Special Assembly

Great dinner last night with California's Speaker of the Assembly John Perez. Told his peeps he wanted to meet me and Andy Towle while he was in town -- says he starts every day reading our blogs -- very honored and flattered. What an interesting life he's had -- from Mexican gay boy in East L.A. to one of the state's most powerful politicians. Sad to report that all of his stories were off the record ... and there's a reason why!

Happy Anniversary

Happy 10th to my main squeeze. 

Top: Up on a roof in Weehawken, N.J., 2002; Bottom: At a wedding reception at the Gay and Lesbian Center this past weekend in Greenwich Village (not ours!)

You Gotta Have Art

When Brian Kenny met Kenny Walsh

Michael and I had a fun time Sunday night at GLAAD's OUT/Auction, the 10th annual fundraising event where artists donate works to raise money for the media watchdog. Ramona Singer was the confirmed hostess although I never laid eyes on her (artfully dodging another event, Ramona?), but I did run into a bunch of old friends and colleagues, which gave the potentially stodgy event a relaxed atmosphere.

Ben & Dave

After attempting to act like a grown up for a bit while taking in the impressive collection of artworks, we eventually caught up with my pal (and donating artist) Scooter LaForge and the legendary photographer Krys Fox, and things quickly devolved from there.

Lava los lesbos?

ABlame it on the return of Beavis and Butt-head -- or the free alcohol -- but my ability to "appreciate" the art quickly heightened as the night went on.

Major art-on

I ended up bidding on a great print by Scooter, but was outbid at the 11th hour. (Since charity begins at home anyway, Scooter says he'll sell me one at cost.)

The Art of Noise

It was fun finally meeting aritst/go-go boy Brian Kenny, whose mustache (like my own) was conspicuously absent in the midst of Movember. He told me he hadn't shaved recently (causing his normally faint 'stache to sort of blend in to a generalized scruff), but that he was planning to go full beard for his 30th birthday. (Look out, bears!) Brian's artist/photographer lover Slava Mogutin was also at the party.

As we left, we faux-worked the red carpet -- which, from what I was told by my blogger pal Matt Rettenmund, made us the biggest stars to walk it all night! Still, a fun evening for a good cause. Thanks to Rich Ferraro for the invite, even if I did let him down by showing up 'stache-less!

UPDATE: GLAAD just called to say I did, in fact, win the print I bid on. It's called "Me Against Me" and it's by my friend Scooter LaForge. Very excited!

Movember Men

We're a week into Movember, so I thought it might be fun to meet some guys who doing a little more than paying lip service to the men's health charity event. Needless to say, Danny's story hits closest to, um, home:

Danny Beers, Chicago: So here is my 1 week stache progress pic for Movember! I started Movember because it's for a good cause but let's be honest … I've always thought mustaches were sexy and I wanted to try one out. So Movember was my perfect opportunity! If I reach back really far and ask myself why I think mustaches are sexy it probably dates back to the day I knew I was "different" aka gay. My family was staying at a resort in Manila, Philippines and the hotel staff wanted us to meet the only other American family at the hotel. As I was waiting on the pool deck for these other mystery Americans to appear, up walks two statuesque figures… One was Don Swayze (Patrick's older brother) and the other was Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke). They were both in the country shooting a movie. This was the mid-1980s, btw. Since it was the '80s they were both wearing similar outfits. Short shorts, tank tops and high socks. Catherine was beautiful, but I couldn't keep my eyes off the thick blanket of hair on Patrick's chest paired with his uber-masculine mustache. I remember thinking to myself, "I should probably be looking at Daisy Duke the way I'm looking at him." I was 6 years old.

Aaron Brost, Chicago: I got involved with Movember a few years back because of a good friend who still works with the organization. Her passion inspired me to give back. It was a natural fit because I have several family members and friends who have been affected by cancer. Participating in Movember and changing my look for 30 days is a small way to support all they've been through and to encourage other men to educate themselves about male cancers, go to the doctor regularly and take better care of themselves. My dad had a mustache for most of my childhood so I suppose I've always been accustomed to them. But perhaps my most fond memory of the mustache was Tom Selleck/Magnum PI. I had the biggest crush on him and his iconic mustache -- still do! He is one man who wears it well!

Jonathan Warnock, New York: I first learned of Movember last year from a very passionate female colleague who begged me to join in on the cause. I had participated in many fundraisers before for various causes -- this one was truly unique and personally relevant as I have lost loved ones to this terrible disease. Prostate cancer does no care if you are black or white, gay or straight. It truly is a universal concern for all men. Growing a mustache and raising awareness (and cash) is the least I can do.

Like Danny, I've always had a "thing" for men with 'staches. (Having grown up in the era of Burt Reynolds, Sam Elliott, Tom Selleck, Lee Horsley, Perry King, John Newcombe, Kirk Gibson, Robert Redford in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," Hart Bochner in "The Wild Life," and countless others, what was a gay boy to do?) I finally got up the nerve to try one out myself last spring -- 'cause let's be honest, men with mustaches are outcasts in society these days unless they live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn -- but then I got lazy over the summer/fall. So once Movember rolled around , it was the perfect excuse to recommit myself to this great cause -- oh, and to raise money for cancer!

To learn more about Movember, click HERE. And did you know mustaches stop bullying?

   

I Support Spirit Day ...

From my head down to my toes ...

Glad I remembered to join the thousands of others in wearing purple today for Spirit Day -- as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against bullying. (I usually forget to wear green on St. Patrick's Day, so this was a real feat!)

From GLAAD's site: Spirit Day was started in 2010 by teenager Brittany McMillan as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Observed annually on October 20, individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities wear purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Getting involved is easy -- participants are asked to simply "go purple" on October 20 as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are celebrated and accepted for who they are.

It truly breaks my heart that this problem persists as virulently today as it did when I was a kid. (I've written about my experiences before.) Let's hope LGBT youth -- and all LGBT people -- begin to feel the benefits of campaigns like this soon. With the Republican Party still making discrimination against LGBT people part of its platform, sometimes it can be horribly disheartening and even I feel hopeless at times. (We truly are the last minority for it to be socially acceptable to discriminate against.) But despite the shortcomings of the Obama administration, I really do take enormous solace in the fact that things are HUGELY different today for us than they were when Bush was in office. And with the next generation slowly taking the controls of this country -- and people like Governor Andrew Cuomo -- things really are getting better.

Happy Spirit Day, everyone!

My One-Night Stand With Studio 54

With thanks to my friend (and legendary promoter) Chip Duckett: Scooter, Michael and I snagged invites to the biggest party of the year, the Studio 54 One Night Only reunion on Tuesday. Everyone associated with the notorious '70s nightclub played a part in this historic special event -- former co-owner Ian Schrager (now a wildly successful hotelier) was there, as well as the club's original entertainment producer, doorman, DJs and bartender Scott Taylor. (Even the late Steve Rubell's former assistant, Myra Scheer, was on hand, wisely making no comments about taxes.)

54 virgins -- 18 shy of martyrdom

Ian Schrager and his brood

Rockers of ages: Marky Ramone and Fred Schneider

Let's hear it for the boys: Kevin Bacon and Ryan Philippe, who sadly didn't wear his "54" wardrobe

Dicks: Disgusting Donald Trump and Scott Disick

Beauty and the Beast: Keith Richards and Patti Hansen; Randy Jones returns to the scene of the crime

At your service

Models Inc.: Martha Stewart and Carol Alt

The moon and (more importantly) the spoon!

Balcony boys

Six degree of Kevin Bacon

Fun Girl Three: Cameron Diaz, Naomi Campbell and Bar Refaeli

My pal Jeffrey, who regaled us with stories of Divine and Bianca and Calvin during his brief stint as a Studio 54 bartender in the late '70s. (He would later do home-design work for Calvin!)

Love plus one

When "The Boss" came on, so did we

Stayin' Alive

Love taught me who was The Boss

While not parking on the dancefloor, we spotted my pals Frank DeCaro and Jim Colucci, plus Mike Ruiz, and Robert Verdi, then we boogied our way through a bunch of Bravolebrities -- Andy Cohen, Bethenny Frankel and Brad Goreski (Brad is so sweet!).

I also got to say hi to Lorenzo Martone (gorgeous) and Tony Hawk (thought he was my neighbor at first, he was so approachable and friendly).

The photo-op of the evening for Michael -- who almost NEVER does "pic-withs" -- was meeting legendary 1970s New York Knickerbocker Walt "Clyde" Frazier, who was as cool as they come. I, on the other hand, went for another legendary '70s athlete: Rollerina, who returned to the stage as if 30 years had never skated by!

Here's one of those asses I was talking about (is that my new pal Andrew checking it out?)

Nick at night

With the legendary Walt “Clyde” Frazier of New York Knicks fame

Scooter and Linda Morand, founder of Supermodels Hall of Fame

Then the Men of Cosmo arrived just past the stroke of midnight ...

Mr. Colorado

Mr. Ohio

My kind of bachelor party

Anthony Greenfield, 26, who told me he's from Flint (but is listed as being from East Lansing in his profile), was without question the hottest guy in the bunch.

Under the moon and the spoon

 It was an unforgettable night that seemed to wash away a lifetime of missed dances, proms and parties: It may have only happened once, but I can say I was on the list at Studio 54!

(Photos by B. Michael Smith and WireImage)