The Dead Vampires among the un-dead at Studio 7

The Saga Continues...

The Dead Vampires among the un-dead at Studio 7

By Nevin Jefferson  A&E Writer

The ghosts didn't boo, they cheered as they boogied down to the horror and 'rot 'n roll' tunes performed by The Dead Vampires at Studio 7 on Halloween Night. The raised from the dead audience featured many notable costumes, which added to the frightfully fun evening.

The stage was setup as a graveyard, complete with tombstones, skulls with flashing eye sockets and smoke, mummy's body, torso of a man, and red blood drop lettering that lit up to read "The Dead Vampires". The Dead Vampires are a monster of an act who celebrates Halloween everyday of the year -- dressed in complete costume for their performances. They perform a spooky collection of macabre music that's upbeat and highly energized.

On Halloween night, The Dead Vampires were decomposed of: Frankenstein on guitar, Mad Scientist Chainsaw on the remin, Spankula The Count on drums, Hellvis Docula belting out the vocals, Blonde Ghoul on keyboard, and Art/Photos/Videos by Jewelie Ghoulie.

Their hyper-performance was laced with zest, zeal, and was a musical memorial for the grateful un-dead jamming together in the audience. A mystery lady took to the floor with two bright blue balls that she spun in sync with the music. Screaming Jay Hawkins, dressed in a loud bright orange stripped cape, gray suit, purple shirt, and black and purple Stacy Adams took to the stage and danced to Blood Poisoning while putting a spell on the audience.

Before departing back to the other side, Screaming Jay presented Hellvis with a voodoo doll. This frightful band is an empowering force of superb talent that's makes you move more than the music on 92.5 FM and is soul stirring. They're entertaining to the max while lifting you into high spirits with a wonderful feeling afterwards. This is one band that you don't want to miss!

This act, first performed at the Funhouse on January 8, 2004, and have been dying strong ever since. Check them out at www.DeadVampires.com.

November 17,2006

Part I:The LOST Pride Saga!

The Saga Continues...
Part I:The LOST Pride Saga!

By Nevin Jefferson

The only thing that can keep me away from the Pride Parade is illness or death. When I was in failing health, I went 4 years without a Pride refill. Prior to this, I had participated in the past 5 parades with pride. This year, the Saturday before Pride week (June 22, 2002) I had the misfortune of meeting some thrill seeking sadistic motorist cutting me off, slamming on the brakes, then, flipping me off. I had the hand of God shielding me while bouncing off cement barriers on the left side of 405 South. Bouncing off a pickup truck, and coming to a halt by hitting the cement barrier on the right of the highway. I was banged, bruised, and swollen while getting gassed by the air bag that had hit me in the chest and knee. All and all, it was a reality roller coaster ride combined with the feeling of being inside of a pinball machine.

Yours truly had said his prayers and prepared to meet his maker. However, a small voice inside me said: "You didn't die from AIDS and you're not dying in a car accident. You have next week's Saga to do and four A.D.P.A.'s to do for Gaypride.com. Your novel isn't done! And you have too many people depending on you." I replied: "Father I thank you!"

I didn't look good mingled with broken glass and car parts, so I refused to exit the earth this way. It's been done before and I plan to go out in flames with a big explosion following it. The body took a beating but the tiara stayed in place - along with my hair. I was spared to make my comeback appearance in this year's Pride festivities and I welcomed it with open arms. I took a front row seat with my popcorn and waited patiently to be entertained by life's comedy of errors. With my lumbar area out of commission and voicing its pain, I was banged, bruised, swollen, and car-less. I needed a chariot for the 'Fairy Ball.'

Act One, Scene Whatever: A brave person answered my personal ad and was dying to meet me. I'm a lot of person to deal with and I overwhelm men and scare them away. So, I put a suitor to the test by arranging a date that's day filled into evening so I can let him embrace me full-scale blast. If he can spend a day with me and not run off screaming, the man passed the test. At the same time, I want to meet someone who shares my interests and partakes in the things that I do. He agreed to do exactly this and couldn't wait to meet me. I prayed for him because, when dealing with me, a person needs all of the help that they can get and then some.

Of course, my date got lost and I got a call from work about a problem that only I know how to resolve. If it wasn't my sexy, happening, female friend on the other end of the line I would have played dumb. We were late to the parade and missed the cars carrying the Seattle Gay News staff and friends. Always being someone with a backup plan, I asked for the Lifelong Aids Alliance lineup. They were long gone too! I saw Mark Finley and asked the dear Queen if I could ride with her? It was Ma Finley to the rescue and I thank her for getting me in with KJR FM and the Disco Experience. The plan was to dance down the street, pass out parade goodies, and have a good time. My back was out and I was holding up due in large part to the pain medication and muscle relaxer I had been prescribed. Walking wasn't something that I should be doing, especially in a parade. Which is why I wanted to ride in the car with dear old Ma.

My shy, quiet, introverted date made the remark that somebody should teach Mark Finley how to put on lipstick. She needs to use her good eye while doing this beauty task, he said. And this is from the man who found me too extroverted for our personalities to match. He also doesn't dance! I told him to just stand there while I made the two of us look good. It was at this point when my date became sick to his stomach! Heidi was in charge of this entry, which consisted of a truck playing Disco music. She gave me thumbs up later during the parade as I bogeyed down!

Before things got started, I was greeted by members of the religious-wrong talking out of their asses. It was at this time that my date asked a member the Parade Patrol if it would be okay if he flipped them off? The nice Parade Patrol person advised my date not to confront them. Seattle's finest was also on the case and asked us not to provoke anything. He looked at me and pleaded with me not to do anything. My reputation still precedes me!

Always the class act, I faced the bozos. Then, I showed them the front of my T-shirt. Which read; "T.G.I.F" with a crown of thorns resting on the letters and words "THANK GOD I'M FORGIVEN!" written underneath it. John 1:10 brought the message alive while bringing out its true meaning. The brainwashed twits repeated hatred before someone else told them shut up. The crowd applauded and I made my way into the parade.

Later, on the news, it was reported that the newest threat to Gays was the Christian movement. I made the news - T-shirt and all - with my church family calling me to tell me that they saw my date and me on the news. Later on, my date freaked when he found out about this and politely dumped me. Oh well, at least he fed me!

Part I:Summer of Pride Divide!

The Saga Continues...

Part I: Summer of Pride Divide!

by Nevin Jefferson

Thank God, that I'm blessed and not stressed! Had I been the other, I'd be a basket case after the themed summer of cease and desist razor edged fruit & fiber feud that slashed the 2006 Gay Pride Parade into 2. 2-2-2 Parades not ONE!

The idea is for all of our diversities, personas, and other elements to blend into one; the total being of who and what we are. This great sensational feeling is one that should be continued throughout the year. It's the time for businesses, organizations, bars, and people who do great work in the community to be recognized and honored for the hard work that they do.

Once upon a time, the shakers and makers of the gay community were asked to be keynote speakers. I asked to be a keynote speaker, then, introduce the punk rock group "The Dead Vampires" to the stage. Their finale would have been playing a song "Black Cock" with my dancing around the stage. "What?" I was told NO! The parties that be had no idea or clue about who I was and the things that I do in the community. One would think that the Pride committee should have a steady pulse on the community and know who's who. And people wonder why Blacks don't participate or are visible in the gay community.

The hell and havoc started last year in 2005 when the folks at the Seattle Gay Pride announced that the Gay Pride Parade would be held Downtown the following year, complete with the Pride Rally at the Seattle Center. The Gay Pride Parade originally started on Occidental then sashayed and marched down 4th street in Pride years past. I've been advocating for the longest that the Gay Pride Parade be held on a main street instead of our own neighborhood. If you're going to take it into the streets why not the major ones?

The Dykes and Business owners on Capitol Hill wanted the Gay Pride Parade kept on the hill. Business hasn't been good since Mr. and Mrs. Straight -- complete with unruly juvenile children -- have taken over Capitol Hill with it going to hell in a hand basket. Mr. And Mrs. Straight can't afford to shop like we can. This is why the business owners wanted the Gay Pride Parade to stay on Capitol Hill. This way, they could make a killing in profits from the festivities. As the occasion neared, a media battle took place on the pages of the Seattle Gay News.

Adverbs, adjectives, nouns, verbs, pronouns, punctuations, and exclamation points fired off onto the pages. It really got ugly when the Capitol Hill Parade folks demanded that two of the biggest sponsors sponsor their parade. Microsoft shut down their systems and Miller stopped serving after both felt bullied, pressured, and caught in the middle of a fruit and fiber feud. Loyalties were lost, feelings were hurt, and Lesbians decided to call themselves "QUEER!" Oh dear! As the dust cleared Queer Fest was born. Their agenda included festivities complete with Jody Watson and a Dyke march.

On a June day before Gay Pride Week, the gay community found its dirty laundry hanging out to dry on the front page of the corporate mainstream rag that's afraid to publish my Saga's. They quote and print every lame brain, hateful, and ignorant brain farts from the homophobic anal retentive morons that disgrace the pages of the press. Why not a positive rebuttal or informative, provocative, and thought provoking Saga? The article instigated, twisted, and pulled out of proportion the fact that at a time for celebration, joy, pride, and unity that the Gay community was at war with one another. For the first time in Gay Pride History gays and lesbians had to choose what Gay Pride Parade they would attend. The article also hinted that by having events on the same weekend was a power play by both sides. The logical thing to do was to have the events on different weekends.

The majority of us gay guys thought that this was a Dyke affair now known as Queer Fest. The majority of guys and studs felt like they wouldn't feel welcome at the other Parade because they weren't Queer Dykes! Dykes as Queers? Oh, no you don't boyfriend! Keep your lipstick off of our Queer. If this wasn't enough, I was hit by the comments:

"How can you write about the gay community when there is no gay community?"

"There is no Gay Pride!"

"The Parade is a big embarrassment to those who are your normal everyday looking folks. The images shown on the news and in the papers are stereotype images that bring the community down."

I was in a Bath House at the time, one that didn't have any bathtubs which I found odd since it was supposed to be a Bath House. A place where men get it on, get it off; then, flee the scene in a guilt ridden rage wrapped in shame. The closeted, married, and deep in denial men bolt out of the door before checking out of the club. This is the part where the job duty of key retrieval is enforced -- long sprints and all. I ran track in high school. I was 8th in the Statewide Cross-Country Competition. Why didn't I finish in the top spots you ask? Because I stopped to smoke a cigarette. Okay?

Abnormally, I tell the them that if they are that ashamed of what they do, they don't have any business doing it. Then, I'd place my hands on them and say a prayer for forgiveness of themselves and those whom they had hurt and those who had hurt them. A prayer for peace, comfort, acceptance, and rest in the truth of their being. I pray for the day when they call Jesus to enter their hearts, life, world, and affairs with God a part of their lives. From this point on, the way that they handle the many of aggravating challenges in their life is how they become into the person who they are from within to without. Since it was Gay Pride Week, I let it go with a tsk-tsk-tsk after taking the key away from them.

I watched the Queer Fest Parade and was shocked when I saw Dykes on Bikes in shirts, tank tops, and midriffs. Gone from the Parade and crowd were the bare chested, screaming, flaming, effeminate queens who make the Queens on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy look straight. My up close and personal lesbian media star chided me about watching "The L Word". Why? Because no lesbians look like the ones on the television show complete with its own fashion line. I saw them at this Queer Feast! For a very quick moment I thought that I was hallucinating from the toxic meds that I take.

Getting back to the point, I not only saw, but I wished greetings and Queer Fest salutations to Pearl Petites (slang given to my mother Pearl Jefferson who was pretty, petite, fun, cute, and didn't like to be f*cked with!), great 8's (dress size not dick size), shapely tens, and buffed, pumped, and stout manly Queers who know how to make a pussy purr. I asked one in particular, in a guy to guy talk, that opens the door to bragging. What? Not only does she make it purr, she makes it M-E-O-W her name. You go Stud! I didn't participate in the Dyke march because I didn't have a flannel shirt to wear.

We Are One!

The Saga Continues…

We are One!

By Nevin Jefferson

 



People love to bounce topics and strong subject manners to me to be heard while forming a consensus about their life issues. The latest bummer in the Gay community according to the ones who spoke their peace and never to be quiet again in life. Is that there’s no love, compassion, good will, support, or a sense of family in the Gay community. The Gay community is quick to zap your self-worth and self-esteem leaving you with a sense of nothing.Idt's ironic that with extreme prejudice,discrimination,and in-fighting,and bigotry in the gay community. They ban together for Gay Rights!Huh? Key word here gang,"UNITITY" The million dollar question among the gay rank is that “Why can’t Gays and Lesbians be more loving towards one another?” You can love a person without sleeping with them. The runner up question is “Why can’t Gays and Lesbians make a change in themselves for the better?” There’s a strong notion that some Gays and Lesbians see the people they meet as a new screw, conquest, boyfriend/girlfriend material or husband/wife package. There’s a strong need for something young and cute to keep things generating in a pretentious world. The next bummer issue was that people aren’t friendly and that its hard to meet people in the Gay community. So there you have it! Okay, we have the problem. What do we do for a solution? For starters, it all begins within each and every one of us to turn things around for the better. Meet people as the individual that they are not who you want them to be according to your mindset. For those who need it or don’t need it, get into therapy, which will help you develop a keen sense of self. You learn to deal with the dark truth about yourself and changing for the good of yourself and your fellowman. All it takes is one to keep the good flowing while making the world a better place in their own right. Like attracts like. Let’s start attracting the good that’s due to us. Don’t let bitter, discontent, Emotional Vampires bring you down. Transform the negative feelings and emotions to a positive that builds you up stronger inside. Nobody and no one is going to ruin the good times and emotions that you’re expressing. It’s all in the essence of things while hoping for the best and getting the best. A friend of mine told me that negative people and Emotional Vampires need to TTATC (Take Their Ass To Church) and turn their life around. If the politics of Organized Religion are too much for your nerves open your heart to Jesus and his love will see you through. This Gay Pride week and everyday afterwards should be reaching out to others and helping those in need. Being a friend to one who needs companion and a guiding light. It’s not about being self-center, self-absorbed, or uncaring towards other. It’s all about sharing the love of God and be one with your fellowman. You can be a spiritual being without being a Religious frantic about it. You get in tune with yourself while becoming the person God meant for you to be. It’s all for the good of God and for the common good among your fellow Queens, Kings, and Nobleperson. Spiritually brings you into a new light that defines and renews your soul with a close, personal, relationship with God giving you a spiritual awakening. You realize that you’re here on God’s green earth for a reason and a purpose with every intention of seeing God’s will through. Each and every day is a gift from God that’s treasured and cherished. It’s no longer about you! You become more loving, caring, giving, forgiving, joyous, helpful towards others, prosperous, healing, cleansing, and find inner peace, inner strength, and happiness. You know that you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing and doing it exactly at that time. Everything is for the good of God and all things started by God’s hand for the cause of good will be completed for that good. You give thanks and praise to God while testifying to others along the paths of your spiritual journey that God is real with the good that he has done for you. You learn that you’re a child of God, created in his image and likeness while seeing the face of God in friends, acquaintances, and your enemies. You learn to seek the wisdom and guidance of Divine Intelligence through prayer. The light shines before you in everything that you do. Divine Intelligence will reveal all that you need to know, what you need to do and how to go about doing it. You step out on faith, knowing they you are following the divine plan for your life. You have the God-given potential to achieve success, whether taking a test, seeking a career change or looking for employment. In this springtime of your soul, you are refreshed. Your hope is made new. If you find yourself feeling anxious or stressful while you seek this change in status, you keep your mind focused on God and find him a stress reliever. This allows you to concentrate on using your skills and abilities. You have strong faith in God that you can develop the potential He has invested in you. You expect to achieve success and you do. The scripture reading; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me” will have new meaning and gets stronger with each saying. Praying and mediating each day and throughout each day puts you in contact with God while seeing him in your presence. Good or bad, God is always there. It’s up to you to believe this and live out your life doing God’s work and carrying out his plan. You see the splendor of God’s artsy in everything you look at with road trips, hiking, communing with nature becoming a masterpiece to the eyes. You know that you’re loved and that you’re special which makes life much more for the living. If you can’t say Amen to this, say ouch! My ancestors were raped and ravaged by drunken Vikings, The lust of the Irish, Mad Englishmen, Invaded by Germans, Italian Bandits, Thrill seeking Frenchmen, and every tribe of the Native American Indians. This was on my Father's side! My Mother's side came straight off of the boat from Africa. They were sold into slavery and were raped by the Bible belt Southern crowd. The battle between light and dark skinned Blacks still continues with a vengeance. Upon learning this, I chopped down my Family Tree and burned it. I'm Black with a twist. History does repeat itself; You and I are living proof of this. If anyone should have a feeling of the Black experience, it's the gay community. True, you can hide the fact of being gay, but you can't hide the color of your skin. With the exception of Michael and LaToya Jackson who need to leave that bleaching cream alone! Now we have the non straight acting versus the flamboyant, Leather versus non leather, Out versus the In, The Blacks who feel left out of the gay community and want to become a part of it versus those who rather leave well enough alone keeping to themselves. And then we have those who want to be a part of society and those who don’t. We also have those who feel like they don’t have anything in common with the gay community as a whole. We also have those who feel that being sexual and being gay are two different things. The thing needed here to bridge this gap is unity. This and respecting each other’s personal choices and preferences. We are one, we are family! Like it or not. We entered the 21st century going from civil rights to gay rights. Being Black doesn't make me any less of a human being, nor does being gay. I've got two for the price of one. It's the same for a woman who's Black and gay or a woman who's gay and is facing the same double whammy. We go forth proving to the world that we're no different, only better. Being whom and what we are shouldn't take away from what we can or will be. We should strive to be respected individuals who are very diverse in culture with our own offering to the world. True, the days of going through back doors are out. Coming out of closets are in. Fighting for recognition as a person and holding your head up proudly, not being ashamed of yourself. Should be at the top of our agenda and a common goal to achieve. It’s fighting the stereotypes placed on us by society. From "How do you act around or treat a Black person? To "How do you act around or treat a gay person?" From pimps and welfare mothers to hairdressers and interior decorators. From not going to the back of the bus to not going to the back room of bars. From strong positive Black figures to strong positive gay figures. From "I don't want my child to date or marry a Black" to "I don't want my child to be gay or be friends with them." From being called a "nigger" to being called a “fag". Facing bigotry every day and the constant battle not to strangle someone for cruel and demeaning remarks is getting harder each day. From token Black to token gay. From "my best friend is Black to "my best friend is gay". Then there are gays not being in the military with the same excuses used against Blacks. It’s okay to die for a country where you don’t have the freedom or rights that’s being fought for. The idea of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule being dropped during the war with the possibility of charges being bought up against you afterwards is just as lame as the idiots who enforced this rule. It’s the same crap in a different era with the gay heroes on September 11th being overlooked. This should prove that gays are a big part of this country and carry the same pride and respect for their nation. Now America has gone to hanging American flags from hanging Blacks. The gay bashing and hatred towards us continues just as strongly with an American flag in the background. Now, where’s the patriotism in that one? We still have the Southern Baptist Bible belt crowd still breathing down our necks with hatred laced with Bible quotes. The problem isn't what's in the Bible, it's the interpretation perceived by these brain dead idiots. To go on television and blame gays, pro-lifers, and people not lost in the dark like they are for World tragedies shows the lack of intelligence that left a vortex inside their head. In the midst of a crisis instead of giving compassion, they're giving malice laced with ignorance, bigotry, and hatred all in the name of God. Where's the Christian love in this one gang? And why the media break their neck to broadcast this bogus crap baffles me to no end. Anything anti-gay is newsworthy and is treated as the standard norm. Most people believe what they see on television and read in the newspapers. The fact that these Hate Worshippers have their own television station is frightening. Over a million minds corrupted daily with the count climbing higher than McDonald’s hamburger sales. Like the Blacks, we have to start fighting back, but first we have to stop fighting among ourselves. Division belongs in math! It’s time to start crashing affairs and funerals just like they’re doing to us. It’s time to put an end to this nonsense once and for all, true it won’t happen overnight. If we start standing up to these bozos they will back down and find a weaker target. If someone gets in your face with their screwed up beliefs get them out of it with the truth that you believe in yourselves. Give them a fight; challenge them at their own game using every wit in your being to win. It’s time for the media to start taking us seriously and not heed the warnings of counteractions that we have in store. We all know that it’s going to be real cute, well done, and entertaining at the same time. Things take time, energy, and creative involvement with everyone adding their ingredients to the mix to complete the recipe. Large syndications have bought out a majority of gay publications dictating to the editors what to write. Like what? Negativity in the worst degree, like bare backing, stopping the use of condoms that is irresponsibility being handed out on a silver platter for some. A half page column on a gay actor who’s out can’t get work followed by a three to four photo spread on a straight actor excited about taking on a gay role. Not to mention writers who majored in contempt and malice with a minor in self-hatred. They’re wolves in sheep’s clothing deceiving us with meaningless words to keep us down. They’re writing against our cause instead of for our cause, which knocks us back to square one. Where’s the provocative, ground breaking, thought propounding journalism and positive exposure that the gay community needs as a whole? It’s getting the door slammed in our faces. The time is more than now to kick it open, storm in and take our places while refusing to be moved. Just like Rosa Parks did to do her part in the Black History among others who refused to back down. Dr. King’s Dream included us too, if you don’t believe me, ask Mrs. King and her children who expressed the rights for gays freely. Of course, they had a family member oppose them, but where is she now? Among the other homophobic idiots who try to take us on and lose.


© Nevin Jefferson, All Rights Reserved