Little victories

Fri, 28 May 2010 10:49:15 -0400

Last night, The Senate Armed Services Committee and the House of Representatives voted in favor of an amendment to repeal the military's bigoted "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Now it will move on to the Senate where it will possibly face big challenges and then on to President Obama. But just so you're aware - that's not the end of this horrific policy. In an attempt to get it passed, the teeth were completely removed - making this repeal as benign as it could be.

Once this passes, it is essentially putting us back to where we were in 1993, before there were any protections for LGBT people in the military. The anti-discrimination language was removed, a timeline for implementation was removed and all authority over whether to actually approve the repeal was given to the military to decide.

The military wants to finish a "study" they believe respects the opinions of those serving in the military now, and their families. They are asking service members and their families how they "feel" about LGBT service members serving openly. They apparently like to include service members in all their important decision making. In fact, I'm fairly certain George W. Bush made sure to issue a "study" and ask all the service members and their families about how they'd feel about going into two pointless wars...or wait...no. no, he didn't. And the Pentagon didn't either. They just put them on planes and ships and sent thousands of them to their deaths without once asking their opinions on how they felt this affected troop morale. But I digress...

Last night, something great happened. As gutted and hollow as this repeal is, our representatives put their name on something that seemingly protected LGBT people. It's not an easy thing for politicians to do things they fear might hurt them politically. And for that, these politicians deserve our thanks. Five house Republicans crossed party lines to vote for the repeal as well, which shouldn't be impressive considering the fact that everyone should vote for equality, but considering the way the GOP punishes its own, this should be applauded as well.

We will have change. We will have equality. But please don't think it's going to happen by pushing diluted, half-measures through Congress. It is not going to happen unless we all find that energy again and stand up and shout for our rights. Obama did not want this repeal to happen now - he very clearly wanted to wait until after the mid-term elections so he could protect the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. The reason this happened was because people like us stood up and said something. We called our representatives and screamed in the streets and handcuffed ourselves to the White House fence. If we quit doing that, our equality will not happen.

Should we be patient? Absolutely not. Between now and the actual repeal of DADT, thousands more could be fired for being gay. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act has been kicked further down the road and it could be years before we have Federal protection in our careers. Most of you might not know it, but in 32 states, you can be fired for being gay...in 2010. We can't be patient. The longer we sit back and assume equality will happen without me lifting a finger, the longer it's going to take the rest of society to understand and accept us as equal...and the longer children will come home from school after spending the day being called a "faggot," strap a belt around their neck and hang themselves thinking there couldn't be anything worse than someone thinking they're gay.

The Faces of Activism

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:06:52 -0400

In light of recent events, I think it's important to take a look at the politics of our movement. For those of you who don't know, the new grassroots organization, GetEQUAL, founded by Robin McGehee and Kip Williams (who were largely responsible for the National Equality March last October), has been stirring up some shit.

GetEQUAL is steering a group of activists who believe that the suave back room dealings of the Human Rights Campaign and other organizations (known as "Gay Inc") are not working quickly enough and perhaps accepting too little, too late from politicians. While HRC has been extraordinarily effective over the years in a slow and steady approach towards our equality, activists, like those members of GetEQUAL feel the time has come to speed things up.

On Monday, members interrupted Obama's fundraising speech at an event for Barbara Boxer (a Democratic Senator in California hoping to hold on to her seat). Obama addressed the protesters and told them essentially that they were heckling the wrong guy. The protesters were asking for an immediate repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT), the bigoted policy which forbids lesbian and gay service members to serve openly in the military. GetEQUAL argued that they were not shouting at the wrong guy, as Obama is the only one with the power to attach wording for immediate repeal of DADT to the upcoming Defense Reauthorization Bill.

On Tuesday, six service members who'd been dismissed under DADT, chained themselves to the fence outside the White House, again as part of a GetEQUAL protest. The more major story here (which Conservative media also latched on to) was that the police pushed the media away from the protest to avoid any unnecessary coverage getting out there. The White House claimed this was the Parks Dept getting overzealous (entirely likely after 8 years of similar actions under the previous administration).

On Wednesday, GetEQUAL activists interrupted a meeting of the Labor Committee, whose job it is to mark up and pass to the floor, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which has been in and out of committee for upwards of 14 years now. For the past several months we've been told "It will be next week." So activists presented the committee with markers to help them along the way.

Notably silent through these three days of very visible protests were members of Gay Inc.. While the press rolled around the GetEQUAL stories, accusations came out that HRC has known for a few months now that repeal of DADT this year was not going to happen. It's become a huge game of he-said, she-said. And while Gay Inc. has remained largely silent on these actions, GetEQUAL co-founder has stated rather publicly that HRC has lost touch with the larger LGBT Community.

This widespread feeling that the largest LGBT lobbying organization in the country is more concerned with black-tie dinners and schmoozing with celebrities has only been exacerbated by HRC's President, Joe Solmonese being named Washington Life Magazine's "best dressed." Not the image they're looking for in the middle of a battle over being "out of touch" with their grassroots.

The blogs are having a field day and I personally have been involved in a number of heated twitter and facebook debates over the course of action GetEQUAL has taken. Full disclosure: I have been involved in some aspects of the planning for the GetEQUAL and Queer Rising Actions and my group, TalkAboutEquality.org is one of the organizers for the May 2nd Rally in DC to end DADT. Additionally, I am a regular contributor to and a volunteer for the Human Rights Campaign.

But at the end of the day, what I find most interesting is the fact that we are part of, perhaps the most diverse minority in the world. We are made up of rich and poor, black, white, purple, orange and everything in between. Atheists and Born-Agains, and Scientologists and Socialists. We are cut from a VERY large cloth. And while HRC has been effective at some aspects of achieving our equality, they have failed at including our whole community through their representation of us. While HRC is a savvy and usually smart political organization, they clearly have lost touch with members of the community they claim to represent. And while GetEQUAL and other grassroots groups are angry and demand action now, they need to respect the history and successes Gay Inc. has had in the past. Only by embracing our differences, can we realize all we have in common. Our need for equality is that thing.

While we clearly are made up of every creed, color and controversy, this community also needs to realize that activism on EVERY level is necessary to achieve our freedoms. As someone recently pointed out, Martin Luther King, Jr. needed Malcolm X, and Malcolm X needed Martin Luther King, Jr.. Civil Rights for African Americans weren't won by one or the other - they were achieved by the actions of both.

And with all that being said, I think those fighting on the side of urgency have been missing for far too long from this struggle. They should be welcomed with open arms.

In Solidarity,

Jamie McGonnigal
www.TalkAboutEquality.org

TAKE BACK PRIDE

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:39:29 -0400

Dear Members of the LGBTQ Community, Our Allies and Community Partners,

While last year we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of our liberation at Stonewall on the last Sunday of June in 1969, we are celebrating another anniversary in 2010. And we need to do it right.

On the last Sunday in June 1970, Gay Liberation Front and Gay Activists Alliance, in commemoration of the Stonewall riots, staged the first “Gay Liberation Day March.” Organizers in Los Angeles and San Francisco also held marches that day.

We have much to celebrate. As a community we have struggled and fought for our very lives. Together, we have accomplished what at one time was a fantasy at best. Our sexual liberation has been celebrated every year now for 40 years with what was once a march and is now a parade, in the streets of New York and dozens of other cities across the country and the world.

This year, in light of the major battles we have ahead of us, we are asking for all of you to join us in taking back pride. While we have so much to be proud of in what we have accomplished as a community, this fight is far from over. We want our community to not only remember those who have fought and died before us, but to forge ahead in the struggle -- so that our children may one day live truly free and equal lives in this country.

The organizers of Pride Marches around the country work tirelessly over the course of the year to bring us the most inclusive marches and celebrations in the world. We want to help those organizers by working with them to implement plans for education and protest within our marches.

We know that our community is made up of every race, creed, religious affiliation and political background imaginable. We come from everywhere, from Africa to New Zealand. We represent Conservatives and Socialists. We are made up of Catholics and Buddhists alike. The time has come to embrace our ideals and differences and remember that what we have in common as a community - is our strength.

For Pride 2010, we ask that organizers and participants of marches around this great country take this opportunity to be heard. Yell. Scream. Chant. Wear your chaps and thongs, but carry a sign while you do it. Put on your most sequined ball gown, but shout for your rights as you flaunt your fabulousness. The sheer number of people who turn out in the streets this June will send a clear message around the world that we are not content with what we have. We are somebody. We deserve full equality.

If you’re marching with a group, ask your group what they are angry about. It could be Marriage Inequality, or Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. It could be that in 31 states, you can still be fired for being gay (see the “What Are You Angry About” section on this page.)

We owe it to our community and to those young gay people who are still afraid to say who they are to TAKE BACK PRIDE. Make your signs. Create your chants. It’s time for us all to remember this is a march, not a parade. This is OUR celebration of who we are and it has the potential to once again be something we are ALL truly proud of.

On Tuesday, May 11th in New York City, we will be having a community town hall discussion about what we can do to Take Back Pride. We encourage all groups participating in Pride to take part. And for those of you outside New York, the meeting will be posted on YouTube. You may also visit www.TakeBackPride.org to see how YOU can help Take Back Pride.

Jamie McGonnigal
www.TalkAboutEquality.org

Lt. Dan Choi
U.S. National Guard

Alan Bounville
Member-Queer Rising, New York

Robin McGehee
Get Equal

Brandon Brock
Western Queens for Marriage Equality

Tituss Burgess
Broadway Actor - The Little Mermaid

Andrew Conte

Marti Gould Cummings
Co-Founder, Broadway Speaks OUT!

Natasha Dillon
Member - Queer Rising, New York

Matt Doyle
Broadway Actor - Bye Bye Birdie

Peter Dunn
DrinkingforaChange.org

Eric Ethington
PRIDE In Your Community
http://prideinutah.com

Justin Elzie
Activist & Writer

Todd (Tiff) Fernandez, Esq

David John Fleck
Get Equal; Activist

Marcelo Gomes
Principal Dancer - American Ballet Theatre

Blake Hayes
BlakeHayes.com

Jeremy Hooper
www.GoodAsYou.org

Jordan Fife Hunt
www.TalkAboutEquality.org

Hugh Hysell
Hugh Hysell Communications

Corey Johnson
Towleroad.com

Tom Johnson
Partner in Therapy & Barrage

Jenny Kanelos
Broadway Impact

Adam Kern

Jim Klever-Weis
Executive Producer - Ugly Betty

Jennifer Michaud
www.circa71design.com - Take Back Pride logo

Rebecca Louise Miller
Actor - “Prayers for Bobby”

David Mixner
DavidMixner.com

Rich Murray
Member-Queer Rising, New York

Scott Nevins
TV Personality truTV’s “The Smoking Gun Presents”

Dan Nicoletta
Photographer

Ann Northrop
Co-host, GAY USA

Rory O’Malley
Broadway Impact

Ken O’Neill
Author of “The Marrying Kind”

Randy Redd
We are the Song:After the Storm

Arbender J. Robinson
Broadway Actor - HAIR

Chris Ryan
Chris Ryan Productions

Vlada Von Shats
Vlada Lounge NYC
Vlada Lounge Miami

Christopher Sieber
Broadway Actor - Shrek, The Kid

Melissa Sklarz

Guy Smith & Robert Montenegro
Activists: MENY, The Power, Married 10/17/08 Tujunga, CA.

Tom Viola
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

If you would like to add your name or your organization to this list, please email us at takebackpride@gmail.com.

livin’ la vida loca

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:47:39 -0400

Livin' La Vida Loca

Today, former Menudo star Ricky Martin made the brave step forward to join the ranks of millions of men and women who live their lives in truth.

A former cast member of Broadway's Les Miserables and of course a sizzlin' hot Latin sex symbol, Ricky has tried very hard to keep who he is a secret. From dating super models, to an unforgettable interview with Barbara Walters, Ricky tried his best to maneuver every which way he could.

One could be angry with Ricky for waiting so long to come out and in the past, I've personally carried a bit of fire and brimstone for those who should come out, but haven't. But over the course of the past few years, my opinion has evolved and changed quite a bit. I've carried some anger towards people who don't come out when they can...and I hold to the fact that by stepping forward and living our lives honestly, we can quite literally save lives. However, at the end of the day, coming out is a personal decision and experience.

Though early on, Ricky tried dating women, at least as far as the press was concerned. But in recent years, even though he wasn't out of the closet per se, he either avoided the conversation in interviews by being coy, claiming his private life was private, and even being creative with pronouns (as he was in what some think, may have been a devastating interview with Barbara Walters).

Ricky is from Puerto Rico and most of his music has been performed in Spanish. He comes from a very religious heritage and has always shown his pride in his faith. This is one of the main reasons his coming out is so important. Young people who are growing up in homophobic families or religiously intolerant communities, now see Ricky as a man they might become. They see that someone who is gay, who always was gay, has done wonderful things with his life.

We can fault him if we like, for waiting this long to come out...we can continue to turn our backs on those who, at long last, shed the shackles of the closet. Or we can welcome them all into our arms, knowing that many of them face families, friends, fans and coworkers who will detest them and hate them for who they are. Even though they were the same person yesterday, today they enter a world where there are some who would kill them...for nothing more than their truth.

The truth of the matter is, change is happening. Some of that change comes from heroes like Lt. Dan Choi and Robin McGehee, chaining and being chained to the fence outside the White House. Some of that change comes from high school students Derrick Martin and Constance McMillen fighting for their equal rights so that they can attend their prom. And some of that change comes from us. It comes from us when we come out. We never really know who's watching, so keep making those strides forward and encourage those who should come out, to be brave.

In Solidarity,

Jamie

www.talkaboutequality.org

EDUGAYTION

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:06:04 -0500

Hey there,

So in my travels as an advocate and activist, I’ve seen so much frustration. Frustration on the part of activists who work their asses off with sometimes very few steps made towards their goals. Frustration on the part of those same activists that more people aren’t upset, angry and taking it to the streets. I’ve seen frustration on the parts of would-be activists who know they should be involved but their apathy somehow stops them from getting involved.

I believe in my heart of hearts that at the root of all of this is education, or more appropriately, edu”gay”tion.

As a child growing up in fairly liberal parts of the country, I can tell you that the only references to “gay” in the schools were shouted at me on my way to rehearsals for “Evita.” I didn’t have a classroom setting where someone said “Harvey Milk was x, y or z” and any references to the Holocaust were only about the Jews who were killed.

Then during college, having begun to figure out who I am, I knew I had to figure out where I came from. I read what I could about the leaders of the LGBT movement and I watched as many horrible, stupid and sometimes poignant gay films as I could. I even managed to fall for an exchange student or two to further my edugaytion.

I’ve been meeting for the past month with a group of incredible minds and talking to a lot of leaders within our movement as to how we best approach the problems with edugaytion. The brilliant Ann Northrop (if you don’t know who she is, google her now and that can be your first assignment), spoke last night about early ACT UP meetings (again…if you don’t know ACT UP, google!). At these meetings, the first part would be devoted to telling the group about the details one specific issue, there would be questions asked and discussion on said issue, and then an action could be planned or not planned, based on the group's response to it. And in those early days, we didn’t have the internet to go look things up and Lord knows the media wasn’t covering a lot of LGBT news, so we looked to each other for this enlightenment.

So I’d like to propose a Culture of Edugaytion. If most of us knew everything that was keeping us from gaining our Equality. If we all knew about the use of our rights as a political pawn and if we all understood the betrayals we are facing within our government on a daily basis, we wouldn’t have any choice but to stand up in the streets and raise hell.

Not everyone has the time to go read Stonewall: The Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution by David Carter or Gay New York by George Chauncey (although making time is highly recommended). Not everyone has an hour a day to go read Towleroad.com or GoodAsYou.org or 365gay.com (although I suggest it). But how many of you know these statistics and do they inspire you to do something about what’s happening?

-As many as 15,000 gay people were executed during the Holocaust.

-This year, the Ugandan Government is considering (and will probably pass) legislation which could put to death not only LGBT people, but their friends who refuse to knowingly report them.

-In 1791, France became the first West European country to decriminalize sodomy. By 2002, more than 40 other countries followed suit. It wasn’t until 2003, that LGBT people could legally have sex in the United States.

-Former TN Rep Harold Ford, Jr. is most likely running for the US Senate in New York. He twice voted for Bush’s Federal Marriage Amendment but now claims he’s in favor of Equality. This would be like David Duke running to represent Harlem and claiming he now believes Blacks and Whites are equal. He’s running against Kirsten Gillibrand, who has been the primary force behind the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

I don’t want to burden you with too many lessons for right now, but you can google any of these topics to find out more. I hope to send out blog posts and emails more regularly, highlighting the important things we need to know about our history, our present and our future. I think that’s the core of it. I think once we know and understand just where it is we came from and where we have the right to be, we’ll get angry enough to start standing up.

In Solidarity,

Jamie
www.TalkAboutEquality.org

Wake Up

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 10:43:56 -0500

In light of today's National Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Anti-Gay "religious" group, The Family (comprised of several elected officials, many of whom helped shape the Ugandan "Kill the Gays" Bill currently under evaluation, and many of whom have had several very notorious marital scandals in recent years), I decided to share with you all some of the other horrific legislation that exists around the world.

Obama and Hillary both spoke at this morning's breakfast calling the proposed Ugandan legislation "odious" and calling for all countries to condemn this kind of violence against gays.

But Uganda is far from being the first country considering such legislation. There are a whole mess of countries where you can be fined, tortured, put in prison for life and yes, even killed for being gay. We may think things are okay if we live in the bubble of a huge US city, having our nights out, our unprotected sex and surrounding ourselves with a safe cover so that we don't have to pay any attention to those who despise us. But guess what? People HATE us. Like, REALLY hate us. People want us DEAD.

We truly need to wake up and look around, because it's all right on our doorstep. You may think that you're safe and that your distance from places like Uganda is protecting you. But the truth of the matter is, the Ugandan legislation was all but written by religious bigots right here in the US. Religious bigots who are YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. If you don't start standing up for yourselves, no one else will.

If you are my friend, if you are straight, please help us. Please start speaking out about the intolerance, whether it's someone at your job who likes to use the word "fag" on a regular basis or if it's your priest who condemns homosexuality and gay marriage. Please go have a conversation with them about this. And let them know that their intolerance only breeds more intolerance, hatred, and yes, eventually murder. It all comes from somewhere. Matthew Shepard's murderers were taught from a very young age that homosexuality is wrong. In an impressionable mind, this will ALWAYS translate into "Homosexuals do not deserve to live." Mark my words - many more of us will die before this message gets across and it will not end until YOU start saying something.

We are all responsible for this. And by standing up and saying something or doing something about this, you can quite literally SAVE LIVES.

Please take a gander at the list below and start waking up.

In Solidarity,

Jamie

www.talkaboutequality.org

Algeria – A Fine to 3 Years in Prison

Angola – Labor Camps

Antigua and Barbuda – 15 Years in Prison

Bahrain – A Fine to 10 Years in Prison

Bangladesh – 10 Years to Life in Prison

Barbados – Life in Prison

Belize – 10 Years in Prison

Benin – 3 Years in Prison

Bhutan – 1 Month to 1 Year in Prison

Botswana – A Fine to 7 Years in Prison

Brunei – A Fine to 10 Years in Prison

Cameroon – A Fine to 5 Years in Prison

Cook Islands – A Fine to 14 Years in Prison

Djibouti – 10 to 12 Years in Prison

Dominica – 10 Years in Prison

Egypt – 5 Years in Prison

Eritrea – 3 to 10 Years in Prison

Ethiopia – 10 Days to 3 Years in Prison

Gambia – A Fine to14 Years in Prison

Ghana – Not Known

Grenada – 10 Years in Prison

Guinea – 6 Months to 3 Years in Prison

Guinea Bissau – Labor Camps

India – A Fine to Life in Prison

Iran – Death

Jamaica – 10 Years Hard Labor

Kenya – A Fine to 14 Years in Prison

Kiribati – A Fine to 14 Years in Prison

Kuwait – A Fine to 7 Years in Prison

Lebanon – A Fine to 1 Year in Prison

Lesotho – Not Known

Liberia – A Fine

Libya – A Fine to 5 Years in Prison

Malawi – A Fine to 14 Years in Prison

Malaysia – A Fine to 20 Years in Prison

Mauritania – Death

Mauritius – A Fine to 5 Years in Prison

Morocco – 6 Months to 3 Years in Prison

Mozambique – Labor Camps

Myanmar/Burma – 10 Years to Life in Prison

Namibia – Not Known

Nauru – 14 Years Hard Labor

Nepal – A Fine to 1 Year in Prison

Nicaragua – 1 to 3 Years in Prison

Nigeria – 5 Years in Prison to Death

Niue – A Fine to 10 Years in Prison

Oman – A Fine to 3 Years in Prison

Pakistan – 2 Years to Life in Prison

Palau – A Fine to 10 Years in Prison

Palestine – A Fine to 10 Years in Prison

Papua New Guinea – A Fine to 14 Years in Prison

Qatar – A Fine to 5 Years in Prison

Saint Kitts and Nevis – 10 Years in Prison

Saint Lucia – A Fine to 10 Years in Prison

Saint Vincent and Grenadines – A Fine to 10 Years in Prison

Samoa – A Fine to 7 Years in Prison

Sao Tome and Principe – Labor Camps

Saudi Arabia – Death

Senegal – 1 Month to 5 Years in Prison

Seychelles – A Fine to 2 Years in Prison

Sierra Leone – Life in Prison

Singapore – 2 Years in Prison

Solomon Islands – A Fine to 14 Years in Prison

Somalia – 3 Months in Prison to Death

Sri Lanka – A Fine to 10 Years in Prison

Sudan – 5 Years in Prison to Death

Swaziland – A Fine

Syria – A Fine to 3 Years in Prison

Tanzania – A Fine to 25 Years in Prison

Togo – A Fine to 3 Years in Prison

Tokelau – A Fine to 10 Years in Prison

Trinidad and Tobago – 25 Years in Prison

Tunisia – A Fine to 3 Years in Prison

Turkmenistan – A Fine to 2 Years in Prison

Tuvalu – A Fine to 14 Years in Prison

Uganda – A Fine to Life in Prison

United Arab Emirates – Death

Uzbekistan – A Fine to 3 Years in Prison

Yemen – Flogging to Death

Zambia – A Fine to 14 Years in Prison

Zimbabwe – A Fine to 1 Year in Prison

This list was compiled in 2008, no doubt things have only gotten worse since then.

An Early Valentine for nj?

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 22:59:21 -0500

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow, the NJ State Senate will be voting on Marriage Equality. This is enormous and we did not expect this vote to happen. Those who oppose Equality are bringing out their supporters and we need to bring out ours.

Tomorrow, we have the opportunity to take an enormous step forward as human beings in saying to the rest of the world, “It is not okay to discriminate.” In a time when some countries are proposing legislation which would make homosexuality punishable by death, and when others already have these laws on the books, and when in our own country, hate crimes have been increasing exponentially, we need to stand up.

Friends, I know a lot of you, gay or straight, may never want to get married. But this step is about far more than that. This is about Lawrence King, an 8th grader, who 2 years ago, got up the nerve to ask another boy to be his Valentine on Valentine’s Day. Out of nothing more than fear that people might think he’s gay as well, the other little boy brought a gun to school and in front of his classmates, shot Larry in the head.

This is not a departure from what tomorrow’s vote is about. If NJ were to pass Marriage Equality, it would send a message to the rest of the country and the world, that hatred, ignorance and intolerance is not what we are about.

I beg of you. If you live in NJ or if you don’t, call a NJ State Senator TODAY or tomorrow and let them know why this is so important. If it doesn’t happen tomorrow in NJ, it will be at least another four years before it can be brought up due to a new homophobic Governor taking office on January 20th.

http://www.njleg.state.nj.

us/members/abcroster.asp

Friends. We need to keep going if we want this to happen. If you aren’t going to do it for yourself, do it for the little kid who so desperately wants to find his Valentine.

In Solidarity,

Jamie
www.TalkAboutEquality.org

jamie’s lessons from 2009

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:58:11 -0500

Okay, I've done this for a few years now and this year is no exception. Read. Enjoy. Don't read too much into it and make your own list. It's therapeutic!

Jamie's Lessons from 2009

1. Patience is a virtue.

2. If you treat people well, you'd be surprised at the results.

3. "The Butterfly" from the Broadway musical "The Story of My Life" by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill and sung by Will Chase is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

4. Dating in New York is like eating glass and expecting your mouth not to get cut.

5. It's sometimes upsetting that I never really grew up with grandparents.

6. New friends can really enrich your life if they stick around.

7. Working towards civil rights takes a lot of time and a lot of perseverance.

8. Bigots suck.

9. Don't drunk dial your mother.

10. Dustin Lance Black is my hero.

11. Don't make short jokes around little people.

12. failblog.org is pretty brilliant.

13. Living in NJ ain't so bad. especially if you have a nice view.

14. My dog is the best.

15. Texas people are fun. and they drink a lot.

16. Carrie Prejean is an idiot.

17. Don't sleep with people who you know have boyfriends…it's just not fair to anyone involved.

18. 4am? on a Wednesday? really?

19. There is nothing like the sound of a Victrola.

20. Not everyone thinks equality is okay.

21. Rallies and marches are kinda awesome

22. I'm now 100% a Mac person.

23. Sometimes it's best to take a breath and be happy you have a job when no one else does.

24. Living in an episode of Gossip Girls can make you want to punch people. hard. in the face.

25. I like having a fancy camera.

26. Don't underestimate anyone. You never know where you're going to find an ally.

27. Perez Hilton is an idiot.

28. Gay Pride can be an oxymoron if all you see are drunken fools dancing in the streets during the march.

29. Going all-out for Halloween can be a LOT of fun…but avoid a full body fur costume if it's pouring rain.

30. Singing Lily's Eyes with Jason Danieley...even if you're temporarily filling in for Will Chase...can be life changing.

31. If you have a friend that's a flake, you need to let them know…if you don't they will continue to be a flake.

32. Don't let the last thing you say to someone be "You're wearing too much eye makeup and you look like a whore." Especially if you're in 6th grade when you say it.

33. Facebook is kinda awesome.

34. Wii Fit only works if you use it. Simply purchasing it will not make you fit.

35. Actors are fucking crazy.

36. The gay community can be really frustrating.

37. The movie MILK will one day be seen as a major landmark in our movement for equality.

38. 1400 people is a lot of people to bring to Washington DC.

39. Google alerts are cool so long as you don't request every time the word "gay" is said in the media to alert you on your cell phone.

40. Producing 40 concerts in a year is not a requirement.

41. AIDS is far from over.

42. Just because someone is famous doesn't mean they're smart.

43. My favorite painting is "Stars" by Maxfield Parrish.

44. It's really nice to go on a vacation with a good friend.

45. It's really nice to go on a vacation on your own.

46. It's really nice to go on vacation.

47. Not every question has an answer.

48. Marching alongside 200,000 likeminded individuals down Pennsylvania Avenue is easily one of the most empowering feelings you can ever feel.

49. Friday's makes awesome Mozzarella sticks.

50. Please stop singing songs and start acting them.

51. I can't turn straight people gay, much though I may try.

52. I am not a fan of the Upper East Side.

53. Smoking is gross.

54. Lucy Simon is one of the most talented people in the world.

55. Sometimes things just can't be explained.

56. I have too many DVDs.

57. Just because you elect a politician based on what he says, doesn't mean he's going to do what he says.

58. Disappointment in elected officials is redundant.

59. I never want to be an elected official

60. Five Napkin Burger doesn't really require Five Napkins, but it's a damn good burger.

61. People who speak against marriage equality and then cheat on their wives should have their balls cut off.

62. Sometimes I take things too far.

63. Max on Essen only gets handsomer and more talented with age.

64. Gay bars can be fun if you're with a friend.

65. Gay bars are not very fun when your cute friends get charged $5 for the same drink you just paid $13 for.

66. There's a difference between holding a grudge and protecting yourself.

67. Eli will always love me. So long as I feed and walk him :)

68. Some singers need to learn that songs have lyrics AND notes.

69. To get what you want, sometimes you need to withhold your rent.

70. If you live downstairs from me and think large blow-up snowmen, turkeys or mickey mouse are appropriate decorations, they will be cut.

71. Craft Club is one of the most therapeutic things I have ever been a part of.

72. Why is a good Cosmo so difficult to make?

73. I really like taking pictures of people.

74. Sometimes buying eight Moroccan lanterns is not the most important thing in the world.

75. My favorite word is still "grace."

76. Sometimes you have to let people go.

77. Sometimes you're supposed to get angry.

78. Sometimes Broadway musicals don't succeed on merit.

79. I think musical theatre writers need to go back to creating art and stop thinking about the "future" of their musicals.

80. Riffing doesn't make you a good singer.

81. Barbra Streisand makes me laugh.

82. Sometimes you just have to believe, even when you think it's weird to.

83. Sometimes good friends are all you need.

84. Roller coasters aren't as scary as they seem.

85. Sometimes involuntary singing while on a roller coaster is okay.

86. Laura Benanti is an incredible actress.

87. Cooking with real ingredients can actually be fun.

88. Giving up isn't an option.

89. Conversations with God is an all-ways inspiring read.

90. I'm really proud of what I've accomplished and I have a lot more where that came from...even though sometimes I'm too tired to realize it.

91. I'd really like to go back to Africa some day.

92. Flea Markets are fun.

93. Sometimes all it takes is a humidifier.

94. Wasn't 2010 supposed to have flying cars and self-cleaning kitchens?

95. Ancestry.com is fascinating.

96. Sometimes all you really need is a good hug from a good friend.

97. Sometimes your friends aren't going to be there and you'll just have to figure it out on your own.

98. Sometimes we need to remind our elected officials just who elected them.

99. I love Rachel Maddow.

100. Nothing will change unless you change it.

death

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 22:57:34 -0500

Some days, I've just had enough. I've been angry, very angry over things that have occurred in this country, in my personal life, in the world in general. And there are times when I truly feel I can't handle any more.

Some of you may know that in Uganda right now, they are considering turning a bill into law which would not only criminalize homosexuality, but it would make it a crime punishable by death. Gays would be EXECUTED and those who don't report gays to the authorities would have a minimum prison sentence of 3 years. Some of the fear which has caused such extreme measures has been created by a book in America by a man who is not only an unlicensed "therapist" but a man who has been kicked out of any professional organization he's been a part of.

I just watched the incredible Rachel Maddow interview him and debunk everything he had to say while he tried to play the "we love everyone" card. And when he played it, she would pull out a quote from one of his books accusing homosexuals of being more likely to be predators of young children. This man is responsible for our MURDERS.

Additionally, Rev. Rick Warren (who gave Obama's inaugural benediction) in addition to some of your own Senators, have refused to denounce the actions of the Ugandan government. When are you going to begin standing up?

To think that I could be put to death for nothing more than who I am biologically programmed to love, is terrifying to me.

Make some change. Please stand up for me. Please stand up for the friends, relatives and loved ones you have who are gay. And if you are gay, stand up for yourself.

Educate yourselves. It is quite literally a matter of life and death.

In Solidarity,

Jamie
www.talkaboutequality.org

a light.

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 22:57:11 -0500

I am truly disgusted by the actions of the New York State Senate today.

If you don't know, after a great deal of anticipation, the NY State Senate took up a debate and vote on marriage equality today. After a debate where 17 people spoke fervently in favor of equality for all New Yorkers and one person spoke against it, the Senate defeated the Marriage Equality bill 38-24.

Now first off, I'd like to thank the 24 brave individuals who proudly stood and vocally supported equality. And I'd like to demand an explanation from the 37 of 38 senators who cowardly voted against equality. Only one of those who voted against this bill had the gumption to say why he didn't agree with all New Yorkers being treated equally. The other 37 are too afraid to be labeled the bigots that they are, to actually say or speak out loud about their ignorant vote.

In the past, I have seen defeat as a reason to get angry and point fingers at the bigoted individuals who have yet to understand what our forefathers hoped to accomplish when founding this great country. Today, I feel better about focusing on the actions of one individual, who though defeated, stood up in the name of humanity.

Ruth Hassell-Thomspon, a Democratic Senator from the Bronx had not announced which way she would vote before today. And then, in one of the bravest moments I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing, she stood before her peers, her constituents and all of us, and told us that Equality should prevail. Despite religious differences and many constituents who told her to vote against the measure, Hassell-Thompson, in a brilliant act of courage told the Senate about her brother.

Her brother was gay and because of who he was, it took decades of work to try and build a relationship with him. He died in France, far away from his family and bereft of most family associations in the US only because of who he loved. Today is the first time she said publicly that her brother was gay. And today she voted in favor of Equality.

Her brother would have been proud.

Today, instead of pointing fingers at the bigots who stand against us, I believe it is important to honor this brave woman who provides such a strong step forward in our movement and is a prime example of WHY we need to tell our stories. Here is a vote we would not have had if someone had not told their story.

Tell them. We need to know who you are. Come out if you possibly can and help us gain equality. It will not happen without you.

Someone asked me tonight if I thought civil disobedience was the answer, the solution, and I struggled with my reply. On the one hand, it gets attention and passion is never something to be squelched. But on the other hand, there is a seed deep inside me that tells me positive action is what is required. Action that highlights the brave moments like that of Senator Hassell-Thompson, moments where we stand up and show the world that we are proud of who we are. Moments where we stand together and hope and pray that we will find our equality, and moments where we change the mind of someone who once stood against us, moments like these will bring our equality.

The more we speak up, the more minds we will change. We will have Equality. I know we will. But it can't happen if we don't tell our stories. Keep it up.

In Solidarity,

Jamie

www.talkaboutequality.org