The Gay Ghetto

I went for a walk around West Hollywood (L.A.'s gay-borhood) over the weekend, something I haven't done since last summer. I can't tell you how many businesses have closed since I've been there. In fact, I've never seen so many empty storefronts before that weren't in a ghetto (and no, the "gay ghetto" doesn't count). Of course it's no surprise with the economy being in the state it's in, but seeing its effects hit me.


I went to visit A Different Light Bookstore, L.A.'s only GLBT bookstore, for the last time. After nearly 30 years of business, it's officially closing its doors at the end of the month (although will still be operating online and in San Francisco).




Similarly, in NYC, The Oscar Wilde Bookshop, operating since 1967 and believed to be the oldest GLBT bookstore in the country, is closing this month as well.

On the one hand, it's sad to see these businesses, which have had meaning and significance in our community for decades, close their doors. On the other hand, you could say that capitalism does not discriminate - these businesses are leaving because they are no longer needed by enough people. In 1967, The Oscar Wilde Bookshop was one of the only places to buy GLBT material anywhere in the country. The internet and big business have put a strain on independent shops in general, but there is another issue with GLBT businesses, and that is our community is becoming more and more mainstream. We can now buy GLBT books virtually anywhere - not just from businesses that cater specifically to us.

At the WGA panel I went to recently, one panelist mentioned that 10 or so years ago, there were 5,000 GLBT bookstores in the country. Now there are only 500, which he says "is a good thing," signifying that we've become less marginalized.

I can't say it's a good thing, but I don't think it's a bad thing either. It's just part of our evolution - you give up one thing to become another.

But while so many businesses have closed their doors, others in WeHo seemed to be booming. The nail salon, for example, was packed (Gay men do seem to love their pedicures, and the online marketplace still hasn't found a way to tap that).

Like looking at a glass that's half full, does an empty storefront point to the business that has failed and left, or does it point to the new one approaching? Emptiness is also an opportunity in waiting.

~Pride~

As I wrote in my last post, last Friday and Saturday I did Pride-related dyke activities. Sunday I missed the Pride parade, but I went to check out the festival.

I learned this year (which I'm somewhat ashamed to admit, seen as how it's very basic Gay History) that Pride started in 1970 as a way to commemorate the Stonewall Riots the year before. I was amazed to learn that the tradition has been around for nearly 40 years.


My day started out with volunteering at GLAAD's booth for a few hours. GLAAD stands for Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and they work to put an end to LGBT discrimination and inaccuracy in the media.


As I wrote a couple postings ago, the highlight for me this year was getting to meet the moms of the gay teens. Had I not been working the booth, I probably wouldn't have even known they were there; so it was a good opportunity to talk with some different people.

After that, I went to get free Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines from Hepteam, who had a booth there.



After that, I walked around and looked at stuff.






This year I saw two new additions - a teeth whitening booth ($120 for a 15 min. whitening, and believe it or not - maybe you will, because this is L.A. and these are gay men after all - all four of the machines were occupied, and there were people waiting in line as well) and a small petting zoo.

Yay for Gay!

Today the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage! This evening I attended a celebration rally in West Hollywood.




Some facts:

- While domestic partner benefits have been extended to same-sex couples in CA for the past few years, the court ruled that providing these rights through a separate system of domestic partnerships does not satisfy the state constitution.

- In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled - "In light of the fundamental nature of the substantive rights embodied in the right to marry — and their central importance to an individual's opportunity to live a happy, meaningful and satisfying life as a full member of society — the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all couples, without regard to their sexual orientation."

The court also noted: "Our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual's sexual orientation - like a person's race or gender - does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights."

- For more information, check out The National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, or the ACLU - three organizations that were involved with this landmark case.

- Right wing conservatists are already trying to overturn the ruling with a ballot initiative. To see how you can help fight back, check out Equality for All.




As for me, I don't have anyone to marry at this time, but I know she's out there somewhere... :)




-

Naked Men in LA LA Land

Naked Boys Singing, the movie that lives up to its title. When I got back from the Portland festival, I went to the L.A. premiere of Naked Boys Singing. I met one of the directors, Troy Christian, and 2 of the actors at the film festival in Tampa, so I wanted to check it out and see what all this penis hype was about.

I do think I was the only lesbian there. I don't mind representin' my peeps, although I don't know if I can speak for everybody when I say that I was fascinated at the spectacle! 10 bouncing penises for an hour and a half -- it was unlike anything I had ever seen! I'm sure I found it much more educational than the gay men or straight women in the audience, although they may have gotten some other benefits out of the whole experience as well. Oh, and the singing and dancing were good, too...


Above is a pic taken with one of the film's actors, Kevin Stea, now fully clothed. He's in the middle and on the left is Chad Allen. Chad and his penis are not to be seen in this movie, although he does appear in several other movies without his penis. Well, he doesn't appear without his penis, but he appears while he penis doesn't. Ok, 'nuff said.


A few days after I went to Naked Boys Singing, my friend Karen and I did the L.A. AIDS Walk. For those of you who don't live near West Hollywood, the nun-looking people in the pic are the infamous WeHo drag nuns. I'm not sure what name they go by, but I guess WeHo drag nuns makes sense, or maybe something like "drag queens with bad habits."

The walk was a lot of fun -- if any of you are thinking about doing it next year, you definitely should. You walk 6 miles while eating free ice cream, cookies, and potato chips. I think I gained weight during the walk, but what the hell - it was for charity.