Feelin' like some Tidbits today:

• Still on the Sports Bandwagon, how great is it that the UConn women's hoops team has dropped out of the Top 10 for the first time since, like, the mid-1990s! That means other women's hoops teams are more organized, competitive, and recruiting blue chip players away from UConn. ;)


• From the Lesbian Front - good ole' Pastor Beth has decided to appeal her case and try to be reinstated as a Methodist Minister. Good for her! And, yesterday, some "conservatives" admitted it'll be very difficult to try to pass the FMA in the next Congress (but, they'll try!).


• Mommy Maria here: just how many times can a child watch the same DVD over and over again? In the case of The Banana and "The Sound of Music" (or, really, any movie with Julie Andrews in it) = an infinite number of times!


• Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind sitting through "Victor / Victoria" again someday (when she's older; much older!). And, personally, I kind of enjoyed "The Princess Diaries".

Ah, my ongoing love-hate relationship with NPR continues. . .

Today's 'Talk of the Nation' topic is "The Psychological Effects of Tramatic Incidents" (i.e. tsunamis; terrorism). No sooner than host Neal Conan made mention of the difficulties of surviving / seeing such trauma, then a caller ("Ali") phoned in from Southeast Asia noting how difficult it was to see "all the bodies" on the beach.

Neal asked, "about how many bodies?"

Ali continued with how he'd seen terroism up close (bombings and such) but this devastation was much worse.

Neal asked, "how many bodies do you think there are?"

Ali noted that he couldn't stay where he was and had to walk away, it was too difficult a scene to view, the bodies on the beach.

Neal, to his credit, DIDN'T ask "but what about those bodies?" (but I sense he was thinking it), and thanked Ali for his first-person account.

Cut to : guest psychologist who specalizes in trauma. Does SHE acknowledge Ali and his obvious emotional pain?

Nope. Moves right into "her" agenda - how volunteers and survivors can "get help" i.e. trauma counseling, in such situations (ya think she'd provide a bit of it, herself, to Ali, wouldn't ya?).

Ah, The Media.

"Sporty" (Spice) Maria here. Watchin' the Iggles. Feel kinda bad for those teams whose seasons are depending on them to win tonight. Won't happen. Oh well, we're holdin' out for the Super Bowl, ya know - 3 long years of losing in the Division Title game has made us ornery fans.

Speaking of ornery fans - I've pilfered an X-mas gift from my dad. He got the book "Faithful" from my aunt and hasn't had time to read it, so I felt it was my duty to do so. It's written by Stephen King (yes! that Stephen King) and Stewart O'Nan about last year's run by the Boston Red Sox to the World Series, from a Bosox fan's point of view.

Which, is not unlike a Philadelphia fan's point of view (pick your sport): defeatist, despondant, and downright dreary at times. Always hoping for a win, expecting a loss.

When I moved here I realized that Philly was the perfect Sports Town for me (with the exception of a lack of decent sports bars with satellite dishes for college basketball season!). We've got WIP radio callers trashing the home teams; in-depth news coverage of pre-season baseball (we get Thome!), football training camps (even the "mini's" and what Donovan is up to in Arizona), off-season hockey stories (Lindros! the strike!); A.I. and T.O. (and formerly A.J.) to keep the gossip columnists happy; and no hunting pix! (Can you tell I've been reading the Erie Daily Times lately?)

Anyway, this book is a great read for a sports fan (who reads). Day-to-day coverage of the BoSox season by two fans - their e-mails to each other, their diaries of the year, all in great sports "shorthand" (like we talk): with player nicknames ("Papi"! "Nomah"!), baseball verbage ("he served up 7 K's"), and game viewing experiences - via radio, TV, and "live" at the Fen. (O'Nan especially seems to spend a lot of time trying to shag BP balls on the Monster, even using a fishing net at one point!).

So, even though I can't get my Marquette on TV quite yet, and the Iggles are fielding the second string, I've got The Book!

Driving across Pennsylvania this week (sounds like a good title for a book, eh?) I couldn't help but notice all of those Magnetic Car Ribbons that have become quite the fad. The Gal & I first noticed them when we traversed to Boston earlier in the year; mostly in upstate New York; mostly the Yellow "Support Our Troops" ones with a few Red-White-and-Blue "We Luv 'Merica" or Black POW-MIA ones thrown in for good measure.

Recently, my boss ordered Purple "End Domestic Violence" ones, as she wanted to jump on the Magnetic Car Ribbon Fad Bandwagon (which I felt was already over). Nevertheless, I put one on my car for the drive to and from the far reaches of western PA this week.

Saw many other, new, ribbons too. . . a Pink Breast Cancer Awareness one; the Yellow-and Red-White-and-Blue- flag one; and a Green one that I can only assume was Environmentally-related (couldn't get close enough to the car to check it out).

It wasn't until I saw the Black-and-Gold one, however, that I knew the fad has, indeed, worn out it's usefullness. It said, "Go Steelers" on it.

Drove across my home state yesterday - 425 miles from our home in Philly to the netherlands that make up the North Coast of PA. Also known as Erie, PA. Dreary Erie. The Mistake on the Lake. It's a long drive, a boring drive, but at least we have our luggage!

Sometimes I feel I could make the drive with my eyes shut. But I kept them wide open this trip, and noticed a very interesting thing: New billboards around the Harrisburg (our state capitol) area which make direct reference to some current legislation. While "educational" in nature, they could also be viewed as "lobbying." Although, whom, I don't know.

Me, the voter? To call my attention to an issue so I'll call my legislator?
My legislator? While he/she (I have one of each) is on his/her way to session?

Interestingly enough, I saw only 2 - and they both addressed a particular Philadelphia (the "Big Bad City" as it's known in the rest of the state) issue.

One billboard implored that KOZ (Keystone Opportunity Zone) $$$ be kept out of Center City Philly. The other, not so subtle, billboard pretty much said - in a nutshell, and I'm paraphrasing here - Comcast Has More Money Than God, why give it a tax break to build in The City? and referenced the legislation in question: HB 1321.

KOZ $, you see, was originally meant to foster development in "areas of economic distress" within first class cities in the Commonwealth (basically, Philly). While Philly does, indeed, have many areas of economic distress, Center City - where Comcast is building a high-rise office tower as its new HQ - is not one of them.

Nor do many folks seem to think that Comcast needs any tax break (myself, each month as I write out my cable bill, included) - although, labeling the area a KOZ would require Comcast to add jobs to the City.

And, thrown into the mix - the current PA Gov is non other than Former Philly Mayor Ed Rendell (who most certainly would like to see Philly and Comcast both benefit from a KOZ). Stay tuned, folks, it's Pennsylvania (and Philadelphia) politics at its finest hour.

Happy Hanukkah! Light those Lights! Make those Miracles happen!

One of which, it seems, did happen today : The PA State Supreme Court upheld Philadelphia's domestic partnership law! Ok, so parts of it. . .

Of course, now that The Mrs. is no longer employed by The City, the health insurance benefit no longer applies to us.

We were eligible for the "benefit" of not having to pay a real estate transfer tax (when transfering property amongst each other) - but that was struck down by the court, citing state tax law and the state's constitution.

I can live with that. The more imporant issue was their ruling that "life partnership is . . . not the functional equivalent of marriage" - which might go a long way for us in PA trying to obtain benefits as "life partners" i.e. medical visitation and decision-making, employee benefits like bereavement leave, insurance, etc.

It's all about being treated fairly and equally.

Of course, "marriage" does have, like, 1,049 federal benefits that go along with it. You may recall my previous musings on the subject. I'd like to have a joint fishing liscense with The Gal, as well as get her social security benefits (what will be left of them !) if she dies, etc. Oh, well, that's another fight, another day.

[P.S.: other big wins regarding this case. . . William Devlin, conservative foe of the LGBT community, lost! And his Arizona-based, right-wing legal representation, the Alliance Defense Fund - defenders of Traditional Family Values and the Sanctity of Life - lost as well! Go home, y'all, and fight the real battles: guns on the streets, the war in Iraq, poverty, homelessness, racism, sexism, et. al.]

this morning I'm doing a quick mailing and half-watching George Stephanopolis, when I hear Trent Lott talking about "abstinence education" - you know, Bushie's big thing - not talking about sex, birth control, reproductive rights to young people, women in foreign countries, etc.

I found it kind of funny, that phrase. As much as I've heard it, it didn't really hit me until today that, in how the Bush Administration uses the phrase, it's an oxymoron. In the strict sense of the phrase, they should be educating the masses about how to be abstinent - which, to most people (I would hope), would mean teaching them about alternatives to sex with a partner i.e. the intricacies of masturbation, sex toys, the relative benefits of soft-core porn, or dispaced fixations (oral and otherwise) such as working out, smoking, eating, etc.

Then, of course, I read the newspaper and there, in the article on the now-defrocked Pastor Beth Stroud, was the wonderful phrase "self-avowed, practicing homosexual" - actual words used in the "courtroom" during her "trial." I wonder how hard it was for her to resist the urge to say, "Actually, I don't have to practice much anymore; I'm pretty good at it."

I know, I know. . . it's been 2 long, dry weeks for you all. Hey! I have a real job, too, ya know ;) Here's some depressing Friday Tidbits :

• The United Church of Christ is airing a great pro-LGBT 30 sec. TV ad on a bunch of broadcast and cable networks but neither CBS nor NBC will air it, because it's all-inclusive message is "too controversial" (!) Check it out at : http://www.stillspeaking.com/default.htm


• Speaking of churches and gay people, how depressed am I that Beth Stroud (no, we do not know her - not all lesbians living in the same city know each other! ;) - the Methodist pastor here in Germantown - has been de-frocked for caring enough about her parishoners that she was - GASP! - honest with them about being a lesbian ! GASP!


• Which is kind of funny here in Philly since just about every other Jewish woman in the Mt. Airy/Germantown 'hood is a lesbian rabbi or going to school to become a lesbian rabbi. Maybe Pastor Beth can start a Jews for Jesus group.


• To leave you on a more positive note, here are some suggestions of How You Can Help from the Beth Stroud (see above, the lesbian pastor) web site at http://www.fumcog.org/: Take a seventh grader out for ice cream; Tell someone a funny joke; Buy fair-trade and environmentally friendly products; Take a casserole to someone you don't know very well; Visualize what justice and peace would look like.

Condi, Condi, Condi.

Can we really take seriously a woman whom the President likes to address as "Condi" ? (It sounds too much like "Bambi" for me).

Reminds me of how "they" (read: white males and other "so-called" liberal media) used to call former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, "Christie" (before she became the head of the EPA - when she regained status and respect, via her name).

Granted, Bushie likes to have "nicknames" for everyone. Just another way that he segregates those he likes (they get nicknames -- see Alexandra Pelosi's first documentary when she covered him on the campaign trail) from those he doesn't like; and just another way, I feel, that he demeans the peons -- ooops! I mean his co-workers/Cabinet members/wife.

Anyway, they're falling like flies in D.C. today.

Re: Condi -- let's just revisit her 9/11 hearing testimony, shall we: Answering a question re: an intelligence document presented to the President in August of 2001, "I believe the name of that document was ' Osama plans to strike on U.S. soil ' "

Too bad neither she nor anyone else in the Bush Administration actually read the document!

So, I'm in my car this weekend, pondering listening to an IG tape or trying to find the Eagles game on the radio (I forgot we had the Monday night game this week), when I come across this:

"Rrrrrr, zoooommm, rrrrr, zooooooommmmmmmmm, rrrrrrrrrr"

You get the idea.

Just what is the point of putting NASCAR on the radio, anyway?

Attended a wonderful Indigo Girls concert last night, the last one of their "All That We Let In" tour (alas, they did not perform the title song).

My friend, Mel, had a single seatt in The Pit (like 6 ft. away from Amy Ray!) so we hung with her during the opening act, but were kicked out just before IG went on.

However, the lovely youngsters in the crowd rushed the stage about 5 songs in, so I did, too. And stayed. (The security guys were less obnoxious than at the Mann.)

I felt like I was 13 again.

Good tunes, good dinner beforehand (the Greek place, "Athena" in Glenside), good friends, good fun. The crowd actually didn't bug me at this one, and a lot of folks sang along to many of the songs, not just "Closer to Fine" and "Least Complicated."

My personal highlights: hearing "Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters" live; Amy doing a touching version of "Cordova" and, by request, the as-yet unreleased, "Let Me Go Easy"; Emily's voice sounding just lovely and her guitar solo on "Chickenman-Bitteroot" was awesome!; Amy almost missing her line ("I can sense a resting place") during "Get Out the Map" and having to run back to her mic, laughing all the while; me, almost getting a guitar pick!

Oh, yeah; and watching the show from The Pit. Thanks, Mel!

I've been so depressed lately, it's been hard to even write on my Blog; but then, today, I read this item in the newspaper:

"Karl Rove has told a number of American networks that Mr Bush will fight for a ban on gay marriage in his second term by seeking an amendment in the Congress." (Reuters)

This, to appease his Conservative Christian voters, doncha know!

Besides what you can imagine is my anger and ire at The Gall of this man to even consider bringing the FMA up again (after both The House and The Senate pretty much told him it's a losing battle!), there's this:

Doesn't anyone recall that Mr. Flippity-Floppity President Bush said, in a TV interview the week before the election, that he disagreed with the Republican Party platform opposing civil unions of same-sex couples and that the matter should be left up to the states." Just whose votes was he trying to get then ?

Not that he could "say the words" ya know. His quote: ". . . states ought to be able to have the right to pass … laws that enable people to you know, be able to have rights, like others." Bushie also told Gibson that he's open to the possibility that nature could be the defining component when it comes to a person's sexuality.

So, we know he'd do and say anything to win the election. Now, he'll do and say anything to appease his Base. Ah, politics!

The theme of my radio show today was "Mandate My Ass!" (with props to Gil Scott-Heron).

This in response to Mr. Cheney's lovely remarks thanking America for giving The Administration a clear "mandate" for the future, and Mr. Bushies's "I have the capital. . . and I intend to spend it" cowboy attitude.

Goes along with my anger at the moment (in between moments of despair).

I tried to get angry at an impromptu rally at Love Park after work on Wednesday, but the organizers were all so young and so into talking, talking, talking (I was hoping for chanting, chanting, chanting) that I left to go home to The Banana and The Gal.

What else was there left to do to quell the anger and sadness but have a little quiet home time with The Family and Our New Hamster, Hammie?

Well, okay, we have been researching moving to Canada. . .

Well, my train ride in to work was quite a quiet ride. Normally, there's a lot of chatter; neighbors catching up on gossip, news, each other's lives. Today, just quiet.

Except for this one woman who must have either not stayed up late to catch the election returns; or is a Republican. Couldn't tell.

The rest of us were dismayed as we read our papers in silence. Ohio this, Ohio that. Arlen Specter wins again. All 11 state FMA's pass.

At least my Liberal Talk Radio hosts will have something to talk about for the next 4 years.

The Gal and I spent most of the day today in Philadelphia's 32nd ward - the area in and around the 22nd and Diamond Street neighborhood win which, for you sports fans, Dawn Staley grew up in.

So, us two cute, little, radical white lesbians visited with all of the older, straight (mostly female!) African-American election officials at various polling places. We volunteered with the Committee of Seventy and had a great day.

Met a number of first-time voters. Felt good positive vibes. Heard a lot of Honks for Kerry. Saw the Russell Simmons Hip-Hop Tour busses go by. Just missed seeing the actor Danny Glover. Were surprised at the vacant storefronts and run-down residencies and community centers used as polling places in some districts.

But, the voters came out! And, almost everywhere we turned, it seemed, there was a beautiful Philadelphia Mural lighting up the dismal surroundings.

Later, when The Banana and her friends came home from school, they did a few "Kerry, Kerry" chants for us. It was a good day.

In a post-Halloween funk.

And not because I ate too much candy (The Banana wouldn't let me touch her piles!)

Just 'cuz, you know, it's over. I love Halloween. Enjoyed wearing my Mary Cheney costume; even though my "Bush-Cheney 04" button got quite a few stares and a few choice words. (I also wore a Coors logo on a polo shirt and carried a mock-up copy of "mom's" lesbian-romance novel, Sisters).

A few tidbits from the celebration:

• My friend Jon, dressed as Adult Spiderman, and his son as young Spidey. Ya shoulda sprung for the dart-shooting wrist-attachment, though, Jon!


• The neighborhood parade started off to the music of "76 Trombones" this year; the year that The Banana is listening to The Music Man at school and we watch the DVD at home. A lot.


• Had some awesome chili again at a pre-parade party at our friend Michael and Amy's house. Amy dressed as a "homey" - for both the party and (on Friday) at the Philadelphia public high school she teaches at. We hear her costume was quite a hit with the kids!


• The weather here on the East Coast was just lovely. Warm and clear, and made for a great evening of trick-or-treating. Can't wait until next year!

Just when I thought it was safe to "come out of the closet" and show my support for HRC (I even recently sent them -- EEEK! -- a contribution!). . .

. . . they go and do something totally absurd like endorse BOTH candidates in the 13th District race for U.S. Congress here in PA - Allyson Schwartz (good Dem, my state senator who was instrumental in helping pass hate crimes legislation in PA, among other things) and "Dr." Melissa Brown - she of the "radical-Allyson" web site I recently pontificated about. Oh yeah, and she's never held political office before.

'Round these parts (but, apparently not important enough for the Rich, White Boys of the HRC), she's best known for trashing Section 8 housing. Granted, the program could use some re-structuring. But, in trashing it, she's been accused of being a racist, as the majority of those in her district who are in the program are African-American.

This was a big issue when she ran against Joe Hoeffel in 2002. Lately, she's been denounced for running a very negative campaign - so much so that Philly Inquirer columnist Tom Ferrick consistently grants her his "Most Sleazy" award for misleading campaign tactics.

But, enough about her - back to me. I can't believe I had the wool pulled over my eyes by the HRC. I really was beginning to think that they were a decent organization, despite their overwhelming male-whiteness. I know and respect many of the Philly White HRC Males.

Looks like the HRC can't see past LGBT issues in their endorsements; as if us LGBTs care not only about the FMA and hate crimes, but, oh, say issues like JOBS, the WAR, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, etc.

Can anyone tell me how best to scrape the "HRC equality sign bumper sticker" off my car?

From my "mom" hat today (not lesbian mom, just mom):

How much do I love the little bug-a-boo, My Banana? She's reading to me these days, at bedtime. Cute little books from her school with lots of repetitive language. It could never be too repetitive for me.

And, we're watching old musicals on DVD - "Sound of Music," "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Music Man" (they're singing at school). Tonight, she said I have to sing her to sleep with a selection of tunes from these shows.

Hmmm. . . should I start with "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria" ? or go right into my favorite, the shabbas prayer from "Fiddler" ?

Ah, there IS hope for justice in the world, after all.

Today on the train, I read this piece that made my day (from the AP):

"A Catholic abortion-rights group has asked the IRS to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and to stop the archdiocese's attempts to influence the Nov. 2 election.

"The complaint says the Roman Catholic archdiocese violated its status as a public charity because such groups are prohibited from acting for or against a certain candidate." (Geez, I've been saying that for quite a while now!).

"The complaint was filed by the Washington-based Catholics for a Free Choice and cites an October 1 pastoral letter by Archbishop Raymond Burke, who forbade Catholics to vote for candidates who support abortion rights, euthanasia, reproductive cloning, gay marriage and embryonic stem cell research - what Burke called the five ``intrinsic evils.' ''

Hmmm. I wonder who that could be?

Today, I had my election day training with the Committee of Seventy, the local "non-partisan, election watchdog group" here in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection.

They observe at the polls every election, even the primaries. This is the first year they have enough volunteers to cover every ward in the city, and double up in the larger wards! To give you a sense of it, we have 66 wards here - and about 1,981 polling places.

There's a lot of positive things to be said about this election. From getting out the youth vote, to the debates actually being watched by the masses, to more volunteers than many of the polling sites can handle, to the 527s bringing out different messages than the propaganda the candidates' teams propose, to : actual concern about and involvement in the democratic process by the American populace.

I feel kind of happy about it all. I might not even produce my "voting guide" for my friends this year; they all seem to already be educated about the race(s).

That was me you saw wa-a-a-y in the back at the John Kerry rally today in Philly. By the LOVE statue.

Despite speeches by just about every Democrat running for office this year (and a few who aren't), it was a nice event. Good to see Bill looking well. John Kerry looks great, strong, positive. Patti LaBelle, Da Bomb. (I'm pretty sure she got a bigger ovation than just about anyone except Bill).

Not that I could see. As I said, we were wa-a-a-y back in the crowd. We had a large video screen by us. Thankfully, so we could see all the politicians fight for the prime spots on the stage.

As usual, the police under-estimated the crowd at 30,000; the Kerry campaign organizers, at 100,000. I'm guessing it was somewhere in between, although we did stretch a number of blocks down the Parkway (and onto some side streets!). Go, Kerry!

Just offering up a few Tidbits today, as I am tired from watching the Red Sox beat up on the Yankees last night (hoo-ray!).

• Speaking of which, just when did we start singing "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch? I miss the good ole' days at Memorial Stadium when we'd sing "Thank God I'm a Country Boy"!


• I had pondered dressing for Halloween this year as a Swift Boat Veteran For Truth, but I was afraid some folks wouldn't get the joke ("scariest costume" - get it?)., Now I think I'll go as Mary Cheney.


• Speaking of politics (I was, anyway - stay with me here, folks!), how about Bushie offering, as a solution to the lack of flu vaccine, to import some from Canada. Yet, we're unable to import any other drugs from Canada!


• So, I thought I mis-heard yesterday when Air America noted that Bushie got an endorsement from Iran. You know the one - "Axis of Evil" Iran. Then today it came out that Iran has a bomb that will reach as far as Israel and even into Europe! Remind me again, which candidate do I feel safer with?


• Finally, I'm a bit depressed today, as Teresa (Heinz-Kerry) beat me to the punch with the "line of the week" about Laura Bush, "I don't know if she's ever had a 'real job'. . ." I've wondered that, myself.

Today, a Good Judge threw out the case in which PA state legislators filed suit against two gay men who attempted to get an application for a marriage license in Bucks County. While we pretty much knew the suit was quite frivolous, I didn't know about some of the language in the suite, as state Rep. Mike Veon noted in a recent e-mail:

· "Marriage should be restricted to opposite-sex couples in order to promote prosperity."

What ? ? ?

· "Even a woman who has sex with another woman is at substantial risk for sexually transmitted diseases."

I chuckled just thinking about some white heterosexual male attorney somewhere writing that phrase in the brief; until I noticed the word "even." As if, we lesbians are the lowest possible class in the sexual realm and "even" poor old us are at risk - and if we're at risk, look out world! Everyone could be at risk!

Well, wake up world! Everyone is at risk, and if only the Bushies of the world would let us talk about things like AIDS, sex, birth control, abortion, etc. and not just "abstinence", maybe we'd be safer!

Not going to write too much tonight, but this:

I spent the afternoon in a Women's Death Review meeting. This group reviews deaths of women aged 18-55 in Philadelphia and tries to assess which agencies/service providers might have had contact with them and how intervention could have been better in order to have prevented their deaths.

So many times the women either had no one in their lives help them - OR, they had many contacts with various services (drug & alcohol treatment, domestic violence counseling, child welfare system, the DA's office, the police, etc.) and yet they just were unable to break free from their lives - many of which were full of child sexual assault, long-term substance abuse in their families, a history of violence, etc.

As depressed as I was after the meeting, I kept coming back to one thought - how lucky and blessed I am.

Thank you all for being a part of that.

Friday Tidbits:

• I didn't believe it at first but, yes, there IS a web site called Radical Allyson (as in Allyson Schwartz, my wonderful state senator who is running for a seat in the U.S. House). Paid for by Friends of Melissa Brown, her opponent, they apparently have nothing better to spend their time and money on than trashing Sen. Schwart. Or, should I say, they have nothing good to say about their own candidate, "Dr." Melissa Brown.


• What's up with those Log Cabin Republicans? First, they can't bring themselves to endorse Bushie, given the whole FMA thing (good for them!). Then, they filed suit in California to fight the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy (also good!). Yesterday, they responded, quite well I must say, to Kerry mentioning Mary Cheney the other night - but also admonished Bush-Rove for using LGBT families as a "political wedge" issue. There might just be some Compassionate Conservatives after all !


• Speaking of The Gays, it's May Day for Marriage Day in Washington D.C. today - to "preserve the definition of marriage as the union between a man and a woman." Ooooh, I'm scared! Actually, what's scary about this is that its Churches who are organizing this and calling for "Christians from all denominations and ethnicities will rise up to the call." I guess Jews and Muslims and Athiests and Buddhists et. all have their own "call" ?


• I won't harp on the whole Sinclair Broadcasting fiasco (you all should be writing your letters!), but I will mention some of the companies who advertise on their stations, if you'd like to also join the boycotts/girlcotts : Applebees, Corona Beer, Chili's, Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Proctor & Gamble, Taco Bell.


• Here in Philly. the Catholic Church has begun to distribute the "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics" - a nice lil' "non-partisan" piece which notes the "the five non-negotiable issues" for Catholics on Election Day: abortion, euthanasia, stem-cell research, human cloning and homosexual marriage (all of which Bushie opposes). Notably absent: two big ones which The Pope Himself has dissed - war and the death penalty (both of which, Bushie supports!). Non-partisan, my patutie!


• Finally, on a sports note, let it be said here that I am, indeed, aware that Seattle beat the Sun in the WNBA Finals. Seattle is coached by former-Rage coach Annie Donovan who, by the way, could have won a title here in Philly had any of the Corporate Males who make the Big Decisions fought to get a WNBA team here in the 5th largest media market in the country! Oh, no: professional lacrosse, a semi-pro football team run by a rock star, and 2 hockey teams (who won't be playing anytime soon, anyway) seem to take precedence here.

That's all. 'Nuf said. Have a nice weekend :)

Oh, so much to possibly write about. What a debate last night, eh?

From their matching outfits, to Bushie trying to crack jokes and forgetting that the audience was prohibited from responding (thus, dead air), to Ted Kennedy-bashing (twice, by Bushie), then a positive comment about Ted Kennedy (also by Bushie, later in the debate), to some great questions by the moderator Bob Schieffer.

I can't believe anyone thought Bushie did okay last night; I thought he looked like an idiot and had nothing, really to say. Plus, when did we start calling the folks involved in faith-based initiatives the "armies of compassion"? And, along those lines, didn't we disband with "maternity group homes" like, last century ?

My fave Kerry moment: when he dissed Bushie's Social Security proposal to allow younger workers to invest their Social Security taxes in private investment accounts, calling it an "invitation to disaster" that would leave a $2 trillion hole in Social Security. . . mostly because what we pay into Social Security today is used for today's retirees - a concept Bushie doesn't seem to comprehend!

How about I mention Lynne Cheney's response to John K. mentioning lesbian daughter Mary, saying that John K. is "not a good man," and that his comment was a "cheap and tawdry political trick." Actually, he was quite reverent - basically noting that Mary is merely being who she was born as, a child of God.

Lest we forget, it was only a few years ago when Lynne almost bit off Cokie Roberts' head when Cokie noted that Mary is openly gay. Lynnie practically reached over to bop her while protesting that, "Mary has never declared such a thing!"

Denial. It's Not Just For Breakfast Anymore.

Doin' My Civic Duty. Since my boss gave us Election Day off this year (in lieu of the "white-male-holiday" of Columbus Day, which we do not get off), I've decided to volunteer.

I'm not a phone kind of person, so that eliminates my volunteering for MoveOn.org, which, locally, is seeking phone-bankers on Election Day to call voters and make sure they've made it to the polls.

I personally dislike having literature about the candidates forced upon me outside of my voting site, as I go to the polls already educated and prepared to vote, so that means I won't be volunteering for the John Kerry, Joe Hoeffel, Allyson Schwartz, etc. campaigns (although, I like all of those candidates and will be voting for them - as should you!).

I thought about volunteering to help at my polling site - you know, with the machines, the rolls, checking IDs, etc. - but the folks at my site are about 90 years old and very slow, and I know I wouldn't have the patience to stay the course.

No, instead, I researched my options and have decided to volunteer for The Committee of Seventy - a really cool "not-for-profit, non-partisan political watchdog dedicated to advancing good government for the city of Philadelphia and the surrounding region since 1904."

That's me! I thought. I want to be a political watchdog! I'm volunteering to travel around to various polling sites to make sure everything is going well, everyone who wants to vote is able to vote. . . basically, Ensure Democracy.

Happy National Coming Out Day. By the way, have I told you that I'm gay?

I've decided that, in future years, instead of participating in Outfest or any LGBT activity on October 11th (and thereabouts), I'd rather infiltrate the community-at-large with my Out Loud, Out Proud Self.

Yesterday, for instance, My Gal, The Banana, and My Parental Units (who were visiting) attended the Chestnut Hill Fall Festival. Chestnut Hill is the neighborhood next to my beloved Mt. Airy, and it couldn't be any more different!

Where Mt. Airy is a melting pot of crunchy-granola, co-op loving, left wing liberals, Chestnut Hillers lean right, white, and are somewhat uptight.

It's always fun when the two mix.

I think, for next year, I'm going to suggest that P-Flag and my LGBT Parent / Family Group have a table at the festival to hand out literature and Be Out and Proud. We do live and shop and dine and socialize in Chestnut Hill and a few of us even work there (have you been to that Borders Bookstore lately?).

Well, I was able to pull my father away from his beloved baseball games this weekend (both of "his teams" - the Cards and the Red Sox - are in the playoffs!) and watch the Town Hall Debate.

Did anyone else find Bushie's humor to be a bit odd? "I own a forest? Want some timber? Heh, heh." Kind of like a cross between Alfred E. Neumann and Beavis and Butthead (a "shout out" to my Train Buddy Bryan for correcting me on my cartoon references).

He never did answer that woman's question about what things he might have done wrong while in office.

And what was that bit about Dred Scott and private property rights and all? Was he trying to prove he actually attended law school?

While I enjoyed John K., I do admit he stubled a bit on the abortion question, and he could have been more specific on just how bad Bushie's administration has been on the environment (or is that coming in the next debate?).

On a similar note, I picked up a copy of "America: Democracy Inaction" by Jon Stewart and co. Very funny. Right from the start, with the dedication:

"For the huddled masses. Keep yearning."

In some good gay news this week, it looks like the judge in the Bucks County case of two men who tried to get a marriage license application but then were sued by 12 Pennsylvania State Senators is leaning towards throwing the suit out.

The real good news about this is that the Alliance Defense Fund - an Arizona based organization which opposes gay marriage, among other things (the usual: religious freedom, the sanctity of human life) - has used up some of its energy and funds on this frivolous case which, apparently, will be going nowhere.

You know, I can't even begin to explain here what this organization is like - so I'll just use a few words from their web site, regarding Traditional Family Values (which they support):

"Attacks on family values include efforts to:

• Allow children unlimited access to pornography over the Internet in public libraries
• Allow practicing homosexuals to have preference to adopt children and be foster parents
• Allow practicing homosexuals to serve openly in the military
• Expose children to explicit sex education materials contrary to parental approval
• Deny parents the right to raise their children before God as they see fit"

I don't know about you, but I don't want my daughter to view Internet porn at the library - only in the comfort of her own home, thank you very much.

And, if sex education materials aren't "explicit" by their very nature, I don't think the Far Right understands the meaning of the word ("graphically describing or representing sexual activity" by my dictionary's definition).

'Nuf said.

Speaking of rich, white men with too much power who are prone to anger-filled outbursts:

Apparently, yesterday PA State Senator Vince Fumo also knows an "F-word." Not the one Mr. Dick is so fond of, however.

In this case, he used a homophobic-slur-F-word. You know the one. Think "girlie-men" (as spoken by yet another rich, white male with too much power).

I won't go into why Mr. F., who calls himself 'a friend of the gay and lesbian community' (and, in all fairness, does usually vote well on LGBT issues) has the nasty F-word stuck in his brain and on his tongue. I mean, he could have used one of MY favorite slurs (one that does not necessarily deride an entire community) : buttheads or a-holes (with all due respect to any "bottoms" among us).

My favorite part of this story, however, is self-proclaimed Mr. Gay Philadelphia himself, PGN editor Mark Segal apologizing for Mr. F, noting that "Vince is a colorful man. When he gets angry, those colors come running out of his mouth."

Hmmm. If Mr. F. was my friend and he spewed a few anti-gay slurs - in public, while earning MY taxpayer dollars - I'd have my own tirade for him.

Friends don't let friends use the F-word!

My neighbor, Rog, asked me today what I thought about the Vice Presidential debate held on Tuesday.

Truth is, I didn't watch it.

And, wouldn't you know, Mr. Dick goes on to talk about his lesbian daughter!

I miss all the good stuff!

So, I googled the transcript to find out just what was said.

Oh, just the usual. Blah, blah, blah, I (Mr. Dick) support a state's right to decide about same sex marriage, but I also support The President. [Double-speak]

Blah, blah, blah, we (the Two Johns) believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman, but we also support letting gays and lesbians have benefits. [Double-speak]

[MV note: John E. did not say "equal" benefits here, as John K. often does - domestic partnerships NOT being equal in benefits as marriage. At least ONE of the Johns understands the difference!]

Then, believe it or not, Mr. Dick took the high road and thanked John E. for his kind words about his family (loving and respecting their gay daughter), and left it at that.

What's the world coming to when Dick Cheney has nothing left to say about The Gays?

So, John Kerry promised today to expand funding for stem cell research.

"Three years ago, the President [Bush] enacted a far-reaching ban on stem cell research," says John Kerry's new ad.

Bushie's web site responds with, "The President's [Bushie's] announcement did not ban, limit or restrict stem cell research."

What Bushie actually said in his press conference back in August 2001 was that, research could continue on the 60 existing stem cell lines, but future federal funding would be for research on umbilical cord placenta, adult and animal stem cells "which do not involve the same moral dilemma" as research on embryonic stem cells. That sounds like a ban to me!

I mean, didn't His Cronies actually write his speech and watch that press conference - live on prime time TV and all? I remember it quite clearly (pre-9/11). I was dismayed after it. The God-Fearing President on national TV debating His Religious Belifs vs science.

Let us not forget - whatever may happen from here on out (let's say, oh, he flip-flops and agrees to some federal funding of stem cell research) that Bushie is morally opposed to such research and has allowed his right-wing, extremist, fundamental Chrisian point-of-view to cloud his judgement as president.

And that's just wrong.

Had our neighborhood Block Party today. Here are a few of the fun things we did:

• Potluck dinner. The most popular item seemed to be the meatballs and the veggie lasagna (NEITHER made by Yours Truly!). . . I helped set-up and I didn't even get to those items fast enough for a taste.


• Non-Scavenger Hunt for the kids. Instead of collecting items, they had to find and identify features of our block - such as 6-paned windows on some houses, oak and maple trees, ironwork fences, and ant colonies. Fun was had by all.


• Films at Dusk. Real films, 16mm projected oldies including a Mickey Mouse cartoon I had never seen and the classic Abbott & Costello "Who's On First" clip (still funny no matter how many times you've seen it!).

Not only do we have a great Block Party, but my block also organizes multi-family yard sales twice a year, gives out more candy than you can imagine on Halloween - seeing as we're the first block on the annual neighborhood Halloween Parade route - and even celebrated National Night Out this year with a Potluck Dessert-Fest.

I love my 'hood.

So, the Phillies fired manager Larry Bowa today.

The Sports Fan in me has This to say about That: bad move.

What? Ed Wade and David Montgomery couldn't find it within themselves to find a marquee player before the trade deadline so we might have a shot at the playoffs, but they found the moral fortitude to fire the most winningest manager in a long while?

Glad I got to the New Ballpark this summer, as it might be a long time before I go again.

The House voted down the FMA today, 227-186. Hoo-ray.

Yet, 36 Dems voted for it. I will find out their names and "out" them here. Don't they know the party's platform is kindness towards all people ? (Well, it should be!)

Of course, legislators used the infamous argument that "God created Adam and Eve, He didn't create Adam and Steve" as to why only men and women should have the constitutional right to marry.

Acutally, god create Lilith and Adam and Eve; so, where does that put us?!

- - -

A few voting tidbits: Ok, so locally - NJ Congressmen Frank LoBiondo voted for the FMA; as did Curt Weldon of Delaware County; and PA Rep. Phil English, from my neck o' the woods in the far northwest. But, on a good note, Rep. Jim Gerlach of PA voted against the bill :)

Some of you have asked why I haven't been writing much lately. (Who knew I had more than 5 active readers amongst you?)

Truth be told, I have some items I've been working on in my hard drive, not yet uploaded.

I realized that, with the advent of my new, daily Air America radio habit (ok -- addiction!), that I have less and less to write about. [That's http://www.AirAmericaRadio.com - LIVE LINKS on the web site, now in both Real Player and Windows Media formats!]

The Air America radio personalities are all saying it for me, more clearly, and much funnier than I could ever hope to grow up to be. It's like they read my mind.

While I, personally, love Rachel and Liz and Chuck D. in the morning ("Unfiltered" -- 9am-Noon EST), I think I have The Gal hooked on Randi Rhodes in the p.m. (evening drive time -- 3pm-6pm). With Al (no-longer-The-O'Frankin-Factor) Frankin in between, what's not to love?

Your mission then, my dear readers - should you choose to accept it - is to check out at least one hour of one of the above-mentioned radio programs. Your life will change. I'm tellin' ya.

It's all the Truth that's not fit to print, or be aired by Fox News, or CBS, or all those other, wimpy, so-called "liberal" media outlets. I may never go back to NPR again!

Anyone read the NY Times Magazine this weekend? The Gal and I are big fans of The Ethicist and he had a good column this week.

All about the national health club Curves and how its founder / franchiser (the guy who gets rich off of the profits) Gary Heavin gives a lot of money to right-wing, conservative, anti-choice organizations.

The imperative phrase there being a lot - as that appeared to be a dividing line regarding "ethical" behavior for someone who wants to join the club - marketed almost exclusively to women - but yet is concerned about her membership dues ultimately going into the coffers of Mr. Franchiser and, thus, said organizations.

I think a National Boycott is due. Along the lines of boycotting Domino's pizza (remember those days?).

Of course, it's easy for me to say. I'm not a member of nor do I plan to be a member of a health club. For a discussion of this issue from a pro-choice woman who belongs to a Curves health club, check out http://www.curversforchoice.org

From the files of "How Did These 2 Lesbian Moms With Absolutely No Fashion Sense Get Our Daughter, Anyway?" . . .

This weekend, The Banana finally agreed to go shoe shopping, as her favorite shoes were recenlty sent to The Shoe Graveyard and the pair she currently wears is about to Bite the Dust. And, what does she select?

High-heeled, fur-lined clogs.

Go figure.

Today, the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity endorsed incumbant Republican Arlen Specter for the U.S. Senate.

Yet another reason to vote for Joe Hoeffel.

You see, I have nothing against black clergy. It's The Black Clergy I have issues with. Besides that whole endorsement thing and preaching politics from the pulpit and the inability to have separation of church and state in our country. . .

. . . there's this little thing call Spewing Vile Hatred and Lies.

Back in 1993, in the Rules Committee of the Phialdelphia City Council, the head of the Black Clergy of the Delaware Valley, testifying against domestic partnerships for city employees, compared gay people to "child molesters and bestialists."

Since then, they're been in bed with my other favorite religious group, the Archdiocese of Philadephia, in fighting any pro-gay and lesbian legislation in the city or state and at the federal level; including domestic partnerships, second parent adoptions, the FMA. You get the point.

On the other hand, a new group - the Pennsylvania State Coalition of Black Churches - endorsed Joe. Go, Joe!

Back in my "daily life." Think I'll do some more Tidbits:

• Joe Hoeffel was very funny today on my new fave radio program, Unfiltered on Air America radio, comparing jobs lost in PA under Bushie = 160,000. Gay marriages in PA = zippo! Which should we be more concerned about? Go, Joe!
• How about that "mushroom cloud" sighted over North Korea? Hmmmm. They'vea dmitted they have nu-cu-lur weapons. They've said they'd be testing nu-cu-lur weapons. Yet, Bushie and his cronies are noting that it's NOT nu-cu-lur weapons, perhaps it's a forest fire. Maybe we can loan them Smokey the Bear.
• For the record, I couldn't find it within myself to write about nor pay attention to the details of that Russian hostage situation at the elementary school. The thought of it hit too close to home. Needless to say, it depressed me greatly.
• Saw my good friend and bio-terrorism "expert" Monica over the weekend. Thankfully, she was able to confirm for me that Lassa Fever is not very easily spread, given that South Jersey had a recent "scare" when an ill man returning from Sierra Leone (that should have been a tip-off, o' customs officials!) was found to have the hemorragic fever.
• Those of you who know me well, know of my strange obsession with infectious diseases - and hemorragic fevers rank near the top of my Do Not Ever Want to Be Near list! But, on another note, I am reading an interesting teen novel about the Yellow Fever epidemic that hit Philadelphia in the 1700s - from a young girl's point of view.
• More fun from my Unfiltered radio show: they had a blast this morning noting that a number of toy water guns were recalled this summer while the Assault Weapons Ban will expire at midnight tonight!

I know, I know. . . where have I been? It's been tough coming back to the real world after our great Vermont Vacation. However, I think I can ponder up some Friday Tidbits:

• Watched some Thursday Night Football (still can't get used to football on Thursdays, though). Game was good, but that pre-show? Get over it, just show the game, will ya? I felt really bad for the Boston Pops, not only lowering themselves to being a "pre-show" at an NFL football game, but they also had to play the NFL Football Theme Music to boot (while heady winds blew their hair this way and that).
• Speaking of sports ('cuz I can), the Phillies just took 3 from Atlanta. Not that it matters anymore, boys! Baseball, I'm over it - moving on to the Iggles and the start of the college hoops season.
• Ok, how about that Bushie this week, eh? First, his "ob-gyn" slip up [while trying to talk about frivolous medical malpractice suits he said, "Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country!"]; then the Air National Guard memos on "60 Minutes"; and now Costa Rica wants off the list of US-Iraq "coalition of the willing" (they're a pacifist country!).
• So, I've covered sports and politics so far - all that's left is my lesbian mom hat. Had a meeting with a PA State Senator this week who is co-sponsoring a re-write of the stat'es Adoption Act. It would not allow for "second parent" adoptions by us homosexyalls.
• Back story: the State Supreme Court already took up this matter over a 4-year period. All arguments were heard. No good arguments existed / exist for why children of lesbians and gay men should not be allowed to have 2 legal parents. Except, maybe, that the Catholics have some weird, strange obsession with us and don't want us to be parents. Except that the only people being hurt here are the kids.
• Of course, this is the same Catholic Church that sez that if you vote for a candidate who supports "abortion rights," it is a sin and you must go to confession before you take communion. Uh, can you can "separation of Church and State," people?

Ever have one of those vacations where you just can't assimilate back into your own life very easily?

In my case, it has to do with "noise."

In Vermont, we were in a house near the Green Mountains. In the woods, off a state road. While a few cars would travel the road at night, the usual noises were that of the house shifting and crickets chirping.

No cell phones, no airplanes, no radio; and rarely would the telephone ring and, if it did, it was for the fax machine (not for moi, mind you; but The Gal's sister was having a semi-working vacation).

Now that I'm back, every noise sounds sooooo loud: conversations by people on the train, the telephone ringing in our house, the nightly medical helicopter that makes its way on a flight path through my neighborhood.

And the airplanes.

Now, I like to watch airplanes. [Ask me about my favorite viewing place by BWI Airport sometime!] Before 9/11, a flight path to Philly Int'l went pretty much right over our house, on its landing approach. I was in airplane nirvana.

Those days just after 9/11 were kind of freaky to me. No airplane viewing or airplane noise at all (except the fighter jets which, yes, I was able to watch at night -- their lights -- protecting the Eastern Seaboard and the 5th Largest City in the U.S.).

Now, the flight paths have changed a bit, but I still catch sight of my airplanes. I still awake to the sound of the first few red eyes coming into Philadelphia air space. I still drift off to sleep able to watch their tail lights heading towards the airport.

But, not having heard an airplane while in Vermont (the small prop planes towing gliders don't count), I'm amazed at how loud they are.

I want my quiet back.

So, liberal talk radio is abuzz today, in the tradition of Where's Waldo?

Where was Mary Cheney last night?

The straight daughter was on the stage at the Republican Convention. So was her husband, their kids, Lynne, and loving Daddy Dick.

Al Franken suggested that maybe lesbians are slow. (Gay time?)
NPR tried to put words in the mouths of their interviewees. (Republican conspiracy? Hiding The Gays?)

I did catch One Black Delegate (a 22 year old from Arizona) being interviewed on the floor. He's young; maybe he doesn't know better.

I also had the great luck to catch Rick-y Boy's speech from the stage (pre-Prime Time; guess he's off the A-List). Traditional family values; welfare moms need to get married; kids need to have 2 parents, male and female; blah blah blah.

In what society do these people live?

Ok, I just can't stay away from the Republican National Convention. Not the entertainment aspect of it, mind you (I got what I needed in that respect from those Dancin' Dems); but the political part. You know, The Platform.

This is what The GOP has to say about "Protecting Marriage" (emphases below are mine):

"We strongly support President Bush's call for a Constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage and we believe that neither federal nor state judges nor bureaucrats should force states to recognize other living arrangements as equivalent to marriage."

Wait. It gets better.

"We believe, and social science confirms, that the well-being of children is best accomplished in the environment of the home, nurtured by their mother and father anchored by the bonds of marriage."

I am personally offended. As should be judges, bureaucrats, social scientists, my daughter, my partner, single parents and, oh. . . anybody with a brain!

As we all know, summer is a time for Flip-Flops. Sun, sand, John Kerry -- er -- I mean, G.W. Bushie:

"Can we win the war on terror?" he is asked (a seemingly innocent question).

• One day, he sez, "I don't think we can win it."
• Next day, "This war is winable (sic)."

Personally, I think the bigger story here is that The Media is actually pointing out this flippitty flop-flop!

And, while we're on the subject, how 'bout that Laura Bush, eh? This is the woman who asked her husband when he went into politics (not all that long ago) to promise that she'd never have to make a political speech.

Look who's talking now! Flippity, flop-flop-flop.

Hello. Back from a restful vacation. Tried not to watch TV or listen to the news (which is hard to do in Vermont, since I could get Air America programming through a Burlington radio station!). A few Tidbits from my week:

• So, there I am, on top of Mt. Mansfield (the highest point in Vermont), rocks and trees and open green spaces as far as the eye can see, the beauty and wonder of Our Great Country. And what interrupts my moment of outdoor bliss? A man on his cell phone! Sheesh, there oughta be a law!



• Happily, I discovered that the Canadian Broadcasting Channel had both day and evening coverage of the Olympics. Granted, from somewhat of a Canadian point of view, but still, a refreshing change from the insipid US commentators and partial coverage of sporting events. I caught the entire US women's softball game, most of the US women's hoops semi-final (the exciting win over Australia), and sports like canoe-kayak, the pentathalon, and water polo!



• And, yes, I caught Dick Cheney's admission that he 1) has a gay daughter, 2) loves her (and his other daughter) very much, and 3) is against the FMA. His speech was actually kind of touching. Can't wait to see Mary's girlfriend with the family in the photo ops this year! (Maybe? Just maybe?)

Friday "Tidbits" :

Am kind of enjoying The Olympics on NBC. The Banana likes the women's gymnastics, I like the swimming. Could do without the commentary, however (The Gal was surprised that Bob Costas was still around !).

And "yuk !" on those bios of the atheletes! I thought they were having less of them this year? Saw one last night on Svetlana, the Russian gymnast (who I like very much), and the commentary on the voiceover was, "I could understate her desire, but I'd still be overstating it." I kid you not; I wrote it down. Who writes this stuff?

Am liking my Air America Radio in the morning. "Unfiltered," the morning show with Lizz and Rachel and Chuck D., is pretty funny, from a leftist point of view. They did a funny thing on Buttons You Might See at the Republican Convention (based on real buttons that Bloomberg's administration is distributing). Check out their web site: www.UnfilteredRadio.com

As funny as the show is, it's also very serious. Some good, hard news and features. The other day: a feature about Pullman porters and racism; a news item about sweatshops which produce some of the uniforms for the Olympics; cool, intellegent pop culture reference's i.e. Carl Eller's hall of fame induction speech.

Ok, one funny McGreevey joke (just 'cuz I'm in that kind of mood): T-shirt seen in New Jersey, on a guy of course - "I slept with Governor McGreevy and all I got was this lousy t-shirt. . . and a $110,000/year job!"

Yet another reason to dislike NPR :

I actually listened to part of "Day to Day" this afternoon (Tuesday) since I lost my free Internet feed to Air America at 11:00 a.m. The program had a very nice feature on Kevin Han of the U.S. Badminton team and how the men's doubles team is our best chance for a badminton medal at the Olympics this year.

In fact, it made me want to run home and watch some Olympics Badminton. Problem is: I did that last (Monday) night! The U.S. men's double team LOST. Saw it live on CNBC.

I guess NPR didn't get the memo that CNBC, Bravo, and Telemundo are airing a lot of the Olympics (and, a lot of the programming we never get to see here in the U.S. i.e. Team Handball and Badminton) -- LIVE; and, thus, their news was old news.

Unless, of course, some Americans tuning in to watch Michael Phelps and/or the women's gymnastics team tonight have the benefit of an NBC "cut-in" of the badminton team losing. It would probably be "new news" to them. But, I don't think there'd be many happy Americans if NBC does that.

Today, I dumped NPR and took up with Air America Radio for my daily news fix.

Not a tough call - I've been Actively Seeking Other Radio News for a while now (remember my Election Day one-night-stand with Conservative Talk Radio?).

I had that brief affair with Gay Talk Radio; until the "free" Internet link to the Sirius Radio Network that I found would no longer work.

Some of my NPR gripes :

The same news stories over and over again

The tendency by my local station to have the same people interviewed by our morning local talk show host (Mardie Moss-Coane) and the afternoon national talk show host (Terry Gross)

My local NPR station also feels the need to air Dr. Dan, Family Therapist, on Monday's - ick, yuck

Then, there's "Day to Day" - the insipid NPR show that promised to be "smart, fun, fast . . . and keep me up-to-date with major news stories and pique my interest with intriguing features." Today they aired a so-called "funny" commentary re: Gov. McGreevey. It was in poor taste. Not funny. Tomorrow's show will feature Roswell & the "E.T. tourists." I'll pass, thanks.

Lest I forget, my local NPR newscasts aren't all that great, either. Sometimes very unprofessional (ums, ers, shuffling for paperwork on the part of broadcasters).

Plus, my local NPR moved my Car Guys from weekdays to the weekend, when I don't necessary listen to the radio! (And I miss them so)

So, right now, I'm into "Unfiltered" on Air America Radio (9am - Noon). Will report back shortly.

Once again, a lovely weekend. And another installment of, "Just what DOES a lesbian-headed family do in their day-to-day lives?"

Well, if you're two lesbians with a daughter who turned 6 on Friday (and who has quite the imagination!), you have a wild-and-crazy Dr. Seuss themed birthday party.

These are some of the things she thought of for the party:

Pin the Who's from Whoville on Horton's Nose

Sneetches water balloon toss - complete with gold stars to wear

Grinch Tag (whoever is tagged "it" is the Grinch)

Decorate your own bookmarks with Dr. Seuss characters

A "Lorax" miniature golf hole (guess which Mom had to design and make it?)

Party bags which included Dr. Seuss word puzzles and Beginner Books (I love eBay!)

Inviting all 20 kids from her class - since the Dr. Seuss stamps come in packs of 20! [Yes, we're still cleaning up!]

So, there I am on Thursday afternoon; sitting in my office at my desk, thinking about which train I'm going to take home, when my local NPR affiliate cuts into "regularly scheduled programming" to air the Jim McGreevey press conference live.

It had already started and I'm half-listening when I hear (to paraphrase) "blah, blah, blah... I've had conflicted feelings since I was a child... blah, blah, blah" so I call The Gal and say, "Quick! Put on NPR, I think McGreevey's "coming out."

Sure, enough, a sentance or two later - "I am a Gay American."

Since I, too, am a Gay American, I've been asked many times since Thursday just what I think about "the whole McGreevey thing."

Here is what I think:

The guy sure has cahones, to profess so calmly and clearly to the media (and, thus, the world) that he is gay. Clinton couldn't even admit at first that he had "sexual relations with that woman" (and wouldn't we be in a different boat right now if Clinton DID have the guts to be open and honest with us?).

I also feel sad for McGreevey - who's spent 47 years of his life denying his true self and hiding it from the rest of the world. That's a tough burden to bear, and has caused heartbreak for his wife, his parents, his constituents. It's not that he's gay; it's that he's lied for so long about being gay.

Why do politicians have such issues with truth and lies? (Rhetorical question)

I'm not surprised that a politician would "favor" a friend, a lover; give him a high-paying job, etc. We see nepotism all the time in politics. Granted, the man was unqualified for the position and, being an Israeli citizen, couldn't get security clearance for the job. But, hey. Milton Street has some great airport concessions; and Ron White used city funds to pay for a 10th anniversary celebration with his "paramour."

I hope his wife and daughter understand that this has nothing to do with them, that he's being open and honest (finally) with himself and it's for the best that he finally "came out." Maybe now, he'll be the man he was meant to be. Just maybe, not a politician.

Well, I just heard on the radio that the California State Supreme Court just "voided" the 4,037 gay marriages that were performed in San Francisco earlier this year.

The "good news" is that they did not resolve whether or not the California Constitution would permit a same-sex marriage (this can be argued later then!); only whether or not (voting "not") local officials (S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsome) could bypass the courts and the legislature and allow the marriages to occur (like he did).

The "bad news" (besides the voiding of the marriages) is that the lawsuit against the gay marraiges was brought by the Alliance Defense Fund, which believes, among other "truths," that "God has defined the ideal for family as one man and one woman, married for life. . ."

This group is raising $25M (!) to fund legal challenges like that in California -- and right here in PA ! They are the group which is "in bed with" (Snarky Me just had to use that phrase here ;) the 12 PA legislators who are suing a gay Bucks County couple seeking a marriage license. [Egolf et al. v. Seneca and Stahl for you lawyer-types]

I can think of LOTS of other things to do with that $25M!

Yesterday was the Second Annual Gay Day at the Phillies Game. Reminded me that I've been writing this blog for well over a year now.

Had a fun time with my Train Buddy Bryan. Drank a bit, smoked too much, ate $1 Hot Dogs, saw lots of folks I knew. 1,500 queers, 2 protesters, and the Phillies lost (again!).

The Banana enjoyed herself immensely in the Phanatic Phun Zone. So did the friends she came with, who had awesome 100 level seats (us queers were up in the 300 level). The new ballpark is pretty nice, but my heart still belongs to Camden Yards.

Did the world stop spinning because a few LGBT baseball fans made their presence known? I think not.

I've been so focused on Things In My own BackYard (TIMBY, as opposed to NIMBY -- "NOT in my back yard") that I almost missed the brew-ha-ha [pun intended] out in Colorado. Yes, the Same State which brings us FMA-author/sponsor Rep. Marilyn Musgrave.

Seems that "beer magnate" Pete Coors - Republican, pro-life, anti-gay marriage, pro-FMA - is running against US Rep Bob Schaffer, who is also Republican, pro-life, anti-gay marriage, pro-FMA, for the US Senate seat being vacated by Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

Problem is, the Coors Brewing Company (the staunch liberal corporation that it is) offers domestic partner benefits to its employees. It also once employed the lesbian daughter of Lynne Cheney, Mary. [Ah, remember 4 years ago, seeing her sitting with her GOP family at the Republican Convention, the camera slowing panning the row and stopping just before it got to her lesbian partner!]

So, Coors has had to distance itself from Pete-y by launching an ad campaign in the LGBT press noting it's pro-gay policies.

In the meantime, some Schaffer-backers are runnings ads in stating that Pete Coors is pro-gay, since he lead the charge at Coors to offer same-sex health benefits, promote Coors in gay bars, and the like.

It's like a mini-soap opera out thar, eh? Stay tuned to see who wins the primary = the Anti-Gay candiate or the Anti-Gay Candidate-who-is-being-accused-of-being-Pro-Gay-but-is-really-Anti-Gay. . . or is he?

Today, my Lesbian Mom hat.

Been putting together all kinds of materials, Talking Points, etc. for families to talk with legislators about. Here in PA, they've re-written the state's Adoption Act (yet again) and this time it would not allow for second-parent adoptions by LGBT people.

Had to look no further than the tip of my nose for this one, however:

The decision by King County Superior Court Judge William Downing (in Washington state) singled out critics of legally recognized same-sex unions who said they are dangerous to children:

"Although many may hold strong opinions on the subject, the fact is that there are no scientifically valid studies tending to establish a negative impact on the adjustment of children raised by an intact same-sex couple as compared with those raised by an intact opposite-sex couple," Downing wrote.

I wonder how PA state legislators feel about "activist" judges?

On a less snarky note, it's good to see that SOMEone finally got the "studies" part right. Here's a compilation of 21 of them which "almost uniformly report findings of no notable differences between children reared by heterosexual parents and those reared by lesbian and gay parents and it finds that lesbigay parents to be as competent and effective as heterosexual parents." [ http://www.e-noah.net/ASA/MO/articles/stacey.pdf ]

So, I'm riding the train home last night and my Train Buddy Bryan sez to me, "How about that decision today?"

Of course, I cut him off and say something snarky about Missouri / Misery.

He replies, "No. No. About Washington state. They're allowing gay marriages. The wife heard it on the news at about 3:30 pm."

Cut to : The Next Morning and The Gal is reading the Inky.

"Look at this," she sez, " They put the Missouri thing on the Front Page ("Same-sex marriage gains as Nov. issue") and bury the Washington decision -- in Parentheses yet ! (as if it's merely an "add on" to the larger issue / article) -- on page 16."

Is it the voters vs the "activist judges" issue, we wonder?
Is the Washington decision not also a part of the "big issue in the fall election"?

To give it justice, here is THAT "development" (as the Inky put it) :

A judge in Seattle ruled that gay couples COULD marry under Washington state law, declaring the state's Defense of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional.

THIS is news, people! We pretty much KNEW that 72% of Missourians were gonna vote down gay marriage. Heck, they ALREADY had a DOMA law (but not a "constitutional amendment" - all the rage these days, doncha know).

In all fairness to reporting the "full story," voters there also voted down Riverboat casino gambling. Saving their state from yet another immorality, I guess, eh?

Geez, Louise -- can't a gal even have a few days of respite from the homophobic world?

Seems voters in the state of Missouri (as all schoolchildren know, is "The Show-Me State" - don't get me going!) approved a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Ironically, Nevada (home of Britanny Spears' infamous 56-hour "marraige") also has a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage; as do Alaska, Hawaii, and Nebraska.

Don't you just love election years?

Nine more states are set to vote on the issue. As if we don't have enough to worry about! The war! The economy! The future of social security! Affordable health care!

Today, a few words about the rampant sexism that still exists in our society:

Describing itself as an "expert in humanity," the Vatican recently condemned modern feminism saying that equal treatment for women obscures differences between men and women, which threatens the institution of families based on a mother and a father; going as far to say that, "[Proponents of feminism] call into question the family in its natural two-parent structure of mother and father and make homosexuality and heterosexuality virtually equivalent in a new model of polymorphous sexuality"!

Why is it that the only female amongst the troops that [allegedly] abused Iraqi prisoners is being tried for a general court-martial (which could get her up to 38 years "in the brig"!) ? Perhaps she, Pfc. Lynndie England, is just the first -- but, why her? Why the woman? There are six others - all male - who, by the way, are still in Iraq which England is at Fort Bragg. One of them , however, Spc. Jeremy C. Sivits, pleaded guilty and been sentenced to a year in prison (one year?! versus 38 ?!)

And in the lovely state of Florida (gawd! I would hate to live there!), voters in November will have an opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment (!) - seems to be the trend these days - that would allow the state legislature to pass a bill requiring parents to be notified before an abortion can be performed on their teenage daughter. "Parents deserve the right to go and vote this November on this issue," said State Rep. Sandra Murman (R), who co-sponsored the bill, "They need to know what our children are doing." Seeing as "children" can only get pregnant and can't vote, this is a very scary process indeed.

Took the weekend and today off. It's my birthday. Hooray for me!

Skipped the convention last night; opted to sleep instead. I figured John Kerry would get the nomination (was I right)? Let The Gal watch instead and was awakened by her laughter during "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (TOLD you it was hilarious!).

Instead, I opted to e-mail this letter to the Kerry campaign this morning:

"In the Advocate recently , Vanessa Kerry noted that John Kerry's "core value . . . is equality. And while he supports civil unions and not marriage, his approach is one of full equality..."

This week, she continued to discuss gay marriage with journalists (as reported by Knight Ridder reporter Dana Hull) noting that "he [Mr. Kerry] believes in civil unions, which is still equal rights under the law."

Please allow this lesbian-mother-voter-resident-of-the-"swing-state"-of-Pennsylvania to educate Ms. Kerry and Mr. Kerry: "civil unions" are NOT "FULL & EQUAL" RIGHTS under current laws in the United States.

I have a Civil Union from the state of Vermont, although I live in Pennsylvania. I do not have FULL, EQUAL RIGHTS in Pennsylvania. I do not have FULL, EQUAL FEDERAL RIGHTS (only State rights, if I were to reside in Vermont).

There are 1,138 federal statutory provisions involving marital status (see GAO Accounting report 2004) -- and civil unions provide for very few of these.

Only Gay Marriage will afford FULL & EQUAL RIGHTS for LGBT persons under the law. If Mr. Kerry truly supports "full equality" for LGBT people, he would support gay marriage.

If the issue is one of the word "marriage," then I propose that Mr. Kerry offer an alternative -- perhaps a federal civil union category that would provide the SAME 1,138 federal rights (and all respective state rights) for LGBT people, and one that ALL states and territories of the U.S. would have to recognize.

Otherwise, I implore of Mr. Kerry and Ms. Kerry to, please, stop saying that the campaign is for "equality" of all people; your supporters are not uneducated. We know that civil unions are not full equality. To many of us, it just sounds as if Mr. Kerry is another Mr. Clinton -- full of big ideas about equality for gays and lesbians, but not "full" equality."