Category Archives: LGBTQ Alphabet Soup

Special focus on Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer Issues

Seasons Greetings

Posted on December 7, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

We dressed our tree. Our windows have lights. Even our trellis is dressed. I prefer to call it a Solstice Tree. And since this is a very Queer home, our tree angel is a vintage Billy doll. He’s very anatomically … Continue reading →

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Performing at the Piscator Awards

Posted on November 1, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

Michael Lahr von Leitis presenting Cole Escola with the Piscator Award I had the pleasure and privilege of performing October 23 at the Piscator Awards, a dinner and fundraiser at the swanky Upper East Side Lotos Club benefitting the arts … Continue reading →

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Reflections at the AIDS Memorial

Posted on October 25, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

After completing the No Kings march last Saturday, Ed and I took a break at the Aids Memorial in the Village before going for dinner and taking in a double feature at Newfest (we saw the queer animal documentary “Second … Continue reading →

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PRIDE VIDS!

Posted on June 30, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

Happy Pride from Ed and me! We watched much of the parade at a perch on 5th Avenue, north of 8th Street, then walked up to 27th Street to gather and then march with the Quakers. Here is a video … Continue reading →

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PRIDE SATURDAY at the BROOKLYN MUSEUM

Posted on June 9, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

It being June, Pride Month, the Brooklyn Museum’s First Saturday was a celebration of Queer community and art. NYC Gay Men’s Chorus performs Andra Day’s “Rise Up” The Beaux Arts Court was turned into a fair for queer figure drawing, … Continue reading →

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Excerpt from Jane Fonda’s Speech You Must Read

Posted on February 23, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

Jane Fonda received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the SAG Awards tonight. She concluded her speech with a rousing message that speaks to the perilous times we find ourselves today. I will quote this conclusion in full here: “Make no … Continue reading →

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Playing the Notorious Nathan Leopold

Posted on February 6, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

Nathan Leopold 1924 March 1 Live On-line Performance of “In the Aftermath of Mercy” I’ve been cast as Nathan Leopold, the lead character in the new play “In the Aftermath of Mercy”, which Virtual Arts will be broadcasting as a … Continue reading →

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Queer Movies Under the Radar

Posted on November 17, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Nine Fine Films to Keep an Eye Out For Last month we took in a variety of LGBTQ films via the Newfest film festival. Some higher profile films like “Emilia Pérez” and “Bird”, which I saw in Cannes and just … Continue reading →

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STELENFELD – Berlin Holocaust Memorial

Posted on July 16, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

In Berlin, Germany, just south of the Brandenburg Gate, across the street from the eastern edge of the Tiergarten park, lies the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, A K A the Holocaust Memorial, and also referred to colloquially … Continue reading →

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EVOCATION XXXI

Posted on July 12, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Today is Ed’s birthday. And I have presented him, as I have for the past 31 years, with another viola piano duet for us to play. Below is the score you may follow along while you listen to the computer … Continue reading →

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PRIDE NYC ’24

Posted on July 1, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Ed and I made our wasy from Brooklyn to the Village to watch much of the Pride festivities and parade before joining the Quakers* at their late afternoon slot in the march down Fifth Avenue. What follows are a couple … Continue reading →

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R.I.P. Aribert Reimann

Posted on March 24, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Aribert Reimann with my mother, Catherine Gayer, at rehearsal in 1971 Two Thursdays ago my mother called me from Berlin. Normally we talk on Sundays, so I was curious what occasioned this call. “Aribert Reimann has died”, she told me, … Continue reading →

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Bride of my own personal NEW YORKER CARTOON captions

Posted on November 21, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

I know I only just posted the third installment of my New Yorker Cartoon caption entries, but I already have six more lined up, having been submitting much more regularly lately, and not being chosen as a finalist just as … Continue reading →

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Love and Hope in Barcelona

Posted on September 30, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

“The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” wins Best Experimental Short Film at the Love and Hope International Film Festival in Beautiful Barcelona Above is a video of my acceptance speech upon winning Best Experimental Short Film at the … Continue reading →

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P&P – DAY 9 – The Day the Hair Went Bye-Bye!

Posted on September 14, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

Alt Title: The Day the Hair Got Snipped, Shorn and Shaved Off! The announcement, take one (with AD Charlotte Purser): Day 9 in the 10 days shooting “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” was fully devoted to the … Continue reading →

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The Art of Pompeii

Posted on September 11, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

Part 4 of the Pompeii Series Plenty of ancient Roman art was on display in the first three posts of the streets and homes of Pompeii and Herculaneum. But much more art dug up by the archeologists – sculptures and … Continue reading →

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