Thursday, September 30, 2010

Tony Curtis in "Some Like It Hot"

He was a great actor and a fine gentleman.  Thought this scene might give you a few smiles.

It's A Rainbow, Stupid Baker, Not Porn!

So the owner of Just Cookies in Indianapolis, IN, apparently feels that "rainbows" = "porn".  The bakery refused to make cupcakes for Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) students last week.  First their excuse was they only do cookies, and when the students asked for rainbow iced cookies, they gave this response, “I explained we're a family-run business, we have two young, impressionable daughters and we thought maybe it was best not do that.” He went on to say,"We have our values, and you know, some things … for instance, if someone wants a cookie with an obscenity, well, we're not going to sell that."

So David Stockton, co-owner of the bakery, apparently believes that he would have to explain to his daughters that rainbows are obscene?  It's a frigging rainbow you jerk!  I believe that in the Bible, God use a rainbow to send a message to Noah.  You sell cookies in various colors, why not rainbow?


The students wanted them for National Coming Out day, now they have gone to a different bakery.  So, Just Cookies perhaps should rename themselves, "Just Cookies Without Any Significance Or Colors That Might Be Construed As Porn"?  Not a very catchy name.

Off to the House of Mouse

Friday, my partner and I will be winging our way to the sunny state of Florida for a pilgrimage to Disney World and the spawn of other attractions in Orlando.  I suspect we will walk our feet off and have a great time not only doing the tourist thing but visiting friends just a few miles away on Palm Coast.

I used to make a haj to Florida each year to visit the parks.  Now that focus has shifted to Fort Lauderdale and my friends at Beyond Leather which is one of my 3 "must" events every year.  I love that event, but it's nice to have a vanilla vacation as well, though I expect I will still find some kinky activities during the week.

Our cats are most likely delighted by our absence.  They will have the house to themselves, with the occasional visits of a delightful pet sitter and friends dropping by to collect the mail and check on the house.  I expect the kitties to be waiting eagerly when we return expecting souvenirs and extra attention.  I wonder if they make mouse ears for cats?

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Another Teen Suicide From Anti-Gay Bullying

No sooner had I published my past post than I see an article about another 13 years old who committed suicide after being bullied for being gay. This time the victim hung himself.  This has to stop.

There are anti-bullying laws winding their ways through state legislatures, but they are being blocked by sanctimonious fundamentalists and right-wing legislators.  Contact your local representative and let them know that protections must be put into place to protect LGBT students!

Bullies Push Student to Suicide

As a child I was the victim of bullying.  I was a different child, prone to wearing my own personal uniform to school (black slacks and white shirts) and hung out with the "bookish" crowd.  I wasn't athletic at all, and pretty much tried to make as few waves as possible.

One day, after being teased and pushed around by a school "jock" in Junior High, I finally snapped.  I began slugging him fast and furious, and though my bad pugilistic style would probably be laughable, it was relentless.  I was finally pulled off him by the assistant coach.  The bully left bloodied and the rest of my classmates who happened to be present looked at me with wide-eyed amazement.  I guess adrenaline can really make you do strange things.

For the lucky part of the story was that I turned the pent up abuse I had suffered at the bully's hands outward and only injured my fists from hitting him so many times.  Had I turned that negative energy inwardly I might have ended up like the 13 year old Texas boy from Cypress.  He ended up committing suicide.

The point of my story is not to compare the gravity of what he faced with my own experience, I can never know the extent of the bullying he withstood before he was driven to taking his own life.  The point is, in both cases the school system should have tried to prevent the behavior that caused the problem.

In my day, bullying was just ignored and we were taught to just "suck it up and take it."  That attitude was as wrong then as it is now.  Schools should be safe places for all children.  Different kids may get singled out by other children, but the bullying must be stopped and the behavior should be deemed unacceptable, not just "part of being a kid".

Part of childhood is indeed coming to terms with the unfairness of the world, but it is the schools job to try to even that field as much as possible and in Cypress, Texas that system failed.  Sad lesson to learn and at such a high cost.  I can only hope the school and the parents of the students will use this sensless death as a wake up call.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Ann Coulter - Idiot or Ideologue?

Saying LGBT people have equal rights to marry since they can marry a member of the opposite sex anytime they want, Ann Coulter sums it all up for you. Is she an idiot or just blinded by ideology. Personally I think she is on crack!

Fresh from her stand-up comedy show at Homocon where she ridiculed the LGBT people who showed up, she debates that "civil rights is only a black issue".  I stand back amazed at the stupidity that passes for commentary in this country.  Why is this woman on TV?