Halloween: Gay Holy Week
October 31st, a.k.a. Halloween, is more than just another excuse to party, at least in WeHo – West Hollywood – a city in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, a few miles west from Downtown LA. In WeHo Halloween is a very anticipated “Holy-Day.” Among the gay community of Los Angeles where high heels, feathers, wigs, fitted dresses and make-up rub shoulders with Dracula, mummies, skeletons, pirates, monsters and the most trendy and scary costumes. The FAB life glitters and sparkles some of the most popular clubs, including the streets of Santa Monica Boulevard where the famous/infamous parade takes place. At least for this night, almost no one seems to get offended by the men in drag; it is just a complement of the celebration. How many gay men dress in drag only for Halloween? I don’t now. There is no scientific statistics for this kind of stuff. However, judging by my surroundings and acquaintances, it is a big number. Does every gay man dress up? Of course not! Does every gay man want to dress up? Of course! At least for kicks, every gay man has or has thought of wearing high heels and a dress. It is in the genetic structure of the queer DNA. Again, there’s no scientific data to validate this … yet.
I attended a party in the ever-growing, gay and trendy Silver-Lake/Echo-Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. A really nice and well thought out party! Everything from the drinks to the music, the h’orderves to the decorations were organized in such a way that the guests never had to bother the hosts. A beautiful view of the newly renovated Griffith Observatory as a backdrop gave the outdoor patio a surreal tone. Colorful lights and spider webs mingled uninhibited with the feathers and mascara of many of the guests. The music did not stop pumping or the drinks flowing until almost dawn. It seemed that everything went as planned. And talk about the planning that goes into this day! No one wants to be outdone by the guy next door. Every costume needs to be planned and crafted to the last crystal bead. It must be fitted enough to show off the gym physique, but it also must be comfortable enough to walk and dance on it. Not an easy task, at all. Thus, days and even weeks of planning, more so on the guests than the hosts, go NOT-UNNOTICED on the big night!
So, is Halloween the night of the devil? Who knows? Is it a night of sin? More likely than not! But, so is Cinco de Mayo and New Years, so what’s the big deal with this day? The only thing for sure is that Halloween is a sacred day for the LGBT community. It ranks probably number one – again no scientific data – on the importance scale of holidays. And if it falls on a Tuesday, like this past Halloween, then the partying begins on the Thursday night before. Almost a full week to succumb to the beats of the musical rhythms and to the lights of the Los Angeles nights!
I attended a party in the ever-growing, gay and trendy Silver-Lake/Echo-Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. A really nice and well thought out party! Everything from the drinks to the music, the h’orderves to the decorations were organized in such a way that the guests never had to bother the hosts. A beautiful view of the newly renovated Griffith Observatory as a backdrop gave the outdoor patio a surreal tone. Colorful lights and spider webs mingled uninhibited with the feathers and mascara of many of the guests. The music did not stop pumping or the drinks flowing until almost dawn. It seemed that everything went as planned. And talk about the planning that goes into this day! No one wants to be outdone by the guy next door. Every costume needs to be planned and crafted to the last crystal bead. It must be fitted enough to show off the gym physique, but it also must be comfortable enough to walk and dance on it. Not an easy task, at all. Thus, days and even weeks of planning, more so on the guests than the hosts, go NOT-UNNOTICED on the big night!
So, is Halloween the night of the devil? Who knows? Is it a night of sin? More likely than not! But, so is Cinco de Mayo and New Years, so what’s the big deal with this day? The only thing for sure is that Halloween is a sacred day for the LGBT community. It ranks probably number one – again no scientific data – on the importance scale of holidays. And if it falls on a Tuesday, like this past Halloween, then the partying begins on the Thursday night before. Almost a full week to succumb to the beats of the musical rhythms and to the lights of the Los Angeles nights!
posted by Guerrero Azteca @ 4:33 PM
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