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No one will mistake me for a society reporter, but last night’s Out for Equality gala celebrating Barack Obama’s inauguration was too much fun to ignore.
There were surprise celebrity appearances (Sir Ian McKellen), terrific musical performances (Dave Koz, Melissa Etheridge) and even some shameless dirty dancing to “She Bop” by a high-ranking government appointee who shall remain nameless here.
Cyndi Lauper’s performance was the highlight of the night. She’s aging far better than one-time pop rival Madonna. Lauper worked the crowd, racing around the stage and delivering the hits, including the aforementioned ode to masturbation.
Koz was flawless as always, but is it his music or his handsome looks that most inspire fans?
My only quibble: Rufus Wainwright’s presence on stage. I’ve tried to like Wainwright’s music and I know many gays who worship him, including my partner. But there’s something unbearably grating about his singing voice — a nails-on-the-chalkboard caterwauling warble. I had a similar reaction to his performance on the True Colors tour two years ago. While Erasure and Lauper were rocking the house and sending delirious fans dancing into the aisles, Wainwright’s self-indulgent Morrissey-lite act provided a bathroom break. He’s a fun vacuum, sucking the energy right out of the room. Maybe in the right venue — a smoke-filled, dimly lit lounge in New York on a rainy night — his music would be more at home. But there are no more smoke-filled lounges in New York.
At the end of her set, Lauper launched into the crowd pleaser, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” and invited the night’s other performers to join her. Thelma Houston rose to the occasion, cavorting around the stage in a low-cut gold dress and belting out the lyrics along with Lauper. Catie Curtis also joined in the fun, though Lauper couldn’t remember her name, referring to her as her “new friend.” And then came Wainwright, who appeared uncomfortable on stage and seemed to not know the lyrics. (Hello?!? Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, they just wanna, they just wannaaaaa…) Maybe he’s allergic to happy pop.
I ran into the Advocate’s Kerry Eleveld, who was covering the festivities, reporter’s notebook and digital camera in hand. When she asked me for a quote, I gave her a scoop instead. Check out the Advocate for details.
I chatted with Bishop Gene Robinson, who was mobbed by fans all night and graciously posing for photos with dozens of admirers. His remarks to the crowd were somewhat surprising, as he veered from Obama worship into promises of holding the new administration accountable for its gay commitments.
There was a striking moment when leaders of the nation’s gay rights activist groups assembled on stage together, introduced one at a time by HRC’s Joe Solmonese. There appeared to be dozens of activists, each from a different organization, prompting questions about whether the movement needs some consolidation. Solmonese quipped that the day was “a little bit about Aretha Franklin’s hat,” adding that it came from his closet.
In all, a memorable night when everyone could unwind and celebrate not just the beginning of Obama’s era, but the end of Bush’s eight-year assault on our rights. Cheers!
 Posted by Kevin Naff,
Washington Blade Editor | Jan. 21 at
1:58 PM | knaff@washblade.com
Permalink: http://www.washblade.com/blog/index.cfm?blog_id=23588
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