First, let me just say that I should never, ever, ever read another thing on Details.com.

I just learned about the first legal male prostitute in the United States. After gazing at his picture, I had to fight back the vomit that was surging up my throat. His name is Markus and fancies himself an artist. He prefers the term gigolo to prostitute. Because you know, the philosophical differences between the two professions are vast. Gigolos are artists, whereas prostitutes are just a bunch of holes on demand.

He likens himself to a freedom fighter of sorts. In fact, he says, “It's just the same as when Rosa Parks decided to sit at the front instead of the back. She was proclaiming her rights as a disadvantaged, African-American older woman. And I'm doing the same. I'm actually standing up now, and hopefully I can be supported by the male community and be understood as a person. This actually isn't about selling my body. This is about changing social norms.”

A couple of lesbians, a famed cross-dresser, one supremely volatile relationship and the woman who published the first recipe for pot brownies.

Now that’s a starting point for G.S., the world-premiere show opening this Friday as part of Cleveland Public Theatre’s fourth weekend of Big [Box] productions.

It’s a locally grown affair, with gay playwright Jonathan Wilhelm crafting the fictional meeting of two couples: lesbians Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, and George Sand and Alfred de Musset.

For an event that’s grown out of the Roman Catholic commemoration of Lent, Mardi Gras sure gets play in the queer community. Down in New Orleans, there’s an entire week of gay Mardi Gras events. And up in Cleveland, there are plenty of bar nights in LGBT bars where you can show your, um, things to earn beads.

The North Coast Men’s Chorus is getting in the act this year with a Mardi Gras benefit to raise money for the singing group, as well as nonprofits Bellefaire JCB (which supports same-sex couples in adoption) and GLSEN (the LGBT-and-allies teacher group).

With an authentic menu, live and silent auctions, prizes for best costumes and a performance by the chorus, the event on Saturday, Feb. 13, sounds like a way to heat up a cold Ohio evening with some hot New Orleans fun. And $50 gets you into the event at Windows on the River.