Conservative Radio Host Involved in Hit-and-Run Accident After Leaving Gay Bar

In yet another example of an all too common phenomenon , Houston, Texas, anti-gay conservative radio talk show host Michael Berry (pictured at right) was apparently involved in a hit-and-run auto accident after he left a gay bar he had been patronizing. Yes, once again, we see proof that the louder they yell and scream against gays, the more the conservatives are in reality lusting for some hot man on man sex. By this standard, Rick Santorum - not to mention Virginia Attorney General Ken "Kookinelli" Cuccinelli - must be about to explode with pent up lust for gay sex. But I digress. Some would say that they feel sorry for these self-loathing closet cases. I'm sorry, but I feel no sympathy. One can be a closet case without harming other LGBT citizens and railing against our basic humanity. Moreover, the hypocrisy is breath taking. KPRC-TV has details:

Security camera footage from a well-known gay bar has played a key role in a hit-and-run investigation of a former Houston City Councilman, who is now a conservative talk show host, Local 2 Investigates reported on Wednesday. A Houston man reported to police that KTRH talk show host Michael Berryplowed his SUV into another car outside T.C.'s Show Baron Converse near Fairview in the Montrose area about 11 p.m. on January 31st.

Tuderia Bennett, of Galena Park, told Houston police that he was working as a bouncer at the front door during a popular cross-dressing 'drag show' that was going on inside the club. He watched the crash happen and told police he rushed up to the car after impact and got a good look at Berry behind the wheel. "I said, 'That's definitely the guy.' For sure, 100 percent," said Bennett.

Bennett wrote down the license number from the car that he said caused more than $1,500 in damage to his car. Then, when HPD officers traced that license tag to Berry, the victim said he had no doubt it was him.

Managers of the bar then turned over security camera video from inside the club to HPD investigators, and they write in an e-mail to Local 2 Investigates that their video confirms that Berry was in their establishment that night. The e-mail reads, "Mr. Berry is one of those customers who has been to our establishment. The video in question that shows Mr. Berry in our establishment is in our possession. The local authorities have requested this same video and they are in possession to assist with their investigation."

The victim told Local 2 Investigates he believes the conservative activist is trying to avoid the issue entirely because of his public stances involving gay people.

"If you're going to stand up and say anti-gay things and be conservative and be Mr. Good Guy, and then when something happens that points you out and puts you in a place with the exact business that you aim to shut down, it kind of makes it seem like I need this to go away and I need it to go away quickly," said Bennett.

I'm not saying that there aren't liberal hypocrites, but the far right and Christianist crowd do seem to have a disproportionate number of them.

Virginia Beach Bistro's First Drag Brunch Was Sell-Out

OMG! The Bible beaters at CBN, Regent University, Kempsville Prebyterian Church, Trinity Church (Congressman Scott Rigell's church), and other centers of anti-gay extremism in Virginia Beach are going to be convulsing and wetting themselves when they learn that Croc's, a long time Oceanfront restaurant's, first drag brunch was a sell out and that more are being planned. Currently, the only regular drag brunch to be had in eastern Virginia is in Richmond where the two seatings always sell out. I hope Croc's will continue the drag brunches into to the main tourist season this coming summer. Virginia Beach likes to see itself as a first class resort destination, but sadly in reality it caters principally to blue collar and working class families and in its quest to be a "family resort" anything fun and different gets squashed or run out of the resort area. It is one reason I NEVER go to Oceanfront and frankly would advise discerning and sophisticated travelers to pick some other destination. Kudos to Croc's for having the spunk to begin what can be a hilarious and fun way to do brunch. Here are highlights from the Virginian Pilot (Note that folks had to be turned away at the door):
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A little song, a little dance and some bawdy jokes accent the new brunch menu at Croc's Eco Bistro. The venerable Oceanfront eatery has started Sunday brunch service with a twist - the addition of a cabaret-style show featuring female impersonators.
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The first drag brunch was Jan. 16, and both the 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. seatings were sold out. In fact, folks were turned away from the brunch, says Laura Wood Habr, a co-owner of the restaurant.
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A half-dozen female impersonators danced, told jokes and lip-synced to everything from Nancy Sinatra to Lady Gaga, all dressed in outfits that ranged from psychedelic, swinging '60s to Las Vegas showgirl. "It's a high energy event," Habr says, noting that the show is modeled after the long-running, popular drag brunch at Godfrey's in Richmond.
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The next drag brunch is Feb. 13, and future dates will be set, says Habr. Croc's is at 620 19th St. Call 428-5444 or visit www.crocsrestaurant.com.

Richmond Sunday

A group of us (12 of us in fact)went to the drag brunch at Godfrey's today - it was the first time I had every been and it was lots of fun. The club has been doing the brunch for a number of years and it is so popular that if you do not have reservations you will not get in. Surprisingly, we gays were in the minority and the brunch is very popular with bridal shower and bachelorette groups, not to mention a varied assortment of straight clientele. The food was good, our waiter adorable and the drag queens were over the top.

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In some ways, the brunch and the clientele mix are a microcosm of the South's love-hate relationship with gays. We face all kinds of legal discrimination and religious based bigotry, yet it is the gay community that provides the hair salons, florists, many of the restaurants, decorators and other amenities providers that make life more tolerable and gracious. And of course, no one throws a wilder, more fun party than the gays.

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For anyone visiting Richmond, the club located at 803 Grace Street looks like a great place to go and dance on a Saturday night and the brunch - there are now two seatings at 11:00 AM and 2:00PM because of the demand - is definitely a fun flourish for late Sunday morning or early afternoon.

Catholic Bishops Continue to Meddle in Civil Law Policies

Not content with having supported the deprivation of CIVIL legal rights to gays in California and in some cases preaching that anyone voting for Barack Obama would go to Hell, the nasty, bitter old queens who comprise the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops now plan on trying to undermine the Obama administration. Specifically, the fetus worship bishops (who have no problem with the sexual molestation of minors unless the instances of abuse get picked up by the media) plan to oppose Obama on the issue of abortion rights, stem cell research and other policies the general public supports. Hopefully, the dioceses of the bishops preaching against Obama will be receiving a letter from the IRS and a visit from investigators addressing the issue of the dioceses' continued tax-exempt status. On other issues, I sincerely hope that the Obama administration finds ways to isolate the bishops and demonstrate that they are outside the mainstream of America. Here are highlights from the New York Times:

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The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops told his fellow prelates Monday that while they should “rejoice” at the election of an African-American president, they should confront him over his support for abortion rights. . . . Cardinal George’s remarks were a repudiation of the “common good” approach to the abortion issue that President-elect Barack Obama and Democratic Party leaders, including some prominent Roman Catholics, honed in the recent election.

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Advocates of the “common good” approach say that, rather than outlawing abortion — which has polarized the American electorate for decades — they will try to reduce abortions by strengthening the social and economic safety net to enable more women to bring their pregnancies to term.

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After eight years of a Republican president who invoked Catholic language to cement his anti-abortion platform, the bishops are now confronting an incoming Democratic administration that has championed abortion rights. . . . In the closing months of the presidential race, several Catholic bishops skirted close to endorsing the Republican candidate for president, Senator John McCain, by proclaiming that Catholics could not in good conscience vote for a candidate who favored abortion rights.

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Nevertheless, after the election, exit polls found that 54 percent of Catholic voters had voted for the Obama-Biden ticket.

Judge Appointed by George W. Bush Quits after DUI Bust

The Chimperator sure knows how to pick them and given his own past problems with alcohol, the Chimperator no doubt would be sympathetic to Judge Somma’s plight but for the fact that he was busted for DUI while in full drag. Since Halloween is long past, I suspect that excuse will not fly, not to mention that Daddy Dobson and others are probably having fits and writhing on the floor over this. Nothing makes the Christianists foam at the mouth more than the thought of a man wearing a dress and heels. God forbid – Western Civilization might collapse! I cannot help but wondering where the dear judge was going or returning from. Not to mention, what the Hell was he thinking?? Here are some highlights from the Boston Herald (http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1073879):

A 63-year-old Massachusetts federal bankruptcy judge has resigned a week after he was arrested for driving under the influence in New Hampshire while reportedly wearing a woman’s dress, heels and stockings, and carrying a purse. Judge Robert Somma, a Newbury resident, pleaded no contest to the drunken driving charge in New Hampshire and agreed to have his license suspended for 12 months, the Manchester Union Leader reported.

The Union Leader reported yesteday that Somma crashed his Mercedes into the rear of a car stopped on Elm Street after leaving a bar in the city last week. When cops arrived, the paper reported, Somma was wearing a cocktail dress, fishnet stockings, women’s heels and fumbled through a purse for his driver’s license. Somma had a hard time keeping his balance, smelled of alcohol and slurred his speech, the paper reported, citing the Manchester police report. He failed a field sobriety test and took a breath test at the station that registered a blood-alcohol level of .12. He told police he drank two gin and tonics at a Manchester bar. He said he came to New Hampshire because his wife was out of town and nobody knew him in the city, the paper reported.

Sydney Drag Queens Are all Dressed up with Nowhere to Go.

I came across this article (http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/drag-queens-all-dressed-up-with-nowhere-to-go/2007/11/23/1195753310044.html) while checking the Sydney Morning Herald to see the latest on the Australian elections. My blogger friend, Magic Bellybutton, is likely holding a vigil awaiting the results. I was struck by the fact that the chances of seeing such an article running in my local paper would be remote at best. There are certainly local drag queens in the Hampton Roads area, but one never sees the Virginian Pilot doing stories on them. No doubt Pat Robertson would blow a gasket. Here's some highlights on the situation in Sydney:

THE drag queens of Sydney are all dressed up with nowhere to go. "There are enough performers out there. There just aren't enough venues," said Mitzi Macintosh, a 13-year veteran of the drag scene. "And without a flower bed, nothing can bloom." The closure of two of Sydney's most famous drag venues has many performers facing the prospect of a trip to Centrelink.

Erskineville's Imperial Hotel is shut until next year for renovations and King Street's Newtown Hotel closed dramatically early this month after relations between the building owners and the licensee broke down over a lease agreement. Other stalwarts of the scene, such as Oxford Street's Midnight Shift and Stonewall and Arq in Flinders Street, are paring back their drag show offerings and relying increasingly on unpaid novices performing at open-mic nights.

Sunday Morning Musings

The roommates and I went out to a club last night for a birthday event of a drag queen that they know. Since I generally prefer dance clubs where it is non-stop dancing, I usually don't go to the clubs that spend half the night on drag performances. Plus, I am spoiled inasmuch as my favorite dance club is 6 blocks from home as opposed to a 25 minute drive away.

But it was a change of pace and an opportunity to meet new people. One drag queen (who is a male nurse by day) stood out head and shoulders above the others because she truly came across as a very nice looking woman - albeit rather tall - as opposed to those who look more like a garish caricature of a woman. I am often dumbfounded by some who do drag - I'd look like a better woman than they do, and believe me, that is NOT saying much. I'd make one ugly bitch even if I'm not overweight. I just do not understand what possesses them to do drag. The up side of it all was that by staying out late and downing a couple of shots - one of the roomies was driving - I had a good night sleep and actually slept in until the Chihuahua decide he HAD to go out.

Sleeping in, combined with a gorgeous day has certainly bolstered my mood. I am going to do some work at the office - including writing an article on "Short Sales" - i.e., where a mortgage company accepts a reduced pay off on the loan of a distressed borrower in lieu of proceeding to foreclosure - and then try to enjoy some of the beautiful day. With the continued stagnation of the real estate market and the upward adjustment of monthly loan payments on adjustable rate loans, "short sales" will be a growth market niche for many months ahead. Most Realtors are clueless as to how the process works. Thus, enter moi.

October is perhaps the most beautiful month in this area - warm days, cool nights and very little humidity after the often oppressive humidity of summer. One of the nicest places to hike this time of year is First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, so named because it is where the Jamestown colony settlers first landed before proceeding into Chesapeake Bay and then up the James River to the site of Jamestown. I find the Cypress swamps very beautiful, especially with the Spanish Moss that blankets some of the trees. A photo is posted above.