Happy Halloween!...What Are YOU Doing This Year?

Well here we are again at another Halloween...my favorite holiday...and yet again I am not dressing up or hosting a party....*Sigh*...that makes the victims sooo much harder to come by...

But first lets set the mood......

Londoners Rally against Hate Crimes

Londoners gather in the thousands last night for a candle light vigil and to protest the rise in hate crimes against GLBTQ people in recent weeks as well as to honor the lives of Ian Baynham and James Parkes. Parkes, a police Trainee was nearly beaten to death and Baynham was beaten to death after exiting a London bus bound for a night on the town. Both incidents were driven by hommophobia and only the most recent examples attacks of this kind.

Please join in the moment of silence and the reading of the fallen:



I dare you not to get goose bumps during the reading of these names. As they were read off I could not help but think...this is not the end of that list...we could easily add those from America...And those from Iraq who are being slaughtered by the handfull even right now.

It was fantastic to see so many turn out in support of ending violence against gays. I do wonder though how British television spun it.

One really poignent moment in the video is during the silence when the sirens began to wail....it seemed to an apropriate statement on the state of safety for GLBTQ people.

We send our heartfelt sympathy to the families of the fallen and we stand with you in the hopes that vigils like these never have to be held again.

Fight The Good Fight With.....Talk?

The fight is full on people and we are in count down mode in three states over ballot initiatives that range from marriage equality to fair housing in Kalamazoo Michigan. Everyone is putting out the call to do what you can to contribute to these campaigns. I would like to add that what happens in these campaigns will likely effect California's rebid for gay marriage in 2010, hopefully before they modify our constitution....but that's another topic altogether.

Of all the things that we can do, the most effect thing is just simple conversation. You would think, that in this day and age, EVERYONE would know about the struggle for marriage equality...but sadly this is not true. Many people have no one to talk to about it so that leaves them at the mercy of their church or to conflicting t.v. ads.

Would Someone Please Email Me A Copy Of The Masterplan

I Don't know about anyone else but my copy of the "Homosexual Agenda" never arrived. No shadowy figure EVER handed me and envelope with "Master Plan" written on it but you'd never guess that from this ad From "Yes On 1":



WOW...I had no idea we were so well organized...

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Often in our efforts to participate in the struggle for gay rights I have struggled with my own belief that succumbing to anger is to sink to a level of inhumanity that robs us of a precious connection with GOD, with our connection to the source of all life. It bars us from seeing others around us in our life, even those who don't agree with us and even stand against us, as basically human. Sound familiar? It should because that's what the anti-gay groups are doing to us every day...stripping away our essential humanity to make it easier for them to see us as an evil "them". That's how we become that shadowy cabal they all have in their minds.

Curious thoughts On The Power of the Pen ...The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act

Few people have the power to change the world with only the power of their pen. Even if that change only protects those who are most at risk of violence and victimization. Today, as we speak, President Barack Obama has signed the Matthew Shepard Hate crimes bill into law.

I imagine the presidents inbox looks rather full and on the top of today's "to do" pile would be sitting this particular bill as he takes it off the pile and holds it up to the light...duly considering its benefits and implications while thoughtfully stroking his chin. Then, with great care, he places the document on his desk and reaches for his silver presidential pen, The heaviest pen ever made, carrying with it the weight of conscience and history. He sweeps aside the flotsam and jetsam of presidential duty (like a Doma repeal and a moratorium on Don't Ask Don't Tell). Then, With one fluid movement he signs his name and ...

Spread The Word

3-2-1 Countdown for Equality: No Bittersweet Victories
Help WA, ME and Kalamazoo Win on November 3rd: Blog About the Campaigns Today
Progressives are closer than ever to a victory on health care reform. As 2009 comes to a close, we've moved forward on other issues. But what's looming up ahead could be a disappointment.

Why Is Our Love Rated "R"?

One thing people don't know about Jay is that he is a total movie hound. He LOVES to watch movies. All kinds...good, bad, or indifferent. The Netflix people must have a special courier just for our house because those little red envelopes never seem to leave. A great deal of what we get are total stinkers, In my humble opinion. However, every once in a while, a great movie comes along, much to my surprise. "Shelter" was just such a movie. It was directed by Jonah Markowitz of Quinceanera fame and starring Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe. But my reason for posting about this movie is in more than just its story.

King And King

Few Claims made by the pro-prop 8 crowd caused more collective sphincters to tighten worse than the claim that homosexuality was being taught to children in public schools. However, anyone with two braincells to rub together knows that it is not NOW, nor EVER WAS true. Having kids in the public school system myself, I can vouch for this. However, one of the most scurilous examples that was used to support this claim was the book, "King and King" by Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland. Get a load of the homo paranoia here:

My Big Gay Anniversary....Squared

Most couples only get one anniversary to repeatedly forget year after year to the consternation of their spouses. Those of us in the GLBTQI world often get many. I mean it...lots. In fact, I think we should get a bulk discount from Hallmark.

For Jay and I it goes down something like this. First is the day we kissed along the beach at Goat Rock. That was the day our relationship went from "friends" to "boyfriends" in one moment of destiny...

Sam Harris...Free

Can many of us remember back when we where young and watching Star search? Ed McMahon hosted many acts that are still going strong today. When I was young I watched along with my family even though I groused because it was seriously cutting into my cartoon time...yes this was the 80's and this was the American Idol of our day. Many very famous people came from Star Search including Rosie O'Donnell, Britney spears, Sharon Stone, Dave Chappell, and one singer in particular that we had the opportunity to meet...Sam Harris.

This Is What America Means...A Must See

O.K....wiping the tears out of my eyes now...bear with me...

Enough Is Enough

Yesterday I found a fantastic article here on queerty that says what I wish every fair-minded faith leader would say...Enough is Enough!



Here is a sample of Former Bishop John Shelby Spongs words in a recently released manifesto detailing his current position with the church on homosexuality:

...oh my....

as we all know the time changes soon. Here is a U.K. advert that will make this annual event a tad less boring...Oh, and bring a towel...



I would right something pithy about how progressive the intent of this ad is or how in America we don't make commercials to teach people how to do things....we just let them royally screw it up but I can't....I'm too busy wiping up the drool with that towel I mentioned....

How Do We Put A Label On Love?

One thing I don't believe that ANY straight person understands is that a gay couples worst nightmare is to have the one they love die. That's soul crushing for anyone regardless of sexual orientation. But for many gay couples it carries a heavier meaning. That trip to the hospital may be the last time they ever see their loved one again. They will not be able to be present to hold their hands as they take their last breaths not get to to softly kiss their brow and say good buy. They will have no right and no say in how their love is honored. As many gay seniors pass on into GODS hands, the ones they leave behind have their homes and possessions stripped from them by relatives that NEVER honored their love or commitment to each other. All the pictures and mementos of a life lived together taken away by callous family members.

Don't think it happens?...Take a look:

Family Equality Council...Going Places

Oh yes, We went a LOT of places this month and we are pooped!....One of those places was to Los Angeles to attend the Family Equality Councils annual award and fundraiser event. This year, We were one of the recipients of the FEC's achievement awards for our work on Youtube. It was an incredible honor.

But...first things first...the photos...we met with the wonderful folks of the Family Equality council for a few photo oportunities...

HRC/Obama Dinner...and Why We Shouldn't Get Our knickers In A Twist

Much conversation has been generated about the meanings and implications of President Obama's speech at the HRC and about its Leader Joe Solmonese. Among those questions raised is just who the Human Rights Campaign actually represents...

Finally acurate NEM coverage!

This is not particularly up to date news...but I did laugh my *ss off. I hope you will too...

The National Equality March...March On!

There has been alot of coverage of the National Equality March circling the net this last few days. In my opinion most of it seems to be agenda laden and heavy on bias. Not that I will be bias free..quite the opposite. I will do the best I can to give you my account as seen from a marchers point of view. We had many adventures before the march itself and after, but for the sake of time I will limit myself to just our account of the march. Without further ado...

NEM...And An Introverts Experience In Activism

Tomorrow morning we board the plane to Washington D.C. and I am both excited and nervous. Nervous because I hate flying and excited because, we are about to walk into the largest gathering of gay men and women in recent history...

Give Me Some Of That Ol' Time Revisionist Religion

Its been a busy week in the sphere of gay rights and religion. It seems that with all the battles raging across the country gay marriage and health care are stirring the pot. Skeletons are falling out of closets and the right-wing nuts are coming out of the woodwork with complete abandon...

Hear No Evil...Read No Evil

Well its Halloween again, my favorite holiday! I love all the spooky decorations and scary costumes. And whats the scariest thing out there this season? Vampires?...no. Flesh eating zombies?...wrong again. Brain sucking aliens?...Ha! you wish! The scariest thing this Halloween is.....Penguins! Yup you heard me right. Lock your doors!Hide in the closet! and put on your tinfoil hats because the penguins are coming to get your children!

A House Divided...

Today I have to open a particularlly ugly can o' worms. And one I don't quite know how to frame. Do I present this unbiased and let you draw your own conclusion or give my honest opinion?

Recently in Queerty was a rather vitriolic article from one of their contributing bloggers, Nakhone Keodara. In it he states that since the LGBT Movement is so full of rampant racism and white privelidge that he is opting to quite the movement alltogether. Mr. Keodara worked with the "Gays United Network". He has been a consistant critic of the effort to place gay marriage back on California's ballot in 2010. He has also been very vocally critical of Cleve Jones and the "National Equality March" Recently he removed his organizations endorsement of the 2010 election in favor of 2012 and recieve and recieved a great deal of critisiscm...that is till he deemed the cause unworthy on the grounds of racial discrimination....

"Its Not What You Call Me...."

"But What I Answer to".

This is a quote From Whoopie Goldberg in her autobiography. the quote itself is attributed to being an African proverb. For me...It sums up my feelings on being out to the world and having the strength to be who I am without apologies. Its sentiment touches on the topic of this weeks episode of "Ask A Gay Family Episode 6 "What If"...