Last night, I went to go see Lucy Lawless at the Gay Pride festival in Los Angeles. Before Lucy came on, I also caught Ce Ce Peniston and Deborah Harry performing onstage.
The night made me think back to the first time I attended the Gay Pride festival in L.A., more than 20 years ago. (Did I just write that?) It was a very different time then, and the gay scene was much more underground. There were no celebrities onstage back then, that's for sure. In fact, if I remember correctly, the highlight of the performance schedule on Saturday night was a drag group called "The Mandrew Sisters," who sang covers of golden oldies by the Andrew Sisters.
So it was really exciting for me to see acts like Peniston, Deborah Harry and Lucy Lawless performing at Gay Pride. I wrote last year about how excited I was by Lucy's appearance at the Gay Pride Run. I wasn't expecting her to come back this year to sing, but I was certainly happy she did. Especially as I didn't see much else in the way of lesbian-centric entertainment this year.
Lucy was wearing a costume that included a long, luxurious golden blond wig. I actually think the audience was a bit unsure it was Lucy at first. But since I've seen Lucy in different wigs and costumes at the various Xena conventions it didn't throw me off one bit. In her costume and wig, I felt I could see a certain physical resemblance between Lucy and The Ultimate Sex Goddess of All Time, Ann-Margaret. Lucy sang a single disco song--I wish it had been a longer set, but it was still great to see her.
I was sort of hoping that someone from the L Word might make an appearance at Gay Pride but that wasn't the case. However, it makes me appreciate Lucy's willingness to perform for a lesbian crowd all the more. It's still an act of bravery for a celebrity to appear at Gay Pride, and I'm grateful to Lucy for having the guts to do it.
Comments (19)
This is great! Thanks for the pic and the report. Lucy looked gorgeous.
Posted by MaryD | June 12, 2005 5:01 PM
Posted on June 12, 2005 17:01
Ahhhhhhhh, Lucy.... It is such a special treat to see themostbeautifulgirlinthewholewideworld. I wish she had done more of a gender bender impersonation for the lesbians in the audience - like a drag king - rather than a high maintenence femme - you know, a drag queen - which is more of a gay male thing. I would like to have seen her more "warrioresque". I mean she was introduced as a "treat for the lesbians in the audience" and she is a dykon. Drag queens appeal to gay men - not dykes. Anyway, it was still such a high to see her.
Posted by The Cute Little Red-headed Girlfriend | June 12, 2005 6:03 PM
Posted on June 12, 2005 18:03
Oh, who cares about Lucy; what about Deborah? :)
What a strange outfit. Oh, I know why the blonde wig: the theme was Blonde Pride (because so many of the performers were known for their blonde hair).
seems like you had fun despite the limited lesbian-centric stuff. Did you get to hang out with Lucy afterwards?
One song, eh? I guess, then, it really was only going to be a 10 minute performance.
Posted by Joe G. | June 12, 2005 6:19 PM
Posted on June 12, 2005 18:19
One thing that bothers me a bit is the assumtion that everyone loving Lucy Lawless must be a Lesbian. NOT! I love Lucy (as was printed on my t-shirt especially for the festival). I also love XWP, and I will make every effort to attend any event (gay or otherwise) in order to see my favorite actress of all time. Her performance at the LA Pride Festival was further evidence that SHE HAS MANY SKILLS.
Posted by Janis | June 12, 2005 7:22 PM
Posted on June 12, 2005 19:22
Hi Mary D.,
Thank you so very much for the picture & the story of Lucy @ The Gay Pride Festival.
I noticed Lucy right off also as soon as I saw the picture you posted.
I love your site a lot.
Thanks,I Have Many Skills,
Linda
Posted by Linda Lawrence | June 12, 2005 7:28 PM
Posted on June 12, 2005 19:28
Hi Joe, I know you want to hear about Blondie. I'll get to it. I think there was a blond theme since the lead singer of the next act after Lucy also was wearing a blond wig.
Posted by Teresa Ortega | June 12, 2005 9:51 PM
Posted on June 12, 2005 21:51
Hi Janis,
I think I may have seen you because I definitely saw a shirt with what you describe on it. Just so I understand you, are you saying I made that assumption? Because I don't remember doing that. If not me, then who? I know that many straight people came to the gay event last year to see Lucy and I thought that was great.
Posted by Teresa Ortega | June 12, 2005 9:54 PM
Posted on June 12, 2005 21:54
Hi Linda,
Glad you dropped by. I think you may be confused--this is not Mary D.'s site, but you can say hello to her here anyway!
Posted by Teresa Ortega | June 12, 2005 9:55 PM
Posted on June 12, 2005 21:55
Hi Mary D. Thanks for linking to me! Hi all you Mary D. readers!
Posted by Teresa Ortega | June 12, 2005 9:57 PM
Posted on June 12, 2005 21:57
Hey Janis
Where was the assumption made that everyone who loves Lucy has to be a Lesbian? Perhaps "you" are assuming that everyone who loves Lucy seems to be a lesbian. And that's understandable because it does seem that way since she has a very large lesbian following - but obviously, we all know, that isn't it so. But since it bothers you that everyone who loves Lucy seems to be a lesbian, perhaps you should stay away from venues that attract lesbians. And that would mean staying away from any event where Lucy appears because that's where the lesbians will be.
Posted by The Cute Little Red-headed Girlfriend | June 12, 2005 10:22 PM
Posted on June 12, 2005 22:22
Well Well, I must admit I wish I could have been there...LL looked great.
Posted by Jess | June 13, 2005 1:27 AM
Posted on June 13, 2005 01:27
Do anyone know when she might come to NYC for pride? Now that Xena nights are over, we need our LL/ROC fix...
Posted by Jess | June 13, 2005 1:32 AM
Posted on June 13, 2005 01:32
Dear Cute Litte Red-headed Girlfriend,
I like your idea of Lucy doing a sort of drag-king sort of thing. Maybe she was doing a little "femme" thing just for the fun of it. This was her "crossing over".
By the way, love your link to your name. In that spirit, I've changed the URL, just for this post, to my name.
Posted by Joe G. | June 13, 2005 7:50 AM
Posted on June 13, 2005 07:50
thanks for posting the pics and commentary. as a dyke... lucy as a femme is as huge a turn on as lucy as warrior princess... she slays me every time. i'm just glad she is loyal to her huge dyke following and is she ever and always a treat! now if only the little side kick would come out and give us some lovin...
Posted by sali | June 13, 2005 1:48 PM
Posted on June 13, 2005 13:48
This article and picture is amazing. Thank you for sharing with us. Lucy makes me act like a teenager all over again. I couldn't imagine meeting her in person. I LOVE YOU LUCY!!!!! Proud Lesbian here. Much love to all. XOXOXO
Posted by Angel | June 13, 2005 7:53 PM
Posted on June 13, 2005 19:53
Thanks for the report and pic, Teresa. I thought Lucy was fabulous, especially considering that the sound system did it's best to sabotage her performance. I'm extremely fond of Ann-Margaret, too. Just saw her in The Cinninati Kid--yowza--she is some woman! I have a pic of Lucy on Saturday that really reminds me of A-M that I'll send to you if you tell me how, so you can post it here if you'd like. I love Lucy any way I can get her, but I too would have loved to see her in drag cavorting with some female dancers while singing a love song. That would truly have been a treat for all the lesbians in the crowd. Maybe next year!
Posted by Anne | June 13, 2005 8:10 PM
Posted on June 13, 2005 20:10
Ah the Golden Goddess! She is looking well, isn't she? Thanks for the great image!Love ya L! Xx
Posted by Priestess Charis | June 15, 2005 12:19 PM
Posted on June 15, 2005 12:19
Lucy needs a gig. A permanent gig where we can see her continuously like when she did Xena. Gods, I miss Xena.
Posted by The Cute Little Red-headed Girlfriend | June 15, 2005 6:05 PM
Posted on June 15, 2005 18:05
I agree with The Cute Little Red-headed Girlfriend in that I would have loved it more if Lucy had done male drag instead of the super high maintenance femme drag. More for the gay men than the lesbians. I thought Lucy's singing was HotHotHot and so was her performance, loved that song, but her appearance wasn't. Don't know if that makes sense. Maybe next time she'll get even more brave -:) L.
Posted by L | June 15, 2005 11:01 PM
Posted on June 15, 2005 23:01