One thing that cannot be denied, categorically or otherwise, is that this Columbus Day weekend was a landmark for sex in America. Some commentators claimed that Chris himself screwed a continent. Anita Hill’s testimony is well-known by now–many of the details will be referred to for years to come. Here in Chicago, during a half-hour recess after her testimony, Channel Two played Love Connection.
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Memory Lane is the brassy drag-queen alter ego of a quiet self-effacing man in his 20s named Dean, who, without the makeup and the wig, bears a striking resemblance to Pee-wee Herman. “Condoms Are a Girl’s Best Friend” is just one of Memory’s send-ups of old tunes, which she performs in a style reminiscent of Belle Barth, a blue comic whose fame was at its peak during the 50s. It took about nine months for Memory to give birth to the finished video, which promotes safe sex to the tune of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” She also performed it live after each of three showings at the party.
A person standing next to him sneered, “Oh, come on.”
Memory’s voice intruded just then: “I’m really tired of this Thomas and Hill thing, aren’t you? So sordid, don’t you think?” She wiggled her parody breasts, big as pom-poms, at the crowd. “Now remember,” she announced, “size is power!” Then she sang, “If you’re gay and you know it, shake your tits,” and many in the crowd responded.
Memory Lane was on for her final set. It was getting late, and the guy who’d told the Clarence Thomas joke tried his luck with the same two girls. They walked away again.
