The Daily Sheet Feb. 17 to March 3, 2008

[Stilllearning]

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Gay Teen Murdered in School
Is the media silence louder than the outcry?

The LATimes.com reports that on Feb. 13th, Lawrence King, a 15 year old student at Oxnard Junior High School in Oxnard California was shot in the head by a 14 year old classmate during his first period English Class in front of twenty four other students. King was an openly gay student, who according to classmates, was known to “wear makeup and feminine jewelry to school and was in conflict with other boys for his open display,” this reported in GayAmericanHeros. Lawrence King was a foster child living at a shelter for abused and troubled children at the time of his death, reports Saillant and Covarrubias of the LATimes. After being tragically gunned down in his classroom, King was treated at St. John's Medical Center where he was ultimately declared brain dead by doctors, and was on life support as a possible candidate for organ donation.

The shooting suspect has been apprehended, and will be charged as an adult for King’s murder; the district attorney has also determined that the suspect will be charged with a hate crime. “Daniela Sea, of HBO’s The L Word, added: ‘To express himself so openly and bravely at such a young age is nothing less than heroic. And the fact that he was killed for being honest and open about who he was is a disgrace and a huge tragedy. He will not be forgotten. We all should honor his memory by doing all we can to stop these hate crimes;” this from GayAmericanHeros. Nearly 1000 teens and community members attended a peace march in honor of Larry King this Saturday. The gathering drew far more people than expected, as mourners marched and sang John Lennon's Imagine and Give Peace a Chance. As one friend said, "And it's just appalling that just for being himself he got shot." The full story is in the LATimes.com. In response to this tragedy, the president of Fight OUT Loud, Waymon Hudson, released a statement, which includes the following excerpt:  “With the announcement of the shooting death of Lawrence King, just 15, one has to wonder-- where is the outrage and outcry from the public and media?” “King was, by all accounts, a young man who was teased at school for his feminine characteristics and sexual orientation.  He was brutally gunned down in school by a fellow student. I can’t help but notice, however, that no media outlets really seem to be covering this. It seems the media and public are more concerned with where Britney Spears is……meanwhile young kids are getting shot in school for simply being themselves.”

The statement in its entirety can be found at fightOUTloud.org

You can discuss and follow this story, and similar acts of violence on the Gay Bashing thread.

Growing up Gay – What Our Young People Need
With insights from gnash and Rob in Puyallup
(Previously posted in an abbreviated TDS)

. . It’s hard enough growing up these days without the added struggles frequently faced by LGBT youth as they discover who they are and how they fit into a world that often does not look past the label of “gay” to appreciate the person within. Although acceptance and understanding of LGBT youth may have grown over the last decade, too many young people still combat rejection, harassment and isolation because they are gay. Lambda’s Youth OUTreach highlights the problem:

The white ribbon for gay teen suicide awareness         

It is estimated that in the U.S., a teen takes their own life every 5 hours because they are gay, bisexual, transgender, or lesbian, and cannot deal with the added stresses that society puts upon them. Approximately 40% of homeless "street" teens self-identify as gay/lesbian yet there are relatively few resources specifically aimed at meeting their needs. These youth have either run away or been thrown out of their homes.  Many get involved with prostitution and other abusive behaviors as a way of surviving. Homeless GLBT teens face increased risk for a variety of health and emotional problems. GLB youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual teens, according to a 1989 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study. The same study found that 30 percent of successful teen suicides are by gay or lesbian youths. Gay youth are more likely to be attacked physically. Gay youth are at increased risk for drug/alcohol problems and dropping out of school. Many bisexual, gay and lesbian youth drop out of school due to harassment or low self-esteem, and fear of "being found out." Studies have found that more than 25% of gay and lesbian youth have severe drug and alcohol problems. Early exposure to diversity and sexuality issues helps to reduce prejudice and homophobia, including internalized homophobia which often leads to self-destructive behaviors.

These alarming statistics seem to have common threads of rejection, lack of support, and harassment resulting in disastrous consequences for LGBT youth.

. gnash reflects on the importance of finding hope for the future as a gay teen, when you're 18, 19, 20, and in love, that sense of acceptance is so important. so many gay men, especially gay kids, don't have that sort of positive environment. we spend much of our growing years thinking that what we are is shameful. while straight kids, even young children in preschool are almost goaded and shaped into expressing heterosexual love, gay kids are getting the complete opposite message. it's funny how we had to seek out tidbits of acceptance surreptitiously. i used to go to the denver public library downtown at age 12 or 13, reading whatever i could find on homosexuality. a lot of it was medical stuff, case histories of "perversion" and "sickness" but there among the stacks i found the positive stuff that celebrated who i was, and it gave me hope. to know i wasn't alone was an amazing revelation -- i used to dance around the house knowing there was a future for me."

The only way to stop homophobic slurs?

So where can today’s youth find support, acceptance and hope?

Online support groups like YouthGuard   Organizations such as The National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) and Lambda’s Youth OUTreach which work specifically with gay youth issues and provide detailed information about national initiatives and local support groups and events for LGBT youth and their families - with expansive resources related to peers and school. Great Books for Gay teens Recognition of gay leaders in politics, entertainment, sports, and locally as they can service as role models for our youth. PFlag resources and groups.

Rob in Puyallup opens up about difficulties that are experienced by far too many youth: "I've known since my earliest days of my attraction to guys... to men. Known since I was a very young child that I was different. Took me a while to come up with its name. "Homosexual". I remember when I was about eight years old (late 1960's) sitting in Woolworth's in downtown Tacoma WA with my mother, seeing a man in drag holding arms with another man. I asked my mom if that 'lady over there' was really a lady. Mom's response 'don't stare'.

. Church upbringing suppressed my urge to awaken that part of myself. Kept my true identity (my "gayness") to myself except for a couple people until March of 2006. I was 46 at the time. I wasted many years of my life hiding because of what I feared those who I loved and who loved me, as well as those who I respected, would think of me if I came out of my closet. I was a fool. What I missed during all those years in the closet... a shame. Moves me to tears. So sad. I wish there was some sort of "gay youth group" when I was a teenager. I'd certainly be much further along in my life if there had been. I feel a bit 'retarded'... 'delayed' because of the choices I made."

So what can each of us do?  Some thoughts - support diversity and speak-up against injustice in our homes and our circle of influence.  Support legislation that combats hate crimes and works for equal opportunities for all people.  Raise our children to embrace differences and reject prejudice - and practice what we preach. Tell us your thoughts-about your experience or how to make it better.

 
FanFiction Review
If Anyone Can Show Just Cause, Speak Now   ~   Til Death Do Us Part   ~   All Shook Up
Stories written by vicky napier

This expansive trilogy begins with If Anyone Can Show Just Cause, Speak Now a story in which Jack comes to Riverton on the day of Ennis’s wedding to Alma, aiming to fix, what he just can’t stand. The story follows the men through a process of growth and self-examination as they confront the conflicting feeling of deepening love and the refusal to accept it. With rich original characters who are intricate to the plot’s development, we are startled by revelations about Ennis’s family’s past and its direct link to the present. We also meet the Fleischmans, a family whose oppressive past allows them to befriend Jack and Ennis with open hearts and open minds.

In the second book of the series, Til Death Do Us Part, Jack and Ennis are separated by no fault of their own, and thus this story largely belongs to Ennis, as we see him stoically navigate through rejection, fear, and distrust, with the guidance and support of friends, in a process that leads to realizations and growth in regard to himself and Jack. Also in book two, seeds of turmoil are planted and begin to grow as Jack tackles issues related to masculinity, self-worth, authority and sexuality.

Book 3, All Shook Up, finds the men in a different locale, where Jack continues to work on the issues that plague him as he deals with demons from the past and the realities of the present, trying to better himself - to gain footing and self-assurance as a young gay man in an environment known for its homophobia.

               

This captivating trilogy is characterized by crisp dialog and intricate character development that paces and progresses the plot through the obstacles that would likely befall men of this era. Throughout these stories the men are reflective, sexual, self-doubting, motivated, misjudged, appreciated, demeaned and loved - it runs the gamut.  These stories, where a new chapter is always eagerly anticipated, can be found HERE, as we continue to track how the cool winds sweep against the men’s progress on one front while guiding them forward toward maturity and wholeness on another.

A Focus on Focus Features

                                               

Described as the large-scale art-house film division of Universal Studios, Focus Features is a film production, film financing and worldwide distribution company lead by co-presidents James Schamus and David Linde. Focus Features most successful release to date is Brokeback Mountain (2005), but Focus has also achieved notoriety and Oscar acclaim with the success of movies like Lost in Translation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Constant Gardener and Pride and Prejudice . Their genre unit, Rogue Pictures, produces and distributes low budget action/horror films; this from Variety.com. Focus Features was founded in 2002 with the merger of  USA Films and Good Machine, “but its origins can be traced to 1991, when James Schamus and Ted Hope formed Good Machine as an independent film production company that was started to make interesting films on topics that were not commercially viable for the major studios, who only seemed interested in big-budget blockbusters,” explains FindArticles.com. On Amazon.com we read this about Focus Features, "I almost never pay attention to the production company of a movie - WB, Fox, Universal, it's all the same, right? That's what I thought - before I realized that the last few movies I had seen and loved (Something New, Brokeback Mountain, Pride & Prejudice) were all made by the same production company. I quickly became interested in this small, but extremely respected company and began watching anything I could produced by them (Constant Gardener, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Vanity Fair) and was amazed not to find a bad apple in the bunch."

To see the full array of films by Focus Features, click here.

One of the Forum's Best Keep Secrets
Check out what's cooking in The Recipe and Cook's Corner:

Huntinbuddy has posted a recipe for an Omelet in a Bag and Chicken Chili Casserole. Meanwhile gnash is serving up recipes for eggs in a paper sack, ice cream in a zip lock bag, along with old favorite chicken wings.

And Cabin is preparing a quick salad/side dish:


Green Beans over a half avocado.

"Vinaigrette of: red wine vinegar, 2 cloves garlic through a press (I like garlic), salt, pepper, big pinch of sugar. Add 3 or more times of olive oil as the amount vinegar.  No need to premix, just add the ingredients directly on to the beans and toss really really well. Chopped tomato to garnish (be sure and salt the tomato).  Enjoy." Rachael Ray has nothing on this guys!  Come on over an post your special recipe.

From the Deep Thoughts and Poems thread

Life is never easy
although we wish it were
it can run by at breakneck speed
we only see it as a blur
we wish for only positive
we only wish to gain
but we feel like we're in darkness
it seems we only feel the pain
weight of the world upon us
it seems too much to bear
we cry, we scream, we shed the tears
feels like our hearts will tear.
the world can be such a harsh place
that's something that we're told
so let's reach out to one another
grab a friend to hold
darkness and hurt will always fade
no matter what the size
so let's climb the mountain side by side
and wait for the sun to rise

By CellarDweller115

The Daily Sheet is seeking volunteers to do the following tasks each week.  If you're interested in trying one of these jobs, please PM Stilllearning and KittyHawk to tell them why you'd be good at the job.

Job 1. - Profiler Find Forum members who are willing to submit a "Member Profile," gather the profiles and submit so that the editor can select one each week, and keep track of who has already been featured. Estimated time per week = 1 hour Job 2. - Thread Watcher Watch various threads to look for possible submissions for the "post of the day". Estimated time per week = the time you usually spend on the Forum + 5 minutes to submit your ideas. Job 3.- Format Tech Provide technical assistance twice a week to find, upload, resize pictures, and embed links for pictures, authors, articles, etc. Some training available. Estimated time per week = 1-2 hours Job 4. - Tipster All Forum members are welcome to submit story leads and ideas to the TDS editor, Stilllearning. No application necessary. Just submit your tips anytime to stilllearning or the Respond to The Daily Sheet thread. This information is also listed in the Volunteers needed - - Help us out thread Thanks! - KittyHawk

Forum Post of the Day

Mcnell1120 posted in the How Brokeback Affected Me thread: Is there ever a time where you think to yourself, you just have to get away?....How?...Where? Do you stop reading the paper or watch the news?...do you not answer the phone? Some days I wish I was in a trailer like Ennis...is that worse? I don't know why I'm typing this here...don't know what my point is....

And in response, Dahlia posing these loving and comforting words: "Because this is a place to do it. Because there always be someone who listens and understand. Because we all went through something like this, or we wouldn't be here, still, after all this time. Because there are things so hard to be spoken but here, even if what we can do is just typing, sometimes the message gets through, even if unspoken. Because our lives are so much alike, as different as we can be. And this, sometimes, can help."

Quote of the Day:

"“Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.”

~ Chinese Proverb ~




From Photo captioning Fun 3 thread:
 


Jack Twist accepts an award as Childress
Salesman of the Year and thanks his
“loving passionate wife Lureen”, but
his words are given the lie by the two
blue balls peeking out of his suit.
 

Contributors: KittyHawk, Killersmom, tfmisc, Rob in Puyallup, gnash, Jack, Huntinbuddy, Cabin, Mcnell1120, Dahlia

Calendar of Events
 

If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads
and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you.

MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO HEATH LEDGER at the CASTRO
Sun-Mon February 24-25
The Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
Sunday: (12:30p), 3:10p, 6p, 9p; Monday: 6p, 9p

March Madness in San Francisco
March 14th - 16th 2008

BBQ: Wyoming Roundup
June 1-7, 2008.
   
June 20 - 22nd - Oxford 08. 
Brokies in the UK

Brokeback Mountain Screening in LA
August 4, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.


Let us know of any events you'd like listed here.

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum

Editors: Ellen (tellyouwhat), Dawn (Stilllearning)

Columnists: Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf, Marge_Innavera

Proofreader/Researchers: whiplash, gnash, denim girl

Today's edition produced by Dawn (Stilllearning) email: Dawn@davecullen.com

Today's edition formatted and proofed by denim girl

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page.
When a new TDS is posted, you will be notified by email.

Previous issues of The Daily Sheet.

Response thread for The Daily Sheet.

[Stilllearning]

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Heath's Words on Ennis

In the article Behind the mask of masculinity written by David Lamble for the Bay Area Reporter, Heath Ledger gives us some of his thoughts on Ennis del Mar:

.

"The first time Ennis and Jack get together in the tent, I wanted Ennis to be on the verge of just beating Jack up, because violence was pretty much the only form of expression Ennis had allowed himself. So the first time that Jack and Ennis confront each other, I wanted it to be somewhat explosive, when instincts and passions come into play. I wanted for it to be quick, over and done. Then there were more intimate moments where I wanted to flip the coin a little, to show a sliver of kindness, a small moment of Ennis being more vulnerable for the first time in his life, and actually allow himself to be guided deeper into love. It was important to show that for the tragedy of the story, but also to help portray this beautiful love."

"It was one of the most beautiful screenplays I've ever read. I was certainly drawn to Ennis as opposed to Jack. His silent complexities, there's a huge battle within him, and there were so little words to express this, so I knew there would have to be a thorough investigation into his character. There was a brilliant short story from Annie Proulx, incredibly descriptive, essentially it was a biopic. It was clear how we had to play it. It was going to be the most masculine person I'd played, telling a story which hadn't been told before." The full article, published in conjunction with the Castro's showing of Brokeback Mountain this coming Sunday and monday evenings, can be found HERE.

.

. . When a Kiss isn't Just a Kiss With the academy awards set for this weekenend, there is increased attention paid to greatness in films. In TIME's Favorite Movie Kisses video guide some of the most powerful kisses in cimematic history are discussed. See the accolades and place given Brokeback Mountain among other movie giant like Gone with the Wind, From Here to Eternity, The Godfather, and Some Like it Hot.

Completing Heath's Work

Comcast.netEntertainment reports that Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law will all work to help complete the movie that Heath Ledger was filming at the time of his death, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which is directed by Terry Gilliam, who also directed Heath in The Brothers Grimm.

“According to Variety, Ledger's name helped the independent production secure its $30 million budget. Without its biggest star, the movie has three options, the paper said: recast, shoot around Ledger's absence or call ‘cut." However inhome.rediff explains, "Gilliam finds an incredibly brilliant solution in his storyline, which had Ledger's character travelling -- via a mirror -- into different dimensions. Gilliam says that since there are three dimensions, why not three actors then, to play Ledger's character each time he crosses to the parallel side? So while the protagonist Tony is played by Heath Ledger, there will be scenes where he'll be played by Depp, Law, and Farrell, as the situation -- and dimension -- demands." Colin Farrell tells the Daily Telegragh, "I will be honored to be part of that. It makes me feel uncomfortable to think about it too much and to get into it really here, but it's an incredibly painful honor... and an honor I wish wasn't bestowed (on me), but an honor none-the-less. It's about getting Heath's work out there... He's too good for any of his work not to be seen, you know, and I'm really keen and looking forward to doing it and just doing the best job I can do."

Goodbye to the Bus Station Café

By FindingBrokeback.com

. . . . . . Solly recalls showing The Java Shop to Lee for the first time in April 2004: . . “This is going to be it; it’s perfect!” Production Designer Judy Becker and Ang Lee check out the Java Shop April 2004, Fort Macleod, AB . . . . Photo by Frank McTighe, The Macleod Gazette

As if we have not had enough sad farewells lately, the time has come to say goodbye to another Brokeback institution: the Bus Station Café, which recently closed its doors due to economic pressures. The Bus Station Café, site of Ennis’ awkward exchange with Cassie (and Cassie’s only memorable line), joins the Electra (Rodeo Clown) Bar, the Newsome Farm Equipment Building, and the Twist Thanksgiving House on a growing register of vanishing Brokeback shooting locations. The selection of the Bus Station Café filming location was particularly important to Ang Lee. As they searched prospective sites, Lee fondly recalled that the first American restaurant where he dined after leaving Taiwan was a Dairy Queen. Brokeback locations manager Darryl Solly told us that quintessentially-American fast food restaurant “became his emotional connection to his new life” in this country. It is little surprise that Lee’s original vision for Cassie’s tearful goodbye to Ennis was set in “a Denny’s restaurant.” Fort Macleod, Alberta, was one of  the filmmakers’ three principal shooting “hubs.” The cast and crew stayed in motels there. The Laundry Apartment, Fireworks, Divorce Courtroom, and Cassie’s Bar scenes were all shot there. The Lonesome Ranch, Divorce Cabin, and Aguirre Trailer sites are all nearby. Could the producers find a restaurant in Fort Macleod that would meet their needs? There was no Denny’s in the town, but an obvious contender was The Java Shop, a classic diner located in the town’s make-do Greyhound Bus Station. When we walked in the bus station, we knew this was going to be our diner.  Where we’d encounter potential problems, Ang’s reaction was, “Don’t worry about it, this is going to be it; it’s perfect. … He walked around, loved the whole thing-the cafeteria line, everything is stainless steel-you know, fantastic. After Brokeback Mountain was released, The Java Shop attracted countless fans, drawn to it because of its central location. The Java Shop uniquely afforded visitors an opportunity to relive a bit of the Brokeback story. “Coffee and pie” became a commonplace order at a restaurant where pie had always been served with hot tea. A “Brokeback” poster went up on the wall and the waitresses all memorized Ennis’ table number (25). Owner Vasant Patel routinely took visitor photos. By 2007, a DVD system endlessly replayed the “Ennis, girls don't fall in love with fun” scene on a wall-mounted video monitor.

It was a friendly place, but sometimes in a clueless way. Jet-lagged visitors from Europe and Asia dined alongside low-key “regulars.”  Food servers seemed not to notice that more than one generous tipper walked out with a plate, fork, menu, or coffee cup tucked under his jacket. One day, a conspicuous family group asked a waitress about The Java Shop’s Brokeback legacy, only to hear “we didn’t have as many tourists as they said we would with Brokeback Mountain. But you know, there have been a lot of gays, but most of them, you can’t tell. They’re just like you and me!”  Upon Heath Ledger’s death, The Java Shop became the setting for a particularly poignant memorial. Roses were delivered daily to Table 25 in memory of the talented and courageous actor who made it world-famous and whose art would touch, empower, and inspire millions. It was also last month that economic pressures led The Java Shop’s owner to decide to close its doors. There exists a possibility that a successor will be found and that The Java Shop will reopen at some point, but no one has yet stepped forward. You can learn more about The Java Shop’s history and demise at FindingBrokeback.com. As always, for Brokeback Mountain travel and production information, see FindingBrokeback.com.

Former TDS Editor Publishes Dallas Column

Our own Tellyouwhat has an article published in the Community opinions section of Dallasnews.com expressing her thoughts on an all too common problem - over development in our communities. The article titled, "Ellen R. of Dallas: Lake Highlands homeowners want more respect" details Ellen's thoughts on this issue that is very near and dear to her heart. Here is a glimpse of  Ellen's skills with the written word: "Developers' stake in their projects is fleeting. They are in and out of our neighborhoods, and they leave us with new square buildings that look fine until the first coat of paint begins to show signs of wear. If the project isn't successful, we end up with our current situation: eyesores of strip malls with dime and dollar stores as the main tenants, and high crime from rental properties whose managers do not enforce occupancy or safety codes." Congratulations Tellyouwhat on a job well done!

The 80th Academy Awards Sunday Night

Daniel Day-Lewis Johnny Depp Cate Blanchett

The awards hosted this year by Jon Stewart, will be presented on Sunday evening, February 24, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Nominated for Performance by an actor in a leading role George Clooney in Michael Clayton Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises Nominated for Performance by an actress in a leading role Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age Julie Christie in Away from Her Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose Laura Linney in The Savages Ellen Page in Juno And up for Best motion picture of the year Atonement (Focus Features) Juno (A Mandate Pictures Michael Clayton (Warner Bros.) No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) Anne Hathaway will be one of the presenters at the awards. The Academy Awards can be watched live on ABC.

. . Not watching the Oscars? Remember BBM's at the Castro   MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO HEATH LEDGER February 24-25 ~ Sunday: (12:30p), 3:10p, 6p, 9p; Monday: 6p, 9p The Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114

. . Anne Hathaway Class and Elegance Anne Hathaway along with Amy Adams, Jessica Biel, and Emily Blunt grace the cover of the March 2008 issue of Vanity Fair magazine. Joining these elegant ladies as Vanity Fair’s Fresh Faces of 2008 are Elizabeth Banks, Gennifer Goodwin (Walk the Line) and America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), as reported in Starpulse.com. Anne Hathaway has also been selected by Paris-based Lancôme to represent their newest fragrance: "Anne Hathaway is a radiant young woman who perfectly embodies modern femininity. We know she will portray all the passion and excitement of our new fragrance, to be launched throughout the world in September 2008", says Odile Roujol, President of Lancôme International.

Book Events in San Francisco and Los Angeles - Documenting Gay Men

.

Dr. Chris Pullen - Senior Lecturer in Media, Gender and Performance, Bournemouth Media School - Bournemouth University tells us:   Thanks for your support with my book Documenting Gay Men: Identity and Performance in Reality Television and Documentary Film   I am doing two book events in California in late March at the A Different Light book stores:   Thursday 20th March 2008 - 7.30pm - A Different Light Bookstore - 489 Castro St. -San Francisco.   Monday 24th March 2008 - 7.30pm - A Different Light Bookstore - 8853 Santa Monica Blvd. - West Hollywood Dr. Pullen has been following our Forum for many months and is including information about us and our book, Beyond Brokeback, in his next book. You can find his book by clicking here:

Mardi Gras Float Opens Door for Lifesavers

Sydney Australia has welcomed an influx of gay and lesbian lifesavers (life guards) after interest in the job piqued following the inclusion of a Lifesavers with Pride float in the annual Mardi Gras celebration last year. One of the new recruits, Michael Webster, who recently moved to Sydney from Queensland said, "Seeing the guys and girls in last year's Mardi Gras made me reconsider the lifesaving movement completely," he said. "I've always loved swimming, but I never thought I would be the right fit for lifesaving. "I'm so glad I was wrong, because the skills I have learnt have given me the ability to save someone's life." Surf Life Saving Australia spokesman Sean O'Connell said the organization supported the float. "Surf Life Saving is an organization that is open to everyone irrespective of age, gender or background," he said. "We need to reflect the broader Australian community;" this reported by Matthew Benns of smh.com.au The 30th annual Mardi Gras festival starts this week in Sydney.

. . . .

Life Through the Lens 2


Spring is all around in San Francisco by Killersmom



Wednesday night's eclipse by formerlydank



Building mural posted by ingmarnicebbmt

Austin Reunion -- March 29 - 30, 2008

Plans are now underway for a Reunion in Austin, TX, Saturday, March 29 through Sunday, March 30. Please mark your calendar and we hope you'll be able to attend. An absolutely informal gathering to meet or reunite with friends, and share some time together. You can find more information on the gatherings thread for the Austin Reunion If you have any questions, please contact either peanut (Karen) or cabin (Gerry). Come join us in Austin.

Fun Question of the Week This weeks Question: If a statue in the park has a person on a horse, and both of the horse’s front legs are in the air, what does that mean? What if the horse has only one front leg in the air? And how about if the horse has all four legs on the ground? Let us know the answer on the response thread. Last Week: If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"? The answer: When spelling out numbers, you find the first "a" in the word "thousand," so one thousand is the first number spelled with an "a."     Forum Post of the Day Sandy posted in the Gay and Christian in the World of Today thread: Does the Christian call to love my neighbor as myself play a part in how I will support candidates or not? I really can't say. There have always been ways to accommodate God and Caesar, so we have plenty of possibilities. Do I want to eradicate all consideration of Caesar, the secular world? That would lead to Armageddon, and it's not up to me or to anyone else to precipitate that. That's God's call. Quote of the Day:   Happiness is inward, and not outward; and so, it does not depend on what we have, but on what we are. ~  Henry Van Dyke ~ From Photo Captioning Fun 3 By gnash. Imagine retrieved by janjo from menwhoknit. I WISH I KNEW HOW TO KNIT YOU! Contributors: Roco, Janjo, gnash, Sandy, tfferg, Whiplash, KittyHawk, ingmarnicebbmt, Killersmom, formerlydank  Calendar of Events   If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you. MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO HEATH LEDGER at the CASTRO Sun-Mon February 24-25 The Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 Sunday: (12:30p), 3:10p, 6p, 9p; Monday: 6p, 9p March Madness in San Francisco March 14th - 16th 2008 Austin Reunion March 29 - 30, 2008 Austin, TX Come join us in Austin. BBQ: Wyoming Roundup June 1-7, 2008.     June 20 - 22nd - Oxford 08.  Brokies in the UK Brokeback Mountain Screening in LA August 4, 2008 at 7:30 P.M. Let us know of any events you'd like listed here. The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum Editors: Ellen (tellyouwhat), Dawn (Stilllearning) Columnists: Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf, Marge_Innavera Proofreader/Researchers: whiplash, gnash, denim girl Today's edition produced by Dawn (Stilllearning) email: Dawn@davecullen.com Today's edition formatted and proofed by gnash We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page. When a new TDS is posted, you will be notified by email. Previous issues of The Daily Sheet. Response thread for The Daily Sheet.

[Stilllearning]

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

. . . . . The Advocate: Heath's Performance, DC Forum Highlighted

The cover story of the March 11th issue of The Advocate is dedicated to Heath Ledger and his performance in Brokeback Mountain that “moved real people to grieve, get honest, come out, and claim their own destinies,” reports Todd Henneman. Henneman explains, “The tormented romance between Heath Ledger’s Ennis Del Mar and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Jack Twist resonated across sexual orientations and gender identities. After the film’s December 2005 theatrical release, gay men went online seeking kindred spirits to discuss its effect and found places like journalist Dave Cullen’s Ultimate Brokeback Forum, which now has grown to over 6,500 members. Moved by Ledger’s January 22 death, some of these admirers bought a half-page memorial ad in the January 29 issue of Variety."   “Brokeback Mountain did cause a lot of gay people who were in the closet to come out,” explains Dave Cullen. “A striking number of people lost a lot of weight or stopped smoking or made other changes to their lives in recognition of how they had to stop living that way.” Our forum member NickInIdaho, tells the Advocate that he was closeted and married with five children when he and his wife went to see Brokeback Mountain. “Afterward, I was completely torn apart inside,” says Nick Villanueva, 35. “Just like Ennis, even though happiness for him was [being] with Jack, it was not an option. He went back and married Alma and had kids. That’s exactly what I had done. Watching Ennis and seeing how lonely he ended up being, I realized that really could be me emotionally.” JoeNorthWest (Joe Argazzi) from the DC Forum felt Ennis Del Mar was a kindred spirit, having also dated a man who wanted to build a life together. “I related to Ennis,” says Argazzi, 52. “I had to get away.” Read the full article, including more on the path that Nick has traveled, and comments by forum member NWWaguy (Steve Hansen) in The Advocate.

Gay Couple Leads Obama's Fund Raising Efforts "Even if you have a great candidate and a great message," says Mitchell Schwartz, Barack Obama's California political director, "people who are underfunded don't win." The truth of this statement lead the Obama campaign to hire fund-raisers, Jeremy Bernard and Rufus Gifford, a gay couple who are at the top of their field; this explained by Patrick Range McDonald of LAWeekly.com. "Gay issues are central to their own political agendas, and they know from years of experience that money gives them unique and up-close access to power. They have the luxury, after climbing to the top, of throwing their deep-pocketed connections only behind candidates who closely match their politics," explains McDonald. "We work for candidates who we ourselves would be willing to give money to," says Gifford.

Bernard and Gifford are considered to have issued in a new order of gay voters, ones who are more politically savvy. These men support gay candidates as well as straight politicians who come through on their promises regarding issues important to gays, but they withhold both their fund-raising talents and their money from those who back-pedal on promises. Hillary Clinton's campaign also offered Bernard and Gifford a job, but the men didn't feel she was the best candidate to further gay issues. They tell us, "When we started our company, we wanted to pick only candidates we would be enthusiastic about. Obama was that candidate. He absolutely has the best record on gay and lesbian issues." When the Human Rights Campaign invited Obama to appear at a nationally televised debate dedicated to topics important to gays, Bernard and Gifford pushed for the senator to attend, and Obama was the first candidate to accept the invitation. In August, Bernard and Gifford organized a gay fund-raiser and Obama gave a speech that some considered exceptional: "It was truly phenomenal," says Gifford. "He equated all social injustices with the injustices gays and lesbians have to face." Just before Obama left for the evening, he asked them if he did them right. Bernard looked at him, "Senator, you always do us right. This time, you did us proud." . . . Freeheld Wins Academy Award

The Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject went to Freeheld, a 40 minute film by documentary filmmaker Cynthia Wade that chronicles the fight by “Lieutenant Laurel Hester who is dying. All she wants to do is leave her pension benefits to her life partner - Stacie, so Stacie can afford to keep their house. Laurel is told no; they are not husband and wife. After spending a lifetime fighting for justice for other people, Laurel - a veteran New Jersey detective - launches a final battle for justice. Freeheld chronicles a dying policewoman's bitter fight to provide for the love of her life;” this synopsis from imdb.com.

Fan Fiction ~ A Drabble Reply By gilli_ann Deep breath. Deep breath. Another deep breath. He sat down in the hallway chair, mind spinning dizzily, heart going a mile a minute. Had he just made that strange half-strangled sound? He probably had.   Just breathe, he admonished himself once more.   Lureen’s voice from the living room, - fatigued, surprised, a hint of annoyance:   “Honey, what’s the matter? You not coming in here? Everythin’ OK?”   Another deep breath. He looked at the simple postcard his eager hand had just snatched from among the mail, read its words out loud in reply. To her, to himself, to high heaven:   “You bet.”

Diversity Education Bill Proposed Death of Lawrence King inspires Legislation

Larry in Dec. 2006

Ann Turner of GayWired.com tells us, "The fatal shooting of a 15-year-old gay student in Oxnard, CA has spurred the introduction of a new diversity education bill by California Assemblyman Mike Eng. Eng said he hopes the new bill will establish school diversity and sensitivity training to help prevent such tragedies in the future;" he plans to introduce the bill this week. "With young people coming out at younger ages, our schools—especially our junior highs and middle schools—need to be proactive about teaching respect for diversity based on sexual orientation and gender identity," said Carolyn Laub, executive director of Gay-Straight Alliance Network. "The tragic death of Lawrence King is a wake-up call for our schools to better protect students from harassment at school. As a society, we can prevent this kind of violence from happening."

Pink Shirt Day An Anti-bullying Message The city of Vancouver has joined CKNW and the Corus Radio Network in proclaiming February 27th "Pink Shirt Day,” in recognition of a campaign against bullying. In support of the anti-bullting message, people are being encouraged to wear an article of pink clothing, and the city will fly a pink flag over city hall, says cknw.com/news. This grass roots campaign against bullying was started in Nova Scotia after a male student wore a pink shirt to his first day of school and was bullied because of it.  Hearing of the incident, older students in the school organized a response, with fellow students wearing pink the next day, to show their support for the young man. News of the anti-bullying pink shirt campaign spread and was adopted by dozens of schools across Canada, before being brought to the attention of the CKNW radio audience where the campaign gained further momentum; read more on this story at bcc.rcav.

. . . . .

David Shepherd and Travis Price
who organized the pink shirt response

. Microsoft Millionaire Wills $65 Million to LGBT Organizations

Ric Weiland of Seattle, Washington has bequeathed $65 million to LGBT groups which include amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research; GLAAD and PFLAG among others. Additionally, he left $19 million directly to the Pride Foundation for scholarships and grants supporting the Northwest's LGBT community, reports 360Gay.com. Weiland was one of the first 5 employees hired by Microsoft’s founders Paul Allen and Bill Gates, and was the first employee who was openly gay. "Ric was a good friend, a terrific computer programmer and a very generous man," said Paul G. Allen. "His gift to the Pride Foundation demonstrates his compassion and dedication to the community, and I'm very proud to have had him as a friend.

Canada's Highest Honor for Gay Activist On February 22, The Order of Canada, the highest civilian honor that Canada offers, was awarded to Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes a gay activist and senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Toronto. This honor “recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation," reports Newswire.ca.

"To my knowledge, Rev. Dr. Hawkes, is the only person to receive their country's highest honor in recognition of their gay activism,’ said Douglas Elliott, founding president of the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association.” Rev. Dr. Hawkes, champion of human rights and social justice for LGBT persons presided over Canada's first, and the world's first, legal wedding of a same sex couple. Rev. Nancy L. Wilson  of MCC remarks, “I've observed firsthand that his (Brent's) deep and abiding spiritual faith has been the wellspring for his passionate work on behalf of human rights. He has spent a lifetime challenging the government of Canada, and in doing so has repeatedly proven his love and loyalty to the ideals of Canada, as well as the ideals of his spiritual faith,” this from MCCChurch.org. Heath's Joker Set to be Action Figure An action figure of Heath Ledger’s character The Joker, from the film The Dark Knight, will be released by Mattel in May. There will be two versions of the figure, one carrying a rocket launcher and the other a knife. These figures are expected to become collector’s items, given the sudden death of Heath in January, reports Paul Cashmere of undercover.com. Hollywood.com explains, “A spokesman for the star's family says, ‘Heath was very proud of his work in the film and his family is aware and supportive of the plans for the movie." Life Through the Lens 2 By Trigger Hippie Late night moon through large tree branches by Cabin Forum Post of the Day Testadura posted in the LeBar Slash thread: I never watch the Oscars - well except for the year BBM was nominated - that cured me forever.   Quote of the Day: Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't. ~ Erica Jong  ~ From Photo Captioning Fun 3 By Lyle (Mooska) Alma:  "Why did those guys want to borrow your truck, Ennis?" Ennis:  "Not sure.  Somethin' 'bout transporting some sheep somewheres..." Contributors: KittyHawk, San Francisco John, BrokenOkie, Testadura, Lyle(Mooska), gilli_ann, Oceansinbetween and nova.    Calendar of Events   If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you. March Madness in San Francisco March 14th - 16th 2008 Austin Reunion March 29 - 30, 2008 Austin, TX Come join us in Austin. BBQ: Wyoming Roundup June 1-7, 2008.     June 20 - 22nd - Oxford 08.  Brokies in the UK Brokeback Mountain Screening in LA August 4, 2008 at 7:30 P.M. Let us know of any events you'd like listed here. The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum Editors: Ellen (tellyouwhat), Dawn (Stilllearning) Columnists: Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf, Marge_Innavera Proofreader/Researchers: whiplash, gnash, denim girl Today's edition produced by Dawn (Stilllearning) email: Dawn@davecullen.com Today's edition formatted and proofed by whiplash We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page. When a new TDS is posted, you will be notified by email. Previous issues of The Daily Sheet. Response thread for The Daily Sheet.

[Stilllearning]

Saturday, March 1, 2008

. . . . . . . . Profile: Brokebacktom

I was born and raised in Fargo, ND. Been schooled mostly in Private Catholic Schools. I am the middle child of 4 brothers, one being a half brother. My parents got divorced when I was 10. Both have remarried, and my father had another child with his new wife. She being 10 years younger than he. I was and still am a very shy person. I however, open up once I'm more comfortable around people. I have a fear of others judging me, fear of being hurt and a fear of letting go of my feelings. So, I would consider myself more of an Ennis. Still working on this. I did open up while in college, but now I'm retreating within myself again. I have a BFA in Photography, having graduated in 1992. I advanced my education and received a MFA degree from the University of Cincinnati, then moved back to Minneapolis in 1997. My art is a reflection of my personal struggles with sexuality, self awareness and spirituality. I do consider myself a Christian, yet with a wholistic approach to it, with more of a combination of many other aspects from different Religions.    My first viewing of BBM was hard, for I was stunned.  I didn't cry until that night in bed when it came to me like a ton of bricks. This was similar to the affect I had with the news of Heath's death. Heath was really the only person (star) I truly wanted to meet. I did start writing a screenplay for him and for myself, but never finished it. I thought I would have more time to to write it. But things work in strange ways. My music tastes range from rock to pop to bluegrass. Mostly, I could say I'm stuck in the 70's and the 80's. I love reading about different cultures and history, but mostly I love horror novels, like those written by Anne Rice, Stephen King and Clive Barker. Scarier the better. That goes with movies too. I'm single, never had a true relationship that lasted longer than 3 months. Like I said I'm shy. This could be why BBM effected me so much too. Scared to take chances in life. However, I do love to travel, been to New Orleans 5 times. I love the sense of culture, art and free-spirit there. I do plan on doing more with my art of photography this year, and plan on getting a lap-top or a computer with photoshop capabilities. I miss that creative aspect. The thing that I miss most is going into the dark room to escape from reality and to create. I just hope I get the same feeling from a computer. I do plan on finishing that screenplay too this year, before my trip to West Hollywood in August.  I considered myself a reformed Republican, a STRONG Reaganite. But not anymore. I'm very political, left leaning now. What my mother taught me was no one should challenge your relationship with God or Christ. If they do, FIGHT back with everything you have. I guess those are words to live by. I hope you get the sense that you know me from this profile. I'm not the smartest person, but what you see is what you get with me. I've been told I am honest to a fault.

BayCityJohn's Letter to The Advocate

In response to The Advocate's tribute to Heath Ledger, which references our Ultimate Brokeback Forum and well as quoting forum members, BayCityJohn wrote a Thank You letter to the magazine that was published online.  Read and enjoy:

Bishop Moore
Father, Social Activist, Closeted Bi-Sexual

The March 3rd issue of The New Yorker features an interview with Honor Moore, the daughter of the late New York Episcopal Bishop Paul Moore Jr, a man known for his social activism during the 70's and 80's. The interview in The New Yorker features excerpts from a book written by Honor Moore about her Father - The Bishop's Daughter, which is due out in May. In the book and the interview, Honor describes a Father who was compassionate and devoted to social causes. Bishop Moore worked tirelessly for the poor, supported the ordination of female Episcopal priests and himself ordained the first lesbian priest. Later in his life, Honor learned through oblique conversations with her Father that he had struggled throughout his life with his sexuality, as a married bi-sexual man. (Honor speaks of her Father as bi-sexual, other sources refer to him as gay). In a Towleroad article which quotes from the story in The New Yorker we read: "His daughter, Honor Moore, writes that six months after his death, 'the telephone rang. [The caller] had a confident voice. Andrew Verver (as I'll call him) was the only person in my father's will whose name was unfamiliar.' When Honor asked 'Verver,' who had traveled with Moore to the Greek island of Patmos the summer before, about her father's sexual life, he replied, 'I was his sexual life,' and, 'Of course, there were other men.' Then, Honor describes bringing 'Verver' on a touching visit to Moore's grave in Connecticut." After reading the magazine article Rosewood tells us, "The phone call, described in the story is so touching and so reminiscent of BBM that I stopped for a moment and had to take a deep breath. Though the reaction of the daughter is one we would all wish to have under such circumstances, and different in tone from the one in BBM, it still seems strangely connected. At least in the idea of discovery and resignation to the fact that secrets left behind by the dead must be dealt with by the living. I imagined 'Junior', Ennis's daughter, having this sort of conversation with Jack, had their roles been reversed OR had Jack had a daughter and the phone call was from Ennis." The March 3rd issue of The New Yorker is available at news stands now. An audio recording which includes segments of The New Yorker article can be found HERE

. . . . . .

The Presidential Primaries
Super-delegates

. .

Interest is running high in this year’s primary season with one of tightest races in decades playing out for the nomination of the Democratic presidential candidate.  At a time when one might expect the field of candidates to be narrowing, Ralph Nadar has thrown his hat into the ring as a third party candidate. Because of the closeness of the democratic race, more attention is being paid to “super-delegates” or "unpledged delegates" who are free to support the democratic candidate of their choice for the nomination, without being expected to vote for a certain presidential hopeful based on state primary and caucus results - unlike "pledged delegates" whose votes are expected to represent a state's voting results; this explained in Wikipedia.  Super-delegates are generally “drawn from the Democratic National Committee, members of Congress, governors and distinguished party leaders. Some are selected at state conventions,” CNN explains.

Super-delegates make up around 20 percent of the total number of delegates and have only been around since 1982 when the Democratic party felt it important to increase the decision-making power of official party loyalists in nominating a presidential candidate.. This year their role received increased attention once it became clear that neither Clinton nor Obama could earn enough "pledged" delegates to garner the necessary 2,025 delegates required to win the nomination. “Some Obama supporters have raised concern that the super-delegates could snatch the nomination from Obama in favor of Clinton, even though Obama may win a majority of pledged delegates,” reports Lou Chibbaro of the Washington Blade. Although the party nominee is usually apparent long before the national convention - allowing the political party to rally around one candidate and build party unity - this year no front-runner has emerged on the democratic ticket, making the role of the super-delegates all the more exciting. Tuesday, March 4th, the following important, delegate-rich states are holding primaries: Follow all of the political happening on the Primary Season thread.

The Youngest Super-delegate
Gay College Student at the Heart of the Process
 

. . . . . . . . . . .

There are 21 openly gay super-delegates to the DNC, 12 of whom have declared their support for Clinton, and as of Feb. 15th, two have committed to Obama, with seven undeclared, reports Lou Chibbaro of the Washington Blade. Jason Rae is one of these undecided super-delegates. He is a 21 year old junior at Marquette University in Wisconsin, and is the youngest of the 796 superdelegates who will vote for the candidate that he or she feels is best for the presidency, not bound by results of state primaries and caucuses, reports Kerry Eleveld of The Advocate. Rae is a super-delegate for the state of  Wisconson, having won the contest by running a grassroots campaign, “I wanted to represent America’s next generation of voters. I painted signs, handed out homemade stickers, and ended up winning the spot,” said Rae. Responding to questions about being a super-delegate at such a young age, Rae says, "They have this traditional image that super-delegates are people who have been around this process forever and are out of touch with voters. I’m able to show them that's not true -- that super-delegates are regular party activists."   Rae interned at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund in the summer of 2006 and came out to members of the DNC in February of 2007. “I have not yet come out to my parents,” Rae said. I’ve been waiting for the right moment, and now just might happen to be that right moment.” Concerning which candidate he’ll vote for, Rae says, “I’m really torn between both of the candidates.” CNN tells us, he “believes the party will have a presumptive nominee by April 22, when Pennsylvania, the last delegate-rich state, votes. ‘I just don’t see it getting to that point,’ he said of the contest continuing until the convention in August. ‘It would be bad for the party as a whole to drag this out too much longer. Particularly with the Republicans having John McCain as their nominee, the longer we wait, the more difficult it’s going to be for us to unify the party. And we need time to get a general election strategy together.”

 
 

Heath
Seeking Truth Amongst the Myths

In nymag.com an article written by Chris Norris "(Untitled Heath Ledger Project)" - which commentors called “balanced,” “fair” and “unbiased” - attempts to dispel much of the media’s speculative, and often inaccurate reports about Heath's life of late, reports that can vasillated between him being either a god, or a reckless drug-users. Norris writes, "According to Google News, there were 24,267 stories about Heath Ledger in the three weeks following his death. But for all the intensive coverage, there was no cohesive narrative. Two diverging accounts of his last months in New York were vying against each other—Ledger the saint and Ledger the sinner. An inconclusive autopsy allowed the conflicting reports to fester for weeks, with members of each contingent trotting out their theories and prophesying the results of the coming toxicology report that would surely prove them right." Norris deconstructs many of the misleading accounts written about Heath and seeks to give a more balanced voice to his life in recent years. Norris draws some of his own conclusions as he touches on Heath's struggles with fame, his inviting presence, drug use, fatherhood, and glimpses of the unassuming, private man. "Two months after Matilda’s birth, Brokeback Mountain was released to raves and Oscar nominations, starting the decades-old chain reaction that would make Ledger into something other than a talented actor. The transition was subtle, marked by debuts on magazine covers, increased paparazzi, online chatter, buzz, spin, and hype, but at a certain point, it was a fact: Ledger was a star." The full article can be found HERE

.

. . Jake Time Although Jake has been keeping a rather low profile of late, eonline.com tells us that he enjoyed some time out with a couple of friends at the Rufus Wainwright concert at the Wiltern theater in L.A.. on Feb.12th. And Jake was seen looking happy and well when leaving a cafe in Beverly Hills on Monday, reports popsupar.com. A mark of true stardom, a Jake doll can now be found at Stardolls.com where you can virtually dress-up Jake for a night on the town or a walk in the park – casual or dressy – you decide.

. .

Montréal Screening of BBM and Candy
Paying hommage to Heath Ledger

Brokeback Mountain and Candy Showing at Cinéma du Parc 22 March 2008, 7:00P Montréal. BBM will be the English version with French subtitles. Candy will be in English version, no subtitles. In the French article describing this event, Heath's talents are praised using a quote from film-maker Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight), and an overview of each movie is given.

Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish in Candy

Speaking Up

. . . . . . .

Lyle (Mooska) tells us of a situation where he chose not to remain silent, but instead decided to speak-up for what he believes: "the phone rang and it was a recorded message asking me if I wanted to be sent a petition to get an amendment put on California's fall ballot to change the state constitution so that it expressly says marriage is between a man and a woman. Press 1 for "yes" and 2 for "no." I pressed 1 because I wanted to get that petition and see what it says and also it costs them to mail it out and so why not?  Here's an excerpt of what Lyle wrote on the petition before sending it back in: Friends, If I chose to get married, how would that affect you? I'd say it would affect you in a positive way because I'd feel the love that Christ intended all of us to share in. You don't seem to have any petitions for convicted killers not to be able to marry. The hillside strangler, Richard Ramirez, and the Menendez brothers are allowed to marry and they have--why is that acceptable to you and me marrying is not? There are so many problems that need solving in this world that you guys should really just look into your souls and see this is a HUGE waste of time and money that could be better spent on a myriad of other things. Because regardless of any law or petition, gay people are STILL going to fall in love with one another whether there's a law against it or not."   The petition is being organized by Protectmarriage.com, if you are interested in sharing your views with them.

Fun Question of the Week This weeks Question: Who was the first TV couple to be shown in a bed together?  Could Fred and Wilma be it - even if they're cartoon characters?  How about the Munsters - do monsters count? Let us know the answer on the response thread. Last Week: If a statue in the park has a person on a horse, and both of the horse’s front legs are in the air, what does that mean? What if the horse has only one front leg in the air? And how about if the horse has all four legs on the ground? The answer: Snopes.com tells us that the widely circulated explanation that - if the horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle, and if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes - is really an urban myth, and although many Gettysburg statues do follow this formula, there is no standard meaning to the position of the horse’s legs in relation to the ground, and the fate of the rider.

.

 

Brokie's Get-togethers - what fun!



MichaelflanaganSF, Killersmom, and ingmarnicebbmt


Sarah, Sal, Lauren and Catia after lunch at the Knights Templar on Chancery Lane
Photo by Zudos


Michael and Rob meeting up in San Francisco

Forum Post of the Day Osprey posted in the Gay and Christian in the World of Today thread: I HATE being single. I love what a beautiful man can do for a bed. It is nothing short of a minor miracle. I love it when our feet touch at around five in the morning and we have "foot hugs" until it is time to get up. Great stuff.

 

Quote of the Day

Take thy thoughts to bed with thee, for the morning is wiser than the evening.
 
~ Russian Proverb ~

From Photo Captioning Fun 3
By HR

There was some open space...but not much.

Contributors: HR, Osprey, Bay City John, Lyle, KittyHawk, Jeff Hanna, Rosewood, BrokebackTom, MarkC 

Calendar of Events
 

If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads
and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you.


March Madness in San Francisco
March 14th - 16th 2008

Brokeback Mountain and Candy
Showing at
Cinéma du Parc
22 March 2008  7:00P
Montréal.

Austin Reunion
March 29 - 30, 2008
Austin, TX
Come join us in Austin.

BBQ: Wyoming Roundup
June 1-7, 2008.
   
June 20 - 22nd - Oxford 08. 
Brokies in the UK

Brokeback Mountain Screening in LA
August 4, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.


Let us know of any events you'd like listed here.

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum

Editors: Ellen (tellyouwhat), Dawn (Stilllearning)

Columnists: Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf, Marge_Innavera

Proofreader/Researchers: whiplash, gnash, denim girl

Today's edition produced by Dawn (Stilllearning) email: Dawn@davecullen.com

Today's edition formatted and proofed by gnash

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page.
When a new TDS is posted, you will be notified by email.

Previous issues of The Daily Sheet.

Response thread for The Daily Sheet.