Knowledge is power and history is knowledge. Some have compared Obama to Jack Kennedy, but Obama's latest passion for ex-gay gospel singers teaches us otherwise. Ironically, I can't find a reason to be upset about pro-gay Obama going all pro-ex-gay, willing to shake his gospel booty next to a profoundly misguided and psychologically-damaged gay man. The gay blogosphere has been all atwitter with this scandal, Obama creatively waffles, now caught between gays and evangelicals--a moronic dilemma of his own amateurish making. But for me the real concern is his Forty Days of Faith all God all the time magical mystery tour. And when you consider that the only thing that stands between queers and equality is all faith, all the time, it would seem that we're now seeing, as Ms. Lauper would say, Obama's "true colors." The other thing that concerns me is how we defile the legacy of Jack Kennedy. Students of history would understand the true cowardice of Obama and most other candidates as well. You can read the truth here. But start with this video and consider the real meaning of American, constitution-centric leadership. Dry and boring history teaches us that there is another way, a better way and that our current crop of Democrats is sadly lacking.

I love animals, in fact, I got my BS in Zoology and I have two rescued cats, and a rescued Chihuahua. You can bet your bottom dollar that when I heard the most recent story about Ellen Degeneres and her dog-rescue fiasco, it really got my blood boiling.



Ellen and her girlfriend, Portia de Rossi, adopted Iggy (a Brussels Griffon mix) from Mutts and Moms (affiliated with Paws Boutique), a dog adoption agency . Unfortunately, Ellen's cats were queens of the roost and didn't give the dog such a warm welcome home. Despite Ellen's efforts to integrate the animals, her cats were just not having it. Ellen decided to do a good deed and give Iggy to her good friend and hairstylist, a woman who is married, with

Editor's Note: When QueerSighted friend and reader Dave Rogowski told me he was seeing David Sedaris read live and in person last weekend, I asked him for a full report to share here.



David Sedaris' wit is like a fabulous martini, served dry, dirty and with a twist. He brought his hilarious social commentary to George Washington University 's Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. With his unique voice full of quirky character, he navigated the sold-out audience through an undulating sea of emotional ups and downs. He has a unique ability to cause listeners to emit both laughter and tears during a single short story.

You've undoubtedly heard him as a regular guest on NPR or contributor to Chicago Public Radio's famed 'This American Life.' He's the author of many books including 'Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim,' 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' and 'Naked.'

Holding a #2 yellow pencil and sipping water during pauses, Sedaris read new essays, answered some questions and also signed his books for fans. I highly recommend seeing him in person. I've read his books and listened to them over and over on CD, but seeing and hearing Sedaris in person was unrivaled. The written word does not have the impact of his spoken cadence and audience reaction adds another dimension to the experience.

Most of us see nothing funny in our daily routines, but life through Sedaris' eyes focuses on the humor in everyday occurrences. No one is ever safe from his piercing eyes and sharp tongue. From his grandmother's loud gaseous emission during dinner to adults crying on an airplane, Sedaris shies away from nothing.

Kenneth Hill is the best friend I've never met. This may come as a shock to you, but Kenny and I have never met face to face, exchanged bodily fluids or gotten so drunk that we vomited on each other's cashmere sweaters. And yet, I've fallen in BFF with him. It's one of those superficial man things you hear about: A friendship based on personality, wit, wisdom and intellectual capacity instead of the way women form relationships--based on physical beauty, a firm ass and the size of the genitals.

Kenny and I rarely find ourselves in disagreement but when we do, a lively debate ensues. Recently we've locked horns on two issues: the role of sissies in the fight for gay civil rights and The Advocates handling of Hillary. Kenny and I went into a public "he said/she said" mode. (Kenny is "she") and some of our readers reacted badly to this. We were both grieved to hear that. Kenny did not post his rebuttals--as wrongheaded as they were--without my permission. Not all issues are black and white and an open and robust public debate is a good thing.

So we're going to debate each other as often as we disagree--which isn't that often. Of course, sometimes we'll argue over an issue just because we're both into that and it makes us hard.

So here we go, Kenny. Bring it on!

Scroll down, or click to QueerSighted Debates Folsom Street and Public Displays of Sexuality.

Editor's Note: In case you missed Richard Rothstein's explanation of the debates he and I have, which sometimes play out here, check out: Trapped Between a Rock and a Hard Place.

Now, please join us after the jump for

Although I made a personal vow to not subject QueerSighted's regular readers to more High School Musical madness, the phenomenon has just jumped back into my consciousness because the Los Angeles dates of the national touring stage version of HSM have been announced (December 12 to 23, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre, with plenty of dates in other cities). Now, this stage production is not to be confused with the High School Musical concert tour or the High School Musical ice show or the High School Musical cult indoctrination. (Okay, I don't think that last event exists, but it might as well.) This is a huge stage musical with professional actors, a new book, and extra songs added. Oh, yeah, and it's gayer than the movie.



As you may remember, I mentioned that there are plenty of hints in the HSM movies about how the character of Ryan Evans is gay. The angry tweens who left vitriolic comments to my guest post about the HSM sequel were appalled that I would suggest such a thing, and they (understandably) did not know what I meant when I used the word "pitcher."

I had heard that the stage version of HSM was less coy about Ryan Evans's homosexuality. And legitimate news sources have confirmed that this is true, which makes the prospect of spending my hard-earned AOL cash to go see the stage show seem far more enticing.

I may not have itty bitty titties (although mine are real), I can still appreciate a grass-roots-style lesbian feminist movie any day of the week. That's why I was thrilled to be able to attend the West Hollywood movie premier of "Itty Bitty Titty Committee" and the after party on Monday night.

You may remember back to June when fellow blogger, Arlan, posted a blog called "Raise Your Fist If You Like Boobs" where she talks about her love of breasts and gives the new movie, Itty Bitty Titty Committee a shout-out and brief introduction. The movie first debuted at the Berlin Film Festival, and has since played at several other film festivals, including the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The movie is meant to make a bold statement about women, how society views them and how they view themselves.



Itty Bitty Titty Committee is one of those movies that gets you all fired up and makes you laugh while doing it. The movie succeeds in spending equal amounts of time exploring the characters and documenting their wacky works involved in their feminist group, C(I)A - "Clits In Action". The main character, Anna (played by Melanie Diaz) takes a journey which is quite profound; she goes from a shy conformist to a subversive, pro-femme anarchist who celebrates her newly found acceptance into the lesbian community. Responsible for introducing her to this underground world is Sadie, who is attached to her controlling girlfriend despite all the verve and sass she displays as the C(I)A's unofficial leader. A wild romance develops between Sadie and Anna, propelling the central conflict of the plot and causing all sorts of chaos within the group dynamic.



In a character-based comedy, casting is everything, and in Itty Bitty it's spot on.

This past Sunday night, Fox ratings hit unprecedented lows as viewers stayed away from the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards after learning that the majority of nominees and scheduled presenters were going to boycott FOX. FOX, as you know, is owned by Rupert Murdoch, one of the nation's leading financial supporters of the effort to ban gay marriage, deny civil rights to gay Americans and to promote homophobia in schools, at sporting events and throughout our culture. Murdoch's viciously anti-gay New York Post editorial cartoons have taken on an almost mythic status.

With millions of multi-billionaire Murdoch's dollars supporting anti-gay organizations coupled with FOXNews' relentless anti-gay propaganda, openly gay nominees, T.R. Knight, Neil Patrick Harris, Sir Ian McKellen, Ugly Betty producers Silvio Horta and Marco Pennette, House executive producer Bryan Singer, Heroes producer Bryan Fuller and Tony Bennett Special director Rob Marshall led the walk out along with hundreds of other passionately pro-gay straight film and TV stars and industry executives.

Speaking from a podium at the star-studded demonstration held just outside the nearly empty theater, Sir Ian McKellen raised his angry fist in the air and told the world media: "With the vote for ENDA only days away, it would be unconscionable to participate in this Fox telecast which would pour millions of dollars into the pockets of one this nation's leading foes of gay rights."

And then there's this version. And, no, I won't give up. Hypocrisy is rampant in America and we're as guilty of it as the Republicans.

Apparently being a committed and active minister in the Presbyterian church means nothing these days if your sexual orientation isn't as straight as the very cross you worship. The U.S. Presbyterian Church has rebuked one of its ministers who describes herself as a "lesbian evangelist" for presiding over two gay weddings, officials said on Friday.

Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, 65, violated church doctrine when she officiated at the unions of two gay couples in 2004 and 2005. In 1992, she became the first openly lesbian Presbyterian minister to be appointed a local church pastor -- a move later overturned by the church's top judicial body. She since has been an outspoken advocate for gay rights -- and gay marriage rites.

Spahr, a minister for more than 30 years, came out as a lesbian in 1978. The Presbyterian Church does not allow openly gay or lesbian members to serve as ministers. Still, she was allowed to keep her position but was prohibited from leading an individual church.

The Presbyterian Church is among several Protestant denominations embroiled in debates over what role gays should have in their churches. Under a ruling by the denomination's highest court in 2000, Presbyterian ministers may bless same-sex unions as long as they do not equate the relationships with marriage and the ceremonies do not mimic traditional weddings. I guess your "union" is only allowed to be blessed if you get married on a beach in a hula skirt or if you don't wear a big white gown and/or tuxedo down the aisle.

(more after the jump)

When I think of rocker chicks, one word comes to mind: HOT, so if I get the chance to go to an all girls rock show, you know I'm there. All these thoughts of rocker chicks made me think back to a special day back in high school. Let's go back to 1999... I was only 16 years old and feeling pretty lucky to be invited to a concert by my senior friends. They told me it was called the Lilith Fair and it was going to be so much fun! The line-up for that concert date was Mya, Sheryl Crow, The Pretenders and Sarah McLachlan (among many others) and I remember being ecstatic that I'd get to see such amazing artists all in one day.



I remember it was very hot and muggy on that day at "Great Woods" Ampitheater in Mansfield, MA, and I found myself surrounded by hordes of women. Everyone was hugging and kissing each other, dancing freely to the sweet smell of mary jane, and singing to the music at the top their lungs. Some of them even took their tops off! I imagine it must have resembled the early days of the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival and I knew right then and there I had truly found heaven. But, the sad reality was that 1999 was the last year for Lilith Fair and there hasn't been many all-women concert events since then. Until now...

Start off your weekend right, good QueerSighters, and watch history-in-the-making:

This groundbreaking clip from 'As The World Turns' is the VERY FIRST TIME two gay teen characters have locked lips on daytime TV.

And we're not talking about a 'Melrose Place' kind of kiss. (You know what I mean: The camera lurks behind one of the guys' heads to block the actual kiss, but "we know what they're doing, right?" Um, wrong!)

Oh no. We're talking sexy and full-on!



This is a big step in the right direction: The scene (and, one can assume, the storyline to follow) not only makes the love and affection between two men more acceptable and laissez-faire (as it should be), but it also tells countless LGBT teens who might be watching the show that what they themselves are thinking, feeling and doing is normal and nothing to be ashamed of. And that's a wonderful thing.

So tell me, QueerSighters: What do YOU think? Is this a big deal or a big yawn? Let me know.

I've long had Kathy Deitch on my theatre radar. Ever since I caught her on Broadway in the 1998 not-quite-a-hit but not-quite-a-flop, 'Footloose,' I've always thought her voice was rarity: Big and powerful, but also rich and beautiful.

So I was delighted to catch up with mega-voiced actress, who can currently be seen in Broadway's mega-green hit, 'Wicked,' in the greenroom (no pun intended) of the Gershwin Theatre in-between a matinee and evening show. We talked about her eclectic career, 'Nine to Five,' 'Wicked' and her upcoming solo concert.

Read more after the jump ...

The notorious and dreaded Gay Agenda Guerillas (GAG) launched a full frontal assault on heterosexuals today, targeting the crossroads of the universe during peak tourist season. With the cunning of Al Qaeda, GAG's lavender troops began their recruitment drive early this morning in the heart of New York's Times Square.

Once a beach head was established behind the United States Armed Forces Recruiting Station, the rest of the square fell like a Dick Cheney shooting victim.

GAG propagandists lulled the city police department and Homeland Security officials into a false sense of status quo with claims that it was nothing more than National Underwear Day and nothing more than innocent models peddling the latest fashions in male and female unmentionables. So sweet, so harmless, so cunning. As the world's most famous crossroads swelled with lavender troops, the assault was soon unstoppable. New York officials had been fabulously duped.

How many ways can a gay man party? And how many ways can he rationalize self-indulgence as an act of gay pride and gay rights? This past Sunday's New York Times has yet another answer to this critical question.

Gay men and even some lesbians have asked themselves how can we fight the fact that there are no federal laws protecting queers from discrimination, the fact that gay kids are suffering through an epidemic of bashings in schools and the fact that gay families continue to be denied the same rights and protections of straight families? The answer seems to be building lovely sand castles on supposedly straight beaches.

We have money, we have time. Let's invest it wisely. So how about a beach party?. I know. I'm such a paper pooper. But when you call throwing a party a form of activism, my rave and rant alarms goes off.