CREATOR OF THE ‘IT GETS BETTER’ PROJECT AND ‘SAVAGE LOVE’ COLUMN

DAN SAVAGE GREW UP IN “A LOUD, ARGUMENTATIVE, AND VERY CATHOLIC” FAMILY, AND CAME OUT AS GAY AS FRUIT COCKTAIL.

ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS A GAY-SEX COLUMNIST, HE IS NOW A HOUSEHOLD NAME THANKS TO HIS IT GETS BETTER VIDEO PROJECT ON YOUTUBE. THE PROJECT, WHICH HAS GAINED IMMENSE POPULARITY SINCE ITS CREATION IN MID SEPTEMBER 2010, ASKS PEOPLE TO MAKE AND UPLOAD SHORT POSITIVE VIDEOS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES ABOUT THE LGBT COMMUNITY. MILLIONS HAVE VIEWED THE VIDEOS AND PARTICIPATED SO FAR, INCLUDING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND ENTERTAINER JANET JACKSON. ADVERTISING AGE HAS CALLED IT GETS BETTER ONE OF THE TOP SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS OF 2010. HIS NEW BOOK IS TITLED, IT GETS BETTER: COMING OUT, OVERCOMING BULLYING AND CREATING A LIFE WORTH LIVING.

IN JUNE 2011, SAVAGE WON A WEBBY SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF DIGITAL ARTS AND SCIENCES FOR THE PROJECT. A MONTH LATER, SAVAGE WAS NAMED ONE OF THE 2011 “POWER 50” AS WELL AS THE “OUT 100” BY OUT MAGAZINE FOR THE CAMPAIGN’S TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND WAS ALSO SELECTED FOR O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE’S 2011 O WOW! LIST OF BREAKTHROUGH ACHIEVERS.

IN 1991 HE WAS THE NIGHT MANAGER AT AN INDEPENDENT VIDEO STORE IN MADISON, WISCONSIN, WHEN A CO-WORKER TOLD HIM HE WAS PLANNING TO MOVE TO SEATTLE AND START A NEW ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER. SAVAGE, A SELF-DESCRIBED “PUSHY BUSYBODY,” REPLIED, “YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ADVICE COLUMN. EVERYBODY HATES THEM, BUT EVERYBODY READS THEM.” AND SUDDENTY SAVAGE, WHO’D NEVER CONSIDERED HIMSELF A WRITER BEFORE, WAS A SNARKY “DEAR ABBY” FOR THE SEXUALLY ACTIVE.

SAVAGE’S COLUMN, “SAVAGE LOVE,” FIRST APPEARED IN 1991, IN THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE STRANGER. READERS OF ANY SEXUAL PERSUASION WERE INVITED TO SEEK SAVAGE’S PITHY ADVICE WITH THE SALUTATION “HEY FAGGOT,” AN ATTEMPT BY SAVAGE TO MAKE THE WORD MORE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE. IN 1999, SAVAGE ANNOUNCED HE’D GROWN WEARY OF “HEY FAGGOT,” POSSIBLY BECAUSE A LOT OF READERS THOUGHT “HEY FAGGOT” NOT “SAVAGE LOVE” WAS THE NAME OF THE COLUMN.

THE ONCE-A-WEEK COLUMN IS FUNNY, INFORMATIVE, OUTRAGEOUS, NON-JUDGMENTAL (ABOUT CONSENTING SEX ACTS), AND VERY JUDGMENTAL (ABOUT MORONIC LETTER-WRITERS). “SAVAGE LOVE” IS NOW SYNDICATED TO BETTER ALTERNATIVE WEEKLIES ACROSS AMERICA.

SAVAGE IS THE AUTHOR OF THE COMMITMENT: LOVE, SEX, MARRIAGE, AND MY FAMILY, SKIPPING TOWARDS GOMORRAH: THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IN AMERICA’S MOST POPULAR SEX COLUMNIST, AND THE KID: WHAT HAPPENED AFTER MY BOYFRIEND AND I DECIDED TO GO PREGNANT. THE LATTER BOOK TELLS HOW SAVAGE AND HIS BOYFRIEND ADOPTED THEIR SON FROM HIS WILLING MOTHER, A “SPARE-CHANGING GUTTER PUNK.” IT IS ALSO THE INSPIRATION FOR THE UPCOMING MUSICAL FROM THE PRODUCERS OF AVENUE Q, WHICH WILL HAVE ITS DEBUT IN THE 2009-2010 SEASON FOR THE NEW YORK-BASED NEW GROUP THEATER COMPANY.

“IF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT REALLY WANTED TO STOP GAY SEX … THEY SHOULD GET BEHIND GAY PEOPLE ADOPTING, BECAUSE NOTHING PUTS A STOP TO GAY SEX FASTER.”

IN ADDITION TO WRITING HIS COLUMN, SAVAGE IS NOW THE EDITOR OF THE STRANGER. HE’S ALSO ACTIVE IN THE THEATRE, DIRECTING QUEER PLAYS AS KEENAN HOLLAHAN. KEENAN IS SAVAGE’S MIDDLE NAME, AND HOLLAHAN IS HIS GRANDMOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME.

Click here for more information and links to the It Gets Better Project Homepage

Mark your calendars for Emergence Queer Film Festival!

What: Three evenings of GLBT films and discussion, including shorts, a feature-length documentary titled Diagnosing Difference, a feature-length fiction film, Circumstance, an artist’s talk by local artist Anthea Black, a facilitated discussion, and a talk/performance piece by S. Bear Bergman!

When: Thursday February 9, Friday February 10, Saturday February 11, 6-9pm

Where: Conron Hall, University College, The University of Western Ontario campus

Who: Open to all GLBTT2I individuals and their allies, of all ages, throughout the London Community, for FREE.

For more information & full schedule: www.emergencefilmfest.weebly.com

UWO’s Emergence Queer Film Festival – currently in its fourth year of operation -

is a FREE event that will be running the evenings of Thursday February 9th,

Friday February 10, and Saturday February 12, 2012 in Conron Hall in University

College, on UWO campus.

Similar to previous years, we will be showing two full-length films and several short

films as well as hosting talks by trans activist S. Bear Bergman and local

queer filmmakers, and having facilitated discussions. Emergence is a festival that

aims to bring together a wide demographic of students, faculty, and London

community members.

Our goal is that members from the University community and the London

community can engage in dialogue and learn from each other.  All community

members are welcome, whether they are queer-identified or allies.

TONIGHT!!! In support of UWO’s safe sex week we are having a Condom Casino night. Drop on by and test your luck in some classic casino games like black jack and roulette or see just how much you know about LGBT safe sex. No money will be wagered, just lots and lots of condoms and other safe sex tools. Come and find out if you have what it takes to go to Vegas, cause everyone knows you need to be good at gambling and know about safe sex if you wanna go there!

Starts at 7:30 pm in UCC-38 (the support centre) BE THERE

PrideWestern Amazing Race

Update: Registration is now closed.  Thank you to all those who expressed interest.  For everyone attending, we’ll see you in Toronto!

This year’s Out on Bay Street conference and case competition is just around the corner!  If you are a current student or a 2011 grad looking for a one-of-a-kind networking and professional development opportunity, this page is where you’ll find all the information!

The Annual Conference  & Case Competition for LGBTQA undergraduate and graduate students in business, law and technology programs is built upon the values of leadership, and education. The Annual Conference creates an advantageous learning and networking opportunity for our delegates from across the country. Through exceptional quality of academic and geographic diversity, sponsorship and networking; as well as in educational seminars and inspirational keynote speeches, the conference inspires Canada’s future leaders. Since its humble beginnings, the Annual Conference has brought together some of the most successful LGBTQA leaders with the delegates; in addition to, representation from many Canadian and global organizations.

The 2011 conference will address the most interesting and relevant topics for an undergraduate, graduate and law audience, while, challenging student’s creativity and sense of innovation through the newly implemented case competition.

If you have any questions about the weekend or would like to help promote: contact your Out on Bay St UWO Campus Ambassador – Johnathan Sawicki jsawick4@uwo.ca and be sure to mention your rep in the registration form.  Click here for the Out on Bay St website!

For Details, Click on the Event Link on the Right Side of This Page

UPDATE: Out on Bay has extended the travel/accommodation bursary deadline to FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23!  Early bird registration ends on Sunday though so don’t delay!  Several UWO students have already received full bursaries to attend the conference FREE! For questions e-mail Johnathan at jsawick4@uwo.ca

It’s a Party, On The Patio!

We will be serving Pizza, Popsicles, Pop-Rocks, Soda-Pop, and Popcorn!

This event is FREE!!

We will be playing Pop-Music all night!

And

There will be Balloons!!

The Support Services Centre is located in the basement of the UCC (room 38) near the base of the spiral staircase beside the Spoke’s outdoor patio.

We look forward to seeing you at PrideWestern’s first official event of the year!

Click the event image above to be sent to the Facebook event to RSVP!

Partner Event: This week is the 3rd annual Emergence Queer Film Festival at the University of Western Ontario!

This year’s festival will feature a variety of short films, screenings of “The Fish Child” and “Trinidad”, and speakers PJ Raval & Dr. Rinaldo Walcott. It takes place from Thursday, March 31^st to Saturday, April 2^nd.

View the Facebook Event page here and the poster: here.

Tuesday, March 1st, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm

Oasis Room, London Intercommunity Health Centre

Presented by Alphabet Community Centre
All are welcome. Open to anyone who knows and/or is a part of a trans person’s life. Family, Friends, Allies, Partners and Loved ones. The evening will include an hour presentation on the Trans experience as well as answering questions. There will be social time, and time to ask private questions. Printed Material, brochures and information will be available.
It’s not necessary, but if possible, please RSVP Michelle Boyce: michelle@romsoft.net.

Partner Event: You are cordially invited to the FIRST EVER Slowdance Night in LONDON, ONTARIO!

With a lending library of designated dancers for all you wallflowers, and a dancecard-booklet to set up dances in advance (should you choose to), Slowdance Night has all slow songs, all night long! (Except for the occasional intermission when we play the fastest songs we can find!)

It’s high school with a happy ending, and it’s queer, straight, and senior-friendly too. Come and experience why slow is beautiful, and why love is not ironic.

PS. Fantastic and inspired attire, while desired, is not required. But would be AWESOME.

***

Brennan’s Beer & Bistro (www.brennansbeerbistro.ca)
347 Clarence St.
London, Ontario
Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Doors at 8:30, Dance from 9 PM – 2 AM.
$8 admission includes your Dancecard-Booklet!

RSVP on the Facebook Event Page!