bob takes a drive on the jaeger trike bob with the widow ... · a time of both disappointment and...

36 • 36 • 36 • 36 • 36 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • March 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM• March 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM• March 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM• March 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM• March 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

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Bob takes a drive on the Jaeger Trike

Floats travel thru the Fruit Loopin Mobile

Corey attacks David for the beads

Captain Morgan & his Crewat Vision’s Twist

Sam & the Boys with Ms. Lorettaat Vision’s Twist

Bob with the Widow Cain & Gabriel’sowner Carl

DJ Robbie spins at B-Bob’s

Bacchus owners Stevie & Rick

Dueling pianos at Dahlias on Dauphin

Bartenders Joe & Jerry slingin’cocktails at B-Bob’s

paparazzimobile

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out & about in mobile

Hedonites out and about. I used to be amember of this krewe that was started byhandsome lawyer Possa. In fact, I recallthat first Krewe of Hedon ball I attendedvividly. I danced the night away with abeautiful lesbian, who I can’t name here,but she is still around and still as lovely asever. Another of the beautiful L memberswas absent this year, or at least I didn’t runinto her. I speak here of that very hand-some and outstandingly gorgeousSuzanne. I barely knew her when shecame begging to use my bathroom, whichof course was fine. At least she didn’t bareall for the street people to view like thosefive women I mentioned earlier. Class isalways better than ass – well, most of thetime anyway.

I told Sam that his favorite Splash guywas out in skimpy pink shorts with thatweenie hanging to the left. Every now andthen, I noticed that he would tweak it tokeep it in the semi state. Well, it was a sightto behold – and so was his stud partnerChris. Oh, my goodness – now you aregoing to know I’m talking about Quentin.

The crowds this year were nice, but itis still a nuisance in a way. There was a bigparty in the driveway across the street, andthe lawyer and his friends down the streethad a band and blocked everything off. AsI eased out the back way after everythingsettled down, I noticed so many youngpeople staggering around. I just hope theywere all ready to go home and had a safe

journey. I wish I could have seen myLafayette friends Kenny and Garland, butI know they were here because I saw mycomputer buddy’s pictures.

Today, as I drive around the down-town area, the litter is still there, and peoplewere out cleaning up the mess. That al-ways amazes me that people can come inand have no regards for what they aredoing. They party, and they leave. Themess they leave behind is left for resi-dents to clean up. Thank goodness therain started about dark, and at least arefreshing cleanness came. The urinedeposits were gone, and the plants didn’thave to suffer through all that mess.

Now we have the memories of an-other great day in historic old SpanishTown. The sounds of the bands all over thearea are gone. The smells of the cookoutsare nowhere. The animals can not getback to living normal lives in a residentialarea – and I speak of the furry creatureshere although I have to admit that some-times the description applies to humansas well.

So from Party Central at the corner ofSpanish Town Road and 7th Street, I com-mend Jeff, Cory, and his workers for put-ting on another great time for their workersand friends. I’m sorry I didn’t get to seeDavid, Brad, or Lance, but if they came itwas after I returned to the safety and com-fort of my bungalow home in the heart ofold Red Stick. Thanks guys! You do a greatservice to the gay and lesbian community.

Now that I’ve said that, maybe Corywon’t “whoop up on me.” Okay?

hot tails of red stick...from 32

spotlightCelebrated Hollywood Actor, Equal Rights Advocate,Wilson Cruz, featured at Mobile’s Community Unity Awards

He’s been a tireless opponent of California’s discriminatory Proposition 8.He’s also co-starring with Drew Barrymore in the recent number one boxoffice smash He’s Just Not That Into You. And now actor and human rights

advocate Wilson Cruz is coming to Mobile, Alabama.“I know very little about Alabama, that’s the thing!” says Cruz, speaking on the phone

from California. “Your perception of a place is based on what you see in the media, andthat’s something that’s probably 40 or 60 years old!”

But Cruz’ reason for coming to Mobile, Alabama is something that could not evenhave been imagined six decades ago - an annual awards ceremony to acknowledgethe port city’s gay and lesbian leaders and their achievements. AQUA’s “CommunityUnity” Awards Saturday, March 14 is the city’s third such presentation. And it comes ata time of both disappointment and celebration for the 35 year old Brooklyn, NY native.Cruz is celebrating because his new movie, He’s Just Not That Into You recently soaredto number one at the box office. But the actor is still feeling the bitter sting of the passageof Proposition 8, a measure passed by California voters that wiped away the rights ofgay residents to marry in that state.

“Those of us who knew what was happening were worried. But the gay populationdidn’t think it was going to be the slap in the face it ended up being. I think that we forgetthat change takes work... I don’t think we did that work here to the extent that we neededto.”

But it’s unlikely that Cruz will abandon hope for the repeal of Prop 8, or any othercause he believes in. His appearance at events like Mobile’s Community Unity Awardsis an indication of his passion for the lesbian and gay community.

“It’s important for me,” says Cruz. “I’ve been doing them (events) from the beginningof my career. It keeps me grounded and reminded that I’m part of a bigger struggle. IfI wasn’t an actor, I’d be doing activist work.” Cruz even took a year off from acting to workfor the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “I get to live this very fun life and I’mreminded that there are people out there doing very hard work. That work allows me todo this. It keeps me humble, honestly.”

Cruz’s energy toward activism doesn’t come by accident. He’s taken on thechallenge of helping homeless gay teens because he knows how they feel. He wasonce a homeless teenager after his father discovered he was a homosexual.

“My dad threw me out. But we reconciled a year later,” he’s quick to add. But Cruzknows that’s not always the case.

”When we were kids and were young we were focused on the right now and theimmediate. And that can be overwhelming. Issues to teens can seem like the end ofthe world! They won’t love me, I’ll never find love... And so, when I hear this, I want to

remind them that there’s a whole ‘notherworld out there. And suicide is NOT anoption! We need you to help us fight for thefuture.”

The fight.Unity.Those are themes that often surface

during a conversation with Cruz. He’sconscience of the sometimes fragile alle-giances that exist in the gay community.And he says those must be strengthenedto gain future measures of success andequality.

“I think it’s the culture of political work,”says Cruz. “There are so many personali-ties and passions. And that’s necessary!That kind of dialogue and emotions arenecessary. But when it comes down to it,you have to keep your eye on the prize... Wehave big egos! But you have to be selflessand ego-less and get the job done. Wehave to be willing to remember it’s notabout us as individuals but us as a group.”

And it’s here where Cruz returns tothe beginning of our conversation... per-ceptions of Alabama and the South ingeneral spawned by the Civil Rights Move-ment of the 1960’s.

“The Civil Rights Movement. Thosewere big personalities, big egos. But inthe end, they understood they weren’tgoing to live the lives they envisioned fortheir children... I may not have the careerI think I deserve or any other gay persondeserves, but my younger brother willderive opportunity form my sacrifice. Youhave to remember, it’s not about the im-mediate, but the future. If you’re capableand willing to do that, your own ego andneeds are pushed aside.”

Cruz says he already sees that kind ofattitude opening doors for those youngerthan himself.

“Sometimes,” he says, “you have tobe the first domino to fall to get the rest tofollow.”

Wilson Cruz is the 2008 GLADD AwardRecipient, and currently stars in the ani-mated “Rick and Steve: The Happiest gayCouple in the World” on the Logo network.

Cruz will be guest speaker at theAQUA Community Unity Awards on Satur-day, March 14 at the Radisson AdmiralSemmes Hotel in Downtown Mobile, Ala-bama. 6:30pm. Tickets are $35. For moreinformation, visit www.AquaHelps.org.

By Bob Brunson

Mardi Gras took Mobile bystorm with festive parties atevery bar, fantastic parades

all month long and balls galore! The turnout of people from across the country wasincredible and Mobilians and all their guestare partied out... but that will only last a dayor two and the parties start again!

March in Mobile is filled with activitiesand events. FUNLUVIN will host hermonthly Gem’s and Fems Showcase atVision’s Twist on Friday, March 6th at10:30pm, and Miss Loretta will host hermonthly Draggin on Dauphin at Vision’son Friday, March 13th.

On Saturday, March 14th at theRadisson Admiral Semmes Hotel, theCommunity Unity Awards Dinner will behosted by AQUA at 6:30pm with specialguest speaker, Wilson Cruise.

The following weekend the RadissonAdmiral Semmes Hotel will become hometo the 2009 Prides’ of the Southeast Con-ference. Pride Board Members from allover the Southeast will join together forworkshops to help make all of your pridecelebrations more exciting and inviting.The closing dinner on Saturday eveningshould be nothing less than fabulous withan incredible Mardi Gras styled party witha special surprise parade going right thruthe ballroom. Rumor has it that their willbe pirates everywhere so hold on to yourjewels! Rumor also has it that a specialguest appearance will be made by Inter-national Recording Artist Abigail, so this isdefinitely a DON’T MISS event!

If you are unable to attend the POSEdinner on Saturday, you might want tomake a quick trip on Friday night to the newBaldwin County nightclub, Club Evolution,where Abigail will also be performing onFriday evening March 20th.

Right after the dinner at the Radisson,Miss Loretta will be hosting her annualAnniversary Show which will be held atVision’s Twist. Miss Loretta pulls out allthe stops for this fun filled drag-a-thon withmany special guest appearances fromher talented friends. Also B-Bob’s will have

the awesome Jerry Halliday and his Pup-pet Sista Girl live from Las Vegas.

Ani Difranco will be live in concert atthe Saenger theatre on March 24 at 8pmand Vision’s will be hosting an Ani Difrancolook-a-like contest right after the concert.Who knows... maybe she will stop by tocheck it out!

The Mystic Women of Color AnnualBall will be held on March 28th with an afterparty at Vision’s Twist hosted byFUNLUVIN.

Keep your calendars clear for April 24– 26 and be sure to come out and supportthe 2009 Mobile Alabama Pride GLBTCelebration and Parade. Check out thedetails at MobileAlabamaPride.com.

[continued on 41]

e-mail, lettersTO: The New Orleans LGBTCommunity, RE: Thank you!

On behalf of the Board of Directors ofthe LGBT Center of New Orleans, we wantto thank the many people and organiza-tions who have contributed to the rebuild-ing of our community center.

First, we are grateful to all the peoplewho made our recent fundraising show agreat success: Aletha Bryant, whosinglehandedly organized the entire event;John Paul’s for hosting the show, thefabulous array of talent who entertained;and, of course, all the people who at-tended and made the event the Center’slargest fund raiser since Katrina.

Second, we want to thank all whoresponded to our January appeal: theCenter members who contributed; thenew members who joined; and our majordonors who added tremendously to ourfinancial stability – Laura Peebles, Volley-ball New Orleans, and P-FLAG New Or-leans.

Third, we want to express our grati-tude to all the community members whohave worked so determinedly to get theCenter up and running in our post-Katrina

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bob takes a drive on the jaeger trike bob with the widow ... · a time of both disappointment and...

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