Archive for February, 2009

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Facebook Thread About Taking Testosterone

February 18, 2009

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I was on Ye Olde Facebooke, and got a note from a friend and transman who was considering taking Testosterone. Being blessed with great bone structure, this good looking guy wanted to know about other people’s experiences with taking T and baldness. ZOMG, shiny head! I thought the resulting discussion was worth a post (BTW I changed all identifying info). Take these anecdotes and talk to your doctor before making any decision, folks.

Dear friends currently who are or have previously taken testosterone, i am taking an unoffical pole for my own selfish purposes. please respond if you feel comfortable doing so. xox

1. is/was your hair thinning/are you balding or bald?
2. if not, how long have you be on t?
3. if so, how long have you been on t?
a. how long was it before you began to notice this change?
4. Did you have assumptions about hair loss before taking t?
a. if so, why/with regards to what?

Read the responses after the jump. Read the rest of this entry ?

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Bound To Struggle Reading

February 16, 2009

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We posted a little while back about Bound To Struggle, a Chicago-based print zine “where kink and radical politics meet,” Practitioners of both kink and radical politics are encouraged to submit their stories by contacting Strikeback directly at s.strikeback-AT-gmail-DOT-com. On February 26th, the editor Simon Strikeback will be having a reading from the zine at Women and Children First bookstore, 5233 N. Clark. Strikeback will be there with some other BTS contributors and you’ll also be able to purchase new and old issues.

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Stupid Kids

February 15, 2009

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Bonnie Metzger takes her next step toward revamping queer theatre in Chicago with About Face’s Stupid Kids, running through March 8th. Co-directed by Metzger and Megan Carney, this play takes an original script by John C. Russell (the play was first performed in 1991) and slices it with new media updates and a reacting “shadow cast.” A group of four teens (played by professional actors) fumble through 80′s fashion, love, melodrama and coming out while four present-day youngsters (played by current and former members of About Face Youth Theatre) react to the action on stage. Their reactions are presented through video, choreography, and “text messages” that reveal the importance of Metzger’s “capital P” process. An ambitious goal from curtain time, this play is a bold next step for About Face and I am excited for more. Stupid Kids is at the Center on Halsted, and tickets start at $10 for students, available here.

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Kanye’s Still Not Gay

February 11, 2009

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Thanks to a few blown-out-of-context media pranks, Kanye’s sexuality has been at the top of many gossip pantries. Even TPR’s post about Terrance Dean’s book Hiding in Hip Hop, that went up ages ago, is still getting major hits. People must love them some closeted celebs! I’m not going to call it on Kanye. I do want to note that recently, he was confronted about his style and sexuality on MTV and never once did he say anything that was fearful or hateful. Of course, he was all Kanye about it, and made everything about how awesome he thinks he is, but considering how many opportunities he has had to just scream “I am not a faggot!” he’s been playing it well. The above photo got him some unnecessary shit over hanging with gay guys (you can’t be an artist and not), the below quotes are from the MTV interview. Watch the vid of his spot and the “I ain’t gay” freestyle he did on camera here. Thanks to Chicago’s best hip hop blog, Fake Shore Drive for the tip.

I’m doing a blog right now where I’ve been collecting all of the freshest stuff that’s rainbows — Denver Nuggets jerseys, BAPE shoes, Nikes with rainbows on ‘em — and saying, “Man I think as straight men we need to take the rainbow back because it’s fresh.” It looks fresh. I just think that because stereotypically gay people got such good like style that they were smart enough to take a fresh-ass logo like the rainbow and say that it’s gonna be theirs. But I was like “Man I think we need to have the rainbow” — the idea of colors , life and colors and stuff, I mean how is that a gay thing? Colors? Having a lot of colors is gay?

Sway: You once were quoted saying that you were inspired in fashion by how gay people dress.

West: And you know what? That’s when I was ignorant to gays. ‘Cause there’s a lot of gay people who don’t dress good at all. There’s a lot of gay people that I dress way better than.

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Early Warning: Los Abrazos Rotos

February 11, 2009

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Spanish writer/director Pedro Almodovar has made some of the sexiest, romantic and compelling films. I would not feel like a responsible blogger if I didn’t give an early shout out to his upcoming movie, Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces), to be released in March 2009 in Spain. I hope we get it here sometime this year, they have already started the press rounds over seas. Almodovar’s movies tackle family, trans-identity, prostitution, catholicism, sexuality and hosts of other universals but always with a queer, latin perspective. Can’t wait. He has been keeping a blog during the filming and production process too.

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Daytime Lesbian Supercouple Wedding Bells

February 10, 2009

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Be sure to tune in to All My Children this week where we are treated to daytime’s first lesbian wedding! Super hot couple Bianca and Reese walk down the aisle amongst family and friends. Soap Opera Digest is celebrating this momentous occasion by featuring our favorite girls on this weeks cover! Let’s enjoy daytime’s premier lesbian couple while we can folks! Words out that Eden Reigel (Bianca) will not be resigning with the show when her contract expires this Spring, leaving Reese all to her lonesome! Will the show recast Bianca? Is this why Reese has been exploring her bisexual tendencies with Zach? We’ll have to wait and see. Until then, I’ll be see ya’ll at the wedding!

–Colossus Matos

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Eightmaps.com

February 9, 2009

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It’s been generating quite a stir, and for good reason. Eightmaps.com is a website that is using the internet age to make information more accessible, and some people don’t like it. Specifically, what eightmaps does is use disclosure laws about political donations (in this case, Prop 8 contributions) and puts the names and zip codes of the people/businesses that did so on a google map. Some are opposed to what eightmaps does because it opens up individuals to harassment from others with a different opinion on the matter. TPR says that you should be held accountable for your political contributions; I want to know if a co-worker who is nice to my face is working against my civil liberties in private.

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Exactitudes

February 8, 2009

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All of these images are copyrighted by exactitudes.com. I looked around for 2 seconds and found my exactitude. I looked for quite a while to try and find some of my really good friends’ exactitudes, namely butch dykes. I finally got to the 9 photos of butches, then bears, hard femmes, banjee boys, homothugs, gay-chads, hipsters, (on and on) and this sight had me hooked and laughing. Find your exactitude and that of all your friends, and remember that while this might be an exercise in stereotypes, these people are in fact, found in nature. Contact info for Exactitudes below and more queer picks after the jump.


exhibitions, projects & publications:
caroline siobhan ryan / pi-art / paris
www.pi-art.frcsryan@pi-art.fr / +33 (0) 6 1976 05 05

furthermore:
info@exactitudes.com

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Lux Interior

February 6, 2009

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It doesn’t matter to me that Lux Interior was married to a woman, the surf-sex pot Poison Ivy in the Cramps. His constant gender bending attire, complete with raunchy songs made Lux a queer in my book. Making rockabilly accessible to punk and vice versa, The Cramps’ early catalogue is a great example of that rebellious essence that is missing from most things today. I won’t bore you with my own memories and original vinyl stories; there is a lot of internets about Lux out there right now. Even Tobi Vail, via here Kill Rock Stars email list, waxed nostalgic about his passing. Get cramped if you haven’t ever.

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GLAAD Nominees

February 5, 2009

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The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards were announced last week and comics and soaps made the list once more! All My Children and As The World Turns being the only two soaps portraying queer characters made the cut again. The comics list, which usually features more indie companies, was heavily dominated by the DC, with Marvel getting one nomination. This is a positive sign that they are embracing more and more queer characters and projects. Here’s a whole rundown of all the nominees:

OUTSTANDING DAILY DRAMA

All My Children (ABC)
Where our resident lesbian divas, Bianca and Reese are caught up in a hot bisexual storyline!

As the World Turns (CBS)
Luke and Noah are enjoying post-coital bliss, but looks like Luke’s ex-step-grandfather is on his way back for some more loving from Luke!

OUTSTANDING COMIC BOOK
The Alcoholic by Jonathan Ames (Vertigo/DC Comics)

A coming of age story about hitting rock bottom, and picking yourself back up.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Drew Goddard, Jeph Loeb and Joss Whedon (Dark Horse Comics)
I don’t do Buffy, ask DJ Stinky Pinky

Final Crisis: Revelations by Greg Rucka (DC Comics) :
The end of the world, where the Spirit of vengeance teams up with our favorite Gotham city lesbian, Renee Montoya.

Secret Six by Gail Simone (DC Comics)
Characters, Knockout and Scandal show us some lesbian loving…..supervillianess assassin style

Young Avengers Presents by Ed Brubaker, Brian Reed, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Paul Cornell, Kevin Grevioux and Matt Fraction (Marvel Comics)
A cute self-contained story featuring Allan Heinberg created characters; gay teen couple Wiccan and Hulkling.

–Colossus Matos

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