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The virtual scrapbook of an optimistic pessimist .
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Photos of New York City’s Most Dangerous Neighborhood
“Bandit’s Roost,” pictured above, was once considered the most dangerous part in all of...
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things may fall apart.. and might fall into place.
Damn.
This still makes me giggle every time, no matter how many times I’ve heard it. lol
Same Love by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, feat. Mary Lambert
No law is gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever god we believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it’s all the same love
About time that we raised up
Beautiful. Smart. Powerful.
I’m stunned. This is all still hitting me. Adding three more states with marriage equality last night, we now have as many as 20% of Americans who live in a marriage equality state, 25% if Prop 8 falls as it’s more likely to now. My marriage to Keaton, legal in NY, is that much closer to being recognized here in Texas, meaning our ability to raise three children as a family just got a little easier. No, we don’t need “no piece of paper from the City Hall” as Joni Mitchell said, but that piece of paper is symbolic — it says that we don’t have to fight as hard, that our family is recognized and, dare I say it, VALUED. For all the children growing up in LGBT homes, for all the LGBT teens watching the election returns last night, things just got SO. MUCH. BETTER. I always maintain that the vitriol against gay people commonly heard in Evangelical and other conservative communities provides the ammunition for the suicides so common among young gay teens.
Last night just threw a little water on all that gunpowder.
I lost my uncle to that ammunition; I almost lost myself.
Thank you. Thank you to everyone who came before, to all of you who have been fighting this fight over the last 40 years. This is all possible because of you. The fight isn’t over, but last night we saw our Gettysburg. The rest is just the long, daily slog of cleaning up what’s left of the mess.
"Lisa Gray: Being true
A beautiful perspective that encouraged my heart.
“SHE’S NOT PREACHING TO THE CHOIR: Writing editorials over the last year in a small town in Minnesota, Lisa Gray writes her last piece today about the amendment. The vote looks very, very close and, historically, that doesn’t bode well for our side. But, historically, our marriage wasn’t legal anywhere on the planet 20 years ago. So who knows?
I met Lisa a year ago and she’s another of those wonders of the world, a young, married straight ally who doesn’t have a gay family member, doesn’t have any of the usual reasons to support us, she just does. Thank you Lisa for all that you do!!!”~ Randy Roberts Potts
Robin Tyler
[I giggle every time I read this. You’d think the joke would get old. It doesn’t. lol]
This is fascinating.
Dan Savage hosted a dinner at his house with Brian Brown (from the National Organization for Marriage) and they discussed their opposing views on same-sex marriage.
An actual discussion!!!! Important stuff.
Personal Note: I rarely repost but I feel this is an important video to pass on. No matter how you feel about Dan Savage or Brian Brown(and even if it is a publicity stunt), it is very important that we all realize how important it is to discuss our differences. It is ever more important to LISTEN to people who don’t agree with you. As an ally or a person who identifies as any term of empowerment under the LGBTQ* umbrella, it is important that you watch this because many of your peers and others will watch it and use this as reference. -Rebecca
An excellent discussion I believe everyone should watch.
U.S.S. Harvey Milk? Maybe…
I was unaware that Harvey served in the US Navy. It just made me love him a little more, as if I needed more reasons. lol
Harvey Milk is a gay icon. In death he has been memorialized, idolized, and the mere mention of his name inspires activist ideas, commercial boycotts, and the notion that gay and lesbian people can run for and be elected to political office. In life Milk, who ultimately became a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors until he was assassinated along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone in 1978, was also a U.S. Navy Veteran of the Korean War. Under his leadership, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the city’s landmark gay rights law in 1977. Milk was, without a doubt, a trailblazer and a courageous politician with an honorable military record to match, which is why State Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) introduced a resolution urging the Navy to name a ship after Milk. After a long, passionate debate on August 20, Senate Resolution 36 was approved. Harvey Milk, veteran, activist, leader, is one step closer to having a U.S. Navy ship named in his honor.
CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS VOTE FOR SHIP TO BE NAMED AFTER HARVEY MILK
On Monday, after a long, passionate debate over a proposal to name a vessel after slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk, supporters of the resolution had cause to celebrate when news of its passing circulated.
It is important to note that state lawmakers have no power to name U.S. Navy ships. Instead, the resolution is viewed as a recommendation to the Secretary of the Navy, and in no way guarantees Milk will get a ship in honor of his namesake.
State Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) introduced the resolution urging the Navy to name a ship for Milk, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors who was assassinated by a political rival.
Kehoe noted that Milk began his public service in the Navy, serving during the Korean War as a diver aboard the submarine rescue ship Kittiwake and later as a diving instructor before eventually leaving the Navy as a lieutenant.
“It’s more than appropriate to my constituents and to all of us that Harvey Milk be remembered for his service in the U.S. military,” Kehoe said.
Republican senators opposed the resolution, saying Navy ships are traditionally named after states, cities, presidents and admirals. They said Milk’s military record did not rise to the level of justifying his name on a ship.
Kehoe noted that President Obama posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Milk, and that the state has designated May 22 annually as “Harvey Milk Day.”
In the end, Senate Resolution 36 was approved on a 25-8 vote, with no Republicans voting in favor.
The original article was published by OutServe Magazine. It’s an excellent resource for those interested in both the LGBT community and the military. Check it out. :]
Life, Lessons, and Drag Queens
While I no longer consider myself a Christian, I almost always appreciate John Shore’s view on things. Yesterday’s post was no exception.
I like hanging out with drag queens because the more knowledge someone has about life the more I’m attracted to them. And drag queens know stuff about life that Yoda himself won’t even start to figure out until at the very least he walks by a mirror and notices that burlap frock he’s wearing.
Bottom line: anyone who doesn’t value what drag queens bring to the big movable feast that is life wouldn’t know a well stocked spice rack from a block of Velveeta cheese.
Here are ten essential truths of life that every drag queen not only knows but constantly evinces. If there’s a greater bundle of Life’s Truths to have in your pocket or purse, I wish I knew of it.
- The world belongs to the confident.
- To become who others want you to be is to become no one at all.
- Style is substance.
- If all of life is a stage, why not head for the spotlight?
- Identity (thank God) is malleable.
- Life is about layers.
- Beauty is attitude.
- Some of the best views are from the outside.
- All life is sexy.
- A day without fun is like death.
I’m definitely taking those lessons and putting them in my pocket. <3
For the full post: What drag queens taught this straight Christian guy.
