Welcome to OutSmart’s special Pride issue. Ever wondered who’s behind the scene in producing OutSmart each month? Here’s a bit about the devoted and proud staff that keeps OutSmart rolling off the press. From all of us at OutSmart, Happy Pride Month!

Greg Jeu.
Age: 43.
Position: Publisher.
Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or Straight?: Gay.

What GLBT writer, artist, or performer has made a difference in your life?: Author Peter McWilliams.

What gay fad/mannerism/celeb do you wish you could never see again?: Queeny-meany-putdowns.

Who was the first person you told?: My best friend Shelley Saunders.

What’s the best advice you’ve received and what is the best advice you would give?: Ask for help when you need it; say please and thank you. Trust your intuition.

Life’s a bowl of: peppers–each one of them is unique: some very sweet, some bitter, and sometimes the most innocent-looking ones turn out to be the hottest.

Jim Hurst.
Age: 44.
Position: Associate publisher.
Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or Straight?: Gay.

What will you be wearing at the Pride parade?: Something to stay cool.

What’s your favorite unhealthy indulgence?: Eating flan in bed naked with my partner.

Who is a hero to you in the GLBT movement?: Harvey Milk.

What GLBT writer, artist, or performer has made a difference in your life?: Alan Davidson, local writer/massage therapist.

What’s the best advice you would give?: Learn to believe in yourself and the sky will be your limit.

What’s the biggest thing that changed after you came out?: Confidence in myself.

Tim Brookover.
Age: 41.
Position: Editorial director.
Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or Straight?: Gay.

What gay fad/mannerism/celeb do you wish you could never see again?: I embrace all fads.

What’s the best advice you’ve received and what is the best advice you would give?: Never give up.

What will you be wearing at the Pride parade?: Sensible flats.

What’s your favorite unhealthy indulgence?: Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Who is a hero to you in the GLBT movement?: Phyllis Frye.

Who was the first person you told?: Eric, my best friend in high school.

What’s the biggest thing that changed after you came out?: Because I was honest in living my life, all my relationships improved.

Life’s a bowl of: menudo–sometimes it smells a little funny, once in a while you think you just can’t take it, but most of the time it’s not so bad after all, and infact it’s pretty darn good.

Ann Walton Sieber.
Age: 40.
Position: Editor.

Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or Straight?: Bi.

What will you be wearing at the Pride parade?: An OutSmart T-shirt, of course.

What’s your favorite unhealthy indulgence?: Tacqueria breakfasts.

Who is a hero to you in the GLBT movement?: Harvey Milk.

Who was the first person you told?: My Unitarian youth group.

What’s the biggest thing that changed after you came out?: It was all part of a continuum of growing up, exploring who I was.

Blase DiStefano.
Age: 55.
Position: Creative director/entertainment editor.

Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or Straight?: Gay.

What GLBT writer, artist, or performer has made a difference in your life?: Rita Mae Brown.

What gay fad/mannerism/celeb do you wish you could never see again?: Rosie O’Donnell.

What would make the parade even more fun?: Bette Midler, Whoopi Goldberg, and Dame Edna.

What’s the best advice you’ve received? Never say never.

What is the best advice you would give?: Read.

Life’s a bowl of: Kevin Bacons.

B.J. Smith.
Age: 30.
Position: Photographer/graphic designer.

Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or Straight?: Gay.

What GLBT writer, artist, or performer has made a difference in your life?: Robert Mapplethorpe.

What gay fad/mannerism/celeb do you wish you could never see again?: Anything to do with Michael Jackson.

What would make the parade even more fun?: If everyone were naked … just kidding. Organization and less time between each float would definitely be a start.

What’s the best advice you’ve received and what is the best advice you would give?: My best friend Talitha once told me something her grandmother used to tell to her. It has helped me often in this lifetime: "This too shall pass."

Life’s a bowl of: sweaty, hairy, burly, excited nasty men wearing rubber chaps.

John Nagy
Age: 39.
Position: Account executive.

Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or Straight?: Straight … oh, OK, GAY!

What will you be wearing at the Pride parade?: A big smile!

What’s your favorite unhealthy indulgence?: Smoking and doughnuts.

Life’s a bowl of: great friends.

Who was the first person you told?: My baby sister, but she already had me figured out.

What’s the biggest thing that changed after you came out?: I slept with men rather than women.

Thomas Chelena.
Age: 59 & 11 months.
Position: Account executive.

Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or Straight?: Gay.

What GLBT writer, artist, or performer has made a difference in your life?: Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston.

What gay fad/mannerism/celeb do you wish you could never see again?: Miss Nellie in leather chaps & harness.

What would make the parade even more fun?: Marching bands.

What’s the best advice you’ve received and what is the best advice you would give?: Celebrate life today!–Never, never wait for tomorrow, or for retirement. This is it … now!

Life’s a bowl of: experiences.

Debbie Ratliff.
Age: 31.
Position: Account executive.

Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or Straight?: Just Debbie.

What GLBT writer, artist, or performer has made a difference in your life?: Boy George–I didn’t know gay people existed until I saw him come out in an interview with Barbara Walters.

What gay fad/mannerism/celeb do you wish you could never see again?: Anne Heche.

What would make the parade even more fun?: Having it in the winter.

What’s the best advice you’ve received and what is the best advice you would give?: Labels limit you.

Life’s a bowl of: possibilities.

Todd Pace
Age: Thirtysomething.
Position: Account executive.

Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or Straight?: Gay.

What GLBT writer, artist, or performer has made a difference in your life?: Ellen DeGeneres. She’s got guts!

What gay fad/mannerism/celeb do you wish you could never see again?: Christopher Lowell. Yuk!

What would make the parade even more fun?: Seeing The ROCK walk by! He’s my hero!

What’s the best advice you’ve received and what is the best advice you would give? Do the right thing. If not, Karma will get you every time!

Life’s a bowl of: ups & downs. Enjoy the ups and learn from the downs! Stay strong!