Slog

News & Arts

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Homo Who Owns Bingo + Drag Queens In This Town?

Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 12:48 PM

Washington state gay rights group Equal Rights Washington is hosting "Drag Bingo," a fundraiser at Cafe Metropolitan this Sunday night. Frank Percival, a board member at of Lifelong AIDS Alliance (and past board president), which hosts a monthly and long-running "Gay Bingo" fundraiser, isn't pleased. And he's expressing his displeasure on ERW's Facebook page:

I think it incredibly disappointing and in exceptional poor taste that ERW is bastardizing the original, longest running "Gay Bingo" in Seattle with this event. "Gay Bingo" is an important long running fundraiser for the thousands of our friends, family & neighbors in Western Washington living with HIV & AIDS. Why would you so blazenly plagiarize this important fundraiser, that is so crucial to the community?? A copy-cat event could cause damage to the original brand that Lifelong AIDS Alliance has invested years and considerable community support to build! I will not be attending the ERW event, and SHAME ON ERW for diminishing the importance of the "Decline to Sign Ref 71" with this thoughtless and poorly conceived fundraising scheme.

ERW supporter Esteban Holt responded...

I highly doubt an additional bingo night to support an EQUALLY IMPORTANT LGBT issue would have ANY negative impact on the "original." If you feel there is a BETTER alternative to a bingo night (which, I might add... IS BINGO! Far from an original idea) then I suggest you get involved with ERW and offer up a viable alternative. Your negativity and cynicism is uncalled for....

Responding to Holt—testily—Percival stated that the work done by ERW is not "equally important" to the work done by the LLAA. "I think it a bit of stretch to equate [gay rights'] importance with a global pandamic that has already claimed the lives of countless milliions of people world wide," writes Percival. And then right after drawing a comparison between gay rights and HIV/AIDS and finding gay rights lacking, Percival insists that we shouldn't "compare the importance of these two very separate issues" at all.

The money raised by LLAA at Gay Bingo doesn't go to fight the "global pandemic," of course, but to provide services to people who are living with HIV/AIDS in western Washington. Which is important. It is, however, more than a little dishonest for Percival to hide behind the global impact of AIDS when defending Gay Bingo, an event that raises money for LLAA's local programs, again, and not to fight the "global pandemic." The impact of HIV/AIDS locally and the impact of the denial of, say, full marriage rights to gays and lesbians locally are equal or close to it. It seems to me that it's a bit of stretch—and an unseemly one—for Percival to point at the millions of dead worldwide to defend his drag-queens-and-bingo franchise in Seattle.

And who says there aren't enough drag queens and bingo cards to go around anyway?

But the last word goes to ERW supporter and former board president at Bailey/Boushay, Denis Stearns:

What truly diminishes the great work of Lifelong AIDS is someone getting ten shades of pissy, climbing on their soap-box, and throwing an embarrassing hissy-fit on behalf of the organization. Talk about counterproductive.

The whole exchange is here.

FacebookShare

Comments (63) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

If Bingo is legal and being Gay is legal then Gay Bingo should be legal...

Posted by George Carlin on July 23, 2009 at 12:55 PM

Could a Bingo fundraiser be used to pay for health insurance for The Stranger's employees, interns and their families?

Posted by Bee Aai In Gee Oh on July 23, 2009 at 12:57 PM

ooh, Mary, you go girlz!

lame.

Posted by michael strangeways

on July 23, 2009 at 1:02 PM

Thank goodness LLAA has time to stir up some meaningless pissing contest instead of serving meals to people with HIV/AIDS.

My donation dollars at work.

Posted by Original Andrew on July 23, 2009 at 1:03 PM

The Stranger provides health insurance for employees and their families—and we have for 15 or more years.

Posted by Dan Savage on July 23, 2009 at 1:07 PM

And to think I've given $1 cans of beans to Lifelong. Maybe I shoud give 'em cat chow, cuz meeeeOW!

Posted by CommonKnowledge on July 23, 2009 at 1:07 PM

Truly amazing that this asshole at LLAA is starting another flap about bingo of all things. From what I understand, they can hardly call theirs "Gay" bingo anymore after catering to a more and more predominately straight crowd and sanitizing the event by firing their foul mouthed hostess. I'm sorry, but if I go to a bingo fundraiser it had better involve some raunch and filth. Not that it matters either way- they are BOTH worthy causes. What an asshole.

Posted by defman23 on July 23, 2009 at 1:08 PM

Why must drag exclusively mean drag queens? Aren't there drag kings in Seattle? Aren't there drag kings who would value a fundraiser for Equal Rights Washington? Wouldn't drag kings want equal rights as much as drag queens would?

If ERW wants, I'll go play competitive Scrabble with pledges of a penny a point, with all proceeds going to ERW. Who knew LLAA had a monopoly on bingo? I'll go notify the Catholic churches immediately.

Posted by Keister Button on July 23, 2009 at 1:11 PM

I remember you reporting the LLAA board let their ED fire their former Gay Bingo hostess Glamazonia because they figured she couldn't or wouldn't make her hostess act "clean" enough for their new language policy.

Sounds like they still got steehicks up their beehuts.

Posted by gloomy gus on July 23, 2009 at 1:12 PM

But isn't Percival overlooking that marriage equality would also help those living with HIV/AIDS by granting them and their partners to full rights under the law - including health benefits, property/inheritance rights, and the spousal right to be concerned "next of kin".

Posted by Hyzenthlayk9

on July 23, 2009 at 1:12 PM

@8:

Where I come from (SW WA) "drag" referrs to hot-rods (cars, people! CARS!) and a quarter-mile strip (asphalt, people ASPHALT! And by "asphalt" I mean, PAVED ROADWAY!)

Geez, you people have dirty minds!

Posted by COMTE

on July 23, 2009 at 1:28 PM

Stupid LLAA- they have their undies all in a bunch over something like this but didn't lift a finger when Mark Mom Finley deceitfully lied to the Seattle Gay community by anouncing publicly that he was a "co-founder" of Gay Bingo... This after Finley was fired from hosting Gay Bingo for the "mis-handling" $$$...

Posted by You Look Like I Need A Drink! on July 23, 2009 at 1:32 PM

Cafe Metropolitan has been putting on Drag Bing for a year and have donated the proceeds of every event to different organizations. One of the groups I'm affiliated with, Unpaving Paradise, is trying to raise money for a park/p-patch in a parking lot nearby and we were a recent beneficiary. Does Lifelong think we shouldn't be able to raise money for our group just because they host a huge gala night once a month? Bingo nights are historic fundraisers, Lifelong doesn't own the brand. So if a local bar wants to put on a bingo night hosted by a drag queen to benefit the community, let them be.

Posted by Enigma

on July 23, 2009 at 1:42 PM

They should call it "Drago".

Posted by DOUG.

on July 23, 2009 at 1:43 PM

I would love a good game of Drag Bingo!

Posted by ash557 on July 23, 2009 at 1:45 PM

Trademarking dears, trademarking.

Remember: Pride foundation sues anyone who uses Pride in their title anywhere in America if it implies a foundation

Remember: SOAP has trademarked Settle Pride and will send a nasty letter if you use their trademarked title.

It is ironic that this bingo thing started with Chicken Soup when it was NOT part of the AIDS Foundation, and, at a time when it was considered a bit low brow and trashy. Of course, due to it success and cash flow - now they are in a snit - the its ours and stay away mood.

Sad. What utter fools.By the way - the AIDS Foundation operates on a budget of about 20 million a year with about 90 employees - sad indeed they attack a fundraiser that might make 2-3 thousand for ERW.

Sad. (and I will go play Bingo as boring as I find the game - maybe get a little drunk to help pass the night - and donate at least 50.00, join me. )

Posted by Ace on July 23, 2009 at 1:46 PM

@16, common law or state trademark law would apply here ("Gay Bingo" not being a mark held by LLAA - I checked the TESS database). And even under those weaker protections, "Gay Bingo" is a descriptive mark verging on generic, as is "Drag Bingo". I think ERW is fine, and LLAA needs to unbunch its panties.

Posted by Luckier on July 23, 2009 at 1:57 PM

I think @16 describes it correctly in that LLAA does kind of own Drag Bingo other than the fact that it is really about Glamazonia who they fired.
Cafe Metropolitain has been doing these every month for a year with different non-profitsb but for the longest time they called it "Gay Bingo" with Giggles Galore but all of the sudden it has become "Drag Bingo"
Like it or not I think LLAA may have a point.

Posted by Bill W.

on July 23, 2009 at 1:58 PM

Maybe Dan should just put on his old get up and start Drag-Bingo by the Stranger?

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on July 23, 2009 at 2:01 PM

@18 When I worked with Cafe Met for our bingo month in October we called the event Drag Bingo. I made sure people in our organization called it Drag Bingo and not Gay Bingo because of Lifelong's use of that moniker. It's been Drag Bingo from the start.

Posted by Enigma

on July 23, 2009 at 2:02 PM

The Catholics invented Bingo fundraising...they should all be happy that the pope hasn't put out a fatwah for the geighs co-opting it...

Posted by michael strangeways

on July 23, 2009 at 2:02 PM

#14 -- or call it LEZBO! hosted by a drag king belting out songs by that dude that sings "Constant Craving."

Posted by CommonKnowledge on July 23, 2009 at 2:03 PM

Im glad that LLAA is bringing attention to Drag Bingo. Whenever I've gone the turnout has been pretty piss poor, and a few thousand dollars would be a pretty big take in for how few people were there.

That aside, it is always a fucking blast, and I hope it continues to grow.

Posted by Joh on July 23, 2009 at 2:04 PM

#14, that would be awesome. Just print up some custom bingo cards with D R A G O instead of B I N G O.

"D10"

"Drago!"

Posted by w7ngman

on July 23, 2009 at 2:18 PM

This all begs the question, why is it called "Gay Bingo" if its just about HIV/AIDS. And why is the HIV travel ban a "gay issue". I thought AIDS wasn't a gay disease, hm?

Posted by w7ngman

on July 23, 2009 at 2:20 PM

LLAA's client services are worse than a joke (Chicken Soup excepted). Bingo seems to be their main concern, making money so they can make more money to maintain their increasingly obsolete organization.

Posted by meowmeowkitty on July 23, 2009 at 2:34 PM

What do you expect from some douche named Percival? His very name suggests that he has a large thorny branch lodged 3 feet inside of his ass.

Posted by Queen of Sleaze on July 23, 2009 at 2:40 PM

@20 That's good to hear cause I do think that LLAA is trying to protect their premium event that sells out every month and takes in tons of money for the organization.
They charge much more than the $5 that is charged at Drag Bingo at the Metropolitain.
I think when Queer Ally Coalition started using the event at Metropolitain it bacame Gay Bingo some how.
Anyways one will be Gay Bingo and one will be Drag Bingo so I am not sure if you can copyright the idea of having drag queens at a bingo event but it does appear they may have stolen the idea.

Posted by Bill W.

on July 23, 2009 at 2:42 PM

I think it is just shocking that Barak Obama wasted his time addressing the nation about Health Care Reform when he could have been the Drag Bingo Wars in Seattle. Seriously folks, let's stay focused on providing quality services to people living with HIV/AIDS, preserving the domestic partnership bill and meeting the other challenges that face the LGBT and Allied communities. I'm sure that's what both ERW and LLAA want.

Posted by richerea on July 23, 2009 at 2:45 PM

I'd prefer to go to whichever bingo has drag queens that can be vulgar and foulmouthed. I've heard Lifelong doesn't anymore.

Posted by Gitai on July 23, 2009 at 2:46 PM

If you want to keep people from realizing their collective strength, make them too afraid, distrustful or hateful of each other to cooperate.

Posted by iridius on July 23, 2009 at 3:00 PM

I don't know where the term "drag bingo" originated but I know they've been doing it in Provincetown, MA for many years. Google it...it's hardly an original idea.

Posted by Robin in PA on July 23, 2009 at 3:01 PM

My dear friends:

While there have been some very amusing comments here, there have also been some very untrue things said. Please know that Equal Rights Washington and Lifelong AIDS Alliance have been long-time coalition partners. LLAA is a very important organization to our community. People should know that there is no spat between ERW and LLAA. In fact, we at ERW have hardly had time to follow this with all of the work going on to stop Referendum 71.

People - these are hard times - even emotionally upsetting times as so many organizations struggle to keep doors open, our missions moving forward in the face of economic challenges. I think it can get to anyone who is deeply committed to a cause.

For the record, no one officially from LLAA has contacted us with ANY concerns about our Drag Bingo event. As others have stated, the group that does this has done it for a long time for many, many groups. We are simply the beneficiaries of their extended invitation.

Please - everyone - let's move off of this and on to real threats to our community including: inequality, diseases, bigotry, and hate. The world is full enough of all of that to keep us busy for a very long time.

Sincerely,
Connie Watts
Executive Director, ERW

Posted by Connie Watts on July 23, 2009 at 3:06 PM

All caps means you're nuts.

Posted by rutabaga pie on July 23, 2009 at 3:06 PM

Fremont had gay bingo years before.

But it mostly involved getting really drunk in biker bars and waking up with a guy named Bingo.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on July 23, 2009 at 3:12 PM

If we could get the gay community to get as riled up over Referendum 71 as it gets over Gay/Drag Bingo, we wouldn't be under such a threat of losing the most recent installment of domestic partnership rights.

Posted by bamboo2 on July 23, 2009 at 3:14 PM

A few things here:

1. Drag bingo is done all over the country and has been in various formats for years.

2. This should not be a forum to vilify LLAA. The comments came from a former board President who, I'm certain, did not vet his comments through them. LLAA is a valuable organization in this community, and I certainly don't fault them for the comments of a rogue, former, board member.

3. ERW does not aim to compete with LLAA or even provide a similar-style program. Theirs is a fundraiser that raises thousands of dollars for the worthy work they do. Ours is a "friend-raiser" on a smaller scale that's meant to gather support and provide everyone an opportunity to have a good time. We should also thank Quyen and Cafe Met for providing such a great space for us to host a fun time.

4. Come out this Sunday for Drag Bingo, and join our $8 campaign: https://secure.ga4.org/01/not_in_my_stat…

5. Contact me for other giving option to Equal Rights Washington - tpitchford@equalrightswashington.org

Thank you for your support!

Posted by Thomas Pitchford on July 23, 2009 at 3:16 PM

@37 Why shouldn't this be a forum for that? It's a public blog. And the dinosaur-like qualities of LLAA should be discussed. They keep a low profile, and don't exactly invite feedback.

Posted by meowmeowkitty on July 23, 2009 at 3:23 PM

IT IS SICKENING TO SEE ERW SUCKING UP TO THE AIDS FOUNDATION - WHEN YOU ARE SHIT ON IT IS OK TO HOLD YOUR GROUND.

GROVELLING IS NOT PRETTY - ERW. GET A BACKBONE.

MAYBE IT IS CONNIE'S NEXT JOB?

Posted by 'mo, yes the one on July 23, 2009 at 3:36 PM

"rouge board member" ???? - he was one of the best they ever had

but

his comments about bingo are just silly and stupid, and totally corporate

Posted by Harry on July 23, 2009 at 3:41 PM

Get a life, douche. And lets' see you do some work for the community like these two orgs rather than sit behind your computer and bitch. Loser-fuckwad.

Posted by floofy on July 23, 2009 at 3:42 PM

He's not a former member of the board.

http://www.lifelongaidsalliance.org/abou…

Posted by Dan Savage on July 23, 2009 at 3:45 PM

Not that I think this is a huge deal -- just tossed up a blog post. But it's not accurate to describe Percival as a "rogue, former, board member." He's currently a member of the board.

Posted by Dan Savage on July 23, 2009 at 3:47 PM

And... I was bitching? It looks to me like Percival was bitching -- and in a public forum. I just tossed up a blog post.

Posted by Dan Savage on July 23, 2009 at 3:51 PM

Dan, I'm surprised Glamazonia isn't mentioned anywhere in this. Did you not get in touch with her? Afterall she is the former Lifelong bingo hostess and current ERW bingo hostess.

Posted by monkey on July 23, 2009 at 3:56 PM

LLAA is no longer a foundation. Northwest AIDS Foundation used to provide much needed funding for smaller non-profits. After they merged with Chicken Soup Brigade (to become LLAA), they decided to keep the money for themselves. Ever since this merger LLAA has implemented a strategy to overtake and undermine smaller non-profits in an effort to maximize their share of the sparse public and private funding that exists.

Posted by bob2 on July 23, 2009 at 3:56 PM

Cracked me up meowmeowkitty - I won't claim to speak for the POZ community, but as a gay man with HIV I can say that LLAA isn't totally useless. After twenty years of encounters with NWAF/LLAA, I realized that if I didn't make a serious effort to maintain my health, insurance, and private support plans, these douchenozzles would actually have a direct impact on my life. LLAA is great motivation to protect my health, stay employed and fully fund my health and life insurance policies-so they really do make a difference to me!

Posted by Chk_It on July 23, 2009 at 4:04 PM

boo! who cares who does what - if it helps clients get services and people get equal rights. man, what stupid politics this is.

Posted by a llaa insider on July 23, 2009 at 4:07 PM

Anyone notice how on Frank Percival's facebook he claims to be vilified and crucified for his stance on defending bingo?

Posted by seawaboy on July 23, 2009 at 4:12 PM

sorry the bitching comment was directed @39

Posted by floofy on July 23, 2009 at 4:39 PM

Oh my bad, Dan - he's one of those former board presidents who is still on the board. Sorry you have to deal with such an albatross, LLAA.

Posted by Thomas Pitchford on July 23, 2009 at 4:47 PM

#51

Connie likes him ... she just posted to that effect.

Get on message, you work at ERW, careful or Life Long in Your Pocket will call you a trouble maker

Can't stand Glamooozoniaaa - so will just pop in with a
check.

Signed: Randy Andy

Posted by Matt from fucking QUEER Bingo on July 23, 2009 at 5:23 PM

It is silly controversies like this that finally burned me out on having anything to do with "the community".

I remember one time some tired old queen got in my grill because one of our volunteers (we were all volunteers in the organization I worked with, which was called The Bunny Brigade) typed AIDS as "Aids" in a press release. He said that we had single-handedly undone all the good work the NWAF (precursor to LLAA for you young folks) had done.

But beyond that, what surprises me is the lack of originality in all the groups these days: Bingo has been going on for probably twenty years. Can't anyone come up with something fresh? Even our group's schtick - the easter eggs sales - was taken up by the Court of Seattle (or was it the Sisters?) when we got tired of doing it. One of the reasons we disbanded was because we thought it was time for new ideas.

Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay

on July 23, 2009 at 5:26 PM

People like to play bingo and they like to drink - so what's wrong with that?

Posted by floofy on July 23, 2009 at 5:28 PM

@54 - nothing, so long as they don't complain when they wake up in an alleyway.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on July 23, 2009 at 5:45 PM

Lifelone threw the same hissy fit when the Everett gay group started up a bingo this year as well. Even threatened legal action over it. Everett caved in and changed their name to SnoHomo Bingo just to shut them up. And Lifelong wonders why their donations are down and they have such a negative rep these days. Pathetic.

Posted by bigTseattle on July 23, 2009 at 8:33 PM

We have but one weekly drag-queen bingo night here in your nation's capital. Considering you have to make reservations WEEKS in advance (and the room is huge, so it's not like the maximum capacity is 50 or anything), I'd say there's usually room for more than one in any given city. People lovez the drag-queen bingo.

Posted by Ms. D on July 24, 2009 at 7:09 AM

At one of my favorite gay clubs, The Parliament House, they have gay bingo every Wednesday, which is hosted by a drag queen and a gay man who is not in drag. At a resturaunt I like to go to, Hamburger Mary's, they have gay bingo every Tuesday, which is hosted by 2 drag queens. The funny thing is, one of the drag queens from Hamburger Mary's is the same drag queen who helps host the Wednesday night bingo game at The Parliament House! These games aren't fundraisers though, but the cards are free and the games are fun. For anybody who's in Orlando, you should check them out.

Posted by Anna from Orlando on July 24, 2009 at 7:05 PM

wow...as a young gay man who just moved from Florida to Seattle right out of college...all of this segregation and fighting between groups is quite disturbing...I agree with Connie...I heard there is some "imaginary" oligarchy here who supposedly controls most of the glbt money...this "mafia" is absolutely counter-productive...and all you do need is some fresh ideas...and if the fresh idea outshines another fund raiser...well then blame it on modeling a fund-raiser based on free market capitalism...pay attention to what glbt youth are doing to raise money...which by the way seems to be the most under-utilized source of talent here in Seattle

fundraiser completely planned, produced, paid, and executed b students and raises thousands for programming aimed at helping college aged youth become empowered and successful figures in society...oh and this event takes place on a college campus in the south

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=…

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=…

Posted by caucapino4u on July 26, 2009 at 11:40 AM

google diva invasion glbsu to see videos

Posted by caucapino4u on July 26, 2009 at 11:43 AM

I used to enjoy going to Gay Bingo with friends, but haven't gone since they kicked out Glamazonia. She made that event.

Maybe this Drag Bingo would be more entertaining...

Posted by Brian P. on July 27, 2009 at 1:19 PM

@53. Like Equalityoga. I new idea that no one has done. Congrats Kyler and those working with StonewallForty. Its great to see people taking action and trying new things!

Out with the old and near retired! In with the new and innovative!

Posted by concerned Gay on July 28, 2009 at 1:12 AM

@59 Excellent point... why aren't any of the orgs in this community using the talent of younger people? Are they afraid they are looking at their replacements and shut them out to protect themselves?

instead these people have to go out and start their own things... Like QAC or StonewallForty with all their excellent work for Stonewall! Get a grip people! This is pathetic.

Posted by converned gay on July 28, 2009 at 1:18 AM