I do! I do!

The Massachusetts Supreme Court struck down the ban on same sex marriage tonight. This is much cause for celebration. This is also much cause for concern, because the conservatives and the Republicans are going to use this as a wedge issue in the 2004 Presidential elections. This victory might be short-lived, so let’s celebrate it to the fullest. Let us also be extra vigilant to register as many voters as we can, stand by candidates that are friendly to our cause, and make sure we turn out the vote. Wake up everyone. This is no time for complacency.

Just think, I can finally pull my Vera Wang out of the closet.

Rocky road

Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in Monday as the 38th Governor of California. He was wearing a Prada suit and Maria was in a Valentino. She was introduced as Ms. Maria Shriver. Not Mrs. Schwarzenegger. If nothing else, at least they will be well dressed. Maria gave a speech longer than Arnold – inspiring, but what was that for, other than to highlight her skills in public speaking.

Hold on to your seats, folks. With a projected deficit of $14 billion, it’s going to be a bumpy ride from here on.

I am truly saddened that the Sandies had to be cancelled. I believe the Sandies put on a very entertaining and professional show highlighting the outstanding people and places in San Diego that we seldom get to say thank you to. However, the personal and emotional toll on those involved, many of who chose to do so anonymously, was too heavy a price in putting on the show this year. Special thanks go to the volunteers of the executive committee, our nominations committee, the silent auction committee and the production crew. Special thanks to The Prado, the staff at The Center, all the local businesses for their support, and to Ms. Candye Kane, Sue Palmer and all those who were scheduled to perform. After last year’s successful event at the Old Globe Theatre, many of you responded with amazing support and feedback, and we were greatly impressed with the large amount of nominations received this year. We put on a great show together while raising a lot of money for the Hillcrest Youth Center. This is a good thing, and reflects the spirit of The Sandies and the vision of Executive Producer Rick Ford. I am proud and privileged to have been associated with such esteemed company.

Part of the charm of living in Hillcrest is the number of nice restaurants in the area offering various cuisines. India Palace opened last week at the strip mall on University Ave. near Sixth Ave., specializing in cuisine from Northern India. The restaurant was voted “Best Indian Restaurant” by Zagat and Fodor’s, and is a family-owned chain of restaurants, which started in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There is also one in La Jolla.

I am not a big fan of Indian cuisine, partly because of my unfamiliarity and my stomach is too weak for spicy food. But India Palace has won me over. Part owner and manager Shreeram (“Ram” for short), was very gracious in recommending several dishes. Share the mixed appetizer with friends to get a sampler of different items. The Samosas were outstanding, with a crisp pastry wrap and a choice of vegetarian or lamb stuffing. I highly recommend the Chicken Tikka Masala (chicken roasted in a Tandoori oven with tomato herb cream sauce) and the Prawns Sag (prawns cooked with spiced spinach cream sauce). Enjoy them with saffron Basmati rice, or dip freshly baked Nam or Roti (traditional Indian bread) in the tasty, thick sauces. Side orders of mango chutney or mixed pickled lemon, mangoe, lotus and ginger root tantalizes the palate and brings out the flavor of the food. I was too timid to try the lamb dishes but will do so next time.

Lunchtime is a great deal at India Palace, with a lavish buffet for only $8.95. There are usually four vegetarian and four non-vegetarian dishes to sample, such as Tandoori Chicken, Pork Ball Curry, Sag Paneer (spinach and cheese) and Dal Makhani (Lentil). There is also an array of rice, salad and dessert.

India Palace is a new found treasure in the heart of Hillcrest. The food is exceptional, the celadon-hued ambiance is calm and tasteful, and the staff is helpful and well trained. I was especially impressed when the waiter brought us really warm plates just before the entrées arrived. India Palace will surely satisfy any Indian food gourmand or converted newbies like me.

If you are in town and have finished your obligatory visit with family and stuffed yourself with turkey, come to Bacchus House and join us for a very special Thanksgiving “Raining Men” show, featuring some of the hot studs from All Worlds Video. It’s going to be a long weekend, and what better way to start the ball rolling than watching hard men get wet in the exclusive Bacchus shower? There will be free video giveaways from All Worlds and drink specials all night. If you’ve not seen our brand new shower on stage before, you are missing the best show in town.

Hot Men getting wet in their 2xist, cheap drinks, free videos and me. How can you lose?

Now that the lawsuit against Rosie O’Donnell and her counter lawsuit against the publishers of her magazine is over, she must be quite relieved. But she must also be feeling like Whitney going through airport custom these days as we wait and see how her other big thing — Taboo, the Broadway musical she produced — fares with the critics and the theatre public.

I went to see the show this week in New York City and what a treat it was. Taboo (the club) is the backdrop of this musical set in early ’80s London. Boy George plays the role of Leigh Bowery, a anarchic performance ‘artiste,’ and in an interesting twist, the role of George O’Dowd is brilliantly played not by George himself, but by Euwan Morton, as a sort of rough-on-the-edges kid of 19 who becomes the international crossover sensation Boy George. Now I’m a child of the ’80s, but BG was never a favorite. I thought he was way too flamboyant and his make-up was too heavy. In fact I thought he was too “queeny” — this from a drag queen like me. Setting that aside, I was prepared not to like the show but went anyway because it was the new talk-of-the-town show. And I thought as a good gay person I should support my sister and at least make sure Ms. Rosie does not lose her shirt this time.

Taboo captures the club kids of the ’80s, whose expression of rebellion left a lasting influence on music, fashion and decadent nightlife. When Boy George joined the London cast, the show became sort of autobiographical, and Culture Club standards “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” and “Karma Chameleon,” plus 16 other original numbers, highlight the musical range of Boy George. The book for the New York show is rewritten by the great Charles Busch to highlight these two main characters and imbue the play with a human element. Even if you were not a club kid, or were not hip or lucky enough to get into the clubs of the ’80s, you will enjoy the music. The show is shockingly colorful, surreal and unreal for mere mortals, but rings so true of the extremes of the era. Gender bending was in, and so were drugs and platform shoes. It was a bold, creative, young period that never seems to run out of new, over-the-edge shock value reflective of the club culture of the ‘80s. I walked away thoroughly enjoying the show, even if I think Ms. George wears too much make-up!

The media sometimes go bananas over celebrity scandals. But the recent brouhaha over blonde millionaire brat, Paris Hilton’s, sex tape is stupid. Who cares?! Actually, I am more curious to see the boyfriend, Rick Solomon. So excuse me if I have no sympathy for Miss Hilton. The way she lives her life so publicly on TV and flaunting it, I say she deserves what she gets. That’s the price you pay for living so dangerously. And now they are doing a FOX reality show with her and Lionel Richie’s daughter called “The Simple Life.” Who cares about watching some spoiled rich teen milking cows? I think we should call the Humane Society. In fact, I’ve wasted too much of your time already.

Porn legend Rod Berry will be celebrating his birthday on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 9:00 p.m. at Bourbon Street. Rod, a former Marine, will be joined by other porn friends to help raise money for AVER. Rod, who manages the Adult Depot, promises to have fun surprises for all. So come for some good cheer, meet hot porn friends and start the holidays by helping AVER (American Veterans for Equal Rights) as well.

Rod started his video career with All Worlds and won the Best Supporting Actor award at this year’s Gay Video Awards.

“Club 32,” the dance benefit for the LGBT Student Union at UCSD and The Center, scheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 22, will be held at 8:00 p.m. at Bacchus House. Organized by Alan Spyere and Vivian Dior for the Imperial Court, the dance will feature a live DJ, performances, go-go dancers and refreshments. Students with ID get a discount.