Benjamin, 27

Do you live in Seattle?
I grew up not far from here, but I currently live in Washington, D.C. I'm just visiting right now.

Are you in a relationship?
Nope. I'm single.

Is it very different, being single in D.C. versus Seattle?
In D.C., guys are more "put together," but they're a lot more uptight. I really like the laid-back West Coast vibe. And Seattle has a really vibrant gay community, especially around here.

What do you do for a living?
I'm in politics.

You're living in the right city for it! Have you ever dated anyone you worked with?
Um…yeah. [laughs] In D.C., the circles run pretty tight, and it's pretty small, so you end up seeing the same people over and over. If you end up sleeping with somebody, they could end up being your coworker or your boss a few months down the line. It can be pretty awkward.

How important is it that a potential partner shares your political views?
It's pretty important. D.C. is very divisive when it comes to what side of the aisle you're on.

Have you ever you slept with someone, and found out later that they were Republican? Wait! I just made an assumption…I should say, "the opposite of your affiliation."
As a gay, black Republican, I'm very offended by that.

Seriously? You're a Republican?
No, I'm just messing with you. [laughs] There have been a few guys I've gone out with who I think might've been Republicans, but they didn't tell me if they were.

Okay, let's say some guy is really, really hot, but conservative. Can you plot it on a graph how much his political views matter, relative to his attractiveness levels?
I've often thought about that. He would have to be pretty unbelievably hot.

What are some qualities you look for in a guy?
A free spirit. Someone who's not too obsessed with work, climbing the ladder, all that. 

That's surprising, because I always associate D.C. with Type A personalities.
Oh, yeah. That's all it is. It drives me crazy.

Do you have any dealbreakers?
I won't date a Republican; forget what I said before. Any gay guy who's a Republican would have to have some serious issues.

How long was your last long-term relationship?
I haven't had anything really long-term yet.

Why do you think that is?
Don't know. I guess I just haven't met the right guy. I'm not stressed about it. These things fall into place when the time is right.

Speaking of gay celebrities, you must be familiar with Seattle's own Dan Savage. Do you consider yourself GGG — good, giving, and game — and how important is it to you that a partner is GGG as well?
I definitely consider myself GGG. As for a partner, it's absolutely critical. Sometimes I'll throw out my "magic tricks," and sometimes I don't expect reciprocity, because I like giving. It's important to keep an open mind, to be willing to experiment and meet people halfway — within reason, of course!

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