Gay New England Daily Blog

(Portsmouth, New Hampshire) The minister of a Portsmouth Unitarian church says he will sign marriage licenses of same-sex couples to put pressure on the state to recognize gay unions.

The Unitarian Universalist faith welcomes gay and lesbian parishioners and for several years has allowed its churches to perform wedding services, although they are not recognized in any state.

Rev. Will Saunders announced his decision Sunday. He said that the parish will hold a forum Jan. 6 to discuss the decision. While the forum is meant for members of the congregation, Saunders said those outside the parish “will not be turned away.”

Hello GLBT New England!

We base this site on YOUR feedback, so tell us...what do YOU want to see more of, less of, etc..on GayNewEngland.net!

David Goulart, Editor

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The January issue of Instinct arrived yesterday (my fave gay mag!) and there was a funny article on "67 Ways to Seduce Your Boyfriend." I want to share 10 of them with you. Most make little sense, I think that is why I like this magazine so much. Kinda like our site, we don't ever take our selves too seriously.

How to seduce your boyfriend...by Instint Magazine

#2-Tell him you love him. Then tell him you want to have sex. RIGHT NOW!

#4-Kidnap his boxer shorts and send him a randsome note demanding sexual favors for their safe but sullied return!

#11-Call Your Mom and ask how she and Dad do it.

#14-On second thought, don't call Mom. Her ideas are always WAY too kinky.

#26-Buy him Trojan Magnums, even if he doesn't need them.

#37-Cut a glory hole in your shower curtain.

#39-Spank his ass and call him Alice.

#57-Smile at him. Look down modestly, then lift your eyes back up to him. Hold for a count of three. Smile again...he's yours!

#64-Promise to stop giggling whenever he starts talking like Jeff Stryker during sex.

#34-Impress him with your brain power by using the word "nasturtium" in a sentence.

:D

Wanted to blog a few items today as I am in such a great mood!

Some site items:

1. We will be posting a New England "Year in Review" on the Local Reviews section of the site on New Years Eve. This will include all the good, as well as not so good places we visited in 2003.

2. Yes, okay, okay so I am obsessive complusive at times but I have begun the task of creating our 2nd Annual Gay Pride guide.

3. For local businesses, guest houses, bars, clubs, any GLBT business actually....we will be announcing new rates for 2004 and we think that you will be surprised! :P

4. Welcome to all the new visitors! We have been "stumbled upon" by so many new GLBT persons in December. We are very excited to welcome you! Where have you been? We are almost about to celebrate our 1 year anniversary of the sites launch.

5. Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter. It is a no frills run down of New England area GLBT events, happenings, and news.

P.S. Help me out...I just went to the Stop and Shop and even with the whole Mad Cow thing going on, hamburg is still 4 bucks a pound. Why?


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[b]What’s On For New Year’s Eve In New England[/b]

If it’s a gala gay New Year’s Eve that you want, New England will be ringing in 2004 with all sorts of cool LGBT parties and events from budget to “sky’s the limit.”

For those of us watching our money – and who isn’t these days - there are a few places to go and fun things to do that don’t have an admission or cover charge. How great is that? And if you have the big bucks for high-end celebrating, there are some choice choices awaiting. Book now!

[b]Provincetown, Massachusetts[/b]
It always seems like New Year’s Eve in this town, but on the Big Night, you can count on even higher voltage juicing up the festivities.

Two of the town’s great entertainment centers have more than enough happening to please the most jaded of celebrants.

The Crown and Anchor (C&A) is offering Suede on the Friday before New Year’s Eve, while “Goody Two Shoes” on the big night with a dinner party before the show. Boogie 2 Shooz – a dynamic duo – in person at the C&A’s Central house Cabaret at 9:30 – And no cover. And, as usual, don’t miss David Flower’s famous balls. On Wednesday, December 31 There is the Silver & Gold Dance Party at the Crown & Anchor’s Paramount Nightclub starting a 9 p. m. Dress nice. And David’s “recovery” dance party on Saturday, January 3d.

And at the A House, everyone – locals and visitors – drops in at least once during the night, according to Park Davis, owner of the 5-star Benchmark Inn & Benchmark Central. So be sure to put the A House on your dance card, have a drink and get a free party hat and noisemaker, too. Its three venues -The Little Bar, The Macho Bar, and the Dance Club – are all cranked up for the year’s biggest bash. It fun, fun and then some until 2 a. m – and then the next move is yours.

To find a room – budget to 5-star – contact In Town Reservations. And for luxury at a bargain price, the Benchmark and Benchmark Central is offering its fabulous rooms for $140., per room (two-night minimum), including complimentary, full concierge service, superb continental breakfast and use of the indoor spa. This steal of a deal is lower than the other luxury properties in town. If you can’t afford it, do it anyway. You only live once, and if you do it right, once is enough, according to the late, great Joe. E. Lewis.
Also, check out the Ranch, they are running a great special!

For comprehensive travel information, visit http://www.ProvincetownAccomm...

[b]Ogunquit, Maine [/b]
This beautiful place by the sea in the winter is as dazzling as a holiday greeting card. It’s just plain lov-er-ly. The primo action for New Year’s Eve will be at the Maine Street video bar in the heart of the village. It’s only from the Moon Over Maine B&B, plus other recommended inns, and plain to fancy restaurants. The bar is newly-remodeled and lots of fun with its 8 video screens, a dance floor that Fred & Ginger would have loved, great entertainment and a friendly local crowd. It’s a class act all the way and only 70 miles from Boston.

[b]Northampton, Massachusetts [/b]
NOHO continues to be a prime LGBT destination any time of the year. And New Year’s Eve is just one more reason to head for the hills – the Berkshires, that is. This bustling town is always festive with the likes of Diva’s dance bar and live entertainment Be sure to book early to get past the front door before the night is over. The other local LGBT bar is the Grotto. A complex offering bar, theater , pool and a lot more. You can surf gaynorthampton.com for a rundown on what else is happening in town.

[b]Mt. Washington Valley, New Hampshire [/b]
The hills and valley here is alive with gay- and gay-friendly, upscale inns centered around North Conway. It’s ideal for a romantic New Year’s Eve holiday for a cozy time in front of a roaring fire or outdoors in this awesomely beautiful place. New Year’s festivities include sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, an array of indoor performances, outdoor Parade of Light, stunning fireworks and brilliant bonfires. Admission to the Mt. Washington New Year’s Eve Festival is free to those who display the New Year’s 2003 button. Buttons are for sale ($5) at the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. It’s for the Chamber – an openly gay-friendly group.

A few of our favorite inns in the Mt. Washington valley include Notchland, Riverbend, Inn at Crystal Lake, Eastman House and the Ellis River House. They are exceptional properties and each serves a bountiful breakfast. A travel secret: The above innkeepers should be awarded Michelin stars for the exceptional made-from-scratch breakfasts they serve each morning. And they are a jolly lot to party with on any occasion, too.

[b]New London, Connecticut [/b]
Club 251 (formerly Frank’s Place) on Tilley Street celebrates New Year’s Eve “Madri Gras” style. There’s no cover charge – New Year’s Eve or anytime for that matter. The Madri Gras celebration includes free beads, noisemakers and hats. The Hot Shot Boys will be there and there to amuse and delight, and the club will have drink specials, a champagne toast at Midnight followed by a buffet. DJ Sugar will be spinning the from yesterday and today. And the beat goes on ‘til 3 a. m. A short walk away, Hero’s bar will be adding to the fun.

[b]New Haven area [/b]
There are two for “Women Only” parties in Connecticut. SLAPHAP’s (Senior Lesbians at Play Happily) New Year’s dinner at the Beachhead restaurant in East Haven. According to spokeswoman, Kathy Lewis, “All Lesbians are welcome to join us. Most of us are 55 and over but if you’re younger and like gray hair come on along. You can become a member that night too.” Email Kathy or Barbara for details and reservations.

[b]Hartford, Connecticut area [/b]
The other “Women Only” event is the immensely popular Women After Hours annual New Year’s Eve dinner-dance. And it’s reasonably priced at $25 for dinner (advance reservations); the dance entrance is $15 if you book in advance or $20 at the door. Not bad for New Year’s Eve. This annual event at the Holiday Inn in East Hartford is sponsored by Women After Hours, an organization that has monthly socials and many special events throughout the year. www.wahdance.com

The Hartford Gay & Lesbian community center is sponsoring a New Year’s Eve Extravaganza that’s alcohol and drug-free. The dance party is from 9 p. m. to 1 a. m., and for 18 bucks you get the works – food, music, dancing, hats and noisemakers. If you reserve in advance, the cost drops to $15. It’s cheaper than celebrating at home! And a lot more fun. You couldn’t do better than to spend the evening at this genuinely friendly LGBT community center on Broad Street.

[b]New Year’s Eve in your Neighborhood… [/b]
If you’re still looking for a place near you that’s popping the corks for New Year’s Eve, check out the bar and club listings and/or the New England Out & About section.

If you want to add a listing let us know! :wink:

During the holiday season you may wonder how to break the ice, to gently steer possible conversations gracefully in discussions with family and friends about the Bush Administration's apparent campaign plan to initiate an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will turn same-sex unions into ethically suspect, second-class affairs. Here are some tips to make your discussions more effective:

1. Don't wing it! Practice what you'd like to say to your loved ones with a trusted friend.

2. Enlist a "talk turkey buddy" who also plans to talk turkey with his/her family and friends. Call each other for moral support. Check in on the results.

3. Do your homework. Make it easy for your loved ones to support you. Have the letter you'd like them to send to their elected officials already written and printed out. Include their name and address at the top of your letter. Leave a space for their signature. Have the envelopes filled out. Tell 'em you'll mail it for them too!


4. Forget the stuffing. Too much info is hard to digest. Think about the ONE thing you want your loved ones to know or remember. Tell a story - either about you or people you know that illustrates or how your or your friends' lives would have been easier if there wasn't discrimination in marriage rights.

5. Make sure your loved ones are registered to vote. This is crucial.

Breaking the Ice:
Opening the Conservation
Sample lines:

Are you aware of the court decision in Massachusetts about marriage for same sex couples? You know this really affects me directly.

I need to talk with you about something that's difficult for me but is really important to me.

You've always been supportive of me. Are you aware of the marriage debate that's going on?

Did you know that in this country I don't have the same rights as you? (If you're speaking to married folks, use an example of what benefits they have (social security, family health insurance hospital visitation etc&) and say flat out, "I don't have those rights."

(If you're in a relationship): Do you know that if I were to die in an accident, _____ (my partner) would not get any of my social security benefits, and I've been paying into that system for years. Did you know that if _____ (my partner) was in a car accident and had to be taken to the hospital, I would be denied the right to see (him/her) in most hospitals in this country? You know that house we've been wanting to buy? Well, if either one of us dies, the one who's still around will have to pay estate taxes to keep the house? No married couple has to do that.

(If you're not in a relationship): Did you know that if I were to meet someone and fall in love, the way things stand now, no matter how long we lived together, I'd never have the same rights and benefits that a straight person gets the minute they get married.

Think of a situation in your family they can relate to involving a married couple and then say how you'd be treated in the same situation:

Aunt Clara is so lucky she has Uncle Joe's Social Security (pension) benefits to live on. It's not right that gay couples never get survivor benefits from Social Security. When ___ broke her leg last year, she was lucky to have health insurance through her husband's employer: they'd still be in debt without it. I can't get health insurance for ___ from my company. Mom, you worked to put dad through graduate school. You know, if I did the same thing for my partner, he'd have to pay taxes on what I gave to support him?

Did you know that the religious and political right - people like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Gary Bauer and mostly Republicans in Congress - are launching a nationwide effort to amend the U.S. Constitution to forever prohibit the recognition of same sex marriages and permanently write my second-class citizenship into the constitution? This country has a lot more important things to deal with - the war in Iraq, the economy, health care. We have to stop them.

This whole anti-marriage hysteria is about distracting the country from real issues, about dividing America, about hurting LGBT people for political gain. It's embarrassing - our country used to be a leader in civil rights.

Steer the Conversation:
Possible Topics and Questions

"If gay people can get married it will ruin families." What does the ability of lesbian and gay people to get married take away from others? It helps our families but it hurts no one.

"I don't have a problem with you having rights, but I don't like the word 'married.' " The concept of what marriage is has changed over the centuries. Women used to lose their citizenship when they married. Interracial marriage was outlawed in some states just fifty years ago. People could not marry outside their faith. Besides, we're talking about equal rights here. All other citizens have the right to marry. I should too.

"What's wrong with civil unions - why do you have to say 'marriage?'" There's nothing "wrong" with civil unions - they're a big advance over where we are right now. BUT, civil unions don't give equal rights - they are a separate and very unequal status. For example, civil unions are not recognized in other states and because the federal government does not recognize them, couples in civil unions don't get any of the over 1,000 rights and responsibilities that come with marriage under federal law.

"Not everyone wants gay people getting married in their church." I'm talking about marriage - in a courthouse with a justice of the peace -- not religion. Churches will still be free to marry whoever they choose in a religious ceremony. Not all gay people want to get married, maybe I never will but this country has to treat me as a full and equal citizen. It does when it collects my taxes.

"If gays get married, what's to stop this from snowballing, opening the door to who knows what?" You know, they said the exact same thing when people sought to end the ban on interracial marriage - that it would lead to bestiality, incest, and polygamy. They also said these things about efforts to pass Domestic Partnership recognition policies and they still do, but of course that didn't happen and such arguments are insulting. We're talking about two consenting adults, two human beings being able to make a commitment to one another and be protected by the same rights you enjoy.

Exit Strategy:
Remember, You're Looking for Help - Not Strife, So:

If they're ready to help: Great! Here's the letter. Sign it. I'll mail it for you. Pass the turkey."

If they're enthusiastic: Since you're up for doing this maybe you could spread the word. Talk with your friends about it. Get other voters to help us. I'll give you letters for others to sign.

If they seem ambivalent or unsure: "Will you at least think about this? It's important to me. I want to call you in a week or so to talk a little more about it."

If they say no: I understand that you're not with me on this yet and that hurts a lot. But try to give it more thought. I'm going to send you some stuff to read about this. How about dessert? Or, I think it's nap time now?

Sample Email, Letter or Script:

Dear Family Member or Close Friend,

I appreciate and value the love you have shown me over the years. I've rarely talked about the kind of discrimination that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people face in this country, and I've never asked for you to stand up for me in ending this discrimination. Now, this holiday season I need your help.

Using the so-called "threat" of gay marriage, the religious and political right are launching an unprecedented campaign to keep deny equal marriage rights for same-sex couples and they're even attacking other, more limited forms of family recognition, including civil unions and domestic partnerships. Their vicious campaign is based on lies and distortions about LGBT people, and that includes me. Please stand with me and for me by doing two things over the next few days:

1. Call or write your Member of Congress and your two U.S. Senators. Ask them to oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment (H.J. Res. 56), which would ban same-sex marriage and prevent courts from mandating even the most basic benefits, such as domestic partner health benefits and hospital visitation rights. The Congressional switchboard is 202-224-3121. If you aren't sure who your Congressperson and two Senators are, please call the Congressional switchboard or go to the House Web site and the Senate Web site.

2. Call your state representative/assembly member and state senator. Ask them to support equal treatment of same-sex couples and to oppose efforts to ban same-sex partner recognition in your state. If there is a specific anti-gay bill or proposed constitutional amendment pending, please mention that bill or amendment. You may be able to get this information by contacting your local or state LGBT rights organization. A list of these is posted at the Federation of Statewide LGBT Advocacy Organizations Web site.

Thank you for being there for me when I need your help.
:wink:

We just want to thank everyone for all of their support in 2003! By word of mouth, volunteer efforts, and grass roots promoting, you have made GayNewEngland.net a valuable resource. We wish you great health and happiness in 2004!

David and Team

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By Carlos A. Perez

How do I tell my best friend that I can no longer tolerate him? How do I tell him that he is such a mess that he scares me because he reminds me of my own messy days? How do I tell him that he is slowly going mad? How do I tell him that I cannot wait around while he fries his brains any longer? How do I tell him that he gets so tweaked that he makes drama queens look sedated? I did, I told him earnestly with tough love and then he withdrew and began to cry, as always. Then he tried to change the subject.

It's such a damn shame. He is a beautiful man, exceptionally talented with original personality, and always at the center of attention. And he is a mess.

We used to share day upon days together when we were both messing with "Tina-Girl."

That is the culprit, crystal -- methamphetamine. We used to entertain each other for hours, or should I say days. Before and after the clubs, before and after the bathhouses, we shared everything from records and clothes to substances and sexual partners. The habit became too much for both of us. He lost his job. He got evicted and his boyfriend dumped him so he moved out of town to get a fresh start elsewhere. I spent around five years in depression, almost ended my life and then started those little steps up the long stairway to recovery. It took me only eight years.

The very thought of crank makes my skin crawl. I think of the days I spent being ravaged by the drug and I cringe with horror. Inevitably, the subject matter pops up again. Whenever we talk he complains about his skin. It's broken out with blotches and bumps. He complains about being tired and worn out. He tells me that his hair is brittle and his teeth are cracking. I try to turn the conversation back to tough love and I point out that his symptoms are signs of an escalating habit of crystal-meth, but then his denial starts in. I still love him so I speak to him for a few minutes before conjuring up a white lie to get off the phone. We all love him. We just have to get away from him after three, four or five minutes because we can't take it any longer. Not unless we're there with him. That incessant babbling, jumping from place to place. He goes from lunch to outer space to politics.

Crystal-methamphetamine mimics the brain's activity when it is releasing hormones. You feel fabulous because by taking crank your brain becomes super-active, making your whole body feel euphoric and ecstatic. And you feel all this by not doing anything but ingesting the drug. Unlike dropping off the top of a roller coaster or diving from a high cliff into the ocean, where you are consciously aware of what you did to feel that rush.

Instead crank will take you there without any effort. You feel like you are rewarding yourself except you haven't done a damn thing but sniff or smoke or inject. When the reward ends, or the baggie is empty, you fall deep into depression. Usually the crash lasts just long enough for your eyes to pop open again leading you back to "Tina." The cycle now begins all over again.

The effects of crashing that lead to depression are heightened because by using speed your body is tricked into an unexplainable depression. If you hiked up a mountain or participated in any other fun and strenuous activity, you will feel that burnout or crash at the end of the day. It does not last forever and, more importantly, you know in your mind and body why you're tired.

Under Tina's influence you wonder why you're so tired and that feeling vanishes for hours and hours if you do another bump. One line or hit of "meth" may keep a user up for 36 hours. It is this false feeling of accomplishment leading to depression that can lead some people to commit suicide and other violent crimes after staying awake for days. Sleep deprivation can make the brain wig out. The prolonged use of crystal can lead to paranoia, schizophrenia, repetitive manic behavior, and eventually homicidal and suicidal thoughts.

Crank is especially devastating to the HIV impacted community because many of us are already trying to fight consumption. However, "the crystal chandelier" will just speed up the consumption process for you. Various studies have proven that using methamphetamine (just like other designer drugs) increases the replication of HIV. "Tweaking" keeps you up way longer than any human being can naturally stay up, that's why it was invented and used, to keep the fighters frisky and awake during a long battle in wartime. Some people have stayed up for incredible periods of time, lasting over 10 to 15 days.

Also, while "tweaking" you do not want to eat, food that is, and you are ready to have orgasm after orgasm or clean the house all over again or tear down your motorcycle to the nuts and bolts. Repetitive and monotonous, but Tina makes it interesting.

Crystal can feel so marvelous that after having sex with the epitome of Mr. Perfect, you will be ready for more sex within minutes after orgasm. Tina is so fierce and sneaky that you will have forgotten all about Mr. Perfect and you'll find yourself calling the sex lines and logging on to your favorite Internet sex site for another date while Mr. Perfect is still in your shower. Regardless of what scientific studies show about the higher replication of HIV while using drugs, if using said drug is making you have more sex with more partners, you can't help but pick up more strains of HIV and STDs. It is well documented that protection or safer sex measures go out the window in crystal-meth sex parties (see "Dangerous Liaisons" in this issue).

Can crystal be used safely? Probably not. It is not sold by "the hit," so there is always a little bit more left in the bag even if you just purchase the smallest amount possible. I'm not endorsing Ecstacy because it also fries your brain and speeds up HIV replication. However, if you just pop a hit, dance for hours and go home, you will not feel like a major wreck. I suppose that is a form of harm reduction. Crystal, like cocaine and heroin, can be sniffed, smoked or injected until you drop dead. Will we ever know for sure if it was the opportunistic infection or the drug use? There are no conclusive long-term studies yet. However, the information that is available so far points in one direction and that is that drug use, especially methamphetamine use and being HIV-positive, is detrimental to the person using it.


:!:

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The push by conservative Congressmembers and right-wing political activists to amend the U.S. Constitution to permanently ban same-sex marriage -- and perhaps civil unions and domestic partnerships -- could inspire a burst of gay activism that rivals such gay milestones as Stonewall and ACT UP, activists and commentators say.


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Who is the ULTIMATE Gay Icon Diva?

Madonna
Britney
Whitney
Cher
Judy
Liza
Barbra
Sarah
Other (tell us)

Who do you vote for ULTIMATE GAY DIVA ICON?
:?:

Party rules

DO show up! Sounds obvious, but if the company is shelling out for a party, you ARE obliged to come eat, drink and be merry. "You don't want to look like you're blowing off a company function," says Lesley Carlin, co-founder of etiquettegrrls.com. And don't isolate yourself in a corner with just a pal or two. "You don't want to make a beeline for the CEO, but make a point of socializing with your immediate supervisor and your colleagues."

DON'T drink too much. Repeat after us: "I will not get drunk. I will not get drunk." Even if there's an open bar, keep your trap shut. The professional consequences of getting wasted are not worth one more cosmopolitan.

DO bring a date. But only if guests are invited. And don't bore her to death with shop talk. "No one wants to come to a party to hear the technical details of your work problems," says Carlin, co-author of "More Things You Need to be Told:A Guide to Good Taste and Proper Comportment in a Tacky, Rude World" (Berkley Publishing Group, 2003). "Change the subject, or ask other people in the group what they do for a living."

DON'T overeat. "Enjoy the food, but it's not supposed to last you three days," says Peter Post, great-grandson of etiquette queen Emily Post and author of "Essential Manners for Men" (Harper Collins, 2003). "You're there to have a good time with other people, not to stuff yourself on smoked salmon."

DO ask about the dress code. No matter how loose the office ethos, guys should never show up at a party in jeans and a "Holidays Stink" T-shirt, women should never, EVER look like they're auditioning for "Sex and the City II." Spruce it up, boys. "If you're in an office where you don't have to shave every day, you might want to for the party," says Carlin. And girls should skip the slip dress and major bling-bling. "You want to impress people with your professionalism, not your unbelievable hourglass figure," says Post.

DON'T make a move on that gorgeous redhead. "People get a little alcohol in them, get a little loose, and all of a sudden they're making inappropriate comments," says Post. Even if the attraction is mutual, the company Christmas party is not the place to act on it. You may not remember that sloppy French kiss in front of the punch bowl tomorrow - but everyone else will.

DO take part in "Secret Santa" rituals. But don't stomp off if you get stuck having to buy a gift for your archrival. "Think of it as an opportunity to find out something about a person you don't like or don't know very well," says Post. Keep gifts breezy - flies for the fly fisherman; gourmet pastas for the cook, a desk frame for just about anyone. Never, never give anything that comes in a Victoria's Secret shopping bag. :lol:

BOSTON (AP) — Five years late and billions of dollars over cost, a tunnel routing Interstate 93 under downtown Boston finally opened Friday, replacing the hulking elevated highway that has marred the landscape for more than four decades.
The opening of the southbound lanes was a milestone marking the last stretch of major construction in Boston's Big Dig, one of the largest and most expensive public infrastructure projects in U.S. history.

Elaine Cronin of Boston was the first driver to head into the new tunnel lanes Saturday morning.

"This is really wonderful," said Cronin, who was greeted by Mayor Thomas Menino and Massachusetts Turnpike Authority chairman Matt Amorello and given a Big Dig cap and a map autographed by the two men. "It's part of history."

The old highway, the Central Artery, had been hailed as a modern "highway in the sky" when it opened in 1959. But it had been overwhelmed with more than double the number of cars it was designed to carry.

Big Dig planners hope that the new project will ease traffic problems, and city officials are planning to transform the downtown area once the Central Artery has been dismantled.

It's been a long time coming.

The project was scheduled to be completed five years ago, but now isn't expected to be fully finished until 2005. Since planning started, the cost estimate for the project has ballooned from $2.6 billion to $14.6 billion. (Related link: Big Dig project)

WAY TO GO! As of 4pm today the poll has swung in our favor...49% in favor of gay marriage...42% against Let them show THAT to the US Congress!!

If you haven't been there yet, go fill out their nasty little petition and by all means forward this email. Post the link below to message boards and chat rooms. Let's show them that they don't own the concepts of marriage and family.

To go to the poll, click here:

http://www.afa.net/petitions/marriagepol l.asp" title="http://www.afa.net/petitions/marriagepol l.asp" target="_blank"http://www.afa.net/petitions/...

275-pound prostitute strips attacker
12/19/2003

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A 140-pound rapist met his match in an angry, 275-pound prostitute, police said.

Adrian Castillo Ramirez allegedly tried to sexually assault a 24-year-old Bakersfield prostitute who was nearly twice his weight.

But she took his knife, stripped him naked and paraded him in front of other prostitutes, after asking how many of them had ever been forced into sex at knifepoint. Then she tried to take him -- still naked -- to the police station, reports said.

Castillo was charged with failing to register as a sex offender, and with committing forcible sex acts on the 24-year-old and on a 37-year-old woman in a previous incident. He was convicted of four counts of rape in 1988.

Castillo pleaded innocent Wednesday, and is being held on $250,000 bail, police said. :!:

This show harkens back to the time honored tradition of 'fixing a straight man'. I mean really, when have you been able to take a heterosexual male right off the rack, prêt a porter? Straight women have long relied on their gay male consortsfor their expertise in the transformative arts, from elocution to chambray, we leave little to chance, in turning my Slim Shady into My Fair Lady. My friends, accomplices all, remember the pair of dog shit scented Converse High Tops snatched away in the night from the new boyfriend who would not throw them out himself, thankfully buried in the desert.the shoe heist would not have been completed if it had not been for outside assistance. The gorgeous musician, who insisted on the use of Irish Spring (that soap that you whittle) on his café au lait combination skin face, coaxed into a skincare regimen, with hetero friendly products by Kiehl's. The wire hangers, hanging saggy, sorrowful shirts from Mervyn's, tossed out mercilessly, dry cleaner bags and all. We have seen the land of men, and watched them sleep in 50/50 polyester-cotton blend sheets, and we have saved them from static electricity. There has long been a silent complicity between straight and gay men, facilitated by the girlfriend of both, that the gay man knows more, looks better, acts hotter than the straight man. The straight man will forgo any internalized homophobia and prejudice for the tutoring in all matters extracurricular, in order to impress, tantalize and obey the heterosexual female. It's a parlor game that everybody wins. The homosexual male delights in sharing and showing off his talents, the heterosexual male gets some of the specialized sparkle of the socially oppressed, the girlfriend gets a presentable boyfriend, and they all hang out together in peace and harmony. It is like an Amish barnraising.

I like QUEER EYE, a lot actually. I would hang out with the Food and Wine guy almost every day, and I am sure that Carter (Style) and I have had words, but we are civil to each other when in public, and Culture and I are playing a wicked game of phone tag which has lasted for about 4 months. I did Special K a long time ago with Hair, but of course he doesn't remember, and I never met Interiors, but I know his boyfriend enough to say 'hi'. What makes me say "Why?" is the idea that gay men, in order to be accepted by mainstream society, have to be really 'good' at something. The expertise that is bestowed upon them, a kind of superhero grace, is a suffocated love, created by a need to fit in, and the point of entry into a world that would have them only if they were put to good use. Have you ever seen a gay man on TV be 'bad' at something? Not likely. We've not that luxury to fuck up. The "Queer as Folk" gang may misbehave, but they are not only a fiction, they do it with such panache, we common folk could only dream of screwing up so royally, pun intended.

The phenomenon of the show, an exciting portent for the future of gay television, is unquestionable. The gaying of straight male culture has taken hold. My very hetero friend, who has motor oil under his nails and a pack of Winstons folded into the pocket of his Hanes Beefy 100% Cotton T, pats on a bit of Estee Lauder SPF 8 High Definition Concealer in Light while looking in the rear view mirror of his Harley. He has fully realized himself, and become a lesbian.
:roll:

I just voted in favor of gay marriage on the AFA (Anti-Gay) poll ... let's beat them at their own game on their own website!!!!

I encourage you to vote right now:
"IN FAVOR OF legalizing homosexual marriage"

AND it is important to forward this onto your LGBT and progressive minded network.

http://www.marriagepoll.com" title="http://www.marriagepoll.com" target="_blank"http://www.marriagepoll.com

Does anyone know what they are doing on Route 128 heading north towards Boston. What a nightmare every day and it appears they are tearing up the entire median. Anyone out there in the know?

Signed,

A Disgruntled Commuter :roll:

Yikes! For those who celebrate did you finish your shopping? If you could ask Gay Santa for ANYTHING, what you ask him/her?

We get so many e-mails from people who are new to New England or simply travelling here and don't know where they can work out and feel "comfortable". Where do you work out, gym and city? And why you like it!

Thanks people of New England! Be Heard! :P

An Antigua-based bookmaker halted bets on ''Survivor'' after more than 15 people placed bets that Sandra Diaz-Twine would win this season -- before even the first episode had aired. Simon Noble, CEO of Antigua-based bookmaker BetWWTS.com, told the Associated Press that he believed that the early bettors -- all from the Vancouver, British Columbia, area -- had gotten access to inside information. ''It's either an insider from CBS or a friend of Sandra's,'' he told the wire service.

Diaz-Twine has long been aware that she was one of the top two contenders, but didn't discover until Sunday that she won, according to AP. She denied that she had given away any secrets, an act that would have forfeited her prize. ''I wanted the money,'' she told the wire service. ''I didn't want to to screw that up. I suffered too much out there.''

Meanwhile, CBS spokesman Chris Ender told AP that it was possible advance information had slipped out. ''We take security very seriously on 'Survivor,' but obviously you're never going to ensure that something is not leak-proof,'' he said. So bookies, beware.

(Posted:12/16/03)

President Bush said that he could support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. While the Massachusetts Supreme Court struck down that state's ban, finding it to be unconstitutional and giving state lawmakers six months to craft a way for gay couples to wed, Bush condemns their ruling citing his support for a federal definition of marriage as a solely man-woman union. In an interview with Diane Sawyer he said, "The court, I thought, overreached its bounds as a court. It did the job of the Legislature." He then waded in deeper, saying state rulings "undermine the sanctity of marriage" and could mean that "we may need a constitutional amendment. If necessary, I will support a constitutional amendment which would honor marriage between a man and a woman, codify that," he said.
:x

Federal CAN Spam Act was signed by Bush this AM and it will become law in effect 1/1/04.

We talk about different gay movies we have seen all the time so many of you have asked where do we get them, or how can you buy them for you or someone else. Well...you ask and you shall receive!

General Movie Page –

http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?c=1&v=1&sn=1821" title="http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?c=1&v=1&sn=1821" target="_blank"http://tlavideo.com/main/main...

Gay/Lesbian Movie Page –

http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?sn=1821&c=2&v=2" title="http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?sn=1821&c=2&v=2" target="_blank"http://tlavideo.com/main/main...

Gay/Lesbian Books –

http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?c=32&v=2&sn=1821&pt=2 " title="http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?c=32&v=2&sn=1821&pt=2 " target="_blank"http://tlavideo.com/main/main...

Gay/Lesbian Life & Style -

http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?c=2&v=6&sn=1821" title="http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?c=2&v=6&sn=1821" target="_blank"http://tlavideo.com/main/main...

General Life & Style -

http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?sn=1821&c=1&v=6" title="http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?sn=1821&c=1&v=6" target="_blank"http://tlavideo.com/main/main...

Gay Adult -

http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?c=3&v=3&sn=1821" title="http://tlavideo.com/main/main.cfm?c=3&v=3&sn=1821" target="_blank"http://tlavideo.com/main/main...

:lol:

What do you think of reality shows? What were your favorite and what are your least. I typically watch the ones with really hot men but even the hot guys can't keep my attention as the shows are getting so lame.

I do watch Survivor because my partner is a huge fan. Was happy to see Sandra win...did anyone catch that? Also, Average Joe (which stunk) had a predictable ending....will the hot woman pick the rich ugly guy or the poor HOT guy. Well, she picked the hot guy. What does that tell all the Average Joe's looking for hot women? "Forget about' it!" Sad, huh?

Boy Meets Boy, Rich Girls, Osbournes, any others that you like or dislike and why? :?:

1. Me Against The Music Britney Spears
Feat. Madonna Jive
2. A Thousand Beautiful Things Annie Lennox J
3. White Flag/Stoned Dido Arista
4. Release Me Industry Star 69
5. Wonderful Annie Lennox J
6, Addicted Enrique Inglesias Interscope
7. Nothing Fails Madonna Maverick
8. Fake Simply Red simply red.com
9. KissMy Eyes Bob Sinclair Star 69
10. Just A Little More Love Dave Guetta
Astralwerks

BREAKOUTS ----------------- POWER PICKS
1. Get It Off Monica J
2. Haru Haru Romann Music
3. Breathe Michelle Branch Maverick
4. Fallen Sarah McLachlan Arista

=http://www.gaynewengland.net target=_blank [image]gaynewengland_1314 58229.gif[/image]

In an effort to centralize much of what is on this site we have removed a couple of sections, but have simply moved it throughout various other sections of the site. We have added more shopping and news on this page as well as last minutre gay happenings that didn't make it to the Out & About section in time. Also, Adam and Andy have been moved to the Best of the Web section of site.

Okay, so I know where to go with the site even more....How old are you? And how do you secually identify? (i.e. straight, gay, lesbian, transgeder, bisexual, etc.)

THANKS!

XOXOX

David


=http://www.gaynewengland.net target=_blank [image]gaynewengland_1314 58229.gif[/image]

My friend Tim over at Here-Boston never ceases to amaze me with the "goods"...check out the goods:

http://www.hereboston.com/index.php?sc=gossip" title="http://www.hereboston.com/index.php?sc=gossip" target="_blank"http://www.hereboston.com/ind...


:D

Hey guys,

I want to make you aware of another special gay-men-only weekend here at Salt Ash Inn. Many of you may not be members of the various Yahoo Groups where I've posted this announcement, so I'm sending it to you personally. Please forgive me if you've already seen this elsewhere and this is just cluttering your mailbox! I'd sure love to see you here for this special weekend ? even better than the one at Halloween, as food's included this time, and you have your pick of rooms and whom to share with (if you don't want single occupancy and would like to keep the cost down).

So, without further ado, here's the announcement:
GAY MEN'S SKI WEEKEND (& Party Room)
In Vermont
January 9 - 10, 2004
at Salt Ash Inn
This will be our 2nd all-gay weekend at the Salt Ash Inn --
Look for more to come, but don't miss this one!

Our first event was the wildly successful Halloween Bears/Leather weekend. That event sold out within
the first few days of its being announced, so make your reservation for this one NOW ! !

WHAT'S IN THE WEEKEND PACKAGE?

ACCOMMODATIONS & MORE

· Friday check-in as early as Noon

· Sunday check-out as late as 1 PM ? then return to the inn to shower and change, up to 6 PM

· Add extra nights at 50% discount

· Clothing-Optional Hot Tub

· Nonstop Party Room
· Light-fare hot buffet on Friday from 7 - 10 PM

· 4-course buffet dinner on Saturday from 7 - 8 PM

· Full hot breakfast every morning

· Pub social hour with munchies Friday and Saturday 4-7 PM


Cost:
$115 -210 per person, for the whole 2-day package with meals
(based on double occupancy ? no one needs to share a bed unless he wants to.
Single-room occupancy available at small upcharge).

For this ski weekend, we are again lowering our prices as a welcoming tribute to our gay brethren. We are a gay-owned Country Inn B&B in south/central Vermont, equally close (about 10 miles) to both Killington and Okemo mountain ski slopes. The fabulous, new, and uncrowded Bear Creek Mountain Club is just across the road from us, too. And Suicide Six in Woodstock is only 14 miles away. Winter's still a great time for antiquing, shopping (check out all those after-Holiday sales!), enjoying the serenity of numerous nearby country villages, leisurely walks along still country roads, or ? how long's it been since you've done this? ? just plain ol? lazin? around?. The party room will be open, in case you care to play.

We have 17 unique guestrooms, each with private bath, Cable TV, phones, hairdryers, great beds and casual, country ambiance. The inn has a clothing-optional 8-person, outdoor, hot-tub that's open year-round ? so bring a robe and something warm for your feet, to wear when going from your room to the tub (Unless, of course, you're a real Polar Bear!).

Rates page: http://www.saltashinn.com/rat...

Info page: http://www.saltashinn.com/gay...

So, whether your winter "thang" is downhill, cross-country, snowboarding, snowmobiling, sledding,
sleigh-rides, hot-tubbing under the snowflakes, or just "apres-ski" in a cozy fireplace-warmed country Pub - Salt Ash Inn is the perfect place to get away to. Phone us at 1-800-725-8274 (1-800-SALT-ASH) or visit us through the web site. Be sure to mention GayNewEngland.net! :lol:

1. Gay Bishop: I Want To Marry
(Boston, Massachusetts) Gene Robinson, the first gay bishop in the Episcopal church, says he would like to marry his partner of 14 years.

2. Saddam Hussein captured! Merry Christmas Dictator Bush!

3. I survived the Wrentham factory outlets!

:lol:

Well you are! Over 3,000 awesome people read this section of the site daily and we THANK YOU. But......where the hell are you from? Don't be shy....represent your corner of the world. Click on comments below. Have an awesome weekend, btw! Dave, Marc, Philip, Joanne, and Mike!

P.S. Happy Holidays! :D

Nostalgia singers Bette Midler and Donna Summer, who'd be scrubbing toilets without gays, aren't the biggest supporters of same-sex marriage either, shockingly enough. On Larry King's show, Midler endorsed the idea, but said she's concerned that "gay men . . . like to move around"—i.e., be promiscuous. (And straight men don't? I've fucked hundreds of 'em.) On the same subject, Summer gave the Washington Blade a no comment and added, "People are entitled to whatever they want to do, but it is none of my business." That's hideous, but I guess it's better than her usual: "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." (No, wait, she never said that, I swear!)

Dec. 13, 7:30 PM, Portsmouth, NH. The New Hampshire Gay Men's Chorus will be performing a Holiday Concert program entitled 'Spirits Bright and Gay - A Holiday Celebration for all Faiths' at the Christ Episcopal Church, 1035 Lafayette Road. Director Luc Roberge, has selected songs that speak to many diverse traditions in our world. From Kwanzaa to Hanukkah, Christianity to Paganism the chorus will sing an eclectic array of music. Tickets can be ordered by mailing your payment, with location preference, to the Manchester Performing Arts Association, PO Box 6251, Manchester, NH 03108-6251, on line at www.nhgmc.com or by phone at (603) 668-4509. Tickets are $10.00 for members of MPAA and $15.00 for non-members.

Dec. 13, 6 - 11 PM, Burlington, VT. Crones potluck holiday party. Please bring your beverage and a small (under $10) fun gift to exchange. FMI and directions: islandjunebug@cs.com or 802-864-0615.

Dec. 13, 6 PM, New Hampton, NH. Lakes and Mountain Connection annual Christmas Party! Potluck and then a Yankee Swap after dinner. So start looking for those cheap but fun gifts! Call 603-744-2489 if you need any more information. Directions: Route 93 to Exit 23. North go left for 1 mile. From 93 South go right for 1 mile. At yellow blinking light go left on to Route 132 South. Follow for approximately _ mile. House is a big gray house at the "V" between route 132 and Pinnacle Hill Road. You can park at both driveways. DO NOT park on side of road on the Pinnacle Hill Rd side.

Dec. 13, Noon to 3 PM, Cape Neddick, Maine. Artistic Amazon will have a presentation showing of "Exposure" color and black & white photography by our own Patti Matthis at the main house at 182 Clay Hill Rd. . This is just in time for the Holiday season. The will be wine and cheese. FMI call toll-free 1 877 422-0702

Dec. 13, 4 - 8 PM, Ogunquit, Maine. Women's "T" Dance at Maine Street. The weekend of the 13th is Ogunquit's "Christmas by the Sea" weekend. All the shops will be open, there will be a bonfire on the beach and the tree lighting in downtown. This would be the perfect weekend to get away and relax. Please go onto www.gayogunquit.com or www.gaycme.com to find places to stay that weekend. This will be our Christmas party so please dress festive or maybe dress up if you like.

Dec. 14, 2 PM, Burlington, VT. Metropolitan Community Church Sunday Worship at RU12?, 1 Steele St., Suite 113. Directions and map for RU12? Center: http://www.ru12.org/index.cfm... Thereafter, worship services evey other Sunday, same time and Place. FMI: mccvt@innevi.com

Dec. 14, 4 PM, Manchester, NH. The New Hampshire Gay Men's Chorus will be performing a Holiday Concert program entitled 'Spirits Bright and Gay - A Holiday Celebration for all Faiths' at the Manchester Unitarian Universalist Church, 669 Union Street. Director Luc Roberge, has selected songs that speak to many diverse traditions in our world. From Kwanzaa to Hanukkah, Christianity to Paganism the chorus will sing an eclectic array of music. Tickets can be ordered by mailing your payment, with location preference, to the Manchester Performing Arts Association, PO Box 6251, Manchester, NH 03108-6251, on line at www.nhgmc.com or by phone at (603) 668-4509. Tickets are $10.00 for members of MPAA and $15.00 for non-members.

Dec. 15, 3 PM, Burlington, VT. Samadhi Singers' holiday concert at St. Paul's. FMI, contact Bev Youree at 802-848-7037 or byouree@together.net

Dec. 19, 7:30 PM, Thetford, VT. Amelia's Book Club. And Then I Met This Woman: Previously Married Women's Journeys into Lesbianism by Barbee J. Cass
This book is rescheduled because it takes time to acquire, so order early! Call 802-785-2612 for information.

Dec. 20, Orford, NH. Amelia's Christmas Party at Donna's. More details to follow... FMI: donna.l.reed@valley.net

Dec. 24, 10 AM, Stowe, VT. Crones meet at Trapp's cross-country ski center hut for a Christmas eve ski/snowshoe. After our exercise, we'll retire to the tea room at Noon for lunch and libations. FMI: 802-279-7669.

Dec. 27, Hollis, NH. Women Meeting Women dance at the Alpine Grove. FMI: http://www.geocities.com/wmwo...

Dec. 27, 8 - Midnight, Deerfield, NH. Ladybugs North Holiday Dance at the American Legion Post # 103. Come dance the night away with our fantastic DJ Lorainne G. Raffle Table, 50-50 Raffle, Door Prizes and lots of snacks. Tickets $8.00 pd in advance for members and $10.00 at door. FMI: 603-692-0740 or Barbaq30@aol.com or Ladybugs_north@yahoo.com.

Dec. 27, 8 PM, Hollis, NH. Women Meeting Women Holiday Dance for coupled and single women at Alpine Grove. Cost is $8. Smoking is outside only. Join 300 lesbians from all over New England. Must be 21 to attend. For info, directions or incase of bad weather, call (603)883-9969, email wmwomen@yahoo.com, or visit www.geocities.com/wmwomen.

Dec. 28, 2 PM, Burlington, VT. Metropolitan Community Church Sunday Worship at RU12?, 1 Steele St., Suite 113. Directions and map for RU12? Center: http://www.ru12.org/index.cfm... Thereafter, worship services every other Sunday, same time and Place. FMI: mccvt@innevi.com

Dec. 28, 6:30 Hanover, NH area. Amelia's Last Sunday Supper, location to be announced, FMI: staylongtalkmuch@hotmail.com 802-296-5893 home, or 603-252-0596 cell.

Dec. 31, 8 PM, Winchester, MA. Lesbian Dance at the Winchester Sons of Italy Hall, 117 Swanton St. For directions go to: http://www.djdee.com/sonsdir.... Dance 'till 12 AM! DJ DEE behind the mixing board all night long! Tables reserved for Singles wishing to meet and mingle. Sat June 14 - Sons of Italy Hall, 117 Swanton St. Winchester, MA, $10.00 at the door - 18+ Info: 781-648-0722. $10 at the door. Cash bar, huge dance floor, no smoking.

***** 2004

Jan. 1, 11 AM, Chelsea, VT. Crones start the New Year with a ski/snowshoe (snow conditions permitting) after a potluck brunch. FMI and directions call 802-279-7669.

Jan. 2, 7 PM, Nashua, NH. Women Meeting Women Lavender Screen Film Forum. This event takes place every month on the first Friday. Please arrive at 6:30 PM as the film starts at 7. FMI and directions. 978-902-4645 or Gringa67@yahoo.com.

Jan. 17, 6 PM, Northern VT. Crones Potluck followed by discussion Power and Challenges of Aging. FMI: 802-872-7551 or 802-863-4822 or alperk@sover.net

Jan. 18, 10 PM, TV. Showtime presents the L word. This is the series premiere of a series about women - and women who love them.

Jan. 29 - Feb. 2, Cruise. QLGF and Innovative Gay Travel present our first Rejuvenation Cruise. 4 night Western Caribbean Cruise departing Thursday, January 29, for Key West, Cozumel, Mexico, and a Fun Day at Sea returning Monday, February 2, 2004. 4 nights aboard the IMAGINATION…outside Stateroom with picture window… All meals and entertainment…Private tables in dining room… Welcome Cocktail Party…. 24 hour room service…Gala Captains Cocktail Party …Farewell Reception…. Pre selected seminar program of your choice…*Anatomy of the Spirit…*International Self-Defense…*Sacred Island Ritual…. and Certificate Appreciation Presentation. $549.00 per person. $250.00 deposit per person, balance due 90 Days prior to departure, or $250.00 deposit per person and $75.00 per person per month. All rates are person based on double occupancy. Single, triple, and quad rates upon request. Convenient low air add on available. Rates subject to availability. Additional stateroom categories available at discount group rates. Port charges and taxes $128.41 per person. Minimum number of participants required for program to operate. We strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance. Call Jeanine or Allen for more info 800 272 2106.

Feb. 7, 5 PM, Burlington, VT. Crones potluck dinner and poker night. Even if you don't have a poker face, come to shoot the breeze with fellow Crones. FMI: alperk@sover.net.

Feb. 14, 6-11 PM, Burlington, VT. Crones potluck party for Valentine's Day, with another silly gift exchange (under $10). FMI: islandjunebug@cs.com or 802-864-0615

Feb. 21, 8:30 AM - 4 PM, Concord, NH. Becoming an Outdoor Woman in Winter. Winter fun for Women. Held at NH Fish and Game Headquarters. All day courses will be offered in Ice Fishing Fun, Snowshoeing and Tracking, Snowmobile Fun and Safety, Creating Backyard Wildlife Habitat, and Winter Survival. $50 covers lunch and all course materials. Participants must be 18 years old or older. Call 603-271-3212 to receive a registration form or download the registration form from the BOW website: www.nhbow.com.

March 14, 5 PM, Milton, VT. Crones meet at Ravenswood for the annual lesbian video slumber party, starting with a St. Patrick's day themed pot luck dinner. As always, anyone who stays overnight will be given a scrumptious breakfast repast. If you think we might not have your personal favorite video in our 200+ collection, please bring it along. FMI and directions: oletaffy@aol.com

March 25 - 29, Palm Springs, CA. Dinah Shore Weekend 2004, the largest lesbian event on the planet! Huge Dance Parties, Performances, Comedy Shows and the Sexiest Pool Parties ever! FMI: clubskirts.com or girlbar.com or 888-44-dinah. Host hotels The Wyndham Hotel 888 Tahquiltz Canyon Way, 760-322-6000 and The Doral Resort, 67-967 Vista China, 888-386-4677. When making a reservation don't forget to mention the Dinah Shore Weekend.

May 7 - 9, Ashland, NH. Claire Robson presents a weekend writers retreat. As I thought about offering the usual retreat in May 2004, I had a strong sense that many of the writers I know aren't in a place where they're looking for intense manuscript critique right now. It came to me that instead of the usual "let's take manuscripts apart" weekend, we all needed, just this once, a "let's write our brains out" weekend. So that's the plan. We'll eat good food, chat, hang out, and WRITE. I'll provide prompts. After we've written, we can share the results and run some feedback. So this is an adventure - bring your pen and let's see what happens! The weekend is from 6 PM Friday, 7th to 2 PM Sunday, 9th May, and will limit participants to ten. Cost will be $250. I'll provide all food. 50% deposit required to hold a place. Non returnable if you cancel within two weeks of the retreat. Fully refunded if I cancel for any reason. Checks payable to Claire Robson, 63 Sanborn Road, Ashland, NH 03217. Call 603-968-2135 with questions, or email crobson@coopresources.net. Claire Robson is a British born writer who has lived in the US for the last 14 years. She has a strong background in teaching, having taught English to high school students in the United Kingdom for sixteen years, seven of which were spent as an assistant principal.
Claire writes both fiction and poetry, and her work has been published in numerous journals and literary reviews, most recently, The North American Review, Sojourner and Ex Libris. Her memoir, Love in Good Time came out in Fall 2003 to critical acclaim. She has featured at bookstores, cafes and literary events in CT, VT, NYC, DC, Philadelphia, VA, NC and GA, and venues include the Connecticut Poetry Festival, the Astrea Foundation's annual fundraiser and the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Journalists Convention. New Voices, the series Claire founded thirteen years ago, and still hosts, is now one of Boston's liveliest spoken word venues. Claire teaches writing in Boston and New Hampshire. As well as running private workshops, groups and retreats for adults, she teaches master classes at Plymouth State University. She has worked in the field with student teachers of English from Boston University. She teaches annual workshops for high school students and their teachers at the invitation of both the Arts Alliance of Northern New England and the college-based Young Writers' Project. Last October, Claire spent three days working with gifted students in two English high schools. She works with preteen poets at Ashland library, and is a frequent visitor to the creative writing program at Plymouth High School. Ashland is in the White Mountain area of NH, just over two hours' drive up I93 from Boston. Claire's house is in the woods, and is the perfect place to write - quiet, pretty, roomy and equipped with two loving collies and lots of pens!

July 3 - 10, Cruise. Olivia Cruise aboard Holland America's MS Maasdam from Boston to Montreal. Celebrate the 4th of July in Provincetown with an exclusive performance by K.D. LANG. Spend an unforgettable week sailing from Boston to Montreal in the company of women. FMI: www.olivia.com or 800.631-6277.





=http://www.gaynewengland.net target=_blank [image]gaynewengland_1314 58229.gif[/image]

The Stratford, Connecticut, Town Council late Monday unanimously rejected a municipal clerical workers' contract that would have given health and other benefits to same-sex domestic partners. A top union official called the veto discriminatory. "I don’t object to the idea in principle," said Councilman Alvin O'Neal, "but there are parts of the language that imply same-sex marriage — which we know is not legal in Connecticut." Brian Thomas, president of the 48-member Stratford Federation of Municipal Employees, Local 136, said the benefit is already available to same-sex partners in about a dozen towns and to 53,000 state-employed workers. :cry:

A couple of us from GNE will be at Campus in Cambridge on Thursday. Say hello if you see us.

Dave :lol:

(New York City) Rosie O'Donnell says the much-publicized lawsuit against her by Gruner & Jahr changed her mind on the issue of same-sex marriage.

O'Donnell says the the case pointed up the inequities between gay couples and heterosexuals.

“I have a partner, a wife, which is strange word for me to use. I never really used it until I got sued. And you want to know why? If you are a heterosexual talk show host and you’re sued by a major corporation, anything you have said to your husband is privileged information. But if you are a homosexual talk show host and you’re sued by a corporation, anything you have ever said and/or written to your spouse, partner, or wife is allowed to be entered into the record. It is totally unfair. And never in my wildest dreams -- if you said to me you’re going to become an advocate for gay marriage, I’d say you’re on crack.”

(Boston, Massachusetts) Conservative groups from across the nation are meeting in Boston to plot a national strategy in opposition to same-sex marriage.

Among the organizations are the right wing Family Research Council, based in Washington, and the Colorado based Focus on the Family. They are joined by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the Massachusetts-based Center for Marriage Law, and the Massachusetts Family Institute, which organized the meeting.

`We're obviously very concerned about what's happened with the issue of marriage in Massachusetts and we're here gauging the temperature,'' said Genevieve Wood, vice president for communications at the Family Research Council, a Washington-based conservative organization.

Last month the Supreme Judicial Court decision ruled that denying same-sex couples the right to marry was unconstitutional. The court gave the legislature until mid-May to amend the laws.

Governor Mitt Romney is opposed to gay marriage and lawmakers are divided on a course of action. They could support an amendment to the state constitution banning same-sex marriage, but that could not be accomplished before 2006 at the earliest. Or, they could also pass a form of civil union similar to that in Vermont, but it questionable whether it would satisfy the court. House Speaker Thomas Finneran (D-Boston) has said it is also possible that the Legislature will take no action and let the court take the final step of declaring same-sex marriage legal.

Over the two day conference the groups hope to come up with a common plan to fight not only the marriage issue in Massachusetts but also form an alliance to work for an amendment to the US Constitution barring same-sex marriage.

Recently my partner and I rented Friends & Family on Netflix. What a great movie. It will be showing in Providence soon...here are some details:

La Cage aux Folles meets The Sopranos in this riotously funny tale of two gay hit men. Who said there was no such thing as the Gay Mob? Hunks Stephen (Greg Lauren) and Danny (Christopher Gartin) get ready for an evening at the opera. At intermission, they head for the back-stage area to congratulate the lead singer as he takes his break; they also twist his arm over his head and demand a check to pay off a gambling debt. All in a day's work for these two debonair but ruthless enforcers of the mob. When not breaking heads, Stephen and Danny live in a neat, tastefully furnished NYC row house (they even alphabetize their toiletries) and are the beloved, openly gay employees of Don Patrizzi (Tony Lo Bianco). Yes, Danny and Stephen are also out to their parents, open about everything but their profession (their parents think they operate a catering business).
When Stephen's mom and dad pay a surprise visit and ask for a fabulous party (after all the boys are gay caterers), everyone -- from the Don to lowly loan sharks -- must get into the act of deception. Throw in some right-wing militia zealots, the Don's straight sons (one a cook, the other an interior decorator) and burly mobsters who learn to act gay (helped immeasurably by a video of Liberace taking a bath), and you get perfect ingredients for a fast-paced farce that delights in reversing stereotypes. The Friends & Family screening is Thursday, January 15, 2004 at 7:00pm, Tickets for this engagement are $7 at the door. After the film, stick around for the free broadcast of Will & Grace at 9 pm! Castle Cinema, 1039 Chalkstone Ave. Providence. For directions go to http://www.castlecinema.com

December 8, 2003 -- IN perhaps the gayest act of philanthropy in recent memory, sapphic superstar Rosie O'Donnell personally donated $25,000 to Harvey Milk High School to establish a "Fab Five Room" in the name of the swishy cast of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." Rosie made the announcement while emceeing an auction at Capitale the other night benefiting the Hetrick Martin Institute, the gay youth rights advocacy group that spawned Harvey Milk HS. Rosie, who declared that, at 222 pounds, "me and Aretha Franklin are the two heaviest people in show biz," raised $600,000 beforehand and $245,000 during the live auction. She sold two private portrait sessions with photographer Albert Watson at $35,000 each; a gay wedding ceremony in Massachusetts for $15,000; a trip to the French Riviera, including a stay at an apartment with a private park ("An easy George Michael joke - but I'm not going there,"); tickets to her Broadway bomb, "Taboo," and dinner with the show's star, Euan Morton, at Daniel for $10,000. After throwing in the jacket off her back as part of the package, Rosie cracked, "It says Taboo '03 on the back - I have a feeling it'll be a collector's item."

A new survey of shoppers suggests that there may be a Fab Five Effect in the nation's spending habits.

The survey of more than 2,600 shoppers at malls in seven major cities found that men were five times more likely than women to go shopping on Wednesdays following a new episode of Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." (The show airs Tuesday nights.) Nearly half of the men surveyed said they shop with another guy on post-"Queer Eye" Wednesdays, as opposed to just 12 percent who do so on other days.

What's more, shoppers said "Queer Eye" fashion maven Carson Kressley was more likely than any other celebrity endorser to have a positive influence on their shopping decisions.

Jericho Communications, a New York-based public relations firm, conducted the survey of 2,654 shoppers at malls in Boston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington and suburban Philadelphia. Shoppers were asked which products of 32 potential celebrity endorsers they would be most and least likely to buy

Kressley led the "most likely" category with 15 percent of the votes
:wink:

The beleaguered Gay Games VII will now most likely be held in Chicago or Los Angeles, two cities that placed third and fourth in the original voting to host the 2006 event. After negotiations with winning bid city Montreal came to a screeching halt last month, the three other cities that originally vied to host the games were invited to submit new bids. Originally Atlanta placed second in the bidding, with 11 votes to Montreal’s 31. Chicago received seven votes, while Los Angeles received only one. Only Chicago and Los Angeles confirmed they met the December 1st interest deadline.

Courtney Love, who faces drug charges stemming from an arrest and an overdose in October, has checked herself into a Malibu, California, rehab facility.

Love has been at the Wavelengths live-in facility since November 21, and though the process of detoxification is slow, sources close to the singer said she's making progress.

"She's doing extremely well," her lawyer Ron Fischetti said Thursday (December 4).

Fischetti said he hopes the rehab stint will not only help the singer dry out, but also help resolve her legal issues. Originally she had hoped to use a private nurse to aid in her detox, but her lawyers advised her to pick a facility recognized by the court. "It's just a lot easier than having someone fly around with you and submitting urine samples," Fischetti explained.

The attorney said Love's legal team expects her drug charges to be resolved on December 11, when the court will decide whether she's eligible to avoid jail time by undergoing rehab (see "Love Pleads Not Guilty To Felony Drug Charges, Asks For Rehab"). A spokesperson for the Los Angeles district attorney's office, however, said the singer's stint at Wavelengths will have no bearing on the charges.

Love overdosed October 2, just hours after police had arrested her for being under the influence of a controlled substance (see "Courtney Love Rushed To Hospital For Drug OD Following Arrest"). Twenty days later, an arrest warrant for possession charges was issued because police had allegedly found prescription painkillers on her when responding to the OD call (see "Courtney Love Turns Herself In On Felony Drug Charges").

Calls to Wavelengths and its drug counselors were not returned.

According to ComingSoon.net, WWE wrestling star The Rock will play a gay lifeguard who wants to break into Hollywood in his upcoming film. We'd like to take this opportunity to beg producers to cast Vin Diesel as his love interest. :D

Renee Zellweger will get her girl-groove on in the Bridget Jones's Diary sequel. The actress has been spotted on the set sharing kisses with fellow-actress Jacinda Barrett, who was a cast member in Real World London. Even more shocking than the lesbian kiss is the fact that a Real World alum has a part in a big-screen movie.

Hugh Grant and Colin Firth will also star in the movie. No word whether Madonna will also have a roll.


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Madonna has been invited to be Gwyneth Paltrow's maid of honour at her wedding to singer Chris Martin.

The low-key ceremony is likely to take place at a secret location within days, according to reports.

Bridesmaids will include fashion designer Stella McCartney.

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, who has known Gwyneth, 31, since she was a child and is her godfather, will give her away.

Mum-to-be Gwyneth, who is expecting her first child next summer, has dated the Coldplay frontman for more than a year.

"This is not going to be a circus, they will do it in their own time and on their own terms," said friends of the couple.

They filed a marriage application at the Santa Barbara county clerk's office in California on Friday.

Going out, staying in, favorite movie? Tell us. :D

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(Boston, Massachusetts) Tom Finneran, the powerful leader of the Massachusetts House said Thursday that the legislature may let the deadline for legalizing gay marriage pass without taking any action. :D

What's your philosophy of gay clubbing?

Are your weekends a dizzying blur of overpriced rail drinks and afterhours parties, punctuated only by intermittent lines of coke in the VIP lounge?

Or would you trade all that in for a 'Golden Girls' marathon on Lifetime?

My attitude towards gay clubs can best be described as 'bored indifference'. To see where you stand, take the helpful self-quiz below.

GAY CLUBBING SELF-QUIZ

1. When the Red Party comes to town, you:
◦ Leap for your body glitter and sleeveless t-shirt!
◦ Naively question a resurgence of 1950s pinko liberalism.

2. When placed in a crowd of tan, hairless, glistening boy-colts, you:
◦ Eagerly search for a willing orifice!
◦ Bitterly curse your ghostly pallor and unmanageable back hair.

3. When shopping for clothes, you:
◦ Pay $100 for a size XS Diesel t-shirt that is lacking sleeves, effective stitching, and taste!
◦ Go to Old Navy.

4. When solicited for drugs, you:
◦ Feign disgust at being mistaken for a drug dealer, despite being fucked up on several uppers yourself!
◦ Reply, 'Who's Tina?'

Har har, aren't I the dickens?

:roll:

Mike Balinci, GayNewEngland.net Correspondent

I gave in to the watercooler gossip and watched "A Simple Life" last night featuring Paris Hilton and Lional Richie's daughter. Wow...the rich live such sheltered lives. It was a cross between hysterically funny and wickedly annoying! Did anyone see it? :?:

(Augusta, Maine) The Maine legislature will vote early next year on legislation to provide same-sex couples with some of the rights of married couples, but will not create a domestic partner register.

The bill was approved Tuesday by a 6-4 vote in the Judiciary Committee, the final step before it heads to the House floor.

Can we file her under "Who Cares?" yet? :roll:

Songs from Elton John and British electronica duo Basement Jaxx will appear on the soundtrack to the hit TV reality series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. The album, dubbed What's That Sound, will be released February 10 via Capitol. It will be led by the show's theme song, "All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)," penned by Widelife. The new John song is tentatively titled "Run for Love," while the Basement Jaxx tune is "Good Luck." Other tracks include a previously unreleased Chemical Brothers remix of the new Kylie Minogue single "Slow," Jamelia's U.K. hit "Superstar," and a track mixing music from Fischerspooner and Billy Squier. Tracks from Liz Phair and In-Grid will also be featured. What's That Sound will be the first in a series of releases from Capitol and Queer Eye producers Scout Productions, with future installments tipped to focus on "show-related theme records." :D

New England, your thoughts? Britney Vs. Madonna, Liza, Judy, Barbra, Pink, etc.. Who would you rather hang out with? And why?

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One week after the politically sanitized biopic The Reagans airs on Showtime, HBO premiers Angels In America, the film version of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning play about being gay, having AIDS, living under Ronald Reagan, and being betrayed by America.

The $60 million 2-part miniseries stars Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson, and is directed by Mike Nichols.

The all-star cast is stellar and Nichols directing brilliant. This is the most important telefilm to air in a decade.

Angels In America premieres on HBO December 7, one week after World AIDS Day is observed.



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A strike by Unitarian ministers refusing to sign marriage licenses until same-sex couples are allowed to marry has widened to include Colorado.

In communities large and small around the globe World AIDS Day is being marked today with vigils, seminars, and a growing concern over the rising number of new HIV/AIDS infections.

(Boston, Massachusetts) From pulpits in parishes throughout Massachusetts, Roman Catholic priests Sunday launched a new salvo against same-sex marriage, using some of the strongest language yet in condemning gay couples, courts, and lawmakers.

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