Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk 2008

CHECKERED NATION hosts Mark and Michelle enjoy the eighth annual Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk event and interview some of the participants including Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson.
www.sacvalleyaidsrunwalk.org



The music in the video is from the band at the event listed on the schedule as SMOKE.

Rainbow Festival 2008 Street Fair

CHECKERED NATION hosts Mark and William interview people at Sacramento's Rainbow Festival 2008 street Fair.



They interview a rainbow of people: Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, a Log Cabin Republican, youth, artists, a couple and straight friends. Topics range from diversity and unity to music and fun.

This event is one of 2 annual gay pride events in Sacramento, California that benefit local charities such as the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center and WEAVE.

Web sites mentioned in the show:
www.heatherfargo.net
www.logcabin.org/logcabinca/sacramento_chapter.html
www.saccenter.org
www.photomyway.com
www.lightningbugkilnworks.com

Rainbow Festival 2008 at Faces

CHECKERED NATION hosts Mark and William with some lively interviews at Faces nightclub celebrating Sacramento's Rainbow Festival 2008.



Interview topics include the Rainbow Festival, gay marriage in California, coming out and celebrating diversity.

Guests include locals and out of towners, drag queens, go go boys in underwear and Terry Sidie who tells us the history of the Rainbow Festival.

The Rainbow Festival is a benefit for the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center (formerly the Lambda Center).

www.saccenter.org

Mark shares his cancer diagnosis

Mark, the creator of this talk show CHECKERED NATION, has recently been diagnosed with a type of cancer called gastrinoma.

In this episode with William he tells us some of his experiences.

Mark's many friends have rallied around to lend him love and support.

He hopes people can learn from his experiences. He reminds us all to be our own health care advocates. "If you're not your own advocate nothing is going to get done. And you don't want to be just another statistic." "If something doesn't feel right, speak up ... Push your doctor to do things, to do tests."

Mark will continue hosting this show and his many friends will continue to support him. Think of him in your thoughts and prayers.

Episode 19 - Wedding Planner Katy

CHECKERED NATION hosts Mark, Michelle, Kevin and Jelanie talk with Katy about wedding planning. Topics include how to plan a wedding, the effect of legal gay marriage in California and bridezillas.

Katy Baker is with Adagio Weddings & Events and can be reached at www.myadagioevent.com

In 2 parts-

Episode 18 - Gay guys fall for straight guys

Episode 18 of CHECKERED NATION. Hosts Mark, Michelle, Kevin and Jelanie talk about when gay guys fall for straight guys. In 2 parts.

Part 1


Part 2


There are some low volume sound problems at the beginning.

Episode 17 - CHECKERED NATION at Sacramento Pride 2008

CHECKERED NATION hosts Mark and William visit Sacramento Pride 2008 and interview some of the participants.

What does pride mean? Equality, bringing people together and just good fun.

Episode 13 - CHECKERED NATION talks to Christopher Cabaldon

CHECKERED NATION hosts Mark, Michelle and Kevin talk with Christopher Cabaldon who is the mayor of West Sacramento and is currently running for 8th District Assembly of California.

They talk about coming out, LOGO TV, the lavender ceiling in politics and issues important to the 8th district - schools, the delta and transportation.



Christopher Cabaldon's web site.
City of West Sacramento's web site.

Production... Mark L
Production assistant... David

Episode 12 - CHECKERED NATION talks with Terry Sidie

CHECKERED NATION crew Mark, Michelle and Kevin
visit with Terry Sidie on the balcony of his nightclub Faces
and talk about Terry's history with clubs, the gay straight clientele at his clubs and more chat.
Mark tells us his first gay club was Bojangles.

The sound is bad with birds chirping, bar noise (good times) and sirens. Crank up the volume to hear our friends talk.

Web sites mentioned
Faces Nightclub
Headhunter's Restaurant
Mom Guess What Newspaper
Sacramento Pride
Rainbow Festival

Episode 10 - Body Image

Welcome to the 10th episode - a milestone - of CHECKERED NATION.

Mark, William and Kevin talk about "Body Image" and gay men.

Do gay men put more emphasis on looks?
Is what is inside more important?
In addition they touch on Slim-Fast, mirrors and themselves.

Episode 9 - CHECKERED NATION at Badlands

CHECKERED NATION visits Badlands... hosts Mark and William chat with the two people behind the popular Sacramento night club Badlands- TJ and Marge.

They talk about how TJ got into the club business, his passion for it, his mom Marge as well as Midtown and future projects.

Sacramento Badlands celebrates its 1 year anniversary March 28, 2008. Check out their web site: www.sacbadlands.com



The hosts of Checkered Nation encourage your email comments and suggestions checkerednation@yahoo.com

Episode 7 - Bug Chasers

CHECKERED NATION gets serious and talks about "Bug Chasers".

Kevin defines the term for us - "Bug Chasers: HIV negative gay men interested in becoming HIV positive," then Mark, Kevin and William talk about it.

Two local Internet resources for Sacramento, California, USA are -
Sacramento GLBTI Center: www.saccenter.org
Sacramento HIV/AIDS CARES: www.caresclinic.org

Episode 1 - Being Single and Dating

Welcome to Episode 1 of Checkered Nation.

Mark, Kevin and William in a lively discussion of being single and dating from a gay point of view.

In 4 parts -

Part 1 -



Part 2 -



Part 3 -



Part 4 -