Sunday, June 10, 2007
gay and lesbian music
I've been blog lazy - due to work and the great weather in Berlin - so much has been going on in our city and Ill be sure to write again in the next weeks: gay/lez street fetival is coming up as well as gay pride.
but today just a link for you: as a musician I really appreciate the Queer Music Heritage website. This guy has put a lot of work and probably years of research into this site! Preserving gay and lesbian history just becoz it has to be done and out of passion and personal beliefs has become rare in these fast paced times..so kudos to JD Doyle, and to say it in slightly modified ABBA words: thank you for the queer music JD!!
Be sure to check out this mp3: Here come the leaping Lesbians! Today it might seem hilarious, but back then in 77 any lez song was a revolution. I heard the Lesbian Concentrate LP for the first time in the early 80s - and although I was ecstatic about an all lesbian record, I was a bit confused about the song title Leaping Lesbians... frogs leap, bunnies leap. and as a young dyke I did a lot of unusual things...but leap? So, funny then and funnier now - and at least another L-word alliteration for the record.
but today just a link for you: as a musician I really appreciate the Queer Music Heritage website. This guy has put a lot of work and probably years of research into this site! Preserving gay and lesbian history just becoz it has to be done and out of passion and personal beliefs has become rare in these fast paced times..so kudos to JD Doyle, and to say it in slightly modified ABBA words: thank you for the queer music JD!!
Be sure to check out this mp3: Here come the leaping Lesbians! Today it might seem hilarious, but back then in 77 any lez song was a revolution. I heard the Lesbian Concentrate LP for the first time in the early 80s - and although I was ecstatic about an all lesbian record, I was a bit confused about the song title Leaping Lesbians... frogs leap, bunnies leap. and as a young dyke I did a lot of unusual things...but leap? So, funny then and funnier now - and at least another L-word alliteration for the record.
Labels: gay, lesbian, music, web stuff
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Not so Gay in Ghana
Ghana bans gay and lesbian conference
.... While we're watching the L-Word and being our free lesbian selves, millions of GLTBs in many countries still have to hide and are being oppressed to say the least. Homophobia is obviously widespread on the African continent, or as a South African lesbian puts it: "It's kind of the spirit of the times in Africa". I actually know a dyke from an influential family in Ghana, in fact she is a Princess, and it took many many years for her family to accept her lifestyle - but eventually they did, so there's hope that the "spirit of the times" will change one day. I wish the gays and lesbians in those African countries that promote homophobia, a lot of strength, courage and worldwide support - after all the African saying (from Zaire) is so true: Tsa ifotekya loolo - FIRE can soften iron.
For more infos on GLBT Africa check out the Behind the Mask Website.
Photo: Camouflage (©) by South African photographer and gender & sexual rights activist Zanele Muholi .
.... While we're watching the L-Word and being our free lesbian selves, millions of GLTBs in many countries still have to hide and are being oppressed to say the least. Homophobia is obviously widespread on the African continent, or as a South African lesbian puts it: "It's kind of the spirit of the times in Africa". I actually know a dyke from an influential family in Ghana, in fact she is a Princess, and it took many many years for her family to accept her lifestyle - but eventually they did, so there's hope that the "spirit of the times" will change one day. I wish the gays and lesbians in those African countries that promote homophobia, a lot of strength, courage and worldwide support - after all the African saying (from Zaire) is so true: Tsa ifotekya loolo - FIRE can soften iron.For more infos on GLBT Africa check out the Behind the Mask Website.
Photo: Camouflage (©) by South African photographer Labels: around the world, gay, lesbian, politics
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Stonewall Goodbye?
I just read in UK's pink news that the Stonewall Bar in New York is apparantly closing. Maybe unknown to many young gays and dykes this is one of the very few historic places we have and one of the most important ones! Actually it should be landmarked and preserved by the City of New York - or at least sponsered by the rich and famous GLBTs over 40... It might not be a trendy place folks, but if it weren't for this bar and the brave women and men back in 1969 we sure wouldn't live the life many of us are living today.
A photo I took two years ago - I hope it isn't the last.
A photo I took two years ago - I hope it isn't the last.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Gay Marriage and not so gay marriage
.
So Dubya did it again - he opposes gay marriage, what else is new? I actually just read the proposed amendment text for the first time which is:
"Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the Constitution of any state, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman."
Ok, so what's so damn great and exclusive about heterosexual marriage? I can tell you after doing a bit of research:
It's not working:
The total numbers of U.S. divorces (excluding the non-counting states) reported finalized annually are 957,200 in 2000.
(The total numbers of U.S. marriages (including those states) reported celebrated annually are 2,355,005 in 2000.)
It can be a dangerous union:
Two million spouses (mostly women) are threatened with a deadly weapon annually, according to the US Department of Justice. One half of all American homes are affected by domestic violence at least once a year.
This holy union does not always result in a loving family:
The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) reported an estimated 1,400 child fatalities in 2002. In 2002, more than one-third (38 percent) of child maltreatment fatalities were associated with neglect alone. Physical abuse alone was cited in more than one-quarter (30 percent) of reported fatalities. Another 29 percent of fatalities were the result of multiple maltreatment types.
So, this is something that should be protected from us ? Clean up your own mess biggots and put a little love in your life instead of hatred and ignorance!
It's one of these days I'm glad I live in Europe - and could marry my girlfriend if I chose to (well and if she said yes!). After all those horrid figures here's some nice lesbian romance for you - in an Australian Johnny Walker ad from 1997. You can see it at The Commercial Closet
gay marriage
So Dubya did it again - he opposes gay marriage, what else is new? I actually just read the proposed amendment text for the first time which is:
"Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the Constitution of any state, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman."
Ok, so what's so damn great and exclusive about heterosexual marriage? I can tell you after doing a bit of research:
It's not working:
The total numbers of U.S. divorces (excluding the non-counting states) reported finalized annually are 957,200 in 2000.
(The total numbers of U.S. marriages (including those states) reported celebrated annually are 2,355,005 in 2000.)
It can be a dangerous union:
Two million spouses (mostly women) are threatened with a deadly weapon annually, according to the US Department of Justice. One half of all American homes are affected by domestic violence at least once a year.
This holy union does not always result in a loving family:
The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) reported an estimated 1,400 child fatalities in 2002. In 2002, more than one-third (38 percent) of child maltreatment fatalities were associated with neglect alone. Physical abuse alone was cited in more than one-quarter (30 percent) of reported fatalities. Another 29 percent of fatalities were the result of multiple maltreatment types.
So, this is something that should be protected from us ? Clean up your own mess biggots and put a little love in your life instead of hatred and ignorance!
It's one of these days I'm glad I live in Europe - and could marry my girlfriend if I chose to (well and if she said yes!). After all those horrid figures here's some nice lesbian romance for you - in an Australian Johnny Walker ad from 1997. You can see it at The Commercial Closet
gay marriage
Labels: gay, lesbian, politics
Friday, March 24, 2006
Bird Flu Caused by Gays
Now this would really be hilarious if it wasn't so outrageously dumb and dangerous:
Kabbalah-Rabbi David Basri, who is under Israeli Police investigation due to his frequent hate speeches, says supporting gay marriage is just another example of Israel embracing immoral ideas.
But it gets better: according to his son he believes that the bird flu which has killed two people in Israel is because the country is ‘strengthening and encouraging homosexuality’.
What????
He explains it of course: "The Bible says that God punishes depravity first through plagues against animals and then in people."
Well the Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic in the UK in 2001 is no surpise then ...looking back: in 2001 the first gay couple in Britain registered their partnership in a civil ceremony organised by London mayor Ken Livingstone. Ahaaaa!!
Back to the bird flu: if it is directly linked to being gay it's a miracle that the gay penguins in the Berlin Zoo (yes, scientifically proven homosexuals and they have become quite famous) are still alive... Zoo vet Dr. Andreas Koch states by the way that gay couples are not rare in the bird world.... Well at least they prove the raging Rabbi wrong who so gracefully enlightens us about homosexuality: "...this is not a disease or a deviation, but a straight-out abomination. Even animals don't behave this way... There is no place in the Holy City for such a phenomenon.”
Now if I were a vengeful woman I would strike back and say: well look what Kabbalah has done to Madonna:
But of course I would never do that... I like Madonna and respect other people's religion... as long as it doesn't do us any harm.... which unfortunately happens far too often.
SONG OF THE DAY: Nelly Furtado - I'm Like A Bird
Kabbalah-Rabbi David Basri, who is under Israeli Police investigation due to his frequent hate speeches, says supporting gay marriage is just another example of Israel embracing immoral ideas.
But it gets better: according to his son he believes that the bird flu which has killed two people in Israel is because the country is ‘strengthening and encouraging homosexuality’.
What????
He explains it of course: "The Bible says that God punishes depravity first through plagues against animals and then in people."
Well the Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic in the UK in 2001 is no surpise then ...looking back: in 2001 the first gay couple in Britain registered their partnership in a civil ceremony organised by London mayor Ken Livingstone. Ahaaaa!!
Back to the bird flu: if it is directly linked to being gay it's a miracle that the gay penguins in the Berlin Zoo (yes, scientifically proven homosexuals and they have become quite famous) are still alive... Zoo vet Dr. Andreas Koch states by the way that gay couples are not rare in the bird world.... Well at least they prove the raging Rabbi wrong who so gracefully enlightens us about homosexuality: "...this is not a disease or a deviation, but a straight-out abomination. Even animals don't behave this way... There is no place in the Holy City for such a phenomenon.”
Now if I were a vengeful woman I would strike back and say: well look what Kabbalah has done to Madonna:
But of course I would never do that... I like Madonna and respect other people's religion... as long as it doesn't do us any harm.... which unfortunately happens far too often.
SONG OF THE DAY: Nelly Furtado - I'm Like A Bird
Labels: gay, lesbian, politics
