Thursday, February 28, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Dallas Retailer Leads Way in Active Boycott of Orson Scott Card’s Superman Comic UPDATE – DC Release Statement
From Comicsbeat.com:
There’s been controversy over the past few days following DC’s decision to hire Orson Scott Card, a pioneer in contemporary homophobia, as one of the writers on a new digital-first Superman anthology series. And although the internet has been going back and forth on the subject for the past few days, the first active step towards boycotting the book happened in Dallas today, as shop owner (and Eisner award-winner) Richard Neal has announced his shop will not be stocking the book once it comes to print.
This begins a movement which the internet has been trying to get moving for the past few days to boycott the book, with a petition already online asking for his removal. But this is the first move which will actively see sales and money taken away from DC as a result of the hiring, rather than empty words on an internet page.
Not just a homophobe, Card is one of the board members of the National Organization of Marriage, which openly seeks to prevent anybody from getting married apart from a male-female pairing. It’s not simply the case that Card has personal politics which are shameful – and they are SHAMEFUL - but that he works tirelessly to dismiss and degrade LGBT rights as part of a hate group.
He has included his personal views in several of his works, including one particular piece in which he rewrote Hamlet in order to include more gay characters who were also paedophiles. There were previous movements a few years ago when he was hired by Marvel, but this is the first time that we’ve seen that momentum carry through into something tangible.
The main problem here has been that DC have been actively trying to court an LGBT audience over the last few months… but have now for some reason decided to give up on that by hiring one of the most prominent homophobes in literature to write their single most heroic and admirable character. Several creators have already spoken out against the hiring, and comic critics have roundly condemned the decision.
Writing on his facebook page, Zeus Comics owner Neal states:
Card sits on the board of the National Organization of Marriage which fights against marriage equality. His essays advocate the destruction of my relationship, that I am born of rape or abuse and that I am equated with pedophilia. These themes appear in his fiction as well. It is shocking DC Comics would hire him to write Superman, a character whose ideals represent all of us.
Which is very well said.
UPDATE: When pressed for comment on the issue, DC have released the following statement:
As content creators we steadfastly support freedom of expression, however the personal views of individuals associated with DC Comics are just that — personal views — and not those of the company itself
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Illinois Senate votes to legalize gay marriage
Illinois Senate votes to legalize gay marriage
Illinois moved closer Thursday to becoming the 10th state in the nation where same-sex couples can legally wed, after the Senate voted to lift a ban on gay marriage.
Senators voted 34-21 (see how they voted) to approve the measure, sending it on to the state House where Democrats also hold a majority. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Chicago Democrat, has said he will sign the bill if the House approves it.
Among Springfield-area senators, Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, voted yes, and Sam McCann, R-Carlinville voted no.
Before approving the measure, the Senate attached an amendment Thursday that explicitly states no church or other religious organization will be forced to solemnize same-sex marriages. It also says churches cannot be sued if they don't allow their parishes to be used for same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Some Republicans raised concerns that the bill would force religious organizations to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their fellowship halls, parish centers or even in their sanctuaries. But Sen. Heather Steans, the bill sponsor, said even before the amendment was added that the bill made clear churches won't be forced to perform same-sex marriages.
The Valentine's Day vote marked the first time gay marriage has passed on the floor of either chamber of the Legislature. Steans and other supporters tried to pass it during the January lame duck session. But after getting approval from a Senate committee, Steans opted not to call for floor action, saying it didn't have enough votes.
After picking up seats in November, Democrats entered the current legislative session with control of 40 seats in the Senate, where 30 votes are required to advance most measures. The Senate Executive Committee approved the gay marriage bill on a party-line vote last week, setting up the Valentine's Day floor action.
Jim Bennett, regional director for Lambda Legal, said supporting same-sex marriage is "both politically smart and morally right."
Polls show voters' feelings shifting rapidly in favor of gay rights. President Barack Obama said last year he supports same-sex marriage, and in November voters in four states either approved or voted down bans on gay marriage.
"I think it's a safer vote to vote with us than to vote against us at this point," Bennett said.
The issue has caused internal conflict among Republicans as the party works balance its efforts to appeal more to younger voters, minorities and women with the more socially conservative positions of some members.
After Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady announced his support for gay marriage during the lame-duck legislative session, saying it was a civil rights issue, some Republicans called for his ouster. Opponents of gay marriage pledged to fund primary challenges to any Republican who voted in favor of the bill.
Thursday's vote came two years after Illinois lawmakers approved civil unions, which provide legal recognition of a partnership between two people, regardless of gender. But gay marriage supporters said it wasn't enough.
The bill is SB10.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Dance DJ Lemon is go-to for top talent : Entertainment
Dance DJ Lemon is go-to for top talent : Entertainment
When it comes to backing up some of the world’s top EDM DJs visiting St. Louis, Rob Lemon has become the go-to guy.
The St. Louis dance scene veteran, who spins techno and deep house music, has opened for the likes of Tiesto, Paul van Dyk, Deep Dish, Christopher Lawrence, Jimmy Van M, Deep Mouse and more from a list that keeps growing.
Part of what earned him that distinction, he says, is that he’s well-liked. But above all else, Lemon knows his role.
“My job is to set up the DJs, but to also show off myself,” he says. “You have to control yourself and know your place when you open for these DJs.”
Lemon says young DJs often play music without considering what the crowd wants to hear.
“I’ll go into a club and a young DJ will just blast out music as loud as possible, and the crowd is disconnected,” Lemon says.“He’s just got 10 tracks, and he’s going to play them as loud as he can.”
Lemon’s first professional gig was around 1997 at Velvet, a former Washington Avenue staple. At the time, he mostly was a party DJ, looking to work his way into Velvet’s DJ booth. He got to know Marc Buxton, a resident Velvet DJ, and studied his moves. He also made his face known at dance-record stores such as On the Grid and Deep Grooves.
“I had to be out there all the time getting relationships,” Lemon says. “I would do that for a couple of years, and then that one break came through — ‘Hey, we got an opening slot.’”
He was brought on by Andrew Mullins, a friend and mentor who was a talent buyer at Velvet, to open for Danny Morris during a Thanksgiving weekend gig.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” he says. “It’s a big room — a big, powerful room — one of the biggest rooms I’d seen up to that point.”
Lemon moved on from Velvet to the short-lived Cheetah in 1999 and back to Velvet a year later.
Then, he noticed a change on the dance scene: It was becoming more about big-name, touring DJs over local DJs.
Still, he cemented a Velvet residency and has spun at Home nightclub and Dante’s.
These days, Lemon runs Timmermann Group, a marketing agency in Lafayette Square, and can be found spinning at Europe nightclub, where he opened for van Dyk last month.
At Europe, Lemon demonstrates a style he describes as both technical and well-thought-out.
“I’m very conscious of what the dance floor wants to hear rather than just smashing a bunch of tracks together,” he says. “I think it’s mostly about the crowd hearing the right song at the right time.”
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tennessee ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Now Requires Teachers To Inform Parents If Their Child Is Gay
Tennessee ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Now Requires Teachers To Inform Parents If Their Child Is Gay: pTennessee’s so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay‘ bill died with the adjournment of the state assembly last year. But now the measure is back — with new, harsher requirements. The bill, SB 234, still bars Tennessee teachers from discussing any facet of “non-heterosexual” sexuality with children in grades K-8. But the newest iteration also includes a provision requiring teachers or counselors to inform the parents of some students who identify themselves as LGBT. State Sen. Stacey Campfield (R), who authored the bill the first time around and again introduced it this time, calls out students who might be “at risk,” but leaves the interpretation of that behavior to the teacher:
The general assembly recognizes that certain subjects are particularly sensitive and are, therefore, best explained and discussed within the home. Because of its complex societal, scientific, psychological, and historical implications, human sexuality is one such subject. Human sexuality is best understood by children with sufficient maturity to grasp its complexity and implications [...]A school counselor, nurse, principal or assistant principal from counseling a student who is engaging in, or who may be at risk of engaging in, behavior injurious to the physical or mental health and well-being of the student or another person; provided, that wherever possible such counseling shall be done in consultation with the student’s parents or legal guardians. Parents or legal guardians of students who receive such counseling shall be notified as soon as practicable that such counseling has occurred
Family rejection is a serious risk for LGBT youth. Kids who are LGBT often face alienation, if not outright abandonment, because they come out. Forty percent of homeless youth are LGBT, and many of them report that the reason they left home was to escape an environment hostile to their sexual orientation. LGBT youth who experience family rejection are at high risk for depression and suicide.
San Francisco 49ers Player Wouldn’t Tolerate Gay Teammate: ‘Can’t Be With That Sweet Stuff’
San Francisco 49ers Player Wouldn’t Tolerate Gay Teammate: ‘Can’t Be With That Sweet Stuff’: pLast week, Baltimore Raves defensive tackle Brendan Ayanbadejo, an outspoken advocate for LGBT equality, said he hoped to use the Super Bowl as a platform to advocate for marriage equality and anti-bullying efforts. It’s no secret that there are players who don’t agree with Ayanbadejo’s advocacy, and one of his opponents this week is one [...]/p
Jim Nabors Marries Longtime Partner
Jim Nabors Marries Longtime Partner | ExtraTV.com
Hawaii News Now broke the story that Nabors and 64-year-old Stan Cadwallader, a former firefighter, made it official on January 15 in a low-key ceremony in Seattle, where gay marriage became legal in December. The two make their home in Hawaii.
“The Andy Griffith Show” alum told Hawaii News Now, "I'm 82 and he's in his 60s and so we've been together for 38 years, and I'm not ashamed of people knowing, it's just that it was such a personal thing I didn't tell anybody. I'm very happy that I've had a partner of 38 years and I feel very blessed. And what can I tell you, I'm just very happy."
Nabors said their decision to finally make it official was to ensure protection if one of them should become sick or die.
"It's pretty obvious that we had no rights as a couple, yet when you've been together 38 years, I think something's got to happen there, you've got to solidify something. And at my age, it's probably the best thing to do," noted Nabors, who underwent open heart surgery last May.
The TV star also said that although this is the first time he’s spoken publicly about his sexual orientation, "This is really no big deal. My friend and I, my partner, we went through all of this 38 years ago. So, I mean, we made our vows and that was it. It was to each other, but nevertheless, we were a couple.”
Hawaii News Now broke the story that Nabors and 64-year-old Stan Cadwallader, a former firefighter, made it official on January 15 in a low-key ceremony in Seattle, where gay marriage became legal in December. The two make their home in Hawaii.
“The Andy Griffith Show” alum told Hawaii News Now, "I'm 82 and he's in his 60s and so we've been together for 38 years, and I'm not ashamed of people knowing, it's just that it was such a personal thing I didn't tell anybody. I'm very happy that I've had a partner of 38 years and I feel very blessed. And what can I tell you, I'm just very happy."
Nabors said their decision to finally make it official was to ensure protection if one of them should become sick or die.
"It's pretty obvious that we had no rights as a couple, yet when you've been together 38 years, I think something's got to happen there, you've got to solidify something. And at my age, it's probably the best thing to do," noted Nabors, who underwent open heart surgery last May.
The TV star also said that although this is the first time he’s spoken publicly about his sexual orientation, "This is really no big deal. My friend and I, my partner, we went through all of this 38 years ago. So, I mean, we made our vows and that was it. It was to each other, but nevertheless, we were a couple.”
Monday, January 21, 2013
Our Journey is Not Complete...
“It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country. Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia, to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for and cherished and always safe from harm.”
President Obama - January 21, 2013
Friday, December 28, 2012
Employee-owners hope to reverse Casino Queen's fortunes : Stltoday
Employee-owners hope to reverse Casino Queen's fortunes : Stltoday
The Koman family and its partners have sold their stakes in the Casino Queen for $170 million to workers, nearly two decades after the casino’s debut on the East St. Louis riverfront.
The sale, conducted through a newly created employee stock ownership plan, comes amid increasing competition in the local gaming landscape and the Casino Queen’s languishing revenue, which has not returned to pre-recession levels.
The deal, which closed Wednesday, includes the assumption of $31 million in existing debt. The plan, called an ESOP — employee stock ownership plan — financed the deal through $170 million in debt.
After several months of studying the deal, the Illinois Gaming Board voted unanimously to approve the sale on Dec. 20.
The ESOP will be managed by co-trustees Jeff Watson, the Casino Queen’s general manager and president, and Chief Financial Officer Robert Barrows.
Through the ESOP, company stock will be held in a trust and employees will receive a payout when they retire or leave the company.
“To my knowledge, it’s the first ESOP casino in the country,” Watson said in an interview.
The Casino Queen has about 700 employees, and most will be able to participate in the new ownership plan, which will provide retirement benefits tied to the Casino Queen’s financial performance.
“It allows employees to become beneficial owners in the company,” Watson said. “The more successful the company is, the more value employees have individually in their retirement accounts.”
The company’s size is much larger than most ESOPs, which typically have between 40 and 150 employees, said Loren Rodgers, executive director of the National Center for Employee Ownership, an Oakland, Calif.-based nonprofit membership and research group.
In some cases, the company can be huge. Clayton-based Graybar Electric, a Fortune 500 company with $5.4 billion in revenue last year, is an ESOP.
Employees tend to fare better in an ESOP than if a company is sold to a third party, he said.
“It tends to be a more stable form of ownership,” Rodgers said. “ESOP companies know they have something to lose if there is a change in ownership.”
The Casino Queen has a 40,000-square-foot gaming floor with 1,100 slot machines and 27 table games. The casino, in Illinois across from downtown St. Louis, replaced a riverboat in 2007 with a new facility that cost $92 million.
Before Wednesday’s sale, the Casino Queen was owned by a group of private investors, including members of the Koman family in the St. Louis area, which held a 20 percent ownership stake. Other stakeholders included members of the Bidwell, Kenny and Rand families in Chicago and Las Vegas casino operator Michael Gaughan.
Jim Koman told the Post-Dispatch that the ownership group received several inquiries from prospective buyers in recent years but opted to sell to the ESOP to preserve continuity in management. In 2006, Columbia Sussex reached a $200 million deal to buy the Queen, but the deal fell through in 2007.
A Creve Coeur-based real estate development firm, the Koman Group, led by Jim’s brother, Bill Koman Jr., developed the Casino Queen property.
“It was a great run for our organization,” Jim Koman said in an interview Thursday. “We think this is a good transition, and the best way to keep the ideas we’ve built was to sell it back to employees.”
Jim Koman is now the managing partner and founder of ElmTree Funds, an investment firm based in Clayton. He will serve on the Casino Queen’s new board of directors.
Challenging environment
The Queen, as it is widely known, was the first casino to open in the core of the region in 1993. It was joined a year later by the President Casino, across the river, but maintained a strong share of the St. Louis gaming market well into the 2000s.
That gradually changed, though, as competing operators Ameristar and Harrah’s beefed up their properties in St. Charles and Maryland Heights, respectively, and then Pinnacle Entertainment opened Lumière Place downtown in 2007 and River City Casino in south St. Louis County in 2010.
The Queen pushed back, launching its own expansion and becoming the first casino in Illinois to leave the river for a land-based “boat in a moat” facility. That opened in 2007, a few months before Lumière’s glitzy grand opening across the river, and helped the Casino Queen to its best year ever for revenue.
But it has struggled since.
Through November, the Casino Queen had $120.9 million in gaming revenue this year, according to the Illinois Gaming Board. That’s up 2 percent from the same time last year but nearly one-third less than its peak in 2007, when it earned $172.1 million in the same period.
In addition to new competition across the river, the Casino Queen’s management has also pointed to the Illinois smoking ban and the removal of Missouri’s $500 loss-limit rule in 2008 as drags on business, and warned that proposed slot machines at the Fairmount Park racetrack would clobber revenue even more.
Meanwhile, a wave of consolidation is rippling through the region’s billion-dollar-a-year casino business and could leave the Queen heavily outgunned.
Earlier this year, Argosy Alton owner Penn National Gaming bought Harrah’s in Maryland Heights, while Pinnacle announced a deal last week to buy Ameristar Casinos, which would give Pinnacle ownership of three of the region’s four biggest casinos.
Compared with those well-capitalized regional gaming giants, the independent Casino Queen is tiny and can’t offer comps to Las Vegas properties or broad rewards networks.
Despite the challenges, Watson said the Casino Queen has built a loyal following of customers over the past two decades.
“We stick to our core business plan, giving people the best gambling in town, giving people quality food at affordable prices and the best customer service,” he said. “That philosophy has led to a loyal customer base that allows us to be competitive in the market.”
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Hamburger Mary's is open in Midtown Alley : Entertainment
Hamburger Mary's is open in Midtown Alley : Entertainment
Hamburger Mary's Bar & Grille has opened at 3037 Olive Street, in the space that previously was Lush Nightclub.
A soft opening this week includes happy hour and dinner service; a grand opening featuring Kim Massie is Saturday, and full hours begin next week. The restaurant's owners originally had planned for a fall opening.
Hamburger Mary's was started in San Francisco in 1972 and has franchise outlets in 10 cities, including Kansas City. While it markets to the gay community, the company calls itself "an open-air bar and grille for open-minded people."
The main attraction, the company says, is its half-pound burgers — "served with a hefty side of sass" — but the multilevel St. Louis Mary's also features a rooftop patio, a VIP lounge, a dining room with a stage, and a sports bar. A street-level patio and events such as karaoke nights, drag shows (the Miss Gay St. Louis 2012 pageant is already booked for Feb. 4-5) and bingo are down the road. As an added bonus, there's a new parking lot just east of the building.
Mark Erney of Erney's 32º and the Loading Zone (closed since a fire in September), and his partner, Paul Holst, are leading the operating group. Midtown developers Mark Wegmann of Wegmann Companies and Jassen Johnson of Renaissance Development Associates are part of the investors group. Other partners are Frank Siano, Michael Tucker, Cynthia Washington, Tracey Moore and Jennifer Schaller.
Deb Peterson of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Hamburger Mary's Bar & Grille
Where 3037 Olive Street • More info 314-533-6279, hamburgermarys.com/stlouis,facebook.com/stlouismarys • Smoking No • Hours 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, 5 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Saturday-Sunday
Saturday, November 24, 2012
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