• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • All Articles
  • Arts & Culture
  • Health
  • News
    • News
    • Announcements
    • Obituaries
    • The Official Dish
  • Opinions
  • Horoscopes
  • PODCAST
  • Subscribe

Ambush Magazine

The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™

  • Read All Articles
  • Print Archive
  • Old Archived Site
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Under the Gaydar

March 5, 2018 By Tony Leggio

It seems like forever since my last Under the Gaydar article but it has only been a few mere months. As you grow older, time becomes a much more precious commodity and life has a way demonstrating that in spades. I remember when I first approached Rip about writing a column for Ambush. I wanted to promote and covering the events both gay and straight in our city.

Rip and Marsha liked the idea and Under the Gayday was born. Since then, I have written about many different topics, did interviews with some very noteworthy people, went to countless events and parties, described great places to travel., but most of all feeling I was part of something special. As years flew by and I found myself Easter Grand Marshal, then on the Gay Easter Parade Board, Pride Grand Marshal and just recently Southern Decadence Grand Marshal. Through all these wonderful things, there was one wonderful constant, my article in Ambush. Contributing to the magazine gave me a better understanding of the people around me in the community.

Rip and Marsha created such an incredible force in our gay community with this publication in a time when we needed to come together more than ever. In 1982 with AIDS was decimating this country, this young couple started the oldest and largest LGBT+ publications in the Gulf South. I was humbled and honored to have been a small part of that and continue to be excited as Ambush reemerges.

Advertisement

King Cake Coronations, bead tosses, Mardi Gras balls, Easter fundraisers or just sitting on the balcony shooting the breeze on a random Friday afternoon, I was lucky enough to spend lots of time with Rip and Marsha. But one of my fondest highlights was joining them for their wedding in New York; that truly was a joyous occasion. Their smiles and happiness was luminous.

Rip was a force to be reckoned with. Armed with a quick and sometimes wicked wit, Southern charm and business acumen, it is easy to see why Ambush was so successful. Supporting so many causes in our community, he and Marsha gave so many fundraisers, charities and organizations not just money, but their time and energy as well as recognition in their publication. Ambush has meant so many different things to so many people from their fun picture pages (it is so much fun to see your picture in the paper, especially when it is color) to the articles that span every aspect of our community. It united us not just for big events like Mardi Gras, Southern Decadence and Easter but throughout the year. Ambush was not just a magazine, it was a beacon of information, festivity and community.

I do not think the realization of how epic a presence Rip Naquin-Delain’s played in not just my life but that of the entire New Orleans community until I started writing this column. He was a great man who made our community and city a better place for all of us. Whether you knew him well or never met him, if you are gay and living in our city, he touched your life for the better. He cared about his publication, his city and his community and he proved it daily.
Rip, thank you so much. I do not ever think I said that enough to you and Marsha. But I am a better writer, activist, professional and yes even a better gay because of our friendship. Rest in peace my dear friend.

Advertisement

Now as Ambush continues on with two dynamic new owners, I am excited to once again be part of something I considered as my home for many years. So in the issues to come, you will see my column take on a new facelift. I hope the readers join us on this exciting new journey. With all the turmoil in the world and our own political system, now more than ever the gay community needs to have a voice. I am looking forward to Ambush being one of the loudest voices in that choir.

Filed Under: Under The Gaydar Tagged With: Volume 35 Issue 15

Related Posts

Under The Gaydar (Feb 13 – 26, 2018)
Under the Gaydar
Under the Gaydar

Primary Sidebar

Connect & Join the Conversation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Recent Print Editions

  • Volume 38 Issue 17
  • Volume 38 Issue 16
  • Volume 38 Issue 15
  • Volume 38 Issue 14
  • Volume 38 Issue 13
  • Volume 38 Issue 12
  • Volume 38 Issue 11
  • Volume 38 Issue 10
  • Volume 38 Issue 05
  • Volume 38 Issue 04

Recent Articles

  • Trodding the Boards January 24, 2023
  • Under the Gaydar (February Event Calendar)
  • The 71st Miss Universe Pageant
  • Trodding the Boards January 10, 2023
  • Bartender Spotlight

Experience Gay New Orleans

  • Gay New Orleans
  • Gay Mardi Gras
  • Gay Easter Parade
  • New Orleans Pride
  • Gay Appreciation Awards
  • Southern Decadence
  • Gay Halloween

Categories

  • A Community within Communities
  • Announcements
  • Arts & Culture
  • Bartender of the Month
  • Book Review
  • Business
  • Chop Chop
  • Commentary
  • Drag Queen Profile
  • Featured
  • Film Review
  • Financial
  • Geo Doing Geo Things
  • Health
  • Horoscopes
  • Interviews from Key West
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Moments in Queer New Orleans History
  • Museum Spotlights
  • Music
  • Musings by Catherine
  • New to New Orleans
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Opinions
  • Pride Spotlight
  • Profiles & Spotlights
  • Sports
  • The Here and the Now
  • The Official Dish
  • The Real Cheese
  • The Rockford Files
  • Trodding the Boards
  • Uncategorized
  • Under The Gaydar

Footer

Ambush Magazine Logo

Ambush Magazine is New Orleans' and the Gulf Coast's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer entertainment, news, and travel guide since 1982.

Publisher TJ Acosta
Editor-In-Chief Reed Wendorf
Founding Publisher/Editor Rip Naquin-Delain
Senior Editor Brian Sands
Distribution George Bevan Jr

Email info@ambushpublishing.com
Phone (504) 522-8049

Recent Posts

  • Trodding the Boards January 24, 2023
  • Under the Gaydar (February Event Calendar)
  • The 71st Miss Universe Pageant
  • Trodding the Boards January 10, 2023
  • Bartender Spotlight

Proud Member

Gulf South LGBT Chamber Logo

Let’s Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · Ambush Publishing LLC All Rights Reserved · Website Built by Reed Wendorf · Log in