Book Review

I'm now doing book reviews for Edge.  Here's one of the novel, Next, if you're interested.  Just click below.

Book Review of Next

Return of the Bickersons

An inspiring way to end the week

I found this video irresistible and very moving.  I hope you do. too!

Let's hear it for Jamaica!

ukgaynews.com is reporting that Jamaica celebrated its first ever Gay Pride Day on Wednesday.  Officially called the Walk for Tolerance, the parade took place in Montego Bay.

Said William Urich, the chair of InterPride Committee on International GLBTI Human Rights, “Yesterday was an amazing day, here in Montego Bay.  My eyes well up at the very thought of the day's outstanding and astounding success.”

Encouragingly, the walk had police support, Mr. Urich added.

Around 100 took part in the walk, which was headed by Reverend Elder Nancy L. Wilson, the openly lesbian presiding bishop of the International Movement of Metropolitan Community Churches.

One participant commented: “I never thought I would live to see the day that this could happen in Jamaica.”

And other ‘buzz phrases’ heard at the event included “I'm exercising my rights”, “I feel so liberated”, “I have validation”, and “exuberant”

Here's a wonderful video of the event:

Terrence McNally weds

 Terrence McNally, author of such plays as The Lisbon Traviata and the Pulitzer Prize winning Love! Valour! Compassion!, wed partner Tom Kirdahy in Washington, D.C., yesterday on the banks of the Potomac.  Washington DC enacted a same-sex marriage law last month. 

McNally compared the nuptials — and newfound equality — to his numerous honors, saying, “I’ve won four Tony Awards, but that’s like a one-night rush of adrenaline,” he said. “This is a recognition of really a lifetime.”

The couple had been civilly united in Vermont in December 2003, but according to an AP report,  “McNally said another ceremony was in order.

President Calls Clerical Celibacy Wrong, Supports Same Sex Marriages

Insidecostarica.com is carrying this positive story.  Bravo, Oscar Arias. Let's hope that a fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner who leads a country will follow in your footsteps.

Costa Rican president Oscar Arias today called the doctrine of celibacy of Latin Catholic priests wrong and against nature.

Arias said that he hopes that clerical celibacy will be changed, optimistic that the 2.000 year religion will correct the error.

During the mid day remarks, the prez also expressed of being in favour of same sex marriage.

"We are made as we are. A young boy (or girl) does not ask if he or she will grow up gay or straight", said Arias

Gay marriages in Costa Rica still need the approval of the legislative assembly.

Slavery? A mere road bump in American history.

Pam's House Blend has covered Virginia Governor McConnell's proclamation of April as "Confederate History Month." Virginia's last two governors, Democrats Tim Kaine and Mark Warner declined to issue a similar proclamation. Republican Jim Gilmore, who served from 1998-2002, was the last Virginia governor to set aside a month to celebrate Confederate History.

But McDonnell's proclamation was noticeably missing one feature that Gilmore's proclamations all had: a mention of slavery.

Asked why he omitted a mention of slavery from his proclamation, McDonnell said, "There were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states. Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."

People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan issued the following statement:

"Governor McDonnell's choice to celebrate Confederate History while omitting any mention of slavery is an egregious rewriting of history. Declaring that slavery wasn't 'significant' enough to merit inclusion in his statement is an insult to the Virginians whose past was shaped by the most abhorrent policies of the Confederacy. Issuing a declaration honoring the confederacy is disturbing enough; failing to acknowledge slavery while doing it is inexcusable. 

"Governor McDonnell has repeatedly shown himself to be far more radical than his Republican predecessors, and much more extreme than the moderate image he projected of himself during his campaign. This new attempt to ignore the worst parts of Virginia's complicated past is irresponsible and dangerous. By appeasing his supporters in the radical Right, he has turned his back on his duty to serve all Virginians. We cannot allow our elected officials to practice this kind of dangerous revisionism."

 It's not a coincidence that Confederate History Month has returned with the arrival of an African-American president.  It may be a very obvious sign of racism, but it certainly isn't the only one.  Unfortunately, post-racial American is beginning to look more like racist America.

As of last night, however, it seems like the Governor changed his tune.  Here's a clip from CNN.  Listen to the guy who says that some people see the Confederacy as all one sided.   Hmmm.  What's the other side?