relationship with others. Plus you can’t spell functional without “fun” and being dysfunctional makes you a drag on everyone else. 5.) Do a “fruit loop” around your playing field. Like Cher Horowitz taught us, you have to do a lap before you commit to a location. By moving around, you’ll see more people and increase your chances of random run-ins with fun people. 6.) Know and appreciate the staff who make you look good. Working on Friday and Saturday is horrific for everyone including your bartenders and servers so be kind and polite. Thank them for their noble service. 7.) Remember to keep a play-by-play. Much like the refs at a game, sometimes you need photo documentation to clear up disputes or remember an epic moment in all of its glory. Instagram-replay can be your best friend… except when it’s not. Delete any unflattering photos. 8.) Keep the fights in the locker room. When out, you’re on camera (sometimes literally). Plus, dragging your “team drama” into the game only leads to poor sportsmanship and it is a surefire way to make you the fiercely awful center of attention. 9.) Meet up after for the victory celebration. Epic nights need epic retellings. We all want our own Queer as Folk Liberty Diner moments, and a late night gastro pub or a classy brunch spot are just the places to share the anecdotes and antics of your evening. A great night out can be magical, but it’s my belief that even magic needs a little help from time to time. Hopefully, if you’re looking for ways to boost your night out gayme, these strategies will help you level up.
SEXPERT
| JOHN HENRY IN MY PROFESSION, I get the opportunity to talk to people every day about their condom use. Not many people can say that and I take pride in being one of the privileged few. February is National Condom Month. A whole month devoted to celebrating a cheap piece of latex in a foil pack that I hand out in bulk, for free, whenever possible. Seems like a bit much but, let’s give credit where credit is due. Condoms are pretty great. They are an affordable and easy way to prevent the spread of STIs, including HIV, and unplanned pregnancy. Sex has a lot of risks, but condoms make it a whole lot safer when used consistently and correctly. Talking with people over the past year, I have noticed there are generally three types of condom users. Type one is someone who refuses to use condoms all together. For whatever reason, this person has found a way to justify not using condoms and only has unprotected sex or abstains all together. I assure you that the latter option is not a very popular choice. The second type is someone who uses condoms every time they have sex, no matter what. This person knows the risks associated with unprotected sex and has decided to protect themselves and others. There is some room for variance when it comes to oral sex, but when it comes to anal or vaginal intercourse condoms are nonnegotiable with this person. The final type is someone who is really hit or miss. They are not against using condoms and may even advocate for them most of the time. It is really situational for this person. They don’t struggle with performance or sensation when using condoms, but if the opportunity presents itself, they may get caught up in the moment and say “YOLO!”
Condom innovation is happening and some of these innovations could be available later this year. Look into different varieties of a guy’s best friend before pooh-poohing the idea. If you are the type who loves condoms, encourage everyone you know to have the same admiration for latex. Share them with friends and preach the good word of condom use. If you have a take it or leave it outlook on condoms, try to better understand the situations that allow you to be a little more carefree. Realize the risks and inform yourself of your options. Decide if one night of pleasure is worth three months of worry and stress during the testing process and possibly a lifetime more based on the results. Protect yourself and your community. Vive le preservative!
No matter which category you would place yourself in, I would like to encourage you take a moment and consider the condom. If you think you are a type one person and hate condoms, try every variety available before excluding condoms all together. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation just awarded more than one million dollars in grants to 11 different research facilities and companies to develop “a better, more pleasurable condom.” 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 14
February 2014
BARTENDER OF THE MONTH GREG STRIVES TO find new ways to personalize the guest experience by providing exceptional cocktails. He’s proud to be part of Cavan Irish Pub and loves what it brings to the Southside. He shares that Cavan has been dubbed “the Gay Cheers of Columbus” by some patrons. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked through the door and been greeted with a warm welcome… there’s a genuine sense of community,” he said. A unique feature of Cavan is T-Bone Tuesday, where guests bring a steak or other grill items and the Sisters of Lavender cook them to order on the back patio and provide salad, sides and dessert. Cavan offers events nearly every night, including the Southside Showgirl Drag Review with Hellin Bedd on Saturdays, karaoke twice a week and Drag Queen Bingo on Sundays. Greg invites everyone to try a new craft or import beer during Cavan’s extended Happy Hour weekdays from 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Greg has been bartending for over five years. “I enjoy getting to hear the history of people’s lives,” he said. Greg especially likes to hear guests talk about their history in Columbus and how much the city’s LGBTQ community has evolved.
WHO:
Greg Holcombe
WHERE:
Cavan Irish Pub 1409 S. High Street, Columbus OH 43207 614.725.5502
COCKTAIL:
Jameson & the Giant Peach: Jameson Irish Whisky + Peach Schnapps + Apple Pucker, with splash of Pineapple + Sour + Cranberry.
FUN FACTS:
Greg loves classic movies and the Golden Age of Hollywood. Also, Kylie Minogue is his Diva.
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Cozy Queer Fil MOVIES
| CLAYTON WALTER WITH SNOW AND ICE making this winter one of the chilliest in decades, it’s worth preparing for a possibly sub-zero Valentine’s Day. While many couples love claiming the Hallmark holiday as a chance to go out, a movie at home and a bottle of wine may be the way to avoid the cold and the masses. Besides, is there anything more romantic than cuddling up on the couch with someone you love and a good tearjerker? (I think not.) If the latter sounds like an appealing option, these movies (most of which are available on Netflix Instant) may scratch that love-struck itch.
Keep the Lights On
18
BRIDEGROOM
Concussion
Many have probably already caught this documentary, which has inspired many tear-stained Facebook statuses. Funded by Kickstarter donations, the film documents the relationship between Shane Bitney Crone and the late Thomas Bridegroom, and the tragic injustices Crone faced in the wake of Bridegroom’s death. Seeing a couple so madly in love is sure to make viewers swoon in anticipation of finding such a connection someday, or feel extra thankful to have already found it. Make sure to stock up on tissues before taking the plunge.
Stacie Passon’s impressive debut is out on DVD and Blu-Ray, and on Amazon Instant. Robin Weigert is great as a lesbian housewife who starts a second life in the city as an escort, hoping to find excitement in the midst of her mundane domestic routine. The film is steamy, sharp and topical, carrying a great message about celebrating love even when the infatuation period wears off.
February 2014
Far from the happiest movie on this list, Ira Sachs’ deeply personal romance is a stunningly acted take on the director’s own youthful romance. Erik is a man desperately in love with self-destructive Paul, who disappears on drug-fueled benders and leaves Erik trying to hold together their tattered relationship. It plays like a tear-stained diary, but also contains the hopeful seeds of better days and more successful loves, ahead. The apt title evokes the bittersweet image of waiting for a loved one to come home, without knowing whether (s)he will.
IT PLAYS LIKE A TEAR-STAINED DIARY, BUT ALSO CONTAINS THE HOPEFUL SEEDS OF BETTER DAYS AND MORE SUCCESSFUL LOVES, AHEAD.
lms for February A MOVIE AT HOME AND A BOTTLE OF WINE MAY BE THE WAY TO AVOID THE COLD AND THE MASSES. Puccini For Beginners
Weekend
There’s more than a little Woody Allen in this self-aware bisexual rom-com, about a woman reeling from a recent breakup from her girlfriend who finds dual romances with a man and a woman. Smart and funny, it doles out commentary on the fluidity of sexual orientation, gender differences and the artifice of the romantic comedy genre. It’s a light, fun choice for Valentine’s Day viewing.
Andrew Haigh’s lovely imported romance – about two guys who only have a weekend to spend together – unapologetically claims the romance genre for the gay community. The film isn’t shy about exploring gay love and sex, and Tom Cullen and Chris New comprise one of the past decade’s best on-screen couples. It’s something like the gay equivalent of Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, which is the highest possible praise I can give.
This last pick sadly won’t be out in time for Valentine’s Day, but its February 25 release date demands that it be mentioned in this issue:
Blue is the Warmest Color One of the buzziest LGBTQ movies in recent years, this three-hour French lesbian romance has been winning prizes since its Cannes premiere. It’s not hard to see why: the pangs of first love have rarely been articulated with such honesty, intimacy, and fierce sexuality. The film earns its NC-17 rating with its graphic, glorious sex scenes, but it sticks with viewers more because of the electric chemistry between Adele Exarchopoulos’ Adele, a young girl taking her first steps into lesbian love, and Lea Seydoux’s confident, blue-coiffed Emma. Though red and pink are usually considered the colors of romance, Abdellatif Kechiche’s epic romance makes a strong case for Blue.
For the Love of Artists CULTURE
| QUE JONES MANY PEOPLE, MYSELF included, go to a gallery to see modern art or a concert of new music and think, “What were they thinking?” Sometimes it is because you don’t understand the work, and sometimes it’s because it is so amazing you can’t believe a person created it. What goes on in an artist’s head? I am here to answer that question and give you a glimpse into the creative geniuses of our time.
You may look and say they only have a show every couple of weeks (if they are extremely virtuosic). This does not mean they have it easy! Most of the artists I know spend hours and hours moving a brush to get the texture just right and mixing paints to get that color exactly what they imagined. However, when it all comes together, it can create absolute magic, and that makes the time well worth it!
Most artists aren’t as deep as people try to make their art. Don’t get me wrong, artists do put a lot of thought into what they do, but often the meaning is a result of interpretation and comes from the subconscious. This also wasn’t necessarily in the artist’s head; sometimes you just start working. I have found there are two basic categories of working in the art world. The first is the just the “sit down and start method,” or “do what you feel.” This method is great when you are lacking ideas and just need to get something out. The second method is the “I have had an idea for weeks/months/years and have been slowly tweaking it in my head.” In this process, artists are almost constantly thinking, either consciously or subconsciously, about their project and what material they should or shouldn’t use. Both ways can create masterpieces, and both ways can create flops. It’s all up to the artist.
The modern world is the bane of every artist. Pinterest makes everyone think they are fantastic artists. Apple’s GarageBand app makes it seem as if anyone can create good music. Neither of those statements is true. Artists and musicians are highly trained individuals; the arts are such a difficult college major, Yahoo! Education lists the arts as the fourth most difficult major in academia, just under engineering, physical sciences and biological sciences. In my undergraduate education I spent about six hours a day just practicing piano. This time does not include the times I was in class, studying, composing, working or anything else. I was simply locked in a room playing the same music over and over until I mastered it.
Artists work a lot! I am a composer and musician, and as a result, my work week is technically only about four hours. This of course is not true in the end, as there is countless time spent in between those hours sitting at a piano and practicing or composing for whatever commission I may have coming up. The same goes for painters.
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Creativity is demanding work! When an artist is trying to create something original, it takes an absurd amount of thought power. An artist needs to stay up to date on what all other artists are working on… they wouldn’t want to spend a year on a project just to find out somebody else just had the same idea and did it first. This requires a large amount of research and networking. So the next time you are at a concert or gallery, remember these artists have poured their time, lives and souls into their works. Appreciate it, even if you don’t personally like it and support the arts in all forms.
FEATURE
Michael J. Willett
PHOTOS | ZACH DEZON
Our New G.B.F.
QUORUM EXCLUSIVE
| ISAAC BENDELE AFTER THE JANUARY 17 release of G.B.F., everyone totes wants 24-year-old, Michael J. Willett to be their Gay Best Friend. Picture it: a fresh out of the closet gay boy, gets pulled into the power struggle of the three queen bees of North Gateway High School. As the hot new accessory of celebs highlighted in the pop culture and fashion mag rags, the girls expect Tanner to be their fierce and fetch G.B.F. What they find instead is a person who all but defies their assumptions and stereotypes, but not before a series of hilarious and heartfelt moments ensues. The movie tells the story of how Tanner comes to find himself after he leaves the closet. After playing out and proud Lionel in the show “United States of Tara” and the tamer Tanner in G.B.F., Willett dishes with Quorum Columbus about which character he relates to most to what we can expect next from him. On the spectrum of your United States of Tara to your G.B.F. characters, would you say you identify with one more than the other? When I first auditioned for United States of Tara I said I didn’t know if I would like this guy or if I would even be friends with this guy. I took a chance on playing someone I didn’t have a fondness for and tried to give him depth to have reasons for why he was the way he was. It was fun to play someone who would do things I would never do in real life. Tanner, in G.B.F., is much more introverted, he’s not out and proud, he was actually a lot more like me in high school. I felt a little like an outsider. I had a lot of friends and was friends with different kinds of people, but I was kind of a party of one. Tanner likes comic books and likes to draw and I was an artist. I relate to Tanner much more than Lionel in a lot of ways. How was it working with Megan Mullally, an icon of sorts to me and I think many other gay people? She was a blast, hilarious and so smart. She was also so normal which might be surprising. She’s not always trying to be in the spotlight. I think she was only there for two or three days. Those were the best days of the shoot. Every gay boy would love for her to be their mom. What’s cool about her character is she just really loved her kid above all. She was really the perfect one for that role.
Which part of the movie is most meaningful to you? Comedy really helps people feel better about things they are typically uncomfortable with. One of the things I like about the film is it discusses the relationship between gay boys and straight girls. Fawcett (Sasha Pieterse) has a scene with Tanner where she says, “I can be myself around you. You aren’t trying to screw me like a guy. You aren’t threatened by me like every other girl in school.” I’ve never seen that discussed that way on film. It also addresses the relationship between young gay boys. Simply because we are in close proximity does that mean we are boyfriends or just good friends? You’ve said G.B.F. couldn’t have been made at a better time. Why is that? In this era of cutting out frills and getting straight to the point, G.B.F., the title alone implies the texting generation. Part of me is surprised it didn’t happen sooner, but I think it is timely. I think culture evolves before art does in some ways. This film explores the newly outed gay teen and how he’s suddenly the new accessory. I’m hoping after this film it won’t be such a thing. We won’t have gay characters and straight characters. It won’t be such a gimmick and we’ll be just people. One of the things I loved about the script about G.B.F. was Tanner didn’t have a problem with him being gay. I have a speech at the end where he says, “I don’t want to go a gay prom. I don’t want to get gay married. I just want to go to prom. I just want to get married, maybe.” Tanner just wants to be a kid like anyone else.
I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT WAS MEANINGFUL AND NOT JUST ENTERTAINING.
I’ve seen a little of your YouTube page and I am excited to hear more about your newly released first album!
What are you doing to prepare life after the launch of the movie and your album?
I’ve always loved music. I knew all of the songs on the oldies stations when I was younger and always would sing along. My parents listened to things from the ‘70s, like Queen and classic rock. I was influenced in that way. I find music to be an extension of my creativity, and I like to express myself though my song writing. I am a creative person and consider music one way I like to express myself. It is like my journal.
It is a change I’ve been working towards for a very long time. There was a time when I was very afraid of being famous or a celebrity. I’ll get to be working a lot. It is always exciting to read a new script for a new episode. Every script has so much possibility.
I’ve come out with a few singles, but I’ve been writing so many songs over the years. I’ve decided to put the ones I really like together and create a real album with a beginning, middle and end. It’s been amazing to work with some legends like Rick Springfield and Brian May, Julian Lennon, - people I thought I’d never work with.
I will be starring in MTV’s Faking It, a new series airing after Awkward. I play a popular kid who stands for things, which actually makes him popular. He also happens to be gay so he kind of rallies the school and tells people what’s cool. It’s going to be a really interesting show because it isn’t stereotypical in the least. Also, Burning Desire, my music video, will be coming out. With the help of my fans, we raised money for it on Indegogo.
I am a creative person and consider music one way I like to express myself. It is like my journal.
What can we look forward to next from you?
With flip txt speak, witty dialogue, and verbal zingers for days, G.B.F. takes viewers through the antics we all go through while discovering who we are and it reminds us that in the end a gay best friend is like any best friend; they are there to be with us through the ups and downs reminding us to create who we are and to do it fabulously. Many thanks to Michael J. Willett for the interview and for showing us all how to be a G.B.F. – Great Best Friend.
Columbus Connection: Matthew Paul Columbus resident Matthew Paul and his longtime best friend Veva wrote music for director Darren Stein’s (Jawbreaker) latest feature film G.B.F. Paul connected with the director during filming. Stein was looking for music to fit some of the movie’s soon-to-be most iconic scenes: the sexy, slow motion walk and a scene with Will & Grace star Megan Mullally. The songs for these scenes are H.E.R. and Love Gun. The single H.E.R. became a hit of the movie and found its way on to the soundtrack by Lake Shore Records. Paul will collaborate with Michael J. Willett and Veva on a music project this year. Paul’s single Sex Sells is featured in a Andrew Christian ad campaign. The song is available on iTunes. facebook.com/matthewpaulmusic facebook.com/vevamusic facebook.com/michaeljwillettmusic
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February 2014
Here’s to the City We Love! DEVELOPMENT
| JM RAYBURN WHAT IF A CITY DREAMED of becoming something other than what history had intended? What if a city aspired to something greater? Columbus is the embodiment of that belief. At its very core, Columbus has always been a city of the imagination. It was not founded on economic forces or for territorial defense. Rather, Columbus was an imagined city that served as a compromise in the face of political gridlock on where to locate the capital city of the newly formed State of Ohio. On February 14, 1812, the dream of a city became a reality. For nearly two centuries, Columbus grew at a modest pace in the shadows of Ohio’s industrial titans, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Economic circumstances have changed in the 21st century. Columbus has resisted Ohio’s relative decline. By the early 1990s, Columbus had grown to become Ohio’s largest city in both land area and in population. The Columbus metropolitan area will become the state’s largest by the end of this decade. If it were not for Columbus, Ohio would be off the map for both business and tourists. That wasn’t always the case. After humble beginnings, the city went into a decline with post-WWII suburbanization. Aggressive annexation policies in the latter half of the 20th century skewed the loss of urbanism. We lost a Union Station and a streetcar system only to replace them with highways and urban renewal projects, all of which sliced through the urban fabric.
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Then things turned around again. It was probably in part the gravitational pull of a great city reasserting itself. Growth drew in outsiders who had arrived in ever-growing numbers, bringing money (sometimes), skills (often) and a willingness to work harder than the natives (usually). Today some come for jobs, some for sanctuary, some for fun. Columbus has a creative buzz that makes it feel more like an affordable hybrid of San Francisco and Boston than a Cleveland or Cincinnati. We must accept that Columbus’ prosperity is built on its ability to attract the rich, the clever and the hardworking from all over Ohio, the United States and the world. We must never abandon the principles that formed the foundation of our aspiring city: Columbus was conceived at the intersection of human imagination and collective compromise with the hopes of building a better tomorrow. As such, it is no place to dream small. We will give the people of Ohio and beyond an ideal to strive toward. There will be those who race to join us and those who will want to write us off. But in time, they will understand that Columbus fights above its weight class. In time, we will demonstrate that we can accomplish wonders. We just have to decide what kind of city we want to grow to be during this century. Will we lead by example as a smart and open city?
Have an adventure this Valentine’s Day!
PHOTOS | JM RAYBURN
COLUMBUS HAS GROWN STRONGER TODAY THAN ANY OF THE CITIZENS BEFORE US COULD’VE IMAGINED. THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW HOW STRONG IS TO KEEP TESTING OUR LIMITS. Will Columbus be a world-class city with a world-class transportation system? Whatever that city is, it’s going to change the world. Columbus has grown stronger today than any of the citizens before us could’ve imagined. The only way to know how strong is to keep testing our limits. facebook.com/jm.rayburn
1586 S. High Street | Columbus | 614.725.0155 www.explorersclubmv.com
1330 South Fourth St Columbus, OH 43206
Sarah K. Roell L.Ac Call: 614.233.1826
sarahroell@gmail.comA AcupunctureOfMerionVillage.com “Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.” - Hippocrates
de-NOVO: YOU’LL FALL IN LOVE! THE TASTE BUDS
| CRAIG CHADWELL & MIKE MOFFO Because Valentine’s Day is in February, we thought we would review a romantic space. And truth told, we broke the magic rule: We let a restaurant know that we were coming. True, it was our own rule, but we decided to break it. You see, through one of those small-world connections, we know a cousin of de-Novo Bistro & Bar Executive Chef Chuck Solt. Since we know that we love de-Novo and were going to rave about it anyway, we got in touch with Chef Chuck Solt ahead of time. Normally, we don’t say anything because we want to have a “regular diner’s experience.” We are getting a little ahead of ourselves. Here’s the nutshell of de-Novo Bistro & Bar: If you haven’t been, you MUST. If you have but haven’t been for a while, check out their soon-to-be updated seasonal menu. If you’re a regular, then you clearly have great taste in restaurants and The Taste Buds applaud you. (Pause for applause.) Most people in Columbus who have been downtown know that City Center is no more and Columbus Commons has taken its place. Just to the west across South High Street is a retrostyled sign signaling de-Novo’s location. (It’s 201 S. High St., 43205 if you’re navigating.) Once inside the door, you’re in for a truly rare dining treat! Whether you’re heading to the bar for a cocktail or are planning to dine, the décor surely sets the mood. It is tasteful, outdoorsy, chic, retro, yet modern. OK, so it’s really impossible to describe the place – yet another reason to add it to your “must visit” list. They offer a lunch menu, brunch menu, and dinner menu. We suggest you head to denovobistro.com to peruse and drool. Chef Chuck Solt sent us an assortment of hot small plates. Even as meal starters, each dish had us reveling in foodie delight. Let’s just say had the curtain between us and the other diners been less sheer, most would have presumed we should have been left alone. In our opinion, the Lobster Truffle Mac and Cheese definitely earned the Blue Ribbon, although the Pork Belly Mac and Cheese, Bacon and Grits, and Scallop and Foie Gras were shared and enjoyed by all.
THEN CAME THE DESSERTS – OH MY. THEY ALMOST LOOKED TOO FLAWLESS TO EAT, BUT WE ALWAYS GO THAT EXTRA MILE FOR OUR READERS. Our dinners arrived at perfect temperature and with impeccable presentation. Each were shared and sampled by all. Pan Seared Pork Loin, Pan Seared Sea Bass, Seared Beef NY Strip (great portion!) and the Chorizo Burger were our selections. Then came the desserts – oh my. They almost looked too flawless to eat, but we always go that extra mile for our readers. So Créme Brülée, White Chocolate Bread Pudding and Godiva Dark Chocolate Terrine were shared by all. Again, moans from delighted taste buds all around. Could we possibly give a restaurant a dozen thumbs up?! Actually, thanks to friends Luis and Cheryl (apparently, they’re Unofficial Taste Buds now after helping us three months in a row) plus foodie friends Jayme and Dixie, we all honestly do give de-Novo Bistro & Bar...(drumroll please)...12 thumbs up!
Craig & Mike have been a couple for more than 11 years and were married in Washington, DC, in 2012. They are the proud parents of three young adults. They appreciate friends, riding their motorcycles, reasonably-priced local eateries, good wine, and a nice IPA beer. With the amazing number of excellent locally-owned restaurants in Columbus, they always encourage you to “eat local” to support local businesses.
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S uthBend "Still Your Favorite Corner Bar!"
*The Ukulele Cowboy Society Sun Feb 2 - 6 - 8pm
*Bobby Hamlin Sun Feb 16 - 6 - 8pm
*The Blackburn Project Sun Feb 6 - 9pm
*The Snatch Sisters Sun Feb 23 8 - 10pm
*Put some Love in your Heart with Rushena Fontaine & Guests Fri Feb 14 - 10 & Midnight
Hours: Mon / Sat - Noon to 2:30 / Happy Hour Noon to 8 / Sun 12 to 12 Nightly Events call for more info or visit us at facebook.com/SouthbendTavern 126 E. Moler St. Columbus, Ohio (614) 444 - 3386 Southbend@wowway.biz
.com
facebook.com/SouthBendTavern
Free WiFi * Free Parking * Never A Cover
SCENE 30
Raven flew into Columbus to entertain fans on January 11. The RuPaul’s Drag Race: Season 2 first runner up performed at Axis Nightclub and Union Café.
February 2014
PHOTOS | ALLYSON FRIDLEY
SARA SHARES | SARA ERNEST DO YOU THINKit’s appropriate to ask a woman you don’t know about her lady parts? Would you get offended if this stranger is offended by your questions? Would you consider asking these questions on national television? Would you answer any of these questions differently if the woman you were talking to was transgender? Recently, Katie Couric answered these questions with a “yes” and made a national spectacle on her talk show. The story has gotten more press than I expected, but I’m sure there are many people who still don’t know, so briefly, we’ll recap and discuss.
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Over the past year or so, the number of trans people in my life has significantly increased and I consider that to be a blessing. As discussed in my Pride column, I have not always been as educated on or open to the issues faced by the trans community. Every new person that comes into my life, transgender or cisgender, affords me the opportunity to learn something new. With that being said, I can understand Couric’s curiosity about the physical aspects of something that so many people know so little about. My advice: Do some research and get to really know a transgender person. Maybe then you will realize how you are being offensive.
On January 6, Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox and Ru-Paul’s Drag Race contestant Carmen Carrera were guests on Couric’s talk show, Katie, in the episode titled Transgender Trailblazers. Both women were there to discuss the work they are doing to bring attention to serious trans issues from invisibility to the violence the community regularly deals with. Rather than discussing the work these ladies have done in acting, modeling and activism, Couric focused on their genitalia, asking Carrera, “Your, your, your private parts are different now, aren’t they?” When Cox later joined them on air, Couric brought the conversation back to her private parts as well. There are numerous sources with full details of the show and the segment in its entirety, so please visit CNN.com, The Huffington Post or Salon.com if you are interested.
I’m sure Couric looked at this as a teachable moment and thought she was doing a service to the trans community by giving cisgender people more information than they had before watching the show. What she failed to take into consideration was the fact that her guests were women with feelings and a desire to keep their private parts private.
In her answers, Cox eloquently and with immense class reminded Couric that by focusing on the question of what a trans person’s genitalia looks like, we are objectifying their bodies and pulling the focus from the things that matter, like the rate of violence against transgender women of color that is significantly higher than that faced by the community at large.
When we focus on the ways we are different from any group of people, it makes it exceedingly difficult to see how we are similar.
February 2014
Humans are naturally curious. We want to know about experiences that are different from our own. It seems that many people fail to consider when talking to trans people and discussing their issues and struggles that they are people. Regardless of whatever modifications they had to make to their bodies to live their truths, they are people. With feelings. What gives us the right to look at a transperson as anything less?
$15 Admission Includes: 3 Wine & Chocolate Pairings Live Entertainment Current exhibitions Orchids! and Bruce Munro: Light on view Food and additional pairings available for purchase. Tickets available at the door or online www.fpconservatory.org
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
1777 E. Broad St. | 614.715.8100 | www.fpconservatory.org
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February 2014
PHOTOS | AMY TANNENBAUM
|AMY TANNENBAUM “THAT’S MY GIRLFRIEND!” Angela proclaimed from her seat in the audience, pointing at a drag show performer on the Wall Street Nightclub stage in July 2011. Problem is, she knew nothing more about this performer other than her first name, and that she had somehow found herself running into her over the years and felt smitten every time. Her name was Quyen. “I saw Quyen performing and I thought, ‘I should be with her!’ I had this flashback and remembered that I liked that girl, and she’s still cute, and oh my gosh, she has a beard on!” Resisting her friends’ dares to approach her, they did not meet that
the Volunteers of America, and they line up early on the last Tuesday of the month for 50 percent off all items in the store! Angela and Quyen have translated their unique styles into decorating the home they purchased together last summer in Westerville. While they wish they were closer to the city, they enjoy the perks of being in the ‘burbs, including a wrap-around porch, two-car garage, big backyard, big closets, and, says Angela, “a basement that wasn’t creepy.” They also thought ahead about where they’d be in a few years, choosing a home in the Worthington School District. Proclaims Angela: “We
TWO WEEKS INTO IT, I KNEW I WAS GOING TO MARRY HER. night, but she was finally determined to make the connection. “She actually put in a little bit of work to find me,” Quyen explains, laughing. “She didn’t know how I spell my name.” Angela figured that as a performer, Quyen could be found on the friends list of burlesque performer Viva Valezz. But, Angela tried to find Quyen – pronounced “Wen” – by typing in a “W.” “As luck would have it, Facebook was doing friend recommendations on the right-hand side, and her picture popped up on Viva’s page as a recommended friend,” says Quyen. “She was stalking me!” Angela is quick to clarify: “I wasn’t stalking her. She kept popping up!” Immediately, Angela’s biggest misconception about Quyen’s lifestyle as a performer was resolved. “The defining factor was that she’s boring!” says Angela. “I thought she would be a total partier because she’s a performer, but, no, she’s boring! Now we’re boring together!” Call it boring, maybe, but these two are very crafty and have great style. Angela, who studied print making and fashion at OSU, defines her style by saying, “I love looking like a million bucks, but I spend two dollars.” Together, Angela and Quyen love thrift shopping, do-it-yourself projects, and going antiquing. Their favorite shop in Columbus is none other than
decided to make this side of Westerville a little bit more gay!” “We don’t like true commercialism,” Quyen explains. “We like to present ourselves and our home in a non-cookie cutter way.” Angela continues, “Our most treasured items are things we’ve picked up off the road.” One time they went to Circleville for a desk and had to climb back into the car through the windows! But at the end of the day, Quyen sums up the dynamics of their relationship: “The drag king is the princess, which makes Angela the butch one!” “Two weeks into it, I knew I was going to marry her,” says Quyen. “But she beat me to it.” Angela was indeed the one who put the ring on it by orchestrating a proposal during one of Quyen’s drag king shows with the Royal Renegades during the Pride Holiday in 2012. She even went through the trouble of speaking to Quyen’s family prior to the proposal. It was a superhero themed show, and Quyen was the Riddler during a Batman number. Angela had the group arrange the number such that Quyen would find herself blindfolded at the end, and Angela surprised her on stage and proposed! She even flew one of Quyen’s sisters to present the ring. It all happened as planned – and Quyen said yes – except Angela forgot to put the ring on her finger! Drag queen and host Alexis Stevens came out and demanded, “Get that ring on that finger!” “We weren’t even a year old, but hey, no U-Haul!” jokes Quyen. With the proposal and home buying behind them, Quyen and Angela are busy planning their wedding, which will take place this May at Camp Mary Orton. They’re planning a casually elegant and carefree affair, as they will walk down the aisle to Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine. They hope to have their nieces and nephews storm out at the end in a burst of streamers. They’re even bringing back Alexis Stevens – instrumental in their engagement – to facilitate a “Q&A Cocktail Hour,” an opportunity for people from different parts of their lives to get to know them as a couple. The celebration will continue with food provided by a food truck and music mixed by a local club DJ. After their wedding, they no doubt continue to be “boring” as they describe it – a boring, married couple, that is.
FITNESS
LOVE HANDLES -- | MICHAEL GREENHOUSE What’s To Love? IT’S FEBRUARY. Love is in the air. This is a time for chocolates, relationships, expensive dinners and flowers. But not all things are lovable at this time year: Many of us still sport the dreaded love handles that we gained over the holidays.
Love handles may sound and feel warm and delicious, but they are actually deposits of excess body fat that sit around one’s abdominal area. For most people, that is one of the hardest places to lose weight. Most of us can pinch our belly fat from the front, back and sides. It’s not just about fitting into that dress or your favorite pair of jeans – excessive fat can also hurt your health. Excess body fat around your midsection can lead to problems to your spine, your hips, and your heart. Just working the area with exercises will not get rid of the excess fat. To tighten this area and reduce some of the dreaded love handles, you must have a clean diet and perform exercises that engage multiple muscles in the midsection. It’s one thing just to work on these areas; it’s another to work these muscles functionally. Working these muscles functionally will build better strength and tone the muscles quicker. Here are key food tips to reduce the love handles: • Avoid sugars • Avoid salts • Avoid unhealthy fats • Add fresh fruits • Add vegetables • Add good fats (like raw seeds or avocados) • Eat lean clean proteins (organic beef, turkey and chicken)
Michael Greenhouse owns Pure Functional Movements and specializes as a personal trainer in the areas of: • Exercise Physiology • Biomechanics • Strength & Conditioning • Diet • Rehabilitation Therapy Learn more about his services at: facebook.com/purefunctionalmovements purefunctionalmovements.com
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Nutrition is just half the battle when it comes to reducing your love handles. The second part of this equation is building strength and pure functional movements with your body. This part can take some time; if you stick with it, not only will you have a better looking midsection and no more love handles, but your body will move and perform better and achieve greater results in and outside the gym. Here are some suggested midsection-focused exercises: • Planks • Front squats • Russian twists • Dead lifts • Push-ups • Supine twists • Running or sprinting Ready to get started? There’s no time to wait. Spring is just around the corner and, well, that summer body – this is the time to get it ready! Remember, always go at your own pace and incorporate weights only when you are comfortable. It’s not about a single, hard workout. Ridding your body of the love handles takes consistence and persistence. But you can do it!
TO TIGHTEN THIS AREA AND REDUCE SOME OF THE DREADED LOVE HANDLES, YOU MUST HAVE A CLEAN DIET AND PERFORM EXERCISES THAT ENGAGE MULTIPLE MUSCLES IN THE MIDSECTION.
CRAB RACES
Crab Races
with Kris
| KRIS LITTLER
GREAT NAMES
Shark Bait, Dale Gribble, Erica Kane, Hideous Velcro Shoes, Dick Conch’s Rocking New Year’s Eve, Crab Holio, Danika Patrick, Homo You Didn’t!, Señor Claw,Beautiful Disaster, Sha-mi-mi, Harry Claw-der and the Half-Clawed Prince, My-Shell Tanner, Rasta-Shell-ian, A Crab Called Claw-nda, and My Conch Pulls Out, But I Don’t.
NOT SO GREAT
During most of February, the crabs are hitting the high seas for a much needed vacation. While the crabs and I are vacationing, we will be scouting for new racing talent. UPCOMING Fresh from the Caribbean Sea, we will return with: “Welcome Back Claw-ter” on Thursday, February 27 at Exile Bar. The crabs will be tanned and well rested for their return to the Columbus Crab Racing circuit. Join us!
FASCINATING FACT
Rosie, Zebra, A Name, T, Eugene’s Crab, Nemo, Sparkle-Neily-Sparkle, Pickled Tampon, Something Creative and Witty, The Lawnmower, and Karl.
UPDATE
Hermit crabs eat a variety of foods and are not picky eaters. Their diet is similar to a healthy human diet: meat, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Until then, S t a y C r a b b y !
FOLLOW THE CRABS /CrabRacingwithKris
Friday 10pm Saturday 10pm
49 PARSONS AVE
Dance Floor & Video Bar featuring DJ Eric X
LEATHER / RUBBER / FETISH GEAR / SHIRTS OFF TO ENTER NO EXCEPTIONS
VER $2 COIL 11pm NT FREE U
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CX DJ ERI
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SATURDAY FEB 15 10PM 684 OAK ST
COME CLEAN, LEAVE DIRTY!
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Coming Soon:
Plenty O’Solutions A Gay Guy's Guide to DIY
| ALEX COPELAND THE BEST SOLUTION is often a “do it yourself” solution. Soon I will be offering videos on a variety of DIY topics to make life better and a little more interesting. Along the way, you will learn to ignore the old “don’t try this at home” warning as you learn things you can try at home. I’ll walk you through the DIY projects step by step. Even though it is DIY, you will not be on your own. You’ll have me right by your side.
In my first video, I will be instructing viewers on how to make a game frame. This playful project will add some pizazz to the ordinary chalk or white board to-do lists. Only are few items are needed and you might even have them lying around the house. Make some time to join me for me for a DIY project online soon.
We may be a month into 2014, but there is still plenty o’time for a fun and easy way to get and stay organized.
QuorumColumbus.com
See the first installment of Plenty O’Solutions at:
Best of Jackie’s Advice!
WANT TO ASK JACKIE A QUESTION ABOUT LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING? GET SOME ANSWERS! JACKIE@QUORUMCOLUMBUS.COM
| JACKIE VANDERWORTH
Q #2:
Q #1:
Dear Jackie, My boyfriend Mike and I just moved in together and he is more established than I am and has very expensive tastes. I, on the other hand, am just starting out and can’t afford to buy much and want to keep some of my favorite furnishings. He know doesn’t like my style. How shall I handle this? ~ Robert
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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Dear Robert, Comfortable can be affordable. You both need to start compromising now or you’ll be parting company later. Mix and match your styles. If he can afford it, hire a decorator to help you combine your styles into one fabulous looking home. If you can’t decorate together, you won’t be staying together. ~ Jackie Q #3: Dear Jackie, I’ve gone on some dates with a girl I really like named Julie. She is smart, has a great job and is beautiful. The problem is she is a diehard vegan and I love meat. Bacon, burgers, ham, sausage, steak... all of it is wonderful! What do I do? Can we cook meals together or am I doomed to a life full of lectures about animal cruelty if we take it to the next level? ~ Todd Dear Todd, Respect the meat and the plants, as well as each other. Since you cannot live in herbivore harmony, I suggest creatively preparing meals where veggies, meat, and fruits harmonize in complimentary bliss. Pair up pineapple and orzo with a little ham on the side for you. Fix them together and serve them separately to satisfy the carnivore and herbivore in your relationship before you devour each other in the process. ~ Jackie
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DRINK.
DANCE.
4 Club 20 Old North Columbus 20 E Duncan Ave 614.261.9111 8 Exile Italian Village 893 N 4th St 614.299.0069 10 Wine on High Short North 789 N High St 614. 294.8466 13 Local Bar Short North 913 N High St 614.670.8958 14 Slammers Downtown 202 E Long St 614.221.8880
2 Axis Short North 775 N High St 614.291.4008 22 Wall Street Night Club Downtown 144 N Wall St 614.464.2800 27 Garage: Resurrected Downtown 40 E Long St 614. 205.4317
EAT + DRINK. 11 12 21 23 25 28
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 BossyGrrl’s Pin-Up Joint Old North Columbus 2598 N High St
614.725.5402
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
26 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
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Stonewall Columbus 614-299-7764 www.stonewallcolumbus.org This local community and resource center serves the Central Ohio LGBTQ community by providing programs and services that enhance the well-being and visibility of a diverse
GLAAD www.glaad.org A national organization that promotes fair, accurate, and inclusive media representations of LGBTQ people. as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Additionally, Stonewall Columbus hosts the annual Pride Holiday.
Human Rights Campaign www.hrc.com The nation’s largest gay and lesbian political organization.
ARC Ohio 800-252-0827 www.arcohio.org Fights the spread of HIV, works towards reducing its transmission, stigma and the resulting discrimination through education and awareness, and provides quality services to BRAD (Buckeye Alliance of the Deaf ) membership@gmail.com www.bradohio.com Protects and promotes the interests and well-being of deaf and hard of hearing LGBTQ people while increasing awareness about the needs of Deaf and hard of hearing community. BRAVO (Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization) 614-294-STOP www.bravo-ohio.org Works to eliminate violence perpetuated on the basis of 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. FreedomOhio 614-246-3807 www.freedomohio.com The Freedom to Marry Ohio movement is dedicated to ending marriage discrimination in Ohio. 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 awareness and understanding 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.
NGLTF www.thetaskforce.org The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force 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. ARTS & MUSIC Capital Pride Band of Columbus 614-325-1590 www.cappride.org A statewide LGBTQ organization of instrumentalists promoting the joy of music, friendship, and personal growth. They provide a variety of performances each year. Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus 614-228-2462 www.cgmc.com Singing out since 1990, this chorus presents a series of concerts each year. Open auditions held prior to rehearsal for each show. Evolution Theatre Company 614-233-1124 www.evolutiontheatre.org A semi-professional theatre company that presents musicals, dramas and comedies that have not been seen in the area well as new works and world premieres. Imagine Productions 614-398-1110 www.imaginecolumbus.com entertaining and educating community stakeholders. They recognize that empowerment and growth occurs for both the audience and performer. Wexner Center for the Arts 614-292-3535 www.wexarts.org Internationally known contemporary arts center at OSU, programs, as well as a store and a café all under one roof in an architectural landmark. COUNSELING
Sisters of Lavender
614-445-8277
A social/support for women 40 and over. S.O.L. is the oldest lesbian organization in Columbus.
A center for psychotherapy and growth with a long history of working with LGBTQ clients.
TransOhio 614-441-8167 www.transohio.org Serves the Ohio transgender and allied communities by providing services, education, support and advocacy.
Randi Cohen, LPCC-S 614-267-1993 www.randicohen.com Helping adult clients to create a strong sense of self, learn good communication skills, and gain a clearer sense of how others see you.
Why Marriage Matters Ohio www.whymarriagemattersoh.org A marriage equality education campaign supporting the right for any loving, committed Ohio couple to marry.
Shawn D. King, PhD., LISW 614-655-3554 www.shawnkingphd.com Providing individual, family, and group counseling services to the LGBTQ community. Specializing in relationship issues, anger management and mental health services. HEALTH & WELLNESS AHF Wellness Center & Out of the Closet Pharmacy: 614-732-5947 Wellness Center: 614-223-1532 www.aidshealth.org The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) operates Out of the full-service pharmacy, and HIV testing at the corner of N. High St., Suite 350. CHOICES 614-224-4663 www.choicescolumbus.org Since 1977 they have provided counseling, shelter, crisis intervention, education and community and legal support and advocacy to central Ohio residents facing domestic violence. Columbus Public Health LGBTQ Health Initiative 614-645-1493 www.publichealth.columbus.gov As part of the department’s mission to protect health and cultural competency trainings to health care and other service providers. Additionally, their LGBTQ Health Advocate manages The Crystal Club 614-214-4828 www.thecrystalclub.org 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 homeless or runaways. NetCare 614-276-CARE www.netcareaccess.org Provides 24 hour mental health and substance abuse crisis intervention, stabilization and assessment for Franklin County Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio, Inc. 614-224-2235 www.plannedparenthood.org The nation's oldest and largest sexual and reproductive health care organization. Trevor Project 866-4U-TREVOR www.thetrevorproject.org Determined to end suicide among LGBT youth by providing nationwide, 24/7 crisis intervention lifeline.
WHO WE ARE | DWAYNE STEWARD HISTORY TURNS ME ON. As a self-proclaimed nerd (a badge of honor I wear proudly), I’m not afraid to admit that my favorite times of the year are February and October, Black History Month and LGBTQ History Month, respectively. Our collective history, especially the history of queer people of color, is often a lost history. And my “nerd badge” burns bright whenever I find myself in discovery of that history.
After so many LGBTQ rights successes in 2013, take a moment this Black History Month and throughout 2014 to remember the trailblazers we’ve forgotten. Trailblazers like Ruth Ellis, who became the oldest openly gay activist when she died at the age of 101 in 2000. The Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit, a homeless shelter for LGBTQ youth, is named in her honor.
That lost history has many consequences. It’s never discussed that during the pre-modernity Greek and Roman eras it was a societal norm that the “house boy” or male servants to the wealthy were expected to have sex with the male masters of the house. It’s never mentioned in Art History 101 that legendary Renaissance artists Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci’s male apprentices were also their lovers.
Let’s not forget the brilliant science fiction work of Octavia Butler, who was the first science fiction writer to win the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship and deemed a genius in her field, or the groundbreaking artwork of activist and painter Jean-Michel Basquiat. Take a moment to research the legacy that is Marsha P. Johnson, a pivotal transgender activist in the Stonewall Riots and founder of the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries during the 1970s.
We’ve literally been erased from the history books. And this erasure is why so many believe the LGBTQ rights movement is a new passing fad or simply unnatural because it “hasn’t been around that long.” It’s why Justice Scalia felt it justified to flippantly remark during the Supreme Court debates on marriage equality last year that LGBTQ rights have been around as long as cell phones.
Remember the political journalism of June Jordan who paved the way for journalists like myself, and Lorraine Hansberry, whose A Raisin in the Sun was the first play written by an African American to be performed on Broadway. If you find yourself rejected by your religious family, remember Peter John Gomes, a black gay theologian who devoted the latter part of his life to carving out a justified space for us in religion.
This erasure is doubly so for African American queer history. If you pick up a text book on the Harlem Renaissance you’re not likely to find mention of the stark homoerotism in Langston Hughes’ poetry or that Bruce Nugent’s famous short story Smoke, Lilies and Jade is said to be the first published text (1926) by an African American to openly discuss homosexuality. The famous Harlem Renaissance dancer, gay rights activist and philanthropist Mabel Hampton is sure to be left out as well.
We must remember who we are by remembering those who paved the way. The LGBTQ rights fight isn’t a new fight. It‘s a fight that is well documented by the luminaries of our past, including black gay luminaries. I’ll leave you with the words of famous 1960s feminist and lesbian activist poet Audre Lorde, “Let me tell you first about what it was like being a Black woman poet in the ‘60s, from jump. It meant being invisible. It meant being really invisible. It meant being doubly invisible as a Black feminist woman and it meant being triply invisible as a Black lesbian and feminist.” Let’s continue to discover and honor these luminaries by refusing to never be invisible again.
Dwayne Steward is an award-winning journalist, speaker and activist. He serves as the LGBTQ Health Advocate at Columbus Public Health. Steward is the co-host of Queer Minded, the LGBTQ news radio show on talktainmentradio.com. He is also the founder and director of the Make it Better Foundation, a bullying prevention organization. Steward resides in Olde Towne East. Read more from him at DwayneSteward.com.