Queercents

1. What do you do for a living?
I’m a validation engineer at a pharmaceutical company. Because we’re so heavily regulated, there’s an extra layer of documentation for every single thing we do. I document that the equipment, cleaning procedures, and manufacturing processes we use all do exactly what they’re supposed to do and are in compliance with federal regulations and current Good Manufacturing Practice. My job is about 70% technical writing, 15% manufacturing, and 15% regulatory.

2. What you want to do, if not at your dream job right now?
I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up! I think my dream job would involve philanthropy or arts management. Or something that would allow me to travel extensively. I’ve very recently kicked around the thought of owning a yoga studio or some kind of holisticly-oriented wellness center. Definitely something less left-brainy and technical than what I’ve been doing.

3. Have you been deeply affected by the economy? If so, how?
I somehow feel guilty admitting this, but I have not personally been significantly impacted by the recent economic downturn. While all this has been going on, I’ve managed to finish paying off my biggest debts and start socking away cash. Early last year, my employer’s parent company announced that they will close our plant and transfer all our  manufacturing to another facility. The plant shutdown is a 3+ year project, so while I know I’ll likely be laid off at some point in the next year or two, for now it’s business as usual. I’m hoping by the time my number comes up, the availability of jobs will have improved. Read the rest of this entry »

Multimillionaire software entrepreneur and philanthropist, Tim Gill is considered the 5th most influential gay person in America, according to Out.com.  He founded the Colorado-based Gill Foundation in 1994 to advance LGBT equality by providing large-scale financial support to like-minded organizations.  He also established Gill Action in 2005 as an issue advocacy organization to secure equal opportunity for all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression.  He is the founder and former chairman of the publishing software company Quark, and he is also the webmaster behind the social networking site Connexion.

Tim was nice enough to take time out of his evening to chat over dinner about finances.  Some of his answers were rather surprising… so read on!

1. How did you turn a $2,000 loan from your parents into a company that made you a multi-millionaire?
That money went to buy a printer to print manuals for our first software product, Word Juggler.  It was a word processor program for the Apple III.  Surprisingly, Apple shipped the computer for 6-9 months without a word processor.  All we had to do was send letters to Apple dealers to let them know about our product, and we immediately had 100% market share.  I paid my parents back in 2 weeks and we eventually made several million dollars from it.  That was just the start.  It was QuarkXPress that became the cash cow for the company. Read the rest of this entry »

Joe DiPasquale is the founder and CEO of Regroup.com, the premiere social media platform for
schools, companies, and organizations that empowers them to support and manage their constituents’ communication. Regroup, which secured a round of venture funding from HighBAR Ventures last year, provides an group communications platform for organizations that integrates with Facebook, SMS messages, email, and more. He is also one of the a co-founders of StartOut, an organization dedicated to fostering and developing entrepreneurship within the LGBT community. He is a member of the New York Tech Meetup Community Committee.

1. You worked in both banking, consulting, and media for big companies. Is it sweet to be your own boss? How did you start Regroup?
I’ve been fortunate to have bosses in the past who let me effectively be my own boss (with clear goals), which I think is always a great way to manage. I started Regroup out of a need I found when in business school at Stanford – I saw all the students going outside of the school to communicate, and Stanford didn’t adequately support our needs to communicate. So I linked up with some others and we started a site that could be used by students at a school (and eventually by the schools themselves to support their students), providing a more robust feature set for group communication while integrating with the other platforms students are using (SMS, facebook, email, etc).

2. What inspired you and your co- founders to start Startout?
We all wanted a way to learn from other LGBT entrepreneurs, while developing LGBT entrepreneurship and helping others. We’re starting a lot of awesome programs such as a mentorship program, capital connections, monthly events (in NY and SF to start), and more. I’m very excited about it. Read the rest of this entry »

Dave Calver is an illustrator and fine artist who lives in Palm Springs. His work has included illustrations for the Lincoln Center and the three New York MTA posters.

1. What do you do for a living?
I’ve been a freelance illustrator for 33 years. Over the past several years I’ve been doing work for galleries too, mostly in LA and Palm Springs.

2. What’s the difference between fine art and illustration?
Illustration jobs have specific demands. Fine art doesn’t.

3. Where do you get inspiration for your art?
I’ve gotten inspiration for my work from dozens of things: cartoons, cubism, art deco, Joan Miro, Paul Klee, Phillipe Guston, Jeff Koons. In college, it was Richard Lindner, Metropolis, Hugh Ferris, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

4. You live in Palm Springs, do you rent or own your home?
Currently my partner and I own our home.

5. Have you been seriously affected by the economic downtown? How?
Yes! We bought here in California at the height of the market. We’re upside down on our mortgage. Now we owe more than the house is worth. Read the rest of this entry »

Shawn Hollenbach is a stand up comedian, improv actor and songwriter based in New York City. Shawn is the producer of Closet Cases, a Critics’ Pick from Time Out NY and a Homo Must in HX Magazine. He is also a co-producer of the Back Room and The Skip and Sparkle Variety Show at Ochi’s Lounge at Comix.

1.  How did you get started in comedy?
I started almost 6 years ago. I always wanted to do it but was afraid. I did improv for a few years and stand up seemed to be a natural progression!

2. I heard you hosted the Staten Island Pride parade. How was it?
Staten Island Pride was a lot of fun. This was only the 5th Annual SI Pride and everyone there was so excited and proud, it was really refreshing. I heard that it’s growing every year!

3.  Last month, you organized the first Miss Fag Hag Pageant.  How were you able to pull off a big event on a shoestring budget?
It was A LOT of favors. From the amazing talent like Hedda Lettuce, Michael Musto, Kathleen Fitzgerald and Hedda Lettuce to Comix being so supportive and having a fabulous director, Adolpho Blaire who can do a lot with virtually nothing. Read the rest of this entry »

J. Brotherlove is a graphic designer, front-end web developer and writer. As a “pioneer” blogger, he’s explored the intersection of pop sub/culture, independent media, race, and sexuality since 1998. Additionally, he is an occasional blogger/columnist for Window Media, the nation’s largest lesbian and gay newspaper group. Currently, he is planning a new web destination to spotlight the black gay online community.

1. How did you get started as a web developer?
I’ve always been passionate about art and graphic design. From there I migrated to desktop publishing and the web. I’m an autodidact by nature and turned my hobby into a career.

2. You are also a blogger. Do you make any money from your blog?
No. But I’ve received other opportunities. I began blogging as mostly a personal outlet. I never intended it to be a money-making venture. I’m working on a couple of other web products that will generate revenue.

3. Have you gotten speaking gigs at conferences as a result of your blog?
I’ve received offers to speak at conferences but, as an introvert, I’ve decline most of them. The topic has to be something I’m passionate about and feel I can lend new insight. So far, I’ve lead sessions at the inaugural Sex 2.0 conference as well as a couple of panel discussions. Read the rest of this entry »

Kathleen Warnock is a playwright and editor. Her short play, “The Adventures of…” will be part of the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in Ireland in May. Her play “Some Are People,” has been produced in New York, Dublin, and Milledgeville, GA, and is published by United Stages. She is currently in the throes of editing Best Lesbian Erotica 2010 for Cleis (forthcoming this December!)

1. How did you get started as a travel writer?
That’s one of the major misconceptions of my profession. I’m not a travel writer…I’m a travel editor. In most people’s minds, that’s the same thing. In fact, when I tell people that I’m a travel editor, the first thing they say is: so, do you get to travel much? And the answer is…not as much as a travel writer. What I do is HIRE travel writers. And I sit in an office in Hoboken (with a fabulous view) and edit the books. I do get to travel some myself: I can go on press trips, and I’ve always traveled on my own (which is one of the reasons I think I was hired for the job).

2. What is a cheap but fun place to go for a weekend getaway?
I always look for destinations in their off- or shoulder season. I got to beach/resort destinations in the spring or fall. Right now, in the Northeast, you can probably get a good package deal in Provincetown (though off-season transportation there can be problematic), or down at the Jersey Shore, or on Long Island, as the places that stay open year-round are still offering well below high season rates. In this economic climate, bargains abound. I also keep an eye on the last-minute packages, like the ones at Flights.com (formerly Site59.com) and the ones on Priceline. Read the rest of this entry »

Matthew Baker is an executive assistant looking for an executive and is also a freelance photographer. He hails from the great cold state of Utah but officially calls New York City his home.

1. What did you do for a living? What do you do now?
Formerly, I have been a personal/executive assistant to many CEO’s, President’s and VP’s of top companies. Now I am a freelance photographer, furniture reviver, charity volunteer, treasurer for a political campaign and assistant looking for a boss. Funny enough since I have become unemployed I find that I’m working more now than when I was working 10-12 hour days.

2. You are living on unemployment in New York City (well Queens, but still). How do you manage to afford it?
Well thanks to the fact that I have no debt beyond my monthly expenses it is surprisingly easy to live on $1620 a month. (and now thanks to NYC, NYS and the Federal Gov. the unemployed got a $100 a month “raise”). I live with the bare necessities and my bills; Cable+internet, Cell phone, Electric+Gas, Metrocard and rent, come to around $1440. Also seeing that my dating life has been put on hold, I cook most of my meals at home and groceries for the month come to around $70. And the rest goes to nights out with friends. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo by Justin Hoch

Soce, The Elemental Wizard produces and performs hip hop music, writes and films comedy videos, interviews comedians, reviews video games and co-hosts a monthly math bee. His music is a blend of live violin, guitar, bass and singing, mixed in with thought-provoking rhymes, catchy melodies and a megawatt smile. On his tax forms, he is known as Andrew Singer.

1. How did get started being a Jewish Gay Rapper? Does it run in the family?
I’m the only gay rapper in my family. I was the youngest child, so I always had to be different and make my mark. I was also the only one who played trombone in the Jr High School band (my siblings and I generally stuck with stringed instruments and choral music). I’ve always been a fan of hip hop since grammar school, and once I started doing it seriously in NYC, I had to rap about being gay during some of my songs, since hip hop is all about keeping it real, and that’s a big part of who I am.

2. By day, you work in IT on Wall Street. Got any good stock tips?
Now is a great time to buy, while all of the stocks are so low. Just make sure you don’t purchase any sinking ships. Read the rest of this entry »

Len Usvyat is a city planner – working in New York and commuting from his home in Philadelphia. He talks rehab (of his old house!) and the smackers it takes to remodel historically significant homes.

1. How did you get interested in city planning?  What do you love about cities?
I think I needed a career switch or another degree or something like that. My good friend is a city planner and I always enjoyed hearing about it. So I thought I could go to school for finance (my background is in accounting) or something much more interesting like city planning. Of course, what’s there not to love about cities?! They are perfect for attention-deficit-disorder people like myself.

2. You bought a house in Philadelphia after living in NYC for years. How did you finance your home? savings? loan?
I was fortunate to buy the house during the times when the banks were giving out loans to everyone… so, we hardly put down anything when we bought the house.

3. How do you manage the costs of remodeling an old house?  Did you seek out many referrals from general contractors?
Those costs are tough. Particularly, because you could really get a return on your buck if you do things yourself. The drawback of doing things yourself is that you HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF. And, after a while, you get really tired working on the house… Philadelphia does have some really good programs for people who want to remodel their houses. Read the rest of this entry »