The Off Sunset Festival

Sunday July 7th was the first Off Sunset Festival in the Silverlake neighborhood Los Angeles. The festival took place on Santa Monica Blvd just off of Sunset Blvd. running for two blocks. The festival consisted of booths of local businesses and organizations running down both sides of Santa Monica with a DJ stage at one end and a music stage at the other. The attendees were an interesting mix of punk rockers and the gay S&M scene.  These crowds co-exist as there are a lot of similarities. Black leather seems to be the great equalizer.
The S&M crowd tended to stay nearer the DJ stage that was set up outside of the Eagle a local leather bar. The music stage was attended by mainly the punk rock crowd. I spent the majority of my time at the music stage as I was friends with members of a couple of the bands. The line up for this Los Angeles event had a distinct San Francisco flavor. Four of the six bands are based in San Francisco or formed there.

The line up started with LA based Black Sabbitch an woman Black Sabbath cover band. They were so rocking that if Black Sabbath played as well as Black Sabbitch I may have liked them more. Next up was San Francisco's Hunx and his Punx. They have a sort goofy surf-y, campy sound. My favorite song of the set was the super short "Don't Call me Fabulous".

The next band was the legendary San Francisco all punk rock woman band Frightwig. Frightwig has been on a hiatus but are back at work playing shows and recording new music. The next up was Prima Donna an LA based band. Prima Donna had the most stag antics of all of the bands and are a lot of fun to watch. Next was queercore sweethearts Pansy Division. Fast and funny Pansy Division are always fun to see and never disappoint. The Headliners of the show was Imperial Teen. Imperial Teen reformed after a shorty hiatus and are releasing new material. The show consisted of new songs and their past hits.

Being a show that was sponsored by among others The Eagle and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Frightwig in a nod to the sponsors had to jock strap and harness wearing Go Go boys shaking it during their set. The crowd all enjoyed the show and this was a tough crowd. There were a lot of very well known punk names in the audience.
This was the fist Off Sunset Festival and it hopefully won't be the last. If they are able to produce it again next year it would be smart to hire another great line up of bands like they did this festival.

The Shaggs

The Shaggs if you haven't heard of them are an all female rock band from New Hampshire. Not only are they an all female band they are also sisters. But there is a bit more to them than just that; they are such a bad band they are wonderful! A-rhythmic, discordant and tuneless are apt descriptions of the Shaggs.
Formed in 1968 in Fremont, New Hampshire The Shaggs were sisters Dot, Betty, Helen and Rachel Wiggin. The band was formed by their father because a palm reader had told his mother he would have daughters who form a popular music group. It was because of his insistence the sisters started playing. It was their father who also got them a regular Saturday night gig playing in the town hall of their home town. He also booked a recording studio and produced their first record "Philosophy of the World".
Described by the Rolling Stone columnist Debra Rae Cohen as sound like "Lobotomized Trapp family singers" and by Chris Connelly "without exaggeration it may stand as the worst album ever recorded". Conversely The Shaggs were also loved as outsider musicians by the likes of Frank Zappa and NRBQ and have influenced others like Kimba Dawson.
The Shaggs disbanded after the death of their father in 1975. It was in the 1990's when they were rediscovered and promoted by NRBQ who gave them their first and only gig outside of New Hampshire.

Happy Birthday Herbert Khaury

You might not know him by his real name but you might recognize his stage name, Tiny Tim. Today would have been his 8ist birthday. Tiny Tim was an oddity and a star in the late 1960's and early 70's. He rose to fame with his truly quirky personality and falsetto/vibrato voice. One of the oddest things that Tiny Tim did in his career was marry his wive "Miss Vicky" on the Johnny Carson show in 1969. He and Miss Vicky eventually divorced. They has a daughter named Tulip and a still born son named It.
Born in New York he discovered he a musical talent at a young age when singing along to the radio he found he could reach the high octaves that most males can not. Tiny Tim performed in night clubs in New York when he recorded his first record, God Bless Tiny Tim. On that record he recorded a cover of Sony and Cher's hit "I Got You Babe" on which he sang both parts and his biggest hit "Tip-Toe Through the Tulips". Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In featured Tiny Tim many times. His career more or less dwindled in the 1970's. He would make guest appearances on television programs and would perform at venues around the country. He did perform with Camper Van Beethoven in the late 80's and several records were released on CD in the 1990's by Rhino Records.
Tiny Tim died in 1996 at age 64 after collapsing onstage from a heart attack at a women's club gala in Minneapolis.

Kate Bush CBE

Today singer Kate Bush received an honor from the Queen. Her majesty bestowed the honor of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire on Kate Bush. The order is the second highest honor in the British Empire. The only honor higher would be to be made a Dame, the female equivalent of a Lord.
Kate Bush, age 54, came to fame at the age of 19 when her song "Wruthering Heights" was number one on the British music charts for four weeks. She was the first woman to have a self written number hit in the UK. Bush's 40 year career has produced 10 albums and 3 Grammy award nominations.

I Might Just Love Alabama Shakes

One night not too long ago I was bored at home watching TV and I happened to catch an episode of Saturday Night Live. I normally don't watch SNL anymore for a bunch of reasons and I almost never care for the bands they book. The evening's show that I caught featured a band called Alabama Shakes. The name was enough to put me off as I was expecting some sort of Taylor Swit with palsy kind of band but I was proven wrong! I am so glad I was so filled with ennui that I couldn't change the channel because I might just love Alabama Shakes! This isn't the kind of band I would normally find attractive but there was something about them that grabbed me. That something is lead singer Brittany Howard. She has an energy and a charisma that makes you want to watch her. Their song on SNL was enough to make me want to see them live. I think she is someone who really needs to be seen live to really get her vibe. Ms. Howard is an energy force to be reckoned with. A if Joan Armatrading had balls or Linda Perry was friendly kind of vibe is what you get from her.
After the otherwise forgettable SNL was over I googled the band. Who knew they won a Grammy? I must of been out of the room or doing something else when the award was given; who knows. I started listening to them the next day and I have to say I am impressed. I normally don't really care for the roots/southern rock sound but they are able to bring a nice edge to it.
Visually they look exactly what I think a garage band from Alabama would look like. I have checked several of their videos and I really think they are a band to be seen live.  I will be keeping my eye on this band to see where they go from here.

Unnerving Vocal Terror

Mental illness, despair and AIDS are just a few of the topics Diamanda Galas takes on in her work. With her three and a half octave vocal range Galas can turn a shriek into an aria. Galas is classically trained and has studied a wide range of musical styles which has created a sound that is distinctly her own. Her themes are dark and difficult but there is the slightest ray of hope in much of her work.
Upon her brothers death from AIDS Galas focused on the disease. She has worked closely with ACT UP and was arrested in a protest in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral. Her operatic trilogy "Masque of Red Death", dedicated to her brother who died before its completion.
She has also performed the blues. Her recording "The Singer" includes her unique cover versions of songs by Willie Dixon and Screaming Jay Hawkins. The power of her keening voice and piano is chilling. Her recordings "Judgement Day" and "Vena Cava" further explore the depths of despair and madness.
In 1994 Galas teamed up with Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones to record "The Sporting Life" her most accessible recording. Her themes on this recording are mainly mental illness and murder.  The song "Baby's Insane" is terrifying sing along.

Galas has also worked extensively with the film industry contributing to many film soundtracks. Several of the songs from "The Sporting Life"are included in the soundtrack of Oliver Stone's film "Natural Born Killers". She was also one of the voices of the vampires in Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula".

Her live performances are always thrilling and terrifying at the same time. They are dark moody performances featuring her piano and often she will be drenched in blood. Her work is not for everyone but it has a sense of drama that can overwhelm and enthrall the audiences.

The Moldy Peaches

Founded in 1999 by Adam Green and Kimya Dawson The Moldy Peaches are mostly associated with the anti-folk movement. Their most commercial success has been the song "Anyone Else But You" which was part of the sound track to the indie film "Juno". Many of their songs are rathe slow paced and almost like edgy nursery rhymns. There is a child like quality to much of their work but the themes and language are not at all infantile. Memebers of the band have come and gone but both Dawson and Green have always been in the line up. Both of them have had side projects and solo acts. They both still tour individuallyperforming in smaller indie venues around the US and Europe. The Moldy Peaches themselves have not performed under that name since.
The band was signed with Rough Trade Records and put out several albums and did tour opening for  some well known acts like Tenacious D. Their single "Who's Got the Crack" did hit the top of the indie charts in the UK.

Their low-fi jangley sound has a definite DIY feel to it even though it has been mixed and is well thought out. This is never going to be pop music not do they seem to care. When things were looking like they could happen they just stopped. Kimya Dawson moved from New York to Washington state and had a baby she named Panda. Adam Green has continued to record and makes art.

Jobriath the Forgotten One

You haven't heard of Jobraith have you. No one has and that's the shame. Who was he? He was a glam rocker from the 70's, a lounge singer and a stage actor. He was also gay and that is why no one knows him now. The 70's may have been the time of gay liberation and rock stars like Bowie threw bisexuality in faces but it was still a much more uptight world. Jobriath was a little too out for the record buyers and his records just didn't sell.
Born in Pennsylvania with the name Bruce Wayne Campbell he was a piano prodigy who was classically trained. He was drafted into the army during the mid 60's and quickly went AWOL. He later appeared in Los Angeles and was cast in Hair. Jobriath then performed with a folk rock band called Pigeon and was signed by Decca records. Around this time the military police found him and not too much later he was spending time in a  military psychiatric hospital. It was when he was released he became Jobriath.
A demo that he submitted to Clive Davis was rejected for being "mad, unstructured and destructive to melody". The tape was overheard by promoter & manager Jerry Brandt. Brandt is noted for discovering both Carly Simon and Patti Smith. Jobriath was living in LA working as a prostitute when he signed with Brandt who immediately started promoting him. Eventually getting Jobriath signed to Electra Records for a reported $500,000. A marketing campaign then began that was over the top. Almost as over the top as Jobriath himself. His face was everywhere in New York, buses, huge posters and an enormous billboard in Times Square. Brandt made extravagant announcements "Elvis, The Beatles and Jobriath" it was an amazing media blitz of hype. The first record was the eponymously named "Jobriath"andcritically well received. Jobriath made his public debut performance on the television show "The Midnight Special". He performed two numbers including "I'maman" which would become his biggest hit. Unfortunately record sales were not great and the album didn't chart.

Six months later a second record was released "Creatures of the Street". Both Peter Frampton and John Paul Jones are featured on this recording. A concert tour was announced without much hype and commenced featuring elaborate costumes designed by Stephen Sprouse. Jobriath was basically abandoned by both Electra and Brandt during the tour.
In the mid 70's Jobriath gave up his music career and moved to the Chelsea Hotel to restart his acting career. During this time he started performing a cabaret act under the name Cole Berlin. He lived in the roof top apartment in the Chelsea and supplemented his income again with prostitution. In the early 80's Jobriath's 10 year contract with Brandt finally expired. Jobriath did perform at the Chelsea's 100th anniversary celebration. He died 6 months later in August of 1983. He was one of the first famous musician to die of AIDS.
Jobriath has always had his fans. Morrisey, the lead singer of the Smiths, is among them. Morrisey has overseen the release of a compilation album titled "Lonely Boy Planet". Performance artist Ann Magnuson is currently working on a performance piece and ep about Jobriath.

Jobriath the self proclaimed "rock's truest fairy" is gone but not entirely forgotten.

Jayne County is Man Enough to be a Woman

Who created punk rock? That's a hard question to answer but one of the names that always comes up is Jayne County. Did Jayne create punk rock? Well maybe not all on her own but she was a major player in the movement. Jayne of course at the time was known as Wayne County.

Jayne/Wayne was born and raised in Georgia and in 1968 moved to New York. She became involved in the downtown scene. She was a regular at the Stonewall Inn the dumpy gay bar where the riots that ignited the gay rights movement started. In 1969 Jackie Curtis was putting together his play "Femme Fatale" at La Mama. Jayne and Patti Smith were among members of the cast.  "Femme Fatale" had a very successful run becoming an underground hit garnering a lot of attention to the Downtown/Underground scene. Jayne then wrote and performed in her own play "World-Birth of a Nation". Andy Warhol was at the time putting together his play "Pork" and cast Jayne in a role. "Pork" played in New York and then moved onto a run in London. Jayne spent some time in London where she formed a band called "Queen Elizabeth" and caught the eye of David Bowie and his company MainMan. Queen Elizabeth performed for a while and Bowie's company spent a lot of money. There was a show called "Wayne County at the Trucks" that is believed to be the inspiration for Bowie's Diamond Dogs tour. The song "Queenage Baby" is almost universally belived to be prototype for Bowie's Rebel Rebel. Did Bowie rip off Jayne? Listen to both songs and see what you think.
In 1974 Jayne formed "Wayne County and the Backstreet Boys" yet another protopunk band. They performed frequently at Max's Kansas City and CBGB in New York and recorded 3 tracks for a compilation album of New York bands.
Back in London "Wayne County and the Electric Chairs" was formed in 1977. London's punk scene was gearing up and Jayne was there recording one of her classic songs "Fuck Off". After touring through Europe and putting out a couple of records Jayne returned to the US and at that time stopped using the name Wayne. Wayne was Jayne and he was a she.
In the early 80's Jayne was again on stage in a play this time with another Warhol Superstar Holly Woodlawn. Over the years Jayne has appeared in a handful of films as well as working as a DJ.
Her out put of work has been more or less none stop. She has released over a dozen records. Jayne appeared in several successful films including Derek Jarman's "Jubilee" and Barry Shils' "Wigstock". Jayne is also a visual artist having had gallery shows in several cities.

Now living back in Georgia Jayne has formed a new band "The Electric Queers" and has started performing live again. Do not miss the opportunity to see her live! Who created punk rock? It may just have been been Jayne County!

Thank You Johnny Cash

Sometimes you go through your music collection and you find something you forgot all about. "Hurt" by Johnny Cash is one of those things in my collection I'd forgotten but now I remember. A sadly moving piece by one of America's great singer song writers. Could be the best last song ever.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go&feature=related 
The link above will bring you to the music video. Genius!

Free Pussy Riot

Three members of the Russian band Pussy Riot are still in jail. They were jailed in February for a performance/protest in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The band Pussy Riot is a feminist punk rock collective that stages guerrilla performances. They wear mini dresses and bright colored balaclavas when performing. Three members of the band Maria Alehina, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were arrested in February and have been in jail since then. They are being charged with "hooliganism" and could face up to seven years in prison. Their protest was against Putin, his government and its policies. The members of the band that remain free have started a campaign to free the 3 incarcerated members two of whom have young children. They admit that what they did was meant to offend and they did it to protest the control of the church in the Russian government. They are now on trial. Pussy Riot has had great support in Russia as well as in other countries. Polls in Moscow have shown 50% of the people think they should be freed. There have some very well known supporters such as filmmaker Terry Gilliam, Adam Horovitz and Faith No More. Members of the band were on stage at a recent Faith No More concert in Moscow and lead singer Mike Patton made his encore wearing a balaclava and Pussy Riot t-shirt. Have things changed in Russia or is the draconian system of oppression still the rule of the day?

Helen Reddy Stepping out of Retiremnet

Australian singer Helen Reddy was one of the most popular solo acts of the 1970's. Her hit "I am Woman" has become a feminist standard. Ms. Reddy is also responsible for one of the creepiest hits of the 70's as well "Angie Baby".
"Angie Baby" was written by Alan O'Day and became fifth #1 hit on American pop charts. It is the story of "Angie" a slightly touched girl who spends her nights listening to the radio and living in a dream world. Angie is alone one night when "a neighbor boy with evil on his mind" peers through her window blind and tries to take advantage of her. What Angie does next is turn her radio down and the boys slowly disappears into her radio. He is reported missing and one knows where he is and thinks he is dead " "cept a crazy girl with a secret lover who keeps her satisfied". Angie is either insane or maybe she is magical. "Angie Baby" has all the makings for a made for TV movie starring Tilda Swinton.
The 70's had a rash of pop songs about creepy with mysterious lyrics. Songs like Cher's "Dark Lady" and Bobbie Gentry"s "Ode to Billie Joe" are both examples of the genre.
Helen Reddy not only had a recording career but a acting career as well having appeared in a number of television shows and the Disney movie "Pete's Dragon". She went into retirement in 2002 and moved back to her native Australia. There she lead a very low profile life and became a Certified Hypnotherapist. She has recently appeared in public singing at a club in San Diego and a high school in Panorama City in Los Angeles. Helen Reddy is now 70 and back hear her roar.

Zvuki Mu

Zvuki Mu roughly translated from Russian means Music of Mu. What Mu means is apparently something only a Russian can understand. Why am I telling you this you may be asking yourself. Well it is because Zvuki Mu is the name of a Russian band that I happen to think rocks! Zvuki Mu was founded in the 80's in Moscow by Pyotr Mamonov, an artist from the Russian art scene nnown for being eccentric at best. His performance style could be described as startling. He is am imposing man and when an imposing man is screaming lyrics in Russian you sit up and take notice.
The band has consisted of different line ups but Mamonov has been the constant. Zvuki Mu was part of the Underground Moscow music scene during the era of Glasnost and were able to perform in Eastern Europe as well as making it to the west in 1989. Zvuki Mu eventually hooked up with Brian Eno who produced their first record titled "Zvuki Mu". Then the wall came down and the bottom fell out for Zvuki Mu in the west. No longer a forbidden music their popularity in the west dropped. There is a second record Zima but that is all in the west. Zvuki Mu is wildly popular still in Russia and East Europe. They are like Anton Chekhov meets Frank Zappa at Kafka's house. My favorite cut from the first record is "Krim". The last three lines of the song are "Give Me Money". Don't think this is difficult listening hour music; they totally rock. Their records are available for download and I highly recommend them.

James Honeyman-Scott

On June 16 1982 James Honeyman-Scott died. That was 30 years ago. The Pretenders' guitarist was 25 years old when he died. His brief career had not yet reached its possible peak. Honeyman-Scott died of heart failure due to an intolerance to cocaine. Pete Farndon the Pretenders' bass player survived him by one year. The Pretenders as they were died too. Two full albums and an EP were the output of their brief existence. Chrissy Hynde and Martin Chambers still perform under the name Pretenders more aptly than ever.
Honeyman-Scott was a native of Hereford, England as were Fardon and Chambers. There they met American Hynde and formed the Pretenders. Four years later it was all over. Thirty years ago, time flies. Listen to "Precious" really loud. Then put on "Tattooed Love Boys". Do as a tribute to James Honeyman-Scott.

Plastic People of the Universe

There was a strong underground in what is now the Czech Republic in the 1970's. The sound of that underground was the band "Plastic People of the Universe. Founded in 1968 PPU as they are known was not a political activism band they were just a group of musicians who loved rock and roll and wanted to play. The band takes it's name from the Frank Zappa song Plastic People a favorite musician of founder and bassist Milan Hlavsa. Their sound was influenced by the Velvet Underground and Captain Beefheart with a eastern European flair. During the time of the "Prague Spring" PPU became extremely popular in Czechoslovakia. This popularity came to a head when they were scheduled for a concert in a suburban town outside of Prague and the Soviets shut it down arresting concert goers around the time of their crack down on the people of Czechoslovakia.
The band then went underground truly underground. In 1974 members of PPU along with other artists were arrested for organized disturbance of the peace. It was during this period that playwright Vaclav Havel and others formed together to write Charter 77 a document critical to the current government and its crackdowns.
PPU never considered themselves political even though their music was the soundtrack of the underground politcal movement. The band eventuallu broke up in 1988 and members went off to form other bands. In 1997 at the suggestion of then President and fan Vaclav Havel the band was reunited playing throughout the Czech Rebublic and eastern European countries. The founder of PPU Milan Hlavsa died in 2001.
Their recordings are available today and are as enjoyable as any of the music of that and this era.

H.E.A.R.

In 1988 Kathy Peck the former bass player and singer for the San Francisco band The Contractions noticed after a very loud concert she was experiencing ringing in her ears. This is a condition known as tinnitus. Kathy along with a local physician Flash Gordon started H.E.A.R. a non-profit organization dedicated to combat and bring about awareness of tinnitus. H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers) has been making rockers, sound engineers and music fans aware of the dangers of excessive noise and the damage it can cause. Ear plugs distributed free at concerts and festivals through the hard work of Kathy Peck. H.E.A.R. also conducts hearing awareness clinics as well as school programs educating concert goers about the dangers of tinnitus which can lead to hearing loss.

H.E.A.R. is dependent upon donations and receives no government funding in their mission. In the 20 plus years that Kathy Peck has been working with H.E.A.R. they have received support form industry professionals and the music media. The website for H.E.A.R. is www.hearnet.com and has loads of information and links to resources dealing with hearing loss.

Banga a New Release From Patti Smith

June 4th is the stated release date for "Banga" Patti Smith's tenth studio album. This is her first release since 2007's "Twelve" a compilation of cover songs and her first original material since her 2004 release of "Trampin". The first single is available for download now. It is titled "April Fool". I love Patti Smith and have since I first heard her many many years ago. I listened to "April Foll" and I was sadly disappointed. I was expecting something musically better. It reminds me of a "Motels" recording form the 80's. It sounds like either "Only the Lonely" or "Take the L out of Lover" only with better lyrics. As a writer of poetry and lyrics she can not be topped.
The information on "Banga" sent out by the record company has a list of tracks. One of the songs on the new release is "This is the Girl" a tribute to Amy Winehouse. The other noted track is a birthday song for Johnny Depp titled "Nine"? I am not sure what to make of either of these but I have high hopes for both. I know she is a fan of Johnny Depp and her tribute to Kurt Cobain "About a Boy" was very moving and rocking. There is another track that was written for the people of Japan after the earthquake and tsunami titled "Fuji-san". This too should be an interesting listen especially as she has written songs of this nature before specifically "Radio Baghdad" and "Gung Ho".
Perhaps as time goes on "April Fool" will grow on me but as of this listen I was hoping for more rock and less middle of the road. I have never thought of her work as being middle of the road so I may be wrong. I will pickup "Banga" when it is released next month with hope.

Elephant: Queer is Cooler

It was the hottest day ever recorded in LA. I stood on Josie Cotton’s balcony in the full sun directing light off of a reflector onto Elephant. Who are Elephant and how did we end up on Josie Cotton’s balcony you may be asking yourself. I’ll get to that. We went inside. Josie made us lunch. We sat down to sandwiches and chat. We talked about Josie’s building and its view. Diane Linkletter jumped from the building in 1969. When lunch was over we headed into Josie’s bath room and a bubble bath photo shoot. Okay who are Elephant! I sat down recently with Elephant and we talked about their music their message and their lives. Jackson is the more social and chatty brother where as Coleman has more of a business head. Some might call them fraternal fags; they’d be right but they’d be so wrong. Sure they’re twins; sure they’re queer, those are just the facts. Jackson and Coleman Vrana are musicians with a message, and if you don’t get it, well, fuck you. Photo of Elephant by: Jenine de Shazer @2010 I asked Jackson and Coleman where they were from and they laughed and said they were from a lakefront property in Oklahoma. They came out when they were 14 or 15 and got beaten up every day. Both of them left when they were 18. Coleman went to New York and Jackson to London and they lived separate lives until about 3 years ago when Coleman paid a visit to Jackson who had moved to LA. While they were together in LA they discovered that they both had musical ideas that were remarkably similar. They then secretly put together Elephant. I asked where the name Elephant came from and they said it is the thing in the room no one wants to mention; the queer twin thing. They also said that they need to address the twin thing right up front as many people just assume it is a gimmick. “Twins are looked at as freaks.” Both of them want to be seen as performers, not just freaks. They are performers with a message and they are doing twin gay hip-hop because it makes their message more accessible. What is their message? That is harder to pin the guys down on. Their songs are about Transgender, HIV and queer issues. They are thought of as by some as an x-rated political band. This is how they got involved with Josie Cotton. Josie Cotton caught them playing “Notorious HIV” at an LA club and knew they had something. Josie a provocateur and a trouble maker in the 80’s renowned for her song “Johnny Are You Queer?” Josie was putting together a new album and had the guys record some vocals on one of her tracks along with performing with her at various gigs. They did a tour of shows including pride events and a Logo network show with Ru Paul. Josie has been working with them on Elephant’s upcoming record “Don’t Sit There Its Wet”. They are not trying to put out a record that will get radio play. They are working on moving further away from the gay scene and want to play more in Punk venues. Punks are treated as freaks and they feel more at home with punks as they too are freaks because they are queer. They want their record to make people think and to hopefully inspire young people not unlike the whole it gets better message. They say “Queer is cooler”.