I was a teacher... Kids Have a Right to Be Who They Are and to Respect Others

Was this teacher treated fairly? I think not...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/29/susan-johnson-michigan-teacher-gay-song-suspended_n_2211725.html?ncid=webmail3

You don't think President Obama Has Done Anything? WATCH THIS:

http://youtu.be/I1vUKT_l_0g

MY SENTIMENTS, EXACTLY...

Evita's Max Von Essen's Open Letter to Romney-Voter Goes Viral

By Kimberly Kaye • Oct 24, 2012 • New York City

Max von Essen
(© Tristan Fuge)

Evita's Max von Essen is no stranger to social media. As co-creator of #SIP (Saturday Intermission Photos), the beloved viral photo stream for Broadway gypsies goofing off on two-show days, he's used to sharing content with thousands of followers onTwitter every day .

Von Essen was shocked, however, when a Facebook post he wrote went viral.

Written in response to a pro-Romney sentiment left on his wall by an old friend, the open letter went viral in just a few hours, swirling through the Broadway community before crossing over into women's rights and non-political feeds.

Addressed to no one in particular, the letter reads:

" Hey ( ),

Listen, I know you didn't mean any harm commenting on this post and I like you, we had some great times growing up. But Romney and Ryan believe that I am less than you. They believe I am a second class citizen and don't deserve the same rights that you had the privilege of being born into simply by being straight. They want to add a constitutional amendment that will ban gay marriage forever. It will set us back decades and ensure that I never legally have the opportunity to have a family or a partner in my lifetime.

They also believe that being at your partner's side when he/she is dying is a benefit, not a civil right. They could keep me from my partner dying in a hospital. Could you even imagine something like that in your own life? Being separated from your wife on her death bed? Could you imagine your marriage never being recognized and being told that your family is not a family and you do not deserve any federal rights that comes with marriage. Over 1100 rights. Did you know that? 1100.

Ryan doesn't believe in the hate crimes act fought unwaveringly for by Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, murdered for being gay in Wyoming. Murdered for being gay. Could you imagine if I was murdered for being gay? Could you really look my mom in the eye and say 'oh well, we can not prosecute this crime as a hate crime'?

I know there are important issues involved in this campaign. I know people are suffering and the economy has not improved at a rate we all wish it would. Yes, people are suffering but the gay and lesbian community has been suffering for hundreds of years and I am so tired of it. So tired of feeling that I am less than. So tired of knowing I have friends on here who will vote for someone who will keep me a second class citizen for my entire lifetime. I have already spent half a lifetime hiding, half a lifetime conforming. It is exhausting, demeaning and I am worn out. I want to love myself full out. I want a president who can look me in the eye and say 'You are equal!' 'You are equal to everyone else in this country and I will fight for your rights. The time is now and it is long overdue.' Romney and Ryan could not look me in the eye and say that and I feel sorry for every gay and questioning child who might have to listen to a president who believes that he/she is not equal. Children will take their lives. It is the WORST form of trickle down bullying and it absolutely splits my heart in half. When the president says you are less than, it gives permission to every authority figure, every politician, every teacher, every bully on the playground to push you around and bully you and treat you less than. It is dangerous and lives will be lost.

If this is not important to you, please remove me from your friends list. I need people in my life who love me and consider me 100% equal.

Max "

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What Turned Me Away from the Catholic Church...

Need I explain my dissatisfaction with the Church's stand on homosexuality?

Bravo to Wisconsin Anchorwoman Jenifer Livingston

http://jezebel.com/5948276/the-best-thing-youll-see-all-day-local-news-anchor-has-on+air-message-for-man-who-called-her-fat

Like Miss Livingston, I have suffered with a weight problem all of my life. I have recently taken off close to 20 pounds, trying to return to a more healthy weight. I was bullied about being fat as a kid and am sick and tired of people who have nothing better to do than to try to lower another's self-esteem. Enough arrogance! If you feel good about yourself, spread that joy to others and appreciate them for who they are deep inside!

Republicans, Read and Learn Something about Humanity and the Arts!

It's a Crying Shame that Censorship Still Exists in This Day and Age

L.A. GAY & LESBIAN CENTER’S ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION

OF IRA LEVIN’S “DEATHTRAP”

WILL NOT RETURN IN SEPTEMBER

DUE TO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS BEING REVOKED

Due to a last-minute revocation of performance rights, the much acclaimed, ‘Ovation Recommended’ production of Ira Levin’s classic comedy-thriller Deathtrap will be unable to return to the Davidson/Valentini Theatre at the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center in September as previously announced. Net proceeds would have benefitted the entire array of the Center’s free and low-cost programs and services.

Directed by eight-time Ovation Award-winner Ken Sawyer, the Center’s production of Deathtrap enjoyed a ten week sold-out run in the spring of this year. Due to the original engagement’s runaway success, the Center planned to remount the production, but the Estate of Ira Levin that controls the performance rights abruptly revoked them, citing a brief moment of onstage nudity.

Following an impassioned appeal by the Center, rights were once again granted, but this time with very strict guidelines prohibiting any onstage behavior that portrayed the two lead male characters having a physical relationship—this despite the fact that in the play the characters are involved in a full-blown affair.

Deathtrap’s famously complex script provides genuine, edge-of-your-seat thrills, and is known for the jolts and surprises that occur along the way. The Center has decided that re-mounting the show with the imposed restrictions would force the play’s central relationship back into the closet, thus compelling the Center to compromise both its mission and its integrity. It would also result in a very different and less effective production than the one audiences had been lining up to see. Therefore the Center has been forced to cancel. 

The entire original cast was set to return. They are (in alphabetical order) Brian Foyster, Cynthia Gravinese, Burt Grinstead, Elizabeth Herron, Carl J. Johnson, and Stephen Mendillo. The design team included Joel Daavid (set), Luke Moyer (lighting), Paula Higgins (costumes), and Ken Sawyer (sound). Deathtrap was produced by Jon Imparato, artistic director of the Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center.

Patrons who had already purchased tickets for the extension will receive full refunds. The Center’s box office personnel is in the process of contacting all ticket buyers. The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center is located at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place (one block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Boulevard), in Hollywood.   

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I've HAD IT WITH ...

This is a place for me to spit out all my discontents. There's enough of that on Facebook, you say? Well, you may be right. That's why I've decided to stay away from there and do my own thing, regardless of whether anyone peeks in or not. I can get it off my chest. I'm not political, so what I talk about is purely what bothers the hell out of me.


First order of business, I'd like to say that as a senior citizen, I am sick and tired of people standing in everyone's way when out in a public place, such as a theatre lobby. Am I the only one or do others of you find yourselves saying "Excuse me, excuse me, I'd like to get by" when folks block my path by standing like lumps on logs. They have no consideration of anyone but themselves. And when they hear me say "Excuse me", they give me a dirty look as if to say, "Who in the hell are you? Why should I move for you?" It's pure rudeness. It reminds me of when I was a high school teacher and I would say to a student. "Please don't throw paper on the floor. Pick that up!" The retort would shoot back, "Why should I?" I would follow with, "Because it's bad behavior. I'm your elder. I deserve respect. I told you to!" Thanks, Rodney Dangerfield. I borrowed your well-worn motto!


Be NICE to others! Live for someone besides yourself!
Enough pontificating for today.
Thursday, August 2, 2012.