San Fernando Valley has a secret history of gay bars

Contents:

• SAN FERNANDO VALLEY HAS A SECRET HISTORY OF GAY BARS
• ALL HAIL THE QUEEN: GAY CISG ON THE QUEEN MARY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY CHANDLER BURRAPRIL 4, 2009/3:58 PMBY CHANDLER BURRAPRIL 4, 2009 / 3:58 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"ALL HAIL THE QUEEN: GAY CISG ON THE QUEEN MARY 2","DATEPUBLISHED":"2009-04-04T19:58:47.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2009-04-04T19:58:47.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CHANDLER BURR","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE GAYT THG I’VE EVER WRTEN WAS THE EMAIL I SENT A STRAIGHT BUDDY OF ME HOTON: “I’M GOG ON A GAY CISE ON THE QUEEN MARY 2.” HE SHOT BACK: “THIS SENTENCE IS RNDANT.” AND THEN: “ARE YOU SER?”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I NEVER TEND TO GO ON A GAY CISE. MONTHS AND MONTHS AGO, WHEN PEOPLE STARTED HEARG THAT RSVP VATNS, THE GAY AND LBIAN VATN PANY OWNED BY PLA OUT, HAD CHARTERED THIS PARTICULAR SHIP, THE BUZZ BEGAN. MOSTLY WAS THE FACT THAT THE QM2 IS THE JEWEL THE CROWN OF CUNARD, THE VENERABLE BRISH PANY WHOSE OCEAN LERS (NOT CISE SHIPS; THERE ARE SIGNIFINT DIFFERENC BOTH STCTURE AND STYLE) ARE LEGENDARY, OF A DIFFERENT AND HIGHER CLASS THE MOST ENGLISH SENSE OF THE WORD. THE QM2 WAS, WHEN WAS LNCHED 2004, THE LARGT LUXURY SHIP THE WORLD— IS LONGER THAN THE EIFFEL TOWER IS TALL AND IS STILL AMONG THE TOP FIVE—AND S WHE-GLOVE SERVICE, S PEARLS-GOWNS-AND-TUXEDOS ETHOS, AND THE FACT THAT THIS WAS NOT “A CISE” BUT “A CROSSG,” STRAIGHT OM NEW YORK TO SOUTHAMPTON U.K. (ON THE PATH OF THE TANIC), PUT A WORLD AWAY OM THE LE-CARIBBEAN DIS OF THE UAL GAY CISE. SO I CID TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}UNR THE CRYSTALLE WARM BLUE SKY OF MAY 29, 2007 WE ALL GATHERED ON THE CKS, LED UP ON RAILGS ABOVE RAILGS, 2,000 HOMOSEXUALS DRKG CHAMPAGNE AND WATCHG THE NEW YORK SKYLE SLOWLY RECE. A LOW LLECTIVE SOUND BEGAN TO SWELL, I TURNED AROUND TO SEE THE TOP OF THE SHIP, 23-STORI TALL (!), ON A LLISN URSE WH THE UNRSI OF THE VERRAZANO-NARROWS BRIDGE. WE ALL STARED, THOANDS OF PEOPLE ALMOST VOLUNTARILY GENERATG A NOISE THAT ROSE OM AWE TO A CHEER, “WHAAAAAOOOH!!” AS WE CLEARED THE SOARG METAL SPAN BY FEET. WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER, ASTONISHED AND THRILLED. THE QM2 MOVED TO THE OCEAN. THEN, WE GOT DOWN TO THE BS OF SIX DAYS OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IF WAS FOR A DIFFERENT GAY CISE OM ANY OTHER, WAS VERY DIFFERENT FOR THE CREW. IN THEIR YEARS WH CUNARD, THIS WAS A FIRST. THEY’D HAD SOME “WHAT TO EXPECT OM THE GAYS” TRAG, BUT YOU ULD TELL THEY WERE A B HANT AT FIRST, QUIET EASTERN EUROPEAN STATEROOM MAIDS AND STRAIGHT-GUY STEWARDS OM TURKEY AND INDIA. AND HERE WERE THOANDS OF QUEENS, LOUIS VUTON LUGGAGE, HELMUT LANG SHO—Y, LOTS OF CHELSEA-BOY GEAR. BY THE SEND DAY I’D ALREADY HEARD THE SHIP’S STORE HAD NEVER SOLD SO MANY NDOMS (GIVEN THE QM2’S UAL NOT-EXACTLY-YOUTHFUL PASSENGER MOGRAPHIC, THIS WAS PERHAPS NOT ENTIRELY ASTOUNDG, BUT THE SALPEOPLE STILL HAD RAISED EYEBROWS).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WE RRIED THE DAILY SCHL AROUND OUR POCKETS AND STILL NEVER MANAGED TO DO EVERYTHG. WE CRAMMED VARLA JEAN MERMAN, THE DRAG QUEEN WHO IS THE LOVE CHILD OF ETHEL MERMAN AND ERNT BNE AND JAZZ SGER ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY. COMEDIENNE SUZANNE WTENHOEFER STARTED OFF THE FIRST EVENG ON THE ROYAL COURT THEATER’S MA STAGE, AND SHE KILLED. “SO THERE AREN’T ANY PORT STOPS ON THIS CISE,” SHE SAID. “USUALLY THE DYK ARE UP AT 6AM. ‘WE’RE GONNA GO BUNGEE JUMPG! THEN WE SCUBA DIVE! THEN WE CLIMB A VOLNO!’” SHE PSED. “THE FAGS GET UP AT NOON.” SHE SQUTED, PAFULLY. “’WHERE ARE WE? CABO? DID WE BRG OUTFS FOR CABO?” WE RAN FOR PLAARIUM SHOWGS, CKTAIL PARTI, AND MOVIE SCREENGS; RSVP PREVIEWED THE JUDH LIGHT/ ROBERT GANT/ CHAD ALLEN MOVIE “SAVE ME,” AN AMAZGLY NUANCED, HONT, AND PASSNATE PICTN OF A FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN WOMAN WHO ATTEMPTS TO REPROGRAM YOUNG GAY MEN. IT PREMIERS OCTOBER AND MAY PROVE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GAY-THEMED MOVI EVER MA. LIGHT AND GANT TOOK QUTNS OM THE DIENCE. WHEN MARGARET CHO PERFORMED, EVERY SEAT WAS FILLED AND PEOPLE SAT ON THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THE REVELATN OF THE TRIP WAS THE DUO AMY AND FREDDY. AMY ARMSTRONG IS A 6’ BIG GIRL OM CHIGO WH SHORT RED HAIR, A JAW-DROPPG PACY FOR MARTIS, A SER SOFT-SERVE ICE CREAM HAB, A MOUTH LIKE THE WHORE OF BABYLON, THE VOICE OF AN ANGEL, AND TALENT TO BURN LIKE ROCKET FUEL. ACPANIED, AS SHE HAS BEEN FOR 12 YEARS BY PIANIST FREDDY ALAN (WHO JT MARRIED HIS BOYIEND), SHE RIPPED OUT OUR HEARTS WH BALLADS LIKE “GRATEFUL” AND MA ROAR WH “PSY” (’S A SG-ALONG). ARMSTRONG IS BLISTERGLY FAST ON HER FEET, A BRILLIANT EDIENNE, AND A NSUMMATE PROFSNAL: HERE IS THE NEXT BETTE MIDLER. SHE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY SGLE BCH THE DIENCE, AND WHEN I RAISED MY HAND SHE MA ME STAND UP AND PUT ME THROUGH MY PAC WH BOTH SARDONIC SPEED (“SO CHANDLER, YOU A TOP OR A BOTTOM?” I’M VERSATILE. “BIG BOTTOM HERE, GUYS!”) AND PURE LOVE (“HONEY, YOU’LL FD SOMEONE—YOU WILL!”). SHE PLAYED OFF THE STRAIGHT HOT YOUNG WAER LIVERG DRKS AROUND HER. “SOREN!” SHE YELLED OVER TO HIM, “HOW DO YOU SAY, ‘I LOVE YOUR BIG CK’ ROMANIAN?” HE LGHED AND REFED TO SAY. THERE WAS A YOUNG CZECH WOMAN BEHD THE BAR WHO MA THE DRKS SOREN SERVED. “YOU SGLE, SYLVIA?” ASKED AMY. “YOU THK SOREN’S HOT?” “I HAVE A HBAND,” SAID SYLVIA. “AND A BOYIEND!” SHOT BACK A HUNGARIAN WAER. WE YELLED AND STOMPED OUR FEET FOR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE WERE A FEW PROBLEMS. AT TEA THE GIANT QUEEN’S ROOM, CUNARD SERVED WHIPPED CREAM STEAD OF CLOTTED CREAM AND SHOCKGLY CHEAP JELLY STEAD OF REAL U JAM, STRANGE MISTAK OM THIS HIGH-BR PANY. BUT THE WORST ERROR WAS RSVP’S CISN TO ENLARGE THE SMOKG AREAS. INSTEAD OF RTRICTG TO A SGLE SMOKG LOUNGE, ALMOST THE ENTIRE SHIP STANK OF CIGARETTE SMOKE, ONE OR TWO SMOKERS FECTED PERFORMANCE SPAC, BARS, AND PARTI WH THEIR TOXIC EXHST, AND WAS A MISTAKE THAT CREATED NSTANT, NASTY LOW-LEVEL WARFARE. COMPLATS FALLY GOT THE NITE ADDICTS BANNED OM AT LEAST A FEW PUBLIC SPAC, BUT THE SMOKG POLICY WAS A DISASTER. PEOPLE WERE SAYG THEY WOULD NEVER AGA BOOK A CISE WHOUT CHECKG ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE RT, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS MAGIL. THE SENCE OF A GAY CISE IS THE PEOPLE. RSVP TABLISHED THE NTEXT AND THE ATMOSPHERE, MA SURE THE SHIP WAS SO GAY SHE ULD BARELY FLOAT, AND UNLEASHED TO THIS FANTASYLAND, AND FOR SIX DAYS WE LEFT REALY. WE WORE SANE HATS TO THE TRADNAL CUNARD HAT PARTY; THE WNERS WERE TWO GUYS WHO WORE 3’-LONG PAPIER MACHé REPLIS OF THE QUEEN MARY 2 ON THEIR HEADS, BUT I LIKED THE HIGH-NCEPT HUGE BLACK BARNEYS HAT BOX WH THE FEATHER HAT EXPLODG OUT OF . AND THEN THERE WAS THE COUNT (HE SWORE HE WAS A COUNT; HE BEME KNOWN AS LTAT), 6’4” WH THE STILETTO GOATEE AND THE HEAD-TO-TOE BLACK LEATHER WHO WORE A HAT WH A CHANLIER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WE RPOND WH FERVOR. FOR THE TROOP TRANSPORT PARTY (“DRS: UNIFORM”), A SHORT BEEFY GUY STARCHED FULL MAR GET-UP WAED FOR DRKS BEHD A BIG BLOND A NAVY SURPL AVIATOR JUMPSU, WHO WAS BEHD A CIRCU QUEEN A SK-TIGHT “GO ARMY!” T-SHIRT AND MOLD MH MOUFLAGE UNRWEAR. (I STOPPED A GUY AN AMAZG UNIFORM, A BLEEDG CROSS ON THE BACK OF HIS BLACK JACKET THAT SPORTED DEATH’S HEAD EPLETS. WAS OM NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS? “I DON’T KNOW,” HE SAID BRIGHTLY, “I GOT AT SAKS!”). AT THE LEATHER PARTY, STRAIGHT CUNARD OFFICERS AND CREW OM RSIA AND THE PHILIPP BOUGHT DRKS AND CHATTED WH QUEENS LEATHER HALTERS AND PIERCED NIPPL. THE GOOD-LOOKG STRAIGHT WAERS (I’M THKG OF ONE TALL CZECH KID WH THICK DARK HAIR AND A SE THAT ULD E TRAFFIC ACCINTS) WHO AT FIRST SEEMED WARY OF THE REQUTS—“CAN WE TAKE A PICTURE WH YOU?”—BY THE END OF THE WEEK WERE POSG LIKE PROS. ON FORMAL EVENGS, EVERYONE PUT ON TUXEDOS AND IMMACULATE DARK SUS, AND WE LOOKED LIKE A MOVIE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE WARMTH WAS PALPABLE. EVERYONE SAID HI TO EVERYONE ELSE. ON DECK 7 AT 3AM ONE MORNG AT THE 24-HOUR BUFFET (WHICH WAS PACKED), I WATCHED A GUY S DOWN ALONE AT A TABLE AND STANTLY THE FOUR NEXT TO HIM LOOKED OVER, SAID, “YOU BY YOURSELF?” HE NODD. “THEN GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE, QUEEN! S WH !” THE MOMENT WAS WORTH THE TRIP. THE FIRST DAY I MET MIKE, A DOCTOR OM LOS ANGEL, AND DEAN, A FANCIAL PLANNER OM BOSTON. WHEN ON DAY TWO I MET DAVID AND LARS OM SSALO AND DAVID OM SAN FRANCIS, THEY ASSUMED BY THE WAY WE TERACTED THAT WE’D KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS. WE ALL BEME A POSSE. AT MEALS THE GEO BRANNIA DG ROOM WE ORRED EVERYTHG ON THE MENU AND PUT THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE. SOME NEW IENDS WE MET SAID, “SO HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU SIX KNOWN EACH OTHER?” NIGHTS, WE ALL DANCED: TWO-STEP, BALLROOM, HOE...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TWO TIM AT 5AM I WENT OUT ON MY BALNY. I LOOKED FORE TO SEE THE PALE PK SUNRISE OVER THE ATLANTIC, THE CLOUDS PEARLY ON TOP AND TANGERE UNRNEATH. THEN AFT TO THE HUGE FULL MOON AND A DIAMOND-LIKE VEN WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE VLET NIGHT SKY, AND THEN WENT TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT DNER THE LAST NIGHT, I ASKED MY ADORABLE, BIG, STRAIGHT ROMANIAN WAER IF HE WOULD WRE DOWN “I LOVE YOUR BIG CK” ROMANIAN. HE LGHED. “YOU NOT TELL I GIVG YOU THIS,” HE SAID TO ME WH A HUGE GR AND SLIPPED ME A RD WH MY SSERT URSE: “IUBC PULA TA MARE.” AT 9:58PM BI THE STAGE I HAND TO AMY (“BCH!” SHE SAID. PEERED AT . “SO HOW DO I FUCKG PRONOUNCE THIS?”) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SHOW, SOREN ME UP ONT TO LIVER HER THE FIFTEENTH MARTI THE QUEENS THE DIENCE WERE SENDG, AND SHE READ TO HIM AT FULL VOLUME, AND HE WENT BRIGHT RED AND WE ALL CLAPPED HIM ON THE BACK AS HE, THE HANDSOME AND POLE STRAIGHT ROMANIAN GENTLEMAN, WALKED TRIUMPHANTLY BACK WH HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AMY SANG I WILL REMEMBER YOU / WILL YOU REMEMBER ME, AND WE ALL SANG ALONG AND STOOD UP AND CHEERED FOREVER AND NO ONE WANTED TO LEAVE THE QUEEN’S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE POSTSCRIPT IS THAT I TOOK THE QM2 BACK HOME. I DIDN’T EVEN GET OFF THE SHIP. I JT WENT TO BED, AND THE NEXT DAY EVERYONE DISEMBARKED SOUTHAMPTON, AND THE SHIP WAS EMPTY AND SOLATE FOR A FEW HOURS, AND THEN STARTED FILLG UP AGA WH THE UAL PASSENGERS. AND WAS PLETELY DIFFERENT. THE MAGIC WAS GONE. THE WEIRD THG WAS, THE CREW FELT AS STRONGLY AS I DID. I PASSED ONE OF THE MASSRS OM THE SPA, A BIG BEEFY BLOND STRAIGHT GUY. “WOW,” HE SAID, “WE MISS YOU GUYS! THAT WAS SUCH GREAT ENERGY, EVEN ME AND FILLED UP THE SPA!” I SAW THE QUIET CROATIAN RTRANT MANAGER. “WE LOVED YOU,” HE SAID, “EVERYONE WAS SO NICE.” A DUTCH STATEROOM MAID TOLD ME THEY WISHED ULD BE GAY ALL THE TIME. I WENT TO LUNCH THE BRANNIA DG ROOM. THE SHIMMER HAD VANISHED. THE STRAIGHT TURKISH HEADWAER STOPPED BY. “WE ALL LOVG ,” HE SAID, FORLORN. “THE LEATHER PARTY WAS AMAZG.” I LOOKED AT HIM. UH, WAS HE STRAIGHT OR GAY? “STRAIGHT,” HE SAID. HE SHGGED. “BUT I GO, I TALKG WH PEOPLE. REALLY FUN PARTY, THE LEATHER PARTY. NOW,” HE SAID, “WE MISSG. WE WILL ALL REMEMBER YOU.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT PRS TIME, THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR RSVP TO HOST ANOTHER QUEEN MARY 2 CROSSG. BUT RSVP HOSTS CISE VATNS ALL OVER THE WORLD (THE MEDERRANEAN, THE CARIBBEAN, ALASKA, THE SOUTH PACIFIC, ETC.) WH SEVERAL MORE PLANNED THIS YEAR. IF YOU’D WANT TO GO ON RSVP'S NEXT CISE, YOU N BOOK ONLE VIA . OR LL RSVP DIRECTLY:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}USA: (7787); INTERNATNAL: +44 (0) 7968 962 {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY HAS A SECRET HISTORY OF GAY BARS

” (Adks, Richard 2021)Gay Gui '71: (S) *; Barfly Wt '73: [Kg's Alley] L, [Queen Mary] C.

Bis the ocsnal trouble om vice ps and homophobic passers-by, the Queen was accepted and even embraced by the suburban Stud Cy learship. “Are there any gay folks down there where you live Palos Vers? Not a gay bar, not a straight bar: a trans bar.

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN: GAY CISG ON THE QUEEN MARY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY CHANDLER BURRAPRIL 4, 2009/3:58 PMBY CHANDLER BURRAPRIL 4, 2009 / 3:58 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"ALL HAIL THE QUEEN: GAY CISG ON THE QUEEN MARY 2","DATEPUBLISHED":"2009-04-04T19:58:47.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2009-04-04T19:58:47.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CHANDLER BURR","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE GAYT THG I’VE EVER WRTEN WAS THE EMAIL I SENT A STRAIGHT BUDDY OF ME HOTON: “I’M GOG ON A GAY CISE ON THE QUEEN MARY 2.” HE SHOT BACK: “THIS SENTENCE IS RNDANT.” AND THEN: “ARE YOU SER?”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I NEVER TEND TO GO ON A GAY CISE. MONTHS AND MONTHS AGO, WHEN PEOPLE STARTED HEARG THAT RSVP VATNS, THE GAY AND LBIAN VATN PANY OWNED BY PLA OUT, HAD CHARTERED THIS PARTICULAR SHIP, THE BUZZ BEGAN. MOSTLY WAS THE FACT THAT THE QM2 IS THE JEWEL THE CROWN OF CUNARD, THE VENERABLE BRISH PANY WHOSE OCEAN LERS (NOT CISE SHIPS; THERE ARE SIGNIFINT DIFFERENC BOTH STCTURE AND STYLE) ARE LEGENDARY, OF A DIFFERENT AND HIGHER CLASS THE MOST ENGLISH SENSE OF THE WORD. THE QM2 WAS, WHEN WAS LNCHED 2004, THE LARGT LUXURY SHIP THE WORLD— IS LONGER THAN THE EIFFEL TOWER IS TALL AND IS STILL AMONG THE TOP FIVE—AND S WHE-GLOVE SERVICE, S PEARLS-GOWNS-AND-TUXEDOS ETHOS, AND THE FACT THAT THIS WAS NOT “A CISE” BUT “A CROSSG,” STRAIGHT OM NEW YORK TO SOUTHAMPTON U.K. (ON THE PATH OF THE TANIC), PUT A WORLD AWAY OM THE LE-CARIBBEAN DIS OF THE UAL GAY CISE. SO I CID TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}UNR THE CRYSTALLE WARM BLUE SKY OF MAY 29, 2007 WE ALL GATHERED ON THE CKS, LED UP ON RAILGS ABOVE RAILGS, 2,000 HOMOSEXUALS DRKG CHAMPAGNE AND WATCHG THE NEW YORK SKYLE SLOWLY RECE. A LOW LLECTIVE SOUND BEGAN TO SWELL, I TURNED AROUND TO SEE THE TOP OF THE SHIP, 23-STORI TALL (!), ON A LLISN URSE WH THE UNRSI OF THE VERRAZANO-NARROWS BRIDGE. WE ALL STARED, THOANDS OF PEOPLE ALMOST VOLUNTARILY GENERATG A NOISE THAT ROSE OM AWE TO A CHEER, “WHAAAAAOOOH!!” AS WE CLEARED THE SOARG METAL SPAN BY FEET. WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER, ASTONISHED AND THRILLED. THE QM2 MOVED TO THE OCEAN. THEN, WE GOT DOWN TO THE BS OF SIX DAYS OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IF WAS FOR A DIFFERENT GAY CISE OM ANY OTHER, WAS VERY DIFFERENT FOR THE CREW. IN THEIR YEARS WH CUNARD, THIS WAS A FIRST. THEY’D HAD SOME “WHAT TO EXPECT OM THE GAYS” TRAG, BUT YOU ULD TELL THEY WERE A B HANT AT FIRST, QUIET EASTERN EUROPEAN STATEROOM MAIDS AND STRAIGHT-GUY STEWARDS OM TURKEY AND INDIA. AND HERE WERE THOANDS OF QUEENS, LOUIS VUTON LUGGAGE, HELMUT LANG SHO—Y, LOTS OF CHELSEA-BOY GEAR. BY THE SEND DAY I’D ALREADY HEARD THE SHIP’S STORE HAD NEVER SOLD SO MANY NDOMS (GIVEN THE QM2’S UAL NOT-EXACTLY-YOUTHFUL PASSENGER MOGRAPHIC, THIS WAS PERHAPS NOT ENTIRELY ASTOUNDG, BUT THE SALPEOPLE STILL HAD RAISED EYEBROWS).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WE RRIED THE DAILY SCHL AROUND OUR POCKETS AND STILL NEVER MANAGED TO DO EVERYTHG. WE CRAMMED VARLA JEAN MERMAN, THE DRAG QUEEN WHO IS THE LOVE CHILD OF ETHEL MERMAN AND ERNT BNE AND JAZZ SGER ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY. COMEDIENNE SUZANNE WTENHOEFER STARTED OFF THE FIRST EVENG ON THE ROYAL COURT THEATER’S MA STAGE, AND SHE KILLED. “SO THERE AREN’T ANY PORT STOPS ON THIS CISE,” SHE SAID. “USUALLY THE DYK ARE UP AT 6AM. ‘WE’RE GONNA GO BUNGEE JUMPG! THEN WE SCUBA DIVE! THEN WE CLIMB A VOLNO!’” SHE PSED. “THE FAGS GET UP AT NOON.” SHE SQUTED, PAFULLY. “’WHERE ARE WE? CABO? DID WE BRG OUTFS FOR CABO?” WE RAN FOR PLAARIUM SHOWGS, CKTAIL PARTI, AND MOVIE SCREENGS; RSVP PREVIEWED THE JUDH LIGHT/ ROBERT GANT/ CHAD ALLEN MOVIE “SAVE ME,” AN AMAZGLY NUANCED, HONT, AND PASSNATE PICTN OF A FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN WOMAN WHO ATTEMPTS TO REPROGRAM YOUNG GAY MEN. IT PREMIERS OCTOBER AND MAY PROVE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GAY-THEMED MOVI EVER MA. LIGHT AND GANT TOOK QUTNS OM THE DIENCE. WHEN MARGARET CHO PERFORMED, EVERY SEAT WAS FILLED AND PEOPLE SAT ON THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THE REVELATN OF THE TRIP WAS THE DUO AMY AND FREDDY. AMY ARMSTRONG IS A 6’ BIG GIRL OM CHIGO WH SHORT RED HAIR, A JAW-DROPPG PACY FOR MARTIS, A SER SOFT-SERVE ICE CREAM HAB, A MOUTH LIKE THE WHORE OF BABYLON, THE VOICE OF AN ANGEL, AND TALENT TO BURN LIKE ROCKET FUEL. ACPANIED, AS SHE HAS BEEN FOR 12 YEARS BY PIANIST FREDDY ALAN (WHO JT MARRIED HIS BOYIEND), SHE RIPPED OUT OUR HEARTS WH BALLADS LIKE “GRATEFUL” AND MA ROAR WH “PSY” (’S A SG-ALONG). ARMSTRONG IS BLISTERGLY FAST ON HER FEET, A BRILLIANT EDIENNE, AND A NSUMMATE PROFSNAL: HERE IS THE NEXT BETTE MIDLER. SHE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY SGLE BCH THE DIENCE, AND WHEN I RAISED MY HAND SHE MA ME STAND UP AND PUT ME THROUGH MY PAC WH BOTH SARDONIC SPEED (“SO CHANDLER, YOU A TOP OR A BOTTOM?” I’M VERSATILE. “BIG BOTTOM HERE, GUYS!”) AND PURE LOVE (“HONEY, YOU’LL FD SOMEONE—YOU WILL!”). SHE PLAYED OFF THE STRAIGHT HOT YOUNG WAER LIVERG DRKS AROUND HER. “SOREN!” SHE YELLED OVER TO HIM, “HOW DO YOU SAY, ‘I LOVE YOUR BIG CK’ ROMANIAN?” HE LGHED AND REFED TO SAY. THERE WAS A YOUNG CZECH WOMAN BEHD THE BAR WHO MA THE DRKS SOREN SERVED. “YOU SGLE, SYLVIA?” ASKED AMY. “YOU THK SOREN’S HOT?” “I HAVE A HBAND,” SAID SYLVIA. “AND A BOYIEND!” SHOT BACK A HUNGARIAN WAER. WE YELLED AND STOMPED OUR FEET FOR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE WERE A FEW PROBLEMS. AT TEA THE GIANT QUEEN’S ROOM, CUNARD SERVED WHIPPED CREAM STEAD OF CLOTTED CREAM AND SHOCKGLY CHEAP JELLY STEAD OF REAL U JAM, STRANGE MISTAK OM THIS HIGH-BR PANY. BUT THE WORST ERROR WAS RSVP’S CISN TO ENLARGE THE SMOKG AREAS. INSTEAD OF RTRICTG TO A SGLE SMOKG LOUNGE, ALMOST THE ENTIRE SHIP STANK OF CIGARETTE SMOKE, ONE OR TWO SMOKERS FECTED PERFORMANCE SPAC, BARS, AND PARTI WH THEIR TOXIC EXHST, AND WAS A MISTAKE THAT CREATED NSTANT, NASTY LOW-LEVEL WARFARE. COMPLATS FALLY GOT THE NITE ADDICTS BANNED OM AT LEAST A FEW PUBLIC SPAC, BUT THE SMOKG POLICY WAS A DISASTER. PEOPLE WERE SAYG THEY WOULD NEVER AGA BOOK A CISE WHOUT CHECKG ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE RT, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS MAGIL. THE SENCE OF A GAY CISE IS THE PEOPLE. RSVP TABLISHED THE NTEXT AND THE ATMOSPHERE, MA SURE THE SHIP WAS SO GAY SHE ULD BARELY FLOAT, AND UNLEASHED TO THIS FANTASYLAND, AND FOR SIX DAYS WE LEFT REALY. WE WORE SANE HATS TO THE TRADNAL CUNARD HAT PARTY; THE WNERS WERE TWO GUYS WHO WORE 3’-LONG PAPIER MACHé REPLIS OF THE QUEEN MARY 2 ON THEIR HEADS, BUT I LIKED THE HIGH-NCEPT HUGE BLACK BARNEYS HAT BOX WH THE FEATHER HAT EXPLODG OUT OF . AND THEN THERE WAS THE COUNT (HE SWORE HE WAS A COUNT; HE BEME KNOWN AS LTAT), 6’4” WH THE STILETTO GOATEE AND THE HEAD-TO-TOE BLACK LEATHER WHO WORE A HAT WH A CHANLIER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WE RPOND WH FERVOR. FOR THE TROOP TRANSPORT PARTY (“DRS: UNIFORM”), A SHORT BEEFY GUY STARCHED FULL MAR GET-UP WAED FOR DRKS BEHD A BIG BLOND A NAVY SURPL AVIATOR JUMPSU, WHO WAS BEHD A CIRCU QUEEN A SK-TIGHT “GO ARMY!” T-SHIRT AND MOLD MH MOUFLAGE UNRWEAR. (I STOPPED A GUY AN AMAZG UNIFORM, A BLEEDG CROSS ON THE BACK OF HIS BLACK JACKET THAT SPORTED DEATH’S HEAD EPLETS. WAS OM NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS? “I DON’T KNOW,” HE SAID BRIGHTLY, “I GOT AT SAKS!”). AT THE LEATHER PARTY, STRAIGHT CUNARD OFFICERS AND CREW OM RSIA AND THE PHILIPP BOUGHT DRKS AND CHATTED WH QUEENS LEATHER HALTERS AND PIERCED NIPPL. THE GOOD-LOOKG STRAIGHT WAERS (I’M THKG OF ONE TALL CZECH KID WH THICK DARK HAIR AND A SE THAT ULD E TRAFFIC ACCINTS) WHO AT FIRST SEEMED WARY OF THE REQUTS—“CAN WE TAKE A PICTURE WH YOU?”—BY THE END OF THE WEEK WERE POSG LIKE PROS. ON FORMAL EVENGS, EVERYONE PUT ON TUXEDOS AND IMMACULATE DARK SUS, AND WE LOOKED LIKE A MOVIE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE WARMTH WAS PALPABLE. EVERYONE SAID HI TO EVERYONE ELSE. ON DECK 7 AT 3AM ONE MORNG AT THE 24-HOUR BUFFET (WHICH WAS PACKED), I WATCHED A GUY S DOWN ALONE AT A TABLE AND STANTLY THE FOUR NEXT TO HIM LOOKED OVER, SAID, “YOU BY YOURSELF?” HE NODD. “THEN GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE, QUEEN! S WH !” THE MOMENT WAS WORTH THE TRIP. THE FIRST DAY I MET MIKE, A DOCTOR OM LOS ANGEL, AND DEAN, A FANCIAL PLANNER OM BOSTON. WHEN ON DAY TWO I MET DAVID AND LARS OM SSALO AND DAVID OM SAN FRANCIS, THEY ASSUMED BY THE WAY WE TERACTED THAT WE’D KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS. WE ALL BEME A POSSE. AT MEALS THE GEO BRANNIA DG ROOM WE ORRED EVERYTHG ON THE MENU AND PUT THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE. SOME NEW IENDS WE MET SAID, “SO HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU SIX KNOWN EACH OTHER?” NIGHTS, WE ALL DANCED: TWO-STEP, BALLROOM, HOE...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TWO TIM AT 5AM I WENT OUT ON MY BALNY. I LOOKED FORE TO SEE THE PALE PK SUNRISE OVER THE ATLANTIC, THE CLOUDS PEARLY ON TOP AND TANGERE UNRNEATH. THEN AFT TO THE HUGE FULL MOON AND A DIAMOND-LIKE VEN WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE VLET NIGHT SKY, AND THEN WENT TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT DNER THE LAST NIGHT, I ASKED MY ADORABLE, BIG, STRAIGHT ROMANIAN WAER IF HE WOULD WRE DOWN “I LOVE YOUR BIG CK” ROMANIAN. HE LGHED. “YOU NOT TELL I GIVG YOU THIS,” HE SAID TO ME WH A HUGE GR AND SLIPPED ME A RD WH MY SSERT URSE: “IUBC PULA TA MARE.” AT 9:58PM BI THE STAGE I HAND TO AMY (“BCH!” SHE SAID. PEERED AT . “SO HOW DO I FUCKG PRONOUNCE THIS?”) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SHOW, SOREN ME UP ONT TO LIVER HER THE FIFTEENTH MARTI THE QUEENS THE DIENCE WERE SENDG, AND SHE READ TO HIM AT FULL VOLUME, AND HE WENT BRIGHT RED AND WE ALL CLAPPED HIM ON THE BACK AS HE, THE HANDSOME AND POLE STRAIGHT ROMANIAN GENTLEMAN, WALKED TRIUMPHANTLY BACK WH HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AMY SANG I WILL REMEMBER YOU / WILL YOU REMEMBER ME, AND WE ALL SANG ALONG AND STOOD UP AND CHEERED FOREVER AND NO ONE WANTED TO LEAVE THE QUEEN’S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE POSTSCRIPT IS THAT I TOOK THE QM2 BACK HOME. I DIDN’T EVEN GET OFF THE SHIP. I JT WENT TO BED, AND THE NEXT DAY EVERYONE DISEMBARKED SOUTHAMPTON, AND THE SHIP WAS EMPTY AND SOLATE FOR A FEW HOURS, AND THEN STARTED FILLG UP AGA WH THE UAL PASSENGERS. AND WAS PLETELY DIFFERENT. THE MAGIC WAS GONE. THE WEIRD THG WAS, THE CREW FELT AS STRONGLY AS I DID. I PASSED ONE OF THE MASSRS OM THE SPA, A BIG BEEFY BLOND STRAIGHT GUY. “WOW,” HE SAID, “WE MISS YOU GUYS! THAT WAS SUCH GREAT ENERGY, EVEN ME AND FILLED UP THE SPA!” I SAW THE QUIET CROATIAN RTRANT MANAGER. “WE LOVED YOU,” HE SAID, “EVERYONE WAS SO NICE.” A DUTCH STATEROOM MAID TOLD ME THEY WISHED ULD BE GAY ALL THE TIME. I WENT TO LUNCH THE BRANNIA DG ROOM. THE SHIMMER HAD VANISHED. THE STRAIGHT TURKISH HEADWAER STOPPED BY. “WE ALL LOVG ,” HE SAID, FORLORN. “THE LEATHER PARTY WAS AMAZG.” I LOOKED AT HIM. UH, WAS HE STRAIGHT OR GAY? “STRAIGHT,” HE SAID. HE SHGGED. “BUT I GO, I TALKG WH PEOPLE. REALLY FUN PARTY, THE LEATHER PARTY. NOW,” HE SAID, “WE MISSG. WE WILL ALL REMEMBER YOU.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT PRS TIME, THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR RSVP TO HOST ANOTHER QUEEN MARY 2 CROSSG. BUT RSVP HOSTS CISE VATNS ALL OVER THE WORLD (THE MEDERRANEAN, THE CARIBBEAN, ALASKA, THE SOUTH PACIFIC, ETC.) WH SEVERAL MORE PLANNED THIS YEAR. IF YOU’D WANT TO GO ON RSVP'S NEXT CISE, YOU N BOOK ONLE VIA . OR LL RSVP DIRECTLY:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}USA: (7787); INTERNATNAL: +44 (0) 7968 962 {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

There’s also an LGBTQ swim team, other gay sports leagu, and even the cy hosts s own Pri Para and Ftival.