A Very Gay Oscars (for lack of better terms)

For the LGBT community, the Oscars last night were a very moving, positive experience, as they watched the crowning moments of Dustin Lance Black and Sean Penn, who received wards for their work in Milk. Dustin Lance Black's acceptance speech for Best Original Screenplay was a poignant and powerful one: "I want to thank my mom who has always loved me for who I am, even when there was pressure not to," he said, nearly in tears," But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight, who have been told that they are less than by their churches or government or by their families that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours." Sean Penn, too, delivered a meaningful speech, alluding to the Proposition 8 ballot and the Westboro Baptist Church who had picketed outside the awards, "For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame, and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone." It was a victorious moment for the community to hear them spoken about in such favor by these influential people, in such a far-reaching mainstream fashion. The emotional responses of Dustin Lance Black's and Sean Penn's colleagues by way of applause and close-ups on their impassioned faces were a great sight to behold as well, to see that so many prominent figures in our culture were so supportive. In that same audience was gay rights activists Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg, who were portrayed in the film Milk. The two of them donned White Knots on their outfits, the symbol of Marriage Equality. Most of the cast of Milk wore them and even ANne Hathaway's father had one on his tuxedo. At the Spirits Awards, there were even more celebrities who sported these ribbons on them. Hollywood is one of the driving forces behind the movement for marriage equality, for reasons like Milk, the White Knots, and earlier moments like Brad Pitt (who inevitably attended the Oscars) who donated $100,000 in September of 2008 against the passing of the ban.

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My Conclusions:

• Anne Hathaway was in the movie Brokeback Mountain, the acclaimed gay film that Heath Ledger starred in. Last night, Heath won the Oscar posthumously for his Joker.
• I want a White Knot.
• This is the first time that I actually watched the Oscars all the way through.
• Also, Penelope Cruz won an Oscar for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, in which she plays a bisexual painter.

PETA: Pretentious, Eccentric & Trashy Advertising

PETA or People for Ethical Treatment of Animals is an organization that is built on very good intentions to encourage vegetarianism/veganism and anti-animal cruelty, but they seemed to go about it in such a way that is not helping their cause, but rather, causing some (including myself) to be disillusioned by the movement. While I am not discrediting their efforts for neglected and abused pets or furthering exposure of the poor conditions and callous treatment of animals within the meat market, they seem to have strayed from their intended purpose of inspiring others and reaching out to them to help these creatures, by reducing themselves to utilize lowbrow methods of attracting recruits that turns others away. As you can see, many of their ads and public rallies include people parading around in close to nothing, and while I condone radical protest for a good cause, the way to go about it is not undermining people to be easily manipulated by sexuality. Although I believe that sexuality is something that should be embraced, it certainly should not be used as it was in the PETA ad that was to be aired during the Superbowl this year but was pulled for its overt adult content. It featured scantily clad vixens crawling towards and licking a pumpkin, rubbing vegetables on their body (even suggesting masturbation with asparagus or broccoli, intercourse with a gourd, etc.), and even took it to the point of blatant self-petting on the breast while one of them was about to eat a veggie. The Superbowl is a testosterone-laden event so the provocative material must have been aimed to this audience, but it is also family-oriented since it aired on NBC, available in an estimated 112 million households and I am sure that many of them are in suburbs, where it can be witnessed by sensitive viewers.

It is offensive to me that they would condone the belittlement of sexuality to nothing more than a ploy to get endorsements and it is highly tired out that they would

use these images to manipulate people who they seemed to have undermined as being mindless perverts. Whether the greater population is just that is up to speculation, however it is not hard to argue that PETA has lost sight of their cause. It seems that the "Vegetarians have better sex" ad stems from a study that they are concocting that connects vegetarianism to virility, but it stands that you cannot quantify the quality of sex. Also, diet can be responsible for lower sex drive, but carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores alike can have theirs negatively affected by their nutrition, no matter who they are. But vegetarian diets tend to correlate with higher rates of zinc deficiency, which may lead to lower testosterone levels and sex drive.

So what is PETA's justification for their ad? Well, they claimed that eating meat can lead to cardiovascular disease and obesity, but these ailments are not reserved just for the meat-eater. Also, in the September Issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, it was recognized that a woman's ability to have an active sex life is not influenced by weight based on data from a 2002 National Survey of Family Growth that looked at the sexual behavior of more than 7,000 women. Dr. Bliss Kaneshiro, who was a student at the time of the study at Oregon Health & Science University (now an assistant professor at the School of Medicine at the University at of Hawaii), with the help of Oregon State professor Marie Harvey's expertise, conducted this study and realized that their research contradicted with the commonly held stereotype that weight affected sexual behavior. Kaneshiro said the data showed that overweight women were more likely to report having sexual intercourse with a man, even when she was controlled for age, race, and type of residence. 92% of overweight women reported having a history of sexual intercourse with a man, as opposed to 87% with a normal BMI (body mass index). Therefore, in Kaneshiro's on words, their analysis "demonstrated that obese and overweight women do not differ significantly in some of the objective measures of sexual behavior compared to women of normal weight."

Furthermore, PETA had decided to continue their "sexy" trend with their "Girl-on-Girl Make-out Tour". I am not sure how this has anything to do with animal rights and while it may raise some eyebrows, it seems that they will unblushingly continue this exploitative tour, which is basically two girls dressed in bikinis, lip-locking on a mattress on a city corner. While some may assert that this furthers the LGBT interest for being so open about it, it makes it difficult for an outsider to be particularly sensitive and serious about either cause. Especially since the two girls were probably paid to kiss each other. It is absolutely shameful how atrociously bad PETA is at treating women's issues by objectifying women and their sexuality, and creating ads portraying idealized and unrealistic women. And apparently, according to the top most picture, if you don't shave, you're not socially acceptable, because your bikini line is everybody's business now.

Stop dragging down the gays, the women, and the good vegetarians down with you, PETA!

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My Conclusions:

• A lot of celebrities endorse PETA, including Missy Higgins and Dita von Teese, two people that I love. But also, they have porn stars in their ads. Which means nearly pornographic ads. Ugh.
• I was mind-blown when I saw that PETA protested Tila Tequila for not including animals on her show and not for making the contestants eat miscellaneous animal parts, like "a pig's vagina!!" God, I don't like her. She's not really bi either. They wrote ways around her ending up with a girl on her show and she believes that girls are with girls because they're tired of guys. Lame.
• I'm going to refer to the time Lindsay was bombed with flour and agree with Samantha Ronson who said that that flour could have fed a family and they wasted it. Also, when they ruin those coats, that doesn't undo the fact that those animals died for that coat. It just makes those animals death which already happened, in vain.
• Some of the places I got my info: newfeministmom.blogspot.com, physorg.com, afterellen.com, and other places. So don't kill me, I didn't plagiarize!

Missy Higgins, the Aussie After My Own Heart

Recently, I have been on an indie music fix and what better artist to have stumbled upon than Missy Higgins, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Down Under. How I love her so (I will marry her.)!

But what I have realized about the wonderment that is indie is that rather than having the instruments lead a song, it is the vocals, meaning that the musician needs to have a strong, moving voice, especially since the poetry in their lyrics that I recognize of the genre is often times be poignant yet powerful. Luckily, Missy Higgins perfectly exemplifies this, especially in her sophomore album On a Clear Night, released in April of 2007.

Her music ranges from all sorts of emotional and inspirational, but every track is unique in its sounds and meaning, each touching in their own fashion. The greatest part, though, is that she sets a mood with her tone in each song, making her a great storyteller; additionally, like a story, most of her lyrics seem to be ambiguous, therefore allowing for some sort of metaphorical underlay that each listener can interpret personally. However, despite the experience for all being different, she too tells her of her own: of love, life, and its niceties or its bleaker moments.

One particular track that dabbles in all of these themes is “Warm Whispers”, the most heartrending ballad I have ever heard. Its lyrics are not overly erotic, but they are sensuous in this song that I judge to be about an affectionate relationship that though consummated, ends up unrequited at the end. Her lyrics illustrate a beautiful vision of longing and desire, and though it is a very simple and discreet, it is deep in every aspect.

Missy Higgins is very young but she has so much wisdom, but the experiences that anybody can relate to. I expect more from her in the future and I know that she will not fail to steal my heart away again! Oh, I fall in love with her every time I listen to her music. You will too... but remember, she's mine.


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My Conclusions:

• See her live and propose upon meeting her.
• Ask forgiveness for my fanaticism from the Girlfriend.
• Saw a picture of Missy with David Hasselhoff. Haha.
• Other key tracks: "100 Round the Bends", "Steer", "Sugarcane", "Angela", "Where I Stood", "Peachy", and the entire CD. Also, her EPs and her first CD, The Sound of White, is amazing also.
• Oh yeah, this article applies to the most of the rest of my blog, because she's bi. SO I HAVE A CHANCE.

Le Rempart des Beguines

In essence, the savage story of Le Rempart des Beguines is a coming-of-age, albeit rather bizarre and cruel, especially to watch a bereft adolescent girl Helene as she loses herself to the undeniable allure to the succubus Tamara, whom she deems "love", when she should call her "tormentor". It is a harrowing tale of the psychological torture that lovelorn Helene weathers through as Tamara's pet, that transforms and desensitizes her to what Helene should realize is sinister. Even as she bears the pain of Tamara's fleeting emotions, the embarrassment of feeling secondary in Tamara's heart to Helene's own uptight father, and the degrading sex and violence, Helene still finds herself deeply enamored with the power-hungry temptress, though the way she is dehumanized. Helene's innocence and intrigue with Tamara is reminiscent of any young person, so blind and so smitten, which too often is a dangerous combination.

Although the novel was originally written in French, the English translation The Illusionist has the same erotic and eloquent language. Although it did not glorify lesbian relationships or end happily between the supposed lovers, the cold and wicked nature of the book attracted me and the author's almost lyrical word choice moved me. However, watching the film, I could not so much take note of what they said because it wasn't in English, but even in the gap of miscommunication, it was a great film; violent, sensual, and shocking.

Released in 1972 in France, the film debuted more than two decades after the novel's first publication. In terms of ratings, I cannot say that I know much of how it was received at the time but I extrapolate that it was not very well, because it was not entirely groundbreaking, perhaps because France had already seen a sexual revolution. However, the film still deeply shocked me in its sapphic representations I assumed would be more subtle or simply alluded to, supposing that such content would be taboo. However, I am not sure about the film's rating either because there is little information on it to be found, so my judgment is highly impaired. What I can make statements about is how the content of the book was depicted in the movie. On that note, I can say that the plot was accurate, but Tamara (played by Nicole Courcel), a bisexual Russian beauty, was imagined to be a tall, slender woman of with dark skin and dark hair, however was played by a redheaded woman with light complexion and a curvaceous anatomy, which directly contradicted with the moment in the novel when Helene (played by Anicee Alvina) said that Tamara had a hard body. Helene's portrayal was not completely off, looking like quite the convincing teenager, but her hair was not as red as I had pictured it to be, but I have little to complain about.

The main attraction was the brutality that the film was able to concoct with clever lighting and camera techniques was wonderful, since I could feel so deeply for poor Helene, especially in the scene when she returned to Tamara, after indignantly claiming that she would never see her again. Wild with the agony and betrayal from being struck by Tamara, she spouts these words that sound shameful to Tamara, who gives her the cold shoulder, until Helene returns. Tamara, who has already proven herself to be quite the sadist, demands Helene to drop to her knees, and she, towering ominously above her, to demand an apology for such a wrong. Originally evasive, Helene cries, "Mais je t'aime (but I love you)!", and at the sound, Tamara holds Helene's head under the freezing water from her sink, watching her cough and spit with fighting spirit, but still with little strength to protest. Throwing her back onto the floor, Helene is slumped onto the ground underneath Tamara, knowing till her demand for a "sorry" is met, there was no love for her. Helene complies, aching for Tamara's affection even after this episode, and the pattern for abuse continues, though it is not strictly physical since Tamara also has a craft for mind games. There was also the crucial moment when Tamara struck her with her own hand and even a leather belt.

Although I thought the film was generally well done and that Tamara and Helene's relationship was represented well, the novel was much more intense and villainous. It left more of an impression on me than the movie. However, I am not saying that I do not recommend it, but it is not as chilling as the novel.

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My Conclusions:

• I should do more movie reviews.
• I'm watching Wife Swap and it's horrible to watch. Definitely a train wreck. This episode I just watched, the one mom tried to make her new set of kids more manly because they're sissy boys. I hated that... gender roles are not set in stone. I'm liking this episode that's on now, though. Some materialistic lady who has an obsession with dogs that's bordering on the psychotic switches with a hippie woman living in an "eco-community" or something, where they waste nothing.
  
• I couldn't do any of the accent marks for the names.
• Sorry about the two pictures that are low quality... there aren't many pictures for the movie or book.
  

What or who "made" me gay (and creepy)

I am not new to the question of "what made you gay". My real answer should be that you aren't "made" gay, but rather that I realized it. Well, either way... here's the culprit: t.A.T.u. (see picture on left), Russian pop duo that garnered international recognition in 2001 for their faux-lesbian routine that intrigued the greater population of the world. I first heard of them when a friend played a CD she burned in the car. I believe that I was in 6th grade at the time when I first had a listen of what would change my life forever. It was the song "Not Gonna Get Us", which was a fast-paced Europop song with techno influence. I demanded to know who was responsible for stealing away my heart and my friend told me the artist and song title, which I tucked away in the darker crevices of my brain for later. At the time, I recently discovered wonderment that was (and is) the internet and now with that on my belt, I was free to surf the virtual oceans, sail the electric seas for them! I downloaded every song, every video, saved every picture of them... I have all of it on my external hard drive and it is always growing. For seven years, I still cannot shake them, having pictures of them over my bed and a bear that I named "Lena" after the redhead. It moved away from being a "crush" to an "obsession" that I now try to ignore all things t.A.T.u. so that I don't spend an entire week just doting on them.

But, though hazardous to my health, I had decided to check up on them and see how they are doing, because I knew that their 3rd album was supposed to have released in Russia by now. Also, a movie featuring their music was supposed to have been released but I heard nothing about it. It seems that Vesyolye Ulybki, their third studio album, was released on October 21, 2008. Russia is so lucky that they can nonchalantly prance into their nearest FYE and pick it up. Sigh... also, the movie "You and I" or "Finding t.A.T.u." is set to come out in 2009, hopefully with Vesyolye Ulybki English counterpart. There has been no confirmation of when the English counterpart is coming out, though, so I am not marking any days down in my mental calender. Anyway, I have been listening to their Russian album and I am happy that there are some songs in English, but I was never hindered by the Russian lyrics before. Either way, it is great! The last time I had a t.A.T.u. binge was months ago, in the summer, when I watched the videos for "Beliy Plaschik" and "220". Watching their videos just reminds me how smitten I am that I sit drooling over my computer for days.

But why? How did this all happen? Well, even when I was in 6th grade or before I came to realize my homosexuality, I was taken by them. Their catchy songs and even their controversy attracted me. But what really made me aflutter, was Elena "Lena" Katina. In comparison to the aggressive, spikey-haired Yulia Volkova, Lena had a softer demeanor. She was curvy, feminine, and fair, that I apparently, even in my supposed straightness, liked. She had a wonderful smile too and her eyes! It all just made me weak. Not only that, she seemed to have the "good girl" image down pat in comparison to her rough-edged Yulia, but she was not entirely sugar-coated. You know, it takes more than one girl to make a sexy faux-lesbian duo! Of course, I was heartbroken to know that they weren't really gay, but I forgave them because their evil producer forced them into it. Anyway, they since gave him the boot and their fans were jaded, feeling lied to and betrayed. However, they spoke for the LGBT community at a gay pride event, stating that they always promoted love without any boundaries.

But I digress. What I really must say is that Lena helped me figure out who I am. She also seemed to define my ideal girl. Red hair, pale skin, curvy, "good girl" (quotations included), feminine, soft personality, eyes that just made me all gaga. That profile's fitting of my girlfriend now. I was told that she even looks like her and for both of us, that's a good thing. Obviously, my girlfriend and Lena are two separate people, but hadn't it been for "what made me gay", I wouldn't have my girlfriend who I love very much.

Oh, not to mention, I have a weakness for well-executed Russian accents. My girlfriend isn't Russian and by no means has an accent, except when she gets angry or passionate about something that her southern accent comes out, but she's basically half-Polish. Polish people and Russian people both have pirogies on their breath, so that's close enough. God, I'm horrible... but to the readers: did you guys have any ridiculous celebrity crushes? Also, are they still your biggest crush today?

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My Conclusions:

• I'm glad I liked t.A.T.u so much. It made me more accepting of girls kissing, but this interest was not so much a big hit at my Catholic school...
• t.A.T.u. is very politically-minded sometimes. The video for "Beliy Plaschik" features an anti-abortion message. I'm pro-choice but I was moved by it.
• New favorite t.A.T.u. song: "Fly On The Wall". They're as stalker-like as I am.
• In the beginning of their careers, they often donned schoolgirl outfits. They weren't like the ones I wore, no sir. If we wore their schoolgirl outfits, I would have recognized that I was gay long before them.
• Originally, I was ashamed of liking them because of the lesbian image that was associated with them. I hid their CD in the basement. I ended up buying a new one years later and now it's all destroyed from how much I listened to it and carried it around.
• Yulia is always said to be hotter than Lena. She's skinny, tan, naughty... she fits the stereotype for "hot". But I don't like skinny girls... curves are where it's at.
  

Hypocrisy and H8 in American Marriage Politics

After the results of the California ballot surfaced to reveal that the majority of voters were "yes" on Proposition 8, there was an uproar coming from the LGBT community and its allies that a fundamental right of marriage was snatched away. The appalling news urged many celebrities-- from the essentials, like Ellen DeGeneres, and others, including Rose McGowan, Drew Barrymore, America Ferrara-- to lend their voice to boost morale to protest Prop 8. However, famous or not, Americans across the nation are coming together for the National Day of Protest Against Prop 8 (and similar anti-gay marriage measures across the country) on November 15th, this Saturday.

Prior to the votes, though, there were plenty of ads from both perspectives on Prop 8, "yes" and "no". The arguments for "yes" asserted that it was not an action that was for the people and it would taint schools, therefore poisoning the minds of young children. It was an unnerving experience that the Republicans lost so much faith in the government over a social issue, rather than the economy which apparently, is not doing so well right now. The way that they were also using children to illustrate a point seems somewhat underhanded. The ads claimed that homosexual marriage would be taught about in elementary school, but there has never been a time, especially not at such a young age, marriage education. The particular ad I watched called "Gay Marriage Has EVERYTHING To Do With School" showed a couple talk about how their 2nd grader told them it was okay for a man and a man to wed, with a picture of the book "King & King" as evidence that there are attempts to convey homosexual themes to children. The couple must have been either Robb and Robin Wirthlin and David and Tonia Parker, two couples that filed a lawsuit against their respective child's school, claiming that sexual education should not be taught in school without the notification of a child's parents. Robb Wirthlin went on CNN to say that his problem is "this issue of romantic attraction between two men is being presented to my seven-year-old as wonderful, and good and the way things should be".

In rebuttal, it is not right to regard homosexual relationships as purely sexual by referring to their presence in education as "sexual education". The book is a clever story, but it is surely not trying to manipulate the minds of children to believe that it is "the way things should be". There are many more stories and fairy tales that tell of a princess for a prince; it is embedded in folklore and one book cannot dramatically change culture from the extreme of entirely heterosexual to entirely homosexual living. Rather, there is the in-between of coexistence, where the two ends of the spectrum of sexual orientation live harmoniously. That is the book's purpose; to promote acceptance, not necessarily homosexuality. The judge understood this and claimed, "Diversity is the hallmark of our nation."

The bigger gripe I have for the "yessers" is that there is always a religious aspect of the debate that is more influential than it should be. The fundamental right of marriage is the government's duty to uphold and it should not be swayed by religion, because of the separation of Church and state. In an online ad made by two brothers, they portray two Mormon men, who barge into the house of a lesbian couple to "take their rights". They pull of their wedding bands, rummage through drawers and their belongings, when they find their marriage certificate. One of the women tries to stop them, by saying that they have rights and one of the men rights it, claiming, "Not if we can help it." It is sinister and it gives facts of that the LDS Church paid over $20 million to have Prop 8 passed. Another fact it stated was that if Prop 8 was passed, then the marriage rights of legally wed gay couples would be stripped. Like how I stand on religion and government, it says at the end to not let a Church run the state. But now, I'm just repeating myself....

It's just there is so much to be said that could have been saved had there been that simple "No".

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My Conclusions:

• Bridget McManus, my favorite comedienne (also an "out" and married lesbian), is in the "Home Invasion" ad with the Mormon boys. She is the one with dark brown hair.
• Please look up "Home Invasion Anti Prop 8" or something of that sort on Youtube. It is an entertaining ad, creepy and meaningful.
• I am supportive of religion, but not of using it to endorse hate. I admit that "Home Invasion" was very biased, however it told a disturbing, exaggerated story of what the hate could escalate to: your marriage not being your business anymore.
• Visit http://www.noonprop8.com/ .
• The National Day of Protest Against Prop 8 is on my birthday.
  

Gay rights stigmatized in liberal election

The election yesterday has marked very significant liberal triumphs, such as Barack Obama winning the ballot and being coined the first African American president; yet, gay rights has been denied its justice again by California voters, who approved of the gay rights ban that Proposition 8 flaunted. The blow that has been delivered on the LGBT community left a population stunned that their court system would rule that marriage is not reserved for only heterosexual couples, then they would steal that basic right away.

The constitutional amendment was seen as the most momentous of the 153 ballot measures and was the most expensive, in that spending for and against reached $74 million. It has become the most expensive social-issues campaign in American history and the most expensive campaign in the White House this year outside of race. Gay rights activists have seen a very rough election elsewhere, as well. Amendments to ban gay marriage were approved in Arizona and Florida and Arkansas voters approved a measure banning unmarried couples from serving as adoptive or foster parents, supporters making it clear that gays and lesbians were their main target.

In California, with 95 percent of precincts reporting Wednesday, the ban had 5,125,752 votes (52%) while 4,725,313 votes (48%) opposed.

Now, those are all the facts and in my opinion, I am absolutely shocked that our country, especially California, was so harsh to take back the privilege of marriage from gays/lesbians. It makes me consider what the main argument is in the anti-gay rallies and from my research, I gathered that it is mainly religion that influences the opinion of Prop 8's "yessers". If that is the case, I think that it is a poor argument because if gay marriage is going to be dealt with politically, then the religious stance should be invalidated, since government is meant to be secular, since the time that separation of Church and state was established. Rather, it should have been decided in the court and stayed in the court, rather than challenged by the votes of those who have Puritanically-influenced mindsets.

The way that gay marriage has been denied, allowed, then denied again demonstrates the prevalence of intolerant, irrational Bible-thumping values that are polluting the population of America and the population of Christians. I frequent Church and the way that the Scriptures are used to justify hate is appalling. The Bible should not be put at face value. I am not hateful towards any religion, finding myself to be part of the Church that is often cited as opponents of gays, but I do not believe in what I grew up with being used as a tool for intolerance.

I hope that California rethinks this...

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My Conclusions:

• I apologize for ranting.
• Notice how the guy in the first picture looks like a Chuck that makes moose burgers and polishes his gun that's over his mantle, in his underwear, while the people in the second picture don't look quite so insane.
• Sorry to stereotype but moustaches say a lot about a person... because really, moustaches?!
• I have nothing more to say than what has been said and that I'm really thirsty.

10 years later, Matthew Shepard lives in remembrance

The brutal beating murder of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard still haunts and inspires the LGBT community and beyond especially on this day of October 12th. This day 10 years ago, the young man was robbed, pistol whipped, and tied to a fence in a remote, rural area, where he was left to die by Russell Arthur Henderson and Aaron James McKinney, who had offered to take Matthew home from the bar that they had all met that day.

Since that decade ago, the LGBT movement has progressed quite impressively but still today, hate crimes against people for their sexual orientation or gender identity is appalling. There have been men and women killed for how they identify, like Lawrence King, Sakia Gunn, Gwen Araujo, Brandon Teena, and many more. What made Matthew Shepard's death so different? The thing was that it wasn't and he wasn't. He was an intelligent young person, attending University, with a winning smile and personality. He was friendly and attractive, picture perfect, except for his sexuality, which seemed enough to make him ugly and insignificant. It was assumed that LGBT people are societal deviants or "undesirables", making them seem as though they were bizarre entities that floated around and polluted the heterosexual mainstream. People had an idea of what they looked like based on stereotypes, but hardly faced one, it seemed that when Henderson and McKinney discovered of Matt's sexual orientation, they panicked. This is a legitimate legal defense called "gay panic", when a person reacts badly to the advances of somebody of the same sex that there is violence. There is no evidence that Matt had ever made a pass at either of them. However, the two men had badly hurt Matthew and left him on a post where he was discovered in a coma, by a cyclist who mistook him for a scarecrow. I had found the actual story that was put out at the time about Matthew's attack and read related stories, like one called "College homecoming float mocks homosexuals". It was Colorado State University that had a float with a scarecrow and anti-gay graffiti on it... at the time, in a hospital nearby, Matthew was dying. I will not go on to explain it because I am digressing, but I was deeply shocked by the homophobic presence at the time. There was also a controversial Church that still thrives today on the same values it was founded on in the 1950s, that picketed at Matthew's funeral. Westboro Baptist Church most proudly waves their signs of "God Hates Fags", "AIDS Cures Fags", and the like, passing them and shirts down to even young children to follow in their hate that they call God's will.

This homophobia still exists today but Matthew Shepard's martyrdom still leads us to consider what a hate crime is, how to define it, and what to do about it. There was the Matthew Shepard Act in 2007 that expanded the 1969 US Federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It is also something very big to think about in the upcoming election. Furthermore, Matthew will always be remembered in this month of LGBT history that he has found himself embedded in. His accepting behavior and his loving, positive outlook that he had during his life is surely seen within the LGBT community now.

Thank you, Matthew. You are a guardian angel for us now, and all the other victims and martyrs for continuing to be the inspiration you were during your lives and now, in your afterlives. Never will your deaths be in vain. You have touched us all.

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My conclusions:

• National Coming Out Day was yesterday. I hope many have recognized it.
• October is LGBT History Month. Also, Breast Cancer Month and Hispanic Pride Month. Celebrate accordingly.
• I didn't want to post any pictures of the Westboro Baptist Church or Matthew's killers, because I didn't want them to be seen next to Matthew.
  

Shiny Toy Guns lost their glimmer

Shiny Toy Guns... a brilliant band whose fame is owed to 22-year-old Carah Faye Charnow (seen above), with her angel's voice that made their sound out of this world. Carah's vocals are powerful and set the strong emotion of certain songs like their first single, "Le Disko" and the album title song, "We Are Pilots". Although she did not write the lyrics for any of the album's tracks, she sang them with heart that made them sound personal and emotionally hers. "Le Disko" is characterized by the pride in female sexuality that only the intensity that Carah's vocals exemplify and she is so flexible that in the final song on the album, "We Are Pilots", she sings with a sense of vulnerability in this tale of being misunderstood and lonely.

Now, it's old news to me that Shiny Toy Guns found a new singer, but after some research yesterday, I learned that not only is Carah not in STG... she was kicked out and replaced by Jeremy Dawson, Chad Petree, and Mikey Martin, who were not only band-mates but friends to her. The painful betrayal has left Carah scorned that on her MySpace, she wrote of obvious bitterness, " From now on, what hasn't killed me, will only inspire me!" but as is in her character, she still has the pride to move on. It seems there are plans of going solo, but nothing has been confirmed. Whatever she hopes to do, she has many fans that will follow her and support her. She has a MySpace group founded by these fans that are honoring the work she's done and will do in the future.

However, as I mentioned, she was REPLACED and that is no longer a rumor. Her successor is Sisely Treasure (seen below), first recognized on the reality show to find the next Pussycat Doll. She is the main vocalist for STG's new album, "Season of Poison" due to be out this October. I have listened to "Ricochet!" and "Frozen Oceans" which features Sisely's vocals and I am extremely disappointed in what has become of one of my favorite bands. "Ricochet!" is throbbing pain in my ear. It sounds screamo, which I can usually tolerate, but STG is not a screamo band. "Frozen Oceans" was decent but that is only as far as Sisely's vocals can take it. With Sisely in their line-up, STG is not only changing its sound but its look from the brilliant abstract art feel to distasteful scene malarkey. They must have gone to a garage sale at Jeffree Star's house...

So, go check out Shiny Toy Guns and compare Carah's vocals to Sisely's to see for yourself, if you dare. If these pictures are any reflection of how they sing, though... Carah is definitely the better choice.

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My Conclusions:

• I'm probably going to write another blog about Carah and about how I interpreted the song, "We Are Pilots" because I have a lot to say on that.
• Carah is a hottie.
• I can't believe STG got a reality show graduate as a new vocalist.
• Janelle Charnow, Carah's sister, posted a comment on one of the stories about Carah being fired from STG. She was reeeeeaaaaally mad.
  

Commercials for cleanliness dish up filth

Mr. Clean is turning over in his grave.

I apologize for the suggestive nature of this photo, but I think that it is necessary to assert my point which will be mentioned soon. First of all, I cropped the picture a bit to make it more appropriate... although this ad for Lynx Shower Gel, presumably a men's product, is still highly offensive. As I thought about my blog, I decided that because of how politics bring out the worst in people, I would not deal with such topics. But... I am such a feminist that upon seeing the latest Axe commercial for "Axe Dark Temptation" that I must speak my mind, particularly the disgust that is harboring in the darker crevices of my brain for the filth that is littering television and ultimately, a grand population of viewers.

Getting back to the matter at hand, I accept that advertising to a certain audience would mean compromising others. Ergo, in the ads for men's products, women are often objectified for money's sake since it is widely believed that the male population is enamored with the overly sexualized woman. In reference to what I said earlier, in the new Axe commercial, the slogan is something to the effect of, "even more irresistible than chocolate" which plays off an obvious female stereotype. In the ad, a man uses the spray and turns to chocolate, giving little bits and pieces of himself for every trophy of a woman in the commercial. It just so happens that every girl fits into the definition of the "overly sexualized woman" that I had talked about briefly a moment ago. The commercial even goes so far as to encourage voyeurism, unnecessary PDA, and perhaps even a menage a trois between two girls and a creepy chocolate dude. I am referring to... and God, I am deeply disturbed by... the scene in the movie theatres when the guy has two girls, one on each side of him, licking his neck with chocolate smudged all over their faces.

In this patriarchal society that we find ourselves in, women are constantly being patronized, especially in these terms. They are either interpreted as sex objects, like in these commercials, or pure and virgin, giving little space to take pride in female sexuality since it is either one extreme or the other. On the meanwhile, men are so easy to flaunt and discuss topics that would be taboo from what we judgmentally believe of the female population...

Although we have gotten far with certain writers and activists, the double standard today is still in effect and it still hurts the women. Gosh. Where's the justice, gals?

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My Conclusions:

• I think I hate the smell of Axe.
• Axe is not some magical love potion you spray on your hairy chest so girls will lick it. Ew.
• Old Spice is more testosterone in a bottle and the commercials show it. Blah.
• I'm a feminist that doesn't believe in equal rights between men and women because I recognize the extreme differences in the genders. I believe in women protected by law, since I am deeply passionate about helping hurt/injured/mistreated women, like victims of rape and other things.
  

Damn publicists!

I don't know what Lindsay's publicist, Leslie Sloane-Zelnik, was thinking when she refuted Lindsay's confirmation of her romantic relationship with Samantha Ronson, going on TVGuide.com to tell them that there was no confession. She said that Lindsay was just referring to their clearly platonic relationship. You'd have to be insane to think they were dating! Stop extrapolating from clearly doctored photos and saying they're lesbians! Pervs!

Sigh... though I admit that Lindsay didn't have a typical "coming out" on Loveline, she definitely stated a relationship with Sam, but in the way that a straight couple would. There was no sugarcoating, no beating around the bush. Just simple words that meant "me and Sam are together". Not only are they together, they have been "for a very long time." Heard it from Lindsay myself! (found the recording for when she and Sam were on Loveline)

But geez. Publicists must not consult their clients before making statements, because Neil Patrick Harris's publicist tried to refute his coming out too. I don't understand trying to cover up their clients' sexuality or love life, when clearly the clients themselves can admit to it. Are their publicists homophobic or something? Well, maybe not... But either way, they are freakin' MAD sometimes! There's no denying the pictures, what Lindsay said on Loveline, and no denying that Lindsay and Sam are a cute couple.

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My conclusions:

• I don't think that Lindsay came out as a lesbian, bisexual, or what have you. I think she just came out and said she's with Sam, no labels included.
• I love that first picture of the two of them. I love both of them actually. Lindsay and Sam are so good together. Sam's obviously a positive force in Lindsay's life.
• Sam does not have an English accent, boo hoo. But her voice is still nice...
• I'm a creep.
  

Oh happy days in Hollywood! Happy like... gay! Hur hur hur.

Of course the pun was intended, though very poorly executed. In case anybody forgot, "gay" is synonymous to "happy" and yes, this is another coming out story! It is going to be a shocker, I tell you. Hold on to your seat so you don't fall out...

American Idol runner-up of the second season, Clay Aiken, has finally said it: "Yes, I'm Gay". The People magazine cover is the proof. He shares the cover picture with his beautiful son, born on August 8th, 2008, "conceived via medical intervention with his 50-year-old 'best friend,'" according to Yahoo! news. I don't get it either.

There has always been speculation over Aiken's sexuality and Aiken said he felt quieted by his largely female fan base, afraid he would lose his support. However, his new baby boy was his inspiration to come out, because he doesn't want to raise a child "to lie or to hide things". How wonderful!

LGBT visibility in Hollywood is so valuable to the movement and it's grand that more and more people are coming out, especially people that are famous. Clay Aiken has become a great icon in the community because not only is he openly homosexual for all the world to see, he is also a gay parent. Good job, good job, Clay!

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My conclusions:

• Give Clay and his kid a fruit basket.
• So what was that song "Invisible" really about?
• First Lindsay and Samantha come out, now Clay! The world's guessed their sexuality before they came out with it, so I think that the next person will be... Richard Simmons. I mean, seriously. Those shorts gave away a lot more than what he had down there. *cringe*
• The Pride parade better be big this year.
  

No more hiding?

Actress Lindsay Lohan, 22, and her constant companion, British DJ Samantha Ronson, 30, were for the past few months, the subject of speculation over their relationship, presumed to be romantic. After months of denying the rumors, Lohan and Ronson called into the L.A. Loveline radio show to discuss their feelings over the plane crash that killed four and injured Travis Barker and DJ AM. Although unrelated, DJ Ted Stryker decided to wrap up the interview by commenting on their relationship, asking how long it has been. Quite casually, Lohan responded, "A long... a very long time." Before they concluded, he wished the two luck, saying he wished them luck and she thanked him.

Although this is not a typical "coming out" and it still leaves many with questions, it is obvious that Lohan and Ronson are deeply involved in each other. There are many pictures of them, walking hand-in-hand, attending public events side-by-side, and even kissing. The two of them on Lindsay's MySpace also attacked Sarah Palin's anti-gay stance. Even though they had been in the public eye, they had not verbally expressed whether they were indeed girlfriends, until now.

The LGBT movement has many iconic figures, but Lindsay and Samantha are now one of the youngest "out" lesbian couples. It is brilliant that they have decided--even if it is unintentionally--to be advocates for the movement. With help from them and others, the movement is helping triumph over homophobia and furthering the fight for civil rights. Hollywood is becoming a great tool against intolerance with many shows including gay/lesbian storylines and celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and others.

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My conclusions:

• I like Lindsay Lohan again.
• Assuming that since Samantha is British, she must have an accent. Awesome.
• Samantha Ronson remixed Kerli's "Walking On Air". Totally awesome.
• Jenny Lewis's Acid Tongue has been released. Must get.