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Friday Watercooler: Her Name Was Steven; plus more Oklahoma bigots

rayhunt — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:03:13 +0000

• Trans-formative. Steven Stanton was hit by a media storm when he was fired from his 14-year job as city manager of Largo, Florida for revealing that he was preparing for gender reassignment. What was once a news story has been transformed into the CNN documentary Her Name Was Steven.

The news channel followed Susan’s transformation from Steven for nearly two years. This all-access doc follows Susan through hospital procedures, divorce and a challenging job search. I am excited to see what CNN has in store.

The original story had me mad as hell and I am looking forward to seeing if the mainstream CNN has a sensitive take on Susan’s journey. Airs this weekend on CNN. Here’s to Susan Stranton.

• O-K-L-A-H-O-M–WTF. Oklahoma state senator Steve Russell is yet another bigot. Senator Russell offered an bill (which passed 39-6) that basically guts federal hate crimes legislation in his state.

The amendment allows all reports that were obtained during a possible hate crime investigation to be destroyed or kept by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation if the crime did not end in a conviction. Oklahoma would not be required to share investigation files with the federal government.

Mr. Russell’s fear is that the federal government might step in and take the case on and apply “different standards” than the local law enforcement would. He rails against the federal government for “creating a special class of people” and insists that “sexual orientation is a very vague word that could be extended to extremes like necrophilia.”

Will these right wing bigots EVER stop?

• Serves you right. In Philadelphia, Federal Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter ruled that their local Boy Scouts chapter must post a bond to protect the city if it plans to reside on city property rent free.

For two years, the city has been trying to evict the Boy Scouts because they refuse to pay the market rent of the property, $200,000. Why is the city of Philadelphia trying to evict the Boy Scouts?

We all know the answer.

The scouts won’t allow gay members and lawyers for the city have stated that the “delivery of services must be provided regardless of a recipient’s sexual orientation, and the Scouts refuse to bring their use of the building into conformance with city anti-bias codes.”

Finally!

• This one is for the ladies. Oscar winner, Marion Cotillard has added her name to the list of the big name stars who contribute to the website, Funny or Die.

As the title of the video suggests, Forehead Tittaes has the solution for every woman who is sick and tired of men not looking in their eyes when they speak. Its probably NSFW but I had to include it. I love when comedy can call out behavior that is, clearly, inappropriate in such an obvious way.

And I love, love, LOVE that the talented and beautiful Ms. Cotillard stars in what should, definitely, be viral video. I can’t wait for her to receive her next Oscar!

Forehead Tittaes w/ Marion Cotillard from Marion Cotillard

• Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Cherry Bomb! I feel like a teenage girl. Why? Because the film The Runaways is finally opening.

I am such a huge fan of this band, glam, punk, 70s style and girls who rock. The film is based on lead singer Cherie Currie’s book “Neon Angel” and tells the story of the rise and fall of the first all girl rock band to break into the world of arena-filling hard rock acts.

The trailer has the burned out feeling of a 70s movie and stars Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart who plays the incomparable Joan Jett. I am soooo excited. There is NOTHING in this world like a girl band that rips the stage up with aggressive energy. I am going to spend the next week listening to nothing BUT The Runaways just to get in the mood. Rocker girls RULE!

Monday Watercooler: Roseanne talks too much and Ashburn adores male tail…on the sly

James Withers — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:47:00 +0000

Stop talking Roseanne. Please. Comic Roseanne thought it best to pontificate about the suicide of Marie Osmond’s child, Michael Blosil. Barr is convinced the 18 year old took his life because he was gay and despondent over the anti-gay policies of the Mormon Church. “Marie Osmond’s poor gay son killed himself because he had been told how wrong and how sick he was every day of his life by his church and the people in it. Calling that ‘depression’ is a lie!” Roseanne never met the kid, or talked to him, but somehow has the skinny on this tragedy; she continued by offering spiritual bromides to a grieving mother. Going after the parent of a child who killed himself is lowdown, but this is Roseanne we are talking about.

Eric Massa is leaving today. You will have to add former to Eric Massa’s name today because he’s stepping down from his gig as representative of New York’s 29th District. He admits to cussing at his staff, but denies anything else happened. Anonymous sources are saying he made unwanted sexual advances toward a male aide (oh, those prissy staffers!). UPDATE: Massa explains the incident that brought the ethics investigation–looks like too much booze was the cause–and blames the White House for his downfall. Come on Eric. Man up and stop putting your mistakes on someone else.

It’s not funny but it is. Working for the Pope and hiring rent boys? Really? Would love to know how Angelo Balducci and Thomas Chinedu Ehiem justified their boss’ anti-gay rhetoric with their activities with hourly men. I also want to know if these two are tops or bottoms? I’m guessing selfish tops. They are the worst.

Congrats to Hudson Taylor. Not only did the University of Maryland wrestler win the ACC wrestling championship in the 197-pound class, but he was named outstanding wrestler. Why should you care? Because he’s straight and a vocal ally. I’ve forgiven him for beating a UNC wrestler for the victory.

The Oscars. Nothing to add because it’s an award show. Would rather watch kittens play with string. Can you honestly trust a group that gives a statue to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman? Or Crash (booooooooooooooooo!!!)? Any special Oscar moments you want to share?

Being anti-gay and anti-immigrant doesn’t mean you can’t hanker for some hot brown booty. Republican State Senator Roy Ashburn supported anti-gay and immigrant legislation. However, when he got stopped on a DUI while leaving a gay bar, it looks like his “passenger” was Latino. Ashburn only likes gay Latinos when they are giving him the sweet sweet love.

I am Sarah your God who brought you out of liberalism, where you lived as slaves. You shall have no other gods to rival me. Give Sarah Palin credit. She knows how to milk her base. Sure scribbling notes on your hand is weak sauce, but as the ex-governor says: if it’s good for God, she can do the same.

Sure the Olympics are over, but a picture lasts forever. Where does the US Bobsled team train and do they need a scribe? I’m cheap and available.

Oscar glow for LGBT America

barbarasimon — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:27:19 +0000

Oscar-winner Sean Penn joins friends of Harvey Milk to urge California lawmakers to create a state holiday in Milk’s honor. LGBT leaders say the success of Milk at the Oscars is a giant leap forward for gay America. Ross Palombo reports.

Sean Penn’s push for equal rights

barbarasimon — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:12:02 +0000

Sean Penn carries the message of Harvey Milk to the Oscars stage.

Golden words: Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black

barbarasimon — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:00:54 +0000

“Milk” writer Dustin Lance Black talks about his emotional Oscar acceptance speech and what we can learn from Harvey Milk in the fight for equal rights for all.

Gay night at the Oscars includes victorious ‘Milk’

Jennifer Vanasco — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:00:50 +0000

Gus Van Sant’s Milk may not have won Best Picture, but last night’s 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony included plenty of gay-related moments, the most satisfying of which may have been Sean Penn’s win for Best Actor for his acclaimed portrayal of slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

“You commie, homo-loving sons of guns!” Penn said in accepting the award.

Later, he referred to anti-gay protesters who had been picketing the streets of Sunset and Highland outside the theater, saying “For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame, and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone!”

Sean Penn

(Getty Images/Kevin Winter)

Earlier in the evening, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black had given another moving speech when he won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the same film.

“I want to thank my mom who has always loved me for who I am,” Black said, “even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he’d want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches or by the government or by their families that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours.”

Dustin Lance Black

(Getty Images/Kevin Winter)

The videos for both Penn and Black’s acceptance speeches appear at the end of this article on the next page.

There were few, if any, surprises in the evening. As expected, Slumdog Millionaire dominated, winning eight Oscars.

Host Hugh Jackman presided over a stream-lined, slimmed-down ceremony, supposedly due to the tough economic times. The opening musical number, with sets that Jackman humorously claimed to have constructed in his garage after producers had nixed anything more expensive, was shaky – though Anne Hathaway was delightful in her “impromptu” musical impersonation of Richard Nixon.

In later explaining to Frank Langella, who portrays Richard Nixon in the film Frost/Nixon, why he had chosen Hathaway, not Langella, for the number, Jack admitted, “I didn’t want to kiss you.”

A later musical number, an homage to movie musicals where Jackman partnered with Beyonce Knowles and the actors from both Mamma Mia! and High School Musical, was far more successful, perhaps because the Mamma Mia! cast members did not include Pierce Brosnan.

Jackman finished the number by announcing, “The musical is back!”

Jackman and cast bringing back song and dance
(Getty Images/Kevin Winter)

This year, the Oscars were presented – very roughly – in the order in which a movie is made: from screenwriting to editing and scoring. The Best Original Songs – only three this year – were condensed into a single medley, a fact that contributed greatly to the ceremony’s reasonable running time.