JMG: Blog Year Ten
JoeMyGod@gmail.com
Gay culture, short stories, politics, and fabulous disco trivia.
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Labels: "celibacy", bears, Blowoff, Bob Mould, nightlife, NYC, Rich Morel
Labels: "celibacy", Ali Forney Center, Carl Siciliano, good work, homelessness, LGBT youth, NYC
Via Wired Science: Prepare yourself for a sight tonight — not to mention some wild behavior, if the legends are true. The biggest full moon in 15 years is set to grace the Northern Hemisphere tonight. Because the moon orbits along an egg-shaped ellipse, not a circle, its distance from us changes. Today, the moon is approaching its nearest point to Earth, so it should look about 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than this year's other full moons, according to NASA. Since the moon takes about 28 days to orbit Earth, it reaches its point of closest approach, called perigee, about once a month. But since the moon's orbit isn't a perfect oval — rather, it wobbles — some perigees are closer than others. Tomorrow's approach will be the closest the moon has come to Earth since 1993. On top of that, tonight's moon will become full just four hours after perigee. The next time these two events will coincide will be in 2016. The full moon isn't the only boost we get from this special alignment: Tides should be especially big, too. Lunar gravity at perigee pulls tide waters about an inch higher than usual.Blowoff may be even crazier than usual tonight.
Labels: "celibacy", astronomy, science
Ex-Mormon Jon Powell wants all of Broadway to refuse to license their work to the Mormon Church.
Powell has talked with one artist in particular, Stephen Schwartz, the composer of the musical “Wicked” which the Young Ambassadors wants to use in their show. Powell says, “For me that material is so blatantly hypocritical... the use of it in the Young Ambassadors show.” Part of an email Schwartz wrote to Powell says, "I'm looking into it, and if this is truly a Mormon "promotional" group, rather than just student singers, I will try to do something about it."
Randy Boothe, Artistic Director for the Young Ambassadors says they are rehearsing other numbers in case wicked is pulled. Boothe says, “At this point we have not received any response yay or nay.” He says everyone has a right to express their opinions on Prop 8, but questions if this call for a boycott will shake the group. Boothe says, “I don't know if this will impact us greatly, we'll certainly be sad not to be able to include any of the artists that Jon might contact whose music we might be interested in.” The Young Ambassadors have had to deal with material being pulled in the past, but not for this reason. They had an incident with the licensing of “Tarzan” last year. Powell says this goal of his isn't geared toward only the Young Ambassadors, but to any group affiliated with the LDS Church.
Labels: "celibacy", boycott, Broadway, marriage equality, Mormons, Proposition 8, religion
For about a week I've been getting multiple daily robocalls to my cell that warn me that my car warranty is about to expire. "This is your FINAL notice!" On Sunday they almost filled up my voicemail, so yesterday I waited forever to get an actual person on the line so I could tell them I haven't owned a car this century. Turns out, of course, that it's a scam from some shysters in Massachusetts that are selling car warranties. I told the agent to "stop fucking calling me" and she said, "Well, we fucking will." Which made me laugh. But they called back this morning. Three times. Maybe I should have been nicer.
Labels: "celibacy", daily grumble, scam artists
Blowoff's beary beer-soaked band of bouncy brutes returns to Manhattan tonight at the Highline Ballroom. Doors open at 11:30pm, advance tickets are here. Next week I'll happen to be in DC when Blowoff returns to the mothership at the 9:30 Club, making it four Blowoffs in four cities in five weeks for me. What's the bear version of a Deadhead?Labels: "celibacy", bears, Blowoff, Bob Mould, nightlife, NYC, Rich Morel
"There’s one indulgence every man should try in his lifetime: If you’re straight, sleep with a man at least once, and if you’re gay, don’t go through life without sleeping with a woman. Either way, you might be surprised at how natural it will feel if you can get past the mind-fuck of stereotypes. In the end, it’s just another person that you are relating to in a physical way." - Item number ten in designer Tom Ford's Top Ten Rules Of Style in Details.Labels: "celibacy", HomoQuotable, Tom Ford
Jewish culture site Nextbook dissects Boys In The Band and its "Jew fairy" character Harold, noting the interesting parallels between the gay and Jewish worlds and how both deal with the issues of assimilation and acceptance with self-deprecating humor. Harold may not be entirely at ease with either his sexual or religious identity, but he refuses to downplay or mask either—that phrase "Jew fairy," barely a pause between, acknowledges bigotry and persistent self-loathing at the same time it defies both. At the party’s end, Donald, another partygoer, says he hopes to see Harold again soon. “Yes,” Harold answers, “Maybe next Shavuous?"—not Passover, or Rosh Hashanah, but a reference that hints at Harold's religious upbringing while leaving Donald (and many audience members) outside. However Harold might actually feel about himself, his humor provides a crucial mode of resistance and resilience—a way of accepting and performing identity while still holding it at a critical distance. One can see a similar strategy on display in Portnoy’s Complaint or the stand-up of Lenny Bruce, as well as the camp humor of later gay artists such as John Waters, Charles Ludlam, and even Tony Kushner. Reviewing the play in the New York Times, Clive Barnes went as far to call the "New York wit" "little more than a mixture of Jewish humor and homosexual humor seen through the bottom of a dry martini glass," though he never considers what Jewish and gay humor might have in common—namely, a half-mocking performance of identity that cuts to the punchline before anyone else can.From its first release until today, many gays have loathed Boys In The Band, finding the supremely unhappy characters a grim stereotype of gay culture. Looking at some the reviews of this month's long-overdue DVD release, however, I'm seeing more praise for the film, perhaps merely as an artifact of a darker time.
Labels: "celibacy", Boys In The Band, Judaism, LGBT culture, Nextbook
UNRELATED: I had a mad crush on John Oates back in the 70's. I miss his pornstache.
Labels: "celibacy", Alan Colmes, Daily Show, Daryl Hall, Fox News, John Oates
Last week evangelical leader Richard Cizik told NPR that he now backs civil unions for gays and was "shifting" on the issue of same-sex marriage. Yesterday he resigned his position with the National Association of Evangelicals after an internal uproar over his comments. An outspoken and polarizing voice in conservative Christian politics resigned effective Thursday from the National Association of Evangelicals after a radio interview in which he voiced support for same-sex civil unions and said he is "shifting" on gay marriage. The Rev. Richard Cizik's comments — made on a Dec. 2 "Fresh Air" broadcast on National Public Radio — triggered an uproar that led to his stepping down as NAE vice president of governmental affairs.Focus On The Family had been calling for Cizik's head ever since he began speaking out on global warming.
A fixture in Washington for nearly three decades, Cizik has played a key role in bringing evangelical Christian concerns to the political table. But in recent years, he earned enemies in the movement for pushing to broaden the evangelical agenda. His strongest focus was on "creation care," arguing that evangelicals have a biblical responsibility to the environment that includes combating global warming.
The Rev. Leith Anderson, a Minneapolis-area pastor who serves as NAE president, said Thursday the group is not backing away from its environmental stances. Cizik's resignation was necessary, he said, because some of his answers in the radio interview did not reflect NAE values and convictions. "Any organizations that speak to controversial issues are going to have critics," Anderson said. "What was different this time was our individuals and organizations felt there was a loss of credibility for him clearly espousing our positions and values. When you lose that, it's very difficult to re-establish."
Cizik did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday. The NAE said in a statement that Cizik had expressed regret, apologized and "affirmed our values." The NAE is an umbrella group for tens of thousands of churches and organizations. Anderson said a "combination of things" Cizik said in the interview led to his downfall, including this comment on gay marriage: "I'm shifting, I have to admit. In other words, I would willingly say I believe in civil unions. I don't officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don't think."
Labels: "celibacy", marriage equality, religion, Richard Cizik
Soap-opera-in-space Battlestar Galactica will out two characters in webisodes that will run prior to next month's season debut. (Stop here if you don't want to be spoiled.)The webisodes are meant to bridge the gap between the mid-season finale and the January 16 premiere, but that's not the only interesting thing about them. Galactica Sitrep reports that two male characters will be outed and indulge in a full-on make-out session in one of the installments.(Tipped by JMG reader Palochi)
In news that I doubt any Battlestar Galactica fan will find shocking, one of the gay characters is none other than Lt. Felix Gaeta (Alessandro Juliani). The man he'll be seen making out with is Hoshi, who may only be known by the most faithful BSG fans. Hoshi is the former communications officer on the Pegasus, who now holds the same position aboard the Galactica. He took over Gaeta's duties for a short time when the lieutenant was traveling with Starbuck aboard the Demetrius.
While I'm thrilled that Battlestar Galactica is showing some diversity, it's a bit disappointing that these characters won't be outed in an actual episode of the series. BSG fans who don't watch the webisodes may never know that Gaeta and Hoshi made out, unless it's somehow referenced on the show. Then again, with only 10 episodes left and BSG barreling toward its series finale, it's possible there's no time to dive into issues of sexuality.
Labels: "celibacy", Battlestar Galactica, outing, science fiction, television
Bettie Page, 1950s bondage model and inspiration to goth kids everywhere, has died at 85.Bettie Page, the 1950s secretary-turned-model whose controversial photographs in skimpy attire or none at all helped set the stage for the 1960s sexual revolution, died Thursday. She was 85. Page suffered a heart attack last week in Los Angeles and never regained consciousness, her agent Mark Roesler said. Before the heart attack, Page had been hospitalized for three weeks with pneumonia. "She captured the imagination of a generation of men and women with her free spirit and unabashed sensuality," Roesler said. "She is the embodiment of beauty."
Page, who was also known as Betty, attracted national attention with magazine photographs of her sensuous figure in bikinis and see-through lingerie that were quickly tacked up on walls in military barracks, garages and elsewhere, where they remained for years. Her photos included a centerfold in the January 1955 issue of then-fledgling Playboy magazine, as well as controversial sadomasochistic poses. The latter helped contribute to her mysterious disappearance from the public eye, which lasted decades and included years during which she battled mental illness and became a born-again Christian.
Labels: "celibacy", Bettie Page, obituary, SM/BD
The auto industry bailout fell apart late last night.
A bailout-weary Congress killed a $14 billion package to aid struggling U.S. automakers Thursday night after a partisan dispute over union wage cuts derailed a last-ditch effort to revive the emergency aid before year's end. Republicans, breaking sharply with President George W. Bush as his term draws to a close, refused to back federal aid for Detroit's beleaguered Big Three without a guarantee that the United Auto Workers would agree by the end of next year to wage cuts to bring their pay into line with U.S. plants of Japanese carmakers. The UAW refused to do so before its current contract with the automakers expires in 2011.It promises to be a grim day on Wall Street.
The breakdown left the fate of the auto industry — and the 3 million jobs it touches — in limbo at a time of growing economic turmoil. General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC have said they could be weeks from collapse. Ford Motor Co. says it does not need federal help now, but its survival is far from certain. Democratic leaders called on Bush to immediately tap the $700 billion Wall Street bailout fund for emergency aid to the auto industry. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called the bill's collapse "a loss for the country," adding: "I dread looking at Wall Street tomorrow. It's not going to be a pleasant sight."
Labels: "celibacy", automobiles, Congress, Detroit, economy, Wall Street
From the Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics In Washington comes the "most embarrassing re-elected members of Congress."
Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released its 2008 Most Embarrassing Re-Elected Members of Congress report. The list incorporates those elected officials who have misused their position through illegal, unethical or just plain outrageous conduct.It's good to see Bachmann at the top of the list, even if it is alphabetical.
Members are not ranked, but rather listed in alphabetical order. The top 10 list includes:
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA)
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, said today, “From Rep. Bachmann’s smearing of president-elect Barack Obama to Rep. Buchanan’s serious FEC violations -- these members of Congress stand out for their inability to conduct themselves in a manner that respects the office they hold. By highlighting those officials who have been an embarrassment to their constituents, the institution of Congress and in some cases, the United States of America, we fervently hope that they do more to better represent those who voted them into higher office.”
Labels: "celibacy", Congress, CREW, Michele Bachmann
Some guy in Russia has trademarked an emoticon.
How much would you pay for a ;-)? A Russian businessman has trademarked the emoticon or combination of punctuation marks used to convey a wink in text messages and e-mail. Oleg Teterin, president of the mobile ad company Superfone, said Thursday he doesn't plan on tracking down individual users following the decision by the federal patent agency. "I want to highlight that this is only directed at corporations, companies that are trying to make a profit without the permission of the trademark holder," he said in comments to NTV.
Companies will be sent legal warnings if they use the symbol without his permission, he said. "Legal use will be possible after buying an annual license from us," he was quoted by Kommersant as saying. "It won't cost that much _ tens of thousands of dollars." He also said since other similar emoticons :-) or ;) or :) resemble the one he has trademarked, use of those symbols could also fall under his ownership.
Other Russian Internet entrepreneurs reacted to the effort predictably >:(
"Imagine the next wise-guy who trademarks the 33 letters of the Russian alphabet and then says anyone who uses the Russian alphabet has to send him money. It's absurd," Alexander Manis, the director of a broadband internet and mobile company, told NTV.
Labels: "celibacy", internet, Russia, trademarks
Man, you really know Wall Street has been hit hard when Scores, Gotham's jiggle-titty mecca, is closing. It's the last lap dance for Scores, the strip club empire whose comely babes attracted A-list celebs and money-burning execs. Once the highest-grossing strip club chain in the world and a hangout for Madonna, Howard Stern, Russell Crowe, Jason Giambi and countless others, Scores will shut down before the new year, company officials said. "It's over; it is what it is," said Scores lawyer George Weinbaum. Co-owner Elliot Osher confirmed the closing. A weak economy, the loss of the W. 27th St. Scores' liquor license and the possibility the E. 60th St. joint would lose its booze ticket all helped do in the flesh factory.The west side Scores (conveniently next to the Eagle) closed a few months ago due to prostitution charges. (Those filthy perverted breeders and their brazen public sex!) I will miss the daily Scores scandals - all those "Japanese tourist charged $40K for lapdance" and "hedge fund manager expenses $80K for 'client entertainment'" stories! Gentlemen, the stripper pole is closed. Or ungreased. Or whatever a sad, lonely stripper pole becomes.
Labels: "celibacy", economy, nightlife, NYC, Scores, Wall Street
Labels: "celibacy", Brooklyn, hate crimes, Jose Sucuzhanay, memorial, NYC
New Orleans is covered by a heavy snowstorm and here in Gotham we still got nuttin'. Craziness. And somebody feel free to correct my Franglais.Labels: "celibacy", New Orleans, weather
To great controversy, yesterday British television aired a film titled Right To Die?, which showed a terminally-ill man committing suicide on camera. The film raises the usual questions about euthanasia and assisted-suicide, although the man did the job on his own, albeit with an audience in the room. The scene is difficult to watch, even for viewers inured to the subject of dying by a steady diet of violent Hollywood and television fare. Craig Ewert, a former computer scientist from Chicago, is shown lying in bed with his wife at his side while he takes barbiturates. He asks for a glass of apple juice to mask the bad taste and help him swallow. Then he uses his teeth to turn off his ventilator — and dies on camera.Could such a sensible program ever air in America? Terri Schiavo, anyone? Many gay men my age have had a role in helping lovers, roommates, and friends end their suffering. It isn't easy, but to my mind it's perhaps the single greatest kindness you can show somebody you love.
Britain's obsession with reality television reached new heights — or depths — Wednesday night with the broadcast of the assisted suicide of the 59-year-old terminally ill American at a Swiss clinic. Showing the final moment of death had long been a final taboo, even for no-holds-barred British TV, where sex and violence are common, and the broadcast unleashed debate on an issue that strongly divides public opinion. Photographs of Ewert's final moments dominated Britain's newspaper front pages Wednesday — "SUICIDE TV" screamed one tabloid — and prompted a debate in Parliament, where Prime Minister Gordon Brown was quizzed about the propriety of the decision to air the program.
Labels: "celibacy", ethics, euthanasia, suicide, television, UK
I couldn't resist sharing this old photo of me and Project Runway's Chris March, taken at Wigstock West in 1996, the one year (I think) that Wigstock came to San Francisco. We used to see Chris at all the major events in outlandish costumes like this. I got the pic yesterday from my old SF roommate Eduardo, who's now gay-married in Switzerland with a new last name. Eduardo just resuscitated a long-dead hard drive, something I really need to do as I've got two croaked laptops full of great shots which I stupidly never put on a disc. Anyway, who IS that skinny kid on the left? Dammit.Labels: "celibacy", Chris March, JMG, San Francisco, silliness, Wigstock
I had no idea this was happening, but ever since YouTube added advertisements to the clips of their most popular members, the creators of those clips are making big bucks, including gay gossiper Michael Buckley.One year after YouTube, the online video powerhouse, invited members to become “partners” and added advertising to their videos, the most successful users are earning six-figure incomes from the Web site. For some, like Michael Buckley, the self-taught host of a celebrity chatter show, filming funny videos is now a full-time job.The guy who made the Mean Kitty video says he's making about $20K a month from his clips. Amazing.
Mr. Buckley quit his day job in September after his online profits had greatly surpassed his salary as an administrative assistant for a music promotion company. His thrice-a-week online show “is silly,” he said, but it has helped him escape his credit-card debt.
Mr. Buckley, 33, was the part-time host of a weekly show on a Connecticut public access channel in the summer of 2006 when his cousin started posting snippets of the show on YouTube. The comical rants about celebrities attracted online viewers, and before long Mr. Buckley was tailoring his segments, called “What the Buck?” for the Web. Mr. Buckley knew that the show was “only going to go so far on public access. But on YouTube,” he said, “I’ve had 100 million views. It’s crazy.”
Labels: "celibacy", advertising, internet, Michael Buckley, YouTube
"If Christians and traditionalists want to preserve the “sanctity” of marriage as something between a man and a woman, with all the mumbo jumbo that entails, let them. They only hasten the collapse of marriage. Instead of demanding gay marriage, in effect trying to modernise an increasingly moribund institution, maybe lesbian and gay people should push for civil partnerships to be opened to cross-sex couples, as they are in France - where they have proved very popular.Labels: "celibacy", civil unions, HomoQuotable, Mark Simpson, marriage equality
You may have heard that in a historic first for our community, an LGBT marching band will perform in Barack Obama's inauguration parade. Predictably, the wingnuts are going crazy. Yesterday the Catholic News Agency published a story that links the marching band to the "infamous lewd public acts" at Southern Decadence - because the band will also perform there.
President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden have officially invited the Lesbian and Gay Band Association to march in the Inaugural Parade. One of the association’s web sites reports that the group will also march in September as part of the homosexual “Southern Decadence” festival infamous for its public lewd acts.Watch out for those exposed tromboners! Not to mention the skin flutes!
The web site reports that the LGBA conference will be held as part of Southern Decadence and Decafest. The site links to the Southern Decadence festival, which has often been targeted for protest because of its extreme indecency. In 2003, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that it had “become routine” for men to flash their genitals and perform public sex acts at the event, which bills itself as “the Gay Mardi Gras.”
“The city's wildest neighborhood gets even crazier as the French Quarter is packed for the entire event,” the Southern Decadence festival’s current web site says. In its Frequently Asked Questions section, the web site tells those with “an interest in the adult film business” that a pornographic filmmaker will be in attendance.
Labels: "celibacy", asshattery, Barack Obama, Inauguration Day
Gay pride organizers in Moscow remained defiant even after their mayor used a Eurovision ceremony yesterday to warn homosexuals to stay off the streets during the famously loved-by-gays song contest.Russian gay pride organizers have several cases pending in the European Court Of Human Rights to contest the parade bans.The Mayor of Moscow has used a Eurovision Song Contest ceremony to warn gay people visiting the city for the event next year that they are not welcome on the streets. Yuri Luzhkov was receiving a set of symbolic keys from the Mayor of Belgrade, Dragan Dilas, in recognition of Russia's success at this year's Eurovision in Serbia. The winning country usually hosts the contest the following year.
Speaking at a press conference after the ceremony the Mayor, who has banned every gay rights march in Moscow since 2005, gave some advice to gay people coming to the city for Eurovision: "Entertain yourself, no problem, but not on the streets, squares, marches and demonstrations. We never introduced any limitations in their respect except public actions. We do not allow gay parades."
Moscow Pride organisers are confident that after years of bans, the eyes of the world on Russia may mean they can finally march. Russian and Belarussian activists are planning a Slavic Pride event in Moscow to coincide with the Eurovision final on May 16th. The semi-finals will be held on May 12th and 14th.
"Gay Pride public action during the final of Eurovision will take place in any circumstances," said Moscow Pride organiser Nicolas Alexeyev. "We are not going to surrender our right to freedom of assembly and expression because it is given to us not by Mayor Luzhkov but by the Constitution of this country."
Labels: "celibacy", Eurovision, LGBT rights, Moscow, Moscow Pride, Russia
This will be the first weekend in a month that I've been home and I was really looking forward to spending it on the couch with the DVR. "Catching up on my stories", as we'd say in the South. So don't you know the stupid cable box picked this week to crap out and erase four weeks of shows. I suppose they're all online, but I hate watching TV on the computer. Muttley grumble.
Labels: "celibacy", daily grumble
Gay City News' Paul Schindler has written a great recap of this tumultuous week in the New York Senate. If you've been confused by the alliances, the deals, the un-deals, and where things stand at the moment - read the story. An excerpt:
[Sen. Malcolm] Smith has taken a gamble - he and his fellow Democrats may well be consigned to another two years in the minority. And whether in the minority or the majority, Smith has undoubtedly gotten at least some of his Senate colleagues wondering whether he is the Democrat best suited to lead the caucus. No sure-bet challengers have come forward or even come to mind for most political observers.
If the Democrats cannot hold onto the majority, marriage equality is effectively dead for two years - it was the intransigence of Skelos on that issue and others such as transgender rights that convinced the Pride Agenda that it needed to cast its lot fully and squarely against the Republicans this year. At the same time, Van Capelle is breathing a huge sigh of relief that the potential betrayal has been staved off.
"We applaud Senator Malcolm Smith's ongoing efforts to lead the new Senate majority that voters chose during the recent elections," he said in a written release. "By stating that reform in the Senate cannot include bargaining away civil rights, Senator Smith has once again demonstrated his commitment to standing up for all New Yorkers."
On an upbeat note, Van Capelle continued, "The Pride Agenda looks forward to continuing to work with Senator Smith when the legislative session starts." However, with a bow to the political reality that even if the Democrats run the Senate, GOP votes would be needed to get gay marriage over the goal line, he added, "In the meantime we will be working with legislative leaders - Democrats and Republicans... to earn the votes we need to bring the marriage equality bill to the floor of the Senate for passage."
Labels: "celibacy", Empire State Pride Agenda, Gay City News, Malcolm Smith, marriage equality, New York state, Paul Schindler, Pedro Espada, Ruben Diaz
The Golden Globes nominees were announced this morning. Sean Penn is the lone representative from Milk. Here are the film categories:
The nominees for best drama are "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Frost/Nixon," "The Reader," "Revolutionary Road" and "Slumdog Millionaire."The awards take place January 11th.
The nominees for best comedy or musical are "Burn After Reading," "Happy-Go-Lucky," "In Bruges," "Mamma Mia!" and "Vicky Christina Barcelona."
The nominees for best director are Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire"), Stephen Daldry ("The Reader"), David Fincher ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Ron Howard ("Frost/Nixon") and Sam Mendes ("Revolutionary Road").
The nominees for best actor in a drama are Leonardo DiCaprio ("Revolutionary Road"), Frank Langella ("Frost/Nixon"), Sean Penn ("Milk"), Brad Pitt ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") and Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler").
The nominees for best actress in a drama are Anne Hathaway ("Rachel Getting Married"), Angelina Jolie ("Changeling"), Meryl Streep ("Doubt"), Kristin Scott Thomas ("I've Loved You Too Long") and Kate Winslet ("Revolutionary Road").
The nominees for best actor in a comedy or musical are Javier Bardem ("Vicky Christina Barcelona"), Colin Farrell ("In Bruges"), James Franco ("Pineapple Express"), Brendan Gleeson ("In Bruges") and Dustin Hoffman ("Last Chance Harvey").
The nominees for best actress in a comedy or musical are Rebecca Hall ("Vicky Christina Barcelona"), Sally Hawkins ("Happy-Go-Lucky"), Frances McDormand ("Burn After Reading"), Meryl Streep ("Mamma Mia!") and Emma Thompson ("Last Chance Harvey").
The nominees for best supporting actor are Tom Cruise ("Tropic Thunder"), Robert Downey Jr. ("Tropic Thunder"), Ralph Fiennes ("The Duchess"), Philip Seymour Hoffman ("Doubt") and Heath Ledger ("The Dark Knight").
The nominees for best supporting actress are Amy Adams ("Doubt"), Penelope Cruz ("Vicky Christina Barcelona"), Viola Davis ("Doubt"), Marisa Tomei ("The Wrestler") and Kate Winslet ("The Reader").
The nominees for best animated film are "Bolt," "Kung Fu Panda" and "Wall-E."
Labels: "celibacy", Golden Globes, Milk the movie, movies, Sean Penn
In what some are seeing as a sly middle finger to those on the right that continuously used his full name to instill fear, Barack Obama will include "Hussein" during his swearing-in ceremony. Obama says he's not making a statement, just standing on tradition.
Labels: "celibacy", Barack Obama, Inauguration Day
All those "best of" year-end lists will be upon us soon. What was your favorite song of 2008? Best new act? Best album?
Labels: "celibacy", Open Thread Thursday
This is the second major prize for Milk this week and first of what I predict will be many for Sean Penn.
"Milk," Gus Van Sant's movie about gay rights leader Harvey Milk starring Sean Penn, has been named best film by the New York Film Critics Circle. Penn was also chosen as best actor by the critics, who announced their picks Wednesday. "Happy-Go-Lucky" also fared well, winning best director for Mike Leigh and best actress for Sally Hawkins. The critics circle, which last year chose "No Country for Old Men" as best film, is a group of 33 New York-based critics. Its awards will be handed out Jan. 5 in New York.It's not mentioned in the story above, but Josh Brolin won Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Dan White. The rest of the awards are here.
Labels: "celibacy", Josh Brolin, Milk the movie, movies, NYC, Sean Penn
The most accidentally funny headline of the day comes from TIME Magazine.Labels: "celibacy", Rod Blagojevich, silliness, Time Magazine
Wayne Besen's Truth Wins Out has taken out a full-page ad to appear in tomorrow's Salt Lake City Tribune to counter the anti-gay Beckett Fund ad that appeared in the NY Times last Friday. The ad uses direct quotes from the Beckett Fund ad's cosigners in which they condemn the Mormon Church as un-Christian.Truth Wins Out (TWO) unveiled a hard-hitting full-page ad today that will be published in The Salt Lake Tribune on Thursday, under the headline, “Lies in the Name of the Lord.” TWO’s provocative advertisement is in response to an ad by anti-gay activists in last Friday’s New York Times, that falsely portrayed protests against Proposition 8 - a ballot measure in California that prohibited same sex couples from marrying – as mob violence. The TWO ad also criticized the culture warriors who ran the Times ad under the name, “No Mob Veto,” for their disingenuous claim of religious tolerance and their posture as staunch defenders of the Mormon Church."Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life." Well done, Mr. Besen.“These anti-gay activists are crying wolf on the Proposition 8 protests, but they actually are a wolf in sheep’s clothing that preaches religious tolerance while practicing the most defamatory form of religious bigotry,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “We refuse to permit this orchestrated campaign to rewrite history, nor will we allow some of the most notorious Mormon bashers in America to pose as friends of the Latter-day Saints.”
TWO exposes “No Mob Veto’s” hypocrisy, after the group wrote in the Times, “Beginning today, we commit ourselves to opposing and publicly shaming anyone who resorts to the rhetoric of anti-religious bigotry, against any faith, on any side of the cause, for any reason.” In its ad, TWO agreed to take the signers of the “No Mob Veto” ad at their word, including convicted felon Chuck Colson, Prison Fellowship; Rich Cizik, National Association of Evangelicals; and William Donohue, The Catholic League, and remind America of their past incendiary statements against other religions, particularly the Mormon church.
“Activists like Colson, Cizik and Donohue must decide if they are ‘people of faith’ or ‘people of fibs’ – they can’t be both,” TWO proclaimed in its ad. “Lying is wrong, especially when it’s done in the name of God.” “There is a concerted and ongoing effort by anti-gay forces to portray peaceful marchers exercising their First Amendment rights as violent troublemakers,” said Besen. “We hope to set the record straight and refuse to let No Mob Veto get away with their blatant lies.”
Labels: "celibacy", Beckett Fund, marriage equality, religion, Truth Wins Out, Utah, Wayne Besen
From Things Bears Love. The other things are a bit gory.Labels: "celibacy", bears
Barack Obama says disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich should resign.
President-elect Barack Obama is calling for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign. Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs says the president-elect agrees with other prominent politicians that "under the current circumstances, it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois." In response to questions from The Associated Press, Gibbs said Obama believes the Illinois legislature should consider a special election to fill the seat.Blagojevich says he won't.
The attorney for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said the governor will be vindicated and he has no plans to resign. "He didn't do anything wrong," attorney Sheldon Sorosky told reporters after Blagojevich was arraigned. "A lot of this is just politics." Blagojevich should be in the office Wednesday, Sorosky added. So, reporters asked, he does not intend to resign? "Not that I know of, no," said Sorosky, who added that the governor was "surprised" by the day's events.As you might guess, the right-wing blogosphere is having a field day with this, many are claiming the Obama was in on the whole thing.
Labels: "celibacy", Barack Obama, Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, scandal
UPDATE: I'm moving this post back to the top because of a breaking development. NY state Sen. Malcolm Smith now says he's cut off negotiations with the anti-gay "Gang Of Three" because he'd "rather wait two more years to take charge of the Senate" than kowtow to a trio anti-gay Democrats.
Sen. Malcolm Smith said today that he will cease negotiations on the reorganization of the Senate with the so-called “Gang of Three”. "We are suspending negotiations, effective immediately, because to do so otherwise would reduce our moral standing and the long-term Senate Democratic commitment to reform and change,” Smith said. “It became very clear to me, over time, that those negotiations started being more about self interest.”The Empire State Pride Agenda reacts:
Last week it was reported that Sen.-elect Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx, one of the dissident senators, would be the senate majority leader in January. Smith, if supported by the majority of senators, would lead the Senate as president pro tempore. On Monday, however, Espada told The New York Times that he was displeased that Smith would be reducing the power of majority leader, and will not be supporting Smith.
If the three dissident senators, Espada, Sen. Carl Kruger of Brooklyn and Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx, do not support Smith as the leader of the Senate, he may not be elected to the position. The decision to suspend talks with the three, which Smith said Gov. David A. Paterson supports, could drive them to the Republican side of the aisle, putting the Democrats back in the minority.
“Frankly, we would rather wait two more years to take charge of the Senate than to simply serve the interests of a few,” Smith said. He also said limiting civil rights of New Yorkers should not be part of the negotiations, but should be part of the legislative process. It was reported that Diaz would not support a Senate leader who would push a bill legalizing same-sex marriage.
“We applaud Senator Malcolm Smith’s ongoing efforts to lead the new Senate Majority that voters chose during the recent elections. By stating that reform in the Senate cannot include bargaining away civil rights, Senator Smith has once again demonstrated his commitment to standing up for all New Yorkers. The Pride Agenda looks forward to continuing to work with Senator Smith when the legislative session starts. In the meantime we will be working with legislative leaders—Democrats and Republicans—and continuing to do what we’ve been doing all along: working with our community and our allies across New York, including those from communities of faith and organized labor, to earn the votes we need to bring the marriage equality bill to the floor of the Senate for passage.”From earlier today:
"The gays are calling my office. They're jamming my phones. They're going to see what we can do. They've going to see exactly what we can do. Ed Koch is going to see what we can do. They're just going to see. That is what I'm telling you."NY Daily News political columnist Elizabeth Benjamin: "I have no idea what he meant by any of this. But he's angry, and he insists there will be consequences. So, there you have it."
That "intense scrutiny" is about Espada's failing to file campaign papers properly and failing to pay $60K in fines related to his last campaign, something I mentioned here a month ago.Malcolm Smith's deal with the Gang of Three is crashing down around his ears, and the renegade trio is accusing him of renegging on significant portions of the power-sharing agreement in the wake of displeasure from his members over how much he gave away to end the leadership stalemate.
Richard Lipsky, a lobbyist and blogger who is close to the Gang of Three ringleader Carl Kruger, (but, he says, not on the senator's payroll), accused Smith of trying to "slice-and-dice" the majority leader position that was supposed to be going to Senator-elect Pedro Espada Jr.
Attorneys for the two sides have been negotiating back and forth throughout the day with little to show for it. There was supposed to be a big announcement tomorrow by Smith, but that appears to be off for the moment. Within the last hour, Espada told The Times he is "tremendously dismayed and disappointed" by reports in recent days that the majority leader's post will perhaps not have any real responsibilities attached to it, adding that this has led him to "suspend my support for Malcolm Smith as leader.” Espada has been the focus of intense scrutiny of late, too. So maybe that has something to do with Smith's sudden reluctance to put him in such a prominent role.
Labels: "celibacy", Democrats, Malcolm Smith, marriage equality, New York state, Pedro Espada, Ruben Diaz
Contrary to widely published reports yesterday, the more seriously injured brother of the two attacked in Brooklyn is not dead, but he has been found to have no brain function. The New York Times has amended the story I linked yesterday. Police have released a sketch of one of four suspects of an Ecuadorean man left brain dead after a savage beating in Brooklyn, where attackers hurled anti-gay and anti-Hispanic slurs. At a news conference yesterday afternoon, the family of Jose Sucuzhanay, 31, said they still held out hope.There will be a candlelight vigil at the scene of the attack on Sunday at 8pm.
"He's not dead," Diego Sucuzhanay, one of his five brothers, said at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, where Jose had been listed in critical condition yesterday after surgery. "There are some decisions that need to be taken," he continued. "We are brothers and we do not have the power to make that decision." Sucuzhanay's parents are in Ecuador .
But a law enforcement source said the case is being investigated as a homicide and Sucuzhanay has been declared brain dead. The Associated Press said he had been taken off life support, according to a law enforcement source.
Community leaders and city politicians called for the attackers' swift arrests. Sucuzhanay suffered severe head trauma in the 3:30 a.m. beating Sunday in Bushwick. Police yesterday asked for help in locating one suspect, described as a male about 6 feet tall and between 18 and 20 years old, wearing a dark baseball cap, a black leather jacket, dark jeans and boots. A $22,000 reward is also offered for information leading to the attackers' arrest. Police asked the public to call 800-577-TIPS.
Labels: "celibacy", Brooklyn, hate crimes, homophobia, Jose Sucuzhanay, NYC
In September we learned that best-selling gospel singer Ray Boltz had come out of the closet after 33 years of hetersexual marriage. Here's Boltz' first post-outing song, Don't Tell Me Who To Love. The clip was created by Soulforce.
Labels: "celibacy", gay music, marriage equality, Ray Boltz, Soulforce
GLAAD will again sponsor the Queer Lounge at next month's Sundance Film Festival. Despite calls for a Utah boycott, the Queer Lounge will return to Park City in January for the Sundance Film Festival. Noting their displeasure with the LDS Church for its efforts to ban same-sex marriage, leaders with lounge sponsor Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation say the festival is too important to pass up. "For many [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered] filmmakers, Sundance is their single most important opportunity to ensure their stories about our community reach a broad audience," said Neil G. Giuliano, GLAAD president. "And they are not in a position to stay away from that opportunity."
Activists, columnists and bloggers raised the spectre of boycott when it was learned the LDS Church provided significant financial and other support to the successful campaign to pass California's Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage. "We continue the Queer Lounge," Giuliano said, "with a desire not to be rendered silent or invisible."
Park City Mayor Dana Williams welcomed the return of the Queer Lounge and said his town shouldn't be lumped in with those opposing same-sex marriage. The mayor hopes gays and lesbians won't stay away from Sundance or Utah ski vacations. "I don't treat anybody any differently, no matter their race, creed, color or sexual orientation," he said. "That is indicative of this community."
Labels: "celibacy", GLAAD, marriage equality, movies, Proposition 8, Sundance, Utah
The New Jersey Civil Union Commission has concluded that the state's civil union law does not give gay couples the same rights and protections as married couples, setting the stage for New Jersey to become the first state to legalize same-sex marriage by legislation, rather than by judicial edict. The commission's report also cited a study which estimates that approving gay marriage would add $250M to New Jersey's economy over the first three years. A Zogby poll taken in August shows a majority support for marriage equality in New Jersey.New Jersey should enact a law allowing gay marriage and waste no time passing it because the state's civil unions law fails to adequately protect same-sex couples, a report to be released Wednesday concludes. The final report of the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission says it gathered "overwhelming evidence" the civil union law not only fails to provide the same protections as marriage, it also has created economic, medical and emotional hardships for gay couples.The commission concluded that denying same-sex couples the right to marry is as unjust as government imposing racial segregation laws against African-Americans.
By 59 to 36 percent, New Jerseyans would be fine with public officials’ changing the civil union law to marriage equality. Indeed, when the poll goes out of its way to remind voters that New Jersey already has a civil union law, a majority of New Jersey still supports marriage for same-sex couples – 50.1 to 42.3 percent. And an astounding 69 percent of New Jerseyans say marriage equality is inevitable in the state.The commission's 79-page report will be sent to the New Jersey legislature and Gov. Jon Corzine. The top-linked story does not provide a timeline for action.
Labels: "celibacy", marriage equality, New Jersey
According to a British law group, here's a few of the songs used by the U.S. military to torture detainees in Guantanamo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Don McLean? Yeah, a couple hours of American Pie and I'd confess to just about anything."Enter Sandman," Metallica.
"Bodies," Drowning Pool.
"Shoot to Thrill," AC/DC.
"Hell's Bells," AC/DC.
"I Love You," from the "Barney and Friends" children's TV show.
"Born in the USA," Bruce Springsteen.
"Babylon," David Gray.
"White America," Eminem.
"Sesame Street," theme song from the children's TV show.
Other bands and artists whose music has been frequently played at U.S. detention sites: Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Don McLean, Lil' Kim, Limp Bizkit, Meat Loaf, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tupac Shakur.
Labels: "celibacy", military, music, torture
Best bit: "Seller History: Blagojevich has been a scumbag for a long time." Also: "End Time Of Sale: Better be quick, I may be going to prison." The sale was quickly pulled from eBay, of course.Labels: "celibacy", Barack Obama, Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, scandal
New York Magazine reports that Urban Outfitters suddenly pulled their line of t-shirts that support marriage equality, possibly because the company's owner is an anti-gay right-wing tool who gives generously to GOP candidates and causes.A buyer cited the reason as "too much bad press" to Littman [the shirt's creator], though the designer couldn't find more than one blog entry that dissed the shirt. (Funny how a youth-targeted company blamed the Internet.) But we had to wonder if there was more to it than just bad press. After all, Urban has carried more sensational items than this in the past. In a 2006 interview, the Boston Globe asked Richard Hayne, the CEO of Urban Outfitters, if he felt regrets or second thoughts about potentially offensive products, and he said "very, very, very rarely." So is the veto of Littman's shirt just a case of good ol' discrimination? Consider this: Hayne is a notably right-wing Republican who supports senators who vote for legislation against gay marriage.Over at Good As You, Jeremy Hooper has posted Richard Hayne's donation record.
Next time you feel like getting all hipsterish with one of Urban Outfitter's ironically downmarket t-shirts, remember two words: Rick Santorum. Last month, claims were made that Hayne also donated to Yes On 8, but the makers of these claims say his donation has somehow been scrubbed from the list of donors. The call to boycott Urban Outfitters and other Hayne-owned companies seems to have since died down.Labels: "celibacy", fashion, marriage equality, retail, Richard Hayne, Urban Outfitters
Despite the Supreme Court's decision on Monday not to hear the first of many suits regarding Barack Obama's citizenship, Christianist news site WorldNetDaily continues to rally its readers to the cause. Below is their top six stories at this writing.
Labels: "celibacy", Barack Obama, dumbassery, religion, wingnuts, World Net Daily
An HIV-positive New York man faces eight years in prison on charges that he forged an HIV-negative test result in order to convince his girlfriend to have unprotected sex with him.
Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn says Duane Lang could spend up to 8 years in prison if convicted of reckless endangerment and possession of a forged instrument. Authorities say the pair had unprotected sex eight to 10 times, from December 2007 to March 2008. When the woman later questioned the document's authenticity, Lang allegedly admitted that it was fake and he was HIV positive. Her medical status is not being made public. Lang's attorney did not return a call for comment on Tuesday. The criminal complaint says the fake document bore the name of a facility where he'd volunteered.None of you folks would be stupid enough to fall for this, right? You all know about the HIV time tunnel, right?
Labels: "celibacy", HIV, NYC, safer sex
Richard Burns, the longest-serving head of any LGBT organization in the United States, is resigning after 22 years as executive director of the NYC LGBT Community Center. Via press release: Richard Burns, Executive Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City, has announced his departure from the Center. The longest serving leader of an LGBT organization in the United States, Mr. Burns has served as Executive Director since December 1, 1986. Mr. Burns has accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer at The Arcus Foundation, and will leave the Center in early February, 2009.Congratulations are due Richard Burns for building the NYC LGBT Center into the invaluable community resource it has become for queer New Yorkers. A search for Burns' replacement is underway.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2008, the Center has grown to become the largest LGBT multi-service organization on the East Coast and second largest LGBT community center in the world. Every week, 6,000 people visit the Center, and more than 300 groups meet here. The Center has four programmatic departments: Adult Mental Health and Social Services (including Center CARE and Center CARE Recovery); Youth Enrichment Services (YES); Cultural Programs; and Advocacy. The Center offers programs and activities that provide adult and youth counseling, social services and referrals, educational forums, advocacy, community organizing opportunities, coalition building projects, leadership development workshops, and cultural programs.
Labels: "celibacy", good work, LGBT Community Center, NYC, Richard Burns
In a landmark but nonbinding resolution, today the United Nations will call for the global decriminalization of homosexuality."It will be the first time in its history that the UN General Assembly has ever considered the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) human rights," noted British gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of the London-based LGBT rights group OutRage! "Even today, not a single international human rights convention explicitly acknowledges the human rights of LGBT people. The right to physically love the person of one’s choice is nowhere enshrined in any global humanitarian law. No convention recognises sexual rights as human rights. None offer explicit protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity," Tatchell added.The Vatican's opposition to the resolution has prompted loud protests across Italy from LGBT rights activists. Today there will be protests in four U.S. cities, including one at 12:30PM at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. The American protests are being organized by the LGBT Catholic group DignityUSA.
Labels: "celibacy", Catholics, LGBT rights, NYC, religion, United Nations, Vatican
One of the two brothers attacked in Brooklyn yesterday has died of his injuries. He was beaten to death with a baseball bat because the attackers thought he and his brother were lovers. The two brothers from Ecuador had attended a church party and had stopped at a bar afterward. They may have been a bit tipsy as they walked home in the dead of night, arm-in-arm, leaning close to each other, a common tableau of men in Latino cultures, but one easily misinterpreted by the biased mind. Suddenly a car drew up. It was 3:30 a.m. Sunday, and the intersection of Bushwick Avenue and Kossuth Place in Bushwick, Brooklyn, a half-block from the brothers’ apartment, was nearly deserted — but not quite. Witnesses, the police said, heard some of what happened next.After the attack, the murderers (described by police as a group of black men) fled the scene in a Honda SUV. Yesterday NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn and a large group of Hispanic and gay rights activists gathered at City Hall to decry the attack.
Three men came out of the car shouting at the brothers, Jose and Romel Sucuzhanay — something ugly, anti-gay and anti-Latino. Vulgarisms against Hispanics and gay men were heard by witnesses, the police said. One man approached Jose Sucuzhanay, 31, the owner of a real estate agency who has been in New York a decade, and broke a beer bottle over the back of his head. He went down hard.
Romel Sucuzhanay, 38, who is visiting from Ecuador on a two-month visa, bounded over a parked car and ran as the man with the broken bottle came at him. A distance away, he looked back and saw a second assailant beating his prone brother with an aluminum baseball bat, striking him repeatedly on the head and body. The man with the broken bottle turned back and joined the beating and kicking. “They used a baseball bat,” said Diego Sucuzhanay, another brother. “I guess the goal was to kill him.”
“This won’t be tolerated,” Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker, said at a news conference on Monday on the steps of City Hall that drew dozens of public officials and leaders of civil rights groups. “We cannot and we will not let hate go unchecked in our city.”I will follow this case closely and advise on developments. There will likely be a joint candlelight vigil put on by immigrant, Hispanic, and LGBT rights groups. I'll advise on the time and location of that event as soon as it's known.
The condemnations were amplified by Council members Diana Reyna, Rosie Mendez, Merlissa Mark-Viverito, G. Oliver Koppell, David Yassky, Miguel Martinez, Gale A. Brewer, Daniel R. Garodnick, David I. Weprin and Letitia James; by Representative Nydia M. Valazquez, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, State Senator Tom Duane, Assemblywoman Carmen E. Arroyo, officials of the New York City Central Labor Council, the NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, and by Jewish, Catholic and Protestant leaders.
A spokesman for Charles J. Hynes, the Brooklyn district attorney, said the prosecutor was “shocked and appalled by this senseless, bigoted, brutal act,” and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Because of the antigay and anti-Latino epithets shouted by the assailants, the police said they were investigating the case as a hate crime.
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR A BUSHWICK HATE CRIME - Sunday, December 14th. Meet in front of The Archive café at 49 Bogart Street (at Seigel and Bogart) at 7pm. We will walk to the scene of the crime at Bushwick Ave. and Kossuth Place and have a few moments of silence at 8pm. Please bring extra candles. And, spread the word!
Labels: "celibacy", Brooklyn, hate crimes, Jose Sucuzhanay, NYC
