That's So Gay

Here's my question... If being gay is a choice, then why on Earth would anyone deliberately chose to be a member if the single most hated minority on the planet? Does that make sense to anyone?

"Yes, I'm gay. I want to be hated, persecuted, executed and beaten-up by straight people. I want my lifestyle to be judged by people who know nothing about me or the people with whom I choose to associate. I want you to tell me that the person I love is the wrong person to love. Tell me that God hates me because I'm gay, but loves me if I repent. I am evil because I love someone and want to express that love through sex. I am 'less than' because my love doesn't produce children who will go on to give money to a church that says I am evil." Yikes! What the hell is wrong with you people?

To date, I have 82 posts with the label "Gay;" 28 with the label "LGBT;" 53 with the label "The Gayest Thing;" 18 with the label "GLBT;" 16 with the label "Marriage Equality;" 5 with the label "Homophobia and 4 each with the labels "Gay Cinema" and "Coming Out." Of course, many of those cross-over.

So here's the thing:

Homosexuality is something that appears again and again in the animal kingdom (don't ask me to cite examples - there are far too many) and has been a part of human sexuality ever since the existence of humans. Of course, the Religious Right (which I continue to maintain is neither) and asshats like Anne Coulter and Bill O'Reilly will tell anyone who is willing to listen that being gay is sinful. On the other hand, every member of the Community will also tell you that he or she was born gay. Who should we believe? The homophobic "Christians" or the people who, through no choice, live the life?

Being gay in America, even today, means that you are "different." It means that you do not have the same rights as every other person on the planet and that who you love makes you a "bad" person.

Someday -- maybe not in my lifetime -- being gay won't be viewed as 'abnormal' or 'sinful' by the majority of people. But as long as lunatic fringe groups like NOM and Focus on Family exist, there will be people who, ignorant anything which happens in the real world, believe that being gay is 'wrong' and gays, lesbians, bi-sexual and transgendered persons will be labeled "perverts" and "sinners." To those uneducated, Tea-bagging morons I say "Get over it, already."

Hmmm... an Anniversary Rant. Who would've thunk? Maybe what they all need is an SGF:



More, anon.
Prospero

You have read this article Coming Out / Gay / Gay Cinema / GLBT / Homophobia / LGBT / Marriage Equality / Ramblings / The Gayest Thing with the title GLBT. You can bookmark this page URL https://tammycross.blogspot.com/2010/07/that-so-gay.html. Thanks!

How the Mormon Stole Everything

You may want to file this under "Prospero's Philosophy," though I will leave it up to you. Suffice it to say, I think this is the first time I have shared my personal views on philosophy and religion (other than the "Religious Right's" role in the passing of Prop 8) on this blog.

From The Big Gay Sketch Comedy Show on Logo (via) comes this hilarious animated parody.

More Gay & Lesbian Videos At LogoOnline.com

I don't hate members of the CLDS. They're only doing and saying what has been ingrained in them since childhood. I don't hate anyone, actually. Well, maybe Brad Pitt. And whoever is sleeping with Brandon Routh. And Goldie Hawn. Oh... and for a while, Meg Ryan.

What I hate is the perpetuation of the misunderstandings and outright lies of nearly every religious doctrine in the world. Why, in 2009, do we still hold on to mythology? The answer, of course, lies in our unending quest to know why.

The teachings of Zen tell us we need to learn to accept life as it is; savor it and revel in the joy of existence. Hinduism espouses multiple incarnations toward the ultimate goal of enlightenment. Valhalla is accessible only through valour in life and death in combat; eternity with Ra requires the careful preservation of of the body and the accompaniment of all that is earthly, while Wiccans pray to goddesses of the Earth and Moon, long thought dead. As Paul Rudnick says about members of the LDS, "If he'd told (his wife) the truth, you'd all be worshipping a waitress."

And I'm certainly not saying you should not believe in God (or the deity of your choice). Personally, I consider myself an 'Agnostic Secular Humanist with Leanings Toward Buddhism. ' Does that mean I don't believe in a Higher Power? No. What I believe is that the Higher Power is unknowable (that's the actual definition of Agnostic., by the way).

In fact, some important scientific minds agree that there must be something intelligent in the design of the complex mathematics and physics which seem to guide the Universe (even if the more we know, the less much of it makes sense), though they offer no truly rational explanations for their beliefs.

Since the dawn of civilization, man has struggled with the same philosophical questions.

There are more theories; superstitions; legends; mythologies and religions, than I can count on hands, fingers and other appendages (wink-wink). With so many things from which to choose, how can there possibky be One way; One answer? How can only one religion be the "true" religion? Obviously, it can't. Which then implies that all religions are false. And in a way, they are. I honestly believe that some questions will be forever left unanswered. And I'm OK with that. Because I am having a grand time while I'm here. Not all of it is wonderful, but most of it is amazing!

Of course, a lot of what I am saying is directly influenced by my current theatrical project, which I am sure you sick of hearing about, by now.

Alright. I know, I know. You didn't stop by for a lesson in esoterica. Honestly, I didn't expect to give one. It's just that kind of night.

'

Thank you for reading. I love that you do. Comment away.

More, anon.

Prospero

You have read this article Animation / Comedy / Gay / GLBT / God / LOGO / Mormons / Philosophy / Prop 8 / Ramblings / Short Films with the title GLBT. You can bookmark this page URL https://tammycross.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-mormon-stole-everything.html. Thanks!

Why I Love Keith Olbermann

Not too long ago, after the passing of Proposition 8 in California, MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann gave an impassioned speech about Same Sex Marriage (it won him a GLAAD Media Award). Now, he takes on the misguided (and extremely stupid) Carrie Prejean and the ridiculous hype surrounding her loss of the Miss USA pageant and the subsequent media firestorm surrounding her misinformed opinions (via).

You have to love the girl's grammar: "...for which my grandfather fought for." Really? We should listen to the opinion of a young lady who can't even compose a sentence in proper English? Of course, media whore (and King of the Bad Comb-Over) Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe Pageant, had the final say in the matter, allowing the stupid little bimbo to retain her title as Miss California. And we all know that Mr. Trump is the be all to end all. Afterall, he does host "The Apprentice" and "The Celebrity Apprentice," two of the "finest" examples of "reality" TV programming. Quite honestly, I don't understand why Trump's 15 minutes weren't over ten years ago.

And while Mr. Olbermann may have his detractors (admittedly, he can be as over-the-top as his conservative rivals at Fox News), at least his opinions make sense. For example, here's his latest "Worst Person in the World" segment, taking on Fox legal correspondant, Greta Van Susteren:

Here's the thing: I don't understand why, in 2009, people are still being fed (and believing) the lies that are being told about the LGBT community. I have absolutely no interest in your marriage. Nor should you have any interest in mine (or anyone else's). When morons like Carrie Prejean and Fred Phelps are given a platform to disseminate bigotry and hate, we all suffer, gay and straight alike. Thank goodness that people like Keith Olbermann have platforms of their own, where truth and sensibility can be aired alongside the lies.

Oh, dear. I'm on that high horse again. I'm finally going to see Star Trek this coming weekend (between vacation and rehearsals, it's the first chance I've gotten), so I'll get back to movies and nonsense, soon. I promise.

More, anon.

Prospero

You have read this article Gay / GLBT / Homophobia / Keith Olbermann / Marriage Equality / News / Politics / Prop 8 / Ramblings / Scary / Star Trek with the title GLBT. You can bookmark this page URL https://tammycross.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-i-love-keith-olbermann.html. Thanks!

Some Film & Politics Before I Go Away

By now, you all know how I feel about Marriage Equality and Civil Rights. And while I am very angry with many of the hypocrites on Capital Hill, I'm also kind of torn by the newest documentary from Kirby Dick, Outrage.

Dick's 2006 documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated exposed the inner-workings of the MPAA's film rating system. Personally, I'm still very annoyed that the MPAA treats extreme violence with a lighter hand than they do sexual situations. To me, sex is an expression of love, while violence is an expression of hate. Doesn't it seem logical that one would be willing to expose people to love before exposing them to hate? I don't quite get the MPAA's Puritanical views.

No stranger to controversy, Dick has made films about sexual abuse in the Catholic church (A Twist of Faith); the Cult of Celebrity (Derrida) and Sideshow Performers (I Am Not a Freak).

In Outrage, Dick takes on the closeted gay Republicans who continue to vote anti-LGBT legislature while carrying on sexual dalliances with members of the same sex. And while I am all for exposing hypocrisy in all it's forms, I must admit that I am sensitive to those members of the LGBT community who wish to remain closeted, for reasons known only to them. Of course, when said closeted folks take political action which harms and denies rights to members of their own community, they probably deserve to be exposed. It's one thing to be a closeted gay celebrity (Jodie Foster, I'm talking to you), but quite another to be a closeted politician in a position to further Human Rights issues, but refusing to do so because it may make them appear to be somehow "less than."

Here (via) is the trailer for Outrage, due in theatres this summer:

So, what do you think? Should these jerks be exposed for the creeps they are? Or should we respect their right to privacy, and allow them to continue their hypocrisies? As always, I'd love to know your thoughts.

And just a reminder - I am going off the grid for nine days, starting Saturday. I'll be in warm, sunny Florida visiting with my sister and ignoring the rest of the world as much as I can.

More, anon.

Prospero

You have read this article Documentaries / Gay / GLBT / Kirby Dick / Movies / Politics / Ramblings / Trailers with the title GLBT. You can bookmark this page URL https://tammycross.blogspot.com/2009/04/some-film-politics-before-i-go-away.html. Thanks!

Dispelling the Lies

Regular readers already know how I feel about Prop 8 and the Marriage Equality issue. Why, in a country where Constitutionally "all men are created equal," do we still have legalized discrimination? Why is my love less valid than anyone else's? Ignorance breeds fear, folks. Plain and simple.

You've all seen the NOM (National Organization for Marriage) video "The Gathering Storm." I've posted it, along with several parodies of it. It's a vile, disgusting little video filled with lies voiced by "actors" who claim to be people who have been or will be hurt by the legalization of same sex marriage (I'd venture to guess that these "actors" will never work professionally, again).

Recently, New York Governor David Paterson introduced a bill that would legalize same sex marriage in the Empire State. The Empire State Pride Agenda has made their own video, disputing and dispelling the lies that the NOM espouses in "The Gathering Storm." Same sex marriage has been legal in the state of Massachusetts for five years. The world has not ended, straight marriages have not been destroyed and families have not been torn asunder. No church has been forced to perform marriages with which they do not agree.

Via Towleroad, comes this video, featuring three Massachusetts clergy who make it clear that the NOM video is a pack of lies:

Once again, I urge you to write to your elected officials and demand that members of the LGBT community be treated as equal citizens. Share this video with them (and your friends and families). As Spike Lee says, Do the Right Thing.

40 years ago, Bob Dylan sang about how "The times they are a-changing." They are still changing, as they always will. Someday, this issue will no longer be an issue. Until then, we must make our voices heard. Until we are all treated as equals, none of us will be.

I know, I know. I keep promising to get off my high horse. But somehow, I just can't do it. Not until true justice is served and everyone in this country shares the same basic human rights. And neither should you.

More nonsense, anon.

Prospero

You have read this article Gay / GLBT / Marriage Equality / Politics / Ramblings with the title GLBT. You can bookmark this page URL https://tammycross.blogspot.com/2009/04/dispelling-lies.html. Thanks!

One Last NOM Response

I had a very LGBT weekend. Friday, I attended a performance of Tony Kushner's Angels in America: Millenium Approaches. Saturday, I spent most of the day casting the JTMF production of Paul Rudnick's The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. I'm almost spent, but still have enough energy to share these videos with you.

Via Towleroad, this hilarious response to the NOM's ridiculous "Gathering Storm;"

And also via Towleroad, this terrific video for the Swedish pop group Adrian Lux's latest single, "Can't Sleep:"