One athlete’s journey to represent Team Philadelphia at the 2010 Gay Games

I am on my way to the Gay Games, and here is an article about it in the local newspaper


http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/On-the-Right-Track.html



“I feel fortunate to live my life as an openly gay person and to have full acceptance from my family and friends,” he says, “and I hope to inspire others to always strive for their personal best in whatever they do.”

Indigo Ball

Indigo Ball
Originally uploaded by reflexblue

I have gradually come to terms with the William Way GLBT Community Center. I am appreciating the center for what it offers and its potential.

Bear Encounters

Earlier this month, while I was waiting for my Chinese takeout, I noticed two idiots making faces at me from the glass window. Naturally, I pulled out my iPhone to capture their silliness. Noticing that they were on camera, they started to act even sillier. They went around to the front entrance of the restaurant, yelling at me, "gaysian ... we love gaysians!" I was amused, but the restaurant workers were a little disturbed. I looked at my stalkers and now it became clear that one of they was Jay McCaroll http://www.jaymccarroll.com/, the first season winner of Project Runway.



After my weird run-in with the stalkers, I decided that a weekend in the Poconos would be a great getaway. I was stalked by bears! Not the kind of bears that drink beer and dance to Madonna at the Bike Stop, but the real bears in the wild. On the first day, I went running with Todd and Dan. One black bear ran across the street right in front of Todd and me. The next day, I went with Dan to the same general area. As I looked up, a big bear standing on its two feet, was staring right at me. I unleashed a scream so loud that probably caused leaves to fall all over. Dan was about 10 yards in front of me. Dan turned around and saw the bear and it started to lumber down and walked away.

Boys of Summer 2008

I made an encore appearance as a "lifeguard" at the Boys of Summer party last night. Guys seemed to behave better this year, but maybe that's because I left before midnight.

We Your People

Anh Dang

:: gophila.com - The Official Visitor Site for Greater Philadelphia







Would tourists want to come to Philadelphia because I'm a resident? The city tourism group thinks so. They made me part of their latest tourism campaign targeting gay tourists.

Philadelphia AIDS Fund 10k Run

Gender Nonconformity scares people, and I experienced that first hand last weekend at the Philadelphia AIDS Fund 10k. I decided to make this 10k run a fun one by running in a pink bikini top and a purple mini-skirt.
I started out doing a conservative pace, at around 8 minute pace. Not too many people went ahead of me. At the turnaround point, I realized that I could place well if I tried. I kicked it up a notch, holding a 7 minute pace and passing three people on my way to the finish line. I placed 10th overall.
After watching some runners coming in, I took my bike out to find the rest of the Fins swimmers who were doing the AIDS Walk. A majority of the walk participants were high school kids. These kids obviously felt uncomfortable seeing me in a woman's outfit. They called me faggot. They called me freak. They hissed and they jeered. They couldn't shut up. I kept smiling and moving on.

---
Official results

A I D S 1 0 K R U N
W. River Dr. Philadelphia, PA * Sun. Oct. 21, 2007
ORDER OF FINISH


o'all sex|#fin
place # NAME City/St TIME pace plc|by sex
===== === ===================== =============== ==
1 25 MICHAEL DAIGEAUN NO BRUNSWICK NJ 34:11 5:29 1/50 M
2 140 KAI SYVERTSON PHILADELPHIA PA 39:11 6:17 2/50 M
3 123 DAVID WITHAM PHILADELPHIA PA 39:18 6:18 3/50 M
4 130 SEAN CAPKIN WYNNEWOOD PA 40:25 6:29 4/50 M
5 188 RAY BORDOGNA WYNNEWOOD PA 40:55 6:33 5/50 M

6 182 MICHAEL DONUELLA ST DAVIDS PA 44:33 7:08 6/50 M
7 185 JIM BULIZZI PHILADELPHIA PA 44:42 7:10 7/50 M
8 34 ANDREW DUONG EAGLEVILLE PA 45:33 7:18 8/50 M
9 87 NATALIE MCLAUGHLIN PHOENIXVILLE PA 45:36 7:18 1/51 F
10 180 ANH M DANG PHILADELPHIA PA 45:37 7:19 9/50 M

I Remember Matthew Shepard

Nine years after her son Matthew Shepard's death, Judy Shepard is still a tireless crusader for hate crime legislations. I had a chance to hear her story last week, and had a small group lunch with her after her talk. I was quite familiar with Matthew's murder, but to hear it from the mother's perspective was overwhelming. I was in tears. I didn't say much to Judy during the group lunch. I didn't really know what to say. I just sat there admiring a woman whose work I hope will be worthwhile someday.

I think about Matthew Shepard during my long runs. I wonder if Matthew were alive, would he run marathons? Would he transform from a tiny little twink to a muscular gym bunny? I run because Matthew can't. I volunteer with many GLBT groups because Matthew can't. I am political because I can't bear to see another young gay life interrupted.

Marine Corps Marathon: 3 Weeks Away

Wow ... my next marathon is only 3 weeks away. It's time to taper. Since I haven't built up my miles, I need to come out of my closet this OutFest Sunday to run 20 miles. I can then cruise the gayborhood at the "World's Largest National Coming Out Block Party" right in my front door.

Gays v. Marines

All across America, Marines set up recruiting stations were teenagers are likely to visit. These stations often involve a pull up bar and incentives such as key chains or t-shirts for guys who can do a few pull-ups, or hold up a few minutes for females.
Well, yesterday the Martine boys were out to recruit at Kelly Drive near the start of the Frontrunners Philadelphia, a gay and lesbian running group. I don't know whether it was the irony that the Marines weren't recruiting gays or gays couldn't resist getting free Marines t-shirts, Frontrunners members started to line up for the pull-up challenge.
One by one, each of us did at least 10 pull-ups to win a t-shirt. One by one, we refused to add our names to their contact list by saying "Sorry, boys. I'm gay!"

Boys of Summer 2007

This party was the boiling point of a very hot summer!

Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Trailer 2007

Attending the gay film festival is one of my favorite things to do in Philadelphia during the summer. I went to five screenings this year.

Shelter is a garden variety coming out movie. It's a sweet story, but I'm sick of coming out movies.

Four Letter Word is a well made urban gay romantic comedy.

Itsy Bitsy Titty Committee - I slept through most of this movie about angry young lesbians.

Hairspray is the most entertaining movie I've seen this year. I was tapping my toes and cheering at the end.

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julia Newar --- This is one of my favorite campy gay films of the 90's. I came to the free outdoors screening too late so I only caught the last 10 minutes.

Gay Bed and Breakfast of Horror is one the worst movies ever. It's neither funny or scary. It's campy which is good in a skid but this feature film is 90 minutes too long.

Philly Pride Parade 2007

Philly Pride Parade 2007Jun10 119
Originally uploaded by ejschenck

The Philadelphia Fins Aquatics Club on the Best Decorated Pick-up Truck.

Jerry Farwell and Adolf Hilter

Toilet Humor
Originally uploaded by reflexblue.

Jerry Farwell and Adolf Hilter practiced politics of division. They used religion to incite violence. Gone!

Alliance Party

Alliance Party
Originally uploaded by reflexblue.

You're invite.

Your host,
Anh

Gays of My Life

JDMC
Originally uploaded by reflexblue.

I always say that it wouldn't be a party until someone gets carried away.

2006: Year in Review

Let's wrap it up. 2006 was good to me. I was given many opportunies to pursuit many of my dreams. I built on my strengths, overcame some of my fears, and had a ball or two.


Photo copyrighted by Mike LaMonaca

Road Races

Marathon: six races in six states, three personal records, two races in eight days. My personal favorite marathon race in 2006 was the Chicago Gay Games Marathon where I ran in circles looking at other hot gay men.
Other road races: One 5K in which I finished dead last, two 10K, and a half marathon. My overall best result was the Philadelphia Distance Run in which I placed 1,176 out of 11,119 finishers.

Soccer Tournaments

Keystone Classic: my rare participation in an indoors soccer tournament. Someone on the team gave us the flu after the trip to Lancaster, PA.
Chicago Gay Games: Amazing time bonding with other Philadelphia and Washington DC players. I played strong the whole week, but missed the penalty kick shoot-out and got my team eliminated from the tournament.
Pumpkin Patch Tournament: We flopped. I sucked.

New Adventures

I got involved with politics and helped dumped Senator Rick Santorum. Rock climbing is once again a part of my workout.
I joined the Philadelphia FINS Aquatic Club, and swim with the team twice a week. I'm the slowest swimmer on the team, but I still got myself elected to serve on the FINS executive board.

New Toys
I got almost everything I wanted: iPod Video and a black MacBook, both of which I use every day. I also acquired tons of sports equipment and accessories: Garmin ForeRunner 305 GPS device, a road bike, four pairs of running shoes, road bike shoes, rock climbing shoes and harness, triathlon suit, four pairs of googles, two wetsuits, and six Speedo swimsuit. I also got about 20 t-shirts which I didn't directly purchase. They were mostly from road races that I participated. I plan to give most of these cotton t-shirts away. Any takers?

Pop culture

The movie I enjoyed most this year was "A History of Violence". Favorite theater production was the old Broadway song-and-dance "42nd St." The only book I read cover-to-cover was "Inside Out: Straight Talk from a Gay Jock". TV shows I watched regularly were "Desperate Housewives" and "Survivor". My favorite blog was Diminishing Returns.

People in My Life

I'm grateful to be surrounded by smart, beautiful, passionate, talented and funny people such as:
The one whom I talk to every day about everything. He's my workout buddy, travel partner, and even shopping buddy.
The one who hosts fabulous parties and makes sure I am a part of all his events
The one who puts me on a Jeep in a gay pride parade
The one who got me to join the gay swim team (and passed away a few weeks ago)

The one who strong-armed me to volunteer for political campaigns to support Bob Casey, Ed Rendell, and Pat Murphy
The ones who got me on two boards of directors
The one who ran three marathon races with me and keeps inspiring me to keep running
The ones who welcome me to their FINS family

The ones who came to my birthday party
The ones who contributed to my fundraise for the Human Righs Campaign
The ones who came to visit me (and forced me to clean my apartment)
The ones who made me a part of their lives

Matthew Izzo: JC Penny Shopper?

I caught style guru Matthew Izzo with his pants down on Sunday. He was using a raggy old towel with a JC Penny label.

Yep, it's shocking!

Matthew Izzo owns a handful of eponymous designer boutiques in Center City Philadelphia. His stores project a certain image only a few can afford. If I show up, I'd be mistaken for a Chinese dry cleaner.

He's fabulous and I'm not.

I see Matthew Izzo around the gayborhood regularly. My building is also between two of stores, so I usually see him dashing by. We don't have anything to do with each other but we work out at the same gym and happen to be at the same bars a few times.

He's fabulous and I'm not.

But why in the name of Matthew Izzo would Matthew Izzo drying himself off using a filthy aqua green towel from JC Penny??? I want my Matthew Izzo to wipe his fabulousness on a luxurious Egyptian cotton towel. Is that too much to ask?

He's fabulous and I'm not. Let's keep it that way.