Yesterday, an article I wrote for Advocate.com, the leading LGBT news magazine, discussing why at this point in time it's ridiculous for people to see treat gays as second-class citizens. The following is an excerpt and you can read the rest of the article by clicking the link below.

Respecting Marriage

With the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act, gay and lesbian couples moved one step closer to marriage equality in America. The big question: Will that be enough to really effect change in places where gays are still ostracized and treated as second-class citizens?

The bill, introduced in the U.S. House on September 15 by Democratic representatives Jerrold Nadler of New York, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, and Jared Polis of Colorado, seeks to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, signed into law in 1996 by President Bill Clinton. In an interesting twist, Clinton is a major backer of the new bill, saying, "Throughout my life I have opposed discrimination of any kind. When the Defense of Marriage Act was passed, gay couples could not marry anywhere in the United States or the world for that matter. Thirteen years later, the fabric of our country has changed, and so should this policy."

To read the full commentary, head to Advocate.com.

No it's not the avocados; fresh sushi-grade fish; year-round hiking, surfing or biking; the abundance of hybrid cars; Half Dome; Coachella; Tahoe; Golden Gate Bridge; Hollywood or Hwy 1 (but these all pretty much kick ass). It's the fact that the California Supreme Court believes in the rights of all people.

California's high court today overturned a ruling saying that it's unconstitutional to deny gay couples the right to marry. They likened it to not allowing interracial couples to marry. The justices, in a 4-3 ruling, wrote, "In view of the substance and significance of the fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship, the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples."

This is a huge day for our country. Massachusetts made same-sex marriage legal four years ago at the same time that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom started issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. All the marriages granted during that period had been nullified, but will now be reinstated. Today Newsom said, "It's a throwaway line, but I think it's true: As California goes, so goes the rest of the nation."

As a Chicago resident, I have to ask: So Mayor Daley -- when are you going to start issuing same-sex marriage licenses in the city? Let's make this happen!

This video is about 10 minutes long but is worth it. Brilliantly shocking. Watch it all the way through. It's definitely disturbing. 

this is an absolutely hilarious clip from a 1984 show hosted by Japanese comedian Takeshi Kitano.

two questions:
1. Why soccer with binoculars (if for no other reason than to make stoners laugh)?
2. What's up with those insane outfits?

watch and laugh...

                                 

You have to wonder why more businesses don't install the XLerator in their bathrooms

Feeling good about your vocabulary? Want to test yourself -- or enhance your knowledge of the English language? At FreeRice, by knowing the definitions of words, you can send grains of rice to hungry people in developing nations around the world. In partnership with the United Nations World Food Program, FreeRice has donated more than 9 billion grains of rice since it launched in early October. That first month, more than 537 million grains were donated; In November, that number jumped to 4.76 billion for the month. Obviously word is getting out and more and more people are playing the FreeRice game. Not only do you get to improve your vocabulary, but feel good at the same time, knowing you're helping put food on someone's plate. Worldwide hunger is one of the most serious issues threatening people today. According to the UN, 25,000 people (mostly kids) die from hunger or hunger-related causes. So instead of working on that report that's due by 5 pm, spend 20 minutes and see how many words you can get right. And when your boss yells at you, make them feel guilty they're not helping stomp out hunger.

Breaking News: President Bush commutes prison sentence for Lewis 'Scooter' Libby

Is there anything these people don't get away with? This news is un-fucking-believable.

I can't wait for 2008.

                                     

Some Ecards have come out with a line of hilarious -- and free -- eCards that tell it like you really mean it. Designed in a variety of pastels with cartoon-like images, the ecards have witty, catty and campy sayings that include "You've been distant since the sexual harassment" (workplace), "Your boyfriend is gay" (friendship), "May you live long enough to shit yourself" (birthday) and "The good news is that she was a cunt" (breakup).

[via CoolHunting]

Sure this may be a load of hooey, but it doesn't hurt to try and rally against the ever-increasing price of gas. But May 15 is a gas boycott day. If there were ever an argument for seeking out alternative fuels, the recent spike in gas prices -- with the countrywide average topping $3 a gallon -- is a pretty loud argument. On May 15 -- Don't Buy Gas. Don't Fill Up Your Tank. Don't Even Go To A Gas Station. If enough people around the country boycott buying gas on May 15, it could make a difference.

Sure the name conjures images of a sexual nature, but I assure you the only thing the Woody Popblaster is gonna do is play you some great tunes from your iPod or other MP3 player. That is, unless, you play some JT or R.Kelly and the people you're with start gettin' funky. Otherwise, just expect this stylish wood travel player to kick out some hot jams through its built-in semi-water-resistant speakers. The Popblaster is battery operated, has a headphone jack, has a compartment for cords and is small enough to fit in your carry-on. Available for $50 through Lifepod.