Dr. Blackwell's BLOG

Monday, May 24, 2010

President Obama, Congress Moving on DADT

Filed under: GLBT Social Issues and Civil Rights — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 18:29

Leonard Matlovich Rainbow Flag American Flag by RYANISLAND. 

Despite the criticisms that President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled House and Senate have failed to deliver on promises to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy which prohibits open gay men and lesbians from serving in the United States military (and discharges those who “come out” during service), there is movement today that the White House and lawmakers are ready to move forward. 70% of Americans believe gay and lesbian soldiers should be permitted military service (even if they are open about their sexuality) and both Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Adm. Mike Mullen fully support repeal of the ban. Currently, the Pentagon is working on a study to be completed in December outlining how the ban should be lifted and a new policy be implemented. The new proposal would stipulate the change in the upcoming defense authorization spending bill while also permitting completion of the study prior to implementation. In comparison, the process of racial integration of troops took 5 years to complete.

Disappointing Video

Filed under: National and International News — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 18:14

A sad video surfaced yesterday that was posted by Army PFC Specialist Robert Rodriguez on his Facebook Page showing him harassing two young  Iraqi boys. Knowing the two do not speak English, he taunts them asking them if they are “fa**ots” and if they engage in certain homosexual acts. He then concludes his ridicule by asking them if they will grow-up to be terrorists. The youngsters, obviously attempting to show gratitude and agreement with whatever the soldier is saying, show approval by nodding yes and giving a “thumbs up” hand gesture. Rodriquez, who in no doubt is in absolute world of trouble with his superiors (and rightly so) says he was bored and wanted to entertain himself by making the video. While the video is repugnant and sad, please remember, as the one soldier interviewed mentions, this is not reflective of the majority of soldiers working hard in Iraq.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Soldiers Ridicule DADT in Funny Video

Filed under: Comedic Relief,GLBT Social Issues and Civil Rights,Politics — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 23:25

Created by Codey Wilson and other members of his Army Battalion currently serving in Iraq, “volunteers” created the following hilarious video of Ke$ha’s single “Blah, Blah, Blah” which is a parody of what would happen if the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy were lifted and gays were allowed to serve openly in the military. Apparently, the soldiers find the assumptions that gay men and lesbians being out in the military would create some type of sexually-enhanced atmosphere as laughable as the rest of us! Take a look:

A Very Touching Reunion

Filed under: Animal Welfare — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 23:14

Very reminiscent of the story of Christian, the Lion, this video shows a very touching reunion between Damian Aspinall and his gorilla Kwibi, after 5 years of being apart. The Aspinall Foundation rehabilitates endangered gorillas and then reintroduces them into the wild. Here, Damian Aspinall is reunited with Kwibi, after 5 years:

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Ragtime Revival Nominated for 7 Tony Awards!

Filed under: Performing Arts — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 00:43

The Broadway Revival of one of the greatest musical of all-time, Ragtime, may have been short-lived, but it is certainly not going unnoticed. Yesterday, the nominations for the Tony Awards (the most prestigious awards in American Theater) were announced. Ragtime was nominated for 7 Tony Awards, coming-in at #5 for the most nominated show. The show was nominated in the top-category of its eligibility, Best Revival of a Musical. The original production of Ragtime opened in 1998 and was the most expensive production ever staged at the time of its run. Although the original show was nominated for a slew of Tonys (including Best Musical), it took home 3 and lost the coveted prize to Disney’s The Lion King. [On a personal note, I actually saw the original Ragtime on Broadway and saw The Lion King the very next day. When the curtain closed on The Lion King, I was scratching my head in complete disbelief.] Ragtime and its revival (which I had the honor to see last Summer @ the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC) are simply put, two of the best shows to ever grace the Great White Way. Let’s hope the Tony Awards Committee realizes its extreme 1998 error and awards Ragtime with Best Revival of a Musical.

Below are Ragtime‘s 7 Tony Award Nominations:

– Best Revival of a Musical, Ragtime

– Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Leading Role: Christiane Noll, Ragtime

– Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Leading Role: Bobby Steggert, Ragtime

– Best Scenic Design of a Musical, Ragtime

– Best Costume Design of a Musical, Ragtime

– Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Donald Holder, Ragtime

– Best Direction of a Musical, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime

Faux News Reporter PWNED by White House Press Secretary

Filed under: Politics — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 00:21

  White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs PWNED a Faux News Reporter yesterday in his morning press briefing after exposing Faux’s attempts to sensationalize the oil spill disaster as the work of the Obama Administration! Apparently, the former failed FEMA Director under George Bush actually insinuated (unquestioned) during his Faux News interview on Tuesday that in order to curtail support for offshore drilling (which, by the way–Obama just expanded but will hopefully reconsider), Obama concocted the disaster but it “got out of hand.” Obama has been one of the few politicians brave enough to call Faux News out on its completed slanted idiocy. But, this video is a must-see as the Faux News reporter has little to rebut after Gibbs laughs at the accusations and brushes-off Faux News for what it really is. Watch below:

Monday, April 19, 2010

Lady GaGa As You’ve Never Heard Before

Filed under: Popular Music — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 15:33

 

Pop Superstar Lady GaGa continues to churn out the hits! YouTube announced last week that her video “Bad Romance” was the most downloaded YouTube video of all-time (with over 179,000,000 downloads!). “Telephone,” GaGa’s second release from The Fame Monster debuted at #3 on the Billboard Charts and is currently resting comfortably at #7 after 5 weeks. The song is a pop duet featuring Beyonce. Just like practically every single Lady GaGa has released, musicians around the world are putting their own touches on “Telephone.” Below, watch an absolutely incredible classical instrumental version of “Telephone” performed by Australian music group Aston. While the song’s pop-version is catchy and just as good as all her other hits, the classical version is downright beautiful. Take a look and a listen for yourself:

Take a $300 Million Luxury Tour

Filed under: National and International News — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 15:16

                                                                                                           

The Wall Street Journal goes for the first time inside the Philippe Starck-designed yacht of Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. It is absolutely stunning and a gigantic show of oppulence. The video tour will leave you amazed to see just how upscale a $300 million yacht is designed inside and out. While I am not a fan of the use of animal skins and furs for clothing or interior design, the 3 minute video tour is definitely one worth taking:

President Obama Issues Historic Memorandum

Filed under: GLBT Social Issues and Civil Rights,Politics — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 15:08

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, President Barack Obama issued a memorandum to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) directing relevant agencies to take steps to ensure that individuals are not discriminated against in hospital settings on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The memorandum requests agencies to develop rules to protect gay and lesbian patients and their families and address issues of hospital visitation, medical decision making, or other healthcare issues. Specifically, any healthcare agency that receives federal dollars for medical service reimbursement (for example, Medicare and/or Medicaid) must allow partners of gay and lesbian patients full visitation rights and allow them to serve as the decision-maker for their plan of care (placing them in-control of execution of advanced directives, do not resuscitate protocols, living wills, durable power of attorneys, etc.). Check out THIS LINK for the complete memorandum. The measure serves as another sign of President Obama’s intelligence and understanding of the importance of commited relationships among gay and lesbian persons.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

“Teabaggers” Show New Level of Hatred while “Stonewall” Uprises

Filed under: GLBT Social Issues and Civil Rights,Movie and Entertainment,Politics — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 00:36

Straightpride2 Just when you thought the ignorant and complete lack of IQ “teabaggers” couldn’t get any more stupid, they showed a new level of hatred towards gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons on their “Teabag Express” tour stop in Lansing, Michigan on April 10th. A vendor at the event was selling “Straight Pride” t-shirts highly reminiscent of the “White Power” hate speech associated with the Ku Klux Klan and Skinhead/ White Supremacist movements. Reaction to the t-shirts in the gay community has been overwhelmingly negative although many are defending the rights of the “teabaggers” to wear such hate garbage. Ironically, the “teabagger” pictured appears to also be ashamed of his or her hateful display as he/she covered his/her face during the photograph. And perhaps as a very appropriate and unintended reaction, the trailer for the documentary Stonewall Uprising released today. The documentary details the “Rosa Parks” moment of the gay liberation movement in the United States, where patrons of the Stonewall Inn bar refused to acquiesce to police brutality and homophobia and fought-back against the physical violence and abuse inflicted upon them. On a personal, note, I discussed the importance of the Stonewall Riots in my Doctoral Dissertation in the context of the GLBT civil rights movement. Watch the trailer below. Stonewall Uprising, from First Run Features, released in select markets beginning on April 8th and will hit the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on April 27th, 2010.

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress