HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN
You know the old saying “April showers bring May flowers”? Well, I would reword that phrase for this year: “April it snows, May nothing grows!” I don’t know about your lawns and landscaping, but most of my trees that had already begun to bloom have retreated and now it is like starting over. One event that I attended April 13, the Union Hill Open House benefit for AIDS Walk ’07 took a bit of a hit because of the frigid weather. As usual, the homes were fabulous and the food was delicious. I also want to give special thanks to Katie Heschmeyer and her committee who did a superb job of once again hosting a house party for this event and raising so much money in spite of the adverse weather conditions. I look forward to the Union Hill parties each year as the event continually evolves and adds more parties and homes on tour. Everyone who attended managed to make their way to the Cadillac Building for the silent auction, more food and spirits and a wonderful jazz band. I understand from the event organizers that the money raised this year exceeded last year’s total in spite of the inclement weather. Great job, everyone.
My friend John from Des Moines brought his latest boy toy Chas to town for the weekend, and they really made a hit. I decided to take in Saturday Trash Bag Bingo at Missie B’s, hosted by Billy and Michael. Well, every time I turned around, John was yelling “Bingo!” and claiming another trash bag prize! I don’t know whether the game was fixed, but I do know that Michael, that lovely hostess, was quite taken by my two friends from out of town. Those boys certainly know how ! to have a good time, and we all ended up at Outa Bounds Sports Bar, where we proceeded to drink the place dry of bloody marys and Miller Beer.
Saturday, April 21, proved to be one of the most fun-filled days of the month. I first attended a special show put on by the KC Pioneers Leather Club for a “run” that took place over the weekend. Words cannot explain what marvelous entertainment was in store for me at this show, so I will let my pictures do the talking. This theme was a fashion show of sorts. These girls give new meaning to the words pretty and talented. The four contestants had to answer questions from the audience, display their talent and advertise certain unmentionables from a leather catalog. In the finale, three of the four contestants were eliminated, one of them because she was pregnant, so she gave birth on stage to a baby Bush doll. You can find other pictures of this momentous occasion elsewhere in Camp.
After my blood pressure returned to the semi-normal range, I headed down to bar Natasha to witness yet another AIDS Walk fundraiser, the Double Deuce Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament. Again the turnout was rather low due to the weather, but this time it was the wonderful weather that kept everyone outdoors. In spite of the rather sparse turnout, more than $2,000 was raised for AIDS Walk ’07. Speaking of AIDS Walk, by the time this newspaper reaches our distributors on Friday, we will be just one day away from the walk. I encourage anyone reading this column to venture out at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, to Theis Park to walk with your brothers and sisters for this great cause. I will be walking with the illustrious Team GE, led by Eric B and over 150 strong. I will also be carrying a banner with the name of my ex, Willie M, who died of AIDS in the early ’90s and who has been sorely missed ever since.
The weekend ended with a bang, back again at Missie B’s for its 13th anniversary celebration. The place was packed for the 7 p.m. tribute show, a Disney-themed extravaganza. Prizes were awarded to the favorite bartenders and many awards were given out by Jan and Flo to those bar patrons most deserving in categories such as “the person most likely to enter the Betty Ford Clinic” and “bartender most likely to be arrested with a 12-year-old.” The show was marvelous and here is a picture of two of Kansas City’s stellar performers, Sandy K and Lexus C. dressed as Geisha girls for their number (see photo). During the course of the evening, Michael B, owner of Missie B’s,. addressed the audience and put any rumors to rest concerning the bar closing. He said that indeed the building had been sold, but that the bar would be able to continue for many years to come. You can imagine what a relief that was for us regulars who have considered Missie B’s our second home for these 13 years.

FUTURE HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN
Good Samaritan Project will hold its annual fundraiser Corks and Canvas from 7 to 10 p.m. April 27 at the Boulevard Brewing Company on Southwest Blvd. This promises to be a lavish event featuring spectacular art by local and regional artists, fine wines and fabulous hors d’oeuvres. If the April 20 patron party is any indication, this will be a sellout event, so make your reservations now at www.gspkc.org or 816-561-8784.
On May 18, look for the Camp Newspaper Pride Guide to be available at all our local distributors. Camp is again the media sponsor for Gay Pride and Street Blast so be sure and pick up your copy to find out when the various events take place and when your favorite performer takes to the stage. Flo and her team have really outdone themselves this year with the likes of Chaka Khan and Martha Wash as headliners. I, myself, will be front row when those delicious brothers, Jacob and Joshua Miller with the group Nemesis take! center stage. There will be many new surprises in store for festival-goers this year, including hot-air balloons and an expanded children’s corner, according to Flo.

IN CONCLUSION
Please show your support over the next month and a half for the many benefit shows, beer busts, etc., being held on behalf of Gay Pride. It is not cheap bringing in such world-class entertainment as Chaka Khan and Martha Wash and then allowing free admission for everyone attending. We must support the Gay Pride Committee and their tireless efforts to allow all of the LGBT and allied community in Kansas City to continue to celebrate our pride in a first-class way every year. Thanks for reading, and I will see you around town.