ambush paparazzi

Bartender Wayne & sound man Dan New Lafitte’s manager Jeff & First Lady at The Zoo Revue Coca arrive from Rawhide & Good Bar baron Matt welcomes you evenings Friends to Bourbon & Dumaine with at 700 Club Aletha & Good Friends’ manager Matt slings cocktails for “Changing of Cameron on the hood the Guard” at Lafitte’s

Marty Curtin joins Janice Medlock The Mobile Boys: Gary, Donnie, Neal & at The Friendly Bar Ellis take in The Zoo Revue at Big Daddy’s Marty pops in for Coca & new Lafitte’s manager Jeff Big Daddy’s Zoo Revue cruise in through the front doors of Lafitte’s

Todd, Mikey, bartender Jimmy & bar baron Rick cocktailin’ at Golden Lantern

Rawhide bartender Todd, Good Friends bartender Justin & Rawhide manager SDGM XXXIV Gary & James Joe pop in for the “Changing of the at The Zoo Revue Guard” at Lafitte’s

Rusty LaRoux headlines Big Daddy’s Zoo Revue The Crawl Continues ~ New Orleans Stewart Butler & Ambush’s Toni Pizanie pop in for the Community Center’s Fall Fiesta at Tomatillo’s

Robert, who won the 32" flat screen TV raffle & Lester at Lafitte’s “Changing of the Guard” blowout Ronnie joins Zoo Revue’s Princesse Stephanie at Big Daddy’s Bliss hits the stage for Big Daddy’s Zoo Revue

Tomatillo’s Jerry (right) pulls the winning Fall Fiesta door prize ticket from Center co-chair Crystal at Tomatillo’s

Jonathan, dancer Pepe & Raven Kennedy join Lafitte’s Mark & Zoo Revue’s Regina Adams Derrick, Allen & Joe behind the bar at Robert & Anthony join Fall Fiesta at “Changing of the Guard” at Big Daddy’s Dance Club of the Year Oz Tomatillo’s benefiting the Center

EXPOSE'-6 of 56 • October 21-November 3, 2008 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM GayBatonRouge.BIZ • GayNewOrleans.COM • GayPensacola.COM • GayAmerica.COM • October 21-November 3, 2008 • EXPOSE'-7 of 56 the pink pastor ...from Ex-4 Church of England still maintains an exorcist in each diocese. castle and spell death for anyone who I was sat in the side chapel during commentary sees her. So eerie and disturbing is the the daily mass, Father ______was castle that there is even a support group saying prayers and it was getting dark LGBT Community Leaders occupant of the White House and in for people who have been frightened out outside. We had come to the consecra- Endorse Barack Obama we have a true ally. of their wits while visiting! We had ex- tion when a woman staggered into hroughout the nation, les- Asked to be on the Democratic Plat- plored the castle on an overcast after- church shouting ‘can you help me! Help bian, gay, bisexual and form Drafting Committee and proud to noon feeling very strongly that there me please!’ I got up and moved into the transgender communities serve as Co-Chair of Obama’s LGBT was a brooding presence over the place. body of the church to speak with her so T Steering and Policy Committee, I am are more united than ever behind the We had stupidly parked the car at the that the priest could continue with the election of Barack Obama for President convinced that we will see historic end of the driveway, about a mile walk mass. The woman looked ordinary but of the on November 4. change in the years ahead. through the woods, and stayed until it felt very odd indeed – I could tell there Below are new and original state- Just imagine ... next session, we was getting towards dusk (or dimpsy was something very wrong and began ments delivered by several notable LGBT could pass and President Obama could as we say in Devon). This meant that to prepare my usual ‘how to deal with a leaders from across America and sev- sign into law the Matthew Shepard Hate after getting spooked walking round the psychiatric case’ routine. She said to eral battleground states including Wis- Crimes Act. Next session, we could dungeons where Lady Pomeroy was me in a loud voice – trying to get the consin, New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas, pass and President Obama could sign starved to death by her wicked brother attention of the priest – ‘I’ve been raped Virginia, Missouri, Illinois, Massachu- into law an inclusive Employment Non- we had to walk through the woods on by the antichrist!’ ‘Oh God! Do I need setts and the nation’s capital. Discrimination Act. Next session, Presi- the edge of the ravine. As we left the this?’ I thought, and walked the woman dent Obama could lead the call for the moon came from behind clouds and the outside and sat with her on the steps of Honorable Tammy Baldwin repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I say light remained really quite bright de- the church feeling very uncomfortable “could,” because all of this is only pos- spite the suns setting. Our conversa- and now quite sure she was schizo- U.S. Representative sible if we elect Senator Obama as our tion stopped as we Madison, Wisconsin next President. got more and more I cannot think of a more exciting, I look forward with great hope next uncomfortable – the hopeful, and promising time in the lives year to our new Congress, our new woods were deathly of LGBT Americans than right now. We President, Barack Obama, and our new quiet and we could have a Presidential nominee in Barack day in the history of our nation. For all see clearly ahead Obama who really understands what of us who’ve waited and worked for the and behind in the we are striving for. This isn’t just a New day when full equality was within our moonlight. I looked Direction ... it’s a whole new world of reach, now is our time. back after maybe ten opportunities. This June, we formed the minutes of walking, first LGBT Equality Caucus in Con- Paul Smith and was shocked to gress. The very existence of an LGBT Attorney at Law see that the castle Equality Caucus in Congress makes a Washington DC had disappeared, the strong statement about the values this woods around it were Congress and this nation hold dear. As the person privileged to have still visible clearly in Beyond symbolism, our Caucus will represented the LGBT community the moonlight, but engage in substantive work to achieve standing up before the Supreme Court the bulk of the castle the extension of equal rights, the repeal in Lawrence v. Texas, I am acutely was now just a pool of discriminatory laws, the elimination aware of what’s at stake in this election. of profound dark- of hate-motivated violence, and the im- If Barack Obama becomes our next ness. We all stopped proved health and well being for all - President, the path is open for us to and stared back regardless of sexual orientation or gen- continue to make progress toward equal along the way we der identity or expression. rights, including the right not to face came and one of my But to be successful, we in Con- employment discrimination, the right to friends pointed out gress must work in partnership with the marry and adopt, the right to serve in the that this darkness military, and all the other elements of was now spreading full equality. If John McCain is elected, further progress will grind to a halt. He along the track to- Saint Pancras Station, London laid his hand upon her brow, something wards us – the moon extraordinary happened. Firstly, the opposes all legislative protections of was still bright and the woods around phrenic and would need a walk to the temperature in the street seemed to our rights. And he has promised to were still clearly illuminated but it was local hospital. I made small talk as best drop about ten degrees, and secondly appoint the kind of Supreme Court Jus- unmistakable, a wall of darkness was as I could until mass had finished and and most dramatically his nose erupted tices who will oppose interpreting the moving swiftly towards us from the Father ______could come and speak in a great fount of blood! He developed Constitution to protect our rights. Those castle, maybe forty feet wide and the to her. He was of the old school, and had a nosebleed like I have never seen – the McCain Justices may even end up over- same high. We ran. Eventually we ar- a set of deeply Catholic beliefs that at first in all his 70 years – which eventu- ruling Lawrence, returning us to a time rived sweating and exhausted at the the time I shared, and I hoped he would ally took two days and five cauteriza- when it was considered perfectly con- gate, threw ourselves over it and got into be able to comfort her in her delusions. tions to stop. stitutional to prosecute us for sodomy the car. The car was facing the way we My mentor eventually emerged from Coincidence you may say, but I and to discriminate against us because had come, and when we turned on the the church and the woman immediately had to walk the woman to the hospital being openly gay amounted to an ad- headlights they failed to penetrate the got very agitated again saying ‘I have a (even more convinced she was pos- mission of criminality. wall of darkness that now blocked the demon! I have a demon! sessed after that) after sending Fr I, for one, don’t want to live in a way to the castle! To this day I am I paraphrased the conversation for ______off safely, and I became more country where we have no rights and certain there was something following the priest and he looked at her with a and more sure that I was dealing with where LGBT citizens and are forced to us through the woods! firm gaze and said in a voice of authority something for which I had no adequate rely on whatever “tolerance” we are I have a few similar tales, but only “No!! If you had an evil presence inside explanation, and which disagreed with accorded by our employers, our gover- room for one more! So we can stay in of you, you could not have come before my entire religious world view; it still nors and our fellow citizens. “Toler- somewhere suitably Haloweeny and I the Blessed Sacrament (we kept the does! ance” is the word Sarah Palin chose in will tell you about my experience near consecrated bread and wine reserved in There, no explanations offered, just the debate when she was trying not to Saint Pancras, London (pictured) just church)” then he produced his holy a glimpse of some of my experiences – appear too anti-gay. But we shouldn’t after I was ordained. My mentor was an water sprinkler (aspergillum) and pre- there is more in heaven and earth than want her tolerance. We need the right elderly priest who also served as the pared to give her a blessing. Well, I I have answers for, all I know is life is all to demand equality and respect. Vote Bishop’s advisor on the occult – in other watched intently, and I swear as I live the more interesting for having ques- for that on November 4! words, the diocesan exorcist. The and breathe, that as soon as my priest tions unanswered. Happy Halloween! [continued on Expose-9]

EXPOSE'-8 of 56 • October 21-November 3, 2008 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM commentary ...from Ex-8 Strickland as Director, Ohio Department of Insur- Lives” campaign. After 12 years of repressive and deadly policies aimed at Jeanette Mott Oxford ance Past Member, Columbus, Ohio City Council our community by the Reagan and State Representative - 59th MO House Bush I administrations, we knew that District (2004-2006) we had to do all we could to work for St. Louis, Missouri Columbus, Ohio change. In 1992, I got involved with my first Presidential campaign, In the recent vice presidential debate here in St. [continued on Expose-10] Louis, Governor Sarah Palin hastened to assure les- working with gay and lesbian volunteers on the “Voting for Our bian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans that “I am tolerant.” That does not reassure me in the least that I would find equal protections in a McCain-Palin admin- istration. Instead, I take offense. As my friend Pamela puts it: “You tolerate a stench. You respect me.” The word tolerance can signal that we have patience for or are willing to indulge those whose beliefs or practices differ from our own. But something else can be heard when those in categories that have power and privilege in U.S. society (white persons, males, Chris- tians, heterosexuals, etc.) express a willingness to “tolerate” those who experience discrimination and barriers to success due to some part of their identity (People of Color, women, non-Christians, gay/lesbian/ bisexual/transgender persons, etc.). What too often is heard is internalized superiority, a belief that the status quo is “normal” and that the privileged group has the right to determine what the targeted or disadvantaged group will be “allowed” to do. I look forward to a world where the diversity of humanity will be celebrated instead of tolerated. That is the key to building a world in which every child can thrive and grow toward wholeness and happiness. I believe we will move a step closer to that goal by electing Barack Obama president of the United States on November 4.

Mary Jo Hudson Cabinet member for Ohio Governor Ted

GayBatonRouge.BIZ • GayNewOrleans.COM • GayPensacola.COM • GayAmerica.COM • October 21-November 3, 2008 • EXPOSE'-9 of 56 commentary ...from Ex-9 thing. Although a bright rainbow may not shine over every state yet, it will mobile This year’s presidential election is soon. paparazzi not only about our lives - it’s about our Soon there will be full equality for collective futures. For the first time in every member of every family, on every many years, many issues of GLBT street, in every town, in every state. Americans intersect with mainstream Change is coming. Hope is near. America - healthcare coverage, the fu- ture of our economy, immigration con- Jesse Garcia cerns, and the protection and recogni- Stonewall Democrats of tion of families that transcend tradi- tional definitions. Each of these issues Dallas, President affects me directly, or affects my friends Gay Latino Activist in the GLBT community. Likewise, It’s all about civil rights. I have the each of these issues affects family, opportunity to work to get Barack Obama friends and colleagues. and elected and see my I am supporting Barack Obama American Dream become a reality, or I because his vision of America’s future could just let another eight years of recognizes the concerns I reference Republican hatemongering scapegoat above resonate with many Americans, the LGBT community and relegate me including GLBT Americans, and he will to second-class status. serve as a leader in the call to assure I work hard, pay my taxes and that GLBT Americans are recognized in serve my community. But John McCain the efforts to address these and many and Sarah Palin think I’m not good other issues in this country. enough and they both believe I do not In contrast to Barack Obama, John deserve to be protected from bigotry at McCain has selected a running mate work, be protected from hateful crimes who believes that we can be “cured” by law enforcement, or to protect my through prayer, and cannot even say family by serving my nation in the armed Photos by Craig Powell the word “gay” or “lesbian”, but still hints services openly. They don’t believe I that she has “diverse” friends. With have the right to plan a future with a friends like Sarah Palin, who needs person I love and they feel that I am not enemies? McCain’s healthcare plan good enough to raise a child - even would plunge more GLBT Americans those abandoned. into the ranks of the uninsured, and we In 2004, we had a Democratic ticket would be assured of administration poli- that wasn’t opposed to same-sex mar- cies and a United States Supreme Court riage ban initatives. In 2008, we have a that would rival the days of Reagan, brave candidate, Barack Obama, that Bush I and Bush II. Barack Obama is opposes these bans, which he calls my hope for a better future for all Ameri- “decisive and unnecessary.” Barack cans, especially GLBT Americans. Obama is willing to stand up for me and Please join me voting for our lives and include me in his vision of America. I am our future by supporting Barack Obama willing to stand with him and take back for President. this nation.

Raymond Buckley Stephen P. Driscoll State Chair, New Hamp- Co-Chair, National Stone- shire Democratic Party wall Democrats Thirty years ago as a teen in rural Pembroke, Massachusetts New Hampshire, I honestly thought I There’s good news and there’s bad was the only gay person in my state. news. The good news is that it’s really One night when I was fifteen the local just a matter of time before we win our news had a segment about a police raid full civil rights. The popular culture is far of a Boston gay bar. I grabbed one of my ahead of the political and the younger little sisters’ crayons and hurriedly wrote generation ‘get’ equal rights for LGBT the name of the bar down. I carried that people. This bodes well for the future.

slip of paper in my pocket for years - it The bad news is that they don’t assume of Halloween at B-Bob’s ~ Mobile, Alabama Five Years gave me such comfort that somewhere the reins of power for another genera- there were people like me. tion. Thankfully all that has changed In the interim, our rights are endan- because of the brave members of our gered by a spate of horrific appoint- community who have openly declared ments to the federal courts which could that simply being tolerated is no longer thwart progress well into the future. acceptable. That is why it is absolutely critical that Today’s generation already knows we elect Barack Obama and other pro- that being gay means we can find love, equality Democrats this year. This is get married and have children. We can’t the most important election of our lives. be fired, or discriminated in housing. Our future, and the future of our nation, We can become a firefighter, teacher or hangs in the balance. police officer. We can be a state party chair, legislator or member of congress. Rick Garcia We can be a news anchor, movie star, Public Policy Director of or Olympic athlete. We can be a doctor, judge and even an Episcopal Bishop. Equality Illinois We can be anything. We can do any- [continued on Expose--24]

EXPOSE'-10 of 56 • October 21-November 3, 2008 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM