Colombo bares more than his soul for Out as summer ends
by John Colombo
Nudity is the new Black. Each month you get the chance to bare it all while having fun when men of all ages, shapes and sizes meet. Party Naked Pittsburgh held its summer pool party at a private yet swank location, with plenty of food and beverages. The group socialized in the buff on a bluff.. Rick Coffey and Steve Nottle, a couple of 19 years who tied the knot last October, were among the attendees. From Paso Robles, Calif., on June 18, the two newlyweds are traveling the country in a motor home and documenting their adventures along the way. Which brought them to Pittsburgh and Party Naked. Locals seen (which takes on a whole new meaning here): Mike Toepp, Greg DeCesesare, Craig Conner and James Brown, who was celebrating his 43rd birthday in his birthday suit. Happy Birthday, James!
GLSEN Pittsburgh (Gay Lesbian & Straight Educational Network) works with educators, policy makers, community leaders and students on the urgent need to address anti-LGBT behavior and bias in schools. Last month it held a fund raiser organized by Lee Marcuzzi with co chairs Dan Kilber and Ian Syphard. According to Marcuzzi 36 percent of gay youth have attempted suicide in the last year as opposed to 8 percent of nongay youth. Recently a boy in Florida and boy in Mentor, Ohio, both 11 years old, committed suicide brought by gender express harassment. Kierra Darshell hosted the event—out of drag I might mention—which featured the youth group Dreams of Hope, a silent auction and goodies provided by Tallulahs Catering and The Square Cafe. Drinks were provided by 5801 and Images. Seen: Amanda Green, Jackie Zanardelli, Pat Tweardy and Pete and Kathy Cameron. It was a wonderful evening for a wonderful cause.
Gary’s Arty Party! Local artist Gary Pletsch hosted his annual garden and art party last month, the 20th year of the event. The party started with three artist friends, Gary, James Shipman and Peter Kope, who had what can best be described as a progressive dinner party but with their art on display. It grew from there, and is now being held in the West End. An amazing potter (as well as handsome and energetic), Gary sells his work exclusively through Penn Avenue Pottery in the Strip District where he is also a partner in the business. He transformed a former 200 sq. ft. garbage pit into a garden of storybook proportions peppered with fantastical art—a truly magical spot. Seen: Heather Mull, Robyn Brady and Bill O’Driscoll.
FIRE! well, Fire-versary. Harris Grill recently commemorated (not celebrated) the second year anniversary of when their building caught on fire. Do these guys have a sense of humor or what? From 7-10:13pm—10:13 being the time of the first 911 call—the Grill offered drink specials, the owners worked the floor and the staff acted as the bosses.
Hosting at the door: Dana Fruzynski being trained by the real hostess Kumiko Tomazawa dressed in her special occasion kimono; husband Alex Fruzynski waited tables wearing shoes with flames; the lovely but don’t-try-to-cross-her Leslie Donovan bartended; and the irreverently funny star of the show Rodney Swartz also acted as waiter, complete with all the bitching some waiters know how to do annoyingly well. Seen: Brian Broom holding a small child.
David Brunner, local sexual health advocate and educator, is busy preparing his third film, working title The Herpes Movie. David’s last film, The Addiction, was released in 2007. The filming took place in Shadyside at the amazing home of partners Ron Graham and Scott Cavanaugh, a classic turn-of-the-century Arts and Crafts style home revived to its original glory. Only one actor had been cast before I left, David Fair. The event was catered by Nicky’s Thai Kitchen, and the food was superb. Seen: Khafre Abif, Rob Thomas, Jon Holmes, Fred Mergner, Don Harris, Wil Group, Susan Orr and Reed McManigle.
An event was held at Piatt Place for PA Representative Patrick Murphy, who is a sponsor of The Military Readiness Enhancement Act to reverse “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Guests at the cocktail party mingled with the likes of Mike Doyle, Dok Harris, David Caligiri, Judge Robert J. Colville, Jack Wagner, Sen. Arlen Specter, Jim Burns and Amanda Green.
Special guest was charming and intelligent First Lt. Dan Choi who was kicked out of the military for saying three words, “I am gay.” Choi says lying about his sexuality goes against the honor code he learned at West Point: a cadet will not lie, cheat or steal. A linguist and now the founding member of “Knights Out,” a group of West Point grads fighting the DADT tell policy, Dan outed himself after he met and fell in love with Matthew Kinsey last spring. He had an unblemished service record, did his job well and loved it, and was let go for being an honest man.
Afterward, I headed over to the Warhol Museum for the LGBT Welcome Reception for the NetRoots Nation Conference. (Netroots is a recent term coined to describe political activism organized through blogs and other online media.) The event was hosted by Lambda Foundation and organized by Lambda Executive Director Anne Bowman. Sue Kerr contacted Lambda on behalf of Mike Rodgers, a blogger and gay activist in the Washington, D.C.-area, who needed a local organization to help with the event.
Sponsors of the event: Pegasus, Eagle and There (aka Scott Noxon), Rockstar Inc, the energy drink company, and Brown-Foreman Corporation. The party was the “official unofficial” party for Netroots, following the opening ceremony held at the David Lawrence Convention Center where the keynote speaker was Former Pres. Bill Clinton.
I have never seen so many people in the Warhol at one time, as bus load after bus load delivered bloggers (can you say open bar) from all over the country. What a wonderful party for such a wonderfully diverse crowd. Locals seen: Sue Kerr, Franco, Dana and Dok Harris, Teekie Smith, Buzz Pausateri and Gary Van Horn.
Email invites, social events and rumors, or just say hi: john@outonline.com