Inaguration Day

January 21, 2009 at 6:59 am | In Uncategorized | 1 Comment
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I watched Barack Obama become the 44th President today with my students.

While his speech wasn’t kind of disappointing there is not taking away from the significance of this day. Despite the Rick Warren thing (I turned my back to the TV while he was speaking by the way) I got chills when he took the oath of office.

It was a really cool day. But I have to admit that the best part of the day for me was when George W. Bush got into the helicopter and left. I literally felt like a weight I had been carrying around for eight years had been lifted.

It was a great day for America…but not for my school. The students and my school were a mess. They used today as an excuse to act like idiots. They just don’t’ get it. When people in D.C. were shown crying a couple of them even asked “Why are they crying”—It just baffles me that they would ask that. Even the most racist Republican can understand why African-Americans all over this country were crying today.

 We have come so far as a nation. Yet even as change was happening all I had to do was turn around and look at my students and know we have so much work still to do.

 So tonight the nation celebrates and tomorrow the work begins.

Inaguration Eve

January 20, 2009 at 3:31 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
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Try as I may I just can’t get super excited about the inauguration tomorrow. I know I should be but I’m not. I just can’t get past the Rick Warren thing. I also have more issues with Obama after last week finding out that he used to be in favor same sex marriage before he hit the national stage. For a man that is supposed to be about hope and change I find it hypocritical that he has thrown the LGBT community under the bus multiple times. I guess I’m being selfish just thinking about my own issues. However, everyday I work in education. I work to improve the lives of people who would probably vote against me so I’m allowed to be selfish on this one. I will watch the inauguration tomorrow with my students. I hope I feel different then.

Regardless of how I feel about Obama now he’s not George W. Bush and for that I am thankful. I am glad that this 8 year nightmare is over

A nightmare that should have never happened. If I could have my way all the people that voted for that man would have to suffer the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life but if they suffer I suffer so I guess we all have to dig out of the mess they got us into together.

So I am happy that tonight will be the last time I go to bed with George W. Bush as President of the United States of America

Prop 8 didn’t ban it eliminated!

January 2, 2009 at 7:50 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
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I was watching “The View” this morning and prop 8 was mentioned. It drives me crazy that the media says that Prop 8 banned same sex marriage. While the technically may be true it really doesn’t state what Prop 8 really did. In all the other states like Oregon, Michigan and Wisconsin where Same Sex Marriage Amendments have passed it banned same sex marriage.

THAT WAS NOT THE CASE IN CALIFORNIA. IT ELIMINATED RIGHTS.  There was already same sex marriage in California and it was ELIMINATED not banned.

I am no longer a democrat

December 26, 2008 at 5:27 am | In Uncategorized | 1 Comment
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I just filled out the voter registration form at my new apartment. I am a democrat not more. I re-registered as an Independent.

This is a decision a long time in the making and not one I take lightly. All of my life I have identified with the democratic party. I have always believed, and still do, that the democratic party is the political party that represents what is best in America. I believe the democratic party really stands for equality and the working people. I thought I would always be a democrat.

However, the democratic party is lead by a bunch of wimps. It was democrats who rolled over and allowed Bush to  destroy this country with the Patriot Act and the Iraq War. Sure Bush was president and had a Republican majority in both houses of congress but the democrats didn’t even fight. They were to afraid to stand up for what was right.

Then the democrats took back congress it he mid-term elections of 2006. You’d think with a war criminal they’d at least hold impeachment hearings. No. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi did almost nothing for two years hoping that if they played nice they could get a democrat in the White House. They did but what at what cost in the grand scheme of things?

Then Joe Lieberman campaigned for John McCain and after Barack Obama elected president what do the Democrats do? Nothing they let him off with a slap on the wrist. Yes there is such a thing as playing nice and building bridges but then there is being stupid and taking it up the ass politically, something the democratic leadership in the country knows how to do better then a boy at the Abbey on a Friday night.

 

I know the democrats needed Lieberman to stay in the Democratic caucus to have any hope of getting to 60 seats but everybody knew the Georgia race would not go Democratic in the December run off so it was a stupid move.

Not only that but Barack Obama, the new leader of the democratic party, decided to have Rick Warren do the invocation at his inauguration. The first in what I fear will be many slaps in the face to the LGBT community in the next four  eight years by the Obama administration.

I’m sure I’ll still vote for mostly, if not all, democrats but I refuse to remain a member of a party that does not value me and doesn’t fight.

My lost election

December 6, 2008 at 5:00 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
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A month after the passing of Proposition 8 I am finally able to find the time to write something in depth about it.

I hate George W. Bush more than I can say. I was scared of that man and what I knew as he was capable of as far back as 1999.

I lived in fear on Election night 2000. I remember going into by screenwriting class in college with Florida blue. When I got  out of class two and a half hours later it was too close to call. I waited and prayed then felt my heart sink when it was called for Bush. Then I lived for the next three weeks watching the recount in Florida.

I shook my head in frustration as America blindly followed him after 9/11.

I was just another aspiring screenwriter in Los Angeles in the fall of 2002 and the spring of 2003 but even I knew there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I knew the war would drag on and on.

Then I set my whole life aside to help get John Kerry elected in 2004.  My hear was broken for at least six months after Bush was re-elected.

I lived and breathed the primaries. I listen to Stephanie Miller in the morning, Randi Rhodes in the afternoon and Rachel Maddow on my way home. Politics is now more important to me than the entertainment industry. Everyday I would break down the poll numbers. Hoping that Obama would hold onto his lead.

I have wanted a democratic president for so long.

Yet as election day neared my attention turned to Prop 8. Despite working until I am tired with exhaustion as a teacher I found time to volunteer for the No on 8 campaign.

On election day I stood with throbbing feet and legs, shaking after the sun went down trying to get voters in West Los Angeles to vote no on 8.

All the while people who don’t follow politics nearly as close as I do, or care as much as I do, were watching state after state go blue for Obama.

I didn’t get to see it happen. As I stood on that street corning being called a faggot for the 10,000 time in my life I made a deal with god. I said “I don’t care if I don’t get to see the moment when Obama becomes president as long as Prop 8 doesn’t pass.”—So much for deals with god.

I wasn’t watching at the moment it happened. I was fighting a loosing battle.

I got home right after 8 pm pacific time. After the election was over. I could only be happy for fifteen minutes become the numbers on prop 8 started to come in. I knew we were gong to loose by 9 pm.

I am still upset today. I am upset Prop 8 was on the ballot on the first place. I am upset with many in the LGBT community who did almost nothing because they thought everything would be okay.

I was robbed. Not only did Prop 8 rob me of my right to get married it robbed me of any happiness I could have had over Obama’s victory. You simply can’t enjoy your glass of water after somebody has peed in it.

What an awesome word

November 16, 2008 at 12:51 am | In Uncategorized | 2 Comments
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I am a teacher in the Watts district of Los Angeles

Yesterda during my confrence period I was out walking the track in a rare chance to get some excercise and sunlight.

As I was walking I heard somebody yell out “Faggot. Mr. Z Faggot. Gay teacher in the Green shirt. Faggot”.

To make a long story short I am sure it was one of my students who has constantly baited me about being gay.

I spoke with my principal about this. I told her I want this kid out of my class.

But after speaking to one co-worker, my mom, by boyfriend and my best friend. I feel that this kid should at least be suspended.

Him yelling “faggot” at me is not different than if he had yelled “nig___” at an African-American teacher.

I am angry. And I am sick of this shit.

I have already lived through being picked on by teenagers for being gay. I am not a little boy anymore. I am a 31 year old gay man and I know what legal rights I have and I will explore those if necessary.

For those idiots who voted yes on Prop 8 because gay people haven’t suffered discrimination. Try living my life.

Imagine

October 29, 2008 at 12:03 am | In Uncategorized | 1 Comment
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Imagine growing up knowing you were different. Being told and teased because you were different. Having everybody from you father to you sister to you cousins to you peers in school all imply that something is wrong with you because you are different.

 

Imagine the self-hate that would create inside of you.

 

Imagine people in society telling you that you are choosing to be different, that you are going to hell for being different.

 

How would that make you feel?

 

Imagine not having a first kiss until you were twenty-three because you are different.

 

Imagine being afraid to tell your friends and family that you are different.

 

Imagine wanting to kill yourself because you are different.

 

Imagine hiding yourself, hating yourself and cursing yourself because you are different.

 

This has been my life as a gay man.

 

Imagine one day you stop hating yourself and begin loving yourself.

 

Imagine finding love in spite of all of this.

 

Imagine moving to a state where your relationship will finally be held up as equal.

 

Now imagine that is all taken away.

 

Vote No on Prop 8.

Can Clinton Pass Obama 5?

May 21, 2008 at 5:13 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
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As expected Hillary Clinton won big time yesterday in Kentucky and Barack Obama won comfortably in Oregon. But the question must be asked. Can Hillary Clinton pass Barack Obama. The answer is…No. It is mathematically impossible for Hillary Clinton to pass Barack Obama based on pledged delegates alone.

According to my last analysis Hillary Clinton needed to win Kentucky by 80% not 35% and she needed to win Oregon by 70% not lose by 18%.

So even if Hillary Clinton wins 100% of the vote in Montana, South Dakota and Puerto Rico she will still be 99 delegates behind Barack Obama.

She will continue on. Why not there’s only two weeks left. But the numbers don’t lie.

The Superdelegates

April 23, 2008 at 11:25 pm | In Uncategorized | 1 Comment
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The Superdelegates

Even if Hillary Clinton were to win 100% of all the remaining contests she can’t reach 2,025 delegates. Barack Obama needs to win 75% to reach 2,025…So yes this will come down to the superdelegates. How will they need to break for each one of these people to become the nominee. First let’s say the last primaries go down like this…

Clinton wins Guam 60% to 40%

Obama wins Indiana 52% to 48%

Obama wins North Carolina 56% to 44%

Clinton wins West Virginia 60% to 40%

Clinton wins Kentucky 65% to 35%

Obama wins Oregon 56% to 44%

Obama wins Montana 56% to 44%

Obama wins South Dakota 56% to 44%

Clinton wins Puerto Rico 60% to 40%

These results all seem possible given recent polls…

If the last nine contest do down this way then Barack Obama will need 33% of the remaining unpledged superdelegates to get to 2,025, that’s right he will only need 33% of the superdelegates to put him over the top…What about Clinton? She will need 76% of the remaining  unpledged superdelegates. That’s a lot…She can do it but she has an uphill battle…again.

Can Clinton pass Obama 2?

April 23, 2008 at 7:57 pm | In Uncategorized | 1 Comment
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Congratulations to Hillary Clinton on her Pennsylvania win yesterday.  She fended off yet another Obama surge to live another two weeks.

With only nine contests remaining can she pass Obama in delegates? According to my last analysis she needed to win Pennsylvania by 30% not 10%. That means in order for her to pass Obama the following needs to happen:

She wins Guam 81% to 19%

She wins Indiana 70% to 30% (not going to happen the latest polls show Obama up 5%)

She wins North Carolina 58% to 42% (not going to happen the latest polls show Obama up 9%)

She wins West Virginia 75% to 25% (she’s going to win this State but I doubt it will be by 50 points)

She wins Kentucky 75% to 25% (she’s gong to win this State but I don’t think it will be quite this big.)

She wins Oregon 65% to 35% (not going to happen the latest polls show Obama up 10%)

She wins Montana  65% to 35% (not going to happen the latest poll I saw had Obama up)

She wins South Dakota 65% to 35% (not going to happen the latest poll I saw had Obama up)

And

She wins Puerto Rico 65% to 35% (I think she may win here but I don’t’ think it will be by 30 points)

IF she does all of this she will be ahead of Obama by…1 delegate. Pennsylvania was a win but it actually wasn’t big enough to help all that much in terms of delegates.

 

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