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queerVOICE
Senator Edward M. Kennedy
James Duggan
copyright 2009
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Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the
Liberal Lion of the United States Senate and stalwart supporter of our queer
civil rights movement, is dead. We have lost a dear friend and a kind leader in
our battle for full citizenship. May he rest in peace.
During my life, I've search for
self-understanding of my deeply rooted independent political streak.
Basing my search on Aristotle's premise that virtue is the means between two extremes, I embraced
the belief that political truth can only be found between the two extremes of
the right and left.
Who knew there were such extremes
in politics?
I would spend a lot of time
listening to as many sides of as many arguments as I could. In 1986, I hit it
big while driving limos in NYC during summer break. I found what was clearly two political extremes
on the radio. I discovered Lynn Samuels,
a very liberal talk jock whom I fell in love with. Lynn's show was preceded by a conservative
new comer, Rush Limbaugh before he went
national. I learned a lot about my personal politics that
summer. Thank goodness for the glass divide between me and that back of
the limo.
Rush's political philosophy at
the time intrigued me which caused my political views to move further to the
right while I continued the search for that elusive political mean.
Unfortunately, I perhaps allowed myself to be swayed too far to the right and
found myself with positions that were neither virtuous nor kind.
During that time, I became very
weary of Senator Kennedy and his "far left" philosophy . . . I believed
that he was simply another far left wacko who was bringing our country down the
wrong path. I even questioned friends who lived in Massachusetts as to how they could continue
to elect this man to office.
As the years worn on and the
pendulum of my life began to settle towards the center, I discovered that the
extremes are only relative to the position I viewed them from. Senator
Kennedy no longer seemed to be on the far left extreme. If fact, he went
from a person I despised to hero in my heart and mind as I discovered his deep
rooted support for the full civil rights of all citizens regardless of their
sexual orientation and gender identity.
In 1990, Kennedy authored ground
breaking AIDS/HIV legislation known
as the Ryan White Act. In 1996, he voted
against the Defense of Marriage Act. He was a long time supporter of same-sex
marriage equality, and a leading proponent in the U.S. Senate for inclusive
anti-discrimination legislation. Prior to his death, he was preparing to
introduce a bill that would repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Somewhere, along the line, Senator Kennedy, that far left liberal wacko, turned
into a champion fighting for my fully and equal rights.
Yes, the liberal lion of the
Senate is dead, but his memory and good works will live on. May this
memory always inspire us to do better for ourselves and those around us.
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Carlotta takes on QOTA to Benefit Action Aids
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QOTA (Queers on the Avenue) is a monthly night out on East Passyunk Avenue
in South Philly for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender neighbors, friends
and allies.
This
month QOTA will be held on Tuesday, September 15th, from 6-9 p.m. at Paradiso Restaurant & Wine Bar, located at 1627 East Passyunk Ave between Tasker
and Morris. Drink specials and light fare will be provided. Philadelphia's own Carlotta Tendant will be
making an apperence.
A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Action Aids.
Go
out - have fun - and help support this good cause!
Spread the word to all of your South Philly friends who want a night out in the
hood and anyone else interested in checking out this fabulous neighborhood.
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What It Looks Like From Here
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2009 |
I'll confess--I'm sorry but I can't ever get enough fashion! Now, please you shouldn't
start with me! No, I'm not and never,
ironically enough, been a "slave" to fashion! I've definitely been a
"slave" to something and someone else but let's not go there--just now, anyway.
But fashion is, I guess, important in my life. You
know it's really not that big a deal. Unless you're a naturalist or a nudist
(what's the difference), then you do have to wear clothes, so you might as well
look good and, at least, for heaven's sake, color coordinated! Okay, does your underwear match your other
layers of clothing? Mine usually do! Does that make me a certifiable
fashion victim? Well, maybe.
But it's really, at least temporarily, not all
about me despite my three stuffed-to-the-last-hanger closets of clothes,
because, also I rarely throw anything away.
Once I stepped into my first class on the Principles
of Economics and my professor told us about how the simple men's tie (Ralph Lauren must have taken the same course)
was an economic imperative, I've
saved every one of them in different widths, knowing that one day they'll come
back, that very wide to very slim width, like lots of fashion styles and
trends.
So I'm personally delighted that there seems to be
more and more fashion--FINALLY--making it way to the city and more of the
inhabitants of Philadelphia
and environs are seriously paying attention to it.
 Last week was a strong example of what I'm talking about at the opening, packed
to the rafters, of Y-3 at Joan Shepp, 1616 Walnut Street,
Philadelphia, where one of the city's fashion divas was celebrating the launch
of all kinds of new clothing lines and designers for the younger, hipper,
street conscious, fashionistas, and even, these days, incorporating men's
clothing and accessories, where once all men could buy was an occasional
necklace (perhaps it would pass an unisex) or a craftsman's set of cuff links.
But, more importantly, there was a genuine buzz in the air, that the people
assembled shared something in common, they cared about fashion.
 There are more of us every day. So, I'm thrilled to
announce that Philadelphia
Fashion Week, a three-day fashion extravaganza, will take
place, October 8-10, at the 23rd Street Armory, 23rd between Market and Chestnut
Streets in Center City Philadelphia.
This first time event will bring together the best
contemporary brands, directionally independent designers and street wear labels
from Philadelphia
and around the globe, featuring them in more
than 15 runway shows at Philadelphia Fashion Week.
 "The concept behind Philadelphia Fashion Week is to
invite residents and visitors to celebrate the vibrant fashion, food, and arts
and culture scene in Philadelphia," said Kristie
Bergey, executive director of Philadelphia Fashion Week and partner of CMK Entertainment,
"In a city known for its rich history, we are proud to make history by
producing the first fashion week in
Philadelphia."
Bergey explained that each day will feature student, street wear and contemporary couture
runway shows in addition to headlining concerts, dance performances, cuisine
from area chefs, an open bar showcasing artisan cocktails and shopping at 12
popup boutiques.
 The roster
of confirmed designers, at press time, will include, according to Bergey,
"an eclectic mix" of some men's shirtmaker, corseterie and street wear
tastemakers, some of them even homegrown: Commonwealth Proper, Triple 5 Soul,
Wrath Arcane, Park & Ronen, 9 Days, Brooklyn Royalty, GAR-DE, Love Brigade,
Delicious, Strangefruit, and SA
VA.
"Philadelphia Fashion Week is committed to
supporting designers sold in our city," said Michael Anderer, creative director of Philadelphia Fashion Week,
partner of CMK Entertainment and head buyer for Matthew Izzo. "There will be runway shows of local designers like
Commonwealth Proper, but because we wanted this event to be accessible for
everyone---designers and guests---we opened up the criteria to any designer
based or sold in our city."
 He said that the doors will open each day at 4 p.m.
for vendors and runway shows begin at 5 p.m.,
with the last show ending at 10 p.m., all being fueled by models who are
exclusively represented by Wilhelmina
Models.
This year's sponsors will include: Big Events and Wilhelmina Models, Macy's, KB
Experience, Raison D'Etre Marketing, Insalaco Public Relations, Well Fed, Junk
Drawer Media, Brolik Productions; TicketLeap, CydeClops Productions and Village
Green Productions; the Art Institute of Philadelphia, Philadelphia University, and
Moore College of Art & Design.
For more information, visit philadelphiafashionweek.org
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Colin's Queer Walk on the Qt!
Oh Senator, My Senator
Colin McCullough
copyright 2009 |
 In the fall before I told my friends and family I was gay, Matthew Shepard was
killed. The tragedy made me think that we are not living in a more
peaceful time and the days of Emmit Till are not gone. The 1990s, despite
its progress toward equality, could still be fatal for out gay men. Who
was a young gay man, debating whether or not to come out, to turn to for moral
guidance? We had Hollywood
and some of pop culture celebrated diversity. Madonna, Liz Taylor, and
Tom Hanks certainly did their part in increasing the images of the LGBT
community. But celebrities can't make laws. Celebrities, though
powerful in their influence, can't establish policy or introduce
legislation. Then I was introduced to Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.
Following the death of Matthew Shepard, Kennedy said, "We must do more to end
violent bigotry." I first saw Senator Edward Kennedy on television
when I was in high school and not yet out of the closet. I wanted to come
out. I wanted to be recognized for who I am and to be loved for the man I
was born to be. But there are dangers in showing one's true colors.
I knew of the Kennedys. How could I not? President Kennedy is often
cited as one of the nation's most brilliant presidents. Jackie is
remembered as strong anchor with a brilliant sense of fashion. Robert,
and his fight for civil rights and his tragic death, is written about in
history books. The family had its flaws though. Adultery, political
corruption, and drug and alcohol abuse attached to the name Kennedy plagued the
headlines for decades. In an odd way though, this made the political
dynasty more human. They had flaws, just like any other family.
I also related to the Kennedys on a personal level. The Kennedys, a
Northeast Irish Catholic clan, faced the same discrimination that my
grandparents felt as new immigrants to this country. Like my family, the
Kennedys fought hard and practiced a great deal of empathy to change the face
of the nation. We are a diverse nation with many different cultures and
ideas. Because of the Kennedys, not only did the Irish have a seat at the
table, within fifty years they had a seat in the Oval Office.
The Kennedys not only represented a group of people, they also represented
ideals. These policies are often dubbed liberal and depending on where
you sit on the political aisle, they damage or promote the country's core
values. Nonetheless, the Kennedys, especially Ted, championed education,
health, civil rights and peace. When the Kennedys spoke, the nation
listened.
Ted Kennedy voiced equality and safety for LGBT citizens and the country had to
take notice.
Fortunately, the Lion may be gone, but his voice lives on. Senator
Kennedy's career is truly a profile in courage.
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Thom's Table on the Qt!
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2009
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 Well, it's utterly
true--the region's foodies will be in pure ecstasy when Center
City District Restaurant Week presented by TD Bank,
returns this year with the expansion of two weeks, September 13 to 18 and 20 to 25, with a roster, believe of not, of a record-breaking 113 participating
restaurants, offering not only three sumptuous courses for dinner at $35
per person (not including tax, gratuity or alcohol) but also a three-course lunch
for $20 (many but not all the restaurants either serve or offer this meal deal
for lunch so check the details on the web site before going).
The popular and always growing event was organized by the Center City District
and Rittenhouse Row in 2003, now with a vast
selection of established and new restaurants, the event affords diners the
opportunity to try restaurants they haven't before.
So, now, you Philadelphia foodies, you can try
such newcomers to the city's culinary scene as Azalea Restaurant, Bistro La
Viola, Bleu Martini, Chifa, Fadó, Irish Pub, Four Seasons Hotel - Swann Cafe,
La Viola West Restaurant, Ladder 15, Noble American Cookery, Panini's
Trattoria, Porcini, Sakeya Japanese Restaurant, Smokin' Betty's, Supper
Restaurant, Thirteen Restaurant at the Marriott, Varga Bar and Del Frisco's
Double Eagle Steak House.
Or enjoy such standard bearers as
Alma de Cuba, Amada, Audrey Claire, Ava Restaurant, Bistro Romano, Bistro St. Tropez, Bleu Martini, Bridget Foy's, Café Spice,
Caribou Café, Chez Colette - Sofitel Philadelphia, City Tavern, D'Angelo
Ristorante Italiano & Lounge, Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, El Vez Restaurant,
Estia, Portico Ristorante, Joe Pesce, Joseph Poon Chef Kitchen, La Famiglia
Ristorante, Friday Saturday Sunday,
Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, Le Bec-Fin, Le Castagne, McCormick & Schmick's
Fresh Seafood Restaurant, Palace at the Ben, Patou Restaurant, Positano Coast
by Aldo Lamberti, Privé Restaurant, Public House at Logan Square, Rum Bar
Lounge & Restaurant, Seafood Unlimited, Solefood Restaurant, Sotto Varalli, Swanky Bubbles Restaurant & Champagne Bar, The Palm -
Philadelphia, The Prime Rib, Thirteen Restaurant at the Marriott, Time, Tinto
Restaurant, Upstares at Varalli, Valanni, XIX (Nineteen), Xochitl, Zahav, ZINC
bistro a vins, among others.
For your dining convenience, there are offers for parking at a deep discount of $9 or less at dozens of lots and
garages all over Center City, by presenting voucher from a participating
restaurant from 5 p.m. -1 a.m., and participating parking facilities that will
have signage for Restaurant Week displayed or visit the web site for the complete
list of locations.
Diners can also enter to win for the
Center City District Restaurant Week presented by TD Bank Grand Prize Contest. The winner will receive "Dinner for a Year," fifty-two $50 gift certificates at
participating restaurants, apply online at CenterCityPhila.org
or pick up an entry form at their offices at 660 Chestnut Street, Monday-Friday,
between 9 am and 5 pm.
This year's sponsors include: Absolut Raspberri Vodka, Philadelphia Convention
and Visitors Bureau, Opentable.com, Philadelphia Parking Association and
Philadelphia Parking Authority. Media partners include Philadelphia Magazine,
Philadelphia City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly.
For reservations, call
the individual restaurants or make it simple for yourself and click here: OpenTable.com
For more information, visit CenterCityPhila.org/RestaurantWeek
 Okay, I've previously waxed poetic several times in my columns here about what Bart Blatstein has created as the "New Philadelphia" with The Piazza@Schmidts.
Perhaps inspired--directly or indirectly--by Blatstein's "out-of-the-box"
philosophic approach to transforming, revitalizing, and making new an area of the city like Northern
Liberties, something beyond mere gentrification of a neighborhood, with all its
pros and cons, many of the commercial tenants have ideas, concepts and
offerings that speak to the place.
Two weeks ago Darling's Diner, 1001 North 2nd Street, located at The Piazza @
Schmidts launched the first-ever "Darling's
Room Service" for the residents of both "The Piazza @ Schmidts" and "Liberties
Walk".
General manager Dan Contarino (one
of the city's leading impresarios of nightlife and special events who actually
got his start working in diners in South Jersey) explained that the residents
for the Darling's Room Service actually have the option of a customized full
menu with daily specials, breakfast, lunch, dinner & dessert items.
The concept is more akin to concierge
service in a several stars hotel than a basic take-out order as the residents'
orders are processed quickly, packaged in a festive shopping bags with a few
complimentary goodies, and delivered rather quickly so there's ever little waiting
or excuses about being backed up in the kitchen stories. How neat is that?
The room service is available, for now, during the full hours of operation of
Darling's Diner: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.
(midnight), Friday; 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. (midnight), Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
Sunday.
 By the way, yes, you're right if you were associating Darling's Diner with the
fabulous cheesecake wizards who own Darling's Café (life is short, eat dessert
first, and often) and their "Best of Philly" Magazine cheesecakes are featured
on the menu at the diner. (The diner is a new venture, a way of branching out
from the cheesecake concept that brothers John and Harry "Darling" Arnold are
used to but they're enthusiastic and daring, like their fellow businesspeople
at The Piazza@Schmidts.) The prices are reasonable to down right cheap for the quality
and quantity of the food.
For sheer ecstasy, I order the banana foster cheesecake every time.
Honestly, I can't get enough of it! For more information, call 267.239.3775
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What They Said:
copyrighted 2009 |
 Queer hottie Jack Mackenroth kinda has it all--he's
handsome, smart, hunky and funny! The former Bravo's "Project Runway"
contestant, designer (he's now working on his own clothing line with Kevin Christiana),
athlete (he's training to compete in the next Outgames), television host
(there's a design show of some sort in "development" with a strict
confidentiality agreement so not much word publicly yet), and his AIDS awareness
project, "Living Positive for Design" (he's been diagnosed as HIV positive for
almost 20 years now). One of the busiest "new" queer celebrities on the
national radar doesn't have much time for a personal life. "I've basically
given up my social life for the time being," he admits. He says that he's all
about the work right now and happy that he's such a well-organized person to
fit it all into his days. In "Out in Jersey"
(August-September, 2009), Mackenroth was interviewed by Steven Strauss. Being
recognized as a "huge force in combating the stigma associated with HIV,"
Mackenroth is proud of his work with the pharmaceutical giant, Merck, with the campaign,
"Living Positive for Design" (livingpositivebydesign.com). "I worked with Merck to put together the
'Living Positive for Design' program after they read an article about me in
'The Advocate.' Basically, the program is a road map for HIV+ people to
'design' their own life and health care program. I hope we can all fight the
stigma of HIV by speaking openly about it and being visible role models. We
also advocate that HIV+ individuals partner with a doctor they trust and get on
a treatment regimen that keeps the HIV virus at an undetectable level."
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 So do you want to "play" with queer-friendly, straight boy, celebrity icon, Justin
Timberlake? Queer writer Joshua David Stein (OUT, September
2009) just about got his 15-minutes with the musical idol turned model for
Givenchy's "Play." (There was a New
York media frenzy at the launch of the fragrance
campaign.) Yes, the fashion-conscious "new face" for the fragrance talked about
the influences of his personal style-the "rockabilly" style of the early Elvis
Presley, Timberlake grew up outside of Memphis, with the "pomaded hair and big
collars"; the classic looks of Frank Sinatra and the signature "black" Johnny
Cash; and perhaps his greatest style influence, his banker-stepfather. "I used to love to watch the routine he
would go through. He would lay out his suit and the power tie he wanted to wear
the night before. I used to watch him tying his own tie in the morning before
going to school." Ironically, Timberlake isn't "a cologne freak" which is
different that Givenchy allows him to say that in public. "I don't wear it all the time . . . My issue with cologne is that it
makes you smell unlike yourself. Sometimes to be funky, you gotta smell
funky." Okay, are you ready to play? "I like Play because it's doesn't
take away from how you smell. It just accents it to make you smell a little better."
So, Justin, you do like--fruity, grapefruit, bergamot? "I like a fresh, clean, out of the shower
smell." he answered.
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 "The September Issue," is a documentary film about the behind-the-scene world
of Vogue as it put together its largest issue ever published. Director R. J.
Cutler might end up raising the profile of the magazine's veteran creative
director Grace
Coddington from the insider's fashion world and catapulting her
name, face, and flowing red hair into the national popular cultural psyche much
the way her legendary "dive" boss, Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour was
immortalized forever by Oscar-winning Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears
Prada." Both women-- Wintour and Coddington - are no doubt strong-willed,
determined, driven, powerful, creative and passionate about the fashion world
and the magazine. Editors of the New York Times Magazine (Women's Fashion Issue
Fall 2009, August 16, 2009) summarizes the film perfectly: "The ensuing
tug of war between Coddington and Wintour turns into the film's key conflict;
their sibling-rivalry rapport, which dates back to at least 1988, when
Coddington joined Wintour at Vogue, defines its central relationship." Though
some might wish to see a stylish cat fight between the two legendary fashion
queens, they'll most likely be disappointed. Editors of OUT (September 2009)
quote Coddington: "We [Wintour and
me] understand each other very well, and we know how far to push each other.
She doesn't want things to come easy. She constantly challenges you. I think
that you have to be quite cold and harsh about decisions to edit. And that's
what somehow she does."
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Thom's Arts Calendar
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2009
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I think that in an
earlier life that I must have been an historian, archivist or even a collector of ephemera.
Honestly, I HATE to admit it but I've an insatiable appetite for all things
paper. I'm literally surrounded by piles of books, magazines, clippings, post
cards, not to mention art prints of all kinds--etchings, woodcuts,
silk-screens, lithography and collages--then there's photographs, collectible
stamps, paper dolls, antique prints, cigar bands, movie posters and even some
sheet music.
 That leads me to "The Image of Sound:
Original Design in Sheet Music 1900-1945," a curated exhibition of the
wildly creative illustrations created for twentieth-century sheet music covers,
that will be on view at Lisa
M Reisman et Cie, 1714 Rittenhouse Square, adjacent to the
Philadelphia Art Alliance, October 2 to November 6.
One of the leading fine print gallery and design boutiques in the tristate
area, Lisa M Reisman et Cie features special exhibitions that are both unique
and high quality, always being sensitive to the collector. I'm excited about
this forthcoming exhibition that be a highlight of the fall season.
Curator Michael Hartman has
painstakingly selected several dozen original examples of period sheet music, which
will be archival framed with the entire music book intact, preserving it for
the future, and will be accompanied by text explaining the history of both the
music and the images. All of the images in the show will be available for purchase.
"For those longing to give these vintage compositions a try on the keyboard,
the back of each frame holds a compact
disc with color PDFs of the entire music book," said Hartman, ""These
prints really are visual accompaniments to the music, helping the audience
imagine the tone and purpose of the piece of music in their hands. As anyone
who's ever taken a music theory course knows, conjuring a static image to match
an aural environment is no easy task, and these artists accomplished this
magnificently."
Hartman said that cover designs for sheet music became as important to
marketing music as the reputations of the composers and publishing firms.
"New color printing technologies made an ever-more-dazzling array of designs
possible, precisely reflecting the styles of the moment, from Art Nouveau to
Art Deco. World War One period music employed patriotic slogans and austere
military colors, while late-twenties examples brought the Jazz Age home, with striking
zigzags, bold colors and stylized figures," he explained.
The Image of Sound will feature many
examples of all these very unique-to-the-period distinctive, original, artistic
and collectible designs in the exhibition. The public is invited;
free of charge, to attend the opening night reception, 6-9 p.m., on
October 2.
For more information, call 215.735.2781; visit lisart.com
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Events on the Qt! |
September 8 (Tuesday)
Official Queer Fundraiser for Joe Sestak for U.S. SenateClick HERE to view and download official invitation and contribution form.
September 15 (Tuesday)QOTA @ Paradiso with CarlottaClick HERE to view the QOTA facebook page.
Always remember to check out the book reading events @
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