• GayNewOrleans.com • July 14-27, · PDF filehas confronted numerous health chal-lenges, including a stroke, high blood ... (Hava Nagila, Never On Sunday, ... As The Bullfighter’s

GayMardiGras.com • GayNewOrleans.com • July 14-27, 2015 • GayMardiGras.com • GayNewOrleans.com • July 14-27, 2015 • GayMardiGras.com • GayNewOrleans.com • July 14-27, 2015 • GayMardiGras.com • GayNewOrleans.com • July 14-27, 2015 • GayMardiGras.com • GayNewOrleans.com • July 14-27, 2015 • Facebook.com/AmbushMag • • • • • The Official Mag©©©©©: AmbushMag.com • 2121212121

22 • 22 • 22 • 22 • 22 • The Official Mag©©©©©: AmbushMag.com • July 14-27, 2015 • Of• July 14-27, 2015 • Of• July 14-27, 2015 • Of• July 14-27, 2015 • Of• July 14-27, 2015 • Official Southerficial Southerficial Southerficial Southerficial Southern Decadence Guide© • Southern Decadence Guide© • Southern Decadence Guide© • Southern Decadence Guide© • Southern Decadence Guide© • SouthernDecadence.comnDecadence.comnDecadence.comnDecadence.comnDecadence.com

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Hello Karli & Mark @ B-Bob’s

Hello Jawakatema & Company

Kavin, Aubrey & Zach @ B-Bob’s

Hello Travis & James

Happy Birthday Patrick

Hello King Stevie & Dane

Miss Aubrey Synclaire @ B-Bob’s

Amber & Miss Cie with WorldFamous Leon

Glow Party with Jack @ B-Bob’s

Hello Delta & Jeremy

Sidney, Toni Dee & Jeffrey@ B-Bob’s

Hello Brandon & Brian

Hello Eric

The beautiful Toni Dee @ B-Bob’s

Happy 4th of July

Hello Skylar & Felipe

B-Bob’s Jerry with Ginger Minjfrom RuPaul’s Drag Race

Miss Summer Clearance &Jawakatema performing

@ B-Bob’s

Miss Venus Shante DaVis@ B-Bob’s

RuPaul’s Drag Race Ginger Minjwith Miss Cie @ B-Bob’s

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24 • 24 • 24 • 24 • 24 • The Official Mag©©©©©: AmbushMag.com • July 14-27, 2015 • Of• July 14-27, 2015 • Of• July 14-27, 2015 • Of• July 14-27, 2015 • Of• July 14-27, 2015 • Official Southerficial Southerficial Southerficial Southerficial Southern Decadence Guide© • Southern Decadence Guide© • Southern Decadence Guide© • Southern Decadence Guide© • Southern Decadence Guide© • SouthernDecadence.comnDecadence.comnDecadence.comnDecadence.comnDecadence.com

letter to the editor

Dear Editor,This letter is being written on be-

half of Johnny Jackson, Jr., who wasfirst elected to the New Orleans CityCouncil in 1986, and immediately be-came the Council’s No. 1 supporter ofthe New Orleans LGBT+ community bybeing the lead sponsor of the secondattempt to pass an ordinance banningdiscrimination in employment, housingand public accommodations on the basisof sexual orientation in New Orleans.We will never forget his 20 minuteimpassioned closing argument whichcovered all the bases. Unfortunately itfailed to pass by a vote of 2-5, Council-woman-At-Large Dorothy Mae Taylorbeing the other vote.

Over the ensuing years, Johnnywent beyond his duties as a Council-man in publicly demonstrating his sup-port for our community in many differ-ent ways. One of the more memorableones was his joining the Louisiana con-tingent to the 1987 March on Washing-ton and helping carry our banner pastthe White House.

On another occasion he partici-pated in an AIDS sit-in blocking LoyolaAve. After being arrested and boardingthe booking bus, he said to the personnext to him, “Come on, let’s get to theback of the bus where there is airconditioning.”

More important than his public dem-onstrations of support were his manyscores of hours he and his chief assis-tant, Lena Stewart, spent meeting pri-vately with us advising and strategizingin preparation for a third and finallysuccessful effort in 1991 to pass thenon-discrimination ordinance. Duringthis time he also set up and accompa-nied us on lobbying appointments, in-cluding some with African-Americanchurch reverends.

Johnny thus WORKED for our com-

munity for the full eight years as a NewOrleans City Councilman. Add to allthis the fact that Johnny is AfricanAmerican and was representing a mostAfrican American district with very fewout LGBT+ constituents, and you cansee why we have come to the conclu-sion that Johnny Jackson, Jr., has beenthe most LGBNT+ supportive localpolitician in the history of New Orleans.

Now our friend Johnny needs OURhelp. During the past year and a half hehas confronted numerous health chal-lenges, including a stroke, high bloodpressure, diabetes, dental surgery,colon cancer, surgery and chemo-therapy. Although he fortunately iscurrently cancer—and chemotherapy—free and on his way to recovery, somehealth challenges continue.

Johnny now faces the challengesof paying off his outstanding medicalbills which, after his insurance has kickedin, currently exceed $11,500. Some ofyou may think that’s no big deal, butwith his limited SSI income, it’s difficultfor him to meet his financial obligations.

Therefore he is hosting a benefitand gala fundraiser from 6:00 p.m. to10:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17, at Zulu’sRoy A. Glapion Hall at 730 N. BroadAve. Admission is by a $25 donation atthe door.

Even if you are unable to attend,you still may contribute a modest amountby writing a check made payable toJohnny Jackson, Jr., and including onthe memo line “Medical Expenses” andmailing it to Johnny Jackson, Jr. 4800Good Drive New Orleans, LA 70127.It’s important that somewhere on thecheck you write “LGBT+” so he’ll knowit’s from a community that has notforgotten its friend.

Yours in Unity, Rich Magill,Stewart Butler

trodding the boards

by Brian Sands Email: [email protected]

Don Rickles at IP Casino Resort & Spa in BiloxiThe last time I saw Don Rickles, in 2004, he sang (If I Were A Rich Man), he

danced (kicking like a Rockette), and, of course, he insulted.Now, nearing 90, he still sings and merci-

lessly puts down anybody within his range, buthis dancing days are over. Seated for nearly allof his hour-long routine, the spirit, coated in bileand schmaltz, is as energetic as ever, but thebody is ready for a trade-in. It made for afantastically surreal experience.

Seen recently at Biloxi’s IP Casino Resort& Spa, the show began with a cornucopia ofethnic songs (Hava Nagila, Never On Sunday,a tarantella, some samba, an Irish Jig, etc.) to

fashion the proper framework for whatwas to come. Led by Rickles’ MusicalDirector Nelson Kole, the TuscaloosaHorns sounded Vegas-y but very tight.

The curtain then closed and vin-tage clips of Rickles performing atRonald Reagan’s second inaugurationas well as on the Carson and Lettermanshows appeared. Still funny.

As The Bullfighter’s Song played,the curtains then re-opened to revealRickles in a chair with a cane by hisside. Surveying the audience, he got tothe point, “I see things that make melaugh my head off.”

With the casual irony of a truenative New Yorker, he added, “Missis-sippi—if you do great here, you get togo to Alabama.” But he immediatelymade clear that no one was immunefrom his lovable venom, “My wife is upin her room on her broom.” Sure it’s anoldie, but Rickles quickly demonstratedthat he hasn’t softened. Not even whenit comes to himself; referring to themicrophone cord that looped over hisback, he declared with a tone showingjust how much “fun” it is, “I’m givingmyself an enema.”

Mr. Warmth may have his ownrolodex of hate that he nimbly pullsstandard jibes from, but he certainlyknew he was in Mississippi, makingseveral direct digs at the state andSoutherners in general, like “If you’rewaiting for Billy Graham to come outand make a kid walk again,fuhgeddaboudit.”

Whether people in the first fewrows paid extra in the hope of being thetarget of Rickles’ barbs, I’m not sure,but many were rewarded with jabsabout their looks, clothes or overallattitude. And two 30-year-olds, BIGAshton from Alabama and a hunkyNOLA firefighter, should treasure theexperience of being brought up on stageby Rickles who then put them to work.The skit involved a Japanese moviewith completely un-P.C. stuff that onlyRickles can still get away with, but hehad the young’uns cracking up...andthe rest of the audience too.

As always, Rickles seesawed be-tween insults and avowals that “I’m anice guy.” But if there seemed to beless of the apologies and lovey-doveystuff this time, Rickles, perhaps takinginto account the recent events in SouthCarolina and the Supreme Court’s gaymarriage decision, made very few jokesat the expense of blacks and no faggags at all.

In other ways, it seemed as thoughwe were listening to Rickles’ greatesthits with humor going back 50 years,but even if he still describes his and hiswife’s sex life as a game of “Bargecoming up the Mississippi and she’s thedock,” his timing’s as sharp as can beand he’s as much a laugh-maker asever.

Rickles could stay comfortablyback home. But as he affirmed that “Ilove to do what I do for just a little lovefrom you,” you got a true sense of this

great entertainer’s primal urge to per-form. Because of this and his marvel-ous talent, the audience’s love andadmiration for this living legend waspalpable, as was their willingness toindulge the visibly frail 89-year-old who’sstill giving it his all.

As wonderful as it was to see clipsfrom yesteryear of a much youngerRickles performing, a little indulgencewas needed as they did go on a bit toolong. But perhaps Rickles needed totake a breather.

The Merchant of Venom then con-tinued with tributes to his pals FrankSinatra, who helped to launch Rickles’career, and Bob Newhart. The Newhartand Rickles families often get together,but when it comes to grandchildren,Bob’s “trying to sell his.” Who knew?

Rickles also mentioned that JimmyCagney encouraged him early in hiscareer. This led into a very credibleimpression of the song-and-dance mansinging I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy asphotos from WWII of Navy SeamanFirst Class Rickles flashed overhead.Hard to imagine he was ever that youngwith such a full head of hair.

Plugging an August 4 appearanceon The Tonight Show with JimmyFallon, who’s “a nice kid...a little annoy-ing sometimes,” Rickles made it clearhe has no plans to retire. Which is at itshould be.

Another legend will be coming tothe IP Casino this month. Liza Minnelli,winner of four Tony Awards, an Oscar,a special “Legends” Grammy, twoGolden Globe Awards, an Emmy, andone of the entertainment world’s con-summate performers, brings her LizaMinnelli In Concert show to Biloxi onFriday, July 24.

If you haven’t seen her before,now’s your chance to catch up witheveryone else. If you have, you knowwhy you’ll want to see her again. Eitherway plan to be in Biloxi that night.

And plan to be there four weekslater when the Grammy- and Oscar-winner Melissa Etheridge brings herTHIS IS M.E. SOLO tour to the IPCasino on Friday, August 21. The per-formance will feature songs from herlatest album, her 12th collection of newmaterial, as well as, I’m sure, manyclassics from her singular and impres-sive career.

Great Beast’s SidewalkSale of New Work at OldMarquer Theatrethrough July 14

On a warm, but pleasant, summernight, it was heartening to see severaldozen people at Great Beast’s Side-walk Sale of New Work, three shortplays by Michael Martin. If they prom-ised more than they delivered, that’spart of the adventure of experiencingoriginal works.

Done outdoors adjacent to the Old[continued on 27]


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• GayNewOrleans.com • July 14-27, · PDF filehas confronted numerous health chal-lenges, including a stroke, high blood ... (Hava Nagila, Never On Sunday, ... As The Bullfighter’s