20 Insane Camp-Classic Films You Just Have to See

We drop friends all the time for a whole variety of reasons--they messed with our loves lives, they lied, they weren't supportive--so why do some people think it's such an outlandish idea to dump them for their political views? I think there's a misguided sense that, "It's a free country and people have the right to believe what they want. Why should I let their political opinions interfere with a long-running friendship?" The truth is, there is no law that "free speech" means you have to keep a friend who promotes the Republican agenda any more than you have to keep someone who calls you a cow. Everything in a friendship that might have seemed good suddenly goes sour when I learn that they advocate Trump and his hideousness, which involves attempting to diminish rights for women, LGBTQs, Muslims, immigrants, the arts, and the non-rich, not to mention all those treasonous-sounding doings with Russia. Am I supposed to understand that a gay friend is simply concerned about tax breaks and therefore can't be bothered to devote any energy to little things like human rights? Bye, Felicia! Keep Reading →

I'm notorious for long having screamed about how everyone should be out and proud, but there's a fly splashing around in my gay ointment. I never actually had that key conversation with my parents--the one where I sat them down and told them the truth about myself. Mind you, I never hid my sexuality from them or pretended to have girlfriends, but I didn't make the move to break the gay ice and go there with them either. And there were reasons. First of all, my parents cared about me a lot, but there wasn't a whole lot of speaking in our household. We were Italian Americans, but we were inadvertently aping the WASP stereotype by keeping things in check and not addressing situations, feelings, and problems through something as silly as words. So why would I suddenly talk about my gay crushes? We didn't talk about anything. Keep Reading →

Provincetown, Massachusetts is an enchanting haven for drag shows, seafood, cruising and people watching, all conducted in an extremely LGBTQ friendly setting that also dares to bring in lots of straights. I adore the place, and when you add the Provincetown Film Festival to the package, it's even more steamily desirable. I went last week to sample some diverse film-related events, and can report on some of them, along with some featured films which I snuck a peek at in New York. LGBTQ notables were everywhere--I chatted with Tony Kushner and hung with Andrew Sullivan--and I came back with a cinematic sense of appreciation for a sumptuous summer resort that's always a high definition. Keep Reading →

Of all the astounding sights in NYC's Pride Parade, one of the most melting is that of pint-sized nine-year-old Desmond Napoles, marching in full drag as thousands cheer. Of course, there's been a down side--right-wing commentators trot out their typical phobias and call this exploitation--but Desmond's mom, Wendylou, has been supportive and strong, noting that she's thrilled to see Desmond live his dream and express himself. I just talked to both Desmond and mom for a peek into his premature fabulousness. Keep Reading →

Chicago-born, New York-based comic Matteo Lane is a rising star of comedy, with a resume consisting of constant club shows around the country and an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Matteo--who's developing an IFC digital series--stopped to talk with me about the joys and occasional horrors of being an out gay comic in a straight world. Keep Reading →

When you think of drag queens reading, you think of them tearing people a new one with bitchy observations and finger snapping. But there's the other kind of reading too--you know, the kind involving an actual book. And that, inspiringly enough, is what's on the rise, as a new type of clowny children's entertainment develops in the form of drag stars reading fairy tales. Out loud! The mixture of the familiar and the flamboyant makes things interesting, and the result has proven to be a learning experience for virtually everyone involved, both young and old. Keep Reading →

A celebrity roast of yours truly (benefiting the Callen-Lorde clinic) was organized by publicist Daniel DeMello and company last week at Actors Temple, where a host of notables gathered to rip me a new one, as if my existing one weren't big and floppy enough. It was an extremely charitable night of uncharitableness called "Fork on the Left, Knife in the Back"--it's the name of one of my books--but "He Had It Coming" might have also worked. Hardly anyone turned down appearing at the SRO event--give the people what they want--but those who did were at least spared my wrath at the end of the night, when I got to spew the fire of vengeance at those who'd roasted me. But let me first tell you what they said about me. Keep Reading →

The impetus for apps like Grindr, Scruff and Hornet (and before that, sites like Manhunt and Adam4Adam) was primarily sexual, giving guys a chance to seek the hookup partners they desire and do the dirty before moving on to the next. But it turns out that lust can evolve into love, and seeing as physical attraction is a healthy component of a good relationship, sometimes a trick turns into an actual situation, especially now, in the era of same sex marriage, when a lot of guys are looking for way more than a quick release. At times like that, the euphemism some of these venues use to promote themselves--"dating sites"--actually seems reasonable. I asked some app users to tell me how that happened for them, and they lustily obliged, whether they were actively looking for a partner or simply fell into the lap of happiness by chance. Keep Reading →

In the old days, it was enough for a drag queen to just stand there in a wig and a dress and mouth along to a Britney Spears or Whitney Houston song. Yes, there was an occasional queen who could actually sing live (like Shequida, who built a career on a Juillard-trained voice that spanned R&B and opera), but you certainly didn't have to; you could just work those lips and hips and get a response that made you feel stellar. Keep Reading →

One of the Broadway season's biggest hits, the seven-time Tony nominated Come From Away is a rousing, folksy show about the real-life incident where planes were diverted to a small town in Newfoundland on 9/11 and, for the most part, its passengers were welcomed and celebrated. Keep Reading →

After seeing Bette Midler in Hello, Dolly! and then spending this past weekend in the rapture of Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross, I was hoarse from cheering, but stopped to think, "Where's Liza? That would complete my Mount Rushmore of old-school gay icons." I've already raved about Bette's diva turn, which is well worth mortgaging your first born to witness. Let me tell you about the other two ladies who just made me gay again. Keep Reading →