Dear Readers,

Hi, Guys! 🙂

Starting tomorrow, I'll be taking a break to enjoy the long Easter weekend. Hubby has a few extra days off and we want to take full advantage of that. There will be no new posts on Stonewall Gazette until I get back late next week. In the meantime, I hope all of you are well and staying safe.

Thank-you for your support and loyal readership. 😘

Cheers, 

The positive response I've received to yesterday's announcement that I'll be publishing again on Stonewall Gazette was very encouraging. Thank-you to all the folks that have already subscribed!

Dear Readers, 
RELATED
Getting Started 

To all my readers,

During the holiday season I'm reminded of how much I'm grateful for: my husband, family & friends.

I'm equally appreciative of every single person who has read Stonewall Gazette.

It's you, the readers, who inspire me to continue doing what I do!

Hi, Everyone!

I'm happy to announce that you can now follow Stonewall Gazette on Facebook!

CLICK HERE.

Shane
Editor, Stonewall Gazette

https://www.facebook.com/StonewallGazette

I hope you're enjoying the August weather! A quick note to let you know I'm taking a summer break. I'll be on Twitter for those who want to join me there.

Shane,

Editor

My apologies for the lack of posts. I am having some tech issues. Things should be back up running properly by Tuesday April 6th (fingers crossed). Below are links to some of our more popular posts. Perhaps you will find one or two that you didn't get a chance to read. Enjoy!

Thank-you again for your support and patience!

Shane


MORE News Buzz

• Mayoral candidate being mocked by political rivals who are trying to create 'gay panic' among the voters
• Bathhouse owner admits fire code violations
• Hate Crime Update: You Call This Justice?
• New images reveal details of the Martian moon Phobos
• Acceptance is crucial for gay, lesbian and bisexual youths: study
• Are homophobic Republican's ruining "Stars on Ice"?
• "Stars on Ice" denies it rejected Johnny Weir for not being 'family friendly'
• Co-founder of National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, dead at 82
• Ka-ching! Nepal appeals for gay tourists
• Gay seniors are bravely coming 'out of the closet'
• Lesbian sgt. discharged from military after being outed by cops
• Johnny Weir blackballed by Stars on Ice?
• German football boss says gay players should find another job!
• B.C.'s "Winter Pride" survives Olympic sandwich
• ACLU sues on behalf of lesbian teen who wanted to take girlfriend to the prom
• Argentina annuls marriage of gay couple
• Not Guilty!
• White supremacist rally planned for Vancouver?
• Fight Back New York!
• Mississippi school board cancels High School prom because gay teen wanted to bring same-sex date

MORE Celebrity Buzz

• Celebrity Sighting: Matthew Bomer
• WATCH VIDEO: Lady Gaga nearly passes out during New Zealand gig
• Michael C. Hall to undergo last cancer treatment
• Ever wondered what Lady Gaga might look like as an Avatar character?
• Out gay actor, Doug Spearman on what Black History Month means to him
• Celebrity Sighting: Bradley Cooper shirtless
• First Look: Queen Cyndi and Lady Gaga in V Magazine
• Who wore it better?
• Celebrity Sighting: Christian Slater shirtless
• 'Heroes' Star Charged with DUI
• SATC Actor Willie Garson Finalizes Son's Adoption


MORE Interviews




• Steven Goldstein: "The loud, gay, New York Jew who's making a difference"
  New interview with Nicholas Hoult (A Single Man)
• Queer as Folk’s Randy Harrison discusses his new role playing the legendary Andy Warhol
• 'A Single Man' star Matthew Goode shows us 10 new looks of the season
• "Buppies" creator talks gay storyline and why the Down Low phenomenon is so popular with urban audiences
MORE Movie Buzz


• Meet Jeremy Renner's ('Hurt Locker') ex-boyfriend?
• Taylor Lautner attends 'The Runaways' movie premiere in L.A.
• Fusion Film Festival Honors Wilson Cruz and Spotlights Multicultural LGBT Films
• 'Sex and the City 2' star badly injured in motorcycle collision
• Florida Legislator Seeks to Ban Gay TV and Film Characters
• Actor Jai Courtney nude in "Packed to the Rafters"
• Video: A Nightmare on Elm Street trailer featuring Kellan Lutz
• Wes Craven Officially On Board to Direct 'Scream 4"
• Oscar winners, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet and Marion Cotillard team up in new thriller
• First Look: Jamie Bell and Channing Tatum in The Eagle of the Ninth
• Where are Hollywood’s gay men?
• Will Bollywood's first gay movie be censored?
• Werewolves vs. Vampires!
• Men Magazine names Samuel Colt as Man of the Year

Written by Shane Smith , Editor of Stonewall Gazette

My motto has always been to keep the bias and bitchiness on this blog to a minimum. However, sometimes I can't help but be moved to frustration, disbelief or laughter by the many news items that I post. 

Here's my queer two cents...


FINDING YOUR WAY
It's bad enough that some men can't read maps, or bother to ask for directions (you know who you are), and now this? A new scientific study says that yes, it's true, humans really can't walk in a straight line without some kind of reference point. Just so I'm clear on this, when they say straight line, are they just talking about straight men? And if god really is a woman, she must be having a hell of a good laugh over this one.

Speaking of god, praise the lord, last week the U. S. Lutheran Church saw the light and is going to allow sexually active gay and lesbian members to become Church clergy. Hallelujah! This could be good news for Cambridge, Massachusetts mayor, Denise Simmons (pictured), the first ever African-American lesbian mayor in the United States, by the way, if she wants a queer Lutheran Church clergy-person to officiate at her upcoming wedding to partner, Mattie B. Hayes. Okay, so she might be an Episcopalian, nevertheless, the point is she now could if she wanted to. It's amazing to see gay history happening right before our eyes.


WEEDING OUT THE UNDESIRABLES
Twenty-four year old Xtube performer, Jammy Reyes (pictured), is being targeted for deportation by the Canadian government. If only all 'undesirables' in Canada were born in foreign countries like Jammy, then our ultra-conservative, supported by the evangelical Christian-right, federal government could solve the problems of child abuse, drug addiction, homelessness and abject poverty in this country, simply by deporting them. Such a waste of our tax dollars, going after this kid!


DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL!
Here's a thought (or two or three) for you, Parents Television Council, and your recent complaint about the 'gay' episode of Mad Men: maybe you shouldn't let your children watch adult-themed shows like AMC's Mad Men? Then again, if your 'children' are 14-years of age or older, maybe you could give them a little responsibility to make up their own minds about whether they want to watch Mad Men or not. Hey, they might not even be into the show.

Here's another thing, do you know what movies your children are going to, unaccompanied by an adult? Do you monitor their internet activity? Like I said, just a thought, or two or...

Rather than wasting time trying to get publicity for your dubious 'cause', PTC people, why don't you mosey on over to the GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) web site and learn all about the genuinely good work this organization does to help foster better relations between gay kids and straight kids; why not try to open yourselves up and be supportive, like these folks?


STILL FAR TO GO IN MICHIGAN
Michigan gay teen, 15-year old Steven Harmon (pictured), was the 'alleged' victim of a gay-bashing in his home town of Portage, Michigan. Unfortunately for Steven, his perpetrators aren't going to be charged with a hate crime, so I say "Shame On You, State of Michigan!", for having completely useless hate crime legislation that doesn't protect your citizens on the basis of their sexual orientation. If you're an eligible gay voter in Michigan, you should head for your state legislator's door, mail box, phone or email, and demand equal rights and equal protection NOW, because that was somebody's gay kid who got beat up, god damn it!

So if Detroit, Michigan-based General Motors can build a car that can (purportedly) go 230 miles on a single gallon of gasoline, tell me why Michigan state lawmakers can't go the extra mile to revise their hate crime legislation to include crimes based on sexual orientation?



I HEART MR A to Z
You know what makes me happy? Singer/songwriter Jason Mraz's newfound and wholly deserved success. I'm a big fan of Mr. A to Z, not the least because he's been a vocal supporter for the gay community. Mraz said:

To me it’s not an issue of gay or straight; it’s just a coincidence that the people I hang out with happened to be … gay folk. And I, as a writer, have always written from a feminine side. I take yoga, and I practice my spirituality, to balance my heaven and earth, to balance my masculine and my feminine, you know? And I think what I find hanging out in the gay community, there’s more of a balance in the masculine and feminine qualities in the lifestyle than in a typical straight relationship or just in a straight person.

And the only other thing that makes me happier, is listening to Jason's music (while picturing him in his underwear).

2009 promised to be a great year for QueerTwoCents until my health took a serious turn for the worse shortly after New Year's, which prevented me from publishing these last six months.

I don't know what is in store for me throughout the remainder of 2009, except that I must continue to focus on my health. I'm still recovering but am looking forward to resuming publishing.

Many people tried to contact me while I was away from the blogosphere but I just discovered that a problem had occurred with my Yahoo account and any emails that were sent to yoqtc@queertwocents.com, were either deleted by Yahoo or simply expired (I don't know which as I'm still having issues with Yahoo).

I've created a new address,  so I hope that you will take the opportunity to write me, comment on posts, or both. I look forward to hearing from you.

In the meantime, please accept my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for your patience and understanding, and for your continued loyal support of QueerTwoCents.

Shane, aka QTC

2009 promised to be a great year for QueerTwoCents until my health took a serious turn for the worse shortly after New Year's, which prevented me from publishing these last six months.

I don't know what is in store for me throughout the remainder of 2009, except that I must continue to focus on my health. I'm still recovering but am looking forward to resuming publishing.

Many people tried to contact me while I was away from the blogosphere but I just discovered that a problem had occurred with my Yahoo account and any emails that were sent to yoqtc@queertwocents.com, were either deleted by Yahoo or simply expired (I don't know which as I'm still having issues with Yahoo).

I've created a new address, , so I hope that you will take the opportunity to write me, comment on posts, or both. I look forward to hearing from you.

In the meantime, please accept my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for your patience and understanding, and for your continued loyal support of QueerTwoCents.

Shane, aka QTC

2009 promised to be a great year for QueerTwoCents until my health took a serious turn for the worse shortly after New Year's, which prevented me from publishing these last six months.

I don't know what is in store for me throughout the remainder of 2009, except that I must continue to focus on my health. I'm still recovering but am looking forward to resuming publishing.

Many people tried to contact me while I was away from the blogosphere but I just discovered that a problem had occurred with my Yahoo account and any emails that were sent to yoqtc@queertwocents.com, were either deleted by Yahoo or simply expired (I don't know which as I'm still having issues with Yahoo).

I've created a new address, , so I hope that you will take the opportunity to write me, comment on posts, or both. I look forward to hearing from you.

In the meantime, please accept my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for your patience and understanding, and for your continued loyal support of QueerTwoCents.

Shane, aka QTC

Thank-you for all the kindness and sympathy you've expressed to me through emails, cards and comments.

With love and gratitude,

Shane aka QTC

Editor and Publisher
QueerTwoCents

I will not be doing any posts this week due to a death in the family. My father has suddenly died. I will be spending the next few days to mourn with my family. My goal is to start publishing again on Monday Sept 15, 2008. Please do come by and browse through the most recent archives by clicking on the side banners. Thank-you.

Shane  

Editor and Publisher

I'm back (sort of). I was just released from the hospital this morning. What I thought was influenza was, in fact, pneumonia! With my disabilities the doctor thought it best that I stay in the hospital for treatment. I'm still not feeling 100% and probably won't be for at least another week or so. Overall, I feel very tired. Thanks for all the emails, comments and support. It means so much to me. Thank you.

- Shane

I wanted to let you know that I have not been feeling well. I've been battling a terrible flu and high fever, so posting will be at a minimum. I'm on my way out the door to see my doctor. I'll let you know what's up tomorrow.

Hi, Everyone!
As promised, here is my first real post in over a month, explaining in a nutshell what happened to QueerTwoCents and where I've been.

It's Gone!?!
On Thursday, November 22nd, I posted a (U.S.) Thanksgiving Day greeting. The following day, Friday, I went to post and couldn't access the blog. Baffled, I waited an hour to see if it (Blogger) would correct itself. It didn't. I tried to get some help from the Blogger service. Nada. A Blogger help page advised me to reclaim my site which I did immediately and I posted a "having technical difficulties" notice. The bad news is that I have lost all of the posts I did for QueerTwoCents.com this past year! Blogger has not been able to restore any of it! Needless to say, the loss of the original blog and it's archives is a huge disappointment!!!

Where Have I Been?
Longtime readers will recall that I have been recovering from severe spinal injuries that I sustained in an accident almost 2 years ago. These injuries left me disabled. I had been waiting to have spinal surgery for many months and in the midst of the blog fiasco, received a surprise telephone call telling me to come in for surgery on Monday, November 26th! The surgery went as well as could be expected but I was in the hospital until December 19th.

Time To Move Forward
I now have additional physical challenges ahead of me, but I will continue using this webzine to stay connected. For all intents and purposes, QueerTwoCents will be starting 2008 as a fresh webzine. I want to thank the readers, old and new, for making 2007 the success that it was. I look forward to the coming year with much enthusiasm and personally invite you to share the journey with me!

Shane aka QTC

(December 31, 2007)

Editor and Publisher
QueerTwoCents

...readers, for all your love and best wishes. When life throws you a curve, it is really nice to know that others are there with kindness and support. It means a lot to me that I was in your thoughts and prayers.

Also, a special thank-you to Grant Alsundt for updating Queer Two Cents while I was in the hospital.

I'm still not feeling 100 percent; later in the week, I'll post more about where I'm at medically.

As I have mentioned before, my hope is that QueerTwoCents is a comfortable place to come to, not only for entertainment, but also for articles and news stories from around the world. I will continue to publish with this intent. Sadly, however, I am dealing with physical limitations that will prevent me from being able to post as many articles and features as I have been used to.

It is so great to be home, though. It seemed like I was in the hospital for a month, instead of only one week. Even so, that week provided me with a great deal of time for reflection... the changes my life has undergone since becoming disabled, as well as how and why QueerTwoCents.com came into being. Last year at this time, I never could have imagined creating this blogzine. And, I can't believe it's been over three months since we celebrated with a Six-Month Anniversary Party!

Thank-you again for your support and for taking this journey with me.

Shane, aka QTC

Editor and Publisher