Oct.11 is national Coming Out Day! Hats off to our youth who are coming out early in their lives and finding themselves. For those who are in crisis or struggling with their sexuality or identity, keep in mind that The Center on Centre Street is there to help.

As we celebrate the passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, I am disillusioned by Sen. Barney Frank and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who have decided to leave “sexual identity” out of the House version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, because it is not “achievable.” This seems to be the word du jour for elected officials who appease us by throwing us crumbs. It is wrong to leave a segment of our family behind. If we accept only what is “achievable,” then we deserve to be second class citizens. [House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has now halted plans to bring ENDA to a vote. See page 18]

Different cultures celebrate Thanksgiving in different ways. The Chinese celebrate the August Moon Festival on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This year’s was on Sept. 25 of the solar calendar. Chinese families celebrate the end of the harvest season, and it is believed that the moon is at its brightest and roundest on this day.

The August Moon Festival is often referred to as a women’s festival, as it pays homage to the Moon Goddess.

Apart from a grand feast as an offering to the Moon Goddess and elaborate lantern festival, the Chinese also have the traditional mooncake – made of a soft bean-paste filling with a golden brown skin, the top of which is embossed with the baker’s insignia. These palm-sized round cakes symbolize family unity. The fancy ones have a yellow egg yolk in the center that represents the moon.

As with much folklore, the Moon Festival is filled with interesting anecdotes. One tells about a Chinese Emperor around 2000 B.C. who was said to have a peculiar talent for sensing what we now refer to as global warming. One day the Emperor was alarmed when he saw 10 suns in the sky about to collide. So, he summoned his trusted General Hou Yih, who was a skilled archer of tremendous strength. As a reward for shooting nine of the suns down, he rewarded the general with immortality in the form of a pill. Unfortunately the general’s wife, Lady O-Chang (I don’t make up these names) found the pill and swallowed it. She was quickly airborne and banished to the moon, thus she was referred to as the lady in the moon or Moon Goddess. It is said that if you make a wish during this period, you will be blessed with love and your dreams will come true.

Enough about me! Primetime television is teaming with trans-characters. For example, there is the cross-dressing lawyer on “Boston Legal.” Even if she shops at Lane Bryant, at least she’s a lawyer. Often, transgender women are portrayed as hookers on television and in film, and it is alarming that this is the only image we see. Take the season’s premier of “Big Shots” last week on ABC, touted as the male version of “Desperate Housewives.” One of the main characters, Duncan Collingsworth (played by Dylan McDermott), is the CEO of a cosmetics company and is caught being serviced by a tranny hooker named Dantrell in the bathroom of a highway diner. Dantrell is paid off by Duncan to keep quiet, and is also being paid by a reporter who wants to ruin Duncan. Talk about taking it from both ends! Reminds me of Sen. Larry Craig!

Speaking of a senator being tagged, there is a new show (also on ABC) called “Dirty Sexy Money.” In the show, the very wealthy New York Attorney General Patrick Darling (played by Billy Baldwin) is running for senator and has a tranny girlfriend, Carmelita, on the side. Do you see the story coming full circle? This show makes “Dynasty” seem like “Little House on the Prairie.” The good thing in this case (I hope) is that the tranny in this show is also a recurring character, played by the beautiful Candis Cayne. Candis’ name actually appears in the opening credits. That’s huge! Let’s just hope that the writers don’t screw this up. And while I would give anything to tap toes with either Dylan or Billy, I just hope that GLAAD is looking out for positive portrayals of our community in the media.

As a side note, I have known Candis Cayne for many years, all the way back to New York City, when she was starting out. Candis is a trained dancer and used to perform on a cruise ship, and I first got to know her when we did the movie To Wong Foo… together in 1995. She performs regularly at many clubs all over the country and was a regular at Wigstock. About 10 years ago, Candis began her transition and was always very upfront about it. I attended numerous fund-raising shows to help her pay for cosmetic surgeries. Hey, it costs a lot of money to look that hot! Candis is not only gorgeous, having graced many magazine covers, she’s also very talented. And it also helps that she’s smart and a really nice person. You go and kick some ass, gurl!

The happiest drag show in North Park is about to get even bigger. I’m talking about the annual Turn About show put on by the staff of Bacchus House on Saturday, Oct 13. Once a year, your favorite boys behind the bar don their slut wear and spiked heels and put on a show for charity. Some look really great and some are downright scary. But it doesn’t really matter, because it is all fun and for a good cause. This year, Bacchus is raising money for the San Diego American Indian Health Center. For the first time, it’s going to be an outdoor block party with a grand stage on Ohio Street, and organizers are bringing out the big guns …. I mean big gurls! Headlining the show is the biggest diva of all, RuPaul, the first drag supermodel herself! I heard that the infamous Ivanna Cox may be making an appearance. I will be hosting this fantastic drag fest, and I encourage you all to come dressed in your hooker wear. We’ll also be giving away Leann Rimes’ new CD. The party starts at 8 p.m., and show time is at 9 p.m. For tickets, go online to bacchushouse.com.

The Thursday before, Oct. 11, I will also be hosting the “It’s Raining Men” wet underwear contest at Bacchus House. My special guest porn star will be Tyler Saint. Come for cheap drinks, hot studs and video giveaways.

Our favorite dreamgirl Sheryl Lee Ralph is back onstage for the 17th annual Divas Simply Singing, the longest running AIDS fund-raising musical in Los Angeles, on Saturday Oct. 6 at the Wilshire Ebel Theatre. Every year this show is packed with pop singers and Broadway performers and is one of the most entertaining musical stage performances in Los Angeles. This year is no exception. Sheryl is teaming up with her former Dreamgirls co-stars Jennifer Holiday and Loretta Devine, and I can’t wait to see the magic. Also included in the line-up of fierce divas is RuPaul – she’s a busy girl! Ticket info online at divassimplysinging.com or call 213-480-3232. One night only!

After 13 weeks, with four wins, it’s the end of the road for hottie Oceanaire executive chef Brian Malarkey on his quest to become Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.” It was a swell ride and we’ve all enjoyed the journey. Having made it to the top four, you’re tops in my book. I especially love your lobster bisque and crab cakes. Way to go chef!