Ambush Magazine Volume 37 Issue 07 by Ambush Publishing

THE OFFICIAL GAY MAGAZINE OF THE GULF SOUTHâ&#x201E;¢

A Biweekly Publication Celebrating LGBTQ Life, Music & Culture Since 1982 VOLUME 37 ISSUE 07

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2019

www.AMBUSHMAG.com

Pre-Easter & Saints and Sinners Festival

Investigative Report Page 24

r e h g n i t t e l d e v Gia lo . . . y a l p o t t u o e m o demons c

! Y L L A R E LIT Play Girlz

The Music of

Senator Ken Fridays 7:30–9:30pm

hosted by Gia GiaVanni

Fridays 10–11:30pm

The Music of the

Vanessa Carr Band

Saturdays 7:30–9:30pm

Divas R Us starring Monica Synclaire-Kennedy

Saturdays 10–11:30pm

The Half-Assed Straight Boys

Bar

iaV G a i G . feat 0p m

s Fr i day

Sundays 3–9pm

Best L GBTQ

z l r i g y P la anni

Jubilee: Dragging for Jesus with Reba Douglas Sundays 5–7pm

Best Happy Hour

in the Quar ter!

Golden

The Official Home of Southern Decadence.

THE

Lantern

1239 Royal St. New Orleans • facebook.com/GoldenLanternBar

HAPPY HOUR 8AM – 8PM DAILY

N E V E R A C O V E R AT THE GOLDEN LANTERN

THE “OFFICIAL” DISH by TJ ACOSTA, PUBLISHER

Dear Ambush Nation, We at Ambush are in total Easter mode and hope you are too! We have a series of fundraisers planned for this year’s Spring season with all of the proceeds going to Food for Friends. We’re so excited about this year’s Gay Easter Parade on April 21st and hope to see you along the parade route. I want to take this opportunity to personally thank the members of the Gay Easter Parade Advisory Board who make all these fundraisers possible. Members of the board include Tony Leggio, Electra City, Anthony Lala, Jr., Arthur Severio, Henry Marshall and Darrin Duplissey. They each help coordinate the multiple fundraisers that lead up to Easter. They donate both their time, talents and money to help make each of these fundraisers a success. It is no easy task to pull off so many consecutive fundraisers and have them all be successful yet the members of the GEP Advisory Board

not only do it, but make it look easy. Again, a heartfelt Thank You! GAY EASTER PARADE GRAND MARSHALS As the owner of Ambush, I have the honor each year of selecting the Grand Marshals for the Gay Easter Parade. Now into my second Easter with Ambush, I have come to understand how important these roles are to the community. And while it may be my decision and my decision alone to make these selections, I feel a sense of responsibility to make selections of those who are both deserving and who will also make the readers of Ambush and the LGBTQ community along the Gulf South proud. This year I decided to select Regina Adams and Clint Taylor as Grand Marshals. Also, because it’s the 20th anniversary of the Gay Easter Parade, Jesse Hernandez will serve as Honarary Grand Marshal. Regina has been performing since

Inside this Issue of Ambush Saints and Sinners LGBTQ Literary Festival A Program of the Tennessee Williams/ New Orleans Literary Festival

6-8

Literary Spotlight: Rick Reed, Steven Sanchez, and Karelia Stetz-Waters

Book of the Month: Full Service by Scotty Bowers with Lionel Freidberg

Stonewall at 50: An Interview with Richard Schneider, Jr.

Book Review: In Search of Stonewall

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with Southern Decadence

12-13

Community Voice: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots

THE ROCKFORD FILES: LGBTQ+AEIOU and sometimes ‘y’

Musings by Catherine: Revolving Door, Evolving Spirit

The Importance of Gender Inclusion in Recreational Sports

Restaurants 101: The Flaming Buoy Filet Co.

Bartender of the Month: Ryan Sessum of Cafe Lafitte’s in Exile

Trodding the Boards

20-22

My Buku Year 2: Electric Boogaloo

22-23

Rawhide & Phoenix: An Investigation

24-29

2019 Gay Easter Parade Grand Marshals Announced for the 20th Annual Parade

2019 Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Announced

Party Down

32-33

Hot Happenings

34-43

Trade Tensions and Your Portfolio: What You Need to Know LGBT Owned & Friendly Business Directory

44 46-47

A Community within Communities: Restore, Renew, Reconcile

NYC Pride announces route for WorldPride NYC 2019 | Stonewall 50 Pride March

49 50-51

Sports Saints and Sinners Festival to Feature Panel on Social Justice

ODYSSEY HOUSE LOUISIANA’S 2nd ANNUAL PROPHYLACTIC PROM

LGBT+ Archives Project Launches Oral History Initiative

Sports 52-53 Gulf South LGBTQ Entertainment & Travel Guide Since 1982 New Orleans, Louisiana info@ambushpublishing.com

44-46

the 1970’s and, in many ways, represents the early days of the gay rights movement in New Orleans. Regina and others of her generation have paved the way for all who have followed, in more ways than most of us will ever understand or appreciate. Jesse is the first male Saintsation for the New Orleans Saints and represents how far we have come as a community. Clint is the owner of the Phoenix Bar and has been a great supporter of the LGBTQ community in New Orleans for many years. In recent months, the Phoenix Bar has been at the center of several investigations reminding us that the fight for equal rights is not over yet. I’m so excited about the Grand Marshals for our 20th Anniversary Gay Easter Parade. If you want to know more about the Grand Marshals or are interested in being a sponsor or part of the parade, go to GayEasterParade. com for more information. CONGRATULATIONS SOUTHERN DECADENCE GRAND MARSHALS On Friday, March 15 at Crossing, 2018 Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Frank Perez and Adikus Sulpizi had an event to reveal their choices for their successors and this year’s Grand Marshals. This is always one of the most anticipated events of the year. Some years the choice is obvious while other times there is a surprise pick. This year, Frank selected William Antill and Adikus selected Daryl Dunaway (Countess C. Alice). Congratulations to William and Daryl for being selected as Southern Decadence Grand Marshals for 2019. May you both have a wonderful reign as Grand Marshals. We look forward to an amazing Southern Decadence weekend. For more information about Southern Decadence you can visit SouthernDecadence.com MARK YOUR CALENDARS The Forum for Equality with have their Spring Social on Thursday, April 11 at Bayou Wine Garden from 6 to 8 pm. Come out and have a cool cocktail and learn about the Forum as well as the upcoming legislative session and how it affects our community. Bayou Wine Garden is located at 315 N Rendon Street. Johnny Passion’s Circus of The Stars 3, a fundraiser for Belle Reve, will be on Saturday, May 18 from 7 to 9 pm at Oz. There will be several entertainers who will perform for your viewing pleasure along with a silent auction and 50/50 raffle. Belle Reve is a nonprofit assisted living facility in New Orleans that services the HIV/AIDS population in New Orleans.

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™

LETTERS 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 DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & EVENTS Chris Leonard SENIOR EDITOR Brian Sands CONTRIBUTORS Brian Sands, Catherine Roland, Crescent City Sports, Frank Perez, Jim Meadows, Kevin Assam, Persana Shoulders, Rev. Bill Terry, Rodney Thoulion, Ryan Rockford, Scot Billeaudeau & Tony Leggio LOCAL ADVERTISING sales@ambushpublishing.com Reed Wendorf 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. ©1982-2019 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 · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 5

SAINTS AND SINNERS Saints and Sinners LGBTQ Literary Festival A Program of the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival NEW ORLEANS – Saints and Sinners, an annual LGBTQ literary conference, will run concurrently with the The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, March 29-31, 2019. Founded in collaboration with NO/ AIDS Task Force in 2003, Saints and Sinners (SAS) began as a creative outlet to showcase the vibrant and diverse LGBTQ literary community and offer HIV/AIDS information. “We started off with a weekend literary festival, and over 16 years it’s grown into a year-round community of shared ideals and encouragement,” said executive director Paul Willis. “As one of our longtime participants told me, ‘Saints and Sinners is a place where writers are reminded why we do what we do in the first place. It reminds us of why we write and why our voices matter in the world.’” The Festival celebrates this city’s longstanding attraction for LGBTQ writers, and offers established and emerging authors, as well as students and readers, the opportunity to network and nurture their craft—and let

the good times roll in true New Orleans fashion. The Festival features a diverse array of artistic and educational offerings. SAS offers two full days’ worth of panel discussions, with topics ranging from publishing and marketing to retrospectives on the LGBTQ movement. Our reading series also takes place both days featuring nearly fifty writers including new voices and literary icons. Panel topics and discussions at the 2019 Festival include: Love and Desire, Queer Literary Hook-Ups, Dykes To Watch Out For, as well as discussions on poetry, spirituality, and “The Power of Sexuality in Contemporary Literature” with Garth Greenwell and Justin Phillip Reed. There will be over twenty discussions to choose from during the weekend. Southern Rep Theatre is partnering with SAS this year to present the world premiere of New Orleans native playwright Christina Quintana’s evocative new play Azul, directed by Estefanía Fadul. Facing the loss of her Cuban-born mother, Zelia digs into her

legacy and learns of her great-aunt who remained in Cuba for the love of another woman. Echoes of the past inform Zelia’s own relationship with her wife and her struggle to place herself between worlds. The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival presents a Poetry Slam competition with cash prizes and poets Greg Brownderville and Judy Grahn as judges. Then Saints + Sinners Live kicks off with storytelling by local troupe, Greetings from Queer Mountain. The evening ends with a Saints + Sinners-themed Drag Show hosted by New Orleans drag icon Vinsantos at the Ace Hotel New Orleans March 28th. The 2019 three-day event includes noted speakers such as: Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard Out of Carolina, a finalist of the National Book Award, and Cavedweller, a national bestseller and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; Blanche McCrary Boyd, author of the Tomb of the Unknown Racist; Leona Beasley, Lambda Literary Award finalist in Lesbian Fiction for her debut novel Something Better than Home; Saskia de Coster, Belgian visual artist, playwright, and author of We and Me which won the Cutting Edge Award and the Opzij Literature Prize; Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours, as well as A Home at the End of the World, The Snow Queen, Specimen Days, and By Nightfall; Robert W. Fieseler, recipient of the Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship, and author of Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation, a work of civil rights history that reconstructs the 1973 fire that devastated New Orleans’ subterranean gay community; Judy Grahn, known as a foremother of Cultural Feminism and the Gay Liberation movement, her work includes A Woman Is Talking To Death, The Common Woman Poems, and most recently, Hanging On Our Own Bones. Garth Greenwell, author of the highly acclaimed and award-winning novel What Belongs to You, longlisted for the National Book Award; Cheryl Head, author of the Charlie Mack Motown Mystery Series; Greg Herren, author of over 30 novels and 50 short stories; winner of the Anthony Award, the Lambda Literary Award (twice) and two Independent Press medals for outstanding work in young adult mystery/horror;

Andrew Holleran, author of three novels including the seminal work Dancer from the Dance, a book of short stories, and a collection of essays on AIDS. He is a regular contributor to the Gay and Lesbian Review; Silas House, New York Times-bestselling author of six novels, including the most recent Southernmost (2018); Felice Picano, acclaimed author of over 30 books of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and plays. Picano’s first novel in over fifteen years, Justify My Sins: A Hollywood Novel in Three Acts to debut in March 2019 at SAS; Justin Phillip Reed, winner of the 2018 National Book Award in Poetry for his collection Indecency; Bryan Washington, columnist for Catapult “Bayou Diaries.” His first book, Lot, is forthcoming from Riverhead in March 2019. We are also excited to be adding a writing workshop series on Friday, March 29, with workshops led by Dorothy Allison, Judy Grahn, Andrew Holleran, and Felice Picano. As part of your SAS weekend itinerary, you can purchase tickets for our Saints + Sinners French Quarter Walking Tour ($25). The tour is led by LGBTQ historian Frank Perez who relays the neighborhood’s queer history and its rich literary heritage. For a complete schedule visit: SASFest.org. A SAS weekend pass ($150) includes our new Friday Master Class series, our welcome reception, “Glitter with the Literati” on Friday, March 29 at the historic Beauregard-Keyes House & Gardens; panel discussions; a reading series made possible by our premiere sponsor, the John Burton Harter Foundation and the Hall of Fame Closing Reception. The pass also includes the Tenth Annual SAS Short Fiction Contest Book Launch Party in the Hotel Monteleone’s Vieux Carre Room. We received a record number of entries for our 2019 SAS Fiction contest from 28 different states and 8 countries including Australia, Canada, England, France, Indonesia, Ireland, and Trinidad & Tobago. The anthology is published by generous support from Bold Strokes Books. A SAS Partner Party Pass ($25) includes our welcome reception, “Glitter with the Literati” on Friday, March 29 at the historic Beauregard-Keyes House & Gardens Museum, the Book Launch Reading and Reception Saturday, and the Closing Reception on Sunday. Day Passes are available for $50, and tickets to single sessions are $10 on-site. And SAS Student Rates are $25 for a Weekend Pass.

6 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

About Saints and Sinners Since 2003, Saints and Sinners Literary Festival (www.sasfest.org) brings together the who’s who of the LGBTQ literary world. The Festival features panels and writing workshops by authors, editors, and publishers for

emerging writers and LGBT literature fans. Follow @SASFeston Twitter and Facebook for updates. #SAS19 Saints and Sinners is made possible through the generous support of our premier sponsor, the John Burton Harter Foundation. Major support also

provided by the LGBT Fund through the Greater New Orleans Foundation; the Louisiana Decentralized Arts Program made possible by the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the State of Louisiana administered by the Arts Council of New Orleans; Bold Strokes

Books, the New Orleans Advocate; and Avita Pharmacy. Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival TW/NOLF (www. tennesssewilliams.net) For more on the Festival, follow us on Twitter at @ TWFestNOLA and Facebook #TWF19

TENNESSE WILLIAMS/NEW ORLEANS LITERARY FEST A Confederacy of Dunces Adaptation, Tribute to Young Tennessee, Award-Winning Writers, All Slated for the 2019 Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival NEW ORLEANS—The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival returns to the historic French Quarter for its 33rd annual celebration of contemporary literature, culture, theater, and the works of Tennessee Williams. From March 27-31, 2019, attendees will enjoy celebrated award-winning speakers alongside fresh new voices on the literary scene. Our full color program book is now online. Follow theView Program banner below to see the full program including just added content! The five-day event offers a range of diverse speakers and performers, including Dorothy Allison, Jami Attenberg, Bryan Batt, Jason Berry, Roy Blount, Jr., Douglas Brinkley, Greg Brownderville, Alafair Burke, Robert Olen Butler, Patricia Clarkson, Maureen Corrigan, Michael Cunningham, Eve Ensler, Garth Greenwell, Silas House, Val Kilmer, Bernice L. McFadden, Daniel José Older, Hannah Pittard, Julia Reed, Justin Phillip Reed, Nathaniel Rich, Poppy Tooker, Kent Wascom, and many more. Special event just added! Golden Globe-winning actress Patricia Clarkson returns to the Festival for a special interview event conducted by her longtime friend, actor Bryan Batt. The interview between these two native New Orlenians includes a showing of a highlight reel of Clarkson’s illustrious career thus far. An available ticketing option includes an exclusive, intimate meet-and-great with Clarkson and Batt. Stellar speakers for the annual Tennessee Williams Tribute Reading just announced! The Tribute Reading returns with the theme of “He Was Tom Before He Was Tennessee,” a rare opportunity to hear literary gems by an unknown writer named Thomas Lanier Williams. Readers include Dorothy Allison, Robert Olen Butler, Leon Contavesprie, Michael Cunningham, Eve Ensler, Aimee Hayes, Val Kilmer, and Bernice McFadden. The 2019 program includes writer’s craft sessions; scholarly and entertaining panel discussions; theater, food and music events; a scholars conference; breakfast book club; several walking tours; a book fair; and special evening events and social gatherings. Our opening night event is sold out,

however tickets are still avalabile for “A Confederacy of Dunces: Off the Page Onto the Stage.” This dynamic staged reading of John Kennedy Toole’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel will show Saturday March 30th at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center. Theater Highlights include three full length productions by local theaters. The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans, in collaboration with TW/NOLF, will immerse audiences in the hothouse of Tennessee Williams’ psychological thriller, Suddenly Last Summer. Violet Venable, a formidable matriarch, sets out to exact revenge on Catharine Holly. Truth, deceit, and horror intermingle in an overgrown garden where Catharine struggles for her life. In conjunction with TW/NOLF, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre presents the regional premiere of Tennessee Williams’ Baby Doll adapted by Pierre Laville and Emily Mann. Based on the one-act play 27 Wagons Full of Cotton and the controversial 1956 film, Baby Doll is set in the sweltering summer heat of 1950s Mississippi. Southern Rep Theatre presents the world premiere of New Orleans native playwright Christina Quintana’s evocative new play Azul, directed by Estefanía Fadul. This production is in partnership with Saints+Sinners LGBTQ Literary Festival, a project of the TW/NOLF. Facing the loss of her Cuban-born mother, Zelia digs into her legacy and learns of her great-aunt who remained in Cuba for the love of another woman. Echoes of the past in-

form Zelia’s own relationship with her wife and her struggle to place herself between worlds. For more intimate theater experiences for Williams fans, the Festival is offering multiple shows at smaller venues. At Beauregard-Keyes House, Jeremy Lawrence will revive his much heralded piece, Everyone Expects Me to Write Another Streetcar, drawn from the words and works of Tennessee Williams. Also at Beauregard-Keyes, Harold Gervais brings Two For Tennessee, original one act plays inspired by the life and legacy of Tennessee Williams, featuring new plays by Becky Retz and Leslie Nipkow. The NOLA Project will be at MAGS 940 with their very popular Literary Late Night improv show, By Any Scenes Necessary: Long Lost Williams. They will also present Tennessee X Three, a staged reading of “A Perfect Analysis Given By a Parrot,” “The Long Stay Cut Short, or, The Unsatisfactory Supper,” and “The One Exception” by Tennessee Williams. Special Events include the annual Book Club, “Books and Beignets,” led by Southern scholar Gary Richards, featuring John Kennedy Toole’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel A Confederacy of Dunces. Jonathan Mares Productions, in association with TW/NOLF, presents a personal appearance by actor Val Kilmer, who will introduce the film of his one-man play about Mark Twain, Citizen Twain, followed by a question and answer session after the screening at The Joy Theater. Poppy Tooker will host a culinary

event at Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House. Nicole Colbert returns with Last Stop: Desire, a dance/theater adaptation that reimagines Williams’ Streetcar in the 1960s, performed to live music led by New Orleans-based musician Richard Bates. Award-winning historian and raconteur Mikko Macchione will partner with Old New Orleans Rum for a cocktail event featuring his book New Orleans Rum: A Decadent History. The talk will be moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Rose. Historian David Johnson will interview Kathy McKeon, author of Jackie’s Girl, a memoir about the 13 years she spent as the personal assistant to former first lady Jackie Kennedy. A Festival tradition for our music enthusiasts, Drummer and Smoke, returns with iconic New Orleans musicians Banu Gibson, The Tin Men, and The New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra led by Lars Edegran. Plus, singer Anais St. John will present her show Lulu White, based on the famous Storyville madam. Also during the Festival weekend, Saints+Sinners Literary Festival (SAS), our annual LGBTQ literary conference celebrating its 16th year, will feature speakers including Dorothy Allison, Tena Clark, Michael Cunningham, Saskia de Coster, Robert W. Fieseler, Cheryl Head, Andrew Holleran, Silas House, Fay Jacobs, Daniel M. Jaffe, Christina Quintana, Felice Picano, Elizabeth F. Schwartz, Suzana Tratnik, Bryan Washington, and many others. Visit sasfest.org for more details.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 7

Venues: Most Festival events take place in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter. Sites providing generous support and hosting events include Hotel Monteleone, the Festival’s host hotel; The Historic New Orleans Collection; Williams Research Center; the New Orleans Jazz Museum; Beauregard-Keyes House; The George and Joyce Wein Jazz and Heritage Center; Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré; Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House; Muriel’s Jackson Square Restaurant; and Palm Court Jazz Cafe; among others. Festival Tickets are on sale now. VIP Passes are $600; Literary Discussion Passes are $100 ($70 for stu-

dents); a One-Day Literary Discussion Pass is $40; theater/special events range from $10-$50; writer’s craft sessions are $25 each; Best Value: Combo Pass $200 (includes all 8 writer’s craft sessions and a Literary Discussion Pass); the Scholars Conference is $20; walking tours are $25-$50. Group rates, available on request, are 20% off for groups of 20 or more. For more information and a full listing of events, visit www.tennesseewilliams.net. The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival celebrates the genius of Tennessee Williams, who once called our city his “spiritual home,” and the contemporary artists

who are as honest and unflinching in their examination of the human condition as our patron playwright. Founded in 1986 by a group of cultural enthusiasts, the Festival has grown from a small gathering of 500 to a five-day literary and multi-cultural event, which sees 13,000+ seats filled each year. In late March, we toast Williams’ birthday with theater, literary panels, food, and music events featuring luminaries and the brightest new talents in American arts. For more information, visit www. tennesseewilliams.net or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ TWFestNOLA The Tennessee Williams/New Or-

leans Literary Festival is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works. Major backing comes from the New Orleans Theatre Association, which supports performing arts throughout the Greater New Orleans area, along with support from The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc.

MOMENTS IN GAY NEW ORLEANS HISTORY

Saints and Sinners Literary Festival and Queer New Orleans Literature Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com When people think of New Orleans, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not literature, but rather music, food, or Carnival. Nevertheless, New Orleans boasts a robust literary heritage, including queer letters. New Orleans hosts the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, an annual conference celebrating LGBT+ literature. Every year at the end of March, authors, publishers, aspiring writers and lay people from around the Unit-

ed States converge on the Hotel Monteleone for a weekend of panel discussions, writing workshops, master classes, readings and performances. This year marks the sixteenth anniversary of the festival. Founded by the NO / AIDS Task Force in 2003 as a way of raising awareness about HIV / AIDS and also as a means of bringing together the gay writing community in New Orleans, the festival has grown in stature and earned the reputation as

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one of the premiere gay literary festivals in the world. The festival began as the brainchild of Paul Willis who had previously organized a similar event for the Lambda Literary Foundation in Washington, D.C. Willis also organizes the annual Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival. New Orleans based mystery novelist and NO/AIDS Task Force Prevention Director Jean Redmann conceived the name “Saints and Sinners.” Attendees at the first festival created a Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, the first inductees into which were Dorothy Allison, Katherine V. Forrest, Felice Picano, and Patricia Neil Warren. Also in that first year, the infamous Gennifer Flowers hosted an erotica reading at her nightclub. In subsequent years the festival would feature playwriting and short fiction competitions. The first play to win the contest, Nighthawks by Evan Guilford-Blake, was performed at Cowpokes and the Marigny Theater in 2007. Since 2008, winners and finalists in the fiction contest have had their stories published in the annual festival anthology, Saints and Sinners: New Fiction from the Festival. It’s appropriate that New Orleans hosts the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival considering the long tradition of gay writers the city has produced and inspired. Three giants of American literature—Walt Whitman, Tennessee Williams, and Truman Capote—were profoundly inspired by New Orleans and went on to greatly influence the American literary canon. While Whitman, Williams and Capote are names known to many, there have been several other important gay writers from New Orleans whose names may not be as familiar. Perhaps the most influential gay man of letters in New Orleans history is Lyle

Saxon. In addition to reporting news stories for the Times-Picayune, Saxon also wrote cultural commentary on the city and occasional fiction pieces. He quickly established himself as a leading figure in the city’s literary scene. Because of the times in which he lived, Saxon did not live as an openly gay man and there is nothing particularly gay about his body of work. LGBT+ literature as we understand that term today did not emerge until well after Saxon’s death. When it did, however, New Orleans had a role to play in its growth that continues till today. A gay-themed literary festival like Saints and Sinners would have been incomprehensible to Saxon, and yet in those closeted times gay writers were writing gay themed literature. Truman Capote’s Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948), James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room (1956), and John Rechy’s City of Night (1963) all helped nudge the literary closet door open. It wasn’t until after the Stonewall Riots in 1969, though, that gay literature finally began to truly emerge from the closet. In time, noted authors such as Dorothy Allison, Michael Cunningham and Mark Doty would win both recognition and awards from the mainstream for their works. Despite the increasing acceptance of GLBT literature, gay-themed literature continues to earn very little media attention and has far fewer publishing options than straight literature. Saints and Sinners is important in that it helps to ensure the written work of the LGBT community will continue to have an outlet, and that people will have access to books that will help dispel stereotypes, alleviate isolation, and provide resources for personal wellness. Literature has long nurtured hope and inspiration, and has provided an avenue of understanding. A steady stream of LGBT+ novels, short stories, plays, and non-fiction works has served to

8 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

awaken lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered persons to the existence of others like themselves, to trace the outlines of a shared culture, and to bring the outside world into the

emotional passages of LGBT life. Saints and Sinners is open to the public and this year the festival is offering a 20% discount to Ambush readers who want to attend part or all of the fes-

tival (the discount code is Ambush20). The festival takes place March 28--31. Tickets can be purchased at www.sasfest.org or by phone at 504.581.1144. The program includes a book launch

party and fundraiser, a social mixer with the featured authors, a gay literary walking tour, master classes, panel discussions, and a reading series.

LITERARY SPOTLIGHT Rick Reed, Steven Sanchez, and Karelia Stetz-Waters

Rick R Reed

Steven Sanchez

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 spokespeople 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. The 16th annual Saints and Sinners Literary Festival takes place March 29—31. For more information, please visit http://sasfest.org/#home Three authors who will be at the Festival are Rick Reed, Steven Sanchez, and Karelia Stetz-Waters. Rick R. Reed draws inspiration from the lives of gay men to craft stories that quicken the heartbeat, engage emotions, and keep the pages turning. Although he dabbles in horror, dark

Karelia Stetz-Waters

suspense, and comedy, his attention always returns to the power of love. He’s the award-winning and best-selling author of more than fifty works of published fiction and is forever at work on yet another book. Lambda Literary has called him, “A writer that doesn’t disappoint...” Rick lives with his husband in Palm Springs, California. Steven Sanchez is the author of Phantom Tongue (Sundress Publications, 2018), selected by Mark Doty as the winner of Marsh Hawk Press’s Rochelle Ratner Memorial Award. He is also the author of two chapbooks, To My Body (Glass Poetry Press, 2016) and Photographs of Our Shadows (Agape Editions, 2017). A CantoMundo Fellow and Lambda Literary Fellow, his poems have appeared in Poet Lore, Nimrod, Muzzle, Crab Creek Review, and other publications. Karelia Stetz-Waters publishes across genres and prides herself on erotic and uncompromising portrayals of lesbian sex and sexuality. She is also committed to writing happy endings. She publishes with Sapphire Books, Ooligan Press, and the Forever Yours imprint at Grand Central Publishing. Her novels include Worth the Wait, The Admirer, and Forgive Me If I’ve Told You This Before. Karelia teaches college writing and lives in Oregon with her beloved wife.

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BOOK OF THE MONTH

Full Service by Scotty Bowers with Lionel Freidberg Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com

Very rarely do books make me blush, but my choice for the month of March did just that. Full Service by Scotty Bowers with Lionel Freidberg, a very refreshing and incredibly interesting sensationalized autobiography, describes Scotty’s adventures in Hollywood and the sex lives of many of the stars from yesteryear, a literal who’s who in the entertainment industry from the 1940’s through 1980’s. The book chronicles Bowers’ life from his humble beginnings as a young farmer through his formative years in Chicago to his time in the war and then his famous (or infamous) life in Hollywood. Full Frontal tells the story of Hollywood’s sexual underground in its Golden Age with Scotty starring in the lead role. His career began as a gas sta-

tion attendant who serviced more than cars. Sleeping with both men and women, he became a star in his own right. I mean he mixed and mingled both in and out of the bedroom with the Hollywood elite. In addition to providing his own special sexual prowess to his clientele, however, Bowers became a conduit who could discreetly fix you up with the person of your dreams. Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Vincent Price, Walter Pidgeon, Rock Hudson, Desi Arnaz, Vivien Leigh, Somerset Maugham, Tennessee Williams, Noel Coward, Mae West, Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton and Edith Piaf are just a few of the names that grace the pages of his book. Nothing is off limits in this tell-all biography. You learn the sexual pro-

clivities of these stars as well as get a glimpse into their lives at a time where being gay or sexually active outside of marriage was extremely taboo. Scotty’s story is provocative, startling and incredibly engrossing. It is more than his story in Hollywood I found fascinating, however, but also his years as a child and young adult, from turning tricks with men of the cloth to his time in the military. I could not put this book down. Full Frontal is the story of a true hustler in every sense of the word. Whether bartending, pumping gas or in the bedroom, this man worked tirelessly. There was more movie magic happening in his life than on the big screen with all his dalliances. Bowers’ life is an unabashed story of pleasure and satisfaction both for himself and others

in his circle. From setting up a seminar for a group of gay men with Marilyn Chambers, famous for the first celebrated porn movie Deep Throat, or talking about how to give a perfect blow job to hiding under the table at a dinner party at Cole Porter’s home, these are some incredible stories. I believe that this is more than a tell-all novel told by a male prostitute (although Scotty never describes himself as such). It is a tale of the sexual revolution during Hollywood’s heyday. Scotty, now in his 90’s, has no regrets from his full and quite scintillating life. I fully recommend reading Full Frontal for a fun trip down the backstreets of Hollywood. There is definitely no shame in this man’s game.

INTERVIEW Stonewall at 50: An Interview with Richard Schneider, Jr. Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Stonewall as well as the 25th anniversary of The Gay and Lesbian Review, a journal dedicated to LGBT+ issues. To honor and celebrate both anniversaries, Richard Schneider, Jr., the founder and editor-in-chief of The G&LR, has recently edited a new book—In Search of Stonewall, a collection of essays from The G&LR. Schneider is in town this week to participate at the annual Saints and Sinners Literary Festival. FP: How did In Search of Stonewall come about? RS: We wanted to do something extra special to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The G&LR, which happens to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. So, a book about Stonewall seemed a natural, especially since we’ve published many articles about the Stonewall era

over the years. By this I mean the period immediately following the Riots and into the early 1970s, sometimes called the era of Gay Liberation. In Search of Stonewall also covers the pre-Stonewall period of the 1950s and 60s. FP: The latest issue of The Gay & Lesbian Review debuts a now logo and concerns itself with how our community should identify itself. Could you comment on your argument for a shortened moniker by using the ampersand? RS: We started publishing in 1994 under the aegis of the Harvard Gay & Lesbian Caucus, so our original name was The Harvard Gay & Lesbian Review. We dropped the “Harvard” in 2000, but we’re stuck with a kind of old-fashioned name, one that doesn’t include bisexuals, transgender people, and other sexual minorities. I call this the “NAACP problem” – an orga-

nization that has outlived its original name. Their solution was to drop the words but keep the letters. We’re doing something similar with “G&LR” – with an emphasis on the “&” sign. The idea of the ampersand is that it includes “everyone else” – i.e. everyone who’s not straight! FP: What do you say to early activists who now lament the turn the Gay Liberation movement has taken in recent decades? RS: This question is addressed in our next issue, May-June, which is billed as our “Stonewall Special.” There are people in this issue like Karla Jay and John Lauritsen who were radicals in their day but who lament the passing of the old “spirit of Stonewall” as a new generation takes the helm. There’s a feeling that the LGBT movement has become too established, too moderate, under the auspices of the HRC and the Task Force, whose goals of marriage equality and military service are pretty conservative. On the other hand, this issue also features two young firebrands, Yasmin Nair and Robert Baez, who are still promoting a very radical agenda of full sexual freedom and economic equality for all. So perhaps the wheel has come full circle. FP: How has the world of gay letters and publishing changed since Stonewall? RS: Well, at the time of Stonewall the concept of gay letters or LGBT literature didn’t exist. The big break came in the late 1970s and early 80s,

when people like Edmund White, Andrew Holleran, and Sarah Schulman began publishing literary fiction. There was some serious scholarship at this time, notably Jonathan Ned Katz’s Gay American History, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that LGBT scholarship really took off. The G&LR was founded amid the so-called “gay publishing boom” of the 1990s, which saw the publication of hundreds of gay titles per year. I think the number has leveled off at 2,000 or so today. By the way, Michael Denneny should be given a lot of credit for starting the first gay imprint, which was at St. Martin’s Press, as early as the late 70s. FP: Have you been to Saints and Sinners before? What are you expecting / hoping for this year? RS: My partner Stephen Hemrick and I attended the Saints and Sinners conference some years ago (fifteen?), and it was fabulous. I found the atmosphere among LGBT writers to be one of mutual admiration and support. I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting some new writers this year, as we’re always looking for new people, especially younger ones, to write for the magazine. Of course, we’ll also be promoting In Search of Stonewall, and with any luck we’ll sell a few copies. Finally, New Orleans is always a great place to visit, though I think I might avoid Bourbon Street after midnight! But the gay block is quieter, oddly enough. We are totally looking forward to this trip.

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BOOK REVIEW In Search of Stonewall Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com

In Search of Stonewall: The Riots at 50, The Gay and Lesbian Review at 25, Best Essays, 1994—2018. Richard Schneider Jr., Editor. G&LR Books, 2019. 212 pages. Because of their subjective nature, symbols are tricky things, with different meanings to different people. And more often than not, the meanings of symbols evolve over time. And while time often shuffles the meaning of symbols, time also affords us the gift of perspective. Stonewall is perhaps the most iconic symbol in the LGBT+ community. But what does it mean? And to whom? And how have those meanings changed over the last half a century? These are the questions In Search of Stonewall: The Riots at 50, The Gay and Lesbian Review at 25, Best Essays, 1994—2018 explores. Editor Richard Schneider Jr. is the editor-in-chief of The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide (until 2000, The Harvard Gay & Lesbian Review), which he founded in 1994 while working for a Boston consulting firm. The magazine has been his full-time job

since 1999. In the Preface, Schneider writes, “The year was 1994. It was the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and, as luck would have it, the year in which a new magazine called The Harvard Gay & Lesbian Review was publishing its first issue (Winter ’94).” The fact that The G&LR’s first year coincided with Stonewall’s 25th forever joined its fate with that of the founding event of the modern LGBT movement. In Search of Stonewall commemorates the magazine’s 25th anniversary with a collection of relevant articles culled from its 136 issues. The essays are divided into four parts: Part One—Flashpoint: New York City, June 1969; Part Two—Flashback: The Roots of the Riots; Part Three— Flash Forward: Aftermath and Diffusion; and Part Four—Stonewall’s Legacy: Whither the Revolution? In Search of Stonewall, an essential book for anyone interested in queer history, includes contributions from Dennis Altman, David B. Boyce, Michael Bronski, Frank Browning, David Carter, Steven F. Dansky, John D’Emilio, Michael Denneny, Martin Du-

berman, Lillian Faderman, D. Gilson, Eve Goldberg, Jewelle Gomez, Harry Hay, Amy Hoffman, Andrew Holleran, Karla Jay, Jill Johnston, Arnie Kantrowitz, Dolores Klaich, Larry Kramer, Toby

Marotta, Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon, Felice Picano, John Rechy, Will Roscoe, Ellen Shumsky, Bob Smith, Timothy Stewart-Winter, Martha E. Stone, and Edmund White.

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SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Southern Decadence SOUTHERN DECADENCE GRAND MARSHAL ANNOUNCEMENT PARTY AT CROSSING | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBUSH PUBLISHING

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SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Southern Decadence SOUTHERN DECADENCE GRAND MARSHAL ANNOUNCEMENT PARTY AT CROSSING | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBUSH PUBLISHING

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COMMUNITY VOICE

Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots Jim Meadows Executive Director, NOAGE info@noagenola.org At 1:20am on Saturday, June 28, 1969, four NYPD officers raided a gay bar in Greenwich Village called the Stonewall Inn. This wasn’t a particularly unusual occurrence. Gay bars in New York, like those in New Orleans and other cities at that time, were raided by the police on a fairly regular basis. Some were raided more often than others, especially if bar owners neglected to pay bribes -- or kickbacks from blackmailing wealthy patrons -- to the cops. With most police raids of gay bars, patrons would be rounded up and carted off to jail, where they would be charged with “crimes against nature.” In some cities, those who were arrested would have their names and “crimes” listed in the police blotter section of their local newspaper the next day. Disgraced, they could expect to lose their jobs, be kicked out of their apartments, and be disowned by friends and family. But something unusual happened that night. The cops attempted to line up the patrons to gather IDs, and to send those dressed in female clothing to bathrooms to have their genitals inspected, while they waited for the paddy wagons to arrive. The patrons refused, and as the cops’ tactics became physically aggressive, the crowd decided to respond in kind. As word spread around the neighborhood, bystanders gathered and joined the riot. As one of the patrons later described it, “We all had a collective feeling like we’d had enough of this kind of shit. It wasn’t anything tangible anybody said to anyone else; it was just kind of like everything over the years had come to a head on that one

particular night…It was the last straw. It was time to reclaim something that had always been taken from us…There was something in the air, freedom a long time overdue, and we’re going to fight for it. It took different forms, but the bottom line was, we weren’t going to go away. And we didn’t.” The riots escalated again the next day, as hundreds (possibly thousands) more people gathered outside the bar. After a few rainy days, there was one more riot on Wednesday, but as one activist/writer noted in a local counterculture newspaper, “this all ended within an hour, and peace was restored… But the word is out. Christopher Street shall be liberated.” One year later, activists commemorated the riots with Gay Pride marches on Christopher Street, and in Los Angeles and Chicago. The next year, there were similar marches throughout the United States and Europe, and the movement continued to grow in the following years. Modern Pride parades, although certainly lacking the original activist spirit, are usually still held in June to commemorate the Stonewall riots. Whether or not most contemporary Pride attendees – or sponsors – are aware of any of this is anyone’s guess, but local and national organizations are doing their parts to honor the memory of the original Stonewall Riots, and to fight for the generation that sparked them. On March 13, LGBT seniors and their allies gathered in Washington, D.C. to participate in SAGE’s first-ever National Day of Advocacy. They spoke directly to members of Congress about including LGBT older adults and

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people living with HIV as target populations in the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, which provides funding for senior services. The following day, Representative Suzanne Bonamici, along with her House colleagues Ted Deutch and Charlie Crist, re-introduced the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act which, if passed, would ensure that LGBT elders and older adults living with HIV would be included as a “group of greatest social need” under the Older Americans Act. Participants of the National Day of Advocacy also lobbied for support of national civil rights legislation to protect all LGBT people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and they demanded more engagement and funding from the federal government for research and services to benefit people who are aging with HIV. Here in New Orleans, NOAGE is planning two events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Back in 2015, with support from the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, we co-hosted our first Generations Forum. At that event, a panel of LGBT people of various ages discussed what it used to be like, what it’s like now, and the challenges we need to work on together to ensure that the fight for equality continues. Now in 2019, we find ourselves in an environment we couldn’t have predicted just a few years ago. Hate crimes against us are on the rise. People are being discharged from the military simply because they identify as transgender. We won the fight for marriage equality, but even as I write this there are powerful groups and leaders who are working to undo that. Many of us still face discrimination in housing, jobs, and a myriad of other realms. Our youth are facing a homelessness crisis, and our elders are being mistreated by staff and their peers in long-term care facilities. The CDC has predicted that half of African American MSM and a quarter of Latino MSM will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime. And transgender women, especially those of color, are at an even higher risk of HIV. We need to talk, y’all. On Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00pm at Café Istanbul (2372 St. Claude Ave.), NOAGE will host our second Generations Forum, this time with the help and support of an amazing group of Tulane University students who are studying under Dr. Krystal Cleary. As in 2015, a panel of LGBT people of various ages will come together to discuss how each generation can learn from the other. We will focus, however, not only on

what it is was like then and what it’s like now, but on what worked then and what’s working now. It’s a conversation that could not be timelier, and we hope you will attend. Admission is free, but RSVP is required. Visit www.noagenola.org/events to reserve your seat via Eventbrite. NOAGE is also planning to host a screening of the documentary, Before Stonewall, sometime in June. Directed by Greta Schiller and Robert Rosenberg, Before Stonewall premiered in 1984 at the Toronto International Film Festival, making 2019 the 25th anniversary of this landmark film. For updates on this screening, subscribe to NOAGE’s newsletter at www.noagenola. org, or follow us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/noageneworleans. For those of you who may have missed my last column: NOAGE and LSU Health Sciences Center invite all LGBT adults aged 45 and older to take the NOLA SHINE survey. Your answers will help us build a profile of the health and social needs of LGBT adults in the New Orleans area. We will not ask your name, nor will we collect any information that could be used to identify you. You may decline to answer any question you wish, or decide not to finish the entire survey. However, we value your responses, and encourage your participation. We feel that it is vitally important to learn about the needs of our community. The information can help ours and other agencies to provide better services to you in the future. To take the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/nolashine. I’d love to hear from you. Do you have any ideas or suggestions for other services, events, or initiatives that you’d like NOAGE to provide for the community? You can always reach me at info@noagenola.org. I also urge you to consider making an investment in your future by supporting NOAGE. Visit www.noagenola.org/support.

I’d love to hear from you. Do you have any ideas or suggestions for other services, events, or initiatives that you’d like NOAGE to provide for the community? You can always reach me at info@ noagenola.org. I also urge you to consider making an investment in your future by supporting NOAGE. www.noagenola.org/support

14 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

HIVcare.of AHF Healthcare Centers We are a one-stop-shop for all of your HIV healthcare and pharmacy needs. 4890 Bluebonnet Blvd Baton Rouge, 70809 (225) 769-3922 8281 Goodwood Blvd, Ste D1 Baton Rouge, 70808 (225) 231-5733 4300 Bayou Blvd, Ste 17D Pensacola, 32503 (850) 476-3131

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THE ROCKFORD FILES LGBTQ+AEIOU and sometimes ‘y’ Ryan Rockford RyanRockfordNYC@gmail.com The latest addiction to plague our community has nothing to do with crystal meth, fentanyl or GHB. We are hooked on phonics. And it’s time for an intervention. In an effort to be more inclusive and not hurt anyone’s feelings, we keep adding letters to the gay initialism and it’s gotten out of hand, to the point of being ridiculous. Since when does the LGBT movement care about hurting anyone’s feelings? For the past half century, no one cared about hurting ours. Since the mid-eighties, all of us fags, dykes, switch-hitters, chicks-withdicks, and assorted sexual deviants, have been collectively categorized as the LGBT community. As shorthand goes, for the past thirty or so years, this worked pretty well as an umbrella term which highlighted the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender segments of a widely diverse population. Enter the ‘What about me?’ generation. In response to certain subdivisions of the LGBT community who feel that they aren’t being represented by the current acronym, the LGBT initialism is

getting a makeover. Apparently LGBT isn’t good (or long), enough. Ergo, in the name of “progress”, under the guise of “raising awareness”, the new initialism reads: LGBTQQIP2SAA+. WTF?? What does that even mean? At the very least, toss a bitch a few vowels and give me something to work with. At first glance, you might be confused, wondering how to make sense of this eyesore. Not to worry, one swipe on my smartphone turns my Batman decoder cockring into a High Speed International Translator. Now, we have about four minutes to crack this code before I jizz all over my keyboard, so let’s get to it. Lesbian: We know who they are Gay: They know who we are. Bisexual: Even they don’t know who they are. Queer: Millennials with an odd sense of nostalgia. Questioning: If you have to ask, you already know the answer. Intersex: Wha? It’s used to describe a person “born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t

seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male,” according to the Intersex Society of North America. If this group is feeling under-represented, maybe it’s because only .05 to 1.7 percent of the population is born with “intersex traits.” That’s not a typo. Only .05 to 1.7 percent of the entire fucking population! C’mon, bitches. Stop this shit. Pansexual: Not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity. Not to be confused with panhandler 2S: Two-Spirit, a tradition in many First Nations that considers sexual minorities to have both male and female spirits. I hear that Regan McNeil from The Exorcist was a 2S. Asexual: A person not sexually attracted to anyone. Is there such a being? We all have our dry spells, but darling c’mon… But, ok. If you say so. Ally: Basically, straight people. + : Everyone else. Everyone else? Is there anyone left? So, here we stand, in 2019, on the cusp of the 50th anniversary of the gay civil rights movement, feeling gayer and prouder than ever before because for the very first time, the United States is hosting World Pride, right here in New York City. You can tell queens are already feeling a little ‘X-tra’ as spandex flies off the shelves of Mood, and the rat-tat-tat of sewing machines can be heard around the clock as fashionistas design summer-inspired haute couture for the global runway. Category: Less is Less. At the rate we’re going, and as the magnitude of World Pride sinks in, New York homos will be shitting sequins and “clacking” their fans to the tune of The Star Spangled Banner by Easter. As many vivid and delightful images as that thought may conjure, not one of them includes anyone wearing a neon crop-top with “LGBTQQIP2SAA+” blazoned across the front. Tacking on more letters and symbols isn’t doing us any favors; it’s just plain tacky. Supporters will tell you that the function of this conjunction junction is a progressive way to raise awareness. And it does. It makes those outside of the LGBTQQIP2SAA+ umbrella very aware that, after 50 years of pissing and moaning, we still don’t know who the fck we are! And we’ll prove it by showing off our brand new phonetic clusterfck. Whoever is in charge of making these communal decisions needs to pull the unicorn out of their ass and step into reality. Or maybe we need

to drag LeVar Burton out of retirement to crank out a few remedial lessons of The Reading Rainbow. Until that happens, let America’s Next Fag Superstar break it down for you. Grow up! There will never be a single, unifying name that everyone can agree on. Never. That’s reality. What we’re called isn’t nearly as important as what we stand for. Most of you don’t want to hear this, but Gay Pride is not about YOU. It’s about US. The LGBT acronym isn’t meant to be taken literally. It’s a placeholder for anyone who’s sexuality might be skewed from the “accepted norm.” The LGBT umbrella is a port in the storm for anyone who’s “different”. We know we are a diverse group. That’s what makes us unique and powerful if we all work together. Why do we want to further fragment ourselves within the very community fighting to keep us together? We’re all on the same team. Who cares what we call ourselves? If you’re not straight, then you’re with us. If you’re unsure, then you’re definitely with us. If you are, or have been, sexually ridiculed, demonized or persecuted for being the person you were meant to be, we’ve got your back. Your fight is our fight. Remember that at its heart, Gay Pride is NOT a celebration – it’s a protest, so stop bitching over your billing placement – roll up your sleeves and get with the program. If we MUST have an acronym, let’s keep it short. If it were up to me, and if the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling weren’t enjoying such a vaginal rejuvenation, I’d suggest we call ourselves G.L.O.W (Gay, Lesbian Or Whatever). Even better would be to use a symbol. Symbols are classic, easy to understand and can speak volumes without using a single letter. The practice of “reclaiming” seems to be very popular right now. Some members of our community have already reclaimed the word “Queer”; Maxine Waters is reclaiming her time and Jennifer Convertibles is reclaiming my furniture. Why not jump on the reclaiming bandwagon and reclaim the pink triangle that was so successful in the ACT UP! Fight AIDS, SILENCE=DEATH campaign? Being seen wearing a bright pink triangle leaves no doubt as to which side your bread is buttered on. Whatever we choose, it should be something that speaks more to the masses than it does to the specific members of a marginalized subsection of a larger population I am gay. I’m proud to be gay. Not just in June, but every day of the year. If there was a magic pill that could “take the gay away”, I wouldn’t take it. I like who I am, for the most part, and I believe that everyone—gay, straight or undecided, should have the same unalienable rights promised to the citizens of this country by the United States Constitution.

16 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

I also love my country and I am genuinely proud to be an American (unless I’m travelling abroad). So, am

I wrong to be apprehensive and a bit disappointed by our community’s “people pleaser” attitude? Am I committing

MUSINGS BY CATHERINE Revolving Door, Evolving Spirit Catherine Roland catherineroland12@gmail.com If you believe in the phrase “to everything there is a season” then you may be interested in why some seasons in your own life have been more filled with growth than others. I see our lives, our lived experience, as revolving and evolving within those revolutions. What does that mean? There may be times for all of us that seem more prone to the darker feelings we experience. Sometimes those have nothing to do with the season, but more about loss, or misunderstanding, or disappointment. For example, the word “depressed”, a word we often avoid saying, and sometimes even thinking. It’s a feeling we sometimes deny. And it’s as much a part of being an adult as growing older with every birthday. There are a few forms and levels of depression, and all of us have had and will have times when we feel down, or want to isolate, or experience sadness. Or just feel “yukky”. Can you relate? So many of us do not use those words, or ever admit that they feel anything but what we say when random folks ask, “How are you?” or even, “What’s up with you” or the ever- inviting, accompanied with a deep look “How ARE you?” Sometimes, we’re on the other side, asking those same inauthentic

questions, often because there’s nothing else we can think of to say. And we usually feel we need to say SOMETHING. We don’t. Those emotions and words we don’t say, don’t acknowledge, are still with us. Like any other infection, if it’s lanced, then healing can take place. When we don’t clean a cut, it just festers. Like those feelings that can become behaviors if we do not acknowledge. So, let’s reframe! And let’s work to utilize the natural evolutionary process. Each year on a birthday, be it the 28th or your 68th one, we start anew, a bit like the Earth in her orbit. It doesn’t always feel exactly like a renewal, but it is as long as you regard it as that. It’s a perfect time to reflect, to revisit, or to reinvent. Often all three activities of the mind and spirit will be the most helpful. The revolving door can be regarded as life, the ins and outs of people in our life, jobs, career, pets, family and friends, and our own self-regard (most important). There are always endings and beginnings, and at birthday time, if reflection takes place, using memories and photos, conversations with people who have known you for a long time and whom you trust, the reframes can happen. Anything you fear as you age, and that begins early for so many,

some sort of gay treason for voicing my fear that by unveiling, and standing behind this new initialism on a global

scale, we are going to end up with egg all over our shining, beaming, proud, gay American faces?

creeps up. Just capture that feeling and tackle it with your own inner belief of what you have accomplished already, and what you want. So, what about seasons? Since my birthday was a week ago, let’s talk about Spring, a good example of the revolution and the evolution, as well as how we can capture that for our emotions, strength and energy. Spring usually emerges as a welcome relief from Winter, whatever kind of winter was attached to your own geographical area. I say it that way because I’m a Northeasterner by birth, so I recall very well the snows and cold that I grew up with on Long Island, New York. I also recall and cherish memories of the hot cocoa that warmed us, the snowmen and snowwomen we built every year, never tiring of that. Lastly, the pure fun that was outdoors, in the cold, hiking and playing. So refreshing and, I’m sure, very healthy. Soon after my 18th birthday, I left the Northeast, and went to college in West Virginia, and afterward have lived many more years in the South than in the Northeast. his year, however, we’ve had what I’d call a challenging last few months in the South, so I am eager for the warmth typically bestowed upon the New Orleans metropolitan area by this time. I crave it; that’s why I live here. And I know it’s coming, just as I know that the revolving door is ready to roll. New people will enter my life in some way, some already have. Some individuals or groups may exit, by my choice or theirs, and with my agree-

ment, and it never matters which. It’s part of the circle as we evolve. New interests can emerge if allowed, and “cleaning out” often takes place, either in thought, emotions or behavior. Think about if you have cleared anything out lately. Moderation can be a key to this, so there’s not often a ‘there or gone’ choice one needs to make. Sometimes ‘hoarding’ feelings and stuff, literally prevents new people, places and activities from entering your world. That’s the evolving part. If there is a buffet, a smorgasbord of feelings, interesting people, and new adventures, your plate somehow needs more room, or be less filled in, in order to capture the embellishments, to be active, to realize the possibility of evolution that incorporates strong and enlightening awareness. And you won’t be bored! Just because it’s emerging, or brand new, even those of us who seek the ‘shiny’ will be adding in their way to options revolving toward life. You only need to look around you, and they can be part of your life-evolution. To supplement these, visit a garden, a park, look out your own window, take a little walk. All speak of life and emerging. Keep in mind that the revolving-evolving door is there, for any age, any stage, any socioeconomic level, any status of ability/disability, and any health status. Intention to go through that door, yearly or more frequently, will likely allow more life -- literally, figuratively, and within your own spirit. Look at those lovely hibiscuses and azaleas!

FROM STONEWALL SPORTS NEW ORLEANS

The Importance of Gender Inclusion in Recreational Sports Stonewall Sports - New Orleans values each participant for who they are and what they bring to our community. As part of providing a space for all players to be their authentic selves, we would like to respectfully address everyone in a way that affirms their identity. To do so, we are encouraging players to openly share their preferred pronouns on their league shirts. Pronouns are linguistic tools used to refer to someone in the third person. Pronouns, the societal implications, and stereotypes for gender expression and gender identity are often limiting and may result in misgendering someone. Misgendering someone occurs when you intentionally or unintentionally refer to, relate to, or use descriptive language for a person that doesn’t align with their affirmed gender. Misgendering can have a negative impact on self-confidence and mental health

and may result in outing someone to others. Our hope is that the outward sharing of preferred pronouns will make misgendering people less likely to occur. This season we have added a white box on the front of our kickball league shirts. Within the white box, we are encouraging players to fill in their pronouns, though players may choose to leave the box blank. We hope that providing space for all players to share their preferred pronouns will allow all players to live authentically within our leagues. We recognize that this is just one step in making our leagues as inclusive as possible. Our wish is to show respect and appreciation for all gender identities, letting everyone know they are welcome and can be part of our Stonewall family.

Andrew Palermo and Cameron Tillman (Photo Jordan Cranch)

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 17

INTERVIEWS FROM KEY WEST

Restaurants 101: The Flaming Buoy Filet Co. Kevin Assam kevin-assam@hotmail.com

Richard Scot Forste, co-owner of The Flaming Buoy Filet Co. in Key West, FL

Emergency dinner escapes. No Reservations. And Key Lime Pie! This ludicrous interview fails to rattle Richard Scot Forste, the co-owner of one of Key West’s trendiest restaurants, The Flaming Buoy Filet Co. Its new downtown spot at 424 Eaton Street is heavy on quirky marketing, Star Wars references, and Filet Mignon Medallion over mashed potatoes. Q: My waiter brought over Fettuccini Alfredo with chicken when I asked for shrimp. I was raised a good Christian with southern manners. Should I send it back or just eat it? Richard: How cute is the chicken? Dead and tossed in a cream based sauce. Richard: Oh, I saw that Netflix documentary. Order the shrimp. Q: How seriously should I consider the font of my upcoming restaurant’s signage? Richard: Very. Comic Sans and Papyrus are the only appropriate fonts for any restaurant. Q: What are some tips for securing a table without a reservation at a really upscale sushi bar? Richard: Perhaps a horrible, inexplicable, maybe even suspicious accident befalls a couple about to walk into an upscale sushi bar. Preferably at a busy intersection or on a poorly lit street. You didn’t necessarily witness anything, yet correctly assume there is a table available for two. Halve the unfortunate incident and you may find yourself a date for the evening. Don’t overthink it. Q: The restaurant owner was super sweet but my inner bitch and years of being a sous chef knows that my ﬁsh was microwaved instead of being properly reheated. Should I say anything on social media? Richard: It’s a restaurant. Not an emergency room. Q: My Scruff date is turning out to be a disaster. How can I covertly communicate to the restaurant staff that I need help being extracted? Richard: You made a date for dinner on Scruff? You’re doing it wrong. Nevertheless, excuse yourself to the restroom, open your app, look for your server — probably hovering about 0 feet away — quickly explain your predicament and ask for the kindness of an emergency phone call. Excuse to leave achieved. Don’t forget the tip. Q: My grandmother always said that metal and plastic utensils made the food taste funny. Should I feel judged if I attack my steak with my hands?

Richard: Marry me. Q: What’s the deal with Key Lime Pie? And why am I being inundated with coupons for free slices? Richard: The deal with the Key Lime Pie is, apparently, the first one is free with a coupon. Later comes hand jobs behind a dumpster to support your pie habit. Q: Is it wrong to date a gay chef who has modeled his relationship goals after the movie No Reservations? Richard: Is the gay chef Aaron Ekhart? Does it mean having to watch that movie again? Yes and absolutely. Richard: Hard no. I’d rather watch the dining scene at the end of Suddenly Last Summer than sit through No Reservations again. P.S. Aaron, call me. Q: Is it really that inconvenient to request split bills? We’re just trying to be economical Richard: How about trying to be adults? Firstly, “economical” is polite for “I’ll have a small salad and water,” and don’t invite your single cousin out to dinner anymore. Secondly, if servers were good at math beyond simple division they’d be accountants. Q: Should I be mortified every time my older partner puts on his phone’s flashlight to read the menu and bill? Richard: You misspelled fleshlight. Only if he isn’t buying. Q: Is it fiscally smart for more restaurants to opt out of pursuing a liquor license? Richard: God, grant me the liquor license to accept the things I cannot change, a liquor license to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Q: My restaurant is gay owned but I don’t necessarily want to just attract a gay clientele. I think it’s bad business to be so limiting. My partner thinks otherwise. What should we do? Richard: Do the restaurant that makes the both of you happy, regardless. You can’t and never will have control of your clientele. Build it, and they will come. Kevin Assam is an average writer and hilarious interviewer originally from the Caribbean. He can be best described as a forty year old imaginative mind trapped in a pint sized twenty something year old body. His upcoming book is a collection of outrageous things overheard in Key West.

18 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

BARTENDER OF THE MONTH

Ryan Sessum of Cafe Laﬁtte’s in Exile

Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com

Mardi Gras is always an extremely busy time in the city, especially for those working in LGBT bars. Long hours, large crowds and demanding customers in all states of intoxication abound. Being able to handle all these (and many more) situations are the keys to being a professional bartender. It was on one of my outings during Mardi Gras that I discovered my bartender of the month for March. Ryan Sessum has been bartending at Cafe Laﬁtte’s in Exile for over six months and you would not have guessed. His innate hospitality gives him a natural ability behind the bar. Originally from New Orleans, Ryan exudes personality which gives him his natural friendliness making him perfect to be behind the bar. You would not believe this was his first bartending job, but you may recognize his alter ego from shows at the Oz. Ryan’s drag persona is Miranda Kelli. Ryan says Mardi Gras was a great (and exhausting) experience as a bartender. What he loves about bartending is being able to make people

happy while making good connections. He also has a secret signature shot called The Cherrythin which is a fruity floral libation. I can attest to the potency and deliciousness of this drink since during my excursion out during Mardi Gras, I had imbibed a few of them. When he goes out, his favorite cocktail is Deep Eddy’s Ruby Red Vodka with Sprite.

Cafe Laﬁtte’s in Exile is located at 901 Bourbon Street. Ryan works Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday, 5 p.m. - 1 a.m. Go say Hi to Ryan and have a Cherrythin, but be warned they are addictive.

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Trodding the Boards Brian Sands bsnola2@hotmail.com

A Raisin in the Sun at Ashe’ Power House Theater through March 31 One would hope that, 60 years after its premiere, some, if not all, of the injustices that exist in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun would have disappeared by now. As issues of social justice and racism continue to dominate the headlines, however, that dream remains deferred. It does mean, though, that this masterpiece will seemingly never go out of fashion. And with Tommye Myrick’s exemplary production at the Ashe’ Power House Theater, Raisin continues to provide gripping theater in its story of a Chicago family who hopes that its patriarch’s life insurance settlement will enable its members to achieve a better life. Made into a movie, turned into a musical, revived on Broadway twice in the last 15 years, and parodied in George C. Wolfe’s The Colored Museum, it is easy to forget or take for granted how brilliantly written Raisin is. With gorgeously flowing language, Hansberry combines the basic demands of a well-made play with a searing examination of blacks vs. whites, men vs. women, black men vs. black

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.

women, rich vs. poor, assimilation, aspiration, and, of course, family dynamics. What I especially noticed in this joint Voices in the Dark Repertory Theater/Ashé Cultural Arts Center production was how immensely prescient Hansberry’s predictions of the future were so that Raisin remains startlingly fresh, as tho it was written just weeks ago. Myrick’s unfussy direction allows the play’s tender moments to shine through counterbalancing the more volatile ones. Most notably, she has guided her entire cast to tremendous performances, each actor riding the cadences of Hansberry’s words as though, together, they were all playing, magnificently, a Beethoven chamber work. As the matriarch Lena Younger, Carol Sutton is, in a word, extraordinary. She has stripped away any cliches that might have accrued to such a character and delivers a nuanced and unaffected performance. As an array of feelings flicker across her face--pride, love, anger--she is, by turns, feisty, stern, mothering, and a simple, yet utterly committed, warrior for civil rights. With Sutton’s years of stage experience, such artistry should come as little surprise however. What is astonishing, tho, is Michael C. Forest’s performance as Lena’s son in his stage debut. Exuding charisma, his Walter Lee can be hot-headed and a bully to his wife and sister, but when a putative friend’s tragic deception is revealed, Forest masterfully portrays how Walter Lee’s soul collapses. One can only imagine, watching him convey all of Walter Lee’s passions, that this is what it must have been like on March 11, 1959, in the Ethel Barrymore Theatre when Sidney Poitier created the role. Matching Sutton and Forest in every way are Constance Thompson as Walter Lee’s put upon wife Ruth and Ebony Duely Johnson as his strongwilled sister Beneatha. If at times Thompson seems defeated, as the plot twists, her Ruth Younger continually bounces back. With an inner decency and dignity, she finds myriad shadings in lines that, in lesser hands, could come off as merely repetitive. As a young woman “looking for her identity”, Johnson epitomizes a strong, modern female who’s both sassy and smart. Caught between two very different suitors, Johnson navigates the role’s conflicts perfectly. Martin “Bats” Bradford, as one of those suitors, Joseph Asagai, a grad-

Nik Walker in Hamilton uate student from Nigeria, manages to be dignified, and yet subtly sexy, very different from other performances I’ve seen him in where his energy was all outwardly directed. Asagai can come off as a little too overly ideal, but Bradford makes him believably human. Beneatha’s other beau, George Murchison, a scion of a well-to-do family, certainly is snide and full of himself, but Christopher Robinson never falls into caricature of such a type, presenting him as simply from another universe than the Youngers’. Like Bradford, Robinson demonstrates his expanding range here, a contrast to the more virile men he’s played in Camino Real and Not About Nightingales. Rounding out the cast and equally fine are Jim Holmes, young Ellington Benoit, and Tracy B. Mann, heartbreaking and flawless in a cameo role. Yvette Hough’s costumes, including rich garments from Africa, are spot on. Dane Rhodes’ set seems a little too nice for a cockroach infested apartment, but I can justify that by reasoning that the Youngers made it as habitable as they possibly could. What I can’t justify, however, is Myrick’s musical choices sprinkled throughout the show. These generic, personalityless recordings only barely evoke the era and add little to the production. Similarly, Rhodes’ lighting is as basic as can be imagined, with some fades seemingly arbitrary. Together,

they combine to ill effect, particularly at the end of scenes which tend to end with a whimper rather than a bang. Still, these are small quibbles for an otherwise transfixing, unforgettable production that demands to be seen by everyone in New Orleans. Sixty years after its premiere, Lorraine Hansberry’s words remain profound and moving. Maybe someday, we could hope for a less realistic, more expressionistic production. But till then, this will do very well. Very very well indeed.

Barbecue at the Fortress of Lushington through April 13 From the sublime to the sublimely ridiculous, and profound in a different way, well sums up the shift from Raisin in the Sun to Barbecue, the first of Robert O’Hara’s wickedly funny plays to be done here. I could talk about the over-the-top, Jerry Springer-esque situation that opens the show. I could describe the fierce stupidity and trashiness of the characters. I could mention that O’Hara sees race as less of a dividing line than socioeconomic class. I don’t, however, want to give away one iota of the vertiginously inventive plot which has merely ripened since its 2015 off-Broadway debut. Rather, I want you to get a ticket for this riotously

20 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

fun evening of theater and experience it, like I did, knowing nothing of what to expect. I’ll merely state that O’Hara writes so elegantly and so adroitly, his words trenchantly limning each character, that, as he spins out his funhouse tale, he keeps you hanging on his every word. Just be aware that if Barbecue’s conclusion is more shruggy than “zippity boom”, to use one of the character’s nicknames, it’s not the destination but Barbecue’s fantastic journey you’ll savor. Directed by Jon Greene & Torey Hayward, I don’t know who staged the production but he (they?) got all the humor out of the script. They also guided the cast to give performances as sharp in their physicality, enhancing their pointed characterizations, as O’Hara’s verbal humor is. Wearing Aya Designs’ deliciously role-defining costumes, each of the ten actors, most new to me, fully inhabit the challenging material without ever going overboard. While all are excellent, two especially stand out. Zondra Howard’s materfamilias may display the same maternal instincts as Carol Sutton does in Raisin in the Sun, but in every other way, she’s the exact opposite of Lena Younger to scaldingly hilarious effect. And Natalie Boyd, too long absent from our stages in major roles, brings out a mesmerizing depth to her character in a performance for which stillness masks a complexity of countervailing forces. She has never been better. If you’re already missing the audacious satire of such Mardi Gras krewes as Muses, Tucks and d’Etat, head over to the Fortress of Lushington for a Barbecue that’s spicy, sweet, and a very tasty theatrical treat.

Hamilton at the Saenger Theatre through March 31

Being under no delusion that anything I might scribble can make a sawbuck’s worth of difference to the juggernaut known as Hamilton, herewith a few observations to consider should you try to get tickets to the groundbreaking musical while it plays in New Orleans this month...or during any future visits. –I was afraid I would not be able to understand all the lyrics. Thanks to the cast’s flawless diction, however, this wasn’t a problem even when they spat them out. That said, I didn’t always have time to fully process all of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ingeniously rhymed words. –While a consistently interesting history lesson, parts of Hamilton, particularly the first act, feel more like a blazingly theatrical (thanks to Thomas Kail’s direction, Andy Blankenbuehler’s choreography and Howell Bikley’s lighting) Wikipedia entry than a musical

in which real people worth caring about are up on the stage. –For all of Alexander Hamilton’s genius, what with his wordiness, ambitiousness and general self-centeredness, for the hero of a musical comedy, he never comes off as someone you wholeheartedly root for (or fully believe that two of the highly eligible Schuyler sisters would fall in love with him, one becoming his wife). –In terms of characters who intrigue and entertain completely, Aaron Burr, George Washington, King George III and Thomas Jefferson far surpass Hamilton himself. –Would that all the songs achieve what The Room Where It Happens does, in which a catchy tune perfectly compliments and enhances the lyrics and, together, they advance and comment on the plot with wit, power and flair. So those are my take-aways from Hamilton which certainly delivers a Broadway worthy production and topnotch performances with Nik Walker (Burr), Marcus Choi (Washington) and Jon Patrick Walker (King George) impressing me the most.. One final thought: My two favorite musicals of the 21st century, Billy Elliott and The Band’s Visit, both Tony winners, I saw before they moved to Broadway, in the West End and off-Broadway, respectively, and both I loved a teensy bit less on Broadway, the former for being less British, the latter for being less intimate. So maybe I would’ve felt differently about Hamilton had I seen it during its previews at the Public Theater. Or maybe not.

Baby Doll at Le Petit Theatre through March 31

Le Petit is currently giving the New Orleans premiere of Tennessee Williams’ Baby Doll, adapted for the stage by Pierre Laville and Emily Mann, and based on Williams’ one-act play 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, and his screenplay for the 1956 film directed by Elia Kazan. In 2001, Le Petit presented Tiger Tail by Tennessee Williams, also based on 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, and his 1956 Baby Doll screenplay. Laville created a French version of Tiger Tail and then he and Mann reworked that, using its previous incarnations as well, to create the script now running on St. Peter Street. Got that? If you haven’t seen at least one of its prior versions, Baby Doll deals with desperation, arson, prejudice, and sexual tension as a Mississippi Delta-based, middle-aged cotton gin owner, Archie, who’s been married to a pretty, empty-headed 19-year-old virgin (he promised her father he wouldn’t consummate their marriage till Flora (aka Baby Doll) turns 20 which is a day away as the play begins) must contend with his rival gin owner, Silva Vicarro,

Michael C. Forest and Carol Sutton in A Raisin in the Sun a Sicilian (!), who’s come to have 27 wagons full of cotton ginned and most likely to seek revenge for the aforementioned arson that has destroyed his gin and which he suspects Archie of doing. Got that? It may not be one of Williams’ greatest scripts, but one can envision a production emphasizing its overthe-top Southern Gothic atmosphere. Could be kinda fun. At Le Petit, Steve Schepker’s indoor/outdoor set featuring a ramshackle, dilapidated old house promises a good ol’ creepy time. The fun stops there, however. If Director Maxwell Williams’ staging is more inventive than his usual by-the-numbers approach--I did enjoy the chases all over the set–he’s yet to develop an ability to guide actors to give fully detailed performances with lapidarian exactitude. Hence, Maggie Windler’s Baby Doll is more bitchy than petulant; I don’t know exactly how old Windler, whom I’ve greatly admired in previous

productions (Ragtime, Reefer Madness, Urinetown), is, but she comes off less like a childwoman than as any millennial in a dicey situation. Paul Whitty rightly imparts an unhinged passion to Archie, but lacks a tragic grandeur which could elevate this sordid tale. The same could be said of that fine actress Janet Shea whose Aunt Rose Comfort is more comic relief than a heartbreakingly addled victim of Archie. None of this really matters, however, as Todd d’Amour as Silva scuttles the show with an Italian accent (or simply a way of delivering his lines) as to be too often incomprehensible (my companion said “only every fourth word of his was understandable”). If, during Silva and Baby Doll’s long getting-to-know-you scene, there’s little sexual chemistry between the two, no wonder. I simply don’t understand why d’Amour, who has shone in The Lily’s Revenge and Venus In Fur, made this character choice and why Director Williams let him get away with it.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 21

(It’s possible I was sitting in an acoustical black hole; other people in the audience seemed to be responding to d’Amour’s lines. Yet others I spoke with who attended other performances felt as I did.) Maybe, hopefully, things will change as the run continues. Me, I regret not seeing Meryl Streep in 27 Wagons Full of Cotton on Broadway way back when.

Laura at Playmakers of Covington through March 31

Remember the classic 1944 Otto Preminger movie Laura starring Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews and Clifton

Webb about a dead woman, a police investigation, and a debate over jazz vs. classical music, accompanied by a smattering of a gay subtext? Seen it lately? If not, you may want to head up to Covington where Playmakers Theater is presenting a stage version by Vera Caspary & George Sklar based on the former’s novel. This old-fashioned mystery with melodramatic overtones and Freudian undertones may be a bit dated (yup, the references to Bruno Walter and Walter Winchell are still in there) and start off slowly, but, as secrets are revealed, it holds tight to your attention till the very end.

Established in 1955, Playmakers is proudly “community theater”; a voluntary amateur theater that “gives an opportunity to all interested persons to participate in live theater”. I truly admire them for persevering for so many years and, if their reach sometimes exceeds their grasp, I still have nothing but the fondest of memories of their Chicago in 2016. Laura may not be quite in that class, but it’s well-done and thoroughly entertaining. Director Deborah Marcelle’s pacing could be a tad faster and, overall, it could use a bit more oomph, but, to Marcelle’s credit, she has cast it well and wholly of a piece so that the acting throughout is consistent and it

is entirely believable that all the people on stage inhabit the same world; that can often be more challenging to achieve than one would think. Laura has three more performances before its run ends on March 31. It offers a nice getaway not only to the theater’s sylvan location on the North Shore, but to the 1940s, a time seemingly a lot more simple than now. Please send press releases and notices of your upcoming shows to Brian Sands at bsnola2@hotmail.com.

MUSIC IN THE BIG EASY

My Buku Year 2: Electric Boogaloo Brian Rivas-Davi brianrivasdavi@me.com Perfect, sunny New Orleans weather. Chill house music playing in the background. Open space right along the Mississippi. Cityscape in the background. Everything aligned perfectly this weekend to set the stage for the Buku Music + Art Project. You can feel the festival energy approaching the gates, and they did a great job this year making sure it hits you like a ton of bricks. In the best way possible. Buku launched back in 2012 as a “boutique event” right at the beginning of the Spring week at the historic Mardi Gras World. Not as big of a layout as let’s say Coachella or Lollapalooza, but Buku takes pride in its dirty warehouse party vibes. It’s an eclectic mix of music culture and New Orleans’ underground art community so it feels very local and unique. Highlighting local food vendors, artists, and musicians was the right way to go to give it that gritty New Orleans feel that warms my heart as a current resident. This being my second year going to Buku, I had higher expectations than the previous year. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on everything I experienced last year, and the bar was set high. I was focusing a lot on set up, stage designs, layout, crowd control, and even security. This year was an upgrade from last year with the VIP 21+ package. If you’re thinking about getting tickets for next year, I highly recommend spending the extra cash for at least the standard VIP tickets. If you and your friends are drinkers like I am, you need to take into consideration that those prices add up. For a whopping $10 a beer and up to $15 for a cocktail, the open bar VIP 21+ tickets will easily pay for themselves over the weekend. Worth it. The layout this year was impressive and a step up from last year. The

Power Plant Stage had a fantastic view and a gigantic open area to fit all 20,000 onlookers. VIP viewing platform provided an almost lounge-like atmosphere with its sleek benches and décor. It was the festival experience without having to dodge rogue hula hoops and girls wearing oversized angel wings. They expanded on The Wharf Stage this time around which made room for a larger crowd and better views. General Admission viewing felt a little condensed and packed at times and it felt like a sold-out festival during peak hours. The VIP area overlooked all of that making you feel like you were getting your money’s worth. On the plus side they had a secret VIP bar underneath, so I didn’t have to walk across the whole property for my refills. I was pretty underwhelmed with the Float Den Stage this year, considering that the event is held at Mardi Gras Zone. Last time felt more whimsical and mysterious; this year seemed a little rushed especially in the VIP viewing area. I felt like a caged dog, but at least I had a front row perspective of the stage and DJ set ups. The Ballroom was fantastic and provided a lot of open space for dancing and grooving. VIP area was located upstairs and while it looked bland, it gave more than enough room to overlook the artists without feeling cramped at all. The VIP Stage was small and intimate and never got crowded at all. It gave me a good chance to unwind and lounge a bit in between various sets and exploring. The complimentary sunblock, snacks, energy drinks, and goodie bags were also a huge perq. This year’s lineup was extremely mixed, so depending on your style it had a little bit of something for everyone. The main headliner this year

was Lana Del Rey which is definitely the reason why the festival sold out in a matter of weeks. Buku brought on a lot of other familiar names such as Fisher, Kevin Gates, RL Grime, Griz, Dashboard Confessional, and my girl Yaeji. If you really know your EDM, there were plenty other DJs to keep you satisfied. The time slots were a little wonky and a few times I felt torn between a lot of artists and DJs I really wanted to see; once it gets crowded it’s nearly impossible to rush from one stage to another in good time. I suggest making yourself a set schedule of sets and be ready to make a tough decision later in the evening with whom you see. FRIDAY Friday, I arrived a few hours after the gates first opened so I unfortunately couldn’t catch Toro y Moi – who in my opinion deserved a way better timeslot than 4:15pm. I was able to make it to Fisher’s Wharf Stage set. I love Fisher. Not only is he super attractive (and

Australian), he’s a talented music producer that puts on one hell of a show. His sound is more tech house and being a San Francisco boy, I felt right at home. They couldn’t have picked a better DJ than him to set the stage for the rest of the evening. He’s part of the Dirtybird label which provided more of a laid-back experience. I wasn’t looking to go hard right off the bat. The Wharf stage was loud, vibrant, and all around visually appealing. It was still early so I never felt pushed or crowded and the VIP area gave me the best possible stage whether I was on the balcony or front center. After Fisher and a drink or two, I took the short walk over to the Power Plant Stage to see what Excision had to offer. If you’re looking to segue into a heavier flow, he’s going to be your best bet--no matter what genre fits your needs. Excision is a Canadian dubstep DJ who has been spinning for well over the past decade. His dark, bass-heavy sound will get your heartrate going with the aggressive metal heavy and hip-

22 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

hop vibes. Excision was the perfect addition to set the mood for the rest of the evening. The hard bass beats paired well with his amazing light and smoke show, hitting every drop with shooting fire and lasers. It was impressive and I felt very tranced by the whole experience. I wanted to check some of Ekali’s sets so I dashed back to the Wharf Stage for a little dance groove session. I’ve always been a big fan of Ekali plus I have a soft spot for scruffy tattooed musicians. He’s an Indie rock bassist-turned music producer, so he’s wellversed in all aspects of music and it shows. As it was later in the evening, the Wharf Stage was filled to capacity and Buku was really starting to feel alive. After a few sets at the Wharf, I ducked back over to the VIP lounge to unwind for a few minutes and meet some friends. With any festival, it’s always in your best interest to try not to lose your friends. Cell reception was almost non existent so if you lose someone it can be a little difficult to find them again. I recommend having a central meeting spot. Back at the VIP area I was greeted with some beers and Noizu, a well-welcomed house DJ. At this point, the lines for drinks, especially the free ones, were extremely long. My only big complaint about the VIP area was that the bathroom lines were so long it was almost faster to walk across the lot to the general bathrooms and come back. We took some time in the lounge to collect ourselves. We had the chance to check out Kevin Gates across the way at the Power Plant stage before we set out on our journey to do some people watching and shopping at Riverwalk. Over that way they had a covered pavilion populated with a fun assortment of vendors that sold various things from bedazzled sunglasses, jewelry, and clothing. Along Riverwalk, you could score some tasty tacos or grab some pita and relax for a bit at a table along the river with an awesome view of the illuminated bridge. A few local performers set up camp along the way, so I was able to check out an incredible show by a violinist who strummed to an Arabic techno beat along with professional breakdancers. There were more than enough little hideaways and areas to take a load off in between sets and grab a bite or refill your water bottles. I hung out in the Float Den for a bit with TOKiMONSTA before heading back to catch the main headliner. The lights in the Den at night were aesthetically pleasing and the smoke machines gave it an almost foggy feel. We made sure we got back to the Power Plant early to catch Lana Del Rey front and center. Now don’t hate me for this, but even as an undercover Lana fan she didn’t really win me over. If you are try-

ing to unwind before you head home, she is a great pick, but I was still feeling the high from dancing around to some high-energy beats and I wanted to keep that going. I saw Lana perform in 2016 at Outside Lands in San Francisco, a venue and festival way more appropriate for her style of music. I finished off my Buku evening with Dirtybird founder and insane DJ Claude VonStroke. I had seen him a few times already at Audio SF and his music really made for the perfect nightcap before I hopped in my Lyft. SATURDAY I spent most of Saturday flying solo, enjoying the weather and the crowd. I made sure to get there early to grab pictures and pick up some food before the chaos. I wasn’t familiar with a lot of artists performing then, so I took that as a chance to hop around, look at artwork, and meet with locals & discuss music. As most of you know, making new friends in New Orleans is relatively easy, especially when music is a common interest. Flying stag to this festival was still fun to do and I made some great new friends doing so. I eased into my afternoon with Whipped Cream, yet another Canadian DJ who knows how to play a crowd. Around 5pm is when the majority of the Buku goers started to arrive and fill up the place. I met up with some friends and watched some of Earl Sweatshirt’s set over in the Lounge. Very mellow. Very chill. I was ready to get pumped up again, so I hiked to the Wharf Stage to see Liquid Stranger play. He started off slow and sexy before going into more headbangers, which allowed everyone to have a better transition moving forward to everything else to come in the evening. Saturday was more my chill day than my music day. I picked up food, did some shopping, took in the views, checked out some half-naked guys, and just enjoyed my day. I really had nothing on my radar until later in the evening. I got to meet Xie, a super adorable DJ from my neck of the woods. She did a small set in the VIP area and I can really see her doing well in the EDM scene going forward. I’m a huge fan. Plus, we take cute pictures together. I managed to get some friends together to go groove around at the Power Plant to some funky beats by feel-good DJ GriZ. The real highlight of my Saturday night was Yaeji. After dancing around Riverwalk with a few local performers and friends, I made my way over to the Float Den to make sure I had the best possible view. I’m a huge fan of female DJs and vocalists, Yaeji being one of my all-time favorites. I was looking forward to seeing her since Buku had announced the lineup. With fun funky beats and a quirky look, she managed to be one of my favorite performers all weekend. She threw out fast house

Buku’s 2019 VIP Stage beats with fun K-Pop dance moves and really shined in the spotlight. I was glad to make a few friends, who weren’t familiar with her, true believers. I was excited I got to see her live and end my weekend on such a high and positive note. SUMMARY Overall, I really enjoyed myself this year. Buku 2019 exceeded my expectations. VIP 21+ tickets were easily worth every penny. Not just for the free drinks, but viewing is better, and everything was just cleaner and more

enjoyable. I was excited with all the female artists on the line up this year. It’s a trend I look forward to seeing a lot more of. Peggy Gou Buku 2020, anyone? Sorry Lana, but Yaeji was my showstopper this year. I’d love to see more local talent in the future. I saw a lot more of that last year. It’s nice to see a festival grow a little more every year and get more ground, though Buku never really had any trouble launching. Keep up the good work guys and I’ll see you next year!

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www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com 23 Untitled-5 1 6/1/18 1:01 ·PM

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT Rawhide & Phoenix: An Investigation Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com As most Ambush readers know by now, the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) has cited Rawhide and the Phoenix for numerous violations which have resulted in the cessation of sexual activity in those bars. Many in the gay community are outraged by what they perceive as homophobic attacks on safe queer spaces. Others have resigned themselves to the conclusion that the crackdown was probably inevitable. Still others are mobilizing to fight back. Some are hoping things will eventually return to the way they were before the ATC investigations. While many in our community lament the ending of an era, there has been much misinformation surrounding the crackdowns at Rawhide and Phoenix. Many people have made assumptions that are unfounded and erroneous. And, of course, absurd conspiracy theories abound. For example, one far-fetched theory is that the city would not allow the new Starbucks across the street from the Phoenix to open unless the upstairs bar was closed. Adding to the confusion have been several superficial articles, riddled with inaccuracies, in the local and national media. The common theme of

all the headlines is that gay bars are deliberately being targeted. But is this true? A careful examination of the evidence demonstrates that the undercover investigations of both bars were not the result of a moral crusade instigated by religious zealots or Puritanical politicians or homophobic crusaders. Despite what many have said, neither bar was raided. Uniformed police officers did not enter the bars or arrest people. That would have been a raid. Another misconception circulating around the rumor mill is that the City of New Orleans was behind the citations. Nothing could be further from the truth. Neither the Mayor’s Office, the City Council, nor the local Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Board had anything to do with the crackdown. There is no local effort on the part of the City of New Orleans to persecute gay bars. Rawhide On September 6, 2018, someone filed a complaint against Rawhide with the New Orleans Police Department, who in turn referred the complaint to the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. ATC is a state agency

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based out of Baton Rouge. ATC is different than the New Orleans City Alcohol Beverage Control Board. The complaint against Rawhide, obtained via a public records request, reads as follows: “This establishment allows lewd public sex acts, including oral, anal, group sex, and masturbation in clear view of patrons. There is also a room in the back of the bar in which people engage in obscene and lewd sex acts. Male prostitutes solicit (including those that may be minors). Drugs are rampant. Wed. Fri and Sat after 9pm are best times to view.” Within the ATC, the complaint was referred to the Human Trafficking Task Force. The ATC then launched an investigation, which included a compliance check as well as an undercover investigation. On October 5, during the compliance check, an underage operative entered the bar and ordered a Bud Light. The bartender did ask the operative for his identification card, but failed to notice he was underage and served him the beer. According to ATC records, “The business was not immediately notified on the underage sale due to the ongoing investigation into other allegations.” Two undercover agents were then sent into Rawhide on four separate occasions (Wednesday, September 12; Wednesday, September 26; Friday, October 12; and Friday, October 19). The first visit was for “intelligence gathering.” The subsequent visits were for the purpose of evidence gathering. The agents, whose identities have not been revealed, have a combined 27 years of law enforcement experience. During their visits to Rawhide, the agents witnessed (and surreptitiously recorded with hidden cameras) multiple sex acts (including oral, anal, and masturbation), hardcore gay pornography on multiple television sets, pup play, and popper use. When asked about the use of hidden cameras and undercover agents, ATC Deputy Commissioner Ernest P. Legier, Jr. noted, “How the complaint is investigated depends on the nature of the complaint.” He further added, “The use of undercover video is a legal and accepted practice of conducting investigations.” After receiving the undercover agents’ reports, ATC Commissioner Juana Lombard, offered a settlement agreement to Rawhide owner Tom Wood, who declined the offer. Wood claims the offer involved the installation of cameras throughout the bar, which the ATC could access at any time. The ATC would not provide

a copy of or the details of the settlement offer. Clint Taylor, owner of the Phoenix, was also offered a settlement after an investigation of his bar. That offer did not include the installation of cameras. There is a precedent for installing cameras in “nuisance bars,” a term the New Orleans Police Department uses to describe bars which have generated an extraordinary amount of calls to NOPD for various offenses such as fighting and drug activity. The use of cameras in nuisance bars is voluntary and those cameras are not tied into the Real-Time Crime Center. Rawhide and the Phoenix are not considered nuisance bars. Mayor Cantrell’s office is opposed to the use of cameras in bars in general. When questioned, ATC Deputy Commissioner Legier, stated, “Every single person or entity cited by the agency is offered a settlement option. The agency is not seeking to be punitive, but instead is searching to achieve compliance. The hope is that the violator is incentivized to work to compliance. Rawhide was offered a reduced settlement option which would require some remedial action. The club ownership declined, and a hearing was held. I cannot comment on the details of the offer as it was subject to negotiation and the terms changed throughout. Obviously, we were unable to come to an agreement prior to hearing.” An Administrative Hearing was then held in New Orleans on December 19, 2018. The hearing lasted roughly four and a half hours and featured video footage of sex acts as well as attempts to explain away the pornography as “art films” and the claim that management had no idea sex acts were occurring on the premises. Much was made of the fabled backroom and adjacent bathroom. Commissioners questioned why there was a large sign forbidding cell phone use in the back room but not in the front bar. They also questioned why there was no sign on the door of what the defense claimed was an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) bathroom indicating it as such. The defense argued that nudity is not to be unexpected in a bathroom and that bathrooms inherently assume an “expectation of privacy.” But Commissioner Lombard was having none of it, calling the defense arguments “disingenuous” and citing a culture that fostered sexual activity. At the conclusion of the hearing, Rawhide was cited with twelve violations—eight counts of pornography on the televisions and four counts of sexual activity on the premises—and fined

24 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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$6,750.00. The bar was also cited for serving a minor. The bar’s license was suspended for 30 days, with three of those weeks being deferred. In other words, the bar had to close for one week. A 60 day probation period was also imposed. Phoenix The initial complaint against Phoenix was filed on December 4, 2018. ATC provided Ambush a partially redacted copy of a letter dated December 4, 2018, requesting an investigation of the Phoenix. The text of the letter is as follows: [letterhead redacted] “Dear Commissioner Lombard and Linda: “I am writing to request that a confidential investigation be conducted concerning the operations of The Phoenix Bar. Based upon information and belief, lewd and improper conduct occurs on a regular basis within the licensed premises in violation of La. R.S. 26:90 (A)(13) and (D)(1). Particularly, the upstairs bar, known as “The Eagle,” is an environment where there is little illumination and sexual acts are taking place within the view of other patrons and staff and in the bathrooms. . . . . Additionally, pornographic videos are played for public viewing in violation of La. R.S. 26:90(G)(1). On Fridays, they offer “all you can drink” draft beer from 9 pm – midnight in violation of La. R.S.

26:90(A)(15). [redacted] result, its business is significantly depressed, and its customers have started frequenting its main competitor, The Phoenix Bar. I ask that this investigation take place so that all ‘leather’ bars operate within the same parameters. “If you have any questions concerning the foregoing, please do not hesitate to contact me. “Very truly yours, [name and signature redacted] During a compliance check on January 4, 2019, an underage operative entered the Phoenix and purchased two Bud Lights. The bartender did not ask for the operative’s identification. Undercover investigative visits to the Phoenix conducted by ATC occurred on December 4, December 29, January 4, and January 11. Similar to the Rawhide investigation, undercover agents witnessed and recorded multiple sex acts in the bar and several instances of pornography being shown on the televisions. In light of the video evidence, the ownership of the Phoenix did not contest these citations. The bar was also cited for allowing smoking, but this charge was dropped when Taylor pointed out the smoking patio. Essentially, the ATC told him to work out the smoking issue with the city, which he did. The bar was also cited for allowing “All-You-Can-Drink” specials (Beer Busts) after 10 pm. The Phoenix received its citations

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on or about February 22. An Administrative Hearing was set for March 13, 2019, but that hearing did not take place because Phoenix owner Clint Taylor and the ATC reached a settlement agreement on March 11. The Phoenix was originally charged with two counts of selling alcohol to a minor, fourteen counts of disturbing the peace / lewd / improper contact, one count of permitting smoking, one count of allowing “All You Can Drink” after 10pm, and three counts of displaying visual reproduction of sex acts. According to Taylor, after the initial complaint against the Phoenix was filed on December 4, a slew of other complaints against the bar were filed with a variety of government agencies at both the state and local level. On December 30, New Orleans Police showed up at the Phoenix after receiving a call from a customer who claimed to be appalled that the bar was showing pornography. The officers were surprised to see not porn but rather the Saints – Panthers game being shown. The police figured it was a crank call and no action was taken. On February 15, the State Fire Marshal’s office showed up at the Phoenix and said someone had called them and reported fearing for his life because there was no emergency exit upstairs. Taylor pointed out the dropdown fire escape. Fire officials noted that the escape was not up to code and told him to close the upstairs bar. Taylor pointed out the age and layout of the building made it virtually impossible to bring the escape up to code. Fire officials agreed and informed him they would look into the matter. Four days later on February 19, they returned and allowed Taylor to reopen the upstairs bar. When Taylor asked who made the complaint, State Fire Marshal officials told him they could not reveal that information. On the same day, February 19, as the State Fire Marshal officials were leaving, Louisiana State Police Video Gaming enforcement officials showed up at the Phoenix in response to a complaint that the bar did not have a “No Minors Allowed” sign posted. Apparently, someone had removed the sign which was posted on the door to the bar. The officer told Taylor he had remembered the sign was posted during a recent routine inspection and told him to put up another one. No official action was taken. On February 21, ATC issued the Phoenix a summons stating it was in violation of a state law that says “Beer Busts” cannot continue after 10:00pm. Taylor regularly donates kegs for beer busts sponsored by various bear, leather, and athletic organizations. On February 22, the New Orleans Fire Department showed up at the Phoenix in response to a call from a concerned citizen claiming there were no fire extinguishers at the bar. Fire

Department officials left somewhat frustrated after Taylor pointed out all the fire extinguishers in the bar. No action was taken. On February 26, the office of Building and Permits showed up at the Phoenix in response to reports of smoking being allowed in the bar. This complaint was in addition to a similar accusation in the December 4 complaint. Taylor showed the agents the enclosed smoking patio. Inspectors told him the smoking patio was legal but that he needed a larger exhaust fan. A larger exhaust fan has since been installed. No official action was taken and smoking is currently permitted in that designated area. On March 11, Taylor and his attorney met with ATC Commissioner Lombard and Deputy Commissioner Legier to discuss settling the charges before going to a full Administrative Hearing. Vincenzo Pasquantonio, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Human Relations Commission, was also in attendance. The meeting was productive and resulted in the Phoenix being cited with three violations of showing pornography, fourteen counts of lewd acts, and two counts of serving alcohol to minors. Financial penalties for each count were reduced with the total fine coming to $3,000. The bar’s license was also suspended for fifteen days, all of which were deferred, which means the bar does not have to close for any period of time. A 60 day probation period was also imposed. So Who Filed the Complaints? The question on everyone’s mind is “Who filed the complaints?” It’s an important question because the answer would shed light on the larger issue of whether the ATC is targeting gay bars. When asked who filed the complaint against Rawhide, Legier said, “The initial complaint came from another law enforcement agency and involved a concern that there were under-aged prostitutes working in the bar.” When subsequently asked who filed the complaint with NOPD, Legier answered, “While we know the identity of the person making the complaint, we are respecting the request to remain anonymous.” Repeated requests and emails to NOPD had not been responded to by the print deadline. The identity of the Rawhide complainant has not been identified. However, based on what we do know, a reasonable assumption of who it was can be made. The complaint against Rawhide was filed on September 6, 2018, a few days after Southern Decadence. On Sunday of Southern Decadence weekend (September 2), after the parade, three unidentified women attempted to enter Rawhide to attend an event (a leather and kink demonstration) being sponsored by the Crescent City Leath-

26 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

ermen and were turned away, one of whom became very angry when they were not allowed into the bar. The security personnel then called Michael Musa, the General Manager of Wood Enterprises, who spoke to the agitated woman. Again she was denied entry. Note—the Crescent City Leathermen were not responsible for working the door and had previously announced that all were welcome to the event. The previous night—actually early Sunday morning—a different unidentified woman who was denied entry at Rawhide began screaming and causing a minor scene, which was witnessed by several people, one of whom heard the woman shout, “I will call and have this place shut down.” On September 2, Kristin Coulon, a legal assistant, posted on Facebook “Trying to attend the Crescent City Leathermen’s Kink Demo today at the Rawhide and wanted to hang out a bit early at the bar. I was refused entry to the bar by Rawhide staff because I have a vagina. They said I also won’t be allowed into the demo at 3pm. Let me say this again for the folks in the back: I am being refused entry to a kink and Leather education event because of my genitals, which are covered by clothes by the way. The only excuse I was given was ‘Well...it’s Southern Decadence’ which makes no sense at all. I have contacted the Crescent City Leathermen to see if this is pos-

sibly a misunderstanding. That is my hope. EDIT: I spoke with Crescent City Leathermen and was told they are sorry. They were told that it would be open to everyone and the bar now says it is not. I’m still very unhappy about this.” When Ambush requested an interview to learn more about her experience, Coulon declined and advised us that “The situation has been resolved and I’d rather not bring it back up.” About a week later, John Breaux, former manager of Rawhide (who was not on site at the time of the incident), ran into one of the women at the Phoenix. Respecting the woman’s wish to remain anonymous, Breaux will not reveal the woman’s name. The woman told Breaux that although she had been denied entry, she did not file the complaint. Breaux theorizes the complaint was filed by one of her friends. In any event, Breaux apologized to her on behalf of Rawhide. In response, Breaux received this private message from her (permission has been granted to publish the message): “Thank you for the apology, John, but I can’t even express to you how embarrassed and disappointed I was. I had people with me who were excited for the event, excited for how I talked up Rawhide, talked about things I have done there and how far along y’all have come in being more open to ALL Leather people. I had the current International Person of Leather

meeting me there and had to take her somewhere else because we happen to be women? For God’s sake, I did a rope demonstration there in October. I got on your stage and I tied people up and everyone had a great time and you know what? Not once did my vagina or breasts affect a single one of the patrons. The two ‘managers’ I talked to were very dismissive and made it crystal clear that I was not welcome there. They gave no solution and no apologies. The only explanation I got was ‘Well it’s Southern Decadence.’ Thank you for messaging me and for the apology. I understand this wasn’t your fault, but I don’t know where we go from here.” What is unclear is, if the complainant was denied entry due to their sex, why the complainant did not report sex discrimination. Whoever it was possessed knowledge of the activities that regularly occurred in the back room which suggests the complainant had visited the bar before. It’s safe to assume the complainant was acting out of spite because the crux of the complaint (underage prostitution) was false and ultimately dismissed by the ATC. At the same time, assuming the complainant was turned away due to their sex, it is understandable why they were angry. Louisiana law (statute 51:2247) prohibits discrimination in public accommodations based on sex or gender. And finally,

some have speculated the complainant was not even in New Orleans at the time of the incident and was reacting to the incident after reading about it on social media. Whatever the case, the fact remains that refusing a woman entry to a bar just because she is a woman is unconstitutional and illegal. For the record, and as previously stated, the women denied entry were attempting to attend a function of the Crescent City Leathermen. These women were members of the leather community, albeit from out of town. The complaint may also have come from the other woman who was denied entry the night before and who threatened to “have this place shut down.” While we cannot confirm the identity of the complainant against Rawhide, it is reasonable to assume, given the timing of the complaint (just a few days after Southern Decadence), it was likely one of the women who were denied entrance, especially since one of them threatened to report the bar. It is, of course, possible the complainant was someone else. The identity of the original Phoenix complainant is easier to determine. When asked to name the complainant, ATC Deputy Commissioner Legier stated, “Prior to and following the hearing, the ownership of ‘Rawhide’ complained of similar activity in neighboring clubs, including the ‘Phoenix.’ More spe-

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 27

cifically, he claimed that his business interests were suffering because the clientele felt more comfortable patronizing the ‘Phoenix.’ Commissioner Lombard accepted his statements as a complaint and assured ‘Rawhide’s’ ownership that the agency would investigate. Obviously, ‘Phoenix’ was investigated, and violations were cited.” When asked for comment, Tom Wood issued the following statement: “At the ATC hearing we inquired about why the Phoenix was given a courtesy call and we were being shut down. We were informed that the Phoenix had no violations and there were complaints about us for prostitution, drugs, and serving minors. When I realized they were giving the green light for the Phoenix to take our business and my employees’ jobs, I cried foul. I am responsible for the employment of almost 100 people and will always do what’s best to protect them as we have for almost five decades.” Phoenix owner Clint Taylor denies ever receiving a “courtesy call” from ATC before an inspection, but we believe a September 11 routine inspection by the ATC might be the perceived “courtesy call.” While it is true that the punitive measures taken against Rawhide were more severe than those taken against the Phoenix, it is important to note that Wood’s attorney issued the aforementioned statement before the Phoenix penalties were announced.

The more likely explanation for the difference in penalties is the fact that the Phoenix accepted a settlement agreement whereas Rawhide did not and continued to an Administrative Hearing. The identity of the complainants who made the remaining six allegations against the Phoenix to various government agencies remains undetermined at time of print, but additional requests for information have been submitted. The proximity in time of the complaints (six in less than a month) suggests they may have originated from the same source. In addition, the nature of the complaints suggest they came from someone familiar with state and local laws governing bars. A source close to the investigation confirms that at least one of the complaints came from a rival bar owner. During the course of one of several interviews, Taylor recounted a long history of complaints from a nearby rival bar owner. Homophobic Targeting? Despite the perception within our community that gay bars are being targeted, the aforementioned evidence suggests otherwise. When asked directly if the ATC is targeting gay bars, Legier stated: “The agency denies that it ‘targets’ any permitted location due to the sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, age or sex of the ownership,

management or clientele. As it relates to this article, it is important to note that Commissioner Lombard has led the ATC for over three years and has cited exactly two clubs which cater to the LGBTQ community. ‘Rawhide’ was investigated after the agency received complaints of prostitution. The investigation included undercover visits from agents who recorded video of violations. The violations documented during these visits captured images of sexual acts being performed in public areas including the bar and the billiards area (other violations were documented as well). The agency investigates 100% of the complaints it receives. These two investigations were initiated due to complaints—not due to an independent intent to impact the LGBTQ community.” The argument against the claim that the ATC is persecuting or targeting gay bars is as follows. First, everything would be “business as usual” at both bars if someone had not filed the initial complaint against Rawhide. According to Taylor, the Commissioner told him that the Phoenix was not even on ATC’s radar until they received complaints after Rawhide was cited. In other words, the ATC investigations were reactive, not proactive. The ATC is obligated to investigate complaints, especially those regarding prostitution involving minors. Second, the ATC has cited 15 heterosexual bars for similar violations, including: Passions, Visions, Rick’s Cabaret, Hunk Oasis, Stilettos, Karma Sutra, Rick’s Sporting Saloon, and She She’s. Third, public sex acts in a bar are, in fact, against the law. The law reads as follows: “286. Acts prohibited on licensed premises; suspension or revocation of permits: A. No person holding a retail dealer’s permit and no servant, agent, or employee of the permittee shall do any of the following acts upon the licensed premises: (13) Permit any disturbance of the peace or obscenity, or any lewd, immoral, or improper entertainment, conduct, or practices on the licensed premises.” Fourth, Commissioner Lombard, who heads the ATC, has no history of “going after” gay bars. Lombard was appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards to serve as Commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control in December of 2015. Commissioner Lombard, a native of New Orleans is an attorney and has an MBA from Loyola University. Prior to her appointment as Commissioner, Lombard served as a criminal magistrate commissioner for Orleans Parish for five years. Additionally, Lombard served four years on the New Orleans City Alcohol Beverage Control Board. Fifth, for years, routine annual inspections of both bars have not resulted in the actions taken recently by the ATC. Earlier in September of 2018,

during a routine compliance check at the Phoenix, ATC authorities strongly suggested they remove the sling from upstairs because of potential health code violations, but no citations were issued to the bar. Sixth, although the ATC could have legally shut down both bars, it did not do so. At one point during the Rawhide Administrative Hearing, an exasperated Commissioner Lombard told Tom Wood and his attorney, “six counts [of disturbing the peace and lewd improper conduct] and eight counts of pornography is more than enough to yank your license.” But she didn’t. In fact, despite being highly annoyed at the hearing, she dismissed numerous violations and even allowed the bar to remain open over the busy Christmas and New Year’s Eve week. The City’s Reaction On Feb. 27, 2019, the New Orleans Human Relations Commission, which falls under the auspices of the Mayor’s office, issued the following statement in support of the New Orleans gay bars cited by the ATC: “We are aware of the recent enforcement actions taken against The Phoenix, The Rawhide, and others. We stand with our LGBTQ+ residents and our LGBTQ+ owned businesses and we always will. These enforcement entities are not under the City’s control, but we are concerned whenever our residents feel targeted. We are actively engaging all involved and will continue to do so.” In addition, Taylor reports that several New Orleans City Councilpersons reached out to him to express their support and assure him the city was not targeting gay bars. The Aftermath On February 23, the Phoenix published this statement on its Facebook page: “We want to take this moment to thank everyone for the outpouring of support from our incredibly loyal and beloved Phoenix family. You’ve been in our corner for more than 35 years now, and we have overwhelmingly felt that support these past few days, too. On Thursday afternoon, ATC cited us that we were in violation of some state laws. The citations were not unlike what we have seen them recently give other gay bars. We plan on attending our hearing and stating our case. We feel it’s important to state the bar was not raided. Patrons were not arrested. Our queer ancestors were dragged out of our safe spaces and sanctuaries by law enforcement. They were arrested. They lost their jobs, families and friends. They were assaulted. And as we saw at Upstairs Lounge and Pulse, they lost their lives. It’s important that we state clearly what happened on Thursday, and what our ancestors fought for and persevered are two dif-

28 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

ferent things. But the fight is the same. An attack on one of us is an attack on all us. We hope you stand with us. We hope you stand with Rawhide. Our LGBTQ+ community in New Orleans is one full of so many beautiful people. We have been so honored to be a part of this community for more than 35 years. We love hosting the local queer groups for monthly fundraisers and special events.” Despite this eloquent and heartfelt sentiment, business at both bars has declined. Some regular patrons, especially those still in the closet, are reluctant to patronize the bars for fear of being arrested or otherwise outed by authorities. These fears are not justified but they are real, nonetheless. Both bars did well over Mardi Gras, but a big question mark still looms over Southern Decadence. Held annually over Labor Day weekend, Southern Decadence is the biggest draw of the year for LGBT+ visitors. Last year, over 300,000 people came from out of town to attend Southern Decadence. Since the crackdowns at Rawhide and the Phoenix, many Southern Decadence devotees from out of state have taken to social media to declare they will not be coming back this year. That remains to be seen. If attendance drops significantly, so will Southern Decadence’s economic impact, which in recent years has hovered around the $280 million mark.

Longtime Phoenix bartender Wayne Hendon summed up the thoughts of many when he said, “It’s a lot of bullshit. It’s taking the fun out of New Orleans. Why would people want to come down for Decadence?” Some members of the community have spearheaded email and letter-writing campaigns to the Governor’s office since he appoints the head of the ATC. But a deluge of messages to the Governor demanding we be allowed to have sex in bars is likely to fall on deaf ears, as are demands that ATC not investigate allegations of child prostitution. Governor Edwards, a Democrat, is the LGBT-friendliest governor our community has had in decades and is facing a tough reelection campaign. Even if there was something he could reasonably do, it is unlikely he would risk alienating the huge block of conservative voters he needs to win reelection, especially since there is really nothing he could do except endorse statewide legislation that would exempt New Orleans from the law that makes sex in bars illegal. Plus, considering his opposition, he knows LGBT+ voters (and more specifically gay men) have no one else to vote for when they get in the voting booth. On a positive note, after meeting with Taylor and Pasquantonio, Commissioner Lombard is willing to open a dialogue to hear and address the concerns so many in our community have

expressed concerning the loss of queer spaces. Both Taylor and Pasquantonio are convinced Commissioner Lombard is open to exploring possible solutions to the dilemma both bars are now facing. More than a few people have raised the possibility of turning the bars into private clubs. That is not as easy as it sounds. Private sex clubs operate legally because they do not have liquor licenses. The practical question is a financial one—would the revenue generated by membership fees make up for the lost revenue from a lack of liquor sales? As for turning the Phoenix into a private club, Clint Taylor isn’t sure. The possibility of a private club upstairs at the Phoenix is further complicated by the fact that the bar’s liquor license covers the entire address, of which the upstairs is a part. Still others have noted the need for a bathhouse to open. Conclusion Zooming the focus out from the recent issues at Rawhide and Phoenix, it is worth noting there has been, in the last year or so, talk of “cleaning up the French Quarter.” One recalls City Councilperson Kristin Gisleson Palmer’s crusade against the strip clubs a few years ago. More recently, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser has proposed that the French Quarter be

designated a state park. Such efforts are not new. Throughout the twentieth century, the Quarter has survived a number of “purges.” Sometimes, the efforts are successful but usually, the effects are not enduring. All of this, of course, raises the much larger issue of “moral policing,” and raises questions about the efficacy of obscenity laws. Repealing such laws from the books is unlikely given the extremely conservative nature of Louisiana’s electorate. One solution might be to amend the state statute to exempt New Orleans or to have each parish determine its own “community standards.” But again, such an effort would have to overcome the strong objections of religious conservatives and the Republican Party. Whether or not the Rawhide and Phoenix will ever return to “business as usual” remains to be seen. In the meantime, those lost spaces represent a loss of gay culture bemoaned by many. And the truly sad fact is those losses appear to have come at the hands of members of our own community. There may be an effort to clean up the French Quarter, but it’s not being motivated by homophobia.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 29

GAY EASTER PARADE

2019 Gay Easter Parade Grand Marshals Announced for the 20th Annual Parade New Orleans, LA – Ambush Publishing is excited to announce the Grand Marshals of the 20th Annual Gay Easter Parade set to take place on Easter Sunday (April 21) are Regina Adams and Clint Taylor. Jesse Hernandez will serve as Honorary Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshals were selected not only for their contributions to the LGBTQ community but also because they represent how far we’ve come in the last 50 years. Now in its 20th year, the Gay Easter Parade will again donate this year’s proceeds to Food for Friends, a local charity that provides nutritious meals to those living with HIV. Regina Adams is a legendary entertainer who got her start by perform-

ing at the Gunga Den in 1977. Adams and her boyfriend Reginald were at the UpStairs Lounge the night it burned down in 1973. After Reginald Adams died in the fire, Regina legally changed her last name to Adams to honor their relationship. Since then, Regina Adams has served as Ms. New Orleans (1975), Pride Grand Marshal (2004), Southern Decadence Grand Marshal (2005, 2006), and the Queen of the Krewe of Amon-Ra (2017). In 2012, she was awarded the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Gay Appreciation Awards and has received Transgender of the Year three times before. Clint Taylor, a native of New Orleans, is the owner of the Phoenix bar, a long-time staple in the gay commu-

nity. Taylor purchased the bar in 2012 and is heavily involved in the Leather and Bear communities. The Phoenix serves as the home bar to several organizations, including the Lords of Leather, the Crescent City Leathermen, the NOLA Puppies and Handlers, The Renegade Bears of Louisiana (and San Antonio), and the Big Easy Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. In addition to hosting fundraisers for these organizations, the Phoenix also raises money for St. Anna’s Episcopal Church annual toy drive, and is a yearly sponsor of PrideFest, the Big Easy Bears Softball League, and the Crescent City Rougaroux rugby team. Taylor is also a strong supporter of Southern Decadence and hosts a popular block party each year during the Labor Day extravaganza.

Jesse Hernandez, a 25-year-old Maurice native, is the third male dancer in NFL history chosen to perform in a team’s dance-squad and the first male Saintsation. Hernandez started dancing at the age of two and teaching at the age of 16. While studying dance in Lafayette, Jesse competed on local, regional, and national levels winning several dance titles and scholarships. Additionally, he’s performed in a number of ballets with the Lafayette Ballet Theatre and currently teaches dance in Scott at Lacey’s Dance World. To become an official sponsor of the Gay Easter Parade or for more information, please visit the sponsorship page or contact Reed Wendorf at info@gayeasterparade.com.

FOOD FOR FRIENDS

Food for Friends In Need of Community Support Once again, for 16 of the past 20 years, Food For Friends will be the beneficiary of the efforts of the Gay Easter Parade. Food For Friends is a program of CrescentCare’s NO/AIDS Task Force and serves people living with HIV and cancer in the community. “The demand for Food For Friends continues to remain strong,” said Donald Gardner, Food For Friends manager. “This is one of the few programs (of CrescentCare-NO/AIDS Task Force) that is not underwritten by grant funding. Nutrition has been proven to be an important part of a medication regimen. Nutrition aids people in becoming stable and places them on a path to recovery.”

By the numbers, here is the breakdown of the program: 27,000 meals delivered annually 185,000 pounds of food is distributed 540 unduplicated clients of the pantry 72 unduplicated clients of home delivered meals 45 clients per week for home delivered meals $500 a month to feed one client on home delivered meals 4153 pantry visits in a year Home delivered meals are delivered every Tuesday and a client receives 11 meals at $11 per meal. Pantry clients every month receive

two 20lb bags of groceries and toiletry items. Cost of the food is $48. The toiletry items are lagniappe and must be purchased by the agency from area dollar stores.

The Food For Friends program runs at a deficit to the agency and is funded in part by the generosity of community fundraisers like the Gay Easter Parade.

ANNOUNCEMENT

2019 Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Announced Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com The annual Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Announcement Party was held on March 15 at Crossing (formerly The Double Play). The packed house enjoyed a delicious buffet and a drag show featuring several entertainers. After the performances, outgoing Grand Marshals Adikus Sulpizi and Frank Perez invited sev-

eral former Grand Marshals who were in attendance to come to the stage to be recognized before showing a video listing the names and years of all the previous Southern Decadence Grand Marshals. Frank Perez then announced Will Antill as his choice and Adikus Sulpizi announced Daryl Dunaway (Countess

C. Alice) as his choice. Profiles on Antill and Dunaway will be featured in a future edition of Ambush after the new Grand Marshals have their Press Party. The new Grand Marshals have not yet set a date for the Press Party but they have announced it will take place after Easter. Before Southern Decadence sea-

son gets into full swing after Easter, Antil and Dunaway will help promote the annual Gay Easter Parade. The new Southern Decadence Grand Marshals have announced they will donate half of the proceeds raised at the Announcement Party to the Gay Easter Parade. The event raised a total of $2,207.

30 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 31

Party Down Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com This year is flying by at breakneck speed. Coming right off the heels of Mardi Gras, we went into the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and let us not forget Daylight Savings Time. If all those things have not gotten you confused, I’m not sure what would. I feel like I am endlessly running to try and catch a moving train. But the culmination of the Carnival season has not stopped the festivities which began for me immediately after Mardi Gras. I went to dinner with some friends to Justine, the newest restaurant offering by Justin Devillier. Raised in Dana Point, California, a small beach town in South Orange County, Justin moved to New Orleans in 2003 in search of a vibrant restaurant community. In 2016, Justin won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: South after being named a finalist in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Chef Justin also owns La Petite Grocery and Balise Tavern. Justine is an amazing restaurant. The atmosphere is gorgeous as are the servers and the cuisine. You may even catch burlesque goddess Trixie Minx entertaining or have a gold

mirror ball man perform for you tableside. The food is quite spectacular and fresh. I am in love with their French Onion Soup as well as their Octopus Vinaigrette and Steak Tartare. I highly recommend attending Justine for either dinner or lunch; you cannot go wrong. The next night, I went to a local favorite that’s a mainstay on the city’s restaurant scene. My friend Barrett Delong-Church celebrated his birthday at Charlie’s Steakhouse on Dryades Street Uptown. Opened in 1932, Charlie’s has been a neighborhood steak restaurant serving the city, with the exception of three years after Katrina, since then and has a very storied history. The staff has been there forever it seems and knows all the local clientele. There is not a menu, the waiters pretty much tell you what you are going to have and I can promise you will never be disappointed. The following day, I checked something off my local bucket list. I made a promise to myself that I would start doing things locally I had never done before. I began with seeing Rex and Zulu meet on Lundi Gras. and continued this month with going to the Los

Islenos Festival in St. Bernard Parish. St. Bernard’s Spanish roots date back to the 1700’s when Canary Islanders came to the area and settled. The traditions, food, music, and dance of the people are celebrated yearly at Los Islenos Fiesta held on the grounds of Los Islenos Museum & Village where there is a series of living history demonstrations featuring folk crafts, historic vernacular life styles, and the cultural identity of the Isleño descendants’ community in St. Bernard Parish. Representatives of the Houma Nation also interpret the history, culture and folk traditions of the Houma Tribe. Well-known musicians and dancers come from the Canary Islands to entertain at the Fiesta as well as local New Orleans bands. There was delicious sangria flowing, great art for sale, music to keep you dancing, and the opportunity to learn more about our state’s rich cultural roots. So much fun! The following week I had the opportunity to be in the “Room Where It Happens.” I am talking about none other than the smash musical Hamilton that is playing through March 31st at the Saenger Theater. Now is this play worth all the hype and awards it has garnered? The simple answer is an emphatic “Yes”. This is Broadway at its finest. Lin-Manuel Miranda brilliantly composed the music, lyrics and book for the musical based on the life of Alexander Hamilton. All of the songs

were well written with some of the most amazing lines. The acting and choreography were outstanding as was the set, lighting and costumes. I loved everything about this show that meshed rap and hip/hop nicely with showtunes. If you have a chance to see one show this season make it Hamilton. Rise up! Before that, however, I wanted to mention enjoying dinner at Domenica Restaurant located in the Roosevelt. If you have not been there, it has the best happy hour from 3-6 p.m. Their delicious pizzas are all half price and their wine, beer and cocktail prices have been slashed in half too. It’s the perfect theater dinner spot. And as long as you place your order before 6 p.m. you get the discount. Now that is what I call a great deal. But get there early because the place becomes packed. The weekend was all about the luck of the Irish. I love the way people change nationalities at a whim; but honestly now with ancestry.com and websites like that you can find out if you are part Irish, Italian or even Mexican. So you can celebrate St. Patrick, St. Jospeh or even Cinco De Mayo in confidence knowing, hey I am 1% authentic. On Friday, I went to the opening of the Rex Room which is a new venue space on Bourbon Street owned and operated by Creole Cuisine. It is on

32 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

the corner of Bourbon & Conti, and can hold approximately 60 people comfortably with a wraparound balcony. The place is gorgeously decorated with lots of shades of purple and is in a great location. So when looking for a venue to hold your next event, check out the Rex Room on Bourbon. Afterwards, I attended the Southern Decadence Announcement Party at Crossing. This is the first time the Grand Marshals have ever been announced this early which I believe is brilliant because it gives them more time to fundraise. Congrats to Adikus Sulpiizi and Frank Perez on a fabulous year. The venue was packed full of supporters as well as a host of past

Grand Marshals welcoming the new members to the family Daryl Dunaway (Countess C. Alice) and William Antil. I know they will be fabulous. I for one cannot wait to hear their theme, colors & song, and see what lively fundraisers they have in store for us. I ended the evening on a lark -Lark in the Park that is. Lark in the Park is City Park’s annual fundraiser. Proceeds form this year’s event will go to revitalizing the Storyland area which, if you are a local, you know constitutes an integral part of most kids’ childhoods here. I am glad to see some things have not gone out of style and are still around and cherished. The event had food, entertainment, a silent

auction and lots of libations. Some of the restaurants were out food by the time I got there, but my two standout favorites were the crab dish at Rebirth and the octopus dish at Sophia, both outstanding. They are on my list of restaurants I need to check out. Saturday was all about the parade. My friends and I attended two wonderful St. Patrick’s Day parties along the Irish Channel parade route. The first was at Brian Deshotel’s home. In true house party fashion, Brian’s welcoming abode had a large pot on the stove of delectable gumbo for guests. Now that is a true New Orleanian. Next, I went to Mark Behar and Jeff Sbisa’s stately manor on Jackson

Avenue, where I caught the parade. I love St. Patty’s Day and especially enjoy costuming for the event; you catch more good stuff that way and, hey, I need all that cabbage. We drank, ate, enjoyed the parade and just caught up with friends both old and new. These two parties are the highlight of my St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Thanks guys for making memories with your hospitality for so many people. Until next issue, keep the party going! Do you want your party or event covered? Invite me! ledgemgp@gmail.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Tony Leggio AT MARK AND JEFF’S ST PATRICK’S DAY PARTY AT THEIR UPTOWN HOME | PHOTOS COURTESY OF TONY LEGGIO

AT BRIAN DESHOTELS ST PATRICK’S DAY PARTY AT HIS UPTOWN HOME | PHOTOS COURTESY OF TONY LEGGIO

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 33

UNDER THE GAYDAR

New Orleans Hot Happenings

Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com

St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day are now behind us as we close out March and move into April. Spring is in the air and the city is alive with energy. Grand Marshals have been chosen and the Easter Parade fundraisers have begun. So much excitement is in store for you over the next two weeks. Here are a few hot happenings to fill up your 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 EVERYDAY

Happy Hour: The Crossing; 439 Dauphine St.; 7 days a week from open until 9pm (7AM to 9PM). It’s $3 domestic beer and well drinks. $1 off everything else. Happy Hour: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal Street.; 7 days a week from 8 a.m - 8 p.m. Happy Hour: GrandPre’s; 834 N Rampart St.; 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. $3 Well/

domestics Happy Hour: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. 777 Happy Hour: Kajun’s Pub; 2556 St. Claude Avenue; 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Kajun’s Karaoke: Kajun’s Pub; 2556 St. Claude Avenue; Karaoke from 5 p.m. until.

MONDAY

Martini Mondays: Crossing; 439 Dauphine St.; (all day) Tito’s and Deep Eddy martinis will be $3. 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. Pool Tournament: Rawhide 2010; 740 Burgundy St.; 9:45 p.m. $2 PBR and $50 gift certificate for Rawhide Lazy Susan Karaoke: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Join bartender Mark and a revolving cast of drag queen hostesses for

LAZY SUSAN KARAOKE with music by DJ Lucius Riley. Mondays are a drag, so make them fabulous and sing the night away. The performers coming up are 4/1 Dominique DeLorean and 4/8 Hexxorsis. NOAGE & Stonewall Sports Walk/ Run Club: Audubon Park; 6:15 p.m. Join Stonewall Sports New Orleans and NOAGE starting at 6:30 p.m.. Meet for the walk/run at Audubon Park by the Magazine Street entrance parking lot. This will be a weekly event for walkers and the Stonewall Run Club will join every 3 weeks. This group is for ALL fitness levels, and you can go at your own pace. Whether that’s running, jogging, leisurely walking, or using a wheelchair or walker, this group is for you. If you are worried that you’ll be left behind, don’t worry; someone will walk with you. If you are the fastest person there, we’ll see you at the finish line. 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. Underwear Night: The Eagle at the Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields Ave.; starting at 9 p.m. The Eagle now is open EVERY Monday night. Happy Hour prices if you’re in your underwear. Doors open at 9 p.m. and NO COVER. S.I.N.: Kajun’s Pub; 2256 St. Claude Ave.; 1 a.m - 4 a.m. 2 for 1 drinks. Happy Hour All Night: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; Open to close. Well, domestic, and wine.

TUESDAY

Tequila Tuesdays: Crossing; 439 Dauphine St.; (all day) Tequila drinks $5. 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 Or-

34 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Crossing PEOPLE ARE CROSSING NOLA TO SEE AND BE SEEN AT CROSSING NOLA | PHOTOS BY TEAM CROSSING

CROSSING

Neighborhood video bar with a steampunk theme in the historic Vieux Carré.

HAPPY HOUR DAILY 7 AM – 9 PM OPENING HOURS 7 AM – 1:30 AM ADDRESS 439 Dauphine Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 523-4517 www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 35

leans; 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. 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. Happy Hour All day and Night: 700 Club; 700 Burgundy; 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. Every week on Tuesday from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM the next day. Happy Hour: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Burlesque Bingo with Lefty Lucy: The AllWays Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 6 - 8:30 p.m. Loose Hellfire presents their free weekly grown-up game show where everyone’s a winner! There is NO COVER for this sexy and silly game. Just buy a drink from the bar & Tsarina Hellfire will give you a Bingo Card! Each round winner gets a BUCKET of prizes including exclusive prints & a grand finale prize from Abita Brewing Company! Just for showing up you get to enjoy the free BURLESQUE side of this unique game! Between every round, Lefty Lucy performs an improvised striptease to a song the crowd selects, removing only one item per round—Don’t miss your chance to win the finale prize, and to see the tassels twirl! Trivia: Cutter’s; 706 Franklin Avenue; 7:30 p.m. Join your host, bartender and local music legend Johnny Sketch, at 7:30. Join a trivia team or bring your own and test your knowledge across multiple categories to win an often odd and useful assortment of prizes!

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 & Give-

a-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 Connie Hung, Anastascia Davenport; ChiChi Rodriquez 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. 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. Movies in the Courtyard: Flamingo A-Go-Go; 869 Magazine Street; Double-feature movie nights. Showtimes 7pm and 9:30pm Happy Hour: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

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 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 from the 80’s and 90’s. Happy Hour: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Looped: Mags 940; 940 Elysian Fields; 7 p.m. Come see a boozing, pill-popping Tallulah Bankhead (played by Elizabeth Bouvier) get off some

36 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI The Corner Pocket MEET ME ON ST. LOUIS—WHERE THE BOYS ARE DANCIN’ NIGHTLY ON THE BAR | PHOTOS BY POCKET PEEPS & JEREMY WEINBERG

THE CORNER POCKET Where the Boys are dancing nightly on the bar starting at 9PM!

OPENING HOURS Everyday Noon - TILL ADDRESS 940 St Louis Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 568-9829 www.cornerpocket.net

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 37

“savage” one-liners as the sound editor, Danny Miller (played by Greg Nacozy) tries to get one line looped, or re-recorded, for her last picture, 1965’s Die! DIe! My Darling! and forces him to “spill the tea”! - Show 3/28.

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; 940 St. Louis St.; 6:30 p.m. Anyone can enter - $100 cash prize. 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. Misc4Misc: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 9 p.m. Enjoy this wonderfully weird drag show hosted every week by Apostrophe. Cover is $5. Late Night Happy Hour: Cru

NOLA; 535 Franklin Avenue; 10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. Come by and get to know Executive Chef Marlon Alexander and sushi and vegan Chef Kelseay Dukae during their late night happy hours. They look forward to serving you some delicious drink specials and amazing food from our kitchen. Come chill out in the iconic courtyard. Beat The Clock; 700 Club; 700 Burgundy; 5 - 9 p.m. Well Drinks: 5 PM - 6 PM $1.50, 6 PM - 7 PM $2.00, 7 PM - 8 PM $2.50, 8 PM - 9 PM $3.00 Happy Hour: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; 3 p.m. - 8 p.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 top 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 guest 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. Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez, Persana Shoulders 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! Late Night Happy Hour: Cru NOLA; 535 Franklin Avenue; 10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. Come by and get to know Executive Chef Marlon Alexander and sushi and vegan Chef Kelseay Dukae during their late night happy hours. They look forward to serving you some delicious drink specials and amazing food from our kitchen. Come chill out in the iconic courtyard. Happy Hour: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. Queer Meditation: Mid City Zen; 3248 Castiglione Street; 10:30 a.m. A queer and trans centered meditation group meeting regularly on Saturday mornings. Open to all LGBTIQ+ people, and all folks interested in holding and sharing an intentionally queer-centering mindful space. Join for a sit, breathe, notice, rest; to cultivate presence and kindness together. Free/by donation.

SUNDAY

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 Connie Hung, Anastascia Davenport; ChiChi Rodriquez 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

38 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Oz New Orleans PHOTOS BY ANDREW HOPKINS #OZNEWORLEANS & SUBMITTED BY PERSANA SHOULDERS

OZ New Orleans 2-story, 24/7 gay dance club with DJs, drag shows, go-go dancers & a balcony for people-watching.

OPENING HOURS

FRI, SAT & SUN: 24/7 MON–THURS: Opens at 1PM

ADDRESS 800 Bourbon Street New Orleans, LA Phone: (504) 593-9491 www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 39

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. Mama Honey’s Drag Brunch: Cru NOLA; 535 Franklin Street; 11 a.m. For tickets, go to www.crunola.com. Vanessa Carr presents Mama Honey’s Drag Brunch featuring an amazing menu from Chef Marlon Alexander and awesome entertainment! Come celebrate with the phenomenal talents of Vanessa Carr Kennedy and Friends! Divas at the Dive: Kajun’s Pub; 2256 St. Claude Ave; 5 p.m. Vanessa Carr LIve. 6:30 p.m. Drag Karaoke. 8 p.m. Audience Karaoke Drink and Drown: 700 Club; 700 Burgundy Street; 5 - 8 p.m. Unlimited well drinks, Bud Light and Miller Lite draft $10 Happy Hour/ Drink Til You Drop: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; Happy Hour 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Drink Til You Drop $12 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday Swing: The Allways Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Avenue; starts at 8 p.m. Every Sunday, local swing dance instructors offer a community class from 8-9pm. From 9 till midnight there is live, local music and social dancing! There is NO cover, but a one drink minimum is required per set.

SPECIAL EVENTS TUESDAY 3/26

Extra - The Political Cabaret: Allways Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Ave; 9 p.m. - midnight. Politics these days are nearly impossible to keep up with. Lucky for you the queens of Extra are ready to EDUCATE with numbers covering all the political messages you’ve been asking for and several that you didn’t know you needed. This month features the incredible cast of Gracias Denada, Dru La La, Cosette LaFemme, Laveau Contraire and as always, your host and producer Quinn Laroux. Show at 10; Doors at 9. $10 cover.

TUESDAY 3/26 SUNDAY 3/31

Hamilton: The Saenger Theatre; 1111 Canal Street. New Orleans premier of the smash musical. Tickets are available online at www.thatsliveneworleans.com. Hamilton tells the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton is the story of America then, as told by America now.

WEDNESDAY 3/27 SUNDAY 3/31

Tennessee Williams Festival; http://tennesseewilliams.net.

WEDNESDAY 3/27

NOAGE PotLuck: The Drifter Hotel; 3522 Tulane Avenue; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Join NOAGE as they return to The Drifter Hotel for the NOAGE potluck dinner! It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, network, and eat some great food! All ages welcome. If you are able, please bring a dish. We’ll need main dishes, meats, sides, soups, salads or vegan/vegetarian dishes, desserts, and beverages. All ages welcome! Please call Mike at (423)505-1488, or Jim at (504)2286778 if you have any questions. Shotgun Cinema: Marigny Opera House; 725 St. Ferdinand Street; 6:30 p.m. Shotgun Cinema is proud to once again participate in Science on Screen, and begins their 2019 series with Elia Kazan’s Oscar-winning (and New Orleans-shot) PANIC IN THE STREETS. The screening will be followed by an introduction to epidemiology and a Q&A with Dr. Lina Moses, Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University. See our screening page for more details: http://shotguncinema. org/films/science-on-screen-panic-inthe-streets/. Doors open at 6:30PM, with the film starting at 7:00PM. This screening is FREE and open to the public.

THURSDAY 3/28

Saints and Sinners Live at the Ace - Drag and Queer Storytelling: Three Keys in the Ace Hotel; 600 Carondelet; 7 - 9:30 p.m.Hard hitting Drag from the New Orleans Drag Workshop and ferocious storytelling curated by Greetings from Queer Mountain. A who’s who of New Orleans Queer Artists featuring power blouses Franky, Dede Onassis, TitiBaby, Nathan Lane Bryant, The Darling, Amanda Golob, Genevieve Rheams, and Flannery Meehan and a very special guest appearance from the legendary gay icon Judy Grahn. This is one night we won’t be keeping our opinions to ourselves - expect politics, tears and inspiration. Come at 7 for a very special pre-show poetry slam with Judy Grahn and the southern charms of poet Greg Brownderville. $10 cover; $5 students; free admission for Tennessee Williams VIP pass holders. For tickets, go to https:// tennesseewilliams.secure.force.com. Disco Ball Variety Show: The Drifter Hotel; 3522 Tulane Avenue; 8 - 10 p.m. Looking to express yourself in a safe space in front of an audience with other fabulous creative talented humans? Come on down to The Disco Ball Variety Review, where only your imagination is the limit! Can you jug-

40 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

gle, tell a joke, sing a song, breathe fire, lip sync, recite a poem? This is a very open-minded mic night. At the end of the evening, Sunshine Edae and guest judges will choose the most captivating, eccentric, and compelling performer for A PRIZE. $5 entry, but FREE for performers! Be sure to email eventsandsales@thedrifterhotel.com to sign up in advance if you plan on performing!

THURSDAY 3/28 SUNDAY 3/31

Saints & Sinners Literary Festival; http://sasfest.org.

FRIDAY 3/29

Horsefeathers: Rites of Spring: Cafe Istanbul; 2372 St. Claude Avenue; 7 - 10 p.m. High Fashion, Flying Circus, and Spiritual Elevation! A tour de force of Self Care via the Occult and Gestalt.The Grand Dame of the Damned herself is conspiring with the Ingenious Androgyne for a night that’s sure to leave you feeling light as a feather, stiff as a board. International Superstar Tarah Cards presents Dante The Magician, Liza Rose , Hann Cowger, Juno, Jyldo, Ariana Amour, Nicole Marquez, Tammy. Vocals by Gayle King Kong and introducing The Show Ponies via Rocket Babe Burlesque. For tickets, go to https://neworleans. boldtypetickets.com/events/92456777/

horsefeathers-by-precious-ephemera or their Facebook page. Cinema Twain featuring Val Kilmer: Joy Theatre; 1200 Canal Street; 7 p.m. Val Kilmer Live & Jonathan Mares present Cinema Twain - 7 p.m. doors; 8 p.m. show. Cinema Twain is the film version of the one-man play Citizen Twain written, directed and starring Val Kilmer based on the life of Samuel Clemens, and of course his writings as Mark Twain. The Top Gun, Batman Forever, and The Doors star will introduce the 90 minute film and conduct a question & answer session following the screening.For tickets, go to www. ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1827094. Lords Bust One… Year 37: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields; 9 p.m. - midnight. Join us for our 5th Friday “Filth Friday” 9pm Meat & Greet and 10pm-Midnight beer bust! Come enjoy a gathering of leather love and laughter in our favorite spot, The Phoenix! $10 donation goes toward our Bal Masque XXXVII which will be held Sunday, February 23, 2020. NOCCA Concert Series presents Jeremy Jordan with Seth Rudesky: NOCCA; 2800 Chartres Street; 8 - 11 p.m. Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan (NBC’s Smash, Supergirl & Broadway’s Newsies) with Host Seth Rudetsky will appear in a Broadway @ NOCCA series concert to benefit the NOCCA Institute. For tickets and more information, go to https://m.bpt.me.

Jock Strap Cabaret and Lube Wrestling: Allways Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Avenue; 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. The most raunchy, most inclusive and most audience participated event in town. The night where members from the audience get up on stage to wrestle strangers for a chance to win $100 cash!! It could be you, it could be your boyfriend and hell, it could be your girlfriend. No fine print. IT IS SIMPLY JOCK STRAP LUBE WRESTLING! Hosted by NEON Burgundy with special guests. Sign up the night of to wrestle | Jock Straps Provided | Cash Prize | Wrestling at midnight.

SATURDAY 3/30

Louisiana Queer Conference 2019: Louisiana State University Business Education Complex; 501 Nicholson Drive Ext (Baton Rouge); LAQC is a statewide, student-run, free conference inspiring Louisianans to LGBT+ activism and community solidarity. We attract attendees from across the South to attend workshops and learn from speakers about the LGBT+ community and how they can better the world for queer people. For more information go to https://lsu.edu/ lgbtqproject/laqc/laqc.php#. It’s Showtime on Rampart Street; GrandPre’s; 834 North Rampart St.; 10 p.m. Come out and catch this exciting drag show starring Moanalot Fontaine and special guests.

Dodwell Extravaganza: The Dodwell House; 1519 Esplanade Avenue; 6 - 10 p.m. A great evening: food, entertainment, cocktails, wine pull, auction items and frivolity. This is to raise restoration funds for this very historic property. Advance tickets $60; $70 at the door. Go to https://dodwellhouse. org for tickets or more information. Juice Box - 80s vs. 90s Dance Party: The Friendly Bar; 2301 Chartres Street; 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. Come to The Friendly Bar and shake all that you got for this 80s versus 90s competition. New Wave/ Rap/ Dance/ Tango-DJ PickMo will make you sweat til you bleed, cramp and scream! NO COVER. Exotique Welcome back show: The Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; 10:30 - 1:30 a.m. EXOTIQUE is a monthly drag show held at the Four Seasons Bar in Metairie LA.. There is no entry fee. Drink prices are fabulous along with the cast and show. Come have a great time with us. Puddles Pity party: Joy Theatre; 1200 Canal Street; 7 p.m. A Winter Circle Production presents Puddles Pity Party. 7 p.m. doors; 8 p.m. show; all ages. Tickets http://bit.ly/PuddlesPityPartyNOLATix.

SUNDAY 3/31

Gay Easter Parade Eggstravaganza: Golden Lantern Bar; 1239 Royal Street; 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Come

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 41

out and enjoy this brunch drag fundraising show for the Gay Easter Parade. Queers + Queens - A Fluid Flow: Church of Yoga NOLA; 1480 N. Rocheblave Street; 4 - 5 p.m. Calling ALL Queers, Queens, Non-Binary and Fluid folks. This monthly Fluid Flow is designed for you, the LGBTQ Community and your sparkly friends. Enjoy your glittery loving yoga home where you can be YOU, connect more deeply to each other and your Highest Self.

WEDNESDAY 4/3 SUNDAY 4/7

New Orleans Food & Wine Expereince: https://www.nowfe.com.

FRIDAY 4/5 SUNDAY 4/7

SouthernMost Puppy V: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields. SouthernMost Puppy presents their 5th title year April 5 - 7! This contest is free to all, contestants and supporters alike! All events take place or start at the New Orleans Phoenix, unless otherwise stated. Schedule will be as follows: Friday April 5th: Meet and Greet - 9PM til Midnight. (Contestants will be introduced and given numbers). Saturday April 6th: Closed Interviews: 10 AM until complete. Pup Crawl: 4 PM to 6 PM; Contest: 9 PM til Midnight Sunday April 7th: Victory Brunch and Community Awards: 11AM to 2PM. For more information, go to http://nolapah. wixsite.com/southernmostpuppy.

FRIDAY 4/5

Stonewall Sports First Friday Happy Hour: Phillip’s Bar and Restaurant; 733 Cherokee; 5 - 8 p.m. Join fellow Stonewallers for a monthly happy hour on the first Friday of every month at Phillip’s Bar, one of our Stonewall Sports New Orleans Sponsors. Trax Only + Baby Girl: Man Ray Record; 228 Decatur Street; 10 p.m. - 3 a.m. Trax Only brings you a very special evening in a 3rd floor French Quarter loft that was seemingly made for the sole purpose of transcendental dancing. Rhythmic selectors for the night: Trax Only, Babygirl, Phlegm. $10 entrance with complimentary beer while supplies last. Strip Roulette: The Allways Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Avenue; 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. Strip Roulette consists of 2 teams of burlesque performers who will have to strip for the lives of their g-strings! They will have to improv a burlesque act to music that they have not picked out and will be carefully curated by DJ Ajent O to be as awkward and hilarious as possible!! And, on top of that, they will be given an uncomfortably obscure prop that they will have to incorporate into their striptease! Fun, games, prizes, stripping and more! Doors at 10pm. Show at 11pm. $15

cover per person.

SATURDAY 4/6

BLERDFEST! 2019: Algiers Auditorium; 2485 Guadalcanal St. BLERDFEST! is New Orleans’ first-ever Black Nerd Convention, celebrating the worlds of Anime, Comix, Cosplay, Horror, Manga, Sci-Fi & more, to be held Saturday, April 6, at the Algiers Auditorium. There will be an all-ages Convention 11:30 am - 6 pm, and a 21+ Ball 10 pm - 2 am, featuring live music & dancing. BLERDFEST! is a Hate-Free LGBTQ+ Inclusive Environment. $25 ($30 at the door) for CON or BALL; $45 for both ($50 at the door). More info: www.BLERDFEST.org Cirque Musica: Heroes and Villains: Mahalia Jackson Theatre: 1419 Basin Street; 7:30 p.m. Heroes & Villains is an exciting and family-oriented experience featuring the story about a boy and avid comic fan who becomes “lost” in a fantasy world of Superheroes and Villains. This world “comes to life” through the incredible displays of circus and acrobatic talent from the Cirque Musica cast and musical selections from some of the greatest superhero and classical music of all time performed. Cost Range $10 - $40. For tickets and more information, go to www.mahaliajacksontheater.com. It’s Showtime on Rampart Street; GrandPre’s; 834 North Rampart St.; 10 p.m. Come out and catch this exciting drag show starring Moanalot Fontaine and special guests. OUTclimb | LGBT+ Climb Night: New Orleans Boulder Lounge; 2360 St. Claude Ave.; starts at 7 p.m. OUTclimb is a New Orleans based LGBT+ climbing club dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming space for queer & trans people to climb. With support from the New Orleans Boulder Lounge on St. Claude, they are able to offer a night of climbing FREE to the LGBT+ community of New Orleans and surrounding areas. Allies are welcome to attend and should donate $5-$15 as you are able. Donations will go to a local LGBT+ organization. 9th Annual Wigs and Wine Fundraiser: The 700 Club; 700 Burgundy Street; 6 - 9 p.m. Show up in a wig along with a bottle of wine that you feel pairs well with your wig. Wig & Wine pairings will be judged as either ‘Classy’ or ‘Trashy’. Appropriate glassware (or cups) will be provided for you, depending on how you are judged. Awards for ‘Classiest’, ‘Trashiest’, ‘Best Pairing’ and ‘Best In Show’ will be given out by our three judge panel. $10 cover for those who arrive in a wig. $20 cover for those who come without (a trashy wig will be provided while supplies last). Wine will be provided along with well vodka drinks as part of your cover during the party. All bottles of wine brought to the event will be pooled together and raffled off in multiple lots at the end of the event.

Each person bringing a bottle will receive a raffle ticket. Monies raised will go to The Greater New Orleans Foundation LGBT Fund and the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library. Drag Queen Story Hour: Dr. Martin Luther King Library; 1611 Caffin Street; 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Enjoy story hour with Miss Laveau Contraire! Tainted Cabaret in NOLA: The Allways Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Avenue; 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. TAINTED CABARET stars Ula Uberbusen, James & the Giant Pasty & Shirley Gnome. Doors 11pm/Show MIDNIGHT; Tickets: $15 General Admission and $30 VIP (preferred seating & gift). For tickets, go to https://tc2019NOLA.bpt.me. TAINTED CABARET brings you a provocative burlesque cabaret featuring stars of the underground theater scenes of New York, Toronto, and Vancouver. Delight in this sinfully funny show, where the sexy, campy and theatrical combine to create one deliciously naked evening of entertainment. Let the cast of Tainted Cabaret welcome you into their uncensored world of satirical song and irreverent neo-burlesque.

SUNDAY 4/7

18th Annual Star Studded Drag Extravaganza: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. $10 donation at the door; VIP tables $100 email info@gayeasterparade.com to reserve. Starring Easter Grand Marshals, Carnival Royalty, King Cake Queens and Mega Stars! Auction items, Raffles and more. A fundraiser for the Gay Easter Parade. Funds raised at the Gay Easter Parade will benefit Food For Friends, a program of CrescentCare.

THURSDAY 4/11 SUNDAY 4/14

French Quarter Festival: https:// frenchquarterfest.org.

FRIDAY 4/12 SUNDAY 4/14

Rogers & Hammerstein Cinderella: The Saenger Theatre; 1111 Canal Street; RODGERS + Friday – Saturday: 8 p.m.; Saturday: 2 p.m.; Sunday: 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $30 and will be available at the Saenger Box Office, BroadwayInNewOrleans. com, all Ticketmaster outlets and by phone at (800) 982-2787. With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, the hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA combines the story’s classic elements – glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists.

ans; 2727 South Brian Street; 2 - 6 p.m. LGBTQ Gamers of the Greater New Orleans region - come out to the LGBT Community Center to socialize, game and generally geek out! We will have board games, party games, card games, and snacks to share! 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! The Marsha Delain Purple Party: Crossing NOLA; 439 Dauphine Street; 7 - 11 p.m. Come out for. The 20th Annual Purple Party on April 13 at Crossing NOLA. There will be food, auctions, raffle, drag show and more. $10 at the door. This is a fundraiser for the Gay Easter Parade. Funds raised at the Gay Easter Parade will benefit Food For Friends, a program of CrescentCare. Blunderland NOLA: One Eyed Jacks; 615 Toulouse Street; Shows 8:00 and 10:30 p.m. Eric Schmalenberger, Trixie Minx and House of YES present a delectable evening with all the whimsical, surreal, and psychedelic you can handle. Drawing from the finest burlesque, circus, cabaret, and queer scenes BLUNDERLAND is a trip down a rabbit hole of scintillating surprises including performances by Jett Adore, Stormy Leather, Deity, Liza Rose, Lady Lucerne, the Spill Sisters, Rob Roth as CRAIG, and more. Hosted by Trixie Minx and Eric Schmalenberger. Tickets: VIP Table Seating $35 / Reserved Seating $20 / General Admission $15 cash at the door. For Reserved VIP Table Seating, please email Blunderland13@gmail.com to let us know your group size. Tickets are on www.eventbrite.com.

SUNDAY 4/14

Opus Opera presents Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater: Trinity Episcopal Church; 1329 Jackson Avenue; 5 p.m. Bryan Hymel’s Opus Opera begins its Spring season with an original interpretation of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. Opus Opera combines this beautiful baroque work with ballet in an original take on the 1736 work, a series of lovely arias and duets for soprano and mezzo-soprano. Opus Opera partners with the Krewe de Voix & Delta Festival Ballet, accompanied by a baroque ensemble with soloists Irini Kyriakidou and Christina Vial. Suggested donation at the door. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

SATURDAY 4/13

NOLA April Gaymers Party: LGBT Community Center of New Orle-

42 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

UNDER THE GAYDAR

Along the Gulf South BATON ROUGE MONDAY

Game Night: George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St; 10p.m. Hosted by Chance

WEDNESDAY

Queens Karaoke: George’s Place; 860 St Louis St; 10p.m. Hosted by Alvin McGee Free Cover Wednesdays: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Rd; 9pm

THURSDAY

Double Trouble Thursday: George’s Place; 860 St Louis St; 7pm. $6 Double Wells and $10 Double Calls Show Night: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Rd; 11:30pm. Featuring the Bombshells of Baton Rouge

FRIDAY

Upstairs Karaoke: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Rd; 9pm $1 Martinis 9-10pm

LAFAYETTE BOLT BAR & PATIO 114 McKinley St

THURSDAY

Thirsty Thursday; No Cover. $4 Double Wells and $2 wine

FRIDAY

The Ladies of Bolt; 11:30pm. $5 cover

SATURDAY

Dance Night; No Cover. Happy Hour 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

LAKE CHARLES CRYSTAL’S DOWNTOWN 720 Ryan Street

TUESDAY

Anything But Techno Tuesdays; 10 p.m. No Cover. Ladies drink half off

WEDNESDAY Drag Bingo & Show

THURSDAY

Drink & Drown Karaoke; $10 selective alcohol with $1 refill

THE ROUNDUP 560 E Heinberg St

TUESDAY

Karaoke; 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.

THURSDAY

Speed Quizzing Trivia; 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

FRIDAY

Drag Bingo with Monica Heart; 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Win cash and prizes

GALVESTON 23RD ST. STATION 1706 23rd Street

UNDER THE GAYDAR

Mobile Hot Happenings WEEKLY AT FLIP SIDE

WEEKLY AT B-BOB’S

SUNDAY Funday with Karaoke MONDAY Service Industry Night TUESDAY Karaoke WEDNESDAY Rock n Roll Bingo 8PM THURSDAY Karaoke SATURDAY SEC Football

TUESDAY Gay Bar BINGO 9:30 & 11PM THURSDAY Amateur Drag Night 11PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY Midnight Drag Show

54 S. Conception St., Mobile, AL (251) 431-8819

213 Conti St., Mobile, AL (251) 433-2262

Happy Hour every day until 7 p.m.

MONDAY

Texas Hold ‘Em 7pm

TUESDAY

Tube-ular Tuesday with Jim 8pm

ARE WE MISSING YOUR EVENTS? Email info@ambushpublishing.com

WEDNESDAY

Ladies Night w/ Piano 6pm

THURSDAY

Movie Night with Chris 8pm

FRIDAY

Live Entertainment 6pm

SATURDAY

Live Entertainment 9pm

SUNDAY

Sing Along Sundays w/ Piano 4pm7pm

RUMORS

3102 Seawall Blvd. Happy Hour every day until 7 p.m.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY Show Nights 11 p.m. & 12:30 a.m.

SUNDAY THRU THURSDAY Karaoke 8 p.m.

SUNDAY

The Sunday T with Carly & Kymber 4:30 p.m.

PENSACOLA www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 43

FINANCIAL & BUSINESS Trade Tensions and Your Portfolio: What You Need to Know Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M. ADPA® s.billeaudeau@ampf.com A prominent economic story of the past year has been the growing tide of trade disputes across the globe. The U.S is at the center of it – most notably with China – which means investors are often subject to daily headlines debating possible implications for global markets and the economy. But are there reasons for investors to be concerned? The short answer is that trade tensions are nothing new, and our country has dealt with the impacts of international negotiations many times over. Yet, as trade becomes increasingly global, its important for investors to understand the current environment and what may be ahead for the markets. Let’s dive into this more, starting with a quick history lesson to provide some perspective on today’s trade environment. Trade issues are nothing new Challenges with trading partners for our nation go back to its founding. The Boston Tea Party of 1773 was a protest against taxes imposed by Britain on a number of products used by colonists. Fast forward to when the U.S. economy struggled during the Great Depression of the 1930s, and Congress imposed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff. That legislation was designed to protect American jobs, raising duties on over 20,000 imported goods. Many

of the targeted countries countered with retaliatory tariffs. As a result, trade activity dropped dramatically, contributing to global economic turmoil. The U.S. economy picked up with the onset of World Word II and emerged as a dominant force in global trade. However, in the years that followed the war, Europe and Japan rebuilt their economies and by the 1970s emerged as trading powerhouses. This transformation in many ways set the stage for increased global trade as we know it today. Trade has become increasingly global In recent decades, a driving force behind increased international trade was the belief that benefits would extend to more people across the world. Landmark treaties, like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) established in 1994 between the U.S, Canada and Mexico, highlighted an extended period of open borders for the movement of goods and services. The European Union (created in 1993) represents another form of trade agreement, reducing barriers to the movement of goods. Yet a common concern with many treaties is the belief that they benefit some industries while leaving people in others behind. For example, many U.S. farmers benefit from agricultural exports to other countries, and the U.S.

generally has a trade surplus when it comes to services it supplies internationally. On the flip side, in the 1970s for instance, Japan’s automobile industry rose, while U.S. car companies struggled. We’ve seen similar trends with industries like textiles and steel manufacturers. The current trade deficit shows that the U.S. economy is more dependent on imports than it is on exports. The last time the U.S. ran a trade surplus was in 1975. Since then, the trade deficit has risen significantly, peaking in 2006 at $761 billion (according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Economic Indicator Division), before dropping and remaining fairly consistently between $500 and $600 billion. Should you be concerned about tariffs? Fast forward to today, where we find ourselves at another crossroad with trade. Take for example the recent implementation of tariffs on a variety of international products. These tariffs are aimed, in part, to help domestic industries that are losing business to lower-cost goods from overseas – a similar goal of past tariffs. Whether these industries and their workers will benefit over the long run remains in question. There are other factors that bear watching. The primary concern for investors is whether tariffs will create negative economic consequences for

the targeted industries, the U.S. or global economy. Recently, trade tensions have had an impact on investor sentiment, with more people becoming cautious about the state of the global economy. In many instances, trade disputes can be a contributing factor to market volatility. This is because markets do not like the uncertainly that happens when global powers are negotiating. So, what does all this trade history mean for investors? The key takeaway is to keep an eye on trade developments and to not overreact to daily headlines. Remember that trade policies are just one of many factors likely to impact the economy and markets. Maintaining a diversified portfolio – that is reflective of the level of risk you are willing to accept to reach your own financial goals – is one of the best defenses to all types of market uncertainty. 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.

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Gay Easter Parade SPRING FEVER & SPONSOR PARTY AT THE BOURBON PUB | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRENT BENDER

44 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Pauly Cajun SOUTHERN DECADENCE ANNOUNCEMENT BAR CRAWL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY GLENN PAUL MELANCON

SOUTHERN DECADENCE ANNOUNCEMENT PARTY AT CROSSING | PHOTOGRAPHY BY GLENN PAUL MELANCON

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 45

LGBT Owned & Friendly Business Directory

bars

Job Opportunities Ambush Magazine is growing!

Freelance & Contributing Writers Wanted

We want to hear from you if you are a working or aspiring journalist interested in covering topics meaningful to the LGBTQ community.

Snap Paparazzi Photographer Wanted

Do you frequent the LGBTQ bars and events? We want to hear from you if you are interested in regularly covering the bars and events.

If you are interested, please email your resume, cover letter, and portfolio to info@ambushpublishing.com

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 CROSSING (formerly 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

46 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · 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, Gay-

MardiGras.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] 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 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen Uptown, 615 S Carrollton Ave, 866-5900, www.louisianapizzakitchenuptown.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

LGBT+ Archives Project OF LOUISIANA

Getting Our History Out of the Closet www.lgbtarchiveslouisiana.org

FINAL - Ambush ad - 5 x 2.9375.indd 1

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

Get Listed for $10 per Issue Want to see your business, organization, or event in our next issue?

Email Ambush sales@ambushpublishing.com

11/16/18 7:25 PM

CORNER OF ST. CLAUDE AVE & ELYSIAN FIELDS

NOW ON

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com 47 Untitled-6 1 6/1/18 12:49· PM

A COMMUNITY WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Restore, Renew, Reconcile The Very Rev. Bill Terry+ fr.bill@stannanola.org

The three “R’s” was the anthem of our little church after Katrina. We all had high hopes for the city then. Our anthem has changed as has our city. Now our anthem is “All are welcomed. None are shunned.” I suspect that will be with us for quite some time. Today we continue in Lent and so as a discipline I am focused on the world around me and how I/we can positively impact that world. As an only child, my inclination is to be a people pleaser. I don’t want to disappoint. As much as that thought runs counter to the “spoiled child” reputation of only children, the fact is that, while we are the center of attention as kids, we thrive on affirmation and are deeply hurt by the disappointment of others - particularly parents. I write this to indicate that I do not want to disappoint anyone and in particular the God of my understanding. So, this Lent I am wondering about the world I live in and am trying to give it more heart, soul, and faith that as Dame Julian of Norwich once said, “All will be well.” We had high hopes after Katrina. We, as a community, had a once-in-acentury opportunity to rebuild this city

totally to be a “light unto the nations.” It is true that we have an improved levee system (at least we hope so); it is true that property owners now enjoy increased value for their homes; it is true that for a time people were migrating to New Orleans to start new businesses. It is true that much of the city has new roofs and paint. It is true that an aging stock of school buildings generally were rebuilt and modernized. Since Katrina the Saints won the Super Bowl, the WWII Museum has expanded into a national shrine, and the tourist industry is better than ever. All of these things are true. It is equally true that the school system is a failure. At least that is my sentiment. We are segregating children by IQ and the capacity to participate in a convoluted admission system. Some children are traveling 2 hours or more to school then the same coming home. It is true that a very high number of local “public access” schools are failing or near failing. It is true that the system currently in place discriminates on multiple levels. Our streets and public transit system is also a failure as is our utility systems. Do you remember when we

were promised free and accessible city wide Wi-Fi? Our most valuable neighborhoods are becoming populated with Short Term Rental units owned by absentee property holders. Gentrification is a double edged sword that hangs like Damocles over us. Yes, it is preserving historic housing. Equally it is pushing out affordable housing. While property values go up in a city largely populated by renters so too do taxes on those properties and rents. Remember when one could find a decent place for $600700/month. It’s not happening anymore. The poor are being squeezed out of historic neighborhoods. Ever deepening pockets of poverty are being compressed in our city. The job opportunities are generally relegated to the hospitality industry. Too often that industry does not provide full annual job security, let alone health and medical benefits. Servers still get paid as little as $3/hr. plus tips. A good paying cook’s job pays $15/hr. Imagine trying to raise a family of three on $15/hr with a rent of $1,500/mo. I could go on during this season of Lent outlining the failure of New Orleans after the Great Flood of 2005. But it is Lent and the question is what is to be done about all of it, some of it, or just one little part of it? Easter promises more than lilies, three parades, and Grand Marshals. Easter promises and reminds of the capacity to resurrect. Resurrection, coming to new life, can be accessed in both dramatic and demure ways. For our little church it is in budgeting over half of our income to community work. Much of that income comes from the community - this community within communities - the LGBTQ+ community. We are more than grateful for that. We offer prayers and our mutual love and support of this selfsame community. That story in and of itself is a Resurrection story. It talks about a faith that once shunned discovering the humanity in all persons and that now, if not before, “respects the dignity of all human beings.” But there is more. In 2007 this little church, St. Anna’s Church, entered into a lease/purchase agreement for a property that is historic and badly in need of repair. It is located on old Esplanade Avenue. It was built by a Creole woman named Marsaudet in 1846 when our little church was located right next to the docks on the river (#5 Esplanade Ave.). The idea was to offer a safe place, a healing place, a community gathering place that reaches out to our very diverse community here below Canal Street. We call it the Marsaudet-Dod-

well House. Our ability to aggressively seek restoration grants, tax credits, and deep funding was inhibited because we were a tenant not owners. We invested serious funds into reversing the decline of the structure and, with a lot of volunteer labor from all over the country we were successful. Yet, we did not own the property. We do now. As of March 19, we became the owners of the property. Now we begin to create, in earnest, this space dedicated to love. We recently came up with the phrase, “Rainbow Community Center”. This describes the intentionality that we are undertaking. We have Anna’s Place NOLA now squeezed into our Parish Campus. It needs to expand to provide solid educational access to underserved children. Most of these kids live in those deep pockets of poverty that I described. Most are subject to violence in the community, some endure home violence, and most are exposed to economic violence. It behooves none of us to judge their parents or critique them. The children are children and must be taught dignity, integrity, a work ethic and respect for fellow human beings. Last year we did an exercise for our older kids and asked them to write some legislation as if they were political representatives. They did. Do you know what these African-American teens, most living in poverty, wrote? A resolution “protecting the rights of Transgender persons”! This was without prompting of any kind. These same kids marched in Baton Rouge, these kids from poverty, asking for reasonable gun control. One of these kids received a full scholarship to Loyola and two others have just been admitted to Jesuit High. Yes, this Community within Communities participated in that. There is so much more to this story of Resurrection. But know that The Dodwell Extravaganza, our annual fundraiser for building this Community Center, is as much a symbol of what is possible as anything that we can possibly imagine. Join us for the Extravaganza, see the old house now and imagine her old bones being resurrected to new use that says loudly, WE RESPECT THE DIGNITY OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS. ALL ARE WELCOMED. NONE ARE SHUNNED. For tickets or more information go to: www.dodwellhouse.org. The Extravaganza is on Saturday March 30th at 1519 Esplanade Avenue, The Marsaudet-Dodwell House.

48 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

WORLDPRIDE NYC 2019

NYC Pride announces route for WorldPride NYC 2019 | Stonewall 50 Pride March New York, NY, March 18, 2019 -NYC Pride, the official host of WorldPride NYC 2019 and Stonewall 50, announces the 2019 LGBTQIA+ Pride March route, as an unprecedented number of people are expected for the events planned for June 2019. The 2019 Pride March, which commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, will step off at noon on Sunday, June 30th from 26th Street and 5th Avenue. Some 150,000 marchers will proceed south on 5th Avenue before heading west on 8th Street. After crossing over 6th Avenue, the March will continue on Christopher Street, passing the site designated in 2016 by President Barack Obama as the Stonewall National Monument. It will then turn north on 7th Avenue, passing the New York City AIDS Memorial, before dispersing in Chelsea just north of 23rd Street and 7th Avenue. “As we prepare for the largest LGBTQIA+ Pride event in history, NYC Pride has worked closely with the New York Police Department, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office, and Council Speaker Corey Johnson to determine the most efficient and safest route and staging

areas possible for the 2019 March,” said Julian Sanjivan, NYC Pride March Director. “As we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, it is fitting that we will march down Fifth Avenue, past the Stonewall Inn and through the neighborhoods of Greenwich Village and Chelsea, cradles of the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio, the NYPD, NYC Pride and all their partners for their hard work in planning WorldPride NYC 2019, a tremendous logistical feat,” said NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “New York City stands ready to welcome people from around the world to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the significant role our city played in advancing equality and justice for all,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I commend NYC Pride, the NYPD, and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson for working together with my office to determine a Pride March route that provides for a safe, affirming, and meaningful experience to commemorate this historic milestone for the LGBTQ community.” “NYC Pride is thrilled to welcome

millions of LGBTQIA+ people from around the globe for World Pride as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic Stonewall Uprising,” said Chris Frederick, Executive Director of NYC Pride, “From our Opening Ceremony in Brooklyn to the largest Pride

March in history to the Closing Ceremony in iconic Times Square, it is clear that New York will embrace Pride like never before. We welcome everyone to experience a million moments of Pride and make history with us in 2019.”

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Tulane Spring Football: Darnell Mooney’s collegiate plan is right on track Tom Symonds, Crescent City Sports NEW ORLEANS – Darnell Mooney had it all planned out. Freshman year, he was going to play his role and learn as much as he could. Sophomore year, he was going to increase his numbers and become a reliable contributor. Junior year, he was going to become a playmaker. Safe to say, everything is going according to plan so far. The rising senior wide receiver out of Gadsden, Alabama, has seen his role on the team grow every season. He went from 267 receiving yards as a freshman to 599 as a sophomore and then led Tulane last year with 993 yards. His touchdown totals went from two as a freshman to four a sophomore to eight last season. He finished the year sixth in the nation in yards per catch at 20.7 and was among the nation’s top 50 in yards, touchdowns and yards per game. So what’s on the agenda for his senior year in 2019? “Senior year you have to be an extreme playmaker,” Mooney said. Mooney’s junior year began with him as the Green Wave’s No. 2 receiver behind Terren Encalade. At the start of the year, Mooney watched as Encalade got double-teamed and he got the lighter coverage from defensive backs.

But midway through the year, the tables turned. As his numbers ballooned, Mooney started getting double coverage. But that didn’t stop him from racking up 217 yards and two touchdowns against ECU on November 11, nor did it slow him down in a 135-yard game in the regular-season finale against Navy. And as selfless as he is, Mooney never cared when Encalade was the one making catches. “Me and Teddy [Encalade] had a great relationship,” Mooney said. “When he scored, it was like I was running into the end zone. Like I was scoring a touchdown.” Interestingly, 2019 could see a similar situation to begin the season. With the addition of graduate transfer wide receiver Jalen McCleskey from Oklahoma State, Mooney could once again begin the season as Tulane’s No. 2 receiver. Either way is fine with him. More important is getting better as receiver. One of the greatest moments of his 2018 season came in late September in the form of a 51-yard receiving touchdown against Memphis. That touchdown, a strike from Justin McMillan in his first throw at Yulman Stadium, put Tulane ahead by 10 points in

a game where the Tigers entered as heavy favorites. Mooney was more concerned with his dropped passes. He had four total dropped passes in the game including three in the first quarter, and – despite it having a huge, game-changing touchdown in a Tulane win – Mooney mentioned that game as his worst of the season. Afterward, he told media members that he had “a date with the jugs machine” in his future. “Me and the jugs machine had a good talk, and it worked out,” Mooney said, with a big smile on his face, during spring practice Thursday. “It was a learning experience. You learn more from your failures than your successes.” His relationship with McMillan as his quarterback has improved greatly as well. “We don’t have to talk as much,” Mooney said. “He just gives me a look, and I already know what’s going on. It’s not vocal communication, it’s more seeing the same thing.” Mooney also believes 2019 will see the emergence of at least one other Tulane wide receiver. Jaetavian Toles, Jacob Robertson Jr. and Jorien Vallien all got significant playing time last year, and Mooney knows they have been working hard this offseason to get even better. Sorrell Brown and Kevin LeDee missed all last season with injuries, but Mooney has seen them putting in the work in the film room and on the practice field. With him cutting down on his drops and becoming an extreme playmaker plus the emergence of new receivers to take some of the pressure off, Green Wave fans should expect another increase in Mooney’s numbers during his senior season. TULANE COMPLETES DAY FIVE OF CAMP The Green Wave concluded its fifth spring practice on Thursday, wearing pads for the third consecutive day. Following practice, head coach Willie Fritz recapped the day with reporters and indicated that the team had begun to incorporate more special teams work into practice. Fritz stressed the importance of field position in the kicking game. “It’s all important,” Fritz said. “We’re try to put our best players out in the kicking game.” The fourth-year head coach also discussed the team’s offseason conditioning program led by Kyle Speer. “He does a great job,” Fritz said. “Kyle was with me at Sam Houston State and Georgia Southern and then I brought him with me to Tulane. He has a great staff, but we as coaches are very involved. Our whole staff loves

being in there and I think everyone reinforces what we are looking for in our strength program. Kyle does a great job of leading our program. He runs the program exactly how I want him to run it and does a very good job with our guys.” Tulane’s spring practice continues Saturday and concludes Saturday, April 13 with the annual spring game at Yulman Stadium. Tulane opens the 2019 season on Thursday, August 29 at home against FIU with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. For season ticket information, please call 504-861-WAVE (9283), log on to TulaneTix.com or visit the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center. Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device. Follow Tulane football on Twitter, Facebook and @GreenWaveFB on Snapchat. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Remaining Spring Football Practice Schedule Date: Practice # – Time Tuesday, March 12: Practice #1 Recap Thursday, March 14: Practice #2 Recap Saturday, March 16: Practice #3 – Recap Tuesday, March 19: Practice #4 – Recap Thursday, March 21: Practice #5 – Recap Thursday, March 21: Pro Day – Recap Saturday, March 23: Practice #6 – 8:30-10 a.m. Tuesday, March 26: Practice #7 – 8:30-10 a.m. Friday, March 29: Practice #8 – 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday, March 30: Practice #9 – 8:30-10 a.m. Monday, April 2: Practice #10 – 8:30-10 a.m. Thursday, April 4: Practice #11 – 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday, April 6: Practice #12 – 8:30-10 a.m. Tuesday, April 9: Practice #13 – 8:30-10 a.m. Thursday, April 11: Practice #14 – 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday, April 13: Spring Game – 8:30-10 a.m. This article was originally published by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.

50 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

Local college basketball seasons provide microcosm for current NCAA landscape Les East, Crescent City Sports NEW ORLEANS – The diverse It remains to be seen exactly what climaxes to the seasons of the most Wade did or didn’t do in violation of prominent local men’s basketball proNCAA rules, though the wording in the grams demonstrate the various chalconversation seems damning. lenges facing NCAA Division I college But at the very least, the fact that basketball programs. a college basketball coach feels comFor the LSU Tigers this season pelled to do business with a “recruiting has brought a return to national promibroker,” who is a de facto agent for nence but also showed the temptations high-school kids – especially one bethat can lead a coach and a program ing investigated by the FBI – shows astray. the challenges and temptations facing For the Tulane coaches of proGreen Wave this grams that aspire season served as The quickest way to build an to compete at the a reminder of the highest level. NCAA championship condifficulty faced by The quickest tender is to lure NBA-ready schools that have way to build an lower football in- players to your program, which NCAA championcome and higher requires annual replenishment ship contender is academic requireto lure NBA-ready because most will be gone to players to your ments compared the NBA after one season. to the universities program, which with elite athletic requires annual programs. replenishment beAnd for the UNO Privateers this cause most will be gone to the NBA season demonstrated the limitations after one season. that hamstring programs from the least It also generally requires working prestigious conferences. with people such as Christian Dawkins, LSU had not make the NCAA the convicted felon who spoke with Tournament since 2014 when Johnny Wade on the tape in question. Jones’ team lost to N.C. State in the The more you encounter “recruitfirst round. ing brokers” in your recruiting process, But this was a breakout season the more likely it is that you will face in Will Wade’s second season as the prospect of breaking NCAA rules in head coach. The Tigers won the SEC order to land the players most capable regular-season championship in the of helping you compete for a national league’s most competitive season in championship. several years. You can lure elite recruits to your That earned them a number three school without cheating and you can seed and they showed flashes of how compete for a national championship they earned such a lofty position when without signing lottery picks. they held off an impressive Yale team, But if you’re trying to take a pro79-74, on Thursday afternoon in the gram that has been off the Final Four East Regional in Jacksonville, Fla. radar for many years and put it back on LSU’s first NCAA Tournament the radar as quickly as possible, you’re victory in 10 years earned it a secgoing to be tempted to take short cuts. ond-round game Saturday against Wade’s Tigers made a remarkable sixth-seeded Maryland, which rallied to turnaround and it remains to be seen push the Tigers to the limit before a drawhether it was done on the up and up. matic layup by Tremont Waters pushed But this saga reminds us that if a coach the SEC champs into the Sweet 16. is inclined to cut corners, it’s easy to Regardless of whether the Tigers find ways to do just that. season ends in the Sweet 16 or even While LSU continues its most sucin the Final Four, it will be remembered cessful season in a long time, Tulane within the context of Wade’s suspenfired head coach Mike Dunleavy in the sion by the university, just as the last wake of the first winless conference three games have been played within season in school history. that same context. Dunleavy was always an unconLSU suspended Wade after Yaventional hire, an NBA guy who had hoo! Sports reported that the FBI had had mixed results on the pro level and captured Wade on tape discussing with who was in the twilight of his coaching a “recruiting broker” an “offer” to a recareer. cruit. The recruit mentioned appears to The Green Wave had little team be freshman guard Javonte Smart. success in Dunleavy’s three seasons, Wade has refused school officials’ but players did show significant develrequest for a sit-down about the susopment individually under Dunleavy’s picious comments, which accelerated tutelage. Wade’s suspension and perhaps neAfter losing starting point guard cessitated it in the minds of LSU offiRay One Embo to a season-ending cials. knee injury this season, the bottom fell

out for Tulane. tournament and you go to the NCAAs; Athletic director Troy Dannen come up short and you don’t, regardmade the right move by moving on less of anything and everything else from Dunleavy, and finding someone you have done. able to turn the Green Wave into peIf you’re a regular-season champirennial contenders for an NCAA Touron that doesn’t get into the NCAA Tournament berth was a daunting task for nament – such as Sam Houston State Dannen. The choice is Georgia State’s – you get an automatic bid to the NIT. Ron Hunter, who will almost have to If you’re a team such as UNO, start from scratch Uptown. which doesn’t get an NCAA or NIT bid As for UNO, the Privateers have a but has a winning record and a strong coach who has already taken the Prienough desire to keep playing, you can vateers to the NCAA Tournament. buy your way into a home game in the Mark Slessinger led UNO to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament for a Southland Conference tournament title reported $38,000. and automatic bid That’s what to the NCAAs two the Privateers did, If you’re a team such as figuring the cost years ago and the UNO, which doesn’t get was worthwhile Privateers came up one win short the opportunian NCAA or NIT bid but for of duplicating that ty to keep playing has a winning record and and accelerate feat this season. UNO knocked development a strong enough desire the regular-season of underclassmen. to keep playing, you can champion Sam The stay Houston State out buy your way into a home didn’t last long as of the Southland the Privateers lost tourney and an game in the CollegeInsid- their opener in NCAA big with a against er.com Tournament for a overtime semifinal upset, Texas Southern, reported $38,000. but the Privateers Johnny Jones’ fell to Abilene current program, Christian in the final. in Lakefront Arena. No matter who wins the Southland When it comes to men’s college tourney, they’re almost always going to basketball there’s plenty of March be the only team from the league to get Madness, but there’s a fair amount of into the NCAA Tournament. madness going on in other months as Everything that a team such as well. UNO or Abilene Christian does – from recruiting to off-season work to preseaThis article was originally published son practice through four months of by Crescent City Sports. For the most regular-season play – is meaningless comprehensive sports coverage in the expect as preparation for the few days Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com. in the conference tournament. Win the

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www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · March 26 – April 8, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 51