Image: Facebook
Now and then, Washington's famous folk rocker Brandi Carlile plays three-night shows in the middle of the state at the outdoor Gorge Amphitheatre.
To say the Sapphic musician has a devoted following is an understatement. When I visited my friend Ruth yesterday, I gave her the news: "We're the only lesbians left in Seattle."
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It occurred in 1518 in Strasbourg, France. Hundreds of people danced uncontrollably for two months.
After hearing that the DOJ has opened an investigation into E. Jean Carroll, making plain that Donald Trump's desire and ability to punish his enemies are both boundless, I felt a sudden urge to do the frug.
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| Image: Wikipedia |
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| Image: Pixabay |
On this Memorial Day, I'm thinking of the Vietnam War, which I'm old enough to remember.
All these years later, I believe most Americans who fought in that war, those who protested against it, and those who fled to Canada rather than serve all displayed a kind of bravery and introspection.
That fella whose father arranged a diagnosis of bone spurs, on the other hand, displayed exactly the kind of qualities he still evinces: self-absorption, a fondness for cheating, and the spiritual depth of a Vietnamese rice paddy during the dry season.
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| Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay |
It's the end of the week and you're on your final brain cell, so here's an easy question to answer. Which of these queer news items from the last several days am I making up?
1. Astute, trailblazing, imperfect former Congressman Barney Frank died at 86.
2. Tennis legend Billie Jean King graduated with the college degree she began in 1961.
3. The Colorado Supreme Court ordered Children's Hospital Colorado to resume gender-affirming medical care for minors.
4. Liberace's ghost testified before Congress on the need for every American to have their own ballroom.
Image by BedexpStock from Pixabay
Last night I was driving home around 10 and brooding over the fact that I'd just watched my Seattle Storm, in a game at Climate Pledge Arena, pull defeat from the jaws of victory.
Suddenly I saw multiple flashing lights ahead on the other side of the road. I drove by carefully, as there was nobody directing traffic. Only a mile later did it dawn on me that I'd probably just driven past an ICE raid on a home.
The pieces fell into place: the one helmeted "cop" I saw didn't look worried, and if this had been a crime scene, I wouldn't have been allowed to get so close.
I realized I was distressingly slow on the uptake because I don't have to live in terror over ICE coming to kidnap me. That display of American ugliness isn't part of my daily or nightly reality. Other displays are, but not the ICE follies.
Unless Trump and his parasites decide to start deporting everyone born in New Jersey.
Image by Christian Dorn from Pixabay
I think he is a more mature, more disciplined version of himself than he was in his first term.
Amazon's Jeff Bezos praising Donald Trump
Source: The Hill
Image by Justin Vogt from Pixabay
Yesterday was "National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day," and the organization that supports queer seniors here in Seattle hosted a "Silver in the Rainbow Dance Party."
I attended, accepting the reality that at 62 I belonged there. Though all evening I kept saying, "I can't believe I'm at an event co-sponsored by AARP."
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| Image: Facebook |
Image: Facebook
Jason Collins, the NBA's first out gay player, has died of brain cancer at the age of 47.
In a 2013 essay he penned for Sports Illustrated, Collins wrote, "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay. I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation."
That conversation about gay men in sports hasn't stopped since, and we owe Collins a great debt. It's a shame he didn't live longer to see more and more jocks come out. But at least he died knowing he set a ferocious pick on homophobia.
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I want to acknowledge that Karoline Leavitt was the first pregnant White House press secretary, and she worked until just a few days before giving birth to her daughter on May 1.
Clearly Leavitt is a devoted servant of the president, lying with almost the same aplomb he does, and she plans to return to her job after maternity leave. She could get back even sooner if she hired a wet nurse.
I hear Bryon Noem is available.
Image: Facebook
As of today, Justice Clarence Thomas has served on the Supreme Court for 34 years, six months, and 13 days. That makes the arch-conservative the second-longest serving justice in history.
Funny. To me it feels like he's been on the Supreme Court a mere 800 years.
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| Image by Janet Reddick from Pixabay |
As red states go, Texas is downright crimson.
But sometimes crimson has a blue undertone, and this week that distinction belongs to the city of San Antonio. For the first time, the San Antonio City Council issued a proclamation recognizing Trans History Week, a global event that starts today.
Will this move amount to waving a red flag to the bull? Will conservative Texans go red in the face? Are they being tossed red meat? Is the proclamation crossing a red line?
I could stop, but that would make me blue.
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| Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay |
Yesterday evening I volunteered at a fundraiser for a group that helps transgender people with limited means flee red states and move here to western Washington.
The event highlighted an inherent tension in the group's efforts. With all the official and unofficial threats against trans folks right now, the group considers secrecy paramount. But fundraisers require publicity. How the hell do you publicize an event you can't talk about?
The answer is very carefully, and I'm pleased to say the room was mostly full last night. But obviously we could've brought in many more donors with unshackled publicity. It's a tough balance to strike.
One attendee told me she wanted to shout out before the program began, "Will the FBI informant please stand up and leave?" I would've added, "Please donate before you go!"
