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S E R V I N G G A Y, L E S B I A N , B I A N D T R A N S G E N D E R E D N E W Y O R K • W W W . G A Y C I T Y N E W S . C O M
PAUL MORIGI/WIREIMAGE
THE AMERICAN
PRESIDENT TURN THE PAGE
© GAY CITY NEWS 2008 • COMMUNITY MEDIA, LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2/ Politics 6 - 12 NOV 2008
keep track of the time, and 2 p.m. through Dec. 27. Tickets are
occasionally calls out the $56.25 at ticketcentral.com or 212-279-
seconds left. Usually they do 4200.
not also contend with CNN ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
and a mob.
“It is both a hindrance and COMEDY
a great way to relax,” said Homo Comicus
Chris Bess, co-captain of the Michael Brill hosts an evening of
Griffins. queer and queer-friendly comics includ-
As the evening continued, As the LGBT crowd cheered Barack Obama’s victory at Room Service, out lesbian City Council Speaker Christine Quinn appeared to celebrate, ing actress Jackie Hoffman, fresh from
the crowd at the Eighth Ave- but was interrupted by activist Ira Manhoff (seen here being hustled away by security), who objected to her efforts on extending the city’s her turn in Broadway’s “Xanadu,” the
nue bar, those who gathered term limits law. Quinn urged security to allow Manhoff to stay. big gay pimpin’ Jonny McGovern, Jim
in other places, and even New David, Becky Donohue, Leah Dubie,
Yorkers who later were trav- sonant moments that should ing in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisex- House and everything else, I and Dave Rubin. Gotham Comedy
eling home by subway after have reminded celebrants that ual and Transgender Com- would do that.” Club, 208 W. 23rd St., 7:30 p.m. The
watching Obama crush McCa- the heady expectations of vic- munity Center on West 13th It was a powerful moment cover charge is $15, with a two-drink
in, were cheering and chant- tory would have to give way to Street stood and cheered when for an audience that lost many minimum. For reservations, call 212-
ing “Obama.” The celebratory politics and what is possible. Obama included “gay” in the friends to AIDS during the ’80s 367-9000.
mood was understandable. The president-elect nod- long list of Americans who had and had yet to see the anti-HIV ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
President George W. Bush ded to that in his post-vote supported his candidacy. drugs that have since saved
has dragged the nation into speech that was broadcast Another successful Demo- many gay men. POLITICS
two endless wars, wrecked from Chicago. cratic contender for presi- We now know that new Now What?
the American economy, “The road ahead will be dent, William Clinton, often HIV infections among gay The Queer Justice League, a group
trashed the liberties in the US long, our climb will be steep,” hit the right notes when talk- and bisexual men increased of LGBT progressives dedicated to
Constitution that protect tax- Obama said. “We may not get ing to the gay community. At a throughout Clinton’s two change through coalition with other
payers, and run up stagger- there in one year or even one 1992 Los Angeles fundraiser, terms and over the past eight social activist organizations, holds a
ing federal deficits. Bush has term, but America, I have Clinton told 400 gay men and years with Bush in the White forum tonight looking at the election
been no friend to the queer never been more hopeful than lesbians “If I could wave my House. results and contemplating next steps.
community. I am tonight that we will get arm for those of you who are Clinton also approved the LGBT Community Center, 208 W.
While Obama supporters, there. I promise you, we as a HIV-positive and make it go military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t 13th St., 8 p.m.
including many in the gay people will get there.” away tomorrow, I would do it, Tell policy that has cost near- CAREERS
community, partied, the eve- Earlier in the speech, the so help me God I would. If I
ning also had its share of dis- crowd of roughly 300 watch- gave up my race for the White 䉴 CHALLENGES, continued on p.15 䉴 NOV 6, continued on p.8
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I
n a stunning realignment cratic City Councilman first elected in 1972, holds a
of the political status quo Joseph Addabbo swept to a lead of just over 700 votes over
in Albany, Democrats have surprisingly easy victory over James Gennaro, a member
gained control of the State 20-year GOP incumbent Ser- of the City Council. Padavan
Senate for the first time in 43 phin Maltese, a sponsor of a is also a DOMA sponsor and
years. state Defense of Marriage Act voted against the 2002 gay
With all but one of the 62 (DOMA), a proposal that has rights law in Albany. A recount
Senate races decided, Demo- gone nowhere in Albany. Add- is expected in the race.
crats now control at least abbo had a 15-percent edge Gennaro was not wide-
32 seats in the Legislature’s in that race. ly seen as posing a real
upper chamber, while Repub- A pro-LGBT vote in his challenge to Padavan and
licans will have at least 29. years on the Council, Addabbo received little support from
Democrats already control the said he supports the Gender the Democratic Senate Cam-
I
n a crushing blow to hope campaign was able to devote to using
unleashed by the California State Latino faces in their ads and “connect-
Supreme Court less than six ing their stories to marriage.”
months ago, voters in that state have Even as those fighting Prop 8 refuse
apparently approved Proposition 8, a to concede and at least some other
ballot initiative to overturn the high advocates stand back from any post-
court’s marriage equality ruling with mortem, three lawsuits were filed
a constitutional amendment limiting Wednesday challenging the validity
marriage to unions of one man and of the referendum. Lambda Legal, the
one woman. National Center for Lesbian Rights
With the California Secretary of (NCLR), and the American Civil Liber-
State’s office reporting returns from ties Union (ACLU) filed a petition with
99.7 percent of all precincts, Prop 8 has the State Supreme Court, which had
a lead of 52.5-47.5 percent, or about held in May that same-sex couples
half a million votes. However, early on have a constitutional right to marry,
Wednesday, leaders of the No on Prop 8 arguing that the type of change made
campaign issued a statement that they to “the underlying principles” of the
were waiting until all absentee ballots, Protesters gathered Wednesday evening in Sacramento and other leading California cities to protest the apparent State Constitution was too great to be
which they said could number as many passage of Proposition 8. enacted by a simple majority of vot-
as four million, were counted before ers. The groups are relying on a dis-
commenting on the results. and radio ads up to keep pace with an nationwide advocacy group Freedom tinction between an ordinary “amend-
Even if four million ballots have aggressive campaign by opponents to to Marry, said it is premature to begin ment” and a “revision” to basic con-
not yet been counted, supporters of define marriage equality in the minds an analysis of the strategies employed stitutional underpinnings, and argue
gay marriage would need a margin of of voters as a threat to religious free- in the No on 8 campaign, but noted that, at minimum, the sort of change
more than 56 percent among those dom and as something about which that different sorts of messages and Prop 8 involves must first be consid-
votes to overcome a half million-vote public schools would be required to arguments are appropriate in mak- ered by the State Legislature.
deficit. indoctrinate young children. There ing the case for marriage equality, “If the voters approved an initiative
And there is strong evidence that were persistent online debates among depending on whether they are part of that took the right to free speech away
four million significantly overstates activists nationwide about the mes- a heated, short-horizon political cam- from women, but not from men, every-
the number of ballots still not tal- saging of the No on 8 campaign paign or of a longer-term, affirmative one would agree that such a measure
lied. According to the official count of — particularly regarding whether public education effort. conflicts with the basic ideals of equal-
all “vote-by-mail” ballots, kept by the straight allies or LGBT couples and “What we want to do is stop having ity enshrined in our Constitution,” said
state’s Association of Clerks and Elec- their children should be the primary to make that choice,” he said, empha- Jenny Pizer, a Lambda Legal staff attor-
tion Officials, a total of 4.29 million public face on TV ads. sizing that the gay community needs ney, in a written release. “Proposition 8
such absentee ballots were returned As the campaign entered its final to develop its competencies in build- suffers from the same flaw: it removes
to the state’s 58 counties. But, month, Patrick Guerriero, the former ing public support both over time and a protected constitutional right — here,
according to officials in Los Ange- leader of the Log Cabin Republicans, in a crunch. the right to marry – not from all Cali-
les County, of the 643,000 absentee was abruptly brought in on loan from Just as Wolfson cautioned against fornians, but just from one group of us.
ballots returned there, only 200,000 his current post at the Gill Founda- jumping to quick conclusions about That’s too big a change in the principles
remain to be counted. Only 46,000 of tion, to head up an effort widely seen what the No on 8 campaign may have of our Constitution to be made just by
the 129,000 absentee ballots in San as in need of a steady hand. Even as done right or wrong, he also urged a bare majority of voters.”
Francisco have not yet been counted. fundraising accelerated, a diversifying patience in analyzing the quality and The legal groups noted that, in 1990,
Of 232,000 such ballots in Alame- array of ads won greater praise, and meaning of exit poll results out of Cal- the California Supreme Court struck
da County, only 120,000 have not high profile figures such as Senator ifornia. One widely discussed result down a referendum passed by voters
yet been counted. And in San Diego Diane Feinstein appeared in spots on Wednesday was the finding that that would have barred the State Con-
County, only 220,000 out of 403,000 opposing the proposition, critics while whites opposed the anti-gay ref- stitution from being construed to give
absentee ballots remain uncounted. remained. erendum by a 53-47 margin and Lati- criminal defendants any more rights
The fewer the absentee ballots still In an email circulated the day after nos narrowly supported it 51-49, Afri- than they have under the US Con-
to be counted, the higher the percent- the vote, Ethan Geto, a longtime gay can-Americans voted yes by a 70-30 stitution. That was overturned as an
age that must be no’s for marriage activist in New York whose first expe- margin. improper attempt to strip the court of
equality advocates to be able to off- rience in such campaigns came in Wolfson noted that polling data from its independent role as interpreter of
set the margin they are behind at this 1977 when he worked to defeat the other state marriage referendum ques- the State Constitution.
point in the count. Anita Bryant-inspired anti-gay initia- tions do not point to the same sorts of The advocacy groups brought a simi-
Most major news outlets are report- tive in Dade County, Florida, wrote, “I margins among black voters, a point lar challenge to Prop 8 prior to the elec-
ing that the anti-gay initiative has was appalled by the inferior quality of also made this week by the Califor- tion, but the court dismissed the case,
passed. the No on 8 TV ads.” nia State Chapter of the NAACP. Wolf- without prejudice, unwilling to consid-
The battle in California — which Pointing to a study of voter psychol- son pointed out, for example, that the er the question unless circumstances
cost the two sides combined an esti- ogy and electoral behavior commis- exit data in California may never yield made that necessary.
mated $73.7 million — was the most sioned by Gill in 2004 and 2005, Geto details on what portion of the African- Similar suits were also filed Wednes-
expensive in the history of the LGBT noted that campaigns are most suc- American tally sampled represented day by Santa Clara County and the
rights movement, and was among the cessful when they highlight the real- first-time voters, who may have been cities of San Francisco and Los Ange-
most exorbitant political contests in life dilemmas faced by gay and lesbian buoyed by the prospect of Barack les and by LA attorney Gloria Allred on
2008. Though the pro-gay side raised people rather than abstract discrimi- Obama’s candidacy but otherwise less behalf of a married lesbian couple who
slightly more money than those seek- nation arguments made by “political engaged in political issues than their were part of the victorious lawsuit in
ing to turn back marriage equality, stars”; when they focus on gay and more frequent-voting peers. May.
the community scrambled in recent lesbian adults rather than introduc- Ethnic voting patterns do not lend Lambda, the NCLR, and the ACLU
weeks to keep pace with a right-wing ing viewers more broadly to gay and themselves, he said, to analysis sepa- also issued a statement Wednesday
money machine fueled in good mea- lesbian families and their children; rate from an appreciation for context. that the estimated 18,000 same-sex
sure by organized Mormon donors, and when they feature lesbians, who According to exit polls, Latino voters marriages performed in California
who are reported to have given more are perceived as less threatening than in Florida supported the gay marriage since May should continue to be hon-
than $20 million. gay men. ban there by about a 20-percent higher ored. That view is shared by Califor-
The pro-gay side struggled to get TV Evan Wolfson, who heads up the level than in California. That disparity, nia’s attorney general, Jerry Brown.
WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 6 - 12 NOV 2008 7
Marriage Bans mentary maneuver, later judged found 38 percent of the elec- Mayor Michael’s Bloomberg’s was also diligent in taking out p.m. at the Center. Admission is
Win in Florida, out of order, but left in effect, torate in favor of Act 1 and 55 election night “a bust” in terms election eve full-page ads in the free, but they’d like you to RSVP
Arizona revived the referendum, which percent opposed, with seven of the losses of candidates he state’s major newspapers, mostly on their website at gaycenter.org.
Just as the voter referendum was approved for consideration percent undecided. endorsed. with Mormon money. Woodworth started with the
effort to eliminate marriage by voters. At that time, Joe LaFountaine Bloomberg got away with Center in 1983 as a consultant on
equality in California appears to of Arkansas Families First, which never endorsing a candidate their negotiations with the City of
have won narrow passage, vot- fought the measure, wrote in an for president, despite the stark New York to buy the building at
ers in Florida approved a draco- email, “While still too close to call differences between Obama 208 West 13th Street and was
nian constitutional amendment (or for comfort), we are encour- and McCain. He personally elected secretary of the corpora-
defining marriage as the “legal aged by these numbers.” campaigned for Chris Shays, a tion the following year and every
union of only one man and one The genesis of this year’s moderate Republican from Con- year since. His main occupations
woman” and barring all “other referendum was a 2006 State necticut, who lost and left New have been managing the facil-
legal unions treated as marriage Supreme Court ruling that threw England without a member of ity and making space happen for
or the substantial equivalent out a previous law banning gay the GOP in the House. those who need it — with grace,
thereof.” That language would people from serving as foster The mayor, who got the calm, and good will, no less.
preclude civil unions and could parents after a seven-year fight Council to back his bill to let
sharply limit the rights avail- waged by the American Civil him and themselves run for third
able even under a more modest Liberties Union. The new stat- terms in contravention of two
domestic partnership scheme. ute was structured to dodge referenda on the issue, gave EDGAR GARZON
Activists in Florida fighting JARED POLIS any argument that the bar was hundreds of thousands of dol-
the battle against the amend- narrowly targeted at gay and lars to the Republicans in the Citizenship for
ment had pinned their hopes on LGBT lesbian couples. State Senate. Those Senate Slain Gay Man’s
the fact that such amendments Candidates Republicans blocked most LGBT Parents
there require 60-percent voter Win Around Transgender rights legislation for decades Leonor and Armando Gar-
approval, as opposed to a sim- the Nation, Rights Vote in and continue to refuse to vote zon, who came to Queens from
ple majority. In the end, howev- Including New Seattle on transgender rights, an anti- Bogota in 2001 to be at the bed-
er, the measure won the support Member of Voters in Seattle’s King Coun- bullying bill, and marriage side of their son Edgar in the
of 62.1 percent of voters. Congress ty amended their charter to add equality (which was passed days before he died from a gay-
Florida has long had a statute Jared Polis of Colorado will disability, sexual orientation, and by the Democratic-run State bashing in Jackson Heights, have
defining marriage as the union join Barney Frank and Tammy gender identity and expression to Assembly). passed their citizenship exam and SACHA BARON COHEN
of one man and one woman, Baldwin in the out gay and les- their human rights law by a mar- Bloomberg did a robo-call become naturalized citizens. They
and in 1997, in response to the bian caucus of the US Congress. gin of 73 to 27 percent. for the virulently anti-gay Ser- worked for seven years to see Bruno Strikes
federal Defense of Marriage The 33-year-old online entrepre- Transgender activist Marsha phin Maltese, a Republican- to it that the perpetrators of the Again
Act, passed a state DOMA. And neur millionaire won handily. Botzer wrote in a release, “In a Conservative who lost his bid murder of their son were brought Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Bruno”
not content to simply layer a Kate Brown, an out bisexual state that leads the nation on for re-election in Queens over- to justice and, on October 17, character, who is an Austrian
constitutional bar on top of two in Oregon, was elected as the transgender equality, King County whelmingly to City Councilman John McGhee was sentenced to gay fashion designer, crashed a
statutes, the geniuses behind first LGBT secretary of state in sets the bar!” Joseph Addabbo. 22 years for that crime. rally for those supporting Propo-
the effort this year added a the country. He also backed Simcha The couple thanked Congress- sition 8 in Los Angeles, joining
specific provision blocking the The Victory Fund, which works Bitter Log Cabin Felder, an anti-gay City Coun- man Joseph Crowley and gay their picket line. When the press
state’s judiciary from overturn- to elect out LGBT candidates, said The Log Cabin Republicans cil member from Brooklyn, in activist Danny Dromm for their recognized him and tried to inter-
ing the amendment. in a release that 70 percent of its endorsed John McCain for presi- his unsuccessful bid to unseat help “in seeing us through this view him, his film crew inter-
In Arizona, voters by a mar- 111 endorsed candidates won. dent. The Cleveland chapter of incumbent State Senator Kevin most difficult time in our lives.” vened and got him out of there.
gin of 56-43 percent approved a Others highlighted were the gay GOP group issued a bit- Parker. They said in a statement, “There We’ll see how this figures into
constitutional amendment bar- Jason Bartlett, a Connecticut terly sarcastic statement, quoting Bloomberg had a long wait is no doubt that the reward of cit- his next film.
ring same-sex marriage equal- state legislator, who came out in something that David Brinkley, at his Upper East Side polling izenship has helped somewhat to St. Patsy
ity. The vote comes just two his current term. He is the second the late TV newsman, allegedly place, the Observer reported. alleviate our difficulties and we
years after the state became out gay African-American state said: “We all look forward with He said he couldn’t cut the line are proud now to be Americans.”
the first in the nation to vote legislator in the nation. great pleasure to four more years of 270 people because the press
down a referendum aiming to Louisiana elected its first of wonderful, inspiring speeches, was watching. Besides, the Grisly Murder
limit the rights of gay and les- two out LGBT officials, Thomas full of wit, poetry, music, love, mayor said, he had a Spanish in Florida
bian couples. Robichaux and Seth Bloom, both and affection — plus more god- lesson afterward. “So what’s Carole Anne Burger, who
The 2006 measure was gay men who won spots on the damned nonsense.” the big rush?” he deadpanned. shared a house in Boynton Beach
widely viewed as losing, though Orleans Parish School Board in The statement added that the with her ex-lover Jessica Kal-
only narrowly, because it was October. group “looks forward to working 18,000 Gay ish, stabbed her 222 times with
too broad in scope, blocking John Perez is the first out gay against the upcoming socialist Couples a screwdriver, killing her, on
not only gay marriage but also person of color elected to the agenda of the Democratic Party, Married in October 23, police said, and then
recognition of a wide array of California Assembly. and working against the LGBT California killed herself with a gunshot as
domestic partnership arrange- Dallas County, Texas’ out Democrats’ efforts to re-elect An estimated 18,000 same- authorities closed in on her.
ments between unmarried lesbian sheriff, Lupe Valdez, was local ‘gay friendly’ Democrats.” sex couples were married in Burger, 57, who was covering
couples, straight and gay. re-elected. California by Election Day, the the election for the Huffington PATSY CLINE
Senior citizens who entered into Kevin Beckner, a gay man, Williams Institute of UCLA’s Post, had broken up with Kalish,
domestic partnerships in lieu of unseated an anti-gay incumbent School of Law said in a release. a 56-year-old software execu- We always loved Patsy
marrying again after the death on the Hillsborough County Com- Since there is no sex designation tive, a year ago, but they had yet Cline, the great country star who
of a spouse — out of estate mission in Florida. on the marriage certificates, the to divide the house they bought tragically died in a plane crash in
planning concerns — provided And Oakland, California got estimate represents the increase together in 2000. 1963. It turns out she was a friend
a solid base of opposition to its first out lesbian City Council in marriages over the same June Helen Gale, a close friend of the gay community long before
the 2006 amendment. Senior member in Rebecca Kaplan. 17-November 4 period last year. of Burger’s, told the Palm Beach Stonewall, at least according to
couples, in fact, were the key Many lesbian and gay cou- Post, “My gut tells me it’s impos- a viewer of my “Gay USA” show
face of the ads run to defeat Orphaned ples from California and around sible and that something else and Cline fan who related an
that referendum. Kids Lose In the nation rushed to get married is going on. This is just beyond encounter with Patsy’s second
Legislative approval of Arkansas in advance of the vote on Propo- belief.” husband, Charlie Dick.
this year’s ballot question had Despite polls showing that sition 8, which if passed would “He told us that back in
bogged down, first in the State it would be roundly defeated, eliminate their right to do so. Woodworth’s the ’60s, a lot of record labels
House of Representatives and voters in Arkansas approved MICHAEL BLOOMBERG Silver wouldn’t send record singles
later in the Senate, and as the a radical new statute bar- Surrender Anniversary at to gay bars,” she wrote, “so he
lawmakers’ session wound ring unmarried couples, gay or Bloomberg’s Dorothy! Center remembers Patsy would person-
down, Democrats thought they straight, from adopting or serv- Efforts to Prop Friends of Dorothy were hor- Robert Woodworth will be ally drive to gay bars around Ten-
had defeated the effort to get a ing as foster parents. The most Up Anti-Gay rified to see a skywriter over Los honored for his 25 years of ser- nessee and other Southern states
vote this November. On the last recent public opinion poll on the Candidates Met Angeles urging people to “Vote vice to New York’s LGBT Commu- and go directly into gay bars and
day that the Senate met, how- question, from the University with Defeat Yes on Prop 8” on the eve of the nity Center with a reception on
ever, an underhanded parlia- of Arkansas at Little Rock, had The Daily News called election. The anti-gay campaign Thursday, November 13 from 6-8 䉴 BRIEFS, continued on p.8
8/ Police 6 - 12 NOV 2008
J
ust four days after the Michael Spann, the Texas tificate, but in gestational sur- Health Department argues that their sperm created the
Connecticut Supreme couple, and Jamie and James rogacy cases a “replacement” that unrelated adults should embryos and, following the
Court’s October 10 Tardiff, a Connecticut het- certificate is soon issued list- have to go through an adop- Griffiths ruling, found that
announcement that the erosexual married couple, ing the legal parents, and tion process in order to no genetic testing was needed
state’s constitution required entered into a gestational this becomes the permanent become the legal parent of to match the biological father
allowing same-sex couples to agreement. The two gay men birth record. Anticipating the a child, so that their fitness and the child, since the two
marry, a Superior Court judge each donated sperm to cre- birth of their children, the to be a parent can be deter- men intended to raise the
ruled that a Texas gay male ate a fertilized embryo with men filed an action with the mined. children together as spouses.
couple who married in British an egg from an anonymous Superior Court on September After summarizing the Abery-Wetstone wrote that
Columbia and Massachusetts donor. 22, seeking an order to the recent conflicting decisions, the state’s laws concerning
should be recognized as mar- On May 14, the two embry- Connecticut Department of Judge Abery-Wetstone found artificial insemination “in
ried in Connecticut. os were implanted in Jamie Health that they both be list- Griffiths v. Taylor more conjunction with the plain-
The case involved the men’s Tardiff, who became pregnant ed as parents on the “replace- persuasive; there, a judge tiffs’ legally recognized mar-
effort to place their names on and carried them to term. ment” birth certificates. ordered that a gay male cou- riage... lend additional sup-
the birth certificates of chil- Two babies were delivered on The Connecticut Health ple be treated as legal parents port to placing the names of
dren they conceived through October 10, coincidentally the Department raised various for the replacement birth cer- the plaintiffs on each of the
gestational surrogacy in Con- date when the marriage ruling objections, pointing out that tificate. replacement certificates.”
necticut. was announced, but several in the absence of genetic test- But her ruling was bol- In this very unusual sit-
After conflicting rulings this weeks before it officially went ing there is no absolute proof stered by the recently- uation, the Connecticut
summer on the question in into effect on October 28. that either man is the biologi- announced Kerrigan marriage Supreme Court’s decision
similar cases by several Con- Each of the men is a bio- cal father of either of the chil- equality decision. actually served as a prec-
necticut trial judges, Judge logical father of one of the dren, and arguing that only a Connecticut law provides edent before its “official” date
Holly Abery-Wetstone deter- babies, but the couple plans biological or adoptive parent that the sperm donor in a of October 28, and before it
mined that the men should no genetic testing to figure should be listed on a birth gestational surrogacy case will actually go into effect on
be treated the same as any out which, since they plan to certificate. The Department will be named the legal father November 12.
married heterosexual couple raise both children together also has a standing objection on a replacement birth certifi-
who made a gestational sur-
rogacy agreement with a Con-
as “equal” parents.
Under Connecticut law,
to recognizing a legal parental
relationship in advance of a
cate without having the sur-
rogate’s husband first having
gaycity
necticut woman. when a child is born the birth child’s birth in the absence of to terminate his parental sta- news.com
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10/ Editorial 10 - 16 JAN 2008
A
JWSutter@communitymediallc.com t the end, even after The Califor - ton years and now possible in Washing-
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & CO-FOUNDER watching him wage nia battle was assume we ton. “We can’t get the 1,049
TROY MASTERS his campaign day in hard fought, so jump right rights and benefits of mar -
646.452.2502 and day out for more than we know better back on where riage now?” he said. “Give
troy@gaycitynews.com 20 months, it was stun- than from some we got off me your top five. You can’t
EDITOR IN-CHIEF & CO-FOUNDER ning Tuesday evening to see other experi- invites bitter pay the taxes you owe on
PAUL SCHINDLER Barack Obama take to the ences just how memories of your domestic partnership
646.452.2503
editor@gaycitynews.com
podium in Chicago’s Grant indecent wer e our disappoint- benefits? I think we can do
Park to claim victory — not the lies our opponents told. ments under his adminis- that.”
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Duncan Osborne only for himself, but for a That our marriages would tration — especially with the As for the amendment
nation not sure that it was deny them of religious free- Defense of Marriage Act and defeats this week, Evan Wolf-
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Christopher Byrne (Theater), Susie Day, yet prepared or able to break dom. That our unions would the Don’t Ask, Don’t T ell son, who heads up Freedom
Doug Ireland (International), such a profound barrier. become mandatory curricu- military policy. to Marry, said, “The most
Brian McCormick (Dance) For weeks, there was the lum for the youngest of pub- In fact, our civil rights important message, as pain-
Dean P. Wrzeszcz steady accretion of Obama lic school children. Thirty movement is a “progressive ful as it is, is this is not the
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS pins on the lapels and knap- last word, even in Califor -
Betsy Andrews, Seth J. Bookey,
Anthony M.Brown, Kelly Jean Cogswell,
sacks of New Yorkers of all nia.” The issue of fairness
Dean Daderko, Tate Dougherty, Andres Duque, stripes. That wave mov- made solid progress in near-
Michael Ehrhardt, Steve Erickson, Nick Feitel,
Jim Fouratt, Joe Fyfe, Deborah Garwood,
ingly crested in the tears I “We can’t get the 1,049 rights ly every demographic relative
saw at the Democratic vic- to the first vote on this issue
Erasmo Guerra, Emily Harney, Andrey Henkin,
Frank Holiday, Andy Humm, James Jorden, tory party at Midtown’s
and benefits of marriage now? there in 2000, and, he said,
Brendan Keane, David Kennerley, Gary M. Kramer,
Arthur S. Leonard, Rachael Liberman,
Sheraton Hotel, the crowds Give me your top five.” “thousands and thousands”
Michael T. Luongo, Lawrence D. Mass, that jammed Times Square, of straight allies put their
Winnie McCroy, Eileen McDermott, and the shouts of joy bounc- hearts into our cause this
Gregory Montreuil, Ioannis Mookas, Carrie Moyer,
Stephen Mueller, Christopher Murray,
ing around Flatbush Avenue year.
David Noh, Wayne Northcross, Lori Ortiz, at 1 a.m. all the way from the years after Anita Bryant disease” to borrow (okay, With the State Senate flip
Pauline Park, Sheila Pepe, John Reed, Manhattan Bridge to Pros- launched her anti-gay jihad perversely) the phrase for in New York, marriage equal-
Nathan Riley, Andrew Robinson, Gerard Robinson,
Chris Schmidt, Sarah D. Schulman, pect Park. with the blood libel “Save describing alcoholism’s ity grows closer here, and
Jason Victor Serinus, Linda Shapiro, The change that beamed Our Children,” this hatred is advance even during the New Jersey is a good bet at a
David Shengold, Gus Solomons Jr., David Spiher, out from Chicago to the still flung at us with alarm- years when one has resisted legislative win as well. Given
Drew B. Straub, Stefen Styrsky, Jerry Tallmer,
Stefanos Tsigrimanis, Kathleen Warnock, world was, as ever, elegant ing impunity. picking up the bottle. We a once-in-20-years chance
Benjamin Weinthal, Lee Ann Westover, and inspirational, but, as So, just as Rachel Mad- are not getting back on the to call a constitutional con-
James Withers, Kai Wright, Susan Yung
we have grown increas- dow does every night on her escalator where we got off vention just weeks after the
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Mark Hasselberger, Jamie Paakkonen
ingly convinced, it was also MSNBC show, I am looking in January 2001 because marriage ruling in Connecti-
remarkably self-possessed, for others to talk me down. we are not the same, our cut, voters there passed it up
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING
FRANCESCO REGINI
intelligent, and substantive. In a press release Tuesday friends and allies are not the by a 60-40 vote.
646.452.2496 America has already changed night, the Human Rights same, and the world is not And the same year that
francesco@gaycitynews.com profoundly; it’s hard not to Campaign noted that the the same. Colorado’s Wayne Allard,
ADVERTISING MANAGERS believe that it will be for the pendulum has swung back, Rea Carey, the new execu- the Senate sponsor of the
MICHAEL RYAN greater good. and that “our years in the tive director of the National attempted federal mar -
646.452.2504 Still, a friend of mine wilderness are over,” even if Gay and Lesbian Task Force, riage amendment, retired,
micheal@gaycitynews.com called Wednesday and said, it is not yet clear precisely put it well when I spoke to his House sidekick, Marilyn
COLIN GREGORY “For queers, it was like at what locale we have exit- her one day before the elec- Musgrave, also of Colorado,
646.452.2468
colin@gaycitynews.com McCain won yesterday.” He ed the Bush. In a telephone t i o n . “ We w i l l b e m o v i n g was turned out by the voters.
was referring to our losses in interview on Wednesday, into a territory we’ve never What all this adds up to is
ALLISON GREAKER
646.452.2485 marriage amendment fights Joe Solmonese, HRC’s presi- been,” she said. There are, of our responsibility to simul-
allison@gaycitynews.com in Florida, Arizona, and most dent, said our community course, longstanding legisla- taneously hold within our -
JENNIFER HOLLAND devastatingly — because we will no longer be talking to tive goals we are still at — selves emotions that may be
646.452.2499 thought we had won there allies only on Capitol Hill, though “we are not starting at war with each other. To
Jennifer@gaycitynews.com
just six months ago — Cali- we will also have friends in at zero.” But there are “other dwell on yesterday’s rever -
LORET GAMBOA fornia. And to add insult to the administration and at conversations, big conver - sals as a way to avoid work-
646-452-2483
loret@gaycitynews.com those injuries, there was the White House. sations about all sorts of ing on the challenges and
the wholly gratuitous slap It’s true — to some degree, issues that affect our com- opportunities that tomorrow
ACCOUNTING
DAVID JAFFE
from Arkansas, where just to we’ve been there before. Bill munity” — taxes, the econo- presents could be to give
646-452-2477 ensure that gay people don’t Clinton placed impressive my, health care. up just before the miracles
david@gaycitynews.com get their hands on orphaned numbers of openly LGBT Progress is slow on the begin.
NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING children, all unmarried cou- officials in his administra- marriage equality front, but, “This is our era,” Wolfson
Rivendell Media ples were barred from adopt- tion, some at his side. But Solmonese argued, mean- told me, “and we should not
212.242.6863 ing or being foster parents. to look back to the Clin- ingful incr ementalism is sit this out.”
Web master
Arturo Jimenez
Arturo@gaycitynews.com
Gay City News, The Newspaper Serving Gay and Lesbian NYC, is pub- ■ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
lishedby Community Media, LLC. Send all inquiries to: Gay City News,
145 Sixth Ave., First Fl., NYC 10013 Phone: 646.452.2500 Written
permission of the publisher must be obtained before any of the contents
of this paper, in part or whole, can be reproduced or redistributed. All THE ROTTEN of Rob Pinter a few years ago coercion is involved between any straight video stores also
contents (c) 2008 Gay City News.
BUSINESS OF and found him to be a fine, consenting adults and if no being targeted)? Or, is this
Subscriptions: 26 issues, $90.00 ENTRAPMENT upstanding person. The charge third party (such as a pimp perhaps simply an instance of
(c)2008 Gay City News. that he was offering someone or a sex trafficker) is coercing police reaction to “community
All rights reserved.
Gay City News is a registered trademark November 3, 2008 services as a prostitute is not the alleged prostitute, then pressure,” with the arrest of a
of Community Media, LLC.
John W. Sutter, President
believable to me. Rob is said where’s the civic harm? Is gay man “collateral damage.”
Fax: 646.452.2501; To the Editor: to be 52 and the policeman- the law against prostitution Entrapment of gay men
E-mail: JWSutter@communitymediallc.com
Regar ding “Entrapped: decoy, 29 — another reason being selectively enforced? Is by police was rampant when
NYPD Hunts Gay Men in for profound skepticism about the purpose here to counter- I moved to New York City in
City Porn Shops” (by Dun- the police story. act prostitution or, rather, to 1959, a period described by the
can Osborne, Oct. 30-Nov.5), But what’s so bad about harass the store in question?
I was briefly a massage client prostitution, anyway? If no Is homophobia involved (are 䉴 LETTERS, continued on p.14
6 - 12 NOV 2008 Perspective/11
■ THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
B
arack Obama turns be a uniter not a divider, his white, Latino, Asian, and and always will be the United has every reason to think it
symbols into sub- opening lines simultaneously Native American — gay and States.” will be partners as the US
stance. reject conservative ideology straight. In the Obama administra- faces the enor mous tasks
The dreams of “our found- without antagonizing conser- Everybody understands tion gays are one of the build- ahead. The “challenges that
ers” are “alive in our time,” he vatives — a window into to the why African-Americans are ing blocks who “put their tomorrow will bring are the
declared in his first speech as new president’s superior politi- proud, but I have never in my hands on the arc of history greatest of our lifetime — two
president-elect. “Founders” is cal skills. life heard a national politi- and bend it once more toward wars, a planet in peril, the
a political word; it replaces the These remarks were made cal leader say, so unequivo- the hope of a better day.” worst financial crisis in a cen-
patriarchal image of founding on the most important day in cally and at such a moment His inclusive sentiments tury.”
fathers with the notion that the new president’s career — of high visibility, that gays are were unexpected and gratify- Obama called the work of
human beings — men and the day he was elected. The equal members of the Ameri- ing. His words of hope reas- uniting the nation a “cause.”
women create change. words will be repeated and can people. As a child, I heard sured that the defeats of mar- He promised relief to those
“Alive in our time,” says a lot repeated on television, radio, that gays— then labeled by riage equality in California, anxious over the cost of health
in few words; Obama insists and the Internet all over the US the name of a psychiatric Arizona, and Florida would not care and to restore prosper-
the Constitution and the Unit- — indeed all over the world. As disorder, “homosexuals” — be permanent setbacks. If mar- ity and promote the cause of
ed States are a work in prog- he stated, the election shows were allied with Communists riage equality is not accepted peace.
ress. The new administration “the power of our democracy.” trying to destroy the United by a majority of Americans, A president’s work is never
will not waste its time divin- And the nation’s new leader States. Today, many children it is very close to that accep- done. Obama’s first night as
ing the original intentions of thanked the people — young go to church and learn that tance. We have come a long president-elect gave the nation
the revolutionary generation. and old, rich and poor, dis- gays are sinners, but the new way. reasons for optimism. It was
While reiterating that he will abled and not disabled, black, president said simply “we are And the LGBT community an auspicious start.
■ A DYKE ABROAD
I
would like to be on the something. Even if it’s just a verted a few red states into riage was between a man and proved, also promises equal-
right side of history for sign of change, a symbol, a blue. Who gives a shit about woman, but hey, he could be ity under the law to everyone,
once. I would like to say I promise. the increase in gay-bashings, “misguided.” even queers. Even on the sub-
saw Obama’s landslide victory But how can we celebrate as homeless kids, youth sui- What change is that for ject of marriage.
— and the cheering crowds, queers when Obama raises his cides? Who cares if they raise queers? Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe
and heard his speech, declar- hands in victory and declares rates of HIV in communities, Even straight Americans when Barack Obama coasts
ing, “Change has come to the world changed, when he especially black communities, in search of change will have into the Oval Office on the
America” where anything is has changed things so little where churches fight AIDS by to take to the sidewalks and flood of an overwhelming vic-
possible — I would like to say streets where they waited in tory, and sits down at that
I saw all that, my heart melt- line to vote because politicians storied desk, he will slowly
ed, and I was swept away by a How can we hold Obama themselves are always the gain the solidity and weight of
sudden burst of optimism and same. For two years, Demo- 305,600,000 American souls,
joy. accountable for promises he didn’t crats have had a majority in many of them queer, and he
But in truth, my heart
didn’t melt. I didn’t rejoice.
make, in meetings he was too the US Congress and they’ve
done nothing with it, claiming
will be transformed into more
than a symbol of change, but a
I was relieved that the end of cautious, too homophobic to hold? it was impossible without a fil- force for it. And he will remem-
the Bush administration was ibuster-proof majority. I think ber and know that he is truly
official, but as a dyke, as a they just didn’t want to take a president of all Americans.
woman, what I felt was some- for us? When he has made so “converting” queers? Should responsibility for anything, I’m not holding my breath. If
thing more like grief, wonder- few gestures to include lesbi- we pop open the champagne with their eyes on the 2008 all our donated millions to the
ing just whom the change was an, gay, and transgender con- for that? Should we celebrate election. Democrats couldn’t buy us a
for, and who was going to pay cerns, and actually moved his votes bought with queer What excuse will they come chicken dinner with Barack
for it. Democratic Party backwards blood? up with now? What risks will the candidate, we’re not going
I don’t mean to minimize in the last two years? As he lauded the dreams of they take unless we push to feast with Barack the presi-
what Obama’s done, what Where’s the change in his our founders and the power them? Who or what will they dent. I suspect he and his
Americans have done, stand- promises to give enormous of democracy, voters across hide behind? The economy? Democrats will continue to
ing in line for hours to vote, amounts of our tax dollars, the nation were negating the The endless War on Terror keep us at arms’ length, and
turning out in record num- like Bush, to the same faith- rights of gay Americans. In that can justify anything? that our only hope for progress
bers, many for the first time. based programs that fire queer California, they passed Propo- Queers ar e even worse will be to extract ourselves
And by sweeping away every employees and run programs sition 8, stripping away our off. How can we hold Obama from the national Democratic
Republican in sight from the that shun us, humiliate us, or right to marriage. All Obama accountable for promises he machinery that ground us up
White House all the way down try to convert us? has had to say on the matter didn’t make, in meetings he for red state votes.
to the House of Representa- Like Bush, Obama cam- was that it wasn’t at all the was too cautious, too politi- Frankly my hope is the fail-
tives, voters literally changed paigned extensively with anti- same as the miscegenation cal, too homophobic to hold? ing economy. Maybe he’ll skip
the face of power, above all by gay preachers condemning laws prohibiting the marriage All we can do is assert that the faith-based payoff if the
electing the first black presi- us as a sinners and degener- of blacks and whites, and the “American dream,” that country’s broke. Maybe pigs
dent. God yes, that means ates. No doubt their hate con- his religion taught him mar- the democracy his election will fly.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
A
act operas based on Chekhov texts. capacity crowd filled
The two operas, fully staged and sung the ballroom of Pier 60
in English, open Chelsea Opera’s fourth on Saturday, Novem-
season. St. Peter’s Church, 246 W. ber 1, for Women’s Event 11,
20th St. Nov. 7-8, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 9, the annual fundraiser sup-
3:30 p.m. Tickets are $20-$35 at thea- porting the LGBT Community
termania.com or 866-811-4111 or $25- Center’s women’s programs.
$45 at the door. For more information, This year’s honorees included
visit chelseaopera.org. Stephanie Gibbons, execu-
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ tive vice president of market-
ing and on-air promotions for
FILM FX Networks; Lisa Sherman,
Every Minute, Four executive vice president and
Ideas general manager of Logo; and
Through Nov. 13, the IFC Center Ilene Chaiken, creator and
presents the most extensive US retro- executive producer of “The L
spective ever mounted of the films of Word.” Special guests includ-
Arnaud Desplechin, one of the most ed cast members Jennifer
exciting of France s contemporary Beals, Pam Grier, Daniela Sea,
filmmakers. “Kings and Queens” and Rose Rollins.
(2004), about two former lovers, Nora The event raised $130,000
and Ismaël, whose lives are dis- for the Center’s women’s pro-
JICKY
rupted by unexpected crises, starring grams.
Mathieu Almaric, Emmanuelle Devos, All funds from the Women’s “L Word” director Ilene Chaiken, Showtime’s Gwen Marcus, star Pam Grier, and the Center’s Richard Burns at Women’s Event 11 at Chelsea
and Catherine Deneuve, screens Event went to support Center Piers on November 1.
Nov. 7, 3, 6 & p.m.; Nov. 9, 5 & 8 programs, including the Les-
p.m.; Nov. 13, 1 & 9:30 p.m. “My Sex bian Cancer Initiative, Cen- year’s Outspoken Commu- ing the portrayals of our true they put everyone else in.”
Life or How I Got into an Argument” ter Kids, Causes in Common, nity Leader Award to Chaiken. selves. We’ve given away our “It’s incredibly important
(1996), about a longtime graduate Lesbian Cinema Arts, the Overcome by emotion, Beals gifts to the dominant hetero- that the community does as
student, starring Mathieu Almaric, Youth Enrichment Services, teared up when speaking of sexual culture — and we will much as it can to help all of
Emmanuelle Devos, Jeanne Balibar, and Center CARE. the upcoming election and the keep on doing it for them. But our community-based orga-
and Chiara Mastroianni, screens Nov. “The Center does so many gay community’s struggle for we won’t do it anymore with- nizations fundraise, because
8, 1:30, 5 & 8:30 p.m.; Nov. 9, 1:30 great things, anything we can marriage equality. out seeing our own selves these are going to be tough
p.m. “La Sentinelle” (1992), about a do to shine a spotlight on it is “In the course of the last wholly, gloriously, complexly, times,” said City Council
medical student traveling to Paris who great,” said Sherman, whose seven years we have seen glamorously, and provokingly Speaker Christine Quinn, a
discovers a shrunken human head Logo headquarters are based changes that when we first represented.” guest speaker at the event.
stashed in his suitcase and begins in New York. “Women are often “That said, women’s pro-
an investigation, starring Emmanuel underrepresented and under- grams… don’t get nearly the
Salinger, Marianne Denicourt, Bruno served, so an event like this “We’ve given away our gifts to philanthropic grants or level
Todeschini, and Emmanuelle Devos, when you can bring together of giving that mainstream pro-
screens Nov. 10, 1, 4 & 9:45 p.m.; 600 people to celebrate women the dominant heterosexual grams get. So to have a fund
Nov. 13, 4 p.m. “Playing in the Com-
pany of Men” (2003), Desplechin s
is fantastic!”
“I think that we’ve been
culture — and we will keep on of money for women’s issues
that’s not restricted is a bless-
meta-adaptation of Edward Bond s part of a cultural change, doing it for them.” ing to a place like the Center.
play about boardroom arms dealing and one of the reasons ‘The And it’s because of events like
that shifts back and forth between L Word’ has been so success- this that there will be that
the unfolding drama and rehearsals ful is because it was time for began making ‘The L Word’ Fellow honoree Gibbons stream of money.”
for the production we are watching, that change, and we rode the seemed almost unimaginable,” was instrumental in launching The event featured both a
starring Sami Bouajila and Jean-Paul wave,” said Chaiken. “But said Beals. “I envision a time both “The L Word” and “Queer silent and a live auction. The
Roussillon, screens Nov. 11, 1, 3, 7 & these are the organizations in the not-too-distant future as Folk,” and now works with single item offered for live bid-
10 p.m. “Esther Khan” (2000), about that are doing the work that when my daughter asks, ‘You the FX Network to positively ding was a walk-on role in
a young Jewish woman in 19th-cen- keeps our community afloat. mean there used to be a time present rounded portrayals a Showtime promo for “The
tury London dreams of becoming an It’s been a privilege to do a TV when gay people couldn’t of LGBT characters in shows L Word.” Two bidders paid
actress, starring Summer Phoenix and show that can actually galva- get married? God, that’s so such as “nip/tuck” and “The $20,000 each to appear in ads
Ian Holm, screens Nov. 12, 1, 4, 7 & nize the community and help crazy!’” Riches.” Her work helped lead shot later that evening.
10 p.m. 323 Sixth Ave. at W. Third to raise the money so that we Saying that she believed a to GLAAD’s naming FX one of “The Center is celebrating
St. Tickets are $12. can pursue our progressive “seismic change” was on the television’s most gay-friendly its 25th anniversary this year,
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ agenda, which has long been horizon, Beals urged the com- networks. and since its very beginning
underfunded.” munity to share their personal “I’m proud to be a part of has sought to serve everyone
BOOKS When Gay City News asked narratives, to tell the stories of the network,” said Gibbons, in the LGBT community,”
Youth Burdens what viewers could expect LGBT lives in the way “The L one of two recipients that eve- said Center executive director
Mitchell Gold, cofounder of the in the final season of “The L Word” had, saying, “If history ning of the Corporate Leader- Richard Burns. “Events like
furniture brand Mitchell Gold + Bob Word,” cast member Beals is written by the victors, then ship Award. “Every show rep- [this] specifically enable us to
Williams, is the editor of “Crisis: replied, “They can expect a we have made ourselves victo- resents our story… I see that continue to provide things like
40 Stories Revealing the Personal, lot of turmoil. By the end of rious by writing our own his- they see [the GLBT communi- our lesbian cancer services
Social, and Religious Pain and Trau- the season, there’s going to tory.” ty] as part of the larger whole. and our young lesbians pro-
ma of Growing up Gay in America.” be a lot of mail for Ilene Chai- Accepting her award, Chai- We’re unique as individuals, gram, and help ensure that
Gold discusses the pain, suffering, ken!” ken noted, “LGBT people his- but the commonality between programs like these continue
and isolation millions of gay teens Looking stunning in a torically have written, direct- us as human beings is larger to exist.”
still face today. Appearing with Gold red evening gown, “Flash- ed, and produced many of the than anything that separates For more information or
dance” star Beals later took world’s greatest movies and us, and the network puts us to support The Center, visit
䉴 NOV 7, continued on p.14 to the podium to present this television shows while hid- in their stories the same way gaycenter.org.
14 6 - 12 NOV 2008 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM
䉴 CHALLENGES, from p.2 A flare up at Room Service, a club ing the city term limits laws to allow And the crowd was also pressing
on East 21st Street, that had more to local elected officials to serve three further around the table making play
ly 12,000 gay men and lesbians their do with a local issue nevertheless illus- four-year terms instead of two terms. almost impossible. When Ng asked
jobs. He signed the federal Defense of trated how conflict is ever-present in Earlier, back at Gym, a conflict of one group to back off, one white gay
Marriage Act (DOMA) that required the politics. another sort marred an evening that man suggested she go back to her own
federal government to ignore same sex Moments after the cable networks had some pundits marveling at Ameri- country, Ng’s teammates reported.
marriages and allowed states to do the said Obama had won the race, City ca’s first African-American president. That resulted in a loud argument and
same. Council Speaker Christine Quinn, an It was after 9:00 and the Riots had Gym staff quickly tossed the man and
Since Clinton signed DOMA in 1996, out lesbian who represents Chelsea, won their first game to the Griffins six. his two friends out of the bar.
roughly 45 states have passed laws began to address the crowd. Ira Man- “None of my team is paying atten- The two teams agreed to suspend
or amended their constitutions to bar hoff, a longtime gay and AIDS activist, tion to the game,” said Ng as she ges- play for the evening and resume on
same sex marriage. On the night that stormed the stage yelling, “whore of tured towards the television screens another night when they would not
Obama was elected president, voters in Babylon” and “democracy.” that hung near the pool table. CNN have to wrestle with a mob that is in
three states — California, Arizona and Manhoff is among those New York- called Ohio for Obama which led to the mood to party.
Florida — added such bans to their ers who objected to Quinn’s assisting loud and sustained cheering in the Shaking his head, Bess said, “There’s
state constitutions. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in chang- bar. been more drama tonight.”
䉴 SENATE, from p.4 “the first day of our session,” and to O n E l e c t i o n N i g h t , b o t h Va n ty to win marriage in New York State.”
put it at “the top of the list” when dis- Capelle and Senator Thomas K. Both Van Capelle and Duane also
in Buffalo and Darrel Aubertine in a cussing agenda items with the gov- Duane, an out gay Chelsea Demo- dismissed talk that a small number
Lake Ontario district centered in Water- ernor. In the current Senate, there crat who is the lead sponsor of the of conservative Democrats, including
town. are 21 members who have signaled marriage equality bill, noted that no Diaz, might be looking at the possi-
In Nassau County, marriage equality support for marriage equality, all of gay rights legislation has passed in bility of switching their party affilia-
supporter Craig Johnson, a Democrat them Democrats, but there are also Albany without bipartisan support. tion to keep the Republicans in con-
sent to Albany in a special election in six Democrats who have stated their “Now that we are in the major - trol of the Senate. Asked if he worried
early 2007, won a comfortable victory, opposition, including Ruben Diaz, Sr. ity, some Republicans will follow our about that possibility, Van Capelle
and in Lower Manhattan/ Brownstone of the Bronx, who is a harsh foe of the lead,” Duane said. said, “Not at all.”
Brooklyn’s District 25, Daniel Squad- LGBT community. Asked whether the Pride Agenda But, the day after the election, the
ron, a pro-marriage equality Democrat Unless Gennaro wins the 11th might find a chilly reception among Buffalo News reported that a “Gang of
who knocked off incumbent Democrat District seat in a recount, no net gain Senate Republicans after the group’s Four” Democrats — including Diaz,
Martin Connor in the September pri- in public marriage equality support- push for a Democratic flip of the Espada, Brooklyn’s Carl Kruger, and
mary, racked up more than 85 percent ers comes from this election, and one chamber, Van Capelle said, “Look, Senator -elect Hiram Monserrate of
of the vote against John Chromczak, current supporter — Efrain Gonza- we’re going to have to have conver- Queens — were skipping a meeting
an out gay Republican. lez, Jr., of the Bronx — was defeated sations with a lot of people. No bill of Senate Democrats Smith called
Malcolm Smith, the Queens Dem- in the September primary by Pedro passes without both parties.” in Albany that day and instead cau-
ocrat who will be the new majority Espada, Jr., whose views on marriage Van Capelle called the apparent cusing among themselves, making
leader, appeared at ESPA’s annual equality are not known. It is clear, passage of an anti-gay marriage con- no commitments on which party to
Manhattan Fall Dinner last October then, that Smith, in steering the bill stitutional amendment in California support for the majority leadership.
and enthusiastically pledged to “for- to passage in the Senate, would have “sad,” but predicted, “It will have vir- Of the four, only Monserrate is a mar-
ward” the marriage equality bill on to rely on some GOP votes. tually no political impact on our abili- riage equality supporter.
INDICATIONS
ISENTRESS is an anti-HIV medicine that helps control results demonstrating the effect of ISENTRESS on clinical
HIV infection. ISENTRESS is used along with other anti- progression of HIV-1.
HIV medicines in patients who are already taking or have ISENTRESS will NOT cure HIV infection or reduce your
taken anti-HIV medicines that are not controlling their HIV chance of passing HIV to others through sexual contact,
infection, such as patients with HIV resistant to more than sharing needles, or being exposed to your blood.
one type of anti-HIV medication.
ISENTRESS must be used with other anti-HIV medicines.
The safety and effectiveness of ISENTRESS have not
been established for the treatment of HIV infection in adult IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION
patients who have never taken HIV medications before or Immune reconstitution syndrome can happen in some
in patients under 16 years of age. patients with advanced HIV infection (AIDS) when
anti-HIV treatment is started. Signs and symptoms of
The use of other medications active against HIV in inflammation from opportunistic infections may occur
combination with ISENTRESS may increase the likelihood as the medicines work to control the HIV infection and
of your overall response to treatment. Your doctor will strengthen the immune system. Call your doctor right away
work with you to find the right combination of if you notice any signs or symptoms of an infection after
HIV medications. starting ISENTRESS.
The long-term benefits and side effects of treatment with Contact your doctor promptly if you experience
ISENTRESS are unknown at this time. It is important that unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness while
you remain under your doctor’s care. There are no study taking ISENTRESS.
WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 6 - 12 NOV 2008 17
Presenting ISENTRESS.
A different way to treat HIV when used
as part of HIV combination therapy.
The first drug in a class of HIV medications called integrase inhibitors.
Based upon studies of up to 24-weeks:
ISENTRESS when taken in combination with other anti-HIV medications may reduce
viral load to undetectable (less than 400 copies/mL, or less than 50 copies/mL)a and
may increase CD4 (T) cell counts. ISENTRESS may not have these effects in all patients.
( adepending upon the test used)
When ISENTRESS has been given with other anti-HIV You are encouraged to report negative side effects of
drugs, the most common side effects included diarrhea, prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch,
nausea, and headache. or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
People taking ISENTRESS may still develop infections, For additional information about ISENTRESS, please read
including opportunistic infections or other conditions the information on the following page.
that occur with HIV infection.
Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions,
including if you have any allergies, are pregnant or plan
to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding or plan to
breast-feed. ISENTRESS is not recommended for use
during pregnancy. Women with HIV should not
breast-feed because their babies could be infected
with HIV through their breast milk.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take,
including prescription medicines such as rifampin
(a medicine used to treat some infections such as
tuberculosis), non-prescription medicines, vitamins, ISENTRESS is a registered trademark of Merck & Co., Inc.
and herbal supplements. Copyright © 2008 Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 20850555(7)(101)-ISN-CON
18 6 - 12 NOV 2008 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM
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7 DAYS
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7 NIGHTS
NOV 8, from p.14
FILM
Queer Screenings
in Jersey
Chillfest, the monthly queer film
series, returns to Jersey City for its
fourth season today with the pre-
mier of “Pageant,” a documentary
that takes you behind the scenes as
52 ordinary gentlemen go to extraor-
dinary lengths in hopes of being
crowned the 34th Miss Gay America.
The film, by Ron Davis (“The Busi-
ness Traveler”) and Stewart Halpern
(“When Boys Fly”), is a suspenseful
story of bare-knuckled — but not
bare-breasted — competition and
stunning musical numbers and tal-
ent routines. A Q&A with Davis fol-
lows. LITM, 140 Newark Ave., a
half block from the Grove Street
DONNA F. ACETO
PATH, Downtown Jersey City, 2:30
p.m. Tickets are $8 at the door. Drink
specials available. Chillfest contin-
ues on the second Saturday of the
moth through June 2009. For more
information, visit chillfest.org.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
COMMUNITY
A Second Alumni
Reunion
GLYNY Again, the organization
drawn from alumni of the Gay and
Lesbian Youth of New York that met
from 1969 through the end of the
’80s, hosts its second annual reunion
and membership meeting, after its
smashing success of last fall. LGBT
DONNA F. ACETO
DONNA F. ACETO
MILO GEORGE
Community, 208 W. 13th St., 3-5
p.m. Free. For more information,
email approclay@att.net.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
DATING
Now That Tina
Fey’s Over
Comedian/matchmaker Marilyn
Galfin hosts an evening of healthy fun
with a mixture of speed dating, group
discussions, and ice breaker games to
create a non-intimidating, trauma-free
environment with no bar-scene drama,
for lesbians in their 40s and 50s look-
ing to connect with other lesbians for
possible friendship, romance, or love.
LGBT Community Center, 208 W.
13th St., 8-10 p.m. Admission is $20.
For more information, visit nyclaven-
derlounge.com or call 212-989-8549.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
MILO GEORGE
GALLERY
Bruce’s Beefcake
An icon of gay art and one of the
most famous names in physique pho- JUBILANT CROWDS
tography, Bruce Bellas is remembered
today as a pioneer of beefcake. Begin- CELEBRATE OBAMA’S WIN
ning in the 1940s and continuing until As Election Day gave way to news that Illinois Democratic Sen-
his death in 1974, Bellas photographed ator Barack Obama had won the presidency, crowds gathered in
some of the most important figures in numerous outdoor spots across New York City — Harlem and
the world of physical culture — body- Rockefeller Center among them — to celebrate the end of eight
builders. His images are featured in years of George W. Bush at the helm.
this exhibition, Bruce of Los Angeles In Union Square, thousands came together to cheer, lend their
Inside/ Outside by Bruce Bellas,” and personal thumbs up, and for some number of minutes gather
MILO GEORGE
I
t’s been five years since fully, pulling herself up by her
Inbal Pinto and Avshalom 175 Eighth Ave. at 19th St. own hair and then swinging
Pollak’s striking “Oyster” Nov. 11, 12 at 7:30 p.m.; over to sweep the snow with it.
Nov. 13-15 at 8 p.m.;
was performed at the Joyce A giant man holds two women
Nov. 16 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Theater, but audiences still $19; $35; $49; or www.Joyce.org
up, also by the hair, driving
remember the haunting and Or 212-242-0800 them as if they were horses
alluring vision they brought to — until they turn the reins on
the stage from the short story him.
by Tim Burton. Now, choreog- man in a striped suit cranks At the end, one dancer
ELAZAR HAREL
rapher Pinto and director Pol- a wind machine, a dancer dressed in black remains, in
lak return with their new work slowly turns beside him as if stark solitary contrast to the
“Shaker,” an equally rich and she were a music box. Other surrounding whiteness.
dark imagining. dancers emerge from a throb- Inbal Pinto Dance’s imaginary water-filled glass orb hides and reveals new wonders with While there is no story,
A poetic and timely dream bing black mound and from each shake, each new drift of falling and blowing snow. and no overarching message
of life inside a snow globe, the the little cabins, which seem to this whimsical work of art,
immersive intimate world of to move on their own. An eclectic mix of music by each new drift of falling and there are certainly arresting
“Shaker” is fantastic and sur- As the inhabitants magi- Chopin, Purcell, and Gavin blowing snow. scenes and ideas that bear on
real, beautiful but also eerie — cally appear and disappear Bryars combined with Swed- Gymnasts in bodysuits leap the global politics of the spe-
equal parts terror and humor, — clad in either black or ish folk music, Japanese and dive through the space, ciously named “war on ter -
just like the humans who vibrantly colored bodysuits songs from the ’50s, and providing the illusion of move- ror.” That it’s not overt and
inhabit it. — their movement scatters Arvo Pärt’s “Für Alina” is the ment in a liquid environment. seems to organically stem
In gray winter light on the Styrofoam pellet snow, soundtrack for the ever-shift- A statuesque woman cork- from the subconscious realm
a landscape covered with propelling it into enchanting ing abstract scenery of this screws a long stretch fabric of dreams — and all that they
snow, three human-scale whirls of pure white around imaginary water-filled glass in the wind. A couple bickers suggest about our waking life
gray doghouses stand in a their feet and over the sur - orb, which hides and reveals over tea, having a terrible time — makes it that much more
row in the distance. As a rounding area. new wonders with each shake, physically agreeing on the powerful and disturbing.
A
n elegantly structured attested. Motifs kept repeating
“Steve Reich Evening” in different orientations and
once again brought groupings; the density of danc-
Belgian dance-maker Anne ers in space and the kinetic
Teresa De Keersmaeker and texture modulated constantly.
her 13-dancer company, In “Four Organs” — the male
Rosas, back to the Next Wave counterpart to “Eight Lines”
Festival at BAM’s Howard Gil- — five musicians on four elec-
man Opera House (October tronic keyboards and sets of
22-25.) The program was a maracas formed an upstage
tribute to Reich, whose music centerpiece. Five men in black
JACK VARTOOGIAN/FRONTROWPHOTOS
has often inspired her. Along- and white street clothes began
side two of the composer’s in silence, moving in silhou-
musical works — “Pendulum ette, sparely but vigorously.
Music” and “Marimba Phase” – One man repeated a single
were two US premiere dances, motif — knee lift, torso twist—
two De Keersmaeker classics persistently, like a base line.
from 1982 and 1997, and a The men swapped fragments
curious miniature by György The men of choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s company, Rosas, perform in the US premiere of her “Four Organs” at BAM. — backward somersaults,
Ligeti. windmilling arms, running
The program began with ning. same musical idea, with two dramatic lighting for the show. skips, spiraling torsos. Not
“Pendulum Music” — a medi- Next, lit in silhouette, grand pianos straddling the “Music for Pieces of Wood” until four minutes before the
tation in which a pair of hang- “Marimba Phase” illustrated dance space and two women accompanied the premiere of end of the 20-minute piece did
ing microphones swung back Reich’s obsession with instru- dancing. They swung their “Eight Lines” for women, six in the dancers touch. When they
and forth over an amplifier ments moving in and out of right arms, propelling them white and two in black outfits. did, their motifs began to inter-
that produced feedback tones unison. One musician slightly into incessant half turns to A more or less steady flow of lock and redirect each other’s
with each pass. The hypnotic sped his tempo, changing the the left. The simple move- brisk, improvisational-looking trajectories. The five became a
swinging, slightly out of phase, quantity of discrete notes we ment gradually evolved, add- motion carried the women into single interactive organism.
resulted in ever -changing could hear. The rhythm moved ing arms wrapping around and around a glowing circle of As an interlude — covering
rhythms, and gravity deter- from sixes to fours to twos over the body, a sharp stop, an ara- light. De Keersmaeker’s move- a costume and set change —
mined the length of the piece the ten-minute duration of the besque, audible breathing. The ment owes its breathy fluency 100 metronomes on the apron
— about ten minutes — when piece. And an almost imper- partners remained equidistant to the style of postmodern of the stage were set ticking,
the two sounds turned into ceptible nod cued the musi- throughout, lighted from the dance icon Trisha Brown. and we experienced the decay
a steady, bi-tonal hum as the cians to end, miraculously, front in a way that threw three The deceptively casual of sound as they gradually ran
mikes came to rest. This medi- together. shadows on the wall behind phrases are in fact highly
tation set the tone for the eve- “Piano Phase” repeated this them. Remon Fromont did the designed and rehearsed down 䉴 PERSISTENCE, continued on p.29
WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 6 - 12 NOV 2008 21
If you’re ready to embrace the paradox, mystery and perfection of the present moment,
without dogma, doctrine and ritual, this is the meditation class for you.
C
anadian bad boy mation, visit powerhousebooks.com or
Bruce LaBruce’s lat- call 718-666-3049.
est, “Otto; or, Up with ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
Dead People,” is a gory, post-
apocalyptic, gay zombie porn Lusty Power
comedy horror film. The plot, Mark Beard presents an installation
which unfolds in flashbacks of homoerotic power, “Gracious Dicta-
and a film-within-a-film struc- tor: The Seduction of Power.” Clam-
ture, has director Medea Yarn part, 521-531 W. 25th St., ground
(Katharina Klewinghaus) fl. Tue.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. through
shooting a movie about the Nov. 22. For more information, visit
undead star, sexy Fritz (Mar- clampart.com or call 230-0020.
cel Schlutt), and her new dis- ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
covery, Otto (Jey Crisfar), a
gay zombie with an identity From Troy to San
crisis. Juan
On the phone from his “Cultural Expressions in Art” by
home in Canada, LaBruce dis- Magdalena Castaneda and Ron Csuha’s
cussed the origins of his film “Greek Images: Digital Images.” Cas-
and his title character. taneda, a bi-cultural Puerto Rican-born
“A lot of young people I talk lesbian, paints portraits that explore,
to on the Internet, or run into reveal, and honor the human spirit, one
while traveling, are dead inside person at a time. The group of paint-
— really alienated from a lot ings on exhibit evolved out of her past
of the things going on now,” expressionistic use of oil color to the
STRAND RELEASING
he said. “From the corrupt classical painting methods of “under
political situation, to the cor- painting” and the realistic rendering of
porate control of media, and the subject. The 24 images in Csuha’s
show are created from photographs of
䉴 UNDEAD, continued on p.23 Jey Crisfar, as Otto, the gay zombie, and director Bruce LaBruce. statues, mostly of ancient Greek heroes
in museums in the US and Europe.
The tenet of the show is that a great
“T
he World Unseen,” Regent Releasing Castaneda show runs through Nov.
directed by Shamim Opens Nov. 7 28; the Csuha exhibition through
Sarif — who adapt- Quad Cinema Nov. 14.
ed her own novel — is a well- ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
meaning but seriously flawed
lesbian drama. This period half-black –– by the apartheid-
piece about Amina (Sheetal
Sheth), an unconventional café
owner who develops a pas-
sionate bond with a married
woman, Miriam (Lisa Ray), in
era society. She is beautiful
and a bit butch. In fact, two
characters point out that she
favors trousers, in case view-
ers were not paying attention.
SUN.NOV.9
GALLERY
The Even Couple
1952 Cape Town, sounds good Amina defies her heritage, Gilbert and George met in 1967
on paper, but comes across resisting marriage, and, when while students in London and began
like a bad potboiler on screen. pressed about having chil- to create art together, developing a
A female-empower ment dren, goes against conven- uniquely recognizable style both in
drama, the film tackles signif- tion, saying she would prefer their pictures and in their presentations
icant issues of gender, racial, girls over boys. Most impor- of themselves as living sculptures. Over
and sexual discrimination tantly, she subverts the law, 40 years, they developed a new format
among immigrants. But Sarif hiding a woman sought by that created large-scale pictures, visu-
brought a heavy hand to both the authorities for flaunting ally and emotionally powerful, through
REGENT RELEASING
the writing and the directing, the Prohibition of Mixed Mar- a unique creative process. The Brook-
overemphasizing every point. riages Act. lyn Museum is the final venue in an
Indian-born Amina runs a Amina agrees to help plant international tour that marks the first
café she daringly co-owns with a garden so she can spend retrospective of the artists’ work in
Jacob (David Dennis), who’s Sheetal Sheth (l.) and Lisa Ray are a would-be lesbian couple in 1950s, apartheid-era South
considered “colored” — he’s 䉴 MELODRAMA, continued on p.29 Africa. 䉴 NOV 9, continued on p.24
WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 6 - 12 NOV 2008 23
gaycity
news.com
24/ Opera 6 - 12 NOV 2008
J
ohn Adams and Peter more than 20 years. The exhibition was
Sellars’ intriguing “Doc- organized by the Tate Modern, London,
tor Atomic” premiered with the collaboration of the artists,
in San Francisco in 2005, with who consider this to be the definitive
later performances in Chicago. presentation of their art. 200 Eastern
Dissatisfied with Sellars’ stag- Parkway at Washington Ave. near
ing, Peter Gelb opted for a new Grand Army Plaza. Wed.-Fri., 11
one by first-time opera direc- a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (until
tor Penny Woolcock. It scored 11 p.m. first Sat.); Sun. 11 a.m.-6
at least a succes d’estime at p.m. Exhibition runs through Jan.
P
heimer and the other female ect — each had a cubicle. as superbly projected and hiladelphia heard some
character, the Native American
Pasqualita, sing a great deal
of vocalise, as if Womankind
in the piece’s world were some
kind of inchoate, inarticulate
The set later opened and
rotated to produce different
spaces, but confinement in the
boxes exacerbated some of the
distortion inherent in Adams’
constructed set elements.
The finale’s “ Mamma Mia”
style women’s chorus cos-
tumes could be rethought;
ditto the upside-down, even-
more beautiful singing
October 17 when the
Orchestra gave Berlioz’ idio-
syncratic dramatic symphony
“Romeo et Juliette” under
TUE.NOV.11
HEALTH
Don’t Focus the
Sensitivity. having written this massive, tually bleeding head project- Charles Dutoit’s baton — not Mind on Stress
The reductive treatment generally impressive score ed during Pizarro’s aria (the an immaculate or particularly Center CARE hosts its weekly drop-
of the Native American char- with the presumption of micro- only other figurative elements incisive reading when it came in yoga workshop for people of all gen-
acters is as shamelessly rac- phone-enhanced singing. in the set were two eyes, apt to orchestral ensemble or pac- ders, Tue., 6-7:30 p.m. through Dec.
ist as chez Belasco and Puc- Gerald Finley’s Oppenheim- in a work so concerned with ing. Two participants proved 16, at LGBT Community Center, 208
cini’s Wowkle and Joe, despite er, magnificently sung and specularity). The brightly lit outstanding — David Hayes’ W. 13th St. Weekly attendance and
the creative intentions being acted, proved inspiring. Very dungeon scene obviated cred- eloquent Philadelphia Singers registration not required. $5 suggested
steeped — drowned? — in strong holdovers from 2005 ible mistaken identities; that, Chorale, who had the lion’s donation. For more information, visit
political correctness. Pasqual- include Eric Owens’ bluster- and a slackening in Rob- share of vocalism, and the gaycenter.org/health.
ita’s repetitive phrases about ing general, the excellent light ert Driver’s generally sound elegant, plaintive-toned mezzo ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
nature, motherhood, and ritual tenor Thomas Glenn as an direction, reduced the needed Ruxandra Donose, whose
denied any kind of real subjec- idealistic young scientist, and tension. supple “Couplets” reflected Building
tivity; worse, as the bomb blast Richard Paul Fink bringing Driver left in yards of dia- perfect French style. Why New Community Health
approaches she is surrounded his Alberich-like cynicism and logue, with generally positive York presenters favor the ano- Center Care’s Gender Identity Proj-
by mute, feathered-attired capacious voice to the complex results; rarely, for instance, dyne Angelika Kirschschlager ect (GIP) hosts its monthly drop-in advo-
warriors deployed entirely as figure of Edward Teller. has one seen Leonore’s mis- and the merely correct Anke cacy group working to create a commu-
symbols. Sasha Cooke, a fine young givings over flirting with Mar- Vondung over the more inter- nity-based trans-access to healthcare
Both in the libretto and the recitalist, disappointed as Kitty zelline so fully explored. Cor- pretively interesting and vocal- movement. The Transgender Health
production, some elements just — too many problems with rado Rovaris led with aplomb ly superior Donose is anyone’s Initiative of New York (THINY) is for
seem like padding; but, in the intonation and hard-edged and dispatch. In her initial guess. transgendered, gender non-conforming
second act, Adams sustains ascending intervals. Meredith Leonore, Christine Goerke’s As for Elina Garanca: sorry, people and allies. Along with GIP, the
the tension by means of rhythm Arwady’s earthy contralto ever-larger, ringing dramatic but massive promotion alone event is hosted by the Transgender
and canny orchestration. sounded splendid in Pasquali- soprano could still honor soft does not make stars. Genuine Legal Defense and Education Fund, and
Julian Crouch’s set proved a ta’s largely melismatic writing. dynamics and execute pre- audience excitement makes the New York Association for Gender
mixed success. A heavy scrim The instrumental playing cise vocal filigree. Her wonted stars. (Donose stars as Rossi- Rights Advocacy. LGBT Community
depicting the Table of Elements was not spotless in this fourth honest dramatic commit- ni’s Isabella at OCP opposite Center, 208 W. 13th St.. Nov. 11,
as of 1945 obscured the initial performance, but debutant ment, insightful phrasing, and Kevin Glavin and Lawrence Dec. 2, 6-7:30 p.m.
images of a white multi-topped Alan Gilbert— newly appointed often thrilling vocalism earned Brownlee — persuasive cast- ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
tent figuring as the Sangre de chef of the New York Philhar- deserved cheers. ing — November 14-23.) The
Cristo Mountains — and, final- monic — makes a welcome, Most cast members made other Berlioz soloists, Gregory HUMAN RIGHTS
ly, as the mushroom cloud — capable addition to the con- pleasing company debuts. Kunde and David Wilson- Struggle for the
and a kind of a Calder mobile ducting roster. Anthony Dean Griffey’s strong Johnson, showed experienced Sacred & the
of exploded material that hung lyric tenor and formidable art- artistry and voices healthiest Sovereign
O
above the proceedings, as, later, pera Company of istry brought musical and spir- at their top ends. This year marks the 30th anniversa-
did the bomb itself. Philadelphia began itual conviction to Florestan. ry of American recognition of the rights
The scrim lifted to disclose its season October 10 Greer Grimsley (Pizarro) fur- David Shengold (shengold@ of Native peoples to practice traditional
a three-tiered structure across with “Fidelio,” the most visu- nished suitable machismo and yahoo.com) writes about opera
the stage for the chorus — ally striking production in its exciting tonal snarl, and Ailyn for many venues. 䉴 NOV 11, continued on p.26
6 - 12 NOV 2008 Theater/25
Been There, Done That
“Boys’ Life” grown old; “Capture Now” is fresh, poignant
BY CHRISTOPHER BYRNE BOYS’ LIFE tion is that the boys have to
Second Stage return from Neverland some-
307 W. 43rd St.
T
he medieval mystery time, or face the consequenc-
plays were designed Tue. at 7 p.m.; Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m.; es. The characters he pres-
Wed., Sat. at 2 p.m.; Sun. at 3 p.m.
to educate an almost ents, unfortunately, are never
$70; 212-246-4422
totally illiterate populace developed fully enough for us
about the key stories of the to believe him. They are types
CAPTURE NOW
Bible from the 10th to the The Theatres at 45 Bleecker Street doing typical things.
15th centuries, more or less. 45 Bleecker St. As a director, Grief knows
It’s not a good sign that I was Tue.-Fri. at 8 p.m.; how to get solid performanc-
thinking about them through- Sat. at 3 & 8 p.m.; es from his actors, and Clint
out the bland and largely Sun. 3 & 7 p.m. Ramos’ costumes are an eerie
pointless revival of Howard $56.50; 212-239-6200 flashback to the period, but
JEAN-MARIE GUYAUX
Korder’s “Boys’ Life.” that’s not enough to sustain
The mystery plays were an entire evening.
performed on pageant wag- aptly, the lack thereof. During the Reformation,
ons, mobile stages that were In 1988, the play seemed the pageant wagons and mys-
dragged through the towns on fresh and engaging, and there Rhys Corio, Jason Biggs, and Peter Scanavino party hearty in “Boys’ Life,” but we’ve seen it tery plays were banned. With
festival days. Michael Greif’s was something appealing before and seen it better. an economy shattered, the
production of Howard Korder’s about the “Puer Aeternus,” kind of reckless masculine
1988 play is performed on the “boy eternal” as an emerg- ogy and inherent darkness in short scenes, we watch the behavior “Boys’ Life” repre-
a series of wagons dragged ing type in our culture. Yet in these characters. Seen today, boys Phil (Jason Biggs), Don sents may become increasing-
around the stage to create the succeeding years, plays, “Boys’ Life” seems by compar- (Peter Scanavino), and Jack ly irrelevant as a new sobriety
the various settings. So I kept movies, pop psychology, and ison to gloss over the internal (Rhys Corio) tangle with vari- and maturity are demanded.
wondering whether Greif want- Dr. Phil have all kind of ruined lives of these boy-men, mak- ous women in various situ- Or not. Economic reforma-
ed us to think that the play is the party and showed us that ing this more an anthropolog- ations. The women are ulti- tion may be difficult for many
about entering into the mys- beneath the veneer is a shat- ical examination rather than mately stereotypes and foils to embrace — the boys may
tery of the young, single man tered soul. Boo hoo. a complete play. (Hmmm… for the men drawn to and just keep partying ’til they all
who refuses to grow up — to Moreover, playwrights like maybe those wagons are zoo repelled by them. It all ends fall off the cliff.
help us understand his inner Neil LaBute have delved much cages? Who knows?) at the sidelines of Don’s mar-
workings and spirit, or, more more deeply into the psychol- Structured as a series of riage, and Korder’s implica- 䉴 BEEN THERE, continued on p.29
26/ Books 6 - 12 NOV 2008
T
he title of Edmund referred to this book as ‘Rim- spirituality, forced underground after
White’s erudite new baud: Teen Top.’ To be sure, centuries of persecution. At the same
biography, “Rimbaud: Rimbaud enjoyed shocking time, Native American governments
The Double Life of a Rebel,” his older straight male friends began to exercise a formal role in the
about the legendary 19th cen- by claiming otherwise.” decision-making processes governing
tury French poet who trans- White notes that the pair of Indian families and children after the
formed modern literature, is a poets made no secret of their devastation of stolen children, board-
sly reference to the visionary “vice,” and even collaborated ing schools, and adoption. A panel of
bad boy’s sexuality during his on an erotic sonnet celebrat- Native American leaders — including
scandalous relationship with ing the delights of the asshole, Sharon Day, executive director of Indig-
I
many poems — and even finds manuscripts: “Maybe I was systematically transforming n time, the intentionally dered, and two-spirit American Indians
space to contribute his queer afraid that my book would himself into a seer through boorish and arrogant Rim- in the New York metro area, moderates.
viewpoints on his famously be accepted, that it would be the rational “disordering of all baud, incapable as he was LGBT Community Center, 208 W.
elusive subject; which makes published, that I would have the senses.” of being politically correct, was 13th St., rm. 301, 6-8 p.m. Admission
him unique among Rimbaud to live out my fantasies — Same sex artistic relation- ostracized by the reigning artis- is free, but donations are welcomed.
scholars and the notion of answered ships are hardly news today — tic community, the Parnas- For more information, visit ne2ss.org.
With White, the poetical is prayers I found even more Jean Cocteau, with Raymond sians, and soon forced Verlaine ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
personal. In his first autobio- alarming than a continuation Radiguet and Jean Marais; to leave the sterile security of
graphical novel, “A Boy’s Own of my dependence and frus- Gertrude Stein and Alice B. his bourgeois married home Gallery
Story” (1982), he detailed his tration. After all, in Rimbaud’s Toklas; Benjamin Britten and life to pursue the open road as Fleshing Out
confusion over his “forbid- nineteenth century Catholic Peter Pears; Sam Wagstaff absinthe-guzzling fellow vaga- Street Life
den” post-pubescent queer- village, a homosexual might and Robert Mapplethorpe; bonds. Verlaine was the classic Catherine Opie’s body of photo-
ness, and how he aspired to a have been a sinner or a crimi- Merce Cunningham and John mean drunk, who could write graphic work, created since the early
life of spiritual and romantic nal, but in the Freudian 1950s Cage — gays of White’s gen- elegant impressionistic verse 1990s, spans such diverse genres as
freedom: “ I believed without a in America, he was sick and in eration were hard-pressed to when dry and turn homicidal studio portraiture, landscape photog-
doubt in a better world, which urgent need of treatment. A find accepted models of them. under the influence. He was raphy, and urban street photography to
was adulthood, or New York or sinner might insist he wanted He cites the famous example soon convinced that his young explore notions of communal, sexual,
Paris or love.” to be a Prodigal Son, a crimi- of Diaghilev and Nijinsky: “To paramour held the key to the and cultural identity. From her early
Like many adolescent read- nal or might want to be irre- read (as a teenager) that the ineffable. As things turned portraits of queer subcultures to her
ers of Rimbaud before him, deemable, but no one could two men ‘were one in private out, the co-dependant lovers expansive urban landscapes, Opie has
White found his story intoxi- fight for the right to be sick.” life,’ thrilled me, just as I was — Rimbaud, the Dionysian offered profound insights into the con-
cating stuff; in his brief intro- Of course, the story of the half-convinced by Diaghilev’s pagan-provocateur, and Ver- ditions in which communities form and
duction, he recalls discovering 17-year -old prodigy-poet argument that heterosexu- laine, the passive-aggressive, the terms by which they are defined.
the poetry at 16 at a board- from the boondocks of the ality was an animal neces- guilt-ridden lapsed-Catholic Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth
ing school for boys, where he Ardennes, who, with the avid sity for breeding, ‘but that love — became the notorious Joe Ave. at E. 89th St., Sat.-Wed., 10
would sneak from his dor - assistance of Verlaine, his between the same sex, even if Orton and Kenneth Halliway of a.m.-5:45 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-7:45
mitory bed to the toilets and plug-ugly lover, became the the persons involved are quite their day. p.m. Through Jan. 7. Admission is
secretly read “The Drunken enfant terrible of Parisian ordinary, because of the very The climax to their toxic $18; $15 for students & seniors; pay
Boat,” a long poem of adoles- bohemia in 1871, and, even- similarity of their natures relationship occurred in Brus- what you wish Fri. after 5:45 p.m. The
cent yearning and wanderlust, tually, the darling of the Sur- and the absence of a presup- sels, when Verlaine, in a jeal- LGBT Community Center presents a
and “float off into daydreams realists, has been rehashed in posed difference, is creative ous rage, shot and wounded survey of Opie’s exhibit and career in
of exotic climes.” studies all through the last to and artistic.’ Oddly enough, Rimbaud after he threatened its Second Tuesday series, Nov. 11, 6
“As an unhappy gay adoles- the present century. Christo- this strange and questionable to leave; when he was arrested p.m. 208 W. 13th St. Tickets are $10 at
cent, stifled by boredom and pher Hampton’s play, “Total homage to homosexuality had for attempted murder, inves- gaycenter.org.
sexual frustration and para- Eclipse,” was made into a 1995 been written by Nijinsky’s wife, tigators uncovered a piece of ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
lyzed by self-hatred, I longed film, with the pre-“Titanic” Romola (not so odd, perhaps, “incriminating” doggerel by
to run away to New York and Leonardo DiCaprio starring as since Romola, as I only recent- Verlaine addressed to Rim- DANCE
make my mark as a writer; Rimbaud. (River Phoenix was ly learned, was a lesbian). baud, which, in White’s trans- From Outer Space
I identified completely with originally attached to the proj- “The only problem with lation, reads: & Heard on the
Rimbaud’s desires to be free, ect, but the part of Rimbaud the case of Rimbaud,” White Street
to be published, to be sexual, went to DiCaprio after Phoe- continues, “was that the boy, What hard angel stuffs me After its premiere at the Wexner
to go to Paris,” White writes. nix’s death.) Rimbaud, dominated the older full Center for Performing Arts in Colum-
“All I lacked was his courage. It is well-documented how poet, Verlaine.” Between the shoulders, bus, Ohio, Bebe Miller Company brings
And genius. I crammed all my the sexually repressed, self- Referring to Rimbaud’s while “Necessary Beauty” — a performance
homework into the afternoon, loathing, unprepossessing iconic autobiographical poem, I fly off to Paradise... that converges dance, theater, and the
when most of the other boys Verlaine became infatuated “A Season in Hell,” White O you, the Jealous one, who latest in digital technology in a series
were playing sports. That way with the fresh-faced maverick, adds: “Rimbaud was the top, waves to me, of short dances contained by space
I was free during the two- whose high-flown aesthetic the ‘Infernal Bridegroom’,
hour compulsory study hall objective was to “re-invent and Verlaine, ten years older 䉴 RIMBAUD, continued on p.27 䉴 NOV 11, continued on p.29
WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 6 - 12 NOV 2008 27
䉴 RIMBAUD, from p.26 Despite the pseudoscience and could Rimbaud’s total renunciation of
“disgusting prurience” involved in poetry be seen as a metaphor for the
Here I am, here is all of me! the affair, White adds, “As a result of seer putting out his
Still unworthy I crawl toward you — it, curiously enough, we know more own eyes to wander in the wilder-
Mount my loins and trample me! about the intimate condition of [Ver- ness? The visionary poet of “A Sea-
laine’s] penis and anus than we do son in Hell” would spend the rest of
Next, Verlaine was subjected to a about the intimate anatomy of any his life in godforsaken regions, until
dehumanizing medical examination, other major poet of the past.” 1891, when a long-ignored cancerous
the doctors reported on his “small The next startling metamorphosis of tumor on his leg forced him to return
penis and its particularly small, taper- Rimbaud, then 24, involved his total to France for an amputation, where he
ing head,” and after a bogus rectal renunciation of art (which he would was tended by his devoted sister, Isa-
exam, concluded that “P. Verlaine ever-after refer to as “hogwash”) and belle, until, in a morphine haze, the
bears on his person traces of habitual his wild pursuit, beginning in 1878, Flying Frenchman finally gave up the
pederasty, both active and passive”; he of commerce and filthy lucre in truly ghost.
was summarily imprisoned, accused of infernal regions of North Africa; he In his cogent conclusion, White
sodomy, and served a two-year prison began as a foreman of a stone quarry examines Rimbaud’s long-lasting
sentence — shades of the future Oscar and gradually became a coffee trader influence — “far more rigorous than
Wilde trial to come! and gun-runner. the posthumous reputation of Ver -
White astutely parses the “official” There’s an almost Oedipal quality laine, for instance” — and the para-
medical reports: “Ironically, Verlaine to Rimbaud’s ambivalent relationship dox of the fame he himself renounced:
had requested just such an examina- with the older Verlaine. Indeed, he “Perhaps obscure poets (and Rimbaud
tion in the past to prove he was not admires Verlaine the Poet; yet, hav- invented obscurity) become more
homosexual. Perhaps he thought the ing grown up constantly abandoned renowned than transparent ones since
whole examination was bogus and by his own scoundrel father, Rimbaud only the obscure need interpretation
could not be made to prove anything. must have subconsciously resented ed off to one side, — that is their lasting appeal both to
Or maybe his ‘practices’ with Rimbaud Verlaine for callously abandoning his things seen… For a father can be scholarly exegetes and adolescent
did not involve anal intercourse. Here infant son, George. White observes disturbing! — and the things mystics.”
the Belgian doctors seemed to find that “Arthur seems to have harbored dreamed up! The claims for a piece of Rimbaud
what they were looking for. They knew erotic memories (or fantasies) of his His knee, nudging me sometimes; seem endless; as White explains:
that Verlaine was recently divorced father. When he was seventeen and his trousers “Everyone has weighed in on Rim-
and that Mathilde had accused her living in Paris, he wrote a series of Whose fly my finger wanted to baud. Marcel Proust wrote that he was
husband and Rimbaud of immoral parodies of other poets, including the explore — oh no! ‘almost superhuman’. Bob Dylan in a
relations. popular bourgeois rhymester, Francois In order to touch one of my dad’s bits song lyric said, ‘Relationships have all
“The small penis perhaps suggested Coupee, whom he despised: — big, black been bad, mine have been like Ver-
a low level of virility, its tapering form And hard — laine’s and Rimbaud’s … Patti Smith
supposedly spoke of constant insertion I daydreamed about my father some- He whose hairy hand rocked me in wrote a song called ‘Easter’ about Rim-
in a tight young anus—and the slight times; the cradle…” baud’s first communion. Jim Morrison
dilation of his own anus was thought In the evening, a card game and off- claimed Rimbaud as his ‘master’….”
to prove his submission to Rimbaud’s color jokes, After the squalid scandal and trial
attentions, though all of recent date.” The man from next door, and I seat- — and fucking his paternal stand-in — 䉴 RIMBAUD, continued on p.30
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䉴
7 NIGHTS
NOV 11, from p.26
sketch is Ligeti’s “Poéme sym-
phonique pour cent métro-
nomes.”
Part 1 of “Drumming”
counterpoint to the Zen-like
astringency of Reich’s musi-
cal minimalism.
Except for “Music for Pieces
kind of cultural anchor.
Luscious 3-D woven back-
drops by Peter England and
costumes by Gabriela Tyleso-
rations are blunted by some
less-than-inspired modern
dance movement.
“Act 2 – Brolga” traces
(1997) brought the program of Wood,” all the music was va and Jennifer Irwin in tex- the journey of a young girl
and time that find expression in the to an exhilarating close. Its expertly performed live by the tural, natural-hued fabrics (lovely, willowy Deborah
mysteries of physics and the passing aerobic pace was impelled by six men of the Belgian percus- enhanced the impression Brown) who ventures into
epiphanies of overheard conversations, the accumulating percussion sion ensemble Ictus. that the dances sprung from the territory of brolga birds
to New York. Albert Mathias provides sound, as drummers entered the earth. And Nick Schliep- in the Brolga Plains of Dhal-
M
live music, and Miller collaborated with singly and joined in playing at eanwhile, around er and Joseph Mercurio’s inbuy. She meets a flock of
video artist Maya Ciarrocchi, animator the back of the stage. A solo the corner from beautifully sculptural light- birds — the males with red
Vita Berezina-Blackburn, dramaturg woman, dancing in a strip of the Opera House ing added to the mystery. combs keep her aloft as she
Talvin Wilks, composer Albert Mathias, light on a partially unfurled at the BAM Harvey, Austra- Music by David Page and crawls and walks upon their
writer Ain Gordon, and lighting design- roll of light gray dance floor- lia’s Bangarra Dance The- Steve Francis featured vocal nearly naked bodies, and
er Michael Mazzola. Dance Theater ing, was joined by a man, mir- atre was performing Stephen chants and assorted native the females scurry around
Workshop, Bessie Schönberg roring her, out of the light in Page’s “Awakenings” (Octo- and western instruments. in sheer dresses. The girl
Theater, 219 W. 19th St. Nov. 11-15, front of her. ber 21-25.) The dances of “Act I – Boomerang” is a does a sensuous duet with
7:30 p.m. On Nov. 12, there will be a Gradually, the other 11 this aboriginal company are rather prosaic depiction of the alpha brolga before being
post-performance talk with David emerged from the shadows at based on ancient rituals and traditional rituals of hunting, transformed into a bird her-
Thomson. On Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m., the sides and filled the stage legends. But the dancing, fishing, and initiation into self. But with its movement
there will be a pre-show coffee with flocking patterns of run- created by Page, is thorough- manhood. Despite the remark- rooted in pre-postmodern-
and conversation with Ain Gordon ning, skipping, and twisting ly modern. His collaborator ably fluid dancing of Sidney ism, “Awakenings” seems
and Talvin Wilks. On Nov. 14, there motion. Phrases combined is guest artist and cultural Saltner, as a spirit in search of less culturally ancient than
will be a Friday Night Toast after and recombined like pieces advisor Djakapurra Mun- rebirth, and Patrick Thaiday just old-fashioned.
the performance. Tickets are $26;
$15 for members, students & seniors
at dancetheaterworkshop.org or 212- 䉴 MELODRAMA, from p.22 However, the rest of “The think whole sections of film often Sarif cuts to a beautiful
924-0077. Wo r l d U n s e e n ” i s p o o r l y are missing. vista, but that hardly com-
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ more time with Miriam, whom realized. Sarif certainly has The issue of racism is por- pensates.
she flirted with at her café. important messages to share trayed without subtlety. A The performances are also
The two women are instantly about the role of women in subplot involving Jacob’s subpar. Sheetal Sheth glides
THU.NOV.13
MUSIC
Forward Thinking
smitten with each other, but
Miriam, who just gave birth
to her third child, is still com-
ing to terms with her same-
sex desires.
society in general and during
the ’50s in apartheid South
Africa in particular. But the
film often presents its drama
in an unintentionally funny
attraction to Madeleine
(Grethe Fox), the local post-
mistress, is meant to show
how discrimination is mani-
fested in society. Yet an epi-
through the film — her long
dark hair flowing — with an
air of self-righteousness. Lisa
Ray is all tentative and flut-
tery as the prim and proper
Grammy-winning sextet eighth “The World Unseen” is best manner. A flashback involv- sode in which Madeleine Miriam. These actresses may
blackbird will be joined by students when the two women are ing a child being “stolen” is stands up to a cop who bullies be lovely, but they cannot
from the Oberlin Contemporary Music together. Amina tries to coax so badly handled — the child Jacob is didactic, but lacks overcome the deficiencies in
Ensemble to form a conductor-less Miriam into a romance, offer- is obviously a prop and not feeling. The point is made, the script that reduce their
supergroup for the world premieres of ing her driving lessons and real — it is hard not to guf- but the impact is blunted. characters to archetypes.
commissioned compositions by two pressing the point that there faw. The same can be said for The supporting cast fares
legendary American mavericks (par- is more to life than being a When husband Omar — much of the film. Viewers will even worse, with Parvin
don the word), Frederic Rzewski and housewife and a mother. But who is adamant about keep- have a hard time caring about Dabas trying too hard in his
Steve Reich. The program, inspired by her efforts to take care of her ing Miriam in her “place” at characters who are all sym- one-note role and Natalie
Albrecht Dürer’s haunting 16th-century new friend meet with resis- home, tending to their chil- bols — of liberation (Amina), Becker purring her every line
engraving “Knight, Death and the tance. dren and their retail business repression (Miriam), patriar- in case viewers didn’t think
Devil”, is headlined by Rzewski’s bizarre Still, as the women spend — slaps her and upsets tables chy (Omar), and on and on she was sexy enough. David
fantasia on songs associated with war. more time alone, their because she suggests cooking — because nothing and no Dennis and Grethe Fox nobly
And Steve Reich’s funky, rhythmic tour- romance blossoms. When- part-time at Amina’s café, the one in “The World Unseen” is inhabit their rudimentary
de-force, “Double Sextet,” will receive ever the two women start to scene provokes laughter rath- three-dimensional. characters, but they are not
its first all-live performance. The kiss, they are interrupted er than shock. This low-budget drama given much to do.
Kitchen, 512 W. 19th St. Nov. 13-14, — a portent that their love is Omar has an affair with is lacking in visual style as Perhaps Sarif was too close
8 p.m. Tickets are $15; $12 for students forbidden. The film remains Miriam’s sister-in-law, Farah well. The sets look cheap and to her material to breathe life
at thekitchen.org or 212-255-5793, ext. extremely chaste, but the (Natalie Becker), but their unconvincing, and the actors’ into it on film. As it stands,
11. relationship between the two tryst is shot and edited so shadows are often promi- “The World Unseen” is best
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ actresses simmers on screen. clumsily that audiences may nent on the walls. Every so left that way.
DANCE
Dreams Dammed 䉴 BEEN THERE, from p.25 characters Jonas creates are he has chosen for Ace seems
Butoh-influenced choreographer appealing, so one is willing a bit forced at times. Direc-
O
Erin Dudley presents an evening of sur- nce my initial resis- to go along for the 90-minute tor Larry Moss has helped
real dance with artist Mark McNamara tance was overcome ride. to keep the story rolling and
and musician Mark Deutsch. Dancers by the highly tal- As a performer, Jonas is the transitions sharp and, at
dangle from the ceiling and steady New ented actor/playwright Josh bursting with energy, and he times, moving.
York City’s hectic pace to a slow latex Jonas, I have to admit that I has a strong ability to make It’s wasn’t the death of Ace,
crawl. The evening explores beauty, was affected by his new play, the characters distinct. His finally, that got me. Instead, it
love, and restraint within our limiting “Capture Now.” It is the story inherent charm and essential was the growth of Elijah and
definitions of eroticism and the pre- of Elijah, a young man on innocence under a manufac- the understated understand-
sumed banality of domesticity. Danc- Long Island who is coping tured cool is compelling. So, ing that his Hispanic girl-
ers Masanori Asahara, Kelly Buwalda, with both a tortured adoles- too, is the use of music as the friend provided that engaged
John Mario-Sevilla, and Omagbitse cence, including his sexual initial bond between Elijah me. The knowledge that Eli-
Omagbemi perform to mesmerizing awakening, and the death and Ace and the believable jah is not going to end up like
live music by Mark Deutsch on his self of his younger brother, Ace, tension of a young man trying one of the soulless wastrels
made bazantar. Gene Frankel The- from cancer. to separate from his family of “Boys’ Life” was incredibly
CAROL ROSEGG
ater, 24 Bond St., btwn. Lafayette The story and the play has while at the same time devel- moving, believable, and heart-
St. & Bowery. Nov. 13-14, 8 p.m.; bathos aplenty on an Oprah- oping his own individuality. felt. Jonas really came into
Nov. 16, 4 p.m. Tickets are $18-20 at esque scale, and the conceit It’s not easy for a solo per- his own in those moments.
smarttix. that the dying brother has former to convey a child with- Fortunately, there is a stra- Actor/playwright Josh Jonas avoids one-
Yoda-like wisdom to impart is out being cloying, and Jonas tegically placed box of tissues man show pitfalls in his moving “Capture
䉴 7 DAYS, continued on p.30 hackneyed, but ultimately the succeeds, even if the voice as one leaves the theater. Now.”
30 6 - 12 NOV 2008 WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM
E
dmund White recently
shared his thoughts,
speculations and con-
victions about Rimbaud — the
brief, flaming career.
SAT.NOV.15
ing chaos. It might come as borg, and already published his uality before he met Verlaine? dark and good-looking —
a terrible cost to you, not to “Seraphita” in Rimbaud’s era, EW: Well, he did write a lot according to photos of him. He
mention for your friends, but wrote about an androgynous, of poems in which he day- and Rimbaud were probably
that’s all right, because out angelic creature of a higher dreamed about girls. But in the lovers for a short time. But DANCE
of this great disorder comes intelligence, which seems 19th century, of course, society Nouveau became an eccentric Live From Buenos
this great poetry. After all, reminiscent of his poems, like didn’t have the group elements and ended up begging outside Aires
whereas prose is realistic “Genie” or “Antique.” Could together, the way we do today. of churches. Argentine company Tango Fire returns
and chatty — poetry has an that have been one source for Verlaine, like Oscar Wilde, was to New York with a program showcasing
exalted side to it, where you his poems? married and a father, and even ME: Did you ever find any ten torrid dancers accompanied by the
transform the everyday into EW: Possibly. In Charleville, wrote a lovely poem about how hard evidence that Rimbaud fiery musicians of Quatrotango. The com-
the fantastic. For instance, he borrowed books from an much he loved and physi- and his servant boy, Djami, pany offers a journey through the history
Rimbaud writes about seeing obese, older gay man, Charles cally desired his wife. That he, were lovers? of tango, from its origins in the red light
a mosque instead of a factory. Bretagne, whom he’d met at a like Wilde, was attracted to a EW: No. But he did leave district of Buenos Aires to the glamour
Rimbaud took the idea of local café and befriended him, beautiful boy was embraced him something in his will. of the Roaring 20s and its evolution to
being a mage or seer quite and whose opinion he respect- as part of the Greek ideal; in Rimbaud also had a native the world of contemporary ballroom.
seriously. He even read books ed. These were books about which the older man loves mistress in Abyssinia. She was The performance also features singer
on alchemy and magic. There’s alchemy, mysticism, and the the young ephebe and guides black with European features. Javier “Cardenal” Dominguez, a regular
a famous letter that he wrote occult, which were very popu- and nurtures his intellect. For performer in many of the most impor-
called the “Lettre du Voyant,” lar at the time. instance, all of Wilde’s affairs ME: What can your readers tant tango houses in Buenos Aires, and
which he wrote to two differ- Swedenborg’s philoso- — apart from Lord Alfred look forward to in the future? showcases the music of Astor Piazzolla
ent people and stated that the phy was widespread and had Douglas — were with younger, EW: I’m working on a new and others. Brooklyn Center for the
poet must be a kind of seer. I already influenced writers pretty men. novel, and a history of New Performing Arts, Brooklyn College,
mean, Rimbaud’s literary era such as Blake and Baudelaire. York City in the 1970s. 2900 Campus Road (#2 or #5 train to
was really at the height of the Baudelaire’s famous poem ME: So, Verlaine and Rim- Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn College), 8
Romantic period with a capital “Correspondences” and longer baud were both switch-hit- Michael Ehrhardt can be con- p.m. Tickets are $30-$75 at BrooklynCen-
R, and the notion of the artist prose poems must have had ters? tacted at Menyc3@aol.com. terOnline.org䉴or 718-951-4500.
JUMP, continued on p.30
WWW.GAYCITYNEWS.COM 6 - 12 NOV 2008 31
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