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6 Years Ago in ‘OutSmart’

After Republicans picked up six seats in the U.S. Senate to gain a 55–44 majority, George W. Bush was re-elected as president, and 11 gay-marriage bans in 11 states passed by wide margins, former Human Rights Campaign spokesman Wayne Besen declared, “Not even the fabulous RuPaul could find a shade of lipstick glamorous enough to pretty up this election pig.”

“Waking up to the new reality,” LGBT activist Anita Renteria stressed “the need to educate red-state America about our lives.” The past president of Greater Houston GLBT Chamber of Commerce explained, “I can’t believe that anyone who knows us as we are, who sees the contributions we make, who recognizes the common experiences that we share as Americans will resist supporting our full and equal inclusion in having the rights we are due as Americans.”

President Sandy Brauer, board member Barry Mandel, and others in the newly formed Jewish Gay & Lesbian Social Group enjoyed the first Hanukkah champagne party at Meteor.

Dignity Houston met at Grace Lutheran Church for their Advent mass, and gathered again on Christmas Day for a potluck dinner.

Christopher Garrett, Lillian Devereaux, and Jackie Thorne starred in All I Want for Christmas Is You! at Keys West, then led the cast to Michael’s Outpost for a late-night show called Christmas Gone Wild.

After 25 years at their tiny location with extremely limited parking, Niko Niko’s expanded to 4,200 square feet with central air and 30 parking spaces.

Writing partners Timothy Lambert and Becky Cochrane read from their novel The Deal, which is set in Montrose, in an appearance at Hollywood Book & Café.

Gay musical-theater lovers mingled with the cast of Theatre Under the Stars’ Singin’ in the Rain and enjoyed cabaret music at Out@TUTS at Artista in the Hobby Center.

At a benefit for Krewe of Oz at Robert’s LaFitte in Galveston, Jerome Downey celebrated being named a favorite bartender on the island in OutSmart’s latest Gayest & Greatest poll.

At Chances, which readers voted best women’s bar in Houston, live music from the Fematics helped ring in the New Year.

Donalevan Maines is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

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Don Maines

Donalevan Maines is a regular contributor to OutSmart Magazine.

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