(Seattle, WA) 206-478-2019

www.amyworks.com

Receiving overwhelming support from around the world the campaign has appeared in various local and national news programs and publications. If you are unfamiliar with the NOH8 Campaign it is a photographic silent protest created in direct response to the passage of Proposition 8, the California proposition to amend the state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage. With more than 20,000 participants since it’s inception the campaign began with portraits of everyday Californians from all walks of life and soon rose to include politicians, military personnel, newlyweds, law enforcement, artists, celebrities, and many more.

Along with our own Inferno personalities was the Red, White & Proud 2011/2012 Mr. & Miss Gay Seattle Pageant winners, Alexander Mentele and DonnaTella Howe crowned Mr. Gay Seattle XXXVI and Miss Gay Seattle XLVII respectively. These young beauties are part of The Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle & The Olympic and Rainier Empire; a non profit social/charitable organization whose purpose is to provide funds and services to other non-profits within the Gay and Lesbian Community of Seattle and King County Washington.

Of course no LGBT event is ever complete without the Sister’s rocking their veils! The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are an organization comprised of men and women dedicated to the support, education, and development of our community.

If you get a chance to have your portrait done for the NOH8 Campaign do it, join us. The opportunity to be photographed by Adam Bouska, wonderful in itself, is insignificant compared to the education, advocacy, promotion of marriage, gender and human equality that you would be supporting in this campaign.

-Patti Reeves, Seattle Inferno Photographer & Freelance Journalist

http://www.noh8campaign.com/

http://www.imperialcourtofseattle.com/index.html

http://www.theabbey.org/

http://theseattlelesbian.com/

I looked at her profile and one of her favorite musicians was playing in town a few days later. I sent her a message and the next thing you know, Triathlete was on the train to Portland and we were meeting for drinks before the show.

The moment she stood to greet me at Bernie’s back patio, I knew I liked her. She was funny. And smart. And carried herself with the combination of self-confidence and sexiness only a femme athlete can. After the show, we went for another drink. We flirted a little. The more we talked, the more I liked her.

I offered her a ride to her hotel, and as we said goodbye, sitting in my car double parked outside her hotel, I thought, “What the hell. She lives in Seattle. You’re never going to see her again.” When she leaned over for a hug, I got bold and kissed her. Then I watched her sexy backside as she walked into her hotel. I drove home with a smile on my face.

Maybe the story should have ended there. But we’re lesbians. She texted me on the train her whole way home. I just happened to be going up to Seattle for a Storm game a few days later and I stopped in to visit her at her work. We had our second kiss in the parking lot of her job, pressed up against my friend’s SUV.

Our third date was in Centralia, half way between our cities and a place we would grow fond of. Things turned fast and furious after that. Weekend train trips to Seattle. Skyping on weekdays. Texting all day long.

She had some reservations.  “I don’t do well in long distance relationships,” she told me. They’d never worked out for her in the past. But I convinced her to give it a try. Personally, I love long distance. Lots of space and then intense long weekends together. And I was excited not only to get to know this Seattle hottie, but to get to know Seattle itself.

I drove the three hours happily, listening to the radio or catching up on phone calls. Or I took the train and daydreamed while looking out the window. It was all so romantic.  We visited Pike Place, walked in West Seattle and danced all night long at the Seattle Hot Flash.  While she worked, I checked out the different Seattle neighborhoods and drank coffee in rainy cafes. At night we’d try out various happy hours and noodle houses.

It was like a fun vacation every weekend.

Things changed when I went away for three weeks and for 10 of those days I didn’t have internet or cell phone access. When I got back, it was like we suddenly realized how different we were. I loved the idea of dating a triathlete, but those cozy Sunday mornings when I wanted to sleep in and go out for a leisurely brunch, she was up at 6 and at swim team practice. She worked for a big Seattle corporation and on my freelance salary, I couldn’t keep up with the expensive restaurants and top shelf martinis. She was interested in climbing the corporate ladder and I was marching in Occupy Wall Street rallies.

We both admitted there was no future.  So one sad Sunday, we said goodbye realizing our sweet affair had come to and end.  It’s been a few months, the tears have dried and we’ve reconnected, as friends this time. There was no ugly. No drama. I guess that’s what dating as an adult is like.

I couldn’t help but compare the San Diego dance to the one I am most familiar with in Portland. Here’s what I discovered:

San Diego Inferno takes place at a bar named Brass Rail. Portland’s Inferno has brass stripper poles. Advantage: Portland.

In San Diego you can go surfing all day and dance all night. In Portland you can go snow boarding all day and dance all night. Advantage: None.

Inferno San Diego takes place in a gay bar. At the end of the night, gay people stream in.  Portland’s is in a straight bar and at the end of the night, straight men stream in. Advantage: San Diego.

No men are allowed at the Portland Hot Flash.  San Diego is the only Hot Flash where men are allowed. There were a few nice gay boys at the SD Inferno who were just there to dance and be with their lesbian friends, but there was one creepy guy who kept staring at us and then he would smile and his teeth would light up like a Christmas tree. Weird and creepy. Advantage: Portland.

In Portland we have the lovely Graciela at the front door. In San Diego they have gregarious Kelcie. Advantage: None.

During my visit the guest DJ was none other than Portland’s own smokin’ house DJ Wildfire. The regular San Diego DJ is my pal the extraordinarily talented DJ Dirty Kurty. Advantage: Neither.

Inferno San Diego is in the Hillcrest neighborhood with plenty of gay bars within walking distance at the end of the night. Inferno Portland is in Old Town, with plenty of gay bars within walking distance at the end of the night. Advantage: none.

Inferno San Diego doesn’t have a coat check. It doesn’t need one. As a matter of fact, I don’t even think you need to own a coat in San Diego. Advantage: San Diego.

Portland’s Inferno’s new venue Dirty has two room with two dance floors and two different DJs. In San Diego, everyone packs into one big open room where you can see just about everything from any location. Since I’m one of those people who is afraid she’s going to miss something, I prefer us all in one room. Advantage: San Diego.

San Diego Hot Flash has cute surfer girls and triathletes.  Portland has cute bicycle girls and triathletes. Advantage: None

Before my visit, I was seriously thinking of a move to San Diego. But now I can see the grass is not always greener. Especially when you get as much rain as we do. Or does sun make grass greener?  Regardless, both places have their pros and cons. And there’s a lot to appreciate about each. So if you’re from San Diego, come on up and see how we keep things weird here. Portlanders, spend a weekend down south and return with a new appreciation of the City of Roses.

Poppy, you’re coming to San Jose to perform for the Inferno/Hot Flash dance party.  Have you ever performed for Hot Flash before? What can we expect from your show?

This will be the first time performing for Hot Flash and Inferno and I am totally looking forward to it.   It will be like a mini Dinah for me since I am not going to Dinah this year this will be my Dinah in San Jose. And you can expect as someone has called me a “Comedic ball of lesbian Thunder.”

I saw you announce on Facebook the other day that you’ve been clean and sober for 11 years. How did your comedy change when you got clean?

I can remember it now. Ha ha -  It is much more consistent and fluid and less fear.

I know you were out to yourself for a long time before you came out on stage. Do you think it’s easier for a young LGBT comedian to be out from the get-go?

Yes it is much easier now to be out – which is good and bad  – I mean all the angst can add to the comedy.

What’s new with the show you produce called Queer Queens of Qomedy?

Oh the Q3 shows are going like gangbusters, which is the plan – to have them going strong all year all over the country. And now that HRC is involved as a sponsor it adds this whole new sense of legitimacy to it and it is working.  San Diego was a huge success and I am so thrilled the folks came out to see it and I delivered a great show.  The product is always good: solid consistent and fluid and no fear.

Whenever I see a group of lesbian comedians just hanging out together, it seems like you’re all joking and having a good time. Is there a special camaraderie amongst lesbian comedians or do you just try to one-up each other with the jokes?

We do love and respect each other and comics cannot help but be funny and so we do tag each others thoughts with the next level and the next – it is hard not to. And it is fun to do it.

You’ve performed on lots of gay cruises and on Olivia lesbian cruises. What’s the difference between a gay cruise and a lesbian cruise?

The lesbians go to bed sooner.   The parties don’t last all night into the morning. Hell no lesbians got shit to do the next day. Excursions and games and workshops and breakfast – that is only served til 10:30.  Can’t miss a meal!   I try not to miss it -I will order room service at the last possible minute wake up eat and go back to sleep…

You recently moved from Los Angeles back to Rhode Island, where you grew up. What are three ways in which Rhode Island lesbians are different than LA lesbians? Is one side of the country funnier than the other?

I may be the only lesbian comedian in RI and I am no different than when I was a Los Angeles comedian.  But I do know a few lesbian comedians in Boston and quiet a few in NY  – but I don’t really think there is much of a difference besides the toughness that is needed to live in NY comes out in the comedy.  In Los Angeles, you don’t have to be that tough to live there – NY is tough.  I was doing it for a while and decided to go back to Rhode Island.  I just have to be tough at night when I hear the bears and coyotes in the woods late at night…there is great horned owl in the woods that I am totally enjoying lately.

Dana, it’s been a few months since you were in Portland last. What’s new in your world?

Well it’s been a few months since I’ve BEEN in Portland, but over a year since I’ve performed there. It’s been an amazing and challenging year. I participated in the  540 mile AIDS Life Cycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles because I decided it would be a good idea to break my vagina over the summer. It has successfully recovered. I just completed a 100 mile ride in Palm Springs to support breast cancer research as well. I traveled to London and the Dominican Republic, a dozen different states and two amazing resorts with Olivia Vacations. It’s been a fantastic year.

You’ve been a single lesbian and you’ve been in relationships. Is one funnier than the other? Do you have to be in a relationship to get good material? Can you get material from a happy relationship, or does there have to be dysfunction?

I think being in a healthy relationship or being single is funnier than being in a dysfunctional relationship. I’m more open to the hilarity in the world around me. I know a LOT of comedians write when they are in a dark place because it helps them to get through it. I get creative inspiration from happiness and funny moments so my material often reflects the innate lunacy of life. I would rather write about something funny you said to me than something painful you did to me. My material is pretty light and upbeat so if I do write material about an unhealthy relationship, I usually need to be long past it in order to find humor in it. As Carol Burnett said, “Comedy is tragedy plus time.” I need more time than others.

How has your act changed since we saw you last?

Through the new experience over the last year, I’ve written new material. My act is a really good mix right now of some oldies but goodies and great new jokes about life over the last 14 months since I’ve been to Portland.

So we know you’re from New Mexico and California, what appeals to you about Portland and the Pacific Northwest?

I love that the mountains and the ocean co-exist side by side. Portland has a great feel to it, and it always feels good to be back here. I’ve also built some incredible friendships over the years and a handful of them exist in Portland. It feels like another home when I come back, and I can kick back, relax and just enjoy the trip.

Do you have a favorite place in Portland that you like to visit?

If I’m going to go out to eat and I want to relax and feel like I’m with family I’ll head to Dingo’s on SE Hawthorne. Sometimes I just want really great light Mexican food and sip on tequila and that’s the best place to do it. I haven’t ventured out in Portland as much as I would like. I always seem to find myself here during the winter months. I need to come back during the summer so I can go play and have some adventures.

You travel a lot. Are Portland lesbians different than other places? If so, how?

I can only speak about the ones I know personally and they seem to be more laid back than a lot of the people I come across when I travel. My experience has been great wine and foodies, people who like to be out and social, fit and explorative. I’m from New Mexico and with the exception of my new friends in Los Angeles over the past two year, a few scattered around the country, the women I know in Portland feel most like home.

When we last talked, you said you would love to open for Wanda Sykes. Then you met her not too long after. Are there any new developments with that?

Nothing YET, but I’m still manifesting.  I’m not kidding, it’s on my vision board and I put energy into it each day. I have faith in the Universe so I’m just staying open. After rereading that answer I couldn’t have sounded more new-age and lesbi-onic unless I was making homemade hummus and listening to Melissa Etheridge songs. I’m clearly drunk on a double hemp milk latte.

Since this Inferno site seems to be good at helping you manifest your dreams, what do you want to ask the universe for this time?

At this point I’m just so grateful to have the amazing opportunities I have had. I’m working toward some things and definitely open to what ever the Universe has in store. BUT if I can put in a request, a spot on a sit-com, sold-out theaters all over the country and a Showtime special would be great. Please and thank you.

I wish I could say, I just hung on and enjoyed the ride while it lasted, landed on my feet, shook myself off and moved on. Ah, but I didn’t. I clung, even when there was nothing to hang onto but bits of debris flying through the air.

Despite her one-word responses, I continued to text her anyway. Despite her claims of being super busy, I tried to make dates with her anyway. When she called and told me she was feeling sick and couldn’t see me, I offered to bring her soup. Each and every time, I felt like a sucker, yet, I couldn’t seem to stop myself.

I swear, there were times I literally felt crazy, like I was outside my body, watching myself do things I knew wouldn’t get the result I wanted, yet I felt powerless to stop. It’s like I had an addiction. I knew she’d moved on, yet I couldn’t stop myself from trying to pull her back in.

It wasn’t long after our affair ended that I picked up a book about our brains and the neuroscience of love. I started to do a little research on the chemical reactions of your brain in love. In the book Why We Love: the Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love, Dr. Helen Fisher explains that dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin are activated when we fall for somebody. In addition to all the good feelings of early love, these chemicals also activate anxiety, addiction, loss of appetite and obsession.

She says it takes only 1/5 of a second to fall in love. If you’re in a vulnerable place, the dopamine that your body is already releasing makes it that much easier for you to fall victim, I mean, in love, with the object of your affection. You do crazy shit. Period. Who among you hasn’t?

Things only gets worse when you’re dumped. “Romantic love is an addictive drug,” Dr. Fisher writes. The brain areas that are associated with cocaine and nicotine addiction are the same ones that get triggered when someone dumps us. Instead of saying, “Well that was nice,” brushing ourselves off and walking away, we crave our love object even more than we did before. I’m sure there’s an evolutionary reason for this. Probably having to do with procreation. But as lesbians, shouldn’t we be exempt?

As an advice columnist, I’m often perplexed by the crazy things lesbians do. But there I was, doing some those same things. It was like watching myself through one of those soundproof plexi-glass windows. The kind you see in jails. “What the hell are you doing over there?” I screamed at myself. But I couldn’t hear beyond the buzz of hormones and neurotransmitters coursing through my veins. Liz Langley in her book Crazy Little Thing: Why Love and Sex Drive us Mad says, “Love doesn’t recognize its obstacles. It doesn’t recognize the advice earnestly given by cadres of dating coaches…”

So despite everything that your friends say, advice columnists say, or even what your love object says, you’ll be pulled in, like a junkie to a fix. So, ladies, if you find yourself doing crazy, out of character obsessive shit, go easy on yourself. If you can, in a lucid moment, erase her number from your phone, block her on Facebook and take a few days holed up in a cabin in the woods. Know that what you’re feeling is just the drugs and they’ll be out of your system soon enough.

So, created an account on OkCupid and spent some time writing my profile and choosing photos I thought represented my personality. Late one night, with a bit of trepidation, I finally hit publish.

The messages started coming right away. “Cute dog.” “I like the hiking and the Indigo Girls too! Wanna meet for coffee?” “I adore butchy girls!” At first it was exciting. Wow, look at her. She’s cute! Ha, ha, she made me laugh, I’ll send her a message. You’re a stone femme top, more power to ya, but no thanks.

I wrote to a few girls. A few wrote to me. Some I recognized from around town. I had a few happy hour dates. I wasn’t finding a lot of love connections, but I did meet some great women. I was having so much fun, I convinced a friend of mine to get online. She too, started to get messages right away.

In December, MountainAir sent me a message. She was cute, earnest and funny. And she was obviously new to it all because she sent me her name and her phone number right away. I was touched by her naivety. So I responded back. After a few messages back and forth, we made a date.

Then I saw a profile of someone I’d seen around town. She was tall and thin and into yoga and well, I don’t know if we had anything in common, but she was kind of sexy. Butterflywings. I sent her a message. We made a date.

I had my first date with MountainAir. Although new to the site, she’d been on a few dates and was seeing someone named CatchMe. That’s the point right, to get out and meet people. I told her about my upcoming date with Butterflywings. She smiled. “That’s the other girl CatchMe is dating.”

I called my friend to tell her about my successful date with MountainAir. “How’s it going for you?” I asked. “Great,” she said. “Some girl named CatchMe just asked me out and I have another date with this tall girl named Butterflywings.” I about spit my coffee out. So much for expanding my circle. Maybe there really are only four single lesbians in Portland.

*Names have been changed, but true story.

Staff videographer and social butterfly Aurea Astro is something of a staple at Inferno dances. Her cheery disposition and enthusiasm for everything Inferno combine to form a potent cocktail that will get just about anyone in the spirit of things – perhaps we need a drink special called the Astro! You will be hard pressed to catch her without camera in hand as she is always looking to record you and your peeps sharing good times. We are pleased to have a Q & A featuring Aurea in Scene On The Scene, as she will be out and about at many of our upcoming dances. Many of you know she is regularly on the prowl at our Seattle location and now she is headed out for more. We couldn’t be more excited to have her at our 8 year Anniversary Party in Portland January 28^th with a visit to San Diego on February 4^th to top it all off! Be ready because she will be looking for you!

1)   You are quite passionate about the Inferno-Hot Flash dances – what exactly is it that has you dedicated to these events?

I feel confident, loved, and special when I’m at Hot Flash.  I didn’t have positive feedback growing up, my self-image as a young adult was abysmal.  Hot Flash was my first sustained taste of positive feedback – and it’s constant and reliable. Hot Flash is my bimonthly taste of the state of being secure, self-assured, and in love with life. I feel like I reach self-actualization every time I attend.  It’s the only space and time where I feel like I can truly be me.

2)   How long have you been interested in photography/being a videographer?

For the last 2 years.  I asked my graduate school professor whether I could do something alternative to writing a paper for a final project and he suggested making a video.  I picked up an old video camera and took to the streets to ask people what they thought about economic development in Rainier Valley (a particular part of Seattle).  I had so much fun meandering around and talking to strangers, and then with the subsequent editing process, that I was hooked.  I went from a dreary state of feeling like a wannabe banker who would never be, to a hopeful product of discovering one’s passion.

3)   What do you most want to capture when you are behind the lens?

The face of happiness and confidence among people who didn’t grow up with it.

4)   I read somewhere that you love documentaries, why?

I love eccentric people and the ugly side of reality, and want the wallflowers of the world to be aware of what exists beyond the four corners of their lawn.  Video – documentaries, specifically – can bring all that exists /out there/ in here.  I think they’re a great tool for opening the minds and mindsets of those who write the rules I have to live by.  I don’t like many of those rules, and I think it’s because the drivers aren’t aware of what’s going on at a basic level of humanity. Documentaries often magnify these quarks in people and expose them for all their similarities to the greater community.  I like digging into the dark closets of the human psyche and showing the “happy normal people” how they’re no different than the homeless crack addict or sexaholic; privilege and chance set them on a different path.

5)   Do you have any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for and is there a website where people can view your work? 

The Hot Flash Documentary!!!

6)   If you were a cartoon character who would you be?

The head of Goofy on the body of Eore.

 7)   Is Aurea Astro your real name?

Yes; tis my birth name.  Aurea Amanda Sari Marie Astro, to be specific.  My parents were hippies.  My twitter handle is @ItsReallyMyName because everyone asks me that same question.  Aurea is gold in Latin or something, and Astro was shortened by my grandpa legally from Astromovich.

8)   Do you have a bucket list? If so, what is on it?

I’m going to infer what “bucket list” means but… in 2012 its to submit a feature-length documentary (hence the Hot Flash documentary is full steam ahead), and a short film (there’s a few in the works at the moment).  In addition, before I die I want to:

Influence local public policy by way of film

Be mutually in love

Be confident in front of arrogant straight white rich men

Avoid any prolonged time in a cubicle

Learn to fry eggs

Go surfing in Bali

9)   Do you have other hobbies or interests that you are passionate about?

Like a good lesbian, I really love my dog and animals in general.  Beyond videography, video editing, and documentaries, I really love surfing and skimboarding.

10) Do you have a favorite memory or story from an Inferno-Hot Flash Dance that you would like to share?

The 7^th anniversary of Hot Flash was epic.  Joyce proposed to Pauline and I remember standing on the stage with my video camera and scanning a crowd of over 400 women whooping and hollering when Pauline said “yes.”  The sense of communal affection among strangers so overwhelming I had to stop filming and wipe my eyes.

There was the woman I met on the Olivia cruise. After three days of flirting and tension building, our first kiss, on the upper deck of the ship on a tropical breezy night should have been exquisite. Instead, as I leaned in to kiss her, she thrust her tongue straight into my mouth. It almost pushed me overboard. Maybe she just didn’t have her sea legs yet, because we eventually figured it out and shared some sweet kisses under a Caribbean full moon.

Then there was the girl I met at a comedy show. We had a nice connection on our first date over dark beer and nachos.  I didn’t want the evening to end and asked her if she’d like to go on to Crush. As we stood by her car, negotiating who was going to drive, she looked me in the eye and said, “I think you need to kiss me right now.”  How could I not?

The triathlete from Seattle came down on the train and we met at a concert. After the show, I offered to drive her to her hotel. After I illegally parked downtown, she turned and said “Here comes that awkward moment when we hug goodbye.” “Oh no,” I piped in. “I want a kiss.” It was not awkward at all.

Then there was the organic gardener. After three hours of talking in a Hawthorne bar, we stepped out into the misty dark. While deciding what to do next, “I want to kiss you,” slipped out of my mouth. “Right here on the street?” she asked. I didn’t answer with words.  She let out a tiny moan and bit into my lower lip as she pressed me into my car, her inhibitions gone.

One of the first girls I dated after my breakup was a cute bicycling lawyer. We hung out for a few weeks in the “Are we dating or just biking buddies?” mode. Finally after acknowledging our attraction, we had our first kiss on the back deck of the house I had just purchased. The rest of the summer, we’d sneak into the backyards of houses for sale and let our dogs run loose while we kissed on strangers’ back porches.

A sweet summer surprise was the smoky redhead with a raspy voice I stood next to at an Indigo Girls concert at the zoo. She shared her boxed wine and we bonded as we bopped and sang along to our favorite songs. Just as the Girls started singing “Hammer and a Nail,” I looked at her, she looked at me, and we just started making out, right there in middle of the crowd at the zoo. I never saw her again, but the memory brings a smile to my face.

It’s a new year full of new possibilities and potential first kisses. Get out there and create some memories of 2012.