Dock of the Bay 2002, the 14th Annual Summer Party organized by the Gay and Lesbian Foundation of Long Island (GALFOLI), was hot.. in more ways than one! The temperature that day was well over 95 degrees, and the air was hot, humid, and heavier than Anna Nicole Smith. However, even the merciless sun couldn't keep people away from the Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville on Sunday, August 18th, for an entire afternoon of fundraising-- with the emphasis on "fun!" This year's Dock of the Bay Summer Party, honoring Maria Mezzatesta, Suffolk County Legislator Maxine Postal, Stephen Sebor, and Louis Trapani, was a huge success. Jim Coppola, Treasurer of GALFOLI, commented, "We had nothing but compliments. Things seemed to go a lot more smoothly than last year."

GALFOLI's President, Barry Jones, and Vice President, Bill Borman, greeted attendees at the entrance to the museum. Soon afterward, we were greeted to an open bar being run by volunteers from our community's bar and club scene, including Jenn from Thunders. Attendees tipped them generously-- $10 and $20 dollar bills could be seen in their tip pitchers. After all, with a bunch of bartenders this cute and talented, who wouldn't be generous? The volunteer bartenders donated their tips, and over $1000 raised through tips went back to GALFOLI. Party-goers enjoyed veggie burgers, hot dogs, Krispy Kreme donuts and Starbucks coffee before heading over to the dance floor. Underneath the big tent, Maxine Postal could be seen dishing with fellow honoree Stephen Sebor. All four honorees from Dock of the Bay 2001 (Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper, Helen Radziewicz from Club 608, Camille Gnolfo from Forevergreen, and (Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth) LIGALY's Tom Maligno) showed up that afternoon to support GALFOLI and to honor 2002's newly-named local heroes. Also spotted that afternoon: Rob Cooper; LIGALY's David Kilmnick and Robert Vitelli; Nick Montalbano; Marc Carozzo; Greg Fox (artist and creator of "Kyle's Bed & Breakfast"); Bill McCarthy of the Gay & Lesbian Switchboard of Long Island; Jim Pizzo (secretary of GALFOLI); Lester Bornstein; Maryann Murphy and Eddie Finan from Auntie M's Helping Hands, Inc.; Paul Paquette; Rick Cullen; Diane Bruessow of Long Island Lesbian Cancer Initiative; Al Guardino; Bernie from Thunders; Tommy and Anthony from Auntie M's; Eugene from the Bunkhouse (Who took the song "Dive Into the Pool" literally and really did get "soaking wet"-- in the dunking booth!) and several men and women from the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, including Stephen Flynn, Julia Maresca, and Michael Mulvaney. Showing support for her son, Louis Trapani's mom was also there, cooling off underneath the tent.

DJ Terry donated his musical services that day, and his hotter-than-hot dance offerings included Andrea Brown's "Trippin," "No More Drama" by Mary J. Blige, "Rapture" by Iio, and "Wish I Didn't Miss You" by Angie Stone. He also threw in some can't-miss crowd-pleasers like Deborah Cox' "Absolutely Not," "Dive In the Pool (AKA "Let's Get Soaking Wet")" remixed with Frankie Goes to Hollywood's '80's classic "Relax," "The Only Way Is Up," and a true 70's dance classic, "Disco Inferno." For more entertainment, we were treated to performances by two gay icons. Call it "a tale of two Bettes!" Delfina Best, who seems to be EVERYWHERE lately, donned a blonde wig and her trademark guilty smile while camping and vamping as Bette Midler. One of the songs she performed was Midler's version of the catchy classic "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Moving from The DIvine Miss M to the Queen of Hollywood, Peter "Pep" Miller then took the stage as Bette Davis. Pep Miller, one of the most creative and unique of our drag stars today, takes popular songs and sings them as the late great Bette Davis would have sung them.. complete with Davis' trademark mannerisms (i.e. cigarette) and overpowering, leading lady persona. Performing Bette Davis' version of Cher's "Believe," Miller's reworked lyrics were genius: "Do you be--lieve in love after death?" Delfina Best's and Pep Miller's campy takes on Bette Midler and Bette Davis certainly seemed to be enjoyed by Kerry Kennedy-Cuomo, one of the VIP's from the political world who was in attendance that afternoon. The lovely and charismatic Mrs. Kennedy-Cuomo, daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy and wife of New York gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo, greeted attendees at Dock of the Bay and then took to the stage with microphone in hand, reminding everyone about the need to become politically active and to vote in the Democratic primary elections on September 10th. Also present that afternoon was Suffolk County Legislator Virginia (Ginny) Fields, who, according to Jim Coppola, was "instrumental in getting us a permit for the event."

Over $1000 was raised in the 50/50 raffle, and the winner of half of that sum was a GALFOLI volunteer named Mike-- which couldn't have pleased GALFOLI's Jim Coppola more. "Mike is a dynamo. He's one of our hardest working volunteers. He gets us Broadway tickets, restaurant gift certificates, and more. Jim also mentioned Louis Weiss, another volunteer who stood out. But the 50/50 money was far from the only prize that day. There was also an auction for a DVD player, and Dock of the Bay's famous Silent Auction offered generous donators the chance to win such goodies as Tommy Hilfiger gift baskets, a Liza Minnelli gift pack, and such items as vintage artwork and photographs. One of them was a framed vintage photo of an all-female sports team-- which just screamed "lesbian kitsch!" Yet the "Holy Grail" of the Silent Auction had to be the prize donated by Ken and Joe of Show Palace Pets: a pair of brilliantly colored baby lovebirds, complete with cage and bird accessories.

Let's not forget that this event was for a good cause. GALFOLI's 2001/2002 Grant Recipients are: FEGS Long Island's Positive Space's "Condom Campaign', Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY), the Gay & Lesbian Switchboard of Long Island, and Pride for Youth. For a more detailed description about the above grants and any future grant recipients, to learn more about GALFOLI, or to become a volunteer, visit GALFOLI's web site at www.GALFOLI.org. To read profiles of the honorees at Dock of the Bay 2002 and 2001, log on to www.LICKtheWeb.com.

The Dock of the Bay 2002 Summer Party offered many things to anyone who attended, whether it was the first time or the 14th. There was food, drinks, music, live entertainment, and people. Yet the biggest reward that anyone who attended Dock of the Bay can get is something a little harder to see: inspiration. The four honorees at Dock of the Bay have been, and continue to be, role models and sources of encouragement for any man or woman who wants to make the world a better place. They have made concrete, wide-ranging differences in the fields of political and social activism, and/or the cultural enrichment of our community. Most of all, Maria Mezzatesta, Maxine Postal, Stephen Sebor, and Louis Trapani show that one man or one woman really CAN make a difference.

See you next year!

Photos by Louis Trapani and Jed Ryan