Odd Boy Out

Gay Marriage: What the FUCK!? by Sue-Ann Post

2011-12-08T22:53:00.001-08:00

Let me say up front that as someone who has been ‘out’ as a lesbian for 27 years, I just don’t get this push for gay marriage. I don’t understand why it has become a headline issue in the push for equal human rights, especially when our rights in other areas are being slowly eroded by some state governments. In the ‘80s we fought for the right to be different. Now it seems that we’re fighting for the right to be the same. I don’t get it.

Having our relationships recognised as valid and legal is one thing, but why on earth go as far as wanting to get married? I’m not the only one who thinks this way. One of the saddest things I’ve seen at a Pride March was two years ago where a lone, brave man carried a sign saying, ‘I don’t want to get married. Do I still belong?’ I have two major problems with marriage, gay or straight. For starters, marriage is the ultimate symbol of monogamy and I’m not monogamous. Even if my brain suddenly exploded and I decided that I wanted to get married, which of my girlfriends should I marry and which should I leave swinging in the wind? More importantly, I think of marriage as a pitiful, mediaeval relic of an institution with a 50% failure rate that requires people to make completely unrealistic promises. When the marriage vows were written, average life expectancy was 35. Even with the best of intentions, the framers of marriage could never have expected that a bond of lifelong monogamy could end up lasting for 30, 40 or 50 years. Even they might have baulked at that prospect.

http://www.kingstribune.com/current-issue/1399-gay-marriage-what-the-fuck

2011-08-02T16:31:00.000-07:00

Gavin Newsom does not understand Patents.

2011-07-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

Today Lt.Gov. Gavin Newsom released a report titled "AN ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS AGENDA FOR CALIFORNIA." In it he outlines a plan that will get rid of redundant regulations and other obstacles for new business.

I liked the idea, but looking at the actual report I was stunned by the 6th page. He is using the huge amount of patents as an example of the innovation in our state. I'm willing to bet that most of those patents are practical duplicates of another. There is a huge problem with patents at the moment. Most concern software and programming. None of them actually have code attached to them. If he thinks those patents can create more jobs if we lessen regulations he is dead wrong. Those patents were filed for the sole reason of making money through litigation. Shell companies have been set up just so they can milk startups with bogus patent lawsuits. Nothing in his report mentions the number of fraudulent patents being filed today.

http://ltg.ca.gov/docs/LGN_Econ_Agenda.pdf

Obama on Religious Hiring practices

2011-07-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

Today at a town hall meeting at the Uni. of Maryland Obama dogged a question about tax-payer funding of religious organizations. The question was 'What would you say to a woman who has been denied employment because of her religion or lack of religious beliefs by a taxpayer-funded organization?' Instead of addressing tax payer funding of religious organizations he focused on the privilege of religious organizations to choose who they hire, regardless of their funding sources. He only said he 'worked closely' with these organizations to influence their hiring practices and what that means I really have no idea.

via Friendly Atheist

2011-06-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

"One does not get better but different and older and that is always a pleasure." -Gertrude Stein (in a letter to F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Recent Against Equality Radio Interviews

2011-06-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some good radio interviews this month from Yasmin Nair and Ryan Conrad, co-founders of Against Equality:

Ryan Conrad on "Justice or Just Us" talking about the "Against Equality: A Queer Critic of Gay Marriage" book. As well a good discussion about queer politics, touching on many issues. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/635/against_equality.mp3

Yasmin Nair on WBEZ91.5 (Chicago Public Media) discussing her opinions about marriage equality and how it distracts from real change. http://www.wbez.org/episode-segments/2011-06-01/critique-same-sex-marriage-within-gay-community-87269

Jok Church: A circle of caring

2011-06-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

Beautiful message. (The bow tie is a nice touch. And that's definitely a Jolly Roger handkerchief.)

2011-06-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

This is just embarrassing: Herman Cain: Obama 'Was Raised In Kenya'

Bones 2011 Season Finale

2011-05-21T02:10:00.000-07:00

Two points about this season finale really bothered me. First, I think its been 2 seasons since she originally planned on artificial insemination. I would have expected her to be on birth control again. Booth already has a son, if this pregnancy is the driving cause for them to end up together in the next season I have to call bullshit.

Second, the fact that the newborn is not blind also bothers me. They drummed it up the whole season, the parents were prepared for the possibility and then they just shrugged off the whole thing. Talk about people with disabilities not being represented in media and the perpetuation of the idea that a baby will be loved "as long as its healthy," invalidating the experience of parents with a child with disability.

Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" music video

2011-02-28T17:55:00.000-08:00

The music is difficult to dance to and the lyrics are very problematic. However, I have to admit: even though I'm not a huge fan of "Born This Way" I think the music video is great. Unlike the lyrics which seem to fall into a certain creationist narrative, her video shows us a different narrative: she births herself. Or outside of a theological creation, she invents her own image, she creates her own future. I think this is a much more powerful message than saying that we were created by "H-I-M".

WWII Museum soliciting my Membership

2011-02-03T16:08:00.000-08:00

My e-mail to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans:

"I just received a letter in the mail from the museum asking me to become a Charter Member. The reason the WWII Museum has my personal information is because I submitted it along with a few concerns about the exhibits I saw. Before I can even consider becoming a member I have to be sure these concerns have been met. First, the museum did not recognize that Nazi Germany destroyed the thriving queer community of Berlin in the lead up to WWII. Second, the the references to concentration camps did not recognize those persecuted except the Jewish people. Specifically, queer people and people of color were not included. And last but definitely not least, in the aftermath of WWII, there was an influx of soldiers into the large cities they disembarked to. This directly correlates to the early beginnings of the gay community in the US. Without WWII, the gay bar culture in the 1950s would have been a severely limited phenomena. I believe these points are very important to history of our nation. I'm curious if any of these points have been addressed since I visited the museum in November 2009."

Little Taiko Boy リトル太鼓ボーイ

2011-01-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

[via Bilerico]

Palestinian Queer Activists on US Speaking Tour

2011-01-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

Random that my last two posts focus on Palestine.

"Saturday, February 5th, 2011- Minneapolis, 3-4:30
Sunday, February 6, Chicago 2 - 4pm.
February 8th, Cambridge, Mass, 6:30 pm.
February 10th- New York City, 7 pm.
February 11th- Philadelphia, 3 pm
February 15th- San Francisco, 7pm-9pm
February 16th- Oakland, 7pm-9pm
February 18 -NYC"

http://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Tour-of-Palestinian-Queer-Activists/127093104016876

"Al-Qaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society seeks to promote the development and growth of the Palestinian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) community in Israel and the Palestinian occupied territories. This process is inextricably linked with the larger mission of building an equal, diverse and open Palestinian society. Within this context, Al-Qaws is an enthusiastic partner in the development of a Palestinian civil society that respects and adheres to human and civil rights and allows individuals to live openly and equally, regardless of their sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity."
http://www.alqaws.org/

[Via Bilerico]

Gaza Youth Break Out Manifesto!

2011-01-04T15:57:00.000-08:00

This really lets all of us know what it is like to live in Gaza right now. I know some who don't like it when ethnicity and sexuality are equated, but I have been subject to injustice, indifference, ignorance and silent consent. And I have felt immense dissatisfaction, frustration, hopelessness, and rage.

Fuck Hamas. Fuck Israel. Fuck Fatah. Fuck UN. Fuck UNWRA. Fuck USA! We, the youth in Gaza, are so fed up with Israel, Hamas, the occupation, the violations of human rights and the indifference of the international community! We want to scream and break this wall of silence, injustice and indifference like the Israeli F16’s breaking the wall of sound; scream with all the power in our souls in order to release this immense frustration that consumes us because of this fucking situation we live in; we are like lice between two nails living a nightmare inside a nightmare, no room for hope, no space for freedom.
We are sick of being caught in this political struggle; sick of coal dark nights with airplanes circling above our homes; sick of innocent farmers getting shot in the buffer zone because they are taking care of their lands; sick of bearded guys walking around with their guns abusing their power, beating up or incarcerating young people demonstrating for what they believe in; sick of the wall of shame that separates us from the rest of our country and keeps us imprisoned in a stamp-sized piece of land; sick of being portrayed as terrorists, homemade fanatics with explosives in our pockets and evil in our eyes; sick of the indifference we meet from the international community, the so-called experts in expressing concerns and drafting resolutions but cowards in enforcing anything they agree on; we are sick and tired of living a shitty life, being kept in jail by Israel, beaten up by Hamas and completely ignored by the rest of the world.
There is a revolution growing inside of us, an immense dissatisfaction and frustration that will destroy us unless we find a way of canalizing this energy into something that can challenge the status quo and give us some kind of hope. The final drop that made our hearts tremble with frustration and hopelessness happened 30rd November, when Hamas’ officers came to Sharek Youth Forum, a leading youth organization (www.sharek.ps) with their guns, lies and aggressiveness, throwing everybody outside, incarcerating some and prohibiting Sharek from working. A few days later, demonstrators in front of Sharek were beaten and some incarcerated. We are really living a nightmare inside a nightmare.
It is difficult to find words for the pressure we are under. We barely survived the Operation Cast Lead, where Israel very effectively bombed the shit out of us, destroying thousands of homes and even more lives and dreams. They did not get rid of Hamas, as they intended, but they sure scared us forever and distributed post traumatic stress syndrome to everybody, as there was nowhere to run.
We are youth with heavy hearts. We carry in ourselves a heaviness so immense that it makes it difficult to us to enjoy the sunset. How to enjoy it when dark clouds paint the horizon and bleak memories run past our eyes every time we close them? We smile in order to hide the pain. We laugh in order to forget the war. We hope in order not to commit suicide here and now. During the war we got the unmistakable feeling that Israel wanted to erase us from the face of the earth. During the last years Hamas has been doing all they can to control our thoughts, behaviour and aspirations. We are a generation of young people used to face missiles, carrying what seems to be a impossible mission of living a normal and healthy life, and only barely tolerated by a massive organization that has spread in our society as a malicious cancer disease, causing mayhem and effectively killing all living cells, thoughts and dreams on its way as well as paralyzing people with its terror regime. Not to mention the prison we live in, a prison sustained by a so-called democratic country.
History is repeating itself in its most cruel way and nobody seems to care. We are scared. Here in Gaza we are scared of being incarcerated, interrogated, hit, tortured, bombed, killed. We are afraid of living, because every single step we take has to be considered and well-thought, there are limitations everywhere, we cannot move as we want, say what we want, do what we want, sometimes we even cant think what we want because the occupation has occupied our brains and hearts so terrible that it hurts and it makes us want to shed endless tears of frustration and rage!
We do not want to hate, we do not want to feel all of this feelings, we do not want to be victims anymore. ENOUGH! Enough pain, enough tears, enough suffering, enough control, limitations, unjust justifications, terror, torture, excuses, bombings, sleepless nights, dead civilians, black memories, bleak future, heart aching present, disturbed politics, fanatic politicians, religious bullshit, enough incarceration! WE SAY STOP! This is not the future we want!
We want three things. We want to be free. We want to be able to live a normal life. We want peace. Is that too much to ask? We are a peace movement consistent of young people in Gaza and supporters elsewhere that will not rest until the truth about Gaza is known by everybody in this whole world and in such a degree that no more silent consent or loud indifference will be accepted.
This is the Gazan youth’s manifesto for change!
We will start by destroying the occupation that surrounds ourselves, we will break free from this mental incarceration and regain our dignity and self respect. We will carry our heads high even though we will face resistance. We will work day and night in order to change these miserable conditions we are living under. We will build dreams where we meet walls.
We only hope that you – yes, you reading this statement right now! – can support us. In order to find out how, please write on our Facebook wall (Gaza Youth Breaks Out — GYBO) or contact us directly: freegazayouth@hotmail.com
We want to be free, we want to live, we want peace.
FREE GAZA YOUTH!

[via Accidental Theologist]

An informed voter and it only took the last 8 hours!

2010-11-02T03:30:00.000-07:00

If you're curious or need some guidance: *ahem*
I'm voting for all democratic candidates except Secretary of State. We need a Libertarian, Christina Tobin, in that office who will respect all viewpoints and parties and is against the new "Jungle Primary." She also advocates for Proportional Representation and Instant Runoff, two keys to possibly fixing our two party system. As for the other candidates, Governor and Lt. Governor should really be on the same ticket. And I'm of the opinion that the Gov. should be appointing the rest of the offices; and we definitely don't need any infighting right now.

As for the propositions, first I need to say that the Initiative process in California is broken. There is no balance or check to Initiatives, they can only be repealed or amended by the voters in another Initiative. At that point we're often blaming the legislature for problems we may have caused, but they can't do anything about the problem except ask us to vote. Here we go:
19 Yes
20 Yes
21 No
22 No
23 No
24 Yes
25 Yes
26 No
27 No

Let's argue! :D

Buttermilk Ube Pancakes

2010-03-09T10:46:00.001-08:00

Ube is a purple yam from asia. Who ever thought they could be used as a base for pancakes is a genius! (Actually, it was Paul Del Mundo http://buttermilktruck.com/archives/992) The coconut mascarpone frosting just melts on your tongue.

Comics

2009-08-15T16:18:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd list some of the cool comics I've been reading lately.

The Walking Dead -- best zombie comic ever.

The Unwritten -- Harry Potter-esque series is loved by world, everyone thinks the son of the writer is the actual main character and strange things start happening...

Fahrenheit 451 -- Just wow. This is an amazing adaption of the book. The colors are awesome.

Chew -- Tony Chew is a "cibopath". When he takes a bite of something, he sees its life flash before his eyes. This comes in handy to solve crime for the FDA, in a world where Chicken has been banned because of the avian flu.

Detective Comics -- Starting with issue #854 the main character of the series is now Batwoman--a red-headed Jewish lesbian! Fuckin' awesome. And her first mad enemy only speaks in dialogue of Alice from Through the Looking Glass.

Herogasm -- You know when all the super heroes team up to defeat some huge enemy threatening the Earth? It's a hoax. They're taking a vacation.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic -- Um... what can I say? I love Star Wars. The KotOR games wer fucking awesome. And now Bioware is creating an Old Republic MMORPG!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz -- Awesome adaption from Marvel comics. :) It's only 8 issues long and I think they plan on continuing through the other books.

Unthinkable -- After 9/11/01 the government sets up a think tank--"The Think Tank"--of some of the smartest (and maybe craziest) people in the world to write down as many worst-case scenarios they can think of. They are disbanded and 8 years later all of their worst threats seem to be coming true.

Jesus Christ: In the Name of the Gun -- Hilarious. I think they also did Sigmund Freud vs Taliban.

And how about all the Barack Obama series:

Barack the Barbarian -- Barack Obama is from a far off land. He is on a quest for the Treasure of Stimuli. The Red Sarah: The fighting queen from the North is trying to get to it before him!

Drafted - One Hundred Days -- In the alternate reality of Drafted, where the human race is drafted into a galactic army to help defend itself from invaders, Barack Obama has lost his family (and his voice), never ran for president, and is back on Earth to help rebuild Chicago.

President Evil -- Hmm... I wonder what this is a parody of... In this series Obama joins up with Palin, McCain, and Hilary to try and survive a zombie outbreak in Washington DC.

2009-07-27T14:04:00.001-07:00

I think Palin is an idiot. She can't help the Alaskan people by leaving office. Her only power is going to be her media coverage. She is shirking her responsibility. She's betraying her oath of office.

I'm am really happy to read that LA has lowered its water usage by 11%. I still need to fix my leaky bathroom. :(

Imaginary Conversations

2009-05-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

#1
A)"Hi, we're both bisexual and we want to get married to piss her parents off." "Okay, I just need to see your driver's licenses and collect $70."
B)"Hi, we're both bisexual. We've been in a committed relationship for 35 years, and we'd like to get married." "The California Constitution only allows marriage between a man and a woman."

#2
A)"Hi, I'm a lesbian & he's gay & we'd like to get married. We're not going to have sex or kids but we want all the Federal rights marriage affords." "Okay, that'll be $70 & I just need to see your driver's licenses."
B)"Hi, we've been together for 15 years & have two children & we'd like to get married." "The California Constitution only allows marriage between a man & a woman."

(credit to Jacob H.)

New NBC Drama - Spring 2010

2009-05-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

"'Day One':

In a two-hour premiere after the conclusion of the Winter Olympics, viewers will follow a group of San Fernando Valley apartment complex dwellers when a global catastrophe hits. From writer-producer Jesse Alexander ("Heroes," "Lost") and director Alex Graves ("Fringe"), the cast includes Adam Campbell ("Date Movie"), Catherine Dent ("The Shield"), David Lyons ("ER"), Carly Pope ("24") and Thekla Reuten ("Sleeper Cell")."

--From the LA Times 05/05/09

I'm very curious to see how many landmarks in the SFV will be used, and where exactly their apartment complex would be. And maybe I don't have much of an imagination, but I can't picture an apartment complex full of white tenants in their 30s.

LGBTA Showcase

2009-04-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday (04/29) the CSUN LGBTA and AS Space presented LGBTA Showcase in the USU Pub. The host, Martel Okanji, opened the night with a traditional favorite "I Will Survive" in a grey wig and flower print dress, which evolved into a hip hop dance with two back up dancers. Madison D. followed with prose about civil rights, harkening images from the black civil rights movement and questioned christian values, claiming her god came from within herself, not out of a book or from her forced church activities in childhood. Kyna G. shared with the crowd an original saxophone composition. Alex H.'s drag performance to "Sparkling Diamonds" was just--amazing.

Vocal Percussion Radio (VPR) opened with a duet version of Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl". Scratch that, it was a trio. The last chorus line revealed a gay identified singer who also likes to kiss girls. Their second song was a Coldplay classic, "Clocks", and they spread their love over the audience, even if the soloist voice did waver a bit. They ended their set with "Let's Dance" by Lady Gaga. Not only were their members dancing on stage, but they got people in the audience clapping and moving. Joe recited a piece "Dimpled Daddy", a love poem.

CSUN's Fasmode, hip hop dance group, had an amazing performance that blurred gender lines and threw surprises at the audience.

A second drag show by Alex H. and Katlyn B. set to Lady Gaga's "Boyz Boyz Boyz" brang out love of boyz.

Acasola's set was full of meloncholy songs about broken hearts and searching for love, though it also represented strength and perseverance.

The only problem with the Pub in the USU was the utter lack of lighting on the stage--of all spaces in that room. The noise from the staff in the kitchen cleaning up was also a distraction.

Between every performance they presented the ideals behind every color of the pride flag. However, some of their ideology may have been a little flawed. But the overall message of the night was positive and strong. Their aim to educate and entertain: "edutain."

They ended the night with "Here's Where I Stand" sung by Courtney and Martel.

Eve Sedgwick Commemoration & "Hurts So Good: What's So Bad About Masochistic Pain?" Lecture

2009-04-25T12:18:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I attended two amazing events in the span of 3 hours. First I got to hear some beautiful memories and readings of Eve Sedgwick from professors that I admire. I can say with certainty that she was an amazing person. Only one of the readings went way over my head. Jake's reading from "White Glasses" and a reading from "Sixth Axiom" by another professor were both provocative.

Second, I attended Adam Swenson's lecture titled "Hurts So Good: What's Bad About Masochistic Pain?" which was really exciting. His philosophy of pain really made me question some of my own understandings of it. And is it some kind of lecturers' joke to turn their audience on, or was it just me?

On Abstinence Education

2009-02-07T15:33:00.000-08:00

Every time we said "use a condom," we were required to follow it up with "but abstinence is the only 100% safe method to prevent pregnancy." So I prepped my younger brother's friend to take advantage of the pre-programmed responses.

When he heard such a statement, he would reply, "So if my boyfriend and I had sex, would he get pregnant or would I?"
Your Ad Here

To which they would answer, "Well, of course you wouldn't get pregnant but you'd be at risk for STI's."

"But we're both virgins," he would exclaim, "So how could either of us have an STI?"

"Some STI's can be transmitted through other means than just sex" would be the standard answer.

"Wait a minute, are you saying that abstinence isn't 100% safe?"

from http://www.bilerico.com/2009/02/abstinence_is_not_100_safe.php

The Advocate At Albertsons Affair

2009-02-01T22:00:00.001-08:00

Maybe I just don't go to grocery stores enough anymore, but the cashier asked if I wanted a separate bag for The Advocate I was buying. I told her she could go ahead and stick it in with the bagged lettuce, but... I don't know. I got a weird feeling from it.

As for the magazine itself, they're switching to a monthly format and the Editor's Letter reads, "We still read magazines--lots of them, in fact--but now we look to them to provide us with context and analysis of the quick-hit news reports we've already read on the Web." I can't really tell if they're being hopeful, in denial, or trying to mold the habits of their readers. Though, I would find it hard to believe their readers are a younger crowd. And you know, it would probably be bad business to try and shift their focus. I really hope their shift helps them prosper, this is the magazine's 1023rd issue.

Sad Parking

2009-01-31T03:37:00.000-08:00

I saw a sad face chalked on the parking structure on campus. :( I totally understand where they're coming from. Hopefully parking will be better because of the new structure. I'll probably just start using it just 'cause its new and won't fill.

Conversation

2009-01-26T01:42:00.000-08:00

Agent MonkFish: Well isn't that quaint, you people let your sexuality define your personality. -cackles and wanders off to find something to eat-
Odd Boy Out: o.O
Odd Boy Out: That's kinda self-hating humor :\
Agent MonkFish: I don't hate me, I hate you.
Agent MonkFish: Tell me Odd, are you an advocate of Gay Rights Parades?
Odd Boy Out: I've never really thought about it, Monk.
Agent MonkFish: If you support those things, you should kill yourself.
Odd Boy Out: Wow You are rude.
Agent MonkFish: Yep.
Agent MonkFish: But I stand by my statement.
Odd Boy Out: Why do you advocate for suicide?
Agent MonkFish: Of course I do, I encourage all people who think the way to be treated like a normal person is to walk the streets in a rainbow thong dancing, to kill themselves.
Agent MonkFish: Because if you think that, there is something wrong with your brain.
Agent MonkFish: Also fat people.
Agent MonkFish: I hate fat people, unless they are cool with it and don't complain... but even then there is a limit.
Odd Boy Out: LGBT people aren't looking to be treated like 'normal' people.
Agent MonkFish: You're misunderstanding my use of the word "Normal"
Agent MonkFish: What I mean is to not be treated like freaks.
Odd Boy Out: I do believe that is what people in Pride parades are advocating for.
Agent MonkFish: Alright then. If on your normal day you see a person walking around in a pink feather boa and a thong do you or do you not think that person is FUCKING WEIRD?!
Odd Boy Out: It's not a normal day. It's a parade day.
Agent MonkFish: Doing it en masse does not change the act.
Agent MonkFish: Klu Klux Klan members having a big parade doesn't make it any less racist.
Odd Boy Out: You often see people in all manner of strange costume in parades.
Agent MonkFish: In fact it makes it even MORE racist.
Agent MonkFish: YEAH FOR HOLIDAYS
Agent MonkFish: Like Halloween or Christmas.
Odd Boy Out: And having a Pride parade makes LGBT even more visible.
Agent MonkFish: I don't think you get this at all.
Odd Boy Out: I think you get off on playing Devil's Advocate. ;3
Agent MonkFish: ...I'm not playing the devil's advocate I'm providing you with something we here in the real world call LOGIC.
Odd Boy Out: lol
Agent MonkFish: You don't want to be treated like a freak don't hold a parade where everyone is dressed up on rainbow floats.
Odd Boy Out: I think you misunderstand your opinion to be logic.
Agent MonkFish: "WERE HERE WERE QUEER BUT DON'T CALL ANY ATTENTION TO IT LIKE WE SO BLATANTLY ARE BECAUSE WE'RE FUCKING THICK"
Agent MonkFish: There's your new slogan.
Agent MonkFish: Free of charge.
Agent MonkFish: Why not tattoo it on your ass and show everyone?
Agent MonkFish: No one will think you are a freak if you get 20 other people to do it.
Agent MonkFish: Not a tramp stamp. More like an idiot stamp.
Odd Boy Out: Do you believe homosexuals are a valid minority Monk?
Agent MonkFish: No no no, we're talking about how much of an idiot you are, no changing the subject.
Odd Boy Out: lol
Agent MonkFish: Also no.
Agent MonkFish: Because when we qualify homosexuals as a valid minority we might as well qualify everything.
Agent MonkFish: Bisexuals, pansexuals, pedophiles, zoophiles whatever you call those people who have sex with appliances.
Odd Boy Out: So you really don't use logic.
Agent MonkFish: Why not have a pedophile parade?
Odd Boy Out: The "Slippery Slope" argument is a logical fallacy, Monk.
Agent MonkFish: If a bunch get on a float and march down the street molesting children no one can get mad because IT'S A PARADE! WEE!
Agent MonkFish: Why not get on 4chan and tell them all, I'm sure they'd be glad to know about the Parade Clause.
Odd Boy Out: Once someone shows that they don't use logic, especially after claiming to, I know to stop arguing. lol
RoseTown Leo: Good nihgt Odd Boy and thanks for everything.
Odd Boy Out: Sleep well :)
Agent MonkFish: No, you have ceased because there's nothing you can say to validate the actions of those who take part in a pride parade.
Odd Boy Out: lol
Agent MonkFish: If you can give me three good reasons for them I'll stop and admit you're right.
Odd Boy Out: lol There's not need.
Agent MonkFish: Exactly.
Agent MonkFish: Sylver understands.
Agent MonkFish: Yep it's more likely to get a "Fucking faggots and their parades" not "Look how brave they are! Having a parade!"
Odd Boy Out: Only our supporters think the latter.
Agent MonkFish: Well isn't the point to change the minds of the non-supporters?
Agent MonkFish: No.
Agent MonkFish: You're there.
Odd Boy Out: Yes, it is. You only gave the opinion of those against us and those for us. The inbetween don't have opinions. lol
Agent MonkFish: If you'
Agent MonkFish: If you're swayed by a parade... you're thick.
Agent MonkFish: Here's my little rule of thumb. If you don't want to be treated like a freak don't act like a freak.
Odd Boy Out: And LGBT aren't being treated as freaks as often as they used to be... I wonder why.
Agent MonkFish: Oh really? Because I FUCKING KNOW WHY.
Agent MonkFish: It's not because of parades.
Agent MonkFish: It's because as the older more closed minded generation DIES the newer generation with different ideals takes it's place.
Odd Boy Out: And why is that newer generation more aware of LGBT?
Agent MonkFish: I swear to god if you actually think it's because of a parade I will kill you.
Agent MonkFish: It's because they were raised differently, by a select amount of people who were just more tolerant.
Odd Boy Out: I do believe that Pride parades are an integral part to creating a larger community of LGBT and their supporters, yes. Having a big party often creates a sense of
Odd Boy Out: unity.
Agent MonkFish: Canada.
Agent MonkFish: No.
Agent MonkFish: No no.
Agent MonkFish: No.
Agent MonkFish: Having a party is different.
Odd Boy Out: Why were their parents more tolerant, Monk?
Agent MonkFish: OH YOU'RE SO RIGHT!
Agent MonkFish: IT'S BECAUSE THEY SAW A PARADE
Agent MonkFish: THEY SAW A MASS OF UPPITY BITCH FAGGOTS AND BUTCH DYKES AND SAID TO THEMSELVES "FUCK I'M WRONG ABOUT THESE PEOPLE"
Agent MonkFish: "They aren't just weird, their annoying about it!"
Agent MonkFish: "I'm gonna go home and beat the queer out of my kid"
Odd Boy Out: You're all very self-loathing. lol
Agent MonkFish: No.
Agent MonkFish: I love me.
Agent MonkFish: I hate other gays.
Odd Boy Out: lol
Agent MonkFish: I hate gays who act like uppity bitch boys, participate in gay pride rallies and go to those dance clubs that play the shitty techno music I hate.
Agent MonkFish: ...I hate regular people who do that to though.
Agent MonkFish: I really just fucking hate techno/
Odd Boy Out: Why do you hate so much?

"Love, West Hollywood" Reading

2008-11-12T23:37:00.001-08:00

Tonight CSUN's LGBTA cosponsored a book reading with the Center for Sex and Gender Research. We had 5 wonderful speakers share their texts or excerpts of them. I see such a disconnect between the young generation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and the generations that came before us and actually had to deal with hate and persecution. Even though this event was advertised to classes of friendly professors and the LGBTA only 4 students showed up (including me), and another writes for the Sundial.

I'm trying to form some sense of community between the two generations, but the ageism is horrible. I'm reminded of the Models of Pride lecture I went to two weeks ago where the 14, 15, 16 year olds were being very disrespectful to the 70+ year old presenter. His friend had to interrupt and tell them to shut up.

At this reading I felt overwhelmed trying to take in the experiences of the five authors. As one of the few students there I was asked my opinion of things. I'm great one on one, but have 5 people talk to me and ask me my opinion and I feel I've hardly had time to comprehend it all.

I'm very greatful to James, one of the editors of "Love, West Hollywood", who bought a copy of the book for each of the students present. I can't wait for the semester to end so I can get to these great books I've been collecting since September. (http://www.librarything.com/profile/erickoller)

I'm also looking forward to classes next semester. The next Queer Studies class is available: L.A. in Transit: Communities, Organizations and Politics. The Sociology department is offering Sociology of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Communities and the Religious Studies department is offering 'Queering Religion'. They'll also have another section of the QS301 class: Perspectivies in Queer Studies! Hopefully the political climate will not be the deciding factor on the content of the class next time around.

Hi there!

2008-10-30T22:45:00.001-07:00

I'll try to have something here soon. :)

I'm not sure what I want to do with this yet.