Carl’s Journey

A few months ago, Rhea County in Tennessee tried to pass a law allowing the arrest of any homosexual on the ground that it is a crime against nature.  The ridiculous law was not passed, but the conservative Christians that was behind it made front page news all over the world.  Out of concern and anger, Gary Giddings created a web page www.gaydayrheacounty.com declaring that there would be a Gay Day celebration in Rhea County.  Along with Kristie Bacon, an openly lesbian in Rhea County, Gary has created an event that is bigger than I could ever imagine.  Please go to the web site for more information.

We have received phone calls from Ellen Degenerous herself, Dolly Parton’s representatives and many organization and individual voicing their support.  It is predicted that up to 1000 people will come to Dayton, Tennessee to celebrate this event.  Many people from this region have come out of the closet because of this and I hope that the GLBT people from this county will continue in the future.  We have planted a seed, and hope that it will grow.  The city of Dayton has been very nice and cooperative with the event’s needs.  They will provide public toilets and police at the park where the event will take place.

Gary and I are fortunate people.  By our own choices, we have created a life that enables us to take time off to help others without having to worry about losing our jobs while we take time off from our homeland of Houston to fight oppression of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.  The city of Atlanta has asked us for our help in fighting the conservative group that are trying to ban gay marriage in the State of Georgia.  At first, I was scared, scared of being the only one showing up at this event, scared of being harassed or harmed by some ignorant homophobes, scared of having a flat tire in Tennessee, but after receiving emails from people in this county  thanking us, I am no longer scared, in fact,  it made me more vigilant in my quest for justice.

I do not like publicity, so you will probably never read my name in any national news, however, Gary Giddings name has been mentioned in many news on the net.  Ellen Degeneres may have Kristie Bacon on her show and Kristie deserves it.  To be out in this ultra conservative county takes  lots of guts and pride.  I hope that some of Asians and Friends members from all over the world can come to this historic event.

I have been extremely busy the last three months.  My crazy schedule consit of working an average of 6 days a week and then having to take a weekend getaway break every now and then to recover.  My friend Gary Giddings and I took a long getaway at the end of 2003 and did not come back to Houston until the third week of January.  We left on December 26, 2003 for our annual cross country road trip to Las Vegas.  This time, we stopped at El Paso (walked across to Juarez, Mexico in the middle of a sandstorm) and Phoenix on our way to Sin City.

Our hotel in Vegas was The Rio, a Harrah’s Casino property.  The room was actually a suite, that sleeps six people.  This was the reason we chose this hotel.  My mother, aunt, one sister an another friend flew in on the 30^th to join us in our New Year celebration.  Gary and I got up early on the 30^th to pick up our family, to discover that the whole city was under several inches of beautiful snow.  It was a winter wonderland in the desert.   We had a great time celebrating the New Year on the Vegas strip; however, the combination of partying, gambling, all in a smoke infested environment, finally did me in.   I had the FLU.  It took everything I had in me to get up and see big, booming, titanic diva, Celine Dion.  The incredible show made me forget how sick I was.  Celine deserves all the $100 million dollars that she makes.

My family left Vegas on the 2^nd, and I was left bed ridden.  On the 3^rd, Gary and I drove to Los Angeles for our 3 night stay in Little Japan, Los Angeles.  Unfortunately, I have passed the killer flu to Gary and both of us ended up doing nothing but sleep and eat in LA.  Lucky for us, Little Japan has many wonderful Japanese restaurants, and all are reasonably priced.  Gary and I managed to walk 8 blocks up to the new Disney Symphony building.  It was beautiful, but the walk left us deadly tired.

On the 6^th, Gary and I drove my big car back to Vegas and meet up with my brother who was there for the Consumer Electronic Show, one of the largest in the world.  We were still sick but did get better on our fourth day back in Vegas.  My brother took us via limo to various places and to us to our final meal at the Gallagher Steak House located at the New York, New York Casino.  I could not finish my 32 oz “Cowboy Steak”, a giant piece of rib eye that was about 2 inches thick and 10 inches wide that would have satisfied any size queen out there who can’t seem to get enough beef. 

SAN FRANCISCO 2004

We made it back to Houston on January 12, 2004.  Exhausted and broke, we immediately started preparing for our next trip, Mardi Gras and San Francisco with our friends, Phil D. and Chito B.  On February 13, 2004, Gary and I along with Chito traveled to New Orleans to celebrate the first week of Mardi Gras.  We drove back a few days later, and with Phil D flew out to San Francisco on the 16^th.  We were in San Francisco for a whole week, staying at the Hilton Fisherman’s Wharf.  My cousin Ana, a Dr. in San Fran, treated us to some of the best food in San Fran.  All of us took a bus tour of the city and the Muir Woods forest.  It was Phil first time in San Fran and we celebrated his birthday at a nice small Italian restaurant in Little Italy.   Phil and Chito went to a few bars at night, while Gary and I, the boring people that we are, spent our nights eating bon bons and watching cable in our hotel room.   The most exciting event was the gay weddings that were front page news all over the world.  We passed by city halls many time, watching long line of men and women marrying the men and women they love. 

EASTER 2004

My whole entire family, Gary, Chito and I just came back from a wonderful weekend in New Orleans.  The Gay Easter Parade was cute as always and there were plenty of big Easter bonnets on Bourbon Street.  My brother treated all of us to a seafood dinner on Saturday night at Mike Anderson, and Chito treated Gary and I to a brunch at Bacco’s on Sunday.  In between eating and shopping at the French Market, Gary and I found ourselves at our second home, Harrah’s Casino, keeping up with our high roller’s status as our wallets get smaller and smaller.  We missed the whole rain storm that showered Houston with sleet and ice. 

MAY 8^th, 2004

On May 8^th, 2004, Gary and I will be embarking on a journey to stand and fight against homophobia in Tenessee.  PLEASE READ MY GAY DAY IN RHEA COUNTY article.