Month: March 2017

Judging Mike Pence's Marriage; The Kilted Scotsman Gets Hate Mail; 90 Year Old WWII Trans Vet

Judging Mike Pence’s Marriage

I’ve never been a huge fan of Mike Pence, and that’s based strictly on his record regarding LGBT rights. I don’t get personal, I don’t shame, and I don’t care much about his personal life. However, this article that seems to be judging Pence’s marriage really irritates me. It sounds as if it’s written by someone who has never been married or never been in a long term successful relationship.

A new exposé published by the Washington Post on the Vice President and his wife paints a chilling portrait of an unusually close relationship between a husband and wife.

“They are in a strong, supportive marriage bound by common faith,” Peter Rusthoven, who has known the Pences for more than 25 years, says. “I don’t think they make decisions separately.”

But is it really “strong” and “supportive,” or is it more creepy, co-dependent, and controlling? You decide… 

There you are. The rest is here.

About ten years ago someone asked me if I wanted to join her for dinner at a local bar/restaurant in New Hope on a weeknight for dinner. She wasn’t a good friend; just an acquaintance. Back then Tony was travelling a lot on business and I was home alone during the week. No complaints. I didn’t mind being alone and I’ve always had enough work to keep me busy. But even though I was free to go to dinner with her, I declined the invitation and I simply told this woman the truth and said I don’t care to go out to dinner without my husband. She didn’t get that. And I didn’t care. I was only being honest. I didn’t want to go out without my husband, plain and simple. It’s not up for debate. Tony wouldn’t mind, but I didn’t want to go. Every marriage has its own way of working and I don’t think anyone has the right to pass judgment on that.

The Kilted Scotsman Gets Hate Mail

I think I may have mentioned that I started using comment moderation here on the blog because of the hate comments I was getting. I even had a death threat. I’ve received e-mails and DMs like that, too. I didn’t cry or complain. I sucked it up and moved forward. Because that’s what you do when someone sends you hate mail.

With that said, the Kilted Scotsman who poses for semi-nude photos in a kilt that I posted about back in February got a snail mail hate letter and he’s not pleased at all.

“It said threatening stuff like ‘you need to watch yourself’ and they said they’d been watching my videos online and that they want me to get out. I don’t really know anyone in the building. My friends have been saying they didn’t realize this sort of thing still happened in this day and age.

“I was upset at first, but now I am furious, because someone’s aim is to intimidate me and terrorize me into leaving my home because of their own bigoted beliefs. The people who do this sort of thing need to know that their views are unacceptable and the majority of people won’t tolerate it.” 

You can check that out here.

90 Year Old WWII Trans Vet

Now  here’s something inspiring for a change. If all the news read like this and we could figure out a way to filter out the rest of the garbage the media shoves in our direction, life would be near perfection.

At the age of 90, Davies decided to follow through on a feeling she’s had her entire life — she’s transgender and finally ready to live it.

Davies, who was born Peter, says she’s known her true gender since she was just a toddler.

“I’ve known I was transgender since I was 3 years old. I knew a girl called Patricia, and I decided I wanted to be known by that name but it didn’t stick,” Davies told Caters News Agency. 

You can check that out here, and there’s a photo.

I actually knew a trans woman who was a WWII vet who lived and worked in New Hope for many years. We called her, “Mother,” affectionately. And she was loved by all. Here’s a photo of her grave that I took myself. She would have loved this attention.









New Release

Imperfect



Judging Mike Pence’s Marriage; The Kilted Scotsman Gets Hate Mail; 90 Year Old WWII Trans Vet

Judging Mike Pence’s Marriage

I’ve never been a huge fan of Mike Pence, and that’s based strictly on his record regarding LGBT rights. I don’t get personal, I don’t shame, and I don’t care much about his personal life. However, this article that seems to be judging Pence’s marriage really irritates me. It sounds as if it’s written by someone who has never been married or never been in a long term successful relationship.

A new exposé published by the Washington Post on the Vice President and his wife paints a chilling portrait of an unusually close relationship between a husband and wife.

“They are in a strong, supportive marriage bound by common faith,” Peter Rusthoven, who has known the Pences for more than 25 years, says. “I don’t think they make decisions separately.”

But is it really “strong” and “supportive,” or is it more creepy, co-dependent, and controlling? You decide… 

There you are. The rest is here.

About ten years ago someone asked me if I wanted to join her for dinner at a local bar/restaurant in New Hope on a weeknight for dinner. She wasn’t a good friend; just an acquaintance. Back then Tony was travelling a lot on business and I was home alone during the week. No complaints. I didn’t mind being alone and I’ve always had enough work to keep me busy. But even though I was free to go to dinner with her, I declined the invitation and I simply told this woman the truth and said I don’t care to go out to dinner without my husband. She didn’t get that. And I didn’t care. I was only being honest. I didn’t want to go out without my husband, plain and simple. It’s not up for debate. Tony wouldn’t mind, but I didn’t want to go. Every marriage has its own way of working and I don’t think anyone has the right to pass judgment on that.

The Kilted Scotsman Gets Hate Mail

I think I may have mentioned that I started using comment moderation here on the blog because of the hate comments I was getting. I even had a death threat. I’ve received e-mails and DMs like that, too. I didn’t cry or complain. I sucked it up and moved forward. Because that’s what you do when someone sends you hate mail.

With that said, the Kilted Scotsman who poses for semi-nude photos in a kilt that I posted about back in February got a snail mail hate letter and he’s not pleased at all.

“It said threatening stuff like ‘you need to watch yourself’ and they said they’d been watching my videos online and that they want me to get out. I don’t really know anyone in the building. My friends have been saying they didn’t realize this sort of thing still happened in this day and age.

“I was upset at first, but now I am furious, because someone’s aim is to intimidate me and terrorize me into leaving my home because of their own bigoted beliefs. The people who do this sort of thing need to know that their views are unacceptable and the majority of people won’t tolerate it.” 

You can check that out here.

90 Year Old WWII Trans Vet

Now  here’s something inspiring for a change. If all the news read like this and we could figure out a way to filter out the rest of the garbage the media shoves in our direction, life would be near perfection.

At the age of 90, Davies decided to follow through on a feeling she’s had her entire life — she’s transgender and finally ready to live it.

Davies, who was born Peter, says she’s known her true gender since she was just a toddler.

“I’ve known I was transgender since I was 3 years old. I knew a girl called Patricia, and I decided I wanted to be known by that name but it didn’t stick,” Davies told Caters News Agency. 

You can check that out here, and there’s a photo.

I actually knew a trans woman who was a WWII vet who lived and worked in New Hope for many years. We called her, “Mother,” affectionately. And she was loved by all. Here’s a photo of her grave that I took myself. She would have loved this attention.









New Release

Imperfect



A Gay, Black, Married Santa; Chris Colfer's First Trip To NY; Jack Falahee On Playing Gay Face

A Gay, Black, Married Santa

This is about a new children’s book where Santa is gay, black, and married.

Bored of seeing the same old white Santa? Well you’re in luck.

A new children’s book will depict jolly old Saint Nick as a gay black married man,publisher Harper Design announced.

Santa’s Husband will tell the tale of Santa, who is black, and his husband, who is white, both of whom live and work in the North Pole.

You can check that out here.

Chris Colfer’s First Trip To NY

When you grow up in the New York/northern New Jersey area you take it for granted, and you forget that people from other places are intimidated by NYC. But they are, and this is a classic case.

‘Getting into the taxi of a complete stranger was the most terrifying experience of my life up to that point. I was convinced that I would be whisked away and murdered like one of the victims in The Bone Collector.

‘I was too afraid to look my driver in the eye or try pronouncing his foreign name (it was Gerald, by the way). The taxi’s door locks were broken and clicked loudly whenever the vehicle accelerated, so naturally, I thought gangsters were shooting at us.’

You can read the rest here. It’s an adorable article. I would like to add that if I had been expecting a friend who’d never been to NY, I would have driven to the airport and picked them up myself. Even in NY, that’s what friends do. They pick their friends up. So don’t be mislead about NY from his experience. Unfortunately, his friends suck.

Jack Falahee On Playing Gay Face

I never know how to react to these things. On the one hand I do think Falahee is sincere about his experience. That’s not something I doubt. However, I can’t help wondering how this would sound if they had made him up in black face and hired him to play a black male character. And then there’s the straight splaining that always comes afterward. Whenever a straight guy plays gay face, it never fails.

‘Going into this, it was never written on the page that “Connor Walsh is a homosexual,” so when it came to the first love scene I just thought, “Wow, this guy is willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead” and now I know that was the heteronormativity in my mind back then that was rationalizing this whole aspect of his character.

‘It wasn’t until [series creator] Pete Nowalk was like “Oh no, Connor is gay” that I’ve been really trying to become a student of the history of LGBTQ rights and learning more about the struggle of those in the past and in the present day.

Here’s the rest. I’m not going to comment at length. That would be a much longer post. But don’t you love the way he says “homosexual?” I know I’m impressed. Go Hollywood.









New Release

Imperfect



A Gay, Black, Married Santa; Chris Colfer’s First Trip To NY; Jack Falahee On Playing Gay Face

A Gay, Black, Married Santa

This is about a new children’s book where Santa is gay, black, and married.

Bored of seeing the same old white Santa? Well you’re in luck.

A new children’s book will depict jolly old Saint Nick as a gay black married man,publisher Harper Design announced.

Santa’s Husband will tell the tale of Santa, who is black, and his husband, who is white, both of whom live and work in the North Pole.

You can check that out here.

Chris Colfer’s First Trip To NY

When you grow up in the New York/northern New Jersey area you take it for granted, and you forget that people from other places are intimidated by NYC. But they are, and this is a classic case.

‘Getting into the taxi of a complete stranger was the most terrifying experience of my life up to that point. I was convinced that I would be whisked away and murdered like one of the victims in The Bone Collector.

‘I was too afraid to look my driver in the eye or try pronouncing his foreign name (it was Gerald, by the way). The taxi’s door locks were broken and clicked loudly whenever the vehicle accelerated, so naturally, I thought gangsters were shooting at us.’

You can read the rest here. It’s an adorable article. I would like to add that if I had been expecting a friend who’d never been to NY, I would have driven to the airport and picked them up myself. Even in NY, that’s what friends do. They pick their friends up. So don’t be mislead about NY from his experience. Unfortunately, his friends suck.

Jack Falahee On Playing Gay Face

I never know how to react to these things. On the one hand I do think Falahee is sincere about his experience. That’s not something I doubt. However, I can’t help wondering how this would sound if they had made him up in black face and hired him to play a black male character. And then there’s the straight splaining that always comes afterward. Whenever a straight guy plays gay face, it never fails.

‘Going into this, it was never written on the page that “Connor Walsh is a homosexual,” so when it came to the first love scene I just thought, “Wow, this guy is willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead” and now I know that was the heteronormativity in my mind back then that was rationalizing this whole aspect of his character.

‘It wasn’t until [series creator] Pete Nowalk was like “Oh no, Connor is gay” that I’ve been really trying to become a student of the history of LGBTQ rights and learning more about the struggle of those in the past and in the present day.

Here’s the rest. I’m not going to comment at length. That would be a much longer post. But don’t you love the way he says “homosexual?” I know I’m impressed. Go Hollywood.









New Release

Imperfect



What This Drag Guy Does With an Egg; Straight British Comedian Thinks Gays Have It Easier? Lily Tomlin and 9 To 5

What This Drag Guy Does With an Egg

Say what you will, but this is not totally without merit. A guy putting on make up for drag uses a hard boiled egg to blend the make up.

“This kind of feels like a really cold silly sponge but it smells like sewage, like eggs, so… that’s a turn-off,” he crows, tamping foundation into his cheeks. “But it’s actually doing a pretty good job. I really like how cold this is… it’s like super refreshing, too!”

You can check that out here. It’s funny, and it seems to work well. And I spent way too much time watching it for some reason I can’t even explain.

Straight British Comedian Thinks Gays Have It Easier?

There’s a straight British comedian who thinks gay dating is so much easier than straight dating. But it’s not quite as simple (or offending) as the article suggests.

Is life “simpler” for gay people?

According to British actor, comedian, and TV personality David Williams, yes. In fact, he wishes he were gay because everything would be so. Much. Easier.

“I do love women and I’m attracted to women,” Williams said recently to Attitude in an interview, “but sometimes I think it would be simpler if I wasn’t.”  

You can read more of this here. And you really do have to read the entire piece. As most people in the comments suggest, the article is somewhat misleading.

I really hate when this happens. I only want to post and link. I’m not trying to be a journalist with this blog. It’s the last thing I want to do in life. But I find that you just can’t trust anything anymore, not even if you’re just linking.

Side note: According to the comments they even spelled this comedian’s name wrong. I never heard of him so I honestly don’t know. So don’t quote me on this one. I’m only linking.

Lily Tomlin and 9 to 5

I have to admit I never saw 9 to 5, and I didn’t know who Lily Tomlin was until I started watching Grace and Frankie. But I love her in G&F so I thought this was relevant.

 Turns out Tomlin wanted to split only one week into production.

According to Fonda, 9 to 5‘s co-star and co-producer, it took a whole year to get Tomlin and Parton to commit to the project: 

You can finish that one here. I have to watch 9 to 5 now.









New Release

Imperfect



 

Alexander Skarsgard Full Frontal Male Nudity "Big Little Lies;" Mexico's Sexist Penis Seats On Trains; What Is Your Penis Worth?

Alexander Skarsgard Full Frontal Male Nudity “Big Little Lies”

I have to admit that I started watching Big Little Lies and stopped after a few episodes. But let me explain why. I didn’t like the characters and I think it could be because they were too heteronormative for me. It’s a great show and it’s well done, but I couldn’t relate to much, and I lost interest fast. I have no interest in watching straight people cheat on each other.

However, I may have to revisit this one.

Sunday’s penultimate episode of HBO’s Big Little Lies was packed with plenty of drama and conversation, but it was Perry’s (Alexander Skarsgård) penis that stole the show. (Apologies to Madeline, whose production of Avenue Q, an actual show, finally opened on last night’s episode). If you’re keeping count, yes, this is the second time Alexander has gone full frontal on the network, some four years after introducing the world to every part of his glorious body on the season six finale of True Blood. It was a beautiful moment that lasted a mere three to four seconds because Eric began to burn. And, well, you know the rest.

You can check that out here.

Mexico’s Sexist Penis Seats On Trains

This is a creative way to battle sexual harassment. And to get a point across.

The Mexico City Metro has installed a ‘sexist seat’ – complete with a flaccid penis – on its network to highlight the repeated sexual harassment women face on trains every day.

The chair has been modified to have the appearance of a man, including a bare chest, nipples and penis.

You can check that out here.

What Is Your Penis Worth?

Here’s a story about how full frontal nudity actually works in Hollywood with regard to money. Evidently, some e-mails were leaked about full frontal in Game of Thrones, and one section was of particular interest.

But that wasn’t the most amazing part of this email. The amazing part was learning what an actor gets paid for wagging his penis on screen for less than a few seconds. And that’s just the first of many cash-for-schlong revelations we had this week.

I’d like to know what Skarsgard got for his penis, and if the pay varies from dick to dick.

You can check that out here.









New Release

Imperfect



Alexander Skarsgard Full Frontal Male Nudity "Big Little Lies;" Mexico’s Sexist Penis Seats On Trains; What Is Your Penis Worth?

Alexander Skarsgard Full Frontal Male Nudity “Big Little Lies”

I have to admit that I started watching Big Little Lies and stopped after a few episodes. But let me explain why. I didn’t like the characters and I think it could be because they were too heteronormative for me. It’s a great show and it’s well done, but I couldn’t relate to much, and I lost interest fast. I have no interest in watching straight people cheat on each other.

However, I may have to revisit this one.

Sunday’s penultimate episode of HBO’s Big Little Lies was packed with plenty of drama and conversation, but it was Perry’s (Alexander Skarsgård) penis that stole the show. (Apologies to Madeline, whose production of Avenue Q, an actual show, finally opened on last night’s episode). If you’re keeping count, yes, this is the second time Alexander has gone full frontal on the network, some four years after introducing the world to every part of his glorious body on the season six finale of True Blood. It was a beautiful moment that lasted a mere three to four seconds because Eric began to burn. And, well, you know the rest.

You can check that out here.

Mexico’s Sexist Penis Seats On Trains

This is a creative way to battle sexual harassment. And to get a point across.

The Mexico City Metro has installed a ‘sexist seat’ – complete with a flaccid penis – on its network to highlight the repeated sexual harassment women face on trains every day.

The chair has been modified to have the appearance of a man, including a bare chest, nipples and penis.

You can check that out here.

What Is Your Penis Worth?

Here’s a story about how full frontal nudity actually works in Hollywood with regard to money. Evidently, some e-mails were leaked about full frontal in Game of Thrones, and one section was of particular interest.

But that wasn’t the most amazing part of this email. The amazing part was learning what an actor gets paid for wagging his penis on screen for less than a few seconds. And that’s just the first of many cash-for-schlong revelations we had this week.

I’d like to know what Skarsgard got for his penis, and if the pay varies from dick to dick.

You can check that out here.









New Release

Imperfect



Tom Atwood: Queer Heroes; Baby Jane Parody; Season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race

Tom Atwood: Queer Heroes

I think the only thing I love more than books is good art. The world can be such a dismal place, but art makes it so much better. You can lose yourself in a good work of art almost the same way you can in a book.

Here’s a story about Tom Atwood and a series he did about Queer Heroes:

Photographer Tom Atwood’s second book is a feast for the eyes, propping up LGBTQ heroes who break the mold. Over the course of fifteen years, he documented these intriguing and eccentric personalities in their own homes for Kings & Queens in Their Castles.

You can check it out here. I love all the photos shown. It’s interesting to see Jim McGreevey after all this time. I’ll never forget the day he made the announcement that he was a gay American when he was Governor of New Jersey. I didn’t see that one coming. I’d seen him in person at a parade in Lambertville, NJ a few months earlier and he looked like the typical straight married man.

Baby Jane Parody

It’s no secret that there’s a generation of gay men who are devoted to the cult classic Bette Davis/Joan Crawford movie, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. I had one baby boomer friend once who could quote the film almost line for line.

Here’s a story about a parody of the film that was done a while ago.

Rolling Stone has unearthed a 20-year-old short film by David LaChapelle that is shockingly relevant to today. It’s a Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? parody reimagined with Courtney Love and Madonna impersonators.

The grotesque film was shot back in 1996, when both women were at peak points in their careers. Courtney was rock-and-roll’s “it” girl and a raging mess, and Madonna was right on the cusp of clinching icon status and wasn’t about to let anyone get in her way. The two couldn’t have been more different, or more similar.

You can check that out here.

Season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race

They tried to turn this story into something depressing and political, but I don’t like that kind of shoddy journalism. Don’t tell me how to feel or think. I’d rather look at RuPaul’s Drag Race as a means of good entertainment that people enjoy watching. And, it shows a side to gay culture a lot of people don’t normally get a chance to see.

With that said, here are 8 reasons to celebrate the 9th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Queer children typically don’t have queer parents, so we only pass down our stories when we can find each other. Since the AIDS crisis decimated a generation of queer men, it became even harder to link us to our rich, vibrant past. Ru helps maintain that connection by teaching the children about living legends like John Waters, cultural documents like Paris Is Burning and significant events like the Stonewall Riots. The queer community has traveled a long, hard road, and Drag Race honors the people who got us here. 

You can check this out here. I’d also like to mention that not all of us identify as “queer,” but we still enjoy watching RuPaul’s Drag Race from time to time.  And that’s a celebration of diversity in itself.









New Release

Imperfect



Tom Atwood: Queer Heroes; Baby Jane Parody; Season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race

Tom Atwood: Queer Heroes

I think the only thing I love more than books is good art. The world can be such a dismal place, but art makes it so much better. You can lose yourself in a good work of art almost the same way you can in a book.

Here’s a story about Tom Atwood and a series he did about Queer Heroes:

Photographer Tom Atwood’s second book is a feast for the eyes, propping up LGBTQ heroes who break the mold. Over the course of fifteen years, he documented these intriguing and eccentric personalities in their own homes for Kings & Queens in Their Castles.

You can check it out here. I love all the photos shown. It’s interesting to see Jim McGreevey after all this time. I’ll never forget the day he made the announcement that he was a gay American when he was Governor of New Jersey. I didn’t see that one coming. I’d seen him in person at a parade in Lambertville, NJ a few months earlier and he looked like the typical straight married man.

Baby Jane Parody

It’s no secret that there’s a generation of gay men who are devoted to the cult classic Bette Davis/Joan Crawford movie, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. I had one baby boomer friend once who could quote the film almost line for line.

Here’s a story about a parody of the film that was done a while ago.

Rolling Stone has unearthed a 20-year-old short film by David LaChapelle that is shockingly relevant to today. It’s a Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? parody reimagined with Courtney Love and Madonna impersonators.

The grotesque film was shot back in 1996, when both women were at peak points in their careers. Courtney was rock-and-roll’s “it” girl and a raging mess, and Madonna was right on the cusp of clinching icon status and wasn’t about to let anyone get in her way. The two couldn’t have been more different, or more similar.

You can check that out here.

Season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race

They tried to turn this story into something depressing and political, but I don’t like that kind of shoddy journalism. Don’t tell me how to feel or think. I’d rather look at RuPaul’s Drag Race as a means of good entertainment that people enjoy watching. And, it shows a side to gay culture a lot of people don’t normally get a chance to see.

With that said, here are 8 reasons to celebrate the 9th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Queer children typically don’t have queer parents, so we only pass down our stories when we can find each other. Since the AIDS crisis decimated a generation of queer men, it became even harder to link us to our rich, vibrant past. Ru helps maintain that connection by teaching the children about living legends like John Waters, cultural documents like Paris Is Burning and significant events like the Stonewall Riots. The queer community has traveled a long, hard road, and Drag Race honors the people who got us here. 

You can check this out here. I’d also like to mention that not all of us identify as “queer,” but we still enjoy watching RuPaul’s Drag Race from time to time.  And that’s a celebration of diversity in itself.









New Release

Imperfect



Elton John: Eminem Not Homophobic; More On the Father Daughter Transgenders; Hugh Jackman's Big Penis

Elton John: Eminem Not Homophobic

I never thought Eminem was homophobic, but I know a lot of people who do. And now Elton John is coming to his defense.

Elton John has defended his friend Eminem from accusations of homophobia, saying: ‘I’ll fight for anyone who is misunderstood and misrepresented by the idiots out there.’

The British icon added in an interview with Zane Low for Beats 1: ‘I’m always a supporter of the people that are getting trashed. For me Eminem was never homophobic,’ reports ET Canada.

There’s more here. So far one person has commented and he doesn’t seem to agree.

More On the Father Daughter Transgenders

I think this is worth sharing because it educates people a little more about trans people. And the truth is that most people don’t know or understand anything about trans people. I’m still learning, too.

Around the same time, Corey’s mother was starting to question his own gender identity.

Eric Maison tells the Huffington Post he started to question himself after watching a documentary on trans teen Jazz Jennings.

Eric said: ‘It was like all of the feelings I’d had of being uncomfortable in my own skin made sense.

‘At the time, I also recognized my own child in this little girl, so I shared it with Corey, and she said “She’s like me!”‘

There’s more here, with a video. 

Hugh Jackman’s Big Penis

The topic of Hugh Jackman’s penis size came up again, and this time it was with Howard Stern.

He furthermore clarifies: ‘It’s in the everything’s fine category!’ When Howard asks if that means over six inches, Hugh says ‘Yeah…’

The radio interview has gained traction as Hugh steps back into the limelight to play Wolverine for the last time in movie Logan.

There’s more here. Hugh doing full frontal male nudity is also discussed. It’s all in fun. It’s Hugh Jackman, probably one of the nicest men on the planet.









New Release

Imperfect