FOF #1073 – Equality Marches On
Our live coverage of the 2009 National Equality March, where thousands of people marched on the nation’s capital to demand full equal rights for all GLBT people.
Here's the latest in the category Politicians/Activists
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Almost a year ago, longtime gay rights activist Cleve Jones announced on this show that he was working on an action inspired by the late politician Harvey Milk, asking people from all across the country to demand full equal rights for all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, NOW.
Last Sunday it really happened. Was the turnout a meager 250 thousand or a whopping quarter of a million?
Will the March re-invigorate the gay rights movement or was it just a great opportunity to see Lady Gaga out of her gyroscopic dress?
And most importantly, will President Obama listen to our demands?
Listen to today’s show as we give you highlights from the rally- Cleve Jones, StaceyAnn Chin, Kate Clinton and yes, even Lady Gaga.
Interviews with longtime gay rights activists like Equality Illinois representatives Art Johnston and Rick García, and a whole new generation of fun folks like Zach O’Connor, who started downloading the Feast of Fun podcast in 2005 while in high school- find out what happens to you when you’ve listened to the Feast of Fun during your formative years.
Click here for a photo gallery from Washington D.C. Got any photos to share? Upload them to the Flickr group and we’ll feature the best ones on the site.
Obama once again re-affirms his support for the gays, the only question is when?
Barney Frank calls the March “a colossal waste of time at best” and “the only thing they’re going to be putting pressure on is the grass.” Is he right or is he just smoking too much grass himself?
Gov Schwarzenegger signs a Gay Rights Bill and establishes Harvey Milk Day.
And the ultimate question:
What would you say if you had had the opportunity to speak to thousands of gay people?
Comment on today’s show using twitter- Include #fof1073 in your update for it to appear on the site. Learn more about hashtag searches in the Twitter Fan Wiki.
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FOF #1056 – The Mayor of Boystown
Bill Pritchard, the Chicago community organizer best known for his nickname “The Mayor of Boystown” talks about the gay scene in Chicago, clears up misconceptions, the hot guys he hangs with and why he’s always wearing those suits.
If you live in Chicago, you’ve seen this guy all over the place, Bill Pritchard, nicknamed the Mayor of Boystown. Bill came to Chicago from Seattle, Washington for a regular day job but also ended up working a gay job as Sr. Vice President of Community Affairs for Chicago Pride.
Like him or hate him, Bill Pritchard is someone you should know.
Bill Pritchard on today’s show talking about the hot gay scene in Chicago, drag queens behaving badly, the hot guys he hangs with and why he always wears those suits!
Paris Hilton gets her ass whooped by an Italian drag queen.
Kanye West takes a year off for being a jerk and President Obama calls him a jackass off the record.
A Canadian human rights group pledges to help fight the cannibalism of African albino people.
Snuggies make New York Fashion Week.
Scientists warn that actual man-eating hybrid pythons may be lurking in the swamps of florida.
And sadly Dirty Dancing heartthrob and terrible drag queen Patrick Swayze dies at the age of 57. Nobody puts baby in the corner.
Comment on today’s show using twitter- Include #fof1056 in your update for it to appear on the site. Learn more about hashtag searches in the Twitter Fan Wiki.
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FOF #1050 – Step Right Up
Brad Thomas, former ringmaster for the Ringling Brothers circus and Chicago public school teacher weighs in on Obama speaking to the nations kids and working for diversity and non-violence in schools.
Step right up, step right up, we’ve got a fabulous show for you today!
Obama is set to deliver his Back to School speech on the importance of education to children on what is for many school districts, the first day of school.
But why do some parents have a problem with it? Some Republican parents claim the President is trying to politicize our nation’s school systems and they’re threatening to keep their kids home that day.
Brad Thomas, teacher for the Chicago Public Schools and former ringmaster for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus joins us to weigh in on the controversy and to talk about education and life in the circus.
In California, parents sue the public school system over a diversity curriculum aimed to reduce violence in schools and raise awareness for GLBT people and their families.
As a teacher, Brad knows the value of diversity, tolerance and the cost of violence in schools, so how does he handle tough topics like Marriage Equality when it’s brought up by the kids?
Be sure to check out Brad and Teri Yaki as hosts of this year’s Night of a Hundred Drag Queens, the popular fund raiser for Equality Illinois, held at Sidetrack, one of the best gay bars in America.
How to dress up as Kate Smith this Halloween by recycling an old Grimace costume
A man loses his manhood.
And it looks like Lady Gaga is losing her’s too.
Make a comment on today’s show using twitter- Include #fof1050 in your update for it to magically appear on the site. To learn more about Twitter hashtags and how the work, please visit the Twitter Fan Wiki.
Visit out our sponsor:
Steamworks Gym, Sauna and Baths.
Visit Steamwork’s website and register to get a discount
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Special Edition FOF: Risky Business?
Live podcast forum on Barebacking, risk, pleasure and the influence of porn. Taped at the Center on Halsted in Chicago, August 17, 2009.
On today’s special edition of Feast of Fun, we’re teaming up with Lifelube and Project Crysp in conjunction with the 2009 National LGBTI Health Summit to bring you Risky Business- a raw discussion with a live audience at the Center on Halsted on the sex and intimacy we crave and the risk we’re willing to take.
How do adult films with bareback sex affect our sexual desires and practices?
Are videos depicting sex without condoms a hot but safe way for viewers to find pleasure or is it a dangerous normalization of risk?
We have a panel of experts here to break down the ins-and-outs of condomless sex.
Tony Valenzuela, Writer and Activist whose work focuses on the politics of gay sex, subcultures and assets based perspectives. He’s known as AIDS activism’s most misunderstood man.
Mufasa Ali, Minister and Activist, as well as co-founder of ONYX, a leather group for men of color.
Dr. Braden Berkey, Clinical psychologist whose practice focuses on gay men, and the director of the Center on Halsted’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Institute.
Chuck Renslow, the founder of International Mr. Leather Conference and Convention, was in the audience to talk about why he recently banned bareback porn at IML and the future of the ban.
This is a frank talk about the kind of sex men have in real life and how they “seroadapt” or reduce sexual harm.
For many people, this is just the start of the conversation surrounding sex without condoms, it is not the final word. If you have any questions or insight, please leave a comment and keep the conversation going. Please be respectful and refrain from personal attacks, inflammatory remarks or general hysteria.
Make a comment on today’s show using twitter- Include #fofrisky in your update for it to magically appear on the site.
To learn more about Twitter hashtags and how the work,
please visit the Twitter Fan Wiki.
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FOF #1037 – Whose Death Panel is it Anyway?
AIDS activist Jim Pickett sheds light to Republican tactics of stalling health care reform.
The fight is on over the future of Healthcare! America may have voted for change but health insurance industry funded conservative Republicans are doing everything in their power, come hell or high water, to misinform the public and stop reform dead in its tracks.
Secret deals with drug companies, Death panels– what’s going on here?
One sad reality is that the only death panels that do exist are inside the health insurance companies, every day life saving treatments are denied to people simply because it doesn’t help their profits.
AIDS activist and writer Jim Pickett is here to help us make sense of it all. Jim is co-chairing the National LGBTI Health Summit, a four day conference to build community networks and share ideas which starts this weekend in Chicago.
How do we inspire a deeper conversation inside our own community around health? What’s at stake if we don’t recognize the needs of gay folks in healthcare reform?
Come to “Risky Business” a live podcast forum at the Center on Halsted in Chicago in Monday, August 17th. Find out how porn – and bareback porn – affect our sexual desires and actions!
In the news:
Will conservative Christians declare the bizarre African frog who feeds her young with her own unfertilized eggs as unholy? You have to see the video to believe it!
The Anti-Gay lobby group Focus on the Family faces hard financial times.
And Viagra ice cream– just another form of P.R. spam or the real deal? On thing that may be the real deal is Peptol Bismol Ice Cream. Would you eat it?
Make a comment on today’s show using twitter- Include #fof1037 in your update for it to magically appear on the site. To learn more about Twitter hashtags and how the work, please visit the Twitter Fan Wiki.
Check out today’s sponsor:
How Are You Healthy? Find out at Lifelube.org
A blog on sex, drugs, physical, mental and
emotional health, spirituality and more.
Featured Music:
Kristine W – The Power of Music: iTunes | Amazon
Kristine W – Be Alright (single): iTunes | Amazon
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FOF #1027 – Microblogging for Marriage Equality
Illinois State Rep. Greg Harris takes us on a behind the scenes look as the highest ranking openly gay official in Illinois, fighting for marriage equality and the state of healthcare reform. Why don’t more politicians use Twitter? Political noise, crazy governors and resolutions in honor of Michael Jackson.
Gay Marriage may be the next big thing to come to Illinois. Today we’re talking to Illinois State Representative, Greg Harris- he’s been working for gay rights for years, he’s HIV+ and he’s fabulous!
Greg replaced Larry Mckeon, who was also openly gay and HIV+ when he retired in 2006. Since then Greg’s run unopposed in this overwhelmingly Democratic district.
Listen as Greg gives us a behind the scenes look at life as a State Rep, the state of marriage equality and Health Care Reform.
Greg stands apart from his peers by embracing new media, keeping his people informed by updating his Facebook status from the floor of the State’s capitol. It is certainly exciting to follow the ups and downs of his efforts to bring a successful marriage equality bill to the state of Illinois.
Facebook is great but why don’t politicians use Twitter to keep their constituents informed?
Greg takes questions from you through our Facebook page and talks about why there aren’t more openly gay politicians, why that state passed a resolution honoring Michael Jackson and weighs in on all the crazy Governors- Palin, Sanford, Spitzer and Blagojevich.
Are we pushing President Obama enough for gay rights?
Moonwalking for Hate- Westboro Baptist Church or are they Shirley Phelp’s Kids’ parody Michael Jackson’s song “Beat It”- are they for real?
And one simple, easy thing you can do to bring about political change in your part of the world.
Make a comment on today’s show using twitter- Include #fof1027 in your update for it to magically appear on the site. To learn more about Twitter hashtags and how the work, please visit the Twitter Fan Wiki.
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FOF #1019 – Out of the Internet and Into The Streets
Activist Nik Maciejewski from the Chicago chapter of Join the Impact talks about the upcoming National Equality March in Washington D.C. and reflects on Michael Jackson’s memorial service. Listen as we touch on the more moving and unusual highlights from the historic event, including how it temporarily brought down Twitter.
Cleve Jones said- you can’t win gay rights by clicking the mouse on your computer. But, it’s a great place to start. Today we’re talking to gay rights activist Nik Maciejewski, co-founder and organizer for the Chicago chapter of Join the Impact, a grassroots internet-based gay rights group which rapidly developed a national coalition after the passage of Proposition 8, the anti-marriage amendment in California.
He wants you to get involved in the battle for gay rights even if you’re not gay! People from all around the country will be going to the nation’s capital for the National Equality March over Columbus Day weekend, which coincides with National Coming Out Day.
Nik talks with us about why there’s an urgent need to fight for rights at the national level and takes a look at why young people are all of a sudden getting involved in activism. He also takes questions from you through the Feast of Fun Facebook page.
Is President Obama secretly saying to his gay supporters- “push me?”
Is there anything we learn from Michael Jackson’s death in the struggle for gay rights?
Yesterday Michael Jackson’s friends, family and the world said goodbye to the legendary, complex entertainer.
An estimated record number of people watched Michael Jackson- The Memorial on TV and online, breaking records held by Princess Diana’s funeral. Listen as we give you the touching and unusual highlights from the historic event, including how it temporarily brought down twitter.
The most powerful, humanizing moment was when Jackson’s 11 year old daughter Paris spoke at the end of the service in tears,”Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine.” Rest in Peace Michael.
Twitter #fof1019- find out what it means on today’s show!
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Special Edition FOF: Generation You
Standard Podcast [53:39m]:
Much like society in general, the gay community is stratified along age lines. Gay men are living longer than ever and some older folks feel disconnected to the younger generations that have not had the same experiences they’ve had.
On the other hand, young people seem to be forging their way forward in this world without the benefit of mentorship from older gay people. Is this a sign of progress in gay rights or are younger people blind to older people’s experiences? How do we find the common ground for conversation and camaraderie among people of different ages?
On today’s special edition of Feast of Fun, we’re teaming up with Project Crysp to bring you a podcast forum taped in front of a live audience at the Center on Halsted in Chicago, Illinois.
We have a THINK PINK TANK- a multi-generational panel of experts on how to break down the barriers when it comes to age differences: Bill Rydewells, a founder of TPAN (Test Positive Aware Network) and a member of SAGE, the Center on Halsted’s Advocate and Service group for GLBT Seniors; Tony Alvarado Rivera, a coordinator at the Broadway Youth Center’s LGBT Mentor Program, which aims to build healthy relationships between generations in our community; and Chris Bartlett, the director of the Greater Philadelphia LGBT Leadership Initiative.
Listen as we take you on a deep discussion on what it means to age as a gay man and how we can bridge the gap to become a happier, healthier and more connected society.
Plus questions from the audience live! You don’t want to miss it.
Be sure to check out:
Jason Smith’s gallery of photos from the event & his video montage of the show.
Feast of Fun photos gallery.
Check out today’s sponsor:
How Are You Healthy? Find out at Lifelube.org
A blog on sex, drugs, physical, mental and
emotional health, spirituality and more.
Featured Music:
Tom Goss – Back to Love…: iTunes
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FOF #961 – Supercalifragilisticexpialipodcast
Standard Podcast [50:52m]:
Step in time! Get in line! Broadway in Chicago and theater producer Cameron Mackintosh bring the fabulous Mary Poppins to the Cadillac Theater in Chicago.
This musical adaptation of the beloved Disney film (iTunes) and books by P.L Travers (Amazon) features over the top musical numbers and acrobatic dance sequences that will make Lionel Richie bite his fingernails in jealousy. (more…)
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FOF #939 – Cleve Jones Dances with Madonna
Standard Podcast [44:43m]:
You saw him at the Oscars, now on today’s show we have longtime gay rights activist Cleve Jones talking about what it was like to walk the red carpet at the Academy Awards, dance with Madonna at the after-party and hold Dustin Lance Black’s hand during the momentous evening.
The Oscar win for the film Milk certainly gives the national gay rights moment a shot in the arm but can we leverage the movie’s success into a comprehensive bill that ensures equality for all Americans?
Here are some memorable quotes from the interview:
On being at the Oscars with Madonna and a room full of celebrities celebrating Milk:
“It was an odd sensation to be in a room full of people and the only face I did not recognize was my own!”
On what an average citizen can do to fight for equality:
“I always go back to Harvey Milk. The single most important thing that we must all do as individuals is to come out of the closet and reveal ourselves to our families, neighbors and coworkers and let people understand who we are. I think the greatest obstacle that remains that individual queer people have about coming out.”
“The second step is to finally demand that straight people really get with the program and show their support. I think Sean Penn’s speech was very helpful in that regard. Too long we’ve accepted compromise and allowed our own leaders to sell us out. This is what President Clinton did… we need to hold all our leadership accountable.”
Cleve shares with us his thoughts on President Clinton crossing the picket line.
The fishy biological origins of sex.
Here’s another reason for pushing marriage equality: the environment. If Australian Senator Steve Fielding is right and divorce is ecologically unsound, then allowing same-sex couples to legally marry just may save the earth.
American Idol Judge Simon Cowell clarifies the rumors of him wanting to be frozen upon death. For now he’ll just enjoy being icy in life, not in death, thank you very much.
The world’s most unfortunate names.
Check out the world’s most windowed office building. Isn’t it cute? It looks like some cubist block of swiss cheese. Wouldn’t it totally blow if you worked there and didn’t have an office with a window?
How ecologists use magnets to confuse crocodiles.
If you got a moment, please vote for Feast of Fools in the Chicago Reader best of Chicago awards. We’re hoping to win Chicago’s award for the Best Gay News Source.
The podcast enjoyed by most commie, homo-loving sons of guns- Feast of Fools.
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Jeffery Straker – Step Right Up: iTunes | Amazon
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