FOCUS

2010-09-06T04:17:00.005-04:00

this blog has concluded and is up only for links to stories

Prop 8 Overturned By Federal Judge

2010-08-05T03:35:00.002-04:00

Read a concise recap at Focus On The Rainbow

YOU WILL ALLOW THE FIGGITS IN THE MILITARY ONE DAY ............. PRICELESS

2010-01-28T01:58:00.003-05:00

THE LGBT BLOG WAR BEGINS - THE MODERATES VERSUS THE ELITISTS

2010-01-27T03:03:00.005-05:00

An undeclared war has begun in the LGBT blogosphere, one which actually has been going on mainly unnoticed or most likely and more accurately ignored.

The blogs and websites of more Reasonable Voices as this writer, NG Blog and Gay Agenda have been calling out for several months now, the blogs and websites of the Elitists such as JMG, Box Turtle Bulletin, PHB and Americablog Gay to name just a few for their constant bombardment, criticism and even vilification of the Obama Administration, plus very one sided "citizen journalist" reporting on those opposed to LGBTs.

While it is important to point out those who are opposed, and many vehemently to LGBT rights and causes, the way that several of the Elitists do it in making the "offenders" cartoonish, end up making themselves and their voices cartoonish as well.

Many of the Elitists are more interested in promoting their worthless meaning web blog awards or the chance to win a cruise rather than doing what they could be doing in writing criticism and commentary without acting like the pajama kids eating Cheetos they were called once by an NBC commentator and without the help of such things as animated icons and sock puppets, videos which end up going dark due to copyright infringement or pulled by "the owner", or by besmirching fellow LGBTs because they are Republican, or worse dare criticize the Elitists.

Not to forget to mention the "loyal like minded" followers of the Elitists who when others voice opposing opinion to a piece, the opposers are attacked, vilified and all but shot between the eyes with a gun. And how could we forget one contributor who sees fit to call himself a "citizen journalist" and likes to critize those for not using the proper vocabulary when wrting about the LGBT community. This critisim from someone who most likely does not know what -30- means, much less has spent anytime working in a newsroom.

Of late new voices of the reasonable type have added their voice of criticism against the Elitists such as TransRacial and RENWL. Even those who comment on the voices of reason show that many are tired of the Elitist and their self-imposed "voice" for LGBTs.

Granted the Elitists may have more followers than the Reasonable Voices, but then too so do garbage trucks.

Pork Ham Beans BE FARTING IN DE WIND

2010-01-20T17:25:00.002-05:00

So now the good folks over at Pam's House Blend are indirectly taking credit for what happened in MA with Brown beating Coakley.

For those who rant and rave about how "the administration" has let down LGBTs, I don't know that they should be so quick in taking responsibility of getting a Republican elected.

Oh well, just another example of the "Delusional Of Their Own Self-Importance" syndrome.

THE IRONY THAT'S GLAAD .. QUID PRO QUO

2010-01-15T15:32:00.004-05:00

GLAAD came out the other day with it's list of nominees for it's GLAAD Awards.

Striking was ABC-TV, the same network which GLAAD complained about over the Adam Lambert fiasco has several nominations.

GLAAD also has a problem in giving a nod to the documentary Outrage which Mike Rogers was part of in looking at the Republicans who are purported to be in the closet yet strike out against LGBTs.

In a statement from GLAAD sent to Rogers it reads in part, "Outrage is a fine movie and an important one .... But the GLAAD Media Awards aren't the Academy Awards, they are about highlighting media that move America by telling stories of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people - not those who run from who they are."

Also the "usual suspects" didn't make the Digital Journalism Awards cut either. But then they're not real journalists anyway, just the usual run of the mill "new age" make believe ones.

Tsk .. tsk .. hope they don't run out of tissues anytime soon.

As far as GLADD goes who are very willing to take money from Hollywood and then in quid pro quo backstroke the industry with silly awards that no one outside of the Rainbow World give a hoot about, GLAAD should decide whether it wants to be an award presentation piece or doing what it professes to do, stand up and call out when percieved evil is done against LGBTs.

Thank God I have a snowball's chance in Hell of ever being nomimated for one of their awards , but then it would be nice to write GLAAD and say, thanks, but no thanks.

Quid Pro Quo Clarice, quid pro quo.

"XXY" HERMAPHRODITES & IDENTITY ISSUES

2010-01-12T17:44:00.009-05:00

Monday evening I watched a wonderful movie on one of the HBO movie channels titled XXY.

The film takes a look at the trials and tribulations of a family whose 15 year old daughter is a hermaphrodite and the young girl's struggle with deciding her identity as she has reached puberty and all that goes with being a young teenager.

XXY was released in 2007 and made by an Argentine film group. Sub-titles are provided in the film for those who don't speak Spanish.

Regardless of where you fall into the LGBT community, I believe everyone will be able to relate with Alex and her family.

I'm going to stop here, as for those who care to watch the film I don't want to spoil it. I will say this, you need to put it on your must view list.

For a previous posting on hermaphrodites go here. More info about XXY with some spoiler information.

THE PHB WATCHDOG IS SALIVATING AGAIN

2009-12-29T18:23:00.002-05:00

As the great self-anointed person-in-charge to tell writers, bloggers, publications and any other variety of Media how to use proper terminology in regards to the LGBT community, but most in particular transgenders, Autumn Sandeen, man turned woman (sort of) this time lectures the Atlanta Progressive News over an article which appears on it's website titled, "Legislative Editor Fired Over Sex Change, Seeks Reinstatement".

You can read AS's posting here, with the APN article in the above link.

Best part to this story, APN has refused to cave and cow-tow to AS and others.

Good for them !

By the way AS, I'm still waiting to see your journalism degree, proof of work as a reporter in print or broadcast or any award you have won for journalism.

As opposed of course to being a "citizen journalist" on a blog.

ALL THEIR MONEY AND THEY'RE STILL IDIOTS

2009-12-29T05:17:00.003-05:00

Oparah Winfrey does an "oh woe is me" show, Tom Cruise acts like a wacko from a psyche ward and gets dumped by VIACOM/Paramount, "good boy" Tiger Woods is an unmitigated ho and now Charlie Sheen gets arrested in Aspen for allegedly threatening his wife, and then of course there's Rosie, who is, well Rosie.

What do all these idiots have in common ?

Money.

Hey you stupid twits, if your money isn't making you happy and you can't act like normal folk, give me your money and I'll show you how to live like a saint and the only press that will be gotten is good press.

As Bill Cosby once said to paraphrase, give an asshole a drink and he just becomes a bigger asshole.

THE GREAT PHB RACHEL MADDOW TEARDOWN .... HOW THINGS CHANGE

2009-12-23T19:55:00.005-05:00

In a posting today on Pam's House Blend, Pam Spaulding wrote the following in regards to Rachel Maddow being put in the number 3 spot of the Most Influential Progressive Media Figures at the website AlterNet.

This story caught my eye because Rachel Maddow, who certainly deserves to be at the top of the mountain, is 1) brilliant; 2) is "family" (woohoo), and 3) a relatively "new" media figure compared to the other veteran progressive media types making Alternet's list.

And yet one year, and a day short of a month ago, Spaulding was less than happy with Maddow over her "soft" interview of Mike Huckabee who was out on a book tour promoting his then newly released book "Do The Right Thing: Inside The Movement That's Bringing Common Sense back to America".

In her posting on November 24 2008, Spaulding wrote, I'm starting to think that Rachel Maddow has an issue or professional discomfort with taking on publicly anti-gay figures on her show. It's an oddity, given 1) she's out and has a high-profile; and 2) her fellow MSNBC host, Keith Olbermann, has been extremely forceful as an ally on the issue by comparison. She's spoken at length about the debacle of Prop 8, so one would assume that if given the opportunity, Maddow would address the issue with well-known homophobes.

The reticence to take on agents of intolerance surfaced in a recent interview with former GOP clown car occupant, rapist/murderer-releasing Baptist minister-without-a-theology-degree Mike Huckabee.

Now here comes the interesting part to discuss here in the coffeehouse. Maddow was contacted by ThinkProgress to ask why she avoided LGBT issues with Huck. Her response?

"I weighed whether or not to ask him about his anti-gay views, but I really don't care about them very much. Huckabee is a doctrinaire anti-gay theocratic social conservative whose views are well-known and heartfelt. I also probably wouldn't bother asking Sarah Palin about her anti-gay views if I had the opportunity to interview her -- it's just not the most interesting or newsworthy (or ridiculous) thing about either of them."

Spaulding then continued on, For me that is a problem. High profile figures like Huckabee and Palin too often get a pass for beliefs (ones held by too many Americans) that result in a measure like Prop 8 passing. IMHO, these views must be challenged as often as possible -- and Rachel Maddow has a platform most of us do not have.

That she doesn't find the views interesting is disturbing (a majority of voters in California just removed a civil right granted to a group of tax-paying citizens by the state of California!). Views articulated by Huckabee, a former governor and likely 2012 presidential candidate, on his belief that discrimination should be legal against any group of law-abiding citizens IS A SERIOUS ISSUE.

The fact that the airwaves are bombarded with ignorance and outright lies by the likes of Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Rachel's buddy Pat Buchanan means the scales are seriously out of balance, and you'd think Maddow would recognize that the issue is "newsworthy" for a host of reasons; you obviously don't have to be a lesbian to get the picture.

Perhaps Rachel needs some coaching from KO on the matter.

On December 9 2008, Spaulding had been hyping the fact she would be on Mike Signorile's LGBT talk show on Sirius Radio (audio clips here) along with Rachel Maddow, albeit not at the same time, to discuss Maddow's lack of LGBT backbone when it came to her interview with Huckabee and turning her MSNBC Monday through Friday gig into an LGBT payback hour.

Spaulding wrote, A talented and essential progressive voice on the air, Rachel Maddow's softball interview with Huckabee seemed oddly out of sorts, given he has been touring the country spewing fresh homophobia (see his appearance on The View, where he tried to peddle his bigotry and received more grilling than Maddow gave him), and that as a former governor of the state of Arkansas who supports discrimination against gays and lesbians, it would have been timely and relevant to ask him about the adoption measure that passed on Nov. 4 that bars same-sex couples from adopting.

It would have been good to hear what Mr. Huckabee feels should happen to children in the foster care system and group homes -- he must prefer that they languish there rather than in loving homes where the parents aren't married or are same-sex couples.

What I find most interesting in this whole thing which my friend NG made me aware of was, on the posting linked to above, Autumn Sandeen, the Blender's TG Watchdog piped up with this little ditty ...

UPDATE 3 (From Autumn): When Pam and I were at the Democratic National Convention this year, I specifially sent an email to MSNBC for either Pam, me, or both Pam and me to interview Rachel Maddow for The Blend (Sent: August 19, 2008, 4:15 PM PDT). The point of contact at MSNBC -- Gina Stikes -- was sent Pam's and my email addresses, as well as our cell phone numbers.

At that time, it had been announced that Maddow would have a new show on MSNBC, and that it would begin after the Democatic and Republican National Conventions. Since we all were going to be in Denver at the same time, I thought I'd ask on behalf of PHB for an interview -- I knew our audience here at The Blend would be interested in hearing directly from Maddow about her show. I didn't get a response back from my request directly, but I did get put on an email list with my public, changing[underscore]seasons[at]cox.net email address.

I've again emailed Pam a copy of that email to MSNBC's Gina Stikes requesting a Maddow interview.

So, at least at one point, the Rachel Maddow Show people at MSNBC had Pam's and my direct contact info.

Aha ! says the skeptic within me, could all of this Rachel Maddow teardown have been a result of MSNBC having dared to dis the Blend and not invite Spaulding or Sandeen to interview Rachel Maddow.

One may never know the truth that lurks within Beanville. But remember one thing, all coffee beans are green before they ripen to be picked by Juan Valdez.

And getting back to the change in Spaulding's attitude from November 2008 to today, well, it is the Christmas season and with the spirit of Goodwill Towards All LGBTs.

BLOGGERS WITH INFLATED EGOS BEWARE THE HARMFUL EVENTUAL OUTCOME ....

2009-12-23T17:03:00.007-05:00

MORE TROUBLING TIMES FOR LGBT PRESS

2009-12-23T14:36:00.003-05:00

In an article today in the Chicago Tribune, staff members of the LGBT newspaper and website the Chicago Free Press and bailing out as paychecks have been late and owed since mid-November.

The art director, graphic designer and most of the writers at the Chicago Free Press left the gay publication Monday after the company stopped paying its employees, according to Matt Simonette, who also left his position as editor.

The news follows financial struggles and decreased ad sales for the paper, which is geared toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

Simonette said Tuesday that editorial contributors had not been paid since mid-November and staff members had not received paychecks that were due Dec. 15. Other former employees said paychecks had not come on time in the past."The senior staff did not resign; it was just simply a matter of leaving because of non-payment," Simonette said.

The company's Web site lists about 20 employees at the newspaper, which has a weekly circulation of 23,000 to 26,000.

However in a bit of good news as reported on this Publisher's blog Focus On The Rainbow at Hearst Newspapers, a new newspaper is getting ready to hit the racks starting in January in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

THE DECADE FROM HELL ... YES IT WAS

2009-12-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

WHAT IF WE DENIED THEM SERVICE .. Hmm

2009-12-19T00:47:00.004-05:00

I've been doing my weekly round-the-blog circuit of blogs I don't read everyday and have come across a very good posting at Sick-N-Tired about the recent case in which a lesbian sued a photographer in New Mexico because the photog wouldn't photograph the lesbian's wedding because of the photog's religious values.

Now before everyone starts jumping up and down and yelling for joy and "Right On Sista" because the lesbian won against "one of them", let's take a moment to reflect shall we.

Let's suppose someone came to a gay or lesbian business owner, let's say a florist (oh puleze, enough of the stereotyping) and that someone is locally known as an ardent local supporter of NOM, has spoken out locally against same-sex marriage, and makes it known far and wide within the community she finds homosexuals repugnant.

So this person goes to this florist shop which has the reputation of being the best in town when it comes to weddings, and she has no idea that the business is owned by a gay man. Before you roll your eyes, it could happen, he might own several shops in different towns, he may not be "out", he may not be the "stereotypical" type.

In any case, the woman comes in, the sales clerk goes through all the work to get a contract to do the wedding, deposit is made and off the woman goes and then the owner finds out, calls the woman says he won't do this wedding because of her anti-gay views.

Make it even simpler, he's behind the counter when she comes in and he tells her right then and there he won't do the wedding because of her anti-gay views.

Are ya seeing where I'm going with this ?

So go ahead, jump up and down, celebrate "one for our side", but remember the old saying, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

WHERE'S THE OUTRAGE OVER "OLD SPICE"

2009-12-17T22:16:00.004-05:00

How often is there outrage, particularly from Transgender activists over TV commercials ? Too much ad nauseum !

To be fair, although usually most vocal (PHB bean counter Sandeen comes to mind), others in the LGBT community, bloggers, activists and LGBT advocate websites yell bitching and screaming about particular commercials being "an affront" to the LGBT community.

Sooo, eyes ask de question, where's the outrage over this commercial by Old Spice which has been running of late during sporting events, especially on ESPN broadcasts ?

Myself, I find the ad quite amusing. But then I don't march to the beat of the LGBT "hierarchy movement".

A BIG FAIL OR "MAKE ROOM FOR DIALOG" ?

2009-12-15T22:33:00.006-05:00

Since Friday there has been much debate and outrage over a posting that was written by Ronald Gold on the blog/website Bilerico titled "No To The idea Of Transgender".

Gold who in the past was one of the early gay activist came under fire for writing the piece, as did Bilerico for publishing it.

I don't read Bilerico, and admit I did not read the piece except for snippets at Pam's House Blend which covers the uproar by transgenders as written by Autumn Sandeen, but have read the postings at PHB, listened to both Sandeen and Bill Browning of Bilerico who has both in writing and on Michelangelo Signorile's Sirius Radio program apologized for putting up the post in the first place and the posting itself.

On the radio program Browning said there has been the usual outcry over the posting which apparently many feel is "transphobic" and also "threats" against some who publish the blog/website, which of course is uncalled for.

Were I the editor of Bilerico and having made the decision to publish the posting by Gold in the first place, I would not have removed it. I've read enough of what was written in the posting to make that editorial Monday Morning Quarterbacking judgement. Stick by your conviction of what your blog or website is about, in the case of Bilerico let as many different voices be heard.

However, with that being stated, I would not have published it in the first place.

And there in lies the problems of LGBT blogs and websites (other than "news") which allow too many "voices" be heard.

As the old saying goes, too many cooks in the kitchen spoils the broth.

PEREZ HILTON SLAM DUNKED BY KTLA-TV

2009-12-10T17:48:00.007-05:00

The last this writer had anything to write about this useless example of dung heap and "cesspool" example of the LGBT community, Perez Hilton got a whopping for opening up his big mouth to a recording artist in Canada and wailed like the big baby he is on his blog in an "oh woe is me" tale of the event.

That, or I should say, those writings took place on the REAL QUEEN BITCH !, the Bitchy Old Queen.

And now yet again de bitch of gossip has been bitch slapped, slam dunked and Roto-Rooter up de boo-te-ay by none other than Sam Rubin of KTLA-TV in Los Angeles. All of this because "babe in fairy land" had a hissy-pissy fit because he showed up early for a morning show live interview and the good folks at KTLA-TV wouldn't rearrange the show's schedule to get him on early so "he could go home to work on his blog". This figgit really needs to get a life beyond blogging.

In any case Perez wrote on his Twitter, as small as his twitter is, the following, "KTLA It's unfortunate I was unable to be on your show but it is NOT acceptable or ethical to lie to your viewers."

WELL ! that did not sit well with Sam Rubin and the rest of the folks at KTLA-TV.

Soooo, Rubin did what any self-respecting journalist would do, he gave Perez Hilton a colonic.

Best line in the video, "You talentless dope !"

As Bugs Bunny says, "what a maroon !".

You'll find the video slapdown at Focus On The Rainbow.

ADAM LAMBERT BECOMING LGBT BAD BOY ?

2009-12-08T22:28:00.004-05:00

E! reports, Adam Lambert channeling his inner diva while celebrating Musical Mondays at Splash, a gay bar in Manhattan.

Now, we're told this isn't just any gay bar. Oh no. Our East Coast source, who was at Splash, describes the scene as this:

"It's the trashiest gay bar in Manhattan. It basically combines show tunes with STDs."

Lambert showed up with his gay-tourage and was as cool and sweet as can be, we're told. He was "very nice" shaking tons of hands, hugging people and calling them "really cute."

As for why our spy swears this bar is supersleazy?

"Half the bathroom stalls are missing doors, if you get my drift."

I HAVE A HANGNAIL ..... OH GOOD GRIEF

2009-12-08T13:23:00.006-05:00

Anyone who regularly reads the bean counters over at PHB is familiar with Autumn Sandeem, the self-appointed watch dog for transgenders. Were it not for all the "oh look at me" BS that goes with her writing, she does on occasion do a good job "as citizen journalist", yep another one of those make-believe reporters (where's you degree or background in the media I will continue to ask) on transgender issues. But my God, this person has more ailments than Howie Mandel.

First and foremost, she wasn't comfortable with being a he.

Then she wrote a while back how disappointed she was to find out she is indeed a man via a test.

Last week she wrote as a way to celebrate International Day of Persons With Disabilities she has an invisible disability, her transgenderism.

And today she writes she is bi-polar.

What next Autumn, letting your readers know you have a hangnail ?

Lord have mercy, if I had that many issues I'd .... no that's too strong, .... but I'd at least take a shot of Jack Daniels.

GOD BLESS US .. EACH AND EVERYONE

2009-12-07T22:27:00.003-05:00

Watch CBS News Videos Online

ADAM LAMBERT CAUSED HIS FAIL NOT ABC

2009-12-04T09:13:00.010-05:00

Just about every LGBT blog has used the H word against ABC since the Adam Lambert debacle on the American Music Awards Show.

They've criticized CBS for blurring video in its news reports of the Lambert's "over friendliness" towards some of his fellow performers in that evening's act.

Even GLAAD is "being held unaccountable" with it's latest press release regarding ABC and the incident, some calling their approach soft and "cuddling the enemy".

And they say it's all because Lambert is gay, not that it has anything to do with what he did on live television, nope because he is gay, (pause for momentary deep breath to release a) sigh.

Look folks what Lambert did was stupid, idiotic and a "oh look at me moment", and has for the time being backfired on him. He says he gets swept up in the moment when performing. Yeah, well so do people in the ocean with rip tides.

I haven't used this word in a while, bullshit.

Lambert knew exactly what he was going to do, shock, create news and shine the limelight on himself, and at the expense of ABC.

After the other debacle of Janet Jackson's nipple debut, TV networks aren't going to pussyfoot around anymore, not with the FCC and its potential volley of fines hanging over head. And whether a "we'll get you for this" or genuine reasonable concern what Lambert might do in a live morning concert appearance which was canceled, it doesn't matter, Lambert is responsible for his situation, not ABC or CBS or anyone else.

For bloggers, writers and websites to call the TV networks homophobic is disingenuous and only serves themselves and their readers.

Want to know why mainstream America has a problem with LGBTs ?

Just read some of the material you write in the grand name of the Rainbow.

You may think you're helping the cause, you don't, you only make it harder for the rest of us trying to get a level playing field.

But then its easier to criticize them, rather than one of us, isn't it ?

ACT II - You Know You Made A Point When They Get Pissy

Although the above posting wasn't meant for this blogger, nonetheless he wrote:

...oh look at me moment....

The person who posted this on his blog, and yes, I'm taking things out of context, is the same person who sends numerous e-mails, alerting people to his latest online forays.

Names and blogs shall not me mentioned to protect the innocent.

Well, as the Bitchy Old Queen would say, if the shoe fits wear it .... Bitch !

My work is done here, on to another topic for another day.

Well almost.

GLAAD President Jarret Barrios appeared on Michelangelo Signorile's SAT radio show on Tuesday December 8 to discuss Lambert and GLAAD's response.

Audio clip at NG Blog.

One thing occurred to me as I listened to the audio cut, I don't recall the LGBT bloggers (except 365Gay) mentioning this item/press release about Lambert which I published at Focus On The Rainbow.

"Funny" how the collective "they" missed this news and didn't do any pats on the back and thanks.

But as I wrote above, it's easier to criticize.

BIG GIRLS DON'T ........ CRY EYE EYE

2009-12-03T12:52:00.005-05:00

Yes it's a dirty rotten shame that the Marriage Equality Act was voted down yesterday in New York State and everyone has a right to being ticked off beyond belief, but my God the way some of the "usual suspects" in the LGBT blogging world are carrying on is like Perez Hilton when he gets a hangnail.

One blogger puts up a post that he will support monetarily the opposition of the "traitors" who didn't follow through with their promise to vote in favor. Like those politicos actually read your blog and will be worried, not to mention the childish, sophomoric photo he and another appeared in, in a "have your 15 seconds of fame" photo in Times Square.

I'm sure brother they will be seeking you out to kiss your feet and butt and ask for Devine forgiveness.

And then we have the bean counters, ugh, I don't even know where to begin. It's just pitiful, the "outrage and blah blah blah". Now I know what they mean by "bitter coffee".

And there were others. But there were also, refreshingly enough, bloggers and websites who didn't take the bad news in stride, but at least had some decorum of reporting and tempered opinion.

The over-the-top bloggers really should get their own TV talk show, "The Lavender Cry Babies", it would most likely give Glenn Beck's show a run for it's money.

GREEN CELEBRITIES AND THEIR HYPOCRISIES

2009-12-01T17:33:00.008-05:00

They say we need to be green. Use less fossil fuel, use more expensive light bulbs which use less electricity, turn off lights and unplug equipment when not in use.

Drive fuel efficient cars and more expensive hybrids. Put toilets in our homes which use less water and shower heads which cut the flow of water, but actually use more water by having to flush more and take longer showers.

Yes these are the green eco-friendly celebrities headed by former Vice-President Al Gore, who's pride and joy documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" won an Oscar and made celebrities world wide change their natural eye color to green.

However .... in a striking look at the hypocrisy of many of these celebrities who find it unthinkable that the rest of us are so selfish towards Mother Earth, as Ricky Ricardo use to say, "you have sum esplaining to do Lucy", the London Times has done an excellent article exposing the hypocrisy of these "Give Mother Earth A Hug" environmentalists.

For instance when John Travlota once encouraged the Brits to do their bit for the environment he did so by flying to England in his Boeing 707, one of five aircraft he has along with several homes.

Tom Cruise who has supported and campaigned for the Los Angeles based enviro-group, Earth Communications Office, has an air fleet of five planes and several homes.

Oprah Winfrey and Harrison Ford who have both done their bit expounding that we should care, have private planes, and Jennifer Aniston who said she cared so much that she brushes her teeth while taking a shower, had her hairdresser flyover to Europe to take care of her doo while on a publicly tour.

The list goes on and on, but one person of grand hypocrisy which the Times points out is the wife of Sting, who as the paper says, is an in your face environmentalist, she, Dame Trudie Styler once threw a hissy fit because their with-child chef wouldn't travel 100 miles to make a soup and salad. The Stings own several homes around the world and of course, aside from the environmental costs to run them, flit here and there by a fleet of private jets and automobiles.

The article goes on and on dropping names and the hypocrisy there-in.

Then there is of course the Green Giant himself which many have pointed out about the energy costs of his own home. But I would like to bring up, as having done so several times, have you ever driven across the great state of Tennessee on I-40 ?

There were times I had to turn off the air vent in the car because the fumes and stench from air pollution was so bad. So to Mr. Gore I would say clean up your own state first, then worry about the rest of the world.

To the celebrities who try to tell us how we should live, give up your Escalades, Hummers, Mercedes, Rolls Royce's, Lamborghini's and other toys, multiple homes, fly coach and leave the rest of us be.

And to all environmentalists world wide, if you really want to do something for the environment, stop using toilet paper.

THE APACHE AIDS PROJECT HELPS EDUCATE

2009-12-01T04:29:00.005-05:00

While I have done a posting today for World AIDS Day at Focus On The Rainbow, I also wanted to do one here but was at a loss for it being "just another copycat" of what will appear on a gazillion other LGBT websites and blogs.

How fortunate I was to come across to share with you readers The Apache Aids Project.

Isadore Boni was living on the streets of Phoenix when he was diagnosed with a co-infection of HIV and Hepatitis C on May 2, 2002.

After he completed a recovery program for his alcohol and drug addictions and found stable housing, he decided to publicly announce his HIV status in a TV news story on World AIDS Day in 2004.

Since that time he's toured the country, telling his story of how he was diagnosed, how his medical confidentiality broken, the stigma and homophobia he experienced, and the difficulties he's had on his journey to educate the world about Natives and HIV/AIDS.

Isadore's latest project is the Apache Aids Project, which he created to educate his tribal community and the world about HIV/AIDS. In video blogs, he documents his life with AIDS, taking us to the streets of Phoenix, his doctor's office, and his reservation. - NativeOUT

While there are several LGBT bloggers and activists who get "Good Ole Boy Club" pat on the back and a wink awards, I can't think of anyone more deserving to win an award than Isadore Boni, who with his own meager funds has developed this website to help his people, as he puts it, "the first step to prevent another disease from wiping out Indian people is education."

Boni is a true example of selflessness to his LGBT community and fellow Apaches and deserving of the highest LGBT honors available.

WHAT WOULD MAKE A PERFECT WORLD ?

2009-11-30T09:38:00.002-05:00

WHEN BLOGGERS PUT THEMSELVES IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN SPITE OF TRUTH AND FACT

2009-11-27T19:22:00.006-05:00

After the senseless and tragic death of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, and after Towleroad picked up the story many LGBT websites and blogs carried through with the story of this travesty against a gay nineteen year old in Puerto Rico.

Finally after that some mainstream media organizations began to pickup the story. So far so good. However (there it is boys and girls that word which means "look out the shit is about to hit the fan) ..... the one who portrays himself as transgender, and was very upset that he found out he was not intersex via a chromosome test as he wrote about, Autumn Sandeen decided to take it upon himself to lecture all, mainstream media and LGBT bloggers and websites alike that the "collective we" were in fact not accurately reporting that Steven (as he is called by his friends) was transgender and NOT GAY because it was reported on the night of his murder he was wearing a dress and a wig.

Aside from myself in a no holds bar rectal orifice reaming on Bitchy Old Queen and NG at NGblog, no one had stepped up to the plate to hold Sandeen accountable for putting a spotlight on him/herself rather than taking up the issue of another LGBT murdered.

That is until now (and thanks to NG for his posting today which brought this to light) when on his blog, activist Pedro Julio Serrano wrote in part the following, Much has been said about hate crime victim Jorge Steven López possibly being trans, but I want to make it clear: he wasn’t. But he was very comfortable in his own skin, he loved to cross gender boundaries and he was accepted as such by his friends, his partner and his own parents. His mom, Miriam Mercado, knowing that his son used hair extensions as part of his look, even told the press in Puerto Rico, “Behind that wig and those boots, there was a human being, a very much loved son, a brother and a friend.”

He was a young gay man, who like many others, used to do drag for special occasions such as Halloween or LGBT Pride parades. It’s like many gay men who go to Fire Island to compete in drag races and do drag just for a race.

I understand the politics behind identifying a hate crime victim as trans when part of his or her expression does not conform to his or her sex, but sometimes we must bend the rules to accommodate the cultural and societal differences.

Will Sandeen read and understand the error in which he castrated those who called Steven gay ?

Unlikely.

Will he finally get off his transgender soapbox and at the very least apologize to those of us who helped bring this horrible story to light ?

Well I for one ain't holding my breath.

NG brought up a very good point the other day, when Sandeen apparently expressed his desire to follow the trial of Steven's murderer as he did the trial of the murderer of Angie Zapata and ended up putting himself in the spotlight as the video below shows.

Would the coverage be about Steven's murderer or another "15 minutes of fame" for Sandeen, "citizen journalist", and all about me ad nauseum ?

WASHINGTON POST CLOSES MAJOR BUREAUS

2009-11-25T06:15:00.008-05:00

In yet another example of hard times for the "paper press", Reuters has reported that the Washington Post is doing what would have been scoffed at not many years ago, closing bureaus in major US cities.

For those who aren't familiar with the background of this writer who has worked in both broadcasting and the newspaper industry (circulation), I have witnessed as many others have, the slow meltdown of major media due to the economy and what the media needs to survive, ad revenue.

Starting back in 2006 when I was caught up in a downsizing at CBS Broadcasting, and that was before the bottom fell out of the economy, but was a glimpse of what was to come, both print and broadcast media have had to do things that would have been unthinkable just four years ago.

Downsizing, hiring freezes, not renewing contracts with veteran reporters/anchors in favor of less than adequate replacements with lower salaries, selling off assets and in some cases, complete shutdown.

So in the latest media economic upheaval, the Washington Post is closing its bureaus in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles.

"At a time of limited resources and increased competitive pressure, it's necessary to concentrate our journalistic firepower on our central mission of covering Washington and the news, trends and ideas that shape both the region and the countries politics, policies and government," the paper's top editor, Marcus Brauchli, wrote in a memo to employees that was obtained by Reuters.

The old line use to be, "the survival of the fittest", but these days it getting harder and harder to find the "fittest" in media and where, and more importantly when, this will all end.

To be continued ..... unfortunately.

See a related story about the demise of the LGBT press at The Bilerco Project.

"OY VEY MY SON IS GAY" IS A FUN MOVIE

2009-11-25T00:00:00.002-05:00

IF DARE WUZ A GOD .............. SIGH

2009-11-21T03:53:00.013-05:00

I've always enjoyed Joe Penny in all the TV shows he has done, especially "Jake and The Fat Man" (William Conrad was also a long time favorite of mine and would watch anything and everything he would do on TV).

What brought me to think about him is I'm watching a repeat episode of Miami CSI which he was in. I wish he'd get back into doing a series again.

Now "If Dare Wuz A God", Joe would be at the very least Bi (remember I put the B in LGBT) and we'd humming away in a much warmer climate (at least for me anyway). Especially since we were both born in England and are about the same age. And he's the one I'd consider (cough) "getting married for". Yep, we could do "Jake and the Little (not quite) Fat Man".

But alas, Joe's married and spoken for (lucky gal).

As women say about gay men and priests, what a waste.

Sigh.

CHAZ BONO IS ONE HAPPY CAMPER !

2009-11-20T19:27:00.003-05:00

AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS !

DAVID MIXNER TO BE HONORED BY THE POINT FOUNDATION ON APRIL 19, 2010

2009-11-19T08:28:00.005-05:00

David Mixner is one of the good guys, and one of the few in the LGBT hierarchy I have respect for is being honored by The Point Foundation at an event to be held in April of next year.

Author, political strategist and civil rights activist David Mixner will be honored by Point Foundation (Point) at the organization's third annual "NY Point Honors" gala. Point, the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students of merit, will present the Point Legend Award to Mixner at their benefit to be held at 583 Park Avenue in New York City on April 19, 2010.

Victoria Reggie Kennedy, widow of U.S. Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy, will present the award to Mixner during a program that will also include presentations of the Point Courage and Point Inspiration Awards to recipients to be announced.

"David Mixner is one of the great civil rights leaders of our time. I am proud to join the Point Foundation in honoring him, just as my husband was proud to work over the decades with David to achieve full equality for all our people," said Vicki Kennedy. "Ted prized David as a powerful advocate, a teacher of truth, and a great friend. He is one of those rare people who bend history itself."

The Point Legend Award is presented to an individual who has, through the course of their lifetime, achieved greatness in their professional career and apologetically supported the LGBT community. Playwright/director Arthur Laurents received the inaugural award in April 2009.

Point's Executive Director & CEO, Jorge Valencia, commented, "David has been a force within the LGBT community for many, many years and has been a supporter of Point Foundation since its early years. In celebrating 50 years of community organizing and volunteerism, we're humbled that he's graciously agreed to be recognized by Point. He continues to be a source of inspiration to society and more importantly, our youth. He deserves this award and is a shining example of the type of leader Point Scholars strive to be."

"Fifty years of organizing? How could that be true? Especially since I am only 40!" said Mixner.

"There is no better organization than the Point Foundation to celebrate such a milestone. Raising money to assist our future leaders is just the best. I am honored for the recognition and excited about a special evening." (source)

You can go to David's blog "Live From Hell's Kitchen" here.

Congratulations David and thank you for your long service to our community.

WHO R THE "BASH BACK" REVELUTIONAIRES

2009-11-17T12:00:00.012-05:00

So just who are the "Bash Back" folk who have some LGBT bloggers such as Joe.My.God all a twitter calling them %#@!*^ idiots.

Details website has an interesting look at this new wave of youthful in-your-face LGBTs out there doing the equivalent of eco-terrorists but in the name of the revolution for gay rights.

From Bash Back's website, The big story for the past 2 months in the Memphis gay “community” and local mainstream media, has been the supposed “anti-gay” vandalizing of an assimilationist gay billboard put up in a poor POC neighborhood outside of downtown Memphis.

The billboard read “I’m gay and I protected your freedom,” and featured a white, straight-presenting man in uniform, was put up by the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center and cost an estimated $3500.00 . The so-called “homophobic vandals” ripped up the billboard, leaving no trace it had ever even been there. Leaving only the pieces of a fabulous Patti Labelle advertisement in its place.

The gay “community” was so “outraged”, of course they had to do something; staged a prayer vigil on National Coming Out Day, to pray for the individual(s) who carried out this “gruesome act of homophobia”, as well as throwing in some veiled racist remarks that hinted that “the black community hates the gay community”; as if they are mutually exclusive.

I’m here to dispute the claim that this action was an anti-gay act.

First, sending gays to be military fodder is NOT pro-gay or conclusive whatsoever to gay liberation. State militarism only reinforces the dominant structures, and the racism/heterosexism they perpetuate, as well as reducing the number of gay people in the world (both those in Amerikkka and the countries Amerikkka is colonizing/conquering).

Second, we accuse the MGLCC of being flat out racist/anti-queer/anti-trans; and we furiously question how that the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center can squander $3500 on military billboards, when Memphis has the highest trans-murder rate (11 trans women of color, 1 white transwoman and 1 transman of color), as well as one of the highest queer youth homeless rates in the nation, and how they can justify putting a pro-military billboard in the overwhelmingly POC neighborhood of Morris Park, when the poor Black community in Morris Park is disproportionately preyed upon by the military (through the court system’s “prison or military service” rule for minor felonies as well as recruiters’ false promises of otherwise impossible economic/education opportunities) ?

Another individual/group is Queers Against Obama, which again has in-your-face sentiments, this time about President Obama and the government.

These youthful folk are becoming a boyle on the boo-de-ay of some of the LGBT "good old boy's club" whose members are more than willing to play kissy face and footsie with the lackluster likes of HRC and GLAAD so they can win awards, and cry and expound that anything which will create a ripple in the calm waters of gay advocacy is tantamount to heresy.

Never have been one to belong to "clubs" or cliques, and having been a rabble-rouser myself from time to time, perhaps these youngsters are what we need to shake and wake things up.

One can only play nice-nice for so long. To beat the enemy, you have to be prepared to get in the mud with the enemy and have the balls to point out the inefficiency and errors within one's own community.

"To these young Revolutionaries like Bash Back, I say, have at 'em. It's about time we kicked some ass instead of having our asses kicked all the time !"

And you can quote me on that.

THE SHOCK FELT AROUND THE RAINBOW

2009-11-17T00:36:00.003-05:00

While its death may have seemed imminent for sometime, it is nonetheless a shock to find that Window Media shutdown on Monday including all its entities which include the Washington Blade, Southern Voice, Houston Voice and South Florida Blade plus websites.

365Gay reports via the Associated Press, The nation’s largest publisher of newspapers serving the gay and lesbian community has shut down.

Laura Douglas-Brown, editor of Southern Voice newspaper in Atlanta, said she arrived at work Monday to find the locks changed and a note saying parent company Window Media LLC had closed down.
She said the company’s other publications – including the Washington Blade, Houston Voice and South Florida Blade – were also being closed.

“From my understanding, there was just no more money to keep these companies running,” she said in a telephone interview as she sat with her former employees outside their locked Atlanta office. “We had all been told that the companies would be sold. The fact that we were shut down was a complete shock.”

Just last month, the Washington Blade celebrated its 40th anniversary. News editor Joshua Lynsen declined comment on the newspaper’s closure.

“Window Media long provided a very special outlet for the gay community to learn about itself way before there were a lot of other places to find that type of thing,” said Michael Musto, an openly gay writer for the Village Voice in New York, which is owned by Village Voice Media Holdings. “This was the gay community writing about itself, and that’s a voice we should never lose.”

But this comes as no surprise to this writer, as the LGBT press and publications are merely a reflection of what is happening to mainstream media, both broadcasting and print.

Most likely others which can not hold out until the economy gets better, thus ad revenue increasing, will also become but a distant memory of what once was.

Michael Triplett has written a piece titled "Death Of The LGBT Media ?" at Mediaite.

HOOPLA OVER PREJEAN ... I'M OVER IT !

2009-11-15T09:53:00.007-05:00

So here we are another week in which everybody and their brother (and sister, plus dog and cat) are talking about Carrie Prejean, or as the Bitchy Old Queen calls her "I Love My Boobies".

Will this ever go away or keep resurfacing like Palin, Joe the Plumber, the Balloon in the Sky family and those twits on whatever cable channel they're on with all the kids and both he and she are banging someone else, and of course the overactive uterus woman Octomom who I saw a photo of carry a gazillion pizzas ?

I think we are condemned to an Eternal Hell On Earth of watching these idiots because this is what "makes news" these days.

How I long for the days of Walter Cronkite, Edward R Murrow and Huntley and Brinkley, when news was news and gossip and UFO reports remained on the front page of the National Enquirer.

THE SKY DID NOT FALL CHICKEN LITTLE

2009-11-12T00:00:00.003-05:00

Nor was there fire and brimstone, the sun continued to rise in the East and cats and dogs did not mate (at least I don't think any did).

Congratulations to the 2000 plus who have brought their partnership into a marriage of one over the past year here in the Nutmeg State.

With many more to come.

NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE CONCERNS LIKE LGBTs WITH OBAMA PROMISES & RHETORIC

2009-11-05T10:33:00.009-05:00

I've been watching via the CBS Live NewsFeed at LGBT Rainbow Links President Obama's remarks to the White House Tribal Nations Conference. This Conference brings together members of the different Native American Nations to meet with and hear from representatives of the Obama administration as Native Americans celebrate Native American Heritage Month.

“This year the celebration of Native American Heritage Month comes at an historic time for Indian Country as the Obama Administration holds its first annual Tribal Nations Conference and the Embassy of Tribal Nations opens its doors in Washington, D.C. Just as Indian delegations have been coming to Washington for well over a century, modern tribal leaders will descend on the nation’s capitol to ensure consultation regarding federal policy implementation that will benefit generations of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

One of our first diplomatic relations with the U.S. was when the Iroquois aligned with some of the first European settlers. The Iroquois' constitution -- called the Great Law of Peace -- guaranteed freedom of religion and expression and other rights later embraced in the U.S. Constitution. Native Americans played a crucial role in the formation of this country. Today we continue to contribute as modern, thriving nations that are essential to the framework of American society.

Through our strong connections with the land and all living things, tribal nations know firsthand the effects of climate change on the environment. We hold the promise of alternative energy development that would benefit all Americans. The integration of our cultural practices into our education curricula is groundbreaking. We’ve developed innovative practices for telemedicine services for our most remote villages. From cultural tourism to modern manufacturing facilities, we know what it takes to bring sound economic development opportunities to our communities. Native men and women have steadfastly fought and died defending this country as the highest serving minority group in the U.S. armed forces.

As strong, independent Indigenous nations, we will proudly continue to contribute to the social, political and cultural make up of this great country.” - National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) President Jefferson Keel

What I found most striking in President Obama's remarks and the Q/A which followed is I could have been watching the various events The White House has held with LGBTs since moving into the Oval Office.

His remarks were just as eloquent and filled with appreciation, hope for the future and "I will" rhetoric, but it was when it came time for the Q/A that's when the comparison between Native Americans and LGBTs really struck me.

Pointing out promises from previous administrations (for a hundred plus years for Native Americans), campaign promises which needed some prodding of reminding and even in some remarks from those who participated, the fear that what Obama has pledged to deliver won't happen.

Quite honestly it was like Deja Vu watching this event with LGBTs and Native Americans being interchangeable.

I write the following not for any pats on the back or praise, but just to express my own feelings on Native Americans.

Ever since first going out West to visit my cousins in Arizona back in 1999 and having twice driven cross-country to do it, I became interested in the history of the Old West as much as I developed an interest in the Civil War and the South when I lived in Atlanta.

Seeing and talking to Native Americans in my travels across the US and around Arizona I have developed a great personal empathy for the First People.

Listening to some of the issues which members of the audience brought up regarding life on reservations, the poverty, lack of work, access to health care and even the basics of life in today's world, electricity, indoor plumbing and land-line telephone access, it is the great disgrace of the United States after all these decades of promises which were made in treaties and have not been kept.

The United States has been looked upon as a beacon of hope and light by many around the World. But just as LGBTs stay in the closet, so too to a great extent, has the conditions of the First People of the Nation been kept in the closet.

For those in the LGBT community who champion the cause of LGBT issues, I would suggest you look into the current state of Native Americans, as unlikely as it may seem, we are both like-minded Spirits who seek nothing more than equality and a better way of life.

The parallels are striking to say the least.

AND THE SUN DID RISE THE DAY AFTER ..

2009-11-04T11:04:00.008-05:00

Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday, the hope of so many was again taken away. Those who were promised the gift had it swept away by so many waves of a fierce storm.

They could taste and see a lifetime of sharing, of being one, of being equal. But in the end it was not to be.

What now sweet princes and princesses ?

If you can't fathom taking on another fight, no one can blame you. The fight was strong, as best and more than probably anyone could ever imagine or thought they were capable of.

These are the times, as hard as they are to understand, that opponents using the weapons they have, plus with apathy and intolerance, win the battle in the end.

The organizers of the battle will examine and say, if we only did this, or we only did that. But that only adds more agony and unneeded salt on wounds when the wounds need to heal and strengthen into stern resolve.

Those who claim victory have done so by being intolerant and hateful.

And dare I ask what kind of a victory is that which shows one's true morality and character ?

No, the true victors in the battle are the ones who can hold their head high and walk away from the battlefield knowing that they did battle based on love, compassion and for the equality of all men and women in the land.

For those who see things dark and bleak for the moment, rest assured the sun did rise again this morning over the Atlantic, spreading it warm glow over the state of Maine.

Life continues, perhaps not as hopeful as the day before, but with new meaning and challenges for those ready to take up the fight another day.

I AM SO OVER IT ALREADY ..... NEXT !

2009-11-03T11:15:00.006-05:00

Don't get me wrong, I live and breath politics, but the past couple of months even I have wanted to gag.

Here in Connecticut the best the Republicans can put up to run against Senator Chris Dodd is a wrestling Queen (2010). A former high school classmate of mine is willing to trade in his top notch corporate job for an office with a view at Deer Hill Avenue in Danbury to be Mayor in today's election.

We have the important stuff in Maine and Washington State which has been talked about, ad nauseum enough at Pam's House Blend for me to vote for the opposition if I lived in either state.

Then we have any number of bum fuck local elections around the country.

Here is the grand old Nutmeg state there are 162 out of 169 town/city elections going on. Can't we spread the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat around a bit better year wise ?

Oh how I long for the good old days of a year ago. But starting tomorrow we can get back to more important things in life like Glen Beck.

Sigh .... I think I'm going to run away and join the circus to shovel elephant poop.

GLEN BECK UPDATE

Premiere Radio's Glenn Beck, 45, suffered an appendicitis attack, live, during his radio show on Wednesday. He was hospitalized and underwent emergency surgery, a Fox News Channel spokeswoman said.

Beck also missed his early-evening Fox News Channel show. "He's expected to make a full and complete recovery," said Andrew P. Napolitano, who filled in for Beck on his TV show.

Beck will likely be sidelined for the rest of the week. (11-04-09) - SOURCE - Radio Online

CAN WE BE A LITTLE HAPPY WITH OBAMA

2009-10-31T23:51:00.003-04:00

Let's see, extended Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, ended ban on HIV travelers and signed the Matt Shepard bill this week.

Can we be a little happy with our President or are those out there going to continue to be a bunch of annoying brats who don't get everything they wanted from Santa Claus at Christmas.

Reminds of a brat from the 60's.

PAM'S HOUSE BLEND HAS BEEN HIJACKED

2009-10-31T23:17:00.006-04:00

I know I can't be alone in my feeling's, but I'll be glad when the elections are over and the gay marriage issues are settled one way or the other in Maine and Washington State.

Yes these are indeed important issues, and yes it's good to rally the troops, but my God to read post after post ad nauseaum is as bad as when transgender issues have overtaken PHB.

It's Pam's site and enlists others to write, but it really has gotten to the point of being a turnoff for myself and I'm sure many others.

PHB is a horse of a different color when it comes to being an LGBT blog, and an important one.

There does come a time though when some of the horses need to be corralled for the loyal readers who have interests in LGBT issues other than those of a couple or three hijackers.

But then what do I know, I drink Dunkin Donuts coffee for the common man, not hotie totie coffee for the elite.

LOU DOBB'S HOME IN NEW JERSEY SHOT AT

2009-10-29T19:44:00.004-04:00

According to the Associated Press, Police in New Jersey are trying to determine who fired a bullet that struck CNN commentator Lou Dobbs' home as his wife stood nearby. State police Sgt. Stephen Jones says Dobbs' wife and driver were outside the home Oct. 5 when they heard the gunshot. Jones says the bullet didn't penetrate the siding and fell to the ground outside.

While there are a great many commentators, reporters, pundits and talking heads on both sides which you, I or anyone else may disagree with or in cases despise, if it turns out that this event was done by some wacko rather than a hunter's stray bullet, it is a despicable and cowardly act.

Turn your hate and angst into letters, email and protests to sponsors, not physical harm against those you disagree with. The type of person who would do violence against members of the press and media is no less cowardly than the bastards responsible for 9/11.

Read about Alan Berg a "much hated" radio talk show host who was murdered in 1984, here and here.

The producers of the movie "Betrayed" (clip below) while making no claim that the Berg killing and the group associated with it was the basis of the 1988 film, The New York Times wrote in it's review of the film, ''Betrayed'' begins on a chilling note, with the murder of a talk-show host in Chicago.

(Here and elsewhere, the film falls back eagerly on real headlines to strengthen its impact; the reference to the 1984 killing of Alan Berg in Denver is clear.) Richard Libertini, who makes a memorable impression as the hatred-fanning host in this brief sequence, avows that it's all right to ''let people say what they want, as ugly as it may be,'' and indeed his call-in guests do exactly that. But the last look on his face, as he realizes he is caught in a deadly ambush, is far more eloquent in suggesting the terrible consequences of encouraging people to do their worst.

NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION DOWN TO STARTLING NEW LOW .. IS THIS THE END ?

2009-10-27T00:01:00.026-04:00

According to an article from the Associated Press, the last ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations) numbers show the average daily circulation at 379 newspapers dropped 10.6 percent during the last audit period of April to September of this year.

Out of all media, print has been hit the hardest in the past three years leading up to the current economic hard times in regards to ad revenue. Throw into the mix access to news from a multitude of blogs and websites, including many newspapers who have their own website, and the future of the newspaper industry continues to look bleak.

Several newspapers across the United States have folded or ceased printing a publication to go completely on-line such as Hearst Corporation owned, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer (see related earlier posting). In Arizona, earlier this year the East Valley Tribune newspaper based in Mesa went to an on-line publication, dropped most home delivery and offers free editions of the newspaper at rack locations across the East Valley. The newspaper now only prints an edition on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday primarily to offer the standard fare of retail circulars.

Here in Danbury rumors are being heard on the street The News-Times will only publish four days a week sometime in the future. The newspaper is owned by Hearst Corporation which also owns The Connecticut Post, The Advocate and The Greenwich Time.

This spring The News-Times ceased its actual printing operations in Danbury and now all four newspapers owned by Hearst in Connecticut are printed at the Connecticut Post facility in Bridgeport. Prior to that The Advocate was printed in Danbury along with The News-Times while The Connecticut Post and The Greewich Time were printed in Bridgeport.

In the course of full disclosure, this writer worked for The News-Times in the circulation department until earlier this year and writes the LGBT news and commentary blog, Focus On the Rainbow which appears on the websites of the four Hearst owned Connecticut newspapers.

It's been reported for several months that Hearst Corporation has threaten to sell or close the San Francisco Chronicle if expenses can't be brought down and put under control. And earlier this month the New York Times began a San Francisco edition even in light of the economic hardships which newspapers are experiencing, perhaps in this writer's opinion, to be established in the San Francisco market if the Chronicle shuts down its presses forever.

As the article by the Associated Press reports, Newspapers are trying to recover from a steep drop in advertising revenue — traditionally their main source of money. The worst U.S. recession since World War II and the lure of the Internet have combined to make the industry's annual ad revenue $20 billion less than it was three years ago.

While broadcasting has also been hit in the downturn of ad revenue, both radio and TV have cut costs through downsizing (this writer was caught up in the downsizing in 2006 at the CBS Broadcasting Radio Division along with over 100 others), selling off divisions or stations and developing new ways to offer programming or other information provided by the networks, and forming partnerships with other companies to distribute programming and/or news thus creating new sources of ad revenue.

CBS is already treading the water of charging cable companies for carrying the CBS Television Network and Rupert Murdoch is thinking along the same lines for the Fox Network.

Unfortunately for the print media such development isn't possible other than creating websites for its properties.

So in the long run will newspapers completely become as extinct as the dinosaurs ?

Most likely not, after all those weekly sale circulars have to get into the hands of consumers somehow. But it's a fair bet over the next five years or so, the newspaper industry will look a lot different than it does today, and light years different from just twenty years ago.

For a related story, read the article by The News-Times staff reporter Michael C. Juliano, "Small Papers Show Gains" which takes a look at while larger papers may fall to the wayside, papers in smaller communities in the United States may stand a better chance for survival as they provide what larger papers can't, news and even in many cases involvement in the communities they serve.

At the bottom of this blog, you'll find some of the most current articles/commentary at my blog for Hearst Newspapers, Focus On The Rainbow.

LT. DAN CHOI "TAKING ON THE BURDEN" ?!!

2009-10-24T15:38:00.008-04:00

After working on my blogs and other assorted blog related stuff today, I finally got around to reading an article with an interview with Lt. Dan Choi which NGblog had inked to at Metro Weekly wherein Lt. Choi says and I quote, "essentially taking on the burden of representing ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' in our movement".

Aside from some handler telling Lt. Choi to not smile so much during TV interviews as it gives the appearance of being smug and dare I say "High and Mighty" when debating someone on opposing viewpoints as happened recently on AC360, they should also school him in being very careful of how he words things when being quoted by reporters in interviews or in public where mics, cameras and anything else can record. Not to forget the "theatrics" when he spoke at the march in DC. I mean was that really needed ?

Taking on a "burden" ?

Well Lt. Choi, if you feel it is a "burden" then perhaps you should step aside and let someone else who has been affected by DADT champion the cause.

You're in the limelight now Lt. Choi, not an easy position to be and like it or not, every word you say will be scrutinized and dissected, beginning with your's truly herein.

How utterly pious can one be ?

THE ANTI-GAY HILLBILLY WHO CAN'T SING WORTH A DAMN ............ MATT BOSWELL

2009-10-22T16:05:00.009-04:00

Over the past couple of days, LGBT bloggers led by PHB have been taking to task, and rightly so this anti-gay hillbilly dumb ass bastard Matt Boswell who recently "performed" at a festival in Reidsville, North Carolina.

I put performed in quotes because I've heard cats in heat screeching during a full moon sing better than Boswell and his band of lugnuts.

Anyway, what has everybody up in arms is cuz'in Matt "sang" (refer to previous sentence regarding quotes) a song which was originally done by Merle Haggard (I bet he's real happy) "Are the Good Times Really Over for Good ? " and changed the lyrics including, 'And you can't get married, you stupid gays and queers, so why don't you go somewhere else? '

Nice, real nice. While cuz'in Matt doesn't have a website, he does have a MySpace page right here which among other things lists where he and his hillbilly band will be appearing.

And by the way cuz'in Matt was asked never to come back to Reidsville to "sing" again. Too bad they didn't tar and feather him like a peacock.

Now I'm not one of those to do a "call to action", but as cuz'in Matt lists where he'll be "performing" whose to say a couple of folks or more might turn out to protest his cat screeching howling and anti-gay bigoted dumb ass bastard bookings.

My advice to cuz'in Matt is go back to the Appalachian Mountains and find some of dem there fellers with shotguns who like to make men squeal like a pig.

And if I were Merle Haggard I'd sue the dumb ass bastard for abusing "Are the Good Times Really Over for Good ? " Below is a video of the "performance" in Reidsville.

Boswell reminds me of another dumb ass bastard hillbilly

HYPOCRISY AT KNIGHT DITGAL MEDIA CTR

2009-10-18T12:34:00.003-04:00

In a piece at their website written by Robert Niles, he writes as some bloggers have complained, about the possible FTC rule which will not give "citizen journalists" a protection shield from giving up sources for articles or reports.

In part Niles writes, Can you do journalism and not be a "journalist"?

Do people declared "journalists" get special speech and press rights that other American citizens do not enjoy?

Can anyone enjoy the right to free speech and free publication, even if that individual is not a full-time professional reporter?

There ought to be no special class of citizen called a "journalist." Anyone who does journalism, even if for just a moment in their lives, ought to enjoy the protections of the First Amendment when they choose to speak or to publish. Otherwise, we are ceding to unelected corporate employers the power to determine who gets First Amendment rights, or not.

However if you're not a "real journalist" don't think about applying for a fellowship at the Knight Digital Media Center:

Applicants for KDMC@USC issue-oriented seminars or professional growth workshops must be currently employed as professional multimedia journalists and have a minimum of three years of experience.

Applicants for the KDMC@UCB Multimedia Reporting workshops at UC Berkeley should be print and broadcast reporters and editors who want to make the transition to multimedia journalism and professional journalists engaged in preparing their news organizations for convergence.

COMMITMENT TO ACTION: We want to make sure the fellows we select will make a difference when they return to their newsroom. In addition to passing along training, we would ask you to develop an action plan for putting what you learn to work for the benefit of your news organization.

Nor try to apply to one of their "boot camps":

The Knight Digital Media Center conducts week-long boot camps in Multimedia Skills for traditional journalists at the Graduate School of Journalism at University of California Berkeley. Competitive fellowships are available to 20 professional journalists from traditional print and broadcast media for each of the boot camps offered each year.

Nor the seminars which they offer which are for "mid-career journalists " or by invitation only.

So I guess my question to Mr. Niles would be, why do you care about those, the non-professional journalists, the "citizen journalists", who would not be protected by a source non-disclosure shield, when the outfit whose website your piece appears on is a "training school" only for "real journalists" ?

I know, sometimes I ask funny questions.

THE CITIZEN JOURNALIST AND BLOG OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO ... NOT ME BROTHER

2009-10-16T00:11:00.020-04:00

I take great joy in looking at blogs, not websites, but blogs where folks proudly display their "blogging or Internet" awards and cast themselves as this thing in the "new media" called being a citizen journalist.

Now and then I'll get into a conversation with real journalists, who like me, not only laugh at this Internet created term, but cringe every time we hear it. I'm not talking about a real journalist who blogs either for a larger news entity or is a former or freelance journalist who has his or her own blog.

I'm discussing those who have never seen the inside of a newsroom much less taken any journalism courses, but because their blog or participation in one, creates volumes of readers thus showing them, well I must know what I'm doing otherwise folks wouldn't be reading my stuff, and wouldn't know what an AP wire machine was or what -30- means or the term actuality.

I think awards are good, although for myself I don't put a lot of stock in them. Quite frankly the only reason, and it was suggested by someone, that I mention in my bio that I was recognized three consecutive years and won "the" prize from the Associated Press for reporting, was to "give myself some credibility among skeptics" who might say "who are you to be writing or doing commentary on this subject or that ?"

When I decided to try my hand at blogging back in 2007, but more so in 2008 when I decided to use my "old tools" of research, writing, re-writes and editing thus becoming "the blogger I am today", I could have chosen any topic or field of issues but chose LGBT because I am.

Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, John Chanin who was then the director of sports programming for ABC Radio, said to me, "never be afraid to express your opinion even if you get knocked on your ass for doing so. If you feel strongly about something write it and say it." I took John's advice back in the 70's - 80's, and have done so again since blogging.

I don't blog to win popularity contests, be part of dog and pony shows, nor to have someone come up to me and say "oh your so and so, can I have your autograph ?".

NO, but I'll take yours on a check made out to cash.

What I hope, and I did give this some thought actually, aside from occasionally offering and highlighting news events about our little community and offering opinion, perhaps there may be someone out there on the other side of the computer screen who may decide, regardless of age, to take courses, get a degree in journalism and become a real reporter for the LGBT community.

I never went to college, did go to two "broadcasting schools", one for TV and one for radio, and self-taught myself to become a journalist. Of course half the battle in that is having an inquisitive mind and an appetite for news. And while I'd never win a Pulitzer for my writing capabilities or lack there of, I get along.

It has taken me awhile to get use to the "longer" form of writing as opposed to "script" and "bullet" writing, but in any case I get my point across, or at the very least try to.

Just about the only thing I regret, and I mentioned this to our Mayor here in Danbury who use to be an English teacher at Danbury High School, is that I wish one of my favorite teachers in high school was still alive so he could see what I've done with this thing called blogging.

He was proud when I did radio reporting, and I think he might be just as proud with the blogging, this the English Composition teacher who I'm sure use to pull out his hair when I was a student in his class, twice.

So you "Internet Award" folks can keep your little trinkets which make bloggers feel good and make them feel like they're real journalists.

I'll take mine, if ever offered, from the real award establishments where those awards really mean something and you're being honored for being a journalist, not a make believe one.

And for the "real journalists" reading this, here's something for your entertainment.

ANDREW SULLIVAN ISN'T HAPPY AND I AGREE

2009-10-13T16:33:00.003-04:00

Saddest thing for me is his point about more people are interested in the HRC dinner and Obama's speech than the vigil for those who died from HIV/AIDS.

Where the fuck are all those young people who turned out Sunday for the March, surely some must have been in town on Saturday evening or were they out getting shitfaced and balled up the ass ?!

Some folks as usual like to "pick" what part of the gay agenda they want to participate in. Rotten fucking bastards !

I wish I could have gone to Washington DC Andrew, I for one would have been there with you at the Memorial Ceremony, and even though you and I don't see eye to eye on a great many things, what you discuss in the video, well we're on the same page my friend.

QUEERTY TAKES GABBY ARANA TO TASK OVER HIS WRITING ABOUT DC MARCH

2009-10-12T19:17:00.000-04:00

I've had my own run in with Gabby Arana (see this posting) and now the website Queerty is taking the silly twit to task for his article at The American Prospect writing that the LGBT march in Washington, DC will do nothing for LGBT causes.

Nice to see I'm not alone in my dumb ass bastard feelings towards Gabby.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S HRC SPEECH AND THE MEMEs WHO WILL NEVER LIVE IN THE REALISTIC WORLD OF POLITICS AND LIFE

2009-10-11T03:30:00.015-04:00

Having worked Saturday evening and then finishing up some much needed "housekeeping' with taking out links that are no longer viable at LGBT Rainbow Links, it wasn't until 1 AM when I could catch the repeat coverage of CNN's news program from 10 PM in which a panel discussed Obama's HRC speech, and then able to watch the speech via a replay at C-Span and check out some of the LGBT bloggers and Demi-Gods to see their reaction (as if I didn't already know) and here it is after 2 AM that I'm writing this commentary.

Let me first start with the picture I used for this posting. I was going to use a standard photo of President Obama, but then decided to do some searching and came across the cartoon, which to me and the reaction I saw from three of four members of the CNN panel plus what bloggers have written, must be what they think Obama says in his head about LGBTs.

The CNN panel consisted of Dan Savage, Lt. Dan Choi, Michaelangelo Signorile and Hilary Rosen.

Dan Savage called Obama's speech in not so many words, same old same old, Lt. Dan Choi of course did his bit about DADT, talk about same old same old (I wish he wouldn't smile so much it's irritating).

Signorile, well, first of all when asked what the reaction in the ballroom was, had to admit his "timing was off " and was locked out of the room because of security for Obama and had to watch the speech from his hotel room. I hope he didn't have to pay for the dinner. Good going ace, professional broadcaster that you are.

In any case once Signorile finally got to the topic said "we need to see something concrete".

The only person of reason and as the title of this commentary says, "living in the realistic world of politics and life", was Hillary Rosen who try as she might explain as I often have, all these things regarding DADT and DOMA plus everything else aren't going to be taken care of overnight and in my words, Obama is not a fairy godmother who can wave his magic wand and poof, all is done and taken care of.

The 12 minutes or so of the panel discussion was exactly what I found the LGBT bloggers and Demi-Gods writing. Crying memes like Savage, Choi and Signorile and one taking the approach of Rosen.

As usual Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend was of course less than pleased, no surprise there as being one of the Dallas 24 who want everything yesterday, no ifs, ands, or boo-tocks .

The folks at Queers Against Obama, whoever the hell they are, had a real special posting by, Elián Maricón who literally wrote "blah, blah, blah, blah"and also when writing about the Matt Shepard Bill wrote, "I'd like to personally tell President Obama to go fuck himself for fetishizing Matthew Shepherd. Other queer and transgender people have been murdered since then...they just weren't white, cis, or male enough to matter."

Oh and they also had a very nice picture of the idiots from Westboro where they hold up the "We Hate Fags" signs, with Obama super-imposed into the photo holding one of the signs.

Real classy.

Andrew "I can beat a Mary Jane rap" Sullivan didn't care for the speech as neither did the folks at Bilerco, while Sean Bugg at the BuggBlog wrote, "Don't ask me to support you because our nation's problems affect us all as Americans when you won't take the steps to end the most egregious way in which our own government daily reminds us that we are not, actually, considered fully and equally American".

I guess Mr. Bugg must be gainfully employed with health benefits and has not to worry about losing the roof over his head and sleeping in his car while he is unable to find work.

Bless her little heart, Monica Roberts who writes the blog Trans Griot, and who is an African-American simply wrote, "The sniping has already started amongst white gays and lesbians. I'll give it a day before I comment on it." You go girl !

Joe Sudbay at America Blog Gay wrote, "And, tonight, he did not deliver anything new or exciting. He did not assuage our concerns". Assuage, great someone else like Gaby Arana who likes to use 50 cent Howard Cosell words.

Meanwhile over at Good As You, someone with some common sense wrote, "At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter how I see all this. It doesn't really matter how Pam Spaulding sees all this. It doesn't really matter how Hillary Rosen, Dan Savage, Daniel Choi, and Michelangelo Signorile see all this ..... I want to be left knowing that my president values the basic civil liberties that all of us, by virtue of our citizenship, are supposed to hold dear. The only paper he needs to read to find that sort of advice starts with the line "We the people..."

So here's the bottom line folks, you can live in the world of Oz and click your ruby slippers till hell freezes over waiting for the Wizard of Oz to give the scarecrow a brain, the tin man a heart and the lion some courage.

Or you can wake up and realize you live in Kansas where everything isn't in technicolor and life comes in shades of black, white and gray.

Then you can join the rest of us LGBTs who live in Kansas and know that Somewhere Over The Rainbow is only a song and Oz is only a place in a young girl's dream.

It's now 3:30 AM and time to put this commentary and myself to bed.

Read my additional commentary at Hearst Newspapers

The Speech, The March and The Self Absorbed Memes

AND

Bitchy Old Queen

"I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW .. THE RAIN IS GONE .. HERE IS THE RAINBOW I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR .. IT'S A SUN SHINY DAY"

2009-09-26T14:03:00.008-04:00

It takes a real man to finally admit he was wrong !

OH THE MEMEs ARE SCREAMING ALREADY !

2009-09-25T22:14:00.004-04:00

FRANKLY MY DEAR I THINK IT'S A FUNNY AD

THE HERMAPRODITE .. A PRELUDE TO TRANSGENDER IN ART AND HISTORY

2009-09-25T14:57:00.010-04:00

I came across an interesting posting at the blog "Mrs. Candy's Perfect Phallus" in regards to the Hermaphrodite as seen in art and history. Because the writer did such an excellent job in in conveing the history, I'm going to cut and paste a portion of the excellent posting.

The above photo, one of several found in the posting, is Sleeping Hermaphroditus, Gianlorenzo Bernini 1619, found in The Louvre, Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Sully, Ground Floor, Room 17.

Simply speaking, an hermaphrodite is an organism that possesses both male and female genitalia. More accurately, however, such an organism would be referred to as a simultaneous (or synchronous) hermaphrodite. This is in contrast to sequential hermaphrodites, organisms born of one sex but that later change into the alternate sex.

The term "hermaphrodite" comes from the Greek God Hermaphroditus, the son of Hermes and Aphrodite. Legend has it that Hermaphroditus was raised by nymphs on Mount Ida, a sacred mountain in Phrygia (Turkey). At the age of fifteen, he grew bored of his surroundings and decided to go off on his own in search of adventure. It was in the woods of Caria, near Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey) that he encountered a beautiful and rather dangerous Naiad named Salmacis. Naiads were a type of Nymph who presided over fountains, wells, springs, streams, and brooks.

Salmacis was overcome by lust for the boy, and tried to seduce him, but was rejected. This did not bode well for young Hermaphroditus. When he thought her to be gone, he undressed and entered the waters of the empty pool. Salmacis sprang out from behind a tree and jumped into the pool, wrapping herself around the boy, forcibly kissing him and touching his breast. While he struggled, she called out to the Gods that she and the boy should never part. Her wish was granted, and their bodies blended into one intersex form.

As with all myths, the legend of Hermaphroditus is most likely based on fact, by the finding of an individual(s) who was, as we would call today, intersexed, or in the offensive to some, a He-She.

While it can be argued the He-She of today is most defined by those individuals found in the porn industry, or those who have not completed their "transition" from one physical gender to another, one can pretty much conclude that for centuries there have been those who have struggled with the concept of being transgendered, multiplied by the fact one is already intersexed.

For the real Hermaprodite it goes beyond just the psychological aspect of one's sex, but also the physical challenge of determining "who and what am I ?", something a great many of us will never have to question to such an extreme.

LIBERACE ... WHY WON'T THEY LET THE MAN REST IN PEACE INSTEAD OF MAKING AN OPPORTUNISTIC MOVIE ?

2009-09-23T20:39:00.009-04:00

As many of you have read or seen by now, a movie with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon is planned and reportedly will center on the palimony suit against Liberace in 1982.

This writer's question is why, and to be perfectly honest I would expect better from Douglas, Damon and Steven Soderbergh who will direct the film.

Do we really need to trash and drag Liberace threw the mud yet again, this time to make money selling movie tickets and popcorn.

As a panelist during the McCarthy hearings asked Joe McCarthy, "have you no shame ?".

When will we see a new films for theaters on the lives of Rock Hudson, Paul Lynde, Dick Sargent, Sal Mineo, James Dean, Barbara Stanwyck and any number of others who have passed on and their private lives exposed after the fact by vile writers looking to make a quick buck, as in the case of the recent book about Merv Griffin.

As many readers know, Outing is my pet peeve, this type of opportunistic shark feeding is my second.

When the New York Times published Liberace's obit on Thursday, February 5, 1987, James Barron the writer of the piece, wrote in part, Liberace, whose glitzy costumes, giant candelabra and extravagant showmanship made him almost as famous as his piano playing, died yesterday at his home in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 67 years old. His spokesman in New York, Denise Collier, said the cause of death was cardiac arrest due to congestive heart failure brought on by subacute encephalopathy. Encephalopathy is a degenerative disease of the brain. A contributing cause was aplastic anemia, Ms. Collier said.

But that wasn't good enough for the press who had been writing for months that Liberace had AIDS and as the BBC reported in this segment of a program on Liberace, an opportunistic medical examiner in Palm Springs, CA decided to make a name for himself and ordered Liberace's body back for an autopsy, and what the ME would have known would be a grand announcement and give him his shining 15 minutes of fame.

Make a well deserved documentary on Liberace, but not this film which I'm sure will only make Liberace and his memory foder for the butt end of jokes.

Are the movie studios that hard up for money, or is there no writing and producing talent who can come up with worthy projects these days ?

Oh, excuse me, I forgot, that's why we have "reality TV " programs filling the network schedules. After all how much does it cost to showcase dancers and entertainer wannabes, and write inept scripts for the hosts and panelists ?

Beam me up Scotty, there is no intelligent or artistic life in Hollywood any more.

THE NEW McCARTHYISM THE RIGHTWING MEDIA AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE IT ALL

2009-09-21T08:41:00.009-04:00

BILERICO PROJECT TAKES A LOOK AT CISGENDER AND ALL THE FUROR OVER THE SUBJECT AT PAM'S HOUSE BLEND

2009-09-20T20:09:00.004-04:00

In a posting written by Alex Blaze on September 17 titled, "Cisgender Madness", There's been a debate raging over at Pam's House Blend that no one here at Bilerico has been willing to touch with a 10-foot pole: Is it OK to call non-transgender people "cisgender"?

Well, the debate is mostly a small group of gay and lesbian cis-people who don't particularly like the word, and everyone else who either likes it or is OK with it in certain situations. I don't know if who gets to speak for the hundreds of millions of English-speaking cis people out there, but since most people don't even know the word exists, it's worth having this debate now.

It seems to me that opposition to the word has less to do with the word "cisgender" itself and more to do with people who don't want a word for non-transgender people at all. It's nice to not have a word for something - it becomes the normal version of whatever. That's part of the impetus behind developing the word "cisgender" in the first place - to remind everyone who isn't trans that they aren't normal (although as long as being trans is medicalized as it is, I don't see transgender or transsexualism ever being considered on equal footing with society at large. That probably speaks more to the need to develop a new paradigm for understanding medical conditions and illness and variation outside of the current "here's a normal body, anything different is wrong" model. The same for homo- and bisexuality; we can call heterosexuals "straight" all we want, they're still going to think they're the norm by which everyone else must be compared).

more at Bilerico Project

CARRIE PREJEAN SPEAKS TO GOD "I WAS CHOSEN" SHE SAYS TO AFA/NOM HATERS

2009-09-18T23:28:00.006-04:00

" I AM DISGUSTED AT THE WAY SOME PEOPLE CAN BE SO INTOLERANT" ... um, excuse me please ..... then why are you speaking to a room filled with hateful people at a summit coordinated by a hateful group ? Just thought I'd ask Dear.

THE PHILOSOPHICAL CIVIL WAR IN THESE OUR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TODAY

2009-09-17T11:12:00.006-04:00

Never let it be said just because I "pick on someone" when in disagreement over something they write or their attitude on issues in which we disagree that I don't give credit when due.

Mike Rogers (Mr. Rodgers) has a very good posting about where we are today in the "them against us" in regards to the Obama Presidency.

My friends tell me I am paranoid when I suggest that the political climate in this country is ripe for a full-blown civil war. Looking at the messaging that the right wing is doing, it's clear that they want a call to arms. Sure, they may not say "pick up your guns now," but it's what they are trying to incite. I know people hate the comparisons, but from the KKK to Glenn Beck, the messaging is almost identical.

Mike's full posting "Civil War ?" can be found here.

BLOGGER AND GOGGLE IS GOING ON A FEEDING FRENZY AGAINST GAY AND LESBIAN BLOGSPOT BLOGS - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

2009-09-14T12:14:00.017-04:00

I wasn't going to do a posting about what I have noticed over the past couple of weeks for "fear" (I ez so afraid) it would draw attention and the Blogger Nazi's would shutdown this blog and any number of my other blogs, but there comes a time when you suck it in and take the punches for the greater cause.

Blogger/Google is shutting down gay and lesbian blogspot blogs faster than I have ever seen before since I started blogging in 2007 because of "reader complaints".

Granted some are "mature" in nature, but when I went to catch up on one of my favorite lesbian blogs which I hadn't looked at since the end of June to see what she has been up to lately she was shutdown !

"Just A Girl In Short Shorts" is hardly an explicit site when compared to other gay and lesbian blogs which have been closed. (You'll find Becky's Twitter feed here and Becky's goodbye to blogging here - thanks for chasing off a great blogger, Blogger - The Publisher)

While Becky is no-holds barred in her opinion of Blogger to see her lesbian/political blog down sends out a chilly warning to all LGBT blogspot bloggers. And as you'll read in the link above Becky finally gave up with Blogger as having a "mature content" pre-entry page put on her blog.

So should FOCUS and Bitchy Old Queen be looking to be shutdown for an occasional (and I mean occasional) posting which has a nude picture no worse than one might see in Playboy or the former Playgirl magazines to accompany a posting ? Or because I sometimes swear like a sailor to make a point, not to forget the title of my humor/satire blog Bitchy Old Queen.

Put up an "adult content" advisory if you must Blogger but don't shutdown and or harass the "least offensive" of the LGBT bloggers whose blogs contribute to the LGBT community.

I can see why more and more LGBT bloggers are moving elsewhere or giving up blogging all together because as Becky says, we no longer trust the market place of ideas—the ideas of sassy libertarian dykes and homophobic idiots need to be suppressed—so that no one will get the get the erroneous impression they are worth anything. We are so lucky to have the officious intermeddlers that report bad thought to the Internet Companies, and companies that are willing to implement the will of the mob.

WARNING TO LGBT BLOGGERS

YOU AND I COULD BE NEXT !

NEED PROOF ? CLICK HERE

CHRISTWIRE ... FOR HOMOSEXUALS SEEKING CHRIST AND HIS FORGIVNESS IN THE HOLY SPIRIT OF REDEMPTION OF HEART AND SOUL

2009-09-13T00:23:00.006-04:00

I've come across this wonderful website ChristWire which helps homosexuals who wish to leave their deviate lifestyle in the name of Jesus Christ.

On this loving website which helps homosexuals find their way into the light of Christ and away from the Sin which they commit, there are many articles to enlighten and to help.

God Bless the creators of ChristWire as they lead the forsaken to the Glory Of God And The Holy Spirit.

MEET THE "PORN PASTOR" CRAIG GROSS

2009-09-10T01:13:00.005-04:00

I'm not making any condemnation, disagreeing or agreeing with his view on the adult video industry nor commentary of Pastor Craig Gross by doing this post, but thought he would be an interesting person for you to meet and understanding "his calling".

As ABC News reports, for the last seven years, the 33-year-old former youth minister has been known as the "porn pastor," befriending Las Vegas sex workers and other social pariahs.

Conservative Christians were horrified when Gross moved there last year and declared, "Jesus Loves Sin City," establishing The Strip Church, attending porn conventions and handing out mini-Bibles.

But today, Gross is expanding his message of Christian love to the glutton, the disconnected, the crook, the outcast -- and even the ultra religious who disagree with him.

Edge has a full interview with pastor Gross and what he hopes to accomplish by bringing "his calling" to Las Vegas.

Pastor Craig Gross first earned national ink when he and a group of his followers handed out "Jesus Loves Porn Stars" Bibles at an erotica convention in Los Angeles.

"I believe Jesus, he’d be in the show with us," Gross tells ABC News. "He’d be mixing it up with these people. ’Cause he doesn’t look at them as porn stars, or porn producers. He looks at us as all the same.

Since forming his anti-porn ministry in 2002, he’s written four books and has launched a Web site xxxchurch.com .The online anti-porn portal averages one million hits a month.

Pastor Craig Gross' website The Strip Church can be found here.

Sin City Saviors from XXXchurch on Vimeo

TAKE YOUR BUCKS TO HARRAH'S ATL CITY

2009-09-09T01:12:00.007-04:00

According to an article by my blogger friend Mike Snell at New Gay Travel Guide it looks like Harrah's and Atlantic City in New Jersey are going gay friendly and hopefully getting some of that hard earned Rainbow bucks you brothers and sisters are making.

Harrah’s Entertainment has been committed to creating a diverse, inclusive environment for employees, guests and communities for some time now. As the only gaming organization to obtain a perfect score on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index Harrah’s is committed to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. Harrah’s recently received HRC’s Best Place to work for LGBT Equality.

Harrah's has been catering to gay and lesbian travelers at its Las Vegas casinos for a few years, but will launch a similar campaign in the country's second-largest gambling market with an "Out in Atlantic City" weekend of partying Sept. 25-27. The event, expected to draw more than 1,000 people, will bring some of the best-known names in the gay and lesbian entertainment scene to the Harrah's casinos.

For more of Mike's article on what's "coming up" in Atlantic City, take a hop over to New Gay Travel Guide.

A VERY SOBERING LOOK AT GAY SUICIDE

2009-09-08T22:31:00.007-04:00

My blogger friend James Hipps has another very good post at GayAgenda this time looking at suicide among gays in an article written by contributor Loren A. Olson, MD, DLFAPA.

We must recognize our brothers and sisters of all ages who are continuing to struggle with their sexual orientation or gender identity and whether or not to publicly disclose it.

A dedicated strategy under a national suicide prevention framework to address the unique risk of suicide in all ages of the LGBT community is needed. Increased awareness within the gay community of who is at risk and the warning signs is also important. Efforts to reduce homophobia, discrimination, and violence directed toward the LGBT community are important to help reduce risks of self-harm.

In the article you will find links and phone numbers for those who are or know someone in need of help.

I have lost two cousins who committed suicide, not for what our brothers and sisters are experiencing but for other reasons. What they and everyone who get into the depths of despair need to know and realize, you are not alone, just reach out to someone and there will be help.

If my two cousins had just reached out, the Rutledge family tree of cousins would not be missing two limbs.

Eddie and Susan Ann, we all miss you very much.

Why did you leave us ?

MY DEAR FRIEND NG AND THE DALLAS 24

2009-09-08T21:53:00.003-04:00

WOULD YOU BUY A SMOKE ALARM FROM "I HATE GAYS & OBAMA" PASTOR ANDERSON ?

2009-09-08T15:22:00.010-04:00

God Bless CNN and Rick Sanchez as they are running a story about the good Pastor and his "day job" selling home fire alarm systems at andyfire.com.

CNN and Sanchez are raising the question is he running the business from the church and, uh oh, that may affect the church's tax exempt status.

Personally I'd let my house burn down before I'd buy a fire alarm from this anti-gay bigoted bastard !

UPDATE

Guess CNN and Sanchez were on to something.

All the andyfire.com videos at YouTube are gone and the account closed and his smoke alarm selling website andyfire.com is ka-put also.

Well boys and girls, as they say, if you can't stand the heat ........ stay out of Hell !

GAY & BI MEN BRANDED BY STEREOTYPES

2009-09-07T22:41:00.009-04:00

For a very long time I haven't discussed my feelings about how stereotypes of gay men affect someone such as myself.

There was a time when I would engage in such discussion, but frankly got tired of being called a homo-hating-homo.

That is until I read a posting tonight by James Hipps at Gay Agenda titled, "Do Stereotypes Discredit the GLBT Community ?".

James has put into writing exactly the way I have felt for years, and I'm talking since the 70's kids, the gays which the media choose to cover for news at gay pride events or in television programs or even the movies are so far afield from wear I stand, I cringe when I think that this is how straights see gays.

One of the very few movies which I have been able to relate to in terms of gay portrayal is "Longtime Companion", "I knew" many of those guys as we went through the initial horror of the AIDS epidemic.

I never identified with any of the AIDS activists or even activists of the gay movement.

I've always had to laugh at the notion and label of being a "butch gay", because I don't smoke a cigarette with arched wrist, or sash shay across a room, much less talk with "a lisp".

When folks over the years have found out I was an LGBT it was like watching someone who had just been told I was Superman, mouth agape waiting for flies to fly in.

So needless to say how refreshing it is to find a kindred spirit in James.

I wonder how many others "stay in the closet" in regards to their feelings about being stereotyped or "classified" into fem, bear, twink, etc, etc, etc for fear of being called a homo-hating-homo.

As I always say labels are for jars, not people.

GABRIEL ARANA AT BOX TURTLE BULLETIN GETS HIS KNICKERS KNOTTED UP BECAUSE I CALL HIM AN "IGNORANT SO AND SO"

2009-09-07T03:47:00.011-04:00

So here we have Gabriel Arana, one of the snapping turtlettes at Box Turtle Bulletin who decides to write this piece at The American Prospective website called "The Deification of Matthew Shepard" in which Gabby pulls apart and pretty much beats up Matthew Shepard and leaves him to die on a fence all over again.

Apparently Gabby has a problem with Matt Shepard being "chosen" to be the representative of anti-gay hate crimes.

In fact Gabby's subheading for this piece is "What the gay-rights movement has lost by making Shepard its icon."

Nice huh, I'm sure Matt's mother would have a few choice words to say to Gabby if she had the chance.

So not only is this character assassination of Matt Shepard put on The American Prospective, a small portion is cross-posted at Box Turtle Bulletin to promote the piece, which I may add there is no way for someone to leave a comment at The American Prospective, so a writier can hit-and-run.

However, one can leave a comment at BTB (sorry I'm getting tired of typing Box Turtle Bulletin) and in fact Gabby writes, "I’d be interested to hear what BTB readers think".

So I wrote the following Saturday evening, "My God … you really are an ignorant so and so aren’t you.

In regards to “I’ve resigned myself to the fact that, no matter what I write, I’ll be misunderstood.”

Then perhaps you should not write.

Or write for the anti-gay/Conservative media.

From reading your article at The American Prospect they would be more than happy to kiss your boo-de-ey."

Sunday afternoon when I came in from work was an email from Gabby which reads, "Dear Lyndon,

We are happy to have you comment at Box Turtle Bulletin, but you should refrain from ad hominem attacks. I value the perspective of people who disagree with me and am happy to hear what you have to say, but we try to keep the discussions on the site civil".

I was civil, I called Gabby an ignorant so and so instead of what I should have called him, a dumb ass stupid fucking bastard !

By the way my comment was removed from BTB. Sigh.

And don't ya love ad hominem, reminds me of bovinian blowfish.

So boys and girls when Gabby writes that he would be interested in what readers think, no, no, the real truth is in the clip.

"BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR MR. RODGERS" OR "THE LIFE OF A SECRET AGENT"

2009-09-04T22:55:00.013-04:00

So here we are boys and girls, the great outmaster has gotten his wish of the mainstream media picking up on his outings of GOP politicians but with a big .... OOPS !

The Lt. Governor Bauer camp is blaming the Governor Sanford camp for the purported outing of Bauer as being gay.

The mainstream media are having a field day with this as one might expect.

So Mikey has finally got his wish with the likes of WIS-TV, Free-Times.com, CNN.com, The State newspaper and the national politics web site Politico.com, and others, with probably more to come.

And of course no one can believe that Mikey could have done this all on his own which is making the great ouster's head spin faster than a possessed girley man waiting for an exorcist to arrive.

“This attack was orchestrated on behalf of Mark Sanford, either directly or indirectly, and financially subsidized by him or one of his many ‘front-groups,’” Lexington Republican Sen. Jake Knotts wrote about Rogers' post in a letter he has circulated to members of the General Assembly.

But Rogers calls the claim that Sanford had anything to do with his post on Bauer is an “absolute untruth.” according to the Free Times.

“I don’t know anyone in Mark Sanford’s office,” Rogers told Free Times Sept. 3 while in a Washington, D.C. taxi cab. “I don’t know anybody on Mark Sanford’s political team. I don’t know anything about Mark Sanford except what’s been out there in the public and in the press.”

So could it be boys and girls that after all these years Mr. Rodgers is in fact a secret agent and straight taboot !?!

By the way in the article at Free Times, Mr. Rodgers says he didn't know that Bauer had asked for Sanford to step down. Well I guess as busy as secret agents are these days doing spy work, they rarely have time to pick up a newspaper or browse the Internet.

God Save The Queen .... where's Mrs. Peel when you need her ?

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MAKING EDITORIAL DECISIONS DURING THE REALITY OF WAR

2009-09-04T11:41:00.018-04:00

Politico is reporting that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is calling to task the Associated Press over a photo which the AP released of a mortally wounded soldier in Afghanistan and was used as part of a news report.

The article titled "AP IMPACT: Calm - then sudden death in Afghanistan" was written by Alfred de Montesquiou and Julie Jacobson and features in addition to the article a video report of an incident in which Lance Cpl. Joshua ‘Bernie’ Bernard was hit by a grenade and killed during an ambush and subsequent fight with the Taliban fighters.

In the video, and which has brought Gates to speak out against the AP, is a still photo of the mortally wounded Bernard.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is objecting “in the strongest terms” to an Associated Press decision to transmit a photograph showing a mortally wounded 21-year-old Marine in his final moments of life, calling the decision “appalling” and a breach of “common decency.” according to the article at Politico.

In a response, the Associated Press said, "AP journalists document world events every day. Afghanistan is no exception. We feel it is our journalistic duty to show the reality of the war there, however unpleasant and brutal that sometimes is," said Santiago Lyon, the director of photography for AP.

While we can and do have great sympathy for the family of Lance Cpl. Bernard, and any family whose loved ones are shown injured or killed on the battlefield, this is not something new in covering war.

Since the Civil War, photographers and publishers have documented the cold reality of what war is about. It's not about winning or losing, it's about death, often cold and calculated to some degree by the powers of Nations who decide to go to war.

During the 60's, Vietnam was brought into the living rooms of America in stark reality, some might say which prompted the protests against the Vietnam War, and unfortunately against the brave men and women who served their Country at the time.

Movie theaters during World War II showed news footage in prepared presentations before the main feature movie of the night.

And with global news gathering networks like CNN, we witnessed the bombardment of Baghdad as a result of Iraq invading Kuwait.

Had satellite TV been available then, we would have seen Edward R. Murrow reporting from a rooftop in London, not on just radio, but also showing the London Blitz and the devastation which it brought.

Decisions to show death in the news business is not done lightly, it's not done for ratings, nor to boost the popularity of war.

To the contrary, it is first to document, and then if in happenstance, can create opposition to war and the death which war brings.

Given the choice of censorship and not showing what goes on in the battle of war, or seeing the stark reality, as painful as it is to witness, this writer will accept the latter.

BE VERY, VERY QUIET IT'S OUTING SEASON

2009-08-31T22:49:00.007-04:00

Oh good grief, the I-Net is ablaze from the Huffington Post to the most obscure blogs over the purported "outing" of South Carolina Lt. Governor Andre Bauer.

Is he or isn't he ?

Frankly my dear I don't give a damn !

If the "outer" Mr. Rodgers, spent half as much time on LGBT issues as he does on GOP hypocrite witch hunts, the LGBT community would be much better for it.

One has to wonder where the line gets blurred between exposing hypocrisy and self-stroking ego mania. Mr. Rodgers claims to have a 100% result rate in outing in-the-closet Republicans.

Hmmm, keeping score our we ?

Sigh ... you're such a bore. Just leave Daffy Duck alone !

YES .... SHE IS A WOMAN ....... TULA

2009-08-31T12:33:00.006-04:00

It's not often I promote other LGBT blogs here, perhaps that should change, but be that as it may, TransGriot has an excellent posting on Caroline Cossey, more famously known as Tula.

Ms. Cossey is celebrating her 55th birthday today and some of you may remember the "shocking" story that one of the Bond Girls in "For Your Eyes Only" was a transsexual.

While for a short time after being "outed" by a British rag tabloid, her career was sidelined as a model and actress, Tula came back swinging writing two books, her first being "I Am A Woman" in 1982.

TransGriot's posting looks at the career of this lovely Bond Girl who posed for Playboy Magazine.

It's an interesting story of becoming true to yourself, over coming life's obstacles and moving forward with desire and great passion.

I encourage everyone to stop by and read, Happy Birthday Caroline!

KNOW THY ENEMY AND BEHOLD ............ NOM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRIAN BROWN

2009-08-30T11:30:00.009-04:00

The gay marriage supporters have not met Brian Brown. They should. He is the executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, the preeminent organization dedicated to preventing the legalization of same-sex marriage.

For two years, Brown has been traveling across the country. He moved his wife and six kids to California, where NOM was instrumental in passing Proposition 8, the state constitutional amendment defining marriage as an institution only between a man and a woman. Before that, Connecticut, where his cause was hurt when the state Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.

Now NOM is moving its national headquarters to Washington. - source - Daily Herald

SENATOR TED KENNEDY - 1932 - 2009 - RIP

2009-08-29T12:00:00.001-04:00

The Constitution does not just protect those whose views we share;

it also protects those with whose views we disagree.

GOD BLESS MORTIMER HAYDEN SMYTH

2009-08-25T11:08:00.005-04:00

"Homosexuality, the practice of romantic or erotic love between same gendered couples or groups is as big a threat to our nation's liberty as international terrorism and possibly more so."

"What is the nightmare scenario regarding homosexuality ?"

"The nightmare scenario is that somewhere out there, ... where no one can see there are two men, alone, together, touching each other, giving each other pleasure, and guess what ?, it's happening right now this very instant and there's not a damn thing any of us can do to stop it."

"Some night's I just stay awake in my bed thinking about it ..... all night long .... all night long."

- Mortimer Hayden Smyth, Director of Deviant Homosexual Studies

You can find more of his satire which shows how idiotic the Right Wing Conservatives and others are at Mortimer's blog, The Center For American Free Thought

IT IS A LONELY PATH OF HELL FOR COMING OUT AND ENDING WHAT IS A SHAM MARRIAGE

2009-08-22T22:56:00.045-04:00

I'm writing this to honor a dear blogger friend, my first in fact, who certainly knows and understands the title of this post all to well.

I'm not going to go into particulars with his situation, nor give his name, if he decides to leave a comment that will be up to him, but perhaps this posting may in some way help others who are, about to or might get into the situation of marrying as a heterosexual only to later in life become true to yourself, come out and end what was for all intents and purposes a sham marriage.

When we are younger, and each generation is different, sometimes even if we think we may be gay or lesbian, or even not sure, we can and often do fall in love with a member of the opposite sex.

For some generations such as myself and my friend, you get more and more pressure from family about the idea of marriage while friends and family members of friends get married and the question comes up, "why aren't you married yet ?".

Other times we marry in order to "do the right thing' if we have knocked up a gal, at least that's the way it was with my boomer generation. I'm not so sure about that "responsibility" in later generations.

I was engaged once, because I thought it was the right thing to do, not for the previous mentioned, but because of the actual or perceived pressure from family and friends and the constant question, "so when are you getting married ?".

Although there were several reasons I, that's correct I, broke the engagement, one of the reasons was the relationship never felt right. The sex was great, but long term, "life long" relationships are built on more than what goes on in the bedroom, or at least relationships should be.

So I was indeed lucky not to have fallen into the marriage trap and later in life end a sham marriage and suffer the consequences which for many people go way beyond mere financial woes.

And when there are children involved, that only compounds the guilt of the person who finally is able to look at himself or herself in the mirror and admits this is not right and I can no longer live a lie, if I am to find true happiness for myself.

As others who have shared their stories on my friend's blog and even finding some other blogs dealing with men and women who have gone down the lonely path, I thank God I never put myself through what also for me would have become a living Hell.

You end up being the one blamed, lose those who you thought were friends and in many cases family members turn and/or fall by the wayside.

It does for many become a no-win situation. So for those who may find themselves today in a sham marriage, it is a decision that sometimes only Solomon can answer.

Do I continue and be miserable or do I make the move, and in many cases end up being just as, if not more miserable because of the coming consequences.

Obviously for those who it is not to late, if you are not 110% sure of who you are, what you're sexual identity is, do not fall into the trap of a sham marriage.

And I'm sure anyone who reads this posting and has gone through or is going through what my friend is would offer the same advice.

Before you take that leap into marriage, get some counseling, preferably from an LGBT group or organization. But another way to look at that suggestion is, if you need counseling, that in and of itself should be a red flag as to what the future may hold.

Back on a personal note, do I regret not having formed serious, giving and fulfilling relationships in all these years ?

Sometimes, but, being an only child, you tend to have this built in strength as not to need another individual to feel complete or become dependent of, so the honest answer to that question is no.

I would ask this of others who have gone down that lonely path of Hell and survived, offer your help to others.

Join a local LGBT community group or organization and offer to be a mentor or counselor to those who are in need because of the situation they are in, or are trying to avoid getting into a sham marriage.

Below is a video I found on YouTube with a link under the video to the website mentioned in the video.

To my friend and others like him, man or woman, I can only offer you love, prayer and hope that you will find peace in getting your life in order and being true to yourself.

I wish I could be there to offer a shoulder to help you down the path.

For the others who are not yet in this situation, heed the words you have read.

When statics are recorded in regards to gay suicide, one has to wonder how many times this lonely path of Hell was the cause.

Unfortunately they are not here to answer the question.

MarriedGay.org

WHEN GOD MADE ASSHOLES HE COULD HAVE STOPPED BEFORE MAKING THIS LUNATIC !!!!!!

2009-08-21T22:50:00.010-04:00

UPDATE - 8/30/09 - 12:30 AM (ET)

Well GOD did come down.

Anderson's Gay Hate video has been removed from You Tube.

H/T - Pam's House Blend & Michael In Norfolk

THE US BORDER PATROL DOSEN'T THINK

TO HIGHLY OF PASTOR ANDERSON EITHER

From The Good Pastor's Website

We believe that homosexuality is a sin and an abomination which God punishes with the death penalty.

ALYCIA LANE CALLED A COP "A DYKE BITCH" NOW GOING TO WORK FOR KNBC IN A TOWN FILLED WITH DYKES AND FAGS ... GO FIGURE

2009-08-20T20:51:00.018-04:00

You may remember the misadventures of our "heroine" when she was arrested in New York City back in 2007 when she was working for Philly station, KYW-TV, and called one of NYC's finest a "dyke bitch" .

Assault charges against Ms. Lane were later dropped, Manhattan prosecutors dropped their felony assault case,explaining that while the cop did suffer some scratches to her cheek, that didn't rise to the level of physical injury. More on the dropped charges here at the Daily News.

According to the website The Enterprise Report, Ms. Lane and boyfriend have relocated to Los Angeles, the land of Hollywood and fruits and nutz, and has been hired as staff reporter and weekend anchor at NBC's number two flagship station.

In a press release from KNBC, Emmy Award-winning journalist Alycia Lane will join KNBC, NBC’s owned and operated television station in Los Angeles, as a weekend anchor and general assignment reporter, effective August 19.

Lane will anchor KNBC’s weekend evening newscasts and serve as a general assignment reporter for the station. She takes over for Kim Baldonado, who last month was promoted to anchor the Monday- Friday Midday Report and the weekly News Extra, which focuses on KNBC’s signature investigative reporting.

“Alycia is an experienced anchor and skilled reporter who has a tremendous ability to engage and connect with the audience,” said Craig Robinson, President and General Manager, KNBC.

“Her energy and talent will be great assets to KNBC, and we look forward to her contributions to our newsroom.”

Ms. Lane, no stranger to controvery, made headlines when she e-mailed bikini photos of herself to NFL Network anchorman Rich Eisen, only to have them discovered by his wife, Suzy Shuster.

And when you think this story couldn't get any stranger, Larry Mendte, former CBS-3 news anchor has completed his six-month house arrest sentence for hacking into the e-mail account of former colleague Alycia Lane.

Mendte pleaded guilty last summer, admitting that he had hacked into Lane's personal and work e-mail accounts. The government investigation revealed that Mendte was obsessed with Lane.

KNBC-TV defends it's hiring of Ms. Lane, "We're aware of her background and have looked into the claims against her, and we are very comfortable with our decision to have her join the station" according to LA Observed.

And just a reminder that NBC "failed" in it's pro-LGBT rankings by GLAAD. I guess this won't help NBC rebound from a failing grade, in fact NBC should now get an F-.

So the question is, has Ms. Lane learned to become more tolerate towards gays and lesbians, and when will the pickets from the LGBT community begin at KNBC-TV over Lane's hiring ?

With all the misadventures of our "heroine", LA might be a good place for her.

I can't wait to see the made-for-tv movie.

IS FACEBOOK DEVELOPING AN LGBT DATING SERVICE AND KEEPING IT SECRET OR IS IT SOMEONE ELSE ?

2009-08-20T14:08:00.016-04:00

FOCUS/Artlyn Entertainment Exclusive - 8/20/09

That's the question of the day for this writer.

On a headhunter website, The Talener Group which specializes in IT positions, there is job opening which leads to the question.

According to the opening, This Position is for a PHP developer for a company building Social Networking platforms in NYC. This position will be building and developing a online dating application on the Facebook platform for the LGBT community.

This is for an Interactive agency in Manhattan looking for a high energy individual who is looking for a place to grow organically, someone who wants to work for a agency with a massive footprint in Social media especially regarding facebook applications and online dating. This company builds platforms used for online dating sites. They are strategically located in mid-town. This is a fulltime position with a salary of 95k depending on experience.

In doing searches on Yahoo and Google for articles or press releases from or about an LGBT on-line dating service being operated by Facebook none could be found. Nor is there anything at the About Facebook Page.

Regardless of who will be the operator, this could become an interesting development in regards to the avenues to do LGBT online dating and I would imagine, what with how many people use Facebook, it certainly could become competition for the likes of Chemistry.com and eHarmony, the latter of which was literally forced into offering LGBT dating services.

So the question is, is Facebook (and being coy) developing this on-line service or is it someone else who will be using the Facebook platform as described in the job opening ?

The Talener Group which has clients like ivillage, NBC/Universal, Univision and Live Nation just to name a few, this unknown developer is obviously someone with big money who expects a return on the money they will be spending on the LGBT market.

Tis a puzzlement.

In any case it seems this new venture is being kept under wraps.

Oops !

AIN'T THIS THE TRUTH IT'S ALL BULLSHIT

2009-08-20T02:00:00.005-04:00

I really had to laugh when Richard Hatch blamed the fact he is gay because he was sent to prison.

No you dumb twit, you were sent to prison because you broke the law and paid the consequences.

And apparently I'm not alone in my humble, well I really never have humble, opinion.

Brian Moylan wrote a piece at Gawker on this very subject.

There has been a spate of gay men, including Richard Hatch, claiming homophobia when they behave badly or things don't go their way. Hey guys, sometimes things happen, not because you like dick, but because you are one (couldn't have said it better myself !).

Yes, homophobia affects gay men all the time in various and subtle ways. And yes, we are treated unfairly all the time. But hate crimes are on the rise, and we can't afford for the impact of these tragedies to be lessened by your petty claims. Every time a queer reports a false hate crime, a fairy loses its wings.

Take responsibility for not paying your taxes, for being a drunk idiot, or an aggressive blogger. It's time to take it like a man. It's something gay men are famous for, and it's about time you learn.

I'm so proud of Brian I could cry (sniff) like a proud parent.

GOD BLESS GRAY HAIRED LITTLE OLD LADIES

2009-08-18T22:18:00.003-04:00

ANG LEE DOES WOODSTOCK ... FOR US BOOMERS IT SHOULD BE A HOOT !

2009-08-15T07:00:00.002-04:00

40 years after the hippies invaded upstate New York, this August comes a movie from director Ang Lee which tells one man's tale of getting what is now considered the Granddaddy of all concerts to a hamlet in the Catskills.

The concert which was held on the 600 acres of Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, NY was host to what was billed as an arts and music festival called An Aquarian Exposition.

What it became was one great big muddy drug laden, sex and hedonistic music fest with some of the greatest recording artists at the time including Janice Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Santana and Crosby, Nash & Young just to name a few of the 32 artists and groups that performed over three days. And for the most part, a good time was had by all.

That weekend, August 15 to 18 saw everybody from nuns to bikers to hippies and I'm sure more than a couple of gay and lesbian folk too. Numbers estimate over 400,000 people showed up at old Max's farm with traffic backed up for miles and got to the point of being so bad the New York State Thruway was closed.

The documentary Woodstock which was released in 1970 by Warner Brothers and was directed by Michael Wadleigh, was made with a crew of 100 from the New York City area. The film which was co-edited by Thelma Schoonmaker and Martin Scorsese, won an Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Now it's Ang Lee's turn to bring the flavor of Woodstock to the screen with the film Taking Woodstock based on the book of the same name by Elliot Tiber with Tom Monte.

In the book Tiber tells his tale of how he got the festival to come to Bethel, NY.

Tiber's parents owned a small motel called the El Monaco, which for years depended on a largely Jewish clientele who would come from NYC and New Jersey to the Jewish entertainment mecca of the northeast, the Catskills.

But as time went on more of the Catskills clientele started going to or moving to Florida, thus making the once robust motels and resorts hard pressed to fill rooms, restaurants and entertainment venues.

In the book and in the movie, without giving too much away to spoil the picture, Tiber offered to help the organizers of the festival get permits to hold it in Bethel after another nearby town, Wallkill, turned them down. This story is the basis of the movie and all that went with the trials and tribulations of Tiber and a dairy farm in Bethel, NY.

From what I've read about the book (it's on my must read list before the movie comes out) and some information about the movie, plus seeing the movie trailer, it looks like it should be a fun film for all to enjoy, but in particular us boomers, some of us like myself, who were just on that cutting edge age where we couldn't go because we were only 14 or 15 (not that it stopped others of that age) and those of the age who could go and in fact did.

The documentary, which is one of my all time favorite films, at least gave us who couldn't get there, the chance to experience it with a good deal of the music.

I suspect, being the director Ang Lee is, aside from the story about Tiber, there will be a lot of folks who will come out of the theater wishing they had been at Woodstock.

Oh, and how much did a ticket cost to get to "The Event of the Decade" ?

Advance tickets were $18.00, $24.00 at the gate for a three day gig and a once in a lifetime experience.

Haight-Ashbury had its Summer of Love in 1967, and Bethel, NY had a little get together called Woodstock in the summer of '69.

Publisher note - here's links about Woodstock and Tiber's book. Some, but not all were used for background material. Wikipedia ... About.com ... Taking Woodstock, the book ... Rolling Stone Magazine ... Woodstock Festival .... Thanks to Queerty for giving me the idea to write this article.

The Real Deal - Peace & Love Children

(this posting was moved up from it's original post date of 4/27/09 as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock this weekend)

JUST FOR SOME MEMORIES ..... LESLIE GORE

2009-08-15T00:16:00.005-04:00

AfterEllen interview 2005 ..... AE: Do you live alone--besides with your dog ?

LG: I have a partner of 23 years and I have a cocker spaniel who turned two--what’s today ?--she turned two on Friday, June 4th. Little Billie, named after Billie Holiday, one of my favorite singers. And I thought, you know, a little gender confusion makes a better person. A little adversity in life at an early age. It’s character building.

AE: Our readers are interested in representations of lesbians and bisexual women in the media, and I imagine a lot of them will be surprised to be able to claim you amongst ourselves. I was wondering, have you ever come out on the record ?

LG: On the record ? Well, you know, it’s funny. I just never found it was necessary because I really never kept my life private. Those who knew me, those who worked with me were well aware. And what I actually started doing was, well, for a couple of years now I’ve been hosting [the PBS series] In the Life, and that was just kind of my way of saying, here I am and this is what I feel I should be doing now, and it was sort of a natural evolution for me as opposed to, you know, this great gong in the head.

AE: Would you say that people knew you were gay back when you were first performing? You were pretty young, about 17, right ?

LG: Well, I didn’t know until I was in my twenties, so if they knew it, they knew it before I did. [Laughs] You know, maybe someone did think that. I don’t know, but I certainly didn’t know it until I was in my twenties.

This is a 1986 duet with Leslie Gore and Lou Christie

SORRY BOYS .... NOT IN OUR NEWSPAPER !

2009-08-14T01:27:00.006-04:00

According to an article from the Associated Press, The Spectrum Newspaper, in St. Charles Utah, has told a gay couple their wedding announcement can not be run in the newspaper, this after first accepting payment for to run the announcement from Tyler Barrick and Spencer Jones, who were legally married in 2008.

Jones, 30, said he initially agreed to the paper's request that the announcement run without a photo, after a clerk told him the publisher feared the picture might make readers uncomfortable. Then Jones changed his mind and appealed to publisher Donnie Welch, asking him to reconsider.

"After all, our marriage is just as real and legal and entitled to celebration as any of the others that are announced each week in the pages of The Spectrum," Jones, 30, wrote in an e-mail to Welch.

"This simply is not true," Welch replied in an Aug. 10 e-mail, a copy of which the couple provided to The Associated Press. "While that may be the case in some states it is not the case in the state of Utah. As our policy is to run marriage announcements recognized by Utah law, I have made the decision not to run the announcement."

Here's a question for you, how would your local newspaper handle something like this ?

Photo - AP - Spencer Jones, left, with spouse Tyler Barrick.

A QUESTION FOR YOU TO MULL OVER

2009-08-12T22:54:00.003-04:00

While doing searches for news items I came across this question on an advice site.

Do you think post-op transgender people have any obligation to tell their lovers they were once the other sex ?

The same could be asked, do bisexuals have an obligation to tell lovers they swing on both sides of the fence ?

Have an opinion, leave a comment.

ONE SMALL STEP FOR CHARLES PEREZ, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR LGBTs IN MEDIA

2009-08-10T11:33:00.012-04:00

I have just done a brief posting at my blog at CT/Hearst Newspapers, Focus On The Rainbow about a writing Charles Perez has done at The Daily Beast.

By, using some of Charles' own words, I wanted to bring up some arguments why this may become an important issue for LGBTs who work in the radio, TV and print media.

I understand there are those who believe that my actions will actually make it harder for gay men and women to rise up, for fear they'll start trouble. But that is no reason not to do the right thing. In the words of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice.” Barack Obama, in his acceptance speech on November 4, 2008, added that we play a part in that history and must put our hands on that arc and “bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.”

Personally I don't think it will, in fact, whether Perez's lawsuit proves successful or not, it will make many media organizations live up to their EOE policies and make those in decision making positions think twice before trying to "screw" those who are LGBT in regards to "adjusting" their job based on sexual orientation.

This goes for the man or woman who sweeps the floor to the highest, most profiled print writer or news anchor either in radio or TV.

One of my colleagues, a higher-up at the station, told me: “The weekends will be better for you, anyway, Charles. You and Keith [my partner] want to have kids. It’s a lot less high-profile there.”

It was a suggestion that never would have been made to one of my straight colleagues, male or female. The only thing I could take from it was that my profile as a gay man, especially if I were to have kids and, God forbid, get married, would render me less promotable and less advertiser-friendly.

In fact, over the previous five months, I’d been told, “Don’t get married, Charles. We don’t need that.” I’d also been told not to have children. In essence: “You’re the main anchor and you’re gay, but let’s not push it.”

How many "straight" men or women in the media would have put up with such suggestions ?

The very idea that it would even be said harkens back to the old Studio System in Hollywood where the heads of MGM, 20th Century Fox, Paramount and others kept their stable of stars on a tight leash.

It is just unbelievable that this can and does go on in today's media.

Yes media outlets, if written into contracts or employee policies do have the right to protect their organization from "undue embarrassment", however when that is being extended into one's lifestyle, NO, that is totally unacceptable.

If I thought for a minute that I was downsized at CBS Broadcasting because of being LGBT (and I wasn't for, 1) I was not "out" and 2) it was based purely on economics as I was not alone) I would have sued Mother CBS in a heartbeat.

What Charles Perez is doing is most likely a long time coming for the media, who in some cases have gotten away with pushing around LGBTs.

We should all wish Perez well in his lawsuit and take a lot of pride and gratification that finally someone has stood up and said NO MORE AND NEVER AGAIN.

By the way this isn't the first time Post-Newsweek has been sued over discrimination, just ask Janet Peckinpaugh.

Well, I won’t go to the back of the bus, and neither should anyone else. To do so would have cost me something far more valuable than my career: my integrity.

When given the choice between my soul and my career, I chose my soul. - Charles Perez

CURRENT TV LOOKS FOR GAY IMAGES ?

2009-08-07T11:16:00.004-04:00

WRONG DOING IN TX GAY BAR RAID

2009-08-07T10:10:00.005-04:00

According to the AP two Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officers did not report use of force and also participated in the June 28 raid without supervisor approval.

Agent Christopher Aller and agent trainee Jason Chapman also are accused of participating in the June 28 raid without their supervisor's approval, disrupting the business during the raid and wearing improper attire, according to the report obtained by The Associated Press under the Texas Open Records Act.

The investigation found that one of the agents' supervisors, Sgt. Terry Parsons, failed to ensure the agents submitted a report on using force during the arrest, did not take appropriate action after learning they didn't wear proper attire during the raid and did not notify supervisors that multiple arrests had been made that night, the report states.

You'll find FOCUS' original posting about the raid here.

GAY ADOPTION DISCUSSED IN BIG EASY

2009-08-07T00:00:00.004-04:00

Now who would have expected this little nugget of news.

According to several published reports on Thursday, a gay rights group out of New Orleans met face to face with members of a marriage and family commission appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal. It's called the Louisiana Commission on Marriage and Family. Its goal is simply to promote the two. It was created by former Governor Mike Foster, with current members appointed by Jindal.

At Thursday's meeting, commissioners met with some of their biggest critics.

"The state of Louisiana shouldn't be kicking gay families, instead it should be doing what it can, assisting all families in Louisiana, and helping children," said Randy Evans with the Forum For Equality. It's a gay rights group out of New Orleans, promoting gay adoption and its benefits.

Right now the state allows single parent adoption. Some say it's an alternative way for gay couples to adopt.

Source: WAFB-TV

THE MAYOR OF SILVERTON OREGON

2009-08-05T10:55:00.009-04:00

I'm sorry but this fella is an embarrassment to the community of Silverton which he serves as Mayor.

I won't get into the embarrassment he brings to the LGBT community, I really don't think I need to, just listen to comments people say when discussing the Mayor when they have seen him on the news. Not only has he dragged (pun intended) down the LGBT community, but transgenders in general.

In an article at KGW-TV from November 7, 2008, Stu Rasmussen served two terms as the Mayor of Silverton in the 1990s. But he hadn't admitted to being transgender. He's not the same man now that he was then. Today he wears a skirt and high heels. He has breast implants, and long red hair. He looks like a woman - but he's not.

"I identify mostly as a heterosexual male," Rasmussen said. "But I just like to look like a female."

Rasmussen is a man. He even has a girlfriend. He says he's always been transgender, but he only "came out" a few years ago.

I can understand how disgusted the voters of Silverton who put Rasmussen in office feel about him. Every time footage of him is shown on TV, it's makes the city of Silverton the butt end of jokes.

"The first 30 seconds they think, am I in a freak show? Is there a camera behind me? What's going on here?" Rasmussen told NewsChannel 8. "And then we get down to discussing whatever the issue is - city business or business or whatever - and they figure out this guy's different, but he knows what he's talking about."

It's Rasmussen's knowledge of the issues, and of the town, that won over so many voters. As one voter said, "Stu's very devoted to this town."

Rasmussen won by a hefty margin - 13 points. It really wasn't close.

"He wants to maintain the integrity of Silverton," voter Gail Frassenei said. And she said she isn't sure Rasmussen would be elected anywhere else. "I think it's amazing a small town like this can be so open-minded, to elect someone that's made a life change."

Whatever.

By the way Stu, you make one helluva an ugly woman (as most transgender "women" do) in spite of a comment I heard you say in an interview in which you said otherwise.

Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life in Silverton, Oregon (at least not in the Mayor's office).

MOSCOW OFFICAL GOES AFTER GAY BAR

2009-08-04T16:14:00.003-04:00

On Friday July 31 the Prefect of the Northern Administrative area of Moscow, Oleg Mitvol, applied to the Office of the Prosecutor asking to take measures against the popular gay club “Body & Soul”.

Citing numerous complains that his office claim having received from residents living near the club, Mr Mitvol commented:

“I think that such clubs which, in line with casinos, lead to moral degradation of citizens and become the source of trouble should be closed”.

In an interview to Russian BBC Service, Nikolai Alekseev, head of LGBT Human Rights Project GayRussia.Ru said:

“Even Mayor Luzhkov, who is opposed to any form of public expression for gays in Moscow, accepted in several statements the existence of closed clubs for gays and lesbians in his city”.

“This club works for 7 years without any problem with the residents and surprisingly we start to see problems less than 3 weeks after Mr Mitvol was appointed in his new role”.

Source: GayRussia.ru

POLISH GAY MAN WINS SLANDER SUIT

2009-08-04T16:00:00.003-04:00

The Regional Court in Szczecin has ruled that a homosexual Polish man should receive zł.15,000 in damages from a female neighbor who called him a “fag” (pedał).

The man, identified as Ryszard G., decided to sue his 50-year-old neighbor, Anna S., after she repeatedly called him “fag,” including at a grocery store in the presence of customers and on the stairwell of their residential block.

The court ruled that there was evidence to support the claim that Ryszard G's personal rights had been violated. In the court's opinion, the persistent use of the derogatory word was intended to debase and humiliate the plaintiff.

The neighbor can still appeal the decision.

Source: Warsaw Business Journal

THERE'S A GAYBY BOOM GOING ON

2009-08-03T16:25:00.002-04:00

How about a nice story for a change.

According to an article at ABC News there is a gayby boom going on thanks to adoption and surrogate mothers for gays and lesbians.

In 1994, Daddy Dave and Daddy Bob prepared 5-year-old Elizabeth Wall for the first day of kindergarten in New Jersey, meeting with the principal in advance to ease her transition as the daughter of two gay men.

They never learned until years later how insensitively the school reacted to their unconventional family, according to Wall, now 20 and a sociology major at The College of Wooster in Ohio.

Fortunately one teacher, who later became a close friend, volunteered and took the little girl under her wing in the classroom, but for years Wall was careful about only telling close friends that she had two fathers.

Of the 270,000 children living with same-sex parents, about 65,000 are adopted. Most, like other Americans, are in two-child families.

TODAY'S GRAPES OF WRATH IN AMERICA

2009-08-01T21:40:00.024-04:00

Several of the stories linked to are from this and last year since the bottom has fallen out of the economy.

There is no reason to believe that today, for many, things have improved or changed.

As some experts say we haven't seen the likes of this economy, started during the Bush adminstration, since the Great Depression, nor the state many Americans find themselves in through no fault of their own.

And who knows how many more will become part of today's Grapes Of Wrath.

From MSNBC 9/18/08, Reno, Nev. - A few tents cropped up hard by the railroad tracks, pitched by men left with nowhere to go once the emergency winter shelter closed for the summer.

Then others appeared — people who had lost their jobs to the ailing economy, or newcomers who had moved to Reno for work and discovered no one was hiring.

Within weeks, more than 150 people were living in tents big and small, barely a foot apart in a patch of dirt slated to be a parking lot for a campus of shelters Reno is building for its homeless population. Like many other cities, Reno has found itself with a "tent city" — an encampment of people who had nowhere else to go.

From the BBC 3/14/08, One man, who did not give his name, said he and his family were living in Tent City because they were victims of America's foreclosure crisis. It came down to "feeding my family or keeping the house", he said, "so I got rid of the house".

There are thousands like him across California - people whose inability to finance their mortgages has cost them their homes; many thousands more across the US.

From WKOW 7/7/09, Madison, WI - Coping with homelessness can mean living in a car, maybe down the block from you.

The people WKOW-TV encountered living out of their cars or trucks were trying to be inconspicuous; trying to stay out of trouble. Their presence produced mixed feelings.

John Krull told 27 News he's been stymied in his attempts to land more permanent housing and appreciates the shelter the RV he bought for $100 provides him.

"Hey, I've got a roof over my head. Before I had this, I walked around in a rainstorm."

Krull and others are parked in the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue near a storage rental business that appears dormant, a taxicab auto shop, and Hartmeyer Ice Arena.

They move their vehicles frequently to nearby Commercial Avenue to comply with city ordinance banning a stay in any parking place more than 48-hours.

From KVOA 7/24/09, Tucson, AZ - A new organization called Big Hearts with Helping Hands wants to establish a tent city to off-set homeless shelters that are already at capacity.

Meredith Tallis and her husband John are spearheading the idea to help homeless people out of city parks and washes and in to a safe place with shelter.

"It's been a dream of mine and a goal of mine and I got to do it. These people need help." Tallis says she began the quest this week and is trying to speak with city leaders about the tent city idea.

According to the Tucson Planning Council for the Homeless the number of people who've become homeless in Pima County has increased 24 percent since 2007.

John Tallis says a tent city would provide much needed shelter. "These families are in the washes, in the parks and they need to have some central base they can go to."

Finally in a report from NBC News from March of this year a look at those homeless and living in RV's in Venice, CA.

How many more of us will join the staggering numbers of being out of work, the under employed and the homeless before this country turns around ? And by then will it be too late for some ?

All the talk these days in Washington, DC is affordable health care. Well, with all due respect Mr. President, if you don't have a job or are under employed, no matter how affordable health care becomes, if someone doesn't have the money to pay for it, what good is it.

Let's get Americans back to work first, with good jobs and good pay for all. Not just those who work in construction and the like. Pork barrel earmarks for new roads, rebuilding buildings and such don't help someone like myself.

We need jobs in all sectors, not just for the chosen few.

Rich fellas come up an' they die, an' their kids ain't no good an' they die out. But we keep a'comin'. We're the people that live. They can't wipe us out; they can't lick us. We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people. - Ma Joad, from the movie "The Grapes of Wrath"

QUAKERS APPROVE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

2009-07-31T11:29:00.003-04:00

London – 31 July 2009

“The vote by the Quakers to open up marriage to same-sex couples, on exactly the same basis as heterosexual couples, is an honourable, courageous, trail-blazing decision,” said human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

He was commenting on the British Quakers’ ground-breaking decision in favour of marriage equality, taken at their annual meeting in York, England, today (31 July 2009).

“It exposes the homophobia of other faiths that refuse to recognise love and commitment between couples of the same sex, and it specifically exposes their denial of religious marriage to same-sex couples,” added Mr Tatchell.

“This decision will create a major dilemma for the government. Will it block recognition of lesbian and gay marriages performed by the Quakers?

“If it refuses to recognise Quaker same-sex marriages, the government will provoke a confrontation with religious bodies. It will effectively over-ride their religious authority and independence, and shore up homophobic discrimination.

“It would send entirely the wrong signal if Gordon Brown’s government sided with homophobic, discriminatory religious leaders against marriage equality for same-sex couples.

“This commitment to equal marriage rights gives new expression to the Quakers long-standing commitment to equality for lesbian and gay people.

“Civil partnerships are not equal. They are second best. They reinforce and extend discrimination. Just as same-sex couples are banned from civil marriage, opposite sex couples are banned from civil partnerships. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Both civil marriage and civil partnerships should be open to gay and straight couples, without discrimination,” said Mr Tatchell.

The Quakers voted to "treat same-sex committed relationships in the same way as opposite-sex marriages, reaffirming our central insight that marriage is the Lord's work and we are but witnesses."

Quaker same-sex marriages will now be "prepared, celebrated, witnessed, recorded and reported to the state in the same way as opposite-sex marriages".

Symon Hill, associate director of the Christian think-tank Ekklesia, himself a Quaker, said "I trust this decision will inspire people of all faiths and none who are working for the inclusion of gay, lesbian and bisexual people".

He added: "As with other churches, this has not been an easy process for Quakers. I hope that others will have the courage to follow this lead and speak up for the radical inclusivity of Christ. As Christians, we are called to stand with those on the margins who are denied equality".

Source: Peter Tatchell

WASHINGTON BLADE'S POWDER KEG

2009-07-30T09:17:00.008-04:00

At the website of The Washington Blade, a respected LGBT news source, is a story with the headline, “U.S. Military Accused Of Atrocities Against Iraqi Gays“.

The story published Tuesday recounts a recent fundraiser to benefit an LGBT community center in Lebanon where two gay Iraqi’s who did not use their real names, claimed through photographs and an oral presentation, members of the US military have “detained Iraqi civilians perceived to be gay and executed them”. Approximately 80 people were in attendance at the HRC headquarters in Washington, DC.

One attendee Dana Beyer, a transgender activist and Chevy Chase, Md., resident, said she was “appalled” by the images of the atrocities and the allegation that U.S. service members were murdering gay Iraqis.

Chris Farris, a gay D.C. resident who also attended the event, said he thought the photos were “disturbing and upsetting,” but voiced skepticism about the men’s claims. “It’s very difficult for me to believe that my country would allow its military to engage in the conduct that has been apparently documented.” Farris also said, “I would urge the U.S. government to react.”

The Washington Blade says it has contacted Defense Department officials who couldn’t confirm if the allegations are true. Air Force Lt. Col. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, said he isn’t aware of any cases that match the allegations and deferred any questions to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.

Likewise, according to The Washington Blade, Army CID spokesperson Jeffrey Castro also said he wasn’t aware of cases of U.S. service members executing Iraqis perceived to be gay, but said he would investigate the matter.

Elsewhere in the article, Scott Long, director of the LGBT Rights Program for Human Rights Watch, an international watchdog group, said he had just returned from a fact-finding trip to the Middle East on behalf of his group’s LGBT rights monitoring efforts.

“I have seen no indication in our research of any involvement of U.S. military personnel in targeted killings of gay Iraqis,” he said. “I have seen no evidence of these allegations.”

I have looked at HRC’s website and can not find any article nor press release regarding the accusations. Nor is there any mention on the HRC blog.

My Iraqi LGBT source, Ali Hili, has nothing on his blog which covers the plight of Iraqi LGBTs, in regards to The Washington Blade reporting, he did however have an article which was published Tuesday by USA Today about the ongoing murders of Iraqi LGBTs. No where in that article does it mention what The Washington Blade is reporting.

On the blog of writer and activist Michael Petrelis, The Petrelis Files, there is nothing either. Petrelis has been an advocate in the support of helping Iraqi LGBTs and has written many articles on his blog about their ordeal.

I also checked Gays Without Borders and UK Gay News, an excellent source for links to worldwide LGBT news, and again found nothing.

Now do I believe The Washington Blade has made this story up ? Certainly not.

But one of two things has happened.

The Washington Blade has bought a whopper of a fish tale, hook, line and sinker and reported on it.

Or decided to run with the story to be first before getting any positive confirmation on the alleged impropriety of US Military members.

In doing so in either case, The Washington Blade has chosen to ignore the possible ramifications which could come in regards to US policy and the US military in Iraq.

And let there be no doubt, within a couple of days this article from The Washington Blade will be across the worldwide Internet including the Middle East.

As much as I respect The Washington Blade, they may have just lit the fuse of a powder keg with our brave US Military men and women serving in Iraq and the Middle East in harms way.

Not just for allegedly killing gays, but for killing Iraqis.

(cross-posted at CT/Hearst Newspapers "Has The Washington Blade Jumped The Gun On A Powder Keg ?" - Note this posting has been updated 8/12/09 with two new links and a final comment from the publisher.)

"WASHINGTON BLADE DEFENDS ITSELF FOR RUNNING STORY"

THE CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL AND THE IFI GROUP THAT COMPARED LGBTS TO NAZIS

2009-07-28T02:05:00.043-04:00

In a call to action, change.org has a petition on its website to the Crowne Plaza O'Hare Hotel which has booked the Illinois Family Institute for an event this fall.

The event will be held Tuesday October 6, and costs $100 per ticket for IFI's banquet and for $250 a head, you get the banquet and will be part of a private reception with Gov. Mike Huckabee (and includes a picture and signed book). And in case you're interested, table sponsorships are also available, which range from $1,000 to $10,000.

The Crowne Plaza O'Hare is scheduled to host a Fall 2009 conference by the Illinois Family Institute, a radical conservative group that has compared homosexuality to nazism and slavery, and urges Christian Churches to combat LGBT people as if they were nazis. Urge the Crowne Plaza O'Hare to refuse to host this conference. Part of the Crowne Plaza's anti-discrimination policy includes a pledge not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Letting a group hold a conference in your facilities that actively compares homosexuality to nazism is completely contrary to that pledge.

On a website called Opposing Views in a lengthy editorial, Laurie Higgins of the IFI wrote,

The German Evangelical Church acted in ways most Christians now view as ignoble, selfish, and cowardly.

Pastors resigned from the resistance out of fear that they might lose their positions in the church.

Frightened by the boldness of the resistance movement, church leaders issued public statements of support for Hitler and the Third Reich.

What is alarming about the account of the German Evangelical Church's reprehensible failure is its similarity to the ongoing disheartening story of the contemporary American church's failure to respond appropriately to the spread of radical, heretical, destructive views of homosexuality.

Don't we today see church leaders self-censoring out of fear of losing their positions or their church members? Don't we see churches criticizing those who boldly confront the efforts of homosexual activists to propagandize children and undermine the church's teaching on homosexuality?

Aren't the calls of the capitulating German Christians for "a more reasonable tone" and a commitment to "honor different views" exactly like the calls of today's church to be tolerant and honor "diversity"?

Don't pastors justify their silence by claiming they fear losing their tax-exempt status (i.e. government assistance)? Don't they rationalize inaction by claiming that speaking out will prevent them from saving souls?

IFI called for its own boycott this past week against PepsiCo because, PepsiCo has given thousands of dollars to become a sponsor of the homosexual "Out & Equal Workplace Summit" scheduled for Oct. 6-9 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Florida.

The Out & Equal Workshop meetings are designed to show corporate leaders how they can promote the homosexual agenda in their corporation.

In becoming a sponsor of the Out & Equal conference PepsiCo has once again refused to give any support to those who are hurting and want to come out of this destructive and aberrant lifestyle.

In the homosexual section of IFI's website is an article on Chaz Bono's decision to identify with and become male, the same Laura Higgins that wrote the above editorial comparing Hitler and Nazis to the "gay agenda" says of Chaz, Chastity Bono's publicist announced that Chastity is pursuing a "sex change." Chastity, as everyone knows, is the only daughter of Cher and the deceased Sonny Bono. Many years ago, Chastity made the decision to embrace homosexuality, and as of March, she has begun the process of "changing sexes."

Of course, rational people realize that changing one's name, cross-dressing, ingesting hormones naturally produced by the opposite sex, and electively amputating healthy parts of one's sexual anatomy don't really change one's biological sex. The emperor was really wearing no clothes, and Chastity, who has assumed the moniker "Chaz," will always really be a woman.

It's utterly confounding that society en masse believes or pretends to believe that "transgenderism" reflects a real phenomenon of people actually trapped in the wrong body rather than a profound disruption in the development of a secure and proper sexual identity. Doctors who perform such surgeries are engaging in medical malpractice and violating the increasingly meaningless and antiquated Hippocratic Oath.

Now I'm not real big on some of these "call to actions" myself. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. I do know what does work.

Media coverage on why a hotel chain which has an anti-discrimination policy which includes a pledge not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation would let an organization like the Illinois Family Institute, book an event and also give discounted room rates to those attending by mentioning IFI when booking their room.

Someone might ask Mike Huckabee why he would be part of such an event and also contact FOX News/TV and ask about their corporate policy in regards to on-air staff and their participation in functions and guest speaking with anti-gay organizations like IFI which compare the gay lifestyle in the United States to that of Nazi Germany.

And just to serve my own curiosity, at the time of this writing there is nothing on GLAAD's website in regards to this "call to action" by change.org.

Guess they're more concerned with other weighty matters such as which TV Networks shed a favorable light on the LGBT community.

THIS JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN HERE NO SIR !

2009-07-27T16:53:00.017-04:00

Anti-gay hate crime only happens in the big cities, not here in Middle America.

I'm sure that's what a lot of good people in the Midwest think and believe, that this sort of thing just can't happen in their own little community where folks can still leave their door unlocked at night and everybody knows everybody else in town.

But as Denise Yost, managing editor of NBC 4's website, nbc4i.com in Columbus, Ohio reports, as hate crimes have risen across America, it has also reared it's ugly head in Central Ohio.

“We counted 185 specific to the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) community in 2008. Columbus police counted 22,“ said Gloria McCauley, of BRAVO (Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization).

“Often, folks are nervous about disclosing to law enforcement what the motivation might have been and they leave out really important information such as what the assailant might have said during the crime,“ McCauley said.

Details are what police use to determine hate crimes. Although McCauley said the numbers are increasing, so is reporting of the crimes.

“We have been working really hard for 13 years now to increase communication between law enforcement and the community and it’s working,“ McCauley said.

Back in June of this year BRAVO released a statement in regards to Ohio schools and anti-gay bullying, The Experiences of LGBT Students, a report based on findings from 244 Ohio students who participated in GLSEN's 2007 National School Climate Survey, shows that Ohio LGBT students face extreme levels of harassment and assault and skip school at alarming rates because of feeling unsafe.

Ohio is one of the 39 states that does not explicitly protect students from bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

"Inside Ohio Schools shows how much work needs to be done to make sure LGBT students in Ohio are safe in school," GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. "Ohio has lagged behind other states in taking the simple and effective steps to begin addressing anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. The state and all of its schools need to commit to making sure that schools are safe for all students."

Nope it doesn't happen in our little Utopia of the Midwest.

Yes it does friends.

TONIGHT THE OZZIE & HARRY SHOW

2009-07-27T15:33:00.013-04:00

You never know what's going to, at least with my brain cell depleted mind, set off the idea for a writing.

This morning I was checking out Pam's House Blend and was reading a posting by Waymon Hudson about DADT. In the context of the posting he wrote, "led by my husband Commissioner Anthony Niedwiecki", and when reading it I smiled.

A little bit ago I was reading a linked story at another blog about yet another LGBTer who finds fault with the movie "Bruno" and in the context of his posting mentioned the 1950's TV show "Ozzie and Harriet".

Click, the light bulb came on and here we are.

When the Right-Wing and religious twits complain about same-sex marriage they usually refer to Adam and Steve as opposed to Adam and Eve.

Well, here's a better one for you fools including NOM.

Ozzie and Harry, today's version of the new and modern quint-essential All American Family.

Yes sirree Bobby, I love the storyline.

Harry a stay-at-home Dad, cleans the house, does the cooking and supervises the brood of adopted children, while Ozzie goes to the office everyday and comes home, kisses husband Harry on the cheek, asks what's for dinner, and sees what the kids have been up to and how their day in school was.

And of course gives fatherly advice when the kids won't listen to Poppa Harry.

The only thing better than this show would be "Fathers Know Best".

As they say, life is good.

The Next Time You Hear "Ex-Gay" ...

2009-07-25T20:12:00.019-04:00

WANTED - ATTEMPTED MURDER

“I continued to live as a homosexual for two years after I knew I was HIV-positive,” Johnston said in a 1998 speech to a California church, reported in POZ magazine. “And I am ashamed to say that in those two years not once did I ever tell any of my partners that I was carrying this deadly disease.”

The once higher than the rest former ex-gay Michael Johnston is the poster boy for "ex-gays" and their sullen movement to "convert gay men back on the straight and narrow path".

From BC Politics, As Southern Voice reports, Johnston, who is HIV-positive, admitted to having sex with men — allegedly without disclosing his seriopositive status. The news is also reported by Peter LaBarbera of the right-wing, anti-gay Concerned Women for America's department of Culture and Family, though Pete doesn't mention Michael by name. Ex-gay network Exodus International, however, does name names.

Why has Johnston never been prosecuted for willfull misconduct and possibly spreading HIV by having sex with men without their knowledge of his HIV status ?

Like this man in Texas as was reported back in May, McKinney, TX - A jury sentenced a man to 45 years in prison for knowingly infecting six women with the AIDS.

Philippe Padieu, described by his own lawyer as a "modern-day Casanova," shook his head and looked down when the decision was read yesterday. Jurors sentenced him to 45 years on five counts and 25 years on the sixth, to be served concurrently. Padieu had faced up to 99 years.

The Collin County jury convicted 53-year-old Padieu on Wednesday on six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Since HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, prosecutors contended Padieu's bodily fluids were a deadly weapon. Padieu is a former martial arts instructor who continued to have unprotected sex after he tested positive for HIV in 2005.

Assistant District Attorney Lisa King in Collin County told jurors earlier yesterday that Padieu deserved a life sentence. But defense attorney Bennie House said Padieu may have made mistakes as a "modern-day Casanova," but did not intentionally spread the virus. He said a 20-year sentence would be fair. Jurors heard testimony was on Thursday in the punishment phase, including from women who described the harm that the HIV diagnosis had done them.

Or this man, A judge in Chicago in the US has sentenced a man to prison for concealing that he was a HIV patient while donating blood to a plasma collection center at Hammond.

Michael Ivy, 46, of East Chicago, pleaded guilty to selling blood contaminated with the HIV in September last year.

Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, in which the blood cells are suspended. Plasma is a yellow colored liquid. Plasma is the largest single component of blood, making up about 55% of total blood volume. Blood plasma contains many vital proteins including fibrinogen, globulins and human serum albumin.

Pro-Tem Lake County Criminal Court Judge Robert Lewis on Friday ordered Ivy to serve a two-year sentence in a state prison and imposed a one-year probation on him. Ivy admitted he had been diagnosed in August 2002 with HIV. A doctor at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago confirmed the diagnosis in November 2002 and told Ivy he could never donate blood, plasma or tissue in the future.

Nevertheless, Ivy indicated to Bio-Blood, the Hammond collection center, last summer he wasn't infected with HIV. He checked the "no" box on a questionnaire that asked if he was HIV positive. Court records say Ivy donated blood three times last September before Bio-Blood tested the Sept. 13 specimen and found it HIV positive.

State law requires contaminated blood to be destroyed. According to researchers there is a 90% risk of HIV transmission through infected blood products which is higher than the risk from any other transmission means.

However there are those who object to criminalization of reckless transmission. They say that if there are many high-profile prosecutions, those who might be infected may be deterred from testing.

This may have serious public health implications.

Or this man in Canada, A Canadian man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for knowingly exposing women to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Carl Leone, 32, was convicted of 15 counts of aggravated assault, each earning him two to five years in jail, to be served consecutively for a total of 49 years.

But the judge reduced his sentence to 18 years to better reflect sentencing guidelines.
Superior Court Justice Joseph Quinn said at sentencing that Leone had committed a "despicable and selfish crime for five to 10 minutes of sexual gratification."

Leone was told in 1997 that he was HIV-positive, seven years before his arrest in June 2004.

Five of his victims are now HIV-positive.

WORKPLACE GAY HARASSMENT AND CBS' SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OR LACK OF

2009-07-23T18:55:00.021-04:00

Go do a Google search and type in the words "gay harassment in the workplace" and you'll be amazed (then again perhaps not) how many stories come up in the search.

When I did, 1,050,000 were available to choose from. I chose this as it was the most current and surprisingly not even in the United States.

It's from Tuesday and as reported by the CBC, a former youth worker in Nova Scotia has complained about and now an inquiry is underway about his harassment for being gay.

The man, known by the fake initials A.B., testified Tuesday that he was mistreated in his final years working at the Nova Scotia Youth Facility in Waterville.

"In the most vile, disgusting ways, I was personally violated," he said at the inquiry in Coldbook.

A.B. worked at the jail for young offenders from 1988 until 2005, helping to rehabilitate youth with behaviours that got them in trouble with the law.

He said four colleagues called him names, such as "faggot" and "fruit boy." He said on three occasions someone grabbed him from behind and humped his backside.

A.B. said he never discussed his sexual orientation with any of his colleagues during his time at the jail. He said he didn't know he was gay but figured it out over the 17 years he worked there.

Outside the hearing, the lawyer for the inquiry, Lisa Teryl, said it appears there was a pervasive anti-gay sentiment in the workplace.

While some companies are making strides to include in their employee training video presentations and "quizzes" regarding sexual harassment a section on sexual orientation, I can remember when I went to work for CBS Broadcasting (2003) in the video presentation with an introduction by Dan Rather of all people, it didn't include a section on gender identity/expression or sexual orientation harassment. However did include as part of the employee manual that harrasement based on sexual orientation would not be tolerated.

At part of CBS' website is a statement regarding hiring, CBS Corporation recruits and hires without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.

In a PDF at the CBS Corporate website entitled "Social Responsibility" there is a section titled CBS Diversity, Reflecting the Corporation’s commitment to diversity, CBS Sourcing seeks the widest possible range of suppliers by actively encourage bids from eligible and qualified vendors who are owned by historically underutilized populations (which presently include ethnic minorities, women,people with disabilities and veterans). Notice anything missing ?

In another section regarding the CBS Cares 2007 PSA campaign there were 25 plus PSA's done, one covered HIV/AIDS. And showing external organizations which received airtime in 2007, there was only one of "interest for the LGBT community", --KNOW HIV/AIDS Campaign.

In a section highlighting TV shows and episodes dealing with "social responsibility" there was only one episode pointed out regarding LGBTs, an episode of "Cold Case" from November 18, The team’s investigation brings them back to the early 1960s during which they learn that a teenaged girl, who caused a stir by dressing and acting like a boy, was a victim of murder, and not suicide as was believed in 1963.

Defiantly wanting to be herself by looking and behaving like a boy, the teen is taunted by classmates for being a “lesbo” and “butch” and is treated with disdain by the school’s staff. Her loving widower father simply wants her to fit in and sends her off to a facility for girls with “gender identity disorder” at the school principal’s suggestion. The facility used medication and electro-convulsive therapy on her – rendering her brain dead, after which a male friend smothered her to “set her free.”

Showtime, which first, a person has to be able to receive the service and then pay a premium to watch CBS' "social responsibility" in action is not included in this essay as a "shining" example even though it has won accolades for its true diverse programming, for the simple reason you have to pay to see this CBS unit's "social responsibility".

There are a couple more of CBS' actions pointed out regarding HIV/AIDS through it radio and local television units.

However Black-Americans, cancer and even the welfare of animals received more attention from CBS' "social responsibility" than the LGBT community and it's many issues in 2007.

In 2007 GLAAD gave CBS an award to "Cold Case" for it's 2006 episode "Forever Blue", but not putting much stock into the value of a GLAAD award perhaps it was because of, although "Cold Case" has dealt with gay, lesbian and transgendered storylines before, this was the first episode in the show's four year history to feature an on-screen same sex kiss.

Am I picking on CBS ? Fair enough question, but the answer is no. Having been part of the CBS family and their written policy regarding sexual orientation harassment, imagine my disappointment when I was looking through the PDF and found next to nothing supporting the LGBT community.

But as this was back in 2007, let's hope CBS and other media companies are now more socially responsible and inclusive when it comes to the LGBT community and programming and I certainly hope by now the CBS sexual harassment video has been, one, updated to have Katie Couric do the intro and two, include and point out sexual orientation and gender identity/expression harassment.

I'm sure CBS doesn't want it's black eye to turn to lavender and that's fine, but, Mother CBS let's put the proof in the pudding you make when it comes to "Social Responsibility".

In all fairness, go to the website of CBS News and do a search for "lgbt" and a whole litany of stories come up. At least the CBS News Division and its entities are committed to CBS's "Social Responsibility" in providing stories and features about the LGBT community.

Television programming and Radio could learn a few lessons from the News division. I won't get into Viacom's decision to drop 365 Gay News Powered by CBS News on the LOGO channel as I've already discussed that in another posting. But come on, how many shekels does it cost to produce and uphold Viacom's "Social Responsibility" ? Want to send Viacom a note about dropping the only LGBT News program on cable/sat .... well your chance is here.

CHECK PLEASE ... I'M FULL & READY TO GO

2009-07-22T18:25:00.043-04:00

On any given day, on just about any given gay blog or website, you'll find someone complaining about the "injustice and wrongs" said or done against the LGBT community.

From websites like The Advocate, Edge and Queerty, to Pam's House Blend and countless other independent LGBT bloggers, you'll find, sometimes ad nausea em, posting after posting knocking heads with or against those who offer "differing opinions" of LGBTs.

And as in the "mainstream" news business, if it's a slow news day, bring up something that was written about days or weeks ago and recut, rewrite, rehash and spit it out all over again.

If I hadn't become a full-time "new media" LGBT commentary writer, that scours the I-net for ideas or subjects to bring up, I wouldn't even go on many of the blogs/websites I do.

It's like watching the "new" Headline News channel or any number of silly entertainment/gossip shows, same old, same old, hour after hour after hour. And getting a headache in the process while doing so.

In my Yahoo news "key search words" I can't count as many stories that show up as do the number of written "us against them" postings I read everyday.

The few and I mean very few LGBT bloggers that I read for enjoyment are Charlotte Robinson at OUTTAKE and OUTTAKE VOICES, Michael In Norfolk, NG and The Gay Agenda. And while they also can have negative postings among their topics, they do shed a little joy now and then. And I don't come away feeling like I've been ducking bullets.

I know the given rule of thumb for blogging to make things appear in searches is to post regularly, but would it kill anyone to skip a day or two ?

I'll throw myself into the mix, but with this disclaimer, this blog and my new one at Hearst Newspapers, is for the most part commentary, to point out the injustices against, and sometimes even by the LGBT community and the few "elitists" who purport to speak for the many. These are not "news" blogs, these are commentary, where one would expect the kind of thing I complain about in this essay. That's not always the case in some who give the impression of being self-professed "news bloggers".

With all the negativity you read, why would anyone in their right mind what to be an LGBT ? ..... spare me please, I know what you're going to say.

With the exception of a few instances, can I find myself getting all worked up over what this group or that group said, to do more than one posting, and even then not every day.

Perhaps that's why this blog doesn't get, and may never get the number of daily readers as some of the afforementioned.

But that's okay, I'd rather have a quality of readers than quantity.

As the late, great Walter Cronkite once said of the news business, dog biting man is not news, but man biting dog is. Sometimes I wonder how often it's the same man biting the same dog.

Just for one day I'd like to read, man petted dog and they went for a walk.