"This is an extraordinary missed opportunity."

The Federal Hate Crimes Bill, The Matthew Shepherd Act, has a setback.

The House Democrats decided to put the provision on the Dept. of Defense bill but now, some Democrats are saying they won't vote for the Defense bill no matter what. So, the hate crimes language was taken out and now, the bill is in limbo.

Bush will most likely veto the hate crimes bill on it's own but he'd NEVER veto a defense bill. Hence, the decision to initially put the language into the Defense bill.

Honestly, I love having a Democratically controlled Congress headed by a woman and a Mormon Democrat. But I can't stand this constant inability to get ANYTHING done. It's very frustrating. It's also sad to see them running away from everything gay-related. Like, it's too squishy of a subject for them to deal with.

Hello! Does NO ONE in Congress read the news? Americans WANT protection for the GLBT community in their jobs and from potential harassment/crimes committed against them. Why to they denying people these rights and protections?

Someday...
home

Reason # 2,473 why I just can't bring myself to vote for Mitt

The man is a moron and I can't believe he says the most stupid things. Well, I can, but still, where is his staff?! They need to tell him to just drop the gay thing.

Are you with HRC--Hilary Rodham Clintion? Or, drinking with gays watching a gay debate having a gay old time.

For those who didn't know, the Democratic Presidential candidates participated in a forum last night sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign on the Logo (Gay) channel. They answered all sorts of questions that are important to the GLBT community. However, the "big" question concerning same-sex marriage is one that most of the candidates are against. It was frustrating to watch them, one after another, give their excuses for not supporting full equality.

Only the elf-like Kucinich and "old white man" (Melissa Etheridge's words not mine) Gravel are supportive of same-sex marriage. It was sad to see the other candidates "defend" their stances on this issue. To see each candidates views on all the GLBT issues, check out this nice fact sheet from HRC. (Hint: they all agree on everything--almost....BOR-ING!)

If you missed the debate, you can watch it here. Also, please forgive Gov. Richardson for he knows not what he says.

The highlight of my evening was not actually watching the debate but texting various people throughout its entirety including Darci who was sitting less than a foot away from me. Also, watching friends make out always make me giggle uncontrollably.

If I remember more after I sober up, I'll let'cha know!

Takin' the long way

Last night, I watched the documentary of the 'fall and rise' of the Dixie Chicks, Shut Up & Sing. I have always liked the Chicks' music and anyone who has the balls to lambaste the President during a concert certainly deserve more credit than they are given.

I liked the show so much, I went out and bought their past two albums. I felt compelled to show my financial support because in the movie, they are worried that their new album wouldn't sell well (I guess that Grammy nomination helped).

Some things I learned from the movie:

• The leader singer, Natalie, is married to the guy who plays Nathan Petrelli in Heroes. He's hot.
• They wrote all of the songs on their new album--something they've never done before.
• Between the three of them, they have 7 children--all under the age of 5. Ugh.
• Right-wing nut jobs are absolutely insane. This movie proves it.

As if that school couldn't get any worse

I wrote on my other blog about why I can not bring myself to attend or even apply to that other law school in Utah.

I found another reason today.

I attended a the party's women's club luncheon today and the president of the club told a story about a reporter (and I use the term very loosely) from the student paper on that campus who called her to "ask her about that woman, Ms. Clinton, who was running for President." (I believe that's SENATOR Clinton to you).

Laura (the WDC President) stated that this was an exciting time for women to be involved in politics, especially with Nancy Pelosi's leadership.

This self-proclaimed "journalism student" then had the absolute audacity to ask, "What was that other name you just mentioned? Is she someone important?"

I shit you not. What horror! What blasphemy!

Eleka and others, can you please tell me exactly what is taught on that campus? Obviously it is not current events or pertinent information that would make one a well-rounded and informed citizen of this world.

On how big of a nerd I am

I just joined a Fantasy Congress League. If you'd like to join my league, let me know and I'll invite you. We can be nerds together!

Too bad Santorum isn't there anymore to make fun of. *sigh*

What's the point in having a blog if you can't create a little controversy, eh?

I apologize to my mass of readers for not blogging regularly.

Aw, just kidding. I don't have a mass of readers and I'm not sorry.

What can I say? The gaggle is boring as of late. Ho-hum. *Yawn.*

I was thinking of something I could write today and I have a couple of topics I'm currently working on (why gay men are ALWAYS late, what is the meaning of a relationship). I know. You're like totally excited now, right?

But for today's subject, I thought I'd talk about something pretty bland: the future POTUS.

So, I'm kinda involved with the Democratic party here in Utah (a teeny, tiny bit) and it always shocks some of my fellow democrats when I tell them that I am a McCain supporter. I voted for him in the 2000 presidential primary--not because, as I usually do, I thought the Democrat (boring Al Gore at the time) would beat him more easily--but because I really like what he stands for.

I saw him speak at the U in January 2003 and someone asked him why he wasn't a Democrat. His response was that he could not be because while he may be considered a social liberal, he was a very fiscally-sound conservative. And yet, some of his fiscal conservative leanings could be deemed as liberal. For example, his opposition to all pork spending on Congressional appropriations bills. Not matter the bill, if there is ANY pork, he votes against it. (For those of you who don't know what pork is, we'll chat later).

Currently, none of the Democratic presidential hopefuls really get me excited. Sure, Hilary would be great. She would be the first female president and her husband is kinda cool too. Edwards is still hot. Obama is very intriguing but he's only been a Senator for 2 years now!

There is one candidate for President that I just could not vote for--AT ALL.

Mitt.

Of course, me being here in Utah, most people here love him! With the largest percentage of Marmons and Mitt being Marmon, he'll win Utah with 75% of the vote. But precisely because of that fact, I could not--and will not--vote for him. Now, I know what you're saying: but he's quite moderate. If he ran in Utah, he'd be a Democrat. True, in some respects. But his social conservatism beats out all other qualities he may have.

As an avid reader of Andrew Sullivan (yes, yes, I know, another Republican), I've enjoyed his latest subversive attack on Mr. Romney. I've been waiting and waiting for someone to say, "Hello! If Mitt runs, he's going to totally run using the wedge platform of 'Gay Marriage is Bad for Society!'' I mean, he's still doing it in Massachusetts. He just won't let go of getting the Legislature to overturn the State Supreme Court decision.

Here's an article from the local weekly alternative paper that expresses this opinion much better than I have.

It frightens me that he will continue to be overtly vocal on this issue as he gears up to run for President. If he's not planning on using gay marriage as an issue, then why bother? He's a lame duck governor so no one would be surprised if he just let it go.

But he can't. And I just won't vote for him because of it.

The White House screened Brokeback Mountain

This is sure to get me on the NSA's "surveillance" radar.

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT real! It was sent to me in an email. SO funny!

WHITE HOUSE ACCIDENTALLY SCREENS 'BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN'
Cheney, Rove Injured in Stampede for Exit

In what the official White House spokesman today called "a regrettable mistake," the White House had a private screening last night of the critically acclaimed gay western, "Brokeback Mountain."

One day after the ill-fated screening, spokesman Scott McClellan said that the White House had launched a "full investigation" to find out how "Brokeback," which features actors Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as gay ranch hands, found its way into the White House screening room.

According to one source, however, the decision to screen the film was made by the president himself, who thought that the two ranch hands would be mainly occupied with clearing brush, as he himself is fond of doing at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Additionally, the source said, the film was directed by Ang Lee, who directed one of President Bush's all-time favorite films, "The Hulk."

Eyewitnesses at the screening said that seconds into the film's first explicit man-on-man love scene, shrieks of alarm rose up from the audience and there was a frantic stampede for the exit.

In the ensuing chaos, vice president Dick Cheney reportedly trampled top advisor Karl Rove, with both men reportedly receiving medical attention for injuries sustained in the fracas.

Mr. McClellan said that the White House would take "better care" to make sure that films with gay content do not find their way into the screening room, adding, "We feel more optimistic about tonight's double feature,'Capote' and 'Rent.'"

Pride

This was in Sunday's bulletin from my church:

What would Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., think of the world today had he lived? What would he have to say? What causes would he be speaking out for or against? Many ask that question every year as we approach his January 15th birthday. The truth is that we will never know because no human being stands still in time, but we all grow and mature just by living. For example, by reading Dr. King's sermons and writings in the last five years of his life, we know that he prioritized economic issues and working for peace in a world of war. Thus, I believe that Dr. King would have spoken out forcefully against the growing gap between rich and poor in the United States, and the war in Iraq.

But what about an issue, such as same sex marriage, which had not been raised during Dr. King's lifetime? Recently there have been some African American clergy who have tried to expropriate Dr. King in their fight against same sex marriage, some even beginning a march at his grave site. I don't profess to know what Dr. King's position on same sex marriage would have been, but I do believe that Dr. King would have supported the full humanity and the inclusion of all children of God in our society. Just as he supported Bayard Rustin, the labor unionist and gay man who was the genius behind the March on Washington and many of the strategies of the civil rights movement, I believe Dr. King would have reached out to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community.

Whatever Dr. King might have said about the issues of today, I know that he would have urged each and every American to work for justice and peace in our nation and the world. This year, as we celebrate Dr. King's birthday, let's all find a concrete way to work for such a world.

Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson

Early morning, April 4
A shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took his life.
But they could not take his pride.
In the name of love.

"(Pride) In The Name of Love" U2

That damn gay cowboy movie

I figure I wouldn't be a good Utah blogger who likes gay people if I didn't write about the controversy surrounding the film here in my great state. Quick catcher-upper: A local movie theatre owner pulled Brokeback from one of his theatres after he was told on the radio what it was about. (I apologize for the dangling participle, I wrote this quite quickly.)

I have yet to see it (I've been waiting to see it with my best mates, eh) but I have read the story.

So, here is my 2 cents on the matter. Cause y'all need my opinion!

First, a business owner can do whatever he/she wants. I'm fine with that. And there certainly are other movies that are more offensive and/or more gayer than Brokeback. I honestly don't care if he doesn't show it. It's not like it's going to make a huge dent in his pocketbook. I mean, I think the only person richer than him in the state is the governor. It didn't come as too big of a shock to me either. The owner was a huge contributor of the anti-gay marriage amendment here in 2004.

Second, no matter what your feelings for gay people are, you must realize one tiny fact. Brokeback is more than just a "gay" movie. It is a story as old as time--one about love, passion, and the heartache that comes with it.

This movie is not about furthering the "gay agenda" or a push by the liberals to force their values on the world.

It's a love story. Plain and simple.

That just happens to be about two men (which I find quite hot, btw) (blushes).

Finally, it seems to me that the people who are making such a huge deal out of the movie are the right-wing nutjobs who make a big deal out of these kinds of things all the time. To quote my favorite State Senator: "I don't think you're a homophobe. Homophobes are afraid of gay people. You are a bigot."

If you don't want to see, don't see it and don't complain about it. I don't try to push my belief system on you so don't push yours on me.

Yes, he is as evil as he is ugly

Living in Utah has its ups and downs. One of the downs is our extremely right-wing legislature. I've seen up close the inner workings of our esteemed legislature and I can assure that it is indeed as conservative as you have heard.

One of the ups is that we have two openly gay legislators. Both are good friends of mine and it disgusts me when they or any of my friends or anybody who is gay are targets for hateful and extreme-right legislation.

This week, Utah's dear State Senator, C. Buttars, decides he wants to attack gay youth. You know, the ones in high school who are just discovering themselves and finally feeling (somewhat) comfortable with who they are. I'm sure you all have stories of your high school days whether you were in or out of the closet at the time. High school is a traumatic experience in itself and we don't need to have students targeted and labeled immoral and evil simply because of who they are.

Well, maybe Buttars' arguments are valid. I mean, we surely don't want to recognize that gay people exist let alone talk about them. The horror!

Seriously, do they really think teachers are going to teach kids how to be gay in GSA clubs? (I mean, because that is how you become gay). Oh no! We might actually teach kids about how to have healthy, safe relationships. The downfall of society is beginning!

You gays just need to stop trying to take over the world. But, you can still decorate it!

The Gay Agenda

The Gay Agenda

6:00 am Gym

8:00 am Breakfast (oatmeal, egg whites and mimosas)

9:00 am Hair appointment

10:00 am Shopping (preferably at Nordstrom's or Saks)

12:00 pm Brunch

2:00 pm (1) assume complete control of the U.S. Federal, state, and local governments, as well as all other forms of world government; (2) destroy all healthy marriages; (3) replace all school counselors in grades K-12 with agents from Colombian and Jamaican drug cartels; (4) bulldoze all houses of worship;(5) secure total control of the INTERNET and all mass media; (6) be fabulous;

2:30 pm Mud mask and forty winks of beauty rest to prevent facial wrinkles from the stress of world conquest

4:00 pm Cocktails

6:00 pm Light Dinner (soup, salad with romaine, radicchio, arugula, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing, and Pouilly Fuisse)

8:00 pm Theatre

10:30 pm "Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight!"


Now, for those of you who are not gay or do not know any gay men, you may be thinking, "Oh, how funny! But that's not really true! Is it?!"

Well, my dears, as one who as 34 gay men in her phone and only 3 straight men, I say, "Oh dear God! Yes! It is all true!"

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'Hot damn!'"

Marriage - Is it really all it's cracked up to be?

Yes, I'm going to do it.

No, not get married. That would require that I actually know a straight man! Duh!

I meant that I, too, am going to jump into the fray concerning gay marriage.

I don't understand the homosexual's desire to be married. I mean, I do, but I don't.

I understand the symbolic meaning behind marriage. If gay couples are allowed to married it means equality, justice, the American way, blah blah blah. It's not fair that I have the right to marry the person I love and want to spend the rest of my life with (any suggestions who this is, please, let me know) but my best friends can not.

I don't understand the critics who say that "Marriage is about procreation" or "Children need a mother and a father." Since when has marriage ever been about children? Is that really all that marriage is about? As a single mom, I take special offense to this.

I understand the principle behind gays being allowed to marry. I understand the desire for equality. I have fought vigorously for it. I understand what marriage means to people. It means a commitment, proof of a couple's undying love for one another.

But, in reality, marriage is only a piece of paper. Isn't what really matters that you are with the person you love and want to spend your life with? This brings us to another point which we won't get into today, that is, if marriage is really only between two people, what say should the government have in it? Or religion, for that matter? Marriage is an agreement between two people, not Uncle Sam or God,
right?

This also brings up the debate about love. I think Howard Jones said it best when he sang, "What is love anyway? Does anybody really love anybody anyway?" And Paul McCartney asserts, "All you need is love."
And that totally makes sense.

Anyway, another argument for marriage equality is that gay couples deserve the same benefits as straight couples. However, all of the same rights and such can be granted with contracts. Besides, who would want to get married anyway? It's really not all it's cracked up to be. Just look at marriage these days. Most are out of convenience, arrangement, or force. Are any really about love anymore?

I understand that marriage has a greater meaning. I also understand that part of my hesitancy in supporting it is my own fear. Commitment is a huge step. Giving yourself completely to someone only to have them tremendously hurt you is not fun. Maybe others are just stronger than me, I don't know.

I don't understand the desire for marriage, mostly because of what I have been through. I will, however, support all of my friends who desire it.

Because, they deserve it-no matter who they love.