Category: American Star by Ryan Field Re-release

Trends of 2015; Hypnotizing GIFs and Resolutions; Trans Woman Turns Herself In For Attacks

Trends of 2015

It wouldn’t be New Year’s if there wasn’t a post about last year’s trends. These are the grand highlights. I wish I could say they got better this year, but it is what it is.

Man buns.

Bro jobs.

Rainbow Doritos.

2015 was a year of creative, bizarre and, at times, even cringeworthy trends, from hair to junk food. It’s hard to say whether we have reached a new high or stooped to a new low with some of these fads. Maybe a little bit of both?

There are photos here. I hate to comment on politics, but what’s very amusing is they still seem to think Donald Trump is a trend…like bro jobs. We’ll see. But if Trump continues to trend as he has been, at least we know there will be plenty to report this year.

What I find so fascinating is the total shift we’re seeing in such a short amount of time. We’ve literally gone from Obama’s cheesy “peace, love, hope and change,” to Trump’s vicious “Hillary got schlonged.” I’ve never seen that before…the absolute sublime to the absolute ridiculous…which is why I don’t have any strong opinions about politics anymore.

But then there are many things I don’t understand and like many people I’m tired of trying to figure them out. I’d rather focus on books. 

Hypnotizing GIFs and Resolutions

I’ve never been a big believer in hypnotism or making New Year’s resolutions. One is a scam and the other a fantasy seldom ever realized. But I do love GIFs.

It’s that time of the year.

Feelings of sugar-laced, eggnog-loaded holiday cheer quickly turn into yearnings for fresh starts and new goals.

You can check them out here.

They’re actually pretty good…the GIFs.

Trans Woman Turns Herself In For Attacks

One of the things I like most about having cameras in public places these days is that they’ve caught a lot of creepy, douchey people in the act, like this trans woman who allegedly attacked two guys on a Brooklyn subway.

In the footage, 28-year-old Merci Chrisette can be seen getting into an argument with a fellow passenger.

“Do you want to know what’s going to happen when I get off this train?” she says. “I’m going to cut you, and I’m going to get away with it.”

Then, she takes a break from the verbal sparring to look straight into the eye of the person filming to say, “Hi, I’m used to the camera. Make sure you get my good side.”

You can read the rest here.  

She posted some kind of status on Facebook (where else?) making excuses for her bad behavior and asking people to, get this, pray for her.

When A Man Loves A Man

Glendora Hill Series

Activists and Gay Marriage Decision; The Relentlessly Gay Yard; New Era For Gay Rights

Activists and Gay Marriage Decision

I hope everyone realizes that SCOTUS is going to rule on whether or not gay marriage should be legal across the board, this month. Most people who understand the constitution believe it’s unconstitutional to deny same sex couples legal marriage. This is why I was never in favor of people voting on things like this. I don’t want my civil rights determined by the average person in the US the same way I wouldn’t want the rights of a Christian conservative to be determined by the average person. The is why we have a constitution.

In any event, here’s an article that talks about how activists are preparing for the SCOTUS ruling.

New Mexico Pastor Steve Smothermon says he is ready to go to jail to protect his religious freedom. And he is not the only one.

Smothermon is one of more than 50,000 people who have signed a pledge to engage in social disobedience if the U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling this month that would legalize same sex marriage across the country.
“We want to help people, but we are not going to be forced by the government and society or the politically correct to say we are going to believe in it,” said Smothermon, senior pastor of Legacy Church in Albuquerque. “If they said, ‘Listen pastor, we are going to put you in jail if you don’t honor this.’ I am going to say, ‘Then put me in jail.’ “
What can you say to that? Put him in jail then.
You can read the rest here. It’s an interesting article that goes into more detail about the history of same sex marriage and how it has been handled by both political parties over the years. And things seem to be constantly changing.
Growing support for same sex marriage among young Republicans, polling data and the fact it is already legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia is enough for some in the party to say it is time to let the issue go.
The Relentlessly Gay Yard
This is where I have to wonder about gay news publications. I saw this in one online gay publication and didn’t know it went this far into detail. Evidently, a straight woman’s yard in Baltimore has been dubbed “relentlessly gay” and neighbors want her to tone it down…or else. Yes, a straight woman was targeted for having a yard that is too gay. 
After the woman was threatened by neighbors she posted the note and it’s receive a lot of attention. 
Then she started a gofundme campaign seeking $5,000 dollars for more rainbow yard ornaments and she’s received $12,000 so far.

Needless to say… I need more rainbows… Many, many more rainbows….
So, I am starting this fundraiser so I can work to make my Home even More “relentlessly gay” If we go high enough, I will see if I can get a Rainbow Roof!
Because my invisible relentlessly gay rainbow dragon should live up there in style!

You can check that out here.  
Only one comment from me. Before Tony and I lived in a private home, we lived in a town house community for the first ten years we were together. There were HOA rules that everyone had to follow. Strict rules. I’m talking Catholic school rules. Those rules ranged from having ONLY tan umbrellas outside to approval of all landscaping. You couldn’t put up colored Christmas lights, only white lights. As far as I know there is no HOA in this woman’s neighborhood so maybe the neighbors that find her yard art offensive should move to places that police these things.
New Era For Gay Rights
A lot of people think that if SCOTUS rules in favor of legalizing same sex marriage all of our problems are over. However, there is a lot to consider.
There are a number of ongoing realities to take into account. There is no federal law protecting L.G.B.T. Americans against discrimination in employment, housing, or public accommodation. That means that, in some places, they can be legally married but then legally fired for doing so. The prevalence of serious health issues and homelessness among L.G.B.T. youth remains disproportionately high. And the global human-rights abuses against L.G.B.T. people are, of course, staggering.
The rest is here. It’s an interesting article that takes what you already know to another level. I don’t always link the the New Yorker because I often find them too elitist…pee elegant…for my own taste. However, this mentions a few interesting points that everyone should know.

American Star
American Star II