Deaf Queer News » Interviews

An Interview with Deaf Gay Model Martin Ritchie

DQRC — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:59:27 +0000

Martin Ritchie, left, was initially rejected by Janice Dickinson because his tummy wasnâ€™t too firm. But he returned, and is now a â€œnew modelâ€ on season four.

Deafinitely

By Daniel A. Kusner

Queer Texan Martin Ritchie hopes to impress Janice Dickinson. Heâ€™s got one advantage the other models donâ€™t â€” he canâ€™t hear her scream

Rejection canâ€™t stop Martin Ritchie from achieving his dreams. Neither can being hearing impaired nor being gay. Four years ago, the 20-year-old moved from Austin to Los Angeles to start a professional modeling career and serve as a positive role model for people with disabilities.

His mom still lives in Austin, and while he never went to college, Ritchie says if he wasnâ€™t modeling he would have tried to study dentistry at the University of Texas.

After he moved to Hollywood, he struggled with trying to get his modeling career off the ground and worked at an Abercrombie & Fitch store at local mall.

Then he was discovered by the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency. But during his audition, Dickinson rejected him â€” because he had a â€œmuffin top,â€ which meant he needed to work on his abs.

He did. And on Tuesday, heâ€™s selected as one of the agencies â€œnew models,â€ who gets picked to live in a Hollywood mansion.

Since Ritchie works with an interpreter, Dallas Voice caught up with him via e-mail earlier this week.

The Interview:

Q: Were you born in Texas?
A: No, I was born in Lakeland, Fla. Although I feel like I was born in Austin. Austin represents the easy life weâ€™re all supposed to have â€” the beautiful view of Town Lake; so many people running and kayaking under the bridge â€¦

Q: Are you an expert at seducing a guy with your eyes?
A: Probably. People always came to me and say, â€œWow, you have Jane Seymourâ€™s eyes.â€

Q: How could they gay community improve how they interact with their deaf brothers and sisters?
A: Show some good affection, communicate with them all the time and share your emotional moments.

Q: Whatâ€™s your idea of an ideal date?
A: Just a simple romantic dinner.

Q: Whatâ€™s your idea of a date from hell?
A: Broken chairs and tables.

Q: Is sarcasm hard to pick up on?
A: Not really. But it depends on the person, you know?

Q: What can deaf gay guys do better than gay guys with perfect hearing?
A: Deaf gay guys know how to use eye contact, which is powerful because we all communicate through our eyes.

Q: Because you canâ€™t hear, are any of your other senses â€” sight, touch, taste â€” superior?
A: Absolutely! I am very sensitive with my taste and smell.

Q: Can you hear anything at all?
A: Yes, I can hear in my left ear.

Q: Were you born that way?
A: Yes. Although I felt like I was born hearing until I was a few weeks old. I really donâ€™t know.

Q: When Janice previously rejected you and told you to shape up, how did you react?
A: I thought, â€œOh, my gosh!â€ I decided to build up some muscle mass and, of course, Iâ€™ve had to change my attitude.

Q: How did improve your physique?
A: I worked on my arms and chest. However, Iâ€™m still struggling with my abs. But I have this wonderful trainer I work with, and heâ€™s going to completely transform me. So, you guys better watch out!

Q: Does Janice scare you?
A: Oh, not at all. Iâ€™ve dealt with many people. And comparing Janice to those people â€” she is such a sweetheart and a lady. Yes, she likes to open herself to others all the time. She showed us that she really cares about us in the house.

Q: If you could have perfect hearing for four hours, what would you want to do?
A: I would ask my date to go out with me to the beach during the sunset, where I can hear everything â€¦ peacefully. And I would just tell him to tell me something funny or some love stories.

Q: What modeling assignments have you landed?
A: Iâ€™ve modeled for Logan Milan, and I recently landed a job for Kentucky Jeans. My next goal is be gracing the Dolce & Gabbana billboards around the world.

Q: If Janice granted you an ultimate modeling wish â€” you could do anything you wanted â€” what would that assignment be like?
A: A permanent full-time model for Guess and Kenneth Cole.

——-

TUNE IN tonight, Tuesday, August 26, and watch Martin in the season four premiere of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency show on the Oxygen channel.

This article originally appeared in the Dallas Voice and is reprinted with permission.

Deaf, Gay and Angry

DQRC — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:26:48 +0000

“Deaf, Gay and Angry” was the title of a recent Style Weekly cover story featuring openly Deaf Gay blogger Ricky Taylor aka “Ridor”.

Read it at:

http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=15192

Marlee Matlin’s Great Lesbian Adventure

DQRC — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:10:11 +0000

by Karmen Ratkovic

(Karmen Ratkovic is a political activist in Croatia, working with non-governmental organizations ( NGOs ) on a wide range of issues. She is also a Deaf lesbian activist, and has been working to expand the visibility of lesbians in her country. One way she has done this is through sports, in organizations such as qSPORT and Bura, a lesbian soccer team, that played in the Gay Games last summer in Chicago. The following e-mail interview was conducted with actor Marlee Matlin in early September.)

___________

Academy Award winner Matlin will be in Chicago for a gala benefit featuring her co-stars from The L Word ( Jennifer Beals, Daniela Sea and BETTY ) , along with comic Marga Gomez, Sat., Oct. 6, at The Chopping Block, 222 Merchandise Mart. Chefs Art Smith and Shelley Young will also be featured at this Celebrity Cook-Off benefit for Gender PAC, a national gender-rights group. See www.gpac.org .

Karmen Ratkovic: How do you live in the surrounding of hearing people? Do you have anybody who is Deaf, that is, do you have any contact with Deaf people?

Marlee Matlin: My family [ husband and children ] are not deaf and most of my friends at work and at home are hearing. I grew up in Chicago, where my entire family was also hearing [ mom, dad and two brothers as well as various aunts, uncles and cousins ] . But most of my friends growing up in Chicago were deaf and my classmates were deaf as well. Today, I have some close friends who are deaf, but again, most of my daily friends and acquaintances are hearing. I do well going back and forth between Deaf and hearing worlds. Itâ€™s the way Iâ€™ve always been.

KR: What was it that moved you to be an actress? Is your choosing the career of the actress in any relation with your Deafness? How has Hollywood stereotyped you and what roles are available?

MM: Iâ€™ve wanted to act since I was seven years old; thatâ€™s when I did my first play, The Wizard of Oz. My mother said she took me to the International Center on Deafness and the Arts because she saw a desire in me to perform in front of people, and ICODA provided opportunities for deaf children to participate in the arts and drama. But I donâ€™t know if I chose acting because I was deaf. I chose acting because I was good at it!

As for Hollywood stereotyping me, Hollywood stereotypes everyoneâ€”men, women, young actors, old actors and actors with disabilities. Hollywood is all about fantasy and drama, and that means we all play characters that are larger than life. Often, this includes stereotypical behavior, behaviors that audiences can easily identity with. As for me, I shun stereotypes and I refuse to take roles which make me look silly or stupid as a Deaf person. Itâ€™s also the reason why a lot of the roles I take are ones that I have created together with the writers and producers. Whether itâ€™s been the Dancing Bandit character I played on Picket Fences or the pollster I played on The West Wing or Jodi Lerner from The L Word, the characters Iâ€™ve played have avoided the stereotypes of Deafness and have broken new ground in the portrayals of Deaf characters. Iâ€™m proud of having opened the doors for other actors in Hollywood who are Deaf.

KR: Your brother is gay. How do feel about that? What can you tell us about the relationship with your brother in regard to your Deafness and his homosexualityâ€”is there any influence in any direction? How about your view of gay people; how do you understand/see them, their challenges, problems, etc.?

MM: My brother is my brother, gay or not. His being gay never factored into how we thought of him in our family or how much we loved him. However, you could say our relationship has been defined by the fact that Iâ€™m Deaf and heâ€™s gay because we both come from communities that are in the minority. I think that has drawn us closer to each other. And as Ilene Chaiken, the executive producer of The L Word, said to me as she was developing my character, the issues facing Deaf people parallel the issues facing the LGBT community because both operate as minorities who are misunderstood by the general population. I found this fascinating but not surprising. In any case, as Matlins we are a very close and loving family, and whether we are Deaf, gay, Jewish, etc., we lived by the idea that every person deserves love and respect despite what people label as â€œdifferences.â€

KR: Here in Croatia, weâ€™ve got no opportunity to see your acting in The L Word, but Iâ€™m fascinated by your roles in Children of a Lesser God and recently in What the Bleep. Anyway, I want to know what moved you to choose to join The L Word. How do you feel in this role?

MM: I was challenged by the very nature of the role in The L Word. It was so different than anything I had every played before. Iâ€™ve always asked to play roles that were new and challenging and playing a lesbian artist is certainly new for me! I was fortunate to have been cast alongside my friend, Jennifer Beals, who made the transition into playing a lesbian quite easy. She was assuring, as well as funny and she put my mind at ease when it came to playing something I had never played before. I love the cast and crew of The L Word and the role of Jodi Lerner is one of the most fascinating characters Iâ€™ve ever played!

KR: Since taking on The L Word role, you have attended many gay and lesbian events and benefits [ in various places ] , including Chicago, your hometown, where your brother introduced you. Can you tell us how being seen as more of an â€œactivistâ€ on the issue of gays and lesbians feels?

MM: Iâ€™ve always been a supporter of minority communities and issues, so when I was asked to come out and support the LGBT community, I was glad to lend my name and presence. I donâ€™t necessarily consider myself an activist as much as I consider myself as a woman with an opinion. I wish I had time to be a full-time activist but Iâ€™m not so good at politics. But I am good at speaking my mind and my mind has always told me that no one, whether straight or gay, has the right to be discriminated against simply because of their sexual preferences. So, if thereâ€™s discrimination out there or people are not realizing their rights, Iâ€™m happy to speak out on their behalf and use my public position to focus attention on the issue. Thatâ€™s what I can do best as an actor!

KR: Can you tell us any favorite parts about playing opposite Jennifer Beals on The L Word, and where this role is going this coming season?

MM: We loved laughing and giggling when we first worked together. Jennifer had already been playing a lesbian for three years on the show and this past season was my first time. She made fun of the way I kissed and held her, and she challenged me to do it betterâ€”to do it right. But I told her that I was doing it right!

All through my process of learning, she put my mind at ease and made it so easy for me to slip into the role of the lesbian artist, Jodi. We also playfully argued about who had the better clothes ( Jennifer chic, Marlee funky ) and our past roles. I often kidded her about Flashdance ( she pretended she didnâ€™t like to talk about that movie ) and she often kidded me about Children Of A Lesser God, which I made when I was 19 and looked very different! She is so much fun.

As for this coming season, I canâ€™t say whatâ€™s going to happen, but I can tell you itâ€™s going to be very intenseâ€”more so than last yearâ€”and if you have a chance to watch, tune in!

KR: In your role on The L Word, are you happy with the way the writers have handled your Deafness, making it a critical part of your character and her politics?

MM: The writers on The L Word have been nothing but 100 percent open to incorporating accurate portrayals of Deafness. Theyâ€™ve brought in other Deaf actors, [ and ] theyâ€™ve asked me to help them with storylines; itâ€™s been a dream! Thereâ€™s nothing on the show that I am embarrassed about [ regarding ] the way Jodi Lerner is portrayed. She is an accurate and very real example of a real Deaf character on television and I am very proud of having the opportunity to portray her.

KR: What do you think of the recent controversial issues in America, including the arrest and resignation of a U.S. senator for bathroom solicitation, and the potential approval of same-sex marriage in Iowa? Where do you think the gay movement is headed in terms of acceptance, and do you see any parallels with the Deaf community?

MM: All of the controversy about how nothing ever changes in terms of how people view gay people doesnâ€™t surprise me. Itâ€™s been the same for the Deaf community. As Deaf people, we have had to constantly struggle to be respected and afforded our rights; the same goes for members of the gay community. Iâ€™ve learned that the struggle for equality and respect is an ongoing one and itâ€™s the same in the gay community, too. Peopleâ€™s memories are short and every few years thereâ€™s an issue ( like the Gallaudet University uprising or the Matthew Shepard case ) that serves to remind us that we will always have to struggle for our rightful place in society. I believe we should never get complacent or comfortable because before you know it, public opinions can change and/or those who make laws or lead us may come into power that takes away everything that weâ€™ve achieved. Itâ€™s a never-ending struggle and thatâ€™s unfortunate. But it has made me strong and Iâ€™m sure thatâ€™s the same for any member of the gay community that seeks to make a difference and live a life equal to their straight brothers and sisters.

KR: You are coming to Chicago for a benefit for Gender PAC. Can you explain your support of GPAC, especially as it relates to understanding transgender and gender identity issues?

MM: GPAC is all about gender equality and Iâ€™m all for that. As I said, no person should be denied their rights for love and respect simply because of their gender or sexual preference. GPAC works to make sure that no one should be discriminated against simply because of who they choose to love. And in particular, GPAC is working to make sure that LGBT teensâ€”people who need positive reinforcement the most as they grow into adulthoodâ€”are afforded love and respect. Too often it is the community of LGBT teens that we see high rates of suicide because of societyâ€™s unwillingness to accept them for who they are. GPAC is there to protect and support themâ€”and Iâ€™m there to support GPAC.

KR: Thank you very much for your time.

(( Source: Windy City Times ))

Greetings from the new Mr. RAD, Juan Bernal

DQRC — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 06:47:27 +0000

http://deafqueer.org/video/07/rad/mr-rad-2007.mov

Juan Bernal, Mr RAD 2007-2009
(video length: 43 seconds)

The best RAD conference ever?

DQRC — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:57:23 +0000

http://www.deafqueer.org/video/07/rad/best-rad.mov

Bob Donaldson, Herbert Fradin, Michel Turgeon
(video length: 2 mins 21 secs)

During a delegate meeting break at the RAD conference in Atlanta, we happened to notice two former RAD Presidents (Herbert Fradin and Michel Turgeon) and the current RAD President (Bob Donaldson) sitting together. We decided to spontaneously ask them which RAD conference they thought was the best. Click on the video to see their response.

Gotta love these guys. So diplomatic.

Tell us which RAD conferences you’ve attended.Â Which one was your favorite and why?