Earlier, I wrote about the impact President Obama’s support for legalizing same sex marriage had in Maryland – a state that recently past legislation that would legalize same sex marriages starting in 2013 in my post, Maryland public opinion shifts in favor of same sex marriage. The 12-point shift was attributed to African American voters change in opinion following the President’s endorsement.
Now a Washington Post-ABC survey finds that opinions of same sex marriage in the African American community may be shifting even faster than the Maryland survey would lead people to believe. This survey finds that nationally there has been an 18-point shift with 59% of blacks now saying they are in favor of same sex marriage.
These latest polls show Obama’s announcement may have been shrewd politics as it has united two important bases for the Democratic Party.
According to an article published by The Huffington Post, a recent poll by Marylanders for Equality shows a significant shift in public opinion supporting same sex marriage.
This is significant because Maryland recently passed a gay marriage law that goes into effect January 1, 2013 which opponents are trying to have overturned in a referendum vote later this year.
The poll shows a 12-point shift in favor of same sex marriage with 57% now saying they would vote to uphold the Maryland law. According to the report “The shift can be explained ‘almost entirely’ by a change in black voters’ attitudes.”
The reason for that shift in attitude in my opinion may be summed up in one word, “Obama”.
Read this the other day and thought it was funny. If you are on Twitter you can follow Leo at @leo_jag045.
Thanks to Matthew over at Giants, Cowboys, Football, Rugby and Life for bringing this to my attention. I’ve always thought of myself as a “legs” guy so after seeing this photo of Luke McAlister’s “Thunder Thighs” I was reminded that I need to go over and watch a Boston Rugby Club game this summer.
Does your weekend revolve around brunch?
Sometimes it can feel that way here in Boston, and thanks to a recent Food & Wine survey, I now understand it is probably due to Boston ranking as one of the best cities to have brunch.
Although I question the methodology of their ranking (how else can one explain San Francisco ranking 12th best; I disagree), Sunday brunch in Boston is a weekly ritual for tens of thousands. If this post has reminded you to make reservations for the holiday weekend, you can check out this article for some quirky brunch suggestions in Boston.
Not from Boston? Check out how Food & Wine ranks your city, here.
Universal Hub reports today that the proposed South End steakhouse, Boston Chops, is looking to purchase Columbus Cafe’s liquor license for $280,000. The Boston Licensing Board will vote tomorrow (Thursday, May 24th) whether to let Brian Piccini pay the owners, but I would be surprised if they ruled against this purchase since it is in the neighborhood’s interest to have Piccini open his “urban, modern steak house”. Nobody except for the ill-tempered tenant living above wants to see this space remain vacant.
Piccini has not indicated when Boston Chops might open. Piccini is the current owner of dBar in Dorchester and Deuxave in the Back Bay.
Boston Chops will open at 1375 Washington Street in the South End.
Boston has long been known as a very walkable city. Its small, mostly flat and many people walk to work each day here. However, Boston’s reputation for aggressive drivers, cramped roads, lack of access to bikes as well as bike lanes probably never made you think of the city as a bike-friendly place, but that has changed.
The city’s community bike system, the Hubway, which started last year, has exceeded expectations. Many of the city’s rotaries are gone and bike lanes have popped up nearly everywhere you look.
WalkScore recently ranked Boston as the 4th most bikeable city in the US. According to the site, scoring is based on bike infrastructure (lanes and trails), hills, destinations and road connectivity, and the number of bike commuters. You can read more about this and compare Boston to other cities around the US by linking to the WalkScore website.
According to Variety Sandra Bullock may be back in Boston filming a new movie with Melissa McCarthy. Back in 2008, Bullock filmed the movie The Proposal with co-star, Ryan Reynolds, on the North Shore.
In this new movie, Bullock would play a high strung FBI agent. Hmm… sounds like Ms. Congeniality all over again. The article didn’t mention when filming might begin.
Posted in Art & Film, Boston, Pop Culture
Tagged Art and Film, BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy, Pop Culture
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer in the US. Are you ready?
I asked my trainer, Kris Kranzky over at the Boston Sports Club in the South End, if he’d share some fitness tips I can post on my blog. I hope these forthcoming posts help you with your own personal fitness goals.
Fitness Tip: Schedule your workout We are all busy so it is important to schedule time to workout and remain faithful to that calendar. This will help you get into a routine and make it less likely for weeks to pass between workouts.
On Monday, Boston-born actor Ben Affleck held a fund raiser for Democratic Massachusetts Senate hopeful, Elizabeth Warren in Santa Monica, CA. The West Coast fundraiser dubbed “A Massachusetts Evening” was deemed a success, surpassing its goal of $250,000.
Over the past few years, I’ve been very candid about my frustration with Sen. Scott Brown ignoring the LGBT community here in Massachusetts. The fact that he was an outspoken opponent of Same Sex marriage while serving in the State Legislature only serves to further grate on my nerves. I don’t think Sen. Brown is a bad person or even a bad Senator, I just think that Massachusetts can do better, and I’m pleased to see Ben Affleck lending his name, money and support to Warren’s candidacy.
Today is the start of Fleet Week in NYC. This is an annual tradition which started back in the 1980s that brings thousands from the US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard to NYC for one week.
Once the ships which carry these men and women dock, NYC will be overrun by crew members. With Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repealed I suspect even more gay service men and women will be flooding the gay bars in Hell’s Kitchen, The Village and elsewhere. Would be a good week to visit NYC.
Daniel Craig returns as James Bond 007 in Skyfall. In the forthcoming film, Bond’s loyalty to M played by Dame Judi Dench is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, Bond must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
Pam Ann, the flight attendant alter-ego of Australian comedienne Caroline Reid, lands in Boston during Pride week on Thursday, June 7th for one show only. If you cannot attend the Boston show, Pam Ann touches down in Provincetown for one show only on Sunday, July 1st.
Boston show: Thursday, June 7th Provincetown show: Sunday, July 1st
Tickets recently went on sale for Pam Ann’s Around the World tour so get them while they last. Let’s grab a drink at intermission if you will be attending the Boston show.
BosGuy 