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queerVOICE
The Lady is a...
James Duggan ©2008 |
Thanks to C-SPAN I have had a gavel to gavel front row seat at the Democratic National Convention, direct from Denver, as if I was actually there. I have enjoyed watching DNC videos not shown on the national networks and cables. I have smiled at the excitement of the delegates and listened to the rarely seen and unreported speeches. Ordinary citizens, union leaders, local and national politicians, all were doing their party's business. You get a real taste of what the delegates actually experience.
One particular speech [read text] that should have been shown on the networks and cables was that of former U.S. Rep. Jim Leach, an Iowa Republican stalwart with close ties to the Bush family. These days mainstream media doesn't always have the "real" people in mind.
Leach stated that "in troubled times, it was understood that country comes before party, that in perilous moments mutual concern for the national interest must be the only factor in political judgments," and that "the change Barack Obama is advocating is far more than a break with today's politics. It is a clarion call for renewal rooted in time-tested American values that tap Republican, as well as Democratic traditions."
This Republican presented a reasoned argument why Obama must be elected President rather than the choice of his own party, John McCain. Leach is just one in a long line of Republicans for Obama that could help sway the election.
I am thankful to C-SPAN is for not having any talking heads. I'm tried of all those political pundits pushing their agenda, throwing their daggers and ignoring reasoned reporting for party partisanship. It actually afforded me the opportunity to listen to Hillary Clinton's speech [view video][read text] without the onslaught of bitter snapping by some and crystal-ball psychoanalysis of what she really said or didn't say by others. Some are still trying to decode the hidden message that must be there. Really?
I was able to enjoy the speech and afterward to just think about what I had just witnessed.
This lady is a class act. Her speech was loud and clear without my needing to have someone else tell me what she just said!
I know some will just say that I was happy with her speech just because she asked her supporters to help make Obama the next president. This would be superficial and untrue. For me, this was Hillary's finest speech and the defining moment of who she really is.
Hillary's speech transformed her from a would-be Presidential nominee to an elder statesperson whose contributions are yet untold.
Her clear call to her supporters to support Obama can neither be ignored nor dismissed. Her call to arms, so to speak, was true and sincere. She understands what is at stake here, as she said, "nothing less than the fate of our nation and the future of our children hang in the balance."
If you care about a woman's right to choose, if you believe in full civil rights for all, if you believe in the equality of women and the quality of life for our poor, if you care about accessible healthcare for all, then you need to help elect Barack Obama President.
Shame on any Hillary supporter who, after hearing her speech, does not support Obama; they place our future, the future of our children and grandchildren, and the freedoms and rights that are, or should be, ours in jeopardy of being lost for decades to come.
As Hillary said: "No way. No how. No McCain."
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12th Street Gym |
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Lift The Ban |
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What It Looks Like From Here
A Qt Exclusive
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Madonna is always recreating herself, she might actually surpass the artistic giant of the century, Pablo Picasso, having more "periods," in this case, "transformations" of her and his artistic expression, even the "process" of filling up and emptying out, a theory that lesbian queen of literature and the arts, Gertrude Stein, once explained of Picasso's movements in his career.
Others have--literally--"ups" and "downs" in their meteoric careers, like Mariah Carey.
In a two-page spread (Fashion Rocks, Details, Fall 2008), photographically captured by Steven Meisel, Mariah Carey is imaged as a glamour queen from the Golden Age of Hollywood. In fact, she evokes homage to the iconic Jean Harlow.
Despite her failure on the big screen with "Glitter" (did any of you actually see it?), queer director Lee Daniels (the African-America, Philadelphia native son, who a few years ago was honored with an Artistic Achievement Award at the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival), has cast Mariah in his next two films, "Tennessee" that garnered accolades for her performance as a waitress from the critics and audiences who attended the premiere screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival in April, and her performance as a social worker in Daniels' yet-to-be-released, "Push," also starring Lenny Kravitz, an screen adaptation of Sapphire's verse novel.
 Now the married lady, Mariah, to 27-year-old actor/rapper Nick Cannon, admits that her some of her attraction to Cannon is rooted in certain childhood memories. "When I was a kid there was an ice storm in the suburbs. We went to stay with a friend of my mom's. There was nobody on the road. It was this moment that could have been scary for a kid, but she made it festive. That's what Nick is like: He takes the hard part of a situation and makes it celebratory."
There's great anticipation that the Carey-Daniels team will have resulted in the superstar vocalist having successfully reestablishing her acting career in the forefront of the film industry in both "Tennessee" and "Push." And that her many fans will embarrass her working-class characters in these two Independent films.
Watch for the comeback of Mariah Carey any day now!
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Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation |
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I Wish I Had Said That: |
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Queer Survivor: China's Todd Herzog talked about the real struggle in his life and surviving the conflict between being raised a Mormon and coming out as s gay young man to writers Jonathan Riggs and Mike Wood (Instinct, December 2007): "It was very hard to try to block my feelings our and tell myself that I was just 'going through a stage' [about being queer].' I grew up in a very close-minded town that isn't open to differences in people. I was scared to let people know about me, especially because a lot of people said gay people are going to hell. It took me a long time to realize God loves me for who I am."
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Legendary fashion designer Valentino (Garavani) explained his fascination with glamorous women, starting during his childhood, and the connection between creating beautiful clothes for women and his worship of Hollywood starlets on the big screen, on the occasion of "Valentino: The Last Emperor," a documentary directed by Matt Tyrnauer, that will premiere at the next New York Fashion Week (Fashion Rocks, Details, Fall 2008): "My mother would say, 'You are a dreamer--you always dream, dream, dream. . .I had a sister who took me for the first time to see some films. . .from that moment I decided to create clothes for ladies."
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Queer fashion designer John Galliano waxed poetic about the nature of design, the effect of the economy on fashion, the desire to escape from reality, and the meaning of shopping theory to Miles Socha in their special design issue (WWD Scoop, Spring 2008): "There have been wars, rationing and much worse than recessions and still fashion and fantasy survive. The more then belt tightens, the more that people will want the best, the ultimate and true luxury. If you are terrified by the news, depressed by world news and the economy, rather than hit the bottle, isn't it better to hit the shops? Fashion is intoxicating, escapist and indulgent."
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I'm Glad I Never Said That!
"Gay activists and their allies have made no secret of their strategy to convince Bible-believing Christians and Jews that homosexual behavior is no longer sinful in God's eyes . . . This false doctrine is playing out in denomination after denomination, with increasing discord. Christians are not called to rewrite the Bible in order to love our gay friends and neighbors. True love does not sacrifice the truth."
Kermit Rainman, social research analyst for Focus on the Family
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Thom's Table
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Fashion and Libations! What an appealing combination!
 In one of the city's stylish neighborhoods, Rittenhouse Row will be hosting the Fourth Annual Fall Gathering to be held at Marathon Grill, 1818 Market Street, Philadelphia, on September 4, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The Philadelphia trendsetters will be watching a fashion presentation, featuring the latest styles for the Fall Season of 2008 from small to large retailers located in the Rittenhouse Square area.
This year's participating retailers, boutiques and spa salons will include: American Male, Dutch Umbrella, Echochic, Fabulous Stationery, Head Start Shoes, Jason Matthew Salon, Joan Shepp, Kellijane, Kimberly Boutique, Knit Wit, MAC, Optique, Petulia's Folly, Polo Ralph Lauren, Plage Tahiti, Richard Nicholas Hair Studio, Smith Brothers, South Moon Under, Urbanfront Pilates and Ursula's About Phace Makeup Studio.
Guests will enjoy specialty cocktails mixed by Rittenhouse Row's top bartenders from Alfa, Barclay Prime, D'Angelo's Ristorante Italiano and Lounge, Denim, Estia, G, Le Castagne, McCormick and Schmick's, Meritage Restaurant, Table 31, Tavern 17, Tinto and XIX at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, among others. They will be serving cocktails featuring Level, Absolut 100, Plymouth Gin, Sauza Hornitos and Jim Beam Black. To compliment the cocktails, hors d'oeuvres will be served by Marathon Grill. Music will be provided by DJ Migs.
An after-party for the public will also be held at Walnut Room Redux, 1709 Walnut Street, from 8:00-10:00 p.m.
For the Fourth Annual Fall Gathering, space is limited; RSVP is recommended. Admission is $10 with advance RSVP or $15 at the door.
For more information, call 215.972.0101; or visit rittenhouserow.org
McGillin's hosts Octoberfest.
Hail Prince Ludwig! Celebrate Octoberfest!
 McGillin's Olde Ale House, Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern, 1310 Drury Street, has already launched this year's Octoberfest, now through October 4.
Since local breweries start producing Octoberfest beers in late August, McGillin's decided to begin pouring this week to celebrate the commemoration of the German beer-inspired holiday marking King Ludwig's wedding day.
This year's Octoberfest will have as its finale, the third annual Midtown Village Fall Festival on Saturday, October 4. McGillin's will turn Drury Street into a Beer Garden, complete with live entertainment, German beers and foods. Outdoor performers, face painting, a street fair featuring neighborhood restaurants, galleries, boutiques and bookstores and entertainment will enliven the Midtown Village, from Walnut Street to Chestnut Street and 12th to Juniper.
McGillin's serves both lunch and dinner, Highlights of the menu will feature German cuisine including Mussels steamed in Octoberfest Lager and served over hay and straw noodles with German-style toasted cheese bread; Grilled Pork Loin served with Sweet and Sour Cherry Sauce, Braised Cabbage, Apples and Potato Dumpling; and German Style Grilled Sausage Platter with Bratwurst and Knockwurst with Red Cabbage and Warm German Potato Salad served with German-style Cheese Toast and Dark Mustard; and Kasebrotchen Chicken, Chicken Breast topped with German style Spread (Ale, Brown Mustard, Sharp Cheddar Cheese) baked to a bubbly finish and served with Heaven and Earth (Himmel Und Erde), Potatoes sautéed with Apples and Bacon, served also with Red cabbage and German-style cheese toast.
For more information, call 215.735.5562; or visit mcgillins.com
Oceanaire features Alaska's wild Coho salmon.
 I can't resist the classic style of a 1930's ocean liner ambiance of The Oceanaire Seafood Room, 700 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, that is currently serving daily fresh catches of wild Coho salmon from Alaska's pristine coastal waters. The upscale seafood restaurant group is partnering with local fishermen across Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to procure the freshest Coho salmon every day for their valued guests.
"We are excited to bring Coho salmon back to our menus this summer. It is a wonderful fish to prepare because it is so rich and meaty and lends itself well to a variety of special preparations" said Executive Chef David Wiederholt. "Fresh Coho salmon is delicate and has a distinct, slightly sweeter flavor than other salmon. We love the opportunity to showcase our expertise and creativity at The Oceanaire with a special fish like Coho."
Coho, also known as silver salmon, is a very desirable fish due to its high content of healthy fatty acids, strong color retention, and superb taste. While less well known than king salmon, Coho is considered an overlooked jewel by seafood aficionados. This year's Coho salmon harvest from Alaska is particularly strong, with a projected catch of 4.4 million fish, almost 20% larger than last season. This is in contrast to king salmon, which remains in tight supply.
Coho salmon - like all salmon species - is also an excellent source of healthy nutrients, high in proteins, vitamin E, and in Omega-3 fatty acids. (Omega 3's can help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels and strengthen the immune system.) It's even healthy eating for you. The American Heart Association's guidelines recommend consuming at least two servings per week of fish, such as salmon or halibut, with high Omega-3 content for its positive effects on the cardiovascular system.
For more information, call 215.625.8862; or visit theocaeanaire.com
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Thom Cardwell's Roast |
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By Popular Demand HOT AUGUST NIGHTS has been
EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 13th
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Help Fight
Discrimination in PA |
Did you know that in 75% of the State of Pennsylvania you could be fired just because you're queer?
Help ADD Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender people to the state's anti-discrimination law
Call your PA Legislator and tell them to pass
HB 1400
and
SB 761.
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