National Gay News Roundup

With all the stuff that's been happening lately, I feel like I've been lax in my news duties. Between Smitherman, rallies/marches, gay marriage, etc. etc. etc... well, everything else got drowned out. I wanted to at least give y'all some links to news stories that have popped up on the web just over the last day to give you a taste of what's going on in the world:

• Out magazine put out its top 50 out media celebrities, and include two non-out individuals -- Barry Diller and Matt Drudge. Drudge is the one who is actively denying it. Ironically enough, Anderson Cooper is saying nothing. Did he come out and I missed it? Many strange and interesting choices on that list, btw. Worth a look.
• 19-year old Spenser Vogt was killed after he went to hook up with a man he met on a chat room. Lee Carl Banks eventually confessed to the murder and told the authories where the body was found. Seriously, guys, this is becoming a problem.
• Rhode Island -- marked as one of the next possible states to pass equal marriage -- will have a loud new anti-marriage voice... its governor who will be coming out against a media campaign targeted equality swing states.
• Maryland's DP law may be expanding to allow exemptions for inheritance taxation.
• Texas Christian University is offering a dorm that focuses exclusively on LGBT and supportive individuals -- entitled "DiversCity Q." Colleges offer dorm environments where individuals can live with people with similar interests. I don't know about you, but a gay dorm would be a lot of problems for me.
• Former UK PM Tony Blair is urging the Catholic Church to rethink their attitudes towards LGBT individuals. Seriously. I like the language he uses.
• Rick Warren -- who apparently did not support Prop 8? what? -- says that stopping gay marriage is not a priority. Instead, he would like to focus on other issues, including genocide and poverty. Didn't I say this a long time ago when the Rick Warren controversy came up during the inauguration? Meh. Old sour grapes. :-)
• Other states, post-Iowa, DC, and Vermont, are starting to assess their own chances at passing equal marriage laws, or defeating current anti laws. Don't believe me? The New York Times thinks so. How long before Ohio, I wonder?
• Columbia, Missouri has passed a domestic partner registry with some actual teeth in it, but not a lot. YEA!

And that's all I got for you this morning. Kisses!

When Drag Queens Attack -- a response

I got an interesting response to this post, and so I'll repost the comment in toto and then attempt to respond as best I know how:

Who these people truly were or why they were so mad is a based on 1/2 of the participants of the fight.

Isn't it possible that the crew of the McDonald's who hurled hateful epaulets at transgender woman?

That wouldn't be a show for you to laugh at would it? unbelievable. Yeas it is slanderous and highly inconsiderate of the "allied" community to laugh at us and hate us. WHO ARE YOU AND DO YOU CARE ABOUT US or are we just a token for you to get readers?

I would feel better if planetransgender's post's did not appear on this blog.You can acomidate that request by removing planetransgender from your blog list.

At their request, I have not linked the blog. But you can back read and figure it out.

I have written and rewritten this post, each time trying to take on a different attitude towards their response. I've written the shocked post, I've written the apologetic post, the angry post, the blah blah blah. Each one was longer and more boring than the one before. Let me, instead, try to condense and go over why I feel each bit:

First, anger (at them): It is absurd and a failing on your part to attack me on my gender street cred. The writer of the above comment states to have read my blog for a while, and to know me somewhat. Honestly, if you do not know my utter support, love, adoration, and respect for trans-identified persons, then you clearly haven't been paying attention. And do not assume that because I do not identify as trans myself does not mean that I have not been the subject of stereotyping, stigma, and discrimination based on my gender expression.

Second, anger (at myself): I was an idiot not to better preface that post. I assumed that people would, naturally, pick up on that the like provocation for the fight was transphobic slurs and nastiness on the part of (clearly) idiotic McDonald's employees. I should have written more and assumed less... for someone as loquacious as I can be, I certainly kept my mouth shut. And I am one for making sure your opinion is known and heard.

Third, apologetic: I'm sorry it was offensive, and perhaps it was not the best of posts in the world. I'm sorry it offended, and I'm sorry I did not do more in terms of deconstructing the news reports. Instead, I just threw it up there without concern for how people would feel about it. And for that, I am deeply sorry.

Fourth, apologetic (addendum): Please note that I am not sorry for posting it.

Fifth, shock: I am amazed that, after everything this community has been through for the last year, and after my giant turnaround on ENDA (from supporting a trans-noninclusive bill to lambasting the HRC for their support of it), that we are still fighting silly fights over non-issues (Rick Warren anyone?). More importantly, that anyone would turn on an ally -- and someone who is, truly, an ally -- for a sheer minor affront. Additionally, that the writer of the comments missed the implication of my words: that I was actually praising these women. Do it, girls, fight back. Don't let homophobic and transphobic assholes get away with it. Now, maybe violence was not the best answer, but they did something. And, for that, they should be applauded.

Sixth, disappointment: Despite the ongoing debate over the word "tranny," I'm disappointed that trans-identified persons have not made the attempt to reclaim the word, much like I have taken on the moniker of "queer," or the black community has for the term "nigger." The author of the blog is a smart person... I would think that this would be a priority. Take the power away from hate. Also, for all the things in the world to get angry over, a bit of humor -- and you have to admit that it was funny for a lot of reasons, whether the "haha, silly trannies" or "haha, terrible news reporting" or "haha, get it girls!" funny -- should not be one of them. Don't come after me, your supporter and your ally. Go throw malatov cocktails into the halls of injustice. Go sledge hammer the walls of division and difference. Go run a truck through the windows of... yadda yadda yadda. (This blog does not support violence in any form. And, if it did, it would come with a blueprint for action, not just vague suggestions.) UPDATE: Also disappointed that an activist would not take the opportunity to educate rather than fight. Rather than think, "this guy is ideologically on my side, he's just a little off on his message, maybe I should help him understand." Rather, I get yelled at. That's disappointing.

Seventh, confused: Of all the things that someone would take offense to on my blog ... this is what you choose? Please. My prolific use of the work "fuck" is more anger-worthy. Fuck.

Finally, proud: Thank you for saying your piece. Thank you for speaking out and calling me out. Thank you for keeping me in check. I owe you all the respect in the world for that. Not enough people do that.

Anyways, that's all. I hope that better clarifies my position.

Update: My response in the comments has been deleted.

Saddlebacking -- DEFINED!!!

IMG thanks to Towleroad
For the whole story, visit Dan Savage's column.

Dan Savage is at it again...

Once upon a time, Dan Savage redefined god-awful, gay-hating Sen. Rick Santorum's last name to mean "The sometimes frothy, usually slimy, amalgam of lubricant, stray fecal matter, and ejaculate that leaks out of the receiving partner's anus after a session of anal intercourse. Named, by popular demand and usage, after legislator Rick Santorum because of his homophobic political statements." (Thanks to the Urban Dictionary for that.)

And now he wants to do the same for Rick Warren's church, Saddleback Church. So what, do you think, should be the definition of "Saddlebacking?" These are the finalists:

(1) "Logically, if 'barebacking' means having butt sex with no condom, then 'saddlebacking' should mean having butt sex with a condom."

(2) "Saddleback (verb): to submit someone to any kind of humiliating, unreciprocal sex act, either literally or metaphorically, consented to by passive partner due to submissive/masochistic tendencies, desire for approval, or other darker motive. E.g., 'I don't know why Obama is letting Rick Warren saddleback him into presiding over his inauguration.'"

(3) "The saddleback position involves placing your lubed dick between the butt cheeks of your partner. This position can be performed on your sides or on top of a facedown partner (maybe with a pillow under his or her hips). My favorite way of finishing up the saddlebacking is to lift up and come on my wife's sweaty back. The saddleback is a nice compromise position when your partner won't allow anal entry."

(4) "To saddleback is to rail against gay sex in public while secretly indulging in the same in private. Ted Haggard? Total saddlebacker. Larry Craig? Saddlebacker. Rick Warren? Probably a saddlebacker."

(5) "'Saddlebacking' should be the term for the phenomenon of Christian teens engaging in unprotected anal sex in order to preserve their virginities. 'After attending the Purity Ball, Heather and Bill saddlebacked all night because she's saving herself for marriage.' Please, please adopt this definition!"

(6) "Saddleback (verb): to ejaculate on the back of a partner at the culmination of doggy-style anal sex."

(7) "Before being invited to give the invocation, Mr. Warren was most noted for his book The Purpose Driven Life. Therefore, 'to saddleback' is to fuck with a purpose, i.e., to procreate. A heterosexual couple asked if they're trying to have children could reply, 'No, we're not ready for kids yet, but we'll probably start saddlebacking next year.'"

I'm voting for number one, because it's about time we had an answer to the term "barebacking." Right? Why not Saddlebacking. My email is going in right now. Make sure you email your preference to: saddleback@savagelove.net. Yea, yea, there are some more "poetically ironic" ones. But who would commonly use the other ones?

Thanks to Joe. My. God. for pointing this out.

PS My cat is lovable, sweet, and wonderful.. but needy. Anyone want her? Her name is Jezebel. You should find the irony sweet.

I can admit when I'm wrong....

FUCK RICK WARREN.



Seriously? Scariest thing I've ever read.

And we're giving him a platform. Jesus -- literally. (Thanks to America Blog Twitter for this.)

DADT: Why is it taking so long?

Img thanks to 3BlueDudes
I don't get it.

Again, we are met with the same B/S: that we are going to have to wait for the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Apparently, there are some real concerns over whether or not the beginning of the Obama presidency will be like the beginning of the Clinton presidency ... a firestorm over the homosexuals and their right to serve their country, leaving our new president in a political blunder.

I get that. What I don't get is this: it's just a piece of paper. The right to serve is created by a simple piece of paper with a signature. If you're concerned about the pomp and ceremony taking up too much time, then why, oh why, not just sign it and not make a hooplah about it? That is, just say "It was overdue, silly that we didn't do this sooner, let's get onto bigger things."

Why, again, are we still waiting?

Jesus, and people thought Rick Warren was a sign of the apocalypse. Let's balance this out... preacher representing a huge congregation and a huge denomination, or the ongoing delay of civil rights.

I'm so glad the blogosphere cares as much about this.

Bishop Gene Robinson to deliver invocation

It appears that the Rick Warren debacle has yielded one exciting result: openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson has been invited to deliver and invocation at the Lincoln Memorial for the inauguration of Pres-elect Obama. (That will be on Sunday before the inauguration to kick off the week of events, not the actually day itself.)

See, kids, you whine enough and something good does happen.

Although, it's funny to see how the other side is swinging this:

Barack Obama took a lot of heat for his selection of Rev. Rick Warren to say the invocation at his inauguration. Warren is of couse loathed (yes, maybe even Hated) by Gay Rights groups for his strong support of the gay marriage ban in California.

So what is his response? He tags a gay bishop by the name of Gene Robinson to say prayer on this special day. It is no secret that I am opposed to gay marriage and fine with any person that decides that they WANT to be gay (and yes, I mean WANT to be GAY), however this decision is poor and may be a prelude to his actions in the future...

Gene Robinson has more problems than just being gay. In fact, he has the pleasure of splitting an entire fact of the Episcopal Church. He also was married, had two kids, and later divorced because of his homosexuality. He would later be accused of impropriety. These allegations would later prove to have little merit if any at all, however in 2006 he entered rehab for alcohol abuse...

Here is my biggest problem with him. He has decided that he will not read from the Bible because "not everyone believes that way." Interesting, because not everyone believe you should be gay, you do it anyway because that is what you believe in. As a bishop, it seems to me that he abandons his "sacred" beliefs in the Bible for the same reason he has fought to be gay. It looks as if he has a double-standard on his own beliefs.

That's from Jordan B. Huff over at Election Junkie, who was an interesting right-winger to read during the election. Now he's just boring me.

GLAAD's Worst of 2008 Awards

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has posted the 10 worst anti-gay voices of 2008. Very few surprises, actually, but good to remember:

• Bill O'Reilly, of FOXNews' The O'Reilly Factor -- For being Bill O'Reilly, but specifically for making statements that Americans don't want to see "homosexual behavior legitimized.
  
• California's Yes on 8 Campaign -- Um, duh.
• Greg Guttfield, of FOXNews' Red Eye -- Because you couldn't turn on his show without hearing homophobic remarks, such as "turning a hole into a pole" in regards to sexual reassignment surgery.
• James Dobson, of Focus on the Family -- Surprised? Isn't he on lists like this every year?
• Jim Quinn, of Clear Channel's The War Room with Quinn and Rose -- For being the kind of enlightened and intelligent person who would state, "Gay sex produces AIDS, which the state doesn't have – or should have an interest in. They should charge homosexuals more for their health insurance than they charge the rest of us." Charming, really.
• John Gibson, of FOXNewsRadio's John Gibson Show -- Because he was sensitive enough about Heath Ledger's death by making anti-gay jokes regarding his role on Brokeback Mountain. Love you, mean it.
• Laura Ingraham, of FOXNews' Laura Ingraham Show -- There's a lot of FOX on this list. I'm sure that means nothing.
• The New York Post -- I mean, that's kind of a big target, but apparently they're sensationalistic... or something. (No, not modern American journalism... it's never sensational. HA! American Journalism - Rarely Exceptional, Always Sensational ... I should be in marketing).
• Pastor Rick Warren -- If you don't know why, you haven't been paying attention.
• Rep. Sally Kern -- Because gays are trying to take over the country, including her own son. But she'll only say it when she thinks no one is listening.
• Sean Delonas, cartoonist of the New York Post -- More specific at the Post. He drew the cartoon above.

Anyone they missed? I really can't think of anyone else. Locally, I think Bill Cunningham should top the list. He said something particularly vitriolic this year, if I remember correctly. Honestly, I don't feel like looking it up. HA! :-)

A prize to the person who finds what nasty thing Mr. Cunningham has said about gay people in 2008.

A clarification on Mr. Warren

Rick Warren is a bad man who will stop at nothing to refuse us our rights.

And his support of Prop8 is detestable...

...as his statement that pedophilia and homosexuality are somehow one and the same is gross, and he should apologize for it.

But let's get back to my point...

...Rick Warren doesn't matter.

And, I think, this is my last post on the matter. Comments? Thanks to all who have. I do welcome hate mail -- queercincinnati@gmail.com -- and I welcome comments, of course :-).

I just always reserve the right to be a bitch.

Because I can.

Follow up to Rick Warren

I got hate mail from a gay person today about my Rick Warren opinion, effectively calling me a race traitor. I'm not reposting it. Once, I asked on Twitter whether it is a requirement to be both a bigot and illiterate. Apparently that is just the style of hate letters... seemingly illiterate.

Since we're picking apart Obama's LGBT stuff right now, let's make note of some of the things that have happened that apparently we care nothing about:

1) Nancy Sutley is named into one of the highest appointed positions an (openly) LGBT person has ever held in the executive branch.

2) A gay man is being considered for the job of Secretary of Navy, the first time an openly gay person will have ever led a branch of the armed forces.

3) A lesbian was shortlisted for the Secretary of Labor -- she did not get it over someone actually more qualified.

4) Oh, and Barack Obama is the only president to date to be very clear and specific (what we Kenneth Starr's words about Prop 8? "brevity...match with clarity") on his views of LGBT people -- “it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans.”

And, please remember, this is all Barack Obama has the power to do right now, nominate people. But if you want to get angry about something...

How about this:

During the campaign all the Democratic nominees for President stated on a live, nationally televised debate that they would seek to repeal DADT. None of the nominees indicated how high a priority it would be, not how quickly they would seek such action. Obama, who recently reiterated his support of the LGBTQ community still plans to pursue a removal of the DADT policy, but his camp is now saying that such action will not start until at least 2010.

No? You want to get angry over a preacher at the inauguration?

Other things matter, Rick Warren does not.

PS For the Prop8'ers out there... good try. I thought we were still angry at the Mormons? No? We've changed that to include white evangelical Baptist members -- who preach to the largest Protestant denomination in the country? Oh, thanks for the memo. See, here I thought it was Equality California's gross mistreatment of the situation and belief that of course we'll win, as well as the rest of our (the greater "community") apathy and belief that of course we'll win.

If change is going to happen in the deep South, if change is going to happen in the hearts and minds of those so viciously against us -- the viciously devout, the Rick Warren debate was perfect.

See, I'm not the only one...

...who doesn't care about Rick Warren, from the LA Times via Joe.My.God. commentator:

Finally, Warren is among a group of younger evangelicals who, without renouncing traditional views about abortion and sexuality, have expanded their mission to include environmental stewardship and efforts to eradicate poverty and AIDS. It's because of such views that Obama can credibly include him in his effort to bring Americans together despite differences about social issues.

These explanations won't salve the hurt felt by gays and lesbians over Warren's prominent role in the inauguration, even if (as is likely) the prayer he offers is unobjectionable. But those who oppose Obama's choice must be careful not to exaggerate its importance.

See. Get over it.

PS To those who say this is like inviting a member of the KKK to preach. You're wrong and engaging in hyperbole... and you know it. There's a pretty clear line between "hate-mongering violent white power advocate" and "prominent evangelical preacher." Now stop spewing vitriole (I like that word today); Rick Warren, to my knowledge, has incited no violence against LGBT people.

A Brief Case for Rick Warren

First of all, to all of you getting angry over Barack Obama's decision to have anti-gay, anti-abortion minister Rick Warren give his inaugural address: get over it. It doesn't matter. It is the political equivalent of the Deanscream circa 2000.

Second of all, rather than be disappointed in Barack Obama, I'm actually really glad he chose him. Here are my reasons:

1) We are allowed to disagree. Rhetoric of difference has defined us for eight years -- it's time to end it.

2) The man, for all his thoughts on stem cells and gay rights and abortion, has one thing right: evangelicals should focus on more than just social issues like the above mentioned three. Warren has long been an advocate for issues like poverty and climate change and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

3) I truly believe he's a good man who believes in his cause -- after all, he donates back 90% of his salary. This is not a man after the limelight. We've heard about him a couple of times, but, really, he shies away from the light as often as he takes it so that he can do the work he believes is right. That, in the age of televangelism, is admirable. Let's be honest, how many of you really thought much about Rick Warren before this election season? And be honest. I only barely knew his name, and I am informed.

4) Obama is reaching out. He's telling the world, "I welcome all view points, not just those that agree with me." I think that's admirable.

5) As the Washington Post points out, this says just as much about the direction of evangelism in this country as it does about Barack Obama... that a preacher, who is known for being against Obama on just about every single major social issue, is willing and happy to support his inauguration. Rick Warren is saying this: get over it, there are more important issues.

I am a progressive, and I have no problem with Rick Warren. I'm not even going to put you "on notice," as some local bloggers have.

I'm ok with this. Because, in the end, I believe you'll do right for me.

And really, it doesn't matter.