Super Bowl: Heroes, Villains

Yes, I still want to keep this blog thing going, believe it or not.

Every time one of the major sports is about to decide its champion, and there's no Philadelphia team involved, I have to figure out which team I want to root for. In general, I like to root for the underdog, or David over Goliath. Teams that haven't won before or cities that haven't won in a long time, whose fans seem deserving of the success. Players I like (or dislike). So, no rooting for New York teams, the Dallas Cowboys, etc.

More and more there's a problem, though. Between the general arrogance and surly attitudes of many modern-day players and the rise of performance-enhancing substance usage and, in recent years, the outspokenness of players on gay issues and teams' participation in projects like You Can Play or It Gets Better, it's increasingly impossible to decide which team to support.

For Super Bowl XLVII (and boy, isn't it going to be weird when it's just Super Bowl L in three years), featuring the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers, there's been particular attention paid to gay stuff. On one hand, the Ravens' Brendan Ayanbadejo is an major supporter of equality, speaking out and helping same-sex equality become law in Maryland. On the other hand, his teammate Matt Birk holds anti-gay views based on his religious beliefs. Point: the 49ers' Chris Culliver made stupid anti-gay remarks this week. Counterpoint: the 49ers repudiated his remarks and his coach and some of his teammates spoke out against them. Plus: the 49ers are the only NFL team to release an It Gets Better video. Minus: Two 49ers who were in the video denied being in it, until they were shown the video featuring them, and the video's now been pulled from the It Gets Better website. It seems possible the 49ers were unclear or misled their players about the video's purpose.

Kaepernick

And that's not even getting into the media's canonization of Saint Ray Lewis, playing his last game, conveniently sweeping under the rug his involvement in the murders of two men, men whose murderers have gone unpunished thanks to the actions of Lewis. Oh, and there's that whole deer-antler-spray thing (getting back to performance-enhancers).

I suppose, with all the pro-gay and anti-gay stuff kind of canceling each other out, the Lewis factor would push me toward the 49ers. But the 49ers have already won five Super Bowls, and the Giants have two World Series wins in three years. So that pushes me back towards Baltimore.

See what I mean?

So I can't say how I'll feel about whichever team wins. I will say, after some wavering, I think the 49ers will win. It really depends on their quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, continuing to handle the pressure despite having little NFL experience before taking over midseason. If he doesn't play like a rookie, the 49ers will win. And, if you don't mind tattoos...

Rant On "It Gets Better" (Plus The Phils' Video)

First, at long last here is the Phillies' "It Gets Better" message featuring Chase Utley, Roy Halladay, Hunter Pence, John Mayberry, Jr. and Michael Stutes...



Regarding "It Gets Better," there's been a discussion of its merits on the Outsports Jock Talk Blog in response to a post about a story from Canada. A local paper is doing a series on area gay athletes, and they started with a teenage hockey player who isn't out of the closet and is fearful of people finding out he's gay. The comments have turned into a debate on whether or not the "It Gets Better" project is actually worthwhile.

I am sick of this debate.

Wait. Let me re-state this for emphasis:

I AM SICK OF THIS DEBATE!

Time For DeSean Discipline, Eagles And NFL.

Memo to the National Football League and the Philadelphia Eagles: I haven't forgotten.

Last month, when NightlifeGay.com took the Eagles and the NFL to task for not responding after DeSean Jackson's "gay-ass faggot" radio interview, I pointed out that the league was still in a lockout and that neither the team nor the Eagles could do a thing until the labor situation was resolved.

As you know, shortly after that the lockout ended. There is labor peace in the NFL. Players have reported to training camps.

DeSean Jackson, however, was a no-show at first.

Phillies Will Finally Make It Better

In response to my scathing editorial regarding the lack of good news on the local LGBT/pro sports front (while other teams' current and former players support marriage equality and other cities' MLB teams make "It Gets Better" videos, Philly teams have done nothing and DeSean Jackson drops anti-gay slurs on radio), the Phillies have committed to making an "It Gets Better" video to help stop bullying.

Okay, it really had more to do with the "Ask the Phils to make an It Gets Better video" petition gaining publicity via a mass email from Change.org after Jackson's idiocy became known, and Philadelphia Weekly's adding to that publicity by profiling the petition's creator, followed by (I assume) the PW writer asking the Phils for a response, which led to the Phillies finally joining the cause -- as I explained in this blog post on Outsports.com. Still, I'm happy that it's finally going to happen.

Now, can we get the Flyers to do so as well?

Losing My Religion (DeSean Jackson Edition)

If you have some working knowledge of Philadelphia's pro sports teams and their fans, you're aware that there are certain teams that we Just. Don't. Like. And there are players on those teams that we Just. Don't. Like. So a comparison of recent events involving Philly players and those from the Do Not Like category is distressing.

In the last couple of months we've had the New York Rangers' Sean Avery speaking out and even lobbying state legislators to get the same-sex marriage bill passed in New York. He's spoken on gay issues in the past and continues to do so even after the marriage victory in New York. Avery is one of those obnoxious, edgy, nasty hockey players that everyone hates, unless he's on their team. And the fact that he plays for the Rangers, still a major rival of the Flyers even though they haven't been all that successful since their last Stanley Cup win in 1994, makes it worse. But in the world of pro sports, speaking out on LGBT equality is, while not as rare as it used to be, still rather controversial.

This week, our attention focuses on NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin, who played his entire career with the NFL's Evil Empire, the Dallas Cowboys. Obviously he was a talented player, but also unlikable, a loudmouth who got into trouble off the field (suspended after arrested on drug charges, both by the NFL during his playing career and by ESPN after he became a broadcaster). But he, too, has spoken out on LGBT issues recently, and now he's on the cover of Out magazine. In the accompanying story (written by Cyd Zeigler of Outsports), he speaks about his late brother, who was gay, and how he also supports full marriage equality and wants the NFL to be supportive when the day arrives that an active player comes out.

Two disliked players from hated rivals, now doing great stuff to help gay people. As you can imagine, I'm a little conflicted. I'm not comfortable with Sean Avery and Michael Irvin giving me reasons to actually, you know, like them.

But I'm also disappointed, because while these opponents are doing these things, what do I have, representing my teams, the teams I love and passionately root for?

DeSean Jackson. And silence.

The Eagles' wide receiver

From 2010 To 2011

Since I'm starting this before midnight and will continue on it after midnight, this will become the blog post that took two years to write! (And it's definitely the post with more links than any other.)

I suppose I could just repeat most of what I wrote at this time a year ago. Much of it still applies, and certainly my closing advice -- "(I)f you want your life to change, do it. Don't just talk about it. Do it. Do it, do it, do it. Stop talking about it and DO IT" -- is still pretty smart, if I do say so myself. But unlike last year, I feel like looking back a little tonight.

In January I learned that there was a full-length version of the "Mad Men" theme. I started doing volunteer work, doing tax returns with the Campaign for Working Families. I took a shot at Perez Hilton (an easy target). I complained about politicians. (Haven't we all? And it continued all year.) I scooped the local media with the story of former Phillies coach Steve Smith's participation in "The Amazing Race." (And ended up doing recaps of the season that got more detailed as it went on, even after Smith and his daughter were eliminated.)

February brought me lots of snow and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. I found out that "Daria" was being relased on DVD (I eventually bought it when the price was seriously marked down.) I compared Tiger Woods to Andy Reid(!). And my scoop of the media re: Steve Smith and "The Amazing Race" was acknowledged in the newspaper!

Tonight's Glee: "Never Been Kissed"

The last time I wrote about "Glee" I was concerned with the regular bullying of the glee kids, and Kurt (the always adorable Chris Colfer) in particular, in light of all of the terrible suicides of kids who were victims of bullies. (And despite lots of publicity for the It Gets Better Project and other resources, it's still going on.) So I took notice when, during "The Simpsons" on Sunday, Fox ran a promo for tonight's "Glee" that was much more intense than their usual ads:



My big complaint was that no authority figures in the school ever take any action against these bullies, so this promo was especially of interest. Although by the time I post this it'll have aired on the West Coast, just in case you're recording it or plan to watch online, consider this a SPOILER ALERT. The discussion continues (plus there's a pretty picture) after the jump.

Random Bullying/Purple/Gay Thoughts

I can't quite bring myself to blog about the current plight of the Phillies just yet. So let me instead address a couple of things related to the continuing response to the LGBT teens that committed suicide recently after being bullied, and one item that's more about being gay in general.

First, a tweet that I've kept as a "favorite" on my Twitter page for a while now waiting to use it somewhere. (Just for the record, I use the "favorite" button in Twitter as a bookmark; for example, when I'm out and checking Twitter from my phone, if there's a post that includes a link to a pic or article, I'll "favorite" it and then check out the link later at home.) Now seems as good a time as any for this. It's from Cole Escola of Logo's "Jeffery & Cole Casserole."

Of course, I agree with the sentiment. But I also think that if a bully is constantly taking lunch money, that "kid with glasses" might also feel that he or she is being tortured. Any kid that gets bullied on a daily basis for whatever reason is being tortured. But there's something especially evil when kids are being bullied because of their sexual orientation, perceived or actual. Just about all parents would tell their kids it's wrong to pick on someone because they wear glasses. Or because they're overweight (of course, our society is getting more and more overweight so at some point, unless radical steps are taken to get kids to eat healthy and exercise, maybe it'll just be skinny kids who are bullied). Or a lot of other reasons. But you don't have scumbag politicians and preachers telling people they're immoral and they're going to hell because they're fat or nearsighted, and the parents don't pass on those beliefs to their kids.

So, as I wrote yesterday,

Wear Purple Wednesday - Phantoms Or Otherwise

I think this idea just developed organically -- I saw a number of different Facebook "events" posted for it, and I have one friend who is "attending" every single one. Tomorrow, as a way to remember the kids who were bullied to death by their "peers," their "adult" authority figures and dirtbag politicians of every stripe, and especially to show a visible sign of support for those kids who are still alive but going through bullying of their own, you're encouraged to wear purple. Purple in the Rainbow Flag symbolizes "spirit." So tomorrow is now "Spirit Day." GLAAD -- the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation -- has links on their website for you to make your Twitter and Facebook profile pictures purple.

I have one piece of purple clothing. I didn't think I had any, but I remembered that I went to Game 4 of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup finals in 2005, when the Philadelphia Phantoms won the Cup in a four-game sweep (which helped make up for the NHL's year-long absence due to their infamous lockout), and all fans were given t-shirts going into the arena. I feel like maybe I should wear it inside out because the hockey stuff on the front might dilute the message of the purple, but I probably won't. I hate that look. The tag belongs on the inside, not the outside, people.

So I'll be going for my comic books tomorrow and, beyond that, just walking around a lot, making sure my t-shirt is visible. Hopefully it's not too chilly. I'll have a long-sleeved tee-shirt under the Phantoms shirt. Maybe I'll take a jacket or zip-up hooded sweatshirt as well, but I'll keep it open -- after all, what good is the purple t-shirt if the purple isn't visible?

My New Problem With Glee

You may remember that I didn't take to "Glee" at first. I watched for a couple of weeks and then stopped. After the first 13 episodes the show took a break for a few months, then came back in April. Since the second episode upon their return was their much-ballyhooed Madonna episode, I started watching again. I loved "The Power of Madonna," and watched every episode thereafter. Slowly it won me over. This summer Fox ran two repeats on Tuesday nights and I caught up on what I missed.

I'm still watching, but I have a new issue. And it's not the Britney Spears episode, which was annoying in the way it forced Britney and her music into the show so blatantly. It's not that Artie, the kid in the wheelchair, is now on the school's football team -- something even more impossible than the offense lining up with time running out, stopping a play and doing Beyonce's "Single Ladies" dance to distract the opposing defense and score a game-winning TD without getting called for some sort of penalty. (Delay of game, illegal formation, maybe illegal use of the hands?) It's not any of the other implausibilities or improbabilities. I've been able to overlook just about every bit of weirdness. (And I adore Chris Colfer. Love the picture from Rolling Stone...)

But last night it dawned on me that, in light of all the recent events regarding bullying and suicides, I am very uncomfortable seeing the goon football players dousing Glee kids with slushies, yelling menacingly, and worse -- remember, they were about to beat up Kurt in the so-called "Lady Gaga" episode (which only featured two Gaga songs) until Finn and the others arrived -- and no one in authority even tries to do something to stop it. Ever. Maybe it seemed funny in those early episodes when they were throwing kids into Dumpsters. It doesn't seem all that funny now. It's strange that, for all the surreality on the show, bullying is what seems to be the most grounded in reality.

Am I overreacting here or does anyone else feel the same about this?

Outfest: Pride And Prejudice

Before I discuss Outfest itself, here are a couple of pictures I took on Wednesday when the Rainbow Flag was raised at City Hall in honor of LGBT History Month. I hadn't realized that the flagpoles in question were sitting at ground level and didn't go extremely far up. Still, it's a nice honor. I did read that the flag was only raised temporarily, and then taken down until the 15th because they had to put back up the Puerto Rican flag that was raised in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (mid-September to mid-October). That seems to be a slight to both, in a way. Perhaps they'll work things out differently next year.

The Rainbow Flag after being raised

Mayor Michael Nutter speaking

As for Sunday, when I got downtown and walked down 13th Street towards the festival, the first thing I saw was the protesters. There's a small group of religious nuts that shows up every year at the Pride festival in June, as well as at Outfest. The reactions to these protesters ranges from trying to reason with them (complete waste of time) to heckling to making jokes to angry yelling. There's always a police presence to keep the peace, which is a good thing because if there weren't, I know there'd be trouble.

This year, in addition to the small group standing near the barricade with the loudspeaker blaring their message of hate, there were a few people walking around the festival with t-shirts saying "God hates you" and "God hates sinners" -- sort of like what the Westboro Baptist creeps wear, but none of them actually said "God hates fags," as the Phelps nuts wear. Also, their sayings were either written in pen or painted. They were quite crudely written. I guess those people were too poor to afford anything better.

Meanwhile, I almost literally walked into a film crew walking backwards. I had no idea who they were filming until I looked at one of their credentials.

Dan Savage To White House: F.U.

The White House has a blog. It's not written by the President or First Lady or one of the kids, so it's not something I'm going to check out on even an occasional basis. However, there's a post there titled "It Gets Better." The post contains the transcript of a speech made by Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett at a dinner in Washington for the Human Rights Campaign. Even though she spoke about all of the recent suicides, it's pretty much the same self-congratulatory and self-serving pablum that comes from the administration. And Dan Savage called them on it. (As you can guess from the title of my post, he drops the F bomb on them.)

What would amaze me, if I were able to be amazed by the doings of politicians and their flunkies any more, is that they take "It Gets Better" as the title for the post, but don't bother to post a link to the It Gets Better website.

The One Where I Threaten To Cancel My Subscription

Thought I'd share a letter I wrote today to the new CEO of the Phila. Daily News about this article that was in Saturday's paper...

Philadelphia Daily News
ATTN: Gregory J. Osberg
CEO, Philadelphia Media Network Inc.
400 N. Broad St
Philadelphia PA 19130


Dear Mr. Osberg:


I have been a subscriber to the Philadelphia Daily News for a few years now, after buying the paper every day on the newsstand since the Bulletin ceased publication in 1982. I have been a loyal customer and still believe in the importance of newspapers in our society. I realize that you are just now taking charge of the Daily News and Inquirer; this requires attention nonetheless.


On Saturday, October 2, 2010 your paper ran, on a page devoted to “Faith,” an article by John Freeman, President of Harvest USA. Harvest USA is an organization that seeks, under the pretense of “ministering,” to convert gay people to heterosexuality. They consider homosexuality to be a sin, something they can “cure.” They do not believe that some people are born gay, as has become clearly obvious by now to most people based on anecdotal as well as scientific evidence.

It Gets Better: The Miracle Of Love

My thanks to a friend who is known on the Interwebs as LCM, Centre of the Known Universe, for posting this video earlier..."The Miracle of Love" by Eurythmics:



I'm posting it because it makes me feel better to hear it after all of the stuff that follows this sentence, and perhaps it will make you feel better as well.

Last week I wrote about the It Gets Better video project started by sex-advice columnist Dan Savage in response to the news of 15-year-old Billy Lucas of Greensburg, Indiana, who committed suicide after being bullied and harassed nonstop by anti-gay bigoted thugs in his high school. It's designed to get the message out to kids who are struggling -- because of bullies, "religious" people, bigoted school officials and parents and the like -- that suicide isn't the answer, that if they hang on and get through this time in their lives, they'll one day escape their circumstances by going to college or moving to a big city with a stronger gay presence, and their lives will be so much better.

Just since then there were two more young kids who killed themselves after being bullied.

Message For LGBT Youth: It Gets Better

In response to a suicide by a gay teenager from Indiana who hung himself after relentless bullying at his high school, sex-advice columnist Dan Savage has started a YouTube page, the It Gets Better project. He explains the page in his column:

"My heart breaks for the pain and torment you went through, Billy Lucas," a reader wrote after I posted about Billy Lucas to my blog. "I wish I could have told you that things get better."

I had the same reaction: I wish I could have talked to this kid for five minutes. I wish I could have told Billy that it gets better. I wish I could have told him that, however bad things were, however isolated and alone he was, it gets better.

But gay adults aren't allowed to talk to these kids. Schools and churches don't bring us in to talk to teenagers who are being bullied. Many of these kids have homophobic parents who believe that they can prevent their gay children from growing up to be gay—or from ever coming out—by depriving them of information, resources, and positive role models.

His idea: having adults make a video in which they talk about how they survived growing up despite abuse and hate and bullying, and now are living wonderful lives, passing on the message that no matter how bad things are, they'll get better. Dan and his husband filmed the first one. Watch it after the jump...