Jason Howard Green

Jason Howard Green

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Usher Attacked by Drag Quuens



Okay, so that may not be Usher, but you have to admit there is a passing resemblance to the R&B superstar. Celebrity status aside, this is still a remarkable story. Apparently several drag queens rushed into McDonalds and attacked the employees. Not to be outdone by a bunch of men in dresses, the Mickey Dee's employees decided they ain't going down like that. They decided to fight back like the ride or die kinda posse you've come expect from friends of Ronald McDonald. Blows were exchanged, mugs were drug, and one of the drag monsters was doused with a batch of french fry grease.

Now I'm am not one to condone violence. I'm a peace and love mellow kinda fellow. But I must say, this story is quite amusing to me. Child, I would have paid good money to be ring side for this Thrilla by Dragzilla, for this Hiccup at the Pick-up, for this Rabble Rouse at Ronald's House.

I'm sure there was something said (or done) that excited this type of reaction from the queens in question. My spider-sense is telling me the McDonalds employees in this clip are not the victims they are pretending to be. People don't just respond in this manner without some type of catalyst. But it's still true that two wrongs don't make a right. But if you're gonna do wrong, make sure you have the manpower to back up whatevah it is you're gonna do. And it looks like these drag queens had the power they needed. I love it when queers bash back.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Soldiers For Love



Today I witnessed something amazing. The ten individuals that make up the 2010 Arizona Marriage Equality Walkers completed their journey of walking 98 miles across the state bringing awareness to the need to legalize LGBT relationships through marriage. Many people gathered at the Phoenix City Hall to honor the walkers and to complete the final mile of the journey with them. The last stretch of this phenomenal feat took those in attendance from city hall to the state capital.

Seeing the people in the streets, feeling the amazing sense of unity in the air and hearing the stories from the equality walkers made the day very surreal. Knowing that this walk comes on the heals of the repeal of Prop 8 gives me hope. To paraphrase Martin Luther King, Jr., maybe one day we will see the arc of history swing towards justice.

My partner and I have been together for fourteen years and the state of Arizona (along with most of the states in our country) refuses to recognize our union. I don't know many straight couples that have endured the length of time we have yet we cannot swap rings or exchange vows legally. It is humiliating and disgracing but it is a fact. So as I bear witness to the phenomenal courage of these individuals I am simultaneously humbled and encouraged. They give me strength. As long as there are individuals like this around then the spirit of MLK lives on. As long as the equality walkers press forward with their mission the spirit of Bayard Rustin lives on. As long as there are people that take to the streets and refuse to be silent then the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi lives on.

I am grateful to have been in the midst of these individuals and I want them to know that they are role models for the LGBT community. If we are to one day see the light LGBT marriage equality, it will be because of people like this and the people that support them. Onward LGBT soldiers. Your work is not in vain.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Mitrice Richardson Found Dead

Unfortunately the search is over for the Los Angelas lesbian, Mitrice Richardson, who has been missing for over a year. Mitrice made national headlines last year following her controversial release from the LAPD. Many have accused L.A. County of negligence because they released Richardson at night, without a cell phone and without a car. Mitrice has a history of mental illness and has suffered from bipolar disorder for several years. Some individuals that saw her on the evening of her arrest stated that she was not in a condition to drive and spoke about dazed and confused she was at the time of her arrest. She was arrested for not being able to pay for an $89 meal.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Mitrice. I was praying for a happy ending to this story. Mitrice Richardson was smart, beautiful and well-loved and the LGBT community, African-American community, and city of L.A. have lost a terrific spirit. Rest In Peace Ms. Richardson.

Damn Those Text Messages

First they got Chris Brown in trouble and now this. Ekeythia Dunston, a cop with the NYPD has been accused of shooting her girlfriend during a fight that happened because of a text message. Dunston (pictured on the right in the photo) claims she was acting in self defense from her partner that had attacked her with an iron. Her girlfriend attacked her with the iron after she read a text message that was "inappropriate." Dunston was viciously struck several times in the head with the iron and she managed to grab her police issued revolver and fire two shots at her five-year girlfriend Erica Leagall. Leagall was shot in the thigh and in the shoulder.

Both individuals were taken to the hospital. Dunston has been charged with assault and prosecutors are saying that Legall, who remains in stable condition in the hospital, will also be charged. Whats crazy is that these two have two kids together and the children were home when the fight occurred. A friend that was also at their home when everything happened has stated that Dunston did indeed fire to defend herself. Officer Dunston has been released from the hospital and has returned home.

Damn! Damn! Damn! I just don't get it. Is it because I don't text that often that I don't understand this? Is it because I don't pry through my partners texts or emails trying to find something "inappropriate" that I don't understand this? I know that love is the most powerful emotion we are capable of and it can cause us to do some crazy things. But if you ever get to point where you want to bash your lovers head open with an iron then you're at the point where you need to walk away from that relationship. Walk away for your own safety and sanity. Walk away to protect yourself. That's all I'm saying.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Derek J. - Hair Battle Spectacular

Ohhh Ms. Thing! That's all I have to say about this. Derek J., whom you may know from Chris Rock's documentary Good Hair or you may have seen on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is apparently set to be a judge for a new show entitled Hair Battle Spectacular.

According to The Advocate, Derek J. will be "calling the shots as a sweet yet headstrong judge on the new show Hair Battle Spectacular (Oxygen, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time). The show is a condensed, weekly version of what would typically happen at the annual Bronner Bros. International Hair Show, where stylists go head to head in coming up with (onstage, by the way) the most whimsical, fantastical, and imaginative hair creations."

Derek sat down with The Advocate to talk about how he got into the hair industry, about the upcoming show, and about the tremendous amount of pressure they put on the first season's contestants. Fantasy hair competitions are something that stylists generally have weeks if not months to prepare for. The judges on Hair Battle Spectacular will be expecting the contestants to pull off some of the remarkable creations in a matter of hours.

I'm generally not a reality TV person but this actually appeals to me for some reason. I may be tuning in to see the chaos and craziness these individuals will have to endure to walk away as victor of the Hair Battle Spectacular. Sounds like fun.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Isiah Thomas Poses for NoH8

WOW is all I can say for the support from former NBA superstar Isiah Thomas and his son who just posed for the NoH8 campaign. The basketball legend had this to say about his support of same-gender marriage equality, "We posed for the NOH8 Campaign because we believe that all hate and discrimination is wrong." He went on to sayon Adam Bouska's website, "It is time for full equality and equal rights for everyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, or gender."

Kudos to Thomas and his son for doing this. It's nice to know that all in the NBA are not homophobic. I know he doesn't actually play in the league anymore but I still believe that he is very influential. He recently return to New York where he where serve as a part-time consultant for the Knicks.