Queer Issues: A question of priorities.

With a 2010 state proposition on gay marriage in the works and a national gay rally on the Washington Mall being planned for October 10-11 of this year, it's obvious that more and more of the LGBT community's resources are being funneled into the battle for marriage equality, while other causes go begging.

Already gay marriage has become a black hole that is sucking untold amounts of money, time and energy out of our community. In 2008 election alone, gay marriage supporters raised 43.3 million to defeat Prop 8, the anti-gay marriage initiative that California voters passed by 52% (49% of us voted No on Prop 8 including you and me)We lost. It may be the biggest chunk of change the community has ever spent for a single flight.

I am thinking...so if queer couples want to be as miserable as straight ones, that's their choice. The way I look at it, marriage is a failed and a pathetic institution. With a 54.8% divorce rate nationally...and 68% in California alone. And more and more heterosexuals are "calling it quit" -- even those with very young children (including Jon & Kate Gosellins) still find the time to screw other people...Marriage is a fucking failed institution.

ALSO...

The queer community is no better off. It's a popular misconception that queers have a lot of disposable income. It used to be true. The "double income, no kids" (DINK) (as they call it) myth was promoted in the 80s by gay publishers who wanted to expand their marketing and advertising base and their profits. These days, to read many gay publications, you'd think that all queers are going on fabulous vacations and buying expensive clothes, jewelry, and electronic gizmos. Well...no more! True enough...that myth was easily dispelled by a recent study, "Poverty in the LGBT Community" published this year by the Williams Institute at UCLA. Like "Income Inflation: the myuth of affluence among gay, lesbuian and bisexual Americans," the ground breaking 1998 study by M.V. Lee Badgett of the Department of Economics at the Unviversity of Massachusetts at Amherst, the Williams report found that many members of our community aren't shopping 'til they drop. They are being priced out of the expensive gayborhoods and they can barely afford to put food on the table in this economy. That is today's reality, queers!

SEXY CRAZY SUNDAY SALSA+CHACHA CLASSES IN DOWNTOWN OAKLAND! JOIN ME.

You are invited to join my class! Don't wait anymore. My classes are gay/straight-friendly. Let me turn you into a confident/sexy dancer in just a few hours!

JOIN ME @HISTORIC SWEETS BALLROOM IN DOWNTOWN OAKLAND EVERY SUNDAY IN JULY, AUGUST, SEPT, @3PM - 5PM. NEXT CLASSES WILL BE ON -- July 12, July 19, July 26



WHERE: Historic Sweets Ballroom
ADDRESS: 1933 Broadway @19th St (same row as Sears)
WHEN: EVERY SUNDAY @3:00PM & 4:00PM STARTING JULY 12.
RATES: This Sunday $10/hr ($18/2-hr)

DIRECTION: From San Francisco:
Take Richmond BART to 19th St
Take Pittsburg/Bay Point BART to 12th St (and walk to 19th St/Broadway)

Yes...it is summer! Our SUMMER SALSA & CHA CHA CLASSES have just started -- the hottest classes in downtown Oakland! No partner required. Come as you are! And be dazzled! It's sexier and it's crazier than ever. All levels and sexual orientations are welcomed!...Now are you ready to feel the warmth of the sexiness of Salsa and the cheeky, flirtatious, catch-me-if-uou-can Cha Cha Cha seductive moves and music to seduce your body and soul, and tickle your senses!

For more information contact:
Ambrose Aban: aban212@yahoo.com Cell:(415) 200-9559

By Michael Lucas of Lucas Blog

Posted on Lucas Blog www.lucasblog.com on June 05, 2009

Addressing Terrorists
I was afraid in advance that this speech would be a terrible mistake but the reality was worse than my worst fears. What the president did was set in forth a dynamic where he authenticated the angriest, the most alienated as the most legitimate members of the Islamic world. Salmon Rushdie is a member of the Muslim world—this speech wasn’t for him, those terrorized gay men in Iran are part of the Muslim world—this speech wasn’t for them. This speech was addressed to the people who are angriest so it effectively authenticates them as the most legitimate. One example of this is that the president took a slap at the French government, when he condemned those western governments that ban the hijab, a veil worn my Muslim women. In actuality they only do this in French state schools to protect the girls from violence by vigilantly youth gangs the patrol some of the suburbs. Now aren’t these girls that are terrorized, aren’t they part of the Muslim world? Obama divided followers into two groups, extremist and everyone else, so effectively he lumped the secular, progressives, and moderate followers exactly where they don’t want to be--in this extremist group, with the conformist idea that you have to be a part of this group to be a legitimate. He did not call for an end to the killings of homosexuals,the torturing of women, or a stop to terrorizing the world.

As to where the speech was given was a terrible mistake. Such a selected site should have been deemed “worthy” of such an honor by emphasizing an important value recognized in both Western and several Muslim states. That value is great tolerance, not only toward believers but non-believers as well. But, based on its human rights track record, Egypt should never have been a contestant. The more tolerant the country selected, the more positive would have been the message of tolerance toward all religions conveyed by the leader of the Free World. That opportunity has now been lost.

Obama should take a page from Ronald Reagan's historic 1987 speech that challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Wall separating East and West Berlin, recognizing freedom. In similar fashion, Obama should challenge Muslim leaders to tear down the wall separating Islam from other world religions, recognizing universal human equality.

Unless something gives, Obama has set a course for the worse.


-

To Obama-obssessed liberals: he is your president, not your boyfriend

Bill Maher...

Goodbye Michael Jackson & Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett
RIP my Angel...and thank you for making us a bunch of happy kids growing up in the 70s..may the Lord be with you and allows you to continue to inspire us from up above...

Michael Jackson
People often underestimate the power of music, and the effect that it has on us. We sometimes forget how a great song with a feel-good message lifts us up, and makes us smile and remember the place we had the most fun dancing to it and with whom.
Michael Jackson is one of the few artists in the history of the art form to be able to take one song, like "Billie Jean," and reach people of all age groups, races, and nationalities. Michael has done this time and time again for decades, as both a solo artist and member of The Jackson 5.
This type of legacy cannot be erased by even the most horrible of charges and allegations. His music and performances are historic and forever engrained in our hearts.

It's Sexier. It's Crazier. It's our Summer Salsa+ChaCha Classes in Downtown Oakland! Join us. No RSVP required. Just show up!

You are invited to join my class! Don't wait anymore. My classes are gay/straight-friendly. Let me turn you into a confident/sexy dancer in just a few hours!

JOIN ME @HISTORIC SWEETS BALLROOM IN DOWNTOWN OAKLAND THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 21 @3PM - 5PM.



WHERE: Historic Sweets Ballroom
ADDRESS: 1933 Broadway @19th St (same row as Sears)
WHEN: EVERY SUNDAY @3:00PM & 4:00PM
RATES: This Sunday $5 at the door (special introductory class)
RATES: Other Sundays: $10/1hr or $18/2hrs

DIRECTION: From San Francisco:
Take Richmond BART to 19th St
Take Pittsburg/Bay Point BART to 12th St (and walk to 19th St/Broadway)

Yes...it is summer! Our SUMMER SALSA & CHA CHA CLASSES have just started -- the hottest classes in downtown Oakland! No partner required. Come as you are! And be dazzled! It's sexier and it's crazier than ever. All levels and sexual orientations are welcomed!...Now are you ready to feel the warmth of the sexiness of Salsa and the cheeky, flirtatious, catch-me-if-uou-can Cha Cha Cha seductive moves and music to seduce your body and soul, and tickle your senses!

For more information contact:
Ambrose Aban: aban212@yahoo.com Cell:(415) 200-9559

For venue information please visit the link provided:
http://www.historicsweetsballroom.com

Forget your churches...find your own quantum of solace

Countdown to SF Gay Pride: There can be no balance in one's life as long as the seed of non-acceptance of self exists. This is the month to be "out", be brave, be proud, be free...and be totally, completely and entirely yourself...

Your churches, supposed to be the bastions of non-judgement and acceptance, are rejecting you...then screw your churches...find another place to sit and communicate with God...God is everywhere, you know, God does not only sitting in a church, waiting to be praised like a stupid fool -- he gets out of that dark, scary place sometimes..He is always outside and everywhere...you don't have to talk to God in your church...because that church is run by homophobic members...get out of there and talk to the real, loving, forgiving, and understanding God...I talk to God at an internet cafe, close my eyes and praise him from the deepest bottom of my heart.

When Will Jesus Force Obama To Fix The F**king Economy and stop being a celebrity?

And look who is begining to stop covering for this President? McCain and Palin's #1 hater himself. Looks like the leftist media is finding a way out...has Obama reaqlly been a complete failure and is it getting to the point where the media can't cover his ass anymore...? Comment.

Christian!!!

Especially for fans of Christian and Ollie...here's an episode for you...enjoy.

Bush's Excellent Speech In Cairo -- What Might Have Been

Steven Waldman
Editor-In-Chief and Co-Founder of BeliefNet
Posted: June 4, 2009 04:40 PM

Obama's speech reminds us that 9/11 needn't have led to a conflict between the West and Islam. It's a reminder of the road not taken.

Remember, after the attacks, the whole world -- including the Muslim world was on our side. America was innocent. Much of the Islamic world didn't much like Al Qaeda, whose agenda had as much to do with fighting the Saudi Arabian hierarchy as it did fighting America.

George Bush got off to an excellent start. He made a forceful case that Islam was not the enemy, but a peaceful religion that had been hijacked by extremists.

"The Islam that we know is a faith devoted to the worship of one God, as revealed through The Holy Qur'an. It teaches the value and the importance of charity, mercy, and peace." (November 15, 2001)

"[I know] that the Muslim faith is based upon peace and love and compassion." (September 28, 2001)

"The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war." (September 17, 2001 )


He gathered together a global coalition to topple the Taliban, made more effective because it included Muslim nations.

In fact, today's speech by Barack Obama is one that George W. Bush would have felt ideologically comfortable giving in 2002.

So how did we get to the point of America being hated or distrusted by the Muslim world?

First, there were a few innocent, but damaging, slip-ups, like Bush referring -- just once -- to the efforts as a "crusade."

More significantly, while he maintained a generous attitude toward Islam, the base of his party, religious conservatives, did not -- and Bush went along. A major Protestant leader referred to Muhammad as a "demon-possessed pedophile," another called Islam a "vile, wicked religion." Bush's spokesmen would occasionally aver that the president disagreed with such sentiments but their was no indignation and before long anti-Islamic rhetoric became absolutely commonplace in evangelical circles.

When General Gerry Boykin made his famous comments that his God was "a real God" and that of Islam "was an idol." Boykin was not fired and, indeed, was involved in torture policy. It turns out, during this time, the military intelligence briefings were arriving on Bush's desk adorned with Bible quotes. Muslims who believed this was a Holy War against them, it turns out, had at least some evidence for that notion.

All of that paled in comparison to the prolonged Iraq war and the photos from Abu Ghraib -- including evidence that torturers specifically used mockery of Islam as a torture technique.

But just as important is what didn't happen. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were not combined with a major effort to win the hearts and minds of young Muslims through efforts like the Peace Corps or international aid -- or efforts to help establish schools in Pakistan not dedicated to teaching fundamentalism.

Bush, who supported domestic service programs and faith-based service, could easily have proposed every single one of the ideas that Obama proposed today:

"Around the world, we can turn dialogue into Interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action - whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster....

On education, we will expand exchange programs, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America, while encouraging more Americans to study in Muslim communities....

And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in on-line learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo.

We will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries...

The United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams...."

America's real mistakes were exaggerated or exploited by America's enemies in the Arab world to cast us as hostile to Islam and Muslims. Without any American counter-examples -- young men and women helping to build Muslim societies -- the vile anti-Americanism could take root easily.

Most anti-terrorism experts believe this anti-Americanism helps Al Qaeda recruit. Instead of 9/11 becoming a moment for America and the Islamic world to coalesce around a mutual goal, it became a clash of civilizations. Instead of having a relatively small enemy, we found ourselves with a big one.

Same-sex marriage becomes law in NH

Same-sex marriage becomes law in NH

By TOM FAHEY
State House Bureau Chief
2 hours, 25 minutes ago

Concord – Gay marriage legislation became law in New Hampshire this afternoon.

Gov. John Lynch signed the bills just after 5:20 p.m. before dozens of enthusiastic supporters of same-sex marriage.

New Hampshire's law takes effect Jan. 1.

HB 73, compromise legislation demanded by the governor, was passed by a vote of 14-10 in the Senate and 198-176 in the House today. HB 73 (text), was an add-on to the gay marriage bill itself, HB 436 (text), and to HB 310 (text), which made technical changes to the main bill.

HB 73 clarifies the rights of religious organizations and their employees to refuse to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies or celebrations. It states that religious groups have exclusive control over doctrine, teaching and beliefs on who can marry within theirfaiths.

The House refused to go along with the Lynch language protecting religion two weeks ago, failing to pass the measure by a single vote.

Some who voted against it at the time said the House was being asked to agree to changes without being given enough time to examine them.

House opponents aired the same complaints today, but the tide had shifted.

"The House has always taken the time to consider the unintended consequences of any bill," said Rep. Betsey Patten, R-Moultonborough.

Supporters of the bill said the new language protects religious beliefs and individual rights.

"Let's vote this one last time. Church and state should be separate," said Rep. Anthony DiFruscia, R-Windham, who helped craft the final compromise language.

In the Senate, Judiciary Committee chair Sen. Deborah Reynolds, D-Plymouth, said the language in the amendment strikes a balance that provides "equal rights for all and the right to religious freedom."

Minority Leader Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, criticized Democrats for removing Sen. Sheila Roberge, R-Bedford, from the committee of conference when she refused to consent to compromise language.

Reynolds said the practice has been used by Senate presidents going backto 1992.

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa already allow gay marriage, though Maine opponents hope to overturn that state's law with a public vote.

California briefly allowed gay marriage before a public vote banned it; a court ruling grandfathered in couples who were already married.

Susan Boyle's final performance, finished 2nd on "British Got Talent"...what a performance it was.

Matt Lanter in 90210 1 Season Episode 17 Part 1

Episode 16 Part 1

The decision to uphold PROP 8 was cruelty at its tallest order.

I don't know what the best perspective is on the gay marriage issue. I don't know what to say to people to convince them that the issue of individual rights alone is enough to grant gay couples the right to marry. We live in a time when the idea of individual rights has been relegated to a quaint afterthought during the realignment of American values resulting from the current brawl between capitalism and democracy.

One perspective, however, keeps coming back at me. Fundamentalists believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and for the purpose of creating a family. A gay couple is incapable of having their own children, they assert, so they do not qualify to be married. But what of heterosexual couples who marry with no intention of having children. Beyond any issues of infertility or illness, there are men and women who are married in the eyes of the state, enjoying all of the legal benefits, who have no intention of having children. They seek only companionship and all of the entitlements that come with marriage. Sex, joy, partnership, caring. All of that is theirs, even though they will never bear children and willfully so. If the state says they are free to do that, why aren't gay couples, as well.

This country denies gay couples that right only by asserting that gay Americans do not have the exact same rights as those deliberately childless straight couples. And that is to say that homosexuality itself is illegal. Opponents would have to say that they do not want gay couples to enjoy the same lifestyle as straight couples who refuse to have children because gay Americans are not entitled to have the sex, joy, partnership and caring that their straight counterparts have. They would, therefore, have to outlaw homosexuality itself. Either that or outlaw every single marriage wherein that couple refuses to raise a family. One or the other. That's it. No other choice.

Do you think this society is prepared to outlaw homosexuality? Even with all the fear and hatred of homosexuals that some groups promulgate today? Think about that. Think about the effort and cost involved to argue that case. To write and manifest those laws. To prosecute them and punish the "transgressors." Will our society similarly outlaw childless heterosexual marriage? Of course not. That is ridiculous in the extreme. Ridiculous and wrong.

Once you embrace this basic idea, the rest of the argument falls into place. Gay couples are free not only to marry, but to create families in every way that heterosexual couples who cannot bear their own children do. Adoption, surrogacy, etc.

One does not have to possess one molecule of identification with the gay cultural or political experience in this country to believe that gay Americans have the right to marry. Such a stance is not similar to saying, "I always wanted to play the piano so I favor government scholarships for music study." You do not need to have one ounce of affinity for gay people in our society whatsoever to recognize that they are being shamefully wronged every day we allow this to continue.

Matt Lanter is Liam in 90210. The hottest guy on TV

Matt Lanter also acted in "The Cutting Edge: Chasing Dream"

R.E.S.P.E.C.T others the way you want others to respect you.

We needed to show how our movement would benefit overall democracy.

When I first moved to USA (San Francisco & New York City) from Malaysia, my loved ones said, "Be careful, it's full of homosexuals. And it has earthquakes." I didn't tell them that I wanted to feel the earth move. I had watched "The Times of Harvey Milk" on video and knew that this was where you came to be gay, from places where you didn't dare to say its name. California drew not just the lonely teenagers from Idaho and Missouri on Greyhound buses. It also drew immigrants like me from all over the world seeking to put an ocean or two between them and their parents and clans trying to arrange their marriages. This was where software companies gave us domestic partner rights and the mayor marched in pride parades. This was where the world looked to see if change had come to America. And where we came for sanctuary.

But now the center of gravity is shifting. In the wake of the court decision on the legality of Proposition 8 today (as opposed to its righteousness) there will be protests and candlelight marches and angry rhetoric be organized in the days, weeks, months even years to come. But perhaps it could also be a time for us (or some of us or many of us or all of us) who have been used to the world looking at us, to look out at the world instead. The pot of gold is shifting to the other end of the rainbow.

We needed to show how our movement would benefit overall democracy.

It's a good one for California's gay activists to heed. Otherwise California will no longer be the future. It will be the place tourists come to gawk at the most exclusive club of all -- the 18,000 same-sex couples whose marriages the court left standing -- as if they are some rare endangered animals in a sanctuary. And then they will heave a sigh of relief, shake their heads at the quaintness of it all and go back to their happily married gay lives in places like Iowa, Connecticut and Maine. And Malaysia, in my case.

Happy Birthday, Cheryl Burke!

Cheryl Burke celebrated her 25th birthday at LAVO inside The Palazzo with friends including Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan and boyfriend, model Max Zagorski, this past weekend. The couple playfully and messily fed each other cake, much to the delight of the group.

Shame on California

California Supreme Court upholds Prop 8 and allows 18,000 existing same-sex marriages to remain legal, effectively creating a three class system for marriage.
SHAME ON CALIFORNIA ONCE AGAIN!

Prop 8 Was No Big Deal? WTF?

California Supreme Court thinks Prop 8 was no big deal. The overarching conclusion of the California Supreme Court today is that Proposition 8 was no big deal. After all, same-sex couples still have all the rights included in the "marriage bag" and so the actual effect of reserving the term marriage to heterosexual couples is not significant enough to warrant a more extensive constitutional approval process.

The main focus of the majority's decision was on the distinction between a constitutional amendment and a constitutional revision.

Amendments are small changes requiring only a majority vote and revisions are larger changes, changes to the basic governmental plan or framework, that require a debate and approval process in the California State House as well as amongst the electorate.

As the Court writes: "Proposition 8 does not by any means "repeal" or "strip" gay individuals or same-sex couples of the very significant substantive protections afforded by the state equal protection clause either with regard to the fundamental rights of privacy and due process or in any other area, again with the sole exception of access to the designation of "marriage" to describe their relationship."

Because the effect of Proposition 8 is so "minor" we don't need to classify it as a revision and it can stand, as is, after a simple majority vote.

But the California Court offers no real analysis for its conclusion that simple nomenclature is really a minor matter. This, despite the fact that the offhanded treatment of the term marriage forms the basis of their decision to uphold Proposition 8.

Justice Moreno, in his dissent, comes to the opposite conclusion. Enforcing equal protection requires protection for all aspects of the law, including nomenclature. He even quotes the Court's previous conclusions in Re Marriage Cases:

"Denying the designation of marriage to same-sex couples cannot fairly be described as a "narrow" or "limited" exception to the requirement of equal protection; the passionate public debate over whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, even in a state that offers largely equivalent substantive rights through the alternative of domestic partnership, belies such a description. "[T]he constitutional right to marry . . . has been recognized as one of the basic, inalienable civil rights guaranteed to an individual by the California Constitution . . . ." (Marriage Cases, 43 Cal.4th at p. 781.)

Justice Moreno concludes that upholding Proposition 8 - a ballot measure that concretely denies equal protection and creates a legal distinction between two groups for no other reason than a fear and hatred of a minority by the majority - will "emasculat[e] the equal protection clause of the California Constitution as a provision of independent force and effect. "

If one agrees that a legal distinction between two similarly situated groups is nothing to scoff at, it is quite possible that Proposition 8 was a revision.

Justice Moreno explains that revisions to the Constitution may be structural, but are not limited to structural changes and may also include amendments that, "substantially alter the substance and integrity of the state Constitution as a document of independent force and effect."

Justice Moreno's point - and it is an important one is that if you refuse to dismiss the pain and suffering caused by Proposition 8 and address the legal discrimination it enshrines in the Constitution as being important and dangerous, you cannot consider Proposition 8 a simple amendment.

The majority never addresses this point. It calls the ballot measure a minor change that carves out a discreet exception to the equal protection clause and moves on to a detailed description of case law that ceases to be relevant when the court using that case law refuses to engage with the human outrage and controversy surrounding the subject of their decision.

Failing to uphold equal protection rights for same-sex couples is one thing, but doing so without engaging in the real debate over the importance of marriage, rather than civil unions, is a disservice to California's people and to the body of jurisprudence that forms the basis of many legal rights and responsibilities enforced in the State.

DWTS FINALE PT 1 & PT 2

DWTS FINALE CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT PART 1


DWTS FINALE CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT PART 2

Gilles and Cheryl ...leading the pack again with the highest score 58 out of 60.

to Obama: What is happening to DADT?

From Gay of DayTime
New York Times: As Gay Issues Arise, Obama Is Pressed To Engage

Yes, I know - let's give the man some credit: There's an Economy Crisis to be solved, H1N1 needs to be taken care of, there's the whole is-waterboarding-torture-or-not thing (Terrorists or not - how is that even a question in a democracy?).
But... while others tell us to be patient, the LGBT community has been there before. We've trusted Bill Clinton and got left with DON'T ASK DON'T TELL and the DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT once his momentum had faded. While DOMA may be the harder nut to crack, Obama's non- action on DADT is especially disappointing. While a congressional debate might be necessary, last time I checked the Prez of the US was also Commander in Chief. It needs ONE SIGNATURE FROM HIM to repeal DADT or at least get the word out that it will be no longer enforced.
There have been at least two dismissals under DADT that we know of since he's been in charge. Acknowledging the LGBT community positively in speeches and invite gay and lesbian families to the White House Easter event is a huge leap forward over the previous 8 years of being shunned, but... the change WE can believe in? When will THAT happen?

Brothers and Sisters

What Nan knew...

One comment from Michelle Malkin blog:
On May 8th, 2009 at 11:59 am, Cogs said:
Since Nancy Pelosi was briefed on the “enhanced interrogation techniques” early in the game, I suspect the Honorable Attorney General will wish to prosecute her first. Then, I suspect, he will want to go-after those evil doers who tortured those 40,000 military folks during their SERE training. Man, those courts will be tied-up for years!

DWTS. GILLES & CHERYL. SEMI-FINALS. PERFECT WALTZ & SALSA SCORE. 10-10-10

The perfect Salsa....watch!


The perfect Waltyz...watch!

Paula Abdul's Beat It, Britney! tour, sponsored by Boniva!

Last night's American Idol elimination show proved once and for all that it is the country's premier vocal competition by featuring a centerpiece performance that was lip-synced and (SPOILER!) sending home one of the season's strongest singers in favor of the contestant who laid the biggest egg in the history of the Idol finals.
(Photo: Getty)

Bam's foreign policy is begining to show results...

From Vet On The Watch
Unfortunately, the results are not that impressive. First, Somalian community organizers try to take control of a US flagged tanker delivering much-needed supplies to Kenya.

Now, it seems, these same organizers have taken control of a US owned tugboat. Check here for story updates.

Change we can believe in. No one fears the USA any more because our Glorious Leader cannot be bothered to even comment on the incidents, while our Secretary of State just laughs about it all.

A rough four years indeed. The revolution is at hand. Will you be a leader or a follower?

Obama "Bank Stress" Tests: It's an "F"

The results of the bank stress tests will be released on Thursday. But we can already give the Obama economic team a grade for the way the tests have been handled: "F"

The Close Gitmo Democrats won’t fork the $$$

The Close Gitmo Democrats won’t fork over $50 million requested by the Obama admin to fund the transition/resettlement costs for detainees once the facility is shut down. Maybe the WH can hold a jihadi relocation telethon. No?

The rumba we've all been waiting for...

The most elegant and classy Foxtrot...watch Gilles and Cheryl execute that near perfect dance,


Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke burning the floor with their perfect rumba.


Comments:
fifitrooper (20 minutes ago) Show Hide 0 Marked as spam Reply | Spam umm, Cheryl has been dying to roll around on the floor with him, and I am tired of her humping his leg constantly! HE IS MARRIED CHERYL
hoyjustine (14 minutes ago) Show Hide 0 Marked as spam Reply | Spam SO TRUE
sisterpeggy (10 minutes ago) Show Hide 0 Marked as spam Reply | Spam I think they call it dancing, not humping. And since the wife is in the front row, she knows. The roll on the floor was executed very well.
grubel43 (40 minutes ago) Show Hide 0 Marked as spam Reply | Spam my god i love it. very hot makes me wanted my husband with me in bed. gilles i am with you all the way.
solnutela (47 minutes ago) Show Hide 0 Marked as spam Reply | Spam i really like it!!!
sensibile1900 (51 minutes ago) Show Hide +1 Marked as spam Reply | Spam I thought it was a good dance.
And funny too in some places.
I like it!
I hope they win!!!

Thanks for the upload.

Brothers & Sisters...Love is all around

And see Christian and Olie showing off their love in Verbotene Liebe

Malaria No More..Ashton Kutcher won, CNN lost

And gave $1m to Malaria No More fund...Congratulations bro. We love you.

Miss California USA 2009 is a big Miss Take!

Like everyone else, I am very offended by Miss California USA 2009. Not because of her personal opinion. And yes, she has the right to say what she believes in deeply. We have nothing against her for believing that a marriage should be kept as it is -- between a man and a woman. The thing we are very very angry about is that Miss California supposedly represents all Californians. And the fact that she forgot about the 49% of the people who voted for gay marriage in California (and the fact that she didn't answer Perez Hilton's question). She should know better not to impose her personal views on same sex marriage into her professional role of representing all Californians.

Oh, just so you know, my latest obssession: Lip and Eyes Basic by Laura Mercier...more on http://smokeymakeup.blogspot.com


She should have just said "I support people -- gay or straight, young or old -- to marry the ones they love. I applaud those states who give their LGBT community a chance to be happy. But for me, personally, I am straight and I want to marry a man."

Right now Carrie is only representing the 52% of the voters who voted against same sex marriage. It's very unfortunate that she's placed herself (intentionally) in the spotlight advocating that California discriminate against certain individuals. Is this the 50s or the 21st century, where tolerance, open-mindedness, compassion should reign?

We call for Miss California USA 2009, Carrie Prejean, to step down as Miss California. We don't want her to represent us. She is wrong for more than half of the people living in California today.

Welcome back Olie....

Matt Giraud looks dapper, sexy and classy tonight...

Forever our funny valentine, Matt Giraud singing "My Funny Valentine"..."Brilliant" says Simon


Kris Allen singing "The Way You Look Tonight"

Allison Iraheta singing "Someone To Watch Over Me"..."You are in trouble." says Simon.


Danny Gokey "Come Rain Or Come Rain"..."Outstanding," says Simon.


Adam Lambert singing "Feeling Good"

Team Tango led by Cheryl and Gilles won the team showdown last night.

Team Mambo...Chuck-Julianne, Tony-Melissa (performed by Lacey), Shawn-Mark.And I thought Lacey is sooo beautiful. Team Tango -- Gilles-Cheryl, Lil Kim-Derek and Ty-Chelsea...watch.

QueerGam to Kitty Walker: Stop seeing this gorgeous daddy!

One of TV's most gorgeous daddies could destroy Kitty's and Robert's marriage on Brothers & Sisters. Born: June 26, 1970 Birth place: Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Matt
graduated from the University of Michigan.

Watch Matt Letscher as Nathan Stone in Eli Stone....gorgeous.

A message from HIV-UB2.Ning.Com

Robert Brandon Sandor has sent you a message on HIV-UB2 Connections

To some, my posts will inspire. To others, my posts will empower. And to those in between, my posts will act as supportive evidence that we ARE stopping HIV. However, to all the HIV Agencies, Organizations, Researchers, "Experts" and "Professionals", my posts will be threating, insulting, offensive and out right dangerous.

Why? You might ask...it's because of this simple scientific fact: When HIV+ people (gay or straight) have sex with other HIV+ people, the virus is stopped dead in it's tracks. AND - When HIV-negative people (gay or straight) have SAFE sex with other HIV-negative people, the virus is stopped dead in it's tracks as well. How can this be? You might ask. Simple...The cycle of NEW transmission is PHYSICALLY broken and NO HIV-negative person gets infected.

Therefore, Serosorting (and MORE importantly) SAFE SEX Serosorting does MUCH MORE than stop the spread of HIV, it unites mankind in an effort of RESPECT for eachother and to reach a common goal. HIV+ people respecting the right for HIV-negative people to STAY HIV-negative, and HIV-negative people respecting HIV+ people who are making this choice. This is why the HIV agencies, organizations, researchers, "experts" and "professionals" will NOT tell the general public about my work - Why stop a virus that so many are making money from? I DARE ANY HIV researcher to prove me wrong...show the world that SAFE SEX SEROSORTING is wrong and will not physically stop the spread of HIV.

The key issue, and the focus of any lawsuit against the HIV agencies (etc) is this:

If they are accepting US $1.00 or more FOR HIV Prevention Programs, then they will promote Serosorting AND Safe Sex Serosorting, because PHYSICALLY breaking the cycle of any virus (including HIV) is a scientific fact and the general public has a LEGAL, moral AND ethical right to know.

HIV IS physically being stopped, it's just that the HIV researchers have not yet realized this.
Robert Brandon Sandor
FOUNDER
www.poz4poz.com

QueerGam to Bea Arthur: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND

Bea Arthur or Dorothy or Pussycat...we will always love you.
Bea Arthur passed away in her LA home today. She was 86. Her spokesman, Dan Watt, says Dorothy or Pussycat, as we know her better, died at home early this morning. He says Pussycat died of cancer. The tall, deep-voiced actress won a Tony Award for the musical "Mame" and Emmy Awards for "The Golden Girls". As you know, Arthur's razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines helped make the sitcoms hits and turned the veteran stage and film actress into a popular TV star. Pussycat first appeared as the character Maude in the 1970s landmark comedy series "All in the Family," making guest appearances as the loudly outspoken, liberal in-law of blue-collar bigot Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor). Her TV mom, Sophia, died a few months ago. Sophia was 92. The living girls are Blanche and Rose who are well and healthy.

Bam, is the use of torture moral?

Obama: We remember it well when you said “The buck stops here!” We are wondering if such a nice, solid, finality is still valid - that you are willing to take the blame. What about the torture? We think there is a complete unwillingness on both sides of the ailes to see what actually went on in our prisons in Afghanistan and Iraq. Let it all be brought to light if that was so. Are we normalizing something awful?

Campaign "Keep Matt Alive"...Kalamazoo town and her people regroup, come out with a strategy to help Matt become the next American Idol.

Yay!!! Go Matt Go!!! Below, Kalamazoo, Michigan radio personality Lori Moore, of WKZO-AM 590, center, and Michele Marquardt, right, celebrate and cheer at the Wild Bull Saloon & Steakpit Wednesday evening as they watch "American Idol" contestant Matt Giraud advance to the next round. Giraud is a Kalamazoo resident. (pix by Jonathon Gruenke, Gazette)

The "American Idol" Top 7 caught disco fever Tuesday night and the song of choice of Kalamazoo's Matt Giraud -- "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees -- proved metaphoric for his struggle on the show after nearly getting ousted last week. Tonight, Matt saved himself...with the help of millions of Americans who simply love him. And all the teenagers, housewives, husbands and all the local politicians and media personalities in Kalamazoo. Kalamazoo, a small little midwest town in Michigan, where the gorgeous, hunky, korn fed Matt is from, is now the most mentioned and googled town in the land. We read that today's business is brisk and people are talking about their precious idol.

Matt...if you are reading this, please please please stay alive and win this thing, be the next American Idol, for the love of God. And for gay-kind, be our next American Idol. America idolize you, Kamalamazoo love you, and we are voting for you. We are all campaigning for you for the next three weeks. Go for the kill Matt! First thing we all must do together: kick Danny Gokey and Kris Allen off the competition, and then get rid of Adam Lambert. And then Matt, after Adam is out, you will have to really sing your butt, your ass, your balls, your whatever off to beat the hell out of Allison Iraheta. She is fast becoming more and more amazing. We must beat her in the finals. Kalamazoo, if you are reading this, please knock on all doors and make sure everyone is voting for Matt next week.

We heard that Kalamazoo Gazette Online Content Editor Anne Holcomb, Gazette Entertainment Editor Earlene McMichael and Grand Rapids Press Entertainment Editor John Gonzalez asked everyone to join them in a live online chat about "American Idol" from 8 to 10 p.m. last nnight, and at 9 p.m. tonight at www.mlive.com/tv.

We also learned that Hopewell had asked Granholm earlier this month to join him in a campaign to ensure that yet another Michigan native is a top-finishing "Idol" finalist. The governor last threw her support around LaKisha Jones, of Flint, who made it to fourth place in Season Six in 2007. We also read that both wanted Fox TV viewers to know that today -- and every Tuesday Giraud is on "Idol" -- they can vote an unlimited number of times for their favorite finalists for up to two hours after the show goes off the air. Votes can only be made by phone or, by text message if the voter is an AT&T Mobility subscriber. The toll-free phone number assigned each contestant is announced during the live broadcast.

And as the day progressed, there was nothing stopping Kalamazoo and Granholm sounded the Giraud drum even louder, updating her Facebook page with a vote-for-Giraud message.

"The governor has been following Matt in the 'American Idol' competition and has placed a personal call to him," said gubernatorial spokeswoman Megan Brown in a phone interview from Lansing. She joined Mayor Hopewell in encouraging all 'American Idol' fans in Michigan to vote for Matt Giraud last night.

Mayor Hopewell, who is paying for the L.A. trip out of his own pocket and must take off time from his full-time job in Kalamazoo, hopes Giraud's time is not cut unfairly short.

"I think it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to see my friend perform on the stage of the No. 1 rated show in America," Hopewell said.

But more than that, Matt is a very talented small town boy-next-door who would make a very good American Idol.

Disco night, boogie, oogie...who is going home tonight? Lil? Anoop? One of the frontrunners?

After a performance like that, Matt Giraud is definitely going to be staying for awhile on Idol. The other frontrunners were not all that great last night anyway...Matt got to take part in Disco Week last night...and he did more than well. He did very well indeed. Some disagreed with the saving of Matt Giraud. The Judges' Save, they all have said, was supposed to be used to rescue a real frontrunner, someone whose elimination was a shocker and a great injustice - should be used to save others just like the Chris Daughtry/Michael Johns/Tamyra Gray type. They said it should not have been used to save someone who had already landed in the bottom multiple times and had been told by Simon Cowell that he had "no chance of winning this show." So last week's decision to save Matt was just puzzling, and more than a little annoying. It's almost impossible for any singer to do disco without seeming as hokey and dated as a polyester suit or a pet rock (even Adam Lambert, was a little cheesy-loungey when he boogie-oogie-oogied to Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music" a few weeks ago), so the contestants certainly had their work cut out for them. All of them needed to be worried tonight. No one was safe.

Just not for Matt, for the others, too, stayin' alive wasn't going to be easy tonight.

I'm Every Woman: Lil Rounds did Donna Summer:
It was do-or-die time for Lil Rounds. But on the positive side, she was the one singer in the top 7 whose singing style was well-suited to disco: All she had to do was belt out a divalicious Donna Summer or Gloria Gaynor anthem with conviction, and she'd be good as solid gold. Well, she sort of did that. Lil chose to sing Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman," and it was the first time she showed any sort of real personality this season. She smiled a lot, she did the Hustle, she strutted through the audience...frankly, this was the performance Lil needed to deliver weeks ago. But it was probably too late. Kara DioGuardi said, "I'm not sure it was worth the wait," snarkily adding in reference to Lil's ongoing identity crisis, "You've been every woman on that stage--every other woman but yourself." Simon was, unsurprisingly, the harshest on Lil. "Your vocals were a mess," he barked. "I think this is going to be the last week we're going to see you."

Well, I agreed with Simon that Lil's time was probably up, especially since two people get cut this week, thus upping the probability of her demise. But I still thought this was her best performance to date, and the only performance of hers that even slightly measured up to all the hype she prematurely (and, let's face it, undeservedly) received earlier in the season. So if, or when, she goes tomorrow night, at least she'll go out on a high note. But I won't miss her--or her incessant arguing with the judges--all that much.

She Works Hard For The Money: Kris Allen did Donna Summer:
Singing second was Kris Allen, unexpectedly doing a Donna Summer story song, "She Works Hard For The Money." It could have been a disaster, but he did the smart thing and didn't try to do a straight-up disco number. Instead he--to use a frequent but fitting Idol cliche--"made it his own," giving it what Paula Abdul called a "classy Santana feel." Randy Jackson said the song proved that Kris is "ready for the big time, dawg," and Kara righfully told Kris, "You took a real risk with that arrangement, and it paid off!" Then Paula made one of her typically oddball remarks about Kris's brave choice to sing a female artist's hit ("A lot of women are willing to shop in the men's department, but not many men are willing to shop in the women's...") Um, OK, but isn't the women's department where Simon buys all his V-neck shirts?

September: Danny Gokey did Earth Wind & Fire:
But, much like Paula, I digress. Singing third was Danny Gokey, doing one of tonight's more cliched choices, Earth, Wind & Fire's "September." I personally thought he came across as smug and over-emotive. But the judges, as usually, loved him. Randy admitted he'd been worried about Danny doing the not-melodic-enough EW&F song (which is odd, since I think the classic tune HAS a pretty strong melody), but then he predictably told Danny: "You worked it out!" Paula then said, "I think you have one of the sexiest voices ever, and I think women of all ages will agree." Well, I didn't agree. I agreed more with Simon, who said: "I didn't get any star power from that." But I have a feeling more voters tonight will side with Paula. There's just something about Danny that people other than myself dig. I still don't get him, though.

Hot Stuff: Allison Iraheta did Donna Summer
Next up was my girl Allison Iraheta, belting out Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff." And it was hot stuff! It was a rough, rocked-up version, almost metal (OK, lite metal), and it suited her gravelly, glass-gargling vocal style perfectly. Randy didn't love the rockish arrangement but added, "I love you! You're one of the best singers in this competition." Simon called her an underdog (which is true...which is why I really wish they'd reserved the Judges' Save in case they needed to use it on Allison this week), but also called her performance "brilliant." I hope the voters think so too.

If I Can't Have You: Adam Lambert did Yvonne Elliman:
Up fifth was Adam Lambert, who--as I pointed out a few paragraphs ago--veered dangerously into Wisconsin-worthy cheese territory when he did disco on Top Downloads Night. So as awesome as it would be to hear him sing, say, "It's Raining Men" this evening, I was hoping he'd go the "Mad World"/"Tracks Of My Tears" route and do something downtempo and acoustic, like the Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love." Well, he didn't do that song specifically, but he did do another one of my personal faves off the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, Yvonne Elliman's "If I Can't Have You." He turned it into a slowed-to-a-crawl ballad, and unlike the other contestants really seemed to connect to the lyrics emotionally; as Paula put it as only she can, it was as if he "tore his heart out and left it on the stage." Nope, not cheesy at all. Just another genius Lambert performance that melted Paula into (Ryan's words) a "pool of Abdul." Um, I'm not sure anyone wants to see that...but I know I want to see a whole lot more of Adam. Really, just give him the record contract now. If I can't have Adam as my Idol, I don't want nobody, baby.

Staying Alive: Matt Giraud did Bee Gees:
Singing next was comeback kid Matt Giraud, and the song he chose, the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive," was fitting, since he's barely stayin' alive in this competition. He's been kicked around since he was born--or at least since his pre-Wild Card "Viva La Vida" disaster--but it's all right, it's OK, you may look the other way. Tonight, Matt hit the stage with something to prove, and seemed in it to win it, full of energy and giving it his all. Randy was impressed by Matt's vocals, as was Paula, who said: "Last week the judges saved your life; tonight after this performance, you saved your own life." However, Simon, ever the contrary one, said Matt "came over as a bit desperate." Well, why shouldn't he be desperate? He almost went home last week! But Paula was right: Matt probably will be safe this week.

Dim ALl The Light: Anoop Desai did Donna Summer:
Singing last was Anoop Desai, another contestant who ought to be desperate after the number of times he's been in the bottom three. His song choice, "Dim All The Lights," was also fitting, since his future is looking pretty dim at this point. He sang it well (except for that screechy missed note at the end--yikes!), but probably not well enough to stay on the show any longer, especially in a double-elimination week. I agreed with Simon that Anoop was "mediocre at best," though I thought Simon took it too far when he told Anoop it was his worst performance yet. It wasn't that bad. Anyway, Paula told Anoop he ought to "smile more," but I understand why Anoop's been such a sad-sack lately, when he keeps getting critiques like Simon's.

So, who is going to hustle right off the show this week? Well, if you've been reading this blog closely, you already know my prediction: Anoop and Lil will get axed. At least I hope that's who goes, because they were, in my not-so-humble opinion, the weakest this week. If it's not them, then the judges may wish they still had that Judges' Save lying around. I just hope I don't have to say, "I told you so!" in tomorrow night's results show blog.

Let's see who are going home tonight. Your guesses are as good as mine. But I am not saying who they will be.

House committee takes up hate crimes bill

[From 365gay.com]

By Jennifer Vanasco
04.21.2009 12:10pm EDT

(Washington) Legislation to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of categories covered under federal hate crime law will be taken up Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee. It is expected the bill will be marked up and be sent to the full House for a vote, possibly before the end of the month.

The bill was introduced with bipartisan support by Reps. John Conyers (D-MI) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). In addition to LGBT rights groups, the bill has the support of more than 300 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations.

Gay rights groups have been fighting to have the legislation passed for over a decade.

Read more on 365gay.com

Way to go Matt!

Matt Giraud singing "Staying Alive" to stay alive on Idol...literally. The judges saved him last week. Did he save himself tonight?

Will it be sing or die for Matt G tonight?

Will your favorite Idol, Matt Giraud, sings the right song tonight? Watch and vote! Keep Matt's dream alive.

9-9-9 score for Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke tonight for their classy Vienese Waltz...but wtf with the music?

Lil Kim and Derek Hough...scoring a high point (9-8-9) again with an impressive rumba. Gorgeous makeup and gown designed by...hmmmm Derek. Gay!


Melissa Rycroff and Tony Dovolani scoring top point for their Argentine Tango. 10-9-10 tonight.

Forget about the sisters...you go bros!

Ok I have to say it was the gayest episode of "Brothers and Sisters" by far. The up arrow went way up with the kiss! and then the shirtless scene. I could not stop laughing at Scotty when he opened the door. Those first few minutes were priceless and saved the show from being a real downer. I've gotten to the point I could care less about Kitty they should have offed her and just keep Rob Lowe around for eye candy. Sarah's fling with Cal (Cristian de la "Cheryl Burke" Fuente) was a nice change of pace and the up arrow also went way up when his shirt came off. YUMMY. Episode was the best shirtless episode in any series so far this year!.

Having said that...I am a proud log cabin (or a gay conservative republican) and I was all set to criticize last Sunday night's episode of "Brothers & Sisters" for having the gay couple involved in a threeway, because, like many queers, I was worried that it contributed to a common stereotype about gay people being raging sex maniacs, as if being gay as some sort of gateway relationship to every kink imagineable.

Cristian de la Fuente (Cal) and Sarah...

But in a gratifying surprise, the episode wound up with them (Kevin and Scotty) reaffirming their devotion to one another. And more significantly, the threeway story was in the same episode where Nora’s swinging ex-BF Roger showed up (he of the “open” marriage), thereby reminding us that the real kinksters out there are straight, oily, geriatric Europeans. And a hot gorgeous fire fighter, Cristian de la Fuente banging Sarah in her office's storage room reminding us that straight people are even more kinkier than gay people...no?

Kevin's and Sarah's gayest moment...


Back on good old Puritanical American soil, Roger announces the open marriage has now closed shop. He a one-woman man, and the one woman is Nora. She’s briefly happy about this, but then announces she needs some time off to deal with all her family drama first. Roger says he’s willing to wait for her. Good luck with that, buddy. Nora should have grappled with all the Walker family drama in, oh, I’d say 2014.

Robert and Kitty moment...

From 365gay.com

This past weekend, Washington, DC welcomed the national convention of a group I haven’t had a lot of nice things to say about in the past. The Log Cabin Republicans took my fair city by storm, with a series of sessions and speeches that have had serious reverberations around the gay blogosphere.

Meghan McCain
What made this year’s conference interesting were the surprising faces that headlined the event. Could the strong show of support from more moderate parts of the Republican Party indicate a sea change? Is this the beginning of a new GOP?

I’m not willing to concede my long-held belief that the very existence of the Log Cabin Republicans validates the discriminatory and hateful positions of the GOP.

But I am impressed that the Log Cabin Republicans were able to draw such interesting, and diverse, allies from their party to speak to their conference. The top three appearances of the weekend, in order of surprise-factor and significance:

3. Meghan McCain

Meghan McCain’s appearance at the Log Cabin convention has certainly drawn the most headlines, but not because it was particularly surprising. Her relatively progressive stances on most social issues, including marriage equality, keep me from being shocked at her participation. I was, however, surprised at her exuberance. She tweeted about her nervousness and excitement in the days leading up to her appearance, and delivered a thoughtful speech to the crowd.

That her mother Cindy attended the convention with Meghan was, perhaps, more interesting.

2. Christy Todd Whitman

The former governor of my former home state also spoke this past weekend to the Log Cabin Republicans, and her speech was hard-hitting about specific policies. She made three specific demands to the Republican Party: that they remove the anti-marriage equality language from their party platform, that they work to reverse DOMA, and that they oppose DADT. Those are strong positions for any former Republican governor, and she followed it up with one of the best lines of the conference:

“I am not saying to Christian conservatives, ‘There is no place for you,’ I am saying, ‘Please stop saying there is no place for us.’”

(h/t JoeMyGod)

1. Steve Schmidt

Steve Schmidt is probably the least well-known name on this list, but his appearance definitely represents something important for the Republican Party. Former advisor to Governor Arnold Schwartzeneggar and Senator John McCain, Steve Schmidt is one of the top strategists in the Republican Party. He appeared at the convention, he indicated, because he loves and supports his gay sister and his relationship with her helped shape his view on equality issues.

While Meghan McCain and Christine Whitman might have higher profiles, they’re both progressive on most social issues. Both have been tagged RINOs (Republican In Name Only) by other members of their party. But Steve Schmidt is a little different. To me, Schmidt represents the change any of us can affect just by coming out to those around us. So kudos to Steve– and his sister– for thinking outside the box.

Miss California USA 2009 messed up with the wrong queer!

Miss California USA 2009, Carrie Prejean answering Perez Hilton's question, offending queers.