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September 1, 2005
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
Today is gay affirmation day:
I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can't stop me now
And you can do the same
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
Sing it, sister. I just bought the latest Queer As Folk soundtrack (season 5?) and it is OFF THE HOOK! High energy dance songs with lyrics and divas singing in the background, not soul-less Tina music either. 'Proud' is sung by Heather Small, formerly of M People. Another great track on the CD is 'Hardcore MuthaFucka' by DV Roxx.
It's the last season for Queer as Folk on Showtime. I never watched it much, as I seem to appreciate the soundtracks more. And perhaps gays are disappearing from television, which means y'all need to get off your asses, out of the ghetto, and talk about your real lives with your families, coworkers and straight friends. Your face and voice are far more effective in making change than any HRC dinner or a character on the boob tube. For inspiration and affirmation, spend a good 10 minutes or more on jonathan francis cass' website.
Currently reading The One-Hour Activist, by Christopher Kush, for some review and ideas on how to make change. I'm kind of excited for the United For Peace rally, regardless of its outcome. It's empowering to get involved, and makes you feel good and less helpless to try to do something in a dark time where ignorance and fanatacism seem to rule.
Oh yeah, and I play on a somewhat-gay rugby team that has been fully integrated into the local mostly-straight union, whom we play regularly. One example of making change person-by-person can be illustrated with this story: many years ago the Quantico Marine base team could only bear to send a single emissary to our post-match socials. Last year the whole team and their families came. That's progress, made on a personal level. It takes time and is harder than clicking a mouse button or griping about something on a blog, but it looks like that's where the work needs to be done.
Posted by jimbo at September 1, 2005 10:52 AM
Comments
That song was the only saving grace of the series finale for QAF.
Posted by: stebbins at September 1, 2005 2:14 PM
Jimbo: I'm with you on Heather Small's "Proud" (the normal version and the dance remix). It came out about the same time I did and when I listen to it, I'm reminded that there is more to life than just living 9-5, that we need to embrace good causes, do good things, and make a difference, whether we're gay or straight. And we should never forget that.
Posted by: Trey R at September 1, 2005 7:56 PM
Oi!!! 'Proud' is the anthem for the London 2012 Olympic bid! Gerroff our anthem!
The cheek of it.
Posted by: Steve at September 2, 2005 7:16 AM
Ms. Small's anthem rocks. It was the theme song for the 2012 back-the-bid campaign over here in jolly ol'. They put it behind an amazing video ... used to play it on the Heathrow Express, and after the long trans-Atlantic flights to what would become my new home, well I got emotional more than once.
Posted by: bob at September 2, 2005 9:58 AM
Gays are off the television? You need to check out LOGO homo!
Posted by: schtzo at September 2, 2005 11:18 AM