I'll be there

see more Lol Celebs

Saturday 1st of August is a National Day of Action for Same-Sex marriage. As long as I can shake this god-awful sinus/virus thing, I'll be attending the Melbourne Rally at Fed Square, and I encourage everyone else - regardless of your sexuality - to attend.

This isn't just a "Gay Issue" - it's an issue for everyone who believes in Equality. This is an opportunity to make a stand. Be heard. The Government can only ignore this issue as long as we let them.

Good God

Jesus Christ.

A 14-year old dragged onto a radio show to undergo a lie-detector test who says to the host before the questions even begin "I’m scared ... it’s not fair.", and you don't think to stop and ask if she wants to go through with it after all, or if she's been pressured?

Her mother asks her if she's ever had sex, and the girl replies "I’ve already told you the story about this ... and don’t look at me and smile because it’s not funny."

Instead of showing concern, the host then asks "Right ... is that the only experience you’ve had?"

The mother then interjects to say she only found out about it "a couple of months ago" and at this point the segment ends.

Are you fucking SERIOUS?

First, why in the name of arse wasn't the girl asked before-hand is she wanted to go through with it when she's clearly expressing doubts?

Why was Kyle's immediate response to continue to interrogate the girl?

Until further details come out, I'm reserving judgement on who is to blame here, but at the moment, it seems clear that at the very least there should be questions asked as to how participation of minors is approached.

**EDIT**

Lauredhel makes an excellent point: regardless of whether any sex the girl had engaged in outside of the incident she recounts at age 12, given the girl is - right now - aged 14, Kyle and Jackie were quizzing this girl about possible rape. She's fourteen years old. Anything other sexual experience she's had is also rape.

An excerpt from the transcript:

"Mum: OK. Have you had sex?

Daughter: [quieter] I’ve already told you the story of this. And don’t look at me and smile, because it’s not funny. [louder, announcing with bravado] OH, OK. I got raped when I was twelve years old.

[silence]

Kyle: Right. And is that the, is that the only experience you’ve had?

Mum: I only found out about that, um, a couple of months ago. Yes, I knew about that.

Daughter: And yet you still asked me the question."

Let's repeat that last bit:

"And yet you still asked me the question"

On Live.National.Radio.

Nice.

**EDIT 2**

Did mean to be more specific with the comment "Anything other sexual experience she's had is also rape" - given that the mother was talking about her having sex with older boys, I was basing the comment on that.

And thanks to Barry, who got there before the Tandoori finished in the kitchen.

Teh Annasthetik hsan't afeckted me at all!

Message received a minute or two after Jeremy woke up (Did you know they let you have your mobile on in some hospitals now?):

"Didmt asplodem hurrah

Jaw feels absoitely awsome, rxepy for ctriplling opainr"

Now I know what he'd be like drunk. He was high as a kite for the first twenty minutes after he woke up.

He's home now, recovering well and the pain seems to be under control. Posting may be even more sporadic than usual in the next week, depending on how he goes.

Same sex, Same rights.

August 1 is a National Day of Action for Same-Sex Marriage.

You can make submissions on why rights in regards to same-sex marriage are important to you (Or not, if you're opposed, I guess) to the Senate Inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009. A link to Equal Love's Online Submission form is here.

And here is my submission:

"I write to express my support for the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009.

The definition and tradition of marriage in Australia and most of the Western world has changed in the last century. 58 percent of Australians now believe that it is time for change. It is time to remove the discrimination in the Marriages Act 1961.

Law has always kept pace with the morals and attitudes of society. A majority of Australians no longer believe that discrimination
should exist within the Marriage Act 1961, and that everyone, regardless of sexuality and gender identity should be afforded the same rights to have their marriage and relationships acknowledged by the Commonwealth.

In most areas of law, same-sex relationships are afforded the same rights and responsibilities as a heterosexual relationship.
Centrelink - a Government department - now recognises (and penalises) couples of the same-sex.

When even government departments have kept pace with the attitudes and morals of society, it is time to ensure that attitude in regards to removing discrimination is carried through all sectors of legislation.

Same-sex marriages WILL be legal in this country at some stage. Whether that happens under this proposed amendment or the next is up to you. You can choose to do what a majority of Australians would have you do as their elected representative, or we can acquiesce once again to the demands of a minority opinion steeped in discriminatory thinking and baseless prejudice.

There is no sound, logical reason for the discrimination against same-sex couples to continue under the Marriage Act 1961. I implore you, do what is right, and what is just."

We elect representatives to carry our voices to the Senate and various Houses of Parliament. Sometimes, that isn't enough. Make your voice heard.

EDIT: Changed the wording of "union" to "marriage" in the third last paragraph.

Yes, something about this IS unacceptable

I have not the words:


Acceptable? Scrap that. I have the words, but I won't use at least one of them on this blog.

And this, from the article:

"Do you think female presenters carry as much authority as their male colleagues, or will they always be mere Barbies in the chair?"

Mere barbies in the chair? Fuck you, Herald Sun. If you're trying to manufacture a contraversy with your outrageously sexist, insipid comments on this one, well done.

Scarier is the thought that the person who inserted those comments could be serious. And scarier that I have no faith that they weren't.

Killer Queen

So. I've had my first incident in the car. And it was completely my fault.

I've started practising playing pool again, with my mate A (of the swimming in a bra whilst we were camping fame), and that means driving to his house twenty minutes away and driving back. No big deal, but this particular night, it was dark, wet and windy.

And more importantly, I was listening to Queen.

I don't know about anyone else, but when I listen to Queen, I don't listen to it quietly. Especially not Bohemian Rhapsody, and particularly not the rockier parts. Which was one of the parts I was at when I got back in the car and turned the stereo on.

I'd parked dead straight in the driveway, but I thought I was a bit close to the bushes, so I'd correct on the way out. Because somewhere between parking dead-straight and coming to reverse, I lost my tiny little mind.

Honestly. What happened next I cannot excuse and cannot explain away. I corrected what I thought was the right amount, and because the metal fence A's place has as the other side of the driveway was in shadow, I Scaramouched right along it.

Except, because of the volume of the music, I didn't realise until the mirror on the passenger side bent backwards.

Jeremy was thankfully not too annoyed (It was, after all, his car), and the car is not too damaged.

But I think I'm going to ban myself from listening to Queen in the car from now on. At least when I'm reversing.

Insomnia Playlist

So, with the new phone, I've got a new late-night playlist. Mainly because I sometimes have trouble getting to sleep and Jeremy decidedly doesn't. But I was interested to see some of the new stuff that's crept in since my last playlist, and what's been retained:

Back to the Start - Lily Allen - I've gotten more and more into Lily Allen in the last few months, and this is one of those songs that I don't love, but still makes the cut.


Spaceman - The Killers - I've been playing this with alarming (for Jeremy, anyway) regularity since I first heard it late last year. I love it. I cannot get enough.

I can't Decide - Scissor Sisters - Oh, I love this song. It's so upbeat, yet so macabre. And sometimes I forget just so dark it is. I've had it as my main ringtone since I got the new phone, and it's really only now striking me just how wrong that is.

Doomsday - Murray Gold - From the new series' of Doctor Who. I love this theme.

My Freeze Ray - Neil Patrick Harris - All the geeks will know where this and the next song are from, and if you don't know, you should.

My Eyes - Felicia Day & Neil Patrick Harris - Second verse, same as the first.

Stoned - Dido- It's about now I usually fall asleep, because the songs are so familiar to me. If I'm not asleep by now, the next few songs - all Dido songs will do it.
See you when you're 40 - Dido

Sand in my Shoes - Dido

They Live in You - Samuel E Wright - From the stage show of The Lion King. Which I've never seen, but have heard a lot about. If you haven't heard this song, I recommend you look it up.

I don't Believe Anymore - Icehouse - I toss up constantly as to whether I prefer this version or the Whitlams version. They are very different versions of the same song. This one seems to be a bit more peaceful though, so it makes the cut.

What songs put you to sleep?