I went to several Pride-related events in Hollywood, including a book signing for Frank DeCaro’s encyclopedic volume, Drag: Combing Through the Big Wigs of Show Business.  What an entertaining and informative book – certainly a “must” for anyone reading this column.  Why, it is simply staggering the amount of information you learn.  In addition to the current drag divas, I was interested in reading about the people who paved the way – because, we all know that without drag queens, we’d have no Stonewall.  The event I went to at Barnes & Noble at The Grove was standing room only and featured the grand dame of Los Angeles drag, Momma.  On the dais we had Bruce Vilanch (who apparently is the go-to when it comes to writing material for men in drag on television), Alaska Thunderfuck, and the reigning Best in Drag, Reba Ariba.  The panel discussion was fascinating (I’ll link to it on BillyMasters.com) and special celebs like Jack Plotnick, Melissa Peterman, Tom Lenk, Drew Droege, Carolyn Hennesy, and others made it truly a celebration.  Go out and buy Frank’s book NOW!

Do you remember Bicentennial Moments?  They were little PSAs that ran on network TV.  I don’t remember exactly when – I believe it was sometime in the mid-‘70s.  Anyhoo, here’s your Gay Pride moment.  Didya know actor Michael Gross – yes, Michael J. Fox’s dad on Family Ties – made his Broadway debut in the original production of Bent?  And in drag?  Gross was also at DeCaro’s book signing, and we had a long conversation about him getting the role of Greta.  The story is included in Frank’s book.