Out & About

Overcoming the Stigma of Life with Hiv

"It's sort of a class system- all people with HIV are the same and all people without HIV are the same," he said. "That differentness of being HIV positive doesn't exist ... HIV can happen to anyone."

Hrc Nashville Announces Dinner Theme, Honorees

"I think that with the recognition of prior honorées and dinner committee members, it's something to be picked for the honor this year," [Maria Salas] said. "I feel like the organization gets its message out pretty well, but it's a chance for people to learn what HRC does not only nationally but also what goes on that impacts us in the different states."

Tennessee Equality Project Preps for Annual Day On the Hill

It's a chance not only to build a relationship with your elected officials, but it's also very empowering to see people from all across the state coming together for the same thing," he said. "It's a chance to experience the movement; we are so scattered in a very long, wide state that people in Nashville don't always get exposed to what's going on Memphis, and Chattanooga may not be aware of what's happening in Knoxville.

Gay, Gray and Not Done with Play

"The end of November, OutCentraI decided to do a potluck for older gay men," [Wresch Dawidjan] said. "We gave a presentation saying if there was an interest to please get hold of us. That's how we got going."

Johnson Sets a Milestone for African American Professors

"The notion that I could become a professor was what I initially viewed as the pinnacle of my career. I anticipated accomplishing this right after I needed a cane," he said. "Needless to say, now that I'm a professor a bit earlier in my career than I imagined, I'm thinking about achieving new and personally fulfilling heights."

Modern Queer Movies and the Search for a Happy Ending

Will the GLBT community ever see a happy gay film? It seems that the problem lies in not just film narratives' perpetual lodgings in pre-Stonewall ideologies, but more importantly in their passive acceptance of the most miserable aspects of our history.

Murfreesboro Exposed

"It was three years last month since I came out. It was a tough time, but I am at the point in my life where I can honestly stand up and say that I am happy to be me. Not just happy a few days a week, I am finally at that point where I can take a step back and realize how good it feels to just say I' am [Jeremy Jay Lowe], I am 23, a gay man, and I really do not care what anyone thinks.'"

Out Central Plans Summit, Continues to Push Membership, Facility Rental

"We're trying to grow that membership so that there's even less need for fundraising, and this was our first year to have a real drive," [Kate Nelson] said. "We've set up an e-mail campaign and also have a system in place for automatic renewals, so it's beginning to build for us."

Love Yourself First and Have More Love to Give

"It makes me feel so lonely and unwanted," they say. When you're single, and people around you "appear" (and I use that word deliberately) to be much happier than you - so in love, arm-in-arm with their gorgeous partner - it's tough not to compare your lonesome, solitary self and feel you're lacking.

Leaders of the Flock

"And at the end of the day, we both love to laugh," Pastor Cindy said. "While we take our work seriously, a good sense of humor and silliness serves as a reminder that we are still a work in progress."

Life's a Party with a Purpose

"We share a sense of humor and don't take ourselves to seriously even though we take our work and family very seriously," [Christy Ikner] said. "That goes a long way in the middle of anything bad that's going on."

The Men with the 'Midas Touch'

Changing the face of Nashville's gay scene, Tribe, which [David Taylor] and his business partner, Keith Blaydes, opened in 2002, was named "Nashville's first Mainstream Gay Bar" by the Tennessean and has been consistently named Nashville's "Best Gay Bar" by the Nashville Scene. Play, which was opened with business partners Blaydes, Todd Roman, and Joe Brown, has been named "Best Place to Dance" by the Scene every year since it opened in 2004.

A Beautiful, Dutiful Commitment to Community

Glasgow is state communications director for Rural Development and also serves on the board of Artrageous Ine, and as an assistant coach with the Nashville Grizzlies Rugby Football Club. Pond is the co-founder of Pond Wilis, a residential design company and a board member for the Brooks Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Both men are on the steering committee for BelmontHillsboro Neighborhood Association, as well.

A Champion for Change

"I am more open now over the last three years than ever before," [Jaimee Faucette] said. "I am determined to help educate and inform the public about transgender people and to also get more of us, or people who are friendly toward us, to political office."

The Art of Love

"My work as artistic director of Nashville Ballet, its' school, and all of it's educational programs is where I do most of my work-finding new and innovative ways for the ballet to connect with different communities in Nashville, many times via collaborations with other organizations," [Paul Vasterling] said. "That takes of most of my time... but the real energy in volunteering is [Jason Facio]. It is amazing how much he does!"

Taylor Finds Time to Coach, Design and Volunteer

"Oh yes," she said with a laugh. "I really don't like being single because I'm such a loving person, but I have adjusted to being single. Since I've been single for a while now, I don't have all the drama that can come from being in the wrong relationship. I like not worrying about being disappointed, lied to or let down."

Lambda Men Are Making Their Presence Known

"I am very proud of this group of young men, and I'm proud to serve as their adviser," [Stovall] said. "As a fraternity man myself, it's exciting to see equality coming to the Greek community of not only an SEC school, but also one in the top 20." Stovall pledged Kappa Alpha Order at Tennessee Tech in 1998.

Punks to Be Proud Of

"There's nothing I can think ofthat would be worse than having to pretend to be someone else," [George Oeser] said. "That chance to wake up every morning and be exactly who you are, to do what interests you and what you love, to be the best person that you're capable of being makes it worth waking up every morning."

Vanderbilt Chosen As Host of Campus Pride's Summer Leadership Camp

Registration costs $795 through April and includes all lodging for five nights, breakfast, lunch and dinner each day as well as all educational program materials and entertainment. Registration costs $895 after April 16. Early applications are suggested as space is limited.