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425.00, sponsorship 100.00/Fabulous Flowers, minus expenses: 440.00 food, 92.00 decorations, for a total of 1,878.00. The Shrimp Boil & Cookoff hosted at Four Seasons in Metairie brought in 1,075.00 door, 715.00 auction, 130.00 raffle, 250.00 sponsorship/A-MED Ambulance, 100.00 sponsorship/Michael Bingham, minus 372.00 shrimp, for a total of 1,898.00.
the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
SKYY Vodka Joins 44th Celebration as "The Official Vodka of Southern Decadence" For the third year SKYY Vodka will be the Official Vodka of Southern Decadence in its ongoing commitment to the LGBT community. This year SKYY (Campari America) is pulling out all the stops, joining the 44th Southern Decadence celebration of gay life, music and culture at the Presenting sponsorship level. In honor of LGBT Pride Month, Campari America was proud to spotlight LGBT bartenders from across the US with a #SpiritedPride Q&A on its social media channels. This was part of its ongoing #Spirited series (during Women’s History Month they highlighted female bar owners, #SpiritedWomen). As a company they are committed to supporting diversity – inside its own offices, in the spirits industry, and across the broader community – and this initiative is an example of that. Campari America's own SKYY Vodka has been a strong supporter of the LGBT community for decades as well as for the fight for marriage equality through the recent Toast to Marriage campaign with Freedom to Marry (http:// campariamerica.com/skyy-vodka-and-freedom-to-marry-strengthen-commitment-to-winning-marriage-in-u-s-with-toast-to-marriage/).
Bud Light Returns & Joins Large List of Southern Decadence Sponsors For some 17 years, Bud Light has been a sponsor of the Southern Decadence celebration. The company is the first Platinum level sponsor to come on board this year. They join fellow sponsors: Presenting - Ambush Mag, www.SouthernDecadence.com Official Website, The Golden Lantern, The Chicory; Gold - Todd Blauvelt, Oz New Orleans, Sir Speedy New Orleans, Pelican Bay, Four Seasons & Patio Stage Bar; Silver - Larry Graham/Graham Studio One, Law Offices of Warren A. Forstall, Jr., Eugene Theriot & Dwain Hertz/Gene’s Po-Boys, NOLA Fleur de Lis; Bronze - Larry Anderson & Michael Boulas, GrandPre’s, Safonda Peters & Stuart Nettles, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, A-MED Ambulance; and 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, Glenn Paul Melancon, Gary Glitter, Fabulous Flowers, Michael Bingham, Donald Ellis. Funds raised minus expenses benefits the official charities of Southern Decadence 2015 including: LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, Louisiana Equality Foundation, and PFLAG New Orleans (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Scholarship Fund.
First 2 Southern Decadence Fundraisers Bring in $3,776 for SD 2015 The Southern Decadence Gospel Brunch raised $1,878 while the Southern Decadence Shrimp Boil & Cookout brought in another $1,898 for a total of $3,776 benefiting Southern Decadence 2015 and its charities. The Gospel Brunch hosted at Pelican Bay Restaurant brought in VIP Tickets 1,320.00, door ticket 10.00, stage tips 410.00, donations 145.00, auctions
GAA Gala issue out July 14 DEADLINE: Tues., July 7
inside celebrazzi the real cheese spotlight/total victory! moments in gay new orleans history book review sd paparazzi/nola, metairie corner pocket, amon-ra pics/nola 44th southern decadence under the gaydar trodding the boards gaa top 5 finalists
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Upcoming Southern Decadence Events 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 your chefs: SDGMs 41 Steven Mora, Rip Naquin, Marsha Delain, Misti Ates & Frankie Fierce and their Lieutenants, $10 All-U-Can-Eat, $10 Bottomless Mimosas & $1 Jello Shots, 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, $200 VIP Tables for 4 (call Rip 504.522.8049 for table reservations), $10 door donation. Oz New Orleans SUNDAY, July 19th 3-5pm, Sippin' With The Sisters Deviled Egg Contest, $10 Taste/Judge, Contestants must supply 30 eggs/60 cut in half by 2:45 to 3pm to be eligible to compete, 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 @
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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 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
504.522.8049 or ripna@ambushmag.com for table reservations), $10 donation @ the door, Bourbon Pub & Parade MONDAY, August 3rd 6-8pm, Italian Feast of the Gods & Poster Signing catered by Little Vic's, $5 All-U-Can Eat, $10 Southern Decadence Posters signed by SDGMs 41 Steven Mora, Rip Naquin, Marsha Delain, Misti Ates & Frankie Fierce, Official Home of Southern Decadence: Golden Lantern
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the real cheese by Felicia Phillips Email: fphillips1011@gmail.com Photo by Hubert S Monkeys
celebrazzi Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLI Rip Naquin, Marsha Delain, Misti Ates, Frankie Fierce and Steven Mora join Rachel Bufkin and Sharon Barreca for the Southern Decadence Gospel Brunch at Pelican Bay Restaurant in New Orleans. This first fundraiser brought in $1,896 for this years celebration and the 2015 SD charities. Area church choirs and singers joined the slate of performers including Monica Synclaire-Kennedy, Natasha Sinclair, Athena Jewelle, SDGM XL Reba Douglas and QueenTroy of the L Sisters. (www.SouthernDecadence.com)
Four Seasons' Southern Decadence Shrimp Boil and Cookout brought Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLI Rip Naquin, Marsha Delain, Steven Mora, Misti Ates and Frankie Fierce to Metairie. The afternoon of camaraderie raised $1,878.00 for Southern Decadence 2015 and its charities.
The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana presented its new officers including Vice President Samanther Bruner, President Frank Perez, Secretary Grey Perkins and Treasurer Daniel Morvant at Cafe Istanbul during its annual meeting.
Krewe of Amon-Ra's Errol Rizzuto and Ebony Ross join Special Lieutenant Electra City for the krewe's hilarious "Back in Time" Prom night raising funds for the krewe's 2016 Mardi Gras ball.
Host Barry Bareass joins Sugar Daddy of the Year 2015 Klorocks Bleachman, Sugar Daddy Dance Contest winner Brandon and bar baron Michael Elias celebrating The Corner Pocket's 33 Anniversary. Held on Father's Day each year, patrons are treated to a buffet and their world famous dancers.
I had the most surreal Saturday, which might have been due to my freaky Friday and the effects of a seemingly all night happy hour that were still with me. I’m going to start with the beginning of the events of that colorful afternoon , skip ahead to the end and then get to the middle which was where the surreal events occurred. It was the day of the naked bike was stunning with Las Vegas worthy run, my cohort for the event will have to costumes. Not to be outdone and to remain nameless for the sake of over show support for her was current SDGM exposure and to add a little mystery to Frankie Fierce as Francesca Fierce as the mix. I and my liver had already Adore Delano, an experience of the made the decision that no cool and most colorful level! She was all fish, but refreshing adult beverages would be I’ve got to help work on that meaty tuck. had, just water and an occasional gin- We were honored to share a table with ger ale, leading myself to believe it Maybelline Maskara who was gracious would be a mundane day, I led myself enough to treat my friend to a chamwrong. pagne and Chambord cocktail, which I prepared my companion for the I’ll be trying next time my liver is coopbike run sharing with him a few things erating with the program. Not even yet we had to have for a good experience, midnight I found myself driving home a good camera with a zoom lens for a while he was still revisiting the motherselect few of the riders and pepto land in his thoughts and feeling no more bizmol and blindfolds for others, don’t pain to the injured foot. Now here is the get me wrong I applaud all the partici- surreal part, prior to the show we went pates and I myself would fall into the to the Mickey D’s on St. Claude , yes it’s second type of rider. Reba Douglas a little sketchy sometimes, but with had secured a prime spot in front of some of the other places I’ve been Wicked on Decatur, and the run was known to frequent late nights I knew I on, there were actually many that re- could handle it. Once seated enjoying quired a second look, as the hipsters whatever it was we were having, yes were out in mass, but even the best we were eating down, but that’s a good proportioned male package just doesn’t thing sometimes, a rather transient looklook quite right when smashed up on a ing man came in talking loudly about a bike seat, there were a few stand outs recent sexual experience into what we that figured out to how to strategically thought was a blue tooth, only to displace the family jewels in a way that cover it was an old bent book of matches was quite vivid! Just as it was getting he had somehow managed to lodge in entertaining a gully washer of a rain his ear. Suddenly everyone was gone came, washing the scents of the day but us, at which time he came right up away, and running us inside to discuss to our table, dressed in dirty cut off and review on video much of what we shorts and t-shirt, but with fabulous had witnessed. Once the rain broke we dress shoes on and says, I got some spent the rest of the day shopping the little feet, but an eleven inch d#*k! many unusual shops that the lower Before we could thank him for sharing, Quarter and Royal Street have to offer. he tells us, yea I got rough with it on the Moving ahead toward the end of wife and it sent her to the hospital, the evening, I had still not broken my when she got out she said either get a vow to my liver, my friend was own his penis reduction or find some outside own terms with his by now. Finally coochie! Quickly trying to exit, we go talking him thru parallel parking near door to door finding all but the one he is the Golden Lantern which was a task at is locked! Finally safely out we stop after what we had just experienced that to see one of the new eclectic shops I will get to shortly. He recently had a that was having a night opening, first mishap after a good celebration of place is a mix of vintage clothing, furniTerilyn Moore’s birthday, so his twisted ture, art work, and remade parade ankle had all but given out from the costumes, likely owned by a wealthy days walking, but as we proceeded to older bohemian that knows the right the bar he was in a zone of sorts talking amount of cocaine to use while dropendlessly about his year spent doing ping acid, this place was bizarrely wonwork in Africa, I looked down to notice derful! And I found an Escada pant suit that he was no longer walking with a for cheap! She invited us to her ‘punch’ limp or any discomfort, and had no that looked like none I’ve ever seen, my realization of this himself. On to the companion sampled, and as soon as show which was none other than former we exited I said, "Don’t be surprised if SDGM and current King Cake Queen, hallucinations set in and your ankle the owner of the rights to the name The stops hurting soon." Heading to the car Real Cheese, Aubrey Synclaire (Lord I [continued on 10] hope I spelled that name right). She
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spotlight feature Total Victory! Supreme Court Legalizes Same Sex Marriage in All Fifty States by Frank Perez Rainbows burst forth from the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., at 9:15 a.m. this morning as the Supreme Court effectively legalized same sex marriage in all 50 states by declaring state bans against same sex marriage unconstitutional. Anticipation was at record highs as crowds outside the Supreme Court building waited with bated breath as interns and journalists scrambled to read and announce the landmark decision, (Obergefell versus Hodges). Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy eloquently expressed the sentiments of gay couples everywhere: “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.” The ruling constitutes the most sweeping and significant legal victory in the decades-long struggle for LGBT rights. And while a favorable ruling was widely anticipated, the ruling was still stunning. In the words of Rip Naquin-Delain, “Unbelievable. I cannot believe this is happening in our lifetime. Our commitment to our partners is now legally validated.” Although the legal battle for marriage equality is finally over, the struggle against homophobia and bigotry is not. With rhetoric reminiscent of George Wallace’s defiant stand against segregation in the 1960s, numerous Christian leaders and republican politicians have vowed to disobey the Supreme Court’s decision. The ruling will certainly fuel anti-equality sentiment and exploitation among republican candidates in the presidential election. Clearly, the battle for hearts and minds is far from over. Despite that sad reality, today is a day of joy and celebration. President Obama hailed the decision on Twitter, tweeting, “Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins” The decision was split along ideological lines with the court’s more liberal justices (Breyer, Ginsberg, Kennedy, Sotomeyor, and Kagan) voting for marriage equality and the four conservative justices (Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, and Alito) voting against it.
the "official" dish ...from 4 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 (www.SouthernDecadence.com)
LGBT+ Archives Project Holds Annual Membership Meeting
event is planned for November 14—the Oracle Gala. The event will be hosted by Varla Jean Merman and Michael Sullivan and feature live entertainment as well as a silent auction. The highlight of the evening will be a tribute to Alan Robinson and Father Bill Richardson and an announcement of where their personal papers are being donated. Alan Robinson was a long-time gay activist and one-time owner of the FAB bookstore on Frenchmen Street. Father Bill Richardson was the pastor of St. George’s Episcopal Church at the time of the Up Stairs Lounge fire and graciously allowed the use of St. George’s for a memorial service for the victims of the fire. Officer elections were also held at the meeting. Officers for coming year are: President—Frank Perez, VicePresident—Samantha Bruner, Treasurer—Daniel Morvant, and Secretary—Grey Perkins. To learn more about the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, please visit the group’s website at http:// www.lgbtarchivesla.org. The group also has a Facebook page at https:// w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / lgbtarchivesla?ref=hl
Generations Forum The Generations Forum was held on Tuesday, June 16, at Café Istanbul in the New Orleans Healing Center. The event was co-sponsored by the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana and NOAGE (New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders). About 75 people attended the forum. Ambush columnist and local historian Frank Perez, who also serves as President of the Archives Project, addressed the group with a lecture on the LGBT+ history of New Orleans. Perez’s
talk was followed by a panel discussion led by Jason Tudor, Director of NOAGE. Representing a cross-section of the LGBT+ community, panelists Liz Simon, Lou Bernard, Adikus Sulpizi, and Milan Sherry each answered the following questions: When did you first realize you were LGBT and describe what your perception of what LGBT meant when you first realized it about yourself? When did you come out? Describe what it was like coming out and how people reacted to it. In your opinion, what are some of the opportunities and challenges the LGBT community faces in the future?
Ambush Columnist Frank Perez to Teach French Quarter History and Professional TourGuiding at Delgado Community College Frank Perez will be teaching French Quarter History and Professional TourGuiding 2 at Delgado Community College this fall. Both classes are noncredit. The advanced Tour-Guiding class begins on Sept. 15 and meets once a week on Tuesday nights until Nov. 3. Cost is $195. The French Quarter History class begins Sept. 17 and meets once a week on Thursday nights until October 29. Cost is $249. You can find out more and register here: h t t p s : / / registration.xenegrade.com/delgado/ courseDisplay.cfm?schID=26926 h t t p s : / / registration.xenegrade.com/delgado/ courseDisplay.cfm?schID=26927
On June 19, the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana held its annual membership meeting which was attended by roughly 60 people. The keynote speaker was L.S.U. Professor Alecia Long, who spoke about, “”Saving the City from Sex Deviates: Preservationists, Homosexuals, and Reformers in the French Quarter 1950 - 1962.” It was also announced that a major
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moments in gay new orleans history by Professor Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
“The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana Turns A Year Old” This month the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana turns a year old. The idea of preserving our local history was on the minds of Stewart Butler, Otis Fennell, and Mark Gonzales in 2012. In that year, they founded the Legacy Project with the aim of compiling oral histories. After completing one interview (with Stewart Butler), they realized that the time, logistics, and money involved was somewhat overwhelming, and the Legacy Project eventually fell by the wayside. However, the need and desire to preserve local gay history was still strong, and from the ashes of the project rose the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. In June of 2013, a handful of people The Project’s first year has been interested in local gay history began incredibly successful. In addition to meeting to discuss the need to pre- raising awareness of the importance of serve our history and ways in which preserving LGBT+ history, the Project such an endeavor might be undertaken. has facilitated the donation of archival It was decided early on that an organi- materials and conducted public events zation was needed to provide informa- that promote project’s mission. These tion and resources to those interested events include a personal arching workin local gay history. One of the first shop in which three local archivists steps was to survey what LGBT hold- taught those in attendance how to propings currently existed in local libraries erly care for their personal collections and collections. Questionnaires were and the Generations Forum (co-sponsent to archivists at several local insti- sored with NOAGE), which featured a tutions. In addition, on-site visits were lecture on local queer history followed made to several local repositories. In by a panel discussion. The project’s October of 2013, the Society of Ameri- website, especially its extensive biblican Archivists held their national con- ography of local gay history sources, ference in New Orleans and several has proven extremely useful to remembers of that group’s LGBT searchers and journalists. Also, two Roundtable met with members of the fundraising events were conducted at LGBT+ Archive Project of Louisiana. In Grand Pre’s and Café Lafitte in Exile. November, a community meeting was The Project currently boasts over 100 held in order to gather input from the members. public. On June 19, the Archives Project After several months of informa- held its annual membership meeting tion gathering, the LGBT+ Archives which was attended by roughly 60 Project of Louisiana adopted the fol- people. The keynote speaker was lowing Mission Statement: “The mis- L.S.U. Professor Alecia Long, who sion of the LGBT+ Archives Project of spoke about, “”Saving the City from Louisiana is to promote and encourage Sex Deviates: Preservationists, Homothe protection and preservation of ma- sexuals, and Reformers in the French terials that chronicle the culture and Quarter 1950 - 1962.” Officer elechistory of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, tions were also held at the meeting. and Transgender community in LouisiIt was also announced that a major ana.” In June of 2014, the LGBT+ event is planned for November 14—the Archives Project of Louisiana was offi- Oracle Gala. The event will be hosted cially born at a public meeting where a by Varla Jean Merman and Michael set of Bylaws was adopted and offic- Sullivan and feature live entertainment ers were elected. as well as a silent auction. The highlight The Archives Project aims to edu- of the evening will be a tribute to Alan cate the public about the importance of Robinson and Father Bill Richardson historical preservation and how indi- and an announcement of where their viduals can safely entrust local archives personal papers are being donated. with the care of the historical treasures Alan Robinson was a long-time gay they possess. The project also plans to activist and one-time owner of the FAB help make these materials more ac- bookstore on Frenchmen Street. Facessible to researchers and the public ther Bill Richardson was the pastor of at large by maintaining a catalog of St. George’s Episcopal Church at the LGBT+-related collections in archives time of the Up Stairs Lounge fire and around the state. It is important to note graciously allowed the use of St. that this project does not contemplate George’s for a memorial service for the setting up an archive of its own. Rather, victims of the fire. it aims to educate the public about the The Archives Project chose the resources and attributes of existing name “Oracle Gala” because an oracle archives in Louisiana. is defined as “a person through whom
a deity is believed to speak, or a shrine in which a deity reveals hidden knowledge.” The name speaks directly to the mission of the Archives Project because our history is, indeed, sacred. Gay history is a treasure that has for too long been hidden. The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana is working hard to get that history out of the closet. To learn more about the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, please visit the group’s website at http:// www.lgbtarchivesla.org. The group also has a Facebook page at https:// w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / lgbtarchivesla?ref=hl.
book review Forcing the Spring: Inside the Fight For Marriage Equality. Jo Becker. Penguin Books. ISBN: 978-014-312723. 481 pages. $18.00. by Frank Perez Forcing the Spring is a very timely book given the recent landmark Supreme Court ruling concerning marriage equality. Painstakingly researched and superbly written, the book traces the struggle for marriage equality from the passage of Proposition 8 in California in 2008 to the summer of 2013 when the Supreme Court overturned the proposition and handed down its DOMA ruling. For five years, Becker embedded with the lawsuit’s plaintiffs, was given free rein within the legal and political war rooms where strategy was plotted. Becker went inside the chambers of the federal judges who decided that bans like California’s were as unconstitutional as the previous century’s interracial marriage bans. Offering behind the scenes coverage of the Obama administration’s role—with remarkable access to key players in the Justice Department and the White House— Becker also reveals the true story of how the president came around to publicly embrace marriage equality, the president’s surprising role in the Supreme Court battle, and the unexpected role the issue played in the 2012 elections. What starts out as a tale of an epic legal battle grows into the story of the evolution of a country, a testament to the power of litigation, bipartisanship,
social media, and old-fashioned storytelling to move public opinion. The book illustrates how the country reexamined its opinions on same-sex marriage, an issue that raced along with snowballing velocity, which astounded veteran political operatives, as public opinion on same-sex marriage flipped and elected officials repositioned themselves to adjust to a dramatically changed environment. Forcing the Spring is a ringside account of this unprecedented transformation, the fastest shift in public opinion ever seen in modern American politics. Jo Becker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter at the New York Times, where she has written about everything from the 2008 financial meltdown to the phone-hacking scandal that threatened Rupert Murdoch’s media empire and the Obama administration’s lethal program to kill suspected terrorists. She has won numerous national, political, business, and investigative awards. A Washington Post series she coauthored on Vice President Dick Cheney won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting.
the real cheese ...from 6 he is drawn into another new shop that has a mix of African art, food, clothes and I’m not sure what all except that they had no lights on, another eclectic mix that was truly fascinating. I being sober stayed outside as they were trying to close, he ventured in only to seemingly disappear. Finally I peered in to see a long hallway that led to a big hole knocked into another building, he is standing in the opening to what appeared to be another realm, there were flickering lights of many colors, and little children dressed in white dancing to the sound of drums and a woman’s voice that was chant like singing, He motioned for me to come, oh no, as I remember the movie Angel Heart, and after just hearing about the homeless guy’s eleven inch d*#k all I could think of was there were likely big ass snakes back there! Whatever the case maybe his return to the motherland combined with the mystery punch, cured my friends damaged ankle and kept me out of undisclosed locations till the wee hours ,and for those facts I’m thankful! And that’s The Real Cheese, until next time dahlins, I’m Felicia Phillips, the Cheese Queen of New Orleans.
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paparazzi
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Southern Decadence Shrimp Boil & Cookout raises $1,898 @ Four Seasons ~ Metairie ~ Photos by Hubert
Southern Decadence Gospel Brunch raises $1,878 @ Pelican Bay Restaurant ~ New Orleans
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Corner Pocket Celebrates 33rd Anniversary on Sugar Daddy Sunday ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Darwin Reed
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Krewe of Amon-Ra “Back in Time” Prom Night @ Pelican Bay Restaurant ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Darwin Reed
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under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham
Bartender of the Month My pick for the month of July is a wonderfully positive and fun-loving bartender at the Pub. Wayne Penton is bright, funny, professional and excellent at making cocktails. All these ingredients are necessary to make a great bartender. He is a local boy from Harahan and just recently started working at the Pub a few months ago, gaining a lot of his experience at his prior jobs.
Bartender of the Month Wayne Penton, Bourbon Pub & Parade Working the downstairs bar on a holiday weekend is chaotic and extremely busy at the Bourbon Street gay bars, but Wayne handled it with ease. I recently stopped in over Pride on a Saturday night and you could barely move in the place. Wayne was able to take care of all his customers in his section quickly and even remembered my drink (bonus). Wayne’s professional demeanor and boyish charm make him a popular choice with locals. Bars like the Pub tend to also be more tourist-driven than other gay establishments. So getting a following of locals to come out and see you is a huge achievement. Adding to all his attributes as an exceptional bartender, Wayne is humble and down to earth. It also helps that he his hotness meter is high. So next time you are in the Pub (801 Bourbon Street), grab a drink from Wayne.
Hot Happenings The heat is on and so are the events in June. Here are just a few of the hot events coming up. Thursday, July 2 – Sunday, July 5, 2015
The Essence Music Festival has once again returned to New Orleans over the patriotic 4th of July weekend with more incredible artists and exciting events than ever. Usher, Mary J. Blige, Kevin Hart and Missy Elliott are just a few of the headliners appearing at the New Orleans Superdome. But this noteworthy festival is much more, there are empowerment seminars at the Morial Convention Center, DJ Day dance Parties, a restaurant area serving the best in NOLA Soul Food and even a live filming of Steve Harvey’s Dating Show. For more information, go to www.essence.com. Tuesday, July 7, 2015 Join the gang at The Friendly Bar for a celebration in honor of Steve Trigger’s 60th birthday. There will be a parade of prizes and all raffle items, including a liquor basket, will join the $5 buffet as a fundraiser for Southern Decadence XLIV. Also auctioned will be a Faberge-style egg by Silvia Frank (circa 1990) to commemorate LGBT pride here in Louisiana. Bring your friends, your best wig and your bidding paddles. As an added bonus there will be three for $6 drinks and pudding shots. The Friendly Bar is located at 2301 St. Charles Avenue. Wednesday, July 8, 2015 Enjoy an evening of culinary delights at Gambit’s 2015 Emerging Chefs Challenge. This event recognizes the next generation of talented culinary leaders around the New Orleans area. This event features original food creations, music, drinks & crowd participation. Attendees vote on their favorite selection to crown the champion. The winning chef walks away with the $1,000 cash prize! The event is from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Cannery (3803 Toulouse Street). Tickets are $45. Visit bestofneworleans.com/chefs to purchase tickets or call 504-483-3139. Saturday, July 11, 2015 Want to know how the Marriage Equality ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States affects you in Louisiana? Join the continuing commUNITY™ Speak Out Series as this month’s topic is the SCOTUS Marriage Equality Ruling. Ryan Delaney will discuss your LGBT legal rights in Louisiana and answer questions about the Supreme Court’s ruling on Marriage Equality. The event takes place on the fourth floor in the Interfaith Center of the New Orleans Healing Center from 3:00 -
4:30 p.m. The Healing Center is located at 2372 St. Claude Avenue. Please R.S.V.P. at the following link: h t t p s : / / w w w. e v e n t b r i t e . c o m / e / communitytm-speak-out-discussingthe-scotus-marriage-equality-rulingtickets-17401634758. Thursday, July 16, 2015 That incomparable group the Big Easy Sisters is holding a variety show and Chinese auction to benefit St Anna’s Food Pantry entitled Yoko’s Let’s Have A Kiki. The event will be held at Mags 940 (940 Elysian Fields Avenue) from 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. With this zany and fun-loving group, you are assured to have an excellent time. Saturday, July 18, 2015 And if you miss the Sisters on Thursday, catch them on Saturday as they present their own twisted and festive take to Bingo from 8 – 10 p.m. at the Phoenix (940) Elysian Fields). Bingo: Big Easy Sister style is always lively and you can win some fabulous prizes. But be warned if call a false Bingo, you will be spanked by a Sister.
Party Down Can you believe the year is already halfway over, where does the time go? Between work and play, the days just seem to fly by. This week’s article is rather brief since I had to work many evenings with large groups in town, but I still managed to eke out some fun. On first weekend was filled with poodle skirts, spirituals, spirits and dinosaurs, quite the combination. On Friday, some friends and I tried the new restaurant/bar that has opened up in the Bywater called The Junction. This place is a lively tavern with lots of beers on tap and some of the best gourmet burgers. The service is great and the food is outstanding especially their vegetable basket. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for some great food at reasonable prices. Then on Saturday, I slicked my hair back, donned my 50’s attire and attended Amon Ra’s Prom Night at the Pelican Bay Restaurant. The joint was hopping at this popular fundraiser for this fabulous gay carnival krewe. Amon Ra goes all out to create a retro atmosphere and the restaurant even served specialty ice cream malts. The outfits were all fifties flirty but it was Catherine (Misti Ates better half) who brought home the award for best poodle skirt. There were many contestants for Prom King and Queen and they all raised lots of money for their krewe by selling baskets and doing a number, but in the end it was Eric Wallace and Little Debbie Snatchcakes who won the coveted title. Congratulations to the krewe on another festive event. The following day, I returned back to the Pelican Bay Restaurant for the Build A Bridge Gospel Brunch and Show to benefit Southern Decadence. The
food was delicious and the show was as always soul rousing. I was also asked to emcee the auction which was lots of fun and quite a bit was raised for Southern Decadence. After getting a dose of church, my friends Beaux, Barrett and I went to see Jurassic World. Call me a dinosaur nerd, but I loved every minute of this CGI spectacle. I do not care if it was cheesy; it kept me entertained for two hours. My favorite scene of the movie is one in which my friend said that what this person did reminded them of me. In the scene when the pterodactyls start attacking the guests at the park, one guy in the midst of the chaos, grabs his cocktails from his lunch table and runs double fisted away from the dinosaurs. Priceless and so me! The next week, I attended a little cocktail reception in the lobby of the Westin, as they as bringing back Wine Down Wednesdays from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Every Wednesday complimentary wine will be served to guests and locals alike. It is a great way to start your night or happy hour as you look at the large picturesque windows at the best view of the Mississippi River and French Quarter in the city. The following day I went to the press party for Sushi Fest. Now entering its second year, this festival has outgrown Mardi Gras World and has moved to the Lakefront Arena on Sunday, August 16, 2015. There was a Sushi chef on hand from Rock N Sake as they explained all the exciting new things in store for attendees this year. For more information, go to www.neworleanssushifest.com.
Sushi Fest That evening, I went to the LGBT Chamber of Commerce event at Fraques in the Warehouse District. There was an impressive turnout for this business networking event. I met many people representing different corporate businesses in the area. It is always refreshing to get out of my hospitality shell every so often. Then I had to get my weekly dose of drag at (continued on 20)
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under the gaydar ...from 18 Drag Bingo at the Allways Lounge. This Thursday Kitty D’ Litter was substituting for Vinsantos who was out. Once again there was a packed house at this funny and vivacious, albeit twisted version of bingo. I ended my night with friends grabbing a bite at my favorite pasta place Arabella before calling it a night. Friday started my Pride festivities when I attended the Harrah’s Kick Off Party in their hotel ballroom. There was a keynote address by Ryan Sallans and entertainment by the Big Easy Buddies, an awesome Acappella group. They had a nice gathering with food and celebrating out Transgender community. Then afterwards, I went and gambled a little. I do not care what anyone says, I am so happy they outlawed smoking everywhere, and from the amount of people at Harrah’s on Friday, the casino does not seem to be hurting too much. Saturday was all about the Pride. I went to Washington Square Park for the festivities for PrideFest. Every year Pride keeps getting bigger and better, I was pleasantly surprised at the increase in booths this year. The music was entertaining and there were lots of straight allies as well as family there celebrating the day. After the park, I ran home, grabbed my throws, changed and got back to the starting area for the Pride Parade. Mags 940 held a little drag show to gear up the crowd before all the fun. The parade rolled at exactly 7 p.m. I was on the Friday Night Before Mardi Gras float and it was an unbelievable experience. The throngs of people who lined up to see the parade was heartwarming. Families with children waving pride flags, hot guys without shirts on, and literally thousands of people screaming for beads all made the parade memorable. There I not other high then riding on a float going down Bourbon Street on a Saturday night. It is a thrill rush like no other. Once the parade was done, a sane person would have went home, but no not me, I had been bitten by the party bug, so off I went into the Gay Blue Yonder of the French Quarter. I stopped and mingled with friends at Oz, the Pub, Good Friends then decided to check out The Golden Lantern. Vanessa Carr was just winding down her show, so I caught the tail end of that before the Rikki Redd’s Divas Show. Princesse Stephaney and Rikki wowed the audience. Then I ran into Madison and Philip Anthony (aka Felicia). And they convinced me it would be a good idea to go to the Corner Pocket, so off we went. The Corner Pocket was a scene when we arrived, lots of boys, lots of skin and lots more cocktails, all very bad combinations for me. After doing several twirls around the bar, I exited the scene and returned home to put it
down for the night. Once again, it was an enjoyable Pride Weekend. Sunday was a laid back day with my family for Father’s Day. Even though my dad is no longer with us, he is always in my heart and memories. It was very cathartic to watch the other dads in my family with their sons and daughters. It was a great day of renewal of my spirit (and the barbecue was excellent). I hope everyone had a wonderful Pride and Father’s Day. Next up Fourth of July, here we go!
dates are July 31 – August 16, 2015 (every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.). Here is a quick synopsis of the play. On a dark and stormy night in the Mississippi Delta, the levee is about to break. It’s on this occasion that the troubled Lot brings his new bride Myrtle
home to meet his family—what’s left of it. Lot’s embittered half-brother Chicken has turned the family home to his Spartan den, and Myrtle feels less than welcome as she’s cast into a life-anddeath game of tug-of-war. Tickets for Kingdom can be purchased here: https:/ /www.artful.ly/store/events/6329.
trodding the boards
In Other Gay News
by Brian Sands
I am very excited to share the news about a new theatre company to the city. The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans aims to present thrilling new productions by America’s greatest playwright and one of New Orleans’ favorite sons. TWTC, the newly formed professional theatre company will be presenting three fully staged renditions of Tennessee Williams’ plays and one reading in its first season. Its first show is KINGDOM OF EARTH by Tennessee Williams. Other exciting ventures for TWTC in its first season include the bar dramedy SMALL CRAFT WARNINGS in December, and a WORLD PREMIER ONE-ACT PLAY to be staged in an evening of one-acts during next year’s Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. TWTC promises to present Tennessee’s work in a new and innovative light, focusing on unique and resonant theatrical events. The company made their debut in May at a gathering (which I was lucky to attend) of the theatre community and lovers of the art form at their Friendraiser & Kick-Off Party at Bellocq, a trendy, contemporary speak-easy style bar located on Lee Circle at the Hotel Modern. Surprise readings by some of New Orleans’ great talents took place before Co-Artistic Directors Nick Shackleford and Augustin J Correro presented a toast to the playwright. TWTC has also begun a capital campaign, via their website, and donations can be made on their website at www.twtheatrenola.com. The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans must be made payable to Fractured Atlas only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Donations (Tax-Deductible!) can be made here: https:// www.fracturedatlas.org/site/fiscal/ profile?id=12619. Kingdom Of Earth, TWTC’s inaugural production, is directed by Augustin J Correro and stars Kate Kuen, Sean Richmond, and David Williams. The show will be held at the Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans (6200 Saint Charles Avenue). The
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
Thanks for the Memories: Bob Hope and His AllStar Pacific Tour at The WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen through November 22 Approaching the WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen’s production of Thanks for the Memories: Bob Hope and His All-Star Pacific Tour, for some reason I expected it to be a combination of songs and comedy with background information about Hope and his USO tours, similar to such previous Canteen presentations about Glenn Miller and Louis Prima. Instead, Thanks for the Memories turned out to be a fairly straightforward recreation of a show that might have taken place on one of those island dots in the Pacific albeit, allowing for some dramatic license, with a starrier cast than ever touched down with Hope in one place. I guess for background information I can go to Google for this is 60 minutes of pure entertainment. Hope performed his first USO show in May 1941 in California, entertained troops for the rest of World War II, and continued to travel around the world doing this vital mission for the next 50 years. Of Hope’s World War II shows, writer John Steinbeck, who was then working as a war correspondent, wrote in 1943, “When the time for recognition of service to the nation in wartime comes to be considered, Bob Hope should be high on the list. It is impossible to see how he can do so much, can cover so much ground, and can be so effective. He works month after month at a pace that would kill most people.” And yet he always made it look so easy which comes through in William Patrick Johnson’s engaging performance as Hope. Wearing a pith helmet, Johnson resembles Hope, especially in profile, as he lobs the corny jokes associated with Hope that were already old in the 1940s. Johnson’s delivery is a tad faster than Hope’s which is fine for the routine’s pacing but missing is Hope’s trademark style of letting the gag sink in and then giving a knowingly blank look as if to say “Can you believe I said that?” After his opening monolog, though, Hope/Johnson mostly serves to introduce the cavalcade of celebrities that have come to entertain the “troops.” And on a set draped in camouflage netting and laden with sandbags and tropical greenery that effectively summons up a Pacific isle, this delightful show definitely lives up to the promise of an “All-Star Tour.” The Andrews Sisters, who were featured in their own tribute show last fall at the Canteen, kick things off, appropriately with Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. Courtney Boe, Cristina Perez and Mandi Ridgdell sound great as always with flawless harmonies. Katherine McClain portrays a youthful Judy Garland, when her voice was still more viola than the cello it would become. Like Garland, she has a powerful set of pipes in a petite package and her renditions of Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart and Somewhere Over the Rainbow (complete with ruby slippers) are lovely. Classy and gorgeous, Keturah Heard captures Lena Horne’s voice and refined style in her signature song Stormy Weather. Meggie George, a Stage Door Idol finalist, cuts a striking figure as Marlene Dietrich and puts over Lili Marlene with fine assurance. Perez’ I’m in The Mood for Love conjures up a sultry and seductive Dorothy Lamour (but no mention of her New Orleans roots?), and later, she makes a delectable Carmen Miranda without camping it up. One of the show’s highlights was when the adorable Boe got an actual WWII vet to join her in South Pacific’s Honey Bun, getting the game gent to dress up in wig and coconut bra. It was one of those goosebump moments as he had actually seen Hope perform many years ago. Boe also scored as the cute Betty Hutton (“a vitamin pill with legs”) and Betty Grable, striking her iconic over-the-shoulder look, and George was an expressive (continued on 26)
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Celebrating Pride! ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon, Hubert S Monkeys, Rip Naquin
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New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700
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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
chiropractic New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., 1526 Magazine, 566.1833 [is1015]
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New Orleans, LA [504] "HEAD TO ME" Good looking WM servicing the FQ, DT hotels, B&B's, Uptown, Bywater, etc. OR, you can CUM to me! (near the 2000 block of Canal St.) Private and discreet. Shower avail. Rates starting at $45. Call, text, Allan @ (504) 250-8356 or email bd1200207@yahoo.com. [is1315]
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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
circuit/events 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
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
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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 charac-
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ter 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-bedroom 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.
photography New Orleans, LA [504] GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone.com
real estate
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 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 CUIR, 708 Toulouse St., 249.5603 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
tours 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
New Orleans, LA [504]
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trodding the boards ...from 21 Deanna Durbin singing Musetta’s Waltz in a sparkly strapless floor-length silver gown. Yet, to a Gen X-er like me, while I recognize the names, there’s a certain disconnect as their performing days ended long, long ago. Maybe I need to check them out on Netflix. And though Frances Langford, movingly impersonated by Ridgdell with I’ll Be Seeing You, was a very popular singer from the 1930s-50s often touring with Hope, I had never heard of her before. Makes me wonder what people will think of, say, Gwen Stefani or Christina Aguilera 70 years from now. Fortunately, Victoria Reed’s brisk direction doesn’t allow such thoughts to linger. She has made a wise selection of numbers mixing more familiar songs together with less well-known ones. Heidi Malnar’s marvelous tap dancing to Sing, Sing, Sing is a nice change of pace from the vocal numbers. And when the entire company enters the audience and begins dancing with members of the crowd to the tune of Begin the Beguine, we get a real sense of what those Stage Door Canteens must have been like as servicemen danced with superstars. Apparently, the All-Star line-up does change; “Mickey Rooney” recently departed while “Lena Horne” just joined the troupe. I hope more African-Ameri-
can performers will do so just as they did in real life (a helmet liner Ella Fitzgerald wore during a USO performance can be seen on display). This applies to the terrific Victory Swing Band as well which currently has an all white membership. For, though subtle, messages as these stage images convey do matter, and we should expect the National WWII Museum to do all it can to represent all the people who have served their country. While Millennials might–might—not be that familiar with Hope, I’d wager that every other American is which explains why, since Thanks for the Memories debuted in the Fall of 2013, it has been one of the Canteen’s most popular shows. Twelve years after his death at age 100, Hope’s legacy seems assured. Assured as always was the meal served for brunch. The Ponchatoula Strawberry Salad with candied pecans and strawberry champagne vinaigrette was fresh, healthy and delicious with just the right tang. I always enjoy shrimp and grits but the addition of smoked gouda, a slow poached egg and asparagus made these especially yummy (despite an occasional shrimp shell). And the Grasshopper Tart, a chocolate cookie and mint cream concoction, left a smile on my face. I couldn’t’ve hoped for a better meal.
Sandra Bernhard is #Blessed at the Joy Theater Sandra Bernhard recently returned to New Orleans for the first time since 2002 bringing her #Blessed show to the Joy Theater. With her droll humor and skewed view of life, she’s always been a bit of an outlier in the entertainment scene, not likely to be voted “Miss Popularity” but rather standing off on the sidelines, the epitome of cool. It was good to have her back. In 90 minutes of seemingly stream of consciousness, casual chat, with occasional prompts from notes that sat on a music stand, Bernhard could be gnomic (“We’re gonna get very Vieux Carre.”), but also dish out oldies but goodies (the punch line to one joke, after several similar questions, was “Is that Hortense?”. Say it out loud.) Wearing a black shift dress with pockets that occasioned several observations about the differences between menswear and women’s clothing, Bernhard took us behind the scenes at an AIDS benefit to reveal some of the shenanigans there, and aimed jabs at Miley Cyrus and Mariah Carey. But she also allowed herself to be the object of her own humor, commenting “Glad you can recognize me after some of my recent surgical procedures [done] with nuance and elements of luxury. I’m now highly flammable and
toxic.” For the record, she looked great, despite noting, “We all need a little zhushing nowadays.” Bernhard was more open than I’ve heard her before about her 16 year relationship with “Sarah from St. Louis” and got lots of comic mileage from her teenage daughter Cicely (“What’s it like for me to be a mother? Can you imagine?”). But Cicely laid claim to the funniest line of the night when she responded to her Mom’s question about what it’s like to have two mothers, “Maybe if you two were transgender Moms we’d have something to talk about.” Apparently, quirky humor is an inheritable trait. I’m not sure if I believed she had an affair with Brad & Angelina (“Ocean’s 11 and one thing led to another”), but that Jane Fonda mistakenly sent her a gushing email meant for that other Sandy B (Ms. Bullock) had a credible, and very funny, ring of truth to it. Interestingly, though Bernhard was very aware she was in New Orleans and made several favorable comments about our city, I sensed some of her more NYC-based humor didn’t land fully here. For example, after telling a hysterical tale about Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley and the Little Black Dress exhibit he curated in Paris, I’m not sure if everyone got her knowing distinction between the “Dollar stores from 3rd to (continued on 31)
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commentary by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Blaze Starr, Earl Long, and Bobby Jindal Blaze Starr, famed Bourbon Street stripper and Governor Earl Long’s mistress, died Monday, June 15, at the age of 83. Uncle Earl, as the legendary governor was often called, made national headlines when he began sharing a Bourbon Street apartment with Blaze, the big-bosomed bombshell. Earl made no effort to hide the affair, nor did he hide the fact that he chain-smoked cigarettes, he drank too much whiskey, he gambled on horses, or that he partied with gangsters. A moral leader he was not. But he was a damn effective leader. Uncle Earl believed in education and he put his money where his mouth was. Over 1,000 elementary and secondary schools were built under his tenure, as were several colleges and vocational schools. He instituted a free hot lunch program for poor children. He increased teacher pay and made sure black teachers were paid the same as white teachers. And when LSU-NO (now UNO) opened in 1958, he insisted that blacks be allowed to register for classes. Long’s was a staunch advocate of civil rights for blacks and this is perhaps his most enduring legacy. At a time when race-
baiting was de rigeur for Southern politicians, Earl Long went hard against the grain and championed civil rights. He increased the number of African-Americans on the voting rolls from 7,000 in 1948 to 110,000 in 1959—and this long before the civil rights voting act of 1965. Long vigorously opposed segregation. The late great A.J. Liebling, award winning journalist for the New Yorker came to Louisiana to research Long after Long was committed to a state mental hospital. In his classic book, The Earl of Louisiana, Liebling concluded that Earl Long was the most effective liberal Governor in the South.
a community within communities by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, New Orleans Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
INDEPENDENCE DAY “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Dr. Martin Luther King The limestone rocks pushed out among the scrub brush and wind worn oaks that are strewn about the Hill Country in Texas and we drove on. The destination was Wimberley near San Marcos. We traveled to offer hope and some comfort to those who had endured a flood. Arriving I was taken to River Drive and looking up a saw a rock palisade more than 50 feet high. Atop those palisades were flooded homes … impressive and awesome such power and force of nature that swept down the Rio Blanco to sweep homes away. Some homes were summer homes, some vacation cabins, some full time residences. Some in spots are working folk with not much others enjoy wealth and they all had something taken away. Their INDEPENDENCE was taken from them and they now rely on others: the government, mission groups, help groups, insurance companies, contractors and the list goes on. WE KNOW WHAT IT LIKE TO LOSE OUR INDEPENDENCE. We had just gotten on the road to Texas a day after the shocking news was unfolding in Charleston. We are, after all, related to the nine victims of hatred. Our journey was harried and busy and distracting. Then the talking, comfort giving, hope brining, and what wisdom about disasters that could be given was given. We know what that is like. I was the outsider coming to “help.” They listened, and like us, told us their stories with a sort of rapid urgency. Some were angry, some sad, some confused, most simply tired. We know what that is like and so Charleston faded for a time. We ate together and worshipped together and promised we’d stay in touch and work together. The sky was overcast and Wimberley was in the rear view mirror by 2pm on Sunday. As we journeyed through the rice country of Louisiana I had a chance to check my smart phone and call up the news that had happened in New Orleans since leaving a
few days before. More than four deaths unfolded in our home town; one a police officer. I began reflecting on the shootings going on nationally. Of marginal cases that may be justified in some way but really aren’t. Charleston came back to me quickly. Such loss of life is now sitting with me. Such loss of life may be sitting with you. We are, at the very least, disturbed – whatever that means. At the most we are grieving for one or more of the victims of violence. All of this drama unfolding on the weekend of PRIDE. Such a cosmic confluence should not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Who can more understand hatred and violence than a gay man or woman? What group except perhaps Black- Americans can understand bigotry and loathing as much as LGBT community? Hatred is a burden and binding and with it you become a slave to your disdain for the other. Hatred and fear mongering rob humanity of Independence and freedom. Freedom can only
Compare that assessment with our current governor—Bobby “Jack-Ass” Jindal. Jindal has virtually destroyed education in Louisiana and suggested that racism would not exist if minorities acted more like white people. And he couches all of his rhetorical manure in Christian terms. Although Jindal has made sure everyone knows he is a Christian, the effects of his policies are anything but Christian. His rejection of federal money to expand Medicaid has made people sicker and actually killed over 500 people. So much for healing the sick. His endorsement of discrimination against LGBT people is nothing short of hateful. So much for loving your neighbor. His cuts to higher education and his reduction of retirement benefits for state employees are devastating. So much for doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. And in direct contradiction to the words of Jesus in Mathew 6:5-6—”When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”—Jindal made his prayer rally back in January a public media event and even held it at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at LSU (in violation, by the way, of the First Amendment). And now that our asshole Governor is running for President, we can only expect to hear even more self-righteous, sancti-
monious bullshit. He won’t talk about how he has screwed the people of Louisiana over but he will talk an awful lot about family values and morality. Well, Governor, you can talk all you want. I’m not buying your line of bullshit. We elect leaders, not preachers. And political records are more important personal morality. Bill Clinton got a blow job in the White House. So what? The economy boomed and we were at peace under Clinton. Edwin Edwards shook down a casino executive. So what? He was the most effective Governor this state has ever known. Earl Long ran around with strippers. So what? His policies improved the lives of people. Am I not going to vote for David Vitter because he has a diaper fetish and likes to hire hookers? No. I will not vote for Vitter because his policies are harmful and dangerous. The right wing loves to talk about morality as long as it has to do with sex. They never talk about the immorality of war or social injustice or bigotry or greed. Governor Jindal, you may not have approved of Uncle Earl’s behavior, but you could sure learn something from it. Earl Long had the courage to stand up for what was right (desegregation and equality) even though it was unpopular. That took vision. That took courage. That took guts.
and logically be had not in the catacombs of hatred but on the free peaks of love and liberty. Jesus preached a gospel of love and it was turned upside down for so long by so many. Even today our Governor perverts this message with ill conceived and poorly crafted edicts under the guise of Religious Freedom. He avoids the issue of Confederate flags and moves along. It seems that our country is becoming more polarized and more divided than ever. What shall we do? Where shall our true independence find itself? A man filled with fear and loathing stood in a Bible study and killed men and women who would know this Gospel of Love. To start a race war he said. What perversion is this? What perversion is it that causes a young man to pull a gun on another young man for “street cred” and blow him away? What perversion causes a parent to abandon a baby to die? What perversion causes us to bear the terrible witness of five or six murders in our city on PRIDE weekend? So what do we do? So far we do far too little. We are “holed up” in our homes, bars, restaurants, and “peaceful places.” Too few of us engage in this dramatic fight against hatred, bigotry, and violence. It seems that unless it happens to one of us, or in our neighborhood, or is dramatic or poignant we have little to say and less to do. If we are a community and if our community is part of a larger community we must do something. One of the key concepts that Jesus taught was community. Call it the “body of Christ” or perhaps “the great congregation.” In Africa there is a saying “Umbutu” and translated it means “I am because you are.” It evokes a sense that you exist and have your being
precisely because you are connected to the larger organic body of humanity or “the body of Christ.” As a body we can move and have action we can work in solidarity and with profound force and power and that power is the power of good not evil. Yet, for some it is satisfactory to let haters co-opt the name of this faith and pervert it. Yet for some it is OK to ignore and pretend that hatred and perversion does not impact us. “We are OK it’s not in my neighborhood.” Or so the Pastor and his Bible study thought. Or so the Pizza delivery man thought in the Lower 9; or so Harvey Milk thought, or maybe even Dr. King, or maybe even Brian Jones, Jasilas Wright, Kimberly Gerdes, or Cinque Stallworth the latter names being locals who are victims of violence. I am tired of this I am weary and I expect that some of you are too. Yet, we are a community that is informed, we are a community that loves, we are a community that hopes, we are a community that uses wit instead of hate speech, we are a community that can and must continue to respond to hate driven perversions wherever and whenever we encounter it. Please if you can or care to do something, anything, that will push up against institutional hatred, bigotry, racism, and sexism. Donate to cause, join a rally, write a letter, speak up, speak out, and keep the flames of the kind of liberty that our Lord spoke of and our founding Fathers dreamt of alive and active. We are a good people blessed and sent into the world to be not singularities but unifying beings that will love because hating is simply too much of a burden. Be the community within a community that sets the standard for surrounding communities: “Love thy neighbor as thy self.” That call is active not passive.
Vision. Courage. Guts. Three things you sorely lack. And all the pious, smug, holier-than-thou, self-righteous bullshit that is sure to come from your forked tongue in the months to come can never make up for that deficiency of true leadership.
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MOBILE BLEATHER WEEKEND is going Double XX... representing 20 years for the weekend's premier event, the Mr. Gulf Coast Bear Contest! "DOUBLE XX: Mobile Bleather Weekend 2015" happens July 24 and 25 in Mobile, Alabama. The bear/leather event features two days of bar based events, culminating in the raucous Mr. Gulf Coast Bear Contest. This year's contest theme borrows from the traveling circus. "Big Top Bears" is it's official name, (but loose interpretations are accepted.) Mr. GCB is hosted by perennial favorite AJ McKay, and benefits AIDS Alabama South.
Excitement Reigns! ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Leon Weekley, Miss Cie
Amber Douglas & DJ Leroy out & about @ B-Bob’s
m obile paparazzi The richest thing since FEMA, last name Davenport, first name Jawakatema!
B-Bob’s owner Jerry & bartender Leon with the Asian Goddess herself, Regine Phillips, visiting from Chicago
The contest is Saturday, but the fun kicks off Friday at 6:30 with a complimentary cocktail at Gabriel's Downtown. By 9pm, the action shifts next door to B-Bob's as Bleather presents "The Big Bear Newlywed Game". Late Night turns into all night Friday when the more adventurous migrate to The Midtown Pub for TMP's Notorious Double XX Blackout Party. DJ Krave keeps it bumpin' long after the lights go low. It all ends when you do. Saturday, SLEEP LATE. It's going to be a long night, and besides Jack won't start corn holing until 2pm. If you've never corn holed before, not to worry. A couple of beers and a lesson from Flip Side bartender Jack Pierre, and you'll be sinking 'em in the hole before you know it! Flip Side Bar & Patio is located across the block from B-Bob's. By the way, Jack is that good looking bear all over www.mobilebleatherweekend.com. 6pm is a great time to gather again at Gabriel's Downtown for pre-contest cocktails and a chance to meet the Mr. Gulf Coast Bear contestants. Thinking about entering? Late entries are accepted here. Enjoy a complimentary cocktail and lite bites courtesy of the
Flip Side Bar & Patio bartender Corey
Gulf Coast Bears. By 9pm, find your spot upstairs at B-Bob's as Mobile Bleather Weekend presents "Big Top Bears: The 20th Mr. Gulf Coast Bear Contest". Never seen a Mr. GCB? Let's just say we take advantage of our annual theme, which this year is "Big Top Bears". And it WILL be a circus. Louisville's AJ McKay returns to serve as your "ringmaster". Mobile Bleather Weekend is proud to celebrate the 20th (XX) Mr. GCB Contest, which has launched the careers of... well, no one really, but isn't it fun? Our contestants will also assist in our annual collection to benefit AIDS Alabama South. Contact us at mobilebleather@att.net if you'd like to enter (easy, fun, cocktails, admiration from everyone.) You know you want to.
trodding the boards ...from 26 7th” Avenues on 14th Street in Manhattan versus the designer ones from “9th to the [Hudson] River.” Native NYer that I am, I grinned a big grin. A singer as well as a comic/actress, Bernhard interspersed some musical numbers throughout the evening including Laura Nero’s Stoney End and Listen to Your Heart. At 60, she still sports a fabulous voice, and rather than giving her audience staid covers, made each song her own. Musical Director Mitch Kaplan led the Flawless Zircons Band with brio. At one point, Bernhard noted with insight that she’s “Been hot. Will be hot again.” With ongoing roles on Two Broke Girls and Brooklyn Nine-Nine and her ever-present very dry, sharp humor, I have no doubt that this singular entertainer will be just that.
Coming soon... Hello David & Girls Miss Venus Shante Daviss with Flip Side bartender Jack & Hank
Gabriel’s bartender John & B-Bob’s/Flip Side bar baron Jerry singing @ Flip Side
Hello Phillip
Just because it’s summertime doesn’t mean that local theater is taking a vacation. Far be it with all these shows coming up after the Fourth of July. Great Beast’s Sidewalk Sale of New Work presents the area premiere of three short works by the company’s founder, Michael Martin (July 5-14). All performances take place outside The Old Marquer Theatre (2400 St. Claude). The large-cast fast-talking comedy Smokers, directed by Daniel Skelly, starts things off. It’s followed by the over-the-top farewell-to-New Orleans monologue, My Hair, My Home, directed by Glenn Aucoin, and con-
B-Bob's big show follows the contest. The night continues at Gabriel's as downtown Mobile gravitates late to Gabriel's Downtown. Karaoke turns to Bearaokee when you show up. Gabriel's is one of only a handful of nightspots allowed to stay open all night Saturday night. You'll have to get a club card, but they're cheap and easy and available at the door. Perfect, huh? Let's talk accommodations. This year's host hotel is Quality Inn and Suites in Historic Downtown Mobile. The rooms have recently been redone, and only three blocks from the bars in Mobile's new Downtown Entertainment District. If you hurry, you can take advantage of a special Bleather Weekend rate of only $50 per night. For the special code and contact number, visit www.mobilebleatherweekend.com for full details. Mobile Bleather Weekend is a bear/ leather/levi themed event. There is no run fee. The only requirement is simply to show up and have fun. Sponsors include The Midtown Pub, Gabriel's Downtown, B-Bob's, Flip Side Bar & Patio and Bud Light. Find Mobile Bleather Weekend on Facebook, or on line at mobilebleatherweekend.com. cludes with the gently Beckettian examination of a marriage, Thee, directed by Andrea Watson. Sounds like fun. Promethean Theatre Co. offers two productions in July, Shakespeare’s The Tempest (July 10-18), directed by Rebecca Frank, in an outdoor production at the Old Iron Works (612 Piety) and Nicky Silver’s scathing black comedy Pterodactyls (Old Marquer, July 23- Aug. 8) in which a thoroughly dysfunctional family gets to deal with incest, AIDS, alcoholism, unemployment... and rabbits with cervical cancer. Stephen M. Eckert directs this tragicomic absurdist glee. Ann McQueen’s Riding Halley’s Comet (Mid City Theatre, 3540 Toulouse, July 10-19) tells the moving story of life with a parent who suffers from mental illness. Director Troy R. Poplous’ cast features a who’s who of local theater including Carol Sutton, Idella Johnson, Adelle Gautier, Troi Bechet, Harold Evans, Robert Doqui Jr., Martin “Bats” Bradford, and Keshuna Jones Lee. The Shakespeare Festival at Tulane continues with Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest (July 11-25) directed by Jessica Podewell, and Incarnate (July 15-25) a new work directed by Chaney Tullos which fuses Shakespeare’s words with live music, dance and visual art to tell a story of romance and devotion. Next door, Tulane Summer Lyric Theater brings back Mary Rogers ebullient Once Upon a Mattress (July 8-12). It’s one of my favorite musicals (I was the King in high school) and, directed by Ricky Graham, promises to be buoyant summer fun.
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