How Texas Is Trying To De-Gay: Hate And Discriminate

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Oh, my dear Texas... the state where I have my first memories of living in America... What the fuck is wrong with you?! First, you give us G. W. Bush. Fuck you for that. Recently, you decided to raid a gay bar and beat the crap out of, and hospitalize, one of it's patrons. Why? Because they were drinking in public. At a bar… Fuck you for that. Oh, and now you want to kick out The Gays of your restaurants in El Paso because gay acts are supposedly illegal in your state? Well, fuck you VERY much.

Mayhaps you forget that it was Texas that lost the seminal case Lawrence V Texas, and in doing so made it no longer legal to discriminate against the gays for their "acts." Maybe even you forget that in El Paso, as in many, many, many cities, it's illegal to discriminate against people for their sexual orientation in businesses open to the public. Maybe. Or maybe your officers are all just ignorant twits that need to go back to school for a bit of re-education.

"Hi, um, 2009? Yeah, listen… we need a favor. It seems that you, and your brothers before you, kind of forgot to stop by Texas. Yeah, I know it was just an oversight, but seriously dude. Get over there!"

This kind of shit just baffles my mind. How can this continue to happen? I really, honestly don't care one tiny bit about the fact that it happened in Texas. Even more honestly, I could care one iota less that straight people might possibly be feeling uncomfortable with the LGBT folk's progression toward civil justice. I suppose it confuses some of them, so they resort to just about the only thing straight men do well: violence.

So Texas, here's to you being a state full of ignorant dumb fucking breeders. To all the LGBT folk in that state, I'm sorry. I'm more than happy to show you the ropes here in Chicago though! I won't be coming to visit there any time soon though, that's for sure.

Pride Come And Gone

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Another Pride, another rainbow flag. This past weekend was Chicago Gay Pride weekend, featuring the lovely Pride Parade on Sunday. Initially, we were suppose to march in the parade with some friends, but due to some illness (ok… hungoverness…), I wasn't feeling up to snuff, so we initially tried to find a nice place to watch the parade. After that was a complete bust, I convinced my boyfriend to head home with me to get some rest and recover in the hopes of coming out later to party some more. The parade couldn't have been much different than years past in any case, right?

A long nap held me till early afternoon, at which point I was finally feeling better. We decided to turn on some TV while we woke up and were completely surprised when we saw that the parade was being broadcast on TV, and even more so when we realized that it wasn't on some random local access channel, but on ABC!

Maybe they've been airing the Pride Parade for years, I honestly couldn't tell you, but it was a total shock to both of us to see that our happy little parade was being broadcast for all Chicagoland to see. Every bit of it was on there, from the politicians grandstanding about how they love the gays (while convieniently forgetting that they should probably do more than just show up at a parade) to the float for the local bathhouse which featured some pretty minimally clothed gentleman. OK, they probably weren't gentlemen, but still.

So how was the Pride parade experience via cable? Well… different. The hosts/esses were not really gay, and it seemed that they weren't really familiar with Pride Parades in general, although they were nice enough and pretty typical parade commentators. It was nice to see that the "guy on the ground" was asking pressing questions of our politicians while en route, and it was very nice to not be smothered by the crowds.

But all that meant that it wasn't really the total Pride experience. Pride is meant to be enjoyed in person, even if you aren't in the crowd actively watching the progression. Sure, people can get pushy and it can get a warm in the crowd, but isn't it all worth it when you can watch drag queens on stilts, hot men in bikini thongs, dykes on bikes, and possibly spend the afternoon flirting with and courting the man you'll later decide to spend your life with?

Why Does Illinois Still Fall Behind?

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Can someone please explain to me how in the hell Iowa can afford marriage rights to all of it's citizens and now Wisconsin can give LGBT folk a proverbial bone with Domestic Partnership rights, yet Illinois, home of Chicago, bastion of liberalness in the Midwest, remains on the side of bigotry by denying its citizens the right to marriage?

Please, can someone just take five minutes to explain that to me? Because I don't think anyone has a damn clue how inept Illinois politicians can be concerning gay rights. I don't think anyone would have guessed that our "ultra liberal" state could find a way to sweep us queers under the rug and get away with it.

Personally, I'm pretty well focused on why our federal government stills seems to think it's ok to hate on the gays, but that doesn't mean that our states can't work out internal issues in the mean time. With the advances on the federal Proposition 8 challenge coming down the wire today, it seems likely that we'll be hearing more about that sooner rather than later, but again, why can't my damned legislature pass equality measures in this state?

Damned politicians and their utter laziness… I swear, if I did double the amount of work those asshats did in a day, I'd be fired for not getting enough done...

Solis To DoL: I'm Proud Of Pride

Friday, June 26, 2009

A friend passed this along to me, and I felt it only prudent to share this with everyone. Given the current atmosphere surrounding President Obama's Administration and his lack of movement on promises he made to our community, this letter by current Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to Department of Labor employees shows that this administration is still very much more gay forward than any other before it.

As a little back story, the DoL has posters in its offices proclaiming Pride month, following suit with President Obama's proclamation earlier this month of National Gay and Lesbian Pride month. Some employees saw fit to desecrate those posters. This is the response of Secretary Solis, in a letter titled "I'm Proud Of Pride":

Dear Colleagues:

On June 1st, I initiated an elevator poster campaign in the Frances Perkins Building, with the goal of recognizing department initiatives and accomplishments, and to share my thoughts and priorities with the entire DOL team. We are currently exploring ways to provide the same information to BLS and to our regional offices.

Something else far more important also happened on June 1st. The President issued a proclamation recognizing June as national Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. I was excited to have an opportunity, through our poster campaign, to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of the LGBT community and affirm our commitment to all workers across the country. The posters went up in the elevators on Monday.

As a founding member of the LGBT Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, I was particularly pleased to have the opportunity to be the first Secretary in the department’s history to publicly recognize Pride Month. I am very proud of that.
It appears, however, that some members of the Labor Department team have a different view, as it has come to my attention that most of the posters have been continually defaced or removed. On several occasions, even the poster frames have been torn completely off the elevator walls.

My reaction to this news has ranged from disappointment to outrage.

I do not believe these actions represent the majority of our employees, so I refuse to let this situation define us. But I do want to make myself absolutely clear: Respect for others is non-negotiable at the U.S. Department of Labor.

As the enforcer of fair and safe workplaces across the country, each and every one of us must be committed to working with all employers and employees, no matter their race, color, religion or sexual orientation. And as colleagues, each and every one of us must embrace, value, and celebrate the contributions of the entire Labor Department family.

The posters will stay up until the end of the month, and will be replaced immediately if they are removed or destroyed. This is a small way to remind everyone here how I, and most of our colleagues, feel about this issue.

We will continue to recognize and celebrate diversity at the U.S. Department of Labor, through the posters in the elevators, as well as education initiatives, special observances and events. I would very much like to hear your suggestions and thoughts on how we do this, as well as how we constructively address this specific issue at the department.

As always, I appreciate your efforts on behalf of working people across the country. And I wish each and every one of you a very happy Pride Month.

Hilda L. Solis
U.S. Secretary of Labor

I love this letter for many reasons, not the least of which being that she is stating "They're here, they're queer, get used to it" in a slightly different way. Going into Pride weekend in most of the major cities in the country, and with the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots just around the corner, I think this is an appropriate little something for us LGBT's to nibble on.

Delicious

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Take a look everyone, it's my new living room accent piece!  I'm going to have him installed next weekend.  Don't I just have the bestest boyfriend in the world, who  would go out and get me this!

OK... so maybe it'll just be a photocopy... but still!  It's David Beckham just plain delicious?

So Discrimination Is A Good Thing?

I should be upset about this guy, but the fact that he's obviously a douchebag, as evidenced by the piece a plastic hanging off his ear some people call blue tooth headsets, nullifies my anger at this and instead makes it a prime example of how funny extremists can be.  Gays, according to him, are by definition both pedophiles and practioners of beastiality.  You know, most people make casual references and try to be subtle... but not this nut case!

Anyway.... hooooray freedom of speech!

On Yet Another Year

Friday, June 12, 2009

I'm 28. I suppose this is that time in a person's life where they become just a tad bit more self-reflective and start thinking a bit more about who we are, why we are, and what we want to do with ourselves. For real real. I can see that ominous 30 coming around the corner but I'm not there yet, thank you. I'll cling to my 20's as long as I can. On the other hand, I don't quite feel like I belong to "those 20-somethings" anymore. I'm too old to be associated with those 21-year olds, that's for sure.

A couple of things set me into that mind set. I recently made friends with a young, 22-year old guy. Now, it pains me to say "young" in reference to a 22-year old, but the reality is that with my 6 additional years of experience in this life, I can for certain say the guy is young. Now, I can get past the jokes where I say I loved a certain song in high school, and he says something typical like he was only in elementary. Whatever, that's not a big deal. It's when I see the complete uncertainness in this person and lack of self-assuredness that I thank the heavens that I'm not 22 any more.

He does serve a big function for me though: I'm not afraid of 30 anymore. 30, even though it's two years away, isn't scary now because it means a few more years of life under my belt, a few more experiences, a few more lessons learned and a few more friends to cherish. Going forward isn't as scary to me as thinking back to being 20, and being completely scared yet trying to put an air of confidence out to the world.

8 years ago, I was still trudging through college, trying to decide if what I was doing in college was the right thing for me to do. I was struggling to identify who I was and how I wanted to show that to the world. I was fighting to understand what it meant to be a man, to be gay, to be a (mostly) southern boy, to love rock music, to love someone other than myself, and how to do all those things at once. I sometimes wonder how I came out of that mess sober in any respect! But I did, and I'm glad for the experience, but I'm even happier I never have to go back.

Now, when I talk to friends that have recently turned 30, I get a lot of the same sense of things. They all enjoyed their 20's for what they were worth, maybe a few regrets here and there, but if being a pompous, self-indulging 20-something will teach you anything, it's that regrets are completely worthless. All you can do it learn from it and move on.

I'm lucky to have the man I love in my life to share this time in our lives together. My boyfriend has been a blessing and a wonder, wrapped in a delicious shell of love served with a side of adorableness. It seems that we are going through a lot of the same progressions together, and many different ones as well, but he's always been by my side to offer up his best, and there's really nothing more I could ask for.

Then there's all my peers, my friends that are the same age as I am. It's fun to watch us all reach this point where we know that maybe we can't stay out and play like we did 6, 7, 8 years ago, but we're damn well still going to try! And sure, maybe we know that our scene is changing a bit, maybe we're conscious of the subtle differences in our lives now versus even 5 years ago, but you catch one of us admitting that's because we're getting older. Rather, it's because we've grown to better understand things. Hell, I know most of my friends are turning 24 this year… for the third of fourth time.

So what's this all meant to say? That I'm happy for where I'm at and I hope things only get better from here.

Scalia Is A Fat Guy Who Loves A Weak Military

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

I, uh… hmmm… How should I say this?

If we can't get the Supreme Court to even listen to a case concerning Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which is a pretty clear cut and dry discriminatory policy, how in the world do these guys think they can get the Supreme Court to overturn Proposition 8?

Look, I'm all for fighting on every front, and I'm all for letting the rich and privileged fund our fight, and I'm all about pushing and pushing until they give in… but I just don't think the current US Supreme Court will do that for us. I could be wrong, and they could just pop out and surprise us, but I'm not thinking that's going to be the case.

So for now, it looks like we'll just continue to bleed all of our resources out of the military. Don't worry Scalia, those fucking queers you're so willing to toss under the bus won't bother trying to decipher whatever the hell those terrorists are saying anymore. We'll just go have our Pride parade and not worry about being good civil citizens or protecting your fat ass from the evils abroad.

I Can't Wait!!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

What sounds fun to legally discriminate against today? Hmmmm… let's see… I know! I don't like Pentecostals. They lie and manipulate their constituents and cause ridiculous amounts of harm to the mind's of the children in their churches, so I'm going to start a voter initiative to outlaw their existence.

What else, what else… Oh, I got it! We should completely ban people who have premarital sex from getting married! Their spreading disease, and what's more, some guy in this class I took told me that his (non-Pentecostal) pastor told him that some guy 2000 years ago said we'd all burn while hanging on splinters for doing it… or something like that. Let's do it!

Or what about those damned women that want to walk around in public in sports bras! That's disgusting! Let's vote on their rights too, because their need for exorcise equipment that keeps them happy and healthy is mildly bothering me in a way that I can't even possibly justify… but think of the children!! How do we explain those scantily clad, healthy ladies to them! Won't somebody think of the Childrens!!

… that all makes about as much sense as the fucking California Supreme Court's decision to uphold Proposition 8 today. I really, really can't wait to start voting on every single minority person's rights, particularly those ones that annoy me or bother me for no other reason than personal, religious, ignorant beliefs, and it'd be even better if what I'm voting on in NO WAY impacts my personal life! It's a joyous day, thanks CA!


…stupid fucks…

Locking Us In Or Locking Us Down?

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Everything seems to be pointing to the California Supreme Court's decision on Proposition 8 being handed down tomorrow. Why do I say that? It might have something to do with the adorable barricades being dropped off in the Castro District of San Francisco. Unless they are finally getting around to quarantining all of the 'mos in Castro like Anita Bryant wanted to do back in the day, I'm guessing this looks more like a measure designed to help police when the chaos breaks loose, either positive or negative.

Poignantly, tomorrow also marks the 30 anniversary of the White Night Riots. The riots were in response to Dan White's half-hearted conviction of manslaughter for the murders of Harvey Milk and Mayor Mascone. If you're not familiar, manslaughter is generally used in cases of "accidental" murder… not too accidental when you break into city hall and gun down two victims in two different parts of the building in the head. Needless to say, the LGBT community was none to happy with that ruling, and proceeded to riot through the evening.

Perhaps San Francisco is worried that might happen again? I can tell you this, if the court upholds Prop 8, things won't be sugary and sweet out in the streets.

UPDATE: Looks like this isn't coming down tomorrow after all, but that only leaves next week for the decision. Rumor has it that current mayor and gay rights champion Gavin Newsom asked the court to not hand the decision down on the anniversary of such an important date in gay history.