A Little Competition

Part 1

With the vote on Proposition 14 now only days away, and president George Bush's cry for freedom for the other side of the world, the plight of a few fags in Pittsburgh who wanted the freedom to marry was raising scrutinous eyes at a hypocritical United States. Yes, the world was watching Pittsburgh, and mayor James T. Stockwell was not happy to be in the spotlight.

Stockwell emptied a sack of mail onto his desk. "Look at this shit. These are all letters addressing Tuesday's Proposition 14 vote. Some are pro, and some are against. Do you know what this means, Harold?" Stockwell looked at his assistant.

"I'm not sure sir." Harold said cautiously.

"It means that there's a division in my constituency, that's what it means! It means that I've lost control. It means that I'm losing the fucking war. The perverts are winning, Harold. I made a campaign promise to take back Liberty Avenue, instead Pittsburgh, under my rule is turning into goddamn San Francisco!" Stockwell barked.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that you're losing the war sir. You have made some progress. Babylon is closed." Harold reminded him.

"It may be closed for now, but not for long." Stockwell begged to differ. "Kinney has contractors working round the clock to re-open, and that goddamn Anthony Massey. That faggot has petitioned to have the place labeled an historical gay landmark. Not only are we turning into San Francisco, now we have our own fucking Stonewall Bar!"

"What about the SteamWorks Gym? It's still closed, and I just got word this morning that it's been sold." Harold said.

"Who bought it?" Stockwell asked.

"A woman by the name of Mary Fry. The city council approved the deal on Monday, and she wrote a check for cash on Tuesday." Harold said.

"Mary Fry? Never heard of her. Who is she?" Stockwell frowned.

"She's a black entrepreneur from Chicago." Harold said.

"Black?"

"Yes sir. Minority businesses are very in these days, not to mention most minorities with money tend to identify themselves as conservative. Ms Fry is going to remodel the old bathhouse, and turn it into an upscale gym, and spa. That's exactly what the area will need when we get the unsavories out, and move the working families back into the city." Harold strategized.

"I knew there was a reason why I hired you." Stockwell grinned.

The incumbent mayor sat down in his chair, and reached for his television remote. It was time for AM Pittsburgh, a local morning news show that was one of the tools Stockwell used to keep abreast of what was happening in his fair city. Stockwell turned on the set, and sat back in his chair. "Son-of-a-bitch, it's Kinney!"

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Brian left St. Mary's Hospital with a new resolve. Proposition 14 had to be defeated. On the heels of the hate crime that turned the eyes of the country toward Pittsburgh, Brian had wisely decided to take his cause to the American public. The hero of the Babylon night club incident used his new found celebrity to rally support from gay activist groups across the country, and the scorn of religious fundamentalists.

On this Wednesday morning the residents of Liberty Avenue were gathered around their various television sets to watch their new champion in action. Brian was scheduled to go head-to-head with Ted Haggard, pastor, and head of the National Association of Evangelicals, on AM Pittsburgh. Among the viewers glued to their sets were Debbie and Jennifer, along with the Pittsburgh chapter of PFLAG.

"Everyone be quiet. Here comes Brian." Debbie pointed at the screen.

"He looks great." Jennifer commented.

"Shhh!" Debbie frowned.

Commentator, Linda Yu made the brief introduction of her guests, then began with her questions. "The hatred that fueled the bombing of the Babylon night club, and has forced the closing of several gay establishments along Liberty Avenue, is being blamed on Beziers, an inner sanctum branch of "The Army of God Church". Are these people acting within your doctrine, Reverend Haggard?" she asked.

"No they are not." Reverend Haggard responded with his Texas drawl. "Our lord and savior Jesus Christ teaches us to love the sinner, but hate the sin. Violence is not the Christian way…."

"Then where are they learning it?" Brian cut in. "If all you're teaching is love, then why is it that all I see from you fundamentalists is hate? The kind of hatred that would allow someone to set fire to a building full of people, or bomb the establishment of decent working folk is not innate. That's learned, and it's hate mongers like yourself that are teaching it."

"You tell him, Brian!" Debbie yelled at the screen.

"Shhh!" Jennifer frowned.

"As I said, we don't hate the sinner, we hate the sin. Homosexuality is a sin that is causing the moral decay of this country, and like Sodom and Gomorrah, it will be the downfall of America." Pastor Haggard predicted.

Brian went on the attack again. "And just who do you think you're fooling with your Bibles waving in the air? We've seen your kind before. You're the Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, the Skinheads, and Christianizes. You practice that cafeteria religion. You roll your trays down the line, and select from your Bibles whatever you want to put on your plate. Well now it's our turn, and we have selected to believe that God loves all of us, even those that he made homosexual."

"You tell him Brian!" Debbie yelled out again.

Jennifer and Debbie watched, and cheered through the 30 minute segment, along with the rest of the PFLAG chapter, as Brian Kinney proceeded to eloquently debate the same sex marriage issue. When it was all over, there was a long silence in the room. "Was that really Brian, our Brian?" Debbie finally asked.

"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it, and heard it for myself." Jennifer continued to stare at the television screen.

"Well it looks like I'm not going to be the only mother of the groom around here. It sounds to me like Brian means business this time." Debbie said.

"Oh, I hope so." Jennifer said. "Craig and Justin have come so far. They've actually been communicating. I think Craig has finally come to realize that Justin is always going to be gay, and he's always going to love Brian. It's that whole nightclub, multiple partners, bar scene that he still has a problem with. I'm sure if Justin and Brian were married, that would be more palatable for Craig. No father wants to think that his child is being used, especially for sex."

"I know what you mean." Debbie agreed. "I think it's every parent's dream to see their child happily married. Until now I never thought I would be able to see that dream come true. I can't tell you how I felt when Michael told me that Ben had proposed. Who would have thought that I would ever be planning a wedding for my gay son? I only wish his uncle Vic had lived to see this day. I have a really good feeling about this Jen. I think Brian is going to pop the question."

"I think you're right. My strategy worked." Jennifer smiled.

"What strategy?" Debbie asked.

"I told Justin a long time ago that gay men were just like any other man. All Brian needed was a little competition to make him realize how much he really loved him. I was the one who talked Justin into going out with Mr. Massey, and see what's happened? From the moment Mr. Massey came into the picture, Brian began to change, and now look. Who would have ever thought that Brian Kinney would be defending marriage?" Jennifer said.

"Poor Tony." Debbie said.

"I wouldn't worry about Tony if I were you, Debbie. With his looks, and money, it won't take him long to find another boy-toy. Justin has always said that Tony was just his man-on-the-side, and once Brian proposes, there won't be a need for him anymore." Jennifer said casually.

"You're a heartless bitch." Debbie shook her head.

"You know what they say. All is fair in love and war." Jennifer gave Debbie a high five.

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Later on that night, the royal trio was basking in their victories. Justin leaned over to his right, and kissed Brian. "You were magnificent," he said. He then turned to his left, and gave Tony a kiss as well. "And you are a genius."

"I'd give my left nut to see the look on Stockwell's face when he finds out that Mary Fry, the new owner of the SteamWorks baths is really your housekeeper in Chicago." Brian chuckled.

"You should have seen the look on Mary's face when I told her that she was now going to be the proud owner of the first upscale gay gym, and spa in Pittsburgh." Tony laughed.

"Do you think SteamWorks will be ready to re-open at the same time that Babylon re-opens?" Brian asked.

"That's the plan." Tony said. "I've worked out a weekend package deal. Three days, and two nights at The Plaza, that includes 24hr access to The SteamWorks, and Friday and Saturday night admission to Babylon."

"The fags are going to eat it up." Brian grinned.

"Wait, there's more." Tony said. "Once Proposition 14 is defeated, we're going to offer week long honeymoon packages. The goal is to make Pittsburgh the queer honeymoon Mecca of the Midwest."

"Fucking genius." Brian crawled over Justin, and on top of Tony. "Ummm." He snaked his tongue between Tony's full lips.

Justin sat upright in the bed. Now was as good a time as any. "Excuse me, you two."

Tony automatically reached for him, and pulled him into the fold. "We'd never forget about you, princess," he cooed.

Brian let go of Tony, and turned his focus to Justin. "No way, not our hot boy." He kissed his baby's throat, and trailed his hand down to Justin's sleeping cock.

Justin uncharacteristically pulled away, and stood up from the bed. "Guys, I need to talk to you about something," he said.

"Ahhh! You pick the damnedest times to talk." Brian, with his raging hard-on, sat up on the side of the bed.

Tony perched himself next to him. "What is it, princess?" he said.

Justin took a deep breath. "I've been thinking about Proposition 14," he began.

"Do we have to think about it now?" Brian stroked his dick.

"Quiet you." Tony frowned. "Go on princess. What about Proposition 14?"

Justin looked at his two princes, and once again the words of Uncle Vic came back to him. Indeed, they were marvelous. "Brian." Justin began again. "You told me that you were going to make me the best homosexual that I could be. Then you took me under your wing, literally, and from that moment on my life has been one long, fantastic roller coaster ride. Every day with you has been an adventure. My life would be boring without you, my brave, unpredictable tiger."

Tony and Brian took note of the seriousness in Justin's voice. The levity of the moment had suddenly given way to their undivided attention.

"Tony." Justin continued. "You call me your princess, and I believe you. You're my knight in shining armor, always standing at the ready to come to my rescue. It's in your arms that I've found my safe place. Where would I be without your courage, my steadfast lion?

"When it comes to marriage, the rule is that I can only have one of you, but that's not what the two of you have taught me. Brian, you said that gay men have to learn to define themselves, and stop trying to imitate breeders, and how many times have I heard you, Tony, say that you can do anything you want to do, because you're Anthony Massey. I've taken both of your lessons to heart, and that's why I've decided to marry both of you."

"Marry?" Brian felt his dick deflate in his hand.

Tony and Brian sat speechless, as Justin took each of their hands, and went down on one knee.

"Brian Kinney and Anthony Massey, would you do me the honor of marrying me?"

NEXT WEEK: A Little Competition, pt 2

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