I am a poly, pagan (umbanda), straight, man with a disability. I love theater, reading (especially Science Fiction), movies, music, TV. I'm a disability rights advocate, lifetime member of the Sierra Club, Green party member.

I'd like to travel around Europe someday. In fact in my more depressed moments I wouldn't mind living there permanently. My fantasy European trip would include going to: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark (specifically Amsterdam and Aalborg. Aalborg is where my mother's father came from.), and Paris.

I would like to point out here that I'm unhappy with many of the questions on OKCupid. Most of them don't lend themselves to simple responses that will fit on multiple choice. For example I just answered the question do I "believe" in monogamy. I'm a polyamorous person, but I still believe that monogamy works for some folk. Therefore I would say I do believe, but that feels like I'm misleading people because I don't believe monogamy would particularly work for me. So I understand the intent of the question, but it presupposes something that I don't believe is accurate. So take a lot of my answers with a grain of salt, in many cases my answers need more words than are allowed in the responses on OKCupid. Please ask if you want clarification.

Most of my energy is put into writing and advocacy of some sort or another. I am an unapologetic liberal. I really do see the government as a place that can solve problems and even the playing field. I worked really hard on passing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ages ago now :-). My current big issue is universal health-care. I've served on several mostly disability related nonprofit organizations. Right now, I'm working on getting the Ed Roberts Campus built and on the Center for Accessible Technology board.

I've been told I'm comfortable to be around. I'm not a huge partygoer but I do like hanging out with small groups or individuals.

I use a power wheelchair to get around. I've been disabled all my life. Don't ask me what my diagnosis is. I think its rude to ask unless you know me pretty well. Its personal information and frankly no one's business.

When I get excited I get loud. If I'm really quiet things are not as they should be.

I'm completely gray-haired. I found my first gray hair at 14.

The one physical feature I've been complemented on are my eyes. People have said they are the most beautiful shade of blue they've ever seen.

I'm fat too but I don't spend a lot of time thinking about that.

firecat sez: He looks great in a hat!

Editors

• firecat
• Baerana

I love Bill Forsyth movies. My favorite is Local Hero. I also like John Sayles. I am a self-avowed movie slut. I'll watch most things, unless they have Will Ferrell in them :-). Being a science-fiction fan I do like science-fiction movies as well as books. Some favorite SF movies are: Blade Runner, Silent Running, the first Matrix movie, some of the Star Trek films, the 13th floor, Brazil.

My favorite author is Robert Heinlein (yes, yes I know, but I read him as a young child. I know and sometimes agree with the the criticism of his work. I still like him.) I like Spider Robinson even though his later work has become quite cloying. I'll still read him. (Do you notice a pattern here?) I also like: Nalo Hopkinson, Neil Gaiman, Neal Stephenson, Pat Murphy, Jonathan Carroll (not the columnist although I like him as well), John Varley and others.

I like lots of music. I can listen to classical although I don't know much about it. I am not an opera fan. I mostly enjoy popular music. I tend toward singer-songwriters but I like lots of stuff. A by no means exhaustive list is: Tori Amos, Barenaked Ladies, Beck, Bowling for Soup, BoxCar Racer, Cake, Kasey Chambers, Cracker, Tracy Chapman, Shawn Colvin, Elvis Costello, Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, Crowded House, Iris DeMent, Ani DiFranco, Foo Fighters, John Gorka, Green Day, Nanci Griffith, Sarah Harmer, Incubus, Indigo Girls, k's Choice, k. d. lang, Linkin Park, Lyle Lovett, Luscious Jackson, Natalie Merchant, Nirvana, Liz Phair, Phranc, Pink, John Prine, Richard Shindell, Solas, Something Corporate, StainD, Matthew Sweet, They Might Be Giants, Richard Thompson, Unwritten Law, Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, and Lucinda Williams.

In the favorite food area I'm kind of a Diner boy. I eat too many hamburgers and I think most things could be improved by a little breading and frying. :-) Italian is probably my favorite cuisine other favorites are French, Creole, Ethiopian, Thai (especially their appetizers), Chinese, Mexican. Oh and Green peppers are an abomination and pizza is its own food group!

I assume we are not talking about the obvious like, air and food etc. I need people to love, an issue to fight for, things to learn, books to read, music to listen to and coffee.

How the world can be a better place and how can I help bring that about.

Lately I'm recovering from earlier in the week! :-) Fridays are one of the days I try to catch up on all my projects. I am the procurer (which means I contact publishers and try to get review copies of books for the jury) for the James Tiptree Jr. Literary Award. I write my letters to politicians on issues/legislation that I'm concerned about. I write stories or just cruise the Internet. I have been known to play some online poker or World of Warcraft too.

I recently had pneumonia and spent more than a week in the hospital. It scared me a lot more than I care to admit. Although disabled, I've always felt extremely healthy. I don't get sick that often and when I do get sick it's usually mild. My hospital stay really did a number to my self identity. I still feel more vulnerable than I'd like. As with most things, I'm working on it.

you want to.