Sunday, May 31, 2009

Three YouTube's

I'm still convinced bloggers (like me) post YouTube videos just because it's easier.

Here's one about traditional marriage that's funny...


And one in the same vein from darling TrevorHoppe that's also funny...


And here's an Argentinian one about a trans woman that's poignant...


Thank you YouTube for fluffing my blog after all these years.

The Good and the Bad

I've been working for 24 hours, many apologies for not updating.

On the one hand, we have the very very good: 

The Nevada Senate has overridden Gov. Gibbon's veto 14-7 (exactly 2/3) of the state's domestic partner law. The bill now returns to the House to be voted on again. Hopes are high, lets hope the votes are, as well. Gov. Gibbons and others feel that, since you can get a lot of the same rights through private contracts, a DP law is unnecessary. In short: we're desperate for a reason that doesn't make us look like homophobic bigots and this the best we can come up with.

And then we have the very very bad:

Doctor George Tiller, a women's health physician in Wichita, Kansas who performed
abortions, was shot and killed this morning at his church while he was serving as usher. Tiller is no newbie to violence against abortion providers, having survived another shooting in 1993 and a bombing of his clinic in 1985. You know, it's funny because I don't think we've heard about this kind of out-and-out violence for a long time ... and it's also funny because I distinctly remember that Kansas was the closest place you could go for a late-term abortion when I worked at Planned Parenthood. Strange and disturbing.

I suppose assailants justify it by saying that they kill one, whilst the good Doc has "killed" so many. To quote Cider House Rules: "We deliver the mother or the child." 

Oh, and thanks to Timmy for this: this is the sixth anniversary of Eric Rudolph, who performed the Atlanta Olympic bombing as well as the bombings of several abortion clinics and bars throughout the late 1990s. Weird.

Anyways, thanks to JereKeys for reminding me to post these today.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Tabby's Gathering CANCELLED TONIGHT - Will be rescheduled

Well, tonight we had to cancel our peaceful gathering at Tabby's in Maineville due to tornadic weather.

WE ARE RESCHEDULING!!

TUESDAY AT 9PM!!! TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND LETS REALLY MAKE A STATEMENT!!!

Thanks to all that showed up tonight at the Walgreens near UC. We had a camera guy from Channel 9 with us and it was communicated to him that the weather was getting bad. So wanna say thanks to him and we will see him Tuesday!

Juliet

FLASH ACTION: Tabby's American Grill

Apparently, it is time to protest. 

In response to the hate crime at Tabby's American Grill, a group of activists is going there to show solidarity with queers in Warren County. We're standing up for and with our brothers and sisters. 

Tonight, at Tabby's American Grill at 2920 West U.S. Route 22, in Maineville (click here for a map), LGBTQ people will gather at 10p.m. wearing white to show that they come in peace.

The crowd will meet in the parking lot and they will enter collectively. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend, but I encourage everyone else to... and, more importantly, take pictures and send them back to QueerCincinnati@gmail.com so that we can feature the outcome here.

Just a few words:
  • Be safe.
  • Don't fight, don't take people on.
  • Be peaceful and be loving. This is about education and solidarity, not violence, not hate. We are not fighting hate with hate. We are fighting hate with love and affection.
  • Stand together... don't go out on your own. Find a buddy and stick to them. 
  • Do not do not do not yell, scream, holler, or swear at people. You do not, under any circumstances, want to incite violence from other people. That is not the point.
  • Respect law enforcement officers.
  • Take the high road ... be civil.
Seriously, folks, I don't want have to be writing about no other hate crimes in the morning. We are peaceful people -- always remember that. 

More importantly: be good customers. Drink, have fun, tip your bartenders, talk, carouse, and have a good time. Make sure that no one has any reason to treat you poorly; make sure no one has any reason to kick you out. Just go and enjoy the night with friends.

Gay Man Assaulted in Warren County

Uh. Whoa. Thanks to Cameron Tolle for the heads up, the transcript is posted below the video. From Local12:

Warren County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a disturbing attack that left a young man bloodied, his nose shattered. Investigators want to know if it is a hate crime. The victim is gay.

The assault happened at a Maineville Bar. Local 12 reporter Shawn Ley shows us why this investigation is far from over.

Ronnie Robertson's nose is broken, he has deep cuts and scratches around his eyes and cheeks. The 31 year old Mainville man is openly gay, his friends saying he's regretting not going to a gay bar Tuesday night.

Victim's friend: "The guy that was assaulted had said, that's the reason they made gay bars because it's a safer place, a safer environment to hang out."

The Warren County Sheriff's Office says Robertson received these injuries at Tabby's American Bar and Grill on Montgomery Road in Mainville, and a criminal investigation is underway, looking for everyone involved in the attack. Two women were arrested on the spot: Sarah Goldsberry, and Tammy Lingle. They are charged with felony assault, and disrupting police business.

Robertson's sister says there was no bar fight. She says her brother was attacked because of his sexual orientation.

Kelly Coffey/Victim's Sister: "I believe it was a hate crime, completely. because that's the only thing targeted that night, when someone stepped up and said, yes, I'm gay ... all night it was provoked, all night it was asked and I believe that's what it was."

Kelly Coffey says her friends, a mix of gay and straight people chose Tabby's to play sand volleyball - but were harassed by a man who continued to ask who in the group was gay and who wasn't & her brother finally answered. "When he admitted that he was, they lost it, went crazy and started attacking my brother and pushing him out of the bar."

So what does Tabby's owner have to say? We stopped in and was told no manager was there. We called 5 times Thursday night and still couldn't reach the owner. We do know the sheriff's office is going over the security camera tape to look at what happened and for the two other men involved.

Ohio's hate crime laws do *not* include gays and lesbians as a protected class. The Warren County Sheriff's Office says the gay bashing element of the case is "in play." Other cases in Ohio have fit the statute for charges of "ethnic intimidation."
Whoa dude. There's a lot of these popping up these days, seriously. Between the UC crime, the guy that was beaten outside of BronZ, and another one that happened on Ludlow... very disturbing. Be careful.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Adam Lambert to Come Out

And no one is surprised.

Rumor has it that Mr. Lambert, second place in the most recent American Idol (World's Biggest Karaoke Contest) and rumored homosexual, will be coming out on the cover of the next Rolling Stone. 

If you didn't know that he was gay already, I don't think you've really been paying attention. 

After all, Idol judge Kara DioGuardi had this to say on the View a few days ago: "I don't think that Adam was ever in [the closet]. I think he was always openly out."

I'm sure it'll be a "big deal," though, especially in the mainstream media (which amuses me that other bloggers abbreviate that as "MSM"). 

And the Iraqi attack on homosexuals continues..

From a US Mahdi Army Officer in a statement saying that it's all vigilantes:

"Two young men were killed Thursday. They were sexual deviants. Their tribes killed them to restore their family honor."
Oh. That's reasonable. This comes after a Shiite group issued a call to kill homosexuals. See, even right wing Islamic folk use gay people as a scapegoat for their own problems.

Oops. Read "army" and thought "US army"... it's been corrected

Today's HIV Test

National HIV Testing Day is coming up next month (June 27), so I'll reserve a full column on HIV testing for that day.

...but I accidentally got an HIV test this week.

I was overdue, I'll admit it. My last HIV test was last June at the last National HIV Testing Day; I used to test myself (or get tested) at least once every 3-6 months. I figured, I'm a sexually active gay men, mostly safe, especially with unknowns, that it's only responsible I know my status. When I worked at Planned Parenthood, I was tested for the other major STD's (chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc.) as well as a full genital exam for the untestables (herpes, warts, etc.) at about the same rate; once I left PP, those tests and exams dropped down to about once a year. Once I lost the ability to test myself at AVOC/STOP AIDS, my HIV testing has dropped down to about the same rate.
Arguably, I suppose, you could make the argument that I attempt to get a full genital exam every weekend. But that's another story.

So I went to my doctor to this week on a completely unrelated note and mentioned that it was about time for my test. "Well," he said, "we need to make sure we get that done." My doctor is wonderful and uses the royal "we" to indicate that we are of one mind on my healthcare. We're not, usually, but it's cute and I humor him.

I didn't think he was meaning "we" as in his office staff. They drew my blood and I thought: whoa, I haven't had to wait to get results in years.

It's freaky, I know. I definitely recommend finding a site that performs the 20-minute testing. I know, I know, there are some reports of false positives on the OraQuick rapid HIV-test, but those are rare and they do confirmation testing. For the sake of your own personal sanity, get a 20-minute test done. I work in the field of HIV, and I was nerve wracked to wait.

Today, I went back to get a vaccine booster for whooping cough -- yea, I know, I thought it was wiped out too, surprise! My mother was with me, and I casually asked the nurse, "Did my HIV results come back yet?" I expected a big ol' NO, but she gestured me back the hallway and I followed. My mother followed, unaware of where we were going.

The nurse pulls up my results on the screen -- NEGATIVE, for the curious -- and tells me as such. While I'm in the hallway. With my mother five feet behind me. With other patients around. And all I could think: what if I had been positive? What would she have done then, all those people around? And my mother... oh gesu...

Anyways, I got myself tested and I'm still negative. You should, too. Pride is coming. Call STOP AIDS -- 421-AIDS (2437) -- to schedule a free, 20-minute HIV test. I promise they handle the results a little better than my doctor's office did.

2010: Year of the Bible?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) has introduced a bill to declare 2010 "The Year of the Bible" in the US in the hopes of "calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scripture." In responses:

"Does that mean 2009 is not the year of the Bible?" asked Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who is Jewish. Referring to the Islamic holy book, he added, "What is 2012 the year of, the Quran?"

HA! Well done, Barney, even though I'm not happy with you most days, right on!

You know, back in my American Government class in high school, we had a discussion about the House versus the Senate. One of the purposes of the House, with its huge membership and short term lengths, was to allow the crazies a place at the table. Sure, a few nutjob ideas and bills would come out of the larger (or "lesser") house, but it would be chopped off first by the "elder statesmen" (the Senate) and, of course, the President (though we've discovered in recent years a nutjob can get in there, as well). Anyways, we'll chalk this up to one of those and hope for the best.

The bill has 15 (!!!) co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

QUEER EVENTS: Brother Micah Meets the Gays / Bridging the Gap

Helloooooo everyone! Cody here with another UC events update!

Monday, June 1 will be a busy day for the gays...

First, at 12pm on McMicken Commons (behind the big, regal building w/ the steeple on Clifton Ave.) there will be a sit-in style protest of Brother Micah's evangelical "Christian" bigotry and hate. The crazy bastard comes to UC every year to preach and rant about all that is wrong in the world and how we're all going to hell for our myriads of reasons (how's being a non-Christian, gay guy who has sex outside of marriage and does not procreate sound for intersectionality?!). We don't like him; he doesn't like us... We're just planning on peacefully preotesting him without any physical engagement (no one wins and everyone gets sued that way).
*NOTE* This is technically tentative right now b/c Campus Scheduling must approve of a protest before it happens and they're jumping through hoops to let us do this already... Keep tabs on the Facebook group for more info as it developes...

Second, at 7:30pm in the Campus Rec Center Classroom 3220 there will be a "Bridging the Gap" program put on by UC's United Black Student Association. It is designed to foster dialogue, cooperation, and understanding between all of the many minority groups around. UBSA really wants a good LGBTQ presence (they're totally cool like that! They do lots of very inclusive events even though they're a "black" student group. It's pretty cool!) so you may want to come and be a part!
*NOTE* FREE B-Dubs chicken wings will be provided!!!

See ya'll out and about!

-Cody
The Seeker

P&G: How to Shave Your Genitalia

Thanks to the CincyNation, via AdFreak on this one...

Gillette, a division of P&G, has released a series of YouTube videos depicting how to, well, shave. One of them has caught the interest of a lot of watchers... specifically, how to shave around male genitalia. First of all, WTF? It's too funny to watch. Second of all, totally worth it for all you boys out there. There are some great tips in the little video above.

And, seriously, a company putting out that if you trim the underbrush, the tree looks bigger -- simply priceless.

The videos are also posted on Gillette.com.

Ellen's Commencement Speech

I meant to post this a while ago, but it's HILARIOUS.

Check out Ellen DeGeneres's commencement speech at Tulane University this year.

WANTED: Pride Contributors!!!!!!

Pride month is almost upon us, with over 100 different cities holding Pride celebrations this year!

Obviously, the unpaid, volunteer-only writers of QueerCincinnati.com cannot attend all of them (though we'll do our damnedest to cover Cincinnati's Pride as best as we can). That's why WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!

Are you going to a Pride outside of Cincinnati this year, even as close as Dayton or Columbus? We want your pictures, your thoughts, your stories... in short, we're asking you to guest blog next month on what it was like at Prides across the Midwest and across the country! I know at least one person going to New York City's Pride this summer -- which should be huge, considering it's the 40th anniversary of Stonewall. Or, do you live in another part of the country/world and want to report back on how awesome your new hometown pride is? We want to hear that too!!!!

If you are going elsewhere, shoot us an email (queercincinnati@gmail.com) or leave a comment with your email address... we'd love for you to help us out!

Transgender Nebraska 8-Year-Old

Hrm. I think I may need some help with this one, folks, so give me some good information and let's chat about it:

A family in Omaha Nebraska, who is named for their protection, is allowing their son to change schools so that he can live his life as a girl. The child's current school -- private and Catholic -- refused to allow the change to occur, so she was removed and will be placed in a new one in the coming school year. She plans to throw out all of her boy clothes, grow out her hair, and get her ears pierced. Says the mother about a regular conversation with her child: "One night she said, 'Every night when I go to bed, I pray my inside will match my outside. But it never happens."

Please don't attack me on this one, kids, as this is one of those "Barry needs more information moments" (and one of those moments when I think, "Gee... we need a trans-identified person on staff here at QueerCincinnati.com" -- hint hint hint -- but more on that later). When I explain how I came to "know" that I was gay, I ask people if they remember around the time when they thought, "Gee, I'm attracted to the opposite sex" -- their sexual awakening, if you will. Most people say "Oh yea," and I say, "Mine just came differently." I think they get that.

In my head, I suppose I always pictured trans-identity to be much the same ... when you "come to" in your sexuality, you would similarly "come to" in your gender. Am I wrong? I mean, 8 years old (or, 4 by this article's telling) seems really early in life. I don't even remember what I thought at 8...

...and I'm sure my perception of self has changed significantly since then.

Thoughts?

Fairfax High School Prom Queen

...is a queen.

Sergio Garcia began his campaign to be prom queen as a sort-of joke, but it took on a seriousness and realness to it as the school began talking about gender and gender roles. In the end, he won. A compilation of quotes from the LA Times article, that treats the issue really well, actually:
  • Before prom, on running: I will be wearing a suit, but don't be fooled, deep down inside, I am a queen!From his speech: At one time, prom may have been a big popularity contest where the best-looking guy or girl were crowned king and queen. Things have changed and it's no longer just about who has the most friends or who wears the coolest clothes. Sure, I'm not your typical prom queen candidate. There's more to me than meets the eye.
  • On winning: I felt invincible.
  • On gender and what it means to be queen: I didn't really know if the school approved. I thought 'Why can't I do it?' I see myself as a boy with a different personality. . . . I don't wish to be a girl; I just wish to be myself.
I just have one thing to say, Mr. Garcia: You-bettah-work. You may have felt invincible, as one person who beat out all those other women for the crown, but you have made, no doubt, untold numbers of high school queens feel the same... and feel like they, too, can go for their own crown. I wonder who his King was and whether or not they shared a dance afterwards?

Kinda makes me wish I'd thought of this.

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony

You are reading that right, kids.

Cnet.com is reporting that the fourth installment of the hugely popular Grand Theft Auto series is including a major gay character. We find our "hero" working for "Gay Tony," a high-end nightclub owner who moves us into a much different world than GTA fans will remember. This time, it's much more expensive... but don't worry, I'm sure the beatings, murders, robberies, car thefts, and purchasing of hookers will all remain the same.

A blogger over at the Inquirer had this to say:

Obviously your player will be straight but your boss is gay.

Quite how this will effect game play is not certain. It is unlikely that you will have to crash into a crack den and redecorate it with furniture from IKEA. It does mean that people with shaved heads will be a bit more kinder and the phrase "Take out Scarface" will probably mean going to a nice wine bar somewhere.

In some ways it is telling the world that people who come out of the closet can be mindless violent psychopaths like the rest of us.
I mean, that's not exactly the point of the movement, but, ok... I'm struck between a desire to be insulted by those statements and amused -- after all, they're things I think I would say. It's a strange but nice way to see progress, though, and I think it will, perhaps unexpectedly, alter a few minds for the gamers of the world.

For the record, I am totally a closet gamer, but not games like GTA -- I totally got left behind after the demise of the SNES and the release of the N64. I'm not into shoot-em-up's... I prefer games with bright, full colors, round edges, and cartoon-ish qualities. So... yea. I, basically, like Mario. My favorite game? Super Smash Brothers. I'm waiting until someone gets the hint about how much I want a Wii and buys me it and Super Smash Brothers Melee...

... because I have time for such things.

What next? Is it time to protest AGAIN?

When I look back on those crazy days in November when this blog (and its writers) joined forces with the people that would become IMPACT CINCINNATI, all I can remember were the approximate one hour a day of sleep I was getting and the constant state of panic we existed in... and I wonder: jesus, do we have to do this again? :-)

But, since then, a lot has changed.

At the time, we were just protesting the passage of Proposition 8. In the last six months, a shitton of stuff has gone on -- Vermont, Iowa, New Hampshire, New York, Maine, Don't Ask Don't Tell, and now the reconfirmation of Proposition 8... and I think we have seen a lot of true grassroots energy arise out of those November 11th protests. I'm not saying it wouldn't be there had JoinTheImpact not happened; I'm just saying that, at least from a local experience, we are definitely seeing new leaders and new energy arise that just wasn't there before.

And the question leaves us: what next? What do we do now? We've made huge strides in six months in small-ish states, lost a big battle in the biggest state, and gotten almost no where federally (except to pass the Matthew Shepard Act but... when is the Senate going to take that one up?). Is it time to press? Is it time to move? Is it time to scream, again?

Apparently people think so. Two new protests movements have popped up on the web, and they are starting to grow thanks to the California Supreme Court ruling this week:

  • March For Equality -- June 28th. Styled after the November rallies, the Grassroots Equality Network is asking local activists to take up the cause again and rally for equality across the country. Why June 28th? Why, duh... it's the 40th anniversary of Stonewall -- OF COURSE! :-)
  • March on Washington -- October 10/11. Cleve Jones, founder of the NAMES Project (think: AIDS Quilt) is calling for a weekend long protest in Washington, DC. The central message: “Full Equality Now - full and equal protection under the law for LGBT people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.” Let's stop settling for fractions of equality. Every compromise undermines our humanity. We must declare our equality.
I'm always down for a good protest. There's a lot of work happening right now, whether it's written about or not -- there is some local interests getting piqued and we certainly are throwing our time, energy, and available resources behind EHEA right now -- and I think the stronger we seem and the more we come together as one, the more people will listen. It will be fun... as I think, this time, we have a list of demands ... we have specifics ... now all we need is some sort of manifesto and one great, glorious, fabulous moment where we can scream "EQUALITY NOW."

Let's hope the cameras are rolling... other wise the revolution won't be televised, it'll be blogged. Here. And that's an unfortunate revolution :-).

I know there are rumblings about Cincinnati getting involved... but I'll keep you up to date as decisions are made.

Updates on Ohio Issues

Equality Ohio has put a lot of great alerts out these last few days covering what's been going in the state, and I thought I might go ahead and steal some of the news to keep everyone informed.

First, in Cleveland, thanks to the fierce activism of folks in this state -- House Dems credit the LGBT community for assisting in this decision -- Cleveland City Councilmember Roosevelt Coats will not be getting promoted to the 10th District State House of Representatives seat being exited by Rep. Eugene Miller. Coats, as you may remember, publically opposed Cleveland's Domestic Partner Registry by quoting Bible passages, angering a lot of us (and our friend Bo over at BearsLeft.com who put everyone onto the issue) and leaving us wondering whether he would be a fair-minded representative for all of his constituents... or if he may become another religious idealogue turned represenative. The House Democratic caucus, however, selected Cleveland lawyer Robin Belcher to take over. I do love me some women in politics.

Onto the Equal Housing and Employment Act (HB 176)... the first round of hearings for the sexual orientation and gender protections bill, this time in the State Government Committee in the House, was held yesterday with two primary speakers: sponsors Rep. Stewart and Rep. McGregor. Equality Ohio reports positive feedback and states that they are taking what they learned from the questions and responses to further refine their arguments and address specific concerns for folks.

I got a copy of four testimonies -- Stewart, McGregor, EO Executive Director Lynne Bowman, and Toledo resident Brandi Fasnaugh -- that will be available on Do What's Right, Ohio later today, but I thought I'd give you the most rocking-est part, thanks to Republican sponsor Rep. McGregor:
The Declaration of Independence declared before the world that in this country, ”all Men arecreated equal.‘ In the nearly two hundred and twenty-three years since that document was authored, we as a nation have worked to ensure that all People are treated equally in the eyesof the law. It has not always been an easy task, and often, it has taken government action tohelp to move that process along. The law protects citizens, regardless of race, color, religion,gender, national origin, age, ancestry, or disability from being discriminated again inemployment and housing rights. And, yet, in Ohio, people can lose their jobs or be denied housing, solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

There is no more controversial issue being debated in this nation today that that of the issue ofequal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. However in my view, the debate surrounding this legislation is not an issue of morality. Representative Stewart and I arenot asking you to vote in support of a lifestyle that you may or may not agree with. We standbefore you today to vote in support of fairness and equality. We stand before you today to vote against discrimination.

Some will argue that this legislation is not necessary because homosexuality is a choice, alifestyle that an individual chooses to subscribe to. While opinions and scientific research varyon whether or not homosexuality is a choice that is not what this debate is about. House Bill 176‘s sole intention is to protect basic constitutional rights when it comes to housing,employment and public accommodation, just as we already prevent discrimination of individuals based on religious affiliation.
Holla!!!!

The next round of testimony -- this from proponents -- will be next Wednesday at 2:30pm (Room 17 in the Statehouse) in committee. EO has been asked to keep it down to six people -- sigh -- but, hopefully, that means the next week's (June 10th? I'm losing track of days ... is that the next week or the next next week) testimony from opponents will be kept that short, as well. You'll be sure to hear from me if it isn't. EO is asking people to attend the committees as best they can; you can contact the organization by visiting their website, or through the website Do What's Right Ohio.

Looks like we may be slated to a committee vote -- and from there onto the House floor -- by the end of June. Let's get this shit done, folks, keep contacting your Representatives (and your State Senators, while you're at it... let's prime that pump!).

Sotomayor for Supreme Court

Pres. Obama has tapped Second Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to replace outgoing Justice Souter on the Supreme Court.

Sotomayor is being widely applauded by Democrats and liberals as a great pick, and it's looking like she will sail to an easy seat on the SCOTUS... making her the third woman and the first Latina to ever serve on the bench. Her experience is widely applauded and seems to the be "ideal" in terms of all those little things we like to see when we talk diversity -- unless, of course, you're Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh or Newt Gingrich who are going so far as to call her a racist. Of course, there are two other major complaints about her: 1) that she's not the smartest judge in the country, but is, instead, strong willed and opinionated... which I'm trying to figure out how much different that makes her than conservative firebrand Antonin Scalia, and 2) she made a statement in 2005 that alluded to the fact that judges help make policy:
"All of the legal defense funds out there, they are looking for people with court of appeals experience because the court of appeals is where policy is made," she said, laughing a bit through the next part: "And I know this is on tape and I should never say that because we don't make law. I know. Okay, I know. I'm not promoting it. I'm not advocating it. I know."
That particular quote keeps popping up over and over again, but the incarnation I chose to use is from a Huffington Post article entitled Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court Nominee: All You Need to Know. Though it's been fun to wade through article after article on Sotomayor trying to glean good information, that particular one sums it up very nicely:
  • She has only ruled once on any abortion policy, supporting Bush's Mexico City Policy, preventing the government from funding overseas groups that provide abortions. The pro-lifers are down playing that opinion as "not that influential."
  • She has never ruled on an LGBT issues, but her personal and professional history indicates that she is supportive, though no word on marriage.
  • She will be one of the most experienced justices to ever sit on the bench.
  • She "saved baseball" in 1995 when she ruled in favor of the players during the strike over the wishes of the owners.
  • She was originally nominated to the Federal Circuit by George H.W. Bush and received wide Republican support. Though, now, she'll be in a much more volatile position, so I have no doubt many more will challenge her.
Again, I'm still learning about her, and I have no doubt most of our opinions will be shaped by the hearings in the Senate... but, so far... so good. I like this one. It's certainly better than Samuel Alito. Jeez.

Also check out these articles: from On Top Magazine, applause from LGBT folks over the appointment of Satomayor, including from the National LGBT Bar Association (which I didn't even know existed...); and an important reminder that abortion and marriage are not the biggest things that SCOTUS rules on, and we should be asking where Satomayor stands on executive power, instead.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Sex With Ducks

From the sick and amazing minds of Garfunkel and Oates. Check out Sex with Ducks:
"Gonna Huey, Dewey, Louie all over the room" -- HAHAHA!

The Big Gay Shrug

From SFGate.com:
Here is what it tells you: Gay marriage is a foregone conclusion. It's a done deal. It's just a matter of time. For the next generation in particular, equal rights for gays is not even a question or a serious issue, much less a sinful hysterical conundrum that can only be answered by terrified Mormons and confused old people and inane referendums funded by same. It's just obvious, inevitable, a given.

Let us hereby be reminded, before sadness and frustration overwhelm once more: Proposition 8 and its ilk are merely the last, fitful gasps of a long-dying ideology, markers of a certain kind of sad, conservative desperation. They are the final clawings and scrapings of a reactionary worldview that attempts to outlaw and punish all it cannot, will not understand. Same as it ever was, really.
It's a good article, worth a read.

In related news, Theodore Olson and David Boies, who fought on opposite sides of the bench in Bush v. Gore (2000), are teaming up to challenge Proposition 8 in the federal courts, a move that is being widely suggested as a bad idea. And I agree: bad, bad, bad idea. Take it back to the voters in 2010 and 2012.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Soapbox Article and Ten on Tuesday

It's been a great day for the blogosphere, IMHO, despite the awful news out of California. I wanted to highlight a few things that popped up.

Ryan McLendon of Slouching Towards Manhattan posted his newest in a series of articles over at Soapbox Media about the state of queer-ness in Cincinnati. This time around, he writes about one of my favorite events: Guerrilla Queer Bar. From the article:
Reactions to the first Friday events have been mixed but very positive from both the straight and gay communities. Bar owners welcome the addition of 150-200 thirsty patrons they normally would not have through their doors and many straight patrons are even unaware that anything is different. More than an "invasion," the events more than anything else become a "blending" of both straight and gay.

[CGQB Organizer, Ethan] Philbrick recalls a particularly valuable discussion on queer identity in the ladies’ room of the Lodge. According to Philbrick, by the end of the conversation the women he was speaking to him felt comfortable enough to ask a few questions proving that exposure to different ideas and people can breed understanding. This accomplished all while wearing a sequined cocktail dress, no less...

Movements such as the Guerilla Queer Bar help to bring the idea of "other" into the familiar. This exposure to the outside world - straight, gay and everything in between—provides the tools needed to erase the stigmas and bigotry that holds progress back.
Also, QueerCincinnati.com's first weekly TEN ON TUESDAY had a great response today, appearing twice on this blog -- once from me and once from Cody -- and on three other blogs as well! Thanks to the following blogs for their participation and some amazing responses:

Girlfriendology:
1. Girlfriends - Shocking, I know. But I really do find happiness in the female friendships that bless my life. They make life more memorable and fun. And girlfriends make us healthier, less stressed, live longer, feel more beautiful and … drum roll please … HAPPIER. Thanks to all the great women who have inspired, encouraged and supported me in my dream of making the world a better place one friendship at a time.
Stuff Queer People Need to Know:
4.) Vegetable skewers straight off the grill
Big Lug Land:
7) Getting flirted with. It's immensely validating as I still carry around all the insecurities that were cemented into place over 20 years ago. Being found cute or charming goes right to my head like bubbles in champagne. What others take in stride can have me feeling like the most valued man on earth. That keeps my heart open and, much as it hurts, I'm not sure I'd ever want to change it.
Great posts everyone -- thanks so much! I loved reading over your responses; I couldn't help but smile for each and every one!!! Watch for next week's TEN ON TUESDAY!

New Logo Series: Beautiful People Premieres TONIGHT

If you've ever watched anything on the LOGO channel then you know that its filled with repeats. I used to be an avid LOGO watcher until it well...it all started repeating.

Well, I'm happy to report there is a new show that starts tonight, 10:30pm EST on LOGO called "Beautiful People". Based on the life of fashion maven Simon Doonan, Beautiful People follows young Simon as he desperately seeks out the beautiful things in dreary suburban London. Hope its good, but I'm not holding my breath!

Check out the preview here!

Beautiful People - LOGO Channel

Juliet

Ten on Tuesday: Cody's Happiness REVEALED!

If any of you ever want to get into my heart, this is how to do it!

Things that make me happy (in order from greatest to least, so it's easier for you to go through the listand skip over things that you cant do for me...):

1.) SEX. Lots and lots of great sex... I am The Seeker after all...

2.) Cigarettes. I LOOOOOOVE my Camel Filters... Bad habit, but God damnit they're soooooom goooooood! I love them so much my best friend bought me a really cheap carton of them when she was on her chorus trip in Nashville (God love TN and they're cheap tabacco prices! Bible Belt is good for somehting!).

3.) Peanut Butter milkshakes (either my own, or from UDF). They are phenomenal and, after ingesting one, I want to explode because I drink soooooo much.

4.) Skyline cheese coneys, no mustard or onions please. And a Mountian Dew... Yes, if you're reading this and work at Skyline, this is my standard order 100% of the time. It does not deviate. Thank you for your cooperation. (Shout out to Cindi from the Ludlow Skyline who recently had a baby!!! We love you doll! (and your hot young manager with the black and dark-blue striped shirt)

5.) YouTube is my savior. I don't post videos as much as I'd like because my computer and YouTube uploading don't get along. But I always catch the 5awesomegays, 5sortastraightguys, thatgaybunch, and many more (like WhatTheBuckShow, MrEladdy (HOT), DavidsFarm, etc. and Danrambles and Mikiepg84 when they post...). I spend 90% of my time of YouTube...

6.) Beer. Bud Light more specifically (and most foreign dark beers too, to enjoy...). Shit's good and it fucks me up after 4 or 5...

7.) Mountain Dew. This stuff gets its own category! I drink so much of it it's like my blood!

8.) Bagel Bites and Pizza Rolls!!! My college career depends on these 2 foods. Legit...

9.) Road trips to Hamilton driving 90mph with *NSYNC blaring on the radio (what? I'm a '90s child!), Mountain Dew in the cup holder, a cigarette in hand... Then after the *NSYNC we'll play a little bit o' Big n Rich, Garth Brooks, Craig Morgan, and the Dixie Chicks (yes, I'm a hick... I even wear plaid...).

10.) CARS, TRUCKS, BUSES, BOATS, and everything in between!!!

GAY STUFF/MARRIAGE: Prop 8... Son of a bitch... #CAfail

Well, the California Supremem Court just upheld Proposition 8. Same-sex marriage in the state of CA is still illegal, but the 18,000+ couples already married are still recognized as valid.

The CA organizations are already planning more ballot initiatives to counter it in the future.

Our battle rages on my friends...

-Cody
The Seeker

From Barry, I'm just throwing the New York Times article link here, as well as a copy of the 185 page Supreme Court decision (voted 6-1). Juliet will be posting later tonight.

Ten on Tuesday! (On Happiness)

Welcome to QueerCincinnati.com's newest feature -- Ten on Tuesday -- to join our current "WEARING WHAT WEDNESDAY" (which may be expanding, thanks to Juliet) and "STUPID JOKE SATURDAY"! Every week, I (and maybe other contributors to this blog -- maybe? please? -- and maybe other bloggers -- maybe? please?) will creat of ten things of whatever! We'll have a theme every week! This is your opportunity to join in a mini-carnival! If you post something on your blog, put a link in the comments or email me (queercincinnati@gmail.com), or, if you'd like to play along and aren't a blogger, just put your ten in the comment section! I'll cross link any other post I find!

I invite all of you to join in!

This week: Ten Things That Make Me Happy
1) Discovering your coffee card is full and you can get a free coffee at work -- especially when you're short on cash and need a pack of cigarettes!

2) Cool mornings after the rain when nothing is soaked but there's a hint of more to come. Humidity's low, no bugs are out, and the sun is hidden behind the clouds and turning the morning a deep weblink blue.

3) The anticipation before something great.

4) Feeling accomplished after two days of regret and wishing you had done more -- getting shit done.

5) Randomly chancing upon new music you forgot you had downloaded onto your iPod while shuffling through -- and remembering how much you love it!

6) Seeing a janitor at the hospital dance to music on his mp3 player in a hallway he believed was empty, and then him not feeling embarassed or stopping when you walk by.

7) The comfort, and the drama, of good friends, especially when you hatch fancy conspiracies.

8) Having a crush, even if it's completely superficial and you know it'll be gone in a week.

9) Standing alone on the glass walkways at UC's Medical School Building at 3am and belting out showtunes... and feeling infinite.

10) Learning and growing... and knowing that I still have the capacity to do both, after all that has happened. (This is kind of a private shout out -- I know you know who you are!)

What are ten things that make you happy?

Ha -- Apparently I really enjoy alliteration.

Day of Decision

Tomorrow (or today) we will discover, as Les Mis would say, what our god in Heaven has in store.

The Supreme Court makes it's decision today regarding the legality of Proposition 8 -- whether it is legal for voters to overturn the civil rights of a minority. I've said it before: I really do think it will fail, but I think it will be close, and I am ever hopeful. Listening to the Chief Justice say, during the hearings, "Yea, but we're working under a new Constitution, now," nearly broke my heart.

If you would like to know immediately, the decision will come down at approximately 1pm (10am in California), and you can find out either via email from the Courage Campaign, or by texting "DECISION" to 27336 for an announcement the minute it comes out. I do not know of any Cincinnati protests going on... at least, none have come across my email.

Hold your breath, cross your fingers, and suck in your gut. Today will be a rough one... but at least we'll be able to figure out where to go next, and we can put this ugly mess behind us.
I think, since I probably have nothing new or interesting to say on the subject that hasn't or won't have been said by the time I get to post, I will not be posting an opinion on the subject at all. More on that later. Check out Law Dork, 2.0's post on the subject and the subsequent discussion.

Queer in the Middle East

It must suck to be queer in the Middle East. From an ABC News story about a young gay man living in Saudi Arabia:
I'm a Muslim. I know it's forbidden, but I can't help it... I pray to God to help me be straight, just to avoid hell. But I know that I'm gay and I'm living as one, so I can't see a clear vision for the future... You can't let a word slip that makes you seem gay-friendly or gay. Before you make a move you have to think.
All this in a country where the police have arrested men for being gay based on his choice of jeans and tight-fitting shirt... which, btw, is enough in my world to think of any man as gay, making me wonder whether or not there may be a mo on the police force there.

The picture you see above, btw, is out the same news story and is of Egyptian men who are arrested for "immoral acts."

In related news... the US isn't helping, I don't think. Despite numerous reports of brutality and violence against gay folk in Iraq, the embassy decides to create a Pink Zone... and hold its own little gay pride. I'm sure the folks living in and around the embassy are very thankful. There may be a good reason -- perhaps it allows some LGBT folks to celebrate, or perhaps it will help influence some politicians -- I have a feeling a lot of people will be walking past thinking, "And I can't even kiss him."

It's worth it to check out this map from Wikipedia, showing the relative status of LGBT rights in the world. Nine countries are listed as having the death penalty for homosexuality, six with "major penalties," and well over thirty with some sort of penalty.

Equal Housing and Employment Act

StuffQueerPeopleNeedtoKnow by local fabulous Jamie Royce is reporting that the testimony in the House Committee on State Government will be hearing testimony from the two sponsors -- Rep. McGregor (R) and Rep. Stewart (D) -- on Wednesday. From SQPNtK:
Hearings on the Equal Housing and Employment Act in the Ohio House will begin on Wednesday, May 27. Representatives Stewart and McGregor will be the only people testifying on this day. Proponent testimony will begin on Wednesday, June 3 and will likely last for two weeks. As of now there are 40 secured yes votes and 22 possible yes votes, but the bill needs 50 to pass.
As of yet, the information is not confirmed on the website of the bill, and I have not received an email with this information (so I can't confirm it). I'm putting an email into Equality Ohio for the 411. For more information on the current members of the State Government Committee, click here.

Weekend Recap

I began my weekend with the allergic reaction from hell. From there, I'm not sure it got much better.

See, I've always had really bad seasonal allergies, but the mild Cincinnati summers and the lack of summer-long bloom of pine trees in South Carolina mitigates the effects... a bit. Here, I get mild allergies for a few weeks and then they move on. Friday, they hit full force. Aside of the rapidly draining sinuses that filled both my lungs and my nose with fluid, my eyes were red and... foolish boy... I leaned against the wall during a smoke. I looked down about an hour later during class and found that I had a rapidly growing red rash on my arm from the harmless moment of relaxation. Concerned that my airway would be closing next, I grabbed the bottle of water I was using to irrigate my nose, showed my professor the rash, and dashed out of class with a friend in tow to drive me home.

We picked up Zyrtec (for me) and beer (for her) on the way home. Perhaps I should have purchased some beer for myself.

Leslie was coming into town that evening, so I rested up. Upon awakening, I found a text that said, sadly, she would not be arriving. Disappointment quickly set in -- I had every intention of going to Penny's "private" party at Annie's. When I suggested I might not make it, Penny was disappointed, so I rustled up Jill and Doug to go with. After all, there was a full hour of free drinks... and I had every intention of starting this long weekend off right. Ignoring, of course, the massive amounts of phelgm I was blowing into tissues every five minutes.

It was about this time I posted the now infamous "Penny post," and I discovered just how few people are willing to attach their name to slander.

Out to the club! Doug comes and gets me and we head to Annie's, where we were greeted by Penny, and cute twosome and the idea that I might have a threesome that evening crossed my mind. I'm actually convinced it crossed their mind, too, but I'm not good at the whole flirting thing until your pants are off. The doors opened and we, naturally, headed for the bar. In the next hour, I'm shocked the bar didn't run out of alcohol. Take 150 or so queers there for free booze, give them wide open spaces and a non-judgmental staff at high levels of alcohol use...

...let's just say that between me, Jill, and Doug... I'm shocked we ever left the bar. I think I downed five vodka-Red Bulls before time was up for free booze. Everyone was there and it's event I really hope is repeated. Hopefully, A) with better turnout and B) turnout that doesn't leave the minute the free alcohol stops pouring (though I was one of those).

We head over to Adonis, where more drinks and cake are consumed, and I am amazed at how few people are at the club on a Friday night ... probably 20 ... Jill tells me, "And this is a busy night!" I am constantly amazed that Adonis can survive solely on the business of one night of traffic. I have been to the Dock in the middle of the week and seen more people! That's besides the point. Will Corson is spinning Karaoke -- word is, he's trying to get a gig back in town with a newly opening bar, but more on that later -- and we're having a good time, and I'm not 100% sure how much I drink there... but I'm pretty hammered and making out with a guy. I spill a drink all over the hottie bartender, which tells me I'm pretty close to toasty by the time we leave.

We head to the Serpent ... well, not me, Doug, and Jill, but me and the guy. I don't remember this trip save for calling some guy in a leather vest Sir. Perhaps it's best for all of us.

I wake up, thankfully in my own bed, at 8am on Saturday morning. It's an obnoxious habit I've developed, waking up that early, still quite drunk, and start to read when the hangover hits. It's 10-ish and I make a call to Jimmy John's. This is my new hangover cure: Jimmy John's, Hulu.com, and as much water as I can down without dying of water intoxication. Yum. Today, the show on Hulu.com is Glee, which I've heard much about but had not had the pleasure to see. It's campy as hell, the writing is horrid in parts, but I'm still crying by the end. Perhaps it was the hangover, but I downloaded Don't Stop Believin'that minute because of the final song... and I can't wait for the next show to come out. My throat is dry, my stomach is full, four ibuprofen's later my headache is receding, and I'm ready for my maybe-date.

Back story on my maybe-date: we agreed to go see Star Trek this week. We were out last weekend, I made an ass out of myself, but the movie was still on... and we discussed dinner. The whole week the discussion with my friends was maybe this is a date, maybe it was just friends. I don't think it's as easy to tell between gay men as it is with heterosexuals. After all, he and I have known each other for years, there's been some weird drunken tension, and it is just him and me... so he became the "maybe-date."

About Thursday I learned that we would have a tag-along, someone I don't particularly get along with, and he became the "maybe-not-date," but I had great hope. Except maybe-not-date began the "date" by announcing he was hung over. Hence, he continued being the "maybe-not-date."

Star Trek was not what everyone made it out to be. I kept waiting for something more, but nothing ever really came out of it. Sure, I'll probably see the next one, and, yes, Chris Pine in boy shorts is 100% worth it, but... I don't think I left with the "oh my god, this is awesome" feeling most people felt. And the whole "changing reality" bit they went for, I'm not buying it. They even threw in there the required "explainer" -- "You mean we're in an alternate reality?" Sorry, kids, but destroying planet Vulcan is a little more of a stretch of the imagination than this queen could handle.

So far, though, maybe-not-date and other-guy and I were not doing badly; no arguments, and only mild annoyance.

We decided on the Taste of Cincinnati for dinner -- "Is there food?" other-guy asks. "Uh." I could only respond. I suggest we take the bus from the Levee downtown as there would be no parking. They think it's a great idea, except they want to check their cars and they are far away and they'll just grab them and meet me over there. So I meander over to the busstop and sit on the corner and think, "Did they just ditch me to ride the bus by myself?" I texted everyone I knew the same, and it became more and more obvious "maybe-not-date" was definitely becoming "not-date." I was also hot and sticky and out of cigarettes twittering madly about the lateness of the Southbank Shuttle. No one understood my plight, and I couldn't talk about maybe-not-date as he had just added me on Twitter. Oops.

In my defense, I have great hope, and I'm really bad at picking up clues. But I was slowly getting the point.

I get to Taste about 25 minutes before they do, enough time to buy a pack of cigarettes and get a beer... and then a second one... whilst sitting in the shade. Let me take a moment to mention just how much I hate the heat. Hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it. I moved out of the deep south so I could escape it, but this weekend was awful. The sign at Government Square said 90-degrees, and I'm sure the humidity was high. Mix that with the smell of thousands of Cincinnatians, some of them with mullets (which means a questionable bathing history), and you can only imagine my displeasure. I think I had four cigarettes while I sat there... by myself... on a busy street corner... in the middle of a not-date... with a beer in my hand. I'm surprised I only had two beers.

They show up, and we do what everyone does at Taste: wander up and down the vendors, eat a couple of too-expensive items (seriously, $5 for a pulled pork sandwish from Montgomery Inn with no sides? it's highway robbery) and people watch. Is there really anything else to do? I meant to find the Katie Reider stage (check out www.3tweets4katie.com -- something I meant to pimp before the event and should have participated in, but I was ill prepared). Anywho, we found ourselves a comfortable seat on Fountain Square, commented on some cute boys, discussed our types (I was not anywhere within the galaxy of either other-guy's or maybe-not-date's "type"), and pondered whether saying someone had an "Italian high forehead" was racist. Real deep stuff.

At this point, Leslie is texting me and we think it might be neat to head over to Hofbrauhaus to see her. We start off, maybe-not-date says he's not going to join us, but would I like a ride home? I said yes -- suddenly, he became maybe-date in my head -- until other-guy jumps in, says "that's silly, I'll take him," and I retort, "Fine! I'll just take a bus home."

I don't go home. I go out, but the entire maybe-date was just saved by that simple offer of a ride home... and now I'm obsessing again.

Ronald Sunday morning, feeling tired, was supposed to meet Alexis out at Taste again that evening, so I laid down at 5-ish, woke up at 930, texted her that I had to write a paper due the next morning, and I went back to sleep at 10. Woke up again at 5am, took the 5 hours it apparently takes me to write 500 words, and go back to sleep at 1030am, to wake back up again at 530 to get ready for work at 8.

All the while, my nose is itching and dripping, and I'm concerned I have pneumonia now because my lungs are gurgling. But a weekend that was totally worth it.

If you made it this far, well done. :-)

Out With It Already!!!

And another Cincinnati area queer blogger makes his appearance on the scene -- see, I told you we are a large and growing crowd!

Meet Jason. He's guest blogged for us over at GayCincinnati.com, and he's got a brand-spanking new site of his own -- Out With It Already!!! His first post deals with Miss Prejean and the awfulness that is Liberty University (shudder -- anything founded by Jerry Falwell is, well... I'm not quite sure what I could say that couldn't be considered "inciting violence").

From his first post:

Let Perez call her [Carrie Prejean] a bitch. Like it or not, Perez is a spokesperson for the LGBT community, and all who visit his blog know he says this out of anger and frustration with a society and government that treats LGBT as second-class citizens or worse. Straight people who check in with Perez now are learning to understand that anger and frustration.

Think of it this way. I remember being a kid and having friends whose parents told them “no” to everything all the time. After a while, I thought my friends’ parents were bitches, too!

Maybe it’s better that Miss California said “no.” You can only hold down a group for so long before people come around to seeing that suffering and say, “It’s time to tell those bitches to take a hike!”
Jason and Out With It Already have now been added to the QueerOhio blogroll to your left; welcome to the scene, baby doll!!!!

Motormouth Maybelle from Hairspray!

I love love love these songs from HAIRSPRAY. Because I have no doubt all of you have seen the movie versions (if you haven't -- you should), I wanted to share the stage versions.

Big Blonde and Beautiful (one of my favorite of all times!):


I Know Where I've Been:


A little music for your morning. One of these days, I'm going to wake up and realize I've posted every single song from HAIRSPRAY.

Monday, May 25, 2009

A Tale of Two Nevada Legislations

In a double-whammy (well, sort of), two bills advanced to the Governor of Nevada -- one vetoed and one passed. Wanna bet which one is which?

If you guessed that the Governor approved was the domestic partnership law, you'd be wrong. Following through on his promise, Governor Gibbons vetoed the DP law stating that it was contrary to the wishes of Nevada voters who approved a ban on same-sex marriage in 2002, but that his veto does not mean that he believes that "domestic partners are in any way undeserving of rights and protections."

Fine. So, it seems reasonable that he should sign it, per his conscience.

Meanwhile, a bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression made it through on Friday. Apparently, discriminating is bad for business in a state famous for its tourism.

Amazing: Nevada has officially moved farther in the movement than Ohio.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Obama gets trumped on LGBT rights

...by Hillary mutha-fuckin' Clinton.

In a time when a lot of people are questioning where Obama is on LGBT issues, and whether we will see the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell (not to mention 100 other things), Mrs. Clinton stands up and does something amazing:
"Like all families, our foreign service families come in different configurations; all are part of the common fabric of our post communities abroad," Clinton said in the memorandum, a copy of which was provided to The Times by a member of the gay and lesbian association.

"At bottom," the paper quotes Clinton as saying, "the department will provide these benefits for both opposite-sex and same-sex partners because it is the right thing to do."

A senior State Department official confirmed the new policy, but did not say when it would take effect, the paper said.

Among the benefits are diplomatic passports, use of medical facilities at overseas posts, medical and other emergency evacuation, transportation between posts, and training in security and languages, according to the report.
I wonder who gets the credit for this one -- is it an Obama win or is it a Clinton win? Or, more importantly, is it a win for the couples?

I'm amazed :-). Yea. Look, things are getting done.

Blogroll Additions: Two Local Queers!

What a weekend, but we'll go over that later!

In the meantime, I am so happy to put a bit out there about Cincinnati's two newest additions to the queer blogging community -- seriously, folks, if any more pop up, I may just scream. Cincinnati has an amazing and burgeoning blogger scene, and I am always happy to give a tip of my hat to new ones! If you have a local blog, or if you're a QueerOhio blogger... give me a shout out via email (queercincinnati@gmail.com) and I'll be sure to blogroll you too!!!

First, we have my not-husband, JAC, over at Midwest GenderQueer. If there's anything in town that fucks with gender, you can be sure JAC is attached to it. He's a also a smoking hot self-identified "femme boy." You may know him from such amazing projects as the Black Mondays, GenderBloc (at UC) and the GenderQueer Coaltion. An excerpt from his latest blog:

What makes a faggot a faggot? My friend is a girl but looks like a boy. I’m a boy who looks like a girl. If faggot is intended to mean homosexual, if only I could tell shouters just how accurate they are. I’m a guy who looks like girl who looks like a guy, who was born a girl, who fucks girls and boys and boys who were girls, and girls who were boys, and people who were never one or the other or anything at all… Is it hypocritical of me to argue or get upset? In my own, closed circles I call myself a fag, a tranniboy, and queer - all controversial words considered to be hate speech. Is our pain caused by the words or the malicious intention. Which is the one we need to remove? Does language have the power, or do we?
Secondly, we have Ryan M., blogging over at Slouching Towards Manhattan. He's a native Cincinnatian who lives in New York but writes about CinNKY and the issues involved with being queer in the Midwest. He is also the author of the Soapbox Media article -- Queen City: musings on gay cincinnati -- a few months ago discussing where we are headed as a gay community. Good guy, identifies as an independent journalist. He posted a great bit entitled "21 Ways the Midwest and Manhattan Differ," and this is my favorite one:

17: New Yorkers largely consider Midwesterners to be paunchy, hunch-backed , snaggle-toothed yokels with little education, culture and upbringing. The Midwest largely considers New Yorkers to be a phalanx of debauched, gaunt and unreasonably confident gaggle of Midwestern transplants that use the the status of living on or near Manhattan to justify their existence. Both parties are half right.
:-) Now, go, read, enjoy! Comment away}!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Lambert on Larry King Live

How does Ryan Seacrest get to interview people on Larry King Live? Anyways, this is my only post on this year's American Idol.
Seacrest: Let me ask you this: The speculation about your sexuality, do you think that had anything to do with coming in second place?

Lambert: No, I think if anything, I think it -- I think my lifestyle is just I'm different. I'm a little bit -- I'm not your typical guy next door. The guy next door versus the guyliner. Sexuality aside, I think it more had to do with maybe my appearance and what songs I gravitated toward and my performance style. I think that had more to do with it.

Seacrest: Kris, when I asked the question, you were nodding your head, why?

Allen: Because I agree with him. It's not about who he is or who I am. It's about -- what we want, we want it to be about the music, you know?
I love how Adam Lambert is still not saying that he's gay or not. I mean, whatever. I kinda think Kris Allen is hot. But isn't "Kris" the female spelling of the name?

Friday, May 22, 2009

Day of Decision ... Tuesday!

It's official. The California Supreme Court will rule all on the legality of Proposition 8 on Tuesday, May 26th at 10am. The question at hand:
The court issued an order to show cause in Strauss, Tyler, and City and County of San Francisco directing the parties to brief and argue the following issues: (1) Is Proposition 8 invalid because it constitutes a revision of, rather than an amendment to, the California Constitution? (See Cal. Const., art. XVIII, §§ 1–4.) (2) Does Proposition 8 violate the separation of powers doctrine under the California Constitution? (3) If Proposition 8 is not unconstitutional, what is its effect, if any, on the marriages of same-sex couples performed before the adoption of Proposition 8?
I've said it before: I don't think it's going to work, but it will nice to get it out of the way and be done with it. Then we can start planning for the future and how to repeal Prop8 in 2010, or 2012, or whenever. But, if we win, then marriage is back in California. Either way, it's time the decision came down. There will also be nationwide protests held on Tuesday, go to the Day of Decision wiki site for the one closest to you (no Cincinnati one... yet?).

Check out the Supreme Court announcement here.

RUMOR MILL REPORT: Penny Tration Leaving Adonis

You read that right, my darlings.

I have it on good authority (very good authority) that Miss Penny Tration, also a contributor to this blog, will be leaving Adonis as show director and Monica St. James will be taking over in the future.

I'm pretty sure that Penny was a major component is the success of Adonis. I remember when the club opened (under the management of a former Carol's Manager, then a former Dock manager, then...) and Jessica Dimon was director. That separation ended very poorly -- the fact that the next director was named "Penny" was amusing. I think Miss Tration brought a certain class and respectability to the club that we were all sure no one would go to based on sheer geography. I know there have been many times I would travel to Adonis just to see her. 

Word is that she will have a few more shows as director, host Pride, and then she will no longer be the mainstay at Adonis that she always has been. :-( It's very sad for all of us, but word is that the break is peaceable and good feelings are had by all involved.... so maybe we'll see her back for a few guest shows? And, of course, I know I look forward to seeing her around town in her many, many, many endeavors.

Darling Penny, you will be missed; I hope you know how much we all love you. For all of you fabulous folks who read my blog, please take a moment and leave a little message in the comments telling her how much you love her... tell us a story of how you came to see her for the first time, why you love her shows, etc. etc. etc. 

On a related note, make sure you check out Penny Tration's "Private" Party tonight at Annie's, right down the street from Adonis. I can't say this enough OPEN BAR FROM 10pm-11pm. That should be enough to get the gays in the door. I know it's enough for me!

UPDATE: CONFIRMED! That didn't take long. Monica St. James, on my facebook announcement about this, had this to say: "As sad as it is , we will miss her. I am now the new show dirrector and MC I hope you all still come and have a wonderful time as always." *Sniff*Sniff* Monica, darling, you have huge shoes to fill, but I've seen your heels... and they terrify me. I have no doubt you'll do fabulously. Good luck, goddess bless, and don't forget the extra eyelash glue.

Happy Harvey Milk Day!

Today would be Harvey Milk Day in California -- the anniversary of the politician's birthday, and just days after the anniversary of the White Night Riots -- however, Gov. Schwarzenegger did not sign the bill this year. The Senate, again, has passed a bill designating May 22 as a day of "special significance" for Milk, and it is currently in the Assembly.

Equality California seems to believe that it will pass somewhat easily, as the focus of their site is on contacting the Governator and encouraging him to support the day.

Regardless, Happy Harvey Milk Day!
In sort of related news, check the news coming from the ACLU where a sixth grader in California was censored by not allowing to present her report on Harvey Milk without permission from all of her class mates. Apparently, talking about historically important gay figures is somehow equivalent to sex education. The school sent letters home to all the parents in the class informing them that if they gave their child permission to hear the presentation, it would be held during lunch hour. The sixth grader who made the presentation received a 49 out of 50 points on the written report.

Open Letter to Christopher Smitherman

...thanks to the Beacon. Let me say that I (Barry) fully support this statement and sign onto its language.
Dear President Smitherman:

Recently, you asked Councilmember Jeff Berding to repudiate alleged racist language from Westwood Concern.

Admittedly, though, Westwood Concern might periodically engage a position or an issue with which Councilmember Berding agrees—even if he does not, for example, support everything said by someone like Melva Gweyn.

Nevertheless, it appears right (and your intent) for Jeff Berding to repudiate such inappropriate behavior or words—even if, on other issues, he finds reason to agree with Westwood Concern.

After all, forming alliances with people, even if there are differences, can prove fruitful—as the local NAACP has experienced under your presidency. At the same time, leaders must make clear they can draw a line when it comes to inappropriate behavior, speech, and so forth.

Therefore, we would like to call on you today to make some clear and public repudiations.

As you may know, Christopher Finney, your organization’s Chair of Legal Redress, has appeared in media with statements that many consider anti-gay bigotry. He has said, for example, that restaurants should be able to refuse service to gay patrons—a heterosexist position.

Similarly, Charlie Winburn, a Republican who has been quite visible in his support of every NAACP issue, was a member of the staff of CCV as recently as last Spring. As you know, CCV is an extreme right-winged organization that supported the implementation of Article XII.

It would only be appropriate, then, for you to meet your own standard, repudiating the anti-gay statements and affiliations of Christopher Finney, Charlie Winburn, and the CCV. We, the undersigned, hereby call on you to do exactly that—showing you can meet the same standard you expect of others.

Respectfully,

Justin P. Jeffre and [The Dean of Cincinnati]
Discuss amongst yourselves.

Nine

Whoa. This movie looks amazing. And it's a musical (that looks to be in the same vein as Moulin Rouge).

Federico Fellini wrote one of the earlier screenplays of Nine. This version features the talents of Daniel Day Lewis, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, and Kate Hudson.

It's due out in theatres on November 25th of this year.

Thanks to the organizer of Milk: Summer Underground for this one.

Rep. Roosevelt Coats... maybe

BearsLeft.com is doing a whole series on Christopher Redferm, the Ohio Democratic Party Chairman. In the midst of the bout, an interesting story arose out of Cleveland.

State Representative Eugene Miller recently resigned from the state house. In his place? Cleveland City Council's Democrats (every last council member, btw) want Roosevelt Coats who did not vote for the domestic partner registry in that city and use the Bible as a way of justifying his decision. From Cleveland.com:

At a committee hearing, Coats cited biblical passages that he said denounce homosexuality. "Many of you may disagree," he said.
Hrm. I'm a little divided on this issue. On the one hand, the Democrats in the state are almost universally the only ones co-sponsoring the Equal Housing and Employment Act (excluding Rep. McGregor and one or two others), which means they may be fairly supportive. On the other hand, Rep. Coats does not sound like someone who is exactly "supportive" of LGBTQ rights... or, well, LGBTQ people at all. On the other hand (I have three hands, STFU), it sounds like Coats is a highly respected Cleveland politician.

It is the great rub of politics, innit? Whereas we as LGBTQ people want to demonize people like Rep. Coats because of his anti-gay background, he still is a good Representative, and probably a good person. When I lived in South Carolina, Gov. Sanford was (is) hugely popular because he's a good elected representative, despite his non-history on LGBTQ rights. I want to believe, because I liked Sanford and voted for him, that, if it came up, Sanford would go for what's right and not what's politcally expedient.

...so there's an argument to made that a good representative would be one who sees that anti-gay politics are merely political diversions.

But maybe Councilmember Coats genuinely believes in his words. Which is worse for us, better for him.

Regardless, I think the Democrats should find another person to fill Rep. Miller's seat. This one makes me feel a little dirty. (BearsLeft.com reports that Equality Ohio has forwarded Coats' testimony on the DPR to the Democratic Party ... maybe something will come of it?)

Good male couple role models?

Seriously, aren't we going to have some positive gay male role model enter politics?

The mayor of San Angelo -- minor little town in Texas that it is -- submitted his resignation from an undisclosed location in Mexico ... admitting that he had fallen in love with, and is pursuing a relationship with, an illegal Mexican immigrant. Two weeks after he was re-elected to his fourth term, Mayor J. W. Lown chose not to take the oath of office while "aiding and abetting" an illegal.
In a way, it's kind of sweet, you know? He's giving up his political career for the love of his life. I'm just hoping, for their sake, that it's more than a lesbian relationship that peters out after a few years. Because, you know, Mexico isn't that far from Texas and it would stand to reason that the Mayor could make a couple trips back and forth... and vice versa. I would call the resignation the atom bomb of unwise decisions.

Meanwhile, this reeks of Gov. McGreevey. One of these days, I want a prominent, young, good looking politician to come out and say, "You know, I'm gay, this is my partner(/boyfriend), and I'm going to continue to serve in office because I am not committing any crimes by doing this."

Sigh. Dreams.

CONFIRMED: Hamburger Mary's Reopening

Saw it on Facebook this morning, though I couldn't post it until now.

Hamburger Mary's will, in fact, be reopening. And they all ready have a Facebook group started. No real details yet, but you can guarantee I'll be looking for them. They are meeting with contractors, per their status message, to revamp the place and it looks like it is expected to reopen this summer.

Stay tuned.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

DC marriage acceptance to be challenged

Thanks to Juliet for posting today -- I, unfortunately, slept through my usual blogging time, and thanks to Wolfie at Back2Stonewall.com for the heads up on this one!

Rep. Jim Jordan of Urbana (OH-4) has promised to put a bill before the House of Representatives that would define marriage as between one man and one woman, thus invalidating a vote earlier in the month that would recognize out of state marriages. The head of the subcommittee that oversees DC affairs, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, has all ready promised he would make the attempt as well. Said Jordan at a press conference today: "This is a fight we cannot shy away from, and it is a fight we have to win."

Oh? It's that important to you as a person? Or just as a politician? I wonder.

What's interesting about this is that, since Nancy Pelosi has essentially said she's not interested, and the committee that would put the bill to the floor is headed by a supporter, we are likely going to see a House vote on a Defense of Marriage Act...

...for the first time since 1996.

What's even more interesting is that it will likely pass the House, and then may pass the Senate, and then we'll get to see what kind of stuff President Obama is really made of. Of course, there is an easy way out of this for fence sitters: "We believe in the right of the District of Columbia to dictate its own policies, and we have no interest in interceding on Council's decisions." In a way, the showdown in DC may turn into a more interesting and fascinating Constitutional dance than we've seen in a while.

White Night Riots Remembered

Unbelievable footage of the White Night Riots on May 21, 1979.



The White Night Riots were a series of violent events sparked by an announcement of the lenient sentencing of Dan White, for the assassinations of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Harvey Milk. The events took place on the night of May 21, 1979 in San Francisco.

LGBTQ San Franciscoians had a long-standing conflict with the police department. The struggle against the SFPD turned violent when White, who was himself a former policeman, was given the lightest possible sentence for the assassinations. This became known as "The Twinkie Defense" that contributed to the lighter sentence. Initial demonstrations took place at San Francisco's City Hall after the verdict of voluntary manslaughter was announced. The riots caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. We...were...angry!!!

Later that night, police made a retaliatory raid on a bar in the Castro District. Many patrons were severely beaten by police in full riot gear. Two dozen arrests were made, and several lawsuits were filed against the San Francisco Police Department. The show of strength that we led increased political power, which culminated in the re-election of Mayor Dianne Feinstein the following November. In response to a campaign promise, Feinstein appointed a pro-gay Chief of Police, which increased recruitment of gays in the police force and eased tensions.

KNOW YOUR HISTORY!

Juliet