“Last year we had Ben Affleck show up for our breakfast speech,” whispers the elderly lady sitting next to me at 8 AM. “He let all the ladies sit on his lap and get their picture taken.”
She giggled like a schoolgirl, wrapped in loud tropical patterns since the dress theme of the day was “Florida wear.”
I was sitting bleary-eyed at the Sunshine State’s delegates breakfast, which is mandatory to attend in order to receive their daily floor passes for the convention. Turned out that Antonio Villaraigosa, the hottie Latin mayor of L.A., was our surprise speaker instead, which was fine in my book – I think he’s cuter than Affleck anyway! He touted the Democrat party line of change, change, change, and I bought every word of it.
It was my second day at the Democratic Convention in Denver, and I was already overwhelmed with the multitude of parties, events, luncheons, caucuses, and even high teas planned all around the city.
Next I found myself at an early lunch... one thing is for sure – I was going to gain weight this week. It was for the Americans for Democratic Action, held at the Colorado Museum of History. The schedule confidently proclaimed “Liberal Victory Celebration!”
My host for the week, Barney Frank, spoke at the lunch, and the crowd ate him up with a spoon. With quotes like, “A rising tide raises all boats – that’s if you can afford a boat, but if you’re on your tip toes standing in the mud, then the tide just goes up your nose,” I could see he was going to be a crowd pleaser.
Cameras flashed throughout his speech, and afterward, there was a line to get a photo taken with the first openly gay congressman in U.S. history.
Having known Barney for years, I was surprised at how he has become a bonafide celebrity ever since becoming the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
“Been in politics for four decades, and now I’m an overnight sensation,” he explained to me with some confusion.
A few hours later, I find myself gorging once again – this time on finger sandwiches and chocolates – at the Stonewall Democrats tea high above the city in a penthouse space next to the Hyatt.
“I have to be nice to everyone now and wear pantyhose. See what I do for you people?” exclaims Linda Ketner, an open lesbian running for Congress in South Carolina.
Blonde, bubbly, and with a thick drawl, Linda was a big hit. If she can actually pull off a victory in such a Republican region is another story.
Then I found myself eating a beef hot dog inside the Pepsi Center, with delegates, media, and random politicos swirling about me. (I nearly split my Sprite on a beaming George McGovern in the crowded hallways.) For such a democratic get-together, the convention hall was extremely caste-system. Each floor was strictly regimented according to what color pass you had, with color codes even displayed on the walls. I had a pink pass (don’t laugh), which meant the third and worst floor, but even there, you could still feel the energy from the podium.
Ted Kennedy first staggered out on to the stage and looked awfully feeble, but his voice boomed like a bomb through the hall, waking everyone out of their stupor. Michelle Obama’s heart could be felt in each seat as her soft side won everyone in the center over. The videotron proudly panned to gay flags waving in the Puerto Rican delegation area, and I felt that this was indeed my party after all.
Last but not least was a private ballroom soiree in honor of Nancy Pelosi (good ole Barney had slipped me a coveted invite). Inside, Tony Bennett crooned “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” and James Taylor and John Legend also belted out some tunes. I sipped champagne with Tammy Baldwin, the only lesbian member of Congress, and she said, “This is the gayest platform you have ever seen in American history. I was on the drafting committee, so I made sure it was!”
Things are looking up – perhaps we gays have gotten out of Egypt and will soon be entering the promised land. (Matthew Link)
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