How my heart aches that I will not be able to attend the protest(s) tomorrow but I have a prior commitment that I cannot get out of (trust me, I thought of every way possible).
But please, go to one if you can. They are happening in every state in the country. It is truly amazing to see what is happening across the land. The pride I have in my community (and our straight allies) is too much for words.
Pictures from the Prop 8 protest in New York City on November 12, 2008. More pictures to come l8er today. A rough cut video of the protest is in the post below the pictures
Larry Kramer
Me (Jon-Marc McDonald, on the left) and my friend Doug. The blue armband I'm wearing is because I was a marshal or sumthin'?
This is the rough cut of the Prop 8 protest march (rally) on November 12, 2008 (11/12/2008) in New York Cith (NYC). There were well over 10,000 people there. More pictures tomorrow.
Among those marching were Larry Kramer, Whoopi Goldberg, Jake Shears, Dan Savage, Andy Towle, Jefferey Self along with sidekick Cole Escola
It has been quite a week. Last Tuesday I went to bed euphoric. Wednesday I woke up to news that sent my spirit spiraling into an abyss of hopelessness, the likes of which I do not think I have experienced in all my life. And believe me, there have been some dark times in my past.
I cannot properly articulate the devastation I felt upon hearing the news that Prop 8 passed in California. In all my life, both in and out of politics, I have never experienced something so psychologically damning to my spirit as I did on Wednesday morning.
Within hours my sorrow turned to utter, pure, unadulterated rage. My anger was as black as thunder and as dark as night. I wanted the merchants of faith and the purveyors of “truth” who so willfully and masterfully peddled outright lies and distortions to pay for their mortal sins. I wanted to be the judge, jury and executioner that personally inflicted as much heartache on them as they have on my gay brothers and sisters.
But at just the moment when my rage was reaching the tipping point I realized something I have never realized before. I realized that I had a role in the outcome.
I contributed to the success of Prop 8. I consented to the lies and misinformation.
Every time I hid my sexuality or identified my husband as my friend, I played a role. Every time I stayed silent as a member of my family referred to my husband simply as my friend, I played a role. Every time I said to those on the other side that we would have to agree to disagree, I played a role. Every time I heard the word “faggot” on the subway and did not object, I played a role. Every time I used a neutral pronoun so as not to offend someone when talking about my husband, I played a role. Every time I did not send an email to the media when they were reporting inaccuracies about my community, I played a role. Every time I walked into a church that did not accept my people, I played a role. Every time I left my husband at home while I visited family, I played a role. Every time I applied for a job at a company that did not have a non-discrimination policy, I played a role. Every time I allowed a supposedly heterosexual man who was married to hit on me, I played a role. Every time I stayed silent at the family dinner table when gays were brought up, I played a role. Every time I decided to go to the bar instead of the march, I played a role. Every time I watched as a family member married a closet case, I played a role. Every time I watched a television show or a movie where a gay person was the punch-line, I played a role.
And every time I said thank you instead of fuck you to those that told me that I could ride on the bus as long as I sat in the back, I played a role.
Below you will find my twist on profiteroles, the PALIN-eroles, perfect for your election night party. Why are they called "PALIN-eroles? Well, as I say in the video below,
They're easy, just like a Palin
They're cheap (unless you are using other people's money. Then you can buy top notch)
They are nice looking, but inside they are empty (and must be filled)
They require a lot of hot air in order to be effective
So, without further ado, here I am making the PALIN-eroles, where I also discuss Palin, James Dobson, prop 8 and more. The recipe is after the vid
PALIN-eroles:
• 1 cup bread flour or all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon sugar • ¼ teaspoon salt • 3/4 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces • 1/2 cup water • ½ cup milk • 4 large eggs
Equipment: a small (about 1 1/2-inch) ice cream scoop; a large pastry bag fitted with a 3/4-inch plain tip
Make profiteroles: Chill a small metal baking pan in freezer. Form 18 ice cream balls with scoop and freeze in chilled pan at least 1 hour (this will make serving faster). Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in middle. Line a large baking sheet with Silpat or parchment. Bring butter, water, and milk to a boil in a small heavy saucepan. At the boil, remove from heat then add flour mixture and combine Return to heat and, with a wooden spoon, stir in figure eights until mixture looks like mashed potatoes, about 4 minutes. Transfer mixture to a bowl and cool slightly, stirring until mixture is 180 degrees. Add eggs 1 at a time, stirring to combine after each addition. Transfer warm mixture to pastry bag and pipe 18 mounds (about 1 1/4 inches wide and 1 inch high) 1 inch apart on baking sheet. Bake until pastry begins to rise, 10minutes. Reduce heat to 350, prop oven door slightly ajar with a wooden spoon and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Cool on sheet on a rack.
For chocolate sauce (recipe from Gourmet Magazine March, 2008): • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 cup heavy cream • 7 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (no more than 60% cacao if marked), finely chopped • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract • 1 tablespoon Cognac or brandy (optional)
Make chocolate sauce (recipe from Gourmet Magazine March, 2008):
• Heat sugar in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring with a fork to heat sugar evenly, until it starts to melt, then stop stirring and cook, swirling pan occasionally so sugar melts evenly, until it is dark amber. • Remove from heat, then add cream and a pinch of salt (mixture will bubble and steam). Return to heat and cook, stirring, until caramel has dissolved. • Remove from heat and add chocolate, whisking until melted, then whisk in vanilla and Cognac (if using). Keep warm, covered. Serve profiteroles: • Halve profiteroles horizontally, then fill each with a ball of ice cream. Put 3 profiteroles on each plate and drizzle generously with warm chocolate sauce.
