Here. Queer. Picketing.

November 26, 2007

As a relatively new but proud member of the Writers Guild of America, I’ve done a bit of picketing since this whole strike began and as the risk of being shallow, let me tell you, the gays throw the best picket lines.

Last week, I got an e-mail forwarded to me from a lesbian actor friend saying that there was going to be a special gay picket line at Raleigh studios in Hollywood on Thursday. I had to get a piece of that picketing action.

The scene was a jamboree, a veritable who’s who of gay Hollywood. Two different Ipods (one on each end of the picket line) were blasting gay faves like “It’s Raining Men” and “Hung Up.” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” star Nia Vardolos was passing out Dove bars. Actor Michael Urie from “Ugly Betty” was rocking a sleeveless T and a bedazzled picket sign. “Will and Grace” creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan were there. So was John Riggi from “30 Rock” and a slew of other gay writers I know like Christian Taylor, Darren Stein, Jonathan Tolins, Gary Janetti, Abraham Higginbotham, Jon Kinnally, Guy Shalem, Gary Lennon, David Dean Bottrell and a bunch of others I’m sure I’m forgetting.

It would be not only cynical but lame of me to say it was the networking opportunity of a lifetime…but it was the networking opportunity of a lifetime. And there were snacks! If I were a new-in-town twink with a spec script to peddle and a hairless, tight body, I’d be all over that action.

One of the first people I said hello to was “Latter Days” writer-director C.J. Cox, who came up with the idea for the gay picket line with his friends actor Michael Medico and casting director-turned-writer Chad Darnel. As legend has it, the trio had been picketing a different gate a few days prior and in the tedium of marching got the idea to organize a GLBT picket line. Then they said to themselves, “What’s the gayest show on TV? Let’s picket there!” It took them about two seconds to decide that “Ugly Betty!” fit the bill and an e-mail blast was sent out and forwarded.

“Ugly Betty” creator Sylvio Horta got wind of it and offered his full support, as well as a cameo appearance by the actress who plays Betty’s sister, Ana Ortiz, and a well-timed yogurt delivery from Pinkberry. It was hot as hell out there and that sweet treat hit the spot. (Here’s a pic of Michael Urie, Sylvio Horta, Michael Medico, C.J. Cox, Chad Darnel courtesy of ALEKandSTEPH.com)

Between catching up with old friends and making new ones, there was a lot of discussion about the strike and the issues that brought it on. Even if I wasn’t a writer, I’d have to side with the writers. You don’t need a crystal ball to see that new media is the future and I think the other side are so full of it when they play dumb and claim, “It’s all too new…we don’t know what’s going to happen with it.” Yeah, right.

I forgot to take my camera but here’s a pic that was taken by the good folks at ALEKandSTEPH.com.

I’m in the black T-shirt and as you can see, the injustice of the whole situation not only has me scowling but it’s given me man-boobs. If this thing doesn’t end soon, those babies may end up on the sidewalk and it’ll take more than a Dove bar from Nia Vardalos to wash away that pain.

Though there’s lots of pro and con buzz in the blogosphere about the gay picket line concept, the organizers told me that the weekly gay picket line will soldier on. They also plan to hold a special “Hollywood Homecoming” rally on Friday, November 30th (10AM - 12PM at Sony Studios in Culver City), where talent from Hollywood's Golden Age will come out to show their support for the writers. To find out more, visit www.HotInHollywood.TV

My Halloween Hero

November 14, 2007

Okay, who’s still hungover from Halloween?

Well, I spent the holiday in Toronto, CA, writing about their “Halloweek” celebration for Gay.com. Check it my diary here. (http://www.planetout.com/pno/travel/article.html?sernum=12940&navpath=/travel/) In terms of a costume, I bought a cheap Stetson hat and a cowboy shirt at a local vintage shop and went as a cowboy. Yawn. Another half-assed Halloween effort by Hensley.

The ugly truth is I just can never seem to get it up for Halloween, costume-wise. I don’t have that gene, it seems. But I know someone who does. Meet Dudley Beene, an actor and TV promo writer here in LA who is to Halloween dress-up what Tyra Banks is to striking poses.

While I was in Toronto, serving up some phoned-in Brokeback, Dudley was in LA with three equally gung ho friends winning the grand prize at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival. I think they won $1,000 or something.

As The Golden Girls, Dudley and his cohorts--Mike, Mark and Gerald--wiped the pavement with the competition.

I caught up with a Dudley to ask him where he gets his Halloween mojo from--and where I can get some.

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