History In The Making!

Hello Lovies!

Today, Wednesday August 4th 2010, is the date history was made. Today, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker overturned California's ban on same-sex marriage, acknowledging that a violation of the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians had occurred. He also ordered that Prop 8 be immediately lifted to allow same sex marriage while the case moves to a higher court.

Click here to read about the decision.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released the following statement after the ruling.

“Judge Walker had the great responsibility of deciding whether Proposition 8 violates the Constitution of the United States. He heard in-depth arguments from both sides on fundamental questions of due process, equal protection and freedom from discrimination. There are strong feelings on both sides of this issue, and I am glad that all viewpoints were respected throughout the proceedings. We should also recognize that there will continue to be different points of view in the wake of this decision.

“For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal protections and safeguards I believe everyone deserves. At the same time, it provides an opportunity for all Californians to consider our history of leading the way to the future, and our growing reputation of treating all people and their relationships with equal respect and dignity.

“Today's decision is by no means California's first milestone, nor our last, on America's road to equality and freedom for all people.”



Well said, Sir. Well said.

Make no mistake, today's decision is a HUGE victory, however, there is still a long fight to go in our quest for same sex marriage rights.

But today, lovies, is a happy day; I am so proud to be a supporter of the LGBT community and proud of what Judge Walker's decision means for my Gay and Lesbian friends and family.

We will be celebrating today's victory while preparing ourselves for the uphill battle to ensure that one day soon, THERE WILL BE EQUALITY FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

Remember, as you celebrate today's landmark decision:

If you are going to drink, do NOT drive.
If you are going to drive, do NOT drink.

Love,

Dazz

Celebrate With Pride

Hello Lovies,

As the end of LGBT Pride month approaches, today is a day of fun, revelry, celebration and Pride.

Enjoy the parades/events and please remember to celebrate responsibly and HAVE FUN!!!

If you're going to drink, DON'T drive.
If you're going to drive, DON'T drink.

Peace and Love,

Dazz

Progress: Unanimous In Iceland

Hello Lovies,

Today, parliament in Iceland passed a law allowing same-sex partners to get married.

The vote was 49 to 0. Unanimous support, people. Unanimous!

Progress, slow but sure. One day EVERYONE will have this right to marry whomever they choose.

I sincerely believe that this will be a reality in my lifetime.

Dazz

Enough.Is.Enough.

Dear Media: There are no 'pregnant men'. Cease and desist with the sensationalist and disrespectful headlines!

JFC, this characterization has been driving me crazy since the first transgendered woman (in transition) became pregnant a few years ago and the media adopted the disgusting misnomer 'pregnant man'.

Biologically speaking, it is currently impossible for a man to become pregnant. That is a fact. The individuals who have become famous/infamous over the past few years are WOMEN. Yes, they are considered transgendered as they are transitioning from FTM, however, since they still have female reproductive organs and can become pregnant, they are still biologically considered female.

The term 'pregnant man' is one that was adopted by the MSM merely as a sensationalist ploy for ratings, readership etc., IMHO. Really, the term is disrespectful to transgendered individuals and those deciding/preparing to transition.

I also think that it does the LGBT community a huge disservice when others (outsiders) are allowed to label them inaccurately.

I frequent and comment on a few blogs and today this story was mentioned with the term 'pregnant man' in the post title. Some like me, were offended by the incorrect characterization of the transgendered female who had given birth. There was also a lot of confusion expressed by the commenters (if she identified as a man, why would she want to get pregnant and have a child?) as well as out and out intolerance and disgust (surprise surprise, NOT) at the couple.

The bruhaha made me wonder. The women who are pregnant and are being interviewed for their story, can't they insist on a change in how they are being characterized? They can demand/insist that the term 'pregnant man' is a misnomer and that they don't want to be referred to as such. Take the opportunity to educate the public on your unique circumstance. In effect, label yourself before someone incorrectly or inaccurately labels you.

Something like:

"I was born a woman, however I felt that I identified more as a male and decided to transition from FTM. As part of my transition, I had my breasts removed, began hormone treatments etc. Prior to completing gender reassignment surgery portion of my transition, I decided that I wanted to have a child of my own. Using donated sperm, I became pregnant and gave birth. I will now either go forward with the gender reassignment surgery or not.' To me, this addresses both the choice that they made to transition and to have a child.

Maybe, I am unintentionally oversimplifying this due to my lack of any real knowledge of their unique situations. Maybe these women's hands are tied? Would they rather get their story (of a family, who may not be your 'typical' one, but who are loving and 'normal' like any other family) out to the public and show the world that they have every right to start and raise a family like everyone else? Is that more important than 'getting the terms right'?

My fervent hope is that there will be a universal term death: 'Pregnant Man'.

Dazz

Too Good To Be True

Hello lovies, just a warning - today I'm being a total cynical bitch. See below to understand ONE of the reasons why.

Back on December 31st, 2009 I wrote a post about Kish (Kyle and Fish) the gay couple on ABC's One Life To Live having their first time depicted (somewhat) on TV and how it was progress for the LGBT community. Click here for the post.

Well, hold your horses, cuz according to TV Guide they'll be gone come mid April. Yup, ABC (and you know how much I hate those fuckers and refuse to watch them) has decided to basically write the couple out of the show come mid April supposedly because Kish specific episodes had low ratings. Uh, how about the fact that you had another storyline going that was so contrived and dare I say insulting (and not just to the LGBT community) involving someone PRETENDING to be a lesbian for political gain? Could that despicable storyline be part of the reason for low ratings? Plus, overall your soap just isn't that great! You'll lose the viewers that tuned in just to see the Kish storyline. Although if they were like me and were still in my Adam Lambert induced boycott of ABC I was watching the Kish stuff online so as NOT to be counted in ABC's ratings.

Well, just like the homophobia they demonstrated last year with the censoring of Adam Lambert's performance on the American Music Awards, dropping him from GMA, then inviting FELON Chris Brown to be interviewed and to perform which was tantamount to saying that Chris was more decent than having a talented homosexual singer/entertainer be interviewed and perform, should I really be surprised that ABC would kill this gay storyline? No, I shouldn't, but because I try to live in a world and conduct my own life where I have faith that everyone would be afforded the same rights/opportunities etc. no matter color, creed, class, social standing or SEXUAL ORIENTATION, it still saddens and angers me. Obviously I am living in a fucking fantasy world. Well today, I take off my Rose-colored Gucci shades of hope and turn into a cynical realistic bitch. With everything that has been happening the past few months regarding the denial of rights for same sex marriage and blatant discrimination of homosexuals (Adam Lambert and Johnny Weir) it just seems as though there is a targeted grassroots negativity campaign on homosexuals.

Well, this cynical bitch is off to watch her Queer As Folk DVDs; watching Brian Kinney fuck or get blown in the backroom at Babylon always cheers me up.

Oh, and FUCK YOU ABC! Fuck you to the deepest, fieriest pits of Mordor!

*Puts Gucci shades back on , cuz DAMN I look good in them*

Dazz

Et tu, New Jersey?

It is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge that New Jersey State Senators voted 20 to 14 to defeat a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.

I am completely typeless at this point and don't know what else to say.

Dazz

A New Year's Wish

So far the following 5 states allow same sex marriage:

Massachusetts
Vermont
Connecticut
Iowa
New Hampshire

Here's hoping that within the next few days the New Jersey Senate will do the right thing and vote that state to be the 6th to allow same sex-marriage.

Dazz

Progress...

So, history was made yesterday December 30th, 2009 when the daytime soap opera One Life To Live aired what was alluded to be a sex scene between Kish (Kyle and Fish).

I use the words 'alluded to' because there was no actual depiction of sex...after all this is still Network TV people, AND IT IS ABC.

What we had was a bit of foreplay - dimming of the lights, the lighting of candles, the slow mutual removal of each others' shirts, then the soft, promise filled kisses and then the cut to them already in bed under the covers looking into each others' eyes as they reach for one another...

...then we have a Stephenie 'Fade To Black' Meyers moment (those of you who read the Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn know exactly what my bitter ass means) and then boom they're lying sated still under the covers basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

It's a soap so it has to have the obligatory cheesy dialog:

Q: *Sigh* Is it always going to be like this?
A: *Sigh* Always

...and then they spoon! Swoon and le sigh.

Yes, it was cheesy and typical of a soap opera, but the victory here is that it was represented on Network Television and treated in a similar fashion to a heterosexual love scene; believably beautiful, romantic and tender. Who could ask for more?

Enjoy the scene for yourselves; very tastefully done, non? The beauty that is gay love, it brings tears to my eyes.



This is progress, friends.

Dazz

C'Mon New Jersey, Let's Do This!

Since my New York has already totally fucking broken my heart by denying same sex couples the right to marry, it's up to my New Jersey to make the dream a reality for so many of my friends and loved ones.

Fingers crossed everyone that NJ will become the 6th!

Dazz

What The Hell New York? What.The.Hell.

This is the one that truly hurt the most. As a former New Yorker, as someone who has lived and loved in that state, I am ashamed, dismayed, angered and saddened at what has happened there.

As the state where most of my gays live, their lives were directly impacted and their civil rights denied when the NY Senate yesterday rejected a bill which would have allowed same sex couples to marry. The vote was 38 to 24, pretty decisive in showing that there is still great opposition to granting same sex couples equal rights to marry.

Read about it here.

Today we grieve, but tomorrow we continue the fight to ensure that our loved ones, our friends are granted their civil rights to marry and live their truth as gay Americans entitled to the same rights and benefits as heterosexuals.

As a heterosexual woman, who at this point in her life is not really interested in getting married or having kids, it would be easy for me to take the fact that I have that right for granted. Trust me, though, I don't. Why? Because I am surrounded by my gay family and friends who want to marry their spouses, who want to have children with their spouses and have their unions and their families recognized and be afforded the same benefits as heterosexual couples. It is ludicrous that we are even having to debate this, or vote on this, but one day, there truly will be equal rights for my friends.

New York State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompsom voted YES; we need more like her to aid us in our fight for marriage equality. Watch her poignant speech and vote below.




Another ally in New York State Senator Diane Savino. Awesome speech and she voted YES!




I saw this on YT today and it is a very eloquent condemnation of the fact that same sex couples have to ask permission to receive marriage equality. Different geographic location, same principle.



My heart is sad and my spirit is angry today, but my resolve is stronger than ever.

Dazz

Happy National Coming Out Day!

Celebrate this day with Pride, Acceptance, Tolerance and LOVE!

Be the support for your friend, relative or loved one as they take a huge step today and make the decision to own and live their truth.

Love,

Dazz