And The Beat Goes On...

After the elation of all the "Stonewall 40" celebrations, there was also some sobering news this weekend in three incidents of anti-gay violence and unwarranted police actions:

• Right here in NYC there was a brutal gay bashing the day before the parade on the upper east side.
  
• A gay bar in Fort Worth was raided by the police and a number of patrons beaten and arrested (pictured here).
  
• A fundraiser for a California democrat being held at the home of a lesbian couple was interrupted by a local sheriff who pepper sprayed some of the guests.

These incidents serve as a reminder that although the movement to secure equal rights for LGBT Americans has come a long way in four decades, there is still a long way to go. The bottom line is that the Federal rights of LGBT citizens have not changed one bit since the raid on Stonewall.

There has been a lot pressure recently on the Obama Administration and the President himself to step up to the plate on the issue of equal rights for LGBT Americans. (Hendrik Hertzberg lays the situation out quite eloquently in the current issue of The New Yorker.) The President hosted an historic reception in the East Room of the White House yesterday, inviting LGBT activists and community members to celebrate Gay Pride. And though it's a wonderful gesture, the events listed above make it clear that real action at the Federal level needs to happen. Now.

I DO Feel Like Dancing

Here's a great clip I recently discovered on YouTube. It's the perfect way to start your Monday. Enjoy!

Happy Pride...With A Side Of History

Today is Gay Pride Day here in NYC. This year's march down Fifth Avenue celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in June 1969, which mark the start of the modern gay civil rights movement. The first Pride March was held in June of 1970 as a way of peacefully commemorating the riots that began with a police raid on the Stonewall bar.

Just around the corner from Stonewall is another notable bar which has it's own place in gay history. Julius, located on the corner of W.10th and Waverly Place, has been open since just after the Civil War began and serving the gays for many decades before Stonewall. The Bowery Boys have a thorough historical write-up all about Julius that's worth reading. And if you want to experience history first hand, stop by on the 3rd Saturday of the month when they hold the Mattachine party, hosted by PJ Deboy and JC Mitchell. You will dance like it's the old days (circa 1979).

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

It was bad enough losing Farrah, but Michael too? On the same day? Man....it's like the day my childhood died.

Though Michael is probably most remembered for THRILLER and his later legal troubles and random craziness, my enduring memories of him will be as the dynamic child star who fronted The Jackson 5. So, in his honor, below is a link to a clip of Michael's first appearance on AMERICAN BANDSTAND at age 11. That's right, 11. This is the Michael I will always remember....

American Bandstand (1970) - The Jackson 5 - TV SHOW - MjTunes Vision - The Videos - Michael Jackson Radio Station

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The High Line Cabaret

As much as everyone tries to gentrify and clean up New York, this city is and will always remain full of characters. Case in point: a woman who is a former punk rock photographer and amateur chanteuse (only in NY kids!) has taken to serenading strollers on the newly open High Line Park which happens to run right next to her fire escape. Todays' TIMES has all the details along with a beautiful audio slideshow of her singing. This gal not only has chutzpah...she's got pipes!

Stonewall 40 Panels Today & Tomorrow

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots which marked the start of the modern GLBT rights movement, there are two very special panels being held in New York this week.

Members of the Gay Liberation Front, which organized the first gay pride march in 1970 on the 1st anniversary of the riots, will be invovled in two panels; one at the 42nd Street NY Public Library this afernoon at 6pm and one at the Gay Lesbian Community Center Thursday at 6pm. There will be plenty of parties and dances and merriment this weekend so why not bone-up (!) on a little history before the celebration kicks in.

The Winnebago Man Gets His Own Movie

I recently went to the Rooftop Films screening of "Winnebago Man", a documentary about the Angriest RV Salesman in the World. Jack Rebney is the star of one of the original viral videos; a VHS of outtakes from a 1989 industrial for Winnebago that was duped and passed around until it ended up on YouTube in 2005, turning him into an international sensation.

Ben Steinbauer's indie doc "Winnebago Man" tracks down the reclusive Rebney and, in the process, ends up being a fascinating rumination on internet celebrity. The real-life Rebney is a bit of a puzzle at first but as the filmmaker gets him talking he reveals himself to be something of a noble and even tragic figure. But he also is just as profane and hilarious as his internet persona, if not moreso. Congrats to my friend Joel Heller who produced this doc. "Winnebago Man" is currently doing the festival circuit but hopefully will be released commercially soon.

"Look At Me, I'm Dancing!"

On Saturday, I was watching Channel 13's weekly old movie, the 1945 classic "Anchors Aweigh". This film is most famous for one of the Hollywood's first combos of live action and animation as Gene Kelly does a dance number with Jerry the mouse. Last season, "Family Guy" did a wonderful remake of this number with baby Stewie subbing for the rodent. Brilliant!

Here's the original clip from the show and below, a side-by side comparison from YouTube. Gene and Stewie are two of my favorite things so putting them together is like an awesome entertainment sandwich! Either way you watch, it's guaranteed to get your Monday off to a good start.

Porky's: Where Are They Now?

Meat became an insurance agent, the basketball coach coach a Broadway star and the howling, sexually crazed cheerleading chick known as Lassie turned out to be Kim Cattrall! (No surprise there) Moviefone has a nifty little roundup of the cast of my first R-rated movie as well as some great then/now pics. They have also posted the disturbing news that Porky's is being thrown in the studio sausage grinder. That's right...."Porky's: The Next Generation" will hit screens in 2011. Oink.

The Fairy Schedule

There is a new website up just in time for summer weekends that combines the LIRR schedule and the Fire Island ferries schedule for the Pines and the Grove. Genius. There is even an app that you can get for your iPhone that has the same info. Now all you need to do is find a friend's house with an extra chaise lounge to crash on. :)