The Love Boat

Executive Director of PhillyGayCalendar

When you are sitting around with your friends reminiscing about some of your favorite times that you went out, what are the things that made it a good time?

For me, it is location, location, location and a killer soundtrack to the good time and, well, it might involve cocktails too.

As we are now in the full swing of summer, who doesn’t want to combine all of these elements and also include an outdoor location?  "The Big Gay Boat Party" is the only outdoor LGBT party in Philadelphia.  It is a once a month Sunday tea dance party that started in May aboard the Moshulu, located at 401 S. Columbus Blvd (Delaware Avenue).

I was lucky enough or smart enough to make sure my gay ass was there for the first one.  While it might have been a little chilly and overcast for the inaugural party, it didn’t stop hundreds of ladies and boys from getting their dance on.  It is a rain or shine event and there was plenty of covered space to protect any of us divas from melting, if the sky did decide to open up, which it did briefly.

As a seasoned (in other words old) lesbian that has been in the Philly scene for decades (yikes), it was refreshing to have a change of scenery for going out.  My pretend boss at Phillygaycalendar, Steve McCann, is one third responsible for this new event.  As one third of the proceeds will benefit the website, I had to make sure that I was there to give him my tens of dollars that I knew I would spend on vodka.

The mere ten dollar cover gets you a six hour party on a 100 year old ship on Delaware Avenue with some of the most beautiful views of the waterfront and neighboring New Jersey.  There were beer and cocktail specials and even a grillmaster set up serving traditional barbeque fair.  You have free reign to wander around the decks of the boat and enjoy the scenery if you actually wanted to sit out a dance.

After I attended the first one, I contacted Steve about writing a story about it because I wanted all the gays to know about it and not miss the second one.  As it is a seasonal party,  this monthly event will only be going until August or September, so you don’t want to be one of the people that says, "Why didn’t I listen to her when I had the chance?"  Steve then put me in touch with DJ Deejay, who spins for these events.  I was already a fan because I loved how varied he was with his music choices at the event.  He covered everything from old school hip hop to Lady Gaga.  I believe I even got into a dance off to "Mmmbop" by Hanson.  There was something for everyone.

I emailed back and forth with DJ Deejay and we set up a phone interview.  I was pretty excited about it as it was my first.  He was the man with the plan and I wanted to pick his brain about "The Big Gay Boat".  Again, readers, as has been my experience with this new gig, I managed to fall in love with a man…again.  My first question, as I felt like I might not have been the only one wondering, was, "What’s up with your name?"  His real name is David John Cassidy.  As he has the same name as the major 70’s icon from "The Partridge Family", he figured he would nip having to change his name in the bud by not using it.  As a smart businessman, he also wanted to make sure that he picked a good name that would get traffic in google searches and so, David John became DJ Deejay.  Although the name does have it so that he is popular in google searches, it is varied monthly parties at different locations in the city that keeps people coming back and passing his name on to everyone.

DJ Deejay is a straight man who "could care less about orientation and who gets a lot of his best party ideas from the gay community".  He has been doing parties aboard the Moshulu for a few years now and was approached by the boat to see about starting a gay dance party there.  He was already established at Sister’s nightclub, thanks to our very own Timaree Schmidt, and talked to manager Denise Cohen about teaming up.  He also already had a 12 year connection with Steve McCann, thanks to his wife Lisa, who went to college with Steve’s ex-roommate.  Confused?  Don’t be.  Just know that the world is so small and you usually don’t have to get to the sixth person for the separation game.

This holy trinity was united under the guidance of DJ.  Denise is using her public recognition in the lesbian scene to get all of the hot ladies to come to this party.  Next month, she will also be providing sexy shot girls.  My guy Steve is using his exposure on Phillygaycalendar to make sure all of the hot men are coming to the party and he will also be providing sexy shot boys at next month’s event.

It is DJ Deejay who is bringing this all together and providing a fun environment with music from the 80’s all the way to today.  He stated that he is not the kind of DJ that you run into that wants to basically "jerk himself off or show off", he only wants to please his customers.  He wants to know what everyone wants and likes and give them the party that they are looking for.  He doesn’t feel like he needs to be the "hippest guy in town" to get the job done, although if you check out his website, djdeejay.org, he is kind of a dreamboat.  He doesn’t want you to feel like a wallflower because you are afraid that you will be judged.  His parties are pure, unadulterated good times with one goal in mind, that you dance your ass off and talk about it later as one of the best times you ever had.

I told him that night, while we are on the phone for almost an hour rapping about all things music, that my first experience at "The Big Gay Boat Party" was exactly that and I would definitely be back.  I am already comprising my playlist to email him ahead of time.  Our next adventure will be on Sunday, June 19th and I suggest that you don’t miss it.  Do you really want to hear all about it later while you are kicking yourself in the ass for not being there?  I don’t think so.

Check out the photos HERE

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