New acweekly.com columnist and Atlantic City resident Geoff Rosenberger on Monday nights GLBT event at Ram's Head Inn
Dateline: 3/8/2011
Location: Galloway, New Jersey
Every Monday Ram’s Head Inn in Galloway hosts a gathering of the local GLBT community in the closed restaurant’s bar. And, not every regular is gay. In fact, a minister and his wife are icons at the piano, where Bob plays weekly for guests who enjoy singing.
Other “straights” last night included: Mary Ruley Moyer, locally born and raised, working in advertising for the Tropicana, and Jean Muchanic, secretary of the local GLBT and director of the Absecon Lighthouse.
The minister’s wife pointed out in conversation one night, the true message of Christ is one of love and acceptance. That’s the spiritual message of all religions: man seems to have fouled it up … enjoy our similarities, learn and grow from our differences.
General manager Robert Thibodeau and his partner, Joel Ballisteros, launched this Monday night tradition a couple of years ago. Joel, just named Resorts’ “director of alternative life style marketing,” is the first casino director to be named specifically with the purpose of bringing gays and their dollars to town. Additional kudos to Caesars (formerly Harrah’s) Entertainment. They have been actively courting the gay market for more than two years, sponsoring “Out in AC” weekends with special entertainment, and parties.
Funny thing is, it’s the casinos and land speculators who first closed and knocked down gay businesses that thrived for 100 years in Atlantic City. Now, money’s tight, and they’re sorry they did. Let’s face it guys, the casinos would have built a moat around themselves if they could have to trap the patrons inside. After all, combined with government, they’ve had more than 30 years to make something of Atlantic City, and didn’t. Moreover, neither they, nor the state seemed to be concerned about it till the income and tax revenue dipped.
Now we have the opportunity to design and rebuild the town and our entertainment options.
A great side treat: Scheduled at Absecon Lighthouse March 18: Lighthouse Empire – The Rum Runner’s Murder Mystery. Everyone helped thwart prohibition in Atlantic City. Further info – follow the link here or call 449-1360.
Read more of new acweekly.com columnist and Atlantic City resident and "visionary" Geoff Rosenberger's "Geoff's Page," including local snap shots, thoughts, Atlantic City news, random musings, GLBT-related news and happenings via below links.
The closet door must remain wide open. Members of our community are often the victims of brutal attacks and the more we expose our beauty as fellow travelers on this planet, the more hatred we overcome.
Recently making mainstream media: Chick-Fil-A has spent millions of company dollars campaigning against gay marriage. Their CEO and founder’s son Dan Cathy has publicly proclaimed gay marriage wrong. Now, Social media is forcing the story to the forefront ...
“Even now, I get picked on with stupid things. My aunt wants to send me to a camp where they ‘pray the gay away.’ “
“I don’t like queers, period.” That’s how my neighbor, 60ish, greeted me one day. It was one of the nicest things he ever said to me.
Now, due in large measure to the establishment of the Greater Atlantic City GLBT Alliance in 2009, and the foresight and ambitious marketing strategies of Resorts CEO Dennis Gomes (who recently created the first in-casino gay nightclub, Prohibition) and others, the GLBT community is officially back in “flow” mode.
"Investments which finance dreams are those same loans that built our nation."
'Everything we do as a society is based on love. I want to welcome everyone. Our arms are open to all aspects of our culture.'
This GLBT population consistently frequents areas/genres that cater to multiple orientations. They are not limited to the old definition, but are more so driven to openly enjoy themselves in environments that are mutually sensitive — and not offensive.
We, as children of the world, must remember we’re all connected to the same roots, the same god, the same universal energy regardless of doctrine, or lack of one.
At 25, David walked away from doing huge events for companies like NARS, a top makeup company, and Saks 5th Avenue. Jim McGowan and he moved to Atlantic City five years ago because they wanted change, immediately starting the renovation of an Arctic Avenue property. Turning quartz into a diamond. Why Atlantic City?
The mood in the room during the town hall meeting was hopeful as people identified problems ranging from parking and bike racks to training opportunities for the city's youth.
“This is an important time in Atlantic City’s development and future history as planning and oversight is joined with New Jersey and the CRDA. It’s important that we do what we can to shine in our own right.”
With summer almost here promoters Bill Cradle and Keith Werner hosted an underwear and swimwear fashion show for the GLBT community this past Tuesday at Redding's on Pacific Avenue.
Officials from Under the Boardwalk Productions, which is producing 'Under the Boardwalk,' a gay reality TV show to be filmed this summer in Atlantic City, held their final set of auditions Friday, March 18. Tremendous excitement filled Boogie Nights as 25 people waited for the doors to open. Here's a glimpse of some of those who came out.
The primary focus includes leading the city into her future. It seems everyone is moving in the same direction, and it’s up to us to all get on the same page.
Years ago, the gaming halls had targeted alternative lifestyle guests as an untapped market. While they’d never say it publicly, behind the scenes some executives were reluctant to do anything on a broader scale for fear of repercussions from guests and gamblers who don’t embrace the lifestyle or find it offensive.
The Greater Atlantic City GLBT Alliance, the organization will launch a new Web site on Thursday, Oct. 1.
For the seventh year, 40 of our region’s most dynamic young leaders have been honored by the Greater Atlantic City Jaycees and Atlantic City Weekly. Some of them are community leaders and volunteers, some are entrepreneurial, others are extraordinary talented and inspiring. One thing they all have in common is that people from around the region nominated them to be one of this year’s Top 40 Under 40. Once again, we are excited to present this year’s honorees inside this annual issue. Our community is a richer one to live in thanks to them.
Definition of a drag queen? A man who likes to eat, drink, and be Mary! It may sound funny to some and it’s easy to crack a joke here and there, but until you get to an event such as this past weekend’s Miss’d America Pageant, you cannot imagine the talent, sincerity, and camaraderie that fills the room.
So last week, there was Hitchen, head to toe decked out as “Knockers Johnson,” filming the opening skit for this year’s pageant on the beach. Other characters were Lucy Luckyano and Ally Capone, possibly the first time some of America’s most famous gangsters ....
The show was created in the early 1990s by former Atlantic City Councilman John Schultz and his partner, Gary Hill, and held at their old Studio Six nightclub, once considered the epicenter for gay life in Atlantic City.
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1. Lyric said... on Mar 10, 2011 at 08:00AM
“Courting the gay community is one of the smartest moves the Rams Head ever made and the the fact that Caesar's Entertainment is doing it too and now Resorts is also smart business.
If only they'd watched the "Will and Grace" episode years ago about the time Will and Jack and friends went to a small town to rent a house and were not sure of the welcome they'd get when people found out they were gay and were surprised when the townfolk fell over themselves welcoming them cause they knew gay people come into an area, fix up properties and start businesses that attract more businesses to their town.”
2. Ian Lazarus said... on Mar 10, 2011 at 01:07PM
“Since I am back in Atlantic city working I haven't found many people with the energy you have ! We dont always agree but thats OK ! good luck with the column and hope to see you over here at The View at 101 Boardwalk ! If you want to do a podcast at the building let us know. Regards, ~ Ian”
3. MAGGIE said... on Mar 11, 2011 at 09:36AM
“Some people follow where the path may lead,
Others go where there is no path and leave a trail!
Geoff - It's my privilege to call you friend. Your courage is only exceeded by your boundless energy! Keep on keeping on!”
4. Carol said... on Mar 11, 2011 at 10:28AM
“Geoff, you've always had a voice, glad it's being put to good use again now for our city!”
5. Cathy Laltrello said... on Mar 31, 2011 at 08:55PM
“Geoff, your energy, love and vision for Atlantic City is an inspiration for everyone ! Hope you receive all the support and encouragement you deserve. You and Jeff Vasser can make Atlantic City everything it always should have been. Richie Helfant would also be a great addition to make your vision a reality. Good Luck !!!!!!!”