LGBTQ news and entertainment
I originally posted this in 2015, but it came up today while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with holiday guests who didn’t know I once had the amazing experience of being part of the parade first-hand. So, I thought it was worth a re-post 🙂 Continue reading “Thanksgiving Memory: Carol Channing & Company “Before The Parade Passes By””
Wow, talk about #ThrowBackThursday!
I can’t believe how time goes by. Twenty-three years ago today, I made my Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade debut with the 1995 Broadway revival cast of Hello, Dolly! (including the incomparable Tony Award-winner herself, Carol Channing)!
I remember this like it was yesterday. We all had to get up waaaaaaaay early, get down to the Lunt-Fontanne Theater where we were playing to get into costume, then get on a bus to ride about 10 blocks down Broadway to sit in a trailer before we headed out to do “Before The Parade Passes By.”
And it was so cold! You’d never know to look at Carol, though. And what a thrill to be on the most famous and watched parade with the world.
I then headed to home on the Upper West Side for a most fab dinner with (then boyfriend, now husband) Michael and my bestie, Carlye.
During dinner the phone rang, and it was Vanessa Williams calling from the West Coast to say “Happy Thanksgiving!” – and since she was watching the parade in California – “you look like you’re freezing!” LOL
I still love my Broadway Dolly! family all these years later. What a great memory to find this video today.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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| “No tanks” |
In light of Donald Trump’s proposed “small dick/big ego” military parade, the City Council of Washington D.C. brilliantly trolled the president today tweeting:
“The DC government will open on time today. DC Public Schools will open on time today. Sadly, the Giant Tank Parade is cancelled. Permanently.”
The Washington Post reported yesterday that Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to begin planning a huge military parade in a show of the United States’ military strength.
The White House later confirmed the report.
Veterans groups are suggesting the millions of dollars to stage a parade would be better spent improving the lives of our veterans.
The DC government will open on time today.
DC Public Schools will open on time today.
Sadly, the Giant Tank Parade is cancelled. Permanently. pic.twitter.com/mQmElqs3Tt— Council of DC (@councilofdc) February 7, 2018
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| (image via Flickr and CC license) |
Last summer, Donald Trump was invited by President Emmanuel Macron of France to attend the country’s Bastille Day events which included a grand military parade.
Trump called the event “one of the most beautiful parades I have ever seen” and decided he wanted a military parade of his own.
From The New Civil Rights Campaign:
President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to hold a huge military parade for him, according to The Washington Post. The parade will have no military benefit, and in fact will cost millions of dollars. While not unprecedented, no U.S. president has had one since George W. Bush, but it had a purpose: celebrating the end of the Persian Gulf war, not celebrating the commander-in-chief.
“The marching orders were: I want a parade like the one in France,” a military official tells The Washington Post. “This is being worked at the highest levels of the military.”
The Post notes the cost of Trump’s parade “could run in the millions, and military officials said it was unclear how they would pay for it.” President Bush’s military parade 25 years ago cost $12 million.
The White House says the parade is still in the “brainstorming” phase, but insists Trump “wants to do something that highlights the service and sacrifice of the military and have a unifying moment for the country.”
Apart from the fact that we really don’t NEED to show the world our military strength – we are have the mightiest fighting force in the world – the cost of producing such an event seems ridiculous when there are so many homeless, unemployed veterans. Many folks, including military service members and veterans would much rather see aid to our vets than a parade for a president’s ego.
There were tons of negative responses to the idea of a parade. Here are just a few:
Was down at the SNCO club tonight. I can tell you not one fucking Marine was interested in marching in Trump’s parade unless we’re dragging him behind an Amtrac #MARINESagainstTrump— 1st Sergeant (Top) (@Top_Sergeant) February 7, 2018
This response to Trump’s military parade request from Fmr US Army General Paul Eaton is everything: “The military is not Donald Trump’s to use & abuse this way. Our military is the very best in the world, they are not to be reduced to stagecraft to prop up Donald Trump’s image”— Scott Dworkin (@funder) February 7, 2018
How ‘bout we parade all the homeless vets in America to housing & health care?— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) February 7, 2018
As a vet myself I think it’s shameful that a draft dodging coward wants to summon everyone to parade for…what? At least Bastille Day has a reason.
Also, didn’t we used to make fun of the USSR for these silly parades. He should learn to walk softly and not waive the big stick.— Sean Girvan (@seangirvan) February 7, 2018
I would be embarrassed and angry if I’d been forced to participate while still in the military. As a civilian, I think it’s repugnant.— Dow 50,000 author (@inthesedeserts) February 7, 2018
NAVY Vet. Spend the money on homeless Veterans.— Roland D Briere (@afdcaptrb) February 7, 2018
This is an odd way to honor troops. The audience may love a parade but they’re not the ones giving up a 4-Day weekend and standing around for hours in formation. (Plus all those rehearsal days)— Crispin Burke (@CrispinBurke) February 7, 2018
No clean water in Flint, large populations without power in Puerto Rico, vets without care and shelter, and Trump wants a parade of tanks and missiles on Pennsylvania Avenue.— JKRamon 🎵 (@jkramon1313) February 7, 2018
I’m a vet. No to the parade. The entire world knows we have the biggest military. We don’t need to flaunt it. Further we fought for freedom and tanks rolling down PA Ave doesn’t scream freedom.— Save the Republic (@notTrumpfoPrez) February 7, 2018
Danny Leclair, 45, and Aubrey Loots, 42, a gay Los Angeles couple of 12 years, were married atop a float in Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses Parade today sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and intended to mark the first New Year’s Day that same-sex marriage is legal in California and the role that marriage can play in helping to reduce new HIV infections among gay men, according to an AHF official.
Despite anti-gay protests and threats of “boycotts” of the this year’s Parade, the annual event happened splendidly. As a matter of fact, the AHF float won the award for “Color and Color Harmony.”
During the 30 seconds that the float was onscreen during NBC’s coverage, the two grooms atop the wedding cake smiled, waved and did all those things you do when you are featured in a nationally televised parade. From the look of it, the couple seemed to have a great time.
Parade host Al Roker: “A sincere shout-out to the newlyweds and the happy couples on the float.”
You will note, haters, that the sky has not fallen…
Happy 2014 folks!
(via Towleroad)