Planning ahead: NaNoWriMo

I entered the writing world in February, 2009, and for the last two years I've watched as my fellow amateur writers participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). In point of fact, it's an international event, but that's neither here nor there.

Any rate, NaNoWriMo participants sign up and pledge to write 50,000 words between November 1 and November 30th. I've never participated as I've had other obligations in that month and didn't want to set myself up for failure.

This year I've decided to plan ahead and join the challenge. I've already told my husband I'm going to sign up, and I shall plan my obligations accordingly - that is to say, I'm not going anywhere or doing anything that month. LOL

If you plan to participate as well, please add me as a writing buddy on the NaNo website. My profile is here. :)

A day in the life of immigration equality

Dear Chicago

We've never met. I've seen pictures, of course, and I've talked to people who know you intimately. Despite that we've never met, I think I've gotten to know you well enough to admit that I'm a little in love with you.

It's this feeling that makes me wish I could be with you today when you celebrate the brave and vibrant gay community who live and work in you. How I would love to be there, to show my support and be part of that atmosphere.

I can't be with you today; but in September, you and I have a date. I'll be with you soon...in the meantime, please give my love to the thousands who will be celebrating there today. Keep them safe and let them know they are loved and supported.

xoxo Katie Starfish

Just Marriage

"I know many people are concerned about the destruction of the sanctity of marriage, as well, and they view this as a threat. But let me as you something, ladies and gentlemen, what are we really protecting when you look at the divorce rate in our society?

Turn on the television. We have a wedding channel on cable TV devoted to the behavior of people on their way to the altar. They spend billions of dollars, behave in the most appalling way, all in an effort to be princess for a day. You don’t have cable television? Put on network TV. We’re giving away husbands on a game show. You can watch “The Batchelor,” where 30 desperate women will compete to marry a 40-year-old man who has never been able to maintain a decent relationship in his life. We have “The Bacholorette,” in reverse. And my favorite show, which thank God only ran one season because it was truly distasteful, was “The Littlest Groom,” where 30 desperate women competed to marry a dwarf.

That’s what we’ve done to marriage in America, where young women are socialized from the time they’re five years old to think of being nothing but a bride. They plan every day what they’ll wear, how they’ll look, the invitations, the whole bit. They don’t spend five minutes thinking about what it means to be a wife. People stand up there before God and man — even in Senator Diaz’s church — they swear to love, honor, and obey; they don’t mean a word of it.

So if there’s anything wrong, any threat to the sanctity of marriage in America, it comes from those of us who have the privilege and the right, and we have abused it for decades."

--NY Senator Diane Savino

Deep Dish

Chapters 20, 21, 22, 23.

They happened this weekend. I wasn't going to mention it. Except...I'm kinda bumming hard about it and I'm going to shamelessly beg for some virtual hugs - group hugs, even. Let's get tipsy and wail together.

If your true love was halfway around the world

...and you'd been separated for 33 years, what would you give to be reunited with them?

I am the Water, You are the Sea

THE STORY
In 1977, a young Peace Corps volunteer named Alex stared out the dusty back window of a silver BMW. As the car pulled away, his lover, Ali, stood in the middle of the street, waving goodbye. The car picked up speed, turned a corner, and Ali disappeared from sight. Alex turned around, blinked, and stared at his hands. The hands which had just moments before embraced the love of his life as they said goodbye. When would their hands touch again? Would they ever? Through tears, he stared out the window, watching the city of Tehran speed by. The Iranian revolution was drawing near, and he had no choice but to leave. To leave the only man who had ever truly loved him. His heart was breaking.

Directed by Malachi Leopold, I Am the Water, You Are the Sea tells the true story of two lovers: Alex, an American Peace Corps volunteer; and Ali, an Iranian Muslim. The two have been separated for more than 33 years. In 1967, while Alex was working with the Peace Corps in Iran, the two met, fell in love, and kept their relationship secret for 10 years. With political unrest escalating, and the Iranian revolution fast approaching, Alex was forced to leave Iran – and Ali – in 1977. The two haven’t seen each other since.

But now, for the first time in 33 years, they are going to be reunited. I Am the Water, You Are the Sea will document their reunion, in addition to telling the incredible true story of their forbidden love in Iran in the 60’s and 70’s.

We invite you to help us tell their incredible story, and inspire people around the world to believe that there is nothing that can keep us apart – not distance, not time, religion, politics, war, fear – nothing that can stand in the way of being who we truly are. Nothing that can stand in the way of loving who, what, when, where and how we want.

This is a special appeal to my readers to help provide financial support for the making of this movie. I have already made my own financial pledge toward the goal of $25,000. The goal must be reached by July 1, 2011, in order for the project to be funded. This story has touched me on so many levels and I already feel invested in witnessing the future happiness of Alex and Ali. I invite you to follow the links to pledge your monetary support for Malachi to tell their story.

Any takers?

I have a video on YouTube. Well, I have several, but this is about a particular video, one that has 300K views. It's not a long video, but it's a good one. I think it's the first I ever posted. It's a short clip of Queer as Folk, and it depicts the first time viewers see Justin top Brian.

The video has 280 likes, 14 dislikes, and 160 comments. Most comments are along the lines of, "I LOVED IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED," or "OMG, why did they stop it there??" Today I got a comment - and yes, it was directed to me personally - that, despite being nearly incoherent, managed to convey that the person is entirely homophobic and thinks I support the LGVT community because I'm afraid to speak out against them.

I read the comment today when I was at work (it was emailed to me) and spent part of the afternoon thinking about my response. I intended to reply when I got home this evening. Then when I was driving home, I saw a rainbow. Really. And I decided, fuck it. Nothing I could say would persuade him, and I don't need persuading (I had this conversation with myself long ago, and I couldn't agree with myself more).

However, I invite my readers to have at him/her/it. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK-xaS1xlF8 and the user who posted the comment in question is Getoverhere.

It Gets Better Canada

From This Moment

When I was a youngster, one of my best friends was a shy (but wickedly funny) little blonde girl named Melissa. When I first met Melissa's family, around age 10, she was the youngest of four in a newly-blended family: her mom, her and her sister had moved in with her new step-dad, step-sister and step-brother.

After a few years a little bundle came along to join the family, and that little bundle was named Kevin. Melissa and I were 13 when Kevin was born, and he was our little doll. He was adorable and bright, and always cracked us up. When he was about two I remember him having trouble pronouncing "tr" - he substituted an "f" instead. We got him to say "truck" over and over...LOL.

When I was 18 I left the religion where both our families worshipped, and lost touch with Melissa, Kevin and the rest of her family. A few years ago, thanks to Facebook, I reconnected with Kevin - who informed me he, too, had left the religion of our birth, and was making a new, independent life...and he told me he was gay.

Understand that our former religion is in no way supportive of homosexuality, and so it was both a surprise and a source of inspiration to me to realize what Kevin had gone through as he realized his sexuality. He was fortunate, however, in that he had someone to love and support him: his boyfriend Andrew.

Today Kevin and Andrew got married - legally, of course, as we live in Canada. I am a little choked up thinking back to little Kevin, who is now a brave man who has refused to settle for anything less than brilliant happiness. So this blog post is dedicated with much love and support to Kevin and Andrew. May you share a lifetime of love. xoxo

30 Days of Music: Day Twenty-Nine

A Song From Your Childhood

"Daniel", by Elton John (yes, that's me as a little tyke)