Ambush Magazine Volume 36 Issue 24

THE OFFICIAL GAY MAGAZINE OF THE GULF SOUTHâ„¢

A Biweekly Publication Celebrating LGBTQ Life, Music & Culture Since 1982 VOLUME 36 ISSUE 24

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2018

www.AMBUSHMAG.com

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Thanksgiving & World AIDS Day

At Ambush, We're thankful for you this Thanksgiving.

Sip &

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H O S T PA R T N E R

THE “OFFICIAL” DISH

by TJ ACOSTA, PUBLISHER

Dear Ambush Nation, As we move towards Thanksgiving there are so many things to be thankful for. Like many of you, I’m thankful for my friends and family and for the many blessings in my life. I’m also thankful for you, the readers of Ambush. Over the last year we at Ambush have been working very hard to expand both content and distribution. We do this for you!

I’m also thankful for the feedback many of you provide each and every issue so please keep your thoughts and suggestions coming. I think it’s important for Ambush to have this dialogue with our readership so we can continue to provide you with the news and stories you want to read.

And speaking of Thanksgiving, let us remember that many within our community have a difficult time during the holidays. So I would encourage everyone to reach out to your friends who may not have family in town or who don’t have the best relationship with their family. Invite these friends to your Thanksgiving celebration or just give them a call to let them know you’re thinking of them this time of year and value their friendship. I learned a

long time ago that families are not biological. On behalf of everyone here at Ambush - Happy Thanksgiving!

MISSISSIPPI US SENATE ENDORSEMENT - MIKE ESPY For our friends in Mississippi, Mike Epsy is the only choice for US Senate.

Espy was first elected to Congress in 1986 and served as the US Congressman for Mississippi’s 2nd District from 1987 to 1993. Epsy also served as United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1993 to 1994. He is a supporter of voting rights, civil rights, LGBTQ rights & women’s rights, and his platform includes favoring an increase in the minimum wage, expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, and expanding health care opportunities for all Mississippians. In contrast, his opponent, Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith stated that voter suppression is a “great idea” and recently said “If he invited me to a public hanging, I’d be on the front row.”

The runoff election is November 27, 2018.

WINTER WONDERLAND VII A fundraiser for Belle Reve Nola and NOAGE- New Orleans Advo-

Inside this Issue of Ambush Saints and Sinners Literary Festival: Silas House & Tena Clark

6

Baton Rouge Pride Plans Drag Queen Story Time

6

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with Tony Leggio

7

The New Orleans AIDS Memorial

8

Snap Paparazzi Out & About At the NOAGE Under the Sea Gala 2018

10-11

ABC’s Karl Schmid comes to New Orleans to raise funds for others who are living with HIV

12

Blue Waves and Gerrymandering

13

Of Humbugs, Turkeys, and Adult Contemporary

14

Bartender of the Month: Michael Fortino

15

Under the GayDar: New Orleans Hot Happenings

16-20

Under the GayDar: Mobile Hot Happenings

20

Book of the Month: Southern Decadence in New Orleans

21

Gay on God’s Campus: Mobilizing for LGBT Equality at Christian Colleges and Universities

21

Snap Paparazzi The Corner Pocket

22

Party Down

24

Tricentennial Profiles in History: Ruthie the Duck Lady

25

Trodding the Boards

26-27

Thankful for Family and Families of Choice

28

A calliope 32 notes of joy

28

Snap Paparazzi Oz New Orleans

29

LGBT Owned & Friendly Business Directory

Six Questions to Help You Make Your Open Enrollment Selections

30-31

32 32-34

Sports

Gulf South LGBTQ Entertainment & Travel Guide Since 1982 New Orleans, Louisiana info@ambushpublishing.com

cates for GLBT Elders, Winter Wonderland VII will be held on Sunday, November 25, from 5 to 9pm at Capulet, located at 3014 Dauphine Street.

This year’s King and Queen of Winter Wonderland are Rodney Thoulion and Desiree Marie Chevalier. There will be a special raffle for PFLAG New Orleans and Joann & Lisa Guidos will be presented with the ICON Tribute Award. For more information search Winter Wonderland VII on Facebook.

ART AGAINST AIDS 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 for people diagnosed with AIDS. Today, the gala features some of the finest art and food the city has to offer. There will be live music, an open bar, and amazing art for people to bid on. Tickets are available online at crescentcare.org/ aaa so please join Honorary Chair David Lumpkin and Guest of Honor Karl Schmid at this year’s event.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS The New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus will present their Season of Peace concert on Friday, December 14, from 7:30 to 10pm on the campus of the University of New Orleans.

There will be a second concert in Baton Rouge on Saturday, December 15, from 7:30 to 10pm at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge. For more information and tickets please visit www. nogmc.com Vanessa “Miss Vanjie” Mateo from RuPaul’s Drag Race, will hit the stage at B-Bob’s on Saturday December 29, at midnight. A limited number of early bird tickets are available on Eventbrite.

This will definitely be a show you don’t want to miss. B-Bob’s in located at 213 Conti Street in Mobile, AL. The Lord of Misrule and his Mystik Krewe du Rue Royale Revelers command your presence at Frank’s Annual 12th Night Party. The event is on Sunday, January 6, from 6pm till at 704 N. Rampart Street (next to the Black Penny). Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Your ticket gets you an open bar, dinner and a year long membership in the Krewe du Rue Royale Revelers. Admission pins can be purchased at 638 St. Ann Street in the French Quarter.

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, Monroe, Alexandria; Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Jackson; Texas - Houston

PUBLISHER TJ Acosta EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reed Wendorf SENIOR EDITOR Brian Sands CONTRIBUTORS Brian Sands, Crescent City Sports, Frank Perez, Jim Meadows, Pastor Alisan Rowland, Persana Shoulders, Rev. Bill Terry, Rodney Thoulion, Ryan Rockford, 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.

4 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

LITERARY SPOTLIGHT

Saints and Sinners Literary Festival: Silas House & Tena Clark The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival was founded in 2003 as a new initiative designed as an innovative way to reach the community with information about HIV/AIDS, particularly disseminating prevention messages via the writers, thinkers and spokes-people of the LGBT community. It was also formed to bring the LGBT literary community together to celebrate the literary arts.

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 the 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.

Two authors who will be at the 2019 Festival are Silas House and Tena Clark.

Silas House Silas House is the nationally bestselling author of five novels--Clay’s Quilt (2001); A Parchment of Leaves (2003); The Coal Tattoo (2005); Eli the Good (2009); and Same Sun Here, co-authored with Neela Vaswani (2012), as well as a book of creative nonfiction, Something’s Rising, co-authored with Jason Howard (2009); and three plays: The Hurting Part (2005), This Is My Heart for You (2012), and In These Fields, with Sam Gleaves (2016).

His work frequently appears in The New York Times and Salon. He is former commentator for NPR’s All Things Considered. His writing has appeared in Oxford American, Narrative, Blackbird, Newsday, as well as in anthologies such as Best Food Writing (2015) and New Stories From the South, The Year’s Best: 2004.

House serves on the fiction faculty at the Spalding MFA in Creative Writing and as the NEH Chair at Berea College.

He is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, the recipient of

three honorary doctorates, and is the winner of the Nautilus Award, an EB White Award, the Appalachian Book of the Year, the Jesse Stuart Award, the Lee Smith Award, and many other honors. His latest novel is Southernmost.

Tena Clark What musical touchstone does President Barack Obama share with Aretha Franklin? The answer is the expertise of Tena Clark. A musical compass has guided Clark from humble beginnings as a drummer and engineer in rural Mississippi, to being discovered

by Stevie Wonder and mentored in Hollywood. She has written and produced for some of the greatest legends such as Aretha Franklin, won a Grammy for her work with Natalie Cole, was nominated for a Grammy with Patti LaBelle, and also worked with artists such as Leann Rimes, Dionne Warwick, Chaka Khan and Maya Angelou. She has been commissioned to write theme songs for NASA and Hillary Clinton.

Clark has written award-winning songs, contributed to multi-platinum movie soundtracks including Hope Floats, The Five Heart Beats, Where the Heart Is, and My Best Friend’s Wedding, and television shows such as Desperate Housewives. Clark is the CEO/Chief Creative Officer for DMI Music & Media Solutions. Clark’s work spans film, television, stage, records and brands.

Clark is also a civil rights activist and crusader for women’s rights. Eve Ensler, the founder of VDay, asked Clark to write and produce its theme song, Break the Chain, for the organization One Billion Rising—a movement to end violence against women and girls. Clark is one of the most influential female producers in the music industry and American media. Clark’s first book is a memoir titled Southern Discomfort which was published

by Touchstone an imprint of Simon & Schuster in October 2018.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Baton Rouge Pride Plans Drag Queen Story Time

Plans are underway for Baton Rouge Pride to continue its theme of being family friendly and inclusive to all members of the Baton Rouge LGBT+ community and its allies with the area’s first ever Drag Queen Story Time.

Partnering with their sponsor, Aveda Institute Baton Rouge, the goal is to provide a safe place for children and adults alike to come together for and celebrate diversity while being entertained by local Drag Queens as they

read books that teach acceptance, anti-bullying and inclusivity.

The date is set for Sunday, December 2, 2018; doors will open at 2:00pm and reading will begin at 2:30pm all at the Aveda Institute Baton Rouge’s new campus located at 2834 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd. Entrance is free to all however space is limited so we urge those who wish to attend with their children to come early or reserve their spot online at www.BRPride.org.

6 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Tony Leggio AT THE AMON RA GUMBO COOK OFF AT GRANDPRE’S

AT THE ARMEINIUS DINNER AT LPK UPTOWN

AT EMERIL LAGASSE FOUNDATION’S CARNIVAL DU VIN AT THE HILTON RIVERSIDE

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 7

MOMENTS IN GAY NEW ORLEANS HISTORY

The New Orleans AIDS Memorial Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com December 1 is World AIDS day.

Because of its popularity as a tourist destination, HIV probably arrived in New Orleans in the late 1970s, but the full scope of the AIDS crisis did not grip the gay community here until the mid1980s. Dr. Brobson Lutz estimates the first cases in New Orleans were diagnosed around 1982.

Many of the early cases were centered in the French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny. By 1985, it seemed as though everyone in the gay community knew someone who had died or had contracted the disease. Widespread fear and ignorance would have caused a panic had a profound sadness and numbness not descended upon the community.

Popular bartender Wilhelmina Bennett recalls, “It was so bad you were afraid to answer your phone. I remember throwing away my address book because most everybody in it had died. It was horrible. No one knew what was going on and everyone was fearful. Charity Hospital had a separate floor for AIDS patients. Orderlies would set patient’s meals outside the doors in the hall for fear of being in the same room with someone infected.

And visitors were forced to wear masks and gowns. You’d go to the hospital to visit a friend and be shocked at

how sickly they looked but also at how many other people you knew were also patients. After a while it took a heavy toll on me.”

The gay community’s reaction to the epidemic was varied. Some men went back into the closet while others chose to be celibate. Many questioned all the strides made in the previous decade. A few bought into the religious rhetoric that proclaimed AIDS was divine judgement on a sinful lifestyle.

Still others found renewed resolve to fight for equality and dignity.

The NO/AIDS Task Force, now known as CrescentCare, was founded in 1983 in response to the early devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic in the New Orleans area. The organization began as a single phone line with an answering machine at a home in the Marigny. The late Marcy Marcell hosted one of the first AIDS fundraisers in New Orleans in 1984, which raised about $350. Lazarus House, the city’s first AIDS hospice, opened in 1985.

Belle Reve opened in 1993 and has since provided a home and full support services for low-income and homeless adults & families living with HIV/AIDS. Trinity House was established in 1995.

Despite the devastation and heartache the AIDS crisis engendered, it did have one positive effect that is often

overlooked: it humanized the gay community, which in turn affected many straight people’s perceptions of gay people. Jack Sullivan observes, “AIDS forced so many people out of the closet, the mainstream establishment realized, ‘O, I didn’t know you were gay.’

AIDS created forced visibility.”

Humanizing the victims of AIDS is at the heart of the New Orleans AIDS Memorial, which was dedicated on November 30, 2008, in Washington Square Park in the Marigny. According to CrescentCare, “The Memorial consists of a series of glass discs depicting the cast faces of a number of individuals, some of whom are HIV infected and who represent the many faces of AIDS in this region. Tragically, some of the individuals whose faces were cast for the Memorial have since died of the disease. The Memorial site will be paved with stones engraved with the names of some of those who have died of the disease or honoring individuals for their efforts in fighting AIDS.” The sculpture, which is made of cast glass and steel, was designed by artist Tim Tate. The selection committee that commissioned the artwork noted, “Set in historic Washington Square Park, the New Orleans AIDS Memorial will provide a healing sanctuary for family and friends and will promote

understanding of the human tragedy of the AIDS epidemic. It was the goal for the monument to create a public landscape where anyone who has been touched by AIDS can find comfort and consolation within a dignified and creative community setting.”

This year is the tenth anniversary of the Memorial’s dedication. It has now been 37 years since the first case of AIDS was diagnosed. As we reflect on the friends we have lost, let us put their memories, and the disease that claimed their lives, in perspective by meditating on the words of Scott S. Ellis in his poignant essay, “Levees of Memory”: “Before AIDS, we believed that the gay community would evolve slowly, and hopefully, we would one day receive the same legal protections as everyone else. Eventually we would be valued by the city for our contributions. We’d all grow old together, cackling over the same ancient jokes and admiring the latest crop of ingenues arriving in this wicked old town. Even as murmurs of plague arrived from the east and west coasts, we felt secure in our backwater, our island, moated by our beliefs.”

8 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Ambush AT THE NOAGE UNDER THE SEA GALA 2018

10 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Ambush AT THE NOAGE UNDER THE SEA GALA 2018

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ANNOUNCEMENT

ABC’s Karl Schmid comes to New Orleans to raise funds for others who are living with HIV Nationally known entertainment reporter, ABC’s Karl Schmid recently went public with his HIV+ status. Now he’s coming to New Orleans to raise funds for others who are living with HIV. In March, Schmid shared his status on Facebook in a post that started with “Hi. I’m a 37 year old HIV+ man who has been poz for almost ten years.

I work in television. And on the side of the camera where, for better or worse it’s considered “taboo” for people “like me” to be “like me”.” He wrote that for a decade, he struggled with the thought of sharing his status due to the “stigma and industry professionals” warning him “don’t! It’ll ruin you”.

He continues “I’m me. I’m just like you. I have a big heart and I want to be loved and accepted. I may be on TV from time to time, but at the end of the day I’m just an average guy who wants want we all want. To be accepted and loved by our friends and family and to be encouraged by our peers. So here’s what I say, stand tall, and stand proud.

You can’t make everybody happy but you can make you happy. And so long as you tell the truth, you will never

have to remember anything. Labels are things that come and go but your dignity and who you are is what defines you. I know who I am, I know what I stand for and while in the past I may not have always had clarity, I do now.

Love me or hate me, that’s up to you.

But, for anyone who has ever doubted themselves because of those scary three letters and one symbol, let me tell you this, you are somebody who matters. Your feelings, your thoughts, your emotions count. And don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. I’m Karl Schmid, and I’m an HIV-positive man!”

We asked Karl to discuss his career, the Gala, and what he is looking forward to during his upcoming visit to New Orleans.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Karl Schmid. I’m originally from Australia but have lived all over the world since the age of 10. My first job on television was when I was 7 years old as an extra on the Australian soap “Neighbors”. When I was 10 years old I moved to Fiji with my parents. We relocated to Christchurch New Zealand when I was 13 where I completed high

school and worked on camera on the hugely popular weekend children’s show “What Now”. “What Now” is one of the longest running programs on TVNZ and is still on the air today.

After my teen years I lived in the UK and spent much of my 19th year traveling around Europe. I returned to Australia in 2000 and worked in various production jobs until 2002 when I took an assignment working for Australian actor and legend Barry Humphries, otherwise known as Dame Edna Everage. In 2005 I moved back to London where I worked as a talent agent and producer.

In 2008 I got a job with TV Guide Network hosting “Big Movie Premiere” and eventually relocated to Los Angeles in December of that year and have been working on television as a host / correspondent and in various production roles mostly as a Producer ever since.

I was diagnosed HIV+ in October 2007 and since coming out have become one of, if not the only, openly and “out” HIV+ people on network broadcast television on the USA. Is this your first time in New Orleans?

This is my second visit to New Orleans. I came a few years ago to cover a press junket for the movie Now You See Me. I was on the ground for about 16 hours seeing mostly just the inside of the Ritz Carlton Hotel. So, I am very much looking forward to experiencing New Orleans properly this time, taking in the sites, the food and rich history and culture, and perhaps have a cheeky “purple drink” or two at Lafitte’s Blacksmith shop and a beignet or ten at Café Du Monde. I’m also very excited to meet my HIV+ and HIV- brothers and sisters in New Orleans and hopefully start a new conversation about

what it means to be HIV+ in 2018 and battle stigma.

You are coming in to speak at Art Against AIDS: World AIDS Day. What do you hope people take away from your message at the event?

I’m very excited to be a guest at the Art Against AIDS Gala on World AIDS Day. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful creations and creativity that the community puts out there. As far as my speech, I really just hope that people living with HIV who have felt ashamed, dirty, less than, unlovable see and hear someone who says “fuck it” to all of that and is living their life like the healthy undetectable person he is.

I also hope HIV- people take a moment to see what it really means to be HIV+ in this day and age and break down some of the ridiculous and quite frankly dangerous stigma that surrounds HIV largely because of lack of education and understanding.

Your social media posts have essential gone viral, receiving a combined 15,000+ likes and more than 2,600 comments of support. Did you expect that level of support or were you worried that the post would “ruin you” as warned?

I never expected my social media posts to go viral. It was a complete and utter shock and continues to surprise me daily. I had no clue people would be so interested in what I had to say.

I have to admit, I am glad they are because every day I get messages from strangers, from all over the world, who tell me that by seeing me live my honest truth they feel less afraid about

12 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

their status or getting tested. There was concern by doing what I did there would be a negative impact on my career. But thankfully, so far it hasn’t been the case. I’m so grateful to all those who have reached out to me with personal stories and messages. I’m also very grateful for the organizations and institutions that have supported me and shown me affection and encouragement.

What advice would you give to someone who is living with HIV and is considering openly sharing their serostatus?

My advice to anyone living with HIV who is considering openly sharing their serostatus is that you have to do what’s right for you when it’s right

for you. Education is key and arming yourself with as much knowledge as you can about your situation and what it means to be HIV+ in 2018 is important. Messaging like (U=U) Undetectable Equals Untransmittable is also key. Also, be ready to accept the fact that some of your friends, family, colleagues may not understand at first.

Most people still look at HIV / AIDS as it was in the 80s and 90s. They don’t have the knowledge and understanding. This again is due to the stigma and lack of real information out there. So be patient. You can’t change people over night. But as long as you know the truth and your truth then you can help people understand the facts.

When a cure for HIV is found, how

will that change our world? What would it mean to you?

I would love to believe that there will be a cure for HIV in my lifetime.

That being said, right now prevention, treatment and education is key. Taking the appropriate steps to help those who don’t get it understand is very important. Only with people being TRULY undetectable can we stop the spread of this chronic illness. People MUST have access to healthcare and must realize testing and treatment – for now – is the ONLY way we can get this thing under control.

New Orleans remains among the top five cities in the nation for new infections of HIV. Schmid will be speaking to bring awareness to the challeng-

es and opportunities in the ongoing fight to end HIV. The reporter will call special attention to the U=U campaign.

“U=U, or Undetectable = Untransmittable, is an evidence-based message we must publicize to end HIV in our generation. U= U means that if you are living with HIV and achieve an undetectable viral load through medical treatment, you cannot transmit HIV to a [sexual] partner. As medical advances go, this discovery is a game changer.

Having people like Karl Schmid spread this message will save lives,” says Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels, Chief Medical Officer of CrescentCare.

For more information or to purchase tickets: Crescentcare.org/ AAA Photo: Manny Amit

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Blue Waves and Gerrymandering

Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com Many people are rightfully happy the Democrats have taken back the U.S. House of Representatives. Restoring a semblance of checks and balances is great. Trump’s tax records can now be subpoenaed. Wonderful.

Now there is a roadblock to the Republican agenda. Great. I’m still worried.

The Democrats received close to 4 million more congressional votes than Republicans in the recent midterm elections. Hillary Clinton received more votes than Trump in the popular vote. Poll after poll after poll shows that a majority of the American public favors progressive policy positions over the draconian positions espoused by the GOP. Trump’s approval rating is the lowest of any President in history.

I’m still worried.

While all that is good news for Democrats, they too should still be worried. The extreme partisan hostilities that have gripped the nation and held any legislative progress hostage are the direct result of gerrymandering—and gerrymandering is done at the state level.

One of the brightest results of the recent midterm elections was that Democrats gained control of seven state legislatures. Today, Republicans control 30 state legislatures, Democrats control 18. In 21 states, there are both Republican governors and Republican majority legislatures.

Democrats have full state control in 14 states. That’s not enough to solve the gerrymandering problem.

Redistricting occurs every ten years after the census is taken. The next redistricting will occur in 2021.

In his recent book, Ratf**ked: The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal America’s Democracy, David Daley writes, “Back in 2010, the Republican Party, on the heels of a sweeping loss to Barack Obama in 2008, hatched a scheme it called REDMAP, short for Redistricting Majority Project. It was the most audacious political heist of modern times.” The scheme worked, and the GOP successfully created a firewall against Democrats.

Despite winning the House and a handful of Governorships, the Democrats struck out completely in Florida and Ohio, two crucial swing states.

Republican will control the Congressional District maps in those two states through 2031.

Gerrymandering is bad for a number of reasons. Political observer Christopher Ingraham has noted, “It’s pretty clear that gerrymandering leads to lopsided party breakdowns in Congress, which undermines the whole notion of representative government.

Just as important, it undermines voters’ faith in the democratic process.”

Visually, gerrymandering results in districts that resemble Rorschach tests

or Jackson Pollock paintings. They make no sense geographically.

But perhaps most egregious of all, gerrymandering is used by both parties to maintain their monopoly on whom voters get to vote for. It is an essential tool in maintaining the two-party system, a vice-grip, if you will. And that is precisely why they are loathe to abandon it. It works.

Controlling the House of Representatives in Congress is good and fine, but real reform will come from the state legislatures.

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Of Humbugs, Turkeys, and Adult Contemporary Jim Meadows Executive Director, NOAGE info@noagenola.org It was one of those moments where you just know you’ll remember the exact circumstances for the rest of your life. 1:15pm on Thursday, November the first, just past the intersection of Perdido and Baronne.

I’d been feeling stressed out while running errands, and was tuning my satellite radio to the love songs station I rely on to navigate downtown New Orleans traffic without committing capital crimes. I was hoping for some breezy comfort from the likes of a Maureen McGovern or maybe a Melissa Manchester. Air Supply would have been OK too.

Instead, I was flooded with Johnny Mathis singing White Christmas.

November the first. White Christmas.

There’d been a coup d’état, and SiriusXM Love was now the Hallmark Music Channel, “hosted” by Candace Cameron Bure. I hadn’t even finished digesting the Halloween candy I’d binged on the night before. What was I supposed to do with this? What are any of us supposed to do with any of this?

We’ve gotten used to seeing the Christmas decorations on sale starting in September, and the Hallmark Holi-

day TV porn starting…well, never actually stopping. But Christmas music is another matter. There are only about a hundred Christmas songs, tops. And I enjoy them as much as anyone can be expected to. But I can’t enjoy them for two months. I can’t enjoy listening to the Carpenters’ Merry Christmas, Darling five times a day, when what I really want to hear is We’ve Only Just Begun.

You know, I wasn’t going to say anything, but I’m sensing some judgment now. If I’m being honest, I actually started sensing it at “Maureen McGovern.” But I’ll let it pass. The point is, Halloween is gone, and the drudgy part of the holiday season is upon us, whether we’re ready for it or not, and we need to figure out a plan. I’m not planning Christmas yet because I just refuse to spoil it by jumping the gun like some jaded satellite radio programmer.

But I do want to talk about some options for Thanksgiving.

All jokes aside, Thanksgiving can be one of the most difficult days. Maybe everyone in your family has political views that clash with yours, and they don’t hesitate to bring them up, even arguing with you during the meal. Or maybe you live away from family, or

HoneyBee Trivia Thursdays 7:00 PM

have lost the family members you really wish you could be with, and so you’re facing the prospect of being alone on Thanksgiving. But you don’t have to be. Here are some places you can go on Thanksgiving Day to have some good food and fellowship with friends and chosen family.

10:00am – Ernest Morial Convention Center (900 Convention Center Boulevard). The 44th Annual Sheriff’s Thanksgiving Dinner will feature a great meal and entertainment by Irma Thomas, Leo Nocentelli, James Andrews, Gina Brown, Earl Smith, Checky C., Naydja Cojoe, and others.

1:00pm – Café Lafitte in Exile (901 Bourbon Street). From their Facebook page: “For those unable to spend the holiday with their families, your favorite bartenders and the managers at Café Lafitte in Exile would like to invite you to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with us! Your favorite bartenders are bringing their favorite dishes as well as the main dishes for your dining pleasure!”

2:00pm – The Drifter Hotel (3522 Tulane Avenue) is hosting a “friendsgiving” potluck. The Drifter is one of my personal favorite spots to unwind and relax, especially on hot summer days by their pool. It’s got a nice mid-century modern vibe, and is a great place to hang out with friends.

3:00pm – The Phoenix (941 Ely-

Happy Hour Daily

sian Fields Avenue) is hosting its annual Thanksgiving potluck. I asked the owner (the wonderful Clint Taylor, who generously donated some beverages to the NOAGE gala last week). He said it’s not necessary to bring a dish if you aren’t able to, but if you can, there’s a sign-up sheet at the bar. Just stop by, call, or message them to let them know what you’ll be bringing.

4:00pm – GrandPre’s (834 North Rampart Street) is also hosting a potluck. GrandPre’s is one of my favorite bars in the French Quarter, and the owner, Ken GrandPre, goes out of his way to let people use the space for fundraisers that benefit the LGBT community. (Earlier this year, Misti Gaither hosted her second annual “Flashback Thru the Decades” fundraiser for NOAGE there.) GrandPre’s also has a sign-up sheet for dishes.

Several of these places will almost certainly be hosting a viewing of the Saints game after dinner, so be sure to stick around for that as well. I’m told that they’ve been on quite the winning streak lately, and that always brightens spirits across town.

Wherever you decide to go this Thanksgiving, whether it be with relatives across the lake, with your chosen here in New Orleans, or even if you choose to spend the day alone, I hope you have an amazing day. Even though you did kinda judge my taste in music.

Fri, 11/23—10pm

noon - 9:00 PM

Wednesday Video Game Night 7:00 PM Sat, 12/01 - 10pm 14 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

BARTENDER OF THE MONTH

Michael Fortino

Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com

kept coming back to the city is because I love Saints season when every of the culture, architecture and people. gay bar in the French Quarter is usuHis favorite thing about GrandPre’s is ally packed each game day with lots of his customers and you can tell. He is people cheering on the boys in black professional and charming. He joked and gold. Watching one of the Saints that when he was younger his teachers game, I found my Bartender of the said he talked too much in class; now Month for November. Michael Fortihe has a job where he gets to talk to no is one of the newest bartenders at people all the time and get paid for it.

GrandPre’s starting about four months Behind the bar, ago. He is originalMichael says he ly from Philadelphia excels at martinis, but has lived off and which makes him a on in New Orleans His favorite thing after my own since 2014. And we about GrandPre’s is his man heart. I love a good are certainly glad he customers and you can dirty martini. When is here.

Michael kept up tell. He is professional he is not behind the with a crowded bar bar, he enjoys Bourand charming. during a Saints game bon straight as his with ease. He was drink of choice; Evan quick and efficient; Williams to be exact. making sure everyYou can try Michael’s one had cocktails. On top of it being martinis for yourself on Saturday and a Saints game, there was also a gay Sunday during the day or Monday and carnival krewe function also happening Tuesday night. Grandpre’s is located which made it even more hectic. Nevat 834 North Rampart Street. er breaking his stride, he took care of the entire bar.

Michael says the main reasons he

to our

lgbtq community:

we see

you & you

matter. no matter what the administration says.

www.crescentcare.org | 504.207.CARE(2273)

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UNDER THE GAYDAR

New Orleans Hot Happenings

Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com Happy Thanksgiving! I wish everyone a joyous Turkey Day. Like the Polar Express, we roll full steam ahead into the holidays. Here are just a few suggestions to fill your holiday calendar. (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 Or-

leans; 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; Lafitte Greenway; 6:15 p.m. meet for the walk/run at Lafitte Greenway. This is a weekly event for walkers; 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 in front of Bayou Beer garden at 326 N. Jefferson Davis Parkway. 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 the Big easy Stompers 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.

Honey Bee Trivia: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays are Trivia 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.

Open Pole Night: Poor Boys Bar; 1328 St. Bernard Avenue; 8 PM – 3 AM; Open Pole night is a great opportunity for newbie dancers to get practice in a club setting and receive peer feedback and advice while socializing in a non-work environment. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet the hosts and producers of SCB. Open Pole night is a no-pressure/no-frills kinda night. So ditch the lingerie and pvc for

16 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

your sports bra and booty shorts; wear your pleasers or your sneakers. Everyone is welcome to perform on the pole.

Anyone is welcome to tip. We welcome Sex Workers and LGBQT+ with open arms to our judgement free zone and so should you. Kate, our gorgeous bartender, will be setting the mood and keeping your cup full

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.

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. Retro Night: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; starts at 10 p.m. Enjoy drink special from 10 p.m. to midnight and the best hits form the 80’s and 90’s.

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 Beau-

mann, 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 pm in their upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long.

SPECIAL EVENTS 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

GENE’S PO BOYS & ILY’S BISTRO 1040 ELYSIAN FIELDS AVE. NEW ORLEANS, LA 70117

GENE’S: 504-943-3861 ILY’S: 504-947-8341

CORNER OF ST. CLAUDE AVE & ELYSIAN FIELDS Untitled-6 1

NOW ON

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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.

Extra! The Political Cabaret: The Allways Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Avenue; 8:30 - 11:30 p.m. We’re fresh off the mid-term elections and there are plenty of things to be excited about/ fear. In these confusing times, the only people who could possibly be qualified to report the news are drag queens, kings, and in-betweens and we have a helluva line-up this month. Performers include Lash Wednesday, Cucci Licci, Laveau Contraire, Velma Blair and your host & producer Quinn Laroux. $10 cover, no one turned away for lack of funds.

WEDNESDAY, 11/21

The Dark Art Market: The Goat; 1301 St. Bernard Avenue; 7 p.m. - 1 a.m. The Dark Art Market consists of art from the dark of mind. Artists Include: Glimmre Bat Studio, Deadly Dapper, Bunny Cult, Mettle and Silver, Anna Saluki, Ian Chrystal, Billy Jack Lawless, Qtr Nevermore, Austyn Sullivan, Chandar Chandar. Food pop up Curry in a Hurry and The unveiling of the Baphomet Altar! No Cover.

SATURDAY, 11/24

Big Easy Sisters Bingo: The Phoe-

nix; 941 Elysian Fields, Ave.; 6 - 9 p.m. Join the Big easy Sisters for their Bi-Monthly Sister BINGO. Afternoon High Tea: The Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; Noon - 3 p.m. Please join the Krewe of Narcissus for an afternoon of high tea and drag to support our efforts in presenting our 4th annual Ball on February 2, 2019 at the New Orleans Ladies Ballroom in Gretna. There will be food, Drag Show, 50/50 raffle and Cash Bar. Guest will arrive and cocktail for 30 minutes and then be asked to be seated. The Drag show and Food Service will begin. This is an on-time event. Herbal Teas will be provided and a cash bar will be available. Signature centerpieces will be auctioned off or sold. Reserved seating only. $15 donation. Please reserve your seat now by sending a reservation request to strazahund@gmail.com.

Lords of Leather Does the Nineties: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 8 - 10 p.m. O.M.G! Your favorite leather daddies are back for a totally rad turnabout that’s all about the ’90s.

They’re trading in our leather boots for some bomb heels, wigs and iced out looks for one night of crazy, sexy, cool. It’s gonna be all that... and a bag of chips. So don’t chill at the crib and miss this fun event. Advanced tickets $10/ $15 at the door. Limited front row VIP table for 4 available for $50. Tickets are found in the link https://mys-

tic-krewe-of-lords-of-leather.ticketleap. com/lords-of-leather-does-the-90s/. All funds raised go to Bal Masque XXXVI.

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.

Join Catherine Gaither and Misti, along with Winter Queen II Desirée Marie Chevalier and Winter King II Rodney Thoulion for an 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.

TUESDAY, 11/27 SUNDAY, 12/2

On Your Feet: The Saenger Theatre; 1111 Canal Street. Based on the life story of seven-time GRAM-

MY-winning international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband, 19-time GRAMMY-winning producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan. Tickets for ON YOUR FEET! start at $30 and will be available at the Saenger Theatre Box Office, BroadwayInNewOrleans.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and by phone at (800) 9822887. Gloria Estefan has sold over 100 million records and sold out stadiums around the world.

WEDNESDAY, 11/28

Miss Gay New Orleans LA USofA; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 9 p.m. - midnight. Miss Gay New Orleans LA USofA is a female impersonation pageant that is held once a year.

It is an official preliminary to the Miss Gay Louisiana USofA pageant that goes forward to Miss Gay USofA. The pageant is open to any female impersonator that falls within the guidelines of the USofA system. The pageant consists of three categories of competition, Interview, Evening Gown and Talent! The night will include entertainment from the best of New Orleans and surrounding areas. It will star Miss Gay Louisiana USofA 2018 and Top 12 finalist at Miss Gay USofA 2018, Britney DeLorean! For more information on on MGNOUSofA or to sign up, please contact: Persana Shoulders at info@ persanashoulders.com Check them out online at @ https://persanashoul-

18 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

ders.com/miss-new-orleans-usofa.

Miss Gay New Orleans USofA 2019 entrance fee: $75 early, $100 after deadline. The pageant starts promptly at 9:30 pm. Emcees, performers and titleholders are asked to be at the venue no later than 8pm.

Crescent City Leathermen Monthly Meeting: The Friendly Bar; 2301 Charters Street; 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. People interested in leather/kink/fetish are welcome to join the meeting.

THURSDAY, 11/29

Party with the Krewe of Amon Ra: The Voodoo Lounge; 718 N. Rampart Street; 7 - 10 p.m. Come out and watch the Saints vs Cowboys at Voodoo Lounge with the Krewe of AmonRa! Game starts at 7:20PM. They will have some light fare and drinks will be available for purchase from the bar.

There’s no cost to attend, so come out and hang out with the Krewe!

FRIDAY, 11/30

Lords of Leather FILTH Friday Beer Bust: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields Ave.; 9 p.m. - midnight. Join The Lords of Leather for their Beer Bust at The Phoenix! $10 gets you so much; keg beer, snacks, and the company of a fine group of leather oriented Krewe members. Donations go to our Bal Masque XXXVI to be held on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at The Alario Center in Westwego, Louisiana.

SATURDAY, 12/1

Oz VIP Card Sale; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 8 - 10 p.m.

Want all-access 24/7 to New Orleans’ premier gay dance club and show bar?

JOIN Oz for their Vip Card pre-sale in their upstairs bar. Buy our 2019 VIP card, which gets you no cover and priority entrance all year round INCLUDING all major holidays, for a discounted price! Save $50 on your purchase by attending!

Art Against Aids: Club XLIV; LaSalle Street; 8 p. m. - midnight. Art Against AIDS began in 1986 with local art students making holiday ornaments to sell and raise money. Today, 32 years later, our gala features some of the finest of what New Orleans offers: great food from local restaurants, a holiday boutique, a juried auction of art, local merchandise, vacation packages, and live entertainment. This is an opportunity for the New Orleans Community to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to remember those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. The event will include two of the New Orleans panels of the AIDS Quilt as well as an interactive memory wall. Silent Auction - Local Fare - Live Music - Benefiting HIV/AIDS Services. For tickets, go to www.501auctions.com.

Crescent City Leathermen Beer Bust: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields;

The Double Play

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439 Dauphine Street New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 523-4517

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

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7AM-9PM HAPPY HOUR $3 Domestic Beers $3 Wells $1 Off Everything Else

ALL WEEK LONG

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 19

9 p.m. - midnight. Hosted By Crescent City Leathermen, come out and enjoy $10 – all you can drink keg beer, $1 Jello Shots, snacks. Leather Gear encouraged.

FRIDAY, 12/7

Christy Snow Concert: Unity Church of Metairie, 3939 Veterans Blvd.; 7 - 9 p.m. A mix of New Thought chants and songs and singer/songwriter originals. Acoustic guitar, Native inspired flute, storytelling, singing all in an engaging, fun night.

SATURDAY, 12/8

NOLA Gaymers Party: LGBT Community Center; 2727 South Broad St.; 2 - 6 p.m. LGBTQ GAMERS OF THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS REGION -COME OUT! Come to the LGBT Community Center to socialize, game and generally geek out. They will have board games, party games, card games, and snacks to share! We strongly encourage you to bring your own favorite games as well.Donations of $3 or more towards future Gaymer events will be split with the LGBT center. +1 Gaming will be our sponsor again and those who donate will be entered into a drawing to win a prize from their store!

Big Easy Stompers Monthly Dance: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart Street; 9 p.m. - midnight. Join the Big Easy Stompers for one Dancing fun at

their monthly dance.

HRC New Orleans Presents HER New Orleans: Bacchanal Wine; 600 Poland Avenue; 2 - 5 p.m. Join HRC New Orleans for the first annual, HER New Orleans--an afternoon of wine and snacks celebrating and gathering the female leaders of the LGBTQ community. The mission of HER HRC events is to gather women to celebrate and build a greater sense of community, while learning about the importance of engaging in the LGBTQ civil rights movement. While this is a HER HRC event, all HRC events are open to all people, regardless of gender identity or expression. All are welcome but please note this event is strictly ages 21 and up.Ticket for this event will only be sold online. For tickets, go to www. act.hrc.org.

SUNDAY, 12/9

Make Up Improv + Drag Stocking Stuffers: Cafe Istanbul; 2372 St. Claude Avenue; 7-10pm MAKE UP is the only improv show in the world starring an entire cast of drag performers. (All certifiably NAUGHTY.) (We checked.) (Twice.) Our sacks are simply overflowing with hot puns and unplaceable accents. And here’s a secret, Santa: we’ll be fully improvising our drag numbers based on your holigay song requests! If all that comedy and custom-fit drag still doesn’t roast your chestnuts, visit the stocking stuffer

market featuring your favorite local queer, POC, + womxn vendors! Yule regret missing this slay-ride. $15 day

of show. Tickets @ slayride.eventbrite. com.

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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BOOK OF THE MONTH Southern Decadence in New Orleans Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com My book of the month for November celebrates one of our city’s famous LGBT holidays. Southern Decadence in New Orleans was written by Howard Philips Smith and Frank Perez. It chronicles the history, drama and craziness that surround Southern Decadence. Smith and Perez present a comprehensive and historical look at Southern Decadence taking readers behind the scenes.

Founded in the summer of 1972 by a few friends as a modest celebration, the Southern Decadence festival has since grown into one of New Orleans’s largest annual tourist events.

The multi-day extravaganza features street parties, drag contests, dancing, drinking, and bead tosses, culminating with a boisterous parade through the French Quarter. With over 200,000 participants—predominantly LGBT+— this event generates millions of dollars in revenue. The book examines the pomp and circumstance that goes with being a grand marshal from the fundraising to all the promotional events.

Southern Decadence in New Orleans offers rare memorabilia, early photographs, newspaper and magazine articles, interviews with longtime participants, a list of all the parades

and grand marshals, as well as reproductions of early Southern Decadence invitations.

As a past Grand Marshal, I found the book an interesting read, shedding light on one of the largest gay celebrations in the country. From money scandals to dealing with city government, the books lays out everything for the reader. You also get insight into what it means to be a Grand Marshal in a timeline of all the events from 2016.

That was my year, and I am honored that I was featured in the book. Learn about all the divas, drag queens, drug dealers and everyone in between who

became Southern Decadence Grand Marshals and what it means to wear the whistle around your neck.

One thing is for sure in reading this, the history of the holiday is just as colorful as its grand marshals. And it has survived hurricanes, city politics and even the Reverend Grant Storm, and just gets stronger each year. So take a trip down gay memory lane with Frank and Howard as you explore the gayest holiday on Earth - Southern Decadence.

BOOK REVIEW Gay on God’s Campus: Mobilizing for LGBT Equality at Christian Colleges and Universities Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com

Gay on God’s Campus: Mobilizing for LGBT Equality at Christian Colleges and Universities.

Jonathan S. Coley. University of North Carolina Press, 2018. 194 pages. $27.95.

or LGBT identities, are forming direct action groups that transform university policies, educational groups that open up campus dialogue, and solidarity groups that facilitate their members’ personal growth. He also shows how these LGBT activists apply their skills and values after graduation in subseDrawing on his experience as an quent political campaigns, careers, undergraduate at a Baptist college in and family lives, potentially serving as Alabama and his formal training as a change agents in their faith communisociologist, Jonathan Coley tackles the ties for years to come. thorny issue of being an LGBT student Coley’s findings shed light on a at a Christian college in Gay on God’s new frontier of LGBT activism and Campus.

More specifically, Coley challenge prevailing raises the question, wisdom about the “Why do gay stu“Why do gay stucharacteristics of acdents get involved dents get involved with tivists, the purpose of with LGBT activism activist groups, and ulon Christian cam- LGBT activism on Christimately the nature of puses and what ef- tian campuses and what activism itself. fect is that activism One of the more effect is that activism having?” interesting aspects of having?”

Although the the book is Coley’s deLGBT movement liberative complication has made rapid gains in the United of the false dichotomy that all Christian States, LGBT people continue to face groups oppose LGBT equality. While discrimination in faith communities. In the topic of gay activism on a Christian this book, sociologist Coley documents campus is very specific, Coley offers why and how student activists mobilize arguments and insights that are apfor greater inclusion at Christian colplicable to activism in general. At a leges and universities. time when social consciousness and Drawing on interviews with stupolitical activism are enjoying renewed dent activists at a range of Christian interest across the nation, this book institutions of higher learning, Coley, would be interesting to a wide variety an Assistant Professor of Sociology at of people.

Oklahoma State University, shows that students, initially drawn to activism because of their own political, religious, www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 21

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Party Down Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com Halloween was so much fun; now as we approach Thanksgiving, the social scene heats up with fundraisers, galas, theatrical offerings and parties!

My two weeks were filled with everything from theater and gumbo to riverboats and Danica Patrick. Now that is diversity.

On Tuesday, I went to the Saenger Theatre to see The School of Rock, a rock musical based on the 2003 Jack Black movie, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes. This Tony-nominated show provided sugar pop fun with an excellent cast of young adults who held their own on stage.

This has been an amazing season for the Saenger so far and I’m looking forward to the remaining shows; next up is On Your Feet (love me some Gloria Estefan).

It’s always tiring when Halloween falls during the week, but I managed to drag out (literally) my fabulous Halloween New Orleans costume made by the talented Countess C Alice and attend Michael Shlenker and Don Schwenn’s Halloween blast at Mimiskdo, their gorgeous home. Their neighborhood

does Halloween right with pony and carnival rides and trick or treating on steroids. The guys host a neighborhood party that at a certain time turns decidedly very gay. They also boast a home bar that rivals most businesses in both size and choice. From cakes shaped like brains to a selection of spooky libations, the Halloween spirit was literally had by all.

The following night, I kept the eerie vibes going by attending The Pillowman, the latest theatrical offering by The NOLA Project. Written by Academy Award-winner Martin McDonagh, The Pillowman is a weirdly disturbing dark comedy about a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state who is being interrogated about the gruesome content of his stories. The cast fantastically created levity out of child murders -- pretty heavy stuff. Michael Aaron Santos and Meredith Owens nailed their roles as cops so well, I was upset watching them perform; James Bartelle and Michael Joel Bartelle as the writer and his brother were outstanding. Congrats to The NOLA Project for another superior show to add to their list.

On Saturday, I was a tourist in my own city and went with some friends on the Natchez dinner cruise. My friend Matt, who works for the company, had some guests in town who are experts on the calliope, so I was privileged to be allowed on the steamboat’s rooftop for a private concert by Travis C. Vasconcelos that included songs from ABBA, The Phantom of the Opera and Madonna. I love our city and never mind doing touristy things -- riding on a riverboat never gets old for me. The Natchez offers some great views of the East and West Banks from downtown to Chalmette, and seeing it at night just adds to the experience.

NOAGE (New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders) has moved its weekly Monday walk from Audubon Park to Lafitte Greenway. Participants now meet in front of Bayou Beer Garden on Jefferson Davis at 6:15pm for two miles worth of exercise. In case you haven’t done it before, it’s a great opportunity to socialize and stay fit. I have met so many new people since I started walking and every third Monday, the Stonewall Running Club joins the group.

The Krewe of Armeinius hosted at Louisiana Pizza Kitchen the following evening. Every Tuesday, LPK works with a different charity or organization to help raise funds; 20% of all the proceeds from lunch, dinner and delivery go to that week’s group, a pretty incredible give-back to the community. It’s a great way for people to get together, have a great meal and raise funds for their important causes. Armeinius’ dinner brought many in the krewe and their supporters out for cocktails, conversations and calzones.

NOAGE hosted their monthly potluck on Thursday at the gorgeous home of Jason Waguespack and Jeff Morgan. This month was a very special event since NOAGE was participating in SAGE Table, a nationwide event that brings together LGBT people and allies of all ages for a great meal and engaging conversation. The first SAGE Table was last year, and was the catalyst for the group’s monthly potlucks. Similar events were held at many locations na-

tionwide, hosted by various organizations and individuals.

It was a relaxed evening with good food and many interesting people.

What I love about this organization is its ability to bring folks together. Loneliness can be crippling and as we get older, we tend to experience it more.

NOAGE tries to help fight the isolation that causes depression and in many cases physical ailments. Keep an eye out for NOAGE events and come meet some new friends.

It takes a lot to take my breath away at a function, but the event I attended on Saturday did just that. The Emeril Lagasse Foundation presented Carnival Du Vin at the Hilton Riverside, one of the most impressive culinary experiences in my life. I can understand why people fly in from around the globe to attend. Founded in 2002 by Chef Emeril and his wife Alden, their Foundation creates opportunities to inspire, mentor and enable youth to reach their full potential through culinary, nutrition and arts education. Projects funded by the Foundation include an outdoor classroom, gardens, a fresh foods cafeteria and teaching kitchen at Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, an accessible learning kitchen for special needs students at St. Michael Special School, a four-year culinary arts program for high school students at New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Hospitality Center at Café Reconcile, and hospitality training at Liberty’s Kitchen for at-risk youth.

The event started with a champagne reception with G.H. Mumm for thirty minutes, followed by the Bacchus reception with incredible wine, craft cocktails and delicious dishes created by acclaimed chefs Traci Des Jardins (San Francisco), David Kinch (Los Gatos, CA) and Masaharu Mirimoto (New York). Entertainment was by Fleur de Tease and the Gregory Acid Quartet.

As Trombone Shorty performed, next we enjoyed a five-course dinner developed by NOCCA culinary students alongside Emeril’s culinary team from his many restaurants. It was so amazing; here’s the menu: first course-

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-Ora King Salmon Escabere with Cajun caviar, avocado & persimmon vinaigrette; second course--Sweet Potato Malfatti which was sea scallops with hazelnut, green apple & fennel butter sauce; third course--Magret Duck Breast a l’orange with root vegetable gratin, brussel sprouts, blood organ & cranberry au jus; fourth course--Ribeye of Beef with leek & cherry bread pudding, Maine lobster & mushroom salad and black truffle bordelaise; fifth course--Fall Napoleon with pears, figs, caramelized pecans & chocolate pe-

tit fours. Good lord even writing the menu out, I am starving again. Each dish was paired with a fabulous wine that was free-poured all night long.

There was also a silent auction, a super silent auction and a live auction. One of the lots in the live auction went for $100,000, talk about making me nervous. Most of the opening bids started at $3,000 and increased dramatically from there. The auction was gaveled by Emeril himself who raised mucho money in an incredibly short period of time. He even was joined for

one of the items by Danica Patrick of NASCAR racing fame who had donated a package that included exclusive Napa Valley winery tours and a round of golf or croquet with Danica herself.

There was also an African safari and a golf package in New Zealand.

I mean really incredible stuff here. I even won a li’l case of wine myself in the silent auction. This is one of those bucket list events that will go down in my memories, simply outstanding.

I followed up on Sunday with another culinary event, the Amon Ra

Gumbo Cook-off at GrandPre’s.

Maybe no black ties or free flowing wine, but the event had some delicious gumbos created by the members and their supporters. Guests were able to sample all the gumbos and enjoy other side dishes like potato salad and shrimp dip while watching the exciting Saints game.

That’s why I love this city, a person can easily transition from black tie to beer and have the same amount of fun.

Until next time, stay calm and party on - it’s the holidays!

TRICENTENNIAL PROFILES IN HISTORY Ruthie the Duck Lady Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com Pick a bar, any bar in the French Quarter. In the doorway materializes an odd-looking woman dressed in cowboy boots or roller skates and a wedding dress. Behind her is a duck or two or three. She appears disheveled, but her eyes are dancing and her smile is winning. Even though she has a can of Budweiser in her hand and a Kool cigarette dangling from her mouth, she loudly announces her arrival by declar-

ing in raspy voice, “I need a beer and a cigarette.” Someone obliges her.

“Thanks, Sugarplum.” As she places the cigarette behind her ear, she follows up with, “And one fer latuh.” Meet Ruthie the Duck Lady, an authentic French Quarter character and a legendary New Orleans icon.

Born Ruth Grace Moulon in 1934, she grew up in the French Quarter.

In the 1950s, she began roaming the

French Quarter, the ducks she raised since childhood in tow. Over the course of her illustrious career as an eccentric, she owned dozens of ducks, many of whom she named after French Quarter police officers. She drank and smoked excessively, and she loved to dance. She quickly became a beloved figure among the Quarter’s denizens and a curiosity to tourists, whom she charged a quarter to take her picture.

Tennessee Williams once observed, “I shall always think of New Orleans—affectionately, of course—as a vagabond’s paradise. In New York, eccentrics, authentic ones, are ignored.

In Los Angeles, they’re arrested. Only in New Orleans are they permitted to develop their eccentricities into art.”

Such was the case with Ruthie the Duck Lady. Ruthie died in 2008.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 25

Trodding the Boards Brian Sands bsnola2@hotmail.com

Rameau’s Pygmalion at Le Petit Theatre, New Orleans Opera’s season thru April 28 Before the Saturday matinee performance of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s one-act opera Pygmalion, the usual announcement about turning off cell phones ended with “And now a word from Paul Groves” who would be starring in the production.

The internationally acclaimed tenor came on stage and, with deep remorse, apologized for a sore throat he had come down with, presumably caught from one of his children. His voice did indeed sound thin and raspy.

With no understudy, however, he said he would soldier on and perform. I and the entire audience were expecting the worst.

If the announcement had not been made, however, I’m quite sure not a soul at Le Petit that day would have had any idea that Groves was not in his usual top form. For he sang with great beauty, his rich warm voice evoking the timbre of a woodwind. In addition, his French diction was flawless and he brought tremendous sensitivity to his role of the sculptor who falls in love

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.

with his creation.

I’d wager everyone who heard him at that matinee wished they could sing as marvelously on a regular day as Groves sang when under the weather.

New Orleans Opera (NOO) presented Pygmalion in celebration of New Orleans’ Tricentennial. Knowing that an exhibition of selections from the collection of the city’s namesake, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, would be on view at the New Orleans Museum of Art, Artistic Director Robert Lyall wisely realized that this would be “an excellent opportunity to offer a musical complement to this art exhibition by presenting a French Baroque opera from the same era. Pygmalion is acclaimed to be the finest example of Rameau’s short operatic dramas.”

In it, Pygmalion’s girlfriend, Céphise, begs him for attention, but he spurns her and entreats Venus to bring his statue to life. The goddess grants Pygmalion’s request, and the statue begins to move, sing, and dance. Venus praises the sculptor for his artistry and faith in his powers, and helpfully finds another lover for Céphise.

Because Pygmalion runs only about 35 minutes Maestro Lyall chose to supplement the program with selections by four other French Baroque opera composers as well as some other selections by Rameau.

If you do not like Baroque music, you can stop reading this right now. I love it and thought all the music from the opera and the selections that followed by Lully, Campra, Charpentier and Marais absolutely gorgeous. I could literally have sat in Le Petit and listened to these compositions endlessly.

This was so because, in addition to the glorious music, the other cast members matched Groves’ superb singing.

As Venus (here called “L’Amour”), Sarah Jane McMahon sang exquisitely while making the goddess both elegant and regal.

Rachel Looney endowed the guilelessly come-to-life statue with a lovely voice while Haley Whitney, equally talented, was touching as the forsaken Céphise. NOO deserves commendation for pairing these two fine singers, both at the start of their careers, with such outstanding veterans as McMahon and Groves.

Lyall led the orchestra, hidden upstage, with his usual brilliance, drawing out a crisp performance from the players. What can’t this man conduct with the highest level of artistry? From the standard repertoire to contemporary works (As One), tango operas (Maria de Buenos Aires) and, now, these Baroque pieces, this Maestro and the

Nkechi Chibueze in Pervirgin musicians he leads are never less than magnificent. And that goes for the singing of the New Orleans Opera Chorus as well.

As for the production, Stage Director Brenna Corner chose to set the show inside a museum--NOMA’s artworks were projected around George Johnson’s set--and had the opera become a dream that a modern artist has while observing and sketching a statue there.

Fair enough, but some of the details could have been sharper; for example, I’m not sure a museum would allow a visitor to fall asleep on a bench in a gallery for a half hour. And, unlike their singing, the NOO Chorus’ acting skills leave a bit to be desired.

What created some confusion was that, rather than allowing the Pygmalion cast to take proper bows prior to Act II, Corner chose to go immediately from the opera into the divertissement, envisioning it as a series of paintings that come to life and affect the artist.

As the three female singers returned, some in different outfits from their dream sequence, some not, it was unclear what exactly their role was.

Instead, we got battles and storms and the whole thing proved to be a bit overdone. Not surprisingly, the most effective number was Lully’s Regina Coeli, Alleluia, in which the Mss. Looney, Whitney and McMahon stood simply and sang with ineffable sublimity

as images of the Madonna and Child appeared above them; this approach might have worked better for the entire second half.

Still, having found Corner’s staging of last year’s Sweeney Todd “dutiful rather than imaginative” I suppose this was an improvement.

To capture the multi-disciplinary nature of Baroque productions, the Marigny Opera Ballet completed the components of this performance. Choreographer Diego de Lima’s dances were suitably classical except for some passages in the divertissement which had a strangely modern, almost mechanistic feel to them and glaringly stood out from the 17th century atmosphere of the rest of the show. There may be a place to combine contemporary dance and classical ballet; this was not it.

Within a cramped space, however, all eight dancers did an admirable job with Edward Spots first among equals.

The Rondeau from Rameau’s Les Indes Galantes concluded the performance. One of its lyrics goes “Happy are the people who know the beauty of art.” As I and the rest of the audience left Le Petit, we were, courtesy of New Orleans Opera and all the artists involved, very happy indeed.

The New Orleans 2018 InFringe Fest at various locations

With dramas, comedies, musicals, burlesque, cabaret, circus, pup-

26 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

petry, stand-up, and performance art on the menu for the third annual New Orleans InFringe Fest, this theatrical buffet offered something for everyone.

Featuring over 40 shows on its schedule, it was virtually impossible to see all of them. I managed to catch five.

Pervirgin has been playing since earlier this year at Fests around the country as well as a couple of dates at Café Istanbul here, but I had been unfamiliar with it, its writer/star Nkechi Chibueze, and her full-bodied imagination. I was happy to make the acquaintance of all three at The Art Garage.

Chibueze, or “Kechi” as she’s known, brings to the stage a cheery persona with a cheeky outlook on life as she narrates this presumably autobiographical tale about being a “Supervirgin,” i.e., someone who’s never been kissed romantically.

With a quirky wit, Chibueze finds the just-right balance between humor and seriousness as she creates a portrait of her love life, or lack thereof.

Raised in England as the child of “SAP” (or “Strict African Parents”), Kechi starts her tale “where my life took a turn for the worse–at birth.” From there she describes the seemingly perfect girlfriend (“She cooks, she cleans, she does anal.”) and then takes us back to 4th grade and her first romantic disappointment.

Moving to El Paso with her parents, we encounter Kechi’s high school lab partner who at first seems to be a cool guy, but ultimately undermines her sense of self, an episode Chibueze renders touchingly sad.

Leavening Kechi’s amorous defeats are a “Relationship Fairy Godmother,” an “Audio Journal” that provides comic insights, and a “Truth or Kiss” audience-interactive game (sample question: “Who would you kiss, Donald Trump or Kim Jong-un?”) that could be awkward but proves to be delightful.

Chibueze’s well-honed storytelling skills keep us wanting to know “What happened next?” and director Eritria Pitts insures that the show’s momentum never flags while making certain that the visuals don’t become static. I only wish Chibueze had occasionally waited for laughs to die down before proceeding and hadn’t swallowed a few of her words as I didn’t want to miss any of Pervirgin.

Flutterbug’s Surrealist Puppet Dinner Party at Mudlark Theater was just that, a 3-course meal (multi-colored corn pops, spaghetti & red sauce, and frosted vanilla cake, all tasty and emerging from ingeniously done set pieces) outfitted with unique puppets large and small, fabulous costumes and make-up, a thrumming musical soundtrack, and an extremely well-crafted, truly surrealist vision.

Though just over a half hour, a few minutes probably could’ve been cut from the portion size and it would’ve

remained just as yummy.

At the AllWays Lounge, Jon Broder’s rom-com Sex Partners In Crime, in which the “meet cute” set-up occurs at an underwear party, delivered spot-on character-defining dialog but would’ve benefitted from an infusion of dramatic thrust. The ample masculine pulchritude on display provided by Matt Reed, Trey Ming, Mint Bryan and David Melerine was winningly matched by their thespian talents. Sex Partners may need to be tighter, but I’d certainly be interested in their further adventures.

Margeaux Fanning’s The MOMologues, also at The Art Garage, was listed under “Comedy” in the InFringe program and parts of it certainly were.

Crystal Thomassie, serving as the de facto mistress of ceremonies, started out with wild true tales of her 350 lbs.

“DDD boob” mama, that included finding her watching Count Cockula, a gay porn movie, and having to cut her pubic hair (Thomassie’s a hairdresser now). Funny until they turned sad, with her Mom’s ballooning up to 500 lbs., Thomassie artfully located the humor in the pathos of her mother’s situation.

Overall, however, MOMologues turned out to be more serious than expected. That might not have been a problem, but there was too much reminiscing and not enough storytelling.

While the other six writers’ tales about their Moms were moving recollections, and some members of the audience were clearly affected by them, MOMologues could have used a greater variety of tone.

Only Jen Pagan’s Dondé Esta, about an immigrant mother’s challenges with an Americanized daughter, had the proper shapeliness of a true dramatic passage.

Unlike the others, Thomassie’s narrative was broken into smaller sections which alternated with the longer monologues; perhaps this should be done with all of the pieces making MOMologues into more of a mosaic.

Rob Florence took this approach with his play Katrina, originally just a collection of monologues, by which it became a much more powerful work. If Fanning were to do this with The MOMologues, I’d be interested in seeing it again should it return around Mother’s Day as has been rumored.

Celeste Cahn’s solo show A Lady Does Not Scratch Her Crotch, at GrandPre’s, was said to be about “growing up under, and then out from, the shadow of the perfect Disney princess.” Describing, over the course of an hour, how Beauty and the Beast and its various characters affected her, Cahn explored her sexual awakening.

While I enjoyed the section where she used a long-stemmed rose to masturbate to the great disapproval of the very proper teapot Mrs. Potts, as someone who saw Beauty and the Beast, both film and stage versions, many years

Matt Reed (top) and Trey Ming in Sex Partners In Crime ago, I found A Lady rather tedious in its entirety.

InFringe #3 may have been a bit of a mixed bag, but if it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be its fringey self. On to #4!

Curtain Up What happens when circumstances beyond their control strand six strangers together at Benny’s Tavern in the French Quarter just two days before Christmas? Find out when Southern Rep presents Mandatory Merriment: A New Holiday Musical by very talented locals Leslie Castay and Ian Hoch at its new home (2541 Bayou Rd.) running Nov. 28 through Dec. 23.

What happened during World War I, when a German soldier stepped into the No Man’s Land of the Western Front singing Stille Nacht? Find out Dec. 6-14 at NOCCA (2800 Chartres St.) when NOCCA Stage Company presents All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, a new musical about an extraordinary moment of peace during wartime directed by Ambie Award-winner Blake Coheley in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Treaty in Paris.

What’s it like to be an elf working at Macy’s during the Holidays? Find out when A.J. Allegra directs and Alex Martinez Wallace stars in David Sedaris’

The Santaland Diaries at JPAS’ Teatro Wego (177 Sala Ave., Westwego) Nov. 30-Dec. 23. And to find out how a classic holiday film transfers to the stage, check out Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at JPAS’ home in Metairie (6400 Airline Dr.) Dec. 7-16.

Wanna be the first to see a new musical (or at least part of it) based on the life of Polish composer, concert pianist and statesman Ignacy Paderewski, a true rock star of his time? Then head over to the Contemporary Arts Center (900 Camp St.) for the first act of Matthew Hardy’s Virtuoso directed

by Loyola’s Laura Hope on Wednesday, Nov 28, at 7pm. And the free admission allows you to take a break from shopping without denting your holiday budget!

And wanna see the wildest holiday show in Nawlins or possibly anywhere in the USA?! Then do NOT miss the LPO’s The Stompers Save Christmas featuring our own 610 Stompers Saturday, Dec. 8, at 7:30pm at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in Armstrong Park. Ho-Ho-Ho! Please send press releases and notices of your upcoming shows to Brian Sands at bsnola2@hotmail.com.

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COMMUNITY VOICE

Thankful for Family and Families of Choice Pastor Allie Rowland Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans alisan.rowloand@gmail.com

Recently, my mother came to visit my partner and me in New Orleans.

I’ve been blessed to have a mother that has accepted my “coming out” as a lesbian and has always offered me unconditional love. That doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been an adjustment for her at times, and it’s taken her some time to get to know and be comfortable around my partner Pam. The truth is that for almost everyone in the translesbigay community family relationships can be a challenge ranging from complete estrangement to those family members who just don’t want to acknowledge your sexual orientation, gender fluidity, or romantic partners. In our community, “family of choice” has long been important, finding those who comprise our tribe and forming the type of relationships that mean we always have people to share a Thanksgiving meal (even if those people don’t include our biological family). Holidays can be challenging for us at times, but they can also be opportunities to support others around us who

feel lost, estranged, or outcast. We truly understand those feelings. And we can offer a welcome and hospitality that is unparalleled.

Sometimes those of us who are older believe that our youth and 20 somethings don’t need the same level of support that we did since the cultural climate is more accepting than it used to be, but the ones I have met here in New Orleans are eager for mentors in our community, for older adults who will accept them and love them unconditionally. Don’t be afraid to reach out to young people as a mentor. There are wonderful organizations where you can provide appropriate support, like the Labyrinth Café through NOLA Wesley or you can contact the LGBT Community Center and ask how to support the youth group there.

There are ways that people traditionally give during the Thanksgiving season to food banks and to shelters, and hopefully, you will be able to share some of what you have. But I think it’s crucial in our community that we pay

attention to our friends who struggle during the holiday because of broken family relationships, and that we pay attention to those who fall into depression either because of relationships they’ve lost or relationships that they don’t have.

We are very blessed to have many allies in our community, and we have many open doors that 50 years ago this community did not have, but we still can care for our own LGBT community in a unique way. We understand what those in our community feel, and the special challenges that the holidays can bring for our community.

If you are preparing for potential awkward family moments, then lean on your friends in this community for support. If you’re feeling lonely, don’t be afraid to reach out and to look for organizations and churches who are offering holiday events or meals. We are blessed to have a variety of churches in New Orleans who are open and affirming and who love to feed people!

As the holiday approaches, you

might make a holiday meal, give and receive gifts, or attend worship services, but whatever you do, I encourage you to look for others in our community who need to be included and loved unconditionally. You might have been taught to count your blessings or to take stock of what you are grateful for in your life. If that’s the case, I believe that you will be grateful for each person you reach out to who is beyond your usual circle of friends and family.

You will be blessed by new friendships and new opportunities to share your wisdom and experience with a younger generation.

I’m grateful for those in my biological family who love and support myself and Pam and our daughters exactly as we are. But I am equally grateful for my extended family of choice, whose love has been present for me during many holiday celebrations and during those times when I felt lost and alone.

During this holiday season, may you be the love you are seeking, and may you create the family and connections that bring you joy!

A COMMUNITY WITHIN COMMUNITIES

A calliope 32 notes of joy

The Very Rev. Bill Terry+ fr.bill@stannanola.org Today the sky is a bit gray and the streets seem to be a tad more quiet than usual. I am awaiting a large rain event. It is almost 11am and through the quiet of the day I hear the happy sound of that steamboat calliope, all 32 notes. Such music is not grand nor is it elegant; it is simply happy. The tonal quality is upbeat and yes even perky.

Perky? So what is perky in my life and what is “perky” in your life? The world is filled with distress, and yet, within that distress can be found fabulous people, places and events. Just review this very periodical. It is packed with fundraisers for this club and that organization. Bears are always busting beers! Gay Krewes offer shows galore, not to mention programming for Decadence and Pride. The Big Easy Sisters are often admitting a new novice and offering both community service along with the wit and humor that pushes back on the dark side.

Yes, woven into the fabric of all of the discord are lazy evenings when like-minded folk join together at local pubs. Stephanie is always pushing some fruit-laden new beverage with a dose of entertainment in the pouring and often some insightful bit of wisdom shrouded in sarcasm. It is a fabric that is important and keeps us going.

“Perky!”

“Perky” is often a whimsical fur baby sidled up next to a barstool or even on a bar top depending on its size. I often see one such delightful critter visiting the Phoenix, a lovely English Bulldog. I have my own fur baby Gretchen the Church Dog that always lays in the one place where people walk. Bars are dark so inevitably the large furry German Shepherd gets nudged. But she gives as much love as one can imagine. I am sure that many of you have such companions; this is a very dog-friendly city. How many places can you go where the bartenders offer doggie treats to their customers along with a deep drink of water?

“Perky!”

I don’t know if life is like a box of chocolates. Maybe so. But I do know that it is so often like that calliope that drifts in on the wind on quiet days. It sits in the back of your heart and just for a moment enlivens you and distracts you.

The heavy events of the world: fires, storms, politics and recounts, global warming, repressive laws, and bitter Congressional haranguing; they will all be there tomorrow. But that calliope, let it drift in for just a moment.

There was a priest and his name was Jean-Pierre de Caussade and he was a spiritual advisor to a group of nuns, novices, who complained bitter-

ly about the work that they were being asked to do. He coined a phrase that I often repeat, “the sacrament of the present moment.” Jean-Pierre said, “In the state of abandonment the only rule is the duty of the present moment. In this the soul is light as a feather, liquid as water, simple as a child, active as a ball in receiving and following all the inspirations of grace.”

What he is saying is to take joy in the immediate moment. He goes on to say, “Let the past lay in her crypt, it is time that is gone; let the future evolve as it will. Live in the present moment.

Try to seek that place in your heart where peace can be found.” “Perky!”

Our cityscape is laced with calliope-like sights. Brightly colored houses. Have you noticed them lately or have they just become a part of what you pass by? Standing on a balcony opens a vista of rooftops and our rooftops, at least in the French Quarter, can be fascinating sights. Take a look and see should you be on a balcony.

There is a tree a few yards over from my office. It is large and I am sure it provides a lot of shade. It has the shape of an oak. It is laden with fiery red/pink flowers. Notice things like that.

They are lovely and so overlooked.

Do you like the look of old slate roofs with our penchant for using barrel

tile to cap the roofs? I do. The texture of that slate with its gray color and sleek movement. Sights and sounds delight the spirit if we slow down and make a point to notice them. Sacrament of the Present Moment. “Perky!”

I worry, as a pastor, that sometimes we become so absorbed by social media, news media and the aggressive way in which we experience the world that sometimes we forget to laugh and love. Laughing and loving does not, despite popular opinion, start with lemon shots. It starts before you get to the bar. It starts in simply taking time to enjoy and appreciate the immediacy of where you are. Whether you have little or plenty, you are inevitably surrounded by richness in sight, sound, and smell.

Take that in first. Try to remove the sepia tones of social discourse and open your eyes to the brightness around you every day.

What I am asking is not Pollyanna-ish. It is real and it is a discipline that one has to work on. It is far easier to wallow in despair than it is to enjoy the present moment. But enjoying the present moment, like smiling when Stuart Butler gives a giggle, is a moment in time that is a delight. Savor that giggle for just a second before moving on to the next vision of beauty.

Let’s all take a break and be “perky.” Enjoy the one you are with.

Enjoy the immovable feast of sight and sound. Listen for the calliope.

28 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Oz New Orleans PHOTOS BY DWAIN HERTZ #OZNEWORLEANS & SUBMITTED BY PERSANA SHOULDERS

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ADDRESS 800 Bourbon Street New Orleans, LA Phone: (504) 593-9491 www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 29

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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

30 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 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, 433 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119, www. armeinius.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]

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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

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www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 31

FINANCIAL & BUSINESS Six Questions to Help You Make Your Open Enrollment Selections

Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M. ADPA® s.billeaudeau@ampf.com How do your employer’s benEach year, employers offer an efits selections compare to those open enrollment period — a window offered to your spouse? Employers of time to select your benefits package change their offerings from time to for the coming year. It’s easy to overtime, so make it a priority to compare look this opportunity and maintain the your options every year. If you’re constatus quo, but this could be a costly sidering changing healthcare providers mistake given the significant role beneor opting in for legal assistance, check fits play in your financial life. This year, to see if your current professionals are resolve to review your options with a covered under the new plans. If not, fresh perspective. Consider the followconsider the cost and whether you ing six questions to get started: want to work with someone new as you Have you experienced a major make your decisions. life change recently? If you’re on the Is a Health Savings Account verge of having a child, recently sent (HSA) worth considering? If you a college graduate off on financial inchoose a high deductible health plan, dependence or the job status of your you may be able to set up a Health Savspouse has changed, reconsider your ings Account (HSA). With an HSA, you health insurance options to accomdefer pre-tax dollars into the account. modate your current situation. If you The money can be used to pay out-ofare experiencing or anticipating major pocket costs (such as deductibles and health expenses, you might decide co-pays for medical services) that are to choose a health plan with a lower not covered by your health insurance. deductible. Or, perhaps you may deThe maximum amount you could concide you are better off paying a lower tribute in 2018 was $3,450 for an inmonthly premium with a higher deductdividual and $6,900 for a family¹. Any ible.

unused dollars can be carried over to the following year.

Is there value in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)? Out-ofpocket costs not covered by insurance, ranging from deductibles and copays to prescription drugs, eyeglasses and dental work, can be reimbursed through an FSA. By directing pre-tax dollars into this account, you can reduce your net out-of-pocket costs.

However, unlike HSAs, these dollars do not carry over from year to year. Any leftover money is lost, so you’ll want to plan in advance to determine an appropriate amount to save in the account.

Are there other benefits I should contemplate? Benefit options vary by employer. Depending on where you work, you might have the ability to enroll in benefits such as dental coverage, eye exams, legal assistance, term life insurance or other specific services that may be useful. Carefully weigh these options to see if they are cost effective.

Consider your financial goals.

Kick off open enrollment season by reviewing your financial goals. If you’re married, talk to your spouse and realign on key priorities for the next year. Having a clear vision can help you evaluate benefit options with your lifestyle and financial situation for the coming year at the forefront. If you would like additional support, consult a financial advisor before you finalize your enrollment form.

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.

Saints taking on challenges and looking elite NEW ORLEANS – The middle of the season was supposed to be the most challenging part for the New Orleans Saints.

All eight road games were scheduled during an 12-game stretch. In the middle of that stretch came games against division leaders Washington, Baltimore, Minnesota and the Los Angeles Rams, who entered the game against the Saints undefeated.

Throw in Sunday’s game against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles and you had a certified gauntlet.

But the games seem to be getting easier. New Orleans won its ninth straight after a season-opening loss to Tampa Bay by routing the Eagles, 487, in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to complete an historic run.

That game came on the heels of a 51-14 win at Cincinnati, which was preceded by a 45-35 win against the Rams, producing a franchise-record 144 points in a three-game span. It’s the first time New Orleans has scored 45 points in three consecutive games.

“They were just in the way,” Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas said of the Eagles. “They were the next team up and we just had to do what we had to do. Regardless of who it is, we just had to come out there and play Saints football.”

They did exactly that in producing

Les East, Crescent City Sports the largest margin of victory against a “Our offense is already explosive,” defending Super Bowl champion.

Kamara said, “but when you get guys Drew Brees was almost perfect, you don’t expect to make plays make completing 22 of 30 for 363 yards and plays, it is fun.” four touchdowns as he had his ninth Mark Ingram II had his second interception-free game out of 10. The consecutive 100-yard rushing day, finbiggest negative in his performance ishing with 103 yards and two touchwas that his completion percentage downs on 16 carries. of 73 will lower his season-long comThe defense matched the offense pletion percentage, which was over 78 as it harassed Carson Wentz (three entering Sunday’s game. sacks) into three interceptions – two by Thomas was relatively quiet – four reserve safety Chris Banjo and the first catches, 92 yards, one touchdown this season by cornerback Marshon – even as he became the first Saints Lattimore, last season’s NFL Defenpayer to have three 1,000-yard receivsive Rookie of the Year. ing seasons to start his career.

With Brees putting together one “It was going to happen eventually, of the most proficient and precise searight?” Thomas said. sons ever by a quarterback, it’s nearRookie Tre’Quan Smith made the ly impossible for an opponent to keep recent signing of former Pro Bowl reup the scoring pace unless it takes the ceivers Dez Bryant, who suffered a ball away more than it gives it away. season-ending Achilles injury in his But Brees is operating from a comfort second practice with his new team, zone created by the rushing tandem and Brandon Marshall, who was inacof Ingram and Kamara as well as an tive Sunday as he gets acclimated to offensive line that has allowed an NFLhis new team, seem unnecessary. He low nine sacks. caught 10 passes for 157 yards and a “It’s hard to get to him, number touchdown. one,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson “It was a huge night for him,” Brees said of Brees. “The ball is out of his said. hand so quickly. Obviously they’re The Eagles, who were missing explosive. They’re dynamic. They are both starting cornerbacks because of playing with a lot of continuity right now injuries, devoted added attention to and they’re playing in sync. Obviously Thomas and running back Alvin Kait starts with Drew and the way he hanmara, creating opportunities for others, dles the team and the offense.” especially Smith.

Meanwhile the Saints defense is

emerging behind the No. 1 rush defense and an increasing ability to produce turnovers.

On Sunday, in addition to the three takeaways, New Orleans allowed just 196 total yards, 58 rushing yards and limited Philadelphia (4-6) to 3 of 10 on third down conversions and 0 of 2 on fourth down conversions.

“It is just starting to come together,” defensive end Alex Okafor said. “A lot of it we have to give to our offense obviously because they make teams attack us differently, but we just take it upon ourselves to be as stout as possible and it is finally starting to show.”

The Saints held the ball for more than 37 minutes. It’s virtually impossible to keep up with New Orleans’ scoring pace if you don’t possess the ball for significantly longer than 22-something minutes.

“We just keep getting better and better each week,” Ingram said. “We’re just putting together complete games, offensively, defensively and on special teams. That is the main goal, be healthy and get our next game plan down and move on to the next one.”

This article was originally published

by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.

32 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

Sun Belt champion confirmed for R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl NEW ORLEANS – The winner of the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game will be headed to New Orleans as the conference announced Friday that the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl will host the winning team for its upcoming bowl game.

“The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and Sun Belt football have been linked together from the inception of both in 2001 and we are excited to carry on our longstanding relationship with the game in this new and exciting way,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson. “Our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans have always enjoyed their visits to New Orleans and have always had a first-class bowl experience. The Sun Belt Champion will be greeted with the city’s renowned hospitality and will play in the iconic Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It is an exciting time for both the Sun Belt and the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.”

The Sun Belt’s first ever Football Championship Game will be played on Dec. 1 and kickoff for the game will come straight out of College GameDay on ESPN at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT. With a new divisional structure in place for the 2018 season, the Sun Belt Championship Game will feature the winners of the Sun Belt East and West Division. The game will take place at

John McElwain, Crescent City Sports the home site of the Divisional Chamover ULM on Saturday keeps the Red pion with the best overall conference Wolves in the hunt for the West Diviwinning percentage. sion title.

“Over the last 18 years, the R+L Troy remains the league’s only Carriers New Orleans Bowl and the unbeaten team in Sun Belt play and Sun Belt Conference have shared a is in control of its destiny. The Trojans tremendous partnership,” said R+L (8-2, 6-0) have a chance at locking up Carriers New Orleans Bowl Chairman the East Division this weekend if they Paul Valteau. “This December, we are can win at home over Texas State (3excited to host the Sun Belt Confer7, 1-5), coupled with an Appalachian ence Champion in what will be a fanState home loss to Georgia State (2tastic kickoff to the 2018 bowl season.”

8, 1-5). If the Mountaineers (7-2, 5-1) The 2018 edition of the R+L Carwin Saturday, regardless if Troy wins, it riers New Orleans Bowl will kick off sets up a de facto championship game on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 9 p.m. ET/8 on Nov. 24 in Boone for the East title. p.m. CT. The game will be televised It’s already been a record-breakon ESPN and broadcast on ESPN Raing football year for the Sun Belt Condio. The Sun Belt Champion will face a ference. The conference’s total for team from Conference USA at the Mernon-conference wins this season sits cedes-Benz Superdome. On the eve at 21. That total is good for the most of kick-off, the bowl will host a concert regular season non-conference wins featuring headline acts Cole Swindell, in league history, breaking the record Dustin Lynch and Lauren Alaina. of 19 that was set in 2013. Including While much could till happen in the the postseason, the Sun Belt’s record final two weeks of the season, if ULM for non-conference wins in a season (6-4, 4-2) can take a win over West rival is 22, which was set in 2016. The conArkansas State (6-4, 3-3) on the road, ference has a minimum total of five and Louisiana (5-5, 3-3) falls in an upremaining non-conference games this set to South Alabama (2-8, 1-5) in its season when factoring in postseason home finale, the Warhawks will punch bowl opportunities. Also of note, the a ticket to the Sun Belt’s Championship Sun Belt Conference has the second Game. A win by both the Warhawks highest non-conference win percentand Ragin’ Cajuns will setup a winner age amongst all Group of Five Confertake all game in Monroe between the ences with a .538 mark (1. American two teams in the final Saturday of the – .543, 2. Sun Belt – .538, 3. Mounregular season. An Arkansas State win tain West – .531, 4. Conference USA

– .412, 5. Mid-American – .383).

So far this season, Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, ULM and Troy are all bowl eligible.

Coastal Carolina and Louisiana are both in striking distance of bowl eligibility with five wins apiece.

About the Sun Belt Conference Entering the second decade of the new millennium, the Sun Belt Conference continues to challenge itself, and its competitors, in all aspects of intercollegiate athletics. Not content with being simply the youngest football conference in the Football Bowl Subdivision, the conference has shown that it can rise each and every season that comes along. And since the birth of the league as an FBS member in 2001, the evidence is clear that the conference is indeed rising above competitors and peer conferences.

The Sun Belt finished second in bowl winning percentage among all 10 FBS conferences the last two seasons.

Reaching back to the 2014 season, no conference has a better total bowl winning percentage (.611) than the Sun Belt. All that success comes as the This article was originally published

by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.

Pelicans must improve in several areas to challenge best out West David Grubb, Crescent City Sports The New Orleans Pelicans’ 7-7 start has left fans wondering what’s wrong with a team expected by many to challenge for a top tier Western Conference playoff seed.

Injuries to key players have been a factor. Pelicans’ starters have missed a combined 14 games. Elfrid Payton has been out for nine games with a sprained ankle, Anthony Davis missed three with an elbow sprain, and Nikola Mirotic missed a pair with an ankle sprain of his own (he left Wednesday’s loss to Minnesota after re-injuring that same ankle).

Payton’s injury has been particularly frustrating for fans, seeing as the team is thin when it comes to ball handling. With Payton sidelined, Jrue Holiday has had to spend more time on the ball. Holiday is averaging 3.6 turnovers per game, his highest since 2012-13.

The team’s inconsistency on defense has been another factor. New Orleans currently ranks 23rd in the NBA with a Defensive Rating of 111.4.

Last season they finished 14th, but were one of the elite defenses in the league during their run to the playoffs.

Over the final 15 games of last season, the Pelicans were the NBA’s

third best defense, posting a DRTG of 102.9.

It’s not just that the Pels are getting beaten defensively, it’s how they’re getting beaten that’s so frustrating to watch.

Jrue Holiday hasn’t been the only Pelican who’s been giving the basketball away. New Orleans ranks 18th in the NBA with 15.1 turnovers per contest and is giving up nearly 17 points off of them.

The Pelicans are next to last, beating out only the lowly Suns, in fast break points allowed (16.6), and they are surrendering more than 50 points in the paint each night.

New Orleans’ point differential of 1.2 is less than last season’s 1.3.

Tim Frazier, Solomon Hill, Ian Clark, Frank Jackson, Jahlil Okafor and Julius Randle have all struggled at times to play adequate individual defense, let alone team defense.

The Pelicans’ bench has been in disarray as well. Outside of Julius Randle, there has been no consistency on the second unit. Randle has 13 games in double figures, the rest of the bench has combined for only seven such games.

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But at the heart of all of the problems is Anthony Davis. For the last time I’m going to preface my commentary by restating that Davis is a generational talent, a player that will go down as one of the best of all time. We all accept that as fact.

Another fact, unfortunately, is that Davis has not lived up to the statistical standards he created or the MVP-level standards he demanded prior to the season.

It would be hard to convince me that Davis has been the most valuable player on the Pelicans so far. Though he shows plenty of his brilliance, Jrue Holiday, Niko Mirotic, Julius Randle and E’Twaun Moore have all been more consistent in their effort and production this season.

AD is shooting a career-low 45.9 percent from the field. His 8.7 field goals made per game is his lowest output since the 2013-14 season and his shot attempts are the lowest they’ve been in three years.

Though Davis is making a career-best 40 percent of his three pointers, his shooting inside the arc has fallen off dramatically. Prior to this season AD had never converted less than 51 percent of his two point attempts.

From every distance, his production has slipped.

According to Basketball Reference, Davis is making 69.4 percent of his shots at the rim, 35.3 percent between three and 10 feet, 20.8 percent from 10 to 16 feet, and 16.7 percent from 16 feet to the three point line.

Last season those numbers were 73.9 (down 4.5 pct), 48.8 (down 13.5 pct), 41.2 (down 20.4 pct), and 34.9

(down 18.2 pct).

A huge portion of AD’s success last season was his offensive efficiency.

This season he’s barely above replacement value at his position (0.9 rating).

For his career, Davis has averaged a VORP of 3.78.

Davis’ player efficiency rating is also at its lowest point since the 201516 season. AD’s current 25.5 mark would be the third lowest of his career.

Defensively, he’s been losing his individual matchups lately, or at least not dominating in the way he should.

Even with Davis in the middle, teams have not been shy about going inside. This is how opposing bigs have done over AD’s last six games.

Karl Anthony Towns – 25 points/16 rebounds/9-17 shooting Pascal Siakam/Serge Ibaka – 41 points/17 rebounds/16-28 shooting DeAndre Ayton – 20 points/12 rebounds/9-12 shooting Wendell Carter Jr. – 17 points/11 rebounds/7-11 shooting Steven Adams – 18 points/8 rebounds/9-12 shooting LaMarcus Aldridge – 22 points/12 rebounds/6 assists/11-21 shooting That’s an average of 20.4 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 60.3 percent. During his last six games AD has averaged 24 points and 12.5 rebounds on 43.3 percent shooting.

Of course, Davis wasn’t responsible for every one of those points allowed but, for whatever reason, this season the gap between AD’s production and his opponents has narrowed and the Pelicans are paying a cost for that.

After beating his hometown Bulls, Davis said that he had been trying too hard and that he was over-thinking the game. It seems as if Davis has yet to find the roadmap out of his head.

The Pelicans are in a much better place at the top of their rotation than they were just two seasons ago. From 1-6 (counting a healthy Elfrid Payton) New Orleans has as good a group as any in the West outside of Golden State.

While they continue to tinker with the bench and try to get healthier, the Pelicans don’t need Anthony Davis to be perfect. They just need him to be better.

Hopefully Davis returns to form soon. Hovering around .500 for half of the season as they did last season would make the odds of hosting a first round series much longer, along with the chances of improving upon last year’s results.

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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