Lez Keep It Real

Today’s Come Out & Play post spotlights Straight Allies.

It’s always good to have someone on your side. When it comes to homosexuals, it’s always good to have straight people on your side. Here’s a coming out story of a straight ally, courtesy of YouTube.

From YouTube:

Amy Buttery is married to husband Rob, has two young sons, Benjamin and Michael and is an LGBT ally.

When asked to be Michigan’s host for the national event, Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights, Amy didn’t hesitate but jumped right in and got to work. When interviewed recently by Detroit News columnist Deb Price, Amy said, “I see myself as a straight ally. But I never thought of that as a position that involved activity. All it took was for someone to ask.”

Tune in every Friday for the Come Out & Play series, featuring coming out stories of celebrities, every day people, personal reflections, advice, tid bits and everything else concerning the complicated world of coming out!

Got an interesting coming out story to tell? Contact me and I will feature it in an upcoming post of Come Out & Play.

coming out, come out and play, coming out stories, straight ally, coming out stories on youtube.com

This week’s Notable Lesbian is:
Erika Julia Hedwig Mann
November 9, 1905 – August 27, 1969

Erika Mann was the eldest child of novelist Thomas Mann. She was born in Munich and had what was considered to be a “privileged” childhood. In 1932 she published the first of many children’s books. Shortly thereafter she became involved in several lesbian affairs in her private life. Her first noted affair was with actress Pamela Wedekind, whom she met in Berlin, and was engaged with her brother Klaus. She later became involved with director Therese Giehse, and journalists Betty Cox and Annemarie Schwarzenbach, whom she served with as a war correspondent during World War II. As was later written, her relationships were both sexually passionate and intellectually stimulating. Mann enjoyed being in the company of women who were intelligent, and with whom she could converse with on any number of international topics.

Interesting tid bit:
In 1938, she and her brother Klaus reported on the Spanish Civil War, and her book School for Barbarians about Nazi Germany educational system has been published. The following year, they published Escape to Life, a book about famous German exiles. During the war, she was active as a journalist in England. After World War II, Mann was one of the few women who covered the Nuremberg Trials. Following the war, both Klaus and Erika came under an FBI investigation into their political views and rumored homosexuality. In 1949, becoming increasingly depressed and disillusioned over post-war torn Germany, Klaus Mann committed suicide. This event devastated Erika.

Don’t forget about the Lez Keep it Real Contest! It’s still going on people because I haven’t had enough submissions. Submit and you can win!

More Notable Lesbians

If you have a suggestion for a Notable Lesbian, e-maill me at lyndsey.darcangelo@451press.net or use the contact form above and I’ll highlight her in an upcoming post.

*Some information provided by Wikipedia.com

notable lesbians, famous lesbians, Thomas Mann, Erika Mann

I admit it. I’m not much of a fan of doctors. But I’m lucky I suppose. I’ve had the same doctor since I was nine. He knows me in and out … medically speaking, of course. So when I go in for an appointment, it’s like going to see an old friend. I trust him completely and he is supportive of my girlfriend and I. He’s aware of my sexuality and all the baggage that comes with it.

What more could you ask for in a doctor?

According to PlanetOut.com however, it’s not about what you should ask for, it’s about what you should ask, period.

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It’s so refreshing when any prominent religious figure steps forward to articulate his or her beliefs in such a way that they not only make sense, but they capture the true spirit and meaning of beliefs based on love and faith rather than fear and hate.

That’s why I have to give some props to Jay Bakker, son of Tammy Faye and no stranger to the scandalous ways of evangelical politics. Bakker is distancing himself from his father, a former televangelist who ended up behind bars (big surprise) and took a page or two from his mother who showed him her book on how to be “radically welcoming and inclusive.”

From the Statesman:

To that end, Bakker calls himself “gay affirming” and has taken some hits since stating publicly that he does not believe homosexuality is sinful. Reading from Ephesians, Bakker told the packed church, made up mostly of gay and lesbian families, that even though they may have felt unwelcome in churches in the past, the Bible says all believers are one in Christ.

“I don’t know if Focus on the Family wants to admit it or not, but we are one in Christ with them,” he said. “I don’t know if we want to admit it or not.”

He praised the families who are planning to speak to megachurches for the Soulforce campaign.

“I’m so glad to be part of a movement that’s going to change the world,” he said.

Jay Bakker  is a 30-something, tatted, intelligent fellow who conducts services for his Revolution NYC church in a bar in Brooklyn. If that doesn’t make him down right “cool” as James Dean in your book, then I don’t know what will.

Furthermore, he’s on a mission to confront churches who spread anti-homosexual ideology.

I’ve got three words for Mr. Bakker … you go boy!

tammy faye bakker, jay bakker, jim bakker, televangelist, revolution nyc, ephesians

First let me apologize for my absence on Friday. I had a lot going on and couldn’t muster up the energy to post. But I’m back and feeling rejuvenated. Let’s get to it.

Did you watch the Oscars last night?

I did … sort of. There was a Law & Order SVU marathon on USA. So I was flipping back and forth. Watching the Oscars is a very “gay” thing to do. And I wanted to do my part. But, let’s be honest. Only 30 minutes of the Oscars are relevant. The rest is all smoke and mirrors. That’s why they save the “big” awards for the end — they want you to sit through the entire broadcast. I chose to sit through hours of Mariska Hargitay instead. Yummy.

Besides catching Daniel Day Lewis win yet another Oscar and watching the Cohen brothers mill about on stage in an almost arrogant aloofness, I flipped back to the Hollywood elitist broadcast to see something amazing happen. And it had nothing to do with John Stewart or Jack Nicholson.

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This week’s Notable Lesbian is:
Kay Lahusen also known as Kay Tobin
January 5, 1930

Kay Lahusen is considered the first openly gay photojournalist of the gay rights movement. Her photographs of lesbians have appeared on several covers of The Ladder, A Lesbian Review from 1964 to 1966. She help found the GAA (Gay Activists Alliance) in 1970 and frequently contributed to a New York-based weekly newspaper called Gay Newsweekly.

Lahusen was born and brought up in Cincinnati, Ohio and developed her interest in photography as a child. “Even as a kid I liked using a little box camera and pushing it and trying to get something artsy out of it,” she recalled. She currently resides in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania in an assisted living facility.

Interesting tid bit:
Lahusen was the longtime partner of Barbara Gittings. She photographed Gittings and other people who picketed federal buildings and Independence Hall in the mid to late 1960s. Lahusen also worked with Gittings in the gay caucus of the American Library Association, and photographed thousands of activists, marches, and events in the 1960s and 1970s, working closely with Frank Kameny and Jack Nichols and many other gay activists. In 2007, all of Lahusen’s photos and writings and Gittings’ papers and writings were donated to the New York Public Library. Lahusen and Gittings were together for 46 years when Gittings died of breast cancer on February 18, 2007.

Don’t forget about the Lez Keep it Real Contest! It’s still going on people because I haven’t had enough submissions. Submit and you can win!

More Notable Lesbians

If you have a suggestion for a Notable Lesbian, e-maill me at lyndsey.darcangelo@451press.net or use the contact form above and I’ll highlight her in an upcoming post.

*Some information provided by Wikipedia.com

notable lesbians, famous lesbians, kay tobin, kay lahusen, barbara gittings

Even though Hillary Clinton had the upper hand when she first embarked on the campaign trail of 2008 against a supposed “less qualified” opponent, she is now merely hanging on by one thin thread. Her political career could very well come to a sudden halt once the total votes are in, once the delegates are counted and once Barack Obama is given the Democratic nomination.

She’s got one chance left to salvage her dying candidacy, one last opportunity to show the country why she is more deserving of our vote.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Texas and Ohio: Two states, two debates, one chance for Hillary Rodham Clinton to save her moribund candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The former first lady suffered another bruising night Tuesday, badly losing the Wisconsin primary and the Hawaii caucuses to Barack Obama. The Illinois senator has now crushed Clinton in 10 straight contests, amassing a growing delegate lead and building support among women and white working class voters who have long formed the core of Clinton’s candidacy. READ MORE

Obama is on a roll. He’s smoking. Like Michael Jordon in his hay day, he’s “on fire,” and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. What’s even more damaging to Hillary’s campaign is the fact that Obama has crossed over into uncharted territory and managed to garner the white male, middle to upper income vote as well as the less than financially stable and minority vote.

Through what can only be described as “political osmosis,” Obama has permeated every corner of society, from upper class to middle class and from white to black to in anywhere in between. His charismatic wit and genuine air of confidence attracts far more people than Hillary’s hardheaded and balls to the walls if you will, approach.

She keeps on saying she’s got more experience. What does that mean exactly? Politicians with more experience have been known for their preference towards political protocol. In other words, it’s business as usual.

We don’t need business as usual. We need something fresh and new. Experience doesn’t matter so much anymore because it’s not about what you have done; it’s about what you are going to do. We need someone to get all up in the White House’s grill and shake things up a bit.

Obama’s appeal is primarily based on that. With a fresh face, unbridled confidence and remarkable honesty, who needs experience?

I like Obama more and more with each passing day. And according to the current political polls and standings, it looks as though I’m not the only one.

campaign trail 2008, hillary clinton, barack obama, democratic nomination, presidential campaign

There are many reason why I chose to remain in the closet throughout my adolescence. Confusion, for one. Denial, for two. But the most prevalent reason, by far, was fear.

I was afraid.

I don’t recall ever being afraid for my life, though. I was more afraid of just being different. When you’re different, you stand out from the crowd. When you’re different, other kids notice. When you’re different, high school can seem like an eternity of taunts and ridicule. When you’re different, things like this can happen.

From Time.com ~ Lawrence King, an eighth grader who identified as gay and wore makeup and nail polish, was 15 when he was declared brain dead on Feb. 13.

The day before, he had been shot in the head in an Oxnard, Calif., classroom full of students. Police have charged a sweet-faced boy called Brandon McInerney, 14, with first-degree murder and with a hate crime. According to the Los Angeles Times and KTLA, McInerney and some other boys accosted King about his sexuality on Feb. 11. Students apparently often taunted King, who didn’t even have a safe home to return to after school: he was living in a shelter for abused and troubled children.

The crime, a chilling execution carried out in a typical suburban school — allegedly by a boy who probably hasn’t started shaving — has shocked Oxnard and captured the attention of gay and transgender activists around the country. On Friday, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released a statement saying, in part, “Our hearts go out to Lawrence’s family — and to all young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender kids who are — right now, right this minute — being bullied and beaten in school while adults look the other way.” Another group, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) called for passage of the Matthew Shepard Act, which would dramatically increase the power of the federal government to prosecute hate crimes.

I did my best not to be different. Trying to be anything but the tomboy I was, was hard enough. Imagine me with long, flowing hair and low cut tops.

In a word: scary.

But, as I said, I did my best to fit in. Sure, I may have been uncomfortable in tight jeans and lipstick but it wasn’t unbearable by any means. I was still able to be myself personality wise and my tomboy side burst out whenever a sports-related activity was involved. I can honestly say that my high school years were enjoyable. I was popular. And, for the most part, I was happy.

Sadly, this admission makes me wonder … would my years of high school have been that enjoyable if I had come out?

Or would I have been teased, tormented and cast aside?

The answer is simply, I don’t know. I will never know. But when situations like these occur, I can’t help but think that by staying in the closet I made things a hell of a lot easier for myself.

I know it sounds like I am saying it’s better to blend in rather than stand out. I’m not saying that at all. The truth is that I’m not proud of the fact that I gave up a part of myself merely to blend in. What I am saying is that I can understand the appeal. Those kids who do take the leap of faith and love themselves fully enough to be who they are regardless of what others may think are to be commended. They did what I could not. They did what I was not ready to do.

It is a shame that these brave adolescents are targeted for such strength. Most of us wish we had an ounce of that kind of courage at that age. Most of us are sick to our stomaches over this.

Most of us just wish being different wasn’t such a big deal.

time magazine, lawrence king, Brandon McInerney, being different

It looks as though Kelly McGillis has traded Navy blue for Army green.

As I was watching the L Word last night, I did a double take when the prosecuting attorney in Tasha’s “don’ ask, don’t tell” case came on screen.

Immediately, I wondered … is that the blond bombshell from Top Gun who ignited every man’s (and lesbian’s) fantasy of having sex with an older woman who also happened to be an authority figure clad in a stark white Navy uniform.

Yes, it is.

This is the same woman that made Tom Cruise so weak in the knees that he purposely embarrassed himself by singing “You’ve lost that loving feeling” out loud in front of a crowded bar in a poor attempt (which worked by the way) at wooing her.

Back then, Kelly McGillis’ looks would have even caused me to throw myself at her knees with some crappy karaoke performance. She was that hot.

These days however, she’s looking a little worse for the wear. I’m not sure if that’s part of her character, but man … they made her look like a frumpy old military commander all right.

I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the case. But it looks as though Alice is going to be forced to testify. We’ll see if she coughs up any top secret homosexual information as quickly as she did on her new fake talk show, “The Look.”

Secretly I’m hoping that Kelly McGillis’ character is really an ol’ “G” in the lesbian hood and that she’s just been keeping it on the down low all these years. Regardless, I hope the next role she takes on is a little less unflattering.

top gun, tom cruise, kelly mcgillis, the l word, don’t ask don’t tell, tasha, kelly mcgillis on the l word

Today’s Come Out & Play post spotlights Gay & Christian.

Being gay and Christian is sometimes considered an oxymoron. Different beliefs collide and the struggle to come out and accept your sexuality can be challenging. Because of this, I’ve found this dichotomy to be an intriguing concept.

Some time ago, I interviewed Jen Austin, author of Coming Out Christian before. For those of you who haven’t read the Q&A, which appeared in Curve, I also posted a variation of the article on this blog.

Here’s another gay Christian testimony. I found some other videos on YouTube that would make a great follow up to this one as well. If you have a coming out story that relates to being Christian or any other type of religion, feel free to share it.

Tune in every Friday for the Come Out & Play series, featuring coming out stories of celebrities, every day people, personal reflections, advice, tid bits and everything else concerning the complicated world of coming out!

Got an interesting coming out story to tell? Contact me and I will feature it in an upcoming post of Come Out & Play.

coming out, come out and play, coming out stories, jen austin, coming out christian, coming out stories on youtube.com

This week’s Notable Lesbian is:
Alberta Hunter
April 1, 1895 - October 17, 1984

Alberta Hunter was an American blues singer, songwriter and nurse. She began her singing career in the early 1920s and went on to become a successful jazz and blues recording artist, often compared to the likes of Ethel Waters and Bessie Smith.. In the 1950s, Alberta retired from music and entered the medical field. She reemerged in the 1980s and resurrected her singing career. She continued to perform until shortly before her death in October 1984.

Interesting tid bit:
Though married, Alberta was a lesbian who had relationships with Lottie Tyler (Bert Williams’ niece) and kept company with well known bisexuals in the Harlem community, including Ethel Waters and her lover of many years, Ethel Williams. Alberta’s life is documented in “Alberta Hunter: My Castle’s Rockin’,” a documentary by Stuart Goldman Productions (1998), and in Cookin’ at the Cookery, a biographical musical by Marion J. Caffey that has toured the United States in recent years.

Don’t forget about the Lez Keep it Real Contest! It’s still going on people because I haven’t had enough submissions. Submit and you can win!

More Notable Lesbians

If you have a suggestion for a Notable Lesbian, e-maill me at lyndsey.darcangelo@451press.net or use the contact form above and I’ll highlight her in an upcoming post.

*Some information provided by Wikipedia.com

notable lesbians, famous lesbians, ethel waters, bessie smith, alberta hunter, ethel williams

News is scarce today ladies, though I did find more than one article concerning the tight race between Obama and Hillary. I’m not in the mood to deal with politics today. I just don’t have the energy for it.

I did, however, stumble upon a well-written column by a senior at Northwestern University. While I was occupied with my own rant about gay marriage and Arizona’s misguided attempt to ban it altogether, Kristin Maun was busy writing this piece on another important issue — health insurance.

Young, Gay and Uninsured

While the hot topic issue in the gay community is marriage, I’m more concerned about health care and partner benefits. In a few months I will graduate college and lose the insurance I have. Neither my college health care plan nor my parents will be able to cover me.

It’s a frightening prospect to be without health care. While I am young and healthy now, I have had several health problems in the past, including a cancer scare that required surgery. I have started to worry about small things that never mattered to me before – what if I’m in a car accident? What if I get sick again? How will I pay my medical bills?

Health insurance is a problem for all young people. The US Census Bureau reported in 2006 that people between the ages of 18 and 24 are the least likely to have insurance. More than 30 percent of young people are without a health care plan.

Along with health care comes my concern for partner benefits. While there are a number of companies that provide benefits for gay partnerships, there is no guarantee. The American Civil Liberties Union reports 233 of Fortune 500 companies provide domestic partner benefits – but that still means more than half don’t.

The partnership benefits provided by companies aren’t absolute. They are not portable and are lost when partners change jobs. The Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples also reports, “Partner benefits are subject to federal and state income tax, unlike benefits for married couples.” Domestic partner benefits are also subjected to greater scrutiny than unmarried heterosexual couples – same-sex couples often must sign affidavits that come with additional requirements such as shared financial responsibility.

Even if a company does provide partner benefits, there are no legal protections for me to care for my partner during a medical crisis. Hospitals can deny visitation rights to same-sex partners and refuse to allow partners to make medical decisions.

I remember how terrifying my hospital experience was when I was young and having surgery. Waiting to find out the results of biopsy and suffering through a painful recovery was the one of the most difficult experiences of my life. I was lucky to have a family and group of friends who were by my side through the entire ordeal – I don’t know how I could have gotten through it any other way. If my partner went through such a terrible experience, I would want to be there for them the same way.

I believe in gay marriage and will fight for it every step of the way. But when I think of my greatest political concerns and fears, nothing is more terrifying to me than standing in a hospital hallway unable to help myself or the woman I love. ~ 365gay.com

I’ve said this time and time again, but it’s worth repeating.

We need the rights and benefits we seek to exist and function as every other citizen of this country. It’s not a simple want … it’s a need. There is a distinct difference. Think about it.

365gay.com, northwestern, gay marriage, heath insurance, partner benefits, Kristin Maun

Try, try again. Because apparently, once isn’t enough.

Ariz. Mulls Gay Marriage Ban - Again
by The Associated Press

Republican lawmakers on Monday proposed asking voters in November to amend the Arizona Constitution to ban same-sex marriage in the state, which was the first to turn down such a measure.

The proposal was backed by 16 of 30 state senators, and an identical proposal was introduced in the House. Both chambers would have to approve the measure in a vote for it to be included on the ballot.

Under the amendment, “only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.” The proposal comes after Arizona voters narrowly rejected a similar measure in November 2006.

The previous measure included the same definition but also contained wording that was interpreted as prohibiting government recognition of civil unions or domestic partnerships. Seven other states approved amendments that day.

Opponents of the 2006 measure in Arizona focused much of their campaign on the additional wording’s reach. A leading backer of both measures said the new one should be considered a “consensus measure” because it is intended solely to bar recognition of same-sex marriage.

“This amendment is about bringing Arizonans together on an issue enjoying widespread agreement - that marriage is a union of one man and one woman,” said Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, an advocacy group for social conservatives.

Arizona already has a state law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. That law withstood a 2003 court challenge, but supporters of an amendment said changing the Constitution would provide a strong legal shield.

State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, a Phoenix Democrat who led the opposition campaign to the 2006 measure, said she opposes the new proposal.

“I don’t think it’s needed. I don’t think it’s necessary,” she said. “We’ve already had this fight a couple of times.”

The ballot measure proposal comes as a state commission prepares to review rule changes proposed by the administration of Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano that would provide health care and other employee benefits to the domestic partners of state government employees and retirees, no matter their gender.

I’ve got two words for these Arizona lawmakers (a.k.a Republicans) at the moment.

Screw. You.

I apologize for being so blunt, but come on. Why is this necessary? Arizona already has a state law that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

The only illogical reason I can come up with is this: it’s a playground taunt that basically says, “Your marriage isn’t as good as ours … nah, nana poo poo.”

All right. We get it. You’ve got a problem with unions between two men and two women. You’ve made your point. Why try to take it to this level, again? Do you really need an Amendment to backup your belief? Are you that insecure about it?

If you really believed that this issue is “enjoying widespread agreement,” then why would you need an Amendment to protect it? Such confidence as this should permit you to sleep soundly at night without fear that the general public could careless who gets married to who and allow it to occur under your watch.

Keeping gay couples from obtaining health care and other such benefits that straight couples are entitled to is beyond cruel. It’s abhorrent. It’s discrimination. And if you can’t see that, then you must be blind.

This ludicrous proposal has already been turned down once. It will be turned down again. And again. And yet, again. It will be turned down repeatedly until advocacy groups such as these get it through their thick skulls that it’s not only an unnecessary law, it’s also an unconstitutional one.

gay marriage, gay marriage ban, amendment, arizona

For all you Lauren Collins fans out there, I’ve got some titillating news! The article for Curve has published and it’s out in stores! If you do not have a subscription to Curve Magazine, have no fear. You can pick up this month’s copy at any Barnes & Noble bookstore. Flip it open to the table of contents and you’ll see my name, in bold, and the page, 38 to be exact, to turn to.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Lauren was give a center spread. As I said before, she was incredibly candid during the interview and I enjoyed it very much. I’m glad that I was able to help spread the word about her, not only as an actress, but also as a person.

Check out the article when you get a moment and let me know what you think.

Here’s a little teaser to spark your interest:

Degrassi: The Next Generation is the most watched domestic drama series in Canada, and the highest rated show on Nickelodeon’s “The N” in the United States. Degrassi, often described as a “cult classic,” garners rave reviews from critics for its lack of inhibition when it comes to exploring such “taboo” topics as abortion, rape, alcoholism, domestic violence and yes, even homosexuality, among teens. And really, what would a hit teenage television series be without a little lesbian drama?

Lauren Collins, who plays the quick-witted, somewhat superficial and sexually flexible Paige Michalchuck, talks with Curve about Degrassi’s appeal, her first lesbian kiss and the possibility of playing future gay roles.

degrassi, degrassi the next generation, paige, paige and alex, lauren colling, curve magazine, lauren collins curve article

I’m a sucker for songs from the 80s. That and this little mantra is ultimately true. Everybody is working for the weekend, including me. I have plans to do nothing but relax on Sunday with my girlfriend. But today, I have a lot going on. I have so much going on in fact, that I won’t be writing a Come Out & Play post.

My apologies. I have my reasons.

Reason #1:
I’ve picked up some more freelance gigs.

Reason #2:
I have to edit down the latest edition of a novel I have finished for the agent I’ve been conversing with. We have exchanged numerous e-mails regarding The Crabapple Tree, and I think she’s going to pick it up. Therefore, I want it to be in the best shape it can possibly be.

Enjoy your Friday. More importantly, enjoy your weekend! I’ll see you on Monday.

too busy to even write tags