Lambda Rising Closing — Losing an Icon

On Saturday, I met up with a friend for coffee at Starbucks.  There being no room to sit inside, and with the season’s first snow fall, we decided to venture two blocks north and peruse the bookshelves of Lambda Rising, the premiere bookstore for gay DC.  Lambda Rising has been serving the GLBT community in the nation’s capital for 35 years.

While there, we heard the very sad news that Lambda was closing it store soon after the new year.  A patron nearby vocalized exactly what I was thinking at that moment – “first the Blade and now this?”  The clerk quickly countered that the Blade had now become the DC Agenda.

I was happy to learn, after some quick digging, that Lambda was not closing because of hard financial times, but simply because its owners wanted to retire.  You see, Deacon Maccubbin has been at the forefront of our push for civil rights.  His name is often mentioned in the same breath as Frank Kameny, Del Martin and the likes.

Deacon created DC’s Gay Pride Day, which has become Capital Pride, of which I am a board member.  What started out as a one-day community block party has turned into the fourth largest event of its kind in the US.

So I would like to applaud Deacon and Jim Bennett, his partner of 32 years for their incredible service to our city and our community.  Thank you very much, and happy retirement!

You can read more on the closing of Lambda Rising in the DC Agenda.



Exit Stage…Huckabee

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee announced yesterday that he would likely not run for the GOP nomination again in 2012, citing the fun he is having with his weekend show on the Fox News Channel.  He also makes the case that the party needs to have a unified candidate.  I guess he forgets that is the purpose of a primary system.

But what’s more interesting is the fact that another potential Republican candidate has taken himself out of the running – but this time with his own words and admission.

First we have ‘don’t cry for me’ South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and his Argentine mistress, then we have former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who while still viable in the primary season, would likely get slaughtered up against President Obama, unless his poll numbers were drastically in the tank. Of course, that would mean she would have to run and not quit midway through the race.

Unless someone bubbles up soon, 2012 will likely see a five-man race with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney leading a splintered pack with former Speaker Newt Gingrich, outgoing Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Libertarian rock star Dr. Ron Paul from Texas, and my dark horse candidate, Mississippi Governor Haley Barber.   One cannot rule out a return to politics by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who is still well received among base.

Thanksgiving, Football & Rivalries

On this day, one of the few days in the 365 calendar year, we actually take time to think about and often speak out loud what we are thankful for.  It seems quite touching, until you stop and think that the only reason people are being thankful is because others are inquiring.

Speaking for men, internally we have three things on our minds today – football, food, and alcohol!

My Cowboys have their traditional game this afternoon, hosting the lackluster Oakland Raiders.  And my beloved Texas Longhorns travel to College Station to take on in-state rival Texas A&M.

At this point, I would like to pause and take a moment to remember those who lost their lives ten years ago during Bonfire, what used to be an Aggie tradition for 90 years until 12 Aggies & alumns were tragically killed when it collapsed as they were constructing it.

You see, even though this was a tradition for Texas A&M, we, as Texas Longhorns had come to appreciate the event as an integral part of the 115 year rivalry between the two schools.

Now, having said that, in the words of our fight song… “GIVE ‘EM HELL! GIVE ‘EM HELL! A&M SUCKS!!!”

Gay & Conservative

A week ago, a friend of mine posted an open question to conservatives: “how many conservative positions must one hold on the issues in order to be considered a conservative?” But in order to answer that question, one must first define what a conservative is.

The conservatism I believe in is a combination of lower taxes, less government spending, freer trade, freer markets, individual liberty, personal responsibility, and a strong anti-communist foreign policy.

I believe there are two forms of conservatism – fundamentalism and true conservatism. I see fundamental conservatism as a recent dogma; having become popular with the rise of the Christian Coalition and the religious right in the mid-80s. Now, while I am a religious person, I do not adhere to all of their dictates. Religion has been used as a weapon all throughout history. This is especially true with the case of slavery here in the United States.

Many have asked me how I can be gay, yet call myself a Republican or a conservative. To them, I say the answer is easy. It’s similar to answer I give to those who pose the same question about me being black and Republican. A long time ago, I looked at the issues on both sides of the political spectrum. While there are a few on the left I agree with, there are many more on the right that fit my belief structure.

To those who ask the black/Republican question, I ask, is it racist to say that all blacks look alike? I’ve yet to encounter one who says no to that question. I then quickly follow up with ‘then isn’t it equally racist to say we all think alike?’

To those who ask the gay/Republican question, I merely point to a rainbow flag and echo the mantra “strength through diversity.”

When it comes to marriage equality, I simply must repudiate any argument for not allowing gays to marry. If one truly wants to protect the sanctity of marriage, then the government should make it incredibly hard to get a divorce and outlaw annulments all together. If it’s a religious argument, then get the state completely out of the marriage business and only allow churches to marry. Then the state could provide civil unions or domestic partnerships to any who applied – gay and straight alike.

Fundamentalists bloviate because they want everyone to adhere to their way of life, forgetting that this is America where we hold certain truths to be self-evident. Phrases like religious freedom, and separation of church and state don’t fit into their small-minded worlds. They always go back to the Bible – often citing Leviticus, but forgetting passages like Matthew 5:10, John 13:34, and Psalms 129:2.

The Bible says many things, like it’s an abomination to eat shell fish or cut one’s hair. It also allows for man to beat his wife, but that is not acceptable practice today in America. It’s funny how like liberals with the Constitution, fundamentalists like to pick and choose which parts of the Bible to focus on. Yes, the Bible does condemn homosexuality. But I know that God made me in His image. He didn’t create me simply to condemn me to hell from the get go. The Bible also says an eye for an eye. And then there are the Ten Commandments. I recall that when DOMA was being pushed through Congress, the very ones who were vehemently championing the legislation were themselves guilty of violating several of the commandments.

If one truly believes in the foundations of America and our Constitution, and one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, then one must strive for just that – liberty and justice for all.

OMG, It’s Here! The DC Agenda!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, without further delay, I present to you the very first issue of the DC Agenda.  To be sure, we can expect a lot more from this wonderfully talented group of individuals.

Transition Party: Blade –> Agenda

I was at the transition party from the Washington Blade to the DC Agenda last night, and I can say that everyone, while still down about what transpired with the Blade’s closing, was very upbeat and supportive.  There was a representative from the mayor’s office present, as well as folks from a cross-section of groups and organizations that represent various aspects of the community.

My friends, Publisher Lynne Brown and Editor Kevin Naff spoke to the crowd of about 100 last night at the Hard Rock Café in downtown DC.  They spoke of the outpouring of community support they had received in the few short days since the Blade’s closing.  They spoke of donated office space, web design, and pro-bono legal work that had been offered to them.

The highlight of the evening was when the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, a major community organization, presented Brown with a check for a full page ad space on the back cover of the first issue of the DC Agenda, which is due to hit newsstands THIS Friday.

The Washington Blade may be dead, but the DC Agenda is moving forward!

You can also read more about this event over at my friend, Ty’s page.

The Phoenix from the Flame…after The Blade

It was with great joy that I read this morning that last week, what was supposed to be a tweet up tonight organized by the staff of the now-defunct Washington Blade, is going to be a launch party for their new venture!

Talk about a rolling stone…

On their NEW website http://savetheblade.com they have the following message:

After 40 years as the news source of record for the LGBT community, the Washington Blade ceased publication – November 16, 2009.

The staff of the paper remains united. We are planning the launch of a new publication that will bring you what we have always worked to deliver - gay news and information that is critical to our Metro DC LGBTQ Community.

A modest premiere issue of the new publication will be distributed in D.C. on Friday, November 20, 2009 and will also be available online here.

I am absolutely mesmerized that they intend to get an issue out this week, no matter how modest it will be.  That just shows the leadership of publisher Lynne Brown and editor Kevin Naff.

I hope to see everyone out tonight at the Hard Rock Cafe from 6p-8p to get a first glimpse of what’s to come.  Best of luck!

Cigar Review: Romeo y Julieta

Romeo y Julieta Maduro Reserve Toro
6 x 50

This maduro-wrapped smoke was enjoyed last Wednesday afternoon around 3pm on my back patio.  Mother Nature continues to bestow onto me good favor even towards the middle of November.  I mean, we’re days away from Thanksgiving and it’s still hitting 70 at times here in DC.

This Dominican cigar offered up a charred, earthy flavor that was appealing to both the tastebuds and the nose.  It’s much more robust than the standard 1875 line — which is no slouch on its own.

It had a dark, rich Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.  This was an above average cigar.  This cigar usually runs for ~$7 dollar a piece.  One of the things I love about any Romeo y Julieta I smoke is that they are all consistant.  Rarely do they disappoint.

7/10

It still continues to be a mild autumn here in the nation’s capital, and for that, I will continue to smoke on my back patio with reckless abandon.

The Stereotyping of Gay TV

This week, Newsweek magazine offers up an article titled “Kings of Queens”. You quickly find within the subtitle the direction this perennial weekly intends to take — Gays on TV once helped promote tolerance. Now they may be hurting it. Christopher Mangum of the Advocate quickly picks up the Newsweek article, yet offers no insight.

The article is flawed. Ramin Setoodeh, the reporter, picks and chooses its gay and lesbian TV characters in order to sell us a defected bill of goods. For example, he fails to observe the complete normal life of Kevin and Scotty, the legally married gay couple on ABC’s Brothers & Sisters. Moreover, the article merely touches on the some of the facets within the GLBT community. We’re not a monolith.

The article touches on Fox’s Glee character, Kurt Hummel, who represents the struggling high school student everyone knows is gay, but slowly begins to talk about it with his closest friend, and then his father (who deserves the PFLAG parent of the year award based on last week’s episode alone).

And while Sara Ramirez’ Callie Torres (Grey’s Anatomy) is “curvy” and “bisexual” as they say, Jessica Capshaw’s Arizona Robbins, while just as beautiful, doesn’t quite fit the bill the article pushes, so the author chooses not to mention her.

Gay characters on TV have come a long way since Billy Crystal’s portrayal of Jodie Dallas on a comedy called Soap (1977) and Jack Coleman as Steven Carrington on Dynasty (1981). GLAAD will tell you just that. Just look at the maturing of Shawn Pyfrom’s Andrew Van de Kamp on Desperate Housewives.

And I just love Setoodeh’s comment about how even Rachel Maddow wears lipstick on TV, as if to say that lesbians as a rule, don’t wear make up. I guess he’s never heard the term lipstick lesbian.

The Washington Blade Closes…for now.

What started out as an easy going Monday morning, quickly delved into a chaotic rush for information.  A couple of hours ago, queerty.com posted

SHOCK: Blade Publisher Window Media Closes

Now I knew that Windows Media, the parent company to the Blade was in trouble, but I didn’t think it would come to this point so fast!

I am triply saddened because 1) The Blade has been a great resource for the national GLBT community for the last 40 years; 2) I was fortunate enough to have been asked to contribute to their publication through op-eds and letters to the editor over the past eight months; and 3) The Blade had extended out a pro-bono hand to Capital Pride in offering office space.

Now, I am off to ZipCar over to help clear out the Capital Pride office.  Oh what a day!