Prior to Tuesday, November 8th there was a lot of people questioning what Donald Trump and his supporters would do after the election. Strangely, celebrating was never seriously considered and now it is the supporters of Hillary Clinton who are talking about not accepting the results of the election so I want to remind everyone of Michelle Obama’s inspiring quote.
Acknowledging is not Accepting
A lot of very prolific people have shared their thoughts about the election and after reading several articles I’ve come to my own conclusions. First, acknowledging isn’t accepting, but if we want others to respect democracy we have to acknowledge results even when we find them upsetting. One of my biggest issues with many people over the past 8 years was their inability to acknowledge Obama as a legitimate President (I lump Trump in that group).
Love and Hope > Hate and Anger
Another lesson I am reminding myself is that while I am seething with resentment: resentment with roughly half my fellow Americans; resentment with the Electoral System; resentment towards Trump for raising up and empowering hate groups; and… the list goes on and on. I must remember that I do believe in the power of love and hope and it is these emotions I want to have consume and motivate me – not anger and hate. I look to men like the non-violent, civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. for this inspiration.
I have a voice and I’ll be damned if I’m going keep quiet
While I may feel more marginalized today and wonder what is going to happen next, I tell myself that this election has served as a wake up call. I had hoped that after November 8th I could stop talking about politics. That will not happen now. On the campaign trail Bernie Sanders’ calls for a revolution (a peaceful revolution BTW) resonated. Calls for social justice from the Black Lives Matters movement inspired. And of course the LGBTQ movement and Pride now takes on added significance. The people who support these movements are still here and they need your help. So while I am troubled by certain groups who feel emboldened by a Trump victory, I am also looking to the Sanders movement, Black Lives Matters, LGBTQ community and others to come together, because to borrow a phrase I really do believe, “Together, we are stronger“.
Trump’s victory has upset me to my core, and for the moment changed how I view my country even calling into question what I think it means to be an American. I will not let that disappointment mutate into hate or despair, and I hope you will not let that happen either.
Some great articles worth reading:
Here’s Why We Grieve
Dear Queer America: Here is what we must do now that Trump will be President
Trump Victory Alarms Gay and Transgender Groups
If you previously tried to register for the annual holiday fundraiser / party but were unable, you can go back to their website and register now. Sergio and I were able to successfully register earlier this week.
Christopher Isherwood (left) and W. H. Auden (right) photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 6 February 1939
Christopher Isherwood and W.H. Auden were a couple for a few years, shortly after a friend introduced them in 1925. Both were from England but neither remained there, traveling throughout and living in Europe and the United States.
I dedicate this weekly post, featuring vintage gay photographs, to the men and women who lived in a more critical time where being true to yourself and loving who you want wasn’t always an option and came at a great price. Do you have a photo you would like to share for a future post? Email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.
While the political commentators rehash the election, I have no stomach for it and am sickened by the thought of a Trump presidency so I thought I would point out what an historic night it was at the ballot box for a less obvious reason.
After Tuesday’s results, the number of states that agreed to legalize marijuana for recreational has doubled from four to eight with California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada voters approving state ballot initiatives. Only in Arizona where voting remains too close to call appears to have bucked a national trend and said, “No”. For residents of Massachusetts this means that as of December 15th it will be legal to possess small amounts of marijuana and for residents to grow pot in their homes. Retail sales will not begin until Jan. 2018.
Americans living in states where marijuana is / will be legal for recreational use now includes:
Alaska
California
Colorado
Maine
Massachusetts
Nevada
Oregon
Washington
Washington D.C.
Kiki (\ˈkē-kē\noun and verb)
Definition: A party including good music and good friends that may involve salacious gossip.
Example: (noun) I need to let loose tonight, I’m hosting a kiki.
(verb) I need to let loose tonight, let’s kiki.
Each Wednesday morning I post a photograph and ask readers to offer a funny caption. Hopefully the caption below inspires you to share a few of your own.
Yummy
Words to remember for later tonight and in the days that follow, which I predict will get quite ugly considering Trump’s behavior throughout the Presidential primary and general election.
Last month I wrote that Ryan Landry and his Gold Dust Orphans holiday theater show would be Murder on the Polar Express.
The show which steals plot lines from Agatha Christie mysteries centers around “The World’s Foremost Drag Detective” Shirley Holmes, (played by Ryan Landry) as she boards the world’s most elegant train along with her sidekick Dr. Jody Watley and ten other unsavory characters, all en route to the North Pole for a much needed Christmas vacation. Unbeknownst to them there is a psycho killer onboard. What could possibly go wrong?
The Gold Dust Orphan’s holiday musical always sells out quickly so I’m giving the show a plug now that tickets are available to encourage you to make plans and reserve your tickets ahead of time. Murder on the Polar Express runs from Thursday, December 1 – Wednesday, December 21.
Get your tickets here, Murder on the Polar Express.
I know it isn’t Wednesday yet, but I didn’t think you’d mind.
The Boston Chapter of Gay for Good has several volunteering opportunities coming up in December. These group volunteering opportunities include several ways you can help with the Toys for Joys event in early December.
There is no money required and anyone willing to give their time and energy are welcome, but note that most opportunities have a limited number of slots and they fill quickly.
Monday, December 5, 6:00 – 8:00 PM in Back Bay
Toys for Joys Wagon Build at 351 Boylston Street
Tuesday, December 6, 6:00 – 8:00 PM in Back Bay
Toys for Joys Wagon Build at 351 Boylston Street
Friday, December 9, 12 Noon – 3:00 PM
Toys for Joys Set Up at Revere Hotel (200 Stuart Street)
Friday, December 9, 5:30 – 10:30 PM
Toys for Joys at Revere Hotel (200 Stuart Street)
Epic SAGA is Boston’s NEW weekly gay dance night at Paradise Cambridge
What to do this week: November 7th – 13th
Geek Trivia is guaranteed fun and has lots of prizes (trivia starts at 8PM) hosted every Tuesday at Club Cafe in Boston
Show Tune Tuesday is hosted every Tuesday at dbar in Dorchester
Tuesday Night Trivia is at The Alley Cat every Tuesday starting at 8PM in Providence
Show Tune Tuesdays takes place every Tuesday at dbar in Dorchester
Karaoke Night starts at 10PM every Tuesday at Jacques in Boston
November Project: Stair workout at Harvard takes place at the Harvard Stadium from 6:30-7:30AM every Wednesday in Boston
Pet Shop Boys are performing at The Orpheum starting at 7:30 in Boston
Stump Trivia impress your friends with all the trivia you know from 5 – 10PM every Wednesday at Cathedral Station in Boston
Thump Thursdaes! takes place every Thursday at Peggy O’Neil’s Pub in Dorchester
Queer Inclusive Climbing Klub (QuICK) Pizza night and climbing club at Brooklyn Boulders on Friday, October 14 in Somerville
Twerk Fridays at is an 18+ night at Ego in Providence
FUZZ Boston is a monthly gay dance party at The Alley Bar in DTX starting at 10PM on Friday, November 11 in Boston
The Coolidge at Midnight: Batman shows the Michael Keaton / Jack Nicholson cult favorite starting at 11:59PM Friday, November 11 in Brookline
Controversy is the weekly gay hip hop dancehall party that starts at 10PM at Machine every Saturday in Boston
Magnum Saturdays focuses on your favorite music from the 1990s this week at dbar on Saturday, November 12 in Dorchester
Saga Saturdays is Boston’s newest gay night featuring some of the best DJs and plenty of great dancing at Paradise in Cambridge
Becoming Judy – A Coming Out Cabaret Show is at 8PM at Club Cafe every Saturday in Boston
Military Party at Mainestreet so dress in your military attire and come to dance from 9PM – 1AM on Saturday, November 12 in Ogunquit
Ego Saturdays with DJ Richie LaDue from 10PM – 3AM in Providence
Back 2 Basics Tea Dance never has a cover and always has great music from 70s 80s & 90s, starting at 5PM no cover every Sunday at Club Cafe in Boston
Safe in Sound Sundays is a new EDM night from 9PM – 1AM at the Dark Lady in Providence
Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.
Posted in Boston, Ogunquit, Providence, Provincetown
Tagged BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy, Ogunquit, Providence, Provincetown
Do you enjoy dining out in Boston? This month’s Boston Magazine might be worth picking up as they feature what they are calling Boston’s “Top 25 New Restaurants”. Despite the fact that I eat out more than most people, I’ve only been to 5 of the restaurants on the list. I find the article more interesting for the restaurants that didn’t make the list. After spending the past year listening to hype about new restaurant openings nearly every month in the Seaport, I wasn’t surprised that not a single one made the list.
On a more positive note, I wanted to give a shout out to several restaurants in my neighborhood including 2. SRV – an equally beautiful and delicious Italian restaurant worth trying; 7. Bar Mezzana – also Italian in the Ink Block is on my list to try but I’ve yet to visit; 21. Gita at Wink & Nod is New England inspired cuisine; and 22. Kava Neo-Taverna is a delicious Greek restaurant in a cozy space on Union Park that I can’t rave enough about.
With approximately 50% of the eligible electorate not voting in U.S. Presidential elections, I suppose it should not be surprising that politics has become more divisive with more extreme / fringe candidates succeeding in recent elections.
All the nastiness that describes the incredibly long 2016 Presidential primary and general campaign only further disenfranchises and drives down voter turnout. So what’s the answer? Asking for people to be more civil doesn’t seem to be getting us anywhere. Even the Democratic Primary which paled by comparison to the fiasco otherwise known as the Republican Primary was abhorrent. Blatant favoritism and attempts to undermine the Bernie Sanders campaign by the former DNC Chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Shultz and others poisoned the civil campaign that had been (for the most part) focused on policy. By the spring of 2016 both Sanders and Clinton (and their supporters) had dropped all pretenses of civility.
I’m not an exceptionally patriotic person. I don’t believe that America is a greater country by comparing ourselves to others and pointing out where other nations are left wanting, but I do love the freedom my country has come to symbolize. For that to continue I truly believe we need to have citizens engaged (not turned off by) democracy. So despite all the name calling, blatant lies and misinformation, I hope Americans take time to read through the issues that matter most to them, think seriously about candidates from the top to the bottom of their ballots and vote on Tuesday, November 8th.
BosGuy 