Let me explain. If Anita Bryant hadn't been so virulently anti-gay in her interview with Playboy Magazine the nascent Gay Rights movement might have never taken off. Her bile and hatred, such as calling for 20 year prison sentences for being homosexual gave gay men a rallying point. Her "Save Our Children" activities in Florida did more for gay self-awareness than anyone could have imagined.
That spark ignited a whole generation of activists and this lovely clip shows just how some of them responded. The famous "pie assassination" on national television got cheers in LGBT households across the country. Enjoy!
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Private Security Forces - Terrorists Best PR Tool
Private security forces like Blackwater are the worst diplomatic nightmare our country has ever had. They operate outside the laws of our country and the countries where we have troops stationed and deliver a clear impression of Americans as cavalier and dangerous. In a recent video released by Harper's Magazine Blackwater forces are seen running over civilians in Iraq, crashing civilian cars and threatening the populace for no apparent reason.
The video which was apparently posted by a Blackwater employee features a heavy metal soundtrack and was undoubte3dly considered "cool" by the people who posted it. It is anything but cool.
If our enemies ever wanted a better PR tool to use against the US it's the actions of these paid thugs. We must stop outsourcing security to private companies who are international scofflaws. Watch the rest of the videos here and you'll see these guys firing randomly into traffic and shooting out the windows of passing cars.
This makes me physically sick!
The video which was apparently posted by a Blackwater employee features a heavy metal soundtrack and was undoubte3dly considered "cool" by the people who posted it. It is anything but cool.
If our enemies ever wanted a better PR tool to use against the US it's the actions of these paid thugs. We must stop outsourcing security to private companies who are international scofflaws. Watch the rest of the videos here and you'll see these guys firing randomly into traffic and shooting out the windows of passing cars.
This makes me physically sick!
Monday, April 02, 2012
Turn the Wheel Thelma!
It seems to me like someone riding in the car we call the Republican Party, grabbed the wheel and swung it so far to the right it has careened off the road of mainstream American politics.
Consider this. Back in the days of my childhood, a guy named Barry Goldwater was the Republican nominee for President. He ran against Lyndon Johnson and a lot of people felt he was far too radical and right-wing for the country. He lost the election in an avalanche for Johnson. Barry Goldwater favored a woman’s right to an abortion. Later a Texan named George Bush helped author the Family Planning Act of 1970.
Today, we have Republican candidates not only calling for an end to abortion, but denigrating the idea of birth control completely. Rick Santorum has stated publicly that he feels states have the right to ban contraception. Meanwhile, a Republican governor in Virginia backed the now infamous “trans vaginal ultrasound” bill that forces an invasive procedure some women compare to medical rape.
My concentration on women’s issues in regard to the GOP is intended to give a graphic example of how far right the Republican Party has veered. When it comes to LGBT issues, it’s much worse. Both Romney and Santorum favor a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to “one man one woman”, though Romney does favor certain civil rights for LGBT couples, Santorum compares gay marriage to bestiality.
State GOP platforms make clear just what a conservative government would have in store for LGBT people. Take the infamous Texas 2010 GOP Platform and these chilling words.
The bigger question is what happened to the Republican Party? Well, my suspicion is that back during the Regan Revolution, the GOP made a deal. They saw the nascent “family values” movement within the fundamentalist church as an opportunity for an alliance. The “Moral Majority”, Jerry Falwell’s group was disillusioned with Jimmy Carter’s policies and seemed like a perfect fit to gain support in the conservative South.
This came on the heels of Anita Bryant’s “Save Our Children” publicity and soon the GOP actively sought the involvement of the Far-Right Evangelical movement with notable success. Regan even appointed one of the Moral Majority officers to the Department of Education in 1980.
The point of all this is that the GOP actively sought and entangled themselves with the religious right and now a good deal of Republican policy is being written by those same far-right factions. The deals they made back in the 1970’s and 80’s are coming due.
Though the Moral Majority and Save Our Children are long gone but their influence is still around and they are the folks who are actively making policy and platform decisions. They are decidedly homophobic and as such they are continuing to steer the GOP away from any position that supports LGBT rights.
As we see the primaries grind on, the struggle for control of the car may play out like the finale to Thelma and Louise with the GOP flying over a cliff and never recovering control of what was once a Grand Old Party.
Consider this. Back in the days of my childhood, a guy named Barry Goldwater was the Republican nominee for President. He ran against Lyndon Johnson and a lot of people felt he was far too radical and right-wing for the country. He lost the election in an avalanche for Johnson. Barry Goldwater favored a woman’s right to an abortion. Later a Texan named George Bush helped author the Family Planning Act of 1970.
Today, we have Republican candidates not only calling for an end to abortion, but denigrating the idea of birth control completely. Rick Santorum has stated publicly that he feels states have the right to ban contraception. Meanwhile, a Republican governor in Virginia backed the now infamous “trans vaginal ultrasound” bill that forces an invasive procedure some women compare to medical rape.
My concentration on women’s issues in regard to the GOP is intended to give a graphic example of how far right the Republican Party has veered. When it comes to LGBT issues, it’s much worse. Both Romney and Santorum favor a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to “one man one woman”, though Romney does favor certain civil rights for LGBT couples, Santorum compares gay marriage to bestiality.
State GOP platforms make clear just what a conservative government would have in store for LGBT people. Take the infamous Texas 2010 GOP Platform and these chilling words.
We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We are opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, refuse to recognize, or grant special privileges including, but not limited to: marriage between persons of the same sex (regardless of state of origin), custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirement benefits. We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.
The bigger question is what happened to the Republican Party? Well, my suspicion is that back during the Regan Revolution, the GOP made a deal. They saw the nascent “family values” movement within the fundamentalist church as an opportunity for an alliance. The “Moral Majority”, Jerry Falwell’s group was disillusioned with Jimmy Carter’s policies and seemed like a perfect fit to gain support in the conservative South.
This came on the heels of Anita Bryant’s “Save Our Children” publicity and soon the GOP actively sought the involvement of the Far-Right Evangelical movement with notable success. Regan even appointed one of the Moral Majority officers to the Department of Education in 1980.
The point of all this is that the GOP actively sought and entangled themselves with the religious right and now a good deal of Republican policy is being written by those same far-right factions. The deals they made back in the 1970’s and 80’s are coming due.
Though the Moral Majority and Save Our Children are long gone but their influence is still around and they are the folks who are actively making policy and platform decisions. They are decidedly homophobic and as such they are continuing to steer the GOP away from any position that supports LGBT rights.
As we see the primaries grind on, the struggle for control of the car may play out like the finale to Thelma and Louise with the GOP flying over a cliff and never recovering control of what was once a Grand Old Party.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Synn Wins! Ms Texas Leather Wins International Ms Leather
It was a long grueling weekend for all the contestants in the 26th annual Internatiomal Ms Leather competition in San Francisco this weekend. Each woman gave a speech, answered pop questions before an audience of almost 1000 and went through personal interviews with a distinguished judging panel before performing a live fantasy onstage.
A field of seven contestants were in the competition from points as far as Austrailia and as near as DFW but when the judging was done our own hometown leather dyke, Synn took top honors.
She nailed her speech, talking about the spectrum of leather and her goal to bring a message of queer leather to the community. I understand from someone who was at the interview with the judges that she performed flawlessly and was relaxed and poised. hen came the fantasy, and it was a hit. I have attended a lot of leather contests and never saw an audience spontaneously give a standing ovation to the fantasy. With the help of her co-performers Lillity Grey and Lexa Lusty, Synn brought the house down.
My congratulations to a fine IMsL and a wonderfully butch leathe dyke!
A field of seven contestants were in the competition from points as far as Austrailia and as near as DFW but when the judging was done our own hometown leather dyke, Synn took top honors.
She nailed her speech, talking about the spectrum of leather and her goal to bring a message of queer leather to the community. I understand from someone who was at the interview with the judges that she performed flawlessly and was relaxed and poised. hen came the fantasy, and it was a hit. I have attended a lot of leather contests and never saw an audience spontaneously give a standing ovation to the fantasy. With the help of her co-performers Lillity Grey and Lexa Lusty, Synn brought the house down.
My congratulations to a fine IMsL and a wonderfully butch leathe dyke!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Who is Carson Daily and Why Should I Care What He Says?
When I heard about a homophobic comment from some "personality" named Carson Daily I had no idea who he was. today, when I heard him make a homophobic joke about the recent Jet Blue incident where passengers subdued a crazed pilot and saved the plane I was moved to look him up.
Apparently, he is the host of a show that comes on NBC so late it's only competition is infomercials for gold retrieval schemes. With the exception of his Wikipedia entry, I would never have known who he was. Why is this important?
My suspicion is he has trouble getting publicity and so he has taken the Ann Coulter approach: say bat shit crazy stuff and the press will eat it up.
His latest "joke" was to say that if he had been on the Jet Blue flight, it would have been headed to a pride celebration in San Francisco. To emphasize the "joke" he lisped when he told it.
So here is why you should know who he is. Write NBC and tell them this clown is anything but funny, in fact he is so offensive you will make it a point to avoid any of his sponsors products and more precisely, stop watching late night NBC shows. It's not a boycott, just a statement of fact.
If the geniuses at NBC gets loads of these letters, they will think twice about putting no talent low life scum like Cason DaIily on their network. Wonder how he likes that name calling?
Apparently, he is the host of a show that comes on NBC so late it's only competition is infomercials for gold retrieval schemes. With the exception of his Wikipedia entry, I would never have known who he was. Why is this important?
My suspicion is he has trouble getting publicity and so he has taken the Ann Coulter approach: say bat shit crazy stuff and the press will eat it up.
His latest "joke" was to say that if he had been on the Jet Blue flight, it would have been headed to a pride celebration in San Francisco. To emphasize the "joke" he lisped when he told it.
So here is why you should know who he is. Write NBC and tell them this clown is anything but funny, in fact he is so offensive you will make it a point to avoid any of his sponsors products and more precisely, stop watching late night NBC shows. It's not a boycott, just a statement of fact.
If the geniuses at NBC gets loads of these letters, they will think twice about putting no talent low life scum like Cason DaIily on their network. Wonder how he likes that name calling?
Monday, March 26, 2012
Lighted Wheels for Bicycles - Very Cool!
These new LED lights for your bike wheels are amazing. Work as headlights and safety device. Watch!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Cheney Gets a "New" Heart
I make light of this, but it is serious. The 71 year old Dick Cheney just underwent a heart transplant. He is resting in recovery after the operation. Perhaps now he will have a conscience transplant and he might be a nice guy to know.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Kevin Smith Defends Gay Brother on Piers Morgan
Kevin Smith has directed a few really funny movies and always seemed like a nice guy, and now I really believe that after this clip from Piers Morgan's show.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
European Court Of Human Rights Finds That Same-Sex Marriage Is Not A Human Right
This is absolutely stunning in it's prejudice and short sightedness. Ruling against same-sex marriage the court used as it's basis, "if gay couples are allowed to marry, any church that offers weddings will be guilty of discrimination if it declines to marry same-sex couples."
Once again the sticky subject of marriage being a religious institution gets in the way. When will governments get out of the marriage business and start conducting civil unions for everyone for legal reasons and let churches do the marrying part?
That was a rhetorical question, of course. So far, only a few governments have understood the distinction between religious institutions and civil ones. Until then LGBT people will be officially treated as second-class citizens in Europe and most of the rest of the world. This must be appealed.
Once again the sticky subject of marriage being a religious institution gets in the way. When will governments get out of the marriage business and start conducting civil unions for everyone for legal reasons and let churches do the marrying part?
That was a rhetorical question, of course. So far, only a few governments have understood the distinction between religious institutions and civil ones. Until then LGBT people will be officially treated as second-class citizens in Europe and most of the rest of the world. This must be appealed.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Happy Birthday Bayard Rustin
Today marks his 100th birthday, (Rustin died in 1987)and I believe it is a day both African Americans and LGBT Americans should celebrate. The city of New Orleans has already done just that by declaring today LGBT Civil Rights Equality Awareness Day,
So, if you don't know much about Rustin, take some time to do a little reading and learn more about the man behind the scenes of one of the great social justice movements in American history.
Friday, March 16, 2012
"#ToMyUnbornChild" Hashtag Brings Out The Homicidal Homophobes
The Twitter hashtag #ToMyUnbornChild struck a nerve with a large number of homophobes. The tag was trending with some of the most disgusting tweets I have ever read.
Some of these delightful hate haiku include:
Some of these delightful hate haiku include:
"#ToMyUnbornChild u betta not be gay mi ahh fi kill u"Aside from the obvious grammatical errors, the unbridled hatred here is shocking. My hope is that none of the over 100 hateful tweeters will ever have children, gay or straight, but I fear that may already be just a pipe dream.
"#ToMyUnbornChild I Will Put A Bullet Through Your Skull If You Become Gay..."
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Santorum - "Teleprompters Should Be Illegal"
Of all the brainless comments made by GOP candidates this one takes the cake. Santorum in an attempt to smear his opponents has said he feels teleprompters should be illegal. So that means that every US president since Nixon should have not used teleprompters? Oh please!
In case you didn't know (Luddites and Amish are excused here) a teleprompter is a device which allows a speaker, usually on television to read his speech without looking down at his notes. It allows for better eye contact with viewers and is much easier to read that looking up and down from prepared notes.
Just in case you had no clue, every president, politician and official reads from a prepared speech sometimes. Hell, even Abraham Lincoln read the Gettysburg Address from his notes on the back of an envelope. The ancient art of writing speeches is a time tested way to make sure your words are clear and concise.
I suppose Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum would rather everyone just shoot from the hip, and though most politicians and public figures do that sometimes, when it comes to an important message reading it really assures you will get it right.
So next time you hear someone denigrate the use of the teleprompter, let them know that the great communicator Ronald Regan used them in almost every speech.
Sheesh!
In case you didn't know (Luddites and Amish are excused here) a teleprompter is a device which allows a speaker, usually on television to read his speech without looking down at his notes. It allows for better eye contact with viewers and is much easier to read that looking up and down from prepared notes.
Just in case you had no clue, every president, politician and official reads from a prepared speech sometimes. Hell, even Abraham Lincoln read the Gettysburg Address from his notes on the back of an envelope. The ancient art of writing speeches is a time tested way to make sure your words are clear and concise.
I suppose Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum would rather everyone just shoot from the hip, and though most politicians and public figures do that sometimes, when it comes to an important message reading it really assures you will get it right.
So next time you hear someone denigrate the use of the teleprompter, let them know that the great communicator Ronald Regan used them in almost every speech.
Sheesh!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Santorum Won Alabama and Mississippi, But Romney Still Far Ahead in Delegates
Though the media and the Santorum campaign would have you believe that he swept the south, he only garnered 31 delegates from the two states. Romney got 22 as well as Hawaii and Samoa putting his total at 495 to Santorum's 252. It is hardly a sweep.
Meanwhile Gingrich with 131delegates and Ron Paul with 48 are plugging away hoping to become king makers at the convention. Tampa should be interesting. I think there is a good chance it will be a rowdy event and the final decision may not be reached until the fight on the floor.
Meanwhile Gingrich with 131delegates and Ron Paul with 48 are plugging away hoping to become king makers at the convention. Tampa should be interesting. I think there is a good chance it will be a rowdy event and the final decision may not be reached until the fight on the floor.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Limbaugh in Limbo - All National Ads Pulled
According to reports, Premiere Networks sent a memo to the traffic managers at all its affiliate stations telling them that they were suspending all national advertising for the weeks of March 12 and March 19 on the Rush Limbaugh Show. This will leave the program without any national ads for two weeks.
Limbaugh's controversial comments have resulted in over 150 sponsors specifically questing that their ads not run in the shock-jock's program. One wounds how much longer he can survive on the air with no sponsors?
Limbaugh's controversial comments have resulted in over 150 sponsors specifically questing that their ads not run in the shock-jock's program. One wounds how much longer he can survive on the air with no sponsors?
Friday, March 09, 2012
South Plains and Esprit D'Corp in the same Weekend - So Many Choices
This weekend in Dallas we have two very hot leather events going on at the same time. south Plains Leatherfest, a nationally known BDSM event and Esprit D'Corp the annual run for Discipline Corps, the Dallas Men's Group. so, I have a embarrassment of riches as far as kinky activities this weekend.
More later!
More later!
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Angry Birds in Space - Footage from International Space Station
OK I admit it, I have an Angry Birds console that also gets phone calls. Here is a cute promo video and science explanation from the International Space Station that explains the physics of the new Angry Birds Space.
Mondrian's Birthday
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| Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow |
I have always loved his work and once had a conference room at my office painted with one of his designs. Mondrian was born March 7, 1872 and died in 1944 but his work is as timeless as any classical painter.
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