MadProfessah in Chicago

The view out my window...

WATCH: Calvin Klein X Ad (Do You Wanna See My ****?)

Finally the full version of the ad for Calvin Klein's new X underwear featuring celebrities  Mehcad Brooks, Kellan Lutz, Hidetoshi Nakata and Fernando Verdasco that I have been talking about for the last several weeks has been released. In it, all four hotties say some version of "Do you wanna see my (bleep)?" I think the answer is "Yes, please!" (Especially Mehcad and Fernando.)

VA GOV Issues Legally Meaningless Gay Nondiscrimination Directive

There is mass confusion in Virginia (and the traditional media and the blogosphere) about the status of LGBT citizens' civil rights to employment, public accommodations, housing and education thanks to the recent actions by its recently elected Governor and Attorney General.

Thanksfully, legal eagle Chris Geidner can clear it all up for us, in an article entitled "No, Virginia, There Is No Nondiscrimination Policy":

On Wednesday, March 10, Gov. McDonnell issued an ''Executive Directive'' regarding the ''Standard of Conduct'' for state supervisors and employees ''Concerning Employment Discrimination.''

In it, he suggests a pronouncement on the state's position on sexual orientation nondiscrimination. The set-up looks like an attempt to create some space between Cuccinelli's move as attorney general and his own administration. But it does no such thing. To the extent it mentions sexual orientation, it is simply a basic restatement of federal constitutional law. It fails to mention gender identity or expression at all. 

[...]

The law, by the governor's own words, is the same on March 11 as it was on March 9. There is no protection provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia or Gov. McDonnell to LGBT people other than the slight protection already provided to them by the U.S. Constitution. And McDonnell has taken no action to ask the legislature to do more.

[...]

In the days since Cuccinelli's letter, people across Virginia have been asking McDonnell to tell them the truth about his commitment to nondiscrimination. On Wednesday, like the Sun's editor, McDonnell gave a saccharine response aimed more at providing pleasant words than it did providing a real answer. McDonnell's directive, unfortunately, purports to give comfort to LGBT people in the state about something that is not really there.

We're not falling for your ****, Bob McDonnell, no matter how square your jaw is!

WATCH: ABC Covers Uganda's "Kill The Gays" bill

 

hat/tip to Joe.My.God

BOOK REVIEW: Jeffrey Eugenides' Middlesex

Finally buckled down and read Jeffrey Eugenides' Pulitzer Prize-winning Middlesex awhile back as part of gay male book club. It was quite interesting to read this fictionalization of a child of Greek immigrant parents who experiences firsthand knowledge that sex is not always a binary selection between male and female.

I had heard many things about Middlesex because it had won the Pulitzer Prize and was about topics that I am interested in: immigrant life, sex, gender and sexuality.

The book is about the life of Cal Stefanides, who is born as an intersexed individual due to the unwitting coupling of two generations of his immediate relatives.

The part of the book which deals with the travails of Cal's grandparents travels from a little town in Greece to the big city of Detroit, MI are one of the highlights of the book for me. Eugenides portrays a lightly fictionalized account of various important historical events in Detroit in particular and the United States in general during the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Cal doesn't make an appearance in the book until almost the halfway point, and then "he" appears as Calliope. Because of an inattentive, near-senile family physician and indeterminate genitalia, Cal is raised as a girl for the first 16 years of his life, and we (the reader) are given a first-person account of what it is like for a heterosexual person to grow up in a body whose body and surroundings represent a gender different from the gender in their mind.

I know that some people had problems with the heteronormative world-view of a novel which is asking the reader to be mentally flexible about sex and gender. However, I am sympathetic to Eugenides not necessarily wanting to complicate the issues he was portraying by including sexual orientation into the mix. However, I do agree with his critics' point that at the very least the author could have been more nuanced in his approach to sexual orientation.

It's definitely true, that for me, the book does not end well and really starts going down hill when the main character of Calliope is introduced. However, as an intoxicating melange of historical fiction and teenage coming-of-age tale, Middlesex is not a book you will soon forget.

Title: Middlesex.
Author: Jeffrey Eugenides.
Paperback: 544 pages.
Publisher: Picador.
Date: June 5, 2007.

OVERALL GRADE: A- (3.67/4.0).
PLOT: A-.
IMAGERY: A-.
IMPACT: B+.
WRITING: A.

Serena Williams Wins Record 3rd Laureus Award

Serena Williams won her 3rd career Laureus World Sports Award in Dubai on Wednesday after she was named Laureus Sportswoman of the Year for 2009, 7 years after she won her first. In 2007, she won the Laureus Comeback Award, bringing her total to three, the most won by a female. Only Roger Federer, who has four, has won more. Federer was up for Sportsman of the Year for 2009 but lost to Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who won his second Laureus Award. Kim Clijsters won the Laureus Comeback Award.

Serena said:

"I am just so delighted to win this Award, but very disappointed I cannot be in Abu Dhabi to say thank you in person. It's my third Laureus Award which is amazing and I would like to say thank you to all the Academy Members who voted for me and to the world's media who nominated me. Last year had its ups and downs, so to get this support is fantastic.

"As a tennis player you look at the amazing names of the Academy Members - like John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Boris Becker and Monica Seles - who have won so many Grand Slams and they know what it takes to do that. There is nothing better in sport than being acknowledged by the people that you looked up to when you were a young player.

"The Laureus Awards have been a constant reflection of my career, winning in 2003 and 2007, and I think I was also nominated four more times. I know only Roger Federer has more Awards, so it would be cool to catch him up.

"I've had a few injury problems over the years, so it's been great to get back to the top and be World No 1 again. It's going to be an interesting year with Justine Henin back, but I'm playing well and it was great to win in Australia, and I still want to win every tournament I play. It's going to be a very exciting 2010."

Congratulations, Serena!

CA-GOV: "Why Won't Meg Talk To The Press" Meme Gets Traction

State Of Same-Sex Couple Recognition in U.S.

hat/tip to Joe.My.God

LAT Editorial on "gay anti-gay legislator" Roy Ashburn

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-ashburn10-2010mar10,0,4070153.storyThe Los Angeles Times has an incisive editorial on the curious case of GOP State Senator Roy Ashburn, the anti-gay legislator who was caught driving under the influence leaving a Sacramento gay bar with another man and his weak explanation for his consistently anti-gay record in his long legislative career that "[his] votes reflect the wishes of people in [his] district."

That's not an entirely unreasonable defense. After all, if every politician who ever voted contrary to his or her personal beliefs in order to please constituents were branded a hypocrite, you'd be hard-pressed to find one without a scarlet "H." Yet Ashburn's seeming concern for the will of the people is highly selective. In February 2009, he was one of six Republicans in the Legislature who approved a budget deal that raised taxes and fees, inspiring widespread wrath in his district and a recall campaign against him. Moreover, voters trust representatives to use their best judgment and vote on laws according to their own consciences, not to consult the polls before every controversial decision.

The best way to fight bigotry is by setting an example. By coming forward, acknowledging his sexual orientation and pointing out that gay people can be successful business owners and politicians and even Christian conservatives, Ashburn could soothe his community's fears and help others like him end their deception. And there are others; aside from famous examples such as former Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho or former Rep. Mark Foley of Florida, the documentary "Outrage" last year pointed out many other closeted right-wing politicians so full of self-loathing that they consistently vote to deny equal rights to themselves. There's a better path, and we hope Ashburn finds it -- but first he has to admit the real reasons for his self-destructive votes.

Zing!

VIDEO: Same-Sex Marriages in D.C. Today

'Fringe' Renewed For 3rd Season

The Fox television show Fringe, created by J.J. Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman has been renewed for a third season. The science-fiction drama is the first of several sci-fi-oriented shows like ABC's Flash Forward and V as well as SyFy's Stargate: Universe (already renewed) and Caprica to be renewed to take the mantle when Lost ends its series run in several weeks.

Anti-Gay GOP CA St. Sen. Ashburn Comes Out

Anti-gay California State Senator Roy Ashburn who was arrested last week on a DUI minutes after leaving a Sacramento gay bar with an unidentified Latino man has now come out as gay on a radio talk show:

“I am gay. Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long. It is something that is personal, and I don’t believe I felt with my heart that being gay would affect how I do my job,” Ashburn said.
Asked about his anti-gay voting record, Ashburn said, “I felt my duty, and I still feel this way, is to represent my constituents.”
Radio talk show host Inga Barks wanted assurances that Ashburn would continue to vote in a conservative manner on LGBT rights issues. Ashburn responded, “I believe firmly that my responsibility is to my constituents. I will take a careful look at each measure and apply that standard. How would they vote on this? How would they want me to vote on this,” adding that most people understood what that means.
“I don’t know how else to ask this, but are you going to live this lifestyle now in the district?” Barks asked. Ashburn, who announced he is not running for public office again, said, “I pray to God I can find peace. I want to go back to the senate and work hard for the people of my district…Now you know everything about me.”

Really? Do you always vote the way your conservative district wanted, Senator? How about when you voted for the budget?

Hat/tip GayPolitics.com

UPDATE 03/08/2010 6:20PM

Equality California has issued a statement on Ray Ashburn's acknowledgment of homosexuality today:

Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) who told listeners this morning on KERN Radio AM 1180 that he is gay.

“We can empathize with Senator Ashburn’s long and difficult journey to admit that he is gay. Equality California looks forward to working with the Senator to use his experience to educate the people in his district on why he deserves the same rights and privileges as a gay man as any other Californian.
“Senator Ashburn said he has voted against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-rights measures because of the preferences of voters in his district, but to date, no legislator has lost his or her seat for supporting Equality California-sponsored legislation. This includes legislators in a number of conservative districts, including in Bakersfield, Fresno and the Salinas Valley.
“Although we question the Senator’s claim that an overwhelming majority of voters in his district support employment and housing discrimination against LGBT individuals – bills he voted against, we are working hard to build support across the state among voters in all districts.”

Senator Ashburn has consistently received a zero percent on Equality California’s Legislative Scorecards since 2004, with the exception of 2007, when he scored 10 percent.

 

2010 Oscars: The Winners

Here are the winners of the 2010 Oscars:

• Best Picture: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier, Greg Shapiro
• Best Director: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
• Best Actor: Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
• Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
• Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
• Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique in “Precious”
• Best Original Screenplay: “The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
• Best Adapted Screenplay: “Precious” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
• Best Foreign Language: “The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)” Argentina
• Best Animated Film: “Up” Pete Docter
• Best Documentary: “The Cove” Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens
• Best Cinematography: “Avatar” Mauro Fiore
• Best Art Direction: Avatar” Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg, Kim Sinclair
• Best Costumes: “The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell
• Best Editing: “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
• Best Score: “Up” Michael Giacchino
• Best Song: “The Weary Kind”(Crazy Heart) Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
• Best Makeup: “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
• Best Visual Effects: “Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, Andrew R. Jones
• Best Sound Editing: “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
• Best Sound Mixing: “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
• Best Animated Short: “Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
• Best Live Action Short: “The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson
• Best Documentary Short: “Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor

I did reasonably well in my predictions this year, getting 17 of 24 correct. If you count my first and second picks then the only one I was completely off on was Best Documentary Short (23 of 24). "The Hurt Locker" cleaning up both the Sound categories was a huge surprise. I really thought that the Academy would recognize "Avatar" over "The Hurt Locker" for Best Picture, but clearly (6 wins to 3 wins) they preferred the little war picture (which was excellent) to the amazing, cinematic experience from the creative genius of the unlikeable James Cameron. They both are great films but I suspect "Avatar" will be the one that is remembered more 50 years from now.

Eye Candy: Travone Hill

These images above are of Travone Hill, taken by photographer Gregory Vaughn. They were called to my attention by a dedicated reader of MadProfessah's Eye Candy.
If you have suggestions in mind (hawt is hawt, but I believein affirmatively looking or Black and Latino models) please let me know by email, or in the comments.

2010 Oscars: MadProfessah's Final Picks

I have previously posted my predictions for who I think should win (and who I think will win) in the Top 8 categories.

Here are my picks for all 24 categories:

Best Picture: Avatar (2nd: The Hurt Locker)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow (2nd: James Cameron )
Original Screenplay: The Hurt Locker (2nd: Inglourious Basterds)
Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air (2nd: Precious)
Actor: Jeff Bridges (2nd: Jeremy Renner)
Actress: Sandra Bullock (2nd: Meryl Streep)
Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique (2nd: Maggie Gyllenhaal)
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz (2nd: Stanley Tucci)
Editing: The Hurt Locker (2nd: Avatar)
Art Direction: Avatar (2nd: Sherlock Holmes)
Sound: Avatar (2nd: The Hurt Locker)
Sound Editing: Avatar (2nd: The Hurt Locker)
Cinematography: Avatar (2nd: The Hurt Locker)
Costumes: The Young Victoria (2nd: Bright Star)
Documentary: The Cove (2nd: Food, Inc)
Foreign Language: A Prophet (2nd: The White Ribbon)
Animated Film: Up (2nd: Fantastic Mr. Fox)
Animated Short: A Matter of Loaf and Death (2nd: Logorama )
Live Action Short: The New Tenants (2nd: Abracadabra )
Documentary Short: China’s Unnatural Disaster (2nd: The Last Truck)
Makeup: Star Trek
Score: Up (2nd: Sherlock Holmes)
Song: The Weary Kind (from Crazy Heart)
Visual Effects: Avatar

I'll check in later. This year is much harder to predict than most!

UPDATE: More Info On Homophobic GOP Hypocrite

There is a lot more information on the curious case of (recently divorced, father of four) GOP State Senator Ray Ashburn's DUI arrest Tuesday night in the proximity of a Sacramento gay bar with another man in the car at the time who has since been identified as a Latino man.

TPM Muckraker has these updates:

• Ashburn has taken a "personal leave" from the state Senate, his spokesman says.

• The Bakersfield Californian, Ashburn's home newspaper, had asked him twice about his sexuality in the past several years. After hearing a rumor that Ashburn was going to be outed by another newspaper, a columnist for the paper asked Ashburn last year if he is gay. Ashburn replied: "Why would that be anyone's business?"

• Ashburn's blood alcohol level was .14 when he was picked up by police, according to the Sacramento DA. The legal limit is .08.

• In 2005, Ashburn held a rally against gay marriage to protect "the future of our children."

KOVR CBS 13 has been doing excellent coverage of the story. Also, openly gay West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon is interviewed above revealing that he outed Ashburn on his Facebook page over 6 months ago.

Saturday Politics: Ward's Internal Poll Shows Lead in AD-53

Mitch Ward released an internal poll showing him with a lead over the other candidates in the race to replace Assembymember Ted Lieu in the 53rd district. According to the telephone poll of 400 likely June 2010 Democratic primary voters between February 23-25, Ward was supported by 13%, James Lau 4%, Kate Anderson 4%, Betsy Butler 3% with "lower amounts for other candidates."

Considering that the poll has a margin of error of +/- 5 points, these results are not that unusual for 3 months before a low-profile election. But, wait, there's more!

According to the memo prepared by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, after voters learn more information about the candidates after being read "detailed and fair paragraphs" Ward takes a lead of 32% with all the other candidates garnering no more than 9% each.

The memo attempts to explain Mitch Ward's lead by showing that voters preferred a qualified candidate from the South Bay to a qualified candidate from the Venice and Marina del Rey area by a margin of 40% to 26%. Mitch Ward is the current Mayor of Manhattan Beach, and is the only major candidate whose political base is South of Los Angeles Airport. The memo goes on to note that two of the last three people to represent the district not only had race in common (Ted Lieu and George Nakano are both Asian American), but they were also both from the South Bay.

I guess we'll find out on June 8, 2010. MadProfessah has endorsed Mitch Ward, who if elected would become the first openly gay, African American person ever elected to the California legislature and the 3rd Black LGBT person to be elected to a state legislature, ever.

Celebrity Friday: Isaiah Mustafa

Isaiah Mustafa has appeared shirtless in two very popular and self-parodic commercials for Old Spice cologne. Mustafa, 36, is a former NFL player who is now trying to make it as an actor. His appearance in the first Old Spice commerical "I'm The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" caused giggles and has over 3 million viewings on YouTube.

Hat/tip to Rod 2.0

JRC Celebrates DC and Mexico City Marriages

PRESS RELEASE
March 4, 2010
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Rodney Nickens Jr.
Rodney@jordanrustin.org
Mobile: 562-242-8601

JRC Celebrates Enactment of Washington, D.C.’s Marriage Equality Law

The Barbara Jordan/Bayard Rustin Coalition (JRC) celebrates the enactment of historic Marriage Equality legislation in our nation’s capital. ”As the premiere Black LGBT political organization in Southern California, we congratulate the District of Columbia in providing access to civil marriage to all its residents, the first jurisdiction in the United States with a predominantly Black population to do so” said JRC Board President Ron Buckmire.

Washington, D.C.’s marriage equality legislation became law in spite of desperate efforts by opponents to block its implementation through both legal action and legislative maneuvering in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Supreme Court. At 8:30a.m. March 3, 2010 more than a hundred same-sex couples began lining
up to apply for licenses at the Moultrie Courthouse where the D.C. marriage bureau is located. Under the bill which passed the D.C, City Council 11-2 and was signed into law by Mayor Adrian Fenty on December 18th 2009, the city will recognize the marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states and countries, and same-sex couples that wish to marry can now apply for marriage licenses as well.

Last week the Attorney General of the neighboring state of Maryland, Douglas F. Gansler, issued an official opinion which says that the state and its agencies should legally recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions where they are legally permitted. Maryland is estimated to have an overall population which is approximately 30% African American, and there are thousands of Black same-sex couples in counties which border the District who are likely to take advantage of the new law.

Currently Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa all permit and recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. Internationally, South Africa, Canada, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands all have legalized marriage for same-sex couples and Portugal’s law is expected to go into effect next month.

It is now possible for same-sex couples to be legally married in the capital cities of all three North American nations. On Thursday March 4th, Mexico City, the Federal District of Mexico, became the first jurisdiction in Latin America to permit and recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. JRC joins our coalition partners Honor Fund and Latin Equality Alliance in celebrating this milestone event in the Latino community.

“JRC will continue to work to fight for marriage equality to be restored in our own home state of California, as well as identify and support the many legally married same-sex couples who are members of the Black community,” said JRC Community Organizer Rodney Nickens, Jr.

JRC (www.jordanrustin.org) exists to empower same-gender loving, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and families in the Greater Los Angeles area, to promote equal marriage rights and to advocate for fair treatment of everyone without regard to race, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

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Today is Repeal DADT Virtual Lobby Day