America’s Most Captivating Couples 2007
Daria “Deno” Orechwa
27, Graduate Student/Youth Services Counselor
Ingrid “Inno” Dahl
26, Rock Musician/Editor/GO Writer/Founding Member of the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
San Francisco, CA & Jersey City, NJ
Deno and Inno met at Rutgers University in (year). Today, Deno is a graduate student at San Francisco State, and assists queer teens at the Huckleberry House shelter. Her goal is to open a queer community center someday with its own thrift store. At the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, Inno also works with teens—managing their bands and teaching them to play different instruments. In addition, she’s a writer for GO and plays in the groups Boyskout, The 303s, and Lismore. This couple, who say they “like to make out and lay on each other everywhere we go,” are currently in a long-distance relationship. What keeps it on track? “Teamwork; consideration; independence; admiration; text messages; imaginary scenarios; missing one another; extreme cuteness; generosity; and phenomenal sex.”
It was difficult to narrow down the entries, but we finally did it–and the result is the year’s most captivating couples! Ranging from a historic preservationist to a superhero to a TV talk show host (times two), it’s great to see so many proud women, not just in love, but spreading that love around and making the world a brighter place. Their stories inspired us, and we know they’ll inspire you, too. Say hello to this year’s sweethearts.
HANIFAH & OLIVE
Hanifah Walidah
“Thirtysomething,” Musician/Playwright/Filmmaker
Olive Demetrius
“Twentysomething,” Cinematographer/Filmmaker
Brooklyn, NY
At a 2004 Halloween party, Olive gave Hanifah her number, but after Hanifah called, Olive didn’t call her back. The reason? She was already with someone. When they next met, Hanifah asked Olive if things had changed and Olive immediately kissed her in that way that says “Yes, things have changed. Oh boy, have they changed!” Today, they consider themselves “the most beloved couple on the planet of Brooklyn.” Hanifah and Olive have worked together on the music video “Make a Move,” which has been seen on Logo. Their relationship works due to “a delicate balance of hot sex; similar sense of silliness; hard work; creativity; and enough space away to remind each what she loves about the other.”
