Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Thought of the Day: Kevin Naff

"As [Ted] Haggard attempts to rehabilitate his image and promote the film, it’s important that mainstream media outlets like Oprah and CNN not allow him to spew anti-gay rhetoric about “curing” or “changing” sexual orientation. Haggard is a closeted gay man and any assertions to the contrary that go unchallenged by Oprah, King or others will [...]

Civil Unions Seem Likely For Hawaii

32 of the 51 members of the Hawaii State House have signed onto a bill that would provide for civil unions in the Aloha State, making it seem likely that the bill will pass this legislative session. The bill would recognize civil unions, domestic partnerships and same-sex marriages performed in other states and would overturn [...]

Watch Ted Haggard's New Accuser Speak

22-year-old Grant Haas says that all he wanted out of Ted Haggard was a pastor and a friend, but that the preacher would expose himself, ask Haas to procure porn and share his fantasies about getting high on meth and getting down with him. Haas had been kicked out of the Moody Bible Institute because [...]

A (hot) pink bartender…

      

QF names new senior blogger

Queer Fresno has named David Bishop to the role of Senior Blogger this week. David has been contributing to QF for a few months now and is one of our strongest writers. David is a tech saavy, creative thinker who will help us stay different from the norm. We are looking forward to David lending [...]

Gay, or Just French?

I actually wrote this some time ago and forgot to post it. Found it while cleaning my computer and thought I’d like to share it with queerfresno.com readers. Enjoy. I’ve never understood the French. From their love of raw meats to their unintelligible accents, they just confuse me beyond reason. This holds especially true when my [...]

To CNN's John Roberts: I feel your aging pain, man

I was watching CNN's American Morning yesterday, and hosts/reporters John Roberts, Alina Cho and Erica Hill were discussing the ridiculous claim by Ty toys that its Malia and Sasha dolls don't have anything to do with the Obama children. It's a coincidence, says the company and that the names for the dolls were chosen because they are "beautiful." Right.

Anyway, the actual point of this post is about the subsequent exchange among the CNNers. Poor John Roberts, who is only seven years older than I am, made this pop culture reference brought to mind by the absurd claim by Ty Toys:

ROBERTS: You know, I think the jury is still out on whether George Harrison copied "He's so Fine" when he wrote "My Sweet Lord" but this, I don't think so.

CHO: I don't know what you're talking about.

ROBERTS: Alina, thanks so much.

CHO: OK.

ROBERTS: Erica?

HILL: Yes, you lost me with that one, too, John, but we'll look it up in the break.

I was appalled, not because they didn't have a clue, but that I was old enough to know exactly what he was talking about. Hill was born in 1976, and Cho may be in the same ballpark; both weren't even born when the late George Harrison got into legal hot water over the hit single, which appeared on the album All Things Must Pass, with the question being whether Harrison plagiarized the Chiffon's "He's So Fine."

In the U.S. federal court decision in the case, known as Bright Tunes Music v. Harrisongs Music,[2] Harrison was found to have unintentionally copied the earlier song. He was ordered to surrender the majority of royalties from "My Sweet Lord" and partial royalties from All Things Must Pass. Former manager Allen Klein, who earlier had supported Harrison's case, became the owner of Bright Tunes, after they parted ways. In the long run this worked against Klein, but it resulted in the case continuing for years in court.

The Chiffons would later record "My Sweet Lord" to capitalize on the publicity generated by the lawsuit.

Shortly thereafter, Harrison (who would eventually buy the rights to "He's So Fine")[3] wrote and recorded a song about the court case named "This Song", which includes "This song, there's nothing 'Bright' about it." "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Rescue Me" are also mentioned in the record.

Erica, Alina -- there's more history about the lawsuit here.  Now John Roberts and I will go sit in our respective rocking chairs and talk about all those young whippersnappers.

Q of the day: How many of you out there have had a real "generation gap" experience that you'd like to share?

Video of Harrison performing My Sweet Lord is below the fold.

MarriageEqualityUSA: Collective Wisdom of Our Grassroots Community

In a post earlier this week, I commented that I was going to post a copy of  MarriageEqualityUSA slideshow at the Equality Summit, entitled the Collective Wisdom of Our Grassroots Community (the link is to a PDF file of the PowerPoint slide show).

The PowerPoint slideshow was based on two written reports:

• We Will Never Go Back; Grassroots Input on California's No on 8 Proposition 8 Campaign

• Prop 8 Hurt My Family: Ask Me How

Some of the thoughts from some of the slides:

Slide 4:

Clergy leaders were underutilized by the No on 8 campaign.

• Clergy leaders, particularly those who had performed marriage ceremonies, were the best spokespeople to counter faith leaders used by the Yes on 8 campaign.

• Over reliance on focus group findings directed clergy to phone banks, instead of visibility actions and outreach to congregations.

• CA marriage case and now Prop 8 amicus briefs identified supportive clergy across California.

Slide 5:

Leaders of color were underutilized by the No on 8 campaign.

• There is a deep bench of Leaders from the Black, Asian, Latino and Native American communities. We must have a campaign where all communities are well-represented as leaders, spokespeople, and in campaign literature.

• "We need to engage with all people and not just people "like us"...to ensure we are not acting in unintentionally marginalizing or discriminatory ways."

• "I feel that some of the language used in the ads, particularly ?unfair and wrong? was very Caucasian centric. Most people of color live in a world that is unfair and wrong, so this washed right over us."

• Funding to distribute Spanish and Asian language materials and ads were needed at the outset of the campaign.

• We must make institutional changes so that the LGBTI leadership and organizations reflect the natural diversity of our communities.

Slide 6:

No on 8 ads lacked heart and inexcusably excluded LGBTI people.

• Survey respondents and town hall participants agreed:

• "The decision to ?hide? gay people was unacceptable."

• No on 8 messaging was "swift boated"by the Yes on 8 campaign.

• No on 8 ads were too abstract and "lacked heart."

• We can't take the personhood out of a human rights campaign.

• In moving ahead, community input emphasized the need to present personal stories.

It goes without saying that I believe the slideshow is worth watching, and the reports are worth reading. Lots of good info in the collected thoughts.

Washington State moving forward on relationship recognition

The Agenda: briefings on BRO’s new strategic plan!

The last two years have been historic for Oregon’s LGBT rights movement. Together, we passed two laws banning discrimination against LGBT Oregonians and creating domestic partnerships for our families. Plus, our collective momentum stopped every repeal attempt in its tracks.  And we’re not about to slow down now. Wed every repeal attempt in its tracks.  And we’re not about to slow down now. We’re pleased to announce the unveiling of Basic [...]

Dinner and a movie?

Wondering how to celebrate the February 4th anniversary of Oregon's ground-breaking Domestic Partnership law? How about taking in compelling and timely film? Local community activist and filmmaker Brooks Nelson will be premiering his film "Switch: A Community in Transition" at 7pm in on Feb 4 at the Hollywood Theater in Portland.