February 2, 2010

When Jason was conceptualizing fabulis his mother told him he needed to involve two of his friends in building the company: Bradford Shellhammer and Richard Socarides. Richard is an attorney, who has worked in the White House and for several media companies. He is also an outspoken political pundit. Jason's mother is now two for two as Richard officially joins the fabulis team today as head of the advisory board. This morning Richard chatted with Bradford about his new role, Jason coming out of the closet, and President Obama.

How did you and Jason meet?

We met when we both worked at the White House during the Clinton administration. Jason worked for the Chief of Staff and I was a Special Assistant to the President working on political, legal and policy issues. Truth is we got to know each other first over email, even though we worked in the same big white building. When I was trying to get into see his boss he was running interference.

I was told you were the first person Jason outed himself to.

Yes, Jason came out to me in an email exchange over the White House server at Midnight when I was trying to finish a memo to the president and he was trying to come out of the closet!

Since the White House days how have you two remained in touch?

We stayed in touch while he went to Stanford and I went to work for a succession of media companies. I watched his success with each of his companies and gave him input and advice over the years. Now, of course, I am really excited about taking on an official role at fabulis.

And what is that role?

Jason has asked me to chair the committee of outside advisors.

And who will make up the advisory board?

We are putting together a group of diverse leaders who come from a cross section of industries and professions and endeavors: music, movies, politics, law, the arts, designers and restaurateurs, etc. But a cross section of gay men around the globe.

What will they do?

They will help Jason and you and the fabulis team develop an experience for the fabulis user, connecting each user to their city, the world, and each other in a new and fabulis way.

What are looking for in the fabulis advisory board?

We are looking for people who will roll up their sleeves and put their best ideas forward. We'll be reaching out to the smartest, most influential, and successful gay people in the world. We are searching the US and internationally across a wide range of industries and professions. If someone has interest in helping, and we are looking for real workers here, they should contact me at richard@fabulis.com

What do you find most compelling about the fabulis concept?

fabulis will connect the user to their community, professionally, to civic engagement. It allows the sharing of information and opinions. It will make people more interesting and more interested.

Whether I'm looking for something to do on Friday night or whether I'm visiting friends on the West Coast, or even around the world in Latin America or Asia, I am always looking for the latest and most interesting thing to do. I want to experience the best and most interesting and breathtaking places - in my neighborhood and when I'm away for work or fun. That is what fabulis does. Through the experience we're developing, everybody will have the benefit of knowing the best person for a recommendation. Everyone will know the top places, events, museums, films, etc.

There is great information already on the web. What is lacking is information unique to the gay community about experiences that, for one reason or another, may be particularly enjoyable to us. fabulis is the place where, hopefully, people will not only share this information, but where they would go to find it.

If fabulis was live now what would you be raving about?

One of the most interesting places I've been recently was to see the ruins at Paestum outside Naples. There are ancient gay erotic frescoes in the tombs. They date back to 500 BC and they look like David Hockney paintings. I was there recently visiting my friend Robert Hammond. We also stumbled upon this mom and pop pasta place, Osteria da Olindo, in the Trastevere section of Rome that had only locals, gay and straight. It was one of the best meals I've had there and was dirt cheap.

As someone who is all over television and writing for The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, what is your take on Obama's speech from last night?

I know his heart is in the right place, and I actually thought the best part was when he went off text and said, "It's the right thing to do" in reference to repealing don't ask, don't tell. It's amazing that he got a standing ovation for that, at least from the Democrats. So let's hope he can pull it off. He'll need all our help.