Friday, October 31, 2008

GENERAL STUFF: I love Miss Piggy


There is the satisfaction of providing your public with a vision of true beautology, true sytlisity, - how can I put it? – true glamorositude.

You cannot have too many gowns any more than you can have too many invitations to parties to wear them.

ELECTION 2008: ENDORSEMENT: *YES* on Issues 7 & 8

Local Issue 7 -- Vote YES
Shall the Charter of the City of Cincinnati be amended to limit the use of photo-monitoring devices to detect certain traffic law violations by adopting new Article XIV?

Essentially, a yes vote means that a simple traffic camera will not be enough to give a ticket to a motorist that runs a red light.

I don't think these things are good policy. There are a lot of good arguments for them -- including safety issues that are 100% relevant and salient to the discussion, and I don't mean to discount them. However, they are simply illegal. There are no witnesses save a camera, and a picture of a car driving through doesn't tell us who was driving the car. I'm not a big fan of big brother, and I'm tired of the ongoing debate of placing video cameras every where we go.

At some point, we need to just say "enough with the ongoing monitoring."

Like sex, when you drive, you are taking certain risks. Understanding those risks are part and parcel of the process. Yes, traffic fatalities are awful things, but how does a camera help? If someone runs a red light, they run a red light. A camera is not going to change that simple behavior. People argue that it keeps honest people honest, but it's not the honest people I'm worried about.

They don't protect people, these cameras; they are merely punitive. And I just don't think that's right.

Local Issue 8 -- Vote YES

Shall the proposed amendment to the Charter of the City of Cincinnati to provide for a method of proportional representation for electing the members of Council whereby each voter ranks candidate choice in descending order from 1 through 9 on each ballot; to provide for the counting of ballots and the determination of results whereby the ballots that are not needed or cannot be used to elect a candidate are distributed to the next highest candidate choice on each ballot who remains eligible to be elected; to provide for the ballot language and direction to voters; to provide for the election of two candidates for mayor in a primary election who shall be eligible for the regular municipal election for mayor; to provide for the election of mayor in the general election; to provide for the choice of write-in candidates; to provide for the election of council and the mayor by ballot without designation of political party; to provide for the marking, sorting and counting of ballots and tabulating the results in a manner consistent with the charter and general election law for non-partisan ballots; to provide for the ongoing validity of Article IX should any provision of Article IX be amended or held unconstitutional or in violation of state law; to provide for the use of mechanical, electronic or other devices for vote counting; and provide other procedures to implement proportional representation by repealing existing Sections 5, 5a, 7, 8, 11 and 12 and enacting new Sections 5, 5a, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13, be approved?
I'm actually divided on this one for two reasons:
1) I am 100% in favor of instant run-off election processes, which is what proportional representation is (essentially). I think it's fair and creates more balance in the system, while opening the system and allowing for more people to run for office.

2) This process is really, really, really complicated. I'm really concerned how upcoming elections will be run for city council because we can even trust people to properly press a button for one candidate for president (ignoring arguments about voting machine difficulties, here). Asking people to rank their preference... well... I've read some on the issue and I'm still not 100% on how the Cincinnati specific program works.

However, I think in the broad picture, this will be good for Cincinnati. I think the first time around we'll all be confused and there will be some bumps on the road, but I definitely definitely believe that we can step up to the challenge (I'm tired of dumbing stuff down for people instead of asking people to smarten up).

Besides, there are some dire issues of political access that need to be addressed in the city, and I think this is a step in the right direction.

OHIO/CINNKY: Overheard

On the corner of Chickasaw and MacMillan... there are two black gals standing on the corner, one a trannie gal, the looked, well, homeless. Crowd of drunken college students in Halloween garb walk up and start squealing:
Drunken College Girl to black trannie gal: Oh my god, girl you look great!

Trannie Gal:
Excuse me?

Drunken College Girl:
You look great!

Trannie Gal: *
snaps fingers* Damn right, bitch, I always do!

Drunken College Girl:
What a great Halloween costume!!!

Homeless Gal:
Bitch, please, we always look like this. Halloween is for white people.

And I'm at work tonight... praise the goddess.

HEALTH: In which a pharmacy tech knows too much about me...

Went to the pharmacy the other day to fill my prescription for Aldara Cream -- I have perennial toe warts (I know, gross, but the story is funny) and the stuff works better than anything else I've tried. Anyways, so the pharmacist pulls up my records and there are two other things on my file: Cipro and Flagyll.

If you know anything about antibiotics... these are two common STD medications. No, really. I had them, however, for a situation earlier in the year involving a process that nursing school delicately refers to as "elimination" or "hyperactive parastalsis," and then the brain-consuming tooth abcess I had in early summer.

Here I am, in Walgreen's in Clifton, asking for wart cream after recently having prescriptions to two STD medications. The (obviously gay) pharmacy tech takes the information, looks at me, places one hand on mine and says very gently:
Is everything ok, Mr. Floore?

Needless to say, I moved all my prescriptions to CVS and will be dividing up my prescription needs in the future in case I should ever show and need something for a more... ahem.. personal reason in the future.

PERSONAL: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

I'm not so hot on Halloween these years, even though I've had a special affinity growing up for it. After all, it happens in the same month as my birthday... of course, then, it's my holiday.

My mother loves Halloween, or, did, growing up. We were one of those families that, though lacking the spook house outside, had more kitsch inside for the holiday than any other place on the planet save a Hallmark store. I still remember the antique light up spookhouse that my mother has, complete with window pains made of what look like sugar. I still adore it and curse the fact that I broke one of the many pieces growing up. We also had a black cat, which my mother said she hated. On Halloween, she was sure to find that damn cat and bring it inside. There are sicko's out there, she would say.

These days, I don't do Halloween. So much so that last year I didn't go out; this year, I'm working. I think that should be fairly indicative about the tepidness of my feelings toward it. It's suprising because I thought, as an adult, this would be the holiday I would get into.

But it never panned out that way.

I hate horror movies, and the amount of candy consumed is almost disgusting at times. I can't get over the engorgement of chocolates and hard candies that occur from about my birthday to the end of the month and the weeks afterward where all you can think is If I see another tootsie roll, I'm going to cut someone's head off. It has become... well, boring.

My friends get into it, and the constant comparison of what they are wearing annoys me. Mainly because I have not worn a costume since I was 14 years old. I don't have that great of ideas.

There is no point to this post, except to say, I wish I was still involved. I wish I loved it the way my mother does, the way my friends do. I wish, at least, there was something more to it, in my head at least, than Elvira with a beer. It seems to have just come down to that and nothing more. There are always reasons to get drunk; I just don't see the sense in covering myself in fake blood as a reason to do just that.

And, with that depressing anecdote, I wish all of you...

Happy Halloween!!!!

ELECTION 2008: Prediction

I officially made my prediction over at the DemConWatchBlog 2008 prediction contest. Here's my guess:

<p><strong>><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/campaign08/electoral-college/">Electoral College Prediction Map</a></strong> - Predict the winner of the general election. Use the map to experiment with winning combinations of states. Save your prediction and send it to friends.</p>


Obama: 382 EV's, 53.5% of the popular vote
Will win ALL of Kerry's states, and add (in order of likelihood): Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico (just add these three and he wins 273-265), Nevada, Virginia, Ohio (breaks 300 EV's, 311-227, can claim a mandate at this point), North Carolina/Florida (equally likely), Missouri, Georgia, North Dakota

McCain: 156 EV's, 45.5% of the popular vote
He will keep the following "new" swing states (in order of strength): West Viriginia (by 5-10%), Arizona (by 5-10%), South Dakota (by 5-10%), Montana (by 0.1-5%), and Indiana (by 0.1-3%).

My reasoning is thus: If it turns out to be an Obama landslide, those states that are polling and "swinging" a lot (Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Missouri, North Dakota, and, less so, Ohio) will go with Obama. Those that are polling regularly close but on the side of McCain (i.e., one or two polls in the last week with an Obama edge or tied) will stay with McCain. Indiana's EV's will go into recount at least once, as will Georgia's. But I think they will split the difference.

Georgia, I am betting on Obama because of A) potential African American turnout, and B) Bob Barr told me Obama would win, and C) the Macon Telegraph endorsed Obama. For the deep, central south, that is not a small feat.

I will not be doing anymore polling updates, nor will I be adding anything about the coming polls for the next few days. At this point, only one poll will matter: the final vote count. (Barring something exceptional over the weekend like repeating polls of Obama ahead in Arizona.)

I know many, many, many of you are relieved.

PS The cynic in me is actually saying the count should be 291-247 as a more realistic number, with all Kerry going to Obama, and including only Virginia, Iowa, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada. I reserve the right, on election night, to say "well, I guess cynical me was right, but I was still right." :-)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

GAY STUFF: BLOGGING: Write to Marry Day, 10/29

Today is Write to Marry Day for bloggers across the country!!!! (Thanks to JereKeys for reminding me, and thanks to Pam's House Blend for organizing this, and don't forget to check out my previous posting on the issues.)

Now, I'm not one for marriage. It doesn't fit within my personal ideals of life. In fact, I'm kinda centrally anti-marriage as a heteronormative institution that is based on undermining women and should be destroyed from the get-go, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't allow people to shackle themselves if they want.

I kid, but only a little.

Seriously, marriage isn't my thing. Hell, monogamy isn't my think. Hell, dating isn't even my thing. That doesn't mean it isn't other people's. . . and the ongoing laws making the practice of same-sex illegal are nothing more than bigoted religious crap with no basis in reality except for the twisted nightmares of the far right.

And, in the end, I'm far more anti-right wing than anti-marriage.

I don't think this is going to make the "best of the web 2008" awards anytime soon :-).

There's some crazy stuff on YouTube about Prop 8 in California. First, one from the crazies, one of the sickest videos I have ever seen:



And then one from the good guys:



I love Dave. :-)

CINCY GAY SCENE: Pride Planning Committee Meeting

I attended the (X) meeting of the 2009 Cincinnati Pride Commitee Meeting last night at Little Bits Bar in Clifton Heights. This was the first time I had actually been to a meeting hosted by "his eminence," Joe Penno.

I was moderately impressed. Moderately.

Structurally, Pride itself is not changing, it seems this year, except for minor adjustments (the Saturday Festival, for example, changing times to start and end earlier, for example) and a few additions (including an attempt to get real entertainment and possible 'Party Bus' to appease the ever problem of the whining of downtown bars). However, things are far more organized this time around than they were at this point at any of the meetings I ever attended over the now deposed queen of the Center and all Pride -- wait, that was only her self-styled title. For that, I applaud the new (and large) organizing committee, though I wonder about how many of those people stick around for May -- myself included. I seem to remember that I bolted from Cincinnati the day of the Parade last year.

Joe also seems to be consolidating the organization and adding some well needed energy to the planning process -- thank the goddess.

Unfortunately, my own primary complaint seems to be so ingrained in the structure that I wonder if it will ever be possible to break: why the hell do we still have the Parade on Sunday? The Parade should be on Saturday and the Drag Races on Sunday. But that's neither here nor there and representative of a more systemic issue. (And one that's too late to change, at this point, but I do like to complain as much as possible.) There is an addition of a logo contest to go along with the, regrettable, theme this year of Squealin' with Pride 2009. It's like they went to the Serpent one evening and asked every coked out bottom what would be a good theme.

Regardless, I maintain two complaints: one, with a few exceptions, the organization is dominated by well-off early to middle-middle age white men with more money and connections than they know what to do with. And, the second complaint, they do a lot of sitting around wondering (and I quote) how to get the "younger folks" out. Geez.

Not saying I know how, but I can be sure that referring to them as "younger folks" over and over again is probably not the best set up for an impressive turnout :-).

My own bitchiness aside, I'll keep going and I'll keep reporting. But I leave you with three questions:


1) What would you like to see at Cincinnati Pride that you've never seen before?
2) Who would you like to see at Cincinnati Pride as a performer? (the dream list included people like Margaret Cho and Kristine W. . . I'll be interested to see what they can pull off)
3) Since most of my readers are "younger folks," what would bring you and everyone you know to Pride in Cincinnati this year?
4) Why is anyone still pretending like the Greater Cincinnati GLBT News is read by this target audience? I liked how their promotional ideas were keyed around two things: Michael X. Chanak's massive email list and the GLBT News. I'm sure there are no other ways that gay people in Cincinnati get their news or information... I'm sure I don't know of any. God I miss Sam and Q-City.

Oh, and a spoiler: Cheryl Eagleson and John Maddox have been tapped as the Grand Marshalls. I don't think that was confidential information, I'll see what kind of response I get.

Next Meeting: November 18th, 7pm @ The Metropolitan Community Church in Northside. Mistress Cody, my dear vlogger, I may ask that you attend with.

PS Also met a cute boy last night ... but there are some things to... consider first.

OHIO/CINNKY: Overheard...

...on the corner of Auburn Avenue and W. H. Taft.

Scene: Homeless Boy on our left (complete with sign); Homeless Girl on our right (complete with sign), yelling back and forth across the street, and, coincidentally, on either side of us.
Homeless Girl: Yea, I'm not going to be out for much longer.

Homeless Boy:
Well, let me give you a phone number that you can call in case you get locked up or something tonight.

Homeless Girl:
You are too sweet. Good looking out.

Uhhuh.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

LGBT HISTORY: Harvey Milk Murder Date


So Joe.My.God. clued me into this video, but it wasn't the video that caught my eye...

It was the statement by No on 8 that it is being released statewide on the 30th anniversary of Supervisor Harvey Milk's and Mayor George Moscone's murder in San Francisco. It was released on October 27, 2008.

Well, many appreciations to No on Prop 8 for all the hardwork they are doing to defeat Proposition 8 in California, but your history is a little wrong.

Harvey Milk and George Moscone were murdered on November 27, 1978. 

For those who don't know, Harvey Milk was the first openly gay or lesbian person elected to (major) public office in the US, and was recently named as one of the 100 most influential people of the century by Time Magazine. Mayor Moscone was a close friend and supporter of Milk and his views on equality. There are some reports of backroom deals, but the long and the short of it came down to this: Dan White, another Supervisor in SF, became frustrated with the Moscone-Milk friendship and decided to kill them both. Fun fun fun. White later got a lighter sentence after his lawyers made the now infamous Twinkie defense -- that twinkies, coca-cola, and depression caused violent mood swings and meant that he could not have been guilty of premeditation.

Anyways, Wikipedia is a great source of information on both Milk and Moscone (and White). 

California recently tried to pass an annual holiday -- Harvey Milk Day on May 22 -- in honor of his place in gay history (it would be the only annual holiday that honors a person for their contributions to the LGBT rights movement, by the way), but the Governator vetoed it.


The above screenshot is from the upcoming movie, Milk, by Gus Van Sant starring Sean Penn about the man and the events precipitating his death. 

WEARING *WHAT* WEDNESDAY: Kellen Winslow

I know, a little early, but this picture caught my eye on CNN...




And I thought, DAMN, check out those arms! And then I read
the story...

The problem came to the forefront last week with Cleveland Browns player Kellen Winslow, who recently had his second staph infection. He is reportedly the sixth player to acquire staph among the Browns in five years.

Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts was revealed to have a staph infection, the Indianapolis Star reported Friday. University of North Carolina-Asheville fans also recently learned that Kenny George, the 7-foot-7 center on the basketball team, had a staph infection complication that led to part of his foot be
ing amputated.

It's unclear how these high-profile athletes acquired their infections, but locker rooms have been found to habor staph bacteria in previous outbreaks. The topic is generating buzz throughout the sports world as more p
layers' staph cases are revealed. Hospitals have long been known to be hot spots for transmitting staph, but recently cases have cropped up in other community settings. Regardless of where these players got their infections, the close quarters of a locker room raise questions about overall risks.

About 30 percent of people carry staph in their noses without exhibiting symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

Experts say Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a form of staph resistant to common antibiotics, has become a more prevalent problem in settings such as contact sports that involve skin-to-skin touching.

Most MRSA infections acquired in community settings p
resent themselves as sores or boils and often appear red, swollen, painful or with drainage such as pus, the CDC says. Infections often occur in cuts and abrasions but also on body parts covered in hair, such as the back of the neck, armpit or groin.
They have a link on the page to the CDC's Fact Sheet on MRSA and athletes (although I think it's funny and sad that they don't actually distinguish between MRSA and staph, but you know...). What is also interesting as, earlier this year, the CDC came close (but not quite) to labeling MRSA as an STI that has started to be found in men who have sex with men:
The strains of MRSA described in the recent Annals of Internal Medicine have mostly been identified in certain groups of men who have sex with men (MSM), but have also been found in some persons who are not MSM. It is important to note that the groups of MSM in which these isolates have been described are not representative of all MSM, so conclusions can not be drawn about the prevalence of these strains among all MSM. The groups studied in this report may share other characteristics or behaviors that facilitate spread of MRSA, such as frequent skin-to-skin contact.

MRSA is typically transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, which occurs during a variety of activities, including sex. There is no evidence at this time to suggest that it MRSA is a sexually-transmitted infection in the classical sense.
Anyways, I am not making any implications about what's his face... right, Kellen Winslow. I just thought people who read my blog might be interested to know more about MRSA.

They might also be interested in his amazing body...



And, of course, the piece de resistance...
Unlike what my family will tell you...

...sometimes, I do like football.

PS There is also the strange and interesting case of the Turkish wrestlers who appeared to have transmitted and contracted Hepatitis B through sweat/skin-to-skin contact. So STDs in athletics are neither new nor unusual...

ELECTION 2008: ENDORSEMENT: From Equality Cincinnati

Equality Cincinnati has released its endorsements a few days ago (thanks to Rainbow Cincinnati).
President/Vice President - Barack Obama/Joe Biden
U.S. Representative, 3rd District of Ohio - Jane Mitakides
U.S. Representative, 2nd District of Ohio - Victoria Wulsin
Ohio State Representative, 28th District - Connie Pillich
Ohio State Representative, 31st District - Denise Driehaus
Ohio State Representative, 33rd District - Tyrone Yates
Hamilton County Commissioner - Todd Portune & Chris Dole
Ohio Supreme Court - Peter Sikora
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas - Jody Luebbers & Norma J.H. Davis
Interesting, neither the Bill Seitz/Dan McCarthy nor the Chabot Driehaus race is on there. Strange. 

I wish I could, you know, confirm the information with their website... but it hasn't been updated since 2007.

Such is the state of GLBT Politics in Cincinnati..

PS And despite the woman empowing article Campbell Brown wrote on CNN.com about embracing your inner diva to Sarah Palin, don't let her recent desire to be a diva -- which I fully support -- distract you from the fact that she's still a rancid bitch.

PPS Make sure you follow the latest early voting statistics. My interest and curiosity, of course, will be the 33% of votes already cast in places like Georgia and Florida...

Monday, October 27, 2008

VLOGGING/PERSONAL/HIV/AIDS: My Life as a Teenage GoGo Boy (pun)

At last, the update ya'll havn't been waiting for [sic]. lol
Vlog featuring: My sexcapades that led me to getting my first HIV test at STOP AIDS Cincinnati (totally awesome people there BTW... Check 'em out @ 220 Findlay St. if you're due for a test!)



Cheers!
-"Cowboy" Cody, The Seeker

Sunday, October 26, 2008

ELECTION 2008: Enquirer Endorses McCain

I was afraid this would happen; from the Cincinnati Enquirer (via their website):

We are divided over our involvement in wars overseas, shaken by the collapse of financial institutions and the weakened economy, uncertain about our families' future well-being, and seemingly more polarized on partisan, cultural and regional lines than ever.

This is a time for a president with deep experience and proven character, a president who thrives in the great, good, honest middle ground in which most Americans live, a president forthright enough to tell us what we'd rather not hear, a president with the courage to follow his convictions and the grit to persevere.

This is Sen. John McCain's time.

We endorse the Arizona Republican for president...

Unlike Obama, McCain isn't a smooth, effective campaigner. (emphasis mine) But his record of leadership suggests he will be a far better president than candidate...

While the campaign has focused mainly on the issues, it has brought Americans some ugly rhetoric from the extremes on both sides. Both candidates have ably risen above it. McCain has consistently rebuked those who would insinuate racial prejudice into the equation. Yet the nation remains sharply divided country on partisan, ideological, cultural and racial lines. We urge the winning candidate to invite the loser to help him advance the nation's agenda.

America needs an experienced, skilled hand in the White House, someone who can exercise a moderating influence, someone who can summon the courage to change and the consistency to stick with his convictions. That someone, we believe, is John McCain.


Is anyone surprised? The Gannett Corporation is not known for "going out there" for "liberal," let alone a Democrat.

No word yet from my hometown's Post & Courier.

To follow newspaper endorsements, check out DemConWatchBlog.com (their latest list here, which has 132-48 in Obama's favor, and will soon include an Obama endorsement from... Anchorage, Alaska)

Friday, October 24, 2008

ELECTION 2008: ENDORSEMENT: Barack Obama


I've added him to my endorsement list. If you are desperate and love to know why, check out this column over here that was posted way back in August.

Another big "duh."

If you hadn't figured it out by now that that's whom I support... well...

...you might just be a McPalin supporter.

GENERAL STUFF: Where I admit my crush on Miss Piggy



Many people think money is something to be set aside for a rainy day. But honestly, how much money do you really need for a dozen or so hours of inclement weather?

LGBT HISTORY: APA's Strange Relationship with LGBT People

1948
Alfred Kinsey publishes Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, the first major sexological research scientific study. Its results challenged the growing conservatism that would define the next 10 years.

1952
Homosexuality is listed in the first DSM as a Sociopathic Personality Disturbance. (I actually didn't know this; the Catholics told me.)

1953
Alfred Kinsey publishes Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, the follow up to his popular 1948 piece. Less successful, and with fewer "wow's." The conservatism had set in, and people were no longer interested in listening.

1957
Evelyn Hooker's paper, "The Adjustment of Male Overt Homosexuals," was published which put psychological tests to both "healthy" homosexuals and heterosexuals. When the results were presented to professionals, they were unable to distinguish between the two groups. The lesson: you can't tell a homo by the psychological profile alone. Bigger message: gays aren't that different.

1968
Homosexuality is moved from sociopathy to "other sexual deviations."

1974
Homosexuality is removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) by the American Psychological Association. It is replaced, instead, by sexual orientation disturbance. The move was credited as the result of three things: 1) Alfred Kinsey, 2) Evelyn Hooker, and 3) the gay rights movement.

1980
Sexual orientation disturbance is replaced in the DSM by "ego-dystonic homosexuality." This is defined (to this day in the ICD-10 by the World Health Organization) as:
The gender identity or sexual preference (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or prepubertal) is not in doubt, but the individual wishes it were different because of associated psychological and behavioural disorders, and may seek treatment in order to change it.

The ICD-10 (universal medical diagnosis coding system) has a whole section on sexuality, the F66 section. Egodystonic sexual orientation is F66.1. They also have relational and maturational diagnoses.

The argument against this is that homosexuality is egosyntonic -- that is, aligning with the values or beliefs necessary to a person's ego or person's self-image. Seems very personality-based, so I would think it's difficult to make a universal statement there. Especially since anorexia nervosa is considered egosyntonic.

1987
Ego-dystonic homosexuality is removed from the revised DSM, but "sexual disturbance not otherwise specified" persists which is defined as "persistant and marked distress about one's sexual orientation."

2000
The American Psychological Association comes out against reparative/conversion therapy. They find, though there is little evidence either way, that conversion therapy is potentially harmful. From their statement:

In the current social climate, claiming homosexuality is a mental disorder stems from efforts to discredit the growing social acceptance of homosexuality as a normal variant of human sexuality. Consequently, the issue of changing sexual orientation has become highly politicized. The integration of gays and lesbians into the mainstream of American society is opposed by those who fear that such an integration is morally wrong and harmful to the social fabric. The political and moral debates surrounding this issue have obscured the scientific data by calling into question the motives and even the character of individuals on both sides of the issue... Psychotherapeutic modalities to convert or "repair" homosexuality are based on developmental theories whose scientific validity is questionable. Furthermore, anecdotal reports of "cures" are counterbalanced by anecdotal claims of psychological harm. In the last four decades, "reparative" therapists have not produced any rigorous scientific research to substantiate their claims of cure. Until there is such research available, APA recommends that ethical practitioners refrain from attempts to change individuals' sexual orientation, keeping in mind the medical dictum to First, do no harm.

2012
The DSM-V, the latest manual, is due out. They are currently analyzing current diagnoses. There are two that are being challenged this time around:
  • Gender Identity Disorder -- actually listed under a couple of categories. GID is the psychological "disease" necessary to have before undergoing sexual reassignment surgery. It is the only psychological condition that has a surgical cure. Think about that one for a moment.
  • Transvestic Fetishism -- listed as a "paraphilia." This specifically revolves around people who cross -dress and may, in fact, gain sexual arousal out of cross-dressing. People diagnosed with TF would be what we would call "transvestites" or "cross-dressers."
GID Reform Advocates is seeking to either delete or significantly alter both of these diagnoses to "affirm that difference is not disease, nonconformity is not pathology, and uniqueness is not illness...[and] serve a clear therapeutic purpose, are appropriately inclusive, and define disorder on the basis of distress or impairment and not upon social nonconformity."

And that's the whole purpose of this blog... we are gearing up for this one. So, um, yea.

There you go.

HIV/AIDS: Exposure at a St.Louis High School?

Should be categorized under "Most Bizarre Stories Ever Posted on CNN's Front Page..."
Students at a suburban St. Louis high school headed to the gymnasium for HIV testing this week after an infected person told health officials as many as 50 teenagers might have been exposed to the virus that causes AIDS.

Officials refused to give details on who the person was or how the students at Normandy High School might have been exposed, but the district is consulting with national AIDS organizations as it tries to minimize the fallout and prevent the infection -- and misinformation -- from spreading...

The St. Louis County Health Department said last week that a positive HIV test raised concern that students at Normandy might have been exposed. The department is not saying whether the infected person was a student or connected with the school, only that the person indicated as many as 50 students may have been exposed.

The Health Department also will not say how any exposure might have occurred. Health Department spokesman Craig LeFebvre has said the possibilities include sexual activity, intravenous drug use, piercings and tattoos.

I mean, first of all, whoa. No matter the route of infection, that's a lot of possible exposures. 50 sexual exposures? 50 IV exposures? I think we can probably rule out piercings and tattoos... after all, there have been, I think, no cases related to those two methods (I could be wrong, but it's almost none).

Read the story. It's actually really interesting, and it sounds like the school district and health department are handling it appropriately and brilliantly.

We've got to give credit where credit is due.

I think it's important to note that this is impressively handled by a mainstream media source, where as the HIV/AIDS case mentioned earlier this evening was not as well handled by a gay media source.

ELECTION 2008: ENDORSEMENT: Amendments not in Ohio

Arizona... *NO* on Proposition 102



In 2006, Arizona became the first state in the union to defeat a Defense of Marriage Act by popular vote. Not happy with their loss, anti-marriage Arizonans put it back on the ballot this year. I mean, really, are they going to do this in 2010, as well, if they lose. Anyways, polls are close again, so go out and vote no again. It doesn't even legalize gay marriage. It only blocks putting the definition of marriage as "one man and one woman" into the state constitution.

Vote no, and let's end this silly cycle. Contribute here.

California... *NO* on Proposition 8


California's Supreme Court has said gay marriage must happen in the state. The State Assembly voted for gay marriage, to be veto'd by the Governator, Arnold. Now that marriage is happening, opponents are taking it back to the ballot. A yes vote would eliminate new gay marriages in the state of California. A no vote would allow them to continue, though there is a legal argument that those that have all ready occured would still go through..

Vote no. Contribute here.

Florida... *NO* on Amendment 2

Also a gay marriage amendment, doing much the same as in every other state. Blah, blah, blah. Defining marriage as one man, one woman, not allowing other unions to be recognized. Aren't they aware of full faith and credit clause, and that the minute it gets to the Supreme Court all these little things are goners? Apparently not.

Vote no. Contribute here. Or here.

At least there are only 3 this year, as opposed to 11 in 2004.

LGBT HISTORY: Timeline and LGBT Health

Leave it to Wikipedia to have the most extensive and most up-to-date timeline of LGBT History...

Interesting tidbit, though the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association was founded in 1981, it was not until 2005 that the American Medical Association spoke specifically to their annual conference. Here are Dr. Edward Hill's remarks:
"I know that GLMA members and LGBT physicians have been treated unfairly by the AMA in the past. There is simply no excuse for discriminatory actions or exclusions based on sexual orientation or gender identity -- none." He continued, "First, GLMA has opened [the AMA's] eyes to the diverse needs of LGBT patients, and second -- and just as important -- GLMA has told patients that they have the right to expect a health care system filled with openness, fairness and equality."
Just a little tidbit for today. I'm working on my school's Diversity Week, which happens in November, so I'm trying to find information about culture, religion, sexuality and healthcare. This was one of the first tidbits I had found.

And, I'll post on this later, but make sure you join up the discussion on reforming the American Psychological Association's position on Gender Identity Disorder and Travestic Fetishism for the revised DSM.

ELECTION 2008: ENDORSEMENT *YES* ON ISSUES 1 & 3

These are almost no-brainers...

Issue 1 -- Moves the required petition filing date up from 90-days before the election to 125-days. Why does this matter? Because the current 90 day requirement doesn't give enough time for signatures to be validated and the issue to be "vetted" before the ballots are printed. So, like last year, we're going to have another Issue -- issue 4, I believe? -- that was withdrawn after the ballots were printed. There's a little rumbling that it will make things more difficult for people to get issues on the ballot. However, you should be planning more than 4-months out if you are really impassioned about an issue.

Issue 3 -- Simply allows citizens the right to "reasonable use" of water on their property. That's it, in a nutshell. It's about protecting people's property rights. I get the impression there was a specific incident that spurred this, but I don't think it's silly or egregious. What's on your property is on your property, though I imagine it won't be long before we get the legal question: what is reasonable use.

That's all for this evening, and pretty much all the issues.

HIV/AIDS: Another arrest and court case

On the back of the two recent high-profile cases I talked about earlier in the week... we apparently are in the mood to criminalize sex for HIV-positive persons:

A gay disc jockey in Raleigh originally convicted of violating HIV infection regulations in August has been placed on house arrest after admitting he broke probation orders in early October.

On Sept. 6, Q-Notes reported that Joshua Waldon Weaver, 23, who works in clubs in Raleigh and Wilmington, pleaded guilty to charges that he failed to disclose his HIV-positive status and engaged in unprotected sex with three people. Weaver was given a suspended jail sentence and placed on probation. The terms of his probation ordered Weaver to use protection when engaging in sexual activity.

About two weeks ago Weaver was arrested after Wake County Public Health officials contacted his probation officer with information that he had possibly violated court orders by having sex without a condom. Assistant District attorney Boz Zellinger told The News & Observer that health officials became aware of the DJ’s violation after he contracted another sexually transmitted disease that could have been prevented by the use of a condom.

Weaver could have faced 40 days in jail for his most recent violation, but District Court Judge Jacqueline Brewer instead sentenced him to six months of electronically-monitored house arrest. He will not be allowed to leave his father’s house except for probation-approved employment. Brewer also ordered
Weaver to undergo a psychological evaluation.If Weaver breaks his probation again, he will face up to 25 days in jail and prosecutors will ask for a two-year quarantine in a state prison hospital.“His behavior hasn’t changed,” Zellinger told the Raleigh newspaper after the hearing. “We’re trying to address the callousness his actions have demonstrated.”

Zellinger added, “It’s not a witch hunt. It’s a desire to change his
behavior to benefit the community.”
(from Q-Notes, a gay mag from the Carolinas')

I'm curious about the law in North Carolina.

There are some great discussions going on, at the Q-Notes site, as well as on TrevorHoppe.com and on Joe.My.God. I wanted, instead of talking myself (you can read my comments on TrevorHoppe.com), to post some other people's reactions. What do you think?

Well Trevor,the truth is that he needs to be plastered on billboards across the nation. Don’t you want your friends and family members to know who he is when they see him? Well, I do. Maybe one of your close loved ones will bring him home for dinner after dating him a significant amount of time before meeting the family. LOL. GET REAL AND FACE REALITY!!!! He’s sick and he wants to take all of us with him. Maybe you want to join him or are you already in the group. Where’s your picture?
(from Q-Notes)

Trevor & Chris: HIV is a communicable disease, correct? So is TB, correct?

What about all those folks quaranteened for TB? Does the government have the right to tell those people to stay in their homes?

Does the government have the right to prevent the spread of a communicable disease?
(from Q-Notes)

imageofman - I have problems with quarantines but generally agree with them for airborne diseases. This is not the case with HIV. HIV can not be contracted accidentally(mother to child is an exception) . If you have sex, HIV and other std’s are part of the risk you take. If you’re worried about HIV decide for yourself how worried you are and then make your choices. To be PERFECTLY safe don’t have sex, to be safer sleep with one person you trust, to be even safer always use a condom. The cost/ benefit is up to you. I don’t care who this guy sleeps with and I don’t care if he lies to his partners - it’s not my business or yours!
(from Q-Notes)

Hideous....I agree whole-heartedly, Trevor.

I also can't get past the point that he got "caught" because "he
contracted another sexually transmitted disease that could have been prevented by the use of a condom".....first of all it's a bit presumptuous that an STD infection is immediately proof of unprotected anal sex when most every infection can also be transmitted orally....or is it the state of NC's position that HIV+ people must use condoms for oral AND anal sex? (which isn't, to my knowledge, really in keeping with safer sex messaging out there coming from most anyone who knows anything). And for that matter if STD's are included in this code they're using to convict him, then do they now do partner tracing to find the person who gave him this most recent STD and arrest that person, too? Talk about barriers to accessing testing and care? Or participating in a partner notification process to keep your sexual partners healthy?

It's also particularly problematic that a queer publication would run with the story in this way...it's bad enough that queer men and HIV+ men get defiled by the mainstream...but to have our own community legitimizing it! *barf*

We live in a scary scary country!
(from TrevorHoppe.com)

Why not just make him wear an electronically-monitored chastity belt?
(from Joe.My.God.)

Hmm. Two-year quarantine in a state hospital. Nice. What's "appropriate?" How about a "penis-ectomy"? Orchidectomy? Hormonal castration?LOVES me those Southern states!!!Are there normally two willing partners in any sex act, or just the "dangerous" one?
(from Joe.My.God.)

This guy isn't bright enough to care that he is walking around with a loaded gun in his pocket, one that cannot be taken from him and the worst thing that can happen is that the state will clothe, feed and house him at the expense of taxpayers for two years. At the end of that time, he'll probably get out hornier than a fifteen year old and start doing damage all over again. WOW! How about making him work in a long term care facility with people dying of AIDS and/or in a home care capcity for someone who is housebound due to the disease? If re-education is the key to reform, then please put this stoopid motherfucker in a situation that promotes learning.
(from Joe.My.God.)

here we go again with the long slide down the slippery slope. You could sneeze in an elevator and pass along the influenza virus which can have lethal (albeit rare) complications. People aren't likely to give up breathing (and coughing) anytime soon, nor is it realistic to imagine that sex will go away. As this trend goes, along with the fear-mongering 'media-terrorism' of the hourly news cycle, there is no goal in the culture wars more sacred that criminalizing HIV. We are the victims of this dread disease. Our civil rights are not up for grabs. The irresponsible behavior of one individual does not reflect the values of our community as a whole. This must be made emphatically clear. For me I think it's much more useful to focus on near goals that are real and attainable - serosorting, for example. Advocating among all my poz friends to stay up on the latest treatment info and help them out of the debilitating depression that is so common among us long-termers would be another. I walk the walk every fucking day - and I'm not about to let some looser (no matter how cute) from Carolina define the terms my fight. I can be just as creative in name-calling as the next queen - but don't think for a moment that I am unaware of my responsibilities and good fortune.Just to wonder out loud, how many of those who excoriate poz guys with such venom have bareback videos in their porn collections? I mean, we could totally put Treasure Island out of business if we really got together and tried to. That would be do-able; turning the tide of public opinion, well, maybe someday if we survive that long.You may not see the courageous around you, nor understand the burdens carried - Whitman said it best - 'he who walks a mile without sympathy surely walks to his grave alone, dressed in his shroud.'
(from Joe.My.God.)

Ok, so, I found the NCLaw here. Fascinating law, actually. This is what it says about HIV-infected persons:
Infected persons shall:
(a) refrain from sexual intercourse unless condoms are used; exercise caution when using condoms due to possible condom failure;
(b) not share needles or syringes, or any other drug-related equipment, paraphernalia, or works that may be contaminated with blood through previous use;
(c) not donate or sell blood, plasma, platelets, other blood products, semen, ova, tissues, organs, or breast milk;
(d) have a skin test for tuberculosis;
(e) notify future sexual intercourse partners of the infection;
(f) if the time of initial infection is known, notify persons who have been sexual intercourse and needle partners since the date of infection; and,
(g) if the date of initial infection is unknown, notify persons who have been sexual intercourse and needle partners for the previous year.
That's right kids, unlike Ohio House Bill 100 which makes it illegal to have sex without disclosure (and humorously has commentary about inserting "an instrument, apparatus, or other object that is not a part of the body into the vaginal or anal cavity of another" -- that's actually really unexpected in an Ohio law), North Carolina has made it illegal for someone with HIV to ever have sex without a condom as well as notification of partners, current, past, and future.

Right to privacy, what?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: there are two people in the room when you have sex (or more, I suppose, I'm not one that's against group sex). Everyone involved understands the risk involved with sex; to say otherwise is victimization and intellectual laziness. Gay men, I think especially, are acutely aware of the risk of HIV. If you decide to have sex without a condom -- hell, if you decide to have sex at all -- you are taking that risk yourself. Even if you don't know your partners' status.

End of discussion.

I also think it's interesting that NCLaw requires HIV-positive persons to have skin tests for TB. I mean, wow. We really don't like HIV-positive people down there, do we?

ELECTION 2008: Driehaus Event

I was twittering the event last night. Driehaus's gang had a debate watch party at Sully's last night with a meet-up with the man afterwards.

Some pictures (I really suck at resizing...)...

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Sully's is actually a nice bar, if woefully understaffed.

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The crowd watching the debate -- all in all, there were probably 40 or 50 people there at the height, though only 20-25 watching the debate. It got crowded around 820 when Driehaus showed up, and me and Jackie headed onto the porch to drink beer and smoke until almost midnight. So, yea...

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This is the only picture of the shirt you see at the bottom right that came out. That's right, the HRC is working for Driehaus. How does that make you feel, Jere?

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The rush to see Driehaus once he came in.

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Driehaus handing out some door prizes after he arrived.

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This man is wearing (and selling) flashing Obama T-shirts.

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On the walk home... and look, it's a real website.

Let's talk real quick about Mr. Driehaus, especially after Mr. JereKeys raised some concerns over on his blog. You're right, JereKeys, the more I learn about Mr. Driehaus, the more I realize he is not in it all for us. In fact, another reader points out that not only did he vote for Ohio's DOMA, he is not co-sponsoring the Equal Housing and Employment Act in the statehouse. However, he did, in fact, co-sign a strongly worded letter to a colleague about inappropriate anti-gay language. And he has been in gay pride events.

Small concessions.

You're right, though. He is pro-life, which is a stance that is abhorrent to me. He is against the amnesty of immigrants, which is an issue that just doesn't move me. He supports an official language an the US, which is absurd in and of itself. And he is fiscally conservative, which I really like (believe it or not). However, the other option is Chabot, whom, I believe, is certifiable. I also have a small personal experience with the man which left me wanting for... well, more and something better.

Is Driehaus the best option for gay people or for liberals? No. However, Ohio is a moderate state, and Cincinnati tends to be more conservative. In the end, it is most important that an elected person do two things: 1) represent the beliefs and values of those they represent, and 2) act in accordance with what would be good for everyone they represent.

As much as I'd like to believe otherwise, I am way to the left of the average person Driehaus will be representing. Is he the ideal candidate? No, but I would be shocked if we ever ran a Cincinnati candidate that came within the penumbra of "ideal" for me. He is an excellent compromise between what I think is standard in the city of Cincinnati and the first district and what I believe is right.

I always have to hold my nose when I vote. But I'm also from South Carolina, and the first gubernatorial election I voted in I got to choose between a state senator who was against gays, pro-life, and evangelical, and the incumbent governor who was against gays, pro-life, and not quite as evangelical. Oh, decisions, decisions.

The blue-dogs worry me. Very much. But, I think we're on the right side and our vote won't be completely wasted.

After all, George W. Bush led the biggest right-wing revolution in the nation and now people are tired of it. The pendulum is swinging back. And I think the blue dogs will "loosen up" the longer they are in office, in accordance with the general population's feelings that "all the politics of person aren't our business, anyways."

Thursday, October 23, 2008

ELECTION 2008: Sarah Palin's Shopping Video RELEASED!

Thanks to 3BlueDudes for this released video of Sarah Palin's $150,000 shopping trip for hair and makeup and clothes.



Note: this is not the first time we've used Evita to look at this race. What is it about power and music?

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

HEALTH: Universal Healthcare


Watching Sicko, I have to ask the question of people:
What's wrong with universal healthcare?
I mean, as the movie points out, if we have the money to kill people, certainly we have the money to cure people. 

Am I wrong?

Also arises out of some of my fellow students saying "if Obama wins, our nursing salaries will go down," which I can't seem to find evidence of.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

GAY STUFF: Pneumosparklyosis


I actually had someone tell me, in all seriousness, that this was a serious issue and one that we have not addressed enough with the art teachers of the world. I mean, they were genuinely concerned about the growing problem of "glitter lung," and that its equitable to black lung in miners.

Right it's as real as any other article you would find on the Onion.

GENERAL STUFF: Fabulous beyond measure

I'm up on quotes today and watching Akeelah and the Bee. I like it. A lot.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. -- Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love
Jackie Danicki... I think we had a discussion about this very issue once.

There's always time for a personal mantra.

PS 700th post....

GENERAL STUFF: Another Moment for Miss Piggy...

"Only time can heal your broken heart, just as only time can heal his arms and legs."

BLOGGING & ELECTION 2008: McPalin Haiku

From one of my favorite new tweeters... haikutwaiku...

Do you want McCain
To choose a Supreme Court judge
Like he chose Palin?

To all my readers, I have to apologize about the over-coverage of the election. It's October. Election less than two weeks away. You'll get over it.

Some things upcoming:
-Cody is posting a video in the next few days!!!
-Driehaus debate and post-event at Sully's tomorrow!
-Cincy Bloggers election night meet-up! (Location TBD)
-Cincy Tweeters Happy Hour!

There's also a lot more LGBT movies that I've been watching and waiting to review. Those sort of things just take time to write and school is a lot of work. Also got two or three Rainbow Cincinnati posts coming. So... yea. I promise, soon, I'll be talking about other things than just the election.

ELECTION 2008: Where do I vote?

Thanks to The Managed Expectations of Five Cincinnati Women...

Check out the website, Voter Info on Google, to find out where you vote.

ELECTION 2008: ENDORSEMENT: *YES* on Issue 5

This is probably one of the more pressing issues on our ballot this time around, excepting the actual representative elections.

Issue 5 is a vote to maintain reforms put into place by the Ohio Legislature to reduce the lending abilities by so-called payday lenders. Currently, payday lenders can charge up to 391% interest on these loands which, yes, over two weeks would only be $15 on a $100 loan. However, the cycle that is created for predominantly low-income persons just trying to make ends meet is destructive and does not help the current credit crisis. For my original post on the issue, go here.

I have friends stuck in this mess (as shown by the fun little cartoon below), and it's rough and it's difficult to get out of. Yea, there's an argument to be made that people should be responsible for their own money and their own financial decisions.

Not to be snarky, but we've seen where that has gotten us, haven't we?


Language of issue 5
.
Arguments for it.
Yes on Issue 5 Campaign.

ELECTION 2008: ENDORSEMENT: *YES* on Issue 2


This is really not me putting myself out there, as it seems to be in the support of the majority of people.

Issue 2 allows the state of Ohio to borrow $400 million for the preservation and revitalization of green spaces in Ohio's dying and industrializing blighted cities. Although there is an argument to be made that that's a lot of money to spend on "greening" our towns -- especially coming from Cincinnati which has a really extensive park system and a lot of wonderful natural aspects to it -- it would help give a certain je ne sais quoi to our downtowns and our urban spaces. And, god knows, there's a lot of redevelopment needed and we need to support that in a healthy manner... and, really, how many times have you found yourself complaining about the quality of Ohio's drinking water?

It's good for Ohio, it's better for all of us.

So, this is a YES to Issue 2. (Check out CleanOhio.org, the ballot measure website)

It has the backing of The News Leader (from big city source Macedonia, OH), The Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Lantern (of OSU) and Ohio.com (a site from the Akron Beacon Journal).

Arguments for.
Arguments against.
(Both from the Secretary of State)

Monday, October 20, 2008

HIV/AIDS: Two big cases begin this week

It's strange, as there has been little talk about the criminalization of HIV infection. For years, it was always put under a "felony assault with a deadly weapon" (lol -- the penis as a deadly weapon... who doesn't feel that way about their own manhood? if looks could kill...), but there are two big cases starting this week that should spark the debate up again.

One from the Netherlands that has become, infamously, known as the HIV case:
A trial concerning a bizarre crime - now known in the Netherlands as ‘the HIV case' - started in the northern Dutch city of Groningen today. Three homosexual men are alleged to have drugged and then deliberately infected at least 14 other men with HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS.

Watch out, girls. Sex parties are fun, but not worth your life over.

And, closer to home, there's one in Hamilton, Ontario (which hosts a sister court of the local ISQCCBE):
A man facing first-degree murder charges for allegedly spreading the virus that causes AIDS will see his case go before a jury Monday in what's believed to be the first prosecution of its kind in Canada.

Johnson Aziga, 52, has spent five years in pre-trial custody while cycling through several legal teams.

Two women died after allegedly having unprotected sex with him.

"It's going to be a landmark case," Aziga's lawyer, Davies agambiire, said in an interview.

"This is the first time that a Canadian is prosecuted for alleged murder through the alleged dissemination or transmission of the HIV virus."


Locally, knowingly having sex -- protected or otherwise -- with someone without disclosing your HIV status is a felony and is famously known as "House Bill 100" (though it passed into law in 2000). It is not used much, and, like importuning, is generally tacked onto other indictments like prostitution. Personally, I think this kind of bill (in the Ohio incarnation) is silly and defers responsibility. There are two people in a room that choose to have sex together, usually equally aware of the risk either is taking. You choose to take that risk when you have sex. Period.

Two interesting things to keep an eye on this week.

GENERAL STUFF: Abstinence-only Education Losing Ground

Apparently you need to have scientific basis these days to prove that your federally funded abstinence only education program works...

From a Newsweek article...
In this largely rural corner of the state, it's hard not to go through Longview, a town of 78,000 residents, four Dairy Queens and two high schools—and the birthplace of Virginity Rules, which sponsored these roadside praises of teen abstinence and hosted kid-led virginity campaigns. They represented a small slice of the more than $1 billion George W. Bush has bestowed on abstinence education. But even without a looming budget crisis, the next chief executive may not be so dedicated to the cause. Barack Obama supports comprehensive sex ed. And while Sarah Palin said she opposed "explicit sex-ed programs" in 2006, aides now say both Palin and her running mate, John McCain, back federal funding for programs that "promote abstinence as the best option" but also include "information on contraception." For true believers in the wait-for-marriage camp, that's hardly comforting.

Although the world has recently preoccupied itself with sex education in Alaska, it is here, in my home state of Texas, where the battle over abstinence is most pitched. This is the ground where then governor Bush first became abstinence education's most powerful champion. The state draws the biggest share of federal abstinence funds by far, and nearly 95 percent of public school districts teach only abstinence, according to research from the Texas Freedom Network. If the policy fails, no state stands to lose more of its infrastructure for sex education.

Abstinence is a pipe dream these days.

But sometimes I worry it shouldn't be.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

ELECTION 2008: OHIO/CINNKY: Obama hung in effigy...

Well, at least the guy isn't ashamed of his beliefs...


The crazies are coming out... Mr. Lunsford, consider this a complaint.


Thanks to Daniel Johnson on Twitter for this.

GENERAL STUFF: A Moment for Miss Piggy...


"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye."

Thursday, October 16, 2008

ELECTION 2008: Nailing Palin, redux

Appeasing the masses and the 70% of my traffic that comes from searching for the porn movie "nailing palin," I thought it might be nice to do a follow up to this post about the upcoming Hustler flick...

Twolesbosgoinatit (NSFW) have screen shots of the script (and the link to the script ... it's written by Roger Krypton)

And here's my favorite page ever...


And my second favorite page, featuring Todd Palin:

A) I'm shocked that there's a script. Porn movies have scripts???
B) Don't worry, there are some excellent monologues and soliloquy's in the movie... just to show off the actress's extensive.. ahem.. talents.

LOL. I love this election season.

That's QueerCincinnati.com -- filled with klassiness.

WEARING *WHAT* WEDNESDAY: Taye Diggs

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

HIV/AIDS: In which it appears it is all about butt sex...

From the New Scientist:

Circumcision doesn't seem to protect gay men from HIV infection, casting doubt on the benefits of the procedure in men who have sex with men.

The conclusion comes from a review of 15 studies that each examined whether circumcision affects the spread of HIV between gay men.

"We found insufficient evidence it offers protection to men who have sex with men," says Gregorio Millett of the US Centers for Disease Control, who led the study.

But researchers say that the findings don't diminish the value ofcircumcision as a protective measure in Africa, where studies showed that circumcision cut the risk of infection in heterosexual men by up to 60%.

"We must be very clear that male circumcision maybe be much more effective where there's a very high general prevalence of HIV – as with 20% infected in Africa – and where the virus spreads mainly through heterosexual contact," says Willett.

He suggests that the procedure may be less effective in gays because unlike heterosexual men, they engage in receptive as well as insertive sex. This echoes findings in other studies that circumcision only lowers the risk for men, not women "receivers".

Willett did find limited but statistically insignificant evidence that gay men were at lower risk if they only engaged in insertive sex. He also found that circumcision did have a protective effect before 1996 when highly effective antiviral therapies became available. He speculates that the effect disappeared because the protection afforded by the drugs encouraged men to resume riskier sexual practices.

In the wake of three studies showing a protective effect in African men, the WHO last year announced a new policy encouraging African countries where HIV is most prevalent to consider circumcision programmes.

Thanks for clearing that up, now let's go back to our lives and continue to remind people that condoms work better than circumcision any day.

(Thanks, TY)

HIV/AIDS: National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

So I'm reading this article on OraSure and providing free Oraquick HIV tests for Latino organizations, and I was struck my something I had never noticed before...


Yesterday was National Latino AIDS Awareness Day?

From their public statement:

Hispanic/Latino community leaders, Health department officials and elected representatives gathered today in Congress to urge Federal Agencies and Congress to recognize and adequately address the disproportionate toll HIV/AIDS is having on Hispanic communities nationwide. To date, the Federal response has not met the diverse and complex needs of the Latino communities.

“We recognize the need for increased awareness of HIV/AIDS in our communities of color,” said Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis, Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Health and the Environment Task Force Priorities and longtime leader in the fight to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. “We also support increased funding for the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative and its focus on HIV/AIDS prevention, research and treatment, the prevention of tuberculosis and Hepatitis C infections among HIV/AIDS patients and encouraging international HIV/AIDS organizations to expand efforts in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean.”


I have to say this is awesome! I wish I had known about it, especially in light of the news that Latinos make up one of the faster growing sects of the population being affected by HIV/AIDS.

LGBT HISTORY: History Quizzes!!!

Searching google for gay history quizzes -- you know me, I love to prove to the world how smart I am -- I stumbled on one of the more unexpected websites and quizzes ever.

BET has a Black & Proud page dealing specifically with LGBT persons of color. (The quiz is really easy -- I got a 100.)

And actually, the coverage is not that bad, and actually has a whole section on black actors who took on gay roles and did not suffer because of it. On the list: Forest Whitaker, Will Smith, Wesley Snipes, Queen Latifah (who is also on all of our list of "needs to come out of the closet and get over herself"), Isaiah Washington, Ving Rhames, and Taye Diggs.

Mmmm... Taye Diggs.

Why is it unexpected? I don't know. I guess, well, I guess that's something wrong with me and my perception of black America, isn't it?

This one (just HTML) is from Out for Equity... I am "Fine!" (No, really, that's the rating)

And, of course, one from PlanetOut. I got a 60 :-(.

And lots of ones from Avert regarding sex, HIV, and all that jazz!!! (Thanks to the hottest gay blogger in the world -- MileHighGayGuy -- isn't that the guy from all the HIV med advertisements???)

And six great ones over at FunTrivia!!!

LGBT HISTORY: A History of the Baths


This is posted specifically for Michi...

Darling, I don't know how accurate this website is, but it gives an interesting overview of the history of bathhouses as a place for gay men to meet and have sex.

For all who don't know, Michi is in grad school at the University of Amsterdam studying the culture of bathhouses ... and is a huge supporter of expanding them further than they are here in the states. I can't say I disagree with her, specifically. (She is also one of the most avid readers of this site.)

More sex is OK with me.*

For those who don't "get" the picture above, the Club brand bathhouse is still around and you may or may not have found me in Club Columbus and/or Club Indianapolis in the last couple of years. That particular flyer is from the 1970s in San Francisco.

Anyways, I thought it was neat.

*As an HIV advocate, I felt it was my duty to include "so long as it was safe," so leaving that little bit out actually makes me shudder a bit. In reality, we should assume that all sex should be safe. I think it's a sign of the times that we still have to remind ourselves that... a condom is important.