the gay place

Dacia Saenz and Meow won a two-night stay for two for this weekend, Saturday-Sunday, June 23-24, in Houston at the Houston Hyatt including tickets for two to both Pride Houston on Saturday and Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour on Sunday.


Runner-up Sara Gray won tickets to Pride Houston, as well!

Prizes were drawn at Coochie Coo, Thursday, June 21, 12mid at the Peacock. Prize package courtesy: The Gay Place, The Austin Chronicle, True Colors Tour, Hyatt Regency Houston, Pride Houston, Live Nation tickets, and Visit Houston. Read More | Comment »

Just in time for Congress' Don't Ask Don't Tell hearings, GLBT Historical Society of San Francisco unveils the first U.S. exhibit chronicling the lives of gay vets. Read More | Comment »

Because that is what you will do if you miss Sharon Bridgforth's wonderful trip: "The love conjure/blues Text Installation" at the Off Center.

Here is Abe Louise Young's review of the premiere last Friday.

Click the link above the pic for more candids from opening night and over the weekend. Read More | Comment »

My dad used to work for Hallmark, you know, the greeting-card company that pretty much cemented Valentine's to schmoop-schmoop consumerism?

According to Queerty and Gay.com, some seriously What-Were-They-Thinking??? content made it onto the racks for Father's Day. Called out by some rightfully freaked out consumers, the greeting-card giant was quick to re-evaluate their "sentiment", and yanked the cards from all shelves.

Whoops. The Gay Place is not satisfied. In fact, we say they can "Yank This" and, while they're at it, remain tied up and made to watch the Tyra Banks show for 72 hours straight. (Was it insensitive for us to say "straight"?) Read More | 1 Comment »

This year, three more states – Iowa, Colorado, and Oregon – have enacted laws that outlaw anti-gay legislation and practices. So, going into this very interesting election (viewed as one of the potentially heaviest in drama and history in the making), our country is splitsville. Us vs. Them. A civil war. With some of the battle lines drawn around issues of sexual orientation.

On one hand, 20 states of our union (representing more than 50% of the U.S. population) are saying nuh-uh to hate crimes and faggy-bashing.

The other hand, praying. Praying for gays just to go away.

Stay tuned … Read More | Comment »

Watch this blog for upcoming information regarding how you can win a two-night stay this weekend at the Houston Hyatt for Pride Houston and Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour. The trip is this weekend, and the turnaround is quick. So stay tuned. Courtesy of your pals here at Gay Place and Live Nation tickets. Read More | Comment »

The women of Austin Craigslist Women Seek Women personals board (which is actually more of a discussion board than hook-up site) are taking sides in a tussle over style. Yesterday, a post called "Lesbian Events" asked the very reasonable question: "What I see when I go out is nothing but cargo shorts, T-shirts, and flip flops. I'm wondering why this is?" It set off a controversy that is still raging today. Read More | Comment »

As we celebrate gay Pride in June here in Texas, New Orleans mourns one of her own. Once Southern Decadence Grand Marshall (1998), beloved community activist, and French Quarter hair-salon owner Robin Malta was found beaten to death in his Faubourg Marigny home earlier this week.

According to a report by NOLA TV station WWLTV, friends are shocked at the news:

"'He loved everyone,' said Malta’s sister, Monica Thurmond. 'He didn’t have an enemy anywhere.'

"Friends said the fact that Malta was so well-liked makes it hard to understand who could commit such a crime."

According to NOLA Against Crime, "Robin will be laid to rest on Saturday [June] 16th at Tharp-Sonheimer, 1600 N. Causeway. Mass will be at 2:30 PM, afterwards there will be a celebration of his life – location to be announced at the services." Read More | Comment »

The first 50 folks who e-mail us at:

gayplace@austinchronicle.com

will be entered for a chance at either a single ticket or pair of tickets to the 2007 Pride Texas Women's Dance, which is happening tomorrow, Friday, June 15, 8pm at Fiesta Gardens.

Those first 50 should send us an e-mail with their name, phone number, and one clever sentence stating what they wish to accomplish at the dance ASAP. We will be selecting randomly tomorrow, and winners will be notified by 2pm, Friday.

The dance benefits Equality Texas and is but one event that Kate and/or K8 will be heading to this weekend. Come find us. We are giving away some major prizes. Read More | Comment »

Tonight, Thursday, Yo Majesty at the Beauty Bar. I'm actually going to call a temporary lax on my previous self-imposed exile from the place just to see these girls: Three badass motherfuckers from Tampa, Fla., who can rap. Shit. They let it all hang out and turn every kid in the room into an immediate No. 1 fan. Just watch.

This midweek extravaganza is for those cats that think, "Ah, Austin's no fun. Nothing to do for lesbians or for gay kids in gen." Well, get up outta yer PJs, and maybe, just maybe, you'll end up in 'em again, eating postcoital Cinnabons. Read More | Comment »

In addition to your friendly neighborhood Gay Place stinkin' up the place, our lovely and talented Chrontourage was on-hand at Pride 2007. Click here for more pictures taken by our gal on the scene, Shelley Hiam. Read More | Comment »

Last night, I sipped PBR in the corner, bummed cigarettes to passers-by (boostin' cig karma important), but didn't find anyone to dance with me. Why? Read More | Comment »

Today the G-bomb hit the office cooler. The G-bomb, as in the gay bomb, the story that's all over the blogs about the Pentagon's Friday acknowledgment that there was once a for-real plan back in 1995 to develop a weapon that would incite homosexuality in the enemy.

Sure, there are some hot mamas I'd love to hit with a gay bomb, but c'mon, what's the fun in that? Read More | Comment »

Personally, I've been having a blast this Pride. No complaints. Except for the fact that there is too much going on. And that it's all stretched across the entire month. Phew. But that's not really a complaint.

I will say this, however: Austin would be well-served to have a central Pride organizing council with a variety of reps from all different groups and all different walks of life. Like other cities.

But that would involve collaboration and cooperation. And the breaking out of shells. Hmmm. What an idea. End of sermon. Just sayin'.

Here's a slew of shots from this weekend. Forgive the random captioning of our photo galleries. We promise we'll get better at this. In the meanwhile, enjoy this slice of Pride's rich pageant.

Click on the gallery link above the photo for lots of pics from Pride 2007. Read More | 1 Comment »

Sheesh, we cannot believe we missed the first one Monday at End of an Ear. Tragic. Well, at least there is one left and it's happening tomorrow evening.

Come feast upon your cultcha, queer Austin. The reissue of Two Nice Girls is nigh, and there are memories to be had and shared and made as Gretchen Phillips presents a night of "bonding," if you will, over Austin and the world's seminal lezzie-alt-folk-rock-phenom. If you are too young or too old to know what it was all about back when it was all about, come on down to the listening party and get your learnin' on.

Tuesday, June 12, 7pm at Whetstone Audio, 2401 E. Sixth on the groundfloor of the Pedernales Lofts. Read More | 1 Comment »

New section added to the blog: Straight Celeb Crushes and How I Can't Talk to Them Even After Tequila Shots. Read More | Comment »

Many thanks to Sharon Bridgforth and Jen Simmons for this exclusive and heat-inducing peek (click below) into their upcoming multimedia collab, "The love conjure/blues Text Installation", premiering this weekend at the Off Center. There are more clips on the lc/b website, but they made this one special for us. Oh, yes.

It has been waaaaaay too long since we have seen an SB performance. So you know we will be there with our sassiest bells on and would love to hear you ting-a-lingin' or clangin', as well.

Read More | 2 Comments »

Be careful what you stick up there. We mean, up in that surgeon general position, of course.

Bush nominates another winner. Read More | Comment »

The special Pride feature in this week's Chronicle, features a conversation between Glass Eye Austin rock legend Kathy McCarty and an ex-bandmate. I consider both musicians dear friends, and the opportunity to edit this piece was an honor.

"Deprogramming Dave" is an intimate peek into Austin drummer Lisa Cameron's journey from living as Dave Cameron to her life today, as musician, artist, and partner. It's a great read. I hope you enjoy it.

It was also great fun to be able to work again with Todd V. Wolfson and the wonderful women of Pink Salon on the photo shoot for the piece. Co-owner and hairstylist Deborah Carter opened the doors of the salon making available to Lisa the talents and open-heartedness of her amazing staff. What an incredible experience. According to Lisa, "They all did a splendid job!"

While Lisa enjoyed a day at the salon, exploring aspects of cultural femininity new to her, I felt very moved. A trip like this, through the hallowed halls of hyperfemininity, certainly does not define gender; it can, however, cast light onto our enculturation and, I believe in this case, offered Lisa plenty of pampering for thought.

Kudos to Pink, Todd, Deborah, eyelash extension technician Karen Carmichael, and make-up artist Chelle Simoneaux for their sensitivity and brilliance.

Do click on the link above the photo and enjoy a gallery of extras, some shots that did not make it into the piece and a few by me (don't expect Wolfson quality there, folks) of the lovelies at the salon. Read More | Comment »

Come out to Waterloo Park tomorrow at the 2007 Pride Festival and look up The Austin Chronicle table. You might meet a K8 or a Kate. Or you might find us in the audience for either Kings N Things or Gretchen Phillips. Either way, find us, and we'll give you stuff!!!

Waterloo Park, 403 E. 15th
Saturday, June 9, 2007, noon-8pm Read More | Comment »