Parade Without a Permit Rally

With a huge turnout of people, wonderful signs, loud drummers, banners, fliers and information about the action the Parade Without A Permit Rally was a tremendous success (and a helluva lot of fun!) People gathered at the fountain in the center of Washington Square Park, amidst a growing police presence, and began handing out stickers and fliers to everyone. The drummers took their stance behind the banners at the front of the mass and began walking out of Washington Square, through the West Village and up to Chelsea in boisterous chants and drum beats. The crowd, well over 200 people caused a stir in the West Village causing people to come out of their apartments or current restaurants and watch the parade. The spectators were immediately given a flier and quickly brought up to date on the issue. The police were tremendously cooperative. They kindly listened to the organizers about what route the parade was headed next and they would run up ahead and stop on-coming traffic for us to continue rallying safely. Thank you.

Rainbow Over A City

Photo taken in Tribeca, NYC Friday 6:30 PM.

Happy Friday!

Ahh, yes, it's here again! Happy Friday!

Here's is what's going down this weekend: Despite the possibility of some showers this evening the rest of the weekend should be clear and bright with temperatures in the 70's.

Friday: Rich King and Gustavo's always fun, friendly, foxxxy, furry SNAXX Party in the basement of the West Side Tavern. (23rd between 8th/9th.)Saturday: check out:
The last party of RainDanceNYC a DJ dance party hosted down at the South Street Sea Port right under the Brooklyn Bridge. Check out the website for details and DJ line up.

Also on Saturday, journey over to Washington Square Park at 7PM for the Parade Without A Permit Rally, a protest organized to fight the city's latest crackdown on civil liberties by demanding cop-approved permits for any general assembly of over 50 people in NYC.


Sunday:
Head over to Brooklyn for the 33rd annual Atlantic Antic festival which features 10 blocks of food, festivities, through the heart of Brownstone Brooklyn. 10Am-6PM.

If you haven't had enough beer at Atlantic Antic (and you're pissed you didn't make it to Folsom St. Fair this year) head over to The Eagle for their Sunday weekly beer blast for cheap drinks and even cheaper men. (I tried really hard to not make this sound like a Next Magazine ad, yipes!)

Trembling Before G-D

The producer's of Trembling Before G-D, a documentary which explores gay and lesbian people within Judaism, is touring the film festival circuit with their new film Jihad for Love:

"A Jihad for Love is the first-ever feature-length documentary to explore the complex global intersections of Islam and homosexuality. With unprecedented access and depth, the film brings to light the hidden lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Muslims and goes where the silence has been loudest, to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt and Bangladesh, as well as to Turkey, France, India, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom."

Also, with Yom Kippur just around last week's corner, take a look at this video below, which is featured on the Trembling Before G-D website. NYC based Openly Gay Rabbi Steve Greenberg gives a heartfelt personal account of how he's managed to overcome certain texts of the Torah and offer new perspective.

Old Work!

...During the days when I was fresh out of college and thinking I could make money by making only activist media I helped Associate Produce a hereTV! documentary on the history and meaning of Gay Pride events. I was able to locate the intro of the doc. If you watch closely you might even notice yours truly speaking a few quotes! Click here to watch

A Tear to My Eye

My wonderfully creative and talented friend David Daigle was hired to create the intro for the 15th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Even though this was two years ago and some of the media dated, it still remains, after viewing it hundreds of times, one of the most important pieces celebrating gay representation in media I've seen and continually brings a tear to my eye. Click here to watch it and be sure to click on GLAAD.

Didn't Take Long Before this Became a Game

Newgrounds.com presents: Don't Taze Me, Bro- The Game
click the link to play.

Quaterback Blitz!

Finally we now have someone who actually deserves to get tasered. Suspended Falcon's Quarterback Michael Vick has been charged on two accounts of 1) torturing and killing dogs and 2) promoting dogfights. Now he'll learn the real meaning of a dog fight after he gets dropped in his prison cell. Have fun!

Earth Germs Become Space Germs!

Here's an interesting article on how Earth-born germs mutate upon being in orbit. A recent space crew brought the germ Salmonella ("ella- ella- a-a") with them into space and found that mice who were given the "space germ" were three times more likely to develop illness and die. Scientists aren't completely sure why this happens but remain optimistic that this might lead to new techniques and discoveries in fighting infectious diseases.

Kramer Speaks: "Why so Passive?"

Watch this three minute video of Larry Kramer speaking at the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association convention in San Diego on Sept. 1, 2007. He touches on points of community passivity, our ass-kissing approach to presidential candidates, the black-hole of Gay representation in modern education, and finally the similarities between Jewish and Gay oppression. This is dedicated to all my friends who roll their eyes at me and tell me I'm beating a dead horse.

Barry Bonds with the Crowd

A crowd-based response to Barry Bond's alleged steroid use:

Take Two Hours

..and watch.

I Heart the Myspace Generation

Meet Ashley Qualls, at 17 she created Whateverlife.com, a user-free website that designs Myspace Page layouts. Visited now by thousands of other teenagers a day, Ashley is now a 17 year old Millionare with advertisers paying up to $70,000 bucks a month! In July, Quantcast ranked Whateverlife.com a staggering No. 349 out of more than 20 million sites. She's million sites -- ahead of cbsnews.com, brittanica.com, americanidol.com and even oprah.com. She has turned down 1.5milion dollar deals and car bribes to sell her site because, "I want it to sound like a normal teenager, not business people who are after your money." And what would she need a car for? She, like, doesn't even have a license, anyway! What-ever.
Right on Ashley.

Oye! While Everyone Else Enjoys the Weekend...

...I along with many other Jews won't be enjoying the weekend as much as everyone else because as of sundown tonight until sundown tomorrow we'll be going to temple and fasting in honor of the Jewish High Holy day Yom Kippur. For all you goys out there that don't "get it" click the Yom Kippur link.

Happy Friday!

Yup, that's right it's FRIDAY!
The weather this weekend is supposed to be gorgeous hitting highs at the 80 degree mark. As fall quickly approaches I highly recommend getting outside and enjoying the last of the good weather.
Take that much procrastinated trip to Central Park or the even more put-off trip all the way up the A Train to 207 St. in Washington Heights, Northern Manhattan. I hear it's beautiful up there!

Look Me in the Eye

Amidst CA Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto to ban Marriage Equality Legislation for his state San Diego Republican Mayor, Jerry Sanders, put aside his beliefs in civil-unions and came out in support of same-sex marriage. In his heartfelt speech posted below Jerry Sanders simply states,
"I just could not bring myself to tell an entire group of people in our community that they were less important, less worthy and less deserving of the rights and responsibilities of marriage -- than anyone else -- simply because of their sexual orientation." "Two years ago, I believed that civil unions were a fair alternative. Those beliefs, in my case, have since changed. The concept of a "separate but equal" institution is not something that I can support."

This speech comes as an interesting reminder of something that happened to me just a few weeks ago. A friend and I were having a discussion about current politics when the issue of gay marriage popped up. He firmly stated that he supports civil unions. As I tried to understand why he supports that and not marriage he said, "well, you know, it's like the same thing." I reminded him that it is not the same thing and seldom do we see 'separate but equal' work in this country. Then, I asked him to look me directly in the eye and tell me that I wasn't as deserving of the same rights as he is. He couldn't do it. Instead, he fumbled with an answer, diverted all eye contact, played with his fingers and while looking down at the ground said in a sheepish remorse, "I guess I haven't really explored the issue enough within myself." I thanked him and we continued our chat.

Current Event Fashion

Classic!
I found this image on JoeMyGod and felt as though I had to include it on my own blog, per my previous posts:

Joan Rivers Stand Up

Last night Eyal, Brendan and I went to see Joan Rivers at The Cutting Room in Chelsea for some classic stand up. This was my second time seeing Joan after winning tickets last year at Lesbian Bingo at Mo Pitkins.
Joan was a bawdy, lewd and crass with her below the belt humor and humorously shallow views on life. She joked on everything from NYC tourists, to Jews, to Gays, to 9/11, to celebrities, and even including a snippet about her "awfully stupid Grandson." She told some of her jokes from last year but remodeled under a new format. She told my favorite joke though: The one where she admits to believing Anne Frank would have sold more books if she acted like any other Jewish Girl and gotten a nose Job. heh. heh.
The tickets were about $25 bucks a pop and the show just under an hour but it was well worth it considering her age and comedic legacy.

My Office Window

...reminds me of how truly fortunate I am.

Feast of San Gennaro

My good friend Ron and I headed down to Mulberry St. and Houston the other night to attend Little Italy's annual Feast of San Gennaro, a carnival like smorgesboard of Sausage and Peppers, Pasta, Sea food, games and true Italian-American spirit.
Sausage and Peppers is definitely the specialty here and there are more booths selling them than you could count. And of course, every booth sells a better sausage than any booth next to him. Lucy's is a New York favorite so Ron and I had to stop there but we also heard Chichino's was good too so, yes, we ate there too.
It certainly is a feast! I alone had:
1 Corndog
2 Sausage and Peppers
4 Zeppoles
3 Beers

Another Red Monster...

Finding Political corruption/sicko stories like these are better than getting a second dessert in your lunch bag!
John David R. Atchison, a Republican Assistant US Attorney working under Alberto Gonzales during his "keep our children safe" reign just got busted for trying to have sex with a 5 year old. Oopsies! Read the article above for horrific evidence and stomach turning quotes.
(this topic was found on Andrew Sullivan's blog)

Police Brutality?

Duh, of course! There are four policemen there. They couldn't just carry the obnoxious loudmouth out, they had to taser him too? It's almost as if cops are like, "Well, we have these taser things we might as well use 'em! Oink."
Notice how they tase him AFTER he's already pinned, then trying to immediately rationalize their stupid on-camera behavior tell him he was inciting a riot. What a joke!

A Look at Today's News

TONS of this:
Little of this:

This is why I Never Go to Bed on Time

Because I stay up late watching videos like these...(SFW)

Emmy Awards Diss Bravo

I am a huge fan of Bravo reality TV. Highly respecting their "coastal-minded," 25-45 year old, demographics, I believe Bravo has set the bar for all shows focused on design, food, fashion and comedy. Much of their hits, Project Runway, Top Chef, and the oh so steamy, Workout embody a sense of urban hot-pop and features a broad spectrum of both straight and queer cast members. Project Runway was the first hit reality show that actually used its cast members to utilize their talents in order to create a real product.
In last night's Emmy Award show both Project Runway and Top Chef lost out to ABC's The Amazing Race. Working in Reality TV I know and respect the tremendous feat it is to successfully execute a global scale reality production. But in it's 11th season Amazing Race is something we have all seen before and the cast members aren't expected to design or create, rather they just run around in foreign countries acting out the American stereotype by frantically screaming at each other, yelling at non-English speaking cabbies to "hurry! hurry! hurry!" or "follow that cab!" and complete outrageously absurd tasks like the novelty-thinning bug eating.
The award should go to shows which employ innovation and cast produced creativity not the been-there-done-that cast produced stupidity.
All I have to say is: Bravo, Bravo!

Chris Crocker on Jimmy Kimmel

My last Chris Crocker post for awhile (I swear!)
Rumor has it Chris was spotted on the streets of New York this past weekend.

Holy Sheet: Rosh Hashanah Party Review

Needless to say, The Holy Sheet Party that a few of my East Village friends and I threw, was a smash(ed) success. DJ Josh Sparber (whose blog I'm stealing these pics from) spun an outrageous party complete with Jewish/Israeli music and of course, The Hora. Everybody was made to wear a kippah or what I often heard "those little hat things" upon entering and for much the night I was in the corner pouring shots of maneschwitz wishing La' Shana Tovah ("for a good year") to everyone.


(top) My Israel traveler friend Danielle and I (wearing my I love Fairfax shirt from my days in LA)
(bottom) Two dogs getting into the Jew spirit.

Call to Action: Nobody Responds

Well, it's Friday afternoon, around 2:30 and nobody has responded to either my action or participating in my action. Whether it's disinterest or my blog not being popular enough I haven't had any responses. Therefore, I'm going to do something on my own. I'll figure it out but I don't know yet.
An ACT UP friend of mine discovered that sex education is not being taught in NYC public schools. This leads to more public funding and thus, abstinence-only education programs. Knowing in my heart of hearts that teens are going to have sex regardless my friend and I may do something as simple as condom teach-ins. I'll let you know what develops.

NY Times: Art & Unrest in the East Village

Click here for a very well done 10minute mini-documentary on the East Village presented by the New York Times. (Thank, Josh!)

Chris Crocker: Youtube Daddy

I've been a huge fan of Chris Crocker ever since my friend played some videos of his for me a few months ago. (Thanks, Brendan.)

Comedian, gender-bender, and activist Chris Crocker celebrates over 3million hits since his latest, "Leave Britney Alone" vlog. It's not my favorite of his videos. But I recommend checking out his youtube page. I find him utterly hysterical and talented. I posted an article a few weeks back celebrating Chris and his potential TV development deals.

Congrats, kid!
here's his latest: Responding to Fox News Media attention

and a classic

Bashed

Openly gay ex "Top Chef" contestant, Josie Smith-Malave, was leaving a Sea Cliff, NY bar with friends when she was apparently chased down by thugs screaming anti-gay slurs and eventually spit and beat on her. Click here to read the small (go figs) article.

You may remember Smith-Malave for her fierce hair and if you're a Brooklyn diner she used to work as a sous-chef at Brooklyn's Marlow and Sons restaurant.

Call to ACTION!

JoeMyGod's recent post about the increase of HIV rates amongst gay and young gay men has ignited a firestorm on his comment page. I immediately got the sense that people do actually care and are very angry. It's like a ninth grade high-school dance where everyone stands on the sidelines waiting for the first person to dance but until then nobody makes a move. I hope it doesn't sound too frivolous but I'd like to action about this:
Weather depending I'm sure the Christopher St. pier is still packed with those soaking up the last few days of great sun. We take a few friends, make a few signs , lean against the railing and just hold them up. signs saying, "33% increase in HIV/AIDS" "DOUBLE increase in 13-19 year olds" "HIV/AIDS is still an issue" "What are you doing for YOUR community?" and one maybe in the midst of it all stating, "Go ahead, roll your eyes."
I know, sounds a little stale- I'm open to suggestions but I just feel this latest report needs to be validated by something other than just online comments...We can make the signs on the pier day of (sat or sun this weekend), enjoy the sun and make a day of it. If I can get enough people to join me (minimum 5) I'll confirm by Friday Afternooon 9/14 if it's going to happen, where, and when. Any takers?
Email me: EricLeven1@aol.com

Another wonderful story from the Heartland

Check out this article here: Got to love American sportsmanship! It almost starts off like a familiar joke: A guy walks in to an Oklahoma Bar wearing a Texas Longhorns t-shirt... upon paying his tab he's attacked and nearly castrated by a rival football fan. Any surprise that the attacker, who went for the victim's nuts is a 53-year-old church deacon, federal auditor and former Army combat veteran? Well, that's ok. I'm sure Jesus hates the Longhorns too.

Adventures in Employment...?

That's right! After 50 some-odd days off I've finally landed my next hot and spicy gig back in the world of bubblelicious pop-reality TV. Now that I'm into my first week of working I already regret spending my two months of free time moping around being all, "woe is me" and shit. Dammit! I should have taken those P-Town trip offers opposed to staying in town and telling myself to put priorities first. What a moron. Youth truly is wasted on the young. I am ecstatic to be back at work though and to regain a sense of purpose. I was adrift for too long!

BAD Ass!

Guess what's big, red, shinny, and bouncing it's way down the streets of New York? Yup! It's Big Apple Dodgeball (BAD) the gay/gay friendly co-ed dodgeball league and sign up is Today, Wednesday 9/12, at the Cubbyhole
I attended the sign up at Gym Bar Monday night and was surprised at the long line of both men and women anxious to register for the most competitive-goofball sport ever invented. This should be a blast, check it out! Now I can finally hit friends with more than just sarcasm and passive-aggressive insults.

Outraged!

JoeMyGod just put up a startling post about a 33% increase of HIV/AIDS infection amongst gay men in the last five years and almost DOUBLE the cases in men between 13-19. I've long since blamed the gay community for pushing the issue under a rug after the invention of Protease Inhibitor drugs- that is my theory. My theory is that once men started living healthy HIV+ lives and the physical side-effects (lypodystrophy, distended belly , etc) of medicines declined, gay men, in fear of offending those healthy but positive, stopped speaking so outwardly about the topic and pushed the issue under a rug of safe-sex education and condom give-aways. Unfortunately, this doesn't work. Young people are coming out at younger and younger ages and they need to know the dangers of the world in which they are about to enter. We need to speak about this issue, we need to embed within the young mind education on self-worth and having the right to discuss status and not be worried about offending people. Also, activism needs to be reinvented. The old screaming and sign-waving, while still effective, does not reach the young community. We have to keep up with the cell phones, the myspace, and current media in order to reach them. Check out this PSA which I wrote, produced and directed. It's something that GMHC told me is a fear campaign but I believe it's reality. It seems to resonate loudly with both the young and old generations.
I am going to do something about this. I'm not sure what, yet. But I promise you I will not let this go without a fight!


JoeMyGod's Post:
Young men who have sex with men are contracting HIV at a rate 33% higher than five years ago, according to recent figures released by the NYC Health Department. For men who have sex with men (MSM), the under 30 age group experienced almost 500 reported new cases of HIV last year, versus 374 in 2001.

Perhaps even more frightening, cases among MSM in the 13-19 age group doubled. Black and Hispanic men contracted HIV at a rate much higher than whites, double for blacks and more than 50% more for Hispanics. More than 90% of new HIV cases among MSM under 20 were black or Hispanic. One tiny bit of good news: the annual number of new cases in older MSM declined by 22%. In Manhattan, the new cases are centered in East and Central Harlem, Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen.

Debra Frasier-Howe, president of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, called the latest numbers "devastating." Frasier-Howe pleads, "We must ask all New Yorkers to accept some responsibility for helping our young people protect themselves. Their lives are not dispensable."

NYC is now distributing more than 3 million free condoms a month. Every gay hook-up site promotes safer sex, usually on their main page. Every bar and nightclub has a bucket of free condoms by the door, usually near a stack of safer sex brochures. We have subway ads, bus shelter ads, public service announcements on television and radio. The black churches have come miles in their stance about MSM. Nothing is working. Society is evolving too slowly to save these kids. Of course, the advances in HIV therapy are somewhat at play in making HIV less feared, but somebody has GOT to come up with a new idea.

Happy New Year

La Shana Tova, everyone!
Yes it's that time of year again when summer officially wraps and the Jews eat their apples n' honey in celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. For this special event my East Village Jew Bros and I will be throwing a party at Eastern Bloc. Come rage in the new year of 5768 with Manishevitz shots and SuperStar Bar Mitzvah DJ Josh Sparber spinning the hottest Hora this side of Long Island.

Challa!

Burger Review- Westville East

Westville East- East Village, NYC

8.5 out of 10.

I ventured to Westville East restaurant with Eric, the roommate, and my other bros Max and Ira. Of course I, amongst the many tasty and inviting options on the menu, caved in and ordered a Bacon Cheese burger. Not bad.

Not bad at all. Aside from being served on an English muffin which makes it difficult for a burger to stay together it was pretty satisfactory. "Chic" but not entirely winning. Comes with fries or salad which is always a perk.














Max (left) Eric (middle) Ira (right)

Carrie Underwood loves Jesus and Vandalism!

American Idol Winner, Carrie Underwood, hits the radio lately with her latest smash single, "Before he Cheats," a woman's ode and vendetta to a cheating boyfriend. Except unlike her last hit, "Jesus take the Wheel," this song is less about religious inspiration/faith and more about inciting violence and vandalism against one who wrongs you. Take a look at the lyrics- it seems as though after letting Jesus take the wheel Mrs. Underwood was steered right into the hands of the devil.
Here's a tip, chick- take a deep breath, realize you're a better person and move on. What's with all the baseball bat smashing and keying one's car? Not very Jesus of you, is it?
Unless you've rationalized this somehow with dollar signs and pop-media attention, all of which I'm sure Jesus supremely approves of... (get a clue, dipshit.)

lyrics of chorus:
Right now he's probably slow dancing with a bleach blonde tramp,
and she's probably getting frisky...
right now, he's probably buying her some fruity little drink cause she can't shoot whiskey...
Right now, he's probably up behind her with a pool-stick, showing her how to shoot a combo...
And he don't know...
That I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped up 4 wheel drive,
carved my name into his leather seats...
I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights,
slashed a hole in all 4 tires...
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats.

Burger Review- Corner Bistro

Corner Bistro- West Village, NYC

7.8 out of 10.
Great price, better than status quo but NOT an amazing burger. When fries are "extra" that's immediately one point off. Burger was pretty fierce but for a place which boasts itself on it's burgers they should be a bit larger in size.

Republican Congressmen Love Gay Sex- Day 2

Protest Day 2- Union Square, NYC

After having such a fun and successful time at our previous comedic protest, Riot and I went back to Union Square to enjoy another day of sign holding and wise-cracking at the Republican expense. This time we were accompanied by Dr. Jason (far left) and Anthony (far right.) It was another wonderful day with lots of photo snapping, laughs, bringing awareness to the issue, and most importantly- thumbs up. Our new sign got a lot of smirks and smiles: "Larry Craig Sucks at Cruising" which is both funny and true.

Penn Station Americana

Perfumania- Penn Station, NYC

You just have to love American Strip malls for their completely absurd naming of stores. I saw this rolled my eyes and decided it was dumb enough to deserve its own post.
Oh yeah- and this definitely-out-of-state family enjoyed mussels and pasta at Kabooz, a Bar & Grill type pub located just under the beautiful fluorescent lights of Penn Station 7th Ave Terminal.
Just FYI, peeps. Ordering Pasta and Mussels at a place like this is about as classy as getting the fried calamari at Friendly's or the lobster special at your local diner. You just don't do it! Yuck.

Republican Congressmen Love Gay Sex

...Being entirely outraged at the latest Republican gay sex and self loathing scandal I decided to speak out and have a little fun at the GOP's expense.

My sidekick Riot and I decided to make a sign, walk to Union Square and relax in the sun, and hang around. Showing the sign was an absolute success. People laughed, asked questions, became educated about the issue, and gave us thumbs up. In fact it was so successful, fun, and satiating for the soul that Riot and I are returning at 3PM this Monday to do the same thing. I invite everyone to come join us, bring your own signs, and have FUN speaking out. The gay community will not be tainted by this hypocrite's action!

COME join us Union Square Monday 3PM!

!

Bladder Blather

...As I waited in line my finger gnawed at the label on the clear plastic water bottle. The line into the club was longer than I planned for and humidity was making my brow sweat. People were too close to me. Front and back. I stood there, focusing on breath, trying to think of nothing else other than holding it in and trying to appreciate that patience is a virtue.
Despite all the new-age crap I buy into and all the hours I've spent in yoga the mantra fell flat and my bladder expanded. It's only 11, I thought to myself, why are this many people out? Isn't everyone supposed to be out of town? I thought it was some New York tradition to desert the island for the weekend leaving nothing behind but a concrete ghost town and Daily Post tumbleweed?
The bass beat thumped the concrete under my feet making it more difficult for my bladder to stabilize itself. I grew anxious not only at the thought of relieving myself but the idea that something was occurring inside and that by waiting in line I was certainly missing out on whatever party lay beyond the square-boxed bouncer and the neon glass door. I bit my lip. I contemplated a cigarette, the label of the bottle now half peeled off. Breathe through the nostrils, in...out. There's no place you can be but right here, right now.
"ID?" The bouncer snapped.
I flung out my wallet, legs crossed and my body undulating from side to side, as if to create a seesaw of fluid within my organs. The bouncer scanned me over, figuring I might be some sketchball, rolled his eyes and let me through.
I ran through the steam-packed basement club crowd and made my way to a bathroom. YES!....no....
There was a line! Of course! What was I thinking earlier? I should have told myself that waiting on the outside is only half the battle. It's like at disney world when for two hours you've been waiting in line to get inside the skull because that's where you think the ride begins once you get there you find it's a heart-stopping revelation that you've just reached the beginning of the "inside" line. My once perfect and pristine water bottle now stood in my hand as a cheerleader who went to meth opposed to college. It was naked, label now completely worn off, top unscrewed and suffering the wrath of my fist, clenching deeper and tighter to take the edge off battle between liquid and bladder. I bit my lips. Held my legs together and tried to repeat. Patience is a virtue.