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Queery: Zach O’Connor

DCGays blogger answers 20 gay questions

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Zach O'Connor, DC GAYS, gay news, Washington Blade
Zach O'Connor, DC GAYS, gay news, Washington Blade

Zach O’Connor (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Zach O’Connor is ready to come out.

Not out of the closet — he did that when he was 13. Now he’s “coming out” — in a manner of speaking — as the blogger behind the Tumblr blog #DCGays (thedcgayz.tumblr.com). He started the snarky, pop culture-heavy commentary page about a year-and-a-half ago and other than a few friends, kept his identity as webmaster hidden. But he says now, after about 600 posts, more than a million hits and 2,400 followers, the concept has somewhat run its course. Being employed full time — he was finishing college at American University when he started it — is also a factor.

“I had a lot of fun with it and at the time GIF images (the stop motion-type clips) were the hot new thing,” the 23-year-old Madison, Conn., native says. “Now you see them everywhere on Brightest Young Gays, Buzzfeed and even in political ads so it’s become pretty common. You kind of get to a point too where it’s like, ‘OK — how many posts can I do on 17th Street or Secrets?’ I think it’s time to bow out gracefully.”

Inspired by a similar site he saw for Philadelphia, he thought D.C. needed its own version. Overall, he says it’s been a good run.

“It’s been really fun seeing my friends post about something not knowing it’s me,” he says. “I just wanted to be absolutely ridiculous and make people laugh.”

O’Connor works in communications for a non-profit and enjoys brunch, fundraising, blogging and spending time with friends in his free time. He’s single and lives in Logan Circle.

 

#DCGays, Zach O'Connor, District of Columbia,

DC gays react to Zach O’Connor being the secret identity behind #DCGayz tumblr

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?

I came out 10 years ago when I was 13. The hardest person to tell was my middle school Intro. to Fashion Merchandising teacher. I’m sure she had no clue. Overall I’ve had a very positive coming-out experience. I thankfully came from a loving and supportive family.

 

Who’s your LGBT hero?

I have two — Harvey Milk and the queens who fought back during Stonewall.

 

What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present? 

Yum’s Takeout on 14th Street. It’s the best after party I’ve been to.

 

Describe your dream wedding.

Somewhere romantic in D.C. or Provincetown surrounded by close friends and family. I’m half Greek so I’m sure there will be a lot of food, dancing, ouzo and many relatives named Nick.

 

What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?

Transportation. Our infrastructure is in need of some TLC.

 

What historical outcome would you change?

The moment when pleated pants were a thing.

 

What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?

When Janet Jackson’s breast popped out during the Super Bowl Halftime show. I was the only guy in the room grossed out by it but was hoping Justin Timberlake would do the same thing.

 

On what do you insist?

Live! Life’s a banquet and some poor suckers are starving to death.

 

What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?

I was returning from Provincetown on Monday and posted about it. “Due to a delay with our ferry, BHC gave Ted and me a free one-way ticket to PTown that doesn’t expire! #PTown2014

 

If your life were a book, what would the title be?

“Opa! My Big Fat Gay Greek Memoir”

 

If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?

I’d do a DCGays post about it and add some judgmental GIF about it, and then continue to live my life as a proud gay man.

 

What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?

Continue to advance progress for the LGBT community and do what you can for all letters of our big fabulous acronym.

 

What do you believe in beyond the physical world? 

I believe there’s something greater out there beyond the physical world. But until I figure it out firsthand, I want to enjoy and live my life to the fullest in this world.

 

What would you walk across hot coals for?

My family, friends, a signed photo of Bea Arthur and/or a good laugh.

 

What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?

That we all like to drink mimosas on the weekends, wear drag for Halloween or want to get married. Oh wait — is this the “about me” section?

 

What’s your favorite LGBT movie?

“Auntie Mame” with Rosalind Russell. It’s very witty, campy, and a classic for any gay! Even the “masc musc” ones will love it.

 

What’s the most overrated social custom?

The use of LOL when you aren’t laughing.

 

What trophy or prize do you most covet?

I would love my great-grandmother’s recipe book to continue family food traditions as well as knowing how to make the best stuffed grape leaves of all time.

 

What do you wish you’d known at 18?

I wish I knew how fast college would fly by, although now I am loving adulthood. Also, knowing the winning lottery numbers wouldn’t hurt either!

 

Why Washington?

D.C. is an amazing global city with a small town charm. It’s a place where I grew into adulthood, where I made plenty of good and bad decisions and it’s a place where I now get to live a comfortable life with great friends.

Zach O'Connor, DC GAYS, gay news, Washington Blade

Zach O’Connor (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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Real Estate

Don’t procrastinate buying your home

Some experts predict rates will fall in June

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Spring is in the air and it’s a great time to buy a new home.

As springtime fills the air, cherry blossoms are blooming, much of the year still lies ahead and many have started to think about how they are progressing with their 2024 goals. If the dream of buying a house was put on hold when the interest rates went from 3% to almost 8%, and life got in the way of an idea that had gotten onto your to-do list, maybe now is the time to dust it off. 

Mortgage lender Tina Del Casale from Sandy Spring Bank says, “There is still hope the Fed will be happy with inflation numbers by June to finally pull the trigger on lowering interest rates.”  

The rates might not be as low as they were in 2021, but historically, they are still not as high as they were 20 years ago. Some people’s parents remember getting interest rates that were 12%, 14% or even higher.   

One of the biggest questions I get at homebuyer seminars is about is the process. What is buying a house ACTUALLY like?  I usually tell them that it’s like anything else. One step at a time. One form at a time. One bank transfer at a time. One house showing at a time. One home inspection at a time. If you have the wherewithal to plan a vacation, you can buy a house. 

  • Finding a Realtor
  • Finding a lender to get pre-approved (how much is your budget and what is a comfortable monthly payment)
  • Are there any first-time buyer programs that could be used? Is there down payment assistance?
  • Looking at the houses.
  • Finding one you like, and putting an offer together:
    • An offer usually involves a sales contract, any special forms that the jurisdictions require (lead-based paint acknowledgements, what appliances and systems in the house are included/excluded, if the home is part of a homeowners association, or a condo association, etc.)
    • Any forms related to getting an inspection done.
    • Who is selling the house, who is buying the house, how much is it being sold for, where it is exactly, and who are the others involved in the transaction (title company, agents, etc.)?
  • Getting any inspections done.
  • Negotiating any changes in the sales price or terms, or credits for inspection items.
  • Getting the final approval for the loan and then going to settlement.

Many people get interested in buying a house, but the “unknown” of it all can be daunting. It could be that the best way to think about it, is that like most things in life, you can’t cross every bridge BEFORE you get there. You just take it one day at a time. Some things will be surprisingly easy. Some things will require the advice of experienced lenders, Realtors, home inspectors and title attorneys.  

But if the process doesn’t begin somewhere, somehow, the idea just stays in one’s head in the “to do list” file.  And then 3 years go by, 5 years go by, 7 years go by. And your friends that DID buy a house laugh themselves to the bank when they go to sell the house they bought 3 years ago, 5 years ago, or 7 years ago.

If you need any recommendations for a local lender or Realtor, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Joseph Hudson is a referral agent with Metro Referrals. Reach him at [email protected] or 703-587-0597.

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Advice

Giving up drinking is killing our relationship

What happens when one partner is sober and the other isn’t

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I’m a 38-year-old guy, was single for most of my 30s, which I didn’t like at all, and I finally met a great guy last Memorial Day Weekend. 

Until New Year’s I would have said that everything was going great. I was on Cloud Nine. Eric is kind, handsome, smart, and a great catch.

But in December he decided to do “Dry January.” It was kind of on a whim I think. We were out with some friends and one of them said he was not going to drink at all for the month of January. He thought alcohol was playing too big a role in his life so he wanted to see what life would be like without it. Another friend said he would do it too, and then Eric said he would.

I wish we hadn’t gone out that night and then this whole thing wouldn’t have happened.

So, as the month progressed, Eric started talking more and more about how much better he was feeling without alcohol in his body or his life.

I don’t think we drank that much pre-January. Yes, we’d have something to drink every time we went out, with friends or just together, but not to excess.

At some point, Eric started saying that he wasn’t really enjoying going out with our friends, as he wasn’t drinking and they were (except the two friends who were also doing the Dry January thing). This meant I’d either go out without him (which I didn’t like) or we’d stay home, or go out just the two of us. But then if I’m drinking and he’s not, it just feels awkward. He hasn’t said anything but I feel like he’s judging me whenever I have a drink.

I was hoping he’d relax about the whole thing at the end of the month but now he’s decided he doesn’t want to drink anymore at all.

To make matters worse, he says that the month made him think more about the big role alcohol plays in his life (his words) and he has started going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

So where does this leave me? I do want to keep drinking. I’m just a social drinker and I don’t have a problem with alcohol. I think it adds a fair amount of fun to my life. Plus, all my friends drink (including the two who did Dry January) and it’s a big part of our socializing. If you don’t drink when everyone else is drinking, it’s really not fun and it feels weird.

At this point Eric doesn’t go out with the friend group we were going out with because he doesn’t have a good time as the only non-drinker. (I get it, that’s one of the reasons I drink when my friends are drinking.) So I go out sometimes without him, which as I mentioned doesn’t feel so good, and which I don’t think is great for our relationship; or I don’t go out with my friends, which I don’t like.

I love Eric and I could see us having a great life together but his not drinking has opened what feels like a chasm between us.

How do couples handle this situation, where one person wants to stop drinking and the other does not? The impact is seeming increasingly huge to me and I don’t see how to make it stop being a divisive problem.

Michael replies:

I don’t think that Eric’s sobriety needs to be a divisive problem, if you can tolerate that you don’t get to have your life with Eric be exactly as you would like. 

This is the same dilemma that everyone in a serious relationship must face. Our partners are always different from us in some important ways, even if it doesn’t seem that way at first. And we have to figure out how to live with these differences, contentedly for the most part.  Our partners face the same challenge. 

Of course, not every difference can be (or should be) resolvable. For example, if one person is determined to parent and the other person is determined to be child-free, it makes great sense to part ways — unless one person decides they’d rather stay with their partner than have it their way.  

You and Eric have to figure out if your differences around alcohol are a deal-breaker, or if you can find a way to build a solid relationship, even as you drink socially and he is sober.

Whether and how you do this are for the two of you to figure out.  That said, here are some ideas for your consideration: 

  • Can you accept Eric’s not joining you for some or even many of your social activities?
  • Can you and Eric talk about what might help him be more comfortable joining your friends now and then?
  • Can you ask Eric what it’s like for him when you are drinking, rather than assuming that he is judging you? (Important question for your consideration: What led you to make that assumption rather than asking him?)
  • If Eric is making friends in Alcoholics Anonymous, would you want to join him at times when he socializes with them? 

The main ingredients here are generosity, flexibility, collaboration, and curiosity.

Speaking of curiosity, rather than wishing that the two of you had missed that invitation to participate in Dry January, how about being curious about Eric’s decision to stop drinking? I suspect that your dismissiveness has a negative impact on his desire to be close to or confide in you. If you are curious about this important life change that Eric is undertaking, you will certainly learn a lot about your boyfriend, and likely deepen your connection.

Michael Radkowsky, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who works with couples and individuals in D.C. He can be found online at michaelradkowsky.com. All identifying information has been changed for reasons of confidentiality. Have a question? Send it to [email protected].

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Real Estate

Down payment strategies: Financing your home purchase 

Understanding the options key to unlocking the door to a dream home

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Looking for your dream home? First, you need to understand how to make the down payment.

Navigating the path to homeownership can be a complex journey, especially when it comes to accumulating the necessary down payment. For members of our LGBTQ community, understanding the available options for saving and financing this crucial aspect of home buying is key to unlocking the door to their dream home. Let’s explore effective methods and resources specifically designed to support LGBTQ individuals on their path to homeownership.

Traditional Savings Strategies

Saving for a down payment often begins with traditional methods such as setting aside a portion of your income into a dedicated savings account. High-yield savings accounts and automated savings plans, some offering up to 5% interest in today’s market, can expedite the process, providing a disciplined approach to accumulate funds over time. Additionally, exploring investment opportunities that match your risk tolerance can offer potential growth for your down payment savings.

Down Payment Assistance Programs

A variety of down payment assistance programs exist to help homebuyers with their initial costs. These programs often offer grants or low-interest loans to first-time homebuyers or those who haven’t owned a home in the past three years. 

It’s essential to speak with a GayRealEstate.com agent to determine what programs may be available, plus online research into local and state assistance programs, as many are designed to support individuals in specific communities, including the LGBTQ+ community.

For medical professionals, police, teachers, firefighters, and other community heroes, there are several special loan and assistance programs designed to help with home purchases, often offering benefits like down payment assistance, reduced closing costs, and more favorable loan terms.

The Hero Home Loan Program provides first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, with benefits such as lower interest rates and reduced closing costs. This program aims to make homeownership more accessible by offering more flexible credit score requirements and down payment assistance .

For educators, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and medical professionals, the Everyday Hero Housing Assistance Fund (EHHAF) offers closing cost assistance through gift funds. This program is designed to support those who serve their communities by making homeownership more affordable, with no repayment required for the grant funds​​.

The HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Program offers up to 50% off the list price of homes for law enforcement officers, pre-Kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. This initiative aims to encourage community revitalization by assisting these professionals in homeownership within the communities they serve​​.

Homes for Heroes provides assistance specifically to first responders and offers significant savings through Hero Rewards when buying, selling, or refinancing a home. On average, participants save $3,000, with the program offering real estate and mortgage specialist connections tailored to the needs of first responders​​.

LGBTQ-Friendly Lending Options

Finding a lender that understands and supports the unique needs of our LGBTQ community can make a significant difference. Some lenders and organizations specialize in offering inclusive financial products and resources to assist LGBTQ+ homebuyers. These may include specialized mortgage products, financial planning services, and guidance through the home buying process.

The journey to homeownership is a milestone that requires careful planning and support. Remember, every step taken towards saving and financing your home purchase brings you closer to the dream of homeownership.

(GayRealEstate.com offers valuable resources and advice tailored to meet the unique needs of our LGBTQ+ community in their journey towards homeownership. For more comprehensive guidance and support in navigating the home buying process, visit GayRealEstate.com choose an agent and start a no-obligation conversation today.)

Jeff Hammerberg is founding CEO of Hammerberg & Associates, Inc. Reach him at [email protected].

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