Celebrate PRIDE!

There's nothing quite like the Gay Pride celebration in New York City. After about a 4 hour parade, the streets were filled with gay men and women celebrating their pride in who they are. From the serious to the sublime, here are just a few of the sites I witnessed:


NEW YORK CITY'S FINEST START OFF THE PARADE


HILARY CLINTON LENDS HER SUPPORT


THE FAMILIAR RAINBOW FLAG


A POLICAL STATEMENT


A LITTLE FUN


A LITTLE CRAZY


THE MANY FACES IN THE CROWD

Back From NYC

Spent a great time in NYC this weekend. Even in the rain, NYC is terrific. Here are just a couple pics from my adventure:


TIMES SQUARE ON A MIDNIGHT'S SUMMER NIGHT


NYC IN THE RAIN

More to come!

Rick Santorum-The Weapons of Mass Destruction Expert?

Senator Rick Santorum and Rep. Peter Hoekstra, both Republicans, now claim that Iraq did indeed have weapons of mass destruction. According to Santorum and Hoekstra Iraq had approximately 500 mustard gas and sarin nerve agent weapons. There's only one problem, Rick and Peter: intelligence officials say the weapons of mass destruction referred to by Santorum and Hoekstra were produced before the 1991 Gulf War and there is no evidence any such weapons were produced by Sadam Hussein following the Gulf War, and those produced prior to 1991 could more than likely do no damage.

I guess Rick Santorum is getting pretty worried about his upcoming November election bid. Polls show his support quickly sinking. Come on, Rick. You can't campaign on the Weapons of Mass Destruction theme forever! It may have worked at one time, but it isn't going to work again. That "fact" of Bush & Company, WMD, has been proven to be another exagerated bit of US intelligence a long time ago. While most Republicans are distancing themselves from Bush, Santorum is still trying to hang on to the Bush coattails. It ain't gonna work, Rick. You're going down. Thank God!

Celebrate Pride

It's off to New York City for the weekend, the primary reason to celebrate in NYC's Gay Pride Celebration weekend. Hope to have lots of pictures, stories, and memories to tell about when I return.

OH Those Caring Republicans

Well, once again the Republican controlled legislators have shown us how much they care about the "little guy." Last week, the the House gave themselves yet another pay raise, and today, the Senate squashed an increase in the minimum wage. So while workers are supposed to exist on $5.15 per hour, our Congress can live their lavish lives so they can solve the world's problems. And not only do US legislators get a nice pay, they have full health benefits...for life! Maybe the rationale there is to encourage the "little guy" to make a bid for Congress? Problem is, most of the "little guys" aren't crooked enough to make it in Congress!

But, we must not forget, that even though our Republican controlled Congress are selfish, they do care about our safety. The Republicans, afterall, are the party of the global war on terrorism. They are the supporters of Bush & Company, who keep all of us safe at night so that our babies can sleep soundly knowing terrorism won't get them. But then can babies that are hungry because their parents don't have food to buy them, sleep at all?

This Is All I Need

"Here's your card, Daddy. I am a little broke so I didn't get you any present," my daughter said to me today as she handed me this card. Well, to me, that's fine. All I really need is a "Happy Father's Day" salutation and I am pleased. My kids don't need to spend money on me; I have all that I need. Just letting me know they care is all the present I need!

Thanks To Our Reps

A letter sent to House Reps. Frank LoBiondo and Jim Saxton, and to the Press of Atlantic City:

I would like to thank Representatives Frank LoBiondo and Jim Saxton for sentencing more US soldiers to death in Iraq. By voting yes on a House resolution to not set a timetable for the pullout of US troops in Iraq, hundreds, maybe even thousands more, US men and women will die in Iraq.
Iraq is a quagmire in which the US must get out! Congress has sided with President Bush & Company to "stay the course." The reality is there is no "course" and the US will have to continue in Iraq for years to come. Face it. Whenever US soldiers leave an area of Iraq, insurgents return, set up their nests, and US soldiers must return. If the democracy Bush & Company wish to see is ever to be a reality, US involvement in Iraq will only increase.
The only hope is going to be when representatives devoted to see an end to the mess in Iraq are elected. The current president and Congress have no desire to see an end!
Thank you

Sorry Again Smokers....NOT

A Philadelphia smoking ban? Oh Happy Day! All I can say is how glad I am. And the poor bar and club owners! They're going to lose money? I don't think so. Maybe at first there will be a backlash of protestors staying home, but give it a little time, and those that love to hang at such establishments will be back. Those that stay away because of the smoke will beging to come too. So, business owners will make out better. Just be a little patient. Stop all the fuss! Let's face it: smoking is OUT!

Mad As Hell

A glass of red wine on an empty stomach, Natalie Maines singing, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not ready to back down" (Not Ready to Make Nice, Dixie Chicks, Taking The Long Way), and a copy of the latest The Advocate is a bad, bad combination! Why? Because I'm sick and tired of the self-righteous telling me what is and is not my right! And I'm sick and tired of the Democratic party being the wusses they are!

Ever since I bought the Dixie Chicks new CD, I have had the songs in my head. And I'm mad as hell! Then I read interview with Howard Dean, Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee in The Advocate. Dean recently was on Pat Robertson's television show, The 700 Club, and he stated that the Democratic party platform opposed gay marriage equality. Dean was wrong! But when asked by The Advocate "Why don't Democratic politicians who privately favor marriage equality back it publically," Dean's response was, "Because I think it's extremely controversial, and we need to work through that controversy....It is very important that the LGBT community and the Democratic Party not get divided over the one issue that we're still having a big conversation about." BULLSHIT, HOWARD!!! Since when is protecting the rights of the American people "controversial"?

The Democrats are just too afraid to say anything they fear will lose upcoming elections! The Democrats are too busy trying to kiss eveyone's ass that they let Bush & Company take the US to an illegal, unjust war, just as the Democrats are allowing the Republicans to crush the rights of Americans! The Democrats don't want to make any waves! Where's Hilary been? Hiding? Waiting for the right moment to come? Enough already, you wishey-washey Democrats! Stand up and defend the rights of the citizens of the US, no matter what their lifestyle.

I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

When Things Get A Little To Warm

When the summer seems to get too hot, just remember...winter's not far away!

Support For The Chicks

Yesterday the local country station, WPUR 107.3 Cat Country, ran a contest to win tickets to see the Dixie Chicks in Philadelphia. Well, the contest was called "Win or Flush," and the caller who was the lucky one could choose to win the tickets or flush them in protest to the Dixie Chicks. As of about 6PM, there were only 2 winners that chose to flush the tickets. (I am not sure how many callers in total there were).

As you probably are aware, the Dixie Chicks caused quite a controversy when, prior to the Iraq war, Natalie Maines, the lead singer of the group, stated while in concert in London that, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." (I have to say that I am ashamed George W. Bush was ever elected President of the US). Well that was enough to send most country music fans up the wall and call for a boycott, flogging, and some even death, to the Chicks. The majority of country music fans appreciate the Toby Keith mentality that, "You'll be sorry you messed with the U.S. of A./'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass/It's the American way." (Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)).

I was one of those few country music fans that had to say, "Way to go Natalie! Speak the truth!" I sometimes wonder why I listen to country music stations, me, a gay, liberal, Democrat! I always come up with the same answer: I LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC, and where else am I going to hear country music? So, I make sure I let the stations I listen to know how I feel about the Dixie Chicks and other issues most country music fans like to put down, one being gay rights.

Well, the "Win or Flush" contest on Cat Country 107.3 motivated me to go buy a copy of the Dixie Chicks' new CD, Taking the Long Way. I gotta say the CD is pretty damn good. And the Chicks make no apologies whatsoever. Maines sings that she "Wouldn't kiss all the asses they told me to" in the song, THE LONG WAY AROUND. In NOT READY TO MAKE NICE, Maines sings, "Forgive, sounds good/Forget, I'm not sure I could/There's nothing left for me to figure out/I've paid a price/And I'll keep paying/I'm not ready to make nice." The songs are filled with bitterness toward the response to Maines' words 3 years ago, but she is confident, "I made my bed and I sleep like a baby." As a country music fan and an American, I give my support to the Dixie Chicks!