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Ruby Ridge Living
 Ripple For Everyone!
So darlings, four hours ago I was stressed out of my gourd. I was scheduled to go to the Equality Utah “Ripples of Hope” shindig at the Salt Palace and the invitation said “Dress: Sharp.” What the hell does “Dress Sharp” mean? The first thing that came to my stylistically-challenged mind was my pointy Madonna bustier with the velvet cones and tassels, but then I thought, “Hmmm …. that can’t be right.” These folks are trying to go mainstream so my REALLY little black dress just wasn’t going to cut it in a room full of overcompensating straight Democrats and check-writing power fags. Oh I kid, I kid—God bless their well-meaning quixotic little liberal hearts! So anyway, kittens, I’ll tell you what “Dress Sharp” meant for this fashion-backward Glamazon. It meant that I wore underwear and trimmed my nose hair and that’s about as much thought and effort as I put into it.
But I must say the annual Equality Utah Allies Dinner was delightful. With over 750 people, the evening was a resounding and highly motivating success. It was especially poignant considering Mayor Anderson had just signed an executive order bestowing health insurance benefits for the domestic partners of gay and lesbian city employees about five hours earlier that day. Between you and me, petals, Rocky Anderson just cracks me up. Half the time I can’t tell if he is divinely inspired or just off his medication. It’s like he’s the Courtney Love of local politics: one part incredibly talented and one part a complete train wreck. You know what I mean?
I am always fascinated by who attends these big political fundraisers and who doesn’t, especially for the big mega-advocacy groups like HRC that sweep into town. Many of the local grassroots folks and community volunteers that are working on gay issues everyday are nowhere to be seen, meanwhile the room is full of well-heeled, professional types that can afford to shell out $100 a plate for dinner (not that the overdressed, anorexic little bastards ever eat anything … oops, that was supposed to be my inner voice—my bad!). Now pumpkins, in my earlier days, the very inequality and snobbishness of such fundraising events would simply gall me, but now it really doesn’t and here’s why: The big semi-corporate national organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, and so on, can do things at a federal policy level that local grassroots programs simply can’t. Developing relationships with national legislators, impacting federal law, educating the national public and garnering votes takes infrastructure, strategy, and leadership.
Remember Civics 101, and the tension between federalism vs. states rights? That’s right, cherubs—brace yourselves … I’m going to get historical on your ass!
The architects of our democracy understood the need for a strong centralized government that could address international concerns and defense, etc., while relying on a diffused local government to address the daily issues of its citizens. They were not mutually exclusive! And so it is with the gay community and our push toward equal rights. Let HRC and the big boys and gals in New York and Washington do their national thing because they are really good at it. Support their fundraisers where you can, but take the time to support our local advocacy groups like Equality Utah and the GLBT Community Center as well—both financially and with your time. They make positive changes in our local community everyday! Ciao, peaches!
Editors Note: Despite what Ruby would have you believe, he looked stunning in a blue pinstripe suit, blue and purple striped shirt, and silk tie. For those of us who know him in character, it was quite a disturbing transformation.
Ruby Ridge is a well-known camp drag performer who has raised mucho dinero for local charities. Half the time we can’t tell if she is divinely inspired or just off her medication.
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