The Dirty Martini Lounge
The Dirty Martini Lounge
Welcome to
With Rob and Craig as Your Hosts
It is always Happy Hour at the Dirty Martini Lounge
Contact your hosts at LevisRob@yahoo.com
Pride at
the DML
Gay Call to Action
By Cleve Jones and Dustin Lance Black
On November 27, 1978, gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk was assassinated in San Francisco City Hall. Thirty years later, his struggle continues.
On November 4, 2008, millions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans of all races proudly cast their ballots for Barack Obama, helping to elect the first African-American President of the United States.
On that same day voters in Arizona, Arkansas, California and Florida approved initiatives denying basic civil rights to GLBT citizens.
Like other Americans who voted for Barack Obama, gay people of all backgrounds supported our President-elect because we share his vision of a united America and want to move forward to address the critical challenges facing our country and our planet.
We have always been willing to serve our country: in our armed forces, even as we were threatened with courts-martial and dishonor; as teachers, even as we were slandered and libeled; as parents and foster parents struggling to support our children; as doctors and nurses caring for patients in a broken health care system; as artists, writers and musicians; as workers in factories and hotels, on farms and in office buildings; we have always served and loved our country.
We have loved our country even as we have been subjected to discrimination, harassment and violence at the hands of our countrymen. We have loved God, even as we were rejected and abandoned by religious leaders, our churches, synagogues and mosques. We have loved democracy, even as we witnessed the ballot box used to deny us our rights.
Like Barack Obama, we never abandoned hope in the American dream of equality and freedom. We never stopped believing that the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights included us.
We have always kept faith with the American people, our neighbors, co-workers, friends and families. But today that faith is tested and we find ourselves at a crossroad in history.
Will we move forward together? Will we affirm that the American dream is alive and real? Will we finally guarantee full equality under the law for all Americans? Or will we surrender to the worst, most divisive appeals to bigotry, ignorance and fear?
It has been thirty years since Harvey Milk gave his life in our struggle for equality. We will not wait thirty years more. We demand that the Federal Government act immediately, decisively and unequivocally to ensure equal protection under law throughout the United States of America.
We can accept no compromise.
We call on President-Elect Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to draft and submit to the Congress comprehensive legislation protecting the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens in all areas including civil marriage, military service, adoption, social security, taxation, immigration, employment, housing and access to health care, social services and education.
We can wait no longer.
We call on President-Elect Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid to speak out against the escalating campaign of harassment, violence and murder directed against our communities and pass legislation extending hate-crime protections to GLBT citizens.
Now is the time.
We call on President-Elect Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid to take personal responsibility for involving our nation's religious leaders and the GLBT community in a national dialogue to encourage understanding and reconciliation.
We also call on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to heed the call of Harvey Milk, when he spoke thirty years ago on the steps of San Francisco City Hall: "You must come out, my brothers and sisters, you must come out!"
We call on gay people everywhere to seize this moment, to understand that freedom will not come until we are willing to commit the full strength of our own voices, minds and bodies to the struggle. We must personally introduce ourselves to those who would discriminate against us. We must make ourselves visible . . .
. . . We call on all our people and all our allies to carry this message of hope and equality to every corner of our nation, to every place of worship, to every school and factory and shopping center, every city, suburb and farming town. We call on you to march together, demonstrate together, pray together and dream together of a future America where, finally, all are free.
There are rare moments in human history when, suddenly and unexpectedly, the opportunity for great change and progress becomes possible. Barack Obama has shown us the power of hope and the urgency of seizing that moment. Harvey Milk has shown us the power we possess when we make our voices heard.
We can accept no compromise.
We can wait no longer.
Now is the time.
We are equal.
Young, Gifted and Gay
It takes a lot for a person to come out as gay or lesbian. Think about it. Let's take people of color for example. When one is tormented at school or harrassed by neighbors, one can rush to the safety of their home. Just the mere fact that mother, father, brother and sister can immediately identify with the victim's pain provides comfort. There is a safe haven.
When a gay or straight questioning child is harrassed, where can one turn? Home can sometimes be the source of pain. OK, you don't have to be gay to experience a painful childhood home life, but being gay certainly makes it more difficult. And when you include other supposed safe havens that can be just as brutal, such as churches and schools, what's a girl to do?
Today there are many resources available - the internet provides information on many. Even with that, unfortunately, statistics show that a high percentage of youth suicide attempts are gay and lesbian children, sadly too many succeed. Another statistic shows that youth homelessness again has a high percentage of gay and lesbians.
The Dirty Martini Lounge encourages all GLBTQ youth to seek each other out. You are not alone. Being gay is fabulous. Hopefully, your school has a GSA. Since we are located in the East Bay / San Francisco area, we are listing many agencies and groups that we hope will provide you with the guidance and support you seek. Please remember that life is definitely worth living. You have many gay/lesbian role models today that have experienced the same issues. Let them be your light!
A Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) is a student-run club, typically in a high school, which provides a safe place for students to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation, and work to end homophobia. Many GSAs function as a support group and provide safety and confidentiality to students who are struggling with their identity as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning.
The GSA Network acts as a centralized resource for all GSAs in California. Check out their website for a GSA near you.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays This organization is geared more for adults, your parents. It is a great resource for them. Not every parent truly anticipates having a LBGTQ child. Here is part of PFLAG's mission statement: PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
The state of California provides information on their website regarding rights and resources available to GTQLB Foster Youth. Help is available in so many ways.
Not all churches think you are an abomination. In fact, there are many out there that welcome good folks like us. You can indeed find compassion and support in the pews. This directory lists churches that are open and affirming. Thank God they exist.
By the way, the Dirty Martini Lounge does not advocate the use of alcohol, tobacco and/or illegal substances by our young - gay, straight, questioning, whatever they may be.
Tita Aida Is Hot!!!
Rob and Craig have had the opportunity to talk with Tita Aida. It's not like we are close friends, but on those rare occasions where we have spoken, she has always been sweet. She can definitely strike a fierce pose, but she communicates with you like your favorite auntie. TA is definitely a fixture at Pride celebrations and Pacific Islander events. As a transgender and a Filipina, Tita Aida represents. She is a role model for all and a leader for many.
Tita Aida works her boots at Pride 2007
Tita Aida and Rob pose at the Castro Stree Fair in 2007
Learn more about Tita Aida by clicking on the links below. Tita Aida is a busy girl - and one seksi pinay. A big salamat to Tita for all she does.
Dear Dr. Laura (A Classic Internet Posting)
On her radio show sometime prior to 2004, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law.
I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. ... End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Law and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. The passage clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan,
Anonymous