I’ve been a monumental fan of Hedwig and the Angry Inch since John Cameron Mitchell’s transexual punk rock musical first hit the small screen over a decade ago. I’ve introduced dozens of friends to the East Berlin queen, confused dozens of strangers by performing bluegrass-styled covers of Midnight Radio, and
Continue readingTag: LGBT
Art Threat: First Day Back tackles queer teen suicide
Thanks in large part to the hyper-mediated and celebrity-driven character of the contemporary LGBT movement, the issue of queer youth suicide has rightly found its way into the public spotlight. Stories of young queers taking their own lives as an escape from bullying have become tragically commonplace in recent years.
Continue readingMontreal Simon: When Assaulting the Homeless is Funny
I don't know whether this video of some loser apparently urinating on an unconscious homeless person is real. The video that lasts 27-seconds shows a young man approaching a man sleeping on the sidewalk outside what appears to be Toronto's Eaton Centre. With his back to the camera he appears to
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: Guest Post – Chevi Rabbit: From HATE to HOPE
(On Thursday July 23rd, Chevi Rabbit was attacked by three men yelling homophobic slurs, near Edmonton’s University of Alberta campus, in what is being investigated as a hate crime. Following the attack, a march was organized to signal that hatred is not welcome in Edmonton, and over 200 residents came
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: Basic human rights should not be “controversial.” Jacksonville, this means you, too.
“After dismantling Apartheid, when we sat down to write our Constitution, we quite deliberately ensured that gays, lesbians and bisexuals were included in South Africa’s Constitution. “Having ourselves suffered terribly, we did not want to inflict discrimination on any group that lived within our borders and we explicitly stated this
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: Marriage Goes Corporate.
If you live in a state that doesn’t allow you to marry your partner, there may be a solution — although it might not work in states with a marriage amendment, and there is a caveat. Go corporate. Incorporate yourself. The US Supreme Court’s decision on Citizens United has opened
Continue readingArt Threat: Invocation of the Queer Spirits – Book review: Queer Spirits by AA Bronson and Peter Hobbs
Invocation of the Queer Spirits (Governor’s Island) – AA Bronson There is always a certain magic to be found in the moment of queering. As bodies are opened to unsanctioned desires and sensations, tense moments of wonder unfold before them. Static charges crackle and spark as genders and sexualities are
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: On Persecution Complexes and Rage
The interplay of rage and persecution complexes works to shape trans, LGB — and in fact all — struggles against oppression. It can become an eternal feedback loop that can stymie any attempt to move progressive causes forward, if it succeeds in establishing its circuitous pattern. This translates to many
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Me and the Pride Day Parade
OMG. It's the Gay Pride weekend in Toronto and I should be looking forward to the festivities. But instead I'm lying in my tree hammock in my jockey shorts, cruising for a cool breeze, quaffing gallons of lemonade. And wondering do I REALLY have to go the Pride parade? Read more
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: C-279: When a victory for one can be a victory for… one.
The second hour of Second Reading debate for Bill C-279: An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code (gender identity and gender expression) occurred on Friday June 1st, and the Second Reading vote is to take place on Wednesday June 6th. I missed any indication that the
Continue readingHypocrisy 101: Black Churches vs The Decision on Same-Sex Marriage
By now you have heard that US President, Barak Obama, has now publicly supported same-sex marriage. Many cheered this revelation. Finally a leader of one of the most-powerful countries in the world is recognizing that homosexuals are allowed the same rights as everyone else. Whether it’s a political move or the
Continue readingLeft Over: On Irony….
It is more than just a little ironic that the first black president in US history is hesitant about giving support to the concept of legalizing, or legitimizing, the right to universal marriage . I hate the term ‘gay’ used as some sort of blanket coverage for LGBT issues, as
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Challenging Homophobic NHL Fans
Having spent some time recently examining the NHL’s and NHLPA’s collective negligence about headshots, I was inspired to address the homophobia that surrounds hockey fandom last night. Sure the Canucks lost, but before that, someone called them a bunch of faggles in Twitterland. How did that all go down, and
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Federal NDP launches Rainbow Day on May 1st
First shadow program between LGBT students and MPs OTTAWA, April 20, 2012 – Today, the New Democrat Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Caucus announced the launch of Rainbow Day a LGBT shadow program which will take place this May 1st. … Continue reading →
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: Guest Post: Happy anniversary, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms!
(The following comes courtesy of Teacher Trainer Student Guy at anthrotecture, originally published on Tuesday, April 17, 2012) Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, part of the Constitution of Canada. [The Charter affirms equality rights under Section 15, however this section did not
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: When even silence “indoctrinates:” the “No Pro Homo” education model. (Part 2)
This is part of a 3-part series on LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying education, centering around the Day of Silence, which encourages students to take a vow of silence for the day, to bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. It occurs on April 20th. Part 1: When even silence offends: on the
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: When even silence fails: On affirmation (part 3)
This is part of a 3-part series on LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying education, centering around the Day of Silence, which encourages students to take a vow of silence for the day, to bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. It occurs on April 20th. Part 1: When even silence offends: on the
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: When even silence offends. (Part 1)
This is part of a 3-part series on LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying education, centering around the Day of Silence, which encourages students to take a vow of silence for the day, to bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. It occurs on April 20th. Part 1: When even silence offends: on the
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: The New Hampshire model for pushing marriage equality
For most progressives, the issue of accepting gay marriage is an easy one. It is also widely recognized that at some point in the future, gay marriage probably will be accepted and that the momentum in public opinion and the nascent process of state level legalization is going to continue
Continue readingArt Threat: Rick Santorum’s gay porn mosaic
Gay news website Unicorn Booty published this beauty of a photo mosaic, featuring Rick Santorum’s headshot composed entirely of gay porn. It may not be the most artistic political portrait out there, but you’d be hard pressed to find one more appropriate. If you want to zoom in for the
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