06.18.07
Posted in Journal at 10:51 pm by kat
All I can say is – WOW – what a week last week and what a week coming up. This week is really where we all stand up for one another – PRIDE is happening all over the country. In some places it may be a little later, but regardless, it is time to stand up and be proud!
Just a quick note on the LGBT community – my opinion of course, and PRIDE.
First a question – “Why do we continue to segregate ourselves?”
Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE Chicago – I love Boystown and of course Andersonville, but why are we not just as proud – out in the Loop or Bucktown, or Lincoln Park, or ?? Honestly, I don’t fully understand it. We want to be included and be treated fairly in all that we are and do, and yet we still try to isolate ourselves.
A few years back, I took a beautiful cruise – to Greece. It was incredible. It was not on a gay sponsored trip, it was on a European based cruise line. I was with someone at the time. We held hands, kissed, – just like all the straight couples. Did people say anything or stare? Honestly, I don’t know. I guess I compare it this way, if I were straight, would I be looking around wondering who was looking? Nope.
I just want to say this, Be PROUD – EVERYONE – and BE OUT! Don’t hide and certainly we must patronize all the businesses that support us, but don’t be afraid to be seen with all the straight people – it makes them realize that we are just like they are.
Ok, enough of that – I want to take a moment to talk about 3 huge events from the past week – starting with the True Colors concert – in a word, PHENOMENAL! Cyndi was wonderful and Debbie was fantastic and Rosie, and Margaret and so much more. I loved every minute of all the performers. You might be able to tell from all the photos on the events page here. But I wanted to comment on the “speech” that Cyndi made about HRC and Matthew Shephard. It was such a simple talk – and yet incredibly moving. It made me want to run out into the lobby and signup for HRC until I realized I was already a member. Cyndi – a personal thank you from me. A thank you to all who are a part of this wodnerful event. To all the performers and the volunteers and those who make it happen – thank you for standing up for us all!
On Friday I moved over to Circuit and was lucky enough to photograph the 5th Annual Windy City Gay Idol FINALS! I missed last year and well, I was blown away by the level of talent! After watching bits and pieces of the regular Idol this year, well I am not making this up – Windy City Gay Idol blows them away!! Thank you so much to all the performers. Oh and the photos will be up in another day…
And finally, the HRC Chicago Gala – Tickled Pink. This was a night I will never forget. I have been to at least 8 Galas around the country – Atlanta, New York, and now Chicago. Without a doubt this was the most moving and emotional of all I have been to. Not just because of the speakers, although I will get to that in a minute. It was two incredible people who came as my guests. First, I want to thank Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois for sponsoring a table this year – a first and I hope not the last time for us! I really want to thank Lauren and Angelique – perhaps the most special people in my life next to my family. Even though I worked the entire evening (see the 600+ photos on the events page) they came and shared with me and it made that night more special than all the other HRC Galas combined. THANK YOU BOTH for being such an important part of my life and for just being you. I love you both!
So much more is going on this week – and I will write about it later. Just check my calendar to see some of the events, including the parade on Sunday. The important part of all of this – it is about standing up and being proud of who we are. We worked hard to get this far – and let’s not stop now!!
Peace,
Kat
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06.15.07
Posted in Journal at 10:46 am by kat
Well, I still have no idea what went wrong with the two friends who have stopped all communications with me. I think I have finally put my finger on it though. Although they always said my being in the LGBT community was not an issue, I think it really is. How can people who once hugged you and told you how much they loved you – how do they go to never speaking to you again because you are simply different?
I have experienced prejudice in my life. From being spit on by bible toting crazies to pure hatred and more. I was beaten up as a younger teen – teased and humiliated. I was called so many names, I can’t even remember. But perhaps the most difficult form of prejudice is when someone you love and they love you simply turns and walks away. Sometimes you want to crawl into a hole and not come out. You want to go home, climb into bed and stay there. Certainly the world can be a cruel place – perhaps much more than we realize, but sometimes it reaches a point that you just don’t want to stand up anymore. You just don’t care.
So being strong has always been something I am good at. At least that is what people tell me. Hell, I have beaten cancer – twice – and dealt with quite a bit in my life. I will always stand up and help those around me – as much as I can. But how do you help yourself when something like this happens? I wish I knew.
This is PRIDE month and the next week is full of PRIDE events. I am looking forward to it. I will be out, and proud and supporting the community – my community. I always have. And yet, I will be a bit sad too – because of friendships I lost all because of how I was born.
I have to change the subject as I said I was going to ramble and I have not talked about this in a while, so now is the time.
How is it that we have the most arrogant, idiotic, egotistical, jackass for a president that this world has ever seen? Who the hell voted for this man? Why is he still in office? Why has he not been impeached? My gawd, President Clinton was going to be impeached because he screwed around. This idiot continues to put our country at risk. He lies, stonewalls and manipulates people and the government all for his own pleasure and advancement. His arrogance is unmatched. The “surge” is not working and he continues to lie to the American people. His people manipulate government positions and offices and then they lie to congress. And I am sorry, but “I don’t recall,” is NOT a defense, it is a LIE! These people are supposed to be in charge of running this country and yet if we are to believe them, they are complete idiots with the IQ of a small soap dish!! I have never “lost” an email in my life. I have deleted them, but how do you LOSE an email. And even if deleted, there were backups. How is it that people who run the most powerful country in the world are complete and utter morons!?!?!
Bush is a jackass, plain and simple. And the VP? Don’t get me started. He is an evil genius because he manipulates everyone around him and pulls their strings and gets them to take the fall. And he has not been impeached either? It boggles the mind. How many more people have to come under investigation before this congress of do-nothing democrats gets some, pardon the expression, balls and DOES SOMETHING?!?! And I am a democrat – although I am rethinking that – hmm, Green Party sounds good.
Seriously, when is this Congress going to stand up to this administration? Cut the funding! Stop killing our troops. It is not working and it is not worth the lives for oil! Please bring them home! Yes, it will be a major mess, but what is it now? And please stop saying it is NOT a war over oil. It IS! We are not stupid. (Although they would have us believe we are)
I grew up in a military family. I stand up for our troops and what they stand for. I do not, and will not stand up for this illegal and evil administration and it’s quest for global domination. Can you say “Evil Empire?” And I am not speaking of N. Korea or Iran, I am speaking of the Bush Administration. They are the ones we should fear – and fear them I do. I don’t trust them and I don’t trust Congress either. We need to fire them all and start over. When will it end…
One last thing, as I have ranted and raved enough – but when is the ridiculous practice of an “Electoral College” going to end? When will “ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE,” actually mean something? We don’t elect the president – we never have. That has to change and SOON!
peace, love and light,
Kat
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06.07.07
Posted in Journal at 12:00 am by kat
Life is crazy sometimes. Sure we all have issues – some worse than others. But it is funny how it goes in cycles for so many of us. The good is either REALLY good and the bad REALLY bad, but there never seems to be just so-so good or so-so bad. I wonder why that is? What is this thing we call life – why is it so much of a roller coaster?
Now, don’t get me wrong – I am not complaining, especially since I continue on my “HIGH” these days, even with all I am dealing with. I feel like a Visa commercial – “life comes at you fast….blah blah blah.”
So someone explain to me “human nature”? Why is it that one moment a person can be telling you that you were brought into their life for a reason – that they know that you are helping them and what you have brought to them is the most special gift in the world and yet the next minute the don’t talk to you and won’t even tell you why? Yes, there are two people in my life – the two Angels I wrote about previously have stopped speaking to me. I have tried with all my heart and soul to find out why. My questions, emails and phone calls have gone unanswered. And no, I only sent 2 emails and left one voice mail, so I was not stalking or something like that.
The sad thing about all this – it really hurts. Don’t get me wrong, I still love them both. I think they are amazing people and they had a reason for being in my life, as I did for them. Then, one of them went away for a week and when she returned, no more calls, emails or even a “hello.”
Today, as I was coming out of the bathroom, one of them was coming in. I said hello. She looked and nodded. No words, only simple politeness. I wanted to just stand there and say, “Please, if there is something I have done wrong, something I said or did, please tell me.” But I did not. The two unanswered emails are enough.
Life can be up and down. I continue to ride this roller coaster journey with all the happiness and energy I can, but these things can hurt. They were truly angels and we had bonded – we had formed a triangle and were having the time of our lives, and then nothing.
I guess I must walk away. It is nothing I did. It is nothing I said. For if it was, they would tell me. It is their problem – not mine. I have more important things in life. Myself. I have my friends (thank you) I have met even more wonderful and amazing people in this past week (she knows who she is) and I will continue to live my life the way I always have, with all the positive energy I can find inside me.
Should either of these angels be reading this – can you simply answer one question – “Why?”
Namaste,
Kat
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