Ambush Magazine Volume 33 Issue 09

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To see more on the Justin Case line, visit www.justincaseunderwear.com.

the "official" dish

Mr. Louisiana Leather Benefit Beer Bust May 8

by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com

Steven Mora, Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain, Misti Ates, and Frankie Fierce Will Lead 44th Southern Decadence Celebration Sept. 2-7 For the first time in the history of Southern Decadence, five grand marshals will lead the 44th celebration of gay life, music and culture Labor Day weekend, September 2-7 in New Orleans. This stunning announcement was made at the 2015 Southern Decadence Grand Marshals' Announcement Party hosted at Oz New Orleans April 30.

After an evening of food and an all-star show, it was finally time for the big announcement.

First up was Southern Decadence Grand Marshal XL Chad Boutte with his pick of Steven Mora as SDGM XLI. Next, SDGM XL Aubrey Synclaire broke the SD Susan Lucci curse with the announcement of Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain as her choice for SDGM XLI. SDGM XL Reba Douglas rounded out the team choosing Misti Ates and Frankie Fierce as her selection for SDGM XLI. The event raised $1,001, $750 from the door and $251 from donated stage performance tips. All monies raised minus expenses will benefit the 2015 Southern Decadence charity. New Orleans Southern Decadence Inc. is the non-profit (501c3) corporation which will handle funds raised by Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLI to produce the 44th Southern Decadence. Expenses include parade insurance, city permit and police detail, grand marshal costumes and other expenses to produce a successful Southern Decadence. A complete financial report will be issued following this year's celebration.

The 44th celebration is already off to a great start with the Home of Southern Decadence: The Golden Lantern already raising over $3,860 of its goal of $7,500 towards its Presenting sponsorship, and a Gold $1,000 sponsorship from Todd Blauvelt.

The new Southern Decadence Grand Marshals will be meeting to decide the theme, colors, song and poster to be unveiled at the official Southern Decadence Press Party, date to be announced in the near future.

Keep abreast of the latest information available in Ambush Magazine (Official Southern Decadence Guide) or visit www.AmbushMag.com, www.SouthernDecadence.com (Official Website) or www.Facebook.com/ SouthernDecadenceNOLA for the whole gay holiday.

Justin Case Underwear Now in Stock Exclusively at COK; Phoenix Announces Upcoming Underwear Parties The Justin Case line currently is the most coveted men’s underwear and swimwear, and it’s available now exclusively at COK, inside the Phoenix. Worn by the smoking hot men of “The Pit Crew” on this season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Justin Case offers the hottest and most comfort in men’s underwear and swimwear. A variety of styles and colors is currently in stock inside COK, the only retailer in New Orleans (and extended region) where you can find Justin Case.

“We are thrilled to add Justin Case to our growing selection of the hottest and best underwear available right now,” said Clint Taylor, owner of the Phoenix and COK. “We are always adding to our selection of the best in men’s designer underwear, and Justin Case needed to be a part of that. Our patrons asked for it by name, and we delivered.”

Justin Case will be the exclusive sponsor of the Phoenix’s underwear parties, scheduled for Father’s Day weekend and another party during Southern Decadence.

COK is open from 6 p.m. to midnight on Sundays and Mondays, and from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

inside

Pre-Memorial Wknd./Mother's Day issue out May 19 DEADLINE: Tues., May 12

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

Come to the Phoenix on Friday, May 8 for the Lords of Leather monthly beer bust. Jason Ashford, Mr. Louisiana Leather 2015 and a member of the Krewe, will be competing in the International Mr. Leather Contest May 2225 at the Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago. All proceeds from the $10 beer bust will benefit Jason’s travel fund. There will be a 50/50 raffle and jello shots along with all the beer you can drink from 9 p.m. until midnight. So put on some leather and come out to wish Jason well and send him off to Chicago.

Personal Archiving Workshop May 16 The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana is excited to announce its first Personal Archiving Workshop!

Louisiana’s LGBT history is your history, and Archives Project wants to help you preserve it. The workshop will feature three speakers from local archives who’ll teach you how to identify and care for your own archival materials, whether they’re diaries, photographs, sound recordings, home movies or hard drives. There will also be a “hands-on” section where you’ll be able to bring in some of your own documents, photographs, and other records and learn how to care for them. Archival supplies will be provided.

The LGBT+ Archives Project Personal Archiving Workshop will be held at the Keller branch of New Orleans Public Library (4300 S. Broad) on Saturday, May 16, 1:00-5:00pm. Snacks will be provided.

Attendance to the workshop is free, but the instructors suggest that if you are not already a member of the LGBT+ Archives Project that you join on that day. Membership dues for the LGBT+ Archives Project are $5 per year.

Workshop attendance will be capped at 20 persons, so sign up today!

Contact Samantha Bruner, sbruner@tulane.edu, Chloe Raub, craub1@tulane.edu, or Annie Peterson, epeters5@tulane.edu with any questions about the workshop.

The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and encourage the protection and preservation of materials that chronicle the culture and history of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Community in Louisiana. In addition to hosting public education events, the Archives Project maintains a list of area repositories with LGBT holdings as well as an extensive bibliography of LGBT history print and media sources. You can learn more about the LGBT+ Archives Project

THE OFFICIAL MAG

Facebook.COM/AmbushMag Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Texas-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide© Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide© Official Gay New Orleans Guide© Official Pride Guide© Official Southern Decadence Guide© AWARD WINNING:

Saints & Sinners Literary Festival Hall of Fame/2015, Louisiana Excellence Award: Media & Internet/2014, New Orleans Print Media Award/ 2014, 25th NO/AIDS Task Force Humanitas Award/2013, New Orleans Print Media Award/ 2013, Krewe of Mwindo Media Honoree/2009, Krewe of Petronius Carnival Spirit of Gay Mardi Gras XLVIII Award/2009, Forum For Equality Acclaim Awards X Media Recipient/2008, NO/AIDS Task Force Prometheus “Torch of Truth” [media] Award/2001 OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] Email: ripna@ambushmag.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 ANNUAL READERSHIP OVER 1 MILLION: 260,000+ in print/780,000+ On-line CIRCULATION: Alabama-Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi Texas - Houston

STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin • 504.522.8049 Paul Melancon THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Johnny Joseph Delgadillo, Tony Leggio, Hubert S Monkeys, Frank Perez, Rev. Bill Terry-New Orleans MIss Cie, Leon Weekley-Mobile, AL National Advertising Rep: Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 Ambush Mag is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip NaquinDelain, 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.

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at http://www.lgbtarchivesla.org/mission-purpose/.

Lords of Leather Poker Run & Crawfish Boil May 24 @ Phoenix Try your luck at poker and follow that up with a “hot from the pot” crawfish boil on Sunday, May 24 at the Phoenix. Join the Lords as they navi[continued on 8]

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celebrazzi

It's official! Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XL Chad Boutte, Aubrey Synclaire and Reba Douglas announced their successors at Oz on April 30. And 2015 will see Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLI (41) Steven Mora, Misti Ates, Marsha Delain, Rip Naquin and Frankie Fierce lead the 44th annual Southern Decadence celebration of gay life, music and culture in New Orleans. Watch for the official press party coming soon with all of the details. This first event raised $1,001 for the 2015 SD charity to be announced. Keep abreast of the latest information available in Ambush Magazine (Official Southern Decadence Guide) or visit www.AmbushMag.com, www.SouthernDecadence.com (Official Website) or www.Facebook.com/SouthernDecadenceNOLA for the whole gay holiday.

Nan Owings joins Tittie Toulouse, Felicia Phillips, Mina Hernandez, and Electra City celebrating Tittie and Electra's first anniversary of their club Four Seasons in Metairie, Louisiana. The wild night in the burbs boasted complimentary cocktails, food, and two fab shows. Visit www.FourSeasonsBar.com for more information.

Ursa Minors' Dan Lambert wins 7th annual Wood Enterprises Chili Cookoff hosted at Cafe Lafitte in Exile and Rawhide in New Orleans. First place winner Dan Lambert at Cafe Lafitte's went up against first place winner Derek Wasawho at Rawhide. Lambert was voted Grand Champion winning half of the pot benefitting Food for Friends. Of his $230 winnings he donated $100 back to Food for friends bringing the total charity donation to $330.

Jessica Troske, Daniel Morvant and John welcome guests to the first potluck fundraiser benefiting the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana at GrandPre's in New Orleans. The project is dedicated to preserving LGBT+ history for future generations. For more information visit www.lgbtarchivesla.org.

St. Anna's Episcopal Church Rev. Bill Terry joins emcee Elizabeth Bouvier for the 5th annual Dodwell House Extravaganza headlined by an all-star cast. Ambush's Tony Leggio also emceed the affair.

Visit www.dodwellhouse.org for additional information.

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book review

by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM

Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage.

Barney Frank. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2015. ISBN: 978-0-374-280307. 387 pages. $28.00.

This book is one of the funniest, most informative political memoirs I’ve ever read. In it, the indomitable Barney Frank not only reflects on his own life as a gay man in politics, but also offers an insightful glimpse into how public attitudes toward homosexuality have evolved over the last several decades.

Frank’s tale is fascinating and written with his characteristic lacerating wit.

On the Clinton impeachment, “What did the President touch, and when did he touch it?” On the pro-life movement, some people believe “life begins at conception and ends at birth.”

But this book is more than entertaining, it details the Congressman’s struggle to come out of the closet and his key role in the fight for AIDS funding and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” among a slew of other issues such as the 2008 financial crisis and banking reform.

Frank is the story of an extraordinary political life, an original argument for how to rebuild trust in government, and a guide to how political change really happens—composed by a master of the art.

Barney Frank represented the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts for more than three decades and chaired the House Financial Services Committee from 2007 to 2011. He is a regular commentator on MSNBC and divides his time between a home with his husband near Portland, Maine, and his apartment in Newton, Massachusetts.

the "official" dish ...from 4 gate participating bars in the Marigny for prizes and then finish up the run at the Phoenix. Celebrate Memorial Day weekend with cards, crawfish and all the ‘fixins’ with your friends from Lords of Leather.

Syphilis Cases Triple in Greater New Orleans— It’s Time to Get Tested!

Recent data shows that syphilis is on the rise in Greater New Orleans.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Louisiana is now in the top three states for syphilis transmission—and cases have tripled in New Orleans between 2012 and 2014. Gay, bi and transgendered men are particularly affected: cases among men who have sex with men increased from 66% to 76% in that two-year span of time.

CrescentCare is responding to this alarming trend by offering expanded educational outreach. These efforts include a social media campaign to highlight the importance of testing in the gay community, an informational public relations campaign, and community education focused on testing hours and locations. Be on the lookout for these messages and help spread the word!

Gay men and transgendered individuals are encouraged to get tested soon, even if you don’t have symptoms.

The good news is testing is fast and free. CrescentCare and NO/AIDS Task

Force are offering free, confidential appointments (encouraged) or walk-in syphilis testing on two days: 1) every Monday at the Community Awareness Network (CAN) office, 507 Frenchmen Street, from 5:30 pm -7:30pm, and 2) every Thursday at The Movement, 2610 Esplanade Avenue, Suite 2B from 12 pm – 4 pm. Also, The Wellness Center, part of the CAN office, offers Sexual Health Testing and Treatment (Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV) targeting the gay male and transgender community. Certain restrictions and eligibility criteria may apply.

Contact the CrescentCare Wellness Center for more information on syphilis testing and treatment or schedule your appointment today by calling 504-945-4000 extension 201.

You can also email alex.leigh@crescentcarehealth.org or lena.williams@crescentcarehealth.org.

What’s Your Favorite Restaurant?

Tough question, huh? Don’t worry, you don’t have to decide. Just think about all your favorite New Orleans eateries … Then recommend that they join Dining Out For Life, coming up this summer on Thursday, July 23rd!

Dining Out For Life is the one day we come together in New Orleans to dine out and fight HIV/AIDS. Participating restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds to NO/AIDS Task Force to provide critical services for those affected by HIV/AIDS in the Crescent

City. This year, they’re also introducing Thirst For Life on Thursday, July 9 … the same concept, but specifically focused on bars, coffee shops and any business that is focused on beverages.

If you have a favorite spot you’d like to recommend, take to the owner about your interest in having them join and then call NO/AIDS at 504.821.2601 ext. 243. They can sign them up from there. Thank you in advance … Every participant counts in the fight to stop HIV/AIDS in New Orleans!

We Want Your Story My Gay New Orleans is an exciting new book Jeff Palmquist and Frank Perez are editing and will consist of a collection of personal essays from various members of the New Orleans LGBT+ community. Each contributor will answer the same question: What does “gay New Orleans” mean to me?

In other words, each contributor will describe his or her gay New Orleans.

By sharing your own experience and unique perspective, your story will help illustrate the incredible diversity within New Orleans LGBT+ community.

There are no wrong ways to write this essay. All you have to do is describe what gay New Orleans means to you. Do include a working title for your narrative and short bio (one paragraph) for the “About the Contributors” section that will appear at the end of the book.

That being stated, here are some writing prompts. You need not answer or respond to all these questions and prompts; these are simply guidelines. > What brought you to New Orleans? Or if you are a frequent visitor, what keeps bringing you back to New Orleans? > What do you do for a living? > What aspects of the gay community are you involved in? Organizations, Carnival Krewes, clubs, sports leagues, etc. > How do you identify yourself with in the LGBT+ community? Lesbian, Bear, Transgendered? Bisexual? Drag King / Queen? Leather person? Etc. > Did New Orleans play a role in your coming out? If so, how? > What role has New Orleans played in your growth as a LGBT+ person? > How does your gay experience in New Orleans differ from other cities? > Any special memories or scandalous stories? > Think of (and write about) one specific event that captures your feelings about being gay in New Orleans Tone: Your choice. Humorous, serious, poignant, angry, a combination thereof—you decide Font: Times New Roman, size 12 Length: 1,000 to 6,000 words or 2 to 12- pages Deadline: June 1, 2015 Submissions should be formatted in Microsoft Word and sent as an at-

tachment in an email to f.perez@sbcglobal.net by January 15, 2015. Please include “MGNO Submission” in the subject line. The main text of the email should include your name as you want it to appear in the book and your contact information.

MARK MY WORDS The most important LGBT history column you’ll ever read Mark Segal There is a national spotlight on the 50th anniversary of the first LGBT demonstrations in front of Independence Hall that took place every July 4 from 1965-69. While it was a pivotal change in the struggle for equality, some are revising our history out of context by stating it is the 50th anniversary of the LGBT movement. That simply is not true.

As the coordinator of the National LGBT History Project along with many of the nation’s local LGBT media, we need to ensure that our community’s history struggle be preserved, not revised. Likewise, many LGBT historians are beginning to speak up.

In a chat with William Kelly, who was one of those marchers outside Independence Hall, he reminds people of the earlier struggle. He says: “Frank Kameny and associates formed the Mattachine Society of Washington, an independent organization, in 1961. Harry Hay and others formed the original Mattachine group even earlier, in 1950. ONE, Inc., got its start in the 1950s and successfully took a case to the Supreme Court while producing a pioneer newsstand-distributed periodical, “ONE.” Daughters of Bilitis was formed in 1955.

San Francisco’s SIR was quite active already in 1965 when I first got involved in the movement. Lisa Ben was putting out “Vice Versa” in carbon-copy form in the late 1940s.

And, of course, granddaddy of them all though extremely short-lived, Chicago’s Society for Human Rights was around in 1924. Also, there were street protests in Los Angeles and San Francisco prior to 1965, and in 1964, Randy Wicker organized a picket of the Whitehall Street military induction. These institutions and events had different flavors, but they all qualify as parts of a movement, even though an evolving one. A movement doesn’t consist of street demonstrations only.”

Another way to judge our struggle is from court cases and what the public knew or saw about our community before Stonewall, when our community was transferred from a mild-mannered, polite one to an OUT and PROUD in-your-face struggle.

That is the basis of the historic exhibit that will open at the National Constitution Center on June 5 for a summer run. The exhibit will show how, in many ways, court cases were the first line of defense in breaking that wall of invisibility that the LGBT community had. And making the law the issue comes at a perfect time, as the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on marriage equality in late June. This exhibit is one of the few ways you’ll get a chance to understand their ruling, and it’s all based on history and those laws used in the past against our community.

Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https:// twitter.com/PhilaGayNews.

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moments in gay new orleans history

by Professor Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM

“Louisiana Lesbian and Gay Political Action Caucus (LAGPAC)” Next month will mark the 46th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City—the touchstone of the modern gay rights movement. In the few years after Stonewall, gay folk began organizing politically in almost every major American city. But the fight for gay rights was slow in coming to New Orleans.

In 1971 there was a short lived local chapter of the Gay Liberation Front, which marched on City Hall demanding an end to police brutality of gay people.

In 1973, after the tragedy of the Up Stairs Lounge, there were a few attempts at political organizing but these were also short-lived. The first major demonstration for gay rights in New Orleans occurred in the summer of 1977 when Alan Robinson and Bill Rushton organized a rally in Jackson Square to protest an Anita Bryant concert. It wasn’t until 1980 that gay political activism began in earnest in New Orleans.

In July of 1980, 35 men and women, led by Alan Robinson, Roberts Batson and others, gathered and began drafting bylaws for a new organization that would be fully dedicated to using the political process to advance the cause of lesbian and gay equality. A month later, on August 18, a group of roughly 60 people gathered at 1445 Pauger Street in the Marigny and adopted the Bylaws and elected officers and a board of directors. Thus, LAGPAC was born.

For the next 25 years, LAGPAC became a powerful voice for the LGBT community and demonstrated to the gay community that it could, in fact, make a difference.

From its inception, LAGPAC focused on electing candidates sympathetic to gay rights. During election cycles, LAGPAC members would interview all the candidates and make an endorsement. One of its early victories occurred just a few months after the group was founded. In October of 1980, Brod Bagert vacated his New Orleans City Council seat when he was appointed to the Public Service Commission. Five candidates ran for the open seat and LAGPAC members Este Armstrong and Bob Stewart interviewed all of them. Based on these interviews, LAGPAC endorsed Lambert Boissiere, who won by 258 votes out of nearly 20,000 cast.

Glenn Ducote recalls, “In New Orleans, the endorsement was usually highly sought after since the gay community constituted a small but significant voting block that could be counted on for contributions and election-day effort. On several occasions in New Orleans politics, the gay vote was the swing vote between the black vote and the white vote and we often sided with black candidates before that was universally accepted in New Orleans.”

LAGPAC had proved that the gay vote could swing a close election. After the Boissiere victory, politicians in New Orleans coveted the LAGPAC endorse-

ment. Well, most of them did. One notable exception was Judge Jules Hillery, who ran for Congress in 1992.

After receiving LAGPAC’s questionnaire in the mail, Hillery wrote the following letter: “There is no need of me taking your time in answering your questions. You know my answers! But you need to turn from your wicked ways—repent— clean up your act or God will allow you to be judged by your own actions. Turn to Jesus. He really does love you and He will give you the power to change and be that person He wishes you to be. If I can be of help let me know.

Please keep in mind that I do not judge you. That is God’s business.”

In addition to endorsing candidates, LAGPAC also aggressively lobbied legislators concerning bills that affected the gay community. In December of 1981, Jean Carr and Roberts Batson met with Congressman Bob Livingston concerning the Moral Majority backed House Overrule of the Washington, DC sexual reform bill. After the meeting Livingston spoke out against bill and also voted against it.

And in 1986, LAGPAC was instrumental in persuading Congresswoman Lindy Boggs to co-sponsor the National Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Bill.

LAGPAC would often meet with politicians informing and educating them on the needs and issues of the gay community and asking them where they stood.

Another area in which LAGPAC was successful involved relations between the gay community and the New Orleans Police Department. In October of 1980, LAGPAC officials met with New Orleans Police Chief James Parsons to discuss the issue of police harassment. Then in April of 1981, the New Orleans police conducted a massive “sidewalk sweep” outside of several gay bars and arrested over 70 men. LAGPAC leaders met with Mayor “Dutch” Morial and consequently all the charges were dropped. The meeting also led to a police training program and the creation of a police liaison to

the gay community.

In October of 1981, LAGPAC also hosted the first annual State Gay Conference, which was held at the Country Club in the Bywater. The conference, which was organized by Alan Robinson and Liz Simon, featured workshops, speakers, and social events. The conference theme was “Gay Politics in the ‘80s” and workshop titles included “Freedom of Speech for Gays,” “Answering the Moral Majority,” “Use of Computers,” and “Literature and Liberation.”

The 2nd Annual Louisiana Gay Conference was held in Baton Rouge in December of 1982 at the Emporium.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Marcus Conant, President of the Karposi Sarcoma Research and Education Foundation. The leading AIDS researcher spoke on AIDS. The annual state conference eventually became called “Celebration.”

One of LAGPAC’s singular achievements was the 1991 New Orleans City Council passage of the non-discrimination ordinance. The City Council had previously rejected the ordinance in 1984 and 1986. When the Council voted the ordinance down, council member Joseph Giarrusso told gay rights advocates they had failed to prove they had been discriminated against.

In 1989, LAGPAC and other gay activists turned their attention once again to the anti-discrimination ordinance. The Ordinance Coordinating Committee was formed in Dr. Brobson Lutz’ living room in December 1989. The committee consisted of eight members: Rich Magill and Judy Montz represented the Mayor’s Advisory Committee, Stewart Butler and Sandra Pailet represented PFLAG, Jim Wiltberger and Joan Ladnier represented LAGPAC, and Susan Clade and Randy Evans represented the Forum for Equality.

Mayor Barthelemy had previously created the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues and appointed Magill, who was also in charge of public relations for LAGPAC, to the committee. Magill would eventually become Co-Chair of the committee along with Marilyn McConnell. In 1989, the committee began collecting data on the prejudice and discrimination gays and lesbians in New Orleans were experiencing. 10,000 copies of a four page questionnaire were distributed that summer and yielded 400 responses. Magill and Jim Wiltberger then spent a year analyzing the data.

The results were not surprising; the report’s conclusion stated, “Quite simply, our 1989 survey and subsequent study prove that homophobic hate-motivated violence and discrimination are serious problems for New Orleans.”

Exposing Hatred: A Report on the Victimization of Lesbian and Gay People in New Orleans, Louisiana by Rich Magill was published in 1991 and offered a thorough look at the homophobia the gay community in New

Orleans faced at the time. The comprehensive report examined everything from subtle forms of discrimination to overt acts of violence. When the antidiscrimination ordinance came up for a vote before the City Council again in 1991, the report offered the council members political cover. Councilman Giarrusso finally had his proof and voted to approve the ordinance along with Dorothy Mae Taylor, Jim Singleton, Johnny Jackson, and Lambert Boissiere, Jr. Voting against the ordinance were Jackie Clarkson and Peggy Wilson.

LAGPAC continued to exert political influence throughout the 1990s and eventually began to gradually unravel in the early 2000s. Pinpointing when and why LAGPAC began to fade away is difficult. The archival collection of LAGPAC papers, which are housed in the Louisiana Research Collection at Tulane University, contains no documents after 2002. There are, however, newspaper references to LAGPAC in 2003. By this time, membership in LAGPAC began to decline and several key leaders in the organization became disengaged for a variety of reasons.

In 2004, one of LAGPAC’s leaders, local attorney Randal Beach, left New Orleans after it was discovered that the accountant at his law firm (one Gerard Beaudoin, whose name, it was later discovered, turned out to be false) was embezzling money from the firm.

Beaudoin, who was also very involved in LAGPAC, eventually fled the country only to resurface recently in Oregon, where he was arrested for another fraud. He is currently awaiting extradition to New Orleans.

And in late 2004, the State Representative for District 96 in New Orleans, Ed Murray, was elected to the State Senate. A special election to fill the vacancy was held on January 29, 2005. Five candidates ran for the open seat, including LAGPAC Co-Chair Christopher Daigle. Daigle’s decision to run was not without controversy. Several LAGPAC members strongly urged Daigle not to run but he did anyway.

This decision alienated some people.

Daigle lost the election, finishing in third place. Juan La Fonta won the seat.

After the election, Daigle reported the LAGPAC computer stolen. This meant the loss of the extensive LAGPAC mailing list, which at the time contained over 5,000 names. By this time, Daigle had been leading LAGPAC for ten years.

Perhaps LAGPAC’s death-knell was Hurricane Katrina, which scattered not only the membership but also several key leaders.

Reflecting back, it was perhaps inevitable that the gay rights movement would come to Louisiana. Had it not been for LAGPAC, that day may have come much later than it did. For that, the LGBT+ community in Louisiana owes LAGPAC an incredible debt of gratitude.

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commentary

by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM

“Bobby Jindal is a Piece of Shit” In 1996, Governor Mike Foster appointed a 24 year old Rhodes Scholar to lead the state’s Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH). As Secretary of DHH, Bobby Jindal was dubbed “the little genius.” One of his first acts as Secretary of DHH was to gather his senior staff and lecture them on honesty. He told them “things are going to be different.” He informed them that there would be no influence peddling and that honesty would mark his tenure as secretary of the department. Corruption and graft would not be tolerated, Jindal preached. One man in attendance at the meeting recalls he “acted like he created the word ‘honesty’.”

Within a few months, it was discovered that a DHH regional administrator in north Louisiana had taken the computers from his office and brought them to his home and used them to run his private insurance business. Attorneys in the Legal Division of DHH notified Jindal and recommended the man be fired. This man pulled some strings and received a slap on the wrist. Upon learning of the light disciplinary action, the Deputy General Counsel of DHH at the time says, “I knew then that Bobby Jindal was a hypocrite.”

And an ambitious one too. Jindal first ran for governor in 2003 and lost to Kathleen Blanco. The following year he was elected to Congress and there he stayed until winning the governorship in 2007 and being re-elected in 2011.

Now Jindal is preparing to announce a bid for the White House.

Hence, Governor Jindal’s enthusiastic support of the so-called “Religious Freedom” bill (HB 707) recently introduced in the Louisiana legislature should come as no surprise to anyone living in Louisiana. In the last seven years Jindal has done everything he can to destroy the state so it’s only natural he would try to finish it off by supporting a bill that would cripple our tourist economy.

Jindal’s support for the homophobic bill also demonstrates that he is, in fact, a genius—a genius at Republican Party politics. A truly successful politician needs two things: money and votes.

This presents a dilemma for Republican politicians. Given the irrational and hateful nature of the Republican Party platform and its attendant policies, most thinking people would never vote for them, much less give them money. The republicans solved this problem in the 1980s when they realized two things: 1) there is a large group of voters who are incredibly ignorant and easily manipulated, and 2) there are a group of people with unlimited funds who don’t give a damn about what most voters care about.

Enter right-wing Christians and Corporations. Fundamentalists and corporate Fat-cats constitute an alliance

forged in hell and form the crux of the Republican Party base. As long as a politician panders to the religious right and exploits their ignorance, he can count on their votes. And if the same politician pushes an agenda that favors the super-wealthy, he (and in the GOP they are mostly “he”s ) can count on all the campaign contributions he needs to stay in power.

Case in point: Governor Piyush “Bobby” Jindal. Jindal grew up a Hindu but converted to Christianity in high school—about the same time he decided he wanted to be a politician. Isn’t that convenient? If Louisiana were majority Muslim, he probably would have converted to Islam. Am I suggesting his faith is not sincere? Yes, I am.

The man is a hypocrite.

Jindal wants to be President; therefore, he is perfectly willing, in fact eager, to stir up and step into the middle of a culture war over God and gays. Hence, his support for the “Religious Freedom” bill. Jindal is an educated man and he knows damn well that the federal government poses no threat to religious freedom. There is already a “Religious Freedom” guarantee—it’s called the First Amendment.

But right-wing Christians don’t care about that. A national HuffPost/YouGov poll recently showed that 34% of Americans support making Christianity the official state religion. And a recent Public Policy Poll survey found that a whopping 57% of republicans support making Christianity the official national religion.

This alarming reality among the republican base is perhaps because many fundamentalist Christians feel as if they are being persecuted, which, of course, is an absurd notion. Just because the law says you cannot discriminate does NOT mean your religion is under attack. Just because you’re not allowed to legally be an asshole does not mean you’re being persecuted. These same “religious freedom” arguments were used to defend racial segregation in the 1960s. It’s a disingenuous argument.

When Christians are denied marriage licenses just because they are Christian and when Christians can be fired from their jobs just because they

are Christian and when Christians can be denied housing and mortgages just because they are Christian and when Christian teens are driven to suicide just because they are Christian and when simply being a Christian is deemed illegal, then they can cry “religious freedom.” In the meantime, they should at least be honest about it—if Christians don’t like LGBT people, fine, but they shouldn’t try to disguise their bigotry and hatred behind a thinly veiled religious veneer. If they want to discriminate against people who are different than them then they are assholes—and they should own it.

Jindal has a long history of pandering to the religious right but for the most part, his “support” thus far has been merely empty rhetoric. Actively supporting this draconian “Religious Freedom” bill is something quite different. If passed and signed into law, this bill will adversely affect the state’s economy, especially in New Orleans.

Mayor Landrieu, Senate President John Alario of Westwego, and Stephen Perry, head of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau have all spoken out against the proposed bill, as have a number of Louisiana based companies such as EA Sports and the Baton Rouge division of IBM. The television and film industry, currently thriving in Louisiana, has also expressed serious concerns. Baton Rouge MetroCouncilman John Delgado called the bill’s author, Mike Johnson (R—Bossier City), a “despicable bigot of the highest order.”

But Jindal stubbornly refuses to consider the bill’s economic impact, claiming the aforementioned opponents have misunderstood the bill. In other words, votes in the red states are more important than jobs in Louisiana.

Does Jindal really believe religious freedom is threatened? Probably not, but who knows? In 2013 he suggested that racism would not exist if minorities acted more like white people.

While Jindal has offered lip-service

to the religious right, he has delivered tangible results (read profits) to his corporate backers. In addition to wanting to privatize virtually all state services—hospitals, prisons, schools, etc.—Jindal is more than happy to extend corporate welfare to his corporate backers. He unsuccessfully tried to eliminate the state income tax—a move that would benefited the wealthy at the expense of the poor and middle classes. But even with the state income tax intact, Jindal was all too happy to let his corporate backers not pay anyway. An internal Department of Revenue audit revealed that only 1/4th of the state’s largest corporations paid any state income tax at all in 2012.

And let’s not forget the Governor’s wife’s charity—something called the Supriya Jindal Foundation for Louisiana’s Children. This charity has become the perfect loophole for private industry to funnel money to the Governor. A 2011 article in the New York Times outlined a variety of companies that gave the foundation over $1 million. What did they get in return? A slew of government favors, mostly in the form of deregulation. These companies include AT&T, Dow Chemical, Marathon Oil, Northrup Grumman, D&J Construction, and Alon USA. Which brings us to the state’s budget deficit, which is currently $1.6 billion. How the governor and his obsequious, subservient legislature deals with the deficit remains to be seen.

Jindal has proposed cutting funding for higher education by up to $300,000.

State universities and community colleges are already hemorrhaging under the republican budget knife and now Jindal wants to replace the scalpel with a machete. Mental health services in Louisiana have already been destroyed.

When Jindal and the republicans are finished hacking up the budget, all state services, already on life-support, will be virtually non-existent.

But that’s okay because government is bad, bad, bad according to the prevailing GOP orthodoxy. Government bad. Gays bad. Science bad.

Guns? Very good. And God is great.

Such is reality in Bobby Jindal’s evil, warped mind.

Lack of guilt or remorse, ability to disassociate from actions, constantly lying and deceiving others, unable to meet financial obligations, win at all cost attitude, highly intelligent, glib and charming, grandiose sense of self, callousness and lack of empathy, secretive, narcissistic—these are all descriptive of Bobby Jindal. They are also the common traits of a sociopath.

And now this asshole wants to legalize discrimination against LGBT people. Well, Governor, I have news for you—we are not going back into the closet just so you can keep alive the delusional fantasy that you’re going to be President. Fu*k you, you homophobic, sociopathic asshole.

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5th Sponsorship Party raises $8,800 for Gay Easter Parade/Food For Friends @ Cutter’s

snap

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2015 Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Announcement Party @ Oz ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Jeff Palmquist, Darwin Reed

paparazzi

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by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham

Bartender of the Month (sorta/kinda) My bartender for the month of April does not make his living in that official capacity but if there is a fundraiser or special event for a good cause that needs help he is always there to lend his skills behind the bar complimentary.

I am talking about none other than the fabulous Bradley Latham.

Bradley’s job is at the elegantly stylish International House Hotel. Working in the hospitality industry, it is easy to see how he acquired his wonderful people skills. I know that this choice is veering slightly off course from my regular choices, but I believe people who donate their time and energy to aid fundraisers for the LGBT community need to be recognized.

Bradley’s efforts may sometimes go unnoticed at these events, but be assured he is a volunteer of his expertise, his manual labor and his awesome bartending skills. This young man can make a mean cocktail. I had the pleasure of working with him at many of these events; two recent ones were Bunnies in the Big Easy and the Friday Night Before Mardi Gras. Both events together raised over $25,000 for the LGBT organizations.

Personality is one of Bradley’s strongest suits, which he wears with pride as is one of the many reasons that these fundraisers are so successful. His bright smile shines through the crowds of voracious drinkers at these events. If you think working behind a bar at a venue is tough, try it at one of these fundraisers where the guests act like this is their last drink on earth.

Since they pay for a ticket, their expectations are higher; they tend to be more impatient and quite demanding at times. Bradley is a whiz at servicing large bar crowds down quickly.

The man can triage a bar lie like no one’s business. So Bradley, I for one sincerely thank you for everything you do for the gay community. You are truly one of the city’s shining stars.

Hot Happenings April showers bring May flowers, and it has rained quite a lot this month, but that does not stop the parties. So here is a partial list of some parties and events that will hopefully keep you dry.

Have fun.

Thursday, May 7, 2015 Come on out and sing along with Lynn Lewis starting at 8 p.m. at the Tulane Avenue Bar. Enjoy a night of music, fun and Petronius (the oldest

Bartender of the Month Bradley Latham gay carnival krewe in New Orleans) comradery with Lynn Lewis and the Tulane Ave owners, Bertrand and Pedros. The Tulane Avenue Bar is located at 3813 Tulane Avenue.

Friday, May 8, 2015 Shop and sip in fashion at “Sippin’ in Seersucker,” an evening of Southern art, crafted libations, live music, delicious cuisine, fashion and shopping. A benefit for the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Sippin’ is in its eleventh year of collaboration between the Museum and the Shops at Canal Place. Attendees are encouraged to don seersucker and celebrate the start of the summer social season in style. An evening of light bites, Southern cocktails, shopping specials, entertainment from some of the city’s best performers, and deluxe raffles, will culminate in a seersucker sartorial contest. The party is form 6 to 9 p.m. at The Shops at Canal Place (333 Canal Street). There will be entertainment from the New Orleans Swamp Donkeys, an outfit contest for Best seersucker ensembles, raffle, food, libations, shopping and free parking. Tickets are $30 for members and $50 for non-members in advance and $40 members and $60 non-members at the door. For more information and to order tickets, go to www.ogdenmuseum.org/events/sippin or call 504.539.9650.

Friday, May 8, 2015 Leather lovers unite to send one of your own to win the crown, or sash or engraved whip, or whatever they award you. Come out and join a fun night with Mr. Louisiana Leather, Jason Ashford as The Lords of Leather host a beer bust to help with his travel funds on his way to International Mr. Leather. The event will be held at the Phoenix lo-

Saturday, May 9, 2015 Get Glittered at the Krewe of Armeinius’ fabulous soiree Glitter and Be Gay happening at their den located on 433 North Broad Street. Your ticket includes an open bar, yummy bites, and a fantastic silent auction. The event is from 7 – 11 p.m. and tickets are $25.

For more information, go to www.armeinius.org.

Saturday, May 9, 2015 There will be a very important talk coming up concerning everyone in the LGBT community at the New Orleans Healing Center located at 2372 St. Claude Avenue. Jason W Tudor is presenting “Issues Facing the Elderly LGBT Community.” Jason will present the issues and how you can help. He will also talk about the organization he works with here locally, NOAGE. Please be a part of this free educational seminar on our elderly brothers and sisters.

The talk is from 3 – 4 p.m. Please only click going and RSVP through the ticket link if you can attend, as space is l i m i t e d . https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-speak-out-issues-facing-the-lgbtelderly-community-tickets16648136023.

pensacola paparazzi

Saturday, May 16, 2015 Pageant lovers come out for another fabulous evening of talented drag performers as they go for the title. I love the excitement. Bradley Latham and Persana Shoulders proudly present MISS GAY NEW ORLEANS AMERICA 2015 starting at 5 p.m. at Oz New Orleans Saturday, May 9.

This event is celebrating 19 years of excellence as the oldest preliminary pageant in the Miss Gay Louisiana America pageantry system. For more information on MGNOA or to sign up please contact: Persana Shoulders: 504.300.9525 cell; persana@ozneworleans.com; Facebook by messaging us at www.facebook.com/ozneworleans or Bradley Latham (504)388.1933 cell; latham.bradley@gmail.com.

The Miss Gay New Orleans America 2015 Entrance Fee is $100 and your Prize Packages include $2000 Cash, prizes and bookings to the winner. The Winner receives $500, a 1 year Planet Beach Contempo-Spa Package, and Custom Austrian Crystal Jewelry - The MGNOA Official Jewelry from Lucinda Holiday - Made for a Queen Jewelry, Crown & Sash. 1 year of monthly bookings at Oz New Orleans in one of our fabulous shows!

Benefit show furnished by Oz New Orleans.

For more information on the Miss Gay Louisiana America System check [continued on 22]

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Neon Party & All the Stars ~ Pensacola, Florida ~ Photos by Lauren Mitchell

under the gaydar

cated at 941 Elysian Fields from 9 p.m. to midnight. There will be a 50/50 raffle and Jell-O shots.

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trodding the boards

by Brian Sands

Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com

On the Air at The WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen through May 31 Four years ago, in On the Air, the WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen introduced us to the folks at local radio station WSDC as they soldiered through a broadcast on Mother’s Day 1945.

Now, On the Air returns for another broadcast three years later (though shouldn’t it be called On the Air 2 or On the Air Again?). Peace may be prevailing overseas, but in the studio there’s a bit of a battle brewing.

When two of the performers on the station’s musical variety show elope to Niagara Falls, it looks like Musical Director Frank (Tom Hook) and singer Melba (Troi Bechet) will have to fill in and stretch things out with solos and re-arranged tunes that could disrupt the show’s usual smooth-flowing harmony.

But then two repairmen show up to fix the broken Coke machine and it turns out that one is a WWII vet who happened to have served in Europe in an entertainment Special Services unit (with Sammy Davis, Jr. no less!), and,

under the gaydar ...from 20 them out online: http:// www.missgaylouisianaamerica.info/ The categories include Male Interview; Solo Talent; Evening Gown; On Stage Question and Talent. Registration is at 1:00 p.m. contestants must come in their “Male Interview” attire and interview will happen immediately after registration at 1:30pm. The pageant starts promptly at 5 p.m. Performers for the evening include Reigning MGLA Santana Pilar Andrews, Dominique DeLorean, Starr Alexander, Monica Synclaire Kennedy, Aubrey Synclaire and Anastacia Davenport.

Saturday, May 16, 2015 B is for Big Easy Sisters. Yes, it’s that time again for Big Easy Sister Bingo at the Phoenix! Come out and have some fun, laughs, and win some great prizes. Bingo cards are $1 a piece, 6 cards for $5, or 12 cards for $10 and you can play as many cards as you like each round. Bingo starts at 8 p.m. and the New Orleans Phoenix is located at 941 Elysian Fields.

Sunday, May 17, 2015 It is once again time for Toby Lefort’s Annual Crawfish Boil and Auction Benefitting the NO/AIDS Walk at the Four Seasons Bar located in Metairie at 3229 N Causeway Boulevard from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Enjoy some of the best Crawfish by none other than Bayou Chad and Kevin for $20 all you can eat.

well, I bet you can see where this is going.

What makes this significant is that the repairmen, a father and son team, are African-American who, along with Ms. Bechet, represent the firmest display yet of the Canteen’s commitment to diversity on its stage. And by acknowledging the often strained race relations in the post-WWII South, the

[continued on 25] The auction starts at 5:30pm.

Party Down As Spring moves along at a steady clip so does the event. New Orleans is a city of constant entertainment. I started my two weeks of events on Tuesday with the Brennan’s Opening Party for the Hospitality Community. It is heartwarming to see one of the foremost New Orleans dining establishments re-opened for business with a well-deserved facelift. Brennan’s is gorgeous, brought back to her once majestic look with a grand courtyard, well-appointed private dining rooms, delicious cuisine and outstanding staff.

My friend Jeff (aka Elizabeth Bouvier) joined me for the soiree, then afterwards we attended the premier of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat starring American Idol finalists Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo. The show was wonderful and Ace and his half naked brothers’ abs were well worth the price of admission.

On Wednesday, the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted their Business After Hours networking event at the World War 2 Museum Freedom Pavilion. It was a great event to see the space and enjoy the always entertaining Victory Belles.

I followed up with those two days with a hosted happy hour in the House of Blues’ Foundation Room. This members’ only club located on the top floor of the House of Blues is a hidden hideaway in the city. It has a peaceful, Zen atmosphere, but incredibly fun and lively. Afterwards, I stopped for the first time at the Allways Lounge for their drag bingo with Vinsantos. This week Reba Douglas was the guest and the duo played off each other nicely delivering a hysterical evening of unique bingo and comedy. Vinsantos is mak-

ing quite a name for himself in the drag circles both locally and nationally. Good for him, keep up the good work.

The weekend started relaxing with happy hour Uptown at Phillip’s Bar. It has changed quite a lot since the last time I was there a few months ago.

The interior is nicer, the menu has improved to feature more gourmet selections, but they removed the happy hour which use to pack the place at the end of the week with gay men. But even without Happy Hour, the drink prices are still affordable and the courtyard is divine this time of the year. We followed up cocktails with dinner right down the street at The Sammich. If you have not had a chance to try this fabulous eatery, make it a point to check it out. There are amazing dishes like fried beets and flash fried escargot; and any of the sandwiches are sure fire winners.

Saturday was devoted to St. Anna’s. Elizabeth Bouvier and I emceed the 5th Annual Dodwell House fundraiser for St. Anna’s at Generations Hall. It was quite the evening with wonderful entertainment that included Topsy Chapman & Solid Harmony, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 9or my new nickname for them The Sisters of the Perpetual Double Booking) and The Treme Community Choir. Their silent auction was filled with some incredible art pieces and baskets. I managed to make quite the donation to their cause. My favorite part of the night was when Elizabeth and I were selling absolutions from sin to people for $5 a pop. Not every sin, mind you, that would be chaos, just the fun ones like Envy, Lust and Greed. Sounded like a deal; so I bought enough to keep me good through June.

I ended the week with the kickoff Halloween Host party at the Uptown Mansion of Bryan Francher and Daniel Brockhoeft. Their gorgeous mansion was the ideal setting to introduce the new theme Fall of the Pharaohs. Now I have six months to come up with a fabulous costume.

My events the next week began on Wednesday with New Orleans Magazine’s Hobknobbers Networking social at the newly opened space The Jaxson located in Jax Brewery. This spacious and beautiful venue space incorporates the beauty of the Mississippi River with its patio spaces and the French Quarter with the large pane windows in the front. The city now has a fresh space in the French Quarter for weddings and corporate events. After the party, I did something I rarely do during the week; I strolled down to the gay bars and had a few cocktails at Oz and the Pub. Oh, the days of my youth when I could party mid-week and still be fresh the next day at work in the morning.

Thursday, the city was gearing up for Jazz Fest. Through the throngs of tourists, I attended the Peter Max Art

Show at the Angela King Gallery. It seemed like the whole city turned out for this special night.

Max is a German-born American illustrator and graphic artist, known for the use of psychedelic shapes and color palettes as well as spectra in his work. Max then became fascinated with new printing techniques that allowed for fourcolor reproduction on product merchandise. Following his success with a line of art clocks for General Electric, Max’s art was licensed by 72 corporations.

Max has appeared on the cover of Life magazine, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Ed Sullivan Show. He was also the official artist for many major events, including the 1994 World Cup, the Grammy Awards, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Super Bowl. He was also the Official Artist of New York City’s 2000 Subway Series, the World Series of Major League Baseball, between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.

Recently, Max painted Taylor Swift’s portrait as a gift to the singer for her Grammy-winning album Fearless & Speak Now, and has recently painted new portraits of Taylor Swift to commemorate her worldwide success.

This world renowned artists had taken local photographer Steven Forster and reimaged some of his amazing shots of singing stars for the show. Everyone was on hand to see this master’s newest works, in our little old city. It seems that everyone loves NOLA and that is a wonderful.

My weekend began and ended on Friday, since there was a huge convention in town and I had to work the remainder of the weekend. Armeinius held their new member mixer at the den which was a fun get to know you event that included a few round of speed networking and ended with a cocktail contest which I was lucky enough to judge with the delightful Monique Michaels. The winner of the contest would have his drink featured at the Glitter and be Gay soiree in May. Winners Augustin and Nick created a lovely libation that was a twist on Margaritas that added Vanilla Vodka to the tequila concoction, quite sumptuous and potent. Then a friend and I went to dinner at this great new comfort food restaurant called the Big Cheesy on Broad Street right across from the courthouse.

Who does not like grilled cheese sandwiches and this place has an array to choose from which were absolutely delicious. We ended our night with a final drink at the Mid-City hotspot, The Tulane Avenue Bar. Vanessa Carr was performing this evening showing off her vocal talents to the crowd. She was followed up by the Femmes de Faraday show. There is quite an entertainment line-up at this quaint little watering hole.

That concludes my two weeks of fun, hope everyone enjoys Jazz Fest (or any of the other numerous outdoor events this city offers).

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The Rivers-Brown Family Cameron, Amber, King Stevie & Reba Douglas @ B-Bob’s Mobile Gay Pride March 2015 Hello Skylar & Mike

Gay Pride & The Whole Deal ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Miss Cie

Mr. Tim & Company @ B-Bob’s

m obile paparazzi Shey & Tyler @ B-Bob’s

Miss Venus @ B-Bob’s, Mobile Hello Matthew

Colt Man Bob Hager with Miss Cie @ B-Bob’s

“One Love”... Mobile Gay Pride 2015

Reba, Michael & Corey @ Flip Side Patio Bar, Mobile

Welcome home Lee

The beautiful Queen Michelle with Caitlin

Mark, Will & Company

Jawakatema is EVERYTHING!

Lauren Mitchell & Reba Douglas performs @ B-Bob’s, Mobile

Amber Douglas performs @ B-Bob’s

Happy Mobile Gay Pride

trodding the boards ...from 22 Canteen shows a more mature side of itself.

It also allows the Canteen to broaden its repertoire to include what was once called “race music,” a category that included blues, jazz, and gospel music. Though, as a character rightly says, “It’s not ‘race’ music. It’s just music, good music.” (That said, according to Wikipedia, the term “race” was not necessarily used as a derogatory term; especially pre-WWII, it was even used to connote pride.)

Cavan Hallman’s book is a little simplistic in its plot devices, its humor is somewhat corny, and logic doesn’t always prevail, but, hey, this is the “Stage Door Canteen” not the “Shakespearean Drama Canteen.”

Still, a few things could’ve been made clearer such as that the Canteen’s audience is functioning as the WSDC studio audience and that a few weeks have elapsed between the show’s first and second sections. There’s also a medley of food songs that allows Hook to dress up as chef Mme. Langlois; while cute, it feels extraneous and might have best been left for On the Air 3.

For the most part, however, On the Air serves up a grand opportunity to enjoy a wide range of timeless hits done with style, flair and lots of heart.

Victoria Reed, who conceived the show with Hallman, wisely imbues the show with an assured pace that keeps the focus on the music.

With her creamy voice, Bechet can put over a song like Lover Man simply and beautifully, and then lead, on Sentimental Journey, a terrific blending of tones with her castmates. She also has a marvelous comic presence; don’t miss her priceless deadpan expressions [continued on 28]

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New Orleans, LA [504] BOBBY BLUE CONTEMPORARY BARBER & BEAUTY PARLOR, 906 Bourbon St., 527.5100 HEAD QUARTERS HAIR SALON, 900 Rue Dauphine, 522.2666 MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 717 Toulouse St., 587.7782 TWO GUYS CUTTING HAIR, 2372 St. Claude Ave., Suite 125, appointments: Adikus 215.519.5030, Trent 504.239.2397

New Orleans, LA [504] MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER HARDWARE, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465

ST. PHILIP

M

Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., 207.3271 Houston, TX [713]

hair salons

NEON BOOTS DANCEHALL & SALOON, 11410 Hempstead Hwy., 677.0828, www.neonbootsclub.com

ORLEANS

DUMAINE

FR

Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921

DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416

Metairie, LA [504] FOUR SEASONS & PATIO STAGE BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, FourSeasonsBar.com New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, 948.6288 BOURBON PUB & PARADE, 801 Bourbon St., 529.2107, BourbonPub.COM CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon Street 522.8397, Lafittes.COM CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829, CornerPocket.NET COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860, Facebook.COM/GoldenLanternBar GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM GRANDPRE'S, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615, Facebook.com/grandpres KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735, KajunPub.COM LUCKY PIERRE'S, 735 Bourbon St., 586.1836, LuckyPierresNOLA.com OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields,

chiropractic New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., 1526 Magazine, 566.1833 [is2514]

circuit/events Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, 16th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.com Sept. 2-7, 2015, 44th Official Southern Decadence Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 150,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.com Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2015, Halloween 32, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.com Dec. 26, 2015-Jan. 1, 2016, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.com Feb. 5-9, 2016, 67th Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.com

costumes New Orleans, LA [504] QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633

florists Baton Rouge, LA [225] FOUR SEASONS FLOWERS & GIFTS, 3482 Drusilla Ln., Drusilla Shopping Center, 924.1386, 1.800.237.5381 Marrero, LA [504] I BLOOM FLOWERS & GIFTS, 1604 Barataria Blvd., 504.341.0248

galleries New Orleans, LA [504] CASSELL-BERGEN GALLERY, 1305 Decatur St., cassellbergengallery.com, 504.524.0671

guides 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; marsha@ripandmarsha.com

groceries/delis New Orleans, LA [504] QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE

lodging/accommodations New Orleans [504] AARON INGRAM HAUS, 1012 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.949.3110, E-mail us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com. Condos with queensize beds, private entrances; located only six blocks from Bourbon Street and walking distance to most New Orleans attractions. Several favorite bars are within one block.

[0714 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, E-mail us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "halfkitchen", courtyard and half-open tubhouse with spa (hot tub/whirlpool). Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area. Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues.

[0814] CHATEAU LEMOYNE FRENCH QUARTER, 301 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA 70112, Phone: 504.581.1303, http:// www.hiclneworleanshotelsite.com/gayhotelsnew-orleans. Enjoy a stay enriched with the culture and history of New Orleans at Chateau LeMoyne. Our historic building features all the best of old-time architecture and our prime location allows guests to stay just steps from the French Quarter, while still at enough distance to enjoy a peaceful night’s rest. Versatile guest accommodations include charmingly appointed suites and cottages, while on-site amenities include drinks and dining, a scenic courtyard area and pool, and meeting and event space. When you’re ready to explore, top New Orleans attractions are only moments away. We look forward to welcoming you to the “Big Easy.”

ELYSIAN GUEST HOUSE, 1008 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117, Phone: 1.504.324.4311, info@elysianguesthouse.com.

The Elysian Guest House is within walking distance to all the fun spots. Five to steps to a few blocks to all the action. We have a Jacuzzi too.

Call and lets talk.

THE FRENCH QUARTER GUEST HOUSES, 1005 St. Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone: 1.800.367.5858, FrenchQuarterGuestHouses.com, email: Info@frenchquarterguesthouses.com. Four meticulously restored boutique inns located in the heart of the French Quarter's most popular LGBT neighborhood. Each building's individual character and charm provides an unforgettable authentic French Quarter experience!

FRENCH QUARTER SUITES HOTEL, 1119 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.524.7725, Toll Free: 800.457.2253,FrenchQuarterSuites.COM. Email us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com. Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. A locally owned and operated French Quarter hotel that has been

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beautifully transformed into spacious multi-bedroom suites. Several historical townhouses are also available to accommodate larger groups of up to 26. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St., free WiFi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is available.

MAISON DE MACARTY BED & BREAKFAST, 3820 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.267.1564, MaisonMacarty.com, email: kurt@maisonmacarty.com. Luxury gay owned and operated bed and breakfast. 8 bedrooms with ensite baths, pool, sun deck and beautiful courtyard. Sleep, eat and play at Maison de Macarty,. Book it now!

NEW ORLEANS COURTYARD HOTEL, 1101 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.522.7333, Toll Free: 800.457.2253, NOCourtyard.COM. Email us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com, Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. A 19th century home that has been historically restored and transformed into a locally owned and operated hotel. Experience the rich history and hospitality of New Orleans at an affordable price. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St, free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is available.

marketing & printing New Orleans, LA [504] SIR SPEEDY, 343 Carondelet, 586.9812, 586.9817, offering printing and marketing services including web design and hosting. info@sirspeedyneworleans.com, sirspeedyneworleans.com

massage New Orleans, LA [504] RIGHT TOUCH MASSAGE -- Christopher - Full body therapeutic massage (Swedish/Deep Tissue); heated table; private studio; tropical garden; Faubourg Marigny Area, French Quarter.

Upgrade (Salt Scrubs Bodywork & Thai/Sport Stretching massage). Call/text 504.458.5996 / For pictures http://www.christophernola.com.

License #LA4553 [is2515]

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

museum/arts New Orleans, LA [504] BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE, 1113 Chartres, 523.7257 CABILDO, 701 Chartres, Jackson Square, CAC [Contemporary Arts Center], 900 Camp St., 528.3805, cacno.org EDGAR DEGAS HISTORIC HOME, 2306 Esplanade Avenue, tours by appointment: 504.821.5009, the house tour lasts one hour, is led by a great-grand-niece of Degas, and includes the award-winning documentary video, Degas in New Orleans: A Creole Sojourn 1850 HOUSE, 523 St. Ann GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, 523.6722 GERMAINE WELLS MARDI GRAS MUSEUM, 2nd Floor Arnaud's, 819 Bienville HERMANN-GRIMA HISTORIC HOUSE, 820 St. Louis, 525.5661 HISTORICAL PHARMACY MUSEUM, 514 Chartres, 524.9077 HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 533 Royal, 523.4662 LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, MUSEE CONTI HISTORICAL WAX MUSEUM, 917 Conti, 525.2605 NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, 488.2631 OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART,

925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square WORLD WAR 2 MUSEUM, 945 Magazine, 527.6012, http://nationalww2museum.org

music New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St., 592.4666

organizations 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 statewide AIDSLaw of Louisiana, 3801 Canal St., Suite 331, 568.1631, AIDSLAW.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 838.3399 BIG EASY STOMPERS, Country & Western line dancing. Weekly lessons and monthly Country & Western dance party, www.bigeasystompersneworleans.com, info@bigeasystompersneworleans.com BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS, AIDS Residence for Families, PO Box 3305, 70177; 945.9455 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 FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 944.6028 FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; 947.2981, ForumForEquality.COM FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), PO Box 791376, New Orleans, LA 70179-1376; 733.3311, fridaynightbeforemardigras.com, fnbmg@cox.net GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance Region Two, Inc.), 4550 North Blvd. Ste. 250, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, 225.927.1269, www.haartinc.org, offers a complete continuum of care to people living with HIV/AIDS including housing, primary care, medications, case management, and an array of supportive services. In addition HAART provides HIV prevention education and FREE testing to the Baton Rouge area.

HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com/ambush KREWE OF AMON-RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, kreweofarmeinius.org KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; 913.5791, KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF NARCISSUS, PO Box 3832, New Orleans, LA 70177. Contact: 504.228.9441 KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 1102, Kenner, LA. 70063-1102, www.kreweofpetroius.net KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/KCQ KREWE OF URSUS, kreweofursus@aol.com

LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, 1308 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.475.7911, www.lgbtarchivesla.org LORDS OF LEATHER, 1631 Elysian Fields, #161, 70117, www.lordsofleather.org Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans, services at 10am, 6200 St Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118; 504.270.1MCC www.mccneworleans.org MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, 2443 Halsey Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114, 504.906.7990 Todd J. Blauvelt / Secretary, krewe.of.satyricon@gmail.com, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS BEAR AND BEAR TRAPPER SOCIAL CLUB, P.O. Box 57756, New Orleans, LA 70157-7756, 504.298.0061, theneworleansbears.com NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN’S CHORUS, 322.7007, nogmc.com; nogmc@aol.com NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, nojazzfest.com NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM PFLAG/NO [Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays/ New Orleans], PO Box 15515, 70175; 895.3936, 392.0001, pflagno.org, info@pflagno.org PRIDE CELEBRATION in New Orleans NOLAPride.ORG PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609 REGIONALAIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], 523.3755 RENEGADE BEARS OF LOUISIANA, PO Box 3083, New Orleans, LA 70177; renegadebearsoflouisiana@gmail.com SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM ST. ANNA'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1313 Esplanade Avenue New Orleans, LA 70116 947.2121, stannanola.org VOLLEYBALL NEW ORLEANS, PO Box 13306, 70185-3306; volleyballneworleans.com, postmaster@volleyballneworleans.com

pets New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, 523.4455

pharmacy Baton Rouge, LA [225] AVITA PHARMACY, offers personalized, convenient care to those affected by chronic illnesses. Avita offers free delivery, co-pay assistance, benefit coordination, and refill reminder calls as well as access to a pharmacist 24/7.

Every prescription filled today helps Avita give back to the community tomorrow. www.avitapharmacy.com New Orleans, LA [504] AVITA PHARMACY, offers personalized, convenient care to those affected by chronic illnesses. Avita offers free delivery, co-pay assistance, benefit coordination, and refill reminder calls as well as access to a pharmacist 24/7.

Every prescription filled today helps Avita give back to the community tomorrow. www.avitapharmacy.com MUMFREY'S PHARMACY, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312, www.MumfreysPharmacy.COM. Supporting & serving the LGBT Community for over 20 years.

Local pharmacy offering personalized family-like service, automatic refills & free metro wide confidential pickup & delivery. Also offering shipping for out-side our delivery area. When you call us you speak to a person, not a machine. See our ad.

Loewenthal, your local Realtor. Buy/Sell/Lease.

List your home from NO to BR. LGBT FQ Resident. Free Appraisal. 504.388.6150 / 225.205.8552 Cell, 504.891.6400 Off, Micahsells@gmail.com, 1820 St Charles Ave. LATTER & BLUM, Agent Brian M. Pawlowski, brianrealtor@aol.com, Agent Stace McDonald, stacerealtor@aol.com, 840 Elysian Fields, 451.2495

repairs Metairie, New Orleans, LA Mr. Fixer L.L.C., appliance & home repairs, "Reliable, Quality Work & Pricing!" 504.202.1024, www.NewOrleansApplianceRepairs.com

restaurants Mandeville, LA [985] The Po-Boy Shack, 1703 N. Causeway Blvd., 626.1303 Metairie, LA [504] Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop & Pub, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., 835.2022, GumboStop.com New Orleans, LA [504] 801 Royal, 801 Royal St., 581.0801, 801Royal.com Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 Deanie's Seafood, French Quarter: 841 Iberville, 581.4141; Bucktown: 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie, 831.1316; Deanies.COM Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130, FatoushRestaurantNOLA.COM, 371.5074 Gene's Po-Boys, 1040 Elysian Fields, 943.3861 Horn's, 1940 Dauphine St., 459.4676 Lil Vic’s Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse, 304.1238 Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930, OrleansGrapevine.com Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, QuartermasterDeli.NET Retrouvailles Bistro & Balcony Dining, 700 Bourbon St., 523.1485 The Ruby Slipper, 2001 Burgundy St., 525.9355

retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 COK (Clothing or Kinkl), 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 HIT PARADE, 741 Bourbon St., Facebook.COM/HitParadeNOLA MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 MR. BINKY'S BOUTIQUE, 107 Chartres St., 302.2095, MrBinkys.com PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662

theatres New Orleans, LA [504] CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, 504.974.0786, CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM MID-CITY THEATRE, 3240 Toulouse, 488.1460, MidCityTheatre.COM NEW ORLEANS FRINGE FESTIVAL, NOFringe.ORG

photography

tours

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

New Orleans, LA [504] Gay New Orleans Walking Tour, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, (LGBT Business of the Year) 638 St. Ann St., 568.0717. follow Gay New Orleans Walking Tour @ Facebook.COM

real estate New Orleans, LA [504] GARDNER REALTORS,

Micah

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trodding the boards ...from 25 when things aren’t going Melba’s way.

An always genial personality, once Hook gets out from behind the piano, he proves to be quite the showman as in Minnie the Moocher or dressed as a cowboy for a country medley with Melba. Along with Jay Hagen, bandleader of the offstage Hugh Dat Mystery Band, Hook insures that musically, On the Air is up to the Canteen’s usual impeccably high standards.

Ron Flagge portrays repairman Nestor Watson, Sr. with dignity as he tries to protect, perhaps overbearingly so, his son from life’s harsh realities. As Melba sets romantic eyes on him, his tough outer shell begins to soften and Flagge’s potent vocals adds to several numbers particularly Louis Jordan’s Open the Door, Richard!; might we hear more from him in the next On the Air iteration?

Lloyd Meekins completes the cast as Nestor Watson, Jr. Having previously enjoyed his performances in Hairspray and Zanna, Don’t!, what a pleasure it is to see this fabulous young actor/singer/dancer blossom in the spotlight. Resembling a young Nat King Cole, his velvety voice lends a distinctive quality to such songs as Nature Boy and Birth of the Blues.

On the Air concludes with a trio of “smile” songs—I’ll Never Smile Again, Charlie Chaplin’s Smile and When You’re Smiling. It’s certain to leave you smiling too.

What will also bring a smile to your face is the food at the Canteen. A recent brunch menu was one of their best.

Fresh spring onions added a nice tang to a creamy potato soup. Quail stuffed with Andouille cornbread that came with home fries was absolutely delicious. An Apple Pie-stuffed Pain Perdue looked beautiful and came with so many fresh berries it seemed almost like dessert.

The “official” desserts were Chocolate Covered Banana & Peanut Butter Tart and White Chocolate & Blueberry Bread Pudding. I can say with certainty that both were outstanding as my companion let me try some of hers. Otherwise, we might have had WWIII!

Joey Arias Sings Billie Holiday at the Contemporary Arts Center When you’ve been doing a column like this for over 12 years, it’s easy to feel like you’ve seen it all and all that’s left are variations on some basic themes. And then something comes along that’s so different and so brilliant that there is no prefabricated box to put it in, and the world expands a little.

That’s how I felt after Joey Arias Sings Billie Holiday.

For those of you not familiar with him, this New York-based performance artist has sung in rock bands, appeared in films (To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar) and on TV (Saturday Night Live accompanying David Bowie), and starred as the Mistress of Seduction in Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity in Vegas.

heartfelt loss. Like Holiday, Arias can also be playful as with an Ain’t Misbehavin’, its lyrics tailored to New Orleans.

And, yes, Arias kept the illusion going by talking in Holiday’s voice, a drink and drug-fueled slur that’s virtually incomprehensible.

But Arias regularly switched back into his own persona, a casual, giggly one that seemed to say “Don’t take all this too seriously”.

This mercurial shifting in and out of Holiday’s spirit, with serious jazz chops underlying it all, was idiosyncratic and even transgressive, a thumbing of the nose at the conventional while rasing the bar higher for future such performance/drag art.

For this unique presentation, Arias received tremendous support.

The CAC Warehouse was transformed into a soigne nightclub Joey Arias Sings Billie Holiday circa 1952. It But none of that can prepare you took a while for the house lights to go for his Billie Holiday cabaret which he’s fully down but once they were, Evan been doing on and off for over twenty Spigelman’s lighting was striking, enyears. Apparently he did it in boy clothes hancing the sophisticated mood until Lady Bunny suggested he do it in throughout the evening. drag for Wigstock one year. The set Most of all, the seven piece combo was a success and he’s been doing it in led by pianist Matt Ray that backed drag ever since.

Arias up was top-notch, sensitively augBut the drag is hardly over the top. menting the delicate mood Arias had Arias appeared recently at the CAC created. If Omar Ramirez on trumpet wearing a form-fitting knee-length black and Michael Jenner on saxophone skirt with a gauzy black top that would stood out for their sinuous solos, David not have looked out of place among the Berger (drums), Monica Elaine McIntyre images that pop up when you google (cello), Errica Poindexter (bass), Clara “Chanel black dress.” A gardenia Sinou (violin), not all of whom had adorned his coif. played with Arias before, coalesced What was audacious about the set under Ray into a superbly tight enwas that here was a white man eligible semble. for senior citizen discounts channelThe CAC will soon be announcing ing—and there simply is no other word next season’s featured performers and for it—a black woman who tragically programs. We can only hope that they died when still in her mid-40s. With a will each be as extraordinary as Joey voice similar to Holiday’s that Arias Arias’ tribute to Billie Holiday. accurately describes as “raspy elegance,” he created the illusion of a Coming Soon Holiday performance. But only up to a Having taken a break for Jazzfest, point. theater returns to New Orleans with a Yes, the songs were done with wide variety of shows. refined stylings from a jazzy Them Among original works, first up is There Eyes to a penetrating God Bless the NOLA Project’s Robin Hood: Thief, the Child. His incisive rendition of Brigand, a new version of the oft-told Strange Fruit insured that it is still as tale by Andrew Vaught which will be powerful in our “Black Lives Matter” staged in NOMA’s Sculpture Garden times as when it debuted over 75 years May 6-24. Following last year’s pheago. You’ve Changed conveyed a raw, nomenal outdoor Adventures in Won-

derland, Robin Hood will examine our nation’s growing class inequality through the lens of that medieval rob-from-therich-give-to-the-poor guy. A “swashbuckling and thought-provoking” time is promised.

Next up, Skin Horse’s She Was Born at The Tigermen Den will explore the idea that, biologically speaking, the sole purpose of existence is reproduction. Veronica Hunsinger-Loe stars in this solo show chronicling the one-hour life cycle of an endangered extraterrestrial insect. Sounds a bit strange but anything’s possible in the Bywater these days. Adventurous theatergoers can check it out May 1531.

Two shows focusing on queer youth will also open this month. Written entirely by the youth ensemble of LOUD, the New Orleans Queer Youth Theater, The Pursuit of Justice focuses on the stories of five young people who all attend the same community Gender and Sexuality Alliance in the days leading up to a fateful event. Pursuit of Justice will be presented May 15, 16, and 17 at the MidCity Theater.

Following that, BreakOUT! in collaboration with Ping Chong + Company presents Say My Name, Say My Name which shares the real-life stories of five Black transgender young women growing up in New Orleans, and the fierce power of self-identification. Say My Name will be performed at the Ashe Powerhouse on May 22 and 23.

Three big musicals will soon be shimmying into town. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels about some lovable con men living on the French Riviera plays May 8-23 at Rivertown. Gary Rucker, Bob Pavlovich and Kayla Herrington gave rollicking performances five years ago and will be reprising them in Kenner.

When Alice Walker’s The Color Purple debuted as a musical on Broadway, it ran for over two years despite an only middling critical reception. It will be coming back to Broadway later this year in a slimmed down version that had London critics raving. Until then, you can see it at the Anthony Bean Community Theater from May 22 to June 14 in its debut local presentation.

Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along comes to Le Petit for its first production here in many, many years.

Traveling backward in time from finish to start, Merrily shows how brighteyed youths turned into cynical adults.

It runs May 22-June 6.

And, like Merrily, to finish at the beginning of theatrical time, Sophocles’ Antigone will be done by Lux et Umbra at the Old Marquer May 7-23 using an all-female cast directed by Joanna Russo. With its dysfunctional family front and center, this may not be the best outing for Mother’s Day but, otherwise, its 2,500 year old tale might take your mind off of today’s dire headlines.

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Southern Decadence: The Whole Gay Weekend Only available at: www.SouthernDecadence.com GayMardiGras.c om • GayEast erParade.c om • May 5-18, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 29

the legal corner

by Attorney Troy A. Tureau

Email: thelawprofessor@comcast.net

Marriage Equality in the United States: Waiting for the United States Supreme Court Decision The countdown has begun. The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Marriage Equality on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. By the end of June or the beginning of July, we should have a decision by the Supreme Court on Marriage Equality. If most constitutional scholars are correct, in all likelihood we will have a decision that legalizes and recognizes same sex marriage in all fifty states and every American territory. Who could have ever imagined even the possibility of something like this just a few years ago? Surely not this author, who as a child, felt like a freak and thought that he was the only one in the world who was attracted to a member of the same sex. We’ve come a long way, baby!

Over the years Marriage Equality opponents have put forth several arguments to support their position. Some of them are meritless and downright laughable, such as “same-sex marriage is a threat to the institution of marriage, “same-sex marriage decreases the number of heterosexual marriages,” “samesex marriage hurts children” and “the purpose of marriage is to procreate.” Their latest argument and the one with the most merit is that marriage between members of the same sex is a decision that should be left up to the states and not decided by the courts.

Marriage Equality proponents have hinged their arguments on the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the14th Amendment. The Due Process Clause prohibits the state and local governments from depriving people of their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness without good reason. The Equal Protection Clause prohibits states and local governments from discriminating against a person or group of people absent good cause. In response to Marriage Equality opponents’ argument that marriage laws should be left to the states, proponents argue that marriage is one of those rights that are so fundamental that they cannot be left for the people to decide. They compare it to the 1963 United States Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia which found unconstitutional laws prohibiting interracial marriage and the 2003 United States Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas which found unconstitutional laws that prohibiting consensual sodomy.

All eyes are upon Reagan appointee Justice Anthony Kennedy who promises to be the swing vote in what will likely be a 5 to 4 decision. Justice Kennedy, sometimes referred to as the “gay justice” because he wrote the opinions for three landmark cases supporting gay rights, seemed to give mixed signals in oral arguments. At one point he agreed with conservatives who argued that marriage has been defined between a man and a woman for a very long time. “This definition has been with us for a millennia,” he said. However, later he showed concern with affording same-sex couples and their families the dignity bestowed by the institution of marriage.

If a decision does come down in our favor, don’t expect the fight to be over.

It may have just begun in some states, especially in the South. Presently, samesex marriage is legal in 36 states and the District of Columbia. In almost all of these states, same-sex marriage is proceeding without any problems. Then there is Alabama, where the majority of state courts and offices are actually ignoring the law and refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. As long as there are homophobes such as part-time Louisiana governor and unlikely (not a snowball’s chance in hell) Republican presidential candidate Bobby Jindal are in office, should we expect anything less? After all, we are talking about some of the same states that concocted the Jim Crow laws and poll taxes in order to deny African-Americans their constitutional right to vote. Ignorance and hatred can be quite clever. We’ve already witnessed the emergence of the so-called “religious freedom” laws. Expect more of the same and be ready to fight on for equality, regardless of the Supreme Court decision.

It would be wise for same-sex couples to make certain that their legal affairs are in order. Regardless of your marital status, I urge you to contact me or another attorney to ensure that your wills, powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney, interment (burial/cremation wishes) forms and guardianships reflect your wishes, just in case the state refuses to recognize your relationship.

As always, I invite your comments and questions.

(These are the personal views of Troy A. Tureau, and nothing here is intended to be legal advice of any kind.)

Troy A. Tureau, J.D., L.LM., Attorney at Law, Tureau Legal, 4631 S. Carrolton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119, thelawprofessor@comcast.net 504.308.1608.

commentary Let’s Love Bruce Jenner and All Our Transgender Brothers and Sisters The Same

by Steve Siebold At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, U.S. track and field athlete Bruce Jenner made headlines for winning the gold medal in the decathlon and became an instant American celebrity. And now, after the long awaited admission last week on national television where Jenner said he is now a woman, it’s time to recognize Jenner as an American hero yet again.

The numbers are shocking: A whopping 41 percent of people who are transgender or gender-nonconforming have attempted suicide sometime in their lives, according to the results of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey.

No one should ever contemplate taking their own life simply because they feel trapped in their own body and believe they were destined to be someone else.

To these men and women, Bruce Jenner is a hero. He’s now an outspoken voice that sends the message of, “You’re not alone,” and “It’s ok to be who you truly are.”

The reality is that some people never get comfortable in their own skin and silently suffer a life of unintentional inauthenticity. They live every day with the guilt and shame our culture stamps on everyone who makes their minority positions public. While many psychologists, psychiatrists and religious leaders want to use techniques to “fix” these people, the truth is they were never broken.

When people have plastic surgery to improve their appearance, do we stigmatize them and claim they have a psychological disorder? The delusion is that transgender people are suffering from a psychological disorder or they have chosen to feel the way they do. This is absurd. The good news is that celebrities like Bruce Jenner and Chaz Bono, for example, have the platform and ambition to educate Americans.

Some religious leaders have spoken out and claimed that being transgender is a sin because it disregards God-given gender distinctions and provides for and promotes homosexuality. They also claim that it dishonors marriage and the home as ordained by God. This is yet another example of how religious leaders in America use their power to control the faithful through guilt and shame.

Whether it’s being bullied in school by students and teachers or being labeled a sinner by the church, it’s time for Americans to grow up and start treating people the way they wish to be treated. Would Jesus, or any other serious leader, condone the behavior of bullies and bigots? How many people have to kill themselves before we finally realize we are all equal regardless of color, creed or sexual orientation?

If America is really the beacon of hope that we claim it is, shouldn’t that include acceptance and support for people struggling to navigate the trials and tribulations of life? Critical thinking says it’s Born in Baton Rouge, Louisi- time to reject the religious dogma and ana, Mr. Tureau obtained his Bachelor societal brainwashing and open our of Arts from Louisiana State University hearts to people of every kind. Isn’t life with a major in Broadcast Journalism tough enough without our most cherand a minor in Political Science. He ished institutions attacking us for being obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1992 different? When will the day come when from Loyola Law School, New Or- we are all accepted for who we are? leans, and his L.LM. in Environmental Until that day, America will continue to Law from Lewis and Clark Law school be a second-rate country when it comes in 2008. He has been a member of the to these important social issues.

To every transgender person, Louisiana State Bar Association since please know that you are loved. Re1992 and is a partner at the New member that you are as good as everyOrleans law firm, Compass & Tureau, one else, and the critics are attacking LLC., which proudly serves the LGBT you out of fear and ignorance. It has community. He is an Associate Pronothing to do with you. Stay Tough! fessor at Ashford University, has held Steve Siebold is author of Sex, adjunct faculty positions at the College Politics and Religion: How Delusional of The Desert and Kaplan University Thinking is Destroying America. http:/ and is a frequent speaker on “Animal /www.sexpoliticsreligionbook.com/ Law.” He is the author of many written works, both fiction and nonfiction, and is the founder of the recently launched Memorial Day Weekend LGBTlegalforms.com, the first LGBT DEADLINE downloadable legal form company in the world. He is married to his husTueday, May 12th band Michael of 10 years, and they are the proud parents of 12 year old Cole and their 4 year old Pekingese, Ginmarsha@ripandmarsha.com ger.

504.522.8049

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Wood Enterprises 7th Chili Cook-off Benefiting Food for Friends @ Lafitte’s & Rawhide ~ New Orleans

Four Seasons 1st Anniversary with Bar Barons Electra City & Tittie Toulouse ~ Metairie, LA ~ Photos by Hubert S Monkeys, Darwin Reed

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The Social Scene ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon, Jeff Palmquist, Darwin Reed, Jeremy Weinberg

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Dodwell House Fundraiser, Halloween Host Party, Armeinius & Petronius ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio

LGBT+ Archives Project Potluck Fundraiser @ GrandPre’s ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Rip Naquin

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