La Cage Aux Conservatisme?

In this week's issue of New York magazine, Kelsey Grammer discusses his upcoming Broadway turn in La Cage Aux Folles, and the implications of being a Republican playing a gay role. From Adam Sternbergh's profile:

“It’s a great story about any couple. They all have the same dynamic: a heterosexual relationship, a homosexual relationship, a man-with-dogs relationship. There are universal events that take place: the differences, the angers, the insecurities, the histrionics. You would call it, I guess, a male-female dynamic. This just happens to be two boys.” I ask him about La Cage’s relevance today, given the Proposition 8 fight in California. He says, “Oh, right. Of course. You know I wasn’t even thinking of that. Isn’t it funny?” On the subject of gay marriage in general, he adds, “Why is the government involved at all? If two men marry or two women marry, fine, go ahead—it’s not my issue. But when governments get involved, it just becomes more confusing.”

Well! First off, the government is "involved" in the gay marriage issue because it is a legal issue. But Grammer surely knows that, and is just tiptoeing, quite deftly, around answering the question. Also... "man-with-dogs relationship"?? Really!?

It's tricky: being a pretty big supporter of gay rights, I want to support La Cage, buy tickets, and encourage others to do the same. The message is wonderful, I am what I am, blah blah blah. On the other hand, I don't particularly feel like turning out to see Grammer, an out "Republican in Hollywood" (and in my opinion, gigantic douche), play this role. I'm not saying his politics should have kept him from being cast - that would be a terrible road to go down. But in the power-of-the-consumer sense, this issue is really, really important to me, and the idea of watching this guy play that role feels all wrong. Thoughts?

The Terrifying Tale of the So-Called Female Fiance

From the twitter feed of the one-and-only James Urbaniak, via Parabasis, here is a gay Christian man who is very displeased after his recent firing from the Logan Airport Brookstone. Why was he fired? Well, his female manager kept insisting on discussing her imminent marriage to a woman. Eeew! Peter Vadala simply expressed that "controversial issues" don't belong in the workplace, and that as a gay Christian, he thinks "that's bad stuff". And then he was fired! Poor, poor gay Christian. Americans everywhere are outraged that an innocent man stands "accused of harassment even though lesbian approached him."



What a twat! Yet another awesome religious nut who, as wakingupnow.com correctly contends, "wants one rule for what straights can say about their families, and a different, more restrictive rule for gays. Do you see the irony? He’s complaining about being punished for expressing his beliefs at work, AND he’s saying gays shouldn’t be allowed to talk about their families at work... He’s not asking for freedom of speech. He’s asking for special rights." Oh, and did I mention that this kid writes musicals? Wake up! You are gay!

But it's ok, not all of humanity is lost in a sea of bigoted lunacy. This kid, for example, totally rocks. Watch this, and feel better.

Athens Park is your average gathering place for traditional Astorians to gather, and a typical Sunday afternoon would likely find groups of older men playing chess, couples with their dogs, and perhaps a skateboarder. The place was unrecognizable this Sunday - packed to the brim with folks of all backgrounds who had come together to demonstrate their support for marriage equality. There were speakers and performances, and stories that bring the issue vividly to life as a clear civil rights issue. The Broadway Boys sang "Imagine" in soaring a cappella. One speaker told the story of her mixed-race parents who were almost not allowed to marry. Another demonstrator spoke of a time when his wife was ill, and shared a hospital room with a lesbian woman whose partner was not allowed to visit after hours - they ended up sneaking her partner in as a part of their own family.

Marriage is a civil right. Click here to get involved.

“I would ask every man and every woman who’s had the blessing of having children, ‘Would you deny your son or your daughter the ecstasy of finding someone to love?' 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’?”
- Maya Angelou, phoning New York state Sen. Shirley L. Huntley (D-Queens) and asking that she support marriage equality.

[images via kempsternyc at flickr]

Do you support marriage equality?

If you do, it's time to stand up and speak out. The bill to bring marriage equality to the state of New York has passed the State Assembly and is now headed to the State Senate.

Opponents of the bill are aligning from across the country, already pouring millions of dollars into efforts to stop this bill from passing. These people are bent on restricting the rights of our neighbors, daughters and sons, brothers and sisters, and they will work night and day to see that this bill does not pass. We must fight back and make our voices heard.

So listen up people: we have to act now. Click here to contact your state senator. It only takes a moment and a couple clicks to make a difference. Write a letter, send it along, and then tell your friends, your family, your colleagues, and everyone about how important is.

Equality is everyone's issue.

Kal Penn Playing a New Role

Actor Kal Penn, best known as Kumar, (spoiler alert!) was killed off in last night's episode of House, M.D. Why, you ask, would an actor want to give up a cushy series regular role on a massive hit tv show? Why, to go work for Barack Obama, of course! Penn told Entertainment Weekly, "I got to know the President and some of the staff during the campaign and had expressed interest in working there, so I'm going to be the associate director in the White House office of public liaison." Awesome!

Hopefully Obama won't catch too much flack in 2012 for hiring Hollywood's stoner hero.

By the way, if you haven't seen The Namesake (starring Kal Penn!), check it out. Mira Nair directed a quiet little coming-of-age story that quietly unfolds into a stunning character drama about family, love, and identity. One of those few movies I'll watch all the way through whenever it comes on cable (along with Annie Hall and Speed, if you're wondering).

Petition Obama to Create a Secretary for the Arts

Sign here!

(thanks, Leonard!)

Residents of Wasilla, AK are the real "Real Americans"

Gawker on Sherry Johnson's (mother of Levi, Bristol Palin's fiancee/baby daddy) recent arrest on charges of selling oxycontin:

This is a sad and not-at-all entertaining story of broke-ass bored trashy people in a miserable unhealthy little sprawling town using and selling drugs to briefly escape the dull pain of their shitty lives, and it would not be news that the mother of a high school dropout who's marrying some idiot girl he impregnated was arrested for using drugs except that at some point we were all instructed to admire these exalted Real Americans.

Well said, Gawker!

problem with america

Headline on the huffington post: Black Friday Stampede Kills Worker At Wal-Mart. Unfortunately not a joke, just a sad and sickening display of Americans desperate to shop.

Looks like the WALL-E prohecy is coming true already.

Vatican "forgives" John Lennon for Jesus Joke

Someone at the Vatican finally figured out that whole "irony" thing.

holy crap

Campbell Robertson is going to Iraq. From The New York Observer:

“We were out last night and he was picking my brain on Iraq,” said Times Baghdad bureau chief Jim Glanz in a telephone interview on June 17. “He said that people have been asking him when he’s going to Iraq. And he said he’ll go once the Tonys are over!”...

“Look, he’s an untraditional war correspondent the way a lot of us are,” said Mr. Glanz, who was a science writer before leaving for Baghdad four years ago. “He’s coming from a different background and point of view from everyone else there. And right now, we can use some fresh ideas and perspectives.”

You can't argue with that, we sure do need a new perspective. What a cool, brave, and unexpected move from the Times' lead theater reporter. I look forward to reading his coverage of what's really happening over there.

Also - if you haven't seen it yet, you must immediately get a copy of No End In Sight, Charles Ferguson's enraging and illuminating documentary on the war in Iraq. You will be shocked at how little we Americans actually know about the real situation, and all that the Bush administration has done to dig the Iraqis into an inescapable hole. Watch it, get mad, and then tell all your friends.

Obama: the Casting Director's Pick

I'm no political blogger, but I think Obama is going to win the presidency. Know why? Because it's good casting.

Okay, that sounds naiive. But think about it - if you were auditioning for the role of the American President, who would be the most compelling in the role? This exercise isn't about policy, politics, experience, or who is "best" for the job. But sheerly in terms of who you would cast in the role of Great American President, admit it - it's Obama. Edwards is too pretty, too soft, not grounded and solid enough. Clinton isn't quite right - she's powerful, but doesn't inspire the right kind of confidence. You might want to love her, but it's not easy or natural. The republicans all look like washed up jerks, not inspiring leaders. If the presidency was a casting project, Obama would get the first offer.

The thing is, policy, issues, experience, of course they matter. But I think that Americans look at politics through the prism of the entertainment industry, and American Idol is where we live now. And as optimistic as I'd like to be about the American public, I think the judgement of who to vote for is a lot more about that first snap judgement (the casting decision) than we'd like to believe. Do I trust this person? Do they seem ready to lead? I'm betting these questions have waaay more weight in the rest of the country than we oh-so-informed New Yorkers want to believe.

Not to mention, the guy's got Oprah on his side, and that really never fails.

Thoughts on The U.S. Vs. John Lennon

I watched The U.S. Vs. John Lennon last night, and (shocker) it made me think.

The film focuses on the period when Lennon transitioned from pop star to political activist, using his worldwide fame to make himself a sort of bullhorn for the anti-war movement. Lennon realized that when he played "I Wanna Hold Your Hand", the whole world heard it, and so if he played something with the message of peace, the whole world would hear that, too. And so he and Yoko began saying it, "Peace", as loudly as possible, whenever possible, galvanizing millions of fans with the message that violence isn't the answer, and giving them a singular, condensed message to sing to their foes - "All we are saying is give peace a chance".

The U.S., led by Nixon's administration of deceipt and illegality, wasn't too keen on Lennon's simple, concise demand that they "Declare peace." It was idealistic, uncomplicated, and a powerful response to the fearmongering of the Vietnam era that rings frighteningly familiar today. Conservatives organized bonfire burnings of Beatles albums, and immigration tried over and over to send Lennon "back to Liverpool". In fact, Lennon's FBI file shows that the correspondence to deport him went as high as the oval office. Once Lennon started singing about revolution and peace, Nixon wanted him out!

Lennon was so effective as a political activist because he was already famous. There are SO many parallels between that era and our current situation, and many are saying "where is the outrage?" "where are the protesting students?" "Where are the protests songs on the radio?" Well, in the 60's and 70's, Lennon was a familiar celebrity that young people were willing to be led by. He wasn't just more popular than Jesus - he was fiercely intelligent and fiercely skeptical of the system, and people listened to him.

Today the political climate again cries out for protest, but who will lead in Lennon's style? Our biggest celebrities aren't serious artists, but reality television personalities, child stars grown into substance abusers, and hotel heiresses who can barely speak. Sure, we have celebs like George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio, but they aren't as compelling, and their celebrity is nowhere near that of Lennon's, or of Britney Spears' for that matter. We've abandoned real artists for corporate-manufactured idols, and now we are a generation desperately in need of an eloquent, popular voice. We are outraged, but there is nobody in sight to tell the world about it.

[The photo up there is of Lennon and Yoko Ono's "bed-in", during their honeymoon in 1969. They knew the media would follow them wherever they spent their honeymoon, so the couple decided to spend it in bed, surrounded by signs for peace, and invite the media in to talk about their message. Journalists expecting saucy "John and Yoko's honeymoon frolic" photos were disappointed. The couple, surrounded by guests, recorded "Give Peace a Chance" during the bed-in.]