Posts Tagged “queer”
Posted by: punksmurf in Current Affairs, Film, Info, Music, Web/Tech, tags: animal, documentary, gay, lesbian, Music, photography, queer
Firstly, I’m going to post about this truly horrible event. When I first saw the footage I could not believe wat I was seeing. So a warning beforehand; it’s not for the faint hearted, and possibly NSFW. What I’m talking about? A vicious attack that happened earlier where a guide dog was attacked by a pitbull type dog. The owner of the attacking dog fled the scene after he managed to get his dog off the guide dog, leaving the visually impaired owner in great distress. Anyone in the London area: keep an eye out!
Staying in the UK for more news: rock band Skunk Anansie is the latest in a line of many public faces to join the “Some people are gay - get over it” campaign.
Hopefully, Danish filmmakers Iben Haahr Andersen and Minna Grooss are taking their documentary “Hello my name is Lesbian” to film festivals around the world. It’s released on DVD. Judging from the trailer (it has English subs!) it looks like an interesting documentary. Watch it here.
In response to “Humpday”, in which two heterosexual guys (played by Joshua Leonard and Mark Duplass) take their relationship to an entirely different level when they decide to participate in an art film project that involves the two of them having sex, Lynn Shelton made a “sequel” called “Beyond gay“. I watched the short and found it disturbing (in a good way) and very amusing. Warning: even though it isn’t graphic, it’s definitely NSFW.
Earlier this week another episode of Cherry Bomb was posted, and I was delighted to see actor/comedian Jason Stuart amidst the ladies. Showcasing a good sense of humor, Stuart also made several very sensible remarks. This week’s episode was about “The gay and lesbian divide” - a discussion I’ve had with several of my gay friends. I found it interesting to hear what they had to say about it.
Photographer Spencer Tunick has started preparing for another one his famous shoots. In March next year he’ll be one the headliners for the 2010 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. Read more about it here.
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I was reading Bif Naked’s blog when I was reminded of International Transgender Day of Rememberance; today’s the 11th International Transgender Day of Rememberance. The yearly event is held to recognize and remember trans people who have been killed through hatred or prejudice. (How awesome is that “free hugs” video she posted along?)
Did you know there’s a publication that caters to FTMs? Check out “Original plumbing“.
Watch an interview with Chaz Bono on Good Morning America here, a British Judge shows sympathy for an FTM, and Indian voters are allowed to check an “other” box when voting. Even though the latter case sounds very progressive, so-called hijiras are still looked down on, often treated without the same respect and courtesy Indian men and women get, and there don’t seem any laws to protect them properly. But that’s just my opinion.
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As read on AfterEllen:
When you’re a teenager, rebellion seems like a rite-of-passage. Whether it’s swiping a pint of vodka from your parents’ liquor cabinet or shaving your head, you are an individual going through some serious life changes and you need everyone to know it.
For me, the ultimate outlet for my post-pubescent angst was punk rock. From an ill-advised nose piercing in a scary, Indiana tattoo shop to telling my parents I was going to the mall and ending up in a sketchy basement watching Anti-Flag’s side project, the punk scene introduced me to people I actually related to — feminists, gays, politically-motivated band geeks — many of whom I am still friends with today.
For 17-year-old Michael Knight, his ultimate rebellion came in the form of leaving his mother’s home and heading to a Pakistani madrassa, where he would study Islam. He burned out on the “demands of religious dogma” years later, but in 2003, he went on to write a novel titled The Taqwacores, a “punk-rock manifesto” that went from work of fiction to real, cultural movement:
Melding the Arabic word for god-consciousness with the edge of hardcore punk (hence Taqwacore), Michael imagined a community of Muslim radicals: Mohawked Sufis, riot grrrls in burqas with band patches, skinhead Shi’as. These characters were entirely fictional. But the movement they inspired is very real.
The book became something else when actual Taqwacore bands were popping up nationwide. This caught the attention of filmmaker Omar Majeed, who decided to film the bands as they toured the U.S., leading to the documentary Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam.
After 9/11, many of the Canadian and American Muslims involved in the project felt the need to do some serious venting, and Knight’s book gave them a platform to do so.
Sena Hussain, a lesbian “Pakistani Canadian drag king from Vancouver,” is the front woman for the first all-girl Taqwacore band, The Secret Trial Five. She told the Globe and Mail this spring that she didn’t have much interest in political music until 9/11 seriously changed how Muslims were portrayed in pretty much every aspect of life.
“It’s far from being a religious music, in that it’s not at all similar to Christian rock,” Hussain told the paper. “It’s about Muslims post-9/11, that’s the perspective I take. It’s very political and satirical.”
Hussain’s band caused quite a stir at the Islamic Society of North America’s Chicago convention in 2008. After a reading of the Koran and some “stern, spoken-word stylings,” her band took the stage and burst into their song “Middle Eastern Zombies,” prompting much of the crowd to leave, a call to the police and (the best part) a group of “excited hijabi girls rocking out” and chanting “Stop the hate!”
Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam screened last month in Canada, and will be showing at the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam Nov. 19 to 29.
The film’s goal is to show the wide array of young voices within the Muslim community. People who are willing to challenge everyone: from “homophobic Mullahs to warmongering Western politicians,” Majeed told the Globe and Mail.
“I don’t think Western media as a whole is ready for a complicated Muslim voice — they divide the world into good Muslims and bad Muslims,” Knight said. “But these kids are pissed off about everything.”
For more information about the Taqwacore movement or upcoming film screenings, check out the film’s website.
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Photo: Joann Toy
Yesterday President Obama signed The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a bill that updates the original 1968 federal hate crimes statute to make violence against gay, lesbian, transgender, and disabled people a federal crime. The bill, a version of which was first introduced in 1996, two years before the hate-motivated murders of Shepard and Byrd in 1998, allows for federal investigators, forensic tools, and funds to be allotted to help state and local officials tackle hate crimes.
“As a straight ally and as a person with many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender family members, friends and fans, I want to thank the Human Rights Campaign, Judy and Dennis Shepard and Senator Edward Kennedy for their leadership in the 11 year struggle to get the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd, Jr. Hates Crimes Prevention Bill enacted,” longtime gay rights advocate Cyndi Lauper said in a statement today. “FINALLY, with President Obama’s signature, violent hate crimes against the LGBT community will be recognized and prosecuted by the Federal government. This is only the beginning, I believe that the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act, as well as the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, will soon be here. Today, that light at the end of the tunnel for the LGBT civil rights movement is much brighter.”
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Posted by: punksmurf in Weblogs, tags: queer, sexy
Boy, oh boy, Michelle Pfeiffer seems to be chanelling Rhett Butler there, eh?
And Amanda Palmer is looking pretty bad ass in a suit as well:
I’m pretty sure my friends Alice and Nuke will love it…
(Thank you, Dorothy Snarker.)
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Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving, everybody!
Ellen Page put in her 2 cents with this funny short.
It’s also International Coming Out Day today, and according to this article bisexuals are urged to come out today. But what came as a complete shocker to me, earlier today, was the news that out Boyzone singer Stephen Gately has passed away suddenly (while vacationing with his husband). Stephen was 33 years old.
Normally, I don’t care about children - especially celebrity children. But these made me snicker:
Looks like Brangelina’s kid Shilo is quite the tomboy! Gotta love a sword wielding girl, eh.
The Cherry Bomb ladies at AfterEllen talk about the butch identity this week. Watch it here. I find it interesting, and it’s not because I can identify with Tyler, but mostly because as the talk progresses it’s clear that different people have different definitions for different labels.
The NYT published an interesting article on the high cost of living as a gay couple: check it out here. Another interesting article that caught my eye was one on an on-demand ice cream vending machine. I can only hope they start adding dairy free options to that machine 
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Currently listening to KINKFM.com (Kink 1400)
My friend Menachem Luchins aka Nuke got a new writing gig at eGO.com - a blog that provides daily questions and comments for discussion and debate. All the discussion, articles and quotes will be centered around eGO.com’s seven principles. Read about it here.
A post on 8asians.com about noodles caught my attention:
Even though Southern California is a melting pot of different cultures and deliciously diverse dining, the ways of the yummy Asian noodles might be lost on lawmakers. Kim Tar noodle factory has been in business for 25 years, supplying restaurants and markets with fresh rice noodles. But, a state law requiring refrigeration of noodles is threatening the life of these Asian noodles. Thankfully, some wise Asians are gathering their forces to fight the man who is trying to keep our noodles down. What I love even more than the fact that they are going to rally for the noodles is that they are planning a press conference at a restaurant in Monterey Park! (I grew up a stone-skip away from Monterey Park and still enjoy delectable Asian cuisine in MP.)
Health officials are standing their ground saying this is a matter of public safety and that “ethnic foods are not treated differently than other foods.” Newsflash health officials — Not all foods are created equal! If it’s customary for rice noodles to be stored at room temperature — and they have been for thousands of years — then storing them in the fridge doesn’t suddenly make them safer to eat! In fact, putting rice noodles in the fridge can ruin them! Asians noodles are not like other pastas. Leave our noodles alone!
Whoever is trying to impose those laws on noodles obviously doesn’t know anything about them. On the upside LA Times reports that the WIC nutrician program’s food vouchers now enables women and children to buy themselves fresh fruit and vegetables. Isn’t that grand?
Another study finds no difference between children raised by gay or straight adoptive parents. DUH! And in the meantime the authors of “And tango makes three” finally have a baby of their own.
Earlier this week Bruce Springsteen debuted a new song, called “Wrecking Ball” at Giants Stadium. Listen to it here. Serena Ryder is currently touring the US with NeedToBreathe, and popped into a studio in Charlottesville for an interview and a couple of songs. Listen to it here. And in the meantime rocker Melissa Etheridge is contemplating using her celebrity to form a high-powered lesbian coalition, made up of fellow famous gay rights activists.
I’m thrilled actress Ming-Na plays an out lesbian Asian-American in Stargate Universe. Read about it here and here. Let’s hope her character has at least a half decent storyline.
This is what Ming-Na had to say about the part: “I’ve never played a gay character, and for me that was such an incredible challenge. And I said, “As long as you write her with absolute depth and she’s well rounded, and there’s no stereotypes, and she’s a real person — then yes, let’s go for it.” Being an Asian woman in this business, I have had to deal with a lot of adversities…So I relate a lot to Camille’s character, because I think being a woman who’s also gay in an environment where she has to be the head of a department - she’s an IOA officer, head of the human resources department, and she is in charge in a man’s world. So it’s a really great challenge.”
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Time flies, eh? Last April my friend Tweety and I visited NYC, and - amongst other things - checked out Avenue Q. We both enjoyed it very much (we were singing and quoting lines from the show on our way back to the hotel). After a six-year run, the curtains will close on Broadway. Read an interview with the cast and creators on the birth of Avenue Q.
UK rock band Skunk Anansie is about to release their new single “Because of you“. Reunited they are embarking on a massive European tour - with dates frequently added as their shows sell out like hot cakes. It took me a couple of weeks to get used to the new single, but I really like it now.
Also touring and about the release her latest album, “From dusk ’til dawn”, is Canadian rocker Sass Jordan. Be quick if you want an autographed copy! (You can pre-order “From dusk ’til dawn” at MapleMusic.)
If these don’t spell “dyke” I don’t know what does… I wouldn’t do that. Ever.
Protect Maine Equality released two simple but shining tv spots. Watch them here. And my friend Stacey alerted me on to this (thanks!). It’s pretty much Milwaukee based, but very inspiring - and educational, too.
One of the contributing bloggers at 8Asians.com writes about the late Senator Edward Kennedy’s legacy to the Asian American community. An interesting post, in my opinion.
The bay of Fundy may be turned into a huge power plant. Not surprising, really, if you see the massive tides rolling in and out twice a day (yep, it’s a tourist attraction). It will affect animal and plant life, that I can tell. Maybe they should talk to the Dutch about this. They’re pretty much experts on things like this, aren’t they?
By the way: can anyone tell me what American idiot thought it was a good idea to start taxing tourists?! Read about it here.
Well, that’s it for this week. Short but sweet. Oh, lest I forget: A HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND TO Y’ALL!
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Currently listening to Sarah McLachlan (album: Mirrorball - the complete concert)
I haven’t blogged about it, but you’ve undoubtedly read about the passing away of Senator Ted Kennedy. He was laid to rest alongside slain brothers John and Robert on hallowed ground at Arlington National Cemetery, celebrated for “the dream he kept alive” across the decades since their deaths.
Vice President Joe Biden’s said:
“I think the legacy of Teddy Kennedy can be measured in no small part as a consequence of how we in America look at one another. How blacks look at whites. How gays look at straights. How straights look at gays. How we literally look at one another. And in turn how we look at ourselves. Because when you were with him you had to measure yourself against him. And it always required you to be larger than you were inclined to be.”
To read more about him click here or here. May he rest in peace.
I have a thing for harmonies (must be musical gene in me that also enables me to play the guitars and drums without ever having had tuition. Anyway, from the moment I heard “Two weeks” by Grizzly Bear I have been humming along with them. Now a fan’s taken it upon himself to remake the video into something queerer. Watch the new, animated version here - ain’t it sweet?
As off Friday, there’s an actual Gay Tourist Information Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Welcoming everybody, they’re specifically aimed at helping queer tourists find their way in the Dutch capital. They can be found at Spuistraat 44, Amsterdam.
Hours: Mon-Sat 11.00 - 20.00 hrs, Sun 12.00 - 18.00 hrs.
In the meantime, internet television and radio programming platform based in Manchester Fruit TV revealed some of its programming. I hope they’ll add programs to pull and appease female viewers.
Last night hurricane Danny made it’s way through Nova Scotia, bringing buckets of rain and strong winds. It caused power outages in Halifax, but nothing major (it lasted about 4 hours before the power came back on).
Here’s an example of a dog who is indeed man’s - or in this case, a woman’s - best friend. Unfortunately, the story has no happy ending.
And who knew George Eads (Nick Stokes on CSI) is such an avid fan of superheroes? And from what I read he’s got quite a hand at drawing them, too!
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A couple of weeks ago I blogged about my radio interview on KINK FM. Well, I finally found the podcast. You can listen to it here. And EurOut published another one of my columns - this one’s about PDA.
Talking about EurOut, the editor-in-chief reminded everybody that today, August 8th, is - apparently - International Orgasm Day. Uh-huh… The first song that popped (no pun intended) into my mind was “I touch myself” by The Divinyls. Don’t ask.
Movmnt Magazine, issue 9, has a nice interview with Serena Ryder:
  
Hee!
In the meantime a K’s Choice fan recorded two new songs the band played at Dranouter Festival in Belgium. Both are uptempo and sound upbeat. I can’t wait for 2010 and the release of their new record! If this isn’t right / Echo Mountain.
Six inches of SiP goodness… And from Terry Moore it’s only a small step to Paige Braddock. I’ve been reading Jane’s World for the longest time (I’m now waiting to get my hands on volume 9). For those unfamiliar with JW: it’s about the life (and loves) of Jane, who lives with her room mate Ethan (a straight guy). I think it’s hilarious, and I have to say that I can relate to some of the antics… Now, this cracked me up:
Despite the fact I’m able to stay awake mmost of the day now, I still don’t feel well, and I’ve decided to go see the doctor first thing tomorrow.
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