Section 4 Music/Arts

Seattle Gay News
Issue 25, Volume 39, June 24, 2011
Section 4 Music/Arts
“We are
here today
to defend
love!”
Lady Gaga delivers passionate
speech at Rome EuroPride
Lady Gaga delivered the fol- for equality and social justice
lowing speech at EuroPride 2011 that would grow inside of me.
in Rome on June 11:
As I become closer to each
and every one of you, through
When I first embarked on my music, dance, art, fashion,
artistic and musical journey and the celebration of our inas a young Italian-American dividuality, it became clear to
woman, born of a full second- me that my greater mission is
generation Italian family, to be a part of the joyous moStefani Joanna An- bilization of the LGBT comgelina German- munity around the world.
otta, I did
We fight for freedom, we
not yet know fight for justice, we beckon
the passion for compassion, understandand fervor ing, and above all, we want
full equality. Now. I am angry
– like many of you here today.
But we shall transform this
Italian square into an electric chapel and exorcise our
anger, baptize our pain, and
stand here strong in the defense of love.
For some governments, Gay
rights are not a political or
social priority and the principles of non-discrimination
are ambiguous. In my own
country, the transparency of
democracy, similarly, has become crowded and confused
by political procedure. I find
myself Googling and switching from channel to television channel, radio to print,
just to reveal an iota of political truth. I want to see the
see GAGA page 22
reuters
Lady Gaga at EuroPride 2011 in Rome, Italy, where the crowd estimate was 2.5 million
2
Seattle Gay News
June 24, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
3
nic k lov ell
Jujubee
to R Place for Pride
by Shaun Knittel
SGN Associate Editor
Drag queen sensation Jujubee just can’t get enough of
Seattle.
Just months after her two
sold-out performances at R
Place (619 E. Pine St.), she is
back to headline the popular
bar’s Pride weekend – and her
fans couldn’t be happier.
“My first time performing
at R Place was so fun,” Jujubee told Seattle Gay News.
“The drag queens who perform in Lashes Cabaret with
Lady Chablis are super talented and super sweet.”
Jujubee said the R Place
bar staff and entertainers
“made me feel like family
when I arrived.”
As for the fans, she said,
“The audience was one of
the best I’ve ever performed
for. They accepted my performances as art and saw
my story. I can’t wait for
this weekend!”
Jujubee skyrocketed to
fame after her involvement
in season two of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Her
constant passion for the art of drag carried her through to become a finalist in
the competition – something she wouldn’t
trade for the world. Her out-of-this-world
lip-sync skills and enduring personality made her a fan favorite. She currently
travels nationally and internationally,
bringing her act to audiences around the
globe.
“I can’t wait to see my Seattle friends
and fans again,” she told SGN. “I had such
an amazing time last time, and I can’t wait
for that moment again. It was magical!”
Jujubee says she is going to bring it
and that the crowd at R Place can expect
to have fun. “It’s going to be Pride!” she
said. “Pride is every day for me. It’s a feeling of unity and love.”
“See you guys this weekend!” she concluded.
Jujubee is scheduled to perform June
24-25 alongside Sonique (June 25) and
Seattle’s very own Lady Chablis, Sharon Huzbenz, Eva Androgyny, Donatella
Howe, Bianca Starr, La Saveona Hunt,
Lily Armani, and Jenuwine Beaute. Doors
open at 8 p.m. with a 9 p.m. showtime.
Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com for $15 general admission,
and $25 VIP.
Welcome back, Jujubee!
to make Seattle debut
Pride weekend
by Shaun Knittel
SGN Associate Editor
4
Seattle Gay News
June 24, 2011
eryone else thinks.’ My newfound
happiness has drawn more people
to me. They like the real me, and so
do I.”
Sonique said she has a message for
her young fans who might feel the same
way she did when she was a kid: “Hang
in there. The time will come, and only you
will know when that time is. Don’t rush into
anything. Just make sure that you always accept who you are. You won’t find true happiness until you learn to love yourself.”
Love is what Sonique says she is preaching for Pride. “I want all of my fans to remember to love each other. No one is going
anywhere, so we have to learn to appreciate each other,” she concluded. “Remember to love a bit more, and hate a lot
less.”
Sonique is scheduled to perform at R
Place on June 25-26 alongside Jujubee
(June 25) and Seattle’s very own Lady
Chablis, Eva Androgyny, Lily Armani, and Jenuwine Beaute. Doors
open at 8 p.m. with a 9 p.m. showtime. Tickets are available at www.
brownpapertickets.com for $15
general admission, and $25 V.I.P.
Sonique
logo
Sonique, from the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, will make her Seattle
debut at R Place (619 E. Pine St.) on Pride
weekend.
Sonique, who lives in Irvine, California, told Seattle Gay News that she is “really excited to come and visit the city.”
The drag queen who stole America’s
hearts when she announced on the RuPaul’s Drag Race reunion episode that
she was Transgender, said her scheduled
R Place Pride performance will be “fun,
energetic, and sexy.”
“I put my all into everything that I do,
and that includes my performances,” she
told SGN. “The show will definitely be
high-energy.”
Sonique says that when it comes to
song selection, she performs songs that
people can relate to.
Speaking of music, she says her taste in
music is “all over the board. I listen to everything.” Currently on rotation is Beth
Ditto (Gossip), Pink, Nicki Minaj, and
Wish, a new singer Sonique described as
a “cunt bitchy dancer” artist.
The drag superstar said she is honored
to perform at R Place during Seattle
Pride, but also encourages people to remain proud for the weeks and months
following the annual celebration. “Pride
isn’t one day or weekend, but it is something
you should be proud of 365 days out of the
year,” she told SGN. “Pride celebrations
are a chance for everyone to be happy with
themselves. The parades and festivals show
people who are not LGBT they can have an
open heart and mind because we all love
each other and have a good time.”
Sonique knows a thing or two about selfacceptance and love. Her announcement on
RuPaul’s Drag Race seemed to shock everyone but her. “I have known that I wasn’t
meant to be a boy my whole life,” she told
SGN. “When I was little and people told me
I was a boy, I knew that was wrong. I realized who I was meant to be when I was very
young.”
She said it wasn’t until two years ago that
she decided, “Hey, this is my chance to do it
– to become who I really am.” She realized
she was mature enough to handle the commitment to make the transformation.
“It is a real thing, you know, a real commitment,” said Sonique. “You’ve got to see
the doctor, take meds … it’s like a baby, you
have to take care of it so it turns out right.”
“I am a much happier person now, I can
tell you that much,” she continued. “For the
longest time, I lived my whole life trying
to make everyone happy – which made me
very unhappy. I never felt more alive until I
accepted myself and said, ‘Screw what ev-
Celebrating 38 Years!
SafeSchools Coalition stands with gender expansive children and LGBTQ youth.
Crises: 1-877-SAFE-SAFE. Messages: 206-451-SAFE.
Resources: www.SafeSchoolsCoalition.org
Have you donated lately?
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June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
5
by Albert Rodriguez
SGN A&E Writer
Cool off at one of many sizzling live shows
this summer, both outdoor and indoor. Here
are fifteen of them to keep in mind.
Olympic Music Festival
June 25-September 4,
Quilcene
Chamber music in the woods is exactly
what this nearby, homegrown festival is all
about. Extending from late June to Labor
Day weekend, this summertime event takes
place amidst fruit orchards, berry patches,
horse stables, and green meadows. Among
this year’s performers are Paul Hersh, Daniel Montenegro, Hamilton Berry, Jeffrey
Fair, and the Mosaic Brass Quintet. Visit
www.olympicmusicfestival.org for ticket
information.
Britney Spears
June 29, Tacoma Dome
I do admire those who never give up, and
Britney Spears is such a person. She crumbled from the very top into an almostbottomless pit – shaved head,
custody battles, running
people over – but despite harsh criticism
and becoming a
media laughingstock, Brit
Brit motored through. On
her second tour in three years,
the Gay-admired star is already
wowing fans with a concert that’s
said to be glitzy and action-packed
(the intro is super cool). Aside from her
current smash “Hold It Against Me,” the
pop queen will likely perform “Toxic,” “...
Baby One More Time,” “Womanizer,” “I’m
a Slave 4 U,” and “Oops!...I Did It Again.”
Show openers include the unpredictable
Nicki Minaj. Visit www.livenation.com for
ticket information.
Eddie Vedder
July 15-16,
Benaroya Hall
Expanding his horizons (again), Eddie
Vedder is determined to be something other
than a grunge rock star. The Seattle-based
artist, who scored the impressive soundtrack
for Into the Wild, just released another solo
work, Ukulele Songs. It debuted at #4 on
Billboard’s albums chart, signaling a strong
fan base outside of Pearl Jam – furthermore,
both performances at Benaroya Hall in July
are totally sold out. Vedder will probably
stick very close to Ukulele Songs for his
upcoming back-to-back concerts, but
don’t count out the possibility
of a PJ tune during his
set – after all, aren’t
you just dying to
hear “Spin the
Black Circle”
strummed on
that miniature instru-
ment?
Oscar winner Glen Hansard (Once Again)
is the supporting act for each night. Both
shows are sold out.
Katy Perry
July 20, Key Arena
From kissing girls to kissing aliens, Katy
Perry’s career just keeps going higher.
The only thing missing is that Grammy
should’ve won for “Teenage Dream” (next
year for sure, Katy!). Perry hasn’t visited
Seattle since an afternoon appearance at
Bumbershoot a few years back, where she
tossed a giant, air-filled strawberry out to
the crowd. Who knows what she’ll do at Key
Arena next month, but one thing’s guaranteed: She’s got a lot more ear-candy in her
purse to entertain us with, including “Last
Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” “Firework,” and
the infectious “E.T.” Visit www.livenation.
org for ticket information.
Alison Krauss +
Union Station
featuring Jerry Douglas
July 8, Marymoor Park
Even if you don’t like country music, an
exception must be made for bluegrass extraordinaire Alison Krauss. The winningest
female artist in Grammy history, her voice
is strong and angelic with a high-pitched
trill that would scare away the birds if she
didn’t know how to use it as a true instrument. Case in point: “My Poor Old Heart,”
or a cover of “The Boxer” with James Taylor
or Shawn Colvin. The Decatur, Illinois-born
violinist-singer-songwriter recently collaborated with Led Zeppelin frontman Robert
Plant on the album Raising Sand, but she’s
Jamie Foxx
back in the saddle with her longtime cohorts
July 22,
Union Station, and together with bluegrass
Tulalip Amphitheatre
pioneer Jerry Douglas, they’re going to
Multi-tasking should be Jamie Foxx’s
pluck and fiddle away at Marymoor Park middle name. When he isn’t starring in a
until the cows come waltzing home. Visit Hollywood blockbuster, he’s recording a
www.livenation.com for ticket information.
6
Seattle Gay News
June 24, 2011
Loretta Lynn
August 14,
Snoqualmie Casino
Legendary country star Loretta Lynn
hasn’t performed in the Seattle area since
2001, with the exception of a stray county
fair somewhere. The original “Coal Miner’s Daughter” has enjoyed a second wind,
thanks to alt-rock badass Jack White, who
produced the icon’s Grammy-winning alSoundgarden
bum Van Lear Rose (he also dueted with
July 30,
her on the track “Portland, Oregon”). UnThe Gorge Amphitheatre
I wasn’t there when Jesus walked on wa- less you have tickets for that other big show
ter, but it’s possible that Soundgarden’s re- on the same night (Sade at Key Arena), how
union an- could you possibly miss an appearance by
country royalty Loretta Lynn? Snoqualmie
Casino is about a 40-minute drive from
downtown Seattle. Visit www.snocasino.com for ticket information.
new album, or he’s inspiring an entire episode of Glee (“Blame it on the Alcohol,”
season two). The Oscar- and Grammywinner will no doubt bring the house down,
even if the house is outside and 35 minutes
from Seattle, with a show that’ll sizzle with
excitement. Visit www.tulalipcasino.com
for ticket information.
Sade
August 14,
Key Arena
Ten long years have passed
since Sade graced us with
nouncement equaled
that level of
amazement and
jubilation. The Seattle group exploded
to international acclaim in
the early ’90s, thanks partly to
a grunge boom which also put Nirvana
and Pearl Jam on the map. Frontman Chris
Cornell, who graciously offered himself to
Seattle Gay News for a pair of interviews (I
wish he’d offered more than that), is a triple
live threat, selling out concerts as a solo artist and member of both Soundgarden and
Audioslave. “Black Hole Sun,” “Spoonman,” and “Outshined” against a backdrop
of the Columbia River canyon? Get that
cooler ready now! Queens of the Stone Age
and Mastodon are two of the opening acts.
Visit www.livenation.com for ticket information.
their presence. Sade
is a band fronted by
the gorgeous, silky-voiced
Sade Adu. It was 1984 when the
group dropped their debut single,
“Smooth Operator,” and followed with a
string of R&B/light jazz hits that include
“The Sweetest Taboo,” “Never as Good as
the First Time,” “No Ordinary Love,” “Kiss
of Life,” and “Soldier of Love.” Sade doesn’t
tour often – hence the 10-year gap – so catch
them before another long break. Sexy singer-songwriter John Legend opens the show.
Visit www.livenation.com for ticket information.
The Go-Gos
August 14,
Woodland Park Zoo
One of music’s most successful all-female
acts, The Go-Gos are back in action with a
national tour celebrating their 30th anniversary. Fans enthusiastically welcomed their
return, snatching up every last ticket for the
pop band’s ZooTunes appearance in midAugust, knowing that a mix of sunshine,
BYOP (bring your own picnic), and ’80s hits
like “We Got the Beat,” “Vacation,” “Head
Over Heels,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” and
lead singer Belinda Carlisle’s own “Heaven
Is a Place on Earth,” makes for irresistible
k.d. lang
fun. This is the original Go-Gos lineup
August 10,
(Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Kathy Valentine,
Woodland Park Zoo
Country maverick turned pop chanteuse, Gina Schock, and Charlotte Caffey) in case
k.d. lang is just plain brilliant. Her latest CD, you were wondering. This show is sold out.
Say It Loud (with backup band Siss Boom
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Bang) is another example of how far ahead
August 17,
of the field she is and how marvelous that
Woodland Park Zoo
voice still sounds. lang will surely introduce
Carolina Chocolate who? Drops. This
tracks from the new album at the sold-out
ZooTunes concert, but you’re correct to as- adventurous folk trio deservedly won their
sume that she’ll also perform “Constant first Grammy Award in March for their deCraving” and “Hallelujah.” Keep those fin- but Genuine Negro Jig, an album of intergers crossed for “Luck in My Eyes.” This esting and smartly-reinterpreted material,
like a Southern-fried version of Blu Cantshow is sold out.
Celebrating 38 Years!
rell’s “Hit ‘Em Up Style.” Even better are
the tracks “Cornbread and Butterbeans,”
“Kissin’ and Cussin’,” and “Sandy Boys.”
If you’re looking for something entirely different than what you hear on the radio, these
young, talented African-American musicians playing old-time jigs will surely put on
a show for you. Visit www.zoo.org for ticket
information.
merman transforms immediately into the
globe-trotting DJ and electronic wiz kid
Deadmau5. His newest collection of househeavy tracks is 4 x 4 = 12, which finds him
slightly experimenting with fresh sounds
but otherwise keeping that deep-bass, turbo-paced style, especially on the tracks “A
City in Florida,” “Bad Selection,” “Everything Before,” and the previously released
“Some Chords.” Deadmau5 packed ‘em
Deadmau5
in last October at the Paramount, and he’s
August 18,
gonna do it again in August. Sweatbands
Paramount Theatre
recommended. Visit www.stgpresents.org
You’d never notice Joel Thomas Zimmer- for ticket information.
man walking down the street, although he’s
pretty well-known around the world. With
Janet Jackson
his trademark mouse-head piece, ZimAugust 29, McCaw Hall
The last time Janet Jackson played in Seattle was at Key Arena, and my nosebleed seat
afforded me a decent view of this R&B superstar working that stage from side to side,
back and forth – she was all over the place,
so much that I was exhausted just watching
her. This time the stage is much smaller,
providing fans with a rare opportunity to
see Miss Janet (if you’re nasty) perform hits
spanning nearly three decades including
“If,” “Rhythm Nation,” “Miss You Much,”
“Escapade,” “That’s the Way Love Goes,”
“All Nite (Don’t Stop),” “The Pleasure Principle,” and her signature single, “What Have
You Done for Me Lately?” Visit www.ticketmaster.com for ticket information.
Bumbershoot Music
and Arts Festival
September 3-5,
Seattle Center
The 2011 lineup for Bumbershoot is rather
eclectic, ranging from soul veteran Mavis Staples to hip-hop star Big Boi, from
Americana folk unit Ray LaMontagne &
the Pariah Dogs to ’80s pop duo Daryl Hall
and John Oates, and from world music artist Vusi Mahlasela to rising indie band
Warpaint. Kudos to the organizing committee for moving the main stage back to Key
Arena and relocating the comedy acts to
a bigger venue, and most of all, thanks for
keeping it diverse. Visit www.bumbershoot.
org for ticket information.
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June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
7
by Albert Rodriguez,
Shaun Knittel, and Jessica Price
SGN Writers
Hosting a Pride bash this year? The Seattle Gay News music team thought long and
hard to come up with the perfect soundtrack
for the occasion: a list of the Gayest Songs
Ever! Yes, as annoying as some of these
have become – mainly because the straights
have overtaken them for gym workouts and
karaoke warblings – we can’t help but include them as part of our Gay culture. After
all, some of these tunes can be credited for
bursting those closet doors wide open. Here’s
our list of 25 not-so-hetero songs we’ve ever
laid an ear to.
1) Dancing Queen – ABBA
Not only is this a dancefloor staple from
the old days at the Timberline (RIP Timberline), it’s a classic and dreamy song made
even more memorable by being forever
entwined with the film Muriel’s Wedding,
not to mention the musical Mamma Mia!
ABBA made history over and over with
“Dancing Queen.” J. Price
2) And I Am Telling You
I’m Not Going (from Dreamgirls) –
Jennifer Holliday
3) Copacabana – Barry Manilow
4) We Are Family – Sister Sledge
This Gay chestnut shows up everywhere,
from aerobics workouts to bachelorette parties to the final scene of that ’90s hoot The
Birdcage, where Gene Hackman is fully
garbed in women’s clothing. And it gets
worse! As the token Gay guy in a wedding
party, the duty fell on me to get everybody
on the dance floor as this song was played.
Um, thank you, Sister Sledge? A. Rodriguez
8
Seattle Gay News
5) Somewhere Over the Rainbow –
Judy Garland
6) Finally – CeCe Peniston
7) It’s Raining Men –
The Weathergirls
There is just no way around it: “It’s
Raining Men” is a song that will forever be a Gay anthem. We sing it in the
shower, perform it at karaoke, and play
it in the bars. We’ve remixed it, danced
to it, and just plain loved it year after
fabulous year. “It’s Raining Men” is,
and always will be, a song that belongs to our community. S. Knittel
8) I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
9) I Will Survive –
Gloria Gaynor
10) Vogue –
Madonna
I can’t remember the first time
I heard “Vogue”
exactly, because by 1990
when the song was released Madonna was so
deeply ingrained into my
life (and the lives of my
Gay best friends) that every day was just one long
Madonna worship-fest.
After all, Madonna was
in her absolute prime at
that time, with Truth or
Dare and the albums
Like a Prayer, I’m
Breathless, and The
Immaculate Collection charting all over
the planet. By day,
we worked at a salon
and played Madonna all day long, and by
night we’d hit the clubs and dance like we
were possessed by the brash and beautiful spirit of The Material Girl herself.
“Vogue” was the crown jewel of a glorious era in Madonna fandom. J. Price
11) Believe – Cher
12) Supermodel (You Better Work)
– RuPaul
13) Macho Man / YMCA –
Village People
Maybe I was naive, but I saw nothing Gay about a policeman, cowboy,
Indian, and … plumber, was it? dancing on stage together and belting out
ridiculous lyrics. But when I saw the
Village People in the drastic musical
Can’t Stop the Music, it all came to
light: These guys were flaming homos. While “Macho Man” is probably
too risqué to play at Major League baseball
games, “YMCA” can be heard even at fraternity toga parties (and don’t ask me how
I know). This song is the gift that keeps on
giving. A. Rodriguez
June 24, 2011
14) I Kissed a Girl – Katy Perry
15) Hot Stuff / Last Dance –
Donna Summer
16) I’m Still Standing – Elton John
What isn’t Gay about Elton John? It should
come as no surprise that Sir Elton has a ton
of Gay anthems, but it was this 1980s classic
that is still a Gay ol’ time even today! The
song was adopted by many Gay men living
with HIV/AIDS as they sing out in a collective voice that they are, indeed, still standing. S. Knittel
17) Beautiful –
Christina Aguilera
18) Michael – Franz Ferdinand
19) Freedom ’90 – George Michael
“Freedom ‘90” was an international
coming-out anthem predating “Born This Way”
and many other modern
classics. Not only did the
song address being closeted
and liberated in a personal
and professional way, but
George Michael made the
ultimate statement by refusing to be a pretty face in the
video. Instead, he called on
the biggest supermodels in
the universe (Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Cindy
Crawford, Christy Turlington,
and Tatjana Patitz) to make the
statement for him in a joyous
and awe-inspiring video. Perfection. J. Price
20) Born This Way –
Lady GaGa
21) Chains of Love –
Erasure
22) Lola – The Kinks
Growing up in a strict, religious
family, there were songs and artists banned
in our house – devil’s music, my mom called
it. When my oldest brother announced that
this signature Kinks track was about an encounter between a guy and a transvestite,
well, I got in trouble for just listening to it
on the radio (a whack to the head – thanks,
dad!). Funny thing, no one even bothered to
tell me what a transvestite was! A. Rodriguez
23) I’ve Never Been to Me – Charlene
24) Barbie Girl – Aqua
25) Same Thing in Reverse /
The Crying Game – Boy
George
This drag queen turned
pop star reigned supreme
as the front man for Culture Club, one of the biggest bands of the 1980s.
But it wasn’t until after Boy
George’s very public battle
with drug abuse and his officially coming out as Gay
that his music mirrored his
personal life. The first song,
“The Crying Game” (featured
in a movie about a Transgender woman) became an instant
Gay classic. “Same Thing in Reverse,” from George’s solo album
Cheapness and Beauty, is an ode
to same-sex relationships – which
are the same thing, in reverse, as
heterosexual relationships. Boy
George continues to make music
in some form or another and has
reinvented himself as a DJ, but it’s songs
like “The Crying Game” and “Cheapness
and Beauty” that remain forever embedded
in the Gay psyche. S. Knittel
Celebrating 38 Years!
L.A. DJs Perry Twins set
to rock Purr Pride 2011
by Shaun Knittel
SGN Associate Editor
hank du jour
The Los Angeles-based DJs/producers
The Perry Twins are set to headline Purr
Cocktail Lounge’s (1518 11th Ave.) Celebrate the Rainbow Pride 2011 block party.
The twin DJs have worked with some of
music’s hottest artists and anticipate their
return to the Emerald City and Purr.
“We’ve loved spinning at Purr, and can’t
wait for this year’s party,” Doug Perry told
Seattle Gay News. “[Purr owner] Barbie
[Humphrey] is such a great person, and it is
so much fun seeing friends from the Pacific
Northwest come out and party with us.”
Derek Perry agreed with his brother and
added, “Seattle is such a terrific place to
visit.”
“We have a good time whenever we are in
town, and we hope to finally make it up the
Space Needle on this trip,” he said. “It’s cool
to hear that the Space Needle will be flying
the Pride flag again this year.”
The Perry Twins have recently released
a mixed compilation on the Centaur label
called Global Groove: Dance 4. Their new
single “We’ll Never Know” features another
Seattle Pride favorite, Abigail, on vocals.
Donna Summer, Kristine W, and Chris Willis are among other artists who contributed
to the album. The twins also celebrated the
one-year anniversary of their online radio
station, www.perrytwinsradio.com.
The Perry Twins are scheduled to DJ during the Purr party on June 25.
“Seattle can expect to dance the night
away, ‘cause we’ll be playing some of the
favorites we know the fans have liked the
past couple of years, plus some fresh songs,
including our newest remix we just completed for Beyoncé’s latest single, ‘Best I Never
Had,’” said Doug. “It will make its debut
this weekend.”
The Purr Cocktail Lounge Pride celebrations take place throughout the week, but
on the weekend, Purr becomes a whole
different animal. In a word, Purr Pride
parties are epic. DJ Freddy King of
Pants is scheduled to spin June 24.
The Block Party begins at noon on
June 25 with DJ Skiddle, followed
by The Perry Twins. On Pride
Sunday, Barbie and crew offer a
cover-free Pride party.
The Perry Twins say they love
working Pride celebrations.
“I remember performing at
a Pride festival back east for
the first time years ago, and
it was so cool to see everyone come together and be
in an accepting, unifying
environment,” said Derek.
“That’s what I like to think
about every time we are
in a city where it’s Pride
time.”
For Doug, Pride is a
time when people should
look within. “Be proud of
who you are,” he told SGN.
“No matter what you may
think others are feeling,
just be proud and believe
in you.”
“We are looking forward
to seeing Seattle Gay News
readers at Purr this weekend,” said
Derek.
The Perry Twins
Finally, A New Gay Bar in West Seattle!
Coming Summer 2011
Visit us online www.sgn.org
www.outwestbar.com
June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
9
Transgender frontwoman dishes
on Trans artists and how to
make dance music personal
by Lawrence Ferber
Special to the SGN
Spun out in 2008 from funk-disco outfit Hercules and Love Affair (best known
for ’70s-flavored dancefloor grooves like
“Blind” and “You Belong”), Brooklynbased trio Jessica 6 fuses the latter’s retro
booty-shaking Paradise Garage sensibility
with 21st-century synth-soaked nu-disco
and a sweet spritz of R&B.
Taking their name from the Logan’s
Run character, Jessica 6 – composed of
bassist Andrew Raposo, keyboard/electronics maestro Morgan Wiley, and Transgender vocalist/frontwoman Nomi Ruiz –
released their debut full-length album, See
The Light (Peace Frog), on June 7, while
the utterly addictive “Prisoner of Love”
track, currently accessible on a number
of music blogs, features a duet with fellow Hercules vocalist Antony Hegarty (of
Antony and the Johnsons).
Born and raised in Brooklyn’s Sunset
Park neighborhood, Ruiz first struck out
as a solo artist – simply as Nomi – with
the 2005 album, Lost in Lust (available on
iTunes). By 2009, Jessica 6 released their
first single, “Fun Girl.” In addition to her
appearances with Hercules, Ruiz also
guested on The Ones’ 2010 single, “Let’s
Celebrate.” Here she dishes about the
band, Lady Gaga, and an emerging wave
of Transgender musicians.
Lawrence Ferber: “Prisoner of Love”
is such an awesome song. It’s like the Boy
George pop dance anthem we’ve been
waiting for. What was working on it with
Antony like?
Nomi Ruiz: I actually had to push Antony a bit, because Antony heard the demo
and said, ‘The song sounds great as it is,
I don’t want to ruin it with my warbly voice.” I was like, “What, are
you kidding me? Try it out! If it
doesn’t work, we won’t use it.”
It’s funny how Antony was one
of my biggest mentors and inspirations, and seeing a little bit
of the shyness there. But then at
the end, he was like, “Wow, that
really worked. You pushed me to
do it.”
Ferber: How does Jessica
6 differ most from Hercules
and Love Affair? And,
conversely, what’s
the common
thread?
Ruiz: We didn’t
think too much while we
were doing this Jessica 6 record. We didn’t
focus on a specific sound. We started continuing in the vein of dance music – I really
wanted to do something that I could still
connect with the same fans [as Hercules]
because they really supported me during
that tour. And we also have Antony. But
Hercules is more consistent in its sound and
this goes all over the place a little bit. For
me it’s also more personal – I wrote all the
lyrics, so I got to really tell my story for the
first time.
Ferber: Give me an example of a deeply
personal song.
Ruiz: “Blessed Mother,” which I wrote
a long time ago, before I was in Hercules. I
brought it to the studio and we made it this
Bladerunner ballad. I remember writing it
during a really melancholic, depressed time.
I was in a relationship that was being really
repetitive – there’s a lyric, “Seasons change
and you remain the same.” And as an artist
sometimes you get really discouraged and
everything in your life piles up on top of
that and you get overwhelmed and feel like
giving up. So it was nice to finally put that
out and get rid of that part of my past.
Ferber: Did any tracks not make it onto
the album?
Ruiz: Yeah, we had some extras. One
B-side we put on the “White Horse” single
called “Pressed,” and then we have a deluxe album package that has another bonus
track called “Even the Heartless.” We have
a month off from touring so we’re going to
work on an EP to put out, too. We create all
the time.
Ferber: Which artists influenced you
most growing up?
Ruiz: Growing up, I listened to a lot of Mary J. Blige,
Faith Evans – I learned a lot
about harmony from her, she
has a great sense of harmony
and I’m drawn to that. Sade.
Lauren Hill. I love when you
can actually hear the story
in what they’re singing.
They really influenced me.
And Donny Hathaway and Nina Simone.
Ferber: Your bio mentions that Michael
and Janet Jackson were huge influences,
which you can definitely hear in the track
“Good to Go” and much of your solo album.
Ruiz: I love the Jacksons. But I really, really was drawn to Janet. When I was
younger I wanted to be a choreographer as
well and I was obsessed with her. I would
memorize all of her dances and get my
friends together, like we have to learn this
dance, and have these little rehearsals in my
living room.
Ferber: In late 2010 there was a report
addressing how Transgender people are really in bad shape as far as discrimination
and health-care access, yet at the same time
we’re seeing an emergence of incredibly talented Trans-identified and gender-bending
artists, including Antony and Justin Bond.
What do you make of this moment in the
culture?
Ruiz: Well, I think all the work we’ve
been doing for so long … you start growing a fan base and finally we have enough to
actually help get our voices heard. It’s really
cool. I feel blessed to have people support
me in that way and realize past all the labels
and stuff that they’re getting to the talent.
Ferber: Is there also something the bond
of sisterhood with these other artists brings
to the creative process?
Ruiz: It definitely helps me, strengthwise. Like I was saying before, lots of times
I felt discouraged and of course it’s harder
for Trans people in the industry. So having other people around
10
Seattle Gay News
June 24, 2011
hires
Nomi Ruiz (center) with Jessica 6
doing the same thing and not giving up
makes me stronger. The more we work
and keep going is important – we’re on the
back of the bus still, but the bus is pulling
up.
Ferber: Does Lady Gaga get your
love?
Ruiz: Yes, of course! I haven’t really
bought any of her music, but I love what
she stands for. She doesn’t have to do that.
Obviously it’s a choice and it’s important,
especially for the youth. Sometimes I feel
disconnected from the Gay and Trans
youth and because she’s within the pop
realm that reaches that age range, I think
those kids, moving forward, will be more
confident and stronger than we were before.
Ferber: Did you love working with
The Ones? They were club kids and drag
queens during the early 1990s and have
done so well as a band.
Ruiz: They’re so fun. We worked at
Patricia Field together, actually. I remember when they came out with “Flawless.”
It was a super cool moment for everyone
there to see someone succeed in that way.
Ferber: Did you meet any of the Sex
and the City stars while working at Patricia Field?
Ruiz: No. I met lots of other starlets,
but not them. That was crazy. Tour buses
would come, the Sex and the City tour bus,
and they would let off all these women
from Middle America, and it was so funny
because we weren’t used to that kind of
shopper in the store. And
these middle-aged
women would buy
Carrie necklaces
and harass us because everyone
there, like Richie
Rich and Sophia
Lamar, is so not
Middle America.
Like, leave us
alone!
Celebrating 38 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
11
Porn stars – more sexy
Kimberly Caldwell
surprises at R Place Pride sings with Pride
by Shaun Knittel
SGN Associate Editor
by Shaun Knittel
SGN Associate Editor
by Chi Chi LaRue, became an overnight superstar and gained a large following after
his first movie, Steven Daigle: XXXPosed,
became the most-rented porn title of the
year. Now he’s got a dildo modeled after
him and a number of films under his belt.
Matthews has yet to meet or work with
Clark, and is looking forward to that experience in Seattle. Clark, who has worked
in the business for over two years and is a
Washington-based star, started his porn career at CockyBoys and has since worked for
Buckshot, Falcon, Suite 703, and Bel Ami.
Matthews told SGN that he and the boys
will perform something “interesting, artistic, and sexual all rolled into one.”
Gay Pride means something different to
everyone. For Matthews, it is time to celebrate the LGBT community as a whole. “To
me, besides partying, Pride is a celebration
of who we are as a community,” he said. “It
is nice that major metropolitan cities take a
weekend off to celebrate Pride and embrace
us. Pride is a time to show people what we
are all about.”
For a hot time during Pride weekend, join
the porn stars at R Place!
continued on NEXT PAGE
Kimberly Caldwell
vanguard records
The boys at R Place just turned it up a
notch with not one, not two, not three, but
four porn stars for your Pride weekend
viewing pleasure.
To augment their already stellar lineup
of entertainment, drink specials, and DJs,
R Place management is proud to bring you
the sexual, hot, and sizzling JR Matthews,
Bobby Clark, Preston Steel, and Jimmy Durano.
Matthews, who has filmed with Titan,
Hothouse, Falcon, and Michael Lucas, said
he is looking forward to his Seattle debut
at R Place Pride weekend. “I live in San
Francisco,” he said, “so I’m looking forward to another Pride celebration. I’ve done
SF Pride for eight years, so it is time for a
change.”
Matthews is close with the self-described
“go-go dancer, adult film actor, and good ol’
boy from the South” Preston Steel, and Seattle’s very own Jimmy Durano.
Durano, who was discovered in Seattle
and works for Channel 1 Releasing, owned
file photos
(l to r) Bobby Clark, JR Matthews, Preston Steel, and Jimmy Durano
Recording artist and
American Idol alum
Kimberly Caldwell is
scheduled to headline
the Neighbours Seattle (1509 Broadway)
Pink Pride Party on
June 24. Kimberly
is riding high on
her recent album
release Without Regret and says she is
looking forward to
singing for her Seattle fans.
“I’ve performed
in Seattle a few
times,” Kimberly
told Seattle Gay
News, “once when
I was on the American Idol tour and
for a few other
events over the
years.”
The self-described
“huge Grey’s Anatomy fan” said, “Seattle is a great city!”
Perhaps
best
known as a secondseason contestant on
Idol, Caldwell struck
a chord with millions
of the show’s viewers thanks to her gutsy
vocals, passionate performances, and earthy
charisma. On Without
Regret, she wields her
full-throttle belt to maximum effect on a series of
emotionally resonant, pop-
SafeSchools Coalition stands with gender expansive children and LGBTQ youth.
Crises: 1-877-SAFE-SAFE. Messages: 206-451-SAFE.
Resources: www.SafeSchoolsCoalition.org
Have you donated lately?
12
Seattle Gay News
June 24, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
inflected rock songs, several of which she
co-wrote.
“For my Pride performance at Neighbours, I will be singing original songs from
my album,” she said, “and I’ll be singing
some of my favorite cover songs by my idols,
Melissa Etheridge and Joan Jett.”
Kimberly says she grew up listening to
country music, so artists like Reba and The
Judds played a big part in who she is today.
She also named Pat Benatar, Annie Lennox,
and Bonnie Raitt as influential artists in her
life.
“Of course, like everyone else on the planet, I am obsessed with Adele and love that
she’s a real vocalist receiving well-deserved
success,” she said. “Girl power!”
After Kimberly wraps up her nationwide
radio tour for the new album, she will go on
to host VH1’s Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp.
She just returned to the states from Singapore, where she performed with Paula Ab-
dul for the grand opening of Universal Studios. “I’m doing a lot of traveling and performing and I’m very excited to see where
this road leads me.”
Although Kimberly says she loves all of
her fans, her LGBT fan base holds a special
place in her heart. “The Gay community has
always been so loyal and supportive of me,
and I will always be loyal and supportive of
them,” she told SGN. “The Gay audiences
always know how to make me feel special
LGBTQ Counseling
1812 E. Madison St #101
Seattle, WA 98122
www.jarredcounseling.com
Visit us online www.sgn.org
and I thank them so much for their love.”
For Kimberly, Pride is personal. “I have a
lot of close people that are openly Gay in my
life – like my sister, cousins, and friends –
and I am extremely proud of them for owning who they are,” said Kimberly. “Pride
represents all of the people who accept that
and opens up the minds of all the people
who don’t. I will forever celebrate Pride and
hope to be performing at these events for
many years to come. Go equality!”
“As your therapist, it is my priority to work with you
through your pain, and bring empathy, knowledge,
respect and hope to our time together.”
Jarred Lathrop-Weber MA, LMHCA, MHP
253-906-8738
June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
13
by Albert Rodriguez
SGN A&E Writer
Some little boys dream of being a fireman, a football quarterback, or a doctor.
Others, like myself, grew up wanting to
be Stevie Nicks. I’m not sure we wanted
to be women, or eventual drag queens.
We just wanted to be Stevie Nicks.
As a frontwoman for colossal pop-rock
band Fleetwood Mac, she was cool and
mysterious, beautiful and strong, captivating and addictive – qualities that perhaps we, as Gay men and women, might
someday hope to acquire.
Nicks spoke with six handpicked LGBT
writers from across the country just before flying out to London to rejoin Rod
Stewart on the final leg of their collaborative tour. It came as no surprise to her
that she has a loyal Gay following, but she
didn’t immediately understand how deep
our dedication goes.
“I don’t remember who told me,” said
Nicks, “but somebody said, ‘Did you
know that there is this big major party
that goes on every year in New York that’s
called The Night of 1,000 Stevies?’ And
I’m going, ‘What?’ That’s, what, 20 years
ago? So that was when I realized that my
music was really appealing to all my Gay
fans. It is still going on. So I’m thrilled.”
Further signs of Nicks’ ongoing popularity are evident. Glee wrapped a complete episode around the classic Rumours
album, and prior to that, the complications of a Bisexual-Lesbian relationship
surfaced during a heartbreaking version
of “Landslide.”
“First of all, I had been watching Glee
from the very beginning,” stated Nicks
enthusiastically. “So when I found out
that they were doing ‘Landslide’ and that
Gwyneth Paltrow was going to come in
and play her Holly Holiday character and
she was going to sing it and Santana and
Brittany were going to sing with her, I
was just so knocked out.”
When asked whether she supported the
two female characters engaging in something more than friendship, Nicks replied,
“I want them to be happy, whoever they
are with. If that is going to be Santana and
Brittany, then I am thrilled. If that is going to be Artie and Brittany, then I am
thrilled.”
Not only is Nicks a selfprofessed “Gleek,” she’s
also the first artist ever to attend a taping of
the program and the first ever to thank the
cast members personally.
“I sent them huge flowers,” remarked the
63 year-old musician. “And then when they
did the Rumours thing … what a favor they
did for me by putting that out the same day
that my record came out. I thought that was,
like, so lovely of them. So I sent more flowers to my Glee children.”
Nicks freely admits to being a TV buff,
though she also stays up-to-date on the pop
music scene. When I asked how she felt
about three current pop divas – Katy Perry,
Lady Gaga, and Pink – Nicks was quick to
respond. “I love Katy Perry,” she exclaimed.
“She is very eclectic and interesting. And
I think she is a really good songwriter, so
that makes me like her even more. Her ‘E.T.’
song, the ‘k-k-kiss me’ one, I love. I just love
it!”
She continued with Lady Gaga. “I really
like Lady Gaga because I think that she is a
girl with a plan. I’ve seen her, I’ve watched
her put her plan together and really work
that plan. She is very much a performance
artist, like Elton John is.”
Regarding Pink, Nicks said, “I love her to
death. I ran into her when she was taking the
trapeze lessons. And
you know, she was into it. She was like,
‘I’m going to be good at this. I’m not only
going to hang upside down
and sing, but I’m going to be really good
at it.’ And I’m like, ‘My hat is off to you!’”
The music video for the leadoff single,
“Secret Love,” from Nicks’ newest album In
Your Dreams, finds the rock
goddess reflecting on her life and career
through a girl playing an assumed younger
version of herself. While the Phoenix-born
legend has achieved what many aspiring
artists can only wish for, she humbly recalled those tough early days.
“My life had changed overnight from
being a totally cool waitress and a pretty damned cool cleaning lady … to
making enough money to support
Lindsey [Buckingham] and all
our friends, basically. It was
fun. We were poor. But it was brilliant.”
Nicks attributes her survival to the fact
that she never quits. “I do not walk away in
the face of adversity and never have,” she
firmly said. “I also don’t listen to people who
don’t think I’m right about my music. I actually don’t listen to people about anything.”
In a dose of girl power that gave Nicks additional strength, she combined forces with
Fleetwood Mac’s former member Christine
McVie to combat the boys’ club atmosphere.
“Christine and I realized that because there
were two of us we really were a force of
nature, and that we were never going to be
treated like second-class citizens in the
rock-and-roll business.”
“That’s why when Chris left it was
very hard for me, because as the
two of us, we were so strong. I
missed her terribly because
of that,” she added.
I didn’t let the opportunity to talk about
Gay Pride slip away, and asked Nicks if she
had any fond memories of ever attending a
Pride parade or being a participant.
“You know, I haven’t,” she replied after a
brief pause. “I haven’t ever attended, and I
have not ever been a
participant. I’m totally sorry. I don’t know
why that has never happened.”
This opened the door for an invitation to
attend Seattle Pride, and Nicks gladly accepted. “Absolutely! An invitation is fantastic. I appreciate that.”
WBR
Stevie Nicks
 Broadway 
Farmers Market
14
Seattle Gay News
June 24, 2011
NEW LOCATION! B'way & E. Pine,
at Seattle Central Community College
Sundays, 11am - 3pm, May 8 - Dec 18.
Celebrating 38 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
15
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Seattle Gay News
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June 24, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
om
cour tesy menm agaz ine.c
Chris Rockway
be his debut performance in Seattle. “I’m so
excited to see what the city is like,” he told
Seattle Gay News.
Gay club-goers love their liquor, drag
queens, and men. Neighbours Seattle has
got three of the hottest porn stars around,
and they promise to give you a show you
won’t soon forget. “‘Dance’ is a soft way to
describe awkward gyrations,” joked Rockway, who says he intends to bring a hot, fun
time this weekend.
Micah Brandt, a Washington native and
Randy Blue model, will join Rockway on
stage Pride weekend. The two have filmed
porn scenes together.
“I’m really excited about the new projects
with Randyblue.com,” said the six-year veteran of the Gay porn industry. “I love what I
do. I’ve had so much fun and I’ve met some
of my best friends through porn.”
Travis James, who has worked on many
films for Randy Blue, rounds out the trio
nicely as they plan to make Pride at Neighbours Seattle a dream come true for their
fans.
“For me, Gay Pride mean being able to
express who you are – not for just one day,
but your entire lifetime,” he told SGN. “Be
you and be proud.”
A Randy Blue porn trio at Neighbours
Seattle for Pride weekend
by Shaun Knittel
SGN Associate Editor
to bring three of its hottest porn stars for
Pride weekend.
Chris Rockway will join Micah Brandt
Pride weekend just got a little bit hotter. and Travis James June 24 for the NeighNeighbours Seattle (1509 Broadway) has bours Seattle Pink Party with DJ Richard J.
teamed up with Gay porn giant Randy Blue Dalton and a special performance by Kim-
berly Caldwell, and June 25 for Powermix
with DJ Randy Schlager, hosted by Gaysha
Starr and featuring a live performance by
Thea Austin.
Although Rockway, 31, has spent some
time in the Northwest, Pride weekend will
Finally, A New Gay Bar in West Seattle!
Coming Summer 2011
Visit us online www.sgn.org
www.outwestbar.com
June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
17
18
Seattle Gay News
June 24, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
19
courtesy india ferrah
India Ferrah joins
Shannel and
Jessica Wild
at Julia’s for
Pride celebration
by Shaun
Knittel
SGN Associate
Editor
India Ferrah
20
Seattle Gay News
June 24, 2011
Often imitated
but never bested, the
main stage at Julia’s
on Broadway is the
place to be Pride weekend to see the cast of Le
Faux – Seattle’s premier
drag show – and to catch
three divas: Shannel (RuPaul’s
Drag Race season one), Jessica
Wild (RuPaul’s Drag Race season
two), and India Ferrah (RuPaul’s Drag
Race season three).
India Ferrah, the newest member of the
Drag Race family, says she is super-excited
to come to Seattle.
“I’ve never been to Seattle, or Washington, period,” India told Seattle Gay News.
“The Julia’s on Broadway Gay Pride
Block Party is going to be an amazing
event, and I am looking forward to meeting Shannel from Drag Race season one,
as she has been a huge inspiration to
me and is one of the reasons why I continued to audition for the show.”
Shannel is no stranger to Seattle or
Julia’s on Broadway. Throughout 2010
she reigned supreme as the host of Le
Faux – the number-one female impersonation show in the Northwest.
India Ferrah says she is also looking
forward to meeting some of her fans.
“Being asked to perform at this event is
pretty amazing,” she said, “but to share
it with each and every one of you is going
to be the best part. This is going to be a
wonderful weekend and so over-the-top.”
Over-the-top is right. This year, Julia’s on Broadway management has put
together a show that will delight the eyes
and ears of everyone in attendance. The
fun begins June 24 with Shannel, Jessica
Wild, and India Ferrah joining Le Faux
for a 10 p.m. show. Then, June 25, during
the third annual Capitol Hill Pride Festival from noon to 10 p.m., Julia’s offers a
full day of entertainment with three live
bands – Smoking Bill, Sex Offender, The
Georgetown Orbits – as well as DJ Dana
Dub, Seattle’s premier drag performers,
and the cast of Le Faux. Part of the proceeds will go directly to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of Saint Joan
grants fund.
India Ferrah told SGN that Seattle audiences can expect “a lot of energy and a
lot of hair.”
“I like to think of myself as a true entertainer, and when I step on stage, everyone
can feel my energy and my drive for the
art,” she said. “There will be a couple of
surprises up my sleeve.”
India says she currently listens to and is
inspired by Nicki Minaj, Christina Aguilera, Fergie, Jennifer Lopez, and Pink.
“Each of these artists are so different and
I truly love their drive and passion.”
As with any queen talented enough to
be a part of the cast of the now-legendary
RuPaul’s Drag Race, India Ferrah said
her life has been changed in ways she
couldn’t have dreamt. “It has opened so
many doors for me in so many ways! I get
to travel all over the country and meet so
many wonderful people and to perform
for crowds of 75 people to thousands of
people,” India told SGN.
“I mean, look at me, being interviewed
for Seattle Gay News! I can honestly say I
would’ve never dreamed I’d be doing half
the things I’m doing. It has allowed me
to be a more open person and more accepting of other people. It has completely
changed my outlook on reality TV and it
taught me how to be not bitter.”
Once a “baby queen” herself, India has
some advice for starting queens. “Strap
on your pumps and your seatbelt and get
ready for one hell of a ride,” she joked.
“It’s a crazy world, but if you stick to it, it
can completely change your life.”
“This is my 12th year in the art, and it
has made me such a strong and independent person as well as a business owner,”
she continued. “I’ve had many ups and
downs, but I’ve kept my head held high
and let the bullshit and drama go in one
ear and out the other.”
She said one of the biggest pieces of advice she could give would be, “Don’t listen
to anyone who tries to bring you down or
brings drama into your life.”
“Don’t waste valuable time on pitiful
drama,” said India. “If you pay attention
to it or fight back and forth over it, you
are only feeding fuel to the fire. Be the
bigger person and live your life. You only
have one, and trust me, it’s not forever.”
Join Shannel, Jessica Wild, India Ferrah, the cast of Le Faux, and the Sisters
of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of Saint
Joan, for a Pride weekend that promises
to be the best yet!
Celebrating 38 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
21
gaga
continued from the cover
argument, I want to be privy to the conversation. In democracy I am told I have a voice
in this discourse. But although Americans
may celebrate Gay pride and peacefully
protest, we are shaded by politics and hidden from legislative processes as they beg to
enforce change.
Now lets talk about Europride. Put your
paws up. This is not just a party, it is not just
a peaceful demonstration, this is the spirit
of a basic human right. We are here today to
defend love!
I want to say thank you to all of the beautiful people assembled here today. I awoke
in my luscious Italian silk sheets today, naked, to mashups of “Paparazzi,” “Judas,”
“Born This Way,” and many others. Thank
you for allowing my music to be a part of
this joyous day. I was dancing in the shower,
wishing I was out here with all of you. To
22
Seattle Gay News
the organizers of Euro Pride, the leaders of
the FRA who fight every day for the rights
of the LGBT citizens across the European
union, thank you. Bravo!
To the mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno,
thank you for your note, and to his administration and the parliament of Italy, we all
thank you for coordinating and supporting
this amazing celebration. Please continue to
protect this beautiful crowd. I am honored
to be here. And, additionally, a warm thankyou to Donatella Versace for making all my
Gay Italian dreams come true. Today I wear
only Archive, by the legendary Gianni Versace.
I look out into the crowed, a plethora of
European citizens aligned, knowing firsthand that some of your governments still
block the basic freedom of assembly. Celebrations such as this one are still illegal.
I’ve traveled the world, meeting, kissing,
touching, and celebrating with all of you.
It is your bravery and courage that now
inspires my own. The stories of young sol-
June 24, 2011
diers, homeless LGBT youth, anti-Gay violence, and the effects that the denial of Gay
marriage has had on real families worldwide – these are stories that must be told.
These are the stories that will change the
world. These are the stories that speak out
in the defense of love. We are here because
we are no less valuable. We are here to proclaim our strength, our steadfastness, and
our intelligence. We will not be treated as
any less than human!
On the night of June 27, 1969, in the heart
of my home, Manhattan’s West Village, the
Gay rights movement was born. We stood
together on that night the same as we are
standing here today, in solidarity for change.
But today we stand with peaceful flags, hope
for togetherness, and our priority – though
simple as it may sound – is to defend and
honor love. We stand together today to demand and to defend basic human rights,
full equality, and an end to intolerance and
discrimination. We have come far from the
days of Stonewall, but despite the political
advances made in terms of our rights and
visibility for LGBT people, sadly the truth
and the fact is homophobia and anti-Gay
violence and bullying are alive and real.
I have spoken out worldwide, repeatedly
and viciously, about these issues. I am often questioned, “Why so much Gay-speak?
How Gay are you, Lady Gaga? Why is this
subject so important?”
I am a child of diversity, I am one with
my generation. I feel a moral obligation as a
woman, or a man, to exercise my revolutionary potential and make the world a better
place. And on a Gay scale of one to 10, I’m a
Judy Garland fucking 42.
I am aware that many countries and governments worldwide still restrict their citizens from reading about LGBT issues and
challenges, placing censorships on their
respective medias, and it is my profuse
belief that these powerful stories are what
will bridge the gap of human commonality.
We’ve all got the same DNA, we were just
born this way. The block of LGBT stories
and information is precisely what perpetuates hate and discrimination, as it limits the
public’s ability to perceive of the tremendous
effect inequality has on my generation and
generation to come. Suicide. Self-loathing.
Isolation. Inability to find work or integrate
based on fear. Today, here we stand up and
we speak out against those governments.
I would like to name a few: Lithuania,
Russia, Poland. We stand up for Budapest,
Lebanon, and Middle Eastern countries. We
ask you to facilitate our dream of equality,
help us to stand together peacefully, and
not divide us. I am aware and respectful
of religious histories and books, and I am
compassionate towards young people and
families who sacredly honor their lineage. I
am not asking you to renounce your beliefs.
I am asking you simply to acknowledge the
change – modern social issues are serious
and the laws that confine them have a larger
overarching effect on humanity. The precedent set by the government is influential, and
that is why we are here. Because it regards
that some of us, LGBTs, may never have an
equal seat at the table. For the 15-year-old in
school who struggles with identity, what do
they have to look up to? Where is their wedding day? Where does the dream of their
potential end?
Rome, how can we transform the oppression of the past into the liberation of the future? How can we give birth to new equal
and international ideology? Let us come together and synthesize our histories into the
now! Let us be revolutionaries for love, and
use our human powers to save lives and encourage unity!
Thank you.
Celebrating 38 Years!
Albert says, “Five free or low-cost
summer music festivals worth a listen”
by Albert Rodriguez
SGN A&E Writer
time on Wednesdays and Fridays through ent, such as jazz-blues-folk performer Ryan
September 2.
Shea Smith. Performances take place in the
Rock and Roll Library (Grand Piano Lobby)
Whether you’re short on cash or in search
Six Seven Living Room
inside the hotel, famous for hosting some of
of live outdoor music at a fair price, none of
Concert Series
music’s biggest names including The Beatthese summer festivals will drain your walSeattle Waterfront
les and Led Zeppelin. In fact, Robert Plant
let.
www.edgewaterhotel.com recently stopped by the Edgewater to reconSix Seven, inside the Edgewater Hotel, nect with the past on his recent visit to SeJamfest
invites waterfront strollers to its Living attle. Check the hotel’s website or Facebook
International District
Room Concert Series that features local tal- page for live show updates, and note that all
www.wingluke.org
Bubble tea and a live show? Why not! The
International District hosts Jamfest the third
Saturday of each month this summer with
performances at The Wing Luke Museum
(719 S. King St.) and nearby businesses. I
came across a quartet of acoustic musicians
playing on the sidewalk during this month’s
festivities, while another small ensemble
jammed away at Hing Hay Park. Other concert venues include House of Hong (409 8th
Ave. S.), Phnom Penh Noodle House (660 S.
King St.), and Four Seas Restaurant (714 S.
King St.). The single cover charge, allowing
you entry to all indoor concerts, is $8 per
person.
shows are gratis.
Concerts at the Mural
Seattle Center
www.seattlecenter.com
You’ll find the in-crowd hanging outside
this summer at Mural Amphitheatre, inside the Seattle Center compound in lower
Queen Anne. Local indie station KEXP is
the sponsor for a summer-long festival that
rounds up buzzworthy regional bands like
the Maldives, Math and Physics Club, Hey
Marseilles, Black Mountain, and Ravenna
Woods. All concerts are free and run August 5-26 right across from the Pavilion.
Don’t bother driving, as monorail service is
within feet of the Mural.
Seattle Peace Concerts
Gasworks Park, Volunteer
Park, Lower Woodland Park
Shelter 1
www.seapeace.org
This community festival is in its 31st year
of existence, with its pledge to “celebrate
the peace between us and the oneness of all
life.” Concerts are scheduled through September 18 at three local parks and incorporate a variety of music genres from reggae
to zydeco, and world beat to choral. Every
show is free, although a donation hat will
be passed to cover production costs, and attendees are asked to bring cans of food for
Northwest Harvest.
Out to Lunch
Downtown Seattle
www.downtown
seattleevents.com
Curated by the Downtown Seattle Association and making use of multiple venues, the Out to Lunch summer music series
features great Seattle bands like the Moondoggies, the Dusty 45s, Wheedle’s Groove,
Leroy Bell, and Choklate. Among the locations hosting individual performances are
the Federal Courthouse, Bank of America
Plaza, Two Union Square, Westlake Park,
and the Harbor Steps. All shows are free
and take place under the sun during lunch-
Visit us online www.sgn.org
June 24, 2011
Seattle Gay News
23