TX High School cheerleader kicked off squad for kissing a boy
From KRISTV.com: A high school male cheerleader in Alice, TX, said he was kicked off the squad and suspended after he was caught kissing another male student on campus.
The young man spent countless hours practicing every day for years to make the varsity cheer squad, and he had it all taken away from him in an instant.
Perhaps most surprising, is the way the student was caught. Not in person by a teacher, but by surveillance camera, leading the young man to believe he was being watched and targeted by school officials simply because of his sexual orientation.
“They never check cameras for anything unless something is stolen,” the young man said, asking not be indentified. “We would be the ones getting caught because I’m sure we were the only ones, sexual orientation wise, being caught like that.”
The boy said public displays of affection are a relatively common occurrence at Alice HS, and he believes that the principal would not have targeted him had he been caught kissing a female student.
“In this school [kissing] is everywhere, if that were the case, suspending everyone for that, half the school would be suspended,” he said.
The district superintendent said he couldn’t comment about the matter because of privacy issues.
The family said that they were told during a meeting Thursday with school administrator’s, that the principal’s decision will be under review, and if there are any changes to that decision, they will be notified sometime at the beginning of next week.
They say if their son isn’t put back on the cheerleading squad, they will pursue further action.
New “Charlie’s Angels” cancelled
ABC’s new incarnation of the 70’s hit TV show “Charlie’s Angels” has been cancelled.
ABC has announced that the network will air all of the episodes shot, but will not order any more.
I personally couldn’t get through the first 30 minutes of the first episode.
Go watch the original. I loved the original. You can download the episodes on iTunes.
Henry Rollins new book of photographic essays: “Occupants”
Terrific interview with Henry Rollins on Advocate.com by Winston Gieseke. Rollins is famous for being the sexy frontman for the punk group Black Flag. He’s also an extremely articulate spoken word artist, writer, photographer and LGBT ally.
Hoping to inspire positive action, the rocker-writer-actor-activist-spoken word poet has unleashed the visual fruits of these efforts in his first photo book, Occupants. Accompanying the images are essays in the former Black Flag front man’s unmistakably forthright and often angry voice.
Here is an excerpt from the interview. I encourage you to read the entire interview on Advocate.com.
One of the most pervasive themes I took from the book was resilience, which in a very different context is something the gay community is familiar with.
Yeah, you’d have to be.
But does having seen so much destruction in the world make something like the fight for marriage equality seem insignificant in scale?
No, it makes it part of a rich tapestry of what keeps me optimistic about humans. As deplorable as some of these locations have been, the upshot of all of it is, it makes me like people more. I see how heartbreakingly friendly these people can be and how they will always skew towards dignity, generosity, and compassion — even when their surroundings are abysmal. And that, to me, is marriage equality and civil rights for gay people in America.
You’ve been very vocal in your support.
I personally think all marriages are crazy, in that I would never be able to give half my record collection away just because of some stupid contract I signed, but I think Bill and Leon should be able to take that mad plunge if they see fit to do so. If you’re lucky enough to find someone that you wanted to make that wild promise with, who the hell is anyone to stop you? This is what the Founding Fathers — who Michele Bachmann says she loves so much but seems to know so little about — were strangling each other over in hot rooms in Philadelphia all those summers ago. This is what so many people took a musket ball in the face for. And this country should be the leader on all of that.
Happy Nat’l Coming Out Day from airman Randy Phillips
This guy really inspires me. He’s created an amazing opportunity to help people come out with pride, and doing a great job.
Go Randy!
Senate committee to hold DOMA repeal vote in November
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| Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont |
From MetroWeekly: Today, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced that his committee, which held a hearing on the Respect for Marriage Act earlier this year, will hold a mark-up session and vote on the bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act next month.
In a statement announcing the news, Leahy said, “The march for equality continues, and now is the time to ensure equality for gay and lesbian Americans who are lawfully married.”
Of his plans on the bill, he said, “Next month, I will call up the Respect for Marriage Act for debate and a vote in the Judiciary Committee. The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents thousands of American families from being protected by laws that help secure other American families. This is part of the nation’s continuing fight for civil rights for all Americans.”
Henry Cavill – the new Superman
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Shirtless images of Henry Cavill have arrived for his role as Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.
Cavill’s beard and the clothes he’s clutching certainly seem to match other recent photos. Judging from his tattered pants, it’s likely that Superman survived something that his clothes did not. Check out all the pictures for yourself!
Read more: Superman Goes Shirtless – ComingSoon.net
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N2N Bodywear eye-candy
It never ends
Sigh.
I’ll start with that.
42 years ago today my birth mother passed away. Of cancer. I never forget the date. Ever.
I refer to my birth mother because I was always aware of the fabulous women she sent to watch over me after she was gone. Truly I was blessed to have the women around me who make me who I am today.
I just heard from a friend that his friend is going into surgery within hours for her cancer.
As the child of a cancer victim, and as a cancer ‘thriver’ myself (two years past my own journey), sometimes it takes a long, heavy sigh to accomodate these moments.
On Facebook there’s a campaign called “I wish Cancer would get Cancer and die”. I couldn’t agree more.
The cancer journey is truly like a bad movie. It’s unreal, surreal, long and incredibly scary. It’s not a funny Seth Rogen movie that has a funny, happy ending. It’s tough. I won’t sugar coat it.
I was lucky. I know it every day.
But a lot of people have much more difficult roads to travel with this insidious thing. I met them in the hospital, I watched their incredible courage.
My mother was one of those people. I was so young I don’t remember much about my birth mother except she fought hard. And was beautiful.
I like to joke I got one of those qualities from her. And it’s not my sexy looks.
While October is “Breast Cancer Awareness” month, let’s think about all those who are fighting cancer. Period.
Let’s all think some good thoughts their way.
I’ll end this with my favorite picture I have of my parents. My mother is gorgeously stylish, and my dad looks like the stud he was. This was right before her battle began. This is how I think of her.
Let’s all think of those fighting the good fight in those fabulous times before the fight. They are still those same people. They just have a little more on their plates.
I’m on their side. Every day. I’m up for that. It’s the very least I can do.
No fear.
VIP experience to see screening of “A Few Best Men” starring Olivia Newton-John
Be among the first to see Australians in Film ambassador Olivia Newton-John’s new film A Few Best Men (from the director of Priscilla Queen of the Desert).
Australians in Film is holding an industry fundraising screening in Los Angeles Oct 24th, 2011.
15 VIP tickets to the screening will be the only tickets available to the general public. Olivia will host a champagne pre-reception, exclusively for the 15 VIP ticket holders. A reception will also follow the film.
This unique experience includes:
*30 minute champagne reception before the screening with star of the film Olivia Newton-John. This reception is exclusive for the 15 VIP ticket holders.
*Signed exclusive 8×10 photo of Olivia and photo opportunity during VIP reception.
*VIP seating for the screening. Olivia and director Stephan Elliott will introduce the film.
*Reception following the screening.
Click here for more information about this “once in a lifetime” experience.