One Out of Ten

BY: COLIN MURPHY - SENIOR WRITER

    The Carnival season is again at hand and Mardi Gras, as it must from time to time, falls in early February with coats and hats being the costume of choice over scantily clad women and shirtless men. But the cold has never stopped revelers of every stripe—both gay and straight—from converging on historic Soulard. This year marks the 31 - annual celebration of what has become a destination event for our fair city—where the beaded and bedazzled celebrate day and night.

BY: COLIN MURPHY - SENIOR WRITER

    With the relaunch of Vital Voice magazine, we continue the proud legacy of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media here in the Gateway City. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved over the past nine years under former Publisher, Pam Schneider and am equally excited about the new direction and style the publication is taking as Darin Slyman takes the helm.

BY: COLIN MURPHY

    There is nothing quite so empowering as standing on the National Mall amid the monuments and marble of our Nation’s Capital with one million of your gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) brothers and sisters.

BY: COLIN MURPHY

As the 30th Annual St. Louis Pridefest approaches, our community finds itself gearing up for what will be the largest celebration yet. One can feel the anticipation and given last year’s historic election, and the fact that the number of states to allow full marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples now stands at five, one can sense the winds of change carrying the day.

BY COLIN MURPHY

With no end to the recession in sight, Americans of every stripe and financial standing seem to be tightening the proverbial belt. Alas, many of us are turning to affordable forms of entertainment to help take our minds off of the daily grind of financial worry.

During the Great Depression and World War II, movies were a perfect opportunity to escape for a couple of hours. But today, with digital cable and 24-hour television, we find ourselves tuning in to "tune out" to reality television. It's ubiquitous and infectious, vegetable-escapism.

By COLIN MURPHY

           In honor of Black History month I thought I’d pay homage to one of St. Louis’ iconic exports to the world—the fabulous Josephine Baker.

BY: COLIN MURPHY

 I turned 38-this month and this column turns 18 in 2009. This year also marks 20-years since I first came out at Pridefest 1989. Indeed, I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. Such is the case this time of year with my birthday falling right after the holidays.

BY: COLIN MURPHY

If the last 18 months have been a riveting, rollercoaster-of-a-ride in terms of the presidential election, then the last two weeks have taken us on a series of gut-wrenching loops and I’m still trying to find my bearings.

I was one of the record breaking viewers to watch the Democratic and yes, Republican National Conventions. For me, the Democratic offering was a cathartic and emotional experience and it was staged in pitch-perfect fashion for this former Hillary Clinton supporter.

BY: COLIN MURPHY

August 16 was a rather historic day for marriage equality. America’s favorite lesbian, comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres married her long-time partner, actress Portia de Rossi in their Los Angeles manse. It was one of the highest profile ceremonies of its kind to take place since the California Supreme Court legalized same sex nuptials in the Golden State earlier this year.

BY: COLIN MURPHY

I’ve made the mistake over the past year or so of still referring to the likely Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, as a maverick. For what was once true of the senator from Arizona during his insurgent 2000 presidential primary fight with George W. Bush is no longer the case.