Processus Interruptus

In days of yore, before technology ruled the world, group presentations and proposals were often done using visual aids.  One of the most popular was the utilization of an easel to hold essentially a giant sketch pad.   The presenter would create their presentation on the pages of the pad, then during the presentation, the presenter would flip the pages of the pad to illustrate the various points in the presentation or proposal.  That is the general premise behind one of the apps that is native to my new smart phone.  Flip Board is a customizable news feed where you pick the topics that interest you, and the app creates story boards with articles related to the topic at hand.  Instead of scrolling down the page, you flip the boards to read the stories, like turning the pages in a book only the flips are vertical not horizontal.  

Flip Board is where I ran across this story from the folks at Buzz Feed...... 

(***  It was at this point in my day that my FF decided to eat itself and basically lock up my computer.  The whole ordeal that transpired this afternoon drove me to tears.  After finally uninstalling FF, deleting all files and folders associated with FF and then reinstalling the latest version, I think I am back to where I was about 7 hours ago.)

.... relating the stories of LGBT service members all the way back to the Korean War and WWII.  Here is the headline blurb from the Article:

This Veteran’s Job Was Discharging Gay Sailors In The Navy — But He Had A Secret

From a closeted gay sailor who typed the dishonorable discharges for Korean War servicemen accused of homosexuality, to a lesbian correctively raped by Marines while serving in Desert Storm, these are the stories of LGBT veterans and their decades-long fight for equality in the armed forces. 

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It is a fairly lengthy yet fascinating look at the lives and history of our heroic LGBT Service Members who have always been there alongside our hetero compatriots.  It ran 38 boards on Flip Board, but it really did not take that long to read.  At the end of the article is an 8 minute documentary on the closeted gay sailor from the Korean War, Otto Bremerman.  Also discussed in the article is proposed legislation to make it the review process easier for those dischaged before the repeal of DADT to have their discharges upgraded.  My own appeal is ongoing at the moment.  

The article also mentions the fund raising efforts of National LGBT Veterans Memorial Project for a LGBT Veteran's Memorial to be erected near the grave of Leonard Matlovich, the first Out Gay Service Member in the early 70's in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.   You may recall Leonard's epitaph written on his headstone: “They gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”  Been there, done that, got the fucking  T shirt.  Still fighting the battle and so....... life goes on.

For your musical entertainment today, I have four Concerti by Johann Sebastian Bach.  Included in the play list are the Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041; the Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043; the Violin Concerto in E Major, BWV 1042 and the Concerto for 3 Violins (reconstructed form the Concerto for Harpsihord, BWV 1064 by Simon Standage).  Today's performance is by Simon Standage and Collegium Musicum 90 featuring Soloists other than Standage in Micaela Comberti and Miles Golding.  Over on my tumblr you may join the Cologne Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Helmut Muller-Brühl featuring Christian Hommel as the Soloistfor 4 Concerti by Bach for Oboe/OboeD'Amore. 

As for some eye candy, your splashing good times are to be found in this edition of Wet Wednesday down below  as well as the 'Tropical Treat' who is your Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr.  One final note on a long and stressful day and then I will let you be on your merry way.  Today is my birthday, and absolutely no one remembered.  Not even Will.  Makes me wonder if I am even relevant any more.  Any way , you guys have a great day and we will see you on the flip flop.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!

In Remembrance

Last week, one of the pioneers of the Gay Rights Movement, Danny Garvin, passed away after a long battle with hepatitis and cancer.  In 1969, Danny, along with his partner Martin Boyce, were homeless LGBT youth living on the streets of New York City.  Danny and Martin were there on June 20,1969 when the modern Gay Rights movement was born out of the riots caused by the raid on the Stonewall Inn by the NYPD.  He was there when Miss New Orleans, the homeless trans girl uprooted a parking meter and used it as a battering ram to destroy the door of the Stonewall Inn, behind which the police had retreated in fear.  Many of the warriors who ignited our movement that night were homeless LGBT youths, who then, as now, made the West Village their home.  Danny overcame his homelessness and built a life with Martin, but he never forgot where he came from.  His time as a homeless youth helped shape the man who became a tireless advocate for homeless Gay youth working closely with the Ali Forney Center in New York.  

"I wish there had been something like the Ali Forney Center for me when I was on the streets. Maybe I would not have had to live so many nights of out lockers in Port Authority on 42nd St. Or sell myself for 8 dollars to have a bed to sleep to in and a place to shower. Just some place to be hidden from the world until the next day when it would all start all over again. I know I would have robbed less food from stores just to get something to eat."

Danny contracted hepatitis while he was homeless and it shortened the length of his life, but did not sap him of his resolve to advocate on the behalf of our young people.  Danny was featured in the PBS documentary Stonewall Uprising, speaking about the consequences of that momentous night:

"We became a people. We didn't necessarily know where we were going yet, you know, what organizations we were going to be or how things would go, but we became something I, as a person, could all of a sudden grab onto, that I couldn't grab onto when I'd go to a subway T-room as a kid, or a 42nd Street movie theater, you know, or being picked up by some dirty old man. You know, all of a sudden, I had brothers and sisters, you know, which I didn't have before. There was no going back now.... We had discovered a power that we weren't even aware that we had. "

Last June, Danny and Martin were welcomed to the White House Pride Celebration by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (see photo below) in honor of their many years of selfless advocacy over the many years since that fateful June so long ago.  In 1969, as in 2014, to be open about being LGBT put youths at terrible risk of homelessness. Then, as now, LGBT kids were suffering on the streets. Then, as now, many had to turn, like Danny, to hustling in order to survive.  The Stonewall uprising was the birth of our LGBT movement. That night the street kids and hustlers and scare queens helped create the space for the rest of us to be out, to be proud.  We should never forget those who came before us that led us to where we are today.  The journey is not yet finished, but we are so much further along because a homeless street kid helped birth the movement that has brought us from then to now.  RIP Danny Garvin, you will be missed.
(For original source article and additional photos: click here) 

Your Musical Moment for today features the Music of Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach with his Concerto for Harpsichord and Piano and his Concerto for 2 Harpsichords.  Today performance is by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra featuring Ton Koopman on Harpsichord and Conducting and Tini Mathot on Piano and Harpsichord.   You may also hear C P E Bach's Cello Concerto in A Major with a performance by Ensemble Baroque Limoges featuring Christophe Coin as your Cello Soloist over on my tumblr.

Finally for today, to decorate out lives and inspire us is this week's edition of Tuesday's Temptations.  In my selections, I sought to once again choose models who while vying to lead you down the garden path are prime candidates for anyone's Erotic Christmas Wish List.  Additional inspiration may be found in your Hottie of the Day!, Kris Kranz over on my tumblr.  Thank you for the visit see you tomorrow for Christmas Eve.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!  

History in the Making

It is put up or shut up time for team owners and general managers, the NFL Draft 2014 starts tomorrow and continues through Saturday.  NFL owners, coaches, players and fans are on the brink of history in the making as SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Sam, DE from the University of Missouri enters the draft as a middle round prospect.  The drafting of Michael Sam would make him the first openly Gay player to be drafted by any of the four major sports.  Once he signs with a team, Sam will become the first openly Gay player in the NFL.  His first down of play in a regular season game will also be historic.  This will pave the way and provide an example for other athletes in whatever sport, amateur or professional, showing that they too can be true to themselves as LGBT's and still be successful in their sport.  One cannot understate the significance of this time in LGBT history as we continue to break barriers and progress towards Equality for all.  I will be watching the progress of the draft, wondering which owner and team will step up to the plate to draft Michael Sam for his playing ability rather than his orientation.  I will of course relay the good news to you all when it happens, and it will happen.  The chances of Michael Sam not being drafted, while a remote possibility, are practically nil.  I just hope he does not go to one of the Cowboys' division rivals.  It would be hard to root for him if he was a member of an Eagles, Giants or Redskins team.  Sam is expected to go in the middle rounds, so the real watch for his drafting starts on Friday with round 3.  I wish Michael all the luck in the world and I am poised to congratulate both him and his team on this historic occasion. 

You Midweek Musical Moment features the Music of Robert Schumann with his Fantasie in C Major, Opus 17.  The performance by Jorge Bolet is from a German Broadcast recorded in 1960.  You may also hear Schumann's Cello Concerto in A Minor, Opus 129 featuring Jacqueline du Pre as the Soloist over on my tumblr.

On display below the video is a comely collection of man art as they splash about the pools, beaches and baths of the world in this week's edition of Wet Wednesday.  Be sure to check out the Wet Wednesday Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr.  Thanks for sharing part of your day with me, see you tomorrow.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!