Here. Queer. Picketing.

November 26, 2007

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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)

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