Telling our Story: Matt Dallas and Blue Hamilton

Telling our individual coming out stories never gets tiring because there is still someone out there who needs to hear it. They need to hear it to help education them about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender folks. They need to hear it because while we have come a long way, we still have a way to go. They need to hear it because somewhere in the world there is someone who still needs to know that they are not alone; that there is someone else who knows what they are going through; and that being gay and coming out is okay.

In this youtube video, actor, Matt Dallas and musician, Blue Hamilton tell us their stories; a little bit more humorous than tearjearkering.

Today In LGBT History: Gay Spaces Before They Were Gay

Two web sites that focus on local information and history for Washington, D.C. helped me solve a bit of mystery and brought me some more knowledge about one of my favorite old haunts, the former Remington’s of Washington, D.C.

Remington’s was a hugely popular country-western gay bar on Capital Hill in Washington, D.C. It hosted dance lessons, regular performances from DC’s all male dance group, The DC Cowboys and on weekends would be packed to the gills with folks socializing and twirling around the floor in line dances and partner dances.

As D.C.’s nightlife moved more toward the center of the city and north to U Street area, Remington’s saw less and less patronage. Eventually, in the spring of 2014, the bar decided to close the saloon doors.

After the closing, I noticed a new sign hanging at the space, The Golden Garter. I assumed The Golden Garter was the new business taking over the former Remington’s space. Curious about what it could be, I asked the magic Google genie who directed me to the websites Ghosts of DC and the Hill is Home. Both provided some fascinating history on the building pre-Remington’s:

Quote of the Day: Generational Gap

Out magazine interviews filmmaker Dustin Lance Black and Olympian Tom Daley about their meeting and relationship for the magazine’s annual love issue. The most striking quote of the interview comes from Black, who comments on the different generational thinking between himself and Tom Daley, who is 20 years his junior.

Black: I can’t imagine what it’s like today to discover who you are, and to start to fall in love, and your first thought is not, I could be imprisoned or be forced to undergo electro-shock therapy, but you start thinking about your wedding cake, and who you’re going to invite to the ceremony. It’s a huge change in LGBT culture, and it’s got to be lifesaving.

The quote makes me smile because it shows just how far we come, internally and individually, as a community.

Read the Full Article

Catch Up with Country Stars

msn.com gives us an update on some of the great ladies of country music and what they are up to now.

photo credit Judy Eddy/WENN

Lee Ann Womack
“I Hope You Dance.” For avid country music listeners, has a week gone by since 2000 that you haven’t heard that Lee Ann Womack classic? After the track’s enormous success on both the country and mainstream charts, Lee Ann attempted a pop crossover, but it didn’t go so well. Soon enough, she was back singing traditional country music and by 2014, she’d released her seventh studio album, “The Way I’m Livin,” to critical acclaim.

Country Greats Who Passed Away in 2015

Nash Country Weekly has a list of musicians, singers and songwriters who we have lost in 2015. Below is a sampling of some of the names.

Lynn Anderson, 67, singer (photo by Anne Goetze/PLA Media)

Lynn Anderson, July 30, 2015. – Lynn recorded one of country’s most iconic hits, “Rose Garden,” which also became a crossover smash. Lynn won the 1971 Country Music Association award for Female Vocalist of the Year and scored five No. 1 hits, including “Rose Garden,” during her career. Read more about Lynn Anderson.

Why it Gets Better: 10 2015 Ads Featuring LGBTs

As mentioned in a previous post, seeing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) folks in advertising used to be considered marketing poison. General public sentiment against LGBT folks kept advertisers from featuring our community in their ads. Those that did market to us did so quietly; in specific gay-only publications. That is now no longer the case.

Out magazine notes Ad Age‘s highlight of 10 LGBT advertisements of 2015.

My two favorites are the Tiffany’s ad and the Campbell’s Soup ad below. I like them both because

Why It Gets Better: You Can Help Promote Tourisim

The Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau has come out with a video for their #LetHawaiiHappen campaign which stars a gay male couple. Christian Alarid and Shane Alarid (née Barnes) get a surprise Hawaii wedding with family and friends being flown in from the mainland.

Honolulu Civil Beat notes that both men are in the military:

Christian serves in the Air Force and will enter the Air Force ROTC program next fall at the University of Hawaii, while Shayne recently completed his service in the Marines and is now a full-time student at Hawaii Pacific University. (source)

Their military connection is part of what makes this a why it gets better post. Before 2010