CinCinnati

September / October 2015

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The arts Issue

Unite Magazine | 1

table of contents
PUBLISHER Michael A. Monks
Editor - in-chief Chuck Beatty
MANAGING Editor Jerod Theobald
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Chad Turner

CONTRIBUTORs
Myles Bell, Steve Bolia, Rob Bucher, Michael Chanak,
Ron Clemons, Bernard Luna Curioso, Sean Howley,
Zach Richardson, Jen Short, Bree Singler,
Shannon Smith, e.E. Charlton Trujillo
NATIONAL ADVERTISING
Rivendell Media-908.232.2021
Sales
Chuck Beatty-513.813.8246
Cover photo:

FEATURE- ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

LINDSEY AUGUSTA MERCER

ERIN MCCAMLEY
DARNELL PIERRE BENJAMIN
WILL REED
MATTHEW WILSON
DARYL BJOZA GOLDSTEIN &
RENE MICHEO GOLDSTEIN

COMMUNITY
UNITE NEWS
THE GAY CHEERS
POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

14
15
17
18
19
20
4
12
13

BUSINESS
BUILDING CLIENT LOYALTY
LGBT BUSINESS DIRECTORY

6
30

unitecinci

HEALTH & FITNESS

LIFELONG WELLNESS
PADDLE BOARDING MEDITATION
LGBT OHIOIANS GET COVERED

8
9
11

@unitecinci

STYLE
SUMMER OUTFITS FOR FALL

28

Jesse Byerly- JDBY.tumblr.com

www.unitemag.com/cincinnati

unitecinci

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A&E
FILM AS ART
22
THE RAW VIEW
23
AKRON PREMIER 24
THEATER LISTINGS
25

Letter From The

Publisher
Think about how many people on any given Friday night are
driving on Interstate 75 and take that curve in Covington that
suddenly reveals the bright lights of the Cincinnati skyline.
Its an experience that never gets old for those of us who are
fortunate enough to live here.
Many of those drivers are probably just passing through,
crossing the Brent Spence Bridge and heading to their own
corners of the world. But for those of us who are taking the
exit ramps to Clifton, Downtown, Covington, and other local
destinations because we call this place home, we know that the
sight of those city lights do more than temporarily excite an
otherwise boring drive on the highway. Those lights illuminate
a thriving community blessed with the vibrancy reserved for a
select few cities.
Just as the Broadway marquees and Hollywood spotlights
represent the heights of artistic success, so too do the lights
that shine upon the arts scene of Cincinnati. The nighttime air
can be filled with the notes played by the Kentucky Symphony, echoing from the hills of Devou Park to Washington Park
in Over-the-Rhine, in the shadow of that iconic home of the
citys artistic history, Music Hall, where the Cincinnati Opera
brings an audience to tears.
From worldclass ballet and symphony to Tony Award-winning
regional theatre and the best of the Broadway tours, Cincinnati has all the offerings any world class city could want from
its arts scene. On a smaller scale, artists are creating their own
works and interpreting others on streets and inside revitalized
or creatively-used spaces across the region. Students are paving
their paths to New York City and Los Angles (or just around
the corner where they will build something) at some of the
best university programs anywhere.
Long before developers and investors saw the potential and
need for a newly re-imagined urban core, the artists of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky were already here, painting,
singing, dancing, writing, playing, creating, and loving a city
that shines so bright.
Cincinnatis proud skyline and its tempting lights will lead
visitors to the heart of the city, but it is in the theaters, the
galleries, the halls, the parks, and wherever art is being created
that one will discover its soul.
Play on, Cincinnati.

Unite Magazine | 3

Unite News
Writing as Art

by Michael "Goose" Chanak

Unite CinCinnati

In the fifth grade, my teachers at Whittier Elementary in

my home town of Massillon, Ohio told my folks I would
never learn to read or write. A lot of my friends dont know
this story of my early life but, I was tutored every summer
between the grades through the fifth. My first grade teacher,
Miss Ray told my folks the other teachers believed a foreign
language was spoken in my home. Please understand with an
odd name like Chanak anglicized by custom officials when
my grandparents came over from Greece was pretty suspect
during the cold war paranoia of the 1950s. My student peers
were Moore, Alexander, Smith - you know all very American
sounding. No real hope was given. I just muddled through
until about the 11th grade when I met Mr. Charles V. Carlson, my speech teacher who somehow got me to spark.
Even still, after deciding to go to college half way through
my senior year, it wasnt easy. Truth is, I just about flunked
my first quarter of freshman English at the Kent State
University Stark County Branch in the fall of 1967. I spent
hours in a young graduate students office, Miss Ford, who
coached and tutored me. Bit by bit, by the time I had finished my third quarter of English composition I had begun
to earn As. Only a few folks know this about me in Greater
Cincinnati, yet by todays standards there is no question I
have a very different cognitive style than most and some
would say this was a learning disability. Today, I am thankful to have been raised in an era of few clinical labels and
over analysis. I cant even begin to image the labels I would
have earned from the experts.
Oddly, I had resisted writing in gay publications until about
11 years ago when the former editor of the old GLBTQ
news Bruce Beisner (published by the late Worley E. Rodehaver) asked me to write a column called Out of the Past.
I didnt like the title much and it morphed over time as did
my writing gigs from local to regional publications. Add in
a dash of local queer media, radio and cable television and
some cameos on This Way Out (national radio program)
the kid that could not learn, learned well.
I now realize that the exercise of organizing, thesis statement,
paragraphing and writing and rewriting not only organized
my mind, but helped me find me voice. I am still shocked
when someone approaches me and says you wrote about
something I felt.

4 | Unite Magazine

Writing is an art. It is art that helped heal me. It is an art that

Miss Ford, Miss Ray, Mr. Brubaker, Mr. Carlson and yes,
even a student teacher Miss Martin tried to teach me. I didnt
really know why Miss Martin and I both cried when we last
saw each other so many years ago. It wasnt because we never
saw each other again. No, I think something was shared, a
human experience that I learned, the art of writing.

Twenty-Five Years to
Enlightenment
by Ron Clemons

Unite CinCinnati
The book, Fifty Shades of Gray, brought the world a brief and
inaccurate glimpse into the world of Leather and Kink. In
spite of its inaccuracies, the book seemed to be an attempt to
bring the topic to the forefront so that people would not only
discuss the book but also give people permission to explore
fantasies that many have kept in the dark recesses of their sexual imaginations. The interesting thing about the book is that
it made it appear that Kink, BDSM and Leather are activities
that are still left secret as many will still misunderstand the
activities and the mindset that leads someone to explore and
play in this place of myth, misinformation and misunderstanding.
While the book centered on the dynamic between a straight
man and woman, the world of Leather, Kink and BDSM has
very much been a part of the LGBGTQ community since as
early as the 1940s. Gay service men, returning home and not
feeling a part of the stereotyped image of the gay man at the
time, began to form Motorcycle clubs as a way to maintain
and emphasize the masculinity of gay men. Choosing iconic
images such as James Dean in Levis and a leather jacket, the
men embraced a rugged individuality that over time morphed
into the Leather community we see today. Even the Cincinnati Gay Community, with its conservative, sexual bent, has had
a thriving leather community. Cin-City was the first Leather
Club in Cincinnati. When I moved here, the club was already
in existence.While Leather was part of the community, at the
time, it wasnt an accepted part of the community. There was
only one bar that allowed leather and that was Bandlands.
In the early 80s, two bars, Spurs and the Dock, were opened
and both were billed as Leather bars. Soon, the Leather scene
began to take hold and more leather clubs emerged. Cincinnati Chaps and Tri-State Wolf Pack were two more groups that
added yet another flavor to the mix.

bury their loved ones. In the late 902s, The Serpent opened
in Northside and the Leather Community began to emerge
from its grief. Due to the loss of members and the inability to recruit new members, the established leather clubs
continued to fade into the background. This period of time,
in essence marked some very dark days in Cincinnati. Not
only was there the black eye of the Mapplethorpe dust up,
Cincinnati went on to write discrimination into its policies
with the approval of Article 12, which basically stated no
laws would be passed that gave homosexuals special rights,
also known as equal rights. In 2000, Nigel Cotteril and Andrew Keisker started a Leather Contest called, Mr. Tri-State
Leather, which would have an extremely successful four
year run. Mike Taylor, the first Mr. Tri-State Leather went
on to win the international title of Mr. International Leather
that year. The last Tri-State Leather contest of that era was
2004.
In the past 25 years, Cincinnati has witnessed a resurgence
of both the general LGBTQ community and the Leather
community. Scorpius of Cincinnati was formed in 2006
and ultimately would be the organization that would bring
back the Mr. Tri-State Leather contest and many of the
Leather centered bar nights and fundraisers we enjoy today.
Now, we not only have leather but we also have Pups, Rubber, Pansexual, Furries and a host of other identities residing
within the kink community. Tri-State Leather is going into
its 6th year of its most recent incarnation. It is very fitting
that this year, the 25th anniversary of the Mapplethorpe/
CAC controversy, The Tri-State Leather contest will be held
in November at the Contemporary Arts Center.

It was also about this time, the mid- 80s, the photographer,
Robert Mapplethorpe would make Cincinnati the focus of
worldwide attention. His photo exhibition, The Perfect
Moment, was scheduled to open at the Contemporary Arts.
Some of the pieces in his exhibition were what we now call
selfies. They were pictures of him in leather or images that depicted his passion for BDSM. Those images, along with some
others, caught the ire of the County Sheriff and the Director
of the CAC was arrested on an obscenity charge. There were
marches and protests leading up to and during his trial. He
was ultimately acquitted; the images were moved to a separate
room that required an entry age of 18, the CAC had a record
number of attendees for the show and Cincinnati became
the joke of the nation. This was also the time that Cincinnati
started to see the first cases of AIDS and unfortunately, many
of the men in the leather community were lost. The Leather
community grew silent as its members rallied to care for and

Unite Magazine | 5

Business

Building Client Loyalty

by Shannon C. Smith, Esq

Unite CinCinnati
The importance of client loyalty is obvious, what isnt is the
value of it. Attracting new customers costs significantly more
than maintaining the current. You may be familiar with this
statistic: 80% of a companys future revenue will come from
just 20% of existing customers. Even more, according to Bain
and Co., a 5% increase in customer retention can increase a
companys profitability by 75%. Client loyalty is a no brainer
how to encourage loyalty, however, requires a bit more of your
gray matter. Consider the following tips to build and maintain
client loyalty:
Communication
Client loyalty is established at each interaction your brand has
with a customer, so have heightened awareness of your communications and be sure to give clients both a human and digital
experience.
1. Get Personal
With the increase in technology, more and more customers are
receiving digital as opposed to a human experience. There is
an entire website dedicated to listing customer support phone
numbers that reach a human gethuman.com. Lesson: attempt
to reach customers on a personal level, then deepen that relationship through the technological sphere.
(Note: This is not to say technology has not brought us wonderful things. For example, if you have not done so already, ask
Siri what 0 divided by 0 is. I laugh every time.)
How do you get personal? Try to have more face to face interaction with customers or, at the least, speak with them over the
phone rather than through email or text. Host an open house,
a golf outing or just find a way to mingle and have a good time
with your customers.
2. Technology
Technology provides a cost effective way to reach a great
amount of people and an easy way to create a personal experience. Clients who identify with the content of communications are more likely to be loyal and share their positive
experience. A few great tools to utilize and increase your digital
footprint:
Mail Chimp: This platform allows you to maintain a large
database of clients and send personalized newsletters to current
clients and track open rates. It also gives you the ability to see
which links (if any) in your newsletter receive the most clicks.

6 | Unite Magazine

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: These social media platforms

afford daily opportunities to reinforce your brand by providing you the ability to both support and assist customers.
Respond to customers, send shout outs to loyal customers,
like pictures that they post, support their cause, partner with
local businesses to information share or do giveaways, etc.
Flock: This application allows you to design your brand
and create as well as manage loyalty reward programs. The
program even has the ability to send a message to customers
just for walking in the door of your store, Welcome Back!
Pretty cool.
Customer Service
See my novel from the last issue. I decided to dedicate an
entire article to this which tells of its importance. According to (Forbes), 71% of customers who ended a business
relationship did so because of a poor customer service experience. Grab our previous issue for some detailed tips on
improving customer service.
Build Employee Loyalty
A satisfied employee leads to a satisfied customer. Satisfied
employees can be your greatest brand ambassadors and
help grow your business - never forget that. I would suggest
to ensure the satisfaction of employees by getting a pulse
check. Meet with them frequently to ensure they understand
their role, your product, and how important they are to
you and the business. Be sure not to just tell them they are
important, be sure to show them.
Incentives
Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Love is gained
and loyalty is returned. Consider giving discounts to return
customers. Open the store only for your best customers to
get a sneak peak, invite them to an open house, or even use
a point program. Loyalty programs work. I am proof! I go
to Speedway because of the rewards and free items. (Not to
toot my own horn but I have about 32,000 Speedway points
and I frequently get free Gatorades. Eat your heart out BP!)
Sometimes you have to give to get. Shanfucious says,give
incentive, see customer return.
Reliability
This attribute is self-explanatory. Deliver a quality product
on time, every time. A reliable product and delivery will
result in return customers.

Unite Magazine | 7

Health & Fitness

Lifelong Wellness: A Balancing Act
by Bree Singler, CTP
Unite CinCinnati

What does being well mean to you? As we explore the following seven dimensions that make up what I consider total
wellness, be honest with yourself. Ask yourself the questions
under each heading to begin to discover your balance.
#1 Emotional
Where does your stress come from? Is this stress spilling
over and affecting other areas of your life? What steps are
you taking to reduce your stress? Stress, and how we handle
it, is a huge factor when it comes to our emotional wellness.
By becoming more aware and attentive to our feelings (both
positive and negative), we can be more emotionally prepared
to handle the stresses in our lives.
Wellness Tip: Get a calendar and use it! By practicing better time
management, we can keep procrastination (and unnecessary stress)
at bay.
#2 Intellectual
When is the last time you learned something new? How often
do you interact with those who have differing views/opinions?
Just as we strengthen our physical bodies with exercise, so
must we exercise our minds. Think of yourself as a student of
life, continuously learning. There is a reason that we associate wisdom with our elders. Intellectual wellness is a lifelong
journey. The more we see, experience, and learn, the more
intellectually well we can be.
Wellness Tip: Make it your goal to learn something new daily!
#3 Environmental
Do you make a conscious effort to reduce, reuse, and recycle?
Are you aware of your surroundings? Do you volunteer any of
your time to causes which help the environment? Whether we
pay much attention to it or not, we are in a continuous relationship with the environment. Both the earth as a whole and
our day to day environments are a part of our environmental
wellness.
Wellness Tip: When possible, carpool with your friends/coworkers.
Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it is great bonding
time and will benefit your social wellness.

8 | Unite Magazine

#4 Social
Do you have close, meaningful relationships with your
friends and family? Are you an active and engaged member
of your community? Do you have a support system and
sounding board in the confines of a close group of friends?
No matter what age group you fall into, your social interactions (or lack thereof ) play a key role in your total wellness.
Wellness Tip: Set aside one Saturday a month for volunteer
work. Some of the best friendships and relationships are formed
when working towards a common purpose. Bonus: Helping
others FEELS GOOD.
#5 Occupational
Do you enjoy going to work? Is your boss approachable and
willing to give advice? Do you feel as though your efforts at
work are acknowledged? As adults, we spend the majority
of our days at work. For some of us, work is fulfilling and
a source of happiness. For others, work is, lets just say less
than satisfying. Being able to utilize our passions, experiences, and skill sets goes a long way in improving our satisfaction at work, and therefore our occupational wellness.
Wellness Tip: Dont be a negative Nancy. Maintaining a positive attitude is an invaluable skill. Positivity is contagious!
#6 Spiritual
Do you make time for regular personal time, prayer, or meditation? Do you find that your actions are guided by a set or
morals or beliefs? Though one may make you instantly think
of the other, spirituality and religion are not synonymous.
Spirituality is the very personal connection which gives religion meaning. While some people are more aware of their
spirituality than others, spiritual well-being is a crucial part
of having a balanced and fulfilling life.
Wellness Tip: Get outside. Being in nature is a sure fire way
to disconnect from technology and reconnect with yourself. I
always feel the most spiritually charged when I am out in Gods
marvelous creation.

Paddle Boarding Meditation

by Steve Bolia
Unite CinCinnati

We just finished our annual Healthy Living Retreat in Key

West. Even though we are the facilitators, we always leave the
retreat so fired up about our own lives. The attendees start the
weekend with some apprehensions, but with each hour of our
time together we see some of their walls come down and lights
go on about how they can make changes in their lives starting
with the present moment.
Watching others get fired up about their lives and the possibilities that await them makes us want to take the next step in
our own lives. With that in mind, the next day we challenged
ourselves. We signed up to go paddle boarding through the
mangrove trees. Just making the reservation brought up feelings of FEAR! I had only been on a paddle board once before,
for 20 minutes on a man-made lake. I love the ocean and have
great reverence for it, but usually I admire it from the beach or
a boat. Now, I was about to dive right in! I was facing some
big fears, but I really wanted to do it.
Our guide drove us to a small Key about 30 minutes east of
Key West a spectacular spot where the shallow waters of the
mangroves meet the ocean. As he put the boards in the water,
he instructed us to climb on and begin by resting on, our knees
in the center of the board. Once again, FEAR arose in the center of my chest, so I turned to my practices and I kept reminding myself of the meditation techniques we had been teaching
all weekend: to breathe and to look at the beauty around me.
Then, we were instructed to stand up. The feeling of the earth
moving, or in this case the board, was enough to bring me
back to FEAR, but I turned to my breath and stood up!
As we maneuvered through the mangrove, I realized it was
the perfect opportunity for me to continue my meditation. As
FEAR would appear and my mind would start to race with a
bunch of what ifs, I would remind myself to breathe. This
allowed me to look around at the fish in the crystal clear water
and the magnificent mangrove trees that surrounded us.
I reminded myself, Im not out here alone. I had a capable guide
who was patient and always attentive and ready to help just
like our inner guide that helps us in meditation and in life.
Much of what I was afraid of, was only in my head. When I
took the time to breathe and relax, I was able to be in the moment and enjoy the experience
Who knew a two-hour paddle boarding tour in the Florida
Keys would deepen my own meditation practice? Our breath
is like the waves of the ocean. It comes in and goes out. We
take it in and let go. Meditationgive it a try!

Unite Magazine | 9

10 | Unite Magazine

Health & Fitness

Affordable Care Act Helps LGBT
Ohioians Get Covered
by Myles Bell
Unite CinCinnati

Lately there has been a lot of progress to celebrate for the

LGBT community, most notably with Cincinnati resident
Jim Obergefells victory in front of the Supreme Court that
opened the door for marriage equality nationwide. But one
tremendous advancement for the LGBT community that
shouldnt be overlooked is improved access to health care
under the Affordable Care Act.
The law has expanded access to quality, affordable health
coverage options to everyone, and it included specific benefits
and protections for the LGBT community. As a result, the
uninsured rate for lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults has been
almost cut in half since the middle of 2013 according to an
Urban Institute study. This is critical because LGBT Ohioans
face unique health challenges and experience a disproportionate amount of homelessness; mental health challenges;
breast and cervical cancer; HIV and other STIs; obesity; and
tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use. Having health coverage
is vital to having a healthy community and closing the gap of
these troubling statistics.
I know firsthand the importance of having health coverage. I
am young, and I am gay two demographics that have higher
uninsured rates and often have the mindset that they can go
without coverage. But I now know the peace of mind and
financial security that comes with having health coverage. Last
year, I got sick, was hospitalized and had to have X-rays, ultrasounds, and an MRI. Luckily, I had insurance and was able to
afford the care I needed.
But many uninsured or underinsured Ohioans rack up enormous medical debt because of unexpected illnesses or injuries,
or they forego needed care altogether. However, these Ohioans now have options for quality, affordable health coverage.

services, and insurance companies cannot deny transgender

Ohioans free preventive services they need, regardless of their
sex assigned at birth, their gender identity, or their recorded
gender.
Open enrollment through the Health Insurance Marketplace
begins November 1, 2015 and runs through January 31,
2016. During that time Ohioans have the chance to shop for
health plans and find the one that is right for their budget
and health needs. Financial help is available to help pay for
your plan and most people are eligible to lower their monthly
premiums. In fact, around 85% of Ohioans enrolled in plans
through the Marketplace got financial help. Additionally,
many more Ohioans are now eligible for Medicaid through
the states expanded Medicaid program which has year round
enrollment.
There are opportunities to enroll through the Marketplace
outside of the open enrollment period if youve experienced
a qualifying life event - including getting married! Other
qualifying events include moving to a different coverage area,
having a baby, and becoming a citizen, among others.
Free, unbiased in-person enrollment assistance is available to
help you understand all of your options and make the best
health care decision. And the people certified to help you pick
a plan must go through LGBT competency training as part of
their certification process.
To find out more about your health care options and schedule
an appointment with a local enrollment assister you can visit
connector.getcoveredamerica.org or contact a the Get Covered America Cincinnati office at 513-667-2304.

Under the Affordable Care Act there are historic new benefits
and protections for the LGBT community. People cannot be
denied coverage because of sexual orientation, gender identity
or gender expression and can no longer be denied coverage or
charged more because of a preexisting condition like HIV or
cancer. Additionally, annual and lifetime caps on coverage are
now prohibited, so patients can get the care they need without
worrying about running into these barriers.
All plans must cover ten essential health benefits such as prescription medications, emergency room visits, and preventive

Unite Magazine | 11

Community

"THE GAY 'CHEERS':

ON BROADWAY CELEBRATES 10 YEARS DOWNTOWN

by Michael Monks
Unite CinCinnati
We are the no frills dive bar. Were the gay Cheers,
laughs Randy Bridges, sitting on the patio hidden in
the shadow of the surrounding downtown buildings
that tower over On Broadway, the hidden gay bar
where everybody knows your name, now celebrating
its tenth year in business. Its where old friends come
to meet new friends and where good friends come to
have fun.
There is nothing fancy about On Broadway (817
Broadway Street, Downtown). It is a standard gay
bar that maintains a throwback feel to a time when
gay bars were more easily defined. There are kitschy
T-shirts for sale with sexual innuendo emblazoned
upon them, a rack of gay-oriented magazines (including UNiTE), and long bar that stretches three-quarters
of the way down the narrow room surrounded by mirrored walls with a small stage in the corner. The stage
is often filled with drag performers or karaoke singers
or dancers.
Though it maintains a gay identity, Bridges says that
On Broadway has also seen the trend of more straight
people hanging out even without their gay friends. I
think we started out as a gay bar but the last few years
weve seen a huge increase of straight people coming
into the bar without gay people, he says. Ten years
ago I dont think I could imagine two straight guys going into a gay bar by themselves. Its really great to see
and I hope there comes a time when people just quit
worrying about whos gay and whos not.
The welcoming nature of the bar is what has made On
Broadway work, Bridges says. For decades this tiny
downtown space has been a bar called On Broadway
with a long list of owners and identities, but ten years
12 | Unite Magazine

ago when Bridges took over, the bar found its way. After all, gays and Broadway have a long history together,
so the name alone was pretty much perfect for this
type of establishment. What followed, was a wide range
of people looking for a casual place to drink, talk, and
get to know one another.
Best of all, Bridges says, the customers take care of
each other.
Weve been there for people, Bridges says. Fundraisers and weekly pot lucks benefit friends in need or
community organizations. The customers are very
kind and generous people and Ive been lucky enough
that they have supported me.
On Broadway is also home to Mr. Cincinnati Leather
and Tri-State Leather, but its also home to a true mix
of customers. We are the Island of Misfit Toys, Bridges laughs. We have no fancy drinks, people dont have
to dress up, people just feel comfortable coming here.
Were just accustomed to making people feel welcome.
For Bridges, an attraction to the bar scene in Cincinnati started early for him too early. He recalls sneaking
into the Badlands, a former gay dance club popular
in the 1980s, before he was old enough to be permitted inside legally. One night, the clubs coat check guy
failed to show, and though Bridges was just 17, his
eagerness landed him the job.
Hes been in the bar scene ever since.
Now with a decade under his belt at On Broadway,
Bridges enjoys watching the renaissance of downtown

Cincinnati, an area that not long ago still rolled up its

streets after 5 p.m. Now with a casino a stones throw
away, new riverfront attractions, and a revitalized Overthe-Rhine, more people are staying downtown longer.
I think Cincinnati is awesome. Are we perfect? No,
but I dont think youll find anywhere that is perfect,
Bridges says. But were heading in the right direction.
We weather through and hope for a better city.

UNITE Positive Experience

by Zack Richardson
Unite CinCinnati
Ive been transitioning from female to male for about four
years now. While it hasnt been easy, Ive had many surprisingly positive experiences. These experiences have helped give
me hope, courage and confidence in my transition. I hope
that by sharing these positive experiences, they can do the
same for others.
For example, I recently ran into a gentleman named also
named Zack. Wed only met once before, but that meeting
played a huge role in my life and transition. Zack taught me
how to shave!
After a year on testosterone, the time came for my first shave.
Now Im not sure what this experience is like for others, but I
was feeling neither comfortable nor confident about taking a
razor to my face! Then I remembered a new store had opened
at Kenwood Towne Center called The Art of Shaving.
Zack was the salesman who greeted and helped me. I was
up front with him about why I was there and explained I
was transitioning and had never shaved before. He not only
helped me find the right products for my skin, he took the
time to show me how to use them as well. Using the backs of
our hands, instead of faces, he taught me how to shave right
there in the store.
His kindness and lack of judgment made an experience that
easily couldve gone bad a pleasant and unforgettable one. I
was just one of many customers to have been helped by Zack,
so it was a pleasant surprise when he greeted me. His remembering me all these years later leads me to
believe he realized our interaction was
a special personal one for me in my
transition. For that, I thank him.

www.Unitemag.com/cincinnati

I hope to share more experiences

like this, and not just mine. If
youve had a pleasant experience
as an LGBTQ person that youd
like to share, please email me at
zack.richardson85@gmail.com.

Unite Magazine | 13

ARTIST SPOT LIGHT

Lindsey Augusta Mercer

by Rob Bucher
Unite CinCinnati

Lindsey Augusta Mercer discovered her love for directing at

the age of eight. Movie directing that is. Armed with her familys video camera, Mercer made funny movies with friends in
the basement of her Cleveland home.

glingor even kids in college who arent 21 yet and cant

come. Options are being investigated. Long term, she would
love to continue the staged readings and also offer a season of
fully-staged productions.

It wasnt until the age of 13 that what she describes as a

crazy, unhealthy, obsession with theater began on a family
vacation. The first nights entertainment on that Caribbean
Cruise was a musical review. It was Lindesys first theatrical
experience and she was enamored.

When it comes to both acting and directing, Mercer is drawn

to the subtleties of a work. I appreciate when a playwright
can nuance their work, and their characters, with human
experiences that we get through the way they crafted the
story, without having to be
directly told. I like when
thats done in a graceful
and poetic way. She finds
herself drawn to works that
are socially progressive,
feature strong female characters, and challenge her as
an artist.

Originally drawn to performing in

musicals, her interests as an artist
evolved as she learned more about
the craft. An interest she pursued
at Baldwin-Wallace University
(Berea, Oh.) where she received
her BA in Theatre, Music and
History.
During her time there, Lindsey
met and fell in love with her
now-fianc, Erin McCamley.
They continued their relationship
long distance for a year as Mercer finished her degree. During
her visits to Erin in Cincinnati,
Lindsey was excited to discover the
citys thriving arts community and
she realized that not only could
the two have a geographical home
together here, but an artistic home
as well.
Arriving in Cincinnati in the fall
of 2013, Mercers focus was establishing herself locally as a director.
Serving as the Resident Assistant
Director for Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, she also quickly
landed directing gigs with New
Edgecliff Theatre and Diogenes
Theatre Company. Her acclaimed
work quickly led to even more directing opportunities.
In November of 2014, Mercer and a group of other passionate artists established the Queen City Queer Theatre Collective. Every second Monday, it produces a staged reading,
performed by a whos who of the areas best local actors. A
short term goal for the group is the ability to reach an audience under the age of 21, which their current performance
space in a bar prevents. We feel like our cause of trying to
normalize the queer experience on stage needs to reach that
demographic of young kids in high school who may be strug-

14 | Unite Magazine

Mercer, now 24, recently

returned to the stage in
HUNDRED DAYS at
Know Theatre of Cincinnati as a vocalist and playing
bass synth and guitar. The
folk rock odyssey enjoyed a
five-week run ending Aug.
22. Performing in HUNDRED DAYS has not only
reignited her love of performing, but has re-invigorated her as an artist, an
energy she intends to bring
to her future projects.
Looking ahead, Mercer
wishes to pursue her graduate degree in directing
at some point in the near
future. With the limited
number of programs available, that goal will, regretfully, take her away from
Cincinnati. Until then, she will gladly challenge herself with
the artistic opportunities the city has to offer.
Mercers upcoming directing projects include the stage
readings of (a love story) on Sept. 14 and the musical THE
WILD PARTY on Oct. 12, both at Queen City Queer Theatre Collective (Cincinnati, Oh.). Fully staged productions
include THE MYSTERY PLAYS at Falcon Theater (Newport, Ky.) on Nov. 6-21 and the musical THE LAST FIVE
YEARS at The Carnegie (Covington, Ky.) on April 9-24.

Erin McCamley
Erin McCamley has always been surrounded by music.
When both parents are music educators and performers, its a
constant presence. A sickly baby, there were nights Erin spent
nestled in her mothers lap as her mom played and sang over
her at a gig.
I dont think there was a moment where I chose performing,
it was just what we always did and what I always wanted to
do.
McCamley performed throughout her grade and high school
years, then headed to Baldwin-Wallace University to obtain a
Bachelors degree in Music Composition. It was there during
her senior year when she discovered her passion for musical
direction and conducting. This discovery came in an Intro to
Conducting course required for
her major.
There was this moment at
the podium, three weeks into
the semester.We were doing
the part of Beethovens Ninth
that goes into the Ode to Joy
themeIt was like everything
started going in slow motion
and I felt this crazy rush from
the depth of my soul, and I
couldnt breathe, and all I could
hear was the music, which
doesnt sound like anything.
But actually hearing what you
are conducting on the podium
is the hardest part. A similar
experience the following semester during Choral Conducting,
along with strong encouragement from her instructors, put
McCamley on a new career
path.
It was also during her time at
Baldwin-Wallace that Erin met
now-finance Lindsey Augusta
Mercer. Erin literally ran into a
friend in a caf on campus, who
told her about an audition the
following day. As fate would
have it, Erin was cast as Mercers mother in MOON OVER
BUFFALO. Super-sexy method acting was happening back
stage, she jokes.
Returning to Cincinnati after graduation with a new passion
and little conducting experience, she hoped to parlay her
connections in the theater community into professional op-

portunities. Performing in a local production of AVENUE Q,

the artistic director was kind enough to allow Erin to conduct
and record a piece with the shows orchestra. That would not
have happened in any other city in the world, she marvels
thankfully. That recording was included with her submission
for an opera conducting workshop at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She was accepted and
used that experience to help land her local music directing
work.
A long resume of varied conducting experience is absolutely necessary when applying for a graduate degree program,
something McCamley is feeling the call to pursue. Originally
attracted to orchestral conducting, the more work she does
with opera and musical theater, the more she is beginning to
lean toward Opera Conducting. She feels it makes sense to
capitalize on the fact that she can balance a live performance
of singers and musicians at the same time.
Asked about a
desire to return
to the stage, Erin
shares her reluctance. There are
just so, so, so few
parts written for
woman that I can
even stand, let
alone be passionate about...
if I actually get to
create a complex
character then I
will so jump on
that.
Her full directing
plate includes
vocals for Showbiz Players THE
ROCKY HORROR SHOW
LIVE! (Covington, Ky.) Sept.
18-26; music
for ONCE ON
THIS ISLAND
for Milford High
School (Milford,
Oh.) and THE
LAST FIVE
YEARS for The Carnegie in Covington, Ky. on April 9-24.
She will be performing as Burrs in Queen City Queer Theatre Collectives staged-reading of the musical, THE WILD
PARTY on Oct. 12. When her busy schedule permits, Erin
co-hosts Sherry-oke with mom Sherry on the first Monday
of the month at Below Zero Lounge in Over-the-Rhine.

Unite Magazine | 15

16 | Unite Magazine

Darnell Pierre Benjamin

Angels brought Darnell Pierre Benjamin to Cincinnati. That
is, a production of ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES. Researching for a Memphis audition
in 2008, Darnell discovered Know Theatre of Cincinnati was
tackling the two-part play in its upcoming season. He made a
point of finding Knows representatives at that audition. Ultimately, that led to Benjamin being cast as a member of their
2008-2009 resident acting company.
A native of St. Martinville, Louisiana, Benjamins grandmother was of Creole
ancestry and he grew
up in a French-speaking
home. That ancestry also explains the
madness on top of my
head, he jokes. His
road to the stage began
in a high school speech
class during sophomore
year. A class he took
to combat the social
anxiety that he struggled with as a teenager.
It was here Benjamin
found his confidence
and voice when discussing topics he was
passionate about. The
class led to a slot on the
speech and debate team
and eventually to the
lead in his high schools
production of LITTLE
SHOP OF HORROR.
His newfound love of
acting took him to the
University of Lafayette
for his Bachelor of Fine
Arts Degree then on to
the University of Houston for his Masters.
Originally, his intention
was to stay in Cincinnati for that year then
move to Philadelphia.
However, a successful audition for the Cincinnati Shakespeare
Company kept Darnell in town. He is now beginning his
seventh season working with that organization.
Its so exciting to me when I see an arts community becoming an arts community and that is what Im seeing here in
Cincinnati. The sharing of talent within that community led
to roles with other local organizations including The Carnegie,
Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Human Race Theatre Com-

pany, Queen City Queer Theatre Collective and several more

productions with Know Theatre. He spent part of this summer
performing in three productions with Kentucky Shakespeare.
In describing what attracts him to a role, he explains I want to
do plays that affect people and make them learn something.
In a 2013 production of COCK, Benjamin played John, a gay
man who, while taking a break from his longtime boyfriend,
unexpectedly falls in love with a woman. During the run, Benjamin was stopped on the street by a couple who had seen the
production. In a ten-minute conversation, they shared that their
son had recently come out to them and they came to COCK
because they wanted to understand what it is to be outside
the heterosexual role. The show
had changed their perspective.
That encounter was such a reminder of why I do what I do.
Darnell does feel that the LGBT
community at large, especially
young adults, have yet to find
the wealth of independent
theaters that Cincinnati has
to offer. With such a welcoming local arts community, he
encourages everyone to begin
their night out as an audience
member from time to time.
A dancer since the age of 14,
Darnell performs throughout
the year with the local dance
company, Pones Inc. He will
also be teaching hip-hop there
to elementary school children.
Benjamin will also serve as a
teaching artist with Cincinnati Shakespeare Companys
PROJECT38, an outreach
program that introduces The
Bards works to middle and high
school students.
Upcoming stage performances
for Benjamin include CYRANO DE BEGERGAC on Sept.
11-Oct. 3 and HENRY VI on
Jan. 22-Feb. 13, both at the
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.
A relocation to Philly still remains a possibility for Benjamin.
Ideally, he would love to land an adjunct teaching position
while still being able to perform. Even if his career takes him
away from Cincinnati, Darnell has made too many friends and
too many connections not to return when the opportunity
arises.

Unite Magazine | 17

Will Reed
Will Reed has always been a singer. He cant pinpoint the
exact moment he began singing around the house, but he
does remember performing in talent shows as early as age
nine. In high school he performed with the show choir,
and it was his instructor, a graduate of the University of
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (UC CCM),
who first encouraged Will to pursue independent voice
lessons.
His discovery of opera happened shortly thereafter, when
an outreach program from
Knoxville Opera visited his high
school. During the performance
of songs from THE PIRATES
OF PENZANCE, the soprano
in the role of Mabel blew him
away and opened a new genre of
singing to Will. I chose opera
because its not something that
everyone can do, and I can.
Its not an easy life. He shares,
as you need to think of your
voice all the time.
Participation in a summer opera
program for youth in Nashville
resulted in an instructor encouraging Reed to audition for
Vanderbilt University. Although
accepted, the tuition was prohibitive even with the award of
a small scholarship. Undeterred,
Will next turned his attention
to CCM where he earned his
Bachelor of Music in Music
Education.
As an undergrad, Reed took all
the performing roles he could,
but he began to experience a
strangeness with his singing
voice. Finally his bass-baritone
instructor had him try selections from the tenor repertoire.
The change was a more comfortable fit for his voice. The
change in range also facilitated a change in instructors.
Finishing undergrad, he decided teaching really wasnt for
him, in part due to the bureaucracy of the public school
system. Instead he went directly into obtaining his Master
Degree in Vocal Performance.
Reed does enjoy one-on-one instruction and it also places
him in the position to encourage promising students
forward. He feels there were several moments in his life,

18 | Unite Magazine

where the right person coming into his life at the right time,
helped him find his current path.
In recent years, Will has been establishing a healthy resume
of musical theater roles in the Cincinnati area on top of
performing with the Cincinnati Opera during their ten-week
summer season. He has also landed several local commercials
and has begun performing in films, something that is quickly
becoming his second love. In his first independent film, Less
Than 30, Reed shares a date with Domenica Cameron-Scorsese. The romantic comedy is scheduled for a 2016 release.
Reed feels fortunate that
he has been able to find a
steady supply of stipend-paying performance
opportunities. This is on
top of teaching, serving
as tenor section-leader
at a local church, and
working part time on
weekends.
Having just completed a
run of Sondheims COMPANY at The Carnegie in
Covington, Ky., Reed will
next take on the challenge of his first non-musical role since high
school. It is a dark turn
as would-be rapist, Raul,
in EXTREMITIES at the
Warsaw Federal Incline
Theatre in Cincinnati.
That production runs
Sept. 30-Oct. 18. Reed
also has several upcoming
auditions on his calendar.
In his personal life, the
33-year old has been
partnered with Tony
Cody since 2006. Local
audiences may better
recognize Cody as Penny
Tration, host at The
Cabaret above Below Zero
Lounge in Cincinnati and the Facebook Fan Choice for Season 5 of RuPauls Drag Race.
In a way, life has come full circle for Reed. The young man so
eager to leave the farm as a teenager is now a self-proclaimed
urban farmer. When his busy schedule allows, you can find
him tending his vegetable garden and chickens.

Matthew Wilson

after his Tony-Award win for DOUBT. Wilson was fascinated by the process.

A televised broadcast of the movie musical SEVEN BRIDES

FOR SEVEN BROTHERS introduced Matthew Wilson to
the world of musical theater. He had a few brushes with the
stage in grade school, but it wasnt until his first legitimate
production, ANYTHING GOES with a teen summer theater program, that ignited his passion for performing.

When family issues brought Wilson back to Cincinnati in

2007, he applied to, but was not accepted by, the University
of Cincinnatis MFA program for directing. He encountered
what he calls the circle that has no entrance. The program
wants applicants with directing experience but most theater
groups wont hire a first-time director.

I had yet to find something where I felt, like this is me. But
when he joined Cincinnati Young Peoples Theatre (CYPT)
he discovered, It wasnt just
Oh, I really love this, but
it was also here was all these
other people that really love
it too. It wasnt just finding
something I was good at, it
was also finding a place where
I really, really felt comfortable and valued. [Ive] never
been in a rehearsal where Ive
ever been bullied, or called
a namewhich was kind of
different from the experience
I was having in high school. I
did not have a horrible time,
but there certainly was one or
two people [bullying me] on a
pretty consistent basis.

His desire to direct kept him pounding the pavement. Eventually, he learned of a local Catholic Church that needed a
director for their 2009
summer production.
Wilson was chosen
and also returned the
following year. Being
chosen to choreograph
EVITA for Cincinnati
Landmark Productions
then led to his first
directing job with that
organization, which has
become his directing
home.

Due to lack of opportunities

to perform at his high school,
Wilson discovered the nirvana
for teen boys who wanted to
be on stage, all-girl Catholic
high schools. Their shows
were always in need of guys to
round out their casts, giving
him ample opportunities to
perform. My parents were
super supportive and made
sure I could pursue it because
I liked it so much.
Following high school, Wilson
earned his BFA in Musical
Theatre Performance from
Northern Kentucky University. He moved to New
York City after graduation, but found himself unexpectedly
burned-out from performing. I went to a couple of auditions, but my heart really wasnt in it.
Wilson landed at the Roundabout Theatre Companys
Off-Broadway venue, serving as house manager and then as
the on-site facilities manager. Each production would have a
long run of previews. During these weeks, Matthew had the
opportunity to watch directors work, including Doug Hughes

Being able to bring

something together...to
have that stock in it
and then being able to
disappear in the background and let it go is
part of the attraction of
directing. Theres usually a moment where
everything just clicks
and the show that was
inside your head is
finally up on stage. Its
just a really, really cool
momenta source of
pride.
Ideally, Wilson would
love to direct three
times a year and also
land one role that
excites and challenges
him as an actor.
Booked through next summer, Wilsons upcoming projects
include A CHORUS LINE opening Sept. 3rd at the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts followed by RENT at
the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater in December. Wilson
makes his directorial debut at The Carnegie with THE
WIZARD OF OZ running January 21-31, then back to the
Covedale for a March production of SHE LOVES ME. In
August, he returns to the Incline Theatre to direct CHICAGO.

Unite Magazine | 19

Daryl Bjoza Goldstein &

Rene Micheo Goldstein

Director for the Jewish Family Services benefit, Dancing With

Our Stars.

Daryl Bjoza Goldstein and Rene Micheo Goldstein met at

the ballet. Or to be more accurate, IN the ballet.

That evening the two went down to City Hall to get their
marriage license. They were the second same-sex couple in
Cincinnati and the first male couple to receive one. They didnt
want to do another public wedding. In 2013, they had had a
symbolic marriage as part of a march to City Hall in Cleveland
with 500 other couples.

In 1988, Bjoza, already a member of the Cincinnati Ballet,

was invited to guest in a production of ROMEO & JULIET
at the Teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile. Also cast in
that production was Rene Michelo, a native of Guatemala
City. When the two
met, the chemistry
was immediate and
intense. So much
so that when Daryl
returned to Cincinnati
after the show closed,
Rene returned with
him, where they both
danced for the Cincinnati Ballet.
They spent nine years
together in the city before moving to pursue
performance opportunities in Tulsa, Ok.
A few years later, they
returned when Daryl
accepted a teaching position at the
Cincinnatis School
for the Creative and
Performing Arts where
he now serves as
Dance Co-Director.
His duties include
teaching all levels of
dance, co-directing
the Youth Company Dance Ensemble
and choreographing the schools annual production of the
NUTCRACKER. Over the last 16 years, the two have seen
students progress from dancing mice to gingerbread soldiers
and sugarplum fairies, to performing professionally on stages
across the world.
For 17 years, Rene worked on and off with the Cincinnati
Ballet as a dancer and choreographer, and in administration
and IT. Having retired from dance in 2001, he currently works for a company that provides accounting, human
resources and information technology services to non-profit
organizations. Rene has a studio space where he continues
to teach and coach dance, as well as to pursue his dance
photography. For the past two years, he has served as Artistic

20 | Unite Magazine

Together 27 years, on the day of the SCOTUS ruling, social

media savant Rene documented his journey to a proposal.
From choosing which clothes he wore, to the purchase of a
bouquet of roses, to proposing on one knee in front of Daryls
class at SCPA.

Since marriage was

never on the agenda, I
didnt have a concept
of what to do for us. I
didnt want to mimic all those straight
weddings I had been
to. After 27 years we
didnt want to spend
$20,000 at this point
in our lives, says
Daryl.
The couple were
legally married in a
simple ceremony on
July 18 in a park near
their Northside home.
When asked if he felt
different now that they
were married, Daryl
responds, Obviously
not as far as having
been together for so
long. But myself, I do
feel more American.
And I was struck by
that. I didnt expect to
feel anything differentbut once we did
the whole thing and saw the reaction of the mostly straight
people that were there, embracing it, wanting it more than we
wanted it almost. I just really felt like we belonged.
On August 14, Rene became of a naturalized citizen of the
United States and legally changed his name to Rene Micheo
Goldstein. The couple recently began the stressful but rewarding process of adoption. Rene, always the planner, is already
researching schools. He has already placed being raised Jewish,
taking classes at the Cincinnati Ballet and attending the University of Cincinnati on the childs to-do list.
Daryle and Renes latest collaboration will be their most challenging and rewarding yet.

Pones Inc. provides artistic opportunities for community

growth by creating engaging new ways for audiences to
experience dance.
Founded in 2008, Pones Inc. has collaborated with over
200 artists and 80 arts and service organizations. The
company creates site-specific performances through a fusion
of movement and dance with other art forms. Pones Inc.s
accessible and participatory performances have been seen in
over 90 Greater Cincinnati locations, as well as Indianapolis,
Chicago, and internationally in Italy.

Recently, he graduated from two years with Public Allies

Cincinnati, a branch of Americorps that aims to build a
network of diverse and professional leaders focusing on
enriching and empowering communities. In April 2015, he
worked with Public Allies and Walnut Hills Redevelopment
Foundation to throw a neighborhood-wide barbecue that
featured local stories and portraits of Walnut Hills residents.

Dedicated to dance for social change, Pones Inc. partners

with service organizations to present the stories of populations
we often do not hear from in our city, for example: human
trafficking with EndSlavery Cincinnati, LGBTQ* stories with He is currently in the middle of starting up an LGBTQIA+
Heartland Trans Wellness, and homelessness with the Homeless Wedding/Engagement/Relationship Photography business,
Coalition. We see the transformative power of dance as a
and would love to take your photos!
vehicle for storytelling and connection.
You can see his work at JDBY.tumblr.com and contact him at
Pones Inc. is a true collective, with Kim Popa, serving as
Byerlyj1@gmail.com
executive and artistic director and a board full of dedicated
members, the company is comprised of nearly 60 performers
who are contracted per gig.
Upcoming performances include a remount of the piece
POV, a dance exploration of poverty, homelessness, and
OTR (performed in Italy 2015) on September 11-13 and a
Zen concert collaboration with concert:nova on October 27.
For more information and to stay up to date on whats coming
next you can visit www.ponesinc.com.

Jesse Byerly

Jesse Byerly is an an active local artist that creates work

promoting a positive self-concept for people and the
communities they live in, using photography, videography and
design.
As the Multimedia Specialist for the National ReelAbilities
Film Festival, headquartered in Cincinnati, he is working
to promote cutting-edge film, art and events that celebrate
disability and our shared humanity. His work has been seen by
over 7000 people alongside celebrities such as Marlee Matlin,
Drew Lachey, and Danny Woodburn.
With a BFA in New Media Art from Northern Kentucky
University, Jesse loves exploring how art can be used as a tool
to effect positive change within our local community. He has
worked to help local filmmaker C. Jacqueline Wood bring The
Mini Microcinema to life, a project dedicated to showing film/
video/media that breaks from standard cinematic convention.

David Martin

David Martin is a photographer and educator located in

Northern Kentucky.Originally from London, England he
has resided in the United States for the last 15 years.He
holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Applied Photography from
Northern Kentucky University and a Master of Fine Arts
from the University of Kentucky.His Fine Art photographic
work address issues of social justice, gender identity,
visualcataloging, and employs a healthy dash of irony.His
work has been exhibited at the national and international level
in solo, group, and juried shows.He is the current chairand
founding memberof theInternationalLGBTQ caucus for the
Society of Photographic Educators.

As an educator he has a particular interest in curriculum

design, analysis, and online social learning concepts. He is
currently a full time lecturer at Northern Kentucky University
in the Photography department and also runs a thriving
commercial photography business.He is completing his
Masters in Visual Studies and Art History where his thesis
work explores issues of art and public sex.

To see his work visit www.dnmartin.com

Unite Magazine | 21

A&E

Film as Art

by Sean Howley

Unite CinCinnati

In my senior year of high school, I took Freshman Art. It was

the prerequisite for other art classes I would never get to but
I needed something to fill my days and credit requirements. I
remember that class spawning a year of self discovery. I ended
up making a value drawing of the corner of a light switch on
the biggest piece of paper we could find. It took up the whole
table. My art teacher had a rule that we could bring in whatever music we wanted to listen to so long as no genre was ever
repeated. As a result, a love of art and boundary bursting music
developed.
Film is art at 24 frames per second, usually, unless youre Peter
Jackson and going for 48 frames per second. It is the image
itself. It is the shapes and sizes and textures in the frame. It is
the spoken word and the soundtrack. It is the all encompassing
experience of all kinds of art combined for one beautiful vision
- or at least it was.
Now its all sequels and reboots and superheroes and formulaic
garbage. Well, mostly. There are some films that challenge us to
observe them and experience the artistic vision that exists. Take
Tim Burton for instance. His films have a creepy signature that
is instantly recognizable and a goth-inspired madness about
them infused with the sheer lunacy of the day-to-day doldrums. A boy with scissors for hands living in a spooky house
that happens to be perched atop a cookie cutter pastel neighborhood? A home in the burbs that happens to house some
recently dead folks and a screwball exterminator of the living?

for it to break.
Finally, I invite you to rewatch some of the classics and
pay attention to the structure of the film. Notice the use of
color, or the absence there of, like in Tom Fords magnificent
film A Single Man. My favorite movie is Stanley Kubricks
Full Metal Jacket. I dont believe there to be a single wasted
moment in that film. Every scene is staged and blocked
and crafted to perfection to tell the story. I would revisit
his entire canon of work. The French have been particularly progressive in using film as art. Check out the work
of Michel Gondry and from the duo of Jean-Pierre Jeunet
and Marc Caro. The final master of one who makes film as
art that should check out is Terry Gilliam. If Brazil doesnt
make you want to watch and rewatch it over and over again
to catch the subtle nuances all over the film, then perhaps
nothing ever will.
If youre looking for something from this year, then I can
only suggest The Tribe and Mad Max: Fury Road. Both are
marvelously shot and crafted films. The future of cinema,
however, is bleak and its best years are behind it. Explore
Netflix, check out the directors I listed and if all else fails,
reach out to me and we can always talk film. Im sure Ive
got a recommendation youll love.

What about music inspired films? Pink Floyd: The Wall is a

tremendous trip down the rabbit hole into the mind of a man
so isolated after his wartime experiences. The animation sequences alone in that film are with thought-provoking imagery
galore. Natural Born Killers from Oliver Stone is a love letter to
the grotesque bastardization of entertainment and reality TV.
Not so shockingly, it came out in 1994 and things have only
gone from bad to worse. Its another great film that utilizes
animation and music to tell the story.
I think my personal favorite thing in a movie is an amazing
tracking shot. Through careful editing, Birdman appears to be
one entire shot, though in reality, its not. A tracking shot is a
continuous take with the camera that goes on and on and on
to tell the story in a very unique fashion. The scene at the Copacabana in Goodfellas, the opening tracking shot in Touch of
Evil, hell, even the digitally-altered long shot from the waters
of Miami Beach into the club through the crowd and onto the
stage. The most recent example was a nine-minute shot in the
film Atonement that draws you in for the entire scene waiting

22 | Unite Magazine

www.Unitemag.com/cincinnati

The Raw View

by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo

Unite CinCinnati

Documentary has, and continues to be, an organic, living,

breathing and sometimes panting art form.
In 2004, films Supersize Me directed by Morgan Spurlock
and Fahrenheit 9/11 directed by Michael Moore took that
living art and broke the belief that documentaries could not
be consumed by the masses. These films fathered a trend of
films that appealed to moviegoers and redefined the art of
documentary filmmaking.
Film festivals such as Hot Docs, Full Frame, SXSW and
Sundance continue to spotlight some of the most original and
content-explosive films. From Blackfish, How To Survive A
Plague, Gasland and the emerging Big Charity, these call-toaction films have cut their teeth on controversial subjects and
procured large audiences.
Below are documentaries by fearless visionaries who, behind
the camera, have told the stories a lot of us are afraid to look
at in real life. They have and continue to - change the type
of lens we peer through. They are the new and seasoned
hunger ever evolving in documentaries.
12 OClock Boys director Lotfy Nathan used what he had
when ithe had it. From iPhones to three-chip cameras to
DSLR and iteven a Phantom for the sweetest slow motion,
this film is raw, riveting and a masterful work of art. What
started as a school project for Nathan evolved into a four-year
filming journey of illegal dirt biker gangs in Baltimore. The
film revs down the busted-up streets with 12- year-old Pug
in a life of chaos and poverty. Between brutal bike crashes
and making his way to the 12 oclock lift on his dirt bike, the
viewer also witnesses the heated tensions of police and the
black community years before Freddie Gray.
Waste Land in the hands of any other director may have
come off like a news report. But director Lucy Walker
understands the landscape of art meets fact. From her first
film, The Devils Playground, Walker consistently pushes the
envelope and the lens to engage audiences and raise questions
of relevance. The Academy-nominated Waste Land shows how
artist Vik Muniz creates portraits of the workers of the Jardim
Gramacho landfill while connecting with them. It is every bit
a commentary on global waste as it is a look at the lives of the
people sifting through it.

Unite Magazine | 23

A&E

AKRON set to Premiere in

2015 Cincinnati Film Festival
by Chuck Beatty

Unite CinCinnati
Benny and Christopher, college freshmen, meet playing football and begin a relationship. They fall in love supported by
their family and friends. As their love for each other grows, a
past tragic event involving their mothers comes to light. This
revelation tests their own love and Bennys close-knit family.
Throughout this reflective love story, with the beauty of rural
Ohio in its backdrop, Benny travels an emotional journey
that examines both his own feelings and his familys ability to
come to terms with the past.
AKRON is a true independent film with a clear new voice
that puts a progressive, Midwestern spin on a classic family
drama. Based on an original screenplay written by Brian
ODonnell, who was born and raised in Akron, the film was
shot on location in Akron and Wooster with local crew and
extras and with the great support of local businesses. The experience of returning to Ohio to film AKRON, and the fact
that so many people joined us in support of such a personal
project, was a deeply gratifying experience, stated ODonnell.
AKRON is co-directed by first time directors ODonnell
and Sasha King of Princess Pictures Ltd., is co-produced by
ODonnell and King and stars Matthew Frias and Edmund
Donovan. The original score was produced by Bill Snodgrass
and the Director of Photography is Patrick Jordan. Ellen and

24 | Unite Magazine

Tim Kollar executive produced.

AKRON, will have its world premiere as an official selection
at the Cincinnati Film Festival. The Cincinnati Film Festival
will take place September 10-20.
We are thrilled to premiere in Cincinnati and that each of
these festivals chose AKRON as an official selection. In conversations with friends, gay and straight, it became obvious
that people are ready to hear stories that include gay characters but are not primarily concerned with the characters
sexuality. As people are accepting themselves and others at
younger ages, its important to show that like the main characters in AKRON, gay men and lesbians are a natural and
essential party of the fabric of society, part of the family,
stated ODonnell.
AKRON, is an official selection at the following additional
film festivals: MiFo (Miami-Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival), Kansas International Film Festival, and
OutReels Cincinnati.
We are confident and excited that the audiences at the CFF,
MiFo, KIFF and OutReels will connect with these characters
and participate fully in this sensitive and unique story of
love, forgiveness and the power of family added King.

A&E

Theater listings
by Rob Bucher

Unite CinCinnati

CINCINNATI
ANDYS HOUSE OF [BLANK] A small town,
mystery-spot, time-travel musical about unrequited
love and what it means to change your world. Oct.
30-Nov. 14. Know Theatre of Cincinnati.
BUYER AND CELLAR Out-of-work actor Alex
More plays shopkeeper for Barbra Streisands collection of memorabilia. Oct. 13-Nov. 1. Ensemble
Theatre Cincinnati.
CAROUSEL The story of carefree carnival barker Billy Bigelow and his reckless adventures with
women, gambling and the wrong side of the law. Oct.
29-Nov. 1. UC College-Conservatory of Music.
CYRANO DE BERGERAC When Cyrano falls in
love with the beautiful and brilliant Roxane, there is
only one thing that stands between them his gargantuan nose. Sept. 11-Oct. 3. Cincinnati Shakespeare
Company.
DEATH OF A SALESMAN The poignant story of a
salesman and his quest to make it big. Oct. 16-Nov.
7. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.
EXTREMETIES Attacked in her home, Marjorie
turns the tables on her would-be rapist. When her
roommates return to find him bound and blinded,
tensions rise to a raging fever pitch.Sept. 30-Oct. 18.
Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre.
THE FOX ON THE FAIRWAY A hilarious romp
which pulls the rug out from underneath the stuffy
denizens of a private country club. Oct. 22-Nov. 15.
Covedale Center for the Performing Arts.
FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE
LUNE Story traces the unlikely romance that begins
to develop between two middle-aged losers. Sept.
17-Oct. 3. New Edgecliff Theatre.
THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE An irreverent
comedy that turns historical atrocities on their heads
in a Tarantino-esque romp. Oct. 9-24. Know Theatre of Cincinnati with UC College-Conservatory of
Music.
LUNA GALE A heartbreaking and unforgettable tale
about moral ambiguity and knowing how to do good

in the world. Sept. 8-27. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.

MAD RIVER RISING Determined to save the
land he loves, Angus Stewart escapes from his nursing home and is found hiding in the family barn.
Oct. 17-Nov. 14. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.
PENTECOST A dramatic power struggle ensues
after the discovery of a painting stunningly similar
to Giotto di Bondones The Lamentation. Sept. 30Oct. 4. UC College-Conservatory of Music. .
Queen City Queen Theatre Collective Stage
Readings: (A LOVE STORY) follows three different couples in three stages of life on Sept. 14. THE
WILD PARTY, a musical where decadence and
excess are the life of the party in this jazzy, 1920s
whodunit on Oct. 12.
THE SECRET GARDEN Soaring musical version
of the beloved family classic. Sept. 5-Oct. 3. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.
SEX WITH STRANGERS Playfully explores what
transpires when private lives become public domain. Sept. 26-Oct. 25. Cincinnati Playhouse in

NORTHERN KENTUCKY
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING Clever, musical lampoon
of life on the corporate ladder. Oct. 22-Nov. 7.
Footlighters, Inc.
MOON OVER BUFFALO A comedy about two
fading stars of the 1950s. Sept. 24-Oct. 4. Northern
Kentucky University.
ROCKY HORROR A rock musical spoof of
science fiction movies that tells a bizarre story of seduction and sexual confusion. Sept. 18-27. Showbiz
Players.
SILENCE THE MUSICAL A musical parody of
The Silence Of The Lambs. Sept. 25-Oct. 10. Falcon
Theatre.
THE WINTERS TALE A Shakespeare play
leaping from dark tragedy to lighthearted romance
with a magical conclusion. Oct. 20-25. Northern
Kentucky University.

Unite Magazine | 25

Book Review

Dressed in Man's Clothing,

She Wins a Girl's Love
by Jen Short

Unite CinCinnati

I stumbled upon The Rebellion of Lucy Ann Lobdell by William

Klaber, lured in by a headline from 1879 in The New York
Times on the inside cover: Dressed in Mans Clothing, She
Wins a Girls Love. I was holding a book that would occupy
my thoughts for weeks to come, having been swept away by
Klabers storytelling. It left me asking, If I had been born
sooner, would I have had the courage to challenge society,
authority, God, my family, and my own motherly instincts
to chase after a life I had been denied by birthrightjust by
being born a woman?
Lucy Ann Lobdell was born in 1829 in Westerlo, NY. Her
family later moved to Basket Creek, NY, where she did much
of the harder labor and hunting in place of her disabled
father. This is where she married George Slater, who quickly
became abusive, and he left her shortly after their daughter
was born. To support herself and her daughter, the only work
a woman could secure in those days was low-paying housework. Her family expected her to remarry so that another
man could provide for them. In her memoir Lucy said, If
she is willing to toil, give her wages equal with that of a man.
Lucy took her daughter to her parents home to be cared for,
bound her breasts in muslin, grabbed a rifle and snuck off in
her brother clothes.
From here, the true adventure begins. The author has pieced
together what may have happened, based on memoirs,
newspaper articles, photos and historical facts. Lucy took the
name Joseph Lobdell and began a music and dance school
for girls in Honesdale, PA, where she fell in love with Lydia,
a female student. In a society steeped in religion, when the
rights of women and people of color were just beginning to
be discussed, there was no mention of gay, trans or lesbian.
The terminology just didnt exist and anyone living this way
openly would have suffered greatly.
Lucy wonders if being drawn to a woman is only happening
because she is posing as a man. She doesnt understand what
is happening to her, but caught up in the romance, they make
plans to run off together. However, Lucy knows that if things
go any further, Lydia will have to know the truth that lies
beneath her bindings. She is so afraid of not being accepted
by her love, that she leaves town, leaving Lydia behind.
Through many twists and turns, sometimes living as Joseph,
sometimes living as Lucy in mens clothing, she finds her way
to Marie. Marie knows that Lucy is a woman and they begin a

26 | Unite Magazine

friendship that leads to Lucys sexual awakening and true love.

She eventually marries Marie (while posing as Joseph) and
they begin to travel together.
The author says, There are some people who think Lucy
should be considered transgenderIn Lucys early writing
there is not a hint of it, she talks about her love affairs with
boys, one of whom she marries. Of course this isnt absolute
proof, but youd think there would be just a little something
showing her discomfort in being a girl, but you cant find
it.Of course applying any modern label to an historical personage is fraught with danger. If Lucy were before me today I
would address her as Joseph, but Im comfortable enough to
call her Lucy in her absence.She was a woman who ended up
loving women.
In the novel, the author gives Lucy these words: I hadnt so
much as chosen a fork in the road as I had set out on a river
in a tiny boat a boat that was going wherever the water
went, my best efforts doing no more than keeping it upright.
Klaber himself said, Lucy didnt change clothes to meet girls,
she did it to find paying work.But once she was passing as a
man, the whole world changed.Thats the lovely mystery to
her story, and she had to make her transformation before the
vocabulary was even invented.
Klaber doesnt try to define Lucy/Joseph. We are left to compare our own experience to hers and discover who she really
was. But this we know: Lucy didnt have any movement to
be a part of. She didnt have groups, equality symbols, rainbow flags, or a family to support and love her. She didnt have
anti-discrimination laws to protect her. She didnt even have
the words to describe what she was experiencing or to claim as
an identity. She just lived it.
Lucy died in 1912 at the age of 83, having spent her final
32 years in an asylum and apart from her wife, her medical
records indicating dementia increasing and perversion of
sexual inclination. Author William Klaber has pieced together a picture of who Lucy/Joseph probably was, with a respect
and reverence for her experience, life, loves, and tragedies that
will leave you in awe of his stellar, honest writing and her
extraordinary, unintentionally trailblazing, life.

Unite Magazine | 27

Style

Transitioning Your Summer

Outfits for Fall

by Bernard Luna Curioso

Unite CinCinnati

Warm weather, cool colors. Longer days, shorter fabrics. We

always have this wicked love affair with summer and its now
about to leave us again. Dont worry, though. Its not like
winter is coming (it is, eventually, but in the meantime, lets
try to enjoy what autumn has for us. Lets take a break from
the humidity and welcome the milder temperature. But dont
pack away your summer items just yet. Instead, lets make
your fall looks more vibrant and fun. Plus, itll remind us of
our love of summer.
Here are the top five tips for transitioning your looks for fall:
1. Keep it bright and simple.
Keep your bright-colored items such as your pink pants,
bright yellow shirts, electric blues and your greens. But instead
of keeping it all bright and sunny, match it with a more subtle
colors like browns, grays and navy. So put on your bright
colored pants, and mix it with gray or charcoal on top. Keep it
simple and keep the patterns in the closet.
2. Its the perfect date.
Just like Miss Rhode Islands idea of the perfect date on the
Miss Congeniality blockbuster, fall also is not too hot, not too
cold. All you need is a light sweater. So make a perfect date
with your summer outfit by adding layers. Keep wearing your
lightweight shirt and layer it with a blazer or a cardigan. Yes, I
said itcardigan. Its not for old people anymore. And when
it gets too warm, just roll up the sleeves or take the sweater off
altogether.
3. Labor day, schmabor day.
In the old days where people have never heard of the words
selfie, smartphone, or hashtag, Labor Day also means
one thing: you have to say goodbye to your white clothes.
But not anymore! Gone are the days that you cant wear white
pants after Labor Day. Instead, we embrace it! Put on your
white jeans and pair them with your fall colors, like orange,
red, brown or tan. It gives your fall color a pop of brightness
and will make you stand out!
4. In the navy (blazer).
In shorter seasons, theres one item that is the most used- the
navy blazer. Ladies and gents, meet your new friend. This is
a fast and easy way to transition your looks for fall. Still want
to wear shorts? Sure! Mix it with a blazer and instantly your

28 | Unite Magazine

forwarded to fall. Tank top and jeans? Sure! Put on your blazer
and the mild temperature will surely not bother you. Why
navy? Its not as dark and formal as black and not as bright
and light as white or tan. And the navy blue could go with
anything. From bright and light to dark and rich.
5. Sock it to me.
Have some awesome loafers that you have been sporting all
summer? Keep the fun alive by wearing fun and colorful socks.
Here, you can go crazy. Although its fall, you can still wear
your colorful socks with fun patterns as a pop to your outfit.
Let your personality shine through your ankles! Plus if your
pants are just the right length for summer, it will keep your
feet and ankles warm.

Unite Magazine | 29

LGBT Business Directory

ART & Culture
Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org

EDUCATION
The New School Montessori
3 Burton Woods Ln.
Cincinnati, OH 45229
513.281.7999
www.newschoolmontessori.com
Art Academy of Cincinnati
1212 Jackson St.

LEGAL SERVCES
Law Offices of Shannon C. Smith
605 Madison Ave. Suite 2
Covington, Kentucky 41011
859.414.0543 or 502.498.4739
www.lawofficesofshannoncsmith.com

NIGHTLIFE
The 404
404 Pike St.
Covington, KY 41011

Cincinnati, OH 45202

The Annex
901 Race St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.421.1663

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Bar 32
701 Bakewell St.
Covington, KY 41011
859.431.7011

513.562.6262
www.artacademy.edu

Eagles Savings Bank

6415 Bridgetown Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45248
513.233.7182
eaglesavings.com

FITNESS
Body by Bree
605 Madison Ave. Suite 1
Covington, Kentucky 41011
270.234.3357
www.bodybybree.net
Over 40 N Fit

513.281.2580
www.over40nfit.com
30 | Unite Magazine

Below Zero
1122 Walnut St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.421.9376
www.belowzerolounge.com
The Cabaret
1122 Walnut St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.202.4052
www.cabaretcincinnati.com
The Dock Complex
603 West Pete Rose Way
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.241.5623

On Broadway
817 Broadway St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
facebook.com/onbroadwaybar
Old Street Saloon
13 Old St.
Monroe, OH 45050
513.539.9183
Rosies Tavern
643 Bakewell St.
Covington, KY 41011
859.291.9707
Shooters
927 Race St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.381.9900

NONPROFIT
HIV Project
4138 Hamilton Ave.
Cincinnati ,OH 45223
513.679.4453
www.ppswohiv.org
Imago
700 Enright Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45205
513.921.5124
www.imagoearth.org

PHOTOGRAPHY
Mikki Schaffner Photography
2511 Essex Pl. Room 104
Cincinnati, OH 45206
www.mikkischaffner.com

REstaurant
Pipers Cafe
520 W. 6th St.
Covington, KY 41011
www.piperscafe.biz

Retail
flow - a shop for men
5 W. Pike St.
Covington, KY 41011
859.291.3569
www.gentlemanflow.com
Hamlein Square
Corner of 6th and Philadelphia St.
Covington, KY 41011

Services
Tier Haus Pet Salon
5970 Harrison Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45248
513.574.9333
www.tierhauspetsalon.com
Gateways to Healing, Chiropractic &
Nutrition
Drs. Michael and Julie Nichols
4027 Allston St.
Cincinnati, OH 45209
513.321.3317
www.gatewaystohealing.com

Business Listings are

available for $25.00 an issue.
Please Contact our sales
department for more
information .

Unite Magazine | 31

32 | Unite Magazine