December 09, 2006
Brooke Hogan Teams up with Gay-Hating Artist
Brooke Hogan, daughter of Hulk Hogan, has chosen an unlikely partner to help launch her pop career. The second song released from here debut album features the shockingly anti-gay recording artist, Beanie Man.
Jasmyne Cannick breaks down some of Beanie Man's lyrics:
"Beanie Man, as you may recall, in his song 'Han Up Deh,' he sings, 'Hang chi chi gal wid a long piece of rope.' The term 'chi chi' is a Jamaican reference to homosexuality. The term is often used to refer to 'chi chi men' but can also refer to lesbians (chi chi women or chi chi girls). Loosely translated, the lyrics mean, 'Hang lesbians with a long piece of rope.'"Cannick and other online bloggers lead a campaign to prevent a Lifebeat concert featuring Beanie Man (and his partner TOK who advocates burning gay men alive in his lyrics). Thankfully they were successful. A Beanie Man concert in England was similarly cancelled because Police feared for the safety of gay men living nearby.
Special Ops Media, who is promoting the album, claimed they were unaware of Beanie Man's background. It's not clear whether or not Brooke Hogan was aware of the violent, anti-gay lyrics of Beanie Man. Regardless, I would never consider buying an album that financially benefits Beanie Man in any way.
Gay men have helped launch the careers of many pop-divas, but I suspect Brooke Hogan will not be one of them.
December 05, 2006
Robert Gant's New Movie Showing at Sundance
"Save Me", a new movie exploring the "ex-gay" movement, will be have it's first screening at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Robert Gant, (Queer as Folk) Chad Allen, (End of the Spear) Judith Light, (Law and Order SVU), and Stephen Lang, will have it's first screening at the 2007, Sundance Film Festival.
"Save Me" is the first project of Mythgarden, which was founded in 2003 by actors Robert Gant, and Chad Allen, and producer, Christopher Racster, (Say Uncle, April Showers). They have since added a fourth partner, Craig Dougherty (former CFO of Replay TV and EVP of Union Bank of California).
"Save Me," directed by Robert Cary ("Anything but Love") and written by Craig Chester, Alan Hines and Robert Desiderio, is a deft exploration of the controversial gay reform movement. It follows a sex and drug addicted young man who is forced into a Christian-run ministry in an attempt to cure him of his "gay affliction," where instead he is faced with the truth in his heart and spirit.
The film premieres at the Festival on Sunday, January 21st at 8:30pm, location to be announced shortly. The Sundance Film Festival runs January 18th - 28th in Park City, Utah. For more information and a screening schedule, please visit the Sundance website at: www.sundance.org.
July 07, 2006
Back Where He Belongs
My friendster pal Marcellas Reynolds is back where he belongs: on primetime television. After a week of campaigning and some help from bloggers like Brat Boy, Marcellas earned his way back into the Big Brother House for the Big Brother All Stars Season.
Marcellas of course was one of the first (and still one of the few) African American LGBT Reality Stars. You may not know it, but Marcellas is also great guy, who happens to have a very clever and entertaining blog. Marcellas is also one of the out, gay stars that gives back to our community.
But what I like most about Marcellas is that he is fearlessly (and fabulously) himself. That will surely make this season of Big Brother one to watch.
Needless to say you won't see any updates to the Marcellas blog while he's trapped in the house, but if you feel the need to talk to other fans Join this Marcellas Reynolds Yahoo Group. Marcellas & I are both members.
June 30, 2006
Drag King Dreams
I've read hundreds of books over the years, but I have a very short list of books that have truly changed my life. These include: Savage Inequalities, Queer Spirits, and
A History of God.
And without a doubt, Leslie Feinberg's first novel Stone Butch Blues will forever be on my top 10 list. It should be required reading for the universe.
That's why I was thrilled when the publisher sent me a copy of Leslie's latest book, Drag King Dreams, I could not wait to read it, and I was not disappointed.
This book is fiction, but set in post September 11th New York City, the stories are painfully familiar. If you attended one of the anti-war rallies prior to the invasion of Iraq, if you know an Arab American that was unjustly detained by the Bush Administration, if you spoke out against the Patriot Act, well then you will find your story in the pages of this book.
And true to our experiences, there's no one hero to save the day in this story, but rather a small group of concerned people doing what they can; a group of wonderfully flawed and often frail humans who somehow find the power of their collective voice.
Leslie Feinberg, much like fellow visionary Harry Hay, holds political views far left of what most of us consider the mainstream. Don't let that stop you from opening yourself up to the experience of this novel. Drag King Dreams made me weep for our most recent past and gave me hope for our future. It is a triumph and I encourage you to get a copy.
May 22, 2006
The Next American Gigolo?
Director Paul Schrader recently told the Washington Post that hix next movie is a "sort-of a sequel to his 1980 movie, American Gigolo". The film stars Woody Harrelson as an older gay man who pays his way by working as an escort for mature women in the Nation's Capitol.
The Jeff Gannon controversy showed a lot about how male sex workers are viewed. John Aravosis was of course right to bring attention to the hypocrisy of a closeted gay man (Gannon has since come out as gay) serving as a lackey for the President's Press Secretary.
Gannon's outing however, opened the doorway to a host of snide comments, cheap shots, and derrogatory references to the world's oldest profession. Over at Pam's House Blend, Pam continues to refer to Jeff as "Jeff 'Rent Boy' Gannon", suggesting that his past is something people will not ever let him forget.
247gay.com recently reprinted an article I wrote a while back about Male Escorts and a study published in the Journal of AIDS Care. The study dispels a lot of stereotypes about male escorts, and shows that often, they play a role in connecting closeted clients and the larger gay community, relaying important information about safer sex and coming out. I encourage you to check it out.
It's too early to know if Woody will do for escorts what Jake and Heath did for gay cowboys. I hope however, that this movie will bring us closer to treating every person with some measure of dignity and respect, regardless of their politics or profession. Even Jeff Gannon.
March 28, 2006
God Is Still Speaking: TV Networks Not Listening
The United Church of Christ will be launching their latest 'God is Still Speaking' tv ad in April. I just posted an article about it at OUTjourney.org. [ Read the whole article here ]. It's a brilliant ad, which shows this gay couple, and others being 'ejected' from a conservative church. Unfortunately, the ad has already been turned down by all the major network - CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and WB.
See the ad at the God is Still Speaking website
March 19, 2006
Arndt Elected President of Miami-Dade LGBT Dem Caucus
The Democratic Lesbian & Gay Caucus of Miami-Dade County (DLGC) has elected Chip Arndt, of Miami Beach, as president. He is well-known for winning CBS Television's "The Amazing Race." The DLGC is chartered under the auspices of the Florida Democratic Party (FDP). Its mission is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues within the Party, to educate voters on LGBT issues, and to assist the Party in electing Democrats to local, state, and national offices.
DLGC is one of 11 chapters of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, the statewide umbrella organization under the FDP representing the GLBT community. The Miami-Dade Caucus is one of the largest in Florida, representing over 485,000 potential LGBT voters, and has historically played a major role in electing local and state LGBT-friendly Democratic candidates. "Going into the critical 2006-midterms, I'm eager to work with Caucus members to invigorate LGBT voters to elect candidates supportive of issues vital to our lives." Arndt said.
Continue reading "Arndt Elected President of Miami-Dade LGBT Dem Caucus"March 15, 2006
If I'd Known He was Gay ....
I have long been a fan of Chad Allen. I'm as much, if not more, a fan of the person than I am the actor. After all, Chad is the kind of guy that makes the gay community proud, lending his time and talent to many worthy causes. I'm sure readers of this blog remember that he was an early supporter of Howard Dean's presidential bid. Chad is also a tireless fundraiser. This summer he'll be raising money for HIV/AIDS at the AIDS/LifeCycle. His online store raises money for the Kruks/Tilsner Transitional Living Program for Youth. Chad has also spoken out about Depression in the LGBT Community, teaming up with Greg Louganis, GLMA, and AGLP.
I was thrilled to see that Chad Allen had a lead role in the movie End of the Spear, the true story of a group of Christian missionaries in Ecuador. Chad has a dual-role in the film playing missionary Nate Saint, and then later playing his son Steve.
After all, having an openly gay actor in a lead role is a sign of progress right? Well not if they don't know he's openly gay.
With all the work Chad does in our community, I would expect most people who know him, also know he's out. Oddly enough, the Director of his latest movie apparently was clueless when he hired Chad. Director Jim Hanon further stated. If he had known Chad was Gay "he probably would not have been offered the role.". Gheez, I know discrimination is alive and well in Holywood, but don't people at least try and hide their bigotry? After all, employment discrimination based on sexual orientation is against the law in California.
I was encouraged to hear that the one person who did know Chad was gay and didn't take issue with it was Steve Saint, the son Chad portrays in the movie. Still, after all the recent gay Oscar-buzz, it's discouraging, to get this reminder that discrimination is alive and well in Holywood. (article link).
