Update: Celebration Planned To Remember Life of Mr. Boise Pride 2011

 The Lucky Dog Tavern in Boise will be holding a special celebration to remember the life of 24-year-old Cory Wood aka CW Blaque, this Wednesday night, March 28th.

The event is also a fundraiser to help Wood’s family with funeral expenses.

Wood, who was killed last week in a traffic accident near Camptonville, California, was well-known throughout Boise’s LGBT community.

He took on the title of Mr. Boise Pride 2011 last June.

If you would like to make a contribution, or if you can bring an hors d’oeuvre to Wednesday’s event, you can contact  Selena Blaque on facebook or by calling 208-515-1214.

According to a facebook announcement, the celebration is scheduled to start at 8:00 pm. The Lucky Dog Tavern is located at 2223 W Fairview Avenue in Boise.

There will be a viewing this Saturday, March 31st, from 6-8 pm. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, April 1st,  from 3-5 pm. Both events will be held at Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd in Nampa.

In addition, Stone Mountain Music DJ Andrew Laughlin is putting together a DVD for the funeral and is asking  the community to email him any photos of Wood they might have. You can email them to laughlinandrewjm@gmail.com.

On the Agenda: ‘Twas the Weekend Before Halloween….

A note to our conservative neighbors: You have your tacky plastic Jesus with the light bulb in his head that you set out on your lawn every Christmas and we have an 8-year-old nephew who will be dressing up as Lady Gaga. We won’t say anything about your plastic faith if you don’t make a stink about the gender bending little boy knocking on your door asking for a roll of your Smarties…deal?

Now that we got that out of the way, there is no reason to be the dead pumpkin this weekend Charlie Brown. There are queerly enough events going on around Idaho to keep even Michael Myers himself  happy.

In fact, Halloween just maybe one of the gayest days of the year. According to  an article on SheWired,”Long before June officially became Gay Pride Month, and October “Coming Out Month” for the LGBTQ community, Halloween was unofficially our yearly celebrated “holiday,” dating as far back at the 1970s when it was a massive annual street party in San Francisco’s Castro district.”

“Nicholas Rogers, author of Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night, points out that while Halloween is enjoyed by everyone, “it has been the Gay community that has most flamboyantly exploited Halloween’s potential as a transgressive festival, as one that operates outside or on the margins of orthodox time, space, and hierarchy. Indeed, it is the gay community that has been arguably most responsible for Halloween’s adult rejuvenation.”

Nothing like a little “adult rejuvenation” to get the juices flowing right? I personally blame the college twinks in their toga costumes, but that’s probably just me.

Anyway on to the events:

Tonight Oct. 28th:

Boise:

The Imperial Sovereign Gem Court Of Idaho and MGI will be hosting their annual Halloween show over at the Balcony Club. Tickets are five dollars. Show starts at 7:00 pm. Click here for more information.

If you haven’t checked out Boise’s Stage Coach Theatre  production of  The Rocky Horror Picture Show yet then damn it Janet, we probably don’t want to really even talk to you any more. It’s that Good. If we have to tell you what it’s about we really don’t want to talk to you anymore. Just take a jump to the left and a step to the right and go see it. It runs through Halloween with a special midnight production on Saturday. Tickets are 20.oo dollars. For reservations call 342-2000. For more information click here.

Once Rocky’s made you a man, head on over to the Lucky Dog where they’ll be getting their boo on with Friday Night karaoke, the Halloween version. The terrifying experience, their words not ours, starts at 10:00 pm and there is no cover. Click here for more information.

Twin Falls:

Halloween Party tonight at 360’s Main Event Center from to 10 to 1 for 18 and a full bar with ID. Cash prizes 200 1st Place 100 for 2nd place and 50 for 3rd. Other prizes will be given out through out the night. 348 4th ave South, Twin Falls. Also after hours from 1-3 is $5 at the door $3 for CSI students and Haunted Warehouse!!!!!!!

Saturday:

Boise:

It’s the annual a.l.p.h.a. (Allies Linked for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS) annual Halloween condom raid. Wear your costume and come help prevent the spread of some very freighting STI’s. The fun starts at 9:30. Click Here for More information. 

Do you like gladiator movies Billy?  Well good because the theme for this year’s Halloween Party at the Lucky Dog is “The Rise of Rome.” Best “Ben-Hur” of the night will win a  hundred bucks. Click here for more information.

Over at the Balcony Club they’ll be rolling in the America Revolution Vodka with their annual costume party. American Revolution drink specials all night long.  Five dollars will get you in the door. Best costumes of the evening will win 300 dollars for first place, 200 for second and 300 for third. Click here for more information.

Pocatello:

The little monsters in eastern Idaho will be eating their hearts and then their brains out at Club Charley’s during their annual Halloween party. The fun starts at 8:00 pm. Click here for more information. 

Sunday:

The Imperial Sovereign Gem Court Of Idaho will be having a chili feed and pumpkin carving contest at the Luck Dog from 2-5 pm. The cost is five dollars. Click here for more information.

It’s your chance to send your Halloween greetings to state law makers in the name of equality.  The Add the Words, Idaho pumpkin party and statewide pumpkin carving contest is happening now and will culminate at the Capital steps from 8-9:30 pm. There will be a pumpkin viewing, hot cider, cocoa and a chance to join us in telling the Idaho legislature it’s time to Add the Words! Include our gay and transgender friends in Idaho’s fair employment, housing and education laws. Oh and there will also be prizes including a $75 gift card for downtown Boise! So submit your pumpkins now! For more information click here.

Monday (Halloween):

Pocatello:

Monday, October 31, is the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” playing at 7 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Ballroom. Just in time for Halloween, this cult classic musical looks in on an engaged couple who stumble upon the weird and zany world of Dr. Frank-N-Furter when their car breaks down in the rain. (Rated R)

So grab your vampire glitter and get out of the house this weekend. There’s plenty of bumps in the night happening that you don’t have to sit and wait for the great pumpkin after all.

On The Agenda: Red, Pink and Out All Over!

If you haven’t got your tickets to Idaho’s only HIV and AIDS benefit banquet and awards show, you’ve still got time to click on over to the a.l.p.h.a. website and grab a pair.  Tickets will also be available at the door.

Forever RED honors those who have made a an impact in the fight against HIV and AIDS in Idaho, while raising money for Idaho’s largest free HIV testing organization, Allies Linked for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS.  Always a first class party, the costumes and the entertainment alone are worth the price of the ticket.

Once you’ve been seen at Forever Red on Saturday night, slip on over to Boise’s Lucky Dog and think pink as Gem Empress XXXIII Terra Mi Su and Empress XXXIV Dee Dee Snow host the annual “Pretty in Pink Cancer show“.  Proceeds to benefit the Mountain States Tumor Institute. The show starts at 9:00 pm. Five dollars will get you in the door.

A look ahead:

Supporters of Fair Employment in Idaho are organizing in a big way this year and will be kicking off the “Add the Words, Idaho Sticky Note Campaign” This weekend. The campaign will  draw the Idaho Legislature’s attention to the need for adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s human rights ammendment. Organizers say, “The sticky notes will become our presence in the statehouse while lawmakers are in session in Boise from January to April.”

If you are in the Treasure Valley area the fab folks doing the “Add the Words Sticky Note Campaign” will be MEETING this Sunday at Flying Pie Pizza on Fairview Ave. at 5 pm.  Organizers need your help and are asking for your ideas, comments, and questions! Look for the statewide campaign to launch soon.

Tuesday is National Coming Out Day and Idaho is coming out in a big way this year! There are Coming Out Day events planned for almost every major portion of the state, including a first ever  community wide candlelight observance in Twin Falls!  So get your pride on and find an event near you! (If you would like to share your coming out day story with Idaho, personal or otherwise write it up and send it to idahoagenda@gmail.com. No more the 2000 words please.  Who knows maybe you’ll be the inspiration for someone else!)

Speaking of Pink,  Our best wishes to our neighbors to the east as they attempt to push back hatred and intolerance in an area the obviously has a big influence on Idaho as well.  Organizers of Utah’s first ever Pink Dot event are hoping to to promote its credo ~ Support. Love. Courage. ~ by encouraging Utahans to find the courage to come out for their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) family members, co-workers, neighbors and friends.

The pinkdot Utah campaign launched on September 6th and will culminate with a free celebration being hosted at Salt Lake City’s Spring Mobile Ballpark on October 11th – National Coming Out Day. The celebration will include fun, entertainment, speakers and a celebrity appearance by Kurt Bestor ~ all happening before attendees join together to form a human pinkdot.

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