One of my treasured proofreaders sent me this email: "I never stopped to think of how the rainbow flag began, and how it could be one person's invention. I just assumed it was 'always there', and always a symbol of gay pride." He had just read about the passing of Gilbert Baker, the man credited with creating the first rainbow flag. Since I watch way too much PBS, I already knew Gilbert's story. The army veteran taught himself how to sew so that he could make banners and flags. Harvey Milk asked him to come up with a symbol of gay pride, and Gilbert created the first rainbow flag, which Milk carried for San Francisco Pride in 1978. In 1997, Baker's original flag was installed on the corner of Castro and Market in San Francisco. Long may it wave.
The rainbow is also adorning the wrapper of my favorite candy bar. Snickers now sports rainbow shading around its familiar logo as part of a pro-LGBT ad campaign. Snickers is sponsoring a new section on GayStarNews.com that will "tell stories of LGBTI people and provide resources to help you be yourself even at the toughest times." Hmmm: Maybe I should look into getting a candy sponsor for BillyMasters.com .
Joan Rivers was chummy with Prince Charles. So when she could bring a plus-one for a weekend at Windsor Castle with Charles and Camilla in 2011, she brought Kathy Griffin. We knew that part of the story. But last week, New York Magazine writer Yashar Ali Tweeted: "Kathy Griffin called me and told me the craziest story about being at Windsor Castle with Joan Rivers and Aaron Schock." Sure, that got your attention. You didn't expect a story about Kathy and Joan to include a mega-hot, allegedly closeted, disgraced ex-Congressman, did you?
Yashar released the story as a string of Twitter posts. We've set the stage—Joan and Kathy are having dinner in Windsor Castle. Now, we cut to the Twitter posts, which I will slightly edit for flow: "Kathy is placed at dinner next to this gay couple. Both in tuxes. One is clean cut and the other is kinda greasy. The clean cut guy is clearly a fan, chatting her up, asks her all about Cher—total gossip session. Fun. Kathy has no idea ( keep in mind this is before he became gaymous ) that the gay guy she's seated with is a Congressman. Finally she asks what do you do for a living? He says he's a Congressman from Peoria, IL—Kathy is from Oak Park, IL.
"She asks Aaron how he ended up in Windsor Castle and he says that for $25,000 to the Prince's charity you get this 2 week package. Where you get to hang out with him and travel all around. Huh? Kathy is like this doesn't pass the smell test—$25K for two weeks? Even if there were a 2 week package—it wouldn't be $25K to hang out with the Prince et al—clearly a weird lie. She then says ok so obviously you're for repealing DOMA, same sex marriage etc. Remember she's assuming he's out. He gets all curt and is like 'uh no I am not'. Remember he's sitting there with his boyfriend talking about Cher etc. Gimme a break. She accuses him of being a bad gay!!!! He gets super annoyed w/ her + doesn't say 'I'm not gay'. It's more like he was offended by idea that anyone there thought he was gay. So remember there's night 2 of the Windsor extravaganza ... the next night he totally ignores her, cold shoulder etc."
"The $25k for 2 weeks—also bs, turns out Aaron was there as the guest of the paying guest—we don't know who that is. Cause it wasn't his boyfriend who paid. Here's his date to Windsor Castle [Yashar posted a photo, which we will also post on BillyMasters.com]. Obviously a member of the family, if you know what I'm saying. One of the things Aaron got charged with was accepting an illegal gift ie the Windsor Castle excursion but here's what we didn't know. ... Kathy Griffin was in the loop ( unwittingly ) years before the rest of us and the Feds. Which is peak Kathy Griffin." BTW, the entertainment for the soirée was Barry Manilow! Yashar sums it up like this: "Kathy Griffin, Joan Rivers, Prince Charles, Aaron Schock, Camilla Parker Bowles, and Barry Manilow walk into Windsor Castle ... is the start of the gayest joke ever!"
It's been eons since I've brought you a penis, so I'm going to make up for it with two penii! The first comes to you courtesy of a new show, What Happens at The Abbey. You know what happens at this popular WeHo watering hole? Nothing! The vast majority of employees are straight. So are the vast majority of patrons. I believe Vanderpump's place around the corner has more gays per square foot than The Abbey. We hear that E! told the bar they needed to hire more hot guys. So the newest staff members were "cast." One of the hottest is Billy Reilich, previously known as Nick the Gardener on Ellen's talk show. He's what The Abbey calls a "VIP server." I call him money in the bank—at least with all those explicit nudes I have of him on BillyMasters.com .
Our "Ask Billy" question comes from Walt in Chicago: "Who is Thom Evans? I guess he's some rugby player who posed almost nude for an HIV charity. But I don't think I've ever seen anyone so hot. Do you have more?"
Indeed, I do. You see, this ain't Thom's first skin shoot. He previously posed for the "Dieux du Stade" calendar in which he showed all—alongside his virtually identical brother, Max ( also a rugby player ). Yes, dueling hunky brothers frolicking in flagrante! So, Walt, you hit the jackpot. You'll certainly be jacking something when you see the amazingly hot photos on BillyMasters.com .
When QEII isn't the only queen in Windsor, it's time to end yet another column. Before we close, I would like to note the passing of NYC drag legend Sweetie, after a long battle with cancer. Speaking of sweets, we must remind you to check out www.BillyMasters.com—the site brought to you by Jawbreakers ... for obvious reasons. Send your questions to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before I sign up for rugby lessons. Until next time, remember: One man's filth is another man's bible.
