legal matters ...from 30 which expresses your end-of-life treatment Some changes include, but are not limited 18 years old (or at least that we still look that desires) is a legal document that allows you to, the changing of beneficiaries, the addi- way) and that we are going to live forever. you. Unless you have prepared an end-of- to distribute your property to those whom tion of new property to the trust, the taking Unfortunately, the cemeteries around us life document in the proper form that your you choose. This document will even allow of property out of the trust or the termination are full of people who thought that very state requires, your wishes amount to ab- you to designate beneficiaries to receive of the trust entirely. Think of a trust as a same thing! Sickness and accidents hap- solutely nothing! While this is probably specific items from your property and other jewelry box in which you have placed all of pen when we least expect it and can occur shocking news whether you are straight or beneficiaries to receive everything else, if your property. With a trust you can manage at any age. Regardless of the amount of gay, it should especially be disturbing news you so desire. An advantage: They are your property before and after your death, property you have when you die, whether to members of the LGBT community who relatively inexpensive to create. Disadvan- as well as provide how those assets and the it fits in a small box or is a huge estate, it is live in states that do not recognize same- tage #1: The court’s processing of a will income earned by the trust, are distributed property that you probably worked pretty sex relationships - states like . If (called succession) can take months or after your death. If you should become darn hard to obtain. Shouldn’t it be you who you think for a second that the state of even years, delaying for some time the incapacitated or disabled, the trust is in gets to decide where it goes, and not the Louisiana is going to give your property to distribution of property to your loved ones. place to manage your financial affairs. government? your partner in the event of your death, you Disadvantage #2: The court costs of a Advantage #1: Joint living trusts are pos- (Nothing above is intended to be legal are sadly mistaken. That is why it is so succession can be quite expensive, eating sible. They simply combine the assets of advice of any kind. I invite your comments important to have a will or a trust drawn up into the very property you intended to leave partners into a single trust and are gov- and questions at by a competent attorney. And while it is to your loved one. erned by a single trust document. For ex- [email protected].) important to do this regardless of the state “Revocable Living Trusts” are ex- ample, it would be called “THE JOHN DOE Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mr. that you live in, it is especially important in tremely popular these days. While a will AND BILLY BOB LIVING TRUST.” Advan- Tureau obtained his Bachelor of Arts from states where the law provides no comes into play only after you die, trusts tage #2: They do not have to go to court, Louisiana State University in 1987 with a acknowledgement or protection for same- can actually start benefitting you while you so your loved ones get your property quickly, major in Broadcast Journalism and a minor sex couples. are still alive. A “living” trust is simply a trust inexpensively and privately (all trust provi- in Political Science. He obtained his Juris So what is the difference between a established during your lifetime. A “revo- sions remain private). A disadvantage: They will and a trust? A “Final Will” (as opposed cable” trust means that you can make are more expensive than a will. to a “Living Will” or “Medical Directive,” changes to it after you have created it. Now, I know we all think that we are still [continued on 32]

GayMardiGras.COM • NOLAPride.ORG • August 6-27, 2013 • Facebook.COM/AmbushMag • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 31 a community within communities spotlight feature

by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church by Frank Perez Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] A Decade of Witness 14%), bequests ($24.41 billion/8%), and Secret Labs, Monkey Viruses, corporations ($14.55 billion/5%). NEWSFLASH! July 20, 2003 Pony- Other odds and ends mark this de- and Lee Harvey Oswald tailed priest ordained in eccentric church! cade: Chilean Miners rescued 2010; On July 20, Loyola University hosted a one-day symposium on the legal and medical Yes, I have enjoyed ten years of ordained “Miracle on the Hudson” plane landed 2009; implications of the mysterious 1964 murder of physician Dr. Mary Sherman. ministry as a Priest of the Church. The Michael Phelps sets records; Human Ge- Sherman’s murder was the subject of author Edward T. Haslam’s underground classic Feast Day of that ordination is, of course, nome draft released 2003; and Atripla for book, Dr. Mary’s Monkey. The book explores how Dr. Sherman’s medical research into The Feast of St. Anna. As with many life HIV released. Yet these did not make the cancer causing monkey viruses, conducted at a secret laboratory in New Orleans, and “events” like reunions, anniversaries, and top ten stories of the decade. her subsequent murder may be related to the John F. Kennedy assassination as well as certain birthdays, I have tried to look back What is our story? the current cancer epidemic. over the past decade of service and to In New Orleans since 2007 St. Anna’s Haslam, who participated in the symposium, noted, “The timing of this symposium make an inventory of what it looked like. Church has diligently recorded and prayed is significant since we are approaching the 50th anniversary of the murders of JFK, Lee The past decade has been fraught for murder victims numbering over 2,200, Harvey Oswald, and Mary Sherman. Today we have witnesses who confirm that Mary with dramatic headlines and if you do an BUT in response have provided after school Sherman knew Lee Harvey Oswald, and that connection raises a lot of questions, internet search these are only some of the work and arts enhancement for over 300 especially about the reported effort to secretly weaponize cancer for assassination items that come up: children in three years. During the past purposes.” Mass Shootings – 12/12 Newtown; 8/ several years St. Anna’s has provided food The symposium featured two sessions. The first focused on Dr. Sherman’s murder 12 Sikh Temple; 7/12 Aurora, CO; 4/12 for over 50 families on any given quarter, and the government’s response to the revelations set forth in Dr. Mary’s Monkey. The Seattle Café; 9/11 IHOP Shooting; 1/11 largely funded by LGBT Community; has second session focused on medical issues, such as the unintended side effects of Gabby Gifford; launched an LGBT-Faith Based Confer- vaccines grown on monkey kidney cells and the emergence of epidemics, such as the Weather played a role: 2013 OK Tor- ence; continued to educate immigrants at a increase in soft tissue cancers in the U.S. and around the world. Ultimately, the symposium nados; 10/12 Sandy; 8/05 Katrina; 12/04 rate of 100 adult students per quarter since raised the larger question of whether the case of Dr. Sherman’s murder, which remains Tsunami 230,000 die; 2006; has seen an average of 2,000 unin- unsolved, should be re-opened. World events took shape: 6/13 sured-underinsured patients for health The story of Dr. Sherman is fascinating and adds yet another layer to the complex Snowdon Scandal; 2/13 Pope Benedict screenings; and issued about 150 free flu web of associations New Orleans has with the Kennedy assassination. Sherman resigns; 11/08 Obama elected first Black shots per year for the past five years. St. received her medical degree from the University of Chicago in 1943 and moved to New President; Lehman Bros collapse 9/08; 3/ Anna’s has performed the first authorized Orleans in 1952 to direct the bone pathology laboratory at the Ochsner Clinic Medical 03 Invasion Iraq; 9/11/01 WTC; since 2011 Blessing of A Same Sex Partnership, joined Foundation. She also taught at ’s medical school and served as the – 100,000 killed in Syrian civil war; the SCLC and Urban League, and partici- senior visiting orthopedic surgeon at Charity Hospital. And the law of the land is changed as pated in the remembrance ceremonies of On the morning of July 21, 1964, Mary Sherman was found brutally murdered in her well: DOMA eliminated; Voting Rights Act the UpStairs Lounge fire. Your community apartment on St. Charles Avenue. She had been stabbed several times and her right arm eliminated; Proposition 8 eliminated; church has grown from 12 parishioners in was missing, apparently being burned off. Half of her rib cage was also burned. On the Trayvon Martin Trial – not guilty; on August September 2005 to an average Sunday same day, the Warren Commission (the panel appointed by President Johnson to 28th, the fiftieth anniversary, the great march attendance of 118 in 2013. This little church investigate the Kennedy assassination) was scheduled to hear testimony about Lee on Washington and MLKs “I have a dream has baptized at least five children from Harvey Oswald’s activities in New Orleans. speech” will again be remembered with a same sex couples and has blessed the Haslam revealed that Sherman and Oswald had secretly worked together in the new march decrying the continuing depre- anniversary of several same sex couples. course of her medical research. This fact has been confirmed by Judyth Vary Baker, who ciation of certain of America’s citizens. What This community church has participated in was also a part of the secret research team. Baker had been recruited to New Orleans a time to be alive. untold numbers of events representing by Dr. Alton Ochsner, who told her she would be working with Dr. Sherman in researching While very dry, here is some data that LBGT community, underserved and Black a vaccine for SV-40—a monkey virus which inadvertently contaminated over 100 million did not make the headlines about chari- community, and remains committed to add- children who were given the polio vaccine in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Haslam table giving in the U.S.A.: ing its voice for justice. suggests this virus is largely responsible for the current cancer epidemic. · 88% of households give to charity. I came to St. Anna’s ten years and After arriving in New Orleans, Baker discovered she was actually helping create a · The average annual household con- some odd months ago as a plain vanilla virus that causes cancer. Eventually, the virus was to be used to assassinate Fidel Castro. tribution is $2,213, while the mean is $870. suburban white straight WASP male with a Furthermore, she found herself working not in Dr. Sherman’s lab but rather in David · Americans gave $298.3 billion in 2011. very nice wife. I brought with me pretty Ferrie’s apartment. David Ferrie figures prominently in the lore surrounding the JFK This reflects a 3.9% increase from 2010. much a moderate world view that such a assassination and personally knew or was acquainted with several key characters · Corporate giving held steady in 2011 person would bring with them. That was ten associated with the assassination including Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, Guy at $14.55 billion. years ago. WOW things have changed. I Bannister, and Carlos Marcello. · Foundation giving increased in 2011 have learned to hope, and hope a lot, in the Baker claims she met Oswald when Ochsner asked her to take a “cover” job at the to $41.67 billion—a 1.8% increase from face of what appears to be overwhelming Reily Coffee Company, where Oswald also “worked.” Her main duty at the company was 2010. adversity and the corporate sin of greed to make sure Oswald’s time card was punched when he was not there. Oswald’s real job · In 2011, the largest source of chari- and selfishness. I have learned to meet was never revealed to her but Baker claims he received payments from both the CIA and table giving came from individuals at people where they are, not where I want FBI. She also claims Oswald assuaged her concerns of creating a biological weapon by $217.79 billion, or 73% of total giving; them to be. I have been “schooled” by those telling her that if Castro is killed, a plot to assassinate Kennedy will be averted. Oswald’s followed by foundations ($41.67 billion/ I now call deep friends and by friends at persuasiveness was aided by the fact he and Baker had become lovers. Baker has written places like JohnPaul’s, Lords of Leather, a book about the affair entitled Me and Lee. According to Me and Lee, Baker was legal matters ...from 30 Ambush, Bears of all kinds, The Friendly eventually fired from the secret project by Ochsner himself when she raised moral and Bar, the list goes on and on. I have been ethical objections to the practice of testing the cancer causing virus on inmates at the Doctorate in 1992 from Loyola Law School, schooled by the likes of the SCLC and Angola State Penitentiary. New Orleans and his L.LM. in Environmen- Urban league on what it means to look Haslam theorizes Dr. Mary Sherman was killed because she knew too much about tal Law from Lewis and Clark Law School in through the lenses of Black America. I have the Kennedy assassination. Haslam has earned a prominent place in the Kennedy 2008. He has been a member of the been schooled by individuals in our church assassination research community. Dr. Mary’s Monkey, which was published in 2007, Louisiana State Bar since 1992 and is in on what it means to be a Christian by is an expansion of Haslam’s first book, Mary, Ferrie & Monkey Virus. Conspiracy theories solo practice at the New Orleans law firm, definition not by persona. Well I can say surrounding the assassination continue to generate public interest, a fact evident by the Tureau Legal, which caters to the LGBT this, I am still white, and by birth and heri- symposium’s sell out crowd, despite a $20.00 admission fee. The symposium was community. He is an Associate Professor at tage still a WASP. But by the grace of God sponsored by the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice and TrineDay Ashford University and has held adjunct and in the Kingdom of God, I am not that Publishing. faculty positions at the College of the Desert same new priest that lay prostrate on the more in line with a loving, just, active, and and Kaplan University. He is the author of hard wood floors of St. Anna’s Church on caring savior. The question must always be many written works, both fiction and nonfic- SD DEADLINE July 20, 2003. I truly believe that I have, by asked in the midst of sensational head- tion. He is married to his partner Michael of your grace and your personhood, become lines, “Where is God in all of this?” God is Monday, Aug. 12th 10 years and they are the proud parents of much more Gospel informed. By your grace here, now, and present, just take a look and 10 year old Cole and their 3 year old 504.522.8049 and by your personhood, I now walk a bit you will see. Pekingese, Ginger. [email protected]

32 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • August 6-27, 2013 • Official Southern Decadence Guide • SouthernDecadence.COM GayMardiGras.COM • NOLAPride.ORG • August 6-27, 2013 • Facebook.COM/AmbushMag • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 33 out & about in mobile trodding the boards

by Bob Brunson

Bleather 2013 by Brian Sands BLEATHER 2013, the Gulf Coasts Gulf Coast Bear contest. There were five Email: [email protected] premiere Bear and Leather weekend was a competitors for the contest: Keith Gross, great success. People gathered from across Tommy Stubblefield, Peter Feher, Casey quickly got back on track.) But they just the country in Mobile, AL to frolic with the Humber and Charles Washington. The Chesapeake at Byrdies demonstrate the enormity of what this tal- BEARS, in the bars, and all around the city contest for the night was filled with a great Gallery through Aug. 10 ented young actor otherwise accomplished by the bay. I saw hair on people that I group of contestants. Unbeknownst to I like to approach a new work, or one by taking on this 100-minute monolog. And thought couldn’t grow hair… but they went anyone when this event was in planning, I’m unfamiliar with, not knowing anything those Italian Futurists that Kerr is so fond of all out to make sure they grew it prior to the city was graced with the Southern about it so every twist and turn will be fresh would surely have appreciated those scary showing up for this event. Some of the girls Legislative Conference. It was a great and, hopefully, surprising to me. (Let’s not moments. even let hairs grow out in places I shouldn’t surprise because we were able to enjoy the talk about the person who told me who- Speaking of those 100 minutes, I’m not have known about (Ms. Wendy… LOL!). fruits of their labor… we had a full blown done-it before I saw The Mousetrap.) sure if it’s because of Gervais’ swift pacing The event kicked off on Thursday with Mardi Gras Parade just prior to the contest So when Chesapeake began with the or if the text has been edited since ‘99, or the bars running specials and having wel- with Mobile’s famous Moon Pie Drop and a sound of a dog barking and talk of Chesa- both, but while another 10 minutes could come parties all around town. On Friday full on laser light show in downtown Mo- peake Bay Retrievers being a “genuinely probably still be trimmed, this Chesapeake the official festivities began with Happy bile… and luckily Flip Side Bar & Patio is American breed” and a tale of sailors being clocks in at 20 minutes less than the off- Hour at the ‘ALL NEW’ Flip Side Bar & right on the Mardi Gras Parade route so lost at sea in the 1800s I was afraid I was in Broadway version. The NYTimes haugh- Patio. Folks gathered inside and outside everyone was able to drink and enjoy the for a long slog through Lassie-land with a tily dismissed it back then; I suspect the on the beautifully redone garden patio en- parade there. Kudo’s to them for adding little bit of Billy Budd thrown in. response to this production would be much joying Mobile’s Best Happy Hour while another highlight to an already awesome Never fear. Lee Blessing’s comic nar- more favorable. visiting with friends they hadn’t seen in weekend in Mobile. rative soon focuses on Kerr, a “young, Daniel Zimmer’s unobtrusive lighting ages and also meeting new friends who It was finally that time… Back to B- Southern bisexual” who moves to New York subtly enhances the production as does attended the 2013 event. The gathering Bob’s for the main event, Mr. Gulf Coast where he “dates waitresses...and waiters” the sound (David Rigamer is credited as moved on to the opening party at Gabriel’s Bear 2013. Judges ranged from celebrities and embarks on a career as a performance “Sound Consultant”) and Bartush’s slide where more cocktails were had by all (or George Unda (Season 2 of Where the artist. show design which is projected onto most everyone) and the frolicking contin- Bears Are) from Los Angeles, Mac Brody Chesapeake first appeared in 1999 Zimmer’s simple set of old window panes. ued. (Porn Film Artist) from New Orleans, and as a riposte in the culture wars of that Chesapeake’s imaginative and intrigu- Later in the evening people began judges from Atlanta, Pensacola and Nash- decade. Yet as the National Endowment for ing story is compellingly told and acted. It arriving at B-Bob’s… and WOOF... the ville. The always fabulous and witty A.J. the Arts comes back into the crosshairs of deserves a much larger audience than the Leather attire was out of the closet! Hot McKay was in from Kentucky to host the would-be budget-cutting Representatives, handful of people I saw it with. You have male dancers in jocks and harnesses atop contest. He wasted no time in putting each it is all too timely again. And Blessing’s well- three more chances to see it. Run, Spot, the upstairs bar, bartenders in very reveal- contestant through the paces of this hilari- deserved jibes at “Performance Artists”—a run. ing leatherwear, and a club filled with leather ous contest. I never knew a contest could section about the “aesthetic sadism” of a men and bears throughout. It was definitely be such nasty fun. After all was done, frying pan being beaten endlessly is price- Leather night and everyone was ready to Charles Washington went home with the The New Orleans Ballet less—never go out of fashion even as he see what the Bleather Committee had lined title, Mr. Gulf Coast Bear 2013! Casey defends their right to free speech. Association at Mahalia up with for this event. Absent of the usual Humber is 1st runner up and Peter Feher is Blessing serves up writing with keen Leather Contest presented by the South- 2nd runner up. Congratulations to all of Jackson Theater thru intelligence and sly humor as he details ern Renegades, no one knew what this you… you did a great job and entertained Kerr’s journey from obscurity to being the May 10, 2014 night would hold, but it wasn’t lacking at all. us well. All of us in Mobile look forward to punching-bag for Therm Pooley, a Jesse Those in attendance were well entertained seeing everyone again soon! And for those The New Orleans Ballet Associa- Helms-like Congressman who’s running by such contests as Best Butt, Best Chest, of you who weren’t here… we hope to see tion recently announced its 2013-2014 for a Senate seat and whose dog Lucky (a Best Tattoo, Best Leather, and none other you next year or sooner. Bleather Week- season and it sounds like an exciting one retriever, natch) is not only the dearest than Best Leather PIG! Lots of laughs, end is definitely an event you don’t want to with the North American debut of Scottish thing in his life but also a huge asset on the drooling, and fun still boast the Leather miss! Ballet’s adaptation of A Streetcar Named campaign trail. night at B-Bob’s. Also rumor has it that a Last but not least, congratulations to Desire (October 4); Diavolo Dance The- The first act of this shaggy, er, dog leather contest may return in 2014. More to Jerry Ehlen of B-Bob’s on your newest club, ater (January 25) which will be joined by story is fairly straightforward as it details come on that topic later… Flip Side Bar & Patio! Once again you have the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra for how Kerr’s and Pooley’s lives intersect; if After a full day and night of parties it still created a great place for the LGBT commu- Fluid Infinities choreographed to the mu- some of the plot points push the boundaries wasn’t over, the late night after party was nity to enjoy. Flip Side Bar & Patio is a sic of Philip Glass; Joffrey Ballet (March of believability, hey, this ain’t CNN. (Then just beginning. The Midtown Pub was beautiful space that features lots of light 29) whose performance will include Twyla again, these days, truth seems to be stranger hosting the Notorious Black Night. Unfor- from the front windows, right on the parade Tharp’s stylishly elegant Nine Sinatra than fiction.) tunately I was unable to attend but I hear it route, offering a great Happy Hour seven Songs, set to legendary hits of “Ol’ Blue Act Two leaps into an existential fan- was great fun… you never know what you days a week from 4-8pm. The bar features Eyes”; and Parsons Dance (May 10) which tasy and here Blessing baldly shows his will run into when the lights are out! From lots of mirrors, a long bar topped with over will conclude the season with a special philosophical stance. Yet if this Act has a what I heard you could run into some pretty 1200 lbs of steel with artist engraved de- NOBA-commissioned world premiere fea- preaching-to-the-choir feel to it, it also con- HOT stuff… and with bears being consid- signs. The bar has unique skid plate turing New Orleans jazz musicians. tains some of the playwright’s most sub- ered Carnivores (meat eaters), you’d better designed rubber walls with electrical out- But it will be difficult to top the perfor- limely funny passages. watch out!! Actually they are Omnivores lets to plug in your smart phone or tablet and mance here in March of the Martha Graham And Jake Bartush, the evening’s sole (they eat nuts too, LOL!) offers Wi-Fi to customers. There are many Dance Company and particularly that of performer, does them to a “T”. Bartush fully Saturday kicked off with a great brunch more special features but especially the Panorama. holds the audience’s attention as the dev- at Midtown Pub featuring sausage! Sau- patio filled with beautiful plants and a new A little background: Panorama, with ilishly cheeky Kerr as well as the other sage Fest! Go figure… meat and nuts outdoor bar. Lots of low lighting at night music by Norman Lloyd, was created at characters whom he brings to vivid life, featured at every party. The only thing left adds to the ambiance and a great sound Bennington College in Vermont during a including Sen. Pooley’s young female fac- to speculate was whether they were on system with a small dance floor and intelli- summer dance workshop in 1935. After its totum, and Blythe, the Senator’s uptight your plate or in your pants (so to speak). gent lighting for your enjoyment. Make sure premiere, the 45-minute work was lost until wife who plays a grin-inducing supporting This is one weekend that no Bear or you stop in and say hello. Happy Hour 1992 when a 12-minute excerpt was recon- role. Leatherman would want to miss. The party offers buy 2 and get each at half price (in structed by famed Graham Company mem- With Director Harold Gervais’ guid- moved right on to Flip Side Bar & Patio for other words ‘2 for 1’, but not in Alabama, ber Yuriko from a vintage film. ance, Bartush conveys a rainbow’s spec- a wonderful MEAT & Greet with the hand- LOL!) and Flip Side also offers you late The New Orleans performance of the trum of emotions, plus a variety of species, some celebrity judge, George Unda. night partying as well. Each day offers Panorama excerpt celebrated the 20th with brilliant specificity. And together, they George was definitely a pleasure to meet different parties with beer busts, karaoke, Anniversary of the NORDC/NOBA Center use the very small space at Byrdies Gallery and from what I could tell, he seemed to comedy and country included. For Dance, which invited its three partner extremely well. enjoy the good ole southern hospitality Check out the ads right here in Am- institutions—Newcomb Dance Program/ Now it may be churlish to bring up from the men and boys of Mobile. After the bush, become Facebook friends, and check Tulane University Department of Theatre & Bartush’s one or two stumbles and memory meet and greet with George, the next stop out the website at http:// Dance, NOCCA, and Lusher Charter lapses, including one when, for a few sec- was back at Gabriel’s where everyone flipsidebarpatio.com. Catch you on the School—to join forces in the project. A cast onds, there was real fear in his eyes. (He enjoyed meeting the contestants of the Mr. FlipSide!! [continued on 37]

34 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • August 6-27, 2013 • Official Southern Decadence Guide • SouthernDecadence.COM GayMardiGras.COM • NOLAPride.ORG • August 6-27, 2013 • Facebook.COM/AmbushMag • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 35