Decidedly Obscure Human Complaints.

News came out in The Advocate today that Utah is the USA's Online Porn Capital ! What a surprise!! Utah not only led the charge with donations to pass California's gay marriage ban -- the state also leads the pack with the highest level of online pornography usage. In fact, traditionally "red" states fill out the top three spots. Alaska is close behind, followed by Mississippi. Read more  > Over lunch today I had a conversation with a couple of my friends about our history and current state of, well, dating. See, a lot has been happening for me in terms of the libidinous effects of testosterone that essentially have me acting like a fumbly, idiotic, awkward mess around individuals who I'm attracted to, which I blog whined in great graphic depth about a bit ago . One of my friends actually referred to me as a " walking boner ". It's sad how true that statement might be. The closest I've ever felt to this was, not surprisingly, high scho...

My massage last Friday was so.very.blissful . It went on for two whole hours . Afterward I was dehydrated to all hell and felt like I was on a muscle relaxed little floaty cloud. My gives-the-best-massages friend gave me a glass of water, then I floated off yonder to a local queer club where "femme women dress up as butch and compete". Femme? What? Where? I'm in. Anyhoo, the most recent post over at The Vegan Lunch Box was a little hope-inducing in regards to my puberty-ridden acne and backne development. The author's little son, Schmoo, has finally hit his preteens, which led her to blog the following: I've dealt with acne my entire adult life (they all told me I'd grow out of it, the liars). And although acne has been linked to milk and dairy products in several studies , going vegan did not clear up my skin at all. Of course, although it didn't contain dairy, my early vegan diet did include daily servings of things like soda, chips, candy, and ...

I've cracked and asked a friend of mine who just recently graduated from massage college to, well, massage my rapidly-increasing-bone-and-muscle-density ligaments-and-tendons-are-pissed-off back tonight. I keep obsessing over how relieving and blissful it's going to be. Wooo... About half a year ago this same friend called me up and asked if she could give me a "practice massage" while she was still enlisted in school. To me, 'massage' translated to: lay there, essentially nude under a sheet, vulnerable and exposed - and for someone who's uncomfortable with their body, that has never sounded enticing. Still, for the first time I actually felt receptive to such an offer. For one, she's a really sweet and respectful person; and two, she needed to practice! And what better practice than a horribly uncomfortable trans individual who has never had an actual massage before in his life? A few days later I scooted over to her place. She had a massage ...

In 2005 female impersonator Flotilla DeBarge, the "Empress of Large" posed for PETA's "Fur Is a Drag" ad spoofing Star Jones' penchant for wearing pelts. Since then it has stirred up quite a lot of controversy and discussion among the trans community. Last week I read a blog post titled Using Transphobia to Fight Animal Abuse from the Trans Group Blog where the author interprets this ad campaign as perpetuating transphobia: "In this context, fur is a "drag"--meaning it is bad, and a bloodied cross-dresser is somehow supposed to be quirky or funny. This is all in advertisement for a fashion show where cross-dressers will cat walk fur coats with fake blood and animal traps. The cat walk is just a cruel play on the walk of shame, cloaked by humor and couture no less. Look, it's a tranny with a bloody jacket! Everyone laugh." I couldn't help but think, " Yes, and what? These are cross dressers having fun and being ridic...

Yesterday my friend, Gina, came over to help me bury my little friend. We made him a grave by a cute tree that will be nourished with little bits of Socrates for years to come (it sounds creepy, but it's true). I placed his little body in there with my left hand, buried him, then went inside to comfort Ben. Ben hadn't left his little house all day. He was acting frazzled and afraid, but when I held him and cupped him in my left hand, his little nose sniffed it and he instantly calmed down. Then he licked my hand for about 10 minutes, which he'd never done before. Here's the last image of my little baby Socrates, suckling on his water bottle: Sigh . So today I'm back at work, although I feel like I've accomplished a double-flake-whammy. Over a month ago I promised to speak on an LGBQT panel today up at the University of Utah, the theme being " In the spirit of reducing hate and its companion - fear, we offer the stories of these panelists. By knowi...

Where'd Socrates go? Oh look, he's in the treats! Uh oh, he knows he's been spotted. My little rat friend, Mr. Socrates, passed away today from old age (which, for a rat, is around 3 years). Usually his friend, Ben (a big fat brown Dumbo rat) spends his evenings bobbing for edamame and running amok in my bedroom. Last night, however, he stayed in their little house cuddling and grooming Socrates all night. He also kept him warm under his layers of dumbo rat blubber. Socrates was a little black and white "fancy rat" who was the sweetest, smartest little rat friend I've ever had. I adopted him and Ben in October of 2007 from a friend who wasn't able to give them the attention and time they deserved. Despite my efforts to teach Socrates to NOT sleep in my bed, every morning I'd wake up to find him cuddled up next to me. I was terrified that I'd squish him in my sleep and wake up to rolling over and off of his lifeless body. Since he wouldn't give ...

Update! Some news and whatnot has come out this morning in regards to last night's debate: KSL.com: University hosts heated debate over gay rights The University of Utah hosted a spirited debate Thursday night between Equality Utah and the Sutherland Institute. The two groups have very differing opinions on the issue at hand: gay rights and the Common Ground Initiative. Deseret News: Groups debate Common Ground he debate between the Sutherland Institute and Equality Utah, two of the biggest players in the battle over gay rights in Utah, was scheduled and the topic selected weeks before the event took place Thursday night. The question: Should the Utah Legislature pass the Common Ground Initiative? Salt Lake Tribune: Gay-rights advocates, foes face off Gay-rights bills have been snuffed out for the 2009 legislative session, but the discussion burns on. dav.d photography: Equality Utah vs. Sutherland Institute Debate Her!  In red! What in the heck was her name? Sheri som...