Food for Comedic Thought

Lately there have been a lot of comedy television shows and movies portraying strong gay characters, and I'm certainly not hearkening back to the days of Will & Grace or even the string of drag queen flavored films which spawned from Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Has anyone seen Modern Family? True- the show is full of stereotypes but the pilot episode also tackled a big issue... gays adopting a baby. Pretty forward thinking for American TV. Or how about Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist? The main character, a straight teen, plays bass for a Queercore band with his best friends who are gay. They play it off as almost a side note- their sexual preference is not drawn into focus as a comedic diversion but rather used as a way to show the main character's "open mindedness" and dependability. Both positive qualities to see in a teenage boy- wouldn't you say?

Well, I came across this clip of Jane Lynch playing her Glee character Sue Sylvester... and hilarity ensued... but it also made me think....

What do you think? Are there too many "sneaky gays" out there? LOL.

While I do think that in the past homosexuality was sometimes used in film and television as a comedic device for men to appear in women's clothes or to show how "eccentric" a character was, I am happy to see more homosexual characters and themes used in a nonchalant way....

Now then... "swish it up gays!"

-Vignette-Noelle Lammott, Fish out of Water Blog Commentator -

"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page atwww.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"

Shock Rock

So- everyone's favorite outspoken artist of the moment, Lady Gaga, is upset by the backlash she is receiving for her new music video for "Telephone", which features Beyonce. The video has been pulled from several outlets for being too racy and is being slammed by conservatives left and right for homosexual themes.

Sandy Rios, the President of the Culture Campaign, says that the suggestion of Beyonce and Lady Gaga as "lesbian lovers" in the video is "disgusting" and goes on to say that it should be "outlawed and banned" and that the themes of sexuality and gender bending are "poison for the minds of our kids". Watch a clip from Fox News below:

Now- say what you will about her music, but whether or not you are a "little monster" or you change the station when she comes on, you cannot deny the fact that the woman has "balls".... and no, I'm not referring to the whole "hermaphrodite controversy". I am referring to the fact that she says what is on her mind and this video is no exception.

Lady Gaga responded to all this "outrage", stating:

"Hearing people say the video is sadomasochistic or that the video promotes murder for young people, it's my personal belief that the video is getting so much attention, not because of those themes because I've done those themes before, haven't I? I've done those themes in many of my videos but it's because it's with Beyonce and it's because there are so many homosexual themes."

"There are transsexual women and transgender women and suddenly it becomes poisonous and something else because there are some people in this world that believe being gay is a choice. It's not a choice, we're born this way. That's why for me this video is groundbreaking because it has one foot in the art community and one foot in the commercial world."

As a mother, and as a woman born out of the Madonna generation, I am not offended by this video in the least. I'd much rather have my daughter exposed to overt sexuality and put it into context for her than repressed sexuality. What these people need to be more worried about is Miley Cyrus perpetuating the over-sexualization of young teens and glamorizing sexting or young girls reading far too much Twilight. Growing up with anthems like "Express Yourself" did not harm me in the least, nor did it turn me into some kind of sexual deviant. This whole controversy reeks of the same kind of censorship that has continually been thrust upon so many artists - from The Beatles to Black Sabbath, from Oscar Wilde to Virginia Woolf...I say, if you have such a problem with the video... don't watch it.

Thoughts? How do YOU feel about the censorship of this video for homosexual themes?

-Vignette-Noelle Lammott, Fish out of Water Blog Commentator -

"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page atwww.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"

Of Human RIGHTS Bondage

This morning the Human Rights Campaign marched on Washington DC to protest the DADT policy. And everybody's favorite Lieutenant took a final stand against the military.

Lt. Dan Choi stood next to Kathy Griffin and stated:

“Hello. My name is Lt. Dan Choi. I am being discharged from the US Army because I am gay and dared to say it out loud. Today, I am here on a mission with Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, and we are asking you all to join us. We’re calling you to action because we are at a turning point — a moment in time where talk is no longer enough, and action is required.

Equality is not going to happen by itself.

You have been told that the President has a plan. But Congressman Barney Frank confirmed to us this week that the President still is not fully committed to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year. And if we don’t seize this moment it may not happen for a very long time. Some may tell you that I am one of the lucky ones. I have been welcomed back by my unit with open arms. And it would be easy for me to stay quiet and hope that change will happen. But what I was taught at West Point and learned in war is — hope is not a strategy. As officers, James and I both find it a dereliction of our moral duty to remain silent while thousands of our brothers and sister are not allowed to serve openly and honestly. Capt. Pietrangelo was honorably discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2004 and I will be subject to the same shortly. As officers we are here today fighting for those in the ranks, and we need our Commander in Chief to do the same.

Our fight is not here at Freedom Plaza, it is at the White House. We are walking to the White House right now to send the President a message. So…take out your cell phones and your cameras. Document this moment. Join us as together — we make history."

Directly after this awesome call to arms, Choi and several other supporters handcuffed themselves to a fence outside of the White House!!! Robin McGeehee, cofounder of GetEqual.org and co-organizer of the gay march on Washington last fall, organized this protest today. She along with Choi have been arrested.

What a powerful speech and an even more powerful demonstration. Not since the Vietnam war have the American people showed such commitment to a cause! I am impressed by Choi's composure and conviction during this trying time in human rights. He really couldn't have said it better... let's make some history!! (And let's hope Obama can make some more as well)

-Vignette-Noelle Lammott, Fish out of Water Blog Commentator -

"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page atwww.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"

Out of the Water and On the Road!

Fish Out of Water fans unite!! Fish Out of Water is hitting the road this July on a tour we're calling The Great American Outing! The tour is a three-week, 14 city road trip aimed at eradicating misconceptions about the Bible’s stance on homosexuality by offering free screenings of Fish Out of Water

As most of you know, Fish out of Water was crafted to be a toolbox to help the LGBTQ community and our allies combat Bible-based discrimination. Whether someone is gay or straight, religious or nonreligious, very few people are able to articulate what the Bible really says about homosexuality. Fish out of Water is a useful, entertaining tool that helps people breach the conversation of the Bible, in an inclusive, non-hostile, accessible way.

If Fish out of Water has helped to educate, inspire or heal you, we ask you to make it possible for our film to reach others. Please visit our Great American Outing website and consider donating to our efforts. In order to make this tour a possibility, we need to raise $10,000 per city.

Donate and check it out here: www.greatamericanouting.com

Any amount will help us! $25 will help us pay for gas. $100 will provide one lunch for our entire crew! $1000 will provide lodging for our entire crew for one night.

If you'd like to sponsor an entire city for $10,000. If you or your organization acts as city sponsor, your name will be attached to that city on our website, on our van and in all press releases.

Please help us turn our movie into a movement.

Our best,

The Great American Outing Team

Ky Dickens (Tour Creator)

Elizabeth Chase (Tour Producer)

Kate Baldridge (Tour Producer)

Kristen Kaza (Publicity)

"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page atwww.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"

Every Heart Matters

Our friends at Foundation Content, who cut the trailer for FOOW, created a PSA for F.A.I.R. in support of abolishing Prop 8 called "Every Heart Matters". (In case you haven't heard of them, F.A.I.R. is a group that was formed to fight for marriage equality in California.)

Well, their PSA has been selected as one of three finalists by the E-Hero Awards selection committee for the 2010 Human Rights Campaign Gala in Los Angeles! The Gala is being held on March 13th at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel and will feature U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer. Portia DeRossi will be presented with the HRC Visibility Award and Kathy Griffin will be receiving the Ally for Equality Award.

The PSA uses the Shepard Fairey "Love Unites" ) poster image for which they secured the rights to use (FYI - he also designed the Obama HOPE poster). Foundation's crew traveled to San Francisco and Los Angeles to work with real families and couples to shoot candid moments of them in their homes or playing with their children. The footage was edited by Tom Pastorelle and cut together with graphic images and additional photography shot on the Foundation stage.

Foundation's L.A. Producer, Stacy Paris says, "We are so proud to have been given the opportunity to contribute to the cause and thrilled that our piece has been selected for this prestigious event."

Marriage Equality is not just a California issue, but an issue the whole country is facing. And every heart SHOULD matter.

VOTE FOR THEIR PSA, "EVERY HEART MATTERS" HERE: http://hrcladinner.com/ehero/index.php

-Vignette-Noelle Lammott, Fish out of Water Blog Commentator -

"To find out more information about LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, religion and homosexuality, The Bible's stance on gay relationships or the politics around gay mariage please feel free to contact us or book a screening of FISH OUT OF WATER. Please note that a study guide can be downloaded from the "Book A Screening" page atwww.fishoutofwaterfilm.com"