Sports Notes

While most of the US is still locked in the deep freeze it is a 'balmy' 43 degrees here in North Texas this morning.  However these 3 notes from the world of sports should at least warm your heart if not your body!  First up is the University of Miami, known as The U, who has released an excellent You Can Play video that includes members of all the school's varsity sports, including head football coach Al Golden, women's basketball coach Katie Meier and men's basketball coach Jim Larranaga. The video features athletes of various ethnicities and nationalities with the clever tagline, "If U can play, U can play."

Down in Brazil, inspired by Olympian Tom Daley, that country's top diver Ian Matos has come out as Gay.  Matos, born in Bethlehem, PA but now living in Rio de Janiero was advised by a friend to stay closeted until after the 2016 Rio Olympics.   However he said "the pressure of hiding boyfriends, avoiding gay parties and not being himself proved too much."  Matos also said he hoped that his coming out would not impact his diving or his sponsorship potential.

While I am admittedly not a fan of the New York Football Giants or their wide receiver Victor Cruz, I must commend them both for some recent off the field activity.  As part of the Characters Unite partnership between the NFL and the USA Network, Cruz recently hosted Joey Kemmerling on a tour of the Giants Met Life Stadium Locker Room.  Kemmerling, who came out at age 13 in middle school, was so badly bullied that he quit football and considered suicide.  Thankfully Kemmerling overcame his obstacles going on to form a youth led anti-bullying organization, is active in GLSEN and has spoken to students, educators and members of Congress about bullying.  Cruz who was also bullied as a youth because he was half Puerto Rican and half African American swapped stories with Kemmerling while touring the Giants facilities.  This was especially meaningful to Kemmerling as some of the most relentless bullying he experienced came from athletes in the locker room.  Cruz provided both the opportunity for closure as well as inspiration to Kemmerling in the ongoing process of overcoming the effects of bullying.  Well done Victor Cruz and the Giants. 

Your Midweek Musical Moment features Volume 1 of the Bassoon Concerti of Antonio Vivaldi as recorded by The English Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Philip Ledger and featuring Daniel Smith as the Bassoon Soloist.  Included in this play list are Concerti in C major RV 467; F major, RV 491; A minor, RV 500;  A minor, RV 499; C major, RV 466; F major, RV 486; C major, RV 474 and  F major, RV 487.

Then to remind you that is is still warm somewhere in the world, and that there will be hunks and hotties cavorting about the pools, beaches and baths there is this week's edition of Wet Wednesday to inspire you on your slow scroll down the page.  Thanks for sharing your day with me, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!

October Is Jam Packed

Wow, October is just beginning, yet it is jam packed full of things and activities that are relevant to all of us in our community.  October is not only LGBT History Month, it is also Breast Cancer Awareness  Month and Anti Bullying Month with the week of Oct 15-19 set aside for GLSEN's Ally Week to celebrate those allied with us, culminating in Spirit Day on Oct 19.  Spirit Day is the day to wear Purple for People as a sign of support for those that are or have been bullied.  Speaking of Allies, there is a excellent story on Out.com written by Cyd Zeigler of OutSports.com about the Minnesota Viking's Punter.  Chris Klewe: Kick Ass will give you some insight to the man who has become my favorite NFL Ally along with some hot shirtless pics that I am sure you will like also.  Good Looking, Eloquent and an Ally, what's not to like?  Now I realize that LGBT people are not the only ones being bullied in this world, however I have a video that has gone viral about one lady in the media's standing up to a bully.  WKBT anchor Jennifer Livingston took a moment during Tuesday's morning newscast (Oct. 2, 2012) to directly address a recent email she received from a viewer complaining about her weight.  Even Ellen Degeneres tweeted this video to her million plus followers and invited Jennifer to appear on her popular afternoon talk show.  I loved the video and I think you will also. 

While we are on the subject of bullying, Winona State University is standing up to those on the far right by refusing to apologize for sponsoring an appearance by Dan Savage who is under attack for a statement he made during that appearance: "Every dead Gay kid is a victory for the Family Research Council".  The FRC is of course headed up by that seriously homophobic Tony  Perkins who as Dan says "tells the parents of queer kids to do what Tony Perkins damn well knows drives those kids to suicide" .  Click on the link to read about the brouhaha and see that video for yourself.

I also received an email from my friend, Elliot London, with an update on the Friend Project.  The press release reads as follows:

(LOS ANGELES - OCT. 2, 2012) - It's no doubt difficult being a teenager in today's society, especially a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered teen.

But through it all, having strong allies and friends does tend to make it easier.

Once a victim of childhood bullying and homophobia himself, film director Elliot London (The Wedding Dance) has embarked today on an empowering and eye-opening campaign across America, hoping to bring awareness to the plight of LGBT youth bullying, and the importance of support systems.

The "Friend Project" is a new campaign showcasing two separate, yet thematically connected digital vignettes from two teenagers in different parts of rural America sharing their raw and tear-jerking stories of growing up gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered in the conservative heartland of America.

Starting today, each week for the next two weeks, London will share a new video with the public, with the ultimate goal of bringing these stories and others to life through an upcoming feature film entitled Friend.

In a completely hands-on and hybrid approach, both teenagers are also acting as creative liaisons on the project, having helped integrate their own life stories into the script.

"It's a film that will bring the narrative and the reality into one," says London. "We will be integrating a point of view from real life teenage experiences, rather than from a room of writers in Hollywood."

He continues, "It's so important that we continue to support and foster true independent American cinema. Unlike many other influential nations, we do not have the luxury of much government funding, grants and support they do for indie cinema, especially in a niche market."

In the first film, viewers will get to meet Joseph, a timid, yet courageous 16-year-old boy from Tennessee who once thought suicide was the only way out from the pain and torment that bullying carved into his impressionable young soul.

Anyone interested in becoming a part of Friend is encouraged to visit the project's IndieGoGo campaign page at indiegogo.com/friendproject All donations are tax-deductible, as this film is being supported through Fractured Atlas, a registered 501(c)3. 

The first video Elliot talks about is just below this paragraph, be sure to have some tissue handy, as Joseph will tug at your heart strings.  It literally brought tears to my eyes in some parts as Joseph shares his pain and his courage when coming out openly gay as a teen living in Tennessee.  Elliot tells of his first meeting with Joseph: "I met Joseph outside of Knoxville for an on camera interview. The moment I left, I could not get him out of my mind. He told me his story with such innocence that I knew that he needed to present it to the world. To show teens that it is ok to be who you are."  Watch the video and if you can, befriend the Friend Project at indiegogo.com/friendproject.  

I know I have been fairly verbose today, but there is so much going on that I just could not help myself.  Just one more thing before we get to the music and the men.  Tonight is the first Presidential Debate between Mitt Romney (boo, hiss!!) and President Obama (thunderous applause!!!) moderated by Jim Lehrer and carried on most of your local PBS stations and other outlets at 8 PM Texas Time.  I will be watching, how about you?

Finally for today I have a play list that contains a classic performance by the Amadeus Quartet plus Cecil Aronowitz on Viola, filmed in London in June 1966 performing String Quintet Number 3 in G Minor, K516, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  Immediately following the play list is a wonderful collection of lusciously Lickable Lads for your visual appreciation.  That's a wrap for today, thanks for stopping by and we will see you tomorrow.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!

(anyone wanna help Marlon out?)