Come Out, Come Out Whoever You Are

I guess a bathroom stall could be the size of a closet, maybe that's why certain people are so comfortable in them. Continuing the trend of conservatives with publicly very anti gay record being arrested for soliciting male officers for sex, Senator Larry Craig of the 0% HRC congressional rating, who was arrested on June 11th in a Minneapolis airport bathroom for disorderly conduct, pled guilty and then denied that fact stating that he overreacted finally came out today...to release a statement that he is "not gay [and has] never been gay."

Larry, you and your deluded wife have to be the only one's who believe that. There have been many rumours about Craig's sexuality since the early 80s when he was seemingly involved in a Congressional Page sex and drugs scandal and then was outed last year (or more credibly here). If this had happened to another politician it would have been a fairly big deal but the fact that it happened to Craig, who is surrounded by so much smoke as to be flaming, pardon the pun; sorry sir but three strikes and you're out. Just admit it; have some dignity.

This guy at The Nation (via Queerty) has an interesting take on this bathroom/republican phenomenon. As for my thoughts: If you wanna stay in the closet, for whatever reasons or hang ups that's fine, but to promote an agenda that can be seen as hurtful to others and self hating, which reinforces inequality and intolerance is morally wrong and though I am opposed to involuntarily outing (it's an incredibly personal step, which is why I haven't outed my brother) I think that it may be justifiable so that these politicians and moral leaders may feel publicly that same sense of shame and ridicule, the sting of "institutionalized otherness" and intolerance that they support and force upon many members of the Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered community through their votes opposing GLBT rights. Barney Franks, last year, on Bill Maher actually said what I'm tryng to say far more eloquently than I could ever hope to

Just come out;in the end you'll be a lot happier. Plus guy's bathrooms are disgusting.

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Demand Justice for the Jena Six

Sometimes Facebook can be a very good thing. Last night I discovered this group, this case, this offence and this travesty and I thought you should know about it, and that such things can still happen in the year 2007. I'll copy exactly the group description because it has all the relevant facts and is more organized then I could ever be:

Dear friends,

I just learned about a case of segregation-era oppression happening today in Jena, Louisiana. I signed onto ColorOfChange.org's campaign for justice in Jena, and wanted to invite you to do the same.

Last fall in Jena, the day after two Black high school students sat beneath the "white tree" on their campus, nooses were hung from the tree. When the superintendent dismissed the nooses as a "prank," more Black students sat under the tree in protest. The District Attorney then came to the school accompanied by the town's police and demanded that the students end their protest, telling them, "I can be your best friend or your worst enemy... I can take away your lives with a stroke of my pen."

A series of white-on-black incidents of violence followed, and the DA did nothing. But when a white student was beaten up in a schoolyard fight, the DA responded by charging six black students with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

It's a story that reads like one from the Jim Crow era, when judges, lawyers and all-white juries used the justice system to keep blacks in "their place." But it's happening today. The families of these young men are fighting back, but the story has gotten minimal press. Together, we can make sure their story is told and that the Governor of Louisiana intervenes and provides justice for the Jena 6. It starts now. Please join me:

The noose-hanging incident and the DA's visit to the school set the stage for everything that followed. Racial tension escalated over the next couple of months, and on November 30, the main academic building of Jena High School was burned down in an unsolved fire. Later the same weekend, a black student was beaten up by white students at a party. The next day, black students at a convenience store were threatened by a young white man with a shotgun. They wrestled the gun from him and ran away. While no charges were filed against the white man, the students were later arrested for the theft of the gun.

That Monday at school, a white student, who had been a vocal supporter of the students who hung the nooses, taunted the black student who was beaten up at the off-campus party and allegedly called several black students "nigger." After lunch, he was knocked down, punched and kicked by black students. He was taken to the hospital, but was released and was well enough to go to a social event that evening.

Six Black Jena High students, Robert Bailey (17), Theo Shaw (17), Carwin Jones (18), Bryant Purvis (17), Mychal Bell (16) and an unidentified minor, were expelled from school, arrested and charged with second-degree attempted murder. The first trial ended last month, and Mychal Bell, who has been in prison since December, was convicted of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery (both felonies) by an all-white jury in a trial where his public defender called no witnesses. During his trial, Mychal's parents were ordered not to speak to the media and the court prohibited protests from taking place near the courtroom or where the judge could see them.

Mychal is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31st, and could go to jail for 22 years. Theo Shaw's trial is next. He will finally make bail this week.

The Jena Six are lucky to have parents and loved ones who are fighting tooth and nail to free them. They have been threatened but they are standing strong. We know that if the families have to go it alone, their sons will be a long time coming home. But if we act now, we can make a difference.

Join me in demanding that Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco get involved to make sure that justice is served for Mychal Bell, and that DA Reed Walters drop the charges against the 5 boys who have not yet gone to trial.


Thanks.....

If you're as outraged as I am you can sign the petition here. It's not much but it's something, something that can hopefully raise awareness. It is disgusting that I learned about this through Facebook and not through the more mainstream media. We can all apply pressure by flooding thorugh e-mail or phone calls Reed Walter, the D.A.'s office. If you live in Louisiana you can help more directly; write or email your state legislature, Governor Blanco, Sen. Landrieu, Sen. Vitter (he needs some good press now; his applying pressure and forcing the issue to have the matter looked into may give him a more positive reputation ) or your representative. Let them know common humanity, decency and the nation are sickened by this travesty of justice.

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Hmm..Maybe I should have paid attention in D.A.R.E.

then I suppose none of this would be a surprise.)
Bad news all my "seekers of higher consciousness" friends, apparently weed is bad. Not Reefer Madness bad (the stuff in that movie is hysterical, you should see it), but still "harmful" (though if it wasn't would it be as fun?) Anyway a slew of recent studies have shown that one joint does the same damage to your lungs as five ciggies, excuse me cigarettes. (But of course most semi functioning people in society don't smoke five joints a day so the occasional recreationness of weed should be taken into account versus the supposedly more addictive cigarette. ) Not only that, studies now believe marijuana can increase the chance of psychosis later in life.
With scientific research like that I kind of feel like I shouldn't point you to this article from Radar which tells secrets on how not to get busted, incredibly really great tips from an ex-police officer. Its a good read for anyone really. But that would be irresponsible, just as irresponsible as showing you these videos (and more) that you can enjoy while baking or baked. That would just be wrong.


Turn on, tune in, drop out (hmm, they didn't say anything about LSD...)

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