When he awoke an hour or

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1 Mark's Story: Part Two one last song by Donnie "Jager" Jay, SDGM XXXII When he awoke an hour or so later, he quietly removed himself from Bruce s clutches, went to the bathroom and showered as quickly as possible. He dressed just as fast and pocketed his own possessions hoping to steal away with no further conversation, and he almost made it. In fact his hand was on the doorknob when he heard Bruce s voice from the bed. Sneaking out so early, Jake? Jake? Jake, that s right he had told this dude his name was Jake, last night, Christ was he loaded then. Why did he always use the name Jake when he wanted a meaningless one night stand? He had never figured that one out. His name was Mark, and he always used it except when he was in a whoring mood. Christ he had been using it a lot lately, he was going to have to curb that action for a little while, he was never going to find another lover if he continued to play the wanton slut. You are going to call me later hot piece? You know it sweetheart. He made his way out the door and whatever Bruce was saying drifted back from the hall and into oblivion. Jake reverted back to Mark, the sincere guy, Mark the man who had lost his true love to his horny counterpart Jake. Mark who would never think about going to cruise the bars for a one night clubs & krewes...from Main-22 in the Krewe of King Arthur parade, you may even see some of the bears and many others you d recognize. You can also find out all kinds of information on the Bears and many other local organizations, at their web site: The Phoenix will be the site of the annual Night of the Black Mask Street Party on Friday, February 1 st. The Phoenix and the Lords of Leather will co-host this legendary street party with the traditional Beer Bust and more. Look for the Bears and the LSGRA to be set up as well. Phoenix manager Clint Taylor tells me that Buzz Cut Boy Ernest will make his return on that night as well. So stop by, get a beer or six, get a haircut and have a great time. As always, Ernest will donate all of his donations to NO/AIDS Task Force. Clint also told me that the Bears will be hosting a Lundi Gras Beer Bust from 9pm til midnight on Monday, the 4 th of February. Now that is a new event that I am sure will be a big success for all. This is a great time to be in New Orleans. Come on out and share our celebration. But remember, be careful and pay attention. Yes, this is a party, but not all those in attendance are out to have the same kind of good time you are. It just takes a little common sense and you can have the time of your life! stand. Mark who just now walked out of another man s apartment, whom he had never met until last evening, having given himself over entirely more than once, no this was not Mark, he would never have allowed himself to be so nondiscriminatory, and this was the other side of the coin, the nasty side. Jim walked silently back to his little bed and breakfast, which was just down the beach about two blocks from where he had been sitting and across US 1 and a winding driveway about a block long leading through lush vegetation stopping just short of the veranda of his Victorian. He paused briefly to inhale the intoxicating aroma of fresh sea breeze mingled with the sweetness of honeysuckle, roses and a hint of the fresh herbs, which he was growing along the outer edges of the veranda. Carlos was watering the plants, clad in the skimpiest of thongs, Carlos was one of the three young men he had hired on to attend to the B and B and it s guests. All three were of American-Cuban decent. All three were built like the proverbial outhouse, one handsomer than the other, all super personable, gay and available. Carlos face broke into a big smile as his employer approached the steps. Out walking earlier than usual this morning. Couldn t sleep much last night. You should call me sometime when you feel that way. He winked in a way that was a bit flirty, just enough not to cross the line. My child Carlos, you are indeed a classic work of art. Sir, with all due respect, I may even be more than meets the eye. Carlos, there isn t much left that does not meet the eye. In fact I guess that there is not an inch left of you that could be hidden anywhere. Do I perhaps offend you? I mean I could cover myself more if it would please you or your guests. You please me more, as you are than you ll ever know. Really? He leaned over the top of the ladder fluffing the pathos vines that were hanging almost to the ground, raising his firm rounded buns towards the heavens. And just then it occurred to Jim that Carlos possessed probably the most perfect set of cheeks he had ever seen next to Marks. Really. Jim walked past the ladder raising his hand and just barely touching the merchandise. He could feel Carlos tighten the muscles as he did so. Call me some time; it doesn t always have to be work. He started down the ladder as Jim turned to enter the front door. He could feel Carlos hand come to rest on his shoulder and it startled him a little bit, Carlos had never actually touched him before, not that he could think of, that was for sure. Senor? Carlos questioned Jim. Jim turned to face him and when he did, the young man reached up taking his head in his palms and planted a long kiss on Jim s lips. If you fire me, so be it. It was worth it. I could die a happy man this very second. You could die an idiot! Jim slid into the house and hurried upstairs, a most genuine smile crossed his face, one more so than in the past year and a half since he had come here to the Florida Keys. Jim gone, left Carlos standing there smiling to himself as well, he had wanted to do this very thing for over six months since he had started working here at the guest house, but just never had the nerve, in fact it surprised the crap out of him that he had actually acted on impulse this morning and acted on his fantasy. When his cousin Manuel had told him about working here and the side benefits it held, it seemed like it could be a good way to keep his pockets full of extra spending cash. The jobs weren t all that hard to begin with, four or five hours a day was all. Clean a couple of rooms, set up some breakfast foods, fresh coffees and teas, then swim in the pool and parade around the grounds during the afternoon for the guests to ogle. Actually this last part was not a requirement; the boys found out fast that it led to quite a few invitations to dinners and nights out on the town, sometimes with a further invite to spend the night. And why not? What was to lose? They were already at work. Manuel spent a lot of time at the B and B, over night stays, not so many for Carlos, though the offer came on a more regular basis. Carlos was more a dreamer than Manny, as the guests favored calling his cousin. Manny jumped on the occasion to make a coin. Carlos wanted more; Carlos wanted to be half owner of the place. He was born for it; he felt it deep in his heart and soul, now if he could just make Jim feel the same way as he did. He would bring the man down on his knees; give him his heart, his soul, his body to do with as he pleased if he could only make him see things his way. Carlos rubbed his hands down his slim body as he descended the stairs and walked around to the side patio with the pool. Poolside, he slowly slide down the thin strip of cloth he wore standing stark naked in the sun. Slowly and suggestively he stretched his body, posing now and then for effect, for he was sure he was being watched by Jim, from the master bedroom. He abruptly dove into the pool, sending shudders up Jim s back who was indeed in attendance, watching from behind the dark green drapes. He had to admit that Carlos was a fine specimen of man, handsomely constructed with all the parts amply displayed in the proper places. He watched as many of his guests fawned over the man, as well as they did his cousins. But Carlos wasn t like Manny or even the younger Philippe, who took up all the invitations that were offered, he seemed a little more conservative. Had the truth been known Carlos had stolen just a bit of Jim s heart almost since the day he showed up to apply for a job. Jim had Manny and Philippe to clean the rooms, keep the cupboards stocked, tend the laundry and most of the other chores, what he needed was a grounds keeper and an additional piece of eye candy. Manny was the one who suggested his cousin. At first Jim was skeptical, I mean really how many cute queers could one family produce was the question that popped into his mind? But listening to the brothers he had agreed to meet their cousin, he was not disappointed! On the day he showed up for the interview he arrived in just about what he came to work in daily ever since, just about nothing. The young man was bright, intelligent, not to mention easy on the eyes. Mark walked along the bitter streets of Philadelphia, already having forsaken last night s personality of Jake. Jake was the one that he couldn t stand, the unfaithful one, the one who had no idea of commitment, of caring, of belonging to another of sharing things together and working on building a future together. There was no future in the lives of the Jakes of this world, only hedonistic satisfaction. The Jakes were the ones who ruined the lives of the Marks of this world. Who took their dreams and tossed them aside on the highways of life to fester and rot along with the other disgorged items of humanity. They laughed at committed relationships, they shunned togetherness and god forbid they came across true love; it all but caused them to implode. Mark, by this time, remembered nothing of his encounter from last night. It just ceased to exist. It never occurred it just had never happened. He felt nothing from or about it, there was no longing, there was no ache. The only ache he carried was the one from having lost his lover for some infraction he could not understand. He just never came to grasp the fact that Jake had been there. He walked along briskly towards his work, shivering as it were, he passed by one of the many gay themed travel agencies in this section of town, the brightly sunlit photograph of guys frolicking on a beach in the Keys stopped him in his tracks. Christ on the Mount, he thought, I have two paid weeks coming. I ll cash them in and head for some warmth. He set a faster pace and headed on into work. Once at work, Mark called his boss, okayed his off dates, called the travel agency, gave them his travel dates and allowed them full discretion as to making all the arrangements for his holiday. It would be his first vacation since his break up with Jim and he felt this was just what he possibly needed to get his life back in order. Jock laid on the foot of his master s bed watching him with curiosity standing behind the curtain staring out the window. He had no idea what Jim found so fascinating out beyond the glass pane. Jim slowly unbuttoned the Cargo shorts he was wearing and allowed them to drop to the floor, he stripped off the light blue net shirt he was wearing as well, and stood there just out of sight naked as a jaybird. He watched Carlos lazily swimming in the pool below. How old was Carlos, he wondered to himself? Probably twenty-two, twenty-three, it was almost impossible to tell with these Cuban-American youth now days. They had their Hispanic dark looks with an exotic, almost hypnotic olive skin tone; they all seemed to spring from gangly teens into well muscle toned young men over night. There just didn t seem to be any in between stage. Jim could feel the desire flowing strongly through his veins now gaining control of his innermost desires. He had just turned thirtytwo, not really to old to start up a relationship with his young employee he thought. Not if by any chance the hints Carlos had been throwing his way this past summer were for real, and after today s kiss he was sure they were. He stood here now in the shadows watching the young man below, desiring him, wanting him why not just [continued on Main-29] MAIN~26 of 52 AmbushMag.COM Jan , 2008 The One & Only Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide GayMardiGras.COM

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4 obituary A Living Icon of Jesus: Rev. Bill Richardson by: Peter Iveson of Toronto Ontario Canada Holding onto my hand and my grandmother s cross Dad died peacefully at 10:48 on Wednesday, Oct 3, 2007, Handel s Messiah was playing on his CD player, apologized Rev. Bill Richardson s daughter Anne on Dec.16 th I thought we had notified you, she said. Father Richardson, a long time member of New Orleans gay community, was born in 1909 in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended the University of the South in Sewanee Tennessee and General Theological Seminary in New York and was ordained to the Episcopal Church priesthood in 1935 serving in parishes in Rochester, New York and Michigan before coming to St. George s Episcopal Church, 4600 St. Charles Ave., where he was rector from I953 to His requiem Eucharist was held Oct. 8, 2007 at St. George s. You can listen to the homily preached at his funeral if you look up the church s website. Segregation was enforced when Rev. Richardson arrived at St. George s in He got wind of the ushers canning blacks and refusing to let in people who were not dressed properly. He used to patrol in front of the Church every Sunday morning to welcome everyone to worship almighty God. Some racists broke away and formed a break away church. When Metropolitan Community Church met in his chapel at St. George s in the early seventies the tragic gay night club fire in the French Quarter took place. Some 33 gays were burnt alive.the Roman Catholic archdiocese wouldn t get involved and the memorial service was held in the United Methodist Church on Rampart Street. Father Richardson allowed MCC to hold their planning meeting at St. George s providing they promised his church s name be not publicized. However, when Troy Perry the Pope of MCC arrived at the airport, the press were there. Next morning the Times Picayune covered the meeting, they mentioned St. George s Church but they didn t mention its denomination. Soon Bishop Iveson Nolan, no relation of mine; heard. He called Fr..Bill. Why did you allow those people to hold their meeting at your church? the bishop scolded. Father Bill said, Yes Bishop, I did. They are all God s children. They all have God s unconditional love. That took the wind out of the bishop s sails. Next a high society lady from Trinity Episcopal called. Oh Father Richardson that was the most wonderful Christian thing that you could of done. Father Bill told her to call the Bishop and tell him what she said." She did. Several funerals of the victims took place at St. George s. Father Bill next had to face his vestry, but the parish backed him. One time, he was asked to take services at Trinity Episcopal Church then a church for the rich, they had fired their rector. He told them how badly they had treated their pastor and he gave them hell. He was never invited back again. Integrity, the gay caucus in the Episcopal Church was founded by Louie Crew in 1975, very soon afterwards chapters sprung up all over the United States and Canada, soon Integrity New Orleans was formed by Father Bill and others. They were denied meeting space in all Episcopal parishes in New Orleans by the orders of the then Bishop Brown. Over Labor Day weekend in 1982 Integrity Inc..held its annual convention in New Orleans, I attended. Again we were denied use of an Episcopal church, there was a protest by Integrity on the steps of Christ Church Cathedral which got Bishop Brown into trouble with other bishops who were meeting at General Convention New Orleans 1982 In 1982, my friend the late Rev. Gregory Lee of Toronto, asked me to go travelling with him in his motor home. The destination was Mardi Gras I982 in New Orleans. Father Lee had visions of us parking in an Episcopal parking lot in downtown, Gregory was very stubborn. Although I had never met Father Bill, I called him about Gregory s intentions with the fears I had heard about the crime in New Orleans. He said he would take care of things. As Fr. Lee hit all the Episcopal parking lots along the route he called up each Episcopal church in New Orleans. They all responded with No. Out of desperation, we went to the Cathedral in New Orleans, they sent us over to Bill s home where he invited us in, fed us, gave us beds to sleep in, and Gregory got to sleep with Father Bill. This was the beginning of a twenty five year friendship that I had with Bill Richardson, I came down many times over the years to stay with Fr. [continued on Main-31] one last song...from Main-26 step out and show himself to his desire below? He thought about it, not more than a minute and just stepped into the sunlight. Carlos was doing the backstroke and looking up at the window just as Jim stepped into full view, he smiled broadly and waved. Jim waved back and smiled as well. Not taking his eyes off of his boss, he pulled himself out of the pool, staring heavenward. He shook the excessive water off his body and entered the house, bounding up the two staircases to the third floor. It did not take more than thirty seconds for the two men to fall entwined in each others arms onto the bed, causing Jock to jump down so as not to get crushed beneath them. This should have happened months ago they both thought as they reveled in each others bodies. In the office on the first floor, the fax machine was spewing forth a new reservation from Mark. Small world isn t it? Funny isn t it. Funny and..the medley of ONE LAST SONG was playing out. To be continued. You may contact me via this publication or me donniejay@hotmail.com. GayNewOrleans.COM SouthernDecadence.COM GayEasterParade.COM Jan , 2008 AmbushMag.COM MAIN~29 of 52

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