Nashville considers sexual orientation ordinance - Out & About ...

-Photo by Mike Robinson
16 • OUT & ABOUT NASHVILLE • JANUARY, 2003
O&AN
LIVING
Rawhide Kid: In the saddle again
by F. Daniel Kent
O&AN Associate Entertainment Editor
Marvel Comics Group, the creators of such comic book
icons as the X-Men and Spider-Man, will unveil the
newest gay comic book character in February. Only, this
time the comic book company has gone a different route
than normal.
Instead of choosing one of the more visible brightly colored
super hero characters, writer Ron Zimmerman has
selected a character from the comic book giant's old wild
western characters and dusted him off: The Rawhide Kid.
"It's a classic Western, like (the movie) 'Shane,' but with
a gay twist," said Zimmerman. While the story has "a
comedic slant," Zimmerman said he hopes the 21st century
kid is "an empowering character that the gay community
would be able to embrace."
"I certainly believe there is a market for gay comics in
Nashville," says Mark Furhman, vice president of the
Great Escape. "As long as it doesn’t focus solely on the
sexual aspect, I have never heard a negative reaction."
There are already a wide variety of queer characters in
Baja Burrito - go fishing
By Michael John
O&AN Food Critic
Seems like all I do is rave
about food. I seldom encounter a
food that I don't like. My hours
on the treadmill each week frequently
seem in vain, but then I
remember that wonderful croissant
I had the day before and I
Mark Beverman, manager of Baja Burrito.
run faster.
With that said, I have another
marvelous place that is worth the
pain and suffering at the gym -
Baja Burrito.
The cozy restaurant on
Thompson Lane near 100 Oaks is
a favorite for a quick burrito or
loaded taco salad with all the fixings.
The process is easy: step up
to the counter and order, specify
chicken, beef or vegetarian, and
follow your burrito or salad as
you yea or nay the ingredients.
It's a wonderful system full of
salsa, guacamole, cheese and
cilantro, just to name a few.
The burritos and salads are
great, but the absolute best are the
fish tacos. What can I say about
the lovely tacos...hmmm...they are
simply fabulous (You know I had
to use the gayest word in the dictionary,
didn't you?). Deep fried
comic books today including the Midnighter and Apollo
from the comic book "The Authority" who get married in
their comic and adopt a child. "Superman" works with a
lesbian Metropolis Police Force inspector. And this year, a
major gay character called Northstar joined the "X-Men"
team, thrilling gay fans who say they feel a special kinship
with outcast characters who must hide their true self and
find alternative families.
The Rawhide Kid was originally introduced back in the
1950s and was always presented as well groomed and
fashionably dressed (he wore a tight fitting leather outfit
with white gloves and a beaver skin leather hat), but very
shy with girls. Marvel is touting this as the first ever openly
gay title character.
The updated Rawhide Kid's comic series called
"Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather" will premiere in Marvel
Comics' Max line for adults in February, but don't expect
to see a "coming out" scene in the series. Sources from
Marvel say that it will be apparent which side of the bread
the Kid likes his butter on from the very first time that he
is seen, but will never come right out and say it. The
comic is described as having a very lighthearted "Will &
fish (not sure what kind, maybe a
whitefish) is placed in a corn tortilla
with cabbage, red onion,
cilantro and a special tartar sauce.
A basket of three is about $5.
Add the chips and drink combo
for another buck or so and there's
your meal. Not that healthy, but I
will eat a basket knowing full
well that I will have to run an
extra mile or two the next day. I
accept the hardship that the exercise
will cause - the fish tacos are
worth it!
I do have one complaint about
Baja. The liquid from the chicken
that is scooped in the burritos can
cause sogginess. You have to eat
the burritos there, and quickly. If
you try to take the food home, the
liquid will completely soak
through the flour tortilla. You can
ask the worker to be careful and
drain as much of the juice before
scooping, but they don't always
understand...English, that is. I
have resorted to having the salad.
I can deal with the extra juice at
the bottom of the salad plate.
That's easier than learning
Spanish. I should expand my
knowledge of other languages,
but at Baja all you have to do is
point and either shake or nod
your head as your scoot down the
line. It's the American way.
Go to Baja Burrito and get anything.
It's all good. �
Grace" humor which
plays on inside jokes
with the reader. At
one point in the story
the Kid comments on
the Lone Ranger: "I
think that mask and
the powder blue outfit
are fantastic. I can
certainly see why the
Indian follows him
around."
Marvel is planning
six issues of the
Rawhide Kid
series. After looking
at the response to
those issues they will
decide whether to
continue production
The Rawhide Kid
and whether they would
be interested in more series with gay title character. �
Meet Your Neighbor
By F. Daniel Kent
O&AN Associate Entertainment Editor
Hattie Swite
1. What part of Middle Tennessee do you live in? Berry Hill
2. How long have you lived here? One month
3. What is your favorite thing about Nashville/Middle
Tennessee: Centennial Park
4. Are you single or dating? Dating
5. What is your favorite hangout? Home
6. What is your favorite TV Show?
Survivor
7. Any community involvement? I try not to
Swite
8. What is the one thing you wish the
Nashville GLBT community had: Non-discrimination rights
Mikel James Pierson
1. What part of Middle Tennessee do you live in? West Nashville
2. How long have you lived here? Four years
3. What is your favorite thing about
Nashville/Middle Tennessee: The
Job market
4. Are you single or dating? Single and
hating it.
5. What is your favorite hangout? Home
6. What is your favorite TV Show?
Pierson
Gilmour Girls
7. Any community involvement? I didn’t know Nashville
had one.
8. What is the one thing you wish the Nashville GLBT
community had: A community