Bradley's Buzz

No rights not so right

I don't like to get political on this blog but since it is Bradley's Buzz and I'm Bradley I'm gonna buzz.... It's been about one year since I woke up in the morning to find out one of my rights was taken away by a majority of people who don't even know who the hell I am. Today, I woke up with the same feeling since Maine has now lost their gay marriage rights.

Maine made a Legislative law that gay marriage was legal and of course anti-gay bigots decided to turn it to the people because you know the majority rules is always, always the right course of action. I don't care what anybody says if there were to be a new proposition to take away marriage between black and white people there are certainly places the majority would rule for it. That's because there are twisted, sick, overly religious, over judgemental, overpowered people everywhere. People are selfish and want what they think is best for them. The court is supposed to step in some cases where those selfish people are not capable of making the right decision.

The courts in Maine knew that, the courts in California knew that, the courts in 4 other states know that and yet people can come in and vote away rights. That's exactly what it is. If the law says that you can do something but I can't, then that my pals is a civil right violation.

In Washington, the government decided that since all these religious zealots keep saying you can have your civil unions and domestic partnerships just as long as you don't call it marriage (an idea that also permeates in the head of our elected Obama), they would come up with the "Everything But Marriage" Act. It sounds perfect - everyone is happy despite the whole separate but equal imposition - but again those opposed to anything gay decided to throw it on the ballot. I guess "you can call it anything but marriage" was still too big of a crumb to throw to your fellow citizens.

I can't tell anyone enough how this whole thing boils down to religion and people who think being gay is a choice. After all what a choice one could make - in other countries gay people are punished by death and somehow it seems to me had someone asked them if they would now choose to be straight, some may, just may, turn around and say, "Fine I'm straight. Can I live now? After all this was all just the wrong decision." Bullshit.

Wanda Sykes mentions in one of her comedy specials that if gay people are choosing to be gay doesn't that mean that straight people are choosing not to be gay. "Why do you choose to live your life as a gay?" well "Why did you choose to be straight?" Some in other minorities believe they fought for something more important, they were born black, Asian, Indian etc. Well I can whole heartily say I was born gay.

The people who feel this gay fight is not akin to the civil rights fights before also seem to think gay people can pass where a black man walks into a room and everyone knows he's black, well I can also atone to the fact that when I walk into a room, people know I'm gay - they have always known that. Now sure I could probably take some asinine class to show me how to walk, talk more masculine and perhaps "pass"... but doesn't all that seem a little like the thing that light skinned black people also went through?

It's all a bunch of bullshit, because gay marriage, gay civil rights, anti-discrimination laws and the like have nothing to do with religion. Our country may have religious backdrops but the fact was the people who came over and stomped over the civil rights of those crazy natives that lived here, came here so they could have freedom.

Well I want freedom - I want my rights and I want the rights for everyone. Our government is supposed to separate church and state so that the Catholics can't make everything under Catholic theology, so the Mormons can't make everything under Mormon mythology, so the Atheists can't make everyone see the world as they do. The laws are about people and not about what particular religions or ideas rule. We are all people.

The other arguments of the horrible slippery slope of moral decay has nothing to do with me and it has nothing to do with others religious beliefs. I think a world where everyone is equal sounds pretty nice and peaceful to me. The implications of what happens in my bedroom as a gay person is just as much their business as what happens in their house. I don't care, why the hell do they care so much about me?

Gay marriage is a marriage between two people of the same sex, if you do not want to get married to a person of the same sex, no one is forcing you do it. So how can I be forced to not do it. Or even worse being able to do it in one place and not in another.

The thing is the opposition states this is about marriage but it's not, it's about hating gay people. They don't want us to get married because they don't want us around. These people want us to repent, to change who we are or to die. Harsh, sure, but no matter how they 'tolerate' us or how many 'gay friends' they have, it's all rubbish. If Maggie Gallagher really has a gay friend I want to meet him so I can slap his face for hanging out with such a retched character.

I don't know where our next stop on this horrible twisted ride into gay Apartheid will take us but I do know that until that damn DOMA is knocked down, this is going to go on forever with more and more states giving rights, people taking them away until something is going to snap.

I was never been so fired up and proud as I was when the GLBT groups rose up and protested against the passage of Prop 8. This is a fight and we need to rise up and keep fighting. I don't know how exactly to do that, since every time there is a loss it feels like a part of your soul has been ripped out, but I do know that this can't end. We need to regroup and do it again and again but I have to say we really need the government to step in - until then we are just going to go through heartache after heartache.

Obama was voted in for change, I guess the gay community was left out of that change. I am happy and pleased that we got a few rights and the Matthew Shepard Act was finally brought onto the books, but come on - this is America.

After all of this, I have to say because California gave the LGBT people marriage rights before they were taken away, the Leivas and I are one of the 18,000 who are still legally married in California.. but that just means I'm separate in my state from the rest of the country (DOMA) and we're separate from those couples who want to get married post-Prop 8. I want rights for all of us and I don't want people I don't know telling me what they think is right is right and what I think is right is wrong. It's not their call.

Labels: Gay Marriage, Maine Question 1, Politics, Prop H8

posted by swivek @ 10:04 AM 0 comments

Polidicks and Swivek Picks Part 2

Last night the Leivas and I sat tuned into our wonderful television to watch the first ever Logo Human Right Campaign sponsored Political debate. Apparantly, everyone running for both Republican and Democratic parties and beyond were invited to come by and voice their ideas. Surprisingly, not a single Republican came by - some refused to even respond to the invitation. So instead it was one party but hey, that's not all that surprising. What was surprising was some of the answers that came from the presidentail hopefuls - of course at this point, not only are they trying to be president, first they're trying to get the Democratic endorsement.

Hilary was there and she was of course well spoken and quite mesmerizing. This woman can answer a question with grace and dignity and surprisingly give you a little bit of a history lesson as well, she definitely knows her shizz. As for Obama, well he was surprising to me as well, he's all for the civil rights of LGTB people including domestic partnerships and civil unions, but alas, neither Hil nor Obama wants anything to do with calling such a union "marriage." But in their defense, they would like us to have the rights.

The surprises for me came from three unlikely hopefuls - the good, the bad and the so fricking awesome - first former Alaskan (??) senator Mike Gravel hasn't been in office since 1981 and is probably as old as my grandfather having put his first bill into action in the 40's (as in 1940's) but he is cool. He is a little out there and that's what I like in people - he's all for rights of all kinds and thinks people are people so why should it be that we should get along so awfully, or something like that.

Then there's New Mexico governor, can't think of his name but it's something like Liar Liar Pants On Fire I wouldn't vote for you, or something like that. He was all about how he has moved things forward in his state and blah blah blah, when asked by Melissa Etheridge (a former resident of New Mexico) if he thought people chose to be gay he actually said "Yes" before back tracking and then coming up with some round about answer for just about anything - basically I have found if the politicians don't answer questions with a restounding yes or no and then somehow meander all over the forum losing track of the question, my thought is their answer is the wrong one. Update: Just found his name it's Bill "Poopy head" Richardson.

But then a surprise came in someone I had never even heard of - a man all about love and should he ever really come to office, this world would be such a wonderful place. His name is Dennis Kucinich from Ohio and I love him. He is the only person on the forum who when asked to fill out a form on what he supports of issues that gay people generally support actually chose each and every one. When asked about same sex marriage he simply replied that it was a question of "whether you really believe in equality, I stand for real equality."

John Edwards was also on the panel but like the other 'mainstream' runners, he did nothing to really impress me. I don't know how much more politics, gay bashing, gay marriage talks, fighting, sneering, and round about talks I can deal with, but at least I can say I know who is now running and what they do and do not support.

You can find out more about the debate at the website: www.visiblevote08.logoonline.com/

and with that I think it's time I brought a little lightness into our dark world, and since it seems today is all about gay, gay, gay - why not have some gay music?

Swivek has completed, for the most part, the songs for our forthcoming album Into The Blue - of the somewhat upbeat and happy songs is one I'm particurlarly proud of - a little anthem about breaking down the closet doors and standing up for who you are! I call it "Fabulous" and hope you will do the same.

You can hear it at the Swivek My Space page! So run over and listen, and tell us what you think.

Listen to Fabulous here!

Labels: Dennis Kuchinich, Life In La La Land, My Space, Politics, Swivek

posted by swivek @ 10:54 AM 0 comments

Polidicks and Swivek Picks Part One

Today, I got this email from actor Peter Paige:

An Urgent Message from Peter Paige:

I’m writing you because I just learned that the “reverend” from hell, Fred Phelps, is coming to town on Saturday to “conduct an outdoor religious service in fag-ridden Los Angeles.”

This is the same guy with the “God Hates Fags” website who protested the funeral of Matthew Shepard and shows up with “Thank God for AIDS” signs at the funerals of others. And now he’s coming to West Hollywood to spew his venom.

Let’s (literally) send Phelps a message, not by confronting him and giving him more publicity, but by turning his hate speech into something positive for our community.

He’s planning to be at the intersection of Santa Monica and San Vicente for 3 hours, starting at 1:30 on Saturday. I’d love for everyone who is as disgusted by him as I am to pledge at least $10 to the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center—more if you can—for every hour he is going to be here spouting hate.
The Center will earmark the money for its homeless youth services and after he leaves, I’m going to personally send Fred a message thanking him for helping us raise money to support LGBT youth. I’d love to tell him he helped us raise thousands!
Thanks for clicking here to make a donation and help me send him that message.

Best,

Peter

Okay, I'm not asking you guys to send money like Mr. Paige (though every little bit might help)but I thought I'd post this so everyone who stumbles across my blog, can see what kind of people are out there. This bastard is showing up in my neighborhood, yes my neighborhood - the corner of Santa Monica & San Vicente is where my bank is, it's a block from my local grocery store, it's three blocks from my house and what can you do about it?

If people protest (and believe me they will) it will just bring more publicity to this asshole's agenda. I've said it before and I'll continue to say just like God made me gay, he made others plain stupid and it's not really my place to interfere with God's plan, but something tells me he did NOT nor would NOT endorse such blatant hatred ... and by the way should you even remotely support this man's actions 1. you might as well cut me off your email and life list immediately cause I don't have time for you, and 2. he has vowed to protest at the funerals of the people who died in the Minneapolis bridge collapse! Why? Well because America has supported gay people and God has sent his wrath down on them by making the bridge collapse. Because after all America's politic powers are completely in support of gay rights and has always been there to make everyone feel equal to each other. And of course there are some people out there who think this whole being gay is nothing but a choice.

After all who wouldn't choose to grow up being harassed and made fun of, getting beat up or on the lookout for anyone who may try to beat you up just because they think it would be fun or even worse killed for the very same reason, oh and of course those equal rights including 1100 laws, privelages and benefits that married couples can have are all washed away because of this choice, and don't forget how this choice can make it so easy to be fired from your job or lose your house. Yes, I can't imagine why more people don't choose to be gay!

If anyone has any suggestions on how I, a little blonde boy from Wisconsin can do something about this I'd love it - personally I was planning on going to Malibu on Saturday but now I'm all worked up!

Labels: Gay Rights, Peter Paige, Politics

posted by swivek @ 10:28 AM 0 comments

Sundays In La La Land

Sundays are supposed to be calm and sleepy but not when you live the life of a Bradley. It is so exciting living my life sometimes, it's at these special times when things are going so fast and furious I like to share a bit with my friends, family and complete strangers who drop by here every once in a while. So the past few weeks have been pretty hectic, a few Sundays ago we had brunch at Barney's Beanery with our old pal director Quinten Tarentino*

Then, last Sunday was the Oscars so for the week before all of Hollywood Boulevard by the Kodak Theater was blocked off. After winning my Oscar for the Most Believable Portrayal of a Midwesterner, Alf and I decided we were much too tired to hit the party scene, even though Elton John's Big Event is held at Morton's just down the street - we were just too tired. **

And then this Sunday, before I even had my clothes on there was a knock on the door as West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman came a knockin' to sit down and chat with the Leivas and me. After all we are practically West Hollywood royalty and our vote can make or break a politician in our little city. There is a vote tomorrow on 3 of the 6 city council members, all who rotate into mayor for a while and the biggest concern and headache for everyone here is remodeling apartments and old houses into mult story condos no one can afford. Alfred knew I had such concerns so after he let the politician in, he ran to the bedroom where as I said, I was naked, to tell me John was there. I tell you, it's just like me to be naked around a politican. I'm such a walking soap opera. So, I talked with the man, who incidentally has been on the city council since the city's inception in 1984 and was one of the men who turned the town into it's own city. He told me a few things I wanted to hear, and most importantly something I needed to hear - that my apartment building couldn't be turned into a condo very easity - first, there's no outside access from the apartments (i.e. no balconies etc.) and the parking isn't up to par for a condo and the building owner would need an 80% approval from its residents to convert. I think I may vote for this man, the other two he endorses, I'm still not so sure about. Politics are hard!***


Then after schmoozing with the city elite, the Leivas and I took in a little movie at the Arc Light in Hollywood with our old friend Ben from Queer As Folk. As I am so busy and selfish, I can never remember his real name so I just call him Ben from Queer As Folk - he likes that.****

and that's been my last few Sundays, what have you all been up to?



* Actually, Mr. Tarentino was in the booth next to us yacking it up with some chick - he didn't even pick up the Carlton Heights script I threw at him.
** 1. This is a real Oscar I'm holding - and it's frickin' heavy 2. I didn't win it nor was I able to take it home 3. Hollywood & Highland had a room dedicated to the Oscars and you could pick one up and take your pic with it. All the actual Oscars that were presented were there in a big case.
*** The mayor of West Hollywood really did come to visit. This is the only completely true story of the bunch.
**** We did go see a movie Happy Feet - which was awesome- Patrick, you would love it! The penguins use 'heart songs' to find each other and it's a bunch of 70's and 80's meshed together, and yes Ben was there but I don't know him and he didn't talk to us even after I threw a copy of Carlton Heights at him.

Labels: Bradley, John Heilman, Oscars, Politics, Queer As Folk, Tarentino, West Hollywood

posted by swivek @ 9:01 AM 1 comments