Goodbye Jack

Jack LaLanne died at the age of 96 .
I remember watching him as a kid. He was the first to have a show about exercise  and nutrition. Youtube have some great videos from his show and much of what he said then holds up today.
Thanks for caring Jack.

The Artist

I am a starving artist. We are called that because we would rather buy supplies than eat. I could not imagine life without creating. All the funding cuts and censorship in the world will not stop us from telling our stories thru music, theatre, dance, sculpture, painting, or print.  We are the historians. It is thru art we know about our past and can see the future.  Creative problem solving is what drives us to move forward. For me, creating is like breathing. 

We don’t do it for the money. We don’t do it for the accolades. We are driven to express ourselves and when our corner gets full, we try to find a like mind that will take it home and understand.

I feel sorry for the people who have no appreciation for the arts. They live a blind life of staying inside the lines.  Their comfort zone is limited so they get frightened by our unabashed expressions.

The true artists of the world will never let anything get in the way of their expressions. We have no choice. It is what we are.

A Gay Agenda for Everyone

By DAN SAVAGE

Published: January 22, 2011

I’m not an idiot: Now that the Republicans hold the House, only wishful thinkers and the deeply delusional expect to see any movement on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legislative agenda this year or next. Nevertheless, President Obama should address gay rights in his State of the Union speech this week, and he should tackle the biggest, most meaningful right of them all: the right to marry.

 

When he was a candidate for the Illinois State Senate in 1996, Mr. Obama told a gay publication that he supported “legalizing same-sex marriages.” Twelve years later, right about the time he decided to run for president, he came out against marriage equality. But, as the president likes to say, “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” Where a Gallup poll in 1996 found that just 27 percent of the nation supported equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, a CNN poll last summer found that a majority now supports marriage equality.
The president — perhaps after introducing Daniel Hernandez Jr., the openly gay intern credited with saving Representative Gabrielle Giffords’s life — should declare that the trend is clear: this country increasingly believes that Mr. Hernandez and other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans should have all the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens.
Gay Americans are eventually going to win on marriage just like we won on military service, the president should tell Congress, so why not save everyone on both sides of the debate a lot of time, trouble and money by approving the entire gay rights agenda? Send the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Student Non-Discrimination Act, the Uniting American Families Act and the repeal of the odious Defense of Marriage Act to his desk for his signature.
He can assure the lawmakers that, yes, there’s something in it for Americans who disapprove of homosexuality too.
Social conservatives long to raise their children in a country where they don’t have to hear about homosexuality every time they turn on the news. I’d like raise my son in a country like that too. And guess what? In countries like Canada — where the fight over gay rights is essentially over, where there is gay marriage, open military service and employment protections — homosexuality hardly ever makes the front pages of newspapers. There’s nothing much to report.
Conservatives can’t get rid of us, but they can hear less from and about us. They just have to bend toward justice.

GOP Congressional Group Plans To Cut Federal Funding For The Arts To ZERO

This is an OUTRAGE!!!

What is going on in Ohio!? They just got a new Gov. and he let the anti-discrimination law expire. When he did get around to it, he left out gender identity. That means that if you are transgender or just don't dress the part, you can be fired, kicked out of restaurants, housing,..... The new guy also appointed an all white cabinet and has decided the state will celebrate MLK day in March 17th instead of Jan. 17th...May be a typo.....
Now this guy wants to cut federal funds for the arts!
If I go home to visit my family and friends I have no protections ( my gender identity) and my LEGAL marriage is worthless. On top of that all my friends are artists and they have a hard time making a living without having all federal funds stopped.
How can the state tell their children that being the T in LGBT is open season, they can not marry the person they love, and there will not be any art. John Boehner, the new speaker of the house, is from Ohio and is half the reason for the art censorship at the Smithsonian.

"They are forecasting that this erasure of cultural funding would reduce federal spending by $2.5 trillion over the next decade."

YOU CAN"T ERASE ART! We are not just talking about a painting. This will impact music, theatre, dance, and all outreach programs that bring the arts to our kids.  The people of Ohio should be ashamed that they voted for a bunch of backwards, uncultured, discriminating representatives.

I am so glad I don't live there anymore.




A coalition of Tea Party-backed Congress members headed by wingnut Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) plans to cut 100% of all federal funding for the arts.

A group of conservative Republicans, called the Republican Study Committee, revealed a new plan on Thursday to cut federal funding for arts down to zero. This means the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities would be left in the cold. Not to mention the potential hit at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Run by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the over 150-person group's plan, the Spending Reduction Act of 2011, would "save" $167.5 million pulled from the NEA and the Humanities endowment and $445 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. They are forecasting that this erasure of cultural funding would reduce federal spending by $2.5 trillion over the next decade.

Symphony of Science

WOW!  Check out symphonyofscience.com for 7 other beautiful videos. They are full of the wonders of space and the great people who have paved the way.  I miss Carl.

Protect Marriage From What?

Here is a sneak peek at what is in store for Maryland.

We are attacking marriage! We are God defying! We hate the Lord! ... PLEASE!

After you get a good look at the posters from protectmarriage.org, check out what we are really about at Equality Maryland. There is a phone bank and party this Saturday to get the truth out about why we need and want marriage.

For myself and my legal wife, we love being married. All we want is the right to put me down as wife instead of dependant on her taxes. It is true that we do not receive the 1,300 odd rights and privileges that others do but there is more to it than that.
I love it when I can check the married box. When I am talking to a stranger in line, they understand exactly what I am and mean by being married. What is cool about Maryland is no one blinks when I talk about my wife!  I have never gotten any flack from anyone.

I like it when I correct people that call me Miss.. I am a Mrs.. I never thought I would ever become a Mrs.. The whole time I taught school, the kids called me Mrs. assuming I was married. Frankly, it hurt. Every day I was reminded that I was not allowed to get married.
After the great commitment service we had, I was still a legal stranger to the woman I loved and had just given her my heart.

On May10,2010 we were legally married in our nations capitol and the state sees us as married.  Maryland will have gay marriage. The people who just don't get it will do ANYTHING to stop and/or change it but the truth will set us free.

MARYLAND: Marriage Bill Introduced

 Yesterday lawmakers in Maryland introduced a marriage equality bill.

Maryland's gay-marriage bill, HB 55, was introduced by Delegate Luis Simmons and 16 co-sponsors. The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act uses the same language as previous bills - establishing that a marriage between "two individuals" who are otherwise permitted to marry would be "valid in the state." The bill also states that Maryland clergy need not perform marriages that violate their religion's tenets. A companion bill is expected to be introduced in the Maryland Senate, according to state Sen. Rich Magdaleno, an openly gay representative from Montgomery County. "I have never been so optimistic about getting this [gay marriage] done," he told the Washington Blade earlier this month.

Most expect the bill to pass relatively easily. Anti-gay activists are already working on setting up a repeal referendum for the 2012 ballot.

Sir Elton John

Sir Elton John

"I think I have it all. I have a wonderful career, a wonderful life. I have my health, I have a partner of 17 years, and now I have a son. I don't have everything because I don't have the respect of people like the church or like politicians who tell me that I'm not worthy, that I'm lesser because I'm gay, well FUCK YOU!" - Elton John, speaking after performing at an AFER fundraiser in Los Angeles. The event raised $3M for the overturn of Proposition 8.

HUD PROPOSES NEW RULE

 It is great that HUD is making sure that there is no discrimination based on "irrelevant criteria" like being LGBT. While this is a good thing because this kind of discrimination does happen, it is sad that they HAVE to propose new rules to cover it.
Here is an exercise.... Replace every mention of sexual orientation or gender identity with any race, nationality, disability,or religion. Seems odd?
It is not American to deny (Add race here) Americans the right to own a home just because they are  (Add religion here).

There are policies to cover discrimination of all kinds except being gay. We are the last minority to be openly discriminated against in this country and because of this we are denied services, protections, health care, and basic civil rights. Our youth are struggling to survive the bully's crap and many are homeless.

I look forward to the day when we no longer need to list all the reasons we can not discriminate because we are ALL Americans, but until then, I want on the list.
Thanks to HUD for the crumb.

HUD PROPOSES NEW RULE TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO HOUSING

REGARDLESS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY 

            “This is a fundamental issue of fairness,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.  “We have a responsibility to make certain that public programs are open to all Americans.  With this proposed rule, we will make clear that a person’s eligibility for federal housing programs is, and should be, based on their need and not on their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

            HUD is seeking public comment on a number of proposed areas including:

Ø Prohibiting lenders from using sexual orientation or gender identity as a basis to determine a borrower’s eligibility for FHA-insured mortgage financing.  FHA’s current regulations provide that a mortgage lender’s determination of the adequacy of a borrower’s income “shall be made in a uniform manner without regard to” specified prohibited grounds.  The proposed rule would add actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity to the prohibited grounds to ensure FHA-approved lenders do not deny or otherwise alter the terms of mortgages on the basis of irrelevant criteria.

Ø Clarifying that all otherwise eligible families, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, have the opportunity to participate in HUD programs.  In the majority of HUD’s rental and homeownership programs the term “family” already has a broad scope, and includes a single person and families with or without children.  HUD’s proposed rule clarifies that families, otherwise eligible for HUD programs, may not be excluded because one or more members of the family may be an LGBT individual, have an LGBT relationship, or be perceived to be such an individual or in such relationship. 

Ø  Prohibiting owners and operators of HUD-assisted housing, or housing whose financing is insured by HUD, from inquiring about the sexual orientation or gender identity of an applicant for, or occupant of, the dwelling, whether renter- or owner-occupied.  HUD is proposing to institute this policy in its rental assistance and homeownership programs, which include the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance programs, community development programs, and public and assisted housing programs.

Pink - Fuckin' Perfect

Another great one from PINK. 

So Much for Civil Rights and MLK Day

It is amazing the crap people say, do , and vote for.  On a day when we should be reflecting on the great Dr. Kings words of equality for ALL, here are 3 govenors who missed the mark.
Note that one is from my home state of Ohio who also just removed all things gay from the state non-discrimination act. ( And my family wonders why I like Maryland so much)

Truth Wins Out Announces Eleven State Tour Highlighting The Harm Caused by the ‘Ex-Gay’ Industry

Activist and Author Wayne Besen To Speak Across The Midwest and South

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Author and activist Wayne Besen will kick-off an eleven state speaking tour this week to discuss the harm caused by programs that claim to turn gay people straight through prayer and therapy. At each stop, Besen will show a multi-media presentation pointing out the psychological damage caused by these unscientific religious programs.

“The message of this tour is that you can’t ‘pray away the gay’ and LGBT people are fine just the way they are,” said Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out. “Organizations that claim they can change one’s sexual orientation are committing consumer fraud and harming a great number of people.”

Truth Wins Out aims to educate local communities, counter misinformation, and help LGBT people find self-acceptance and freedom. Truth Wins Out organized the tour after the nation’s largest “ex-gay” organization, Exodus International, announced it would focus on youth in 2011.

“We were outraged that Exodus would target vulnerable and desperate teenagers who need genuine love and self acceptance,” said TWO’s Besen. “The last thing young LGBT people need is scientifically bankrupt misinformation that tells them they are sick and sinful.”

Truth Wins Out’s Wayne Besen will visit: Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama. (See full schedule below)

Equality under attack in the 'Equality State' on 'Equality Day'

Crosspost from AmericanblogGay.com 

Posted by Joe Sudbay (DC) at 1/17/2011 09:02:00 AM

Paging Dick, Lynne and Mary Cheney.

The legislature in the Cheney's home state of Wyoming is debating anti-gay legislation, House Bill 74, titled inappropriately, the "Validity of marriages" bill. It's an ugly attempt to invalidate same-sex marriages in the "Equality State." There's a hearing today on the bill. In Wyoming, it's not just MLK day, it's also "Equality Day." Hell of a way to celebrate equality, huh? You can't make this stuff up.

From the Casper Star Tribune:

The House Education Committee is scheduled to consider a bill today sponsored by Rep. Owen Petersen, R-Lyman. It would specify that Wyoming courts don't have jurisdiction over same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Both Anderson and House Speaker Ed Buchanan, R-Torrington, have said they believe the Legislature needs to address the issue of whether Wyoming will recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.

One provision of Wyoming law already specifies that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman, but state law also says Wyoming will recognize marriages that are valid in other states. A handful of other states allow same-sex marriages.

Anderson and Buchanan say that a same-sex divorce case pending in the Wyoming Supreme Court shows the need for more clarity in state law.

I guess Wyoming will have to put up signs at all of its borders telling gay couples to stay away.

If you live in Wyoming, make sure you contact your legislator and the members of the House Education Committee (contact info. is here.)

I hope the Cheneys are making calls. What if Heather and Mary decide to relocate to Cheyenne or Jackson Hole?

This is another example of why DOMA has to go. Married gay Americans don't have the same rights as their fellow citizens. We're not equal, even in the so-called Equality State

Matt Baume: This Week In Prop 8

Chris Colfer Wins Golden Globe