Melissa's Blue Christmas

I love Meilssa Etheridge for so many reasons. And here is yet another. Melissa was on "The View" this week. She does so well talking about Prop 8 and articulating why civil rights should not be put up for a popular vote. And then Melissa called Elisabeth Hasselbeck to the table for misleading voters about how priests would be prosecuted if they refused to marry people. I love how Melissa can make her point with a smile on her face. And then get up and sing such a lovely rendition of "Blue Christmas."

Refuse to Pay Your Taxes

The revolution starts now! For years I've been saying gays and lesbians should refuse to pay taxes until we are treated as full and equal citizens of this country. Well, yesterday, Melissa Etheridge announced that she is going to do just that.

I've always been a Melissa fan, but now I'm a Melissa follower. Here's what she said:

Okay. So Prop 8 passed. Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen. Alright then. So my wife, uh I mean, roommate? Girlfriend? Special lady friend? You are gonna have to help me here because I am not sure what to call her now. Anyways, she and I are not allowed the same right under the state constitution as any other citizen. Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books.

You're right Melissa. And I also thought that civil rights were never to be put up for a popular vote. 

For years War Resisters have refused to pay taxes to fund wars that they believe are unconscionable. I and fully support them. But I also believe refusing same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples is unconscionable. I'm seriously considering it. Anyone care to join me?

She's Still The Only One

I saw Melissa Etheridge over the weekend in one of those great old ornate theaters that every city used to have. I was reminded of the first time I saw Melissa in concert in Utica, NY. It must have been 1988. Her first album had just come out, but she wasn't yet.  Still, we were sure she was a dyke. 

We passed the binoculars back and forth, convinced that one of those necklaces dangling between her breasts was a labyris.  (It probably was!) She was young and energetic and she rocked for three hours straight. She never held still long enough for us to really tell.

Well, the girl may have aged, but she sure hasn't slowed down. Melissa Etheridge still puts on quite a show. Again she played for over three hours, this time taking us on the journey that is her life, from the farm girl in Kansas, coming out in Boston, heading to Hollywood, her early open tumultuous relationships, falling in love with a straight woman, breaking up, finding love again, getting cancer and finally finding peace. She played many of her old favorites, plus a few from the new album. 

Cameras weren't allowed, but I snuck mine in anyway. The video didn't turn out so good, but here's a sample. 

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

For two people who are so incredibly different, Lipstick and I get along pretty well when we’re on the road. There is, however, one major exception, and I don’t know how we’re going to resolve it.

Music. We both came on the trip with our ipods fully loaded with great driving music. Since I was driving first, I let Lipstick pick the songs. “How about some mellow stuff to get us started?” she asked. Fine. The she proceeded to put on some weird mix with Air Supply, Kenny Loggins and “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.” I mean, who has “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” in their ipod?

“How about something a bit more upbeat?” I asked. Sure, she said and put on Carol King. Carol King? Upbeat? Oh, sorry, Lipstick apologized and then put on Jewel. WTF? “Grab my ipod out of the back, I’ve got a great driving mix on there,” I commanded.

“Bohemian Rhapsody,” by Queen “Goodbye Stranger,” by Supertramp, “Let it Bleed,” by the Stones, “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield. I mean the classics. Lipstick rolled her eyes at the Queen song. Asked, “Who is this?” to the Stones. Uh, the Rolling Stones, Lipstick, only the best band ever. Things got ugly when Elvis Costello’s “Watching the Detectives” came on. Lipstick just turned the music off. “Oh, it was driving me crazy,” she complained. Like non-stop Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw were keeping me sane?!!

Finally we came to an agreement. The only music we’re allowed to listen to while driving is Melissa Etheridge. Her first album. We’ll let you know how it goes.

Melissa Etheridge's Comeback

In case there are any of you out there who didn't see this live (there was a lot of buzz around it at the time), a reader just sent me this link (thanks for always thinking of us Cory!). It's so kick ass and has so much powerful healing energy in it. For all of you out there dealing with cancer, either inside your own body or in someone's you love, I hope you find this hopeful.

Melisssa Etheridge for President

Did you watch the presidential forum on Logo the other night?

Barack Obama seemed ok with the gays. I’m impressed how he talks about our issues with all audiences, not just friendly ones. Yet, somehow he can’t get it through his head that civil unions and marriage are not equal and that by creating them, we create a second-class of citizens.

John Edwards is still against gay marriage, but he does support gay adoption and teaching kids about homosexuality in the schools. Lipstick and I saw his wife Elizabeth speak at the gay pride event in San Francisco. Frankly, I think she’d make a better candidate. And, she’s all for gay marriage.

Dennis Kucinich is so sweet. Don’t you just wish he could be president and wrap the whole world in a big hug? Why doesn’t our community support him more? He is right with us on all our issues, he wants to end the war and he even wants to legalize medical marijuana. The media is trying to characterize him as being too far left, but I think he said it best when he said he is in the center of America. Hell, he believes in everything me, my friends and family do. He's from Ohio for for Christsake's! You can't get more middle American than that.

It was my first time seeing Mike Gravel. He had to fight to even get on the platform. So I guess his message to us, applies to himself too: “No one is going to give you anything. You have to stand up for your rights.” But he did seem to be in la-la land when he stated that he thought if we put gay marriage up to a popular vote, it would pass. Umm, where was he during the 2004 elections?

Bill Richardson, of course was the story of the night. I loved how he kept telling us to “look at his record,” but then he admitted he voted for the Defense of Marriage Act. But his real blunder was when Melissa Etheridge asked him if he thought homosexuality was a choice and he said, “It’s a choice.” Yikes. There goes his support from the gay community.

Hillary Clinton sure impressed the gays. They were salivating over her in the post show commentary. But she didn’t win me over. Sure, she looked more presidential than the other candidates, but her assertion that we should let the states have jurisdiction over marriage. Come, on Hillary! When 45 states passed anti-gay marriage ballots in the past few years.

But there was one person who impressed me. Melissa Etheridge. She had great questions for the candidates. Well, except for that Bark Beetle comment to Bill Richardson. Perhaps she was trying to get him to stop putting his foot in his mouth. She was eloquent, political and wasn’t afraid to take Hillary Clinton to task. Check her out. Let’s start an internet petition. Melissa Etheridge 2008.