Cincinnati Queer Bar: Spreadin' the Love

As always, at midnight, Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar announced its newest target bar for Spreadin' the Love, where they strive to "take over" an underused queer bar, via Facebook...

Hello beautifuls!

Its time to spread some love! And this month we have an amazing night planned for you. Ready for this? We are jumping the river this month and meeting tomorrow night at Blue Bar! As always we are going to create a night full of queer community love - with games, drink specials, and all kinds of dancing. What else could you ask of a Friday night?

So tell your friends, that cuteness you have been eying, and anyone else you come across to come down and make some fun. We want this night to be just as amazing and beautiful and exciting as our first Friday events, because we love you and we have heard rumors that you might feel something special for us too. So lets make it happen!

As always we have packed the evening with incentives. $1 jello shots, $3 grape ape shots, $4 sailor jerry shots, and $10 domestic buckets. We are also bringing back the messenger game! There will also be a DJ makin' it happen on the dance floor.

You can find Blue Bar at 264 Pike Street in Covington, KY. It closes at 1:30, so come a little early to get in all the queer love you can handle.

Word is that CGQB (on twitter, now) has changed up its organizational structure. Whereas it used to be very hierarchical with Mr. Ethan Philbrick running the show, a crew has grown to organize the bi-monthly (does that mean twice a month???) events so that they can incorporate queers of all varieties -- black, white, asian, gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, women, men, etc. etc. etc. As you might remember, CGQB has received some criticism for their white male-dominated organization that ignored other issues outside of the passing gender issue. I think this change will be good for the movement, as a whole.

But, as for a committee, well, I don't like them. You know what they say, when a committee chooses a color, it's always gray. But Blue Bar sounds like a fabulous time (though I'm not sure if Blue Bar is technically "underused")!

Total Eclipse of the Heart: Literal Version

It's making the rounds on YouTube and Twitter, thought you may enjoy it:

I LOL'd a lot. I thought you might, as well.

Slutty Gang Bang!!!!

Ha! Did the headline catch you? I seriously am perusing the web this morning, and I wanted to bring you two blogs written by maybe one of my newest favorite authors in the blogosphere, not necessarily for her writing style, but for her topics. Her name is Chantelle Austin, and her blog is all about sex, sexuality, love, and relationships... from the point of view of someone who has experienced enough to be able to write intelligently about the topics.

The first piece came via the @sexgenderbody Twitter feed: "Is being a slut a bad thing?"

We’re programmed to believe that being promiscuous, or a slut is a bad thing and what is that really? It’s a judgment, damn it! The one thing I pride myself on NOT doing. Coming from someone who works hard to accept others as they are, I was judging myself! I had come to the conclusion that I wasn’t a slut because I was selective about whom I slept with but what does that say about people who aren’t selective? And is that really “wrong”?...

And why does being a slut have to be a bad thing? Are they not just experiencing all that sex and life has to offer? Some people love chocolate, and they’ll eat any sort of chocolate they come across, does that make them a chocolate slut? Hell yes, but is that a bad thing? No! So why is it that some people get labelled as a slut and the connotation is that it’s a bad thing, almost an insult to be called one?

I mean, I was kind of like, "OK, that's not such a bad point, but it's one I've heard before, and how is this special," until I delved further and read a previous column she had written that spurred this particular piece of work: "Am I a Slut If I Participate in a Gang Bang?"

I might be a swinger and engage in sex with people other than my husband but that doesn’t mean I don’t have standards, self respect or professionalism. And it's no excuse for others to treat me with any less respect or manners either so I'll let them know so...

All behaviours of a self respecting woman in my book.

I have recently been criticized for some of my own personal behaviors, and, perhaps they would cause some hackles to rise, but, honestly, I have no problems with them. No guilt -- mostly -- and no worries -- mostly. Sure, I've messed up and made poor decisions, and sometimes my decisions have been overly tainted by alcohol and not by my own libido...

...but it was refreshing to hear a straight woman thinking the same thing I am, and feel empowered by her choices rather than demeaned.

Rumor Mill Report: Bar Scene's A-Changing

Word on the street is... Golden Lion's Lounge, a mainstay of Cincinnati's queer bar scene for an untold amount of years, has closed two days ago. I have not confirmed this, but the report comes from a local bartender and regular at the bar. It is a bit of a surprise, however, because there always seemed to be someone at the little bar, though it was rarely full. However, their karaoke nights always seemed very popular.

Word on the street is... Simon Says is trying to expand either into the florist shop to the north or into the now-empty juice bar to the south on Walnut Street. I have not confirmed this, but the report comes from the same local bartender. The problem is that the city will not allow them to blow out the walls. A little bit of a surprise, to my mind, as no one ever seems to be in that bar. But I don't go much.

And, finally, word on the street is... two local community members are looking to open a new queer dance club downtown. I do, in fact, have a few details though I'm not sure what they want public. The goal is for an Adonis feel at the Dock prices, and dead in the middle of the city. We'll see where this goes. No theme announced yet.

Thought you might want the updates, which I had put out on my Twitter this morning.

Ochocinco

From the pantheon of people who think an awful lot of themselves but for very little reason, Wolfie at Back2Stonewall.com brings us this delightful quote from Chad Ochocinco (nee Johnson):

"I know people are trying to say we're mad at each other and all that, but we're good. We're like Brokeback Mountain."

[to which he follow up on his twitter:]
"I said no homo, i gues they dont say that out there, showing love to another person but you say no homo at the end."

No, Mr. Ochocinco, I don't think they say that out there.

Is that really a phrase -- "no homo" -- to imply your bromance is not sexual? Really? This is new to me. Does that mean I have to start saying "homo" at the end of everything that is really gay?

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. :-)

Rep. Virginia Foxx in a Homophobic YouTube Moment

Meet Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) who spoke today during the debate over the Matthew Shepard Act -- the federal hate crimes bill that passed the US House of Representatives 249-175-11 (yea-nay-no vote or abstained).

Ms. Foxx had her very own special YouTube moment during the debate when she said the following:

“I also would like to point out that there was a bill -- the hate crimes bill that's called the Matthew Shepard bill is named after a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay."

She added: "This -- the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."

This was said, btw, whilst Judy Shepard was in the room. Real nice.

To their credit, this is what the Democratic response was:

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who supports the hate crimes bill, stared in disbelief before answering a question about the statement.

"It's just sad the Republican caucus has been reduced such a fringe," she said. "It's sad they would go out of their way to prevent people from getting justice."

And, so, I started to wonder, where the hell would she get an idea like this? Thank god for all of us, Ms. Foxx twitters, a fact which, btw, has not escaped the LGBT activists on the web, and a fact that she may come to regret in the morning... regardless, her tweet sends us to the speech of one Don Feder, from the Jewish World Review, who enlightens us on the wonderment that is the anti-hate crime point of view:

Take the 1998 homicide of Matthew Shepard. Was Shepard murdered because he was a homosexual? Possibly. But it's equally plausible that he died because his murderers wanted drug money, and Shepard (weighing in at 105 pounds) was an easy mark. According to a 2004 report by ABC's "20/20," that's what many close to the case believe.

Well, I'm glad that's off our chest. Although, it sends a chilling tone about future robberies... apparently, it's common practice for robbers to pick up gay men in bars, drive them around, beat them, and then tie them to a fence post a la the crucifixion. Remember, kids: carry a gun or this, too, could happen to you in a simply mugging (I have a sneaking suspicion Ms. Foxx is also a fan of the NRA, unconfirmed, so she would like the sentiment).

Of course, that side would have to ignore the queer panic defense...

So, Ms. Foxx, today I give you a special present:

For being just so-gosh-darn-special. But, you know, at least this little YouTube clip will put you up there with the likes of, oh, I don't know, Marilyn Musgrove, Sally Kern, and Jean Schmidt. And we all know how wonderful those women are.

As for the remainder of Don Feder's article, I'll say this: the majority of it is a mass of slippery slope, "end of the First Amendment" argument that we've become used to. I'm sure I've said this before, but, if not, it bears repeating: freedom of speech does not include freedom to rape, assault, or kill. And, yes, we do consider intent in murders... self defense, what?

Thanks to Glenn Thrush at Politico for the quotes.

Gavin Newsom for CA-Gov

Image from the VentureBeat story
Gavin Newsom went to his online base today to announce his bid for the 2010 California gubernatorial (that's Governor, btw) race, using his Facebook site, Twitter, and YouTube in hopes of connecting first to the net-savvy Obama supporters.

Why does this matter, you ask? Because darling Newsom broke the law for gay folk -- that is, in 2004, he stepped and ordered the city clerks to start issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Rather than just say, "I support SSM," he said, "It's time, now." (These were the marriage licenses that led us to Prop 8, btw, but that's a whole other argument.) It was a beautiful few days when SF just started going with it.

And so, Gavin Newsom is going up to run for Governor of California -- early speculation, though, is that he will be up against a primary fight with popular senator Dianne Feinstein. I have a dilemma, then, I really like women in politics... but I really like Newsom. What's a queer gonna do?

Check out his YouTube announcement below...

Day of Silence -- Begins at 6am for me!

Well, here goes.

I'm registered online.

I've got my cards.

I've blogrolled the official blog.

I'll have my tweets going all day (and have added the DoS twitter -- remember to use #dayofsilence or @dayofsilence today for your tweets and to tweet the silence).

Now I just have to be quiet for a day.

Actually, truly... I'm nervous. It's a lot to ask of someone. Congratulations to all who are participating, today. I know I'm scared as hell.

Make sure you check out the excellent legal FAQs from both Lambda Legal and the ACLU. And darling Montgomery has a post up in support of Day of Silence -- check it out.

RiverCity Softball League Kicks Off This Weekend!

Thanks to Edro Edro in the comments of the last blog I mentioned him in for bringing this up! And thanks to Gay Happy Alive and Well for the image below!!

The RiverCity Softball League -- Cincinnati's predominately LGBTQ softball tourney -- begins this Saturday with a kick off at 8:00pm at Yadda Club in Covington, Kentucky! Teams have all ready formed, but, if you are eager to play, I was on a team once and, I'll tell you that a lot of the teams could probably use an extra player or two.

The first game is Tuesday, April 21st (Edro -- I'm counting on you for pictures! That's my finals week!!!) -- so check 'em out!

And don't forget their Twitter account.

Day of Silence -- April 17th

Day of Silence, GLSEN's annual awareness raising event, happens this week. The event encourages students (of all ages) to "take some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment -- in effect, the silencing -- experienced by LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) students and their allies." (From DayofSilence.org).

2009 will be my first year participating, and, a few days ago, I texted Jill Benavides (one of GLSEN Cincinnati's co-chairs) about possibly putting together an article on Day of Silence and social media, because god knows it'll be hard for me to go a full day without talking, let alone tweeting. But it seems that the Day of Silence blog beat me to the post:

On Friday the 17th
On the Day of Silence tweet about it as much as possible.

Important: If you are a student in middle or high school, make sure you only tweet during times that your school permits. Tweet in the morning before school starts, at lunch, and especially after school.

If you can’t tweet any other time, plan to tweet within one hour after classes end. We hope that will create a rolling, growing Twitter movement from the East to the West coast as schools close for the day. Students in Alaska and Hawaii, join in when you can. And if you live outside the U.S. you can be a part too.

Tweet topics
Tweet what you’re doing for DOS. Tweet how many students are participating at your school. Tweet the different ways you’re getting support. Tweet if you’re holding a Breaking the Silence event. Tweet about how many buttons you’re wearing. Tweet about the reactions of your classmates.

Basically, if it has to do with DOS, tweet it in the days leading up to Friday.

Tagging your tweets
Don’t forget to mention DOS (@dayofsilence) by using the “@” or “#” tags. For general Twitter info, click here. (Now you can use the “@dayofsilence” anywhere in your tweet, not just at the beginning.) More about this tag, click here.

Follow Friday
April 17th is a Friday, so you can also tag your tweets: #followfriday. That’s a great way to recommend to other Twitter users who to follow. Find out about Follow Friday here and here.

*wipes forehead* Thank god!!!! I can Twitter!

Checking out my schedule for the day, I think I can handle it. The DOS people are clear on this: participate when you can, how you can, and as best you can. So, for example, I have to work until 6am Friday morning -- that's ok, I can talk, because it's my job. I've been tapped to lead the finals review for my nursing class -- that's ok, I can talk, because other people are relying on me. Other than that, though, I'm quiet as a church mouth mouse and I'm twittering away fiercely all day! (Although I'm also going to exempt time for two other things: planning for that night's show and any sort of finals review that goes on, since it is the last day of class before finals week. You'll all understand, right?)

And, then, at the Oxford Drag Show, we break the silence!!! WHOO HOO!!! That's sounds like a pretty freakin' rockin' day!

I'm printing off my cards -- I'm shooting for 100 of them -- and I'll be adding my button here on this blog to show that I'll be participating. Get ready to have lots of twitter updates throughout the day (make sure you add the hashtag #dayofsilence to all of your tweets that day, and make sure you follow me, my coblogger Cody whom I am going to force to participate, and Day of Silence Twitter), and I'll have a blog post the next day with my experiences.

Who's with me on this?

Oh, and huge props out to the DOS people and GLSEN... you got it right! Not only is there a blog that we can follow (blogrolled now), but you've got a Twitter that's active -- including a suggested hashtag -- and you have buttons we can add to our blogs! That's what we call using social media for a good cause! Well done!!! I've always been a huge supporter of GLSEN and their work, but this really goes above and beyond.

Know Theatre Announces LGBT Theatre Series

In wake of the demise of the New Stage Collective -- something that I still see as one of the great losses to the city out of the economic recession -- the Know Theatre has announced its "ambitious" 2009-2010 series... including the creation of an LGBT Theatre Series.

From the Enquirer:

Know Theatre is in the early planning stages of a biennial, national LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) theatre festival, with events scheduled during the run of "Angels in America."

Bruffy says the closing of Columbus' LGBT performing arts festival, which went dark two years ago, gave Know management the idea of "filling the void."

Bruffy says Know will meet with leaders in the LGBT community later this month to assemble a steering committee to help define the parameters and style of the festival.

He adds that Know will reach out to local troupes like Cincinnati Men's Chorus and MUSE, and put out a national call inviting artists with performances and productions in the realm of LGBT themed works, pending funding.

"Know Theatre is known for giving voice to a diverse spectrum of performers and audiences," Bruffy says. "It is entirely in our mission, and we feel a sense of duty toward giving this community a chance to express themselves and be entertained by a festival created for LGBT works."

The 2009-2010 series will also include a showing (possibly the first professional regional premiere of) Angels in America, which was recently shown here in town by the Xavier Players.

As of right now, there has been no announcement about what will be part of the LGBT Theatre series, but you better believe I've got an email into them to ask for more information -- how exciting!!! I don't know if OUTReels is still around (Cincinnati's LGBT movie festival -- another email to write!), but I definitely think having both in town will be great. Any opportunity to showcase the amazing talents and new views on the queer experience is a great boon for this city.

Thanks to @KnowTheatre for the heads up on Twitter!!!!

The Know is also currently showing Vigils, which is a show I meant to go see but ended up getting called into work for. I haven't had a chance to look into reviews, but, if I get a chance to go, I'll be sure to keep you updated!!! Check out their webpage for more information -- and check out their YouTube preview of the show! If you would like free tickets, their Twitterite has announced that they are hosting a free giveaway contest. Click here for "the rules." :-)

An Open Letter to Amazon.com

Dear Amazon.com and company president, Jeff Bezos:

I first heard about your company in high school, but it was not until I got to college at Miami University (Oxford, OH) that I ever visited your site. My hometown -- Mt. Pleasant, SC (outside of Charleston) -- did not have a huge bookstore, just a few minor local ones. The closest, Books-A-Million, was almost impossibly far away for a kid who did not learn to drive until he was 19. During my senior year of high school, Barnes & Noble opened up closer to my home and just down the strip from where I had gotten a job. At the time, I was still not out to my family (but was to everyone else), had not ever visited a gay bar, and had almost no connections to the LGBTQ community in my town.

When I came to Ohio and "landed" in Oxford, though I was thrilled by the greater opportunities presented to me as a gay man, one thing still lacked: access to a reliable bookstore with a large LGBT section. I had spent my summer on the floor of the local B&N in the LGBT Section reading but had not ever bothered to purchase anything. Ironically, perhaps, considering the shit storm unleashed upon you this weekend, the first things I read about were Harvey Milk. So, naturally, my first searches on Amazon.com when I got my account? Harvey Milk.

Granted, I am not the most dedicated Amazon.com purchaser. In fact, since I voluntarily surrendered my credit cards a year ago, I don't think I've even bothered to search your site simply because the appeal is too great.

This weekend, the LGBTQ community -- specifically the Twitterverse (my Twitter, Cody's Twitter, Penny's Twitter) -- has been in an uproar over the great #AmazonFAIL of 2009. I don't know the story well; I barely know how it all started (though there are many great blogposts detailing it, like this one, or this one). It appears that the automated rubric you use to judge offensive content is slowly but surely knocking books with LGBTQ-positive characters and/or themes off your searches -- a process known as "deranking" as unranked books are not made available in general searches -- whereas other books that are harmful to LGBTQ individuals remain on the list (searching for "homosexuality" this evening at 2247 turns up the following titles in your top ten search: A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality (#1), 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Homosexuality (by a member of Focus on the Family, #2) Can Homosexuality Be Healed (#8), and Coming Out of Homosexuality (#9). To your credit, that list also includes many books that are positive (What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality (#4) and Homosexuality and Civilization (#5)), but how long before your system shuts those down? And what about those top two choices, seriously? Meanwhile, other books -- like Nathaniel Frank's book on LGBTQ individuals in the miltary, Unfriendly Fire -- get deranked and considered offensive? *

OK -- so you've said it's a glitch. I'm tempted to believe it. In fact, there is a great theory out there that this is a Bantown event -- an internet move where a third party (here, fundamentalists) pit an activist community (LGBTQ) folks against another group (here, a business) in an attempt to cause general mayhem for you and for us. It's been done before. I'm really, really tempted to believe that because of the timing (over a weekend, on a holiday, meaning that you would have a skeleton staff). And I really, really hope that you move quickly and assuredly to fix it.

I needed Amazon.com, when I was coming into my own in Oxford. I needed to know that we existed, and I needed to see the titles and become exposed to the literature, and the movies, and everything. A young queer kid in Oxford, with no access to a bookstore except the one provided by the college, needed Amazon.com. So, if this isn't a glitch, I'm disappointed. If this isn't a glitch, I will cancel my account. If this isn't a glitch, then I will sign the petition.

But I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, for now, and see what happens tomorrow, or perhaps the next day. You've got to remember, as my friend Dan M. points out, "Amazon is so crucial to the publishing industry at this point that they really, really have to be top-notch at this sort of stuff." In short: you've got to be better, and you've got to try harder. You can't have these glitches, it's not enough for the biggest bookseller in the world to make that kind of excuse. It's simply not enough, especially when you still have content like Playboy: the Complete Centerfolds ranked.

If it's not a glitch -- and there are some indications this may have been going back as far as February, but they may be isolated incidences -- and the best a kid searching for the first word that comes to their head -- homosexuality -- comes up with are books about preventing or curing them...

...well, then you deserve the shitstorm you've created. And you will be hearing from me, either way.

Sincerely,

Barry Floore
Amazon.com Member since 2000

*Since I first did the search, the list has changed up a bit -- now adding You don't have to be gay as #2, but a book by Bishop Gene Robinson as #3 (if you do a search, there is a different #2, actually, where you can subdivide your search between Fiction and Non-Fiction... I'm not counting that in my calculations).

Also, somewhat ironically to add to my readers: Apparently, Amazon.com was in a lawsuit a few years ago over its name, which it seems to be a copyright infringement of a feminist coop bookstore in Minnesota. Thanks to @gendercrash for the heads up!

AfterEllen.com has a great write-up, btw, that you should check out -- what is our cultural currency on homosexuality?

IDAHO CHALLENGE

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Light a Candle for Angie

This is making the rounds in the Twitterverse -- for good reason, I think!!! -- as well as the blogosphere -- also for good reason!!!

From AngieZapata.com:

Angie Zapata was brutally murdered in Greeley, Colorado in July 2008. Angie was a transgender woman and she was murdered because of anti-transgender bias.

On April 14, 2009, her alleged killer will go on trial in Greeley, Colorado. The trial marks the first time that Colorado’s gender identity-inclusive hate crimes statute—and in fact any state’s hate crimes law—has been applied in the investigation and prosecution of an anti-transgender murder case.

The tragic circumstances of Angie’s death gives Coloradans an opportunity to better understand Angie’s life and the lives of transgender people. It offers a chance to talk about the importance of Colorado’s hate crime law. And it highlights the need to stop excluding people from the protections of a federal hate crimes law simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

If you check out my Facebook profile, you'll note that I have lit a candle for Angie on my profile. I think you should, too, and become a fan of the movement on Facebook.

Is this the first time a trans or queer person has been murdered because of who they were? No. Is it going to be the last? No. But, aren't we tired of the violence? I am never sure the value of activism by teh interwebs -- we'll call it "keyboard activism" -- but I'll say this: over the last 6 months, I have heard more about us in the mainstream media than I ever have before. And I think that even something as simple as changing your profile picture on Facebook can yield amazing results, sometimes.

Oh, and Jamie at Stuff Queer People Need to Know reminds us that victims of violence are not always just the people who are physically attacked.

Let Us Pee

Found a neat blog somewhere due to the Twitterverse. Let Us Pee, tales of people who, because of their gender or sexuality, have been harassed in a public restroom.

For example:

I've been sexually harassed by a woman in the female toilets when (and this was pretty much verified by later events) she read me as trans, and apparently thought it was appropriate to walk up to me, introduce herself, and suddenly grope my breasts.

I have to admit that the bathroom issue is something I'm not as familiar about, and one that I'm trying my damnedest to learn about. I will say, though, I prefer single occupancy bathrooms regardless...

UC GAY STUFF: Follow UC's Queer Center on Twitter!

Shameless plug of the day!

The UC LGBTQ Center now has its own Twitter thanks to me, Jack Theurling and my friend Mary Beth!

Stalk the crap outta us!!!

www.twitter.com/queercenter

Me:
www.twitter.com/QCseeker

Mary Beth:
www.twitter.com/pharmkid26

And on a side note: The UC Rally for a Full-Time Staff Person was a decent success. Considering it was as-cold-as-a-corpse's-balls outside we had a good turnout! And front page in the NewsRecord (I'm on the front page again... geeeezus!) but without an article (just a big-ass photo of JAC Stringer and a small blurb... And most of the focus was on JAC's p!nk hair...)

Later lovelies!!!

-Cody
The Seeker

Barry's note: Sorry, Cody, wanted to throw this out there! Make sure you check out the media round up at Stuff Queer People Need to Know for a lot of great follow up to yesterday's UC Rally!

"I'm talking about my penis, people..."

This was just a cute little Vlog that @LilCav68 posted on Twitter. I had to repost because it made me giggle.

A little fun for your day.

WCPO Coverage of Hate Crime

This is a continuation of the ongoing coverage of the UC Hate Crime that, apparently, was going to be swept quietly under the rug in the city. Let's keep this going shall we. (Protest Post 3/18, Follow Up 3/17, Original Post 3/16). And we will have a twitter feed of the event as it happens including TwitPics as we can get them going from various people -- follow me on Twitter for tomorrow's protest live coverage.

Finally! A news source has picked up the story, here on WCPO:

Police at the University of Cincinnati believe a recent attack near the campus happened because one of the victims is gay.

Police say two people were attacked on March 6 along Clifton Avenue.

Police say one of the victims knew one of the suspects, who attacked both of them when he found out one of them is gay.

Police are still looking for three suspects.

...which is strange, because we don't know who these three suspects are. Anyways, here's the (brief) news story on video, I hope it works this time :-):

As yet, no other news.

My bad, this is the text from WLWT that appeared on the news on 3/11 on the 5:30pm news that never had any online follow up:

A 19 YEAR OLD MAN...
IN COURT TODAY...
ACCUSED OF ATTACKING A MAN BECAUSE HE'S GAY.
ETHAN
KIRKWOOD...
IS FACING TWO COUNTS OF FELONY ASSAULT FOR THE BEATING THAT HAPPENED ON CLIFTON AVENUE LAST WEEK.
POLICE SAY
KIRKWOOD ALSO BEAT UP A FRIEND OF THE VICTIM WHO TRIED TO DEFEND HIM.

So two news stories so far? I'll be curious to see if we hear anything today about the protests.

How the Gays Could Save Us

Via @NiteStar, via @gaysdotcom...

From the Huffington Post:

I've got a simple, cost-free proposal for stimulating the economy: legalize gay marriage.

Forget your politics. Shelve your bigotry. Just listen to the numbers....

The average American wedding costs $20,000. The number of gay couples living together without the benefit of marriage is estimated at 3 million. Using those numbers, same-sex marriages could pump an estimated additional $60 billion in revenue into our ailing economy. That doesn't even include money from the pre-wedding parties, honeymoons, or wedding registries. (Pottery Barn is going to love this post...) I suspect that gay marriage would be celebrated with the same outrageous excess as heterosexual unions. Not that everyone can afford a wedding like Ellen Degeneres and Portia DeRossi's elaborate celebration...but even some vows at city hall followed by a nice dinner with friends would help more than a $300 tax rebate. In fact, that $60 billion in revenue is all taxable!

I've always thought the economic argument was a bit of a fallacious one (a fellatio one?). I really don't believe that gay marriage will "save" the economy.

That said, I have several friends in the wedding industry who would really benefit from a huge boost to their own little economy. But, those who are going to have weddings, will probably already have them regardless of whether it's legal or not.

Sure, Massachusetts benefited (and Connecticut may be right now, too), but that's because of the novelty... not because gay marriage will save the economy.

Also on HuffPo: a debate between Harvey Fierstein and Ryan J. Davis on coopting the black civil rights movement for the purposes of gay marriage -- well, sort of -- it's more about slavery, which is a touchier subject, I understand.