It’s exactly what you think it is. In the old days the word “gay” meant festive. And though this bingo night was quite festive, it was more of the modern “gay” meaning.

I have been told by at least two dozen people over the last couple years that I need to do a story on “Gay Bingo.” For one reason or another we couldn’t get there. Scheduling snafus, other commitments, etc. That happens from time to time with certain stories. There are two stories in the South Carolina Low Country which have been on our “to do” list for three years.

We finally made it to “Gay Bingo”… but it was literally the final night. After six years in Charlotte, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight AIDS, “Gay Bingo” is no more.

The theme for the last night was “Grease.” Gay men and straight women love “Grease.” I’m told it’s very entertaining. It has to be. People still talk about it a million years later.

I, however, have never seen “Grease.” Just not a movie that interested me. I did have an enormous crush on Olivia Newton John when I was 13, but I never saw “Grease”… and I’m not sure about this but I think I have also never been mellow. Which is to say I’m the only 45-year-old man who never smoked pot. (If you don’t get the “mellow” joke, I can’t help you.)

Pot and “Grease” just didn’t do it for me then and I have zero interest in either now… though I seem more mellow than ever. Andy claims he’s done it a total of eight times. Seen “Grease” that is. Andy passes his urine/drug test every month rain or shine!

EIGHT! No idea why. Maybe I’ve seen “Princess Bride” eight times. Probably not. “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” or “Office Space” would be close seconds. Oh wait! I’ve seen “It’s a Wonderful Life” a hundred times! That’s my favorite.

Anyway, “Gay Bingo” is the loudest, craziest, and this night, greasiest bingo I’ve ever seen. There were about 1500 people from all walks of life playing. A few church groups had reserved tables. There was a priest playing. A group of 4th grade school teachers. There were young hip 20-somethings and little grey-haired betties. It was an interesting cross cut of Charlotte life.

At the start they asked all the straight peeps to stand for a moment and I’d say the crowd seemed to be about 70 percent straight and 30 gay… but 100% festive. Get it? 100% festive. Yep. New gay meets old gay.

Running the show were a dozen or so gay men wearing dresses. One of them kissed me. I left the lipstick on my cheek hoping to make my wife jealous later. She just looked at me and said, “Got kissed by another cross-dresser?”

It’s just dawning on me that I never told you I eloped in Italy after the Winter Olympics. It was magical. Medieval village. Sunny, blustery day. Amazing. Completely amazing. But that’s another story for another day.

So these guys were dressed up as female characters from the movie --you guessed it-- “Grease.” I hate to say this because they tried so hard, but not a single one made an attractive looking woman.

It was a very funny, fun night. More importantly, it raised money for an excellent cause. And although I had never been to another “Gay Bingo” I felt a little sad when it ended. It started in a basement six years ago and through hard work and a lot of love from these kind souls it became wildly popular.

Personally, I think they’re crazy for stopping. But I don’t have to organize it, do I? You can imagine how doing an event over and over for that many people every month for that many years could wear you out.

I was glad we finally made it. In an upcoming Carolina Traveler show we’ll do our level best to explain our big “Gay Bingo” night.

I promise it’ll be festive,

Mike Redding