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LETTERFROMTHEEDITOR DAVIDHELTON
LET IT GO. LET IT GO.
It was a Tuesday. I remember that it was a Tuesday. I had spent all weekend working at my start up job as an of�ice manager/marketing guru/bartender and even put in sixteen thankless hours on Monday. But on Tuesday I got home early - and by early, I mean 6pm. All I wanted to do was be alone and wash away the corporate funk that was covering me from head to toe. As a creative person, I still have to keep a corporate job. I realize that I can never make my living being creative. Creative Photo: Noah Parell people are undervalued; they are never paid what they're worth. Someone told me that the guy who came up with the multimillion-dollar slogan 'Got Milk' was a guy who worked at an ad agency making $18 an hour.
Anyway, I wanted to have some 'me' time. I took a long hot shower. I put in a few loads of laundry. I cleaned out the cat box (which had become like one big pee brick.) I emptied the dishwasher - which is a luxury since I usually play the 'clean or dirty' game every day and just live my life out of the dishwasher always understanding fully well that there is a 50/50 chance that the fork I am using is dirty. I washed my face with some expensive soaps and applied a nice dark, mineral mud mask to help sooth my skin. I have oily skin. I get it from my Dad. My bitchy attitude is from my mother's side I suspect but the terrible skin is all my Dad. Anyway, I called friends in far away places and had phone dates with girlfriends in New York and Atlanta. It was an almost perfect evening. I've always known that living in San Francisco afforded me the con�idence that I could seriously be what I want and do what I want in this City. More importantly, I could almost get away with anything. This is the most liberal place in the solar system. But I have come to realize that there is a time and place for everything. And this liberal sword is one that indeed cuts both ways. A few weeks ago the Castro Theatre was hosting the Frozen Sing-a-long. I've never seen Frozen. I don't know what it is about but I do know kids fucking love it. So, as you can imagine, on the day of the Saturday matinee, the line of little girls dressed as princesses stretched
stretched around the block past Hot Cookie to 17th street. The parents did what they could to help contain their excitement, but it was palatable. There were a few Dads, but mostly it was Moms and Hispanic Nannies that were given the task of chaperoning these groups of squealing girls to the Frozen Sing-a-Long. I was running some random errand and as I was crossing the street, I saw them: the trio of naked guys. We've all seen them in the Castro. For those who haven't, they are a group of exhibitionists who like to wander about the Castro with nothing on but a smile. And sneakers. Oh, and maybe a backpack. Three guys just letting it all hang out on a sunny Saturday.
I had to pause when I saw them strolling by the Castro Theatre as all of these young girls were waiting in line for this movie. These kids were trapped. Parents and chaperones were caught off guard. Suddenly, in these little girl’s faces, were three semi-erect dicks. I watched in succession as each fragile child's mind was branded with the image of some old man's penis literally at eye level. They were traumatized. The most interesting thing about this was the reaction of the parents. They tried to act like this was all perfectly normal. They averted their eyes and tried to distract the little ones as much as they could without making the naked men feel as if they were doing something wrong or were somehow out of line. God forbid, the naked people feel uncomfortable.
Let’s think this through. You are naked in front of children who are lined up outside a movie theater to see a cartoon on a Saturday afternoon. Clearly, this is not normal. In other parts of the country the guys would have been tackled by parents, possibly beaten - and they would have been labeled perverts or, even worse, child molesters. Not in San Francisco. Here in the City by the Bay, they have a right - perhaps even a responsibility - to show us their nakedness regardless of whether we want to see it or not. After all, these children need to learn about penis sometime. No time like the present. Look at it, kids. Isn't it spectacular? It's right in your face. Smell it. Now go sing about building a snowman or whatever the fuck that movie is about. Then the naked men crossed the street and they were headed towards me. Suddenly I was telling myself 'just don't look at it. Pretend like this is totally normal.' Why didn't I laugh and point and take out my phone and take a picture? This is, after all, what prepubescent nightmares are made of. Why didn't I just roll my eyes and tell them to put on some clothes? Well, in San Francisco, that would be rude. How dare you tell a naked
man that he doesn't have the right to be naked on the street. Can you imagine? How conservative. Go back to Georgia you prude. Get out of San Francisco you poor uncivilized naked-man hater.
“You are naked in front of children who are lined up outside a movie theater to see a cartoon on a Saturday afternoon. Clearly, this is not normal.”
It’s true. On the exterior I have conformed to this liberal City on every level but inside I am still sometimes freaked out by the stuff that happens on a daily basis here. Freaked out in a good way, I mean. Nonetheless, live everyone else, I walked past the naked guys as if it were the most normal thing in the world. I pretended to not even notice. Well done, David. Good day, naked men. Lovely day, isn't it? So on this Tuesday night that I was enjoying a quiet evening in, I realized that I didn't feel like cooking. Instead I opted to run to the taqueria a few blocks over from my place downtown and grab a sloppy $8 burrito. I threw on some shoes, grabbed my keys and just put on a hoodie. It was cold. It's always cold here. I was moving at a quick pace and was holding my hands in my pockets. About 10 minutes later I arrived at the little taqueria and as I was opening the door, I caught a glimpse of my re�lection in the glass.
I had not bothered to take off the mud mask. I had completely forgotten that I even had it on. I was horri�ied. I had just walked �ive blocks in downtown San Francisco, passing perhaps �ifty people, in black face. Oddly, not one person looked at me funny; not one person even raised an eyebrow. Interesting. A big racist white man in black face walking down the street? Good for him. Good evening, you racist, shit-faced man. Lovely evening, isn't it?
This is truly living in San Francisco. And for the record, I went ahead and ordered the burrito. I was already there - why turn back now? I just acted like it was totally normal to be in a dark brown mud mask at a restaurant. Everyone around me also subscribed to this belief. The cashier gave me a bit of a peculiar look, shrugged her shoulders and then got on with the task at hand. It's liberal here. It is indeed something that I have learned to love/hate. There is indeed a time and place for everything. In San Francisco, that's a blurry line.
PUBLISHER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Helton / David@LiveLeft.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR + OPERATIONS Jenee´ Bryant / Jenee@LiveLeft.com SENIOR COPY EDITOR Blake Blackwell OPERATIONS & DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANT Aaron Marxmiller COLUMNISTS SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Athena Karsant Jesse Caylor Bebe Sweetbriar Celso Dulay PHOTOGRAPHERS David Burgoyne Chris Knight Pollo Del Mar David Burgoyne Wendy Ho Richard Henry Thomas Left Magazine is a complimentary publication printed monthly and is distributed throughout the West Coast. For delivery to your place of business, please contact us. Duplication of any material within the magazine is forbidden. Left Magazine 222 Sadowa Street San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (415) 203-6320 LeftMagazine
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Pictured here and on the cover: ‘Jersey Boys’ Star, Renée Marino Hair/Makeup + Photography by David Burgoyne Clothing + Styling by Marisa Kenson Styling by the Marisa Kenson Team Twitter: @marisakenson Instagram: marisakenson Facebook: www.facebook.com/marisakenson the marisa kenson collections
1984EVER 1984 CELEBRATES SIXTEEN YEARS AT CAT CLUB
Damon Boyle & Randy Maupin, the masterminds behind the longest running weekly 80s party in the City, celebrate their sweet sixteen this month with 1984. Every Thursday at the Cat Club for the past 16 years, all sorts of people have dropped in for an ‘Oh-Micky-You’re-So-Fine’ time. And there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.
How did 1984 get started? (Damon) I think it starts like anything. A group of people get together and say ‘what do you guys wanna do tonight?’ and then it just sort of happens organically. A weekly in this market is a lot of work? (Randy) You can’t really sustain a weekly if you haven’t had it already in the last �ive years. You have to do a monthly or bi-monthly. People just don’t have that level of commitment to anything new it seems. Straight crowd mostly? (Randy) Somewhat. It’s pretty mixed lately. Everything is really. We get some cool transgendered people as well as the queers and gays and everything in between. Marina girls doing all their sel�ies and shit. Let’s call it ‘eclectic.’ No matter what you call it, it’s a good time. I think the 80s bring everyone together <laughs>
(Damon) Some of my friends who come are ‘Moms’ now. It’s weird. They’ll contact me and are like ‘We’re coming out tonight! We need a wild night out!’ Ok, ladies. Come to 1984 and get crazy! <laughs> And we have people who have literally been every Thursday for the entire sixteen years we’ve been doing it. It’s like their weekly �ix. It’s become a very special party for a lot of people. Do your Djs spin vinyl? (Randy) Some do. We do it all. We spin video in the backroom and CDs, also Serrato. Whatever the DJ needs I guess. (Damon) But yes, some guys do come in with vintage vinyl and that’s always a lot of fun.on) Do you have any 80’s acts that come in? (Damon) We have mostly Djs that come in. We’ve had David J from Love and Rockets. Guys like that.
How is Cat Club doing in the ‘new’ market and the boom? (Randy) We’re doing well actually. A lot of new faces. Do you guys still do afterhours? (Randy) We go until 3am. (Damon) That seems fairly late nowadays. San Francisco has changed over the past 10 years. People just don’t go out like they used to. I think it’s because it’s so expensive to live here and people are just more responsible. No more partying until 8am. Everyone has jobs <laughs>
Gosh, in my 20s I don’t think I ever left the house until midnight. (Randy) I’ve been working in bars since I was 21 so I’ve always had to be there early to set up and I’ve always had to be the guy cleaning up after the party. I have been at Cat Club since 1999 – I’m not doing the math. Please don’t do the math either <laughs>
What do you guys have planned for the Sweet Sixteen anniversary party? (Damon) We have Steve Masters joining us that night. He was the program director from Live 105 in the 1980s and he was considered one of the best in the country. Many people associate him with the 80’s and he was probably like San Francisco’s best-known new wave radio DJ. Do you see a lot of young kids that come in and this is all new to them? Or is it an older crew? (Damon) You know, I see a mixture. I feel like the younger people have had it easy since they were able to just download the music from the 80s. They didn’t have to do it the way we did. But that was part of the fun too – the record stores. Getting a new album. Reading the cover. (Randy) I feel like a lot of young people have an easier time �inding and getting things than we did but they miss something from the experience of the search. So many clubs come and go, but the Cat Club still manages to survive. (Damon) We’re lucky because we can serve two different parties in the same space and offer up that variety. People can hang out up front or stroll and check out what’s going on in the back. That’s served us well because people can feel like they’re actually at two parties. (Randy) and besides, the 80s will never die!
Love its‘ only by David Helton
From Broadway to the big screen, Renée Marino is Mary Delgado in Clint Eastwood’s recent screen adaptation of the hit musical, ‘Jersey Boys.’
Renée Marino
, quite simply, has one of the warmest souls I’ve ever experienced. Seriously. This woman doesn’t need a spotlight because she is lit from within. From her petite frame, she exudes a big, quiet con�idence that empowers you. She embraces you the way an old friend would. It’s a rare thing in Hollywood to meet someone with so much backbone and substance. Kindness over�lows from her. She is every inch a super star, but within moments of meeting her, it’s like you’ve known her for years. She’s the quintessential (Jersey) girl next door; the girlfriend you can gab with about anything. She’s conquered Broadway and now stars in her �irst major �ilm - and she’s just getting started.
White pants & black top are one of a kind Marisa Kenson pieces. Marisa loves working with and dressing Renée. She says “Her spirit and positive energy light up the room. She is truly beautiful inside and out.” Marisa’s collection (which also includes one-of-a-kind fashion jewelry, accessories and her exclusive toxic-free mineral makeup) is available exclusively on the Mkcollab website: www.mkcollab.com
Can we start off by saying that this is crazy?! The �irst movie you ever do is with Clint Eastwood - and it’s one of the biggest Broadway shows ever. How does that even happen?! Honestly?! It feels so surreal and I can only describe it as something that is beyond my wildest dreams. Broadway was one of my biggest goals as a girl growing up, but I always wanted to do TV and �ilm as well. But for it to happen this way, and with a show that is so special to me is just unreal. Being from New Jersey, you know, I feel like I really understand these people. This is a historical piece about this woman (Mary Delgado) who really lived and these guys who really went through all of this drama to become a singing group. I just feel like this is extra special for me. And seriously, to have Clint Eastwood be the one to give me my �irst big role… it’s all just so surreal.
How did your family react?! It was actually pretty great because when I got the call from my agent I was at home in New Jersey - in the house I grew up in - with my mom, dad and grandmother. We were getting ready to leave for my older brother’s wedding. So I get the call and my agent is like ‘you’re Mary Delgado in the movie! Clint Eastwood loved you!’ And I just screamed and ran out of the bedroom crying. I was like ‘I’m going to be in the movie!’ My grandmother who is 92 – who thinks she’s like 22 – was like ‘I have been praying for this for you for years!’ My mom is crying. My dad is crying. We’re all crying. My mom was like ‘calm down, you’re going to pass out!’ and I was like ‘ I don’t care!’ It was so special. However, it was a full wedding weekend for my brother "his weekend" so I said, 'we’re not telling my brother until after the wedding is done.' I didn’t want to intrude on his special time. That following Monday we told my brother and sister-in-law and they were like “What?! Why didn’t you say something?!’ <laughs> They didn’t know what to say. They were over the moon. I got to share all this excitement with them as opposed to being in my apartment all by myself in New York City jumping around like a maniac and calling people. The stars aligned. How did you prepare for the role? I had played Mary on Broadway in Jersey Boys for years. The character is the same but it’s so different from being on the stage. Thankfully a lot of the script is very similar. The writers of the stage show also wrote the script, so there was a lot of continuity. A lot of it is identical but there are some added bonuses for the �ilm. That was great for me because I didn’t have to start something from scratch. This is a role that I’ve lived. I know her very well. I had that comfort. But everyone was like ‘It’s �ilm so you can’t be theatrical’ and I was like ‘you know what, Renée, relax. Clint Eastwood cast you in this role – you just need to trust in that.’ Honestly, I’ve evolved so much. I have grown so much - not just as an actress, but as a person in learning to trust. It was like jumping off a cliff. I had never been on a �ilm set. I had taken some classes, but that’s it. I just had to say to myself ‘I can do this.’ It was all a lesson in trust and I am really proud of myself because it was one of those moments where I just needed to let it all go – and I did. That �irst day �ilming I had to hold back tears. The funeral scene was really powerful. Yeah. Totally. That scene was added for the movie, it's not in the musical. It took a lot out of me because we were actually �ilming in a cemetery. I wasn‘t speaking, there is no dialogue, it was just pure acting. It was very dramatic.
I had to say to myself ‘you know what, Renée, relax. Clint Eastwood cast you in this role – you just need to trust in that.’
You are such a happy person - how do you suddenly go ‘Ok, I am at a funeral. Let’s do this.’ You have to literally put yourself in those shoes. This is my daughter who died so of course I would be heartbroken at my daughter’s funeral. What a lot of people don’t know is that Mary had another daughter from her pervious marriage. Francine was the baby. For them to have a daughter who died from a drug overdose, they were just such a mess. No parent wants to lose a child. That is probably one of the worst things that can happen in a person’s life. I just had to really imagine how that would feel. Since I am so close to my family, it hurts to even imagine it. Shooting took 8 weeks? Yes, only 8 weeks. It was insane. It’s a lot of ‘hurry-up-and-wait.’ Clint does things in like one or two takes. He is not the standard. He gets the job done and gets the best out of you and then we move on.
Let’s talk about Clint Eastwood for a minute. Ok. I could talk about him all day. <laughs> Seriously, I get there for my �irst day on set and, more than anything, I value genuine people. When you are working with good people, well, that just makes the whole experience that much better. No matter how talented someone is or how good looking, if you’re not a good person inside, then I am just not impressed. Clint Eastwood works with the same team of people. They were like a family. I walked in and they were like ‘welcome Renée, how are you?!’ and I felt right at home instantly. I felt like I was with my own family. Ten minutes into this, I was like ‘Hey Mr. Eastwood.’ And he was like ‘Hi Doll, I heard you were on set yesterday.’ And it’s true, I took it upon myself to come by and meet everyone and check it out on my own before I was going to be in front of the camera. It was great. So we’re talking that �irst day and he was so complimentary. He said ‘I knew you were perfect for this role when I saw you in the show.’ The audition for him was the icing on the cake. Like I said, I had to hold back tears that whole �irst day. You forget that you are talking to Clint Eastwood. He is so laid back and chill that I had to remind myself ‘Renée, you are talking to a legend.’ One day the guys were rehearsing on set and Clint and I just start dancing together. Even though it was no big deal and it all felt very natural at the time, later I was like ‘Sweet Jesus, I was dancing with Clint Eastwood!’ How is he as a director? He follows the old style of directing. When he was in westerns, they didn’t yell ‘cut’ or ‘rolling’ because it would spook the horses. So on his sets, he just calmly says ‘whenever you’re ready.’ So there is no pressure or craziness. He’s just like ‘When you’re ready, Doll, just do what you gotta do.’ And that’s what makes for a good product. As an actor you are just doing your thing. There is not that unneeded stress on you. He’ll even �ilm the rehearsals. He knows that a lot of the best stuff happens when you are not trying. Like everything in life <laughs> When no one is watching I am like ‘OMG, I’m amazing!’ Then everyone looks at me and I fall on my face <laughs> It’s awesome because he lets us improv so much. I loved to have that freedom, especially in my �irst �ilm. I would be like ‘Hey, Clint can I try this.’ And he’s like ‘Sure, go ahead.’ There is no ego with Clint Eastwood. We all felt respected. I think because he’s an actor �irst and foremost, he knows how to direct for actors – he gives everyone the respect they need. Even hair and makeup. Whatever they needed, he said ‘take the time you need.’
Playing Mary Delgado in Jersey Boys
Speaking of which, they really aged you in that �ilm. You were an old lady by the end of that movie. I know! Tell me about it. It was amazing. The makeup and hair team were the best. We’re all friends now actually. I did another event for the Oscar after party and they all did my hair and makeup for that event. I love them. Really, I loved everyone I worked with. I made a lot of friends through this experience and I’m so grateful. Clint cast everyone so perfectly. We became like a family on set. You get recognized now. Is that weird? Yes! I am not used to it. It’s so funny when Mike and I were out to dinner last night, I had just �inished eating this great big plate of pasta and this guy comes up and says ‘oh, wow! You were fantastic.’ And at �irst I was like ‘That was nothing! You should see me eat at home!’ <laughs> and then I remember ‘Oh, wait, the movie is out! He’s talking about the movie.’ <laughs> I thought I was getting a compliment on my ability to put away the pasta.
How did you get started on this journey? Innocently enough really. When I was like eight years old my friends were doing community theatre and I wanted to do what they were doing. Betsy’s doing it, I wanna do it. And I caught the bug. I loved to sing and dance. Later, I was singing in the shower and my mom was like ‘hey, you have a good voice’ and I was like ‘really, thanks!’ and then the next thing you know I started taking voice lessons and stuff.
Did you have a stage mom? Oh, no. Not at all. And that is what I am most thankful about. I am so close to my family and my grandmother who lived with us my whole life. They somehow found the best balance of being parents and friends if you know what I mean? Always supporting me and never pushing me. In high school I would be going to rehearsals every day from 3pm to 7pm and then dance classes til 10pm. My mom would be all ‘Just take a day off.’ She is the opposite of a pushy stage mom. Anytime I complained, she’d say ‘Relax. Take a day if you need it.’ Of course, I was like ‘No, I have to do this.’ It let me know that this is what I wanted to do and not something I was being pushed into. Are you like you mother? I want to be like my mother. I adore her and respect her so much on every level. I de�initely get my dance talent from my parents. <laughs> They can cut a rug. They were all into disco back in the day. <laughs> Dancing has always felt very natural to me. People ask ‘when was that one moment that you realized this is what you wanted to do’ and you know it’s funny – I can’t remember one singular moment. It just always felt like this is who I am. You live full time in LA and now you are on your way back to NJ to get married? <smiles ear to ear> Yesss. I’m so excited.
Do you guys want to have a big family? You know, Mike and I just want to enjoy our lives for now and be newlyweds for a bit. We have plenty of time for kids. We have Frankie <their English bulldog> That’s enough for now. <laughs> I mean, I have this dog and I act like a crazy person. He goes missing for a second and I hyperventilate. I worry he jumped out the window or something. Which is crazy. I think ‘what the hell am I gonna do with a kid?’ To think that I am going to be a mother someday makes me a nervous wreck. I can’t even imagine. I can’t even babysit. I am like ‘My job is to keep you alive until your parents get back. That’s all I can do.’ Me too! The minute the kids leave, I am like ‘ok, I need a cocktail. That was a lot of work.’ <laughs>
Do you have a large family? Oh, yeah. Mike and I have big families and we grew up together. We lived a mile apart. His family and my family have known one another for years. His sister Amy and I went to dance school together. His mother saw me in my childhood performances. She still remembers when I played Annie when I was 12yo. <laughs> Its so weird how similar our families are. I think that makes the relationship stronger when you have family support. Absolutely. Again, I have to have that support from good people. It means the world to me.
I think this is why a lot of gay relationships have a tough time, they sometimes lack that true family support. Oh, yes. I am appreciative of the support Mike and I have. When things are hard, they help us get back to a good place. Everyone needs that. Marriage is hard anyway. Yeah, it is. It’s also a choice. And I know it’s a choice. I ask myself sometimes ‘Do I wanna work through this with you or do I wanna just choke you out right now’ <laughs> We have our parents to look to. My parents have been together for like 36 years and his parents have also been together for many, many years. Anytime we’re complaining, we look at what they’ve done and we’re like ‘we can do this too.’
People ask ‘when was that one moment that you realized this is what you wanted to do?’ and, you know, it’s funny – I can’t remember one singular moment. It just always felt like this is who I am.
Is it good that he’s not in show business? I just feel so blessed that we are not in the same �ield, but we are in �ields that compliment one another. We’re both very connected to the gay community. He’s been doing the Broadway Bears event for like three years now and he loves it. All my gay boys, once they meet him, they just forget all about me and they’re all ‘Mike!’ <laughs> Ok, whatever. <eye roll> But it’s a beautiful thing. I love that he’s not an actor or in the business. He’s just very supportive and he loves the theatre. His grandmother loved the theatre and she instilled that in him. He’s not in it with me though and I like that. I can really rely on him and he keeps me grounded. It makes for a lot of con�lict with two people both in the industry. Yeah, I can’t imagine. I annoy myself sometimes <laughs> He would put me over the edge. What do you think is next for you? Music, �ilm, stage? Music is my heart.
You need a pop record. Yes! I agree! I’ve wanted to do it for years. I’ve written so many songs and I feel like this might be the right time. Maybe put the theatre aside for a little bit and try the music thing more seriously. I’m in LA so now I have space to breathe – start focusing on my music again. Are you a writer? Oh my God, David. I am obsessed with my journal! You don’t understand. I love to write and it’s a huge outlet. Mike is impressed with how much I write, but for me, no matter what I am going through – special times, like now – I have to document it. During the �ilm, I journaled the whole time I was on set. Everything. I want to remember it. If I am going through something, I want to write it down. Sometimes there are even tears on the page. Writing allows me to get it out. Release it.
So what do you like to read? I am all about mediation and that kind of stuff. Mike thinks it’s silly, but I am gravitated to it. I am reading ‘Return to Love’ by Marianne Williamson. I love all her books. I am into the ‘Power of Now’ and ‘A New Earth’ and all of those types of books that are more forward thinking. I connect with that. I feel like it teaches me something. It leads me to think about things in new ways.
What advice do you have for younger people who aspire to be in a movie or act in a Broadway musical? I can tell you this: you never know. It can happen. I never dreamed that this could happen, but I just worked hard and here I am. But in life, it’s about love. These books I read, it’s all about love. I think that’s why I am drawn to them. You should love what you do and love the people you surround yourself with. We’re all made from the same stuff in the universe so we’re all connected. I don’t think there are any coincidences in life. I think there are beautiful things in life that are just meant to be -- and aligned that way intentionally.
I still have my own beliefs regardless of what someone tells me to believe.
Are you religious? I’m spiritual. You know I went to Catholic school. I was raised Catholic. I am getting married in a Catholic church and it’s been interesting because we’re getting married by a priest. Consequently, there is all of this premarital counseling we have to do. The priest who is marrying us is amazing and I am fully upfront and direct with him on things. I tell him that I just don’t want to be in a religion that is fear-based. If he is going to marry us then he needs to understand my views. He needs to know that I am for gay marriage and a lot of my closest friends are gay, so let’s just be honest. I think all of that needs to be understood upfront. Mike is like ‘Renée, you’re gonna get us kicked out!’ <laughs> But it’s important to me for Mike to know who I am.
I said ‘Father, I have to be honest with you,’ you know because they want to know how you are going to incorporate religion into your family, ‘I pray, I believe in a higher power, but I don’t believe in the thought process that if you do this – you’re going to hell.’ I mean, I don’t want to believe that if I don’t go to church on Sunday, I’m going to hell. Meanwhile somebody murders someone and they ask for forgiveness and they’re just forgiven. He listened to me. He was open. He said ‘I totally understand. That’s why we are having problems in the Catholic church right now. Look out into the church on a Sunday. There are no new faces there.’ You know, people don’t want to feel like they have a �inger pointed at them all the time. But I am so happy to be getting married in a Catholic church because to me it’s about everyone being an individual. I was raised Catholic. But I have my own beliefs. I mix them both together in my own way that works for me. All of my gay friends are going to be there and we’re all going to celebrate together. I still have my own beliefs regardless of what someone tells me to believe.
Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all made from the same stuff in the universe so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all connected. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think there are any coincidences in life. I think there are beautiful things in life that are just meant to be - and aligned that way intentionally.
I guess in a modern world, you are exposed to all sorts of things and you think, ‘you know, that could be true. Who am I to judge?’ Yeah. When I meditate I think it helps me start off in a really positive way. You know when you hear something and you think ‘this just rings really true for me.’ Even on the �ilm, I felt so blessed and so happy to have this opportunity. I mean, I have worked with Clint Eastwood, and I’ve gotten to do what I love on �ilm. I have lived out a dream. Even if I never do anything else, I am so blessed. I could not stop crying the day the Film opened. I was getting so much love from so many people. My Aunt Jackie – she will be so happy that I am mentioning her <laughs> – she’s like the president of my fan club. She got Jersey Boys shirts made in glitter. Twenty-four of them went to the movie and they were posting pictures. I lost it. I was at a cafe eating and crying at the same time. You know, it was so much more about everyone else – this experience – you know, because they have been with me and supporting me my whole life and now they get to share this with me. It’s the best part of the whole thing. I feel like my heart is bursting with love. They are so excited for me and so proud of me and that means so much.
I have lived out a dream. Even if I never do anything else, I am so blessed. I could not stop crying the day the �ilm opened. I was getting so much love from so many people.
It’s just painful and I think it stunts your growth as a gay person, to sit in a church – especially as a child - and hear that you are going to burn in hell. You think, ‘what’s the point of this?’ It messes you up. Listen, I am not even a gay person and it messed me up. That’s not cool. You don’t scare kids and tell them they are going to hell. Who you are, gay, straight, whatever, that’s not cool. It hurts. It’s not cool to spend you whole life apologizing for stuff that you can’t control. I am proud to be a part of the gay community as a straight person. We can’t do it without straight people. Absolutely. Listen, I grew up on Broadway. I know a lot of gay people <laughs> I am not a political person whatsoever – but they have always had my support. I wasn’t brought up to think any differently. I mean, even my father, who is this alpha guy brought up in the Bronx loves my gay friends. He has no issues with it. None.
I think it’s because he loves you. Yes. He trusts my judgment. But let’s be honest America, we have much bigger problems to worry about. Let’s worry about the people who hate us or who want to kill us. Maybe if we would allow people to have marriage there would be more love and less hate. I don’t get it. Who cares who people love? I am more concerned about who hates us. Some people are just so focused on the wrong shit. It’s only love, people. Get over it.
Photography by Jesse Caylor & David Burgoyne
Welcome to the New & Improved
Mark Twain once said that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.â&#x20AC;? I suspect he was talking about Kevin Thomas and Mark Dean (who is also known as the notorious Deena Jones Cartier) - the bear and the drag queen that run the eclectic Hotel Mark Twain located in Union Square.
We caught up with Kevin and Mark for the scoop on the newly remodeled hotel and life in Union Square.
So what’s kicking off this renovation? New ownership? (Kevin) No... It’s the same owner. He’s owned it for nearly 20 years. Although the hotel has always been kept up, Union Square is a very competitive neighborhood. We had to do something to make people come back. I mean, my personality can only sell so many rooms. <laughs> For the marketplace and in a time when everyone is on social media, we had to do something that would resonate with visitors. We did a little facelift on the hotel about �ive years ago, but that’s nothing compared to what we’ve done now. Do you �ind that with the Internet people are smarter and more savvy when it comes to selecting a hotel? (Kevin) Oh, yes. Back in the day, I think I’ve been to about 86 AAA of�ices in my life. We all used to go there to ask ‘is there a hotel in San Francisco with parking?’ and they would hook you up. Now we just look online.
How has the response been to having a drag queen wandering about the hotel? (Kevin) It’s been pretty positive. But he’s not in drag on a regular day at work – just for special occasions like when we hosted Imperial Court System founder Jose Julio Sarria’s funeral last year as Mark is very involved (a lifetime family title holder) with the founding mother court of San Francisco.
I think it would be fun to have a hotel run by drag queens. (Mark) Yes! That would be fun. You’d have to pay more. All those eyelashes and wigs. And what a bitchy hotel? Can you imagine? It would be a riot to have drag queens checking people in. I think it would be a novelty. We should look into that! How long have you been working here? (Kevin) Six years. But not consecutively. I was here for a few years and took some time off and now I’m back. Wait, maybe seven years. <laughs>
Do you love working here? (Kevin) I do! I mean, there are a lot of people who I call ‘hotel hoppers’ and these are people who think they are going to get something better at another property. But honestly, a lot of this work is all the same. It’s better to be around fun people that you both love and respect. I like being Kevin from the Mark Twain. Instead of ‘Kevin… where are you working now?’ <laughs> I also like being able to connect the hotel with other projects I am working on as the GLBT arts blogger
(Mark) Having worked for both big corporate hotels and smaller boutique hotels throughout the west, the boutique hotels and the community of San Francisco have captured my heart. I could not imagine working any other place. I grew up in the hospitality business and it runs in my veins. Making people feel welcome to our hotel and telling them about our wonderful city is second nature. I am lucky to have such supportive ownership and an amazing group of colleagues to work with. Each of us is as unique and individual as our boutique hotel.
The Hotel Mark Twain is a tribute to its famous author. Originally built as the Linden Hotel in 1928, it was renamed the Hotel Mark Twain during the Great Depression. The name changed again with another owner but soon returned to the Hotel Mark Twain and has remained so to this day.
DIDYOUKNOW? In the late 40’s the hotel was made infamous with the arrest of the great blues singer Billie Holiday in room #203. Federal narcotics agents found her in possession of opium and a pipe. The case went to trial and she was acquitted however, the incident earned a listing in the “Top Ten Famous Hotel Rooms”.
The Hotel Mark Twain 345 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 673-2332 | HotelMarkTwain.com
Do you like working in a smaller boutique hotel like the Mark Twain? (Kevin) There are a lot of advantages to being in a smaller hotel including freedom to be more creative instead of having to answer to the corporate of�ice like we would at a big chain. (Mark) Here at the Mark Twain, we can just decide together that we want to do something special – and we do it. We are engaged with our community and want to be known for thinking “outside the box.” I don’t think a hotel like the Fairmont would be cool with a drag queen working the front desk. Which is a shame. I think it’s fun, cool and interesting. (Mark) And honestly, people come to San Francisco because they want something fun, cool and interesting. Is Fish & Farm your restaurant? (Mark)No, it’s leased out and is adjacent to our hotel lobby. We’re in partnership with them and they have a stellar reputation.
They do your room service? (Mark) Yes. They do but just dinner. They don’t serve breakfast or lunch, but we are right in the heart of Union Square so there are a lot of other options for the guests including the Taylor Street Coffee Shop right next door.
The parking is ‘every man for himself?’ <laughs> (Mark) We actually have competitive valet parking. Ours is not bad. It’s $38 a day. (Kevin) Of course, people from Iowa think ‘$38?! For parking?! We can get a hotel room for that much in Iowa.” Well, welcome to San Francisco. But really, they don’t need to get a car here anyway as the city is really not that large and the hotel is centrally located. What’s the vibe here at the Mark Twain? (Kevin) The modern meets the past. Billie Holiday was arrested here in 1949. We gave her a suite, you know. She was picked up for opium, but she was acquitted. Any other famous people stay here? (Kevin) RuPaul.
No, I said, ‘famous.’ <laughs> (Kevin) Linda Blair, Lady Bunny, Alec Mapa, Lisa Loeb, Jason Dolley and Jake Shears (from Scissor Sisters). We get a lot of the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestants and some guests from Juanita More, Peaches Christ and Heklina – all San Francisco drag queen legends. (Mark) Guests from the Frameline Film Festival as well as they are a partner and we sponsor them so a lot of their actors and directors stay here. We really enjoy our partnership with them. (Kevin) And I get to interview and write about their movies as a blogger and see many of the movies in advance. I have a blog on examiner.com
Do you guys cater to the gay clientele here? Kevin: We do but not exclusively. Every hotel in San Francisco has a few pieces of the pie. There’s corporate, there are travel agents, there’s leisure, there’s international – and in San Francisco, there’s a gay piece of pie as well. Sound delicious, right? <laughs>
You guys are involved with the bear community. (evin) Hello, look at me! <laughs>. I went after that market because I know the community. Those are my people. I am a bear so I can sell to other people who look like me. I enjoy the bear events and I really think those guys are a lot of fun to spend time with anyway. Why not tell them about this great hotel?!
(Mark) But we help out all sorts of charitable organizations, not just gay ones. We’re not just after the gay money - we want to give back to the community as well. It’s wonderful visibility for us and we truly embrace the fact we are an intricate part of this magni�icent city. And we don’t just cater to the gay crowd once a year during Pride. We cater to them 365 days a year. We are involved in the community every single day of the year. Pictured below: Deena Jones Cartier, GM of the Hotel and a potential Empress of San Francisco in 2015!
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adore delano Part y Til Death by bebe sweetbriar
Musically, Adore Delano is one of the most talented contestants to come out of LOGO TV's RuPaul's Drag Race. She recently completed season six and used that talent to �inish in the top three. So it comes as no surprise that Delano, whose real name is Danny Noriega, went on to set a Drag Race record when her debut album Till Death Do Us Party (Released June 3rd) sold 5,000 copies in it’s �irst week - outselling all previous recordings released by a Drag Race alum. Party debuted at #1 on the Dance Chart on iTunes, and peaked at #3 and #59 on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Album and Top 200 Album charts, respectively.
Delano has made it clear that competing on Drag Race was a platform to kick off her music career, after a semi-�inal �inish on Season 7 of American Idol failed to do so. Being on American Idol clearly demonstrated that national exposure can only take you so far, and that you still have to put in the hard work. Delano is not taking a top three �inish on Drag Race for granted. “I've always said no matter if you win or not... you have to work your ass off. It's such a no bullshit business,” says the 24-year old drag star. The day that the Drag Race �inale aired, May 19, Adore released the �irst singe DTF from her debut album, followed by her second and only charting single to date (Billboard Dance Chart #49) I Adore You, which Delano took the lead in writing. After returning home from a month long tour of Australia and New Zealand, the fourth single, Hello, I Love You was just released, launching Adore into her current Till Death Do Us Party Tour along the west coast of the U.S. and all over Canada, complete with a live band. “(Performing) is just so much more intimate when it's live music and live vocals,” Adore proclaims.
“Win or lose, you have to always work your ass off... It's such a no bullshit business.”
Watching Adore Delano on Drag Race, you couldn't help but foresee this drag artist becoming a rock star, and after my chat with the drag starlet, I'm even more convinced her plan to be one is just around the corner. She'll certainly be throwing her party 'till death. You're just coming of a month in Australia. I bet you just blew their minds Downunder. Yeah, it was so much fun. It was high downunder. <laughs>
I want to congratulate you for the initial success you’ve received for your debut album Till Death do Us Party. Its charting stats have been remarkable. Thank you so much!
You have stated from the beginning that your intention for auditioning for RuPaul's Drag Race (both Season 5 and 6) was to get on the show to kick-off a singing career - which you now have going in full swing. Has the end result of you being on the show been the same regardless of your runner-up �inish? Of course the exposure from the show will help you no matter what. But I have always said that no matter if you win or lose, you have to always work your ass off.... I have literally been off for only 3 days since the show. You have to do the videos. You have to be calculating. You have to know what you want to do. It's such a no bullshit business. So I'm already working on the second album. Was your debut album in production prior to the airing of the Drag Race Season 6 you were on? No, we spent a couple of months writing the album starting in March 2014(Drag Race ended May 19). We recorded a little after that, so it was all going on during the middle of Drag Race.. It took me 3 days to record the entire fucking album. I knocked it out.
You released two singles immediately after the Season 6 of Drag Race ended, the �irst DTF and the second I Adore You, two very different types of songs. If I must say, the whole album is a bit eclectic to me. You've got a little rock, pop and some EDM on this album. However, you released it as a Dance genre album. Is that a real representation of the music on the album? Not necessarily, but being a drag artist it is dif�icult to get on the main charts. So, we decided on the Dance (chart) and that helped. I mean it's better to be #1 on the Dance chart than to be like one million on the Pop Chart. But, what is awesome, I got to be #1 on Dance and I debuted at #59 on the Billboard 200 chart in America. I thought that was really awesome. I didn't expect that and was pleasantly surprised.
I know I Adore You, which you co-wrote, is probably the most personal song on the album. Based on its popularity with buyers on iTunes, it also seems to be the fan favorite. It’s a quality piece of work, quite worthy of radio play and large-scale attention. How do you feel about the attention that particular song is receiving? The difference with DTF and I Adore You represents the difference when others want your single to be one thing, and the artist wants the single to be something else. I chose and fought for I Adore You to be the second single. I really wanted it to be the �irst single released, but they (the label) said no. I was not happy with DTF being the �irst single. I wrote almost all of I Adore You. I was like 'I don't want this song to be touched'. I came up with the melody. I came up with the rap. I came up with everything. It was a song written from personal experience, so I wanted the song to really be solid. I got the chills just hearing what you said because I Adore You is the song that I had the most involvement with. So, it's really lovely to hear your comments. My second album will de�initely be more intimate and more like I Adore You, I feel. Your album was put out on Sidecar Records. Are you in a multi-album contract, or is this a one-off? Well, my music management is Lucia Change (partner with Producer Entertainment Group), who also owns Sidecar Records. So, it all gets distributed through them.
You are not half-stepping on this on this tour. You are touring with a live band! Is it safe to say that coming to see you will be like going to see P!nk rock it out? We all knew from watching you on RuPaul's Drag Race that you would be a rock star. You oozed ‘rock star’ every time you walked the runway. You seem to have a little bit of something in you for everybody - young, old and in the middle. Are you living the dream right now? It really is! You know my friends made fun of me saying 'you know you made a Pop album, but you Rock on stage.' But, that's how I've always been as a performer. To have a band, it really allows you to release all of that. It's my natural state, and how I perform naturally. It's just so much more intimate when it's live music and live vocals. What's great is the people showing up to the concerts are really fans of the album and the music. They all know the words. It's such a magical experience.
As Ru Paul says, 'don't fuck it up' and miss a word because the audience will catch it. Right!? <laughs>
You've stated that even though you were a Finalist on Season 7 of American Idol as your boy self, that you really felt the most comfortable performing as Adore Delano on Drag Race. Is it that comfort zone as Adore that is contributing to your music and career taking off so well? Absolutely! I was a kid at 17 when I auditioned for American Idol. I didn't know what I was doing or what direction I was going to take. I had done drag performances before doing American Idol, and I had been living my life like a girl from the age of 14. I've always loved make-up. <laughs> So, it was interesting to sort of feel more ‘in drag’ while out of drag because my natural state is being wacky and weird. I always say I was inspired by Steve Burns (original host of Blues Clues turned rock star). I knew I had to tone it down for the Fox Network but to be a cookie cutter image was not my type of thing. However, I'm really thankful for the (American Idol) experience. I met some awesome people. But doing drag is like being a superhero. When I was in school, I was bullied. But you know when you put on a face (makeup) and kind of reinvent yourself, it's really empowering and a big rush to do that. I could go up to people with con�idence and say 'Go Fuck Yourself!'
You know, for the most part, music that has come from drag artists has been pretty campy. But your music doesn't really �it that description. The video for DTF is a little tongue-in-cheek, but the music is solid. Do you think your music will reach beyond the audience that watched Drag Race and push the drag art even further out there for even more people to see and experience? That's basically my goal. I am doing a lot of things that a lot of other Drag Race girls haven't done. I just did an acoustic session of the album. The women who watch Drag Race tell me their husbands love the album, which is awesome. When I came off the airplane in New Zealand, there was a little girl with her Mom and brother, and she was just crying while telling me how much she loved my song Party. (It was) so awesome! As I mentioned earlier, you are touring the album with an upcoming stop in San Francisco on August 19. Where else will you be taking the tour? And, how long will the tour run? I have a shit load of things going until next year. It's pretty crazy right now! With the band, I'm doing San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle and a lot of Canada. I'm just about to head out on a solo tour in Europe at the beginning of August, which will be awesome.
Visit AdoreDelano.com + @AdoreDelano on Twitter.com + @AdoreDelanoOf�icial on Facebook
Adore Delano's debut album Til Death Do Us Party featuring DTF and I Adore You is available on iTunes and all other online retail outlets. Adore's latest single Hello, I Love You is now available on iTunes. Appearing with a live band, Adore's tour makes a stop in San Francisco on Saturday, August 19 at DNA Lounge. For more information and tickets www.dnalounge.com/tickets Adore Delano's August American Tour Schedule August 15 Club 5 Madison, WA August 16 Sidewinders Albuquerque, NM August 19 DNA Lounge San Francisco, CA August 20 Badlands Sacramento, CA
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DAVID W. ROSS.
BAD BOY MADE GOOD. Photography and story by David T. Burgoyne
Y
ou will probably know David W Ross best as the star, writer and producer from the award winning �ilm 'I Do'. After a successful run in the awards �ield, winning best actor for ‘emerging talent in Queer Cinema' at the Miami Gay and lesbian Film Festival and The 'rising star' award at the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film festival 2012 to name but a few, David has much to be proud of. An advocate for equality and an activist for same sex marriage, the �ilm 'I Do' tackles the subject of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) and its subsequent effects on both gay and straight couples living in the United States.
We care currently up to 19 states in the U.S recognizing same sex marriage, the trend is catching on. You only have to watch the daily news reports to see 'gay related' stories becoming more and more frequent. 'I Do' played a big part of forcing the issue and bringing it to the attention of the media. David began his career in the U.K when he was chosen as a band member to rival the sensational 'Take That'. The boy band 'Bad Boys Inc', had chart topping hits and the usual publicity blitz that accompanies it. He was encouraged to hide his sexuality, play down '�licking his hair' and lie about his private life, something that David says had a detrimental effect on his life and made him miserable.
David moved to the U.S in 1996 to pursue an acting career. He settled in L.A , where homophobia in Hollywood was still rife. His determination found him roles and eventually his script for a �ilm was brought to life with the help of a Kickstarter campaign and huge amounts of personal endeavor.
As fellow Brits, David and I had the chance to 'catch up' on our shoot for Left Magazine to discuss what we miss the most about the U.K, the things we love about Hollywood and what's next for Mr. Ross.
Fancy a cup of tea and a chocolate Hobnob? I’d kill for a hobnob and a good cuppa! (Hobnob biscuits are a traditional British type of oat cookie.) Trouble is if I get a packet of chocolate ones they’d be gone within 5 minutes! Do you ever miss the U.K? I miss the UK as far as friends and certain cultural elements but I miss Europe more. I toured a lot in the band and fell in love with the lifestyle and food. I mean, who doesn’t want to eat Nutella for breakfast without being judged.
What's you favorite thing about living in Hollywood? I'm �inally having a blast in Hollywood. I think coming out really helped and I also see so many things changing for out actors as the tide turns, in this country, towards marriage equality. As a �ilmmaker I have a great network of friends and people who are passionate about what they do. So when I look at the Hollywood sign I �inally feel a part of it all. I remember seeing your script for 'I DO' back in 2009. Tell us how you got it off the ground. I'd been trying to package the �ilm for about a year but couldn’t seem to get the �inancing. I got an email from a friend about a movie on this new site called Kickstarter.com. I followed the link and my mind was blown. I had an idea the 2012 elections would be all about gay marriage and the clock was ticking to get the �ilm made. In the end I raised about $80,000 through crowd funding and ‘I DO’ was in American theaters the month DOMA was ruled on. Not bad eh!? What was the highlight of the whole process? Obviously making a �ilm involves many moving parts and people. Working with Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Alicia Witt as well as Maurice Compte, who are all amazing actors, was great. My highlight was getting a call from my manager saying someone from Skywalker Sound had seen my tweets about the �ilm being in post and wanted to talk to me about doing the sound mix. Of course I �lipped out as all the Star Wars movies were mixed there, as well as Pixar. That week in the sound booth at Skywalker Ranch was amazing.
If you got the chance to do it again, what would you change? Well that would be telling now wouldn’t it. I would have insisted there were Chocolate hobnobs on set at all time!
I have to ask, the famous 'shower scene', how did it feel seeing it up there on the big screen? It felt, funny. I mean, you never expect to see your naked butt on screen the size of a building! If people only knew the story “behind” that day on set! It was end of day and we were running out of time and had to shoot two scenes in the loo. One that was very emotional and then the shower scene. I needed to prepare for the emotional one and time was up so I basically threw myself in the shower as the crew was packing up for the bum shot! Not very sexy at all.
“Richard and Tony petitioned the INS for Tony’s green card and were denied because they were “two faggots.” The doc is really their love story and how they fought for 40 years for Tony to stay here legally. “
I recall feeling so proud of you at the premier at the Ford Amphitheater in Hollywood. The support from your friends was so sweet to see. How important was your support network during the �ilming of 'I DO’. Aww, thank you. I simply couldn’t have done it without people on social media and my friends. I met some awesome people on Twitter and Facebook, some I now call friends but have never met. And my friends here in LA were so amazing. There were times when I just needed to vent or - more importantly - slug a dirty martini and they were always there. It was the �irst �ilm I’d written, produced and played the lead but the cast and crew were amazing and everyone supporting me really kept my head on straight. Is David W Ross still L.A's most eligible bachelor, How's Hollywood treating you? (David was voted one of L.A's most eligible bachelors in Frontiers magazine 2011) I’m happily 'loved up', as they say in England. We met at the end of 2012 and made it of�icial at Palm Springs International. ‘I Do’ won the “Best of the Fest” there. That was a fun week and I was so happy to have my boyfriend at my side.
What are you currently working on? I’m an associate producer on Limited Partnership about the original same-sex marriages that happened legally in Bolder, CO in 1975. Richard and Tony petitioned the INS for Tony’s green card and were denied because they were “two faggots.” The doc is really their love story and how they fought for 40 years for Tony to stay here legally. We just had our world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival and showed at Frameline and Outfest. The documentary is one I am deeply passionate about. It’s really the doc version of I Do in a way. So what do we have to look forward to, whats next for Mr. Ross and will we being seeing you in the shower again anytime soon? I'm pursuing some acting gigs and I’m always looking to work with amazing writers and directors. I’ve also got a couple of scripts I’m noodling in my head and plan on directing a short very soon. I read a script recently I loved in which there’s a hot tub/pool scene, so yeah, you might be seeing more of me in the future! You can catch 'I Do' on Net�lix and iTunes. Watch out for great performances by co-stars Jessica Tyler Brow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Alicia Witt. Have a tissue handy (no! not for that), it's a real tear teaser!
David Burgyne is a stylist, writer, photographer and artist in Los Angeles. He is a regular contributor to Left Magazine. Visit davidtburgoyne.com.
Glitter Bomb the World
The two dads discussed their sons being gay, and how they would stand up for them if anyone gave them a hard time. Just two regular people discussing their gay By Celso Dulay, Host of GNews! and Chris Knight, Photographer for LeftCoastScenes.com sons on a train. Not talking about how they have But then, with two swipes of his pen, President Obama disowned them, but how they would protect them. PROGRESS. Merriam Webster de�ines it as “the on July 21, 2014 signed an executive order adding federal protection for sexual orientation and sexual identity. Huge It’s moments like these that remind us to be strong process of improving or developing something over a glitter. Raise a glass. Toast. Cheer. To, Obama, a politician when our focus on progress feels like it’s in vain – that period of time.” At GNews!, “where you can get all your who’s advanced the cause of LGBT rights further than any every two steps forward, gets us two steps back. There gay in a day” we simply call it adding more Glitter to the other before. are continuous attempts to undermine our progress by world. Afterall, every advance is from having added conservative and religious organizations that seem hell glitter. As he signed that order, it was a historic moment: “For bent on taking away our progress. They don’t like our more than two centuries, we have strived – often at great glitter. To the extreme of threatening to stone us to Rest assured, the LGBT community in the United States cost – to form a more perfect union,” said President death, or as one NFL-er allegedly suggested during July, has had its fair share and gained much “glitter” recently Obama on national TV. “To ensure that ‘we the people’ rounding us all up and “nuking them ‘til they glow.” over the years. Not so long ago in New York City, we applies to all the people. Many of us are here because stood up at Stonewall and just a year ago we others fought to secure rights and opportunities for us. As an LGBT community, we’re grown to expect that overturned DOMA and Prop H8. It was a marvelous And we’ve got a responsibility to do the same for future others will cleverly invent silly, scary and often stupefyevening – beginning with the San Francisco Gay Men’s generations.” ing ways to eliminate our rights and reverse our Chorus debut of a “I Am Harvey Milk,” followed by progress. Like trying to make it legal to discriminate hours of jubilation spent celebrating the massive And here in California, Senator Mark Leno and Gover- against us based on religious beliefs. Really? It’s funny one-two punch of those key decisions as thousands nor Jerry Brown helped to remove outdated and biased to me that it was necessary for a lawsuit over a wedding spilled into the Castro to be alive and present in that language from state codes. By changing the language from cake to spawn a nationwide outcry. Someone didn’t stupendous moment. “husband and wife” to “spouse and spouse,” all married want to make a cake for the gay guys. So we sued them, Californians are recognized equally, regardless of gender. and we won. Put some glitter on that cake. But, alas, for every step forward there are often steps SNAP and more glitter. backward. I guess my message this month is to keep on �ighting. We are indeed making progress in securing our footing, Keep your eye on the prize. Pay attention and vote During recent episodes of GNews!, we covered a story and ensuring equal protection under the law. wisely. Don’t let them tell you that you can’t get about two transitioning women from West Virginia who married. Don’t let them say that they won’t make your are now suing the Division of Motor Vehicles in that As Obama said at his White House press conference cake because they don’t believe in homosexuality. Or state for harassment. The DMV employees there called announcing the legislative breakthrough, “we’ve got a they question your gender identity and call you “it.” them “it,” and tried to force them to remove their wigs, long way to go, but I hope as everybody looks around the Don’t let them kick you out of a bar because you’re jewelry and make-up before taking their driver’s license room, you are reminded of the extraordinary progress publicly showing affection for the person you love. We photos. that we have made…we’re on the right side of history.” should show up in hordes, en masse across the country, to make out in San Antonio, Texas, y’all. And then there was another heart-breaking story about One of our favorite highlights from the July episodes of a lesbian couple in San Antonio, Texas, thrown out of a GNews! is from a story featured in the Chicago Phoenix You just keep throwing glitter on it until it sparkles. bar for simply dancing and kissing. In fact, the bar and penned by New York City blogger Ra�i D’Angelo. His owner turned on the lights, stopped the music, and sent retelling of an overheard conversation on a train between Spread the Glitter! over an employee to ask them to not kiss each other in two New York blue-collar fathers echoed progress we’ve public. This is, sadly, not glitter. It’s what we call a Glitter Visit youtube.com/GlitterNewsSF made. It glistened of glitter. Bomb “no-no” at GNews!
Celso and Chris
We continue our free photo download of the month courtesy of Left Coast Scenes (leftcoastscenes) and Glitter Bomb TV. Shot by Chris Knight, our August feature photo titled “Wonder Sister,” features a member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who have tirelessly fought against bigotry, violence and inequality since the 1979. Sister Tilly Comes Again is captured enjoying her Wonder Woman bag during the Trans March gathering in Dolores Park and of�icially kicked off the SF Pride weekend festivities.
OUT&ABOUT
WITH GLITTER RICKY
July 27, 2014 | The Up Your Alley Fair. When it comes to flesh, I immediately think of that quote from Hellraiser… "What’s your pleasure?”
July 20, 2014 SUNDAZE at The EndUp These unnaturally warm summer days in the city bring back fond memories of Delerium’s “Flowers Become Screens” from their album Semantic Spaces released in 1994.
07/27/14 PLAY T-DANCE | Black Tea Official Up Your Alley Closing Party featuring Resident DJ/Producer Russ Rich. The elegant present comes undone at the hours of black tea paradise.
July 26, 2014 Industry Dore Alley Weekend at BeatBox featuring the return of Tom Stephan (Black Party NYC).
July 26, 2014 Industry Dore Alley Weekend at BeatBox featuring the return of Tom Stephan (Black Party NYC). Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a certain faustian bargain when it comes to the circuit experience. Amin Ghaziani once wrote about it for the Gay & Lesbian Review, but I would like to think that is the connection we would all like to have with everything we do in life. There is a time where we have to sell desire in order to achieve a state of happiness. And then there is a time when we desire nothing to find happiness.
07/25/14 TRADE at The EndUp with Dj Dan Slater (Sydney, Australia).
July 25, 2014 Often times we find ourselves reflecting in our nightlife adventures. It reminds me of Jeune Homme Nu Assis au Bord de la Mer (1836) by Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin.
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