Archive for July, 2009
02
I read with humor the recent article that retold the events that occurred when President Obama invited select Lesbian and Gay activists to the White house. From all reports, attendees laughed and squealed with glee at everything that “Mr. Obama” said. Even his call for the Lesbian and Gay community to be “patient” was met with a nod. And while I understand that the economy is probably a bigger concern, forty years after the Stonewall Riots, haven’t we been patient enough?
On June 28, 1969, a Gay club in New York, the Stonewall Inn, was raided by the police, a common occurrence at that time. Often patrons were beaten before being thrown in the back of the paddy wagon. But on this occasions, the patrons decided enough was enough and fought back. This act led to a riot that went on for days. And this event is said to be one of the “flash points” of the Gay Civil Rights movement.
That event occurred forty years ago. And to me, the fact that we are still fighting this same fight is an injustice of untold proportions. We are still getting beaten up by the police, we are still being fired from jobs, we are still not allowed to be with our partners in hospitals, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is still being on the books, DOMA is still on the books, the Hate crimes bill still is not a national law, and certain members of the public still think they should be able to use violence against us. And the violence part has become personal to me.
While answering some email, I was sent a link to a youtube video of a young kid, who was assaulted because she was seen hugging and kissing her girlfriend in public. I call her a young kid because I knew her when she was a kid. At twenty-five, she is a grown woman. The assault was so bad, that she needs to have reconstructive surgery. That some idiot felt it necessary to assault someone isn’t new. It happens all of the time. That Gay people are assaulted isn’t new either. That event OCCURS ALL THE TIME TOO! The FACT that I have known Rhythm and her family since the early 2000′s makes this personal to me.
Continue reading “It’s personal now!” »
01
For a few years now, the NBA has had a rule that says you have to be at least 19 years old to play in the league. That you can go to Iraq or Afghanistan and lose body parts and your LIFE, but not be allowed to run around in some shorts with some other guys in shorts has escaped a lot of people. That the rule is playing games with people’s lives also seems to be forgotten. As yet, there hasn’t been a case of someone losing their life waiting to become old enough to play in the league. But would possibly losing a parent suffice?
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a basketball junkie. I will watch, play, and talk about basketball all day long. While some people watch basketball for the dunks, I’m at home calling out the defensive and offensive sets. And this goes back to the seventies. I can name every championship team, beginning in 1977 to the present. I can tell the difference between a 1-2-1 trap and a 2-3 zone. So the age limit rule kinda pissed me off. Because as a fan, I want to see the best players available. If they are over 18, they should be able to play. And to hear CLUCKS like Charles Barkley, who I like, and Shane BITCHIER who is overrated, agree with it was even more appalling. Because while Bitchier’s family might have been able to pay for his college education, people like Charles wouldn’t have been able to go to college if it weren’t for basketball. I guess Charles forgot about the money he has ADMITTED to receiving while playing at Auburn. And Shane is probably worried about some “young gun” taking his job for half the salary!
Continue reading “How old are you anyways?” »