AUGUST 2009 (Vol. 11, No. 5)
A Publication of Rivendell Media

Celebrating 10 years of serving our community of journalists

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Feature: Ooh la la NLGJA: National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association focusing on new media, economic pressures and professional development at Montreal convention next month
Sidebar: LGBT media to have their day at NLGJA convention
In The News: Three LGBT media cities in running to host Gay Games in 2014; Economy shuts down publication across the pond; Stonewall Library and Archives makes its move
In Memoriam: Remembering journalist and friend Walter Cronkite
Transitions and Milestones
Bulletin Board
Staff
Contributors to This Issue
Contact Us

When they convene next month, members of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) will make history. This year’s gathering – from Sept. 10-13 in Montréal – marks the first time the professional organization has met outside the United States.

“Montréal is a city like no other in the United States,” explained Fred Kuhr, programming co-chair for the convention as well as editor of Press Pass Q. “No matter how liberal you think your city is, no city in the?U.S. includes the LGBT community as part of the fabric of its civic being like Montréal."

Undoubtedly “the Village” – as the city’s gay enclave is known – and its bars, restaurants, and pâtisseries are alluring. To some extent, Kuhr and other convention planners hope the location – Montréal with its Québécois à la French flare – will draw journalists, editors, publishers, and bloggers across the border.

This year’s convention is shaping up to be one the organization’s most important – and for reasons other than fun and fabulousness.

“We all know the pressures facing us in this economic and media environment,” said David Steinberg, NLGJA national president. “The mission of NLGJA has never been more important precisely because people are spread thin, and there are fewer of us in the newsroom to raise issues of fairness.”

Consequently, organizers are focusing on “the Monday-morning push,” said Tom Avila, convention program manager. “What new skills can I bring back to the newsroom?” In other words, professional development is a major programming piece – all aimed at making sure members have the necessary tools to be an essential employee or freelancer.

“Or to transition out of journalism,” said Jeff Truesdell, programming co-chair. “There are a number of people who have lost jobs or are threatened with losing their jobs. We’ve tried to take that into account,” providing programming “to point people in different career paths if they choose.”

Take one Friday morning breakout session, “Lessons for Luddites,” which covers the basics of social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The session explores what these new social networking tools are, how they are used and what should be kept in mind when putting oneself online, particularly when looking for a new job.

Later on that afternoon, professional development takes a slightly different tack. In “Making a Living Online,” the focus is on “how to turn new media into new money.” As the convention’s promotional material puts it, “Facing a job change or layoff but not ready to walk off the beat you love? From politics to art and food criticism, folks are setting up shop online. But is establishing one’s own website the foundation for a new career, or is it simply a place to hang out?”

While new digital platforms point to a brave new world, convention programming does not ignore journalism's basics. “You still have to ask questions, to research backgrounds, to write and tell stories completely and efficiently with power and skill,” said co-chair Truesdell. Accordingly, two of Saturday’s breakout sessions focus on sharpening tools of the craft.

For example, “15 Minutes: Making the Most of the Interview,” addresses how to deal with “limited time,” an “uncooperative subject” or a “rambler who's answered everything but the question you asked.” Here, the goal is to gain tips and develop strategies necessary for turning a difficult interview into a great story.

The basics continue Saturday afternoon, when veteran news producers, editors and writers, in “Writing in Real Time: Writing Fast & Writing Well,” share best practice advice for writing a bulletproof story on deadline.

Beyond the basics and professional development, meeting across the border enables NLGJA to offer convention attendees an international perspective. The opening plenary session, entitled “Oh Canada,” may well be eye-opening, Truesdell said.

Marriage equality has been the law of the land in the Great White North since 2005. Gay men and lesbians also serve openly in the country's armed forces. Gay service members and Royal Canadian Mounted Police even march in Gay Pride parades. But stateside, California turned back the clock with Proposition 8. The Obama administration has yet to deliver on his campaign promise to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Given the “startling difference” between the United States and Canada in the advancement of LGBT rights, said convention co-chair Kuhr, “What can we as Americans learn from the Canadian example? What lessons can be learned by professional LGBT journalists?”

Altogether, the Montréal 2009 convention comes one year short of NLGJA’s 20th anniversary. The organization stands at a critical juncture. Cost cuts and staff reductions bear witness to NLGJA’s current survival mode of operation. Unlike two decades ago, mainstream media now more fairly, extensively and accurately cover the LGBT-rights movement, including same-sex marriage, adoption rights and “don’t ask, don’t tell,” among other topics. The Internet, furthermore, empowers citizen journalists and bloggers to be vigorous public watchdogs, often breaking LGBT news. Against this ever-changing, sometimes distressing media and economic landscape, where does NLGJA fit in, and how should it play a part?

So pressing are the concerns, a membership meeting is scheduled as a plenary session to discuss NLGJA’s future. After all, “This is a membership organization,” said convention manager Avila. “We are not like HRC or GLAAD,” referring to the Human Right Campaign or the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Rather, “We are here to serve our members. And it’s time to take a pause and ask our members: What are their needs and where should the organization be headed? Where should NLGJA focus its energy?”

Whatever the future holds, president Steinberg remains optimistic. “Yes, we're smaller, but we're still working on our important programs,” he said. “As the economy improves – and it has to at some point – we'll be in a position to rebuild and expand our programs.”

Already, Steinberg noted, one new initiative that is up and running – RE: ACT, NLGJA’s official blog. In creating the blog, he said, the organization intends to “foster conversation related to LGBT issues” and “to advance NLGJA’s core mission – promoting fair and accurate coverage of those issues.”

Why is NLGJA’s one-day LGBT Media Summit – a full day of programming specifically designed for reporters, columnists, editors, publishers and bloggers who work in LGBT media – so important?

“For the same reason that Press Pass Q is,” said Fred Kuhr, editor of the only trade publication for LGBT media. “LGBT media is a relatively small community. And it is so motivating to know that you are part of this community of professionals who work in [LGBT] media.”

Just as Press Pass Q fosters community, so the Summit creates a forum, once a year, bringing journalists together to share information, network and learn from each other face to face, said Kuhr.

“For LGBT people who are still undecided about coming to Montréal, I think it’s valuable to understand you are part of a larger purpose,” Kuhr said. For that reason, “The Summit is so fulfilling.”

This year’s convening of the 6th annual Summit – scheduled for Thursday, Sept, 10 – comes at the best of times and the worst of times for LGBT media. Any number of national and regional gay niche publications are experiencing dire financial straits. Others have already folded.

But despite the industry-wide economic fallout, LGBT media finds its stride. "Our community’s readers continue to rely on LGBT media for news and entertainment. In fact, our community has a special relationship with [LGBT] media,” said Tom Avila, NLGJA’s convention program manager.

At the same time, respect for LGBT media professionals continues to grow among mainstream journalists. As Avila explained, “More and more, I hear mainstream media referring to LGBT bloggers” and reporters “holding up the fact that gay press organizations” and outlets “are asking serious questions 24/7.”

Early on, expect one question to pop up during a Thursday morning breakout session called, “Washington Goes Lavender,” moderated by journalist, blogger and activist Mike Rogers. As Summit co-chair Matthew S. Bajko, an assistant editor of San Francisco’s Bay Area Reporter, put it, “When will the president give an interview with LGBT media?”

Already, at least one request for a presidential interview with gay media – that of veteran journalist Lisa Keen – has been “turned down,” she said. Keen, through her Keen News Service, provides LGBT-related content for at least half a dozen weekly gay media outlets, including those in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, San Francisco and Seattle.

And yet, if anyone can successfully press the president to speak to the gay community through “our” media, it may well be Mark Segal, publisher of Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) and a panelist on the “Washington Goes Lavender” breakout session.

During the primary season, Segal tried for months to line up interviews with then-presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. When Clinton accepted the offer – and Obama declined – Segal decided to take the unusual step of running Clinton's interview, at the same time leaving blank space alongside it, highlighting Obama's absence. Local and national mainstream media noticed the Illinois senator's rebuff and PGN's rebuke, pressing him to explain himself.

The blank-page tactic apparently worked. Candidate Obama eventually relented, giving a telephone interview to Segal. But will President Obama really speak to the LGBT community through gay media? No promise or commitment has been made just yet. Already, however, Segal said that he and the president “have had an off-the-record conversation” about that very question. For now, “That’s all I’ll say,” Segal added.

In other programming, “Ad Wars,” features publishers’ tips on LGBT media strategies for weathering the economic downturn with dwindling advertising revenue.

At the luncheon plenary, “Northern Exposure: LGBT Canadian Press,” attendees meet their Canadian LGBT counterparts for a discussion about working for gay media outlets in a country where same-sex couples nationwide can marry and where openly gay soldiers and sailors serve in the armed forces.

For the second year in a row, the Media Summit concludes with a live broadcast of Sirius/XM OutQ's "The Michelangelo Signorile Show.”

“It should be a good, full day of interesting conversation and debate,” Bajko said. “We want you to feel like you really need that cocktail at the closing reception."

When the cry “Let the games begin” rings out in 2014 for the official start of Gay Games IX, one U.S. city will be hosting the event. But will it be Boston, Cleveland, or Washington, D.C.?

All three metropolitan areas, still under consideration, have LGBT publications. And already, local niche publications have provided coverage, primarily about their respective city’s bid to the Federation of Gay Games, the organization charged with overall stewardship of the global sporting event as well as oversight of the site selection process.

Even national LGBT media, the Advocate and Outsports.com, have taken note.

Which city gets the nod is anybody’s guess; the choice won’t be made until late September. Meanwhile, local LGBT community leaders and allies are making their case.

A recent piece in Boston’s Bay Windows, for instance, reported that Boston 2014, a grassroots organization, pins its hopes for site selection on the city’s reputation “rich in cultural diversity and athletics” as well as the state’s historic first in granting marriage equality.

Cleveland’s Gay People’s Chronicle reported that the Cleveland Synergy Council, the local group behind the bid there, pins its hope on the city’s affordability and compact central downtown location for all events. In addition, “There’s a very, very aggressive effort by the council to make Cleveland the welcoming city it is,” reporter Tony Glassman told Press Pass Q. Like Boston, “Cleveland is a big sports town,” Glassman added.

The Aug. 6 issue of Metro Weekly, based in Washington, D.C., ran a Gay Games-related cover story – a lengthy interview with Brent Minor, head of the D.C. bid committee. Another story focused on local athletes who have competed in previous competitions. “The sports community is big, very big here,” said Sean Bugg, Metro Weekly’s co-publisher. “Also the [metropolitan] area is used to holding large, diverse events. Nobody here is a stranger to people coming to town.”

The July 20 issue of Cleveland-based Spanglemagazine.com ran a comparison-of-bids piece, written by publisher and editor Brian Patrick Thornton and entitled “The Gay Games bids: gold, silver, or bronze,” which offered advice to the remaining contenders:

To “Boston [$10.4 million bid]: Prove your city is welcoming, and not unfriendly as is sometimes perceived outside the region. Prove your games can be affordable to all. Prove your focus is on athletics (there are a lot of ancillary things planned in your bid).”

To “Cleveland [$8.2 million bid]: Prove you have the infrastructure (both people and resources) to pull this off. Prove the location will be a draw to actually get participants to care about coming. Prove the region’s dismal economy can support the funding you need.”

And to “D.C. [$8.8 million bid]: Prove your plan will get things done on time. (For instance, not hiring a development director until 2011? That seems late.) Prove your venues are not too spread out with the notorious D.C. traffic and metro system. Prove you can be affordable.”

Undoubtedly, for whichever city wins out, “It will be a big economic boost to host the Gay Games,” said Wes Combs, co-founder of Witeck-Combs Communications, an LGBT-focused public relations and marketing firm. Witeck-Combs has provided counsel to the committee behind D.C.'s bid. At one time, the Federation of Gay Games was a client.

LGBT media stand to benefit, he went on to say, “especially with some LGBT publications having to shutter their doors these days because there is no advertising.” Here’s why. “Any marketer that signs on as an early sponsor of the games has an opportunity to plant a progressive plan in that city, telling why they are involved.”

One sure-fire cost-effective way to reach the potentially lucrative LGBT market is though local gay niche publications. So marketers can have “a really smart approach,” Combs said, by advertising in LGBT media. From a financial standpoint, Combs added, LGBT media will begin “seeing revenues from advertising sooner than four years out from the games.”

The possibilities of creative opportunities in editorial content also arise for LGBT media, according to Combs. Hosting the Gay Games “offers some of these media outlets a chance to come up with a creative way to partner with mainstream media to provide coverage not only from the standpoint of the local market, but also from the stand point of sports.”

Combs cited one possibility as an example: Outsports.com and ESPN in partnership with local niche publications. Outsports.com, he noted, specializes in gay sports, but does not necessarily know an individual city. “It’s a real opportunity to leverage the connections the gay press has.” Outsports.com could also provide Gay Games-specific content to local gay media at the same time serve as a news source for ESPN, he said.

“Disney is a gay friendly company, and everybody’s doing partnerships these days,” Combs said. “They’re required to make creative ideas work and to make every dollar stretch.” ESPN Inc. is an affiliated corporation with the Walt Disney Company.

Begun in 1982 in San Francisco, the Gay Games is the world’s largest sporting event specifically designed for LGBT athletes with participation open to people of all sexual orientations. Over the years seven cities have hosted the event, including Amsterdam, Chicago, Cologne, New York City, San Francisco, Sydney, and Vancouver. In 2006, Chicago was the last American location for Gay Games VII. (All this is not to be confused with the World Outgames, which were held in Montréal in 2006 and in Copenhagen this year.)

Currently, Federation of Gay Games (FGG) representatives are conducting site visitations and hearing final presentations. The Federation’s announcement of the winner is expected on Sept. 29.

— Chuck Colbert

Economy shuts down publication across the pond

The ongoing economic recession and an industry-wide decline in advertising revenue has claimed yet another LGBT publication.

London-based Pink Paper announced in late June that it would suspend publication of its print edition. The newspaper pointed to the “growth potential in online” publishing and the “current economic climate for newspaper advertising” as the factors that motivated the decision.

“We proudly boast the biggest readership of the free gay press for the newspaper and it is very sad that we aren’t able to continue in our print format for the time being,” Pink Paper editor Tris Reid-Smith said in a press release.

Kim Watson, media director for Pink Pages’ parent company MPG, added, “The decision to suspend fortnightly print and distribution of Pink Paper has been one of the toughest we have had to make in a long time, but in order to ensure that we can continue providing a service to the LGBT community in future we have taken the decision now, rather than when the situation has worsened to a point that we would need to cease Pink Paper altogether,” Watson told Press Pass Q. “We are looking forward to increasing delivery of our weekly newsletter and ensuring that our website continues to grow in visitors and interaction.”

Pink Paper began to publish as a weekly LGBT newspaper in 1987. MPG bought it in 2005. MPG also published GT (Gay Times) and DIVA magazines.

Watson stressed that all of Pink Paper’s employees will remain with MPG.

Pink Paper is the latest in a series of LGBT publications that have ceased publishing in recent months. The New York Blade suspended publication early last month, while Genre folded earlier this year.

Reid-Smith remains optimistic about Pink Paper’s future as an online media source.

“I hope our readers will stick with us, visit the website often and sign up to our weekly e-mail newsletter, Pink Paper Xtra,” he said. “In return, we promise to deliver the country’s premier news and features website for gay, lesbian and bisexual people.”

— Michael K. Lavers

Stonewall Library and Archives makes its move

Stonewall Library and Archives (SLA), the nation's largest independent circulating library of LGBT-themed materials, celebrated its grand opening of new facilities in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on April 23.

“Today, we're setting Stonewall Library & Archives on a national course,” said executive director Jack Rutland, with a host of city and county officials on hand for the occasion. “We're a lending library, a cultural center, an art gallery and museum, a research facility and a place for everyone in the community to learn about our past and chart our future. Stonewall Library sits in Fort Lauderdale, but our impact is felt on the national stage.”

SLA is notable on several fronts. It houses 20,000 circulating books and movies for members who pay $30 a year to belong. Additionally, SLA has 1,000 videos and approximately 45,000 items located in its historic archives. Its collection includes everything from magazines to founding documents of the Mattachine Society and other very rare out-of-print items that are difficult to find. And SLA continues to collect works of art and manuscripts.

The John Graves Reading Room is home to more than 60 current national, regional and local LGBT newspapers and magazines, including the Advocate, Out, Washington Blade, Bay Area Reporter, Southern Voice, and Q-Notes, among others, with a focus on South Florida and the southeast region from Houston to the nation's capital.

“We have every single issue of the Advocate, beginning with the first one in 1967,” said Rutland, who, in a telephone interview, went on to say SLA has issues of One and the Ladder from the 1930s, as well as “a wonderful group of magazines called Bachelor, produced in Philadelphia for a year also in the 1930s.”

SLA’s LGBT periodicals collection is one of the few that keeps hard copy of the publications. “If you are looking for an issue of David magazine from January 1981, then we are the one that has it,” explained Rutland.

The move to the new 4,200 square-feet facility at 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale enabled SLA to double the size from its previous location in the city's Gay and Lesbian Community Center.

But changing locations prompted national controversy two years ago when then-Mayor Jim Nagle attempted to block the move, protesting SLA's location next to a park frequented by children.

“The mayor made a big case that 12-year-old children would be able to walk in here and pick up 'dirty magazines,'” explained Rutland. “We do have adult material that might not appeal to everyone. But those materials are located in our archives and are not open to the general public, only by appointment. To walk into Stonewall, you have to be 18 years old.”

The move was further complicated because the building is owned by the City of Ft. Lauderdale and rented to the Broward County Library, which sought to reduce its footprint in the building, offering space to SLA if it paid for the renovation and reconfiguration. Both Ft. Lauderdale and Broward County commissioners had to approve the move in 2007.

The initial budget for the building's redesign was set at $500,000, but SLA's two-year Capital Building and Endowment campaign raised more than $750,000, entirely from individuals and foundations.

The library was founded in 1973 by a group of local college students who were exchanging books.

Altogether, SLA serves “to empower the LGBT community by preserving our history and culture,” Rutland said. “Until we understand our place in American society, it is hard for us to have a place at the table. Having 20,000 books by gay authors about gay people really does give grounding for what will come in the future.”

— Chuck Colbert

Walter Cronkite was my friend and mentor. That fact attests to his generosity of heart and spirit when one considers the way in which we first met. That's explained by a New York Times article from the newspaper’s Dec. 12, 1973, edition:

“’Gay Raiders’ invade Cronkite show

“CBS Evening News was disrupted briefly last night when a demonstrator from an organization called ‘The Gay Raiders’ ran in front of the camera and held up a yellow sign saying, ‘Gays Protest CBS Prejudice.’

“The incident occurred about 14 minutes into the first ‘feed’ of the CBS News program, which is anchored by Walter Cronkite …

“The demonstration was re-run as a news item on the second ‘feed’ of the show …

“A spokesperson for CBS News said the demonstrator, who identified himself as Mark Allan Segal, had called the network last week. Using a different name and pretending to be a reporter for the Camden State Community College newspaper in New Jersey, he secured permission to watch the show from within the studio.”

After that incident, CBS News agreed to look into the "possibility" that they were censoring or had a bias in reporting news regarding the struggle for gay rights. Walter and I would disagree about that to this day, both with smiles on our faces. But the fact remains, a week after the incident, Walter showed a map of the United States on the Evening News and pointed out cities that had passed gay rights legislation. Network news was never the same after that.

Walter went on to speak in support of gay rights whenever asked at his numerous speaking engagements. After stepping down from the anchor chair, he was free to do more and he did. He spoke up about HIV/AIDS and even against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." On gay issues he was ahead of his time. In an unpublished interview we did 13 years ago, he even speaks about marriage equality.

Each time we met for dinner, lunch or even just a phone conversation, the first thing he'd say was, "Mark, how's the paper doing?" And he would offer advice with a smile on his face. That smile was because he was doing what he loved best, talking about journalism and attempting to make it better, in this case, by assisting the publisher of a small LGBT weekly newspaper.

He was funny. He outed me, or rather outed our friendship, on his televised CBS memoirs as well as showing a clip of the disruption itself. He felt it important that his memoirs contain LGBT issues.

In 2005, I produced Philadelphia's July 4th mega-concert with Sir Elton John, which that year was dedicated to AIDS education. The opening segment of the concert and broadcast was Walter Cronkite speaking about the importance of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Walter was a tried and true journalist, one who covered all sides of the story and was committed to the idea of bringing news to the public. I am proud he lent me some of that expertise, and proud of all his accomplishments as a journalist, friend and person.

Mark Segal
Publisher
Philadelphia Gay News
Philadelphia

What’s your opinion? We’d like to know. Send your letters to editor@PressPassQ.com. Letters should be kept to a maximum of 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.

(Editor’s note: Are there important changes going on at your publication? E-mail the information to editor@PressPassQ.com.)

CHICAGO FREE PRESS marks its 10-year anniversary with a special retrospective entitled, “1999-2009: A Decade in Pictures,” in its Aug. 22 issue.

MERYL COHN, author of the syndicated column “Ms. Behavior,” won the Jane Chambers Playwriting Award for her new work “The Siegels of Montauk.”

GAYTLVGUIDE.COM, Tel Aviv’s first comprehensive gay website, launched in June.

GO MAGAZINE, New York-based lesbian publication, celebrated its 7th anniversary in May.

E. LYNN HARRIS, noted author and teacher, died July 23 in Beverly Hills. He was in the middle of a book tour promoting his 11th novel, “Basketball Jones.” He was 54.

INSTINCT magazine launched a new version of its website INSTINCTMAGAZINE.COM last month.

WILLIAM KAPFER has joined EDGE PUBLICATIONS as executive vice president of community marketing. Most recently, he was co-president of WINDOW MEDIA and publisher of GENRE MAGAZINE.

LAURA KIRITSY, editor in chief of Boston’s BAY WINDOWS, stepped down on July 2 after nine years with the newspaper. Co-publisher SUE O’CONNELL assumed the role of acting editor in chief.

MO MAGAZINE, published by Seattle-based SEASAW PUBLISHING, ceased publication. The two-year-old monthly’s final edition was its July 2009 “Official Seattle Pride Guide” issue.

OUTSMART recently won two of Houston’s Press Club’s annual 2009 Lone Star Awards. OutSmart senior editor and columnist NANCY FORD won second place in the magazine column category. OutSmart also took second place in the magazine layout category. The awards were presented in a June 26 ceremony in Houston.

Q-NOTES, based in Charlotte, N.C., unveiled two new online tools on its website Q-NOTES.COM. One tool helps organizations submit their events listings. The other showcases staff’s audio and video reporting.

MIKE SHER, columnist for BAY AREA REPORTER, died of natural causes on Jan. 13 at his home in Oakland, Calif. He was 65.

SYDNEY STAR OBSERVER, Australia’s first LGBT newspaper, celebrated its 30th anniversary in July. Just under a year ago, the publication launched Melbourne-based SOUTHERN STAR.

MODESTO TICO VALLE has joined GAY CHICAGO MAGAZINE as a contributing writer. Valle is also executive director of Chicago’s LGBT community center, the Center on Halsted.

NEED SOMETHING TRASHY for the back pages of your newspaper? How about a column of gay male X-rated DVD reviews, and exclusive personal interviews with the top porno stars? trashylad@yahoo.com

SEASONED ADVENTURE TRAVEL WRITER ready to design a column to fit your LGBT publication: lavendertraveler@yahoo.com

ON THE WEB. At the Press Pass Q website - www.PressPassQ.com - you'll find back issues and subscription information. Also, at the Q Syndicate website - www.qsyndicate.com - you'll find up-to-date information on the 12 columns and features we distribute to gay and lesbian media: A Couple of Guys, Bitter Girl, Book Marks, Deep Inside Hollywood, Editorial Cartoons, Now Playing, Out of Town, The OutField, Political IQ, Q Puzzle, Q Scopes, and Sex Talk. For information about subscribing to Q Syndicate content, write to qsyndicate@pridesource.com or call toll-free 888-615-7003.

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Publisher: Todd Evans, todd@PressPassQ.com
Editor: Fred Kuhr, editor@PressPassQ.com
Associate Editor: Dave Brousseau, dave@QSyndicate.com
Contributing Writers: Derrik Chinn, Chuck Colbert, Tanya Gulliver, Liz Highleyman, Michael K. Lavers, Matthew Pilecki

CHUCK COLBERT is a freelance journalist based in Cambridge, Mass. He can be reached at crciiiund@aol.com.

MICHAEL K. LAVERS is the Mid-Atlantic Editor for EDGE Publications. His work has appeared on Gay.com and in the New York Blade, the Fire Island News, and other publications across the country. His blog, Boy in Bushwick, can be found at www.bushwickboy.blogspot.com.

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