February 2012

February 2012

For & A gainst Here!’s Jim Morrison

Good Morning, America Occupy’s Queer Movement

1 Out of 10

The Politics of Drag

Complimentary Copy

February, 2012

DearFriends,

Welcome to our first ever POLITICS Issue. From print to web— there’s definitely something for the politico in all of us.

As I write, Newt Gingrich has just won the South Carolina Republican presidential primary. By the time this issue hits stands near you, we will know the winner of the hotly contested Florida contest. But one thing’s for certain— there is little comfort when it comes to equality in the Grand Old Party.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum are unabashedly anti-gay—and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney? He’s running hard from LGBT issues.

Now contrast this with President Barack Obama who has accomplished more in terms of LGBT rights than any of his predecessors combined. But as our West Coast scribe Chris Andoe points out—our community needs to be vigilant and vote. The economy may be improving, but an irritable electorate will vote their pocket book on Election Day and unemployment remains high. This election will be tight, and as 32-votes in the Iowa Caucus has shown—each and every ballot counts.

I also encourage you to become involved in the political process. Check out our Advocacy page for area non-profits fighting on our behalf. What’s more, volunteer for your candidate of choice.

Indeed—each of us can make a difference—from Occupy’s queer voices to a dedicated cadre of female impersonators turned fundraising powerhouses. Even the recent winner of our first annual Miss Spirit of St. Louis pageant has a story—Michelle McCausland and an area trans woman successfully challenged St. Louis’ “Masquerading Law” in 1986 with the help of the ACLU. In closing, we are each blessed with a VOICE and a VOTE—make yours heard this year!

In Pride,

Colin Murphy, Executive Editor

theVitalVOICE.com | 3

S T N E PRES

R U O G N SO

, S E L B RA É S , I Z M O S F E O D ML R O A R Z I F W S SONG BORN, THE A! G A S I G R DY A L A STA D AN

560 MUSIC CENTER

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

MARCH 31, 2012 8PM Tickets: $20 GA. $25 VIP

GMCstl.org

4 |

February, 2012

in the City

Happy Hour Series for LGBT Professionals

Join host Sam Orlando Jr. at this hot happy hour at Hamburger Mary’s.

3037 Olive Street

02.29.2012 6PM-9PM

$5 donation to Food Outreach includes complimentary Bud Light.

Must be 21+ to attend.

PLeaSe RSVP To ouTinTHeCiTy@aLiVeMaG.CoM

PRESENTED BY:

Photos from Out in the City, November 10. 2011 at Mandarin Lounge theVitalVOICE.com | 5

this

N ISSUE

Volume 13, Issue 2

On the COVER: Glenn Tolentino, Tanya Schario,

Ashley Fletcher and Kyle Hanten “Rock the LGBT Vote”.

Photography by Alex Galindo

The Vital VOICE Team

Darin Slyman Publisher/Editor-in-Chief dsly@thevitalvoice.com

Colin Murphy Executive Editor/Senior Writer colin_murphy@sbcglobal.net Joshua Barton Writer josh.barton49@gmail.com

22.

20.

Matt Jamieson Writer JamieMatt@gmail.com Jeff Kapfer Art Director JeffKapfer@gmail.com

40.

Leon Braxton/Dieta Pepsi Executive Assistant /On Air Hostess Dieta@thevitalvoice.com Jimmy Lesch Director of PR/Communications Jimmy@thevitalvoice.com Janae Johnson Business Assistant vv@thevitalvoice.com

Contributors

Writing: A.J. Bockelman, Bernard Cherkasov & Chris Andoe Photography: Alex Galindo, Tim Brenner, Colin Murphy, Cameron Harrol, here! TV, St. Louis LGBT History Project, Jack Beal, Equality Illinois & Kaitlin Drake.

Advisory Board

William A. Donius, Thom Halter, Colin Murphy, Jay Perez, Pam Schneider, Kellie Trivers, Sharon Tucci.

Contact

Vital VOICE Magazine.

4579 Laclede Ave #268. Saint Louis, MO 63108 VitalVOICEmag@gmail.com 314.256.1196

Advertising

vv@thevitalvoice.com

Online

thevitalvoice.com facebook.com/TheVitalVOICE twitter.com/VitalVOICEmag youtube.com/TheVitalVISION 6 |

February, 2012

35.

28.

8. Online @theVitalVOICE.com 11. Politics of Drag. 14. Show-Me Advocacy.

17. Political Voice. 20. Jim Morrison. For & Against. 22. Good Morning, America.

27. Michelle McCausland. 28. LGBTW. 31. The Q Quide. 35. Cocktail of the Month. 36. Playdates. 38. Dishin’ With Dieta. 40. Scene & Styling.

Vital VOICE is printed on recycled newspaper and uses soy ink for a 100% recyclable product.

Join us for Valentine’s Day! Make your reservations now at triumphgrill.com or 314.446.1801.

3419 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Bold · AmericAn · Grill www.triumphgrill.com

Mon – Thur Fri & Sat Sun Brunch Sun Dinner

11am – 10pm 11am – 11pm 9am – 2pm 4pm – 10pm

Come help us celebrate Kota’s Second Anniversary on February 15th!

Call now to make your reservations for

Valentine’s Day! Kota’s Anniversary and Valentine’s Specials will run from February 10th to February 18th.

Now serving Brunch every Sunday 9am – 2pm!

kotawoodfiregrill.com or 314.535.5577 522 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103 Mon – Thur 11am – 10pm Fri & Sat 11am – 11pm Sunday Brunch 9am – 2pm Sunday Dinner 4pm – 10pm theVitalVOICE.com | 7

(Not Quite) Out to Pasture

Vital VOICE columnist Curtis Comer returns with a new edition of (Not Quite) Out to Pasture. The longtime St. Louis scribe gives us his unique take on LGBT life after 40: From his relationship with his partner of over 17 years to life in his beloved San Francisco, Curtis is always an enjoyable, entertaining and quietly moving read.

Clair-ity: Wish List

Claire Louise Swinford pauses to reflect on the past year and offers up a wish list for her adopted St. Louis LGBT community: “Those of you who have read my work through the year know that I tend to enjoy a bit of controversy, and tend to like making pointed statements. I believe I will skip that and offer something a bit more heartfelt and sappy (and probably a bit clichéd, but... tis the season.)”

Missouri Attorney General

Political columnist and PROMO Executive Director A.J. Bockelman interviews Missouri Attorney General and likely gubernatorial candidate, Chris Koster. Missouri’s highest ranking law enforcement officer touches on LGBT equality in the Show Me State and how he sees our community’s rights advancing in the conservative trending state.

Jessica Orsini Interview

Political columnist and PROMO Executive Director A.J. Bockelman interviews Jessica Orsini. Jessica was elected to the Centralia Board of Aldermen in April 2006. With that election, Jessica became one of only a handful of transgender individuals elected to public service. Currently serving in her third term, and mulling a bid for Mayor, Jessica reflects on how she got to this point and what it means for the transgender community.

Stay Connected with us

8 |

February, 2012

PLANNED PARENTHOOD’S MALE SERVICES

• STD testing • HIV testing and counseling • HPV vaccine • Prostate and testicular cancer screenings • Vasectomy

Convenient: open weekends & evenings.

Care without judgment; completely confidential.

www.plannedparenthood.org/stlouis 800.230.7526 theVitalVOICE.com | 9

10 | February, 2012

1 O ut of 10 Ain’t Bad!

L to R: MGM Melinda Ryder, Dieta Pepsi, Vanessa & Vicki Vincent.

A LOOK INTO LGBT LIFE - PAST & PRESENT

The Politics of Written by Colin Murphy – Senior Writer/Editor Photography by St. Louis LGBT History Project and Jack Beal

D

rag queens are the very heart of our vibrant queer community. They, along with our transgender sisters and gay brothers—with tribal lesbians and homeless youth— led the charge at Stonewall to breathe new life into the modern day LGBT rights movement.

What’s more—generations of female impersonators perfected the iconic art form entertaining, empowering and uplifting their community in the face of frequent bar raids and oppressive laws.

Here in St. Louis, “Masquerading Laws” would remain on the books until drag legend Michelle McCausland and an area trans

woman successfully challenged the city statute in 1986 with the help of the ACLU. The Drag community has also been among the first to enlist when LGBTers need to raise money in a hurry—and this proves doubly true for The Gateway City.

“Drag queens were the go to community for fundraising early on,” recalls Daniel Flier—better known as Miss Gay Missouri 1982 Vanessa Vincent. “We would do shows at Monte’s and Faces and all of the money would go to Gay Pride or a particular cause.” theVitalVOICE.com | 11

L ro R: Comedy Drag Trio,“Sex, Inc.”, The Vincent Sisters and MGM 1982, Vanessa Vincent 12 | February, 2012

Daniel started doing drag in 1976, after discovering that his Chess King co-worker (John) was none other than the coquettish vixen Valerie Vincent. Flash forward to a turn on the dance floor at Miss Trash’s Thursday Night Amateur Show at The Red Bull in East St. Louis, and the second Vincent sister was born (Vicki would complete the trio).

“Laura was one of my favorite female friends at the time and I became Laura Vincent—but a cowboy at Helen Schrader’s tipped me $100 to change my name to Vanessa Vincent,” he quips.

Now I first met Daniel—or rather, Vanessa in 1989. I was 18 and snuck into Angles right in the middle of an AIDS benefit show. The place was packed and above the din was this glorious siren in a bright red wig shouting for everyone to shut the hell up. And they did—quickly.

“I was never president of Pride or served on the board, but I did a lot of fundraising from them,” he says. “I guess I knew then that I wasn’t embarrassed about getting on a microphone and saying, hey—you need to give your money to this because it behooves the gay community.”

“I remember when I did the first drag benefit at Monte’s for AIDS,” he continues. “It was that night when a doctor came up to me and congratulated me on what I was doing and said, you may think you’re just being silly, but people are going to listen to you way faster than they are going to listen to somebody standing there in a suit and talking about the AIDS crisis. So what you are doing is very important—and what a platform you have by doing this every weekend.”

In 1986, bar owner Monte Holmes handed Daniel a check saying, this ought to get you started. And with that, “The Safe Sex Queen” co-founded St. Louis Effort for AIDS with Monte’s Manager John Allen.

“John Allen was very quiet but he was my rock through starting that whole thing,” explains the fundraising powerhouse and first Vice President of the fledgling AIDS Service Organization. “He used to always say to me, I don’t know why the hell you picked me to do this. And I always said to him, because I can trust you.”

But Vanessa Vincent was just one of scores of St. Louis female impersonators

who stepped up when our community needed it most.

“Like I said at the 25th anniversary of EFA in the park last year—I made everyone give a round of applause for the drag queens who were no longer with us,” he says. “Because it would not have been if it weren’t for the drag queens stepping up to the plate and donating their time—and each and every entertainer of that era—every one of them did AIDS benefits without a question.”

What’s more—many of them did so while quietly suffering from the very illness. This fact speaks volumes.

“It’s personalized for me,” says Daniel. “I don’t think any of us realized impact-fully what we were doing—we just knew that it was the right thing and that it had to be done.”

On April 26-28 Daniel (and Vanessa) will mark the 30th anniversary of his crowning at the 2012 Miss Gay Missouri America pageant at Columbia’s SoCo Club.

during my year as MGM how people really do hunger to hear what you have to say, if you have the substance to say it. I had a lot of people believe in me and I was able to reach a lot of heads and hearts.”

Three of those believers were the legendary comedy drag trio, Sex, Inc. who operated MGM throughout the 1970s and 80s. The winner of the 2011 Lisa Wagaman Lifetime Achievement Award and the very first Felton T. Day Award—both given by Pride St. Louis—credits the three entertainers with helping shape Vanessa Vincent.

“One thing Michael, Dean and Chuck taught me was to be honest—to do things correctly, have some integrity and have a blast,” Daniel concludes. “I had some of the best years of my life traveling around the country with Sex, Inc. and learning from those three men.”

And for that— your community says, Thank You! v

“Being Miss Gay Missouri is one of the most important things to anybody who is a female impersonator and takes it seriously,” he explains. “It was amazing to me to realize

theVitalVOICE.com | 13

Show-Me Advocacy Your Local Guide to LGBTQ Politics

It takes more than just votes to fuel political movements. Equality arrives with hours of footwork, paper pushing, campaigning, canvassing, phone banking, poster making and gallons of coffee. Get up off your ass and join the grassroots!! Enter the political fray with a local LGBTQ advocacy organization.

PROMO St. Louis

438 N. Skinker Blvd.

PROMO is an advocacy organization dedicated to statewide equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Missourians through legislative action, grassroots organizing, community education and lobbying Missouri lawmakers. It’s a perfect match if you’re looking to inject serious LGBT issues into hyper-local political dialogue. www.promoonline.org p: 314.862.4900

ACLU of Eastern Missouri

454 Whittier Street.

If you’re passionate about defending civil liberties and the principles of equality, justice and freedom of speech then consider volunteering with the ACLU of Eastern Missouri. The ACLU-EM is an affiliate of a 50-state network of autonomous ACLU offices providing legal assistance to thousands of people in asserting their civil rights. www.aclu-em.org 314.652.3111

HRC St. Louis Steering Committee

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national LGBT civil rights organization and is constantly working at the federal and state level to advance the cause of equality. The HRC St. Louis Steering Committe is a great way to get involved with HRC on a local level. www.stlouis.hrc.org

Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund

Are you an aspiring politician? If so, then the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund just become your new best friend. For 20 years, the Victory Fund has successfully grown the number of openly LGBT leaders in elected office.

Check them out to get information on how to start your own political campaign or how to get involved with local campaigns for LGBT candidates. www.victoryfund.org 202.842.8679

Equality Illinois

3318 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL Residency is a key part of the political process and no one is working harder for LGBT citizens in Illinois than Equality Illinois. The organization has been at the forefront of political battles in the state for equal protections for LGBT citizens and more recently the passage of civil unions in Illinois. Visit their website to get more information on how you can get involved in the fight for LGBT equality in Southeastern Illinois. www.eqil.org 773.477.7173 14 | February, 2012

Stay on top of your savings

with

S.T.A.R.T. is the automatic savings plan that lets you save at your own pace.

Whether you want to go slow or fast, you decide how you want to save and how much. Reach $1,000 in savings and you’ll earn a $50 U.S. Bank Rewards Visa® Card. Keep the savings balance for a year, and earn another $50. With online tools to track your progress, S.T.A.R.T. makes it easy for everyone to save. branch

usbank.com/START

800.720.2265

m.usbank.com

Enrollment is required. A qualifying transfer from your Package Checking account to your Package Money Market Savings account must be scheduled and maintained. You must open and/or maintain an active U.S. Bank Package, including a Silver, Gold or Platinum Checking account AND a Money Market Savings account. A minimum deposit of $50 is required to open a Checking account and a minimum of $25 is required to open a Money Market Savings account. All regular account opening procedures apply. Certain conditions apply to U.S. Bank Packages. Credit products are subject to normal credit qualifications and approvals. Other conditions and restrictions may apply. Program is subject to change. See the S.T.A.R.T. Program Agreement for detailed information. The U.S. Bank Rewards Visa Card cannot be reloaded with additional funds, nor can it be used at an ATM. Terms and conditions apply and fees may apply to Rewards Cards. For complete terms and conditions see the U.S. Bank Rewards Visa Card Agreement available at www.myusbankcorporaterewards.com. Deposit products offered by U.S. Bank, N.A. ©2012 U.S. Bancorp. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.

.com/usbank theVitalVOICE.com | 15

Need Domestic Partner Coverage?

We now offer same sex domestic partner coverage.

Solutions with choices are easy, just call...

Alverna Johnson 314-923-5542 or 1-800-529-3753 www.alvernajohnson-insurance.com

Health. Join In. In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name for RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Life and Disability products underwritten by Anthem Life Insurance Company. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Lundkvist & Associates SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1999

Martin Lundkvist Attorney At Law

314.241.6770 MartinLundkvistLaw.com Lundkvist@att.net

• Bankruptcy • Wills • Trusts • DWI/DUI • Traffic • Living Wills • Personal Injury 16 | February, 2012

Political VOICE

In The Land of Lincoln Written by Bernard Cherkasov Photography by Equality Illinois 2011 proved to be a banner year for LGBT equality in Illinois and across the nation.

Just over the last year, legislative and strategic policy successes at the federal and state levels have shown the tremendous progress made in the fight for full equality, even as so much more still remains to be done.

Last year, LGBT Illinoisians won a hard-fought battle on the path to full equality: effective June 1, 2011, the law known as “Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act” took effect, granting same-sex couples in our state access to roughly 650 rights, benefits and responsibilities that were previously available only to married heterosexual couples. This is the most robust civil union law in the nation, with the language expressly providing that all benefits of marriage be available to couples in a civil union. In the first month that civil unions were available, more than 1,600 couples applied for civil union licenses. Relationships of thousands more became automatically recognized as civil unions because they were married or civil-unioned in other jurisdictions.

No victory is ever final, and Equality Illinois spent the year defending the law from vicious attacks in the courts and in the legislature, ensuring it is properly implemented. We also educated the population on the newly-recognized rights.

Catholic Charities of Illinois attempted four separate times to amend the new Civil Union law and carve out new exemptions for themselves, which would have limited the ability of samesex couples in a civil union to adopt. We beat back each and every malicious attempt.

We know from history that creating a parallel institution does not guarantee equality.

So we have been tracking experiences of hundreds of civil union couples around the state to document patterns of any unequal treatment.

And there have been many: from one partner’s inability to collect the other’s prescription in a pharmacy, to some health insurers unwillingness to cover partners on equal terms, to coroner’s refusal to issue the death certificate to the surviving partner. Some of the challenges we have been able to address on an individual basis, but others will require

theVitalVOICE.com | 17

a remedy from our lawmakers. The lawmakers had intended to provide equal rights but under a separate term. As we go back to advocate for full equality, we plan on showing them that a separate name inherently leads to unequal treatment.

Our community made great progress in other areas of LGBT equality, as well. In an effort to make public spaces safer and more welcoming to transgender people, we participated in the “T-Friendly Bathrooms” Initiative organized by Genderqueer Chicago. Through education and training, restaurants and other establishments received a window decal indicating that their business was welcoming of transgender and gendervariant customers and would allow them to use the restroom of their choice without harassment or discrimination. Since its inception, the “T-Friendly Bathrooms” initiative has engaged over 500 businesses in the Chicago area.

The new year presents more opportunities than ever before for our movement to advance. Public opinion in support of full LGBT equality is at its highest levels, both in Illinois and nationally.

For LGBT Illinoisans, one of the most crucial events of the coming year is Election Day in November. Post-census redistricting has created a number of legislative districts with no incumbents, giving our movement a ripe opportunity to support candidates who support equality. In other districts, we will have a chance to strongly defend supportive incumbents or resoundingly defeat our opponents. We will be doing our job registering voters and educating them on LGBT equality, but it is critical that anybody concerned with fairness and equality under the law pay close attention to candidates during the primary and general election. If we lack sufficient support in Springfield, the progress we have made in the past will come to a standstill. Even worse is the prospect of an unsympathetic or blatantly hostile legislature.

We cannot win LGBT equality on our own. That is why Equality Illinois has launched a number of initiatives aimed at engaging our prospective allies. One such project, the Faith & Freedom Initiative, aims to educate communities of faith about issues facing LGBT people and empowering faith leaders to serve as champions of full equality. Clergy members and people of faith have been among the strongest advocates of equal treatment for LGBT individuals. Our faith petition for equality has already enlisted more than 300 clergy members representing over 270 congregations and religious institutions in nearly 80 population centers across the state.

On the national level, we must step up our efforts to promote the passage of an LGBT-inclusive immigration policy allowing same-sex, binational couples the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts; pass long overdue legislation to make anti-LGBT discrimination illegal in the workplace; and to champion a comprehensive anti-bullying bill to protect all students, including those teased, harassed or assaulted because of actual or perceived LGBT identity.

Let’s use the successful energy of 2011 to fuel our work in 2012. But we cannot succeed in our work without everyone’s involvement. Please resolve to engage your neighbors, families, coworkers and friends in conversations about LGBT equality, commit your time and dollars to the movement, and get out and vote. v 18 | February, 2012

11 February Saint Louis City Open Studio and Gallery

presents Wall Ball, an exciting evening of live artistry, DJs Wolfpeach Society, delicious appetizers provided by L'École Culinaire and a sweet treat raffle from Hollyberry Catering, plus complimentary beer and wine.

7 pm 30 artists

Engaging an eclectic mix of artists, patrons, collectors and admirers, this annual event features amazing art at unreal prices through a unique silent auction.

Creative dress is encouraged but not required.

$50 Surprise your Valentine with an unexpected date!

Third Degree Glass Factory 5200 Delmar Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63108

For more information, call

(314) 588-0073 or visit www.scosag.org Purchase tickets at

www.wallball2012.eventbrite.com Sponsored by

theVitalVOICE.com | 19

20 | February, 2012

Jim Morrison: For & Against Written by Colin Murphy – Senior Writer/Editor Photography by here! TV

A

s the 2012 presidential contests unfolded in Iowa and New Hampshire, here! TV premiered its new original series For & Against with progressive commentator Jim Morrison.

The first-of-its-kind 30-minute LGBT political analysis series began airing on Jan. 6th with the charge of engaging viewers on variety of issues from marriage equality to hookup sites.

Morrison gives us politics from the outside: Engaging, exploring and even debunking political issues from a decidedly upfront and proud queer lens.

The show was born from the host’s frustration after engaging with people—gay and straight alike—who have checked out on the pressing issues of our day. Like when Morrison encountered a 20-something gay friend in New York who said he didn’t believe in “gay marriage” because he thought it part of the “gay agenda.”

“I was blown away,” Morrison told Vital VOICE. “It’s not only apathy—it’s apathy and almost being lazy that you end up adopting the very terminology that our enemies have mapped out to use against us. It’s apathy that’s doing us a disservice.”

Morrison brings an undeniably progressive vent to the show, but For & Against hopes to bridge the political spectrum. The show is extending invites to each candidate running in the 2012 Republican primaries to join Morrison to discuss their platform on issues important to LGBT Americans.

“The gay community isn’t really taken as seriously as a lot of these other groups,” says Morrison. “I don’t think we’ve wielded that power very well. Not to say that there is a monolithic gay community, but I think it’s important that there are issues that do touch all of us.”

The New Jersey native points to the AARP as a master of shepherding their respective voting block and wielding influence in the political process.

out and be in favor of marriage equality he is not going to lose those votes because those votes already think he supports it.”

“Someone should be able to say, hey look—if you don’t deliver on our issues—you are going to lose,” he explains. “I feel like we are taken for granted. Like our choice is—oh, they’re going to vote Democratic anyway.”

In fact Morrison points to the missed opportunity of the teachable moment around equality by one of the most gifted orators to occupy the presidency.

A range of topics will be discussed over the next several episodes of For & Against, including gay Republicans, marriage equality, HIV criminalization, and the power of words and terminology—particularly “bullying” and how the term is doing the LGBT community a disservice.

“There’s no way in hell that a kid who gets beaten up and tormented and harassed is merely bullied—and that word diminishes the problem,” he explains. “If a black kid or a Jewish kid or a Chinese kid—if that kid is attacked, he’s not bullied and our society doesn’t call that bullying. They call it hate crime.”

“That’s the energy of For & Against, Morrison continues. “To try to tell you something new and to tie it into something really important.”

Looking toward November’s presidential election, the politico admits that President Obama has done more than any of his predecessors when it comes to LGBT equality. Still many (including Morrison) believe he could have done more with Democratic control at both ends of Pennsylvania Ave. “I don’t really agree with the political calculus that seems to have been done

by Obama or the people around him,” says Morrison. “The people who are out there who don’t like Obama already think that he’s in favor of marriage equality. So if he would actually come

“The son of an interracial marriage is uniquely placed to make that argument and make it beautifully and powerfully and I haven’t really heard him make that specific argument,” Morrison offers. “And I think it would be incredibly powerful and I’m certainly hoping that in his second term we’re going to see that shift.”

Not surprisingly—the president would be Morrison’s dream For & Against guest—and the one question he would ask??

“It would be president Obama and when he was a State Senator he was for marriage equality and now he has changed on that,” he says.

“And I would want to know why and how it evolved backwards instead of evolving forwards.”

Morrison is a liberal-leaning pundit not afraid to challenge convention. He is a graduate of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and holds a law degree from Columbia University, with an emphasis on Constitutional Law and Civil Rights. Jim ran for the New Jersey State Senate and successfully litigated the first sexual orientation discrimination case against a high school student.

Additionally, he was a finalist on the first season of the reality series The Mole and was, subsequently, the first openly gay man to be placed on People magazine’s “Most Eligible Bachelor” list.

Log on to www.heretv.com for more information on all of the network’s series, movies, and original specials. v

theVitalVOICE.com | 21

Written by Joshua Barton Photography by Kaitlin Drake

T

he sun is bleeding down the Mississippi and hits the arch with pale orange rays. An anonymous sign appears on a stone pillar in Kiener Plaza. It reads: WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG, QUEER, BROWN & POOR. What follows on the poster and in others scattered across St. Louis is another story of the 99%.

Months ago the plaza was literally overflowing with hundreds of stories, posters and voices from the 99% as virtual strangers flocked to Kiener Plaza in solidarity with the growing “Occupy Wall Street” movement. The occupation of St. Louis began with a small protest on October 1st at the Federal Reserve and at its height became a full encampment in Kiener Plaza (renamed Freedom Square by the occupiers) with 50 plus tents and hundreds of full and part time occupiers holding ground until Mayor Slay ordered their eviction on November 11th.

On this morning, the space is empty and cold. The queer sign is still taped to the pillar and another look brings into focus more words: you make money by busing tables, making coffee or serving food.

You can submit to horrors of the American Mall and sell over-priced lotions and clothes made in India…you can sell pot and adderall in gentrified neighborhoods to hipsters with trust funds or you can sell your body to married men down on Broadway or on the East Side across the Mississippi. You can move back home with your parents who want you to stop this faggot shit and take on God and get a good job and a wife…

Vocalizing any queer experience remains a form of social protest in defiance of the daily narratives of normality in our society that continue to revolve around heterosexuality. Queer liberation aims to destroy the social constructs of heteronormativity by revealing sexual and gendered realities. Our queer protests have fought religious bigotry, cultural ignorance and state discrimination but few have seriously attempted to incorporate the realities of poverty and economic inequality into our dialogues. The queer lower-middle class does exist and so does queer poverty.

A few homeless men sit quietly on the amphitheater steps and plaza benches staring at the trash strewn, barren Salvation Army Christmas tree still standing in the January dawn.

Good Morning, America.

The Occupy Movement is a part of a growing number of global protests happening right now against global capitalism and what one could call state-sanctioned, political corruption. It began on Wall Street in New York City where protesters began organizing an urban tent city within the nation’s most powerful financial district.

Solidarity Occupies began to appear in cities around the country and the world that all began demanding a change in the inequality of wealth and corporate influence on governments.

In St. Louis, tactics are developing beyond mass occupation. The devoted continue their dialogues in weekly work group meetings, trainings and collective organizing. This afternoon about 25 are back in Freedom Square discussing methods of nonviolent communication. To the side, another smaller group has appeared.

“The question is: Does the whole system need to be dismantled and reestablished or do changes just need to be made?,” Elise Taggart asks the tiny group of queer occupiers.

22 | February, 2012

Good Morning, America.

Queer Reactions to Occupy

theVitalVOICE.com | 23

William Smith sits to her right leaning his back on a plaza column.

“I don’t like making these distinctions because they’re not accurate,” he says.

“This idea that there is a difference between revolution and reform is a fallacy. The only way to change anything is through making change. Reform is revolution and revolution is reform. They’re one in the same.”

“It does take reform but on some level for me it takes a revolution,” Elise says. “It will take a revolution for things to really change and it can be little steps along the way like what we’ve been doing for decades. People tend to forget this but women got the vote in 1920, the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and men could still legally rape their wives up until 1994. These were recent acts so it takes more than just changing a law.

The belief systems and structures that enforce these laws have to change also.”

Skateboarders roll back and forth across red bricks as their wheels echo across the plaza. Emily Kothe is also sitting among the queer focus group with her black rimmed glasses and thick red curls.

“The energy here was tangible,” she says scanning the plaza. “Everyone felt inspired and motivated and passionate. It was unbelievable.”

Kothe says she has been a part of the St. Louis Occupy since the first protest at the Federal Reserve and that although there is a queer presence here it hasn’t exactly coalesced entirely with Occupy narratives.

“I don’t feel there has ever been a silencing of queer narratives here but there hasn’t been an astringent connection either. The Occupy Movement is trying to make a space for a new kind of dialogue and a different kind of political process. The queer community does the same thing but for different reasons. There are intersections between both movements and if those conversations took place it would be easier for Occupy to branch out into the LGBTQ community. We can say look at what Occupy is doing and look at what we are doing in terms of our political quest for full equality and draw from both stories.”

Will and Elise agree that the LGBTQ visibility here can be hard to recognize.

“During the Occupy it was hard for me to see that there was a queer contingent,” Elise admits. “I couldn’t find the queer folk.”

Will adds that he also feels that the LGBTQ influence here hasn’t been as powerful or large as it could be. He starts to talk 24 | February, 2012

about the realities of class segregation within the LGBTQ community.

“Just because I am a gay man and you’re a gay man does not mean we are equals in each other’s eyes,” he explains. “We are one of the very few communities that cuts across and ascends socioeconomic backgrounds and we need to realize that classism very much exists within the queer community.

We see our community being represented as upper middle class white people and in the media as these stylish, cultured, creative folk and it’s just not true.”

It’s true that the mainstream, marketed faces of the LGBT community tend to blurred and whitewashed and present a small fraction of the LGBT community: Gay and lesbian, white men and women holding hands, exchanging wedding bands, sailing to island vacations and signing mortgage papers.

These faces do exist but they don’t accurately describe the everyday experiences of the queer working class.

Class segregation has been a dirty secret within the LGBTQ community for years and there are many members of our community who are actively a part of corporate structures and social institutions like

consumerism and the liberal political establishment that many within the Occupy movements are questioning.

“We still don’t have antidiscrimination laws across the board and we don’t have equal opportunities for our LGBT community to even get certain jobs or live in communities they chose.”

Emily adds, “Occupy’s job is to reach out to people who are marginalized. Especially those in the queer community.”

She’s says she’s talked to gay friends who are hesitant to join Occupy because they feel oppressed enough as it is through homophobia. “They think, ‘Why should I invest more of my energy

into another movement?’ But I say, look at how the financial system and the corporate system influences your marginalization on a daily basis and how it’s based on your very own identity.”

The Occupy movement in St. Louis is grounded on the principles of collective communication and dialogue and thanks to the queer occupiers the movement can only be strengthened with the inclusion of LGBTQ voices.

Elise nods her head. “It comes down to the question of how are we being divided by class and how can we as queers make a change and represent.” v theVitalVOICE.com | 25

“BOLD, FRESH AND TRANSCENDENT.” -The New Yorker FEBRuARY 14-26

FOx THEATRE

314-534-1111 • MetroTix.com • WestSideOnTour.com

Advertise with Contact vv@thevitalvoice.com 314.256.1196 26 | February, 2012

Michelle McCausland Wins Miss Spirit of StL Written by Colin Murphy – Senior Writer/Editor Photography by Cameron Harrol

T

he inaugural Miss Spirit of St. Louis Missouri America pageant took flight at Attitudes Nightclub on Jan. 15th before a capacity crowd. Veteran entertainer Michelle McCausland swept all five categories to take the female impersonation crown, and will be joined by First Alternate Adria Andrews at the 39th Annual Miss Gay Missouri, America Pageant, April 26-28 at The SoCo Club in Columbia. Second Alternate honors went to Kirsten Dubo. All three competitors are St. Louis residents.

The crowd was electric throughout the three hour event hosted by MGM 1991 Dieta Pepsi. Contestants competed in the categories of male interview, solo talent, evening gown, on stage question and talent. Special entertainment was provided by MGM 1997 Krista Versace, MGM 2007 Jade Sinclair and former Mr. Continental, Mr. Gay USA and Mr. Gay All American Antonio Edwards. Miss Spirit of St. Louis is proudly promoted by Darin Slyman, Dieta Pepsi and Colin Murphy of Vital VOICE media.

theVitalVOICE.com | 27

LGBTW

(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans = WEDGE) Written by Chris Andoe – Vital VOICE West Photography by Colin Murphy

I

was too young to vote for Bill Clinton in the 1992 election, but as a teenager living in Tulsa, I remember how exciting it was to have a presidential contender speak inclusively about queer people. That had never happened before—and the hair on my arms stood up when he mentioned us in his speech to the 1992 Democratic Convention: “It is time to heal America.

And so we must say to every American: Look beyond the stereotypes that blind us.

We need each other. All of us—we need each other.

We don’t have a person to waste. And yet for too long politicians have told the most of us that are doing all right that what’s really wrong with America is the rest of us.

Them. Them, the minorities.

Them, the liberals. Them, the poor. Them, the homeless.

Them, the people with disabilities. Them, the gays.

We’ve gotten to where we’ve nearly “them”ed ourselves to death. Them and them and them. But this is America.

There is no them; there’s only us. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice, for all.”

It wasn’t perfect, but the next eight years felt more inclusionary than at any time in history. Openly gay staff served in the White House and we had the first president to officially declare June as “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month”.

We had all gotten so comfortable that when the 28 | February, 2012

2000 election came around many couldn’t fathom a reversal of the gains we had made. Dire warnings of what a Bush Administration would mean were often met with rolled eyes and accusations of “hyperbole”. It’s estimated that one in four LGBTers voted for Bush in the 2000 election.

It’s almost only in the movies that people stop to look at the big picture and ask “MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE?” And Bush and the GOP gave that 25% much to regret (whether they did regret their votes or not).

The tone in Washington changed overnight. Friendly sounding anti-gay code words like “family values” were trumpeted about as a smokescreen for bigotry.

Anti-gay political appointees filled key positions and busily worked to purge the government of LGBT people.

A well known example is the scandal surrounding Department of Justice employee Monica Goodling.

On July 28, 2008 a Justice Department report concluded that Goodling had violated federal law and Justice Department policy by discriminating against job applicants, employees and contractors who weren’t Republican or conservative loyalists. One group that was targeted even if they were loyal conservatives were LGBT individuals like Leslie Hagen, a female prosecutor in Washington who despite being a GOP loyalist was dismissed after word got to Goodling that she was a lesbian.

As one Republican source told NPR at the time, “To some people, that’s even worse than being a Democrat.”

Although the first three years of Bush’s term were hard on us, I argue the lowest point for queer people in recent history was in 2004. Bush, Rove and the Republicans had long used us as a wedge issue, but in their efforts to defeat rival John Kerry they kicked it up a notch by putting constitutional amendments to ban same sex marriage on state ballots across the nation, beginning with Missouri. It passed by an overwhelming margin that August and was followed by similar measures in numerous states that November.

After the elections, after we were successfully maligned, marginalized and vilified in order to keep Republicans in power, the United Church of Christ decided to run a commercial telling queer people that we were welcome at their church. No major network would agree to run the commercial out of fear of offending the Bush Administration. To this day that infuriates me, and to this day I believe heads should roll for that decision. It’s during times of hardship that you know who your friends are, and at the end of 2004 not even the network that brought us Will & Grace was standing with our people. We were on the cold side of the wedge.

In a nation that burns the past daily, you’ll likely be called “out of touch” for talking about something that

happened a few years back, especially if you’re making an argument someone doesn’t want to hear. But 2004 wasn’t that long ago and the current leading GOP contenders would love to take us back to that dark year. They’ve vowed to reinstate Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, nullify same sex marriages, limit adoption rights, etc.

The words of President Clinton’s 1992 speech are as relevant today as they were 20 years ago. Beginning with Nixon’s Southern Strategy through the marginalization of our people, and now to the disparaging of immigrants and the unemployed the GOP has “them”ed us to death. Take no comfort when they take the focus off of our community for a season. Our time will come around again.

I’ll take no victory for granted and will consider no right to be set in stone. I won’t sit out an election to “send a message” and I won’t fall for the wedge issues used against other Americans.

Should another 25-30% of us vote to turn our nation over to the Republicans this fall, to the very people who openly vow to dismantle our rights, I will grieve as I watch livelihoods being lost, military careers being scrapped and families being legally dissolved.

I’ll shake my head thinking about those voters and will say to myself, “My God. What have they done?” v

theVitalVOICE.com | 29

  

Monthly Networking Happy Hour Our Goals:

Expand Your Network of

Linked

Connections!

Check our website for an online directory of our members!

To promote networking within the LGBT community & build support for both LGBT owned & LGBT friendly businesses, professionals and consumers!

www.gatewaybusinessguild.org 30 | February, 2012

ide

Guide Mardi Gras 2012

Mardi Gras in St. Louis has returned and she’s ready to party with beads in hand. 2012’s Carnival theme is “Famous Threesomes” (Yes ma’am!)—and to make sure you’re adequately prepared for the debauchery we have your Q Guide to where to go for costumes, wigs, beads and booze. Dust off that blowup voodoo doll and let the good times roll!

S

oulard’s The Bastille is one of those rare gems of Prohibtion-era speakeasies. The bar was one of 12 constructed in St. Louis by the beer barons of Anheuser-Busch during the 1920’s and features a hand carved Tiger Oak bar. Today, Bastille is a queer watering hole at the corner of 1027 Russell Boulevard and is a sensory mixtape.

The walls are littered with vintage board games, color cut outs of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, mounted queer animal heads and signs that point to Bourbon Street.

The perfect place to enjoy a mini-pitcher of beer at Mardi Gras with the drag-queen or bear daddy of your choice. Bar open from 11:00 A.M. to 1:30 A.M.

theVitalVOICE.com | 31

32 | February, 2012

The River City Casino Grand Parade is the main attraction of Mardi Gras and the largest parade in the city. Hundreds of thousands of Carnival goers will be in attendance and lined up along South 7th Street from Busch Stadium to Anheuser-Busch. The parade hits the road at 11:00 A.M. Expect the bars to be packed and most of the streets closed during the Carnival.

Consider cabbing it, catching a MetroBus from Civic Center to Soulard or the MetroLink stop to 10th and Marrion. You can find a complete list of Mardi Gras events throughout the month of February at mardigrasinc.com.

Remember Me Vintage Clothing & Costumes is a one-stop shop that will hook you up with all the costumes, masks, wigs and beads you’ll need to make the children gag as you’re pooching through Mardi Gras. We gave it to them in this (either Three Gay Bears, Bee Gees, or French Aristicrat Look)... Costumes rentals at Remember Me will run you anywhere from $35$65 a piece and you can purchase all your beads, boas and masks here too (Remember to stock up on beads as it’s customary to pitch some to catch some....pun intended). Visit Remember Me Vintage at 1021 Russell or at remembermecostumes.com. v

theVitalVOICE.com | 33

m

9

Need Mortgage Advice?

Purchases Refinances FHA/VA Reverse Mortgages 203K Loans Grant Programs

Speak to the Sales Relations Manager Trish Busch

NMLS: 270135 MO: 1261-MLO

(314) 628-2298 office tbusch@usa-mortgage.com http://tbusch.usa-mortgage.com

12140 Woodcrest Executive Dr., Suite 150, St. Louis, MO 63141

Judy Gold

FILE NAME:

Vital Voice PREMIERE EYE AD_2.319 X 3.597

PROJECT: CLIENT: CONTACT: DATE ASSIGNED: DATE STARTED: APPROVED:

Vital Voice Ad Premiere Eye Associates Denise Bruff June 3, 2011 June 7, 2011

STRATA: HEIGHT: WIDTH:

4/c process

FONTS: Times New Roman/ Trebuchet

presentsNewsprint 2.319”

PRINTER: FINAL SENT:

3.597”

February

Kristen Goodman

25

$35 Show $50 Show & Reception

To book your tickets visit:

www.PROMOonline.org or call

314-862-4900

IMAGES: Show Starts at 7:00pm 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., St. Louis 63130 Photo: ThreeDocsCMYK_Ad.Tiff 34 | February, 2012

cocktail

OF THE MONTH A Lush’s Guide to the Best Libations in Town.

Baby Flambeaux It’s February and that means nothing is bigger in St. Louis than Mardi Gras! We stumbled all over the city looking for an amazing drink that embodied the Nawwlins spirit. When we couldn’t find one, our good friends at Triumph Grill made one just for us and they christened her: Baby Flambeaux! Baby starts with fresh squeezed, house lemonade and mixes with Mango infused vodka. The drink is then floated with Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper. Keeping with the Mardi Gras colors: green ice cubes and a glass rimmed with purple sugar adds a carnival contrast to the yellow drink.

Triumph borrowed another Mardi Gras tradition from the King Cake by randomly placing a small baby in one of the ice cubes. If you’re one of the lucky lushes to get the baby in your drink, you’ll receive a special lagniappe (lan’ yap) in the form of a $40 gift card to Triumph.

Triumph Grill 3419 Olive, Midtown 314.446.1801

theVitalVOICE.com | 35

FEBRUARY

PLAYD/a/tes

Welcome to the Play Dates section of Vital VOICE. Each month the VV team will select a number of signature events to keep on your radar.

For a complete list of all vital happening in St. Louis log onto thevitalvoice.com/events.

To submit your next event, simply email vv@thevitalvoice.com with event name, date, location and a 20-word description.

1

Black History Month February 1st–29th

Langston Hughes 110th Birthday February 1st

February is Black History Month and February 1st is also the 110th birthday of poet, activist, playwright and Missouri native, Langston Hughes. Hughes was best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance where he pioneered jazz poetry. Langston wrote about the realities of segregation, racism, New York blues, black resilence and pride throughout his literary career. Queer writing scholars routinely point to poems by Hughes that present blatant queer overtones as proof that he was an important and early voice in black, queer literature. Pay homage to Langston by reading his novels like Not Without Laughter or Google his searing poem Let America Be America Again.

11 4 1

OtterSpace

February 11th. 9pm–1am The Thaxton Speakeasy 1009 Olive Street, Saint Louis, MO 63101

Otterspace is St. Louis’ new monthly event inspired by contemporary parties like LA’s ‘Bears in Space’ to the musical homage to 70’s and 80’s club life from London DJ collective ‘Horse Meat Disco.’

Otterspace is equal parts laid-back, irreverent, and most importantly FUN. Signature cocktail specials at every party!

Wall Ball

February 11th. 7–11pm Third Degree Glass Factory

Guests will enjoy watching top artists at work while nibbling on delectable treats, sipping luscious cocktails, listening to live music. All proceeds directly benefit SCOSaG, located in Tower Grove Park. Tickets are $50 and include appetizers and an open beer and wine bar.

WallBall2012.eventbrite.com

Valentine’s Day

February 14th Worldwide

Valentine’s Day is a day you look forward to, or it’s a day you pretend doesn’t exist. With so much hate in the world right now, let’s be creative with how we share this day set aside for love. Treat your partner to a day at the spa, take a close family member to dinner, throw a singles party for you and your single friends or volunteer at a place that could use your help. Whatever you do, get out there and spread some love!

36 | February, 2012

Mardi Gras February 18th Soulard

18

Show us your ( • )( • )’s! It’s time for MARDI GRAS! Join hundreds of thousands of fellow revelers crying out for their Jerry beads as The River City Casino Parade kicks off the Mardi Gras celebrations. The parade starts at Busch Stadium at 11am and makes its way to Anheuser-Busch. After the parade the crowd makes its way into the Soulard neighborhood to enjoy the various beverages, culinary delights, live music and other unique events of the day. MetroLink will connect with MetroBus shuttles to get you to and from all of the Mardi Gras action! www.mardigrasinc.com

BRIEFS: A Festival of Short Gay & Lesbian Plays February 24th–26th La Perla, 312 N. 8th St, Downtown St. Louis, 63101

Vital VOICE Magazine and That Uppity Theater have partnered to co-produce Briefs. No, not those kind of briefs. Briefs is a festival of short lesbian and gay plays. The festival is distinctive because it is the first-of-its-kind for St. Louis. The series brings together a diverse audience, local businesses, and eight different directors and play wrights to portray the LGBTQ experience on stage. The festival will be held at the amazing, La Perla, a historic downtown bank renovated for events of all kind. In addition to the performances, there will be a live DJ spinning between plays, a cash bar, and valet parking will be available.

Tickets range from $12-$15. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: www.brownpapertickets.com

Judy Gold

February 25th. 7pm 560 Music Center in University City

24 5 2

Join PROMO and Emmy Award winning actress and comedian, Judy Gold for a night of laughter. It’s Judy’s Show: My Life As A Sitcom debuted to rave reviews in Washington D.C. and was featured at this year’s Williamstown Theatre Festival to rave reviews.

29

Tickets are $35 for General Admission and $50 for General Admission with Meet and Greet following the show. PromoOnline.org

Equality Day

February 29th State Capitol, Jefferson City, Missouri

Equality Day gives individuals a chance to talk with Missouri legislators face-to-face about the important issues facing our community. Protecting LGBT Missourians from employment and housing discrimination, protecting LGBT youth from bullying in their schools, and standing up for LGBT parents and their families, are just a few issues that are struggles here in Missouri. You have a voice, and you can use it. For more information, please visit: www.promoonline.org

theVitalVOICE.com | 37

dition Orleans’ tra baby and w e N a is ic st ake The King C s a pastry, a small plad with a small e e lv k vo ba in ets e is that e King Cak side.The person who gxt h T . y rt a p a hidden in ost the ne plastic babyith baby in it has to h am, “We ain’t the slice wbeing the diva that I a Queens party. Me g Cake! We making gh glitter on makin’ no Kiny!This cake has enou squeal! And Cake, hone The GlitterBomb kids es–so I am it to make nothing about no babi ke.

I don’t know arl in my Queens Ca hiding a pe

A Queen’s Cake

Ingredients

Total Time: 1 Hour Serves: 12 individual Bundt Cakes

• 1 Super Moist French Vanilla

Cake mix (or any flavor you like) • 1 Cup water • ½ Cup vegetable oil • 3 Eggs • 1 10 oz bottle white coo kie icing • 1 3.5 tube gold spa rkle gel • 1¼ oz tube purple ed ible glitter

Directions

Spray Bundt pan with non-stick baking spray.

Make cake according to directions on the box.

Let cakes cool slightly.

Push jewel into one of the cakes.

Drizzle cakes with white cookie icing.

Drizzle cakes with sparkle gel.

Drench cakes with gold, purple & green edible glitter (let your inner diva out!)

Edge cakes with pink icing.

38 | February, 2012

• 1¼ oz tube green ed ible glitter • 1 ¼ oz tube gold ed ible glitter • 1 Can pink cake icin g • 1 Can non stick bakin g spray

oic

oi

contact vv@thevitalvoice.com 314.256.1196

photography, writing, design, web

cE

E

intern

intern

photography, writing, design, web

photography, writing, design, web

contact vv@thevitalvoice.com 314.256.1196

intern

oi

cE

contact vv@thevitalvoice.com 314.256.1196

THE HEALTHY PET MARKET ALL NATURAL NUTRITION • PET GEAR FRESH BAKED TREATS • GROOMING SELF-SERVICE PET WASH • TOYS & GIFTS

FOUR MUDDYPAWS.COM LAFAYETTE SQUARE 1711 PARK AVE ST. LOUIS, MO

314.773.7297

LOCALLY GAY OWNED AND OPERATED

EDWARDSVILLE 2127 S. STATE RD RTE 157 EDWARDSVILLE, IL

618.692.4729

FOUR MUDDY PAWS 3.597” x 2.319”

theVitalVOICE.com | 39

Erney’s 32 Degrees’ Playboys Celebration The bunnies came out to play at Erney’s 32 Degrees on NYE at their 2012 Playboy Party.

The gogo boy pole was in serious use as partiers jumped up and down from the dance stage humping eachother. Veteran gogo dancer and Adonis, Atlas Grant popped up on the bar and stage to dance while guests grinned for our photographer. Favorite moment: Our three way frenchkiss with DJ Jimmy No Show and Trixie LaRue. 40 | February, 2012

Scene Styling Some came out dressed to the nines, and some came out ready to dance the night away. The Grove was the place to be on New Years Eve as Manchester Ave appeared to be one big block party. There was moving and shaking with guys and gals bringing in 2012! We stepped on the scene to capture some scenes from the night’s revelry.

Just John’s The End of the World Mayan Apocalypse Party ...Oh and Dieta’s 51 and still fun birthday bash!! Gurl, it was a beautiful mess at Just John’s as folks cheesed and smiled for paparazzi cameras. Butchqueens were walking around shirtless with violet (nah, bitch that’s fuschia!) bow ties and everyone seemed to be having an amazing time dancing, drinking and checking their Grindr. Dieta Pepsi, first Mayan drag queen title holder, hosted the party in a sickening whitewinter sequin tank while the crowd went HAM to the beats of DJ Ruben_B. Favorite moment: When we took it there to Britney Spears’ Til The World Ends. theVitalVOICE.com | 41

More Music in the Morning weekdays at 8:00am

Hit Music for St. Louis

z1077.com

listen to Z107-7 on your phone 42 | February, 2012

THAT UPPITY THEATRE COMPANY & VITAL VOICE MEDIA PRESENTS

briefs.

A FESTIVAL OF SHORT LESBIAN & GAY PLAYS

LA PERLA 312 North 8th Street Saint Louis

February 24th -26 2012 For Tickets & Information log onto:

BROWNPAPERTICKET.COM Search:

BRIEFS

THAT UPPITY THEATRE COMPANY February, 2012