Ambush magazine volume 27 issue 09 by Ambush Publishing

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 1

2 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 3

the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain RipandMarsha.COM E-mail: marsha@ripandmarsha.com

10th Gay Easter Parade Raises an Astounding $15,518.75 for Food For Friends

he 10th Gay Easter Parade, the largest and most successful in the history of the organization, raised an astounding $15,518.75 after expenses for Food For Friends. This brings the total donated to charity to over $63,643. The parade was led by Easter Grand Marshals X Tony Leggio and Marcy Marcell. View photos on pages 18, 22 and 40. Parade revenues totalled $20,950 including $1,537 from the 1st Eggstravaganza at Billy's in Slidell, $1,674 from the 7th Spring Fever Star-Studded Show & Auction at 4 Seasons in Metairie, $3,255 from the 8th Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza & Auction at JohnPaul's, $3,711 from the 10th Purple Party Easter Grand Marshals Reception at Double Play, $10,448 in sponsorships, $275 from vehicle entry fees and $50 from an Opal Masters performance at JohnPaul's. Expenses totalled $5,431.25 including $1,750 for two bands, $1,500 for insurance, $1,050 for the parade police detail, $680 for Easter Grand Marshal carriages, $100 for Spring Fever DJ, $96 for GEP pins, $80 for Eggstravaganza shuttle EGMs X Marcy Marcell & Tony Leggio (Photo: Larry Graham, driver, $50.25 for parade permit, $50 for GrahamStudioOne.COM) Drag Extravaganza DJ, $50 for Eggstravaganza door person and DJ, and The Board of Directors of the Gay $25 for Purple Party door person. Easter Parade includes Electra City, Tom The GEP Board of Directors would "Rona" Conners, Opal Masters, Rip and like to thank all who joined in the parade's Marsha Naquin-Delain, and Tittie fund-raising efforts, and especially to it's Toulouse. numerous sponsors including: Visit GayEasterParade.COM for adPlatinum ($1,000): Bobby Connell/ ditional information. Phoenix, Harrah's H.E.R.O.'s (Harrah's Employees Reaching Out); 7th Saints & Sinners Literary Gold ($500): Lord King XXVI Gary Vandeventer & Lord Consort XXVI Bruce Festival May 14-17 he Saints & Sinners Literary Orgeron, Krewe of Amon Ra, Jack Saucier Festival, the nation’s only liter& the late Glenn Timpe, In Memory of Steve ary festival devoted to the gay, Mettner, John Vignone & Paul Chiriaco/ JohnPaul's, Quartermaster: The Nellie lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, will occur May 14-17 at the BourDeli; Silver ($250): 16th King Cake Queen bon Orleans Hotel in the heart of the French Coronation/Tami Tarmac, EGM VIII Tom Quarter. The festival, now in its seventh year, "Rona" Conners & Bob Boler, Stephen Murrell & Elizabeth Bouvier, David & provides participants with a full schedule Rhonda Roget, Krewe of Petronius, EGM of writing classes/master classes, literIX Safonda Peters & Stuart Nettles, EGM ary panels, theater, readings, dinners, a VIII Michael Elias & Jay Sewell/The Corner book fair and countless opportunities to Pocket, Darwin Reed & EGM VII Opal converse and exchange ideas. SASFest also serves as an important Masters, Nick Olivares & Roy Smith, Wood fund-raiser for NO/AIDS Task Force, a Enterprises, FourPlay, Oz; Bronze ($100): Dawn C. Leggio, Jill E. non-profit organization that provides eduDolese, EGM X Tony Leggio, Michelle cation, counseling, financial support and Calachino, Mike Cookmeyer & Matt Giglio/ anonymous HIV testing. SASFest is a joint

700 Club, NACE (National Association of Catering Executives), Bebe Scarpinato & Chris Linwood, Jay Cooper & Gizelle Bouvier, HENA (Hospitality Education & Networking Association), Dwain Hertz & Al Dugas, Thomas Schoonenberg, Nicole Dubois, French Quarter Festivals, Inc., Glenn O'Berry & Roger Copenhaver, EGM IX Orlando Aloe/Society Page, Ron Dewhirst, Charlie Hooper, Larry Miller, Lee Worrells, Mona Lisa Restaurant, King Satyricon IV Todd Blauvelt; and Venue/In-Kind: 4 Seasons, 700 Club, Billy’s, Double Play, JohnPaul’s, Starlight By The Park, GrahamStudioOne.COM, Mardi Gras Productions, Glazer’s Companies of Louisiana: Tito's Vodka & Barefoot Bubbly Wines.

effort of the NO/AIDS Task Force and the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. “The festival is an annual literary celebration that serves as a forum for the LGBT community,” says Paul J. Willis, founder and executive director of SASFest. “It draws together in one place the people who are most interested in the future of GLBT literature - the brave individuals who give voice to our stories, frequently in the face of hostility and oppression.” This year’s festival will feature presentations from many of the top names in GLBT literature: Anthony Bidulka, Elana Dykewomon, Michael Thomas Ford, Jewelle Gomez, Aaron Hamburger, Ellen Hart, Greg Herren, Scott Heim, Martin Hyatt, G. Winston James, Michele Karlsberg, Ali Leibegott, Michael Lowenthal, Jeff Mann, Marianne K. Martin, Radclyffe, J.M. Redmann, Jess Wells, and Gary Zebrun. Master classes, held on Friday, May 15, include the following: * Michael Gross from the Authors Guild: Book Contract Workshop; * Ali Liebegott: Me, Me, Me, and More About Me: A Personal Narrative Workshop; * Jess Wells: Writing Credible, Creative Historical Fiction; * Michael Thomas Ford: Reality Check: What it Takes to be a Full-time Writer; * Benoit Denizet-Lewis: Telling (True) Stories: Researching and Writing Compelling Nonfiction; * Radclyffe: The Truth about Blood and Guts: Writing Realistic Medical Scenes; * Aaron Hamburger: Let’s Talk About Sex: How to Use Eroticism Effectively in Prose; and * Ellen Hart: Learning to Love the Wastepaper Basket: The Art of Revision. “The master classes are always interesting and informative, and therefore, always popular,” says Willis. “They tend to fill up fast.” Master Class are $25 per session Saturday and Sunday promises to be filled with a variety of panels and reading series. All sessions take place at The Bourbon Orleans Hotel and the Bourbon Pub/Parade. This years panels will include such topics as: Writing in Different Genres; Murder He Wrote: What Makes a Gay Mystery Novel?; Call Me Ishmael: The Importance of the First Line; Making More Time for Creativity: How to Write with a Full Time Job; The Alchemy of Publishing: How Writers, Editors and Publishers Work Together; Which Come First: The Characters, The Story or The Sex?; and Shameless: The Author’s Art of Self Promotion, among many others.

Big Memorial Wknd. Edition due out Tues., May 12 DEADLINE: Tuesday, May 5

inside

10th gay easter parade thank you spotlight/miss starlight pageant sappho psalm trodding the boards the pink pastor celebrazzi saints & sinners literary fest 10th gay easter parade paparazzi obit/donald "donnie jay" james e-mail/letters everybody's a critic

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memorial weekend/pensacola classifieds hot tails of red stick/baton rouge red stick paparazzi/baton rouge allons acadiana/lafayette acadiana paparazzi/lafayette mobile paparazzi 10th gay easter parade paparazzi ambush paparazzi/new orleans 7th marigny bunny hop paparazzi big easy paparazzi/new orleans

Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 info@ambushmag.com

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Once the panels, classes and readings are finished each day, the sinners come out to play. On Friday evening, the opening party will be held at The W Hotel French Quarter. Tickets are available to the catered affair which includes open bar for $25. Admission to the opening party is also included with the purchase of a weekend pass. Saturday night at the Bourbon Pub, The Crescent City Kings and friends are pleased to present an evening of reading, burlesque, and gender performance. This literary-themed drag show will showcase some of the gender bending talent of New Orleans and Saints and Sinners, as well as provide a space for female authors to perform some of their work. The Crescent City Kings were founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and have been per[continued on 6]

THE OFFICIAL MAG

GulfSouthEntertainment/TravelGuideSince 1982 • Texas-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide Official Gay New Orleans Guide OfficialSouthernDecadenceGuide OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] E-mail: marsha@ripandmarsha.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 • 1.504.522.8047 ANNUAL READERSHIP: 650,000+ in print/3.5 Million+ On-line NATIONAL CIRCULATION: USA... Alabama-Birmingham, Foley, Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Shreveport, Slidell Mississippi - Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Jackson Texas - Austin, Dallas, Houston

STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin-Delain, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Naquin-Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin-Delain • 504.522.8049 LESBIAN/POLITICAL ISSUES Toni J.P. Pizanie, New Orleans THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands, Patrick Shannon AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Brad Benedict-Baton Rouge, LA Chris Perkins-Lafayette, LA Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, Gary Glitter-New Orleans Bob Brunson, Cieann & John, DJ Chromatic, David Long, Craig Powell, Leon WeekleyMobile, AL Roy Williams-Pensacola, FL NATIONAL ADVERTISING REP Rivendell Media~212.242.6863 AMBUSH Mag is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip Naquin-Delain, President. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEADLINE is alternate Tuesdays, 4pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: marsha@ripandmarsha.com, except for special holidays. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the claims of advertisers and has the right to reject any advertising. The inclusion of an individual's name or photograph in this publication implies nothing about that individual's sexual orientation. Letters, stories, etc., appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher or Staff of AMBUSH Mag. Subscription rate is $45 for 1/2 Year; $75 for 1 year. Sample Copy is $3 First Class Mail. ©1982-2009, AMBUSH, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation

4 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

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the "official" dish ...from 4 forming on the stages of New Orleans and abroad ever since. CCK performers believe in inclusion and team work, hence most pieces by CCK members are group pieces that are more like skits than traditional drag acts. These skits range on a number of topics, from stoic social commentary to farce. Make plans now to come out and enjoy a weekend of literary revelry in the heart of the French Quarter May 14 - 17. A SASFest Weekend Pass is $100 and includes admittance to the Welcome Party on Friday evening, all panel discussions and readings, and the Closing Reception/Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony. Tickets to the opening party to be held at the W Hotel French Quarter are $25. The premiere production of the winning of the annual playwriting contest is $25. For more information, call 1.504.581.1144, or visit the Festival website at www.sasfest.com for full festival

schedule, regular updates, ticketing, and information about how to become a “Friend of the Festival.” Tickets will also be available at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel at the Festival Box Office May 14 - 17.

Inside Out Book Signing May 1 at FAB

AB salutes Jazz Fest 2009 with an exclusive signing of Inside Out, the ultimate drag queen coffee table book on Friday, May 1 from 7 to 8pm at FAB – Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen Street at Chartres, just 8 short blocks from Jackson Square and open from 12noon till 10pm every day. The book is a result of eight years of work by Barbara Benjamin Marcus of Los Angeles. Marcus shot revealing portraits of forty drag queens – both in and out of drag – in Key West, Los Angeles, New York City, Provincetown, and Tampa. She also tape recorded and listened as each intimately shared personal stories about discovering their sexual identity as a gay

man, their irrepressible desire to dress and entertain as a woman, and how it all intersects in their daily life today. “It was important to me that each person’s voice remained their own, and didn’t become mine,” says Marcus, who painstakingly transcribed the interviews to present them unfiltered. “I listened,” she adds, “I was very empathetic to their stories. I always wanted them to be the most beautiful person in the room.” The level of trust Marcus was able to establish with the men, who don’t usually allow cameras when they are not “dressed,” makes Inside Out an unprecedented exploration of the drag subculture. Treating each subject with respect and compassion, Marcus recorded photographs that are vividly head-on. At the same time the images are layered with complex, honest emotion as each individual personality emerges over the course of the full-color, coffee table-sized volume’s 96 pages. What becomes clear through the portraits and accompanying tales of joy, sorrow, love, work, and hope is that for all

the differences that exist between the world of drag and the mainstream culture that surrounds it, the common bonds of humanity are as strong. Inside Out shows that the gay men who identify themselves as drag queens also lead lives as teachers, artists, nurses, chefs, flight attendants, brothers, fathers, caretakers and friends. Marcus who has a background as a showgirl as well as a childhood that often left her feeling out of the mainstream, says, “I felt an affinity with the drag queens I’ve had the privilege of getting to know. I see the beauty in what they do, they’re real artists. They look out into the audience and see how happy people are and that makes them feel good. I hope they feel that this book is a tribute to each and every one of them and that they are as proud of themselves as I am of them.” Celebrate JAZZ FEST 2009 with a walk on 500 and 600 Frenchmen Street – the Faubourg Marigny “in” spot where locals dine, drink and enjoy great music from the jazz and blues clubs, restaurants and bars combined with a visit to FAB. You may preorder and reserve signed copies of the book ($95) by calling FAB at 504.947.3700 or e-mailing fabotis@yahoo.com.

Lords of Leather 2nd Wine, Cheese Tasting Party & Art Auction May 3

he Lords of Leather present their second Wine and Cheese Tasting Party and Art Auction Sunday, May 3 from 2pm to 6pm at JohnPaul’s, 940 Elysian Fields, upstairs in the Victorian Parlors. Several local artists, including Scott Brady from Mobile, AL and Christopher Brent from New Orleans will be exhibiting their works. Other artists include PD Designs of New Orleans. Renowned artist Freddy Guess has generously donated one of his works to be auctioned during the event. Come and sample various wines and cheeses and also enjoy delectables catered by La Madeleine, the premier sponsor for the Lords of Leather. Tickets are available from any Krewe member or at the door for a $10 donation.

Satyricon Presents the Opening of Goin’ to Jackson

he Mystic Krewe of Satyricon will present the opening night performance of Jamie Wax’s one-man, one-act comedy, Goin’ to Jackson, on Thursday, May 7, 8pm, at Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave. Tickets to this performance, which is a benefit of the krewe, are $25 and may be obtained by calling 504.525.4498. For tickets to other shows, please call Le Chat’s box office at 504.581.5812.

State Takes Step Forward in Housing Crisis by Working with Non-profits

aton Rouge - The Louisiana Family Recovery Corps, via funding provided by the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Recovery Program, has assisted disaster-impacted areas across the state in developing a renewed sense of community and social [continued on 8]

6 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

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in the spotlight by Gary Glitter E-mail: gglitter04@yahoo.com

Miss Starlight 2009 goes Redd

n Saturday April 11th, the Starlight By The Park had it’s annual Miss Starlight Pageant attracting 6 contestants to vie for the title.

the "official" dish ...from 6 support by funding arts, wellness, and educational programs designed to address the emotional and spiritual needs of Louisiana citizens devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Recovery Corps’ Building Community Resilience (BCR) program recently completed its second grant cycle and allocated a total of $3.5 million to 33 nonprofit organizations to help re-establish community resilience and re-create legacies and neighborhood traditions that made so many communities across Louisiana so unique. The Recovery Corps funded wellness, educational, and spiritual programming from Shreveport to Baton Rouge and Lake Charles to New Orleans with the intention of reducing the amount of depression and post-traumatic stress felt by Katrina- and Rita-impacted families while also re-establishing the social structures and activities to which so many generations had grown accustomed. In addition to providing support networks to program participants, the Recovery Corps through its BCR program was able to help rebuild the capacities of the participating non-profit organizations that may have also experienced negative effects from the 2005 storms, bringing the many organizations together to work in

In the field of competition were: Bubbles Champagne, Ursuline Burgundy, Starr Daniels, Rikki Redd, Imani and Amy. All were very eager and ready to compete. The contest started right at 10pm and the contestants were taken through the categories of: Presentation, Question and Answer, Talent and Evening Gown. Between each of the categories, some of the past winners entertained to the delight of the audience. As each category was presented some contestants out did each other. Of course the Talent and Evening Gown portions were the ones to watch and some really brought it on, and made the contest interesting until the very end. When the last category had finished, and last years winner Passion Armani Cassidine had done her farewell song, the judges had already tabulated the results and it was time to announce the winner. All of the contestants were brought back to the stage for one last round of applause. Javier thanked everyone, and the winners were announced: Second Runnerup: Bubbles Champagne, First Runnerup: Imani, and Miss Starlight 2009 Rikki Redd. A job well done by all of the girls. (Just a note: Second Runner-up Bubbles, this was her first ever contest. And First Runner-up Imani, this was her second ever contest.) Look out girls there’s competition in town. The contest lasted just 2 hours from start to finish. EXCELLENT !!!! unison in helping neighborhoods, communities, and social groups re-emerge throughout the state. “While it is difficult to directly measure the specific outcomes that these types of programs provide, it is clear that building revitalized communities that residents are eager to come back to is a critical component of successful long-term human recovery,” said to Dr. Monteic A. Sizer, the President and CEO of the Recovery Corps. “While we most often focus on tangible items while on the path to recovery, spiritual and emotional support from community settings can furnish the extra drive to help residents feel an added level of comfort as they rebuild their lives in the wake of disaster.” This second phase of the BCR program served a total of 37,534 people during 7,046 events hosted by 21 BCR grantees, bringing the program total for both phases to 39,294 participants at 9,309 events. Countless others were positively impacted from community outreach and public awareness campaigns funded via the BCR program which provided important educational and community-based messaging designed to further enhance the sense of community. Specific areas focused on by the BCR grantees included mental health therapy and counseling; providing care to caregivers; educational and economic

training for children; community arts activities to provide educational recreation and to promote literacy; after school programming services aimed at counseling, community integration, conflict resolution, and avoiding substance abuse; cultural programs for the residents of FEMA trailer parks; educational support for HIV-positive citizens; marriage counseling services including parenting and life skills for couples; cultural arts and afterschool programs for at-risk youth to encourage positive self expression and lessen anxiety through spoken word poetry, music, art, dance, and educational tutoring; and wellness workshops to prepare human service professionals residing in hurricane-impacted areas to self-identify and screen for disaster related mental distress and disorders and learn how to make appropriate referrals to mental health care. The varied outreach approaches of the different agencies provided tremendous accessibility for disaster-impacted residents in their communities, allowing the program to touch a wide range of individuals and families. “When catastrophic events such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita occur, entire communities can be destroyed and social support systems can be decimated,” Sizer added. “This was the case across Louisiana, where the storms wiped out entire neighborhoods and all of the intangible character and community pride that were associated with these unique areas. Thanks to the generous funding from the American Red Cross, we were able to work with our partner agencies to help reestablish hope and renew a sense of community for thousands across the state.” The success of the Recovery Corps’ BCR program has contributed immensely to hundreds of disaster-impacted families’ abilities to begin or to sustain the path toward long term recovery. Adrian Davis of New Life Counseling and Health Centers, a BCR grantee that provided after school programming services aimed at counseling, community integration, conflict resolution, trauma recovery, and seminars for families in the Shreveport area said, “We are so thankful for the help with meeting the emotional and spiritual needs of those trying so hard to recover from the hurricanes. We feel it is essential to get people away from the day-to-day stress of the recovery process and remind them how enjoyable life can be.” Those organizations receiving funding from the second phase of BCR grants are listed below, along with the amount of funding received: • New Orleans Children’s Health Project: $50,000 (carried over from phase 1) • Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, $129,917 • BR Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, $50,000 • Bringing Hope to the Community, $132,500 • Family Center of Hope, $100,000 • Focus on Families, $85,000 • Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership, $130,000 • Greater St. Mary Community Development Foundation, $75,400 • Hope Worldwide, $99,830 • The Institute for Women’s and Ethnic Studies, $50,000

• Isaiah Institute of New Orleans, $115,000 • Joshua and Caleb Community Development, $156,000 • Louisiana Association for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth, $122,368 • Mental Health America of Louisiana, $148,302 • Mosque of the Merciful, $100,000 • New Life Counseling and Health Centers, $92,468 • No AIDS Task Force, $121,105 • Samaritan Counseling Center, $140,000 • Second Chance Marriage and Family Services, $85,000 • The YOUTHanasia Foundation, $75,000 • The Youth Empowerment Project, $37,000 • Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training, $38,000 The Louisiana Family Recovery Corps is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Baton Rouge, La., and formed in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The Recovery Corps’ mission is to facilitate human recovery for the State of Louisiana in the aftermath of disaster, both natural and man-made. The Recovery Corps has partnered with human service and non-profit organizations throughout the state and the country to deliver assistance as effectively and efficiently as possible, allocating more than $80 million to recovery efforts and assisting more than 30,000 households since January 2006.

First Gay Millionaire on The Millionaire Matchmaker on Thursday, May 7

ew York - Third-generation matchmaker Patti Stanger expands her clientele and welcomes her first gay millionaire to The Millionaires Club in the season two finale of Bravo’s hit docu-series, The Millionaire Matchmaker, Thursday, May 7 at 9pm ET/ PT, immediately followed by the premiere of The Fashion Show at 10pm ET/PT. Patti almost falls off her perch when Destin brings her The Millionaire Club’s first gay client, PR/Branding expert Kevin. “We’re going to find Kevin true love,” Patti passionately tells her staff. “I want my first gay millionaire to be a success story.” But when Patti meets with Kevin, she discovers he is a workaholic and married to his company. Patti’s other millionaire this week is Anthony, a successful hypnotherapist and Vegas entertainer who has trust issues and fears women only want him for his money. After meeting his date at Patti’s mixer, Kevin whisks him to his sprawling Kentucky estate and they spend the day drinking bourbon and talking. Meanwhile, Anthony flies his date to Vegas and plays a series of practical jokes on her - mind games that do not go over well when Patti gets wind of what happened. . Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBC Universal cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com.

8 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

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sappho psalm by Toni J.P. Pizanie E-mail: psalmwrite@att.net

Starting Over

s if it weren’t bad enough that we have to start over with our daily routines and social life after an illness, I experienced the rudeness of a failed computer. Welcome to my new Dell with a monitor or screen or whatever that is larger than my TV and has a better picture too. I’m not quite into the touch of a smaller keyboard so first I cut off an inch from my fingernails then filed them down another quarter and second I spent 12 hours on the new games. Of course playing games has nothing to do with the keyboard but it was a good excuse for wasting so much time. Right now I’m listening to one of my 1990’s favorites Hootie & The Blow Fish on my music library while trying to type on this minuscule keyboard. The best part of the music library is hearing and learning about new music — OK — new to me. OOPS! We just slipped into some Indian dance music reminiscent of Slumdog Millionaire but not the big, joyful closing number. I must be getting the hang of this because I’ve typed more than a paragraph and a half without an error. My sincere apologizes to Dell for all the cursing and to you for all the complaining. I do of course understand the difference between misspelling a word and mistyping one. Have you gotten yourselves hooked on spell check? Spell check has been my downfall to hand writing letters and notes to friends. For years, I have been writing letters and now suddenly I cannot remember how to spell because I know that if I were on the computer, it would do the work for me. We are a lazy lot, we techno savvy Twenty-first Century humans. Easter was fun. I gave Ray a basket of chocolate eggs with a single chocolate rabbit which he consumed by Sunday evening except for the marshmallow eggs that I am enjoying while I write this column. I know he doesn’t like marshmallow so I got them back by default. Thanks to Randy, my sweet-tooth was almost satisfied with chocolate-peanut butter eggs and sugary topped cup cakes. The diabetic stupor should lift sometime next week. The service at Christ the Liberator Church was beautiful. Several of the church goers had lunch at La Peniche. We were planning to go to the Easter Parade but when we finished lunch a mist was falling from the sky, and we took that as our cue to head back to Metairie and Lakeview, and the comfort of our dry homes. Now that another lovely Easter has come and gone, it is time for festivals. New Orleans is great most of the year but the spring events are especially wonderful. The tourists are back, money is coming back into the economy and there is something for everyone to do. The French Quarter Fest is one of my favorites. I used to love getting together with my editors, Rip and Marsha, and eating our way from Jackson Square to the Aquarium. Watching Rip with a huge turkey drumstick was

pretty amusing. Spring Fever is a good way to explain the daydreams of Ray and me. We talked/ dreamed about my winning the $50,000 on Wheel of Fortune so he could go to culinary school and we could open a small fixed menu restaurant. I have also promised Randy that if I win, we would get a group of six or eight fun people together for a cruise to Europe. I sure hope the money will go that far. But it sounds like I’ll have to win more than once to do everything we are dreaming about. I didn’t know before Ray moved in that I am living in the valley of a large gay community. I made friends with one of my neighbors when he was walking his dog, never realizing that he was gay. I’ve been living in Metairie so long that my Gaydar is off. Ray’s Gaydar is working perfectly well. He came in one evening and said, I’m going to have a drink with Sug’s daddy and his partner. When he came back from cocktails (I was not invited), he told me that there are two lesbian couples living on our block. Counting the number of houses on this block, we are well over 10%. And I thought I was all alone. I’m thinking of having Ray stand outside with Freddie from 6am to 10am and again from 4pm to 8pm to check out all the dog walkers. Once we get a good idea about how many of us there are around here, we can have a yard sale and invite them to take part. Soon we’ll be an organized group with cocktail parties and barb-ques and impromptu visits. When houses come up for sale, we’ll make sure only GLBT people purchase them by picketing the sales agents and the open houses. Our area will become known as the Marigny of Metairie or Homo Heights as Sug’s daddy calls it. My mom would have been so proud. She loved her gay children. She mentioned several times before passing on how much lovelier some of the lawns on our street looked than the ones with big wheels parked outside, and suggested it must be the work of a gay gardener. I always thought she was joking. This leads me to one sad question. If Old Metairie is so gay, why are there so many mean-spirited Republicans controlling our lives? We need a leader to organize us. We need some strong Gay Democrats to bring Jefferson Parish back to sanity. Because a vote for Jindal has lead to cuts in education and health care, and Jefferson Parish helped to put him into power. Whoa! I cannot go there. I’m still recuperating and the secret is low stress. Politics drives me close to raving in anger. On to something I respect and support. A while ago I was a hotline volunteer at the NO/AIDS Task Force. I recently learned that volunteers are needed in that area. And I am thinking of going back. Volunteers are wanted to provide information by phone on HIV/AIDS, STDs and related issues. All hotliners are trained in phone

counseling. Volunteers time slots are two hours shifts from 10am to 6pm on Monday through Friday. Please contact Doreen at 821.2501 ext. 215 or Doreen@noairstf.org. Please give this some serious thought. It may not sound important but it is important and necessary to keep the New Orleans community healthy and informed. In 2008, 514 volunteers contributed 17,976 hours with assistance in events and programs for NO/AIDS Task Force. Of this number the following were honored for outstanding service — Tommy Crane, Nicole Sheppard, JoAnn Moinet, The Times Picayune, Ambush Mag, Gambit Weekly, Paris Winn, Jeannie Kaiser, Toby Lefort, Dave Moynan, Glen Kahrman, Arthur Roger, Office of Health Policy & AIDS Funding, Beth Scalco, Director of the Office of Health Policy HIV/AIDS Program, Bill Goldring, HIV Outpatient Program, FACES, N’R Peace, Odyssey House Louisiana, Avita Drugs, Katy Caldwell of the Houston Legacy Community Health Clinic, Bristol Myers-Squibb - Larry Wolf, Director of Virology, Dr. Mike Kaiser and long time staff members Jean Redmann, Pam Holm and Lisa Breland. You could be the next outstanding volunteer. As I was going about the business of getting this article to Ambush, I learned of Donnie Jay’s passing. It was a blessing that he didn’t linger in pain, and a great sadness that he has left us without his generous talent and kindness.

I was told recently (or reminded) that when a loved one dies, we take delight in hearing stories about them. So I will tell one of my stories about Donnie Jay. I knew him for about twenty years but I cannot remember when or how we met. It is like we were friends since I moved back to New Orleans in the late 1980’s. Several years ago I was Queen of Petronius. I wore a regal collar that was six feet wide and almost four feet high. As the returning queen, I decided to once again wear the collar and wanted to enhance its appearance. Donnie loaned me black plums (12), red plums and feathers to redecorate the rhinestone creation. I was thrilled and as always he was there to encourage and support. Months passed and the collar hung in the basement of Jo-Jo Malone’s home. When I would see Donnie Jay, I would remember the plumes and tell him that they would be returned. Don’t worry about them, he would always say, and I would promptly forget. Katrina came, the basement was flooded, the plumes were ruined and I went to apologize to Donnie Jay when we returned and could get together again. They were yours, he said with one of his big smiles and he gave me a hug. And that is one of my Donnie Jay stories about his generosity and our friendship. I will miss him as most of you will. I am sad for our loss and grateful for knowing him.

trodding the boards by Brian Sands

E-mail: bsnola2@hotmail.com

A...My Name is Alice at Attractions Salon

is for A...My Name is Alice an absolutely adorable amalgam of songs and scenes, all written by females (some assisted by males), about women and their aspirations, attitudes & accomplishments that appeared at the Attractions Salon in Slidell. B is for Becky Allen, the bodaciously beautiful, one-of-a-kind talent who brilliantly brought to life both an imperious kindergarten teacher and an abashed construction worker. C is for Cutting Edge Productions who had the chutzpah to convert a beauty salon by day into a theater by night thereby providing a cultural oasis in Slidell. Congratulations! D is for Dana Deris Fatic who delighted as women dominating & dominated, and displayed a delicate touch with Amanda (The Rose) McBroom’s deeply felt song, The Portrait. E is for the excitement and effervescence that emanated from Alice as it was done with exacting expertness to excellent effect. F is for Francine Finley from Newark whose comedic talent is as formidable as her singing is fabulous. G is for Glenn Roven’s music and June Siegel’s lyrics for At My Age, a gorgeous song delineating the differences & similarities between a giddy 15 year old anticipating her first date and a divorcee getting ready for her first date in years,

gracefully done by Becky & Tara Brewer. H is for Honeypot a hoot of a song in which Becky played a humorless therapist trying to help a blues singer (Francine) express her emotional/sexual needs directly rather than in metaphors (e.g., keys in locks, stirring pots, and all that). Hysterical! I is for interpolating two songs, Wheels and Lifelines, that appeared in A...My Name is Still Alice into this Alice which added immeasurably to an already fine show. J is for Jonne Dendinger who directed joyously with just the right light touch and led her three piece band to jaunty and jazzy effect. K is for Kaufman (Marta) and Krane (David) authors of the kooky feminist poems done by Becky with kicky elan and the keen Welcome to Kindergarten, Mrs. Johnson (with music by Michael Skloff), knowingly done by Becky and Dana. L is for Leslie Limberg whose luscious voice did a lovely job with I Sure Like Boys (lyrics by Steve Tesich, music by Lucy Simon) and who let Amanda McBrooms’s lyrics for Wheels speak for themselves, wisely avoiding American Idol-esque belting. M is for Ms. Mae, a monolog by Cassandra Medley, with a nod to Moms Mabley, involving hair do’s & don’ts, done magnificently by Francine. N is for the not sentimental yet moving [continued on 12]

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Short Takes at Le Chat Noir

hile best known as an actress, Tony Award winner and former New Orleanian Mary Louise Wilson (One Day at a Time, Grey Gardens) adds to her authorial oeuvre with Short Takes, an evening a brief comedies recently seen at Le Chat Noir. In these six playlets, Wilson displays an uncanny ear for defining characters by their patterns of speech. Taking to heart the old dictum “Write about what you know,” four of the six scenes involve theater folks, yet Wilson uses a sprinkling of absurdism to prevent her pastry-like offerings to bog down into anything close to meat’n’potatoes realism.

Clare Moncrief and Carol Sutton in Short Takes (Photo by Nick de la Rua)

trodding the boards ...from 11 song Friends that, with nuance, depicts two buddies over a lifetime, very nicely performed by Leslie and Tara. O is for Orchid Restaurant, a few doors down from Attractions Salon, where an outrageously good Thai meal can be had for a very reasonable price. P is for Pretty Young Men, a song in which three women discover how much fun a Chippendales-like show can be, done perkily and perfectly by Becky, Dana & Francine. Q is for quality which Alice had in excessive quantity. R is for the role reversal in Anne Meara’s Hot Lunch in which an attractive woman (Dana) put a randy, rowdy con-

struction worker (Becky) in his place. Rockin’ good! S is for Scott Sauber’s simple but effective lighting that suggested a spectrum of moods from serious to silly. T is for Tara Brewer, a tremendously talented triple threat singer/ actress/dancer whose terpsichorean touches took full advantage of the tiny playing area. U is for the unusual venue and the unquestionably fine time that was had there. V is for the valuable contributions of percussionist Travis Henthorn and bassist Jimmy Williams. W is for Winnie (Wicked) Holzman’s witty lyrics for Bluer Than You, in which three women try to outdo the others with their tales of woe, wonderfully warbled by Francine, Tara & Leslie. X is for X gene, multiple pairs of which made this show xtremely successful. Y is for Y gene, clearly not as necessary as you might think. Z is for zoom right over to whatever venue this zesty show is in should it be remounted in any zip code near you!

In Deer Play, a distinguished actress (Clare Moncrief) who has forsaken the stage for gardening, tosses off mouthfuls of multisyllabic plant and flower names, makes like a mad King Lear, and is eventually seduced by a deer. While I’m not sure if Deer Play was meant to be an absurdist riff or a send-up of such plays often seen off-off-Broadway, Wilson offered wry commentary on people who don’t listen to what others say. Often, Wilson’s characters don’t realize the absurdity of their own tales. In The Professional, Jamie Wax portrayed a hack actor who always gets himself in trouble by proffering unwanted advice or, once, playing the Fool got “all the laughs in King Lear.” By not overplaying this tedious man’s obnoxiousness, Wax became his own tragic fool. In Rave, Tracey E. Collins balanced the pride and basic decency of an actress starring in one production with her mounting jealousy of another actress receiving even greater acclaim for her performance in a heavy drama. “You can’t beat a cancer play,” Collins stated with an undercurrent of admiration and bitterness. “Nude and bald—that’s acting!” With Rave, Wilson delivered the most satisfying of her “short takes” as it seemed to be going in one direction and then made a 180º turn into completely unexpected and hilarious territory. Lost, a tale of two forgetful friends, made a welcome return after being part of last year’s New Plays Festival at Le Chat. The pair’s further adventures in Lost in Paris was also cute but its reliance on standard cliches about rude Frenchmen seemed like a bit of laziness on Wilson’s part. Last in the line-up, Road Work, a behind-the-scenes look at a contentious group of actors touring in a ridiculous Irish-themed play, was the least successful of the bunch; while I could buy the various actors’ backstage peccadilloes, it was a bit unfocused and the ending was too pat. With an invisible hand, Director Carl Walker guided his cast to finely calibrated performances. Stand-outs included Collins in Rave, Wax in The Professional, Moncrief in Deer Play, and she & Carol Sutton reprising their roles in Lost. Wilson certainly knows how to spin an engaging tale and, with her wildly successful Full Gallop portrait of Diana Vreeland, proved she can sustain one over an entire evening. If some of the self-styled “quickies” of Short Takes were little more than sketches, they whetted my appetite for fuller, deeper and grander works from the overflowing imagination of Mary Louise Wilson.

One-Act Play Festival/The Trojan Women at Loyola University’s Lower Depths Theater/Marquette Theater

oyola’s One-Act Play Festivals can be hit or miss affairs. Spring’09’s Evening A was all hits. (Evening B had not yet been seen at press time.) [continued on 14]

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trodding the boards ...from 12 Caryl Churchill’s Not Not Not Not Not Enough Oxygen, originally a radio play, takes place in a post-apocalyptic totalitarian society. Mick, a 50something man, and Vivian, his 30 year old girlfriend, wait in his small apartment for his son Claude, some sort of pop superstar with millions to spare. They hope he’ll help them move to a nicer home. Claude arrives, yet their dreams remain unfulfilled. Oxygen combines Churchill’s needle-sharp use of language as in Blue with Far Away’s dyspeptic view of humanity. Director Helen Hutka brought this challenging script to life with an amazingly mature production that captured the rhythms of the words and found just the right emotional pitch. Andrew Chau was a forceful, magnetic presence as Claude investing him with quiet charisma. Melanie Ziems made Vivian believably breathless and her involvement with an older man understandable; with her sing-songy speech pattern, rarely have I seen a woman/child realized and sustained so fully. When Vivian experienced a panic attack, Chau and Ziems’ duet of him simply trying to quiet her was mesmerizing. While one could’ve asked for a little more lyricism in some line readings, Chris Bohnstengel, who seems to be Loyola’s go-to guy for older characters, nailed Mick’s emotional core. Not only did Joshua Smith compose a score worthy of Chopin but he played it beautifully offstage. Adam Alonso’s shabby/chic costumes, Lauren Perry’s apt hair and make-up design, and Patrick Anthony’s haunted lighting all enhanced the text without being ruled by it. Steve Martin’s quirky discourse on love The Zig-Zag Woman was wittily staged by Andrew De La Pena with an original prologue that neatly introduced it. If his actors tended to knock over props, that was a small price to pay for the enthusiasm and energy they brought to this humorous piece. With her marvelously expressive face, Kayla August perfectly embodied the type

of person to whom you hope Martin’s bon mot, “Love is a promise delivered already broken,” will not apply. As a grandiloquent cowboy suitor, David Hanks displayed great comic sense. And despite his blondhaired, blue-eyed porn star good looks, Braden Piper radiated a straightforward sweetness; we rooted for him and August’s Zig-Zag Woman as they went off arm in arm. Walter Wykes’ The Father Clock is about creativity and theatricality and choice and purpose and totalitarianism and I’m not sure what else. It goes on a bit too long but Director Patrick Anthony and his cast of three did a fine job of playing it for all it was worth, holding our interest and preventing it from turning into the campiness it could’ve been. Sporting a feather duster hairstyle, Adam Alonso is a natural clown/mime who, like Bill Irwin, can play drama as well, switching instantaneously between the two. As Alonso’s fellow actor in this hermetic world, Priscilla Jenkins likewise alternated between robotic gentility and a tough, cool ironic stance. Sasha Halliday, new to the stage, held her own as the enigmatic Stage Manager who has an epic breakdown that led into a bizarre labor and birth. All were very, very good. Noah Adams composed and played a tantalizing score that enhanced Clock’s otherworldliness. Meanwhile in March, Loyola presented The Trojan Women directed by Albanian Arben Kumbaro. It was a solid but certainly not radical reinterpretation of Euripides’ grim tale of the price of war despite its Katrina overtones. Kodie Bowen gave a committed performance as Hecuba but needs to learn that intensity does not always equal volume or “acting”; she was best when she uttered the simple descriptive phrase “I will hug my rags” as she looked into the future with quiet solemnity. Brittany Chandler’s Andromache, while given to some overemoting, seemed to have a much deeper connection with what she was saying; I’d be interested in seeing her in Shakespearean roles. As Cassandra,

Rodney Culotta, RPh

OPEN

9am-5pm Mon.-Fri. 9am-12noon Sat.. Adrienne Burns mercifully lightened up the tragic proceedings. Geoffrey Hall’s simple set had some special effects up its sleeve. Joseph Shirley and Erica Johnson did an extraordinary job of playing Dr. James Walsh’s evocative score. Though an antiwar message is always welcome, with all due respect to Albania, however, on the basis of the OneAct Fest, Loyola need look no further than its own student body to find directors for future productions.

Turning of the Bones at the Convergence Center for the Arts

an Villarubia’s Turning of the Bones is both a portrait of a 1950s Southern family, its black manservant Cashmere and the bonds between them, and a memory play as the family’s daughter, now grown, tries to discover what really occurred all those years ago. Some events are presented as they happened, some as characters wished they had. What someone remembers about another person, may not be true. That Villarubia chose to include some surreal and some absurdist touches was fine. The mostly presentational style, however, robbed Bones of the conflict required for an audience’s involvement. Watching it, I kinda felt like someone I sorta knew was telling me all about their wacky family; it was interesting but not dramatic. Or as Cashmere, the ostensible crux of the play says to his former ward, “This is about you and your family, not me.” Ashley Sparks’ direction took a styl-

ized approach as did Jeff Becker’s black and white set. Donald Lewis, Jr. brought dignity to Cashmere except when liquor got the better of him. Avoiding caricature, Claudia Baumgarten employed humor and truthfulness in her portrayal of an older aunt. And as the soft-spoken materfamilias, Angela Papale’s face lit up whenever she played the ukelele singing ditties written by Villarubia’s late mother.

Swing! at NOCCA’s Lupin Hall

nfortunately, so few worthy, large-scale musicals are be ing created these days that the estimable folks at NOCCA had to resort to Swing! for its spring musical theater production. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with Swing!, a jukebox show featuring jazzy standards from the 1940s & ‘50s. But after such Ambie Award-winners as Side Show, Floyd Collins and Tommy, it’s clear NOCCAns are capable of so much more. Other than Bli-Blip, delightfully done by Emily Schexnaydre and Ethan Andersen, and Michael Moore’s joyful I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo, the first act was a little too much of the same thing for me, occasionally falling into cruise ship blandness. The second act, however, scored with the tapping of Caravan; the cute Dancers in Love with Justin Henry amusing as an old man; Cry Me a River featuring the powerful voice of Sarah Jackson accompanied by trombonist Tyler Ginsberg; Blues in the Night sung by Ximone Rose, another great voice with a distinctive personality, and enacted [continued on 16]

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the pink pastor by Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, 504.214.4340 E-mail: pastor@bigeasymcc.com www.bigeasymcc.com www.thebigeasymccblog.blogspot.com

Does the Bible have anything to say to Christians about homosexuality? PART II [Continuing part two of a piece I wrote for our new website (out soon!) as it is the most common subject that I am asked about as a pastor] Leviticus – Crawfish, passive sex and priestly hypochondria. ev. Dr. Mona West writes the following in Homosexuality and The Bible posted on The UFMCC website (www.mccchurch.org), first quoting the relevant texts from The Book of Leviticus. “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” (18:22) “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.” (20:13) These verses are part of the Holiness Code in the Old Testament book of Leviticus (chapters 17-26) that attempted to spell out ways the people of Israel would act differently than their Mediterranean neighbors. In light of the previously mentioned sexual practices of Israel’s neighbors, it becomes clear that this prohibition in Leviticus was an attempt to preserve the internal harmony of Jewish male society by not allowing them to participate in anal intercourse as a form of expressing or gaining social and political dominance. These verses in no way prohibit, nor do they even speak, to loving, caring sexual relationships between people of the same gender.’ I would want to add a few things as I have a little more space. Firstly I agree that the prohibition, the declaration that such things are hb[wt – transliterated as ‘Tow`ebah’ or ‘ritually unclean’ does not speak to any healthy, loving same sex relationships. What it does is declare certain acts, including certain foods and habits ritually improper for the priestly cast – The Levites. Leviticus in Greek means ‘of the Levites’. Of course ritual purity, which was pretty much a full time job to

maintain, is of little concern to most modern Christians. Furthermore, the literal translation from the Hebrew is “You shall not lie with a male the lyings of a woman; it is ritually proscribed” Many, many cultures were concerned with maintaining the status of the male, and the primacy of the male within the social structure, certainly ancient Israel was amongst the most patriarchal of states. Women had a status that was very similar to that of property, and to ‘lie the lyings of the woman’ was clearly a reference to taking the passive role in same sex activity – something which to the ancient mindset was a mixing of types, a mixing in which the primacy and the ‘dynamic’ or ‘insertive’ role of the male was compromised. We may discern the patriarchal obsession of the times in the total lack of any similar prohibition in Levitical law against sex involving two women. Consider also that semen was unclean, and any issue of semen resulted in a period of ritual cleansing, then it is logical that for those with this mindset being ‘internally receptive’ to semen would be a systematic violation of the bodies’ ritual purity. All this of course applies to acts that heterosexual men sometimes perform as well as gay men (even if unwillingly, as in prison or after battle), and do not in any way definitively define ‘orientation’ as we would understand it. Even to take this passage literally does not say much about the range of behaviours available to loving couples, or even the fact that many loving couples are minimally sexually active. It also overlooks the point that many gay male couples never practice insertive sex. It is simply what it appears to be - one more behaviour rule from the ancient past that meant a lot to the authors of the rule (The Levites), but is redundant in the light of enlarged understanding, but more importantly Christ and his new dispensation. We are as Christians are not to be bound by ritual purity rules, or by food purity rules – instead we are to be bound by an ‘inward transformation’ that can interpret any situation through the lens of God’s loving-

kindness in Jesus Christ. There is a perverted logic to all this – a false premise pollutes a whole line of thought until it is corrected. Semen is unclean, ergo, the passive partner is homosexual sex becomes unclean, ergo, homosexuality is unclean. Remove the obsessive compulsive fixation with ritual hygiene and the whole edifice of Levitical law falls down. It is also important to remember that the pre-scientific belief of the ancient Israelites was that semen contained all the potential for life – the woman was merely the receptacle for incubation – she added nothing more to the equation. Not only did this feed into ‘Father’ imagery for the Creator God, but it made any issue of semen that did not result in possible childbirth tantamount to murder or abortion. There is of course one overriding fact that renders all scripture dependant on later revelation – the Bible itself, and especially Jesus is profoundly revisionist. Take the issue of Divorce for example. In the old dispensation a man could write a bill of divorce on a whim, and leave a woman alone and destitute in the world. Jesus teaches that this was wrong, primarily I suspect because of the appalling suffering it caused women in his day, and the inequity of a woman’s whole welfare being dependant on a man’s convenience. Jesus’ crucifixion was in no small part due to his revisionist tendencies that infuriated the Sanhedrin (the equivalent of the Vatican in his day). He threatened the entire legalistic, temple based structure of the Jewish faith as it existed in his day – he pointed to an infinitely more generous, compassionate and omnipotent God than the God of rules and repression that the Scribes and the Pharisees practiced, and that many Christians practice today. The point is that God, being God, has to retain the authority to say anything, and will

anything, no matter how sure we are that a certain position is the correct one. The early Israelites discerned that the law was the best way to keep people in check and keep them pointing toward God. God begged to differ, and stooped to robe in human flesh as Jesus Christ. If there is anything we can be confident in, it is that any compassion or empathy that humans may feel is but a shadow of the grandeur of God’s compassion and empathy. Grasping at Leviticus and other ‘proof texts’ to deny life’s full richness to GLBT people does violence to the entire purpose of God in Christ. It does violence to the notion that God is love, and that God is truth; an objective, metaphysical truth, not our certainties and comfortable convictions. As a final point it is worth considering that Leviticus clearly and unquestionably outlaws the eating of Crawfish, lobster, crab and shrimp. Leviticus 20:10-12. Note also that the same word Tow‘ebah’ is used as is used for passive sex. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. So that writes off the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alaska and Maine for starters! In order to find out whether they survive the wrath of God, read on to the next chapter in the next issue!

trodding the boards ...from 14

Chávez’s Toccata for Percussion Instruments led off with its juxtaposition of different types of drums, complex rhythms and hypnotic effect. Roldán’s Rítmicas V and VI followed with 10 musicians sounding like they could accompany a Rube Goldberg device. The evening’s highlight was Glass’ Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra, a propulsive, majestic work full of lush neo-romanticism. It was a privilege to hear a lesser known work by this acclaimed composer which, though unmistakably Glassian, had a haunting quality all its own, the second movement in particular. The superb soloists were Jim Atwood and Alexander Radziewski.

by Schexnaydre and Jonathan Stevens (who, despite his boyish mien, projected an adult virility); and All of Me jubilantly performed by Taylor Morgan and Josh Smith who reminds one of a young Ray Bolger. Director/choreographer Blake Coheley and co-choreographer Tara Brewer are great at large group numbers, filling the stage with bodies in motion. Yet even for these fine dancemiesters, there’s a limit to what they can do with swinging lifts and jumps and jive before it becomes repetitious. Still, Swing! was very entertaining. And I’m already looking forward to NOCCA’s fall production.

Purely Percussion at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts

he Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Purely Percus sion concert was a unique evening of four works featuring all kinds of drums, woodblocks, xylophones, triangles, timpani and even a conch shell. This was music that made you sit up and take notice.

Rev. Clinton Crawshaw is the fulltime pastor of The Big Easy MCC. They meet every Sunday at 5pm, for full details of Christian Education classes, social functions and events, and also to check out on-line sermons, go to w w w.bigeasymcc.com. Tel: 504.214.4340 to speak to the pastor or email at revcrawshaw@yahoo.com.

La Noche de los Mayas by Revueltas ended the program with vibrant, exciting music creating wondrous effects as though we were listening to sound emanating from a giant machine. For lagniappe, we were treated to a rousing samba as an encore. New Orleans should be extremely proud of Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto and the LPO for putting on such a challenging concert as this and doing it so magnificently. Bravo!

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celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)

aster Grand Marshal X Tony Leggio led the 10th Annual Gay Easter Parade through the streets of the French Quarter on Easter Sunday, April 12. It was the largest parade in its history and after expenses raised an astounding $15,518.75 for Food For Friends.

alloween 26’s Mark McKeown joins hosts Rob and Bill who opened their French Quarter home for the first Host Party for this year’s circuit weekend in New Orleans. The 2009 theme is Twisted Seasons and takes place October 29 through November 1. Last year Halloween in New Orleans donated $114,000 to Project Lazarus which brings total donations to the charity at some $4,000,000. For more visit HalloweenNewOrleans.COM.

eam Lords of Leather took top honors as the team raising the most money for the 2nd Annual Wacky Wagon Race benefiting LSGRA (Louisiana State Gay Rodeo Association) in New Orleans winning $500 cash. The organization donated $250 back to LSGRA. The Wacky Wagon Race went through the streets of the French Quarter and the Marigny raising $2,991. Team Lords of Leather also won 2nd Place as Fastest Team, Best Drag and Best Wagon. Award presentations was at the last stop, JohnPaul's. (Photo: LSGRA Pres. Lance Pippin, Team Lords of Leather, Miss and Mr. LSGRA Jeff Mallon aka Elizabeth Bouvier and Denny Summors)

aster Grand Marshal X Marcy Marcell is joined by Starlight’s CW Stambaugh leading the 10th Gay Easter Parade through the streets of the French Quarter. This year’s parade saw the largest number of sponsors ever and some of the most successful fund-raisers held to date. Including the 2009 donation of $15,518.75 to Food For Friends, the parade has now raised over $63,643 for charity.

he 7th Annual Marigny Bunny Hop culminated with the presentation of the first Meyer-Routh Spirit Award presented to DJ “Richie Rich” Daigle and Ray Pfister at The Friendly Bar in New Orleans. The award is given in memory of the founder of the Marigny Bunny Hop Carl Meyer and the first Bunny Marshal Lewis Routh who reigned as Bunny Marshal I, II and III. It is given to the person(s) who exemplifies or embodies the spirit of the event and Easter. (Photo: DJ “Richie Rich” Daigle, Marigny Bunny Hop’s Jeff Mallon, Ray Pfister, and Marigny Bunny Hop’s Stephen Murrell and Marty Curtin)

ut of a field of six contestants, Rikki Redd was crowned Miss Starlight by outgoing Miss Starlight Passion Armani Cassidine at Starlight By The Park in New Orleans. First Runner-up was Imani and Second Runner-up was Bubbles Champagne.

ax Peinado and Myke Kolb were joined in Holy Union on March 7 by Rev. Clinton Crawshaw of Big Easy MCC at Washington Square Park in New Orleans. A private reception was held following the event in the Balcony Bar above Cafe Lafitte in Exile. (Photo: Todd, Cameron, DJ Johnny Love, Frankie, Matthew, Bert, Max Peinado, Myke Kolb, Alex, Sammy, Jerry, Will, Jeff and Joe. Rev. Clinton Crawshaw stands behind the couple.)

n March 21, fourteen seamen set sail from New Or leans to the ports of Progreso, Yucatan and Cozumel, Mexico upon the Carnival Fantasy. Although this was only a five day cruise, it proved to be more fun than was anticipated. With these thoughts still fresh in their minds, Al and Dwain would like to express sincere thanks to all who joined and made this a memorable occasion. (Photo: Back Row: Rudy, Ranzy, Jose’, Dwain, Rob, John; Front Row: Joe, Richard, Creig, Al, Bill and Mark)

he Lords of Leather held the Strip Strap Jock Strap Auction to benefit the Mr. Louisiana Leather Travel Fund at the Phoenix in New Orleans. Audience members bid on jock straps worn by leather title holders and friends. The event raised $800 to help support Mr. Louisiana Leather 2009 John Cauley as he competes in the International Mr. Leather competition in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend. (Auction Models - Standing: Jim, Gary, Charles, Mr. Louisiana Leather 2009 John Cauley, Toby, Mr. Louisiana Leather 2008 Michael Albracht, Kneeling: Mr. Louisiana Leather 2004 Tim Lott, Frank)

18 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 19

20 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 21

Tubby’s Golden Lantern

Smitty Dee’s Brass Band kicks off the parade

Bronze Sponsor Bebe Scarpinato & Chris Linwood

Silver Sponsor Bob Boler & Easter Grand Marshal VIII Tom “Rona” Conners

Silver Sponsor David & Queen Amon Ra Rhonda Roget

Silver Sponsor Elizabeth Bouvier & FourPlay Silver Sponsor King Cake Queen Tami Tarmac

Bronze Sponsor 700 Club Silver Sponsor Darwin Reed & Easter Grand Marshal VII Opal Masters

Former Miss Gay America Patti Le Plae Safe

snap

Silver Sponsor EGM IX Safonda Peters & Stuart Nettles

paparazzi

Presenting Sponsor’s Ambush’s Rip & Marsha & Queen Fashions’ Tittie Toulouse & Electra City

Bronze Sponsor EGM X Tony Leggio’s Trolley

Bronze Sponsor EGM IX Orlando Aloe & Society Page

Gold Sponsor JohnPaul’s

Joe Ciaccio

King & Queen Satyricon Richard Reed & Wedon Brown with Sadie Sheppard

Silver Sponsor Krewe of Petronius

Double Play, Billy’s, 4 Seasons

22 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Photos by Bob Boler, Corner Pocket, Gary Glitter, Carlos Gonzalez, Brian Plauche/BP Nola Photography (bpnolaphotographs.com), Starlight, K. Sullivan

10th Gay Easter Parade led by Easter Grand Marshals X Tony Leggio & Marcy Marcell Raises $15,518.75 for Food For Friends ~ New Orleans

Bronze Sponsor NACE (National Association of Catering Executives)

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 23

obituary Donald "Donnie Jay" James April 24, 1942-April 16, 2009 By Rip Naquin-Delain ursing Director Ken (T. Paul Dodson) of St. Charles Health Care Home phoned Marsha and I on the morning of April 16 at 4:12am to let us know that Donnie had passed away peacefully in his sleep. A little over an hour earlier, Donnie had called out so the nurse on duty went in to see what was wrong. Donnie said he didn’t realize he had called out and she sat with him until he fell asleep. When she checked back at 4am he was not breathing. He died from complications from the removal of a tumor on the brain diagnosed as glioblastoma, a fast-growing malignant brain tumor composed of spongioblasts; nearly always fatal. Perhaps when Donnie was calling out it was to those beckoning him to step into the big spotlight in the heavens. It could have been Clifford Rednoir, Ms. Fly, Miss Do, Tonisha "TT" Thompson, Connie Marcelle, Rowena, Glenn Timpe, Robin Malta, Sonny Cleveland, or maybe a chorus of others. I would like to think Donnie was ready to cross over even though all of us left behind will miss him dearly. The good news is there is no more pain or suffering for him, only the blessings his deeds on earth have bestowed on him in Heaven. Marsha and I saw Donnie Jay the day before at the St. Charles Health Care Home. Timm Holt was there with Miss Otis (Donnie’s dog) and she was so energetic and happy to be with Donnie. Donnie recognized us and said she was waiting on Timm to get him a speech activated computer so he could start writing his columns for Ambush again. We told Donnie everyone was missing them and couldn’t wait for the next series of recipes. Nursing Director Ken came in so we got to visit with him also. Donnie also asked us how was the Easter Parade this year. We both found him to be quite alert. We also thought he looked much better than we had expected. Teryl-Lynn Foxx called around 4:30pm later that afternoon to get directions to the home. She called a little later to let us know she had seen Donnie, but he was asleep and she didn’t want to awaken him. Timm Holt, who is Donnie’s power of attorney, is making arrangements for Donnie's cremation and interment. It's hoped that a few fund-raisers will take care of these final expenses. Should there be any funds left over, they will be donated to local charities. All checks should be made out to Marigny Theatre with a notation at the bottom for the Donnie Jay Memorial Fund. A total accounting of all funds raised and the distribution of those funds will be supplied by Timm Holt for publication in Ambush. The first fund-raiser to help raise these funds was hosted at Donnie's home bar, Tubby's Golden Lantern. It was held on Donnie's 67th birthday, April 24, under the direction of Wilhemina. As of press time, a total was not available. Tribute: A Celebration of the Life & Work of Donald "Donnie Jay" James will be held on Friday, May 1, 8pm, at the Marigny Theatre behind All-Ways Lounge,

formerly Cowpokes, 2240 St. Claude Avenue. The Tribute features performances by Becky Allen and Chris Wecklein, Leon Contravesprie, Cathy Fox, Rebecca Fox, Winston Gray, Marshall Harris, Eric Liddick, Vatican Lokey, Marcy Marcell, Lyla Hay Owen, Mike Sullivan, Tami Tarmac and Jim Warpole. Additionally, the charity number at the end of Elizabeth Bouvier's FourPlay on Friday, May 8 and 22 at JohnPaul's will be dedicated to the Donnie Jay Memorial Fund.

The Life of Donnie Jay (Editor's Note: Steve Patrick was instrumental in obtaining much of the information below from Marcy Marcell and Regina Adams. Some of the information was documented by Rip NaquinDelain with input from Lisa Beaumann.) onnie Jay’s first appearance in New Orleans was as a guest artist at the old Post Office Lounge (now The Corner Pocket). He and Mr. Booby came up from Miami in October 1976. He next appeared in a Christmas special at Travis (now Starlight by the Park) in December 1976. After the Christmas special, Travis' owner Clifford Rednoir gave Donnie Jay a weekly spot in the shows with Mr. Booby.

Photo: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM

These shows became extremely successful during 1977 and brought in such performers as Lisa Beaumann, Sable Starr, Connie Marcell, Felicia Allen, Rowena, and Terri Lavelle. Donnie Jay left New Orleans in 1984 to go to Nashville, Tennessee where he wrote and produced Born To Slease, an original musical, at the Blue Bird Cafe. He was also chef at the Blue Bird. Lisa Beaumann, who was in Nashville at the same time, loved the song, Randy Redneck, performed in the musical. Donnie Jay returned in 1987 and performed at Ziggy’s Lounge (the old Voodoo). During 1988, he had guest appearances at We Are Family (now Ninth Circle). It is about this time that Donnie Jay began his award winning career as a costumer. He went to work for Andrew Jaeger at the House of Seafood where he became the executive chef remaining for 16 years. At that time, Regina Adams was the assistant chef. In 1995, The Slutpuppies was formed and the group performed in theaters and bars all over town including a year in

Slidell at Billy’s. The Slutpuppies found a permanent home at Mama Rose’s in 2000 and performed a monthly show until the group dissolved in 2004. The Slutpuppies were made up of such notables as T. Paul Dodson, Klorocks Bleachman, Sebrina, Regina Adams, Fred, Tiffany Rose, Todd Blauvelt, and many guest stars such as Marcy Marcell. A few of Donnie Jay’s shows had a sprinkling of the magic keyboard of Hugh Clay a Julliard graduate. On July 11, 2004 Donnie received the prestigious 17th Lifetime Achievement Award at the Gay Appreciation Awards. He was selected by unanimous vote of the GAA Board of Directors for his many, many years of dedication to this community. Donald M. James was born on April 24, 1942. Schooled in Miami, Florida, he went through his formative years knowing that he was different. During his last years in high school, he fell head over heels for one of his fellow male classmates. Having hidden his true feelings until it was too late to express them, due to the untimely suicide of the other boy, he became determined to live his life out of the closet and became Donnie Jay. Since leaving high school, he began entertaining both in and out of drag. When he moved to New Orleans in the mid seventies, he was already an activist, protesting the Viet Nam war and the civil mistreatment of minorities at both 1968 political conventions in Miami Beach. Opening at the legendary Travis’ show bar, he quickly became part of the social scene in the gay community. Having reigned as both Queen Apollo and as the Captain of Dionysus, he always had been willing to lend his talents for worthy causes. When the epidemic began and passed him by, claiming many of his friends and acquaintances, he took it as a sign that he had been spared to fight for the cause that finally became known as AIDS. From that time to his death he never turned away from lending his talents and home to help. At that time he was active as a member of the board for the New Orleans Alliance for Pride, director of the Slutpuppies Performance Revue, tended bar, had written for numerous publications, including Ambush Mag where he wrote One Last Song and Cookin' with Auntie Dee, was still performing for numerous charity events all over the city and was a staple of the GLBT community. Later in 2004 Donnie Jay became Southern Decadence Grand Marshal XXXII bringing in some 125,000 revelers for the 33rd Official Southern Decadence Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture Labor Day Weekend. Reigning over Daydreams & Fantasies: Welcome to My Harem, the weekend brought in over $100 million into the local economy. After Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, Donnie Jay was one of the first bartenders to come back to The Golden Lantern and help get it up and running. Donnie Jay and Timm Holt formed a production company between Donnie Jay’s To Do Productions and Timm Holt’s Marigny Theatre. During the last three years highly rated theatrical productions have been mounted at the Marigny Theatre including To Do Productions' Take Me Out and Valhalla, and To Do Productions/Marigny Theatre's Naked Boys Signing, Onepiece and The Glass Menagerie.

e-mail/letters Subject: Donnie Jay Date: Friday, April 17, 2009 Dear Rip and Marsha, Today is a very sad day in New Orleans with the passing of the Legendary Donnie Jay. I have known Donnie for over 25 years, first as a fan and then as a friend. His comedic timeing was second to none. His career spanned nearly 50 years. We miss him and love him. --Phyllis and Andy Denmark

Subject: Re: Donald “Donnie Jay” James Passes Away April 16, 2009 Rip and Marsha: What a dark day for the gay community and New Orleans as well. I will never forget that Donnie Jay was the very first drag performer I ever saw in New Orleans at the Blue Odyssey in Metairie when I first moved here in 1982 or 83. He did his signature number that night when he transformed from a girl to a boy to This Is My Life. It left such an impression on me that I told him he was the reason I first did drag, to be campy and fun like he always was. He will be dearly missed by us all. --Southern Decadence Grand Marshal XXXV Gary Delaune, aka Tittie Toulouse

Subject: MARSHALL WAS HERE Donnie was the one who gave me my break into theater. Nobody else would have just let a novice jump into a hit show, like he did. His kindness towards me will never be forgotten. I always use to hug him so tight, and he never got passed me without one. I loved him dearly, and to perform once again for him is such an honor to me. The song is fitting from me, someone who he gave a chance to. For now, what’ll I do? In a business that rarely let’s you in. Still I will never give up trying to express myself in the Performing Arts, because Donnie Jay gave me a taste of what it was like to be a star. I shall always hunger for that feeling time and time again. It’s incredible, the influence his small gesture had on my life, and so many others. I feel so honored to have known this wonderful kind man, who was a Legend in our city, and in my heart. Thanks for the opportunity to honor him at in his memorial show May 1. Thanks. --XO, MARSHALL

Dear Ambush Magazine, I’m writing to say how angry I am about the tobacco tax increase—angry that it didn’t happen sooner! I’ve been a smoker for 10 years, and I finally decided to give it up because I refuse to waste even more money. 30,000 LGBT people die each year from tobacco related causes, and with such chronic issues in our community as HIV, drugs, and homophobia, we don’t need to be killing ourselves. I’m hoping that this tax increase will motivate others to quit as well, as studies already show that for every 10% increase in tobacco prices, smoking will be reduced 2% in adults and 7% in youth—and that means a healthier Community.

--Mark H.P., New Orleans

24 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 25

by Gary Glitter E-mail: gglitter04@yahoo.com

The Baton Show Lounge turns 40

he Baton Show Lounge in Chicago, home of “The Worlds Most Beautiful Female Impersonators”, has turned the “Big 4-0”, and is still going as strong as ever. In March of 1969, Jim Flint (aka Felicia), after returning home from a 4 year stint in the Navy, decided to open a bar called the Baton Bar, just across the river from downtown Chicago. Trying to draw business into the bar, he decided to put on some rollerskates and a dress and twirl his baton, which he had done as a drum major while in school. And with some friends joining him on the street to draw attention, they began to pull customers into the bar. Flint had already worked at several places on the North side, such as Sam’s and the Normandy Bar on Rush St. and had an idea as to what would attract attention, especially in the new bar which was in the “gay mecca” with a clustering of gay bars and gay life in high density. The concept of his “drag”, would eventually come to define his bar. He had to devise something to set the bar apart from the others, so he asked his friends to dress up and do shows along with himself as the emcee, “Felicia”, he would open the show with his baton twirling act and present the “girls”. It took off and there has been no looking back. At first, performers would stand on a stage made of plywood and beer cases, the bar had a Hawaiian motif with a thatched roof on the bar. And the stage sat in the back corner of the bar, with tables made from long slabs of wood with chairs. In the early 70’s, when you went to the bar, you were greeted at the door to buy a ticket, by Grandma Richie. Joann was one of two waiters. The early “cast” included, Lady Baronessa, Audrey Bryant, Lotta Love, and Jan Howard. ( Audrey was the first ever impersonator to appear in Vogue magazine 5X before they found out she was a “he”. And Jan was one of the first to take hormones and was called, “the body beautiful”, but she was so near sighted that she had to count the steps to the front of the stage, and several times miscounted and fell into the audience. They just picked her up and put her back and she continued on. haha !!!!!) The Baton gained fame and national recognition when Irv Kupcinet of the Chicago Suntimes, brought Phil Donohue to a show in 1972, and he proceeded to feature the Baton on his talk show, many

times. The Baton has also been featured on Oprah, Maury Povich, and Sally Jesse Raphael, among many others. (Incidentally, Chili Pepper was responsible for introducing Oprah to her stylist, as Oprah was just starting her TV show and didn’t know anyone in Chicago). Many, many celebrity visitors come to the Baton regularly when they are in town. The Baton has grown to be 3X larger than the original bar, but is still at the same address: 436 N. Clark St. The interior now has a very posh look and the stage is larger and is able to accommodate the performers for production numbers. And they can comfortably accommodate up to 250 customers per performance, 5 nights a week at 8:30, 10:30 and 12:30 Wed. Sun. Being “gay owned and operated”, Flint says that 70% of his clientele is straight. They host a lot of bachelorette parties, and everyone comes to see and admire the Las Vegas style revue that they put on. Since 1980, the Baton has been the home base for the ”Miss Continental” pageant system, and has expanded to include, ”Mr. Continental, Miss Continental Plus”, and “Miss Continental Elite” (for performers over 40). Many of these winners have gone on to become world famous, such as: Mimi Marks-”World Most Beautiful Transexual”, Candace Cane - from the TV show Dirty, Sexy Money, Erica Andrews, Maya Douglas, Monica Munro, Ginger Grant, Chili Pepper, Sheri Payne, etc. Jim Flint has been profiled on last years, Out and About documentary on cable television, and is a founding member of the Windy City Athletic Association, and the LGBT sports league. Who would have thought 40 years ago, that a pair of roller skates, a dress, and a baton would make this man an icon of the gay business world that he is today !?!!! (Incidentally, he owns the building now.) It just shows what a little imagination, and a lot of ingenuity can produce. As a fitting gesture and in celebration of their 4 decades of entertainment, the Baton devoted 4 days to each decade they have been in business. Each day was celebrated by having past performers from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s come back and recreate each decade. And this has all been captured on video. Go to thebatonshowlounge.com and see all of the winners of the Continental pageant system, and see more of the Baton, and you can also order video’s of the Continental pageant system, how to enter, and more info about The Baton Show Lounge.

Donald "Donnie Jay" James SDGM XXVIII Tony Langlinais leads 2004 SDGM XXXII Donnie Jay

Sister's Phyllis Denmark & Donnie Jay flank Gary Glitter at Golden Lantern

Donnie Jay servin' up pickled pigs lips

Donnie Jay, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac, Kenny Petit & Rikki Redd at 16th King Cake Coronation

Donnie Jay's last performance raising $$$ for LSGRA at the Mr. & Miss LSGRA Coronation 2009

Donnie Jay joins Rip & Marsha for the 2007 Ambush Christmas Party

Big Memorial Week end Amb ush eekend Ambush

DEADLINE: Tues ., Ma y 5th ues., May 504.522.8049

Donald James

Larry Graham, Donnie Jay & Phyllis Denmark

26 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Remembering Donald "Donnie Jay" James ~ Photos by Ambush, Andy & Phyllis Denmark, Larry Graham/GrahamStudioOne.COM

everybody's a critic

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 27

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body rubs New Orleans, LA [504] MASCULINE TOP STUD FOR AWESOME BODY RUBS & MORE 6'0, 178#, w/magic hands & hard gun. 6am-mid. Fantastic 4 hand session avail. In/Out/Hotels. Call Charlie 504.430.7413 [is909]

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galleries New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700

gardening/landscaping New Orleans, LA [504] AMERICAN AQUATIC GARDENS, 621 Elysian Fields, 944.0410

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America Damron Travel Guide, 800.462.6654, www.damron.com Gulf South/United States AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, ambushmag.com; email: info@ ambushmag.com International GayBars.COM, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, webmaster@gaybars.com United States/Canada GAYELLOW PAGES: Informing the US/ Canada LGBTG Community since 1973. Separate sections for Women and Ethnic/Multicultural focus. PO Box 533, NY, NY 10014-0533; 212.674.0120, http://gayellowpages.com gayellowpages@earthlink.net. Sold at Alternatives/New Orleans, LA

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28 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

laundries New Orleans, LA [504] RALPH'S QUARTER LAUNDERETTE & DRY CLEANING, 1101 Bourbon St., 522.9274 WASHING WELL LaunDRYteria since 1949, City Wide Pick-up, Fluff Dry or Finished, 1 Hour Service, 841 Bourbon St., 523.9955 or 525.3983 [is709]

lodging/accommodations New Orleans [504] BURGUNDY BED AND BREAKFAST, 2513 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE/ FAX: 504.942.1463, Toll Free (Continental US only): 1.800.970.2153, theburgundy.com, Email us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "half-kitchen", courtyard and halfopen tubhouse with spa (hot tub/whirlpool). Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area. Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues. [is809] CRESCENT PALMS MOTEL, 3923 Martin

Luther King Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70125; PHONE: 504.821.7773, FAX: 504.267.7366, CrescentPalmsMotel.COM, E-mail us at crescentpalmsmotel@yahoo.com. The Crescent Palms Motel is located in the heart of New Orleans, minutes from the French Quarter and other famous attractions. Our newly renovated, vintage motel offers 24 spacious guest rooms, large bathrooms, ample closet space, a cocktail lounge and complimentary off-street parking. Each room features two brand new double beds, complimentary high-speed wireless internet, a refrigerator and more. Please come visit soon! [is1109] MARIGNY MANOR HOUSE, 2125 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116, PHONE: 504.943.7826, Toll Free: 877.247.7599, marignymanorhouse.com, E-mail us at info@MarignyManorHouse.COM. 1840’s Grand Greek Revival guest house, large spacious bedrooms, private baths, antique 4 poster queen beds, wireless internet access, tv/vcr/dvd/ cable, telephone, complimentary continental breakfast and off street parking. [is0110] BON MAISON GUEST HOUSE, 835 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.561.8498 BOURGOYNE GUEST HOUSE, 839 Bour-

bon St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.524.3621

massage New Orleans, LA [504] RIGHT TOUCH MASSAGE -- Christopher - Full body therapeutic massage; heated table; private studio; tropical garden; Faubourg Marigny Area, French Quarter. Upgrade (Salt Scrubs Bodywork). Call 504.458.5996 / website www.righttouchnola.com for pictures, location & special. License #LA4553 [is1509]

media New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: info@ ambushmag.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8047, ambushonline.com, email: info@ambushonline.com

models/escorts New Orleans, LA [504] MIKEY/NUMBER 1 MALE ESCORT IN NOLA-hot, cute muscle stud, pics at m4rn.com, ID #190508, friendly & discreet. In/Out/Hotels. Body rubs & 4 hands avail. 7 days, 6am-11pm. 504.756.9443 [is909]

museum/arts Baton Rouge, LA [225] LOUISIANAARTSAND SCIENCE CENTER / RIVERSIDE MUSEUM, 100 S. River Road, 344.5272 LOUISIANA GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 1001 Capitol Access Rd., 342.5855 LOUISIANA STATEARCHIVES, 3851 Essen Ln.

LOUISIANA STATE CAPITOL, State Capitol Dr. LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HILLTOP ARBORETUM, 11855 Highland Rd., 767.6916 LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY RURAL LIFE MUSEUM, I-10 at Essen Lane, 765.2437 LSU MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE and MUSEUM OF GEOSCIENCE, LSU Campus, 388.2855 MAGNOLIA MOUND PLANTATION, 2161 Nicholson Dr., 343.4955 OLD ARSENAL MUSEUM, State Capitol Complex, 342.0401 OLD BOGAN FIRE STATION, 427 Laurel St., 344.8558 OLD GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 502 North Blvd., 344.5272 OLD PENTAGON BARRACKS, State Capitol Dr. at River Road, 342.1866 OLD STATE CAPITOL, 100 North Blvd. at River Road, 342.0500 or 342.4479 USS KIDD/NAUTICAL HISTORICAL CENTER, Government St. at River Rd., 342.1942 New Orleans, LA [504] BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE, 1113 Chartres, 523.7257, Mon-Sat 10am-3pm CABILDO, 701 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm CAC [Contemporary Arts Center], 900 Camp St., 528.3805, cacno.org 1850 HOUSE, 523 St. Ann, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, 523.6722, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm GERMAINEWELLSMARDIGRASMUSEUM, 2nd Floor Arnaud's, 819 Bienville HERMANN-GRIMA HISTORIC HOUSE, 820 St. Louis, 525.5661, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm HISTORICAL PHARMACY MUSEUM, 514 Chartres, 524.9077, Daily 10am-5:30pm HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 533 Royal, 523.4662, Tues-Sat 10am-4:45pm LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, Mon-Sat 10am4:30pm, Sun 1-5pm MUSEECONTIHISTORICALWAXMUSEUM,

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 29

917 Conti, 525.2605, Daily 10am-5:30pm NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM, 945 Magazine, 527.6012 NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, 488.2631, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERNART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square, Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1:30-5pm

music New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St.

organizations Mobile, AL ALABAMA PRIDE FEST, MobileAlabamaPride.COM AQUA, THE PARTY, PO Box 145, Mobile, AL 36601, TheAquaParty.COM BAY AREA INCLUSION, BayAreaInclusion.ORG FUSION, MobileFusion.ORG GULF COAST BEARS & LEATHER ASSOCIATION, b-bobs.com/gcbla.htm THE SOUTHERN RENEGADES, a Levi/ Leather Club, southernrenegades.com Pensacola, FL [850] APPETITE FOR LIFE, INC., provides 2 nutritionally balanced meals a day-lunch & dinner, for some 60 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, 1842 West Cervantes St.; Mail: P.O. Box 308, 32592-0308; 470.9111, Fax: 470.0201, gaypensacola.com/appforlife GULF COAST TIDE, INC. w w w . G u l f C o a s t T I D E . o r g ; info@GulfCoastTIDE.org Alexandria, LA [318] CLASS [Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services], 103 Bolton Ave., 71301; 1.800.444.7993, 442. 1 0 1 0, FAX: 443.5216 Baton Rouge, LA [225] HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two), 4550 North Blvd., #250, 927.1269, Fax: 927.7367, haartinc.org, haartinc@aol.com GBLSU [Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians & Supporters United], glsapres@unixl.sncc. Isu.edu, Kristy Price, President, 388.5160 KREWE OF APOLLO / BATON ROUGE, PO Box 3591, 70821; kreweapollobr.org KREWE OF DIVAS, kreweofdivas.com, 343.0380 LAMBDA GROUP, 2937 Greenwood Dr., PO Box 82775, 70884-2775, 907.3665, www.lambdabr.org, info@lambdabr.org LEWIS HUMPHREY’S FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 387.9798 METROPOLITANCOMMUNITYCHURCHOF BATON ROUGE, 7747 Tom Drive, 70806, Worship Sunday, 11am, Bible Study Wednesday, 7pm, 225.248.0404, mccbr.org MYSTIC KREWE OF ROYALTY, PO Box 66571, 70896; 926.1698 PFLAG Baton Rouge, President Harold Truax, 225.218.8320 Lafayette, LA [337] ACADIANA CARES [Concern for AIDS Relief, Education, and Support], PO Box 386, Lafayette, LA 70502; 203 W. 3rd St., 70501; 233.2437, FAX: 235.4178; 800.354.2437 KREWE OF APOLLO / LAFAYETTE, PO Box 53251, 70505 LEAGUE FOR EQUALITY, PO Box 53425, 70505 PFLAG/LAFAYETTE, PO Box 31078, 70503 ROYAL ORDER OF UNICORN, PO Box 3985, 70502 Monroe, LA [318] GO CARE 2121 Justice, 71201, 325.1092 New Orleans, LA [504]

ACLU and ACLU Foundation of Louisiana, P.O. Box 56157, New Orleans, LA 70156, 504.522.0628 x25, Fax: 888.537.0384, laaclu.org AIDS HOTLINE, 821.6050 in New Orleans, 1.800.99.AIDS[2437]-9 toll free state-

wide ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 828.3399 BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS, AIDS Residence for Families, PO Box 3305, 70177; 945.9455 BIG EASY M.C.C. (Metropolitan Community Church of Greater New Orleans), Sunday Worship at St Matthew’s UCC, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave. at Willow. Fellowship after service. Mailing address: 1333 S. Carrolllton Ave. New Orleans, LA, 70118; 213.4340, p a s t o r @ b i g e a s y m c c . c o m , www.bigeasymcc.com BROTHERHOOD, INC., To decrease the spread of AIDS and HIV among African Americans, 1661 Canal St., Suite 3230, 70112; 566.7955 CHURCH OF CHRIST THE LIBERATOR, Sun. 11am Service, 607 Marigny St. (behind The Friendly Bar), ChristTheLiberator.ORG COMING OUT SUPPORT GROUP, meets 1st Wed. of each month, 7:30-9pm, Info: Liz 482.4012; Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 2114 Decatur St., 70116; 945.1103 COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, a project of the NO/AIDS Task Force which works with the gay community to implement HIV prevention activities, 507 Frenchmen St., 945.4000, noaidstaskforce.com COPS 8 (Citizens' Organization for Police Support in the 8th District), 840 N. Rampart St., #51, 70116; 588.COPS (2677), cops8.org DRAMA! [A Gay & Lesbian Arts Organization], PO Box 52565, 70152; 948.9924, DramaNO.org, DRAMA@DramaNO.org FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 944.6028 FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; 947.2981, ForumForEquality@aol.com FOUNDATION FOR MACRO BIOTIC WAY, enjoy-life.com GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY COUNSELING LINE, 833.1500 GLSEN [Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network], 482.4081, Fax 595.8587, E-mail: glsenno@hotmail.com, glsenno.org GULF GENDER ALLIANCE [GGA], NonProfit Support Group for Transgender persons. Monthly meetings, socials and political activism. Privacy respected and expected. Interview required. Nondiscriminatory. Call 504. 324.4035 or write PO Box 56836, New Orleans, LA 70156-6836; gga.org, E-mail: info@gga.org HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com HATE CRIMES HOTLINE, c/o Family Service of Greater New Orleans, 504.202.2131. The Hate Crimes Project offers to assist those who feel that they may have been a victim of a hate crime. The project provides advocacy for persons victimized due to race, religion, gender and gender identity, age, disability, and/or sexual orientation. IN THIS TOGETHER, HIV/AIDS Case Management, 2511 Bayou Road, Suite B, 70119; Office: 504.962.3245, Fax: 504.962.3246; 962.3245, www.inthistogetherinc.org, michael@ittnola.org KOCKTAIL BUNCH BOWLING LEAGUE, Contact Glenn Culp, 504.861.0233 KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, cetubby@cox.net, KreweOfArmeinius.ORG KREWE OF AMON RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; 913.5791, KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 71665, 70172, Pres. Arthur Alarcon 451.9507, Capt. Bill McCarthy 430.6695, Sec. Mae Falgout 484.6045, http://kreweofpetronius.tripod.com KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/ KCQ LaCARP [Louisiana Community AIDS Research Program], 584.1971 LA-LIFT, Social Club for Lesbians, age 50+, who have fun together on weekends. Email: armyvet20@webtv.net

30 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 31

LAMBDA CENTER, 831 Elysian Fields Ave., 70117 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW ORLEANS, 234 Loyola, Suite 421, 70112; 581.9106 LESBIAN & GAY COMMUNITY CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS, 2114 Decatur St., 701162013; 945.1103, Fax 945.1102, Email: info@lgccno.net LORDS OF LEATHER, P.O. Box 770435, New Orleans, LA 70071-4035, LordsOfLeather.COM LOUISIANA STATE GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION (LSGRA), 915.3339, lance@lsgra.com, LSGRA.COM MCLNO HOP Clinic, 136 S. Roman Street, 4th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112; Appts.: 504.903.6959, www.hopclinic.org METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS, Sunday Friendship Hour 4:15pm, Worship/Celebration, 5pm at St Matthew’s UCC, 1333 Carrollton Ave. at Willow; Mailing Address: PO Box 71024, 70172; 945.5390, www.mccgno.com MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, 1021 Gov. Nicholls St., 70116, 525.4498, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN’S CHORUS, 948.6884, nogmc.com; nogmc@aol.com NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, nojazzfest.com NEW ORLEANS WOMEN’S MUSIC COLLECTIVE, 2903 Jefferson Ave., 70115; Ann 838.7918, Sydney 833.2834 NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM N'R Peace, 3201 Gen. DeGaulle Dr., Suite 201, 70114, 364.1950 MOC/NO [Men of Color/New Orleans], 482.5341 OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM PEOPLE OF SUBSTANCE, INC. (POS), 7210 Arbor Dr., 70126, 244.1920, posnola.com PFLAG/NO [Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays/ New Orleans], PO Box 15515, 70175; 895.3936, 392.0001, pflagno.org, info@pflagno.org PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609 REGIONALAIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], 523.3755 TAU HOUSE MINISTRIES, 1029 Governor Nicholls, 70116, roddyssnd@aol.com, 529.3569. Mass on Sunday 4:15pm; Vespers on Monday, Wednesday, Friday 6pm. Everyone is welcome! TO DO PRODUCTIONS, 948.9608, www.todoproductions.org VOLLEYBALL NEW ORLEANS, PO Box 13306, 70185-3306; volleyballneworleans.com, postmaster@volleyballneworleans.com WILLIAM J. FANNING FOUNDATION [Buzzy’s Boys & Girls], 2301 Chartres, 70117; 943.8929 Shreveport, LA [318] KREWE OF APOLLO/SHREVEPORT, PO Box 4918, 71134 PHILADELPHIA CENTER, PO Box 44454, 71134-4454; 222.6633 YWCAAIDS MINORITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH, 700 Pierre Ave., 71103; 226.8717

pets New Orleans, LA [504] CHI-WA-WA GA-GA, 37 French Market Place, 70116; 581.4242; chiwawagaga.com FRENCH QUARTER PET ASYLUM, 513 Dumaine St., 302.9845 DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, 523.4455

pharmacy

hot tails of red stick

New Orleans, LA [504] MUMFREY'S PHARMACY, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312

by Brad Benedict E-mail: bradhottails@hotmail.com

photography New Orleans, LA [504] GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone.com

plumbers New Orleans, LA [504] AVALON PLUMBING, residential & commercial repair & remodeling, call Michael 237.0888

printers New Orleans, LA [504] SIR SPEEDY, 343 Carondelet, 586.9812

real estate New Orleans, LA [504] GREEN FIELDS REAL ESTATE, Agent Mary Lind, 874.4905, 598.1700 PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Brett A. Rector, Cell: 453.2277, Office: 861.6400, brettinla@aol.com PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Cathy Espenan, Cell: 344.2116, Office: 861.7575

restaurants New Orleans, LA [504] Bywater Restaurant, Deli & BBQ,3162 Dauphine St., 944.4445 Cafe Amelie, 912 Royal St., 412.8965 Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, 523.4030 La Peniche, 1940 Dauphine St., 943.1460 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Pl., 522.9500 Magazine Perks, 4332 Magazine, 899.2911, MagazinePerks.COM Marigny Perks, 2401 Burgundy, 948.7401, MarignyPerks.COM Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Petunias, A Restaurant, Cajun, Creole, Crepes, Cocktails, 817 St. Louis, 70112; 522.6440 Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416

Earth Day

lue skies arrived just in time to make Earth Day in downtown Baton Rouge a successful (and crowded) event. Storms came through on Saturday and on into the night, but by the time morning arrived, the clouds gave way to a beautiful day. Everyone seemed to enjoy all the events, the many booths, some great food, and, of course, viewing the sights was extremely pleasurable. Events of this type are great if you just want to sit on the sidelines and observe the scenery. There are always lots of gay people at these events, and one of my favorites sights this year was seeing so many of the gay guys dancing with women, something their husbands and boy friends seemed reluctant to do. It just goes to show you how considerate and gracious gay guys can be – always willing to lend a helping hand. Goodness! That sounds really nice! Lots of activities in the downtown area are taking place now as restaurants, apartments, and new businesses begin competing for the people factor. As many of you know, the downtown area has for many years been neglected, but now a new period has arrived, and it is a surprise to those who haven’t been here in a while. I used to wonder what people thought when they arrived by way of the riverboats. Even from the river, the sight was not very pretty. Now it has changed for the better. It’s nice to stroll around, dine out, or just meet friends for coffee and chat. One friend of mine moved away for several years, and I ran into him recently 598.FLEX [3539] SPA ATLANTIS PROFESSIONAL SPA & SALON, 740 Gravier St., 566.8088, SpaAtlantis.NET

tattoos/piercings

retail/shopping

New Orleans, LA [504] AARTACCENT TATTOO & PIERCING, 1041 N. Rampart in French Quarter, 581.9812

New Orleans, LA [504] ALTERNATIVES, 907 Bourbon St., 70116; 524.5222 BOURBON-STRIP TEASE, 205 Bourbon St., 70130; 581.6633, bourbontease.com ESTATE TREASURES CONSIGNMENT SHOP, 2014 Magazine, 679.6600 THE HERB IMPORT COMPANY, 711 St. Peter [in French Quarter], 525.4372; 5055 Canal St. [near City Park Ave.], 488.4889 PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 QUEEN FASHIONS.COM, queenfashions.com, exoticfashionmall.com RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 SERENDIPITOUS MASKS, 831 Decatur St., 522.9158 SECOND SKIN LEATHER, 521 St. Philip St., 561.8167 TOP DRAWER ANTIQUES, 4310/18 Magazine St., TopDrawerAntiques.NET

theatres

spas New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com FLEX NEW ORLEANS, 700 Baronne St.,

New Orleans, LA [504] LE PETIT THEATRE DU VIEUX CARE, 616 St. Peter, 522.2081 MARIGNY THEATRE, 1030 Marigny St., 947.0505

websites CRESCENT CITY, CrescentCity.COM GAY AMERICA, GayAmerica.COM GAY AUSTIN, GayAustin.NET GAY BARS, GayBars.COM GAY PENSACOLA, GayPensacola.COM OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM

at one of the events here. He said it was like coming home to a new city, one that he now wanted to stay in and enjoy for its newfound progressive ways. That is also the opinion of those of us who have lived in the downtown area and watched all this progress. I suppose it will never be like many of the larger cities because of being the capital city. It is great to have all the government buildings located in the downtown area, but at the same time, it also means everyone leaves when the work day is concluded. Many of these people don’t want to return unless there is really a special event. There are no movie theaters here to claim a return engagement, and there are no grocery stores or large department stores to attract people, so it is left up to those businesses remaining or joining the scene to come up with programs to entice a return to the area. Many people just won’t do this after spending all day working here, but whatever the local businesses are doing, it does seem to be working. Either that or the non-downtown workers are coming in to experience the sights and sounds. There were even those who balked at the idea that Third Street was turning into Bourbon Street, but these are the ones that don’t care to do anything in the downtown area anyway. Believe me, it is not and never will be like Bourbon Street. Just because you have two or three bars in the same area does not justify a comparison like this. At any rate, whatever has happened, there is a growing amount of interest in all the activities taking place here. It is apparent when you see people having so much fun at events such as those on display for Earth Day. Even Mardi Gras groups are bringing their parades and activities downtown, and with all the development along the riverfront area, it is just something that is welcomed and appreciated. Who would have ever thought this could have happened? Things are looking up, and lots of gay people are even responsible for this – and that is a good thing.

Special Days

long with the nightlife in downtown, one must never forget that gays were the first to support the area – and that is the truth. We may not have the Mirror Lounge or Dixie Inn or some of those other hangouts, but there is still an interest in gay activities in the area. A good example of this is the gay pride activities planned for this year at Magnolia Mound Plantation, and there is always something going on at Hound Dogs, located at the corner of Seventh and Main. In fact, there will be an AIDS fundraiser at Hound Dogs on Friday, May 1, 9pm until 2am, sponsored by Haart. There will be a live DJ there, with a $5 charge (donation for AIDS funding) at the door. Please make plans to go out and support this very worthwhile event. It will be fun. George’s always has great programs [continued on 34]

32 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

red stick paparazzi

Richard and Chansley Dynamic David at Splash

The Capital City ~ Baton Rouge, Louisiana ~ Photos by Brad Benedict

Stephen flashes that beautiful smile

Matt stops in at Splash

Chica La Rouge Scott, Jesse, Robert and Brandon Richard and Max Brandon and Robert at the Louvre

Mike and Todd

Luther and Beau Having fun at George’s Charming Chansley and Adorable Andy

Hound Dogs Johnny corners a cutie Bartenders Mike, Luther and Todd

John and his sexy stud

Jeff, Jimmy and Michael

Billy and Jim

Max getting ready for work

Enjoying the patio at George’s

Chica and Guy

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 33

allons acadiana by Chris Perkins E-mail: keebler_6984@yahoo.com

A New Chapter in Lafayette

s we have all said our goodbyes to Patrick as he embarks on a new chapter in his life, here we begin a new chapter in this Lafayette edition of Ambush. With regards to all that he has done and given in his years of service, we will try to take his legacy to a new and exciting level. We wish him the best of luck on his journey, and we will always remember him as we know he will do the same for us as well. With that said let me introduce myself. My name is Chris and I have been out and in Lafayette for the last six to seven years. I met Patrick not long after first coming out and worked close with him to capture the nightlife as we saw it on a daily basis. Patrick has decided to hand over this position to me and with gratitude; I accept it and will try to fulfill all that he has done, and then some. With Festival International just behind us and many more to come, it has become a yearly reminder that we anxiously await, for we know that with this event held downtown it will kick things off for an exciting summer to come. With many more to come such as Jazz Fest and Crawfish Festival, things are definitely heating up, and at your favorite hot spot

hot tails of red stick ...from 32 too. They have a different theme for just about every day that they are open. Even their ads in Ambush give you an upbeat feeling about attending functions there. Guy, Richard, Chansley, Luther, Mike, Andy, Todd, Cody, and all the others who contribute to the success of this bar are to be congratulated on their positive efforts in

you need to keep your eyes open because even though Sound Factory is already open seven days a week, they bend the rules for certain festivals and change the times of operation, opening early to make sure to accommodate the crowds that are sure to come. Festivals are not the only thing that is hitting downtown. Sound Factory continues hosting many upcoming events including the Mr., Miss and Ms. R.O.U. Pageant on May 16 beginning at 10pm. This past April Sound Factory held the Miss Lafayette Newcomer of the Year, to warmly welcome to the stage the new talents of female impersonation. Also Laurel and her band took to the stage on April 17, and rocked the house out with an awesome performance. Sound Factory is just getting started, from the newly remodeled dance club, to hosting some of the hottest shows in town, to many more exciting events to come. To make sure that you always know what is happening at the Sound Factory you can always check out their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/ soundfactoryonjefferson. Until next time, enjoy all that is going on and stay up to date as things are just getting started. bringing such nice programs to the gay community. I got to meet Max last week when I delivered Ambush, and this is really a sexy guy. I could hardly wait to enjoy his presence on the bar. My goodness! What a sight that was! Splash is always there too with great events, outstanding dance music, and one of the most attractive surroundings of any bar that I have ever visited. Jeff and Cory are

always adding to and improving on their surroundings. Their customers enjoy what they are doing to make things even better for the community members who come out to enjoy these events. They are also noted for providing a great place for private parties too. I caught up with David while there last week, and he brought me up to date on things. He is such a splendid example of outstanding manhood, just a very special human being. Even though there are no movie theaters in the downtown area, there are still lots of activities coming into the Manship Theater in the Shaw Center for the Arts along with programs scheduled in the River Center. In addition to these outlets, there are also numerous theaters at LSU, BRCC, Southern, and the Baton Rouge Little Theater. Here again, a lot of support for these activities come from the gay community with some of their functions and programs being held here. An example of this was the Apollo event held at the Baton Rouge Little Theater last week.

Other Days

obert and Brandon have been on a big trip to Paris and London. They just got back and shared some pictures with me, and you can tell by those rosetinted cheeks that they had a great time. They were at the Louvre and got to experience the 20th anniversary of the Pyramid addition by architect I.M. Pei. Then it was off to London where they saw the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert along with friends Scott and Jesse. Robert commented on their return how so much had changed. It was as if spring had arrived while they were gone because of all the seasonal flowers that were in their blooming cycles. Two weeks can bring lots of changes. Sexy neighbor David was out in all his glory doing yard work and giving everyone a thrill at that great body those workouts have brought about. He is busy restoring another house in the Spanish Town area, and it is going to be another masterpiece of newness when he completes it. It is so nice to see so many gay people taking pride in the neighborhood and improving on their properties. It’s those slum lords who live in other areas of town who do nothing to improve things. I talked with Debbie and Claudette last week. Debbie was in the garden area, and Claudette was at the kitchen window. All I could see was her head so she may have been running around naked for all I know. It was nice to see them both and to catch up on things. Caring and sharing are traits that I admire in people. Maybe that’s why I love Lance, Ty, and Stephen so much. Hmmm. With the Legislature about to go into session again, Kevin will be too busy to take any trips with me. We enjoyed breakfast this morning at Christina’s and discussed plans for “after the session.” We also admired all the great scenery in the form of handsome and well-built officers in uniform. It was a sight that just really made our day. And on top of all this, EMS stopped by, and we got to admire more uniforms. I don’t know what it is about a man in uniform, but it really triggers the adrenalin in some way. It reminded me of so many great times with Dwayne. We have known each other for years, and I never tire of his company. We don’t see each other as much anymore, but the memories are still there. In fact, I can recall a special phone call that he made several years ago, and it is one that we both will recall with fondness. At least, I remember it. How about you, Dwayne? The Easter Bonnet contest at Hound Dogs was a big success according to Joy. I was out of town and missed it so I don’t have any pictures to show you. Maybe some will surface that I can share with you. I don’t know if this was Johnny’s idea or a combination of minds coming together in planning this one out. Whatever it was, it worked. Chica La Rouge and the DIVAS keep entertaining the troops around town, and it is always a joy to watch them. There is a lot of talent here, and they aim to please any time they are on stage. Chica has a great personality, and this comes across every time I talk with him. He has the enthusiasm that is holding this group together, but he also has surrounded himself with others who share the common interest. It is apparent when you seem them in action. They know how to please, and they definitely enjoy what they are doing. Richard is always a joy to be around. I rarely see him except when I bump into him at George’s. Mike is with him most of the time. I’m sure it is an exhausting assignment, but it seems to be working out. Guy keeps me updated on things. It’s so nice to see Beau occasionally. I have always liked this sweetheart. I have shared a picture of him with Luther in this issue of Ambush. I have known this one for a long time, and I always enjoy a “spark” every time I run into him. He is just one of the most handsome and loving guys you see around, and he has a great body to go with that wonderful personality. His smile can hint at mischief, but there is a sincerity there that you recognize immediately. He is just a great guy and a friend to many. I always welcome a good “spark.” Phil and John are both April birthday boys. One is in the plus 39 category, and the other is in the 29 plus category. These guys are two very nice ones. I’ve told you before that I never dreamed of them together, but now that it has happened, it seems that it should have been that way all along. It just took a while for it all to come together. Now that it has, they are perfection in the works. My sexy lawyer has another fabulous party scheduled to [continued on 35]

34 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

hot tails of red stick ...from 34 honor and celebrate the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby. This was such a big success last year that Joe has planned another gathering. With derby attire, it was like being there and enjoying the togetherness of this great event. Just seeing Joe is all I need to make my day. I can’t think of a more beautiful human being than this exceptionally handsome and dynamic individual. I fell in lust over him on our first meeting, and it hasn’t diminished at all even though the years have passed ever so quickly. He is and always will be the best of the best – maybe even all the rest. What more can I say? When Sam and I ran into Matt at Splash recently, we learned that he was single again. This is one nice catch for anyone. Matt is a former Lords of Leather consort and was also involved in one of the local krewes. In fact, I think he was royalty here too. At any rate, he is a nice

guy, and it was great seeing him again. Don and Tom are two others who can warm my inner being, whatever that is. It’s just nice to see old friends and to realize that a true friendship lasts forever. So many youngsters are here today and gone tomorrow. With so many of my friends, I can look back and see a connection that was made immediately, and that connection still binds us together today. Maybe times are changing, but friendships, really good ones, are forever. Maybe it’s time for you to evaluate your relationships. Friendships are so important, and sometimes you may not realize what you have until it’s too late. If you have a buddy, let him know how important he is in your life. It’s like telling a close relative that you love them. Whatever you do, take action now. Tomorrow is another day, and you never know what you have sometimes until you lose it.

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 35

acadiana

paparazzi

Ladies, really now!!! Nikki always tryin’ to sing a duet Robert has had enough

Just pose n smile...

Always a warm welcome at the door

Dallas always tryin’ to show off

Macky n Troy, how beautiful

Shyness never stopped these two from the paparazzi

And there you have it

John n Macky These ladies misunderstood CHEESE!!!

Stephanie Stevens works the crowd

Corey, Beau n Devan

The crowd keeps coming to check out the new look

Laurel takes the bar for a pic with Macky

Jeff actin' as the ring leader

Chillin’ at the Sound Factory

The ladies standing guard, saying hey

Peanut lookin' lovely as ever

36 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Cajun Country ~ Lafayette, Louisiana ~ Photos by Chris Perkins

The ladies stop to say hey!

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 37

mobile

paparazzi

Easter Bonnets at B-Bob’s

Miss Alabama USofA Tiffany Racheals at B-Bob’s

Cocktailin’ at B-Bob’s

Friends with Miss Venus

Monica Hart from Pensacola at B-Bob’s

Anna Rexia at B-Bob’s for the Bitch Slap Party

Venus Shante Devis & Amy sharing a warm moment at B-Bobs

The Boys

The boys & B-Bob’s bar baron Jerry

B-Bob’s Show Director Miss Cie

Pensacola’s Christina Cartier at B-Bob’s Gina Germaine from NYC, NY at B-Bob’s Jack & Ryan at B-Bobs

Sophia Lucianni at B-Bob’s for Easter

Tammy & friends

Wendy & Brenda party down at B-Bobs

Miss Georgia USofA, Penny Holiday

Lady Jackie from Montgomery, AL

38 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Nightlife By The Bay ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Cieanne & John, Leon Weekley

DJ Robbie C. rocking the house at BBob’s for Easter

Sophia Lucianni from Biloxi, MS

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 39

Pre-Parade Party & Line-up hosted by Starlight By The Park

Boom Boom Laverne & friends

10th Gay Easter Parade Raises $15,518.75 for Food For Friends ~ New Orleans

King Mwindo XI

Lords of Leather David Aranda

snap

The Post-Parade Party hosted by 700 Club where the parade ended

paparazzi

Lester Perkins

Justin Donnaud Kurt Goodman

Bronze Sponsor EGM X Tony Leggio & Bronze Sponsor Mom Dawn Leggio

Crystal Lee

Holding court at 700 Club, Boom Boom, Electra, Regina, EGM X Marcy, Tittie, Crystal & Zsa Zsa

Food For Friends Director Glen Kahrman

Boom Boom Laverne & friends

Gold Sponsor Lords of Leather Lord King Gary Vandeventer

Krewe of Mwindo

Corner Pocket

3rd Line Brass Band

Easter Grand Marshals X Marcy Marcell & Tony Leggio lead largest Gay Easter Parade in history

40 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Photos by Bob Boler, Corner Pocket, Gary Glitter, Carlos Gonzalez, Brian Plauche/BP Nola Photography (bpnolaphotographs.com), Starlight, K. Sullivan

NO/AIDS Task Force Community Awareness Network

Rick, Scarlett, Corky, Samantha & Phillip out for French Quarter Fest at Lafitte’s

The Big Easy ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ambush, Corner Pocket, Gary Glitter

Co-MCs Nathan Brooks & Electra City host Thursdays Calendar Boy Contest at The Corner Pocket

Mr. Louisiana Leather 08 Michael Albracht presents Mr. Louisiana Leather 09 John Cauley with a check from the Lords of Leather Strip Strap Jock Strap Auction hosted at the Phoenix for the upcoming IML competition

Easter Grand Marshals X Marcy Marcell & Tony Leggio flank Good Friday Party host Jeff Mallon

Halloween Co-Chairs Jerry & Jason join guests for the first Halloween Host Party of the season in the Quarter

Alternatives’ Philip & Clover Grill’s Todd grab a cold one at Lafitte’s

Phoenix Manager Clint Taylor strips down for emcee Darwin Singleton at the Lords Stip Strap Jock Strap Auction

Making $$$ for Corner Pocket’s Calendar Boy Contest

Donnie, Joe & Andrew behind the bar for Oz’s fab White Party

Men of Manwatch’s Juan stars on the bar at Oz’s White Party

Cody & Blake slingin’ cocktails at Good Friends Bar

David, Tim & Alan joining the Bourbon Street Bailout at Lafitte’s

Becky Allen pops in to see Marcy Marcell at Starlight

2nd Runner-up Bubbles Champagne newly crowned Miss Starlight Rikki Redd & 1st Runner-up Imani

ambush

paparazzi

The White Party brought circuit DJ Chad Guidry to Oz

Bywater Bar.B.Que serving up the masses at French Quarter Fest

Lords of Leather Toga Party brought out Baron Michael Ducote, Lord Pat Johnson & Captain David Boyd

Kevin & Lord King XXVI Gary Vandeventer at Lords of Leather Toga Party hosted at JohnPaul’s

Lord Ed Azemas and a visitor from Houston with his hotel sheet at the Toga Party

Lord Consort XXVI Bruce Ogeron with Armeinius’ Tim & Michael at JohnPaul's for the Lords of Leather Toga Party

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 41

ambush

All-Ways’ Timm presents Most Creative Bonnet to the two Kenny’s Bunny Marshals VII Rip & Marsha

Formal on the Hop

Marlin portrays his late partner Lewis Routh as Tinky Winky for Lewis’ celebratory balloon release

Steve wins Most Glamorous at Cutter’s from Bunny Hop’s Jeff & Cutter’s Mac

Karen wins Most Unusual Bonnet from Dennis at JohnPaul’s

Paul, the big No Parking Zone

Karen & Olive

Pitty Pat presents Widest Bonnet to Chris at Big Daddy’s

Joann wins Butchest Bonnet from Wayne at the Phoenix The Oriental Trio Slappy Easter

The Betties win Best Group at The Friendly Bar Bunnies everywhere

Mimi’s presents Tallest Bonnet to EGM X Tony The Flamingos

Justin wins Best Newbie Bonnet from Kajun’s Pub

Robert wins Best of the Best from Ambush’s Marsha

The Bunnies

John & Tom

42 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

7th Marigny Bunny Hop led by Bunny Marshals VII Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ambush, Bob Boler

paparazzi

Team Starlight By The Park

big easy

Mr. LSGRA Denny & LSGRA Pres. Lance presents Team Lafitte’s with 3rd Place for Fastest Team along with Miss LSGRA Jeff

paparazzi Toby joins Bayou Chad as he does his magic

Team Cafe Lafitte in Exile Team Tubby’s Golden Lantern

Team Tubby’s Golden Lantern wins Best Wagon & 3rd Place Most Money Raised The Men of 4 Seasons

Team Lords of Leather

Napoleon’s Itch’s Chuck, LSGRA Pres. Lance, Napoleon’s Itch’s Ron & LSGRA Trustee J kick off at the Itch

Team Phoenix takes 3rd Place Best Wagon

Chris & Michael

Team Phoenix

Team Rawhide

Team Rawhide wins $250 as 1st Place Fastest Team & 2nd Place for Most Money Raised

Miss & Mr. LSGRA Jeff & Denny flank Best Drag 1st Place Rawhide, 2nd Place Lords of Leather & 3rd Place Tubby’s Golden Lantern

Mr. & Miss LSGRA Denny & Jeff present Rawhide manager Joe as Grand Prize Winner of the 32" LCD Flat Screen TV Combo Raffle

JohnPaul’s Paul & John with LSGRA Pres. Lance (center)

Celebs on the Patio

Gettin’ ready for the Mud Bugs

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 43

Toby’s Annual Crawfish Boil Raises $2,150 Kicking Off His NO/AIDS Walk Fund-raisers at 4 Seasons ~ Metairie, Louisiana ~ Photo by Chris Ward/Pride Specialty

2nd Annual Wacky Wagon Race Raises $2,991 for LSGRA ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ambush

Team 700 Club

44 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • April 28-May 11, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM