Filed under: entertainment, gay life | Tags: camilla taylor, carson kressley, creationism, darwinism, gay marriage, iowa, joy behar, queer eye, straight talk, the view
Carson Kressley, that queen of comedy, has a hilarious how-to video (lots of alliteration in this post) about “How to Talk Straight Talk” on Funny or Die. I was chuckling over my left-over pizza this morning. Click on his photo to watch.
And how about props to legislators in Maine yesterday?
In case you missed it, there was a fantastic interview with Camilla Taylor, the lead attorney (who happens to be straight), in the Iowa lawsuit on behalf of GLBT folks on NPR’s Fresh Air.
An unrelated but thought-provoking video from yesterday’s media is from the women on The View (don’t laugh–I have an unhealthy admiration of this show–maybe it’s my Filipino heritage and its matriarchal society). In this clip, they’re debating whether to teach Darwinism in public schools. A frightening thought that the science of human life would not be taught in public schools.
My favorite part is when Joy Behar says that the absence of Darwinism in schools is “child abuse, in my opinion.”
Filed under: gay rights, social justice, united states of america | Tags: civil rights, gay marriage, iowa
Today, Iowa became the third state in the nation to legalize gay marriage and the first in the nation’s heartland. Hooray!
The state government protection of civil rights in Iowa for all is particularly meaningful for me. I was born in Des Moines, attended public schools in Council Bluffs, and still have family and friends there. Only after I moved to the East Coast did I feel welcome–and safe–enough to come out while an undergrad at Boston University nearly 20 years ago.
I’m in awe and admiration of the good people of Iowa.
Filed under: iowa, travel | Tags: des moines art center, iowa, smash, tasty tacos, zzz records
Cutting-edge photography at the Des Moines Art Center. Yesterday's visit included seeing recent acquisitions like Wolfgang Tillmans and Chuck Close.
In my other life, I graduated from Drake University with a theater or journalism degree. I interned at the Des Moines Community Playhouse or wrote captions for The Des Moines Register. Made friends here, spent lots of time with siblings here in the Midwest. I lived in a shitty apartment on Ingersoll Avenue near the Alpine Bar and wrote many failed novels (this part is true). I drank in Des Moines.
Reality: Eighteen years ago, I made the decision to move to the East Coast to attend Boston University, never looking back. So it’s always a strange feeling to imagine what my life might have been if I stayed close to home.
I’m writing this post from a hip coffeehouse called Mars Cafe, with Neutral Milk Hotel playing on the loudspeakers and kids with big bolt earrings and tight pants working as baristas behind the counter. Musicians by night? Web designers? In Des Moines, you never know.
I have to admit, I like Des Moines. On my list of must-do’s in this sleepy little city:
Never manages to disappoint. And the curators have subversive taste (more for me to enjoy), running to Kara Walker and her no-nonsense cut-outs that challenge notions of male superiority and African American identity, or Wolfgang Tillmans, whose photographs elevate punks and queers to the level of the Mona Lisa and David.
2. The Salvation Army.
I always find the best stuff at The Salvation Army. The main store is located at the base of the capitol building; this year, I found a pair of super-cool camouflage pants for a couple bucks. In past years, I’ve scored a set of highball mugs with Freemason logos; 50’s-style tins for flour, sugar, and coffee; and a Boy Scouts t-shirt with Des Moines patches sewn onto the sleeves.
3. Smash.
Brought my friend Dan here last year, and he bought three shirts, including one that reads, “Des Moines: Just Outside the Middle of Nowhere.”
4. ZZZ Records.
Witt and I discovered that they moved this year–he thinks because they were priced out of the East Village–but this place is an institution, no matter where the location (as long as they keep their physical location!–don’t let the economy kill the indie record stores, yo).
5. Tasty Tacos.
I don’t know how to truly express my love for their flour tacos. Light, fluffy, deep-fried goodness. Only in Des Moines.
Quick break to walk Lucy and refuel the Mini Cooper at Iowa 80, billed as the world’s largest truck stop. On spinning racks here, you can buy an embroidered badge the size of a pizza that reads, 18 WHEELING FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: IF YOU BOUGHT IT, A TRUCKER BROUGHT IT. Other fine gifts: a glass unicorn; a child’s t-shirt with the Orange Crush logo altered to say “I want my CHRIST”; and more spare truck cab parts than you could possibly imagine.
As I was leaving I overheard the cashier ask a diminuitive woman in all honesty, “And you want to buy a shower, too?”
