Image:  Facebook

Awards Awareness

Yesterday evening, as I watched the NCAA women's basketball tournament on TV, I assumed I was tuned in to the most lesbionic viewing option of the night. 

Imagine my surprise this morning when I read that, over on another channel, the Academy Awards had been busy going sapphic.

In her acceptance speech after winning the Oscar for best supporting actress, Ariana DeBose said, "Imagine this little girl in the back seat of a white Ford Focus. Look into her eyes, you see an openly queer woman of color and Latina who found her life and strength in art. That’s what I believe we are here to celebrate."

DeBose, who won for her turn as Anita in "West Side Story," added, "So to anybody who has ever questioned your identity, ever, ever, ever—you, you find yourself living in the gray spaces—I promise you this:  There is indeed a place for you."

As she sought to inspire others, the first queer woman of color to win an Oscar invoked famous lyrics from her movie that were written by a beloved gay man who died four months ago. The nation must've been awash in rainbow tears last night.

Kristen Stewart didn't take the Oscar for playing Princess Diana in "Spencer," but she strode the red carpet with her female fiance, Dylan Meyer. Also tripping the carpet fantastic were wife and wife Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts.

Out comedian Wanda Sykes was one of three women to host the show. In a shot at Florida's Don't Say Gay bill, Sykes opened with, "We’re going to have a great night tonight—and for you people in Florida, we’re going to have a gay night,” and she and her co-hosts broke into choruses of "gay, gay, gay."

They weren't lying. It feels like it was a breakthrough night for gay women. I'd like to thank the Academy.

Image:  The Charlotte Observer

Dog Days

A recent display of both stupidity and bigotry made national news, and I'm not talking about the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The owners of a dog named Fezco dumped him at a shelter in Stanly County, N.C. Fezco had humped a male dog, so the owners thought he was gay.

Where to start?

The owners plainly didn't know that mounting is a dominance behavior among dogs. What they did know is they were appalled at the idea of having a homosexual dog.

I'm fighting the impulse to say these people are too stupid to live. Obviously, I just lost the fight.

When ignorance and prejudice combine, humans often get hurt, but in this case the victim was a five-year-old mutt.

With heartworm. It turned out the owners had, apparently, never taken the dog to the vet.

I'll put you out of your misery right now: This tale has a tail-wagging conclusion.

Longtime partners Steve Nichols and John Winn of the greater Charlotte area saw Fezco's story on TV, and promptly adopted him. They renamed him Oscar for—uh huh—Oscar Wilde. Sounds to me like a big gay raspberry blown at the previous owners.

Oscar was immediately scheduled for neutering and heartworm treatment at an animal hospital, but is expected to be in his new home at the end of the week.

"I know it’s silly to think that a dog is gay, but if he wants to be gay as hell, he can be gay here," said Nichols.

One more straight mess cleaned up by gays. I think it's time to start bestowing medals.

Image:  Facebook

Where Dreams Come True

LGBTQA Disney employees staged a walkout today to protest the company's silence on Florida's Don't Say Gay bill.

Snow White and Mary Poppins used the occasion to announce their engagement.