BLOGGING: QueerCincinnati.com

That's right, kids.

It's official.

www.queercincinnati.com

Welcome to the (other) cheesegrinder.

GENERAL STUFF: Follow up to previous blog

Posted this a few days ago.

Got this email today:

Hello,

We're glad you like our work enough to use it.

However, you have used it either without our permission and/or without
proper attribution.

Use of our work requires that you link back to our site with a resource box
like the one shown below.

If you do not do this you are in violation of international copyright laws.

Please properly attribute or desist from using our copyrighted material.

Oops. I think I've fixed it. That's me -- tooth ripping out, copyright infringing queer. LOL. Oops. Oh well, you live, you learn.

Sorry Mr. Angier!!!!

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)

PERSONAL: tooth gone

The tooth is gone.

As I sat in the dentist chair, having just turned over my financial information and explained that I'm supporting five people on my income, I apologized to everyone I privately condescended who ever took advantage of low-income clinics. I apologized to everyone I doubted who came into my place of work, just looking for a break and surcease from their sorrows.

Per the county, I am impoverished, and I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry for looking down on so many people. It wasn't right, and I can't believe I'm in this position. But I am. And I have no right, never did, and never will again, to look down on any of you.

Thank you, Hamilton County. I hate the doctor right now, but it's been really hard to do anything these three past weeks.

OHIO/CINNKY: Pictures around the bus stop

Look! It's a person! I just noticed it too!!!!















I don't quite understand these statues at Government Square. Whatever.

CINCY GAY SCENE: City Beat Interview

More of the same.

Actually, it was kind of fun. I had not seen Ryan or Marrakah in a while; Chris is always pleasant to see (duh, he's hot) and he's probably the most informed person I have ever met; and Doug is one of my favorite people in the world to talk about gay stuff with. However, the names that arrived are no surprise, even though it was a really balanced group. All five of us have been involved in some way, shape, or form for a while (I think I am the person with the shortest experience in the Cincy gay "community" -- a mere four and a half years!)

I would say that I think more was said than the usual bitch sessions of gay groups, though we were being descriptive and not prescriptive in our conversation. Mild groupthink occurred, but Kevin (the writer) managed the discussion well. I, at one point, complained that I wish people would just show up to stuff outside of a bar; the conversation turned to my apparent lack of desire to be involved, which I don't think is true :-). But that's the way groups work, especially when all of us are so invested, we can be a little defensive, I think. Doug even brought up a hot topic that could -- gasp -- potentially get him in trouble. I love him for it! Maybe he's learning from me; I'm beginning to believe that I need to start learning from him. He's going to be our mastermind, one day. I just want to be Teresa Heinz Kerry -- outspoken -- especially if I get to play the pretty wife of a politician.

It will make a good article -- and it will be on the cover in like a week!!!! And I had to slip the blog site to Kevin. I'm secretly looking for a job there. HA!

Anyways, also my first time in the CityBeat offices. It's not glamourous, I'll say that! But it is charming! :-)

ELECTION 2008: Obama Wins

And so it's over. We have a nominee.

Hillary Clinton has not conceded. *sigh* I kinda feel bad for her, because I bet I know what's going on: "I've been working for this moment for years, and I was the front runner, and now I'm out."

What does happen to a dream deferred, Obama? Hughes gives us a spectrum ...

dry up like a raisin in the sun

or

does it explode?

(img courtesy FOXNews)

GAY STUFF: GayBarMaps.com

I really tried to edit the previous post, but it appears the world of Blogger is getting confused by the code for the map, so I thought I'd pimp this site real quick.

Kinda cool, and seemingly up-to-date. And national, btw -- search the whole country, and it will tell you whether it's L or G or friendly.

CINCY GAY SCENE: This coming weekend...

There are three huge things going on this weekend, so I thought I'd give the heads up:

1) Vivica LaCroix comes to Cincinnati (from Oxford)! She'll be performing at Shooter's at 11:30pm with my own drag mother, Truly Scrumptious.



2) Dayton Pride is Saturday, which should be an interesting new experience! However, I have never heard anything about Dayton Pride, so how big it is and what goes on... well, I guess we'll see! Although they Margaret Cho last year, which was a huge coup.

3) Cincinnati Drag Races are this Sunday. I have usually been disappointed with this particular event in Prides in the past, but I'm going to keep my mind open for this one because it looks like there's been some time put into, at least, the website. However, I've not heard much buzz, so we'll see how it all turns out, yes? The website also lists off some really fun parties going on!

Anyways, that's where you can catch me this weekend!

GENERAL STUFF: Banksy

I found out about this guy, Banksy, via the Jockohomo blog, and I've been reading more and more about him every day. It's one of those things where you have never heard of someone and then one day, suddenly, you hear about him 3000 times in a week.

His artwork is cool, though most of it reminds me of stuff you may find in Adbusters. But I like that edgy, cool pop art. Has a meaning. And he's a graffiti artist, which is excellent.


(img from here)



(imgs from the New Yorker and also the New Yorker, here)

HIV/AIDS: Ring by Audriy Kurovets

On the list of "fascinating things on the interweb" today.... This is emailed to me from my dear friend over at the Vinyl Polis. You can find the original website here, and the artist's, Audriy Kurovets, portfolio here. It's strangely and wonderfully beautiful.

PERSONAL: Resume

Updated my resume today. If anyone wants a copy... LOL

Looking for a second (paying) job. With the way things are going, and my tenant/roommie not being able to pay me, well, I need the money before I A) go insane and B) things start going away.

And besides, I really hate creditors.

Plans for today include an interview with CityBeat next to the other fierce young queers in town for their annual Pride issue, and, of course work. Unfortunately, the rain is making me definitely definitely not want to go out and play, but I'll manage. Somehow.

ELECTION 2008: Montana and South Dakota

Unless you're living under a rock, then you know today is the last day of the primary season. Montana and South Dakota go up today, and, despite a last minute poll that shows Clinton way ahead in SD by the American Research Group (see here) and with a fighting chance in Montana, then Barack Obama will finally close the deal. If not completely, within 20 votes, which is silly to say he can't get the nomination at that point.

From the AP here.

And from Politico here.

Both articles from ElectionGeek's ongoing coverage and updating today.

And today we have the first black candidate for President from a major party!!! Congratulations, Obama. Oh, and as of today, this blog is:



(this is dangerous, as many of you know, as only two major candidates I have ever voted for -- T. Strickland and S. Brown -- have gotten into office and they both won in a landslide; every other major candidate, Senators, Governors, or Presidents, have lost)

(img courtesy the Barack Obama website)

BLOGGING: Two new queer blogs

Added two new blogs to the blog roll:


1) LifeLube.org -- an excellent blog out of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. When I started the AVOC Myspace, this is what I dreamed it would be.






2) The Bilerico Project: Daily Experiment in the LGBTQ -- I have referenced them before. It's an excellent blog.






(Pictures courtesy of the representative blog)

HIV/AIDS: Article from 1987

One of my dear coworkers was cleaning out some folders the other day (spring cleaning time, it seems, for people, now that it's finally warm), and came across an intact copy of a Reader's Digest article entitled AIDS: The Plague that Knows No Boundaries. Dated June 1987.

She thought of me and brought it in. I got really excited about it, but was a little disappointed that it focuses almost exclusively on the growing African crisis... per the article, where "the official total of AIDS cases in Africa was only 2627." You read that right folks, but the article delves into the interesting politicking that went into admitting the problem, and the mass amounts of denial that was going on (and, btw, still goes on for many of the countries... ever heard of Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang from South Africa? or President Thabo Mbeki, who sympathizes?)

Anyways, I'll make you a copy if you ask real nicely. However, I thought I'd highlight this (from the addenda to the article entitled What You Must Know About AIDS):

How Can You Protect Yourself?
Avoid having multiple sexual partners. Noninfected couples who have maintained a mutually faithful relationship for at least five years are not at risk for AIDS through sexual transmission. Abstain from sex with people whose activities put them in a high-risk group.

If you are not absolutely certain that neither you nor your sexual partner is carrying the virus, you must take protective measures. Either avoid penetrative intercourse (vaginal, oral, or anal), or use a condom, which prevents contact with semen and vaginal secretions. The condom should be worn even during foreplay if there is a chance of genital-to-genital contact. A condom does not guarantee protection but, used correctly, and each time, it sharply reduces the risk.

There's a little more, but two things strike me: 1) that Reader's Digest would be so detailed and talk about anal sex, and 2) that the message has not changed in twenty years, except for some tweaking. I once said we need to change the message, make it simpler, but people looked at me and said "It's simple ... wear a condom, how much simpler can you get."

I mean, I guess. But no marketing campaign that lasts for 20 years works. Even Coca-Cola had to change its marketing a few times.

OHIO/CINNKY: Urban Sites

Admit it, you've seen the signs and inwardly thought "YEA! Someone is taking an interest in development and is focused on downtown Cincinnati!"

All true, all true of Urban Sites Property, but reading their website, you realize that they are agents of gentrification:

Urban Sites targets professionals desiring unique urban loft style work and living spaces. With a creative approach to adaptive reuse of historic 19th century buildings, Urban Sites develops one of a kind commercial and residential loft spaces to suit the needs of today’s professionals.

*SIGH* All that glitters is not gold. At least someone is trying. :-)

(Pic from my phone, again... you win the right to do my laundry if you can name that street corner because I forget)

GENERAL STUFF: Changing the world

Cleaning out a box the other day, I found this list I had printed off years ago entitled "Top Ten Things to Think About if you Want to Change the World." There was a website attached to it: www.positivepath.net. Most people know how I feel about touchy-feely self-help BS, but I liked this list then, and I like the list now.

And then I got the original article. Reprinted for you here (along with the original article link):

--------------

Top Ten Things to Think About If You Want to Change the World
By Michael Angier

Mahatma Gandhi believed that we must be the change we want to see in the world. This was well demonstrated when he helped India gain its independence. Gandhi was a revolutionary man, but he accomplished India's emergence as a nation without starting a revolution. In fact, he advocated no violence. One of the most powerful countries in the world yielded to the commitment of one man and the dream of millions.

What change can we effect? What's the difference we want to make in the world?

Gandhi said, "In a gentle way you can shake the world." Here are some things to think about how to do just that …

1. Know that all significant change throughout history has occurred not because of nations, armies, governments and certainly not committees. They happened as a result of the courage and commitment of individuals. People like Joan of Ark, Albert Einstein, Clara Barton, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison and Rosa Parks. They might not have done it alone, but they were, without question, the change makers.

2. Believe that you have a unique purpose and potential in the world. It's not so much something to create as to be discovered. And it's up to you to discover it. Believe that you can and will make a difference.

3. Recognize that everything you do, every step you take, every sentence you write, every word you speak-or DON'T speak--counts. Nothing is trivial. The world may be big, but there are no small things. Everything matters.

4. To be the change you want to see in the world, you don't have to be loud. You don't have to be eloquent. You don't have to be elected. You don't even have to be particularly smart or well educated. You do, however, have to be committed.

5. Take personal responsibility. Never think "it's not my job". It's a cop-out to say, "What can I do, I'm only one person." You don't need everyone's cooperation or anyone's permission to make changes. Remember this little gem, "If it's to be, it's up to me."

6. Don't get caught up in the how of things. If you're clear on what you want to change and why you want to change it, the how will come. Many significant things have been left undone because someone let the problem solving interfere with the decision-making.

7. Don't wait for things to be right in order to begin. Change is messy. Things will never be just right. Follow Teddy Roosevelt's timeless advice, "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

8. The genesis for change is awareness. We cannot change what we don't acknowledge. Most of the time, we aren't aware of what's wrong or what's not working. We don't see what could be. By becoming more aware, we begin the process of change.

9. Take to heart these words from Albert Einstein--arguably one of the smartest change masters who ever lived: "All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination and then works its way out. Imagination is more important than knowledge."

10. In order for things to change, YOU have to change. We can't change others; we can only change ourselves. However, when WE change, it changes everything. And in doing so, we truly can be the change we want to see in the world.

The following is inscribed on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in Westminster Abby (1100 A.D.) …

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.

But it, too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country, and who knows, I may have even changed the world.

Since my 10-point list above was inspired by Gandhi's belief, it seems appropriate to end with another of his quotes: "Consciously or unconsciously, every one of us does render some service or other. If we cultivate the habit of doing this service deliberately, our desire for service will steadily grow stronger and we will make not only our own happiness, but that of the world at large."

------------
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BLOGGING: Rainbow Cincinnati, Column 2

The new column on Rainbow Cincinnati is up. Here's a preview, but you're going to have to hop on over to that site to check it out!!!

There are three stories to be told in the work -- a euphemism I use when referring to HIV prevention. First, the poz person. Second, the friend. Third, the professional. It is sad to admit that most of us have played the part of the friend; it is worse to admit that so many of us have played the part of the poz person. For me, I have been the professional -- the work is a personal passion -- and I have been the friend -- for so many people and in so many place. And though my knowledge and experience is vast and growing, I can tell you only one thing: I don't know what the fuck I'm doing.
Click here for the rest of the article.

As always, take a moment to peruse the site. There's lots of great stuff there. (And don't forget to bookmark or RSS or whatever my blog over there so you can be updated first!)

GENERAL STUFF: More Random Text Messages

To AM/TY/EF/AA/LV/LH/JS/LM/CF (I thought I was being pretty clever, apparently):

I may fuck on the first, but sleepovers are for the second date.

In response, from JS:

nope. i try not to date the people im sleeping with

In response, from AM:

C voulenteering is rewarding :-)

That last one may fall too much under the category of "private joke."

OHIO/CINNKY: then after water

(re some of my photo's lately, I've been having problems lugging my nice camera around lately, so I've been using my camera phone. many apologies.)

Spent some time at New Stage Collective this weekend as part of the Fringe festival. See, I'm impoverished at the moment, so I am falling back on "old habits" -- volunteering to peddle my way into a good show.

I had emailed Erica over @ NSC to beg to usher for Jerry Springer the Opera, blogged about once and twice before, and she asked if I would be interested in helping out with this.

I did, and I have to say this about the play I say, then after water... the best way to ruin a great festival, excellent acting, and an amazing location is to put this show on. My major problem with the play was not that it was poorly written or poorly executed. Rather, since I knew nothing about the back story walking in, I spent the entire show trying to find out what was going on. Oh, I finally got to say in the final 5 minutes of the show, that's why everyone's sad. I know I can be slow, but I really tried to figure out who had died, or maybe been kidnapped, the whole time. Knowing what I know, it would be nice to go back and watch it and see if it was worth it. But I don't want to risk falling asleep again.

There will be people that say you should know something about what you are going to see before you go. I disagree with that because I don't think I should already know the end of the play before it begins. It's like journalism: give us the point first, and then work from there. Don't start me off in the middle of the story.

From the Cincy Fringe Festival flyer:

Available Light, "Columbus's own theatrical force of nature" (Columbus Alive)
presents then after water by Jennifer Fawcett. Inspired by real events, this
60-minute drama is an amazing love story about an act of violence that shatters
five lives at once. Moving in time between 1979, 1980, and 1999, then after
water tells the story of Ana and Ben, a young couple, who are suddenly
separated while driving home from a party, and David, the couple's son, who
still struggles with the consequences of that night, 20 years later.

Having read that, I really wish I'd liked it because it could have made for such a great psychological piece, and a really good drama. The acting was pretty good (the trucker was a little too much at times, but Ben and Ana were cute as a couple). I liked the three car setting, though I think they got a little "trigger happy" with how many times they could move them there in the last 20 minutes or so. But it and I were not meant to be, and I have to say that I'm glad I didn't pay for it.

On the bright side, it was my first time in NSC's AMAZING space, and the people that work there were great. And, of course, cutie-patootie Tom (one of the Stage Managers of this season) was a real DOLL. I would go back just to hang out with him :-)

PS If you were there, that was me behind the concessions counter. Although it was a poorly attended play. I am curious to know how the rest of the festival is going, and not just the bar things. But this was my first time participating in the festival, and next year I'm volunteering for something that involves half-naked men.