Tag Archives: gay Dallas

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: Hot Oil Wrestling at BJ’s NXS! during Razzle Dazzle Dallas

Posted on

Last week we posted a ton of photos from the “home run” that was Razzle Dazzle Dallas, but one of the events to which we didn’t make it was Hot Oil Wrestling at BJ’s NXS on Sunday night (can you say “walk-off grand slam”???). But ultimately this may have been a good thing, given that our innocent slideshows have already led to criticism that Razzle Dazzle “was all about the hairless twinks in Undergear underwear.” (To which as non-spokespeople we’d reply, “And?”)

Anyhow, the fact is it’s not every day you get to see live, gay Hot Oil Wrestling (at least outside of your own bedroom). So, being gluttons for punishment, we figured we’d go ahead and post a few pics from the event courtesy of Damon Frazier at 4513 Photography via Facebook. After all, like it says on the one wrestler’s back, “ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE.” More pics below.

Continue reading “PHOTOS OF THE DAY: Hot Oil Wrestling at BJ’s NXS! during Razzle Dazzle Dallas” »

—  John Wright

Razzle Dazzle Dallas called ‘a home run’

Posted on

Organizers thrilled with attendance, expect big sums for beneficiaries

DAVID TAFFET  |  Staff Writer
taffet@dallasvoice.com

More than 10,000 people filled Cedar Springs Road for the Razzle Dazzle Dallas Main Event on June 4, according to organizers who said they had no way of knowing how well people would respond to the revival of the party that was last held in 2003.

“You just never know when you’re throwing a party,” said Razzle Dazzle Dallas President John Cooper-Lara.

Cooper-Lara said despite all the planning for the event, the board wasn’t sure whether people would show up. Cooper-Lara also serves president of the Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund, the beneficiary of Friday night’s MetroBall at Station 4. Although he didn’t have final figures he said the night set a record for the event.

“Deborah Cox was over the top,” he said. “And we were up in every category — ticket sales, silent auction, pre-event sales.”

He said GDMAF should be able to provide more assistance than ever as a result.

The fund steps in to help financially when other AIDS agencies can’t, meeting needs such as rent, medical co-payments and emergency utility assistance for low-income people living with AIDS.

Before final returns were counted, Cedar Springs Merchants Association President Scott Whittall said he was delighted with attendance. He said since all costs were covered in advance by sponsors, any money taken at the door in donations, at the booths and in beer sales goes to the beneficiaries.

Normally Dallas police estimate crowd size, but LGBT Liaison Officer Laura Martin said they didn’t get an estimate on Saturday night, June 4.

Although the street was blocked, admission was free and no one was counting the number who came through the gates.

The five-day event ended with a final party at the Brick, where Mr. and Miss Razzle Dazzle Dallas were chosen.

Gerald Alexander Paige and Weezie Davis were the winners and will end their year’s reign by performing at next year’s event.

The first runners-up were Kenny Bramlett and Vanessa Styles.

Lara-Cooper said the week’s events were more successful than the board expected.

“I think we hit a home run,” said Lara-Cooper.

—  John Wright

Scenes from Razzle Dazzle Dallas — Part II

Posted on

Photos by Chuck Dube/Dallas Voice (MarceloMedia)

PLEASE NOTE: Images will take a few moments to load.

GO TO PART I

 

—  John Wright

Scenes from Razzle Dazzle Dallas

Posted on

Photos by Chuck Dube/Dallas Voice (MarceloMedia)

 

—  John Wright

Vigil marks 1 year since Lisa Stone vanished

Posted on
Lisa Stone
Lisa Stone

Today marks the one year since the disappearance of gay Dallas woman Lisa Stone. Stone’s friend Tina Wiley writes on the Looking for Lisa Stone website:

Today is the memorial vigil marking the one year anniversary of Lisa’s disappearance. I am preparing my speech, but having a hard time focusing. I just feel numb…so many vigils, spanning all 4 seasons..one year…and still we are holding vigils and searching for answers…we are still Looking for Lisa.

How many prayers will we pray? How many tears will we shed? How many days still to search? How many times will we rally together and cry out for justice for Lisa? Sometimes I grow so weary. I never dreamed this would take so long … that justice would not be swift and fair. But, this is the reality … there are no sure answers … no known conclusions … no signs of Lisa. Justice for Lisa eludes us still today.

Today I am unsure of many things..but, one thing I am certain … that we will continue to pray … we will continue to cry … we will continue to search … and we will continue to rally together and cry out for justice! We began this mission a year ago … and we will see it through no matter how long it takes. Lisa deserves nothing less.

The vigil is from 2 to 4 p.m. at West Lake Park, at 421 Gross Road in Mesquite.

—  John Wright

What’s Brewing: Airman discharged under DADT; Dallas makes list of ‘surprising’ gay places

Posted on

Your weekday morning blend from Instant Tea:

1. A member of the Air Force was discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell” in April, the first discharge since President Barack Obama signed a bill to repeal the ban on open service in December. Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said: “This discharge underscores the need for the President, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Secretary of Defense to certify ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal and put this ugly chapter in American history behind us. It also highlights the undeniable and unfortunate fact that service members remain under investigation and at risk of discharge.”

2. Three activists from GetEQUAL, including former Senate candidate Jim Neal, were arrested Thursday during a protest at the Capitol in North Carolina targeting a state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. Watch video from the action below.

3. Dallas appears at No. 6 on AlterNet’s list of “6 Surprising Places It’s Great To Be Gay.” We’re not sure some of the places on the list, including Dallas and Atlanta, should be all that much of a surprise to anyone. But here’s the conclusion from AlterNet’s Heather Cronk: “Make no mistake – Dallas isn’t a queer utopia and there is still a real need for conversations along the lines of race and class. But the city’s gay bar culture is one of the most vibrant and most diverse in the country.”

—  John Wright

Liberty Institute, on behalf of Chisum and Staples, asks Texas’ high court to take gay divorce cases

Posted on
Kelly Shackelford

The right-wing, Plano-based Liberty Institute has filed briefs asking the Texas Supreme Court to hear two same-sex divorce cases so justices can resolve allegedly conflicting opinions from state appellate courts in Austin and Dallas.

The Liberty Institute announced today that it filed the briefs on behalf of State Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, and Republican Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, a former state senator from Palestine.

In both cases, district judges ruled to allow same-sex divorces, prompting Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott to intervene. In the Dallas case, the 5th court of appeals overturned Democratic Judge Tena Callahan’s ruling. J.B., the gay Dallas resident who’s seeking a divorce from his Massachusetts marriage to H.B., appealed the decision to the Texas Supreme Court in March.

In the Austin case, State of Texas v. Angelique Naylor and Sabina Daly, the 3rd court of appeals upheld the district judge’s decision, saying Abbott’s attempt to intervene was too late.

“The district judges’ rulings granting same-sex divorces illegitimately overturned the will of more than two million Texans and their elected officials,” Liberty Institute President and CEO Kelly Shackelford said in a press release. “The debate over same-sex marriage and divorce should play out in our democratic institutions and should not be short-circuited by activist judges.”

The Liberty Institute previously filed a brief on behalf of Chisum and Staples in the Dallas case when it was before the appeals court.

Read a copy of the Liberty Institute’s brief in the Dallas case here, and the Austin case here.

Austin-based attorney Jody Scheske of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, which is representing both J.B. and Naylor/Daly, declined to comment on the briefs.

—  John Wright

Sheriff Lupe Valdez, a Democrat, on why she’s going to the Log Cabin Republicans Convention

Posted on
Sheriff Lupe Valdez

The Log Cabin Republicans will hold their National Convention in Dallas this coming weekend, and we’ll have a full story in Friday’s print edition. But because the convention actually begins Thursday, we figured we’d go ahead and post the full program sent out by the group earlier this week.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the program is a scheduled appearance by gay Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, who is of course a Democrat.

Valdez, who’ll be one of the featured speakers at a Saturday luncheon, contacted us this week to explain her decision to accept the invitation from Log Cabin (not that we necessarily felt it warranted an explanation). Here’s what she said: 

“We have more things in common than we have differences, but it seems like in politics we constantly dwell on our differences,” Valdez said. “If we continue to dwell on our differences, all we’re going to do is fight. If we try to work on our common issues, we’ll be able to accomplish some things.”

On that note, below is the full program. For more information or to register, go here.

Continue reading “Sheriff Lupe Valdez, a Democrat, on why she’s going to the Log Cabin Republicans Convention” »

—  John Wright

It’s not too late to let everyone know how fabulous you are: ‘A List’ still seeking Dallas cast members

Posted on

When The A List New York debuted on Logo last fall, I asked my partner, “Honey, are we A list?” “In Dallas?” he asked. “Yes.” “No, honey. We’re not. But we know them.”

He thought, like I did, that to be on the real A list, you have a to have a last name that begins with Nasher or Hamon or even Goss. I’ve met those folks, but I’m not them. Not even close.

The good news is, you don’t need to be them to get on Logo — this is basic cable, after all. And gay, at that.

Casting for The A List Dallas started last December, but apparently the producers are still looking for more fabulous Texans to round out their cast, and so the deadline for applying was extended to this Friday. That gives you two days to show America why you should be the Next Top Model Gay, Texas-style.

There are some criteria. Producers are scoping out a new or long-term gay male couple with “fabulous job, hot friends” who live an A list lifestyle (that’s defined as “home/car/parties/career” — that’s pretty low bar; without two of those, you’d probably be homeless). Another casting spot is open for a “single gay Republican” who is dating and open about his conservative beliefs. He’s also expected to have a fabulous job and hot friends. Guess that leaves me out, though I did vote for Reagan!

Finally, here’s a game-changer: A woman — the “Paris Hilton of Dallas!” And not necessarily a lesbian. Yep, they are looking for a ‘hag. All are expected to be “20s to 30s.” Does the age you put on your Grindr profile count?

If you think you’d like to be one of these, have at it! Send your resume (a photo and brief bio to Info.Atomic@mac.com ASAP). We’d love to see you on TV!

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

Bronx. Cheers!

Posted on
THE USUAL SUSPECTS  |  It’s a melancholy week for Bronx staffers and friends, above, but a long time coming for co-owner Jess Gilbert, left. (Arnold Wayne Jones/Dallas Voice)

After 35 years, The Bronx — the institution that basically invented the Dallas gayborhood — shuts its doors

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE BRONX

ARNOLD WAYNE JONES  | Life+Style Editor
jones@dallasvoice.com

After 35 years, The Bronx — the institution that basically invented the Dallas gayborhood — shuts its doors

Probably the first time Jess Gilbert fully realized just what The Bronx means to his customers came this Wednesday. A regular lunch customer was sitting at his usual place and Gilbert walked over to say hello.

“I’m not speaking to you!” the customer snapped. “I’m mad.”

Gilbert didn’t take it personally; he knew why the man was upset. The night before, Gilbert and his partner, Howard Jacks, quietly announced that The Bronx — which has been an institution in Dallas for 35 years, owned and operated by the two — would be closing almost immediately. After months (even years) of rumors, Gilbert and Jacks had finally sold it to the neighboring Warwick Melrose Hotel.

The end came swiftly — the Melrose wanted everything cleared out within seven days. So this Sunday, April 3, will be the final day of service for the restaurant.

The news shocked almost everyone, especially long-time employees like David Eckert, who for 16 years has been a server and helped manage the restaurant. Eckert teared up just discussing the last day.

“It’s like having a wake,” says Gilbert.

“It’s a real emotional time for us cause we’ve been there a long time,” says the director of special events, Jamie Carmen, choking back sobs.

The reach that The Bronx had on gay Dallas cannot be overstated. When Jacks and Gilbert decided to open a New York-San Francisco-style bistro on Cedar Springs in 1976, “Afternoon Delight” was the big radio hit, the Bicentennial Minute played nightly on TV and men thought bell-bottoms were pretty cool. The gayborhood also didn’t exist — at least, not like it does today.

“There were no gay bars here back then,” recalls Jacks. “Hookers hung out on the street. But we knew gays would always come into neighborhoods, tart them up and make them chic.” That’s exactly what they did.

“Really, it was a social thing,” Gilbert explains about their motivation for opening The Bronx. “We didn’t do it to make money, though it did. We planned to keep it open about 10 years.”

But The Bronx basically spawned the Crossroads; by the mid-1980s, it was the granddaddy of the neighborhood, revered as much for its friendly atmosphere (“we had really interesting music,” Gilbert brags about its early success) as for its then-cutting edge cuisine.

“Wow! I’m shocked,” says Stephan Pyles, the celebrity superchef who began working there as a line cook in the 1970s, working his way up to executive chef before starting the Southwestern movement at a string of restaurants. “I feel like I was born there — and to some degree I guess I was. To say it’s the end of an era seems like a gross understatement, but it is just that on so many levels — both personally and to the city.”

During their run, Jacks and Gilbert have played hosts to numerous celebrities, including Carol Channing, Tab Hunter, the Manhattan Transfer and Monica Lewinsky. The building itself was built in 1910 — “We weren’t here at the time, despite appearances,” jokes Gilbert — and while the Melrose has asked that all fixtures (including silverware and linens) be left in place, no one is sure what will happen to it.

“It’s soon to be rubble,” speculates Jacks, though rumors range from the restaurant staying open under new management to the lot being cleared for parking or condos.

It’s that change in the Strip that’s partially behind the decision to sell — there’s less foot-traffic than there used to be, and Jacks laments what he calls a “hardening” of the neighborhood.

“We’re getting up in years,” says Gilbert (he and Jacks were both born in 1933; they met at a party in San Francisco in 1960). “I have a mother to look after, too.” Gilbert’s mom is 93; Jacks’ died a year ago at 104.

So while the regulars may see this as an end, for Jacks and Gilbert it’s merely the third act in their story.

“Life goes on,” Jacks shrugs.

The final day at The Bronx will be Sunday, with a farewell party starting about 6 p.m. To see photos of the restaurant, go here.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition April 1, 2011.

—  John Wright