By Jeff Walsh
Stonewall Uprising is a new documentary that details the birth of the modern gay rights movement in New York City on June 28, 1969, when a group of patrons at the Stonewall Inn fought back during a regular police raid, leading to three days of riots and our first "pride parade."
Unlike today, where every song at a Lady Gaga concert is covered from every angle by 400 different cell phone and video cameras and uploaded to YouTube, there isn't much footage of the Stonewall Riots, but when this documentary finally gets to that famous night, hearing the oral narrative from the people who were there, combined with photos and talking heads, is still gripping.
Hearing about that night, you understood why this film (which opens in the Bay Area this weekend) was made. But, it did seem to take its time getting to that fateful night. Don't get me wrong, I think context is great, but seeing the old news footage of how homosexuality was treated back in the day seems to run a bit long. Every time we see a talking head, we know they are setting the stage for the riots, and then we drift into more backstory, teased again.
I think recently seeing an oral history so expertly told with We Were Here, made seeing one that just doesn't measure up as effectively more obvious. I saw the same talking heads throughout this film, but it seems they were used more to advance the history of a people. They were there to serve the story of Stonewall, when in fact, they are the story of Stonewall. I'd rather hear them contextualize the history, weave in their own personal narratives, and use that to advance the story.
By Jeff Walsh
Easier With Practice is one of those movies that is impossible to review on a gay site, especially for someone as spoiler-adverse as me.
Because the distributor sent me this with another title, and I didn't even bother to read about it in advance, I just converted it so that I could watch it on my iPad and review it on the plane to or from Hawaii. And, for 90 percent of the movie, my thought was "Why did they send me an interesting, albeit seemingly heterosexual movie?"
In the back of my mind, of course, I thought, "The only way this would be a gay movie is if..." and, of course, that is what ends up being the case. So, we have a gay movie that is sort of a twist gay movie, except to review it on a gay website almost requires you to tell people the twist, so that it actually seems like a gay story.
The question I have, of course, is... if you watch this movie based on knowing it will eventually be a gay movie, even though it doesn't seem like it for most of the film and, because of that knowledge, figure things out in advance that you otherwise wouldn't or shouldn't, is it still a satisfying movie?
And I don't know the answer to that question.
"Strings Attached" by Nick Nolan is a great story of how a closeted teen's life changes and he becomes a man (see review below).
We have three copies of this book to give away. One grand prize winner will get a signed copy, and two others will win copies of the book, as well.
To enter, send me a private message with a subject line of Strings, before July 6, and you're entered. Only one entry per member. And, of course, if you enter, you have to be Ok receiving a gay book in the mail, obviously.
Good luck!

I think only one person will get that title...
I'm backish I guess for a little.
MY LIFE IS BOOOOOOORING PEOPLE. Almost.
I just simply had to come back and tell you what an amazing sign I saw on the road.
So my mom starts slowing down the huge ol' Blazer and I think "Well, must be a speed bump" So I look up, cuz I like watch the car go BUDUMP BUMP and stuff
WELL THE SIGN SAID OTHERWISE
"Speed Hump".
AND WHY OH WHY I HAD TO GIGGLE AT THAT
BECAUSE REALLY I'M TEN IN MY MIND, RIGHT GUYS?
Hehe... Speed hump...
So this summer, I've done STUFF
OH YES, STUFF
So i was laying down cause im cool like that.. and i came up with all these wierd thoughts i didnt wanna forget so yep:
Many people ask is there life after death but that makes me wonder if their was life before life. I mean for me theres 2 blanks. Before life and after life. I see it this way. Life is a pattern, kind of like a checkered board or a chess board.. black and white and no matter which way a person decides to go, that pattern will always be persistent.
Makes me think of addition.. nothing from nothing or nothing plus nothing. Like zero is a number so it counts lol...???
The simple things some individuals take for granted..
I don't have the time or the funds to be who i am.The real me is costly.
Once i think things might go my way everything collapses around me.
I am at the point where i want to give up, hide and never see the light
of day.
I've lost everything and the things i wished to gain seem like a losing
battle.
I hate feeling at all. I wish i was numb i wish i didnt care, shit i wish i was just content. Dull.
Maybe i should blend in with the rest of the world. Pretend some more.

until I can move out
Granted, I'm only moving to my grandma's an hour and a half away, but it's still a big deal to me. Of course, I'm not going to get the "typical college experience", but I think that it's going to be good for me...
less distractions with stuff.
Also, diversity weekend is next weekend, and I'm so excited :D
It should be a blast..
I just wish I could take him.
And I get those thoughts a lot...
It's only harder because I actually dream about him.
So realistically.

My friend, Joe, came out to me yesterday.
I wasn't really surprised because he's kinda flamboyant, but it was still really sweet.
Now I actually have another gay friend! Yes!
I'm pretty sure I'm the only one he's told so far which is kinda cool.
He's a really cool dude and I'm happy we're good enough friends for him to come out.
Right now, he's at christian camp (not having lots of fun there lol) but he comes back the 1st.
When he comes back we're going to watch all the Degrassi's he's missed while he was gone.

There's something I wanted to ask all of the transgendered folk, or really anyone who's good at giving advice.
Fender has let me read most of his old journals, and we agreed that we would be completely honest with each other. But I really don't want him reading my old journals, because it's all transgender-y stuff, and I don't know how he would react to that. I even signed with a male name. It's

For insanely supportive friends who listen to me rant and ramble about everything and anything on my mind and on my chest. Damn I miss my Amie, who listens to me even when no one else seems to and tends to be there when I need it most. Probably one of the best friends I've ever had.
And far more than what I deserve.
But still, it's nice to have someone there to talk to. Even if she is on the other end of the north island to me. I miss her hugs. She was/is a good hugger.
God, I'm crying so much. It's just nice to have someone I can talk to about everything. Everything.