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."

Another day, another round of speeches. I tuned many of them out tonight.

Ended up getting home late after dinner (and ice cream!) and totally missed the HRC's Cheryl Jacques speak. Ok, she was at 6:00 pm, so I doubt I would have caught her, anyway (and only those of us with cable / C-SPAN would even have had access to watching the convention THAT early), but I understand it was "historical." The first time a national LGBT group/leader was invited to speak at a convention. See, they DO love us gays; just not in Prime Time!

Al Sharpton was energetic. I understand he went "off topic." Missed it. Tuned out. Fast Eddie made Prime Time. Caught the tail end of his speech after putting The Banana to bed. Couldn't get past The Visual to listen to his speech; he was wearing these really ugly, circa 1979 frameless Dad glasses. Took me a few minutes to recognize him. His voice even sounded different (in a higher octave, for some reason).

John (Cougar) Mellencamp performed. Small Town. What else would he have played? Heard on the radio his wife is a delegate from Indiana. Nepotism abounds. Don't know what all of the criteria was for getting picked to have one of those seats behind the stage, but I'm pretty sure "can cheer with enthusiasm" and "has good dance moves" were near the top.

One thing starting to get on my nerves - not sure if you national network or PBS folks get this, but between speakers, they flash these images on the screen behind the podium of Real Live Republicans Who Are Going to Vote for John Kerry in the Fall. It's the music that gets me - a cross between a "news brief / Dateline" sort of sound and the theme to "Rocky." I look up every time, expecting a tornado warning or something and a news ticker flashing across the bottom of my screen.

So, more blah blah blah. Cate Edwards is cute. Mrs. Edwards has a nice southern drawl. Mr. E. energized the crowd. Can't recall a word of what they said; but that slogan for the night - "Hope is on the Way" - how hokey can you get?

More on the DNC (an acroynm which, technically, stands for the Democratic National Committee, but the media seems to be using it for the Convention, as well. . . hmm. . .)

Tuned in early to catch the Freedom Delegation tribute. Boy, Ossie Davis is looking old. Ruby Dee, just lovely. Maya Angelou, be still my heart. Kind of disapointed that I didn't hear anyone use Fannie Lou Hamer's "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired" quote (could have been I was putting The Banana to bed, though).

Then, blah blah blah, Ted Kennedy (missed it). Howard Dean (saw it, not much to say except, I was glad for all His Delegates that he got to speak). Some Democratic governors. Ron Jr. (pretty good, but better when Terry Gross interviewed him on NPR last week). More Dems dancin' in the aisles. I swear I keep seeing the same young woman each time they show the audience. At least she's a good dancer.

Was very glad I forced myself to stay awake for Baraka Obama. It's true. He is very charismatic, a good speaker, has an interesting family background, is bi-racial, has worked with the poor on the south side of Chicago, came out publicly against the Iraq war (ok, well, not last night, but before), etc. I give him 16 years before "Hail to the Chief" rings in his ears.

One of the highlights of last night (so much so that I fell off my sofa laughing so hard I woke up The Gal a full floor above me) was Ilana Wexler from Kids for Kerry. The 12-year old from California called for a "time out" for The Veep because he said a "very bad word" on the floor of the Senate.

Then, ah, Teresa Heinz Kerry. Greeting everyone in 5 languages. Visibly touched by her son's moving introduction of her. Second best quote of the night: "And my only hope is that one day soon, women - who have all earned their right to their opinions - instead of being labelled opinionated will be called smart and well informed, just like men." Yo go, girl!

Speaking of opinions, that "shove it" thing with the reporter. Double "yo go, girl." The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (owned by one Richard Mellon Scaife, check him out on the web) is such a slanted, right-wing newspaper that I wouldn't be surprised if the reporter was baiting her!

This week, my lucky readers, you will get my impressions of, yes, the Democratic National Convention.

First thing you should know, I'm watching it on C-SPAN. None of that sniveling commentary for moi! ["Oooh, the Dems might have just lost a few votes with that speech, Jim. . ." or "The key here is for the Democrats to convert the undecided voters, Bill. . ."]

I must say, I loved Al Gore. This from the gal who wasn't very hot on him 4 years ago and seriously considered voting for Nader. He was funny, self-depricating, honest, comfortable, and did I mention funny!? [Sample joke = "This presidency has seen more jobs lost than ever before; and I should know, I was the first one to lose my job!"] And, yes, he kissed Tipper again!

A big M.U. Rah- Rah here to the students from Marquette, live via satellite (one of only 4 sites). On behalf of the "students from Wisconsin," they introduced Tammy Baldwin. You know, the openly lesbian Congresswoman. Not that it was ever mentioned. At one point in her speech, she mentioned that Kerry would provide "health care for all. Including domestic partners." Got a big round of cheers from the audience. That was our one liberal bone for the night.

One thing I could do without: Since I've opted for the non-commentary version of events, instead of commentary or commercials in the 3-4 minutes between speakers, I get camera shots of all the funky Dems dancin' in the aisles to James Brown and the like (gettin' down with their bad selves). Not a pretty sight.

Ok, who else thought Barb Mikulski looked pretty funny up there at the podium, so short of stature compared to her fellow 8 female Senators? The Gal caught a bit of "the show" as she was passing through and quite enjoyed (as did my Train Buddy Bryan) Senator Blanche Lincoln behind Mikulski, waving to the crowd and having a good ole' time on stage.

Personally, I was depressed that we Dems feel the need to promote --- ooh ! -- how cool and liberal and fair we are 'cuz we have 9, count 'em 9 (!) female U.S. Senators. Hello People! There are 50 states, 2 per state = 100 Senators. If we have 9 Dems who are women, and what (?) like 5 Republicans, that's 14 divided by 100 x 100 (for %) = oh, like 14% of the Senate. Hmmm, let's see, women are 51% of the population. . . 14% of the Senate. . . yeah, that's fair! [However, some extra credit points here to California, Washington and Maine for having 2 female Senators in their states :) ]

For tomorrow: I'll review the video of the Clintons' speeches and report back. Too tired to watch tonight. I'm sure, though, I'll hear all about it on NPR - all morning, all afternoon, blah blah blah.

Today, I'm not really into NPR's coverage of the 9/11 Hearings. Decided to listen to some tunes instead. Hmmm... lookie here, I happened to bring the "Rent" soundtrack to work today for a co-worker who plans to see it in December (for the first time). Some great words of wisdom, spewing forth from the speakers:

"There's only now / There's only here / Give in to love / Or live in fear
No other path / No other way / NO DAY BUT TODAY"

"Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred moments so dear /
How do you measure - measure a year?
In daylights / In sunsets / In midnights / In cups of coffee
In inches / In miles / In laughter / In strife
In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love."

"Without you / The ground thaws / The rain falls / The grass grows
Without you / The seeds root / The flowers bloom / The children play
The stars glem / The poets dream / The eagles fly / Without you
The earth turns / the sun burns / But I die / Without you"

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel (from PA !) was arrested outside the Sudanese embassy in D.C. while protesting genocide in Sudan. I'm so proud.

Having just heard a very touching (however, very lo-o-ong) NPR piece on settlement camps in the Sudan - focused mainly on impoverished and dying Sudanese children - I was pleased to hear that an actual U.S. Official - an Elected Representative to boot ! - was getting involved!

While they're not sure "how this will play" with his constituents back home (me ! me !), I, for one, am glad SOMEone, SOMEwhere is taking a stand. Can you see Arlen Specter spending any time in jail? Or, Rick Santorum?

You go, Joe!

So, let's do some Tidbits, today, shall we?
 

The Kobe Bryant defense team is calling for the accuser's sexual history to be usable in court. Personally, I'd like to see Kobe's sexual history used as well. How many hotel employees has he allegedly had sex with? What really goes on when an NBA team is on the road? Do we really want to know? Or will it just feed the fodder for more high schoolers to go right to the pro's instead of opting for college.
 

Speaking of college, how about those "harsh" comments recently from Bill Cosby? To men: "Stop beating up your women because you can't find a job, because you didn't want to get an education and now you're (earning) minimum wage."  To parents: "Let me tell you something, your dirty laundry gets out of school at 2:30 every day, it's cursing and calling each other n------ as they're walking up and down the street."  The truth hurts.
 

It's all really about money though, don't you think? The black community took offense because Cos was talking about the black community. But, you really could just as easily substitute any poverty-stricken, lower class community in the U.S. in his remarks. Lack of access to heath care, affordable housing, a livable wage. Distain for elders, teachers, "the man" - born out of the loss of dreams, the belief that you can make something of your life. At least Cos puts his $$$ where his mouth is and supports scholarships for inner-city kids who stay in school.
 
 

No tidbits today. Instead, an international story and more of my ranting against the so-called liberal media.
 
As heard today on "Here and Now," my lunchtime NPR program - a story about the Presbyterian Church considering pulling any financial investments from Israeli companies, supposedly because they (the Presbys) are opposed to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
 
Yeah. Well. We all want peace in the Middle East. Why not also call for a pullout of investments in Palestinian companies?
 
Simple question, eh?
 
Does the NPR reporter ASK this question? Nooooooo. She takes the easy route - the soft question, the leading question - along the lines of "do you not think this is discrimination?" (I didn't get the full, exact quote of the question, as I was too busy spitting out my yogurt)
 
What's the Presby guy supposed to say?  "Oh, well, yeah. But we're going to do it anyway. You know, we hate the Jews. Taking over our Christian land, and all. And let's not forget, it was The Jews Who Killed Jesus."
 
Blah, blah, blah. Darned talking heads. Where, o where, is my Voice of America?
 

So, the "motion to invoke cloture" (what a great word, eh?) on the Federal Marriage Amendment (a.k.a. The Dreaded FMA) - which would amend the U.S. Constitution to define marriage in America as the union of one man, one woman - was defeated yesterday in the U.S. Senate, 50-48. [See how your legislator voted!]

Neither Kerry nor Edwards voted. Didn't need to. The GOP needed about 67 or so votes to move the motion forward. Five of them (and one Indy) voted against doing so. (On the flip side, three Dems voted to move it forward -- Byrd of WVa, Nelson of Nebraska, and Zell Miller of GA who might as just well join the GOP already!)

The "bad news" - here in PA : Sen. Arlen Specter voted FOR cloture (moving the amendment forward). Athough it was not, technically, a vote FOR the FMA (they never got that far), it doesn't look good for the LGBT community.

Nor for women, or anyone concerned about a woman's right to choose. Specter also recently voted J. Leon Holmes of Arkansas to a U.S. District judgeship. The "Independent Judiciary" web site had this to say about Mr. Holmes:

"Throughout his career, J. Leon Holmes has actively worked to undermine a woman's right to reproductive choice. His zealous advocacy for doing away with such a fundamental right, along with extreme statements he has made about the separation of church and state, gay rights, and gender equality, raises serious questions about his fitness for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench."

Thus, I have this to say about Specter : HoeffelForSenate.com
 

A shout out to my Train Buddy Bryan today. Last night, the Daily Number in PA was the infamous 6-6-6.

You may recall that he and I had a disagreement previously about what the Daily Number was that year in PA when there was "the scam." I thought it was 4-4-4. He, correctly, identified it as 6-6-6. I apologized publicly. (Okay. In this here blog.)

The other day, though, the number WAS 4-4-4.

What's going on? The PA Lottery running scared now that slots are on the horizon that they've taken to rigging the number again?

Don't know why. They're reporting today that the Lottery ("for the benefit of older Pennsylvanians" doncha know) made more money last year than ever before.

Heck, once this economy gets better, as Bushie is saying that it is, we'll all have tons of discretionary dollars to spend on gas, food, lodging, slots, AND the lottery (both the Afternoon and Evening drawings)!

I, for one, can't wait. Maybe I'll buy that little piece of swampland down in Florida I've had my eye on!

The Gal saw some GW Bush TV ad recently and complained to me about it. I finally saw it myself and I have to agree with her, Bushie sure can "mislead" folks. Case in point:

The ad notes that his opponent (Kerry) voted against (!) the "Laci Peterson Law" (as if this were a bad thing) - a law that "protects women from violence". (Hey, I just write what I see!)

WRONG !!!

The law doesn't protect anyone. It enables a prosecutor to charge a person with TWO counts of attempted murder, homicide, whatever (one count=mother; second count="unborn fetus" - emphasis mine) -- as if one count is not enough!

As if this law, or any law for that matter, is going to "protect" women (or even children - unborn or otherwise) from violence.

Until our society chooses to value a culture of non-violence (something our War-Mongering Leader of the Free World can't seem to do) and respect for our fellow man / woman (something most of us can't seem to do, yours truly included on some days) - there will always be homicides, assaults, rapes, hate crimes, etc.

Don't even get me started about people having access to guns!

Ok, so two LaSalle men's basketball players have been accused of rape. There is DNA evidence. Allegations of a previous cover-up of a rape by a 3rd hoopster; covered up by staff members of both the men's and women's teams.

So how come the only thing being discussed in Philadelphia is what this will mean for the b-ball program at LaSalle?

People have actually said to me, knowing I am a big college hoops fan, "Don't you feel bad for LaSalle, Philly hoops (in general)?"

How about -- I feel bad for the women who were (allegedly) raped!!!!!

Really! Let's think about what's important here, people!

Friday Tidbits:

Lots of federal indictments happening in The Big City these days. Ah, the life of Philly politics. When can I move to Canada?

N.A.A.C.P. in town this week. Bushie refused an invitation to address the group. Only sitting president do have done so in recent times. Is he trying to lose the election?

Saw a disaster movie today, "The Day After Tomorrow." Global warming, unheeded warnings by scientists to our political leaders, father-son sub-plot, icebergs take over New York City. Not bad. But if you ask me, rent "Volcano" with Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche instead (lava flows from the La Brea Tar Pits!).

Back to my NPR addiction. Today's Big Topic in PA : Legalized Slots!

Interesting to hear an actual debate on the subject. Seems like the GOP is bringing the issue of morality back into the legislature. Just because some people think gambling is a sin doesn't mean they need to try to legislate their morals!

Here's what I like about the Slots:

Reduced property taxes.

Reduced city wage tax.

New jobs created.

I won't have to worry about my family driving very far to play their Beloved Nickel Slots. [They now go to Niagara Falls or West Virginia.]

My dad can't wait to get a post-retirement, part-time job making change! Erie's "racino" is slated to be on the site of the old Hammermill / International Paper factory. They left town and left Erie's East Side economy in a downfall. Slots will bring it back up.

My only gripe? That legislators can buy in (at 1%) to proposals for the sites. Not for the reasons you may think, however.

Let them make their money. Personally, I'd like to make some of my own. Only, I wouldn't be able to get a bank loan to be able to invest in the Slots; our legislators, most likely, will. Doesn't seem fair to me.

Speaking of fair, what's this about the NFL checking into Steeler Jerome Bettis' possible investment in a potential gaming parlor? Heck! If our elected officials can make money off this deal, why not a private citizen like The Bus?

Back in the Big City, sitting at my desk. Tidbit time? You bet!

Can I just say, I almost hate traveling anymore. Driving the PA Turnpike from end to end can be quite boring. There are only so many Indigo Girls songs one can sing along to, in order to stay alert. After a while, your throat begins to hurt.

Holiday travel is even worse. Everyone and their brother were driving, it seemed, this weekend. Some bright spots, though: Free coffee. Gas at $1.75 in some places. McDonald's Happy Meals for the girls.

And, there IS a Starbucks in Erie, now. Hit it all three days. They know my aunt there by name (she was even Customer of the Month once).

Disapointment of the weekend: in our search for new flattened pennies - you know, those things you make for $0.50 plus a penny in various machines - The Banana and I (we collect them) found a great machine that imprints pennies with logos of the Steelers and Pirates and the Pittsburgh Incline! But, it was broke.

Back in my corner of the Work World, it's strange the small things you miss when they're gone. My coffee guy, for instance. He knows just how I like my coffee. He's on vacation this week. Our doorman. Always had a smile on his face and a friendly word to say. He passed away recently. My work day is not the same without them.

Spending the holiday weekend in my hometown of Erie, PA. Summer in a resort town. Ah, life is simple, here.

People drive their cars slower.

Gas, food, lodging: all are cheaper.

The newspaper only has 3 small sections to muddle through.

No one's listening to NPR (a good thing, when you're on vacation).

There's a small town pace, a small town feel; even though, Erie was once the 3rd largest city in PA (I think the megaopolis of Scranton-Wilkes Barre has now surpassed the North Coast in that category).

Best of all --> took two 6 year olds, two grandparents, a partner and an aunt to the local amusement park - Waldameer - and only spent about $80 total (mostly on games of chance).

Free parking.
Free entrance.
Only pay for what you ride.
Food was decently priced.
Rest rooms were clean.

And, they had this great water spray you could walk through when you got too hot.

Second best of all --> Presque Isle State Park (known to the locals as "the peninsula") is still free! There had been talk of charging admission at one point; glad that never happened.

Take it from me, who had to pay to get into the State Park in Springfield, Mass. just to play in a nice playground and had to endure some of the worst language I've ever heard coming from kids' mouths!)

From the Boston Globe: "Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney replaced Democratic Senator John Kerry today [yesterday] as a speaker at a Mayors' conference in Boston, after Mr. Kerry canceled his speech because he said he did not want to cross a police union picket line."

Romney crossed the picket line.

On the Homefront, our own Mr. Mayor John Street noted that he had not crossed any picket lines in attending the conference. Not sure how that's possible, seeing as the conference is in the Sheraton Hotel and the police union is picketing outside of the hotel and . . .

Anyhoo.

In the meantime, the Mayors voted 46-44 to table the resolution that would have expressed their opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment.

Wimps.

Today, I ventured the few blocks from my office to Philly's Gay Bookstore, Giovanni's Room.

There is a large rainbow flag out front, but that didn't deter me. Some people don't know what the rainbow flag means. However, there IS a large "Gay Marriage" poster (publicizing a new book) in the window.

I found myself, almost reflexively, looking around to see who was watching me go into the "gay bookstore."

Ah, physical memory. I remember my first visit to a gay -- ok, a "wimmin's" -- bookstore, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I had just turned 18, moved there to go to college, and ventured into the bookstore on my own. And, even though I knew NO one in town yet, I looked around to see who was watching me go into the store.

It was worse growing up gay in Erie, PA; venturing into the chain bookstore in The Mall, seeking out the 1 or 2 "gay" books to be found there ("The Front Runner," "Fancy Dancer").

I still remember the sweat collecting on my palms, the flush of my face as I (finally) made my way to the register to buy "Rubyfruit Jungle" (making sure, of course, that there no one in the bookstore I knew), the knowing look on the cashier's face as he said he hoped I liked the book.

I thought those days were past; but, I guess not. Good thing Giovanni's room gives plain brown paper bags!

So, my neighbor sez to me yesterday, "I had to go to Wal-Mart this week to find shoes for Lilaloo" (her daughter, Tha Banana's best friend).

I understand her need to find the best shoes (or, in our case, SOMEthing her daughter would wear) at the best price.

However, lest we forget how much of the world those Waltons own, I hereby give you Forbes' 2004 List of the World's Richest People. This list is in billions, people!

1. William Gates III, Washington, 48, $46.6, Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett, Nebraska, 73, $42.9, Berkshire Hathaway
3. Karl Albrecht, Germany, 84, $23, supermarkets
4. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, Saudi Arabia, 47, $21.5
5. Paul Allen, Washington, 51, $21, Microsoft, investments
6. Alice Walton, Texas, 55, $20, Wal-Mart
7. Helen Walton, Arkansas, 84, $20, Wal-Mart
8. Jim Walton, Arkansas, 56, $20, Wal-Mart
9. John Walton, Arkansas, 58, $20, Wal-Mart
10. S. Robson Walton, Arkansas, 60, $20, Wal-Mart

Those kooky Waltons - spreading out their money between them so they hold spots #6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 this year when one of them could easily be #1 (with a bullet, as they say).

They only hold about $100 billion of the world's cash! [And this is supposedly after they give away whatever they need to give away for tax purposes!]

Just think: 1,000 other people could be millionaires! 2,000 non-profit organizations could be granted $500,000 each! 40,000 families of 4 could rise above the federal poverty level!

Dang. I try to take a "day off" from the news, the radio, politics in general - and what happens?

Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusettes goes and testifies before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee (yesterday) against same-sex marriage, noting that, "Marriage is principally for the nurturing and development of children. The children of America have the right to have a father and a mother."

[For the full text of his testimony : Mitty's Madness (my phrasing)]

Oh. Where do I begin?

Guess I'll be writing the honorable governor and giving him a few choice words of my own, possibly about Teaching The Children of America About Tolerance, Acceptance, Civility, Equality, maybe even a bit about "hate-mongering" (and how it hurts all children, not just those of LGBT parents).

Yeah. That's the ticket.

Care to join me?

E-mail: GOffice@state.ma.us
Phone: (617) 725-4000
Fax: (617) 727-9725

Address:
The Honorable Mitt Romney
State House Room 360
Boston, MA 02133

Today, some Tidbits from My Life As A Parent:

Cool things they didn't have when I was a little girl:

Glitter glue

Tye dye shirts (we had to make our own!)

Magnetic games and activity kits for long car trips (we just usually played the Alphabet Game or Name the State Capitals)

Hole punchers with star and heart shapes

E-Bay, Freecycle, and the rest - for scooping up used toys, books, puzzles cheap or free (we only had yard sales at which to get lucky)

Cool things they didn't even have 5 years ago, when The Banana was born:

Strollers with built-in Cup Holders for The Parent's Coffee ! (you should have seem me juggle ;)

Backyard swing sets with Rock Climbing units !

In my local paper (the Inky) each Friday, one of my favorite sports reporters does a "round-up" of the week, usually in a snarky tone of voice. I think I'll follow suit. . . Tidbits From My Week :

Walked through Love Park this morning. No one was "going wireless" (inside Philly joke).

Read that they plan to close a number of Boston streets when the Dems are in town this summer. Who the heck do they think cares about Kerry ? We all wanna Get Bush !

Anyone know why Showtime continues to promote "The L-Word" (via Pride events, new ads on TV, etc.) when it won't be airing again until NEXT FEBRUARY ?

Looks like the GOP is back on its Constitutional Amendment kick, trying to get it up for a vote this summer. Like, they don't have enough to worry about right now - with the War in Iraq, the economy / deficit, and unemployment on the rise (regardless of what they "report" in the mainstream news) ?

And, isn't it interesting that Bushie's back pontificating about stem cell research? If I recall, there was that big, live-on-TV, press conference he held (shortly before 9/11) that had the whole country abuzz. Why return to the subject now, when there's a war on - the "direct" result of 9/11? Trying to deflect our attention, Mr. B?

So, The Gal & I seem to be in this place where we are both looking for new jobs right now (long story).

Since there is some stress in our lives, I did something I normally would not do, to try to allviate it:

I called in to a radio show to talk to an astrologer.

Actually, two astrologers - who were on my favorite new radio show "OutQ in the Morning" with Cheryl, Larry and Butch. [Sirius Network channel 149]

Everyone who had been calling in this morning got some pretty good info about their futures. What could it hurt, I thought.

I'm a Leo. She's a Pisces. We're a good match, they said. Job-wise, though, not a good time to be looking.

So much for that.

The offices of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) are closed today - in memory of all those lost to AIDS.

This, in response to Bushie's calling for a federal government closure and a national day of mourning for former President Ronald Reagan.

I'm ahead of the game, folks (see my post from Wednesday re: Reagan, AIDS, and memorializing those we've lost).

Personally, I'm upset that the U.S. Postal Service is closed and it might affect my weekend delivery of my latest Netflix pick!

P.S. Many thanks to Train Buddy Bryan for reminding me today about Air America and the "O'Frankin Factor" radio show at noon. Al Frankin's covering Reagan's service. I haven't heard anything this funny in a very long time.

Since I can't take another day of listening to radio hosts memorialize Ronald Reagan, I decided to take a foray into satellite radio today.

I was going to try to find the new "liberal" radio station, but opted instead for OUT-Q on the Sirius Network.

[The Sirius Network, by the way, will be airing a special program on Reagan later in the week, and I keep having to hear ads for it; but at least the show I'm listening to isn't talking about him at all.]

So, I started my day with Out-Q In The Morning - with Larry, Cheryl and Butch - a talk show somewhat in the vein of Howard Stern, but less gross. Radio hosts talking about whatever radio hosts want to talk about, from a gay sensibility.

Actually, with a good deal of gay content, i.e. Megan Mullally receiving a GLAAD award, is one of the Carter boys closeted, you get the idea. Catty gossip, lots of pop culture references, etc.

Interspersed with some national news, brought to us by The Advocate; and (!) sports news. Wow! Never thought I'd get last night's baseball scores from an LGBTQ source!

Today, while most of the country wept for former President Reagan, I remembered some of my friends who died of AIDS.

Joaquin - the beautiful Kindergarden teacher

Billy - his partner, a stylish architect

Donald - Olivia Newton-John fan, and friend

I used to keep a notepad with the names of friends, acquaintances, famous people who had died of AIDS - especially during the Reagan years, when inaction by his administration led to their further demise.

It got to be too much, so I stopped.

I often wonder how many of them would still be alive today, if, say, AIDS was caused by:

male erectile dysfunction

the BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 gene

a non-Atkins diet

If there IS a Heaven (or any sort of karmic justice), however, I'd love to be there today. . .

. . . to see my friend John - out, proud, loud Activist that he was/is - meet Mr. Reagan at the pearly gates. I'm sure John would have quite a few things to say to him, and it wouldn't be pretty.

I'm smiling just thinking about it :)

Tidbits from my weekend :

Spent most of the weekend in the Italian Market area of South Philly. I haven't been hit on by that many men in a long time (maybe never)!

Caught a bit of the women's pro bike race held here in Philly. Great sprint to the finish. Heard the men's race was the same. Cool!

Got whupped by a 9-year old boy in Stratego Friday night. Oh well, MY game was always "Risk".

And - I'm tired already of hearing what a "great guy" Ronald Reagan was. To me, he was all about Iran-Contra and not doing a thing about the AIDS epidemic.

Oh yeah, and he fired all the air traffic controllers (yet still had his name enshrined at National Airport - much to the chagrin of labor leaders).

Why I Dislike Both the Dems and the GOP These Days

The Bushies want churches this summer to "get out the vote" (presumably, for GOP candidates) and urge parishoners to be politically active this year. Basically, shout it from the mountaintop -- er, pulpit.

Didn't I write about separation of church and state in one of my very first Blog posts?

The local Dems - okay, our unbeloved Mayor and his crony of a Managing Director - once again have proved that politics is merely a game (you know, of who has the bigger cahones). In a nutshell:

Love Park, an icon among skateboarders worldwide, and pretty much of a park frequented only by the homeless, locally, was deemed "off limits" to skateboarders last year.

City officials cited the costs of damage to the property (mostly ugly grey, granite benches and such).

Skateboarders and friends unite; lobby the City. Offer to raise money for repairs and create a cool cafe and skateboard shop in the old visitor's center (an eyesore that has been shut down and empty for a year).

Infamous City Planner Edmund Bacon (who practically created Center City, Love Park, etc.) urges the City to keep Love Park the skateboard mecca that it is.

Then yesterday -- DC Shoes offers the City $1M for any repairs over the next 10 years if the City reopens the Park to skateboarders.

The City's response? Basically, take that $1M and shove it.

So, more about this Logo network, all-gay, all-the-time (my words).

It's a sorry state of affairs if us gays and lesbians have to mull about for another 9 months or so for more gay programming! (Logo won't start until Feb 2005 -- and "The L-Word" won't be back until March 2005 !)

I mean, I've been waiting 20+ some years!

Ah, I remember Back In The Day.

Staying up until 1:00 a.m. to catch the late, late movie in my small town. . .

. . .movies like "That Certain Summer" (Hal Holbrook, Martin Sheen, gay dads!) and "A Question of Love" (Gena Rowlands as a lesbian mom! Jane Alexander as her partner. Controversy over the scene where Jane brushes Gena's hair in a loving fashion!)

. . .and late night television shows like "Soap" (Billy Crystal as the cross-dressing character of Jody) and "Hot L Baltimore".

Ah, those were the days.

Logo promises to bring such classic films and shows back to TV, air other lesbian and gay films, television shows, and maybe even a produce a daily or weekly news program.

As long as I don't have to stay up late anymore! (Hey! I'm a tired mom now!)

Did you hear? MTV Networks plans to launch an "all-gay" all-the-time cable television channel called Logo.

[I don't know. Don't ask ME why they called it that.]

Looks like the world IS going to hell in a handbasket.

But, while the sky is falling - I, for one, WILL be tuning in to Logo : assuming that my local cable TV provider (who shall remain nameless, lest I have to pay them some hidden fee) will offer it with Basic Cable on not on Digital Cable.

This is their ploy, you see. Whenever I call to ask why they don't carry a channel that I'm interested in -- Oxygen, Independent Film Channel, Much Music, WE-Women's Entertainment -- they always tell me that the channel is offered only on Digital Cable which, of course, costs more.

I already pay enough to my cable company. This is what I get in return :

Spike TV - you know, the channel targeted to manly men. Shows a lot of WWE wrestling, motor car events, reruns of Ren and Stimpy, the original "Joe Schmoe" show, you get the point.

Lots of (too many?) sports channels - and, while I am a sports fan, I don't need the Golf Channel, the Speed Channel, 2 ESPNs, the local cable sports channel which also airs Fox Sports programming, AND the Outdoor Life Channel - which often has fishing and hunting shows.

3 (!) religious (read: Christian) channels -- Trinity Broadcast Network, Pax TV, and Eternal Word (Global Catholic Programming) TV Network; 2 Spanish-language channels (do they ever air anything other than soap operas?); blah, blah, blah.

I can't wait for more "alternative" programming !

Back from another road trip, this time to North West PA - Elk County, in the midst of the Allegheny Forest.

In case you're wondering how diverse a state Pennsylvania really is, all you need to do is travel from Philly to Elk County. It's quite a shock to the system.

We entered towns and were welcomed with signs like the following:

Welcome to so-and-so; where mothers have children, not choices.

Register for the NRA conference here.

Hunt safely.

Small town America. I spent an afternoon playing "Spot the Dyke." I think I counted 2 (not inclusive of family members). At least 1. The other had a wedding band. But, in western PA, that doesn't mean much.

It's true. We're invisible, after all.

Perhaps this explains why my uncle (the accepting one!), when introducing family members to a large crowd gathered to remember another uncle who recently passed away, neglected to mention either My Gal or My Aunt's Gal.

Even though he did introduce my brother's wife, my cousins' wives, and he even mentioned my brother-who-wasn't-even-there-and-HIS-wife.

Maybe it's 'cuz we're not married! ;)

So, while I was away (celebrating!) a mere 10+ days ago in Massachusetts, here on the Homefront. . .

. . . some PA state legislators (the same ones who sponsored the state's Defense of Marriage Act back in the day) filed a lawsuit against the two gay men who tried to get a marriage license in New Hope!

Yes. They're Republicans (for the most part - except for one Dem from Cambria County).

I recall hearing this on the radio at some point during our trip; and I even recall mentioning it to The Gal. But, we were in too much bliss to pay it any mind.

Today, reality sets in.

It always seems as if it's "two steps forward, one step back" in the fight for civil rights, eh?

Well, let's put away the Baby Steps and get out the Mommy / Giant Steps - thar's a battle brewin' in my home state, and it's gettin' personal!

For the record, here are their names:

Allan Egolf (R., Perry)
Gibson C. Armstrong R., Lancaster)
Matthew E. Baker (R., Tioga)
Thomas C. Creighton (R., Lancaster)
Gordon Denlinger (R., Lancaster)
Stephen R. Maitland (R., Adams)
Daryl Metcalfe (R., Butler)
Merle H. Phillips (R., Northumberland)
Samuel R. Rohrer (R., Berks)
Jerry A. Stern (R., Blair)
Katie True (R., Lancaster)
Thomas F. Yewcic (D., Cambria)

During my train ride back from New York this week, I wrote a little "essay" about my visit (I was on the "quiet car"). Here it is:

I. Assumptions

When I was in college, one of my roommate’s favorite songs was the Monkees’ “Laugh”, especially the line, “Laugh when you go to a party and you can’t tell the boys from the girls.”

Because, of course, the assumption at the time (the sixties) was that all men had short hair and all women had long hair.

I ran straight up against a few of my own assumptions this week when I visited a friend in New York City.

The first came while I was at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center. I was sitting in a chair on the first floor, under the stairwell. As a group that was meeting on the second floor began to disburse, I heard the clicking sound of numerous high heels making their way down the stairs.

Ah, I thought. A meeting of drag queens.

Wrong I was. When I snuck a peek up the stairs, I found that the sound was emanating - yes - from high heels; but, on women. Lesbians!

Many of the women were in “business drag” – three piece suits with skirts; dresses; skirts and blouses. It was a meeting of the lesbian and gay business professionals group.

My second awakening came the next morning as I was leaving my friend’s apartment building on the Upper West Side.

On the elevator ride to the lobby, I encountered two young women on their way to school.

As I was tired from a late night out, my eyes were drooping and I only caught sight of them from the waist level down.

I was noticing one of the girls’ modest shoes (low heels, closed-toes), purse, and sensible slacks. Hmmm, I thought, how nice to see a young teenager not exposing their toe ring, or navel, or butt cheeks.

Before my eyes could continue upward, the girl spoke to her friend - in a much deeper voice than I had expected.

As my eyes darted up towards her mid section and beyond, I noticed what appeared to be developing breasts, shoulder-length hair (that seemed, to me, to be a wig) – and, an Adam’s apple.

Unwilled, my eyebrows rose.

As the girls left the elevator and ran ahead of me, I saw them look back and giggle - presumably at the unsuspecting visitor who had, most likely, never seen a transgendered / transitioning youth before.

I felt terrible. I wanted to catch up with them and tell them that I wasn’t staring. I was only surprised because I was half asleep.

That I was a cool, lesbian mom who even had discussions with her partner before the birth of our child about our thoughts regarding gender reassignment surgery (we’re opposed).

I saw “Normal” on HBO. Loved “Rene’s Story” on Showtime. I embrace the transgender community.

It’s not prejudice they saw. My hidden assumptions gave me away.


II. Representation

The reason I was in New York in the first place was to attend a talk at the Museum of Radio and Television entitled, “No Limits: A Look at ‘Queer As Folk’ (‘QAF’) and ‘The L-Word’.”

Much has been said about ‘The L-Word’ (and, to some extent, ‘QAF’) about how the lesbians and gay men on each show are portrayed.

One camp feels that ‘The L-Word’ does not go far enough to show the broad spectrum of the lesbian community – the butches, the disabled, the overweight, the Asians, etc.

Others (myself included) feel that this is a television show; a suspension of reality for a few, brief (too brief) moments each week.

Bring on the beautiful women and men, I say!

The producers of both shows described how they are telling the stories of very particular groups of friends. That to try to represent the entire LGBT community would be untrue to the characters and their stories.

As their stories and lives unfold (at least in the case of ‘The L-Word’), naturally we’ll begin to see a wider range of the “types” of people in the lives of the main characters.

Admit it, folks. Who among us hasn’t said to his friends (or thought, anyway - or even wrote in a personal ad), “No chubbies.”

Show me the lesbian who would rather watch Rosie & Kelli kiss than Jennifer Beals and Laurel Holloman.

Robert Gant, one of the stars of QAF, noted that a fan once came up to him and commented that, “all the gay guys in Pittsburgh have such great teeth and go to the gym a lot.”

Those of us who have been to Pittsburgh certainly know this is not true.

Those of us who can separate TV from reality, also know this is not true.

Straight (and some gay) people make assumptions about gay people all of the time. Women are butches; men are effeminate. Lesbians all work construction jobs; gay men are all hairdressers.

I doubt that anyone would call Robert Gant (who has had fans not believe that he was gay in real life) or Gale Herrold effeminate. The women of ‘The L-Word’ are more a collection of femmes than butches. And Shane - a lesbian - is the hairdresser.

If these shows can break down the assumptions of even a handful of people, isn’t it worth the effort?

Maybe along the way, we’ll break down a few of our own.

Today, the Angry Activist in me has taken control. So much going on, not enough time in the world to address it all; so, I'll pick and choose:

On the local front, state legislators in Harrisburg today are going to consider some anti-LGBT amendments to a bill, including those that would strengthen the state's DOMA and bar the state from providing benefits to domestic partners, among other things.

On the national front, our favorite U.S. Senator Rick-y Boy has vowed to take the FMA to a vote before the fall election (even though it does not have the 67 votes needed to send the resolution to the states).

His "homies" - the GOP - put out a Memorial Day Recess packet which included talking points on gay marriage, which went something like this:

-- "This (same sex marriage) is a national crisis that requires a national response - a federal constitutional amendment."

-- And, No. 3 of the Top Five Reasons to Defend Marriage, acc'd to the GOP: "Redefining marriage sends a terrible message to the next generation: alternative family forms are just as good as traditional families, and children don't need mothers and fathers."

Wait! It gets worse! Since we're on the subject of gays and kids, a new FDA rule went into effect yesterday (did you hear about this ?) prohibiting 'men who have engaged in homosexual sex within the past five years' from making anonymous donations to sperm banks! (Supposedly to save the world from AIDS. Like, the virus is only transmitted through 'gay sex'!) Ohmygod, is it the 1980s again?

Another thing I quite enjoyed about NYC = the use of the acronym LGBT (as opposed to GLBT).

Now, MV, you may say; what does it matter if the "L" (Lesbian) is before the "G" (Gay - as in Gay Man)- or vice versa?

Well, if you're a Lesbian (with a capital L), you get pretty sick and tired of always seeing GLBT, as if, as usual, the "men" come first.

Takes me back to the days when The Advocate was the nation's leading "gay" newsmagazine and there was the big brouhaha over them adding "and lesbian" to their tag line.

Chalk this up under "it's a guy thing". Case in point : those places that utilize "GLBT" :

LPI Media, the publisher of both The Advocate and Out - publisher = male. President = male.

Editor of Out magazine = male.

Philadelphia Gay News publisher and editor = male.

Planet Out Inc, owner and operator of PlanetOut.com and Gay.com - CEO = male. President = male.

Those that utilize "LGBT" :

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center of . . . New York (!); also, of San Francisco, Milwaukee, Stanford University, Duke, etc.

NGLTF - the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force - current Executive Director (and many past) = female.

Family Pride Coalition executive director = female. (They also have 2 co-chairs of the Board : one male, one female - for, imagine ! - gendar parity)

GLAAD - the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation - Executive Director = female. (Also, 2 co-chairs, one male/one female, of the board).

Get the point?

Spent the late afternoon and evening in N.Y.C. yesterday. Sometimes, I feel very lucky to be me. So, I haven't visited Europe (yet!), or hit the lottery. But, how many of you can say you've :

Attended a rehearsal of the NY Gay Men's Chorus and been moved to chills by their rendition of "I Am What I Am" ? -- OR --

Been serenaded by gay men in a piano bar ? (With the song "Maria" from West Side Story -- duh !)

However, why is it that everytime I visit The Big Apple, I find myself in the middle of a schvitz? (And I don't mean the good kind).

I sweat, I drool, I drag. My clothes stick. My hair is drenched. Not just in the summer, either! Always!

Thank the goddess my NY friend Mark has central air.

Another hot weekend is behind us. What did we, the lesbian moms do this weekend, you ask? Here is how we corrupted the moral fiber of society this weekend :

Went to synagogue on Saturday morning and The Banana went to Hebrew school.

Perused yard sales for serapes and a Mayan calendar for The Banana's school project.

Watched the first Harry Potter movie and The Flyers' loss.

Joined our neighbors in holding a multi-family yard sale - where our organic Raspberry juice was very popular in the heat.

Wrapped gifts for a birthday party; checked our e-mail; weed-whacked; started a new puzzle; and other miscellaneous subversive things.

Tidbits from the week:

The Sports Fan in me chose to skip the Perfect Game being pitched by Randy Johnson the other night. Instead, I watched the Flyers lose.

I still fared better than my friend Jon, who watched the rain delay of the Phillies game on The Deuce so he could get updates on the Perfect game from the Ticker. He didn't realize the Arizona game was being televised locally on America's Superstation TBS!

And how about that Massachusetts State Senate - voting to overturn the 1913 law that Gov. Romney is "using" to prohibit out-of-staters from marrying in his fine Commonwealth!

I'm still laughing about the fact that Romney felt he needed to write letters to every other state to ask if they allowed same sex marriages! Like, wasn't he reading his own newspapers - that they were about to be the first state to allow it?!

And, thank the goddess that Fantasia is still in the running on American Idol. If she had been booted off this week, I would have lost all hope in what's right and just!

Well, it looks like The Gal and I got our 15 minutes of fame this weekend.

The Gal was quoted in the Harvard Crimson; while apparently I appeared in a video piece on one of the major national networks (given that friends in both San Francisco and Philadelphia saw me).

Interestingly enough, a mom from The Gal's "Queer Moms Listerv" who lives in Cambridge with her partner and kids, was interviewed by our own Inky.

In other news, does anyone else wonder why the Massachusettes Governor's mom (or dad) would name him Mitt?

When you're a minority, there are but a few times in your life when you feel, truly, like you belong. For me, last night was one of those times.

Interestingly enough, it occurred in a town not too familiar to me; and in a crowd of not just women, and not just gays and lesbians.

I was among the like-minded people of Cambridge, MA. Counting down to 12:01 a.m., May 17, when the first lesbian and gay applicants for a legal marriage license would enter the Cambridge City hall and proclaim their intent to marry.

Legally.
In the U.S.
History in the making.
We had to be there.

The mood was very festive. Sort of like a Pride Celebration without the drunken behavior and nakedness.

Or like New Year's Eve in a small town. Without the drunken behavior and Public Heterosexual Displays of Affection.

We mostly hung out by the brass band playing "Going to the Chapel," and "Here Comes the Bride," interspersed with old favorites like "Oh, Susanna," and "When the Saints Come Marching In."

And everyone was so nice.
Not Disney-nice; but, genuinely nice.
Happy. Welcomed.

Like we all belonged.

Ripped from the Headlines: "O’Malley: Be sad but don’t get mad: Archbishop (of Boston) calls for calm on Monday" (you know, when all those gay and lesbian radicals plan to invade their own towns' city halls and - oooh! - apply for marriage licenses).

Looks like The Boston Herald is fighting for the "best headline" honor with Philly's own Daily Snooze - "Don't Be Mad -- Get GLAD" : how many of you remember those old TV commericals? (GLAD trash bags)

How many of you remember how the gay and lesbian community also used the same commercials in many-a-Pride-parade ... "Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy" (gay men would proclaim in high-pitched voices)... "Hefty, hefty, hefty" (bull-dykes would chime in) - toying with stereotypes and popular culture.

Interestingly enough, GLAD is also the acronym for the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders organization - the very group that fought Massachusetts for the rights of Goodridge et. al. to marry!

I love irony.


[Sidebar: And, as Mel from "Queer as Folk" said in this week's episode - "You wanna see MAD ?" How about a hormonal, pregnant lesbian?" I'm guessing there may be a few of them at a city hall this weekend, 'eh?]