There's A Little Gay In Everyone Europride 2009; iPride Tel Aviv 2009 gay pride parade, Israel

Two witty little ads for upcoming Pride events in Europe and Israel.

First, There's A Little Gay In Everyone, EuroPride 2009 (Parade Weekend 5-7 June 2009), this year in Zurich, Switzerland:



Second, Israel, Just Come!, iPride Tel Aviv (10-14 June 2009), Israel:

Compromise brings same-sex marriage one step closer to legal in New Hampshire

The Boston Globe is reporting that New Hampshire House and Senate negotiators on Friday agreed on changes to the bill that would make New Hampshire the sixth American state to allow gay marriage. Governor John Lynch reportedly approves of the changes to the new version, which is expected to be voted on Wednesday 3 June 2009.

Currently, same-sex marriages are legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa, with Maine and Vermont due to begin marrying same-sex couples in September 2009.

Fingers crossed, again.

Inspiring Moroccan gay writer Abdellah Taia

Maya Angelou in the New York Times speaking in support of marriage equality (Hat tip to Michael Crawford!):

"To love someone takes a lot of courage. So how much more is one challenged when the love is of the same sex and the laws say, 'I forbid you from loving this person'?"

Born in 1973 and dubbed "Morocco's first high-profile, openly gay man," writer Abdellah Taia studied French literature at the Universities of Rabat, Geneva, and Paris-Sorbonne. His goal in life is to win acceptance for homosexuals throughout the Muslim world.

From the Associated Press:

"Taia has defied Moroccan society's don't-ask, don't-tell attitude toward homosexuality — and prison sentences that are still on the books in the North African kingdom — to write five autobiographical novels about growing up poor and gay in the northern coastal city of Sale.

The novels, peppered with sexually explicit passages, have catapulted him to fame in his native country and made him the de-facto poster child of its budding gay rights movement.

His work has sparked harsh criticism. Taia said some outraged critics have called on him to renounce Moroccan citizenship so as 'not to bring shame' on the country.

It's also alienated him from his parents and eight siblings, who figure extensively in the books and complain that Taia has publicly humiliated them."

Now that's courage.

Check out Abdellah Taia's latest book, Salvation Army, which was recently translated into English from French and is a chronicle of his move to France from Morocco.

Ted Olson and David Boies take on Proposition 8 at the Federal Level

A twist in the plot of same-sex marriage in the United States. Attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, who were on opposite sides of the case that settled the 2000 presidential race, have asked a federal judge to block California from enforcing the ban, known as Proposition 8. Backed by the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the lawsuit was filed Wednesday on behalf of two same-sex couples who had been denied marriage licenses under Proposition 8, and states:

"This unequal treatment of gays and lesbians denies them the basic liberties and equal protection under the law that are guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution."

The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution is a provision with which all state laws must comply. A federal judge in San Francisco has set a 2 July 2009 hearing on the matter.

Well, interesting, and somewhat hopeful, I'd say. Yes, a coalition of groups (including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign,and the Lambda Legal Foundation) fear that the U.S. Supreme Court will rule against same-sex marriage, thus potentially leading to more widespread rejection of gay and lesbian rights across America. Yes, perhaps pursuing rights through another plebiscite or through the Legislature may work as well.

But, as the two lawyers point out, Proposition 8:

· Violates the Due Process Clause by impinging on fundamental liberties.
· Violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
· Singles out gays and lesbians for a disfavored legal status, thereby creating a category of “second-class citizens.”
· Discriminates on the basis of gender.
· Discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation.

And, as Mr. Olson states, "Whatever discrimination California law now might permit, I can assure you, the United States Constitution does not."

I am convinced that this new suit is a step forward in the right direction. This is not the time for trepidation in the United States, I think. It's the time for change.

New Empire State Pride Agenda ad for equal families

Hat tip to the Mad Professah!

The Empire State Pride Agenda has released a new ad supporting marriage equality in New York State. Check it out.



It is frustrating to see so many of my American neighbours to the south unable to have the same basic civil right to marriage that all of us here in Canada have. The New York State Assembly passed a bill on 12 May 2009 to legalize same-sex marriage, and now it faces an uncertain future in the Senate. As Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle stated in a recent press release:

"The only remaining barrier to ending second-class status for gay and lesbian families in New York is now the State Senate. To every single member of the State Senate I say this: The landscape has shifted in New York. Do you want to be on the right side or the wrong side of history when the story is written about how marriage equality came to New York? Your grandchildren will want to know how you voted on this important human rights issue. This is a legacy vote."

Footage from protests against California Supreme Court Upholding of Proposition 8

Across the United States on Tuesday, thousands took to the streets after the California Supreme Court's decision to uphold Proposition 8 while leaving existing same-sex marriages in tact. Here are some clips of the Day of Decision.

West Hollywood


Washington, D.C.


San Francisco


Chicago


New York City


From the Day of Decision website:

"No civil rights movement has EVER lost. Never. It is not a matter of if our community will win full equal rights, including marriage. It is only a matter of when. But as in all civil rights movements, we will have to fight like hell for it."
-Robin Tyler, petitioner-case to overturn prop 8

California Supreme Court Ruling - Proposition 8 Upheld, but 18,000 marriages remain legal

The California Supreme Court has upheld Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, but it also has decided that the estimated 18,000 gay couples who tied the knot before the law took effect will stay married. Still separate and still not equal. Read more.

And so it is, yet another obstacle on the journey towards equal civil rights. The battle isn't over, and a counter-initiative intended to overturn Proposition 8 will likely reach the California ballot box in 2010 or 2011.

But, for now, I'm as mad as hell...



As President Thomas Jefferson stated in his First Inaugural Address on 4 March 1801:

"Bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression."

Join The Dallas Principles now to support civil equality and to stop the oppression of minorities in the United States.

Gay in Saudi Arabia, Middle East, HELEM

Check out this article by Lara Setrakian that summarizes the varying conditions gay people face in Saudi Arabia and in the rest of the Middle East. For the most part, and with the exception of Israel, Islamic religious credibility in the region continues to be strengthened by attacks on people who love people of the same sex and who, for many, represent an evil cultural influence from the West.

An excerpt:

"The mix of tolerance and discrimination across the Middle East creates little opportunity for a cohesive gay rights movement. Moreover, the local take on homosexuality is out of line with the Western norm, a notion of being gay as a recognized minority group...In other words, being gay is an act, not an identity. When gay pride does emerge, it is associated with the West, and an invading cultural colonialism. The pushback on any budding gay rights movements will likely continue, part of ongoing discrimination against homosexuals in the Middle East. There, gays will continue their negotiated lifestyle, knowing that they live and love under scrutiny."

But, there is hope for gay Arabs in the region. HELEM (the Arabic acronym of "Lebanese Protection for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders") is a non-governmental non-profit organization (registered in Quebec, Canada, on 11 February 2004) whose primary goal is the annulment of article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code, which punishes "unnatural sexual intercourse." With branches in Lebanon, Canada, France, Australia, and the United States, HELEM maintains a peaceful struggle for the liberation of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in Lebanon from legal, social, and cultural discrimination.

Learn more.

Will Proposition 8 be declared unconstitutional?

Tomorrow, Tuesday 26 May at 10 a.m. (Pacific time) the California Supreme Court is scheduled to announce its ruling on whether to uphold Proposition 8 and it's ban on same-sex marriages in the state. The ruling will also decide the fate of about 18,000 same-sex couples who were married last summer before California voters outlawed the practice through passage of the Proposition in the November 2008 election.

Gay rights lawyers have argued that the ballot measure was an illegal constitutional revision rather than a more limited amendment. Attorney General Jerry Brown urged the court to reject the measure on different grounds, contending the proposition was unconstitutional because it took away an inalienable right without compelling justification.

I'm nervous about the whole thing, but Melissa Griffin over at the San Francisco City Hall Examiner does offer a hopeful prediction:

"At oral arguments, I'll admit that things were not looking great for proponents of same-sex marriage. Ken Starr did a great job arguing that Prop 8 is legitimate and Jerry Brown sent a buffoon to argue one of the most compelling arguments for shooting down Prop 8.

But while one can never be 100% sure, I believe that Prop 8 will be declared unconstitutional. And it will be along the same voting line as the In Re Marriage Cases (IRMC) decision. [172-page decision here: Download Supreme Court Opinion.]

Remember that California voters passed Prop 22 back in 2000, which added language to the California Family Code declaring that only Opposite Marriage is ok in this state. That language was eliminated from our code by the IRMC decision.

In IRMC, the Court found that there was a conflict between Prop 22 and the equal protection clause of the State Constitution - and the State Constitution always beats a regular ol' law. Prop 8 put the Opposite Marriage language IN the Constitution, and the winner between the internally conflicting provisions is less clear.

Despite this difference, Prop 22 and Prop 8 both require a hard look at the "will of the people" versus the equal protection clause of the State Constitution. That is why the IRMC decision is informative: how the Justices viewed voter intent to pass Prop 22 can shed light on how they'll look at Prop 8. "

Ms. Griffin sees the vote as coming down to 3 in favor of Prop 8 (Justices Baxter, Chin, and Corrigan) and 4 against (Justices George, Kennard, Moreno, and Werdegar), the same outcome as the IRMC decision.

Fingers crossed.

J'ai tué ma mère - I Killed My Mother

Check out the trailer for 20-year-old Quebec filmmaker Xavier Dolan's J'ai tué ma mère (I Killed My Mother), a semi-autobiographical story about a 16-year-old boy, Hubert Minel (Xavier Dolan), in the process of discovering his gay sexuality while constantly being at odds with his mother (Anne Dorval).



Brilliant.

At this year's Cannes Director's Showcase sidebar, J'ai tué ma mère won the Art Cinema Award given by an international jury of independent cinema programmers, the SACD Prize for best French-language film, and the Regards Jeunes 2009 Prize given to a first film by a jury of young cinephiles.

Félicitations M. Dolan!

The Dallas Principles - A Call to Action

One of my American friends and fellow blogger and activist, Lane Hudson, was among 24 thinkers, activists, and donors who gathered on 15-17 May 2009 in Dallas, Texas, to discuss the immediate need for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the United States. Collectively, they prepared The Dallas Principles, eight guiding principles intended to expedite the process towards justice for our community:

1.Full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals must be enacted now. Delay and excuses are no longer acceptable.

2.We will not leave any part of our community behind.

3.Separate is never equal.

4.Religious beliefs are not a basis upon which to affirm or deny civil rights.

5.The establishment and guardianship of full civil rights is a non-partisan issue.

6.Individual involvement and grassroots action are paramount to success and must be encouraged.

7.Success is measured by the civil rights we all achieve, not by words, access or money raised.

8.Those who seek our support are expected to commit to these principles.




So please, wherever you are, click here and join the growing chorus of people across the globe who believe that now is the time to provide full equal rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens of the United States. When this does happen (and it will!), further groundwork will have been laid for achieving full equal rights in other nations around the world where discrimination and hatred are continually validated by legal inequality. This is not only an American issue. It's global.

Denver third-grader Ethan McNamee's rally for equal rights

More inspiting video, this time from American nine-year-old Ethan McNamee, who with a little help from his parents, teacher, and friends worked to organize a gay rights rally after hearing that a same-sex couple in his Denver neighbourhood couldn't get married. Neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions are legal in the state of Colorado.



Hope.

Ellen DeGeneres's Commencement Speech at Tulane University

Folks, Ellen's commencement speech this year at Tulane University in New Orleans was intelligent, inspiring, and hilarious.

Check it out.



"For me the most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity and not to give into peer pressure to try be something that you are not, to live your life as an honest and compassionate person, to contribute in some way."

Good times and wisdom.

International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) events across the globe

The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) this past weekend took place with much success across the globe. Here are some links:

Belfast, Northern Ireland: Church holds landmark gay service

Havana, Cuba: Cuba Respects Sexual Diversity

Manchester,United Kingdom: Greater Manchester proudly flies the rainbow flag for IDAHO

Montreal, Canada: Quebec at the forefront of gay rights movement

Singapore: Singapore gays in first public rally

Sydney, Australia: Sydney marks International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Things are looking up!

Happy International Day Against Homophobia!

Well, today is the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), and despite the haters, millions of people across the globe are proud to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, as this fantastic video project, put together by IDAHO and Gays.com, will show you.



Stellar!

And, remember, A Day in Hand, the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) global campaign to help people become more accepting of same-sex public displays of affection, launches today! So, 1) find someone of the same sex that you love, respect, or admire; 2) put your hand in their hand; and 3) step outside and think about freedom and love for all.

Moscow police break up gay pride rally, arrest gay activists

Riot police broke up several gay rights demonstrations in Moscow on Saturday and detained about 30 protesters, including Australian-born British activist Peter Tatchell and Chicago activist Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network. The detentions occurred hours before Moscow was to host the international Eurovision Song Contest, which pits singing finalists from 24 different nations against each other.

Quoted in The Associated Press, Mr. Tatchell said:

"Today's arrests go against the principles of Eurovision, which are about peace, harmony, cooperation and unity between all the peoples in Europe."

And, as Mr. Thayer said as he was being hauled away, "If ... the right to assemble is taken away from lesbian and gay people here in Russia, then other Russians have to fear for their own freedom."

An attack on the civil liberties of one group is an attack on the civil liberties of all of us on this unfair planet.

Peru says no to gay police officers, Uruguay says yes to gays in the military

One step forward, one step backward in South America.

From the BBC, Peru has announced that any police officer who has sexual relations with someone of the same gender will be indefinitely suspended from the police force. The same will apply to officers who have extra-marital relations. Both situations are seen to damage the image of the police force. So, the Peruvian government will start patrolling the bedrooms of its officers? Nasty. The law is one of several new regulations put forward by the Interior Minister, Mercedes Cabanillas.

Meanwhile, in Uruguay, President Tabare Vazquez said on Thursday that Uruguay will allow gays to join the armed forces by scrapping old military rules that define homosexuality as a disorder. From Reuters, the President told a new conference, "The Uruguayan government does not discriminate against citizens based on their political, ethnic or sexual identity." Now that's the way to govern!

Booo! Peru!
Hooray! Uruguay!

Japanese Gay Art

Check out this new Japanese Gay Art Blog, which although still in the early stages, offers an interview with Jiraiya, whose great work has been exhibited in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.

A one of a kind valuable resource, the Japanese Gay Art Blog will feature interviews, galleries, and articles surrounding art and gayness from diverse Japanese perspectives.

So much to learn about gay people across the globe.

Empire State Pride Agenda ad for equal families

The Empire State Pride Agenda released a new commercial this week that advocates equality for all families in New York state.

Check it out.



The New York State Assembly passed a bill to legalize gay marriage on Tuesday, but the legislation now faces a close battle in the state Senate.

Read more.

Russian lesbian couple denied marriage license

In an unprecedented move, a lesbian couple challenged the Russian legal system on Tuesday when they applied for a marriage license. The application, unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, was swiftly rejected on the grounds that such a union must be between a woman and a man.

Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shepitko said they would marry instead this summer in Toronto, Canada, where gay marriage is legal and no residency is required. The couple believes that a loophole in Russian law, which bans gay marriage at home, will not prevent the recognition of a same-sex marriage that has taken place abroad.

Great courage and activism, and one big step towards equal civil rights in Russia. Quoted in Pinknews, Ms. Shepitko said, "If society will know about us, see that we are normal, there would be a better relationship for (gays) at work, things would be simpler for us."

The Soviet Union banned homosexuality, and Russia did not decriminalize gay sex until 1993, two years after the USSR's collapse. Unlike other major European cities, Moscow has no gay-friendly district and gay life is largely kept underground, with only a few openly gay bars.

Learn more.

Peter Tatchell, International Solidarity, Moscow Gay Pride

Despite threats to bash and arrest the marchers by Moscow authorities, courageous Australian-born British human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will be attending the Moscow Gay Pride parade this Saturday 16 May. Mr. Tatchell had gained international celebrity in 1999 and 2001 for his attempted citizen's arrest of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on charges of torture and other human rights abuses.

Not without his own safety concerns, Mr. Tatchell explains how it is nonetheless important to stand up for civil freedoms. From Pinknews:

"International solidarity is hugely important. My presence [at Moscow Pride] is one way to show that gay people around the world support the right of gay people in Russia to live their lives without homophobic prejudice, ostracism, discrimination and violence...Saturday's Slavic Gay Pride is about more than gay human rights. It is about the right of all Russian people to freely express their opinions and to protest peacefully. The ban on gay parades is just one example of the systematic suppression of civil liberties in Russia."

Based on past experience, Mr. Tatchell doesn't have much confidence that the Moscow police will allow the parade and protect the marchers from neo-Nazi violence. At Moscow Pride in 2007, he was beaten by right-wing extremists while the police stood and watched. He was then arrested and spent several hours in detention before being released without charge. His attackers were never arrested, even though they were clearly identified in photos and film footage.

Moscow Pride 2009 coincides with the finals of the popular Eurovision Song Contest, also in Moscow, and is followed by the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) on Sunday 17 May.

Millions of eyes will be watching Moscow this weekend.

Same-sex marriage in New Hampshire - An open letter to Governor John Lynch

The New Hampshire same-sex marriage bill is currently going through an "enrollment" process of one to two weeks, garnering signatures from the Senate president and the Speaker of the House before it is checked for legality by the secretary of the state. Once Governor John Lynch gets the bill, he has five days to deal with it and three choices facing him: 1) veto the bill; 2) sign it; or 3) allow it to become law without his signature.

I came across an inspiring open letter to Governor Lynch, written by D. Allan Kerr, who lives on the Maine-New Hampshire border. Here is an excerpt from Seacoastonline.com:

"...Given the unprecedented progress the forces of equality have achieved in recent weeks, do you want to be the impediment? When you first decided to pursue public office, is that the legacy you sought?...By continuing the prohibition of same-sex marriage, we are essentially endorsing the ongoing perception that gays are not equals. We are saying, 'You may not partake of the same privilege we enjoy because you are lesser than we are, but we will permit something that's almost as good.' That simply doesn't cut it in the 21st Century. Governor Baldacci, another reluctant convert, as much as said so when he signed Maine's bill into law last week. Denying the inalienable rights of any lawful citizen at this late stage of history is an embarrassment to our freedom-loving society — especially in the 'Live Free or Die' state...Just as we did during the American Revolution, New England could once again lead the way for the rest of the country. When future generations look back at this moment, Governor Lynch, how do you wish to be judged?"

Read the full letter here, and contact Governor Lynch here to urge him to sign the same-sex marriage bill.

Outrage, documentary by Kirby Dick

Check out the trailer for the new documentary, Outrage, directed by Kirby Dick, which seeks to expose a conspiracy in American politics of individuals who, at once, vote against gay interests while secretly pursuing gay sex.



Featuring my friend and fellow blogger Michael Rogers, whose site BlogActive seeks to uncover the hypocrisy of closeted politicians who make policies and rules against the gay community, the film questions whether or not these people have the right to stay in the closet.

Fascinating stuff.

Outrage opens today in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

David Ogden Stiers comes out!

After years of clandestine living in the television and movie industry, American actor David Ogden Stiers, 66, famous for his role as Major Charles Emerson Winchester III in the long-running TV series M*A*S*H, has revealed for the first time that he is gay.

In an interview with GossipBoy.com, the actor said:

"I wish to spend my life’s twilight being just who I am. I could claim noble reasons as coming out in order to move gay rights forward, but I must admit it is for far more selfish reasons. Now is the time I wish to find someone and I do not desire to force any potential partner to live a life of extreme discretion with me."

It's never too late to come out and never too late to find love.

So, cheers Mr. Stiers!

Check out the full interview here.

Maine legalizes same-sex marriage!

And just like that, it's official!

Maine has become the fifth American state to allow gay marriage, joining Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Vermont. State Governor John Baldacci signed the new legislation, after the Senate voted 21-14 and the House of Representatives voted 89-57 in favour of it.

From the Human Rights Campaign:

"'Just one year ago, a single state allowed same-sex couples to marry. Now, with the historic step taken by Gov. Baldacci and the Maine legislature, five states will provide equal dignity, equal respect, and equal rights under state law for same-sex couples by recognizing their freedom to marry, and we hope more will follow soon,' said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. 'Congratulations to Gov. John Baldacci, Senator Dennis Damon, and Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree for making sure all loving, committed couples in Maine, and their families, will have equal rights and responsibilities under state law, and congratulations to Equality Maine for the hard work it has done over the years to make today a reality.'"

Approximately 1.5 million more people now have equal civil rights in the world.

Congratulations, Maine, for a great step in the right direction!

Read more.

Same-sex marriage bills advance in Maine, New Hampshire

"Many of you may not know, but my lovely wife is a black woman. Up until 1967, when I was 10 years old, it was illegal for a black person and a white person to marry in 17 states. Supporters of laws banning interracial marriage used most of the same arguments you are hearing today: sanctity, biology, morality, the Bible, procreation, natural law, family and children. Fortunately, we have come a long way in a generation or two. I, for one, cannot imagine being prohibited by law from marrying the woman I love. No single religious belief or viewpoint should be imposed by the majority onto a minority in our civil laws."

Above are the words of Rep. David Van Wie, D-New Gloucester, Maine, quoted in the Sun Journal. Maine just might be the next American state to allow same-sex marriage. The state Legislature passed a bill on Tuesday by a margin of 89 to 57 that would allow gay couples to marry. The bill now goes back to the Senate for final approval where it is expected to pass. From there, the power lies in the hands of Democratic Governor John Baldacci, who has previously said he is opposed to gay marriage, but last month indicated that he is keeping an open mind to the possibility.

Meanwhile, the New Hampshire House of Representatives will vote today on a revised marriage equality bill that was approved by the state's Senate last week. If the House votes yes, as expected, the bill heads to New Hampshire Governor, John Lynch. Results of a poll released last week by New Hampshire Freedom to Marry show that most state residents support marriage equality.

Click here to write to Maine Governor John Baldacci, and click here to write to New Hampshire Governor John Lynch to express your support for equal civil rights and for making the world a better place.

Your words can make a difference.

Kent Monkman, Dance to the Berdashe, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 6 May to 4 October 2009

I'm psyched!

From 6 May to 4 October 2009, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) will present the latest video installation, Dance to the Berdashe, of my favourite artist - Kent Monkman. The work, composed of five large projections, offers a contemporary reinterpretation of a traditional Aboriginal ritual featuring a Berdashe or Two Sprit person - Miss Chief Eagle Testickle aka Kent Monkman.

From the MMFA website:

"Dance to the Berdashe was inspired by a canvas of the same title by the American painter George Catlin (1796-1872) depicting a dance common among the Sauk and Fox nations, of warriors dancing around a Berdashe, visibly joyful and excited. In his memoirs, published in 1844, From Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Conditions of North American Indians, Catlin speaks of this ritual unsympathetically: 'One of the most unaccountable and disgusting customs that I have ever met in the Indian country... and where I should wish that it might be extinguished before it be more fully recorded.'

The Monkmanian version of this scene, displayed on five screens in the shape of buffalo hides, shows Miss Chief Eagle Testickle dancing the role of the Berdashe. The choreography, created by Canadian Cree actor, choreographer and dancer Michael Greyeyes, is based on both the traditional powwow and contemporary dance. The music, written by Toronto composer Phil Strong, is a free syncopated version of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, a modern masterpiece also inspired by ancient tribal rituals."

Miss Chief Eagle Testickle is a character that appears frequently in Monkman's work and was created as a way of challenging, among other things, the token images and stereotypical characterizations of aboriginal identity that had become so popular in 19th century painting and 20th century Hollywood film. As Monkman says, "We are constantly redefining ourselves as Native people in a fast-changing world. We cannot escape history, but we can question the subjectivity of those who write it."

Wise words for all of us to consider when we search for more complete accounts of what happened in the past. History contains many opportunities to convey meaning, but sometimes the meaning has more to do with an author than it does with what was actually taking place at any given moment.

A Day in Hand - A global intitiative of Same-sex hand holding (Sshh)

Straight readers, when was the last time you held someone's hand in public?

Gay readers, when was the last time you held someone's hand in public?

A new global campaign, called A Day in Hand, has been created to help people become more accepting of same-sex public displays of affection. According to project founder, David Watkins, "Equal rights are a necessity but we need equal respect too. When push comes to shove…love. Hand holding is a simple, liberating gesture that is essential to our communities’ health. I want the campaign to give all people good reason to hold hands everyday, and tools to fight those voices inside our heads that say we can’t do this. We can!"

The campaign will officially launch 17 May 2009, the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) , and involves simply: 1) finding someone of the same sex that you love, respect, or admire; 2) putting your hand in their hand; and 3) stepping outside. An exhibition of photographs will also be held at the Studio La Danza gallery in London, England.

Masses of straight people without even thinking hold each other's hands all the time in public in most of Europe and North America. And, in Arab countries, Africa, and in some parts of Asia, same-sex handholding by straight men is frequently witnessed out in the open. Handholding for gay people, however, almost anywhere incites that potential "Look everyone, we're gay!" moment that many of us dread and fear thanks to homophobic societal conditioning.

So, I think A Day in Hand is an encouraging global sign (with hotspots already confirmed in the UK, Switzerland, Nepal, the United States, Canada, and Peru, to name a few) of promoting the ever so daunting same-sex handhold as a symbol not only of gay love, but of all that is good in being held by someone else.

Learn more.

Nick Symmonds in Nike ad

How about some light hearted fun today?

[sound of cheers]

Well, since you insist, check out this Nike ad featuring Olympic American track star Nick Symmonds discussing the new Nike Free running shoe.