Hotspots

By Dian Katz, MS

Are we there yet??? Hmm... ice chest? check::::::::::surfboard? check::::::::::::::suntan lotion? check::::::::::::Hotspots?:::::::: screeeeeeech:::::::::::: ABSOEFFINLUTELY!!! Al-righty now, let’s get this summer party started! Time to fill you in on some hot and heavy summer Hotspots happening at a city near you!! Oh, can you pass me the chips? Ahem....

Many of you probably already know, it’s ORLANDO GAYDAYS 20TH ANNIVERSARY at THE MAGIC KINDOM until JUNE 6TH!!! Seriously now! You know you want it! You know you want to flaunt your purdy arse down Mainstreet! You know you want to act all Goofy and flitter around like Petah!! And let me tell you ladies… there’s a whole section devoted just to women!! *Woop* *Woop* They have nighttime dance parties... they have pool parties, they have comedy. Sounds like a festival to moi!! Where else can you be the happiest, gayest person on earth??? Don’t answer that! I only want to know about Disney right now….holding my ears…. just stop it!! Look, there will be so many you knows walking around the park. They even have an event for those in recovery 12-step groups. Yup, GayDays has it all.. Want more information and the schedule? Why didn’t you say so!! HA! Just put your little fingers on the keyboard and type: www.girlsatgaydays.com.

Now over on the West Coast, we have it going on as well. Don’t think you East Coasters have all the excitement do ya! Well do ya??? HA! We have a couple of Pride Fests happening in California this month that make you go hmmmmmm. We are talkin’ CHRISTOPHER STREET WEST’S LA PRIDE June 10-12 baybeeeeeeee!!!! Uh huh! Uh huh!! Squeak, squeak … my sound effects of the dj scratchin’ and spinnin’... lol! Nuttin’ like LA Pride.

We party hard in this town! The Parade located in West Hollywood, goes on for hours on end... so we have LOTS of time to shake our booty here… and then the Festival is all weekend long and has fabulous entertainment. Of course most of you have heard that West Hollywood or WeHo to locals, has plenty of lipstick lesbians. That’s right and I’m sure plenty of them will be running around during LA Pride. So, ya like the idea? Hit the puter (okay don’t actually hit it) and type: www.lapride.org.

Oh but perhaps you are in the LA area during Pride and want to make a political statement. I have just the HOTSPOT for you as well! THE DYKE MARCH RALLY AND LESBIAN VISIBILITY AFTER PARTY will be on Friday, June 10th, beginning at 7:30. Join the masses of people of all ages marching down Santa Monica Blvd toward the LA Pride Festival grounds where there will be a “free after-party with refreshments and music.” That’s right! You heard me correctly! It’s freeeeeeeee! There’s celebration, pride, speakers and more.. hot, hot, hot!!!  For more information on this fun event, also go to the www.lapride.org website. You’ll find more there! Booooyaaaa!!!

Maybe LA is just too LA for you and you would like a more um, butch-femme, leather, bohemian type of Pride festival. Head on up the coast of California and hit SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE on June 25-26. Yes, they are a pretty huge festival as well. This popular festival is located at San Francisco’s Civic Center. That’s right! It’s your civil duty to attend this Pride Festival <snicker>. What’s also hilarious is that SF Pride hands out a Pink Brick Award.. “The Pink Brick is an annual award given each year to a person or institution whose actions are deemed to have caused significant harm to the LGBT Community.” I bet I could name a few that deserve that damn Pink Brick Award.. <cough> haters <cough> Now, now, Dian.. Don’t be gettin’ all pissy about those little haters of the lesbos.... Ahem.. anyway, SF is absolutely beautiful. So why not enjoy the town, the charm and PRIDE!!! Just remind me to NOT walk up those dang hills again.. ack! For more information, walk gayly to the computer and type: www.sfpride.org.

All the fun and exciting places I talk about may not always be where you are emotionally at this moment. You might actually be hurting and crying out for help. On a tad more serious note, sometimes people simply need to talk to somebody. This may not sound like a Hotspot but I am an avid believer that this is one.. I’m talking about Counseling Centers geared toward lgbt issues. So many have had issues in regard to sexual orientation or gender identity and don’t want to talk to just any therapist about it. They want someone that they feel can empathize with their struggles and be compassionate toward them. You don’t ever have to be alone and in pain. There are lgbt Centers in most major cities that are there to help. And don’t panic if you don’t have a lot of money. Most of the lgbt Centers will work with you on a sliding scale basis. So if you are really hurting and aren’t seeing a therapist because of the money, these Center’s will see what you can afford. In Orange County, California, THE CENTER’S COUNSELING DEPARTMENT offers individual, couples, family and group counseling. Counseling is confidential and discreet so no worries on the family finding out about your private info. For information, call them at: 714-953-5428, ext. 330. For ladies close to 60 and older in the Palm Springs area who might need counseling that is also on a sliding scale basis, check out COUNSELING at the GOLDEN RAINBOW CENTER. For more info, call: 760-416-7899.

Now let’s not forget about dear ol’ dad this month. It’s Father’s Day and he deserves some attention. Dad may not necessarily want to go to a Hotspot for you knows.. <chuckle> but, I’m sure y’all can think up something fun to do with him. Actually, if you talk to most parents and grandparents, all they really want is your time and attention. In fact, giving of your time IS probably the greatest gift you can give anyone. It’s the simple things that matter in life. So now that we have summer upon us, celebrate the dad, get out in the beautiful sunshine and you know what I’m about to say... GET TO A LOCAL HOTSPOT NEAR YOU!!!! Until we meet again, live on the edge baybeeeeeee!

Dian Katz is an Author, Entertainer and College Instructor. For more information on her, go to www.DianKatz.org or www.facebook.com/diankatzband.