Will this all help or hurt the President come November? Well, it depends. There's so much outpouring of support and numbers in the polls don't lie - acceptance of the gays and Marriage Equality is at an all-time high. Same-sex marriage has been legal now for years in many states and those states haven't fallen into the ocean or devoured by demonic snakes - and heterosexual marriage still has a 50% divorce rate. So when the usual suspects start harping on us getting married ruining civilization, we really need to look around and say "really? give me an example" and then watch as they point to the weird weather we've had these past few years as an indication... because remember, this bunch also doesn't want to accept that decades of smog have changed the world for the worse.
Mainly the opponents are scared - much like your 80something mother hates to use email and can't figure out why anyone would bother using Facebook: it's simply a realization that they are being left behind.
In the case of Marriage Equality, it's various people who have a set idea of how the world is supposed to be... and women, the gays, minorities are 'supposed' to act a certain way and know their place.. but sadly for those that believe this, they are simply realizing that it will never be that way again. (thank God!). We must find a new way of living - because the old way - in which our society only works when someone or other is oppressed, must end at long last. We are better than that. At least, we ought to want to be better than that.
But even for some of the gays the idea that Marriage Equality for all in America is close at hand sounds like "lollipops and rainbows" as one Facebook douche posted on my page the other day. Yes, there are 30some states where Marriage Equality has been banned by Constitutional amendment. Pish tosh. Sodomy laws were still on the books not that long ago and they were overturned and abolished.
These amendments will be overturned in time when the will of the people reaches critical mass.
And that time is really not that far off. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Not probably this year. But I'd say soon. Very soon. Sooner than we ever thought. My God, the progress we've made in my lifetime - I never in my wildest dreams thought that I could get married to another man. Granted, since I'm not even dating anyone, a wedding date is unlikely anytime soon.... but it's nice to know that I could! :)
In what I hope is an ongoing and intense trend for the Obama campaign, today this video is making the rounds - watch it and pass around. This is a response video to a ludicrous attack ad from the Republican's where, as usual, they simply lie about things that the President has done/not done. You know, I've certainly been a supporter of Mr. Obama but even I have been frustrated by the lack of rebuttal over the years to attacks. On one hand, you could say that giving them attention is akin to validating them (and I agree) but on the other hand, even the 'coward of the county' got it together and beat the crap out of the bully eventually. Thankfully while I don't in any way shape or form think that Obama is any kind of coward (I'm a firm supporter of his attempts to bridge a very large gap between our two - sadly only two- political idealogies) but really enough is enough.. and the moment that they say in the video "we're going to call them out on their BS" was the moment that I swooned.
Dude, we got your back - go get 'em. The Koch Brothers might be spending 6 million on attacking you, but you got millions of people supporting you - and while our culture is seriously screwed up in terms of where we place our priorities, in the end, it is the people that will win out. And it is the truth that will also win out. And that's actual truth, not "truthiness".
It's at this point that we need Al Franken to wake up like Sofia-like from THE COLOR PURPLE. Lying liars who lie need to be defeated!
Oh, it's ON. Hold my baby. :) (AB will be happy about that reference) :)
By and large, I've been too busy dealing with sane people this past month to indulge in a rant about Kirk Cameron's crazy pants ranting about how the gays are destroying civilization - no, my friend, the other 90% of the population in charge of our country have done that all by themselves, they didn't need teh gayz help to make that happen. Maybe if there were a few more of the gays focusing on being fabulous rather than oh I don't know, VPs shooting their hunting buddies in the face with a rifle or divorcing their wives while they lay in a coma, we might all be better off.
In any event, better bloggers than I have taken him to task and while I could be bitter and wonder aloud why he hasn't been fired from the show he's on, I have to realize, oh no, Kirk Cameron isn't actually employed as an actor (at least not that I'm aware) so what he was doing on Piers Morgan in the first place is the biggest mystery of them all.
But whatever. I digress. If you, like me, want to see the shit kicked out of KC (verbally people, VERBALLY) then take a gander at this video made by other child stars speaking out against Cameron's unbelievably small mind. Truth to tell, this is the most buzz that Kirk Cameron has had in about oh 20 years and he should get down on his knees and... well, let's just stop at saying he should be grateful and leave it at that. This is, after all, a family blog. :)
As usual, Betty Bowers proves that after Rachel Maddow and Bill Maher, there is no one better to offer up intelligent and hilarious commentary on political matters. Will you 'join the party"?
This past Saturday night was New York's infamous Black Party held at Roseland, a big dance/concert space in midtown. Whether you were up for it or dead set against it you were certainly aware of it -(and I met both in my travels - it's sort of like the Oscars - everyone likes to bitch about it but everyone still watches).
Because there were no cameras or cellphones I did a little drawing of a Black Partygoer (and truth to tell, I saw only three guys on their cells while I was there.. it was heavenly to see people actually invested in each other rather than cruising on Grindr).
For me, the day, Saturday March 24th, really started Friday night. My best friend Matt was in from San Fran and as a birthday present, took me out to dinner and drinks. We considered going to the Hookies (the escort awards also at Roseland) and I was excited when I saw host Alec Mapa scrambling up 9th Avenue towards the venue around 9:30 (the show started at 10 so I was like "well, that's not starting on time") but once we started hanging out at Posh and I Jolened a cute guy that we shared a couch with we just couldn't tear ourselves away from the place, the music was excellent - we got drunk, er, uhm 'had birthday drinks' and lipsynched to "Vogue" (not surprisingly we both know the little monologue interlude thing down pat) and Black Box's "Everybody Everybody" (from their Dreamland album which is pretty awesome- probably one of the more underrated from the early 90s.. and yes I have it on cassette and it's in the drawer next to Bananarama, Climie Fisher and... Rick Astley DON'T JUDGE ME!! LOL btw their version of Earth, Wind and Fire's "Fantasy" is really awesome - see below).
The next day at the Black Party Expo, I ran into my studly friends from the Eagle as well as Colton Ford (who has a new single coming out from a forthcoming album), Kennedy Carter, CB Kirby and watched as various rent boys took the stage to show off. It's a fun daytime event for the gays who want to meet and meat the porn stars and see them perform without paying the $140 for the Black Party ticket.
Lots of leather companies represented and a few video companies (and fewer bareback companies than I'd noticed in previous years - Lucas Entertainment still dominates though - I can't imagine why Raging Stallion and their crew aren't represented but then, I guess the economy - and pirating - has really fucked over the entire industry). I knew it was time to leave when I got invited to participate in a jello wrestling match. Just say no, just say no I heard Nancy Reagan whisper in my ear.
After a generous disco nap, I got up around 4:30 in the morning, showered and got dressed in a kind of super slo-mo "I don't know or care when I'm arriving" kind of way. I ended up arriving around 6:30 and spent three hours dancing, schmoozing and, in one case, making out with the boyfriend of a friend of mine. I felt like a whore but I think that's the whole point of the Black Party.
Along the way I watched a bukkake scene on stage that I would later christen "Bukkake Kubuki" (since the whole evening had a Japanese theme) which one friend suggested should be the name of a weekly event (I agree). My friend Barbara who smudges the place beforehand showed up in a black wig that made her look less like a Geisha and more like Snooki (not the intended effect I think). I was also amused to catch one partygoer wearing a Girl Scout skirt. At first I thought it was a utilikilt until I saw the plaid pattern and then realized that it was an actual skirt. I would have asked him for a Dulche de Leche but in the context I think I would have been back at the Bukkake scene (not that there would have been anything wrong with that mind you).
I realized just how many people in New York I actually know now as at every turn I was running into friends or colleagues and in some cases, finding them in a uhm compromising position - you know the kind you want to see your friends in but you wouldn't want them to know you'd seen it (yeah, I know that's what XTube is for).
You know, like cruising a friend on Manhunt. You're both sort of embarrassed but both secretly wonder if it's worth ditching the friendship for a quick roll in the hay because you didn't realize that he had THAT under his clothes.
For the first couple hours, the music had been kind of all Junior Vasquezy - monotone beats for hours (someone actually made up a sign and held it up and walked around Norma Rae style that read: MUSIC IS BORING and I wondered if he meant ALL music or just what was playing? I was going to ask but my mind wandered and I started planning the first week of Bukkake Kabuki instead) :) but then thankfully a new DJ got on board and started playing actual songs with lyrics... and melodies. The first one was Whitney's "Greatest Love of All".
Naturally when you're dancing with 4,000 of your closest friends and a sentimental song comes on, you feel a little goofy about enjoying it...the man gene is strong ... But then suddenly the gay gene overrides that and once again you are lip-syncing with the song and doing a happy dance... and you know, feeling it. A couple of those types of songs and I was back in the glory days of the 90s when all the clubs played actual songs with lyrics and melodies - and I am pretty sure it's why I liked going out then more then than I do now, when it seems that partygoers have to do incredible amounts of drugs just to get the same happy thrill that was accomplished by one Whitney song (and of course the irony in that is not lost on me either). :)
One of the many side effects of crystal meth in the gay culture is the legacy of grim and yet jittery club goers who mechanically get through a night while simultaneously chewing off their lips. Thankfully it's fewer out on the dance floor than it used to be but it's a remarkable ripple effect when the DJ plays anything with a lyric, the whole place transformed and kind of wakes up (yes, just in case you didn't know it, I'm one of those fags that finds more happiness in the song sung by a pop culture diva than in a snort of something or popping of a pill).
Anyway, there were tons of other events happening last night after the Black Party but I couldn't be bothered, I had had fun and was done. Once I'd arrived home around noon and made lunch, I was happy just to spend the cloudy, slightly rainy Sunday indoors, on the couch and loafing for all I was worth. And I did, I sure did.
Finally, here's the version of "Fantasy" by Black Box's Dreamland album... still holds up 20 years later!
Earlier this week, the blogosphere blew up over the photo of a Marine's homecoming kiss with his boyfriend. To me, it was on par with the infamous end of WW2 photo of the soldier kissing the nurse ... passionate and genuine. This is a little feature that one of the news programs did on the couple - just ordinary guys in love and a moment captured forever. (BTW I didn't create this graphic, I discovered it on the net, thanks to whomever did put this together) :)
Admitting one knows what PI Day is would be social death any other day, but tonight I'm bringing in the Geeks Out guys for a night of fundraising so it's OK. There'll be a whole bar full of guys just like you and
me who understand that March 14th is referred to as Pi Day (ie 3.14). And if you don't have a clue what I'm talking about when referring to Pi, just drink your juice of the vodka plant and enjoy winning some gay porn.:)
Tonight, I've got two really awesome guests - the one and only PEPPERMINT who is excited about returning to the show (and so are WE) and Marvel Comics editor DANIEL KETCHUM who will talk about all things gay and comic-booky including the newest issue featuring Young Avengers featuring a same sex smooch between two male characters (whom, to be fair, have always been an 'out' couple but up til now have not shared an on-panel kiss). That this is still a big deal is rather lamentable but understandable - we are still starved to see ourselves in our media and guys kissing each other is still a big deal to others so it is of course still a big deal to us.
PLUS, The Saint at Large's Chris will return with fortune cookies (3 for $5) that will go towards Braking the Cycle. The cookies feature either fortunes written by Bianca Del Rio OR passes to the March 23rd Hookies, the March 24th Black Party Expo OR the March 24th/25th Black Party itself! See the Saint party website for the deets of all these events.
Anyway, I'll have giveaways from ManTagged, Nancy Boy and the usual bags of erotic stuff on hand and of course there's cheap drinks.
On a personal note, I'm sad to say goodbye to our DJ Chris Padilla tonight as he leaves to live in Florida for the forseeable future. Next week, DJ Chauncey Dandridge will join us! More on that in the coming days.
Thanks to all of you who sent birthday greetings last week and over the weekend via Facebook, Twitter, email and I even got a couple old fashioned snail mail greeting cards.. the birthday itself was spent doing a lot of things that I love doing in New York followed by dinner and seeing CARRIE: THE MUSICAL at the
Lucille Lortel on Christopher Street with friends. It was a pretty great way to spend the actual day and the weekend was filled with a visit to family I have in Connecticut. :)
This week we inch closer to the March 23rd/24th Black Party weekend and with it the expectation of parties and crazy events.. just how crazy? Well, the Black Party people have put together a trailer for the event - it's pretty 'out there' but then again, I don't think a Black Party trailer should play it safe and in my opinion, it wouldn't be a good trailer if I didn't come away from it feeling at least slightly disturbed. And this is not only pretty disturbing (I think it's work-safe however) the music is pretty loud (so before watching, you might want to turn the volume down on your computer).
This year they are enforcing a strict "no cameras, no cellphones" rule which I heartily agree is a great idea... I mean, who do you really need to call while you're ripped to the tits at 5:30 in the morning? Besides, all the guys you'd be interested in on Grindr would read "five feet away" :)
Finally, you've got six more days to get BP tix for $125 (they go up to full price starting on March 19th) so Mary, get on it!
About six months ago I had the pleasure of taking in Bianca Leigh's wonderful one woman show, BUSTED: THE MUSICAL which not only refers to Bianca's transformation from Jersey boy to Manhattan actress but also about the night she spent in New York's infamous prison known as The Tombs, "busted" while working for a notorious dominatrix. The show returns this Thursday March 8th to the Laurie Beechman and runs Thursdays at 7pm through to March 29th. Don't miss this enjoyable piece of theatre produced again by Theatre Askew. Click here for tix!
Good morning, peeps! Hope your past week has been a good one.
The other day I was admiring the new Mad Men ad in the subway and, as a lot of men do, coveting the
Don Draper look. I looked at my ratty jeans and my tight t shirt and worn tennis shoes and was struck by the somewhat sad, maybe somewhat charming thought that I was a Don Draper kind of guy trapped on an Archie Andrews budget. Welcome to 21st century New York, right?
The ratty jeans btw were really ratty - a ripped hole along the inside left leg, left over from my "I'm too sexy for underwear" phase (the hole was conveniently - and naturally - away from anywhere that anything popping out would get me arrested but close enough that anyone within a few feet radius who cared to notice would think that something possibly could).
I know this is trivial and probably, for a 48 year old (this Friday March 9th), a bit ridiculous. But lately I've felt the need for a little extra added attention to this kind of stuff. With the job search dragging on and some medical stuff happening with family (not my own absent biological one, my acquired one) I've been a little down in the dumps for the past few weeks, as I've alluded to in past posts.
Let's look at this from a different angle though. A couple weekends ago, New York gym trainer Roman Ragazzi apparently took his own life. For those of you that follow porn, you'll remember that Roman was outed by the New York Post when he was working for Raging Stallion a few years ago as a former Israeli military trainer who worked at the Israeli consulate. Although I didn't ever know Roman personally or professionally, I do know that this caused a lot of problems for him. Whomever outed him really should burn in the deepest darkest pit of hell.
Maybe this happened to Roman, a despondence that life will never progress - and worse, because of being outed, maybe he couldn't go back home.
For me, I am inspired by people like the legendary Jack Wrangler who had a great second act. I am encouraged by the optimism of people like Michael Brandon who have had to overcome some seriously huge obstacles but are emboldened to be a success despite all of that rather than letting their problems overwhelm them.
And I am encouraged by following my old peeps from the porn industry on Facebook, seeing the neat things that they are doing with their lives especially my old friend Cameron Mitchell who is now an enormous (and even hotter than he was 'in the old days') bodybuilder in Chicago who owns his own personal training business.. congrats Cam and Julie!
None of this realization has come easily. But you know, I think that it's actually harder to opt in than opt out and I've never been one to shy away from doing the hard work.
As if on cue, this morning a friend sent me links to these You Tube videos of Idina Menzel's recent concert in Toronto (below). The first one is of course just the right thing to hear given these thoughts and the other, well, it just plain made me laugh out loud.
Now, if you're down in the mouth and I know many of us are, I can't offer you any quick and easy solutions - I don't really have any myself - there are still hundreds/thousands of people looking for work in this city for you know like three or four available jobs, but the key to this really is just to keep on moving forward, getting out of bed in the morning and doing what you need to do to .. opt in. Stay in the game, and don't believe that it won't get better (and if you can't find that kind of positivity in your life, stay out the way of those of us who do!).
Next, I can't embed this clip from HANNAH AND HER SISTERS and the quality is terrible (taken from someone's TV set) but the message is vital and maybe corny and surprisingly, in retrospect, incredibly sentimental and simple given that it's Woody Allen, but, given this time we're living in, necessary viewing.
And as for being a little like Archie.. well, I can think of worse role models - I mean, he's got a lot of people who love him, never ages and currently is showing off his political side (not only are Archie comics featuring a very prominent gay character, but they are also addressing the Occupy Wall Street movement.. very progressive for any "comic book" but especially for Archie). And you know, he's a fellow redhead and I dig my fellow gingers. :)
