A 32-year-old with piercings, a lit cigarette, and tattoos that cover his arms like a tight shirt. Here is the punk-rock-pastor son of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. By Leigh Bell Photograph by Casey Curry
His name is forever linked to a seven-deadly-sins scandal that rocked Christian faith and captivated secular media. But Jay wears his last name like a purple heart. The name Bakker is pinned to his heart. He overcame Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's infamously fallen ministry to evangelize Christianity very differently than his parents did on The PTL Club, their 1980s television show that reached nearly 13 million viewers.
The Bakkers were an empire that we watched crumple like an aluminum can underfoot. A jury indicted Jim Bakker for defrauding his followers, and Christians condemned him for sins, including sleeping with church secretary Jessica Hahn and paying her $279,000 from ministry funds to keep quiet about it. The Bakker scandal made news headlines and late-night punch lines for years. Then it died down, like even the juiciest scandals do.
Years later, here came a grown-up Jay Bakker to excavate the past. Jay brought the Bakker name back, this time ...
A Kushner Conversation
The renowned writer Tony Kushner, who speaks in Houston this month, chats about his masterwork, ‘Angels in America,’ politics, comics, and the meaning of fabulousness.
By Neil Ellis Orts
Gay-reka!
The secret of Eureka Springs—a gay mecca in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas—is out!
By Bradley David Williams
Pool Party
OutSmart Fashion: This summer, look your best in and out of the water.
Photos by John Conroy
Free Agent
A candid and surprising chat with the at-times controversial Latasha Byears of the Houston Comets.
By Nancy Ford Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE/Getty Images
James Kudelka
Through his work, the gay choreographer of a ballet that premieres this month considers questions that may surprise dance aficionados.
By Marene Gustin Photo by Amitava Sarkar/Houston Ballet
OutSmart at Home
Look and Listen: From innovative doors to high-tech toys to local art, these ideas can make home a better place to see and hear.
LEFTOUT Contributing Factors
Barack has his vote, but Hillary has his heart.
By Brandon Wolf
OURRIGHT A Hope for Audacity
Who better deserves the gay Democrats’ vote—Clinton or Obama?
By Dale Carpenter
INSIDEOUT AT CITY HALL Of, By, and For the People
Dealing with the loco part of local government.
By Annise D. Parker
AIDS WATCH For the Girls
The ABCs of STDs.
By Kelly McCann
OUTLOUD Sex Obsessed
Sally tries to keep the focus on our daily lives and equal rights for all.
By Sally Sheklaw
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
DVD/VHS Walking the Line
Scandal can be so delicious, until it's served on your plate. 'The Walker' comes to DVD. Plus DVD shorts including 'Sweeney Todd,' Tila Tequila, and Bette Davis.
By Eric A.T. Dieckman, Nancy Ford, and Jack Varsi
OUT IN THE ARTS ‘Vagina’ Goes Trans
A New production gives a different spin to ‘The Vagina Monologues.' Plus tenor Kenneth Gayle, Houston Fringe Festival, and HGO's homoerotic 'Billy Budd.'
By Tim Brookover
TV Gimme 'Shelter'
This is not your father’s same old coming-out, coming-of-age story.
By John Stiles and Nancy Ford
GROOVEOUT Clearly Out
Aussie singer/songwriter Missy Higgins releases her sophomore CD, ‘On a Clear Night.’
By Gregg Shapiro
GROOVEOUT GrooveOut Shorts
George Michael, God-des and She, Ferras, Kylie Minogue, Moby, The B-52s, Willie Nelson, Lizz Wright, Anna Stafford, Estelle, Heloise & The Savoir Faire, Karen Blixt, Randy Jackson’s Music Club, and Global Groove Live 3
By Nancy Ford
READOUT Gone Missing
‘Mysterious Skin’ author Scott Heim follows up with a new novel, ‘We Disappear.’ Plus ReadOut Shorts.
By Lawrence Ferber
OUT & ABOUT
CALENDAR May Events
Day-By-Day Events, Performance, Performance for Young People, Radio, Art/Photography, HIV Testing. Spotlight: Korean 'Brokeback' and Gendermyn
By Sheri Taylor Bockelman
SIGNOUT Lilly's Starship
Mercury goes retrograde on May 22, and Saturn and Jupiter do a number on the economy.
By Lilly Roddy
