A big deal: CNN News anchor, Don Lemon, comes out

This is the first time a major network news anchor has come out of the closet. Good for Don Lemon, a truly intelligent and authentic voice on CNN. Good for the millions of LGBT kids. Good for the LGBT movement.

Read about it here.

I've had some technical difficulties since last week

Last week was challenging: my trusty laptop went on the blink Monday night, I pulled a small back muscle moving a big planter around on Wednesday morning, and the Blogger service that I use for veryjoeandbullish went down for two days. With all that happening, I did what any good sporty gay male would do: I called my mom and she told me to ice my back, bought a new laptop at the Apple store, and went camping at a hot springs which helped heal my back and spirits.

So I am glad to be back with a new and improved MacBook Pro desktop (pictured above). Sorry for the interruption.

--Joe

Italian street artist BLU

Obama interviewed on 60 Minutes: smart, composed & dignified: thank God for this man

What a difference a real leader can make. Not since FDR has a U.S. president faced so many challenges in a 30-month period. Obama is not perfect as no man can be, but he is rebuilding the U.S. after the GOP wrecking ball of George W.

I am glad to be alive in era when great men can cry

Tears are no stranger to Spanish tennis great Rafe Nadal (or to his arch rival, Roger Federer).

Read about the background story on Rafe and his tribute to the late Spanish golfer, Seve Ballesteros.

The quiet grandeur of the ordinary

Little minds are interested in the extraordinary;
great minds in the commonplace.

--Elbert Hubbard

Via Zen Calendar

Alliance of shame: Iran advises Syria on how best to suppress & murder pro-democracy protesters

From the Wall Street Journal last month, the extremely religious and murderous regime in Iran is advising the very secular and extremely murderous regime in Syria. Read about it here.

What sort of governments shoot and kill their own people? The answer: immoral ones who are desperate to maintain their power and privilege!

Hockey maverick Sean Avery speaks out for gay rights

The support of this 31-year-old hockey star shows the growing acceptance of younger people for full equality for LGBT people. Read about Sean Avery here.

Wake up GOP, this is the wave of the future!

My favorite "It Gets Better" video, by Billy Nilles

I love this video clip by Billy Nilles for its authenticity, compassion, and deeply spiritual messages: "you are not alone" and "we love you without even knowing you." He really talks from his heart and his experience. Billy's parents should be very proud of themselves for raising such a good man.

Why it's important to celebrate feminine men

I am back from Oregon and I am really back, rested, relaxed and ready for the next thing in my life, which turned out to be my computer's keyboard not working, this morning. LOL. Well, I got that problem handled temporarily, until Thursday night when I pick up my new MacBook Pro. Anyway, it is good to be back to my life, my friends, the world of ideas, San Francisco, etc.

Below is a video that I came across that touched me deeply, on a subject that is a bit taboo in the gay male community: the acceptance of feminine gay men (the same arguments can be made for feminine straight men, too). Watch the video and come to your own opinion. For me anyway, until I accept all LGBT people just the way we are, I am going to be missing out on all aspects of humanity and will be a lesser, limited person because of my homophobia and sexism. I truly believe that we are all God's children. No exceptions.