Tag: Gay

  • Editorial cartoon – Bert and Ernie Gay?

    Editorial Cartoon Ernie and Bert Gay Sesame Street

    Today’s editorial cartoon stems from the unsuccessful movement to get Sesame Street to out confirmed bachelors, Bert and Ernie, as being gay.  While I am for gay marriage, I am with Sesame Street for saying “no”.  Thoughts?

  • Defining Bearman

    Bearman Cartoon Gay Bears vs Animal Bears

    It has come to my attention that a definition of “Bearman” is in order

    1. Bearman – The name acquired by the owner of this website as a young man among his friends.  It could be his propensity to hibernate like a bear or grow a full beard mere minutes after shaving (see Fred Flinstone or Homer Simpson).

    2. Bearman – A term used to describe a walking, talking animal (See Yogi Bear, Smokey the Bear or Bear Bryant)

    3. Bearman – (or Bear) A term used to describe a member of a subgroup of gay culture.  Bears (according to wikipedia) “tend to have hairy bodies and facial hair; some are heavy-set; some project an image of working-class masculinity in their grooming and appearance, though none of these are requirements or unique indicators.

    Now of course I was always familiar with the first two definitions.  And of course, thanks to my crash course in everything gay culture provided by one Kathy Griffin (don’t call her Griffith or she will beat you down), I was also aware of the third. (Yes Kathy I was the one hetero male at your Cincinnati appearance.)

    Anyway, I knew that there would be some confusion with folks looking for cartoons of either definition 2 or 3.  I was just waiting for the day.  Well it finally came in a nice email from a guy named Bob.  Bob said “just a quick question – do you in any way relate with Bear culture, as in the gay sub-culture? I didn’t find any cartoons relating to it, so I’m guessing no, but I thought I would ask.”

    In assuring Bob that while supportive of gay rights, I did indeed play for the other team.  (wait…unless you think the other team is his team.  I mean the other team from his perspective).  Bob runs a site called PlanetBears and wondered if I would be offended if he posted about our email interaction.  That post is here (WARNING:  If you are offended by half naked big hairy men or are at work, DO NOT click the link).  Thanks to the tens of people who came here from there.

     I jokingly said I would do this cartoon and Bob was all for it.  So there you have it.

    Oh and to the hotel where I am posting this thing.  Please know that all the sites that I am looking at were merely for research.

    I am still waiting for the email from the Furries .



  • Bearman Cartoon: Finney and Smitherman

    4 3 09 Bearman Cartoon Finney and Smitherman copy

    This editorial cartoon is going to need some background for all my non-Cincinnati readers and those who are from Cincinnati who don’t know what is going on.  I apologize for the length. 

    *** The short explanation ***

    If you don’t want to read it all the simple background is the white guy in front (named Chris Finney) said some anti-gay things in the past and the guy on the right just appointed him to leadership role in the NAACP.   When asked why sexual behavior should affect who can eat in a restaurant back in the early 90’s, he supposedly said “Because there may be some who don’t want their family dining next to a homosexual couple whose actions they find offensive.” Understanding this quote helps you understand the gist of the cartoon.
    *** The Long Explanation ***

    The Cincinnati Chapter of the NAACP is headed by its President Christopher Smitherman (shown on the far right), a former city councilman.    Christopher Finney is a local lawyer who is a member of a group called COAST which fights against what they deem as unnecessary government spending and taxation.  Finney has been a member of the local NAACP for three years as COAST and the NAACP teamed to prevent a sales tax increase to build a new jail locally.

    This article from CityBeat (the local alt paper) has the best recap so I’ll quote from there.

    Before voters repealed it in 2004, Article 12 prohibited Cincinnati City Council or any other city entity from enacting or enforcing measures to give “minority or preferential status” to homosexuals, in effect preventing gays from seeking protection against discrimination or hate crimes.

    The amendment, pushed by people affiliated with Citizens for Community Values (CCV), including Finney, was unique: No other city in the nation had enacted such a measure. Article 12 opponents called the law unfair because no other category of citizen was specifically prohibited from seeking redress from their government.

    After the amendment created a public relations nightmare for the city nationwide and caused $45 million in lost convention business, a coalition of city officials, business CEOs and Cincinnati’s Catholic archbishop led a successful repeal campaign.

    Article 12 was CCV’s response to the city’s human rights ordinance after an earlier court challenge failed. During testimony in a 1994 court hearing, Finney was asked why sexual behavior should affect who can eat in a restaurant or be employed by a company.

    Finney replied, “Because there may be some who don’t want their family dining next to a homosexual couple whose actions they find offensive.”

    So now Finney who has been volunteering his lawyering skills to the local NAACP has been appointed to their Board (in a non paying job)

    Of course the local gay community is upset that a civil rights organization would appoint someone who is so anti-gay.  Smitherman is upset with the local gay community because he feels they have never stepped up to support civil rights when its about issues that are important to African Americans.  So who is right?  IMO, both of them.

    I have my opinions on hot topics such as abortion, gay marriage, global warming.  I am open to other’s views as they remain open to mine.  However, the statement Finney made was intolerant and the least he could do is comment on whether he still agrees with the statement he made so long ago and if not be able to renounce it so the NAACP and the local gay community could move forward in joint initiatives.

    The Cincinnati Beacon has an exchange of emails between Finney and when given an opportunity to address it, the Beacon was told by Smitherman that he was the official NAACP spokesman and he had said all he was going to say on the matter.