An Audience with our "MOTHER" : MARGARET CHO - Part One

"We only love 3 things!! That would be ass, Judy Garland and Margaret Cho!!" - Overheard by 3 svelte leatherboys outside San Francisco's Warfield Theatre, November 2009, before her "I'm The One That I Want" DVD filimng.

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Let's be frank about this!

Margaret Cho has been the MOTHER of all mothers, as an ally in the GLBTQIA community since most of us were just babies ... or gaybies, as it were. She has taught us that unless we raise our voices together, it is hard for people to hear us. She has bashed down stereotypes, while forcing them down our throats as a reinforcement. She has helped us embrace the difference between racist / homophobic and just plain funny / true.

Margaret has always been a "say it like it is" girl, and has no need to apologize.. Embrace our flaws, our flaming over-the-toppednessess, our ridiculous personality disorders, and the similarities that make us all one big family. Bringing a family together in the way that only a mother like Cho could is a privilege for both sides of the coin, and has allowed us to be adopted into her world as much as we have adopted her into ours.

"To comment on things and not worry so much about any repercussions like 'Oh youre not supposed to say that because you're not one of us', but I am!! Y'know, because I am always gonna be 'one of us', we're always gonna be 'one of us'. I just have that kind of membership in every club.", explains Cho on her Assasin Tour, May 2005 in Washington, D.C.

** Before I go any further, and dive deep into Margaret, may I please invite you join us for an evening LIVE with Margaret Cho, as she lands in Vancouver, Saturday February 16th, as part of the Vancouver Comedy and Arts Festival. Cho will bring her "Mother" Tour to the Centre for the Performing Arts for one night only!! **

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets from www.ticketmaster.ca

CLICK HERE to order a hotel and 2 tickets package (starting at $159 CDN) from www.comedyfest.com

Ferrrrbulous! Now that we have brought our family even closer for one night this winter, let's talk about a lady who has been making some really great strides for our community, in some very meaningful ways. Most recently, in 2011, Margaret was honoured by LA Pride, with a Lifetime Achievement award, recognizing an individual whose lifetime body of work has left a lasting major imprint on the LGBTQIA community.

"We need to recognize that a government, that would DENY a GAY man the right, to bridal registry, is a facist state!!". Werk!

Throughout the span of her career thus far, Margaret has also been recognized by organizations such a GLAAD, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), and PFLAG for making a significant difference in promoting equal rights for all, regardless of race, sexual orientation or gender identity. Her efforts across the world continue to inspire others in every aspect of their lives.

Obviously, North America has evolved considerably in the past year, with same sex marriages being accepted in more states and provinces than ever before, with a sitting president publically announcing his support, and with the overturning of "Don't Ask Don't Tell.". 2012 was also a year of tragedy, with teen suicides on the rise incredulously, due to bullying and violence within the schools and online communites. A cry for action swept the nations, and acceptance of these inhumane treatments of humans came to a halt dramatically.

When I asked Margaret where she thought our efforts could be concentrated the most, she thoughtfully replied, "Where we can focus our energy is within - to really bring more attention to the 'B' and the 'T' parts of our community - focus on making sure queer kids aren't getting bullied in school. There's so much we need to do to protect our community from within."

Stay tuned for more interview with Margaret, a deeper story, and some raunch quotes we can't soon forget!

An Audience with our "MOTHER" : MARGARET CHO - Part Two - coming Monday!