g_b Richard Blanco at Obama's inauguration

[Vikram D]

President Obama's second inaugural speech immediately caught the attention for 
its open acknowledgement of lgbt people and their struggles. His use of the 
words "Seneca Falls, Selma, Stonewall" was just brilliant for their 
alliterative rhythm and the way they acknowledge three immense civil rights 
struggles, for women's rights (Seneca Falls was the site of the first major 
meeting devoted to womens rights in the US), for black Americans (Selma was a 
key battlefield in the civil rights movement) and Stonewall (if you don't know 
what Stonewall was, you shouldn't be on a gay list). Here's an excellent piece 
from Frank Bruni on the significance of the moment: 


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/opinion/bruni-a-map-of-human-dignity.html


But the other immensely poetic and moving moment was the commemorative poem 
read out by Richard Blanco. There was a fair amount of cynicism over the choice 
of Blanco to deliver the inaugural poem. He seemed to fit too many convenient 
boxes: openly gay, Hispanic, from a working class and immigrant background, and 
from Florida, a state that just delivered Obama's victory, largely thanks to 
Cuban Americans like Blanco. 


And anyway, this sort of writing of poems for special occasions is a sort of 
impossible task. The Brits have had a specific guy, the Poet Laureate, to do 
this for ages, and with little memorable to show for it. American Presidents - 
only Democrats - have enlisted a poet for their inaugurations 4-5 times in the 
past, and again almost no one remembers their poems, though the picture of an 
aged Robert Frost delivering his poem for a youthful President Kennedy's 
inauguration (the first time a poet was asked to do this) was memorable, though 
it should be noted Frost couldn't read the poem he had written, so he delivered 
another older one from memory, which probably says it all about the value of 
such poems-made-to-demand. 


But Blanco answered all the doubts and sneers about him in the best possible 
way - by delivering. His poem, 'One Today', may or may not turn out to be 
memorable over many years, but it certainly fit the moment very well. Using the 
idea of one day, through things that link all who live it - the sun, the wind, 
the ground beneath us, the moon and stars - he painted a picture of an America 
that was familar, yet moving in its familiarity. Its language was plainspoken, 
yet striking: 

"pencil-yellow school buses, the rhythm of traffic lights,
fruit stands: apples, limes, and oranges arrayed like rainbows
begging our praise."

It was personal, where he talked about his parents, and particular, when it 
talked about the awful killings at Newtown ("the impossible vocabulary of 
sorrow that won’t explain/ the empty desks of twenty children marked absent/ 
today, and forever") and larger when he talked about people working across the 
country, from manual to office labour: 

"One ground. Our ground, rooting us to every stalk
of corn, every head of wheat sown by sweat
and hands, hands gleaning coal or planting windmills
in deserts and hilltops that keep us warm, hands
digging trenches, routing pipes and cables, hands
as worn as my father’s cutting sugarcane
so my brother and I could have books and shoes."
Blanco's delivery was pretty good too. He resisted the temptation to grandstand 
or go hammy (the awful invocation delivered by that homophobic pastor at 
Obama's first inaugural comes to mind), but spoken simply, yet with resonance. 
The moment he said ''Breathe" and did, was a skirting a bit close to a bit too 
much, but it was balanced by the Spanish intonation he gave 'Colorado' when he 
mentioned the river. It wasn't so short as to pass unmemorably, but not too 
long to be tedious. For an impossible job, he came as close as one could to 
pulling it off. 

I suppose, since this is a gay list, its ok to mention that it helped that he's 
really hunky, in a very pleasantly real, not movie star or model way. Its worth 
checking out his website and this picture gallery on it:
http://www.richard-blanco.com/photo-gallery/richard-blanco-photos.php

I realise most people who look at it are going to click on the fourth pic in 
the fourth row and no wonder - poets aren't supposed to have arms like this! 
But take a look at the second picture in the second row, where he's shown in 
his graduation robes (still looking handsome) between two old people. He hasn't 
captioned his pix, but it seems likely that these aren't his parents (that's 
the next pic), but his grandparents. 

Which means that the lady on his right is his grandmother who he wrote about 
later in a very intense piece. This grandmother was completely homophobic and 
made his life hell when he was growing up, because she saw he was different, an 
effeminate, probably gay kid. Her verbal abuse of him was continual and brutal 
and something many of us might relate to, perhaps not from grandmothers, who 
tend to be doting of male children in India, but older uncles and more dis

Re: g_b Fwd: Synopsis of Documentary (reply)

[nirbokj]

We will be sure to see it.  Gordon and Jay (from NYC)
 
 
In a message dated 1/22/2013 3:01:44 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
adit.b...@gmail.com writes:

 
 
 
 
 
Sorry for Cross Posting - Aditya
++
Queens at Court: It’s about transformation, acceptance, and  tennis.
 
A  documentary film by Shiv Paul 
Tel. +1 917 403 9654 Email. _hisroyalshivness@gmail.com_ 
(mailto:hisroyalshivn...@gmail.com)  
Queens at Court is  a documentary film that looks at transformation and 
acceptance through the  sporting lives of 4 main characters. 
We  all have a story that, in a way, defines us. Sport helps us make sense  
of our story and deal with it by helping shape our character and develop  
our inner strength. 
The  focus required to play tennis well through the connection of mind, 
heart and  body helps us realize that it’s not the story that defines us but 
how we react  to it. Tennis requires not only physical strength but mental  
and spiritual strength too. When these components are aligned we are ‘in  the 
zone’ or ‘in our sweet spot’. 
We  explore the lives of 3 tennis players who compete in gay and straight 
leagues,  on the international Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA) tour, 
and in the  Gay Games. We are introduced to Chip, an obese man approaching 50 
who has  never had a relationship, plays doubles successfully. In tennis he 
finds  focus, physical ability and acceptance of self that he doesn’t find 
in life.   
Giselle, an American by way of Asia, is a male to female  transsexual whose 
journey from gay man to straight woman has been witnessed by  fellow 
players on the GLTA tour, Gay Games and USTA over the past two years.  The film 
follows her as she embarks on her final sexual reassignment surgery.   
Jean is a military vet who on returning from tour in Afghanistan  was 
deemed ‘unfit for civilian life’. In tennis and in the LGBT tennis world  he 
found a way to integrate himself back into normal life and to diffuse the  
horrors he witnessed as a US Army veteran.  
The  film is punctuated by my thoughts and questions on how being in the 
zone on  the court can be or is applied to life off it.  
For  all 4 of us, tennis is empowerment, acceptance and, ultimately,  
freedom.  
The  footage will also touch on the myths and perceived incongruity of 
being a “gay  athlete” by highlighting LGBT  sporting organizations such as the 
Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance Tour  and the Gay Games. 
The  film will be submitted to film festivals, US and UK TV stations and 
screened  at venues such as schools, museums and sporting flagship stores with 
director  and cast for panel discussions. The first screening will be held 
in New York  City in March 2013. 

g_b Tuesday's Tease

[asfan]

- Original Message - 
From: Barbara Holland 
To: Max Holland 
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 2:56 PM
Subject: Fwd: Gotta read the Bible!










Subject: Fw: Gotta read the Bible!






For those who haven't heard, Washington State just passed two new laws - gay 
marriage and legalised marijuana.

The fact that gay marriage and marijuana were legalised on the same day makes 
perfect 
biblical sense because Leviticus 20:13 says "If a man lies with another man 
they should be stoned."

We just hadn't interpreted it correctly before! 
 
 

Re: g_b Kisses from Henry

[Tintin Mumbai India]

Huggies???
No we have crossed that age bracket... and yet to enter in that 'other' age
bracket...

--- Reuse Paper by Both Sided Printing 


On Mon, Jan 21, 2013 at 8:21 PM, Henry Sanders wrote:

> **
>
>
> Everyone its Monday morning here in America.Sunny and bright.
> So I'm sending you all huggies and kisses.
>
> Kiss, kiss.
>
> Huggies
> Henry Sanders
>
> --- On *Sat, 1/19/13, dunno76 * wrote:
>
>
> From: dunno76 
> Subject: g_b a healthy relationship
> To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Saturday, January 19, 2013, 9:30 PM
>
>
>
> *LOVE QUOTE OF THE DAY*
>
> A healthy relationship is one in which two people encourage each other to
> reach their respective goals while sharing each other's hopes and dreams. -
> Daisaku Ikeda (read more great quotes from *Daisaku 
> Ikeda
> *)
>
> [image: A healthy relationship is one in which two people encourage each
> other to reach their respective goals while sharing each other's hopes and
> dreams. - Daisaku Ikeda (read more great quotes by Daisaku Ikeda, president
> of Sōka Gakkai International:
> http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/d/daisaku-ikeda) Photo
> Credit: 
> http://projectrewire.blogspot.com]
> (Click image for the full picture)
>
> _
>
> OTHER QUOTES & POSTS IN SYMPHONY OF LOVE
>
> 1. The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go
> of yesterday. - Steve Maraboli (read more great quotes by *Steve 
> Maraboli
> *)
>
> [image: The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let
> go of yesterday. Steve Maraboli (read more great quotes by Steve Maraboli:
> http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/s/steve-maraboli) Photo
> Credit: 
> http://alchemistharlot.tumblr.com]
> (Click image for the full picture)
>
> 2. Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't
> recognize them. - Ann Landers (read more great quotes by *Ann 
> Landers
> *)
>
> [image: Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people
> don't recognize them. - Ann Landers (read more great quotes by Ann Landers:
> http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/a/ann-landers) Photo Credit:
> http://maninthemaze.blogspot.com]
> (Click image for the full picture)
>
> 3. Even if things don't unfold the way you expected, don't be
> disheartened or give up. One who continues to advance will win in the end.
>  - Daisaku Ikeda (read more great quotes by *Daisaku 
> Ikeda
> *)
>
> [image: Even if things don't unfold the way you expected, don't be
> disheartened or give up. One who continues to advance will win in the end.
> - Daisaku Ikeda (read more great quotes by Daisaku Ikeda:
> http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/d/daisaku-ikeda) Photo
> Credit: 
> http://www.vladstudio.com]
> (Click image for the full picture)
>
> 4. No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on,
> and it will be better tomorrow. - Maya Angelou (read more great quotes by
> *Maya Angelou
> *)
>
> [image: No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go
> on, and it will be better tomorrow. - Maya Angelou (read more great quotes
> by Maya Angelou:
> http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/m/maya-angelou) Photo Credit:
> http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/m/maya-angelou]
> (Click image for the full picture)
>
> 5. If you want to be happy, be. - Leo Tolstoy (read more great quotes by *Leo
> Tolstoy *)
>
> [image: If you want to be happy, be. - Leo Tolstoy (read more great quotes
> by Leo Tolstoy:
> http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/l/leo-tolstoy) Photo Credit:
> http://abuseandtrauma-hope.blogspot.com]
> (Click image for the full picture)
>
> 6. You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate
> a generation. - Brigham Young (read more great quotes by *Brigham 
> Y

g_b There is the desire for love

[dunno76]

LOVE QUOTE OF THE DAY

In every living thing there is the desire for love. - D. H. Lawrence
(read more great quotes by D. H. Lawrence
 , English
Novelist)

  [In every living thing there is the desire for love.

D. H. Lawrence (read more great quotes by D. H. Lawrence, English
Novelist: http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/d/dh-lawrence)

Photo Credit: http://smallthingsphotography.wordpress.com] 

(Click image for the full picture)

_

OTHER QUOTES & POSTS IN SYMPHONY OF LOVE

1. If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't
walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. -
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (read more great quotes by Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr.
 )

  [If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't
walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (read more great quotes by Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.:
http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/m/martin-luther-king-jr-dr\
)

Photo Credit: http://www.gravityoflife.blogspot.com] 

(Click image for the full picture)

2. When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the
best in ourselves. - William Arthur Ward (read more great quotes by
William Arthur Ward
 )

  [When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the
best in ourselves.

- William Arthur Ward (read more great quotes by William Arthur Ward:
http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/w/william-arthur-ward)

Photo Credit: http://jeffstroud.wordpress.com] 

(Click image for the full picture)

3. If we would mend the world, we should mend ourselves. - William Penn
(read more great quotes by William Penn
 )

  [If we would mend the world, we should mend ourselves.

- William Penn (read more great quotes by William Penn:
http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/w/william-penn)

Photo Credit: http://www.chopracenterhealingwisdom.com] 

(Click image for the full picture)

4. Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond
our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. -
Nathaniel Hawthorne (read more great quotes by Nathaniel Hawthorne
 )

  [Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond
our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.

- Nathaniel Hawthorne (read more great quotes by Nathaniel Hawthorne:
http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/n/nathaniel-hawthorne)

Photo Credit: http://iridescent-happiness.deviantart.com] 

(Click image for the full picture)

5. Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available
to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness. - H. Jackson Brown Jr. (read more
great quotes by H. Jackson Brown Jr.
 )

  [Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to
you: love, prayer, and forgiveness.

- H. Jackson Brown Jr. (read more great quotes by H. Jackson Brown Jr.:
http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/h/h-jackson-brown)

Photo Credit: http://debbiecrews.blogspot.com] 

(Click image for the full picture)

6. Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand
like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.
- Albert Einstein (read more great quotes by Einstein
 )

  [Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand
like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.

- Albert Einstein (read more great quotes by Einstein:
http://lovequotes.symphonyoflove.net/category/a/albert-einstein)

Photo Credit: http://photocrumble.blogspot.com] 

g_b Fwd: Synopsis of Documentary on Transformation, Acceptance and Tennis

[Aditya Bondyopadhyay]

Sorry for Cross Posting - Aditya
++
*Queens at Court: It’s about transformation, acceptance, and tennis.*

*A documentary film by Shiv Paul*

Tel. +1 917 403 9654 Email. hisroyalshivn...@gmail.com**

 

*Queens at Court *is a documentary film that looks at transformation and
acceptance through the sporting lives of 4 main characters.

We all have a story that, in a way, defines us. Sport helps us make sense
of our story and deal with it by helping shape our character and develop
our inner strength.

The focus required to play tennis well through the connection of mind,
heart and body helps us realize that it’s not the story that defines us but
how we react to it. Tennis requires not only physical strength but mental
and spiritual strength too. When these components are aligned we are ‘in
the zone’ or ‘in our sweet spot’.

We explore the lives of 3 tennis players who compete in gay and straight
leagues, on the international Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA) tour,
and in the Gay Games. We are introduced to Chip, an obese man approaching
50 who has never had a relationship, plays doubles successfully. In tennis
he finds focus, physical ability and acceptance of self that he doesn’t
find in life. 

Giselle, an American by way of Asia, is a male to female transsexual whose
journey from gay man to straight woman has been witnessed by fellow players
on the GLTA tour, Gay Games and USTA over the past two years. The film
follows her as she embarks on her final sexual reassignment surgery. 

Jean is a military vet who on returning from tour in Afghanistan was deemed
‘unfit for civilian life’. In tennis and in the LGBT tennis world he found
a way to integrate himself back into normal life and to diffuse the horrors
he witnessed as a US Army veteran. 

The film is punctuated by my thoughts and questions on how being in the
zone on the court can be or is applied to life off it. 

For all 4 of us, tennis is empowerment, acceptance and, ultimately,
freedom.

The footage will also touch on the myths and perceived incongruity of being
a “gay athlete” by highlighting LGBT sporting organizations such as the Gay
and Lesbian Tennis Alliance Tour and the Gay Games.

The film will be submitted to film festivals, US and UK TV stations and
screened at venues such as schools, museums and sporting flagship stores
with director and cast for panel discussions. The first screening will be
held in New York City in March 2013. 

g_b QAM: Mumbai Pride in Traffic Jeopardy - community may approach High Court

[Aditya Bondyopadhyay]

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-16/mumbai/36372990_1_lgbt-community-traffic-issues-queer-azadi-mumbai#

LGBT community may approach HC
Shibu 
Thomas,
TNN Jan 16, 2013, 01.24AM IST

MUMBAI: Shocked by the Mumbai traffic police's refusal to grant them
permission for an annual pride march, the city's lesbian, gay and
transgendered community may approach the Bombay high court (HC).

"Every citizen has a right of peaceful assembly. The system is getting too
repressive. I wonder where do we go from here, possibly to the HC now,"
said Ashok Row Kavi, gay activist and founder, Humsafar Trust.

Queer Azadi Mumbai was to hold the march on February 2. The annual march,
held since 2008, which sees around 3,000 participants from the community,
their parents, 
siblings,friends
and
straight allies, is held from August Kranti maidan to Girgaum Chowpatty.

Organizers said the police claimed that they could not march from August
Kranti Maidan to Chowpatty due to HC restrictions. The organizers then
sought permission to march from August Kranti Maidan to Opera House and
then back.

"The Grant Road and Gamdevi police stations, and Tardeo traffic police
granted us permission subject to an NOC from the traffic headquarters,"
said Vivek Patil, part of the organizing team.

Nandkumar Mistry, assistant commissioner of police, in a communication to
the organizers said on Monday that the traffic police's mandatory
no-objection certificate to hold the march was rejected "due to traffic
issues related to vehicles and pedestrians"

Re: g_b Kisses from Henry

[Henry Sanders]

Everyone its Monday morning here in America.Sunny and bright.
So I'm sending you all huggies and kisses.
 
Kiss, kiss.
 
Huggies
Henry Sanders

--- On Sat, 1/19/13, dunno76  wrote:


From: dunno76 
Subject: g_b a healthy relationship
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, January 19, 2013, 9:30 PM



  




LOVE QUOTE OF THE DAY

A healthy relationship is one in which two people encourage each other to reach 
their respective goals while sharing each other's hopes and dreams. - Daisaku 
Ikeda (read more great quotes from Daisaku Ikeda)


(Click image for the full picture)

_

OTHER QUOTES & POSTS IN SYMPHONY OF LOVE

1. The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of 
yesterday. - Steve Maraboli (read more great quotes by Steve Maraboli)


(Click image for the full picture)

2. Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't 
recognize them. - Ann Landers (read more great quotes by Ann Landers)


(Click image for the full picture)
3. Even if things don't unfold the way you expected, don't be disheartened or 
give up. One who continues to advance will win in the end. - Daisaku Ikeda 
(read more great quotes by Daisaku Ikeda)


(Click image for the full picture)

4. No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it 
will be better tomorrow. - Maya Angelou (read more great quotes by Maya Angelou)


(Click image for the full picture)

5. If you want to be happy, be. - Leo Tolstoy (read more great quotes by Leo 
Tolstoy)


(Click image for the full picture)

6. You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a 
generation. - Brigham Young (read more great quotes by Brigham Young)


(Click image for the full picture)



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