Filed by Bil at 10:20 pm under Fightin' Words, Homophobia, Politics, The Media
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Well this is just incredible:

For 5 days, 5 Journalists will only source news from Twitter and Facebook to test quality of news.

This is bound to be a fascinating little experiment, and I am eager to read the results.

>> Update: you can follow the journalists here.

Speaking of breaking news via Twitter, I’ve been sitting at my computer for like half an hour now just watching the real-time tweet feed come in on the Prop 8 trial in California. For all of you on Twitter, just search #prop8 (or click this link) and sit still for ten seconds. You’ll see. They won’t stop coming.
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Filed by Bil at 11:22 pm under Homophobia, Politics
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Who is this guy and where did he come from?

Congressman Patrick J. Murphy - Rep. Patrick Murphy, Veterans Announce Efforts to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

I’m appalled by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but I am neither gay nor in the military, so it’s easy not to listen to me. Here’s a congressman who, while not gay, actually was in the military and, in fact, was in Iraq and earned a Bronze Star for being awesome. He’s an elected official from some blue-collar district in Pennsylvania. These facts – because he’s a decorated Iraq vet, because he’s from a socially conservative district, and because he’s NOT gay – make him perhaps the least likely and the best advocate for getting rid of a stupid, small-minded policy that directly affects our national security.

And don’t get me wrong. I am not one of those guys who goes around worrying about national security. It’s a political potato, and something I find boring after two seconds. But seriously, what’s a bigger threat: having gays in the military or having a military with 13,000 fewer individuals? Think about that one.

And keep your eye on Pat Murphy. He’s a mover and a shaker.

Filed by Trevor at 1:59 am under Activism, Fightin' Words, Gay Agenda, Homophobia, Love, Politics
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“What is the “gay agenda” anyway? Is it assless wedding gowns?” — Margaret Cho

“Marriage is one of the basic civil rights of man, fundamental to our very existence and survival. To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State’s citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discrimination. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.” — Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; Loving vs. Virginia, 1967

For want of the ability to officially voice my opposition to Proposition 8 in my home state on Election Day, this past Saturday I joined 2,000 others in a massive protest against the measure — itself just one cog in a wheel that spanned the entire country in one coordinated effort. I feel the events of the day were covered more eloquently by Bil’s earlier post, so I will say simply that twice in as many weeks I have joyfully marched the streets of Downtown Chicago, and at no other point in my adult life have I ever felt so connected as I do now. Regardless of what lies ahead for us as a community and for us as a nation, there is relief and hope in the knowledge that this is a city of kindred spirits.
(Keep reading…)

Filed by Bil at 10:54 pm under Fightin' Words, Gay Agenda, Homophobia, Social Issues
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Ever the supportive straight guy, I went with Trevor downtown Chicago this weekend to the protest against California’s Prop 8. It was a rally that turned into a march throughout the Loop and up the Magnificent Mile. It was, as they say, really something. It’s hard to describe right now beyond the basic facts, so I guess I can start with those. The rally had several speakers, highlights of which included Pastor Sherrie Lowly of the Berry United Methodist Church in Lincoln Square, which, coincidentally, was the location of a play I saw the night before; also speaking was Illinois State Representative (13th District) Greg Harris. The 13th District apparently includes my neighborhood…also coincidentally.

The events of the day are still swirling in my head, so I apologize if this post seems loosely structured. I’m sorry. I’M SORRY, PEOPLE! I AM BUT ONE MAN!
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Filed by Bil at 1:41 pm under Damn Hippies, Fightin' Words, GOP, Gay Agenda, Homophobia, Politics, Religion
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Ordinarily I don’t like to just leave a link to a news article without really expanding on it by adding my own thoughts, but I don’t have much time right now and I really wanted to put these out there:

1) Totally Gay Happy Meals/It is the end of the nutball Christian right. Here is your proof. To go

A sharply-written (and delightfully snarky) article about how the Religious Right has lost its power over America because the public has been bored with them for some time now.

2) McCain’s Problem: Not Age, but Condition

An article by Alec Baldwin for the Huffington Post with a very rational and appropriate warning not to alienate our elders by labeling John McCain as simply “old.”

Read and discuss. I’ll be back. (Coming up next – probably – all about the most interesting rehearsal process I have ever experienced, and some shameless personal promotion for the play I’m acting in…)

Filed by Bil at 1:29 pm under Homophobia, Love, Pop Culture, Racism
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To begin, welcome to Chelsea (!) and her marvelous musings on Craigslist Missed Connections. I don’t spend much time reading them, but I too always assume they’re for me.

A recent encounter at the lake front running path reaffirmed my suspicion that some of those listings are for me, and that they were perhaps just a little more than a missed connection.
(Keep reading…)

Filed by Trevor at 2:37 pm under Damn Hippies, Homophobia, Politics, Social Issues
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Quote from Barack Obama yesterday:

“I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country.

I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin’s views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division.”

On the surface, it’s refreshing to hear this sort of candor regarding the LGBT community from a top contender for the Presidency — had it come from a Republican I think I would have dropped down dead — but it’s a shame that legalizing gay marriage doesn’t fall under his heading of “broaden[ing] the reach of equal rights.” Just a reminder to all of you out there: ideology always trumps semantics. If you’re in favor of civil unions that offer the same rights and benefits as traditional marriage, then you’re in favor of gay marriage. Why call it anything else?

Can someone please tell me why we’re wasting any time as a country debating this issue? There is no discussion. We have far more pressing things as a nation to be united for. But out of curiosity, any word on the religious right about this?

Filed by Trevor at 5:14 pm under GOP, Homophobia, Religion
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What exactly can you say when someone you despise passes away unexpectedly? I wonder if Robertson will be next — just a thought. Now, I know what you’re thinking; I’m certainly not going to say I’m glad Falwell is dead. I’m not. I will express, however, relief at the thought that his absence from the political forum brings us all one step closer to mending the rift between the religious right and the rest of the rational world. What do you think?

Filed by Trevor at 2:03 am under Fightin' Words, Homophobia, Social Issues
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As a single man who’s interested in finding a partner, I’d long been intrigued by the upbeat eHarmony commercials featuring a plethora of smiling, racially diverse couples who had found their spouses using the service. My curiosity hit a fever pitch when my friend Byron indicated that he was using it and having some luck, so I logged on and tried it out.

How do I put into words what I discovered next? Let’s just say the conspicuous lack of same-sex couples in the advertisements should have tipped me off to the fact that my kind isn’t welcome on the site. Silly me.
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