Bobservations

I have no Carlos tales this week as he has not done or said anything silly, crazy or just plain maddening. I asked him at the breakfast table if he could please do something blogworthy this morning and he suggested I tell you all about the delicious dinners he’s prepared this week.

“No one’s going to believe that!”

And I got THE look.

So, let’s talk Tuxedo. He had his latest checkup at the vet’s office last week, and while he’s lost a little weight, it’s mostly due to his new Kidney diet and the lack of protein. But his numbers are good and his coat and skin are well-hydrated, so everything is fairly good for the old man.

Good news.

Even sadder is that the rightwingnuts won’t talk about how she died, and her former partner, Silk, is using her death to raise money for her propaganda.

On a personal note, my father received the bill for his first day in the hospital last November and the total for twenty-fours came to … drum roll … $193, 375.52.

Luckily my father’s years in the Air Force left him with the kind of insurance, along with Medicare, that lowered the amount he owed to zero. Still, I cannot help but think of folks without insurance who see their houses lost from hospital stays. It’s ridiculous.

After the debacle last week, and his pandering and lying and hypocrisy, Sexual Predator Representative Matt Gaetz is emerging as the member of Congress everyone in Washington loves to hate.

Step aside, Rafael Cruz, there’s a new dick in the party.

Latest bit if hypocrisy in Congress are the new House rules that would enable the GOP to defund a criminal investigation into Thing 45, and defund the Office of Congressional Ethics, and allow any Republican being investigated by FBI to investigate the investigators investigating him.

Not a word about helping Americans.

It looks like former Vice President Michael Elizabeth Pence bought his way onto the best seller list. His book, “So Help Me God” was released last November and on November 9 Pence spent $91,000 at Books On Call and suddenly his book was on the New York Times’ Bestseller’s List.

God saw you, Michael Elizabeth, and she’s not happy.

In news that will make Michael Elizabeth Pence squirm, Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts will marry her decades-long girlfriend, Amber Laign, this year.

Roberts, who publicly came out in 2013, made the announcement while interviewing author and motivational speaker Gabby Bernstein, who asked Roberts what she planned to say “yes” to in 2023.

“I’m saying yes to marriage.”

Congratulations, Robin and Amber.

The GOP has suggested ending both Medicare and Social Security but don’t seem to realize that 16 of the first 25 states most dependent on these two programs are Red States. And many, many of these Red State rural counties would collapse with Social Security or Medicare but a group of entitled politicians, with lifetime pensions and healthcare are trying to end these programs.

Imagine your hospital bills with no Medicare. It makes me wonder why anyone votes Red.

My Grandmother was a wise old woman and I remember most of the advice she gave me over the years, the best being:

“Sometimes you have to hug people you don’t like so you’ll know how big to dig the hole in the back yard.”

Sound advice, Nana.

Marc-yndy Pierre is a trainer, model and motivational speaker from Miami, but the question is Would You Hit It?

I Didn't Say It ....

Robin Roberts, on Good Morning America this week, sharing a picture of herself with girlfriend Amber and announcing to applause from her cohosts:

“I’m going to tell you all this, because you have had a front row seat for that tumultuous year. I have never been happier or healthier than I am right now. And my year-end post was just full of gratitude and just telling everyone all that I’m grateful for, including my girlfriend, Amber, who loved me through a very difficult year.”

Brave woman, open woman, happy woman.

It's a great thing.

Zeke Thomas, the gay son of NBA Hall of Famer Isaiah Thomas, on coming out:

“I came out in 2008, my sophomore year at college. My parents like to say they always knew I was gay. I came out to them, and they were very accepting. I always knew they would be accepting. Growing up, I had gay uncles, like every kid in America. I never was so scared that my parents were going to shun or disown me—the horror stories you hear. I was just nervous about, “Are my friends gonna accept me?” because I was a jock kid, so to speak, with an athlete father.”

It’s kind of surprising that Zeke wasn’t worried about his athlete father, who was so open and accepting, but he was worried about his friend’s reactions because he has an athlete father.

Good on Dad. And Mom.

Chris Kluwe, saying he was cut from the Minnesota Vikings because he was vocally pro-LGBT rights:

“However, it's clear to me that no matter how much I want to prove I can play, I will no longer punt in the NFL, especially now that I've written this account. Whether it's my age, my minimum veteran salary, my habit of speaking my mind, or (most likely) a combination of all three, my time as a football player is done. Punters are always replaceable, at least in the minds of those in charge, and I realize that in advocating noisily for social change I only made it easier for them to justify not having me around. So it goes. Some will ask if the NFL has a problem with institutionalized homophobia. I don't think it does. I think there are homophobic people in the NFL, in all positions, but that's true for society as well, and those people eventually get replaced. All we can do is try to expose their behavior when we see it and call them to account for their actions.”

He got cut, but Phil Robertson kept his job?

And there’s a War on Christianity?

Mike Priefer, Minnesota Vikings Assistant Coach, whom Kluwe called a bigot, on Kluwe’s claims:

 “I vehemently deny today’s allegations made by Chris Kluwe. I want to be clear that I do not tolerate discrimination of any type and am respectful of all individuals. I personally have gay family members who I love and support just as I do any family member. The comments today have not only attacked my character and insulted my professionalism, but they have also impacted my family.”

Oooh, he has gay friends and family members so he couldn’t possibly be a homophobe. And yet no Gays were trotted out when he made his remarks. Maybe they were hanging with Mama Grizzly Bore’s™ gay “friends”.

Brendon Ayanbadejo, standing with Chris Kluwe:

"Even though the NFL tries to keep you in a box in terms of your philanthropy he went out there and he did what he thought was right. Would he be in the league today if he had continued to go speak at schools about education or fitness, or if he continued to do hunger drives, or cancer awareness type of stuff? Yeah, he'd probably still be in the NFL but Chris did what was right for him."

I always had a suspicion that Kluwe was cut for speaking his mind, and I’m glad he, and Ayanbadejo, are speaking up about this. How can we ever expect a gay player to come out if gay-friendly players are getting cut for their activism?

Brian Boitano, former Olympic figure skater, on coming out:

"I’ve always been a private person. I’ve kept the private side of my life special for family and friends who really knew me. I’ve never been ashamed of who I was. I’ve always been open with them, so I really didn’t feel that there was a need. I’m just a private guy, and I realize that there’s a public side of my life and a private side. I’ve always chosen to keep my sexuality private."

Keeping your private life private is your right, but think of all the young gay men he might have helped by coming out earlier.

He could have come out — I’m gay — and then said he wouldn’t discuss his relationships or private life, and that would have been fine, But not saying anything, even though many suspected, gossiped, hoped, and prayed he was gay, makes it seem like being gay is shameful.

It’s not.

Henry Rollins, on Duck Dynasty:

“A&E would be well advised to get while the getting's good and quadruple down on the show's popularity with a vast array of merchandise, like a DD limited-edition shotgun, camo covers for Bibles, strap-on beards, and at least one spinoff. You could call it ... Duck Dynasty. A&E should do this before the show's fans die of respiratory/circulatory complications, substance abuse or lung cancer.

On the flip side of things, one of you supremely talented graphic artists should start a comic book series starring the Duck dudes as homosexual bears. Talk about crossover potential. The thing writes itself. At the next major gay pride event, there should be hard-bodied men in camo hot pants, ridiculous beards pasted to their chins, blowing through duck calls. Dick Dynasty is a gay porn series just waiting to happen.

Just remember: When you see the DD men all decked out in their camo gear, they look pretty bitchin' and rugged -- but keep in mind that they wear these garments to help them hide from ducks. It's a comedy show, right?

Duck Dynasty is a ridiculous show and long may it wave. America and democracy will endure. They've seen a lot worse.”

I think Rollins should find investors and buy A&E; he has some brilliant ideas.

Or, maybe do that whole gay porn thing.

Richard Mack, former Graham County, Arizona sheriff, speaking at the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association rally, about Utah and same-sex marriage:

“The people of Utah have rights, too, not just the homosexuals. The homosexuals are shoving their agenda down our throats...That’s a lie. That’s an absolute lie [that the federal government's ruling overrules Utah's laws]. We have a right to raise our kids without homosexuals being part of the Boy Scouts, the schools and teachers and doing everything. They can be all that, but don’t shove your agenda down my kid’s throat. We have a right to raise our kids how we want not how you want."

Um, Dick? May I call you Dick because you’re a dick? No one, no one, is taking away any rights from Utahans. In fact, all that is being done is making all Utahans equal.

Raise your kids to be bigots, that’s your right, but don’t use your bigotry and intolerance and backwards views to deny equality to anyone else.

Oh, and shut up.

Evander Holyfield, retired pro boxer, on The Gays and choice:

"If you were born and your leg were turned this way - what would you do? You go to the doctor and get it fixed back, right? All I'm trying to tell you, you know how handicap people are born? You can’t say because they [gay people] are born that way you can’t move that. Yes, it is a choice. C'mon, how can you not say you ain't gay unless you sleeping with the opposite sex?"

Perhaps Holyfield was hit one too many times in the head.

Or perhaps when Tyson bit his ear off he lost the ability to hear the crap that spews from his mouth.

Robin Roberts Comes Out

I have long admired Robin Roberts. I always found her compassionate in her reporting and down-to-earth in her role as anchor of Good Morning America. She shared her breast cancer diagnosis with the world, and last year, when she was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndrome, I loved how open she was in sharing her story so that others might understand the disease. And, as a fellow Gay, I vividly remember her interview last year with President Obama in which he announced his support for marriage equality, finally becoming the fierce ally I’d hoped him to be.

But this is about Robin, and now I love and admire her even more. In a recent Facebook post to thank everyone who supported her and inspired her during the last couple of years, Roberts has come out, officially, as gay:

Flashback 12/29/12....

Hard to believe this was 1 year ago today..when I reached a critical milestone of 100 days post transplant...and KJ was finally allowed to come back home.

Reading this comforts me and I hope the same for you: "If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present."

At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude.

I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health.

I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life.

I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together.

I am grateful for the many prayers and well wishes for my recovery. I return every one of them to you 100 fold.

On this last Sunday of 2013 I encourage you to reflect on what you are grateful for too.

Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.

Peace, love, and blessings to all ... XO

Welcome Out Robin, and, well, even though it seems that you and Amber Laign have been in a long — ten years and going — relationship, we here at HOMO HQ would like you to have a copy of The Gay Agenda and the Obligatory Coming Out Toaster Oven.

I’m sure after all your health issues and struggles of the past couple of years though, the simple act of coming out publicly was a cake walk.

Welcome Out, Robin, welcome out.

via The Advocate