Listen To Musak » A Gay Old World

Big Pink Crosses (or some such TV nonsense)

Jon — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 05:24:20 +0000

This is one for my friend Steve to comment on. Yahoo reports that “In 1994, just 19 of the Fortune 500 companies advertised their brands in gay media in the United States. Last year, 175 did”. [Source: Advertisers out of the closet with gay-themed ads - Yahoo! News] It’s just a shame all those stereotypes still exist. The worst gay ads are the ‘Get Fruity’ Muller sponsorship of Living TV’s Will and Grace. All that cheap innuendo, it’s amazing they don’t give the audience a little more credit.

And talking of Will & Grace, Eric McCormack – who played Will – appears to be struggling to find work now the series and gone and finished. He told Sunday’s Observer that “I have this big pink cross to bear”. Still, I guess with all the money he made from Will & Grace he’s in a position to be able to hire somebody to carry it for him. [Source: The Observer | UK News | I can't shake off my gay image, says Will]

On this day…

2006: All You Need To Know About Sharon Osbourne's New TV Show
2006: All You Need To Know About Sharon Osbourne’s New TV Show
2006: In The Air Again
2002: Temptation

Civil Partnership: It’s In The News Today

Jon — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 05:38:43 +0000

Countdown to civil partnership: According to today’s Independent reports that Sir Elton John is to “marry” his partner David Furnish in St Petersburg this month have sparked outrage among Russian nationalists [Independent].

Also in today’s Independent: Roger Lockyer and Percy Steven have been waiting 40 years for this moment. At eight o’clock in the morning on 21 December, the pensioners will become one of the first gay couples in Britain to formally register their relationship as a civil partnership. In contrast, television presenters and property designers Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan have been together for 20 years and plan to stay together for the rest of their lives.

In The Observer, Ben Summerskill says changing the law on same-sex relationships is the easy part. Changing the culture is harder [The Observer].

Finally, The Scotsman has a nice summary of the changes in the law: The introduction of the Civil Partnership Act on Monday is expected to see 16,500 Britons register as “civil partners” by 2010. That will grant gay and lesbian couples identical rights to married, heterosexual couples, including recognition of a civil partner as the next-of-kin, rights under the rules of intestacy, if a civil partner dies without a valid will, and adoption rights – as well as the same financial provision on any dissolution.

On this day…

2005: Disturbing half-naked men in the doors of Abercrombie…
2005: Flickr Christmas: Santa's gathering in Liverpool 4
2005: Flickr Christmas: Santa’s gathering in Liverpool 4
2005: Civil Partnership: It's In The News Today
2004: the Da Vinci Code

Civil Partnership: It's In The News Today

new — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 05:38:43 +0000

In The Observer, Ben Summerskill says changing the law on same-sex relationships is the easy part. Changing the culture is harder [The Observer].

On this day…

Civil Partnership: It’s Not Just Romance

Jon — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 05:36:12 +0000

Countdown to civil partnership: We are not concerned that we are missing out on wedding presents, says Jonathan, a graphic designer. It is the financial and legal issues that are important to us, but we would like to know all the pros and cons before we go ahead. [Times Online]

On this day…

2005: Flickr Christmas: Snow Monsters Come Out To Play
2005: Civil Partnership: It's Not Just Romance

Civil Partnership: It's Not Just Romance

new — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 05:36:12 +0000

On this day…

2005: Flickr Christmas: Snow Monsters Come Out To Play
2005: Civil Partnership: It’s Not Just Romance

Civil Partnership: Locally In Wandsworth

Jon — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 05:30:38 +0000

Countdown to Civil Partnership: Locally, eight same sex-couples are preparing to tie the knot at Wandsworth’s register office on December 21. Deputy council leader Maurice Heaster said there had been keen local interest in the new arrangements and he was sure the register office facilities would provide the perfect setting for these couples. [Wandsworth Guardian]

On this day…

2005: Flickr Christmas: Jamie Enjoys Herself
2005: Tribute To Atlantic 252
2003: Gay Dads
2002: Invisible Maps

Civil Partnership: George Michael To Wed

Jon — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 07:27:34 +0000

Countdown to Civil Partnership: According to TheCelebrityCafe.com, George Michael and partner of nearly ten years, Kenny Goss, have announced their plans to wed in early 2006 in a small private ceremony.

On this day…

2005: Flickr Christmas: Advent Is Here
2003: A New Month
2002: Christmas Comes But Once A Year
2002: Link and Think

Civil Partnership: Rabbis Are Doing it.

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 08:00:01 +0000

Countdown to civil partnership: According to Times Online, Rabbis from Britains Jewish community have become the first mainstream religious grouping to authorise a gay marriage service. Liberal Judaism, which counts Michael Howard and Michael Grade among its adherents, has produced a new liturgy, Covenant of Love, to coincide with the Civil Partnership Act, which takes effect on December 5.

On this day…

2005: Reduced Commercial Clutter

Civil Partnership: Next Of Kin?

Jon — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 08:00:01 +0000

Countdown to civil partnership: According to BBC News, ‘Next of kin’ rules will now be crystal clear: a doctor will no longer be able to deny someone their rights because they don’t approve of their lifestyle. I wonder if that’s what will happen in practice?

On this day…

2005: Fined. Big Time.

Civil Partnetship: Update From Scotland

Jon — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 08:00:01 +0000

Countdown to Civil Partnetship: A survey for the Scootish Sunday Herald, yesterday, of local authorities has revealed that councils have received 143 provisional bookings for registering civil partnership ceremonies in the run-up to December 5, when the new law comes into force. Edinburgh City Council has the most applicants, with 59 couples registering their intent to take advantage of the new legislation. [more at the Sunday Herlad]

On this day…

2006: Our Masks
2005: All Change At Capital
2004: Oh the fun I'm having…
2004: Oh the fun I’m having…
2004: Gary Lucy's Birthday
2004: Gary Lucy’s Birthday
2003: Pop TV
2003: Linguistic Sensitivity

Civil Partnership: Westminster City Council Survey

Jon — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 08:00:01 +0000

Countdown to civil partnership: A survey of lesbian and gay people shows that many are still unaware about same sex civil partnerships less than two weeks before the Act comes into effect on December 5, according to Westminster City Council. The first same sex civil partnership ceremonies will take place on 21 December. Westminster City Council Register Office has over 100 bookings and the first couple, Roger Lockyer and Percy Stevens will register their partnership at the Register Office at 8am.

On this day…

2004: I Found Some Of Your Life
2003: Snow is Oslo?
2003: Happy Thanksgiving

Civil Partnership: Elton To Marry

Jon — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 08:00:01 +0000

Countdown to civil partnership: Sir Elton John told Attitude magazine that he and his partner, David Furnish, are to “marry” in a private ceremony with only their parents as witnesses. This Is London has the story.

On this day…

2004: Thanksgiving 2004
2004: Does Remote Storage Work
2003: At A Newsagent Near You

Civil Partnership: What’s It All About?

Jon — Fri, 25 Nov 2005 08:00:01 +0000

Countdown to civil partnership: The Civil Partnership Act 2004 received Royal Assent on 18 November 2004. The Government announced on 21 February that the Act would come into force on 5 December this year. This will allow the first civil partnerships under the standard procedure to be formed on 21 December. 10 days to go and you can read all about it at the Women and Equality Unit.

On this day…

2005: Boxes Everywhere
2005: Civil Partnership: What's It All About?
2004: links for 2004-11-25
2004: Celebrity T-Shirt Auction
2003: Coolest of 2003
2002: Stuck On Me

Civil Partnership: What's It All About?

new — Fri, 25 Nov 2005 08:00:01 +0000

On this day…

2005: Boxes Everywhere
2005: Civil Partnership: What’s It All About?
2004: links for 2004-11-25
2004: Celebrity T-Shirt Auction
2003: Coolest of 2003
2002: Stuck On Me

Modern Life Is Rubbish

Jon — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 03:28:58 +0000

Modern Life Is Rubbish, at least that’s what Blur thought back in 1993. I can tell you some Modern Life things still aren’t what they should be. The Modern Life Expo at London’s Business Design Centre was supposed to be and event ‘Combining entertainment and an exhibition we aim to provide suppliers for everything you need in your life from gay wedding planning, health, fashion, home, travel right through to the law & finance’ [site] but it was such a mixture of things (mainly property overseas and wedding invitations) that it didn’t have any focus. Sadly, there weren’t that many people there when we first arrived and we were directed, immediately, to the coffee place rather than the event.

Events like this are kind of weird anyway. They invite people to take stands so that companies can promote their wares. The people attending want to look round with out constantly being pounced on by salespeople. And the two do not go together well. Still, maybe next year …

On this day…

2006: Children In Need Is Britain's version of Thanksgiving
2006: Children In Need Is Britain’s version of Thanksgiving
2004: Another Grid Lock
2003: Movable Type Pro, Soon?
2002: I Want A Career (And I Want It Now)

Gay Life Is More Fun: Official

Jon — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 16:31:29 +0000

After posting a couple of days worth of Flick pictures from Oslo I came across the excellent Flickr Tag Fight via the Flock vs Firefox fight. Well, there was an obvious fight that I couldn’t find so I went and tried gay vs straight and lo, look how much more exciting gay life looks! You can go and see for yourself at gay vs straight flickr tag fight.

On this day…

2004: A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Forum
2003: Side Bar Dermot
2003: Queer Eye?
2002: The World May Not Revolve Around Me

Keep On Rolling

Jon — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 14:58:55 +0000

Great news from Spain. According to BBC News yesterday, Spain’s lower house of parliament has voted in favour of allowing gay couples to marry and adopt children, overruling last week’s rejection of the bill by the upper house, the Senate. The bill will become law in a month’s time, making Spain Europe’s third nation after the Netherlands and Belgium to allow same sex marriages. The BBC also has a handy review of the state of gay marriage around the world.

On this day…

2003: He Know Where They Are
2002: Last Weekend in June

A World Of Hate

Jon — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 15:53:05 +0000

I’m with The Tin Man: ‘I am, by nature, a conciliator. I dont like conflict.’ which may be because I am, in some way, frightened by conflict. It’s my nature although I wonder if I could change it. Would, somehow, confronting my fears work for me? Would I be able to fight my demons and then stand up for what I believe in?

Surely, if ever, this is the time to start standing up and saying what I believe. In Spain this week, Fr. Jose Ramon Velasco compared the proposed bill to legalize gay marriage to the beginnings of Nazi Germany:

“Back then the majority of people also backed Hitler just like the majority back this law,” he said. “I’m serious, give it time and it will destroy the moral fiber of Spain and the West.” [source]

I sit back and wonder how we got here. How can love be turned into hate so easily? When a man of the church says, “I would rather you commit suicide than have you leave Love In Action wanting to return to the gay lifestyle” [see Zach's story] it makes you wonder about people. Not about religion or about the church just about people and how that can be inhumane to each other.

I guess Rev. John Smid (who said the above words) and The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, will never be friends. The Archbishop wants people to stop using “ghastly” language that implied people were “not human beings” because of their sexual orientation:

‘And when you use language which implies they were not human beings who are you to do that because you did not create them?’ [source]

I wonder if I am being too hopeful that his words will have any impact at all.

On this day…

2003: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2003: My First PHP
2002: Joy and pain
2002: Not Great

Being Gay each Day

Jon — Thu, 23 Dec 2004 07:10:52 +0000

A year ago I noted that Armistead Maupin, author of the Tales of the City series, “helped me understand a bigger world where gay people live and have fun but are, deep down, just like their straight counterparts”. There’s an interesting debate over at plasticbag.org about when you should – or should not – declare you sexuality. It all started when Tom drew up a “Tongue-in-cheek-ish slightly-bored early-evening version of what I would kind of like my business card to be like” which spawned other conversations relating sexuality. It appears, kids, that when it comes to understanding the impact of sexual preference on our daily lives we are – unsurprisingly – not like our straight counterparts at all.

On this day…

2005: links for 2005-12-22
2002: Wedding

Mayor Of London

Jon — Thu, 29 Apr 2004 02:18:28 +0000

The race to be the Mayor of London is on again and it appears that some big names are trying to run the Capital for next few years. Ken Livingstone is, of course, the current Mayor and – I think – stands a good chance of getting in again. For the first few years people wondered what he had actually done (apart from give us bendy busses) but it all seems to have come good for him recently. The Liberal Democrats are fielding Simon Hughes and Steve Norris is standing as Conservative. The Green’s candidate (Darren Johnson) is gay and my financial advisor – Iavn Massow – is standing for some reason. The UK Independence Party cops up every now and then and their candidate is Frank Maloney who, according to this story at The Gay Vote, won’t campaign to areas where there are too many gays. Maybe London isn’t the city for him then.

Honestly I am a torn between a couple of the candidates. Of the three main players, I think they all represent the best bits of their respective parties which is interesting. Still some time to go until I have to make up my mind. Vote for the London Mayor on 10th June.

On this day…

2004: What Version Control?
2003: Music Industry Hysteria?