Marriage Equality, Texas Style
At least one county clerk quit, and a judge changed the rules for courthouse weddings, to voice their opposition to marriage equality.
Dawn Ennis
www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2015/07/13/marriage-equality-texas-style
LGBTQ People Of Color Are Not Monolithic–In Reality Or Fiction
Photo by: King Texas
I do not wake up with aspirations of being black or gay. I already am. I wake up with aspirations of finding love, achieving dreams, fulfilling fantasies and changing lives. As a fiction writer, I look to create stories that speak to more than sexuality and skin color. Yes, I live my everyday life within the context of the black experience–as a black gay man–but one of the symptoms of living in a society inundated with white privilege is knowing that it is too lazy to consider you more than its social categories or stereotypical plights.
In reality, we live in a time when the experiences of black people are mostly relegated to images of tragedy. I acknowledge the level of importance it is that we continue to push the truth in which many people of color live every day–straight and gay. As community editor of Colorlines, this is a huge part of my every day mission. Reminding the world of the affects systemic and cultural racism has on LGBTQ people of color is a part of my job. But speaking from the lens of a creative–a writer tasked with documenting the human condition and experiences as I see them–I also understand that our actual stories are not always riddled with turmoil as the media may portray them to be. LGBTQ people of color are creative, hopeful, well-learned, and at times buoyantly empathetic. Where is the content that shows us in this light?
Not all black gay men are either fairies or homothugs. Not all lesbians are butches. Although HIV is a very real problem within the gay community–particularly among people of color–we’re not all struggling with it. We’re not all trolling the internet for “tea” and calling women “bish” and we’re most certainly not this seemingly aloof group of people that only think about sex, Love & Hip Hop and Beyonce. We are a diverse group of people who understand what its like to be black and gay beyond the stereotype boxes that grab the most attention.
My inherent desires, intricacies of my character, are not simply relegated to a banal social or sexual experience.
For example, for Gay Pride this year, I set out to shoot real perspectives of six LGBTQ people of color. I began with the goal of showing us smiling, laughing and as people who desire to live life just as our white counterparts–with equal justice, respect and attention to our aspirations. In the video, we discussed how they celebrate Gay Pride, what their first Pride experience was like, and whether they believe Gay Pride is for white people.
I concede that the last question was a rhetorical question. Every person of color I’ve met would answer in some variation of “yes.” What was interesting was capturing candid footage that shows a deep understanding of what it is like to be at the intersection of black and gay, while most of our conversation behind the camera was about their aspirations in spite of the social or economic barriers associated with their lifestyle. This was a moment where the stories of LGBTQ people of color could reach beyond what we already know and into what we do not completely acknowledge or discuss.
In a 1984 Paris Review interview with Jordan Elgrably, James Baldwin said it best.
“When you’re writing, you’re trying to find out something which you don’t know. The whole language of writing for me is finding out what you don’t want to know, what you don’t want to find out.”
Every time I read this quote, I think about the many neglected stories of people like me.
Personally, I don’t have a coming out story. I never came out. I never felt a need to come out of anything because I was always myself. I remember someone in my family finally asking me if I liked men. I asked them “Why?” It became more of a peculiar moment for them than it was for me. I have never felt that the specifics of one’s sexuality, yet alone the color of their skin, should single-handedly represent their character–their raison de’etre. On the contrary, it is our desires and obsessions that are the cornerstones of who we are as individuals. That is where there is also story. And that is where I believe we have so much opportunity.
In fiction, I create characters that are–yes–diverse in their backgrounds and stooped in their own specific views of the world but who’s stories are not led by monolithic social characterizations.
Triven, the protagonist in my recent short film Orange Bright, may recognize himself as same-gender loving but this fact does not push the story forward. His obsession with flying–that is what drives the narrative because that is what he desires, to fly. His intimacy with another man is an experience, not because it is weird to have sex with another man or [insert some other cliché plot line derived from sexuality here] but because he is using sex as a mechanism to fly. I create characters that are driven by their aspirations–who may encounter an outside world that wishes to direct them based on race or sexuality but never deter away from their one hankering for more.
Of course, with this criticism I must acknowledge that if it is difficult for mainstream media to cover and/or spotlight diverse fictional content around straight people of color, clearly there would be an issue with doing the same for LGBTQ people of color. We just posted a story to Colorlines that shows what happens when you cut films down to non-white speaking roles. In Spike Jones’ “Her”, for example, there was only about 30 seconds of speaking parts for people of color–all of which came from women which wouldn’t seem too too bad had three out of the four roles weren’t for service jobs.
But that’s no excuse. When I write a character, I create human beings who smile just as much as they cry, who yearn for personal prosperity just as much as they yearn for racial justice, who enjoy sex just as much as any other person–sometimes more, but still. We are not monolithic–not in reality and so, in turn, we shouldn’t be in fiction.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Tab Hunter basks in positive reaction to new documentary about his life as closeted movie heartthrob
His movie career may have peaked in the 1950s, but Tab Hunter was a superstar all over again over the weekend at the Outfest Film Festival in Los Angeles.
The sold-out screening of Tab Hunter Confidential took place on the actor’s 84th birthday on Saturday night (12 July) and among the stars in the audience were comedy legend Carol Burnett and such Hunter leading ladies as Connie Stevens and Terry Moore.
‘I’m just thrilled with the outcome,’ Hunter told the audience after the screening of the documentary. ‘You answer the questions as honestly as you can and that’s it. It’s all about the journey – we’re all on a journey. I’m more open now than I ever was.’
Hunter’s star burned brightest in the 1950s when he starred in the classic musical Damn Yankees, had a huge recording career (Young Love), and appeared in many other films (Battle Cry, The Pleasure of His Company, The Burning Hills) and live television dramas (Playhouse 90).
His blond, tanned, surfer-boy good looks and gorgeous blue eyes landed him on the cover of countless movie magazines. But through it all, he was living a double life as a closeted gay man.
‘I felt if you were with a man you were sinning and if you were with a woman you were lying,’ he says in the film.
But he has serious relationships with men – famous ones – including champion figure skater Robbie Robertson and actor Tony Perkins. He found lasting love 33 years ago with Allan Glaser who produced the documentary and has been integral in getting Hunter to open up about his life – first in a memoir and now in the documentary.
Although he continued to act in films (Grease 2, Lust in the Dust, Pink Flamingos) in the 1970s and 80s, Hunter never watched his movies or TV shows after making them. He also had not kept any memorabilia from his Hollywood heyday.
But he had a partner who was a pretty big fan of his work.
‘For 33 years, I re-collected everything – really eBay was my Bible. I thought it might come in handy if they ever did a film,’ Glaser told the audience at the DGA Theatre in West Hollywood. ‘I just thought it was important that this story be told.’
The film, directed by Jeffrey Schwarz, includes many interviews with famous faces including Robert Wagner, Debbie Reynolds, George Takei, Clint Eastwood, Noah Wylie, John Waters, Stevens, Don Murray and Moore, among others.
Among the other comments Hunter made after the screening:
On Grease 2: ‘It was not a good film – it was fun to do though. It was a little la de da. My mother would have looked at that film and said, “Please. Elevate your thinking.”‘
On changing his name from Arthur Kelm to Tab Hunter: ‘At first I could barely read my new name on a piece of paper. Nowadays you can have a very weird name and it doesn’t make a difference – you just have to learn to pronounce it!’
On what actress Geraldine Page once told him that he never forgot: ‘If people don’t like you, that’s their bad taste.’
Pictured: 1. Hunter and Carol Burnett 2. Actress Terry Moore 3.Three’s Company star Joyce DeWitt 4. Producer Allan Glaser with life partner Tab Hunter 5. Director Jeffrey Schwarz
The post Tab Hunter basks in positive reaction to new documentary about his life as closeted movie heartthrob appeared first on Gay Star News.
Greg Hernandez
Scott Walker Can’t Escape His Long History Opposing LGBT Equality
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Ahead of his expected campaign launch today, HRC released the following statement on Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
HRC.org
TN Mayor Has No Time For Antigay Clerks’ Shenanigans, Hires Replacement To “Follow The Law”
Last week, aptly-named Decatur County Clerk Gwen Pope and her two henchmen, Sharon Bell and Mickey Butler, resigned to protest the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality.
Pope told reporters that she trusted God 100 percent to help figure out what should happen next.
“It’s kinda sorta like you don’t want to draw attention to yourself for any reason,” Pope said. “That’s not why we’re doing this. Not doing it in any way to draw attention to us. It’s for the glory of God. He’s going to get all the glory.”
Does that include three salaries and benefits?
Related: Another Uppity Texas County Clerk Is Denying A Gay Couple Their Marriage License
Well, rather waiting on God to sort things out, the Mayor of Decatur County, Mike Creasy, took matters into his own hands.
Over the weekend, Creasy appointed an interim clerk to run the run the Decatur County Clerk’s Office and issued a statement saying that, though he personally doesn’t agree with the Supreme Court ruling, he respects the law enough to comply with it.
“Although I strongly disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision, I, as an elected official, must set aside my personal beliefs and follow the law,” Creasy said. “Mr. Jack Martin is now Decatur County’s County Clerk. Mr. Martin will serve until the County Commission appoints another person. Meanwhile, Mr. Martin has taken the oath of office, including affirming his obligation and willingness to follow the law, whether he personally agrees with the law or not.”
“I am glad that we have resolved this matter,” he concluded, “and I look forward to working with Mr. Martin and whomever the County Commission later appoints as County Clerk.”
No word yet on how Pope and friends plan to make a living, though we wouldn’t be surprised if it involved a GoFundMe campaign.
Related: Sorry, Christians, GoFundMe Is Cracking Down On Your Hate Campaigns
h/t: New Civil Rights Movement
Graham Gremore
News: The View, Scott Walker, Nintendo, Jennifer Lawrence
After the Aaron Schock scandal, Congress weighs tightening reimbursement requirements.”Though the internal congressional review is ongoing, one change under consideration would require lawmakers to provide more detailed evidence of expenses in order to receive a reimbursement. Perhaps the most drastic change the committee could consider is to compel members of Congress to publicly disclose the details of each purchase by their office. The institution did that before 2010, but now purchases are detailed only in broad categories.”
Comedian Michelle Collins named as new co-host of The View.
Check out Madonna’s music video for her remixed single “Bitch I’m Madonna”
National Review senior editor Jonah Goldberg says its time for Donald Trump fans to have an intervention. “I truly, honestly, and with all my heart and mind think Donald Trump’s most ardent supporters are making a yuuuuuuge mistake. I think they are being conned and played. I feel like a guy whose brother is being taken advantage of by a grifter. I’m watching helplessly as the con artist congratulates him for taking out a third mortgage.”
AFL-CIO calls Scott Walker a “national disgrace” in super short press release following his presidential campaign announcement
Pennsylvania vet finds, removes eight pairs of underwear from dog’s stomach.
Pat Buchanan again calls for civil disobedience to fight gay marriage. “Rosa Parks is celebrated. But the pizza lady who said her Christian beliefs would not permit her to cater a same-sex wedding was declared a bigot. And the LGBT crowd, crowing over its Supreme Court triumph, is writing legislation to make it a violation of federal civil rights law for that lady to refuse to cater that wedding. But are people who celebrate the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village as the Mount Sinai moment of their movement really standing on solid ground to demand that we all respect the Obergefell decision as holy writ?”
Seattle’s openly gay mayor Ed Murray issued an official proclamation on Friday renaming the City Hall “Kitty Hall” accompanied by an adorable photo shoot.
Male model Moday: Caleb Lane.
Huffington Post writer faces off against Christian Post scribe in debate over whether gay marriage has opened the door to polygamy.
A North Carolina elementary school teacher who resigned after reading a pro-gay book to his students has found a new job at a new school.
Church leaders in West Memphis team up for anti-gay marriage rally. “I don’t think it’s so much as a greater sin but I believe it’s a sin that reaches across many areas of our lives and it’s going to cause us more than harm than good because we are dealing with a very important family requirement,” said Brian Schaeffer of Interceding Christian Center.
Rainbow appears over Nintendo’s headquarters in Kyoto following the death of the company’s president Satoru Iwata.
Jennifer Lawrence says she’s too successful for directors to tell her to lose weight.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie go on a toy-filled shopping spree with the kids.
The post News: The View, Scott Walker, Nintendo, Jennifer Lawrence appeared first on Towleroad.
Kyler Geoffroy
Boy Scouts of America Moves to Lift Ban on Gay Adults
A resolution OK’d by a committee Friday still needs ratification by the group’s executive board, which will meet July 27.
Trudy Ring
www.advocate.com/youth/2015/07/13/boy-scouts-america-moves-lift-ban-gay-adults
Boy Scouts Move Closer To Ending Ban On Gay Adults
The Boy Scouts Of America is one step closer to ending its longstanding ban on gay adults serving as employees and volunteers.
The National Executive Committee on Monday unanimously approved a resolution ending the ban. The National Executive Board still has to approve the resolution, and is expected to vote July 27.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
REVIEW: Beagle – Hoxton, London
The Beagle is a cafe, bar, and restaurant nestled beneath Hoxton station in inner-east London.
This is a busy place, but they’re serving really good food so it’s no surprise.
We called in for a late breakfast on a Sunday and were lucky to get a seat.
Perfect poached eggs and top quality bacon – we chose simple options but easily one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in a long-time.
Service was a little off but perhaps we just caught them on a bad day.
Definitely worth checking out.
The post REVIEW: Beagle – Hoxton, London appeared first on Gay Star News.
Gareth Johnson
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