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Make it Better

The Georgia Voice Editors
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Playwright and writer Topher Payne

My husband and I are not keeping complimentary schedules lately. We still see each other every day; unfortunately one of us is always sleeping when it happens. Our most consistent interaction is by phone, or checking each other’s status updates on Facebook. We’re actually having a long-distance relationship while living in the same house. Promises have been made that things will improve very soon, but looking at the upcoming calendar, I’m not entirely certain that’s true.

Because Preppy gets up at five, he’s asleep before I return home from the theater. So I take the dog out of her crate and hang out on the back porch, catching up on emails and YouTube. I’ve viewed the trailer for “Burlesque” at least 20 times. First off, I’m pretty sure it’s a remake of “Showgirls,” which is very exciting.

Outspoken: Sesame Street’s Bert, Fran Drescher, George York and more…

The Georgia Voice Editors
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Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie

“Ever notice how similar my hair is to Mr. T’s? The only difference is mine is a little more ‘mo,’ a little less ‘hawk.’”

— “Sesame Street” resident Bert, in a comment on the children’s show’s official Twitter account that was posted June 11 but made news this week, reigniting rumors that Bert and his roommate Ernie are intended to be gay. (New York Daily News, Oct. 25)

“They are not gay, they are not straight, they are puppets. They don’t exist below the waist.”

— Sesame Workshop President and CEO Gary Knell in a 2007 statement regarding the rumors. (New York Daily News, Oct. 25)

Guest Column: Voting on Nov. 2 is right for Ga.

The Georgia Voice Editors
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I’m a Progressive Democrat and I am voting on Nov. 2 because it is the right thing to do for Georgia. Nearly every seat in the state is up for vote and every person elected to office will take part in making tough decisions on very critical issues, with severely decreased resources. There is a lot at stake for Georgia and this election will set the course for at least the next 10 years.

Speaking of 10 years, remember completing the 2010 census? Well, as a result of the Census, Georgia, along with the rest of the United States, will now undergo redistricting just in time for the 2012 elections. In a nutshell, over the next two years the map of the state will be redrawn as it relates to legislative districts. As a result, the person who now represents you may not represent you any longer and therefore, the politics of your districts may also change.

Outspoken: Ricky Martin, Carl Paladino, Chris Colfer and more…

The Georgia Voice Editors
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Ricky Martin speaks at the HRC National Dinner

“It took me a while, but tonight I’m here and I want to say that I want to add my voice to yours. And I’m so happy to be part of this community.”

— Pop singer Ricky Martin, who recently came out after years of speculation, in remarks as the surprise opening speaker at the national Human Rights Campaign dinner. (Advocate.com, Oct. 10)

“I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don’t want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option — it isn’t.”

— Carl Paladino, Republican nominee for governor of New York, in an Oct. 9 campaign speech to Jewish constituents. (Politico.com, Oct. 10)

This Land is My Land

The Georgia Voice Editors
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Playwright and writer Topher Payne It’s a rare night off, and I’m having some quality time with my husband and my dog. The three of us are all engaged in our favorite modes of relaxation — Daisy’s monitoring squirrel activity, Preppy’s playing Angry Birds, I’m finding out if Lindsay Lohan ran over any baby carriages today. The calm is broken by Preppy jumping up from the table, bellowing.

“Daisy! Leave it! Damn it, Topher, she’s got my shoe!”

“Well, you shouldn’t have taken it off.”

“Whose side are you on here?”

Out of the Closet

The Georgia Voice Editors
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Playwright and writer Topher PayneI have a talent for taking very small projects which could be completed in 20 minutes, and through careful evaluation, finding a way for them to consume the better part of a week. My husband would tell you I do this intentionally, in a clever plan to force him to unload the dishwasher himself, because me doing it will somehow lead to the kitchen being repainted.

I prefer to think of myself as very thorough. I enjoy projects, in much the same way that people with OCD enjoy hand-washing.

Gay community must re-energize fight against HIV

The Georgia Voice Editors
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On Sept. 27, we commemorated the third annual National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an opportunity not only to reflect on the impact HIV has had on gay and bisexual men in the United States, but also an opportunity to act.

President Obama recently released a National HIV/AIDS Strategy that prioritizes the needs of gay and bisexual men as a group that continues to be hard-hit by the disease, and the message is clear — we must re-energize the fight.

Although it has been nearly 30 years since the first reported cases of HIV among gay and bisexual men, HIV remains a crisis that is far from over in this community.