FabStuff: Vogue Evolution

No, I don't watch Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew, because one reality show with the ego-inflated choreographer Shane Sparks is more than enough, thank you very much. (He's doing the Dreamgirls revival at the Apollo...who thought he was the right choice for that? A hip-hop Effie? Please.)

But I have been watching the You Tube clips of one of the current crews, New York City's Vogue Evolution, the first openly-LGBT dance troupe in the show's history. Fierce? Certainly, especially Leiomy Maldonado, the transgender diva (and I do mean DIVA) at the group's center. But Vogue Evolution aren't just dancers, or even heroes...by competing in this arena, they're creating a great teaching moment for MTV's audience, showing unapologetically queer performers duking it out with (and even beating) their hetero rap contemporaries. Check it:

You'll Never See Us Coming...

It's really the orchestra that makes this video so brilliant. It's so damn uplifting! "Jimmy hadn't enjoyed himself so much in a long time...then during lunch..."

The Faustian Bargain of the Second Term

Our longtime blogcrush Rod2.0 has a great piece on the White House's piss-poor efforts on LGBT issues, and the Obama Administration's ever-increasing distance from equality...specifically, the idea that gay issues are "second term issues," meaning that Obama's promises to the community will only be carried out if he is again supported by the community, whether he comes through or not, and is re-elected in 2012.

Hmmm. I'm not sure Barack has ever sounded more like a Republican in his life.

Regular readers of this blog know that I championed Obama in the election last year, believing his desire for change was more than political maneuvering. I took a lot of heat for my support, and frankly, it turned me off blogging...the vicious nature of the e-mails and comments not from Republicans, but from Democrats, specifically supporters of Hillary Clinton. For my part, I believed (and still believe) that she would make an excellent President, but is a product of the past...at a time when our future needed a different direction.

So I come to this moment, watching the President I believe(d) in, caving pretty shamefully on health care and spending wildly on bailouts for the wealthy. Fine. I'm not an idealist like some liberal bloggers, and I know that the politics of pragmatism usually rule our country.

But now comes this insidious idea of "the second term," and the implied threat it carries. Yes, I said "threat," because that's what it is...an implied shot over the bow to the Democratic base. It means that change is not a comin', after all. Change, in fact, will wait. Change will only happen if you elect Obama AGAIN, to do what he originally promised he would do the first time, that he would do now if he had the courage. The "second term" is a political move, to placate the right. It means that promises can be held ransom, that dreams can be deferred. Frankly, it's shocking, a naked grab for power by the Obama Administration. It says: support us again no matter what, or you'll never get your rights, your freedom, your equality, your environmental law, your health care, etc. You're stuck with me, even when I refuse to keep my promises.

So I feel, after almost a year of troubling behavior by the president, that it's time for me to eat some crow. To say to the supporters of Hillary...maybe I was wrong. Maybe Obama is indeed just another shallow, self-interested politician. Maybe he lied about taking care of the poor and the middle class. Maybe he's a fraud. Maybe we should have gone the other way. From all of us who voted for Obama to everyone who voted for Hillary, I say...we may have picked the wrong person for the job.

I'm not certain about this, and hindsight is a fool's game anyway. But I AM unquestionably certain of one thing. Obama is NOT entitled to a second term at this moment, and we are not required to vote for him...and if he refuses to keep his promises, it is incumbent upon us to find another candidate.

If Obama wants to be re-elected, he'll need to KEEP his promises to his constituents, no matter how difficult he perceives that effort to be. And specifically, if he screws the LGBT community over in this current four-year period -- regardless of empty promises about what he'll do in a "second term" -- I don't see how any self-respecting gay person can vote for him in 2012.

Because if we're going to have record deficits, rich benefiting off the sweat of the poor, no equality, continuing wars, out-of-control military spending and no health care...well, frankly, we could have stayed with Bush.

Why The Public Option Is A Really Brilliant, Really Necessary Idea

Posting this because I think for most of us, it needs to be explained. Please link, steal, post, tweet, and others spread this virally if you can!

Fabulous Alert: Barney Loses His Shit On A Republidork

I'm not exactly a Barney Frank fan these days (well heck, I'm not exactly an Obama fan these days, either), but I have to admit a thrill at seeing SOMEONE call out the madness happening in our public discourse. Republicans should be ashamed to terrorize the country the way they have, and to willfully ignore the truth (and insult Jews) with ridiculous comparisons to the tormentors of history.

When I Die, I Hope Heaven Sounds Like Imogen

Via Arjan on his Facebook Wall, here's streaming versions of the entirety of Imogen Heap's new album, Ellipse, due out August 25th. A melodic triumph, methinks, and a worthy follow-up to her seminal solo debut Speak For Yourself. Enjoy!

Shake It! I Said Shake It, Damnit!

How delicious! A scoop of diva heaven on an ice cream cone dress...hey kids, it's Charo! If you're too young to know who Charo is, she was an extraterrestrial sent to Earth in the 1970's to show us the power of spangles and hoochie-coochie dancing.

Hey, it's good for a Saturday morning giggle. And around the 3-minute mark, things get really freaky. [From my favorite alternate web homeworld, Planet Fabulon.]