“Dr. KING WOULD BE TURING OVER IN HIS GRAVE RIGHT NOW ABOUT PROP 8"

LOS ANGELES — The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the 50-year-old civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others, is seeking to remove the president of its Los Angeles chapter, Rev. Eric P,Lee, in response to his support of same-sex marriage in California.

During the battle last fall over Proposition 8, Rev. Lee, was more than a tangential figure for the opposition. He was front and center at an opposition group’s large rally at City Hall and marched in the blazing sun for 15 miles in Fresno.

Many other local African-American pastors and church leaders were against gay marriage, and threw they're support for prop 8 . Mr. Lee said that his opposition to Proposition 8 had “created tension in my life I had never experienced with black clergy.” Rev Lee, the went on to say, “Dr. King would be turning over in his grave right now.”

Cottrea scott king, (widow of MLK) had previously been very supportive of gay rights. Back in 1998, mrs. king said, "I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people. ... But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people."
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OUTFEST2009

wow, the 27th annual outfest opened last night @ the orpheum theatre. i remember going to my first outfest film festival way back in 1985! opening night was @ the four star theater on wilshire blvd., a former porno theater that had been empty for about a year. i'm sure they got this run-down venue for free. the entire audience was approx 30 people. this included the ticket taker and usher. both whom were friends of mine. the premiere film wasMALA NOCHE by a new filmmaker named gus van sant. he did not attend. there was no after party. my how times have changed.

Outfest 2009 kicks off with the Opening Night Gala screening of writer-director Peter Bratt’s La Mission. Starring Benjamin Bratt, Jeremy Ray Valdez, and Erika Alexander, La Mission tells the story of a tough ex-con attempting to come to grips with the fact that his teenage son is gay.
Both Benjamin Bratt and Peter Bratt were @ the screening, they looked great in person. older looking than expected, very macho, definitely straight, but loving gays all the way. the film touched on some racial & the homophobic divides that are all too prevalent. although somewhat broad, and exaggerated, the film hit home on the message. benjamin bratt was excellent. sure to be an underrated performance.
the film was preceded by a tribute to filmmaker Don Roos, writer of "boys on the side," and director of "the opposite of sex." he was very funny and had some poignant remarks for young filmmakers- "when you're young we tend to focus on art and ignore life. next thing you know you're 50 years old, you have your art, but don't have a life. I encourage you to put your art aside sometimes and go for life. pursue that love interest, make a pass at that boy @ the party, chase after your first love. sometimes life is better than art."
christina ricci, lisa kudrow and CHAZ BONO also chatted the audience up.

SIMMON DEXTER- GIVE ME MORE!

this boy has a future... photos by rick day





for more simon go here-

MASSACHUSETTS SUES U.S GOVERNMENT

AND THE DOMINO EFFECT HAS BEGUN....
BOSTON – Massachusetts, the first state to legalize gay marriage, sued the U.S. government Wednesday over a federal law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
The federal Defense of Marriage Act interferes with the right of Massachusetts to define and regulate marriage as it sees fit, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said. The 1996 law denies federal recognition of gay marriage and gives states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Massachusetts is the first state to challenge the federal law.
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WISCONSIN BREAKS RANK.. GOES GAY

Wisconsin same-sex couples to be allowed to form legal partnerships

Same-sex partners in Wisconsin soon will have many of the rights of married couples.

The 2010-2012 state budget signed last week by Gov. Jim Doyle includes a provision that allows same-sex partners to form a legal domestic partnership.
The measure takes effect Aug. 1 and includes 43 of the more than 200 rights and benefits extended to married couples, including taking family and medical leave to care for a seriously ill partner, make-end-of-life decisions and have hospital visitation rights.

The provision makes Wisconsin the first state allow for domestic partnerships while also having a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages.
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LADY GAGA BRINGS FETISH TO MALTA

lady gaga wears blindfold & gag to her interview in malta. hey gaga.. hit me up.. i have some kink ideas you may like- www.rickcastro.com

CASTING CALL

i am holding a casting call for male models on july 17th, 2-6pm. here's the info-

here's a link to my fashion photography- www.castro.net.ms
i am working with my stylist brett mccall on a editorial test shoot involving
edgy, men's fashion, shoes, ties, accessories etc..

we will submit our shoot to vman, tokion, homme plus and tetu magazines

i'd doing a casting on july 17th- 2- 6pm.

are you interested to model? come by with portfolio or sample pics.

we will be shooting the week after that for one afternoon.

rick castro

antebellum
1643 n las palmas ave
hollywood, ca 90028
323 856-0667
www.antebellum.us.ms
antebellum@earthlink.net

CRUSHFANZINE- FOOT SOLDIERS

my newest tear-sheets are in CRUSHfanzine, the most original magazine i've seen in awhile. featuring my long-time pal- TONY WARD and my new discovery- skinny boy- ZACH BAYSE! photos by me- rick castro. check out the out-takes here, and the published editorial in the current issue-CRUSHfanzine very limited supply of crushfanzine available @ antebellum

Oscar Mayer Dead!

THE BIGGER WEENIER IS DEAD!

first the biggest sidekick passes, (ed mcmann) then the biggest hair, (farrah) then the biggest pop star, (MJ of course) now the biggest weenier is dead. i can't take much more death of my icons. now i'll never be an oscar mayer weenier. that's what i truly wanted to be.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Oscar G. Mayer, retired chairman of the Wisconsin-based meat processing company that bears his name, has died at the age of 95.

MOONWALKS OF YESTERYEAR

12-AD-MJ

featured dancers-
fred astaire
bill bailey
buck & bubbles
cab calloway
clark brothers
sammy davis jr.
daniel l. haynes
rubberneck holmes
patterson & jackson
eleanor powell
bill robinson
three chefs
tip, tap & toe
earl snakehips tucker

JACKSON MEMORIAL

AD-MJ-11
THE MICHAEL JACKSON MEMORIAL

MEMORIES
* mj's coffin on the floor of the staple center-surrounded by flowers- is ominous.
* mariah carey is so over come with emotion she keeps losing her voice & range.
* queen latifah fucks up numerous times while reading a poem from maya angelou.
* all the jackson brothers wear one white rhinestoned glove as a tribute to their brother.
* berry gordy declares MJ, "the greatest entertainer of all time", brings the worldwide audience to the first standing ovation.
* kobe bryant looks FINE while laughing @ wilt chamberlain's memories of MJ.
* jennifer hudson performance is so eloquent.. spoken words by MJ come across as haunting.
* rev al sharpton looks so old... but brings the house down when he directly speaks to mj's children.
* brooke shields speaks from her heart when she asks, "what's up with the glove?", refers to mj as "the little prince." and asks the audience to smile.
* followed by brother jermaine jackson singing smile.
* usher sings "gone too soon," directly to mj's coffin, breaks down crying at the end of the song, kneels in front of katherine jackson.
* smokey robinson takes the stage stating, "i wrote that song...and i thought i sang it."
* shaheen jafargholi sings "who's loving you,' looking like chaz bono.
* producer kenny ortega, (i worked with him way back in the day with toni basil) speaks about the "this is it- tour," that will never happen.
* rendition of "we are the world," comes off somewhat awkward. "heal the world," even more so.
* marlon jackson tries to speak with much difficulty, is supported by his brothers & sisters.
* paris jackson speaks from her heart, is overcome with grief.
* the coffin is wheeled out, while the audience screams his name.
all in all- AMAZING

JACKSON MEMORIAL LIVE @ MANN'S CHINESE- HOLLYWOOD

11-AD-MJ
theaters across america will be screening the public memorial service for michael jackson live and for free. theater staff said they didn't know what turn out to expect, since there has been reletivlly no press or public announcent.

here are the venues in los angeles and california-

Hollywood- Mann Chinese 6
Monrovia - Krikorian Monrovia Cinema 12
Tulare - Galaxy 10 Tulare
you can find theaters in other states
HERE-

BOB MITCHELL- LA's oldest organist- THE END OF AN ERA

The Legacy Of Bob Mitchell, October 12, 1912- july 4th, 2009

ANOTHER ICON has left us, although more obsurce that the king of pop, BOB MITCHELL was KING OF THE ORGAN.

Born October 12, 1912, Bob Mitchell showed an acute aptitude & appreciation of music at a very early age. In 1924, when still only 12, Bob started playing organ accompaniment to silent films, beginning a passion for silent cinema music that would last a lifetime. In the 1930's he started his Boys Choir, which gained much success; the Mitchell Singing Boys would appear in scores of films, most notably GOING MY WAY (1944) with Bing Crosby. On his 90th birthday in 2002, Bob Mitchell was still keeping very busy playing the organ for church and weddings, personal appearances and silent films - delighting new audiences with his gift of music.
Nominated for an Academy Award, FORTY BOYS AND A SONG is an informative & highly entertaining little film which spotlights a premiere American musical institution from years past. We watch the young fellows in the classroom, at play and at church. Always, music is being taught, performed & enjoyed and we get to hear the boys' renditions of "Home On the Range," "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean" & "Shortenin' Bread."
**********************************

The first thing you notice about Bob Mitchell, are his eyes. They twinkle with an innocent delight, especially when the conversation turns to music. He is tall and lanky, but still one of those men that makes a dark suit and trousers look dashing even on a hot afternoon.
The founder-leader of the Mitchell Boys Choir for more than 70 years, he belted out a couple of “popular” tunes with his powerful voice as his long fingers nimbly danced across the well-worn keys of his upright piano.

When “talkies” ushered out the era of silent pictures, Mitchell made a successful career change to other burgeoning media. Throughout the 30s he was staff organist at various times for KMTR, KEME, KHJ and from 1940 to 1965 at KFI radio. Another contribution the church made to his musical life also included a love for choral music.

He subsequently formed Mitchell Boys Choir, which provided the music for and appeared in dozens of films including “Angels with Dirty Faces” with James Cagney and the Christmas classic, “The Bishop’s Wife."

His boy’s choir also recorded with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra among others. His works with the boy’s choir also garnered him several illustrious honors including a Silver Medal from Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco, a Medal from the Pope and the Boy Scouts of America.

On his 90th birthday, Bob was the focus of a fittingly lavish and affectionate celebration at LA’s Palace Theater hosted by actor Bill Pullman and Charlie Lustman, proprietor of the Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax Ave. The fans in attendance were treated to an episode of “This Is Your Life," honoring Mitchell as well as a cameo by comedian Eddie Cantor, a regular fixture on the Orpheum Theatre circuit.

As vivacious as ever, the refrain of Mitchell’s life has come full circle 80 years later. He plays several nights a week before his old colleagues Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and other silent screen legends at the Silent Movie Theatre. He is also assembling a new boy’s choir for the Christ the King Parish on N. Rossmore Ave.

“Of course, it’s music that I live for,” says Bob Mitchell, and so with each passing day it’s like a full, happy lifetime in itself.
a service for bob will be on friday morning @ Christ the King Parish on N. Rossmore Ave.
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CIRQUE BERZERK~ UPDATE

photos of me and my dates~alex&ron @ cirque berzerk




performances thursday thru saturday until july 26th.... run, don't walk to this cavalcade of amusement... mention ANTEBELLUM GALLERY & CODE~ CBANT
and receive a 15% discount off any tickets @$45 or more!
MORE INFO & TO ORDER TICKETS-