FGB: July 4th Edition

Isn't it interesting how, when "the will of the people" isn't in their favor, the rabid right will turn to actvist judges to get their way? Like in Oregon, where they couldn't get an initiative to overturn the domestic partnership law on the ballot, so now they're suing. Taking a leaf from Peter LaBarbera's hymnbook, I guess: he tried the same thing in Illinois when he couldn't get enough signatures for his anti-marriage referendum.

Too bad: LaBarbera got laughed out of court. Let's see what happens in Oregon.

It seems the trend continues: The Arkansas Family Council Action Committee (you know they have to be bad guys: they have both "Family" and "Action" in their name) is having trouble getting enough signatures for a ballot referendum against children.

I don't seem to have commented on the notorious Heinz commercial that aired -- briefly -- in Britain. Check out the report on the latest wrinkle at Queerty:

“The ASA council considered that while some viewers may have personal objections to any portrayal of same sex kissing there was nothing in the content of the advertisement what would constitute a breach of the advertising code,” said a spokesman for the ASA.

And here's the ad, in case you missed it. I think it's cute.




To finish off this week's FGB, an excellent suggestion from Jeremy Hooper on how to celebrate the 4th:

Yes, that's right -- Fifth of July. A terrific late 70's play play that was written by openly gay playwright Lanford Wilson, that features a lead character who is in a healthy same-sex relationship, and whose 1982 TV production starred the same-sex-lovin' Cynthia Nixon. Plus, the out gay writer who's speaking to you right now was fortunate enough to have worked on (in a PR capacity) the off-Broadway revival that was staged back in 2003. What can be gayer than all that: Seeing how many fat wieners some dudes can suck down in ten minutes? I think not!

I remember seeing that PBS production on Chicago's channel 11. (Yes, I once had a TV and actually watched it.) It was terrific. Remember, this came on public television in 1982, the second year of Reagan and the rise of the homophobic right. It was a tremendous experience -- I even called Channel 11 to thank them for showing it. I remember the guy who answered the phone sounded stunned.

So, go out, celebrate (and if you feel like seeing how many wieners you can swallow, feel free -- but be careful), enjoy the day, and remember: we're living a dream in this country, and slowly, hesitantly, with a lot of stumbles and missteps, but surely, that dream is coming true:

America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality. -- Adlai Stevenson

TTFN

Oops! Almost forgot dessert!