Sad news for the LGBTQ community — Edie Windsor, whose SCOTUS case destroyed the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, granting same-sex couples federal recognition, has died.

She was 88.

Keep reading for an obit on this trailblazer ...

Breaking with an array of other courts, the Sixth Circuit has upheld—2 to 1—gay-marriage bans in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.

This sets the stage for a near-certain Supreme Court review, which could lead to marriage equality nationwide. Or not.

By the way, check out the dissent on that Sixth Circuit farce of a decision.

 

Thursday night was the Out 100 party, celebrating Out Magazine's issue in which its editors honor 100 influential out figures from all walks, the most famous of which get the cover treatment. (This year, Edie Windsor, Jim Parsons, Lee Daniels and the very recently out Wentworth Miller made the cut.)

The in-crowd with Out.

I'd never been invited to this party before, and kept complaining and being told, "Next year!" Finally, I got the invite, so no way would I miss what Kenneth swears is the year's most fun party.

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The venue is conducive to having a fun party with live acts (Debbie Harry was headlining, with Steve Grand, The Dolls and Charli XCX of Icona Pop fame supporting), but not so great for a red carpet. Still, Out did a nice job with a second-floor carpet, my only complaint being that the DJed party music drowned out the interviews somewhat.

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I was surrounded by nice people, except for an inconsequential sourpuss who looked about 12 years old who was frowning his way through the night for ET, and being near sane individuals helps loads.

Sharon Needles: Gay as hay-ull.

The first person down the carpet was Sharon Needles, looking more glam (and alive) than ever. My question for everyone was to describe their best and worst coming-out experiences (see video above), but she said hers had all been good because she'd been "gay as hay-ull" since age 4 and had a supportive family who knew she liked dick. The most X-rated "awww!" ever.

Dina Manzo and this Black Swan queen: "Perfect!"

I just returned, with my at-gunpoint cameraman José, from the 25th annual Night of a Thousand Gowns, a benefit thrown by the Imperial Court of New York to honor LGBT activist David Mixner and Princess Boy author Cheryl Kilodavis that raises cash for the Trevor Project and the Ali Forney Center.

Ru the day: Alexis Mateo, Delta Work, Manila Luzon & Sahara Davenport

As you know, I have done drag—I made a right camp Sam Fox. However, the Imperial Court is not bullshitting around when it comes to drag. They're a serious (and seriously regimented) org; camp was in short supply even if half the sequins on the East Coast were in the Marriott with me.

We arrived to find a larger-than-expected area for the press line. However, as guests began arriving—I'm not sure why some queens did the photo call and others didn't—it was apparent that NO print press showed up and very few online outlets, leaving me as the first person on the line. It was awkward, so we just began grabbing interviews where we could, either as attendees arrived or after they'd posed for the photographers. I was especially interested in (my new pal) Ally Sheedy, Honeymooners legend Joyce Randolph (who later received an award for which she was asked to kneel—not cool to ask of someone cruising toward 90, girls) and Carson Kressley...so of course not one of them did the carpet. Still, the people who did were quite diverse and easy to grab and I was able to chat with Joe of Joe.My.God. and more formally meet Mr. Broadway, Michael Cusumano.

Bill Cunningham (and Matthew Rettenmund) New York

I was most excited to meet and chat briefly with Bill Cunningham, the legendary octogenarian fashion shooter for The New York Times. A new documentary on him (Bill Cunningham New York) is getting lots of good press, something he seemed a bit shy about when I mentioned it. "I haven't seen it," he told me, "but I understand the filmmakers deserve a lot of praise." He remembered my name when thanking me. It was fascinating to watch him work the line; so many of the queens had no idea who he was and seemed bemused when he would hand them a pad to write down their names. (This old-school method is fail-safe, though, if you want to avoid being Miss Identified.)

Mike Ruiz of The A-List: New York and his partner Martin Berusch are supernice and supersexy each time I meet them. Ruiz noted that two more A-Listers are on the way for season two—and that the show was seeking supervillains. Super!

Don't ask—we won't tell

I grabbed Dan Choi—with a new friend, as in, a drag queen he met at the elevator, on his arm—and asked him a bit about marriage equality. He's a nice guy to talk to always. I feel like he has his regular personality—a little shy, nervously joking around—and then when he speaks about serious subjects he kicks into his activist persona. It's nice that he has a sense of humor; he needs one considering the schism in the community over whether he is our new Harvey Milk or is just milking every opportunity for attention. I don't think he's a messiah (and I don't think he thinks he is, either), and I occasionally disagree with him, but I like him and there's no denying he's had a major, grassroots impact on DADT and other gay issues. And he's hot in a suit.

As a bonus, I finally got to meet LGBT activist David Mixner, a gracious dude with a righteous sense of conviction about getting 'er done, rights-wise.

Amanda LePore walked right past me as I asked to take her picture. It felt like there was no way she didn't hear me, but she was as methodical as a glacier if a bit faster about it. It was...odd.

Ari Gold knows how to make an entrance...

...but his slaveboys know a thing or two about making an exit!

Ari Gold—who released his new single as "Sir Ari Gold" thanks to being knighted by this group last year—made an entrance that would have had Lady Gaga gagging with jealousy: He waltzed in clad in a gold Arabian number with two boyslaves on leashes. I hope he curbed them. I wish I'd seen the reaction of the gorgeous hospice dog that was in the house! (Dude brought his parents. He's one of the lucky ones who could do such a thing.)

He looked sexy in his version of drag, but it was soon back to the more traditional, can-I-pass-as-a-flamboyant-chick style of drag.