Happy Gay Pride - Happy Father's Day!

On June 27, 1969, The Stonewall Riots in New York City gave birth to the more radical Gay Liberation Movement.
Now the world was ready for my arrival. Less than 2 months later, my mother gave birth to her youngest. My father was the proudest father that day.

Since then, for the past 36 years, around this time of the year, Gay Pride is celebrated in almost every major city around the world. Although my marching days are way behind me, I still go to the celebration. For some reason, this year, this event made me think of my father.

I took my father to one Gay Pride event a few years ago. I was so amused to see my very "macho" father beaming, as he asked me to take his picture with his hands holding a pair of double D-cup breasts on an almost completely naked "lady". I had to ask him on the way home, "Dad, you know that wasn't a real woman...didn't you?". He naturally replied, "Of course, I knew that, son!"... LOL

My father is flying in from my homeland to visit his children and grandchildren here in the U.S., just in time to be in L.A. for Father's Day. Too bad the Christopher Street West L.A. Gay Pride was held a week earlier, thus my father missed another opportunity to touch a pair or more of L.A. homemade scientifically enhanced boobies on a transexual...LOL

Of all the colorful fabulously flamboyant costumes, signs, banners, and floats in the parade in West Hollywood, this man with a simple sign was my favorite sighting:
This is not my father in the picture, but if my Dad were with me, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have any qualms about carrying this sign. Just like he told me several years ago, when I came out to him, "Son, I don't care if you're "happy", as long as you're "gay"... and I'm proud of you!". I know that these two words are synonymous, but I think he had one "Scotch on the Rocks" too many and meant it the other way around ...but I still understood what he meant to say...LOL

To all the fathers of gay children, I do hope you are proud of them, just like my Dad is proud of me and I wish you a Happy Proud Father of a Gay Day!

And to all the gay men who are lucky to have children (whether it may have been by accident during the years of confusion, curious experimentation with a vagina, unknowing rape by a fag hag during a semi-conscious drunken state, sperm donorship, or adoption, etc.) ...
I wish you a Happy Proud Gay Father's Day!

To everyone in my community, I wish you Happy Gay Pride and
Happy Father's Day to my father and all the fathers in my life!

Binational Gay Couples in US in Immigration Bind

I am one half of a binational couple. I am Filipino and my life partner is American. There was a time in the early years of our relationship and of my life in the U.S. that I was constantly plagued by the fear that we would have to be separated one day due to the current immigration policy that does not extend the same legal rights to binational gay relationships as they do with married binational heterosexual couples. There are a lot of same sex couples who are in this quandary, including several friends of mine. In due time I was lucky enough to get my immigration status in order and was able to legally continue living my life in the States with my partner. But most are not so fortunate. My heart goes out to my brothers and sisters in the community who are in this predicament. Here's hoping that one day things will change and proper legislation will rectify this gross inequity!

Please click HERE for more details.

Oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment

Almost 11 years ago, one of Bill's nephews met the woman of his dreams. Around the same time, Bill met the love of his life. Almost a year ago, that same nephew proposed to his girlfriend of 10 years. Around the same time, Bill proposed to his life partner of 10 years. I was very touched and as excited as anyone who accepts and gets engaged. But in the back of my mind, I knew that we would have to wait for that day when we would really be allowed to get married in the State and Country where in we live. Ironically and by coincidence, on this day when the U.S. Senate begins the federal marriage amendment debate, Bill gets a call from his nephew announcing that they have set their wedding date. We're so happy for them. Congrats K & K! For us, on the other hand, our "date" will just have to wait for a more enlightened America that does not discriminate against equal citizens ...

In an open letter released Monday morning, the head of the Log Cabin Republicans takes President Bush to task for supporting the proposed federal marriage amendment, which the U.S. Senate begins debating today. Patrick Guerriero, the outgoing executive director of the gay GOP group, calls the president's support of the discriminatory amendment "an insult to millions of fair-minded Americans from all walks of life."

Please click HERE for the full text of the letter.
source: (The Advocate)

Without Walls

"Manhunt for the Commander in Briefs

ends on stage Without Walls"

We went to see Alfred Uhry's Without Walls at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles on its opening night.
Laurence Fishburne, portrays Morocco, an idealistic and popular drama teacher at a non-traditional high school in Manhattan, circa 1977. Morocco, who has great skill in bringing out the best in his students, takes a confused transfer student, Anton, under his wing and gives him a chance to play the lead role opposite the prized student actress, Lexy, in a school production of “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.” A special bond is formed between Morocco, Anton and Lexy but misperceptions and complex emotions threaten to send the three down a perilous path. What follows is a poignant look at the power and the fragility of the student/mentor relationship.
This Center Theatre Group production is directed by Christopher Ashley. Now playing from June 1 to July 16.

Click here and here for more information.

Talk about guilty pleasures, but I wasn't expecting to see former contestant of Bravo's cheesy Reality TV Show, "Manhunt - The Search for America's Most Gorgeous Male Model", Matt Lanter, who also plays the first son in Geena Davis' TV show, Commander in Chief.
Matt is noticeably and understandably still not at ease on stage as he marks his professional theater debut and joins Tony Award-winning actor Laurence Fishburne and Amanda MacDonald in this new drama.
In the program credits, he does not mention among his short body of work, his involvement in Manhunt, where he had to jump out of a plane and skydive in his underwear on the pilot (and by that I mean the TV prototype first episode, and not the person flying the plane). In this play he drops his pants once again, but this time he is firmly planted on the ground, on stage "without walls" obstructing the view. I assure you it was an integral part of the story.

So if you enjoy seeing a good play and/or simply want to see a gay Morpheus mentor a cute guy in his Calvin's under the pretense of quenching your thirst for culture, go and see "Without Walls".
Note: Buy a seat facing stage right for a better view... LOL

Madonna - American Idol

CONFESSING TO TWO OF MY GUILTY PLEASURES

Madonna kicked off her Confessions Tour 2006 at The Forum in Los Angeles (21/23/24 May).
When the tour/ticket sale dates were announced, I never even considered attempting to buy tickets, since I knew it was going to sell out very quickly. Then I was surprised to hear that my friend, RV, was flying to the U.S. all the way from the Philippines, just to watch her perform. I teased him and told him that I may be a fan, but am not a groupie and not that big of a queen...LOL
Some years ago, Bill took me to a Fleetwood Mac concert at the Hollywood Bowl, and I sat beside this big raging flaming queen, who informed me that he follows the group to all their concerts because of Stevie Nicks. I so cluelessly inquired, "Why, who is he?". To which he replied, "What!... where have you been girlfriend?... she's only the greatest diva of all time!". I immediately mimicked his gestures and waived the finger in front of his face and rebutted, "Ah...ah..no way, Madonna is the greatest diva of all time!". She was the best selling artist aside from MJ, when I was going through my puberty blues during the early mid 80's.
So here I was just about to leave my office, looking forward to the watching the finale of the American Idol Season 5 at the Kodak Theater, knowing that I missed another chance to see Madonna live... I suddenly thought to take a chance to check online at craigslist.com, to see if there were people out there desperately trying to sell tickets they realized they couldn't use. I was shocked to read what people were willing to do, how much people actually paid and were willing to pay for tickets. So I had to contemplate if Madonna was worth two cell phone bill payments, one monthly car payment, or one paycheck. Bill didn't care to go unless it was U2 or Led Zeppelin, so I asked my friend, Bart, to go with me and put the onus on whatever he decided. We decided to screw it and go for it! I ended up getting us a pair of tickets for great seats for a little more than half the price of the face value. So I had to waive goodbye to my donation to the Catholic Church and contribution to the Republican Party (sarcastic). American Idol would just have to meet TiVo ...and we were off to dodge stray bullets and head to The Forum to go Confess on the Dance Floor!

Please click on the arrow at the center of the screen below
to play the video footage of the opening number.

It was an absolutely fabulous show!
It was obvious that a lot of money and concept was put into the stage design, videography, choreography, costume design, etc.
Madonna's body and that of her back-up dancers were lean mean machines!
Those expensive seats were hardly warmed, since everyone was up on their dancing feet from the beginning to the end.
My only regret is that some of my favorites of her earlier work were not showcased. I know...I could have very well waited for the DVD or for it to come out in HBO. But it was a lot of fun and worth giving up funds for a whole month's worth of a full tank of gas!...LOL

Here are RV's pics:
Confessions in San Jose HP Pavillion
Confessions in Fresno Save Mart Center

***

I gather that the finale of American Idol Season 5 turned out to be a great production as well. I have yet to watch it on my TiVo.
If you were like me and missed it, they had a guest list that included performances with/by Al Jarreau, Live, Meat Loaf, Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Dione Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, and Prince.

Congratulations to the Soul Patrol and
Taylor Hicks, the new American Idol!

Is the U.S. ready for a female President?

By the time 2008 comes, I will already be a U.S. citizen, and be eligible to vote for the next U.S. President. That is one more vote to add to the enlightened ones.

For several months, the question that has been going around is,
"Is the U.S. ready for a female President?"

Last April, I had the privilege to be inspired and hear Gen. Colin L. Powell and former President William Jefferson Clinton speak in the 2006 Music Center Speaker Series in Los Angeles.

The 42nd President echoed what he said in an interview early this year that his "gut" tells him the country is ready to elect a woman president, as long as she is the right kind of candidate.
Asked if the popularity of TV president Geena Davis means that America is "ready for a female commander in chief," Clinton told CBS's "60 Minutes," "My gut is, yes."
"If a woman came across as strong and seasoned and well-prepared, if you said the right things in the right way and you had a good record to back it up, my gut is, yes," he explained.
"But the hard truth is we won’t know until it happens," Clinton added.
Despite the prediction, the former president said it would be a mistake for his wife and current Democratic Party front-runner to begin focusing on a 2008 presidential run.
"I have urged all of Hillary’s supporters not to think about that, because she’s got to run for re-election" as senator, he told "60 Minutes." "And it’s a big hazard for anybody who’s up for re-election to think about anything but re-election." source

Aside from Hillary Rodham Clinton, are there any others, who may prove to be potential strong female candidates?
You may not know it, but behind every powerful woman, is a man wanting to come out!...LOL

Adam and Steve's Forbidden Apple

TRUE STORY: THIS NOT A HOAX!

After what seemed to be an eternal search through antiquity, scientists finally found the true "Garden of Eden" where all humanity began.

And what more to prove that they're really in the right place, than to gaze at the "Tree of the Forbidden Apple" that Eve shared with Adam, still bearing the same fruits that caused man's fall from grace.

Here are some pictures of those forbidden apples, so irresistibly tempting for Eve, that got her and Adam into trouble.

In all honesty, can you blame Eve or even Steve for that matter, for taking a quick bite? Judge and thou shalt be judged.

c/o B.H.

Best Travel Commercials

Since I'm in the business of selling travel,
this has got to be...

My Favorite Airline Commercial

Please click on the arrow at the center of the screen below
to play the video.

My Favorite Travel Website Commercial

Please click on the arrow at the center of the screen below
to play the video.

Wetback Mountain

Watch this hilarious parody of Brokeback Mountain...LOL

Please click on the arrow at the center of the screen below
to play the video.

Ashes and Snow

Ashes and Snow
January 14 - May 14, 2006

If you like art, photography, film, literature, animals, travel, dance, music, and architecture; then I highly recommend that you see this exhibit of the work of Gregory Colbert on display at the temporary Nomadic Museum alongside the Santa Monica Pier.

Everyone has an idea that L.A. is not interested in culture, admitted the artist. He is said to have said that L.A. is one of the few places where there is a common ground in a diversity of cultures. "People are starving for culture and want to have things inspire us." He plans to continue to feed the appetite of this culture-starving world.

Gosh, if only I could have taken similar photographs during our wildlife safari in Kenya, Africa. Although, I highly doubt that I would have been able to make it out alive from that photo shoot to share such kind of inspired artistry.

“When I started Ashes and Snow in 1992,

I set out to explore the relationship between man and animals
from the inside out.”—Gregory Colbert

The exhibit closes on Mother's Day, May 14th,
so hurry and catch it if you can, before it heads out to Tokyo!
Click HERE for more details.

If you're not in L.A., check out the website.

Football

This movie has already been shown in other parts of the world,

but Mexico and the U.S.,
two of the three settings in the movie.
It comes out in the U.S. theaters on May 12.
I went to watch the screening and liked it.

GOAL! The Dream Begins

Click HERE for the movie trailer.

***

2006 FIFA World Cup - Germany
09JUN-09JUL
This big publicity ad was displayed in Oberhausen, Germany.
c/o Box of Recollections

***

Since I grew up in the Philippines, where we play Soccer,
I am more of a fan of Soccer, the real football ...
but I think I am finally gonna start watching
more of American Football ...

This image of Arkansas Razorback players
Clarke Moore, Brett Goode and Casey Dick
appeared on American television,
where the commentators paused and didn't say a word.

Not quite at par with Janet Jackson's
Wardrobe Malfunction
at the Super Bowl XXXVIII -
but still enjoyed it all the same.

A Day Without Immigrants

Un Dia Sin Inmigrantes
Primero de Mayo 2006

No, I didn't boycott work and still went to the office on this day.
Since my office is right in the heart of downtown,
I decided to spend my lunch break with my fellow immigrants.

Regardless of were you stand on the issues,
one thing if very clear to me,
"There is no easy answer or solution
to this immigration problem in the U.S.!"

There seems to be more attention given to those who crossed from south of the border, and less to those that flew or sailed several thousands of miles to get here. I am one of those people.
There were several times in my early years on this shaky ground,
where I almost became like most of them - illegal.
I know how it feels not knowing where you belong, and trying to prove you belong.
I paid my dues and fortunately with the grace of God, family, friends, employers, and immigration lawyers, I never did become one.
Very soon within this year, after 11 years since I left my homeland, I will finally become a citizen of this nation of immigrants.

Here are some of the interesting sights and banners that I saw:

The march started at the corner Broadway and Olympic.
I entered it via the corner of 6th & Broadway.

My gay boss and I started chanting,
"We're Here!, We're Queer!", "Allow Gays to Marry!"
Opps, wrong parade.
That's why we only saw a lot of green, orange, red, white, and blue colors.
No yellow, indigo, and violet colors of the rainbow.
I knew it that was too early in the year for Gay Pride Celebration!

I called Bill, and he jokingly told me to conduct an experiment:
Shout, "Go back to your country!" and see what happens.
Obviously, I was able to write this post, so that means I didn't do it. LOL

I helped this boy get up on this electrical box.
I should have told him the proper way to hold the U.S. flag.
That "FOR LEASE" sign is not his.
He does want to stay and not be returned
after you are done with his services.

Here they come! Get out of their way!






It did not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty


We are America! Stop blaming us for what we are not



Downtown Los Angeles Skyline

***

One of my friends posted this letter written by a Filipino entitled,
"A Day Without Filipinos".
Click HERE to read it on his blog.

***

President Bush addresses the nation
and acknowledges the problem...

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

my vaca-SEAN SABA-tical

Please click HERE or on the title above to view my TravelBlog.

SEAN of a BEACH

Please click HERE or on the title above to view my FamilyBlog.

iPostcards from Broke"buck" Mountain

Over the weekend, we visited a friend and stayed at her house up in the mountains. She always left out feed at the side of the house for all the wild animals to eat. We silently watched a herd of deer come up for the feast. We saw two male deer playing around with each other. I noticed that one of them had only one set of antlers. Because of him and the movie, I decided to call the experience, our weekend in Broke"buck" Mountain...LOL.

Beautiful House in the California Desert for Rent

Please click HERE or on the title above to view.

A Home Full of "Lab"

Please click HERE or on the title above to view my Dog Blog.