President Obama: The Fierce Advocate for Gay Rights

What’s his renewed plan? Check it out!

–V.Jay

Tumble Me Orange

First, I joined Twitter. I have enjoyed it so much but I decided it was not enough. A 140-character limit is too restricting. I have a blog here and I have no immediate plans to pull the plug from it, but I needed a platform that was more random, more personal and enabled me to express myself on my iPhone.

The answer: Tumblr. The venue where it acts as a median between Twitter and WordPress. You’re more than welcome to visit my Tumblelog [paint the (micro)blog orange].

–V.Jay

Happy Pride Month!

Better late than never! So far, I don’t have any plans to attend any of the pride events around Florida. I guess Orlando’s Gay Days would technically count as a Pride event but its mostly just tourists visiting the area theme parks and night clubs. For the most part, there is no parade and no local festival around here.

St. Pete Pride would be the closest event which is later on this month. However, I won’t be going to St. Petersburg since I will spend my time in Tampa Bay for a performance of Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco during my birthday.

In closing, I wanted to challenge anyone willing to hear me out. Pride events are perhaps the only opportunity for individuals in our community to express themselves without persecution. I am specifically referring to the men and women visiting from conservative rural towns. If you want to make a difference that will outlast a weekend, reach out to anyone who seem alone. You may make a new friend ^_^.

–V.Jay

Blame Complacency

“Who you are speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson eloquently rewords the common phrase “Action speaks louder than words.”  Proposition 8 is upheld by California’s Supreme Court.  Marriage equality is only practiced in 5 of the 50 states. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a policy still enforced under a President who advocated against it as a candidate. There are many more issues to address.

Words mention one thing but action is led quite differently.

Instead of placing blame on failed campaigns (in California and Florida’s Amendment 2) and President Obama. I feel that the LGBTQ community will be better off if we do our part to turn anger into action. It’s time to end our complacency because our President will not make our cause for equality a priority of his administration without a unified voice calling for change.  I believe we are a movement without a substantial direction. Therefore, our movement for equal rights should be more like a massive revolution.

So why am I not placing blame on President Obama? I’ll cite an exchange between Dr. Martin Luther King and President Lyndon B. Johnson…

Martin Luther King: “We need this Voting Rights Act. You know, we need your help.”
President Johnson:  “I wanna do it. Make me do it.”

My fellow progressive Americans, we need to make President Obama move Equal Rights to one of his top priorities. How do we do this? The most productive way to engage him -and other politicians- is through activism.

Don’t depend on the Human Rights Campaign to be the only voice for LGBTQ rights. With all due respect, HRC is nothing but a lobbying organization (a great one but its still a lobby). President Obama knows about change so this moment is an opportunity for the LGBTQ community (and the essential Allies) to gather up millions and vocalize for it. Its time to mobilize and start a revolution for the sake of humanity.

If, God forbid, President Obama and Washington, D.C. still ignores us… Well, lets stay optimistic. There is progress being made for equality but complacency will do nothing on our behalf. That’s one of the many lessons I learned after watching Milk.

So I challenge you -as well as challenge myself- to make an action plan. Every tiny bit will count. Remember, one million ripples -preferably in unison- will eventually cause an enormous wave.

–V.Jay

Remember the Forgotten

As I paid tribute to the men and women who served this country in uniform especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of life, I took a moment of silence to reflect.  A moment to also pay tribute to the men and women who served Uncle Sam honorably but for some inexplicable reason were discharged under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Before I give thanks. I have a bone to pick.

To President Obama: I supported you before you knew you would run for President in 2008. However, if you fail to recognize millions of voices calling for change to end inequality, you leave me with no other choice but to end the supply of the “Obama Kool-Aid” and demonstrate my frustrations to you. It’s all tough love.

Now, here is my tribute…

To those 12,000 plus individuals affected by this discriminatory policy… This Memorial Day, I have decided to dedicate the day to you. Thank You for serving honorably in the face of inequality. For those who are currently serving but are forced to remain quiet, my appreciation is the least I can show to support you.

–V.Jay

An Insight from Margaret Cho

“You cannot have ass all the time. If you have ass all the time, it not special.”

There you have it.  To all men in Orlando, Gainesville and beyond. Have some dignity for a change. Stop trying to seduce me. Quit unbuckling my belt. How about you actually show effort to know me before you even attempt to unbuckle my belt.  What ever happened to courtship and chivalry? As you lay there above the sheets with every single inch of your body perfectly exposed, are you enjoying surrendering to the stereotype that all gay men are promiscuous…

Yes. I get it. You are hot. Stop tempting me!

Is there any hope for dignity? Do I have to expect that all guys are just uncontrollable horny pricks? I realize its fun to make out here and fool around there but I don’t want to do this forever.

I don’t want to accept that everything will be fun and games from now on. I want to trust and love before I turn 30. Before I know it, that day will arrive soon.

–V.Jay

Aussie Bootay

Cronulla, Manly, Bondi and Surfers Paradise.

Australia means business when beaches are involved. Aussies also take pride in showcasing the beauty of the men Down Under. There is an International Surfer Invitational held in Sydney’s Manly Beach. Hot men in Manly? From my observations, the name lives up to its purpose. Here is the visual proof. All 1000 words of it.

I conclude the "Mate of Cronulla" is AussieBum's namesake

Ay Dios mio. Two words (of the thousand) that comes to mind is “Daaayyyum Mate!” I have a feeling the guy from the picture knew what he was doing. Could you blame him? He knew he was packing a voluptuous trunk as a rear end. Why not flaunt it?

Despite the abundance of excellent men, I have no immediate plans of traveling to Australia. [insert uber sad face]

–V.Jay

[Img HT || Flickr/RMEIKLEJ: 2008 Manly Surf Carnival (in pictures)]

Coco Martin: The Asian Persuasion

I don’t know much of Coco Martin but the internet is an expansive resource. All I know is that this cute Filipino is starring in Kinatay. The film is premiering in the Cannes Film Festival.

Here’s a synopsis of the film…

Peping, a criminology student, is recruited by his schoolmate, Abyong, to work as a part-time errand boy for a local syndicate that collects protection fees from various businesses in Manila. The easy money Peping earns is spent mostly on his girlfriend, Cecille, who’s also a student. Peping decides to marry her, but in order to do so he’ll need more money. Abyong contacts Peping to join a “special project” that pays more than normal…

From my understanding, the special project consists of Man on Man. ^_^ I have a few links for your leisure.

–V.Jay

[HT || Towleroad]
[Wikipedia || Coco Martin]
[Festival de Cannes || Kinatay]

My Date With The West

A couple of months have elapsed since my visit to California but it does not feel as if it were that long ago. I went and saw nothing but beauty.  Moutains so wonderous I cheered up after a dissapointing finish in my competition.  Temperatures so hot and dry I did not know it was 100F  degrees outside (I am used to the humidity of Florida).  Burgers so great I forgave myself for waiting so long before trying In-N-Out burgers for the first time.

Reminds me of the LA Express on Night One w/ Mike

I loved the laid back attitude displayed by Californians (contagious to the point all of the visiting students portrayed the same bravado as if it came natural).  I enjoyed the eye candy of the gorgeous men of Southern California. Heck, the award for the the school with most gorgeous men will have to go to Southern Illinois University ^_^ (based on the guys in the Horticulture program). California brought out the beauty in all of us. Ironic considering the state is known for plastic surgery.

Cal Poly Pomona at Night (The site of my competition)

I have many memories from the trip. The first morning in the Golden State. The Mountains!! The brief but meaningful rendezvous with Mike (Thanks for taking me to In-N-Out and touring me around East LA!). Finally, the competiton itself.

I am sure I’ll have another opportunity to explore the West Coast.

–V.Jay

P.S. The In-N-Out burgers were THAT good!

[HT || Random Thoughts...: Meeting V.Jay]
[Img HT || Flickr: SUPERSTEVE9219]
[ptbO Archive || Counting Down to California]

Like Whoa!

I think Cristiano Ronaldo just experienced an epiphany.

Congrats for coming to terms with your attraction for the same-sex ^_^

–V.Jay

[HT || Towleroad: Cristiano Ronaldo Has a Sexual Awakening?]