GAYLETTER

With the “prime time” announcement last night that our Cheeto Faced Pres has nominated Neil Gorsuch for his Supreme Court pick I thought I would offer an antidote in the form of a conversation with the brilliant Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It took place today (Feb. 1, 2017) at the Virginia Military Institute. “United States v. Virginia (1996), was a landmark case in which the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)’s long-standing male-only admission policy in a 7-1 decision.” In the conversation, Ginsberg talks about this progressive case, and how it was another woman, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, whose ruling allowing a man to train at an all-women’s nursing school lay the groundwork for the VMI decision. One of my favorite quotes from RGB is “My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.” Ruth has being an independent woman her whole life, surely exceeding any expectations her mother ever set out for her. At 83 she is still going strong. She only needs to stick around the Supreme Court for another 4 years if we are to maintain its current structure. So please, watch this conversation, and every morning when you wake, send her your love, light and energy. In the words of Rumi “the wound is the place where the light gets in.” Our country is deeply wounded right now, so just imagine how much light can get in.  —tom

We are planning to do a few posts like this in the coming weeks, months (aghh) likely years, so please get used to it. If you have a problem with us encouraging activism and peaceful protest, then you probably should unsubscribe right now. It’s only day 4 and we’re already being deluged with horrible actions from The White House. If you have even an ounce of compassion, it’s time to put it to good use. Donate money and time to supporting Planned Parenthood, join up with local chapters of national organizations and make positive changes to local government, visit the LGBT Center on 13th st. in NYC and ask them what you can do to help, join MPower Change, “an organization dedicated to grassroots organizing to defend Muslim people and advocate against policies that target them.” Help the group United We Dream put pressure on more cities to become sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants, keep an eye out for protests, and march whenever you can. Call out the lies being spread by politicians. If we all collectively call bullshit when they try to offer “alternative facts” then they will not be able to get away with their deceptions. And most importantly, help people enroll to vote, and in 2018 make sure everyone votes out the bastards.  —t&a

I am writing about this party because I love the venue where it’s taking place: Capitale. This space is grand (pictured), giant! I’m also writing about it because the boys from the LA party ‘A Club Called Rhonda’ always turn it out. The party is presented by MATTE which I just learned (thanks to google) is a “creative agency and production company focused on culture and content creation.” I am not sure if they focus on gay events, I don’t see that on their site, (maybe they don’t want to scare their other clients). The party seems very promising, it looks like a fun, ravey night. They have several DJs spread out between the main stage and upstairs — Kevin Saunderson, Wolf + Lamb, Eric ‘Dunks’ Duncan DJ, The Juan MacLean, b2b, Nancy Whang, Nicky Siano, GODDOLLARS & Paradise. Their Facebook page says that they are still celebrating the new year, I think that’s OK since we’ll need several re-dos with the new jerk in the white house. “With two majestic floors of dancing and revelry, a party recalls a bygone time when nightlife meant spectacle, surprise, and intrigue. The night will once again be set beneath the old Bowery Savings Bank’s Corinthian columns, with vaulted 65-foot ceilings under a Venetian glass skylight and expansive marble dance floors.” Got it! Sounds sissy as hell!  —Abi

Apparently January 27 is Holocaust Remembrance Day. I know what you’re thinking, “shit is bad enough right now, do we really have to remember when it was even worse?” Yes. Yes you do, and for two reasons: first it’s helpful to remember that we do not currently live in Nazi Germany, as bad as it may be. Secondly, it’s important to acknowledge horrible times so we can avoid repeating them. “TRIANGLES: Witnesses of the Holocaust is a Performance/Installation piece created by Ann P Meredith for Holocaust Remembrance Day to honor the lives, persecution, and deaths of the numerous types of people who were forced to wear the various colors of triangles during the Holocaust. TRIANGLES utilizes Art, Film, Pre-recorded Sound and Live participation by The Artist.” Ann P. Meredith is a fascinating artist. She has spent “over four decades at home and abroad to help give a realistic and compassionate face and voice to people and cultures who have been injured, oppressed, marginalized, and undeserved.” At times like this, we need artists like her!  —tom

While Trump is fucking everything up as we expected (told you so — he’s gonna do exactly what he said, and maybe even worse.) Living in NYC, we live inside a “bubble” (which I’m glad, imagine living in those states that elected him.) So let’s take advantage of our ecosystem and do a little gay disco dancing this week at Metropolitan Bar in Brooklyn before the disgusting yellow head officially starts to fuck with the LGBTQ community. There’s something so gay and hopeful about Disco, it always makes me smile. The tunes for the night will be provided by DJs Sparklez (Catiriana Reyes) & Jody (David Sokolowski) with a special guest DJ Cory Hall. A cheap local bar in the BK, friends, disco, what else could you ask for? Never forget that the reason we have relatively safe spaces is because we created them. Gay bars like Metropolitan must be protected. We can’t give up now, go out there and dance your disco butts off. You deserve the distraction.  —Abi

Shit is getting a little too real this week. I can’t open Facebook without being slapped in the eyeballs with another egregious headline highlighting the fuckery that’s going on at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It’s dark times, for sure, which is why I want to recommend a podcast from far, far away where is it currently summer and nothing bad ever happens. Yes, I am talking about Australia, where I am from, and also where this podcast is from. It’s called The Rereaders and it’s a “fortnightly literary and cultural podcast.” It’s hosted by Mel Campbell, Sam Twyford-Moore and the very hot (if my recent google image search is to be believed) Dion Kagan (pictured). Topics cover films, books, art shows and in the lastest episode, an adorable discussion about the state of Melbourne beaches. Some of the content is very Melbourne focused, but that just adds to the show’s charm, if you ask me — it’s like taking a trip to hang out with some very smart friends on the other side of the world. The podcast is on a short break, but will return any day now. I suggest you catch up on past episodes, or if you’re really adventurous, read the books they mentioned in their last episode and then join their book club when the next season returns.  —tom