Profile - Mark Wetzel

Mark Wetzel

Mark Wetzel is a very active member of the gay community although the part of the state he is most active in is not very close to where he lives.
He grew up in “squeaky clean Cedar Falls, Iowa.”

“I was scared to death of dating girls,” Mark said. “The dating part was alright but those corn fed girls wanted sex and I could not and still can't.”
“I dropped out of school at the University of Northern Iowa and ran. I landed in Dallas. It was 1980. I do not think I ever came out I was just suddenly OUT. Cedar Springs looked very different back then. My conservative Midwestern Catholic upbringing and limited finances kept me from being too wild.

“Dallas was all show. You had to have the look, the car, the right address. A great city and yet so many people all wrapped up in having the right image.
“It was on a trip for work to Hot Spring, Ark., that I met and fell in love with my partner. Falling in love has got to be the greatest thing in the world!

“I quit my job, moved to Arkansas and moved smack into the middle of Hot Springs history. My partner's home was with an 80 year old extremely private and eccentric mafia widow. I look back now and realize that the 10 years under this roof were the most interesting and educational of my entire life.”
After ending up in Arkansas, Mark had to make a job change.

“Once in Hot Springs I needed a job and I needed dental work,” he explained. “No big deal. Most of my friends in Dallas had dental insurance and they worked for the phone company. I took a job in Hot Springs with Southwestern Bell with intentions to stay just long enough to get my teeth fixed. Well it has been over 25 years now and the name has since changed to SBC and now to the New AT&T; I never left.”

And newly “out” Mark also had to face that part of his life, which we all know isn't always easy.

“Our only contact with the GLBT community was the very social club life,” Mark said. “The only place one could be gay in Hot Springs was in a gay club. We were in the gay clubs a lot. Years of drinking and more drinking do burn you out after a while.

"We had the usual dreams of riches, health and early retirement. Then 'POOF' everything changed overnight. In 1997 my beloved partner was diagnosed with multiple myeloma bone cancer and given six month to live.

“It has been almost 10 years, and two bone marrow transplants and yet we are both still here. Our dreams and goals have changed. Surviving has been a quite a challenge. For well over a decade we were absent from the GLBT community. It is amazing how much has changed and yet how so much is still the same.”

As for careers, as mentioned above, he's settled in to one now.
“I work for the New AT&T as a communication technician,” Mark said. “I take care of a small central office. I am the only person in the building. The best part about my job is it is within walking distance to where I live. I love this job.”

Mark is a very active member of the GLBT community and explained some of that when we talked.

“I joined the SBC GLBT organization SPECTRUM” he said. “Soon SPECTRUM will change names to become LEAGUE. LEAGUE was the first GLBT employee organization formed in a fortune 500 company. AT&T made corporate and gay history by making AT&T the first Fortune 500 company in the United States to add sexual orientation to its corporate non-discrimination policy.”

“When I joined SPECTRUM I had these great hopes of working on local projects that would benefit the GLBT community.

“I soon learned I was the only member of SPECTRUM in Arkansas .We now have two members. If we ever get three then Arkansas can have a chapter and YIPPEE!”

And while he lives in Hot Springs, he owns EurekaPride.com .

“Owning Eureka Pride has been the most rewarding experience in my life,” Mark said.

“Eureka Pride promotes Eureka Springs, Ark. as a GLBT-friendly travel destination to the Lavender Market. The site has a remarkably high traffic rating and a very active 'Talk Forum' with about 400 registered members. Keeping the traffic ratings high as become a personal challenge for me.
“Eureka Pride is a clearing house for all things GLBT in Eureka Springs. The Web site is a place where anyone needing GLBT information about Eureka can find the answers; where to stay, where to shop, what to do, where to eat. who is friendly and who ain't.

“The web site also promotes the Diversity Weekend events that Eureka Springs host in the Spring and Fall. In response to so many demands and requests the Diversity Weekends are now expanding to include Winter and Summer.

“Spring Diversity is April 7-9. Summer Diversity is August 4-6. Fall Diversity will be November 3-5. Diversity Weekends have become of the busiest and one of the favorites for many of the locals.

“Eureka Springs has a large and growing local GLBT population but no GLBT clubs or activities. When Eureka GLBT locals decided some 10 years ago to have a planned GLBT activity they invited everyone and they came and they are still coming.The Diversity Weekends just keep growing and growing.
“With no city or state funding we manage to bring thousands of visitors to Eureka Springs where this entire Victorian Ozark Mountain Village transforms to a GLBT community on a Diversity Weekend. The city is ours to shop, dine, relax and play in. We get the whole shebang! Sure the crowds are bigger in Dallas and Chicago but in Eureka we do get the whole enchilada!

“Someone needs to invite Rosie so she can see what all those cruise ships vacations she takes are missing. These weekends are that special!

“The Diversity crowds are this huge mix of lesbian, gay and straight. It is incredible and quite a spicy mix. I do think that the straights are starting to out number the rest of us. Can't blame them they have learned that GLBT community knows how to throw a party. They are so easy to spot. They like to wear the rainbow and pink clothing and accessories and just love finding a same sex partner for a little PDA (public display of affection). Such show offs.
“Hey, it is Eureka! A place where you can actually be who you are!

“A lot of dedicated people spend long hard hours planning events that would include everyone for these weekends. I get the pleasure to work with Deborah Rose from Diversity Pride. Deborah is quite committed to producing quality diversity events that will include everyone. The Chicago comedy group GayCo featured recently on LittleRockPride.com is an example of the many attractions Diversity Pride is bringing to Eureka. Deborah and her crew from Diversity Pride are just a part of the many local sponsors who give so much to make these events possible.

“This Spring we hope to have our first Diversity Youth Dance. This is in response to many e-mails from Arkansas teens who have formed GLBT clubs in High Schools in Arkansas cities as remote and small as Huntsville. I have teamed up with Diversity Pride and by working together we have asked the local teens to host the Diversity Youth Dance. The local teens loved the idea.
“Would local teens in your Arkansas city host a dance for visiting GLBT teens?
“Eureka Springs has an amazing group of people. To think this diverse gem is right here in Arkansas.”

We asked Mark: What are your thoughts on coming out, advice to others, etc.?

“HONESTY!” he said. “Be honest to yourself, with your friends and family and especially with your lovers. I know too many people today who are still living in the 'Broke Back Mountain Lie'. They ruin their own lives and so many others.

“I was not a 'Broke Back Mountain' fan. Yes, it was a great story but it was a gay movie that the straight community could tolerate. It had the 'all gays come to no good end' ending. I am still waiting for the Hollywood movie with first rate actors, Awesome cinematography and a story line with a triumphant ending.

“It takes a lot of courage to come out. Fear of losing careers, friends and family and the loss of social status keep so many living the lie. Yep, honesty works good. I feel honesty is the cement or glue to any good relationship as well.

“Once you are honest with your folks best have a backup plan and a suitcase packed. May need to get away.

“When 20 year old Jamie posted her experience of telling her parents she was a lesbian on the Eureka Pride 'talk forum' this past summer we all laughed and cried along with her. She took a mini vacation to Eureka giving her parents space and time to absorbed the shock and determine if they really did need to sell the house and move.

“The overwhelming support that the talk forum provided for her was nothing less then incredible.

Mark, what do you see in the near future and long-range for gay rights/equality?

“The 'Radical Christain Right' has been given too much power,” Mark began. “Thanks to our current administration in Washington and the way they have used the radical extreme Christian right to gain control and skirt around so many important issues I feel the GLBT agenda has been set back at least a decade if not more.

“Nothing like trying to debate concerns over health insurance or global warming and have to re-direct every ones attention on 'Family Values' and how same sex couple want to get married and OMG they want EQUALITY!”

Profiles in Pride Questions

Date and place of birth?
June 22, 1958, Denver, Colo. ( please no gifts, just cash)

What is your favorite food?
Boobie Cake, Chocolate Cake, Pound Cake... It is sugar.I love sugar. I have tried repeatedly breaking up with sugar . Somehow we always make up. I do not understand how sugar can be so sweet and yet always treats me so bad.

What food will you not eat?
I have yet to discover one.

What is the best job you've ever had?
The job I have now.

What is your dream job?
Yikes, you are asking an old GAY dawg what his dream job would be. What kind of job do you think?

If you didn't have to work, what would you do with all of your time?
Travel

Who do you admire most (living or dead)?
Easy, my beloved partner of almost 27 years.

Who would you lunch with if you could have anyone (living or dead)?
The entire membership list on Eureka Pride. We would have JoBos BBQ and Renate's famous Boobie Cake.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
With out a doubt my beloved partner!

What one thing would you not have done if you could go back in time?
NEVER smoke! Quitting was so hard.

What one thing would you have done if you could go back in time?
Does anyone still remember the winning numbers on that last big power ball lottery?