It was a long day. I was due to photograph two Black Pride events with
Israel Wright; Black Pride just south of Lincoln Park Zoo and Windy City
Black Pride at Rainbow Beach at 79th.
The previous day had been a disaster for me; I got heatstroke while sunbathing nude on the roof with the guys upstairs, and as a result I spent the whole evening delirious on the sofa. Not that anyone noticed.
The next day I arrived early at Israel's place to find he had a nasty paper cut in his eye. "Oh honey, this queen is a mess," he said, surrounded by tissues. "So you're going to drive me to 79th with one arm and one eye," I said, "Oh baby, you should buy a guitar and start singing the Blues."
I dozed on his sofa while he answered endless phone calls about various Pride events being canceled. "That was Miss Tiger," he said, "She said the event last night was canceled and all the drag queens were left standing outside."
Israel tried to explain to me why there were two opposing Black Prides this year. As far as I understand it: Somebody did this, and somebody else did something else, then ... ya de ya de ya ... it's the same old story about a bunch of egos slugging it out at the expense of the community they're supposed to be supporting.
"Does this look bad?" asked Israel, pointing to his eye. I told him he needed an eye-patch. We went to Walgreens; no patches. We stopped off to eat at the North Coast cafe at 3613 N. Broadway. That's a cool place. Have you been there? I'd never noticed it before. Nice people.
Back at Israel's place the phone calls continued. I dozed. Eventually Israel phoned his friend Anthony who drove us south to the Black Pride Party at Lincoln Park. Nobody there. Like ... nobody!
So Anthony drove south to Rainbow Beach and EVERYBODY was there.
I had a great time, apart from a couple of incidents I had with the cops i.e. I was forced to delete a photograph I took of four officers leaning against a squad car, and I was also asked what I was doing standing outside the bathroom at Rainbow Beach—I was waiting for Israel. I don't think the cops on the South Side are going to win any Miss Congeniality contests.
I'm not good with numbers, but there was probably upwards of a thousand
people there and the best entertainment; I loved the Michael Jackson impersonator and Flame Monroe was priceless.
Then the Chicago weather kicked in and I was wearing only a thin tee-shirt. I was freezing to death, so it was emergency clothes shopping on the stalls. I was very tempted by the women's African robes, but a short 50-year-old white guy looking like a Zulu Princess. Pathetic! I think so!!
I ended up grabbing the first tee-shirt I could find. I slipped it on over my "Kiss The Devil's Ass" tee-shirt—possibly not a wise choice for attending a festival in such a faith-based community. The tee-shirt was Huge Girl XXXL size. You could get Aretha Franklin AND Patti LaBelle in this tee-shirt, and there would still be room for them do the Hustle.
Then I saw the slogan on the tee-shirt: "God Has Been Good 2 Me."
For the readers who don't know, I'm an atheist; I don't believe in God. I believe that each and every one us is a Supreme Being. So for me to wear a tee-shirt with "God Has Been Good 2 Me" on it, is like Jesse Jackson wearing
a KKK tee-shirt.
But I was freezing cold. The strange thing was, and the whole point of this tee-shirt story, is that the Pro-God shirt was almost thermal. It was really warm ... like creepily warm. I looked down at the slogan again "God Has Been Good 2 Me," and for one brief moment I thought maybe there is a God ...
... and if there is a God, then he/she/it must be the owner of a tee-shirt factory.
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With Pride and Black Pride, it seems like I've spent the last three weeks just partying, but the coolest party of all was definitely the one at the Victor C. Neumann Association.
I was invited to this party last year by David Ashton, then a couple of weeks back he phoned to remind me.
The lost angels at Victor C. Neumann had been busy painting on the glass
of window frames in the style of the cosmic swirls of the hippie '60s, and the artwork had then been hung on the fences. These paintings should be exhibited somewhere; if there's a gallery that's interested, please contact me at 773-871-7610, and I'll pass your name on.
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Mary Chapin Carpenter's voice was as clear as crystal across the peaceful lawns at Ravinia last week. Chicago Gay Tours took another successful bus trip, hosted by myself, Sandra and our driver Frankie.
Look out for more trips to Ravinia coming up soon: Andrea Marcovicci July 30 and Patti LuPone August 27. We're also planning a big GLBT picnic at the Botanical Gardens in August. Call 773-4'6-4673 for more info.
A big thank you to Sidetrack and Korbel for sponsoring the Ravinia tours.
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I was lucky at Carnivale at the House of Blues. Windy City Times, being one of the sponsors, had an opera box, and it was right opposite the DJ booth where Frankie Knuckles was spinning. So I got to watch the Master at work ...
... until I found that next door another sponsor was handing out freebies. Smirnoff Twist ... Mmm! Tasty!!
