CWB Holiday Social...

...was AWESOME! Got to meet some great new people!!! (Sorry, my pictures SUCK) It was awesome to hang out with:

• Kate (my chauffeur and BFF for the night)
• Liz from get in mah belly
• Kevin of Strategic Public Relations
• 5chw4r7z (ha, Liz, I spelled it out!)
• Erin Marie of Don't Call Me Mrs.
• AmyinOhio
• ShannanB of Mommy Bits
• Monika of Such a Redkatblonde
• Debba of Girlfriendology
• Lenna of CincySpin (new to the scene!!!)
• Liz/Angela of JulietandJuliette.com

It was a great event and word on the street is that we raised over $800 for The Interfaith Hospitality Network of Northern Kentucky!!!

Thanks to all who came -- including Twitter friends, new and old!!

BLOGGING: Update @ Rainbow Cincinnati!!!

New column posted at Rainbow Cincinnati!!!! Here's your sneak peak, and here are all of my columns!!!

"When did you become a hypocrite?" Libby asked as I handed her an HRC sticker during the Northside Fourth of July Parade.

Just a few weeks before, she and I had harangued a local HRC Steering Committee member at Dayton Gay Pride about the evils of the gay empire -- the Human Rights Campaign. And now? I was promoting their event. In the matter of less than a month, I had become a hypocrite.
(click here for the rest)

And don't forget to check out Juliet's column, too, over there... a preview from her latest:

Lesbian Bed Death is a term created by sex researcher, Pepper Schwartz. It’s a term that describes, what she calls, the inevitable diminishment of sexual passion in a long-term lesbian relationship. Schwartz study indicated that over time, lesbians have less sex than all other couples, no matter the sexual orientation. Most noted was the fact that there was a steep decline in sexual activity among lesbians after the first year!
(click here for all of her posts)

Darren has not posted since last I updated.

And don't forget to click on the img below to browse the rest of this excellent site!!!!

GAY STUFF: Top 10 LGBT Movies

On the back of both Darren and Juliet & Juliette posting blogs about their favorite movies, I thought I'd follow suit...

These two lists were extraordinarily hard to come up with. Mainly because, when asked, it's hard to really think of any movies at all. So, we used the idea of "movies that stuck with me." I'm not saying these are the most incredible movies of all times, but they are movies that have left me with something, or are movies that I can watch over and over and over again. I'll note some obvious missing pics on both lists.

Also, neither of them are in any particular order.

Top Ten LGBT Films of All Time

1) Happy Together (1997, Japan)-- This was the first strictly gay movie I had ever seen, and I picked it up randomly from the "return" bin while I worked at the library at Miami. The reason it stuck with me so long is because it was the first time I had ever seen anal sex handled in a relationship on a film and they made it looked... well, almost natural. I thought that was neat.

2) Better than Chocolate (1999, Canada)-- The only lesbian-exclusive film on the list. It's cute, it's fun, and I love the basis for the title in the movie (ie, orgasms are better than chocolate). It's a cutesy little film from Canada, but it talks about some interesting and strange issues, including censorship and trans-relationships.

3) The Broken Hearts Club (2000, USA) -- It's a really really cute movie, and really sweet and I make recommendations to a lot of straight friends to watch it because I think it talks about the whole "newbie" syndrome quite effectively. It's a little foray in the 20-something gay adolescence we get to go through, and you'll notice (if you know me) that I get a lot of my "gay lingo" from this movie. And there are two great quotes that have stuck with me:

A lot of people ask me when I first knew I was gay. Fact is, I don't know. But what I do remember, what I can recall, is when I first realized it was Okay: It was when I met these guys. My friends.

Everyone can't be straight. Everyone can't be beautiful. Everyone can't be the same, Patrick. Some people are just gay and average. We're the strongest I think

Besides, it has a line-up of characters that you'll spend you're time going -- I know that actor. What's funny is, if you're gay, you'll spend your time going -- I know that guy.

4) The Birdcage (1996, USA) -- I just always have to watch it when its on. I also once had a client who would sit and watch it with me every time we heard it was coming on TV. I really enjoyed watching it with him. It's cute, it's funny... but it also has a lot of really special memories for me.

5) To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995, USA) -- Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, and Wesley Snipes in drag... how could you go wrong??? Besides, with lines like "I got more legs than a bucket of chicken," this was destined to be a campy classic.

6) Connie and Carla (2004, USA) -- I watch this movie over and over and over again. I've nearly destroyed the CD. It's not quite the drag classic that, say, To Wong Foo or Priscilla, Queen of the Desert are, but it's still wonderful. And I love Toni Colette. End of story.

7) But I'm a Cheerleader (1999, USA) -- This was fresh in people's mind when I went to college, and it's one of the first DVD's I bought. It's really sweet and ultimately campy as hell. RuPaul out of drag -- that's funny. Sweet little love story, and it's done in an appropriately bizarre way.

8) Unveiled (2005, France) -- Ironically, I saw this at Outreels, our now-defunct LGBT movie festival. It's beautifully done, extraordinarily poignant, and I'm not sure why I liked it as much as I did. I will say that I left the movie theatre feeling uplifted by the whole showing, and it made me very happy to have watched it.

9) Camp (2003, USA) -- Don't laugh at me. This turned out to be an amazingly on-point movie about kids at a theatre camp. The music is excellent, the cast handles everything with grace, and, even though there are moments where you're like "jesus, these low-budget indie films," you got to hand it to them to make such a great, watchable movie from almost nothing. And to have it so widely watched with almost no publicity.

10) I'm throwing three down for the last one because they are all short documentaries:

10a) Meth: The Movie (2006, USA by Todd Ahlberg) -- About meth and gay men. I still reference a line to people who seek a geographical cure to their addiction from this movie: "I landed in Miami to get off the meth... you know, as soon as I used up everything I had on me."
10b) Hooked (2003, USA by Todd Ahlberg) -- About gay men and online hooking up. I had forgotten about this one when I made this list, but it does well talking about the subject matter.
10c) The Gift (2003, USA by Louise Hogarth) -- About gay men actively seeking HIV infection. The director handles the topic matter amazingly well. It is worth a watch.

And I do want to give an honorable mention to...

11) Trick (1999, USA) -- People are going to laugh at me for putting this on the list, mainly because it's usually listed as "typical gay movie" more often than not. And it is. But it's its typicalness that makes it excellent and makes it interesting to watch. And the whole monologue by Tori Spelling in it was darling. Besides, I watch it over and over and over again.

There are clearly some things left off that people are going to go WTF on: And the Band Played On (it translated poorly from book to movie), Philadelphia (I've never seen the whole thing, and I don't know if I'm interested enough to), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert(loved it, but it's not in my "favorites" list), Rocky Horror Picture Show(I can't watch it over and over -- I can only really watch it when you're in the theater), Eating Out(despite having hot naked guys, it didn't have the same ring to me as Trick did), Trembling Before G-d(great documentary, but didn't leave me the same way some of the others did... more of "oh, this is interesting" as opposed to "WOW"), Small Town Gay Bar(shockingly, never seen it), Boys Don't Cry(I had the opportunity to buy it for like $7 and didn't -- that should tell you something), and Angels in America(don't crucify me when I tell you I have never seen it).

GAY STUFF: Follow up to DADT Hearings...?

I'm still looking for a good follow-up to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell hearings that happened in the House about two weeks ago, but I haven't really found one yet, though there's an excellent article over at the Moderate Voice talking about the situation and taking a (shockingly) moderate viewpoint about it.

Anyone have a good place to get a summary of the hearings???

This is really just an excuse to post this picture, provided from Juliet of Juliet and Juliette in my email this morning:

BLOGGING: Weekly update over at Rainbow Cincinnati!

I've decided to start following all THREE columnists over at gaycincinnati.com -- mainly because I'm friends with both of the other two and I think they are bother fabulous. So here is a preview of all of our latest postings:

Darren (formerly the columnist from the now defunct QCityNews):

There are two great loves in my life. Sports and Movies. I can always depend on them. They're always there for me, providing comfort, amusement and occasionally enlightenment. I've gotten far more bang for my buck from sports and movies than from any romantic relationship I've ever had (which says everything about me rather than the genuinely good men I've dated). For better or for worse I'd rather spend my nights either at home watching ESPN...or at the cineplex watching anything (well...almost anything; you still couldn't drag me to a movie starring Adam Sandler or Steven Seagal). But give me a cherry ICEE, a box of Milk Duds and a decent flick...and I'm in paradise. (full posting here)

Elizabeth (newest columnist, AKA Juliet from Juliet and Juliette)

Let's get right to it, shall we?

How many orgasims is too many? Wow, I almost said that without laughing. Of course you can never have too many orgasms! There are so many benefits to having orgasms, besides the fact that they feel good and its fun getting there!

Here are some of the benefits: (full posting here)

ME!!!!!! (um, you should know me by now bitches)

My car died over three months ago. Lacking any sort of financial plan, I was forced to take to the busses.

I became a Metro rider.

At the time -- to give you a clue of how much has changed in the last three months -- gas was expensive when it was over $3. Though the price was still high, it was still within the upper limits of my budget.

Thank god for the Metro. (full posting here)

And don't forget to click on the image below to follow all the excellent content over at Rainbow Cincinnati!!!!!

BLOGGING: Busy Week

Sorry I've been quiet this week. Been busy working on personal financial matters and with my roommie moving out.

I promise I'm not ignoring you :-).

Quick update...
-quitting smoking
-school starts in a week and a half
-mama and daddy are coming up on Saturday!

To keep you guys busy, please please follow over at Juliet & Juliette, where Juliet has been posting about the search for information about her gay biological father who died of AIDS before she knew him. (Post 1 and Post 2)

Worth a good read.

GAY STUFF: Welcome to the light, Susan Juliette

Congratulations to Thomas Beattie -- the now-famous "pregnant man" (guffaws at using the term) -- on giving birth to a beautiful baby girl.

We get to welcome another Juliette into the world :-).

Picture thanks to Juliet & Juliette

I hadn't really covered this topic because it was so big in the media. I just thought I'd let it slide by. :-) But she is SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!

BLOGGING: Cincinnati Annual Blogger's Convention

Looks like I'll be in attendance at the Cincinnati Annual Blogger's Convention this Thursday at 6pm.

I RSVP'd to the information found on the aforementioned Soapbox Media article, and, I assume, I spoke to Albert Pyle of the Cincinnati Mercantile Library (now blogrolled), where the event will be held. I called it Cincinnati Annual Blogger's "Convention," and his immediate response was "No need for the quote-unquote."

Ha! I like people that call me out.

The event information:

WHO: All Cincinnati Bloggers, and Cincinnati-specific or -related bloggers
WHAT: Annual (maybe :-)) Blogger's Convention
WHERE: Cincinnati Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut Street
WHEN: Thursday, July 24th, at 6pm
WHY: To meet people! Yea!
Call the library, 513-621-0717, to RSVP beforehand. I don't know if you have to bring a covered dish. If you do, I'll eat it. :-)

I also RSVP'd LV/Juliet of the Juliet and Juliette blog to force her to go out with me, since I haven't seen her in WEEKS!

That's one of two "networking" events I'll be going to this week. I'll blog later tonight on the GUPPIE (gay urban professionals) thing that I'm attending on Friday. I feel like I'm going to cause a ruckus at that one.

GAY STUFF: Lizzy the Lezzy

Back-reading blogs, specifically over at Juliet and Juliette, I was just dying when they remembered me to this little bit of gold from youtube, and from their website at Lizzy the Lezzy.



It's true. I'm sitting at my computer, in my robe, with a cup of coffee, ignoring the 100s of things I should be doing, giggling at an online lesbian.

HIV/AIDS: National HIV Testing Day -- June 27th, 2008

It's funny that it took lesbians (over at Juliet and Juliette) to remind me that tomorrow... 40 minutes from now... is National HIV Testing Day!!!

That's right, folks, it is the annual event organized by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA -- main site, event site) where the CDC (information from the CDC -- there are a lot of really great videos on this site) and hundreds of local organizations are encouraging you to get tested for HIV, regardless of your risk. Hell, even if you are suburban housewife with only one sex partner in your life and no history of drug use, I'll bet you have one risk factor...

Unprotected sex.

It doesn't matter who it's with; if it's sex, it's still risky. A lot of people blow off risk as something other people have -- after all, I've been with my husband for years, and we only have sex with each other. Oh yea? When was your last HIV test? When was his last HIV test? Is this a monogamous relationship... are you sure? It's an awful truth of the world, but just because you are monogamous does not mean they are.

Even condoms are not 100%, as there is such a thing as "imperfect use" -- condoms breaking, not being put on properly, etc. etc. etc.

There is no such thing as safe sex, only safer sex. All sex has its risk, as even the best forms of protection cannot safeguard against everything. Herpes and warts, for example, only require skin-to-skin contact for transmission.

And, it's a sad truth, that those are the two most common STD's. It is estimated that upwards of 25-30% of people have genital herpes; most of them have just never shown a symptom.

But I digress.

The point of this blog is to let you know that tomorrow, June 27th, you should get tested. There are a host of options out there to get tested at (listed below), and some of them offer the 20-minute oral swab (there is a slight caveat on this, right now, though), some the 20-minute finger stick, and some of them the more traditional 5-7 day oral swab or venipuncture (blood draw). I have personal and professional relationships with people at each one of these agencies, and I would not be posting any of them unless I was 100% sure that you would be treated with the kind of dignity and respect that you should have when you decide to be tested.

1) STOP AIDS -- 513-421-AIDS (2437)
My former employer and one of the largest testing sites in the city, offering the free 20-minute oral swab OraSure. In the past, though I have not received confirmation on this for this year, they offered all day walk-in testing on National HIV Testing Day. On Fridays, too, they offered walk-in testing from 9a-1p. I'm guessing it will not be much different tomorrow. Regardless, show up at 9a, they are always, always busy, and I've been informed that the entire testing staff will be available to test that day.

2) Cincinnati Health Department
Ambrose Clement/Burnet Ave 513-357-7350
Northside Clinic 513-357-7600
Price Hill Clinic 513-357-2700
Offering the free 20-minute finger stick test. I don't have much information on their program, and I've not heard of anything specific they are doing. But, if you go to the Burnet Avenue location, see if you can get Johnnie or Chuck -- they are both fantastic people and just wonderful, compassionate testers.

3) Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department (NKIDHD)
Boone County -- 859-363-2060
Campbell County -- 859-431-1704
Grant County -- 859-824-5074
Kenton County/Covington -- 859-431-3345
Kenton County/Ft. Mitchell (main testing site) -- 859-578-7660
Testing process varies based on location, some do venipuncture and some do the 20-minute test. They put out a great press release and are on Cincinnati.com with their schedule. They are offering special times tomorrow, so check it out here.

4) Planned Parenthood
Sites include: Hamilton, Middletown, Auburn Ave, Western Hills, Springdale, and Clermont County -- 800-230-7526
Offers the 7 day venipuncture, but it does charge a nominal fee for an HIV test. Last I heard it was under $20, but I can't be sure. The great thing is that they are everywhere and there is likely one close to you.

5) University Hospital Emergency Department -- 513-584-0720
Though free, they offer the 20-minute venipuncture, but you have to call while their nurse is working and you have to be medically cleared and sign a waiver before you can do a walk-in test. It's a little bit more paperwork, as the program is more designed for patients of the ER.

Other programs I know little about:

• 4CHARIS/SARA IRP -- 513-542-9730 -- Religious organization
• Hamilton City Health Department -- 513-785-7080
• Warren County Health Department -- 513-695-2428

Likely, there is a testing site near you that you should go to.

As for me, well.

I haven't been tested in two years. And tomorrow... I will be getting tested at STOP AIDS bright and early at 9am. Come out, check it out, I'll be there. Even for me, folks, this freaks me out. It's hard, I know, but it's worth your time.

CINCY GAY SCENE: Pride is Alive 2008 -- THIS WEEKEND!

Oh, goodness. The weekend is almost here and I hear the bells of a shit-show growing. LOL And by shit show I mean a crazy, fun, insane weekend of gays and debauchery.

My weekend consists of:

1) Probably a quiet Friday night at home. Unless, of course, anyone calls and says "let's go out," in which case I am likely to find myself the next morning at someone else's house a little hung over.

2) At Juliet and Juliette's booth on Saturday afternoon from 4pm-8pm (sorry, girls, I have "other plans" that evening from 8pm onward).

3) The re-opening (again) of Bullfishes!!!! It features the unbelievable Lixxgood family, whom I have seen once before and think of VERY highly. Very much looking forward to seeing them and having a crazy night at my favorite bar in the world. If you see me and mention this blog at the bar, you get to buy me a drink. Friend AA and I, old bar regulars there the both of us, have our entourage planned out. You, too, may be part of the coolest crew in the city -- mine.
(img via the SiloMaxx's/Lixxgood Family's Myspace Page)

Per Bullfishes' Facebook Event:

ITS PRIDE WEEKEND AND OUR GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION. OUR DOORS WILL BE RE-OPENING SATURDAY JUNE 14TH @ 8PM. $3 COVER INCLUDES A FREE WELL DRINK OR DOMESTIC BEER OF YOUR CHOICE ALONG WITH A PROMOTIONAL GIFT TO THE 1ST 100 PEOPLE. 21 & UP PROPER ID REQUIRED. DJ K-SOLO WILL BE SPINNING WITH THE LIXGOOD FAMILY AS ENTERTAINMENT. HOPE TO SEE ALL THE NEW & OLD FACES @ THE NEW BULLFISHES

4) Parade on Sunday!!!! I'll be watching for the first time since I came to Cincinnati, and, of course, taking pictures!!!

There is the chance of rain, but we're queer and proud, and we'll still be that even if it's pouring down!!!

ELECTION 2008: John McCain and Gay Rights

Thanks to the Juliet & Juliette blog for this (via the HRC)



Think *you* know John McCain, dear gay friendly Republicans???

(Interesting note, this is my first non-primary related Election 2008 post! Yea!)

(original YouTube post here)

CINCY GAY SCENE: Bullfishes' Returns -- Take 2

Yea! Not only did I break news with the Bullfishes announcement (and rise to one of the top read stories for the past few days on Cinplify). I was right, on most counts.

The party re-starts on May 30th at 4023 Hamilton Avenue at 8pm.

Myspace page has been re-upped (thank you, Juliet & Juliette), and there's a Facebook announcement.

And I spelled her name right. Syndy Peterson is the new owner.

Welcome to the life, Syndy.

CINCY GAY SCENCE: QueCin @ Pride is Alive 2008

We'll be at Pride is Alive 2008 this year, guys and gals!!! (The official Pride is Alive website doesn't seem to be working.) My dear friend LV over at Juliet and Juliette, also the founders of Generation Pride (their company) have asked me to man their table Saturday, June 14th.

So I'll be there with my camera. Stop by and see me. Because if this year is like the last few...

...well, there are new faces running the show, let's give them a chance, yes?

PS This is also your opportunity, my dear four or five readers, to have input on a flyer design. Whether it be a new image for QueerCincinnati, or a review of the blog... yes, I'll even use "pointless queer drivel..." so that I can get some advertising out of this :-).

OHIO/CINNKY: Cincinnati Buddhist Dharma Center

My dear friend over at the Juliet & Juliette blog decided to go to the Cincinnati Buddhist Dharma Center for their twice monthly meditation classes. This is more of reminder to me to talking about this later, but I have to say, it was kinda cool.

Although my breathing really annoys me -- but that's mostly because I've been stopped up for the past couple of weeks.

CINCY GAY SCENE: Local Queer Bloggers

Because I'm a big supporter of my sistah's... I want to announce the newest local queer blogger, my dear friend Jazmine (you may know her from a variety of my blogs as "TY").

Welcome to the Vinyl Polis

She joins (from what I've noticed)

Juliet and Juliette
Penny Tration
QCityNews
Queen City Survey (even if he's not, he posted a blog about a drag show... I'm making you an honorary queen, darling)

Are there any other local queer bloggers that I'm missing? Does anyone know of anyone else? Any willing to come out?

CINCY GAY SCENE, A challenge

Alright, so I was perusing the Q-City News blog just now (work? what's work? the hospital is quiet tonight...), and I came across a couple of events that I had never heard of, and I would say that I am moderately to highly interested in being involved in my community. And what's interesting to me is... I know the people that run these events, and am on several local listservs and still didn't really know anything about them.

For example:
1) GLSEN at Bean Haus (Feb. 21 6:30p-8p) -- sounds a little like an annual meeting, but still could be fun in Covington's Mainstrasse (at, of all places, Bean Haus at 640 Main Street)

2) Nationwide HIV Update (Feb. 6 from 530-830) -- at STOP AIDS, call 513-421-AIDS

And, in all fairness, I would like to point out the one that passed: Laughing Out Loud, by HRC-Cincinnati, on Jan. 30.

So, how do people who are, like me, somewhat interested in their community get reached? How do you reach people that are not in daily contact with the gay world? When my life was homonormative (everyone I dealt with, at one point, was gay), keeping up was so easy. But now? I am missing events right and left.

How do we change that???

PS ---> Q City News Blog mentioned one of my older posts about bar closings, which is why my readership spiked. In fact, we are both apparently "competing" to post an analysis of the "Last Call" article I posted a few weeks ago. We're both moving REAL quick on that, aren't we?

PPS Check out http://www.julietandjuliette.com/ --> it's run by two fabulous local lesbians (one of my BFFs is Juliet and has shouted out to us a couple of times) and they are trying to get nominated by http://www.thelesbianlifestyle.com/ as Best Lesbian Blog of 2007. I think you should all go to Juliet & Juliette, find out just how fabulous they are, and then nominate them accordingly. Yes? Yes.

PPPS Apparently you aren't allowed to use an ampersand with blogspot?