POLITICS: A smaller but still mighty force?

When national media outlets reported the news earlier this year that there are far fewer lesbians and gay men in the United States than many of us believed, I was disappointed.

I had often heard and assumed to be factual that gay people were 10 percent of the entire population. It turns out that lesbians and gay men are 3.5 percent of adults in the States, while transgender Americans are another 0.3 percent, according to research by the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy at UCLA School of Law.

Instead of more than 30 million of us, there are about 9 million lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents, the research shows.

My first thought while reading the news story was, "OK, so how are the bigots and anti-gay groups going to use this against us?"

I got my answer within 24 hours as the recipient of a mass email from an individual who seizes every opportunity to cast aspersions on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and their fight for equal rights.

THE LIFE: Here comes the bachelorette party

If you venture out after dark any time in June and hear a high-pitched humming, don't be alarmed. In many places it's only the harmless cicadas singing their mating song.

With only six weeks to live, the red-eyed insects take advantage of the warmer temps of spring to get busy and lay their eggs.Some cicadas are expected to be hooking up until the start of summer on June 21.

But if you're in a gayborhood and hear the same sound, take cover. You may be under attack.

Swarms of buzzing, often shrieking, bachelorette parties are known to descend in June and July. Determined to celebrate the last nights of freedom (if you're the glass-half-empty type) of their veiled leader, the groups alight in gay bars to drink, laugh, dance, flirt, whoop it up and be photographed in drunken circus contortions with male strippers.

It's all good clean fun, right? As my friend Michael J. pointed out, the women are comfortable with gay men and isn't it wonderful we all get along and hang out together?

POLITICS: The power of green

Green is only one of the colors in the gay rainbow flag, but it's often the most influential color for bringing about change.

Right or wrong, good or bad, green (money) talks and gets people moving.

Orbitz, the online travel company, announced on June 9 it is reviewing its policy about advertising on Fox News Channel and other networks known for anti-LGBT content. The decision comes after news that Orbitz advertised on Fox sparked a public outcry among gay rights groups.

A conversation between The Courage Campaign and Orbitz was also instrumental in the decision, according to a written statement from Brian Hoyt, an Orbitz executive.

"Orbitz has a longstanding record within the LGBT and allies community who recognize us as a company which embraces tolerance, nondiscrimination and equality not only with our words but with our actions," Hoyt said. "That is best shown by our policies and our longstanding partnerships with many national LGBT leaders."

It's a noble statement -- one I appreciate. Of course there's a financial component as well.

THE LIFE: A decade of Manhunt



Jonathan Crutchley, co-founder of Manhunt.net, poses with New York City
bartenders and Manhunt models.

 For 10 years Jonathan Crutchley has equipped and supported gay men in their favorite sport -- the hunt.

As a part owner of Manhunt.net, Crutchley, his co-founding partner Larry Basile, and 100 employees based in Cambridge, Mass.,  provide an outlet for men to connect and possibly meet one another. The hookup site, which is how Jonathan describes it, marked its first decade of operation in April.

During the past six years, the Manhunt team has traveled and worked to extend its reach globally. It's been translated into about eight languages and can be used in 100 countries. With nearly 2 million active accounts, it's one of the leading social networking sites for gay men, but growing the company beyond the U.S. hasn't been all fun and games.

The first attempt to expand into a foreign country in 2005 "bombed," Jonathan said.

POLITICS: 'No More Mr. Nice Gay!'

Two reactions were palpable in the days, weeks and months following California voters' approval of a same-sex marriage ban in 2008.

Disappointment, then anger.

A phrase scrawled on signs and often shouted at demonstrations for marriage equality was "No More Mr. Nice Gay!"

Many gay men were, and still are, angry that once again they were denied a right because of their sexual orientation. With that single phrase, they sent a message to supporters of Proposition 8 that the ban would not be tolerated without a fight.

It was more than a threat against an opponent; it was a rallying cry for lesbians and gay men to express their anger in a constructive way.

Anger became passionate activism for some. It's the kind of activism screenwriter and producer Del Shores explores in his art and practices in his life.

THE MOVIES: 'Eating Out' serves up two new courses



The cast of "Eating Out" on location at the Triangle Inn in Palm Springs, Ca.
 (photographer Michael Green)

 The other night I walked into the middle of what I imagine to be many gay men's fantasy.

I'm standing poolside as the sun is going down and a group of young men and a girl stands chatting at the other end. They look to be in their 20s.

Then the tall, tan, beautiful brunette boy in the black Speedo trips and stumbles into the waifish blond boy wearing a T-shirt and shorts. He smiles, pretending to be drunk. I know where a smile like that leads.

On the other side of the pool two guys in tiny swimsuits stand mere inches apart as they caress one another and look into each other's eyes. The photographer recording the encounter must've snapped the money shot, because the boys part and head for the warmth of a hotel room.

A woman approaches the first group from a nearby room and drapes a towel over the brunette's shoulders.

The spell is broken as the scene rehearsal and the photo shoot end. The cast of the fifth "Eating Out" film takes a break while the crew sets up for a night shoot at the Triangle Inn in Palm Springs, Ca.

HEALTH: Are you at risk for anal cancer?

You've stepped on the scale, had your blood pressure checked, maybe even had some blood drawn for a medical test.

But for sexually active gay men, the exam isn't complete until the doctor is asked one important question:

"Am I at risk for anal dysplasia?"


The pre-cancerous condition known as anal dysplasia (pronounced dis-pley-zhuh) is present in 56 percent of men who have sex with men, according to the AIDS Education and Training Centers National Resource Center.  The origin of the disease is unprotected anal intercourse with someone who has human papillomavirus (HPV), which is present in 93 percent of men who have sex with men, according to resource center data.

The HPV infection prevents cells from making the proteins that protect the anus from dysplasia and cancer.

Similar to cervical dysplasia found in women, anal dysplasia is the clustering of infected cells in the lining of the anal canal. These cells form lesions which can lead to anal cancer if left undetected and untreated.

PASSIONS: Let the music play or pay

DJ Victor Rodriguez prefers the warmth of vinyl to the crisp, clear sound
of digital music.

When was the last time you dusted off classic Elton and put him on for a spin?

Or cranked Michael Jackson so loud the music bounced "Off the Wall"?

Remember allowing Richard and Karen Carpenter to get "Close to You"?

Unless you've downloaded digital versions, it's probably been awhile since you've heard this music. For many fans who fell in love with it when it was released on vinyl, their favorite albums now accumulate dust in storage.

Ever wonder what to do with all of those albums you never play anymore?

DJ Victor Rodriguez has a few ideas. Music has been his passion and profession for years, and he has a collection of 10,000 LPs to support them.

RELATIONSHIPS: December seeks May for romance

I have a confession to make: I've been extremely judgmental of gay couples with a huge age disparity.

I've often seen a guy in his 40s or 50s with a boyfriend in his 20s and thought their coupling was the manifestation of one psychological complex or another. You know the textbook cases --  the older man has a "daddy" complex and wants someone young to idolize him or to control; the younger guy seeks a loving replacement for a distant father or someone established and richer to take care of him.

The sexual appeal of Mr. May's dewy, taut flesh and Energizer Bunny stamina was another obvious attraction I identified for Mr. December. (I'm so wise and generous).

And yes, I've considered they could be in love. I'm not so jaded that I ruled it out altogether. I just thought it highly unlikely.

But today I pressed pause on "What's Love Got To Do With It?"

It dawned on me as I was driving home from my Spanish lesson that a huge part of the appeal of May-December relationships for older guys could be this idea of a romantic love.

THE LIFE: Social networking in the 21st century

Edison Farrow has what many may consider a dream job.

At least three nights a week -- and a couple of extra nights a month -- he hosts a party for gay Miami at some of the city's most glamorous and trendy hot spots. There's The Simple Life each Thursday, Hype on Fridays, Jump every Sunday, Martini Tuesdays once a month, and a new monthly event called Plastic is in the works.



Edison Farrow, SoBeSocial Club founder


But Edison's duties go beyond hosting. As the one-man force behind SoBeSocial Club (http://www.sobesocialclub.com/),  it's also his business to organize and promote the events. His duties include designing the fliers and website, and booking venues and performers.

It all started 10 years ago with Martini Tuesdays, a weekly gathering of a few friends at that time.

"It was never meant to be an 'event' and I never planned to become a promoter," Edison said. "I called 10 friends with the idea to meet at a chic hotel bar once a week. It grew and grew and by the fifth week, seven people were attending."

Today,depending on the event and venue, attendance ranges from 200 to 1,000 people, he said.

THE LIFE: Terms of endearment or entrapment

I've always understood as a journalist that you can ask anyone about anything -- without causing a "Real Housewives" table-flipping, neck-rolling, wig-tugging scene. It's all about how you ask the question.

The key is to get across to the person you're interviewing your intention behind the deeply personal, potentially embarrassing probe -- through your tone of voice, facial expression, body language and lead-in questions.

* Senator Craig, when did you first realize you had a talent for tap-dancing in small spaces?

All of the best interviewers have a pose or mannerism they use to ask tough questions, but above all, having a genuine interest in the answer is paramount to getting at the truth.

It's a theory I often apply in my non-work life. I like asking questions but not in a way that makes the person I'm asking uncomfortable to answer honestly.

It's something gay men have done throughout our history.

HISTORY: The ball goes on for unlikely activists



A participant in a Gay Mardi Gras ball takes the stage in an elaborate
costume. The men often make their own showstopping ensembles,
using a backpack as the foundation to balance and carry their large
Vegas-style headpieces.







Before Stonewall erupted in 1969, bringing national attention to anti-gay discrimination and police harassment in New York, there were groups of young men in New Orleans primping, parading and performing their way into history as civil rights activists.



These men used the art of drag and Mardi Gras to form clubs – also known as krewes – which allowed them and other gay men to be themselves and bond as a community. In 1962 Petronius was the first gay krewe to apply for and be granted a charter, like other clubs in the city.

Each year the krewes hosted Gay Mardi Gras balls, elaborate send-ups of high society’s Carnival celebration. The balls became a popular tradition in the city’s French Quarter, despite the law against cross-dressing.

The only time drag was legally allowed in New Orleans in the 1950s and '60s was during Mardi Gras. Even then, a costume had to have at least one item of men’s clothing and it couldn’t be worn after dark. It was not uncommon for balls to be the target of police raids, but the men were persistent.

In his first feature-length documentary, “The Sons of Tennessee Williams” (www.exposureroom.com/sonsofTWtrailer), filmmaker Tim Wolff reveals how the balls evolved from being “criminal activity” to being a cultural phenomenon that attracts gay and straight people. The film, which had two sold-out screenings this month at the Palm Springs International Film Festival (http://www.psfilmfest.org/), also takes viewers on an inspiring, humorous journey through New Orleans' gay history.

RELATIONSHIPS: Oh brother, you're gay too?





The Cohan brothers from about 1970 (left to right): David, Dan and Gary





When David Cohan came out to his family a year after college, he already had an ally within the fold who could identify with his struggle and offer guidance -- only David didn't realize it at the time.

He was the youngest of three sons in a middle-class Jewish American family in Philadelphia. After coming out he learned from friends that his brother Gary, the middle son, also was gay. Though they were not particularly close, having a gay sibling freed David from the sense of "aloneness" many gay men feel when they come out to their families. It helps that there's someone else who understands the experience and the family dynamic.

For those of us who don't have a close gay relative, there's a curiosity about what it would be like to have a gay brother to give advice and support, and show us the ropes.

David shares his experience with THE WILL DEAN SHOW, emphasizing that each family's situation is different and every sibling's perspective is unique. For example, after David came out to himself he realized his brother might be gay, but Gary hadn't said it.