gaelick » Ellen DeGeneres

OneMillionMoms vs. Ellen and JC Penney

tabula rasa — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:36 +0000

You may have heard about the furore surrounding JC Penney’s appointment of Ellen DeGeneres as their spokesperson, which seems to have angered right-wing conservative groups in America.

When appointing her as spokesperson for the chain, the new CEO of JC Penney, Ron Johnson said of Ellen in a statement:

I think Ellen is someone we all trust. She’s loveable, likeable, honest and funny, but at her soul, we trust her

The most vocal of these opposition groups has been OneMillionMoms, a branch of the American Family Association. On its Twitter account the group describes themselves as:

A network of Christian moms and grandmothers taking a stand for our children who are being exploited by the entertainment industry.

This group seems to genuinely believe that the appointment of an out gay spokesperson for the store is going to tear the moral fibre of the America apart.

The statement on their website reads:

Recently JC Penney announced that comedian Ellen Degeneres will be the company’s new spokesperson. Funny that JC Penney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families. More sales will be lost than gained unless they replace their spokesperson quickly.

Unless JC Penney decides to be neutral in the culture war then their brand transformation will be unsuccessful.

Their marketing strategy is to help families shop and receive a good value for their money. Degeneres is not a true representation of the type of families that shop at their store. The majority of JC Penney shoppers will be offended and choose to no longer shop there. The small percentage of customers they are attempting to satisfy will not offset their loss in sales.

JC Penney has made a poor decision and must correct their mistake fast to retain loyal customers and not turn away potential new, conservative shoppers with the company’s new vision.

The statement goes on to say:

By jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon, JC Penney is attempting to gain a new target market and in the process will lose customers with traditional values that have been faithful to them over all these years.

OMM further advises their members that they:

can shop elsewhere if JC Penney does not appreciate our business. Unless JC Penney decides to be neutral in the culture war and listen to customers in a considerate fashion, their brand transformation will be unsuccessful.

I didn’t even know there was a culture war! If I had known, I would have been out-gaying myself even more recently.

Seriously though, it’s worrying that in this day in age, people still think that equality and rights represent a “culture war”. It’s extrememly disheartening to see that the pervasive “them” and “us” attitude still exists, and exists very publicly with groups like this.

On even closer inspection of the OMM site, it seems that it’s not just Ellen who offends them. They also have a crusade against Macy’s Department Store who incurred their wrath with an image in a recent catalogue:

In the hopes of making sales, instead they offended many customers in the process. The back cover looks like just a regular advertisement for their wedding registry service, but there is one major difference. When you take a closer look you see the cake topper of two men instead of the traditional man and woman. The ad also includes a license plate that reads “I do” and hearts scattered everywhere. Macy’s must believe this is mainstream, but just because gay marriage is legal in a few states, this is inappropriate marketing and conservative customers will not support it.

I’m actually lost for words on this group. They are also against Modern Family, Glee, the word “hell” in kids cartoons (am I the only one who didn’t know that was considered a curse word?) and many other things that I can’t be bothered listing, as they seem to be against pretty much everything.

Ellen broke her silence on the issue a couple of days ago with this brilliantly witty statement, but a statement which still got the message across very well.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zNKTTtAXCs

She explains:

I normally try not to pay attention to my haters, but this time I’d like to talk about it cos my haters are my motivators.

And proceeded to come out to any people who may have been living under a rock:

This organisation doesn’t think I should be the spokesperson cos I’m gay … so for those of you tuning in for the first time, it’s true, I’m gay. I hope you were sitting down! I hate to break it to you this way.

She goes on to point out that:

First of all, being gay or pro-gay is not a bandwagon…you don’t get a free ride anywhere. There’s no music, and occasionally we’ll sing “We Are Family” but that’s about it.

My favourite bit of the whole statement is this:

Not that there’s anyone counting, but for a group that calls themselves OneMillionMoms, they only have 40,000 members on their page … so they’re rounding to the nearest million, and I get that.

Her final lines were very appropriate to the issue, and further demonstrates just why we all love Ellen:

I wanna be clear, and here are the values that I stand for. I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated and helping those in need. To me those are traditional values, that’s what I stand for.

I, like, like that you like this: Your fave Facebook links of 2011

click here — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 08:00:16 +0000

Here are some of the most popular non-Gaelick links from our Facebook page this year. Lovely!

16. Women have US Navy’s first same-sex homecoming kiss

They’re gorgeous, they’re confident, and they wear amazing uniforms. They’re Officers Gaeta and Snell, and they were the first same-sex couple to have the Navy’s traditional “homecoming kiss” since the repeal of DADT. They’re the new this.

As well as the Beeb’s story, there was the video, as well as the original story and pics from The Virginian-Pilot.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta (23) and her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell (22) share the traditional dockside “first kiss” since the US ended a ban on gays in the army.

Aren’t they only gorgeous?

15. Amber Heard: Staying in the closet in Hollywood is a horribly detrimental lie

We do love Amber Heard here on Gaelick. (At least, some of us are obsessed.)

14. Billie Jean King and Martina Navrátilová respond to Margaret Court’s homophobic rant

13. Gay couple being told they will become grandparents

12. In memory of Sonia Pierre, human rights defender

Sonia Pierre was a prominent human rights defender of African descent from the Dominican Republic, who founded and served as Director of the Movement of Dominican-Haitian Women (MUDHA). Sonia passed away at the age of 48 from a heart attack on 4 December.

11. Same-sex partnerships from abroad to be recognised in Ireland

This brings to 32 the number of jurisdictions in respect of which Ireland recognises same-sex relationships as civil partnerships, as of 25th December 2011. Of these 32 jurisdictions, 18 provide for marriage equality.

This means that (despite The Journal‘s headline) if you are validly married under the law in any of these 18 places, your marriage will be downgraded by Ireland to a civil partnership.

Happy Christmas.

10. Ellen and Sofia Vergara shoot a CoverGirl ad

9. “What’s goin’ on”

8. “Sarah Silverman’s It Gets Better message is to adults: antigay adults. Blunt and to the point.”

7. Gay Agenda planning

From the Recruitment Committee: We are facing an uphill battle. The world’s population has reached 7 billion. This means that we will have to work hard to not only maintain our strength at 10 percent of the population, but each current member will have to recruit at least three new members to reach our target goal of 11 percent in 2012. (Remember our long-range plan: 16 percent by ’16!)

6. Recently, a Michigan mayor wrote on Facebook, “I think I am going to throw away my I Love New York carrying bag now that queers can get married there”. This woman stood up with her wife and her two children and spoke directly to the mayor. She was magnificent.

5. Margaret Cho feat. Tegan & Sara: “Intervention”

4. The primary reason why cats will never develop a system of organised religion

3. Yoga Cat

2. Ah, the Burke family, of ..somewhere in Mayo

1. From Jack to Jackie: “Why I had a sex change at 16”

“I do feel guilty sometimes,” says Jackie “because my mum’s gone through all this with me and I know people judge her and think she’s done the wrong thing. But I just couldn’t wait for it to happen. She and my dad have been brilliant. When they both came to terms with the situation they helped me so much. I owe them my life.”

Gay Lady of the Year

HAL — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:29:04 +0000

Writing on Gaelick is fun: you get to research loads of lesbian, gay, bi and trans stuff; you spend hours searching for that perfect image of that gorgeous woman; and you do it with a bunch of lovely loonies. If this sounds like an ad for contributing to Gaelick, please take it as such, we welcome contributions.

There I am, this morning, looking around t’internet to see what it has in store when all of a sudden I see SheWired has announced the winners of their Gay Women of 2010 vote. It’s a US-based site, so I assumed Rachel Maddow. She is, in fairness, a wonder and is understandably hugely popular.

So you can imagine my shock when she wasn’t even in the top three. Number three was Chely Wright, the lesbian country and western singer who bravely came out of the closet in 2010. Number two was Tucky Williams (right). Tucky Whomiams?? Am I so out of touch with lesbian culture that not only would I not have voted for her but I have never in my 30-odd (sometimes very odd) years heard of her?

(She is an accomplished woman, as you can see from her Wiki page:

Tucky Williams is an award-winning actress best known for playing Evan in the web series Girl/Girl Scene, as well as the sexy zombie slayer Vix in the cult horror film Dead Moon Rising. She made her acting debut as Dana, the female lead in the independent feature film Shadows Light. She is the creator, writer and star of the webseries Girl/Girl Scene, for which she has won est Original Screenplay at the 2010 World Independent Film Expo. Tucky also has featured roles in the films Blink and Red River, the television pilot Bottle Rockets, and appears as herself in the documentary Welcome to My Darkside! A meteorologist, she has worked on-air for the ABC affiliate station in Lexington, Ky. She also works as a yoga instructor. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, meditation, and studying philosophy.)

Number one, the lesbian that SheWired’s readers think gave the most “outstanding contributions to the community” was Tracy Ryerson (left). Her from The Real L Word. Seriously.

Am I so out of the lezzie loop that I spat my tea when I read the article? Chely Wright, ok fair dues, she deserves to be in there. Then some woman whose name is totally new to my ears, and your wan from The Real L Word?!

Holy Ellen’s hush puppies, people! Where was said Ellen and the aforementioned Ms Maddow? What thinks you? Help me dearest reader. I’m even regressing into tweedy English, such are my feelings of panic.

UPDATE

Ladies and gentlefolk, SheWired’s number two Gay Lady of the Year just got in contact with little old me.

Hold on to your tea -

Hi, this is Tucky Williams, the girl you’ve never heard of who came in second in SheWired’s Gay Woman of the Year contest.

I’d like to invite you to watch my show:

http://blip.tv/file/4383021

Watch the first five minutes. You’ll like it.

She’s wrong though, it only took 2 minutes. And I LOVE it. That’s me gone from civilisation until I catch up with Girl/Girl.

A Suppa Earl Gae

webmaster — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 09:36:17 +0000

Good ole Aurthur, I don’t even drink the stuff and I feel groggy. I mean, it was his birthday, so it would have been rude not to celebrate it in some form or another. And celebrate I did. Thank crunchie its Friday. Tea and lots of it will get me through this day.

So lets begin by saying congrats to Ellen and Porti,

The couple are happily married and reports reveal that Portia Lee James has officially become Mrs. DeGeneres after she was granted permission to change her name in court on Thursday.

Just one in 100 Scots consider themselves gay, lesbian or bisexual

Sad news about Jill Johnston, Feminist Lesbian Writer Jill Johnston Dies at 81

During her lifetime, Johnston was a pioneer for the lesbian and feminist communities. Authoring what many considered the lesbian bible Lesbian Nation: The Feminist Solution in 1974, Johnston was a lead figure in the movement towards equality and social justice in the LGBT community. The accomplished writer regularly wrote artistic columns for the Village Voice as well as other poignant feminist pieces that shaped the world we currently see before us today as lesbians in America and around the world.

Beth Ditto – Ditto Slams Skinny ‘Role Models’

The Gossip star admits she finds it “tiring” defending her shapely figure, which has often been a target for critics, who have branded her a bad role model.

Common sense prevails in Florida Florida Court Calls Ban on Gay Adoptions Unlawful

At a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Charlie Crist applauded the decision, saying: “It’s a very good day for Florida; it’s a great day for children. Children deserve a loving home to be in.”

What sort of crazy man is this? The Gov is obviously talking madness

Meet Oklahoma’s First Transgender Political Candidate

There’s a showdown unfolding in Oklahoma’s House District 84, between Brittany Novotny, the state’s first transgender political candidate, and Sally Kern, infamous for believing that LGBT Americans are more dangerous than terrorists.

What a great idea! Dan Savage to gay teens: ‘It gets better, and it can get great’

This week, Savage launched a new YouTube channel and posted a video of him and his husband, Terry, talking directly to the camera about how they were badly bullied as teens for being gay but persevered, and life had gotten much better as they grew up.

Katy Perry’s breasts too hot for “Sesame Street”

Looks like we have our answer to the question of how to get to Sesame Street: by covering up your cleavage. A clip of Katy Perry singing “Hot N Cold” with Elmo was leaked online earlier this week and some parents were unhappy with the way the pop star’s breasts were on display.

‘Why are girls who lose their virginity allowed to go to public school?’

Yup, that’s a direct quote. Bambang Bayu Suseno, a legislator in Jambi, a province of Indonesia, is floating an idea among his colleagues and constituents that all girls would have to pass a virginity test in order to attend state-funded schools.

Live-tweeting about rape in Haiti

Debate erupts when a reporter takes to Twitter with a story about sexual assault in the quake-ravaged country

A rare positive article about bisexuality from temple-news.com Jumping the bisexuality hurdle, but this made me nearly spill my lovely cup of tea:

On wikiHow.com’s “How to Date a Bisexual Person,” there are tips to people going into a new relationship with a bisexual person.

What?! Seriously, here’s the post. So I thought, well if there’s guidelines for bisexuals, there must be guidelines for hetrosexuals and lesbians right?

Wrong. Although they do have How to Get a Lesbian Girlfriend and How to Know If You Are a Lesbian and just in case How to Find the Right Lesbian Partner, which, if you are going by the pics used to illustrate the article, should be fairly straightforward. Just find someone wearing rainbow coloured clothing, and voila, partner for life. And this one we should all bookmark How to Get Rid of an Obsessive Ex Girlfriend but no how to date a lesbian. Do we not date?!

One could get lost in wikihow

Ellen the Comic

Gooner — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 05:00:02 +0000

When I think of Ellen Degeneres I think of one of my favourite comics, a woman who can make me laugh out loud with very little effort. However, it appears that the good folks at Bluewater Productions have taken this literally and made Ellen’s life the subject of a comic, a comic book that is!

The comic book is part of a series called Female Force which also includes the likes of Sarah Palin (lord help us) not to menation Michelle Obama. Bluewater president Darren G. Davis has said

Ellen and her organization were very generous by embracing this book. That’s why we are happy to share a percentage of the proceeds with her favorite charity; the Humane Society.

The comic tells the story of Ellen’s life from childhood to stand up comic to Emmy Award winning talk show host and American Idol judge. The 38 page comic also includes illustrations of Ellen’s wedding to actress Porta de Rossi.

The book is written by Sandra C. Ruckdeschel who has said, in relation to Ellen living openly as a gay woman:

It is part of who she is and any telling of her story without acknowledging the importance she places on her identity would be disrespectful to her accomplishments

Well said Sandra, I couldn’t agree more. It will be interesting to see how this one turns out, you can purchase the comic on Amazon here for $3.99.

A spider made Spiderman, cats made Catwoman….but an STD made Wartgirl!

Queer Queens of Comedy

Gooner — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:00:29 +0000

If there is one thing most of us have in common it’s that we love a good laugh. I am a massive fan of stand up, I have seen the likes of Eddie Izzard and Deirdre O’Kane live a few times as well as having the pleasure of being at one of Julian Clary‘s unforgettable shows. So I have put together a list of my favourite lesbian stand up comedians for you. They are mainly American so if anyone knows of Europeans who fit the bill I’d love to hear from you. Please comment if I am missing any of your favourites

Ellen Degeneres

I’m afraid I have to start with the most obvious one. She may be better known to some for her talk show, sitcoms or even American Idol but our first lady started out treading the boards as a stand up. I have a few of her DVDs and no matter now many times I watch them I still laugh out loud.

I have to say something gay, otherwise people might…say, ‘She didn’t do anything gay. She’s not our leader. What happened to our leader?’

For me it’s her delivery that is so funny. You can repeat her jokes all you want but it’s how she says what she says that is so hilarious.

Suzanne Westenhoefer

Suzanne Westenhoefer is one of my favourite stand ups and I would absolutely love to see her live show. It would almost be worth going on one of those Olivia cruises to see her. Suzanne was doing her thing before most of her piers and her experience shows, I have had to pause her DVDs so I can stop the pain in my stomach from laughing. If there is one name on my list that you just have to look up it’s Suzanne – comedic genius!

Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho is multi talented, she has a very successful blog, has written a book, has a clothing line and also started up Love, is Love is Love, a website promoting the legalization of gay marriage in the US. Her stand up deals with LGBTQ issues and is quite political in its nature, it’s also hilarious. Cho was so anti-Bush that one of her shows in Texas was even threatened with pickets! She can be so controversial that once a human rights groups dis-invited her to speak! You can catch her on The Cho Show on Vh1.

Marga Gomez

Another one of my favourites. This New Yorker got her break in San Fransisco doing stand up in the clubs and now tours the country with her show. I just couldn’t decide which of her clips is my favourite so I am posting two

Liz Feldman

Liz Feldman is one of those people you’d love to go for a pint with cause you know you’d never stop laughing. I get the impression that being funny is just who she is, rather than what she does. Her vlog on AfterEllen, entitled ‘This Just Out’, was wonderful and when The Ellen Degeneres Show won it’s Emmy for writing, Liz was on the team. You can’t get better credentials than that now can you?

Here is a clip from when she interviewed The L Word‘s Erin Daniels

Elvira Kurt

Elvira has done many TV appearances including hosting PopCultered on the Canadian Comedy Network. Her comedy brings in her Hungarian Jewish heritage, her displeasure at aging as well as complaining about celebrities. She also decided to coin a phrase to describe women who are neither butch not femme, she went with “fellagirly”.

She appears on radio and TV regularly including a weekly spot on Q, where she does a “Cultural Hall of Shame” segment.

Wanda Sykes

Wanda is not only a stand-up comic but also a talented actress and Emmy winning writer. She has her own show, The Wanda Sykes Show but you may recognise her from some appearances in Curb Your Enthusiasm. From 1991-1998 Sykes was married to record producer David Hall but in 2008 she married her partner Alex who gave birth to twins. Her comedy is genuinly funny and she’s not afraid to speak her mind. She also appeared in advertisements that encourage teens to stop saying things like “that’s so gay”.

Kate Clinton

Kate was one of the very first women to do stand up about being an “out lesbian”. Clinton has been performing for almost 30 years, her work centres on the days headlines and modern family relationships as well as political commentary.

Kate has appeared on countless TV shows and even appeared on Cindi Lauper’s True Colors tour.

Vickie Shaw

Texan Vickie Shaw came out to herself in her late thirties, she was married with children and didn’t know what to do. Well the girl done good! She now lives with her partner and one of her children and has mad a name for herself as an amazing stand up.

I know there are many mnay more so please comment below. You can have a look here at Laughing Matters, for DVDs and show details.

No related posts.

Ellen’s Our Idol

Gooner — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:19:22 +0000

Anyone who watches The Ellen Degeneres Show on a regular basis will know that she’s a great fan of shows like “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance”. She talks about them regularly and often asks her guests who they think should win. Recently Ellen got to be a guest judge on the popular dance contest and it seems like now she will get to be a regular judge on American Idol.

As you may know, Paula Abdul resigned form the show via twitter a few months ago and filling her shoes must have been a tough job. Simon Cowell is the “mean one” and she was always the “nice one” ready to let people down lightly and give them some encouragement. I have to say I think it’s a stroke of genius to get Ellen in the hot seat. She’ll bring with her a host of fans from her daytime show and will no doubt be the judge that makes people laugh and gives the weaker participants some support.

Ellen announced the decission to the audience of her talk show, saying

“I love everything about it and I love music, as you know. Hopefully I’m the people’s point of view because I’m just like you. I sit at home and I watch it and I don’t have that technical . . . I’m not looking at it in a critical way from the producer’s mind. I’m looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person.”

I think more and more people will watch Idol now, I just hope Ellen’s personality isn’t too big for the show, after all, it’s about the contestants.

Congrats Ellen, you’re getting to do something that it’s clear you’ll love and we get to see more positive visibility.

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Sapphic Screen – Jan 11 to 17

HAL — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:25:46 +0000

2009 is getting off to a good start for those TV fans who have the movie channels. If you’re one of those plebs without, tough luck unfortunately. Although, there is still the odd programme for you to enjoy, the highlight of which, this week, is the Golden Globes. We like globes do us lesbians (sorry..)

Everyday

Will & Grace – The box-set of the complete seasons is €250, see it here for free. Living at 7pm and 1am

The Ellen Degeneres Show – The king of queens continues her multi-award winning chat show. TV3 at 2.10pm

11 Sunday

In & Out- When ex-pupil turned film star Matt Dillon inadvertently outs him in his Oscar-acceptance speech, a shocked Howard (Kevin Kline) must cope with the town’s reactions as well as his own feelings. Channel at 11.10pm

The Golden Globes – Our first chance of the year to sit on the couch in our jammies and slag off the stars and their dress sense while stuffing ourselves with choccie. Sky1 at 11.10pm

Maverick - Jodie in a dress. Giggling at Mel Gibson. Gag. Sky Movies Premier at `12.30am

12 Monday

My Crazy Media Life: Telling the World I’m HIV - Sixteen-year-old Carly has been living with a secret. Channel 4 at 10.35am

Resident Evil: Extinction – No brain required for this zombie-fest. Plus check out Milla kicking ass (right). Sky Movies Sci Fi/Horror at 1.50pm

Midnight Cowboy- A surprisingly queer mainstream Hollywood undertaking, with Dustin Hoffman and John Voight as a hustler and his sick best pal, who are trying to survive on the streets of New York. TCM at 9pm

Y Tu Mama Tambien - Two gorgeous teenage boys played by Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, go on a road trip with an equally gorgeous older woman, and learn about life, love and sex on the way. Film4 at 11.15pm

13 Tuesday

Mulholland Drive - Weird and wonderful David Lynch tale of a woman’s dream to become famous and her decent into the underworld of Hollywood. At least I think that’s what it’s about. Sky Movies Indie at 9am

The Good Shepherd - More Angelina yumminess, although she’s hardly in it. The Good Shepherd is an interesting look at the genesis of America’s CIA, but Matt Damon is woefully miscast and the film meanders a bit. Sky Movies Action/Thriller at 9.15am

The Sound of Music - Every lesbians’ first lesson in recycling and needle-point . Sky Movies Classic at 9.25am

West Side Story - Fabulous musical version of Romeo and Juliet. Sky Movies Classic at 12.20am

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life - Proving that the longer the title the worse the film, this awful caper is derivative of every action film you’ve ever seen. But Angelina’s in it, so at least watch it on mute. BBC3 at 8pm

Fame - Having the dubious reputation for making leg-warmers stylish, this is a fun-filled heart on its sleeve film which will have you tapping your feet. TCM at 9pm

14 Wednesday

The Bone Collector - Above-average serial killer story with Angie looking particularly gorgeous in uniform. Sky Movies Action/Thriller at 1pm

Freaky Friday - Jodie proves she was a better actress as a child than some of the adults around. FILM4 at 7.05pm

Women’s Murder Club - I’ve been avoiding adding this to the listings because it’s just so bad, but I have been remiss as Angie Harmon (left) is most definitely worth a mention. Rwwwarrr (although she could do with eating a few pies). 3e at 10pm

The Brave One - Jodie all grown up as a woman on a mission to avenge the violent death of her lover. Sky Movies Action/Thriller at 11pm

15 Thursday

The Page Turner - Obsession and revenge in modern-day France. Zoot alors!. Sky Movies Indie at 2.40pm

Stardust – Wonderful fantasy film with Michelle Pfeiffer looking delicious and Booby De Niro camping it up for all to see. Sky Movies Family at 2.45pm

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - Above-average sci-fi show about the trials of John Connor’s mother (Lena Heady) as she tries to save the world on a weekly basis. Sky Movies Family at 2.45pm

Barbarella - Nutzy sci-fi film in which Jane Fonda travels space wearing very little. Not that that’s a bad thing. Sky Movies Classics at 9pm

16 Friday

Fire - Two women in modern India fall in love and find out just why it’s the love that dare not speak its name. Sky Movies Indie at 6.15pm

American Beauty - Fascinating look at the boredom and complications of modern suburban life in America. Sky Movies Premier at 9.45pm

17 Saturday

Eurovision: Your Country Needs You - Graham Norton hosts the series searching for the UK’s next Eurovision stars as the five remaining acts compete for a chance to perform a new song composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. BBC1 at 6.35pm

Nine to Five - Three women tie up their sexist boss and take over the company, making it more successful than ever. Classic Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton comedy. RTE1 at 11.45pm

No related posts.

The Sapphic Screen – Dec 14 to 19

HAL — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:10:32 +0000

We have reached a new low people. Slimmer pickings than Paris Hilton’s lunch. A film a day and only if you have satellite. In fairness it’s not just us though, if you’re not interested in cooking for Christmas, it’s time to go out, finish your shopping and enjoy an odd Chrissy drink or two.

Everyday

The Ellen DeGeneres Show - Check out Her Royal Gayness, King of Queens. TV3 at 2.10pm

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – No Tara, but plenty of drama. Channel 6 at 5.10pm

Will & Grace – The box-set of the complete seasons is €250, see it here for free. Living 7pm and 1am

14 Sunday

Stardust- I can’t decide who runs away with this, Michelle Pfeiffer is breath-taking but Bobby De Niro is fagtastic. And Claire Danes ain’t too bad either. Either way, this fairytale is great fun. Sky Movies Premier at 8pm

15 Monday

Some Kind of Wonderful – Before she stole the heart of a sapphic generation in Fried Green Tomatoes as Idgie, Mary Stuart Masterson got lesbian palms sweating in this teen romance. She’s fabulous as Watts, tomboy with a heart of gold. Sky Movies Drama at 4.15pm

16 Tuesday

Infamous - While researching his book In Cold Blood, writer Truman Capote became close, some say fell in love, with convicted murderer Perry Smith. In this telling of the story, Toby Jones is Capote and Sandra Bullock is bessie mate, Harper Lee. Sky Movies Indie at 8pm

17 Wednesday

Nina’s Heavenly Delights - Silly, sexy tale of a young Scottish woman who comes home to save her family curryhouse, finding love on the way. Sky Movies Indie at 9am

Cockles and Muscles – Sexy French musical about men in love? Finally, something gay! Marc and Béatrix take their two kids to the seaside house of Marc’s youth, where their daughter takes up with a biker and their sons roams the beach with his best friend, who is in love with him. Things get steamier when Béatrix’s lover Mathieu shows up, and Marc’s old flame appears (summary from IMDB). BBC4 at 10pm

Little Man Tate - Jodie shows she’s as good behind the camera as she is in front. Sky Movies Family at 11.45pm

Being John Malkovich - Out-there comedy in which John Cusack finds a door into John Malkovich’s mind, losing his wife to the gorgeous Catherine Keener in the process. Film4 at 12.55am

18 Thursday

Maverick – Jodie giggling in a dress is our soul representation today. Bad times. Sky Movies Modern Greats 8pm

19 Friday

Circle - If you haven’t experienced the genius of Eddie Izzard, now’s you chance. Circle is one of his best including poor Darth Vader’s attempts to get served in the Death Star canteen, the thrill of Venn diagrams and thinking big – British style. Channel 4 at 10.35pm

No related posts.

The Sapphic Screen – Nov 29 to Dec 5

HAL — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:07:58 +0000

Many thanks to the wonderful Click Here for covering for me last week. It seems as if, unless you’re an I’m a Celebrity fan, this is the week for you to go Christmas shopping, meet friends or read a book. Ignore the telly, there’s nowt on.

Everyday

The Ellen DeGeneres Show - Check out Her Royal Gayness, King of Queens. TV3 at 2.10pm

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Willow goes all dark and dramatic. Channel 6 at 5.10pm

Will & Grace – The box-set of the complete seasons is €250, see it here for free. Living 7pm and 1am

I’m a Celebrity…..Get Me Out of Here! – Aren’t Martina and George lovely? They’re only fabulous and, hopefully, will continue to represent us in the jungle. Channel 6, ITV and TV3

29 Saturday

Two Civilisation – Film clips, behind-the-scenes footage, archival photos and on-camera interviews with colleagues who shared James Dean’s final year with one of the greatest actors ever to grace a cinema screen. RTE2 at 2.30pm

Stephen Fry’s America – Fry concludes his epic journey through all 50 states with a trip to the Pacific Northwest, starting in San Francisco. BBC2 at 7.05pm

30 Sunday

Hollyoaks Omnibus – Neville decides to embrace the idea of The Jolly Roger being a gay pub. With a name like that, how could it not be? Channel 4 at 9am

Girl, Interrupted – Angie steals the show, and an Oscar, in this tale of teenage mental ill-health. Winina Ryder does nothing but annoy Film4 at 12.45am

1 Monday

Real Crime – On New Year’s Day, 1993, Colin Ireland decided he would be famous. So he embarked on a killing spree that, within three months had resulted in the brutal murders of five gay men. Using never before broadcast footage of the killer’s confession, Ireland describes how and why he did what he did. ITV at 10:40pm

Fire – Two women in modern India explore the love that dare not speak its name.Sky Movie Indie at 4.25pm

2 Tuesday

Little Man Tate – Jodie shows she’s as good behind the camera as in front in this tale of a child prodigy trying to come to terms with being a kid as well as a genius. Sky Movies Family at 10pm

Beach Volley Ball – Oh yeah baby! CH4 at 1.15am

3 Wednesday

The Page Turner – Obsession and revenge in modern-day France Zoot alors!. Sky Movies Indie at 2.30pm

Wilde - The wonderful Stephen Fry plays Oscar Wilde in this biopic of the gay icon, with Jude Law as the love of his life, Bosie. Sky Movies Modern Greats at 3.50pm

Maverick – Jodie does comedy. In a dress. With frills. Sky Movies Modern Greats at 5.50pm

Silent Hill - You may think there is nothing lesbionic about this horror, but check out the cop….yum! Film4 at 9pm

A Queer Try – A repeat of the series following Northern Ireland’s first gay rugby team, the Ulster Titans, from their earliest days as a team to their bid for glory at the Bingham Cup. BBC1 at 11:20pm

4 Thursday

Nina’s Heavenly Delights – Silly, soppy and sexy story of a Scottish woman dealing with her Indian up-bringing. And cooking some delicious curry along the way. Sky Movies Indie at 4.55pm

Star Stories – Find out just how Elton John became head of the gay mafia. Channel4 at 10pm

Breakfast on Pluto – Gorgeous tale of Patrick ‘Kitten’ Braden. Not to be missed. Channel4 at 12.45pm

5 Friday

Unless you love I’m a Celeb, there is not a jot on for you tonight. Shouldn’t you be out having a good time? Get off that sofa!

No related posts.

P!nk’s New Video for “Sober” – Funhouse

Annie Aura — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:59:54 +0000

P!nk’s video for “Sober”, the second single from her Funhouse album has been premiered. Perez Hilton has called it the Best Video of the Year. It features a gothic Swedish forest, some puking into a toilet and…some P!nk on P!nk sex. Yes, you read that correctly. Let me know what you think!

Single cover

Track list:

1. “Sober” — 4:11
2. “When We’re Through” — 4:22

Sober Video

Sober should be available to buy in Ireland on 19th of December.

Gaelick Extra:
P!nk and Ellen

No related posts.

The Sapphic Screen – Nov 23 to 28

click here — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:38:24 +0000

Greetings, Gaelickers! I’m taking over this week’s installment of The Sapphic Screen in HAL’s stead. I hope I can live up to her standards!

And what a week to cover: lesbian invisibility returns to the small screen, with a vengeance. Except, that is, for Angelina Jolie. Fans of the be-lipped wonder can knock themselves out with about 85 million appearances from her throughout the week.

Everyday

The Ellen DeGeneres Show - Check out Her Royal Gayness, King of Queens. TV3 at 2.10pm

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Is Tara still shuffling around this mortal coil..? Channel 6 at 5.10pm

Will & Grace – The box-set of the complete seasons is €250, see it here for free. Living 7pm and 1am

Hollyoaks Later – This short series, a week-long spin-off of Channel 4 fixture Hollyoaks, develops the storyline of Sarah and Zoe. Apparently, they kiss, and maybe more. And the dirtee hussies are confined to post-watershed hours, where they belong. E4 10pm

23 Sunday

Peil na mBan Beo – It’s women’s GAA – how lesbionic can you get? TG4 at 5.20pm

Divas II – A whole rake of ladies get together for a sing-song, including P!nk, who is definitely not a lesbian. UTV at 8pm

God Bless America – Following Barack Obama’s victory and the defeat of equality for same-sex relationships, this programme looks at the effect of religious conservatism on voter behaviour in the U.S. Channel 4 at 7pm

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!- What? There are three homersexualists in it this year – we’re allowed to watch.. TV3 and UTV at 9pm

24 Monday

Nina’s Heavenly Delights – Soppy but sexy story of a young woman who comes home to Scotland to look after the family’s Indian restaurant. Sky Movies Indie at 4:30pm

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! – Our celesbian and her two ‘moes continue their adventures in nature – who’ll be kicked out?! TV3 and UTV at 9pm

Katherine Lynch’s Wonderwomen – You either love it or you hate it: the series continues with Dublin’s drag scene’s Lynch and her questionable content. RTÉ2 at 10pm

25 Tuesday

The Black Dahlia – With a cast that includes Mia “L Word” Kirshner, Hilary “Boys Don’t Cry” Swank, Fiona “Ireland’s most fabulous dykon” Shaw; a cameo from k.d. lang, and several 1940s lesbian bar scenes; and director Brian De Palma, whose credits include Dressed To Kill, this is recommended queer viewing. Sky Movies Drama at 3:45pm

High Society’s Favourite Gigolo – The rise and fall of Britain’s first black entertainer, and highest paid entertainer of the 1920s and ’30s, Leslie Hutchinson, is examined in this episode of the High Society series. We’ll see if the programme looks at his relationships with Cole Porter, Ivor Novello and fellow bisexual, Tallulah Bankhead. Channel 4 at 9pm

The Culture Show – Angelina Jolie makes appearance number 1 of the week, talking about her career and new film, A Mighty Heart. BBC2 at 11:20pm

26 Wednesday

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! – ITV’s website ranks the gays among the least popular of the contestants – will it prove correct?! TV3 and UTV at 8:30pm

La Ciénaga – This intense family drama where the adolescents play while the adults are away, and described as “Chekov in Argentina”, includes a lesbian-crush sub-plot. I warned you that this week lesbian invisibility is taking over – I’m taking the lesbiality where I can find it! Film4 at 10:55pm

27 Thursday

A Culture Show Special: Angelina Jolie – It’s Angie again! This time she’s yakking on about her film career (again) and her other recent film, Changeling. BBC2 at 7pm

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! – Is this thing still on..? TV3 and UTV at 9pm

Life or Something Like It – It’s Angie again again! This is a comedy, or something. BBC2 at 11:50pm

28 Friday

Mulholland Dr. – Another weird offering from David Lynch, featuring the muchas appealing Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring. Sky Movies Indie at 5:30pm

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! – Oh, good lord, these z-list slebs (except for Martina, of course), are bad enough without subjecting us in TV-land to slatherings of icky creepy-crawlies and guck. Make it end! TV3 and UTV at 9pm

The Late Late Toy Show – There’s nothing particularly gay about this programme, but it’s The Late Late Toy Show! Although it’s never been the same since The Plank wrecked it.. RTÉ1 at 9:35pm

Katherine Lynch’s Wonderwomen – More from the other Lynch and her probably offensive caricatures. RTÉ2 at 11:20pm

The Culture Show Uncut – Oh for goodness sake. Seriously, Angie, there’s such a thing as overkill, hon. BBC2 at 12:05am

No related posts.

The Sapphic Screen – Nov 9 to 14

HAL — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:42:35 +0000

This week’s telly starts out with a good few things of interest but, by the end of the week, zip. I suppose, with this week being the anniversary of events in both World Wars, it’s understandable that TV is full of documentaries and films about those tough times. Nothing about the women who flew, fought, nursed or worked to keep things together back home. Did they not earn a mention?

Everyday

The Ellen Degeneres Show - Check out Her Royal Gayness, King of Queens. TV3 at 2.10pm

Buffy the Vampire Slayer- Tara is alive in these episodes, but not for long…Channel 6 at 5.10pm

Will & Grace -The box-set of the complete seasons is €250, see it here for free. Living 7pm and 1am

9 Sunday

A Few Good Men -Ignore Tom Cruise, this is all about the uniforms. Sky Movies Drama at 5.30pm

Alexander – Camp reworking of the story of Alexander the Great. Angelina, as his mother, overplays it but that accent is pretty damn sexy. Colin Farrell as a Macedonian king with blonde haie, black eyebrows and an Irish accent? Hilarious. TV3 at 9pm

Stephen Fry in America- Stephen Fry continues his journey across America by taking a look at the dramatic landscapes and peoples of the South West. He encounters Navajo Indians, learns to weave a basket, stays aboard a luxurious houseboat, and lives out his fantasy of becoming a cowboy at the Old Tucson Studios. BBC at 9pm

The Brave One - Jodie kicks some serious ass as a woman on a mission to make the bad guys pay. Sky Movies Premiere at 10.20pm (most nights this week)

Boys on the Side - Whoopi does her best to show that she’s in love with Mary Louise Parker, while the director keeps a strangle-hold on her character. Entertaining, sisters are doing it for themselves stuff. I defy you not to cry. Film4 at 10.50pm

10 Monday

Fire – Two women in modern-day India fall in love and have to deal with the cultural and emotional fallout. Sky Movies Indie at 4.30pm

Some Kind of Wonderful – Mary Stuart Masterson plays the tomboy of the 80s in this classic teen film. Sky Movies Drama at 6.15pm

Far From Heaven - When ‘perfect’ 50s housewife Cathy (Julianne Moore, left) walks in on her ‘perfect’ 50s husband kissing another man, her world starts to fall apart. She finds solace and friendship with the gardener, and has to deal withe the fact that she may be falling in love with a black man. Powerful stuff, beautifully played by all involved. Essential viewing. Film4 at 9pm

Katherine Lynch’s Wonderwomen – Dubs who’ve been on the gay scene will recognise Katherine Lynch as one half of Lynch and Hamilton, the duo who entertained a few years ago. Here’s hoping she can make it on RTE, but with this truely embarrassingly awful show, methinks not. RTE2 at 10pm

Law & Order: SVU – In a world of uncertainty, you can always rely on Mariska to perk you up . TV3 at 10pm

Storyville; Prodigal Sons – Fascinating documentary about director Kimberely Reed’s reunion with her brother who hasn’t seen her since her gender reassignment surgery. BBC4 at 10pm

The Brave One – Tonight’s showing of Jodie kicking some bootay . Sky Movies Premiere at 10.20pm

Underworld - Over-the-top gothic-lite film in which you get both vampires and werewolves. Check out Kate Beckinsale in that all-leather get up (right)! Channel 4 at 10.35pm

Grey’s Anatomy- It’s getting closer to that kiss. Living at Midnight

South of Nowhere- This is a ridiculous time to screen a tv show for teens. This hit American show tells the story of Ashley and Spencer (above left), two girls who fall in love. RTE2 at 3.15am

11 Tuesday

Anna and the King – Jodie dons a dress and looks after the kids in this remake of The King and I. Don’t worry , there’s no singing. Sky Movies Modern Greats at 5.30pm

How the Irish Have Sex – Continuing the series looking at how Irish people’s views towards sex have change over the years. TV3 at 9pm

The Brave One – See Sunday. Sky Movies Modern Premiere at 10pm

12 Wednesday

Wilde - Gaelick-fave, Stephen Fry, imbues the story of Oscar Wilde’s downfall with a warm all-too-human heart. Sky Movies Modern Greats a10am

The Page Turner - As a gifted child, pianist Melanie has the world at her feet until she losses a competition and just can’t get over it – leaving the piano and her talent behind in a cloud pf bitterness. Year’s later, the judge who voted against her needs an assistant. Thus begins a chilling, sexy exploration of obsession and blame. Sky Movies Indie at 6.30pm

Rachel Allen: Bake! - Gorgeous, posh and delicious, and just the caramelised apples in this week’s serving. RTE1 at 7.30pm

Little Man Tate – Jodie directs. Sky Movies Modern Family at 9.30pm

The Brave One – See Sunday. Sky Movies Modern Premiere at 10.20pm

Boys on the Side - See Sunday. Sky Movies at 12.40am

13 Thursday

Saved! - Teen satire in which best-girl in a Christian school, Mary, falls pregnant trying to ‘save’ her gay boyfriend. RTE2 at 9.35pm

Underdogs - It’s back. Check out how the girls get on trying to make it onto the Underdogs footie team. TG4 at 9.30pm

The Brave One – See Sunday. Sky Movies Modern Premiere at 10.00pm

14 Friday

Blade:Trinity - Silly stuff about vampires and daywalkers. Jessica Biel is uber-sexy (right) and, for those of you who love the boys, Ryan Reynolds removes his shirt….. Film4 at 9pm

Katherine Lynch’s Wonderwomen- Dubs who’ve been on the gay scene will recognise Katherine Lynch as one half of Lynch and Hamilton, the duo who entertained a few years ago. Here’s hoping she can make it on RTE. RTE2 at Midnight

No related posts.

The Sapphic Screen – Nov 3 to 8

HAL — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:30:09 +0000

Ladies, our voices have been heard. Yes, Lez the Leprechaun is back in Sky Movies. How do I know? When you see Boys Don’t Cry and Nina’s Heavenly Delights, you know that order has been restored.

Everyday

The Ellen Degeneres Show - Check out Her Royal Gayness, King of Queens. TV3 at 2.10pm

Buffy the Vampire Slayer- Tara is alive in these episodes, but not for long…Channel 6 at 5.10pm

Will & Grace -The box-set of the complete seasons is €250, see it here for free. Living 7pm and 1am

3 Monday

Law & Order SVU - A gay episode!!!!! TV3 at 10pm

Grey’s Anatomy- It’s getting closer to that kiss. Living at Midnight

South of Nowhere- This is a ridiculous time to screen a tv show for teens. This hit American show tells the story of Ashley and Spencer (above left), two girls who fall in love. RTE2 at 3am

4 Tuesday

Coming Out to Class – Openly gay British rapper Marcos ‘QBoy’ Brito investigates the realities of coming out in Britain’s schools. Channel 4 at 10.05am

Dreamgirls – So bad it’s…well awful, but before Corky in Bound, Gina Gershon played a lesbian in this camp as knickers film (right). Sky Movies Modern Greats at 2.05pm

How the Irish Have Sex – Continuing the series looking at how Irish people’s views towards sex have change over the years. TV3 at 9pm

Mr and Mrs Smith – Switch off the sound and enjoy. E4 at 9pm

5 Wednesday

Batty Man - Follow comedian and actor Stephen K Amos as he explores why homophobia is so prevalent in the black community. He travels to Jamaica to meet people living in fear for their lives for being gay. Channel 4 at 10.05am

Rachel Allen: Bake! - Gorgeous Rachel Allen cooks up some yumminess. Pity she’s so posh, they’re cupcakes love, not ‘capcakes’. RTE1 at 7.30pm

Fire - Excellent film about two Indian women who risk everything to enjoy the love that dare not speak its name. Sky Movies Indie at 8pm

Boys Don’t Cry- Hilary Swank is superb in this devastatingly moving film about trans-guy Brandon Teena. Sky Movies Indie at 10pm

Rick and Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World - Although America’s gay sweethearts (Rick & Steve) and America’s lesbian sweethearts (Kirsten & Dana) do not get along at all, they decide to have a baby together. Steve is jealous that the lesbians prefer Rick’s sperm, so he comes up with an alternate plan – with the help of Pussy the cat. Synopsis from imdb.com. E4 at 10.30pm

The L Word - Shane and Carmen (left….sluuurp) get ready to tie the knot. Channel 6 at Midnight

Laramie Inside Out - Filmmaker Beverly Seckinger, who grew up in Laramie, was compelled to return to her hometown to see how the murder of Matthew Shepard had altered the site of her own closeted adolescence. RTE1 at 1am

6 Thursday

Underdogs - It’s back. Check out how the girls get on trying to make it onto the Underdogs footie team. TG4 at 9.30pm

Aeon Flux- Ridiculous sci-fi shenanigans, but check out Charlize (right)….drool. RTE2 at 9.30pm

7 Friday

In and Out - According to this silly film, the only thing you need to know to be gay are the complete works of Barbra Streisand. I’m straight so. Film4 at 9pm

Nina’s Heavenly Delights - Soppy but sexy story of a young woman who comes home to Scotland to look after the family’s Indian restaurant. Sky Movies Indie at 3.20am

8 Saturday

Wilde - Tender biopic of author and acclaimed wit Oscar Wilde, focusing on his affair with Lord Alfred Douglas at a time when homosexual liaisons were illegal. Sky Movies Modern Greats at 7.30am#

Maverick- Jodie does blonde-giggly girl schtick. Cringe. Sky Movies Modern Greats at 11.50amand 5.50pm

No related posts.

A Week of Gaelife: Sat Oct 11th to Fri Oct 17th 2008

orange — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:32:54 +0000

“How is marriage protected by intimidating gay and lesbian people into loveless and lonely lives? I am morally compelled to vote no on Proposition 8. . . I know these words of truth will cost me dearly, but to withhold them. . . I would become an accomplice to a moral evil that strips gay and lesbian people not only of their civil rights but of their human dignity as well.”

Fr. Geoffrey Farrow speaking during a sermon to St. Paul Newman Center, Fresno, California.

Saturday, 11th October

A story to bring a smile to even the most hard-hearted of homophobes came from San Francisco, California today when a group of first-graders took a field trip to City Hall to shower their teacher, Erin Carder and her wife Kerri McCoy, with rose petals and bubbles. The teacher was unaware of the excursion and the whole event was the brainchild of one of the children’s parents who thought it would make a nice surprise for the newlyweds.

Sunday, 12th October

Today marked the tenth year since the death of Matthew Shepard, who was fatally injured in a brutal and savage hate crime attack on October 12th 1998. Judy Shepherd, Matthew’s mother and Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, released a statement to mark the anniversary. The full statement can be read here. The foundation seeks to educate and enlighten others on the importance of diversity, understanding, compassion, acceptance and respect. The foundation was established in memory of Matthew Shepard.

Monday, 13th October

The LA Times today reported an incident about a priest truly deserving of our respect. Fr. Geoffrey Farrow. Fr. Farrow—a gay man and parish priest in Fresno, California—was removed from his post after he spoke against Proposition 8 during a sermon. A week before he was removed from his post (which consequently costs him his salary and health benefits), Fr. Farrow stood before his congregation of Catholic parishioners and spoke against the upcoming referendum which seeks to overturn the California Supreme Court decision earlier this year which recognised same-sex marriage. So what prompted “Father Geoff” to take a stand before his flock on October 5th? Apparently, Fr. Farrow resolved to go public and express his position against Proposition 8 when he received a “pastoral letter” from Fresno Bishop John T. Steinbock in which the bishop not only condemned the California Supreme Court’s ruling, but compared it to efforts by Nazi Germany and the Communist regimes in Russia and China to alter family arrangements. Fr. Farrow’s former parish are reportedly divided in support of his action but one thing is for sure, when a Catholic priest takes a moral stand against the Church, that one man’s protest will not be forgotten quickly.

In other US same-sex marriage-related news, Arizona will also be voting on whether or not to adopt a constitutional amendment which would prohibit same-sex marriage. Proposition 102, if accepted by voters, would restrict marriage to a union between one man or one woman. The anti-marriage for gays and lesbians group, YesForMarriage.com, erected hundreds of signs urging “Yes to 102” which were vandalised by activists who painted the words “Yes to Hate” over the original slogan. Today it was reported that the damage cost the YesForMarriage.com $6,000 to repair. Pity. Again in the US, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and The Advertising Council teamed up to produce a national multimedia public service advertising (PSA) campaign, which aims to educate teens on the hurtful, albeit unintended effects, homophobic language can have on their gay and lesbian peers. The advertisements feature casual scenarios in which the term “that’s so gay” is used off-the-cuff. Celebrities then interrupt the banter in an effort to help the teens recognise that anti-LGBT language is harmful.

Tuesday, 14th October

CNN reported on a new public high school for Chicago, Illinois in the US which appears to have taken a leaf out of the Harvey Milk High School in New York City. The Chicago Public Schools’ Office for New Schools announced that the School for Social Justice Pride Campus (The name is a bit of a mouthful but still beats the hell out of “Our Lady’s Manor of the Faithfully Devout”!) will cater for up to 600 students and seeks to foster a supportive and welcoming environment for the city’s gay or marginalised youth.

Wednesday, 15th October

Comedienne, actress, talk show host, and godess among gays, Ellen DeGeneres has put her name and $100,000 of her fortune behind the campaign to secure a no vote to Proposition 8. The capital is being used to fund the publicising of a public service announcement, in which Ellen passionately tells the viewer “I believe in fairness. I believe in compassion. I believe in equality for all people. Proposition 8 does not. Please, please, vote NO on Prop. 8.” Speaking on the Jay Leno Show—which broadcasts from Los Angeles, California—Ellen urged voters to “love thy neighbour” and reject the proposed constitutional amendment.

In Brazil, a left-wing mayoral candidate for the city of Sao Paolo—home of the world’s largest Pride parade—was in hot water after endorsing a television advertisement which allegedly insinuates homophobic assertions about her competitor for office. Candidate for the Worker’s Party, Marta Suplicy, appears in the advertisements asking of her opponent Gilberto Kassab, “Is he married? Does he have children?” The Brazil LGBT Committee quickly released a press statement saying that Sulpisy’s comments were “wrong and unacceptable”. Sulpisy’s provocative comments came as a shock to many LGBT campaigners as she had been an advocate to several gay causes previously.

Thursday, 16th October

A Ugandan Bishop, Eria Paul Luzinda of Mukono, publicly admonished homosexuality, and “blamed” its recent proliferation in Uganda on a concurrent surge in the desire for wealth. *Yawn* Come on now Bishop Luzinda. Blaming 21st century greed on the gays? It’s more than a little clichéd and uninspired. And since back in the days of B.C. the Bible documented celestial inscriptions prohibiting ‘coveting’ of the wives of our neighbours, His Divinity was hardly talking to the lesbians hanging out with Moses…or was He?

Friday, 17th October

Paul Elliot, a retired professional footballer, made a splash across various tabloid front-pages after he claimed that he knew of at least a dozen gay professional football players playing the beautiful game at the moment. Elliot was speaking at a conference in London hosted by the British FA, Homophobia: Football’s Final Taboo. Elliot, who now works as an advisor to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, was speaking in relation to the launch of a new campaign by Kick It Out which seeks to remove prejudice from soccer. Elliot also claimed that gay players do not come out because they fear the reaction of fans.

A posthumous reconstruction of the last movements of Austrian far-right leader Joerg Haider has revealed that he was drinking in a gay bar before he died. Haider’s alleged homosexuality had been the subject of much speculation and had resulted in his “outing” in the German and Austrian press in 2006 although Haider himself had never confirmed the allegations. The suit and tie combo Haider’s sporting in the picture (right) screams Queer Eye for the Fascist Guy to me but controversial rumours are bound to stalk any pro-Nazi politician. Perhaps because the laddy doth protest too much?

As always, all images are used in good faith and without any implying any infringement. if they need to be removed, just let me know and it’ll be done.

No related posts.

Leading The Way

Gooner — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:13:18 +0000

At the start of her “Here and Now” stand up DVD Ellen says “That’s my one obligatory gay reference. I have to say something gay, otherwise some people might leave here tonight going ‘She didn’t do anything gay. She’s not our leader. What happened to our leader?!’” The thing is, there are times when she really does lead the way and she’s done it again by not only makng a TV ad asking Californians to vote against Proposition 8 but she has also bankrolled it by pledging $100K in airtime.

You can see it on youTube here, it seems that over 80,000 people have already, let’s hope they get the message.

Not only that but she has also gone on the Tonight Show to bring the “No Campaign” to the forefront, see here.

I saw when she had McCain on her own talk show, she brought up the marraige issue without ever bullying him or seeming disrespectful to his right to his opinion, I thought she did it very well.

So here’s hoping people “vote no on 8″ and that the right to marry is protected in California.

What do you think of people in the media using their own money to put forward their personal political views? Should more people do it? Let us know what you think!

No related posts.

The Sapphic Screen – Oct 12 to 18

HAL — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:29:11 +0000

It’s a pretty bad week in the land of lesbian TV. The update on Leslie the Leprachaun in Sky is that she seems to be sick but is doing her best to work from home. It seems that way as there are a few films for us, but not as many as she has been spoiling us with over the past few weeks. We didn’t take you for granted Lez, we appreciate you and love you. Come back, please!

Everyday

The Ellen Degeneres Show - Check out Her Royal Gayness, Ellen. TV3 at 2.10pm

Buffy the Vampire Slayer- Tara is alive in these episodes. Good times! Channel 6 at 5.10pm

Will & Grace -The box-set of the complete seasons is €250, see it here for free. Living 7pm and 1am

12 Sunday
For One Night Only - Pink performs! UTV at 7pm

Hairspray - Camp, upbeat and guaranteed to have you singing along….Good Morning Baaaaaltimore….. Sky Movies Premiere at 9pm

Stephen Fry in America - Our hero journeys across America in the first of a six-part series, meeting all manner of colourful characters along the way.BBC1 at 9pm

Victor/Victoria – The original woman playing a man playing a woman film. Gender-bending goodness. TCM at 11.15pm

Law & Order: SVU - Your first helping of Olivia Benson for the week. Sluuuurp. Channel 6 at 10.25pm

Would You Believe? - The story of 47-year-old Patrick Lynch, who was forced to suppress his sexuality for 30 years due to his religious beliefs. RTE1 at 10.35pm

It’s My Life - Gay priests and female bishops are in the spotlight. UTV at 12.15am

The L Word - More re-runs to keep us happy until the new and final season starts at the end of January. Living at 3am

13 Monday

Nina’s Heavenly Delights (right)- Silly, sentimental film about a young woman coming home to help out in her parent’s Indian restaurant and falling in love in the process. Hot lesbian with Scottish accent….yes please. Sky Movies Indie at 4.40pm

Law & Order SVU- Olivia saves the day in the world’s sexiest jacket. TV3 at 10pm

14 Tuesday

How the Irish Have Sex – Continuing the series looking at how Irish people’s views towards sex have change over the years. TV3 at 9pm

15 Wednesday

Rachel Allen: Bake! - The delicious Rachel Allen (left) shows us her cupcakes. RTE1 at 7.30pm

Spotlight: Pride or Prejudice - Journalist Barry Hollywood investigates the impact of of Iris Robinson’s anti-gay statements and asks if it is good to be gay in Northern Ireland. BBC 2 at 10pm

The L Word - Max (right) is becoming aggressive. People fail to care. Channel 6 at 11.35pm

16 Thursday

Nina’s Heavenly Delights (again)- Silly, sentimental film about a young woman coming home to help out in her parent’s Indian restaurant and falling in love in the process. Hot lesbian with Scottish accent….yes please Sky Movies Indie at 1.10pm

The Fabulous Baker Boys - Michelle Pfeiffer. In that dress. On a piano. Hot! TCM at 9pm

17 Friday

Mum’s Gone Gay - Dramatising the impact on families with teenage children when a parent comes out, it focuses on one family as they react to the news of their mother’s homosexuality, the narrative unfolds over the course of two weeks. Channel 4 at 9.55am

Fire. Earth. Water – Three films by Deepa Mehta exploring the taboos surrounding women in India. the first, Fire, explores lesbian love, while Earth studies class issues and Water looks at where widows sit in Indian society. Sky Movies Indie from 12.40pm

Little Man Tate - Jodie directs. Sky Movies Family at 4.30pm

Serial Mom - Kathleen Turner has a ball as a picture-perfect, middle-class mother, who happens to be a serial killer. Channel 6 at 10pm

No related posts.

Ellen and Portia tie the knot

Bear — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:04:17 +0000

Mazel tov to Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi, who got hitched over the weekend, and thanks to the recent California Supreme Court ruling that same sex couples have the right to wed, it was all nice and legal to boot. The private ceremony took place at their home in Los Angeles with a small guest list, but with cameras present we can be sure that some highlights will feature soon, most likely on Ellen’s multi-award winning daytime talk show. There are a few fuzzy photos out already, looks like someone might have been poking the lens through a hedge somewhere, I can report that they both wore white, and… that’s about it! Ah, it’s not that important, there was a dress and a pants suit, you can probably guess who wore what…

Both the engagement and the upcoming nuptials have been discussed on Ellen’s show, which is a refreshing change from all those years ago when the coming out of her character on her sitcom (Ellen) allegedly led to the show being cancelled by network ABC not long afterwards. As of today, the interweb does not seem abuzz with the news, I’m sure that Fox News will have something to say about it, but then it wouldn’t be any kind of fun if they didn’t object. I know this is not a review, but still, I’m very happy, so Gaelick gives Ellen and Portia (DeGeneresdeRossi?) five big gay stars. Congratulations!

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