Avoiding Condoms

Like Adam, many gay men around the country are opting to forgo the standard defense against HIV — a condom — in favor of a highly controversial and thus far unproven method of protection known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. Whether in a serodiscordant relationship or just looking for a fun night (or weekend) out, guys are trading rubbers for HIV drugs like tenofovir, known commercially as Viread, in hopes of preventing infection.

The Next Condom Conundrum | Advocate.com

Time Out: Motown Records turns 50

Motown Records turns 50 today. Their earliest hit:

Motown Records – Wikipedia

Rebublicans in the Wilderness

I’ve been photographing protests in DC now for nearly four years. Most of the “take it to the streets” protests are organized by only a few groups. This weekend’s A.N.S.W.E.R. Gaza protest and Free Republic counter protest was no exception.

A.N.S.W.E.R. usually organizes whatever major war protest is happening on the mall. The counter protest is usually organized by Free Republic. I think both of these groups are extremist, but A.N.S.W.E.R. tends to grab ahold of whatever is happening at the moment. Their protests are large because they attract new people who care about a cause, plus the same core group of left-wing protesters who carry their own agendas regardless of the issue of the moment. Free Republic tends to tow the extreme Republican party line of the moment, whether it be “We have to fight them over there…” or “Nuke Iran.”

Since the Free Republic group is usually pretty small, you begin to recognize people after a while. This weekend there was one long-haired mountain man that I first didn’t recognize, then it dawned on me I had photos of him from September of 2005, where he looked like an overgrown boy scout. While some Free Republic people (or “Freepers” as they are called) can spew some pretty vile stuff at these rallies, this guy is usually pretty quiet and holds a sign. His transformation to this bearded man of the wild was pretty stark. Upon reviewing the photos my buddy Bullneck got to thinking: “Is this a sign of Republicans wandering in the wilderness?”

Is this a sign of Republicans wandering in the wilderness?

Gay Bishop Robinson to offer prayer at inaugural event

Doesn’t a gay Bishop outrank a homophobic Reverend?

Bishop V. Gene Robinson

The first openly gay Episcopal bishop will offer a prayer at the Lincoln Memorial at an inaugural event for President-elect Barack Obama.

The selection of New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson for Sunday’s event follows weeks of criticism from gay-rights groups over Obama’s decision to have the Rev. Rick Warren give the invocation at his Jan. 20 inauguration…

Robinson, 61, said both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will attend the event, and Obama is expected to speak. As for himself, Robinson said he doesn’t yet know what he’ll say, but he knows he won’t use a Bible.

“While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans,” Robinson said. “I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation.”

Gay NH bishop to offer prayer at inaugural event : NPR

Andrew Sullivan says the selection is the squeeky wheel getting the grease. Let’s hope LGBT can learn to be more than just a squeeky wheel. We need to help steer.

Photo by Flickr user janinsanfran

Join the Impact Rallies Roundup

Some Headines from local rallies:

Gay rights activists hold rally in downtown Boise | KBCI CBS 2 – Boise, ID

About 30 gather in Olympia to rally against marriage act – The Olympian – Olympia, Washington.

Gay and Lesbian “Impact Tallahassee” Rally.

Rally against anti-gay law draws small Olympia crowd – YahooNews – The Olympian – Olympia, Washington

Chicago Gay Examiner: Hundreds protest Defense of Marriage Act downtown Chicago

Same-sex Marriage Rally in Fresno – KGPE – CBS TV47

Dear Obama: Members of the LGBTQ community march to send a message – The Daily of the University of Washington

Rally draws supporters of gay marriage (Seattle)

Local News | Advocates of same-sex marriage pin hopes on Obama | Seattle Times Newspaper

Drink or the terrorists win

Gays: 1 – Terrorists: 0

SEATTLE, Washington (CNN) — Bartender Chris Daw had plenty of patrons to serve early Saturday at the CC Attle tavern, despite the ricin threats that it and 10 other Seattle gay bars recently received.

The threats — letters warning that patrons would be poisoned — appear to be part of the reason business was brisk.

People have flocked to the 11 bars in solidarity since the letters arrived in the mail last week, Daw and others said. On Friday night, hundreds of locals participated in an organized pub crawl designed to support the establishments.

“People are like, ‘Come on out. If you don’t drink, a terrorist wins,’ ” Daw said.

Despite ricin threat, Seattle gay bars hopping – CNN.com

Gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson goes to Seattle

Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson has become symbolic of the fierce tensions within the denomination — both nationally and internationally — over issues such as homosexuality and the authority of Scripture. For that very reason, some local Episcopalians are inviting Robinson to Seattle this week.

Local News | Gay church official to speak of civil rights and religious rites | Seattle Times Newspaper.

Golden Globe Winners, Spielberg, no “Milk”

Slumdog, Rourke, Ledger win; Winslet wins two!

No Milk.

Mad Men! 30 Rock!

HFPA – Nominations and Winners

Motion Pictures:
Drama: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Musical or Comedy: “Vicky Christina Barcelona”
Actor: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Actress: Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”
Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Colin Farrell, “In Bruges”
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Sally Hawkins, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Foreign Language Film: “Waltz With Bashir”
Animated Film: “Wall-E”
Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Original Score: A.R. Rahman, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Original Song: “The Wrestler” (performed by Bruce Springsteen, written by Bruce Springsteen), “The Wrestler”

Television:
Series, Drama: “Mad Men”
Actor, Drama: Gabriel Byrne, “In Treatment”
Actress, Drama: Anna Paquin, “True Blood”
Series, Musical or Comedy: “30 Rock”
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
Miniseries or Movie: “John Adams”
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Linney, “John Adams”
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Paul Giammatti, “John Adams”
Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Dern, “Recount”
Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Tom Wilkinson, “John Adams”

Cecil B. DeMille Award: Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg after accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award from Golden Globe Awards on Vimeo:

Newsday explores the life of New York native Harvey Milk

A biography written a few years after his murder recounts stories of his first adolescent sexual experiences (at Metropolitan Opera matinees where he watched from a standee section with a reputation for randiness) and an account of how he was picked up by police, but not arrested, in a roundup of gays in Central Park the summer after his 1947 graduation from Bay Shore High School.

But his high school friends say they knew nothing of his love for opera, much less his sexual orientation. To them, he was an ardent if second-string athlete, a fun-loving joker and a likable pal who danced with girls around the jukebox.

“He was funny as heck,” said Patrick Vesey, 80, a retired accountant who still lives in Bay Shore.

Hidden depths of Long Island native Harvey Milk — Newsday.com.