Monday, June 16, 2008

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

(Diane Olson, l; Robin Tyler, r.)

Savannah, GA. We announced the lawsuit on Feb. 12, 2004, at 9 AM in front of the Beverly Hills Courthouse. -- Robin Tyler, plaintiff (along with partner Diane Olson) in the case that has led to legal same-sex marriage in California. They met decades ago, and were friends for over a quarter century before becoming a couple. In 1979 they were active in the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

Today, at 5:01pm PDT, by order of the California Supreme Court, same-sex couples were legally entitled to all of the rights and privileges afforded opposite-sex married couples. Contrary to the fears (and hopes--let's be honest) of some Xtians, the sky is still intact, the rivers do not run with blood, and sulfur emissions in California have actually declined.

There are a few bureaucratic changes, naturally. There will be one marriage certificate form for everyone, and secular--not religious--civil ceremonies conducted by the State will be gender-neutral. The wording recommended from the County Clerks Assn. of California goes thusly: "By virtue of the authority vested in me, as a Deputy Commissioner of Marriages for the County of XXX, I now pronounce this couple united in marriage under the laws of the state of California."

Ms. Tyler and Ms. Olson became legal spouses early this evening. Congratulations.

Somewhere my friends Jean and Marilyn are very, very happy...

African Vampire

Savannah, GA.  We are not going to give up our country for a mere 'X' on a ballot. How can a ball point pen fight with a gun? With those words, President-apparently-for-life Robert Mugabe today officially shut the door on any pretense of representative democracy in Zimbabwe. The Jesuit-trained racist homophobe has not finished his murderous blood meal of fellow countrymen, especially the Ndebele. Clearly, there are more opposition members to be shot, more printing presses to bomb, more journalists to be tortured.

The West (when not actively pouring accolades on his shoulders--this means you Edinburgh University, University of Massachusetts, Michigan State University--and all during the time when people were being raped, beaten, 'disappeared,' publicly executed, or burned alive in their huts.) will do its usual cluck and twitter, look askance, look away, and go back to worrying about $150 barrels of oil

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Another Murderous African Clown

Shortly after the Coup

Savannah, GA. Yahya Jammeh's brain is the size of a goober. So Is it surprising the chief export of his so-called Republic is peanuts? He is yet another extreme example of the nutbars that make up so many of the planet's religious extremists.

He goes by the official title "President Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh, Commander In Chief of The Armed Forces and the Chief Custodian of the Sacred Constitution of The Gambia." He also holds the title of "Secretary of State for Defense and holds responsibility over several Departments..." Departments such as the Cabinet, Legislature, Auditor General, Constitutional Matters--you get the idea. Dictatorship 101. He came power in a military putsch in 1994, returning Gambia to constitutional rule--his constitution--two years later and winning that presidential election. Surprise!

Unfortunately his Excellency's policies are anything but peanuts: When not "disappearing" members of the press or opposition, this dog of a man traipses about in white civilian drag, concocts personal herbal cures for HIV, and sidles up to the pig-trough for a tasty share of U.S. Foreign Aid ($100 million since the takeover alone.) Now this 21st Century despot has decided to go all religiously medieval on LGBT folks saying he will, "cut off the head" of any homosexual caught in his country. All homosexuals have been ordered to leave his plantation further stating that legislation "stricter than those in Iran" concerning homosexuality would be introduced soon. He should know; the Gambian Legislature is listed on his c.v.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

"Excuse me" *UPDATE*


http://view.break.com/513310 - Watch more free videos

Savannah, Ga. This didn't happen locally, but nevertheless could have taken place in just about any office setting, anywhere. The tinder: one too many assessments; one too many helpful suggestions; one too many forms to fill out; one too many papers to post; one too many deadlines placed on top of deadlines by managements more accustomed to delegating than doing. The precipitating event: an accidental knocking of a paper to the floor. T + PE = TNT.

No excuses here for this behavior; just observation... And the additional comment that when adults behave in this manner--in the office, on the road, even in their own homes, it shouldn't be called 'rage;' it should be called what it is: the temper-tantrum of a child. Monkey Madness.

UPDATE --"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." 43rd President of these United States.

Oops. Seems like this is a viral video stunt for an upcoming film... Clever dogs, they.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Real Change

Savannah, GA. No, it wasn't sexism and misogyny that ended Senator Clinton's attempt at securing the Democratic Presidential nomination--she made choices establishing that on her own--but if people wish to be brutally honest about the discussion, then gender bias, chauvinism, and the hatred of women played a very, very, large role in her defeat. Racism remains America's open wound, but gender prejudice is the raging sepsis beneath our skin. As a society we are so quick to hold contemptuousness toward the feminine. One of the most damning accusations that can be made to a boy is to accuse him of being a girl. When some male sports coaches want to completely shame their teams, they denounce them as female. If they need fortitude on the field, they don't need 'guts' or a 'spine'--they need to 'grow a pair.' They must be men. (Homophobia is the ugly sibling to this execration and enmity.) When women do wrong or make mistakes they are witches, bitches, whores; skanks, twats, cunts, sluts. The comments sections of most political blogs are rife with such sneering descriptions of the junior Senator from N.Y.

I celebrate the fact that 43 years after the signing of the Voting Rights Act we now have a national presidential candidate who is Black. I also celebrate the fact that 88 years after the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution we came very close to having a Woman do the same.