Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1987)
W hen was the last time you saw a my hands covering my head and face,” he gay comic? No, Gordon Shad- says. “ What else could I do? I didn’t have bume doesn’t count. Can’t think time to put on my stage make-up.” A of any? Well, the truth is that openly gay queen is bom. comics/performers are something of a Like most manic, transplanted East - rarity in show business. Sure, there was coasters (“ I feel no overwhelming need to Paul Lynde and Liberace and Rock and dialogue, give space, be mellow or floss now there’s Wayland Flowers and Charles chakras” ), Ammiano hails from New Nelson Reilly, but none of them are candid Jersey. Although he’s resided in San about their gayness — either while they Francisco for more than twenty years, his perform or during their chats with Johnny Garden State years continue to influence or Joan. Well, thank goodness those days his life. In fact, the first act of Wrists deals are over! Enter Tom Ammiano. largely with his Newark up-bringing. It’s all Tom who? Alas, the name does not there — from his first teacher in Catholic come trippingly off the tongue invoking school. Sister Nazaretta (aka Sister Nazi), instant recognition amongst peers. Actu to studying shouting as a second language, ally, outside of San Francisco, New York to describing the pain of masturbating with and gay cruises (on ships, that is), Tom a rosary around his fist. It’s gutsy, irreve Ammiano is one of gay show biz’s best- rent and probably offensive to certain ele kept secrets, which is a shame because ments of the gay community. But it’s real; he’s such a fresh, incisive wit. But his time a way of taking the hurt and anger of living will come. After all, there was a time when in a homophobic society, turning it around and transforming the painful truths into blacks weren’t allowed to be mainstream laughs. It’s a revolutionary approach when comedians and that’s hardly the case any one considers how gays in show biz have more. Unfortunately, homophobia in fared up until now. So-called “ sissy show biz, as in the “ real world’’.continues types” have been a mainstay in films and to rear its ugly head; fortunately, per formers like Tom Ammiano cannot be kept TV, from Edward Everett Horton to Jerry down or in their place, so just give him Lewis to Pee-Wee Herman. They’re amus ing to a mass (read: straight) audience as some time. As he stated recently in an long as they don’t threaten them with overt article in the Advocate: “ An openly gay references to their sexuality. Tom comic runs into harrassment all the time. Ammiano could never fill their pumps and For gay comics, the challenge is to play follow in their footsteps; he’s too busy rough, yet not break any nails... what’s a pioneering a new course for out, gay queen without tenacity?’’ performers, one in which they can be hon Ammiano illustrates this point in his est and open with their audiences and still one-man show, Wrists, an uncompromis be wildly enteraining. ing comic autobiography. Everything It’s a chancy venture and it takes a lot of about gay survival in an anti-gay America nerve, but then Tom Ammiano is from is explored in the play, which has garnered Newark, New Jersey, so the worst is be rave reviews in San Francisco and New hind him and the best is yet to come. York. Naturally, Ammiano doesn’t leave out one detail from his decidedly fabulous life. Early in the show he discusses his Howie Baggadonutz birth, declaring that he came out wrists first. After all, there he was, a star making a grand entrance under all those lights, (Ed. note: Tom Ammiano is tentatively booked for a Portland appearance in with the eyes of the audience rivetted on September.) • him. “ I had to come out wrists first with , Tom Ammiano is busy pioneering a course for out gay performers, where they can be honest with their audiences and still be wildly entertaining. Just Out. 13. May. m i