2 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 3
the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Welcome to Pride 2015 Ambush Magazine is once again proud to serve as your Official Pride Guide since 1982, bringing you the whole gay weekend and more. New Orleans Pride runs June 19-21, and the LGBT+ community has pulled out all the stops to make this a "weekend to remember." From dance parties, to the festival, parade and a host of events, you are sure to find the right spot for you this holiday. Catch the "fever" as you flip through these pages or online at www.AmbushMag.com!
The Public Has Voted & The Top 5 Finalist Are... 28th Gay Appreciation Awards The votes are in and the public has decided on the Top 5 Finalists in the 28th annual Gay Appreciation Awards, and one of those finalist is already the winner in each category. Public online voting ran from June 2-8. The 28th GAA Gala is set for Saturday, July 18, 8-10pm, at Oz, 800 Bourbon Street. The 2015 winners are announced at this event. VIP Tables with four seats are $200 and are very limited. All proceeds benefit Southern Decadence 2015. Contact Rip Naquin for table reservations at ripna@ambushmag.com or 504.522.8049. Door admission is $10. Top 5 Finalists include: Circuit Party/Event of the Year: 16th Gay Easter Parade, Friday Night Before Mardi Gras Extravaganza 15, Halloween 31, 16th Purple Party, Southern Decadence 43 Hair Salon of the Year: Fee & Art's Revival Studio, Head Quarters, Mickey Nolan's, Salon Versailles, Two Guy Cutting Hair Gay Mardi Gras Ball of the Year: Krewe of Amon-Ra, Krewe of Armeinius, Lords of Leather, Krewe of Narcissus, Mystic Krewe of Satyricon Neighborhood Bar of the Year: Corner Pocket, Four Seasons & Patio Stage Bar, The Golden Lantern, Good Friends, GrandPre's Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award: Darren Ferris, Big Easy Sisters, Toby Lefort, NO/AIDS Task Force, Adikus Sulpizi Bitch of the Year: Aubrey Synclaire, Opal Masters, Chi-Chi Rodriquez, Persana Shoulders, Princess Stephaney Show Club of the Year: Bourbon Pub & Parade, Corner Pocket, Four Seasons & Patio Stage Bar, The Golden Lantern, Oz New Orleans Donnie Jay Performing Arts Award: Gone With The Breaking Wind, La
inside
Familia, New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus, Running with Scissors, The Southern Barbitchuates Restaurant/Deli/Coffee House of the Year: Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop, Clover Grill, Eat, Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, Verti Mart Dance Club of the Year: Bourbon Pub & Parade, Corner Pocket, Four Seasons & Patio Stage Bar, The Golden Lantern, Oz New Orleans Bartender of the Year: Ashlee Logan/Corner Pocket, Jake Morris/ Four Seasons & Patio Stage Bar, Jeff Palmquist/Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Wayne Penton/Bourbon Pub & Parade, Chi-Chi Rodriguez/Oz DJ of the Year: Deanne Cooley/ Four Seasons, Dominick "Dom" Kolb/ Corner Pocket, Four Seasons Kyle David/Oz, Tim Pflueger/Oz, Jonathan "JRB" Reed/Oz Leather Bar of the Year: Double Play, GrandPre’s, Mag’s 940, Phoenix, Rawhide Cheridon Comedy Award: Reba Douglas, Gia GiaVanni, Persana Shoulders, Princesse Stephaney, Tittie Toulouse Fly Fashion Glamour Award: Do-
4th of July, Essence Fest issue out June 30 DEADLINE: Tues., June 23
celebrazzi moments in gay new orleans history the real cheese book review, matters of health snap paparazzi/new orleans snap paparazzi/nola, metairie a community within communities the legal corner nola leather to geaux trodding the boards decadence says "i do"
6 10 12 12 14 16 17 17 17 20 22
44th southern decadence ambush paparazzi/nola, metairie classifieds under the gaydar gaa top 5 finalists halloween new orleans mobile paparazzi
23 24 26-27 28 31 32 35
AD INFO: Call 504.522.8049 ripna@ambushmag.com
Gulf South LGBT Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 ripna@ambushmag.com
minique DeLorean, Connie Hung, Monica Synclaire-Kennedy, Karli LaCorre, Aubrey Synclaire LGBT Business of the Year: Bourbon Pride, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, Delaney & Robb Attorneys at Law, Rab Dab Clothing & Gifts, Scully’z Recordz Leather Person of the Year: Jason Ashford, Matthew Birkhoff, Troy Powell, Adikus Sulpizi, Gary Vandeventer Transgender of the Year: Regina Adams, Adrian Claveria, Joann Guidos, Rikki Redd, Chi-Chi Rodriquez Lesbian of the Year: Misti Ates, Catherine Gaither, Mina Hernandez, Nikki Max, Carla Torlucci Rogers Gay Man of the Year: Andy Bergeron, Bradley Latham, Tony Leggio, Derek Penton-Robichaeux, Stephen Valiente Marcy Marcell Entertainer of the Year: Reba Douglas, Gia GiaVanni, Karli LaCorre, Aubrey Synclaire, Monica Synclaire-Kennedy In addition, the Board of Directors presents the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Board of Directors includes Lisa Beaumann, Teryl-Lynn Foxx, and Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain. Sponsored by Ambush Mag, the awards thanks those in the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community who are often not recognized for the outstanding services and efforts they perform. These individuals and businesses have made the LGBT Community into the viable, successful and powerful community it is today. (www.AmbushMag.com/GAA)
LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana to Hold Annual Membership Meeting June 19 The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana will hold its annual membership meeting on Friday, June 19, at 7pm at Café Istanbul in the Healing Center (2372 St. Claude Ave.). The keynote speaker will be Professor Alecia Long, who will speak on the topic “Saving the City from Sex Deviates: Preservationists, Homosexuals, and Reformers in the French Quarter 1950 – 1962.” The event will also offer an update on the Archive Project’s incredibly successful first year—and provide a glimpse into what’s in store for the year to come. Officer elections will also be held. The event is free and open to the public.
Rocco Steele to emcee Lords’ “Who’s Your Daddy?” Contest Come see Rocco Steele, one of gay porn’s “biggest” stars as he visits New Orleans to host the annual Lords of Leather “Who’s Your Daddy?” contest on Father’s Day weekend, Fri-
THE OFFICIAL MAG
Facebook.COM/AmbushMag Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Texas-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide© Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide© Official Gay New Orleans Guide© Official Pride Guide© Official Southern Decadence Guide© AWARD WINNING:
Saints & Sinners Literary Festival Hall of Fame/2015, Louisiana Excellence Award: Media & Internet/2014, New Orleans Print Media Award/ 2014, 25th NO/AIDS Task Force Humanitas Award/2013, New Orleans Print Media Award/ 2013, Krewe of Mwindo Media Honoree/2009, Krewe of Petronius Carnival Spirit of Gay Mardi Gras XLVIII Award/2009, Forum For Equality Acclaim Awards X Media Recipient/2008, NO/AIDS Task Force Prometheus “Torch of Truth” [media] Award/2001 OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] Email: ripna@ambushmag.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 ANNUAL READERSHIP OVER 1 MILLION: 260,000+ in print/780,000+ On-line CIRCULATION: Alabama-Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi Texas - Houston
STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin • 504.522.8049 Paul Melancon THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Johnny Joseph Delgadillo, Tony Leggio, Hubert S Monkeys, Felicia Phillips, Frank Perez, Rev. Bill Terry-New Orleans MIss Cie, Leon Weekley-Mobile, AL National Advertising Rep: Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 Ambush Mag is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip NaquinDelain, President. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEADLINE is alternate Tuesdays, 4pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: marsha@ripandmarsha.com, except for special holidays. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the claims of advertisers and has the right to reject any advertising. The inclusion of an individual's name or photograph in this publication implies nothing about that individual's sexual orientation. Letters, stories, etc., appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher or Staff of AMBUSH Mag. Subscription rate is $45 for 1/2 Year; $75 for 1 year. Sample Copy is $3 First Class Mail. ©1982-2015 AMBUSH, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation
day, Saturday and Sunday, June 19, 20 and 21 at the Phoenix. Rocco was recently named “Mr. International Escort” of the “Hookies” awards , the annual “Oscars of Escorting” contest in New York City and will have you saying “Oh...…Daddy!” after meeting him. Rocco is the archetypal daddy. Gravel-voiced and naturally dominant, he’s covered in tattoos and traffics in bareback porn. [continued on 10]
4 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 5
celebrazzi
Mistik Krewe du Rue Royale Revelers' Grand Reveler I Jeffrey Palmquist, Lieutenant Will Antill, Grand Potentate Frank Perez and Lieutenant Tim Kinzel hosted the Grand Reveler I Burger Bash at the oldest bar/club in North America, Cafe Lafitte in Exile. The cookout benefited the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana raising $652 on world famous Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Both Palmquist and Antill grilled the cheeseburgers, and served up sides by Antill and Kinzel, Archives Project treasurer Daniel Morvant, and Dr. Mac, along with some of Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLI Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain's "Down the Bayou" potato salad. LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana is a community organization who’s purpose is to: educate the community on the importance of ensuring that LGBT+ historical materials are archived and made available for future generations to access, research, & study; promote the proper maintenance and preservation of historical LGBT+ materials; provide an information directory of archival resources where LGBT+ historical materials may be deposited or accessed for research and study; index, publish, and maintain a current list of locations of archived historical LGBT+ materials; and develop financial resources to assist in the preservation and availability of certain LGBT+ collections. (www.lgbtarchivesla.org) (Photo by Rip Naquin)
Ambush life-styles columnist Felicia Phillips joins artist Madison Faile for his opening exhibition "Castaway" at Steve Martin Fine Art Gallery in New Orleans. The mixed media artist hails from Montgomery, Alabama, and presented over a dozen of his new works to an enthusiastic gathering of art lovers in "The Big Easy." For more on the artist, visit www.facebook.com/ MadisonFaileFineArt. (Photo by Darwin Reed) Left: God Head Right: Summer's Day By: Madison Faile
6 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 7
8 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 9
moments in gay new orleans history by Professor Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
“An Interview With Robert Camina” Upstairs Inferno, a documentary film about the Up Stairs Lounge arson that killed 32 people in 1973 in a gay bar in the French Quarter, will have its world premiere on June 24 at the Prytania Theatre in New Orleans. I recently had an opportunity to interview filmmaker Robert Camina about the documentary. FP: How did you get interested in the Up Stairs Lounge fire? RC: First of all, I thought I knew my Gay History. When somebody told me about this tragedy around three years ago, I was shocked!! I asked myself the question, “Why isn’t this story more prevalent in our culture?” It’s offensive that more people don’t know about it. It’s as historic as the Stonewall Inn raid, but it doesn’t exist in the common LGBT history narrative. I felt that needed to change. I didn’t want to create a stagnant documentary, with only an exposition of facts. Through very honest and intimate interviews, I also wanted to humanize the story and show the real impact the fire had on the victims’ friends, families and the LGBT movement. It’s easy to trivialize a situation when you gloss over a headline in a newspaper (or a Facebook post). There is something about SEEING and HEARING the story from those who experienced an event that truly makes it “real”. That’s what possesses the potential to create change. The more I learned about the fire, the more important this project became. I believe it is crucial to acknowledge, preserve and honor our history as LGBT people. The LGBT dialogue has changed SO much in the past few years. As popular attitudes shift on LGBT issues, we risk losing the stories of the struggles that got us where we are today. It’s our responsibility to honor the memories of those who came before us, including those who died at the Up Stairs Lounge. The people who experienced this tragedy paved the way for the freedoms enjoyed by the New Orleans LGBT community of today, as well as the overall LGBT movement. I wanted to create a film that honored their forgotten stories. FP: What was the most challenging aspect of making this film? RC: Just one??? Ha! I encountered a lot of challenges while trying to tell a story that is more than 40 years old. I researched this story from scratch. My technique is to start with original source documents. I don’t rely on anyone else’s interpretations. With the passage of time, documents, precious photographs and contact information of victims’ friends and families, have been lost. Add in Hurricane Katrina, and even more pieces of the puzzle
were lost or destroyed. However, my faith and determination uncovered many elements of the story that were once thought to be lost. That being said, let me be clear: the hunt was very challenging. While I experienced many other challenges during production, including the horrific task of fundraising, the most challenging aspect of making UPSTAIRS INFERNO was accepting the realization that I was not going to find some of the material or people I was looking for. When you start a project with a specific vision, and you exhaust every avenue to achieve it, it’s a challenge to come to peace with the realization that you won’t be able to fulfill your vision 100%. FP: Christopher Rice narrates the film. What was it like working with Rice? RC: I couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with! He was eager to help tell this story and was very patient with the demanding schedule. Chris considers New Orleans his “hometown” and is very passionate about keeping its history alive! As a New York Times best-selling author, much of his writing is heavily influenced by the years he and his mom (legendary vampire chronicler, Anne Rice) lived in New Orleans. FP: Was most of your research conducted in New Orleans? Where else? RC: I performed a lot of my research in New Orleans. I took many trips to the Crescent City over the course of production. The Internet was very helpful, but sometimes, nothing replaces stepping into a library and flipping through newspapers, scrolling through microfilm, or thumbing through photographs. I also made several trips to the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives in Los Angeles. I even traveled to the New York Public Library to sift through their collection of documents about the Up Stairs Lounge fire. FP: How has the gay community in New Orleans responded to your project? RC: During my first trip to New Orleans after we started production, I have to admit, I felt a little bit like an outsider. I didn’t know many people there. I knew New Orleans was a very close-knit community and I was “this filmmaker guy” from Dallas, looking to tell a very intimate and sensitive story
about their beloved city. However, almost immediately, I was welcomed into the community and introduced to people that could help me tell the story effectively. Over the years, I have made many friends in New Orleans and I consider it my second home. I didn’t realize that the love was mutual until last month’s visit, when I was in town conducting some last minute research and hosting a fundraiser. When Regina Adams (who graciously opened up her home and heart to us last year for an interview about the fire and the loss of her lover, Reggie), stood on stage during the fundraiser and said she thought of me “as her son”, it was all I could do to choke back the tears. That was immediately followed by Opal Masters praising my efforts and calling me a “hero”. I wasn’t prepared to get so emotional. The love was overwhelming. FP: You’ve said you feel an emotional connection to the Up Stairs Lounge story. Elaborate on that. RC: Over the years, I’ve gotten to “know” the victims of the fire. Even though I never actually knew them, I feel very close to them and I grieve for them in the same way I would if one of my current friends passed away suddenly. As a storyteller, I have to remain objective and keep my emotions in check. However, I would be lying if I said there weren’t times that the sheer magnitude of the tragedy hasn’t gotten to me. One time in particular, a family member of one of the victims mailed me an original portrait of their loved one. As I held this 40+ year old photo in my hands and looked into his eyes, I broke down in tears. Physically touching the heirloom made this story extremely personal. I’ve gotten to know the families of many of the victims and I now consider them part of my extended family. I’ve also grown very close to many of the survivors. The people I have met along the way, especially the survivors, have touched my life immeasurably and I am honored to call them my friends. I’ve come a long way from feeling like an “outsider” like I did during my first trip to New Orleans. FP: How many people did you interview? RC: Thirty people were gracious enough to grant me interviews and trust me with their memories. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, not all 30 are included on the film. (Hint: DVDS extras) FP: What can viewers expect to see and what do you want them to take away from the film? RC: Audiences should expect to see a balance between investigative reporting and very intimate profiles of people lost or affected by the tragedy. The victims are more than statistics, more than names in a newspaper clipping or even names on a plaque. These
were unfinished lives, tragically cut short by a senseless act. The victims and their families and friends left to cope with the aftermath deserved better treatment than what they got. I thought, if I have an opportunity to provide any sort of legacy or light for them, I wanted to try to do that. This is a gruesome story, there is no way around it. But I hope through it all, people walk away with a renewed call for compassion: Compassion for those unlike us. Compassion for those who are hurting. Compassion for those in need. Because they’re definitely wasn’t a lot of compassion when this tragedy happened. In addition, I hope the film acts as a stark reminder that we need to seize the day. We need to make sure we tell our loved ones every day that we love them, because we don’t know what lies ahead. Life is fickle and unpredictable. Today may be our last chance. Upstairs Inferno will have its World Premiere at the Prytania Theater on June 24th, the 42nd anniversary of the fire. More information about the film and director Robert L. Camina, can be found at www.UpstairsInferno.com.
the "official" dish ...from 4 Friday, June 19 Rocco will introduce the judges and contestants for this year’s event during the Lords’ “boys” beer bust from 9pm until midnight. $10 buys all the draft beer or soda one can swallow and all the “boys” are encouraged to come out and meet their “daddy”. There will be jello shots plus a 50/50 raffle. Then on Saturday, Rocco will be the Master of Ceremonies for the “Who’s Your Daddy?” contest at 10pm. The contestants will be judged on appearance and some entertaining competition you won’t want to miss. Going on sale that night will be raffle tickets to the Lords’ $1000.00 cash prize giveaway this July. Chance tickets will be $10 each and the winner will be announced at the Krewe’s annual Luau/Pool Party on July 19. (Winner needs not be present to win.) And on the patio the Lords will host a daddythemed $10 Beer/soda bust as well from 9pm until midnight. All “daddies” are urged to come and look for a “boy”. A challenge to all who attend either evening will be facing off against the giant ice sculptured penis for a shot of a favorite liquor…similar to what the Lords did at last year’s Decadence Block Party. And if that’s not enough, stay for Rocco’s “up close and personal” performance at 2am, which is certain to entertain you in a “big” way! Come out to the Phoenix on Sunday night, June 21 from 7 – 10 p.m. and meet Rocco during the XXL-THE PARTY ticket pre-sale event. Be one of the first 50 to purchase a ticket and receive a gift bag from Rocco. XXL-THE PARTY (a Phoenix-sponsored event to be held during Southern Decadence in September) goes on sale to the public at 10am on Monday June 22 exclusively at www.phoenixbarnola.com. Only 200 tickets will be sold.
10 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 11
the real cheese by Felicia Phillips Email: fphillips1011@gmail.com Photo by Hubert S Monkeys
What a whirlwind couple of weeks its been since last I shared my experiences with all. The fact that I actually managed to paint on a face two Saturdays in a row without having to visit the home depot for sandpaper, spackling and lets not forget a can of fix a flat for my derriere was a miracle in itself. First Saturday was the official press party for this years Southern Decadence, and let me tell you GrandPre’s was packed like Jared Leto’s jock strap! As part of the entourage we were to either wear tuxes or black gowns, I chose to go with an androgynous look, what I thought was a cross between Madonna and Marlene Dietrich. As soon as I walked in the door what I got from everyone was Joan Rivers! Much fun was had and all was announced, but more about Decadence later, we have a long summer ahead and I’m sure one that will have much to be dished about. The night continued for all that had valid passports on to The Four Seasons for Tiffany Alexander and Electra Citty’s Birthday show, another packed house and great time had. Now it was on the way back that my fabulous driver who the rest of this story will focus on decided to take selfies for instant posting on Facebook, first comment made was Zaza Gabor is looking good or is it Ava? I hoped he meant in their heyday as one is dead and the other is 96 and has one leg. Much more transpired that night but for the sake of time and to protect the innocent bystanders I will skip forward to the second Saturday. The evening of Madison Faile’s premier art show "Castaway". I was picked up in style by the lovely Terilyn Moore and we were off to pick up Reba Douglas, who was in the male illusion of Arthur the photographer. For this special evening I chose a chic red dress and in my head this time I thought a cross between Marilyn and Joan Collins, of course as soon as we arrive I once again get Joan Rivers. This was an amazing show, not just because of his outstanding pieces, but for the eclectic mix of people it brought together from not just here, but from as far away as Atlanta. His hometown of Montgomery, Alabama was well represented by the likes of Mark Palmer the archivist for the Alabama State archives and creator of the now famous Madison Faile fans which came in quite handy in the weather which felt like we were all being topped by the devil himself, master event planner Bob Vardaman, actor and ordained minister Scott Page who surprised the artist with guest Montgomery legend Eleanor Kerr Davis (think Mickey Easterling but with better hair). The lists of locals included Current SDGM’s Misti Ates and Frankie Fierce, fellow Ambush contributor Frank Perez along with the last public appearance of his beloved panama hat may it rest in peace, Electra Citty and Tittie Toulouse both in male illusion, who by
the way are the new owners of the title piece of the show! Opal Masters and Darwin Reed, Catherine Gaither, Sharon Barreca, Rachel Bufkin, the sexy James Trembly, Ray Conard and Jonathon Molina, Lee Bunny Brasseaux, Kitty D'Litter, Tony Leggio and his own entourage so many more, but not to forget June Pennick, who we had to spend much of the evening explaining Caitlyn Jenner things to, but that’s a story for another issue. Early I mentioned guests from as far away as Atlanta, well let me tell you that one became part of the show, just by standing there, acclaimed actor Jared Allman, lead actor in Scenes From A Gay Wedding in a glitzy gold sequin tailored jacket, he was giving me young Elvis and Ryan Reynolds rolled up and well placed in a pair of oh, so nicely fitted black jeans. When we were introduced I was so smitten by his good looks and smooth southern charm I could nearly speak, and trust I rarely have trouble speaking. When he asked my name, I said I’m whoever you want me to be (praying he didn’t want me to be Joan Rivers). He cocks his head to the said takes a good look and says you are Wichita, I had no clue where that came from, but when a gorgeous hunk of a man tells you that you are Wichita, you just go with it. Now this evening was just amazing, the champagne was flowing, the people were mingling and the art was selling, the photographers were even taking pictures of the other photographers! This young man, only here for six months brought together this wide spectrum of people from all walks of life, young, old, male, female, drag, well to do’s and hope to one day do’s , straight, gays, transgenders, oh and June Pennick. The mix I say was a work of art in itself. Now the night carried on into the wee hours, many going different directions, but all having been brought together by this one artist and his work. Many more things occurred throughout the rest of the nights escapades, which included an offer of wild monkey like sex with a 23 year old from Slidell, who swore it was his first time, even though he knew where the Double
Play was without asking directions, well that wasn’t happening because by that time I was on hour 19 of my 18 hour girdle and didn’t want to scar the boy for life. I also lost the bottom of one of my shoes that I had managed to keep in tact for the last 32 years, knowing they had to come back into style one day. I’ll leave all those things for another time and bring this to my epiphany I had awhile back when a tourist asked me where to go for art. I realized the mix of
people that this magical city brings together thru music, food, culture and most certainly the people themselves, all of us characters in our own play that is life, is art, that’s where I came up with how I now describe this great city of ours, New Orleans is Art and we are all part of the masterpiece! And that my dahlins is the Real Cheese. Till next time I’m Wichita, The Cheese Queen of New Orleans...
book review Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights Ann Bausum. Viking Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-0-67001679-2. 2015. 120 pages. $16.99. by Frank Perez, f.perez@sbcglobal.net
Sometimes, after giving a talk on local gay history, older people in the audience will approach me and say something to the effect, “These young people today have no idea what we went through.” And it’s true, they don’t. How could they know if no one tells them? Queer history is not a subject taught in high schools and the trials and tribulations of their LGBT-elders is not a subject many gay teens actively research on their own. Which is why Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights is an important book. Written for young adults, the book is not densely packed with details and analysis; nevertheless, adults with an interest in the legacy of Stonewall will find this an interesting an easy read. The book broadly outlines the climate of hostility LGBT people faced in the 1960s. It offers a narrative account of the police raid on the Stonewall Inn and the subsequent “riot.” It then traces the event’s after-effects and outlines the evolution of the modern gay rights movement. This book would make an excellent gift for younger people (teens and twenties) who are interested in history. Ann Bausum writes about history for readers of all ages. She has written frequently about social justice history in the United States, including the fight for women’s voting rights (With Courage and Cloth), the 1961 struggle for integrated interstate transportation in the South (Freedom Riders), and the Memphis, Tennessee, campaign to unionize sanitation workers that led to the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Marching to the Mountaintop). Among other recognitions, her books for children and teens have received a Sibert Honor, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, the Golden Kite Award, and, on two occasions, the Carter G. Woodson Award. She lives in southern Wisconsin.
matters of healkth by Jack Carrel, MPH Email: JCarrel@HAARTinc.org
Happy Pride! There has been some good health news and not so good health news for the LGBTQ community so let’s jump in and see what out there.
OSHA & Bathroom Access for Transgender Workers Recently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommended that transgender workers should have access to bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity. They said that bathroom access is a civil rights issue. But also, a safety and health matter. OSHA is worried that transgender workers might feel uncomfortable having to use only gender
neutral bathrooms or bathrooms specifically designated for them and might just avoid using the bathroom entirely which can result in health problems. There have been a number of lawsuits related to this issues. Recently, the U.S. EEOC sued Deluxe Financial Services for refusing to allow a transgender woman use of the woman’s bathroom. In another case, a disabled veteran who was transgender was denied access to the woman’s bathroom.
Gay Teen Suicide Risk Lower with support Gay teens are much less likely to [continued on 15]
12 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 13
Madison Faile’s “Castaway” Exhibition @ Steve Martin Fine Art Gallery ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Darwin Reed
paparazzi
14 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Grand Reveler I Jeff Palmquist's Burger Bash raises $652 for LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana @ Lafitte’s ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Hubert S Monkeys, Rip Naquin
snap
matters of health ...from 12 attempt suicide when they live in a supportive social environment — such as having gay and lesbian groups at school — compared with those who do not. The study authored by Mark Hatzenbuehler was published in a recent issue of Pediatrics. The study found lesbian, bisexual and gay youth living in a social environment more supportive of gays and lesbians were 20 per cent less likely to attempt suicide than lesbian, bisexual and gay youth living in environments that were less supportive. In contrast, a supportive environment was associated with a nine per cent lower rate of attempted suicide among heterosexual students.
Death Rate Drops Among Married Gay Men & Women Since 1989, same-sex marriage has been legal in Denmark, making it the first nation in the world to legalize it. That number of years has provided the opportunity to do some important research. In a study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology,
Next Ambush DEADLINE Tues., June 23rd 504.522.8049 ripna@ambushmag.com
researchers found among men in Denmark, it is more dangerous to be unmarried or divorced than to be married to another man.
Throat, Tonsil and Tongue Cancer Might be Linked to Oral Sex According to the National Cancer Institute, the prevalence of HPV in oropharyngeal cancers increased by 225% from 1988 to 2004 while nonHPV throat cancers (the kind caused by smoking) declined by 50 percent due to a drop in smoking rates. Two types of the HPV virus —16 and 18 — account for 70 percent of all cases of oral cancer. And if you get an HPV infection, you increase the risk of other factors contributing to cancer, such as smoking and a weakened immune system. Most of the HPV cases affect men in their 40s and 50s. Changing sexual behaviors over the last 30 to 50 years, such as an increase in oral sex participation, could explain risk factors such as a high number of sexual partners (a 25 percent greater chance of developing oral cancer if you have had six or more partners) and a history of oral/ genital sex (125 percent greater with more than four partners.) While both men and women can contract oral HPV, it is three times more common in men, putting them at higher risk of developing oropharyngeal cancers. The virus is
thought to cause the majority of cervical cancers, and if a woman has HPV and her partner engages with her in cunnilingus, it is thought to be a risk for infection. The most commonly affected areas are the base of the tongue, the tonsil region, the soft palate,which includes the uvula and the pharyngeal walls. Symptoms can include pain, difficulty in swallowing, one tonsil that is larger than another, weight loss and a mass in the neck.Tonsil cancer has increased by 4 percent every year over the last 30 years. Tongue base cancer has increased by 2 percent over the same period.
Nearly 30% of Depression can be Traced to Bullying A recent study published in the British Medical Journal indicates that bullying might be responsible for almost 30 percent of cases of depression among adults. By tracking 2,668 people from early childhood through adulthood, researchers found that 13 year olds who were frequent targets of bullies were three times more likely than the non-victimized to be depressed as adults. Even when the researchers accounted for factors like a teen’s record of behavioral problems, social class, child abuse, and family history of depression, those who were bullied at least once a week were more than
twice as likely to be depressed when they grew up.
Drug Use Among Gay and Bisexual Men at Weekend Dance Parties A recent study showed high rates of drug use among gay and bisexual men at weekend dance parties. Among all party attendants, 44 % intended to use ecstasy, and approximately 1 in 5 intended to use each GHB, marijuana, cocaine/crack or crack, unprescribed EDDs, and poppers (intention to use ketamine and crystal methamphetamine were lower, with approximately 15 and 7 % of respondents intending to use each, respectively). Among those who completed the follow-up assessment, prevalence of actual use generally reflected intention to use, particularly for ecstasy (42 %), GHB (18 %), marijuana (20 %), unprescribed EDDs (18 %), ketamine (13 %) and crystal methamphetamine (7 %). On the other hand, use of poppers was lower than intended (13 %) whereas use of cocaine/ crack was greater than intended (25 %). Party attendants generally thought that more men would use each drug type than actually intended to use. Jack Carrel, MPH is Director of Prevention for the HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two, Inc. and the Caring Clinic of Louisiana.
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 15
Stars of the Stage & their Possee’s ~ New Orleans, Metairie ~ Photos by Hubert S Monkeys
snap paparazzi
16 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
a community within communities by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, New Orleans Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
GAY PRIDE and FATHERS DAY! Like Hurricane Season it happens every year. Every year we march out, we party, we show that the LGBT community live in solidarity AND we are more fun than most “protest marches.” The foil of The Community is wit, pathos, humor, and sadness; mixed with the drama, can you imagine PRIDE without drama, and is or should be mixed with a degree of anger. Anger can be forceful and need not be destructive. It’s just another emotion that sometimes generates action. There is a long line of angry Justice Folks. Moses was angry and see what happened to Pharaoh! Elisha was an angry man and how did that work out for
the legal corner by Attorney Troy A. Tureau Email: thelawprofessor@comcast.net
The Death of Kalief Browder and Your Constitutional Right to a Speedy Trial Over the last few days, I have been heartbroken and disgusted to learn more about Kalief Browder, who recently committed suicide after spending three years in jail without being convicted of a crime. In 2010 the 16 year old AfricanAmerican, a backseat passenger of a vehicle, was arrested for a robbery that he maintained he had not committed. Because he would not admit guilt and apparently could not make bail, he had to stay in jail to await trial. Unconscionably, three years later that trial date had still never been set. Meanwhile, Kalief spent almost two years of that jail-time in solitary confinement and missed his high school prom, his high school graduation and three years of his life. Then, one day in May of 2013, all charges were dropped and, as Kalief explained, he was released from Rikers Island without a word of apology or explanation. Kalief went public with his story so that no one else would have to live through the hell that he endured. Surveillance footage reveals numerous attacks upon him by guards, officers and large groups of inmates throughout his incarceration. His story garnered the attention of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who pledged to reform
the city’s court system, presidential candidate Senator Rand Paul, and celebrities such as Jay Z and Rosie O’Donnell. An anonymous donor offered to pay for a semester of Kalief’s tuition at a local community college. Despite all of this, the hell that this young man was put through haunted him. He suffered from severe depres-
spotlight features NOLA LEATHER TO GEAUX October 16-18, 2015 Plan now for year two of NOLA Leather to Geaux, slated for October 1618. Whether a local or a visitor, this leather run weekend offers many opportunities for the indulgence of your desires. Participants will have the unique experience of wearing his/her leather/ fetish gear while drinking in the streets with a “go cup” in hand. One may hang out in bars and take advantage of playful dark spaces while celebrating leather and kink in a way possible only in New Orleans. Planned events will be at the host hotel, Oz, Phoenix and Rawhide. These include a welcome party, dance, BBQ, play party, beer bust, walking tour and a bar crawl featuring Lafitte’s famous Sunday night napkin toss. Full weekend package is just $60 until July 1; $75 until September 19 and $100 after. To register, go to www.nolaleathertogeaux2015.doattend.com. Hotel St. Pierre at 911 Burgundy in the Quarter is this year’s host hotel, call 504.524.4401 and mention NOLA Leather to Geaux for the special group rate. For more information visit www.nolaleathertogeaux.wordpress.com and like us on Facebook (NOLA Leather to Geaux).
Jezebel? Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Isaiah and a host of other prophets all expressed one way or the other God’s anger at abuse, disenfranchisement, and marginalization. Jesus entered his “Father’s House” and was enraged at the desecration by neglect that he saw. He gathered reeds, made a whip, and had at the money changers. For that very reason I so enjoy Krewe Du Vieux, I embrace the wit and wisdom in PRIDE. Sometimes it’s not all bad to be “in your face.” My hero, Jesus, was sort of an “in your face” kind of Messiah. Remember his several conversations with Pharisees and such? I was once chatting with a conservative Episcopalian who was decrying sion, panic attacks and paranoia and was hospitalized on two occasions after surviving as many suicide attempts. Then one night he told his mother that he couldn’t take it any longer. The next afternoon she found her youngest son dead along the side of the house, hanging from the second story window. Kalief’s case vividly illustrates the difference between jails and prisons. Jails are typically supposed to house those who are awaiting trial and prisoners who are serving less than a year sentence. Many “jails are jungles,” according to CNN’s legal correspondent Jeffrey Toobin, and have little to no supervision. Prisons house inmates serving longer sentences are almost always actively managed. Things like this only happen in big cities like New York, right? Wrong. Before Hurricane Katrina, I remember visiting a potential criminal law client in New Orleans City Jail. I can’t tell you how many people there had been held there for over a year while waiting for trial. Some of them, I’m sure, were mentally ill; others were lost in the system. Many of them had no one that they could call for help. I remember wishing so badly that I could help all of them. There was just too many. I pray that things have improved since Katrina. While the Constitution does guarantee the right to a speedy trial, it does not spell out exactly how speedy that trial must be. One thing that I think we can all agree on, though, is that three years is definitely not it. What I described above should never have happened to anyone, let alone child! I urge you to watch over your jailed loved ones and friends and be sure to call an attorney if you believe that their constitutional rights are being violated. As always, I invite your comments and questions. (These are the personal views of Troy A. Tureau, and nothing here is intended to be legal advice of any kind.) Troy A. Tureau, J.D., L.LM., Attorney at Law, Tureau Legal, 4631 S. Carrolton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119, thelawprofessor@comcast.net 504.308.1608.
the church’s move toward full inclusion. He said, “I was sitting on a beach when the announcement was made during convention. I wanted to throw up. Why do ‘they’ have to be so much ‘in your face?’” Now this man is part and party to the same system that allowed Police back in the day to raid Gay Clubs (Stonewall), to bash friends of mine because they are Gay back in the day in Baton Rouge and, to make a felony of same sex love. How dare we “get in his face.” The question is how dare we not? What I like about PRIDE is the way in which ‘anger’ is worked out. Today, glitter replaces fire bombs, lavender replaces soot, and streamers replace billy clubs. During the parade last year the crowds were generally happy and supportive. This kind of anger transforms instead of polarizes. It is Peace Making work. Born out of prejudice, formed in anger, worked out in sarcasm and wit, it is Peace Making work. For those who will never know or come to know the LBGT community it is their loss. For those that do it is their gain and generally those who have allowed themselves to know the “other” in people are generally a lot happier, better adjusted, and less angry. PRIDE falls squarely within the tradition of the Prophets of Old. PRIDE is about drawing in and accepting and “Walking upright with integrity.” So, even if it is a hot and sweltering day, even if steam is rising from the pavement, step out of your community pub and join the crowd to affirm that THIS COMMUNITY IS A PART OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY and that it is good. There is a lot to be angry about today: crime in the city, police brutality against our brothers and sisters, misspent public monies, broken education and health systems. There is a lot to be angry about: a Governor who is using his influence and power to feather his own nest at the expense of the citizens of this state. There is so much to be angry about: murderers in Africa stealing young women, ISIS in the East killing in the name of a Living God, massive unbridled consumerism that is altering the planet’s atmosphere. Stand tall and be angry and in that anger find the sort of wit, wisdom, and creativity that has birthed PRIDE. In the long line of Prophets of Old and Prophets of New we must stand in solidarity because if we do not who will speak justice? King, Gandhi, Steinem, Dorothy Day, who will be the Prophets today? Perhaps not a person but a movement. Not one voice but many voices. If social media can start a revolution in Egypt and alter world opinion in so many other areas perhaps we have been empowered to make our Community even more a part of the world Community. Come out come, come out where ever you are. Join the Parade, support the Parade, show our PRIDE just as the Prophets New and Old spoke justice – parade for Justice.
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 17
18 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 19
trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
Blackbird at Old Marquer Theatre through June 20 Approaching Blackbird at Old Marquer Theatre, you have a choice. You can question things about it, small (would staff people leave their company lunch room so disgustingly littered?) and large (could the events that occurred really have happened?). Or you can accept what playwright David Harrower postulates and enjoy (though I’m not sure that’s quite the right word) this highly provocative drama. I chose the latter and was rewarded with a very satisfying evening of theater. The play begins when a young woman, Una (Ashton Akridge), shows up unannounced late one afternoon at the sterile suburban office building where Ray (John Neisler) works in middle management. He takes her into that staff room and refuses to close the door though she wants more privacy. For the first 10 minutes or so of Blackbird, a mystery hangs in the air as to the nature of their relationship. And then it comes out (slight spoiler alert)—fifteen years ago, when he was 40 and she was 12, they had a three month relationship that started at a barbecue in her parents’ backyard and ultimately turned sexual. Ray wound up going to jail for this and, when he got out, moved across the (unidentified) country, changed his name and began a new life for himself. Una remained in her home town, and has gotten on with her life as best she could while being “talked about, pointed at, stared at.” Drawn back to the man who had violated her after seeing a photo of him in a trade journal, Una seems to be looking for closure, maybe more. Inspired by an actual event, Harrower leaves open the possibility that Una hopes to pick up where she left off with Ray. It’s as tangled a love story as is imaginable. As Ray and Una’s verbal sparring gives way to a more measured recounting of their past, Harrower explores what details we remember of momentous events and expertly packages exposition into an engrossing reconstruction of their shared history. While never condoning what Ray did, Harrower conveys the consensuality of his and Una’s actions, and shows how these two gentle souls were forever scarred as they try to make sense of what they did. If, perhaps, Set Designer Matthew Symon Collier overdoes the trash strewn about the break room, he gets everything else, down to the vending machine and frosted windows through which we see Ray’s co-workers passing by, perfect. In this focused environment, Meghan Shea’s simple but effective direction brings out the script’s
gladiatorial aspect as though we’re watching two boxers or wrestlers go at each out with jabs, feints and defensive maneuvering. As Ray, Neisler begins so intensely taut you’d expect him to jump if you tapped him on his shoulder. Scared that his past history might be outed to his colleagues, Neisler, in a masterful performance, makes Ray nervous, tortured and, especially, haunted by what he did. Stumbling between his words with an utter naturalness that the layout of the script only hints at, Neisler’s Ray wholly acknowledges that there are “No excuses” for what he did to Una, but still hopes to figure out why he did what he did; the tragedy is, in Harrower’s insightful rendering, there may never be an answer. Akridge’s expressive faces registers the range of Una’s turbulent emotions without resorting to mere mannerism. At times the aggressor, at others she folds her arms across her chest defensively. Combining winsomeness with a longing desperation, Akridge well-handles the challenges of Una’s bravura monolog recollecting the night she and Ray spent in a hotel room and its aftermath. That said, Akridge’s performance could be even a little more textured. Watching it, I was not entirely convinced that this is the adult that the 12year-old described by Harrower would evolve into; there were additional layers of hurt, knowingness and wounded pride that remained unexpressed. As scheduling forced me to see the first performance of this production, I would like to think that additional shadings will be added as the run continues. Winner of the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play, Blackbird is a small but very powerful drama that should engender probing discussions. Thank you Old Marquer for giving it its regional premiere.
The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe at Mid-City Theatre thru June 21 It’s good to have Lily Tomlin back in town again, and not just on her new Netflix series Grace and Frankie.
No, I mean with the return of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe at Mid-City Theatre we have Tomlin’s delightful spirit back, as, since its Broadway debut in 1985, which garnered Tomlin a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, it will always be associated with her. Of course this brilliant play, and it is a play not just a one-woman comic act, was written by Tomlin’s artistic and life partner Jane Wagner. And brilliant it remains with its slyly intertwined stories that follow about ten different characters—from Trudy the bag lady to the Upper East Side matron Kate to the 15year-old would-be punk rocker Agnus Angst—along with individual zingers (“I don’t want to sound romantic about going crazy but, now, days are more fun filled,” says Trudy) interspersed throughout. In the current production, Yvette Hargis reprises her solo performance from 20+ years ago. Working with Fred Nuccio, she has trimmed the script and, I think, wisely so, of Lynn and her two friends’ account of their lives and how these have paralleled feminism from the birth of Ms. magazine to Geraldine Ferraro’s ascension to the Democratic ticket in 1984; while tremendously trenchant in its time, there was the fear that this section would now come off as dated. Yet while the show still feels of a whole, with a 35-minute first act and an Act Two that runs just 25 minutes, its overall heft seems to be missing something; one wishes Wagner would have written new material to bring us up to right now as Hillary begins her second campaign for the White House. Nuccio is credited in the program as “Creative Consultant to Miss Hargis, based on her original direction and staging by Ricky Graham.” That’s all well and good but Nuccio, perhaps in the well-intentioned interest of avoiding a lagging pace, too often has Hargis delivering passages a bit too quickly for her, and the audience, to fully savor Wagner’s uniquely delicious lines (looking at the ingredients of non-dairy creamer, an alien exclaims “That’s exactly what we’re made of!”). Hargis is a wonderful comic actress and in the second act, through altering her body language and vocal inflections, transforms with sublime precision into Chrissy, a dear spacey gal who’s looking for a job while doing yoga and who “just thinks of the Kennedy family and bursts into tears.” She’s also terrific as Tina and Brandy, two NYC hookers, one white, the other black, just trying to make an honest buck. But, especially in the first act, Hargis doesn’t bring enough detailed individuality to Wagner’s creations and they tend to blur together; a friend commented that he had to explain things to his companion who had never seen Search before. In a show with no props, costume changes or scenery,
Robert Burgualt’s monochromatic lighting doesn’t help. It’s a shame as I can imagine, under Graham’s original direction, that Hargis delivered Kate’s plaintive “I’m sick of being the victim of trends I don’t understand” with just the right bitterly woeful edge. Still, when Hargis launches into the difference between life (a Campbell’s soup can) and art (Andy Warhol’s print of a Campbell’s soup can), and that only the latter can provide “the goosebump experience”, it is goose-bump time indeed.
And Further More... June used to be a quiet time for theater. Not any more. Here are some other things worth checking out: There’s one more weekend, through June 21, to catch Lisa D’Amour’s acclaimed Detroit that Southern Rep is presenting at Ashé Power House Theater (1731 Baronne St.). A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Detroit details the changing nature of the relationship between two couples in a nameless suburb and, by extension, the shifting fortunes of those who seek the American Dream. For a double header, head to Tulane where its Summer Lyric Theater kicks off its season with Damn Yankees, the classic Tony Award-winning musical about baseball and a deal with the Devil (June 17-21). At the Shakespeare Festival there, Cymbeline offers directors many ways to deal with its mix of characters caught up in a tale of innocence triumphing over jealousy. You can see what path Director Rob Clare, a veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Britain’s National Theatre, chooses through June 27. June 25 brings the Indigo Girls to the Saenger Theatre in Mobile with that city's own Kristy Lee & Dirt Road Revival as opening support, along with The Good Graces. You’ll have a chance to see two very different comic legends on successive Saturdays. On June 20, Sandra Bernhard is #blessed arrives at the Joy Theater on Canal Street. In her first performance in New Orleans in over a decade, this singular entertainer can be expected to blend theatre, rock-n-roll and stand-up with a little burlesque and cabaret. I saw her the last time she was here at House of Blues and then had a chance to chat with her when she wound up afterwards upstairs at one of the establishments at Bourbon and St. Ann. Who knows where she’ll wind up this time? And this might be your last chance to see “Mr. Warmth” himself Don Rickles when he plays IP Casino Resort in Biloxi on June 27. The 89-yearold king of the insult comics was a headliner long before Bianca was a gleam in anyone’s eye. Put a wig and a dress on him and you just might see a resemblance.
20 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 21
spotlight feature Decadence Says “I DO” A Wedding Extravaganza With A LGBT Twist The New Orleans Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLI in partnership with The Chicory venue and event planner Anthony Leggio announced DECADENCE SAYS “I DO”, a multi-sensory exploration into the LGBT wedding experience on Friday, June 26th, 2015, 7pm-10pm at the Chicory, 610 South Peters Street, New Orleans, LA. DECADENCE SAYS “I DO” will feature an open bar, music, a fashion show by local designers, and the best in LGBT wedding trends. An After-Party will follow at Ernst Café. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door and a very special $50 “I DO” VIP tickets are available. VIP tickets include a special pre-event Meet & Greet, Gift Bag & Reserved Seating. Tickets are on sale and are available at https://decadence.ticketleap.com/decadencesays-i-do/. Attendees will enjoy spirits, food and revelry while they explore a wedding marketplace that will feature fashionable wedding apparel, epicurean delicacies, musical performers with a LGBT twist and more. “DECADENCE SAYS “I DO” is more than just an opportunity to highlight the array of professionals and vendors that are available to the LGBT community, this is a voice of support by the New Orleans wedding and hospitality community for equality in marriage and all other walks of life,” states Anthony Leggio, a co-presenter and veteran event planner. Proceeds from DECADENCE SAYS “I DO” will benefit LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, Louisiana Equality Foundation, and the PFLAG Scholarship fund. Leggio adds, “As 37 states celebrate legal gay marriage and with New Orleans being named one of the top 20 “Best Wedding Destinations of 2015,” by Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, DECADENCE SAYS “I DO” imagines a future where marriage equality is a reality in New Orleans, Louisiana. The LGBT community is made up of your family, your friends, your co-workers. Everyone deserves the right to be with someone they love and everyone is welcome to the party.” As an official pre-event to the Southern Decadence Celebration on Labor Day Weekend, co-presenters include the Chicory special event space in the Central Business District and the Southern Decadence Grand Marshals 2015: Steven Mora, Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain, Misti Ates & Frankie Fierce. For more information, visit www.SouthernDecadence.com.
Other Southern Decadence Fundarisers/Events SUNDAY, June 21st... 3-5pm, Southern Decadence Shrimp Boil & Cookout with Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLI Steven Mora, Rip Naquin, Marsha Delain, Misti Ates & Frankie Fierce; $20 donation, Four Seasons Bar SATURDAY, June 27th... 5-8pm, Southern Decadence Cook Out hosted by Tulane Ave Bar & Krewe of Petronius, $20 donation, Tulane Ave Bar 9pm-12midnight, Grrl Spot presents SEXXE’ for Southern Decadence, $5 before 10pm, $10 after 10pm, the popular Girl Party hosted by Entourage members Jenna Jordan & Christine Johnson benefits Southern Decadence 2015, with music by DJ Jenna, Pelican Bay SATURDAY, July 4th 3-5pm, 2nd Annual Potato Salad Contest, $10 to Taste & Judge includes Hot Dogs & Baked Beans, Winner receives trophy & 1/2 Proceeds, 1/2 Proceeds benefits Southern Decadence 2015, Register to enter contest @ GrandPre’s (Contestants bring 5 lbs. of their potato salad by 2pm), GrandPre’s SUNDAY, July 5th 3-5pm, Southern Decadence Brunch with SDGMs 41 Steven Mora, Rip Naquin, Marsha Delain, Misti Ates & Frankie Fierce as your Chefs, $10 donation, GrandPre’s TUESDAY, July 7th 4pm, Steve’s (Trigger) 60th Birthday Bash! $5 Buffet with Parade of Prizes
Raffle, Liquor Basket Raffle, Auction of Original Sylvia Frank Faberge’ Style Egg circa 1990s & Jukebox Drag, a fundraiser for 40th Southern Decadence, The Friendly Bar, 2301 Chartres SATURDAY, July 11th 7-10pm, Southern Decadence Bingo hosted by New Orleans’ famous The Big Easy Sisters, Phoenix SATURDAY, July 18th... 8-10pm, Ambush Magazine’s 28th Annual Gay Appreciation Awards benefiting Southern Decadence 2015, $10 door donation. Oz New Orleans SUNDAY, July 19th 3-5pm, Sippin’ With The Sisters Deviled Egg Contest, $5 Taste/Judge, Contestants must supply 18 eggs/36 in half, Cutter’s THURSDAY, July 23rd 7-9pm, Southern Decadence Courtyard Soiree hosted by Jeff Palmquist & Coca Mesa with open bar, passed hors d’oeurvres & live entertainment: both Musical & Decadent (your choice), only 25 tickets, $100 per ticket, see Jeff Palmquist or Rip Naquin for tickets SATURDAY, July 25th 9-11pm, Johnny Passion’s Family Game Night w/The Snatch Game, $10 donation, Pelican Bay SATURDAY, August 1st 8-10pm, doors open @ 7pm, Southern Decadence Spectacular Benefit & Show with MCs SDGMs XLI Steven Mora & Rip Naquin, featuring performances by
SDGMs XLI Marsha Delain (in her Bourbon Pub debut), Misti Ates & Frankie Fierce along with former SDGMs & guests, Happy Hour prices, 50/50 raffle, live auction, $75 VIP tables for 3 (including admission-contact Rip Naquin @ 504.522.8049 or ripna@ambushmag.com for table reservations), $10 donation @ the door, Bourbon Pub & Parade FRIDAY, August 7th 9pm, “Singing Under the Stars” on Bayou St. John, featuring stars at this Karaoke Party with food, fun, music & you; $20 ticket includes buffet & two drinks, $5 each song selection, $5 cocktails, raffles, $20 chances to win a genuine natural black pearl necklace valued at $150.00, karaoke winner & prizes; hosted at The Marshall Mansion along the banks of historic Bayou St. John SATURDAY, August 8th 4:30-7:30pm, Southern Decadence Drag Show Fundraiser, $5 donation, Third Base in Bay St Louis, Mississippi SATURDAY, August 15th... 8-10pm, Magnolia Cotillion 2015 celebrating the 42nd Anniversary of SDGMs 41 Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain benefiting Southern Decadence 2015, $25, $50, $75, or $100 donation, by invitation only, Ambush Mansion FRIDAY, August 22nd... 8-10pm, “Come As Your Favorite Decadent Character” Costume Gala, $25-$100 donation at door, silent auc-
tion, entertainment, food, Costume Contest, Hotel Storyville, 1261 Esplanade Ave. SATURDAY, August 29th... 3-5pm, Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLI Steven Mora, Rip Naquin, Marsha Delain, Misti Ates & Frankie Fierce present the Annual Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Luncheon, TBA
OFFICIAL Southern Decadence Sponsors: Presenting - Ambush Mag, SouthernDecadence.com Official Website, The Golden Lantern, The Chicory Gold - Todd Blauvelt, Oz New Orleans, Sir Speedy New Orleans; Silver - Larry Graham/Graham Studio One, Law Offices of Warren A. Forstall, Jr., Eugene Theriot & Dwain Hertz/Gene’s Po-Boys Bronze - Larry Anderson & Michael Boulas, GrandPre’s, Safonda Peters & Stuart Nettles Pearl - Wicked Orleans, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, Cary P. Oswald, SDGM 27 Errol C. Rizzuto, Mac McAll/Cutter’s Bar, Jon & Derek Penton-Robicheaux, June Pennick, and Glenn Paul Melancon, Gary Glitter
SouthernDecadence.com
22 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 23
ambush
Marty & Koo join Michael for Jubilee @ The Golden Lantern
Southern Decadence Gold Sponsor Todd Blauvelt @ GrandPre’s
Sally-FLYs Aubrey, Rip, Darwin, Opal, Marsha, Jeff, Solitaire & Monica with their Sally-FLY pins @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile
Bartender Tom serving up the all new Starbucks’ Summer Tease @ the Phoenix
New bartender Paul invites you to Rawhide 2010
Southern Decadence Gold Sponsor Sir Speedy’s Wayne & SDGM XLI Marsha @ Oz
Bartender Chris & manager Chuck greet you @ Bourbon Pub & Parade
Petronius’ Hawaiian Luau @ Four Season in Metairie
Jessica invites you to Head Quarters
Clint ready to serve you an array of adult novelties @ COK Petronius’ Hawaiian Luau @ Four Season in Metairie Host Elizabeth & SDGM XLI Frankie @ Elizabeth’s Summer Splash Party @ the Chalmansion
Mark & Jonathan @ The Golden Lantern
Lantern Trash Josh & Jon with Ambush’s Paul
Elizabeth Bouvier’s Summer Splash Party @ the Chalmansion
Petronius’ Hawaiian Luau @ Four Season in Metairie
24 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
The Social Scene ~ New Orleans, Metairie ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon, Hubert S Monkeys, Rip Naquin
paparazzi
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 25
PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, NewOrleansPhoenix.COM RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM TROPICAL ISLE: Home of the Hand Grenade, 721 Bourbon St., 529.4109, TropicalIsle.COM TULANE AVENUE BAR, 3813 Tulane Ave., 488.1400 VOODOO LOUNGE, 718 N. Rampart, 265.0953
CANAL STREET
100 IBERVILLE
200 BIENVILLE
300
TOULOUSE
600
RAMPART
500
BURGUNDY
400 ST. LOUIS
DAUPHINE
ROYAL
CHARTES
DECATUR
CONTI
BOURBON
ST. PETER
800
NEON BOOTS DANCEHALL & SALOON, 11410 Hempstead Hwy., 677.0828, www.neonbootsclub.com
900
book stores
1000
New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700
ST. ANN
ST. PHILIP
URSULINES
1100 GOVERNOR NICHOLLS
1200 BARRACKS
classifieds
A
R
IG
N
Y
23 00 ES TR R A CH
24 00
FR 2 AN 500 KL L 26 00 IN YA O R E LO IN UI PH SA U DA
New Orleans, LA [504] Troy A. Tureau, J.D., L.LM., Attorney at Law, Tureau Legal, 4631 S. Carrolton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119, 504.308.1608 thelawprofessor@comcast.net
bars Mobile, AL [251] B-Bob's Downtown, 213 Conti St., 433.2262, B-Bobs.COM Flip Side Bar & Patio, 54 S. Conception St., 431.8819, FlipSideBarPatio.COM GABRIEL'S DOWNTOWN, 55 South Joachim St., 432.4900 THE MIDTOWN PUB, 153 Florida St., 450.1555 Pensacola, FL [850] EMERALD CITY, 408 E. Wright St., 433.9491, EmeraldCityPensacola.COM THE ROUNDUP, 560 East Heinberg St., 433.8482 Baton Rouge, LA [225] GEORGE'S, 860 St. Louis, 387.9798, SPLASH, 2183 Highland Rd., 242.9491, SplashBR.COM Lake Charles, LA [337] CRYSTAL'S, 112 W. Broad, 433.5457
New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., 1526 Magazine, 566.1833 [is1015]
circuit/events
1800
Sept. 2-7, 2015, 44th Official Southern Decadence Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 150,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.com Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2015, Halloween 32, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.com Dec. 26, 2015-Jan. 1, 2016, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.com Feb. 5-9, 2016, 67th Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.com Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016, 17th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.com
19 00
EN 200 0 C EL H YS 210 ME 0 N IA N FI 22 EL 00 D S RT PA M RA
French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater
attorneys
chiropractic
1300 ESPLANADE
M
Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., 207.3271 Houston, TX [713]
ORLEANS
DUMAINE
FR
Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921
Metairie, LA [504] FOUR SEASONS & PATIO STAGE BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, FourSeasonsBar.com New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, 948.6288 THE BLACK PENNY, 700 N. Rampart BOURBON PUB & PARADE, 801 Bourbon St., 529.2107, BourbonPub.COM CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon Street 522.8397, Lafittes.COM CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829, CornerPocket.NET COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860, Facebook.COM/GoldenLanternBar GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM GRANDPRE'S, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615, Facebook.com/grandpres KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735, KajunPub.COM LUCKY PIERRE'S, 735 Bourbon St., 586.1836, LuckyPierresNOLA.com OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM
costumes New Orleans, LA [504] QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633
florists Baton Rouge, LA [225] FOUR SEASONS FLOWERS & GIFTS, 3482 Drusilla Ln., Drusilla Shopping Center, 924.1386, 1.800.237.5381 Marrero, LA [504] I BLOOM FLOWERS & GIFTS, 1604 Barataria Blvd., 504.341.0248
galleries New Orleans, LA [504] CASSELL-BERGEN GALLERY, 1305 Decatur St., cassellbergengallery.com, 504.524.0671
guides America Damron Travel Guide, 800.462.6654, www.damron.com Gulf South/United States AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; marsha@ripandmarsha.com
groceries/delis New Orleans, LA [504]
QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416
hair salons New Orleans, LA [504] HEAD QUARTERS HAIR SALON, 900 Rue Dauphine, 522.2666 MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 717 Toulouse St., 587.7782 TWO GUYS CUTTING HAIR, 2372 St. Claude Ave., Suite 125, appointments: Adikus 215.519.5030, Trent 504.239.2397
hardware New Orleans, LA [504] MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER HARDWARE, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465
health New Orleans, LA [504] New Orleans Urgent Care, 201 Decatur St., 700 Magazine St., 552.2433, NewOrleansUrgentCare.com
lodging/accommodations New Orleans [504] AARON INGRAM HAUS, 1012 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.949.3110, E-mail us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com. Condos with queensize beds, private entrances; located only six blocks from Bourbon Street and walking distance to most New Orleans attractions. Several favorite bars are within one block. [0715] BURGUNDY BED AND BREAKFAST, 2513 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE/FAX: 504.942.1463, Toll Free (Continental US only): 1.800.970.2153, theburgundy.com, E-mail us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "halfkitchen", courtyard and half-open tubhouse with spa (hot tub/whirlpool). Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area. Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues. [0815] CHATEAU LEMOYNE FRENCH QUARTER, 301 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA 70112, Phone: 504.581.1303, http:// www.hiclneworleanshotelsite.com/gayhotelsnew-orleans. Enjoy a stay enriched with the culture and history of New Orleans at Chateau LeMoyne. Our historic building features all the best of old-time architecture and our prime location allows guests to stay just steps from the French Quarter, while still at enough distance to enjoy a peaceful night’s rest. Versatile guest accommodations include charmingly appointed suites and cottages, while on-site amenities include drinks and dining, a scenic courtyard area and pool, and meeting and event space. When you’re ready to explore, top New Orleans attractions are only moments away. We look forward to welcoming you to the “Big Easy.” [0915] ELYSIAN GUEST HOUSE, 1008 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117, Phone: 1.504.324.4311, info@elysianguesthouse.com. The Elysian Guest House is within walking distance to all the fun spots. Five to steps to a few blocks to all the action. We have a Jacuzzi too. Call and lets talk. [1115] THE FRENCH QUARTER GUEST HOUSES, 1005 St. Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone: 1.800.367.5858, FrenchQuarterGuestHouses.com, email: Info@frenchquarterguesthouses.com. Four meticulously restored boutique inns located in the heart of the French Quarter's most popular LGBT neighborhood. Each building's individual character and charm provides an unforgettable authentic French Quarter experience! FRENCH QUARTER SUITES HOTEL, 1119 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.524.7725, Toll Free: 800.457.2253,FrenchQuarterSuites.COM. Email us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com. Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. A locally owned and operated French Quarter hotel that has been beautifully transformed into spacious multi-bed-
26 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
room suites. Several historical townhouses are also available to accommodate larger groups of up to 26. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St., free WiFi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is available. NEW ORLEANS COURTYARD HOTEL, 1101 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.522.7333, Toll Free: 800.457.2253, NOCourtyard.COM. Email us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com, Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. A 19th century home that has been historically restored and transformed into a locally owned and operated hotel. Experience the rich history and hospitality of New Orleans at an affordable price. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St, free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is available.
marketing & printing New Orleans, LA [504] SIR SPEEDY, 343 Carondelet, 586.9812, 586.9817, offering printing and marketing services including web design and hosting. info@sirspeedyneworleans.com, sirspeedyneworleans.com
massage New Orleans, LA [504] RIGHT TOUCH MASSAGE -- Christopher - Full body therapeutic massage (Swedish/Deep Tissue); heated table; private studio; tropical garden; Faubourg Marigny Area, French Quarter. Upgrade (Salt Scrubs Bodywork & Thai/Sport Stretching massage). Call/text 504.458.5996 / For pictures http://www.christophernola.com. License #LA4553 [is2515]
media New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Parade Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Pride Guide, Official Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049, ambushonline.com, email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
museum/arts New Orleans, LA [504] BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE, 1113 Chartres, 523.7257 CABILDO, 701 Chartres, Jackson Square, CAC [Contemporary Arts Center], 900 Camp St., 528.3805, cacno.org EDGAR DEGAS HISTORIC HOME, 2306 Esplanade Avenue, tours by appointment: 504.821.5009, the house tour lasts one hour, is led by a great-grand-niece of Degas, and includes the award-winning documentary video, Degas in New Orleans: A Creole Sojourn 1850 HOUSE, 523 St. Ann GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, 523.6722 GERMAINE WELLS MARDI GRAS MUSEUM, 2nd Floor Arnaud's, 819 Bienville HERMANN-GRIMA HISTORIC HOUSE, 820 St. Louis, 525.5661 HISTORICAL PHARMACY MUSEUM, 514 Chartres, 524.9077 HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 533 Royal, 523.4662 LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, MUSEE CONTI HISTORICAL WAX MUSEUM, 917 Conti, 525.2605 NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, 488.2631 OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square WORLD WAR 2 MUSEUM, 945 Magazine, 527.6012, http://nationalww2museum.org
music New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St., 592.4666
organizations New Orleans, LA [504] ACLU and ACLU Foundation of Louisiana, P.O. Box 56157, New Orleans, LA 70156, 504.522.0628 x25, Fax: 888.537.0384, laaclu.org AIDS HOTLINE, 821.6050 in New Orleans, 1.800.99.AIDS[2437]-9 toll free statewide AIDSLaw of Louisiana, 3801 Canal St., Suite 331, 568.1631, AIDSLAW.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 838.3399 BIG EASY STOMPERS, Country & Western line dancing. Weekly lessons and monthly Country & Western dance party, www.bigeasystompersneworleans.com, info@bigeasystompersneworleans.com BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS, AIDS Residence for Families, PO Box 3305, 70177; 945.9455 COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, a project of the NO/AIDS Task Force which works with the gay community to implement HIV prevention activities, 507 Frenchmen St., 945.4000, noaidstaskforce.com COPS 8 (Citizens' Organization for Police Support in the 8th District), 840 N. Rampart St., #51, 70116; 588.COPS (2677), cops8.org FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 944.6028 FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; 947.2981, ForumForEquality.COM FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), PO Box 791376, New Orleans, LA 70179-1376; 733.3311, fridaynightbeforemardigras.com, fnbmg@cox.net GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance Region Two, Inc.), 4550 North Blvd. Ste. 250, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, 225.927.1269, www.haartinc.org, offers a complete continuum of care to people living with HIV/AIDS including housing, primary care, medications, case management, and an array of supportive services. In addition HAART provides HIV prevention education and FREE testing to the Baton Rouge area. HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com/ambush KREWE OF AMON-RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, kreweofarmeinius.org KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; 913.5791, KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF NARCISSUS, PO Box 3832, New Orleans, LA 70177. Contact: 504.228.9441 KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 1102, Kenner, LA. 70063-1102, www.kreweofpetroius.net KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/KCQ KREWE OF URSUS, kreweofursus@aol.com LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, 1308 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.475.7911, www.lgbtarchivesla.org LORDS OF LEATHER, 1631 Elysian Fields, #161, 70117, www.lordsofleather.org Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans, services at 10am, 6200 St Charles Ave.,
New Orleans, LA 70118; 504.270.1MCC www.mccneworleans.org MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, 2443 Halsey Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114, 504.906.7990 Todd J. Blauvelt / Secretary, krewe.of.satyricon@gmail.com, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS BEAR AND BEAR TRAPPER SOCIAL CLUB, P.O. Box 57756, New Orleans, LA 70157-7756, 504.298.0061, theneworleansbears.com NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN’S CHORUS, 322.7007, nogmc.com; nogmc@aol.com NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, nojazzfest.com NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM PFLAG/NO [Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays/ New Orleans], PO Box 15515, 70175; 895.3936, 392.0001, pflagno.org, info@pflagno.org PRIDE CELEBRATION in New Orleans NOLAPride.ORG PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609 REGIONALAIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], 523.3755 RENEGADE BEARS OF LOUISIANA, PO Box 3083, New Orleans, LA 70177; renegadebearsoflouisiana@gmail.com SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM ST. ANNA'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1313 Esplanade Avenue New Orleans, LA 70116 947.2121, stannanola.org VOLLEYBALL NEW ORLEANS, PO Box 13306, 70185-3306; volleyballneworleans.com, postmaster@volleyballneworleans.com
pets New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, 523.4455
pharmacy Baton Rouge, LA [225] AVITA PHARMACY, offers personalized, convenient care to those affected by chronic illnesses. Avita offers free delivery, co-pay assistance, benefit coordination, and refill reminder calls as well as access to a pharmacist 24/7. Every prescription filled today helps Avita give back to the community tomorrow. www.avitapharmacy.com New Orleans, LA [504] AVITA PHARMACY, offers personalized, convenient care to those affected by chronic illnesses. Avita offers free delivery, co-pay assistance, benefit coordination, and refill reminder calls as well as access to a pharmacist 24/7. Every prescription filled today helps Avita give back to the community tomorrow. www.avitapharmacy.com MUMFREY'S PHARMACY, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312, www.MumfreysPharmacy.COM. Supporting & serving the LGBT Community for over 20 years. Local pharmacy offering personalized family-like service, automatic refills & free metro wide confidential pickup & delivery. Also offering shipping for out-side our delivery area. When you call us you speak to a person, not a machine. See our ad.
McDonald, stacerealtor@aol.com, 840 Elysian Fields, 451.2495
repairs Metairie, New Orleans, LA Mr. Fixer L.L.C., appliance & home repairs, "Reliable, Quality Work & Pricing!" 504.202.1024, www.NewOrleansApplianceRepairs.com
restaurants Mandeville, LA [985] The Po-Boy Shack, 1703 N. Causeway Blvd., 626.1303 Metairie, LA [504] Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop & Pub, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., 835.2022, GumboStop.com New Orleans, LA [504] 801 Royal, 801 Royal St., 581.0801, 801Royal.com Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 Deanie's Seafood, French Quarter: 841 Iberville, 581.4141; Bucktown: 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie, 831.1316; Deanies.COM Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130, FatoushRestaurantNOLA.COM, 371.5074 Gene's Po-Boys, 1040 Elysian Fields, 943.3861 Horn's, 1940 Dauphine St., 459.4676 Lil Vic’s Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse, 304.1238 Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930, OrleansGrapevine.com Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, QuartermasterDeli.NET Retrouvailles Bistro & Balcony Dining, 700 Bourbon St., 523.1485 The Ruby Slipper, 2001 Burgundy St., 525.9355
retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 COK (Clothing or Kinkl), 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 HIT PARADE, 741 Bourbon St., Facebook.COM/HitParadeNOLA MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 MR. BINKY'S BOUTIQUE, 107 Chartres St., 302.2095, MrBinkys.com PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662
theatres New Orleans, LA [504] CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, 504.974.0786, CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM MID-CITY THEATRE, 3240 Toulouse, 488.1460, MidCityTheatre.COM NEW ORLEANS FRINGE FESTIVAL, NOFringe.ORG
photography
tours
New Orleans, LA [504] GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone.com
New Orleans, LA [504] Gay New Orleans Walking Tour, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, (LGBT Business of the Year) 638 St. Ann St., 568.0717. follow Gay New Orleans Walking Tour @ Facebook.COM
real estate New Orleans, LA [504] GARDNER REALTORS, Micah Loewenthal, your local Realtor. Buy/Sell/Lease. List your home from NO to BR. LGBT FQ Resident. Free Appraisal. 504.388.6150 / 225.205.8552 Cell, 504.891.6400 Off, Micahsells@gmail.com, 1820 St Charles Ave. LATTER & BLUM, Agent Brian M. Pawlowski, brianrealtor@aol.com, Agent Stace
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 27
under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham
Book of the Month Two of my favorite genres to read are science fiction and thrillers. William Brazzel’s novel "The Seventh Holy Man" is a mixture of a religious thriller with sci-fi overtones. The action begins form the opening chapter with the slaughter of innocents murdered by Swiss guards in St. Peter’s Square. An investigative reporter from New York happened to be on the scene of the tragedy and gets swept up in a conspiracy within the Vatican hierarchy. The book had a great premise but unfortunately the execution was off. The writing was stiff and very robotic almost at times. I felt like I was reading a journal than a novel. Brazzel paid way too much attention on the minutia of the characters movements. He should have focused more on the action scenes and less on their cab rides. There is such a thing of being over detailed in these types of books. For a first time writer he shows promise, but he needs work on his characters more; every one of them was one-dimensional. There was absolutely no backstories on who most of these people were and why they are all in their situations. He also ended the book quite abruptly leaving a very unsatisfying climax for the reader. For science fiction lovers of those old camp movies of the past, this book will definitely interest you. Here’s looking forward to a more intriguing sophomore effort from Brazzel.
Hot Happenings The heat is on and so are the events in June. Here are just a few of the hot events coming up. Tuesday, June 16, 2015 Come out to Café Istanbul in the Healing Center (2372 St. Claude Avenue) for the Generations Forum sponsored by NOAGE (New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders) and the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. This forum will feature a presentation on New Orleans’ LGBT+ history, followed by a panel of speakers representing multiple generations of the LGBT community who will share their experience and perspectives. Refreshments will be provided. Admission is free, and open to the public. The event is from 6:30 – 8:30pm. Thursday, June 17, 2015 The Gulf South Chamber invites you to the Business Pride Summer Social to help kick off New Orleans Pride at Fraques (821 Baronne Street)
from 5:30 – 8:30pm. Join the celebration of LGBT pride and build relationships within the LGBT business & nonprofit community. Thursday, June 18, 2015 Yes this one made my list because who does not want to feel like a kid again at the circus. Behold the living legends at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey as they deliver the unbelievable to children of all ages in an all-new show at the Smoothie King Center starting at 7pm. Experience unimaginable fun, as amazing performers from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats of daring, spectacles of strength and thrills of wonder to summon the mythical and mysterious creatures of the past! For tickets, go to www.ticketmaster.com. Thursday through Sunday, June 18 - 21, 2015 Welcome to New Orleans Pride which is celebrating five years. There are so many events associated with this year’s festivals that my top five would be in the double digits. Here is just a brief listing of the various festivities associated with this year’s New Orleans Pride. Thursday, June 18, 7:30pm: Patrick McDonald in “Poly Cockit and Her Pocketbook, Barbara The Bourbon Pub (Upstairs), Tickets $12.50 at NewOrleansPrideFestival.com, 21 years and older. Poly Cockit and Her Pocketbook, Barbara tells the tale of a sweet, southern girl with hair from the heavens and a heart made of gold. After a decade of basking in the bright lights of Hollywood and enduring two, back-to-back public breakups that were more dramatic than a Real Housewives Reunion Show, Poly Cockit packed up her hair, her heels and her Pomeranian Bodhi to embark on the adventure of a lifetime: a four month hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Join Poly for an enchanted evening of storytelling as she recounts the biggest milestones, meltdowns and mishaps from her whimsical walk through the wilderness. From mountain lions, magical purses and mysterious male suitors to hailstorms, hawk attacks and a whole farm full of hippies, she found everything she didn’t know she was looking for... including herself. After all... what doesn’t kill you only makes you blonder. It’s Poly Cockit, y’all! Friday, June 19th, 8pm-11pm: Pride Kick Off Party, Harrah’s Hotel Ballroom, Tickets $22 includes buffet style foods. Cash bar. Under 16 areas
of age must be accompanied by an adult PRESENTED BY GE CAPITAL: Join Keynote Speaker, Ryan Sallans, along with Rikki Redd, Crystal Little, Dillon King, and Caroline L’Huillier as we “Celebrate the New Orleans Transgender Community”. Ryan Sallans is a transgender man, international speaker, activist, publisher and author of the book, Second Son. Stick around after the Keynote Speech for live entertainment by the Big Easy Buddies and a meet and greet with Ryan, and Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly, Celebrity Grand Marshals 2015. Friday June 19th, 10pm: Pride Girl Party Presented by Dykeadence, The Allways Lounge - As part of the New Orleans Official Pride Festival 2015 Dykeadence is hosting a queer variety show at Allways followed by a dance party! Variety show is $10, doors open at 9, show at 10. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Saturday, June 20th, 11am-4pm: Pride Fest 2015 Presented by Delaney & Robb - This is a picnic style event; bring your chairs and blankets and spend the day at this family friendly event with live music from local and national acts as well as over 50 vendor booths including food, drinks, crafts and more. NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR ICE CHESTS ALLOWED IN PARK Saturday, June 20th 4pm-7pm: Pride Pre-Parade Party, Mag's 940 Saturday, June 20th, 7pm: Pride Parade - Winding through the Historic French Quarter and ending at Washington Square Park led by the Broadway Boyfriends and Survivor: Blood vs. Water stars, Reed Kelly and Josh Canfield as Celebrity Grand Marshals. Saturday, June 20th, 10pm: Pride Dance Party with DJ Blacklow, Oz New Orleans - The Official New Orleans Pride Dance Party with DJ Blacklow presiding! Hosted by Pride Grand Marshal, Persana Shoulders, and former celebrity Pride Grand Marshal, Jaymes Vaughan of Amazing Race fame! GAA DJ of the Year, JRB, keeps the party rolling for late night. The sexy Men of Oz dancing on our bar tops. Weekend lights by the fabulous Johnny Eubanks. Sunday, June 21st, 4pm: Pride TParty with Billy Francesca, The Bourbon Pub and Parade, $10 cover includes Drink and Drown from 6-8PM Saturday, June 20, 2015 Come out to Dod-Fest, a familyfriendly “back yard” fundraiser to benefit Anna’s Place, a program envisioned by St. Anna’s Episcopal to inspire local kids through performing arts training, community service, and environmental awareness. This fundraising event will be held at the Dodwell House, 1519 Esplanade Avenue, a restoration project that will be the new home of a primary school for young artists and musicians, grades K-4. The goal is to raise proceeds for Anna’s Place, and by hosting a raffle and silent auction on the day of
the event. ADMISSION: Open to the public. A $3 suggested donation at the gate OR a donation of school supplies / art supplies for the kids. NOONE will be turned away for their inability to fulfill the suggested donation. Live “roving” entertainment by local musicians and marching krewes. Local artisans and vendors will also be present, and along with plenty of arts and craft opportunities for the little ones as well. For those who like to do some rummaging on the weekends, check out the rummage sale St. Anna’s will be hosting inside the Dodwell House. Additionally, the St. Anna’s Mobile Mission bus will be on site available for free health screenings, prevention, and education. Entertainment will feature The Missing Links, Margie Perez, Swingaroo, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, Skinz N Bonez, Krewe of Rolling Elvis, Blue Biscuit, Stuart McNair and the Treme Kids and the Tremé Community Choir. A “Bone Appetit” area with food and dessert vendors will be on the premises. There will be adult beverages available as well as soft drinks and water. They are planning a kid’s mural space, craft area, bouncy house, face painters, and an area for kids to do some planting/ gardening. The event takes place from 1 – 6pm. For more information, go to www.stannanola.org. Saturday, June 20, 2015 Calling all Daddy’s. The Lords of Leather are having an event just for you “Father Figures” with their infamous “Who’s Your Daddy” contest on Father’s Day weekend. This very special event takes place at the Phoenix (941 Elysian Fields) starting at 9pm. The Lords will be having a beer bust that night as well. Come out and find your Daddy. Rocco Steele from Raging Stallions Studios will be the guest emcee. So come out for some unique Daddy/Son time with the Lords. Wednesday, June 24, 2015 Prytania Theatre proudly presents the world premiere of UPSTAIRS INFERNO: The Largest Gay Mass Murder in U.S. History for two showings at 7:30pm and 10pm. Tickets are available now at www.theprytania.com or www.movietickets.com. Camina Entertainment, Inc. is thrilled to announce the opening of this eagerly awaited documentary, UPSTAIRS INFERNO, a full length film about the largest gay mass murder in U.S. history. The 95 minute film, written and directed by Robert L. Camina will screen in New Orleans on the anniversary of the fire, June 24, 2015 at 7:30pm at the historic Prytania Theater. New Orleans’ own New York Times best-selling author, CHRISTOPHER RICE will narrate this emotionally charged film. A Q&A featuring writer/director Robert L. Camina and [continued on 30]
28 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 29
under the gaydar ...from 28 many special guests will follow the screening. “This film contains disturbing images. Viewer discretion is advised”. Thursday, June 25, 2015 Join Project Lazarus as they celebrate 30 years of serving people living with HIV/AIDS. Held at the historic and newly renovated Lakefront Airport terminal, the Gala will pay special recognition to the Archdiocese of New Orleans for founding the agency in 1985. "We are honored to be joined by Archbishop Gregory Aymond." The evening also features a cocktail hour, silent and live auction, gourmet meal, live music by Tanya & Dorise, and a live presentation. Project Lazarus gratefully acknowledges Avita Pharmacy as TOP sponsor of its 30 Year Anniversary Gala at the EMERALD level. Tickets available online: https://donate.archno.org/PLAG. Contact Lily Hannigan for more information: lhannigan@projectlazarus.net or 504.949.3609 x503. Friday, June 26, 2015 Southern Decadence Says “I Do.” Description and information below in my article. Saturday, June 27, 2015 Get twisted at the first Friday Night Before Mardi Gras party of the season. The 2016 Ball is themed “Once Upon a Twisted Time” so the lead-up parties are “Twisted” as well. The first party is Twisted Tiki at the fabulous home of Michael Shlenker and Don Schwenn (5524 Dayna Court). There will be swimming, lawn games, an open bar, and special Tiki-themed summer cocktails. All this plus grilled treats, fabulous auction items and fun in the sun ... And don’t forget to wear your best beach attire or Luau Loungewear. Free shuttle service from GrandPre’s (834 N. Rampart in the Quarter) will be provided at no charge. First pickup is 4:45pm. You must have a ticket to board! The shuttle will run on a loop throughout the day. You can buy your tickets now for all three lead-up parties PLUS the 2016 Ball at either the standard or VIP level. Buy your tickets together and you’ll save big over the course of the year. For more informa-
tion, go to www.fridaynightbeforemardigras.com.
Party Down I did not rest any after the Memorial Day holiday by attending the Hobknobber’s networking reception that Tuesday at Mizado. This monthly event hosted by New Orleans Magazine is a cross between business networking and a social party. Held at fun and unique places in the city, I always enjoy meeting new people at them. This month Mizado was the choice and what an excellent one it was. Mizado is the a combination of the authentic flavors of Mexico and Central and South America presented with a modern twist. And there sangria is the bomb. The following night I went to the sneak preview of Jack and Jake’s on Oretha Castle Haley. This place was absolutely breathtaking and an incredible addition to this up and coming neighborhood. Jack & Jake’s has designed the 65,000 square foot space as a unique food market that builds upon New Orleans’ historic tradition of public markets and introduces affordable, fresh food to Central City. The market will emphasize fresh heirloom vegetables and other local produce, heritage breed meats, cheese, and fresh Gulf seafood. Healthy prepared foods based on New Orleans culture and cuisine are also a focal point where many ingredients are made from scratch inside the market. There will be a bar, two restaurants, cooking classes in addition to the market. This place is quite the foodie complex. On Thursday, I went to see one of two plays; the first one was at the Tigerman’s Den located in the Bywater. “She was Born” was an interesting look into the loneliness of an organism that is born alone, lives it’s life in solitude and even mate by themselves (Parthenogenesis). It was an unusual show, but one I found quite fascinating. Jumping into the weekend on Saturday, I attended the first inaugural Summer Splash party at the Elizabeth Bouvier Chalmansion. It was quite the crowd as we drank copious amounts of liquor, swam and had delicious small plates from the Diva Dog Food Truck. Talk about a classy afternoon soiree. Then I ran home, changed into my blinged out tuxedo and attended the Southern Decadence Announcement Party at GrandPre’s. It was quite a festive night as we learned the song (Uptown Funk good choice), the colors and the theme. The grand marshals even did a dance skit. I was very honored to be asked by Frankie to be his lieutenant and look forward to a crazy three months. We followed up the celebrating with a party and show at the Four
Seasons in Metairie. Owners Tittie and Electra have made this bar quite the gay destination in Suburbia. The following Wednesday, I saw “Strays” at the newly renovated and under new ownership Marigny Theatre. The theatre looks good; although not sure much has changed except that its air conditioning is working wonderfully now. The show itself was sort of a cross between St. Elmo’s Fire meets the Big Chill. Lots of yelling and fights as several twenty somethings try to resurrect their friendships after a death in the group. Friday was happy hour with Frankie Fierce at the martini/champagne bar in the lobby of the Le Meridien Hotel. We strategized on a couple of fundraisers which will be awesome events. Saturday was all about the art, as I started the night at Albert Carey’s pre-art walk cocktail reception. He gathered a lovely group of people for nibbles and martinis before we walked down Julia Street to the art opening of Madison Faile. This young artist has taken the city by storm. His works are inspired and funky with a whimsical edge to them. His gallery opening had champagne flowing and a fabulous photo step and repeat at the entrance. It seemed the entire gay community came out making it the hottest spot on the street. Afterwards, we went to the Tulane Avenue Bar for the Kitty de Litter show. The place has a nice crowd, and did you know that this Mid-City bar offers van pick-ups from the Quarter to its place. Brilliant idea. My weekend ended with the Petronius Hawaiian themed luau fundraiser at the Four Seasons. The krewe had a good turnout. Guests enjoyed a scrumptious spread of tropical delicacies. There were hula and tacky Hawaiian shirt contests as well as a show. My only minor word of advice when doing a party that has a theme. If you are going to do a show, incorporate the theme into the show through your numbers.
In Other Gay News Southern Decadence fever has taken over the city and the festivities are starting in full swing. I am honored to have been chosen as one of Frankie Fierce’s lieutenants this year and never realized how much fun this entire event is. This is a great chance to revel and enjoy the holiday. Southern Decadence is more than just grand marshals, songs and colors (although I have to admit those things are fun). It is
about our community being free to express ourselves in a safe and fun environment. So enjoy a few or all of the parties that lead up to it. Remember this parade is for you and the thousands of visitors who descend on our city and spend their dollars. I am also excited about helping host one of the hottest events in June. This year Southern Decadence is making history at one of their first events. They are making a monumental stride by holding the first ever LGBT wedding event in New Orleans. Decadence Says “I Do” is more than your normal wedding show with booths of vendors showing their talents. This is an opportunity for the wedding and hospitality communities to voice their support for marriage equality. So come out and party with us on Friday, June 26th as we celebrate marriage. Come to the stunningly beautiful Chicory on the 600 block of S. Peters Street in the CBD of New Orleans. Sip cocktails from the open bar as you explore some of the incredible wedding opportunities from some of top wedding allies in New Orleans. Indulge on incredible foods while enjoying the music as you see all the Chicory has to offer. Bring out your party side for this event because we are here to celebrate bachelor and bachelorette style by having a fantastic fashion showcase exhibiting some of the top wedding apparel (with a twist). Once the clock strikes 10pm the party isn’t over, head downstairs to enjoy drinks and live DJ from Ernst Cafe for the After Party. This event is for everyone to come celebrate marriage with us and show us your support. It’s been a long battle for marriage equality and this is the night to celebrate this monumental historical achievement. This event helps raise money for the past, present, and future of the LGBT+ community by benefiting: LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, Louisiana Equality Foundation, and the PFLAG Scholarship fund. We encourage everyone to purchase their tickets online in advance to guarantee entry to what is going to be a spectacular event. The event is from 7 – 10pm. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door. There is also VIP tickets being offered for $50. With that you get a 30 earlier entry minute meet and greet with the grand marshals at 6:30pm, reserved seating and a gift bag filled with exciting things. For more information, email me at ledgemgp@gmail.com or visit www.SouthernDecadence.com.
30 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 31
32 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
,
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 33
34 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
Miss Cie & Jawakatema with Matthew & Eric
Loved ones of Mitch Brown Benefit
Celebrations, Birthdays, Anniversaries ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Miss Cie
m obile paparazzi Kirby & B-Bob’s head bartender Jerry B-Bob’s bartender Patrick looking gorgeous
Saturday Night @ Flip Side Patio Bar
World Famous B-Bob’s bartender’s Leon & Corey
Thank you Brenda & Wright for a beautiful cancer benefit
B-Bob’s annual Pool Party
Gabriel’s bartender Ricky & Company Happy Anniversary to Cindy & Robert Mitch Brown Benefit Celebration
Welcome home Chris & Jeremy
B-Bob’s Saturday Night magic with Miss Cie Kicking Cancer Benefit for Mitch Brown @ B-Bob’s
Sunday Funday with Jerry Ehlen & Jawakatema
The beautiful Amber Douglas @ B-Bob’s
Hello Timothy...
From Chicago, Miss Regine Phillips @ B-Bob’s
Hello Alana & friends
Miss Cie With King Stevie & Judson
Hello Jeff & Boys @ B-Bob’s
Offic ial Pride Guide© sinc e 1982 • NOLAPride.org • J une 16-29, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 35
36 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • J une 16-29, 2015 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide© sinc e 1982 • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec