The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. The United States. Eric Cervini. Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2020. 512 pages. $35 History is a series of causes and effects: A lie about voter fraud leads to bloody insurrection. The murder of George Floyd leads to a national call for police reform. The election of a black president leads to the election … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. The United States
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Take Up Your Cross – Part II
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29 In Part I of this series, we journeyed and surveyed the hardships of doing the work of Jesus among the marginalized. Yet we left each other with the hopeful thought that is found in … [Read more...] about Take Up Your Cross – Part II
Trodding the Boards June 1, 2021
Little Shop Of Horrors at 30 by Ninety Theatre through June 13 While theaters in New Orleans are beginning to open again (see HEDY! below), venues on the North Shore are now playing to 100% capacity. That being the case, if you want to see 30 by Ninety Theatre’s production of Little Shop Of Horrors, you better book now or risk being disappointed. For those unfamiliar with … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards June 1, 2021
THE OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE
Happy Pride Y’all! It has been quite a year and half as we have navigated the COVID pandemic, quarantines, unemployment, riots, murder hornets, natural disasters and a host of other crises. But as the world gets vaccinated against the virus, life has begun to come alive again in New Orleans. Live music can be heard, businesses are reopening fully, and you … [Read more...] about THE OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE
Steven Powell (1956-2021)
Steven Powell passed away suddenly on May 21, 2021 at his home in New Orleans. He was 64. He was born on September 1, 1956 in Campbellsville, KY, to Barbara Edelen Powell and the lateBobbie Lewis Powell. A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Powell retired after a thirty year career asLegislative Analyst at Equifax; at that time, the United States Senate recognized … [Read more...] about Steven Powell (1956-2021)
Chess, Insanity, and the Historical Closet
One of the challenges of recovering queer history from the closet is the fact that until recently, no one wanted to document their same sex desires. To do so could result in being arrested, committed to a mental asylum, being fired from a job, being ostracized by family and friends, and in some cases, suicide. This was certainly the case in the 19th Century. The … [Read more...] about Chess, Insanity, and the Historical Closet
Bartender Spotlight: May 2021
The television show Cheers was a tremendous success for many reasons; but one of the biggest ones is we all want to go to that one place “where everyone knows your name and they’re always glad you came.” In many cases for New Orleanians, that is your neighborhood (or favorite) bar. This is a safe refuge where you can be with friends, enjoy cocktails, and … [Read more...] about Bartender Spotlight: May 2021
Trodding the Boards May 18, 2021
New in New York Broadway will be reopening in September and, elsewhere in New York, live performances have begun happening again, all great news. During a recent visit there, though I noticed only a few street musicians, I was able to go to a number of museums, some featuring special exhibitions, one in an exciting temporary location, and two even in Queens! While The … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards May 18, 2021
Healing a Broken Heart
This past week I was asked a question: “My heart feels broken. How can I heal it?” It’s a difficult and multi-faceted question that I had to think about quite a bit. For purposes of this article, the concept of a broken heart shall be taken in a broad sense, one not necessarily having to do with primary love as in partner or spousal relationships. An example … [Read more...] about Healing a Broken Heart
Book of the Month: The Night Crawler King
A gripping memoir has the capacity to take readers on a journey of a person’s life and experiences. Memoirs tend to be not so much of an autobiography but a glimpse into a slice of your life. My book of the month choice for May is about William Fagaly who while growing up in rural Indiana during World War II began his first venture―collecting and selling earthworms (or … [Read more...] about Book of the Month: The Night Crawler King