Upright & Stowed

Lose Some, Win Some

Great news about Obama's pick of "Nuyorican" Sonia Sotomayer for the Supreme Court.  Go ahead, Republicans: Try to pick a fight on this one and see where it gets you.

On the topic of close-minded Republicans, congratulations religious right on your miserable little victory fighting back the right of gay people to marry.  Civil rights will ultimately prevail over church rights, but you've won a few years in California.  New York: It's time to take a stand.

On a happier note, this week Hilary Clinton's State Department announced that it will begin offering equal protection to same-sex partners of American diplomats.  I've spent much of the past year working for a non-profit that gets much of the funding for its Africa-based programs from the State Department, and I know how welcome these benefits will be to the thousands of gays and lesbians who work hard to make the world a better place, on behalf of their fellow Americans. 

Step by step.  Brick by brick.  America will right itself and become the place it should be.  I believe it.

I LoVermont

The economy sucks and I lose about an hour of sleep every night worrying about every element of my life.  You know what I have to say to me?  Get the f-ck over yourself! 

Why?

Because we have the most kick-ass President in decades.  We are regaining our moral footing as a country.  We will survive this recession.  My life is full of friends and a loving family.  And both Iowa and Vermont have legalized gay marriage in the past week!!!!

God bless Vermont.  Nine years ago the state led the country forward in recognizing the simple right of gay people to love one another and to be afforded the same rights the state affords straight people who do.  Now, in a brilliant move, Vermont not only legalized gays' right to marry, it overrode a bigoted, close-minded veto of a Republican (aka: selfish) governor to pass the law. 

Oh happy day.  Let love live!

I-O-W-A

I grew up in Missouri.  But an entire branch of my family – my Ginsberg cousins – live in Iowa.  This is a picture taken at an Alport family reunion in 2006 featuring many of my Iowa clan.  Last year Iowa led the nation on the great journey that culminated in the election President Barack Obama.  Today, the Iowa Supreme Court moved the nation one step closer to the inevitable recognition that gay and lesbian people deserve the same rights as all others in this country.  Laws banning gays and lesbians from anything are wrong.  In Iowa.  In Missouri.  In New York. And everywhere else.  Below are the words of the decision,  unanimously declared by the members of the Iowa Supreme Court.

We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective. The legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification. There is no material fact, genuinely in dispute, that can affect this determination.

We have a constitutional duty to ensure equal protection of the law. Faithfulness to that duty requires us to hold Iowa’s marriage statute, Iowa Code section 595.2, violates the Iowa Constitution. To decide otherwise would be an abdication of our constitutional duty. If gay and lesbian people must submit to different treatment without an exceedingly persuasive justification, they are deprived of the benefits of the principle of equal protection upon which the rule of law is founded. Iowa Code section 595.2 denies gay and lesbian people the equal protection of the law promised by the Iowa Constitution.

Prop 8, The Musical

If only the outcome of Prop 8 had given us something this good to smile about.   Our day will come...

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Where NOT to Stay: San Diego Edition

I'm lucky.  My dad lives in Del Mar, so I don't have to think about where to stay when I visit the San Diego area.  But if you're less fortunate, I'll tell you where NOT to stay.  Do not stay at the Grand Hyatt, the Grand Del Mar or the Whitetail Club.  Why not?  Because each of these properties is owned by a rich, religion-blinded jerk named "Papa Doug Manchester" who donated $125,000 to the November California ballot initiative that seeks to ban same-sex marriage in the state.  His donation went a long way towards enabling the operation that gathered the necessary signatures to put the measure to vote.

I'm lucky (I'll say it again).  My papa has always stood up for equality and fairness, even when those around him haven't done the same.  I'm sure he'd be proud to stand up at my gay wedding (oh wait, I don't have a boyfriend).  Sad to say, "Papa" Doug wouldn't do the same.  His grandkids (and their kids) are the losers.  And so is Doug.

Dock vs iDock

This weekend, a gaggle of gay guys went to Maine ... to visit the breathtakingly beautiful Sebago Lake.  Below I submit evidence that this trip took place.  Which picture do you think provides better proof that the boys were indeed gay?

Cameraderie on the Dock?

 

Or conspicuous consumption in the iDock?

Of Pride, Poses and the Pier

This weekend is Gay Pride in NYC.  It's easy to fall into the "over it" camp when it comes to Gay Pride.  But really, can we ever be "over" taking pride in being our true selves?  Heck, can we ever really get over loving rainbows?   The annual Pier Dance  is the culmination of Gay Pride weekend in NYC.  My favorite Pier Dance year was 1990 – when Madonna's Vogue was the #1 hit in the country.  As the song blasted over the then-decrepit Hudson River pier, queens of every size, shape and color were voguing as big and bold as the city itself.  It was a fabulous sight, and pride truly overflowed that year. 

My friend tipped me off to a YouTube video this morning, created as part of an effort to make presidential candidate John McCain seem a little more exciting.  The soundtrack: Vogue.  While the video gives McCain a bit of flair, it does little to erase his association with the party that has repeatedly leveraged fear mongering of gays to achieve its highly questionable objectives.   So here we are at Gay Pride 2008, on the cusp of some long-needed change.  Stand tall, people, strike a pose and be proud of who you are.  

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Tonight I attended a most excellent benefit for the Stonewall Community Foundation, a charity that supports many amazing LGBT organizations through grant-making, donor-advised funds, endowment funds and charitable education. 

These name-tag kinds of dinners can be a bore, but this one wasn't.  It took place at the United Nations (more on that tomorrow), lending the event an incredible setting and a special feel from the get-go.  The crowd was heavy on the handsome eye candy.  Fantasia (yes, that one) sang two songs with all her heart.  And most incredible of all, a perfect rainbow appeared after a brief shower ... soaring over the East River and framing a huge swath of Brooklyn and Queens.  After the rainbow faded into the ether, the drinks flowed freely and a full moon rose over the city.  What a lovely reminder that charity is a blessing ... and that good things come to those who care.

Chelsea is Burning: Mark Your Calendar

In 1990, the film Paris is Burning set screens afire with an inside look at the famous drag balls of 1980's New York City.  The documentary was an instant  classic.  On Thursday night Paris... is being shown as part of the hilarious (and aptly titled) Chelsea Classics series, hosted and narrated by drag superstar Hedda Lettuce.  If you haven't seen the film in awhile (or ever), this is your chance.  I'll be there – 9:30 viewing.  Photo

San Diego Mayor Does The Right Thing

I'm a little slow of the uptake here, since the video you're about to see was taken on September 22.  But just in case you are slow on the uptake too ...

San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders – a Republican – announces his support of a resolution in support of gay marriage.  Sounds a little unlikely, right?   After all, the Republican Party has leveraged hatred and fear of gays to its tremendous advantage over the last 8 years, specifically by focusing on the gay marriage issue.  Geez, I mean we have a VP with a gay daughter who he'd much rather deny the right to marry than lose the support of the right wing zealots who have sold our country down the drain in the name of their particular god.  Sanders, it seems, also has a gay daughter.  He looks at things a little differently than Veep. 

Sanders was reported to be planning to veto the pro-gay marriage resolution ...  and then he looked into his daughter's eyes, and made this unexpected speech.  It is very very moving.  I'll say no more.