Technodyke.com

Based out of Portland, technodyke.com for dykes is informative, funny and smart. Filled with insightful writing (such as the perspective of an American dyke living in Canada regarding gay marriage) and their Dyke2k3 annual award of the best and worst of lesbian life, the site targets lesbians, bisexuals and transgender community members. What makes the website so interesting is the myriad of information and fun things that are in it. You can cruise for women or simply spend hours enjoying the “HerScopes” or reading interesting profiles on drag kings. A fantastic information warehouse. —Visit Techondyke.com

Queer Party Hosts

Who says Seattle nightlife is dull? If you’re bored with the typical Seattle bar scene, then Comeback, held monthly at Chop Suey, and Vibrator and Muscle, both monthly at the Eagle, are the places to be. Put together by superfags Marcus and Shannon, Comeback is full of energetic dirt fags, dykes and everyone in between. Comeback and the other nights have energized the alterna-queer community. Tablet’s recent visits to all three nights left us salivating for more. At Comeback, the music was amazing—provided in part by DJ Pork, aka Comeback organizer Marcus—the people were relaxed and fun and everyone left their attitudes at home. These events show that segregation in our queer community is lame and that there’s a need for a space that invites everyone of all sizes, genders and proclivities. Just bring your dancing shoes because, thanks to the boys of Comeback (and a few other nightlife denizens like them), queer parties are back in town! —Comeback happens every month at Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison in Seattle

John Cameron Mitchell

How do you follow up a film about a botched sex change operation? If you’re John Cameron Mitchell, creator of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” you turn to the steamy world of sex. Currently in production, “Shortbus” is Mitchell’s attempt to convey a story full of pathos, humor and loads of cum shots. Taking inspiration from such films as “Happy Together” and “Y Tu Mama Tambien,” Mitchell is creating a story that focuses on the “seriously humorous exploration of romantic and sexual relationships in a modern New York City pansexual bohemian environment.” Also on tap is another film surrounding a young boy’s relationship with his blind grandmother’s unique musical instrument. Entitled “Grandmaphone,” it’s supposedly very “Roald Dahl-ish.” I think we would be just as content if Mitchell filmed a sequel to Hedwig. —“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” plays at Re-bar (1114 Howell St in Seattle) and see the brilliant Nick Garrison. Call 206.233.9873

Alison Bechdel

Creator of “Dykes to Watch Out For,” an on-going comic strip that tells the tale of lesbians living and loving —part social commentary, part soap-opera—Bechdel manages to successfully convey the lives of gay/lesbians with an astute awareness and a feisty sensibility. We love the fact that each of her strips not only manages to make us laugh out loud but they have characters that are truthful, funny and real. —Visit dykestowatchoutfor.com

Bruce LaBruce

The last time we heard of Bruce LaBruce, he had just put out two versions of his ultra-spicy porn film about gay, Nazi skinheads, “Skin Gang.” The tamer version was called “Skin Flick.” Always one to upset both the gay and straight apple cart, LaBruce is set to release his latest celluloid masterpiece, “The Raspberry Reich,” which centers around one woman’s attempt to smash the bourgeois sensibility of heterosexual monogamy and get hunky straight boys to have sex with each other. Works for us! Besides being a wonderful agent provocateur, LaBruce always manages to make interesting work that challenges conventional (gay) mythology and beliefs. His films make you laugh, get you hard or wet, and always cause you to think—which is not an easy feat. Thank god for the reluctant pornographer! —“The Raspberry Reich” plays SIFF on May 28. Visit brucelabruce.com

Donna Dresch

Giving her surname to one of our favorite bands, Team Dresch, Donna Dresch is still going strong as a talented musician and promoter of queer noise. Her latest group, Davieas vs. Dresch, just put out their debut CD, “Vs Love.” Based out of Portland, OR, Dresch also runs Chainsaw Records, which promotes indie/queer music and musicians, and appeared in our other favorite queer filmmaker GB Jones’ film, “The Yo-Yo Gang.”
—Visit chainsawrecords.com

Terence Koh

Among the few heroes that gay men do have—from writers like Jean Cocteau and Jean Genet to photographers such as Mel Roberts and Robert Mapplethorpe—almost all are transformative artists who use their art for rebellion and subversion, but never forget their duty to get our dicks hard. There is a new crop of revolutionary queers who are equally as important as those earlier artists, men like Bruce la Bruce, Ryan McGinley and this month’s cover artist, Terence Koh. Koh, who initially rose to fame as asianpunkboy, is a sexy Asian American visual artist whose casual, yet beautifully candid and usually nude photographs of friends and lovers have grabbed the queer art world by its balls. His photographs make you feel like you’re one of his closest friends and being naked and silly is part of everyday life. (They also make you very horny.) His drawings are genuine and innocent while his sculptures—often using perishable ingredients such as chocolate and cum—are on par with similar artists who use the medium as an ironic look at pop culture. Check out his website, kohbunny.com, for his almost daily postings of new photos, collages, sculptures and little bits of writings. Terrence Koh is the gay male Yoko Ono… and we love him. —Visit kohbunny.com

Norma Straw

She’s the vice president of Vain in Belltown and we love her for her wit, her intelligence, her sense of style and her joyful laugh. At Vain, Straw is responsible for curating the art program and the artists in residence program in which the selected artist is given an art space and a show at the end of his/her term. The 29-year-old has also finished up work on “Evergreen,” a film shot in Everett and screened at the Seattle International Film Festival. As if these things aren’t enough to keep anyone busy, Straw is currently producing an animated project, “Not Brain Surgery,” with former Seattle-based comic artist Dominic Cappello and manages to find time to focus on her photography. Additionally, Straw is on the board of advisors for Metrocenter YMCA in Seattle and was recently elected to the National Board of Directors of the YMCA of the USA. Whew. Straw is a powerhouse and a tireless champion of Seattle’s artistic community. —“Evergreen” plays May 27 and 29. Visit vain.com

Matt Bernstein Sycamore

After tantalizing us with his wonderful book about his life as a whore, “Pulling Taffy,” Sycamore returns as editor of an anthology of queer writing called “Dangerous Families,” written by queer survivors of childhood abuse. His recent NW book tour was a hoot. We love the former resident of Seattle for mentioning Glo’s CafÈ on Capitol Hill in “Pulling Taffy” and for the saucy and explicit exploration of prostitution and his willingness to be subversive by participating in “Gay Shame” events which question mainstream queers ethos. —Visit mattbernsteinsycamore.com