Carl’s Journey

A Busy Year

It has been quite a year for Gary and me.  We crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the first time when we traveled to Paris with friends and met with my uncle whom I have not seen since 1975. 

We spent a wonderful Labor Day weekend with friends in New Orleans celebrating Southern Decadence.  We ate, gambled, walked, shopped and bar hopped for four days.  I have created a video on Youtube of the Southern Decadence Parade.  Please visit this link to view the video.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Uuy8zRo6g

A Michael Jackson Halloween

Gary, Lewis G, Karla, and I celebrated Halloween in New Orleans.  We attended the  Halloween Magic New Orleans, a fundraiser for the Lazarus House, a home for Louisiana men and women living with HIV/AIDS..  The spectacular midnight show was a tribute to Michael Jackson’s Thriller,  an entire stage of professional dancers performing to the  beat and music of Michael Jackson.  It was magical.

The Vegas Vacations

We  did two road trips to Las Vegas, one in August and one at the end of the year, and in between these two road trips, we also flew to Vegas with my mother and two friends.

Hopeful Future

On October 11, 2009, Gary and I, along with what grew to be over 200,000 people, marched to the Capitol to show our discontent with the government’s mistreatment of the LGBT community.  The most important thing I got out of this march was hope.  The ones who gave me that hope were the young marchers.  They were loud and passionate.  They were also diverse, of all races and ethnic backgrounds.  Plenty of straights also marched along with us that wonderful day.

Here are the links to my two videos of the march.  It features my two favorite songs of 2009.  ” The Same Parents” is by Enigma (Michael Cretu) featuring the beautiful vocals of Andru Donalds, Sebestien and Nikita Cretu (twin sons of Sandra Lauer and Michael Cretu). The song to the second video is ” Just Like Breathing” by Sandra Lauer, my muse.

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLPCjsvEG_E&feature=channel

Slide Show   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsiHjEzhVAc

Days At The Museums

Gary and I arrived in Washington, DC on Thursday morning, and for the next three days prior to the march, we played tourists.  We went to the Holocaust Museum, The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and The Smithsonian Museum of American History.  We also went to the Ford Theatre where Lincoln was shot and also to the Spy Museum.  My eyes were wet the moment I walked into the Holocaust Museum, and I was actually relieved when I walked out of the door.  The sadness is almost unbearable,  but the experience is a requirement. 

All the museums mentioned except the Spy Museum were free.  For all you history buffs, this city is a bargain.

The March

Gary and I got up on Sunday and put on our National Equality March t-shirts which Gary made.  We walked a short two blocks from our hotel, The Rennaisance Mayflower, and lined up on 15th Street at 11 AM.   As we walked to our desired spot, two young African/American men came to us and offered us some signs to carry which we gladly accepted.  I noticed that the group that we were to march with was diverse in age, ethnicity, and sexuality.  Plenty of gay and lesbian parents pushed strollers along with many straights who came out with their children to march with the LGBT community.By noon about 200,000 people with signs, rainbow flags, walking shoes, and big mouths walked as one long unit.  It took Gary and me about an hour to march since we videoed the event and had to go back and forth to get footages.  By the time we arrived at the capital, our legs gave in and we got some water and sat on a bench across from the Capitol.  We listened to the speakers and watched the crowd from our bench.  We walked back to our hotel among a sea of LGBT members around 4:00 PM.  It was great seeing the capital city full of marchers.

A Job 

This was my first time to visit DC, and the five days were not enough.  My trip there was not, however, mainly about sight-seeing or tour-taking.  It was about being a part of a singularly important event that matters to me.  Despite staying near Dupont Circle, I never made it to a single gay bar.  It was too tiring for Gary and me after walking to the museums and the various historical  memorials at the capital to do anything else.

A Brunch In November

November and December went by so fast that I felt as if I were riding a speed train.  I had the fourth annual Brunch in November, and it was a success.  The event has become too crowded to be held at the home of my good and generous friends Carl Mc. and Khoi N.  We held it at the community room of the Montrose Counseling Center in Houston, Texas.  We raised a total of $1080 for HATCH (Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals) to be used for their annual Alternative Prom.  The theme was Mardi Gras, and the guests dined on traditional Louisiana dishes from gumbo, red beans, and rice to shrimp ettouffee.  I want to thank all my friends and guests for helping and attending this event.  My next big fundraiser event will be held in May, and it will be the Fifth Annual “Carl Han’s Love Party”.  Invitation will be out in April.

A Bling Christmas

Gary and I wore our sequined jackets to various Chrismas functions and to Vegas for New Year’s eve.  I have to say that we could be spotted by astronauts and aliens in outer space.  We wore our jackets to the Las Vegas Price Is Right show and within ten seconds, the host, David Ruprecht, made us stand up in front of the packed theatre and had us turn around for the audience to see.  He said that we were in the spirit of the holidays.

Below are more pictures taken in 2009. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Carl Han