Saturday PM Big Load

Stayin' Warm

Hope your Friday night is warm and wonderful . . .

TGIF Snowbone of the Day

Thursday PM

Update on deleted Buddies

Thanks to whkattk of Big Whack Attack for posting this --

The bottom line is that they knew what their house cleaning would do. And while we didn't start this blog to run up numbers, it's a form of corporate, well, the best word I can think of is cheating, making everyone come through Google. If the big banks are too big and need to be broken up, maybe the same applies to Google.

Nice Trail Pic of the Day

Sometimes Huffington Post is good . . .

. . . and other times it's like this . . .

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-peron/not-queer-just-gay-no-thanks_b_9145566.html?utm_hp_ref=queer-voices&ir=Queer%20Voices

THE BLOG

Not Queer. No, Thanks.

 02/03/2016 

• James Peron | President, Moorfield Storey Institute

This may be my last contribution to what I will always call "Gay Voices." I am no fan of the decision by office staff to label us all "Queer" in the name of inclusion.

I'm in favor of a more inclusionary name. Using a term many of us find insulting and painful, however, is not inclusion -- it's exclusion and rather inconsiderate. It accomplishes the opposite of inclusion. I'd be quite happy with Rainbow Voices. I doubt many of us had traumatic experiences with rainbows.

But, many people, myself included, had very painful experiences with being labeled "queer." I find the term as insulting as "nigger," or "kike." I don't even like using those words to express why I hate being labeled queer -- regardless of who does it.

Yes, the word is painful. It was a point driven home to me with fists and kicks. It was the word vomited at me by bullies at school. It was one of the words, along with "faggot" and "sissy" that the gym coaches threw at us. If you didn't want to put on boxing gloves and hit another kid in the face you were a fag. You were queer. If someone was queer it was okay to inflict pain and suffering on them because of it. That message came from staff at school, from coaches, house parents, and the older boys. It was pervasive and universal. Let's all play smear the queer.

Once you were queer you had no right to live, no right to happiness, and were fair target for anyone needing to boost their own fragile masculinity.

I don't find the use of the term liberating. I find it traumatic. Maybe if my life experiences were those of the younger team members who run this page, I'd get some cheap thrill out of using the term. I don't. I just relive a lot of suffering because of it. It is part of who I am; I can't change what I experienced.

In the surprise announcement Noah Michelson makes it clear his experience with the word wasn't traumatic. He says, the page needs to be more inclusionary and "queer" is more inclusionary.

As to why they didn't call it "Queer Voices" from the start he writes, "some people felt that the term was too controversial, too divisive and, because of its history as a slur, perhaps just too painful to use."

Well, it is controversial; the almost universally negative comments I saw following his surprise announcement proves that. It is divisive and it is painful. Inclusionary only includes people without those painful experiences. You can't be inclusionary and divisive at the same time.

What I think, or what other writers or readers think, is pretty much irrelevant. The change is presented as a fait accompli. Inclusion doesn't include very many people.

I didn't live Mr. Michelson's life. He sure didn't live mine. He thinks, "Queer" functions as an umbrella term that includes not only the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people of "LGBT," but also those whose identities fall in between, outside of or stretch beyond those categories, including genderqueer people, intersex people, asexual people, pansexual people, polyamorous people and those questioning their sexuality or gender, to name just a few."

Fair enough, but it also excludes all the asexual, polyamorous, pansexuals, gays, bisexual, lesbians and transgender individuals who find "queer" insulting, degrading and painful. It excludes huge segments of the community, who didn't have Mr. Michelson's life.

I'm glad he didn't have my life. From the moment I came out on radio in 1977 to oppose the Anita Bryant campaign, I've been fighting so that no one has to have the life I had. I don't want kids today to know the pain of being called "queer," pain that was often as physical as it was emotional.

"Queer" is a traumatic, painful word for many of us. To have it inflicted us by our allies is no less traumatic and painful. If anything, it is worse. I don't expect human decency or understanding from the bigots. But, here I feel as if I'm again being told I'm not welcome, I'm an outsider. I'm not one of the "in-kids" that everyone had to make happy. My pain, my experience--they don't matter. Once again, thanks to the "queer" term, I'm being locked out and excluded.

I've never denied another person the right to embrace whatever term they want. But, I'm not embracing "queer," it is being imposed on me, just like it was when I was growing up. Now, if I choose to continue contributing to this page, the word "Queer" will be emblazoned across the top of the page. It will be attached to my columns, regardless of my wishes.

I know had this page been originally called Queer Voices, I wouldn't have bothered contributing to it, or reading it for that matter. I'm just one writer in the community of mostly unpaid contributors. But, I don't feel like the community is mine anymore. I've been kicked out.

I'm here, I'm not queer, get used to it. Actually, the "I'm here" part is what I'm left reconsidering.

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Hot Shot of the Evening

In late, catch up soon!

Smoldering Look Pic of the Day

Tuesday PM

WARNING -- POLITICAL! The Liberal Backlash Against Hillary Clinton

This is very cool. I have a lady friend who feels exactly the same way and expressed herself in similar language . . .

http://www.pajiba.com/politics/an-allcaps-explosion-of-feelings-regarding-the-liberal-backlash-against-hillary-clinton.php

An All-Caps Explosion of Feelings Regarding the Liberal Backlash Against Hillary Clinton

By Courtney Enlow | Politics | February 2, 2016

As Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have become head-to-head rivals, their denizens have begun attacking each other, the Democratic Party eating itself like a snake that loves science and Planned Parenthood. And things have gotten ugly.

 

For many of us, it's not simply politics as usual. It's very personal.

 

For me, the backlash against Hillary Clinton feels very, very personal.

 

Can you imagine how absolutely infuriating it must be for Hillary to have to work so hard to be likable, but strong? Hip, but above the need to be seen as cool? For everything she says to be perfect because she'd be crucified otherwise, meanwhile Bernie Sanders could say pretty much anything he wants and it would be seen as the goddamn revolution? I'm so infuriated on her behalf. Because what you like about Bernie, what they like about Trump, she doesn't get to do that. She doesn't get to be all wild hair and yelling. Do I wish different? Of course. And the first female president would go a long way toward making that difference possible.

 

So since Hillary cannot yell, since by the virtue of being sane and not a white man she is forced to be the biggest adult in the room, just like Obama has had to for eight goddamn years, I will yell for her.

 

FIRST AND FUCKING FOREMOST, COOL, YOU LIKE BERNIE'S WISHES AND DREAMS APPROACH TO POLITICS. "FREE COLLEGE FOR EVERYONE AND A GODDAMN PONY." YES, THAT SOUNDS FUCKING WONDERFUL BUT DO YOU THINK HILLARY COULD EVEN SAY THOSE WORDS WITHOUT FOX NEWS LITERALLY BURYING HER ALIVE IN TAMPONS AND CRUCIFIXES?

 

YOU DON'T LIKE THAT SHE HAD CERTAIN NOW-UNACCEPTABLE POLICIES BACK IN THE '90S? HEY, I GET THAT THAT SHIT SEEMS LIKE LAST WEEK, BUT IT WAS ANOTHER GODDAMN WORLD ENTIRELY. I GET THAT WE ALL THINK WE'RE THE UNIVERSE'S BESTEST HUMANS BUT MOST OF THIS COUNTRY JUST LEARNED TRANS PEOPLE EXIST, LIKE, YESTERDAY. LET'S NOT PRETEND WE'VE ALL BEEN THE MOST INCLUSIVE PROGRESSIVE SUPER-COOL PEEPS FOR LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS NOW. PROGRESSIVE MEANS JUST THAT--PROGRESS. SHIT THAT WAS A BIG GODDAMN DEAL AT THE TIME IS NOT COOL NOW. PROGRESS. IT'S FUCKING SWELL.

 

YOU DON'T LIKE THAT SHE PLAYS THE GAME? THAT SHE HAS TIES TO THE ESTABLISHMENT? FOR ONE THING, THAT'S HOW SHIT FUCKING GETS DONE. FOR THE OTHER THING, THE BIGGEST THING, A WOMAN DOESN'T GET THE FUCKING OPTION *NOT* TO PLAY THE GAME. NOT NOW. NOT YET. WE ALL WISH THINGS WERE DIFFERENT BUT THEY DON'T BECOME DIFFERENT WHILE WE'RE ATTACKING THE FUCKING PERSON WHO CAN MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

 

AND THESE NEW BERNIE VS. HILLARY MEMES. WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU EVEN DOING?

 

   

 

SERIOUSLY? THAT'S YOUR LINE? SHE'S NOT COOL ENOUGH? WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU PEOPLE EVEN WANT FROM HER? WOMEN HAVE TRIED FOR YEARS TO "HAVE IT ALL" AND THEN WE GET YELLED AT FOR TRYING TO HAVE THE IMPOSSIBLE "ALL" BUT THEN IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE "ALL." IT'S FUCKING BULLSHIT.

 

THE DAY MY HUSBAND TOLD ME HE LIKED BERNIE, HE SAID, "I mean, how great is it to have a president who just doesn't even care how his hair looks" AND I EXPLODED "DO YOU THINK THERE EXISTS A WORLD WHERE A WOMAN COULD EVEN CONSIDER THAT?"

 

AND THE MOST MINDBLOWING PART? THIS ISN'T EVEN COMING FROM THE GOP! BECAUSE WHAT I AM SEEING IS THE SAME THING WE SEE WITH OBAMA ONLY ON THE MORE LIBERAL END OF THE SPECTRUM--PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER CONSIDER THEMSELVES BIGOTS IN ANYWAY BUT JUST KNOW THERE IS *SOMETHING* THEY DON'T CARE FOR ABOUT THIS PERSON. THEY REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING COULD BE SKIN COLOR OR GENDER BUT FOR VERY MANY OF THEM IT ABSOLUTELY FUCKING IS.

 

I'M NOT SAYING THERE AREN'T REASONS SOMEONE SHOULD DISLIKE HILLARY OR PREFER BERNIE. THAT IS FINE. THAT IS YOUR JOURNEY. BUT LET'S NOT PRETEND FOR A SECOND THAT THERE WOULD BE *THIS MANY* ISSUES WITH HILLARY IF SHE WAS A GODDAMN MAN.

 

AND IF YOU COME AT ME FOR EVEN ONE GODDAMN SECOND WITH A "YOU JUST LIKE HER BECAUSE SHE'S A WOMAN" I WILL DESTROY YOU WHERE YOU STAND. I LIKE HER! I LIKE HER POLICIES, I LIKE HER PLANS, I LIKE WHAT SHE STANDS FOR, I LIKE THAT SHE'S GROWN AND EVOLVED AS A HUMAN AND POLITICIAN! I LIKE THAT SHE WAS FOR MANY OF US MY AGE ONE OF OUR FIRST ROLE MODELS OF A SMART, PROFESSIONAL, KICKASS WOMAN AND THAT SHE ISN'T AFRAID OF THE WORD "FEMINIST" AND I'M SICK OF HAVING TO APOLOGIZE FOR LIKING HER, FOR HAVING TO QUALIFY AND SEE YOUR SIDE AND RESPECT YOUR OPINION WHEN I FUCKING DON'T AND YOU FUCKING DON'T RIGHT BACK. I LIKE HER!

 

AND MOST OF YOU LIKE HER POLICIES AND PLANS TOO BECAUSE A) THEY'RE BASICALLY FUCKING OBAMA AND B) THEY'RE NOT THAT FUCKING DIFFERENT THAN FUCKING BERNIE.

 

THIS IS BASICALLY TWITTER RIGHT NOW:

 

Hillary: College should be affordable.

Twitter: Establishment puppet, no better than GOP.

Bernie: College should be affordable.

Twitter: DAD

 

AND THE THING IS--I LIKE BERNIE! EVERYONE LIKES BERNIE! BECAUSE CRAZY GRANDPA IS TOTALLY ELECTABLE BUT CRAZY GRANDMA NEVER COULD BE. BUT WHY DO WE HAVE TO HATE HER TO SHOW HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM? SOCIALIST JESUS TAKE THE FUCKING WHEEL.

 

IT IS ABSOLUTELY GUT WRENCHING THAT THIS BADASS, IMPORTANT WOMAN HAS BEEN DIMINSHED AND WRITTEN OFF AND HATED HER WHOLE CAREER, HER WHOLE EXISTENCE AS A PUBLIC FIGURE. YOU LIKE BERNIE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T PLAY THE GAME, BUT FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, FOR A WOMAN, SHE HAS HAD NO OTHER CHOICE.

 

BUT THOSE WHO COME AFTER HER MIGHT.

 

SO, YES, I'M EMOTIONAL AND I'M YELLING. BECAUSE THIS IS FUCKING EMOTIONAL FOR ME. I WANT A FEMALE PRESIDENT AND I WANT PRESIDENT HILLARY CLINTON. I WANT BOTH OF THESE THINGS BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE I WANT WOMEN TO HAVE AN EQUAL FUCKING FAIR SHAKE. I'M SICK OF THIS STUPID BULLSHIT DISGUISED AS POLITICS, MASQUERADING AS POLITICAL OPINION.

 

SO FUCK EVERYTHING. I'M WITH HER.

 

Thank you for your time. Excuse me while I nope out of the comments for all eternity.

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Hot Hairy Chest Pic of the Day

Monday PM -- A few from "Hairy Chest Candids"

Great site -- http://hairychestcandids.blogspot.com/ . . .

Golden Boy Pic of the Day

A question for all the Buddies -- UPDATE 02/01/2016

GUYS, CAN'T TELL YOU HOW GREAT IT IS TO READ YOUR COMMENTS. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU SAY!  Steve

Hey Folks,

I have a question for you. We've been putting our little blog out here since the end of December 2008. There have been 4,771 posts, a total of 7,416,680 page views, 3,438 published comments, and as of today 639 followers -- but I like calling you Buddies.

(Maybe some of you who are more tech savvy can help me understand a recent change. Two weeks ago, there were more than 800, then when I opened the blog a few days later it said 720. Did that many Buddies stop being fans all at once or does Blogger do some kind of purge? I honestly don't know).

Anyway, it's become waaaaaay more popular than we ever imagined. It was just for fun. Also, because we like things and people in their natural state. Like I've said many times, it's not how much hair you have on your body, it's the fact that its yours and makes you a unique individual, not a shaved down, buffed, puffed clone. "Smooth as a baby's ass or hairy as whatever, be proud of what you've got!"

It's still fun. I like making the pics look as good as possible. Scooter sends a bunch and some of you do, too. Most need to be touched up, a lot aren't good enough quality. Have to decide what's going to look hot in a montage, or as Pic of the Day, etc., etc. Takes a while. Throw in a sense of humor and a dose of liberal politics and it's not the typical porn site. There are plenty of those and they're easy to find. Not a porn site at all, right? Art appreciation!  ;-)

And here's the question. Is there anything you really don't like? Is there anything you'd like better?

Some things won't change. This will still be a place to see "natural" dudes. As natural as we can find! I'll still put up stuff that makes me laugh. Or think. And it will still be politically liberal. What else would you like?

That's about it. Have a great night!

Steve