MILK

What premiere's this week across the nation? MILK, the film about the first openly gay official elected to office. Have been waiting for this for a while. When the filming was going on I must admit, I did not get all excited and join in as an extra. However, as more trailers have come out and the whole passage of Prop 8, it has really ignited an interest in the legend of Harvey Milk.

Perhaps I am falling into the trap of "advertise it and they will come" for gays but I have to say, I really am up to see what ol' Gus Van Sant has done with this. Hopefully it won't be as obscure as "End of Days", the one about Kurt Cobain. That shit was just weird and way too artsy for me to sit through. And I usually like the artsy stuff. But what I have seen thus far, I am certainly intrigued by what MILK will have to offer.

I was listening to NPR a few weeks ago and on All Things Considered, they were doing interviews with gay people about if there are enough gay leaders, if there is a gay voice in politics, and what Harvey Milk meant to them. The interviews were focused around the Castro and the LBGT Center on Market Street. One individual said that Harvey Milk didn't mean much to him and it was so long ago that it didn't really matter. In his opinion, there were plenty of gay examples and the relevance of Harvey Milk didn't apply any longer.

I would disagree and was disappointed to hear this. Harvey Milk stood up in a time when being gay was not okay. And it's not to say that it is throughout our country today either however it's much better off because of people like Harvey Milk who came out and wouldn't hide who they were or how they lived their lives. There was no more apologizing for being gay. And why should we? It's just the way that it is. In my mind, Harvey Milk was a pivotal figure who helped to shape gay rights and the world we live in today. Perhaps I am being nostalgic but it's how I feel and suspect will feel even stronger about it once I see the film.

So with that, it's playing at the Castro theater starting tomorrow, 11/26. Miss B and I will go to a show at some point during the day. She doesn't have to work and I am skipping out, taking a vacation day. Who else wants to go?

Too good to pass up

Favorite Protest Sign

From photographer A while we were trying to hear the speakers at the rally on Saturday. This one cracks me up.

Protesting and Amazing Food! All in the same weekend!

Amazing family dinner food supplied by D&R at their home near the Picklenut!

Protest sign of the day. At least chickens have rights, right?!?!

The weekend flew by once again and I can't believe it's Monday already. Not sure why I am shocked by this phenomena since it does happen every week. Right after Sunday, Monday is there. I think it's more the feeling of just needed Thanksgiving break to get here already. Miss B talked me into taking the day off before just to sleep in and relax. No one is going to be at the jelly doughnut factory anyway other than the doughnut makers (who are my people) but oddly enough, they can survive without me, at least for a day or two.

We did partake in the "Feel the impact" protest held all around the United States in various cities. There was a large turn out in San Francisco, that not being surprising at all since we do have such a large concentration of gays here in the Bay Area. The cool thing was that it wasn't just gays. Everyone was there in support of the fact that the passing of Prop 8 is just simply wrong. It's about equal rights, nothing about how one actually feels when it comes to gay marriage. What may in fact be a good thing about it failing is that this is pushing the issue to a national level and perhaps we will see a larger sweeping change come out of it rather than just on the state by state level. But it's too soon to tell. Either way, it was amazing to see all the support and to feel part of something that is so very monumental and important.

Sometimes I feel like my generation is the "Who cares and let someone else deal with it!" generation and we have just sat back doing nothing while all sorts of stuff has run amok. And perhaps that is right on. There is a surge in the air and everyone is jumping in, riding that wave of doing something rather than sitting on the couch, taking another bong hit, saying "Yeah, I'll get to that tomorrow.". (Not that there is anything wrong with bong hits! You can actually do them and be active but I was just trying to make a point!) This has really got people stirred up and it's good to feel a part of it. Now it's a matter of keeping the momentum and folks engaged. United we are unstoppable.

One thing that really stood out for me this weekend is what is it that Prop 8 is trying to protect exactly? The moral fiber of society? Heterosexual sex? Do they want to hog all the suits and dresses at the Vera Wang store? I just don't get it. It's about the right to marry the person you love and have the protection which goes along with it. And domestic partnerships are not equal. They simply are not. They grant some of the same things however equal, they are not. If someone can explain to me in a way I may be able to understand then I will listen to see what they are protecting. But from here, I don't get it.

Onto more fun topics: the roving dinner party! Every few months or so, two other couples along with Miss B and I take turns hosting a rockus dinner party. Well this one, the gloves came off and the fellas out did themselves! 5 courses AND dessert. Roll me on outta there because I was so stuffed with goodness I can't even tell you how amazing it was! Everything was fantastic from taste to presentation. Wowza! SO GOOD! The above dish was photographed by A and if you think it looks good, you should have tasted it! Super-yum. Aside from all the goodness and bounty of food, the company was three times as delightful as the food. My cheeks and stomach still hurt from laughing so hard. 3 bottles of wine later....oye. Thank you fellas for hosting such a wonderful night out. Can't wait for the next one!

The good, the bad, and the ugly

The good! Yep, that's pretty much how I feel about it. It's over. And in that order. The United States of America has spoken. Loud and clear. It was an exceptional evening overall, and I need to remain positive when it comes to all the good which came from a hell of a campaign. All the polling and worrying was put to bed when Miss B and I heard "LANDSLIDE" uttered from the lips of the NPR broadcasters on the way over to the ladies of the freeway home in the Mission. It was a moment I will never forget and the emotions behind it are still making me get a little choked up right now. So powerful and heartfelt. I feel like we just voted America back. We retrieved our soul! In case you haven't figured it out, the good part of the evening is that Barack Obama is now going to be the 44th President of the United States. President Obama, say it loud, say it proud!

The bad is the fact that people actually said YES TO PROP 8. How in the world can this happen and in the state of California in the year 2008? What in the world are people thinking? The scare tactics and dirty dirty politics pulled by this campaign are so disgusting, I can't stand it. My heart was crushed seeing the numbers come in and rights shot down, once again. Many of our friends have been married now MULTIPLE times to only have their rights revoked again and again. I know I will see the right for gays to marry in my lifetime. And I thought that time had arrived however I was wrong. The central valley and southern part of this state ruined it for everyone and now it's got to go back to legislation, once again. Everyone keeps talking about the strides we have made, progress, look at where we were at 10 years ago, blah blah blah. But this just doesn't feel good and that isn't because I am one big homo. It's because this is an issue of being treated differently because of how I am and that just feels wrong. El wrong-o. Super wrong. W-R-O-N-G wrong. Apparently, because I am gay, I will tell all your children about the dirty things we homosexuals do and that two women or two men being married is considered "normal". Can you believe it? It's normal! And I will also want them to learn about it in school and be responsible for the moral decay of society. Yep, I have the power to do that, just by being gay. Let me put on my big gay cape and go bring the world to it's knees. I'll be right back. Because according to the Yes on 8 people, it will only take a short amount of time because I am so gay and so powerful. Oh, and god doesn't love me. Don't forget that I will also ruin marriage. Sure will. Just like we gays have ruined everything else.

But what I will take from this is that this set back will only make us stronger. We will come out fighting even harder next time. And you Yes on 8 people won't win. Because the rest of the world will get it. Marriage is for everyone. It doesn't involve goats or chickens because the last I checked, they can't really consent to getting married. But I can, and will, marry the person I love (and already did!) even if you don't think it's okay. Just you wait. It's coming. We just have to persevere and fight the good fight. Because it is the right thing to do.

The ugly. That's easy. We don't have to look at these two anymore on a frequent basis. They will still be around, sure. However, much less. And hopefully not for long. The maverick did give a very good concession speech. And I do believe he meant it. I'm just glad they will be out of the limelight and it's time for them to go home. You go home Miss Palin. And get ready for the Republicans to blame everything on you. That's why they picked you! Easy target.

Congratulations America. You got your country back.

Boo-hiss for the gay community. We got it all taken away. For now.

And as for the ugly, well, they still have that!

Halloween 2008

I must say B's outfit was the hit of the evening! She completely rocked it and everyone loved it. Thank goodness she was my sidekick or I would have looked like just some ordinary train conductor, which is how the whole thing got rolling until Ethan suggested going the Schoolhouse Rock theme. She put a lot of effort into this and you could tell! Bear in training and Bear 2 made their house into Spooksville and it truly was a Halloween wonderland! Thanks guys for hosting and I am not sure what will top that next year!