Stonewall, Gay History,(Long)

40 years ago tomorrow, in a small, sleazy, mafia run, gay bar called The Stonewall Inn, on Christopher Street, NYC, a riot broke out in the wee hours of the morning, when a "passing woman" (like a drag king) was arrested in the bar during a police raid, escaped the cop car, and threw her large body against it, evoking the start of a riot within the bar. Soon afterwords, a drag queen threw the first stone, hitting an officer, and symbolically, too many, starting three days of protest and riots. During those three days of fighting many new gay rights groups formed, and the gay community, once nebulous and trying to conform to the rest, became a separate entity proper. Pride began.
40 years on the climate of the gay movement is different, the Mattachine Society and the Sisters of Belitis are no longer the prime example of activism, and queer culture has grown to even include a handful of heterosexuals, and has become a culture and a people in our own right. Nonetheless we are incredibly diverse, as our society is not based on race, nor on gender, but on a less tangible, less visible, separation of sexuality.
We need, therefore, to celebrate our intangible connection all the more. To further this I propose a symbolic tradition, to celebrate stonewall, the formation of a proper gay holiday, to cement our community together, and give us an enforced connection to one another. Some may question this as being unnecessary or silly, but it’s similar to the intention behind the holiday of Kwanza, itself formed in the 60s for similar reason; to cement a minority together, to unify, to celebrate, to fight, and to remember.

The celebration is in my mind separated into 4 days, each with symbolic names.
Day 1, June 27th- Judy Garland Memorial Day
Gay legend holds that the boys, girls, neither, and both, were at stonewall mourning the loss of an icon, Judy Garland, in the same way, celebration of stonewall begins on this day as a day of mourning, and remembrance. On this day we remember those who have passed, those who died of HIV/AIDS, those who were bashed, and those who went down fighting. We remember Garland too, and other strong females, bisexuals and gay men who we ourselves, and those before us, grew up looking up to. By about 11, at certain bars, a local drag queen, or elder, will take on the duty of retelling the story of that night, and we have a cocktail in memory. After the first toast, drinking and revelry is more than acceptable.
Day 2, June 28th- Stonewall
This is stonewall itself, thus the name. On this day, people drink and celebrate in early morning, are welcome to get up late, it’s a day for community planning, and people should go to local gay centres to plan and connect. Perhaps a dinner is in order. Protests are best to begin, or be planned on this day. This is also a day for the older generation to connect with the younger and pass on our history, so we never forget, and so that we have a connection to the past.
Day 3, June 29th- Protest
This is a day for peaceful resistance, those who can are to attend a rally, protest, or march, those who can’t should still write to their congressmen, local legislators, etc to forward the gay rights movement.
Day 4, June 30- Pride
This is the culmination, In some regions, street parades can be organized, it’s a day where you should let your rainbow flag fly, it's a day for coming out, for those who are ready to, it's a day for family too, it’s a day for celebration, for fun. Gay youth and children of gay parents can get a small present on this day. Celebrate however you wish, for Stonewall is over, but our fight continues.

That's my proposal, 4 days of Stonewall, a “Gay Kwanza”: Memorial, Stonewall, Protest and Pride. I hope that this idea spreads and that some decide to celebrate our history, our community, and those who must be remembered.

i dont know if this will work properly, but its something i feel should be here.

Bailout Rant.

I want to say first that I LIKE the ARRA, American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, because I'm into the whole Keynesian economics, socialization of vital industries, and state health care for the lower and middle classes.
What I don't like is the main criticism I hear about it. "Once again I have to support Americans living beyond their means..."
Its all stuff like that, always "why should I have to help the poor" or "why should I pay for other peoples healthcare"
Think about this.
People are getting pissed off, about HELPING PEOPLE.
People are angry about doing the right thing, assisting the downtrodden and those who WEREN'T necessarily thinking they were living beyond their means.

Back then those who, if one actually looked at their finances, should not have bought a house at that point, were being told by the realtors and banks that they could and should afford it.

And that concept of "NO IT'S MY MONEY" NO ITS NOT, not anymore, its public now because its either give more money to the Fed for a while, or have a complete economic collapse.

On top of that, something that kind of sickens me is the worry about the market value of ones house. In my opinion? They should be glad to even HAVE a house, and shouldn't even be THINKING of selling the thing at this point.

I realize, not everyone who I've asked to read my blog will agree, and of course I'm not totally right or anything, its not like i went off and did a ton of market research, or looked at all of the numbers, but this is a rant, so I'm just venting some anger.
I realize that this will have to be paid for largely by my generation, but to be honest? If it works, or even if it doesn't fully work, but if it helps even ONE person, I'm still willing to pay that price.

A Rant About Gay-Inaction

I'm thinking about something which I may have to fight for for the rest of my life, and not just me but some of my friends and my own mother.

Something most people I know can do that I don't even have the option of doing in anywhere but the above places.
I'm thinking about Marriage.
It has been over 40 years since the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s began, and so many groups have gained equality, not just in the states but around the world, since then, except for the group that I and my mother identify with. Its been 30 years since the assassination of Harvey Milk and we've only slightly progressed since then, which is sickening.
I'm listening to a podcast at this moment.
Its an interview with a great great man, a friend of Milk who appears in the film (in the background, a little cameo) and everything he's said is striking and uplifting, and somehow depressing.
His name is Cleve Jones.
He's saying one thing really, that we must now demand Federal Action, this has gone on for much much too long, accepting little bits of hope and continuing to take abuse. We've gone on doing this for years.
Its rediculous.
Does this mean another march on washington? probably. does it mean boycotting businesses like Cinemark which had/have CEOs who support things like Prop 8? yes.
but boycotts, Marching, Protest, going from door to bloody door to talk to people at home and tell them, plead with them, to support your cause, requires focus.
Which is what Mr.Jones supports; YES we should fight, and we should take no more compromise in LGBT equality until we win.
I realize most of the people I'm tagging in this are not Gay or even Bisexual, but equal rights are important and we should all fight for them.
I think its probably a good idea for most of you to listen to this interview,
On iTunes its under Feast of Fools podcast, episode #892. http://www.feastoffools.net/gay-fun-show/2008/12/05/fof-892-the-real-life-cleve-jones-120508/
Cleve Jones also came up with the AIDS quilt.
I might delete or have to re format this note. but in my defense, I AM pretty new to the whole posting things online thing, i also might put it on my LJ but no one reads that anymore.
I'm already tired of fighting, and i haven't even had a chance to begin.

Water in Ghana

I don't usually get out my soap box for anything non LGBT based, Especially not this early in the morning, but i just woke up to a report that really jilted me.
People in Ghana have to pay over half their income on water that they have to actually walk to get.
This probably doesn't surprise any of you.
Except one thing. Ghana has an extensive pipe system for the very purpose of providing water to the masses, which can't be turned on because corporations wont allow for it, and the government wont allow charitable corporations help do so.
Ghana actually has vast freshwater resources, but because of privatisation they can use none of it affordably.
The exact story is that the world bank pressured the gov. of Ghana (an African country I've always liked and actually might be able to place on a map) to give one of their most precious resources to corporations in its whole.
Many people spend over half their extremely low income (The example on the BBC was 10 US cents for water alone, over half the family's income) on water which is sometimes polluted.
Maternity wards actually ask the pregnant woman to bring fresh water with them.
THIS is why privatization isn't always good.
World Bank HAS gone back to the middle on this subject, but the damage is done.