Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

Monday, October 11, 2010

NoMoreDownLow.TV speaks to the African-American lgbt perspective

Before I start with this post: No doubt everyone is talking about GetEqual's protest at the Democratic fundraiser. I understand their anger and frustration but sometimes I wish groups like this would protest organizations like Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America, or the American Family Association with as much fervor as they protest President Obama. This problem of our equality didn't start with Obama and it won't end with him, no matter what he does or doesn't sign. As long as religious right groups are free to propagandize and push their mess without a backlash, they will continue to have more power in Congress and in public.

In spite of all of the hoopla going on, I want to point everyone to this incredible bit of news:

To coincide with National Coming Out Day, the web series NoMoreDownLow.TV launches its premiere episode today featuring interviews with Wanda Sykes, Wilson Cruz, photographer Duane Cramer, among other members of the African American lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Co-hosted by Jonathan Plummer and Janora McDuffie, NoMoreDownLow.TV is a groundbreaking, one-of a-kind lifestyle and entertainment series dedicated to dispelling myths and stereotypes about same gender-loving people in the African American community.

Watch the episode at http://www.nomoredownlow.tv/

Interestingly, on Thursday Oprah interviewed J. L. King, who wrote the best-selling book “On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of ‘Straight’ Black Men Who Sleep With Men.” He originally introduced the term, the “down low,” to mainstream America on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2004.

Executive producer of NoMoreDownLow.TV, Earnest Winborne said he named the series “No More Down Low” as a response to the negative implications King’s book had on the black gay community. “Our show will put a real face on same gender loving people who are traditionally overlooked by the mainstream media. We’ll feature people who are open and honest about who they are and those who are contributing to their communities in the fields of entertainment, sports, politics, health, music, and social activism.”

A show like this is needed and I hope it gets a lot of attention.

Son of anti-gay professor comes out and other Monday midday news briefs

Paladino Warns Against Homosexual “Brainwashing” - Say what you will about tea party candidates, they certainly aren't boring.

"Progressive Hunter" - Pay attention. You will be hearing about this again and again.

Son of anti-gay professor comes out - How is this for kismet?

Lesbian couple ejected from Ravens game - What can you say?

Let us love one another as well as come out of the closet

Today is National Coming Out Day and this year has a certain degree of poignancy due to the recent suicides of lgbt youth.

But I want us to do something a bit different this year because it's about more than just coming out.

Let's never forget about the children, but don't leave the adults out of the equation.

Just because you are over 18 doesn't mean you don't get hit with the slings and arrows of hopelessness.

Just because you are an adult doesn't mean that the realization that some people have awful preconceived notions about your life simply because you are gay won't leave you bedridden wishing to end it all.

Take it from me when I say that I know this on a personal level.

And please don't start bashing anyone because of what I say. I've done all I have done and said all I have said about the religious right. And I will continue to do so. Some people have attacked President Obama and they will continue to do so.

But all in all, we are the solution to this problem.

I don't mind telling you that there are some facets of the lgbt community that I'm unfamiliar with. I'm not a lesbian nor am I transgender so no, there are some things they go through that I will probably never understand.

But that doesn't mean I should dismiss their worries, fears, and concerns. And it definitely doesn't mean that when I see a lesbian or transgender whom I don't know that I shouldn't give then a friendly greeting.

For this National Coming Out Day, we are all going to get together in our groups and have our vigils complete with speeches, lighted candles, and tears.

But what about afterwards?

Why do we need to wait for our children to die before getting to know and respect each other? Why is it that death on this scale suddenly induces the Scarlett O'Hara in crisis mode in each of us when the most simple thing for us to do would be to treat each other with dignity and respect at all times.

For those who aren't transgender to respect those who are.

For those who are from a high socioeconomic background to respect those who aren't and vice versa?

For those who have their "circle of friends" to maybe say hello and make conversation with someone not in their clique.

For those who may or may not believe in religion or politics to respect the differences of opinion that their fellow lgbts bring to the table.

We talk about self-love but let's not forget about love and respect for each other no matter what race, religion, or background. We take the word "gay community" for granted because usually when we speak it, our minds gravitate to those who look like us, think like us, and at times behave like us.

The "gay community" is universal and diverse. No doubt people agree with me when I say this. But instead of simply agreeing with me, how about acting like you mean it.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

We need to STOP the HOMOSEXUAL MENACE!!

I'm sorry people. I love you but Peter LaBarbera, Matt Barber, and the rest have gotten to me. I am now dedicating my life to "stopping the homosexual menace."

And my first act is to show this very informative video courtesy of youtube:

Friday, October 08, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - Staircase

Not too many people remember Staircase (1969), the story of a two gay hairdressers in a 20 year relationship, even though it starred two legendary actors, Richard Burton and Rex Harrison. There is a reason for this. According to Wikipedia:

Instead of marketing it as the comedy-drama it was, the studio treated it like a camp comedy. It was panned by most critics, including Roger Ebert, who gave it one star in his review and called it "an unpleasant exercise in bad taste . . . Stanley[Donen] gives us no warmth, humor or even the dregs of understanding. He exploits the improbable team of Rex Harrison and Richard Burton as a sideshow attraction." The film was a commercial failure that lost most of its investment.

Rarely seen on television, the film was broadcast by Turner Classic Movies during its June 2007 tribute to gay cinema. Noting this broadcast, a month later film critic Armond White called the film "a rare Hollywood movie to depict gay experience with wisdom, humor and warmth", and "a lost treasure".

Judge for yourself:

MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell cites my piece in takedown of David Barton and other Friday midday news briefs

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sorry for the brag but the Huffington Piece piece cited by MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell in his very awesome takedown of faux historian David Barton was written by yours truly. Thank you so much Jeremy Hooper for pointing that out. And if I may digress, this does a lot for my day. I have been contemplating for a while whether or not the work that I do in exposing religious right lies is having any effect. I've been doing this for over four years. Not too many people know me. I'm not on television. I do this part time and can't devote as much attention to it as I would like to. So when something like this happens, it lifts my spirits big time.

In other news

Will FRC Take Over The "Day of Truth"? - A lying organization taking over a lying event. Talk about your ugly matches.

Walmart Carrying Anti-Gay Book for Children - What the hell is this?

ABC Family Developing Movie About Lesbian Teen Who Was Banned from Prom - Excellent! Good things keep happening to Constance McMillen.

Gay Member of Rev. Eddie Long’s Church Speaks Out In BET Video - No "new scandal" but excellent nonetheless.

One News Now, Matt Barber dehumanizes recent suicide victims

Our "friend" at the Liberty Counsel, Matt Barber - the same person who defends countries persecuting lgbts - is accusing the lgbt community of exploiting the recent suicides of gay youths.

By way of the American Family Association's One News Now:

Four recent homosexual youth suicides have sparked a fresh cry for anti-bullying laws.

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center's survey of 4,400, one in five youths between the ages of 10 and 18 have been a victim of cyberbullying or admit to participating in it.

Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs for Liberty Counsel, thinks harassment and bullying of all children should be corrected immediately, but he also finds it "absolutely disgusting to watch as the Human Rights Campaign and other extremist gay pressure groups lick their chops and really rub their hands together over the tragic suicides of these troubled and sexually-confused young men. Before these kids have even been laid to rest, the radical homosexual lobbyists pounced."

He decides those groups are "shamelessly exploiting their deaths in order to further their own selfish political self-interests," and he feels their approach is political exploitation "at its slimiest."

Interesting how Barber and One News Now can refer to these children as "sexually confused" but didn't have the decency to say their names.

These children had names, guys. Couldn't you have at least said their names? Or the circumstances which led to their deaths.

Naw, you wouldn't do that. That would be acknowledging them as human beings and calling attention to how your nonsense leads to the stigmatization of not only these children but all gay youth in general.

Their names were:
Seth Walsh
Asher Brown
Tyler Clementi
Raymond Chase