celebrazzi - Ambush Mag · celebrazzi The 14th and largest Gay Easter Parade rolled through the streets of the French ... 140.00 Satyricon Egg won by Tony Leggio 500.00 Blue Bunny

6 • 6 • 6 • 6 • 6 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • • • • • Facebook.COM/AmbushMag • April 16-29, 2013 • Of• April 16-29, 2013 • Of• April 16-29, 2013 • Of• April 16-29, 2013 • Of• April 16-29, 2013 • Official Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORGficial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORGficial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORGficial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORGficial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORG

celebrazzi

The 14th and largest Gay Easter Parade rolled through the streets of the FrenchQuarter, led by Easter Grand Marshals XIV Tommy Elias and Starr Daniels, with some 50registered units including 30 carriages, trolleys and wagons; 2 bands; 4 walking groups;and 14 vehicles. The parade minus expenses raised $23,662.06 for NO/AIDS Task ForceFood For Friends program. (www.GayEasterParade.COM) (Photo by Michael Printy)

Partners Carl Geleno joins Easter Grand Marshal XIV Tommy Elias, and partnerJustin Moffatt joins Easter Grand Marshal XIV Starr Daniels as they led the 14th GayEaster Parade Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013 in New Orleans with over 25,000spectators lining the French Quarter streets.

4th Bunnies In The Big Easy: Put the Good Back in Friday raised $5,155 for GayEaster Parade's reason for the Easter Season, benefiting Food For Friends at the BourbonVieux in New Orleans. With wonderful award winning cuisine, entertainment, andauctions, it was an evening of fun-filled excitement with Easter Grand Marshals XIV StarrDaniels and Tommy Elias. (Photo: EGM VI Lisa Beaumann, party host & EGM X TonyLeggio, Bunny Boys, EGMs XIV Starr Daniels & Tommy Elias, hostess & EGM VII OpalMasters, Bunny Boy Trevor Santos, Barbara Ella, EGM XII Elizabeth Bouvier & EGM IVElectra City)

Oz bar baron Doyle Yaeger and partner Heath Trammell join manager Glenn Fontein welcoming guests to the 21st White Party hosted by both Dance Club and Show Barof the Year Oz New Orleans. The spectacular decorations for this party and all of theparties at Oz are the creations of Yaeger with the help of Trammell. DJ JBR and DJ of theYear Tim Pflueger with illuminations by Johnny Eubanks kept the club packed to the weehours of the morning! (Photo by Frankie Fierce)

Jose Gonzalez and Richard Savoy(above) as "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo"won Best of the Best Bonnets presented byAmbush Mag in the 11th Marigny BunnyHop ending at The Friendly Bar in NewOrleans. Bunny Hop organizers Marty Curtinand Jeff Mallon present Tony Leggio (right)with the Myer-Routh-Murrell Spirit Award.

SouthernDecadence.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • April 16-29, 2013 • SouthernDecadence.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • April 16-29, 2013 • SouthernDecadence.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • April 16-29, 2013 • SouthernDecadence.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • April 16-29, 2013 • SouthernDecadence.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • April 16-29, 2013 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 77777


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over time has expanded to include Creoleand Cajun offerings as well as internationalcuisine. You’ll find everything from appetiz-ers to yummy desserts: whatever your tasteshappen to be.

In addition to the dozens of fine foodsoffered, there are two cooking stages at theFair Grounds Grandstand demonstratingthe rich culinary history of New Orleans andoffering samples of signature dishes fea-turing local ingredients from celebratedchefs, farmers, fishermen, and home cooks.

The Fair Grounds Race Course islocated at 1731 Gentilly Boulevard, justminutes from downtown and the FrenchQuarter. However, the immediate areaaround the site will be barricaded and off-limits to most vehicular traffic. Convenientbus service on the Esplanade route willtake festival-goers to within walking dis-tance of the festival gates, as will shuttlebus service from various park-and-ride lotsand other convenient pick-up points aroundthe city.

For a scenic route to the festival youcan take the Canal Street Streetcar line,transfer to the North Carrollton Avenuebranch and take it to the end at City Park.From there the festival is about a half-milewalk down Esplanade Avenue. Follow thecrowd and you can’t miss it.

Tickets are $50 Adult (Advance), $65Adult (Gate), $5 Child (Age 2-10 at Gate),To order tickets or receive more informationon JazzFest 2013 visit their website atwww.nojazzfest.com.

14th Gay Easter ParadeRaises $23,662.06 forFood For Friends, TotalCharity Donations NowOver $171,101

The 14th annual Gay Easter Paraderolled through the streets of the FrenchQuarter on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013led by Easter Grand Marshals XIV TommyElias and Starr Daniels. Over 25,000 spec-tators enjoyed the largest parade in itshistory with 50 registered units including 30carriages, trolleys and wagons, 2 bands, 4walking groups and 14 vehicles. The pa-rade showcases the fashion and creativityof the entire LGBT community.

The parade minus expenses benefitsthe parade's reason for the Easter Season,NO/AIDS Task Force Food For Friendsprogram raising $23,662.06 this year. Theparade sponsored by Ambush Mag hasraised over $171,101 for charity the past 12years.

The GEP Board of Directors would liketo offer many thanks to the generosity of thesponsors, all who came out and supportedthe events, to auction donors, and thoseentertainers and celebrities who donatedtheir talents. The board includes Rip andMarsha Naquin-Delain, Electra City, TittieToulouse, Rona Conners, Opal Mastersand Tony Leggio.

The complete financial report follows:Revenue:10,650.00 Sponsorships325.00 3rd Sponsorship Party2,217.00 5th Eggstravaganza5,000.00 12th Drag Extravaganza4,097.00 11th Spring Fever4,087.00 14th Purple Party5,155.00 4th Bunnies in the Big Easy450.00 Parade Entry Fees165.00 Elizabeth Bouvier JohnPaul's

Show Performance Tips Donation32,146.00 Revenue Sub-TotalExpenses:65.25 Easter Auction Baskets25.01 Easter Hay48.93 Wrist Bands347.25 Sponsorship Party Bar Bill375.00 Spring Fever Catering131.00 Spring Fever 50/50 Raffle Pay-

out1,836.25 Parade Insurance1,625.00 2 Parade Bands730.00 Easter Grand Marshal Car-

riages50.25 Parade Permit2,400.00 Parade Police Detail400.00 Bunnies in the Big Easy DJ450.00 Bunnies in the Big Easy Serv-

ers & Bartenders8,483.94 Expenses Sub-Total23,662.06 Total Donation to Food For

FriendsPresented by Ambush Mag, spon-

sors include:Platinum: Friday Night Before Mardi

Gras, Oz New Orleans;Gold: Stuart Nettles & EGM IX Safonda

Peters, EGM XII Gary Vandeventer, Todd J.Blauvelt, Krewe of Amon-Ra, Queen Amon-Ra XLVIII Deja Deja-Vue’ & Jim May;

Silver: EGM XII Elizabeth Bouvier, EGMXIII Darwin Reed & EGM VII Opal Masters,EGM VIII Rona Conners, Dwain Hertz/AlDugas & Gene Theriot, EGM XIII Rhonda &David Roget, EGM VIII Michael Elias & JaySewell/The Corner Pocket, Frankie Fierce& King Cake Queen XX Dusty Debris, GlenKahrman & Noel Twilbeck, Thomas C.Schoonenberg, Bobby Vallecillo & ReneLeaumont, Michael Cookmeyer/Michael’sOn The Park, Wood Enterprises, JeffreyPalmquist & Coca Mesa, Misael Rubio/Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, EGM IVElectra City & EGM XI Tittie Toulouse,Mona Lisa Restaurant, John & ThereseVignone;

Bronze: EGM XIV Starr Daniels & Jus-tin Moffatt, EGM X Tony Leggio, CharlotteSullivan, EGM VII Orlando Aloe/SocietyPage, Charles Jenkins/Krewe of Ursus,EGM V Princesse Stephaney, Krewe ofSatyricon, EGM II Larry Bagneris, Frank &Pete Abbruscato, National Association ofCaterers & Events (NACE), Bootsie DeVille,Roy Smith & Nick Olivares, Ranzy Montet& Creig Istre, Michael Sullivan, MichaelSullivan, Michael Durocher, Ken Marino/Fabulous Flowers LLC, Bebe & ChrisScarpinato-Linwood, Frank Perez/CrescentCity Tour Booking Agency, Glenn O'Berry &Roger Copenhaver, Marty Curtin & KooGaffney;

Venue/In-Kind: 700 Club, 4 Seasons,Bourbon Vieux, Cutter’s, The Double Play,Larry Graham, Michael’s On The Park, Oz.

For more information, visitwww.GayEasterParade.COM.

4th Bunnies in The BigEasy Raises $5,155

Gay Easter Parade's 4th annual Bun-nies in The Big Easy: Put the Good Backin Friday raised $5,155 benefiting FoodFor Friends at The Bourbon Vieux in NewOrleans.

It was a fun-filled event hosted by GEPBoard's Tony Leggio and Opal Masterswith special performances by Easter GrandMarshal XIV Starr Daniels, EGM XII Eliza-beth Bouvier, EGM VI Lisa Beaumann,Bunny Girl Barbara Ella, and the BunnyBoys. There were incredible live auctions,along with complimentary award winning

cuisine, vodka cocktails, wine & beer bar,and non-alcoholic beverages.

The event brought in $5,155 minusexpenses of $850, bringing the total forFood For Friends to $4,305. The financialreport follows:

2,905.00 83 Tickets400.00 Performance TipsAuctions:100.00 Wine Cady won by Justin Moffatt35.00 Out of Space Artwork won by

Dawn Leggio100.00 Cinco de Mayo Basket won by

Will Antil85.00 Bourbon Pride Basket won by

Dion S. Travis170.00 Venetian Masks won by Dr.

Michael Lechleiter55.00 2-NO/AIDS Artwork donations

won by Channing & Albert Carey140.00 Grab Bag Basket won by Albert

Carey140.00 Satyricon Egg won by Tony

Leggio500.00 Blue Bunny Basket won by

Douglas LaMaire525.00 Signed Judy Garland Photo-

graph won by Douglas LaMaire5,155.00 Sub-TotalExpenses: 450.00 Bourbon Vieux Help400.00 DJ4,305.00 Total

New Infographic ShowsHow Facebook TurnedRed to SupportMarriage Equality

A new infographic by Rad Campaign(www.radcampaign.com/hrc) shows howthe Human Rights Campaign (HRC) turnedtheir red logo to support marriage equalityinto a viral success over night.

On March 25th, the Human RightsCampaign posted a red version of its logo

on their Facebook page in anticipation ofthe Supreme Court hearings on Proposi-tion 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act(DOMA). The status update read: “Who’swearing red tomorrow? Show your supportfor marriage equality – make your imagered tomorrow.” And that is exactly whatmany of their 1.4M followers on Facebookdid.

Over the next 24 hours, 2.7 millionmore Facebook users updated their profilepicture compared to the previous Tuesday,according to data released by Facebook.Many of the profile images were eitherHRC’s red logo or a creative take on thelogo. People adapted HRC’s logo with popculture images from Game of Thrones, thecomic Peanuts, Star Wars, and more. As ofApril 1st, HRC’s Facebook post had beenshared over 71,000 times.

Celebrities ranging from George Takeito Madonna to Kim Kardashian and Beyoncehelped the red logo to go viral, and sharedmessages of support. Takei had over138,000 Facebook Shares as of March30th.

“The infographic about marriage equal-ity shows that people from all over the U.S.were inspired to change their profile photoin support of same-sex marriage,” saidAllyson Kapin, co-founder of the webagency, Rad Campaign that works withnonprofits to develop websites and socialmedia campaigns.

The average age Facebook user whoshared the post was 30 years old. Accord-ing to Facebook data, people living in col-lege towns from Michigan State, DukeUniversity, Ohio University, University ofIowa, University of Colorado, and Univer-sity of Texas at Austin were most likely tochange their profile picture.

For additional information visitwww.radcampaign.com/hrc.

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NOW RecognizesEqual Pay Day

Equal Pay Day is being recognized bythe National Organization for Women(NOW) to dramatize the vast pay gap be-tween the earnings of women and men inthis country. According to Charlotte Klasson,President of the Louisiana Chapter of theNational Organization for Women, April 9was chosen as National Equal Pay Daybecause it symbolizes how far into the nextyear women must work to earn what menearned in the previous year. “Nationally,women earn 77 cents for every dollar a manearns.” Klasson said, “But in Louisiana, it’seven worse for women. They only earn68.8 cents for every dollar a man earns.”Citing findings in the Louisiana Women’sPolicy and Research Commission Reportto the Governor 2012, Klasson said that in2011 “White women in Louisiana earned onaverage$35,454 compared to $51,592 forwhite men for an earnings ratio of 68.7.African American women earned on aver-age $26,338 compared to $31,901 for Afri-can American men for an earnings ratio of82.6. And the earnings ratio between blackwomen and white men was 51.0.”

Continuing to reference the Report,Klasson said, “The poverty rate for Louisi-ana women and girls in 2011 was 20.6percent, ranking Louisiana second only toMississippi in having the highest rate offemale poverty,” said Klasson. “Louisianawomen rank 43rd lowest in earnings in thecountry while Louisiana men ranked 21st

tributeMy friend Chris:A Tribute toChristopher J. Daigle

My friend Chris would have turned 58right around now. But he didn’t live to seethis birthday. Some of you know my friendChris. He was Chair of LAGPAC (latercalled Equality Louisiana), he worked withLGBT students at Tulane, he ran for officeand he showed us that you can live full andproductive lives for decades being HIV+.

I met Chris in 1998 when I moved toBaton Rouge. Iwas a youngand energeticactivist fromCanada. Mov-ing to Louisianaand living as anopenly feministlesbian wasquite eyeopening and al-ways interest-ing. It was onlya matter of time

before my path would cross with Chris’ alegend among the LGBT communities ofLouisiana. We liked each other instantly, Iappreciated his wicked sense of humorand deep commitment to social justice.During the legislative session, we were afierce duo advocating for basic rights forLGBT people in Louisiana. It was gruelingand spirit-draining work, but we always hadeach other to get us through.

For many young activists in the LGBTmovement, it is hard to find a mentor whowill take the time and effort to impart theirskills, experience and wisdom. However, Icount myself as one of the fortunate. Christook me under his wing and taught meeverything he knew. He accepted me as hisco-chair of LAGPAC and treated me withrespect. I often tested Chris’ patience whenI pushed back on issues of disagreementbetween us. He was a polite and calmSouthern gentleman while I was a brashand assertive Yankee. However, like manygreat relationships, this combinationworked. Our styles rubbed off on one an-other and through the years we taught eachother many things.

When the chance came for me to workon LGBT issues on a national level, Chriswas the first one to encourage me to do so.He had more confidence in me than I had inmyself. Through the years as I worked atNational Gay and Lesbian Task Force, theHuman Rights Campaign, and now, Equal-ity Maryland, Chris was my biggest fan. Asmany of you know Maryland passed anddefended a marriage equality law in 2012.This was, by far, the most taxing profes-sional time of my life. Yet, almost every day,I would get an email or Facebook messagefrom Chris, complimenting me on a quotehe had read or the most recent campaign adhe watched. He kept me believing that thefight was worth it. Many times when I felt tootired or defeated to continue, I thought ofChris and the passion, dedication and te-nacity he had when doing this work inLouisiana, and I found the strength andenergy to keep going. Unfortunately, Chrisdid not get to celebrate the victories theLGBT movement had on the night of No-vember 6, 2012 because he died on Octo-

ber 23rd. On election night when we werecelebrating our win in Maryland, I felt a deepsadness, as I knew he would have beencalling, emailing and texting all day andnight with words of encouragement andthen words of congratulations. Despite hisphysical absence on this night, I knew hisspirit was with me and I know he was proudof me.

I think of Chris on many occasions—when I’m sitting on Bayou Lafourche watch-ing the white swamp birds take over thetrees for the night, as Mardi Gras season isin full swing, as I walk by Lafitte’s in theQuarter, as I sit in each room of my houseand admire a piece of art he has given me,and especially when we make tremendousstrides in LGBT equality in our country.There are many nameless or forgottenpeople who have helped make the lives ofLGBT people better in Louisiana. ChrisDaigle should not become one of thosepeople. Let us remember Chris’ name, hisdeeds, and his spirit today and always.

--Carrie Evans served with Chris asco-chair of LAGPAC from 1999-2001. Theyremained close friends until his untimelydeath.

spotlight featureThe Gay Dad Project

When, after over a decade of marriageto her mother, her father came out as a gayman, Erin Margolin says that the sense ofisolation she felt was profound. Margolinwas 15, living in New Orleans, and in herconfusion searched—in vain—for a sup-port system.

“There was no one I knew facing asimilar situation, no books in the library,”said Margolin. “There were books onhaving two gay parents, but nothing abouthaving a parent who had just come out.”

It was this profound lack of visibilitysurrounding her family situation—and thesubsequent lack of resources—that firstcompelled Margolin to start blogging abouther experience.

Just last year, Margolin discoveredanother blogger, Amie Shea, who remark-ably shared the same experience of havingher father come out as gay. In August 2012,the two formed the Gay Dad Project website(www.gaydadproject.org) , an online forumthat features personal testimonies and sto-ries from people who have a parent whohas come out as gay. The site featuresstories from people of all ages, but thecontent and resources are directed specifi-cally to children.

In its embryonic stages, the Gay DadProject acted primarily as this online sup-port system for kids with gay parents, basedin and around Margolin and Shea’s ownpersonal stories.

Now, Shea and Margolin are workingcollaboratively to expand and diversify theproject. The Gay Dad Project will continueto serve as a forum for story exchange, butthe site will begin to facilitate in-personsupport and meet-ups as well as provideother external resources to help confusedyouth and families in around the world.

The pair hopes that the project willprovide a multi-platform safe-haven forpeople of all ages, but especially children,struggling with the implications of having agay parent. “Kids a lot of times don’t haveanyone to talk to about this issue,” saidMargolin, who now lives in the Midwest.

“There is still such a stigma attached to it[having a gay parent].” “It’s a space that’sneeded for families like ours and really forkids like us,” said Shea.

Also on the agenda for the project isthe production and distribution of a feature-length documentary film. The film is aneffort in personalizing the project, puttingfaces to names and introducing the publicto the people and stories behind the issue.“It’s not a film just for people with gay dads,”said Margolin. “There is a lot of interest ingeneral, in hearing these stories and ex-ploring the family dynamic.” Shooting forthe film will begin this summer, with post-production slated to occur in early 2014.

The duo’s efforts to expand the projecthave seemingly already struck a chord withthe public. Shea and her father wererecently featured on The Ricki Lake Show,and Kansas City’s ABC-affiliate taped asegment featuring Margolin and her father.Additionally, news sources like USA Today,MSNBC, Huffington Post and Yahoo! havecirculated information about the project.

Ultimately Margolin and Shea describethe Gay Dad Project as fulfilling a funda-mental need that exists across communi-ties worldwide. With a tagline that reads,“I’m not gay, but my dad is!” the end aim ofthe Gay Dad Project is to provide childrenand families with resources not typicallyoffered within the larger LGBT community.

“It’s for kids who say, ‘The gay commu-nity isn’t for me, but I need someone to talkto about it,’” said Shea. “The Gay DadProject is for people (and kids) who need acommunity—and a place to talk—when aparent comes out.”

with average earnings greater than theearnings of men in 30 other states. Thosenumbers represent a dramatic gap in earn-ings between men and women and presentan economic situation for women that begsfor legislative action.”

Bills have been filed with the Legisla-ture this session by Senators Karen CarterPeterson (D) and Edwin Murray (D) fromNew Orleans and Representative BarbaraNorton (D)from Shreveport to address thedisparity in pay equity between women andmen in Louisiana. NOW encourages ev-eryone to contact their legislative repre-sentatives asking them to support this leg-islation.

Hidden Treasures:Commemorative ArtsEdition May 7 & 8

Join the Friends of the Cabildo as theLouisiana State Museum’s impressive col-lection of awards, medals and tokens ofappreciation from important events in Loui-siana history are examined for an exclusivebehind-the-scenes viewing May 7th and 8th.Katie Burlison, Curator of the DecorativeArts for the Louisiana State Museum, willguide guests through collections of Napo-leonic awards given to war heroes andpoliticians, souvenirs from the 1984 World’sFair, 20th century sports trophies and morebehind the hidden wings of the Old U.S.Mint.

Hidden Treasures of the LouisianaState Museum: Decorative Arts Editiontakes place Tuesday and Wednesday, May7th and 8th. Tours are at 6pm and 7pm at theOld U.S. Mint, located at 400 EsplanadeAvenue, in the French Quarter. Cost is $20per person, or $15 for Friends of the Cabildo/Louisiana Museum Foundation members.Reservations are required, and space isextremely limited.

To reserve your space, please contactKaydee Nenninger at 504.523.3939.

Irma Thomas ToHeadline Old U.S. Mint

The Friends of the Cabildo presentIrma Thomas, the “Soul Queen of NewOrleans," playing her first concert at the OldU.S. Mint’s 3rd Floor Performance Space at7pm Friday, May 24th. Tickets are $35 forgeneral admission and $25 for FOC/LMFmember. Seats are limited to 175 peopleand can be purchased by calling the FOCoffice at 504.523.3939 or online atwww.friendsofthecabildo.org. Tickets arenot expected be available the night of theevent.

Playing the event as a fundraiser forthe Friends of the Cabildo, Thomas hasbeen active in the New Orleans musicscene over 50 years and had hits such asRuler of My Heart and It’s Raining. Thomaswon her first Grammy in 2007 for the albumAfter the Rain. She also recorded Time ison My Side in 1964, which was recorded bythe Rolling Stones the same year. Since herfirst album in 1964, Thomas has recorded19 albums and collaborated with legendssuch as Allen Toussaint, B.B. King and Dr.John. Finished in 2012, the 3rd Floor Per-formance Space at the Old U.S. Mint is a $4-million joint collaboration between the Loui-siana State Museum and the National ParkService. The space includes a soundproofperformance hall with video and audio re-cording capabilities as well as a full record-ing studio.

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celebrazzi - Ambush Mag · celebrazzi The 14th and largest Gay Easter Parade rolled through the streets of the French ... 140.00 Satyricon Egg won by Tony Leggio 500.00 Blue Bunny