Vermont's legislature not only permits marriage equality by overturning the governor's veto; in doing so, it became the first state to institute equality without a court ruling.
Vermont Passes Gay Marriage BillLet's hear it for the Vermont legislature: Governor Jim Douglas had vetoed a bill allowing gay marriage in his state, but his veto was overturned today by members of Vermont's legislature, with a 23 to 5 vote in the Senate and a 100 to 49 vote in the House.
So now gay marriage is legal in Vermont.
It feels so good to write that.
It feels good to read this and I'm rejoicing for New Englanders that now have equality. At the same time it upsets me because I still can't marry in New York. I don't want to move from NYC, but will if something doesn't change soon. Very, very soon.
Alas, a blog » Amazon = FailAmazon is (and apprently has been for a few weeks) stripping "adult" titles of their sales rank so that they don't show up on bestseller lists and also don't show up in many searches. The criteria for "adult" appears to be: anything that portrays homosexuality as a positive or talks about homophobia as a negative. For example: Homophobia: A History by Bryan Fone — that would be a non-fiction history book about homophobia. What's not adult? Playboy: The Complete Centerfolds by Chronicle Books (with pictures of over 600 naked women). Want more examples? A huge list is growing here.
The only official word from Amazon? It's a "glitch." Glitch my ass. How does ALL books with gay content become "adult" and stripped of ranking? It's either a conscious decision to ban gay books, or an incredibly inept job of clearing "adult" content gone horribly wrong.
Many are calling for a boycott until the situation is corrected. But I already don't buy from Amazon. I'd rather buy in person at a local, independent bookstore whenever possible, or online. Living in New York, it's pretty easy to find inexpensive books and even hard to find books from various locations. If you're not in a similar situation, try Powell books online store.
Secret Son will join my humongous pile of books to read:
Powells.com Interviews Laila LalamiPeople will be talking about Secret Son — on college campuses, in book groups, online, in the US and abroad. Upon finishing the novel, I couldn't pin down what about it struck me as so distinctive. It took a second read to realize: Laila Lalami has written a timeless story that's, paradoxically, very much of our time.
AKA Brooklyn Botanical Garden's Annual Cherry Blossom Festival:
Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Sakura Matsuri 2009Sakura Matsuri, New York City's "rite of spring," marks its 28th year with over 50 events and performances celebrating Japanese culture and the blossoming of BBG's 220 cherry trees. Visitors to the weekend-long Cherry Blossom Festival can enjoy a range of performances from traditional Japanese music and dance to concerts by some of Japan's hottest J-pop stars, plus taiko drumming, an anime voice actor panel, bonsai pruning workshops, J-pop DJs, a traditional kimono show, and demonstrations and workshops for all ages. Bring your camera and join anime comedian Uncle Yo and the World Cosplay Summit Team USA in a giant Sakura Matsuri cosplay photo shoot!
Since I've never read any of his works, my respect comes from the wisdom of others that I respect.
[ via Cecily ]
The New York Review of Science Fiction: "Racism and Science Fiction" by Samuel R. DelanyFor better or for worse, I am often spoken of as the first African-American science fiction writer. But I wear that originary label as uneasily as any writer has worn the label of science fiction itself. Among the ranks of what is often referred to as proto-science fiction, there are a number of black writers. M. P. Shiel, whose Purple Cloud and Lord of the Sea are still read, was a Creole with some African ancestry. Black leader Martin Delany (1812 — 1885—alas, no relation) wrote his single and highly imaginative novel, still to be found on the shelves of Barnes & Noble today, Blake, or The Huts of America (1857), about an imagined successful slave revolt in Cuba and the American South—which is about as close to an sf-style alternate history novel as you can get.
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April is National Poetry Month. To herald the end, The American Academy of Poets encourages everyone to participate in the 2nd annual national celebration of Poem In Your Pocket Day. Inspired by this celebration, I created the 1st Poem On Your Blog Day five years ago. I didn't celebrate the last two years, but this year, I'm back in the game. Of course, there's less than two days to go before Poem In Your Pocket Day, which is the same day as Poem On Your Blog Day: Thursday, April 30, 2009. You can still participate in either or both celebrations.
Suggested events here in New York City.
From The American Academy of Poets —
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Coal
I
is the total black, being spoken
from the earth's inside.
There are many kinds of open
how a diamond comes into a knot of flame
how sound comes into a word, colored
by who pays what for speaking.
Some words are open like a diamond
on glass windows
singing out within the passing crash of sun
Then there are words like stapled wagers
in a perforated book--buy and sign and tear apart--
and come whatever wills all chances
the stub remains
an ill-pulled tooth with a ragged edge.
Some words live in my throat
breeding like adders. Others know sun
seeking like gypsies over my tongue
to explode through my lips
like young sparrows bursting from shell.
Some words
bedevil me.
Love is a word, another kind of open.
As the diamond comes into a knot of flame
I am Black because I come from the earth's inside
now take my word for jewel in the open light.
Audre Lorde