Feb 27, 2009   | COMMENTS     

David Jobin is in the midst of relocating from San Francisco to Washington where he’ll be the new executive director of D.C.’s Gay Men’s Chorus. Jobin, a 46-year-old Aurora, Ohio native, has been in California four years (three at San Francisco’s Magic Theatre; a year prior in San Jose), but has grown bored with contemporary theater and is passionate about getting involved in gay and AIDS work (he managed theaters in Pittsburgh for nearly 10 years before moving west).

Jobin, a veteran of gay choruses in three other cities, sees the choir as a political group that can reach people and change minds in ways other activists can’t.

“What other chorus is there where hanging a sign in your laundromat is a political statement,” he says.

A gay- and HIV-themed play called “Octopus” that his theater produced last year, brought the epiphany that he was ready for a change. Jobin and his partner, attorney Rick Taylor, have been together 18 years and wed Oct. 27 in San Francisco. The family will be separated temporarily — Jobin and Myrtle, his Collie, will drive cross country first. Taylor and Rhoda, their elderly cat, will join them in a few months.

To unwind, Jobin enjoys gardening, singing and watching DVR’ed TV shows. He hasn’t settled on a Washington neighborhood yet but knows he wants to be in the District, as close to the action as possible.

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell? 

I’ve been out since I was 21. The hardest person to tell was my mother

Who’s your gay hero?

Rosie O’Donnell

What is Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?

Trumpet’s

If gay marriage were legal, would you tie the knot?

It was legal in California for a brief moment — and I did.

What non-gay issue are you most passionate about?

Ending poverty

What historical outcome would you change? 

The Supreme Court handling of the 2000 election.

What has been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?

The final episode of “Mary Tyler Moore.”

On what reality TV show would you fare best? 

Project Runway (if I could just sew!)

What item of clothing has been in your closet since high school?

Light blue button-down oxford shirt.

If your life were a book, what would the title be? 

“Laugh Out”

If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?

Invest in a company that makes boy’s little league uniforms.

What do you believe in beyond the physical world?

Nothing. Really.

What would you order for your last meal?

Mashed potatoes with butter (no gravy) made by my partner, Rick.

What would you walk across hot coals for?

Haagen-Dazs Butter Pecan Ice Cream or to spit on Fred Phelps. It’s a toss-up.

What gay stereotype annoys you most?

That we’re shallow and only concerned with outward beauty.

What is the best gay film ever made?

“The Wizard of Oz”

What is the most overrated social custom?

Formal weddings

What trophy or prize do you most covet?

My wedding band

What’s your advice for gay teens?

You’re smarter, funnier and infinitely more interesting than the people who are teasing you. And in adulthood, they’ll envy all of those qualities.

Why Washington?

I’ve always loved Washington. I used to come her on weekends all the time when I lived in Pittsburgh. It’s a friendlier, more engaged city than San Francisco.