Demographic data show significant diversity among same-sex couples with children. These families live throughout the country: of same-sex couples by region, 26% in the South, 24% in New England, and 21% in the Pacific states are raising children. Childrearing is substantially higher among racial/ethnic minorities and African-Americans, in particular, are 2.4 times more likely than their White counterparts to be raising children. Further, among individuals in same-sex couples who did not finish high school, 43% are raising children, and 20% of children raised by same-sex couples live in poverty.

Curiously, the proportion of same-sex couples raising children has begun to decline.  In Census 2000, more than 17% of same-sex couples were raising children.  That proportion peaked at 19% in 2006 and has declined to 16% in 2009.  Despite the decline, the number of same-sex couples raising children is still much higher today than ten years ago since many more couples are reporting themselves in Census Bureau data.  In 2000, the Census reported about 63,000 couples raising children.  Today, the figure is now more than 110,000.

The decrease in the proportion of couples raising children may be due to decreases in parenting by lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals who had children at a relatively young age while in a relationship with a different-sex partner. Different-sex relationships at a relatively young age are a common path to parenthood for LGB men and women. Gates analyses show that LGB individuals are younger than non-LGB individuals when they have their first child (22.5 years compared to 24.1 years respectively), and individuals in same-sex couples who were previously married are much more likely to have biological or stepchildren than those who were never married (23.5% compared to 9.5% respectively).

Despite proportional declines in parenting, Gates’ analyses show that adoptive parenting is clearly increasing.  Among couples with children, the proportion of same-sex couples who have adopted children has nearly doubled from 10% to 19% between 2000 and 2009. Same-sex couples with adopted children are twice as likely to be White, to have obtained a higher level of education, and to have never been previously married. “Clearly, the decade saw a substantial rise in adoptive parenting,” said Gates, “but this increase has seemingly been outpaced by fewer LGB individuals having children early in life.”  Declining social stigma toward LGB people may mean that more are coming out earlier in life and are becoming less likely to have children with different-sex partners.
The study’s findings have significant implications for research and policy. The geographic data suggest that many same-sex couples with children live in states with limited or no legal protections for their families. Further, the diverse portrait of LGB families challenges scholars to broaden their research on parenting by same-sex couples and statistical agencies to do a better job of collecting data about LGBT individuals and their families.

The research draws on data from several population-based surveys, including the 2008 General Social Survey, the 2009 California Health Interview Survey, the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, Census 2000, and the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth.

For more information about this study, please visit: http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/census-lgbt-demographics-studies/family-formation-and-raising-children-among-same-sex-couples/
The Williams Institute advances sexual orientation law and public policy through rigorous, independent research and scholarship, and disseminates it to judges, legislators, policymakers, media and the public. A national think tank at UCLA Law, the Williams Institute produces high quality research with real-world relevance. For more information go to: http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/home.html

Alexander Cooper, a senior at Pepperdine, started the petition campaign on Change.org after Pepperdine refused to recognize Reach OUT, a campus group seeking to become an official gay-straight alliance.

“While at Pepperdine, most LGBT students feel isolated, unsupported, or even unwelcome at some point,” said Cooper, co-president of Reach OUT. “We started this petition to illustrate the broad support that we have from students, faculty, staff, and alumni who want to see true change at Pepperdine and who want a campus that prioritizes the safety and inclusion of all students.”

Pepperdine has refused to recognize a gay-straight alliance at least four times in the past decade, reportedly telling students that doing so would be in conflict with the school’s religious tenets and that a gay-straight alliance would be “against God’s will.”

Cooper says his organization is completely in line with Pepperdine’s mission statement and that he wants to create a safe space on campus where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and straight students can come together to talk about issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

“By recognizing Reach OUT, Pepperdine would be taking a bold stance against harassment and discrimination by facilitating a forum wherein negative stereotypes could be brought to light and LGBT issues discussed openly,” said Cooper. “Even more importantly, those students who still feel the pangs of isolation, who feel that they have nowhere to turn, could find in Reach OUT a community that understands and loves them unconditionally. What is more consistent with Pepperdine’s principles than that?”

Lindsay Jakows, who also serves as co-president of Reach OUT, says Pepperdine’s administration is out of touch with students and alums on this issue.

“We hope that raising more awareness on the issue will demonstrate to the administration that this issue is not going away,” said Jakows. “The comments being left by the Pepperdine community on the Change.org petition show that a vast majority of students and alums support recognizing a gay-straight alliance at Pepperdine.”

Of the 4,000 supporters of Cooper’s online petition, hundreds are current students, staff, faculty, and alums.

“Alexander and Lindsay’s campaign on Change.org shows the power that students can have when they organize online,” said Michael Jones, Senior Organizer with Change.org. “Using Change.org’s online platform, they’ve mobilized thousands of people – including hundreds of people in the Pepperdine community – to call for the recognition of a gay-straight alliance on campus. And they’re sending a loud message to Pepperdine administrators that students, faculty, staff, and alums are watching the administration’s actions.”

Live signature totals from Alexander Cooper’s campaign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/pepperdine-overturn-your-decision-to-deny-recognition-to-lgbt-students

Journalists interested in contacting Pepperdine University should try:

Mark Davis

Dean of Students, Pepperdine University

mark.davis@pepperdine.edu

(301) 506-4000

Contact information for petition signers in your area can be arranged upon request:

Michael Jones

Senior Organizer, Change.org

press@change.org

(202) 684 2552

For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 500,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.

Lala – “Who’s in My Mouth?”
For LaLa, romance is not about landing the guy; it’s about taking off, flying high, and enjoying the ride.  She sings about it in “Who’s In My Mouth?”, her explosive new club track about living in a celebrity-obsessed world where marriages last 72 days and careers are built on releasing sex tapes. Stupid cupid.

“I am no prude when it comes to love,” LaLa confirms.  “I’m all for finding a man or woman that I may or may not be in love with and tasting him or her in my mouth.”She’s not looking for Mr. or Miss Right this Valentine’s.  She’s enjoying a love affair with her gay fans. “They were the first to really get me and understand my desire to be loved for my differences,” says the pint-sized songstress who was born in Hong Kong from Chinese parents and raised in Canada.  “When I’m on stage in front of my gay boys and girls, I feed off their positive vibe.  I swear I would shower in it if I could.” When she does settle, it will be with a gentleman.  Someone who is respectful, generous, honest, and no flirts! She hates that.   “My parents would love me to find a nice Asian guy to settle down with but that’s just not me. I’m looking forward to experiencing a few Mr. Wrongs before I meet my Mr. Right. ”

Faith Michaels – “Whore on the Dance Floor”

“Hell yeah!” says Faith Michaels when asked if she has been known to be the very thing she sings about in her new song, “Whore on the Dance Floor”. “I don’t care who you are or what type of work you do. We all have a little whore in us when it comes to the dance floor.”

She says you can learn a lot about a man from how he dances.  “You can tell if he’s rough or hard or slow or sensual.  If he leads, it is a sure sign he likes to take control. If he follows, you can expect him to raise his legs up once he hits the sheets.” Michaels is willing to take some of the heat for today’s overly-sexualized dance floors.  Her last single, “Fetish”, explored the proclivities of the underground and inspired clubbers to explore them with her.  “I was performing ‘Fetish’ in Key West during Fantasy Fest last year when one of my dancers grabbed a straight couple from the crowd and brought them on stage. The guy had the girl on all fours and was dry humping her from behind. The next thing I know, the guy was fingering her! During my number!  Even I was taken aback. They were a couple of dance floor whores for sure, but according to Michaels, they’re not the biggest whores she has seen. “A true whore on the dance floor doesn’t even acknowledge people around them,” she explains. “They are too busy taking in the music, loving life and feeling that they are the most beautiful person in the world.”

SARIAH – “I’m Not Going Down”

“Love is my absolutely favorite topic to write about,” says singer-songwriter Sariah whose provocative club hits like last summer’s smash power ballad, “All About Sex” have made her a dance floor fave. Her latest single, “I’m Not Going Down” is a declaration about… well, you know what.

Similar to the subjects of her music, “I am bold when it comes to love,” confirms Sariah. “Every day, I’m learning more and more about what love means and how to love someone.”

She’s learned from experience that giving it up on the first date is a quick way to kill a budding romance.

“It’s a tired cliché, I know, but it’s so true that if you don’t love and respect yourself, you can’t truly love someone else.”

In “I’m Not Going Down”, Sariah hopes fans will learn to embrace their self worth.  “Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate the one you love and that person should be your self. Loving yourself is the first step to building a relationship.”

She wants an intelligent man who has his own career and is supportive of hers.  He has to be able to make her laugh and love her as much as she loves herself.

But Sariah says she is not looking for her Mr. Right this Valentine’s Day.  “My Mr. Right is my music.  That’s where my heart is today.”

So, What’s the One Thing You Really Want to Know?

That being said, what’s the one thing you want to know about what it’s like to be a lesbian? Based on previous experience, many of you are curious about how lesbians have sex. Or in some cases, you wonder, CAN two girls have sex? Yes, they absolutely can and I’m here to try my hand at explaining how. In an attempt to keep this from exceeding an “R” rating, we’ll use “chipmunk” in place of another word throughout the rest of this article.

Feeding the Curiosity: Lesbian Sex 101

Let’s begin by debunking a few common myths. First, scissoring as a lesbian sex act is a common misconception. Girls do NOT violently bang their “chipmunks” together like they’re fighting over an acorn. A female’s largest sex organ is her brain, so emotionless chipmunk fighting is out. Additionally, this idea of girls taking turns kissing one another’s chipmunks…is…yeah, ok, that one’s not a myth. So your first lesbian sex act is revealed, no shocker there, the conventional lesbian sex act does in fact include various acts of oral “chipmunk” stimulation.

Another widely accepted lez-activity requires the use of a strap-on. Much to my surprise, upon learning of this lesbian sex-capade, a common response has been:

If you want that, why not just sleep with a guy?

This is the equivalent of asking the following of a gay man:

If you want somewhere to stick it, why not just sleep with a girl?

Or asking a straight man:

Why not just sleep with boys? A hole’s a hole, right?

These seem like silly statements, right? Well, it’s an equally silly question when talking about lesbians.  Yes, the physiology is the same regardless of who you are attracted to because we are all made up of the same parts. But human attraction is much more complicated and the key is in the WHO. I might want some of the same things as my straight female counterparts, but I want my girlfriend to do them to me and the fact that she’s a she, makes all the difference! Does it make a difference to you who does those naughty things to you?

Ok, this is a big topic and we still have more lesbian sex acts to cover, but you’ll have to stay tuned for the rest!

To be Continued….

New Year’s Resolution: Revamped

I was sitting at Cafe Apropos on Monday night with my girlfriend, Kate, getting ready for the week. As I was looking out the window on the first snowfall of the season dusting the intersection of 3rd & Michigan, trying to think of what to write about after realizing the Christmas article I had started was no longer relevant. I thought about an article I had read by Chris Brogan, My 3 Words for 2012. Instead of one specific goal, think of what you want to make a priority in 2012 and come up with three words that will help you remember your priorities. I love the idea of revamping the New Year’s resolution into three words, so here are mine.

Love.Laugh.Dream

At twenty-two, I came right out of college ready to start life. I found my dream job, bought a house, then worked hard at making my mark on both. I spent many late nights at the office and tackled one home improvement project after another. I was focused and methodical in my pursuit of both, but now I have something so much better than either. It didn’t require a strategic approach at all, actually it was quite the opposite, the stars just aligned one day and along came Kate. I had been trying to figure out that piece of my life, but despite my best analytical efforts, nothing seemed to make sense…then it just did. Love.

Continuing this life lesson, take time to slow down and laugh with the people you love. Laughter means we are truly present with those we love and taking time to enjoy our time together.

Don’t lose sight of that bright-eyed twenty-two year old who was ready to take on the world and passionate about everything! Life teaches us the importance of a balance, but it’s important to keep sight of your dreams.

Growth in 2012

So there you have it, no weight loss goal, just a three word guideline for my future self in 2012. So much can happen in a year, we grow, we change, & we try to hold on. Why set a resolution that can’t grow with us?

Broncos fan Andy Szekeres created the online petition campaign asking the NFL team to send a strong message to their young LGBT fans that homophobia and bullying have no place in the classroom, locker room, or on the football field.

“The Denver Broncos can do what the San Francisco Giants did earlier this year, starting a movement within their sport to stand up against bullying and homophobia,” said Szekeres. “Given how popular the Broncos have become, and the nationwide attention being paid to the team and their starting quarterback Tim Tebow, this is a unique moment for the Denver Broncos to send a strong message to the community and to LGBT fans worldwide that bullying is wrong.”

After the Giants produced their “It Gets Better” video this summer, seven other Major League Baseball teams created videos of their own, including the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Chicago Cubs. To date, no NFL teams have made “It Gets Better” videos.

“Andy’s campaign on Change.org has really galvanized Denver Broncos fans, who hope their team becomes the first in the NFL to speak out against anti-gay bullying,” said Michael Jones, senior organizer at Change.org, the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change. “As we saw earlier this year in Major League Baseball, pro sports fans have enormous potential to persuade their teams to confront homophobia. That’s exactly what Andy’s campaign on Change.org is trying to do.”

More than 20,000 “It Gets Better” videos have been produced since syndicated columnist Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller launched the project in September 2010 in response to an epidemic of teen suicides by gay kids and kids perceived to be gay. Through “It Gets Better” videos, President Barack Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, corporations like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Pixar, and other major organizations and leaders have provided hope to kids struggling with their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Live signature totals from Andy’s Broncos campaign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/denver-broncos-make-an-it-gets-better-video-2

Watch previous “It Gets Better” videos created by professional sports teams:

San Francisco Giants:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1TcD95kmGQ

Boston Red Sox:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOkWfueTNjk

Chicago Cubs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcpkRL_5IYk

Los Angeles Dodgers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX1EadNF9v0

The brief was authored by Jennifer C. Pizer, Legal Director and Arnold D. Kassoy Senior Scholar of Law at UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, and was filed on behalf of demographer Dr. Gary Gates, the Williams Distinguished Scholar, and economics professor Lee Badgett, the Williams Institute’s Research Director.  Pizer was joined on the brief by Holly J. Franz of Franz & Driscoll, PLLP, of Helena, Montana.

Six same-sex couples filed the lawsuit in state court based on the Montana Constitution, saying the state cannot offer benefits and protections only to different-sex couples through marriage, with no way for same-sex partners and their dependents to receive equivalent protections.

“Courts and lawmakers sometimes worry that offering equal legal rights and responsibilities to same-sex couples may be expensive and difficult,” said Pizer.  “This brief presents the findings of dozens of research studies showing the opposite is true:  states save money when they offer legal recognition to same-sex couples.  This economic information can give the court a fuller context for evaluating the arguments made by both sides.”

Dr. Gary Gates explained, “Like married couples, Montana’s same-sex couples live throughout the state, are financially interdependent, participate in the economy, and are raising children.”  According to his expert calculations, approximately 22% of same-sex couples in Montana (roughly 300 couples) are raising 600 children, compared to 36% of married, different-sex couples.  Twenty-one percent of same-sex couples in Montana have only one wage earner (compared to 29% of married, different-sex couples), and 86% of individuals in same-sex couples are employed.

Despite high levels of employment, however, same-sex couples still lack access to financial resources when compared to their married, different-sex counterparts.  The mean annual income of same-sex couples in Montana is $62,749, compared with $72,787 for married, different-sex couples.  Also, 57% of same-sex couples are homeowners, compared to 81% of married, different-sex couples.

Should the state provide legal recognition of same-sex couples, many prior studies suggest it would have modest beneficial impacts on Montana’s economy.  Professor Badgett explains: “The positive budgetary impact is driven significantly by savings in public benefits programs, as well as by new filing fees and other minor factors.  Most potential state budgetary consequences actually are insignificant or nonissues.”  Montana already offers employee benefits to same-sex partners, and the state has no sales, estate or inheritance taxes.

The amicus brief also draws from recent Williams Institute research indicating that same-sex couples do formalize their relationships when state law allows them to.  Nationally, 47% of all same-sex couples whose home state allows them to enter a family relationship status have done so.  Also, the data show that same-sex couples and different-sex couples have similar dissolution rates:  an average of 1.1% of same-sex couples end their legal relationships each year, compared with a 2% average divorce rate for different-sex couples.

The brief presents findings from Williams Institute research studies including:

•       M.V. Lee Badgett & Jody L. Herman, Patterns of Relationship Recognition by Same-Sex Couples in the United States (Nov. 2011), http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Badgett-Herman-Marriage-Dissolution-Nov-2011.pdf

•       Brad Sears & Christy Mallory,  Economic Motives for Adopting LGBT-Related Workplace Policies (October 2011),http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Mallory-Sears-Corporate-Statements-Oct-20111.pdf

•       Gary Gates & Abigail M. Cooke, United States Census Snapshot: 2010 (2011), http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Census2010Snapshot-US-v2.pdf

•       Dozens of “economic impact” studies undertaken from 2003 to the present: http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/category/research/economic-impact-reports/

The amicus brief is available at: http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Donaldson-v-MT-Williams-Institute-amicus-Dec-16-2011.pdf

The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy advances law and public policy through rigorous, independent research and scholarship, and disseminates its work through a variety of education programs and media to judges, legislators, lawyers, other policy makers, and the public. For more information, please visit http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu.

NEW YORK, NY — This holiday season, while millions of families across the country come together to celebrate, some Americans will once again watch from afar while living in exile. For binational couples —- lesbian and gay Americans with spouses or partners from other countries —- this holiday season is a reminder of the discriminatory U.S. laws that tears families apart, and results in the forced exile of thousands of American citizens.

Because of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) lesbian and gay Americans cannot sponsor their partners or spouses for fiancé visas or green cards like all other Americans, and are instead forced to live apart from the person they love, or forced to expatriate themselves and live thousands of miles away from their families. The Obama administration has said that DOMA is unconstitutional and has refused to defend the law in federal court, yet it has failed to take action to protect LGBT Americans from its most devastating effect in the immigration context.

In an effort to bring national attention to the horrifying choice between love and country forced upon these binational gay and lesbian couples, LGBT organizations including GetEQUAL, Stop the Deportations, and Out4Immigration are calling on Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to immediately reunite these couples with their families in the United States. The Obama administration could easily bring these couples home for the holidays by simply granting temporary “humanitarian parole” to the foreign spouses or partners of U.S. citizens, allowing them to enter the United States with that temporary status until a permanent solution can be achieved.

Earlier this month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a powerful and historic speech to the United Nations, calling on the international community to respect the human rights of all LGBT people, and instructing U.S. embassies across the globe to do everything in their power to assist all LGBT persons abroad. While the unprecedented, electrifying speech was watched around the world, LGBT Americans who have become refugees from their own country were hopeful that changes would come that would allow them to return home or bring their spouses or partners home for the holidays. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano now has the opportunity to fulfill the core promise of that speech for all LGBT Americans.

The video can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9faaavqY0Vk.

The petition can be found at: www.getequal.org/gethome.

The video campaign features Jesse, an American citizen from New York, and Max, his partner of more than 10 years who is a citizen of Argentina. Jesse and Max are currently living in exile in London due to Jesse’s inability to sponsor Max for a green card because of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Jesse, a born-and-bred New Yorker, has been forced to live thousands of miles from his parents and sister year after year, missing every holiday and family celebration. There are thousands of binational LGBT couples who are dealing with similar situations — either forced to live in separate countries and see each other once or twice a year, or forced to find a home in another country that allows them to live together, that recognizes their relationship but leaves them far from the family they have left behind in the United States.

In a follow-up statement to the White House’s LGBT Pride Reception over the summer, the Obama Administration said that the President believes that “Americans with partners from other countries should not be faced with a painful choice between staying with their partner or staying in their country.” Lesbian and gay Americans across the globe rejoiced at this statement of support, but have not yet seen changes to laws or policies that would reunite lesbian and gay Americans with their families and provide a means for same-sex binational couples to be together in this country.

“Couples like Jesse and Max are forced to make the choice between love and country — to leave their extended families behind in order to stay together and preserve their relationship,” said Lavi Soloway, co-founder of Stop the Deportations-The DOMA Project. “It’s a horrifying choice that no American should be forced to make —- and one that could be solved tomorrow if Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano chooses to take action. Exiled lesbian and gay binational couples have spent many holiday seasons away from their families and friends, only because of U.S. laws that discriminate against them and refuse to recognize their relationships. We urge the administration to put its words into action, to end this forced exile immediately so that these lesbian and gay Americans are able to celebrate the holidays reunited with their families.”

“Secretary Clinton’s speech to the U.N. was incredible — and the Obama Administration has an opportunity right now to give shape to those words by proving to the LGBT community that it values and supports our relationships,” said Robin McGehee, director of GetEQUAL. “We’ve heard a lot of nice words from this Administration — now it’s time to move beyond words to action, and to bring these couples home for the holidays.”

Background on Jesse and Max’s story can be found at: http://www.stopthedeportations.com/blog/category/couples/jesse-max. Permission is granted to use all photos, only if properly credited “Courtesy of Stop The Deportations.”

**Jesse and Max’s attorney and co-founder of Stop the Deportations, Lavi Soloway, is available for comment:Lavi.Soloway@StopTheDeportations.com or at 323-599-6915. Jesse, Max, and other binational gay and lesbian couples are available for comment by emailing Lavi Soloway at the address above.**

Seeing was believing last month when Michael Acock of the Trafik Kops bowling team scored a perfect game of 300! Michael bowled strike after strike during the Sunday Brunch Gay Bowling League last month. Needless to say, his team won big that day! Bravo, Michael!

Jeff Rinehart, owner of the La Fogata Grill, opened up a hot new watering hole a few weeks ago. The Short North’s hottest new spot is called Local Bar. It is low key-awesome! Hottie staff members include General Manager Billy Besaw and straightie bartender Luke Sislowski. Hubba hubba (I’m bringing it back).

And there is another new gay hot spot in CMH! Coyote Janes near Berliner Park serves up southwestern cuisine and an awesome brunch menu, not to mention stiff drinks!

General Manager, Lonny Keels informs me that they have drag queen bingo on Wednesday nights with Lady Brianna and karaoke on Thursday nights with Calvin Entertainment.

Everyone’s favorite Coors Light boy, Nick Bryan of SPI Marketing, hosted a fabulous event last month along with his best gal-pal, Heather Llwellyn. “Thankful For You” was a night of fashionable people and hot fun. With entertainment by the raunchy Hellin Bedd and contests that consisted of boys removing their shirts, this swanky party rocked! The next time I’m OUT&About, my glass will be filled with a Coors Light, Miller Lite or Three Olives.

Joshua Alan Snyder-Hill threw a hot karaoke birthday bash last month for his partner Steve Snyder-Hill who recently returned from Iraq. This hot veteran knows on belt out the tunes! And Captain Hill was featured during Nina West’s Welcome Home USO show benefiting Stonewall veterans. Real heroes don’t wear capes; they wear dog tags. Welcome home Steve!

In other couple news, Mark Bryan and Shaun Whybark were married last month at the Whetstone Shelter House. Congratulations, boys! May all your ups and downs be between the sheets. Speaking of happy couples, I have to mention the hottest lesbian couple that I know, Cindy Dunigan and Martha Arter! With their wit and wisdom, these gals could very well be my new besties!

The GLBT members of the The Harmony Project are warming up their voices for their December 14 and 15 concerts in Columbus; and the gays are a big part of it! Marcus Shull, Jay Reyes and Jeff Benedict are just a few of the boys that lend their harmony to the group. Miles Horton, gay poster boy and ambassador of Sushi Rock in the Short North, also struts his stuff for the T.H.P. Speaking of sushi, a big shout out goes to Robert Shuster who had the ordeal of waiting on me during my last visit to Sushi Rock. I hope he enjoyed his tip!

Congratulations goes out to Paul Szymanski, who landed a hot new job with The Ohio State University as a fiscal officer in the office of Facilities Management and Logistics. With that new big paycheck, drinks are on Mr. Szymanski throughout the month of December.

Diva Mary Ann Brandt is preparing for a Merrrrry Christmas as she gears up for her annual Mary Ann Brandt Christmas Show. Her four shows will be held at Wall Street Nightclub. The cast of characters include Andrea Benahoe, Blanche, Betty Cracker, Showeena DoMore, Flaggots Ohio, DeMonica Hunter, Dusti Hymen and Joe and Ashley O’Shea. The light was shined on these queens and there is no going back.

Aluminum Pansies, a parody of Steel Magnolias, premiered last month at Trafik Night Club by Olympic Theatre Productions. This all-male version put the “beauty” in the iconic small-town beauty salon. Directed by Dan McCarty, the cast of characters included Bryan Davis, David Ault, Jay Overholser, Josh Kaplonski, Todd Adam Decker-Kaplonski and Randy Lenhart. Check out their upcoming shows at www.facebook.com/olympictheatreproductions.

The hardest working singing group this side of the Mississippi is gearing up for their annually holiday concert. The Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus will present their 12^th annual Joy concert on December 9 and 10 at King Avenue Methodist Church and December 11 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church. “Home is Where the Hearth Is” when it comes to this singing group. Speaking of the CGMC, Jeff Ayers and his partner Patrick Carmichael threw a must-attend event last month in their penthouse high above Grandview. The social gathering of the fall attracted a-listers from around the city to raise funds and awareness for the Chorus.

While many of us are packing on the winter pounds, Gregg Sweeney continues to shed his! Have you seen this hunk of burning love lately? He has dropped nearly 50 pounds in recent months and he credits the love and support of his family and friends, especially James McGuire. He can be my Jillian Michaels any day of the week. -GD

Drop Gregg a line at gregg@cuemagazines.com and let him know who and what’s OUT&About.