Kissing Mary

Hamburger Mary's - Cincinnati is reopening its doors for lunch on July 29th (that's -- ahem, tomorrow), and tonight for dinner. The bar -- entitled "Dirty Mary's" -- is still underconstruction and will be open in approximately a month. Business Courier article, thanks to @winemedineme and the Wine Me, Dine Me, Cincinnati website.

Cincinnati will be participating in the Great Nationwide Kiss-in to protest police actions against same-sex PDA across the country, thanks to ImpactCincinnati and Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar. Facebook Event.

Ha -- this is me "on vacation."

Cincinnati Queer Bar: Spreadin' the Love

As always, at midnight, Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar announced its newest target bar for Spreadin' the Love, where they strive to "take over" an underused queer bar, via Facebook...

Hello beautifuls!

Its time to spread some love! And this month we have an amazing night planned for you. Ready for this? We are jumping the river this month and meeting tomorrow night at Blue Bar! As always we are going to create a night full of queer community love - with games, drink specials, and all kinds of dancing. What else could you ask of a Friday night?

So tell your friends, that cuteness you have been eying, and anyone else you come across to come down and make some fun. We want this night to be just as amazing and beautiful and exciting as our first Friday events, because we love you and we have heard rumors that you might feel something special for us too. So lets make it happen!

As always we have packed the evening with incentives. $1 jello shots, $3 grape ape shots, $4 sailor jerry shots, and $10 domestic buckets. We are also bringing back the messenger game! There will also be a DJ makin' it happen on the dance floor.

You can find Blue Bar at 264 Pike Street in Covington, KY. It closes at 1:30, so come a little early to get in all the queer love you can handle.

Word is that CGQB (on twitter, now) has changed up its organizational structure. Whereas it used to be very hierarchical with Mr. Ethan Philbrick running the show, a crew has grown to organize the bi-monthly (does that mean twice a month???) events so that they can incorporate queers of all varieties -- black, white, asian, gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, women, men, etc. etc. etc. As you might remember, CGQB has received some criticism for their white male-dominated organization that ignored other issues outside of the passing gender issue. I think this change will be good for the movement, as a whole.

But, as for a committee, well, I don't like them. You know what they say, when a committee chooses a color, it's always gray. But Blue Bar sounds like a fabulous time (though I'm not sure if Blue Bar is technically "underused")!

Queer Bar Stirs a Little Controversy

Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar, which is fast becoming a mainstay on people's party calendar, has both tried to quell some complaints about the event but stirred some controversy in the process. The latest email via their Facebook group:

First-

GUERRILLA QUEER BAR is TOMORROW night (Friday, July 3rd)!

As we eluded to in the previous message, this month is going to be excitingly different. After lots of conversations with many female identified CGQB-ers, we've decided that it is necessary and important to focus this guerrilla queering on FIGHTING MISOGYNY.

I know many of you queer boys out there might be saying, "But there haven't been any problems! I've been having a great time, let's just keep it about being queer in straight spaces!"

Listen boys, it's time to clear the misogynist gauze from our eyes! Being queer doesn't make us free from our male privilege! Many women have reported that they might stop coming to Guerrilla Queer Bar because they feel unsupported in the struggle against all the sexual objectification and misogyny they face during CGQBs!

We'll have pamphlets about combating misogyny for people to pass out, but feel free to show your support by making a t-shirt, sign, or your own flier!!

***

"Okay, I'm excited to fight misogyny, but what is the ridiculously awesome place we'll be queering this month!!??", you might be asking...
*
*
*
*
(can I get a drum roll please...)
*
*
*
*
THE NORTHSIDE ROCK AND ROLL CARNIVAL!!!!!
located in Hoffner Park (where the Pride Festival was)

***

We know some of you may be complaining, "Northside!? Northside's already as queer as we get in Cincinnati! I thought CGQB was about going to radically straight bars!"

Have no fear! Though lots of queers may live in Northside, there are still plenty of homophoic/transphobic/racist/misogynist people to interact with and show the beauty of queer-dance-love-fantastic. ESPECIALLY at a ROCK and ROLL festival!

Some of you may be still be thinking, "I thought we were going to bars! I don't want to go to some outdoor festival with music I don't like!"

Have no fear again! First-- the festival is going to be ridiculously awesome. There will be a fire performer, a sword swallower (talk about no gag reflex!), and seriously good music. Second-- Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar is going to have a booth so all us queers can gather and celebrate! It will be complete with a kissing booth, queer face painting from 8-10, and lots of cuties to meet. TONS of cheap beer will be for sale, but remember to also bring your thermos full of _________!

Leave your fears at home, put on the queerest outfit you've got (for serious this time-- you'll be in Northside!), come find the CGQB booth (we'll be gathering there around 8), and make Hoffner park even queerer than it was for pride!

Unfortunately, I don't think people got it, or just have just been responding with some negativity on their wall posts, for example:

Your new crusade to fight misogyny is laughable when one takes into account the stance taken in past Queer Bar events when the issue of the sexes has arisen. An April 2 invitation to an event in fact encouraged participants to take part in and ipso facto support a "lady's night" event". An event that offered preferential treatment contingent on being a member of a certain sex. Any preferential treatment is unacceptable, regardless of whether or not something is so common place that it is practically an institution. A number of state supreme courts, including California's and Iowa's, have ruled lady's night is sexist by nature and a violation of men's civil rights. Surely the women participants in said event happily took advantage of the benefits afforded them. I hardly see the point in coming to the defense of a group that willfully participates in events geared at discrimination. Any argument that ladies night is something designed to benefit men by ensuring a large number of women

With two supporters responding:

Every GQB has in some way encountered discriminatory gender-related policies like ladies night, and at every one GQB has engaged these policies in some way either in negotiating with the bar in advance or while we are actually there, either through a questioning of the rules each time they are encountered (remember when we tried to get Sully's to question what they understood to be "ladies"?), or, through a direct breaking of these rules. In the case of the "no dicks on stage" policy at the Lodge bar, this led some people to nearly get kicked out. This time, the engagement with broader issues of misogyny, sexism, and the objectification of women is just more explicit. So there's not really much that's laughable or new here.

And:

anne's got it. ryan, if we were to limit ourselves to attending bars with no discriminatory gender-related policies, we'd end up staying at queer bars. even then, there are a good number of those that are incredibly misogynistic. serpent comes to mind. as for recognizing the implications of our actions, i was barely aware that it even was ladies' night at sully's. all i know is that genderfucking the place opened up lines of dialogue (in bathrooms, on bartops, on dance floors) that would previously have been inaccessible to both the normatively gendered and the queerly gendered.

gqb isn't about choosing spaces where everyone will be safe, or choosing spaces where we know the drinks we buy will not support events like the "best legs" contests that lodge bar keeps e-mailing me about. it's about the creation of a safe space, the challenging of discriminatory policies, and the interaction between the queer community and the straight community.

Perhaps that was the purpose of going to those bars, those lady's night genderfucks. That was always my thought, at least. What do you guys think? Lame or awesomeness, this new branching out and this new take?

Coming Up in Queer Cincinnati...

Cincinnati Equinox!!!

I feel awful, I was supposed to email George from Metronation, the mastermind behind the event, but I never did, but I wanted to make sure you heard about it.

Cincinnati Equinox comes out of no where and promises to be one of the highlights of Cincinnati's queer calendar. No, organizers are quick to point out, it has nothing to do with Pride and it certainly does not replace the event. Rather, Equinox promises to be different and special in its own right. When I heard about it, probably at Below Zero Lounge one evening, I was a little taken aback. My thoughts are probably your own: can it be successful? Well, if George's assurances are true, and he's talking that there are literally hundreds (maybe over a thousand at this point) of people bussing in from out of town for a big old gay party at... FOUNTAIN SQUARE.

That's right, folks, the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, recently reformed out of the ashes of the Queen City Careers Association, has teamed up with Fountain Square to put on the party of the year this coming weekend! How they did it on July 4th weekend, I'll never know, but you can be sure I'm going.

Here is the event line-up according to the website:

Friday, July 3rd: Welcome Party, 10pm-Close at various local bars

Friday, July 4th: Equinox Festival, 11am-4pm on Foutain Square

Friday, July 4th: Equinox Ball, 10pm-2am, Grand Ballroom of the Millenium Hotel

Friday, July 4th (ish): Afterhours Breakfast, 1:30am-4am, Millenium Hotel

Trust, kids, it's gonna be fun and I will be sure to update you later in the week as soon as I find out the various wonderful things all of the Cincinnati queers have planned. I probably won't be making it to the ball -- it's far too much for this poor queer to attend -- but you can be sure you'll see me out at the bars. *Checks little black book* Who's lucky enough to be my date that evening?

Oh, and after my interview with CityBeat around Pride, I got a lot of questions of how can large queer events really become political and change hearts and minds of Cincinnati and our neighbors. I think the Equinox founders answered it best from their mission statement:

The purpose of the event is to help heal the image of Cincinnati in the National LGBT Community. Although Article XII has been repealed, Cincinnati is still viewed by other cities as homophobic and unwelcoming to the GLBT Community. On any given weekend a large portion of our city's own community leave for the nearby cities of Columbus, Louisville, Dayton, Indianapolis and Lexington.

The Greater Cincinnati Gay Chamber of Commerce believes that by hosting Equinox, we can show the changing climate towards the gay and lesbian community in Cincinnati, therefore improving the attitudes of our own community, as well as, show other cities that times have changed in Cincinnati and we welcome them with open arms, as our city is a great place to shop, play and live.

And don't worry, word is that Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar is very much working with Equinox planners for a huge party that night.

Great Cincinnati GLBTQ Youth Summit

A mainstay of all queers' calendars, the youth summit has now opened up for registration. I'll cover a little more later, but they are also looking for additional help and worshop proposals. Do you think there's a demand for "blogging for queers" workshop? Hrm. Maybe I'll put my two cents in. Check out the website here.

Super Secret Event

Well, for another week. Just put July 17th, 7pm-10pm on your calendar, kids. You'll be doing some good for the world, and having a great time in the process. Promise, promise.

Spreadin' the Love - Guerrilla Queer Bar Announced!

As part of it's "spreadin' the love" series, where the fabulous people over at Guerrilla Queer Bar invade an underused queer-identified bar, this came out a few days earlier than usual on their blog:

Hello Beauteous Queers--

Three things!

1. CGQB's takeover of Cadillac Ranch was out-of-this-world-queer-fa
ntastic! For serious. If you haven't seen the "Two Boys, One Bull" video yet ( http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1158004716345&ref=mf ), watch it now. It's just the tip of the iceberg for all the crazy, world-changing fun that was had.

2. CGQB hopes you all had a wonderfully sexy Pride!

3. Have no fear, the queer fun doesn't have to stop! THIS FRIDAY is CGQB's "Spreading the Love" event.

Never heard of the "Spreading the Love" events? Find out more below. If you're a seasoned "Spreading the Love" go-er, feel free to skip to find out where it is!

****

Every THIRD FRIDAY, the folks that bring you GQB put on another raucous night of fun at an under-utilized QUEER bar in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.

Last month's "Spreading the Love" was at the glorious Little Bit Bar with a night of cheap drinks, sexy bartenders, great people, a "live-missed-connections" game, and a FIRE performance (for serious).

"Why a queer bar? I thought GQB was about taking over straight bars", you might ask. "Spreading the Love" is about spreading our queer-love (and dollars) around the queer community while also getting a chance to know our fellow CGQB-ers a little more intimately ;).

Don't worry, we'll still be exploring the straight and narrow bars every FIRST Friday of the month. (which reminds me, GET READY FOR JULY 3rd!!!)
****

This month promises to be the best "Spreading the Love" yet!
Where will we be coming together in the name of queer-celebration?

(***drum roll please***)

...

the CRAZY FOX SALOON!!!
901 Washington Ave
corner of 9th and Washington in NEWPORT, KY.

****

Those of you who have experienced or heard of the GLORY that is the Crazy Fox are probably jumping for joy right now. If you HAVEN'T had the privilege of going to this bar yet, start getting ready for a night of sexy-wonderful-fun this Friday.

We'll be getting there anytime around 9. There will be some sexy surprises. If you're feeling adventurous, they have ABSINTHE drink specials on Friday nights!

Mark your calenders now-- Friday the 17th, 9 pm, Queer-Fun-Time!

I think, btw, that the date is Friday the 19th, not the 17th, or else I think I would have heard about queers heading down there :-). Anyways, this will be the first CGQB I'll be missing. I'm kinda sad about that :-(. And I just realized I didn't know how to spell "Saloon."

Map to Crazy Fox / Crazy Fox Saloon website

Guerrilla Queer Bar Success!!!

Last night was Guerrilla Queer Bar at Cadillac Ranch -- FABULOUS! :-) I had not expected to have as much fun as I did because, as @5chw4r7z points out, "that place is already so gay."

Yes, kids, we descended into the world of popped collars, untucked shirts, and a mechanical bull, and I'll say that I've had the best time I've ever had since day one of CGQB, mostly thanks to the charming and fabulous company of Julie Niesen of Wine Me, Dine Me, Cincinnati. Seriously. She said she was going to pop down, and I figured that I'd see her, we'd have a drink, a laugh, and we'd be on our way. Oh, no, she and I gossiped and checked out hotties the whole night through. And @Kate_The_Great even came out to hang out for a bit! OMG, I seriously thought I was going to go into fabulous overdrive.

Unfortunately, though, I think I overdrew my bank accoutn by $20. That happens, occasionally, and I need to reenter that part of my life we call "fiscal responsibility," which is hard for Democrats like me :-).

Emptying my pockets this morning -- always fun to dive through the detritus of a good night out, burying through crumpled dollar bills and random kitsch you grab throughout the night -- CGQB now has business cards which, on the back, says that you can "pass on this card to a cutie to request a free consensual kiss." Sadly, I never used it :-(, but life goes on as normal, doesn't it? :-) The card, as Chris G. pointed out, has unicorns! Who doesn't love unicorns? I also found, amidst crumpled bits of paper, a great and exciting email address which I had all but forgotten picking up... that of Alex Triantafilou.

Who? you may ask. Alex is the Chairman of the HamCo Republican Party, and blogger and a tweeter, who was actually very excited that Julie and I had popped over to say hello. Expect a conversation to begin there. (For the record: Alex was not joining Queer Bar but was just out at Cadillac Ranch with friends, but he was really excited to learn that we were there and fully supported the movement.) It's for moments like those, I think, that CGQB exists.

I am mitigating my hangover this morning with pasta and water bottles, but I'm totally pumped by the amazing party last night. As always, thanks guys and gals for putting it together!!!

Guerrilla Queer Bar Location Announced

From the Facebook group:

Dearest Queers--


Tonight is the night of all nights!
June's Guerrilla Queer Bar has finally arrived!

*****
Get your cowboi/gurl boots out! Find your tight jeans and checkered shirts! Put on your ass-less chaps! Because the bar soon to be transformed into QUEER-DANCE-LOVE-FANTASTIC issssss.....

(drum roll please)

CADILLAC RANCH!!!!

38 Fountain Square Plaza-- across from the CAC

*****

Yes, that's right folks. Our most ambitious bar yet. Call all your friends. Make plans to go together (safety in numbers). Cancel all conflicts. Show Cadillac Ranch the beauty that IS the Cincinnati Queer Community.

*****

What to expect:

1. Tons of cute queers dancing and having fun.
2. A MECHANICAL BULL. (For serious).
3. NO COVER. When you get there, look for GQB people on the patio (you can spot them by their purple bandannas). They'll either give you a bracelet and let you in for free, or you can go to the regular door and say you're with Guerrilla Queer Bar and they'll give you a bracelet and let you in for free.
4. Super cheap drinks. ONE DOLLAR drafts on the patio and a THREE BUCK vodka and sprite drink all night.
5. Good music. Cadillac Ranch is bringing in DJ SPRYTE from LA for the night.
6. Did I mention tons of cute, nice, and interesting queers?

*****

Remember! This GQB is "queer country western" themed. Dress to impress. We'll be convening on the patio and then making our way to the dance floor as the night wears on. Cadillac Ranch is expecting a busy night, so get there early so we have a presence from the beginning!


See you on the dance floor.
♥
CGQB

ps. Cadillac Ranch serves food until 9pm, so if you want to come early and stick around, I'm sure they wouldn't mind. :)

See you all there tonight!

Massive Community Calendar Update

We are less than two weeks out from Pride, and I realized... I have absolutely nothing on here about Pride events! And then I went searching, and well... I'm keeping my mouth shut.  For the next two weeks, here are some amazing things going on!


Flash Action! Queer folks are heading (back) out to Maineville this evening (6/2 at 9:00pm) to stand in solidarity against hate at Tabby's American Grill, where an alleged hate crime occurred last week! We've gotten some positive response from the bar, and we're looking to stand with them and make this a peaceful queer bomb! Check out the coverage we got at Towleroad!

Milk: Summer Underground returns tomorrow, Wednesday the 3rd. Cincinnati's experiment in fabulous music and great dancing had a strong turn out last week -- probably around 80 folks! The organizer said that, from what he's heard, he expects this week to be even bigger! Make sure you check it out and add MILK to your Facebook friends!

And for the biggest, gay party night of all... THIS FRIDAY the 5th! 

• 5:00pm-7:00pm: World's Gayest Office Party, hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce at Yadda Club
• 8:00pm-10:00pm: HRC First Friday, hosted by the local organizing community, at Crazy Fox Saloon
• 10:00pm: Return of Guerrilla Queer Bar -- and, trust me guys, this sounds like the most fun one of all!!!

As for next weekend, I'm going to just hit them real quick:

• Friday, June 12th, 5:00pm-9:00pm: "Pride in Our Party," hosted by the Ohio Democratic LGBT Caucus, at Below Zero Lounge, with honorable hosts Rep. Steve Driehaus, Ohio AG Richard Cordray, Ohio Treasure Kevin Boyce, County Commissioner Todd Portune, Rep. Connie Pillich, and Rep. Denise Driehaus
• Friday, June 12th, 8:30p: Rainbow Candlelight Vigil across the Purple People Bridge, organizers are planning a mini-march with groups forming at both the north and south ends of the Purple People Bridge and marching to the middle; at the end, the group will march together south towards Kentucky (more information later)
• Saturday, June 13th, 3:00pm-9:00pm: Pride Festival at Hoffner Park in Northside
• Sunday, June 14th, 12:00pm-1:00pm: Pre-Pride Parade Rally at Burnet Woods
• Sunday, June 14th, 1:00pm-3:00pm: Pride Parade from Burnet Woods in Clifton to Northside
• Sunday, June 14th, 1:00pm-7:00pm: Pride Festival at Hoffner Park in Northside

There you go folks!

Queer Bar -- Front Page of Cincinnati.com

Well, well, well, look who made the front page of Cincinnati.com (click to embiggen) -- our very own Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar-istas. From the story itself:

As 30-year-old Danae Riggs of Anderson Township stood on the deck of the Pavilion, taking in the view of the Ohio River and the twinkling lights of downtown, she and her partner were struck by the difference between the area’s straight and gay bars, many of which are hidden away in less affluent neighborhoods.

Riggs – the mother of a 7-year-old who describes herself as looking like a “suburban housewife” – hopes Guerrilla Queer Bar will help raise awareness of the privileges that straight people enjoy and help give other gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people the courage to live more openly.

“I hope it spreads like wildfire,” Riggs says. “And if at the end of the day, if folks are just having a conversation, and people like me are building strength and momentum to be who they are, that’s great.”

Well done, guys/gals/etc... and bully to Jamie Royce who got a shot out as well!

Thanks to Montgomery Maxton for the heads up!

Guerrilla Queer Bar: Spreading the Love

Cincinnati's Guerrilla Queer Bar has announced its new location for this Friday, from their Facebook:

Did you go to the last Guerrilla Queer Bar? Did you love it? Do you want another chance to be around all those cute and fun queers? Or did you, by some horrible twist of fate, miss the last Guerrilla Queer Bar (*gasp*)?

Have no fear! GQB "Spreading the Love" is here!

****

Every THIRD FRIDAY, the folks that bring you GQB put on another raucous night of fun at an under-utilized QUEER bar in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.

"Why a queer bar? I thought GQB was about taking over straight bars", you might ask. "Spreading the Love" is about spreading our dollars and queer-love around the queer community while also getting a chance to know our fellow CGQB-ers a little more intimately. Don't worry, we'll still be exploring currently straight and narrow bars every first Friday of the month.

****
and the CGQB "Spreading the Love" event will be THIS FRIDAY at the....

(drum roll please...)

LITTLE BIT BAR -- 2401 Vine Street (near McMillian on Vine)

If you've never been to this bar, what GLORY you've been missing! No cover. Two for one domestics and well drinks before 10 pm. A beer WHEEL (think wheel of fortune) that gives you whatever beer you land on for $2 and a shot wheel that does the same but for $2.50.

**There will also be an extremely special, exciting, and sexy Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar game going on that you DO NOT want to miss.**

Get all your friends together, invite people to join the facebook group, and come out to the LITTLE BIT BAR on Friday night.

I'll probably check it out -- it is right down the street from my apartment.

I owe a lot of blog space to a lot of people right now, so I apologize to all those people. I promise it will be coming soon!!!!

Guerrilla Queer Bar Location Announced

Where are we dancing and carousing tonight, this fabulous first Friday of the month, with Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar? From the blog:

THE PAVILION (949 Pavilion St. Mt. Adams)

**********

Now I know many of you may be groaning-- having had your fair share of negative Pavilion experiences-- but put them aside! This will be a night of queer-dance-debauchery to be remembered! Where else needs to be queered up more than Mt. Adams? And where else in Mt. Adams could use a dose of queering than the Pavilion?


***********

Here's the Deal:

1. If you're short on cash, get there early. It's free to get in before 10pm (and it's nice to beat the line). So get there at 9 (and if you're someone who's always late, say you're going to be there at 8!). I know some of you don't think fun starts before midnight-- but just think, the earlier you go out, the more time to have fun, the higher your chances to find someone (or someones) to take home, and the more time to have fun with them at home and still get to bed before 7 am! After 10pm the cover is 5 bucks (lame).

2. We'll be congregating on the SECOND FLOOR. Look out for the purple GQB bandannas (and if you haven't gotten one yet, we'll have more-- they're only $5).

3. Pavilion is 21+ (but they're also a restaurant and serve food until 11 pm.) :)

4. Parking/driving in Mt. Adams sucks. We recommend the #1 bus (which you can catch easily in Government Square) or if you're a UC student (or could pass as one, they don't usually check IDs) hop on the "Greater Cincinnati Route Shuttle UC Shuttle" which runs until 2:30 and connects Mt. Adams, Newport, Downtown, and Clifton. For more info go to http://www.sorta.com/ or http://www.uc.edu/af/facilities/shuttle_services.html . Or take a taxi, drive, bike, or skip.

5. When the clock strikes midnight, the Pavilion's dance floor will turn into a queer kiss-in. However you want to interpret that, go for it. If you want to bring someone to kiss, find someone to kiss, kiss yourself, hug someone, kiss a whole bunch of people, recite a poem about what kissing means to you, kiss your best friend, whatever. 12:00 am = kissin' time

You gonna join us tonight? And, more importantly, who's my midnight kisser? :-)

And don't forget the HRC First Friday event at 8pm at Golden Lions.

Massive Community Calendar Update

An update is way overdo, so I'll try to cover as much as possible -- sorry if I leave someone out, just shoot me an email: queercincinnati@gmail.com


Julia Serano Lecture
April 22nd, 7pm at the University of Cincinnati
Serano, an Oakland-based writer, spoken word performer, trans-activist, and biologist, will be giving a talk at UC in Swift 500 on entitled "Transsexual and Trans Feminine Perspectives on Sexism." Serano published Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity in 2007. (TransOhio post.)



cincYPac and the Cast of MTV's "Take the Stage"
April 23rd, 6pm-8pm, Cadillac Ranch
cincYPac -- Cincinnati's Young Professional Political Action Committee -- is hosting a night where you can meet the cast of MTV's hit reality show, "Take the Stage," that is hosted right here in Cincinnati. Check out their Facebook event for more information -- the event costs $15 (and $5 for students).



Pride Night with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
April 24th, 8pm+
The CSO will be welcoming the LGBT community for the 6th year in a row to a fabulous evening of music, followed by a cocktail party at Corbett Tower. Tickets are $40, includes both events. Check out the CSO website for information on the promo code and how to order your ticket.



PrideLove Sexy Singles Party
April 24th, 8pm-11pm, Below Zero Lounge
The wonderful ladies and gentlemen of PrideLove invite you to a hot little singles party at Below Zero lounge, hosted by darling Penny Tration, including a Sexy Singles Auction. (Formerly featured on QueerCincinnati.com.)



CAC's Contempory Fridays: SPIN
April 24th, 9pm-1am, Contemporary Arts Center
The CAC continues its highly successful parties with "The Price is Light," along with Northside Nick and Chris Collins. The one I went to -- months ago, now -- was actually a lot of fun. Check out their Facebook event.



First Friday with HRC
May 1st, 8pm, Golden Lion's Lounge
HRC's second First Friday cocktail hour will be held at the Golden Lion's Lounge in Clifton -- per the Facebook invite, you can be sure to check out their event (and you actually can, considering the times -- well done, HRC) before you head off to...



Cincinnati Guerilla Queer Bar -- Month 3
May 1st -- TBA
Even I don't know where it's going to be, guys, but I've been told to make sure that everyone saves the date!



Lucky Ladies Speeddate
May 3rd, 3pm-6pm, Yadda Club (Covington)
Check PrideLove's flyer for the upcoming event for all of our fabulous single ladies out there.



stop) aids Guest Bartending Night
May 3rd, 6pm-10pm, Below Zero Lounge
I will feature this more later because I think it's going to be an awesome night. But, the education team of STOP AIDS (all of them true hotties) will be behind the bar, and every dollar you give goes to stopping AIDS right here in Cincinnati. (Facebook event)



Judy Shepard Speaks
May 5, 7pm, Great Hall of the Tangeman Center on UC's Campus
After her last speech was cancelled due to illness, Judy Shepard comes to speak at the University of Cincinnati. She's worth watching, folks; I would go.



Ethan Philbrick's Cello Recital
May 9, 8pm, St. John's Unitarian Church
Check out his Facebook event. (Ethan is both a fellow blogger and the organizer of CGQB -- and then he got cutie-patootie Jeff of centsinnati to sweettalk me into posting it, so another fellow blogger -- so I'm posting this "personal event" based on their status as bloggers. But Ethan's an amazing cellist and worth checking out, I think.)



Making Beautiful MUSIC Together
May 9th, 7pm-10pm, the DOCK Complex
The ISQCCBE and the Cincinnati Men's Chorus will be hosting a special charity event at the DOCK to support local charities... and each other. Check out their Facebook event.



Queen City, Music City
May 30th at 8:07pm, May 31st at 3:07pm, National Underground Railroad Museum
The next Cicninnati Men's Chorus show will focus on music straight out Nashville -- including tunes with hints of country, gospel, jazz, and bluegrass. The 30th and 31st will be their Pride shows, with a special musical nod to the LGBT movers and shakers in music. Check out their website for more information.



Miami U. LGBT Alumni Reunion
June 18-21, Oxford, Ohio
As part of the bicentennial celebration, 1809 LGBT Alumni are calling all alums to come and support the association, as well as join them in special events like a reception with Pres. Hodge and a special viewing of Freeheld (2008 Academy Award short documentary winner, produced by MU alums).

Equinox Cincinnati
July 3-5
Hold on to your horses, girls, the next big event in the gay social calendar in Cincinnati may be upon us -- meet Equinox Cincinnati (and their Facebook event). I don't have much more information from the organizers yet, but I've been promised the exclusive ASAP. George (of Metronation and of the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) is hot on this one, guys, and says he already has busses filling up from people out of state to come party in the 'Nati. I have a feeling this will be huge. Save the date. (And you are reading that right -- this event is cosponsored by Fountain Square.)


Ohio Lesbian Festival
September 19th and 20th, Columbus-ish
Womyn-only event featuring music, art, and community. Check out their website for more information.



GAY PRIDE DATES FOR THE REGION!!!!!
I'm just going to do a list because there are so many to list off:

• June 6th-14th: Indianapolis, "Circle City, IN Pride"
• June 13th and 14th: Cincinnati, "Squealing with Pride"
• June 19th and 20th: Columbus, "Freedom 2009"
• June 19th and 20th: Louisville, "Kentuckiana Pride Festival"
• June 20th: Cleveland, "Equality through Unity"
• June 23rd-28th: Chicago
• Saturday, June 27th: Lexington, "Stonewall Lives"

You know, looking at Columbus's and Cleveland's themes... aren't you kinda glad we have something at least interesting? Seriously.

Seriously, what did I miss? I know I did. Again, email me if you have anything for the list.

The New Gay: Washington Post Article

The Washington Post has a great piece about a friend of this blogs -- TheNewGay.net. From the Washington Post piece:

One is a former drag king, the other is a laid-off newspaper reporter-turned blogger, and each, in their own way, is trying to transform Washington's gay scene. Eboné Bell, 27, and Zack Rosen, 25, friends and entrepreneurs, have a politically subtle mission: to integrate the region's gay scene, which they say caters to crowds that are typically older, white, wealthier and male. . .

"You come out into this culture that you had no hand in creating, and you're expected to conform to it if you want to have friends or sexual partners," Rosen said. "One of the greatest tragedies in gay life is that you spend the first 18 or 20 or however many years of your life feeling as an outsider -- and then you come out, and still . . . you may not want to come into this fabulous world of big, mega dance club music with all these guys in Hollister T-shirts. It's one way people live, but it's not you. One of the tag lines of [the New Gay] is: 'Be gay and be yourself,' and here, it's often very hard to do both."

The website itself has a great response to the piece, entitled "Why I Reject Gay Culture:"

Let’s first get out of the way the fact that being “gay” and being a part of gay culture are two different things. Being “gay” or “queer” or “lesbian” means that you are attracted to members of the same sex. Being a part of gay culture means you accept and go along with a monolithic, single-minded “culture” mostly composed of people who are attracted to the same sex. A culture that, unlike all other minority cultures, you aren’t born into. You have to go seek it out.

Unfortunately, at least in my experience, it isn’t very easy to break into this gay culture. Firstly, it’s very male oriented, and white. If you are a lesbian or a person of color, you’re already have a few strikes against you when it comes to acceptance by greater gay culture. However, us white guys don’t necessarily have it all that easy, either.

Somehow, gay culture has evolved into a very homogenious and anti-intellectual stage show.

Lately, we've talked a lot about exclusion and sexuality, about intersections and discrimination. When I first ran into Ethan Philbrick, of Guerrilla Queer Bar fame, we automatically classified him as gipster -- gay hipster -- and both Montgomery and I said that we had never seen these homosexuals before in our life.

Why? Probably because they were not part of this gay life and were separate and apart ... they didn't fit into the typical stereotypical gay scene.

I took on the identity of queer many many years ago, and I have to say this: I don't think I've even begun to understand it until I started to get to know the gipsters as people, rather than just the side show. They're good people. And I understand that I am different, and that even I, for all of my love of Beyonce and Cher and Britney/etc., am still very much outside the norm. I'm not gay, so much, as truly queer... as my gender expression is all fluked up, as is my in-your-face attitude about my sexuality and gender. I mean, I like stereotypical gay culture -- I am a consumer -- but there is difference there, too. (Take, for instance, Kristy Kay Karolina, my drag alter ego, who has won me and lost me countless boyfriends, mainly on the misunderstanding that she somehow dominates my life, but is still very much a part of my life. They don't get it.)

But there is for everyone.

As we move forward, I think these differences between us will redefine us, and will give new breath into the movement. They will make us better, stronger, smarter. At least, I hope.

I'm not very articulate, so I'll refer you over to Paper Clips N' Potato Chips -- another friend of this blog -- who has a far better response than I could ever hope to write.

Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar on KISS107FM

Guerrilla Queer Bar made it on KISS107FM -- Congratulations to the organizers for the fabulous, fabulous coverage!!!!! The email I got today from Ethan Philbrick's partner, Will, is as follows:

"summary of the show:  Cincinnati isn't as homophobic as we might think - guerrilla queer bar rocks - only excuse het people have for leaving = they can't keep up with the queer throwdown."

I think it is a totally appropo summary.

To listen to the audio, click here.

Cleaning Up a Little Bit

A few quick housekeeping notes:

1. Gotten a lot of feedback that I'm not linking to original articles -- I am, actually, but I think the color of links blended in a little too much, so I've changed that color. This is a temporary fix. I'm trying to find a whole new schema that will alleviate this problem.
2. In response to the HRC vs. CGQB post, I'll say this: I apologize that it came off as it did. Let me simplify what I believe I was meaning to say: the timing was not right for the HRC event, especially with a similar stated purpose. The HRC has reached out to the organizers of Queer Bar, which I'm glad about and curious to know the outcome of that meeting. I'm also proud of the HRC for utilizing social media to improve its outreach. The reason for the post was to prod a little bit and make sure the issue is addressed so that there isn't any perception of competition and all events can occur with equal opportunity. Just a little nudge. If it came off otherwise -- and it appears that it did -- I am truly sorry. 
3. Update: And I'm trying to find rhyme/reason to commenting. My most popular/read posts don't get commented on, but little ones get lots. Very confusing to me.

I think that's about it :-). Hope that helps!

HRC's First Friday versus Guerrilla Queer Bar

Please note the follow up to this posting here.

Something that came to my attention this evening...

The local HRC crew has started an event known as Equality First Friday. From their 4/3 event Facebook invite, here's its stated purpose:

Join HRC Greater Cincinnati on the first Friday of every month as we travel to a new Greater Cincinnati/Dayton destination to meet new friends and bring the message of HRC to the community!

Now I'm not one to cause problems, but I just have a question: given the recent press and success of Guerrilla Queer Bar -- which is stated as happening on the first Friday of every month -- why would they post a competing event with a similar stated purpose? Overall, it's a great idea. I applaud the HRC for utilizing Facebook to bring a younger crowd into their organization and find "new blood," but I'm not sure the wisdom of directly challenging another event.

We have a small community in town, let's be honest about that, and, though I would like to believe that we have enough people to drink and dance at more than one big event, I get the impression that the crowd they are trying to reach is the same that goes to CGQB. 

I'm sure it was just a mistake. And, to make a suggestion, would it be, perhaps, prudent to have a Final Friday event, rather than First Friday? That way, if Queer Bar does, for whatever reason, take a nosedive at some point, you've branded that evening as your own without stepping on anyone's toes. And, of course, meet with Ethan and the Queer Bar organizers too see what's up and how best to work together.

I hear there's a meeting this week between the two, so I'll be curious to see how it goes.

After the comment that came through, I wanted to clarify a point that isn't as clear above: this seems like a great chance for the HRC to reach out and work together with an existing movement. It comes across as competitive, however. That is, in short, my point.

Guerrilla Queer Bar Fabulosity

Official word on Guerrilla Queer Bar last night at Sully's: AWESOME. Complete and total awesomeness. Can't wait for the first Friday next month to see what the crew has lined up for us. 

Yes, that's me, and that's hotty Jeff from Centsinnati. Didn't I look FABULOUS?

Guerrilla Queer Bar TOMORROW (Friday): Sully's Downtown

Guerrilla Queer Bar returns!!!!!

Last month brought us two amazing events -- the takeover of the underutilized gay bar the Subway (attendance, 80-100 at a time, probably 150 by the time the night ended), and the takeover of the straight Lodge Bar (attendance of 100-150, probably 200 by the end of the night). From the minds of the maybe sometimes a little insane Ethan Philbrick & Co., tomorrow's event has been announced, and it's a great one!

From the Facebook posting (via their group):

SULLY'S! 700 Race Street (on the corner of Race and 7th)

I know some of you may be groaning...a little wary of venturing to a sports bar mecca of our city...but I beg you, leave your bias behind and get your cute butt to Sully's on Friday night because this shit is gonna be b.a.n.a.n.a.s.

Listen to these deals we've got going:

1. Tell the people at the door you're with Guerrilla Queer Bar and you'll get in FREE.
2. We will have the VIP room to gather in. Just ask someone to point you in the right direction. The VIP room opens at 9 and has it's own private bar. I've heard the bartender is a cutey.
3. If you get there before 9, your first drink is free.
4. If you say you're part of GQB, you'll get a wrist band that will get you 2 DOLLAR DRINKS between 9 and 11.
5. The DJ starts spinning at 9.
6. From 11-12, it's LADY'S NIGHT, and any "lady" will receive PENNY DRINKS. For serious. Pennies. We'll have to see how broadly they define "lady".

In honor of "lady's night" and Kate Bornstein's inspiring appearance during Xavier's Queer Week:

April's Guerrilla Queer Bar will be.... GENDER-FUCKed!

Break out of your gender box for even just one night! Whatever your comfort level--put on a mustache, get out your sequins, or add a little swagger to that walk! One rule-- have fun and don't be mean! Come in your get up, or put it on in the potty! Boys being girls can use "lady's night" to buy penny drinks for girls being boys! Throw those inhibitions out for a night and explore a new identity! Or--of course-- come as you are, everyone is always welcome!

Let's give Sully's a night to remember!

I've totally got to hand it to them -- this shit is going to be fun. I was planning to be in a show up at Shooter's that night (as Kristy), so me and Viv were going to slip down and join the party for a few drinks anyways in full drag. Makes my night like 100X easier!!!!

So, who's with us tomorrow kids?

---

More: CGQB will also be hosting a Same-Sex Kiss-in for the summer "opening" of Fountain Square on Saturday at 8p.m. For more information, check out their Facebook invite. And don't forget the CGQB blog.

From Rae

Dear, dear Rae photoshopped a pic from this week's protest... I think it's quite lovely.

Sorry, woke up late and heading out the door. Many, many things to post. Guerilla Queer Bar event last night? Success. Everything Mr. Ethan P. touches these days turns into gold, it seems.

Hate Crime Update and PROTEST

For background, here's our most recent post, and here's our first post.

So, so, so much has happened and I have exactly 12 minutes before my shift to get all the information I can possible get together on one post.

I'll start with the most pressing.

The founders of Guerilla Queer Bar, all UC students, have called a protest tomorrow (3/19) at 5:30pm. I'll let them tell you the full story:

Dear Members of the Cincinnati LGBTQ and Allied Community,

As you may or may not know, there was a serious hate crime on UC's campus the night of March 6th. If you have not yet read the message that was sent to the UC community, it's at the bottom of this email. We need to take a stand for our community and show the beauty and validity of our identities and sexualities!

In response to this incident, we will hold a demonstration TOMORROW (Thursday, the 19th) starting at 5:30 pm at the corner of CLIFTON and CALHOUN. We will congregate on the UC Law School side of the street and then walk as a group down to the corner of MLK and CLIFTON.

Bring a hand made sign that states your identity-- "I am Gay" or "I am a Lesbian" or "I am Queer" or "I am Bisexual" or "I am Trans" or "I am an Ally". Be proud! There will also be a big communal sign that states the reason for the demonstration.

Cancel whatever you had planned, make a sign, get all your friends to come, and get your butt to CLIFTON and CALHOUN at 5:30 tomorrow evening! This is important. Stand up for our community and make our voices heard!

With love,
Ethan Philbrick, Jane Meek, and many more - Please Forward!!!!!!!

That came over the Facebook and is now making the rounds in your email inboxes. This is in response to the note to the UC Community from the UC Police Captain, Karen Patterson:

To: UC Community
From: Karen Patterson, Captain UC Police Department

Cincinnati Police have reported two felonious assaults that occurred on March 6, 2009 at 4:20am in the 2500 block of Clifton Avenue.
The victims were walking home when one of the victims stopped to talk to the suspects, who were friends from high school. Upon hearing that the other victim was a homosexual, the suspects became aggressive and attacked both individuals.
The victims were able to provide the police with the names of several of the suspects in the case. All three suspects were white males with two being described as 18 to 20 years old, 5'10", between 150 and 160 lbs, with brown hair and green eyes.

Karen K. Patterson MEd
Office phone: (513)-556-4906
Email address: karen.patterson@uc.edu

But I really wanted to call attention to the very excellent and extensive information provided to us by Stuff Queer People Need to Know, who did a lot of great research on the hate crime statutes and is intimately involved with the UC LGBT community... and therefore she speaks from a very personal position. God knows, when shit happened at Miami, we were all affected. Much love to the UC LGBTQ community. I know how you're all feeling.

JereKeys said it best:

Barry is hoping to draw attention to a little reported crime at the University of Cincinnati which may have been a hate crime had Ohio passed a law to recognize felony assault as a hate crime (or if the Cincinnati bias crime penalty for misdemeanor assault were applicable) or something. The news organizations who are claiming “neither have been charged with a hate crime, and, therefore, reporting it as such would be illegal” are full of shit. No one had a problem reporting on Matthew Shepard’s murder as a hate crime even though Wyoming had no such provisions in state law. It’s very simple, “Police are investigating an assault on two local college students, an assault that some say should qualify as a hate crime… [begin discussion of the incident, follow-up with information about how Ohio state law (not to mention federal law) doesn't recognize hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity].” It’s a time-honored formula for the media and an opportunity for them to create more false balance by placing a random board member from Equality Cincinnati on the air next to a raving lunatic from CCV for a “debate.” It’s controversial and ratings gold!

IMPACT Cincinnati has put the information out there, and I believe individual members are offering logistical help as best they can.

The grand jury report of the alleged attacker -- Ethan Kirkland -- is on Friday.

I have more stuff, but it will have to wait, for now.