Ellen

I would probably love Ellen Lee DeGeneres even if she wasn't an LGBTQ+ activist. I loved her sitcoms and her talk show and her movies, and I love her stand-up comedy performances. I also love her caring and her humanitarianism.

Lately I have been thinking about how much I miss Ellen.  I used to watch her daytime show regularly, either as it aired or a replay later in the day.  Her visibility as a gay woman was such a great thing for the LGBTQ+ community.  There was really something special though about all of those people she helped.

I'll never forget the time she featured two guys on her show who attended the prom together. They were best friends, but only one of the two was gay.

Ellen really has that whole "random acts of kindness" thing down pat. That's the part of her show I really enjoyed the most. She changed a lot of lives for the better and her closing line each day was such a great reminder - "Be kind to one another!"

Thanks, Ellen, for a lot of great entertainment and for being such a great role model.  Thanks for making a difference.  I hope we will be seeing more of you real soon.

It's Mikey Bustos Day

One of my favorite members of our LGBTQ+ community is Canadian Mikey Bustos. (His full name is actually Michael John Yadan Tumanguil Pestano Tilapia Bustos III, but I'll just call him Mikey).

For many years I have enjoyed the humor that Mikey shares in his videos and also his great musical abilities.  Click HERE to enjoy some of his music.  Earlier this year he performed with Debbie Gibson.

It was back in 2019 that Mikey came out as bisexual and also told us that he is romantically involved with his manager RJ Garcia. The two of them share a lot of their lives via social media, including a wonderful house and farm they built in the Philippines.  Last week Mikey's mom flew in from her home in Toronto and they headed off to a vacation in Vietnam.

I have written about Mikey for the past several years during Pride month, not only because he is openly bisexual, but also because today is his birthday.  Happy birthday Mikey and thanks for continuing to share so much joy!

Adam Bouska

During this Pride Month, I've been writing here about LGBTQ events and heroes.  Ever heard of Adam Bouska?  I have written about him here before, but his name might not be as well-known as some of the others I have written about.  I'm sure you have seen his work. Openly gay Adam is an American fashion photographer who was best known for his pictures of male models, until the NOH8 campaign.  That's him in the picture.

It was back in 2009 that Adam and partner Jeff Parshley, in response to the passage of Proposition 8, began NOH8. The photographs feature subjects with duct tape over their mouths, (symbolizing their voices being silenced by Prop 8 or other legislation), with "NOH8" painted on one cheek in protest, as in the photo here of Adam.  LGBTQ leaders and many celebrities were pictured at the start of Adam's NOH8 campaign and folks who believe in equality are still being photographed in this manner.

The photography of Adam Bouska has also been a part of fundraisers for HIV/AIDS, marriage equality, and pet adoptions.  Examples of his photos and more about Adam can be found on his website at http://www.adambouska.com/

Gilbert's Rainbow

Gilbert Baker has been written about before in this blog.  He certainly made a difference in this world.  When he passed away seven years ago, not only did I write about him, but his passing was reported on the tv network newscasts.  The rainbow flag that he created continues to give hope to people all around the world!

More tributes have come, including the naming of things in his honor.  I'm always amazed at how many know his story, and the story of the remarkable flag he created. While folks know about the flag, not as many know that Baker served in the United States Army from 1970 to 1972, stationed as a medic in San Francisco at the very beginning of the gay rights movement. In 1972 he worked on Proposition 19, the first marijuana legalization initiative in California. It was then that he learned to sew and made banners for gay-rights and anti-war protest marches. He also became one of the early members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

The posthumous release of his memoir, "Rainbow Warrior: My Life in Color" (Chicago Review Press, 2019), is a great way to find out more about him.

It was a joy for me to work with Gilbert Baker a number of years ago, and I will always be grateful for this man who really gave back and made a difference.  With every waving rainbow flag this Pride Month, and always, take a moment, and think of Gilbert.

Performing Arts and the LGBTQ+ Community

Everyone loves a good performance, right? Well, the performing arts has long been a safer place for the LGBTQ+ community, even though it is hardly perfect and full of stereotypes. Many people think that all male ballet dancers are gay, for example, and I happen to know dozens who are not.

It is still nearly impossible to find representation of trans or bisexual people in theatre, and gay women are too often narrowly represented in terms of stereotypes.  Things though are certainly better in opera, ballet, theatre, and other performing arts, then they might be elsewhere.  

It's lovely to see so many regional theatres opening their seasons in the middle of Pride Month. It is in regional theatre that so many of our LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers across the country are able to be themselves and perfect their craft. Don't get me wrong. Broadway is a wonderful exhibit of commercial theatre, but those small 99-seat theatres across the country reach some many people in those little places where there might not be any other opportunity.

Speaking of Broadway, how wonderful that the Tony Awards came last night, right in the middle on Pride Month. Hosted by queer superstar Ariana DeBose for the third consecutive year and featuring a number of high-profile LGBTQ+ stars and creatives. There was even a moment that brought me to tears - the acceptance speech by openly gay Jonathan Groff.  "My family knew the life-saving power of fanning the flame of a young person's passion without judgment… I walk through life with an open heart because you let me know that I could."

Love is love is love is love is love is love

Our LGBTQ+ heroes also includes allies - many of them, too many to separately write about, but there is one who always inspires me: Lin-Manuel Miranda.  He's a playwright, lyricist, composer, singer, actor, producer, and activist. Oh and a bunch of other things.  Most of you already know that.

Now when you work in the theatre, there's a good chance you will run into some gay people, but that doesn't necessarily mean you will be supportive.   Lin-Manuel Miranda is not only supportive, he inspires.

Back in 2016, right after the horrific Pulse nightclub massacre, Miranda won a Tony Award and his moving acceptance speech will long be remembered. "And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love. Cannot be killed or swept aside," he said in part.

Shorty afterward, he began selling a shirt at his official merchandise site which benefitted Equality Florida, a gay and lesbian advocacy group supporting victims of the Pulse shootings. On the front of the shirt if said "Love cannot be killed or swept aside.  Now fill the world with music, love and pride."  On the back, "Love is love is love is love is love is love."

The world can never have too much love.  Thank for inspiring us Mr Miranda and thanks for all the love!

Remembering Pulse

On June 12, 2016, a 29-year-old man shot and killed 49 people and wounded another 53 people in a mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, FL. Each year since then, I have written about it here in this space. There is a lot of celebrating during LGBTQ+ Pride Month, but I don't want us to ever forget our tragedies. 

 

Officials have characterized the shooting as an act of terrorism, but it has not been called a hate crime. It has been argued that the shooter was not targeting the club because of gay patrons. While that may be true, the injured and the lives lost were mostly from the LGBT+ Community.

These are the names of the dead:

Stanley Almodovar III, 23

Amanda Alvear, 25

Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21

Martin Benitez Torres, 33

Antonio D. Brown, 30

Darryl R. Burt II, 29

Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28

Simon A. Carrillo Fernandez, 31

Juan Chavez-Martinez, 25

Luis D. Conde, 39

Cory J. Connell, 21

Tevin E. Crosby, 25

Franky J. Dejesus Velazquez, 50

Deonka D. Drayton, 32

Mercedez M. Flores, 26

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22

Juan R. Guerrero, 22

Paul T. Henry, 41

Frank Hernandez, 27

Miguel A. Honorato, 30

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40

Jason B. Josaphat, 19

Eddie J. Justice, 30

Anthony L. Laureano Disla, 25

Christopher A. Leinonen, 32

Brenda L. Marquez McCool, 49

Jean C. Mendez Perez, 35

Akyra Monet Murray, 18

Kimberly Morris, 37

Jean C. Nieves Rodriguez, 27

Luis O. Ocasio-Capo, 20

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32

Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24

Christopher J. Sanfeliz, 24

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34

Shane E. Tomlinson, 33

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25

Luis S. Vielma, 22

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37

Jerald A. Wright, 31

May we never forget these lives cut short.

Rainbow Reading

Thursday, I looked at records, and yesterday it was film, so what comes next? Television programs? (I don't think there has been enough content). Theatre? (Oh my! Where would we begin)? No today I decided to take a look at LGBTQ+ related books. 

Now a list, like I did the past two days, would be much more difficult when looking at books. Should I only include non-fiction? Should the author be part of the LGBTQ+ community? Should picture books be included? Does the publication date matter? Should it be a life-changing sort of book? Rather than worry about any of those things, I'm just going to throw out a few ideas.

If I were doing a "list" it might include Undoing Gender by Judith Butler, Queer: A Graphic History by Dr. Meg-John Barker and Julia Scheele, Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson, and Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman. I might be tempted to list Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, Wrong by Dennis Cooper, Reflections of a Rock Lobster: A Story about Growing Up Gay by Aaron Fricke, or even The Color Purple by Alice Walker.  I'm not doing a list though. It would really be too hard.

LGBTQ+ books aimed at children? There are several very good ones.  Grandad's Camper by British author Harry Woodgate, a picture book about a girl who helps her grandfather with his grief, is fantastic. Her same-sex grandfathers Gramps and Grandad toured all over in their camper, but Gramps has died and now Granddad isn't traveling anymore. Their amazing granddaughter comes to the rescue.  It's a very heartwarming story.

What about you? Are there some LGBTQ+ themed books that you are planning to read in the near future? Do you have some all-time favorites?

It's all about the movies

If not the music, maybe it's about the movies!  Who doesn't like a good film?  The number of motion pictures with an LGBTQ+ theme is not terribly extensive, although it certainly has improved.  All too often, if there was a gay man he was a stereotype.  Many of you have favorite films, and I even have a list of ones that I really enjoy.  This doesn't even include the many marvelous shorts that are LGBTQ+ themed.  Anyway, I've done this before here, but this Pride Month, I thought I would do it once again.  

So, here's my list: 20-Carol (2015), 19-Boys Don’t Cry (1999), 18-The Crying Game (1992), 17-The Queen (1968), 16-The Times of Harvey Milk (1984), 15-Transamerica (2006), 14-13-Love! Valour! Compassion! (1997), 13-Longtime Companion (1990), 12-The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), 11-Milk (2008), 10-The Boys in the Band (1970), 9-The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995), 8-Love, Simon (2018), 7-Aimée und Jaguar (1999), 6-My Own Private Idaho (1991), 5-The Birdcage (1996), 4-Call Me by Your Name (2018), 3-Brokeback Mountain (2005), 2-The Wedding Banquet (1993), and 1-Torch Song Trilogy (1988).

Now, I'll bet many of you have lists of your own.  Do feel free to share them here.  I'd love to know about the movies I might have missed.

It's all about the music

It's been said that gay people only like to party and have sex. WRONG!  The LGBTQ+ community is as varied as any group, and generalities are certainly not going to work here, but for many there was a time when the music and the clubs were terribly important.  As equality slowly becomes the norm, the party atmosphere isn't as important.

There was certainly a time when you had to hide if you were gay.  (In some places sadly, that is still true).  Going to gay bars and clubs was a release, a way to unwind.  It was also where you could meet other LGBTQ+ people.  This was important since you certainly couldn't be that open in school or at work.  Just as the clubs were important for socializing, so was the music. 

In keeping with Pride month, I put together a top 25 list of lgbtq anthems -- 25: Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) - Abba, 24: Same Love - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, 23: Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland, 22: Ice Cream Truck - Cazwell, 21: Believe - Cher, 20: The Night I Fell in Love - Pet Shop Boys, 19: If I Had You - Adam Lambert, 18: Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston, 17: You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Sylvester, 16: True Trans Soul Rebel - Against Me, 15: Tainted Love - Imelda May, 14: Born this Way - Lady Gaga, 13: No More Tears - Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer, 12: Express Yourself - Madonna, 11: True Colors - Cindi Lauper, 10: Take Me Or Leave Me - Rent, 9: It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls, 8: Constant Craving - kd lang, 7: YMCA - The Village People, and a favorite of mine 6: Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other - Willie Nelson.  The top five -- 5: Your Song - Elton John, 4: I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor, 3: I Am What I Am - John Barrowman, 2: Raise Your Glass - Pink, and 1: I’m Coming Out - Diana Ross.

Now while you spend your day humming these tunes, remember that it really isn't all about the music.  There are important matters in life and those same things are true for the LGBTQ+ community, but these songs (and so many others) were an outlet in days when the closet was a necessity for so many.

Preference?

Do you like each of these ice-cream flavors equally?  Most, I suspect, will enjoy the one in the center back more and any other, while for me it's the one in the center front: strawberry.  Yum!  Why am I talking about ice-cream though?  Well, it's to say the same thing I have said many times here (even using ice-cream once before to help explain).  Being gay or bisexual is NOT a matter of preference.  This being LGBTQ+ Pride Month, I thought I would take a moment and explain this all again.

I would suspect that while you might enjoy chocolate more, an occasional vanilla or strawberry, or even a nice mint ice-cream would still make you smile.  Now, for those of you who are gay and reading this, do you find yourself frequently attracted to the opposite gender?  Do you act on that attraction?  Well, if the answer is yes, then you likely aren't really gay.  Our sexual orientation is a bit more complicated than a casual "shall I be with a man today, or with a woman?"

We all have to realize that being gay is not a lifestyle choice and it isn't a preference.  Please help me spread the word!

Pride Month is Here

LGBTQ+ Pride Month has arrived and this weekend several cities, including West Hollywood, Salt Lake City, and Dallas, will host big celebrations and festivals. With more than sixty countries having anti-LGBTQ+ laws, this moth is not just about partying though. Pride began as a protest, and that element must continue until everyone around the world enjoys equal rights and freedom from discrimination.

In his proclamation for Pride Month, President Joe Biden said yesterday "We reflect on the progress we have made so far in pursuit of equality, justice, and inclusion." He detailed some of his accomplishments for the LGBTQ+ Community and further said "To the entire LGBTQI+ community — and especially transgender children — please know that your President and my entire Administration have your back. We see you for who you are: made in the image of God and deserving of dignity, respect, and support."

So many advances have been made over the years, but sadly there has more recently been an increase in the number of state laws that severely restrict the rights of people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. While there is going to be a lot of celebrating in the days ahead, there is still a lot of work to be done.