Park It

Image:  Facebook

National parks offer some fee-free days, and the Trump administration has tweaked the schedule for next year. No longer can you get in free on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.

Gee, what could those two holidays have in common?

But rejoice, for one of the new additions to the fee-free calendar is June 14, Flag Day, which also happens to be Donald Trump's birthday. What a coincidence.

I suggest you and your friends visit your nearest national park on that day, wave the flag, and play rousing birthday games like pin the tail on the narcissist and Simon Says Impeach.

Bribery on the Cheap

 

Breaking Barriers Across the Pond

Image by Shafin Al Asad Protic from Pixabay

I now present you with a pair of news items from abroad. Partly because the news items from here tend to suck.

On Nov. 21, a 20-year-old musical theater student became the first out lesbian winner of the Miss England beauty pageant. Grace Richardson considered keeping mum about her sexuality during the competition, but when the interview panel asked her about overcoming challenges, "the first thing that crossed my mind was my coming out story."

We might be at that point in social evolution where the other contestants thought, "Damn! Why didn't I say that?"

Also in late November, rising Swiss tennis player Mika Brunold came out as gay on Instagram. The 21-year-old wrote that being gay means "dealing with things most people never have to think about. The fear of not being accepted, the pressure to stay quiet, the feeling of being different. But I’ve grown. And I’m proud of who I am today."

Brunold is only the second active male pro tennis player to come out, following Brazil's Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva, who did the deed last year.

An openly lesbian beauty queen and an openly gay male tennis pro. What next? An openly transgender mafioso?

This Week's Quote

Image:  Facebook

Even as his Cabinet was assembled to engage in one of his favorite activities – singing the praises of Trump – he repeatedly appeared to doze off.

Aaron Blake

Source:  CNN

Maybe That's Now an After-School Activity

 

Dec. 1, 2025

Image:  Facebook

Today is World AIDS Day, when we remember those we lost and, as Joe Biden put it last year, "we renew our commitment to accelerating efforts to finally end the HIV/AIDS epidemic."

And here in 2025? The U.S. State Department sent an email to employees reading, "The U.S. Government will not be commemorating World AIDS Day this year."

May Donald Trump wake up with dreadlocks.

And He's Off

Image:  Facebook

The murder by an Afghan of a member of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., has freed Donald Trump to launch into xenophobic overdrive.

In other words, he got an early Christmas present.

"I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States," Trump posted late on Thanksgiving, a holiday that celebrates immigration.

Our leading nativist also said the government would deport any foreign national who's "non-compatible with Western Civilization." Trump himself isn't compatible with any form of civilization. Letting him define Western civilization is like handing the job to a combination of Al Capone and Liberace.

His jingoistic hysterics are meant to feed his base, in the hope that while they froth and seethe they won't notice how prices continue to rise. Trump's approval ratings have cratered to a record low. His frenzied bigotry will likely boost his numbers.

For a while. Until Christmas shoppers realize that their budget can no longer stretch to a Marvel Spider-Man VenomVersus Spider-Man Liquid Shifter Action Figure with Accessories.

For Silly Gooseys on Turkey Day

 

This Week's Quote

Image:  Facebook

After the Brazilian woman married to Karoline Leavitt's brother. who's the mother of his son, was detained by ICE, Leavitt commented, "Deporting a relative is one of my family's cherished holiday traditions."

Paul Rudnick

Source:  X

He's a Hero—Again

 

She's Killing Me

Image:  Facebook

In a lengthy video message Marjorie Taylor Greene released on Friday, the formerly fervent Trump loyalist announced she's resigning from Congress.

The Georgia Republican underscored her devotion to Trump, and said it was "unfair and wrong" that he attacked her for disagreeing on a few matters.

"Loyalty should be a two-way street," she said . . . ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Ask Yourself

 

Nov. 20

Image by NoName_13 from Pixabay

It's Transgender Day of Remembrance, when we memorialize those lost to transphobic violence over the past year.

The trans flag was raised today at the New York State Capitol in Albany. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced landmarks across New York, ranging from 1 World Trade Center to Niagara Falls, will be lit up in pink, white, and light blue this evening.

Efforts like these stand in stark contrast to the federal government, which operates on the assumption that transgender people are a figment of our imagination.

At least 27 people died in the last year. You wouldn't believe how much blood figments can shed.

This Week's Quote

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise.

Gore Vidal

Source:  The Guardian

Making a Meal of It

Image:  Facebook

Each year the Vatican holds a lunch for the poor, and in 2023 Pope Francis invited transgender women to the event. In 2023 and 2024, two of the women were chosen to sit at the pope's table.

What, queer Catholics and their supporters wondered, would the new pontiff do in 2025? On LGBTQ matters, Pope Leo XIV has so far played it close to the vest. Or vestment.

At the lunch yesterday, some 1,300 people dined on lasagna and chicken cutlets. The guests were migrants, disabled folks, homeless people—and 48 transgender women. They made the cut. However, none ate with the pope.

Vatican observers dissected the lunch as though they were Hedda Hopper at the Brown Derby.

"That he’d mingle, that he [sat] close to [us], that’s a good sign, right?" said a trans woman who attended. A liberal priest who ministers to transgender women said they weren't able to meet the pontiff, but they were seated "very, very close to the pope."

Success as measured in terms of feet and inches. This is Europe, so make that meters and centimeters.

Another trans woman admitted to some disappointment that none were included at the pope's table. "But we still received a sense that the church is not going to close the door that it opened," she said.

Who can say? If, in 2026, the transgender women are again invited but need binoculars to see the pope, we'll know the door is closing. Likewise if they're served one olive and an arugula leaf.

A Political Divorce

Image:  Facebook

CNN reports that Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene have split up.

But who will get their adorable children? Or will Bigotry, Mayhem, and little Lunacy be orphans?

The Meme That Keeps on Giving

 

This Week's Quote

Image:  Wikipedia

After high school, I really learned to love myself. I finally stopped getting bullied by straight people. Then, I pretty much immediately started getting tormented by gay people for my taste in music.

Bowen Yang

Source:  Brainy Quote

Veterans Day

 

A Relief

Image:  Facebook

Today the Supreme Court declined to revisit its ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 case that legalized same-sex marriage.

The justices rejected the appeal of Kim Davis, the memorably oft-married former Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples a decade ago.

The justices did so without comment. At least officially. I have to think Clarence Thomas, who's called for ditching the 2015 decision, made comments to his fellow justices that might require their conference room to be repainted.

Eye Candy

 

Another First

Image:  Facebook

This week People magazine revealed its annual "Sexiest Man Alive," and for the first time the distinction went to an openly gay man.

English actor Jonathan Bailey is 2025's beefcake. The photos of the 37-year-old "Wicked" star posing shirtless on an English beach will have gay men panting and straight women crying. Or vice versa.

I'm a lesbian. I enjoyed the pictures with his dog.

This Week's Quote

Image by kalhh from Pixabay

Raging narcissist claims that an election that rejected everything he stands for wasn't about him. Good try, Donald. Loser.

Mary L. Trump

Source:  X

Lesbian Vibes

Image:  Freepik

I belong to a Facebook group for lesbians in the Pacific Northwest, and today a member posed an uncommon question.

Though "a little embarrassed to ask," she wanted to know "how are you supposed to dispose of old vibrators? I know we aren’t supposed to throw them away in the trash but that’s what I usually end up doing."

She chose to be anonymous. Big surprise.

Some responses were humorous, like throw them in the neighbor's trash, or white elephant them, or use them as dog toys.

Practical respondents suggested recycling the batteries, which frankly would've been the extent of my contribution.

I never underestimate lesbians on the topic of vibrators or the topic of recycling. But when those two disparate subjects are combined? For some sisters of Sappho, it's such an orgasmic moment they don't even need a vibrator.

One woman posted an article on recycling sex toys. A self-described "Sapphic toy reviewer" let us know, "Most companies have a recycling option where you can remove the motor and drop it off. The vibrator itself, without the motor, cannot be recycled and has to go in the waste."

In a completely cliched display of lesbianism, another woman replied, "They're e-waste. They should be taken to the proper e-waste facility, even if it's just an e-waste recycling bin like at some malls. It's worse to throw them away if their batteries and capacitors are still intact, but either way e-waste is pretty harmful for the environment."

Informed, technical, ardent, preachy. I read that and felt an unusual desire to wear Birkenstocks, read Adrienne Rich, and become an organic radish farmer.

Three Left Feet

 

The GG Question

Image by Fredrik Solli Wandem from Pixabay

Given the obvious similarities between Donald Trump and a pumpkin, I'm disappointed that I haven't heard Trump opponents express creative, symbolic ways of disposing of their pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns.

Now Halloween is over, and I'm looking at my little pumpkin and thinking there must be something more cathartic I can do with it than just toss it in the compost bin.

Any ideas?

Virginia Stew

Image by Kjrstie from Pixabay

Virginia has never elected a woman governor. That changes on Tuesday.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger is facing off against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears for the Old Dominion State's top job. Spanberger is white, Earle-Sears is Black. Spanberger is a former CIA officer, Earle-Sears a former Marine, so both are made of steel and apple pie.

And in the case of Earle-Sears, bile. As the Marines famously planted the flag on Iwo Jima, she's infamously planting hers in a toilet.

She stands outside school board meetings to fuss over which bathrooms transgender students use. Her campaign ads, like Donald Trump's last year, characterize her opponent as "being for they/them." Earle-Sears and the Virginia Republicans have pounded on this "issue," obviously mistaking trans kids for the Viet Cong.

Spanberger leads in the polls, but we know how potent the culture wars can be. On the other hand, how many transphobic Trump fans will be willing to vote for a Black woman? This Virginia race is quite a study in the impacts of transphobia, racism, and sexism.

It's hard to keep track of who should be hating whom. I bet even the bigots are getting confused.

Make Up Your Mind!

 

This Week's Quote

Image:  Sen. Graham's website

Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott got very nervous after Pete Hegseth banned "troops with beards", until someone explained that Hegseth was referring to facial hair.

Paul Rudnick

Source:  X

The Fall Guys and Gals

Image:  Facebook

Thanks to the government shutdown, the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP will be SOL come Nov. 1. That, folks, is this Saturday.

The USDA, which oversees the food program, posted on its website yesterday that "the well has run dry." But in a service to every American, the USDA also informed us who's to blame: transgender people and immigrants.

Of course. Who else could it possibly be?

"We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats," opines the USDA site. "They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance."

I'm old enough to remember a time—a year ago—when the government worked for all Americans. Now it's a nauseating study in partisanship.

According to Trump's USDA, Democrats are literally taking food from the mouths of babes in order to provide healthcare for transgender lunatics and villainous foreigners.

It's the cost of health-care premiums that concern the Democrats, but why let an opportunity to scapegoat trans folk and the undocumented go to waste? It's as if the American government is channeling Claude Rains:  "Round up the usual suspects."

Genius

 

It's a Full Day

Image by Kenya Aguirre from Pixabay

It took some doing, but I laid my hands on one of Donald Trump's recent daily schedules:

9:00 am     Pardon a criminal. Collect his soul.

9:30 am     Take a turn at the East Wing wrecking ball.

10:00 am   Place calls to leaders of shithole countries demanding they nominate me for next year's Nobel Peace Prize.

11:00 am    Crank call Nobel committee.

11:30 am    Revive plan to get my face added to Mt. Rushmore.

12:00 pm    Lunch. Send underlings to KFC and McDonald's. They pay.

1:00 pm      Nap

3:00 pm      Order Hegseth to bomb possible drug boats on Walden Pond.

3:30 pm      Order JD to push peanut around Resolute desk with his nose.

4:00 pm      Remind Bondi to fork over $230 million, or I'll sue.

4:30 pm      Swap hair secrets with president of Argentina.

5:00 pm      Blame everything on Crooked Hillary, Sleepy Joe, and Barack Hussein Obama. Consider adding Michelle—"Obama Lama Ding Dong?" 

5:15 pm      Order Bondi to prosecute that girl at Penn who wouldn't sleep with me. Float death penalty.

This Week's Quote

Image:  Facebook

No American president has ever had so many people protest against him, because no American president has ever been so deserving.

Dan Rather

Source:  Facebook

Them's the Rules

 

A Memorable Meetup

Image by Kat Love from Pixabay

I had one of those community experiences on Sunday that left me kafoozled.

That's a synonym I just created for dazed, confused, and aggravated.

I attended a Seattle Meetup for lesbians over 55, and since I've gone several times, I thought I knew what to expect. But this one turned out differently.

I found myself sitting next to a new participant, a 70-year-old transgender woman. I'm well aware some lesbians argue that trans women aren't women, so they can't be lesbians, but I don't hold that view.

A few others and I chatted with R for a bit. When she asked why people were protesting at the "No Kings" rallies the day before, and noted that she thought Trump's tariffs were a good idea, I sensed the woman across from me shift and face the other way, not to mention build a brick wall and rig up an alarm system.

I don't know if transphobia was involved, but she clearly was in no mood to listen to a potentially conservative queer wax ignorant, so I knew I was on my own.

I have an old habit, good or bad depending on your point of view, of being obliging to the socially awkward. So I listened for an hour as R told me that she's lived all over the country, worked at 27 jobs in the defense industry, and been in an unconsummated marriage for over 30 years.

It didn't take an expert to see that R was on the autism scale. That can make a person lonely, so my ears soldiered on. I asked about the Israeli patches on her jacket, and I learned that in her time she's been everything from Episcopalian to Russian Orthodox to, now, Jewish.

It was all adding up to someone who's tried and failed a million times to belong. With some trepidation, I asked about her being transgender. R said she made the gender switch to increase her chances of employment in an industry that's overloaded with men.

I was aghast, but still polite. I reframed the question, hoping R would speak of a long yearning to be a woman. Nope. It was a career move. Like bringing Dunkin' Donuts to a meeting.

Fearful she could be Exhibit A for our transphobic overlords, I wondered if I should poison her coffee.

What do you do when you run into a person in the LGBTQ community who's a conservative Christian's nocturnal emission? A person who actually embodies some of the wildest things they say about us?

I didn't poison her coffee. But boy howdy, I wished I was drinking something other than hot chocolate.

King Bone Spurs Reacts to Protests

 

I'll Be Patient

Image:  Cooper Alexander

As the photo shows, I participated in yesterday's "No Kings" protests. Since I was one of some 7 million people who rallied across the country, I assume it's going to be a while before I receive my check from George Soros.

The "Kids" Got Caught

Image:  Facebook

You've probably heard by now about the exposed Young Republican group chat that revealed them all to be the love children of Adolph Hitler and Witchiepoo.

If you haven't heard, know that Politico obtained over seven months of Telegram messages among Young Republican leaders in New York, Kansas, Arizona, and Vermont. And while we're all aware that Donald Trump has degraded political discourse, the comments from these wannabe future leaders of the GOP lower the bar to below ground.

They called Black people monkeys and "the watermelon people." They disparaged Jews, and referred to rape as "epic." They tossed around epithets like "faggot," "retarded," and n-word variations.

One charmer, alluding to an upcoming vote on whether he should become chair of the Young Republican National Federation, declared, "Everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber."

Ah, the innocence of youth.

Amidst the fallout from the bombshell Politico report, JD Vance pooh-poohed the outrage. The racist and anti-Semitic and homophobic comments, the joshing about gas chambers and slavery and rape—it was all just "stupid" jokes made by "kids."

Actually, of the 11 chat participants, eight ranged in age from 24 to 35. Barely out of diapers.

These GOP activists were not just hateful, crude, and entitled, but also stupid to have created such a record. If this is the cream of the Republican crop, I don't even want to think about the dregs.

Seasonal Plea

 

This Week's Quote

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

JD Vance's voter approval rating has dropped below that of explosive diarrhea and bread with maggots. He's tied with kissing Stephen Miller.

Paul Rudnick

Source:  X

Commendation

Image:  Facebook

Credit where it's due. Donald Trump secured a Gaza ceasefire and a release of hostages.

Yes, the circumstances on the ground were more favorable for him than for Joe Biden. Yes, Trump's accomplishments came in no small part due to his bullying. Yes, he's motivated above all by his lust for a Nobel Peace Prize and not by any affection for human life.

But there's something resembling peace now, which all parties desperately need. So I'll give him credit. Which reminded me that I also agreed with his push—though, again, achieved through bullying—to get European nations to pay more toward their defense.

There, Trump's done two things I can get behind. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to lie down and recover from having written that sentence.

Died and Gone to Heaven

 

Oct. 11, 2025

Image:  Wikipedia

On this National Coming Out Day, I'm thinking about an administration that denies transgender people actually exist, and dismisses gay history as DEI garbage.

For closeted Americans, 2025 isn't an alluring year to come out. Which is why those of us who can tell the truth about ourselves must, so the pendulum swings back again in this country.

And going back into the closet is out of the question. I've gained weight. I'd never fit through that keyhole.

Update

 

Who Knew?

Image:  Facebook

According to USA Today, last week a Sun Country Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Newark had one of those passengers on board that everybody just loves.

The man shouted he was being chased by gay people. and "gay people were giving him cancer, cooking and radiating him."

The fella eventually said "the plane is going down," which prompted the flight to be diverted to Chicago.

His fellow passengers must've been furious. And I'm none too happy that only now am I discovering that I've had the power all along to give people cancer.