Celebrating LGBT pride

Since coming here, I’ve heard a lot about the diversity of Columbia. It’s the liberal island in a conservative sea of rural mid-Missouri; it’s filled with arts and culture and a variety of ethnicities.

The missing act?

Is theater a true reflection of the nature of human beings? In Columbia’s theater companies, there seems to be an element of human life that is missing from the stage. For the LGBT community, few plays performed explore issues pertaining to its members’ own lives and few roles exist for actors who want to play roles showcasing the life of a gay man or a lesbian.

Fighting villains and stereotypes

Ever wonder about Wonder Woman’s sexual orientation? Sure, she married Steve Trevor and has a daughter. But speculation surfaced in the 1950s when the comic book industry’s arch-villain Dr. Frederic Wertham, author of Seduction of the Innocents, outed the Amazonian superhero by calling her “the lesbian counterpart of Batman.”

On the Job: Mr. Missouri Gay Rodeo Association

Dennis Kitchen, Mr. Missouri Gay Rodeo Association 2008, must be quick on his feet as the head of the MGRA royalty. He participates in rodeo competitions around the Midwest and works the crowd between events. He also organizes fundraisers for the four charities the MGRA donates to every year, including Passages, a group that benefits Kansas City-area LGBT teens. Vox talks to the state champion about his life, the sport and the celebrity of being Mr. MGRA 2008.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE: Former (and potentially future) first daughter Chelsea Clinton joined Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell on a gay bar crawl of Philadelphia. She was greeted with cheers for both her blond highlights and her parents’ gay-friendly politics. “These are important voters,” Rendell was quoted as saying. “They’re smart, they’re sophisticated, and they turn out in large numbers and always have.” Vox will drink to that.

Life as usual

In 1969, Nixon took office, Americans landed on the moon, 400,000 hippies attended Woodstock, and one drag queen threw a beer bottle at a police officer and initiated the Stonewall riots, which challenged a system that had long oppressed gays and lesbians.

Online and looking

More than eight years ago, “Steve,” a Columbia resident in his early 30s was planning a trip to Kansas City. As he researched entertainment options in the metropolitan area, he scanned profiles, viewed pictures and found a man with potential — a hot, buff blond with a similar agenda. They chatted online about physical characteristics and playtime preferences before exchanging phone numbers. The ensuing conversation lasted just a few minutes to confirm the realness of both parties. With that, plans were made.

Seeing the real Jessica

Although Jessica Orsini’s tiny office, nestled in the depths of the MU Agriculture building, was originally built as part of a fallout shelter, she is not trying to hide.

Stereotypes on screen

When Ellen DeGeneres came out in April 1997, conservatives protested Ellen and ABC. The network ran a parental advisory warning before the show. Today, such a dramatic response from the public would be more surprising than a TV character or celebrity coming out. Representations have progressed since the first out LGBT characters, but how far?

It takes more than two

Columbia has a wide range of bars and restaurants, and finding nightlife activities never seems like too much of a challenge. That’s because, for most, there are an array of nighttime atmospheres to choose from.

A history of LGBT characters

Star status

What do Cher, Madonna and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz all have in common? If you guessed some pretty sweet red-sequined shoes, you could be right. But if you guessed iconic status in the gay community, you’re one better. What is it that makes these straight singers so attractive?

Restricted benefits

Health insurance might not be on anyone’s wedding registry. But a marriage license is a requirement for couples to receive full medical benefits from the University of Missouri System. This policy is similar to many employers in the U.S. For couples who aren’t allowed to marry — and even for those who choose not to tie the knot — the partners could go without.

The looking glass

Religion, politics, high school and support

Outside the system

Brokeback Mountain was a breakout hit, but it’s one of few gay-themed films that have become part of mainstream audiences’ film vocabulary. Since the indie scene began, independent gay cinema has held its own among niche audiences before pioneering filmmakers such as Gus Van Sant and Todd Haynes had breakthroughs. Today, filmmakers are challenged with approaching storytelling in ways that confront personal and social identities — but even with strong examples, the business of marketing remains as major a hurdle as ever.

Catch the new wave of film in ... Romania?

(Web Exclusive) Imagine living in a world where daily items such as perfume and medication are sold on the black market, a pregnant woman cannot get an abortion and a communist dictator is in his last days of power.

Take Two: Forgetting Sarah Marshall

(Web Exclusive) Crude, painful, awkward and immature — in a good way. This pretty much sums up Forgetting Sarah Marshall, the latest film from Judd Apatow’s comedy clan. Funnier than Knocked Up, though not quite as original as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the romantic comedy, written by lead actor Jason Segel and directed by first-timer Nicholas Stoller, would surely be included in an Apatow box set.

Take Two: The Forbidden Kingdom

(Web Exclusive) It’s been a long time coming. Jackie Chan and Jet Li have dominated the martial arts genre for ages, and a collaboration between the two superstars has been much overdue. The Forbidden Kingdom technically fulfills this requirement, but kung-fu film buffs will be disheartened to learn that Chan and Li play second fiddle to relative newcomer Michael Angarano (Lords of Dogtown). Despite this missed opportunity, The Forbidden Kingdom delivers enough acrobatic fighting and comedic hijinks to make it worthwhile for casual action fans if not martial-arts enthusiasts.