Biden Doesn't Keynote HRC Gala, Protests Went On

“A dip in the pool,
A trip to the spa
Endless days in my chaise
The whole world according to moi ….
I want fabulous,
That is my simple request,
All things fabulous,
Bigger and better and best,
I need something inspiring to help me get along,
I need a little fabulous is that so wrong?” — Fabulous from High School Musical 2

Sometimes you don't get it right, and that happened to me the other day. Joe Biden was the planned speaker for Saturday night's grand gala for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Biden attending the national gay event was, for many of the transgender Barack Obama supporters throughout this campaign while HRC was lavishing Hillary Clinton with their funds and support, one of those upsetting "gotcha" moments that folks at HRC thrive on -- anything to drive at least some of the enemy trannies into an obsessive rage.

Unfortunately for Joe Biden, his mother-in-law passed away after complications from a long illness and he had to cancel the event. My apologies and condolences go out to the Biden and Jacobs families for their loss.

But as Ed Sullivan would say, "the real big shew" went on nevertheless, without their biggest star draw -- or rather, politico draw as it was in DC, Hollywood for the corporate power set. Doubtlessly they were disappointed. All I can say is ... Karma! Couldn't happen to a more worthy bunch of folks!

I'm sure there were a few tears in their Christal that evening. You know, since HRC's good friends with Log Cabin Republicans and the Log Cabin Republicans have endorsed and have visited with John McCain, and there's a plethora of high-dollar heavy-hitters at their galas who are affirmed Republicans, and since John McCain is known to take the weekends off rather than campaign and since he supports equal rights for gays and lesbians and same-sex couples, just not marriage (as Sarah Palin noted in her VP debate last week), I'm wondering why JoeSo didn't have some strings pulled to bring John McCain in to speak? Maybe he could've come up with some good jokes about foxholes or something.

In fairness, it wasn't just a bunch of folks sitting around looking at each other in tuxes and gowns. They still drew in Jennifer Hudson to sing to the crowd, and Suze Orman the ever-so-out financial guru was there. Considering the recent bloodbath in the stock market, I'm thinking she was likely a much more apropos guest to have. ("What's happening to the market?!? Where do I move my portfolio -- sob!?! I can't be a poor slob like those protesting trannies out there!!! Waah!!!)

Speaking of protesting trannies, it turns out there was a crew outside after all! The in-town NCTE folks weren't there. Board member Dana Beyer was inside the banquet as she was a Table Captain -- aye, aye! And Executive Director, Mara Keisling was in Atlanta for Southern Comfort Conference.

http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/144357/index.php

However Bash Back! (including a number of the folks that we had join us last year) were out on the street, getting the truth out there and making us all proud! They even continued the Equali_y and "Not Equal" theme on the signage as well!

Per the report from BashBack!:

On Saturday, Oct 4, the so-called Human Rights Campaign(HRC), a wealthy and mostly white Gay group, held their annual $250 a plate dinner. Since HRC is doing NOTHING for Transgender folks and other less-wealthy members of the GLBT community, Bash Back! held a protest outside their dinner.

That $250 a plate could feed a HELL of a lot of transgender street kids for the cost of just ONE of HRC's high priced dinners.

This is at least the second year in a row the HRC's convention has been met with protest by trans advocates.

HRC may at some point end up winning their special rights for themselves and try to feign this concept of "equality". But the spirit of the trans community won't die, and folks like BashBack! will always be there to pick up the torch and continue.

Until the day there's egalité, viva l' resistance!

"And blessed be the children who
fight with all our bravery
'til only the righteous stand....
You fight in all our names
For what we know is right.
And when you all get shot
And cannot carry on,
Though you die, La Resistance lives on." La Resistance Medley from South Park, The Movie

Man Fashion: Latest Men Sneakers For Fall/Winter 2008

If you are out of touch with men fashion for couple of months, it could be drastic change to what you have in your mind in few months back. But I believe it wouldn't be too far off if you are following the world's Men Fashion Trend.

Anyway, with internet, it is not difficult to find out what are the most popular men fashion on street. I just did a quick check in Amazon today and for all you know, they actually have listed down the top 10 best sellers Men Sneakers, what's more, this list is actually updated on hourly basis. So you wouldn't be out of touch if you are looking for some popular sneakers in the market.

Top 10 Best Sellers Men Sneakers (Source: Amazon.com)

1. Unlisted Men's Box-er Sneaker

2. Men's adidas Samba Classic

3. Diesel Men's Parabarny Lace-up Sneaker(WOW! Save up to 70%)

4. Bacco Bucci Men's Ward Fashion Sneaker

5. Diesel Men's Exposure Low Denim Lace-up Sneaker

6. Diesel Men's Spike Fashion Sneaker

7. Converse Men's Chuck Taylor Original Sneaker

8. Diesel Men's Re-Active Lace-up Sneaker (Great deal! Save up to 40% if you get this from Amazon now)

9. Skechers Sport Men's Energy 2 Rampage Casual Sport Sneaker

10. Osiris Men's Serve Abel Sneaker

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Technorati Tags: Men Sneakers, Man Fashion, Men Sneaker Fashion, Adidas Sneakers, Unlisted Sneakers, Diesel Sneaker, Bacco Sneaker, Converse Sneakers

Man Fashion: 10 Must Have Fashion for This Fall/Winter

If you are wondering what are the most wanted men fashion for this coming Fall and Winter. Then you are at the right place here. Tom James, as a leading manufacturer and retailer of custom clothing, has just released its 10 Must–Haves for Fall and Winter. From corduroy to cashmere, Tom James's styles will foresee these fashion as trendy in this upcoming season, making this a great choices for those who looking for casual or business outfit.

Tom James's cashmere and merino wool full zip mock cardigan with goat suede trim from Jeff Rose. Made in Italy with eye-catching contemporary style.


Thin is in! A sure way to modernize your style and get noticed this season is to add some trimmer ties to your selection. The look is sleek, sexy and sophisticated.

Suede brogue shoe and matching belt, handcrafted from Allen Edmonds. Smart, sophisticated styling and a brilliant fall finish. Complete your gray or navy suit with a discerning, classic look.


Fancy knit sweater, designed and knitted by the finest Italian weavers. Great for business casual or an evening on the town.


Navy jacquard sport shirts. This season's sport shirt pallet is dark and dressy. They look great with jeans or a pair of black trousers.
Glen plaid gray dress flannel trouser with camel deco accent. A timeless classic. Fantastic with a navy, black or camel sweater for a cozy Saturday evening.


Five pocket sport trouser. Jean styling with unique sporty fabrications. Built for comfort, but with refined style.

Crisp white sport shirts with black accents. Simple but chic. Perfect for that new martini bar or an art gallery browse.


Fancy baby-wale printed corduroy sport shirts. Rugged but cozy and comfortable. Perfect for khakis and a weekend in the Hamptons or a drive down the coast.
Charcoal gray cashmere blouson jacket. Opening night in the company loge or a wine tasting with friends. Not too heavy and a perfect piece for layering.


You can find out more of these fashion from Tom James website.

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Technorati Tags: Men Fashion, 10 Must Haves Men Fashion, Fall Winter Fashion, zip mock cardigan , Skinny Tie, Suede Shoe, Fancy Knit, Navy Sportshirts, 5 pocket sport jean

Man Fashion: Levi's Way to Reveal Your True Beast

Yesterday, I received a mail from Scarlett, one of my blog reader, who shared a very creative campaign by Levi's 501. Here how it's go.

In the spirit of their “Live Unbuttoned” global campaign, Levi’s gets personal and asks you to Unbutton Your Beast.


From the website, You can create, customize, and send your beast to your friends and family. Whether it’s Sock Nasty, Paul the Pincher, or Saucy Sal, you can choose the beast that best reflects your unbuttoned self. Then select the pre-made message or instantly record your own via phone. Once you’re done, get ready to share your beast and shock your loved ones.

Check out more on Levi's "Unbutton Your Beast" website.

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Technorati Tags: Men Fashion, Levi's 501, Unbutton Your Beast, Levi's Jeans

Biden Keynotes HRC’s DC Gala. But Where’s The Protest?

“I detect the El Supremo
From the room at the top of the stairs
Well I’ve been around the world
And I’ve been in the washington zoo
And in all my travels as the facts unravel
I’ve found this to be true
While the poor people sleepin’
With the shade on the light
While the poor people sleepin’
All the stars come out at night.” — Show Biz Kids, Steely Dan

Glitz, glamour and all the glorious accoutrements will greet Sen. Joe Biden tonight the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) National Gala. It’s one of their top money draws per year, their ostentatious display to Washington and political America beyond it. And they’ll no doubt put on the good face, playing up their strong points and hard-pushing for gay and lesbian rights. They’ll even have a tranny or two in attendance, including their throwdown “transgender leader” to mouth the words that everything’s fine, all is okay, we have no urgent need for transgender rights at the moment, we’ll wait.”

My advice to Joe Biden: as you would do with John McCain’s rhetoric on policies, look behind the façade!

They can give slogans about equality and believing in equal treatment, but leaving people out of equal rights bills, that’s not equal rights! You don’t see transgenders as leaders or even employees in their own organizations, that’s not equal rights! You don’t see all voices being heard and all issues taken seriously, that’s not equal rights! Come on!

Meanwhile, it’s been very silent on the DC Gala. Too silent. If there is a protest this year, it’s very much beneath the radar – but I get the impression there is no transgender presence getting the truth out there. If so, this will be very tragic for the transgender community! It’s message is: HRC wins, transgenders give up … and basically HRC will continue disenfranchising our community with impunity.

One year ago, of course, was the very same gala – very hotly protested by the transgender community. It was the first gala that followed the removal of the trans-inclusive Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA). It was NTAC’s very first sponsoring of an HRC protest, and drew folks from around the country and media as well. Even Mara Keisling got into the act corralling media and picking up a few donations as well. Two board members of NCTE were out protesting with us, but another NCTE board member (also a board of governors member of HRC) attended.

Since then the protests have continued and grown, drawing much-needed and beneficial attention to HRC’s prejudice. Without a doubt, it’s had a good effect for the community – even for Mara Keisling (their previous “throwdown” tranny) who’s traveled around the nation doing the “I hate HRC’ tour and raising more funds.

It makes me wonder if they are throwing in the towel. It’s counterintuitive to keep a high profile protest silent. And it’s not like there’s a lack of potential organizers as there are a number of capable folks in the DC area, including Keisling, NCTE board member Donna Cartwright in Baltimore, and NCTE board member Dana Beyer (who will likely be attending the banquet rather than protesting as she is still on HRC’s Board of Governors).

In fact, this reminds me. There was allegedly a meeting Beyer had also mentioned back in July about a tentatively scheduled meeting with transgender leaders and HRC.
http://transpolitical.blogspot.com/2008/07/season-of-weird-for-hrc-siders.html

If that’s going on, it’s the best-kept secret in the country. More likely, HRC backed out of the deal. Unless you’re an apologist or a good lap-dog, there is no desire by HRC to meet, much less know about our issues first-hand anyway.

Over the years HRC developed a thick insularity: hire or promote as leaders financially stable trans people who’ve never had to live through the job losses or hate crimes first-hand. They then go to the trans community in general as a liaison for the gay community to hear the stories, find out the issues (as they’ve been mostly removed from the common day-to-day trans existence and the difficulties thereof), then report back. They function as go-betweens.

HRC will state it’s due to the lack of communication skills or ability to articulate our issues. That’s garbage. It’s all about insulating them, and preventing them from being made to face up to what they’ve done. They managed to communicate this to the African-American community after the Civil Rights Law. But they don’t want, and in fact refuse, to see that they’ve done the same – and worse – to transgenders that was done to Bayard Rustin and their own. They’re in DC this weekend, but they’re really in a state … of denial.

“Show business kids makin’ movies of themselves
You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody else.” — Show Biz Kids, Steely Dan

Did Bush Threaten Congress With Martial Law?

It was mystifying to see how the House, after voting and defeating the previous non-pork laden Economic Rescue bill (or Wall Street Welfare State bill), managed to vote through the bill on Friday. Unsurprisingly, an overeager President Bush signed the bill into law less than two hours later (record time!)

I just could not fathom how this occurred until I saw this, from Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) in his speech on the House Floor urging prudence and issuing warning about this bailout:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaG9d_4zij8

Indeed, I'd noticed something a couple weeks back and issued a blog on it coinciding with the October 1 deployment of the Army for potential "crowd control" and other sundry reasons here in America

http://transpolitical.blogspot.com/2008/10/american-militarys-next-deployment.html

based upon an article culled from the online September edition of Army Times.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/army_homeland_090708w/

Considering the Army brigade noted in the article had been training during the month of September in preparation for this October 1 deployment, it begs some questions:

How long before this recent "crisis" on Wall Street did the White House know of the impending Wall Street crash of major institutions?

How were they able to keep this off the radar screen and keep these failing institutions together until they could put the plans in place (both military and the bailout plan)?

Did the Bush Administration use this domestic deployment as a method to ramrod this draining of the Taxpayers' collective fund for Wall Street through Congress?

This is highly unprecedented: using the threat of suspending the Constitution and going to Martial Law in order to hijack Congress or the will of the people. This borders on a coup d'etat by our own head of state.

I fear we've just witnessed a sublime, yet watershed metamorphosis of American democracy as we've known it.

Bush And Wall Street Win, America Loses

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ["I just screwed ya! Can ya feel it?"]

“He’s not a leader, he’s a Texas leaguer.
Swinging for the fences, got lucky with a strike.
Drilling for fear makes the job simple.
Born on third, thinks he got a triple.
Blackout weaves its way through the cities….” — Bushleaguer, Pearl Jam

Today, October 3, 2008, was a huge victory for George W. Bush. It was a smashing success for Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. It was a piece d’ resistance for Wall Street tycoons and high-rolling investors around the nation. Tonight the Champagne corks will pop, Republicans will breathe a sigh of relief and let their hair down and Corporate America will continue it’s search for ever higher plateaus of profit and financial security for all the top execs.

Yes, today the House of Representatives passed the WSWS – the Wall Street Welfare State Bill (or the Emergency Economic Rescue bill, whatever they want to call it.) It’s happy days in Fat City!

Meanwhile, it was an utterly stunning defeat for middle-class, working-class and impoverished America. Now we will all – including those of us who’ve paid dearly for the excesses of Wall Street over the decade – pay for the “deciders’” greedy over-extensions.

As the Senate gave a 74-25 vote to the newly revamped bill, fresh with $105 billion in extra pork on top, intended to “sweeten the deal” to entice previously skeptical House Republicans’ votes, the House today followed suit with a 263-171 vote.

"The broad authorities in this legislation, when combined with existing regulatory authorities and resources, gives us the ability to protect and recapitalize our financial system as we work through the stresses in our credit markets," said Treasury’s Henry Paulson. Note the phrase “broad authorities” … this will come back to haunt us all.

“New York and L.A.
City halls are falling down.
There’s no escape
When a class war comes to town.” — Class War, D.O.A.

"Wall Street is so hungry for the $700 billion they can taste it. To get it they need to ... create panic, block alternatives and herd the cattle. We ask Congress not to rush. Defeating this bill today isn't the last step. It's the first step in passing a good bill," said Rep. Brad Sherman, (D-CA) in an attempt to slow the process down and exercise prudence before enacting a quick-fix.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, who has called for the FDIC and SEC to use their powers to ease the credit crisis, said soon before the vote, "Pray for our Republic. She's being placed in ... very greedy hands."

A clearly elated President Bush immediately signed the bill upon passage. My one burning concern is this: what did he change on it with his “signature statement.”

Just four days ago, upon signing the Emergency Spending Bill, Bush made clear he still wields his “unitary executive powers” vis a vis his signature statements. Per the article, Bush said he reserved the right to “interpret and construe” the bill as he saw fit. You can bet whatever provisions made by Congress to limit powers by the Treasury Secretary of Bush himself will be vastly different after his signature statement. It’s astonishing that Congress hasn’t picked up on this habit of his yet. Congress just gave Bush the bank.

At one point today, the Dow-Jones was up over 200 points. Now that the WSWS Bill is law, and Wall Street now going into government hands, the Dow was up a meager 23 point as of 2:30PM (shortly after signing), and finished down 157 points! (Congress, you just got punked!)

In other good news today, new unemployment claims shot up to 159,000 – the highest in more than five years. Great news for all of us looking forward to that vacation – albeit an unpaid, open-ended one. Hey, at least Bush reopened up the credit markets for you!

After eight years of Bush-baby tax-cutting policy, over ¾ million jobs have disappeared in this year alone, and all jobs are more tenuous than ever in this “fundamentally strong” economy. Of course, Sarah Palin last night reminded everyone that we need more tax cuts to help create jobs. Just like it has this past eight years, eh?

And the last bit of news comes from Akron, Ohio, where 90-year old Addie Polk shot herself twice in the upper body as sheriff’s deputies were evicting her from her home that was being foreclosed. As Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) reminded after the House vote, “This bill does nothing for the Addie Polks of the world.

“This bill will take care of Wall Street, and the market may go up for a few days, but democracy is going downhill.”

Amen.

“The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied...but written off as trash.” — John Berger

“Things do not change, we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.” — Henry David Thoreau