Category: politics
Halloween: Drag, War, and Bee Arthur
Posted by Lil Miss Hot Mess on November 2, 2009
- Categories: gay| performances| politics
- 5 Comments
First off, the Make Drag, Not War benefit for IVAW and DAM was great! Such good energy, good politics, and interesting people! Despite a couple of minor technical and choreographed mishaps, Sweetcheeks and I brought the house down. It’s really rewarding to perform political work and feel like people get it. (Though I also worry about preaching to the choir… but we’ll save that for later.)
And of course, the other performers! All the usuals were phenomenal: Raya, Suppositori, Rahni, Garza and Farrokh (whose number really was delightful, especially the twist at the end). And then there were the vets who really pulled it out. Oh, and Artist. Dear, Artist.
Here’s video of our number — I think someone else took video with a more profesh camera, so I’ll post that if/when I see it:
And some backstage photos (I insisted on some cheesy poses):
(the last one is with some CODEPINK friends I met a couple weeks ago. photo courtesy of Infinity.)
Oh, and I need to share a little Halloween miracle that also proves a point: The Israeli flag you see in the video I found at Thrift Town on Friday afternoon for $3.99. I was really trying to find a little black and white number to match the one I already had, but was having no luck. I wanted American and Israeli flags, but I was resigned to making them since I didn’t expect to find an Israeli flag in a day. Then, on a whim, I looked at the area where there are flags and fabrics. Lo and behold. The moral of the story? At Thrift Town, if you’re really desperate, it will deliver exactly what you need. I don’t normally endorse brands like this, but I’m serious. I one time needed a tambourine. I was in the shoe section and dropped something, and when I bent down to pick it up, there was a tambourine under the shoe rack. I kid you not. The other moral? If there is a God, she’s anti-zionist and wants me to have the props I need.
Anyway…
Later that night, I ditched my imperialist drag for my real costume: Bee Arthur! (Get it? Some people got it right away. Some people never got it. Two people thought I was Mrs. Doubtfire in a bee costume.) Ed and Ryan and Julie and Ellie and Jesse had a phenomenal party, though mama drank a little more of her $4 wine than she should’ve. Oops. I did, however, walk all the way from the Castro to 18th & Portrero in my new Zara heels (fine, a low heel).
And there are some pictures to prove it, after the jump:
Continue reading this post »
more about marriage
Posted by Lil Miss Hot Mess on October 20, 2009
Professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell’s article in The Nation is perhaps the most balanced and thoughtful piece on marriage I’ve read, possibly ever, and certainly in a long time. I still think marriage is the wrong goal for a queer movement, but I think she does a really nuanced job of sorting through some tough questions and seeming contradictions. It’s nice to read passages like this from someone who is a self-described “marriage equality advocate”:
Our work must be not just about marriage equality, it should also be about equal marriages, and about equal rights and security for those who opt out of marriage altogether.
and
So what are we to make of marriage? It is both a deeply personal relationship for which people will make almost unthinkable sacrifices, and it is a declining social institution offering little security for most who enter it.
and
As a black, feminist, marriage-equality advocate I reside at an important intersection in this struggle. This movement must acknowledge the unique history of racial oppression, while still revealing the interconnections of all marriage exclusion. This work must reflect the feminist critique of marriage, while still acknowledging the ancient, cross cultural, human attachment to marriage. This work must be staunchly supportive of same-sex marriage, while rejecting a marriage-normative framework that silences the contributions of queer life.
I would still push back that a lot of seems to be not about marriage as a state institution, but rather about committed relationships in a general sense. The two are clearly related, but not synonymous. But ultimately I appreciate her ability to make this conversation an “and” rather than an “or.”
A reminder
Posted by Lil Miss Hot Mess on October 17, 2009
- Categories: events| politics
- No Comments
I just went to the anti-war march and rally at Civic Center. While the event itself was kind of frustrating — small, very sectarian, not the most well-organized — it’s a good reminder that it has been eight years since the US invaded Afghanistan. I was in high school when it started. And when I told my housemate I was going, she stopped herself before asking “what war?” as if there was some new war on the horizon. It feels trite, but I think the reminder that the US is constantly at war is necessary and always timely.
I’m not sure what the best course of action is at the moment — for the US government, or for activists — but it seems that at the very least we need to be pressuring Nobel laureate (!) Obama and our members of Congress for no more troops and a responsible exit strategy. Here’s a round-up of some ideas for taking action.
Also, not completely related (well, mostly because of US aggression in the region), but I attended the Arab Film Festival’s two opening night films on Thursday. If you haven’t checked out the schedule, try to make it to one of the great programs!
treat yourself
Posted by Lil Miss Hot Mess on October 14, 2009
- Categories: politics| wow!
- No Comments
I admit it: I’ve become a bit of a foodie. Or maybe just a Michael Pollan follower. Well, I guess I’ve been a vegetarian for ten years, and I’ve been into organic food since I first learned about the co-op in Albany, NY. So some might say I was country before country was cool. But I have been reading more lately about food production and sustainability, including Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, and also Marion Nestle’s blog. And I’ve become a pretty devoted farmers’ market shopper.
I just came across Pollan’s little project in the New York Times, where he asked people to share their “Dietary Dos and Don’ts.” I feel like he might say that in some ways it doesn’t really matter what one’s food philosophy is, as long as they have one.
Here’s mine — it’s a little flippant, but probably the most honest for me:
Do look at the ones he’s put together though — I keep trying to pick a favorite one to post, and I really can’t!
The Fire This Time
Posted by Lil Miss Hot Mess on September 30, 2009
- Categories: politics
- No Comments
A friend of a friend is working on a documentary about the NJ4 — a group of black dykes who were harassed and assaulted by a man in NYC and then arrested on bullshit charges of assault and gang violence. This all happened in 2006, and at least one of the women is still locked up. (Sorry, I’m having trouble sorting through all of the updates — if anyone can correct me, please do!)
Here’s the trailer for the film:
If you can, support the filmmaker in finishing the film so the story can reach more people. And click here to learn more about the NJ4 and how to support them!
Halloween: Drag, War, and Bee Arthur
Posted by Lil Miss Hot Mess on November 2, 2009
- Categories: gay| performances| politics
- 5 Comments
First off, the Make Drag, Not War benefit for IVAW and DAM was great! Such good energy, good politics, and interesting people! Despite a couple of minor technical and choreographed mishaps, Sweetcheeks and I brought the house down. It’s really rewarding to perform political work and feel like people get it. (Though I also worry about preaching to the choir… but we’ll save that for later.)
And of course, the other performers! All the usuals were phenomenal: Raya, Suppositori, Rahni, Garza and Farrokh (whose number really was delightful, especially the twist at the end). And then there were the vets who really pulled it out. Oh, and Artist. Dear, Artist.
Here’s video of our number — I think someone else took video with a more profesh camera, so I’ll post that if/when I see it:
And some backstage photos (I insisted on some cheesy poses):
(the last one is with some CODEPINK friends I met a couple weeks ago. photo courtesy of Infinity.)
Oh, and I need to share a little Halloween miracle that also proves a point: The Israeli flag you see in the video I found at Thrift Town on Friday afternoon for $3.99. I was really trying to find a little black and white number to match the one I already had, but was having no luck. I wanted American and Israeli flags, but I was resigned to making them since I didn’t expect to find an Israeli flag in a day. Then, on a whim, I looked at the area where there are flags and fabrics. Lo and behold. The moral of the story? At Thrift Town, if you’re really desperate, it will deliver exactly what you need. I don’t normally endorse brands like this, but I’m serious. I one time needed a tambourine. I was in the shoe section and dropped something, and when I bent down to pick it up, there was a tambourine under the shoe rack. I kid you not. The other moral? If there is a God, she’s anti-zionist and wants me to have the props I need.
Anyway…
Later that night, I ditched my imperialist drag for my real costume: Bee Arthur! (Get it? Some people got it right away. Some people never got it. Two people thought I was Mrs. Doubtfire in a bee costume.) Ed and Ryan and Julie and Ellie and Jesse had a phenomenal party, though mama drank a little more of her $4 wine than she should’ve. Oops. I did, however, walk all the way from the Castro to 18th & Portrero in my new Zara heels (fine, a low heel).
And there are some pictures to prove it, after the jump:
Continue reading this post »
more about marriage
Posted by Lil Miss Hot Mess on October 20, 2009
Professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell’s article in The Nation is perhaps the most balanced and thoughtful piece on marriage I’ve read, possibly ever, and certainly in a long time. I still think marriage is the wrong goal for a queer movement, but I think she does a really nuanced job of sorting through some tough questions and seeming contradictions. It’s nice to read passages like this from someone who is a self-described “marriage equality advocate”:
Our work must be not just about marriage equality, it should also be about equal marriages, and about equal rights and security for those who opt out of marriage altogether.
and
So what are we to make of marriage? It is both a deeply personal relationship for which people will make almost unthinkable sacrifices, and it is a declining social institution offering little security for most who enter it.
and
As a black, feminist, marriage-equality advocate I reside at an important intersection in this struggle. This movement must acknowledge the unique history of racial oppression, while still revealing the interconnections of all marriage exclusion. This work must reflect the feminist critique of marriage, while still acknowledging the ancient, cross cultural, human attachment to marriage. This work must be staunchly supportive of same-sex marriage, while rejecting a marriage-normative framework that silences the contributions of queer life.
I would still push back that a lot of seems to be not about marriage as a state institution, but rather about committed relationships in a general sense. The two are clearly related, but not synonymous. But ultimately I appreciate her ability to make this conversation an “and” rather than an “or.”
A reminder
Posted by Lil Miss Hot Mess on October 17, 2009
- Categories: events| politics
- No Comments
I just went to the anti-war march and rally at Civic Center. While the event itself was kind of frustrating — small, very sectarian, not the most well-organized — it’s a good reminder that it has been eight years since the US invaded Afghanistan. I was in high school when it started. And when I told my housemate I was going, she stopped herself before asking “what war?” as if there was some new war on the horizon. It feels trite, but I think the reminder that the US is constantly at war is necessary and always timely.
I’m not sure what the best course of action is at the moment — for the US government, or for activists — but it seems that at the very least we need to be pressuring Nobel laureate (!) Obama and our members of Congress for no more troops and a responsible exit strategy. Here’s a round-up of some ideas for taking action.
Also, not completely related (well, mostly because of US aggression in the region), but I attended the Arab Film Festival’s two opening night films on Thursday. If you haven’t checked out the schedule, try to make it to one of the great programs!
treat yourself
Posted by Lil Miss Hot Mess on October 14, 2009
- Categories: politics| wow!
- No Comments
I admit it: I’ve become a bit of a foodie. Or maybe just a Michael Pollan follower. Well, I guess I’ve been a vegetarian for ten years, and I’ve been into organic food since I first learned about the co-op in Albany, NY. So some might say I was country before country was cool. But I have been reading more lately about food production and sustainability, including Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, and also Marion Nestle’s blog. And I’ve become a pretty devoted farmers’ market shopper.
I just came across Pollan’s little project in the New York Times, where he asked people to share their “Dietary Dos and Don’ts.” I feel like he might say that in some ways it doesn’t really matter what one’s food philosophy is, as long as they have one.
Here’s mine — it’s a little flippant, but probably the most honest for me:
Do look at the ones he’s put together though — I keep trying to pick a favorite one to post, and I really can’t!
The Fire This Time
Posted by Lil Miss Hot Mess on September 30, 2009
- Categories: politics
- No Comments
A friend of a friend is working on a documentary about the NJ4 — a group of black dykes who were harassed and assaulted by a man in NYC and then arrested on bullshit charges of assault and gang violence. This all happened in 2006, and at least one of the women is still locked up. (Sorry, I’m having trouble sorting through all of the updates — if anyone can correct me, please do!)
Here’s the trailer for the film:
If you can, support the filmmaker in finishing the film so the story can reach more people. And click here to learn more about the NJ4 and how to support them!
Honey, if you don't trust me,
then I don't trust your taste.
Be My Friend!
