Fundraising To Elect Alaska's First LGBT Candidate

I have a friend who needs the community’s support. And we need his leadership.

A few months ago, while waiting for the start of the True Diversity Dinner, collecting myself in preparation for hosting the event, a stranger walked over to where I was sitting and randomly handed me a note card containing the names of every elected official in attendance. I was aware of most of the names, and had already planned on mentioning everyone. But there were a few important people who I had no idea had shown up, and all of a sudden, there they were, neatly compiled on the note card now sitting in front of me. This gentleman knew very well – better than I did – that it’s easier than you might think to blank on names while on stage (or during Katie Couric interviews), and he didn’t want me to leave anyone out; wanted to make sure the event went smoothly. Even after years of experience on stage, I had managed to space on a general rule. That’s how I met Christopher Constant. He had my back even before I knew his name.

Well, now Christopher wants to stand up for this community. He’s tired of the LGBT community being Jerry Prevo’s punching bag. He believes in this city and this state and thinks it’s about time that we drag that stubborn right foot out of the dark ages. Yesterday, I received this email from him:

“Please come support the effort to organize a campaign to elect an openly lesbian and/or gay elected official in Alaska. To the best knowledge of everyone I know, Alaska has never elected an OUT gay or lesbian candidate to public office. NOW IS THE TIME.

I (Christopher Constant) have been invited and given a scholarship to the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute’s candidate and campaign training coupled with the 25th annual LGBT International Leadership Conference in San Francisco, Dec 2 – Dec 6, 2009.

I was awarded a $1,200 scholarship for the training. I have invested my own treasure substantially. I am hoping you can come and share a small bit of your treasure to help cover the rest of the cost. I could use your help.

People have asked what seat I am planning to run for. This effort is bigger than me. It is about electing a candidate. It may be me, but I have no plans in the next two years of running. Instead, I intend to take the time to organize so that when 2012 rolls around, the effort has more chance of success.

http://www.glli.org/training/candidate_campaign

http://www.victoryfund.org/files/conference2009/glli.html

I have consulted with APOC and because this campaign is neither connected with a specific candidate nor a specific piece of legislation, I don’t have to say ‘Paid for by’ anybody.”

This is a huge step forward for our community. Leadership needs to be built from the bottom up, or else you end up with a few folks, who were already at the top, in control of those at the bottom. Alaska is known for it’s established, corrupt leadership; in government and religious institutions alike. We have a lot of great people working to change that, but they need our committed support, as well as a steady flow of reinforcements. This is an uphill struggle against very well rooted opposition, as many here in Anchorage most recently saw over the summer during the battle for equality, which failed due to fear mongering from certain radio personalities, bused in masses from Wal*churches like the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Change Point, and the Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla, and a final veto from a Mayor who knows a little something about dynastic privilege.

There is a good chance that we will lose some key seats on the Assembly this April if we don’t start to dig our heels in and fight back against the “sky is falling” mentality that is already spreading faster than the lies that created it. This is a time to connect with each other, strengthen bonds, educate, prepare. It takes a strong character to have the courage to vocally stand up and fight, but that’s exactly the medicine that we so desperately need.

You may not know him yet, but Christopher Constant already has your back.

I’ll personally be donating $100 to his effort, and it would mean a lot to me, personally, and a lot of other people if you came down and showed support as well. Twenty bucks, five bucks; a beer and well wishes. Whatever you can afford.

Monday night, 6-8pm at Mad Myrna’s, 503 East 5th Avenue, downtown Anchorage.

I truly hope to see you there.

[Via http://alaskacommons.wordpress.com]

Adam Lambert /AMA Awards - dangerous message for our children

A few years ago I recall  there was a WNBA game at Madison Square Garden during which lesbians staged a “kiss in” for whatever reason they thought they had to. My guess is  the motivation was pure attention seeking and  a need to be seen but who knows. I remember feeling very strongly  that not only was it inappropriate because most obviously  people brought their children to the games, but also because we as adults should have the right to enjoy ourselves on our free time  without having some sexual political agenda being forced down our throats while we are there. If I want to support gay rights I will go to a meeting where it is presented  not to Disney World ,professional sporting events or anything else that falls under the umbrella of leisurely activity for me and my family. The awful behavior by  Adam Lambert,some American Idol singer on ABC’s AMA award show last night, struck me in exactly the same way. It was grossly  self indulgent and highly inappropriate . Those of us with cynical minds may sneer and say  thats what made it great , that it said screw all convention and was a charged performance. (I  have mistakenly always assumed performances required talent.)Once again I will answer .. Why should my leisure family time be infested with  some person’s  obssesive need to be seen in a vulgar way or by some hidden agenda by a pseudo political group? Why are the needs of some perverted ,greedy individual or  the agenda of a  gay rights group  and the money it can possibly generate more important than the rights of our children and the decency  and respect we as adults should be offered on our free time?  Adults have the right to choose if they want to be involved in  some political cause or go to  a racy sex show . That is what makes our country great. However ,it becomes distinctly  wrong when an adults  choose to do something like go to  a sporting event and it is shoved down their throats. Or possibly their 10 year old daughter has a passion for music and  a parent chooses to put on the AMA awards ( network tv: ABC)  so she can see professionals perform and is  victimized by the  egocentric ,money motivated, self indulgent antics of some  gay singer. Will this all end when we finally have  achieved full dissolution of the family in this country? Furthermore if you are someone who still believes in family and has certain values where do you turn?? I can tell you this with certainty…What we are allowing and choosing as a society is tremedously compromising to the fabric and integrity of the family in America. Our children are learning that that the expression of an individual  even if it is sexual ,violent and evil  and the need to make money are more important than their own self worth.

Idol singer on ABC’s AMA award show last night struck me as exactly the same type of thing. It was grossly  self indulgent and highly inappropriate . Those of us with cynical minds may sneer and say  thats what made it great , that it said screw all convention and was a charged performance. (I  have mistakenly always assumed performances required talent.)Once again I will answer .. Why should my leisure family time be infested with  some person’s  obssesive need to be seen in a vulgar way or by some hidden agenda by a pseudo political group? Why are the needs of some individual or  gay rights group  and the money it can possibly generate more important than the rights of our children and the decency we as adults should be offered on our free time?  Adults have the right to choose of they want to be involved in political agenda or go to  a racy sex show however it becomes wrong when they choose to do something like go to  a sporting event and it is shoved down their throats. Or possibly their 10 year old has a passion for music and I as a parent put on the AMA awards ( network tv: ABC)  so she can see professionals perform and am victimized by the  egocentric ,money motivated, self indulgent antics of some  gay singer. Will this all end when we finally have  achieved full dissolution of the family in this country? Furthermore if you are someone who still believes in family and has certain values where do you turn??

[Via http://ragingeagle.wordpress.com]

Young femme invisibility

 

While browsing the blogosphere, I noticed all the talk about femme invisibility. SugarButch and the nice blogger from can I help you sir? Some say that of course there is no such thing of that! We see you, cause were dating you! Or something to that degree. But I have to agree. I’m pretty damn invisible. I mean most gay girls over look me and just keep walking right into the arms of the cute dyke who screams gay. I mean, fine you don’t like me that way but at lest acknowledge me as a freaking lesbian at the GSA meetings. It’s hard enough being one of the two black girls at the meetings, but must you ignore me as well? At every meeting do  I have remind you I’m a lesbian by saying” I’m a real lesbian!” every time? I really don’t want to change who I am just so I can have cute Boi’s walk up to me and acknowledge that I’m alive. I don’t want to cut my hair ,get a gay tattoo, buy men’s clothing and buy a bunch of gay  shirt’s that are obscene. That’s just not me. I’m a laid back girl who dose prefers her apple bottom jeans and sneakers. But can work a dress and high heels like nobody’s business.So why should I change who I am just prove to people I’m gay? I mean, I”m attracted to the masculine side of the lesbian/Queer spectrum just because I’m attracted to them and what they seem to bring out in me. Every time I’m around them it makes my heart beat a little faster and just brings a big old geeky smile to my face. Maybe it’s because I go to college in a small town and can’t go to any of the clubs because I’m 19. Or maybe it’s because sadly, I live in a not so thriving part of the south that dosen’t have a lot of young lesbians. We have  lots of lesbians here but none who are my age. So I guess I’m just sick and tired of being ignored and laughed off when I say I’m a lesbian. It really hurts me that I’m being ignored as part of the lesbian community just because I don’t scream “gay” the way they want me to scream gay. And you know what, that’s BS. I shouldn’t have to prove I’m gay just because I don’t look like the stereotypical “lesbian”. So this  a plea from a young baby femme, next time you see a  femme girl walk into the GSA and come out to people in the club, don’t laugh. Just give a small smil and say” Hi there”.

 

 

[Via http://princessbabydyke.wordpress.com]

Ask a Stupid Question...

This bit of news has been traveling around the Internet today…

The poll asked this question: “Do you think that Barack Obama legitimately won the Presidential election last year, or do you think that ACORN stole it for him?” The overall top-line is legitimately won 62%, ACORN stole it 26%.

Among Republicans, however, only 27% say Obama actually won the race, with 52% — an outright majority — saying that ACORN stole it, and 21% are undecided. Among McCain voters, the breakdown is 31%-49%-20%. By comparison, independents weigh in at 72%-18%-10%, and Democrats are 86%-9%-4%.

It seems Republicans believe all sorts of things these days. Additionally, thanks in large part to Fox News no one’s ever accused the GOP or large parts of the Republican base of being well-informed. Or you know, even based in reality. Obama won cause George W. Bush and the Republican majorities he enjoyed in Congress for 6 of his 8 years in office managed to screw up damn near everything. Plus his opponent chose that vapid lady from Alaska to be his running mate and completely flubbed his response to the economic crisis. Plus he won despite the first legitimate African-American candidate for the Presidency and being portrayed as a racist-communist-socialist-anarchist-Nazi.

So let’s just call this what it is: a majority of Republicans are so self-deluded that  they can’t wrap their minds around the fact that their form of government brought our country to the brink of ruin and would rather blame a scapegoat that practically  no one had heard of before last year’s election than take responsibility for the fact that they screwed up.

Welcome to America, we have excuses.

The Fog Is Like A Cage Without A Key...

Nov 17th 2009

Depression is nourished by a lifetime of ungrieved hurts…

I’ve been feeling really sick for the past few days, and home from work as a result…Which is a rare occurence for me considering I’m typically in great health and I really do love, appreciate and enjoy doing my job on a daily basis (well mostly)…So, consequently I had to go see the “Doc” today…Of course I’m not comparable to a Doctor or anything, but I thought I had figured out the culprit of what is ailing me, regardless…I assumed it was related to being unusually challenged lately and hormonally imbalanced, a stressful duo to say the least…Plus, heavy menstruation, check! Premenopausal, check, and feeling weary, check!

The “Doc” said while these issue’s might play a small part in the overall picture, or could just be merely coincidental? After some necessary testing, blood work and observation…The “Doc” concluded that I’m severely depressed…A little depression is normal for me during my monthly cycle after all, but what the hell, severely? Meanwhile, on the brighter side…my iron is low as well!

I had to practically beg my Doctor to let me go back too work on Thursday, instead of an order to take the entire week off or more…But as a compromise, I had to agree to take another antidepressant along with the one I’ve already been taking for a very long time now…And so it goes, I’m required to take 2 antidepressants to function properly as a normal human being *sigh*

It’s ironic, that on one hand, I have the tools of recovery to rely on…Which teaches me that I MUST finally allow myself to grieve, so what’s been damaged within me can be completely healed …One day at a time, I learn how to tame and manage my uncontrolled feelings properly…I’m becoming capable of loving and embracing my child spirit…By coming to terms with a Divine Power greater than myself and (sincerely) admitting that I am powerless to fight these battles alone…But with the Divine Spirit of Love by my side I’m becoming courageous and fearless…I’m becoming what I was destined to become…A warrior spirit! And the battlefield is complex, dark and vast when I’m confronting my sorrows and tackling my fears…I’m slaying the enemy and my inner demons, one by one…

But on the other hand…

What’s got me so down and defeated, is NOT within my power at all! Because as I just wrote, I’m much more confident in my internal struggles after all…It’s my brother! He is extremely toxic…I’m intensely worried about my little Ashton…My nephew is much like me in the sense that he’s emotionally sensitive, and he is very sensitive to cruelty…His Father is a very cruel and heartless human being *sigh* Ashton and I are very different from the rest of our family members and quite frankly just about everybody else we find ourselves surrounded by most of the time too…We’re both intellectual, and seekers of knowledge, we are tender-hearted, gentle and compassionate human beings…I know from personal experience that the very essence of Ashton and I, are qualities and characteristics that my brother considers weaknesses…And therefore he will do his very best to crush Ashton when he returns here in 2 weeks…I’ve looked into what rights I may have through the justice system to save Ashton from harm, and sadly, my being a lesbian alone will make the process intensely difficult to get custody of him…Although I’m by far the most qualified to give him the highest quality of life after all…Ironically, I’m the only one out of my family, who’s turned out for the best and capable of being responsible, plus have the wisdom to actually learn from my mistakes…

I feel powerless, but not in a healthy meaningful way…I feel powerless like I did when I was growing up…I was powerless to stop the damage done then…Now I have to ask myself and God, how am I supposed to stand by helplessly watching Ashton (the apple of my eye and my heart) slowly and deliberately being destroyed…

 

Helping Tasha

The first time I saw her was in the Student Union at the college I attend. She sat alone, looking sad. I went over and asked if I could sit down. It was a Saturday afternoon, and most people had left campus.

We talked some, and I found out she felt left out. I should explain that Tasha is a black girl on a mostly white campus. She is a freshman and had not made many friends. I wondered whether that’s because of her race or because she is shy or because she is overweight. Needless to say, I didn’t speculate to her but instead tried to cheer her up. After a few minutes I invited her to my room. My roommate had gone home, so I had the room to myself.

After we got there I put some music on and that seemed to cheer Tasha. I asked if she liked to dance, and her eyes brightened. So we started dancing — and I started getting turned on! Before long we were going pretty well and Tasha had cheered up a lot and I knew I wanted her.

Long story short, we ended up in bed (which you probably guessed we would). Her brown pussy tasted so good, and I think she came 3 times before I told her it was my turn. She licked me pretty well, and I came a couple of times myself. Then we cuddled naked and I played with her big brown boobs. Her darker nipples are beautiful, so fat and lovely to suck.

Since then Tasha has gained more friends. I introduced her to all of mine girlfriends. Now every time I see Tasha she is smiling.

"Empress of the World" by Sara Ryan

Nicola (Nic) Lancaster is a nerd.  There, I said it.  She’s a nerd.  She likes school, she gets along with her parents, and she wants to be an archaeologist when she grows up.  When she meets Battle, a southern quiet-type with long honey colored hair and some hidden family secrets, she’s suddenly faced with some feelings she can’t explain, because Battle is a girl.  Thus begins “Empress of the World,” one of my favorite YA novels that I’ve read thus far.

The rest of the book chronicles Nic and Battles’ tentative, on-again off-again summer camp romance, with a lovely sense of humor and evocative descriptions of first love.  Nic, the archaeologist in training, has trouble putting aside her penchant for analysis, which makes it hard for her to really fall in love; and Battle has trouble opening herself up to Nic’s constant soul searching, which makes it hard for her to really fall in love as well.  Their ups and downs are colored by their ragtag group of nerd friends – Katrina, the computer programmer who comes up with matchmaking schemes; Isaac, who’s always brooding about his parents’ divorce; and Kenny, who can compose symphonies but can’t put a sentence together.

Aside from the sweet, no frills love story, and the friends I wish I had, my favorite thing about this book is it’s simplicity.  Our heroines meet, banter a lot, fall in love, have a little bit of sex… and that’s it.  No coming out drama, no angry parents, no cynicism from authority figures.  I also really like the fact that for once, the nerds get to win.  It’s not about the girl who was once popular and then shunned when she came out of the closet; It’s not about the girl who was always teased and then made it worse when she fell in love with that other girl.  It’s about the self-proclaimed misfits, the ones who know that once they get to college, none of this will matter.  It helps that it’s set at summer camp, a world in which its easy to forego the authority figures and the popularity contests, but it works, because for those of us who have been to academic/performing arts/visual arts summer camp, we know that it is indeed a place to leave high school behind.

Maybe I just like this book because I relate to it (not that I got that much action at camp), but in any case, I found it refreshing and just plain sweet.

Book talk hook:  I would talk about how much Nic likes to analyze things, and leave the audience wondering whether the love story is going to work out.  I might talk about the kind of magical place she depicts the summer camp to be.

AMA votes to seek repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell"

By LINDSEY TANNER (AP)

CHICAGO — The American Medical Association on Tuesday voted to oppose the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, and declared that gay marriage bans contribute to health disparities.

The nation’s largest doctors’ group stopped short of saying it would seek to overturn marriage bans, but its new stance angered conservative activists and provides a fresh boost to lobbying efforts by gay-rights advocates.

“It’s highly significant that the AMA as one of this country’s leading professional associations has taken a position on both of these issues,” said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a Washington-based advocacy group.

The health disparities measure “in the long run, will certainly help efforts to win marriage equality,” Carey said.

Whether the AMA’s lobbying power will hasten efforts to overturn the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ law remains to be seen. President Barack Obama has said he is working with congressional leaders to end the policy, and the AMA’s stance will likely help, although gay rights issues have been upstaged by Obama’s health care overhaul battle.

The AMA’s vote took place at the group’s interim policy-making meeting in Houston, a day after AMA delegates voted to affirm their support for health reform.

The health disparities policy is based on evidence showing that married couples are more likely to have health insurance, and that the uninsured have a high risk for “living sicker and dying younger,” said Dr. Peter Carmel, an AMA board member.

Full article here.

Gay rights rant

Fundamentalists and right wing pundits in Maine demonstrated their finesse at utilizing morality to win the public hate debate surrounding gay rights.

The entire gay rights debate chafes me. I am annoyed that there is a debate about something that should be a non-issue. Is there anything new about being gay? Nope, we’ve been around since the species started recording things, though long term marginalization requires sifting and sorting through the details to find us. Is homosexuality unusual? Nope, there are more of us than there are left-handed people, people with green eyes or people with IQs over 140. Furthermore there are people that are green-eyed, left-handed, with an IQ well over 140, gay and/or transgendered. Genetic variations are astonishing, aren’t they?

Click here to read full post

Creating a Helpful Books Page

I get asked a lot which books I would recommend for those seeking some answers in their struggle to reconcile their faith with homosexuality.  I’ve started compiling a list of books I found most helpful.  On the top of the list is Jack Roger’s Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality–with a study guide.  For churches and individuals who are seeking answers, it’s thorough, complete, but not too heady.  

When I was looking, I didn’t want answers based on “feelings” or “desires” or “wants”…. I needed a way to think of homosexuality as I think of other things: in accordance with the one book that holds a lot of importance and authority in my life–the Bible.  If I couldn’t find a Biblical way to make it work–a way to make it work within my faith–I don’t know how I would have coped with being gay.  

Christians have a worldview that includes a personal relationship with a god–the God.  This is so radical that I think we’ve lost sight of how radical it is to talk like this, both inside the Christian community and what we sound like outside of it.  But the truth is—we DO communicate with a god, and that God is seriously in love with us.  He watches us individually as if we were the only person on Earth, and he cares what’s happening in our lives.  So, we don’t want to hurt him, and we don’t want to do anything to mess up that relationship.  

This is why many Christians who find out they are gay commit suicide.  They can’t find a way to reconcile these two things.  The Helpful Books page is a way, I think, for people to find the merging of their faith–INTACT–with their sexuality.  If they are afraid of the “lifestyle” choices of other gays, they need not be—straight men and women also choose “lifestyles” that aren’t the most productive.  You can choose to do whatever you want to do with this life you are given, straight or gay.  The important part is to choose life.

The Books page is for anyone looking for life.  

 

Derelicte is Sweeping the Nation

Okay. Does everyone remember last summer when Afrika and Jappy were having a birthday, and we all wanted to have a derelicte themed party in homage to Derek Zoolander? Remember when certain #team members and #team-adjacent “friends” poo-pooed said theme and told us it would be stupid? Well, suck on this, nerds:

This was preceisely my costume idea for our party. Also, the man in this picture is my future husband. Just an FYI.

Yes, you are seeing that right. That is a dress that looks shockingly like it is made from cellophane and black trash bags. I COULD HAVE WORN THAT DRESS! I COULD HAVE MADE THAT DRESS! DERELICTE IS THE BEST PARTY/CLOTHING THEME EVER!

The moral of this story is: never trust non #team members when coming up with party ideas. They suck, and we are awesome.

(NB: Kristen Stewart is likewise awesome. I am officially inducting her into the #team. Welcome Kristen, you are among friends.)

Change Indeed

I’m feeling a lot better than I have been and not just because I’ve got more sleep. Hope and Change are more real tonight than they were a year ago. Virginia and New Jersey are the first indicators of a coming Conservative Revolution in 2010 and Maine and Washington are possibly going to  follow California’s lead in preserving marriage. Voters across the country are also less confident in Obama than they were on Election night 2008.

Tonight, residents of both Virginia and New Jersey elected Republican governors. Republican Bob McDonnell won the gubernatorial race in Virgina and Chris Christie – also Republican – won the race in New Jersey. Recent congressional polls have shown Republicans ahead of Democrats and if tonight’s GOP victory is any precursor to the November 2010 Election, President Obama will have a rough time pushing his agenda through Congress.

Voters in Maine overturned their legislature’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage, joining 30 states with explicit same-sex marriage bans (14 other states have statutes prohibiting same-sex marriage). Referendum 71 in Washington – which prohibits same-sex marriage but allows domestic partnerships – has, by most accounts, passed (As of 11/3/09 at 11:30 PM Pacific time, the referendum had over 51% approval). The number of US states where gay marriage is legal will once again drop to 5 (I personally expect Iowans to put a measure on the 2010 or 2012 ballot reversing the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision to allow same-sex marriage earlier this year).

According to Gallup, Americans are less sure about President Obama than they were a year ago when he was elected. 68% of respondents feel that the US is more divided than before while only 29% feel otherwise. Gallup also indicated that of the past 9 Presidents this country has had since WWII, Obama ranks number 8 when it comes to approval ratings a year after an election (Currently, his approval is hovering around 53% – going as low as 46% some days).  

Hope and Change. These two revolutionary concepts are not truly appreciated until things come to the brink. Until your whole world seems to be in the process of collapse, you cannot look toward “Hope and Change” with real eagerness. But when the national debt is increased to ungodly levels and a ring of corruption chokes Capitol Hill, we all hope for change. Champions of traditional marriage have pushed back the advances made by gay rights advocates, even in the socially liberal states of Washington and Maine. Will Iowa be the next? Voters in Virginia and New Jersey have led the way so now the question is, will the rest of us follow?

Don't tell me straight men don't like to have gay sex appeal!

Dolce and Gabba Underwear Ad

Okay…for every straight guy who turns his nose up at gay people (even those straight model types) – there are those who realize that their good looks and chiesled body can earn them a following (and a paycheck) that they can’t resist. It’s funny when I watch some of those reality TV shows that showcase models, musicians, etc and watch their reactions when they learn that gay people like them or help them in their road to success. But I bet they are not turning up their noses when they get that paycheck at the end of the week.

Enter Dolce and Gabanna. Whether you are a fashion whore or a name brand slut (i know such harsh words) – you got to admit – these straight guys and girls over at DG know how to win over the gay and lesbian community. Of course not being an American company helps!! Their underwear ad is a classic example of taking straight guys (in this case the Italian Rugby team) and exploiting them for all its worth. While I bet that none of these guys will be the first to admit in public they have a gay fan base – you better believe that many of gay men are tuned in and turned on by the images. And watch as DG sales sore and sore. Ads with cute straight guys targeted towards gay men will never go away. And let’s hope it doesn’t.

While I can’t say I own anything by DG, I appreciated them as a company when they were bold enough to make commericals that were bold and daring and meant specifically for the gay and lesbian community. Check out this commercial that we put on our gay and lesbian video sharing website at Planet Q TV. I think you will like it.

So what’s my point? Don’t tell me as a straight guy you are just turned off by gay guys liking you or what you are selling. I don’t buy it (and neither does the advertising world). You might not agree with the gay lifestyle but you are sure loving it when you get paid by us. So keep it up…we sure don’t mind.

Thomas (Click Click Expose – Gay Entertainment Media, Video, Podcasting and Blogging)