I feel comfortable sharing with the gay community that Ray McKinnon is the real deal. The wife and I spent time with him last week, and he actually gives a damn about us. Yes, us. He really does. 

TUESDAY: We saw the advance private screening of his new film, Randy and The Mob, in Atlanta, and even got to talk with him at the party after it. The film is about twin brothers, one straight and one gay, both played by Ray. The straight brother, Randy, has a real hard time accepting his gay counterpart, Cecil. Although my real life brother is not my twin, we have shared this difficulty, and I told Ray how much this story resonated for me. As I was amongst only a handful of gay people in attendance, he expressed great appreciation in hearing this. In the film, the shit hits the fan, and Randy needs Cecil. It's a blessing for Randy, because Cecil is an exceptional human being for any orientation, the kind of person we all hope we can be. It's lovely. Ray's performance as Cecil reminded me of Frances McDormand's in Fargo. Being gay could easily be seen as a disability when dealing with the mob, much like McDormand's character being pregnant could have been a hindrance to her crackerjack police work. But Ray delivers this character to us with that same kind of sincere focus and some very well written nuances. Heck, Ray wrote it. He's our renaissance Southern dude, and, though Cecil, he's going to bring us all together. Like Superman in his tights and cape, Cecil can do anything wearing his teal pantsuit. See the film and you'll agree that teal is the new black.

WEDNESDAY: The mrs. and I hit the opening night party for the Atlantis Music Conference. Hmm, seems they were giving away a car! Since Oprah was not available, they enlisted the talent of Ray and his lovely wife, Lisa Blount (also his deadpan funny co-star in the film) to do the honors. Now the food and free beer ran out much too early and we got tired of making the rounds, so we'd been killing time on a lush leather sofa when Ray and Lisa walked in late. Since it wasn't a film crowd, they didn't gravitate towards anybody. Then they eyed our supple digs. We waved them over and they parked it. Ray regaled Ann with stories of gay high school teachers who inspired him and I got the 411 from Lisa about her album coming out next year, RuPaul's fascinating parties with charades and stripper poles, and how they choose to live in Little Rock to be near family. These are real folks! They chatted fluidly with nary an eye for future schmoozing conquests until they suddenly heard the raffle beginning without them from the stage. So, this is what Golden Globe nominees (her) and Academy Award winners (both of them) are really like? I'm gonna guess these two are exceptional.

THURSDAY: Ray was going to be speaking at the film and music panel for Atlantis this day. Hmm, what to wear? In the back of my closet, that color now bounced off the corner of my cornea! Teal. Like Cecil's pantsuit! A silk shirt, slightly blouson, but tailored. Perfect. I really felt empowered! The panel itself was somewhat disappointing with the moderator pressing the panelists for a description of who we (the musicians) should be in terms of genre to get music into films. Attorney Phil Walden, executive producer on Randy and The Mob, tried to explain that "it's all about the relationship," like the one that they've shared with Drive By Truckers, and that there are no quick answers. Then Ray had the insightful quote of the day. The whole room of hungry musicians, confused by the moderator's misdirection, finally nodded in agreement as they all scratched his words into their notes. Ray simply clarified, "Everything is second to you being authentic." Cecil would've been proud.