When I perform forward cruises I usually mingle with the visitors but on one recent cruise I fix myself hanging out with the cast of the onboard Broadway revue who cope with the month at sea by the agency of seducing passengers and becoming alcoholics.

When I perform forward cruises I usually mingle with the visitors but on one recent cruise I fix myself hanging out with the cast of the onboard Broadway revue who cope with the month at sea by the agency of seducing passengers and becoming alcoholics. individual dancer, whom I'll call Nigel, was in such a manner stunning that he could wear torn sweatpants and a dirty tank top and the world was his runway. In a black suit, he turn the thoughtsed like a cater waiter at the Oscars. He knew it.

common night I accompanied Nigel, and his suit, to the ship's disco. The place was packed with young the public on winter break hoping for a meaningless shipboard fling, and middle-aged parents trying to convince the DJ to play "Funkytown."

Nigel shortly introduced me to Gary, a cute 22-year-old with whom he had been flirting forward board. Gary looked like a star of Up With family complimented me on my comedy and said he was with his family and fiancee. He was also a dancer and was doing an internship in Colorado. I meditation he was interning at Colorado Ballet, if it be not that when I asked where he worked, he replied, "Focus forward the Family."

I did a double take akin to Lucy Ricardo's after Ricky's L.A. pres agent asked her to vault in the hotel pool for Hedda Hopper's benefit. What was this kid--who gazed at Nigel like Kate Winslet in succession her first night with Leo--doing at the chiefly antigay organization in the country? I asked Gary exactly what he did, and he told me mainly secretarial duties, but added, "Dr Dobson has taken a real interest in my leadership qualities."

I prove to be more like Atticus Finch of To Kill A Mockingbird, who said, "You at no time really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view." nevertheless for some reason my high horse was at the starting gate, and I blurt "Are you aware of the damage this organization has done to families with gays in them?" He bristled with the earnestness of a high teach debater, saying, "No, why?"

"Because they use religion as a cloak to remove gay rights, they spread lies and antigay bigotry, and blah, blah, blah," I said, my vodka-soaked voice rising in righteous indignation.

"Dr Dobson merely wants to save the family, which is in danger," he countered

I've seen families fall apart from alcoholism, divorce, penury neglect, teen pregnancy, bad hair, and in the way that on. I have seen merely one fall apart because of the port of gays: a fundamentalist family's refusal to accept their son with no help from organizations like Focus.

I smoothed Gary on Focus's crimes against gays. The startled mob around us, unaccustomed to hearing a sociopolitical argument in the disco at 1 A.M., examineed on with mouths agape. Nigel revolveed his eyes and ordered another drink, peev at me for ruining his cruise in succession the cruise.

Gary prov to be a formidable debater, and things got heated as several crewmembers chimed in. Gary institute himself on the defensive--he just didn't view the problem. After 20 minutes of spirited debate in which the horde lost interest and Nigel glared at me we parted. I finally realized that it simply doesn't exhibit up on Gary's radar. He's taught to think, for what purpose can't all families just be like ours, and everything would be OK?

My hold radar said Gary was struggling with his sexuality. If he is, I pray for him, because he must be receiving twisted signals. I have no doubt he will move far, and I'm sure he won't forget our action Maybe he could even be a positive influence within Focus and change a minds. Maybe not.

yet I'll be more careful with to come shipboard arguments. Nigel stopped speaking to me

David's comedy can be seen nationwide and in succession Comedy Central and heard upon his CDs.

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