Love Ball: Bringing Gay (back?) To Broadway

On Saturday June 27th, Nokia Theater in Times Square hosted the largest (and most gorgeous) freak show on earth, Love Ball (produced by The Saint At Large). From vogueing reality TV stars to porn legends who recently debuted in the music scene, the all-night affair was a feast for young twinks and elderly bears alike. Though the evening began with an empty dance floor and a full bar, by the midnight hour one could barely navigate the crowd. In one room: Michael Jackson. In the other: remixed Lady Gaga. No matter age, sexual fetishes (which were made known via free hankies handed out by Manhunt.net), or fashion aesthetic, Love Ball burst with positive energy.

However, the real star of the event were the drag queens. I am not talking about the glamour queens who leave events with smeared lipstick, a broken heel and a cracked voice. These drag queens were the creme de la creme of the ostentatious. When approached, the conversations became more about ice cream than Pride, as many were a little too tired and a little too hungry. Acid Betty swears by "Key Lime Pie by Ciao Bella," while another ranted about her obsession with "Daiquiri Ice" by Baskin Robbins.

Though many mics experienced technical difficulty and some of the men were surprised by the bald scene, Love Ball was an oddly placed event (whoever thought they'd head to Times Square to party? -- besides tourists) complimented by good booze, good jams, and good stories. As T-Rex swooned, "The back room is filled with preps, ladies, birds and queens and of course they all have dicks. Love Ball is nothing short of another queer magazine, but this is ours."

Previously > Out's Guide to Essential Pride Albums