THE OFFICIAL GAY MAGAZINE OF THE GULF SOUTHâ„¢
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Dear Ambush Nation, Another successful Halloween is in the books and now it’s time to focus on Thanksgiving and Christmas! Yes, Christmas will be here before you know it! As always, several events will bring us through the end of the year and into 2019! Below are just a few of the fun things going on along the Gulf Coast in the coming weeks plus some exciting news regarding Ambush. As always, check out our Hot Happenings section for a more exhaustive list of events. HELLO JACKSON & HOUSTON
Ambush is excited to announce that we now have distribution in Jackson, Mississippi, and Houston, Texas. You can find copies of Ambush at WonderLust, Jackson’s only gay bar, located at 3911 Northview Dr., and at JR’s which is at 808 Pacific St. in Houston. If you live in Houston or Jackson and are reading Ambush for the first time, let me say “Welcome to the Ambush readership family!” We’d love to get your feedback and thoughts. Email us at info@ambushpublishing.com
and let us know what you think! And remember, you can always go online and sign up as a subscriber and every other Tuesday you’ll receive a copy of Ambush in your inbox. GUMBO COOK-OFF AT GRANDPRE’S
Now that November is in full swing and fall is in the air (except for the days it’s still over 80 degrees) it’s time for some delicious gumbo. The Krewe of Amon-Ra is having a Gumbo CookOff at GrandPre’s on November 11th from 11am to 2pm. For your $10 donation to the Krewe you will be able to taste delicious gumbo from the entrants in the cook-off. This is a great way to have a delicious meal, visit with friends, and watch the Saints take on the Bengals. You will also get to vote for best gumbo and the winners of the cook-off will be announced towards the end of the event. TULANE UNIVERSITY PRIDE GAME Tulane University’s 2nd annual LGBTQ Pride Game will be Sunday, Nov. 18, at 4:00pm during the women’s
Inside this Issue of Ambush Erasing transgender rights is a slippery slope
6
Ambush Donates Art to CrescentCare’s Permanent Collection
6
Snap Paparazzi Out & About at the Double Play
7
THE ROCKFORD FILES: #43 Somewhere Down the Road
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Snap Paparazzi Out & About with HNO
10 & 13
Moments in Gay New Orleans History: Remembering the 1993 National PFLAG Conference in New Orleans
11
Literary Spotlight: Saints and Sinners LGBTQ Literary Festival
12
Trump, Transgender Rights, and Atonement
14
Under the GayDar: New Orleans Hot Happenings
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Snap Paparazzi: Out & About with Gulf Coast Equity Fest
19
Under the GayDar: Mobile Hot Happenings
21
Dr. Jose Posas to give a Community Health Talk on Migraines at The Fortress Of Lushington
22
Book Review: The Damned Don’t Cry, They Just Disappear
22
Loyola University to Offer Tour Guiding, French Quarter History Classes
23
Snap Paparazzi: The Corner Pocket
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Movie Reviews: Scare Tactics
25
Party Down
26
Tricentennial Profiles in History: Morris Henry Hobbs Trodding the Boards
27 28-29
Responding to Xenophobia
30
A Community within Communities
30
Snap Paparazzi Out & About with Tony Leggio
31
Why You Should Be at the NOAGE Gala on November 16
33
LGBT Owned & Friendly Business Directory Five Tips for Transitioning into Retirement
34-35 36 36-38
Sports
Gulf South LGBTQ Entertainment & Travel Guide Since 1982 New Orleans, Louisiana info@ambushpublishing.com
basketball game against the University of Washington. This is an opportunity to celebrate and embrace equality, diversity and Tulane’s LGBTQ community. Tulane women’s basketball games are played at Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse located at 6811 Freret Street in New Orleans. Come out and show your pride while helping cheer on the Tulane women to victory! KREWE DE RUE ROYALE REVELERS
Come to the Double Play Bar on Thursday, November 15, for burgers and weiners! This is a fundraiser for the Krewe De Rue Royale Revelers annual 12th Night party. Join Lord of Misrule Frank Perez and Grand Reveler I Jeffrey Palmquist for all-you-caneat. Just a $10 donation gets you all the burgers, weiners and sides you want. Joining in the fun will be Grand Reveler II Will Antil and Grand Reveler IV Felicia Phillips serving up side dishes for everyone to enjoy! NOAGE GALA GOES UNDER THE SEA
New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders (NOAGE) will hold its 4th Annual Gala on Friday, Nov. 16, from 7 to 10pm. The theme for this years Gala is Under the Sea and will be held at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. There will be an open bar, auction, photo booth, and live entertainment. NOAGE is committed to ensuring that all LGBT older adults can live their best lives with dignity, respect, and good health. For more information, contact NOAGE at info@ noagenola.org MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Come to B-Bob’s on Wednesday, November 21, for their annual Thanksgiving Eve B-Bash and show! Come downtown and see all your friends who are in town for the holidays while enjoying drink specials all night long. The doors open at 7pm, the dancefloor opens at 10pm and showtime is 11pm. B-Bob’s is located at 213 Conti Street in Mobile, AL. The 32nd annual Art Against Aids gala is a fundraiser for CrescentCare to help support men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS in the New Orleans Community. This year’s event will take place on World AIDS Day, December 1, at Club XLIV - Superdome. Art Against AIDS began with local art students making holiday ornaments to sell and raise money. Today, the gala features some of the finest art and food the city has to offer. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks. For more information email Chris.leonard@crescentcare.org
Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Texas-Florida ANNUAL READERSHIP OVER 1M+ 260,000+ Print/780,000+ Online Official Gay Easter Parade Guide© Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide© Official Gay New Orleans Guide© Official Pride Guide© Official Southern Decadence Guide©
LETTER TO THE EDITOR info@ambushpublishing.com CIRCULATION
Alabama - Mobile; Florida - Pensacola; Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell, Monroe, Alexandria; Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi
PUBLISHER TJ Acosta EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reed Wendorf SENIOR EDITOR Brian Sands CONTRIBUTORS Brian Sands, Crescent City Sports, Frank Perez, Jim Meadows, Pastor Allie Rowland, Persana Shoulders, Rev. Bill Terry, Rodney Thoulion, Scot Billeaudeau & Tony Leggio LOCAL ADVERTISING sales@ambushpublishing.com Reed Wendorf Jim Tomeny NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Ambush Magazine is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush Publishing. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEADLINE is alternate Tuesdays, 5pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: info@ambushpublishing.com. 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 Magazine. ©1982-2018 AMBUSH PUBLISHING LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS & PHOTOS.
Cover Photo by TJ Boudreaux
4 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Erasing transgender rights is a slippery slope
Noel Twilbeck, Jr. Chief Executive Officer, CrescentCare Noel.Twilbeck@crescentcare.org For the last few years, American in The New York Times. This is yet like? Is a strong distaste for my “lifecitizens have enjoyed a growing unanother attack on transgender individstyle” worthy of erasure, or even vioderstanding of what it means for many uals and the transgender community lence? Some would say so, and these people to be transgender. While the aimed at limiting the rights, liberties voices seem to be getting louder and road our trans neighbors walk is still and dignity of already marginalized closer with every passing day. Emboldfilled with challenges, it is no longer a individuals. This continued targeting ened by rhetoric that makes those of frightening impossibility to be out and of individuals and groups of our fellow us who live even an inch outside of the trans in the United States. Education, human beings is deeply unsettling and box fearful, the agents of intolerance exposure, and empathy concerning wholly unacceptable. become more and more prominent. the lives and struggles of trans peoSomeone recently told me that I Once we begin to limit the rights ple has grown exponentially in the last shouldn’t take this action against trans and liberties of any other individual in decade. For a moment—we proudly people personally. After all, I’m not a our society, we begin to spiral down recall Laverne Cox’s cover of Time transgender person (although the pera slippery slope. This sinister action Magazine—we excitedly imagined we son encouraging me to curtail my emobegins to erode the journey of humanwere at a tipping point in the battle for tions certainly did not know whether I kind by chipping away at human digtrans affirmation and acceptance. Now, am or not). I acknowledge that I am a nity and defining who it is okay to call it seems we may have overestimated cisgender (non-trans) man, I’m proba“less than”. It begins to diminish the our progress, or to have underestimatbly unlikely to be this administration’s beautiful mosaic of humanity and no ed the adversaries of equality. next inevitable target . . . or am I? one should remain silent because, as The recent Trump administration’s Will I be targeted because of who my forebears in the LGBTQ community proposed reinterpretation of Title IX is I love? What if my husband is or is proclaimed when faced with a plague problematic in so many ways. Title IX perceived to be of an ethnicity different and ignored by another administration, refers to the federal civil rights law that from my own? What if my son is persilence equals death. Standing by is bans sex discrimination in federally ceived to have too many feminine charstanding in support of oppression! funded schools. Currently, the Departacteristics? What happens when my Any action or activity to erode ment of Health and Human Services true self—my true identity—falls outis considering a new rule that “would side of the characteristics of the domdefine sex as either male or female, inant norm? Will I soon be perceived unchangeable, and determined by the (by someone or anyone) to be somegenitals that a person is born with,” acthing or someone that another person cording to a summary of the proposal feels threatened by, or just does not
away another individual’s rights, liberties or dignity is completely wrong and unconscionable. No one person, even the President of the United States, should have the power or the audacity to take away another person’s rights, privileges and protections. We have a responsibility as citizens and as a nation to say “No!” at every opportunity we are given. Say “No” to this administration’s harmful take on transgender identities. Say “Yes” to affirming your transgender friends, neighbors, and even strangers whom you’ll never meet. It’s the right thing to do. Noel Twilbeck, is the CEO of CrescentCare, formerly known as NO/AIDS Task Force, a community health center that proudly employs many in the transgender community, sees transgender clients and has a advisory committee on transgender issues.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Ambush Donates Art to CrescentCare’s Permanent Collection
Pictured: Ambush Publisher Tomy Acosta with CrescentCare’s Event Coordinator, Chris Leonard Ambush Publisher, Tomy Acosta, had the winning bid on a “live painting” by Therese Baldo (Painting with a Twist), at the 2017 Art Against AIDS Gala. The 24” x 36” painting depicts the festive atmosphere of the Gala. The painting is being donated back to CrescentCare to be placed in its new Health Care Center at 1631 Elysian Fields, opening early 2019.
Art Against AIDS began in 1986 with local art students making holiday ornaments to sell and raise money. Today, 32 years later, the gala features some of the finest of what New Orleans offers: great food from local restaurants, a holiday boutique, a juried auction of art, and live entertainment. Tickets and information on the 2018 event are available at crescentcare.org/aaa. Purchase your tickets prior to November 10 and save! Early ticket sales are only $60 with promo code save18.
6 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About at the Double Play / the Crossing
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THE ROCKFORD FILES
#43 Somewhere Down the Road Ryan Rockford RyanRockfordNYC@gmail.com The Myth-ter Right of Bad Timing “We had the right love at the wrong time.” Barry Manilow As a species we need love. Science has proven that receiving love/ touch/affection from another person is an essential factor in the biological development of a balanced, productive and compassionate individual. It’s both nature and nurture for us seek out a partner whom we can love, and one that will love us in return. Instinctively we’re driven to find our match, someone we can belong to. For some the quest is an easy one, for others like myself, it can last a lifetime. Over the years, I’ve had the experience of meeting someone special; someone who made my heart skip a beat, only to discover in each instance, that he was emotionally or physically unavailable. Bad timing killed the possibility of any relationship and the result of those experiences left me feeling incomplete, scarred, wounded and constantly feeling that I just missed Mr. Right. Cupid was playing WhackA-Mole with my love-life; whenever a potential relationship popped up, it was
smashed back into the ground under the guise of bad timing. Kevin was a ballet dancer living in Dayton, OH. We met at one of Dayton’s two gay bars during my first week of a 3 month contract doing Summer Stock. We became fast friends literally overnight. From that point on we were virtually inseparable. There is very little to do in Dayton and what started as a casual tryst to pass the time quickly blossomed into a very intense and very real relationship that neither of us expected. Aside from a pet boa constrictor named Zsa Zsa, Kevin seemed to be the perfect partner. By mid-August, it was time to close the curtain on both Summer Stock and my time with Kevin. We spent a long night alternating between deep conversation and farewell sex, mutually chalking up the end of the affair to bad timing. The next day, Kevin drove me to the airport and, as if on cue, just as we veered onto the “Domestic Flight Departures” ramp, Barry Manilow’s Somewhere Down the Road, a power ballad about finding the “right love at the wrong time,” came on the radio. The sudden rush of tears that swelled
in our eyes was so intense, we could barely see, causing Kevin to nearly side-swipe a tamale stand. We coasted into the departures lane, content to let Barry do the talking: “Those dreams of yours are shining on distant shores, and if they’re calling you away, I have no right to make you stay.” From that moment on, whenever another relationship would crash and burn, I would turn to Barry and SDTR to get me through what was becoming a recurring theme in my dating diary. While working in Los Angeles, I met Rey; a striking dancer of a mixed Native American descent with cheekbones for the Gods and an amazing mane of long, jet-black hair. Rey was spending time at his home in L.A. on hiatus from his job as a featured dancer on one of Europe’s popular variety shows. Rey and I hit it off from the jump; sparks flew, bells rang, and when were together all seemed right with the world and anything was possible -- until it wasn’t. Four months later Rey was heading back to Europe; his job, his fans (yes, he had fans) and a lifestyle only a fool would give up. We found ourselves saying; “If only things were different…”, but they weren’t. On our last morning together, after breakfast, he drove off into the sunset and I wanted to drive off a cliff. As I began the 40-minute drive back to my hotel, my frustrations with life, luck and love began to bottle up inside me as I sat motionless in LA traffic. There was nowhere to go, I was trapped, which only compounded my frustrations. Why was there so much traffic?! Where the f*ck was everybody going at 9:30am?! I started to sweat. I knew what I needed, I needed Manilow. I tore through my iPod, put my anthem on ‘repeat’ and together -- to a very captive audience on an LA freeway -- me and Barry sang our hearts out to ease the pain of yet another flame doused by bad timing: “ We had the right love at the wrong time. I guess I always knew inside, I wouldn’t have you for a long time.” And then there was William -- a stunning Asian-American mixture possessing a statuesque physique and flawless complexion. He was also a pathological liar and manipulative asshole. William was a former Gucci model who liked to lounge around his luxury high-rise sipping espresso from Versace demitasse cups. He spent the majority of his day shuffling between various online auctions competing against other pretentious collectors of luxury handbags. Whatever. William was the only child
of wealthy adoptive parents who lived somewhere in Florida and did him the huge favor of establishing a trust fund that would keep him more than comfortable for life. The failing health of his father, however, took William down to Florida and away from me. There was no Manilow or bad timing issue with William. In fact, the timing of his father’s decline was perfect. I only mention him because when I think of relationships I missed out on, that was the best I never had. Bad timing continued to whack enough of my relationships that my dating diary was developing into a very long, sad, handwritten novel. Every man I met, who seemed to have a hint of promise was somehow or, for some reason, unavailable. It seemed reasonable to cast blame on the only constant that could be found in each of my failed attempts at finding love: Me. Obviously, I was the problem. Something was wrong with me. Was I sabotaging myself, or was it more primal? Maybe I wasn’t… enough. Was I not attractive enough? Sexy enough? Smart enough? Tall enough? Funny enough? What was making me so un-loveable? Adding insult to injury, Prison Wives was put into heavy rotation on my local programming guide. Now I could watch, on a daily basis, a reality TV show of women lining up around the block to marry convicts! The behind-bars, shackle-wearing, conjugal-visiting, not-getting-out kind of convicts. Toothless, emotionally damaged career criminals are fighting bitches off with a stick and I can’t get a dude to return a text?? WTF? I became enraged with myself and with the Universe for robbing me of the chance to find just a little of the love that everyone else seemed to be taking for granted. Like a whiny little bitch, I cut off my nose to spite my face. In a defiant huff, I rationalized that If I was the root of my own dating drama, the solution was simple: stop dating and become someone else. And that’s just what I did. For over three years, as a matter of self-preservation, I stopped dating and re-invented myself. I packed the loving and emotional side of my personality behind a barricade of ice and transformed myself into a stone cold cunt who chewed guys up and spit them out with laser-like precision. My approach to sex reverted back to an almost Cro-Magnon mentality; lots of frigid and disconnected f*cking, practiced purely as a means to satisfy the need to spread our seed. Anyone invited back to my place knew the rules: Someone was going to get
8 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
f*cked. No need for chit-chat, in fact the less talk the better. Usually I never offered my name and didn’t ask them for theirs. My after-sex pillow talk went something like: “Get out.” Three years of emotionless and detached encounters left me completely unprepared for what was about to happen. Miguel was a Grindr hook-up. In fact he was the third Grindr hook-up that night. I was coming off a sexual dry spell and was doing my best to make up for lost time. Almost by accident, our eyes locked with an almost audible “clang” and he muttered, almost under his breath; “You’re beautiful.” “What?” “I’m sorry. I was just thinking out loud.” “It’s okay. And, thanks. What’s your name, by the way? “ “Miguel.” It wasn’t what he said, but rather something in the way he said it -- I knew he meant it. In a split second, Miguel jumped from an anonymous trick to a Person of Interest. That wasn’t supposed to happen; feelings were not supposed to happen. My world just tilted and the unfamiliar spark of connection threw me a bit. After a few awkward moments, we got ourselves together and then, it was a quick *snap-*click*zip, and he left. I found myself wishing he hadn’t. Maybe after three years of vapid, empty encounters, it was time to dip my toes back into the dating pool, so I asked him out. He said; ‘Yes’, and
that barricade of ice I’d built to protect my emotions began to melt. Our first date was a textbook example of how we imagine first dates should go. We met at a neighborhood bar over Patron margaritas and we were off’n’running. Our conversation was effortless and surprisingly relaxed for a first date. As we talked, I was mentally running through my pre-boyfriend checklist and he was checking off all the right boxes. We were both artists; had dogs; loved animals and shared the same taste in movies and music. We talked of the importance of honesty and loyalty when relating to friends, family and those we love. Although happy hour was now in full swing, I was transfixed; all I could see and hear was Miguel. Everything else morphed into a muted background of thumping conversation. After several hours of drinking, kissing and trying to hide our raging hard-ons, we concluded our first date by sucking dick and swapping loads in the ladies room. A man who is both classy and trashy? Another box checked. I remember thinking how pitiful it was that I had wasted the previous three and a half years single and lonely; the price paid for holding a grudge against Mother Nature. We left Happy Hour hand in hand, my mind daydreaming of new possibilities. However, it wasn’t long before the clouds began to roll in and a voice somewhere
in the back of my mind quipped, “Get Manilow on deck.” Miguel worked very irregular hours and he lived in the Bronx so finding time to get together was a consistent challenge. Our cute, daily text exchange stopped when I noticed that the only texts I received from Miguel were replies to mine. Although he was rather diligent in responding, he never initiated a single text message. If I didn’t contact him, he never made the effort, although when he did (eventually) respond, he managed to say all of the right things that reminded me of why I was so crazy about him in the first place. Two weeks to the day of our first date, the hammer fell. What Miguel failed to mention on that first glorious date of ours, was that he had enrolled himself in night school; classes would begin on Monday. He managed to regulate his work schedule so that Monday through Friday he would work his day job from 9 - 5pm and then be in class from 6 – 9pm. This day job/night school routine would last for the next eighteen months, according to the five year plan he rolled out in front of me. Clearly his plan had no room in it for me, or anyone else for that matter, and I said as much. He replied; “I know. And I’m sorry. Of course I would rather spend time with you, but I’m juggling so many things right now. It’s just, bad timing.” That moment, something inside
me snapped. Although I could physically see Miguel’s lips say the words “bad timing,” what I heard instead was a deafening BUZZ; the kind of WRONG ANSWER buzz you’d hear on a daytime game show. My gut began to rumble and initiate what can only be explained as an out-of-body experience. Physically I remained motionless while my ghost-like doppelgänger floated across the table, smacked Miguel across the face and cried out “Shut up! I get it!” In that instant, clear as a bell, I finally got it: There is no such thing as bad timing. I felt as if God tapped me on the shoulder and said; “Ok, girl, all this ‘right love-wrong time’ stuff is bullshit. Here’s the tea: Bad timing is a myth. You know those relationships you thought were so meaningful? They weren’t the right relationships at the wrong time; they were the wrong relationships; timing had nothing to do with it. Those guys never had a chance because they were never meant to be. None of those guys were the right person at the wrong time they were just the wrong person- especially William, what a dick. “ At first I was horrified at the notion that finding the right love at the wrong time was bullshit. How could it be? It’s not possible, is it? What about all that time and emotion spent on those other relationships? What about the crying and the mixed tapes of sad songs and
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long distance conversations? More importantly, if bad timing was all bullshit, who was going to tell Manilow? In order to wrap my mind around this new concept, I re-examined those past relationships, the premise proved to be true. Putting the blame on bad timing is a lot easier than facing the reality. I may have been telling myself that I just missed Mr. Right, but what I was really saying was that he wasn’t worth the effort. It’s harsh, but true. It sounds a little less harsh when you consider that he was thinking the same thing about me. Even if neither of us knew it at the time. For example, there was no way in hell I was going to leave New York and move to Dayton for Kevin. Rey certainly wasn’t going to leave his plush career in Europe and move back to the States for me. And Miguel was only concerned with Miguel and wasn’t interested in doing shit for anybody else. Sometimes when we subcon-
sciously tire of hearing ourselves piss and moan about how life isn’t turning out the way we want, something within us flips the switch and we’re able to look at ourselves from the outside in. From an outsider’s perspective, hearing our own melodrama over and over is exhausting. Eventually we find our soap opera as ridiculous as everyone else does, and we let it go. That’s what happened to me. I got tired of playing the victim of bad timing and tired of making excuses. It was time to man up. The fact of the matter is if we’re not in a relationship, it’s because we don’t want to be. If two people want to see each other, they will. It’s as simple as that. No one’s schedule is so busy that they can’t make time to see you...if they want to. And that is the holy grail of love. Debunking the myth of bad timing was a game changer for me and completely altered my approach to dating, for the better. For starters, I removed
myself from blame. In those other instances, things just didn’t work out; no harm, no foul. These days, whenever I meet someone new, either the stars will align and our paths connect or they won’t. You can’t fit a square peg in a round hole. So, until you find a peg to match your hole, keep on truckin’. This new way of being didn’t happen overnight. It’s taken several years, lots of experience and a little therapy before I could let go of trying to control the universe, but I have. We can’t make anyone love us. We can’t force another to be faithful or convince someone to have feelings for us when they don’t. We know these things, and still we try. Some lessons can only be learned through experience. If you’re lucky enough to be in a healthy relationship that completes you, congratulations. But if you’re like me and still looking, don’t stop believin’. There is no right
way or wrong way to find a partner. Whatever works, works. All we can really do is be open to possibilities, be true to who we are and trust that the right person(s) will find their way into our lives when they’re supposed to. Timing will not be an issue because the right person is timeless. And when I meet the right person, I’ll know it. And that’s the way it is. Agree? Disagree? Let me hear from you. Subj: Myth-ter Right RyanRockfordNYC@ gmail.com And that’s the way I see it. Everyone’s experience is unique. What’s yours? Reach out and let me hear from you. Email: RyanRockfordNYC@ gmail.com *Ryan is a contributing writer originally from New Orleans, currently living in New York.
SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with HNO AT THE LAZARUS BALL | PHOTOS BY TJ BOUDREAUX
10 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
MOMENTS IN GAY NEW ORLEANS HISTORY
Remembering the 1993 National PFLAG Conference in New Orleans Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com The first week of September 1993 was a banner week in the LGBT+ history of New Orleans. On September 1, Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain dashed down to City Hall at 6:30 in the morning to be the first in line to register as Domestic Partners under the new City ordinance. Southern Decadence was also in full swing that week. On Sunday, September 5, the legendary Ms. Fly led the 20th Southern Decadence parade as Grand Marshal. Coinciding with Southern Decadence 1993, PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) held its national conference in New Orleans at the Sheraton Hotel on Canal Street. Local chairs Sandra Pailet (President of the local PFLAG chapter), Stewart Butler, and Billy Henry helped organize the conference. The theme of the conference was “Celebrating Family New Orleans Style.” In addition to featuring Gerry Studds (the first openly gay member of Congress) and Mitzi Henderson (national President of PFLAG) as keynote speakers, the conference also included a number of local figures. Local PFLAG founders Niki Kearby and Betty Caldwell welcomed attend-
ees into their 1835 Creole townhouse. Local gay Carnival royalty hosted an exhibit of costumes previously worn at their krewes’ Bal Masques as well as judged a costume contest. Local historian Roberts Batson offered customized tours for attendees, as did Tulane architecture professor Gene Cizek and his partner Lloyd Sensat. And among the dozens of workshop topics, several were led by locals. For example, Ms. Tracey, Honey, and Eloy led a session titled “What is meant by ‘Drag,’ Transvestitism, and Transsexuality.” Rabbi Edward P. Cohn and Reverend Suzanne P. Meyer (Unitarian) led a session on “Religious Leaders in Support of Understanding.” And Otto Stierle and Allen Lombard presented on “Gay Mardi Gras: History, Krewes, Queens, and More!” Niki Kearby and Betty Caldwell founded the New Orleans chapter of PFLAG in 1982. Kearby says the chapter grew out of her dissatisfaction with her church’s intolerance of homosexuality. One of Kearby’s friends who had worked in the church’s administrative offices was fired when she admitted to being gay. Kearby had grown up a devout Methodist and was a member
of the Rayne Methodist Church on St. Charles Ave. After her friend’s dismissal, Kearby began attending the more gay-friendly St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in the French Quarter. Julie Thompson, longtime Co-President of New Orleans PFLAG recalls the 1993 conference fondly: “I was new to PFLAG, having joined in Feb. 1993. But, we all had to work to make the convention a success. We would meet on Saturdays to fill the gift bags and be told what our jobs would be at the convention. My job was to be a tour guide on one of the buses that took everyone on a champagne tour of New Orleans. My son, Michael, was
the bartender on my bus. We were the only mother-son team. It was so much fun! Everyone loved it! The workshops and speakers were wonderful. Very inspiring to a newcomer like me. The closing banquet was amazing. There was a Mardi Gras theme. People wore costumes and a krewe from a gay ball danced around the room in their fabulous costumes. The waiters paraded in with flaming desserts. What an amazing night! What an amazing weekend! People are still asking us to host another convention. I told my parents how excited I was to be part of such a wonderful group. And 25 years later, I am still a part of it.”
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LITERARY SPOTLIGHT
Saints and Sinners LGBTQ Literary Festival In anticipation of the annual Saints and Sinners LGBTQ Literary Festival, Ambush is debuting a new column—Literary Spotlight. The column will highlight writers and their works who will be featured at the 2019 Festival. Now in its 16th year, the festival has grown into an internationally-recognized event that brings together a who’s who of LGBT publishers, writers and readers from throughout the United States and beyond. The festival, held over 3 days each spring at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans’ French Quarter, features panel discussions and master classes around literary topics that provide a forum for authors, editors and publishers to talk about their work for the benefit of emerging writers and the enjoyment of fans of LGBT literature.
We begin with an interview with Paul J. Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival & Project Director for the Saints and Sinners LGBTQ Literary Festival Project. He has over 22 years of experience in non-profit management. He earned a B.S. degree in Psychology and a M.S. degree in Communication. He started his administrative work in 1992 as the co-director of the Holos Foundation in Minneapolis. The Foundation operated an alternative high school program for at-risk youth. Willis has been the executive director of the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival since 2005. He is the founder of the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival (established in 2003) and has edited various anthologies including the most recent Saints and Sinners: New Fiction from the Festi-
val 2018 with Amie M. Evans. FP: How did SAS get started? PW: The first Saints and Sinners Literary Festival took place in May of 2003. The event was designed as an innovative way to disseminate information about HIV/AIDS to the community. While also bringing the LGBTQ+ literary Community together in celebration of the literary arts, which have long nurtured hope and inspiration, and have provided an avenue of understanding. The idea for SAS evolved out of a conversation between myself and my partner, author Greg Herren, and our good friend Jean Redmann—mystery writer extraordinaire. Jean came up with the name “Saints and Sinners,” and connected me with the NO/AIDS Task Force, who became a fiscal agent for us to be able to apply for some initial grant funding to get things rolling. I had a template of how to layout the event from my time volunteering and working with the Tennessee Williams/ New Orleans Literary Festival (TW/ NOLF), and Greg had great direct contacts from past work he had done with the Lambda Literary Foundation. Over the years NO/AIDS expanded in size and scope, and I became Executive Director of the Tennessee Williams Festival in 2005 and it made sense to adapt SAS as a program of the TW/NOLF—and the focus of the Saints and Sinners LGBTQ event has expanded as well. While a great deal has changed nationally regarding gay rights since the first SAS event, we have now entered an era of tension and potential loss of hard-won rights. SAS remains focused on creating a space of acceptance. By fostering an environment where writers and publishers can network and discuss LGBT issues, SAS seeks to serve as inspiration for new writings that benefit not just the LGBT community, but the greater community at large. FP: How has it evolved/changed since its inception? PW: The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival continues to promote awareness and education of LGBTQ+ issues through writing and literature. It is one of the few national forums to feature successful LGBTQ+ writers, editors, and publishers and provides loyal fans, readers, emerging talent, and students the access to people and information they might not otherwise have. As we celebrate our Sweet 16th anniversary March 29 – 31, 2019, I hope SAS continues to grow with more participants attending each year and with additional programming that benefits the LGBTQ+ community. We
can be a voice in our local community and an instrument of change on the national level by making sure LGBTQ+ issues and concerns are addressed. FP: Tell me about the anthology/ contest? PW: The SAS short fiction contest started in 2010 as a way to help promote the Saints and Sinners event, but also to have a collection of fiction from writers at various stages of their career, and from a variety of voices from all genres. I had noticed that there wasn’t really any anthology like it being produced any more, and it added a fun event to the SAS weekend. On the Saturday night of the Festival, we have a book launch reading and reception with finalists of the contest reading a selection of their winning works. The contest receives generous support from the John Burton Harter Foundation and from Bold Strokes Books. Our deadline for 2019 just closed on October 1. We received a record number of entries from 29 states and 7 countries including Australia, Canada, England, France, Indonesia, Ireland, and Trinidad & Tobago! We will be announcing the names of 30 semi-finalists on Thursday, November 15. Our finalist judge, Jeff Mann will be selecting the winner and two runners-up to be included in the final book which will consist of 15 stories. The artwork for this year’s cover has been provided by an amazing artist, Timothy Cummings. FP: Who attends SAS? PW: New Orleans has provided the perfect setting for such an undertaking from the very beginning. Our city has a long literary history of gay writers finding refuge and inspiration (and maybe romance) here—think of Truman Capote, John Rechy, Tennessee Williams, and John Waters. But more than that, the city’s freewheeling culture of acceptance has long welcomed LGBT visitors to dine, drink, and dance over such festivals as Mardi Gras and Southern Decadence. Since its inception, SAS has practically doubled in size. In 2018, we had SAS attendees coming to New Orleans from 31 different states, as well as Washington, D.C., Canada, England, and the Netherlands. In 2017, we had participants from Honduras and Australia. Approximately 300 people experience different aspects of the Saints and Sinners weekend. The Saint and Sinners Literary Festival’s goals are: • To create an environment for productive networking to facilitate increased knowledge and dissemination of LGBT literature
12 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
• To provide an atmosphere for discussion, brainstorming, and the emergence of new ideas • To recognize and honor writers, editors, and publishers who broke new ground and made it possible for LGBT books to reach an audience— as well as new publishing leaders • To offer a forum for authors, editors, and publishers to talk about their work for the benefit of emerging writers and students, and for the enjoyment of readers of LGBT literature FP: What “big names” might read-
ers expect to see at the 2019 conference? PW: For 2019, we have a great line-up of authors participating in the program. We have LGBT literary icons Dorothy Allison, Andrew Holleran, and Felice Picano. We have authors signed on that have been having great success with their recently released new books including Robert Fieseler, Silas House, and Tena Clark. And we’re excited to have a few books premier at the event in March including titles by Amy Rose Capetta & Cori McCarthy, Gregg Shap-
iro, and Bryan Washington. We have a couple of authors coming from Belgium and one from Slovenia. FP: You are also the Executive Director of the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. What is the relationship between it and SAS? PW: Saints + Sinners has evolved into being part of the programming of the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. By holding both festivals the same weekend, we’re promoting LGBTQ writers and literary professionals to a much larger audience.
SAS registrants enjoy some of the TWFest offerings, and TWFest patrons can attend SAS panels, workshops, and readings, something they may not have the opportunity to experience anywhere else. We also have some speakers who appear at both festivals, creating opportunities to cross-promote their events. Registration for the 2019 Saints and Sinners Literary Festival is now open. Visit http://sasfest.org/#home for more information.
SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with HNO AT THE CARNIVAL SIDESHOW | PHOTOS BY TJ BOUDREAUX
www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 13
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Trump, Transgender Rights, and Atonement Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com From the day Trump was inaugurated, it has been difficult to keep track of the latest outrages to emanate from the White House. From the incredibly childish tweets issued in the middle of the night to the public pronouncements of empathy for murderous neo-Nazis to the multitude of financial conflicts of interest to the unceasing string of lies to the dozens of indictments and convictions regarding the Russia investigation to the profound incompetence that marks the administration, one almost needs multiple NASA engineered spreadsheets just to keep up with it all. And that does not include the policy proposals that have adversely affected millions of Americans. Lost in the shock and horror of Trump’s indecency and lack of humanity are the very real dangers and harm his policies have inflicted on the general population. The minute such stories as “separating children from their parents and putting them in cages” begin to create an outcry, another headline emerges that shifts attention away. Righteous indignation and moral outrage are aborted before they have a
chance to bear fruit. Before the horrific tragedies of the last two weeks and the midterm elections usurped the news cycles, Trump’s continued attack on transgender Americans was beginning to gain traction in the mainstream media. For those who may have forgotten, or missed it altogether, Trump has directed the Department of Health and Human Services to narrowly define sex under Title IX, the federal law that bans gender discrimination in educational programs that receive funding from the federal government. This is what inspired the phrase “Trans People Will Not Be Erased” that has figured so prominently in social media news feeds recently. In effect, Trump wants to define transgender people out of existence. Title IX—The Latest Attack According to The New York Times, which obtained a draft of the memo, gender is to be defined “on a biological basis,” meaning that any questions of gender would be resolved by DNA testing. The new policy is just one of several attempts by Trump
& Co. to rescind President Obama’s expansion of transgender rights—expansions that Roger Severino, the Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services, has called “radical gender ideology.” Trump has rolled back every advance made under the Obama Administration, including transgender rights in schools, prisons, healthcare, public housing, homeless shelters, and even on the U.S. Census. Title IX is primarily enforced by four major Departments of the federal government: Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, and Justice. All four departments are headed by Trump appointees who have demonstrated an outright hostility to the LGBTQ community. The Department of Justice will have to determine if the policy is legal before it can be enforced but given that the Justice Department is led by Jefferson Beauregard Sessions (R-Alabama), a man so conservative the U.S. Senate refused to confirm him as a federal judge in 1986 because of his blatant racism, trans advocates have little hope the department will rule in their favor. Conservatives who favor the Trump proposal are also pointing to a number of court decision made by Republican judicial appointees that support their position. Timeline of Trump’s Assault on Transgender People The Title IX fight is just the latest in a long series of attacks the Trump White House has made against transgender people (timeline source is the National Center for Transgender Equality): • August 10, 2018: The Department of Labor releases a new directive for Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) staff encouraging them to grant broad religious exemptions to federal contractors with religious-based objections to complying with nondiscrimination laws. It also deletes material from an OFCCP FAQ on LGBT nondiscrimination protections that previously clarified the limited scope of allowable religious exemptions. • June 11, 2018: Attorney General Jeff Sessions ruled that the federal government would no longer recognize gang violence or domestic violence as grounds for asylum, adopting a legal interpretation that could lead to rejecting most LGBT asylum-seekers. • May 11, 2018: The Bureau of Prisons in the Department of Justice adopts an illegal policy of almost en-
tirely housing transgender people in federal prison facilities that match their sex assigned at birth, rolling back existing protections. • March 23, 2018: The Trump Administration announced an implementation plan for its discriminatory ban on transgender military service members. • February 18, 2018: The Department of Education announced it will summarily dismiss complaints from transgender students involving exclusion from school facilities and other claims based solely on gender identity discrimination. • January 26, 2018: The Department of Health and Human Services proposed a rule that encourages religious refusals in health care targeting trans people, people who need reproductive care, and others. • January 18, 2018: The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights opened a “Conscience and Religious Freedom Division” that will promote discrimination by health care providers who can cite religious or moral reasons for denying care. • December 14, 2017: Staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were instructed not to use the words “transgender,” “vulnerable,” “entitlement,” “diversity,” “fetus,” “evidence-based,” and “science-based” in official documents. • October 6, 2017: The Justice Department released a sweeping “license to discriminate” allowing federal agencies, government contractors, government grantees, and even private businesses to engage in illegal discrimination, as long as they can cite religious reasons for doing so. • October 5, 2017: The Justice Department released a memo instructing Department of Justice attorneys to take the legal position that federal law does not protect transgender workers from discrimination. • September 7, 2017: The Justice Department filed a legal brief on behalf of the United States in the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing for a constitutional right for businesses to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and, implicitly, gender identity. • August 25, 2017: President Trump released a memo directing Defense Department to move forward with developing a plan to discharge transgender military service members and to maintain a ban on recruitment. • July 26, 2017: President Trump announced, via Twitter, that “the United States Government will not accept or
14 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.” • July 26, 2017: The Justice Department filed a legal brief on behalf of the United States in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, arguing that the 1964 Civil Rights Act does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or, implicitly, gender identity. • June 14, 2017: The Department of Education withdrew its finding that an Ohio school district discriminated against a transgender girl. The Department gave no explanation for withdrawing the finding, which a federal judge upheld. • May 2, 2017: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a plan to roll back regulations interpreting the Affordable Care Act’s nondiscrimination provisions to protect transgender people. • April 14, 2017: The Justice Department abandoned its historic lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s anti-transgender law. It did so after North Carolina replaced HB2 with a different anti-transgender law known as “HB 2.0.” • April 4, 2017: The Justice and Labor Departments cancelled quarterly conference calls with LGBT organizations; on these calls, which have happened for years, government attorneys share information on employment laws and cases. • March 31, 2017: The Justice Department announced it would review (and likely seek to scale back) numerous civil rights settlement agreements with police departments. These settlements were put in places where police departments were determined to be engaging in discriminatory and abusive policing, including racial and other profiling. Many of these agreements include critical protections for LGBT people. • March 2017: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) removed links to four key resource documents from its website, which informed emergency shelters on best practices for serving transgender people facing homelessness and complying with HUD regulations. • March 28, 2017: The Census Bureau retracted a proposal to collect demographic information on LGBT people in the 2020 Census. • March 24, 2017: The Justice Department cancelled a long-planned National Institute of Corrections broadcast on “Transgender Persons in Custody: The Legal Landscape.” • March 13, 2017: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that its national survey of older adults, and the services they need, would no longer collect information on LGBT participants. HHS initially falsely claimed in its Federal Register announcement that it was making “no changes” to the survey. • March 13, 2017: The State De-
partment announced the official U.S. delegation to the UN’s 61st annual Commission on the Status of Women conference would include two outspoken anti-LGBT organizations, including a representative of the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-FAM): an organization designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. • March 10, 2017: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it would withdraw two important agency-proposed policies designed to protect LGBT people experiencing homelessness. One proposed policy would have required HUD-funded emergency shelters to put up a poster or “notice” to residents of their right to be free from anti-LGBT discrimination under HUD regulations. The other announced a survey to evaluate the impact of the LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Prevention Initiative, implemented by HUD and other agencies over the last three years. This multi-year project should be evaluated, and with this withdrawal, we may never learn what worked best in the project to help homeless LGBTQ youth. • March 8, 2017: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) removed demographic questions about LGBT people that Centers for Independent Living must fill out each year in their Annual Program Performance Report. This report helps HHS evaluate programs that serve people with disabilities. • March 2, 2017: The Department of Justice abandoned its request for a preliminary injunction against North Carolina’s anti-transgender House Bill 2, which prevented North Carolina from enforcing HB 2. This was an early sign that the Administration was giving up defending trans people (later, on April 14, it withdrew the lawsuit completely). • March 1, 2017: The Department of Justice took the highly unusual step of declining to appeal a nationwide preliminary court order temporarily halting enforcement of the Affordable Care Act’s nondiscrimination protections for transgender people. The injunction prevents HHS from taking any action to enforce transgender people’s rights from health care discrimination. • February 22, 2017, 2017: The Departments of Justice and Education withdrew landmark 2016 guidance explaining how schools must protect transgender students under the federal Title IX law. The Failure of the Gay and Lesbian Movement All of this underscores the obvious need to elect LGBTQ-friendly politicians, but the recent attack on transgender people also provides an opportunity for the gay and lesbian community; specifically, the effort to simply define transgender people out of existence affords gay and lesbian groups, which have traditionally si-
lenced and shunned their transgender and non-binary-conforming siblings, a chance to atone for past sins. In the 1950s and 1960s, two of the earliest gay and lesbian activist groups—the Daughters of Bilitis and the Mattachine Society routinely excluded transgender people from participating in their rallies, marches, and pickets. While the Gay Liberation movement made gains and Second Wave Feminism produced inadvertent positive results for lesbians in the 1970s, non-binary-conforming folks were left high and dry to fend for themselves—a highly ironic snub considering transgender people sparked not only the Stonewall rebellion in New York in 1969, but also the Compton Cafeteria riot in San Francisco in 1966. Even today, some groups (most notably the Human Rights Campaign) ostracize transgender advocates. Transgender activist Evan Greer has argued “the LGBTQ community needs to grapple with its history of excluding its most vulnerable members.” Indeed, it does. What You Can Do Clearly, national organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign need to step up their game and fight aggressively and specifically for the transgender community. But there are things we as individuals can do. Vote. Register to vote. Get others registered to vote. Support groups that are fighting for transgender rights. Volunteer, give money, raise awareness. Louisiana Trans Advocates and BreakOUT! are two good organizations to start with. There is also the National Center for Transgender Equality. Raise awareness by writing your elected officials, local newspapers, and post on social media. Challenge anti-transgender remarks, especially among your LGB friends, acquaintances, and co-workers. Listen to transgender people. If you don’t know any, there are literally hundreds of trans blogs and YouTube channels.
Learn the history of the transgender movement. Transgender History by Susan Stryker is a good place to start. Understand the difference between being transgender and being gay or lesbian. Organize a local transgender support group or political action group. The Big Picture The fight for transgender rights is just one front in the vast war of resistance against Trump and his hateful “Nationalism.” It is already evident that Trump has emboldened misogynists, rapists, homophobes, xenophobes, traitors, Nazis, and mass-shooters and mass-bombers. If none of Trump’s treason and greed and bigotry and hatefulness and ugliness bothers you, then you are part of the problem. If you remain apathetic, you are part of the problem. Speak out. Do something. Authoritarian leaders always begin by going after the most vulnerable, but that is just the beginning. After destroying transgender rights and legally erasing transgender people, gays and lesbians are next. Rights won are rights that can be lost. If we don’t resist, Trump’s “Nationalism” will lead us into unimaginable dark places—places far darker than the closet. If you consider that claim hyperbole, ask yourself if you would have believed two years ago that the U.S. Government would systematically separate children from their families and put them in cages in internment camps. Ask yourself if you would have believed two years ago that the President of the U.S. would call Nazis “very fine people.” It too can happen here. And it is happening. Resist. Want to share your opinion? Submit your own Letter to the Editor to info@ ambushpublishing.com for consideration.
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UNDER THE GAYDAR
New Orleans Hot Happenings
Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com
I hope everyone got lots of treats (and tricks) for Halloween. Now we roll into November as we prepare for Thanksgiving and the holiday season. Here are just a few suggestions to enjoy. (If you have a fundraiser, party, show or event coming up and would like to be listed in the calendar, please email me at ledgemgp@gmail.com).
WEEKLY EVENTS MONDAY
Karaoke Monday: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 7 - 9 p.m. Enjoy happy hour prices all night long. Hosted by Denny with VJ Dollabill. S.I.N. Night: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; Starting at 9 p.m. Come drink with Ashlee. Get your SIN card and receive $2.50 canned beer. Margarita Mondays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $3 margaritas all day and night. Pool Tournament: Rawhide 2010; 740 Burgundy St.; 9:45 p.m. $2 PBR and $50 gift certificate for Rawhide Lazy Susan Karaoke: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 9 p.m. – 1
a.m. Join bartender Mark and a revolving cast of drag queen hostesses for LAZY SUSAN KARAOKE with Music by DJ Lucius Riley. Mondays are a drag, so make them fabulous and sing the night away. NOAGE & Stonewall Sports Walk/ Run Club; Audubon Park; 6500 Magazine Street; 6:30 p.m. Join an exciting new partnership between Stonewall Sports New Orleans and NOAGE! Starting at 6:30 p.m., meet for the walk/ run around the Audubon Park jogging path. This will be a weekly event for walkers and the Stonewall Run Club will join every 3 weeks. This group is for ALL fitness levels, and you can go at your own pace. Whether that’s running, jogging, leisurely walking, or using a wheelchair or walker, this group is for you. If you are worried that you’ll be left behind, don’t worry; someone will walk with you. If you are the fastest person there, we’ll see you at the finish line. Please Note: We will meet at the parking lot on the Magazine Street entrance to the park jogging path (6500 Magazine St.). If you need assistance or have questions, call Jim at (504)228-
6778. Service Industry Night: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; Open to close. $2.50 domestic beers; $3 well cocktails; $3.50 imported beer; $5.50 Tito’s; $6 Jameson.
TUESDAY
Kocktail Karaoke: Good Friends Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 9 p.m. - 1 a.m., Join us at Good Friends Bar for Kocktail Karaoke. The winner gets a $25.00 bar tab. $5 Fireball. Country Dance Lessons: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 8 p.m. Tuesdays are Country Dance lessons with dancing from 8 - 11 p.m. Bourbon Boylesque: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 8:00 p.m. See the Men of Oz like you have never seen them before. The show stars Atomyc Adonis, Bobby B, Franky, Phathoms Deep and other special guests. Hosted by Trixie Minx. Tacos, Tequila and Tiaras: Buffa’s Bar and Restaurant; 1001 Esplanade Ave.; 8 p.m. Tacos, Tequila, and Tiaras is one of New Orleans’ only family friendly drag shows! Join hostess Vanessa Carr Kennedy every Tuesday, have a taco or two, and learn a little bit about the art of drag. Twofer Tuesdays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drinks special is two for one drinks until 10 p.m. Tunes Tuesday: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; Open to close. Free Jukebox credits with a $4 drink purchase. Trivia Night: MRB; 515 St. Philip St.; Starts at 8 p.m. Every Tuesday at 8 you can join us for Who Wants A Dollar? Trivia! Free to Play. Plenty of Prizes. Tons of Fun. Teams of 1-6 welcome. Enjoy some killer drinks, amazing food from Woodies @ MRB, and out of this world trivia.
WEDNESDAY
WednesGays at LPK Uptown: Louisiana Pizza Kitchen; 615 South Carrollton Ave.; 5 p.m. Join us every Wednesday to celebrate diversity. See old friends or make some new ones and find out what’s happening in the Nola community. All this while enjoying 1/2 price drinks from the bar. Invite your friends. Kafe Karaoke: Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m. – midnight. $25.00 Bar tab and Free Shots & Givea-ways with Happy Hour All Day. Oz Show Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 10:30 p.m. This popular drag show is hosted by Persana Shoulders and features Lisa Beaumann, Connie Hung, Anastascia Davenport; Chichi Rodriguez and Dominique DeLorean. Game Night: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays are Game Night with Honey Bee at 7 p.m. with free jello shots and Bar Tabs. Half-Price Hump Days (Wednesdays): Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is all drinks are half price until 10 p.m. Hump Day: Rawhide 2010; 740 Burgundy St.; 4 - 9 p.m. 2 for $4 wells, draft, and domestic beers. Wine Night: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; 5 p.m. close. $15 bottles of wine. Video Game Night: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart Street; 8:30 p.m. midnight; The bar is doing Video Game Night starting at 9 p.m. Come and compete for prizes and Grab some Drinks.
THURSDAY
Honey Bee Trivia: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 7 p.m. Thursday is Honey Bee Trivia at 7 p.m. Four rounds with jello shots to the winner of each round and a Bar Tab to top person/team of the night.
16 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Ambush AT THE DOUBLEPLAY
SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Ambush AT THE GOLDEN LANTERN
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Girl | Crush: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m. Girl | Crush is brings you a weekly event for girls who like girls, and their friends! This flavor of CRUSH entitled DTF is exclusive to New Orleans’ #1 Dance Club, Oz and happens every Thursday night. The Jeff D Comedy Cabaret; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 10 p.m. The Comedy Cabaret stars Jeff D. featuring Gia Giavanni. Enjoy hilarious comedians, amazing talent and the Ladies of Oz. Strip Off: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; midnight Persana Shoulders hosts the Strip Off every Thursday night. Sign up begins at 11 p.m. and the show features a spotlight performance by Miss Gay Louisiana America 2013 Mercedes Ellis Loreal. Winners receive 1st PLACE - $100 Cash • 2nd PLACE - $50 Bar tab Three-Dollar Thursdays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $3 Fireball and Jagermeister shots all day and night. Prime Time Trivia: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; starts at 9 p.m. Come out and enjoy trivia with great prizes with your host Honey Bee.
FRIDAY
Music of Senator Ken: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy live music with Senator Ken playing all your favorites. Play Girlz: Golden Lantern; 1239
Royal St.; 10 - 11:30 p.m. Drag show featuring Gia GiaVanni and special guests. New Meat Amateur Dance Contest: Corner Pocket; 640 St. Louis St.; 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Lisa Beaumann, anyone can enter - $100 cash prize. Long Island Fridays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $5 Long Island Iced Teas all day and night. Fireball Fridays: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; open to close. $4 Fireball Shots. Take It Off Fridays: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway; 5 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. Includes $2.50 domestic beers and $3 well drinks from 5 - 9 p.m.; $15 drink and drown from 9 - 11 p.m. all well cocktails; and Underwear Party with free well. Cocktails for those who strip down to their underwear from midnight to 12:30 a.m.
SATURDAY
Music of Vanessa Carr Kennedy; Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy songstress Vanessa as she sings some of the tops hits of yesterday and today. Divas R Us; Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 10 - 11:30 p.m. This wonderful drag show directed by Monica Sinclaire Kennedy includes a special guests stars. Piano Bar with Trey Ming; Good Friends Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 4 –
7 p.m. Sing along with your favorite songs with Talented piano player Trey Ming. CAT 5 Hurricane Saturdays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink specials are $5 Hurricanes all day and night and from 8 - 10 p.m. Doubles for the price of a Single on all alcohol. Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez, persana Shoulders or Lisa Beaumann for Drag Bingo! 11 games of Bingo, 11 chances to win prizes! All the fun starts at 6 pm till 8 pm in their upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long!
SUNDAY
Bottomless Sundays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St.. The drink special is $15 Bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Bottomless Mimosas: Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 1 - 4 p.m. Bottomless Mimosas are offered upstairs from 1 - 4 p.m. for $12. The Original Trash Disco: Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 410 p.m. Includes the original napkin toss and the best music videos to sing along with. You Better Sing Karaoke; GrandPre’s; 834 North Rampart St.; 7 p.m. Join DJ Dereesha as he plays Karaoke.
The Half Assed-Straight Boys: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 3 - 5 p.m. Jubilee: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 5 p.m. This Sunday Funday show stars Reba Douglas and special guests. Zingo: Corner Pocket; 640 St. Louis St.; 6:30 p.m. Play Bingo followed by the Barry BareAss Dancer of the Week Contest. Oz Show Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9:30 p.m. This popular drag show is hosted by Persana Shoulders and features Lisa Beaumann, Connie Hung, Anastascia Davenport; Chichi Rodriguez and Dominique DeLorean. Drink Drown and Drag: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 6 - 9 p.m. Sunday Funday upstairs at The Parade. $15 Drink and Drown from 6 – 9 p.m. with a star studded drag show starting at 8 p.m. Sunday Worship: Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans (MCCNO); 5401 S. Claiborne Ave; 10:00 a.m. New Orleans first LGBTQ church welcomes you to join us for our Sunday worship service where they celebrate God’s Love for everyone. Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez, persana Shoulders or Lisa Beaumann for Drag Bingo! 11 games of Bingo, 11 chances to win prizes! All the fun starts at 6 pm till 8
18 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Gulf Coast Equity Fest AT THE 2ND ANNUAL GULF COAST EQUALITY FEST
www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 19
pm in their upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long.
SPECIAL EVENTS THURSDAY 11/8
SAGE Table - A NOAGE Potluck Special Event: 4868 Constance Street; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. RSVP is required to attend this free event. Please RSVP at the ticket link - www.actionnetwork.org. If you are able, bring a dish. We’ll need main dishes, meats, sides, soups, salads or vegan/vegetarian dishes, desserts, and beverages. This month’s NOAGE potluck is a very special event. We will be participating in SAGE Table, a nationwide event that will bring together LGBT people and allies of all ages for a great meal and an engaging conversation. The first SAGE Table was last year, and we were so inspired by the experience that we’ve been having monthly potlucks ever since! There will be similar events held on November 8 at many different locations nationwide, hosted by various organizations and individual hosts. Our event will be at the home of Jason Waguespack and Jeff Morgan. Why SAGE TABLE? The goal is to draw our community closer together. It’s an opportunity to build friendships, and to continue the conversations we’ve been having this past year.
FRIDAY 11/9
Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s Boudin, Bourbon and Beer: Champion Square; 1500 Sugar Bowl Drive; 6 11 p.m. Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s Boudin, Bourbon & Beer is returning to Champions Square. Boudin, Bourbon & Beer has quickly grown to become one of the region’s top food and music festivals. Emeril Lagasse and event cochairs Donald Link, Stephen Stryjewski and Guy Fieri along with over 70 of the country’s best chefs, will prepare their version of the Louisiana delicacy boudin and other artisanal sausages. In addition to the 70 unique boudin dishes featured, enjoy open bars stocked with a variety of local craft beers from Abita Beer and bourbon cocktails from Buffalo Trace, along with premium spirits, fine wines and more provided by Au Bon Climat, JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, Landmark Vineyards and FIJI Water. The night will also showcase a cigar-tasting hosted by Nat Sherman, as well as a silent auction curated by featured chefs. This year’s music lineup features Railroad Earth, Donavon Frankenreiter, Lillie Mae and Honey Island Swamp Band. Tickets include ALL food and beverage and can be purchased at BoudinBourbonandBeer. com. The event benefits Emeril Lagasse Foundation, which supports children’s educational programs, life skills development initiatives, culinary training, and cultural enrichment in New Or-
leans and the Gulf South.
SATURDAY 11/10
Johnny Passion - Hunger is a Drag fro Hard Rock Heals Foundation: Hard Rock Cafe; 125 Bourbon Street; 9 - 11 p.m. Come out and raise money and collect canned goods for Hard Rock Heals Foundation. Hosted and directed by Johnny Passion, the show stars Monique Michaels-Alexander, B*Rowdy, Ava Gina, GiGi, Casanova Vette and Solitaire. Reservaruons recommernded at neworleanssales@ hardrock.org. Doors open at 9pm; $10.00 or bring equivalent of $10 or more of canned goods for entrance.
SUNDAY 11/11
Oak Street Po-Boy Festival; Oak Street; 8600 Oak Street; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The 2018 Po Boy Festival will have food vendors, Iive music, cold beer and an art market. Gumbo Cook Off: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart Street; 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Join the Krewe of Amon Ra for the Gumbo Cookoff at Grand Pre’s as the Saints take on the Bengals. The event is a $10 donation to the Krewe which includes tasting delicious gumbo from the entrants. You’ll cast your vote and we’ll announce the winners toward the end of the event. To enter the Gumbo Contest email KreweofAmonRa@outlook.com with your name and best way to contact you. The entry fee is $25. We will provide the rice, bowls, spoons, and French bread. Please bring your gumbo heated or in a crockpot to heat it up. Gumbo Cookoff PRIZES: 1st prize - $100; 2nd prize - $75; 3rd prize - $50.
WEDNESDAY 11/14
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED, CCS COVERS AREA SPORTS ON THE HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE & PRO LEVELS WITH A KEEN EYE TOWARD PROVIDING THE NEWS & ANALYSIS YOU WANT. crescentcitysports.com facebook.com/ccsdaily @ccsdaily @ccsprep
Gulf South Chamber’s Lunch and Learn with the FBI: Cox Communications; 2121 Airline Highway; 12 - 1:30 p.m. Part of the Gulf South’s bi-monthly series of Lunch & Learn events. This month the FBI will be presenting a session on their Civil Rights, Recruiting & Community Outreach Programs. Speakers will be Supervisory Special Agent Ron Reed (New Orleans Division Civil Rights Program Manager), Special Agent Sidney Reed (New Orleans Division Recruiter), and Community Outreach Specialist Lori Chauvin (New Orleans Division Outreach Coordinator). Come learn about these programs and how they relate to the New Orleans LGBT community & see how you too can be part of your FBI. This event is free for Members and $10 for Non-Members. Lunch will be provided. Early registration is encouraged. For tickets go to www.business.gulfsouthchamber.com or their Facebook page. NACE New Orleans Presents Brunch After Dark: Generations Hall; 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.; 7 - 10 p.m. Join the National Association of Cater-
ers and Events (NACE) New Orleans Chapter for Brunch After Dark: Dinner, Dancing and Drag Queens! All party goers will help NACE New Orleans raise money for two local non-profits and the Foundation of NACE! Tickets may be purchased on Eventbrite or on the Facebook page.
THURSDAY 11/15
Meet the Locals: The Country Club; 634 Louisa Street; 7 - 9 p.m. Come experience local breweries & neighborhood personalities at the Country Club. ALL LOCAL beer, Shindig Vodka, Parade Rums, Crescent Vodka, and Roulaison Rum will be 5$ each! This month is hosted by the Country Club in conjunction with Abita and special surprises to be announced! The event will immediately follow happy hour to give you another great reason to spend more time at the Club. Our Happy hour features $3.00 well drinks and a wonderful small plates menu.
FRIDAY 11/16
4th Annual NOAGE Gala - Under the Sea: Aquarium of the Americas; 1 Canal Street; 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Join NOAGE at the Aquarium of the Americas for their 4th annual fundraiser gala! This year’s theme is “Under the Sea!” Feel free to costume to fit in with our aquatic theme (merfolk, octopi, sharks, dolphins...you can even release the kraken!). There will be an open bar, an auction, a photo booth, live entertainment (Yisrael, DJ Menace, and even a merman!), along with a fabulous menu (Blackened Catfish, Pasta Primaverya, Chicken Orleans, Bananas Foster, and more!). VIP tickets are $100, and will get you in the door at 6:30 (the open bar will be waiting for you, and you’ll be the first to hear the amazing band, Yisrael). VIPs also get an exclusive swag bag! For tickets go to their Facebook page or eventbrite.
SATURDAY 11/17
The Armeinius Barbie Ball 2018 - Workshop and Event: Grandpre’s; 834 N. Rampart Street; 2 - 6 p.m. For the first time ever Gay Mardi Gras and our larger than life costumes are being shrunken down into “Barbie” doll sized proportions. This is going to be a Mini Gay Mardi Gras Ball put on with Barbie’s (or Kens). There are TWO ways to experience this unique first time ever event. First join the Workshop starting at 2pm (Advanced Reservation Required) and learn how we plan, design, and build these fabulous creations as we teach and assist you on how to make a miniature version on a Barbie (or Ken) with you and a small team with a theme they will draw the day of. The Ball will begin at 4:15pm and the judges will be ready with several categories they will judge on with several prizes to win, and the audience will also be vot-
20 · The1 Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November Untitled-5 6/1/18 1:01 PM 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
ing their favorite fabulous creation. At the end of the ball we are going to auction the creations off to the highest bidder. We also are auctioning off Wreaths just in time for the holidays. WORKSHOP (Starts): 2:00pm; nBALL ONLY (Starts): 4:00pm. WORKSHOP: [EARLY REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED] In the workshop we will have several scrap fabric boxes, scrap schlange, wire, tape, and lot of hot glue for you to choose from to work with and our captain and costume designer Chad Brickley will on hand to assist if needed. Other Krewes or organization may sign up in teams of FOUR. You may bring your own scraps with you to work with you want to but it is not required, also, remember that you will be drawing your own theme the day so no Barbie is completed ahead of time. Each team may, but is not required to, perform as “backup” dancers with their one minute presentation. AUDIENCE/Ball Only: You are here to watch, vote, and enjoy while sipping drinks at GrandPre’s. Bring some cash to vote your favorite and be ready to bid on these fun art pieces just in time for the holidays. For tickets go to their Facebook page or www.armeinius.ticketleap.com.
TUESDAY 11/20
Amon Ra Night at LPK: Louisiana Pizza Kitchen; 615 Carrollton Ave.; 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Write “Amon-Ra” on the back of your ticket and LPK Uptown
will donate 25% of the bill back to the Krewe of Amon-Ra for any purchases made on November 20, including takeout and catering. Have a delicious Fresh Mozzarella Pizza or hearty Eggplant Parmesan and help the Krewe of Amon-Ra raise funds for our 54th Annual Ball.
SATURDAY 11/24
Big Easy Sisters Bingo: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields, Ave.; 6 - 9 p.m. Join the Big easy Sisters for their Bi-Monthly Sister BINGO.
SUNDAY 11/25
Mama Honey’s Drag Brunch: Artisan Bar and Cafe; 2514 St. Claude Avenue; 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Live music by Vanessa Carr and drag performances. For reservations, call 985-807-1624. Winter Wonderland VII; Capulet; 3014 Dauphine Street; 5 - 9 p.m. Last Breath Productions’ is proud to present WINTER WONDERLAND VII. Last year over $14,000.00 was raised. Contact Misti Gaither on the Facebook page for information on how to become a sponsor and/or to purchase VIP Tickets.Money is being raised for Belle Reve NOLA and NOAGE - New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders. There will also be a special raffle will be for PFLAG New Orleans. Join Catherine Gaither and Misti, along with Winter Queen II Desirée Marie Chevalier and Winter King II Rodney Thoulion for an
The Double Play
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439 Dauphine Street New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 523-4517
event that brings everyone together as we celebrate our community and the true reason of the season. This year
they are awarding the ICON Tribute Award to Joann and Lisa M Guidos.
UNDER THE GAYDAR
Mobile Hot Happenings WEEKLY AT FLIP SIDE
WEEKLY AT B-BOB’S
SUNDAY Funday with Karaoke
TUESDAY Gay Bar BINGO 9:30 & 11PM
MONDAY Service Industry Night
THURSDAY Amateur Drag Night 11PM
TUESDAY Karaoke
FRIDAY & SATURDAY Midnight Drag Show
WEDNESDAY Rock n Roll Bingo 8PM
ARE WE MISSING YOUR EVENTS?
THURSDAY Karaoke
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SATURDAY SEC Football
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ALL WEEK LONG
www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 21
Dr. Jose Posas to give a Community Health Talk on Migraines at The Fortress Of Lushington Brian Sands bsnola2@hotmail.com Prescription Joy’s second Community Health Talk will be on Tuesday, November 13, at 7:30pm at The Fortress Of Lushington (2215 Burgundy St.). It will feature Ochsner Neurologist Jose H. Posas III, M.D., who will speak on the topic of Migraines. The talk will explain exactly what a migraine is and how it occurs. It will also answer common questions and misconceptions. The event is free though guests are encouraged to RSVP online at www.prescriptionjoy.org. Concessions will be on sale. Prescription Joy, co-founded by Becca Chapman and Alex Smith, is a new organization dedicated to bringing
Medical Clowning to the New Orleans area. Medical Clowning uses humor and human connection to aid in healing patients, families, and even staff members in hospitals & other related institutions. Prescription Joy’s mission, however, goes beyond hospital walls. The organization also helps to aid healing in the local area by inviting well-established healthcare providers to hold conversations about their fields of expertise. These Community Health Talks are informative responses to current needs that are challenging people in our city. The hope is that, through these discussions, the New Orleans
community will become more aware of resources we have to take care of ourselves and each other. Dr. Posas is a graduate of the medical school at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. He did his residency training at University of Miami in Neurology where he was a Chief Resident in his final year. He was the inaugural Sports Neurology fellow at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Institute in Los Angeles. He has been practicing Sports Neurology, focusing on concussions and posttraumatic headaches, at Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans since 2014. He serves at the national level on the American
Academy of Neurology’s Healthcare Disparity Task Force and is a graduate of the Academy’s 2017 Diversity Leadership Program. He is passionate about reducing unconscious bias towards women as well as racially & ethnically diverse patient populations & healthcare providers. Prescription Joy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which allows it to accept tax-deductible donations. Donations can be made at the Talk as well as on the website: www.prescriptionjoy.org
BOOK REVIEW The Damned Don’t Cry, They Just Disappear: The Life and Works of Harry Hervey Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com The Damned Don’t Cry, They Just Disappear: The Life and Works of Harry Hervey. Harlan Greene. University of South Carolina Press, 2018. 184 pages. $29.00. Until the publication of The Damned Don’t Cry, They Just Disappear, Harry Hervey was perhaps the most neglected writer in the gay literary canon. Hervey (1900—1951) was master of several literary genres. He rebelled against social convention by living openly with his gay lover (Carleton A. Hildreth) in South Carolina at a time when being gay could land a person in jail or a mental asylum. In addition to 14 books, Hervey also wrote the screenplay for Shanghai Express, the classic film starring Marlene Dietrich. As Greene illustrates, Hervey’s novels, short stories, nonfiction books, and film scripts contain complex mixtures of history, and thinly disguised homoerotic situations and themes. They blend local color, naturalism, melodrama, and psychological and sexual truths that provide a view into the circles in which he moved. Living openly with his male lover in Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, Hervey set novels in these cities that scandalized the locals and critics as well. He challenged the sexual mores of his day, sometimes subtly and at other times brazenly presenting texts
that told one story to gay male readers, while still courting a mainstream audience. His novels and nonfiction may have been coded and thus escaped detection in their day, but twenty-first century readers can decipher them easily. Greene also discusses Hervey’s travel books and successful Hollywood scriptwriting, as well as his use of exotic elements from Asian cultures. Shanghai Express was based on one of his original stories. He also wrote some of the first travel books on Indochina, with descriptions of male and female prostitution and allusions to his own sexual adventures, which still make for sensational reading today. This biography is a fine piece of literary archaeology and offers an intriguing glimpse into a fascinating life. It is also a solid first step in recovering a “lost” gay writer. Greene has published numerous fiction and nonfiction books and essays focused on Charleston, South Carolina, homosexuality, and Jewish identity. He received the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Men’s Fiction for his 1991 coming-of-age story What the Dead Remember and was nominated for the same award for his 2005 novel The German Officer’s Boy.
22 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Loyola University to Offer Tour Guiding, French Quarter History Classes
Beginning in January, Ambush columnist and local historian Frank Perez will be teaching three courses at Loyola University. Professional Tour Guiding 1: Introduction is designed for people preparing to take the New Orleans Tour Guide Permit exam or who just want to learn more about New Orleans. Students will gain skills in the tourism industry and knowledge about the City of New Orleans. In addition to eleven classroom sessions one evening a week, the class includes two field trips that are guided walking tours of the city. Classroom sessions consist of instructor lectures, guest speakers, and student presentations. Previous guest speakers have included representatives from the Tour Guides Association of Greater New Orleans, the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, The National WWII Museum, Gray Line Tours, New Orleans Tours, City Sightseeing New Orleans, and New Orleans Music Tours. Students also have the option to take the Tour Guide Permit exam on the last night of class. Professional Tour Guiding 2: Research and Storytelling focuses on research and storytelling skills. Class sessions consist of lectures, workshops, and guest speaker presentations from research facilities such as The Historic New Orleans Collection, Louisiana Research Collection, New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana State Museum, and Amistad Research Center. Students will choose one subject to investigate deeply and give a presentation about the topic. The last class meeting is a field trip with guided walking tour. Professional Tour Guiding 3: History of the French Quarter focuses on the history of the French Quarter as both the original City of New Orleans and its shifting role as the city’s flagship neighborhood. While the French, Spanish, and early American periods are covered, the emphasis of the course is on 20th century history. Topics include, but are not limited to: architecture, historical preservation, colorful characters, the rise of tourism, literature and arts, drinking culture, crime and vice, and LGBT+ history. The last class meeting is a tour of the French Quarter. All three courses are non-credit and are offered by Loyola’s Department of Professional and Continuing Studies. The classes meet once a week in the evening. Dates and prices are yet to be determined.
Frank Perez, B.S., M.A., is an historian, a tour guide, a public speaker, and a writer who lives in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He has authored three books: Southern Decadence in New Orleans, In Exile: The History and Lore Surrounding New Orleans Gay Culture and Its Oldest
Gay Bar, and Treasures of the Vieux Carre: Ten Self-Guided Walking Tours of the French Quarter. He is also the co-editor of the anthology My Gay New Orleans: 28 Personal Reminiscences on LGBT+ Life in New Orleans. His publications also include a number of scholarly articles in ac-
ademic journals as well as a number of poems and short stories in various literary journals. Perez also owns a small business, the Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, and is a licensed tour guide. He currently serves as President of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana.
www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 23
SNAP PAPARAZZI The Corner Pocket PHOTOS BY JEREMY
THE CORNER POCKET Where the Boys are dancing nightly on the bar starting at 9PM!
OPENING HOURS Everyday Noon - TILL ADDRESS 940 St Louis Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 568-9829 www.cornerpocket.net
24 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
MOVIE REVIEWS Scare Tactics Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com I very rarely do movie reviews, but in the spirit of Halloween and since I was able to check out two movies before or on their release, I thought I would share my thoughts on Halloween 2018 and Suspiria. I am maniacal (pun intended) about horror movies, so I was more than pumped to see the new re-imaging of Halloween, 40 years after its release in 1978. Halloween, the first horror movie I can remember watching and truly enjoying, is one of the classics. Now we are forty years later and-gasp--Jamie Lee Curtis (the best final girl in my opinion) is a grandmother. God, where has the time gone?! Halloween 2018 was directed by David Gordon Green and written by Green, Jeff Fradley, and actor Danny McBride who is a frequent collaborator of his. This is the 11th installment of the series but in this timeline is a direct sequel to the 1978 film. Sorry Halloween H20, I loved you but you never happened, Set 40 years after the original film, the plot follows Laurie Strode as she prepares to face Michael Myers when he returns to Haddonfield, Illinois, af-
ter his killing spree on Halloween night in 1978. In addition to Curtis’ return we also see original actor Nick Castle reprise his roles as an adult Michael Myers or The Shape. Joining the cast is Judy Greer and Andi Matichak (portraying Laurie’s daughter and granddaughter respectively). The film has grossed over $172 million worldwide, making it the highest grossing film in the franchise, as well as breaking several other box office records. But it also has set other records too such as biggest horror movie opening with a female lead; biggest movie opening with a female lead over 55; second biggest horror movie opening ever; second biggest October movie opening ever. That is quite a list of accomplishments, but how is the movie? I LOVED IT! Jamie Lee Curtis and team knocked it out of the park. The superior writing, acting and directing meshed together perfectly to create a new horror classic. The movie begins with some podcast reporters paying Michael a visit at Haddonfield Sanitarium where they purposely try to get a reaction out of the mass murderer who
killed five people year ago. They visit Laurie next who sets up the story. Laurie is driven to the point of obsession; estranged from her family, she now lives in isolation preparing for the day Michael escapes and comes back after her. Well, as luck would have it, they are moving the patient to another facility the day before Halloween. Bus crashes, Michael escapes and mayhem (and carnage) ensue. And Michael is relentless in his mission of death and no one is spared. A nod also goes out to original co-creator John Carpenter who worked as composer, executive producer, and creative consultant. Like the original, the music, set an eerie and suspenseful mood. For fans of the series, there are lots of nods to the original and past sequels. Discussing the movie any further would give too much away, so go check it out - full rainbow! Also, rumor has it a sequel is in development. Girl squeal with delight. I wish my next review was a better one, Suspiria is a remake of the 1977 film directed by Dario Argento who is known for his work in the horror film genre during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in the subgenre known as giallo, and for his influence on modern horror films. The new film was directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by David Kajganich and stars Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton in a triple role, Jessica Harper, and Chloë Grace
Moretz. Harper was the lead in the original film and she should have quit while she was ahead. Set in 1977 Berlin, the plot follows a young American dancer who enrolls at a prestigious dance academy controlled by a coven of witches. Unlike Argento’s original film, this movie plays more as an artistic and stylized horror film. The sets and scenes are bleak, absent of color. The film also incorporates stylized dance sequences choreographed by Damien Jalet, which factor significantly in its representation of witchcraft and was my favorite part of the movie. Concurrent to its plot surrounding the coven is a secondary plot involving a psychotherapist who lost his wife under the Nazi regime. Unfortunately, it was hard for me to warm up to this film. The pacing plodded at a glacier’s pace, never really picking up till the last fifteen minutes. This film could easily have sliced off 30 minutes. Tilda Swinton and the teachers played their creepy characters with glee but even they could not help this movie. By the time the climatic scene occurred, I was bored. In the original Suspiria, the murder and bloodshed were equally delivered with the finesse of the dance sequences, a quality lacking here. Still in all, I love anything Tilda is in, so for that alone, I give a quarter rainbow.
www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 25
Party Down Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com The two weeks leading up to Halloween were filled with thrills, a few chills and one amazing Halloween New Orleans weekend that was scary fun! Let’s jump right into all the fun. There was much cause for celebration on Friday, October 20 when CrescentCare turned 35. At a fete at the Cannery, supporters of the organization which started as the NO/ AIDS Task Force came together for an evening of food, music and memories. During the evening, several people spoke about what the organization has meant to them and culminated with CEO Noel Twilbeck discussing the future of CrescentCare. A slide show played showing highlights of the organization from its humble inception to now. All of the Walks, Art Against Aids and fundraisers brought the audience down memory lane. Helping so many people from the beginning, CrescentCare moves forward helping a new generation,One major step being their move from Tulane Avenue to the new complex located at 1631 Elysian Fields. On Saturday, my night began by attending the NOAGE (New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders) Halloween party at Jim Meadows’ home. I love a good house party and this one was decked out all the way even down to a fog machine at the entrance. Guests mingled over delicious nibbles
and cocktails. This organization excels at social functions better than anyone else in my opinion, always providing creative happenings for their supporters and members. It was the perfect way to kick off my night. Prost! That is “Cheers!” in German and was said numerous times at the Krewe of Armeinius’ Cocktoberfest held at their den on South Broad Street. This event is one of the Krewe’s crowning fundraisers for their 2019 Bal Masque which will be held this year at Mardi Gras World. I donned my lederhosen and attended ready for a night of German gaiety-and the krewe delivered! Beer wenches greeted guests at the door pouring full glasses of ale in their custom steins. There was a silent auction filled with great items and German dishes which included Chad’s potato salad and Beaux’s succulent beer-boiled sausages - tasty! The entertainment for the night included several contests like the classic beer chug, sausage eating/deep throat (I love a person without a gag reflex), and the Fireball challenge. Plus the Chicken Scheiss Bingo and a drag show. Congrats to the Krewe of Armeinius for hosting another excellent event. Herzliche Glückwünsche! My birthday may have passed but like any good Libra (and only child) I like to celebrate the entire month
of October. On Sunday, I rented out one of the theaters in Canal Place for my Bloody Brunch which consisted of mimosas and murder. Several of my friends packed the show for free flowing champagne, popcorn and a viewing of the new Halloween 2018 starring Jamie Lee Curtis. Having your birthday party at Regal Cinema Canal Place is awesome from the helpful staff to the good food. I have to admit renting out the theatre has spoiled me for watching movies so in the future I may start a quarterly movie club. The movie was scary fun (see review) and sharing it with my friends made it even more special. So I didn’t just go see the new Halloween movie, I created a fond memory of hanging out with the special people in my life. But my Sunday Funday was not over after that, I ran over after the film to Jim Mounger’s gorgeous house on Nashville for the Halloween New Orleans’ last stop. Jim has hosted the final party leading up to the big weekend for the last few years. Thus begins the countdown to the big three-day weekend. People pick up their packets and socialize with the other Hosts. Jim’s exquisite home lends itself perfectly to this event and his art collection would make some museums jealous. It also made for the perfect pregaming spot before the Saints game viewing for which we hopped over to the 700 Club.
If you haven’t been there to watch a Saints game, I highly recommend it. There are scrumptious eats at their restaurant (OMG their macaroni bites are to die for), lots of hot men excitedly jumping around and free shots every time the Saints make a touchdown. Score! The following week started with my Monday walk with the NOAGE Walking Group at Audubon Park. We had a larger crowd this week since we were joined by the Stonewall Running Club that joins us every third Monday. Although I cannot keep up with them, I love watching these guys run away from me and then run past me twice while I walk the track - showoffs. If you are looking for camaraderie and a little exercise on a Monday evening, this is the group for you, The culmination of the week was Halloween New Orleans (HNO) and I am honored to be on the board of this worthwhile organization. These men work very hard to produce a wonderful three-day weekend for locals and visitors alike, and I was supposed to see how many people attend this event from out of town. Friday night’s Lazarus Ball was held at the Hyatt New Orleans and is a black-tie optional event that has live music, an incredible silent auction with some noted art pieces, food and libations. I believe it brings the elegance to a weekend
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of decadence. Music was provide by Troy Marks and No Idea and the cuisine was done by different restaurants around the city such as Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, Eat, and Chef Ron’s Gumbo Shop just to name a few. Saturday, my friends and I were off to HNO’s Main event Sideshow at the Contemporary Arts Center. We dressed in theme as Carnival Treats, good things to put in your mouth. I was Cracker Jacks (Jackine), Beaux Church was Popcorn (Poppy), Barrett Church was hot dog (Frankie), Matt
was Cotton Candy (Kandy) and Countess C Alice was Snowballs (Cherry). The talented Countess also created and designed our costumes and makeup and we were slaying it. The event was just incredible, from the decor to the layout. Persana Shoulders acted as emcee for the evening’s festivities that starred DJ Kitty Glitter who is as talented as she is personable. Bring her back every year and I will keep coming. The drinks flowed, the costumes were inspired and a good time was
had by all. We left about 3 a.m. but I still had the partying bug inside me, so a few of us ended out the night at the Phoenix with nightcaps. It has been a long while since I have rolled in at 5 a.m. but good to know I still have it in me. HNO’s festivities ended on Sunday with the Funhouse at the Pier at Crescent Park along the Mississippi River . This is an ideal spot to hold the event dancing away as the breeze gently kept us cool. More cocktails flowed as the hot guys showed up in force. The
event ended with a second line that led guests to the corner of St. Ann and Bourbon. The second line had some great dance groups such as the Petty Bettys, the Merry Antoinettes and the Streetcar Strutters. These ladies added extra pizazz to the event. After the parade, I traipsed around to Oz, Good Friends and Lafitte’s before calling it a night. You know you had a fabulous weekend, when you need to take Monday off just to recuperate. Until next time, keep calm and party on.
TRICENTENNIAL PROFILES IN HISTORY Morris Henry Hobbs Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com In 1938, a young artist from Indiana visited New Orleans and, like so many others, immediately fell in love with the city. Seduced by the decaying yet beautiful architecture of the French Quarter, Hobbs rented a studio apartment at 740 Royal Street at the corner of St. Ann and began drawing. The adjacent picture, Patio at 740 Royal, depicts the courtyard of the 1830s building which housed his studio. The
courtyard today looks very much the same, right down to the statue of cherubs at play and the columns that flank it. Although he intended to stay only a short while, he ended up living in the French Quarter ten years. During that time, Hobbs became a part of the local arts scene, which was thriving in the French Quarter in the 1940s. He joined the New Orleans Art League,
the Art Association of New Orleans, and the Arts and Crafts Club. According to art historian Claudia Kheel, he also “established a relationship with Harmanson’s Art and Bookstore on Royal Street. There, his prints were sold to tourists and locals alike along with printed postcards and calendars illustrated with his artwork.” Hobbs viewed his work in New Orleans as a means of documenting a neighborhood that he and others feared would ultimately be lost to mod-
ernization. Hobbs was a strong advocate for the architectural preservation of the French Quarter. Today, Hobbs’ prints continue to be highly collectible. His work is housed in over a dozen local and national institutions, including the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Historic New Orleans Collection, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and Tulane University. Hobbs died in New Orleans in 1967.
Painting depicting 740 Royal Street www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 27
Trodding the Boards Brian Sands bsnola2@hotmail.com
Dames at Sea at The WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen through Nov. 11
With the possible exception of “Let’s put on a show!” the most wellknown movie musical meme must be “The show must go on!” And go on it does, fabulously, at The WWII Museum despite wrecking balls and with the help of a battleship that’s commandeered as a theater. Or, rather, make that “And go on they do...” as the “fabulous” applies to both the Stage Door Canteen’s revival of Dames at Sea and its show-withinthe-show. As most of you reading this column know (or should know), Dames at Sea debuted 50+ years ago off-off-Broadway, eventually moving for an extended run off-Broadway and making the very young Bernadette Peters a star in the process. It’s a send-up of those glorious Busby Berkeley 1930s musicals like 42nd Street in which a newly-arrived-in-Manhattan gal from the Midwest immediately lands a Broadway job, goes out a chorus gal, and comes back a star. Dames always walked the fine line between being a pocket-sized version of its cinematic cousins and a loving parody of them. If the cast doesn’t flesh out the characters with real emotions, the show can descend into mere camp; if the script’s satire doesn’t get its due, the fun evaporates as in Le Petit’s wan 2004 production. Happily, Director Banu Gibson finds the ideal balance. If parts of this Dames remind one of a wicked Carl Burnett spoof, Gibson, aided by her terrific cast, locates the heart in other moments so you truly care about each person on stage. Gibson’s pacing never flags and she adds nice touches like opening credits in the style of a film, shadow projections that enhance one of the songs, and, for the It’s You number, the wise inclusion of images of the celebrities the lyrics reference as some (Bert Wheeler, Richard Arlen, Marion Tally, Charles Farrell, Nancy Carroll, etc.) are long past their boldface-name days. Known primarily as a swinging jazz singer and with the direction of only a few cabaret evenings under her belt, let’s hope Gibson will be helming more musicals in the future. Let’s also hope we see more of Amelia Jacquat who plays the ingenue from Utah, Ruby (a homage to Ruby Keeler who often took on such roles). Jacquat, currently studying musical theater at NOCCA, has a crystal clear voice with just a hint of tartness to it. She and the equally talented Anthony
Anthony Michael Harvey, Amelia Jacquat and Renell Taylor in Dames at Sea Michael Harvey as a songwriting sailor and Ruby’s would-be beau Dick (as in Keeler’s co-star Dick Powell) perfectly capture the show’s requisite style combo of sincerity and knowing irony. Also perfect is Renell Taylor as Lucky, Dick’s fellow seaman (things tend to get punny in Dames) and best friend. Over the past few years, I’ve admired Taylor, another NOCCA student, but knew him mostly as a fantastic dancer. Here he proves to be a marvelous singer and actor as well. With his lanky body and expressive face, would somebody please give him the leading Ray Bolger role in Where’s Charley? Trina Beck may not be naturally imperious as Mona Kent, the manipulative, seasoned star of the show (Ann Miller played her in a TV version), but that makes sense when it’s revealed she was originally Grace Topolovsky from Flatbush. Pretentiously dropping French phrases, Beck makes a determined foil to Ruby but, after hilariously seducing an old boyfriend, her innate warmth allows her ultimate support of Ruby to be believable. And, like the others, she sings and dances up a storm. That boyfriend, a Captain in the Navy with Southern roots, is half of Gary Rucker’s dual role; the other is the hard-boiled director of the show. He’s just right in each, slightly hammy, but never overdoing it. Keyara Milliner appealingly com-
pletes the cast as Joan (a nod to Joan Blondell, the wisecracking sidekick in some of the Gold Diggers films), Ruby’s pal and Lucky’s gal with hopes for a wedding ring. Harry Mayronne oversees the musical direction with his usual prodigious artistry. Hope Bennett’s period costumes are finely detailed; note how the umbrellas and raincoats match each of the characters during Raining in My Heart. Heidi Malnar’s choreography comes close to Busby Berkeley’s spectacularity albeit with 6 performers instead of dozens; with the finale, aside from Savion Glover’s astounding performance at Jazzfest earlier this year, New Orleans has not seen such an incredible display of tap dancing in a generation. If Dames at Sea doesn’t make complete sense, well, neither did all those 1930s movies that inspired it. That George Haimsohn and Robin Miller’s book and lyrics hold up as well as they do, despite the politically incorrect Singapore Sue song (which might just be sending up such numbers from back in the day), is impressive. Jim Wise’s pastiche tunes have the proper period flavor. My only real criticism is that this delightful production doesn’t belong in the cynicism-free atmosphere of the WWII Museum where a good deal of the humor seemed to go over the audience’s heads. To give you an idea, a
gentleman came up to me at intermission to ask why I laughed out loud at a certain point, the only one in the auditorium who did so. I couldn’t remember though there seemed to be a number of times when I got a joke or innuendo, the only viewer who was amused. This Dames really should be done in a more quirky venue like the AllWays Lounge where an audience of gays and hipsters would surely appreciate all the camp, as well as the talent, on display!
School of Rock and On Your Feet! at the Saenger Theatre
When I first saw School of Rock on Broadway in 2016, I didn’t know what to expect. I hadn’t seen the movie on which it is based. I’m not much of a fan of rock’n’roll. And I hadn’t enthused about a new Andrew Lloyd Webber show for over 30 years. Yet I loved it! Returning to it recently to see the touring production at the Saenger, I still enjoyed it, but knowing what to expect deprived me of the element of joyful surprise I experienced when encountering it anew. If you did see the film, the musical follows it pretty faithfully. Bookwriter Julian (Downton Abbey) Fellowes wisely didn’t mess much with Mike White’s successful screenplay and if parts of the script are a bit ridiculous, or
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improbable to say the least, its strong narrative thread, not to mention good humor and overall high-spiritedness, keeps you involved. If you haven’t seen SoR, it follows Dewey Finn, an out-of-work zhlubby rock singer/guitarist who, needing cash, pretends to be a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. After identifying musical talent in his uptight students, Dewey surreptitiously forms a band of fifth-graders in an attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands. After a cute start, things slow down as the plot gets set up, but midway through the first act, as Dewey discovers the latent rockers among his charges (You’re in the Band), SoR takes off and stays in musical-comedyville’s buoyant stratosphere through the finale as the kids blossom and hard-edged, if somewhat caricatured, parents learn important life lessons. Glenn Slater provides witty, inventive lyrics (though it was more difficult to comprehend all of them here than in NYC) for Lloyd Webber’s tunes and if none of the melodies quite match his celebrated ones from Cats or Evita, they’re good enough and seem apt for this tale. Merritt David James may not be as manic as Broadway’s Dewey, Alex Brightman (or maybe he just has a tad less charisma), but he still gives an endearing performance that resists sugarcoating Dewey’s shortcomings while allowing his decency and iconoclasm, as well as his growing affection for the kids, to shine through. As the school’s rigid principal and Dewey’s putative love interest, Lexie Dorsett Sharp nicely fills out the role especially as her hard exterior starts to melt (though she missed some of her top notes when essaying a passage of The Magic Flute’s Queen of the Night at the start). It’s the 13 kids, however, who are the heart of the show and they’re all great. Stand-outs include Sami Bray, a pint-sized pro, as an overachiever who becomes the band’s manager, bossy but understandably so; Grier Burke whose terrible shyness evaporates when she sings; Sammy Dell, adorable as a budding stylist and likely homosexual; and the four who actually make up the band (Mystic Inscho, Theo Mitchell-Penner, Leanne Parks, Cameron Trueblood) and play live--phenomenally--throughout the show. It’s also nice to see such a multi-ethnic cast in roles where race doesn’t necessarily matter. JoAnn M. Hunter’s choreography may be enthusiastic but made me wonder if kids only stomp and jump up & down when they dance. Laurence Connor finely calibrated his direction to allow the show’s momentum to build for maximum emotional impact but it seemed a little fuzzier than in New York, not everything snapping into
full focus here. Sets & costumes by Anna Louizos and lighting by Natasha Katz were both topnotch, the equal of Broadway. School of Rock is running until January 20, 2019, on Broadway. If you haven’t experienced it before, it just might be one of the most unexpectedly enjoyable shows you’re likely to see. Next up in the Saenger’s Broadway series is On Your Feet!, based on the life story of seven-time Grammy-winning international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband, producer/musician/entrepreneur Emilio Estefan. It will play here Nov. 27–Dec. 2. Gloria Estefan has sold over 100 million records, selling out stadiums around the world. Emilio and Gloria Estefan together have won 26 Grammy Awards. Their music, however, tells only half their story. From the heart of Havana to the streets of Miami came a cultural explosion unlike anything the music industry had ever seen. On Your Feet! follows the Estefans’ journey to superstardom, set to their chart-topping smash hits, including Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, Conga, 1-2-3, and Get On Your Feet, in addition to an original song written by Gloria and her daughter Emily Estefan. On Your Feet! is directed by twotime Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray) and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis), with an original book by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman).
an old doctor haunted by love finds macabre romance. (Mudlark Public Theatre) The Private Secret Life of Agnes by Agnes de Garron in which “the Legend of the Year returns!” (Dragonfly) The Shadow Merchant, Ratty Scurvics’ tale of suicidal unicorns, orphans and, yes, wizardry. (AllWays Lounge) The Southern Decadent, Kathleen Conlon’s observations of the French Quarter in the 80s, through a glass intimate. (Bar Redux) TRIGGER WARNING: The Play About the Baby or KNOCK ME UP: The Last Time He Hit Me by Diana E.H. Shortes. (Art Klub) The individual price for all shows (except the BYOV productions) is $10, in advance at Brown Paper Tickets or at the door. Full weekend passes, non-transferable but good for a single admission to any show (including the BYOVs) is $90. A three-admission mini-pass, good in any combination of shows and attendees, is available for $25. Show-specific information and links to advance purchases are available at www.infringefest.com. Please send press releases and notices of your upcoming shows to Brian Sands at bsnola2@hotmail.com.
Our legacy is yours.
New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders (NOAGE) provides services and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults in the New Orleans metro area. We host regular social events for LGBT older adults and their allies, and we provide cultural competency trainings for healthcare and other service providers. To learn more, visit www.noagenola.org, or call (504)517-2345.
Curtain Up
InFringe Fest New Orleans returns for its third edition, November 7 - 11, at twelve venues in the Quarter, Marigny and Bywater, with a line-up of over 50 shows. Official venues are the AllWays Lounge, Art Garage, Art Klub, Bar Redux, Café Istanbul, the Dragonfly, the Garret (above NOLA Shaolin-Do), GrandPre’s, Happyland, Marcer Manor, the Mudlark Public Theatre, and Seelos Hall (at Blessed Francis Seelos). In addition, there will be BYOV productions at Kajun’s Pub and Parleaux Beer Lab. Some of the more intriguing shows include: Margeaux Fanning’s The MOMologues, a compilation of monologues, all true stories about dear ol’ Mom, written by Margeaux Fanning, Winter Randall, Rudy San Miguel, Crystal Thomassie, Jen Pagan, Meredith Mullins, and Alison Logan. (Art Garage) Sex Partners in Crime by Jon Broder that promises “Sex. Love. Murder. It’s a new gay romcom!” (AllWays Lounge) Doctor Tanzler and the Girl Whose Name Was Miracle a new tale from the Mudlark Puppeteers in which
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COMMUNITY VOICE
Responding to Xenophobia Pastor Allie Rowland Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans alisan.rowloand@gmail.com Last year, during a phone call with my mom, she told me a story about how she accidentally illegally crossed the border from California into Mexico. She was using her GPS on her way to pick up my stepfather Alejandro from a trip to Mexico when she realized that at some point she had driven across the border. My mother was anxious and fearful the whole time. She doesn’t speak Spanish and wasn’t certain she understood the road signs at all, but she persevered and found herself at the airport. Once there, she couldn’t find my stepfather, her cell phone had died, and again she didn’t speak Spanish. She knew how to say “help me, please” (Ayúdame, por favor), and so she managed to get help from one of the agents at the airport. She would not have been able to reconnect with Alejandro if it hadn’t been for the kindness of this woman who went above her professional duties and let my mom use her personal phone to call my stepfather. Providence was on her side again to pass
back out of Mexico without having to pay a $5000.00 fine for her illegal border crossing and lack of knowledge about the border. I don’t know if any of you can relate to my mother’s story…if you’ve ever felt like a stranger in a strange land. The hospitality she received from this woman in Mexico may seem like a small act of kindness, but for my mother who felt panicked and confused and helpless in that moment, it was everything. The fear of those who are different seems to be all around us these days as we listen to debates about the caravan of refugees moving north towards America, as we absorb the reality of a gunman entering the Tree of Life synagogue and murdering American citizens, and as we try to understand the racism that motivates a re-energized white supremacy movement (leading to everything from people of color being harassed while simply living their lives to being murdered in a Kroger’s grocery store). In a world that feels less safe for
so many of us, how do we respond? The reality is that all of us notice people who are different than we are in some way. And sometimes that leads us to fear. I’ve feared those who seem to want to eliminate LGBT people, and hearing the recent story about the leader of Tanzania who plans to arrest homosexuals in his country with a 30year sentence does little to allay my fears. If we want to react differently than those who oppress our community, then it might be important to ask ourselves some questions? Who is the stranger in your life? The immigrant? The refugee? The one who is of a different culture and perhaps religion than yours? What would it mean to you to provide an act of kindness to them? What would it mean for you to seek justice for them, against hate crimes and acts of discrimination that are directed towards them? When we decide to be allied with a community different than we are; it matters that we reach out to a com-
munity that has been harmed and ask them how we can best offer support. Real allies are willing to listen to the communities with which they want to be in solidarity, and to adjust our behaviors if we are not being effective allies. As people from communities who have been discriminated against, marginalized and misunderstood, we know how painful it can be to be judged, hated, or dismissed. As we deal with a culture of fear and of xenophobia around us, I encourage you to out yourself as someone who rejects discrimination of any kind. May we welcome each other’s differences and what we have to learn from one another, even as we acknowledge and celebrate our common humanity. And may our actions reflect compassion and love so that none of the people we meet have to feel like strangers in a strange land.
A COMMUNITY WITHIN COMMUNITIES
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” The Very Rev. Bill Terry+ fr.bill@stannanola.org No this is not The Byrds! If you are old enough to remember The Byrds you are likely, like me, endowed with chronic back pain, going to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and generally exhausted after walking ten blocks. No this is not ORIGINALLY from The Byrds (a very old rock group). It is from an obscure but important source called Ecclesiastes or if you are Jewish Kohelet . It is part of “Wisdom” literature from the Bible. That literature is the philosophical musings of writers and in this case written at least 200 years B.C. perhaps 400 years B.C. Yet, it still resonates today. In this particular set of verses we discover that life is a series of ups and downs. For instance: A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; If you live at all you know that “Life” is filled with sadness and joy; life and death; hatred and love; giving and taking. Life is all of those things because none of us are singular. We are complicated, some more than others, because of our life events, culture, world-
view, attitudes, and so on. So too was this past season. The massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue, Matthew Shepherd’s Final Rest and other poignant stories offered us a reminder that our world is complicated. But it is not so complicated that we cannot draw some inferences from each of these moving and powerful events that each impact our community directly. “Jews, homosexuals, and Roma should be gassed!” Jaroslav Staník, the secretary of the ultra-right wing Czech populist party, November 2017. “[Nikolas] Cruz said in his conversation with five other youths in the group that he hated “Jews, n-----s, immigrants,” CNN reported. He also talked about killing Mexicans, keeping black people in chains and shooting gay people “in the back of the head,” among several other racist memes and videos.” Miami Herald 2018. The national rhetoric has become a legitimizing agent for extremists. When we degrade a man who is challenged in a speech, it is violent; when a woman’s period is alluded to in a
demeaning way during a speech, it is violent; when humans are referred to as animals and “body slamming” a reporter is applauded, it is violent. When such violence is perpetrated upon the public by a high public office that legitimizes such speech, our country is endorsing violence. Anti-Semitism has experienced a dramatic rise in the past two years. Is that coincidence or is it a product of legitimizing violence in the public forum? I suggest the later. It is equally true that homophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism have and continue to exist in our communities. But speech that embraces unity, freedom, protections for all, and hope seems to keep a lid on much of that. Further, as time goes on and as our communities “come out” and begin to engage with one another fostered by such speech the barriers start to drop and human solidarity starts to take hold. Hate speech, violent speech, counter-punching in political discourse is not only coarse and tawdry it is foundational to hate action. It should be known that those identified by haters, such as LGBTQ+,
Jews, Roma, People of Color, do have supporters. They, no we, stand with each other and with a sea of like-minded humans all calling for the triumph of love over hate and violence. It is equally true that much of the so called “mainstream” faith organizations are one by one seeing the truth of this Gospel of Love and inclusion over and against a prescription of Laws and Ordinances that speak to a time long gone. In my tradition, Jesus is constantly poking at “the heart of the Law” he is constantly challenging a follower’s or detractor’s interior motivation. Jesus is constantly in search and encouraging a change in disposition toward love and fraternity/sorority. He sees creation of humanity as hostage to disenfranchisement and stands against such. Now some of his churches and synagogues even some temples and mosques are drawing closer to “the heart” of hope, inclusion, and love. Hate speech is being pushed against. We, you, are not alone.
30 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Tony Leggio AT CRESCENT CARE EVENT AT THE CANNERY
AT NOAGE HALLOWEEN PARTY
WATCHING SAINTS GAME AT THE 700 CLUB
AT WILLIAM SPARKS AND LAWRENCE GOBBLE’S HALLOWEEN PARTY AT THE GOBBLE SANCTUARY
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SNAP PAPARAZZI Oz New Orleans PHOTOS BY DWAIN HERTZ, OZ STAFF, AND #OZNEWORLEANS & SUBMITTED BY PERSANA SHOULDERS
OZ New Orleans 2-story, 24/7 gay dance club with DJs, drag shows, go-go dancers & a balcony for people-watching.
OPENING HOURS
FRI, SAT & SUN: 24/7 MON–THURS: Opens at 1PM
ADDRESS 800 Bourbon Street New Orleans, LA Phone: (504) 593-9491 32 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
Why You Should Be at the NOAGE Gala on November 16 Jim Meadows Executive Director, NOAGE info@noagenola.org Look, I feel ya. You’ve been to more fundraisers and LGBT-related galas in the past couple of months than you can count on your hands. You’re tired. You’re going broke. Your gala wiring has shorted out, and you just want to rest. You absolutely should, and you have my permission to drop everything and get that disco nap in right now. Because you need to get rested up for the 4th Annual NOAGE Gala: “Under the Sea!” Here’s why: Can you think of any fundraiser, nay, any event outside your own home that you’ve been to this year that gave you three hours of an open bar, a sixcourse meal, a live jazz band (Yisrael) followed by one of the greatest DJs around (DJ Menace), a photo booth, an auction with amazing artwork, not to mention sharks and even a merman or two…for just fifty bucks? I didn’t think so. Costuming isn’t required, but why would you not? It’s an aquatic theme, y’all. You’ve been waiting years for your chance to be Ariel – or better yet, Ursula – and the time has finally come. (Dressy casual is fine too.) But all of that notwithstanding, I have some even better reasons why you should support this event. NOAGE is the only organization in Louisiana providing services and advocacy for LGBT older adults. Many of you have attended our events, volunteered, or sat in on one of our cultural competency trainings. But for the rest of you who may be wondering, “What does NOAGE actually do?” I’m here to tell you just some of the things we’ve accomplished this past year. Since the launch of our LGBT Elders Provider Network, we have trained hundreds of local healthcare professionals in LGBT cultural competency. The importance of this work really cannot be stressed enough. We need to feel comfortable being open with our doctors about our sexuality, and we need to know that the clinics, hospitals, and long-term care facilities we may eventually need are aware of our unique needs. Many of us go back into the closet when we enter nursing homes because we are scared of being mistreated by staff and bullied by our peers. That is completely unacceptable, and NOAGE is working to change it with these trainings, all of which have been provided free of charge. We host monthly Coffee Talks at the New Orleans Healing Center. Each month, a moderator leads a discussion on various topics. This year, Clayton Delery discussed his ground-breaking new book on the murder of Fernando Rios; Kenneth Mitchell presented
Life Reimagined; Rolf VanAnders introduced us to mindfulness and meditation practice; Nicholas Van Sickles talked to us about sex; and Catherine Roland helped us build our self-care skills and taught us to celebrate our victories. (Shout-out to PJ’s for giving us a discount on their delicious coffee and pastries each month!) Last year, NOAGE participated in the first SAGE Table, a nationwide initiative aimed at bringing together LGBT people of all generations for a meal with great conversations. The success of that event inspired our monthly potlucks. It’s become our most popular recurring event, and a great deal of credit is due to NOAGE Board Member Mike Hardie and to our dedicated volunteers. NOAGE Board Members Paul Metoyer and LaQuan Fields have organized four Movie Nights. We’ve screened Freak Show, King Cobra, and The Ritz. Later this month we will screen Bohemian Rhapsody, the new Freddie Mercury biopic. (That one “sold out” within a few days, so unfortunately there are no free tickets left). We’re very grateful to Chalmette Movies for all the support they’ve given us throughout our partnership this year. We recently started a weekly walk/ run club in collaboration with Stonewall Sports New Orleans. We’ve been meeting in Audubon Park so far, but that will have changed by the time this is published, as daylight savings will have ended. (Stay tuned for new time, location, and other details.) We’ve had some one-off events this year too: a line-dancing class in March, a Membership Party in April, a Game Night in May, and an Ice Cream Social with the MCC in August. We also marched in both the Pride and Decadence parades, and we raised over $600 for NO/AIDS Task Force at the Walk to End HIV. We also visit isolated elders in their homes, and we bring them to our events where they have the opportunity to strengthen social ties between them and their new friends. If all of that sounds like a lot of work, believe me, it is. We do all of this with a staff of one, an all-volunteer Board of Directors, and a crew of amazing volunteers. We’ve gotten funding from several foundations and private donors, and some outside fundraising events by community members have helped us tremendously. But the truth of the matter is, we do all of this on a very small budget. There are times I wonder why more folks aren’t donating to us or becoming
Members. After all, it’s an investment in our collective future. NOAGE isn’t just for people who are over a certain age. NOAGE is for everyone in this community. Because, Instagram filters aside, none of us are getting any younger. If you want to help guarantee that you will have the support that you need as you get older, you should be supporting NOAGE. If you want to make sure that the generation that came before you is treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve – the generation that sacrificed their jobs, families, friends, and homes to live a free and authentic
life, giving you the opportunity to do the same – please support NOAGE. Now. All that aside, aren’t you just a little curious about that merman? For tickets, visit www.noagenola. org or call (504) 517-2345. Regular tickets are $50. VIP tickets are $100. The VIP package gets you a nice swag bag of exclusive gifts, 6:30pm admission, and the knowledge that you’re going to have an amazing experience while investing in a better future for all of us.
4th Annual
NOAGE Gala 2018
Join us at the
AQUARIUM OF THE AMERICAS NOVEMBER 16
Join us at the AQUARIUM OF THE AMERICAS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16th from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM CST for our 4th Annual Fundraiser Gala! This year's theme is "Under the Sea!" For Tickets: info@noagenola.org | or Call (504) 517-2345 For more info visit: hhps://bit.ly/2CD6G1U
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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] 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 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 BIG EASY DAIQUIRIS, 216 Bourbon, 501 Bourbon, 409 Decatur, 617 Decatur 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. Café Lafitte in Exile is the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the United States. 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. Designed for a casual night out or a quiet evening with that special someone, we offer a wide selection of liquor, beer, and the world renowned Separator. GRANDPRE’S, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615, Facebook.com/grandpres KAJUN’S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735, KajunPub.COM MAG’S 940, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888 NAPOLEON’S ITCH, 734 Bourbon St., 237-4144 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM THE PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 875.4976 PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, www.phoenixbarnola.com Rawhide 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM. Leather, Dark Rooms, & Bears All Around. You can feel the throb of excitement and smell it in the air. This isn’t just a bar. This is an experience! TROPICAL ISLE: Home of the Hand Grenade, 721 Bourbon St., 529.4109, TropicalIsle.COM VALIANT THEATRE AND LOUNGE, 6621 St. Claude Ave., Arabi, LA, 504.900.1743 Slidell, LA [985] BILLY’S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921
Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., 207.3271
bookstores
New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700
circuit/events
Easter Sunday, April 11, 2018, 19th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade. com
costumes
New Orleans, LA [504] QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633
galleries
New Orleans, LA [504] CASSELL-BERGEN GALLERY, 1305 Decatur St., cassellbergengallery.com, 504.524.0671
guides
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] 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. More than just a hardware store, Mary’s Ace French Quarter Hardware also features an extensive selection of kitchen and bath items upstairs.
accommodations
New Orleans [504] AARON INGRAM HAUS, 1012 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.949.3110, www.ingramhaus.com/xqey, e-mail us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com. Condos with queen-size 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. [0118] BLUES60 GUEST HOUSE, 1008 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117, Phone: 1.504.324.4311, www.blues60guesthouse.com, info@blues60guesthouse.com. The Blue60 Guest House with 5 suites provides a peaceful retreat in the center of the Faubourg Marigny, just blocks from the French Quarter and Frenchman St. [1115] 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, www.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 “half-kitchen”, 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] The french quarter guest houses, 1005
34 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
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!
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, P.O. Box 2587, LaPlace, LA 70069, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: info@ambushpublishing.com
organizations
FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 504.821.2601 ext. 254 FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), 504.319.8261, www.fridaynightbeforemardigras.com GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828A 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; HalloweenNewOrleans.COM 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 LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, 1308 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.475.7911, www.lgbtarchivesla.org MYSTIC KREWE OF LORDS OF LEATHER, 1000 Bourbon St #B415, New Orleans, LA 70116, www.lordsofleather.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 NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 504.821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM NEW ORLEANS PRIDE, info@neworleanspridefestival.com; 504.321.6006; NewOrleansPrideFestival.COM; NOLAPride. ORG; New Orleans Pride fully embraces the message of “One CommUNITY” as we celebrate our history and promote the future prosperity of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region. We use public awareness and education about the LGBT+ community as a way to combat “phobias” and discrimination. Our programs, seminars and events leading up to, and during Pride weekend, are meant to include individuals from all walks of life. 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 504.947.2121, stannanola.org Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans (MCCNO), 5401 S. Claiborne Ave — Pastor Alisan Rowland: New Orleans first LGBTQ church welcomes you to join us for our weekly Sunday worship services at 10:00 AM, where we celebrate God’s Love for everyone.
pharmacy
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
restaurants
Metairie, LA [504]
Get Listed for $10 per Issue Want to see your business, organization, or event in our next issue?
Email Ambush sales@ambushpublishing.com
Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop & Pub, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., 835.2022, GumboStop.com New Orleans, LA [504] The Bombay Club, 830 Rue Conti, 577.2237, www.bombayclubneworleans. com Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard, 819 Rue Conti, 581.3866, http://broussards.com Cafe Sbisa, 1011 Decatur St., 522.5565, www.cafesbisanola.com Cheezy Cajun, 3325 St. Claude Ave., 265.0045, www.TheCheezyCajun.com Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, www.CloverGrill.com. Since 1939, our quirky, cozy, unique diner has been home to the best breakfasts & burgers on Bourbon Street–maybe even the whole French Quarter! Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., www.TheCountryClubNewOrleans. com, 945.0742 Gene’s Po-Boys & Daquiris, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 943.3861, www.genespoboys.com Ilys Bistro, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 947.8341, www.Facebook.com/ILYSBistro Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails, 337 Chartres St. 598.5005, www.KinfishNewOrleans.com Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930, www.OrleansGrapevine.com Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, www.QuartermasterDeli.net Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal St., 528.2601, www.RoyalHouseRestaurant.com
real estate
New Orleans, LA [504] Engel & Völkers New Orleans, Michael Styles, Realtor — Michael specializes in helping first-time homebuyers and real estate investors find the perfect New Orleans properties. 504.777.1773, NolaStyles.com Latter & Blum, Steven Richards Realtor, 504.258.1800, SteveRichardsProperties.com
retail/shopping
New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 COK (Clothing or Kinkl), 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 MARY’S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 XXXSHOP, 1835 N. Rampart St., 504.232.3063
services
New Orleans, LA [504] Formal Connection, 299 Belle Terre Blvd. LaPlace, LA, 985.652.1195
theatres
New Orleans, LA [504] CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, 504.974.0786, CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM
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
Your financial needs are unique. Whether you want to provide for your loved ones, support the organizations that are important to you, or plan for your own comfortable retirement, I can help you plan for your goals. I’ll look at all aspects of your finances, then find solutions that are right for your unique needs. I’ll be there to adjust your plan as life unfolds. When you have the right approach, life can be brilliant. Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M., ADPA® Financial Advisor Waterfront Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 3939 N Causeway Blvd, Ste 400 Metairie, LA 70002 504.889.1704 s.billeaudeau@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/s.billeaudeau
Ameriprise Financial is proud to be recognized with another perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2018 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 35
FINANCIAL & BUSINESS
Five Tips for Transitioning into Retirement Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M. ADPA® s.billeaudeau@ampf.com Retirement brings the end of a chapter in your career and the start of a new lifestyle. This unique transition can bring a myriad of emotions, most commonly ones of excitement and apprehension. If you’re pondering retirement in the next year or so, here are five tips to help you transition smoothly into retirement. Know the transition could take weeks – or months. You likely spent decades forming a routine around your work schedule. Establishing your new normal of volunteer work, an encore career or helping family will take time. If you are married, remember that your retired status may affect your spouse’s routine, too. Talk openly about how you’re feeling about the transition to keep him or her in the loop. Communicate your retirement plans with family members. Your
parents, kids or other family members will likely be interested in how you intend to spend your retirement days. Will you be visiting grandkids more often? Starting a business you’ll want support with? Continuing to host family get-togethers? Planning to move or purchase a retirement home? As you share your plans, don’t forget to touch on your financial picture. The benefits of open communication are three-fold: it reassures your kids that you’re financially prepared; allows you to introduce (or remind) your family about your estate and legacy plans; and it establishes a safe space for both sides to discuss potentially challenging money topics. Maintain healthy habits. Staying diligent with the activities that help you feel your best is important as you shift into retirement. Prioritize eating
healthy, sleeping well, staying fit and maintaining friendships in your new routine. Evaluate your finances. Prior to retirement, you likely outlined how you will manage your cash flow. (If not, today is the day to put a plan in place.) As you enter retirement, review your expenses to ensure they’re aligned with your plan. It’s common to revise your spending and activities after experiencing the first few weeks away from your primary job, so it’s okay if you need to adjust how much you withdraw from your accounts each month. If you want to increase your spending, calculate what that means for your later retirement years, as you don’t want your savings to come up short. Consult a financial advisor for guidance on how to make your money last while living the lifestyle you desire.
Reset your attitude. Retirement is not the ultimate finish line, even if it may feel like one at times. Experiencing a lot of emotions is common but try to focus on what you’re excited about in this next chapter. And, remember you’re not alone. Talk to friends, family and professionals in your life for support along the way. Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M. ADPA®, is a Financial Advisor with Waterfront Wealth Management, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He specializes in addressing the unique needs of the diverse LGBTQ community, fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies, and has been in practice for 11 years.
Have new Pelicans Mardi Gras uniforms for 2019 been leaked? Lenny Vangilder, Crescent City Sports
The Pelicans’ reported City Edition uniform, as posted on social media earlier this week. Several NBA teams have released their 2018-19 “City Edition” uniforms Thursday. There’s no official word from the Pelicans on this year’s City Edition – which has been their Mardi Gras uniform – but it appears to have been leaked through social media, along with several other teams. If the information is correct, the City Edition for the Pelicans will be a white uniform with bold purple, green
and gold horizontal stripes. The uniform is reminiscent of the popular Mardi Gras rugby shirts sold by area clothier Perlis. According to the NBA’s uniform database, the Pelicans will wear their City Edition uniforms from Feb. 4 through Mardi Gras with the exception of two nights. One of those exceptions is a Feb. 14 home game against Oklahoma City in which New Orleans will wear its
The Perlis Mardi Gras rugby shirts that may be the inspiration for the new Pelicans’ City Edition jerseys. red uniforms – apparently to celebrate but their uniforms then. The first date Valentine’s Day. that New Orleans is scheduled to wear The Pelicans are also expected to the “Earned” uniform is Dec. 29. have a fifth uniform, called “Earned,” based on making the playoffs a year This article was originally published ago. The uniform database, which origby Crescent City Sports. For the most inally listed “Earned” among the unicomprehensive sports coverage in the form options, has been revised to list Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com. only “coming soon” on certain dates. Teams in the “Earned” series playing on Christmas Day are slated to de-
36 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · November 6 – 19, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com
Saints are the team to beat in the NFC NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints are the team to beat in the NFC. Yes, the season is only halfway over and much can and almost certainly will change between now and the start of the playoffs after New Year’s. But as of Nov. 4, the Saints are the team to beat in the NFC. Plain and simple. It’s not just the fact that they knocked off the NFL’s last unbeaten team when they beat the Los Angeles Rams 45-35 on Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, though that’s a big part of it. It’s not just that the victory gives them a tie-breaker over the Rams, which would place the NFC Championship Game in the Superdome instead of the L.A. Coliseum if these two teams continue to be the best in the NFC. (Carolina certainly looks capable of joining the NFC title competition.) It’s also that New Orleans has defeated four division leaders in its last four games. It’s also that it has won a physical, defense-oriented outdoor game in Baltimore, won in Minnesota when Drew Brees passed for a paltry 120 yards and won by outscoring the Rams as Brees passed for 346 yards and four touchdowns. The Saints can win any type of game because they have won every
Les East, Crescent City Sports type of game. and it has allowed an NFL-low of nine Yes it’s early and much can this season. His record-setting connecchange. tions with Thomas, which came on 12 The Saints go back on the road completions, didn’t prevent Brees from next week to play a good, though not connecting with eight other receivers. great, Cincinnati team. “He’s a special player,” Rams Then the defending Super Bowl coach Sean McVay said. “You can see champion Eagles come to the Superwhy he’s the all-time passing leader.” dome, followed by an improving AtlanThe Saints defense held the top ta team. Then comes a three-game rushing team in the NFL to its secroad trip that concludes with a visit to ond-lowest total of the season (93) and Carolina, which keeps winning to stay has not allowed 100 yards to any oppowithin one game of New Orleans. nent during the winning streak. The regular season concludes with The special teams turned in two a visit from Pittsburgh, one of the hotof the biggest plays of the game when test teams in the AFC, and a rematch Craig Robertson ran down holder with the Panthers. Johnny Hekker on a fake punt in the So there are still a lot of hurdles to second quarter and Wil Lutz drilled a clear. season-long 54-yard field goal, his But the Saints now have the lon14th consecutive successful attempt. gest winning streak in the NFL. Robertson’s play came on fourth If you’re trying to beat New Orleand 4 after a fumble my Mark Ingram ans, what do you think you can exploit? II. He caught Hekker at the sideline just Consider Sunday’s game. short of the first-down marker, a spot The Saints had their highest point that was upheld on replay. total of the season. They had their “That was huge play because most yards (487) in a regulation game we had just had the turnover,” Saints and their highest time of possession coach Sean Payton said. (33:41) in a regulation game. Had L.A. scored there it would They broke their own NFL record have had its only lead of the game. by gaining 24 first downs in the first But it didn’t because the defense half. stiffened, and Robertson made his Brees operated comfortably beplay. hind an offensive line that didn’t allow “I am thankful for (the defense) hava sack for a second consecutive game ing my back,” Ingram said. “At the end
of the day that is what it is all about. We believe in each other. We have each other’s back no matter what.” With Alvin Kamara and Ingram running the ball, Brees utilizing Kamara, Thomas and anyone else getting open while operating from a secure pocket, it’s extremely difficult for opponents to keep up with the Saints scoring pace. The defense has some short-comings for sure, but a turnover here or there, such as Alex Anzalone’s interception, which set up a touchdown, or the occasional stop, such as three on the Rams’ final four possessions of the first half and a pair on their last two of the game, are going to be good enough. And the special teams are solid throughout, not allowing an opening for opponents to overcome deficits in other areas. Yes, there’s a long way to go. But as of right now, the NFC Championship goes through New Orleans. “There is no derailing this train,” Kamara said. This article was originally published by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.
Hard to Stomach: Putting LSU loss to Alabama in perspective Ken Trahan, Crescent City Sports I picked Alabama to win. Let’s start with that fact. That was no revelation or bold choice, though “homers” let me have it for doing so. Of course, I felt and stated that LSU would be competitive and lose by 10-13 points. For those in the betting world, that would mean covering the spread. The spread of food in front of me disappeared quickly Saturday night. Eating was the only way to stomach what we were watching. All 29-0 of it. Later, that stomach of mine kept me up for hours on a night where we were supposed to gain an hour of sleep. Perhaps it was more the performance of the LSU offense than the stomach issues which kept the eyes wide open. My eyes were wide open at the widening gap between Alabama and LSU football. A year ago, the Tigers competed gamely up front in a 24-10 loss at Tuscaloosa. There was encouragement to take out of that contest, the belief that LSU was closing the gap between the two teams. Then again, that Alabama team
featured Jalen Hurts at quarterback. With all due respect to Hurts and his record, he is not a patch on the knee brace of Tua Tagovailoa. The new Alabama starter is simply brilliant and he has brilliant players around him. Tagovailoa makes great decisions. He is calm. He sees the field extremely well. He is accurate. He can run, when needed, even with the knee brace. While Nick Brossette and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are solid players and have done a nice job for LSU, Alabama’s running backs are clearly better in Najee Harris, Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs. While LSU plays seven wide receivers, Alabama is clearly better on the outside than LSU with Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, III and Jaylen Waddle. Devonta Smith is good as well. While LSU has a leader and solid player at tight end in Jesuit’s Foster Moreau, Alabama is better with Irv Smith. Then, there is the matter of offensive line play. LSU has done its best to hide its huge deficiencies in this department all season long. James Cregg has done
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a superb job of mixing and matching, due to suspensions and injuries. They were exposed at Florida. They were completely exposed last night. Alabama destroyed LSU up front. While the LSU defense held up as long as possible and can compete with Alabama’s defense, the fact of the matter is that the Crimson Tide amassed 576 yards. It helps when you have 79 snaps and your opponent only snaps it 60 times. The Tigers rushed for 12 yards and they did not get out of negative yardage territory until the fourth quarter. It was no contest, embarrassing. What is embarrassing for LSU and all Tiger fans is that Alabama has now shutout LSU three times in the midst of an eight-game win streak over its rival. That includes two of the last three games. While everyone fretted over Les Miles and his ground-and-pound attempt to out-physical Alabama up front, Ed Orgeron’s offense has scored 10 points in three meeting with the Crimson Tide. So much for Matt Canada, Steve Ensminger and open formations! Even when LSU’s big edge in the kicking game (see punting yard average, Edwards-Helaire kickoff return) manifested itself, LSU could not take advantage. To add insult to injury, Cole Tracy, the best kicker in the nation, missed a short field goal which would have
averted the embarrassment of another shutout. Of course, it was embarrassing to see LSU try the field goal in the first place. Down 22-0, a field goal leaves you three scores down. It made no sense, other than to save face by putting points on the board. Do the math. It was almost fitting that Tracy missed it. Losing John Battle on the first play from scrimmage did not help LSU. Not having Devin White for a half certainly hurt. That said, it made no difference. Neither plays offense. Ja’Marr Chase was a five-star recruit. He saw one pass attempt which was incomplete. Terrace Marshall caught one pass. He was another elite recruit. Are they simply struggling to assimilate to the level of play as freshmen? Are they disappointing, to this point? Should they be getting the Tiger’s share of playing time, along with Justin Jefferson? Then, there is the pain of watching Louisiana products shine for the Crimson Tide. In all, Alabama has 11 players with Louisiana ties. Among those, Smith is a superb player from Brother Martin. Defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs of Ruston is a menace up front. He has the kind of size and quickness you need to be successful. While LSU has size up front on defense, it has no quickness
on its defensive line. Defensive back Shyheim Carter of Kentwood has a pair of interception returns for scores. Linebacker Dylan Moses of University High committed to LSU as a youngster and switched to Alabama. He is a star. Smith, from Amite, is a good receiver. Joseph Bulovas of Mandeville is the starting kicker for Alabama, though he had an uneven performance back in his home state last night. There are Phidarian Mathis of Neville and Eddie Smith of Salmen, along with Slade Bolden of West Monroe. Of course, Saivion Smith originally signed and played at LSU and is now at Alabama. Nick Saban is the best coach in college football history, in my estimation. He has won national championships at two schools. He has dominated in an era of scholarship limits and more competition. Alabama deserves all of the credit and praise possible. The Crimson Tide and Saban have earned it. Perhaps what is most frustrating to LSU fans is the putrid offensive performance in the eight-game losing streak. LSU has scored a total of 73 points in those eight games. Texas A&M scored 21 points against Alabama while lowly Arkansas tallied 31. Tennessee, another poor team, scored 21 against the Crimson Tide. Even UL-Lafayette put 14 on the board, though Alabama was playing reserves. Can I get an Amen? How about a single point or two? Losing is one thing but can you at least move the football, even a tad, or score any points? For national television to fall for the hype of this matchup again, the folks in charge will have to think twice. This has not been an entertaining game at all, most recently. Now, there is the aftermath for Orgeron and LSU. Can he get his team to rebound, re-focus and re-charge the batteries? He has done so in the previous two years after losses to Alabama but none was hyped as much or was as big as the one last night.
Saturday night aside, Orgeron has done an excellent job with this LSU team. Losing Ed Ingram really hurt up front. It has produced a domino effect. While Joe Burrow is an upgrade over anyone else he would have had at quarterback, LSU still lacks the kind of play-maker needed at that position to challenge Alabama. Arkansas has lost eight straight games. Rice has lost nine straight games. That should get you to nine wins. Texas A&M is solid but just 5-4 overall. Would anyone have predicted LSU to win nine games with this team back in the summer? Would anyone dare to say he or she predicted 10 wins for this year’s Tigers? This can still end up being a great season for LSU with an excellent bowl game bid awaiting the Tigers, perhaps even in New Orleans on New Year’s Night. That is the big picture, what matters. Alabama is simply on a different level. In recent years, Ole Miss beat Saban a couple of times and its coach was run off for multiple violations. Auburn is the only other team to post multiple wins over its Iron Bowl rival with three wins in its last eight tries against Alabama, including two of the last five. Everyone else in the SEC and country bows down to a superior program, at this point. Saban does not appear ready to retire anytime soon. It will take relentless, mistake-free, superb recruiting to close the widening gap. Alabama leads the series 53-25-5 over LSU. The Crimson Tide has won the last eight, including six of those by double digits. Rivalries are all about competition. Until LSU can compete better with Alabama, this is not much of a rivalry. As a Louisiana native, that is hard to stomach. This article was originally published by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.
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