Terry Le Grand

Donna - Madonna

2011-07-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

Not my best work (see below) however my mother's adoption has no relevance to my review. It may be appropriate though when we interview him. I'll call you tomorrow between the screening and after party.

Donna/Madonna, written and performed by John Paul Karliak, is an award-winning autobiographical journey that began as a lover letter to his adopted and birth mothers.

The show blends stories (one Halloween, coming out to his parents, meeting his birth mother, and many more), songs, and characters ranging from Darth Vader to his mothers to weave a tale of motherly love and acceptance.

John Paul is extremely talented with a vast vocal range; and is very good on the eyes too. This show is highly recommended.

The one man show is performing Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with a special Monday night performance August 1st, through August 10th at the Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd, in Hollywood, CA 90038.

The Temperamentals

2011-05-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Andrew Holinsky for "The Alternative"

The Temperamentals, written by Jon Marans and directed by Michael Matthews, is as an entertaining LBGT history lesson based on historical facts behind the origins of the Mattachine Society, one of the first LBGT activist organizations. The play, set in Los Angeles early 1950s, centers around Harry Hay, Rudi Gernreich, Chuck Rowland, and Bob Hull, their forming of the Mattachine Society, the love affair between Harry and Rudi, coming out publically (as being gay) in fighting police entrapment, McCarthyism, and concludes with the quartet resigning from the Mattachine Society board as a result of their philosophical differences and direction of the budding LGBT rights movement.

The play reveals an era where men choose marriage to conceal his homosexuality as well as for career reasons and touch in public by two men was all but explicitly forbidden. The play focuses on the early activism of the four founders of the Mattachine Society. Each has a different background though any gay man today can relate to all four. While the play is set in the early 1950s the underlying themes are just as relevant today.

The set by Kurt Boetcher is superbly designed to fit the era and tight theatre space. Dennis Christopher perfectly channeled Harry Hay. The rest of the cast was remarkable as well. This is a must see play for gays and straights and a fun way to learn some history.

The play is performing through June 5th at 2nd Stage Theater, 6500 Santa Monica Blvd, in Hollywood, CA.

Rise Up and Shout! Voices of the Next Gay Generation

2011-05-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

Rise Up And Shout! empowers gay and lesbian youth. Bridging the generation gap between the gay elders leading the community and the gay youth struggling through the coming out process, Rise Up And Shout! brings the two groups together in a year-long mentoring relationship. Through this process, the youth find, develop and finally showcase their unique voices in a performance event.

Rise Up And Shout! began in 2006 when Don Kilhefner, co-founder of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, and Mark Thompson, former editor of The Advocate sat down together to try and figure out a way to reach the thousands of gay and lesbian youth in area schools, many of whom had no contact with the larger gay community. Kilhefner and Thompson put together a team of activists, artists and other leaders to reach out to the youth by bringing community directly to them. Through auditions, one-on-one and group support meetings, education, rehearsals and the production and direction of the performance itself, Rise Up And Shout! helped usher in the next generation of gay and lesbian youth.

A wonderful evening to explore the talents of Queer youth in the Los Angeles area. The eveining featured talent by fifteen very dynamic youth and emceed by John Quale aka Price Poppycock. To get more information go to Riseupandshout.com

Love the show and loved the kids.

STANDING ON CEREMONY

2011-05-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

By Andrew Holinsky for "The Alternative"

Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays, currently performing on select Mondays through June 27th at The Renberg Theatre at the LAGLC’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza, is a series of 9 one acts plays performed by a rotating celebrity cast focusing on various aspects of gay marriage. The performance for May 9th featured Jay Harrington, Peter Paige, John Rubenstein, Peri Gilpin, Rachael Harris, and Julie Hagerty.

The entire ensemble performed the superbly satirical though poignant On Facebook by Doug Wright. Julie Hagerty displayed her dynamic range in The Gay Agenda by Paul Rudnick. With a portion of the proceeds going to the LAGLC, Standing on Ceremony is a perfect way to enjoy a night at the theater and support a worthy cause.

House of the Rising Son

2011-04-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Andrew Holinsky for "The Alternative"

”House of the Rising Son”, a new play written by Tom Jacobson and directed by Michael Michetti, is a lot like watching a David Lynch film. This quasi-love story between Dr. Trent Varro, played by Paul Witten, and Felix Martin, played by Steve Coombs, also centers around Trent’s multi-generational family, with Patrick John Hurley playing Garrett Varro and Rod Menzies playing Bowen Varro. “House of the Rising Son” is set primarily in post Katrina New Orleans. This thinking man’s play interweaves science, gay marriage, the supernatural, and generational differences. The set by Richard Hoover was superb. It is highly recommended you see the show at least twice.

“House of the Rising Son” is currently playing thru Sunday, May 29th, 2011 at EST/LA @ Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. By the way this is a brand new theater complex wonderfully designed the Artistic Director is Gates McFadden from the Star Trek days where she played Dr. Beverly Crusher.

2011-04-18T11:25:00.001-07:00

Reviewed by Andrew Holinsky for “The Alternative”

Lust n’ Rust, the original trailer park musical, written by Frank Haney, Dave Stratton, & Carol Kimball and directed by Thomas Colby, is a good time trailer park musical. Lust 'n Rust is the story of Steve, a big-city corporate manager who is transferred to a small Illinois town played by Sal Cecere, and Connie, the soon-to-be-divorced waitress who is his neighbor at the Redbud Mobile Estates played by Joyanna Crouse. Steve's life is further complicated by a difficult assignment - an action that could have a disastrous impact on the local economy. Throughout are toe tapping numbers by the gifted cast of Redbud Mobile Estates residents. The costume design by Gen Anderson is wonderfully deliberate, especially in the 2nd act. The refreshing musical is highly recommended. I loved the music and the book this play is a MUST SEE. Lust n’ Rust is currently playing thru Saturday, April 30th at the Lyric Theatre, 520 N. La Brea Ave, Los Angeles 90036. For tickets call 626-695-8283

"Caught" a wonderful play

2011-04-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Andrew Holinsky for “The Alternative” “Caught”, written by David L. Ray and directed by Nick DeGruccio, is a MUST SEE for everyone gay or straight. The play opens on a Sunday in July of 2008 in Los Angeles as Kenneth, superbly played by Mackenzie Astin, and his boyfriend Troy, played by understudy Derek Daniels Meeker, are finalizing their wedding plans for the following Saturday. Kenneth’s sister Darlene, a Preacher’s wife, and niece Krystal show up unexpectedly from Georgia at their home. Kenneth has not told her of his upcoming wedding nor about his relationship with Troy. This causes tension between Troy and Kenneth. Kenneth finally shares the truth with the disapproving, pious Darlene. Further during their conversation Darlene reveals she caught her husband J.P. cheating on her with another woman. The first act ends with J.P. heading to LA to find his estranged wife and daughter. Micah McCain as Splenda and Amanda Kaschak as Krystal nearly steal the show with their performances. Deborah Puette’s portrayal of Darlene was perfect as was Richard Jenik as J.P. The chemistry between Mackenzie Astin and Derek Daniels Meeker and between Mackenzie and Deborah Puette was convincing and electrifying. The stucco set by Adam Flemming was also outstanding and authentic. “Caught” is currently playing thru Sunday, May 15th at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles. 90046. For ticket information call 310-945-5786. You can also go online at Caughttheplay.com for more information.

30 Years of HIV/AIDS

2011-04-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

To move forward in fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it is important to see where we have been… We invite you now to join us in commemorating 30 years of HIV/AIDS. We know that your story is vital in remembering our fight through the past 3 decades, the challenges that we have encountered, and the countless lives lost throughout the epidemic. This online forum allows us to raise our collective voices to remind ourselves of the accomplishments in the past 30 years, and to honor all those who have died from the disease. We hope to build a community of support to help inspire us on the road ahead- as we work together to prevent new cases of HIV, care for those who are infected, and educate the world about the truths about HIV/AIDS. Click here to register for the community, and begin sharing your story. * You can begin by sharing your own personal “HIV Story,” by selecting a few pictures that reflect your milestones throughout your HIV history, or sharing a personal video about your experiences. **You can also begin having conversations with people in your community through open discussion forums. These past 3 decades have been full of inspiring people in clinics, community organizations, health departments, government agencies; people advocating for patients’ rights, researching treatments and looking for a cure; and living with HIV/AIDS. Please share the link to this community with others in your world, so they can join in sharing their experiences. * If you are unable to follow the link, please paste cdcnpin.org/communities/hivstory into your browser. You may also sign up for the community by using your Facebook, Twitter, Google, or Yahoo login information. ** Please review the Terms of Service for specific photo and video sharing guidelines.

Announcing: “Caught” Extended thru May 15; Mackenzie Astin Joins Cast on February 19

2011-04-06T12:03:00.000-07:00

MACKENZIE ASTIN JOINS THE CAST OF CAUGHT WORLD PREMIERE PLAY, WRITTEN BY DAVID L. RAYAND DIRECTED BY NICK DEGRUCCIO EXTENDS RUN FOR SECOND TIME, THROUGH MAY 15, 2011AT THE ZEPHYR THEATRE David L. Ray’s world premiere play, Caught, presented by Buttermilk Productions in association with Drumfish Productions, and directed by three-time Ovation Award-winner Nick DeGruccio, has extended its run through Sunday, April 3. Mackenzie Astin will assume the role of Kenneth on Saturday, February 19, when Corey Brill departs to join Robin Williams and the Broadway cast of Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. The story of Caught centers around the upcoming wedding of Kenneth and Troy, a committed gay couple living in Los Angeles. Kenneth’s estranged, culturally-conservative sister, Darlene, and her daughter Krystal unexpectedly visit the couple’s home from south Georgia only days before the event. Through this set of circumstances, Caught explores the meaning of ‘marriage,’ and how the family can find a way to meet in the middle while navigating long-standing religious values and staying true to each’s core beliefs. Mackenzie Astin, the son of legendary actors Patty Duke and John Astin, is perhaps best known for his three seasons on the hit NBC sitcom The Facts of Life. His film credits include Dream for an Insomniac, Stranger Than Fiction, Long Island Incident, Last Days of Disco, Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor (with Nathan Lane), In Love and War (with Sandra Bullock and Chris O’Donnell), and the Disney feature Iron Will. Other television work includes appearances on Without A Trace, Lost, House, Justice, and My Name Is Earl. The full cast features (in alphabetical order) Astin, Will Beinbrink, Richard Jenik, Amanda Kaschak, Micah McCain, and Deborah Puette. The design team includes set by Adam Flemming, lighting by Lisa D. Katz, sound by Elizabeth Rhodes, and costumes by Katherine Hampton Noland. Casting is by Raul Staggs, and the production stage manager is Darlene Miyakawa. The Ovation Recommended production of Caught is now extended through May 15. Regular performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 7:00pm. There will be no performances on Friday, February 18 and Sunday, February 27. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased by visiting http://www.caughttheplay.com/ or by calling (800) 595-4849. The Zephyr Theatre is located at 7456 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, 90046. # # #

Armistead Banned From Bathroom

2011-03-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

Armistead Banned From Bathroom
By Advocate.com Editors
Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin and his husband, Chris Turner, were denied use of the restroom in a bar in Alice Springs, Australia, last week by a staff member who told them the facility was “reserved for real men.”ABC News Australia reports on the incident that occurred when the men entered Bojangles Saloon to have lunch.“According to Mr Maupin, they were told to take a seat, after which Mr Maupin's husband Chris asked if he could use a rest room.“‘The guy said, 'sorry, we don't have one in here but you can go across the street to the public facility.’“Mr Maupin, who had used the toilet in Bojangles the day before, said he pointed in the direction of the toilet and said 'what's that over there?'“‘[The barman] gave me a very pointed look and said that's reserved for 'real men'," said Mr Maupin.”Maupin and Turner promptly left the saloon and filed a complaint with the Visitor Information Centre. Maupin said they received a response within a day from the tourism office, which conveyed that the owner of Bojangles extended his apologies. The author posted an account of the incident on his Facebook page and said the reaction of support from people all over Australia has been “quite extraordinary.”
On Thursday morning, Maupin posted the following statement on Facebook: "Just to be clear: There are no apologies necessary from either Alice Springs or Australia. I've never felt more welcomed by a country. This was a lone gunman, and we just handed him his balls on a platter. It's over."

The GOLDEN GAYS not to be missed

2011-03-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
Donna Pieroni *has performed in over 300 TV, Feature Films, Plays and Commercials. Some favorite work includes: the role of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd at The Production Company’s Chandler Studio Theatre (for which she was nominated for a Back Stage Garland Award as Best Performance in a Musical),and Showtime’s popular hit series Dexter and Weeds. Other favorites include: CSI:NY, Medium, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Cold Case, ER, The Shield, Jawbreaker, Night Train, Open Window, Edward Scissorhands, the upcoming feature films: The Apocalypse According To Doris and Boy Toy and Married With Children in the role of Sandy. She has performed at such theatres as: The Ahmanson in Dead End with Jeremy Sisto, The Celebration Theatre in The Children’s Hour in the wonderful role of Lilly Mortar, The Odyssey Theatre in to many productions to mention as well as The Body Politic Theatre in Chicago from where she hails! Some favorite roles include: Lady in Orpheus Descending and the title role of Salome in a VERY artistic midnight production of the same. Her travels as a performer have taken her all the way from Argentina (Capital One commercial) to Florida to Los Angeles and everywhere in between. She holds a BA from Columbia College and MFA studies were at IL. State University. She is a proud member of SAG, EQUITY and AFTRA.

Marc Segal (Sam/Sophia) has been acting since the age of 9. He started professionally 25 years ago appearing on television, film andseveral national commercials. He has been married to the same woman for the last 29 years and has three children: Sean and David (the twins) and his daughter Amy. Marc has been teaching acting and improvisation to teens for the past 25 years and has directed over 60 productions. He is grateful to the producers for giving him this opportunity to explore his female side and hopes you enjoy his/her work. God bless Estelle Getty!

Guy Windsor - hailing from the great state of Tennessee, Guy is proud to be making his second Los Angeles stage appearance with WideStance having appeared as Peggy Bundy in this fall's Fairies with Children. His credits include appearances on Diagnosis X (TLC), Las Vegas (NBC), Grey's Anatomy (ABC), the feature films Spring Breakdown, More Money More Family and the award winning short film Loser of Laurel Canyon. His theatrical credits include Annie (Rooster), Bus Stop (Bo), Godspell (Jeffrey), Wizard of Oz (TinMan), Barnum (RingMaster), and tours with The Grand Illusion Magic Show and Walt Disney Entertainment. While pursuing his acting career, Guy moonlights at Universal Studios in the Entertainment Department and operates his own design company specializing in holiday displays for homes and businesses. Guy's hope for the run of this show is that he makes people laugh, makes people think and that he doesn't get used to the slenderizing look of a girdle and painted nails.

Kevin Fabian was born in New Jersey (insert joke here). TV: General Hospital, The Gilmore Girls, The West Wing, Will & Grace, Young and the Restless, Boston Public, and the pilots Paparazzi, As Seen On TV, Molly Marcy. The Web: I.T.’s a Living, Inappropriate Workplace, HBO Voyeur. Film: Brotherly, An American Vampire in America, Out at the Wedding, Our Little Science Story. Theatres: Circle X Theatre Co. Kitchen Dog Theatre in Dallas, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, The Old Globe in San Diego and Actors Theatre of Louisville in Kentucky. Commercials: Cheetos, Marshals, Pepsi, Miller Highlife, Apple, Microsoft, ING. Kevin has a BFA from Montclair University and an MFA from Southern Methodist University. Kevin will be appearing later this month (1/31) as Barry Greenfield on Chuck.

BRIAN ROHAN (Damian/Dorothy) Theatrically, Brian has workedat the Laguna Playhouse, Company of Angels, the Ark, the Knightsbridge, and the Pasadena Shakespeare Company. He starred in the Beverly Hills P.S.A.s "It's a Wonderful City" (as the Jimmy Stewart character. Local Emmy nominee) and "Do You Know C.P.R.?" (local Emmy winner). On screen, he has starred in the multi-award winning horror films "Criticized" (19 Festival Awards including Best Actor) and "The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon". Besides 14 Festival Awards, the latter film has become a genuine sensation on Youtube, becoming the #6 (as of this writing) "Top Favorited" video of all time in a short period of time. Special thanks to Mark and Chey!

Nick Denning (Mario) hales from the island town of Shelter Island, NY. He is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater in NYC. Off Broadway credits: "Fools in Love" & "Tempest Tossed Fools" (Shakespeare re-imagined for children) at the Manhattan Ensemble Theater, and a limited run at BAM. Stared as "Crow" in the final run of Sam Shepard's "The Tooth of Crime" at La MaMa's Annex Theater. Since moving to Los Angeles the end of 2007, Nick has stared in pilots and festival awarded film projects. He was a company member of Circus Theatricals Ensemble, doing two shows in rep last season. Nick is thrilled and grateful to be working with such a hilarious cast.
Sean Riley’s recent years have been spent coaching/teaching young actors in their
pursuit of fame in Hollywood. He has also been working in front of and behind the scenes on various film a
stage production. Including Assistant Directing/Stage Managing Sylvia! and Snakebit at the Meta- theatre. He has done this while continuing to perform in productions including George M!, Singing in the Rain, On the Town, Crazy for You, Showboat, Some Like it Hot …and a few others with Fullerton CLO... Oklahoma!, Anything Goes, She Loves Me!, Guys and Dolls …and many others
regionally. He also toured nationally and internationally with the BYU Dancers’ Company... Sean wishes to give his many thanks to family and friends for their love and support. He also wants to
especially thank WideStance, for giving him this great opportunity to work with this exceptional
cast.

Carlos Castro attended the Interior Design Institute in Newport Beach. He was instrumental in getting our previous run of The Golden gays off the ground. In addition to providing much of the visual artistryfor the show, Carlos does everything from props to sound design. Chances are Carlos has had his hands in any aspect of the show you enjoy.
Jim Thomas Mora is super excited to be working on another wonderful and fun project. Jim was inspired to join forces with John and his DP Carlos after seeing ‘Cell Phone Funeral. Fro
m that moment Jim, John and Carlos have been working hard together to come up with great performance pieces. Golden Gays turned out to be an amazing show, a great time and went a lot further then Jim ever imagined. Jim has been in theatre for the last 14 years, and has the great honor to work with such awesome companies as The Pasadena Playhouse, Carnival Cruise Lines, McCory Rigby Entertainment, and Musical Theatre West. His duties range from Technical Director, Set Designer, Lighting Designer, Sound Designer, Stage Manager, Asst. Stage Manager, Prop Master and Crew Chief. Jim’s favorite Musicals are ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Hair Spray’, ‘Annie’, and ‘Dream Girls’.

Laura Coe is a professional theatre technician. Since graduating from UC Davis with a BA in Technical Theatre, she has been working in various theatres in Sacramento. Favorite jobs included Stage Manager/Sound tech for Suspects Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, Assistant Stage Manager for Sacramento Theatre Company and Wardrobe Stitcher for Music Circus. Since moving to LA in
2009 Laura has worked as 2nd AD/Production Designer on the web series We Are With The Band,
stage managed a show at REDCAT, and stitched for the TV show EagleHeart.

The Meta Theater
7801 Melrose #6 Los Angeles, CA 90046

2011-02-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

Jasin and his vampire brood's time is running out. In order for them to survive, Jasin needs to find a mortal to turn into a vampire to spend eternity with. Los Angeles provides plenty of young candidates. The brood has their eyes set on Tara, a young, gorgeous blond college student. Tara is open to the idea of becoming a vampire, but someone else enters the picture to disrupt the brood's plans. Caleb, a fresh face college student new to Los Angeles, keeps dreaming of a mysterious stranger. At school, Caleb meets the stranger, Jasin, and they have an instant connection. The problem is that time is short, and Jasin needs to convince Caleb that eternity as a vampire can be a very sweet life. We will get the entire story this Sunday as we speak to Charlie Vaughn, Christian Ferrar, Ryan Adames and Dylan Vox.

"MARY ANN IN AUTUM" By Armistad Maupin

2011-02-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

Twenty years have passed since Mary Ann Singleton left her husband and child in San Francisco to pursue her dream of a television career in New York. Now, a pair of personal calamities has driven her back to the city of her youth and into the arms of her oldest friend, Michael “Mouse” Tolliver, a gay gardener happily ensconced with his much-younger husband.
Mary Ann finds temporary refuge in the couple's backyard cottage, where, at the unnerving age of 57, she licks her wounds and takes stock of her mistakes. Soon, with the help of Facebook and a few old friends, she begins to reengage with life, only to confront fresh terrors when her speckled past comes back to haunt her in a way she could never have imagined.
After the intimate first-person narrative of Maupin's last novel, Michael Tolliver Lives, Mary Ann in Autumn marks the author's return to the multi-character plotlines and darkly comic themes of his earlier work. Among those caught in Mary Ann's orbit are her estranged daughter, Shawna, a popular sex blogger; Jake Greenleaf, Michael's transgendered gardening assistant; socialite DeDe Halcyon-Wilson; and the indefatigable Anna Madrigal, Mary Ann's former landlady at 28 Barbary Lane.
Over three decades in the making, Armistead Maupin's legendary Tales of the City series rolls into a new age, still sassy, irreverent and curious, and still exploring the boundaries of the human experience with insight, compassion and mordant wit.
“Taken as a whole, the seven-book Tales series is the best thing anyone has ever written about San Francisco. I want to live in these books. Pure pleasure.” - Sean Wilsey, author of Oh the Glory of it All.
“A pop cultural phenomenon that has come to define a San Francisco era and ethos.” - Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times
“Armistead Maupin is a first rate, world-class novelist, creating characters so vivid, complicated, tender and true as to seem utterly timeless.” - Stephen McCauley
“Perhaps the most sublime piece of popular literature America has ever produced … As with the Beatles, everyone seems to like Maupin’s Tales – and, really, why would you want to find someone who didn't?” -Laura Miller, The Salon.com Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Authors
Order Now!

Twenty years have passed since Mary Ann Singleton left her husband and child in San Francisco to pursue her dream of a television career in New York. Now, a pair of personal calamities has driven her back to the city of her youth and into the arms of her oldest friend, Michael “Mouse” Tolliver, a gay gardener happily ensconced with his much-younger husband.
Mary Ann finds temporary refuge in the couple's backyard cottage, where, at the unnerving age of 57, she licks her wounds and takes stock of her mistakes. Soon, with the help of Facebook and a few old friends, she begins to reengage with life, only to confront fresh terrors when her speckled past comes back to haunt her in a way she could never have imagined.
After the intimate first-person narrative of Maupin's last novel, Michael Tolliver Lives, Mary Ann in Autumn marks the author's return to the multi-character plotlines and darkly comic themes of his earlier work. Among those caught in Mary Ann's orbit are her estranged daughter, Shawna, a popular sex blogger; Jake Greenleaf, Michael's transgendered gardening assistant; socialite DeDe Halcyon-Wilson; and the indefatigable Anna Madrigal, Mary Ann's former landlady at 28 Barbary Lane.
Over three decades in the making, Armistead Maupin's legendary Tales of the City series rolls into a new age, still sassy, irreverent and curious, and still exploring the boundaries of the human experience with insight, compassion and mordant wit.
“Taken as a whole, the seven-book Tales series is the best thing anyone has ever written about San Francisco. I want to live in these books. Pure pleasure.” - Sean Wilsey, author of Oh the Glory of it All.
“A pop cultural phenomenon that has come to define a San Francisco era and ethos.” - Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times
“Armistead Maupin is a first rate, world-class novelist, creating characters so vivid, complicated, tender and true as to seem utterly timeless.” - Stephen McCauley
“Perhaps the most sublime piece of popular literature America has ever produced … As with the Beatles, everyone seems to like Maupin’s Tales – and, really, why would you want to find someone who didn't?” -Laura Miller, The Salon.com Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Authors
Order Now!

Broadway Backwards 6th

2011-01-30T18:05:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 7, 2011, 8:00 PMLongacre Theatre220 West 48th St, NYC
Tickets for Broadway Backwards are sold out. If you are interested in attending, please call 212.840.0770, ext. 268 on Wednesday, February 2 to inquire about the availability of newly released tickets.
BROADWAY BACKWARDS 6, the only Broadway event custom-made for the gay and lesbian community, our friends and families, takes to the stage again for a star-studded, one-night only event, February 7 at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 W. 48th Street).
This year’s performers include winners of 11 individual Tony Awards, including Hinton Battle (Miss Saigon), Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd and CBS’s Blue Bloods), Alan Cumming (Cabaret and CBS's The Good Wife), Debra Monk (Curtains), Denis O'Hare (Take Me Out and HBO's True Blood), Bebe Neuwirth (The Addams Family), Karen Olivo (West Side Story) and Lillias White (Fela!) – and 1 Academy Award-winner, F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus).
Also joining the star-studded cast are American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken (Spamalot), Brooks Ashmanskas (Promises, Promises), Ward Billeisen (Anything Goes), Tituss Burgess (The Little Mermaid), Robin De Jesús (La Cage aux Folles), Colman Domingo (Scottsboro Boys), Mandy Gonzalez (Wicked), Jose Llana (Wonderland), Bobby Steggert (Ragtime), Brian Charles Rooney (The Threepenny Opera), Jason Tam (A Chorus Line) and Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy).
The show is produced by Broadway Cares and will benefit BC/EFA and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York City.
BROADWAY BACKWARDS will feature some of Broadway's biggest names singing songs originally written for the opposite gender: women singing songs written for men and men singing songs written for women. By keeping all of the lyrics intact, including the original pronouns, each song takes on an entirely new dimension, sometimes with hysterical results and sometimes with immensely touching results. BROADWAY BACKWARDS will give its audience a chance to see and hear some of the most treasured songs of the Great White Way in a whole new key.
Creator Robert Bartley will again direct and choreograph with co-choreographer/associate director Kathryn Kendall and musical direction by Chris Haberl. The creative team also includes lighting designer Paul Miller, costumer designer Philip Heckman and musical supervisor Patrick Vaccariello.
BROADWAY BACKWARDS began as a grassroots concert performed at the Center in 2006. In subsequent years, the event grew quickly, performing Off-Broadway at 37 Arts, followed by Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre and last year at Lincoln Center Theater at the Vivian Beaumont.

Queer Questions Straight Talk - Author Abby Dees

2011-01-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

Queer Questions Straight Talk is subtitled “108 frank & provocative questions it’s OK to ask your lesbian, gay or bisexual loved one.” That pretty much sums up what this book is about. There is some introductory material and then the questions are split into sections, with a little discussion ahead of time, but mostly just questions to ponder. The book is meant to be used to open conversation between someone who falls into what Dees calls the “LesBiGay” category and their straight loved ones.
When this book was offered to me for review, I warned the publicist that I’m REALLY REALLY SLOW at reading nonfiction, and she assured me that this book was different. She was right. It’s a very small book, short and thin, and definitely easy to read. A good half of it deals with questions – questions that aren’t answered, but that are presented as conversation materials. The point is that Dees wasn’t answering these questions herself, but was trying to generate talk between parties. Each of us possibly asked these questions would have a different response. I flew through the book. When I finally sat down to read it, it took me less than an hour to finish.
Dees explores tons of different avenues and has talked to many people. I was particularly impressed with something she said in the introduction, something that I’ve struggled with myself (though I’m not going into details here, sorry). To me, that little detail is what really hooked me, the time and effort she put into her research and studies. She was very thorough, and I appreciated that.
Unfortunately, this is the sort of book that it’s difficult to get much out of on its own. It’s simply not the sort of book that’s meant to work by itself. It’s meant to be a tool to help get people talking. At the end, what I was left with was a wish that I had someone that I could talk to. As a bisexual woman who has been living in a monogamous relationship with her husband for the last 11 years, I’ve honestly had no reason to talk to anyone about my sexuality if I don’t want to. My family can be quite judgemental in this area, so other than my cousins (who thankfully didn’t inherit those judgemental views), siblings (same), and my dad (who’s better than most), I’ve never bothered to tell anyone. I don’t see the point. It would just be uncomfortable for all of us and I really don’t want to deal with it. I have that right, of course, but it’s funny because for those people I don’t mind telling (cousins, siblings, my dad, friends, all you lovely bloggers), I’m not sure this book would help us. It might be useful if I ever tell my mom, or someone else who I know simply wouldn’t understand.
I don’t know if that’s ever going to happen. I’m not sure if the people who I haven’t told and could tell would be willing to read this book and have a conversation either. You have to be the right sort of person to read this book and be willing to ask questions. That limits its market. But! Having a limited market does not make the book pointless, not by any means. Instead, it caters to what will hopefully be a growing body of people trying to understand something they might have previously had misconceptions about. It’s good that books like this are out there and available. I hope one day I get to hand my copy to a friend or family member and open discussions. And if I know anyone else having this same conversation, I will definitely recommend this book.

Living The Difference - Author J.C. Knudson

2011-01-29T14:34:00.001-08:00

Sep 06, 2010 – Espresso House Publishing & Distribution, LLC, has published LIVING THE DIFFERENCE: an enlightening story revealed for people of all ages straight or gay by J. C. Knudson. The author's most recent book to date is a 5.5 x 8.5 paperback in the autobiography category and is available worldwide on book retailer websites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. LIVING THE DIFFERENCE is also available in its 5.5 x 8.5 hardback edition with jacket. The webpage at www.outskirtspress.com/livingthedifference was launched simultaneously with the book's publication. J. C. Knudson always knew he was different. Growing up in the small-town South during the 1960s and ’70s, he didn’t know what to make of his growing sense that he just wasn’t interested in the same thing as his friends -- girls. Was something wrong with him? Could it change? And -- most of all -- were there others who felt the same as he did? Living the Difference is the first in a remarkable coming-of-age series that chronicles Knudson’s quest to understand himself and make his way in the world as a proud gay man. This raw, intensely personal book details his early efforts to inhibit his desires through marriage; to seek out a community of like-minded people; to start a career free from discrimination; to come out to his family and friends; and to find true love, once and for all. More than just one individual’s unique story, Living the Difference is required reading for anyone trying to understand the twentieth-century American gay experience -- in a time before widespread media acceptance and anti-discrimination laws. This heartening yet frankly realistic memoir will also give hope and understanding to those coming to terms with the sexuality of themselves or their loved ones. Its message -- of acceptance, tolerance, and understanding -- provides good counsel, no matter the time or place. 242 pages in length, LIVING THE DIFFERENCE: an enlightening story revealed for people of all ages straight or gay is being aggressively promoted to appropriate markets with a focus on the autobiography category. With U.S. wholesale distribution through Ingram and Baker & Taylor, and pervasive online availability through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and elsewhere, LIVING THE DIFFERENCE meets consumer demand through both retail and library markets with a suggested retail price of $14.95 and $29.95 for the paperback and hardback editions, respectively. Additionally, LIVING THE DIFFERENCE can be ordered by retailers or wholesalers for the maximum trade discount price set by the author in quantities of ten or more from the Outskirts Press Direct bookstore at www.outskirtspress.com/bookstore. ISBN: 9780578062716 Format: 5.5 x 8.5 paperback cream SRP: $14.95 ISBN: 9780578063096 Format: 5.5 x 8.5 hardback w/ jacket SRP: $29.95 For more information or to contact the author, visit www.outskirtspress.com/livingthedifference. About the author: J. C. Knudson was raised in South Dakota and Oklahoma. An entrepreneur and small businessman, he holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration. Knudson and his ex-wife are the parents of two adopted sons; today, Knudson lives with his partner in Oklahoma City. Living the Difference is the first in a planned series. He blogs at www.thegaylyblogger.blogspot.com.

True Romance: Fifty years together, lived out loud

2011-01-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

Photo: MONA REEDER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jack Evans, left, and George Harris are celebrating their 50th anniversary by going on a cruise in April. The portrait behind them was taken on their 40th anniversary.
By KATHLEEN GREEN / Special Contributor
Published 23 January 2011 10:11 AM
More on this story
Jack Evans and George Harris reminisce about their 50-year journey, amazed that it’s gone so fast.
As they recall their accomplishments together — from running a successful real estate business to starting their own networking group to serving on numerous boards — it’s little wonder that half a century has flown by.
Jack and George have been together since they first met at a friend’s bon voyage party on Jan. 19, 1961.
“After three days, there was never any question,” says Jack, now 80.
They shared a love for travel, the arts and community involvement. Jack was in the banking business and George worked in the trucking industry before they decided to join forces in the real estate business.
For nearly a decade, they worked in their own office on Lomo Alto, then moved to Adleta Fine Properties, eventually switching to Ellen Terry Realtors. Spending so much time together might be daunting for most couples, but they’ve made it work.
“We work together and live together, which creates its own challenges,” George says. “Relationships are difficult because we’re all different people, but it’s what you want and what you want out of life. {ellipsis} It takes commitment and you have to care.”
They both agree that hard work and mutual admiration have made it work. George says he admires Jack’s varied palette of interests, from art to photography. And Jack knows that a good book is always a perfect gift for bookworm George. But in their earlier years together, the two had to keep their relationship under wraps.
“Back when we got together, everything was underground,” says George, now 77. “There was no fraternizing. {ellipsis}They only had a couple of gay bars back then. Most of the entertainment was at home. I can’t believe we have gone from getting arrested in bars to dancing at the Anatole at the Black Tie Dinner.”
Times have changed in Dallas and in metro areas across the United States and, as Jack points out, it does get better.
When George was hospitalized for three weeks in 2006, Jack stayed by his side and was pleasantly surprised by how accepting the staff was.
“Not one time during all of that did I have a doctor, an intern or nurse or anybody question what I was there for,” says Jack. Over the years, they both say they’ve worked hard to gain wider acceptance in the world.
When they bought their first home in 1964, they couldn’t get a mortgage under both names, Jack says.
“The first two houses we bought had to be in my name alone because mortgage companies would not allow two people who were not married to borrow money to buy a house,” he says.
Despite all this, Jack and George have made inroads elsewhere. They have been high-profile in both the business and gay-lesbian community, launching the Stonewall Professional Business Association. Their networking group started with a handful of friends at lunch in 1992 and now touts more than 400 members.
“When I got to Dallas and we met up, I said, ‘I want to try to make a difference,’ ” says George, who is working on a book about his ordeal with the military back in the ’50s, having been kicked out because of his sexual orientation.
“I want to set a good example for these kids and that’s what we’ve tried to do with being on these boards.”
But as they head into their golden years, Jack and George have scaled back on such endeavors to make time for art-museum outings and trips, such as an upcoming cruise down the Mexican Riviera to mark their anniversary milestone.
“It’s gone so quickly,” says George. It’s just unbelievable. We’ve had a great time. We’ve had some wonderful houses and good careers. If we can keep our health going, we don’t have any complaints.”
Kathleen Green is a Plano freelance writer. If you have a True Romance suggestion, e-mail dmngreen@sbcglobal.net.

Runway Waiters

2011-01-28T08:08:00.000-08:00

RunwayWaiters is a Model Staffing Agency that combines beauty, style and skills to deliver premier, five-star service! We offer High Fashion and Runway models to enhance special events, parties and upscale marketing campaigns. Clients include Louis Vuitton, Armani Exchange, William Morris Agency, GQ, ABC, DSquared2, Cavali, Hermes, McClaren, UK Playstation, Activision to name a few. We are committed to helping models succeed in the modeling industry by eliminating the struggle of juggling random jobs while going out for castings. We understand the instability of the modeling industry which sometimes can lead to a financial crunch. Therefore, we developed a company that provides models with jobs that are flexible, fun, and well paid. RunwayWaiters is a win/win concept that accommodates both parties. Whether you're a model in need of a job or an event producer looking for models to spark up your venue, RunwayWaiters are here to help you.Our Staff include• Bartenders• Host/Hostess• Cocktail Servers • Wait Staff• Brand Ambassadors• Check in/Door staff• Convention/Trade Shows Spokesmodels• DancersRunwayWaiters has an extensive database of individually screened staff from which to select a team most suited to your particular event. All of our models are carefully hand picked to mantain our very high standards of professional excellence!For Bookings and Inquiries please email RWW@RunwayWaiters.com or call (310)994-6231

Take Me Out

2011-01-27T15:08:00.000-08:00

Much of the play is set in the locker room of a professional baseball team, and as such has an all-male cast and explores themes of homophobia, racism, class and masculinity in sport.
The play's main character, Darren Lemming (portrayed by Daniel Sunjata), is a popular mixed-race baseball player at the peak of his career when he decides to come out. Several of his teammates react strongly (some supportive and accepting, and some not so accepting), and the drama plays out over the course of the baseball season with tragic consequences.
While Glenn Burke was out to teammates and team owners in the 1970s and Billy Bean came out in 1999 after retiring from playing in Major League Baseball for eight seasons, at the time of the writing of this play no major-league baseball player had ever come out to the public during his career. This play is the dramatic exploration of what such an event might be like. Many believe the inspiration for Lemmings is American Major League Baseball player Derek Jeter.

The Next Fairy Tale

2011-01-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

Coming Next to the Mainstage:The Next Fairy Tale A world premiere musical, opening March 11 Previews begin March 2

Book, Music and Lyrics by Brian PugachDirected by Michael ShepperdProduced by John Michael Beck, Ryan Bergmann, Parnell Damone, Cameron Faber and Brian PugachMusic Direction and Vocal Arrangements by Wayne MooreChoreographed by Jeffrey Polk
Featuring (*Members of Actors' Equity): Rachel Genevieve*, Christopher Maikish*, Gina Torrecilla*, Kendra Munger*, Patrick Gomez, Charls Sedgwick Hall*, Stephanie Fredricks*, Nell Teare*, Vash Bodie and Ben Caron*The Fairy Godmothers had never hesitated to help a hero save his true love--but then again, they had never met one whose true love was a fellow prince. Now, as Copernicus and his unlikely Godmother Hazel begin a quest like no other, the storybook world stands on the brink of change...and forces are gathering to stop it at all costs.
Tune in to the The Next Fairy Tale's first radio interview tomorrow at 7:30AM airing on http://www.vendini.com/e/rd.php?id=28806944&cid=23678&link_number=12&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kclafm.com.

Nowhere Boy

2011-01-27T14:13:00.000-08:00

Imagine... John Lennon's childhood. Liverpool, 1955: a smart and troubled fifteen–year–old is hungry for experience. In a family full of secrets, two incredible women clash over John: Mimi, the buttoned–up aunt who raised him, and Julia, the prodigal mother. Yearning for a normal family, John escapes into the new and exciting world of rock 'n' roll where his fledgling genius finds a kindred spirit in the teenage Paul McCartney. Just as John begins his new life, tragedy strikes. But a resilient young man finds his voice—and an icon explodes into the world.

1313 NIGHTMARE MANSION

2011-01-25T16:58:00.000-08:00

The winner of Survivor 21: Nicaragua, Judd Birza (who was known as “Fabio” on the show) has been busy since winning the million dollar prize. It seems the stud is staying true to what you’d expect from someone who goes by the name of “Fabio,” starring in this very sexual, cheeseball movie where he is apparently in his underwear the whole time. The film is called “1313: Nightmare Mansion”. The plot: “In 1313 Nightmare Mansion, a demonic young man lures his high school classmates to a party so that he can sacrifice their souls and bring his dead mother, killed during the Salem witch trials 300 years ago, back to life.”It’s like a gay Fabio romance novel come to life. The funny thing is, one of the taglines for the movie is “A Supernatural Thriller For Girls”. HA! Try for GAYS! When you watch the trailer, you’ll see what I mean: Guys in their underwear, caressing each other talking about their desires, Fabio licking a knife like a shaft at the command of another half naked guy, and lines like, “Where did my clothes go?”
The film by Vancouver’s own David DeCoteau may look cheesy, but I can’t help but want to watch it. I love thrillers and well, pair that up with guys with amazing bodies walking around in tighty whities the whole time…grab the popcorn, It’s “Girls (or Gays in this case) Night In In!”

THE FIX-UP SHOW

2011-01-25T13:33:00.000-08:00

Just in Time for Valentine's Day!
THE FIX-UP SHOW
Hosted by J. Keith van Straaten

Returns to L.A. By Popular Demand.

WHAT: Drew Carey, Dick Cavett, Jeff Garlin, Alex Borstein, Susan Olsen, Aasif Mandvi, and Will Wheaton are among the stars who recently joined this live-on-stage panel/matchmaking comedy show, where real celebrity guests help real singles looking for love. Two strangers get fixed up on a date before your eyes, as Host/Creator J. Keith van Straaten (“Beat The Geeks,” “What’s My Line? – Live On Stage”) keeps things running with spontaneity, civility, and fun. Celebrity guests for this run will be announced shortly. Updated info available at http://www.thefixupshow.com/.

WHEN: Wednesdays at 8pm February 2 (w/Margaret Cho), 9 (w/Doug Benson), 16, 23 (w/Tippi Hedren)
March 2 (W/Bruce Vilanch), 9 (W/Alan Thicke), 16, 23, 30
WHERE: ACME Comedy Theatre – 135 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. 90036

TICKETS: $15 at door. $12 in advance via www.thefixupshow.com

PHONE/WEB: (646) 450-4FIX [4349] / http://www.thefixupshow.com/ / twitter: @thefixupshow

INFO: THE FIX-UP SHOW brings together a panel of three people—two who know an eligible single well, and one celebrity who has never met the person—and has them interrogate potential suitors to make a match. The matched pair wins a meal at Amalfi restaurant and goes on a real date! How did our panel do? Find out next week!
It’s “I’ve Got A Secret” meets “Love Connection” –live on the Los Angeles stage. A dating show with heart –spontaneity, hilarity, and civility are guaranteed. Old or young, gay or straight, all are given a chance to find love on THE FIX-UP SHOW.

WHO: Host/Producer J. Keith van Straaten hosted "What's My Line? - Live on Stage," and Comedy Central's TV game show “Beat The Geeks” and is often seen commenting on E! Entertainment Television. His essays on dating and Los Angeles have appeared in The Jewish Journal, Tango, and Backstage. More at http://www.jkeith.net/.Co-hostess Patti Goettlicher returns to “The Fix-Up Show” after appearing in the successful New York run. She also played hostess to J. Keith during the New York run of “What's My Line? - Live On Stage.”Celebrity guests for this run will be announced shortly. Updated info available at http://www.thefixupshow.com/.

RuPaul's Drag Race

2011-01-24T19:16:00.001-08:00

She's BACK! Monday's are a drag when RuPaul makes her glorious return to Logo with the biggest, glitziest, campiest reality competition show on TV. An all NEW season of RuPaul's Drag Race brings you a brand new cast of astounding queens, all vying for the coveted title of America's Next Drag Superstar. Tune in tonight at starting at 9pm for the Casting Extravaganza followed by the first episode at 10pm!

Greg Rempe's BBQ Sauce

2011-01-17T13:09:00.000-08:00

Here is the famous Greg Rempe's BBQ Sauce...Enjoy it.

2 cups - Apple Cider Vinegar1 1/4 cups - ketchup1/2 cup - beer1/2 cup - water1/2 cup - brown sugar1/2 cup - cloverleaf honey1/2 teaspoon - black pepper2 teaspoon - Good chili powder1 teaspoon - onion powder1 teaspoon - garlic powder1 teaspoon - celery salt6 shakes of Worcestershire sauce

Combine all ingredients in to a sauce pot...bring up to just a boil then reduce heat to med-low...cook until desired consistency (I usually cook for about 3hrs or so until a really dark red color is achieved). Remember, the sauce will be very thin starting out...as it cooks, the sauce will reduce and thicken up...also, during the reduction the taste will become more "concentrated" or "rich"...so taste test through the cooking process. Stir a few times an hour.

If you want to add heat, use cayenne pepper or some kind of "pepper jelly"...I use Texas Pepper Jelly (Pineapple Hanbenero) in mine... buy the big jar and add 1/2 the product at the end to let in cook in to the sauce. That website is http://www.texaspepperjelly.com/

Theater Review DADDY

2011-01-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

DADDY plays at the Hudson Theater, Main Stage located at
6539 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, CA. January 8th to February 13th. This play is written my Dan Via and directed by Rick Sparks stars Gerald McCullouch from CSI fame. Ian Verdun and Dan Via. Jeffrey Patrick Olson, Nik Roybal & Rene Ruiz make up the rest of the cast. Curtin is 8 PM, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays and 7 PM Sundays.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with my friends that a recommendation to see Daddy would not only disappoint for any serious theater aficionado, but also less frequent attendees.
The only scene where I became enraptured by the cast… was the curtain call. At that point, their smiles radiated a genuine humanity that was missing from the previous 90 minutes.
I can’t point out any outrageous flaws with the book / script, other ten the proscenium was breached at one scene and they had out dated repetitive baseball coverage looped over and over. I have to call it a one-trick-pony which is pretty much true. Outside of typical relationship squabbles that weren’t particularly interesting (and a few light giggles), the play relies on “the revelation” near the end. I’m a little slow on the uptake, but I received the telegraph loud and clear before the delivery men showed up.
The “intense emotional” segments seemed to accelerate from zero to sixty within seconds. Suddenly, a shouting match! That’s partly the script and partly the fault of the director. I believe that all of the principals could do a slow burn that explodes, but little of that came across. There was a developing tension between the characters, but it seemed so forced and scripted that I couldn’t enter into “their world”.
That is, perhaps, the biggest sin of this production: I NEVER forgot that I was watching a play. I didn’t become emotionally committed to any of the characters and I usually have tons of empathy to spare. (One the extras – nice beard and nice butt – provided eye-candy now and then, but that’s not nearly enough to build a show upon.)
I felt I was watching a production a good two weeks away from opening night. I have seen high school productions that grabbed me more then this performance did.
The staging? Fine. I wasn’t really bothered – or actually aware of – the actors moving from mark to mark most of the time.
Gratuitous nudity? It wouldn’t hurt, but I don’t think it would save the production.
I love to love plays. But this one falls significantly short of some of the “classic” plays I’ve seen produced by a good amateur Troupe.
DADDY plays at the Hudson Theater, Main Stage located at
6539 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, CA. January 8th to February 13th. for tickets call 323-960-7738 or go to www.plays411.com/daddy

Guy Windsor's official review of Confusion of My Illusion for "The Alternative with Terry LeGrand"

2010-04-06T23:44:00.000-07:00

Show – Confusion of My Illusion
Starring – Kelly Mantle
Reviewed by – Guy Windsor
Directed by – Jon Imparato
Venue – LA Gay and Lesbian Center, Hollywood, CA

I recently had the pleasure of attending opening night of “Confusion of My Illusion” starring Kelly Mantle. Mantle is the gender-bending nephew of baseball legend and American Icon, Mickey Mantle.

The show is based on Kelly’s struggle to define himself and herself in this world and in Hollywood and opens with Kelly portraying the biblical character “Eve.” Sitting atop a golden staircase, surrounded by clouds and dressed in white, Kelly strums her guitar and sings of struggle, defiance and determination. The alternative look at this character and biblical references twisted by her song lyrics weren’t my favorite part of the show, but could definitely be viewed as one’s own personal view and accepted as an artistic dramatization, in which some audience members found humorous but others may have found themselves slightly uncomfortable as I did.

As Kelly made her first costume change, the audience was treated to a video segment in which Kelly portrays his/her mother. This was superbly written and very funny. I had hoped we would see more of these segments throughout the show but alas this was the only glimpse into Kelly’s on screen character portrayal. Later in the show, Kelly talks about how she is cast for transsexual characters in film and television, which was funny and sad at the same time. The fact that so many actors are pigeonholed into roles that the world of casting only sees them playing because all too often casting directors are unable to see outside the box really makes exploring all sides of your talent difficult.

Kelly introduces us to her “Black-Up Singers” played by Lawrencia Dandridge and Miss Barbie Q, who are both talented as vocalists and offered some humorous background to Kelly’s songs and monologues.

Mantle offers some irreverent and interesting looks into the world of a two spirit identity searching for truth. love and stardom in Hollywood. Some of the references in the show like “Satellite Baby” went over my head at first but I caught on later and I enjoyed the revisions of songs like “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” and “Putting It Together.” But the acoustic version of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” was probably my favorite as Kelly sat on the dimly lit staircase and strummed her guitar.

My least favorite part of the show though was Kelly’s foray into the world of politics as she rambled on for 20 minutes about her running into George Bush Jr. at her Uncle Mickey’s funeral. This portion of the show just didn’t fit in to me, nor did it seem really necessary other than to demonstrate Kelly’s fierceness and strength, which could have been done in some other way than a 20 minute monologue. And speaking of Uncle Mickey… I understand that being the nephew of an American Icon is something to be proud of but I felt the show concentrated on the fact that Mickey Mantle has a gender-bending nephew, which I’m sure that EVERY American Icon has someone in their family with an identity crisis. Now if Mickey Mantle had been a huge protester of the Gay community and rallied to destroy our rights and our growing strength in this world, THEN I would be amazed at how he could handle himself in such a way when he would be fighting against someone in his own family. But Mickey was supportive of Kelly, and that in itself should be recognized but should it be the focus of a theatrical event?

Would I recommend “Confusion of My Illusion” to the LA Theatre going audience?... YES, IF and only IF you are curious about the choices and struggles of a gender-bending actor/actress. Kelly is no doubt talented and witty, but the show left me wanting more fun and less statement.

A special Thanks to Director Jon Imparato for inviting me to opening weekend and Kelly Mantle for giving me a look into her life. Many Blessing to you both for continued success and happiness!

Confusion of My Illusion is playing through April 11th at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center in the Davidson/Valenti Theatre. For tickets and information please call 323-860-7300.

Are Video Games Getting Gayer?

2010-02-27T20:22:00.000-08:00

While gay representation in video games is decades behind TV and film -- some argue games haven't yet had their Birdcage, let alone their Brokeback -- a few new games have the potential to change everything.

By Bryan Ochalla

Video games have grown up a lot in the last few years, “but we still haven’t seen the kind of normalization [of LGBT characters and story lines] that we’ve seen in movies and on TV for some time,” laments Brenda Brathwaite, a veteran game designer and the author of Sex in Video Games. “We still haven’t had our Brokeback Mountain moment.”

Actually, it could be argued -- and quite convincingly -- that video games haven’t yet had their Birdcage moment. After all, the few LGBT characters and story lines that find their way into today’s titles tend to showcase stereotypes that haven’t been big-screen staples for a few decades.

Still, gay gamers are given more to work with than they were in the past. Case in point: Persona 4, a role-playing game released late last year for the PlayStation 2. The title features what many consider the first character in a mainstream video game to confront his homosexuality in a realistic and meaningful manner.

Another recent release, Fable II for the Xbox 360, takes things a few steps further by allowing players to hit on, have sex with, and even marry members of the same gender.

“That’s a fantasy that hasn't been fully realized in the real world,” says David Edison, an editor at GayGamer.net. So not only is the title ahead of the times in terms of video games, “it's ahead of the actual times.”

The medium should make even more strides this fall when Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony is released for the Xbox 360. Although no one outside the offices of developer Rockstar North knows how much gay content will make it into the game -- only the titular Tony is a given at this point -- Edison believes it will be groundbreaking nonetheless.

“Whether they’re gay or straight or black or white,” he says, gamers “will see the word gay every time they look at [the title].”

GAY Athletes Get Own Accomidations at Winter Olympics

2010-02-23T12:09:00.000-08:00

Oh, Canada! GayWhistler has announced that gay athletes will get their own meeting place in Whistler. The facility will include a meeting area, lounge, TV, and most importantly, a safe place for gay athletes and their friends. This is the first time a specific house has been created based on sexual orientation.

Personally, I think this is a great step to make gay athletes feel more accepted, create common bonds and friendships in the world of sports which rarely touches on the topic of homosexuality beyond a heated slur during the moment of battle.

At first thought, I questioned the need for a safe haven for gay athletes. With the thousands of competitors, I can hardly think of any active out athletes beyond a spattering of figure skaters and a tribe of lesbian softball players. Outsports.com reports that there were only 10 out gay athletes in the Beijing games. Perhaps GayWhistler is banking on the “Field of Dreams” technique that “If you build it, they will come”. With a number of participating countries where homosexuality is still considered taboo, having a safe haven in an already liberal Vancouver could give them that push to accept and embrace their sexuality without the social pressures from their home country.

Although, this is an important step in accepting gay athletes, the ratio of openly gay athletes to total athletes is still alarmingly low. Some, like Judo athlete Lauren Meece, believe that their first priority should be to focus on their goal for gold and that gays should “shut up” so they can focus on winning. Although I can understand that argument, the goal of sporting competition goes beyond a final medal count. The spirit of the sport and the Olympic games is about respect between athletes and teammates, acceptance of political, religious and sexual differences and the emergence of role models sparked by dramatic story lines. Gay athletes are not expected to raise the pride flag higher than their country colors; but the mere appearance and honest participation from a gay athlete plants the seed for a solid gay role model in a land that is often lacking beyond the iconic cliches.

I can just imagine the excitement if a soccer, hockey, or basketball player came out during their playing career. I can hear the ground break and stereotypes shatter when the first sprinter, first boxer, first snowboarder reveals beyond being an elite athlete, they also happen to be gay. How many kids would it teach that embracing their sexuality and fostering their sport are not mutually exclusive?

In a perfect world there would be no need for the Whistler Pride house as the mentioning of a gay athlete would be a by-line in the biography opposed to the headline. In this imperfect world there’s solace that perhaps a safe athlete house will build that foundation of acceptance within sportsmanship. I do wonder how many athletes will take advantage of this house, but sometimes the mere option is enough to get the ball rolling.

Black Cat Bar/Cafe in San Francisco

2010-02-18T08:43:00.000-08:00

The Black Cat Bar or Black Cat Café was a bar in San Francisco, California. It opened in 1906 and closed in 1921. The Black Cat re-opened in 1933 and operated for another 30 years. During its second run of operation, it was a hangout for Beats and bohemians but over time began attracting more and more of a gay clientele. Because it catered to gays, the bar became a flashpoint for the nascent homophile movement. The Black Cat was at the center of a legal fight that was one of the earliest court cases to establish legal protections for gay people in the United States. Despite this victory, continued pressure from law enforcement agencies eventually forced the bar's closure in 1964.

The Black Cat opened in 1906, shortly after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. When entrepreneur Charles Ridley acquired the bar in 1911, he turned it into a showplace for vaudeville-style acts. Over the next several years, Ridley and the Black Cat came under increased police scrutiny as a possible center of prostitution. In 1921, the bar lost its dance permit and closed down.[1]

Beats and bohemians
With the repeal of Prohibition, the Black Cat re-opened in 1933 at 710 Montgomery Street,[2] again under Ridley's proprietorship.[1] Sol Stoumen bought the bar in the 1940s.[3] In the early years of Stoumen's ownership, the Black Cat was a center for the bohemian and Beat crowd. William Saroyan and John Steinbeck were known to frequent the establishment, and part of Jack Kerouac's seminal Beat novel On the Road is set in the bar.

Growing gay clientele
While the Beats continued to congregate at the Black Cat into the 1950s, in the years following World War II, more and more gay people began patronizing it. The varied crowds mixed and gay Beat poet Allen Ginsberg described the Black Cat as "the best gay bar in America. It was totally open, bohemian, San Francisco...and everybody went there, heterosexual and homosexual....All the gay screaming queens would come, the heterosexual gray flannel suit types, longshoremen. All the poets went there."[5] By 1951, the bar was placed on the Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board's list of establishments from which military personnel were forbidden.[3]

The bar featured live entertainers, the best known of whom was José Sarria. Sarria, who began as a waiter, wore drag and entertained the crowd by singing parodies of popular torch songs. Eventually he performed three to four shows a night, along with a regular Sunday afternoon show, with Sarria performing full arias. His specialty was a re-working of Bizet's opera Carmen, set in modern-day San Francisco. Sarria as Carmen would prowl through popular cruising area Union Square. The audience cheered "Carmen" on as she dodged the vice squad and made her escape.[5]

The interior of the bar. Tables were pushed together to form a makeshift stage for live entertainment. Image courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public LibrarySarria encouraged patrons to be as open and honest as possible, exhorting the clientele, "There's nothing wrong with being gay–the crime is getting caught," and "United we stand, divided they catch us one by one."[6] At closing time, he would lead patrons in singing "God Save Us Nelly Queens" to the tune of "God Save the Queen". Sometimes he would take the crowd outside to sing the final verse to the men across the street in jail, who had been arrested in raids earlier in the night.[6] Speaking of this ritual in the film Word is Out (1977), gay journalist George Mendenhall said:

"It sounds silly, but if you lived at that time and had the oppression coming down from the police department and from society, there was nowhere to turn...and to be able to put your arms around other gay men and to be able to stand up and sing 'God Save Us Nelly Queens'...we were really not saying 'God Save Us Nelly Queens.' We were saying 'We have our rights, too.'"[7]

Sarria became the first openly gay candidate in the United States to run for public office, running in 1961 for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.[8] Sarria almost won by default. On the last day for candidates to file petitions, city officials realized that there were fewer than five candidates running for the five open seats, which would have assured Sarria a seat. By the end of the day, 34 candidates had filed.[9] Sarria garnered some 6,000 votes,[8] shocking political pundits and setting in motion the idea that a gay voting bloc could wield real power in city politics.[10] As Sarria put it, "From that day on, nobody ran for anything in San Francisco without knocking on the door of the gay community."[11]

Police harassment
In 1948, the San Francisco Police Department and the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, in response to the Black Cat's increasing homosexual clientele, began a campaign of harassment against the bar and its patrons. Bar owner Stoumen was charged with such crimes as "keeping a disorderly house" and the State Board of Equalization suspended the bar's liquor license indefinitely. In response and on principle, Stoumen, who was heterosexual, took the state to court. In 1951, the California Supreme Court, in Stoumen v. Reilly (37 Cal.2d 713) ruled that "[i]n order to establish 'good cause' for suspension of plaintiff's license, something more must be shown than that many of his patrons were homosexuals and that they used his restaurant and bar as a meeting place." This was one of the earliest legal affirmations of the rights of gay people in the United States. The court qualified its opinion, however, by stating that ABC might still close gay bars with "proof of the commission of illegal or immoral acts on the premises."[12]

In response to this legal victory and based on the "illegal or immoral acts" language of the opinion, the state passed a constitutional amendment creating the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The California State Assembly in 1955 passed a law authorizing broad powers for the ABC to shut down any "resort [for] sexual perverts." The Black Cat was shut down under this authority, along with a number of other establishments. In a test case involving an Oakland bar, Valerga v. Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the supreme court struck down this new law as unconstitutional. This decision was not a complete victory, as the court noted that had the ABC's revocation been based on "reports of women dancing with other women and women kissing other women" it might have upheld the law. Homosexuals, therefore, had won the right to assemble but only if they agreed not to touch.[12]

Police and city officials responded to the increasing visibility of the Black Cat and other gay bars in the city, and the Black Cat's success in court, by increasingly cracking down, staging more frequent raids and mass arrests. One favorite tactic was to arrest drag queens, since impersonating a member of the opposite sex was, at the time, a crime. Sarria responded by passing out labels for the drag queens to wear reading "I am a boy" so it could not be claimed they were impersonating women.[13]

Closure
By 1963, following some 15 years of unrelenting pressure from the police and the ABC, Stoumen decided he was no longer able financially to sustain the fight. The cost of his long legal battle was more than $38,000.[5] Sarria tried to enlist the owners of the city's other gay bars to help Stoumen pay his legal bills, but none offered any assistance. The ABC lifted the bar's liquor license in 1963, the night before its annual Halloween party. After a final defiant Halloween celebration at which only non-alcoholic beverages were served and an attempt to survive on food and soft drink sales, the Black Cat closed down for good in February 1964.[14]

The site is now the location of Bocadillos, a tapas-style restaurant. On December 15, 2007, a plaque commemorating the Black Cat and its place in San Francisco history was placed at the site

IN MEMORY OF LAWRENCE KING - A CHALLENGE

2010-02-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

This past weekend marked the second anniversary of the murder of teenage student Lawrence King. He was killed at his own school after being bullied and harassed for being openly and unashamedly Gay amongst his peers for some time. Clearly, he was offered no effective support or protection despite all the red flags that were evident before his life was ended. All young people have a right to safety and effective support in our schools and high schools. Lawrence's death is tragic and completely unacceptable. It also presents us with an opportunity to examine what is wrong in our own LGBT communities as well as what is lacking in terms of safety precautions in our schools. It is easy to point fingers at the failings in our school systems to address homophobia effectively.

However, there is another issue that is not so easy to discuss and acknowledge amongst ourselves. I am speaking specifically about the sexism and homophobia that exist within our own LGBT communities that allow young people like Lawrence King to get thrown to the wolves. Right after his murder, the editorials started popping up everywhere suggesting that part of what caused Lawrence King to get killed was perhaps our own LGBT community's trend to support LGBT visibility. The implications that these editorials were making was that young Lawrence had perhaps made himself more of a "target" by being "out" and flamboyantly Gay amongst his peers at school. This way of thinking suggests that LGBTQ youth like Lawrence are often victimized by our own community's support of everyone's right to be out and proud at any age. A great majority of these comments were written and published by and for members of our own LGBT communities.

My response to these comments is that LGBTQ youth like Lawrence King will continue to be bullied and killed as long as we preserve such homophobic and sexist thinking within our own communities. Students who are picked on for being "different" have always been tormented and brutalized. It didn't take Gay Liberation to single them out, and there will always be those young people and adults who cannot or choose not to "blend" with their peers or the mainstream. Protection, the right to safety, and the right to respect at school or in the workplace should not be contingent on which young men are the most "butch" acting and which young women appear the most "feminine." This type of rationalization for the killing of young people like Lawrence King is a slap in the face to countless Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender youth who do not, or cannot, adjust their appearances or behaviors to fit heterosexist stereotypes of conventional masculine and feminine "norms." Until we confront the hatred of all things "feminine" that allow our own communities to disown Drag Queens, Transgender people, or others who dare to be different, the killings will not stop.

I was appalled by the editorials that followed Lawrence King's murder that suggested that he had been encouraged to be a target by believing that he had the right to be as different as he chose to be at school. This message is a throwback to embracing closeted behavior as a remedy for homophobic attacks. That would produce another kind of death. It is the death that comes from denying the true spirit of any individual to flourish and grow naturally without being shamed or denied the love that every individual deserves.

So, in honor of the spirit that young individuals like Lawrence King revealed, I challenge our own communities to stop shaming those who dare to be different. It's about saving lives, and it's about time.
Joe Mannetti

In Honor of Lawrence King,
Joe Mannetti

GSA Network News
February 17, 2010

Greetings!

In this edition of GSA Network News, we share words and pictures from the candlelight vigil honoring Lawrence King on February 12. We are so thankful for the youth leaders who organized the event, and for all GSA activists who are fighting to make our schools safer.

We also announce our upcoming events for GSA youth across the state. Enjoy!

In solidarity,
GSA Network

NETWORK NEWS HIGHLIGHT:
Youth Keep Lawrence King's Memory Alive

On February 12, 2010, the second anniversary of the shooting of Lawrence King, over 40 GSA activists and allies from throughout Southern California gathered at Los Angeles City Hall to hold a candlelight vigil in memory of Lawrence King and share their stories of harassment and bullying, as well as to call for an end to the violence in our schools. The vigil was organized by Isaiah Baiseri (Glendora High), Glenna Colerider-Krugh (South Pasadena High), Charisse Delk (Arrow High), JT Mendoza (Santa Susana High), Marissa Minnick (Torrey Pines High), Giuliana Pe Benito (Westlake Hig), Pablo Ramirez (Lincoln High), and A. Robin (Granada Hills High), all members of GSA Network's Southern California Youth Council. The vigil featured youth speakers as well as teacher allies.

We asked some youth who attended why they were at the vigil and what Lawrence King meant to them. This is what they shared:

"With sass and charisma, Lawrence King stood taller than many LGBTQ individuals have ever done so in the generations that have gone by. We gathered to mourn, to pay tribute, to lend our hearts to brothers and sisters, but most importantly, to stress an awareness that the LGBTQ community stands together, united and strong with hope and pride."
- King Chan, Reid High

"I am here to listen to the story of Lawrence's life. He touched so many people.
- Branne Demongigny, Whitcomb High

"I'm here because I support the LGBT Community 100%! I was so sad about Lawrence's death. He will never be forgotten."
- Sonia Rivera, Lincoln High

"I came to bring awareness about harassment and violence and to increase my knowledge about this increasingly powerful and strong community."
- Tiffany Tan, Lincoln High

"Tonight, we were all as one, joining together to express who we truly are with no hate and discrimination. We promoted acceptance for everyone tonight."
- Faith Tabayoyong, Hoover High

"I came in remembrance of a brave human being, and because all of these amazing youth inspire me."
- Diana Bui, community member

"Lawrence's death was wrong. No one deserves to die for being who they were born to be. That is what tonight is about."
- Billie Barragan, Hawthorne Math and Science Academy

"Why does it take someone's death to make the world lift a finger against the violence in our schools that we live through everyday?"
- Manuel Cuevas, Belmont High

"The Vigil allowed me to look back at Lawrence King's struggles and realize that even though his death sparked some change, we still have a long way to go."
- Marissa Minnick, Torrey Pines High
LAWRENCE KING

Clear Channel Communications is interested in signing radio shock jock Howard Stern.

2010-01-25T16:44:00.000-08:00

The nation's largest radio station owner, and the home of conservatives Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, confirmed its interest in Stern to The Associated Press on Monday.

Calls and e-mails to Stern's agent, Don Buchwald, and Stern's current employer, Sirius XM Radio Inc., were not immediately returned.

Stern's five-year, $500 million contract with Sirius expires at the end of the year.

John Hogan, CEO of Clear Channel's radio division, told Bloomberg BusinessWeek earlier that the company's interest depends on whether Stern would be willing to work within the limitations of over-the-air radio. The Federal Communications Commission restricts broadcasts of profanity and other indecent material.

Joe Manetti - International Daddy Bear 2009

2010-01-22T21:28:00.000-08:00

Our in studio guest this week is Joe Mannetti, Joe, is an openly Gay actor, outreach activist, and freelance writer. He grew up in New York, and he moved to Southern California in 1986. In the past several years he has devoted his time to serving the LGBT communities as an HIV Testing Counselor, a Public Speaker with groups including G.L.I.D.E. (Gays & Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality), and a Fundraiser for support services that benefit Transgender people, LGBT youth, and individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS. He put himself through graduate school earning a Master of Science degree in Counseling, and he is the current Mr. International Daddy Bear 2009. Film projects that he will be appearing in include a documentary about body image diversity by award winning filmmaker Julian Dahl and a cameo in TLA Releasing’s “BearCity.” He was named “Best Bear Fundraiser” in the “Best of the Bears 2009” poll conducted by The Complete Bear website. Joe’s believes that “…it is those who dare to be different that truly make the world a better place for all of us.”

Comments from Margaret Hoover (President Hoover's Grandaughter)

2010-01-20T13:33:00.000-08:00

Gays and lesbians are our friends, neighbors, doctors, colleagues, sisters and brothers. Does it sit well with you that because of their sexual orientation, a factor outside one's control, that they should have less rights and protections in the eyes of the law? While increasing acceptance of gays marks my generational experience--Ellen DeGeneres is welcomed into the living rooms of millions of Americans daily, an impossibility in even my childhood-- many who are older than me fear that if gays and lesbians can marry, what's next? They worry that homosexual marriage degrades the integrity of heterosexual marriage. They fear that their children might be exposed to alternative lifestyles that will impact them negatively, or argue that the purpose of marriage is procreation. If you are uncomfortable with gay marriage, I encourage you to pay attention to this trial, the plaintiffs, the defense and the spectrum of experts, historians, psychologists, economists, political scientists, who will testify as to the effects and detriment of Proposition 8. In the words of NAACP chairman Julian Bond, "The humanity of all Americans is diminished when any group is denied rights granted to others."

Party Stopper? Cindy McCain Joins NOH8 Campaign.

2010-01-20T12:17:00.000-08:00

As literal Republicans publicly and proudly move to the center to distance the party from the winout Tea Baggers, are we, the GLBT, thrown into an identity crisis?

We had a presidential candidate who campaigned for our community’s votes on a platform of swift change and respect. We would up with a president who, for whatever reason, will no longer vocalize solidarity with our civil rights movement, even now as his words are used against us in the Prop 8 trial here in California.

On the other homo hand, we have Republicans such as Ted Olson who are arguing against Obama’s remarks on behalf of marriage equality in said trial. Yup, Republicans are starting to come out as fierce advocates who deliver.

And then we have Cindy McCain (wife of John and mother of fiesty queer-ally Megan) leaving some of us scratching our gorgeous, chiseled chins after posing for Adam Bouska's NOH8 Campaign. (To which Megan Twatted: "I couldn't be more proud of my mother for posing for the NOH8 campaign. I think more republicans need to start taking a stand for equality and civil rights in this country and set the example that this is not a partisan issue.”)

The Golden Gays

2010-01-12T05:43:00.001-08:00

This week Sunday, January 17 we have "The Golden Gays" a great group of guys with lots of talent. They sort of emulate the Golden Girls, exept they use song and well you have to tune in to find out how this all came about. So make sure you tune in this Sunday to LATALK Radio at 6 PM (PST)

Thank You First Show Guests

2010-01-12T05:40:00.000-08:00

My first show went really well and I want to thank my guests, Don Duncan and Richard Eastrman. We talked about Medical Marijuana in Los Angeles and I have to say it was a lively discussion. The vote for regulations in the city come up this Wednesday, so we all have to wait and see what happens. I hope to get them back on the show soon so they can give us an update....Again thanks to both guests for taking out the time to be with me.

When Scary Jesus Makes The News

2010-01-08T14:57:00.000-08:00

When scary Jesus makes the news
By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist

Friday, January 8, 2010

Will it be drugs? Will it be gays? Will it be an unwieldy sex scandal featuring seedy hotels, bad cologne and grossly detailed text messages you never want to read? How about another "family values"' congressman busted for cruising gay chat rooms or hitting on young male pages in the congressional bathroom? That's always heartwarming.
Or maybe it will be another enchanting case of sexual abuse and pedophilia in the Catholic Church! What, too 2001? Fine, how about six decades of child rape and beatings at the hands of countless nuns and priests in Irish Catholic orphanages? Oh right, that was last year. The pope slamming birth control in Africa? Megachurch pastors shamelessly fleecing their gullible flock for still more millions? Some spectacular combination of the above? So many choices! What's your pleasure, good reader?

Of one thing you can be absolutely certain: whenever self-righteous Christians make the news, it's going to be... embarrassing. Sad. Sickening. Disingenuous. A little dangerous. A lot pitiable.

Homophobic? Frequently. Hypocritical? Invariably. Deeply ignorant of the real teachings of the true, mystical, renegade, anti-authority Jesus, who was about as far from the modern Pentecostal evangelical fundamentalist organized-religion worldview as a vegan from a Kansas slaughterhouse? You already know the answer.

All of which makes it delightful -- in that nauseatingly familiar sort of way -- to read the story about the Northern California evangelicals whose repulsive views on homosexuality and "curing" gay people reportedly helped shape a new, violently anti-gay bill in Uganda.

Did you see? The New York Times piece about how Ugandan officials took the American evangelicals' beliefs about the best ways to punish/reform "evil" gays to its natural conclusion, and decided, if all other forcible rehab options fail, it would be perfectly appropriate to simply exterminate the homosexuals?

I mean, why not? If it's certifiably evil, if you can't "cure" it, if it scares the livestock, transmits disease, preys upon young boys and makes the older men fantasize in dangerous and uneasy ways, if God (not really) said it was an abomination, what's the problem?

Of course, the radical evangelicals in question were -- or at least pretended to be -- horrified at this practical summation of their views, immediately wrote panicky letters to Ugandan officials to correct their unfortunate "misinterpretation," as damn well they should have.

"No, no, no!" they sort of said. "We didn't mean actually kill them. That would be wrong. We simply meant gently, lovingly rehabilitate. You know: drugs, imprisonment, maybe some beatings, public humiliation, brainwashing, genital torture, electroshock therapy like the Mormons used to do.

"Barring that, just do what we do in America: psychological torment in the form of relentless, crushing guilt. This will make the evil gay feel so suicidally depressed about his perfectly natural desires, his body, his emotions, who he is as a living soul on this planet, he's bound to come around. See, like most major religions of the world, we work to shame the sinner so horribly that if he doesn't kill himself, you'll end up with a fine, completely numb soldier of Christ! But don't actually kill them. Heavens!"

Ugandan officials, apparently a bit confused about just how this crazy evangelical thing works, agreed to re-draft the bill and take out the killing stuff. "You extremist Christians are so weird," they seemed to say, rolling their eyes.

It's a story that folds in nicely with the sad little furor regarding tired ol' Brit Hume over at Fox News, a slumpy veteran talking head who recently muttered something gently asinine on the air about Tiger Woods, Buddhism and converting Tiger to the land of happy fuzzy Christ.

Indeed, Hume suggested during a broadcast that Tiger would do well to renounce his sinful ways, pack up his little Temple O' Buddhism and move to Sweet Home Jesuslandia, home of Ted Haggard, Carrie Prejean and thousands of priests who are no longer allowed to touch children -- where all is safe and redemptive and no one has much sex, and if they do it's certainly not very much fun and doesn't last more than 90 seconds in the dark in the congressional bathroom. So thoughtful you are, Brit!

So then. Is the mildly offensive part how Hume tried to convert Tiger on national TV? Is it how he obviously doesn't understand much about Buddhism and how it pre-dates Christianity by hundreds, if not thousands, of years? Or is it how Hume won't apologize and is now claiming Christian persecution as a result of being so pseudo-righteous? All of the above? Does it even matter?

Of course it doesn't. But I have to admit, ever since Dubya so mercifully slumped off the national stage and hauled his fractured, dejected army of Christian fundamentalists with him, the stories about unfortunate imbecility, sexual misadventure and righteous indignation in the name of Christ have slowed to a mere trickle. Which is not a bad thing at all, really.

Oh sure, they're still out there, but the Christian right no longer dominates the national dialogue as it once did. Now the Jesus crusaders have largely been replaced by an even sillier and more fringe bunch -- birthers and teabaggers and such -- citizens who don't even have the excuse of a misinterpreted, fear-based faith to back their biases and anxieties. Now they just have ... Glenn Beck.

No matter. We can all safely assume millions of good, reasonable Christians were just as disgusted as anyone over the fringe evangelical hatred on display in the Uganda story. And most would even agree that Hume was a bit of a jackass for daring to "correct" anyone's faith, especially one of the great, peaceful religions of the world, even on a network as shamelessly right-wing and morally unhinged as Fox News.

In that sense, these two stories point to a broader truth: Never forget to be thankful, humble pilgrim, when you stumble over barbed tales like this, that times have changed, are changing, keep right on changing ... usually for the better. In other words, as dire or inane as these stories may seem, offer a moment of heaping, divine gratitude that it's not like it used to be. And with any luck, it never will be again.

Hell, you can bet even Jesus is grateful for that.

Thank You Fans

2010-01-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

Well we made our initial goal of 200 plus fans before air time. Thanks to everyone for making this happen. I will do my best to not dissapoint you and keep up my commitment to bring you good informative radio. Go to our upcoming guest list on this website and give me any suggestions or comments you may have. This is the beginning of a new year and a new relationship with you. Luv Ya

My New Venture

2010-01-08T08:39:00.000-08:00

We are launching our new radio show on Internet Radio....No Terresterial radio here. This is a new venture and a new medium in radio. So its going to be very different not having an engineer working the boards. This means that I have to do it myself and even thou I am told its very simple....I am a little concerned that I do not screw up. So bear with me and I am sure that together we will get through this and I will not screw up too much with this first show.

My First Show

2010-01-08T08:37:00.001-08:00

My first show on LATALK Radio will be this Sunday, January 1o at 6 PM - 7 PM. The subject is Medical Marijuana in Los Angeles, and my guests will be Don Duncan from ASA....Rev. Scott Imler and Richard Eastman...activist and long time AIDS survivor...Make sure you tune in to hear what is going on...Then send me your comments either here or to my Facebook page, Twitter or direct email....Terrylegrand1170@aol.com I cannot wait to hear from you good, bad or indiferent.

2010-01-07T22:40:00.000-08:00

A Big Gay North Hollywood Wedding

Extended to January 23!
AN INTERACTIVE CEREMONY AND RECEPTION!

As Joshua Weinberg and Brent Logan attempt to have a civil and respectable wedding... their loving friends and family get in the way. Be a part of this wedding ceremony and join them for the reception as you become one of the family!

PROTESTORS WELCOME, but please pay full price! Tix>>

AIDS/LifeCycle's FREE Event

2010-01-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

Here is a free event sponsored by the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/ Trnasgender Center.... we call it the Gay/Lesbian Center

This event is FREE
Event: A Night at the Museum

"AIDS/LifeCycle’s annual kick-off party!"
What: Mixer
Start Time: Saturday, January 16 at 6:00pm
End Time: Saturday, January 16 at 9:00pm
Where: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007