So far all my posts about my neighborhood have been on a rather negative note, but just the other day I realized that there are some positive things that deserve recognition. And since I am a strong believer in giving credit where credit is due, I thought that it is high time to do exactly that.
I have noticed that more and more people on the two- block radius of my daily walks with Kitry and Fiby recognize me and actually show signs of politeness towards me and the Babies. In fact, walking them these days, I run into at least five people every day who take the time to say "Hello", ask me how I am, and wish me a good day! And to my surprise, I am not only talking about the nice neighbor three doors down, but actually about some rather rough guys I was kinda afraid of until recently. You know... the group of guys hanging out on their stoop at all hours of the day and night!? So - having exactly those guys greeting me and calling me "Buddy" gives me a whole new feeling of safety on the block. If I now run into shady people during my walk, I think to myself:" They better not touch me, or my "buddies" will be after them!" Even the arguing people behind our property are now nice to me, greet me and make a point to always be polite.
I think it is a great benefit for me to be seen on a regular basis now. I admit... walking two Shih- Tzus who I constantly talk to while walking ("good girls... good babies... that's my pretty girl!!!"), wearing either pajama pants and a tank top, or my clothes for work, I could tell in the beginning that those same guys who are now "buddies" of mine used to look at me funny. I mean; every scary neighbor and their Pit bull can see I am gay. But like I wrote in a previous post, all they needed was to be confronted with the same thing for a while, and the novelty wore off quickly. Now I am just another guy walking his dogs, not bothering anybody and just being part of the picture. I still wished those guys would conduct themselves in a somewhat more socially appropriate manner - such as not throwing their beer cans onto the sidewalk, not dumping their cat litter on the patch of grass between the street and the curb or keeping the noise down a bit. But I also don't want to forget that there are some good points here, and I wanted to make sure to express them. It is very easy for me to get into this mode of only seeing the bad stuff, but the truth is that I live here and that I have the choice to make it better or worse for myself in my own head. Really... all I can do is make my part of it as positive as possible. And I have made the decision to make the best of what we have here and now. I am not gonna be afraid to walk from our car to the house at night, and I am not gonna miss our walks after dark, just because the neighborhood is considered bad. We have to feel safe and comfortable in our home... after all, where else can we feel safe???
Anyway; I just wanted to share those good thoughts with you, and encourage everybody to see if there might be some good things in your hood that might help you feel better about the way things are. It is what it is, and I will certainly continue to complain about the things that bother me. But sometimes it is important to recognize the good stuff as well, and my "buddies" certainly deserve to be mentioned!!! (I wish you could see them... they are really, really scary!). So - don't mess with me! I have people now!!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The green- thing
I have this habit of stating my opinion about things I really don't know too much about. I find that in doing so, usually one of two things happens: I either sound like a complete idiot, or I actually hit it right on by approaching a subject from a very basic point of view. Let's see what happens this time!?
Wherever we look these days we are surrounded by talk about "living green". Everything is green, greener and much greener. I am obviously not saying anything against it, seeing that our dear planet Earth certainly needs a little bloody support from her occupants. And while I do believe that we should all take part in making a difference, I can't help but wonder about the way we are being guilted into buying overpriced products that are called "green". Sorry... I would like to get a "recycled glass counter top", a hybrid car or solar roof panels, but by the cost of all those items I have to assume that producers of such "green" products are not too eager to actually sell them to a significant enough number of people. I am sure that manufacturing costs are high, bla bla bla... and we consumers are encouraged to bite the bullet and spend the money because "it's the right thing to do". In my opinion the right thing to do would be for the manufacturers to bite the bullet and sell their stuff for a price the average Joe can actually afford. And what makes it worse for me is to see celebrities and politicians look at me through the TV and talk about the importance of "going green". Well... screw you! The money I make in a year would not even buy you a hand bag!
Believe me, I would like to contribute to the cause. I live on the planet, too, and I actually love it. Don't get me wrong... I am trying to do my part, but so far the only really successful thing for me has been to reuse my grocery bags to pick up kitry's and fiby's poop with.
I tried to buy a solar- operated pump for my water fountain - couldn't find it.
I tried to use paper bags at the supermarket - broke while loading my stuff in the car.
I tried to not turn all the lights on all the time - I bumped into stuff (OK... that was a joke).
But I am trying to take the bus to go to work some days, since Manolo and I work in opposite directions. And let me tell you; it is one more of those things where they make it just so damn hard to "go green". The other day I was done working at 1PM, walked to the bus stop... waited... waited... waited...! Guess at what time I was at my front door!? At 3:30. Driving there doesn't even take 20 minutes. I have dogs that need to walk, I have floors that need to get scrubbed and I have a blog to write for crying out loud.
So; as long as it costs thousands of dollars more for that hybrid, or it takes hours online to find that water pump, or three paper bags to support my groceries or three hours to get home from work I simply don't have it in me to "go green". And I will not feel guilty about it either. They want me to stop smoking, they bump the cigarette prices up. Now you want me to go green, then get the "green" prices down. It's that simple.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
One last swan...
Even though my career as a dancer is sort of officially over, I have not yet mentioned the fact that I will be performing one last time in Germany this upcoming November.
It all started coming together when I performed with the Trocks in Berlin early last year. We did a very successful two- week run in an amazing theater, where I danced The Dying Swan every night. One evening a colleague walked up to me, saying: "You'll never guess who is in the audience tonight - I just ran into her in the hallway and she was asking about you!!! Birgit Keil!!!"
I know this name does not ring a bell with a lot of the none dancers, but this Lady can most certainly be considered the first German prima ballerina. She was dancing in Stuttgart when I was a student at the John Cranko School. She actually visited the boarding school a few times, and (now this is funny...) on her 50th birthday a few of us kids were invited to her party at her fabulous duplex apartment, and a friend and I actually did a drag show for her (age: 14!!!). So - I guess she kept remembering me as this little boy in drag, and was therefor certainly not surprised to find me as a member of Ballets Trockadero.
Anyway; I was nervous as all hell when I found out she was going to see the show, but couldn't wait to meet her after the curtain came down.
She came back stage, gave me a hug... (looking amazing in a Chanel suit), and told me about a Gala she is organizing for November of 2008. She asked me if there was a chance for me to take the time and come to Stuttgart for three shows - her organization would fly me in from wherever I am. Flattered and honored I obviously agreed, and was looking forward to it ever since.
I didn't hear from her for several months, and thought that maybe the whole thing is not happening after all, when suddenly I was contacted by her secretary and received the contracts by mail shortly thereafter. By this time I have already left the company, and am now doing it as a free lance artist. At first I thought it might be a problem with music and all the technicalities... but it turns out, I will actually dance to a live orchestra.
Today I received my E- ticket to Germany, which makes this the last step before actually going and performing one of my favorite roles three last times. It will be my very own way of saying "good bye" to dancing; in the city where I started it all close to 20 years ago. There is something sentimental about it... something very theatrical and something very organic. Ever since I left boarding school and Stuttgart at age 18, I looked back at that time in sadness, anger, disappointment and fear. There were not too many nice people to remember and not too many nice experiences to look back on. Hearing the name of this quite pretty city alone gives me chills to this very day. It was there that teachers told me (and many other successful dancers) that I would never make it in this business. It was there that I walked out of classes with black and blue bruises all over my body. It was there that I have given people the power to be abusive and vicious without ever showing signs or asking for help. And it was there that I have sacrificed my childhood and youth to a profession that dominated my life ever since. Stuttgart is most certainly the place that molded me as a person the most. The place that I credit with giving me my biggest strengths, but also my greatest weaknesses.
The truth is that I am afraid of going there; of meeting people that I saw the last time when I was a little boy with freckles all over my face. Of facing people I have been trying to forget for the past 12 years. But the truth is also that I am a different person now, and that I have left my powerlessness behind - along with my freckles (speaking of which... where DID they go???) The preparation process for my trip is already therapeutic, and I am hoping that my actual going there will somehow close a circle that has never been quite round.
I am very excited about the shows though - about what they mean to me as an artist. A reviewer wrote about my Dying Swan during my last tour in February that "... The Dying Swan has become Burgmaier's signature, just like it once has for Anna Pavlova".
I have put a lot of work into this role, and I think back at the many times I have performed it with a warm feeling in my heart. It has been the piece that I grew into during my entire Trockadero career, and the piece that gave me the most freedom to explore myself as an artist.
So... come early August, one can find me in a dance studio once again; taking classes and getting my behind into shape. I am actually amazed at how well I am without the constant sweating and holding on to barres. In many ways I guess I have the peaceful feeling that I have done what I wanted to do in this business, and that I can now focus on a future without blisters and sore muscles. Well... seeing how I have not moved one bit in four months, I am sure I will have my share of pain once I squeeze my feet into the good old pointe shoes. But hey; that's another thing about the Dying Swan. Extra suffering only makes the "Dying" part more real!!!
It all started coming together when I performed with the Trocks in Berlin early last year. We did a very successful two- week run in an amazing theater, where I danced The Dying Swan every night. One evening a colleague walked up to me, saying: "You'll never guess who is in the audience tonight - I just ran into her in the hallway and she was asking about you!!! Birgit Keil!!!"
I know this name does not ring a bell with a lot of the none dancers, but this Lady can most certainly be considered the first German prima ballerina. She was dancing in Stuttgart when I was a student at the John Cranko School. She actually visited the boarding school a few times, and (now this is funny...) on her 50th birthday a few of us kids were invited to her party at her fabulous duplex apartment, and a friend and I actually did a drag show for her (age: 14!!!). So - I guess she kept remembering me as this little boy in drag, and was therefor certainly not surprised to find me as a member of Ballets Trockadero.
Anyway; I was nervous as all hell when I found out she was going to see the show, but couldn't wait to meet her after the curtain came down.
She came back stage, gave me a hug... (looking amazing in a Chanel suit), and told me about a Gala she is organizing for November of 2008. She asked me if there was a chance for me to take the time and come to Stuttgart for three shows - her organization would fly me in from wherever I am. Flattered and honored I obviously agreed, and was looking forward to it ever since.
I didn't hear from her for several months, and thought that maybe the whole thing is not happening after all, when suddenly I was contacted by her secretary and received the contracts by mail shortly thereafter. By this time I have already left the company, and am now doing it as a free lance artist. At first I thought it might be a problem with music and all the technicalities... but it turns out, I will actually dance to a live orchestra.
Today I received my E- ticket to Germany, which makes this the last step before actually going and performing one of my favorite roles three last times. It will be my very own way of saying "good bye" to dancing; in the city where I started it all close to 20 years ago. There is something sentimental about it... something very theatrical and something very organic. Ever since I left boarding school and Stuttgart at age 18, I looked back at that time in sadness, anger, disappointment and fear. There were not too many nice people to remember and not too many nice experiences to look back on. Hearing the name of this quite pretty city alone gives me chills to this very day. It was there that teachers told me (and many other successful dancers) that I would never make it in this business. It was there that I walked out of classes with black and blue bruises all over my body. It was there that I have given people the power to be abusive and vicious without ever showing signs or asking for help. And it was there that I have sacrificed my childhood and youth to a profession that dominated my life ever since. Stuttgart is most certainly the place that molded me as a person the most. The place that I credit with giving me my biggest strengths, but also my greatest weaknesses.
The truth is that I am afraid of going there; of meeting people that I saw the last time when I was a little boy with freckles all over my face. Of facing people I have been trying to forget for the past 12 years. But the truth is also that I am a different person now, and that I have left my powerlessness behind - along with my freckles (speaking of which... where DID they go???) The preparation process for my trip is already therapeutic, and I am hoping that my actual going there will somehow close a circle that has never been quite round.
I am very excited about the shows though - about what they mean to me as an artist. A reviewer wrote about my Dying Swan during my last tour in February that "... The Dying Swan has become Burgmaier's signature, just like it once has for Anna Pavlova".
I have put a lot of work into this role, and I think back at the many times I have performed it with a warm feeling in my heart. It has been the piece that I grew into during my entire Trockadero career, and the piece that gave me the most freedom to explore myself as an artist.
So... come early August, one can find me in a dance studio once again; taking classes and getting my behind into shape. I am actually amazed at how well I am without the constant sweating and holding on to barres. In many ways I guess I have the peaceful feeling that I have done what I wanted to do in this business, and that I can now focus on a future without blisters and sore muscles. Well... seeing how I have not moved one bit in four months, I am sure I will have my share of pain once I squeeze my feet into the good old pointe shoes. But hey; that's another thing about the Dying Swan. Extra suffering only makes the "Dying" part more real!!!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Public arguments
In many ways we are very lucky with the location of our house. The nicest thing about the surroundings to me is that behind our back yard there is a big lawn that belongs to the church we are next to. It really makes for a nice view and a somewhat open feel when stepping out the back door. Also - it means that we only have two direct neighbors, where without the church lawn we would probably have three.
Past the church grounds is another street, lined by houses on the far side from our position. So, one would think that this is the one direction we would NOT have any issues with. Well... think again.
There are two houses past our yard, past the church grounds and across the street, where the families feel the urge to turn any issue into a live version of a reality TV show. At first I found their loudness quite entertaining and interesting. People were kicked out, young adults were forbidden to come back home, they publicly screamed about their drug using- and selling habits, called each other whores and bitches left and right and made sure the entire area would hear it all. I would literally go into the yard, smoke a cigarette and just watch the arguments unfold. I was hooked.
But you know what? It's enough, and just like with a lot of reality TV shows that raised some interest in the beginning, the novelty wore off quickly. What is left is this annoying knowledge that, while I don't choose to tune in anymore, it is still all around and hard to avoid completely.
Last week one of the women was screaming at her kids (maybe 3-5-7 years old) for about 25 minutes without stopping, using every nasty word known to man, pushing, pulling an slapping the children, whose screaming got increasingly louder as the mother got increasingly violent. After a while, the neighbor joined in, and from there on it all just turned into a big screaming match that would not end.
I wanted to ask my neighbors to turn up their salsa music that I have complained about last month. But hey - I'll take "Besame mucho" anytime, if "get the f*** into this f***ing house, you little son of a bi***" is the alternative!
Frankly; I don't give a damn about the way these people choose to live their lives. I feel sorry for the kids, and one day I will call child services on them, but generally I can simply not relate to the situation. I don't have kids, and I think it is not my job to tell people how to raise theirs.
What I DO give a damn about though, are my evenings and weekends, and I find it just amazing that those people feel they have the right to force their bullshit on everyone in the area.
Now - I hate to bring up gay issues again - especially since I just posted a gay- themed piece in which I mentioned that I am "not big on the gay awareness thing". Well... I think I am growing into it! When politicians, religious leaders or regular "conservatives" explain their anti gay theories by using "family values" as their argument, are they including "valuable" families like the one across the church lawn? Because let me tell you: If that is part of their "family values", then I am damn glad not to fit anywhere near that category. Clearly I am not talking about just one family I happen to be exposed to. We have all seen them in the Supermarkets, Malls, walking down the street or sitting on their porches letting the whole world be part of their disrespectful ways. That means that I am not talking about one singled out screwed up family, but about something that happens all around us, and that somehow has become OK.
Obviously I have given this whole thing some thought, and am more than tired of the constant abuse and drama going on while I try to relax in my very "zen" back yard. (Ohh; by the way: my water fountain is running again - just had to throw that in). Unfortunately my daily walk with Kitry and Fiby leads me right past the two houses I am talking about, and I always try to go past them as quickly as possible. After all - they might have seen me watching their "show" for a while, since they have the same clear view of us, as we have of them. So here I was, minding my own business, when the..."Lady residing in the property I am concerned with" (see how I try to watch my language!?) said "Heeelloo" - clearly directing her gaze at Fiby who is wagging her tail at anybody, and speaking with a voice that is very clearly defined as "puppy talk". I looked at Fiby, looked up at the "Lady" who was on her porch, put on my "proud father smile", nodded and kept walking. So she screamed after us: "Hello to you, TOO!!!", and as if I was twelve years old and just called on bad behavior by my 5th grade teacher, I stopped and said "Hello" back.
As I kept walking I started getting furious. So what? - Now I am the one with bad manners?????????? I am now lectured on manners by HER???
I am mostly pissed at myslef for not turning around and confronting her. But frankly, I am a little chicken sh** when it comes to dealing with people who obviously have violent tendencies, anger management issues and are involved in the kind of drugs they are under and argue over. So I walked and said nothing.
Anyway; just today I was reading "trentonkat's" blog and saw that she said something I want to point out here as well.
We keep defending our neighborhood with things like "It is not so bad for Trenton", or "Well... we are living in a city after all...", and I am getting really tired of it. I also hate to say that we obviously don't live in a great area, and can therefor not expect any more than what it is. But then where does that end? We also happen to live in an area where people get robbed, mugged shot and stabbed, and I guess if that was to happen to me I would have to say that... we just don't live in a great area and I can therefor not expect any more than what it is!? I don't think so.
I usually like to end my little posts with a thought or an idea of what I think could be a possible solution to my issues (even if I am being silly about what a solution could look like), but with this one I am kinda at my wit's end. People have the right to live their lives the way they think is appropriate - and it is very difficult to define "appropriate" when talking to people who have their very own idea of it. And if somebody has always been exposed to being called a "bitch" and calling your kids "little f***ers, and getting beat up and beating others up and screaming at each other and being screamed at and doing drugs, selling drugs, buying drugs, being kicked out and kicking others out and screaming some more, then obviously those people see nothing wrong with any of it. I imagine if they did, they would make an effort to stop it and find a different way of functioning in society. So who am I to tell them "you are wrong"? - even if that is exactly what I think is the case. Again - I am not preaching for people to get along. Fight all you want, knock each other silly and have at it. I really don't care. Just do it where it only involves YOU. There are no laws (that I know of) that would prohibit people from arguing on the street. But there IS a little thing called RESPECT. You know... this thing we like to have for people we share this planet with!? Rings a bell?
Anyway. Enough for today.
Past the church grounds is another street, lined by houses on the far side from our position. So, one would think that this is the one direction we would NOT have any issues with. Well... think again.
There are two houses past our yard, past the church grounds and across the street, where the families feel the urge to turn any issue into a live version of a reality TV show. At first I found their loudness quite entertaining and interesting. People were kicked out, young adults were forbidden to come back home, they publicly screamed about their drug using- and selling habits, called each other whores and bitches left and right and made sure the entire area would hear it all. I would literally go into the yard, smoke a cigarette and just watch the arguments unfold. I was hooked.
But you know what? It's enough, and just like with a lot of reality TV shows that raised some interest in the beginning, the novelty wore off quickly. What is left is this annoying knowledge that, while I don't choose to tune in anymore, it is still all around and hard to avoid completely.
Last week one of the women was screaming at her kids (maybe 3-5-7 years old) for about 25 minutes without stopping, using every nasty word known to man, pushing, pulling an slapping the children, whose screaming got increasingly louder as the mother got increasingly violent. After a while, the neighbor joined in, and from there on it all just turned into a big screaming match that would not end.
I wanted to ask my neighbors to turn up their salsa music that I have complained about last month. But hey - I'll take "Besame mucho" anytime, if "get the f*** into this f***ing house, you little son of a bi***" is the alternative!
Frankly; I don't give a damn about the way these people choose to live their lives. I feel sorry for the kids, and one day I will call child services on them, but generally I can simply not relate to the situation. I don't have kids, and I think it is not my job to tell people how to raise theirs.
What I DO give a damn about though, are my evenings and weekends, and I find it just amazing that those people feel they have the right to force their bullshit on everyone in the area.
Now - I hate to bring up gay issues again - especially since I just posted a gay- themed piece in which I mentioned that I am "not big on the gay awareness thing". Well... I think I am growing into it! When politicians, religious leaders or regular "conservatives" explain their anti gay theories by using "family values" as their argument, are they including "valuable" families like the one across the church lawn? Because let me tell you: If that is part of their "family values", then I am damn glad not to fit anywhere near that category. Clearly I am not talking about just one family I happen to be exposed to. We have all seen them in the Supermarkets, Malls, walking down the street or sitting on their porches letting the whole world be part of their disrespectful ways. That means that I am not talking about one singled out screwed up family, but about something that happens all around us, and that somehow has become OK.
Obviously I have given this whole thing some thought, and am more than tired of the constant abuse and drama going on while I try to relax in my very "zen" back yard. (Ohh; by the way: my water fountain is running again - just had to throw that in). Unfortunately my daily walk with Kitry and Fiby leads me right past the two houses I am talking about, and I always try to go past them as quickly as possible. After all - they might have seen me watching their "show" for a while, since they have the same clear view of us, as we have of them. So here I was, minding my own business, when the..."Lady residing in the property I am concerned with" (see how I try to watch my language!?) said "Heeelloo" - clearly directing her gaze at Fiby who is wagging her tail at anybody, and speaking with a voice that is very clearly defined as "puppy talk". I looked at Fiby, looked up at the "Lady" who was on her porch, put on my "proud father smile", nodded and kept walking. So she screamed after us: "Hello to you, TOO!!!", and as if I was twelve years old and just called on bad behavior by my 5th grade teacher, I stopped and said "Hello" back.
As I kept walking I started getting furious. So what? - Now I am the one with bad manners?????????? I am now lectured on manners by HER???
I am mostly pissed at myslef for not turning around and confronting her. But frankly, I am a little chicken sh** when it comes to dealing with people who obviously have violent tendencies, anger management issues and are involved in the kind of drugs they are under and argue over. So I walked and said nothing.
Anyway; just today I was reading "trentonkat's" blog and saw that she said something I want to point out here as well.
We keep defending our neighborhood with things like "It is not so bad for Trenton", or "Well... we are living in a city after all...", and I am getting really tired of it. I also hate to say that we obviously don't live in a great area, and can therefor not expect any more than what it is. But then where does that end? We also happen to live in an area where people get robbed, mugged shot and stabbed, and I guess if that was to happen to me I would have to say that... we just don't live in a great area and I can therefor not expect any more than what it is!? I don't think so.
I usually like to end my little posts with a thought or an idea of what I think could be a possible solution to my issues (even if I am being silly about what a solution could look like), but with this one I am kinda at my wit's end. People have the right to live their lives the way they think is appropriate - and it is very difficult to define "appropriate" when talking to people who have their very own idea of it. And if somebody has always been exposed to being called a "bitch" and calling your kids "little f***ers, and getting beat up and beating others up and screaming at each other and being screamed at and doing drugs, selling drugs, buying drugs, being kicked out and kicking others out and screaming some more, then obviously those people see nothing wrong with any of it. I imagine if they did, they would make an effort to stop it and find a different way of functioning in society. So who am I to tell them "you are wrong"? - even if that is exactly what I think is the case. Again - I am not preaching for people to get along. Fight all you want, knock each other silly and have at it. I really don't care. Just do it where it only involves YOU. There are no laws (that I know of) that would prohibit people from arguing on the street. But there IS a little thing called RESPECT. You know... this thing we like to have for people we share this planet with!? Rings a bell?
Anyway. Enough for today.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
My obligatory gay- thing....
OK... I am no Britney Spears fan AT ALL, so don't even ask me how I got stuck this morning watching an interview she did with Diane Sawyer a couple of years ago. But somehow I did, and thought that watching Miss "I'll be a virgin until I get married" might give me a few laughs and giggles. I really don't like her music, can't stand her voice (or the lack thereof), and find the entire circus that surrounds this sad creature nothing but annoying. But let's face it: It is captivating to hear people like her talk about their perception of things... and so I watched the damn program. To my surprise, instead of being entertained by the (at the time) 21 year old Spears, I was infuriated by Sawyer when it came to talking about the on-stage kiss between Britney and Madonna.
Where do I start???
OK; by asking "what do you think you are teaching young kids here", what are YOU teaching young kids??? Are you seriously saying that in the year 2008 references to homosexuality are still taboo, and to be kept in the closet? What is she teaching kids? Well... I seriously doubt that she was trying for anything other than putting on a show. But hey - maybe she could be teaching kids that some bees like red flowers, and some bees prefer blue flowers, and that it is OK.
To make things worse, they showed a clip of Bette Midler, also commenting on the negative effect this stunt could have on young people. BETTE!!!??? With all due respect to a gay icon, but when she was rocking it up back in the day, what did SHE teach kids while running up and down the stage with white residue left under both nostrils? But that was not all: The wife of Maryland's Governor was recorded saying that "If I had a gun, I would probably shoot Britney."
What the hell is going on here??? A murder threat is OK for young kids to hear, but two girls kissing goes against people's conscience!?
Maybe I am not understanding the whole "Britney issue"... maybe I am the idiot here. But to me it says so much about the way people are still not able to accept the fact that homosexuality is part of the world and of society. Would anybody have blinked an eye if Madonna was kissing Justin Timberlake on that same stage? NO.
How dare this bitter and uptight woman sit there (probably wanting to make out with Madonna SOOO badly), talking about "what kids learn from this"! Kids listen to this very interview, and get yet again injected with the information, that anything "gay" is wrong.
I am not big on the whole "gay awareness" thing. In my opinion it is almost like we gays are putting ourselves in an outsider position by constantly claiming that we are "normal". Well... if you feel so "normal", then why do you need to point it out all the time??? I don't really like talking about it, or explaining it or justifying it. I talk about "my partner Manolo" and about our relationship as the normal thing it is for me. There is no discussion, no "please accept me", no worrying about how I might be looked at. Again - this is the year 2008 for crying out loud. Anybody who needs an explanation or is not able to accept it, needs to crawl back under the rock he/she came from - and stay there. To me, that is enough "gay awareness". And I have to say that I have rarely encountered negative reactions, which I believe is partly a result of that approach. If I don't turn it into a big deal, others won't either.
My brother - for example - was still a kid when I first came out. At that age, one can teach kids anything - good and bad. But because my family was so supportive and completely accepting, there was never a moment in his mind where he looked at the issue in a negative light. I will never forget a few years ago - he was a teenager, and I spent a few weeks in Germany - we walked up the street with one of his friends. As we passed a house, his friend made a comment about two "queers" living in some apartment, and without wasting a minute Benjamin said to his friend that there is nothing wrong with being gay and that it is nobodies business anyway. I was so proud and moved by this little guy's strength and level of acceptance. And this is exactly what I mean. Let's get our kids used to the fact that gays and lesbians live all around them instead of hiding things, and by doing so implying that it must be bad. It is this kind of "protection" that makes people feel that they have the right to call us "fagots" and "queers", and are still thrown by the sight of two guys or girls walking down the street holding hands. Without wanting to sound like a victim, don't people think that we would like to show affection to the people we love publicly? How many times a day do any of you straight people have the spontaneous need to grab your husband's/ wife's hand, or to give him/ her a kiss or a hug? Now imagine first having to check if there are people around that might beat you up for it! It is time for people to teach their kids that there is nothing wrong with the image of same sex couples, but we will not teach them that by saying that two girls kissing on TV is bad for them to see!
Looking back, I guess it always took the "shock factor" to eventually change things for the better. First there was "stone wall" and the gay parades... then there was Ellen coming out on daytime TV, followed by other artists and public figures. We got "Will and Grace", and by the time "Sex and the city" got rolling, same sex kissing became almost fashionable - or so I thought. But obviously there is still some more boy-on-boy and girl-on-girl action needed before people like Diane Sawyer finally stop trying to protect "the poor children" from the horrors of gayness.
And on this note I want to thank Britney. I love her music, love her voice and love her constant appearances in the media!!!(OK... I am pushing it here...).
But... KEEP IT UP BRITNEY!!! YOU ARE MY NEW HERO!
Where do I start???
OK; by asking "what do you think you are teaching young kids here", what are YOU teaching young kids??? Are you seriously saying that in the year 2008 references to homosexuality are still taboo, and to be kept in the closet? What is she teaching kids? Well... I seriously doubt that she was trying for anything other than putting on a show. But hey - maybe she could be teaching kids that some bees like red flowers, and some bees prefer blue flowers, and that it is OK.
To make things worse, they showed a clip of Bette Midler, also commenting on the negative effect this stunt could have on young people. BETTE!!!??? With all due respect to a gay icon, but when she was rocking it up back in the day, what did SHE teach kids while running up and down the stage with white residue left under both nostrils? But that was not all: The wife of Maryland's Governor was recorded saying that "If I had a gun, I would probably shoot Britney."
What the hell is going on here??? A murder threat is OK for young kids to hear, but two girls kissing goes against people's conscience!?
Maybe I am not understanding the whole "Britney issue"... maybe I am the idiot here. But to me it says so much about the way people are still not able to accept the fact that homosexuality is part of the world and of society. Would anybody have blinked an eye if Madonna was kissing Justin Timberlake on that same stage? NO.
How dare this bitter and uptight woman sit there (probably wanting to make out with Madonna SOOO badly), talking about "what kids learn from this"! Kids listen to this very interview, and get yet again injected with the information, that anything "gay" is wrong.
I am not big on the whole "gay awareness" thing. In my opinion it is almost like we gays are putting ourselves in an outsider position by constantly claiming that we are "normal". Well... if you feel so "normal", then why do you need to point it out all the time??? I don't really like talking about it, or explaining it or justifying it. I talk about "my partner Manolo" and about our relationship as the normal thing it is for me. There is no discussion, no "please accept me", no worrying about how I might be looked at. Again - this is the year 2008 for crying out loud. Anybody who needs an explanation or is not able to accept it, needs to crawl back under the rock he/she came from - and stay there. To me, that is enough "gay awareness". And I have to say that I have rarely encountered negative reactions, which I believe is partly a result of that approach. If I don't turn it into a big deal, others won't either.
My brother - for example - was still a kid when I first came out. At that age, one can teach kids anything - good and bad. But because my family was so supportive and completely accepting, there was never a moment in his mind where he looked at the issue in a negative light. I will never forget a few years ago - he was a teenager, and I spent a few weeks in Germany - we walked up the street with one of his friends. As we passed a house, his friend made a comment about two "queers" living in some apartment, and without wasting a minute Benjamin said to his friend that there is nothing wrong with being gay and that it is nobodies business anyway. I was so proud and moved by this little guy's strength and level of acceptance. And this is exactly what I mean. Let's get our kids used to the fact that gays and lesbians live all around them instead of hiding things, and by doing so implying that it must be bad. It is this kind of "protection" that makes people feel that they have the right to call us "fagots" and "queers", and are still thrown by the sight of two guys or girls walking down the street holding hands. Without wanting to sound like a victim, don't people think that we would like to show affection to the people we love publicly? How many times a day do any of you straight people have the spontaneous need to grab your husband's/ wife's hand, or to give him/ her a kiss or a hug? Now imagine first having to check if there are people around that might beat you up for it! It is time for people to teach their kids that there is nothing wrong with the image of same sex couples, but we will not teach them that by saying that two girls kissing on TV is bad for them to see!
Looking back, I guess it always took the "shock factor" to eventually change things for the better. First there was "stone wall" and the gay parades... then there was Ellen coming out on daytime TV, followed by other artists and public figures. We got "Will and Grace", and by the time "Sex and the city" got rolling, same sex kissing became almost fashionable - or so I thought. But obviously there is still some more boy-on-boy and girl-on-girl action needed before people like Diane Sawyer finally stop trying to protect "the poor children" from the horrors of gayness.
And on this note I want to thank Britney. I love her music, love her voice and love her constant appearances in the media!!!(OK... I am pushing it here...).
But... KEEP IT UP BRITNEY!!! YOU ARE MY NEW HERO!
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