Tag: 2012

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Huffington Post: Most Compelling LGBT People of 2012

The Huffington Post has compiled a list of 30 “Most Compelling LGBT People of 2012.”

I like the list, so here are a few I whole-heartedly agree with.  Check out the rest of the list here.

Tammy Baldwin: The general election on Nov. 6 was a historic one for LGBT people. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) was a part of that history when she became the first openly gay senator in the nation to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.

“I am honored and humbled and grateful, and I am ready to get to work — ready to stand with Barack Obama, and ready to fight for Wisconsin’s middle class,” Baldwin said at her victory party.

Shane Bitney Crone: In May, Shane Bitney Crone got everyone’s attention with his tragic, alarming and thought-provoking YouTube video, “It Could Happen To You,” which went viral and has garnered over 3 million views to date.

The video highlights the many inequalities LGBT people face in the U.S., using his relationship with and loss of his longtime boyfriend as an example, and urges people to take a stand for marriage equality.

Since the video’s debut, Crone has become a fervent LGBT-rights activist, making another video in a plea for full equality called “No Freedom Until We Are Equal” in November.

Edie Windsor: Edie Windsor and her late wife Thea Spyer spent more than 40 years together and were married in 2007 in Canada. Spyer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and passed away from the disease in 2009.

Because the U.S. doesn’t recognize their marriage, Windsor, now 83, was forced to pay more than $363,000 in federal estate tax on her partner’s estate and this inequality, courtesy of the Defense Of Marriage Act, caused her to sue the federal government in 2010.

In July, Windsor petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her case and now, after historic news in December that Proposition 8 and DOMA would be addressed by the high court, Windsor’s petition will be granted with a decision due in June 2013. 

Orlando Cruz: In October, Puerto Rican featherweight boxer Orlando Cruz made history when he announced that he is a “proud gay man,” which made him one of the first active professional athletes — not just boxer — to do so.

The 31-year-old told USA Today: “I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself. I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career.”

Cruz won his first fight after coming out about two weeks later.

“I was very happy that they [the fans] respect me. That’s what I want — them to see me as a boxer, as an athlete and as a man in every sense of the word,” he said.

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President Bartlett schools Obama on how to handle a debate

From Maureen Dowd’s column in today’s New York Times, Aaron Sorkin imagines the post-debate coaching session between President Obama and “West Wing” President Josiah Bartlett, while in another room fictional news anchor Will McAvoy hold Jim Lehrer in a wresting hold.

Just an excerpt:

BARTLET They told you to make sure you didn’t seem condescending, right? They told you, “First, do no harm,” and in your case that means don’t appear condescending, and you bought it. ’Cause for the American right, condescension is the worst crime you can commit.

OBAMA What’s your suggestion?

BARTLET Appear condescending. Now it comes naturally to me —

OBAMA I know.

BARTLET It’s a gift, but I’m likable and you’re likable enough. Thirty straight months of job growth — blown off. G.M. showing record profits — unmentioned. “Governor, would you still let Detroit go bankrupt as you urged us to do four years ago?” — unasked. (shouting) I’m talkin’ to you, too, Lehrer!

WILL (in the other room) I got him, sir!

BARTLET All right! (back to OBAMA) And that was quite a display of hard-nosed, fiscal conservatism when he slashed one one-hundredth of 1 percent from the federal budget by canceling “Sesame Street” and “Downton Abbey.” I think we’re halfway home. Mr. President, your prep for the next debate need not consist of anything more than learning to pronounce three words: “Governor, you’re lying.” Let’s replay some of Wednesday night’s more jaw-dropping visits to the Land Where Facts Go to Die. “I don’t have a $5 trillion tax cut. I don’t have a tax cut of a scale you’re talking about.”

OBAMA The Tax Policy Center analysis of your proposal for a 20 percent across-the-board tax cut in all federal income tax rates, eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax, the estate tax and other reductions, says it would be a $5 trillion tax cut.

BARTLET In other words …

OBAMA You’re lying, Governor.

Read the entire exchange at the New York Times.

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2012 Las Vegas Pride Festival

GREAT time at Las Vegas Pride Festival yesterday.

Michael and I spent time browsing the booths with our friends Alex and Gordon, watched a LOT of the entertainment on the big stage (including best bro Matt Zarley singing his opening song above).  The big stage was hosted by Las Vegas’ favorite news anchor Chris Saldana from Channel 8 News and then Jaymes Vaughan of the Chippendales (and soon to be on The Amazing Race).

Vegas Pride continues to get better and better each year.  Better entertainment, better management of a huge event, and great fun.  You see soooo many people you miss throughout the year, and it’s a really healthy, friendly environment.

I love the folks dancing in the Matt Zarley video above.  I tried to get a bit of the crowd to show how full the lawn was in front of the big stage.  And this was early in the evening – about 6:30. 

Round of applause to everyone at Southern Nevada Association of Pride Inc.

(btw – sorry for the weird camera work.  YouTube said it would “fix” my shaky camera work, and it’s kinda funky…  But you get the idea).

Me, Gordon, Jaymes, Michael, Chris, Alex at 2012 Las Vegas Pride Festival