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OUT ON THE TOWN MAGAZINE Mike Halterman mike@outonthetownmag.com Brandy Woodall brandy@outonthetownmag.com Joshua Beadle Tammy Enyeart tammy@outonthetownmag.com tam Tori Mattison Tori Mattison, Unity Mississippi, Rep. Patricia Todd, Doug Landreth, CBS, and JPI Studios OUT ON THE TOWN MAGAZINE is published by OUT ON THE TOWN PUBLISHING, LLC Copyright 2010 Out on the Town Publishing, LLC Opinions expressed in the pages of Out on the Town Magazine are not necessarily those held by the owners of Out on the Town Publishing, LLC. or its staff. Publication of the name or photograph of any living person or organization in articles or advertising in Out on the Town Magazine shall not be construed or implication made as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or organizations. All copy, text, display, photos and illustrations in the ads are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized, have secured proper written consent for the use of names, pictures and testimonials of any living person, and Out on the Town Magazine ma may lawfully publish said ads. The advertiser automatically agrees by submitting said ad to indemnify and hold harmless Out on the Town Publishing, LLC from any and all liability, loss and expense of any nature out of such publication. The deadline for the monthly release of Out on the Town Magazine is the fourth Friday of the month at 11 a.m. Central Time for advertising submitted from an outside graphics firm and the fourth Monday of the month for new advertising made and designed in-house by Out on the Town Magazine (extra fees apply). In the event that an ad is accepted after deadline, the advertiser agrees by submitting such an ad to indemnify and hold harmless Out on the Town Publishing, LLC from any and all liability, loss and expense of any nature that may arise from any error that may be made in said ad. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or in whole of this publication without written permission is prohibited.
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Table of Contents: Tori Mattison’s Lowdown on the Drag Scene ........................................................................... 8 Be True to Your School! GLBT Student Organizations Work Toward Equality ................. 12 OUToberfest Brings GLBT Pride to the Streets of Jackson .................................................... 16 Rep. Patricia Todd Speaks Out About the GLBT Community in Alabama .................... 18 Equality House Opens in Time for Pensacola Pride ............................................................ 20 The World Has Stopped Turning: Goodbye to Oakdale .................................................. 24
Editor’s Note: Hey y’all! Our launch party was so fantastic. Thanks to The Cabaret in Pensacola for taking care of us. My sister-in-law (pictured with me), along with the rest of my family, helped get the word out about the magazine! We’re slowly but surely finding our footing here with our monthly routine. I was so thrilled to get our first issue out and this issue blew me away as well. My goal is to produce a quality product that’s entertaining and socially relevant at the same time. I hope you like it and agree with me that I’ve accomplished this task. Our main story this month deals with GLBT student organizations at colleges throughout our area. We actually abandoned our original lead idea to pursue this, especially in light of the recent news of the gay suicides across the country. I admire the work the women profiled in this issue have done on their campuses to combat bigotry and promote tolerance and understanding. This generation is the one that will lead our country one day, and I am so happy that we are in the right hands. Midterm elections are also coming up; it’s very important to let the politicians know that GLBT equality is non-negotiable and that you will be responding accordingly at the ballot box. Early voting starts October 18 and continues until October 30 in Florida. Alabama and Mississippi do not have early voting so everyone should be at the polls on November 2, and hopefully we can truly let freedom ring. Because we deserve it. Respectfully Yours, Mike Halterman Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
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Tori Mattison’s Lowdown
Hello Lovelies!
Tori Mattison here to give you a spooky sneak peek at Halloween festivites this October. I have been entertaining for four years now; I got my start in Atlanta, Georgia working with Charlie Brown’s Cabaret alongside a fantastic cast of ladies who really helped mold me into the type of entertainer that I am today. I prefer to do a more Vegas style of drag, with large headpieces and props. I am the current reigning Mississippi Diva At Large and I am Mississippi’s ONLY full-figured showgirl. October is my favorite month of the year and 2010 is gonna be a doozy for Mississippi! Every October, Mississippi’s LGBT community recognizes National Coming Out Day by celebrating OUToberfest. The main event will be Saturday, October 23rd at Smith Park in Jackson, but the event is all weekend long, honey! Highlights include music, dancing, vendors, and of course the OUToberfest cabaret show featuring yours truly, along with several other talented entertainers from all over the state. Be sure to come out and show your support! As if OUToberfest wasn’t enough, Jackson has just opened an all new bar, cleverly named Bottoms Up. Just like Dick & Jane’s, Bottoms Up has friendly service, great music and fun lighting, but the drag
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entertainment will be on Saturdays with dancing on Fridays, while Dick & Jane’s offers drag on Fridays and dancing on Saturdays; so no matter what you are looking for, you’ve got it! Be sure to check out the newest addition to our gay family, and be sure to help me celebrate my birthday in style on Friday, October 22nd at Dick & Jane’s for my first annual Birthday Bash! We’re gonna have a fantastic time; there will be contests, prizes, and a fantastic show just for you! Both Dick & Jane’s and Bottoms Up have plans for spooky Halloween parties for Halloween weekend, so keep your eyes peeled for updates. Hop on your broomstick and fly on over to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Club Icon has planned a fantastic weekend for the University of Alabama students- including a Halloween drag show hosted by my Alabama “Trout of the Month” Genesis. Your current reigning Miss Broadway Continental, Genesis has been entertaining enthusiastic crowds for over five years now. She is a very outgoing gal who isn’t afraid to try something different and is so thankful for her fans, because as she says, “without my fans, I would be absolutely nothing. I’m thankful for them every day and I love getting to know new friends!” Genesis can be seen every Wednesday night at Icon for “Gen and Juice” and every Friday night
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tells them how much they enjoyed watching the show. I make sure to acknowledge and thank each person who approaches me and I am a VERY approachable person!” Accurately dubbed South Florida’s Sweetheart, Misty can be seen every Wednesday hosting Bitchy Bingo at Lips in Fort Lauderdale, and every Sunday hosting Trannie Palace at Bill’s Filling Station in Wilton Manors, which has awesome burgers, amazing drink specials, friendly staff, piano lounge and over 12 drag queens cast each week! There’s always something to do at Bill’s, and they have planned a Halloween Spooky Show on Halloween weekend with lots of entertainment and specials for everyone involved. For other regions of Florida, Parliament House Resort in Orlando always has excellent guest entertainers and events. Also Emerald City in Pensacola is well-known for their wild and crazy costume contests, special guest DJs and spooky-spectacular drag shows. at Icon for “The G-Spot.” She describes Icon as a “very laid back college club with pool, Top 40 music and lots of sexy guys and gals!” Surely a good time to be had by all. Also, Club Quest and the Lakeview Yacht Club in Birmingham have fantastic Halloween events every year with multiple contests, drag shows and 24-hour dancing. Jump on Edward’s back and soar down to Fort Lauderdale to meet my Florida “Trout of the Month” Misty Eyez. With eight years of drag experience tucked in her bra, Misty is the current reigning Miss Sunshine State All American Goddess At Large (Whew, say THAT five times fast!) and travels to venues all over the South. She tries to live life to the fullest and just says “no” to drama. “There are so many queens out there who just roll their eyes or keep doing what they’re doing if someone
I absolutely love Halloween! The season begins to change, jack-o’-lanterns and sheet ghosts adorn lawns, candy comes in bulk, scary movies sell out at theatres, and countless hours are spend finding that perfect costume. Some find the perfect garment online, some make their own costumes, and some only rifle through their closets for some old rags to throw on. No matter how your costume is decided, it clearly reflects who you are as an individual and expresses your level of creativity. For me, Halloween lasts all year round. Every chance on stage is a way to show everyone who I am as an entertainer by spending weeks creating my own costumes, music mixes, props and headpieces. I put my heart and soul into my work, and I love keeping that “Halloween frame of mind” all year long. What are YOU gonna be this year?
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A Special Message from the Publisher I wasn’t a teenager that long ago. There’s me at age 17. When I was in high school, the Escambia County Deputy Superintendent of Schools struck down the idea of a gay-straight alliance because he believed it would entice others to “become gay.” I thought we came a long way since then. Obviously we haven’t come far enough. For all the people in high school or just now entering college who are finding out what it means to truly be themselves, I want to say that things do get better. I was bullied in high school and treated like an outcast by quite a few of my peers. When I first got to college, the isolation got to be too much to bear. I almost ended my life. I’m glad I didn’t. Now I can’t ever imagine giving up on life. There’s so much to live for. It gets better. I can only hope GLBT youth, our leaders and lovers and poets and doers of tomorrow, will be able to get through today. May your lives be productive, happy, and free of hate. Mike Halterman
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BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL! Written by Mike Halterman
College represents not only an education in the classroom, but also an education about oneself. Finding one’s voice and one’s path in life are key to the college experience. The heads of three GLBT student organizations spoke with Out on the Town about their experiences finding their voices and helping others do the same. 12 | OUT ON THE TOWN |
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try and have discussions that are in sync with current issues. What kinds of events do you organize on campus to spread tolerance and awareness? Which event was your favorite and why?
Chelsea Speed Age 22 Gay Straight Alliance at the University of Southern Mississippi
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here did you go to high school? Was there a GLBT student organization there? If not, did you want to start one? I went to high school at Seminary Attendance Center, which is in Seminary, MS. There was not a student organization there specifically for LGBTQ students and honestly I never would have thought to try and start one. I didn’t know there were such organizations as Gay Straight Alliances until I graduated. What kinds of things go on at a regular meeting for your GLBT organization? At pretty much every meeting we start a discussion on one topic or another. Usually at the beginning of the semester we will talk in depth about coming out. Most of the members will share a coming out story or talk about the possible implications of coming out to friends and family. We have held mock debates on marriage equality and talked about how religion plays a part in our lives as queer people. We usually
The main events we do are Day of Silence, National Freedom to Marry Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance, and TransAction! Day. For those we usually have a table and pass out information. Out of these I like Day of Silence best because we always have more participation from our straight allies. Another thing we do to raise awareness of LGBTQ issues is give presentations and do panels for classes. These are my most favorite awareness-raisers in general. Sometimes we give a presentation talking about specific issues, but we usually just hold a panel. The students can ask us any question they want and we try to answer to the best of our abilities. I think panels are great because it puts faces to queer issues that most people might not be aware of. I still see people whose classes I have visited, and many of them have said that they feel more connected to queer community after hearing us speak. What would you say to GLBT students or allies who may want to attend a meeting but haven’t worked up the nerve? I would say that it is completely OK to feel nervous or afraid of attending a GSA meeting for the first time. It took me a whole year to finally go to one. My advice would be to try and make friends with someone who is already a member, or even get someone you already know to go with you.
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BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL! to them. We also discussed being outed and some of the reactions they faced. What kinds of events do you organize on campus to spread tolerance and awareness? Which event was your favorite and why?
Janaye Roberson Age 20 Allies at Birmingham-Southern College
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here did you go to high school? Was there a GLBT student organization there? If not, did you want to start one? I went to J.O. Johnson High School in Huntsville, AL. There wasn’t a GLBT group there. You pretty much just knew who was and who wasn’t, and everyone seemed to be okay with that for the most part. Obviously, there were some individuals who had some comments to make, but they usually just got shrugged off. I did actually want one, after I found out that two other schools had one in the area. What kinds of things go on at a regular meeting for your GLBT organization?
One type of event we host are movie nights, which usually conclude with a discussion about the issues that came up in the movie. We also have our GLBT history month in October, which has several events. We have speakers come and discuss GLBT issues. We usually co-host and team up with other student organizations on campus. My favorite event was a religion panel last year. We brought in denominations of Christianity and they spoke about their church’s stance and answered questions. It brought in a lot of students. It was awesome to see all those people show up. What would you say to GLBT students or allies who may want to attend a meeting but haven’t worked up the nerve? Come on by. I know that feeling of nervousness and how it feels to walk into that first gay-straight alliance meeting. All those fears and all that wondering, we have all been there. No one here is going to judge you, because we know how it feels to be judge and it’s not good. We’re creating an open, fun, and laid-back atmosphere here. Come in, be yourself, and don’t worry about the what-ifs and maybe. We wont bite.
Usually at a meeting, we discuss upcoming events. If we have an event that may require some help from our members, we’ll get a signup going around and ask for people to sign up. Other than the first meeting of the year, where we introduce ourselves, we usually have a specific topic that we discuss. Our last meeting on October 4th, we discussed coming out. Members shared some of their stories and how they reacted when someone came out
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Liz Southworth Age 20 Gay Straight Alliance at the University of West Florida
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here did you go to high school? Was there a GLBT student organization there? If not, did you want to start one? I attended Mannheim American High School on a military base in Mannheim, Germany. Needless to say we didn’t have a GSA or anything like it, and at that point in my life I never thought to start one. What kinds of things go on at a regular meeting for your GLBT organization? We have three main goals in our GSA; education, support, and advocacy. During each meeting we try to incorporate all of those. We usually go over upcoming events, discuss current LGBT news and what we can do on an advocacy level, and then do a fun activity or ice breaker. Mostly though, we try to make GSA a home for all the LGBT students and allies at UWF. What kinds of events do you organize on campus to spread tolerance and awareness? Which event was your favorite and why?
Pensacola Community. In the past we’ve done campaigns with the HRC for the Voices of Honor Tour, done flash advocacy to let people know that gay men can’t give blood, and done an event we like to call ‘chalking for equality’. And those are just a few of many! What would you say to GLBT students or allies who may want to attend a meeting but haven’t worked up the nerve? For all the LGBT students or allies out there who haven’t attended a meeting, I would say I hope to see you next Tuesday at 7 pm in University Commons room 272. Everyone is welcome, and we hope to see many new additions this year to our GSA family!
Over the last couple of years we’ve done all kinds of events. One we have upcoming is an event called ‘United Against Hate’ where one of our local professors will speak on Homophobia and how to reduce it, and we’ll have booths for all kinds of student organizations who are dedicated to uniting against hate in the UWF and
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MISSISSIPPI
OUToberfest Brings GLBT Pride to the Streets of Jackson Written by Mike Halterman OUToberfest is entering its sixth year in Jackson, and aims to let GLBT Mississippians know that they are not alone, and that they shouldn’t sit in the shadows any longer. “[OUToberfest] was established as a result of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Mississippi. We’d decided enough was enough and that it was time for our community to begin network and become more public,” said Knol Aust, chairman of Unity Mississippi, the principal GLBT rights organization in the state. Aust related the events of the first OUToberfest. “The first OUToberfest was right after Katrina. As you can imagine, we faced a huge dilemma—do we continue the fest or postpone. Ultimately, we decided to carry on. There were many LGBT evacuees in the area and we felt it was important to provide an outlet and sense of community to those affected by the devastation,” he said.
gay events in the South, we’ve pushed on thankfully due to donations from private individuals.” “For 2010, we’ve changed things up significantly,” Aust said. “We’ve consolidated the fest into one day. The biggest change is that it’s FREE and open to all ages. It’s also pet-friendly. After the crisis we’ve seen in Mississippi schools with LGBT youth and the increasing awareness of youth suicides, we felt it was important to make the fest open to everyone—including young folks. Plus, we are still sliding out of the financial crisis and want to provide an opportunity for everyone to unwind and enjoy themselves.” “This year’s headliner will be Garrison Starr. She’s an amazing singer/songwriter and guitarist that happens to be a Mississippi girl with international success, too,” Aust commented about OUToberfest’s main performer. “At the moment, we can’t fully confirm the other artists since we’re still finalizing contracts, but there’s always plenty of live music covering a variety of genres including rock, dance, and hip hop. Also, there will be drag performers; organizations and vendors; an artist market; and national and local speakers. As I mentioned, Mississippi is mother to many, strong and talented LGBT women and men. We try to showcase that each year. This year will be no different.”
“Surprisingly, over 500 people showed up that first year. Since, we’ve faced the same crisis many other small fests have: growth during a recession. Considering it’s next-toimpossible to find sponsors for
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Aust believes that community involvement and support is crucial, or else events like OUToberfest cannot exist. “You know, I can’t help but reiterate how important it is that our communities support these local fests... Whether you’re in Birmingham, Pensacola, Mobile, Memphis, Monroe, or even smaller towns throughout the South,” he said. “Attendance is the biggest priority. Our community can no longer remain fringe and closeted.” “Further, get involved by volunteering, sponsoring or spreading the word. It makes a huge difference, especially for LGBT youth and closeted individuals to see so many out and proud people, couples, families, allies, businesses and orgs. They realize they’re not alone. It’s especially important that Mississippi’s LGBT community realize there’s a lot to be proud of like Lance Bass, Cat Cora, Garrison Starr, Robyn McGehee, Ceara Sturgis, and Constance McMillen, to name a few. Our goal is to continue recognizing those successes, community leaders, and organizations,” he said. “Local fests like OUToberfest and the other smaller “prides” throughout the Southeast provide an almost tangible hope for our communities. They’re straight from the heart and are built by and for the community. In many ways, these smaller fests have a far greater impact on the LGBT community and its allies— especially in Southern states,” Aust said, comparing OUToberfest to parades and festivals in bigger cities. “While the big corporations funnel money to the larger communities and our bars remain closed eco-systems, the community is at the core of our festival through donations and involvement. It’s nice to be responsible to the community and not a laundry list of sponsors with priorities. That’s why we love what we do,” he said. What’s the best way to be thanked? Aust believes it’s just by making a difference. “Though it’s 100% volunteer and is often a thankless job, hearing so many positive stories about the ways OUToberfest and Unity Mississippi have changed lives, makes it worth it.”
“We’d decided enough was enough and that it was time for our community to begin network and become more public”
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ALABAMA
Rep. Patricia Todd Speaks Out Written by Mike Halterman Patricia Todd overcame insurmountable odds to be elected to the Alabama House of Representatives four years ago. A messy election turned into a legal battle in which Todd was thrown out of the election, and then as quickly as she was disqualified, she was reinstated, going on to win her seat. She is the first GLBT person to be elected to the Alabama Legislature, and is one of the few voices in the state to advocate for GLBT equality. For Rep. Todd, the choice to come out was rewarding but not easy, and she was not wholeheartedly embraced by her family back home in Richmond, Kentucky. “I 18 | OUT ON THE TOWN |
came out while working for the National Organization for Women in the early ‘80s, so it was a supportive enviornment,” she told Out on the Town. “My family had a hard time accepting the fact that I was gay and blame it on my divorce!” “My mom and brother still live in the small town in Kentucky where I was raised and their biggest fear was that their friends would find out I was gay and somehow judge them for that -- not too different from today. My mom died three years ago and while she would have loved to see me marry a man, she came to care a great deal about my partner and friends.” Her early activist work introduced her to people affected with HIV back when awareness about the virus was in its infancy. “The first person I knew with HIV was our Secretary in the NOW office back in 1980 and when I moved to Birmingham to be with my first female partner, I knew I wanted to get involved in educated our community and caring for those infected,” she said. “I was recruited to the Board of Birmignham AIDS
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Outreach and became their first Executive Director where I served five years. I remained involved because one of my closet friends, Billy Cox, was HIV-positive and I formed a care team for the final two years of his life. After that I was recruited to work for AIDS Alabama where I am responsible for all our housing programs and prevention education.” She has stayed at AIDS Alabama for nearly 25 years, helping to raise awareness and help get treatment for all HIV and AIDS patients in the state of Alabama. Rep. Todd lamented that sometimes running such an organization can be an uphill battle. “Alabama is a very conservative state and not well educated, so we try our best to provide quality prevention education - but there are never enough funds!” she said, going on to cite the organization’s achievements: “AIDS Alabama has led the efforts for more state funding and for policy changes on the federal level to recognize the growing epidemic in the South.” Rep. Todd is up for re-election this November; unlike last election when it was highly contested, this time she will run unopposed. Listing her achievements in the House, Rep. Todd said, “I was the sponsor of the bill to establish the first Commission to Reduce Poverty and I served as its Chair. I am also the only legislator who has proposed a viable state funding stream for public transportation. I speak out about the need for ethics reform, a new state constitution and drug law reform. My constituents agree with my stand and respect me for standing up to the special interests.” Depending on who you ask in Alabama, Rep. Todd is either famous or infamous for being the first gay person to be elected to a state office. “I never minded being branded as the ‘first gay/lesbian’ elected official because I am proud of who I am. They don’t refer to me that way now which I guess is a victory!” she said. “I think it is important to all LGBT folks that they have someone that they can relate to in elected
PATRICIA TODD is an American politician from Alabama. A Democrat, she is a member of the Alabama House of Representatives representing District 54 in downtown Birmingham. She took office in November 2006. She is the associate director of AIDS Alabama and is the first ever openly gay elected official in the state of Alabama.
office.” Rep. Todd was selected as the “Freshman Legislator of the Year” in 2007 by her fellow elected officials in the state House. How can Alabama become more aware of its GLBT population? Rep. Todd agrees that changing minds one step at a time is a necessary step. “As I discuss my life with my partner with other legislators, they are beginning to change their minds about marriage,” she said. “We still have a lot of work to do around marriage and the reality is that it will probably take a Supreme Court decision to change our law, just as civil rights cases.” Rep. Patricia Todd represents the 54th District in the Alabama House of Representatives, serving Birmingham and Irondale. For more information about AIDS Alabama, go to www.aidsalabama. org OCTOBER 2010 | 19
FLORIDA
Equality House Comes To Pensacola Written By Tammy Enyeart
It doesn’t take long after meeting Doug Landreth when you realize his determination, compassion and his love for the GLBT community, as well as the rest of the residents of Pensacola. A man who truly inspires others with his conviction in his beliefs, his ever firming belief to fight for what is right, but yet not condemning others in the wake of his everlasting journey. Doug has brought a sense of community spirit to the GLBT residents of Pensacola, and doesn’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon. Opening the Equality House, along with organizing Pensacola Pride, to say Doug is a very busy man would be an understatement, he is a man on a mission, tirelessly ensuring the GLBT community receive equal rights, that they so truly and richly deserve. September 23rd marked a day Pensacola residents are not soon to forget, for togetherness brings a whole new meaning thanks to the Equality House of Pensacola.
Doug Landreth introduces the Equality House Community Center.
Equality House 309 W Gregory Street Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information: GayGrassrootsNWFL@gmail.com
It all started about 2 ½ years ago when Amendment 2 was on the ballot, where Florida law stated that marriage was between one man and one woman. The GLBT community became motivated to
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fight, to stand up in opposition of the issue that surrounded them. A lot of energy, time and hard work that was spent trying to defeat this issue; it was passed anyway, but yet the determination stayed strong and soon after, Gay Grassroots was born. The mission of the Equality House is quite simple, to bring non-partisan activists together for the full understanding, respect, equality, and inclusion in Northwest Florida. The Equality House hopes to fulfill that mission by providing new opportunities as well as social interaction which is going to on its own strengthen and build the GLBT community even stronger, as well as allow education on specific issues, so that both individually and collectively the GLBT community will be better armed into knowing how to frame positions as well as argue issues.
Doug Landreth speaks at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Serving as a central location for information for both local residents and tourists, a place where the GLBT community can come together and connect with others, for there is no other place that has a full time extensively staffed place that has long term hours. Opening their doors to similar ally organizations, Gay AA will be meeting as well on the horizon NA, PFLAG, and the National Organization for Wome, the latter of which met prior to the opening at the Holy Cross MCC. Health is also of importance to Equality House, offering free rapid HIV testing, with the hope to get together more people to train to help with the testing as well. As for the future of the Equality House? Doug already knows that due to the overwhelming response that it will be a matter of time before they will need a bigger place. When asked about the location Doug said “When you Google Pensacola, where that icon is that shows you the middle, that is where I want to be, in the heart of Pensacola itself, that is my ideal place right there.� OCTOBER 2010 | 21
The Cabaret 101 S. Jefferson St. Pensacola, FL 32502
Club 322 322 N. Lawrence St. Montgomery, AL 36104
The Roundup 560 E. Heinberg St. Pensacola, FL 32502
Joe’s on Seventh 2627 7th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35233
Emerald City 406 E. Wright St. Pensacola, FL 32501
Our Place 2115 7th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35233
Splash Bar Florida 6520 Thomas Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32408
Quest 416 24th St. S. Birmingham, AL 35233
B-Bob’s 213 Conti St. Mobile, AL 36602
Just Us Lounge 906 Division St. Biloxi, MS 39530
Gabriel’s Downtown 55 S. Joachim St. Mobile, AL 36602
P3 5232 Highway 42 Hattiesburg, MS 39401
The Midtown Pub 153 S. Florida St. Mobile, AL 36606
Dick & Jane’s 206 W. Capitol St. Jackson, MS 39201
Club Imagination 4129 Ross Clark Cir. Dothan, AL 36303
Bottoms Up 3911 Northview Dr. Jackson, MS 39206
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With Luke Snyder, the show took on (nearly) the full burden of having a gay character. He struggled with whether and how to tell his parents. His parents struggled with how to respond. His biological father tried to have him sent to an ungay camp. How do they tell the traditional, church-going grandmother? The show even gave Luke a love interest who first had to struggle with his own sexuality. This is where the "nearly" part comes in. In a genre that barely lets a man put his shirt back on between the beds of one woman and then another, it took forever to get Luke and Noah in bed together, and then it was mostly implied. They kissed pretty often, though. Baby steps. Not to read too much into it, but the gay storyline on ATWT also served as gentle social nudge toward acceptance. For me, as a gay man, it was affirming. But what about all those women my mother's and grandmothers' ages who might not have given much thought to gay people before. Here is this (age-progressed) child they have known since he was in his mother’s womb and, whammo, he's "one of those." I bet it helped more than one blue-haired lady understand her grandson a little better. So, when ATWT ended its 54 year life on Aug. 17, I watched with a heavy heart. Those were my friends in Oakdale, people to whom I could relate -Couples I rooted for to get back together and villains for whom I yearned to get their just desserts. I will probably never know for sure if ATWT was actually buzzing on some hospital waiting room television when I was born that on that Tuesday long ago. But, like the improbable scenarios that kept me tuning in, I choose to believe.
Written by Louis Cooper OCTOBER 2010 | 25
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Advertise With Us! How much does it cost? $85/mo. for ½ pg. $150/mo. for 1 pg. $275/mo. for 2 pgs.
How can I start advertising? E-mail Publisher Mike Halterman at mike@outonthetownmag.com today! OCTOBER 2010 | 27