It’s the time of year ago, my little gay masses – to make your new years resolutions! You know you have all been asked by friends, family, that drunk in the bar trying to get your number. So what is your New Years Resolution? Some think this is silly while others make a firm list. Of course, the list is just the first step — sticking to it is the hard part. From my experience, looks like you only make it through January. Well, I figured I’d give you all a helping hand with some great resolutions for you to take up!

1

Make some new friends – Now I know this seems silly. I’m sure you have lots of friends. The bartender at Pure, the bartender at Bump, the bartender at … hmmm, notice a pattern? Now far be it for me to tell you not to befriend the cute boys at the bars or that sexy girl that flirts with you at Sisters, but let’s be honest, if you don’t know his last name, he isn’t really a good friend. So take some time to find some GOOD friends. Someone you can hang out with OUTSIDE the bar, someone you can talk to when you are both sober. Look through the friends you have now – how many can you say that about? Why not get out of the bars and check out some local organizations – it’s a great way to make friends!

2

Quit Smoking – With the new smoking ban in Philadelphia and a cold rainy winter ahead, sneaking outside to catch a drag (and by that I don’t mean the queen on her way to Bob and Barbara’s) doesn’t sound like too much fun. Maybe this is the incentive you need to finally quit smoking. Never fear, you aren’t alone. The Mazzoni Center offers some great LGBT smoking cessation groups to help you through the tough spots. And the one thing to remember…the average smoker falls off the wagon about seven times before finally quitting. So if you slip up a few times, don’t give up!

3

Get Tested – Oh honeys I can’t stress this enough! HIV and other STD are on the rise. It’s not only important to protect yourself (Don’t be silly, cover your willy!) but to get tested and treated. And not just the random HIV test, but for other STDs as well. This year, love should be the only thing you spread! Check out places like AIDS Delaware, BEBASHI (Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues), GALAEI Project (Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative), Mazzoni Center, and for more information call the Teen AIDSline

4

Get Fit – This is another important one, my dears, and it means more then you might think. When most people think of the gym, they think about getting that six pack for summer. While a six pack might look nice, if you are being unhealthy to get it, then, sugar, you are just fooling yourself! It’s often hard to stick with a fitness routine on your own. Honey, trust me, even when my routine was just cruising the boys at 12th street, I sometimes forgot to go! You need help. Try getting a personal trainer to help motivate you, like our very own Russel Barefoot. Or try fusion the new gay-owned gym that just opened. Fusion is a unique gym that it focuses on a holistic approach to fitness. Plus the owner Gavin is pretty cute too – which is always a good motivation.

5

Help Others – Yes my dears, it’s the golden rule, but a rule we sometimes forget. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in our community, and right now it’s being done by just a few hardworking individuals, bless their little gay souls! So it’s time the rest of us get off our barstools and help out once in awhile. With over 200 organization in the area, there plenty of ways to help out. Get involved politically (Hell, it helped kick that nasty Rick Santorum out of office last year), or in health care issues (become a drag queen for gay bingo — you know you already have the tiara!) or join some of the great pride organizations and make this town even GAYER!

6

No More Drama – Okay girls, let’s talk. There are some of us that have a little more drama in our lives then we should, and you know who you are. While I know that drama is like breathing for some of you, let’s try this year to avoid it. Maybe next week I’ll give you some tips on how to do this — too much to write here, my poor little fingers would get all tired. But just a quick tip: drama never just FINDS you, you seek it out. So if you are one of those boys that cries about the latest tragedy, check again. There is a reason your life resembles a daytime soap!

7

Fight for Rights – Oh, the election last year was a bitter bloody battle, and luckily we came out as winners. But that doesn’t mean you forget all about politics. We have just months to get a Democrat in the White House. If you have EVER complained to someone that we should have the right to marry, or adopt, or hate that don’t-ask-don’t-tell bullshit and yet not done anything about it, well honey, now is your time! Donate your time or money to the great political organizations that are working hard to make sure you are treated equally!

8

Come Out – Hmmm, I’m out every night, starting with a quick drink for happy hour and not stopping until I have that 3am pizza across from Woody’s! Although that’s not what I mean. Let’s face it, you are gay — be proud of it! While many are in situations that prevent them from coming out, others just don’t feel like it. Well, get out there, princess, and tell the world. Whose business is it, you might ask? It’s your coworker that shows you photos of her kids all the time… it’s your mother who asks you when you’re married yet… it’s the person on the street that kisses their opposite-sex date in public without even flinching. The more of us that come out, the more powerful our words become! It’s easy to discriminate against a nameless concept of ‘Homosexuals,’ but it’s much more difficult to discriminate again your teacher, sisters, best friend, barber, mail man, or whatever it is that you do. Closets are for Prada, bitches, come out and enjoy the sun!

9

Date – Oh, I know what you are saying “Miss Information, I DO date! There was Dan on Monday, and Kyle on Wednesday and this weekend is Patrick….or is it Paul…well either way, he’s paying!” Oh my little lambs, has Manhunt warped your sense of dating? Sometimes I weep. Now just for the record, Miss Information has been known to have a four-hour relationship and I will admit there is no Mr. Information, but I think we often forget to date! Next time you meet a hottie at the club and exchange numbers, don’t just go home with him, or invite him over at for a quickie…ask them to dinner, and a movie, and then with a kiss at the door, don’t invite him in with condom in hand, instead invite him to go out another time. Trust me hun, i have gotten many a shocked look when i ask this, and sometimes lost of few boys doing so, but in the end you may find getting to know someone really worth it!

10

Use PhillyGayCalendar.com More – Okay okay I know what you are saying, this is a shameless plug for the site, and you know what, you are RIGHT! PhillyGayCalendar is a completely volunteer website! That’s right, all the people that work on the site, the writers, web designers, photographers, editors, etc don’t get a dime. They do it because they want you to have the best site possible. And we don’t charge you a dime to get all this great content. So in the vein of Resolution #5, give a little back to PGC. Use the page a lot, tell your friends, link to the site on your webpage or MySpace page. Or better yet, go to some of the great PGC parties that are used as fund raisers and are just plain fun! Maybe you will even spot Miss Information dancing in the back with one of those sexy go go dancers. If you want to find a way you can help out email us at volunteer@phillygaycalendar.com – there are tons of opportunities and the gang here are TONS of fun!

So what are YOUR New years Resoluton – leave a comment below!