Notebook
Well Said!
Portland Native
Zachary Koval
grew up reading
Just Out. Today
the Sexiest Veg-
etarian Next Door
2012 lives in New
York City.
“There is absolutely no national interest in relegating gay and
lesbian citizens to second class status with the passage of the
discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and to say that
no harm was intended to LGBT Americans is absurd at best. At
worst, it’s a blatant and mean-spirited attempt to slow down the
progress we are making on securing the freedom to marry for all
Americans." From Servicemembers Legal Defense Network in
response to an Amicus Curiae brief filed by ten Republicans
Senators in support of DOMA.
(HEALTH)
Sexiest Vegetarian
Twenty-eight-year-old gay Portland Native
Zachary Koval can now add PETA's Sexiest
Vegetarian Next Door 2012 to his résumé.
The actor and waiter beat out nine other
male finalists to be crowned the male win-
ner of PETA's contest and take home the
grand prize of a free trip for two to Hawaii.
His mom deserves the trip as a reward for
everything that she has done for the family,
Zachary says. He hopes she will be able to
join him on the trip.
Koval says he grew up reading Just Out,
says the revamped JO looks "incredible" (he
saw it on a recent trip to Portland) and is
honored to receive the award and to be fea-
tured in his home town.
Oh Zachary...the pleasure is all ours.
Koval went vegetarian at the age of 10.
Shortly after moving to Brooklyn almost
four years ago, he read a PETA pamphlet
about the suffering of cows used for their
milk, and hens used for their eggs and de-
cided to go vegan.
"No animals were harmed in the making of
this body," says Koval, who attributes his
buff physique to exercise, yoga, and eating
a vegan diet.
And the looker has a passion for animals to
boot.
PETA.org
A new study of 2,000 young adults, those who didn't identify them-
selves as exclusively heterosexual or homosexual tended to misuse
alcohol more frequently than those who self-reported a particu-
lar sexual orientation for a specific gender. The University of Mis-
souri researchers said these individuals reported that they drank
alcohol to relieve anxiety and depression. The researchers said one
explanation is that this group may feel stigmatized by both groups.
PETA
(CULTURE)
Polls Say America Changing
A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SAY THEY SUPPORT LEGALLY RECOGNIZING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, AND THERE
IS GROWING EVIDENCE THAT THESE FOLKS ARE GROWING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH GAYS AND LESBI-
ANS, ACCORDING TO A RECENT NATIONAL POLL. A CNN/ORC INTERNATIONAL SURVEY ALSO INDICATES
THAT THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO SAY THEY HAVE A CLOSE FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS
GAY HAS JUMPED FROM 49% IN 2010 TO 60% TODAY. IN THE 1990S, MOST AMERICANS SAID THEY DID
NOT KNOW ANYONE CLOSE TO THEM WHO WAS GAY. ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY, 54% NOW SAY
THAT MARRIAGES BETWEEN GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS VALID BY LAW,
WITH 42% OPPOSED.
CNN.COM
10
JustOut.com
July 2012