"You spread misinformation about the safety of vaccines. You're a danger to public health. Get fucked."—Meghan McCain's tweet to commentator Candace Owens, after Owens did what Meg calls a "post-[Trump] pro-vaccine interview."
Happy New Year!!! I hate to be predictable, but faithful readers know I spent the eve with loved ones watching a loved one. Yes, the Billy Masters celebrations included watching Lindsay Wagner's first film, Two People, and her most recent release, Christmas at the Ranch (not to be confused with her 2019 endeavor, Christmas on the Range). This new effort is one of those holiday flicks featuring a same-sex couple—and let me add I've yet to see one worthy of the cast. In Two People (co-starring Peter Fonda), Wagner was briefly topless and elsewhere wore a number of fabulous capes. So I consider it a draw.
We took a break to check out coverage from Times Square. It's been noted that CNN was dominated by gays—even passive gays! Dear Andy Cohen is always a trailblazer. Rather than wait to catch the coronavirus over the holiday, he caught it earlier in the month. (This was his second bout.) He got the all-clear to join Anderson Cooper—who might have been wise to don a hazmat suit. All the alcohol mixed with Cohen's medication beautifully and led to (among other things) a lengthy drunken rant against outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio. Reaction from the gays on social media was mixed. But Andy kept one promise—Anderson was well-lubricated. And I'll leave it at that!
The date—April 11, 1988. The place—the 60th Academy Awards. My first time at the Oscars. During an interval, I saw an elegant woman who was clearly somebody. I approached and told her she looked like a cross between Maria Callas and Vivien Leigh. She had a throaty laugh and said, "Darling, I hope you're referring to when they were still alive!" Her name was Lady April Ashley. The next day, Jackie Collins filled me in on April's colorful past. She was born George Jamieson and was the second (known) Briton to undergo male-to-female gender reassignment surgery—in Casablanca (where Two People was shot). After becoming a high-profile fashion model, she married Lord Arthur Corbett, who she swore knew all about her past. However, his family pressured Artie to have the union annulled and leave April penniless. Disillusioned by England, she went to America.
After our brief Oscars encounter, I was shocked to see her turn up on The People's Court—where she was sued for keeping gifts from rich men (like that's a bad thing). Judge Wapner not only sided with April, but also flirted with her. I tracked her down in San Diego, where she was working for Greenpeace and living with two women ... both named Anita! Eventually, she went back to England and became an outspoken advocate for transgender rights. After decades as an outsider, she was lauded as a trailblazer. In 2005, she was legally recognized as female. In 2012, she was honored with a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)—presented by Prince Charles—for her work for transgender equality. In 2015, the National Museum in Liverpool assembled an enormous exhibition in her honor. What meant the world to her was having young trans people thank her; she realized her struggle ensured their lives would be easier. Lady April Ashley made a difference. She passed away over the holidays at age 86. Rest in peace, my dear, funny, fabulous friend.
Louw Breytenbach is giving up his title of Mr. Gay World after less than two months. The 31-year-old from South Africa refused to sign a contract making the organization his exclusive modeling and acting agent .(Apparently, Louw already has management.) There was also a clause stating that he would be fined 5,000 euros if he stepped down. He stated, "I am disappointed as I really thought the Mr. Gay World competition was a platform I could use to broaden my charity work. I also thought they had the interests of the LGBTQI+ community at heart. Sadly, I was wrong." He also questioned what happens to the money the organization raises. Hmmm…
Elsewhere in international news, Switzerland has made a bold move. As of Jan. 1, the country is allowing people to legally change their gender by filing a form with the civil registry office. No proof, examination or medical procedure is required. They are also allowing people to change their legal names just as easily.
Grindr has allegedly been selling user data to various advertising firms. SHOCKING! But this time, it's being fined more than $6 million—by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority! And that's not the only data Grindr is sharing. According to their statistics, the United States has the highest percentage of users looking to hook up "Right Now." Australians are the most receptive to NSFW photos. If you're looking for a top, book a flight to Argentina pronto. Lastly, the best time to hook up is 9 p.m. on Sunday—the day of rest.
When there's no rest for the wicked, it's time to end yet another column. And we kicked off the year with another long column. More stories, photos and footage can be found on BillyMasters.com—the site where anything goes. (We're also having a New Year's Sale.) If you have a question worthy of printing, you can dash it off to Billy@BillyMasters.com, and I promise to get back to you before someone makes a decent same-sex holiday film. Until next time, remember: One man's filth is another man's bible.
