The weather has turned decidedly cold in Boston over the past week and the mild Autumn temperatures Boston was enjoying are gone. Summer which ended just weeks ago, is sorely missed so I thought I’d post a few photos from one of my last visits to Provincetown this summer.
You can click on any individual photograph to enlarge.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Provincetown
Bucking a national trend in Tuesday’s, midterm elections, which saw many moderates lose their seats to extreme candidates who closely associated themselves with the “Tea Party”, Massachusetts residents reaffirmed their desire to vote for progressive candidates.
In ALL major elections, the MA electorate voted for the Democratic candidate. As the Boston Globe says, “The GOP Revolution Fades in MA”.
Thank you
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Politics
Originally posted October 4th – I wanted to repost this in light of tomorrow’s midterm elections. I do hope no matter who you support, you will vote. This country asks very little from its citizens and this is the least all of us can do to honor people who have fought to preserve this right for all of us.
Sometimes friends and family are surprised by my support for the Democratic Party and more specifically the Liberal base of that party, but my political views were shaped in the 80s and 90s when I was coming to grips with both my sexuality and the politics of that time.
In the mid- to late-80s I could not understand why President Ronald Reagan sat idly by while tens of thousands of quilts were being sewn in memory of those who died from AIDS. In the 90s the Christian Coalition reached the heights of its influence in the Republican Party and with leaders like Speaker Gingrich they drove through discriminatory legislation like Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell all while funding local initiatives to limit and deny gay men and women basic rights such as adoption, hospital visitation rights, etc…
No longer a kid and no longer apologizing for my sexual orientation, my disdain for the Republican Party started to turn to rage when in the 2000 Presidential election Bush returned campaign donations to The Log Cabin Republicans (a GLBT Republican group) and several high profile gay donors, because they were gay and then was applauded by the entire leadership of the Republican Party.
Obama’s win knocked the wind out of the Republican Party. But now the party is back and will likely take control of one or both of the houses in the U.S. Congress. Unfortunately, this isn’t the result of the Party moving to the center or becoming more inclusive. This comes from what I describe as an unholy alliance with the newly, rebranded Christian Conservative now called The Tea Party.
So discussions about taxes, economics, foreign or domestic policy aside – until the Republican Party defends GLBT rights and calls out the homophobic slurs their supporters seem content to regularly hurl at me and people like me, I will not consider any other alternative when I enter a voting booth. To the rest of the US who seem to be readily accepted and have representation in both parties – I say lucky you, but think of me when you’re voting because who you elect impacts me too.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Politics
To keep with today’s theme I thought I’d post this song from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I selected this particular clip in honor of my good friend Brit who will be tending bar this afternoon at dbar for their halloween themed tea dance. If you go, say hello to him he’ll be dressed as “Rolinda Hay” pronounced, roll in da hay.
If you went out last night, tell me all about it since I’m still taking it easy and recovering from meningitis. You can shoot me an email at BosGuymail@gmail.com.
As my previous post indicates, I’m not at the top of my game right now but the recent rant from Clint McCance, School Board Member from a small town in Northern Arkansas, on his Facebook page shook the haze from my head and had me seeing red earlier today.
In response to the October 20th Spirit Day, conceived on Facebook to show GLBT youth they are not alone and should not feel isolated by encouraging people to wear purple, Clint McCance had this to say on his Facebook page.
“Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves. The only way im wearing it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE.”
Want to express your outrage? Friend, the “Fire Clint McCance” page on Facebook. But really the best thing you can do is spread the word. Use this as an opportunity to have a rational conversation with others. Mr. McCance will not change his views (although he may learn to keep his mouth shut) and he will have plenty of sympathizers who will see the movement on Facebook as part of a Liberal conspiracy. Too often this kind of news also flies under the radar of people not glued to a 24-hour news network so spread the word.
For those who may not know, the image above was used in the 80s by ACT UP, an AIDS activist group. However, recent discourse from men like Clint McCance, Carl Paladino, Andrew Shirvell, and Tom Demint, make it important we all start speaking up and saying enough.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Gay, Politics
This past weekend I had to admit myself to Beth Israel (BIDMC) because I contracted viral meningitis (again). For those unfamiliar, meningitis is a relatively rare infection that affects the delicate membranes called meninges (men-in’-jeez). These membranes cover the brain and spinal cord; generally the only way to confirm one has meningitis is to have a lumbar puncture more commonly referred to as a spinal tap.
Viral meningitis (the variety I seem prone to) is more common than the bacterial form and generally less serious. The really frustrating part of contracting this is that it really knocks the wind out of me and that doctors cannot seem to identify why I seem so susceptible.
I first contracted meningitis about 10 years ago. That first instance was the most excruciating of the four probably in part because I thought I was suffering a migraine and delayed going to the hospital to get treatment. Many of the symptoms used to describe meningitis sound similar to a migraine and since I never suffered headaches – I just assumed that was what I had. I did not have another episode until Memorial Day Weekend 2009; I wrote about it in my entry, Thank goodness for Percoset. Because of my previous episode, I was able to more quickly self-diagnose and get to a hospital to receive treatment. Approximately 16-months later (September 2010), I contracted meningitis for the third time. I wrote about my frustration in my entry, Meningitis (again). However, I have to admit I was completely taken by surprise with this latest episode occurring seven weeks later.
Unfortunately, the doctors are no closer to figuring out why I’m so susceptible. I’ve always been quite a healthy person so these episodes definitely shake my own confidence. I try to live a fairly healthy life by working out regularly with a personal trainer, eating (relatively) healthy, and getting sufficient rest. On this most recent visit, I requested that the doctor extract extra spinal fluid from my lumbar puncture to allow them plenty to run tests. We’ll see what happens and if any test results come back conclusive. I have to schedule a follow up with my primary care physician and am going to request to see if a specialist will be able to help crack this seeming conundrum.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Health
The Charles River divides Boston from Cambridge and each autumn the Head of the Charles Regatta takes place. The two-day sporting event includes more than 8,000 rowers competing in over 50 races and draws more than 300,000 spectators (many of them college students proudly -and somewhat drunkenly- cheering on their school).
The seven bridges that criss-cross the Charles River along the race course provide excellent vantage points, but I’m more partial to viewing from the Cambridge side nearer Harvard University and Harvard Square. If you are new to Boston or rediscovering the city after many years of calling this place home – I would strongly recommend that you come and watch the Regatta. Harvard Square pubs and streets are overflowing with people and the city is abuzz with rowers who have come from all over to compete in this prestigious and largest regatta in the world.
The Boston Globe has an excellent article, full of photos called, Head of the Charles 101.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy, Sports, The Boston Globe
Thanks David over at WGB for bringing this to my attention. Again, here is another example of only one party talking to the GLBT community. Is it any wonder I’m a stalwart of the party?
If McCain / Palin were in office what do you think might have been their message? Am I being unfair raising speculation that there would not have been a response? History leads me to believe not.
In response to the recent rash of gay teen suicides, The Boston Globe has prominently displayed “Growing up gay” on Boston.com. The article includes personal stories of Bostonians who open up about the homophobia, fear, and isolation they endured as teens — and how they made it through.
This is just one example of why I moved and stayed in Boston some 13+ years ago. How many cities and parts of the country have so directly and compassionately addressed this issue? Certainly many sympathize privately with this situation, but the key to addressing this issue is publicly proclaiming your frustration and saying “life gets better.” This is not an issue to be meek or shy about if you hope to make a difference so I wanted to thank my hometown paper, The Boston Globe, for taking on this issue and sharing so many stories with its readers. I’m sure somewhere there are teens reading these stories, nodding their heads identifying with those same issues – even here in liberal MA.
The Globe cautions that some of these stories contain homophobic epithets but you can check out The Boston Globe article here.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy, Gay, The Boston Globe
Anyone going to this party?
Tickets can be purchased at Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project.
Shoot me an e-mail at BosGuyMail@gmail.com if you plan to go.
Tomorrow, Wednesday October 20th has been designated as “Spirit Day” to acknowledge the recent rash of LGBTQ youth who have committed suicide and to reaffirm to those youth who feel alone and isolated that they are not and to paraphrase an often used phrase now, it gets better.
Why purple? According to the GLAAD website, purple symbolizes ‘spirit’ on the rainbow flag. Although there is no meeting place or rally planned – this is a national event that you can help to raise the visibility of if you are a blogger by promoting and everyone can contribute to by wearing something purple.
GLAAD has more information about Spirit Day, check it out here.
Sometimes the strongest statements are our actions.
Will you help make a statement on October 20th?
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Gay, Politics
Ministry of Pleasure blog recently referenced one of my favorite musicals of all-time, Avenue Q. It is no longer on Broadway but continues to tour, and although seeing a broadway show is not quite the same as supporting your local theater scene – I still hope it inspires you to purchase tickets to a local play or musical.
Its upsetting but worth the watch… If you’re moved and want to do something, take the pledge and share your story It Gets Better Project.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Gay
So many horrible things have been said by Republican candidates or elected officials with nobody from that party stepping forward and saying “Enough” or “Shut up” it makes me ill.
Considering how many kids have committed suicide from gay bullying – why aren’t parents speaking up? Why is there not a single elected Republican telling these people, “Shut up!” Obviously the hate-laced speech from these people are somehow telling bullies that what they are doing is okay and nobody in the Republican party thinks its worth addressing. That tells me where I (and anyone like me) stands. Hello Mr. “Dick” Cheney who supposedly loves his lesbian daughter – Mary – why haven’t you spoken up? You’re such an obnoxious loud mouth on so many other topics. Hello Gov. Shwarzenegger (and wife Maria), care to say something and call these people out for their hateful speech? Apparently not…
The latest example:
“I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don’t want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option – it isn’t.”
-Carl Paladino, Republican hopeful for NY governor.
You would expect this sort of thing coming from someone running for office in the southeast – not NY. And this coming on the heels of Rutgers freshman, Tyler Clementi, jumping off the George Washington Bridge in NYC after being outed in a most base and horrifying way. For the record if the same thing happened to me – I’m pretty sure I would have done the same thing. The only difference would have been the bridge I jumped from.
How sad that nearly every day of the year, I could identify a different Republican elected official or candidate saying something equally hurtful / hateful without a single leader from their party deploring the hateful speech. Is it any wonder that the GLBT community runs with fear from nearly any candidate with the letter (R) next to their name? Even if they bear the gay community no ill will – what would be your reaction to a powerful political party that has no history of doing anything but causing you pain and wishing you ill?
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Gay, Politics
Despite the rains and wind forecast this weekend, the Boston Book Festival will be in full swing on Saturday. If you’ve never been to this festival – you should really check it out.
Authors like Dennis Lehane – author of best sellers like Shutter Island and Mystic River, Pulitzer Prize winning non-fiction author, Stacy Schiff and Joyce Carol Oates are among a long list of distinguished and accomplished authors and poets who will be present. For more information check out the link above or you can go to the BBF blog.
If food is more your thing then come over to my neighborhood and attend the Boston LobsterParty. Unlike the BBF, this will cost to get in, but you can easily purchase tickets online here, and all the proceeds go to the very deserving Community Servings charity, which brings warm nutritious meals to those suffering from critical and chronic illness and diseases like AIDS.
How can you go wrong with chefs from all around Boston sharing different dishes with lobster and plenty of beer available to wash the tastey crustacean down. Event details: Saturday from 2:00 – 4:30pm at The Trolley Barn. 540 Harrison Ave., Boston.
BosGuy 