Stranger Exclusive - Dan Savage Interviews Marguerite !

Q.  So Marguerite, thanks for agreeing to meet with us on such short notice.  I know you're about to skip town.

A.  Ya, much to my dismay.

Q.  So you've been hanging out in my town, here, last coupla weeks.  You're very spoiled in being able to do this, you realize, and have had, I gather, quite an adventure.  Would you care to discuss it?

A.  Sure, Dan.  I like your newspaper, btw. 

Q.  Oh, well, thanks.

A.  Honestly, I was pleased it wasn't the trashy rag I was sort of expecting.

Q.   Oh, well, fuck you.

A.  It's true!  I just had this impression it would be like Rolling Stone or something, ie trying to be uber hip and 'urban', super teenaged sarcastic, but I have to say, the stuff I've read has been fairly decent and straight up.  Congrats.

Q.  So, phew, I'm not Jann Wenner then?  Thanks.

A.  You're welcome!

Q.  We just won a Pulitzer Prize, you know.

A.  Ya, ya, I heard.  Again, congrats!

Q.  (Staring at her a beat, clears throat ...)  Okay, so, let's get down to what the people wanna hear.  What was your favorite city?

A.  Um ... oh, come on.  Right for the trash.

Q.  What, you didn't expect to be asked that?

A.  No, no, just ... okay.  Each place was unique in it's own way ... Rome.  I shall treasure my time in Rome the rest of my life. 

Q.  Huh?

A.  Sorry, Christ, as a gay man, I thought you would've gotten the reference.  I just saw a clip from Roman Holiday the other day, you know, with super hot Gregory Peck. 

Q.  Ya; he's okay. 

A.  He's okay?  He was fucking beautiful!

Q.  Audrey Hepburn ...

A.  Oh, for fuck's sake.  You're not gonna be gay on me about her, are you?  Never understood it.

Q.  Alright, whatever, Christ.  Back to your favorite city.

A.  Okay, well, um, in review... LA was fun, and I was in a bit of a cocoon and not on my own since I was living at Chris' place and even using his car - brand new nice 2012 Camry for god's sake.  It was great to be able to hang with him in his digs, and Forest Lawn Cemetery was amazing, and going to the Upright Citizens Brigade and such, but there's no comparison with being entirely on my own in two major cities, for two weeks each, and getting to know them sort of from the ground up, in a way from scratch, so to speak.

I love both Seattle and San Fran a lot, though I'd have to give the edge, slightly, to San Fran, have to, if only because staying in that little flat on the edge and all the happenings in Castro, surrounded full time by my gayboys, I mean, that was the most fun I've had in a long damned time.

Q.  We are a lovable hoot.  So playful.

A.  Don't be an asshole.  I've been a faghag all my damned life. 

Q.  I've been a fag my whole life!

A.  You know what I'm saying!  I love my gayboys, and you guys always know the best spots - it's just the truth - and you just tend to be cuter and funner and more interesting than straightboys, so, it's unfair, but SF had the slight edge, there, for that reason.  Capitol Hill, where I'm staying - this is where you live, right?

Q.  Um, I think you know where I live.

A.  Oh shit ... you didn't ... actually see me ...?

Q.  Driving like one-mile-an-hour down my street with your head hanging out the fucking window taking a picture?  Um, no.

A.  Sorry.  What is up with your house, btw? 

Q.  Huh?

A.  Dude, it's fucking ugly.  What is wrong with you?  Get a fucking paintjob!  You have like the worst house on the street.  As a gay man, you should be deeply ashamed.

Q.  Whatever!  Fuck off and mind your own business!  Can we get back to the fucking interview, please?

A.  Okay - where was I?

Q.  Gayboys!

A.  Ya ... so, where I've been staying in the supposed gay neighborhood, here, which has had basically no indications of that sort of Castro crazyness, or anything close, I mean, I couldn't help but be disappointed a bit by that.  Also, Castro had that public square thing which was absolutely unbeatable for people watching, and it of course had the Castro Theatre, so there were two things I could go out and do on my own at night, and not look like a total dork being on my own. 

Q.  Alright, fair enough.  So, how about your general feelings on Seattle?

A. Oh god.  This place is fucking amazing!  You're such a lucky motherfucker to live here.  The first week was tough, I admit, due to the near constant rain.  After 2 straight weeks of relentless sunshine in Ca., that was a bit tough.  Also, Seattle had the misfortune of being placed on the end of the entire trip, so I started out at a deficit, energy wise, but no matter.  I've seen SO much more here than on previous trips - complete new neighborhoods - this one - Capitol Hill, for one - the University of Washington visit yesterday, and Madison Park, where my sister Maryann and I hung out that day.  Volunteer Park was just insanely gorgeous - can't stress enough how amazing it is to have been here during the peak time for all the rhododendrons (Wa state flower) btw, which positively fill this city, and I'd so love to have had more energy to just be able to have explored that place more.   Ditto, Lakeview Cemetary just north of it.  If I could possibly ever plan another two week trip here, when I'm not drained like I am now, I'd totally explore these same areas on foot a whole lot more, the whole city on foot, but actually, I think you need way more than two weeks.  You could spend two weeks just hitting Pike/Pine - there are some shops there I never even got to, now that I think of it, like Babeland.

Q.  The women's sex shop.

A.  Yes, of course you would know about that place.  And the homemade ice cream place, Cow something or other ...

Q.  Molly Moon's.

A.  Yes!  The one with the cow image in the sign.  And Cupcake Royale. 

Q.  You went there like three times!

A.  Okay, okay, but ... And then the whole huge Seattle International Film Festival has been here, playing at theaters all over the city while I've been here, and the Broadway Sunday Farmer's Market I missed, as well as other Farmer's Markets and stuff. 

I really would love to explore Bainbridge and Vashon - the two closest islands.  The latter would be fun because you take the ferry from my beloved West Seattle, and in both cases, it'd again be when I have my normal level of strength, so I can hike around both islands.

I could go on for weeks about the other stuff I'd love to have seen in both cities.  There is just so much here, so much going on all the time. 

Castro has such a wonderful feel to it, though, must say, it really did.  Just that fucking guy getting up and playing the organ each night at the theater, and the crowd applauding at the end, as well as for whatever film was shown.  Goddamit, it was so amazing and fun to be able to see The Graduate, there.  Though, I still puzzle like crazy at people laughing when Benjamin grabbed the crucifix at the end and began swinging it at the crowd that was attacking him.  That is not a funny moment, people!  Hello?  Symbolism!

Q.  No shit!

A.  Also I just miss being surrounded by swishy cute boys holding hands. 

Q.  Oh, for fuck's sake.

A.  Sorry, I know I talk about them - you guys - like you're cartoon characters, but give me a break.  I back every damned one of your fricking gay marriage initiatives, and support you guys continuously.  And honestly, everyone was so damned nice in Castro, which I hadn't been sure would be the case, so it was a fab little bonus.

Q.  Curious.  Which city had better looking men?

A.  Can't say I've seen an enormous amount of beauties in either city, I mean, compared with the men in Paris?  That would be no.

Q.  Yes!  I've been there.

A.  Hair; all that hair!

Q.  Yes!  Fantastic.   So how about fashion.  Any noticeable differences?

A.  Not really.  I like that Seattle people mostly seem to go without umbrellas.  Today, for example, I walked around in the warm, sprinkly rain in Queen Anne not only without an umbrella, but without my little zip up hoodie coat, which is a necessity in this town.

I really dig the outdoorsy vibe here, too, which I don't think is the case in SF.

Q.  Architecture?  Which city wins?

A.  Well, it's funny.  It sounds like a trick question, because of course, SF is known for it's 'painted ladies', and who can beat not only the Victorians, but stuff that still to this day sort of takes my breath away, like the Palace of Fine Arts, and just all that fucking Deco in the Marina district?  And yet, Seattle absolutely knocked my socks off on this trip, with it's CRAZY amount of Craftsman stuff, everywhere, and how very, very tickled was I to even discover a regional Craftsman type I've never heard of!

Q.  The Seattle Box Craftsman - ya - that's the style my house is.

A.  Yes, you fucking bastard!  Take out a fucking paintbrush! 

Q.  For the 12th time, will you fuck off and mind your own business!?

A.  Okay, okay, but ... yes, that Box Craftsman thing - that was fucking KICK ASS in a way that is so personally wonderful to me, I can't tell you.  That was like discovering a golden prize, to be able to match an old blueprint with actual houses I'd just walked amongst.

Q.  Stalked, I believe is the word.

A.   Okay, okay.  But ya ... the two cities are weirdly similar, though, in the steepness of their hills.  Why do you never hear about Seattle's hills?  SF, though, beats Seattle as far as views from hills.  That one day I was mostly having an in-day, but it was so lovely out I headed up Eureka Street and went to the very top of the hill, which was FUCKING steep and a FUCKING long way, and then you're rewarded with these truly breathtaking views when you turn around.  Not only the Victorians - which every day were just killing me! - but then all the damned views.  Goddamnit, it was wonderful.  The best things in life are free, indeed.

Q.  Public transit?

A.  Okay, SF wins, not because it was necessarily better, but because SF had the option not only of the cable cars (which I took twice, lucky me), but also of that fantastically wonderful F streetcar line, which lucky for Castro folks, ends right in their neighborhood.  I totally savored every one of those trips, and the best thing was, not knowing which old train you would get.  Would it be the Italian one from 1929 with the wooden benches?  Or the nice Green one from Toronto, or the red one from Philadelphia with the big cushy seats?  SF has stolen one of the best ideas I think in transportation history, in rehabbing these old trains and not for the tourists, but for the locals.

One interesting thing is that both cities have electric buses.  Brilliant idea, and quiet as a mouse.

Q.  Any negative reflections you care to share?

A.  Um, I've mentioned this in the blog, but it's a bit annoying that nothing on the entire lazyass west coast opens before like 11am.

Secondly, I'd say the homeless/mentally disturbed/begger contingent was a bit shocking and tough to take, especially where it's so wide spread.  Definite bummer, and you just felt unsafe walking around early-ish, I'm talking 9 or 10am - not early by east coast standards - because literally the only people around are clumps, sometimes, of beggers on the sidewalk.

And how about a mass murder occurring right here in Seattle right when I'm here, due to a mentally ill guy with a gun?  Unbelieveable.

Q.  Highights that particularly stand out in your head at the moment?

A.  Um, Pasadena was neat, and getting to hang with Chris and meet some of his friends, such as the cute bearded actor friend, Curt; and doing stuff like watching Space 1999 with him.

Q.  I hate beards.

A.  Oh my god, don't even go there, Dan Savage!!  Don't!!

Q.  Alright, alright.  Go on.

A.  Um, SF highlights were like the whole fucking trip - like every day there, I mean, come on.  And then, Castro, Castro, Castro.  Everything about that fucking neighborhood, I'm not kidding, was a joy.  The supercute, supernice gayboy waiter at the Dancing Pig, and the super nice woman who sat at the next table that I ended up chatting with for like 15 minutes.  The supernice people in the area stores.  Seeing the Harvey Milk personal effects, such as his bullhorn!  Wow.  That was actually shocking, and rather moving.  And his old storefront!  Very sorry I missed by just a few days, the viewing of the Milk film at the Castro Theater, and the appearance by the film's screen writer, Dustin Lance Black (who btw is a super lovely blonde boy.)

Q.  Tell me about it.

A.  And also Cleve Jones, founder of the AIDS quilt, and Milk cohort from back then.  Those guys were both to speak before the film, because it was like Harvey's 80th birthday, or something.

Um, so really ... everything.  The weather was pretty much perfect, though a bit too hot and sunny at first - did not expect to get a sunburn.  The Golden Gate Bridge knocked my socks off maybe for good.  Wow.  I mean, what an honor to be able to walk along and inside of a extraordinarily beautiful monument to Deco like that. 

Meeting and talking with Woody, the supernice naked guy - so glad I got up the nerve to talk to him - and I've been reading along on his blog.  He's a smart guy, and it's great to read his take on nudism.  Lucky bastard gets to live right there in Castro.  Sniff.

Having Obama finally declare that he was for gay marriage--

Q.  --Hooray! Ie pretending to finally have "evolved" on that issue--

A.  --Yes, I agree, as if we didn't know that he felt that way all along - to have this happen right while I'm visiting the gayest end of the great gay capital, and seeing the reaction to that around me - billboards and signs on the sidewalk thanking him - was particularly amazing.  Seriously. 

Also, those bricks in the sidewalk next door to my building, in front of the gay church.  People commemorating those who died of AIDS, celebrating their own weddings to their long term partners, over and over, etc.  That was about the most personally moving thing on the whole trip. 

Seattle highlights would be just the swoon factor as far as the Craftsman stuff, the UW campus, oh god, the St James Cathedral tour - fantastic!  And fuck, being able to show Maryann a bit of Seattle after all these years, at least some of this city and discovering that Madison Park place. 

Revisiting the Space Needle - even just the gift shop, but it's really seeing the building that blows your mind - the place will never get old, for me. 

Oh my god, West Seattle and Lincoln Park - oh my god, I love both those places so much.  Again, if I'd just had more energy, I'd have totally hiked in the latter.  The grounds are just stunning, and the views - damn.  You just fall in love with Seattle right there.  You really do.  West Seattle just has that small-ish town vibe, yet there is SO much there.  It is just so sweet, that place, and so damned lovely and gorgeous.  I just love, love the vibe.

Elliott Bay Books - wow, to have also been able to show Maryann that place, and to have had them be as nice and helpful as they were to her, and to have been able to revisit it a bit myself.  Not enough, mind you.  Again, prior to the trip, I totally pictured walking there practically every night as I think it's literally something like .6 miles from this rental unit, and flat, for the most part, but there was simply no way.  And I must say, I was positively delighted by the little 'employee recommended' writeups for all of your books - that was so sweet!  And something I did not expect. 

Q.  Ya, totally paid them to do that.

A.  Ha ha.  Magus Books on the UW campus also blew my mind.  Overall, in both cities, as I went on about numerous times in tweets and in the blog, the bookstores were plentiful, and just like we used to have them back east, 30 yrs ago.  Whatever forces have shut ours for good, have not (yet) hit here, and I hope they never do. 

Q.  I see you're checking you're Iphone again right now in the middle of this interview.  You're pretty fucking obssessed.

A.  Ya, well, I just had no idea .... I didn't know it would prove, over and fucking over, an absolutely invaluable tool to helping me get around on my own, and in about a hundred ways, really.  I had only myself, and maybe a helpful stranger I could ask, to rely on, in two big cities.  Yes, most people carry around a map, but who wants to be revealed so blatantly as a tourist, and potentially preyed upon?  Here was not only a map inside my phone, but it fucking followed me around wherever I went and told me where I was in relation to where I wanted to go!  Miraculous!  Absolutely worth it's weight in gold, and the same thing with this Waze navigator thing - a free 'app' I downloaded, and had no idea how much I would use.  When you're alone in the car in a strange city and just need help getting home - total miracle.

And then the fucking phone's also a really awesome camera!  Complete with zoom, Maryann just showed me a couple of days ago, and there is even a movie camera!   And on top of that - on top of instant focus, excellent picture quality, you can stand right there in the middle of the fucking street, and send the photo you just took, off into the air, to someone else thousands of miles from you, who gets it that instant.  Imagine being able to walk across the fucking Golden Gate Bridge and not only take photos and post them instantly to things like Twitter and that other goldmine, Instagram, but also send little films of the Bridge and the views and mountains around it, straight to someone that instant. Insane!  I truly can't say enough about the Iphone and what an absolute and truly invaluable tool it was, in about 35 different ways, to me on this trip.  To think I very well might not have gotten one. Oh, and also, how about Facetime phone calls, for free???  Insane.  Being able to show people the apartment I'm sitting in, live?  The view out my window?  Madness. 

Q.  Other Seattle reflections?

A.  I'm so pissed that I'm missing your live podcast. 

Q.  (Shrugs)  Sorry. 

A.  You couldn't have done that last week?  Had to be when I wasn't here, motherfucker?

Q.  (Ignoring her).  Okay, so ... thoughts on going home?

A.  Fuck.   I don't even wanna think about it.  Who fucking wants to go home?  It's not being ungrateful for my trip.  It's not.  It's just that the idea of going back to the quote unquote working world, to full time office work, being stuck with a schedule, after being a free roaming idiot like this is just ...

Q.  "Just to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free."

A.  Did you just quote Dylan at me?

Q.   Ya, why?

A.  Dan, honestly, why can I not marry you?  I don't understand. 

Q.  Christ. 

A.  Seriously!

Q.  Cuz, I'm like, already married, asshole?

A.  We can get around that, I'm sure.

Q. Secondly, do you forget the one essential fact that my penis, as a gay penis, craves penises, strictly?  And not pussy? 

A.  Another small detail we can get around.  I'm not asking you to have sex with me, for starters, though you do have a ripping fucking bod.

Q.  Look, you need to get yourself a fucking boyfriend.  A straight boy. 

A.  Ya, that's my next project.  Wish me luck; I'll fucking need it.