Stories of Pride: Bobservations

One of the great things about coming out is speaking out. And that’s the easiest thing of all; while some clients I meet at work don’t know I’m gay, when they see my wedding ring, they’ll inevitably say:

“That’s a great wedding ring. What does your wife’s look like?”

“I wouldn’t know, but my husband’s looks exactly like mine.”

Or, if we see people around town that don’t know I’m a big old married homo, I always clearly, loudly, some might say, proudly, introduce Carlos:

“This is my husband.”

And if you don’t think speaking out about your personal life or LGBTQ rights makes any difference, think on this:

In America … AMERICA … 45% of people believe that the federal government has already passed a law banning discrimination against LGBTQ Americans. And we all know that hasn’t happened. Yet.

The Equality Act, which passed the House earlier this year, would ban many forms of discrimination against LGBTQ people at the federal level, but it has not, and probably will not thanks to Bitch McConnell, pass the Senate and _____ has already come out against the bill.

So, speak up. Tell people that the federal government of this country, which happily takes my gay tax dollars, still sees me, and many of you, as “less than.”

Speak the fuck up.

Joey Krastel is a storm chaser. Don’t ask me why. He’s also a gay man. Again, don’t ask me why a gay man would hunt down and films deadly storms, some gay folks are crazy.

But the one thing Joey Krastel, a meteorologist and risk analyst for the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, loves almost as much as storms is his boyfriend Chris Scott, who is also a crazy gay ass storm chaser.

Don’t ask.

And so, last week,  when the National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency near Kansas City, Joey and Chris, and their friends, set out to Salina, Kansas, to find a tornado because …

“[It] was always in the back of my mind to get engaged during storm chasing. I felt like it would be this perfect way to seal the deal.”

And so, with a tornado approaching Joey got down on one knee and popped the question; and Chris, just as crazy, said, ‘Yes.’

Congratulations guys. Now, take cover!

After the _____ Regime ordered American Embassies around the world to stop flying the Rainbow flag during Pride month, several of them defied to order; in fact, some embassies are outright ignoring the command, while others are using more creative techniques to display their support for the LGBTQ community, such as …

The U.S. embassy in New Delhi was illuminated with rainbow-colored lights ...

In Nepal, U.S. Ambassador Randy Berry posed with staff members holding a huge “Pride ’19” message ....

The embassy in Seoul blatantly flew their Pride flag ...

In Tel Aviv, they went with banners and flags all over ...

In addition, U.S. diplomats in Jerusalem Tweeted photos of themselves at the local March for Pride and Tolerance. And U.S. missions in Chennai, India, Santiago, Chile, and Vienna, Austria have all been flying the Rainbow flag against orders.

You can’t stop Pride, ____.

We’re here, we’re queer, and our flag is waving.

Speaking of rainbows, the Chicago Transit Authority has decorated several train cars on the north-south Red Line in Provide colors.

And if you’re walking instead of taking the trains, fourteen  crosswalks in Boystown, Chicago’s gay village, also  feature pride colors. … 13 are rainbows, and one is in the colors of the transgender flag.

The crosswalks were paid for with donations collected during Chicago Pride Fest and North Halsted Market Days.

I found this shocking, but this year, for the first time ever, California began flying the Rainbow Pride flag over the state Capitol.

I’d have thought California would have been at the forefront of that movement,  but it is following  Colorado and Wisconsin, who were first, in raising the Pride flag. Governor Gavin Newsom said:

“In California, we celebrate and support our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community’s right to live out loud — during Pride month and every month. By flying the pride flag over the State Capitol, we send a clear message that California is welcoming and inclusive to all, regardless of how you identify or who you love."

To be fair, while this the first time California is flying the Rainbow flag on the flagpole, the state has previously hung the flag over the Capitol's balconies and lit up the Capitol dome.

New York state also flew the LGBTQ pride flag over its Capitol for the first time ever this month.

Forty-six more to go ….

And, as we know with all things gay, bigger is almost always better.

Get your minds out of the gutter, I’m talking about the staircase at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park becoming the largest {\Pride flag in New York City.

The park’s “#AscendWithPride campaign started this week and will run through the end of the month, with a variety of festivities and events including Drag Queen Story Hour, picnics and “VideoOut,” which is an onsite session the park said will capture coming out stories all day.

Sounds like a great spot for a picnic and some stories.

And since I like to include some Hot Men in Bobservations will celebrate Pride with a post that features LGBTQ male models; a little Homo Man Candy for Pride.

Clockwise: sultry Barrett Pall, sexy Charles Laurent Marchand, exotic Sachin Bhatt, and trans-male model Laith Ashley.

Clockwise: bath toy Cheyenne Parker, sexy and shy Indar Isaiah Smith, blue-haired hunk Kyle Krieger, and French hunk Saville Dorfman.

Clockwise: Smoldering Jared North, young and ripped Chris Fawcett, wet hot Steven Dehler, and hairy hunk Matt Lister.

Clockwise: pistol packing—at least it could be a pistol—Willie Gomez, abs-olutely fine Patrick Frost, muy caliente Julian Gabriel Hernandez, and beefcake Kevin McDaid.

LGBTQ-licious.