We've Got a Long Way to Go, Baby
This week President Obama will sign a federal hate crimes bill into law. Hallelujah. 11 years after Matthew Shepherd's death, no one will ever be able to commit such a heinous act without being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as a hate crime. It's about time. But obviously we still have a long way to go to to educate people and eradicate homophobia. Sadly, I suspect, like racism, it will always be an element in our society and permeate the way people think and act toward gay people.
Yesterday, having read the news that Obama would sign the Matthew Shepherd Bill into law, I felt pretty good. I ventured out the door to buy a cup of coffee. As I stood waiting in line at the Dunkin' Donuts, my eyes fell on a stack of that day's New York Post. On the cover was Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies. His torso was photoshopped onto a woman's body wearing a cheer leading skirt. The caption read "Only in the City of Brotherly Love would Victorino be considered a slugger." Whack! Homophobia slaps you in the face. Way to stay classy, Post. Sure, it was a slam against Philadelphia as a second-rate city, but with strong homophobic overtones.
Just a few days ago Scott was saying to me "Remember those Scholastic Book orders from elementary school? You'd go home and ask you mom for money and then weeks later the books would arrive and you forgot all about them. It was so exciting. It was like getting a present." I have the same memories. Then Scott sent me this article that appeared in
The Stranger. It seems the powers that be at Scholastic Books are exercising homophobic censorship. Go to the link to read the full story, but apparently they asked an author who featured a set of same-sex parents in her book to edit them out in favor of a heterosexual couple. Thankfully, she refused.
I had the opportunity to educate someone this weekend about homophobia, but I unfortunately I failed. I was hosting a garage sale out at my parent's house in New Jersey. A woman came by with a couple of kids, one of whom was in a Boy Scout uniform. He was about 12 or 13. He was selling Christmas wreaths to benefit the Boy Scouts. First he approached Scott who told the boy he didn't live there, and passed him off to me. I stalled passing him off to my mother as "the lady of the house". She didn't want to order any wreath from the Boy Scouts either, but gave the kid a small donation instead, mostly to spare us all any more awkward moments.
After that, the kid went to ring other doorbells on the block while his mother stayed behind and browsed among the Garage Sale items. Now, I didn't want to burst the kid's bubble by telling him I think the Boy Scouts are a bunch of homophobic bigots. But I did have the opportunity to say to his mother after he left "You know, I didn't want to order anything that would support the Scouts because they discriminate against people like me." I wanted to tell her that the only men I ever knew who made it to Eagle Scout are gay. I wanted to tell her that municipalities across the country (including the
City of Brotherly Love) are doing the right thing and not allowing a discriminatory organization to hold meetings in municipal buildings. But I didn't. I thought she might buy something so I didn't want to offend her. I sold out my civil rights for a potential $5 garage sale transaction. Way to stay classy, Michael.
PS She didn't buy anything.
Please, do better than I did. Speak up when you have the opportunity.
UPDATES: The
LAPD has cut ties with a spin off group of the Boy Scouts as the group's discriminatory policy against LGBT youth and leaders is at odds with the city's non-discrimination policy as is the case in more and more cities and municipalities across the country. It's hard to be happy about it, though. Scouting could be such a wonderfully positive organization for boys. And it's the kids who lose in the name of "protecting" them.
Also, Scholastic Books has released a
somewhat confusing statement regarding the
Luv Ya Bunches controversy. They insist they do not censor, but rather "review" books for inclusion in their clubs and fairs. (The LGBT thing aside, isn't asking an author to clean up language a form of censorship?) Also, they say that
Luv Ya Bunches eventually passed review for their middle school book fairs. This is an interesting distinction since the book is about 4 elementary school girls and according to
Amazon.com, is recommended for a 9 to 12 year old reading level. Pre-middle school age.
Labels: Current Events, Homophobia
Misogyny Triple Play
Following the landfall of Hurricane Gustav mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, who was somehow re-elected after his somewhat dubious leadership through Katrina remarked that this storm was not as bad as Katrina. The storm was being described as "the mother of all storms" despite its male name. Nagin said "I wouldn't call it the mother of all storms, more like the mother-in-law or ugly sister."
There ya go! Insult every female member of the family! Congratulations on your misogynistic triple play, Ray! And he's a Democrat. Yikes.
Labels: Current Events
Have a Nice Day!
Yesterday the NYPD revealed with much fanfare something called Operation TORCH. It is supposed to act as a deterrent for would-be terrorists and involves teams of riot police armed with automatic weapons and bomb-sniffing dogs who will be situated in various subway stations throughout the city. What a welcome sight for a sleepy morning commuter on his way to work.
The team (or teams) will be deployed to different subway stations every day. So, you may see them one day and gone the next. But I'm not sure their presence would make me feel any safer. In fact, it might make me feel less safe, as if the reason I'm seeing them is because an attack is imminent. I'm all for protecting the subway system, but there has to be a less in-your-face way to do it.
Besides that, the fact of the matter is that if someone is bound and determined to bomb the subway system they are going to do it, Operation TORCH or no. With the teams in different stations everyday, don't they think a would-be terrorist would find out where they are on the given day of a planned attack and just enter the system at another station? Then all they have to do is ride into Times Square and pull the trigger, light the fuse, pull the pin, or whatever one does to set off a bomb. I suppose I shouldn't complain about this new means of security--maybe it will deter attacks. Who knows? But I can't help seeing it as just another depressing sign of the times in which we live.
Labels: Current Events, Only In New York
Hazard: Crane Collapse
About a month ago the category for
Glenn & Dave's weekly photo challenge was "Hazard". So I dutifully ran around town snapping photos of things that looked hazardous to me. On my way to work I took a photo of this crane precariously situated over 51st and Second Avenue. Today,
that crane came crashing down, breaking in two, flattening a small 4 story apartment building and damaging two larger ones, in one case shearing off a corner of the building and the apartments it contained. This is yet another construction accident in what seems like a record number this year. This particular site was cited for nine safety violations in January. Nine. So far, four people are reported dead due to this accident and 17 injured, some seriously.
Scott and I first got word of the collapse from our friend,
The Flaming Curmudgeon, who lives in the neighborhood and witnessed the commotion minutes after the fact as emergency vehicles arrived on the scene. Check out
his blog for a first-hand account and some haunting photos.
Below is another shot of the construction site in the distance as it appeared on February 7th, just two blocks south of the one in the foreground. As far as I know, Plaza Construction had nothing to do with the site of the crane collapse.
Beware the Ides of March.
Labels: Current Events, Only In New York
Random Musings
I've been trying to figure out all day what to blog about, but I got nothing. So I'll just subject you to my random thoughts and musings of the day.
1. The big story over the weekend is the
Obama Sweep in Democratic primaries and caucuses. He now leads Clinton by several states but somehow still lags behind in delegates. The delegate thing is kind of making me crazy. It would be one thing to just calculate the delegates for each state proportionately by the voting percentages, but then you have to figure in super-delegates. What the hell is a super-delegate anyway? Now, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but near as I can figure out these are extra delegates reserved for Washington insiders and elected officials that somehow count more than normal voter delegates and are pledged before the actual primaries. Also super-delegates are not obligated to vote with their constituency. Something about it seems crooked to me. But then if Obama was ahead in the delegate count I'd have no problem with super-delegates. And I freely admit that.
I have to be careful though. I don't want to be categorized as an "Obamamaniac". These people are accused of having a rabid affection for the man the fervor of which could be detrimental to him in the end. There was an
Op-Ed piece about it in the NY Times today.
2. The Grammy's happened this weekend, too. Big whoop. This is an awards show I never watch mostly because I don't care about the rapper of the year or the country music album of the year and don't follow popular music much at all, so it's all Greek to me. Who is this Amy Winehouse of which you speak? Oh--but I do know that Obama won a Grammy for spoken word. The man is a brilliant speaker. I watched the Will.i.am
"Yes We Can" video today and bawled. Seriously.
Oops. Obamamaniac.
3. The hot topic on all the gay blogs today on the interwebs is the Gays' support of Hillary 2 to 1. The numbers are based on exit polls in California and New York, both states where Clinton won by a comfortable lead, one of which happens to be her home state. Gays were not polled in Illinois where Obama won the primary due probably in no small part to Chicago's sizable gay population. Hillary gave
an interview to the Washington Blade (Some of my best friends are gay!) in which she says she talks about gay issues "all the time." She also brings up the unfortunate Donnie McClurkin/Obama connection.
4. It's really freakin' cold here. 11 degrees this morning. With a wind chill of -6.
5. I was invited to the final dress rehearsal of the City Center
Encores! reading of the 1970 musical
Applause last Thursday. It starred Christine Ebersole, whom you'll recall I LOVED in Gray Gardens. She had the flu which was disappointing. I was there with a dear friend who was involved with the project so I was inclined to root for the success of it. It's not a great show though. For a passionate but unfavorable review of it, check out what the Flaming Curmudgeon has to say. His reviews are often more entertaining than the show he's reviewing. You can also read my extensive commentary in the comments section of his post.6. With the writers strike Scott and I have run out of good TV to watch, so we started DVRing some cable series which I'm totally getting hooked on:
In Treatment on HBO and
Breaking Bad on AMC.
In Treatment is right up my alley--characters in therapy sessions, very little action but extensive character development, lots of psycho-babble.
Breaking Bad on the other hand is a surprise to me. It deals with a seamy drug underworld and has a bit of violence, but I find the very human side of the situation very moving.
7. In other TV news, Scott inadvertently sent me a spoiler today on who the Project Runway final four are. I won't spill the beans, but I like (almost) all of the final contestants. They are all certainly worthy of having a spot at Fashion week.
And that is all.
Labels: Blogging, Current Events, Gay Politics, Politics, Pop Culture
Remind You of Anyone?
Remember the movie
Election? I loved it. With the tone of the current democratic primary races I can't help be reminded of it. Apparently I'm not alone. My sister sent this. Enjoy the clip!
Labels: Current Events, Humor, Politics
New Year's Eve Goes Green! Kind of...
To mark the 100th anniversary of the famous ball drop on New Year's Eve this year and in keeping with the times, the glittery ball in Times Square
will go green. That's right! More than 9,500 energy efficient LED bulbs created by Philips will be used to light the ball. They will be twice as bright as the combination of incandescent and halogen bulbs used last year and will use about as much electricity as 10 toasters. Held against the 672 Waterford crystals that cover the ball's surface, the new LED lights are capable of creating more than 16 million colors--although most of them will probably
be blue.
Any good the new LED lights will do the environment will surely be cancelled out by the more than
2,000 pounds of paper confetti that will be dumped into the crowd below along with hundreds of balloons that will drift out to sea, pollute the ocean and cause choking hazards for dolphins. Oh well. I guess it's a start. Happy New Year, everyone!
Labels: Current Events
Steam Heat
Whew! I missed it by 12 blocks. Normally I'd be home by 6:15, the time of New York's steam explosion yesterday, but things were particularly busy at my day job, so I stayed late. I left at exactly 6:15. By time I reached the subway at 53rd and Lexington the MTA was making announcements that service on the 4, 5 and 6 trains was suspended from 86th street to the Brooklyn Bridge. As I boarded my E train I thanked my lucky stars (once again) that I don't live on the East Side and therefore would be damned to use the 4,5,6 trains on a regular basis--a nightmare on any given day at rush hour, but even worse yesterday.
When I got home and flipped on the TV I saw images like the one above and having been scarred by 9/11, immediately thought: TERRORISM. But after listening to the newscast for a few minutes I was relieved to learn that it was just an old steam pipe.
Labels: Current Events, Only In New York
Too Much Information
When
Google Earth first launched I was a little shocked at the stunning clarity of the images and details of landmarks, buildings and businesses that could so effortlessly be accessed by anyone with a computer and a cable modem. Recently I've read on a couple of
other blogs that I'm not alone in my concern that this information can easily be seen by just about anyone.
So, it was only a matter of time before we read
something like this:Four men have been charged with conspiring to blow up jet fuel supply tanks and pipelines at John F. Kennedy International Airport...Officials said the "defendants obtained satellite photographs of JFK airport and its facilities from the Internet and traveled frequently among the United States, Guyana and Trinidad to discuss their plans and solicit the financial and technical assistance of others."
Well who didn't see that one coming?
Labels: Computers, Current Events
Nero Fiddles While Rome Burns
While our young men and women in Iraq fear roadside and suicide bombers on a daily basis where over 3,000 American troops have already been killed, Karl Rove got down with his bad self last night at the
Radio and Television Correspondence Dinner dancing around as "M.C. Rove" and in general making an ass of himself.
The man has no shame.
Watch the video
here. Labels: Current Events, Politics
Oh, the Irony!
Well, it's been quite a week for irony. Yes, indeed boys and girls. Let's see, where to begin? How about with one of my favorite people:
Grey's Anatomy star, Isaiah Washington. Somehow,
the NAACP has decided to honor Mr. Washington at this year's
Image Awards for best actor in a Dramatic Series. Interesting. I had no idea the "image" the NAACP was trying to promote involved anti-gay epithets. If you click on the link for the Image Awards you will notice that the words "The ideals of civil and human rights" flash across the screen. If those ideals involve hate speech, I suggest the NAACP aim higher.
Next, we have Matt Sanchez of the US Marine Corp. who has been paraded around on all the conservative talk shows as the poor put-upon corporal who has been unjustly taunted for his service in Iraq by those ne'er-do-well radicals on the Columbia University campus where Sanchez, 36, is a junior. You can click here to watch a clip of his tale of woe. Well, it seems our military hero has quite a past--in GAY PORN! Yes, bloggers like Joe.My.God. and Tom Bacchus first reported on the story yesterday. Sanchez also appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week where Ann Coulter made her now infamous "f*ggot" remarks. At the event Sanchez posed for photos along side such champions of family values like Newt Gingrich, among others. Sanchez, who also works as a New York City escort, uses the nom de porn Rod Majors. Ironically, one of his credits includes a compilation video titled Patriot Ass.
Finally, you may remember Andrew Giuliani as the annoying fat kid who stood next to the podium and made funny faces while his father, Rudolph Giuliani, made his inaugural mayoral address back in 1994. Now it seems that there is bad blood between father and son, and not over the funny faces. The younger Giuliani has stated that he will not participate in his father's presidential campaign, placing higher priority on his golf game and says that he and his father have been estranged for quite some time. Rudolph attributes the tension to a strained relationship between his children and his current wife, Judith Nathan. Perhaps that tension originated when Mayor Giuliani tried to move Nathan, his then mistress, into Gracie Mansion with his children and wife, actress Donna Hanover, before the two were divorced. The city (and common decency) stepped in saying the move was inappropriate. Giuliani then moved from Gracie Mansion and into the home of some friends--a gay couple. Rudolph Giuliani hopes to become the Republican Presidential nominee, the party that claims to uphold conservative family values.
Labels: Current Events, Gay Culture, Gay Politics, Politics, Pop Culture
Jet Blues
This morning in my inbox I
received an email from
JetBlue with the subject heading "An Apology from
JetBlue." At first I deleted it. I'm on their email list since I've flown with them a few times and I get an email about once every two weeks or so advertising some special fare or other. But this time I decided to retrieve it from my deleted mail and check out just what they had to say for themselves.
As in their press releases, sound bites and television appearances of their CEO, they own up to their mistakes and are falling all over themselves apologizing for their mishandling of last week's weather situation. They have even instituted their own passenger
Bill of Rights. Anyway, here's a bit from the email:
"Words cannot express how truly sorry we are for the anxiety, frustration and inconvenience that we caused. This is especially saddening because JetBlue was founded on the promise of bringing humanity back to air travel and making the experience of flying happier and easier for everyone who chooses to fly with us. We know we failed to deliver on this promise last week."
While I would probably have been tearing my hair out, cursing flight attendants and banging on the windows to get off that plane had I been one of those passengers sitting on the tarmac for 11 hours last week, I still say I'd probably fly
JetBlue again. Other airlines who've been around a lot longer have made similar bad judgement calls. In fact I remember sitting on the tarmac for 5 hours once before take-0ff, but I couldn't even tell you what airline it was now. Sure, part of the reason I'd fly them again is that they're a bargain airline (especially now) but there are reasons I choose them over other bargain airlines--I like them.
I like that the company is employee owned. I like the comfy blue leather seats. I like that there is no first class. I like my private TV screen with channels I actually enjoy watching. I like that they serve food out of wicker baskets instead of those cumbersome rolling carts that block access to the restrooms during service. I like the friendly, sometimes even sarcastic nature of the staff which actually takes a bit of getting used to at first. And I like the prices--a LOT. So I'm inclined to forgive them and chalk it up to growing pains. If their aim is to bring humanity back to air travel, isn't part of being human making mistakes? At least they apologize for theirs. Also, I personally have never had a bad experience with
JetBlue. So, yeah, I'll be back.
How about you? Ever flown
JetBlue? What was your experience like and would you fly them in the future?
Update 12:45 PM: Oops, "my bad" as they say. I erroneously stated that
JetBlue is employee owned, confusing it with other airlines who have gone that route in recent years.
JetBlue was founded in 1999, it did not go public until 2002. Thanks to
KipEsquire for the clarification. The question remains however, would you fly
JetBlue in the future in light of their recent operational nightmare?
Labels: Corporate America, Current Events
Storm Watch '07
The
local weathermen are working themselves into a frenzy over the "big nor'easter" we're supposed to be getting. They're saying things like "Snow, sleet, freezing rain--it's a
doozy!" Snowfalls are expected to total six inches. SIX INCHES! Big whoop--tell that to
Oswego. Still, it's nice to settle in for the night with some hot tea and brace for the storm--such as it is. It was conditioned in me since childhood that this particular kind of snowfall, one that starts late at night and is supposed to continue through dawn, is the best kind. It means the roads won't be clear before school starts and will most likely result in a snow day. A snow day!
With tomorrow being Valentine's Day, I thank my lucky stars that I'm no longer in the flower business. Getting all the flower deliveries out for an ordinary Valentine's Day is hellish enough, let alone trying to do it in the slush and ice of a winter storm. My condolences to all the florists out there. Better you than me.
Labels: Current Events
Come Look at the Freaks
This past week in review has presented opportunities for such blog lampooning one hardly knows where to begin. In fact, some of the stories don't even need lampooning, they simply speak for themselves.
Take for example
Ted Haggard who says after three months of counseling he's "completely heterosexual." There. No commentary needed. It's perfect just as it is. Say it slowly "Ted Haggard completely heterosexual." Funny, right?
But maybe not as funny (or tragic) as the Depend Undergarment-wearing astronaut,
Lisa Nowak, who crossed the country from Houston to Orlando fatal attraction style with such urgency that not even bathroom breaks figured into her plan to commit murder against a romantic rival. Nut. Job.
And that brings us to story number three, the death of
Anna Nicole Smith who collapsed and died a mysterious death in a Miami hotel room. Anna leaves behind a five month old daughter and a paternity suit circus worthy of the true reality TV star/gold digger/Playmate of the Year she was. It will include not only the two men in her life we already knew about but also one of
Zsa Zsa Gabor's ex-husbands. Again, no commentary needed.
God Bless America! And no one else.
Labels: Current Events, Gay Culture
In Honor of Microsoft's Vista
My Dad sent me this. (below) It makes a pretty good argument for switching to a Mac but I hate change. I only switched over to the "new blogger" the other day and I think they tricked me into it. Now I have problems with paragraphs--any one else experience that? I have to do my posts in Html to make it work right. I hate Html. Happy Wednesday. Enjoy!
For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on. At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon." In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating: If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part):
1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash........ Twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.
4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.
5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive -- but would run on only five percent of the roads.
6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light.
7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.
8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off. Please share this with your friends who love -- but sometimes hate -- their computers!
Labels: Computers, Consumerism, Current Events, Humor
Death of a Champion
The story of last year's Kentucky Derby winner,
Barbaro, has really touched me for some reason. As I'm sure you know by now he suffered a tragic injury at the Preakness last year. Every effort was made to help him heal but in the end he was in much too much pain. His owners were forced to make the difficult decision to euthanize him on Monday. I don't follow horse racing all that much, but ever since I had a job that took me to Louisville a few times during Derby season, I always feel a bit nostalgic when I watch the coverage on
TV.
My friend Dave, a Louisville native, hosted me for the Derby one year and made sure I got to all the best parties. I was struck by the welcoming and friendly community and the way the whole town, no matter who they are, celebrates the event. It was a great weekend.
Smarty Jones was the winner that year. He was a
long shot as I recall even though his record that season was undefeated. He went on to win the Preakness and I thought for sure that Smarty Jones, MY very first Derby winner, would go on to be the first horse in years to win the Triple Crown. But by time the Belmont Stakes came around he had slowed down. The sports commentators said he was tired. He was washed up by the end of the season.
It struck me how like a dancer the career of a thoroughbred is so tragically short. None of us wants to think of our prime being over in the blink of an eye like that--maybe that's why Barbaro's death has received so much media coverage. It speaks to us all.
Labels: Current Events, History, Personal, Sports
Running to Rehab!
Now I've heard everything! After meeting with ABC execs and agreeing to "examine the issues" that lead to his homo-hating ways, Isaiah Washington, in the great tradition of Mel Gibson and taking a cue from scandal-ridden Mark Foley,
has decided to enter rehab! REHAB! As in "It's not my fault I'm a hate filled bigot--blame it on the drugs?" even though he appeared perfectly sober when he uttered the F word yet again at the Golden Globe press conference last week. But on closer examination of the press releases about this story, no where does it say that it is drug or alcohol rehab. It just says a "treatment facility" to examine his issues. So what is that exacty? A psych ward?
Why is it that rehab has suddenly become the safe haven for every pathetic, loose-canon celebrity? Gimme a break! Does anyone buy this? And what a disservice it does to those men and women struggling in rehab facilities for legitimate reasons. I guess this is what Washington is paying his
team of "crisis management" specialists the big bucks for. Ugh! I feel like throwing up.
Labels: Current Events, Gay Culture, Homophobia, Pop Culture
Only a Suggestion
Well, it seems everyone is weighing in on the Isaiah Washington/T.R. Knight controversy. Even alternative rocker John Mayer has posted a novel way to deal with the situation on
his personal blog. He suggests that Washington's
Grey's Anatomy character come out as gay on the show thus giving Washington an opportunity to walk in the shoes of a gay man while playing his role.
While one can't argue the originality of the idea, there's only one little problem with it. It involves Washington's continued employment on the show. So, thanks for playing, John, but this is maybe not the best way to deal with the issue. You're still cute, though.
In a related
piece of news, Washington has fired his publicist in favor of "crisis management" team of experts.
Labels: Current Events, Gay Culture, Pop Culture
The Apology--at Last
Finally, Isaiah Washington has
issued a formal apology for his continued insensitivity in the "F*gg*tGate" controversy. I, for one, think it sounds like a sincere and well worded apology. But he should still be fired. Sorry. Anyway, here's his statement:
"I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance. By repeating the word Monday night, I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on "Grey's Anatomy." I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help.
I know the power of words, especially those that demean. I realize that by using one filled with disrespect, I have hurt more than T.R. and my colleagues. With one word, I've hurt everyone who has struggled for the respect so many of us take for granted. I welcome the chance to meet with leaders of the gay and lesbian community to apologize in person and to talk about what I can do to heal the wounds I've opened. T.R.'s courage throughout this entire episode speaks to his tremendous character. I hold his talent, and T.R. as a person, in high esteem. I know a mere apology will not end this, and I intend to let my future actions prove my sincerity."
Update: On second thought, maybe I'm not so convinced of Washington's sincerity. I came across
blogger Len's post in which he compares the"Greatest Hits Apologies" of the last year. The similar tone and language used in all of them really does make them sound ridiculous.
Labels: Current Events, Gay Culture, Gay Politics, Pop Culture
The Other F Word
By now you have probably heard about the ongoing feud between Grey's Anatomy stars TR Knight and Isaiah Washington. (GA cast pictured above) Sadly the mainstream media hasn't reported much about it. I've only really seen it reported on those crappy tabloid magazine shows and in the blogosphere. So if you're not into Access Hollywood or a big blog reader, here's a
quick update:
Back in October a scuffle on the set erupted between co-stars Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy) and Isaiah Washington. I think it had something to do with tardiness on the set. The altercation escalated to a point where Washington had his hands around Dempsey's throat yelling "I'm not your little f*gg*t like _____." Much speculation about who the "little f*gg*t" was ensued in the tabloid media, the most mainstream of the reports appearing in the New York Post, I believe. The use of the gay epithet was secondary in most stories. This prompted T.R. Knight, who many had named as the "little f*gg*t" in question, to give a report to People Magazine in which he came out as gay. End of story--until Monday nights Golden Globe Awards.
On the red carpet before the event, Isaiah Washington made some
bizarre unsolicited "pro-gay" remarks. No one is quite sure why. After Grey's Anatomy won best dramatic series,
in the pressroom the subject came up again prompting Washington to take the mic away from the spokesperson, show creator Shondra Rhimes, and blurt out "I did not call T.R. Knight a f*gg*t." Again using the F word. T.R. Knight has since appeared on the
Ellen DeGeneres Show stating that once again Washington is lying and the F word was in fact used.
Other cast members have said as much in interviews, too.
To me, Washington should have been fired for the physical violence toward Dempsey, alone. (Dempsey, ever macho, did not want to press the violence issue though.) But add to that the use of the F word and you have one pretty hostile work environment. Again--grounds for immediate dismissal in my opinion. The last company I worked for had that policy, why doesn't ABC?
The great irony in this story is that this ugly epithet came from an African American man--someone who should surely know how damaging this kind of hate speech can be. Yet NO one I've seen reporting the story has gone near that issue yet, except for blogger
AfterElton. In his article he compares the F word to the N word and states that if the situation were reversed the response not only from the network, but the entire mainstream media would have been quite different. Why this double standard?
In any fight for civil rights recurring issues and arguments come up. Many of the same arguments used during the black civil rights movement are now being used in the gay civil rights movement. Yet many in the black community resent the similarity. The argument is that one cannot hide skin color the way one can hide sexuality and certainly the forms of discrimination toward both groups manifest themselves in different ways. While that much is true--let's be real. Much of this resentment is based on homophobia.
But if you believe as I do, that skin pigmentation, like sexuality, is based on one's genetic make-up and that one genetic make up is no better or worse than any other and therefore should not be discriminated against, how can you NOT use the same arguments? The problem is that while there is some scientific evidence to support a genetic link to sexuality, we have yet to find that "smoking gun." And even when we do, it will be under reported. And those who just don't want to believe it won't and they will defend their constitutional right to their ignorance to the enth degree--like evolution. But I digress.
The long and the short of it is that ABC should take swift action to fire Washington as soon as possible. Every day ABC allows Washington to continue his contract they appear complicit with his remarks. Why are they okay with that?
Update: ABC is preparing to
release a statement saying they are "dismayed" by Washington's behavior and that the situation is "being addressed."
Labels: Current Events, Gay Culture, Gay Politics, Homophobia
