A Proud Weekend In Venice

Well,  that was fun! Venice Pride took over Venice for the weekend, and it was a celebration of diversity and inclusivity for the entire town. Venice has always been a place to be yourself, no matter what, and this past weekend brought that fact into sharp focus with a street party for the ages.

After a ceremony on Thursday (that I missed) to dedicate the rainbow lifeguard tower at Brooks Avenue and that stretch of sand to be officially known as Bill Rosendahl Beach, the real party went down on Friday night with an epic dance party in the street at Windward Avenue in front of the Venice sign.

Venetians of every make and model turned out to support their LBGTQ brothers and sisters (if they didn't identify as that themselves), and those brothers and sisters got DOWN. DJ Victor Rodriguez got the whole thing started at about 5 pm, and kept the party going in the streets until 11pm, when people dispersed to the many after-parties.

The crowd was huge, and beach balls were batted around overhead, in true beach party fashion. Each speaker's comments about the wonderful people and town of Venice were met with massive roars and applause, and you could tell that absolutely everyone was in the mood to blow off some of the steam this crazy world of ours has built up over recent weeks/months. That steam would have blown the roof off of the place, had their been one, but we were partying under the stars, and under the rainbow lights of our Venice sign.

The whole proceeding was family friendly, and many youngsters were spotted in the crowd, creating wonderful memories and building support for EVERYONE from a young age. I was so encouraged to watch my little friends loudly cheering and pumping their fists for every declaration of unity and love for all ... it gave me real hope for the future, watching them with their rainbow-sprayed heads of support. It was truly a night of One Love, and beautiful to behold.

Mike Bonin spoke, of course, as did Pride spear-headers Grant Turck and Danny Samakow. The celebrity sign lighter was Venice fixture, Lori Petty (star of Point Break, Tank Girl, and Orange Is The New Black), who spoke about how she came to Venice from Hollywood, saw naked, wet Red Hot Chili Peppers here, and decided never to leave. She talked about how everyone here is beautiful, and diverse, and how we stick up for what's right. How it's special here, and no greedy landlords or corporations can change that, no matter how hard they're trying. And you could feel exactly that.

All gathered yelled their agreement, and all the camera phones went up to count down from 10 to light the sign. When the rainbow bulbs lit the sky, the crowd went wild. Photos were taken, dancing re-commenced in the streets, and all was well in Venice, California. First Fridays was happening over on Abbot Kinney, but that's for tourists. If you wanted to see and know the real Venice, we were all on Windward Friday night.

The street party was so fun, and every time the streetlights changed, it was another dance-a-thon right there in the diagonal crosswalk under the Venice sign. Strangers danced together, high-fived, hugged, and generally thanked our lucky stars that we're living in a place that not only accepts all, but rejoices in our differences. It was truly an awesome sight to see.

After a while, people took off to all the various after-parties (I'm told the official one - "Gaywatch" at The Birdcage on Main Street was beyond packed, and went OFF). We just carried on dancing around in Venice, feeling happy that our gay friends once again had a place to celebrate on the Westside.

The weekend was super June gloomy, but that didn't dampen any spirits. There was a beach clean-up ("Beach Please") on Saturday morning, and then an all day party at Muscle Beach ("Status Is Sexy") with performances by singers and dancers, speakers, and all the Boardwalk tourists getting a taste of how we support each other down here by the sea.

Pride shirts were for sale, with proceeds going back to the Venice Pride organization to do it all again next year, even bigger and better. I want to shout out to the L.A. Rams and the L.A. Chargers for both so publicly supporting Venice Pride by buying up many of the light bulbs for the sign, and taking out ads voicing their support. For such a typically homophobic organization such as the NFL to come out in support of celebrating the wonderful diversity of Venice indicates a real sea change, and true progress for ALL. Super cool. *I do not want to shout-out Snapchat, who did not chip in, even though they could really use the good p.r. Just beat it already ... you're not wanted here. Thanks.

Sunday was pretty much a day of rest, as it felt much quieter everywhere. We basically kicked it with George at The Townhouse, having bloody marys inside to wait out the gloom and discuss how much fun everyone had had the nights before. An enormous THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this very prideful weekend in Venice, from the organizers to the partiers! The world is always watching, and we showed them that Venice continues to be a place of wonder and acceptance and a real good time. Pride is a great word for it, as I'm super proud of Venice when it comes together to support everyone like this.

Keep up the good work, everybody! xoxo

The 118th Golden Dragon Parade In Chinatown - Year Of The Fire Rooster!

I've now lived almost equal parts of my life in Minnesota and California, and in all these Western years I'm embarrassed to say that I'd never taken it down to Chinatown to see the Golden Dragon Parade celebrating the Chinese New Year. Woeful Angeleno, right?

Well, this year was the 118th parade, and they were celebrating the Year of the Fire Rooster on the weekend that my dear Mom would be visiting, so that would be a cool thing to do for sure for us both. Then she got sick and got re-sick and the winter rains came. But then Saturday dawned all bright and blue skied, and we were both hacking a little less, so it was on.

We took the train right smack dab into the heart of Chinatown (3 trains, but very easy), and spied the dragons parading down the street directly ahead of the station. Confetti bomb sticks were going off every second, drums were banging like crazy, and suddenly we were right in the thick of a Chinese extravaganza of fun! It was exciting and surreal and trippy to behold - especially on the cold meds.

It was all impressively easy to navigate, and people of all nations were enjoying the spectacle in a polite and cooperative fashion, as seen recently at the Women's March. Like minds out supporting diversity and the one love-ness of our worlds. Together. With respect for our individual cultures from which we all learn. We were happy to run into a bunch of folks from that day's downtown march for Health Care, and you better believe my silent thoughts ran in that direction as I stood in front of the Temple's altar and breathed in the thick incense of prayer all around us.

Deep thought could only last an instant in this situation, however, as the drums banged on along the parade. I didn't see THE Golden Dragon, but I saw many, including a lovely and favorite fuchsia one.

The tail end of the parade was actually a posse of Mexican cowboys, who were met with thunderous applause as they passed by on their cool horses, waving both the Mexican and the United States' flags. It was a cool moment, as Chinese, Mexican, Caucasian, Black, Muslim, and absolutely everyone lined up there on Broadway shared together a sense of the real unity WE THE PEOPLE all can have and must protect. I've felt it every time I'm in the mix like this, and this day was no different. In fact, it felt more reverent, like we all knew it was special and that's who we really are.

The jubilance from that moment carried us all on over to the Central Plaza, where lovely costumed dance performances and cooking demonstrations (by seemingly drunk hosts) were going on. Food trucks lined the streets, and the lines to get in the myriad Chinese restaurants were long and looked like fun.

We took a little bench breather, and were nearly buried alive in all the confetti going off around us. Kids were delightedly making piles of it to jump in, and it sounded like gun shots going off all around. A few old-timers were seen wincing, as the entire place was one big marching band drum line firecracker zone of mayhem, but that's all what makes it feel exciting. Smiles were the collective resting face.

Perhaps except for this very serious mah jongg crew, making their moves on the sunlit table, like they no doubt have for decades. I loved them.

Paul found his perfect photography hat for six bucks on the street, and noted that Chinatown's prices were better than they actually were in Southeast Asia where he'd just recently spent two months. Interesting. Tables were turned, and several Chinese people were now stopping Paul to take his photo in his big beach bum hat. Again, One Love was the order of the day.

 {And on that note, Happy 72nd Birthday to/of Bob Marley!!!!}

The day turned a bit brisk when the buildings put it all into shadows, and we left the banging drums of Chinatown for the mariachi tunes of Olvera Street for a little margarita warm-up. People were streaming by wearing and holding their souvenirs of the day. Here was a kid swinging toy nunchucks, there was a little girl holding a small box with water and a new pet turtle inside. Confetti was in everyone's hair even back on the train, and you'd kind of smile at the person, knowing that we'd all kicked off the Year of the Fire Rooster in fine fashion, in excellent celebration, and most importantly, in solidarity and respect for all cultures and their People.

Thank you for sharing, Chinatown!

Becoming Bulletproof - One Of The Best Documentaries You'll Ever See

I finally got to see the wonderful documentary Becoming Bulletproof last night, and I don't know when I was last so moved. I say "finally" because several of my most admired friends were involved with the film's production and are very active in the film's subject - the campers and helpers of Zeno Mountain Farm.

Pretty much all you need to know about Zeno Mountain Farm is summed up in their statement, "We believe that the most important thing in the whole world to us human beings is friendship, community, and the knowledge that we matter to each other. We want to make certain that everyone who comes to Zeno has full access to these things - regardless." Meaning that everyone who attends a Zeno camp will be included and respected and loved, no matter what their physical or mental abilities may be.

Each year, Zeno has a filmmaking camp, where everyone participates in the production of a movie. When they set out to make a Western called Bulletproof Jackson (directed by Peter Lazarus), documentary filmmaker Michael Barnett decided to follow the process and make a movie about making the movie. That movie became the sublime Becoming Bulletproof, playing this weekend (with Q and A's!) at the Laemmle Music Hall for Oscar consideration. To me, there are no other contenders.

Zeno Mountain Farm headquarters are located in the heart of Venice, where the pre-production for the movie took place. Campers come in from all over the country to participate, and each year is a happy homecoming of friends reunited in the name of love.

Executive Producer, Jeffrey Pechter is a good friend of mine, and had been singing me the praises of Zeno for years, but until I saw this beautiful film, I really had no true idea of how incredibly special this organization is. Founders (and brothers) Will and Peter Halby, and their wives, Vanessa and Ila, created this visionary world, where people become friends for life, no matter what their ability may be. In fact, the more I got into the movie, the less I was even aware of who was able-bodied or minded, and who wasn't. What a beautiful thing, to no longer even be aware of any differences, all because of the sheer truth behind the simple concepts of acceptance and love.

I don't want to wreck the movie for you - because you HAVE TO see it - but I'll tell you that I'm practically dehydrated today from all the heart wrenching and happy tears I shed while watching this gem last night. The film is about everyone, but largely focuses on the journey of one camper, AJ Murray, who is burdened by cerebral palsy. The tears began when his mother lifts him out of his bed back home. They intensified throughout, but when Murray says that outside of Zeno, he feels worthless, it just crushed me. When his mother said that even though his body feels like one big charlie horse on rotation all day every day, yet he still wakes up with a smile, "I don't know how he does it" .... total wreck. When a mother tells how the doctor told her that she should let her baby die because it would only ever be a vegetable, she told him, "Well, I'm a vegetarian, so I'll take my vegetable to go, thank you.", I just lost it. When one of the campers, Judi, cuddles her baby doll so she has something to nurture, I nearly flooded the place. The entire film is one deeply moving and deeply inspiring moment after another. The sheer triumph when they get to see their movie for the first time ... done.  I won't tell you the part I cried the hardest at until you see the movie and talk to me about it, but MAN. Oh, the Humanity! In the best way possible.

Which isn't to say that it's not also hilarious. I laughed out loud more than any Hollywood comedy movie ever. The humor and sense of self-awareness on display from every character was so great to behold, and also important, because with it brought an awareness in the viewer. That people tend to look at those with disabilities as just sitting there without any personality or feelings because that's where society has put them. In the Q and A following the film (awesomely attended and show stolen by the film's lead characters, especially Murray), director Burnett said that we're all talking about that big word "Diversity" these days, but Disability is almost always left completely out of the conversation. That hit me like a lightning bolt of truth, and amped this whole movie up into being a civil rights story, more than anything else - aside from a love story.

The movie is just so good that the Q and A was less about asking questions, and really became just a love and compliment fest. Everyone in there was crying and clapping and on their feet when it ended, and every comment was just, basically, "Thank you for being these angels in the world."

They truly are. No one is paid, and no camper pays to attend. All Zeno operations are funded by donors, and all the profit from this film will go back into Zeno, so that they may continue to make our world a better place for years to come. As the end credits stated, "AJ will be invited back for the rest of his life" - as all campers are.

I can't say enough good about this beautiful project, so please just go and see it for yourself. Again, it starts playing in Los Angeles tomorrow at Laemmle Music Hall, and you can go to Tugg.com to request them to play it in whatever town you're reading from, so everyone can see it. And everyone should. This film should be required viewing in every school, job place, church, anywhere people go in the world, really. Anyone that thought they were having a bad day due to bills, car accidents, a bad haircut, getting dumped, whatever ... will be nothing but grateful for all their life's blessings the entire way through.

However you may feel right now about people with disabilities, you will feel differently after viewing this film. The hope is that you will also then think and act differently, and that the entire world can begin to be actually inclusive and respectful to absolutely everyone. I know these filmmakers probably didn't set out to change the world with their fun little movie, but that's exactly what they're doing.

AJ Murray says near the end of the film, "I've never felt so much love before." I'm not sure I have either.

Heartfelt thanks and congratulations to every single person involved with making this incredible story. I'm about to tear up again, so please just go see it so that we can talk about it. Thank you.