Time for the Queerty Week in Comments, where we present the most compelling, thought-provoking or just downright bitchy replies that came directly from you, the readers! Here’s what made us ponder or giggle in the office:
1. I look forward to her next album. However, I feel that the current direction that she’s going in is uncharacteristic of her. Hard Candy was her worst album in her career, because it was almost not about Madonna. It was about Timbaland, it was about Justin Timberlake, it was about Kanye West, it was about all these established hip-hop artists with their own agendas, and Madonna got lost in what essentially became their project. I’m surprised that Jay-Z and Eminem (how I hate those two) didn’t show up. Madonna used to collaborate with up-and-coming artists. Even when she collaborated with Babyface and Lenny Kravitz, they were careful enough not to impugn on the Madonna brand while still putting their input in. Now, listen to “4 Minutes”, and tell me if that’s truly a Madonna song and not the work of the two Timbas. Hard Candy is a reflection of the musical times we’ve been living in, and that’s not a compliment. Besides, why have Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. on the song if they’re not going to benefit from it anyway?
Alex Sarmiento wondering whether Queen Madge has let herself be overshadowed in Madonna Brings Nicki Minaj And M.I.A. To Super Bowl—And The Recording Studio?
2. @Timmmeeeyyy!!!: You’re exactly right—which is why OWS should be OWH–Occupy the White House—since they’re the ones who gratutitously threw cash around to these corporate bozos and then claimed “We can’t object to their $30 million retirement bonuses, it was in their contract.” Occupying Wall Street is like those who are in favor of welfare reform “occupying” Harlem. Don’t blame the whore, who just wants to earn a buck, blame the pimp who’s exploiting her. I know that’s a tortured metaphore, but when you think about it, it begins to make sense.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
GOD (gay old dude) agreeing with a suggested next step in the Occupy Wall Street protests at PHOTOS: Our Boys At (Economic) War During Occupy Los Angeles
3. Oh, I think it shows a major “evolving” on the issue — oh, young folks, I remember when 100% of all politicians, Democrat and Republican, were against us; I remember bar raids, when all were all for it. I keep saying — take them at their word — we are a difficult subject for them — they admit it — far more heteros are gay-perplexed than “anti-gay” — we should recognize this, and embrace their problem, and lead them to the promised land. The bigot of yesteryear is often the friend of tomorrow — let these people “evolve” and help them along. Don’t keep attacking them when they begin to change, but accept that this change is real, however begrudging and befuddled it might be, and encourage them in every way imaginable; give them space; they will come to our side. Our salvation is not found in getting the Democrats to squash the Republicans, but for each and every fellow citizen, regardless of party or religion, realizes we are a benign, even good presence in the nation. Encourage, don’t denigrate. Thank, don’t disparage. Let us take every new statement of support as exactly that. Of what point is there to keep arguing with them when they are moving inexorably, however slowly, to our side? Let them come at their pace, and they will join us soon enough. That is the way it has been from the beginning, back when Frank Kameny started our plea for acceptance. Encourage them, for heaven’s sake; accept their change of mind, and worry not of what they said years ago, nor fret much about their confusion of today; they will all turn. Give them time.
Jim Hlavac calming those unhappy with incrementalism in LGBT politics in Does “It Gets Better” Mean Anything Coming From Anti-Gay Politicians?
4. I’d just like to be real clear on this. When you sign a petition, like the one in this case, you are signing a legislative petition. What does “legislative petition” mean? It means you are petitioning the government to place legislation before the voters in a general election. You are using your right, as an individual, to directly propose legislation. Your signing of a legislative petition is NOT the same as voting. You do not have the right to legislate in anonymity. There is no precedent for keeping legislative petitions secret. If you want to petition the government to pass specific legislation, you must do so publicly. Your signature, on a legislative petition, is public record.
Yes, we do “have certain freedoms in this country.” Legislating in anonymity is not one of them.
Erik explains why the public deserves to know who signed for Referendum 71 in What Should LGBTs Do With The Names Of WA’s 138K Anti-Gay Petitioners?
5. You can’t blame British colonialism any longer. These countries are independent for years. It’s religion at the root of it. The UK decriminalized homosexuality in 1967, introduced Civil Partnerships at the national level in 2004 and in March 2012, begins a marriage equality legislation. India, a former colony decriminalized sexual orientation as did South Africa. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, all British commonwealth countries have moved on too. If they and the UK can do, so can the rest.
Robert in NYC thinks African countries need to own up to their own anti-gay laws in Can Zimbabwe’s PM Undo The Country’s 116 Years Of Homophobia?
Mike
Robert in NYC is wrong, not all of the British commonwealth countries have not moved on. The Commonwealth is a huge place that encompasses nearly every country that was once a former British colony. That includes Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), which IIRC was expelled from the Commonwealth due to Mugabe’s…”antics.” Other countries that hate gays in Africa that want to “kill the gays,” Uganda, Malawi, etc. are also Commonwealth members.
Mike
Sorry, double negative, my first sentence should say “not all of the British commonwealth countries have moved on.”
Peter
The U.S.A was once a british colony, and they had a big fight to gain their independence, and they are much further behind in LGBT equality than a large amount of British commonwealth countries. Not all of the commonwealth countries have become LGBT friendly, but that can hardly be attributed to the fact that they were colonised, considering at the time most countries were colonised homophobia was the norm.
Sergio
@Peter: The US was mostly composed of white people trying to break free from England just like OZ, NZ, and Canada. White colonies are NOT the same as colored colonies. Please don’t even try to compare the two, as they were run completely different.
shannon
THE SAME THING THAT MAKES EASTERN EUROPEANS “HOMOPHOBIC”……
Kev C
I’m not really buying the colonialism theory as it is a modern phenomena. A more reasonable theory are religious missionaries who have been molesting children in africa for 2 or 3 decades.