After a Fashion

PEACE, PRIDE, AND JUNK JEWELRY Well, it was time for the second annual Gay Pride Parade, and my NBF Rita Garza from AIDS Services of Austin urged me to be on their float, but I was hesitant. The overall theme of the parade was Peace & Pride. There was a distinct Sixties feel to it all, but ASA was also promoting their major fundraiser Viva Las Vegas (Saturday, June 21, at the Music Hall -- call 406-6115 for tickets), so there was a very Vegas-ish feel, as well. I refused to commit until my NBF (next best friend) Steven Aichlmayr called and said, "I hear you're on the float. I'll go with you, and we'll have a great time!" I agreed, and we immediately waded into the murky water of deciding how we were going to appear and what to wear. Vegas or Sixties? Sixties or Vegas? They both sounded fun, but above all, we wanted to remain true to our sophisticated and stylish personas, so we opted to combine the two themes into black outfits (mine from Blackmail, of course) decked with ropes of silver and gold jewelry. We got mmmarvelous service from Rebecca and Beatrice at Lucy in Disguise -- such a wealth of costumes and accessories. (Rebecca's band, the Sapphires, will be playing July 20 at a Club DeVille benefit for the indie film My Name Is Buttons.) I wore huge round glasses with a rhinestone leopard pattern (from the fab boutique Goodie Two Shoes), and Steven wore Jackie O-style celebrity-shield sunglasses, and we both carried large feathered fans to ward off the sultry heat of the summer evening. Very gay and very glamorous. We had an absolutely fabulous time posing and preening on the float like demented showgirls starved for attention. Rita ran figure eights around the float wearing a cocktail dress and rollerblades. The float, winner of the award for Best Theme Float, was a rainbow-colored tribute to Peace & Pride, a vision of movement and color, designed by Sebastian St. Troy, who ought to win some kind of award simply because he has such a glamorous name. St. Troy Consulting & Design Services (www.freewebs.com/sttroyconsulting) is available to share its expertise with you through its Home Seller Assistance program, specifically to guide home sellers in knowing what things will help the "showability" of their homes, thus increasing the value. In addition, St. Troy offers expert advice in the area of do-it-yourself projects. He's a bargain at any price. Speaking of bargains at any price, we had the best time at Boyz Cellar after the parade. We shimmered and sparkled under the lights like firecrackers exploding in the dark and hung out with Steven's devoted partner Rey Ocanas. Wandering off alone, I was trying to be as inconspicuous as possible considering I was wearing 58 pounds of jewelry and accessories (well, maybe not 58 pounds, but it felt like it). So I'm lurking in the background, oozing mystery and glamour, when I spy this table of unknown people waving madly at me. I tried to ignore them, but they persisted, and since I could barely see through my requisite sunglasses, I submitted and sauntered over. How embarrassing for me: It was Miss Kitty and her studly fiancé, Zach Garrison, sitting with some friends. I'd pretty much have to say that Zach is one of the coolest heterosexual guys I know ... and that's good, since Miss Kitty's legion of gay fans is enormous. Miss Kitty looked fabulous with a big ol' fierce ponytail, groomed by the lovely Nadine (the rainbow-gowned mascot of the parade). Soon we were joined by glamorous socialite Kevin Presley and also Forrest Bueller, Mega's other diminutive dynamo deejay who certainly knows how to party with the big boys. We had especially excellent service from handsome Cellar staff members Cullen and Gabe, who provided us with everything our little hearts desired. The whole night was a lovely celebration of our diverse community, and kudos to the producers of the parade for doing a fab job.

WEDDING BELLS Well, it's not exactly the newest news, but it is the first time I've announced it: Mega 93's Mega Magnificent Miss Kitty is getting married. Miss Kitty, a simple girl with a simple dream, has fallen deeply in love with the charming and handsome Zach Garrison, and they'll be married at the end of November in an undisclosed location. Zach is a prince among men and definitely one of the coolest straight guys I've ever met. Since Miss Kitty and I are almost as close as sisters, I'd like to think of Zach as my husband-in-law. But I know for sure that I've been snubbed for maid-of-honor position: Miss Kitty has opted instead to use her three real sisters for that. I had to take tranquilizers after hearing that news, but Miss Kitty did promise I could join them on their honeymoon ... not. Oh, well, at any rate, I can attend both the bachelor and bachelorette parties, right?