Showing posts with label hivster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hivster. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Ian Awesome On Hivster
For my play-by-play on the reactions from the left and right on New York Marriage equality, click on over to Hivster to read my latest.
[Hivster]
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day
I'm going to spend the rest of Memorial Day with family and friends, remembering the sacrifice of our fallen soldiers. Feel free to click on over to Hivster to read my column on today and my reflections on the meaning of those sacrifices.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Berlin Patient: First Man "Cured" Of HIV Speaks
I first wrote about the Berlin Patient in December on Hivster. Timothy Ray Brown was suffering from leukemia and living with HIV when he received a bone marrow transplant from a donor who was immune to HIV.
He hasn't taken his HIV meds since the day of his transplant and doctors haven't been able to find any trace of HIV in his body for years now.
Watch:
He hasn't taken his HIV meds since the day of his transplant and doctors haven't been able to find any trace of HIV in his body for years now.
Watch:
Takei's Take On Trump
In a Tweet yesterday, George Takei reacted to the news that Donald Trump has dropped out of the melee for the GOP nomination:
His is one of my favorite Twitter feeds. He’s pretty freaking hilarious.
This post first appeared on Hivster.
This post first appeared on Hivster.
Monday, May 16, 2011
God Hates Sluts
On June 19, 2011, the Seattle Slutwalk kicks off at noon, starting off at Bobby Morris Playfield and marching down Pine to culminate in a rally at Westlake Center. This creative event, organized in order to illustrate that no woman should fear rape no matter how skanky her ho stroll is, has been lauded nationwide by feminists and anti-rape activists (does it horrify anyone else that we need anti-rape activists?). The SlutWalk website says that they were inspired by a similar event in Toronto.
I was super excited to attend– I have some leather booty shorts just dying to be worn with absolutely nothing else– but unfortunately will be out of town for a business trip. Never fear, though guys, because it won’t just be you fine-ass sluts attending!
Westboro Baptist Church is showing up.
Slog reports that the Phelps clan, made famous for their pickets of dead soldiers and public prayers asking God to slay gay people, are taking their “God Hates Fags” sideshow to Seattle to protest the proud hos of Emerald City.
I was super excited to attend– I have some leather booty shorts just dying to be worn with absolutely nothing else– but unfortunately will be out of town for a business trip. Never fear, though guys, because it won’t just be you fine-ass sluts attending!
Westboro Baptist Church is showing up.
Slog reports that the Phelps clan, made famous for their pickets of dead soldiers and public prayers asking God to slay gay people, are taking their “God Hates Fags” sideshow to Seattle to protest the proud hos of Emerald City.
Let's hope Shirley keeps her slut gear at home.
The organizers, 18 year old Robin Sacks, Western Washington student Samuel Schimmel and Microsoft employee Jessi Murray are largely unconcerned, citing larger numbers. After all, there are far more sluts in Seattle than bigots.
This post first appeared on Hivster.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Game On
This month has been one of my more momentous. Last week was, of course, my birthday, and the usual shenanigans ensued. I got a sunburn at the local nude beach (cuz who doesn't like a breeze around their nether regions) and had drinks at the local 80s night with my friends, which was really a ton of fun. This week, I got to fly out to DC and appear in court as part of the case ensuing from my arrest last November at the White House.
This court date has been the culmination of hours of conference calls, months of waiting, and reams of e-mails sent between the defendants and the legal team representing us to the judiciary. Finally having had our day in court, we all breathed a sigh of relief and knew we could move on with our lives, our careers, and the many projects all of us work on.
Who was involved?
The defendants were as follows:
1. Dan Choi, our "celebrity" and discharged Army Lieutenant. He very publicly came out on Rachel Maddow several years back and has stayed in the limelight ever since.
2. Mara Boyd, a discharged ROTC cadet.
3. Autumn Sandeen, a Navy veteran and trans activist. She also contributes to Pam's House Blend.
4. Scott Wooledge, contributor to the DailyKos and all-around nice guy.
5. Robin McGehee, GetEQUAL amazemom activist. You know you've heard of her, she's everywhere
social justice requires.
6. Dan Fotou, GetEQUAL organizer and master of the art of snark.
7. Miriam Ben Shalom, ex-drill sergeant and powerful Wisconsin-based activist. I call her my Jewish mommy.
8. Michael Bedwell, former associate of Leonard Matlovich and outspoken critic of the Administration's failings with regard to LGBT rights.
9. Rob Smith, NY-based former Army Specialist and full-time cutie pie. Yeah. I said it.
10. Evelyn Thomas, former Marine corporal and powerful public speaker.
11. Father Geoff Farrow, former Chaplain and defrocked priest. He made the news a few years ago during the Prop 8 campaign of hate by stating his support for gay marriage from the pulpit.
12. Justin Elzie, former Marine sergeant and popular author.
13. Yours truly.
We were represented by two lawyers and had an unusual case at the behest of the government: instead of being tried separately, our cases were "wired," meaning we were to be tried as a group instead of individually. This resulted in complicated negotiations with the government for months prior to hour hearing. Several of our number did not want a conviction on their records, so we negotiated a plea deal which would dismiss our case entirely in September as long as we were not arrested for the next four months.
Dan Choi, ever pushing the envelope, filed a motion to sever, meaning that he would no longer be wired to our cases. He is opting to go to trial. We wished him luck but all entered a plea of "guilty," promising to keep our noses clean for the next four months.
Whether we will or not remains to be seen. One of our number is committed enough to say that she intends to participate in arrestable action anyway, and I don't blame her. I myself am not sure if, given the opportunity to make a statement about the causes I believe in, I would turn down an arrestable action. Would I face jail time? Possibly. In doing so, I would be in good company. Do you think Nelson Mandela would have balked in fighting for social justice? Clearly not, and I haven't yet decided if I will either. That remains to be seen.
However, one thing is sure: getting arrested with these people was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I consider them all family. As we parted, several of us promised that once that four months was over, it was "GAME ON." I meant it.
See you guys in September. I'll bring the handcuffs this time.
Ian Awesome is writing this from Washington, DC and has crossposted this article to his column on Hivster.
This court date has been the culmination of hours of conference calls, months of waiting, and reams of e-mails sent between the defendants and the legal team representing us to the judiciary. Finally having had our day in court, we all breathed a sigh of relief and knew we could move on with our lives, our careers, and the many projects all of us work on.
Who was involved?
The defendants were as follows:
1. Dan Choi, our "celebrity" and discharged Army Lieutenant. He very publicly came out on Rachel Maddow several years back and has stayed in the limelight ever since.
2. Mara Boyd, a discharged ROTC cadet.
3. Autumn Sandeen, a Navy veteran and trans activist. She also contributes to Pam's House Blend.
4. Scott Wooledge, contributor to the DailyKos and all-around nice guy.
5. Robin McGehee, GetEQUAL amazemom activist. You know you've heard of her, she's everywhere
social justice requires.
6. Dan Fotou, GetEQUAL organizer and master of the art of snark.
7. Miriam Ben Shalom, ex-drill sergeant and powerful Wisconsin-based activist. I call her my Jewish mommy.
8. Michael Bedwell, former associate of Leonard Matlovich and outspoken critic of the Administration's failings with regard to LGBT rights.
9. Rob Smith, NY-based former Army Specialist and full-time cutie pie. Yeah. I said it.
10. Evelyn Thomas, former Marine corporal and powerful public speaker.
11. Father Geoff Farrow, former Chaplain and defrocked priest. He made the news a few years ago during the Prop 8 campaign of hate by stating his support for gay marriage from the pulpit.
12. Justin Elzie, former Marine sergeant and popular author.
13. Yours truly.
We were represented by two lawyers and had an unusual case at the behest of the government: instead of being tried separately, our cases were "wired," meaning we were to be tried as a group instead of individually. This resulted in complicated negotiations with the government for months prior to hour hearing. Several of our number did not want a conviction on their records, so we negotiated a plea deal which would dismiss our case entirely in September as long as we were not arrested for the next four months.
Dan Choi, ever pushing the envelope, filed a motion to sever, meaning that he would no longer be wired to our cases. He is opting to go to trial. We wished him luck but all entered a plea of "guilty," promising to keep our noses clean for the next four months.
Whether we will or not remains to be seen. One of our number is committed enough to say that she intends to participate in arrestable action anyway, and I don't blame her. I myself am not sure if, given the opportunity to make a statement about the causes I believe in, I would turn down an arrestable action. Would I face jail time? Possibly. In doing so, I would be in good company. Do you think Nelson Mandela would have balked in fighting for social justice? Clearly not, and I haven't yet decided if I will either. That remains to be seen.
However, one thing is sure: getting arrested with these people was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I consider them all family. As we parted, several of us promised that once that four months was over, it was "GAME ON." I meant it.
See you guys in September. I'll bring the handcuffs this time.
Ian Awesome is writing this from Washington, DC and has crossposted this article to his column on Hivster.
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Death of bin Laden and a New Era
I have never before been so confused over the death of one man.
Last night, as we all know by now, President Obama announced the death of the foremost mastermind of global terrorism that modern history has known. Celebrations and jubilation erupted across the nation as Americans were overcome with relief that our most hated enemy could no longer threaten our peace and security.
I was sitting at home showing my 16-year-old friend Emma To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar when I got an email. "Turn on the TV. Osama bin Laden is dead."
Naturally, we didn't finish our movie.
As we watched the news coverage and President Obama's address, our house was filled with mixed emotions. I am a war vet, and had Osama bin Laden not orchestrated his cowardly act of mass murder on the American people, I probably would not have gone to war. My best friend Erin, whom I live with, had to sit at home for eight months worrying and wondering if I would die overseas in a confusing and unclear conflict. Emma was overwhelmed-- the War on Terror has existed since she was very young, and for much of her life bin Laden has existed as a bogeyman and a symbol of violence and fear.
I asked her how she felt and she had one word. "Relieved."
How did I feel? Too many things to know or understand. I've had friends who have died in the conflict that ensued, and I felt a grim sort of vindication. Maybe their deaths weren't in vain? Maybe my service was not wasted?
Was it right to be so happy?
Post military service, I've become something of a pacifist. I don't believe that it is moral nor right to celebrate the death of any human being, and I was confused by my overwhelming feeling of happiness. It's a theme repeated across America, with politicians and pundits asking... "Is this cause for celebration?"
Making sense of an event like this is hard. Osama bin Laden, while human, was an exceptionally bad human. He changed the course of events in the world on a massive scale and definitely not for the better. He made the world a scarier place and now, having been buried at sea, cannot hurt anyone else ever again. The man is shark food, and while we should not cultivate a culture of revenge and vendetta, we have every right to be relieved and happy that the world became a slightly safer place.
America was drunk last night in its triumph, and while we for now we are congratulating ourselves, we must brace for the inevitable hang over that must follow. Will there be retaliation from the masses that adulated bin Laden and the organization that was driven by his evil scheme fueled by hatred? How will this change the political landscape in our own country and in the Middle East? We've lost our bogeyman and our most hated enemy, and the direction which has seemed so certain for the past decade must change. Our focus will shift, and no-one is certain to where.
Today is a bit too early for that, however. For now I'm content to be relieved and to feel closure in the deaths of my friends. I'm happy to have been given meaning in my service to my country and my actions in the Middle East. What a strange time our modern era is! That the death of one man can give meaning to so many confused and unhappy times. It is what it is, and, I, for one, am grateful to the men and women who have given their lives and their service to see that we can feel just a little better when we sleep at night.
Relief. What a feeling it is.
This post was cross posted to Hivster.
Last night, as we all know by now, President Obama announced the death of the foremost mastermind of global terrorism that modern history has known. Celebrations and jubilation erupted across the nation as Americans were overcome with relief that our most hated enemy could no longer threaten our peace and security.
I was sitting at home showing my 16-year-old friend Emma To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar when I got an email. "Turn on the TV. Osama bin Laden is dead."
Naturally, we didn't finish our movie.
As we watched the news coverage and President Obama's address, our house was filled with mixed emotions. I am a war vet, and had Osama bin Laden not orchestrated his cowardly act of mass murder on the American people, I probably would not have gone to war. My best friend Erin, whom I live with, had to sit at home for eight months worrying and wondering if I would die overseas in a confusing and unclear conflict. Emma was overwhelmed-- the War on Terror has existed since she was very young, and for much of her life bin Laden has existed as a bogeyman and a symbol of violence and fear.
I asked her how she felt and she had one word. "Relieved."
How did I feel? Too many things to know or understand. I've had friends who have died in the conflict that ensued, and I felt a grim sort of vindication. Maybe their deaths weren't in vain? Maybe my service was not wasted?
Was it right to be so happy?
Post military service, I've become something of a pacifist. I don't believe that it is moral nor right to celebrate the death of any human being, and I was confused by my overwhelming feeling of happiness. It's a theme repeated across America, with politicians and pundits asking... "Is this cause for celebration?"
Making sense of an event like this is hard. Osama bin Laden, while human, was an exceptionally bad human. He changed the course of events in the world on a massive scale and definitely not for the better. He made the world a scarier place and now, having been buried at sea, cannot hurt anyone else ever again. The man is shark food, and while we should not cultivate a culture of revenge and vendetta, we have every right to be relieved and happy that the world became a slightly safer place.
America was drunk last night in its triumph, and while we for now we are congratulating ourselves, we must brace for the inevitable hang over that must follow. Will there be retaliation from the masses that adulated bin Laden and the organization that was driven by his evil scheme fueled by hatred? How will this change the political landscape in our own country and in the Middle East? We've lost our bogeyman and our most hated enemy, and the direction which has seemed so certain for the past decade must change. Our focus will shift, and no-one is certain to where.
Today is a bit too early for that, however. For now I'm content to be relieved and to feel closure in the deaths of my friends. I'm happy to have been given meaning in my service to my country and my actions in the Middle East. What a strange time our modern era is! That the death of one man can give meaning to so many confused and unhappy times. It is what it is, and, I, for one, am grateful to the men and women who have given their lives and their service to see that we can feel just a little better when we sleep at night.
Relief. What a feeling it is.
This post was cross posted to Hivster.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, December 20, 2010
This Time, it's Personal
hivster is staffed with such suckers, they publish my crap even when it's about nothing interesting (IE: myself).
Check it out:
[hivster]
Check it out:
[hivster]
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