Off Limits
Will & Grace on Steroids. An impressive 600 people attended last Saturday's Human Rights Campaign dinner at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza, where lipstick was optional. (Can we just say that gay people assemble the best homo-, hetero-or metrosexual-friendly gift bags?) One surprising highlight of the evening, meant to raise money and awareness about gay rights issues, was the redneck comic shtick of Nash Trash Tours' Brenda Kay Wilkins and Sheri Lynn Nichols, whose loud, screechy dinner calls herded the homos into the ballroom faster than Abby Rubenfeld could run from reporters. But better yet was the Rev. Sonnye Dixon's rousing award acceptance, during which he challenged religious-minded peers to join him as a "recovering homophobic." If there was any doubt that Dixon, the former president of the local NAACP chapter, is among this city's most courageous and good-hearted leaders, this speech should douse it. He also demonstrated some comic genius when he said he was considering adopting a third-grade class so that he could have as many kids at state Sen. John Ford. Keynote speaker and noted writer Andrew Sullivan, who didn't get to the podium until well into the evening, was worth the wait and a massive improvement over earlier speaker Ashley Judd's well-meaning but self-absorbed ruminations. (Catty note from a straight eye: While dress was business attire, Judd wore a ponytail, hip-hugging jeans and a tank top. De-Lovely is right.)
Attaboy, Jimmy. Speaking of all things gay, we offer a shout-out to state House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, who was brave enough last week to call a turd a turd when he said he hoped the anti-gay adoption bills "would meet their demise at some point along the way in an orderly fashion." (Points for channeling Don Corleone.) These bills, which would keep homosexuals from adopting or fostering any of the 10,000 kids in state custody, are first a threat to children and, secondly, to gays. We're proud of Naifeh for setting a good example.
Dread This Award Show. On Saturday night, Metro Clown-at-Large Adam Dread emceed the local ADDY Awards, which recognize excellence in advertising and graphic design. The ribald comedian-turned-council member made some naughty jokes and got the crowd laughing—only after getting them drinking, of course. We hear he took a cheap shot at the Scene along the way, but never fear, he's got a killer story idea for us, pitched Sunday night at the Belcourt: Nashvillians who look like celebrities. We're not sure Fred Flintstone counts as a celebrity, Adam, but for the record, we see the resemblance.
No Sally Field? Spotted at The Villager on Saturday night: Clea Duvall, along with other folks in Nashville to shoot a film called Two Weeks. Welcome, y'all—next pitcher's on us.
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