Shatner Does Levi (11/04/09)

Bill Shatner rocks!

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For My Friend Phony

In celebration of the US Senate's passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill.

Hate Crimes Protection Extended to LGBT Americans

From Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin:

The Senate passed the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act today on a 68-29 vote. The act will now go to President Barack Obama, who has promised to sign the bill into law.

The bill extends federal protections to people who suffer violent crimes because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, protections which are already afforded to people who are victims of violent crimes because of their race, religion, or national origin.

Passage of the hate crimes measure came on a bipartisan vote, with ten Republicans joining 56 Democrats and two independents to pass the bill. One Democrat, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) voted against the measure, which was attached to a defense policy bill. Sen. Feingold said he supported the hate crimes provision but opposes the open-ended military commitment in Afghanistan.

i know not everyone is on board with the need for hate crimes protections, but have you ever noticed that the folks so opposed to them almost never seem to be as vocal about the occurrence of violence based on race, color, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity?

Here's an interesting perspective from Andrew Sullivan, who is opposed to all hate crimes laws.

Priceless - NSFW

Ring around the capital building

Ring around the Roundhouse; A pocket full of rice; Marriage Equality for everyone; Now wouldn't that be nice??

White House Opposes Anti-Gay State Referenda

In response to an inquiry from The Advocate, the White House sent the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s position on same-sex relationship recognition voter referenda in Maine and Washington.

“The President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples, and as he said at the Human Rights Campaign dinner, he believes ‘strongly in stopping laws designed to take rights away.’ Also at the dinner, he said he supports, ‘ensuring that committed gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country.’"

Maine’s Question 1 asks voters whether to overturn a law that legalized same-sex marriage earlier this year; Washington's Referendum 71 asks voters to affirm or repeal a law passed earlier this year that expands domestic-partnership rights for same-sex couples and some senior couples. Voters in both states will weigh in on the measures November 3.

i want to know when i get to vote to take away some basic civil rights that heterosexuals enjoy? Not that i actually would - it just seems that if Americans get to vote on stripping legal civil rights, heterosexuals shouldn't expect to have special protections from the civil right chopping block. i'm just saying.... ;-)

Banned Pepsi Advert

The Coffee Will Surely Be Better Than Any Lisa Douglas Ever Made

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- What do you get when you combine a former Martha Stewart Vice President, a drag queen turned ad exec and New York Times bestselling author, an estate and farm in upstate New York, a few quirky neighbors and goats, pigs and a llama to boot? In the case of Planet Green, it's their next primetime docu-series Beekman Farm (wt). Laura Michalchyshyn, President and General Manager of Planet Green, announced today that the channel has greenlit the 10 episode series scheduled to premiere in late Spring 2010.

"Beekman Farm is an amusing look into Josh and Brent's very unique relationship, their desire to create a business and to transform their lives. Watching it unfold in real time is hilarious and entertaining," said Michalchyshyn (who recently bought a farm of her own!). "Brent is a quintessential type A personality with a 'my way or the highway' attitude while Josh is a laid back, genteel kind of guy who spends weekends on the farm but is still commuting to work in the city during the week. Their eccentric, extended friends and family dynamic reveals to viewers that trying to live the simple life isn't so simple after all. We can't wait to bring these charismatic new personalities to television."

"They bought the farm. . .literally!" says co-executive producer Fenton Bailey. "From wrapping 14,000 bars organic goat milk soap to organizing a harvest festival to benefit the nearby town of Sharon Springs, Brent and Josh have their work cut out for them, 24/7."

The article in its entirety can be read at:
Planet Green Greenlights Beekman Farm, a Fresh and Fabulous Docu-Series That Puts a Spotlight on Two City Dwellers who Leave Everything Behind To Go Country

Bethesda Dedicates Refurbished Organ from 'Frasier' Star

From the AP:

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Emmy and Tony-winning actor David Hyde Pierce is returning to his upstate New York hometown to play a rebuilt organ in the church he attended while growing up.

Pierce and his three siblings donated the funds to rebuild the 1920 Skinner organ at the Bethesda Episcopal Church in Saratoga Springs, 25 miles north of Albany.

Pierce will perform during a service dedicating the instrument on Sunday. He was an assistant to the church organist as a teen.

The rebuilt organ will be named the George and Laura Pierce Gallery Organ in memory of Pierce's parents.

Pierce was a four-time Emmy winner during his 11-year role as Dr. Niles Crane on TV's "Frasier," and he won a Tony in 2007 for his role as a musical-theater-loving detective in the Broadway musical, "Curtains."

President O's HRC Speech

i did not expect much to happen at the Human Rights Campaign dinner tonight in DC other than a rousing speech from President Obama. And that's exactly what was delivered.

There are many tired & cynical voices coming from the LGBT community that are calling for concrete action rather than more words. i can understand that. How many times have we endured lip service from politicians when they wanted our support, only to find ourselves holding an empty bag of promises once they're in office? But i think the amount of pessimism out in the LGBT blogosphere is overblown and premature. Sure we need to demand our rights and hold politicians' feet to the fire to assure that they deliver on the very basic promises they made when they were courting our votes and campaign volunteerism. But i'm still largely in "wait and see" mode while calling my representatives and participating in lobbying for LGBT equality. If we're going to get real & lasting equality, it's always been up to us.

Two quality bloggers that are pretty spot on in their reactions, insights and criticisms (imo) are Andrew Sullivan and Pam Spaulding.

Here's some of Mr. Sullivan's take:

Look: I didn't expect these issues to be front and center given his appalling inheritance; I know he has many other things on his plate; I didn't expect the moon; I didn't believe he would do any of this immediately; I understand that the real job is for us to do, not him, and that most of the action is in the states. And I remain a strong supporter of him in foreign policy and in the way he is clearly trying to move this country past the ideological divides of the recent past.

But the sad truth is: he is refusing to take any responsibility for his clear refusal to fulfill clear campaign pledges on the core matter of civil rights and has given no substantive, verifiable pledges or deadlines by which he can be held accountable. What that means, I'm afraid, is that this speech was highfalutin bullshit. There were no meaningful commitments within a time certain, not even a commitment to fulfilling them in his first term; just meaningless, feel-good commitments that we have no way of holding him to. Once the dust settles, ask yourself. What did he promise to achieve in the next year? Or two years? Or four years? The answer is: nothing.

HRC, of course, is putting no pressure on him; Joe Solmonese's disgraceful email actually took all pressure off him by saying he'd be happy to wait till 2017 for HRC to hold Obama accountable. HRC are putting pressure, as they always have, on gay people to go to the back of the line and be grateful a president attends their fundraising event. The only word for this is a racket. And if gay people do not rise up and demand change from this organization and stop funding a group whose goal has always been to sell the Democrats to gay people rather than secure civil rights, then they will continue to suffer the discrimination they live under day after day.

Again, i can empathize with the angst and impatience. The remarks about HRC itself are completely accurate.

From Ms. Spaulding:

I have to agree with Sean Bugg, my fellow commentator on the coverage tonight, who made a great point that if you aren't a wonk or activist clued in to the messy politics going on behind the scenes, this speech is a huge home run of support from the President of the United States to a kid out in the sticks who watches it can now feel he is part of the American fabric. In our cynical view of the political system, jaded by the hypocrisy and spinning we see each day, as well as outright lying by pols and advocates, you have to remember how this speech can resonate with non-political LGBTs and straight America. The President actually engaged with a segment of our community in his first term to affirm support for the LGBT community. I doubt you'll see him endure sane, rational criticism from the right on this other than the usual whines from the fringes who already think he's Satan/Hitler/Muslim terrorist, etc. That's progress on its own and it should not be minimized.

She goes on to list very valid criticisms of the speech, and ends with this:

There are two realities, the Beltway reality, a myopic view that is so disconnected from the lives of everyday LGBTs (particularly Ts) that has us setting such low expectations. The reality outside the Beltway doesn't exist, the focus is on cultivating the relationships with power brokers with the secondary focus on obtaining "what's possible" politically, which of course is pretty subjective and dependent on whether there is professional peril in rocking any boats.

The reality outside the Beltway is often too impatient about the logistics of moving legislation in many respects, but the impatience is borne of the peril of losing a job, losing custody of children, or myriad other problems that will not be solved in their Red state any time soon. To see such inaction and promises and action delayed or deferred is disheartening -- and very personal. For activists in this sphere, a speech like this is a reality check of its own -- beautiful, empty prose telling us we are on our own for who knows how long.

Watch the whole speech on C-SPAN. There are two things i'll be listening for: ANY mention of the upcoming vote on marriage equality in Maine, and ANY mention of transgender Americans.

What are YOUR thoughts?

Bill Maher & The Upcoming Million 'Mo March

From last night's Real Time with Bill Maher:

"Don't Ask Don't Tell - A policy that never made sense to begin with. A policy that says: Here in the Army we're all about honor & trusting the man next to you. Now lie to my face about your sexuality Johnson, or i'll report you behind your back."

"Forget all the good arguments for repeal (of DADT), like, because it's the right thing to do, or because it was promised in the campaign," Maher said. Instead: "Do it because it will make Rush Limbaugh explode like a bag full of meat dropped from a helicopter,"

Watch the whole hilarious segment.

Mummy, the Men in Dresses Thrashed My Arse

'Drag queen' floors thugs in Swansea, wales, uk street fight
Two thugs who attacked what they thought were a pair of transvestites picked on the wrong men - when their intended victims turned out to be cage fighters on a night out in fancy dress.

Dean Gardener, 19, and Jason Fender, 22, singled out the two men walking along a street in wigs, short skirts and high heels.

Bare-chested Gardener was caught on CCTV confronting one of the men in a pink wig, black skirt and boob tube - then seen swinging a punch, a court heard.

But the other cage fighter, wearing a sparkling black dress and matching long wig, sprang to his friend's help, delivering two lightning-quick punches to the two stunned yobs.

The cage fighters were then seen teetering away in their high heels, stopping only to pick up a clutch bag they dropped during the melee.

Gardener and Fender were left dazed and seen staggering to their feet after their failed attack.

Gentle readers - the Mad Hare never advocates violence, but this just made my morning. i think of it as a moral lesson - don't judge your intended victim by his drag. The arse-whooping in the vid commences around the 1:18 mark.

Greeting Card Emergency Episode 6: Four Coming-Out Cards

National Coming Out Day is just around the corner (Oct. 11.) While every queer who can afford the trip will probably be in DC for the Equality March, in these tough economic times some of us can only afford to send a greeting card. Enter the Greeting Card Guy. This is a great video - make sure you keep watching until he gets to the fourth card, where it definitely moves from a trivial to a significant moment.

Thanks to MadPriest for posting this video, and to Laura at The Infusion who sent it in to him. Otherwise i'd likely never have found it. Cheers!

Just 'cause

<a href="http://www.logoonline.com/shows/dyn/big_gay_sketch_show_2/videos.jhtml" target="_blank">Which One? With the Studded Belt?</a>

Which One? With the Studded Belt?

News from the Diocese of the Rio Grande

This past Saturday, while visiting a friend who lives in the University area, he mentioned his Episcopalian neighbor next door had told him that her Church was "closing" on Sunday and that it was "because the national church was denying that Christ died for our sins." He wanted to know if it were true. Given that the rector of a nearby parish had recently left for Anglican fields more to his liking, and recognizing his similar rhetoric from past St. Mark's on the Mesa newsletters, i asked if she might be referring to St. Mark's, the nearest TEC parish and he confirmed that was the church she attended.

Since i would expect to have heard through other channels if one of the larger parishes in Albuquerque was closing, my assurances were given that her church was highly unlikely to be closing. Entirely false was her claim that the national church denies that Christ died for our sins. Detractors of our Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Shori, have lately been purposefully and deliberately trying to twist a speech she gave at the General Convention in order to make that claim and bolster their desire for schism.

Upon arriving home Saturday evening i checked St. Mark's website, which highlighted no changes that i noticed except that the interim Bishop for our Diocese, +Frey, was now listed as the priest in charge. i assumed +Frey was listed because of last month's departure of St. Mark's rector.

i don't put a great deal of stock in the accuracy of what his neighbor told him but in retrospect she obviously knew something about what was going to occur the following day.

This statement posted by the Diocese Standing Committee today:

Bishop Frey Appointed Priest in Charge of St. Mark's on the Mesa
September 28, 2009 - 10:17 AM

The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande is pleased to announce that the Right Reverend William Frey has accepted a temporary appointment as Priest- in- Charge of St. Mark’s-on-the-Mesa Episcopal Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Bishop Frey will preach and celebrate during the regularly scheduled 8 AM and 10:30 AM services on Sunday, October 4, 2009.

Bishop Frey currently serves as Assisting Bishop for the Diocese. He previously served as Bishop of the Diocese of Colorado from 1972-1990, and Dean of Trinity School for Ministry from 1990 to 1996. Along with his wife Barbara, the Bishop will reside in Albuquerque during his tenure as Priest in Charge. Bishop Frey will serve until a long term Priest-in-Charge can be in place. He will then resume his normal duties in the Diocese.

Bishop Frey will be assisted by the Reverend Beth Noland who has served as deacon at St. Mark’s for four years. For more than 25 years Beth has served both the Diocese and the national church in various capacities. She was ordained to the Holy Order of Deacons in 2001. Beth and her husband Chuck have resided in Albuquerque since 2005.

On Sunday, September 27th, the congregation of St. Mark’s received the news that several clergy and members of the congregation of St. Mark’s had decided to leave St. Mark’s-on-the-Mesa Episcopal Church to form Christ the King Anglican Church. The Rev. Roger Weber will serve as Priest in Charge.

Services at St. Mark’s on- the-Mesa Episcopal Church, 431 Richmond Place, will continue as currently scheduled. An up to date schedule can be found on the church’s website: www.stmarksonthemesa.org. Come and be renewed by this beautiful worship experience at St. Mark’s-on-the-Mesa Episcopal Church, Sunday, October 4th.

Gaydar Gun: Granny Get Your Gun!

MetaReligion

i've added a new site to Mad Hare's blog list: MetaReligion

An interfaith blog article aggregator, the site pulls content from across the spectrum of beliefs, from Atheists to Unitarians, with the goal of "bring[ing] together the best of religious, spiritual and interfaith blogging."

Their etiquette statement:

This is a place for discussing different religious beliefs and practices.

It is intended for friendly discussion to enable people to learn about religions other than their own. It is not for polemics or proselytising.

The best way to achieve this is to try, where possible,to confine yourself to explaining your own religion and beliefs (or lack of them). One of the main things to be avoided is telling other people what they believe, since they can speak for themselves and explain their own beliefs.

Example: Underestimating Stupidity

Kirk Cameron is Douchetastic

If you've not heard of has-been Kirk Cameron's latest bright idea for evangelism, this hella cool lady lays it out for you.

Frisbee Dog - Whiplash the Jack Russell Terrier

This morning my JRT, Flapjack, demanded to watch some YouTube videos. This was was by far his favorite today.