AMERICA’S LARGEST CIRCULATION GAY AND LESBIAN NEWSPAPER! NEWSTM YOUR FREE LGBT NEWSPAPER

MAY 14-27, 2009 VOL. EIGHT, ISS. 10 SERVINGGay GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANSGENDERED City NEW YORK • WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM ■ CRIME ■ BOOKS DA Probe Tackling Appears Stalled Southern BY DUNCAN OSBORNE Gothic’s Queen hile activists and elected offi- BY MICHAEL EHRHARDT cials believed that District W Attorney Robert Morgenthau rad Gooch has fulfilled a long promised at a March 6 meeting to inves- harbored wish to write the defin- tigate the arrests of gay and bisexual B itive biography of the queen of men in Manhattan porn shops, com- grotesque “grit-lit,” Flannery O’Connor, ments made by an assistant district and it was well worth the two decades’ attorney during a trial suggest that any wait. Gooch, who confesses a “literary such investigation has produced little fascination” with his subject, has hand- information. ily tackled the life of this recondite and “Have there been any conclusions canonic American writer who died from reached in this investigation?” said Rich- lupus at age 39. Long before John Ber- ard M. Weinberg, the judge who presides endt’s “Midnight in the Garden of Good in Midtown Community Court, at the and Evil” chronicled the eccentric char- start of a May 5 prostitution trial. Andres acters and macabre manners of the Torres, the assistant district attorney inhabitants of Savannah, Georgia, the who was handling the case, said “No, GOOCH P. 28 your honor.” The questioning came as Linda GAY CITY NEWS CITY GAY DA PROBE P. 8 SENATOR TOM DUANE’S JOB NOW IS TO MOVE MARRIAGE EQUALITY BY JUNE’S END In this issue: Big Assembly Win Sends ■ EDITORIAL Answer the attacks ■ 10 Marriage Bill to Senate ————————————————— Malcolm Smith of Queens, whose cau- BY PAUL SCHINDLER ■ PANIC DEFENSE cus has only a 32-30 edge, has pledged fter an emotional debate that ran his support, though he has consistently Did “sexual predator” more than three hours — about said he would bring the measure to the A as long as when the question was floor only when he is confident it will invite 50 stab wounds? first taken up in 2007 — the New York carry. This year’s session ends in June. ■ 3 State Assembly passed Governor David As the Assembly debate unfolded, ————————————————— Paterson’s marriage equality bill on May however, Smith made his strongest ■ BEING MALCOLM 12, by an 89-52 vote. In June 2007, the statement on the prospects for the bill. measure carried with an 85-61 margin, “The momentum is shifting — marriage The task before the but was not considered by the State Sen- equality will be a reality in New York State Senate leader ate, then controlled by Republicans. This and I welcome that day,” Smith said in OUTRAGE ■ 11 16 year, Democratic Senate Majority Leader ASSEMBLY P. 4 Grand Reopening Party Fri. May 15th

PM AMs$RINKS"EERS (OT'/ '/Ss7EARLEATHERFORSHOTS 185 Christopher Street, New York, NY

© GAY CITY NEWS 2009 • COMMUNITY MEDIA, LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 14 - 27 MAY 2009 2/ Human Rights Gays Turn Out in Beirut Open show of LGBT pride almost never seen in Arab world

BY DOUG IRELAND year prison term. rising anti-gay and anti- HELEM is the only trans violence in the coun- n an almost unheard LGBT organization able try. ASWAT, which bills of event for the Arab to operate openly in any itself as an organization of I world, Lebanon’s LGBT Arab country, and was the “Palestinian gay women,” group held a gay rights recipient of the 2009 Felice operates from Israel but demonstration on May 10 de Souza Award given by cannot do so openly in the in downtown Beirut, with the International Gay and territories controlled by several dozen demonstra- Lesbian Human Rights the Palestinian Authority. tors carrying rainbow Commission. HELEM Iraqi LGBT, headquartered flags and signs in Arabic, operates a walk-in LGBT in London, has members English, and French. The community center in a and informants through- demonstration was orga- beautiful French colo- out Iraq, but its opera- nized by HELEM, which nial building not far from tions there are totally clan- is the Arabic acronym for downtown Beirut. destine, and 17 of its gay Lebanese Protection for Turkey, the only other activists inside Iraq have

Lesbians, Gays, Bisexu- largely Muslim country in been murdered for their HELEM.NET als, Transgenders, and the region with open LGBT membership in the group A poster demanding the decriminalization of homosexuality to be used in another LGBT rights demonstration planned for Queers; the word “helem” groups, is not Arab, and in the four-year-old “sexu- Beirut on May 16. is also Arabic for “dream.” groups representing gays al cleansing” murder cam- It was intended as part of and especially the trans- paign by anti-gay Shiite keep records of LGBT sus- group has recently been private party attended by HELEM’s new campaign to gendered in Turkey have death squads. At the same pects and of the places making a particular effort gays, lesbians, and trans- repeal Article 534 of Leba- been under increasing time, Iraqi LGBT is charac- they frequent, which are to aid the growing number sexuals began circulating non’s penal code, which legal attack by the Islamist terized by the current gov- kept under surveillance. of Iraqi gays fleeing to Leb- Iraq. Neither had attend- prohibits sexual relations government now in power ernment as an “unauthor- The group added, “The anon to escape the cam- ed the party or seen the that “contradict the laws of there to ban them, taking ized terrorist organization,” Internal Security Forces paign of assassinations in footage, but several oth- nature” and carries a one- steps that have enflamed and five members of the have been given a discre- their home country. ers confirmed they had group arrested and given tionary authorization to The May 3 Huffington heard the rumor. The BBC a hasty star chamber trial censor all foreign maga- Post carried an article by recently posted a number FRENCH on charges of belonging to zines and non-periodical Lebanon-based journal- of videos depicting homo- such an organization are works, as well as foreign ist Meris Lutz in which sexuals and cross dressers CONVERSATION in prison and believed to and local plays, books, she interviewed one such being harassed by security Experienced Native Teacher be awaiting execution. and films, before they were new refugee, a 21-year-old forces. The video provided The Sunday demonstra- distributed in the market. code-named “Hassan” (the a pretext for the Mahdi Free LE MOT DU JOUR tion in Beirut was the sec- They also continue to con- interview was arranged by Army, partially disbanded In the comfort of your home or ond organized by HELEM fiscate personal LGBT pub- HELEM director Georges and discredited, to recon- office, alone or with a friend, this year. A slightly smaller lications from their owners Azzi, who accompanied stitute itself as a morality in person or via web cam. action was held in Febru- at the Beirut International “Hassan.”) The Iraqi youth force. Other armed groups ary to protest an extreme- Airport. They even scru- told the journalist of “three were not far behind.” French Classes and Translations by Luc Georges. ly violent attack on two tinize private mail enter- weeks of rape and torture The Huffington Post’s gay men by the Lebanese ing or exiting the country, at the hands of the Iraqi journalist reported that Army. In that homopho- confiscating LGBT books, Ministry of Interior, fol- Human Rights Watch 917-657-3794 bic incident, the two men, magazines, and films.” lowed by a month of living staffers returning from a www.frenchclassontheweb.com seen making out in a door- In connection with the as a fugitive before fleeing trip to Iraq were among [email protected] way on the Place Sass- International Day Against to Lebanon.” the human rights workers ine, were arrested by an Homophobia (IDAHO) — The Huffington Post she interviwed who con- Army patrol and severely observed in more than 60 added, “According to Iraqis firmed the account of the Located beaten bloody in the street countries each May 17 and human rights workers new agreement between in Chelsea! with rifle butts, fists, and in commemoration of the interviewed for this post, al-Sadr and the Iraqi gov- boot kicks as a crowd of World Health Organiza- some sort of understand- ernment to “cleanse” the onlookers who poured out tion’s removal in 1993 of ing was reached between country of homosexuals. of nearby cafes watched. homosexuality from its the Iraqi government and According to HELEM, list of mental disorders, the Mahdi Army to ‘cleanse’ The web site of the Leba- “State agents’ behavior HELEM is sponsoring this Iraq of homosexuals.” Lutz nese LGBT group HELEM, in with LGBT individuals weekend a decriminaliza- wrote, “According to Has- English, Arabic, and French, in Lebanon is marred by tion rally and concert for san and M.M., another gay is at helem.net/. The Huff- a string of human rights repeal of Article 534, to be Iraqi who fled to Jordan ington Post interview with violations as well as by fre- held at the Babel Theater and eventually made his the young gay Iraqui refu-

($380 value) quent violations of Leba- in Beirut. way to Lebanon, [radical gee in Lebanon is at huff- nese law. State intelligence In addition to counsel- Islamist cleric and Mahdi ingtonpost.com/meris-lutz/ (1 hr/10 times) $300 WHITENING services used informer net- ing, consciousness-rais- Army leader] Muqtada al- the-pink-army_b_195282. Insurance And 0% Financing works and lengthy interro- ing, AIDS prevention, and Sadr was given the green html. Doug Ireland may be GENERAL DENTISTRY & gations of LGBT detainees other educational services light from the government reached through his blog, ORAL SURGERY 248 W. 23RD ST. (Btwn.7TH & 8TH AVE) in order to gather informa- that HELEM provides at to attack homosexuals DIRELAND, at http://dire- www.allaccessdental.net / 212-242-3241 tion on suspects.” Police its community center, the after video footage of a land.typepad.com/. WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 3

■ CRIME GAY CHRISTOPHER STREET Panic Defense on Tap Opening party Defense charges George Weber was a sexual predator Friday May 15th 9PM till 4AM BY DUNCAN OSBORNE said explicitly that he was countering that mes- he attorney for a sage. 16-year-old who During the hearing, T allegedly mur- Schwartz said Weber had dered a gay journalist in a “long history of trying Wednesday Night Karaoke Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill to prey on young chil- neighborhood argued dren” and that “smother- starting at 9pm Staring Show that his client was boy” was a screen name Biz Spitfire Paige Turner defending himself from a Weber used when he sexual assault when he “attempted to lure other Starting May 20th and every stabbed the 47-year-old underage boys to his Wednesday there after radio anchor. lair.” “He’s absolutely the Schwartz also came out victim, morally, he’s the aggressively against the victim,” said Jeffery T. Brooklyn district attor- Schwartz, referring to ney. The May 8 hearing his client John Katehis, was intended to release following a May 8 court the indictment against appearance. Katehis and its sup- Allegedly, George porting documents, but Weber offered to pay Schwartz presented the Katehis $60 to smother court with motions seek- him in a March 20 Craig- A picture found on 16-year-old John Katehis’ MySpace page at the time of his ing evidence from the dis- slist exchange. Kate- arrest. trict attorney that would his traveled from his vindicate his client. home in Queens, where Schwartz, who referred to that most juries would “We’re very specific in Happy Hour - 12 - 9 pm Daily he lived with his par- Katehis as a “16-year-old not care about such hair- our requests,” he told 185 Christopher Street 212-242-9113 ents, to Weber’s home. child” during the hearing, splitting and would take Judge Neil J. Firetog. Once there, Weber gave argued that the encoun- a dim view of a 47-year- When talking to the press Katehis some beer and ter was per se a sexual old paying a 16-year-old later, Schwartz said he cocaine, which made assault. Under New York for anything remotely was seeking copies of the Katehis “jumpy,” he law, a person who is over resembling sex. Cer- hard drives of Weber’s Bringing hot wrote in a statement he 21 who has sex with tainly, giving a 16-year- and Katehis’ computers. back to gave to police. The two someone under 17 can be old beer and cocaine is a Typically, such motions then moved to Weber’s charged with third-degree crime. come much later in the christopher st. bedroom where Katehis rape, an E felony, the low- The defense that legal process. began to bind Weber’s est level felony. Schwartz proposes, Schwartz also moved to KARAOKE NIGHT assuming he moves for- set bail for Katehis, who MONDAY 9 P.M. – 1A.M ward with it, is related has been held on Rikers HAPPY HOUR to homosexual panic Island since his March Most juries would take a dim defenses that attorneys 24 arrest. When Firetog 3 P.M. – 9 P.M. view of a 47-year-old paying have used for decades to said he would read the win acquittals for their indictment, grand jury a 16-year-old for anything clients in attacks on gay minutes, and supporting 76 Christopher St. / 212-633-1986 remotely resembling sex. men and, more recently, documents, and rule on transgendered people. that motion on July 17, www.bootsandsaddlenyc.com Katehis faces one Schwartz said he would count of second-degree appeal that decision, A Village Landmark legs with duct tape. “As a matter of law, it murder and one weap- then pressed for argu- Serving The Community Weber then took a knife was a sexual assault,” ons possession count in ment so he would have a For 37 Years out of his pocket. “He Schwartz told the press the killing. He could get record on which to base took it out just to show later. “He had an absolute as much as 25-years-to- an appeal. it to me, but I got ner- right to defend himself.” life if convicted. “Based on what you’re vous and grabbed for the It is not clear that Schwartz was not saying, judge, this child knife,” Katehis wrote. “I smothering would legally simply previewing his will have to stay in jail © was able to turn the knife be viewed as a sexual defense. Because Weber for another two months,” back toward George and encounter. Indeed, Kate- belonged to the fraternity Schwartz said. Mon-Fri 2pm-4am Sat-Sun 1pm-4am push it toward him, acci- his’ description in his of New York City journal- Firetog cut off Anna- Happy Hour 4pm-8pm Sat & Sun Beer Blast 2-8pm dentally stabbing him in written statement sug- ists, the press coverage Sigga Nicolazzi, the pros- the neck.” gests that the two never of the killing has tended ecutor in the case, when Fire Flag/EMS Firemen’s benefit 2nd Tuesday Police have alleged that removed any clothing, to present him favorably she said she wanted to of the month. Supporting LGBT uniformed Katehis stabbed Weber kissed, or engaged in any and Katehis as a dement- respond to Schwartz. professionals 50/50 Raffle 50 times. behavior usually associ- ed kid with an unhealthy Nicolazzi declined to Because the age of con- ated with sex. obsession with violence comment following the 114 Christopher St. Btw Bleecker & Hudson St. / 212-741-9641 sent in New York is 17, It is, however, likely and knives. Schwartz hearing. 14 - 27 MAY 2009 4/ Politics

᭤ ASSEMBLY, from p.1 man Fred Thiele of Sag Harbor discrimination was minor, cast an aye. then pointed to a Methodist a press release, in which he Last week, the Daily News’ Liz organization in New Jersey added, “It is my goal to realize Benjamin reported that ESPA that lost a tax exemption for that… accomplishment in the had spent $100,000 on polling seaside boardwalk property it Senate, and as a strong sup- in key swing State Senate dis- owned after refusing to make porter of marriage equality leg- tricts currently represented by it available for a civil union islation, I will continue to work Republicans and found that in ceremony. Benjamin failed to until we have sufficient votes to four Long Island districts — rep- mention — and likely did not pass it.” resented by GOP Senators Ken know — that the tax exemption Three weeks ago, when LaValle, Kemp Hannon, Charles in question was not related to introducing the marriage bill Fuschillo, and John Flanagan religious freedom but rather at a Manhattan press confer- — voters approve of marriage the facility’s availability as an ence, the governor, who once equality by a 52-42 margin. The open spaces public accommo- served as minority leader in issue polls best among voters dation receiving favored tax that chamber, called for a Sen- under 30, women, and Indepen- treatment under New Jersey’s ate vote whether or not pas- dents. Some flips by Democratic Department of Environmental sage was assured, arguing that assemblymembers to a pro- Protection. some fence-sitters will only be equality vote also offered hope In the end, each of these smoked out that way. “Whenev- that neighboring senators might three acknowledged a deeper- er the vote is taken, I believe you be swayed. Sandra Galef from seated opposition to marriage will see — and it will be interest- Ossining spoke out in favor of equality that had nothing to ing to watch if this doesn’t turn the bill this week, after voting no do with the technical quibbles out to happen — whether there in 2007, and ESPA confirmed they raised. Fitzpatrick spoke aren’t three or four members that her switch will be helpful of “a lifestyle I do not condone” of the Senate who will vote for in lobbying Senate Republican and warned of “a coming day it when they had not said they Vincent Leibell, who is from Pat- of collision” over marriage would,” Paterson told Gay City terson, in neighboring Putnam equality. Hikind said, “This News in a follow-up interview. County. legislation undermines the “The sooner the vote is taken, Stepping up its efforts to move very foundations of traditional the sooner this will pass.” senators in key districts, ESPA marriage.” And Benjamin said Thomas Duane, an out gay on May 13 unveiled the first in he felt like a Roman centurion Chelsea Democrat who is the a series of ads aimed at show- guarding against “the Huns lead Senate sponsor of the mar- ing “how real New York families and the Visigoths” and like riage measure, released a state- are hurt when same-sex cou- Captain Picard battling the ment after the Assembly vote ples aren’t allowed to marry.” Borgs. saying flatly, “I am confident The first 30-second spot, set to O’Donnell largely resisted that this year my Senate will run in Buffalo, Syracuse, and the temptation to blast or uphold this fundamental legal Albany, features Barb and Don belittle his opponents for their principle and vote for my right, Crawford, who are parents of arcane and alarmist warnings, our right, to be married this two daughters, one straight saving much of his firepower year.” and one lesbian. The couple for emphasizing the evidence Paterson, Duane, and talk about both having met the from New Jersey and Vermont advocates led by the Empire “person that she loves,” with that civil unions had failed State Pride Agenda (ESPA) all younger daughter Jody mar- same-sex couples — most dra- acknowledge that Republican ried, but Amy, in a relationship NEWS CITY GAY matically “in emergency situa- votes will be needed — Bronx for 12 years and the mother of Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell steered marriage equality to a bigger win this year than in 2007. tions,” such as when hospital Democrat Ruben Diaz, Sr., their oldest grandchild, Olive, staff, concerned about running a Pentecostal minister, is an unable to do so. Saying that fighting the measure clearly sure specifically states that afoul of federal medical privacy implacable foe of gay rights Olive has been the flower girl had received talking points no religious institution can be provisions, deny civil union who will lead a rally in opposi- in two weddings, Barb says, from the National Organization compelled to officiate over a partners access to their sick tion in that borough on May “She wants to be the flower girl for Marriage (NOM), a recently same-sex marriage, insisted or injured loved ones. Repub- 17, and other Democrats have in her mom’s wedding. It’s time formed group dedicated to that it would “force society” to lican James Tedicsco from voiced opposition, though in to pass the marriage equality spending millions in opposition accept such unions, warning of Schenectady, who recently lost less than Shermanesque terms. bill.” to equality initiatives nation- school assemblies held to cele- his bid to win Senator Kirsten In the effort to build biparti- brate gay marriage. Dov Hikind Gillibrand’s vacant House san momentum heading into of Brooklyn’s Boro Park, elect- seat, badgered O’Donnell for the Senate, the Assembly vote ed on both the Democratic being “intolerant of bisexuals” offered reason for optimism. “She wants to be the flower girl in and Republican lines, said he who, he said, might want to The number of GOP votes, from her mom’s wedding. It’s time to pass understood discrimination and be married to both a man and a caucus that numbers only invoked the Nazi gas cham- a woman. Comically, Tedisco 41 out of the 150 seats in total, the marriage equality bill.” bers, but then warned that was followed in speaking by rose from three to five. In the Hasidic congregations would Manhattan Democrat Micah far northern part of the state, be compelled to rent out their Kellner, who is openly bisexual Republicans Teresa Sayward of halls for marriage celebrations and assured the Republican Willsboro and Deirdre Scozza- As the lead Assembly spon- wide and the producer of the by gay couples. Michael Benja- that his relationships have fava of Gouverneur were joined sor, it fell to Daniel O’Donnell, infamous “Gathering Storm” min, a Bronx Democrat, item- been sequential and not simul- by Janet Duprey of Plattsburgh. an out gay Democrat from the ad. ized a litany of injustices that taneous. Joel Miller of Poughkeepsie Upper West Side, to respond to Republican Michael Fitzpat- burdened African-Americans O’Donnell offered moments voted for the bill again, and for questions and criticisms from rick, from Smithtown on Long over the past 400 years against the first time, GOP Assembly- the bill’s opponents. Those Island, informed that the mea- which he suggested anti-gay ᭤ ASSEMBLY, continued on p.14 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 5

■ POLITICS AN OPEN LETTER TO MOMS Maine, DC — and FROM MIKE BLOOMBERG New Hampshire? One state enacts marriage law; one is in MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG limbo; US capital offers recognition

BY PAUL SCHINDLER 7RPRWKHUVHYHU\ZKHUH

ess than an hour after the Maine SDUWLFXODUO\P\PDJQLßFHQW Senate gave final approval to a PRWKHULQ0HGIRUG0DVV  L marriage equality bill, Democratic Governor John Balducci on May 6 signed +DSS\0RWKHU›V'D\)HOL]'£DGH the legislation into law. Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, advocates are awaiting ODV0DGUHV a decision — which could come as early as Friday, May 15 — by Democratic Gov- (QMR\WKHàRZHUVWKH ernor John Lynch on a bill that the Leg- islature there approved, also on May 6. A FKRFRODWHVWKHFDUGVDQGWKH day earlier, the City Council in Washing- NLVVHV

s dozens of AIDS activ- THU.MAY.14 ists gathered on the PHOTOGRAPHY A steps of City Hall to pro- Gay Men Play test $10 million in cuts to AIDS As part of the New York Photo Fes- services in Mayor Michael R. tival, held in DUMBO through May 17, Bloomberg’s proposed budget for Chris Boot, a London-based editor and the 2010 fiscal year, nine others publisher, whose titles include “Lodz protested inside and were arrest- Ghetto Album” (2004) and “Things as ed. They Are: Photojournalism in Context “Hell no, we won’t go, back to Since 1955” (2005), curates “Gay Men living in an SRO,” chanted the Play,” investigating the contemporary nine as they briefly blockaded photographic representation of gay sex the entrance to the mayor’s offic- and gay recreational sexual identities. es on the second floor of City Hall The exhibition features a series of por- on the afternoon of May 6. traits by Stefan Ruiz of gay men geared The civil disobedience began up for play, shot during gay party week- when one activist loudly blew a ends, in a mobile studio on the streets of whistle. Plainclothes and uni- San Francisco and Berlin. The exhibition formed police officers quickly also features photographs collected from arrested the group as they con- gay networking websites by Christopher tinued their chant and added, Clary, with projects by another ten pho- “What do we need? More hous- tographers shown on digital screens. 37 ing. When do we need it? Now!” Main St. at Water St, DUMBO, near The mayor’s proposed $59.4 York St. F stop, High Street A station, billion budget for the fiscal year and Clark Street 1 station, through that begins on July 1 makes May 17. Admission to the festival begins $3.4 billion in combined cuts to at $20, with multi-day admission pack- city agency budgets and reduc- ages available. Visit nyphotofestival.com. es the headcount of municipal ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ employees by laying off roughly 3,700 and losing another 9,700 MUSIC through attrition. Like city and May Blossoms state governments across the The Youth Pride Chorus of LGBT Com- country as well as the federal munity Center’s Youth Enrichment Ser- government, New York City has vices holds its May show, “Lullabies and been hard hit by the dismal Wake-Up Calls.” The singers will rock the economy. stage with electrifying dance, cutting- The $10 million in AIDS cuts edge spoken word, and hits by Aretha includes $6 million in scaled- Franklin, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan, the back housing programs for peo- Beach Boys, and others. Cherry Lane ple with HIV, $900,000 in reduc- al stimulus money for Medicaid Theatre, 38 Commerce St., btwn. tions in HIV prevention services, has already been allocated with- Bedford & Barrow Sts., May 14-15, and just under a $500,000 trim- out any input from community 8 p.m. Admission is $20; for reservations ming to a meals program that groups. call the YES Program at 212-620-7310. serves people with HIV. Activists “The reason we are going Admission is free for those under 21 by also objected to $20 million in after the stimulus money is we calling Kathy Rodriguez at the YES Pro- cuts to general public health ser- saw it was a pot of money that gram at 212.620.7310, ext. 410. vices. was being used for reasons that ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ “This is an important issue we don’t know and we want to and we want to make sure that see... it being used for supportive DANCE the mayor is focused on this,” housing,” Scholl said. In the Steps of said Diana Scholl, a spokes- Jason Post, a mayoral spokes- Saints woman for Housing Works, an man, stood by while the pro- Inspired by fantastical tales from AIDS group that is known for its testers were arrested and as Jacobus de Voragine’s 13th century aggressive advocacy. Scholl spoke with the press, but work, “Legenda Aurea Sactorum” The nine arrestees wore declined to make any “immedi- (“Golden Legend of the Saints”), Chris- T-shirts from Housing Works ate comment.” topher Williams’ “The Golden Legend,” and the New York City AIDS Other groups participating in receiving its world premiere, is a grand Housing Network, though only the protest on the City Hall steps scale production bringing together por- one of them is known to be an included the Gay Men’s Health traits of 17 male saints performed by a employee of Housing Works. Crisis (GMHC), Bronx AIDS Ser- NEWS CITY GAY diverse range of male dancers (including The activists were particularly vices, and Hombres Latinos De As dozens protested on the steps of City Hall, eight activists were arrested inside as they incensed that $1 billion in feder- Ambiente. blocked access to the suite of offices occupied by the mayor’s staff. ᭤ MAY 14, continued on p.8 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 7

NEWS BRIEFS By PAUL SCHINDLER Obama Taken to A Gay Marriage from a 1998 extortion demand Task on Don’t for Barack in by the former theology student, 5IPNBT
%
4IBOBIBO
1$ Ask, Don’t Tell Des Moines? Paul Marcoux, who threatened to In unusually strong language, Despite the number of states release a love note the archbishop the Servicemembers Legal Defense with legal marriage for same-sex had sent him. ±"UUPSOFZ
BU
-BX± Network, an advocacy group for couples on the books growing Weakland said he will donate LGBT soldiers that is pushing for from just two to five during his proceeds of his book to the Catho- an end to the Pentagon’s Don’t Ask, short presidency, President Barack lic Community Foundation, a Wis- Don’t Tell policy, has charged that Obama has had little of interest to consin charitable group. President Barack Obama is “caving say on the topic since his Inaugura- to senior military leadership [and tion. Until this past Saturday, when TV Bully/ Anchor the] religious right” on the issue. he took up the topic as an object Not Sorry SLDN’s statement came in the of humor during his speech to the Kirby Dick’s new movie “Out- wake of the president’s national White House Correspondents’ rage,” which looks at the hypoc- security advisor, General James Association Dinner at the Washing- risy of closeted gay and bisexual Jones, Jr., telling ABC’s George ton Hilton. “David Axelrod is here,” politicians who work against the Stephanopoulos, “I don’t know” if the president said. “You know, interests of the LGBT community, /FX
:PSL
&NQMPZNFOU
the policy will be overturned. David and I have been together has stirred a lot of controversy, but -BXZFST
"TTPDJBUJPO “’I don’t know?’ The answer for a long time. I can still remem- the issue has heated up nowhere should have been a one-word ber — I got to sort of — I tear up as much as on the “Let’s Talk Live” answer ‘Yes,’” said Aubrey Sarvis, a little bit when I think back to show on Washington’s News Over A Decade of Experience SLDN’s executive director. Sarvis that day so many years ago when Channel 8 last week. Mike Rogers, noted Obama’s statement to the I called Ax and I said, ‘You and I a DC-based blogger who has done Litigating Employment and Civil Rights Human Rights Campaign in the fall can do wonderful things together’. some of the most groundbreaking Cases for our Community of 2007: “America is ready to get And he said to me the same thing reporting in this area and who is rid of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell pol- partners across America are say- featured in the film, was on hand icy. That work should have started ing to one another right now: ‘Let’s to discuss it with co-hosts Doug long ago. It will start when I take go to Iowa and make it official.’” McKelway and Natasha Barrett. 2007 - 2009 Deputy Commissioner, office. America is ready to get rid of The White House has offered no McKelway opened the inter- New York State Devision of Human Rights the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. All comment on whether the federal view aggressively, introducing that is required is leadership.” government would recognize an Rogers by saying, “I am a huge SLDN, which since Obama won Obama-Axelrod marriage. opponent of this process of out- 2006 Honoree: New York City Council - last fall had been taking a more ing. I think everybody is entitled insider posture emphasizing the Former to their private sexual behavior, “Contributions and Service to New York City” importance of moving the issue Milwaukee no matter where they stand pub- both at the White House and on Archbishop licly. And I have a big problem 2003 Honoree: Common Cause Capitol Hill, noted the boasting by Comes Out with this.” Rogers responded that the Center for Military Readiness Rembert G. Weakland, the he too opposes outing; what he “Holding Power Accountable” (CMR), which produced laughably retired archbishop of Milwaukee does, he said, is report on hypoc- Ethical New Yorker of the Year Award anti-gay witnesses for a House who resigned in 2002 in a scandal risy. That distinction and others hearing on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell last over using $450,000 in archdioc- Rogers tried to make during a ten- summer, that it was “changing the esan funds to hush up a former and-a-half minute segment were debate” and moving the president Marquette University theology stu- lost on McKelway. About three to back away from his commitment. dent who accused him of a 1979 minutes into the interview, he told Former Aide to Mayor David N Dinkins The gay advocacy group’s press date rape, has finally come out in Rogers, “I’m about ready to do a and Public Advocate Mark Green release noted that Senator John a new memoir entitled “A Pilgrim lot more than point my finger at McCain, who also appeared on in a Pilgrim Church,” set for pub- you.” When Rogers asked, “What Stephanopoulos’ show on May 10, lication next month. Publisher’s would that be?,” McKelway shot urged that a commission study the Weekly has dubbed the book “a back, “Take you outside and give military’s policy. “SLDN had hoped moving personal confession,” and you punch across the face.” EMPLOYMENT LAW / CIVIL RIGHTS this president would offer leader- Weakland told the Associated Over the following 24 hours, ship, not give in to some throw- Press, “I was very careful and con- the show was deluged with ',6&5,0,1$7,21‡6(;8$/+$5$660(17 away study or commission,” the cerned that the book not become a viewer comments, most of them 3$571(56+,3$*5((0(176',63,7(6‡&,9,//,7,*$7,21 release stated. Jerry Springer, to satisfy people’s critical of McKelway’s conduct. Obama’s press secretary, Rob- prurient curiosity or anything of After reading a number of the 0$75,021,$/&8672'<‡0(',&$/0$/35$&7,&( ert Gibbs, asked at the daily brief- this sort.” messages, McKelway asked that ing for reporters on May 12 about The Milwaukee Journal Sen- the camera man “give me a real 3(5621$/,1-85< the president’s commitment to tinel complained that Weakland, nice tight shot of my face.” He end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, said, “In 82, declined to discuss the book then said, “An apology? Mike Rog- terms of keeping his promise, I with that newspaper, which it said ers, you’re not getting one, you would note that many of the ques- had “extensively covered his per- understand that? Because you’re Thomas D. Shanahan, P.C. tions that have been asked here sonal scandal and his alleged role a bully yourself.” McKelway con- require more than the snapping of in covering up sex abuse by other tinued down this road for another 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2010 one’s fingers. To get fundamental priests, now the subject of civil moment, before Barrett cut him reform in this instance requires a lawsuits.” The memoir, however, off, reminding him, “You had your legislative vehicle. The President also acknowledges Weakland’s Bill O’Reilly moment.” Then noting New York, NY 10176 made a promise to change this failure to respond appropriately to that the show had two anchors, policy; he will work with the Joints the priest scandal. Barrett added, “I thought yester- Chiefs of Staff, the administration, The newspaper stated that day was attack journalism” — on and with Congress to ensure that the payout of archdiocesan funds, McKelway’s part. tel (212) 867-1100 WWW.SHANAHANLAW.COM we have a policy that works for our which it said were repaid by fax (212) 972-1787 [email protected] national interests.” Weakland and friends, resulted ᭤ BRIEFS, continued on p.9 14 - 27 MAY 2009 8/ Crime

᭤ DA PROBE, from p.1 the full name. Gay City News learned his full name from 14 DAYS Poust Lopez, a Legal Aid Soci- Lopez. ety supervising attorney, was Saying he needed to protect seeking exculpatory evidence 3371 in his undercover work, 14 NIGHTS on behalf of a female client who Weinberg closed his courtroom was arrested for prostitution to the press and public when ᭤ MAY 14, from p.6 last year by an undercover offi- 3371 testified during the young cer in the Manhattan South Vice woman’s trial, but Lopez said Gay City News’ own Gus Solomoms jr) and Enforcement Squad identified that when she questioned 3371 accompanied by two movement choruses in court records by the badge about his interview with the dis- and puppets by Eric Wright, Lake Simons, number 3371. trict attorney, he said he was a and Christopher Williams. Dance The- The district attorney’s office witness and not a target of the ater Workshop, Bessie Schönberg has interviewed 3371 and per- inquiry. Theater, 219 W. 19th St. Through May haps a half dozen people he Also on May 5, Lopez moved 16, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at dancethe- arrested for prostitution last to dismiss the prostitution aterworkshop.org or $15 at the box office. year, including some of the 30 or charges against a 43-year-old ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ more men busted in at least six man arrested by 3371 in an East porn shops. Officer 3371 made Village porn shop and another 15 of the 30 arrests that have man who was 42 at the time of been identified, widely seen as his West Village arrest by 3371 FRI.MAY.15 false arrests in the gay commu- because the district attorney’s BOOKS nity. time to bring them to trial had A Boy’s Own Story “The district attorney’s office run out. The district attorney Center Voices presents a staged is investigating cases in which agreed. The 43-year-old was reading of Shareef Hadid Jenkins’ “The this undercover may have been among those who were inter- Three Mothers of Zachary,” a series of involved,” Torres said. “It’s not viewed by the district attorney. monologues detailing the life of a young necessarily specific to this under- On April 28, Lopez made J.B. NICHOLAS gay boy and his relationships with three cover.” the same motion concerning a District Attorney Robert Morgenthau’s March 6 commitment to investigate dubious arrests of very different women — his biological Assuming the inquiry had 37-year-old man who was bust- gay men has borne not fruit to date. mother, Angie, a recovering IV drug addict yielded evidence that might aid ed by 3371 in Unicorn DVD in who tells her story within the confines of her client at trial, Lopez asked Chelsea. The DA would not agree anyone wants them to... I am ecuted. That’s just wrong.” a mental institution; Connie, his aunt who that it be turned over. “At this to dismiss those charges. disturbed about what was said In separate emails, Joey Nel- takes over raising him after the neglect moment in time, do you have Reactions from activists and in court. I just hope that’s not son and Andy Velez, members of and abuse he suffers at Angie’s hands; and any exculpatory material based elected officials who participated reflective of the overall stance of the Campaign to Stop the False Frances, who welcomes Zachary. Jenkins on this investigation?” Weinberg in the March 6 meeting ranged the district attorney’s office.” Arrests and the Queer Justice was inspired to write the piece by a boy asked. Torres said, “No, your from counseling patience to Assemblyman Micah Kellner, League, described this as “same he met at the Attic, a Philadelphia gay and honor.” anger, with others saying they who represents the Upper East old same old” and “a disappoint- lesbian support group, when he himself Gay City News asked Torres never thought the district attor- Side and Roosevelt Island, was ing, but not a particularly sur- was 14. In 1995, that boy, Scott Rowan, and Annie M. Siegel, another ney would move forward with a unhappy to hear that the Uni- prising development.” In their killed himself. LGBT Community Center, assistant district attorney who serious investigation. corn case was not dismissed. view, police and the district 208 W. 13th St., 7 p.m. Admission is $10. was in court on May 5, for the “I still think that it was a great “I think it’s really, really disap- attorney only responded to the ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ assistant’s name. Siegel refused plus for the district attorney pointing that the district attor- initial outcry. Velez wrote, “The to identify him, saying the news- that he met with us and that he ney told us one thing and seems NYPD system is as powerful as An Anarchist, paper should not quote him, and agreed to do an investigation,” to be doing the opposite,” he it is deeply flawed. It will take a Pioneer & Poet then said only that his name was said Thomas K. Duane, the out said. “He said the assistants seismic and courageous effort Jack Spicer (1925-1965) was a self- Torres. The district attorney’s gay Chelsea state senator who were instructed not to prosecute on the part of both the public proclaimed San Francisco anarchist, a gay press office did not respond to arranged the meeting. “Investi- these cases and on April 28, and officials to make some real rights activist in the early 1950s, and a requests seeking comment and gations always take longer than these cases are still being pros- and needed changes.” brilliant poet whose innovative writing ran counter to the Beat poets as well as his mainstream contemporaries, and continues to influence today’s avant-garde poets. In “The House That Jack Built: A Jack Spicer Pinter Moves to Void Guilty Plea Symposium,” panelists Dodie Bellamy, Samuel R. Delany, Kevin Killian, Jennifer Leader in movement to stop prostitution arrests goes back to court Moxley, and George Stanley discuss the poet, his life, and work at 6:30 p.m. At 8, BY DUNCAN OSBORNE Manhattan porn shops and five counseling sessions and a these busts, based on the word the panelists and others read from Spicer’s the founder of the Campaign small fine. That plea and sen- of uncover police officers, are work. St. Mark’s Church, 131 E. Tenth St. gay man busted by vice to Stop the False Arrests. “It’s tence was typical of most of the widely seen as false arrests. at Second Ave., 6:30 p.m. Admission is cops in a porn shop a matter of principle for me and 30 men, though some men were The motion, authored by $8; $7 for students & seniors. For informa- prostitution sting who hopefully for the other at least required to perform community attorney Susan V. Tipograph, tion, visit poetshouse.org. A ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ pleaded guilty to disorderly con- 30 men who’ve been arrested service. asserts that among “Pinter’s duct has taken legal steps to and pleaded guilty to disorderly Only one of the men bust- constitutional rights which void his guilty plea. “I filed the conduct as I did.” ed in Blue Door contested the were violated” were “due pro- PEFORMANCE motion to vacate because I’m Pinter was one of 12 men charges, as did four of the five cess, fundamental fairness, and Boogie Down not guilty of prostitution nor am busted in Blue Door Video, an men who were arrested in Uni- effective assistance of counsel.” Dance I guilty of any disorderly con- East Village porn shop, last corn DVD, a Chelsea porn Tipograph wrote that Pinter In a festival running through Jun. duct,” said Robert Pinter, one year. After being held in custody shop. The case against the Blue was one of 80 defendants fac- 3, the Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance of at least 30 men arrested by for roughly 36 hours, he plead- Door arrestee was dismissed on vice cops in 2008 six or more ed guilty and was sentenced to May 5. In the gay community, ᭤ PINTER, continued on p.9 ᭤ MAY 15, continued on p.13 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 9

᭤ PINTER, from p.8 ing various charges who were processed in just a few hours at criminal courts in Lower Manhattan, with the Legal Aid Society representing Pinter and another 67 clients. Pinter had not slept or eaten since he was arrested when he entered the plea. “[H]e had been without sleep for 36 hours, his mental and physical states were so compromised that it was impos- sible for him to be capable of making a knowing, voluntary, or intelligent choice about his case,” Tipograph wrote. “Under the circumstances, Mr. Pinter did not make a voluntary and intelligent choice when pleading guilty to disorderly con- duct.” Pinter is a licensed massage thera- pist and the arrest could affect his state GAY CITY NEWS CITY GAY credentialing. He also remains incensed over the arrest. If he wants to sue the Robert Pinter has gone to court to void his guilty plea. city, he will first have to have to vacate the plea then get a dismissal or win an district attorney. Anyone can access the acquittal at trial. Pinter said he had lawsuits and some of the records are made no decision about suing. “I don’t highly detailed, containing names, birth know,” he said. “I’m undecided.” dates, home addresses, and other per- Such motions are generally hard sonal information. to win, but Pinter may be aided by a In 2007, the special enforcement office promise made by District Attorney Rob- sued Video, Video, Video, a porn shop ert Morgenthau at a March 6 meeting at 34th Street and Eighth Avenue, after with activists and elected officials to not police arrested 22 men there on prostitu- oppose such a motion. tion charges, with those arrests happen- In addition to the fines, counseling, ing from 2004 through 2007. All 22 men or community service, most of the men were named in the suit and, for some, were given a one-year conditional dis- their home addresses and other personal charge, meaning the case would effec- information was included. tively be dismissed if they are not rear- When Gay City News contacted the rested. They were also promised that district attorney’s office to learn the dis- their records would be sealed two years position in those 22 cases, the newspa- after they entered the plea. per was told that six were sealed. Shari The Mayor’s Office of Special Enforce- Hyman, director of the Special Enforce- ment and the police department named ment unit in the mayor’s office, did not the men in two of the five nuisance respond to an email seeking comment, abatement lawsuits they brought against and the mayor’s press office declined to the porn shops where the prostitution comment. The police department did not arrests were made. Those records are respond to repeated calls seeking com- unaffected by any deal made with the ment.

᭤ BRIEFS, from p.7 NPR website. Lee demanded that tification that a name change his byline be removed from the was necessary. Name change Meanwhile, piece, and posted a comment air- petitions are generally pro forma, Another ing his grievance on the NPR site, and Winn-Ritzenberg is unhappy “Outrage” at but that was quickly removed by that, because of his identity as a NPR… senior folks at the network. Kirby transgendered man, the court is According to indiewire.com’s Dick’s film, of course, alleges that imposing a demeaning require- Eugene Hernandez, National Public the mainstream media is complicit ment on him. The Transgender Radio trimmed a story about the in covering up the hypocrisy of anti- Legal Defense & Education Fund film, deleting references by critic gay closeted politicians. says that it runs across this sort of Nathan Lee to Florida Governor problem often in its Name Change Charlie Crist and — believe it or Doctor’s Note Project, which offers free advice not — former Idaho Senator Larry for Name to trans folks looking to get their Craig, convicted of soliciting sex in Change? identity records in proper order. a Minneapolis airport bathroom. Olin Winn-Ritzenberg is a On May 11, the group announced NPR executives cited a network transgendered man who believes it is appealing the order facing policy of protecting the privacy of that Olin, his father’s middle name, Winn-Ritzenberg. “Fundamen- public figures in overruling the text better reflects his masculine iden- tal fairness mandates that every agreed to by Lee and his super- tity than the female name he was person be treated equally under vising editor. “Only an overriding given at birth. But when he filed a the law, Michael Silverman, the public need to know can justify petition for a legal name change group’s executive director, wrote. intrusion into anyone’s privacy,” in New York City Civil Court, he was the explanation posted on the was told he needed medical cer- ᭤ BRIEFS, continued on p.13 14 - 27 MAY 2009 10/ Perspective ■ LETTER FROM THE EDITOR PUBLISHER & CO-FOUNDER JOHN W. SUTTER Answer the Attacks [email protected] ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & CO-FOUNDER BY PAUL SCHINDLER TROY MASTERS [email protected] uesday evening’s State equality sponsor a whole string of property tax exemption under Assembly debate, which Daniel O’Donnell’s men and women, a New Jersey open spaces envi- EDITOR IN-CHIEF & CO-FOUNDER resulted in same-sex clear statement on so long as he or ronmental program aimed at PAUL SCHINDLER T [email protected] marriage rights winning approv- the point, that the she divorced one giving the public access to pris- ASSOCIATE EDITOR al there for the second time, this bill proposed by before moving on tine natural settings. Again, the Duncan Osborne year by an 89-52 margin, was Governor David to the next, just Association wished to benefit CONTRIBUTING EDITORS an occasion for impressively elo- Paterson explicitly as Rudy Giu- from state support in maintain- Christopher Byrne (Theater), Susie Day, quent statements about equal- states that no religious institu- liani dumped the cousin before ing a facility it rented out to the Doug Ireland (International), Brian McCormick ity by several dozen supporters tion would be forced to solem- marrying the newscaster who public, but then turned around (Dance), Dean P. Wrzeszcz of the LGBT community — and nize any marriage it objects to. preceded the divorcee. Still, the and discriminated. The issue CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Betsy Andrews, Seth J. Bookey, largely airless pronouncements But, in an end run, the Smith- arguments the opponents posed had nothing to do with the civil Anthony M.Brown, Kelly Jean Cogswell, and warnings from opponents. town Republican charged that Tuesday night are fair warning. union statute there. Dean Daderko, Tate Dougherty, Andres Duque, Still, those seeking to derail the aim of the bill is to force As the bill moves to the Sen- Opponents of marriage equal- Michael Ehrhardt, Steve Erickson, Nick Feitel, Jim Fouratt, Joe Fyfe, Deborah Garwood, marriage equality in New York “society to accept” same-sex ate, chief sponsor Tom Duane, ity will throw whatever they Erasmo Guerra, Emily Harney, Andrey Henkin, clearly had received talking marriages. What exactly does his Senate allies, and the advo- need to at us. When O’Donnell Frank Holiday, Andy Humm, James Jorden, Brendan points from the National Organi- that mean? By his telling, young cate community, especially the pointed out that the state’s mar- Keane, David Kennerley, Gary M. Kramer, Arthur S. Leonard, Rachael Liberman, zation for Marriage (NOM), hate- public school students will be Empire State Pride Agenda, riage recognition policy means Michael T. Luongo, Lawrence D. Mass, monger Maggie Gallagher’s new forced to attend assemblies glo- must be at the ready to coun- that some same-sex couples are Winnie McCroy, Eileen McDermott, Gregory Montreuil, Ioannis Mookas, Carrie Moyer, group that is spending millions. rifying gay marriage. Hikind had ter and snuff out these lies and already married under New York Stephen Mueller, Christopher Murray, The group luanched the much- Hasidic halls in Boro Park and obfuscations. law, the rejoinder was that it was David Noh, Wayne Northcross, Lori Ortiz, spoofed “Gathering Storm” ad Williamsburg compelled to open Catholic Charities’ adoption a shame that was done by guber- Pauline Park, Sheila Pepe, John Reed, Nathan Riley, Andrew Robinson, Gerard Robinson, several weeks ago suggesting their doors to clamoring lesbian decision in Massachusetts had natorial edict. Laudable as Pater- Chris Schmidt, Sarah D. Schulman, that queer corn farmers from and gay couples looking to book nothing to do with that state’s son’s directive to state agencies Jason Victor Serinus, Linda Shapiro, Iowa and potato farmers from receptions. Tedisco asked why marriage equality court deci- a year ago was, in fact he was David Shengold, Gus Solomons Jr., David Spiher, Drew B. Straub, Stefen Styrsky, Jerry Tallmer, Maine are about to destroy the slippery slope should end sion. The group was getting doing no more than complying Stefanos Tsigrimanis, Kathleen Warnock, Western Civilization. Each in at same-sex marriage; wouldn’t public social services funding with a recent court ruling steeped Benjamin Weinthal, Lee Ann Westover, James Withers, Kai Wright, Susan Yung their turn, Michael Fitzpatrick bisexuals have the right to ask in providing adoptions, and a in time-honored New York tra- from Smithtown, Dov Hikind of they be allowed to marry a man policy of forbidding qualified dition on recognizing out-out- ART DIRECTOR Mark Hasselberger Boro Park, Michael Benjamin and a woman at the same time? same-sex couples from adopt- state unions. Another Assembly of the Bronx, and James Tedis- But it was left to Benjamin to ing ran afoul of the state’s anti- opponent got away with claiming GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jamie Paakkonen co from Schenectady on the pull the NOM alarms all at once discrimination and adoption that Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Assembly floor dutifully trot- — Catholic Charities was forced laws, not the policy toward gay only endorsed marriage equal- SENIOR VP OF ADVERTISING/MARKETING FRANCESCO REGINI ted out the same examples that to stop its adoption services in marriage. This is all rudimenta- ity when she was named a US [email protected] the NOM ad had test-marketed. Massachusetts; a New Jersey ry public accommodations law senator; in fact, according to her Their arguments, ludicrous as religious society lost its tax- — you can’t take state money, account, she voiced that view in ADVERTISING MANAGERS they may sound to many of us, exemption for refusing to allow hold yourself out as open to the a radio interview prior to reelec- COLIN GREGORY [email protected] at times went unanswered in a lesbian civil union on its prop- public, and then discriminate. tion last November in her “con- direct enough fashion. The most erty; a first-grade class in Cali- It’s that simple. Catholic Chari- servative House district,” as her ALLISON GREAKER [email protected] important lesson our commu- fornia was bussed to a gay wed- ties knew this, and opted to critic described her Hudson Val- JASON SHERWOOD nity learned from our defeat at ding in San Francisco City Hall; quit on its own. The tax exemp- ley base. [email protected] the hands of Prop 8 in Califor- a Knights of Columbus hall in tion lost by New Jersey’s Ocean As we work on nailing down JEREMY MARKS nia in November is that when Canada was fined. Grove Camp Meeting Asso- the votes to make marriage [email protected] charges are lodged and lies are To his credit, O’Donnell field- ciation, a Methodist-affiliated equality a reality this June, let’s JASON SPARKS spoken, they must be answered ed some of these warnings in his church group, had nothing to be smart. The facts are on our [email protected] — quickly, directly, and deci- trademark style — with concise, do with its religious exemption. side. Let’s never be shy about Please call (212) 229-1890 for sively. precisely constructed rebuttals. The non-religious boardwalk correcting the record — and advertising rates and availability. Fitzpatrick acknowledged, He made clear, for instance, facility the group denied use of doing so again and again until ACCOUNTING in response to chief marriage that a New Yorker could marry to a lesbian couple enjoyed a the lies fade from the screen. DAVID JAFFE [email protected] ■ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING Rivendell Media / 212.242.6863 Web master WHY HOLD THIS hustlers, but he’s lauded in your paper for son has been a pioneer with this issue and New York State. New York State tax filings Arturo Jimenez GUY OUT? being a “pleasant guy”? I don’t get it. when New York State finally does legalize still must mirror federal tax filings and for now [email protected] Mark Milano marriage — hopefully sooner than later — this ensures that gay married couples will not Gay City News, The Newspaper Serving Gay and Lesbian NYC, is pub- lishedby Community Media, LLC. Send all inquiries to: Gay City News, May 7, 2009 Manhattan history will remember him for his efforts to be treated in the same manner as heterosexu- 145 Sixth Ave., First Fl., NYC 10013 Phone: 646.452.2500 Written permission of the publisher must be obtained before any of the contents To the Editor: push for it. Thank you, Governor Paterson. al married couples on account of the Defense of this paper, in part or whole, can be reproduced or redistributed. All contents (c) 2009 Gay City News. I was certainly surprised to read “The Donald Ryan of Marriage Act. Paterson promised last year Two Happy Worlds of George Weber” (by A GOVERNOR ON Saratoga to decouple the New York State tax from the Gay City News is a registered trademark of Community Media, LLC. Nathan Riley) in the Apr. 30-May 13 issue. THE LINE federal, but this has not happened and until it John W. Sutter, President Fax: 646.452.2501; I never listened to his radio show, but his does, gay married couples will continue to be E-mail: [email protected] blogs indicate he was a typical right-wing April 30, 2009 May 8, 2009 treated as singles even if gay marriage even- talk show host who hated stuff like “anti- To the Editor: To the Editor: tually passes in New York. Subscriptions: 26 issues, $90.00 war protesters —-who aren’t just against Governor David Paterson’s efforts on The article indicates that Governor Pater- Franc Martarella (c)2009 Gay City News. the war, but against America.” marriage equality deserve commenda- son is focusing on tax relief before gay mar- New York City All rights reserved. So, another closeted right-winger who tion (“The Governor Speaks Out,” by Paul riage. I wish he would focus on the tax relief was so self-hateful he only had sex with Schindler, Apr. 30-May 13). Governor Pater- he promised for married gay couples living in ᭤ LETTERS, continued on p.14 14 - 27 MAY 2009 Perspective / 11 ■ ALBANY POSTCARD Being Malcolm Smith BY NATHAN RILEY

eing Malcolm Smith, cans since the 1960s. The new on their ability to enact this leg- state senators in opposition are Republicans to make their own the leader of the New majority benefitted greatly from islation. It costs nothing, and themselves conservative evan- decisions without requiring B York State Senate, the million dollars contributed neighboring states in competi- gelicals, but marriage equality party unity. This is a big plus. I is no fun. Should one dissi- by thousands of LGBT donors. tion with New York for wedding opponents are aligning them- hope that Smith can make his dent take a walk, he loses the And yet too many Senate dollars — and much, much selves with the most reaction- colleagues understand that if Democrats’ bare majority of Democrats hesitate to support more — are making the change. ary and destructive forces in two-thirds of the Vermont legis- one. These rebels make Smith marriage equality. The major- Voting for gay marriage makes American politics. This is true lators can support gay marriage look weak, and the Democrats ity leader must find a way to New York an attractive destina- for Democrats and for Republi- to override a governor’s veto look quarrelsome. This is not change their minds. tion for talented young people, the way to win elections. Democratic senators should offering the chance to grow its During the struggle to save avoid getting locked into nega- population while the economic Opposing the marriage rights of the subway fare with a new tive positions. Those wavering crisis makes other people leave financial plan for the MTA, the — frankly, in either party — the state. lesbian and gay couples is no longer proposal kept changing to sat- should talk about their doubts Life hasn’t changed for the the default safe position. isfy the whims of individual openly with voters in their dis- overwhelming majority in Mas- senators complaining about tricts. In many locales around sachusetts because same-sex tolls on the East River bridges, the state, opposing the mar- couples began to marry. Mar- the payroll tax, and the omis- riage rights of lesbian and gay riage equality victories, mean- cans. The GOP must break the there, and if the Catholic gov- sion of funds for upstate bridg- couples is no longer the default while, are wearing down an grip of these conservatives if it ernor of Maine can reverse his es and roads. Although the safe position. If the farmers of ultraconservative religious is to develop new ideas and sur- opposition and sign a marriage fare increase was moderated, Vermont, Maine, New Hamp- coalition that controls the vive. In this week’s vote in the law less than an hour after it the Senate was embarrassed shire, and Iowa can support Republican Party and threat- Assembly, several more Repub- passed, the Senate Democrats — with even the Republican equality, why can’t upstate New ens the well-being of the United licans joined an increasingly can move with the times and minority getting itself in trou- York senators? Suburban sena- States. The active opponents of lopsided majority for equal- support the right of adults to ble. They had hoped to sit back tors have large constituencies gay marriage are the same peo- ity. Hopefully, this will make it chose their life partners. It is and let the Democrats stand in of gays and their friends; losing ple who ruined the GOP — and possible for Smith to create a really that obvious — and politi- a circle shooting each other, but this support would hurt their arguably the nation over the bipartisan majority in support cians, Democratic and Republi- their passivity ended up looking chances for reelection. New past eight years — forcing our of change. can — are beginning to under- irresponsible. York City senators face scorn, leaders to waste time on phony Senator Dean Skelos, the stand this. Marriage equality also tests even ostracism, should they issues like stem cell research, minority leader, understands It would be a blow to the rep- Smith’s leadership abilities. The vote against equality. when the US should have dealt that Republicans must be utation of Senate Democrats to Democrats are in the major- A great shift in public opinion with real problems like health opened-minded on this issue. lead if their vision stayed cloudy ity after the first election vic- is taking place. The Legislature care costs and global warming. He called marriage equality a on this critical generational tory over the Senate Republi- and the governor will be judged No one is saying that the conscience vote and will allow question.

■ A DYKE ABROAD Putting the Riot Back in Stonewall BY KELLY JEAN COGSWELL

n a couple of weeks, New the right to marry, or anything I could dismiss the “queer” activists, even if the little thugs which Americans do have a Yorkers will be marking else, seems to be almost impos- thing in Europe as a peculiarly populating the schoolyards of long tradition. The white boy I the 40th anniversary of the sible for any but the most well- middle-class college phenom- Europe don’t care if you’re only gets a warning for his gram of Stonewall Riots, but probably connected. enon, except that in practice a collection of socially assigned coke, while the black guy goes nobody’s gonna throw a bottle Likewise, the development “queer” theory — deconstruct- values when they’re taunting straight to jail. The fag killer or a punch. State-by-state, of “queer” studies programs in ing sexual orientation into an you as a dyke. getting off with a panic defense, we’re winning the rights to Spain, and in France as well, artificial veil of performed gen- The state of activism is only the murderer of businessmen same-sex marriage. In the aca- seems to actually be eroding der and constructed identities marginally better in the U.S., earns the chair. demic world, queer and gender where Stonewall 2.0 seems to As a perpetual minority, studies programs are practically have fizzled. And even without LGBT folks would be stupid to mainstream. And during the Little thugs populating the specter of Spain, history assume their progress is written post-election protests against warns us how fragile progress in stone. But too many activists the passage of Prop H8te, there the schoolyards don’t care when is without a strong activist have been snoozing since ARVs was a brief resurgence of LGBT they’re taunting you as a dyke. base. In Prussia, for instance, demobilized AIDS activists and street activism with young statutes forbidding Jewish par- other groups like the Lesbian queers getting in on the act. ticipation in liberal professions Avengers went kaput. We’re not With all that going on, why riot? like the law were overturned only silent, but assimilating, Maybe just to stay in practice. gay activism. It’s partly a mat- — is actively used to stigmatize just to be reinstated more bru- unraveling, passé. We’ve forgot- When activists in Spain won the ter of language. Embracing the the words lesbian and gay as tally a few decades later in what ten our strengths as a commu- right to same-sex marriage, they foreign word “queer” with no reactionary labels rooted in the was by then Germany. nity, and how we are bound by popped a cork and went home explicit association with homo- past. In the United States, where more than same-sex sex. without sticking around to sexuality deludes French and Nobody’s taking to the streets laws are harder to pass and Sometimes in the spring, change the larger society. Years Spanish kids into believing for — or with — dinosaurs. more rarely reversed, I don’t when I go to the French Agricul- later, LGBT folks are hated just they’ve come out, even though Lesbians, especially, with the expect a queer Holocaust, but tural Fair where children can as much as ever, and without culturally they have both feet double whammy of homopho- things could get bad again, see everything from sheep and a community structure, with- in the closet, carefully sheltered bia and misogyny, are find- even if they’re just selective- out activists, enforcement of from homophobia. ing it impossible to recruit new ly enforced. Something with ᭤ RIOT, continued on p.15 12 14 – 27 MAY 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

■ LEGAL 15,000 Unlawful Arrests at Issue WALK ON THE WILD SIDE Federal judge allows class action lawsuit A benefit for Callen-Lorde Community Health Center over NYPD loitering cases

BY ARTHUR S. LEONARD that it would stop enforcing these stat- Join us for the most anticipated utes, there have been several dozen family-friendly event of New York City’s omebody at the New York City more arrests reported under them. Police Department should prob- Looking just at the sexual loitering LGBT Pride season! S ably be appointed to monitor the statute, the statistics recited in the case appellate courts so that somebody can show that there were 2,550 individuals tell the officers in the front ranks when convicted of violating the unconstitu- to desist from enforcing unconstitution- tional provision, who were hit with fines MONDAY al laws. That’s the lesson of a ruling on totaling $192,981. The issue before TH April 28 by US District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin was whether to certify the JUNE 15 , 2009 Scheindlin, certifying a class action law- case, which had been filed on behalf of suit against Commissioner Raymond two indigent men arrested under these 6:00 – 9:00 PM Kelly and the NYPD seeking an end to laws, as a class action, representing enforcement of the unconstitutional loi- the thousands of people who have been tering laws that the state’s highest court arrested, held in jail, convicted, and/or at the long ago struck down as unconstitu- fined under these laws since they were tional. The State Legislature has never invalidated. Statutes of limitations revised them to conform them to those would apply to the efforts of some of JOHN TARTAGLIA CENTRAL rulings. those individuals to seek damages, but Star of Broadway’s PARK ZOO In 1983, in a Lambda Legal case, surely most would want their criminal Shrek The Musical and People v. Uplinger, the Court of Appeals records expunged. And relief would struck down a section of the state also likely involve the NYPD institut- The Disney Channel’s “Johnny 5th Avenue & East 64th Street penal code under which the Buffalo ing effective training and disciplinary and the Sprites” Ramped entrance at East 60th Street district attorney was prosecuting Rob- enforcement against offending cops. ert Uplinger for allegedly asking an Scheindlin spent most of the opin- FOR MORE Please visit, www.callen-lorde.org undercover cop to go home with him ion looking at the issue of whether this for oral sex. The court found a violation should be a class action law suit, and INFORMATION OR TO or call Ryan Ramirez, Development of freedom of speech, noting that what whether these two indigent men can PURCHASE TICKETS... Associate at 212.271.7268 Uplinger was alleged to have asked the serve as effective class representatives. cop to do was perfectly legal — the same They are represented, however, by vet- court struck down the state’s sodomy eran class action attorneys, making it law a few years earlier. (That part of the likely that the lawyering will be first- penal code too was never revised by rate. Since the suit aims to vindicate the Legislature — until the new millen- constitutional rights, and will most nium.) likely be settled, fees for the attorneys Spend an In 1988, the Court of Appeals struck can be negotiated out of the settle- down another section of the penal code ment. Scheindlin made just this point enchanting that made it a crime for somebody to be in the course of dismissing the city’s evening present in a transportation facility who argument that the two named plain- is “unable to give a satisfactory explana- tiffs were inadequate class representa- in the zoo tion of his presence.” The court found it tives because they are “disrespectful to support unconstitutional to abridge a citizen’s and blatantly self-serving.” She noted the health right not to answer questions from law that because the laws in question were enforcement officers, when the alterna- most frequently enforced against “the and wellness tive is being barred from a public accom- vagabonds, the homeless, and the of our modation, which transit hubs are. destitute,” if these two plaintiffs could Despite these two decisions, city not represent the class, “the claims communities police officers have continued to enforce of those even worse off would inevita- both provisions. According to data pre- bly go unheard.” She also noted that sented by the plaintiffs, there were gay men caught up in the enforcement 4,750 prosecutions under the sexual of the sexual loitering statute might loitering statute from 1983 to 2007, be unwilling to come forward as class and 91 prosecutions under the “unex- plaintiffs. plained presence” statute from 1988 to Class attorneys are from the firm of 2007. Of course, the number of arrests Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady, and under the two statutes — versus pros- Earl S. Ward, J. McGregor Smyth, Jr., ecutions — was vastly higher. The com- and the Bronx Defenders. Assistant 356 West 18th St U New York, NY 10011 plaint alleges that number is more than Corporation Counsel Rachel Seligman 212-271-7200 U www.callen-lorde.org 15,000. Even after the NYPD was served Weiss of the city Law Department repre- with this complaint and had stipulated sents the defendants. WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 13

NEWS BRIEFS By PAUL SCHINDLER 14 DAYS ᭤ BRIEFS, from p.9 told the newspaper that Geffen David Paterson, Giuliani, who remains “a patient buyer.” Those Growing By The Plumber, is on his third marriage — if “Transgender people may not be sources added that Geffen had Leaps and the Queers & you count the one annulled burdened with additional require- no intention of mounting a hostile Bounds the Kids because the woman was his 14 NIGHTS ments to change their names.” challenge to the Ochs-Sulzberger Even as the number of states Joe Wurzelbacher, the Ohio cousin — launched a verbal ᭤ MAY 15, from p.8 family’s control, though Arthur with marriage equality on the handyman who apparently has assault on marriage equality for There He Goes Sulzberger Jr., the company’s books has grown by 150 percent put his plans for becoming an gay couples, saying he would presents “The Boogie Down Dance Again… And chairman, has not signaled any in just the last two months, sur- overtaxed small businessman on speak out against the Demo- Series at BAAD!” Professional dance Again willingness to relinquish it volun- veys polling American attitudes hold while he pursues every sec- cratic incumbent on the issue companies from the Bronx, led by As Glenn Beck has amped tarily. Last year, Geffen made an toward the issue are also show- ond of his 15 minutes as Joe the across the state. The New York resident company Arthur Aviles Typi- up the race to Crazy World over unsuccessful offer to buy the Los ing astounding movement. On Plumber, has decided to short- Post quoted Koeppel saying, cal Theatre, are joined by Brooklyn and at Fox News, Bill O’Reilly, work- Angeles Times from the Tribune April 28, the New York Times/ hand members of the lesbian, “Rudy and Judith were both Queens choreographers, Dance Theater ing overtime to cede no ground Company, the parent company of CBS poll registered a nine-point gay, bisexual, and transgender invited with a beautiful written Workshop’s choreographer in residence to any wingnut, has produced the Chicago Tribune now in bank- gain in support for gay marriage community as “queer” — and invitation by mail. His secretary Maria Colaco, John Jasperse holding an two beauties in the past week. ruptcy protection. in just one month, from 33 to 42 not so trustworthy around chil- called Thursday and said he was open rehearsal, Desmond Richardson, On May 5, he argued that the percent. Two days later, ABC dren. In an interview with Chris- not able to come to the wedding 1994 founder of Complexions, leading a federal hate crimes bill, just Two Lesbians in News reported that a plurality tianity Today, the Plumber, asked and wished us all the best.” master class, Archie Burnett, and Future passed by the House, could pro- Supreme Court of Americans, by a 49-46 percent his views on same-sex marriage, Ninja. BAAD, 841 Barretto St., btwn. tect pedophiles. “You could make Running margin, favor marriage equality. said, “I personally still think it’s Fred Phelps, Garrison & Lafayette Aves., Hunts an argument that a pedophile The New York Times, among In August 2004, voters opposed wrong. People don’t understand Michael Savage Point in the South Bronx (Hunts Point has a disease, and because the a number of leading newspa- equal rights for gay and les- the dictionary -- it’s called queer. Unwelcome Ave. on the #6 train). Admission is $20 disease is there, he’s a target pers and legal blogs, is reporting bian couples by a 62-32 margin, Queer means strange and unusu- As the result of a 2005 law, at bronxacademyofartsanddance.org. For or she’s a target,” he said, add- that two out lesbians are among according to the same polling al. It’s not like a slur, like you the UK Home Office has the a complete schedule through Jun. 3, visit ing that disability is a protected those candidates President organization. would call a white person a honky authority to bar people who the BAAD website. class of victims under the bill. Barack Obama is considering or something like that. You know, promote hatred, terrorist vio- ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ Pedophilia, however, is not cov- most seriously for the Supreme Jobs, Jobs, God is pretty explicit in what lence, or serious criminal activ- ered by the 1990 Americans with Court vacancy that Justice David Jobs we’re supposed to do -- what ity from entering the country. NIGHTLIFE Disabilities Act, according to Karl Souter’s resignation creates. The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi man and woman are for. Now, at Explaining that visiting Britain is A Dazzlingly Frisch, a senior fellow with the Times says that two Stanford is a marriage equality supporter, the same time, we’re supposed a “privilege,” not a right, Home Inclusive Prom watchdog group Media Matters University Law School profes- and when the Washington, DC, to love everybody and accept Office Secretary Jacqui Smith Night for America. Frisch said that the sors — Kathleen M. Sullivan and City Council this week approved people, and preach against the announced the names of 16 of The LGBT Community Center’s following day Fox anchor Megyn Pamela S. Karlan — are in the legislation to recognize legal sins. I’ve had some friends that the 22 who had been barred entry Gender Identity Project hosts the fifth Kelly charged that Democrats in running. Sullivan, 53, has been same-sex marriages from other are actually homosexual. And, I in the five months ending March annual Trans Prom, a dance extravagan- the House had “voted to protect” a constitutional law specialist at jurisdictions, she stated her mean, they know where I stand, 31. Fred Phelps and his daughter za for trans and gender-non-conforming pedophiles by voting down Iowa Stanford since 1993, after nine belief that Congress should not and they know that I wouldn’t Shirley Phelps-Roper, who head people, their partners, friends, and allies Republican Congressman Steve years at Harvard Law School. interfere, despite its oversight have them anywhere near my up the God Hate Fags ministry out 18 and over. This year’s theme is “Hol- King’s amendment to the bill She authored amicus briefs in of the district under its Home children.” A big segment of the of the Westboro Baptist Church lywood in the ’90s.” 208 W. 13th St., 8 stating that “the term ‘sexual ori- the Supreme Court’s two sod- Rule Charter. Still, at a May 6 LGBT community is no doubt in Topeka, Kansas, and incendi- p.m.-midnight. This event is free. entation’ shall not include pedo- omy cases -- Bowers v. Hardwick press availability, Pelosi was not breathing a sigh of relief that ary radio shock jock Michael Sav- ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ philia.” in 1986 and Lawrence v. Texas about to be drawn into a direct even if they are called queers and age, known for his rants about On May 11, as part of a recur- in 2003. Karlan, 49, joined the discussion of federal recogni- viewed with suspicion, they are gays, immigrants, and Muslims, Bears, Bears & rent rant about the slippery slope Stanford faculty as a specialist tion of gay marriages. According spared the opprobrium of being were among those refused entry. Beers from marriage for same-sex cou- on voting rights in 1998 after ten to Deb Price, reporting for the dubbed honky queers. Smith said that the names of the The Ramrod, formerly the Dugout, ples to polygamy, O’Reilly told years at the University of Virginia Detroit News, when asked about other six barred were not made hosts a Bear Blast-Off, with cheap drinks, Fox analyst Margaret Hoover, Law School and three years with the Defense of Marriage Act, Jeez, For a public for national security rea- good tunes, furry guys, and DJ Tony Ruiz. “You would let everybody get the NAACP Legal Defense and the speaker responded, “Right Guy Who Likes sons. According to the BBC, the Admission is free until 9 p.m.; $5 after that. married who want to get married. Education Fund. She has been now on our agenda we’re talk- Weddings... Muslim Council of Britain has 185 Christopher St. at Weehawken St. You want to marry a turtle, you a frequent commentator on PBS’ ing about turning the economy When a small gathering of argued that nobody should be ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ can.” Media Matters noted that “The News Hour With Jim Lehrer.” around, dealing with an energy friends assembled at the West- barred, regardless of their politi- O’Reilly had previously warned At least one Christian conser- policy, health care for all Ameri- port, Connecticut, home of Jeff cal or social views, unless they against interspecial marriage vative has already raised a red flag cans; education is the third pillar. Soref and Paul Lombardi on May have broken the law. with goats, ducks, and dolphins. about a pink prospect on the high We have an economic crisis of a 2 to celebrate the wedding of SAT.MAY.16 court. The Times quoted Bishop magnitude that none of us has Howard Koeppel, a politically Those Darned COMMUNITY David Geffen Harry J. Jackson Jr. of the Belts- seen in our lifetime that we have prominent Queens auto dealer, British Actors Pride on the Running the ville, Maryland, Hope Christian to deal with.” and his partner Mark Hsiao, one The Daily Record of Glas- Delaware Times? Church saying, “That would be Pelosi noted that “we have a intimate was conspicuously gow reports that Rupert Ever- The New Hope Gay Pride Parade, David Geffen, a gay mogul tantamount to opening the gate for human rights, civil rights agenda, absent -- the former mayor of ett, a sometime movie gay best this year with the theme “Riding the famous for an illustrious record the other side. If [Obama] meant of course,” pointed to the strong New York, Rudy Giuliani. friend currently on Broadway in Wave of Diversity,” kicks off at noon, producing career typified by his what he said about marriage, then majority for passage last week of When Giuliani was booted Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit,” is rain or shine, on West Bridge Street enduring friendship with Joni I think he has to stand up and be a hate crimes legislation, and said from Gracie Mansion by his then- opposed to gay men having chil- downtown. The parade spotlights Mitchell, for co-founding Dream- president who acts on his beliefs.” that action might be possible on wife Donna Hanover in 2001 after dren through use of a gestational the 12-member all male DC Cowboys Works, and for turning on Bill and Pundits have said that picking ending the anti-gay Don’t Ask, he had taken up with his current surrogate. “This surrogacy thing dance company (runners-up on NBC’s Hillary Clinton during last year’s a woman or picking a Latino is Don’t Tell military policy in the wife, Judith Nathan, Koeppel is utterly hideous,” he said. “It’s “America’s Got Talent”), DJ Mark Pic- presidential primaries, is now viewed as politically desirable by near term. She concluded her and Hsiao opened up their multi- egocentric and vain. And these chiotti from Logo’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” thinking about buying the New the White House. answer, however, by emphasiz- million dollar Manhattan home to endless IVF treatments people Philadelphia’s All Star Mummers Band, York Times. In his May 11 “First Read” web ing, “But right now our agenda is the refugee mayor, then consid- go through? If you are meant to Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman According to a May 12 story post, Chuck Todd, the sharp-as- jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, ered a moderate, even a progres- have babies, then great. But this Patrick Murphy, the Lesbian and Gay Big in the UK Financial Times, earlier a-whip political director for NBC and as we move on that front, sive among Republicans, on gay whole idea of two gay guys filling Apple Corp Marching Band, and the NJ this year, Geffen made an unsuc- News, reported a short list of concurrently, we have to make rights. a cocktail shaker with sperm and Eagles Motorcycle Club. New Hope cessful bid for a 19.8 percent six names, five of them women, some decisions about what is But, several weeks ago, in impregnating some grim lesbian stake in the Gray Lady. Two sourc- one a Latina, that did not include possible in our values-based ini- his first major salvo in a poten- and then it gets cut out is just ᭤ MAY 16, continued on p.18 es with knowledge of that bid either Sullivan or Karlan. tiatives as well.” tial 2010 challenge to Governor weird.” 14 14 – 27 MAY 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

᭤ ASSEMBLY, from p.4 down.” Thiele, the Sag Harbor Repub- lican, in explaining how he came to Like to Party with of eloquence when talking about his embrace a bill he voted against last TINA? partner of 28 years, John Banta, assur- time, admitted that, in 2007, “I took ing his colleagues that all they wanted the path of least resistance,” adding, “I from them was “a piece of paper” any never felt good about that vote.” The Substance Use Research Center of the rest of them could get and the Perhaps the most compelling testi- at Columbia University right to hear a marriage officiant con- mony came from assemblymembers clude a ceremony with the words “by who believe, or once believed, that seeks medically healthy Meth users between the ages of 21 and 45 the power invested in me by the State their vote was politically risky. Frank to participate in a 10-session study evaluating stimulant effects. of New York.” Some of O’Donnell’s fel- Skartados, an Ulster County Democrat low marriage equality supporters also first elected last fall, said he thought You can earn up to $1,004. provided memorable moments. Matt his constituents might not like his Titone, an out gay Democrat from vote, but stated, “It is the right thing For more information, please call: (212) 543-6013 or (212) 543-6545 Staten Island, talked about the trou- to do, not in the eyes of God, but in the ALL PERSONAL AND IDENTIFYING INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL ble his partner of 16 years, Josh, had eyes of a humble man like me. Even if I gaining access to the hospital room am a one-term assemblyman, it is the where Titone’s mother lay dying. Deb- right thing to do.” orah Glick invoked the mentorship of Republican Sayward, whose son is African-American feminist Flo Ken- gay, said that as she left the Assem- Metropolitan Community Church of New York nedy and the memory of Bayard Rus- bly chamber in 2007 after a moving tin, a top aide to Martin Luther King, speech in favor of marriage equality, Homeless Youth Jr., whose homosexuality at times “A colleague came up to me and said, Services Social A church of lesbian, became a lightning rod for civil rights ‘You will never be elected again in New and Sylvia Rivera gay, bisexual opponents. Hakeem Jeffries, a Brook- York State.’ I headed up the Adiron- Food Pantry Spiritual and transgender Service people. Open to all. lyn Democrat, meanwhile, spoke of his dacks that night, head held high, admiration for the late Congresswom- assuming I would not be back here to Home an Barbara Jordan, whom he termed vote for this again.” “a paradigm for diversity,” as a dis- Her 2008 victory margin exceeded Advocating Marriage Equality and abled African-American lesbian from that of 2006. Transgender Rights Texas. The Reverend Pat Bumgardner, Pastor Jose Rivera, a veteran Democratic Broadway Impact, an organization Weekly Sunday Services: 9 am (Traditional), 11 am (Celebration) lawmaker from the Bronx, explicitly of theater and television professionals 3 pm (Mandarin) and 7 pm (Praise & Worship) challenged religious leaders pushing supporting marriage equality, is lead- 11 am features ASL interpreter (1st, 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month) 446 West 36th St. bet. 9th & 10th Ave. NY, NY 10018 to defeat the equality measure, saying, ing a rally on Sunday, May 17 from 5-7 212-629-7440 website: www.mccny.org email: [email protected] “I don’t care what clothes you wear or p.m. at 45th Street and Sixth Avenue in what book you quote from. You’re not Manhattan. Information at Broadway- going to intimidate me or shake me Impact.com.

᭤ LETTERS, from p.10 YETTA KURLAND’S BID WHAT CAN BE DONE? May 1, 2009 April 30, 2009 To the Editor: To the Editor: Great! A progressive voice running against “Take I haven’t finished this article as it is too difficult Us For Granted” Quinn (“A Careful, Pointed Chal- to comprehend how anyone can do this to another lenge,” by Paul Schindler, Apr. 30-May 13). Hey, this human being (“Iraqi Gays Face Gruesome Torture/ is great news. As a longtime lesbian activist, I am so Murder Technique,” by Doug Ireland, Apr. 30-May 13). over Christine Quinn. HASA for All would save New Having said this, I do appreciate the Gay City News York City so much money in the long run and relieve for bringing this to the attention of all people. I have unfair and unnecessary suffering that disproportion- lost my faith in religion, especially Islam, as they also ately affects gay men. Chris Quinn can promote an bury alive and beat their woman. How can any God LGBT tourism campaign — but do little to protect gay condone this kind of treatment? I’m almost ashamed male tourists once they are here from being arrested to be a member of the human race. And please stop by homophobic NYPD “vice” officers. Chris Quinn referring to this kind of behavior as that of “animals.” can deny a black community board in a black commu- It’s an insult to animals. I will try and go back and fin- nity the right to name a street they elected to, while ish reading. approving streets being named after slave owners! I John Nicol remember when being lesbian meant being different New York City and progressive. Chris Quinn now acts just like any other politician. Yetta, how can we volunteer for you and, ultimately, our community? May 6, 2009 Dawn Reel To the Editor: Chelsea These are crimes against humanity. No reli- gion allows for such barbarity. The murderers should be brought to justice. Even under Sadd- WRITE US! am Hussein’s regime such cruel acts of violence Address letters to the editor, of no more than 250 would not have happened. Ms. Yanar Moham- words, to: med, who brought this savagery to light, should [email protected]. be commended. Please include your phone number, for confirma- Michael Johnson tion purposes only. The editors reserve the right to Ottawa, Canada edit all letters due to space constraints. WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 15

᭤ RIOT, from p.11 ing participants on accuracy, ferocity, and style in shattering plate glass win- Premier Sponsors cows to wine-making displays as they dows. digest what it means to be French, I wish I’m only half joking. And though my we could have the same sort of thing for ideas are probably lame, the point I’m LGBT folks. Something that lasts lon- getting at is this — that if we want to ger, and is more pedagogically ambi- survive as a community, we have to do AIDS tious, than a festival or parade, aiming more than win the right to get married. to convey decades, if not centuries, of We have to pick our myths and guard history, culture, and identity. them jealously like everybody else. Why not the same blend of lofty and Both to survive, and nurture another Grand Sponsors WA L K camp, mixing stands of Birkenstocks generation, but also because our com- and cosmos shaken not stirred, Judy munity traditions are worth something Garland paraphernalia and Audre to the world at large. NEW YORK Lorde books? We need drag queens and Every minority community has their kings to instruct their novices in the survival stories, but, like fine wines, elaborate flamboyant display of a drag each is rooted in a cultural terroir, with MAY 17, 2009 show, drape us in wigs and pearls and a unique balance of resistance, cour- facial hair, and refuse to deconstruct age, and joy. Queers, in particular, cel- the temporary transgressive joy. ebrate, or used to, an irreverence more We could have displays on activism, liberating than the concessions of any and how to write a press release and hard-fought law. SIGN UP TODAY! assign the most effective Twitter tags. We could commemorate the riots with a Check out Kelly Sans Culotte at http:// contest on beer-bottle throwing, judg- kellyatlarge.blogspot.com/. aidswalk.net VOLUNTEER OR

Applications are now being accepted for membership on the Mayor’s HIV Health & Human Services Planning Council of NY. Members are charged with planning for (212) 807-WALK HIV services funded under Part A of the Ryan White CARE Act. Appointments are for 2 years beginning in September 2009. Consumers and community members are encouraged to apply. Applications can be downloaded from www.nyhiv.org and must be received by Monday, May 18, 2009. Benefiting

and other tri-state area AIDS service organizations.

Thanks to

Created and produced by MZA Events. AIDS Walk Founder/Producer: Craig R. Miller. © MZA Events, 2009 Tough times won’t break our stride. 16 14 – 27 MAY 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

■ FILM Taking on the Closet Talk to Filmmaker Kirky Dirk builds on work of Mike Rogers, Mike Signorile

BY GARY M. KRAMER OUTRAGE a banker Directed by Kirby Dirk utrage” is Magnolia Releasing Kirby Dick’s Clearview Chelsea Cinema “O incisive doc- 260 W. 23rd St. who umentary about clos- clearviewcinemas.com eted politicians who work against the interests and understands freedoms of the LGBT com- sible for underreporting munity in their careers. or improperly reporting This film is less about out- such clear hypocrisies. In your ing individuals and more a recent interview with the about the hypocrisy of filmmaker, Gay City News such politicians having asked. Kirby Dick told. needs. power and wielding it so irresponsibly. GARY KRAMER: What The film opens with outraged you that you the arrest of Idaho Sena- decided to make this doc- tor Larry Craig for lewd umentary? behavior, and charts KIRBY DICK: I was in the bad behavior of sev- DC promoting “This Film 80 Eighth Ave. eral politicians who have Is Not Yet Rated,” about at 14th St. proved Janus-faced. The censorship in the Ameri- gay rumors about Flori- can film rating system, da Republican Governor and I thought there must 101 West 14th St. RELEASING MAGNOLIA at Sixth Ave. Charlie Crist, who sup- be a number of great sub- ported for Amendment 2, jects for documentaries Straight filmmaker Kirby Dick said his “gaydar has become much more refined’ which protects heterosex- that people only within the by the making of “Outrage.” 800 Sixth Ave. ual-only marriage in that Beltway know. I started at 27th St. state, are scrutinized. Like- asking around and very to have a really thoughtful sonally believe that they wise, former Republican quickly came across this approach. underestimate the power 354 Sixth Ave. Louisiana Congressman subject matter — closeted of coming out and being at Washington Pl. Jim McCrery is exposed politicians voting anti-gay. GK: The power of your open and honest. Cer- for using his college fra- I was fascinated on two film comes from show- tainly, there is going to be 769 Broadway ternity house “as a gay levels. First, this issue of ing how human rights a percentage of the popu- at 9th St. bar” on visits to his alma underreported hypocrisy are being denied by poli- lation who is extremely mater. Dick shows how the and, second, by the psy- ticians who vote against homophobic who is going “moral hunter” becomes chology of these people hate crimes legislation to turn on them, but I 207 Varick St. the “moral hunted” — as who would choose a pow- in particular. What were think — particularly in at Houston St. when Virginia Congress- erful political career at the your goals in tackling this these “purple” areas, man Ed Schrock’s pruri- cost of living a double life. subject? districts — that there is 885 Eighth Ave. ent phone calls for gay sex Their experience is almost KD: I wanted to con- going to be a larger per- at 53rd St. were broadcast on the web. Shakespearean to make tribute to the advance- centage of the population The Republican quickly that deal with the devil. ment of the gay rights that will say, “That took “folds like a cheap suit,” struggle in this country, a lot of guts,” and respect resigning his seat. GK: You are not out- which is trending in the from the constituency will Ask about a Plus account, Dick also takes Demo- ing anyone who hasn’t right direction, but by no increase. crats to task. Ed Koch, the exposed themselves or means resolved. One only with a world of benefits former mayor of New York, been exposed by someone has to look at the passage GK: What roadblocks designed to help you hid the fact that he had a else. Can you explain how of Prop 8 and Amendment did you encounter in mak- live in financial balance. male lover, according to you approached this pro- 2 to see that. I wanted to ing the film? Did anyone the film. “Outrage” claims vocative topic? show the damage — the not cooperate? Call 1 866 837-2340 or visit Koch did little or nothing KD: The film drew a cost — of the closet. And, KD: I’m surprised by us.hsbc.com/balance today. to help the gay community bright line by focusing I hope that my film con- the level of fear I [encoun- and assist with the AIDS on people who are in the tributes to the demise, or tered]. I would talk to crisis during his time in closet and acting hypo- at least partial demise, of people who were in a rep- office. In contrast, ex-Gov- critically. I feel the discus- the closet. resentative’s district, and ernor Jim McGreevey of sion around outing has these sources were very New Jersey talks candidly obscured the more impor- GK: Why do you think afraid. I would initiate and poignantly about his tant issues around this. these politicians stay clos- conversation with them own battles with the clos- One of our younger staff eted? and they would be afraid et. wanted to do much more KD: I think the closet to continue. Whether they Yet Dick is adamant of the gotcha kind of jour- exists because people were afraid of repercus- in the argument that nalism. Theatrically, that perceive there is some- sions, whether their fears Deposit products offered by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Member FDIC. ©2009 HSBC Bank USA, N.A. the media is involved would have played very thing wrong — a liability in a conspiracy respon- well, but I wanted this film — with being gay. I per- ᭤ OUTRAGE, continued on p.17 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 17

■ DANCE Inside View Megan Sprenger’s new work puts the audience within The BY BRIAN MCCORMICK a real-life, frightening experience that under- hen audiences scored Sprenger’s under- Math walk into the standing of the deeply W space at PS122 entrenched, almost to see Megan Sprenger’s hard-wired behavioral new work “…within us.,” characteristics humans of they will find nowhere to manifest, especially sit. Dancers, who may in the face of extreme or may not enter along or intense situations. with viewers, may not “People watched and did be immediately identifi- nothing,” Sprenger said. New York able. Inside, they’ll find “There was no fighter. It set designer Brad Kisicki’s was a one-on-one real natural wood cubes — 60 example” of how people of them — decorated with behave according to pre- living. black stencil and arranged defined social rules. The in clusters as well as sus- SPRENGER MEGAN V. characters in “…within pended from the ceiling. In Megan V. Sprenger’s “…within us.,” the view can’t rest in the role of voyeur. us.” interchange among Guides will lead people to the performers, but each their seats by reconfiguring MEGAN V. SPRENGER/ a color in a painter’s land- archetype can be iden- the set to allot one block to MVWORKS scape; world events and tified through behavior a customer. “…within us.” her own experiences also and body movement. Set in a 360-degree envi- Performance Space 122 drove the work’s objectives. “The inflicted is weighted ronment with audience 150 First Ave. at E. Ninth St. “I wasn’t going to pro- and boneless,” explained members integrated among May 17, 24 at 5:30 p.m.; tests,” Sprenger said in a Sprenger, “the aggressor, the performers, “…within May 19-23, at 7:30 p.m. recent interview. “I wasn’t sharp and agitated; the us.” subverts the conven- $20; $15 for students involved in the body count, watcher is watching and tion of viewer as voyeur by & seniors or any of the other activities disconnected.” choices breaking spatial bound- ps122.org or 212-352-3101 that were going on. I was Sprenger’s team aries and invading per- aware of things, but also of includes performers Tara sonal space. Drawing on the mystery, tension, and my own apathy. There was O’Con, Maria Parshina, Alli the archetypes of aggres- beauty of Gregory Crewd- a real disconnect — to be Ruszkowski, and Richert sor, inflicted, watcher, and son’s photographic imagery so conveniently watching Schnorr, with costumes fighter, the work examines to life. For this second com- from my couch. I’m not by Mary McKenzie. Jason the physical and emotional mission, she drew inspi- interested in being overtly Sebastian’s spatially dis- instincts that lay at the ration from the images of political, but because of persed score alternates core of human conflict. violence in Jacob Landau’s humanity, I became inter- between metallic, indus- For her first commis- visual artwork, but not in ested in exploring these trial noise, and natural, sion from PS122 in 2006, the same literal way. Here, characters, these roles.” melodic sonority. Electric judgments Sprenger created “No she likened the material- Recently, one of her col- god Joe Levasseur con- Where,” a trio that brought ity of Landau’s images to laborators “got jumped,” tributes his lightning.

᭤ OUTRAGE, from p.16 deeply into the issue. It Even to the point that if tion. But the organization was not tabloid journal- there’s a gay scandal, that has really caused were valid or not, I don’t ism by any means. report on it in the same damage to gay rights is know. But there is a level way as a straight scandal. Fox, not CNN. Talk to bankers who of fear out there. GK: Like “This Film Is Not Yet Rated,” “Outrage” GK: In the media sec- GK: If you appear on value your differences as GK: How did you get the relies on queer investiga- tion of your film, Fox News Anderson Cooper’s show to much as your finances. interviews you did with the tor Michael Rogers, who Channel’s Shepard Smith promote “Outrage,” would folks you did? outs these closeted politi- is featured, but CNN’s you discuss this topic with Call 1 866 837-2340 or visit KD: It took a great deal cians on blogActive.com. Anderson Cooper is con- him? us.hsbc.com/balance today. of persistence. Some peo- You also feature out radio spicuously absent. Can KD: No! [Laughs.] Now, ple were very happy to host Michelangelo Signo- you discuss why? do I think Anderson Coo- talk. People like Kirk Ford- rile. Can you talk about KD: With Fox, there’s per should come out? I do. ham and Barney Frank how gay media outlets no question they have Do I think it would be very came forward very early have brought attention to been in the development of significant? Yes. Do I think on. Others took a great this issue? this anti-gay hysteria. With other celebrities should deal of time. My producer KD: In many ways this CNN, that’s not the case. come out? Yes. Do I think a Amy Ziering is very per- film is built on the shoul- There is certainly a parallel very interesting film could suasive, and excellent in ders of the gay press. The between Cooper and Smith be made on this subject? making the point that this position that they have in terms of their promi- Yes, but it is not this film. was a legitimate film –– it been taking has been, nence and importance in Deposit products offered by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Member FDIC. ©2009 HSBC Bank USA, N.A. was really meant to dig “Let’s have full parity.” their respective organiza- ᭤ OUTRAGE, continued on p.22 14 - 27 MAY 2009 18/ Theater Drab Accent 14 DAYS Musty romantic comedy for David Hyde Pierce fans only 14 NIGHTS ᭤ MAY 16, from p.13 BY DAVID KENNERLEY ACCENT ON YOUTH Samuel J. Friedman Theatre o doubt back in 1934, 261 W. 47th St. Celebrates runs May 15-17, and also when Samson Rapha- Tue. at 7 p.m.; Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m.; features dance parties with top-named Nelson penned the draw- Wed., Sat., Sun. at 2 p.m. DJs, cabaret, comedy performances, a ing room comedy “Accent on Through Jun. 28 softball tournament, bike rides, historic Youth,” self-referential theater $56.50 to $96.50; telecharge.com walking tours, and family activities. For was still a novelty. A play about Or 212-239-6200 complete details, visit NewHopeCel- a May-December romance, nes- ebrates.com. tled within a play about a May- ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ December romance that fea- well enough, but unfortunately tures actors poking fun at life on the dated material and scat- FAMILIES the Great White Way, must have tershot direction work against A Wild Play Outing been drolly ironic. The intricate, him. The LGBT Community Center’s sticky love web shared by the And we can’t ignore, as Hyde JOAN MARCUS Center Kids Program hosts a family aging, doubt-addled playwright; Pierce himself reaches deep into He may have pulled it off with Daphne Moon, but it’s hard to buy that David Hyde Pierce as play day to see “Wild Thing,” Monica his young, curvaceous muse; middle age, that his smoldering playwright Steven Gaye would really have secretary Linda, played by Mary Catherine Garrison, Flory’s adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s and the boyish, idealistic co-star romantic lead potential is — how love-struck. “Where The Wild Things Are…,” pro- she ends up marrying, must do I put this? — limited. Despite duced by the Children’s Aid Society. have been highly amusing. The the play’s central theme, I found marriage, I didn’t care to deter- is the dread of finding oneself See what happens when a group of loyal butler, dressed in tails and it hard to swallow that a woman mine if he’d also won her heart. heading over-the-hill. And there Monsters mistake him for an unruly always quick with a quip, was decades younger would be so Even the ever-reliable Charles are some wry one-liners. But child and take him away to the land surely a laugh riot. hopelessly smitten by him. Let’s Kimbrough (of “Murphy Brown” there are plenty of clunkers as of the Wild Things. Merriment turns But as staged by Daniel Sul- face it, the actor’s trademark fame), who would seem born well. “There is no substitute for to mayhem and dreams become real- livan (“Rabbit Hole,” “Proof”), fussiness doesn’t necessarily to play Flogdell the butler, goes youth,” Gaye laments, as if we ity. The Philip Coltoff Center, Main the first Broadway revival of the scream babe-magnet. overboard. His constant grimac- haven’t figured that out by now. Stage, 219 Sullivan St., btwn. W. work comes off about as bub- “Life never makes sense,” ing is more pained than funny. Originally conceived in three Third & Bleecker Sts., 3 p.m. Tickets bly as last night’s champagne. observes the curiously named The rest of the cast is solid, and acts, the play is now two, with are $10, with toddler playtime available Not for lack of trying. If anybody Gaye. He’s got that right. I was disappointed that Lisa the bulk of the two-hour enter- at the LGBT Community Center, 208 W. could pull off the lead role of the Linda’s speedy metamorpho- Banes, as Miss Darling, one of prise running post-intermis- 13th St. (with a $20 family donation 50-plus neurotic Steven Gaye, sis from mousy love-struck sec- the actresses up for the part in sion, which makes for a lopsided suggested). For more information, call it would be David Hyde Pierce— retary to savvy Broadway star is Gaye’s play, vanishes inexplica- evening indeed. Apparently the the Center Kids’ Ivy or Avi at 212-620- from a technical standpoint, also jarring, though I blame the bly after the first act. text was given minimal tweaks 7310 ext. 400. anyway. His precise comic disconnect on the script and off- Also off-putting was John from the original, yet in Sulli- ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ timing and deadpan delivery kilter direction rather than on Lee Beatty’s ornate but rather van’s hands, the screwball and helped keep “Curtains” open Mary Catherine Garrison’s per- unattractive set, replicating a tragic sensibilities don’t mesh. NIGHTLIFE for its healthy run of more than formance, which is layered with cavernous penthouse, where An uneasy, stale air of sadness Dancing With the 500 performances — he beat emotion. “I hate audiences,” various veneer wood grains wafts through this trifle of a pro- Studs out Raul Esparza and Jonathan says Linda, but the joke lands fight each other harder than the duction. Big Apple Ranch, which since 1997 Groff for the Best Actor Tony in with a thud. characters. Surely a suave fel- Perhaps, in considering reviv- has been hosting a weekly country-west- 2006 — and they’re in full force As leading man Dickie, David low like Gaye has better design ing this quaint play, the pro- ern dance for the gay and lesbian commu- here. Hyde Pierce, as a play- Furr is appealing, though I sense than that. ducers should have listened to nity, presents “Rhinestone Cowboygirl,” wright who fears his glory days found his virtuous boy-scout act On the plus side, the redemp- Linda in describing the bitter an evening of dazzle, sequins, and fringe are behind him, captures the unbelievable. When we discover tive power of love and all its pos- realities of old age: “You can’t to benefit the New York City Gay and Les- “poetry of a man facing old age” Dickie has won Linda’s hand in sibilities is a timeless topic, as warm over cold mutton.” bian Anti-Violence Project. Oh, and don’t forget the leather-soled boots or shoes. 39 W. 19th St., fifth fl. Two-step les- sons at 8 p.m.; line dance lesson at Rocky Roads 8:30; dancing from 9-1. The $10 admis- sion includes the lessons. For more infor- “Godot” is a triumph while “Desire” is an epic disaster mation, visit biggleappleranch.com. ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ BY CHRISTOPHER BYRNE er examination of an admittedly live not as an intellectual exercise passes. Repeat in Act Two. Why bleak human existence. It is not a but a gut-wrenching tragic-com- is this so fascinating? Precisely The Big Banana aiting for Godot” play for all tastes, one in which in edy that is lyrical, light-hearted, because in performance, the play Jonny McGovern presents “The Big is one of the most Act One essentially nothing hap- and unflinchingly dark all at the becomes a visceral experience, Banana,” a downtown dance party for “W discussed and dis- pens. And in Act Two, nothing same time. part of which is frustration at the men, with cheap drinks, dirty tricks, sected plays of the modern era happens again. All the scholarly Vladamir and Estragon are very human need to draw sense and DJs Rich King, John Roberts, Corey — and one of the most important attention aside, does it work as a waiting by a tree on a road. They from it — a task doomed from the Tut. Gorilla Club, 74 Leonard St. at in shaping contemporary the- piece of theater? do things to pass the time, but start. Broadway. ater. It stands as the most com- In the magnificent produc- all of that is secondary to their As Vladimir and Estragon ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ monly known existential play, a tion currently at Studio 54, the main function — to wait for an engage in distractions to “hold the work that discards conventional answer is yes, sublimely so. unknown figure they know only terrible silence at bay,” they still notions of plot, character, and Director Anthony Page and his as Godot. They are joined briefly narrative style in favor of a deep- amazing cast have made this play by Pozzo and Lucky. The day ᭤ ROCKY ROADS, continued on p.19 ᭤ 14 DAYS, continued on p.20 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 19

᭤ ROCKY ROADS, from p.18 hold out hope that something will come along to change their lives. Something does, but it get them no closer to resolu- tion or peace. Pozzo, an evidently rich man, keeps Lucky on a rope. Lucky’s function is to serve and think, and in a long speech he contemplates, broadly, man’s relationship to God and the nature of suffering. It is a brilliant tour de force, not only for the writing but for the fact that Lucky’s powerful thinking changes nothing. We go on, without understanding and yet waiting, hoping — when there is no evidence that can alleviate our suffering. The characters contemplate suicide and become immo- bilized. Director Anthony Page has done a JOAN MARCUS brilliant job of honoring the play — creat- Nathan Lane, John Goodman, Bill Irwin, and John Glover ing a richly entertaining piece that fasci- (not pictured) are all brilliant in “Waiting For Godot.” nates endlessly. Page, like Becket, under- stands the inherently solipsistic nature of WAITING FOR GODOT an audience and plays with that brilliantly, Roundabout Theatre enabling us to look at a mirror on our souls Company at Studio 54 and struggles. 254 W. 54th St. The cast is phenomenal. John Good- Tue.-Sat. at 8 p.m.; man gives a performance of inspired com- Wed., Sat., Sun. at 2 p.m. edy as Pozzo. His bombast and sheer size $36.50-$116.50, roundabouttheatre.org or 212-719-1300 command fear and derision. John Glover as Lucky is spectacular in a risky per- DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS formance of laser-sharp focus. His long St. James Theatre Act One speech, in which he thinks for 246 W. 44th St. Pozzo, is the work of an actor at the peak Tue. at 7 p.m.; Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m.; of his craft, mesmerizing and daring in the Wed., Sat. at 2 p.m.; Sun. at 3 p.m. extreme. $32.00-$117.50; telecharge.com Nathan Lane is brilliant as Vladimir. or 212-239-6200 Demonstrating his incredible range, he balances the clowning and despair of the character with a childlike openness and for? Where are the elms? New England is fear both delightful and painful, and wrings rocky, but the farms don’t sit on outcrop- affection and compassion from us. Simi- pings of barren granite. Perhaps I’m being larly, Bill Irwin gives the performance of too literal, but the expressionistic intent is an increasingly accomplished career. Like far too heavy handed for what is essentially Lane, there is subtlety and depth to his a family drama with epic pretensions. performance that capitalizes on his natu- The story concerns the Cabot family. ral magnetism and makes us feel Estragon’ Father Ephraim is a tyrant, who binds his hopeless hoping. Lane and Irwin play per- sons, Eben, Peter, and Simeon, to him by fectly together, mining every nuance from their hopes of inheritance. In time, Peter the text to make it live with heartbreaking and Simeon abandon the farm for Califor- resonance. nia — pronounced ad nauseum as “Calee- The wonderful set is by Santo Loquasto, forn-eye-ay” — leaving Eben to stay and the exquisite lighting is by Peter Kaczo- work. Ephraim’s new wife Abbie also wants rowski, and the inspired costumes are by the farm, and when he dies, the battle Jane Greenwood, making this production between Eben and his stepmother turns as visually beautiful as it is deeply felt. into a love affair with tragic consequences. A friend of mine who saw this produc- No one gets what they want, and all ends tion a few days after I did left at intermis- unhappily. sion. “I didn’t want to work that hard,” she Falls has directed this to be an epic said. But that’s the antithesis of what this Greek tragedy, which means, unfortunate- play is about. “Waiting for Godot” address- ly, that everyone screams at the top of their es the nature of being and the torment lungs and there is no character develop- of trying to make sense of the inherently ment, clear motivation, or relief. One hun- senseless. Seeing this production was not dred minutes of aural assault going abso- work, it was bliss. lutely nowhere, without a single subtle or believable moment. Eugene O’Neill saw he same cannot be said of Robert tragedy writ large in the American expe- Falls’ ponderous “Desire Under rience, but Falls’ interpretation fails not T the Elms,” which goes wrong from because it’s not risky but because it’s bor- the moment the curtain goes up. Walt ing. Abbie watching as Eben takes a bath Spangler’s set — looking like a wasteland may be geared toward the audience’s titil- purloined from “Godot,” with rocks and lation, but the scene is inconceivable in the a house hung on ropes — is dramatic, period portrayed. but it makes no sense. Is this moonscape the farm the family is fighting so fiercely ᭤ ROCKY ROADS, continued on p.27 14 - 27 MAY 2009 20/ Film Superhero Backlash 14 DAYS Hitoshi Matsumoto conjures documentarians following a schlub 14 NIGHTS BY STEVE ERICKSON superhero mythology, but it does BIG MAN JAPAN ᭤ 14 DAYS, from p.18 so with a much lighter touch. It’s Directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto t’s no insult to say that “Big the first superhero film whose In Japanese with English subtitles Man Japan” peaks in its first protagonist could also fit com- Magnet Releasing I 20 minutes. It opens with its fortably into a piece of neo-real- Opens May 15 SUN.MAY.17 hero, Dai Sato (writer/director ism about the plight of the work- Cinema Village, 22 E. 12th St. BENEFIT Hitoshi Matsumoto), taking the ing-class. Cinemavillage.com Okay, It’s Not Miss bus home, with a documentary Matsumoto’s background California camera crew following him. With lies in stand-up comedy; in as its secret weapon. For most In a benefit for the Hetrick-Martin a woolen cap and hair well past 1983, he formed a duo called of its running time, “Big Man Institute, home of the Harvey Milk his shoulders, Sato looks like a Downtown and went solo seven Japan” manages to balance its School, ten contestants representing neo-hippie rapidly approaching years later. “Big Man Japan” two distinct moods. In the final their gayborhoods will duke it out for the burnout. Chatting with a fellow alternates between cinematic reel, it gives way to complete title of Miss Fag Hag, competing in cat- passenger, he makes a cryp- and TV influences. Obviously, absurdity, turning its plot into egories of evening wear, fabulous talent, tic remark about the weather it wouldn’t exist if not for the a giant non sequitur about rela- swimwear, and sassy Q&A. Celebrity affecting his job. Getting off the tradition of Japanese monster tions among America, Japan, judges include Caroline Rhea, Michael bus, he walks by a stall selling movies launched by “Godzilla.” and North Korea. Musto, Hedda Lettuce, and Katina Cor- umbrellas. However, Matsumoto’s sensi- While political allegory may rao, and there are special performances Sato tells the documentar- bility seems equally formed by not be its strong point, “Big Man by Shayna Steele, Bridget Everett, Brit- ians that he likes small things British TV shows like “Knowing Japan” bridges the gap between ney Houston, Mel & El, and Mr. Murray that expand, such as umbrellas Me, Knowing You With Alan Par- jokes about farting monsters Hill. Comix, 353 W. 14th St., 7 p.m. and dried seaweed flakes. His tridge” and the original version and a semi-serious examination Tickets are $20 at comixny.com, or $25 dilapidated house is surround- of “The Office.” His mockumen- RELEASING MAGNET of the shrinking expectations at the door. ed by graffiti. As he talks to the tary conceits are delivered with Filmmaker Hitoshi Matsumoto as superhero of Japan’s Generation X. The ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ documentary’s director inside, a perfectly deadpan tone. Seeing Dai Sato in “Big Man Japan.” Fourth inspired board games rocks fly through his windows the film a second time, one can and card decks, while the best FILM twice, but he doesn’t flinch or see how stringently every actor, wife, although not technically Sato can hope for is a better Five Years of even seem to notice. When he even background extras, sticks divorced, and only sees their time slot on TV for his battles Queens Queer cycles toward a power plant, one to character. When Sato walks daughter once a month. His wife than 2:40 a.m. Every time he Cinema notices that the road is covered down the street, people occa- would like to make that twice a winds up in the public eye, he Five Cinemarosa, Queens’ only queer with signs, seemingly aimed at sionally stare at him with a hos- year. He’s not even sure if his pet screws up. film series, celebrates its fifth anniver- him, complaining about litter tile eye. cat is a rescued stray or might In less capable hands, the sary, with a series of shorts by directors and noise. Who is this magnet “Big Man Japan” inverts the belong to someone else. film could have been a one-note Joe E. Jeffreys, Ali Cotterill, Matthew for hate, and why does the docu- heroic trajectory usually fol- Tonally, “Big Man Japan” is slog, but Matsumoto brings a de Leon, Erin Greenwell, and Joe Mur- mentary drop so many elliptical lowed by genre films by mak- all over the map. If the mocku- skillful touch to its creation. phy, from 3-5 p.m. The filmmakers will hints about his life and work? ing its hero a schlub, indeed a mentary sequences are dead- Even the sound design apes the be on hand for an informal Q&A. From He’s a superhero! virtual anti-hero. Sato lives in pan, Sato’s fights with the overdriven, bass-heavy assault 5-7 p.m., there will be a performance With the exception of “Iron the house he inherited from his monsters give way to a glorious of modern genre films faithfully. and celebration featuring a presenta- Man,” recent American superhe- grandfather, whom he calls “the silliness. Their special effects Matsumoto’s talents unfortu- tion of “The Rosa Files,” Cinemarosa’s ro films have taken themselves Fourth.” Now suffering from combine cheesy CGI with rub- nately don’t extend to coming best moments, prepared by Soluciones extremely seriously. Refreshing- Alzheimer’s, the Fourth is still ber suits. The monsters them- up with a satisfying ending, but Visuales, and a multimedia performance ly, “Big Man Japan” has noth- alive, occasionally even rousing selves are a goofy batch; the first there are so many incidental and dance party celebration animated ing to say about the Iraq War or himself from his nursing home one sports a comb-over, which pleasures in “Big Man Japan” by DJ Pepe aka Cerebro and his unique George W. Bush. Like “Watch- to incompetently fight mon- keeps flopping in the wind, and that it doesn’t detract too much sound mixes. Queens Museum of Art, men,” it deconstructs the classic sters. Sato is estranged from his another one uses flatulence from the experience. Flushing Meadows/ Corona Park, 3-7 p.m. E, F, V, or R train to 74th St. & Roosevelt Ave., transfer to #7 train to Willets Point Ave./ Shea Stadium, The French Family Valued walk toward the Unisphere. For more information, visit cinemarosa.org. Olivier Assayas delivers quiet, personal meditation on home ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

BY STEVE ERICKSON “Summer Hours” returns to this theme developing? “Summer (Charles Berling), and designer THEATER theme in a more subtle manner. Hours” is Assayas’ most benign Adrienne (Juliette Binoche) –– Yesterday’s ummer Hours” isn’t It re-stages the teenage party film, a 180-degree turn from the have come to pay their respects Tomorrow Stage French director Olivi- scene from his 1994 master- flirtation with sleaze and danger on the eve of an international Today “S er Assayas’ best film, piece “Cold Water,” but in a mel- in “Demonlover” and “Board- tour of paintings by Hélene’s The Chocolate Factory presents Tar- but it may be his most personal. lower mood. This time around, ing Gate” toward a very French late brother, Paul. Most of the get Margin Theater’s “The Theater of Most of the time, it feels like a no one smashes furniture or exploration of family. family makes it to San Francis- Tomorrow,” a large-scale exploration of compilation of the themes and sets it on fire. “Late August, “Summer Hours” begins co for the retrospective’s debut early 20th century cultural innovators moods of his previous work. Early September” is the Assayas at a family gathering held by –– an event that takes place off- by its artistic director, David Herskovits, His past three films –– “Demon- film to which “Summer Hours” 75-year-old Hélene (Edith screen –– but Hélene dies soon accompanied by more than a dozen lover,” “Clean,” and “Board- feels closest, but the exploration Scob). Her three children –– ven- afterwards. The family is spread theatrical performances, installations, ing Gate” — revolved around of mortality and middle age here ture capitalist Jérémie (Jérémie various forms of globalization. is far freer of anxiety. Notice a Renier), economist Frédéric ᭤ FRENCH, continued on p.21 ᭤ MAY 17, continued on p.22 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 21

᭤ FRENCH, from p.20 SUMMER HOURS Directed by Olivier Assayas across the globe and finds it difficult to In French with English subtitles come together to divide her estate. Only IFC Films Frédéric opposes its sale. Opens May 15 Initially, the style of “Summer Hours” IFC Center, 327 Sixth Ave. seems determined by the hubbub it at Waverly Pl.; ifccenter.com stages. Its first major scene takes place outside, with the three protagonists, as a reaction against those films. The their mother, their own children, and director’s globetrotting and casting of two dogs all vying for attention. Assayas charismatic outsiders like Asia Argento glories in filling the frame with clutter and Maggie Cheung seem over; even if and noise. However, he refrains from the some of the characters here live outside out-of-focus Steadicam long takes that France, the film itself never leaves the have populated his other films. By his country. It’s easy to see the family home standards, “Summer Hours” is relatively IFC FILMS JEANNICK GRAVELINES/ as a metaphor for France itself, and it’s austere, with cinematography inspired Jérémie Renier as Jérémie, Juliette Binoche as Adrienne, and Charles Berling as Frédéric in Olivier Assayas’ surprising to see Assayas’ attachment by Impressionist painting. “Summer Hours.” to it, even as he portrays global drift as a Assayas’ films have often been marked necessary evil. by their distinctive use of music. The Insistently, “Summer Hours” touches value, filled them with flowers and lived “Summer Hours” ends by ushering in lengthy party scene in “Cold Water” is set on the subject of globalization and its with them. Even Paul’s paintings hung the next generation. Recycling an event to a wall-to-wall soundtrack of early ’70s impact on French life. Adrienne pivots on the wall, rather than collecting dust from “Cold Water,” it depicts Frédéric’s rock, much of it played halfway through among Japan, France, and New York, in a vault. By selling off the family col- daughter getting busted for shoplifting and then begun again. Most of his other while Jérémie lives in Shanghai at the lection, Adrienne, Frédéric, and Jérémie and drugs. Whatever his worries about films are more sparing in their use of start of the film. He then moves to Bei- shift its meaning from something that is the impact of globalization, Assayas music, but even the handful of songs jing but plans to spend summers in Bali. appreciated on a daily basis to what is shows a continuity from generation to played in “Irma Vep” make such an The two siblings argue about the value clearly a product. Its value is then judged generation. It’s nice that he passes the impression that its distributor got que- of the cheap shoe factory Jérémie over- by the amount of money for which it can baton to present-day teenagers, but ries about a soundtrack album. Until its sees in China. The dispersal of the family sell rather than its beauty, usefulness, unfortunately, the final reel of “Sum- final reel, “Summer Hours” uses almost around the world parallels the break-up or personal meaning. mer Hours” plays like a pale shadow of no music. When it does, it echoes “Cold of their art collection. With “Demonlover” and “Boarding “Cold Water.” Its vision of youthful rebel- Water”; partying teenagers play a French Assayas is also attentive to the ways Gate” –– and, to a lesser extent, “Clean” lion is secondhand. This is undoubtedly hip-hop song, take it off, and put on a in which art becomes a commodity. Most –– Assayas had reinvented himself as a Assayas’ most mature film and one of rock song in its place. The film’s end of the collection consists of utilitarian postmodernist closer to Abel Ferrara and his most accomplished, but it’s an easier credits play out to a tune by psychedelic objects like vases and armoires. Hélene David Cronenberg than Jean Renoir. one to appreciate at a distance than get folkies the Incredible String Band. and her maid, while well aware of their “Summer Hours” could have been made passionately involved in. Parking in NYC for $99 a month? Only if you’re !

smart car owners receive $99 monthly parking rates at over 180 Icon locations throughout New York City. To find out more, please call 888.660.smart or visit IconParking.com and click the smart button. smart center Manhattan is located at West 41st Street and 11th Avenue, NYC Closest to Port Authority Bus Terminal/Times Square Subways: A, C, E, N, Q, R, S, W, 1, 2, 3, 7 smartcenterManhattan.com 14 - 27 MAY 2009 22/ Film A German Genre Twist 14 DAYS Christian Petzold reimagines “The Postman Always Rings Twice” 14 NIGHTS BY STEVE ERICKSON sure he’s there yet. “Yella” had ᭤ MAY 17, from p.20 one major flaw –– a reliance on hristian Petzold has a gimmicky, and easy to guess, readings, and hybrid experiments cre- been making films for 13 twist as its ending. Here, the ated specifically for the Chocolate C years, yet even frequent problems lie with the casting. Factory’s performance spaces. “The arthouse patrons are unlikely As we were leaving the screen- Theater of Tomorrow” is part of a two- to have heard of him. “Jerichow” ing of “Jerichow,” a friend com- year cycle of creation that culminates and “Yella,” the German film- pared Fürmann to wrestler/ next spring with a documentary piece, maker’s previous feature, are the actor John Cena. With a tattoo “The Really Big Once,” exploring the only two Petzold films released on his left shoulder and his hair relationship between Williams and Elia in the US so far. One distribu- GUILD THE CINEMA shaved down to a dense stubble, Kazan and their “Camino Real” col- tor, the Cinema Guild, is respon- Benno Fürmann, Nina Hoss, and Hilmi Sozer in Christian Petzold’s “Jerichow.” the actor looks the part. How- laboration. Works presented during the sible for this; it recently released ever, his portrayal of brooding May 17-Jun. 6 festival include Gertrude “Yella” on DVD and plans to put a drunk-driving arrest takes JERICHOW machismo, grounded in a mili- Stein’s “A Family of Perhaps Three,” out two earlier Petzold films on away his license. Laura (Nina Directed by Christian Petzold tary background, is forced and selections from Zora Neale Hurston’s DVD later this year. Hoss), Ali’s wife, is initially cold to In German with English subtitles wooden, never all that convinc- “Cold Keener,” Eugene O’Neill’s “(oh It’s easy for critics here to Thomas, but the two later devel- The Cinema Guild ing. If Bruce Willis spoke Ger- my god I am so) Thirst(y) (mostly),” Edna make sweeping judgments about op a passionate relationship. Opens May 15 man, the role would be perfect St. Vincent Millay’s “Aria Da Capo,” and the health of national cinemas Ali and Laura’s marriage seems Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. for him; even Dwayne “the Rock” e.e. comings’ “Tom.” Chocolate Fac- based on the handful of foreign strained, and Thomas discovers Filmforum.org Johnson could do better than tory Theater, 5-49 49th Ave., btwn. films Americans have a chance she married him in large part Fürmann. By contrast, Sozer Fifth St. & Vernon Blvd., Long Island to see. For instance, German and because he was willing to take of James M. Cain’s novel “The manages to go from nebbish to City (#7 train to Vernon/Jackson). Italian film cultures now look like over her enormous debts. Postman Always Rings Twice.” menace in a manner of seconds. Event prices range from free to $15. For shadows of their former selves. As described by critic Chris Petzold’s influences include He’s both frightening and vulner- complete schedule and ticket purchase, That determination doesn’t take Darke, “Yella” expressed a sen- American genre cinema –– he able, villainous and sympathetic. visit chocolatefactorytheater.org. into account the Berlin school, sibility equally drawn to materi- drew on horror films in “Yella” While “The Postman Always ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ a group of directors who’ve alism and mysticism, dropping –– and German documentar- Rings Twice” has been adapted emerged from Germany since the advance hints about its major ian Harun Farocki, whose short to film several times, making late 1990s. The Berlin school may plot twist, yet maintaining an “Nothing Ventured” is included one third of the love triangle a not yet have reached the heights eerie atmosphere throughout. as a bonus on the “Yella” DVD, Turkish immigrant gives the MON.MAY.18 of ’20s German Expressionism or “Jerichow” is far more grounded and who served as script con- story a new twist. However, Pet- ADVOCACY ’70s New German Cinema, but in reality, the mysticism gone sultant on “Jerichow.” Petzold’s zold makes few overt references Standing Up to from what I’ve been able to see, here, though it retains an ambi- films are short and fast-paced, to German racism or Turkish Hate their work is far more interest- guity about character motivation yet their indictment of material- alienation. When Ali speaks The Imperial Court of New York ing than more widely distributed and behavior. By design, this film ism –– including the suggestion about “a woman that I bought hosts a Meet & Greet with the Mat- films like “Downfall” and “The leaves a harsh, sour aftertaste. that it has destroyed the mean- and a country that doesn’t want thew Shepard Foundation that will Lives of Others.” The two films examine capi- ingfulness of the well-rounded me,” his anger almost comes as feature remarks by Judy Shepard, “Jerichow” is named after its talism from different perspec- narrative with psychologically a surprise, although it’s perfect- the group’s executive director and the setting, a small town in north- tives. “Yella” showed a woman convincing characters –– seems ly understandable. “Jerichow” mother of the gay Wyoming college eastern Germany. Thomas who makes a success of her life very European. All the same, the doesn’t dwell on violence, but it student brutally slain in 1998. LGBT (Benno Fürmann), whose moth- in venture capital, while “Jer- two films don’t offer their char- offers several unexpected bursts Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., er has recently died, comes back ichow” focuses on a small-scale acters any alternatives. In Wim of brutality. All the way through, 7-9 p.m. Suggested donation of $10 at there after being dishonorably businessman convinced that Wenders’ “Kings of the Road,” one senses that the characters, the door. discharged from the Army. Tak- everyone is cheating him. “Yella” a character complains, “The each of whom hides volatile ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ ing over her house, he plans depicted both the corrupt and Yanks have colonized our sub- secrets, could begin throwing to look for a job, but is robbed glamorous sides of corporate conscious!” That was the ’70s. punches at any moment. Fairness In by several friends to whom he culture, while “Jerichow” focuses In “Yella” and “Jerichow,” money Despite its flaws, Petzold’s Advertising owes money. He meets Ali (Hilmi on the rot. Still, they have a great dominates the imagination. As work pulses with urgency. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Sozer), who owns a chain of 45 deal in common, including the in the Rainer Werner Fassbinder Indeed, its excitement about tin- Defamation (GLAAD) hosts a launch roadside snack bars. Prone to use of drab settings in the former oeuvre, love is warped by cash. kering with genre tropes would party for its new Advertising Media paranoia about money, Ali offers East Germany. Petzold has the makings of be welcome in American cinema Program, which picks up the work of Thomas a job as his driver after “Jerichow” is an adaptation a major filmmaker, but I’m not as well. the former Commercial Closet, which ended its existence last year after a fiery conflict with that group’s found- ᭤ OUTRAGE, from p.17 them using their power to pro- lican, that may be the achieve- So, how has this film changed er. The new GLAAD program aims to mote gay rights. I am not really ment that could advance the you? ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive GK: Do you want closeted asking for an apology. Maybe cause of gay rights today. There KD: My gaydar has become images of the LGBT community in politicians to apologize as Jim they owe an apology. But they should be zero tolerance on much more refined. I now look advertising. The evening will be a net- McGreevey does? Or are you are in a difficult position. this issue. Every time we see an at people — men in particular working event with hors d’oeuvres and hoping for the kind of response instance of discrimination on ––and go, “He’s gay.” I realize an open bar. Alvin Ailey Studios, 405 former RNC field director Dan GK: But it is of their own mak- this issue, it should be called out that I would not have known W. 55th St., 7 – 9 p.m. Admission is Gurley had — to start using his ing. and changed. that two years ago. I would not $25 at glaad.org. power for good not ill? KD: It’s true. But the most have thought about sexual ori- ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ KD: If I had a choice between significant step is to come out. If GK: That’s why you are a entation years ago, one way or the two, I’d be very happy with we had a prominent gay Repub- straight man making this film. another. ᭤ 14 DAYS, continued on p.24 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 23 14 - 27 MAY 2009 24/ Opera Big Breaks 14 DAYS Subs enliven Met’s closing weeks 14 NIGHTS BY DAVID SHENGOLD fast. Italian diva Barbara Frit- ble — small-scale in ensem- ᭤ 14 DAYS, from p.22 toli, slated for Anna’s role, was bles, artful if nearing tonal ast-minute substitutions switched to Elvira; and Lyric limits in the arias. After the at classical events can be Opera of Chicago-developed overemphatic Erwin Schrott’s L thrilling or disheartening. Erin Wall joined the Met in “sitcom macho” Giovanni this WED.MAY 20 Different genres present differ- Frittoli’s place. This change fall, Peter Mattei’s relaxed, gor- COMMUNITY ent possibilities. When at very accompanied Pavol Breslik’s geously sung interpretation fell Just Coming Out? short notice Krystian Zimmer- already-scheduled debut as as balm to the ear — some of Identity House, the city’s oldest all- man had to cancel an April 6 Ottavio. the most accomplished and volunteer GLBTQ organization, is host- solo Carnegie piano recital, the As seen April 20, “Don Gio- unforced vocalism heard here- ing an eight-week coming out group very different but equally gift- vanni” proved a worthwhile abouts all season. Arcibravo! for those looking for support during a ed Vladimir Feltsman stepped performance, due to a solid critical moment in their lives. The group in to present a stirring Bach/ cast more than to the barren he company pulled a will meet for eight successive Wednes- Beethoven/Musorgsky pro- production or Louis Langree’s rabbit out of a hat April day evenings beginning tonight. For gram. sometimes eloquent but gen- T 8 when, given Rolando complete information on the pro- But solo pianists work alone, erally unfocused conducting. Villazon’s continued inability to gram, email the group facilitator, usually having a reservoir of Wall, a handsome Canadian perform, they presented Barry Jim Arnoff, at [email protected]. works ready for performance with a bright, sizable soprano, Banks as a one-night-only Nem- ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ scrutiny. Vocal recitalists face has made Anna her calling orino in “L’elisir d’amore”. The different challenges — their card and gave a very accom- British tenor hit one out of the NIGHTLIFE schedules must mesh with plished performance. Frittoli park, with an energetic, stylish Bingo With Benefits accompanists’, but also with — her native mastery of the and endearing characterization Diva Flotilla joins Will Clark in co- their own operatic and orches- words a major asset — turned in attractive, modulated sound. calling another evening of Porno Bingo, tral gigs, which may be incom- OPERA SCHILLER/ METROPOLITAN BEATRIZ in one of her best recent out- In any sane universe Nemo- tonight benefiting Team New York patible with the demands of Among the substitutions at the first “Sieg- ings vocally, a sympathetic rino gets the final bow in “Eli- Aquatics, a group of more than 175 evening-long programs. Pre- fried” at the Met, Robert Brubaker made the and complex Elvira. Breslik, sir”; she who seized it — Angela swimmers who compete in the Gay senters filling sudden gaps in sometimes unlistenable role of Mime a star a Slovakian tenor, proves slim Gheorghiu — sounded excel- Games and other LGBT and otherwise recital series usually prefer vehicle. and cute in the way current lent, especially in her expansive sports events. Seth Bedford will sing, to find someone of compara- marketing-driven casting dic- top octave. Adina’s music suits and hottie go-go stud Tass will shuck ble stature already on a tour However, the Met — where tates. Youtube reveals him Gheorghiu very well; it’s a pity his clothes as the game progresses. schedule allowing the singer the second-run of “Don Gio- pushed beyond his undoubt- not one moment of emotional Pieces, 8 Christopher St. at Sixth and pianist sufficient time vanni” was to have featured ed abilities — “Lucrezia Bor- truth intruded on her calcu- Ave., 8-10 p.m. for an add-on. So when Soile the beautiful-voiced Finnish gia”?!! — offering a lesson to lated, self-impressed, ultimately ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ Iskokoski cancelled a Zankel soprano in what was report- fast-tracked, camera-friend- depressing performance. recital due to a family emer- edly her last company contract ly younger singers like Alek gency, the hall stayed dark. as Elvira — needed to work Shrader. His Ottavio was capa- ᭤ BIG BREAKS, continued on p.25 THU.MAY.21 NIGHTLIFE Dirty South Winning Turns Daniel Nardicio and Sweetie offer up a visit to hillbilly heaven with a Joseph Calleja’s distinctive beauty in “L’Elisir D’Amore” and “Rigoletto” kooky, queer, country night, spinning classic country, rock-a-billy, southern BY ELI JACOBSON the role of Dulcamara before rock, square dance, and gospel. Sweetie the season started, leaving only will sling drinks and talk some shit, and pring has sprung but Angela Gheorghiu to supply the there will be spiked watermelon balls illness, family crises, star factor. Italian lyric tenor all night from Banana Boy and 3 danc- S vocal problems, and Massimo Giordano was flown in ers who give new meaning to the term other unspoken matters have from Berlin just in time for the “dirty South.” The Hose, 225 Avenue sidelined almost a dozen of the final dress rehearsal. Giordano B at 13th St., second fl, 10 p.m. scheduled performers at the took over the opening night and Admission is $4.99. Metropolitan Opera over the the following Saturday matinee ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ past two months. This rash of radio broadcast. Ideally “Eli- cancellations has kept the Met sir” is an ensemble piece with a artistic administration scram- comedic star turn for the tenor. bling around the clock finding The backstage drama left the FRI.MAY.22 replacements with no time for piece out of balance. Giordano NIGHTLIFE picking daisies or days at the has a pleasant but shallow and Broke Straight beach. monochromatic lyric tenor of Boys The most inevitable of these the right size and quality, but Trash at Splash offers up an eve- cancellations was the with- rather plain ideas about phras- ning of broke straight boys up for — drawal of Rolando Villazon from ing and dynamics. Mostly it was what? They’ll be hand in den of sin in the an all-star revival of “L’Elisir four-square phrasing at mezzo ELI JACOBSON BY bar’s basement, along with lots of alter- D’Amore” due to laryngitis. Joseph Calleja as the Duke and Diana Damrau at Gilda turned in winning performances in Bryn Terfel had withdrawn from ᭤ WINNING TURNS, continued on p.25 “Rigoletto.” ᭤ MAY 22, continued on p.26 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 25

᭤ BIG BREAKS, from p.24 worst anyone has heard but far from awful Father Guido Sarducci hat, his improved, but her singing gave great the best. He offered native diction and Wanderer exuded dignity. Richard pleasure. As yet she seems more con- till-unexplained circumstanc- affability in this “dumb jock” role, but Paul Fink’s reliably strong Alberich nected with and moved by the music es deprived Met audiences of an uncompelling, rather diminutive and Lisette Oropesa’s fresh Waldvo- than by the words; part of this cycle S Christine Brewer’s Bruen- tone. A Heldentenorino? Franz seemed gel merited praise. But, along with is, after all, about maturity and nhilde, perhaps the season’s most unable to produce soft singing with- Brubaker, the real heroes were James renunciation. One hopes Meade will awaited assumption. Illness played out going off support, leading increas- Levine and the phenomenal orchestra choose repertory carefully and that havoc with other “Ring” elements. ingly to pitch problems. By Act III, he — excepting, alas, problematic lead her gorgeous soprano will have many The first “Siegfried” (April 18) went on sounded exhausted and approximate, trumpets. more outings in Strauss’ sublime with three non-last minute subs. The especially when trying to ramp up the cycle. (On July 31 with Will Crutch- strongest of them was American tenor volume. pril 16 in Philadelphia’s Perel- field at Caramoor, she treads into very Robert Brubaker, a very skilled sing- Irene Theorin — cheered to the man Theatre, up-and-coming different waters, as Rossini’s Semir- ing actor with a strong, useful voice echo — sounded fresh and pleasant A soprano Angela Meade — who amide opposite Vivica Genaux, Law- who made the sometimes unlistenable at moderate volume; under pressure made her own Met emergency debut rence Brownlee, and Daniel Mobbs role of Mime a star vehicle. Brubaker she wavered and both high Cs were in “Ernani” last year — sang Rich- — a “don’t miss” date.) Under the saved the Volpe administration’s skin screamy. Looking lovely and acting ard Strauss’ iconic “Four Last Songs” nuanced baton of Rossen Milanov, in 2001’s “Doktor Faust,” but was with warm conviction seemed enough under the auspices of the Astral Philly-based Symphony in C gave asked back only briefly. European to an audience increasingly urged to Foundation, which promotes and aids good support; concertmistress Robyn companies seem to know his worth; hear with its eyes. Wendy White (Erda) developing classical artists. Meade, Bollinger aced the soaring lines of surely after the warm audience recep- was no disgrace; also no contralto. who is still an AVA student, displayed “Beim Schlafengehen.” tion here he’ll return. His fine perfor- Happily, James Morris regained a truly lovely sound, beautifully pro- mance literally dwarfed the debuting impressive form for perhaps his final duced. Some details of pronuncia- David Shengold ([email protected]) Siegfried, Christian Franz — not the “Ring” broadcast; even sporting that tion and breath placement might be writes about opera for many venues.

᭤ WINNING TURNS, from p.24 Calleja performed Nemorino as a naive a man clearly unworthy of her. Some of lion against the corrupt society he inhab- yet exuberant teddy bear with a heart Damrau’s business in the last act began its. Native Italian diction and insight into forte with the occasional hint of croon. bigger than his brain that ultimately took to seem contrived and busy, but clearly the text combined with securely pro- His acting was high on energy but low on him where he needed to be. this was a major artist at work, and she duced medium-sized tone helped Fron- individual character development. Nicole Cabell, the second cast Adina, held the audience rapt to her every utter- tali create a moving portrait of the jester. Simone Alaimo as Dr. Dulcamara and has a velvety timbre but the tone seemed ance and gesture. Conductor Ricardo Frizza had some Franco Vassallo as Belcore had solid strangely unsubstantial until it opened Roberto Frontali as Rigoletto grew on odd ideas about tempos, but worked well professionalism and some idiomatic flair, up in her final aria. Vassallo and Alaimo me as the evening progressed. Not an with his soloists and musicians. Thanks but seemed to be working in a vacuum. now seemed part of a team and showed imposing man or a true dramatic bari- to a distinctive and involved trio of leads, That left Gheorghiu to decide that the real vivacity and comic brio. By the tone, his anti-heroic sound and presence this “Rigoletto” proved a revival with a title of the opera was really “I Capricci end of the evening, the entire audience revealed an underdog in a doomed rebel- strong dramatic and musical pulse. d’Adina” and take center stage — and seemed to be feeling the effects of Dul- the final star bow. Keeping the energy camara’s love potion and gave Calleja a level high, the Rumanian diva poured roaring ovation as he took the final star BIG FUN! SMALL BUCKS! on the high spirits, high notes, and bow. Sun. $3.50 Screwdrivers & our famous Bloody Mary’s, $2.50 Miller Lite Drafts & Bud Bottles feminine wiles. The middle voice is more Neighborhood smoke than fire these days, but one had alleja’s debut role at the Met in Fusion! Mon. $4 Mojito’s all flavors Tues. $2 Margarita’s to admire her determination to give the 2006 was as the Duke in “Rigo- CHEAP-EEZ COCKTAILS (except Fri. & Sat.) - Coors & Pabst Cans $3, audience full value while looking past the letto,” and he returned to the Rootbeer Floats $3, Sloe Gin Fizz $2, Tom Collins $3, C “One of the 63 best bars rather self-regarding manner and lack of role this April in an interesting second in NYC” — Time Out, 2009 Whiskey Sours $3, Rum Lime Ricky $3 real engagement with her colleagues. cast. He showed that though a cad, the 281 W 12th St @ 4th St. NYC 212-243-9041 Showing the effects of a disrupted Duke is an aristocrat; the elegance and rehearsal period, Maurizio Benini insti- tenderness of his vocal manner is the tuted fast and rigid tempos, hoping that veil for his sins. Revealing herself once everyone would fall into line, which made againthe real “singing actress,” Diana for an oddly mechanical yet imprecise Damrau as Gilda integrated a perfectly performance. controlled, technically secure voice into gaycity As Villazon’s laryngitis persisted, two an untraditional interpretation. All of other tenors, the elfin Barry Banks and her vocal effects were used to create native New Yorker Dmitri Pittas, took specific emotional reactions working over his remaining performances. The off of the music rather than compet- news.com young Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja was ing with it for attention. Eschewing always scheduled for the last show on the usual passive lamb to the slaugh- “A THRILLING DAZZLER!” April 22, and this proved to be the best of ter approach, Damrau’s Gilda was a - Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE Client: File Page: AE: the run. A tall husky man with a broad headstrong teenager clearly chafing Job #: open face and warmly engaging person- at her seclusion and the secrecy that EVERY ality, Calleja’s voice is still developing yet surrounded her home. Her initial duet Movie: already a thing of complex and distinc- with Rigoletto showed her trying to LITTLE STEP Last Rev: Date/Time: tive beauty. The sound is large yet nar- pry information from him and reacting Publication: rowly focused, with a slightly reedy vibra- with frustration and anger when she THE JOURNEY OF ‘A CHORUS LINE’ to in the middle that gives the sound a failed to discover her father’s secrets. Date To Run: PRODUCED & DIRECTED BY JAMES D. STERN & ADAM DEL DEO plaintive urgency. The timbre is honeyed The intricacies of “Caro Nome” were EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JOHN BREGLIO Type: Specs: Line Screen: and the top notes in recent years have attuned to the hormonal rush of a FOR GROUP SALES, CONTACT: WWW.SONYCLASSICS.COM Size [s]: taken on a more focused golden ring. young girl’s first romantic experience, [email protected] But Calleja’s most treasurable quality is the high staccati were excited giggles, LINCOLN PLAZA CINEMAS LAST DAY THU. 5/14: STARTS FRI. 5/15: LAST DAY THU. 5/14: BROADWAY BETWEEN CLEARVIEW CINEMAS QUAD CINEMAS CITY CINEMAS that he treats the music lovingly, often and the downward runs were dreamy 62ND & 63RD STREET CHELSEA CINEMAS 13TH STREET BETWEEN 5TH ANGELIKA FILM CENTER FOR INFO & ADVANCE TICKETS, 23RD STREET BETWEEN & 6TH AVENUE 255-8800 CORNER OF HOUSTON beginning and finishing his phrases with sighs. The conception did become less CALL 212-757-2280 OR VISIT 7TH & 8TH AVENUE ADVANCE TICKET SALES & MERCER STREET a caressing mezza voce. Also showing convincing as this obviously smart and WWW.LINCOLNPLAZACINEMA.COM 777-FILM #597 777-FILM #636 1-800-FANDANGO #2707 strong stage presence and acting ability, willful young girl sacrifices her life to save VIEW THE TRAILER AT WWW.EVERYLITTLESTEPFILM.COM

Made in QuarkXPress 4.11 A 26 14 – 27 MAY 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM ■ IN THE NOH Song and Dance Man 14 DAYS Leslie as Lena, Ebersole’s garage band fantasy, d-ivine Duvivier 14 NIGHTS BY DAVID NOH met doing “A Chorus Line” in St. ished a run in Los Angeles. She ᭤ MAY 22, from p.24 Louis — I was Paul and he was was at the AMAS Musical The- ou won’t see a more daz- Bobby. We’re an old married atre Gala on March 30 to deliv- nafags. At 2 a.m., the dancers will wash zling or beautifully heart- couple now, but I never thought I er an honorary award to “my off their sins in the showers. Admission Y felt show — defining the could be with an actor. I was the sister,” Dionne Warwick. The is $15, with $2 drinks from 10 to 11 p.m. very meaning of “show business” least equipped person to main- evening was a gorgeous illus- 50 W. 17th St. — than Jon Peterson’s “Song tain a relationship in the theater. tration of “Black Don’t Crack,” ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ and Dance Man” at the Triad But he’s very stable and what we as these two ageless wonders Theater (May 18, 20; triadnyc. do has nothing to do with us— shared the stage with Tony win- com). In it, he pays virtuosic tri- we just have this common prob- ner Vivian Reed, who brought ple-threat tribute to his inspira- lem.” down the house with “God Bless SAT.MAY.23 tions — George M. Cohan, Fred It’s a downright crime that, as the Child,” blazingly delivered (“I AT THE BEACH Astaire, Gene Kelly, Bobby Dar- Peterson said, “I never work. Tara don’t need no mic!”). Warwick Cherry Boxers & rin, and Anthony Newley. With Rubin is the casting director who gave one of the funniest accep- Briefs his brilliant, graceful tapping, he does all the Broadway shows. For tance speeches ever heard, as Daniel Nardicio, the man who brought transforms the tiny stage into a a while, she would have me in for she confessed initial ignorance Fire Island the original underwear party Hollywood sound studio and Demon triple threat Jon Peterson, currently everything and kind of fucked of AMAS, saying she is more a six years ago, is back with a summer full vocally encompasses everything providing the best evening of entertainment me around a little. She’d call me music than theater person — of shenanigans. Tonight he hosts a Box- from the dulcet, husky tones of in town at the Triad. in, and then say, ‘Why are you and then described how difficult ers & Briefs Summer Kick-Off at the Ice Kelly (totally recreating “Singin’ here?’ So then I refused to go in it was for her to get any further Palace in Cherry Grove, importing in the Rain”) to Newley’s trade- Clark (“lovely, and I thought bet- for her shows anymore and she info, like when and where the some of New York City’s hottest dancers, mark nasal machine-gun vibra- ter than Julie Andrews”), a musi- got pissed off, and now that’s it. event was being held, so that including Shay, Ricky, and Matt Camp. If to. And when he sings Irving cal version of “Mutiny on the So, basically, I can’t do Broad- she made it there just about in you’re in the Pines, join the Meat Rack Berlin’s “It Only Happens When Bounty” (entitled — you guessed way now because of her. Write time for her award. Parade that will leave the Pavilion I Dance with You,” you wonder it — “Mutiny!”), his long-dreamt that — I don’t care.” This kind of Uggams later described at 10:30 p.m. Admission is $5 all night. if Astaire really did it any better. of role in “Cats,” and musical casting fascism has resulted in “Stormy Weather” to me: Tony ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ It’s a complete education in per- videos with Sarah Brightman audiences having to watch, so nominee “Martin Pakledinaz gave formance disciplines, as well as a (“She and Andrew Lloyd Webber often, the same groan-inducing us the most incredible costumes. total bewitchment. wouldn’t even look at us danc- tired faces doing the same tired I just love him. We were all so Darrin, who tragically died ers”) and Duran Duran (“John things in role after role, when beautifully dressed. I’ve known SUN.MAY.24 young of rheumatic heart dis- Taylor was the nicest, and even there’s a city full of ignored or Lena forever. In fact, I’m a Delta COMEDY ease at age 36, must have a par- remembered me years later”). untried real fresh talent out sorority girl and she pinned me, A Memorable, ticular relevance for 47-year-old Here, he understudied the there who could deliver the so there’s quite a few connec- Memorial B-Day Peterson, who himself was born role of the Emcee in “Cabaret,” magic so often lacking on stage. tions. This is a show about loving “The Electro Shock Therapy Com- with a hole in his heart. He told with Norbert Butz (“I had a big Here’s hoping that Peterson gets a woman who opened so many edy Hour,” tonight celebrating host Brad me, “The doctors opened me up crush on him — there’s noth- the opportunities to shine that doors and did so many things Loekle’s gay birthday, Keith Price (Sirius XM and I’m about 70 percent normal ing he can’t do”) and got to go on he so eminently deserves; by people are not even aware of, Radio), Jessimae (Brad’s “favorite thing” now, but they don’t really know quite a bit. Teri Hatcher opened the way, his dream role is “The and this musical just blows peo- winner from 2008), Yamaneika (NBC’s much more about it than what the show in Los Angeles: “Very Roar of the Greasepaint”: “But ple away because that side of her “Stand Up for Diversity”); and Michelle they tell me. They say I might sweet and not really a singer, but the book is so bad, although the they never knew. She’s a com- Buteau (“Last Comic Standing” on Comedy have until 50 and I’m getting for those scenes when she fell music’s fantastic!” plex, beautiful lady who’s been Central). Therapy, 348 W. 52nd St., 10 there, but I feel pretty good. It apart, I think she had the edge through a lot in her personal as p.m. No cover charge; $6 cosmos all night. comes in and out.” on all the other Sally Bowleses. nother performer I’m well as theatrical life. This new ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ Given the high stress level of The press tore her apart – I think longing to see more of generation, and even her own, performing, not to mention the there was some kind of personal A is Leslie Uggams, espe- are not even aware of the great intense heat-amplified yoga he vendetta. She was very upset.” cially in her Lena Horne show, civil rights things she did. And, is a practitioner of, one is lost in He also understudied John Sta- “Stormy Weather,” which fin- of course, you can’t beat the MON.MAY.25 admiration for his pure stamina. mos: “God! He was very nice, music — she sang the best songs PERFORMANCE “The answer is I rest a few hours but I couldn’t be the one to say, and they’re all here. It’s been an Hedda Sheridan and then get up and do some- ‘Did you hear that?’ because it incredible experience, and in Pas- Square thing, even after an operation,” sounded like sour grapes and adena, people went crazy. Tonight’s edition of “Broadway he said. “It’s the only way to live I was just happy to have a job. “Lena is 91 now and with Speaks OUT” features Ano Okera, — just get up! The yoga purges But when I’d have to go on with her family — she doesn’t really Frankie James Grande, and drag super- you of all the toxins and is like a Molly Ringwald, and she was so socialize. Her daughter, Gail, star Hedda Lettuce in a benefit perfor- near-death experience, but two distant with me. After a while, knows I’m playing her, so I’m mance for the Ali Forney Center, which hours after class you feel amaz- she said to one of the girls, ‘He’s sure she’s well aware of it. We’re houses and provides social and support ing. Seven weeks after my open quite good, isn’t he?,’ reluctantly, hoping to bring it here in 2010, services to homeless LGBT youth. The heart surgery, I was back in but she would never speak to but we have to find a theater. Duplex, 61 Christopher St. at Sheri- class.” me. Everyone — when they left Right now, everything is hop- dan Sq., 9:30 p.m. There’s a $10 cover, Peterson has performed since the show — would write on the ping, which is good, considering plus a two-drink minimum. he was a child at London’s Royal wall of the wardrobe, so I wrote, this economy.” ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ Ballet School (“Imagine being bul- ‘Goodbye to everybody, except Asked her secret for remain- lied for being a good dancer, but Molly Ringwald.’” ing so ageless, she laughed, “It’s Sneak Preview at ballet school?”) and is a vet- Peterson has a partner of KEVIN BERNE my beautiful daughter here with Scott Nevins’ “Curtain Call” wel- eran of innumerable shows on seven years, actor John Salva- Leslie Uggams recently dazzled Los Angeles me and my beautiful husband. comes Mel & El, whose “Show & Tell” two continents, including “The tore: “He’s playing Bob Crewe in as Lena Horne in “Stormy Weather,” which is Sound of Music” with Petula “Jersey Boys” in Vegas now. We trying to come into New York. ᭤ IN THE NOH, continued on p.27 ᭤ MAY 25, continued on p.29 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 27

᭤ IN THE NOH, from p.26

I’m happily married and they keep me grounded!”

hristine Ebersole made her long- cherished fantasy of performing C garage band cover songs come true at Birdland on May 4. She began nice and easy with “Skylark” and “The Nearness of You”, and then segued into “Woodstock,” a touching rendition of the Dixie Chicks’ “Two Days Past,” and “The End of the World,” which, always bless- edly political, she dedicated to Ben Ber- nanke and the Federal Reserve. This amazing all-purpose diva, who can sing Vivien Leigh in Julien Duvivier’s beautiful but strangely anything from jazz stylings to the sopra- unsatisfying “Anna Karenina,” being shown at Museum no lyricism of “Camelot,” showed even of Modern Art. more vocal shadings on hard rockers and gospel, and did an exquisite job on bar populated by drag queens (“Females Linda Ronstadt’s “Prisoner in Disguise.” are not the only hustlers here,” hero Jean Gabin is warned.) ulien Duvivier (1896-1967) was MOMA is showing his big interna- indisputably one of the great- tional successes like “Un Carnet de Bal” J est French film directors, and the and “Pepe le Moko,” perhaps the great- Museum of Modern Art is holding a rare est 1930s romantic melodrama of them major retrospective of him (through May all, as well as rarities anyone would be a 25; moma.org), featuring many works fool to miss. Duvivier came to Hollywood unseen in this country. Despite his emi- in 1937 and made MGM’s lavishly kitsch nence, with scores of classic films to his “The Great Waltz,” with its star Miliza Kor- credit in the 1950s, the upstart auteur jus (of the steam kettle coloratura, who critics-soon-to-become-New Wave direc- would inspire James McCourt’s opera tors of the magazine Cahiers du Cin- novel, “Mawrdew Czgowchwz”) and a ema, like Francois Truffaut, denigrated campy sequence of Johann Strauss com- Duvivier as a mere craftsman. The rap posing “Tales of the Vienna Woods,” lit- on him was that he never put his indi- erally while riding through said woods. Gay, vidual stamp on films, the way Hitch- You can also catch his lavish, strangely cock or John Ford did, with their repeti- unsatisfying “Anna Karenina,” starring Str8, tive themes, cameo appearances, and a supposedly perfectly cast but wan, Bi, stock companies of actors. Pure merde! Cecil Beaton-gowned Vivien Leigh, who Curious? Duvivier, like William Wyler — another doesn’t emerge half as sympathetic as disfavored director — was non-narcissis- Ralph Richardson’s brilliant Karenin. tically content to tackle every genre and Kieron Moore is pretty but extremely serve the material in the best, fullest way lightweight as her lover, Vronsky, and, he could, which was often brilliant. A without a proper strong love object to viewing of “La tete d’un home” (1933), for sacrifice everything for, Anna emerges example, proved that, not only could he as the “deeply mediocre woman” gay make a gripping, emotionally rich crime critic James Agate once described her thriller, which would influence every film as. Co-curator Lenny Borger introduces noir to follow, but his experimentation the films with deep perception, and told with early sound techniques, as well as me these films are rarely shown in France, innovative camerawork and cutting, pre- particularly at the national Cinema- saged any so-called revolutionary efforts theque, which still clings to the old critical by the likes of Truffaut or Godard a gen- disdain for Duvivier. This history-negating eration later. stupidity extends as well to other vintage Although Duvivier was by all accounts directors, like Jacques Feyder, who you heterosexual, a certain queer sensibility will never see revived there. permeates many of his films, particularly “La Bandera” (1935), which has a campy Contact David Noh at Inthenoh@aol. gay American Foreign Legionnaire, as well com and check out his new blog at http:// as a startling scene set in a Barcelona nohway.wordpress.com/.

᭤ ROCKY ROADS, from p.19 note performance of a craven opportun- ist. And Schreiber is bland and sexless, Hampered by the director, the perfor- with zero chemistry between him and /ÀÞʈÌÊÀiiÊUÊ >Ê˜œÜ mances are uniformly insufferable. The Gugino. amazing talents of Brian Dennehy as I have no doubt that many will think Ephraim, Carla Gugino as Abbie, and, that this is “important” theater, and 646-731-6658 especially, Pablo Schreiber as Eben are reaction to this production has diverged completely wasted. Dennehy is out of wildly. I would have been just as happy control, a sputtering tyrant with no dis- to see that elevated house fall on all of cernible motivation. Gugino gives a one- them so I could go home sooner. 1800GayLive.com MC 7003 Ent only 18+ *Limited Free Trial Photography by Kevin E. McPherson 28 14 – 27 MAY 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

᭤ GOOCH, from p.1 FLANNERY: was forestalled after he learned that her A LIFE OF FLANNERY O’CONNOR friend, Sally Fitzgerald, was working on sui generis Flannery O’Connor (1925- By Brad Gooch a memoir of the writer; however, Fitzger- 1964) was turning out stories and nov- Little, Brown ald died in 2000 at 83, without complet- els set in similar territory remarkable for $30; 464 pages ing the manuscript, and three years later, their combination of satire, humanity, Gooch took up the gauntlet. His extensive and apocalyptic fierceness. Her osten- research included travels to O’Connor’s sibly simple, often arcane stories rever- charged from the military for being a les- hometown and numerous archives, and berate with profound implications, such bian and was the recipient of a weekly interviews with surviving friends and as the Christian concept of faith, free will, letter from O’Connor for more than a relations. Gooch also gives readers a fine and redemptive grace through ordeal. decade; the reclusive Hester was given account of O’Connor’s extracurricular O’Connor once wrote, “Grace changes us the pseudonym “A.,” and her identity activities during her stay at the famous and change is painful.” was not known until after she killed her- artists’ colony, Yaddo, located near Sara- Raised a Roman Catholic in the seg- self in 1998. A large cache of these letters toga Springs, where writers such as Tru- regationist Protestant Bible Belt, where held in Emory University archives were man Capote, Patricia Highsmith, and Catholics and Jews were looked on with only made available to scholars in 2007. Carson McCullers resided. “Katherine suspicion, O’Connor, with her predilec- Gooch cites “the weird literary battle for Ann Porter shared a chicken dinner with tion for exotic fowl, knew what it was to Betty’s soul” after Hester became a fan of her fellow guest Eudora Welty — and had be a duck out of water. “Catholics were British existentialist writer Iris Murdoch, the dubious pleasure of finding Carson explicitly banned, along with rum, law- whom O’Connor blamed for leading her McCullers stretched across her doorway yers, and blacks under the Georgia Trust LITTLE, BROWN friend away from the Catholic faith, and in the main mansion, professing undy- in 1733,” Gooch write. Yet, in addition to With “Flannery,” gay writer Brad Gooch realizes a 20-year with whom Hester corresponded until her ing love, as she simply stepped over her the local fauna, O’Connor was fascinated literary wish. suicide. admirer on the way to dinner.” the pixilated rednecks and unholy Bible- A former runway model, Gooch is the Although an ardent fan, Gooch writes thumping grifters who inhabit her work. reviews that call ‘A Good Man’ brutal and author of “City Poet: The Life and Times honestly and lucidly, without excessively The cosmic humor and nihilistic violence sarcastic… The stories are hard but they of Frank O’Hara,” short stories (“Jail- gilding his iconic peacock; he presents the of her first novel, “Wise Blood,” left many are hard because there is nothing harder bait”), two novels, “Scary Kisses” and “The cantankerous O’Connor and her coevals reviewers miffed, and scandalized the or less sentimental than Christian real- Golden Age of Promiscuity,” as well as the evenhandedly, while supplying a fine Southern ladies who lunched, who con- ism... When I see these stories described inspirational guides for gay men, “Finding running commentary on the significant sidered Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with as horror stories I am always amused the Boyfriend Within,” “Dating the Greek events and influences that helped shape the Wind” the ne plus ultra of respectable because the reviewer always has hold of Gods,” and “Godtalk: Travels in Spiritual her work. He also demonstrates just Dixie fiction. When critics often highlight- the wrong horror.” America.” He is also a professor of Eng- how much luck and experience — either ed the brutality in her work, such as that O’Conner’s deep religiosity was not doc- lish at William Paterson University in New through editors, colleagues, or seren- perpetrated by The Misfit in “A Good Man trinaire or moralistic, as is demonstrated Jersey, and lives in New York City. dipitous news stories — can come to the Is Hard To Find,” O’ Connor unapolo- by her loyalty to her fan and best friend, His interest in writing an O’Connor bio getically countered: “I am tired of reading Betty Hester, who was dishonorably dis- began more than 20 years ago, when it ᭤ GOOCH, continued on p.29

MAY 15-17 2009 - ROSELAND BALLROOM 239 W. 52ND ST. NY, NY 10009

ANY ONE DAY THREE DAY ENTRY $18 UNLIMITED ACCESS $18

NYC TATTOO LIVE STAGE CONVENTION SHOWS INC. LTD INTERNATIONAL PO BOX 20500 ARTISTS NY, NY 10009 VENDORS & PIERCERS Sponsors: The Phoenix, Provincetown Banner, HBO, Bacardi, Crown & Anchor, Art House, Mass. Cultural Council, Visitors Service Bureau PHONE CONTACT: 212-982-7700 FOR MORE INFO GO TO WWW.NYCTATTOOCONVENTION.COM ,'/%+/.%=@CD■NNN%GKFNE=@CD= WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 29

᭤ GOOCH, from p.28 ME: As a devout Catholic book? Welty and Katherine Anne Porter; writer, I guess you can say, she BG: I had access to the car- they had a style that was closer 14 DAYS aid of true genius. For instance, entered the cathedral by the side toons, but the estate didn’t give to her; especially Welty, where Gooch explains how an editor of door. Maybe her proselytizing is permission to reprint them. she could deal with her mother the Kenyon Review balked at the most obvious in “ The Displaced and wore dresses and was proper “racist ring” of O’Connor’s title for Person,” in which the priest ME: Are they good? looking. With Truman, and Car- 14 NIGHTS the story “The Artificial Nigger”: observes the peacock and mur- BG: Well, the concepts are very son and Tennessee, there was ᭤ MAY 25, from p.26 “But O’Connor viewed the story’s murs: “The Transfiguration.” It much O’Connor. I mean they’re their flamboyant lifestyle that put diminutive plaster-of-Paris statue has all the subtly of a blackjack. not the most finessed drawings, her off. Also, Carson was mean is playing a limited engagement at Ars — provoking the healing of a rift BG: Right. But she doesn’t do like Charles Adams, but they are about O’Connor and claimed Nova (511 W. 54th St., arsnovanyc. between uncle and nephew—as it much in the sense that there very sharp satires. I mean, she that she ripped her off. So literary com) through May 30. Splash, 40 W. a textbook Christ symbol, sug- are only two walk-ons by Catholic basically figured it out by becom- competition came into it, too. So, 17th St., 11:30 p.m. Admission is free gesting ‘the redemptive quality of priests in all her work. ing a writer. She sent a lot of them I think those two were a little too until 10 p.m., $5 after. You must be 21. the Negro’s suffering for us all’… to The New Yorker, which has the close for comfort. ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ [S]he insisted that ‘the story as a ME: Where do you find the dubious distinction of rejecting whole is much more damaging to saving grace in the horrific story them, along with her stories; The ME: O’Connor’s relationship white folk’s sensibilities than to “A Good Man Is Hard To Find.” New Yorker even sent back “Good with Bette Hester might prove black’. Her jarring title stuck.” It’s almost like a direct confronta- Country People.” that she was open-minded about WED.MAY.27 Gooch spoke recently with Gay tion with Satan. homosexuality. POETRY City News about his interest in BG: Well, O’Connor’s expla- ME: They rejected a lot of BG: Yes. Betty Hester and The Bard of O’Connor and putting the biogra- nation, and what you get in one James Purdy’s work, too. I think Maryat Lee, who were a lesbian Brooklyn phy together. reading of it, is that the grand- he was influenced by O’Connor and a bisexual, became very close The Walt Whitman Project celebrates mother gets rattled enough to be as well. friends. Their stories were very the great American poet’s 190th birth- Michael Ehrhardt: Did you reduced in extremis to her basic BG: Yes, I love James Purdy. interesting to me, because you day with the Sixth Annual Walt Whit- have access to Sally Fitzgerald’s humanity, to where she reaches In fact, she mentions him a few get a window into lesbian life in man Birthday Bash with scholars, material when you began your out and sees The Misfit as one times in her letters. the ’50s, and both those women speakers, and performers, including book? of her own children. So, after he came on to Flannery. I don’t think Jonathan Ned Katz, author of the land- Brad Gooch: Actually, no, I kills her, The Misfit says, “She ME: She died shortly after she was comfortable with it, but mark “Gay American History,” who dis- didn’t. Her papers were just sold would have been a good woman “Malcolm” was published. she certainly wasn’t shocked. She cusses Whitman’s “Calamus” poems to Emory University. Also, when if she had somebody to shoot her BG: I don’t know if she called it was hardly the Emily Dickenson that celebrate the love of men for men; I started, the situation was still every minute of her life.” in on “Malcolm.” I know, she was of Milledgeville. When Hester con- Michael Roberstson, author of “Wor- unclear whether a biography was initially interested in him, but fided that she had been dishonor- shipping Walt: The Whitman Disciples,” really coming out. And then it was ME: Damn, but that’s cold! she soon dismissed him as too ably discharged from the military a Princeton University Press book that a touchy subject for Fitzgerald’s BG: But that’s pure O’Connor. much of an arbitrary grotesque. for lesbian activity, O’Connor’s discusses a fellowship of followers in children, who were considering It’s hysterically funny and brutal- When you get the grotesque with- unconditional love and support England dating back 150 years; Walter editing it themselves, so that was ly cold and scary. But her theolo- out the religious aspect, then she were surprising. She had a lot of Raubicheck, chair of Pace University’s all off into its own sequestered gy is very interesting. You first see would become suspicious. That’s gay people around her, and an English Department, who reads Whit- area. it when her father died of lupus what she didn’t like about Car- extraordinary number of single man’s works that influenced the Beat when she was 15, and she wrote son McCullers.. But, I love James relatives. There were two uncles poets; Cynthia Shor, executive direc- ME: O’Connor is a true writer’s in her journal — with remarkable Purdy. He also wrote a great living in a home for single men; I tor of the Walt Whitman Birthplace writer, and there are certainly maturity for a teen-ager — basi- blurb for my first book “Jailbait,” mean, what would they think of Association, who discusses the still- enough reasons why you’d be cally about God’s grace being like and he sent me a nice letter. that today? It was a special world standing Long Island house in which interested in writing about her a bullet in the side. She made this in the South back then. Whitman was born; Judith Jarosz and life, but as the author of “Godtalk: connection early on between vio- ME: Where do you suppose David Fuller, actors from Theater Ten Travels in Spiritual America,” lence and grace. Also, although O’Connor’s dislike of Truman ME: Is it true that Flannery Ten, who read Whitman’s prose about were you additionally attracted to it may be theologically edgy, is Capote, Carson McCullers, and and Betty Hester’s relationship Abraham Lincoln; soprano Reyna Car- her by her unique religiosity? that the Devil can be an agent of Tennessee Williams rose from? pretty much broke up over Hester guill, who sings “When Lilacs Last In BG: Yeah, I liked the combi- grace. It’s a very medieval con- Was it a form of homophobia? transferring her allegiance to Iris The Dooryard Bloom’d” with music by nation. She was an influence cept, and an extreme point of BG: It wasn’t homophobia Murdoch? Jack Perla; and composer Paul Vasile, when I was writing stories in the view of course. per se. One time, I thought I’d BG: Yes. One interpretation of who performs the world premiere ’70s. And definitely the combina- write an essay called “Flan- Hester killing herself in the late of his organ solo inspired by a Whit- tion of the cinematic directness ME: Do you think much of nery O’Connor’s Gay Double,” ’90s was that due to Iris Mur- man poem. Park Avenue Christian where you often felt between the O’Connor’s work was influenced inspired by the scene in her “The doch’s advancing Alzheimer’s Church, 1010 Park Ave. at 85th St., lines this almost medieval spiri- by a sense of her own mortality, Violent Bear It Away,” where this disease, she couldn’t correspond 7 p.m. Admission is free, but reserve a tual quest. And when I read the and the lupus that haunted and sort of pederast character rapes any more. seat at 212-288-3246, ext. 300. letters, I discovered the extent ultimately killed her at only 39? the young boy, which is then his ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ of this, the sort of Catholic stuff BG: Oh, yes. There’s a com- instrument of grace. Of course, at ME: One of my favorite going on in the work — then ment I have by Sally Fitzgerald that point you can say, ”Oh, Miss O’Connor stories is “The Artifi- BOOKS I became very intrigued. And that I got from a transcript of an O”Connor!” But I think when you cial Nigger,” which is perhaps her Sex, Gore & Dark there’s a Catholic publisher, interview with her, where she get down to it, I don’t think it was most sentimental, in the most Humor Orbus, who put out a book spe- says that after she found out homophobia as much as sexu- positive sense. Which are your Internationally acclaimed gay writer cifically about the spiritual writ- about her disease, O’Connor ality. Because, even D. H. Law- favorites? Dennis Cooper makes a rare appearance ings of Flannery O’Connor, which went back to Georgia and felt that rence’s “Lady Chatterly’s Lover” BG: My favorite’s “Revela- to talk about his new short story collec- includes a lot of letters. Actually, she herself was looking down the repelled her. Whenever work that tion”; it was printed in the last tion, “Ugly Man,” which plumbs veins there’s something of a movement barrel of a gun. And then, during was overtly sexual in that way, year of her life and then it got the of dark humor amid the sex and gore afoot to emphasize that part of those first six months back home she was uncomfortable about O’Henry Award just before she his fans have come to expect. Cooper her writing more than the other. she wrote, “A Good Man…,” “The it; which is classic Jansenist died. You really see all the clas- is interviewed by Tony O’Neill, author And, I think it’s rare to find some- River,” and “The Life You Save Irish Catholic in that way. Also, sic elements of her work in that of “Down and Out on Murder Mile” and one who was religious to the May Be Your Own.” it wasn’t that those writers were one story. It’s like Dante meets a former band member with the Brian extent that she was and who can gay that she was snarky about “Tobacco Road.” There’s redemp- Jones Massacre. The Bryant Park successfully pull off fiction, as ME: I was surprised to read them, and about many of her fel- tion and grace at the end. Reading Room, 42nd St. side under propagandist, that people actu- that O’Connor was such a tal- low Southern writers, but it was ally want to read. ented cartoonist. How come there partly the work and partly the life- Contact Michael Ehrhardt at ᭤ MAY 27, continued on p.30 aren’t any samples of them in the style. She was fine about Eudora [email protected]. 30 14 – 27 MAY 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM

᭤ MARRIAGE, from p.5 but if the signatures have been statement Vermont’s Repub- versions in New Hampshire collected and certified by that lican governor, Jim Douglas, is that the Senate approach fornia and Jim Douglas of Ver- date, its implementation will be made last month prior to veto- explicitly distinguishes between 14 DAYS mont vetoed similar measures, delayed pending a referendum ing marriage equality legisla- civil and religious marriage, a though Douglas’ action was in November. Gay rights legis- tion (that veto overruled by the component of the legislation overridden. Democratic Gover- lation has several times been Legislature), but Lynch has not that the House had originally 14 NIGHTS nors David Paterson of New York forced onto the ballot in Maine. ruled out signing the bill. Since not included. If New Hampshire and Jon Corzine of New Jersey Maine becomes the fifth state then, the governor’s office has enacts a marriage equality law, ᭤ MAY 27, from p.29 have pledged to sign marriage with marriage equality on the issued only a statement from it would become the sixth state equality measures if and when books, not counting Califor- press secretary Colin Manning with marriage equality, leaving the trees, 12:30-1:45 p.m. The rain approved by their Legislatures, nia, where the right to marry saying the governor “will be Rhode Island as the only New venue is the Library of the General Soci- and Massachusetts’ Democratic was taken away from same-sex reviewing the legislation care- England holdout. Action is still ety of Mechanics and Tradesmen, 20 W. governor, Deval Patrick, was couples by Proposition 8 less fully.” possible this year in both New 44th St. Free. instrumental in helping block a than six months after a State Lynch has faced intense York, which already recognizes ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ referendum aiming to turn back Supreme Court victory there. pressure from both proponents legal out-of-state marriages by the 2003 court victory there. Three of the other four — Mas- and opponents of the marriage same-sex coupes, and New Jer- FILM In Iowa, Democratic Governor sachusetts, Connecticut, and bill as he considers his options sey. This Was Your Chet Culver, though not a mar- Vermont — are in New England, — which likely means he would In Washington, DC, the City Father’s Arizona riage equality supporter, oppos- and the other is Iowa. like to get the issue off the table, Council, by a vote of 12-1, “Lonesome Cowboys”(1967–68), es any effort to put the recent approved a law, supported by directed by Andy Warhol with cinema- court victory there before the Mayor Adrian Fenty, an Afri- tography by Paul Morrissey, is a Western voters. Marion Barry warned, can-American Democrat, rec- comedy/drama shot on location in Arizona, The House vote on May 5 ognizing legal same-sex mar- about a small town with a transvestite came shortly after the defeat “All hell is going to break loose. riages from other jurisdictions, sheriff, a rich lady rancher named Ramona of an amendment that would but the one dissenter on the Alvarez, her male nurse who expertly danc- have forced the question onto a The black community is just Council, former Mayor Marion es the twist, and five lonesome cowboys voter referendum in November. adamant against this.” Barry, warned, “All hell is going who fixate on their hair, practice ballet on The amendment was defeated to break loose. We may have a a hitching post, engage in amorous activi- 85-62. The Bangor Daily News civil war. The black community ties, and discuss the loneliness that makes described the House’s three- In New Hampshire, the House particularly as he continues to is just adamant against this.” them “love themselves more than any- hour debate as “emotional,” but Judiciary Committee on May 5 struggle with a difficult budget Barry’s fiery rhetoric led David one else.” Joe Dallesandro and Viva star. Representative James Martin, approved amendments to the process. New Hampshire Free- Catania, an out gay Indepen- Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St. an out gay Orono Democrat, marriage equality bill that the dom to Marry put volunteers dent councilman, to charge May 27-29, 1:30 p.m. Admission is $10; said, “I’m also glad we’ve moved State Senate the previous week on the streets in cities across that his words were “bigoted,” $8 for seniors; $6 for students. beyond the contentious debate had added to the legislation the state the weekend before according to the Washington ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ over the issue that’s taken place the House originally passed in the final legislative approval Post. That in turn led a group over the past 25 years. It was March. The House approved the to urge voters to contact the of African-American clergymen ADVOCACY a very civil debate today.” Mar- revised bill on May 6. Lynch, governor in support. Mo Bax- to storm out of the Council Party for a Vaccine tin and his partner celebrated the Democratic governor, has ley, executive director of the chambers. In a free evening of entertainment a commitment ceremony nine not stated a definitive view on group, said proponents have The US Congress, in accor- aimed at educating the community about years ago and plan to marry if the bill, but has just five days made up to 300 calls a day to dance with Washington’s Home the push for an HIV vaccine, “Vaccine-O- the law is enacted in Maine. to act on the bill once the sec- Lynch’s office. Baxley charged Rule Charter, now has 30 days Licious 5” features Glammy Award win- The Bangor newspaper retary of state delivers it to him. that out-of-state opponents to review the legislation. House ning drag queen Peppermint, Stella, the reported that while the bill had While that timing is within the are spearheading the drive to Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued queen of the vaccine, Jacqueline Dupree, more Democratic votes than prerogative of the secretary of press Lynch to veto the legisla- a written statement after the Jiggly Caliente and Angelique Ali, the Republican, it passed with state, New Hampshire political tion, saying, “We’re having only Council action saying, “I have “Single Lady” Men, Jerome and Devin, bipartisan support. Noting he observers say the bill may not New Hampshire people call. We long believed that Congress the Divine Ms. Chanel Divine Roberts, would soon celebrate his 53rd go to the governor until he is thought it was a better way.” should not interfere with inter- and Luke Jones. The show is presented wedding anniversary, Represen- prepared to act. One informed Brian Brown, executive direc- nal decisions made by the Dis- by Project Achieve, the New York Blood tative James J. Campbell Jr., a source said that could come as tor of the National Organization trict of Columbia’s elected rep- Center’s vaccine trial effort, as well as Newfield Republican, said, “They early as the end of this week, for Marriage (NOM), a group resentatives — just as the Con- the Columbia University Medical Center, have been the best 53 years of though the secretary of state based in Princeton, New Jersey, gress did not intervene in the the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, my life. I don’t want to stand has until the end of the legisla- that pledges to spend millions State of New York’s recognition and Gay Men of African Descent. Ther- here and say that two men and tive session this summer. in opposition to marriage equal- of valid marriage contracts in apy, 348 W. 52nd St., 8-10 p.m. two women cannot have what When the New Hampshire ity nationwide, called Baxley’s other jurisdictions.” But, Utah ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ I’ve had for the past 53 years Senate passed the marriage charge “absurd,” stating, “New Congressman Jason Chaffetz, with my wife.” But Representa- measure two weeks ago, Lynch Hampshire people are calling us the ranking Republican on a tive Michael Thibodeau, a Win- articulated his long-standing saying, ‘What can we do?’ Resi- House Oversight and Govern- terport Republican, said, “Let’s preference for civil unions, dents of New Hampshire don’t ment Reform subcommittee, THU.MAY.28 be honest. This isn’t about civil which already exist there, over support same-sex marriage. said, “Some things are worth BOOKS rights. It’s about a social agenda outright marriage equality, say- Period. And they aren’t being fighting for, and this is one of Honoring the that tears at the very fabric of ing, “I still believe the funda- listened to by the House and the them. It’s not something I can Greats our society.” mental issue is about providing Senate.” Still, Brown acknowl- let go softly into the night.” Elea- The Lambda Literary Foundation and Opponents of the legislation the same rights and protections edged that NOM’s advertising, nor Holmes, an African-Amer- CLAGS, CUNY’s Center for Lesbian and vowed to collect the signatures to same-sex couples as are which has been generic to date, ican Democrat who is Wash- Gay Studies, present the 21st annual necessary to force any marriage available to heterosexual cou- including the infamous “Gath- ington’s non-voting delegate in Lambda Literary Awards, recognizing equality legislation to go before ples. This was accomplished ering Storm” spot, was pre- Congress, praised the Coun- excellence in LGBT writing. One highlight the voters in a referendum. They through the passage of the civil paring an ad targeting Lynch, cil’s action, and said, “I do not of the evening will be special recogni- would have to gather 55,087 sig- unions law two years ago. To which has since appeared, and believe that a serious attempt to tion for Leslie Feinberg, Andrew Hol- natures, in a state with a popu- achieve further real progress, will work to defeat pro-marriage overturn the Council bill will be laran, Felice Picano, and Edmund White. lation of just over 1.3 million. the federal government would equality legislators in the next made or will be successful.” CLAGS/ CUNY, Fifth Ave. at 34th St., The marriage law takes effect need to take action to recognize election. Catania has pledged to intro- cocktails at 6 p.m.; awards at 7; 90 days after the Legislature New Hampshire civil unions.” The primary difference duce a marriage equality bill in afterparty at 9:30. Tickets are $75; $95 adjourns — probably in June — That message was similar to the between the Senate and House the City Council later this year. after May 15 ᭤at lambdaliterary.org.JUMP, continued on p.30 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 14 – 27 MAY 2009 31 GCN CLASSIFIEDS/NIGHTLIFE DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 5:00PM MAIL 145 SIXTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10013 TEL 646-452-2485 FAX 212.229.2790

APARTMENT RENTALS TRAVEL MOVING AND STORAGE

FRENCH RIVIERA. Charming town- house, authentic village Gorges du OUT ADVENTURES Loup, France, near Nice,Cannes, Grasse. Breathtaking views, 2 bdrm, Gay small group trips 2 bath. $1250/wk. Available year round, worldwide: turn key furnished. 941-363-0925 Europe, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Jersey Shore Summer Rental India, China, Japan, SE Asia, 10 min. from Long Beach Island Sleep 6 Peru, Argentina, Costa Rica and Ouiet meadows road Additional Info/ Mexico. We also have discounted Brochuree 609-713-7033 int’l airfares and Eurailpasses. email: [email protected] ADULT Adventure Travel Co 212-674-2887 124 MacDougal St., West Village TONY Full Body Massage & Much More MOVING AND STORAGE by HOT TOP GUY IDEAL MOVING & STORAGE, INC. Hunk, Masculine & Handsome. The only gay owned & operated 33 yo., 6’1” tall, 190 lbs. mover in New York. Ideal is the Times Square Location - 24/7 community favorite local mover. We are fully licensed & insured, 212-221-6696 leading the industry with a 96% gaycity referral rate. Reliable, dependable & personalized service. Open 24/7. (212) 777-5507 or 718-728-5318. www.idealmoving.com See our display news.com ad under Moving & Storage. BODYWORK HOT BODYWORK Swedish, Deep Tis- ADVERTISING COMPUTER SERVICES sue, sensual nude bodywork. Done by Brazilian masseur. (917) 435-4418. CAREER Computer Problems? www.rentboy.com/fzaneti

Contact the Upper East Side Geek! PETS Community Media, which publishes the award-winning weekly newspapers Gay City News, The Villager, Downtown Express, Chelsea Now, and a My Teacup Yorkie Terrier & English * Fast, affordable computer repair & senior-focused newspaper Thrive NYC and their very popular corresponding websites, Bulldog puppy for adoption which is AKC seeks outstanding and self-confident advertising sales pros. setup! * Virus/Spyware Removal * registered. Interested person should email * Operating System Reinstallation * Rev. Alan Walker through articulate, never give up, persuasive, ready WirelessNetwork Setup * BlackBerry You: [email protected] with a message, smart, road warrior, organized, & iPhone Setup * Web Site Design * energetic, a graduate of an accredited 4-year college or * Email Blast Programming * university (preferred, but), and have previous advertising Your Ad Here or related sales experience (newspaper advertising sales Upper East Side Geek experience is a plus). You should have a general under-standing Phone: 917-838-7124, Your Ad Here of selling display advertising, creating sales proposals, using Email: [email protected] Excel and Word, selling on rate cards, and communicating www.UpperEastSideGeek.com Your Ad Here demographic data research to make your sale. Knowledge of Your Ad Here contact management software is helpful. You: are a team player, enjoy working in a diverse Your Ad Here environment, able to meet and exceed $$ goals, fearless... ready to make tons of cold calls both in person and on the Your Ad Here phone, and prospect everywhere and everything for new GayCityNews.com advertisers. Skilled in getting past the gate keepers and onto Your Ad Here the decision makers. Your composure, oral, and written presentation skills should be excellent. Your Ad Here Salary + commission, vacation/benefits. Please send your resume and tell us why you would be a To place a classified ad call great fit for our company. Your646-452-2485 Ad Here [email protected] 32 14 – 27 MAY 2009 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM