"We were  just a few yards from the stage when Frenchie performed.  I found her not only incredibly talented but also humble, engaging, and funny as heck.  She scored several big points with the largely gay crowd when she "called out" a group of protesters near the stage who were carrying signs saying things like "Homos are Evil" and "Aids kills".    She told them "what they heck is Christian about what y'all are doing?  Don’t try to hide your bigotry behind religion! " and "straight people get AIDS too so why don’t you all get some education before you go out and protest something."  Frenchie then addressed us in the crowd and said "don't worry y'all I got your back.  Frenchie knows that you don't spend four years on Broadway without the gays, I got your backs!.  But I’m still mad at you for takin�?all the cute men"  It was a funny and yet unifying and powerful moment.

A touching moment was when Frenchie described her recent scare with throat surgery and the possibility that she would never sing again.  She made it through and thanked God for her good fortune and the opportunity to sing for us that day. �?/EM>