Daily Archives: November 7, 2014



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MISC

The Center's Mike Thompson Says 'P.S., I Love You Because…'

The Center's Mike Thompson Says 'P.S., I Love You Because…'

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Mike Thompson, Executive Director of The LGBT Community Center of the Desert in Palm Springs, California

In recent months, for a variety of media outlets, including GayDesertGuide.com, I’ve been thrilled to interview people about why they love my hometown of Palm Springs, California, hence the headline, “P.S., I Love You Because…”

Mike Thompson joined the staff of The LGBT Community Center of the Desert as Executive Director in June 2014 with more than 18 years of nonprofit leadership experience. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a degree in business administration, he previously served as COO and Acting President of GLAAD and Executive Director of Equality Utah. In addition, Thompson worked with the Gill Foundation and Gill Action to form One Colorado and has worked extensively as a leadership and organizational development consultant. Mike continues to work with CenterLink, the network of LGBT community centers across the nation, to develop a mission-focused governance curriculum for boards of directors. Mike also wrote and published the inspirational Lessons From Gordo the Dog. Mike, Gordo and Boo Boo the Cat live in Palm Springs.

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Mike strikes a pose with the men of Well-Strung at The Center on Nov. 6. They’re performing at Center Stage along with Kate Clinton Nov. 7.

Mike says, “P.S., I Love You Because…”:

…you take my breath away. Whether it’s your early-morning sunrises or midnight skies, I often find myself stopped in my own tracks, standing in awe of the beauty around me.

…you gather people. Whether people come here for a weekend, for a season or for a new life, you create a wonderful space for people to gather and to do life together.

…you’re just the right size. You make it easy for me to get from Point A to Point B, leaving me plenty of time to enjoy all you have to offer.

…you’re a place for celebrations as well as a place that celebrates. During any given week, one can find something being celebrated here.

…of the vibrancy I experience here. There’s something magical happening in Palm Springs. While I can’t quite articulate it, I can certainly feel it — and I love it!

Palm Springs loves you too, Mike, and we’re honored and thrilled at the vision and leadership you bring to our community. And it doesn’t hurt that you’re one handsome man!

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www.huffingtonpost.com/nicholas-snow/the-centers-mike-thompson_b_6118958.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

MISC

Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage Equality: Not Only a Civil Right but a Spiritual Necessity

Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage Equality: Not Only a Civil Right but a Spiritual Necessity
The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals just reaffirmed the right of states to deny civil rights with regard to marriage to U.S. citizens in a ruling that applies to several states. The #IStandSunday campaign a few days earlier equated seeking federal protections for conservative evangelical Christians’ “right” to discriminate against LGBTQIA people’s civil rights with uniting to stand against Hitler and the Nazis. Even more moderate Christians (Southern Baptist Convention, Notre Dame conference, itself an outgrowth of the evangelical “spiritual friendship / side B” movement) have very recently reasserted their claims that “being” homosexual isn’t wrong in itself — as long as we stay celibate (“progress” for which these now-“tolerant” heterosexual brethren are pridefully self-congratulatory). No! It isn’t just our homosexual “being” that God “tolerates” but our homosexual “doing” — our romantic, erotic, loving relationships — that God creates, ordains, and declares good in Hebrew and Christian scriptures.

The message that God wants everyone except cisgender heterosexuals to remain celibate (because “biblical marriage is only between a [cis] man and a [cis] woman”) is unbiblical: Not only were Adam and Eve not married (there were no clergy, churches, witnesses, or liturgies), and not only were many of the people in the Bible polygamous, but, more importantly, the very first human –“ha’adam” in Hebrew in Genesis 2 — is intersex (hence the name I chose when I transitioned), and God explicitly proclaims that intersex person good but in need of a partner: “It is not good that ha’adam should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). God announces that ha’adam needs an empowering helper (“ezer cenegdo,” usually a term used elsewhere in the Bible only for God as the One who gives strength to humans), one like “ha’adam” (also made of earth — the meaning of “ha’adam” — so, in other words, as is clear in context, not just the other animals but one of the same species). That is the point of the story, not binary gender or heterosexuality, about which God says nothing at all, either good or bad. Intersex humanity is proclaimed good, isolation and loneliness bad. That’s all God says. Everything else is human commentary. Not only does Genesis 2 affirm rather than deny intersex existence, but it suggests that intersex gender transition is something God has introduced: ha’adam, one intersex human, basically transitions in two ways to being the male Adam and the female Eve. This passage also clearly and explicitly denies that God thinks celibacy is preferable to marriage: It is not good for a human (of any gender) to be alone, says God. The idea of celibacy as preferable to marriage (but even then only for those who don’t “burn” with desire for a mate) derives from apostle Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7, and he admits it’s just his opinion based on his expectation of the end times and the Messiah’s return in his lifetime: It was his self-admitted opinion, and he was wrong about the timing of Christ’s return also in the same passage, so why would we proclaim this faulty opinion as a mandate for LGBTQIA Christians today? To do so cannot be justified as biblical but only with humility, as Paul did as personal opinion, in this case based on cultural prejudice.

Regardless of gender, the Christian Bible describes three kinds of love possible between two people: agape, an unconditional love that is a gift from God that, in marriage, takes the form of mutual submission and spiritual devotion to one another out of shared reverence for the God both love (Ephesians 5.21); philos, friendship so deep and enduring that the apostle Peter uses it twice to describe his love for Jesus (John 21); and eros, the romantic and sexual longing, desire and expression of love for one another, particularly in the sacramental covenant of faithful marriage. Between two partners, whatever their gender, when these three bonds of love — for and from God, love as friends, and romantic love — come together, they mutually reinforce and strengthen a couple’s love for each other and for God: “A cord of many strands is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4.12). The love that marriage equality affirms doesn’t threaten Christian marriage; it reinforces it by building up the spiritual strength, faith, and humanity of each gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and/or intersex individual blessed by such a love. These three strands of love (agape, philos, and eros) intertwined together are stronger than the bond of Christian mutual servanthood and devotion (agape) or friendship (philos) alone. This lived reality of queer Godly love directly contradicts the heretical lies of many Christians that such love draws us away from God, inverts us to selfish narcissism, and undermines masculine friendships and brotherhood through lustful promiscuity. To attribute a love that is Godly and bears good spiritual fruit (Matthew 7.17) to Satan or sin is in fact the only sin Jesus calls unforgivable: It’s blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12.31-32). Instead I give praise to the One who created me, genetically an intersex male who has had to transition from the female identity mistakenly assigned at birth (thus also transgender), and thanks as a Christian for the agape, philos, and eros of the gay love which blesses, enriches, nourishes, and strengthens me spiritually, bearing fruit in ministry and service to and with others.

www.huffingtonpost.com/h-adam-ackley-phd/recognizing-samesex-marri_b_6118750.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

MISC

Stephen Guarino Is The Gay Stephen Colbert In The Straight Out Report

Stephen Guarino Is The Gay Stephen Colbert In The Straight Out Report

stephen-guarino-287785If Stephen Guarino’s name isn’t instantly recognizable, you likely know his scene-stealing work in films (the popular BearCity comedies) and on TV (Logo’s The Big Gay Sketch Show). The out comic actor made his most unforgettable impression as Penny’s best gay pal Derrick (scream it with me, “DRAMA!”) in the gone-too-soon sitcom Happy Endings (if you missed the series during its original run, Logo is presenting a marathon today). Guarino’s kept busy since the show’s cancellation and will appear in the much-anticipated return of HBO’s The Comeback as a cocky restaurant host who spars with Valerie Cherish. Even more exciting, though, is his new weekly series The Straight Out Report, on which he’ll make like Stephen Colbert and semi-politely bicker with straight co-host Mike E. Winfield (“Late Show with David Letterman”) on the cultural highs and lows of the past week. The show premieres tonight at 10 p.m. on Logo and will feature special guest Roy Haylock, better known as reigning draglebrity Bianca del Rio. Guarino chatted with Queerty about the new show, his busy career as an out actor and

Queerty: How would you describe The Straight Report?

Stephen Guarino: A platform for me to show off and vomit out all of my semi-precious opinions while battling with Mike’s hilarious sincerity and then eventually coming to a consensus that appeases us and every gay and straight person in the world. No wait not appease…annoy.

Why should people watch it?

Nobody should watch anything. They should go out in the world and change the infrastructure of crumbling societies and save the environment. Buuuuuut if you ain’t gonna do that until next week you should watch our show because it’s funny as hell.

Screen Shot 2014-11-07 at 1.38.05 PMYou have a segment called “Unintentional Gay Moment.” What are some examples of these? 

You know, like unexpected graphic male nudity, let’s say in an email…like the one i just sent you…you’ve got mail.

Since your cohost Mike is straight, how much of your opinions on topics and trends is specifically related to your different sexual orientations?

Well, he likes Beyonce because she’s hot and I like Beyonce because it’s the law. So I’d guess about half, we have more in common than you think. For example, we both love getting paid to do TV shows.

What are some of the pop culture trends you currently find annoying?

The word “trending”….oh you mean like what’s happening in the world? We used to call that “time” or “life.” Other than that I thought the “Grumpy Cat” meme was cute, but I do not need a movie about it starring Aubrey Plaza.

Who are some of the LGBT performers you admire?

Super young gay kids that have the balls to put out crazy stupid youtube videos, Willam, on the cusp of fame people like Drew Droege, old school types like Nathan Lane, and in gay porn Conner Maguire, Conner Habib…all the Conners really. My dream is to meet Jennifer Saunders, writer and star of Absolutely Fabulous. I wrote her a letter 12 years ago, still have it. Couldn’t figure out how regular mail works.

You’re the go-to actor for the best gay friend in TV sitcoms. What affect has this had on your career?

Thank you for the compliment. It has only been positive. I have a total blast doing it. I have never felt humiliated…I save that for the bedroom. I suppose my career could stand to be a touch more diversified, but that’s like super hard work. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

What other sort of characters do you want to play? Is there a straight character inside you screaming to get out?

I have played many straight characters on stage. I have more flexibility there. On TV there are enough actors in the system that they can pretty much cast exact types.  I did Around the World in 80 Days Off Broadway last year playing a Cockney detective and at the Public Shakespeare Lab, I performed Richard II, Hotspur, Benedict, and Cassius from Julius Caesar. I mean I played ‘em all with a dick in my mouth, but I played ‘em!

b9bBKWhich character are you most recognized for and what do fans say to you?

It is a funny toss up: Either Derrick from three seasons of Happy Endings on ABC or this small gay independent movie I did called BearCity that is a bedside bible now to the Bear community. If it’s the first they say “OMG you were so funny and I loved the witty banter of the stellar ensemble cast” and if it’s the second they say “Was that real pee in the shower scene?” I won the coveted OutFest Best Actor award for the latter.

When you meet people in real life, how do you let them know you’re not Derrick?

I am not saying I am that butch, but I am noooothing like Derrick. He is fun, outgoing, enthusiastic, well-dressed, and hangs out with lots of women. There are two sides to me: My real self and the self that books jobs.

Besides yourself, who is the hottest gay guy in pop culture right now and why?

Neil Patrick Harris presents Neil Patrick Harris in this year’s production of “Are you there Neil Patrick Harris? It’s me Neil Patrick Harris!” And for that role he won two Neil Patty awards! SHARE WITH THE REST OF US NPH!

Watch Stephen behind-the-scenes of The Straight Report and some of his most amahzing moments on Happy Endings below.

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/0gl94sqwiyk/stephen-guarino-is-the-gay-stephen-colbert-in-the-straight-out-report-20141107

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