Barb Kampbell

As founder and owner of LittleRockPride.com I thought the one year anniversary of the site would be a good time to profile myself. I will simply answer the same questions that I've asked of others who were willing to be profiled here. I was born and raised in Little Rock and other than living in Conway while a student at UCA for two years, I have spent my whole life in Little Rock. A couple of years ago I was ready to leave thinking that I could find a better job out of state, but for numerous reasons I decided to stay here. One reason was because I wanted to start this Web site. I am employed full time as a writer for a nationally published trucking newspaper. My heart is not in trucking, but I do enjoy writing, so as an outlet for more personal things, even more so than this Web site, I started a blog at LivingLifeInsideOut.com . I hope to eventually publish a daily meditation book using some of the ones I have posted and will post on that blog. I always ask those I profile to talk about some of the work they have done for the GLBT community. My giving to the community began when I started LittleRockPride.com and I have also become active with the Little Rock Capital Pride group where we are planning the next pride event for 2007. Another question I ask of others is: What are your thoughts on coming out, advice to others, etc.? Coming out is difficult and should be done when you feel that it's right. My experiences with it have not been bad as most people knew before I told them, or asked before I said anything. But I have heard horror stories of others who have come out and that's why I think it's an individual decision both for the person who is gay and when deciding who they tell. Just keep in mind that oftentimes others will “out” you before you get the chance to make that decision. My advice is to work on accepting yourself fully so that if/when that happens you will still be OK with who you are. What do you see in the near future and long-range for gay rights/equality? In the near future I see us being used over and over as political fodder. It's clearly happening in the current election. I don't believe in my lifetime we will ever be considered equal or be allowed to marry. I do think that someday, perhaps in my lifetime, we will be able to have civil unions or some kind of legality to our relationships. Profiles in Pride questions: Date and place of birth? December 6, 1960, Little Rock What is your favorite food? Crab legs What food will you not eat? Beets What is the best job you've ever had? Owning this Web site, although it's a second job and doesn't pay very well. What is your dream job? Therapist and writer. I could write about my clients! If you didn't have to work, what would you do with all of your time? Gardening/landscaping and I'd have a greenhouse so I could grow plants year round. Who do you admire most (living or dead)? Anyone who has hit bottom and has come back from it and shares that with others. Who would you lunch with if you could have anyone (living or dead)? Someone who has hit bottom and pulled themselves up and is willing to tell about that honestly. Who has had the greatest influence on your life? A professor, Dr. Moore at UALR, who challenged me when I went back to college in my 30s. What one thing would you not have done if you could go back in time? Cocaine. However, I am who I am today in part because of how it almost destroyed my life. What one thing would you have done if you could go back in time? I would have come out sooner, not only to the world, but to myself What is your favorite word? Exacerbate Least favorite word? Any lie Favorite curse word? So many … probably f*ck What turns you on? Open and honest people What turns you off? Lies and gossip What word would others use to describe you? Independent What word sums you up? Open