Friday, April 27, 2007

American Fiesta: Love And Logic,
Taught Via Ceramic Bowls

Last night Aaron and I attended the New York premier of American Fiesta, a one-man show at the Vineyard Theatre, whose recent big hit was the pre-Broadway Avenue Q. Written by and starring Steven Tomlinson (an Austin native, where the show originated), American Fiesta is an exploration of gay marriage, family, and the neuroscience of politics, told through the metaphor of the narrator's obsession with collecting Fiestaware, the multi-hued Depression-era dinner sets that were sold piece by piece to money-pinched housewives.

Tomlinson, a Stanford-educated college professor, corporate speaker, and lay Episcopal preacher, doesn't act so much as he lectures, using a series of back-lit slides to contemplate his Church of Christ-going parents' reaction to his plan to marry his partner in Vancouver, the 2004 election, and the way the brain functions to excite or pleasure. He unfolds his theories via the show-long metaphor of his eBay-fueled mania to collect the complete, perfect, non-flawed set of Fiestaware, the holy grail of those so obsessed. Tomlinson voices many characters in his performance, his husband, his parents, an antiques dealer, using hand gestures and subtle but effective changes in his Texas twang.

The show has lots of laughs, but most of them are laughs of recognition, of nodding and saying "yes, it IS like that", rather than punchline-driven gags. And listening to Tomlinson recount the insane market for Fiesta collectibles, where a bowl can go for $500, as he continuously moves the bowls from shelf to shelf is a bit nerve-wracking, as I'm sure others in the audience must have worried that he would drop one. I know I did. American Fiesta is a rather quietly contemplative show and while I found Tomlinson often reminded me of motivational speaker Tony Robbins or televangelist Joel Osteen, I enjoyed him immensely.

In the audience last night we spotted Nathan Lane, Terrence McNally, and other theatre notables, so the buzz must be strong already. Interestingly, the main producer of American Fiesta is former U.S. senator and NBA star Bill Bradley. The Vineyard Theatre is a small house, with excellent sight-lines, and is located right off Union Square. Tickets are available here. Highly recommended.

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JMG: Year Four Begins

Today is JMG's 3rd blogiversary. My first post:

I was born and raised in rural North Carolina.

My fondest childhood memory is of playing in the dense, acrid, poison fog that was belched out by the county mosquito control truck, during it's daily dusk-time trip down our dirt road.

The cry of 'Smokey! Smokey!' would fly up and down Nine Foot Road, once the first faint sound of the pest control truck's generator was detected in the distance. Trailer screen doors would slam open and kids would pour into the street for 10 minutes of gleeful, giddy, mad dashing around in the thick white clouds of DDT. We would smash into each other with full force in the blinding swirls and just scream and laugh hysterically, pick ourselves up and start running again. Parents had not a whit of concern about their children playing directly behind the spewing pipes of a pest control truck. In fact, NOT being allowed to play in the poison fog was often held out as potential punishment for misbehavior.

I think this explains a lot about me.

I never in my wildest dreams thought that this here website thingy would turn into what it is: a vibrant little community of activists, malcontents, and smart asses, complete with beloved frequent commenters (Lynette!). And I certainly never thought that I'd be doing occasional stand-up shows or radio appearances. The blogosphere, she is teh crazy. As some of you know, I actually started this blog because I was frustrated by the lack of character spaces afforded by the Manhunt profiles, where I'd been sort of mini-blogging snarky commentary on the wacky online hook-up scene. So props to Manhunt for launching me to JMG, but more so to you, gentle readers. Many of you have become dear real life friends and many more of you have become cybermates. I still don't know where all this is going, but I can tell you that JMG is just about the best thing that's ever happened to me. I thank all of you for dropping by.

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Kitty: Day Two

I swear that JMG is not going become a cat blog (not that there's anything wrong with that), but since there was such an interest in yesterday's post, I thought I'd give y'all an update.

Last night Shelter Kitty slept on the sofa instead of under the bed, which is pleasingly rapid progress, yes? She's still very quiet, I haven't heard her meow once, but she does chirp and purr loudly. I put a comforter on the windowsill and she's been hopping up there to look out at the rain, in between manic gallops from one end of the apartment to the other. I do notice that if I approach her bowl she will rush over to eat, as if she's used to having her food removed. But best of all, she comes when I call her or snap my fingers.

The APSCA's vet called this morning and gave me a rather lengthy and informational instruction about FIV, telling me that Shelter Kitty's diminutive stature could be because of her positive status. (Hey, I could do a Paris Hilton and carry her around in a murse, since she's about the size of a chihuahua!) I also learned that some cats "clear" the virus on their own, but that mine probably won't, because she's tested positive three separate times over the last year. There's more than a good chance she'll live a healthy, normal lifespan, but I should especially vigilant to respiratory infections and make sure she not be vaccinated again, as the shot can sometimes trigger the virus into action.

I cannot praise the people at the Manhattan ASPCA more highly. From their vet to their adoption staff to their volunteers, everyone I've dealt with have been absolutely brilliant. It goes without saying that I urge you to use the ASPCA or a no-kill shelter if you are looking to adopt. Paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a pure-bred animal versus the APSCA's very modest $75 fee (which includes spaying, shots, microchip, and more) is just appalling. And by the way, when I mentioned "Sanjaya" as a possible name, the vet screamed.

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Giuliani Reverses On Civil Unions

Rudy Giuliani has reversed his previous position on civil unions, saying he is opposed to yesterday's New Hampshire civil union vote. His campaign issued this statement: "Mayor Giuliani believes marriage is between one man and one woman.Domestic partnerships are the appropriate way to ensure that people are treated fairly. In this specific case the law states same sex civil unions are the equivalent of marriage and recognizes same sex unions from outside states. This goes too far and Mayor Giuliani does not support it."

Giuliani had previously said that he supported civil unions but that "marriage should be reserved for a man and a woman." I wonder how his good friends, the gay couple he stayed with during his divorce, feel about this. What a douchebag.
UPDATE: Sirius OutQ host Michelangelo Signorile has posted an old clip of Giuliani supporting civil unions on his show. Listen to the clip, recorded in 2003.
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Morning View - Union Square

Located near NYU and poised atop a major subway station, Union Square is the heart of NYC public political activism, hosting rallies on every major cause: anti-war, gay rights, immigration reform, etc. After 9/11, Union Square was the focal point for public expressions of grief, as it was the closest gathering point to Ground Zero of any size. Embiggen to cruise.

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Thursday, April 26, 2007

Progress Around the Nation

  • The New Hampshire legislative approved of same-sex civil unions today, sending the bill to Gov. John Lynch, who has said he will sign it, joining NH with New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont.
  • Iowa today extended civil rights protections to LGBT folks in an ENDA-tpe bill that took 15 years to gather enough votes to pass.
  • Almost two-thirds of polled New Yorkers statewide support Gov. Spitzer's forthcoming gay marriage bill.

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I Exist, And....

And now for the most cliched blogpost: I exist, and I have a cat. After my Tuesday bike ride past the window of the ASPCA, I came home and went to bed, where I dreamt about the sad kitty I'd seen in the window. Taking that as a sign, last night I returned. Window Kitty was on "behavioral hold", unavailable for adoption for the time being, for reasons she demonstrated to me immediately.

However, as these things happen, I noticed a tiny cat sitting alone in an isolation booth. "Oh, she's not a kitten," I was told. "She's over a year old, actually. " I said, "Oh, is she one of those dwarf cats? Her legs are so short!" The staffer said, "Oh, no, she's a Dilute Calico. She just happens to very small. I think she weighs 3 or 4 pounds. She's been with us for a long time because she's FIV+."

And that was that, wasn't it, gentle readers? After a rather rigorous interview, in which the staff actually called two of my references, I was in a taxi with a tiny, timid cat the shelter had uncreatively named "Little Grey". I kept her in the bathroom overnight, to keep her calm, where she purred like a little monster, rubbed all over me, but was otherwise quite skittish, resistant to being held or picked up.

I let her out this morning and she promptly attempted to climb up my chimney. Luckily, I got to her just before she was out of reach, then I shoved a pillow up the fireplace to keep from trying that route of escape again. I'll get a better picture of her soon, right now even the camera's shutter noise makes her flinch. Right now, she's under the bed (which she can walk under without ducking her head), but she will come out for moment to be petted.

So I've got my work cut out for me getting this kitty socialized. I've never had a female cat, all my cats have been ginormous males, like last month's houseguest, the 21-lb Maine Coon (we think) that I abandoned with my ex when I moved to San Francisco in 1995. The first task, however, is getting her renamed. I'm open to all suggestions (should this have been an Open Thread Thursday?), but I typically don't like traditional pet names like Scamper or Mittens. In fact, my first cat as an adult was named BVBD (buh-vih-buh-duh), which seemed really funny in 1980. I also don't care for grandiose names like Anastasia du Bon Marche' (sorry, Allen!). I remember somebody naming their weiner dog Glenn Harris Milstead Jr. (Divine's real name), and that always made me laugh.

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Non-HomoQuotable - Sanjaya

"I got teased in school because people figured I must be gay because I understand women. I think that's why guys didn't like me – because I got along with girls so well. When I went up to girls they would give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek like I was their gay friend. But I was the straight guy that understood them." - Sanjaya, telling People that he is not gay.

RELATED: Now that he's off the show, the story has come out that 2 years ago Sanjaya's mom was arrested after police found 310 marijuana plants growing at their house. She only got a 30-day sentence, claiming the pot was "medical" marijuana. Hmm, her glaucoma must be very bad.

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Seattle Pride Saved

On Tuesday, Seattle's gay pride organization, Out And Proud, announced that they were cancelling this year's pride celebration and declaring bankruptcy, due to the organization's $102,000 debt from last year's event. But upon hearing the news, Seattle's mo's came rushing to the rescue, pouring in enough donations to retire the debt by the end of that very day. Amazing! Seattle's pride event is now back on, scheduled for June 24th.

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Morning View - W Hotel Union Square

The Beaux Arts-style W Hotel in Union Square was built in 1911 as the German Insurance Building but had its named changed to the Guardian Life Building during WWI. Starwood Hotels bought it for their "W" brand in 2000. Did you know that "W" stands for "Whatever, Whenever"? Yeah, me either. The lobby is beautiful, I recommend sticking your head in, next time you're in Union Square to shop at Discount Shoe Warehouse.

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Open Thread Thursday

Let's play like the chat room kids. A/S/L?
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Wednesday, April 25, 2007

BK Tops Most Blogged List

Brooklyn has the bloggiest 'hoods in the country, according to a study that tracked 100,000 posts about 3000 neighborhoods. Unsurprisingly, the ten most blogged-about neighborhoods in the nation are hotbeds of education and the creative arts. Here are the top ten nabes for hipster hype.

1. Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
2. Shaw, Washington DC
3. Downtown Los Angeles
4. Newton, Massachusetts
5. Rogers Park/North Howard, Chicago
6. Pearl District, Portland OR
7. Watertown, Massachusetts
8. Harlem, Manhattan
9. Potrero Hill, San Francisco
10. Coconut Grove, Miami

In the print version of today's NY Post, where I first saw this item, the author said something like, "People in Brooklyn feel a real connection to their neighborhoods, like they can personally impact what is happening. Unlike in Manhattan. The Upper East Side doesn't exactly inspire blogging." I suppose I should feel insulted.
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First Gay Rights Writing Discovered

An English scholar has unearthed a scroll of parchment containing what he says is the earliest English-language writing on the topic of gay rights. Ancient And Modern Pederasty Investigated And Exemplified, a book written by Thomas Cannon in 1749 is a "defense" of homosexuality containing citations from ancient Greek and Roman literature.

The book was suppressed upon publication, with all copies destroyed and the printer forced to flee the country to avoid prosecution. Dr. Hal Gladfelder of the University of Manchester said of the author, "It's a fair assumption that Cannon was writing for a gay subculture at the time - which has largely remained hidden. Though he lived in anonymity - possibly because of the notoriety of his pamphlet - I certainly regard him as a martyr."
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Wolfpack Takes Motown

Congrats to Ray at North Carolina State, our winner of this week's Swag Tuesday prize, a collection of CDs from Universal Music Enterprise's Number Ones series. Ray says, "Well, I'm absolutely thrilled to get these CD's. As a poor college student, I don't get a chance to pick up many collections, but these just jumped out at me when I first saw them. I'm sure that'll make the long walk to my classes just a little bit shorter. Thanks for the opportunity!" Ray was chosen by Lady Randomizer as the 105th commenter on yesterday's post. And as a born-Tarheel, let me add: Go Pack! PR folks, if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, email me.

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Rosie Leaving The View

Rosie O'Donnell is leaving The View after her one-year contract expires in June. After her F-bomb-laden and crotch-grabbing performance at Monday's New York Women in Communication awards, O'Donnell has been the subject of a furious campaign by various right-wing groups who have threatened to boycott Disney-owned ABC and their advertisers. The usual Fox News wingnuts (O'Reilly, Hannity & Colmes) have been going ballistic as well.

At the opening of today's episode, Rosie announced that she and ABC could not "come to terms" and that while she regrets leaving the show, she plans to return occasionally to guest host. Barbara Walters said, "To say the least, this has been an interesting year. It has been fun-filled, provocative, and you will be missed. I would like to make one thing perfectly clear, I did not participate in the negotiations. This is not my doing or my choice."

Rosie has been a breath of fresh, angry air on The View, where the opening Hot Topics segments were a platform for O'Donnell to rant daily against the Bush administration. I became a devout viewer when she joined the cast and her departure will leave a huge void for (admittedly strident) progressive voices on network television. Her style is not for everyone, but it IS for me. We need more pissed off people with a big megaphone and I can't think of anybody I'd rather have one than Rosie O'Donnell.
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Morning View - One East River

The 50-story One East River on E.72nd Street is one of the city's oddball flock of "super-luxury" rentals, built for folks that don't mind dropping around $40k-$80K a year to rent an apartment. It's a soul-free glass box, more like an office building than a home, but I do rather like the funky slatted window vents that actually open. On nice days, One East River looks like a snake shedding its skin. Still, I would never live in a high-rise without balconies for enjoying the view. In NYC, isn't that the point?

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AFA Attacks ENDA

The American Family Association says...

Several corporations are now supporting the homosexual agenda. These companies have been convinced by homosexual activists and the mainstream media that in order to be “fair and tolerant,” companies must make special rules for homosexuals and provide company money and resources to help promote their lifestyle. Many companies, at the urging of these groups, have also begun to support same-sex marriage.
Several corporations? How about thousands, including 87 of the Fortune 500. What fucking liars. Now go to the AFA site and fuck with their survey, current results below.

If a corporation supports the homosexual agenda, would you:

  • Be more likely to do business with that company - 6,238
  • Be less likely to do business with that company -188,722
  • It would not affect my buying decision -3,946
Next AFA survery: Slavery. Good thing, bad thing?
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ENDA Introduced To House


ABOVE: Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) speaks about ENDA, which he and Reps. Deb Price (R-OH) , Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Chris Shays (R-CT) introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives. More photos are here. (via - Human Rights Campaign.)

Rep. Baldwin: "Twenty-five years ago, my own state of Wisconsin was the first in the nation to add sexual orientation to anti-discrimination statutes. Since then, 16 states have done the same. We call on Congress now to set a new and higher standard. With the support of the House leadership and members of both parties, I am hopeful that this Congress will close this loophole in existing law and pass a truly comprehensive and inclusive bill to outlaw employment discrimination.”

This is the 7th time since 1994 that a version of ENDA has been introduced to Congress, and under the new Democratic leadership, this is the best chance ever for ENDA to pass. Everybody cross your fingers and contact your Congressperson.

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HomoQuotable - Jackie Beat

"Ann Coulter is a horrible witch -- you know that some queen is bleaching and straightening that hair. And who designs her little black dresses and shoes? Trust me, it's gay men! I would love to see Ann Coulter in a gay-free zone -- she would have coarse mousy brown hair, poorly applied drugstore makeup and walk around in a hideous floral housecoat and comfortable flats. You can't have it both ways, Ann." -Drag performer Jackie Beat, speaking to QVegas Magazine. (via - Rex Wockner's Quote/Unquote.)

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Tuesday, April 24, 2007

East Harlem Run-On

(Taking a deep breath):I dusted the bike off for the first time this year tonight and had a long ride along the East River, starting at the bridge over the expressway that runs under the Hospital For Ominous Surgery, rolling by the Blackwell Island Lighthouse (built in 1872 so boats didn't run into the NYC Insane Asylum), continuing past our current nuthouse (built in 1899 and the biggest mental hospital in the world at the time), veering around the Ward's Island Bridge, then leaving the bike path to watch an inning of the East Harlem Little League, where the parents cheered the batters in Spanish and the kids jeered the pitching in Beyonce' ("to the left, to the left") as the Orioles made hay of the Nationals, and since baseball makes me hungry, I then steered into the drive-thru of White Castle where the girl at the window looked at my bike and said, "Choo mas be keeding me," but served me three delicious cheeseburgers anyway, which I ate bouncing to reggaeton on Tito Puente Way (dedicated in 2000), then finishing my tour by spending a heartbreaking 15 minutes gazing at the cats in the window of the Manhattan ASPCA, where a sad fellow totally knew how to work the crowd. (Inhale.)
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Broadway Bullet Points

  • As of yesterday, Spamalot has run longer than Camelot.
  • The Producers closed yesterday after six years and a $300+ million gross.
  • John Waters' Cry-Baby is in workshop, NYC premiere unknown.
  • New York state may deregulate ticket scalping. Current law expires in June.
  • Semi-flop The Pirate Queen may be evicted for Young Frankenstein.
  • Frost/Nixon, starring Frank Langella, opens tonight.
  • Mary Poppins most with 11 noms from Outer Critics Circle.
  • Wicked tops this week's grosses.
  • Drowsy Chaperone starts a 30-city national tour in September.
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  • HomoQuotable - Jim McGreevey

    "Although it is clear that the Defendant (Dina Matos McGreevey) knew of my sexual orientation before our marriage, she chose to either ignore it or block it out of her mind, even when questioned by her friends." - Former NJ governor Jim McGreevey, claiming his wife always knew he was a gay American, in divorce papers filed yesterday. McGreevey's "amicable" divorce has turned nasty, with his soon-to-be ex-wife claiming that the gay gov exposed their daughter to gay porn, in the form of a large nude poster (possibly NSFW) in his bedroom. A bitter custody battle is underway.

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    Sticky News For Astroglide

    Whoopsie. Wired is reporting that lube maker Astroglide has accidently exposed a list of over 250,000 customers. Google searches on their customer's names now reveal their addresses and their preferred lube. Google is working on removing the info from their caches and many of the links are now dead, but apparently the information has been out there for years. There are some big names on the list, according to the article.

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    Gay Church's Billboards Defaced

    Well, that didn't take long. God's gentle loving people in Indianapolis have already defaced some of Jesus MCC's startling pro-gay scripture billboards, spray painting "Lie, Lie, Lie" on one of them. Get the story from Indiana LGBT site, Bilerico, who notes that the vandals had to use tall extension ladders to reach the billboards.

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    Morning View - Metronome

    Hovering on the facade of Union Square's Virgin Megastore/ Circuit City location is not a digital commentary on overpopulation, or the national debt, but the Metronome, built in 1998 as one of the largest private commissions of public art in the history of the city. Created by Kristin Jones and Andrew Ginzel at the bequest of the building's owner, the piece's elements "suggest the instant and infinity, astronomical sequence, geological epoch and ephemerality." Oh, brother.

    Almost everybody I know thinks the thing is interesting, but damn fugly, from the rock/needle/sunburst to the inscrutable spinning "New York minute" numbers (which supposedly give the time of day and the number of hours and minutes left until midnight, although it never seems right to me.) The hole in the sunburst emits random puffs of white steam "as a symbol of the city's eternal energy", which would be neat in Times Square, I suppose. This is what $3 million dollars could get you in 1998.

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    Swag Tuesday

    Courtesy of Universal Music Enterprises, this week's Swag Tuesday booty is a collection of six great CDs from their new Number Ones series: Marvin Gaye , Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Tempations, Dance #1's, '80s Soul , and '90s Soul. These are UME's "eco-friendly" packages and you can download complete liner notes direct from UME's site.

    As before, this week's winner will be chosen from the comments on this post, this time using a number randomizer. Only your first comment on this post will count, make sure you leave your email for notification. You have until midnight to enter and the winner will be announced tomorrow. Thanks very much to UME! Publicists, ect: Email me if you'd like to be a part of Swag Tuesday on JMG.

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    Monday, April 23, 2007

    Protesting Is Sexy!

    A reader sent me this pic of a very sexy concerned citizen keeping track of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales claiming "I don't recall" over and over again during his Senate testimony. YouTube has the embarrassing video. Employing your civic right to comment on our government's abuses is sexy. Muscular arms are sexy. Beards are sexy. And Alberto Gonzales is a non-sexy putz emblematic of the sinking, stinking morass of ethical cesspoolery that defines the Bush II regime.

    UPDATE: The protester's name is Adam Kokesh and he's a member of Iraq Veterans Against The War. Gonzales' testimony was also protested by Code Pink, a women's peace organization, garnering them a great photo in Friday's NY Times. Thanks to DC blogger Chrisafer for the information! Princess Sparkle Pony also has great shot of Adam.

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    ENDA To Be Re-Introduced Tomorrow

    This just in...

    WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, April 24, at 1:00 p.m., Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; and Chris Shays, R-Conn., will introduce the bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill addresses discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on the person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
    Tomorrow's event has been long in the works. In 33 states it is still legal to fire someone for being gay and in 42 states you can be fired for being transgender. This is the first version of ENDA to be introduced that will include gender identity among its protections, long a sticking point for some gay rights orgs that refused to work on the bill until transgender folks were added. I would love to be in the gallery tomorrow when this historic event takes place. With the Matthew Sheppard Act introduced last week, and now ENDA on the table once more, 2007 truly promises to be the most meaningful year in the history of gay rights. More on this tomorrow, of course.

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    Christians Disrupt Daisey

    Friday night in Cambridge, monologist/writer Mike Daisey had his show at the American Reperatory Theatre disrupted when 87 members of a Christian group decided to leave the theatre in the middle of the show, with one man pouring water on Daisey's notes as the group filed past the stage. It seems to be unknown why the Christian group decided to attend Daisey's show, which is known for strong language. The video is already getting wide play on YouTube.

    CORRECTION: Contrary to Mike Daisey's description of the disrupters as a "Christian group", it appears that they were a public high school choir group with many Christian members.

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    Spitzer To Post Gay Marriage Bill

    Governor Eliot Spitzer has announced his plan to introduce a bill to legalize gay marriage in New York. The bill is not expected to pass. Same-sex marriage legislation has never made it to a floor vote in the New York Assembly or Senate. Still, marriage equality activists are heralding Spitzer's plan, saying his move will lend "strategic and symbolic weight" to the cause. From Spitzer on down, every statewide-elected politician in New York now supports same-sex marriage. It's the pesky local pols that are gumming up the works.

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    HIV Blocking Peptide Found

    German researchers have identified a peptide that blocks HIV and have synthesized a variant that is 100 times more potent than the natural peptide. The synthetic version has been tested safely on animals and human trials are set to begin later this year. This peptide could obviate existing HIV drugs as it appears to work equally well on all strains of the virus, including drug-resistant ones. The drug is made by IPF Pharmaceuticals of Hannover.

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    Morning View - Christopher Street


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    Sunday, April 22, 2007

    Saturday. In The Park.

    Yesterday's glorious sunshine allowed us to renew our favorite warm weather tradition, lazy Saturday afternoons spent sprawled above Central Park's roller disco. The DJ starts up around 2PM, beaming old school disco and R&B classics to a wireless speaker system, while a crazy group of show-offs and eccentrics perform tricks and roller-boogie around. We spotted most of our favorites yesterday: Bottlehead, Bladey Flowness, Energizer Bunny, and Disco Grandma.

    By the end of last summer, we were having 20 or more friends show up for our lazy picnics, smuggling white wine in Sprite bottles and usually getting slightly loaded before the DJ packs it in around 6pm. (OK, sometimes more than "slightly" loaded. The boys are still telling the story of when your humble narrator drunkenly climbed on the statue of Balto and shouted, "The dingo ate my baby!" My life, lived in quiet dignity.)

    There are no leaves on the trees yet, so our usually shady spot on Bear Hill actually got us a bit sunburned. (Father Tony insists that we call our spot "Blogger Hill", but that just doesn't have as nice a ring.) The Central Park Dance Skaters Association sets up every weekend day, weather permitting. Some of the best things in NYC are free. Embiggen for the proof.

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