Cincinnati

MARCH/ APRIL 2015

Premier Issue

How Far We've Come

Chris Seelbach
City CounCILman

Unite Magazine | 1

table of contents

PUBLISHER Michael A. Monks

Editor- in-chIEf Chuck Beatty
MANAGING Editor Jerod Theobald
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Chad Turner

A&E CONTRIBUTOR Chuck Beatty

BUSINESS CONTRIBUTOR Shannon Smith
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR Michael Chanak
FAMILY CONTRIBUTOR David Dodge
HEALTH & FITNESS CONTRIBUTOR Bree Singer
STYLE CONTRIBUTOR Jason Wiff
Sales Chuck Beatty
513.813.8246

FEATURE
CHRIS SEELBACH

12

COMMUNITY
UNITE NEWS
SAFE AND SUPPORTED
LEELAH ALCORN VIGIL

3
8
10

BUSINESS
SPRING-NEW LIFE, NEW BUSINESS
LGBT BUSINESS DIRECTORY

4
22

DIY
FURNITURE FACELIFT

HEALTH & FITNESS

SPRING CLEAN YOUR LIFE

14

FAMILY
THE LLAMAS AND THE PAPAS

16

unitecinci

STYLE
SPRING STYLE GUIDE

18

@unitecinci

A&E
BOY BAND SEARCH

20

Cover photo Chuck Beatty

www.unitemag/cincinnati

2 | Unite Magazine

Unite News

Cincinnati welcomes unite

by Michael " Goose" Chanak

Unite CinCinnati

Welcome to UNITE and best wishes! I would like to say a

public goodbye to my friend of 36 years and well-known local
publisher Worley Rodehaver of GLBTQ News. His departure
left Cincinnati without a paper for the first time in decades
until now.

Currents. Alternating Currents was this nations second-longest

running radio show until it went off air.

The year 1985 brought Gay Cable network thanks to Roger

Eikenberry, Mark Bailey, Steve Buescher (now of gaycincinnati.com), et al. The show continued until 1988 thanks also
Cincinnati is a hotbed of activism and controversy from John to Michael Leamon and Jimmy Price. OutFront GL TV was
Zeh and WAIF-FM (State v. Zeh 1981) through (Mapon cable from 1989 to 1994 and was run by Steve Hempker,
plethorpe) exhibit (1990), on to Issue 3 (1993), and now the Cynthia Brown and Dr. John Maddux and added Northern
struggle for marriage equality (2014). Often, the same people Kentuckians to Cincinnati viewership. Since then, I am not
who were part of these events were also publishers, editors and aware of any over the air/cable GLBT programming in the
contributors. Some proclaim the press is dead, meaning that area.
it and its activism underpinnings are dead. Id offer today the
press is not dead, no more than activism for the cause!
Worley Rodehaver took up the charge with GLBTQ News
Cincinnati has seen a number of newsletters, newspapers, and
radio/TV shows come and yes, go. In the late 1970s, when
I first arrived in Cincinnati, there was The Yellow Page (1979
1st gay paper in Southern Ohio) founded and published
by Walter Williams as part of the old Coalition (GCGC),
and subsequently Clarence Graves and Roger Pomplas went
independent with the publication. The Gaybeat was founded by Ed Hicks and Jonathan Mesinger and was eventually
published by Josh Thomas. It ran from 1985-1995. Ed Hicks
started a second publication called Noveau which was in print
from 1988 to 1996. There were newsletters from Dinah
(1979-1988 Sandy Garsey, Wendy Winkler, Phebe Beiser,
and Vic Ramsetter) and the GLMA Newsletter (Gay Lesbian March Activist 1987 March on Washington) overseen by
editor Dr. Shane Que Hee. And dont forget the radical fairy
publication To The Root(s) (1988-1989) that Shane, Todd
Kamm, Scott McLarty and Larry Wolf were mainstays.
Meantime, Cincinnati, beginning in 1979, enjoyed John
Zehs Gaydreams on WAIF complete with run-ins with
then-local prosecutor, Simon Leis. Eventually, that show
became Alternating Currents (produced by Pat North, Michael
Lloyd, Ken Colegrove, Cheryl Eagleson, and me) switched
stations a few years back and then went off the air (there is
an online version but Ive heard nothing of it). Also, Everywomon followed the same fate as Gaydreams and Alternating

(1996) until his death in July 2014. In the late 2000s, Sam
Robinson published the QCity News. Rich Sherman introduced cnkyscene (2011), continued by Chuck Beatty to
become UNITE Cincinnati. UNITE Cincinnati, you are now
part of the legacy! May the circle be unbroken!

Michael is a retired P&G employee advocate/activist for Gay/

Lesbian inclusion in Equal Employment Policy (1985 - 1992),
division diversity facilitator; corporate adviser on HIV issues
and gay community, published writer, journalist, publicist and
broadcaster.

Unite Magazine | 3

Business

Spring - New Life,

NeW...Business?
by Shannon C. Smith, Esq.
Unite CinCinnati
Leo Tolstoy once said, Spring is the time of plan and projects. Spring brings new life and new hope. Hope breeds
passion and this is what should burn in the hearts of entrepreneurs. Passion is the crux of any new business and there
has never been a better time to start one. On both sides of the
river, there is a wealth of support for entrepreneurs.

presence can be felt not only in your heart, but it can capture
the hearts and minds of those around you. Because passion
is contagious, your passion for your business or product will
infect and persuade others to share in your love for your product or business. All great things were accomplished because of
someones passion so dont expect much without it.

Cincinnati is home to one of the top business accelerator programs in the United States, The Brandery, which is in good
company with fellow accelerators Cintrifuse and CincyTech.
The entrepreneurial bug has also taken hold of Northern
Kentucky which is home to a host of business accelerators like
e-zone, UpTech, and Bad Girl Ventures. With all the buzz and
support, many are toying with the idea of starting their own
business the question is, should you?

Confidence

There are several obvious necessities an entrepreneur needs

like money and a bit of business sense, but both of these
needs can be addressed by business accelerator companies.
They can find investors and give you a mentor, but to be successful, there are traits an entrepreneur must have that money
cannot buy and accelerators cannot supplant: vision, passion,
confidence, and old- fashioned grit.

Vision

You cannot have a business without an idea. Visionaries have

ideas, but they derive them after they recognize a need or at
least anticipate one. This recognition enables them to successfully implement their business or product. They do not
just create a product or business with the hope that someone
would like it, but with the knowledge that someone would.
Not every idea will make big bucks, but hey, as long as you
arent putting your house on the line, pitch your idea to an
accelerator there is a thing such as pure dumb luck!

Passion

It needs to be said again: passion is what should burn in

the hearts of entrepreneurs. It is palpable and persuasive. Its

4 | Unite Magazine

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Confidence, like passion,

is infectious. It gives you courage to believe in yourself, take
risks, and act on opportunities. Confidence encourages others
to believe in you and what you are saying. In turn, it enables
you to persuade consumers of the quality of your business or
product, effectively lead employees, and overcome obstacles as
well as the objections of naysayers.

Old Fashioned Grit

This is arguably the most important trait. If passion is fuel,

then this folks is your Molotov cocktail. Grit is a certain
resourcefulness to do whatever it takes when your back is
against the wall. A prettier word would be perseverance or
determination, but grit is not something pretty. It is a characteristic only revealed when you are down to your last dollar,
have nowhere else to go, or whatever other clich phrase you
can think of. Grit is the complete refusal to give in or let up,
the sheer determination to succeed, to fight and to continue
fighting when there seems to be no other way to go but down.
Grit is hanging on when everyone else would have let go. It is
finding a way to go back up or around the obstacle but never
defeated by it. Grit is the relentless REFUSAL to succumb to
failure. All the money in the world, all the business mentors,
and that sheer dumb luck cannot teach you these traits or
replace them, but to be a successful entrepreneur you must
have them. So, if you are debating starting a business this
spring remember you have all the external necessities at your
fingertips and if you embody the above traits what are you
waiting for?

Shannon is the CEO of Attorney Exchange, a budding,

innovative company focused on the realities and needs
of the modern day Attorney. She also owns her own law
firm which provides general counsel services for businesses and estate planning for individuals. She earned her
law degree from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law
and graduated summa cum laude from Morehead State
University where she captained the Division I womens
soccer team.

www.lawofficesofshannoncsmith.com

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@unitecinci

Unite Magazine | 5

DIY

Furniture Facelift

by George Crawford
Unite CinCinnati

Whether just starting off in a new place or giving a fresh

new look to your current space, purchasing furniture can
easily tear through your budget quickly. Having an eye for
aesthetics and a penchant for finer looking things is not
uncommon in our community but furnishing your space
doesnt have to empty your wallet.

220-grit easily found at all hardware stores is good for

this. You dont need to sand it all down to the bare wood,
you just want to scuff it up enough for the new paint to
adhere and not peel.

Consider shopping garage sales and flea markets or raiding

your grandmothers attic to find old pieces that are in need
of a little TLC. More often than not, pieces built in yesteryear are more solid and were built from better materials than
many of the pieces found in the shops today and with a little
elbow grease and a small amount of money can be turned
into fantastic additions for your decor.
We recently purchased a new home that was part of an
estate and many pieces of furniture were left in the house. I
was taken with the farmhouse table and hutch we inherited
but the dark finish and dated look just didnt work with my
plans for the dining room.
Determined to find a way to make it work in the space, I
went online in search of hutch makeovers. Once I found the
look I wanted, I set about gathering the supplies to make it
happen. Some sandpaper and paint was all it took to achieve
the look I wanted. Now let me say upfront that Im not a
fan of painting over high-quality wood. If you should come
across a piece like that, consider stripping it back down to
the bare wood and re-staining it or using a natural oil or
wax polish to restore its original beauty. My hutch wasnt a
high-quality wood so painting over it didnt give me much
pause.
To begin, give your piece a good cleaning with whatever
household cleaner you have on hand. You want to remove
any grease and dirt so your tools can work more effectively.
If youre stripping, there are several easy to use products
on the market. I am a fan of Formbys Zip Strip. Use it as
directed and then apply your new finish.
If youre painting your piece youll want to remove all the
hardware (i.e. handles, hinges, etc.) and set them aside, then
give it a good feathering with a medium grit sandpaper. A

6 | Unite Magazine

The next decision is, spray or brush? I used Rustoleum

2X Spray Paint and Primer-in-One which gives you nice
coverage with fewer coats. While I was sanding, I noticed
the counter surface had a nice grain so I decided to sand
that all the way down and stain it with a lighter stain than
the original so it could really show off the grain. If youre
going to brush the new paint on, there is a wonderful
product on the market called Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
that comes in a rainbow of colors and is easy to use. Either way, I recommend a nice polyurethane or clear coat
finish on top of your paint both for protection and ease of
cleaning.
After everything dries, replace your hardware, put your
piece into place and get ready to proudly show off those
before and after pictures to your friends because you will,
and you have every reason to be proud of saving that old
piece and turning it into something uniquely you!

Before

Before moving to Cincinnati and settling down with his

partner of 14 years, George lived in seven different
cities. A lot of moves and a lot of homes meant
learning to fix them up himself. The Do-It-Yourselfer was
born of necessity and grew into a passion and
hobby over the years.

After
Unite Magazine | 7

Community

Safe and Supported

by Meredith Hicks
Unite CinCinnati

When Tevin Brunner, 22, aged out of Montgomery County

Children Services on his 18th birthday he had looked forward
to living with his family until he secured employment, his
own car and the skills necessary to support himself and live
independently. This was his plan for his future.
Tevins family did not meet him with open arms.
When I came out, I lost a lot of support, says Tevin. The
main reason I became homeless was having no form of support.
At age 18, Tevin utilized online dating and nightclubs to get
what he needed, including mobility. Over the span of the next
few years, Tevin had foregone his plans for his life and traveled throughout the country taking refuge in dumpsters and
in abandoned cars when he could not find a couch to sleep
on. During the time he had hoped to be enrolled in college
working towards his Special Education degree, Tevin was
searching for places to sleep on university campuses.
When he returned to Cincinnati, Tevin enrolled in the Lighthouse Sheakley Center for Youth, a multi-faceted program
providing shelter, case management, and mental health and
substance abuse services to youth up to age 24.
It made me stronger and the person I am today, says Tevin.
No matter what your sexual orientation is or what you have
gone through in your life, have faith, remain optimistic and
anything is possible.
While the particular details of Tevins story might be unique,
the prevalence of homelessness among youth who identify as
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ) is
now being recognized in national media publications and is at
the forefront of discussions among service providers and government agencies. The True Colors Fund, based in New York,
is among the organizations specifically dedicated to ending
LGBTQ youth homelessness. Tevin is recognized as part of
True Colors Funds 40 of the Forty series telling the stories of
40 formerly homeless LGBTQ youth over 40 weeks.

8 | Unite Magazine

In Cincinnati, there were approximately 1,725 youth up to

age 24 who were homeless at some point in 2013, according
to data provided by the local Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Among Hamilton County service
providers, homeless is commonly defined as a person who
is sleeping in a shelter, on the street or a place generally not
meant for sleeping. Every night, over 100 youth experience
homelessness in Cincinnati. Additional young people are
couch surfing, moving between homes of family, friends or
strangers to have a temporary roof over their head.
Nationally, LGBTQ youth make up 40% of the youth population experiencing homelessness yet make up only 5-7% of
the general population, according to a 2012 national survey of
service providers conducted by Durso and Gates. In Cincinnati, 15% of the clients at the Lighthouse Sheakley Center for
youth self-identify as LGBTQ. While they are dramatically
overrepresented in the homeless youth population, there are
too few services currently available or designed to meet their
unique needs. However, the actual percentage of LGBTQ
youth experiencing homelessness is likely higher than 15%
because some young people wont disclose such personal
information. For those youth who have experienced rejection,
abuse or neglect by family and peers, they may be reluctant to
seek the help they so urgently need due to a perceived fear of
re-traumatization.

Homelessness for anyone is unacceptable in our resource-rich

community, says Bob Mecum, president and CEO of Lighthouse Youth Services, a multi-service agency providing social
services to approximately 5,000 families each year in Southwestern Ohio. Weve worked with tens of thousands of youth
over 40-plus years, and there has always been an overrepresentation of LGBTQ youth.
A local initiative is led by Lighthouse Youth Services and
the local chapters of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education
Network (GLSEN), Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and
Strategies to End Homelessness to improve outcomes for this
specific population of young people.
In April, Cincinnati was selected alongside Houston, Texas as
the only two communities in the nation to pilot the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ)
Youth Homelessness Prevention Initiative, led by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
When HUD evaluated communities to pilot this initiative,
Cincinnati rose to the top based on a proven record of strong
leadership, local collaboration and exceptional data collection
through HMIS.

Safe and Supported is also hosting quarterly events to raise

awareness and foster dialogue among community members,
youth and service providers. The initiative recently hosted a
screening of The Homestretch, a documentary that includes
the story of a homeless LGBTQ youth, to an audience of over
150 attendees.
Efforts are underway to secure funding to staff the Safe and
Supported initiative and implement the remaining activities
outlined in the plan over the next two years.
Cincinnati deserves to be a national model, says Tevin. I
thought I was going to be homeless forever until I moved
here. Then I saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

The communitys positive response to the invitation was

overwhelming. Safe and Supported was selected as the name
of the Cincinnati initiative with the vision that Hamilton
County will be a community that is safe and supported for
LGBTQ youth.
Over six months, the lead agencies and a multi-system
collaboration of over 15 organizations, developed a strategic
plan that will better identify what factors put LGBTQ at risk
of homelessness and strategies and interventions for youth
currently experiencing homelessness. Implementation of this
plan began in October and focuses on eight main goals that
address the needs of LGBTQ young people for stable housing, social and emotional well-being, permanent connections,
education and employment.
Many of the activities from the plan are already underway in
the community.
In November, HRC provided the All Children All Families training to 50 foster care staff, therapists and service area
leaders at Lighthouse Youth Services. Recognizing that about
20% of foster youth identify as LGBTQ, the training provided the necessary skills and knowledge for foster care staff
and other providers to improve practice and better support
LGBTQ foster youth. This will include tailored outreach to
LGBTQ families with an invitation to become foster and
adoptive parents.

For more information about Safe and Supported and

Lighthouse Youth Services work to end LGBTQ youth
homelessness, please contact Meredith Hicks at
mhicks@lys.org or 513.487.7145.

Let's get social !

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@unitecinci

Unite Magazine | 9

Leelah Alcorn Vigil

10 | Unite Magazine

Photos courtesy of David N. Martin

Unite Magazine | 11

Feature

How Far We've Come

by Michael A. Monks
Unite CinCinnati
This is the most significant LGBT story in our lifetime,
times ten, said Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Seelbach,
referencing the multiple same-sex marriage cases from the
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that are now being considered by the United States Supreme Court. This will be the
basis for every non-discrimination and any kind of protected class that deals with sexual orientation. Its pretty incredible that we are in the heart of it all.
Indeed, Seelbach is an openly gay member of the governing
body in a city that just over twenty years ago voted to add
an amendment to the city charter expressly prohibiting the
extension of protections to members of the gay community.
Now, Cincinnati has an openly gay member on its city
council, offers a domestic partner registry, and has family
health benefits for city employees in same-sex relationships.
The citys health insurance also includes coverage for transgendered employees making a gender transition.
Voters also, eleven years later, decided to repeal Article XII,
the anti-gay charter that they had adopted in 1993.
And now, as Seelbach said, Cincinnati finds itself at the
center of the same-sex marriage legal battle as the federal
appeals court based here bucked a recent positive trend of
rulings in favor of LGBT relationships and in a divided vote,
upheld same-sex marriage bans in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Michigan. It will be the Supreme Court decision
related to those cases that could lead to nationwide marriage equality.
Prior to the Sixth Circuits hearing of the cases from the

12 | Unite Magazine

four states, a pro-gay marriage rally was held at Lytle Park

and Seelbach led the charge. Freedom in this country has
to mean freedom for everyone, including the gay couples
who will speak tonight, the two-term councilman told
hundreds of supporters that night last August as reported by
The River City News.
Born and raised in Louisville, Seelbach moved to the Queen
City to attend Xavier University. He then went on to law
school at the University of Dayton, though he has never
practiced. Last year, he earned a certificate from an intensive government program at Harvard University.
In 2011, with 23 candidates on the ballot, Seelbach
squeaked in to claim the ninth and final spot on city council
and was reelected in 2013 when the Democrat finished in
fifth place. He and his partner Craig Schultz live in Overthe-Rhine in a building that Seelbach renovated, years before the current trend to live and work in the once-troubled
neighborhood has made it the envy of gentrification efforts
across the country.
Our building was the second renovated in Over-the-Rhine
after the unrest in 2001, he said, a reference to the riots
that followed police-involved shootings of black men in the
neighborhood. The building was awesome when it was
renovated and it was great but all the buildings around us
were not so great and were falling down and boarded up.
My car was broken into every other month.
Now shops, restaurants, bars, and new residences fill the
neighborhood which will also be home to part of the new
Streetcar that counts Seelbach among its champions. Seelbach and Schultz share their space with a pair of cats.

One of the things I always loved about living in Cincinnati is

that we were not New York or San Francisco, said Seelbach, 35.
When I moved here, we were perhaps the most anti-gay city in
the country, so the opportunity to be a part of the frontlines of a
movement was really exciting to me.
After the repeal of Article XII, We wet on to pass every law we
could for LBGT people until just recently when what put us over
the edge was including transgender health care, he said. The Human Rights Campaign graded Cincinnati at 100-percent, tying it
among the most LGBT-friendly cities in the country. Its incredible to live in this city.
Recently, Seelbach was at the forefront of drawing attention to the
tragic suicide of 17-year old Leelah Alcorn, a transgendered teen
who threw herself in front of oncoming traffic on Interstate-71
late last year. When Leelah shared her suicide note on her blog,
it was Seelbachs sharing of it on Facebook that was among
the first places that led the story to nationwide coverage
and a trending topic on Twitter.
What I am committed to is when the emotions are
dying down, the vigils are over, the online petitions
are not being signed by thousands an hour, that we
continue the conversation, Seelbach said. We ask
ourselves a month from now, how can we prevent
this from happening again? How can we support
LGBTQ people, young and old? That is beyond
laws, its not passing a law, its much more than
that. Is that a LGBT center? Is it a better job
reaching out to schools? What is that? Its that
we have to do more and what does that look
like?
During the intense and emotional conversations about Leelah Alcorn, the world was
focused on the Cincinnati area, Seelbach
said. And now we have the ability for the
first time ever for most people in the world,
people were talking about what it means to be
transgender, even if they were saying, I dont
understand, this doesnt make sense to me, the
fact that a conversation was started is the way a
movement is started, and we were at the center of
that, Seelbach said.
That is the next frontier of LGBT equality.

Seelbach accepted an award for Cincinnatis

100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign
Municipality Equality Index.
Unite Magazine | 13

Health & Fitness

Spring Clean Your Life!

by Bree Singler, CPT
Unite CinCinnati
The spring season is fast approaching and with it, the promise
of longer, warmer days. If you are anything like me, the winter looks a lot like hibernation - cold days full of long naps,
holiday parties, traveling, and my Nanas famous sugar cream
pie. When spring rolls around, its time for a change.
Spring, like the dawn of a new day, brings rebirth and the perfect chance to start anew. The spring season has the incredible
ability to revive our souls, our minds and even our bodies.
Most of you are familiar with the concept of spring cleaning
as it relates to your home. You get rid of the clutter, sweep
up the dust bunnies, and vacuum every nook and cranny,
but you can do more than spring-clean your home you can
spring-clean your life! Imagine what could be accomplished
if we got rid of the negative self-talk, dusted off our exercise
routines, and swept up our diets. Its never too late to set new
goals or make resolutions. Follow these simple tips to start
working towards a healthier, happier you this year!

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

A great way to start the clean-up is by going through your

refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. Set aside an hour this week
to go through and purge out the foods you dont eat (or
shouldnt be eating). Cut down on temptation by limiting the
number of processed junk foods you keep on hand. After all,
isnt it incredibly difficult to say no to those Pop-Tarts if they
are staring you in the face every time you open the pantry
door? Go one step further and reduce your waste by donating
any unopened, useable food to the nearest homeless shelter
or food pantry. If youre in Covington, try Fairhaven Rescue
Mission. If youre north of the river, try Over-The-Rhine/Walnut Hills Kitchen and Pantry.

Brown Bag It

With your newly-purged pantry and a little extra effort, you

can be well on your way to creating healthy, affordable, and
delicious lunches. Taking your lunch is not only a great way
to keep your waistline in check, but it will keep you from
eating out, saving you hundreds of dollars. Packing your own

14 | Unite Magazine

lunch allows you to be in control of the food (and how much

of it) youre putting in your body. To ensure that your lunch
packing goes as smoothly as possible, try creating a week-long
lunch menu on Sunday, pre-pack each lunch the night before, and establish a reminder system so that you dont forget
it!

Dust off the Rust

Our bodies are truly incredible machines. Like any good

machine, they must be cared for and maintained in order to
function optimally. If your body is a bit rusty from underuse,
its time to knock off some of that rust and become a welloiled machine by adding in daily physical activity. I think we
can agree that no one starts training for a marathon by actually running a marathon, so keep it manageable and realistic.
Start by scheduling smaller increments of physical activity in
your day. Not everyone has the luxury of devoting a full 30
minutes or an hour to the gym after they get off work, but
most people can find 10-15 minute gaps throughout their
day.
Stay tuned for my next article when I will share ways to sneak
physical activity into your busy day!

Exercise Spotlight:
The Glute Bridge

What is a Glute Bridge?

Bree is a certified personal trainer and the owner of Body By Bree,

a fitness studio focused on functional exercise tailored specifically
to her clients needs. She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is
a certified Animal Flow instructor - the only one in the Tri-State
area. Bree graduated summa cum laude from Northern Kentucky
University with a degree in Exercise Science.

Aesthetics aside, the glute bridge is one of the best bang for
your buck movements in terms of building a better, stronger
backside. The importance of having strong glutes can translate to every individual regardless of gender, age, or fitness level. Strong glutes are crucial for athletic performance. Whether
you are an actual athlete or a weekend warrior, give glute
bridges a try to see improved hip drive and better explosive
power. Improved glute strength not only benefits the athletes
and avid gym-goers, but also many suffering from lower back
pain. Having strong glutes can decrease or prevent lower back
pain by acting as a core stabilizer and reducing anterior pelvic
tilt. Strengthening your glutes will undoubtedly help combat
the pain and keep you from calling in to work as a result! If
increased performance and decreased pain dont convince
you to put glute bridges into your weekly routine, maybe the
prospect of a shapely backside will. Strong glutes and a firm,
shapely backside go hand in hand, and lets be honest, no one
complains about looking a little better in their jeans.

Unite Magazine | 15

Family

THE LLAMAS AND THE PAPAS

by David Dodge
Unite CinCinnati

Maybe the thought creeps up on you after you pay $11 for
your second iced double venti half-soy nonfat latte of the day.
Or after the rat runs across your feet on your walk home to
the studio apartment you share with three other people. Perhaps its while attempting to figure out who, exactly, is touching your thigh during your overcrowded subway commute to
work. Yes, it occurs to us city-dwellers at different times and
in various ways, but we all undeniably have those moments
where we stop briefly and think: why do I live like this?
These moments had been steadily building for Andrew Kohn,
35, and Don Jones, 42, while living and working in the
Washington, D.C. area.
We were doing the D.C. thing, Andrew explained when we
spoke by phone recently. Both were working in high-profile,
high-stress jobs, Andrew as a proclamations writer in the
White House and Don in a government consulting firm. It
just got to be a lot. The commute was one thing. When Don
had to go into the office, it could be two hours each way. And
for me, I had also worked for several members of Congress,
and it just got to be too crazy. There were always these young
kids that were coming up, it got to be too crazy putting up
the energy into furthering my career.
But the last straw, as Andrew said, came nearly five years ago
when the couple was carjacked at gunpoint, right in front of
their home on the Washington, D.C. and Maryland border.
It was pretty traumatic, Andrew said of the experience.
Soon after, the couple took a trip to spend some time visiting
Dons parents in Cincinnati. We just saw how much cheaper it was, he said, and we started looking at property. On
their drive back east, the couple noticed a beautiful 1850s
farmhouse sitting on 12 acres of land for sale in Granville,
Ohio, a town of just over 5,500 people about 30 miles east of
Columbus.

16 | Unite Magazine

Andrew wasted no time making sure the property would become their new home. I flew back a week later and put in an
offer. Then, we just made sure Dons job would transfer and
we sold our D.C. house maybe a month later.
And so, just like that, Andrew and Don escaped the D.C. rat
race to start their new lives amid the quiet country mice.

The Simple Life?

Its a romantic notion: trading in your small urban home for a
beautiful 18th century farmhouse. But in hindsight, Andrew
realizes they may have acted a bit impulsively. Their intention was to open a bed-and-breakfast on the property. But
we knew nothing about it, he admitted. I got one of those
dummy guides to running a bed-and-breakfast and read it on
the flight, he added, laughing. Its a really old house, and
there was a lot to learn. So there was a bit of a steep learning
curve.
Inexperience didnt hold the couple back for long. Soon, the
two had a successful bed-and-breakfast operating out of their
home, which was recently named as one of the top 10 farm
houses in the U.S. But the couple didnt stop there; they also
decided to open up an antique store in town and start an
animal refuge on their farm.
We rescue llamas, Andrew explained. We work with a
national organization and foster them. We also have a lot of
goats and sheep. They just sit out in the field all day spending
all our money on food and vet bills, he joked.
All-in-all, the couple have around 60 animals on their property. We have people dropping animals off and calling all
the time, Andrew told me. Were basically a depository for
unwanted animals.

Running an animal refuge might seem like an unnecessary

complication when youre already responsible for a bed-andbreakfast and an antique store.
But Andrew was better equipped than most for the challenge.
I have a degree in animal behavior, he told me, and I had
worked with chimps and primates in the past. Its always been
a dream of mine to have a little farm with animals.
Well so much for the simple life! What happened to the idea
of quiet life in the country?
Yeah were not exactly sit on the porch all day kinds of
people, Andrew quipped.

The Baby Boom

As if the complications of running a bed-and-breakfast,
antique store, and farm werent enough to keep them busy,
about a year ago, Andrew and Don decided to embark on a
new adventure: fatherhood.
We adopted Harper through an agency in Columbus, Ohio,
Andrew told me when I asked about their path to parenthood. Its the only agency in the state certified by HRC, he
added, using the acronym for the Human Rights Campaign,
the LGBT advocacy organization. We originally got picked
very quickly, which surprised us because you always hear
about these couples who languish on the wait list forever.

than you used to.

But fatherhood has shifted the couples vision of what the
ideal country life entails. Though Andrew and Don came to
Granville with the dream of opening a bed-and-breakfast,
theyve recently put their farm on the market for sale.
It was starting to get overwhelming and too complicated
with Harper, and another baby on the way, Andrew said.
I had to admit, with their multiple successful ventures, it
was a bit of a relief to hear Andrew and Don were capable of
being overwhelmed at all. But I also wondered, was it disappointing at all having to give up on their original dream of
running a bed-and-breakfast?
Im very much looking forward to not running the bed-andbreakfast, Andrew said without hesitation. Do I really want
to be cooking strangers food and cleaning rooms? If someone
needs something at 2 a.m., thats me. Do I really need this?
Butwhat about the poor llamas?
Oh, the llamas are coming with us, he laughed.
For more stories on gay fathers and their children, visit

GayswithKids.com

But their adoption story wasnt without its share of complications. Harpers mother, when she picked us, she said she
would only go with us, or shed leave the agency. She wanted to give Harper to a same-sex family. But then her family
kicked her out of the house because of it. Fortunately, HRC
got her housing, but its been pretty dramatic.
The couple recently learned that Harpers biological mother is
pregnant once again with a baby girl, and are making plans to
adopt her as well to keep the siblings together.
We always joke that our story was a bit like Baby Boom, said
Andrew, referring to the 1987 movie starring Diane Keaton.
She moves to the country with a kid, buys a house, and it all
falls apart.
So how have they managed it all? Better than Diane Keaton?
You just have to know what your limitations are, Andrew
said, who is primarily responsible for their multiple ventures
and is Harpers primary caregiver during the day while Don is
working. You just have to know when [Harpers] sleep times
are so you can get some stuff done. You plan a little bit more

Andrew Kohn (left) and Donald Jones (right)

Unite Magazine | 17

style

Spring Style Guide

by Jason Wiff
Unite CinCinnati
Approaching a Spring Style Guide for 2015 has been a bit
daunting. It seems unfair to set standards for Cincinnati based
on what is seen in New York, London, Milan and Paris. While
the Queen City of the West has an undeniable arts, music,
emerging food and social scene, we also have our own identity
when it comes to style.
Walking the streets of Downtown, Over-the-Rhine and
Northern Kentucky, I witness people taking interest in their
surroundings: the classic architecture, boutique-style businesses and most importantly, other people who are walking
the streets. People everywhere are breathing life into what was
once old, rundown and outdated. It is apparent that there
is a renaissance happening in our area that is making people
forget their longing for larger, cultural meccas.
Within these evolving community identities comes our own
personal identities. Individuals within the LGBT community
are being hailed for pushing gender norms when it comes
to how they present themselves and saying no to traditional
gender archetypes. To me, this is the definition of style: an
outward personal message.
For spring 2015, clean, sharp edges and solid colors have been
seen across the board. Hues of marsala, navy, muddy greens,
grays and white can be seen in almost every runway show
across the globe as well as pieces with an edgy, asymmetrical
cut. Ponchos, classic hats, natural accents, gold accents and
fur can be seen in many mens and womens designs. Solid
colors seem to be everywhere in fashion these days, not only
because they help focus on your personal beauty but because
they also are very versatile. Rely on combining textures instead of prints.
While style trends come and go, local designers have the
answer to remaining stylish without having to replace your
wardrobe every season. Pair a perfect fitting pair of Noble
Denim jeans with a simple, white t-shirt, oxblood blazer and
a pocket square from Artfully Disheveled for a perfect night
out. Wake up, don the same pair of jeans with a new classic,

18 | Unite Magazine

Ohio Against The World t-shirt and your perfectly tailored

topcoat and youre brunch ready. That being said, it is apparent that Cincinnati shoppers are enjoying shopping small, so
skip the dreaded mall and visit one of the many fashion-forward boutiques and pop-up shops that the Tri-State has to
offer such as Article Menswear or flow - a shop for men. The
experience will almost surely be more personal and in some
cases you may even meet the person who made the item
youre purchasing.
Fur has made a huge come back and while I dont justify the
purchase of unsustainable fur, there are plenty of locations in
the metro area to find high quality faux-fur or vintage pieces. Enjoy these now before the weather warms up (but keep
them for fall). Fur collars paired with a perfectly fitting wool
coat and tailored, ankle cropped pants creates a look that is
comfortable without looking like youre trying too hard. Side
note: become friends with your tailor.
Gold accents in the form of contemporary jewelry pieces,
sunglasses, belts and even shoes add a touch of class without
looking like you live at the country club. Luckily, Cincinnati
is home to many high-quality consignment stores, vintage
stores and specialty curated stores where you can find one-ofa-kind pieces that will liven up any existing wardrobe.
Classic hats are back and I couldnt be happier about it. Make
a visit to Gus at Batsakes on Walnut Street for a versatile
wool, felted solid color derby, fedora (not to be confused with
the dreaded Trilby!) and a range of straw hats that can be
dressed up or down. This versatile accessory will also have you
Derby ready while on a day-to-day basis make you feel like
Hemingway at a caf in Paris (these designs are also not just
for men anymore).
Someone told me that 2030 is as close to the current time
as the year 2000. While this might terrify some readers, it
leaves me feeling optimistic for the future. While style is
constantly evolving, it is nice to have the classics to rely on.
As I mentioned before, Im a firm believer that style is an

Dont let fear and stigma of HIV

make your choices for you.

outward personal message that doesnt require you to open

your mouth, or in many cases, have a disposable income.
Keeping these principles in mind, in addition to the immense
social changes that are happening in the world (for the better), I ask that you review this style guide as a suggestion and
to wear whatever the hell makes you happy.

Find out & protect

your HIV status.

Free, rapid oral

HIV testing

Results
available in
20 minutes

Appointments
and walk-in
times offered
For more information or to schedule your
appointment, visit www.nkyhealth.org
or call Bob at 859.363.2085.

When Jason is not throwing back espresso, on an adventure, or

taking a long, romantic walk to the fridge, he likes to spend his
time with his nose in a good book or getting his thoughts out
on paper. A pseudo country boy from northeast Ohio turned
erudite city boy with an insatiable desire for the arts, he enjoys
a well-crafted gin and tonic, deep, thoughtful conversation and
making a difference in the lives of those around him.

Unite Magazine | 19

A&E
Boy band search brings us Second Alibi
by Chuck Beatty
Unite CinCinnati

Early last year, a young singer went out on a search for the
next boy band. He wanted to show the rest of the world the
talent Ohio had to offer. The Ohio Boy Band Search was
born.
Adam Mardel, a singer/songwriter based out of Ohio, has
shared the stage with many well-known artists including
Aaron Carter, Adam Calvert of MTVs Taking the Stage,
Romance on a Rocketship, and Vincent Tomas from the
multi-platinum boy band us5. Tomas was the driving force
and inspiration for Mardel to break away from his solo career
and form the new band.

on the website and Facebook page:

Once all the submissions have been reviewed and narrowed
down, the guys who we think have what it takes will receive
an email with more details about the project and the audition.
To be clear, there is NO PAY, NO RECORD DEAL, and
NO INSTANT SUCCESS. This is just an opportunity to
work towards achieving those goals as a unit. This will have to
be a team effort and is not for artists eventually wanting to go
solo. So if you think you have what it takes please send your
submission to Contact@OhioBoyBand.com. We look forward
to your email and wish you luck!

Mardel put out a call over social media and the official Ohio
Boy Band website for a male artist between the ages of 20-26
with singing and dancing ability. This was not your typical
American Idol or The Voice-type of competition. The expectations were made perfectly clear with the following disclaimer

Kody Goens
The search, which started out focused on Ohio, quickly went
national when the story was picked up by a blogger in Boston.

Adam Mardel

20 | Unite Magazine

While looking through countless submissions, Mardel found

the YouTube page of Kody Goens and after watching his videos posted online, approached Goens to submit to the project.
In a short time, the conversations started to be more frequent
and Mardel knew he had found the next member.

Goens, the newest member, is an Indianapolis musician,

singer, songwriter and producer. He started writing music
as a way to cope with family life and the challenges he faced
growing up. Raised as an introvert, Kody taught himself all he
needed to know to make his own music. After teaching himself piano and guitar, Kody started single-handedly producing
dance/pop music with nothing else but a Macbook Pro and a
microphone.
When I asked Adam and Kody if they would be adding another member. it was a definitive no.
We click so well musically, it just works, said Mardel.
The band, Second Alibi, has a meeting with a record label
later this year and are optimistic there are exciting opportunities ahead.

Unite Magazine | 21

LGBT Business Directory

ART & Culture

LEGAL SERVCES

PHOTOGRAPHY

Cincinnati Art Museum

953 Eden Park Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.721.2787
www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org

Law Offices of Shannon C. Smith

605 Madison Ave. Suite 2
Covington, Kentucky 41011
859.414.0543 or 502.498.4739
www.lawofficesofshannoncsmith.com

Mikki Schaffner Photography

2511 Essex Pl. Room 104
Cincinnati, OH 45206
www.mikkischaffner.com

EDUCATION

NIGHTLIFE

The New School Montessori

3 Burton Woods Ln.
Cincinnati, OH 45229
513.281.7999
www.newschoolmontessori.com

Below Zero
1122 Walnut St
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.421.9376
www.belowzerolounge.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

The Cabaret
1122 Walnut St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.202.4052
www.cabaretcincinnati.com

Shawn P. Hannegan, CPA

10979 Reed Hartman Hwy
Suite 331E
Cincinnati, OH 45242
513.223.3317
www.hannegancpa.com
FITNESS
Body by Bree
605 Madison Ave. Suite 1
Covington, Kentucky 41011
270.234.3357
www.bodybybree.net

22 | Unite Magazine

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

RETAIL
flow - a shop for men
621 Scott Blvd.
Covington, KY 41011
859.291.3569
www.gentlemanflow.com
Park + Vine
1109 Vine St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.721.7275
www.parkandvine.com
Roebling Point Books and Coffee
306 Greenup St.
Covington, KY 41011
513.607.1206
www.roeblingpointbooks.com

Unite Magazine | 23

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