June is shaping up to be a very queer month in the news, indeed. The Tony Awards stole the thunder of most everything else on the tube with ‘the kiss’ on primetime TV; the Episcopal church in New Hampshire has nominated Rev. V. Gene Robinson, a gay priest, to be the next bishop; QueerBoy Clay Aiken is still #1 on the Amazon.com best selling singles chart; and the Ontario Court of Appeal has just overturned the Canadian marriage laws to allow gays to marry. Life is sweet and Pride is being celebrated all over the world this month!

This has got to be the gayest awards show in history. I attended a Tony Awards party in Los Angeles at the Skirball Center, sponsored by Aid for AIDS and the Actors Fund of America. The dinner, hosted by Jennifer Tilly, included a satellite broadcast of the awards in New York City and a special tribute to Rita Moreno, the only actress to have won an Oscar, a Tony, a Grammy and an Emmy. Also in attendance were Valerie Harper, Stephanie Powers and Bruce Vilanch, who will take on the role of Edna Turnblad in the west coast production of Hairspray.

Speaking of which, Hairspray swept up eight awards, including Best Musical, Best Actor for Harvey Fierstein, Best Actress for Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Best Director for Jack O’Brien (the longtime artistic director of the Old Globe Theatre here in San Diego). But the most memorable moment of the primetime telecast was when Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (of “South Park”) picked up their Tony for Best Original Score for Hairspray, locking lips on stage at Radio City Music Hall. They have been together 25 years. How absolutely fabulous!

As if that wasn’t enough, Denis O’Hare, who also won an acting award for his portrayal of a gay baseball player in Take Me Out, thanked his boyfriend as he accepted his Tony. Then came Michele Pawk, collecting her Tony for Hollywood Arms, who enthused “I have never been more proud to be a member of this community. Men kissing each other on stage, drag queens, children — it’s a perfect world. As it should be.” And baby, that night the world was a stage and the stage belonged to us!

Christopher Street West celebrates its 33rd LGBT Pride parade and festival this weekend, June 21-22, in West Hollywood. The event will be dedicated to Morris Kight, who founded the parade and passed away earlier this year. The Festival “True Colors” will feature Cyndi Lauper and Belinda Carlisle as headliners, as well as one-hit wonder Paul “Boom Boom” Lekakis.

I went up to L.A. a week ago to emcee the annual Mr. & Ms. LA Pride contest, sponsored by the Imperial Court of Los Angeles and Hollywood. Held at Club 7969 on Santa Monica Blvd, the contest drew a large crowd on a Monday night to cheer, as 13 contestants vied for the privilege of wearing the crown and leading the Parade. By the end of the evening, Mondo and Maria emerged as the new Mr. and Ms. L.A. Pride 2003.

Bring out your animal instinct on the dance floor as you celebrate at Primal 2 — the L.A. Pride Zoo Party with the dance whizzes Mark Tarbox and Roland Belmares spinning up the heat. Brought to you by those cool party guys, Will Gorges (Tribe, IndepenDANCE) and Greg Gilbert (Zipper, ButterBall — the dance, not the turkey), at the L.A. Zoo on Sunday, June 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. The promoters promise ‘savage’ dancers (I wonder what they will be doing), a terrific sound and light show, and even an uproarious Tram ride. Now where else can you find this much fun? Advance tickets for Primal are $30 and can be purchased at LASC and Perfect Beat in L.A., Rainbow Road in San Diego and online at www.willgorges.com. But please, don’t feed any chimpanzees (and I’m not taking about your date).

By the way, mark your calendar — San Diego Pride is July 25 through 27.

I flew home to NYC on American Eagle from Los Angeles (for my connecting flight to JFK) last Friday the 13th without any qualms. Weather in New York has been gloomy for the past three weeks, just like in San Diego. But I intend to make the most out of this little vacation. June is a great time to visit New York with all the different GLBT organizations trying to outdo each other with their main Pride event. I will take you on a quick tour.

The leather communities and their allies joined forces June 14 to stage the annual Leather Pride Night, held at the historic Puck Building in New York City. Over 1,000 leather men (and women) of all persuasion and kink, as well as bears and cubs, drag queens from the Imperial Court of NY and other curious attendees came together for an auction to benefit various organizations such as the NYC Anti-Violence Project, NYC AIDS Monument Committee and the Foundation for Research on Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Auction items included leather and latex fetish clothing, unique toys and equipments not found at Home Depot, Broadway show tickets and adult videos donated by San Diego’s own All Worlds Video.

Last year, the event donated over $15,000 to charity. Leather Pride Night is held every June in NYC. For more information, visit www.leatherpridenight.org.

Baby, it’s hot in here at the famed Roseland Ballroom! Broadway Bares is a hotly anticipated annual event, combining the naughtiness of burlesque and the razzle-dazzle of Broadway. It has been a smashing success since its inception in 1992. Conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray again!), the event features the hottest male and female dancers on Broadway and has become one of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ signature events. This year’s event is estimated to raise over $425,000. “Take something off, Louise!”

Just when you thought that they couldn’t possibly top last year’s show, they certainly did it again this year. Production after production of lavish costumes, high energy choreography, and over-the-top sensual strip-teasing is unlike any show you will ever see on Broadway or even in Las Vegas. One highlight of the evening featured a guest performance by Ms. Eartha Kitt singing “Love For Sale” with four hunky boys. The extravaganza ended with all the dancers on stage in a “rotation,” dancing for tips and greeting the audience. Last year, this portion alone raised over $11,000 of the total pot. Plenty of dollar bills. Unfortunately, this is a one-night show, though I feel it should travel all over the country. Sorry, my devoted lovelies, I couldn’t get you photos by press time, but mommy promises you great photos in my next column. Here are a few photos from last year, just to tease you all.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation’s leading industry-based, not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant making organization. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the theatre community, BC/EFA has raised over $50 million for AIDS-related causes across the United States since its founding in 1988.

That’s it for now — I’m off to O.D. on good Chinese food, sneak in some shopping, theatre, and a lot more Pride events. And I promise not to get monkeypox!