Hey Soldiers!

I have to apologize for my absence over the past week or so! I have been very busy taking on new hats at EDGE publications. You can check out our site at www.EDGEonthenet.com for GLBT news and entertainment in 16 cities across the nation!

I managed to get away to P-town for the 4th of July weekend. Lots of fun times! I was very good and only did a little shopping. Tequila shots for everyone Friday night. Fireworks on Saturday. Photos will be posted eventually!

As for news, Massachusetts’ very own attorney general, Martha Coakley is filling a suit against the Federal government challenging the legality of DOMA. This is very exciting news on the marriage equality front.

Additionally, Ellen Tauscher, sponsor of the ‘Repeal DADT Bill’ has left congress to pursue a position in the Obama administration. Pennsylvania Representative Patrick Murphy, who in 2006 was the first Iraq veteran to be elected to Congress, has taken up sponsorship of the bill that would repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

In other news… Michael Jackson is still died.

I attend an advanced screening of Bruno for work on Tuesday this week with my darling friend, Travis. The movie was extremely funny (despite what those assholes at GLAAD would say). It wasn’t extremely well done. The movie didn’t convey some hard-hitting lesson to every view. It had little cohesion and as a film was poorly laid out. But it was funny and does possess a certain gay sensibility or perhaps insensibility. Either way, from the very first scene, you can’t help but bust your gut at Sacha Baron Cohen’s antics.

Anywho… news and commentary and photos will return shortly! I have not forgotten you!

Fight hard, Play Harder!

Tyler

Watertown Daily Times | Eight soldiers being sought after attack on two officers

Two 10th Mountain Division officers were assaulted by as many as eight people early Sunday in the town of Sacket’s Harbor, NY. The assailants were all US Army soldiers stationed at Fort Drum, home of the 10th Mountain Division.

The two officers sustained minor injuries and bone fractures. As of yet only one suspect has been identified. Police reports so far state that no motive has been determined however inside sources at Fort Drum indicate that this is untrue. Meetings this week with legal counsel for the 2nd brigade to which the officers belong indicate this was a targeted attack.

The two officers were attacked while leaving an 80’s themed party while dressed as though they were actors on Miami Vice. So far the investigation indicates that the two officers were believed to be gay and that perceived sexuality of the two officers was a main motivation of the assailants.

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Youthradio.org – The High Cost of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Today’s audio-visual jewel comes courtesy of my very own boyfriend, straight from the army post. This great recording is an interview with Joseph Christopher Rocha, a former navy serviceman who was discharged under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Rocha describes the conflicts he experience during his military service, both internally and between fellow servicemen. 

What is perhaps most striking about this recording is Rocha’s account of being required to simulate the act of fellatio on another man for a training video. He describes not only the physical abuse which is permitted by military personnel but also the psychological toll which this abuse has on servicemen. 

Click here to listen!!

Youthradio.org – The High Cost of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Joe Biden reaches out to gay community – Carol E. Lee – POLITICO.com

“I promise you with your help we’ll get there in this administration,” he said, going as far as to add that if the country achieves gender equality, “I will have marked my term as vice president as being truly worthwhile.” – VP. Joe Biden

Once again, Joe Biden comes to the rescue to salvage what little confidence I have in the Obama administration. From the beginning, Biden has been the true statesman of this administration. Biden’s experience and maturity as a leader far outshines the innocence and sometimes naive hope that Obama relies upon. Even more so, I feel a genuineness from Biden’s words particularly when faced with an issue where Obama often just leaves me feeling hollow. If Obama spent less time being the great communicator and enigmatic leader and took a cue from VP Biden’s career as a pragmatic leader, he might actually re-win my vote come election time.

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NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) – A U.S. pastor defended a video posted on YouTube of an exorcism of a gay man, saying the Manifested Glory Ministries church does not hate gay people, it just does not believe in their lifestyle.

The video, which has sparked outrage among gay rights advocates, shows a young man writhing around on the floor at the Stamford, Connecticut, church.

The video, which was taken six or seven months ago, has been removed from the website. It is not clear who posted it.

Pastor Patricia McKinney said the man told the church “he did not want to live this way.”

Read more at reuters.com

Michael Jackson Dies!!

First Farrah and now this… pop culture is coming down faster than an Iranian twitter account.

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“Gay Exorcism” On YouTube causes Controversy – Fox61 News

This is really sick. I encourage you to watch the length of the video. (Waits for you to watch video)… looks an awful lot like a gay bashing to me, no? Kid on the floor, swarm of people around him “beating” the evil out of him, yelling “go away you homosexual demon.” I dont live in the bad part of town so I haven’t personally witnessed a hate crime of such a nature in the near past however I’m pretty sure being gay bashed is along the same lines as this “exorcism” performed by a non-denominational fundamentalist church in Connecticut. And while the boy may have been left without a mark on his skin, what was depicted in this video is the worse kind of mental abuse imaginable. 

I am a practicing catholic and I take a lot of questions and people often say “how can you belong to a church that hates you.” People often hold the catholic church to be some sort of arch nemesis of the LGBT and I certainly can’t say that I agree with every policy and teaching or even parishioner belonging to the church. However, when I go to church on Sunday, I know that I have the respect and support of my priest even if he does not understand or necessarily condone my lifestyle. Ultimately my spiritual relationship is between myself and my god. The church is but a place of worship. I also know that no member of my church would ever attempt to “exorcise” the “gay demons” out of me. I also know that if such a spectacle was ever attempted, the parish would likely be excommunicated. Despite what people say, organized religion does have some advantages. It is the “unorganized” religion shown in the above video  that people should be worried about. It’s not the practices of  today’s roman catholic church that are psychologically abusing and damaging children as well as stealing away any faith that a child can maintain, but rather the archaic and blasphemous practices of the  fundamentalist churches such as Manifested Glory Ministries who are truly damaging to christianity, faith and to society.

DNC FUNDRAISER AT FENWAY PARK IN BOSTON PROTESTED OVER DOMA

     Kudos to Ryan’s Take and Andy at Towleroad for covering this story so nicely. I unfortunately was too swamped with finals to make it out to cover this protest. No photo blog Sorry… but next time for sure!

Hey Cadets! Don’t miss out on my photo blog! This section offers highlights of my photography from various events, outings, and experiences that are happening in my life. You can use the comment feature to leave feedback and to remark on what you see. Check out all the photos posted and stay tuned for exclusive  upcoming photos I took of the march that developed through the streets of Boston following the Prop 8 Rally at Copley Square. Let me know what you think!

Click below to visit the photo blog!

SFGate: Gays not “godless” “christian bashers “

I feel a little ridiculous even discussing this but here goes. News flash! Despite what my good man, Fred Phelps, would like us to believe, homosexuals are NOT the living incarnation of Satan. Better yet, not only are homosexuals decent people but a good portion of us are actually Christians! This breaking news in from The Barna Group — a chronicler of religious life and habits, particularly of the Christian variety. Apparently, gay folks’ attitudes about spirituality aren’t much different from straight folks. These and other “surprising insights” were in Barna’s spiritual profile of gays released Monday.

I can’t decide whether I think this is exactly what people need to see or if this is yet another why people don’t understand or respect gay people who identify as christians.