Masks: Rise Of Heroes

By Hayden Thorne

When 16 year old Eric is rescued from a sabotaged train by Magnifiman, Vintage City's newest studly superhero, his life starts to change.

You see, his best friend, Peter, is in love with him. Which is complicated because their best gal pal, Althea, is in love with Peter.

But the three friends don't have much time to figure it out - All around them, trains, banks and malls are being attacked by The Devil's Trill, the new supervillain in town.

And before they know it, Eric, Peter, and Althea are pulled into the war between good and evil.

Secrets are revealed. Masks are torn off. And Heroes Rise.


"Masks: Rise Of Heroes" is the first book in a trilogy - go Hayden!


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What I Know Now

By Rodger Larson

It's 1957, and Dave is turning 14. His mother just divorced his abusive father, and they've moved to a new town in California.

When his mother hires a local young man, Gene, to do some gardening for them, Dave sees that in contrast to his brother and father, there's another way to be a man in our world.

Now Dave doesn't even know gay people exist, and Gene is completely closeted (remember, it's 1957), but this is the summer that Dave comes to understand who Gene is, and who he himself is growing up to become...


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Shockproof Sydney Skate

By Marijane Meaker, a.k.a. M. E. Kerr

Sydney doesn't think anything can shock him.

After all, it's the 1970s. His Mom's a lesbian, and while he doesn't let on to her that he knows, he knows a lot about her and her girlfriends.

He works at a pet store taking care of snakes, and on top of that he's memorized the sex scenes in all the books he's ever read to help him seduce women.

So nothing can shock him - right? Uh, there is one thing Sydney's not prepared for: When his Mom seduces the girl of HIS dreams!


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The Necessary Hunger

By Nina Revoyr

Teenage Lesbian Crushes! Basketball! Interracial Love!

Nancy's the Asian American star of her inner city Los Angeles High School's basketball team, and is being heavily recruited by colleges - and that's her ticket to the future.

She's also crushing on the star player of a rival team, Raina, who's African American, and has the same hopes for getting out of their dead-end neighborhood.

Suddenly the girls' single parents start to date, and Raina and her Mom move in with Nancy and her father!

Yikes!

It's Nancy and Raina's Senior Year of High School, and it's going to be a whopper.


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The New Kid

By Eliot Schrefer

15 year old Humphrey isn't very good at being "the new Kid" in school, but his Dad's a loser and his Mom's a frustrated actress who waits tables to keep the family afloat, so Humphrey's constantly being moved. This time in Florida, when he tries to make some headway on having friends, he miscalculates a relationship and gets beaten up.

Meanwhile, while Humphrey's recovering in the hospital, his older sister Gretchen discovers she isn't very good at being dumped - She follows her rich ex-boyfriend to Rome, and manages to stay the summer with his parents, the Lansings.

Hearing of Humphrey's troubles, The Lansings invite him to join them for the summer, too.

And while the rich adults pay for everything material, the two poor siblings find themselves paying in different currency as they become more and more sexually and emotionally entangled in the Lansing's web of dysfunction.


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Do Native Americans Celebrate Independence Day? Prejudice in the Declaration of Independence

Okay, so I was reading the Declaration of Independence over at the wikipedia site on it, given that it's the founding document of our nation, and since the second continental congress approved it and John Hancock signed it on July 4, 1776, that's the "birthday" we celebrate of the United States of America.

It starts out with this introduction:

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Then the famous preamble, which begins with:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

and it ends with:

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Then it goes into a list of the British King's offenses.

The 27th and final offense (and this SHOCKED me when I read it) is this:

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

Wow. Okay, so "all men are created equal" - except the Natives who were living here before we arrived. They're "savages." We'll just lock them up on "reservations," steal their land, starve them, mock them, kill them... the list of injustices is unbelievably long and painful!

Oh, and women, they're not equal either (women wouldn't even get the right to vote until the passage of the 19th Amendment of the United States Constitution in 1920!).

Oh, and slaves - yeah, those people with dark skins that we captured and brought over from another continent to buy and sell and work for us until they die - they're not equal, either.

And I'm sure Gay people weren't exactly high on the list of those "equal" in Thomas Jefferson's mind when he drafted the document, nor Benjamin Franklin's when he edited it.

(Ironically, Thomas Jefferson not only owned slaves but, also possibly had a child with one of his female slaves, Sally Hemings! Check out this rather dry explanation of the scandal here.)


Yet... Even amidst all their flaws, those "founding fathers" created a document that - as it's grown throughout its 232 years so far, has grown in meaning BEYOND their "original intent."

Our Country has evolved its meaning to where Today, "all men are created equal" means ALL of us: Native Americans, Women, Blacks, Gays - everyone human.

And that, perhaps, is the biggest and best way to reconcile the Prejudice in the Declaration of Independence. Maybe that's a reason even Native Americans can take part in the celebration to some bittersweet extent - to celebrate that a country exists - the United States of America - where we believe that ALL of us have been created EQUAL, and where we ALL have rights - including the right to

LIFE

LIBERTY

and

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS!


And that, I believe, is a great reason to celebrate.


So, to honor our Native American brothers and sisters, here's a different kind of fireworks for you to enjoy:





Happy 4th of July!


Namaste,
Lee

Face The Dragon

By Joyce Sweeney

Six 14 year olds are in thrown together in an accelerated High School program. Two of them, Eric and Paul, are friends who become competitors.

But just like Beowulf faces the dragon in the epic poem they're studying, a struggle for sexual identity, a girl, and a teacher's cruelty are the "Dragons" they must face.

And when it most counts, will Eric be able to put his competition with Paul aside, and stand with his friend?


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Banshee - A Gay Teen Book

By Hayden Thorne

In this Victorian Ghost story, Natty (Nathaniel) leaves the secluded village where he grew up and accompanies his cousin to the estate of the sophisticated Miles Lovell.

Natty discovers he's attracted to the more worldly Miles, and struggles against his own nature.

Meanwhile, his family is self-destructing, and if that weren't enough, the faceless ghost of a woman starts to haunt him. He becomes convinced she's a Banshee, a harbinger of doom.

If he's ever going to have a life to call his own, Natty must navigate all these perils...


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The World Is Changing - Part 1: The Gay Kiss To Sell Mayonnaise

Well, just as most of us have pretty much stopped watching commercials due to Tivo and other DVR powers to "bloop-bloop-bloop" past them, companies are using the "controversy" of advertising characters being gay to get people to pay some attention to their ads and products.

Like this "banned" commercial for Heinz Mayonnaise:




This is from one of the articles about the ad and it being pulled from the air:
(from June 24, 2008 - in London's "Times" Newspaper) :

A mayonnaise ad that shows two men kissing has been withdrawn from television after 200 viewers complained that it was offensive.

Heinz, which makes the New York Deli Mayo featured in the commercial, pulled the advertisement less than a week into its expected five week run, in response to the criticism.

Viewers told the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that the ad was inappropriate and unsuitable for children to see. The ASA has not yet decided whether to launch an investigation.

Heinz apologised for any offence caused.

"It is our policy to listen to consumers. We recognise that some consumers raised concerns over the content of the ad and this prompted our decision to withdraw it," said Nigel Dickie, director of corporate affairs for Heinz UK.

"The advertisement, part of a short-run campaign, was intended to be humorous and we apologise to anyone who felt offended."

It's silly, with the kids calling their other Dad "Mum", it's 30 seconds of "use our fancy Mayonnaise and your kids' lunches will be just like out of a New York Deli" - and inclusive, in that they're showing a two Dad family.

It's irreverent - with another interpretation of it - in that it's 30 seconds of "use our fancy Mayonnaise and your wife (your kids' mother) will magically turn into a New York Deli GUY."

And then they have the gay kiss that, OF COURSE, the idiot pundits for the right took as bait and then protested and got the ad "banned."

I wonder if it's possible that maybe MORE people saw this ad on youtube BECAUSE of the "controversy" than would have ever seen it on British TV because the tivo remote was hidden under a couch cushion or they were stuck in a full body cast and couldn't avoid the commericals...

Frankly, look how many Americans and other people all over the world are watching it now... And let's be real. 200 people complaining? That's not such a huge number - not when you consider that on just 12 youtube posts the commercial has been viewed over 620,000 times in the last week!

In fact, I wonder if the advertising strategy was EVER to be have this commercial seen on TV? Maybe they were expecting it to be banned, and hoped for the "controversy" as their original game plan?

Either way, it's a fun commercial, makes Heinz look like a "hip" brand, and does show, in its own way, and despite it being pulled, that the world IS changing.

"Straight home from work, sweetcheeks!"

Namaste,

Lee

38 Years Ago Today Was The First Gay Pride March!

Today marks the 38th anniversary of the first gay pride marches, which were originally called Christopher Street Liberation Day and meant to mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

The first march went from Washington Place in Greenwich Village up Sixth Avenue to Central Park where there was a "Gay-In".

Here's a quote from Dudley Clendinen and Adam Nagourney's book "Out for Good: The Struggle to Build a Gay Rights Movement in America," about the "Gay-In":

"Many of the men and women who marched that day would forever remember that moment on top of the bluff. Before them lay a field of uncut grass, a blizzard of banners, dancing, pot-smoking, singing and music, a huge American flag, 'gay pride' signs decorated with the Day-Glo hippie flower stickers, and men and women applauding each new arrival over the hill. And behind them—stretching out as far as they could see—was line after line after line of homosexuals and their supporters, at least fifteen blocks worth, by the count of the New York Times, which found the turnout notable enough to report it on the front page of the next day’s paper. No one had ever seen so many homosexuals in one place before. On top of the bluff, many of these men and women, who had grown up isolated and alone, stood in silence and cried."

God bless us, every one. (in the words of Tiny Tim)



The amazing image above is from the New York Public Library Digital Archives - click here to see more photos from the 1970 Christopher Street Liberation Day march and celebration!



Happy Gay Pride Month - Happy GLBTQ Pride! Heck, just be Happy - and full of PRIDE - to be YOU!

Namaste,
Lee

ps- thanks to Stuart for the heads up on this anniversary!

Know Your Enemy. Conservative Religious Leaders call for a 40 Day FAST to take away California's Same Sex Marriage Rights

Okay, just when I think that the world is getting more on track, I'm reminded once again that the forces AGAINST equality are (how do I put this?) NUTS!

So in the LA Times yesterday, there was an article about how there was a 1000 person conference call two days ago (on Wednesday June 24) where

more than 1,000 ministers, most from evangelical congregations, discussed tactics for passing a fall ballot initiative that would amend California's Constitution to ban gay marriage.

The strategy session, which included input from lawyers and political consultants, was the opening of what conservative religious leaders hope will become a massive Christian outpouring of support for the proposed amendment.

The effort will include a 40-day fasting period leading up to election day, along with 100 days of prayer. On the weekend before the election, Garlow told the ministers, the goal would be to fill Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego and other amphitheaters with people praying for a ban on gay marriage.

So... they're going to PRAY for 100 days, to psych everyone up to go vote.

And, they're going to FAST (that's no food) for the last 40 days before the vote???

It's like they're going on hunger strike.

Okay, I actually have fasted (no food, just water) for 11 days in a row, and let me tell you, after 40 days, not one person would be ABLE to get to the polls. I guess they'll all have to vote absentee...

And the weekend before the election, they're going to bus in thousands of these emaciated hunger strikers (Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego holds 70, 561 people!)


to rally and pray for enough voters to hate gay people enough so they can pass their amendment to the California Constitution to ban two people of the same sex who love each other from being recognized as a family by the state.

Jesus.

I mean, really. I thought the whole point of the "What Would Jesus Do?" Evangelicalism was to think about making the world a better and more equal and loving place. Wasn't THAT what Jesus tried to do?

Well, at the risk of jumping on the bandwagon of those who think God is only on their side, Would anyone worth praying to want hate and prejudice to be their rallying cry?

Oh, there I go - forgetting all about how many people keep killing each other in the name of their Gods.

Maybe this is a step forward in its own way. I mean, wouldn't it be great if every time the extreme folks got upset they simply fasted and prayed themselves silly? Iraq would be a much safer place...

Then again, I wonder what obesity rates are among this group of "Christians?" Have you seen the documentary "Super Size Me?" Will they really all decline food for 40 days?

I hope so.

Fasting is painful and debilitating, and maybe once they've started, about an hour into it - once they've missed their dinners - they'll realize - "Hey, you know, there are more important things for me to get worked up about. What the heck do I care if two guys get married in someone else's church or mosque or synagogue or courthouse? It doesn't affect me or my marriage one bit. Hand me that Krispy Kreme, wouldja?"


Now I've been struggling to understand how anyone could think my marriage affects their marriage. I mean, really, if YOUR marriage is threatened by someone else's relationship, you've got some MAJOR problems between you and your spouse.

However, with this fasting thing, I think maybe I finally see a glimmer of logic to the other side's argument. Ready for it?

If my Gay marriage makes someone else so upset that they fast for 40 days to rally voters against it and they get sick and they can't work anymore, and they get fired (cause they're doing it to themselves), and then their wife kicks them out and asks for a divorce because the guy's a bum who's more concerned with making front page headlines for his anti-gay-marriage-hunger-strike than with taking care of his own family... maybe my marriage DID harm theirs.

hmmm.


However, don't lose heart or hope. The close-minded do not own God. Also from the article:

Opponents of the amendment were quick to downplay the significance of Wednesday's call to arms.
"There are certainly thousands of people of faith who are supportive of the freedom to marry," said Kerry Chaplin, the organizing director for California Faith for Equality, a coalition of more than 2,000 faith leaders and congregations supporting same-sex marriage.

Hey! There's a coalition of more than 2,000 clergy who support OUR rights. That's good to know. (And yup, our coalition outnumbers theirs...)

So, check out these great organizations organizing and leading efforts to keep same sex marriage legal in California and defeat this initiative.

Equality California

and

Equality for All

and

California Faith for Equality (which has some great links on their website to other organizations joining the fight for civil rights!)

I guess we can chalk this up to "It's good to know your enemy."

But let's not forget about our friends.


Oh, and if this Gay and God stuff touches your heart, here's a fabulous YA book you've got to read:

The God Box
by Alex Sanchez

...which is awesome. Click on the book image above to go to the summary of "The God Box" and check it out!

Namaste,

Lee

The Hookup Artist

By Tucker Shaw

Lucas is the Matchmaker at his high school, helping everyone else find love, all the while keeping his own heart under wraps after getting it hurt.

When his best friend Cate gets dumped, Lucas is stoked to match her up with this new guy in their school, Derek.

Lucas definitely noticed that Derek is cool, athletic, and HOT. So he'd be perfect for her, right?

Then Lucas starts to think that Derek is maybe interested in HIM, instead of Cate. And Derek might just be perfect for him...

But meanwhile Cate is starting to like Derek, too.

Yikes! What's going to happen when two friends crush on the same guy?


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Good Moon Rising

By Nancy Garden

Jan loves the "Theater." After spending the summer before her senior year in High School ACTING in a professional stock company, she's crushed when she loses the lead in her school's play to some new girl, Kerry.

Even worse, Jan is forced to coach Kerry in the part.

But, instead of hating Kerry, Jan realizes she's falling in love with her. Kerry is falling for Jan, too.

But what are they going to do about the hate and prejudice of others?

"Good Moon Rising" won The 1996 Lambda Literary Award for best YA book with GLBTQ content!


While the original Farrar, Straus edition of this book is out of print, so many fans asked for it that Nancy took advantage of the Authors Guild "backinprint program" and copies are once again available.

Here's what the old cover looked like:




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The Will Of The Empress

By Tamora Pierce

Two years have passed since the Teenage Mages (masters of magic) Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar have been together. They've grown up - and grown apart.

The Empress blackmails Sandry into going back to her ancestral lands, and Sandry's uncle convinces the others to accompany her. But once there, the Empress turns out to have plans for all four of them and they're trapped.

The old friends have to find a way to overcome the distance between them and pull together in magic and friendship once more if they're going to escape.

And in this book, one of the three young women has a lesbian love!



While "The Will Of The Empress" has been written so it can certainly stand alone, it's actually the 9th in the series of books following these characters.

The "Circle Of Magic" books start things off with the four young mages coming together and learning about their magic powers in

Sandry's Book, Circle of Magic #1,

Tris's Book, Circle of Magic #2,

Daja's Book, Circle of Magic #3, and

Briar's Book, Circle of Magic #4.

Then the same characters' adventures continue in "The Circle Opens" series, where each of them go off abroad as certified mages and take on a new student in:

Magic Steps, The Circle Opens, Book 1,

Street Magic, The Circle Opens, Book 2,

Cold Fire, The Circle Opens, Book 3, and

Shatterglass, The Circle Opens, Book 4.


Tamora Pierce has an "official fansite" that's here.

And Tamora's wikipedia entry has a good list of the books in each series, and a useful overview of which of her series are part of which fantasy worlds she's created.


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ps: Thanks to blog reader (and Tamora Pierce reader) Jacob for the heads-up on the Lesbian character and content in "The Will Of The Empress!"

He's My Husband!

And it's LEGAL!

We are now officially a LEGALLY married couple in California!!

Whooo-Hooo!

Mark, this one's for YOU!






In Celebration and Joy,

Lee


ps: This awesome song is GOSPEL HOUSE - Kim English - Unspeakable Joy -D'Ambrosio Mix And on itunes it's called the "Osio Radio Mix"