2009

It’s nearing the end of the first decade of this millenium, and what better time now than to reflect on this year (and possibly years gone by).

I started this blog back in July. It was an opportunity to say and vent the feelings, perceptions and stories that I felt I couldn’t share anywhere else. However, London Girl has become a lot more than that.

You see, I thought I would just write and that would be it. I didn’t actually think I would learn from myself, or that I would revisit my old ramblings and gain insight. Yet I have. I’ve actually documented something quite special and powerful here – and at the time I didn’t even realise it.

This however, has been a long time coming. Let’s rewind a few years. 2004/5 – that’s a good year.

I was about fourteen/fifteen, and I became aware that I had feelings for my best friend of the time. She is straight – and I was ashamed. I’d always harboured feelings, and inclinations about my gayness, but I was never, ever comfortable about it. I was always worried and scared – scared that I would be outcasted, that my life would reach a new hell, one far worse than the one I was living in. More importantly, I was scared that one day I would pluck up the courage to do something about this crush I had.

It was at that point where I made a crucial decision – one which it wasn’t until this year that I have been able to begin to reverse. I would cease all communication with this friend. It was easier to not speak to her, and pretend that I hate her, that to maintain such a close friendship whilst not being able to be with her. Thus, for four years I didn’t speak to her.

Following our weird break-up, I maintained my “hetero” appearance. Well, I was crap at it… But I would hesitate and act out dislike when other female friends insisted on groping my arse or boobs (apparently they are gropable!) – in order to portray this fake image of myself. I wouldn’t get drunk in case I revealed something I didn’t want to be let-loose, and I lied to my friends and family.

Then comes 2009. Many have claimed that this year has been terrible; things have happened, or it’s not been as exciting as previous years – and coupled with the economic crisis which currently looms over us, things don’t seem to be improving that much. I would have to disagree though.

This year for me has been a year of great and enourmous change. I started off the year (posting on my public blog) about how I am shrouded in secrecy, and how I never, ever feel at ease. Everything I say and do is just a facade; and I can’t write openly, I can’t express myself because I feel so bottled up. It was a horrible feeling – one which I never want to have to return to. I wasn’t myself – I was a reflection of a distorted image. It was dangerous.

Then I came out. It was a rather slow, and in some ways – painful – experience. It wasn’t painful because anything bad happened as a consequence, but it was painful in that for the first time I felt internally happy. It was painful because I had to break down all of those wall and barriers which for so long harboured my true self – the one that for many years I couldn’t come to accept or admit.

I am however, extremely lucky to know the people I do. They’re a great bunch – and yes I do moan about them – but if it wasn’t for my friends, I don’t honestly think I would be in the position that I am now. Okay, I’m still hopelessly single; but they’ve given me the strength, understanding and freedom to be who I wanted to be. In the past I surrounded myself with the wrong sort. Y’know who I mean – the opinionated, the close-minded, and non-obliging people of the world. Thoroughly heterosexual, and more often than not – right-wing. They were good friends to me, but they weren’t supportive, nor were they open-minded. They couldn’t see past there own view or take on the world – and that only made things worse for me.

I now feel comfortable to be who I am. To be the person who I think as far back as I can remember, I always knew I was. I don’t feel ashamed any more.

Yet, I’ve gained all of this in just eight or nine months.

That is why 2009 has been a good year. Okay, my Summer was all-in-all, rubbish. My AS grades weren’t particularly wonderful either; and things aren’t exactly brilliant with home-life either… But for once I want to celebrate the positives of a year, instead of harnessing on all of the bad.

This year has been so life-changing. I’ve met knew people, I’ve found support, I’ve opened my mind. Even this time last year, if I were to count all of the people who I fancied or liked, it wouldn’t extend beyond five. Now that I am accepting, and more open… Well that number has greatly increased.

I know I still have some way to go. I need to overcome my mind, and I need to embrace who I want – or at least embark on a stronger mission to find someone I can call my own. But I’ve paved the foundations to make this possible. I’m out of the closet, I’m free, and I’m happy. But also, I can see the beauty in life and in people more readily than I previously had done.

So to everyone out there, I wish you a Happy New Year. I hope that this past year has been good for you too, and I wish that you too can focus on the positives that make all of our lives worthwhile. I hope that whatever problems, issues and personal missions you face, that you can overcome them, and learn to accept that our indivuality is the essence of mankind. Embrace who and what you are, and fear not being that person.

I would love to hear your stories of 2009, and so I’ve set up an anonymous posting form. Just type whatever you want in the box (absolutely anything), and all replies (unless you’ve elected otherwise) will be posted on a new page called FormSpring. Please post whatever you want here; it’s completely anonymous – think of it as telling a secret to a stranger!

x

[Via http://londongirlblog.wordpress.com]

The Bigger Picture

So several hundred years ago Europeans decided to spread Christianity to subsaharan Africa and now the fruits of their labor and being born by gays through out the continent. A lot of newsprint has been spent on the upcoming Ugandan “kill teh gays” bill and how we and other developed countries should cut off aid due to that. Yet it’s also worth noting that a large swath of the Middle East already executes homosexuals and that doesn’t stop us from giving them huge amounts of cash.

If pictures are worth a thousand words then this map, from World Focus, should be worth at least a few brief news articles. Yet I doubt you’ll be seeing anyone pointing out that all the outrage focused on Uganda recently could just as easily be aimed at Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan or Somalia or Pakistan – all of whom receive foreign aid.

Cross-posted at Can’t Win For Losing

[Via http://queermerced.com]

One More Time....For 2009

It’s the last installment of the hottest, gay, 18+ dance party in the valley for 2009 this Wednesday. Come out and start celebrating the new decade early and enjoy a packed dancefloor, drink specials and that awesome vibe that you can only get at Integration. This week we’ll also have some guest DJ’s in the house as I (DJ Binx) will be celebrating my birthday with all of you.

Come early to avoid the line. See you there!

[Via http://queerfresno.com]

Archbishop of York attacks Uganda's anti-gay bill

From http://seattletimes.nwsource.com:

A top Anglican cleric who was born in Uganda spoke out Thursday against a proposed law in his native country that would impose the death penalty on some gays.

Archbishop of York John Sentamu – who along with the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, is one of the global fellowship’s most senior priests – condemned the anti-gay law now being considered by the East African nation’s parliament.

“I’m opposed to the death sentence. I’m also not happy when you describe people in the kind of language you find in this … bill,” he told BBC radio.

Although Sentamu seemed to suggest he was the first to attack the proposed law, Williams has also spoken out against it, telling The Daily Telegraph earlier this month that it was “shocking in its severity.”

“Apart from invoking the death penalty, it makes pastoral care impossible – it seeks to turn pastors into informers,” he told the paper in an interview published Dec. 12.

The issue of homosexuality has triggered a debate that has divided the global 77 million-strong Anglican fellowship, including in the United States, where it has splintered the Episcopal Church.

In Thursday’s interview, Sentamu chose his words carefully, restating the content of a 2004 Anglican statement that condemned “the victimization or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex.”

African churches have been at the forefront of the Anglican backlash against the blessings given to gay marriages and the ordination of gay bishops in the West. Uganda, whose population is nearly 40 percent Anglican, has become a rallying point for conservatives, with some U.S. Episcopal denominations switching their allegiance to the Church of Uganda following the 2003 ordination of openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson.

Sentamu said he and Williams had been in touch with his Anglican colleagues in Africa about the proposed law, which has aroused a storm of indignation worldwide. It is expected to go before parliament in the new year.

The bill would mandate a death sentence for sexually active gays living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. Anyone convicted of a homosexual act would face life imprisonment.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni will not try to block the bill, his spokesman Tamale Mirundi said Thursday, although he did say the president would attempt to convince his National Resistance Movement Party, which has a majority in parliament, to not support it.

“President Museveni cannot block the anti-gays bill,” Mirundi said, saying that if he did so “he will have become a dictator.”

[Via http://nealbinnyc.wordpress.com]

Cab Ride in 300 Words

Jaden led me by the hand outside to get a cab. We both slid into the back seat. I told the driver the name of the hotel, never taking my eyes from beautiful Jaden. She leaned over to kiss my mouth. Her lip gloss tasted sweet on my tongue. Without a glace towards the cab driver in the front, Jaden got on her knees on the back seat, swinging her leg over to straddle me. Her breasts were right in my face. I could smell the aroma of her conditioner as she flipped her long auburn hair behind her shoulder. Her hands moved behind my neck. Without thinking I slid both of my hands behind her smooth thighs and up under her dress. She sat down, bringing my hands to her bare ass. Jaden was not wearing any panties.

My eyes moved from her gorgeous breasts, barely contained by the neckline of her dress, up to her eyes. There I saw a twinkle of mischief that was blinked into rolling pleasure by her eyelids as I slid my middle finger down the middle of her ass, hooking it neatly into her already wet pussy. Keeping quiet for the driver, Jaden’s tongue snuck out to caress her lips. My finger stroked her wetness all the way to her clit and dipped inside her in turn. She gasped audibly as the driver of the cab applied the brakes, causing my finger to enter her to the knuckle. I felt her contract once wetly around my digit, then she was sliding off of me and out of the cab door. We had arrived at the hotel.

[Via http://chelseaquestion.wordpress.com]

Surely you Jest

Caught me because the little girl guarding my heart fell asleep.

Sneaky you.

So attached. So soon?

Don’t play games with me.

I’ve heard it all before. Even said it a few times.

So soon?

I don’t want to believe you.

But I don’t have that nostalgic feeling of terrible things to come.

So it’s an opopanax that I welcome with an open heart. Or did I mean arms?

Atleast, when you stab me in those, it’ll heal quicker and less painfully.

According to you, it shouldn’t hurt at all.

“It won’t even sting,” you assure me.

Why?

Because the feeling’s mutual you say.

But, do you fabricate?

Only time will tell.

[Via http://teejayc.wordpress.com]

Expose

Some of the transgender who attack us seem to think the women here and elsewhere who oppose the transgender lie are engaging in some kind of old-school activism. They want to believe that we are forming some competing movement, or other such nonsense. They like to apply labels like HBS or Taliban, create a faux fight between two arbitrary sides, shout and demean, and basically engage in the sort of politicking that they believe to have been responsible for their “success” in the 90’s. Of course they are wrong.

I basically have two aims with regard to the transgender business. One, I want to provide an alternative viewpoint to the TG dogma that confronts new transitioners as they begin their healing process. The sooner they clear that toxic mess, the sooner they can get through the process. The voice of real women who have come before you telling you that your senses are right about the TG and to stay away from them is a huge help.

In addition to speeding the process in the initial stages of transition, and assuaging guilt for believing your own senses about the sexual fetishists, by exposing the truth I hope to rob the transgender of new recruits. Not recruits from women like us, because we generally know the score and leave of our own accord. But recruits from “gender” philosophy such as the genderqueer who want to use it to challenge society’s rules. If they can see who their so-called allies really are, they may think twice about their priorities and allegiances. The truth is very ugly.

The vast majority of the TG are simply heterosexual transvestite men. And transvestism is tied closely with other, possibly more troublesome sexual behavior. What sets the “full time” transvestite apart from the garden variety crossdresser is that the sexual fetish they both share is that, for whatever reason, in the “transgender” transvestite it gets out of control. The reasons behind this are a subject that needs to be studied if these people are going to be helped.

In a past post I wrote about how I hoped for more research into GID, but not because I believe in “gender problems”. Nobody has “gender problems” as such. People like Ron Gold wrote his famous post on this, and indeed everyone in larger society understands this instinctively. So do the transgenders, in fact, and that is why they twist philosophy and turn logic on its head. Gender itself is merely shorthand for a variety of social phenomena; it can hardly be disordered.

The first myth that must be exposed is that surgery creates a transsexual. There are plenty of transvestites who get surgery, and in fact they make up the bulk of the “transsexuals” among the TG. The goal of this sleight-of-hand is to a) excuse their behavior and b) provide a path for the transvestite to live “full time as a woman”. In other words, ready access to their drug of choice. Getting surgery is how the “transgender transvestite” actualizes their fetish and makes it permanent and inescapable. I have to thank an anonymous source for explaining this aspect of the rather puzzling motivations of the “transgender transsexual”. I’m sure more detailed discoveries will be found as researchers delve into the mysteries surrounding fetish and exhibitionism in neurology.

I also believe it will be found that GID, at is called by puzzled researchers, is an amalgam of other already recognized problems, with the veneer of gender laid over the top. It has been suggested to me that the sexual high that transvestites receive from exposing themselves to the public in women’s clothing is like an addiction. And like any addict, they rage and fume when their drug is taken away, hence their attacks on women like us. It is not because we expose them for being men in dresses that they hate us. They do that to themselves all the time- but on their schedule. They want the control of where and when to do the “Gotcha!” moment and bask in the sexual glow, and anyone who would stand in the way of that must be destroyed.

That is why they rage against those who tell the truth about them. That is why they threaten to write an “expose”, their tried-and-true weapon against us- the threat to ruin our lives by trying to “out” us to our communities and destroy our womanhood.

The fact that they are willing to commit this act which, in their own parlance, puts us at risk for violence and death, simply for continued access to their sexual thrill is despicable. It illustrates perfectly just how unbalanced and aggressive they really are. How selfish. How male.

I and the other women here are no stranger to male violence. Cat has written quite a bit about her experiences with these people. And every woman who ever lived has felt the impact of male aggression in their lives, some with horrifying directness. That is why I write these things and put myself at risk in the face of these all too real threats against me. I care about women like me, who have gone through so much just to survive. We few who know the truth must stand up to the men who would abuse us.

We must tell them they cannot, they will not, silence our voices.

[Via http://ariablue.wordpress.com]

The Ex-Factor and the Holidays, Lesbian-Style

     That first holiday after you leave that girlfriend of seven or eight years, the one you expected to spend the rest of your life with, is bittersweet. If you’re like me, you left her only after you were on the verge of killing her. And no one really wants to find out if all the prison movies about bad girls incarcerated is true. So you leave, to keep from becoming a murderer. But that doesn’t mean you won’t miss her and particularly at the holidays.

     Every couple does something good together, or you would never last out the first year. My ex-wife and I did the holidays well. For one month out of every year, we were truly the perfect couple that we longed to be the rest of the year. We wrapped gifts, hung stockings for the dogs, cat and each other. We decorated like crazy and we celebrated by eating delicious holiday food and by selecting really special gifts for each other, remembering all the sweetest little things that a lesser elf would have easily forgotten.

     This year I am with a new elf of my choosing. Thank God she also loves the holidays. We are starting new traditions. I pray that she will be the one I spend the rest of my life with, as we put up the tree and sit mesmerized in front of it together holding hands and listening to our four dogs snoring all around us. She could not be more different than my ex in most ways, but I am grateful that she shares my enthusiasm for all things Christmas.

     For me, the holidays are a wonderful time to spoil the people you love. I believe in fussing over everyone I care about. I’m not terribly religious, but I definitely believe that love drives my actions, and that’s all good. Plus, I can’t get enough of the lights and the music.

     I’m wondering what I should do for my ex-wife. Part of me gets a little misty when I remember the past eight years we spent together. I’ve thought about calling her, but don’t know what I’d say exactly. She was angry when I left. We’ve been civil, but not terribly friendly since the breakup. I guess I want her to know I love her and want her to be happy. I also want her to know that I will never forget all the wonderful holidays we spent together and how special they were. And even though we’ve moved on, we can always take comfort in the fact that we shared many wonderful holidays together.

[Via http://lesbianwink.wordpress.com]

Dear Writer's Block; Its Personal! So I Ramble

Serious case of writers block…

Aaaammmaazzinngg. I hate writers block

Words that I cant think of but words that lie on my brain.

Voice of Carrie Bradshaw “Try not to think about it.” you know? that shit sucks, cause when I don’t think about it, I REALLY don’t think about it and then I forget about it, then I forget the deadline, then when I remember the deadline it was yesterday. That damned writers block!

AAANNNND, Why can’t I be a lesbian columnists? Cause I don’t fall into that damned stereotype of wild nights partying at clubs in the city and fucking everything that moves! [nod, nod]

Okay. I’m just a boring dyke.

I don’t want to write “Adult” material anymore!!!! [stomp! Stomp! Folds arms and pouts] It’s sooo fucking redundant!

O, writers block, you’ve made it so hard for me. You’ve upset me and now I must rebel. [writing anyway]

[Via http://sabrinall.wordpress.com]

Labels are for cans. Not people

Butch, lipstick lesbian, dyke, soft butch, pillow princess, stud, bulldyke

Do you identify with any of these labels? Or do you dislike when others try to confine you with one of these labels or others?

Labels are for cans. Not people. Labels are so confining and restrictive. Sometimes I think that labels make it easy for others to misrepresent who you are or at least make themselves comfortable with who they are.

So, will I put myself in a box for someone to check off? Nope.

[Via http://shalamajackson.wordpress.com]

I had a secret

When I was almost 15 years old I became a Christian at Summer Madness, “Ireland’s largest Christian festival”. To give you some indication of what sort of religious experience this was- Andy Flan was singing Here I am to worship by Tim Hughes, I was standing with people I had never met, I’d lost my voice and I had my hands in the air. I was caught up, I knew everything. There was no doubt in my mind and I prayed the prayer…

Elsewhere at summer madness…. I was sharing a tent with my occasionally self loathing gay friend Christine and her then girlfriend.

Christine went on to dump the girlfriend (for ‘religious reasons’) at another Christian event the next February. At March mannafest that year 2 other friends decided to leave the church because they were gay.

I had a secret… When I had wee adolescent fantasies they were about girls… When I later started to read erotica online…. that was about girls too… and even later when I had a bit of a problem with porn… that was girls too.

I had a lot of trouble seeing how this little secret related to my real life. In real life I was meant to pretend to never to think about sex before I married a nice Christian boy and having nice Christian babies. In my secret life I would read lesbian erotica, think about girls I fancied and… well… ask God for forgiveness all the time and feel shit about myself.

I don’t know where I got the idea that being gay was wrong. I was surrounded by good influences… 2 of my primary school teachers were in a committed relationship and now an inspiring civil partnership, one of my ministers at that time was gay and a good friend from that time had just started going out with the love of his life and and although he was struggling with the church, he never thought that God didn’t love him.

I was deeply convicted of my ‘wrongness’ and that is a very uncomfortable place to be. It took a lot of undoing but I really believe that God loves me just as I am.

Read this…

xx

[Via http://feelingchilly.wordpress.com]

jaybird practices.

Tonight I can’t sleep, and tonight there is no poetry. I vowed that this evening I  wouldn’t hide behind those kinds of words. You are a bearing witness to my stumbling mumbling rehearsal… at opening up.

A girl, (there’s always a girl biting her lip, saying things like honey, and please?) she claims I hide behind my words instead of telling her how I actually feel. So, I’ve decided (did I mention the lip biting?) to practice here occasionally.

She, here she’ll be Citrine, she haunts my writing, playing hiding and seek in my metaphors. (Our past is a sad story some night I’ll tell you.)

Our biggest problem is that she likes to fall asleep with me. She will curl up on my shoulder and sigh sleep breaths, but I fidget and squirm. I think of the drive in my cold car back to my own bed.

Don’t think me to be insensitive, it’s just I prefer to sleep alone

but I love waking up with someone.  (Paradox rules my life.)

This is my ideal morning:

girl, morning sex, fall back asleep, pull on t tshirt and underwear, stumble to kitchen, coffee.

but this is my ideal night:

play guitar on my bed, scribble in my journal, read, sleep.

not

stare at ceiling, check cellphone clock every five minutes, get up to leave wake her up and she asks me to stay longer, repeat, freeze ass off in car, her hit every red light home, then immediately sleep because it’s so late.

If only I could have both.

Ok, so

now you know something about me.     (I’m selfish.)

[Via http://mayjaybird.wordpress.com]

Fistgate: Obama chief 'knew' of 'disgusting' sex subjects

This is OUTRAGIOUS!

 

Jennings was co-chairman of committee that set up statewide program

Posted: December 09, 2009

8:01 pm Eastern

By Bob Unruh

© 2009 WorldNetDaily

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following includes descriptions of adult themes and objectionable subject material.

Kevin Jennings at the 2000 conference

A pro-family organization is accusing President Obama’s Office of Safe Schools chief, Kevin Jennings, of knowing in advance the “gross and disgusting” subjects that would be covered at a seminar on sex for teenagers. 

There have been multiple reports about a Massachusetts school seminar 10 years ago sponsored by the group Jennings founded, the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, that included instructors providing explicit direction on homosexual activities, such as “fisting.” 

The subject has been raised as a direct challenge to Jennings’ fitness to hold office, and as WND has reported, several dozen members of Congress have signed a letter to President Obama demanding his dismissal. 

Now, Brian Camenker and Amy Contrada at Mass Resistance in Massachusetts have posted online audio recordings from the seminar, documenting discussions such as whether to “spit or swallow” during oral sex and how to accomplish “fisting.”Please cont reading story

 http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=118484

[Via http://randysright.wordpress.com]

New Jersey Nears Vote on Letting Gays Marry

From: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/05/nyregion/05marriage.html

A petition in New Jersey signed by more than 2,300 Democratic officials, advocates and residents has helped sway members of the State Senate Judiciary Committee to call for a vote on a bill to legalizesame-sex marriage.But the bill has a long way to go, and recent votes against same-sex marriage in a Maine referendum and in the New York State Senate led opponents of the New Jersey measure to say that the political tide had turned against it.

Still, Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, a Democrat from Union County, said the petition, initiated by a small group of New Jersey Democrats, produced a strong “momentum change” for the bill after it had appeared to be stalled in recent weeks. Many prominent officials signed the petition, including Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark; Ronald K. Chen, the state’s public advocate; and J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo, senior counsel to the New Jersey public advocate.

Mr. Lesniak is a member of the Judiciary Committee, which plans to vote on the bill on Monday. A large turnout for the vote is expected by those on both sides of the issue; gay couples are planning to testify about what they believe are shortcomings in the state’s civil union law, which was passed in 2006.

Mr. Lesniak predicted that the Judiciary Committee would pass the bill. The full Senate would probably consider the measure on Thursday, and Mr. Lesniak said the vote would be close. The Senate and the Assembly — where the bill is still in committee and no vote has been scheduled — are controlled by Democrats, but some do not support same-sex marriage, so Republican votes would be needed.

The timing is important because the current governor, Jon S. Corzine, a Democrat, supports same-sex marriage, while Christopher J. Christie, a Republican who will assume the office on Jan. 19, opposes it.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, a Democrat from Princeton who sponsored the bill in his chamber, said support had ebbed and flowed in recent weeks.

“Once people get over the election and what happened in New York,” he said, “I think it’s a matter of doing the right thing, and more members, as time progresses, will become less skittish.”

Senator Loretta Weinberg of Bergen County, Mr. Corzine’s running mate in the November election, said her colleagues should not fear for their jobs if they support the bill, which she sponsored.

“I understand some of our legislators have profound religious feelings about this, and I respect that,” she said. “I have less patience with those who somehow perceive there is a risk in voting for this. There is no risk.”

Mr. Gusciora said a same-sex marriage measure had a better chance of passing than it did in New York. “New York is two different states, New York City and upstate New York,” he said. “We’re still the progressive suburbs of Philadelphia and New York City. I believe we’re a more progressive state.”

Still, opponents are mobilizing to block the measure. The New Jersey Catholic Conference helped deliver about 156,000 signatures asking legislators to enforce the civil union law instead of approving same-sex marriage.

Len Deo, president of the New Jersey Family Policy Council, a research group, said his organization believed it would be wrong to change the definition of marriage to aid what it said was a tiny portion of the state’s population, based on the 8,340 people in civil unions out of a population of 8.6 million.

“In 31 of 31 states, with Maine being the most recent, people have decided that marriage should remain the union of one man and one woman,” Mr. Deo said.

Mr. Gusciora said some Republicans had said they would support the bill. And Mr. Lesniak said: “Those who are opposed to this are not hateful, but they give safe haven to people who are hateful. If we pass this law, those people who are bigots, who are homophobes, will no longer have that safe haven.”

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: December 8, 2009

An article on Saturday about the scheduling of a vote by the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee on a same-sex marriage bill after a petition campaign referred incompletely to the petition, using information from the bill’s advocates. Although it was eventually circulated by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a liberal advocacy group based in Washington, the effort was initiated by a small group of New Jersey Democrats. The article also gave an outdated title for J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo, one of the petition signers. He is now senior counsel to the New Jersey public advocate; he is no longer director of the state’s Division on Civil Rights.

[Via http://nealbinnyc.wordpress.com]

Lesbian Bishop for LA

The Espiscopol Diocese of Los Angeles has elected The Rev. Mary Glasspool, 55,  as an assistant Bishop on Saturday (Read Associated Press article). She is the second openly gay bishop to be elected by the US branch of the Anglican church. The appointment of the first, Bishop Gene Robinson, in 2003 caused divisions in the Church worldwide that have still not healed. This isn’t something I thought I’d hear myself saying, but hurrah for the US Episcopol Church. They are standing by their selection, in the face of criticism from Anglicans worldwide. In July, the Episcopal General Convention effectively lifted a moratorium on electing another gay bishop which had been asked for by Anglican leaders seeking to prevent a permanent break in the communion.

Her election must still be approved by the national church. Let’s hope the Episcopol Church keep their faith in her and their support for same sex couples. Many in the church, worldwide, are still struggling to accept female clergy, let alone a lesbian bishop. Surely, as the members of the Church who voted for her in LA seem to realise, in the name of reaching out to the wider community, someone like The Rev. Mary Glasspool is a perfect candidate. Surely she will draw people back to the Church who feel disconnected. I’m not religious myself but I know there are a lot of gay men and women who long for acceptance by the Church whose fundamental beliefs they share.

But religion and logic don’t often go together. I’m not arguing that faith should always be altered and adapted to fit everyone’s lifestyle. Clearly that’s not the point of religion. But if we’re all God’s creatures and Jesus forgives everything, why is there any controversy?

Yahoo News reports that polls show growing acceptance of queer people in the US. Yet at the same time there is growing religious consternation. The appointment of Bishop Gene Robinson led to the formation of a breakaway Anglican church – The Anglican Church in North America, who don’t approve of gay bishops. The Mormon Church, and others, still see homosexuality as a sin.  It seems that loving thy queer neighbour is all well and good, providing they know their place and don’t, say, become a bishop, or join the army. Or heaven forbid, want to marry.

And lest we should think that this happening in LA means that she stands a good chance of being accepted in her position, remember that it was in California that Proposition 8 was approved in 2008, effectively making illegal the marriages between many loving gay couples.

I suppose my question, really, is when will this not be a news story? When will people religious and otherwise just accept that we are not all the same? Chances are God, if he exists, loves us all.

[Via http://rebeccasb.wordpress.com]

Cheating

I hate for my first blog to be on this subject… but it’s relevant to our world right now.

If you have even come close to a news channel or website you would have seen alot about cheating lately.   Of course cheating is all over the news, radio, and internet.  A lot of celebs are cheating lately… Tiger Woods, Jude Law, and Eric Benet (and how could you cheat on Halle Berry??).  Even politicians are cheating all over that place.  But as we look at those who make the news, we have to look at the rest of society.

I was having a conversation with a good friend the other day, and she talked about how a friend of hers admits he doesn’t know a guy who hasn’t cheated.  That’s kind of scary for all you straight girls or gay guys out there.  However, society likes to pretend only guys cheat.  That’s definitely not true.  Women are just as guilty of cheating and probably just as often.  From my experience with girls I’ve dated, girls my girlfriend dated in the past, and girls other girls/guys I know have dated, there is just as much cheating in the female lifestyle.

So what makes people cheat?  I don’t claim to know the answer, but I have opinions.  Part of it is a lack of respect for the person you are with and your relationship.  If you must sleep or be with this other person, break your current relationship off.  I am sure your significant other will appreciate the honesty.  It also shows a lack of character.  You are hurting the person you claim to love and you promised to be faithful to.  That is such a lack of dishonesty on your part.  I can go on forever, but I don’t want this to turn into a rant.  I could really go on forever I feel so strongly about this subject.  I’ll end here, however, and let you leave your own comment.

[Via http://lovealwaysjill.wordpress.com]

Double the Tenderness

I have not been drawing much lately, so I’ve posted a favourite piece from my first blog series in 2006. This image was drawn from a photograph I found on a porn site that I thought was quite tender in spite of everything else it was surrounded by… like a little candle in the darkness, standing out from the rest with its cosy gentleness. 

I wanted to put it up today to honour my friends with same-sex partners… whether they call themselves “gay”, “queer”, “homosexual”, “lesbians”, or just plain old “lovers”… it doesn’t matter. Whatever you’re comfortable with. Personally, I’m not much for labels… people are all people and deserve to be treated as fully human…

The male body image photo project I’m working on has put me in contact with straight men, gay men, and even some transgendered men… and some men who dress as women. I went to a club in the gay village a couple of weeks ago to see one of our models for the EXPOSURE project dance on stage during a contest to chose a “Miss —” of the season for the club. I went with my good friend and artistic-partner in this project, another woman, and at first, we were the only females in the whole place. We sat close to the stage and watched the place literally fill up (on a Wednesday night!) before the show started, and the actual show, put on by lovely dressed-as-women-dancing men, was alot of fun to watch.

But I must admit that there was a sideshow that was equally fascinating, and both of us couldn’t keep our eyes off of it. From the moment we walked in until the time we left almost 2 hours later, there was a couple off to the side of the stage, a ways away against a wall, that were making out. Really making out. I don’t think I’ve ever really seen two men kissing before, and the passion and the tenderness they were putting into it was quite moving to see. And they didn’t stop! We both wondered why they would do this in public, if it was a thrill for them to be seen, or if they were completely oblivious to everyone and everything around them in the noisy bar. It was quite a show. They were sitting in front of a pinkish wall that was illuminated from behind, so they were silhouetted very clearly, and although the place was packed for the show, no one ever blocked the view between us and them. Honestly, I was quite touched to watch them kiss and caress each other; it was very, very sensual (and they were both beautiful, young, shapely men). I didn’t even feel a twinge of discomfort or judgement, just interest, and emotion.

In my rather heterosexual lifetime, I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to explore another woman’s body; which was very much like meeting myself “in the flesh”. It was not an ongoing, intimate relationship, but a close friend who agreed to enter into this sacred space with me to learn more about ourselves and each other, and to honour ourselves as women…. which truly, seemed like a perfectly natural thing to do at the time, and for which I am very grateful. Perhaps allowing that line to blur for myself has made me more accepting of what other people feel or choose, or simply are… honestly, imperfect as we all are who is anyone else to judge what people choose or feel pushed to experience?

Years ago when I was separating from my husband, a friend of my was also leaving her husband, because she had met and fallen in love with a woman. I was close to her, and to him, and I watched helplessly as they struggled to make this break and adjustment as care-fully and lovingly as possible, but naturally fears were stirred up and egos were bruised in the process. From the sidelines, I was anxious to see it all blow over and for them to remain friends, for everyone to fully accept, and understand the others’ needs and position. To me, there was no apparent deception, no hiding, no lie… the truth was simply that she had fallen in love with another PERSON who touched her deeply and just happens to be female too.

[Via http://victoriassexblog.wordpress.com]

Playhouse Merced is doing It's a Wonderful Life!

Location:

Playhouse Merced Black Box Theatre

Merced, California 95340

When: December 14, 2009

Starts at: 2:00 PM

Description:

By Philip Grecian; Based on the film by Frank Capra

The holiday season is a perfect time to join together with family and embrace the truly important things in life. This December, Playhouse Merced will be offering It’s A Wonderful Life: The Radio Play in it’s Black Box Theatre. Set in a radio studio, the audience will have a perfect chance to see and hear this beloved holiday classic that tells the story of George Baily and his guardian angel, Clarence.

For Family Packages, Dinner Packages and Group Rates (15+), please call the box office at (209) 725-8587.

Student (with valid student ID) – $10.00

Child (5-12) – $8.00

Adult – $15.00

[Via http://queermerced.com]

Today is world HIV/AIDS awareness day!

Today is world HIV/AIDS awareness day! Go and get tested with friends, family, or your partner and know your status! Today is also a day to remember our loved ones who lost a fichting battle with the illness and those who are fighting that battle as we speak. The LGBT community stands behind you 100%! Remember, knowing is beautiful!

[Via http://thefemmeapr.com]