Showing posts with label Armistead Maupin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Armistead Maupin. Show all posts

Friday, August 03, 2012

Must Have: A Piece Of Literary History

Okay, so it isn't the biggest place and it isn't the most posh, but some of the most amazing people have lived in this house. Or, at least, in the mind of the owner of this house.
See, Tales of the City author, Armistead Maupin, is actually leaving San Francisco for the American Southwest, and his home in the City by the Bay is up for sale. Since I've loved his books, and read them all, I think this is a Must Have for me.
There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms--perfect for Carlos and me, and the children--and, well, it's smaller than Casa Bob y Carlos in Smallville at just 1600 square feet, but, oh, I so want it. It's three floors, and includes that necessity for San Francisco homes, a garage. There are views of the hills, and views of the bay and views of The City.
The living room, dining room, and kitchen are all on the main level, with two bedrooms and a bath on the second floor, and the master bedroom, and rooftop deck, on top. There are beautifully landscaped gardens at the front and the back, and it is close to just about everything one could need. Golden Gate Park is just blocks away!
I.Must.Have.It.
Now, where is my winning Lotto ticket because this slice of Literary Heaven is for sale at $1.2 million.
A pittance, really.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

I Didn't Say It........A Day Later

Chuck Woolery, hasbeen game show host--and doesn't that say it all--on the idea that we don't need civil rights:
"Majority rules. We were born with natural rights. We don't need civil rights. [African-Americans] don't need civil rights. They don't need them. They have inalienable rights granted by God in the Constitution. I mean, I'm discriminated against all the time. I don't care. It doesn't bother me. [I'm discriminated against] because I'm old. I'm too old to get a job as a game show host. They say, well, the guy's 71 and in five years he'll be 76. And I’m a one per center, and I'm absolutely discriminated against as a one per center."

Um, Chuck, you dipwad. The Constitution didn't protect African-Americans. They were thought of, literally, as less than a man.
Gay folks, likewise, are thought of as less than.
And you're not discriminated against in the "game show host" profession because you're old, it's because you're a right-winging, goosestepping douchenozzle.
I think.

Andrew Sullivan, on contraception and the Catholic church:
"I'm sorry but I find the protectors of child rapists preaching to women about contraception to be a moral obscenity. When all the implicated bishops and the Pope resign, their replacements will have standing to preach."

Seriously, he's right.
When rapists and their allies sit in judgement of anyone, and use their bullying pulpits to preach, it's a sad commentary on our times.
Arrest them all, and start from scratch, Then maybe we'd have a Catholic Church we can trust with children.

Daniel Radcliffe, on if he's ever considered that he might be gay:
"No. I can quite happily say someone is handsome, good-looking, and I can see why someone would want to f**k them, but I've never felt that way about a man myself. There is that moment in your late teens when you ask yourself the question, 'Am I?' but I wasn't...Well, this year I have a talent crush on Ryan Gosling. I think he's fantastic and....you know he'd be nice afterwards. He seems smart. If I was gay, I would go for a smart man."

I'm so with you, DanRad.
On Gosling and going for smart men.

Bryan Fischer, American Family Association spokesbigot, on JCPenney and Ellen turning women into lesbians:
"Will America’s young women be just a bit more likely to experiment with lesbianism now that JCPenney is mainstreaming it? Too any objective observer, the answer must be yes. Is this a good thing? To any objective observer, the answer must be no. Research has indicated that lesbians suffer from increased levels of depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, breast cancer and vaginal diseases compared to heterosexual women. Thus what JCPenney has done, by increasing, even if ever so slightly, the chances that young women will experiment with this behavior will turn out to be a tragic thing for some. JCPenney will have to share some culpability for that."

How can anyone listen to what people like Fischer say and not burst out laughing.
He seriously people women will become lesbian because Ellen is shilling for JC Penney.
And, when all these women suddenly turn gay for the JCP, they will end up depressed and suicidal.
Seriously? What a delusional fuck.

Randy Thomasson, Save California head bigot, endorsing Newt "Chucky" Gingrich's promise to arrest federal judges that don't rule to his liking:
"Judicial activists like Stephen Reinhardt and Michael Daly Hawkins need to be reined in like Newt Gingrich has been saying about judicial activists. Marriage is not in the United States Constitution, so this case should never have gone to federal court. Now it will be appealed to the nation's high court, with Anthony Kennedy being the deciding vote. Fortunately, in past rulings favoring homosexuality, Kennedy has written against redefining marriage, making it likely that he will affirm California's right to reserve marriage licenses for a man and a woman."

What's funny, or scary, is that people like homophobe, bigot, asshat, fuckmonkey wingnuts like Thomasson, think that any judge who disagrees with them is an activist, legislating from the bench.
And they want to install their own brand of activist judges.
Pot.Kettle.STFU.

Ken Hutcherson, "pastor", on how God will kill The Gays and America because of The Gays:
"Do I think God brings judgment on a society that encourages homosexuality? I do. And since I am a pastor and God has commanded me to love everyone, I will do what it takes to love them. That does not mean I will accept that they stay the way they are. Unrepentant sin destroys you and will kill you. So if I believe the word of God, that He will bring judgment on a people, then I would be a very bad shepherd not to warn those people."

Um, "pastor"--and I use the term pastor loosely--if God was going to strike down civilization because of The Gays she would have done so at so many other times throughout history.
And, why just America? Does "your"god only hate America and not any other place on the globe that has realized equality is the way to go.
You need to sit down pastor, your ignorance is showing.

Mitt Romney, pandering, mindless, flip-flopping fuck, promising to defend DOMA and amend the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage:
"I fought to have a stay on that decision, then pushed for a marriage amendment to our Constitution. We lost by only one vote in the legislature. And I successfully prohibited out- of-state couples from coming to our state to get married and then going home. On my watch, we fought hard and prevented Massachusetts from becoming the Las Vegas of gay marriage."

Oh, Mittsy. What was it. the losses to Frothy that have sent you scurrying to the dark side?
I mean, all through your campaign you've quietly talked about your belief in traditional marriage, but when it looks like Rick Santorum is besting you, you sudden;y flop over to the Evangelical crazy side of the GOP.
Anything to get the nomination, eh, Mittsy?
Pandering fuck.

Cal Thomas, conservative columnist and FOX pundit, on Rachel Maddow debunking the right-wing argument on contraception: 
"I’m glad that you played the Rachel Maddow clip because I think she is the best argument in favor of her parents using contraception. I would be all for that. And all of the rest of the crowd at MSNBC, too, for that matter."

How clever. Cal.
How FauxNews like, Cal.
Ignore the topic and make a personal, stupid attack on your opposition.

Chris Christie, on the NJ legislature vote on marriage equality:
"They’re gonna be nowhere near the votes to override in either chamber. And so hopefully we can move on from this issue. If they pass it on Thursday and send it to my desk, believe me I will take very swift action on the bill and then we can move on to the things the people of New Jersey say are most important to them, which is creating jobs, lowering taxes and continuing the New Jersey comeback and not the last month that we spent, which really is an act of theater on their part because they know it’s not going to happen."

You're fa.....sorry Froggy.....full of yourself.
And stupid.
And think far too much of yourself, and far too little of the NJ legislature and the people of New Jersey.
Have a donut seat and shut up, Chris.

Armistead Maupin, on the GOP candidates for president and their homophobia:
"I’m outraged that there are currently major candidates for President of the United States who are using homophobia to rally their base. I’m pissed off at my Republican family back in North Carolina, several of whom came to my wedding, but who went right back and are voting for homophobes and acting like it doesn’t matter. It does matter and it’s time for the queers in this country to start saying so to their families. I think we’ve all cut them too much slack for far too long."

Just say 'No' to all of them.
The politicians, the friends, the family members, who would see to deny the LGBT community equality.
It's time to stand up and Just say, 'Enough.'

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

When Is It Enough?



Armistead Maupin, writing in the foreword to Milk: A Pictorial History Of Harvey Milk:

"To us old-timers the argument for Proposition 8 was a blast from the past, a throwback to the evil theocratic Save-the-Children bullshit that Anita Bryant was spewing over thirty years ago. Why, then, was our response so maddeningly weak-kneed and closeted? Why didn't you see images of gay people in any of our ads -- or even the word 'gay,' for that matter? Are we that ashamed of ourselves? The answer is no, thankfully; most of us aren't.

And a growing number of young people have lost patience with the black-tie silent-auction-A-gay complacency of the organizations that claim to be fighting for our rights but don't want to ruffle feathers. These new kids are friending each other on Facebook (whatever that means) and taking to the streets on their own. My husband and I met a few of them when we picketed the Mormon temple in Oakland last month. They have love in their eyes and fire in their bellies and a commitment to finish this fight once and for all."
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When will it finally be enough to galvanize the gay community to fight? What more needs to happen? Joy, over at BabbleOn, says if she was a gay woman, living in a world like today, she would be angry all the time; angry at being denounced as less than; being equated to terrorists; being called the worst thing to happen in the history of the world.

I'm beginning to think a lot like Joy.

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A committee of the Idaho state senate refused...REFUSED...to consider a bill that would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Idaho's 1968 Human Rights Act currently forbids workplace and housing discrimination based on race, sex, religion, color, national origin or mental or physical disability. The measure defeated Friday would have prohibited discrimination in employment, education and housing on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
So, go ahead, be gay in Idaho. But be prepared to be denied the simple basic rights allowed EVERYONE ELSE in the United States because you're gay.
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Mad now?

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Gainesville, the bustling Central Florida town that is home to the massive University Of Florida campus, will next month vote on a repeal....A REPEAL...of their LGBT rights ordinances.
Christian activists there have placed an amendment on the ballot that will make it legal to fire, not hire, and deny housing to LGBT people.
Charter Amendment One , if approved, would make the city of Gainesville's anti-discrimination ordinance the same as the Florida Civil Rights Act, removing current protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Gainesville. Idaho. Pot-tay-to. No homos.
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Pissed off now?
Keep reading.
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Thousands of anti-gay Christian activists jammed Hawaii's capitol building in Honolulu to protest a proposed bill legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples.
Some took up positions around the block, holding signs that read
"No Civil Union"
"Destroy the Core of 444"
"We Sed No Already"--apparently education is not foremost in their minds.
"Say Yes To Jesus or Burn In Hell"

Not quite as musical as "God Hates Fags" but still, hate.

But there's good news!
They don't want us marryin' in Hawaii....or civil unioning......unioning? But at least they aren't trying to get us fired or kicked out of our homes like they are in Idaho and Gainesville.
_____________________________________
Now? Anyone? Pissed off? Hello? Is this thing on?
There's more.
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When first given the job of head of the RNC--Repugnant National Committee--Michael Steele said the Republican Party should reach out to gay voters.

Looked like a change in the right direction.
Wrong.
Steele now says that the GOP would not budge on LGBT rights, calling even the consideration of civil unions "crazy."

from a radio interview with Mike Gallagher:
GALLAGHER: Is this a time when Republicans ought to consider some sort of alternative to redefining marriage and maybe in the road, down the road to civil unions. Do you favor civil unions?
STEELE: No, no no. What would we do that for? What are you, crazy? No. Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country? I mean this isn’t something that you just kind of like, “Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage.” […]
GALLAGHER: So no room even for a conversation about civil unions in your mind?

STEELE: What’s the difference?
What's the difference? The difference is treating people with respect, equal rights for all Americans. The difference is being human to all human beings and not be some double-talking-kiss-ass-homophobe-goosestepping-alongside-hate-mongers.
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Still not mad?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm .
Colorado, anyone?
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During the Colorado state senate debate on extending health benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees, Sen. Scott Renfroe (Repugnant) compared gays to murderers...MURDERERS.... and quoted Bible verses calling for homosexuals to be put to death.

A government official, an elected official, calling for people to be put to death because of their sexual orientation?

Only in America, apparently.

On the floor of the State Senate, right-wing Senator Scott Renfroe also referred to gay and lesbian people as an "abomination" and an "offense to God.” Renfroe then quoted the Book of Leviticus suggesting that gay people should be put to death. Of course, he also said that women were created to be "helpers" for men, quoting the Book of Genesis.
So, I wanna get this straight. Or gay.
I can be fired and not hired; I can be denied housing. The Repugnant man wanted to reach out and now he thinks reaching out is crazy. We're murderers. Abominations.
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Now? Pissed? Now?
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While same-sex marriage bans have failed in North Carolina's legislature for the last six consecutive years, those wacky hatemongers refuse to give up.
They are once again proposing a constitutional amendment on the issue.
Here are their arguments:
"Moms and dads are not interchangeable:" Senator Jim Forrester, lead sponsor of a proposal that would put this issue on the ballot for North Carolina voters.
"Throughout the entirety of sacred scripture, marriage is always and only recognized as a union between a man and woman:" Bishop Peter Jugis, of the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.
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This is how I see it.
Everywhere I look they are trying to legislate who I am, who I love, how I live, where I live, where I work, what I do.
That is NOT America.
That is NOT right.
So I am mad now....if I wasn't before.
Are you?
Are you, as gay men and women, just going to sit idly by and let this happen. Even if you as gay people don't want marriage for yourselves, isn't it up to the individual to have that right, to choose marriage or not to choose marriage?
Are you going to say nothing as they strip your 'inalienable' rights away?
And what about you straight folks? i know you're out there. Hell, I know some of you.
Are you going to say it's enough?
Because, after they come for the gays, who's next to be denied, to be less than?
Who's next?