Giving Heads...Up!

Hello lovely and fabulous family!

I know that my blogs here are sometimes few and far between, but I thought I'd give you all a little heads up!

Your Juliet, who normally strays from confrontation, is currently working on a blog that is sure to mix emotions and maybe even stir up a little controversy. We all love that right? Well, keep that in mind when I post the newest Juliet blog. :-)

I'm hoping to have this posted this weekend. I just wanted to let everyone know because it WILL ruffle some feathers. I mean no disrespect to anyone, especially those who may feel this is directed at them...I assure you it isn't. Also, this opinion piece is strictly based on my own research and opinion and is not nessasarily the opinion of http://www.queercincinnati.com/. Just putting it out there.


So, keep coming back here and checking to see if its posted! You won't wanna miss it and I'm sure you'll have an opinion on it yourself.

See you soon!

Juliet

Coming Out for Your Entertainment?

The newest trans-media craze has hit. A semi-celebrity, who I am not naming, has come out as trans and announced his transition. Clearly the announcement was made to circumvent a mass-media fest. In his announcement he also specifically requested privacy. Of course he’s not getting it. Who’s surprised?

I realize the media sensationalizes the most minimal things for entertainment. That said, I have found particular attention is paid to queer and trans concerns. The media either crucifies the person or tries to highlight how amazingly normal the person is (in effort to be supportive to the poor, gay soul). Who would ever think a queer person could be well-adjusted? Holy heterosexist, Batman!

In the case of this person coming out, some news articles have been surprisingly well written and mostly focused on actual trans issues. However, the majority are full of the expected trans-ignorant language like using the wrong pronoun and terms like “gender switching/swapping,” “Girl Boy,” “she/ he,” “it,” and my favorite-“wow.”

A person's coming out story should not be a opportunity for public commentary and fascination, as if the person were growing a new limb. Being trans doesn’t make you magic. Believe me I wish it did, but it doesn’t. Yes, it is hard to come out and it is hard to transition. Yes, we are a greatly ignored population and there is little education about us. That doesn’t give anyone the right to turn us into a spectacle.

There is public habit of making representatives out of people just because they are different. There is no consent in this iconization, only the assumption that if you are different you must want to be talked about. So often marginalized populations are labeled, boxed, and then expected to present their experience for the sake of “educating” others. What people want isn’t education, its entertainment. When someone finds out I’m trans they don’t want to discuss gender theory with me. They want to know what my body looks like, how I have sex, and if I’ve had “the surgery.” They want to hear about how depressing my life is so they can feel like a supporter when they tell me how brave I am.

The reality is that I’m no braver than anyone else. I think that we all are brave for surviving in this fucked up world, queer or not. People need to look past the labels and see the person behind it. Sensationalizing those who are different is a form of societal oppression.

-JAC
Midwest GenderQueer
x-posted midwestgenderqueer.com

One Penny's Worth - 06.17.09

It was a FANTASTIC Gay Pride Weekend in Cincinnati that Kicked off for us @ Old Street Saloon! The Quasi and Friends show was really awesome as we were also celebrating Mair’s Birthday! And let me tell you – EVERYONE celebrated!! Me, Quasi and Monica gave the gays and the Soccer Mom’s a great show and Booshee made sure they drank the house out of flavored Vodka! LOL It really was a fun show – second Friday of every month.

Then Saturday, we had a little time to relax during the day. While Quasi was running over to host the Pride Festivities in Hoffner Park, Will and I headed up for a nice gay trip to IKEA. What could be more gay? Meatballs for lunch and some gay pride IKEA shopping!

Then it was off to Adonis for the big night of Celebrating Pride. Miss Adonis 2008, Leah Halston, Monica St. James, Mirage Love, Quasi and me – giving the gays all we could! EVERYONE was out Saturday night! It was nice to see Darlene Love again (we drive by her house nearly every day, but fail to stop for some reason! LOL). The new platform on the dancefloor has gotten rave reviews and the gays were DANCING!!! Big Kudos to DJPatrickB

We wrapped up Saturday night a touch early (2am) and headed off to bed because Sunday was gonna come earlier than my usual waking up time….HAPPY GAY PRIDE PARADE!!! So, up ealy on Sunday, makeup and crazy gay pride outfit on – in the car – heading over to host the gay pride parade in northside. Brad and John over at Bronze were nice enough to set up the whole sound system and “bandstand” for me to scream from. I’m sure I didn’t keep my language as PC as they would have liked – but I DID have a good time! LOL AND – even got a nice review from the Examiner! Here’s the link http://bit.ly/e4lHr

The rain held off until just moments after the last float passed by – thank you Universe (wink). And everyone scurried inside one establishment or another to continue their celebrating. It was an awesome parade and in incredible turnout. I have plenty of photos to post and I’ll get them up soon

Monday we headed down to the All American Goddess Pageant in Lexington, KY…you thought the weekend was over??? LOL…NOT YET! We had many friends competing and it was great to see everyone! It was a really good pageant with a ton of big names entering. I did my best to keep the gays on CarrieFairfield updated - and my thumbs were worn out from texting! Candi Stratton captured the title and the crown (and the sweet prize package)! Congratulations to all the gals who made their way down to KY and keep your eyes on AAG for next year…I hear even more big things are coming.

NOW – THIS WEEK!!!!

- I’ll be at Score Bar on Friday night because of my dear friends Tim and Brian hooking a sister up! Come join us for some Columbus Gay Pride Celebrations - Then on Saturday I’ll be in the back of a pick-up truck heading down the street in the Gay Pride Parade with Brent Fabian representing Miss and Mr Ohio Gay Pride. - THEN – I’ll be with Nina and Alexis and Virginia and every other Drag Queen within a 500 mile radius for Drag-A-Palooza in the parking lot behind Axis starting at 8pm! - BUT WAIT – THEN I’m off to the Stars of Pride Show at SomeWhere Else for the show @ 11p with Brent Fabian and a bunch of my Pride Sisters and Brothers…. AND THEN!!!! LOL – Baton Rouge is on Sunday…we are gonna have one hell of a weekend!!!!

HUGE SHOUTOUT and special thanks to Beverly Ford and Nina West for figuring out our accommodations for Friday Night….You gays are nicer than I could have ever thought two gays could be. Thanks for everything and we’ll see you on Friday night!



WHERE IN THE WORLD IS PENNY TRATION????
What to do if you're bored and are looking for a little Penny Tration - LOOK NO FURTHER! My Compete calendar is on Myspace - if we're not already friends on MySpace or Facebook - Look me up on twitter! (smile)

June 19 - Score Bar - Columbus, OH
June 20 - Axis with Nina West - Columbus, OH
June 20 - Columbus Gay Pride Parade
June 20 - Stars of Pride Show @ SWE - Columbus, OH
June 21 - Baton Rouge - Columbus, OH
June 26 - Below Zero, Cincinnati, OH
June 27 - Anniversary of Stonewall Celebration - Adonis - Cincinnati, OH
- Get your tickets by emailing Ed at EBCINCY@AOL.COM
July 9 - Indiana USofA @ Large - Talbott Street - Indianapolis, IN
July 10 - Quasi and Friends show @ Old Street
July 12 - Cleveland Gay Pride Pageant
July 17 - Interbelt Night Club - Akron, OH
July 31 - Below Zero, Cincinnati, OH
August 7 - ShowGurl Gay Pride



The Find Fred Story
In 2008 while the GLBT community & FINDFRED founders were fighting the Prop 8 battle and turning key states like Ohio blue to protect our rights, the country's largest m4m website (Manhunt) co-founder was contributing to McCain's campaign and the Republican Party. A party that for the past 8 years has worked to write discrimination into our laws, often successfully. Thus, FINDFRED.COM was born. We want the GLBT community to sleep safe knowing that a company they support is fighting FOR GLBT equal rights. FindFred will commit a minimum of 10% of profits towards grants and investments for GLBT charities, equal rights and community causes.
FULL ARTICLE ON MCCAIN DONATION http://www.towleroad.com/2008/08/mccain-takes-23.html
FindFred is start of the next generation of m4m websites. FINDFRED is focued on design, simplicity and features that will revolutionize the industry, including the first MATCH feature specifically designed for gay males. FindFred Launched on May 1, 2009 to Reserve A Screen Name (use PromoCode: PENNY).





--
Penny Tration - The Ugliest Drag Queen in Captivity
dqpenny@gmail.com - www.dqpenny.com


Reserve Your Screen Name Now at www.findfred.com - Use Promo Code: Penny - I promise you're gonna love this!

Wanna see my twats? Follow me on Twitter - Search Penny Tration






NEW quote of the century -
"Love is the answer - no matter the question." Ms. Frazier

From Ragtime, "Your Daddy's Son"

It's shockingly difficult to find a good copy of this on YouTube, but it's one of the most amazing songs ever from Broadway. And she sings it beautifully...

...especially when she breaks into her home accent and you're like, "Whoa!"

Healthy is for the Wealthy

“…What do the young know or care about health insurance?”

According to conservative columnist Michael Barone young people have “the fewest medical problems of the whole population.” Clearly this guy hasn’t talked to me. I’m one of the millions of young people carrying the permanent label “sick-for-life.”

I’ve been in and out of doctors offices and hospitals for as long as I can remember. As a kid I was lucky enough to have health care through my parents plan, but I still understood my treatment had a cost. My parents voices still echo in my head: “Without insurance we’ll go bankrupt. We’re not going to just let you die.”

As I got older, the expectation of losing insurance became a serious pre-occupation with getting insurance. I calculated the costs of the bare-minimum medication I need to get by… It’s over $3,000 a month.

No one should have to be rich to be healthy.

For the rest of my life I have to be sure to have a job with benefits, not just any benefits, good benefits. Some plans don’t cover prescriptions, others don’t cover certain types of doctors or testing. “PRE-EXISTING CONDITION” is a haunting phrase. If you got it when you get there, then its not covered. My condition is pre-existing…

“NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY” is another scary slogan, especially for us genderqueers. If a company doesn’t think your condition is important enough, you don’t get covered. Almost every U.S. insurance company considers any gender-related transitional care not medically necessary. We are diagnosed mentally ill and then are incapable of getting “treatment.” Precious few are close enough to a non-profit informed-consent based clinic, the rest pay hundreds to thousands of dollars out of pocket. I drive to Chicago: five hours there, five hours back.

The power that the medical institution has over us is sickening. I am dependent on other people’s decisions in order to live a close-to-healthy life. Doctors decide if I get treatment, insurance companies decide if I deserve it. Last time I checked this was MY life and MY body. I think I deserve more control than run-around phone calls and piles of paper appeals. Who is sitting on these faceless boards that decide my fate? I doubt if it is anyone who is really on my side because my side costs money. If health care becomes “universal” will the government be on my side? From where I’m standing the record doesn’t look good, but at least it would not be a wealth based system so I would have a better chance.

With all the so-called great minds in the world I can’t believe that no one can think up an accessible health care system that is high-quality, cost effective, and promotes patient autonomy. Anyone who argues against universal health care must have never had face the fear of living in uncontrollable pain or realize the chance of losing their physical ability to function. Someone who is healthy or someone who is wealthy can not possibly fully conceive what it feels like, which makes it an easy concept to ignore. We need comprehensive, universal health care now. I’m sick of waiting for health care and I’m tired of being afraid to lose it.

-JAC
Midwest GenderQueer
x-posted midwestgenderqueer.com

DP Benefits to Federal Employees

Quick note. First of all, there's a lot of yelling about Obama these days -- and I won't say I'm not part of the problem, sometimes, as I've said some negative stuff in the past few weeks, but I don't think I'm as angry about it as much as other people. Partly because he's still on our side, and I still believe in him... in a way.

And he can do some things, and it seems he might be starting to. From the NYTimes, via a new Blogger friend and soon to be blogrolled at Columbus Gay Realtor:

President Obama will sign a presidential memorandum Wednesday to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, administration officials said Tuesday evening, but he will stop short of pledging full health insurance benefits.

Mr. Obama is expected to announce, in the Oval Office, the details about which benefits would be provided. It is the highest-profile statement he has made on gay issues, and it comes as he faces intense criticism from several gay-rights leaders over what they suggest has been a failure to live up to campaign promises in the first months of his presidency.

Mr. Obama will be weighing in for the first time on one of the most sensitive social and political issues of the day: whether the government must provide benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. While he will announce a list of benefits, officials said, they are not expected to include broad health insurance coverage, which could require legislation to achieve.

“Extending benefits to partners of gay federal employees is terrific, but at this point he is under enormous pressure from the gay civil rights community for having promised the moon and done nothing so far,” Richard Socarides, an adviser to the Clinton administration on gay issues, said Tuesday evening. “So more important now is what he says tomorrow about the future for gay people during his presidency.”

So, even though it's not exactly what we're looking for, it is a huge step in our favor. Maybe it will be enough to calm everything down. With all the hullabaloo that's exploded over the blogosphere the last few weeks over the perceived injustices, I am reminded of a scene in Primary Colors when the new primary challenger, Fred Picker, entered the race and everyone is pumped and screaming and shouting and he steps up and says: "You know, maybe we should all just calm down. Maybe we just all need to sit down, take a breath, and stop yelling so much."

I mean, that's not an exact quote, but it's pretty close. Anyways, it's all got me thinking. Maybe this wouldn't happen if we hadn't been yelling... or maybe it would have. Or, maybe there is a plan?

Indianapolis Pride!

Check out Out-With-It-Already's post (and pictures!) on Indianapolis's gay pride, which also happened this weekend! It looks like it was a fabulous event! And, more Cincinnati Pride Pictures are available on resident queer photog's, Rene Micheo's, Facebook and on JereKeys.com.

EHEA, Queer PR Disaster, and Finals Week

It's finals week for me -- eep! -- but it's going well, except that I suddenly realize I have a paper due like tomorrow. Sigh. On the bright side, I officially rocked out ethics -- I have a 99.65% in the class! I know that will shock many in the world.

To sum up what's going on in the blogosphere: the shit hath hitteth the fan, and I advise you to follow what's going on with the Obama response to the Federal DOMA challenge, as the writing seems to liken marriage equality to incest and pedophilia. It even pissed off Joe "They Have a Plan" Solmonese. And then Harry Reid tells us there is no plan for DADT in the Senate. Coupled with a DNC fundraiser that's turning into a PR disaster for the administration... leading up to the creation of a site called ObamasPlanforGayRights.com. Whoa, dude. I've got to think on all this craziness. And I thought the New York Seante was still insane.

We may have the Matthew Shepard Act make it through the Senate today or tomorrow, but only after it got attached to the back of a Tourism Bill. Meanwhile, Washington DC's Board of Elections has rejected the referendum to overturn the out-of-state marriage recognition law passed last month based either on its contradictory purpose to DC's Human Rights Ordinance or because the main sponsor doesn't actually live in DC. Weird and wild.

Oh -- and it seems the National March for Equality on October 10-11 is on, and the permit has been secured. Of course, we have to know how the new Miss California -- taking over since Carrie Prejean was fired for not fulfilling her obligations -- feels on gay marriage. She doesn't like it, but she says, "I don't think I have the right or anybody has the right to tell somebody who they can or can't love." See? Was that so hard?

And, finally in national news, after we heard that the US Conference of Mayors would be voting on an equality resolution ... the body passed the resolution, supporting everything from Employment Non-Discrimination Act to, yes kids, Marriage Equality! WHOOHOO!! (Click here for a complete list of all Passed Proposals -- this one is Resolution #46) No word on whether Mayor Mallory voted for it.

The main thrust of this post is to give you a heads up on the Equal Housing and Employment Act from Equality Ohio, via email:

Finally, a state legislative body in Ohio is going to vote on a pro-equality issue! Tomorrow will be the first time a vote has ever been take in either the House or Senate on a bill that supports LGBT people and our families, rather than does them harm.

We know after three weeks of testimony, some of it compelling, some of it down right odd, that the committee members have been presented strong reasons to pass House Bill 176. We know we have a number of allies on the committee. We also know we have a number of people who are struggling to decide which way they will vote.

We have been told that those who oppose this bill are currently heating up the committee members' phones, potentially weakening their resolve to vote YES.

WE MUST CONTACT THEM AS WELL TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE YES.

Please take a moment right now to contact our primary targets on the Ohio House of Representatives State Government Committee. We believe these individuals are still considering their vote and could be swayed either way. Please call or email them and urge them to vote yes on HB 176 tomorrow.

Rep. Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City): (614) 466-9690 district23@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Cliff Hite (R-Findlay): (614) 466-3819 district76@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. David T. Daniels (R-Greenfield): (614) 466-3506 district86@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Gerald L. Stebelton (R-Lancaster): (614) 466-8100 district05@ohr.state.oh.us


The following 2 committee members are unlikely to vote yes; however, we should never give up hope. Please call or email them and ask them to give thought and consideration to protecting all Ohioans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Rep. John Adams (R-Sidney): (614) 466-1507 district78@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Dave Hall (R-Killbuck): (614) 466-2994 district97@ohr.state.oh.us

And finally, please call or email the following committee members who are either sponsors or have said they will vote yes and thank them for their on-going support for HB 176:

Chairperson Ronald Gerberry (D-Austintown) (614) 466-6107 district59@ohr.state.oh.us

Vice Chairperson Matt Lundy (D-Elyria) (614) 644-5076 district57@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Dale Mallory (D-Cincinnati): (614) 466-1645 district32@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Dan Stewart (D-Columbus): (614) 466-1896 district25@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron): (614) 466-3100 district44@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Brian G. Williams (D-Akron): (614) 644-5085 district41@ohr.state.oh.us

DoWhatsRightOhio.com has posted the opponent testimony to the bill -- including a bizarre one from Concerned Women of America that actually argues that the bill creates discrimination. Something about discriminating against people who believe in traditional values? I don't get it either.

See, nothing going on while I'm just being a mild mannered student trying to make it through my summer term.

I promise, starting next week, I'll be back with my over abundance of postings... just make sure you keep your eyes open tomorrow. I will post about the EHEA the minute I hear. I promise.

Oh, and, finally, I have it on good source that a window at the New Spirit MCC on Hamilton Avenue was broken during Pride, possibly during that time when I and so many others were locked into the Serpent. So that rumor is true, but there's no guarantee that the two incidents -- the broken window and the alleged fighting -- are connected. I have an email out, but have heard nothing official yet.

Pride, Round 3, from Cody (quick update)

Hello all my lovely squealers! (OMG did I just really say that...?)

So Cincy Pride '09 was my first Pride ever, and boy did I jump in the deep end (I know, what's new...)!
I managed to go completely insane and volunteer Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I got the shit burned out of my face, but the farmer's tan came back on my arms thankfully... I had a great time workin with the planning folk (props to Bill, Adam, Jana, Nate, Mother, Hollenbeck, Rusty, and everyone else who volunteered and organized) and even though it was hellish (who knew it monsooned in Hell?) and we ran around like chickens with our heads cut off half the time, it worked! I look forward to doing it again next year actually (yes, I'm that damn insane).

I'd also like to say thanks to those folks who stopped by the dunking booth and launched myself, my friend Mary Beth, and our friends Chris, Alex, and the hot rainbow-haired twink-whose-name-I-didn't-catch into the tank to raise some more money for the Gay and Lesbian Center of Cincinnati. (see Barry's photo(s) of me being dunked).

The final bit of my weekend was the most fulfilling: My name, "The Seeker" finally yielded some results and I happened across Alex, our dunking booth friend, whom ended up taking me back to his hotel room for a wonderful night of fun. Best part is, I think there's more to come with this cutie too! (That's right Barry, be jealous, and no, you can't have him for one night... lol)

Alright lovelies, I'm all squealed out for now. The sun's radiation poisoning has made me slightly ill. Have fun sweethearts!
And kisses to the lovely Alex!

-Cody
The Seeker

And now for round 2...

Jeez. I can't believe we're already talking about this, but here it is folks. The official poster for Pride Night at King's Island in September. And, actually, the design is pretty hot. Information on Equinox coming soon, too. Too much queer for now, though.

First Final Thought on Pride

Probably not final final, but you get the idea...

You know it's a WIN weekend when an angry mother emails you saying: "Are you aware there's a picture of you kissing my son on his page?"

Fabulous.

A few things also:

• At the Serpent last night, the bartender came over the intercom announcing that we were being locked in due to some bad shit happening on Hamilton Avenue. Rumors were flying. Best I can tell, sorting through, there was a fight (truth), cops were arresting people (truth), possibly arresting anyone on the street for about thirty minutes (half-truth), maybe a window got broken (rumor -- couldn't find the broken window), all the bars were advising people to stay inside (possible half-truth), and telling people that they COULDN'T leave made them want to leave anymore ("well, they can't tell me what to do!" -- queens! truth). Again, I cannot find any details other than what I experienced, but rumors were flying faster that queers to the barstools.
• Check out the pictures from Metromix -- are you on there?
• Apparently there's a "Cincinnati gay relationships examiner" over at Examiner.com (a lot of new bloggers over there!). He gives the whole experience a thumbs up; I do, too, but you know I've got something coming about my take. I had an interesting debrief this morning about the whole Pride thing; as we were talking, my first thought was, "I need to blog this!" But I'm tired.
• Oh, and I'm hungover. I'm going to bed. Kisses!

How was YOUR pride? Did you squeal?

Oh! And my flickr stream is up and running! WHOOHOO! Click on the image below to check out 76 of the better pictures I had!


And don't forget my Facebook pictures and the Twitpics from yesterday!

My Pride So Far

It's been an insane day. I told a whole bunch of people that I felt like I was chasing people all day, following tweets and texts and phone calls, going here and there to catch someone for a drink. After waking up hungover from a great night out last night at Adonis, I stumbled on down to the parade. Wasn't bad. I'm working on pictures on my Facebook and in my Flickr stream and my Twitpic stream. Lots of pictures. These are just the five best.

It's taking a long time, folks, so I apologize.

Pride So Far

ZOMG I WOKE UP LATE FOR THE PARADE. I'm waiting on my taxi. But here's a picture telling you what my Pride has been like so far. Thought you might find it amusing. :-)

Oh goodness, RAC is going to have me for that one. LOL

Les Mis vs. Wicked

I didn't post today, nobody did... So I thought I'd squeeze one in before the day ended.

Les Miserables was the first musical I ever saw -- in fact, my mother took me because she got a free ticket from a friend, and I fell in love. It's amazing. Here's the original Les Mis version of I Dreamed a Dream... not by Susan Boyle.

And to show you just how much I've grown up, in relation to my musicals taste, here's the song I listen to need now when I need something to lift me up, from Wicked:

Just a thought, that's all. Happy Pride all!

Vagina Monologues and Pride Weekend

I have to take a little blogger vacation; I have a funeral to attend this weekend and I am not going to have access to a computer. I'll be back on Sunday for the Pride parade, but I will be missing everything up to that point. :-( I'm hoping my contributors will step up to the plate and tell you about all the fabulous things they are doing this weekend!

In the meantime, let me make a recommendation: go see The Vaginal Monologues at Falcon Theatre in Newport. You know, I had never seen it. I have friends that have performed in it; I've even had the opportunity to see it half a dozen times, and even once for its sister performance, The Coochie Chronicles. I finally got to see it last night with Jere.

I am in no way filled with the "vagina wonder" that the play seeks to embolden you with, but it's poignant, at times funny, at times depressing, and the Falcon brings its best quality to the table -- that is, the enthusiasm of the actors. I've said it before, for whatever the performances lack, I can never say that the thespians are uninteresting. Jere has a post up, and, he's right, there are some things you wish were there. Some of the monologues were developed half-heartedly or without the certain power that they need, but the overall effect is there. Unfortunately, Monologuesis the kind of show that lives or dies by the actors ... and, though good in general, the entire piece needs to be played up like the cuntmonologue, or with the quiet dignity of the opening monologue about an elderly lady worried about getting turned on and flooding the world with her wetness.

I left my program at the bar afterwards so I don't know any names, but I wanted to give a shout out to the woman with the purple velvet-y shirt on who does the monologue about going to the vagina workshop. You were, undoubtedly, amazing. The moaning woman -- the monologue about the dominatrix escort -- deserves its own little special place in Falcon history, if not for the litany of moans from the cast... hopefully no husbands will be in the audience to hear what it sounds like when it is, indeed, faked. And, to the sole woman of color on the cast (which was disappointing), your coochie snorcher monologue was beautiful. And to my lesbian reader (singular, I think :-)), you'll be a little more than excited by Julie Niesen's description of woman-on-woman love... shockingly, I wished it would have gone on longer.

As we left, Jere asked me: I wonder how many people who see Monologues actually need to? I suppose I am one of those people that need to see more shows like this -- I can be, at times, mildly misogynistic and perhaps inappropriate when it comes to womankind -- and I would challenge you to take the opportunity to see if, maybe, you are one of those people by checking it out.

Tickets are $15 (online reservations), and I would say you probably get a good $11 or $12 of enjoyment out of it. I think you'll leave glad you went, even if, at times, it drags a bit.

And besides, what better way to spend one of your evenings of Pride? Seriously, folks, it's like the Falcon planned its opening to correspond.

Anyways, sorry I won't see you guys out this weekend :-(, but catch you at the parade!

US Condemns Anti-Gay Violence in Iraq

It's a start, I suppose. It's not "we're out there stopping it from happening," but nice to know the government is aware of the problem, right?

From the Times of India:

"In general, we absolutely condemn acts of violence and human rights violations committed against individuals in Iraq because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.

"This is an issue that we've been following very closely since we have been made aware of these allegations, and we are aware of the allegations," Kelly told reporters when asked about anti-gay violence in Iraq.

"Our training for Iraqi security forces includes instruction on the proper observance of human rights," Kelly said.

"Human rights training is also a very important part of our and other international donors' civilian capacity-building efforts in Iraq," the spokesman said.

"And the US embassy in Baghdad has raised, and will continue to raise, the issue with senior officials from the government of Iraq, and has urged them to respond appropriately to all credible reports of violence against gay and lesbian Iraqis," Kelly said.

The US Government has been under pressure to address the issue of violence against LGBT individuals in Iraq, which has been gaining bloggie- and mainstream news attention for the past several months, especially after the US embassy in Baghdad announced it would be celebrating Pride month.

Again, I'll point this out ... it's the State Department. Hillary Clinton. I know, a lot of people said, when I made this connection before, that it's still Obama's administration and is done at his behest, likely -- but whose name is getting attached to all this? Is it "Obama has directed the State Department" or "White House Press Secretary today said?" No. It's "Hillary Clinton is doing" and "the State Department is saying." Granted, still "Obama administration," but she will come off with the PR win on these little gains, I believe. And Obama doesn't sully his hands with the gays.

2009 U.S. Conference of Mayors

June 12-16th will mark the 77th United States Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting, a conference designed to set and propose and discuss urban and suburban policy amongst many other goals. Mayors from around the country will meet and discuss/vote on over 100 proposals ranging from public transit to green energy and, for the first time (I believe), marriage equality.

Meet Resolution #46, as proposed by Mayors Sam Adams (Portland), David Cicilline (Providence), and Christopher Cabaldon (West Sacramento) (full proposal list here -- warning: big file and PDF format!):

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors endorses the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports marriage equality for same-sex couples, and the recognition and extension of full equal rights to such unions, including family and medical leave, tax equity, and insurance and retirement benefits, and opposes the enshrinement of discrimination in the federal or state constitutions.

It is a strongly wordy pro-LGBTQ proposal from some (maybe not so unexpected) friends from around the country. Now, these proposals, if passed, are not binding and do not require anybody to act on them. Rather, they are just political posturing and statements meant to influence national change. Most of the proposals, in fact, are easy "duh's" -- it's hard to vote against greening streets, improving education, and reducing crime. Very few are really groundbreaking, in fact, which is why this one slipped in is such a surprise, to my mind.

I think it's probably a little more divisive than 95% of those on the list, and I'm curious to know just how many -- and which ones -- will sign on.

And I think it's important to send Mayor Mallory our request that he vote for this proposal, don't you? Considering that this weekend is Cincinnati's Pride, I think it would be especially poignant to have a ringing endorsement of both LGBTQ national policies and marriage equality (though it would have been nice to separate them, as more could sign onto ENDA, I think, than marriage... especially through the South).

Don't know how to get ahold of Mayor Mallory? Simple. Just email him -- mark dot mallory at cincinnati-oh dot gov. (If you can't read anti-spam email addy's, just click here to see it... or say it outloud, it should make sense.)

Pride Week!

I know this is totally and completely nerdy...

And I know I've been kind of critic of the whole process...

And I know Cincinnati's isn't the coolest in the region...

And I kind know what I'm going to expect in terms of stuff happening...

And my siblings will probably be here and staying with me...

...but I have to say, I'm kind of excited Pride is here :-).

In fact, I'm really excited Pride is here.

I mean, aren't you?

Check out the CityBeat article featuring me and Jamie from Stuff Queer People Need to Know and Cameron from IMPACTCincinnati and... etc. etc. etc. And don't forget Wolfie from Back2Stonewall.com's article -- Reason to Rally.

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?

CCV on EHEA

We all know that Citizens for Community Values (CCV) was going to put out stuff against the Equal Housing and Employment Act. On the one hand, CCV is a hate-mongering, viciously anti-LGBTQ (and also anti-porn) fringe conservative group that delights in nothing more than its own continued propagation and the undermining of freedoms. On the other, the EHEA seeks to prohibit discrimination. Hm.

Thanks to James W. of the Ohio Democratic LGBT Caucus, via the Buckeye State Blog, via the Columbus Dispatch, via the CCV website, their action alert is a tasty bit of their usual vitriole:

“Bubbly.” “Caring.” “Everything’s an adventure!” “Loves to learn.”

That’s how everyone had always described 10-year-old Maddie.

And Ellen couldn’t understand why, all of a sudden, her precious first-born had become moody and lifeless. Why day after day she woke up “not feeling like going to school.”

After a conference with Maddie’s teacher, Ellen began to understand. It started in health class, with the required reading of a story about a family with two daddies. When Maddie said that the story made her sad, because God wanted everyone to have a mommy and a daddy, her teacher explained that feelings like that were a form of prejudice, like the way people used to treat slaves. Now all her classmates make fun of her. “Homophobe,” they call her.

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES?

Hardly. Stories similar to these will become commonplace in Ohio if a bill currently under consideration in the Ohio House of Representatives is passed into law.

It has been given the deceptive title, “Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA).” But it has nothing to do with equality.

It is, in fact, about inequality and discrimination – discrimination against employers, property owners and all Ohioans who hold to traditional Judeo-Christian values regarding human sexuality, in order to grant special advantages to a small minority of persons, like Joe, who identify themselves by their “sexual orientation” or “gender identity and expression.”

They even have a picture of sad looking little girl on the website, though they fail to identify whether or not that's Maddie.

Can I just clarify one thing, though? CCV is not Cincinnati based... it's Sharonville based. We all kinda thought that CCV would be quiet, for the most part, because of their involvement in overturning Iowa's marriage law (I have no source, this is just what I heard). 

Today, at the statehouse, the Government subcommittee of the House heard opponent testimony on EHEA; I'll post as soon as an update goes out.