It's been quite a year.  We've lived through the most expensive election in our lifetime, we've lost some iconic celebrities, en mass, people that seemed larger than life, who would never, ever die.  We've seen horrible gun violence like the recent shootings in Connecticut and those earlier in the year in Aurora.  Not to make a funny after all that depression, but we've also seen a shitload of drag queens.  I've never seen so many drag queens.  It's literally become like gremlins.  They are everywhere and they multiply quickly.  Being an aficionado, I'm not complaining, but it does bear mention.

I haven't been writing an awful lot since the election. I've been doing a lot of thinking about how we treat one another. ...and I'm going to work really hard in the year ahead to be the change I would like to see in the world.  Wish me luck!

Happy New Year everyone!  No lectures or rants or music to share today.  Just my well wishes for you to have a safe and happy new year.  Will be back after the first of the year with bridezilla moments and wedding planning stories galore!

Much love to you and yours!

XXX

L.A.K.

My Box is FULL!

Damn, lost track of time with the holidays and traveling for work!  Came back to an inbox full of alerts on new mixes that had been posted by friends, aquaintences, and fellow DJ's.  I've been listening all morning while working, and thought I would share some of my favorites with you!  Who can't use some mixes to play while entertaining holiday guests?  Enjoy!

P Bear’s Post Election Celebration Block Party

The Kiki thing is getting old, but this mix is fun, and we can all use a post election celebration!  MMMM HMMM GIRL!

DJ PBear's Post Election Celebration Block Party Mix by Dj Pbear on Mixcloud

Jaymz Nylon Live at Diggin’ Deep

This is the vibe you can expect every 2^nd Friday at ETG.  Tribal.  Reminds me of Chicago.  Ahhh, Chicago.  Good times!  Except for the snow...

DJs Jaymz Nylon Recorded Live @ Diggin’ Deep Nov. 9, 2012 by Jaymz Nylon on Mixcloud

Amy Kasio – The Dream Is Always The Same         

Damn, I thought I was the only one who had the same dream on repeat.  Guess not. 

 Fun NuDisco mix.  I’m feeling some of these tracks.  Time for Mama to go shopping…

DJ Amy Kasio - The Dream Is Always The Same (Nu Disco set) by Amy Kasio on Mixcloud

Lisa Delux – The NawtyBox Mix

BC’s finest.  This mix is from 2009.  Solid.

The NawtyBox mix (Lisa Delux Lick Session) by Lisa Delux on Mixcloud

General Meow – Scorpio Season

Deep n’ dirty….this “concept mix” from my buddy RC, aka General Meow is sexy.  Take a listen and just try to keep your pants on!

Scorpio Season by General Meow on Mixcloud

Happy Holidaze friends!  Be good to one another! 

XXX

L.A.K.

Takin' Care Of Business...

I can hardly believe it's mid-November already.  I mean, it really was just Summer, right?  Left for Palm Springs Pride, came back to 32 degrees over night.  The grey helmet that we are used to living under here in the PNW is just about on lock.  It's gettin' BRICK outside....

Speaking of Palm Springs, it was a blast, as usual.  Bigger and better each year!  Here's a link to a wrap up piece that I wrote for Seattle Gay Scene....

http://www.seattlegayscene.com/2012/11/kendalls-back-with-the-scoop-on-compoundpalm-springs-pride-2012.html

Since I last wrote, the election has come and gone as well.  I am SO HAPPY that we have a President Obama for another 4 years as opposed to the beginning of a Romney regime.  Voters in Washington State also APPROVED REFERENDUM 74.  Which means that this coming late summer/early fall, I'll be a married woman!  Women swept house and senate seats, Republican/Rovian tactics did not prevail, and the LGBTQ-Alphabet soup made quite a bit of headway electing the first out Lesbian Congresswoman and affirming marriage equality in Maine and Maryland as well as Washington.  We've come a long way baby!  To be honest though, I breathe a sign of relief that it's over.  That we can get to the work of moving forward, as we do.  Fighting with friends and family about politics on the regular is enough to give me an ulcer.  Not that the process of having discourse is ever over, or should be, it's quite healthy in fact.  However, sometimes these elections bring out the worst in people, revealing moral realities about the ones you love and care about that can sometimes be hard to swallow.  Bottom line, I am STOKED about the results and hopeful for the future.  For those friends and family that are disappointed, may I remind you we lived through 8 years of Bush, you can live through 8 years of Obama.

Short post today because today is Takin' Care Of Business day.   Lots of prep to do for a week long biz trip to the Bay Area this week, preppin' the homestead for my absence, PTA Mom tasks that must be handled, meetings to schedule, holidays to prep for, gigs to organize around, and an ill Aunt to keep in my prayers.  Here's a mix from my boy Tony Burns that'll be my soundtrack for the day....

Enjoy!


XXX


L.A.K.

Palm Springs Pride To Victory

This Weekend I am heading down to Palm Springs for my 4th year co-producing events in the desert for Pride, with my lovely and talented business partner, David Richey, through our joint company, Qulture Qreative.  This year, our fun centers again around the COMPOUND, with our event partners, Cheeky's, Birba, and Alcazar.  Arguably the hottest properties in Palm Springs.  I'm looking forward to seeing tons of friends, playing some bomb ass tracks, and enjoying a little sunshine.  If you are in the area, you should come by and say HI!

If you are trapped in the blustery world of Seattle this weekend, I strongly suggest that you support the Victory Party For Marriage Equality.  It's a fundraiser for Washington United For Marriage.  All net proceeds go to Washington United For Marriage.  Now, there's been a lot of talk about calling this a Victory Party.  Some people think it's too soon, arguing anonymously over the interwebs.  Well folks,  I know of the intention with which this was put together.  I've invested a lot of that intention myself, GRATIS, for the cause.  This is being headed up by Seattle PrideFest director, Egan Orion, who through PrideFest and his own personal donations, has raised tens of thousands for the cause.  We all do what we can to support, and those of us in the event industry know how to throw a party, so we do it for the cause.  If you have so much time on your hands as to spend it anonymously arguing about the name of a party on Facebook, self righteous about the cause, then please do me a favor - get in touch with Washington United For Marriage, get a call sheet, and start phonebanking.  Use that energy for the power of good.  AND/OR, come to the party on Saturday. Party Like We've Won, Raise Money Because We Haven't.  It's that simple.

Whatever you do this weekend, please play it safe, respect your community, and if you haven't already, VOTE BITCHES!  This is one of the most important elections of our lifetimes!  ...and you can take that to the bank!

XXX


L.A.K.

New Mix! My Best Friends House

Best Friend's House - Preppin' For P.S. Pride by L.A. Kendall on Mixcloud

It''s Spooktacular!

Tomorrow night, me and my buddy Tony Burns head down to The Mix in Tacoma to drop some booty bouncin' beats for their Halloween Spooktacular!  ROAD TRIP!  To Tacoma.  Not that far, but, ROAD TRIP!  It's always fun to mix it up with new faces!  I hear that some of the Tacoma 'girls' will be out in full force - including hostess Heather Hysteric.  Yesterday I was at The Grill and ran into Olivia LaGarce of Ladydude infamy and confirmed that she, too, would be in the house.  I predict some silliness up in the hizzee.  Which suits me just fine!

Facebook invite to said partaaayyyyy:  https://www.facebook.com/events/455303177853282/?fref=ts

You gotta check the link for all the details. It has the address and all the particulars for your inquiring minds! Tony and I will be DJing, there'll likely be some dragtastic performances (what's a gay Halloween party without a few drag performances?), and rumor has it there will be some interactive games to keep the crowd drifting on a nice buzz.  If you're in Tacoma, COME.  If you are in Seattle, get a posse together and road trip it out.  See what's goin' on down south!

I'll be the one in the paper doll costume that my adorably fantastic fiance made for me!  Grab a couple vodka/redbulls and come find me!

XXX


L.A.K.

An Open Letter To Family, Friends & Followers

Dear Friends, Family & Followers,

It's just days before the election and I wish I had the time and money to sit down with each of you, travel to your city to spend time with you, and have a thoughtful conversation with you.  I know you've probably gotten your ballot by now, and some of you may have even cast it.  Mine's going out tomorrow.  If you have yet to cast your vote, I hope you'll listen to what I have to say and take it in to consideration when filling in those little bubbles on your ballot. 

This is a very important election.  I'm just gonna take it from the top in regards to what is important to me right now. Rip off all the bandaids. Referendum 74.  Re-Electing Barack Obama.  Getting some Senators and Congressmen in DC who will get off thier ass and get something done!

Referendum 74, if approved, will legalize same sex marriage in the State of Washington.  It's time.  It's time for us to take care of this, and get past it, so we can focus on other struggles that need attention, and there are many.  I'm a lesbian.  I want the right to all the other rights my fellow Americans have.  It's that simple.  I deserve it.  I pay taxes.  I've had my perils with our legal system and I have respected the outcomes.  I work hard, I contribute in a positive way to my community, I'm a dedicated and loving friend, sister, daughter, fiance, mother, employee....need I go on?  You get the point.  I, and every other member of the LGBTQAlphabet soup  deserve our rights.  As Americans.  If you are on the fence about this, I implore you to ask yourself why. 

Is it because of religion?  Because if that is your stance, I would ask you, should we rule our country by YOUR religion?  I thought America was the home of the free.  Seperation of church & state.  LEGALLY, I should be able to get married.  I don't have to do it in your church. Frankly, I don't want to.  I just want my rights.  I don't want a partnership that I've dedicated myself to over a lifetime, that I've invested myself in, to fail me at the end of my lifetime because laws don't recognize it.  If you think that gays can't raise kids and have a healthy family dynamic, I invite you to come over to my house.  I think we do pretty well, thankyouverymuch.  I think you would think so too, if you gave it a chance.  Disfunction is human nature and happens in all families.  Trust me, I speak from experience.  Gays are not what makes disfunction.  I see these Reject 74 signs around and they say "Marriage=One Man+One Woman".  Says who?  I'm asking sincerely.  ...and if you reference the bible, I'm gonna ask you to get me a meeting with the actual person who wrote it.  I've always had a little bit of a hard time with the bible because it's kind of like the telephone game to me.  It's been passed down and it's contents so distorted, I feel like it lacks credibility.  I respect your right to believe and have faith in and follow whatever you wish.  Can't you respect my right to live my life how I wish?  If you can't, quite simply, I think you are unreasonable, and I wish you would look at that.

Are you afraid that it would weaken the definition and respect for the institution of marriage?  Well my friends, I ask you.  Is it only straight people that are allowed to do this?  I mean, come on.  Kim Kardashian just had a sham of a marriage, arguably for the publicity.  Britney Spears was married for less than 3 days.  Newt Gingrich left a a wife battling a serious desease for his mistress.  Til death do us part hasn't and won't be disparaged by the gays any more than it has our hetero counterparts.  There are high divorce rates and broken heterosexual families all over the place.  Let's not pretend that straight people own the sanctity of marriage.

Please, please look inside yourself.  If you need to ask yourself what Jesus would do, please, think about that.  Because I think jesus would be on the right side of history here. 

My friend Ruby Aquino summed it up well in a Facebook Post today:

First of all, I am a PERSON, a HUMAN BEING. I came into this world just like you, sat next to you in class or the pews at Church, at times shared the same views, pay my taxes just like you, perhaps have a few laughs, or even became best of friends. But the world we live in, I am given a label, put in a box, ostracized, oppressed, and judged for being "ME". I do not ask for sympathy nor will I ask for acceptance. All I ask for is the same rights granted to every free citizen. LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. PLEASE VOTE "YES" ON REF#74.

Vote to approve 74 people.  Let's move on to the next struggle.

In regards to re-electing Barack Obama, it must happen.  If we have Romney as President, those of you who vote for him deserve exactly what you get and I, along with millions of other Americans will resent the fuck out of you.  Sorry, real talk.  Romney has pivoted on policies so many times, how the hell can you trust what he'll do when he's carrying about the atomic football?  You really want that mans finger on the button?  You think he'll create jobs?  This man who practically invented outsourcing?  Please girl, please.  You think he's going to make your finances better?  Unless you are preparing to install an elevator for your car, he doesn't give a fuck about you.  Let's be real.  He's a bully, as demonstrated by the debates.  You want that in charge of our foreign policy?  You want another 9/11, more war?  COME ON!  That's what got us into this mess!  You are opposed to Obama care?  Please read the legislation before you make up your mind on that.  There are issues that need to be tweaked, sure.  There always are.  But FINALLY, we are going in the right direction.  Voting Republican because it's all you've done your whole life?  Go rouge.  It'll feel good.  You afraid of the black man?  GET OVER IT!  ...and if you are a woman voting for Romney, SHAME ON YOU.  For reals.  His comment on the Lilly Ledbetter act was to make no comment about whether he supports it or not.  He supports a ban on abortion.  What?  Is this 1952?  Lastly, if you know me, and you love me, think about how his policies on gays will affect me and my family, my community, my friends.  If you can vote for that and feel good about yourself, I don't mind saying you make me sick.  Sorry, again, real talk.

I struggled with whether or not to write this and given a less busy schedule I am sure I could be more cojent and argue more positions on things.  It's as simple as this.  You are either on the side of moving forward, about progressing, about making things better, or you want to relive George W Bush's terms all over again.  To me, there is no question.  NONE.

Step away from Fox News, do some online research, and not just of your favorite newscasters, bloggers, public figures.  Reach beyond that.  Then make up your mind for yourself. 

...and don't tell me you aren't voting.  I think that is the most irresponsible, un-American thing you could possibly do.  If you live in this country and benefit from it's infrastructure, it is not only your right to vote, but it is your responsibility.  Don't let them steal this election!  Not again. We've been there.  We don't need to relive that drama.

Get your vote on people!  Then celebrate with me on November 6th, late into the night

I'm counting on you!

XXX


L.A.K.