Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Randomocity !!!

Today is a snow day in the Boston area. So what else is new?




This winter has been great if you love snow but when you don't....like me....it can be depressing.


In spite of the dismal weather, we did get out to the Berkshires to celebrate New Year's Eve with Sir Stew, First Knight of the Berkshires, and Lady Helen of Syracuse. Sir Stew was headed home to Kentucky after the first of the year and The Countess wanted to have one last party with him before he left for parts unknown.



Sir Stew....the New Year's Baby, dancing with Lady Helen !!





Jim Beaudin from the Chester Theater Company stopped by to say Hello with his lovely wife.




Prince Troy and the Queen of the Bar were having a good time.




And why do men always take their clothes off when The Countess is at the bar?




LOST has started up again with its usual conundrum. Now we are in a time warp and things are changing quickly. If you aren't a fan, you won't know what I'm talking about and if you are a fan, you probably don't know what I'm talking about either....such is the nature of LOST!



But if I can watch an hour of television while looking at Josh Holloway, who plays Sawyer, without a shirt, I consider that an hour gained!!!


Next up is the premiere on LOGO of RuPaul's Drag Race next Monday, February 2nd. I made a lot of new friends while promoting the Drag Race contest here last summer. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.



One of my life goals has been to meet every drag queen in this country and I think I met most of them through the Drag Race. So tune in and check out this new reality show. This is one reality show that I want to watch....finally!



Tomorrow night at Joe's Pub you can have a great time with "Our Hit Parade". My beautiful friend, Jenn Harris, will be performing with Bridget Everett and Kenny Mellman (the Herb in 'Kiki and Herb').





This is Jenn with Bridget at her feet doing karaoke at 2nd on 2nd Ave in NYC last week.



I would be remiss if I did not mention how excited I am to be going back to Miami Beach for Winter Party next month. Just to get you all as excited as I am, here is a picture of a dear friend, Matt, who will be joining me for the festivities. Matt is a fantastic actor and playwright who lives and works in New York City.




Just looking at Matt's picture is enough to chase away the winter doldrums!!!
Countess Bedelia 1/28/2009 06:31:00 PM | 1 comments |

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

A new era has begun...


From the official White House website, President Barack Obama's commitments to LGBT rights:

(Thanks to Joe.My.God for the heads up.)



Support for the LGBT Community


"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007




Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.




Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.




Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.




Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.




Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.




Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.




Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.




Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.





Countess Bedelia 1/21/2009 09:42:00 AM | 0 comments |

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inauguration Day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



ETA:

I wasn't going to write anything but today is a historic day for the United States of America.


I remember 8 years ago when I was still in shock that George Bush was the President of our nation. Then 4 years ago, I ranted and raved and felt so sad that this man was STILL the President of our nation. I hope the people that voted for him got what they deserved.....because the rest of us certainly got royally screwed.


But enough of the past, a new day has dawned. And I would be remiss if I did not honor Barack Hussein Obama today.


Obama gave his inaugural speech today as a speech of unity, inclusion, challenge, and hope. It won't be an easy road ahead because of the legacy he has been left with but he reached out to all of us in this country and to the world community. I am hopeful that his vision will prevail. We have been too long polarized by ideology and rhetoric and we need to find the humanity in all of us to let us be different but still be citizens of this great nation.


Equality for all! And who better to bring us to that wonderful state but our first African American President.....Barack Hussein Obama!


Now I am watching the Neighborhood Ball and bawling my eyes out at Beyonce's song and the First Couple's dance. As a good friend said to me earlier, I am verklempt.
Countess Bedelia 1/20/2009 09:50:00 AM | 0 comments |

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Obama's Speech at the Lincoln Memorial Today

A hopeful speech, inclusive of gays, from a man....a man who truly wants to bring this country together. Please hear his message.

Countess Bedelia 1/18/2009 06:20:00 PM | 0 comments |

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Durex: Get It On

Warning: This video is not suitable for minors.

This is hilarious!!!

Countess Bedelia 1/15/2009 03:59:00 PM | 0 comments |

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Happy New Year !!




It has been awhile since I wrote a blog post. While I was in Florida I didn't really have the time and since I returned, I just haven't felt like writing. So I think I will take a little blogging break until my muse returns from wherever she decamped to.



Until then, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and that 2009 is good to you.




xoxo
The Countess
Countess Bedelia 1/04/2009 06:37:00 PM | 2 comments |