Live With U People – Ep #53 : Thanksgiving Misgivings

This week Olive and Hanifah come to you stuffed with turkey and madness. Olive suffers from an acute case of the “itis” and looses her mind and decides to where her sister’s wig. As Hanifah endures the randowm swinging of fake hair they talk about the awkwardness of talking grown-up sex with their mothers at the table, thanksgiving misgivings for a lesbian couple and the horror in Mumbai.

The Pink Mafia

My goodness how I love a woman with a purpose. There is nothing better than a woman empowered. These bad ass Indians teach their corrupt government official and wife beating nincompoops that there are not gonna take it anymore. When I saw this on Jezebel it filled my heart with joy. Just another example of the spirit that keeps this world turning; some woman’s big mouth.

Jezebel

Sampat Pal Devi, a mother of five in Banda, one of India’s poorest areas, says “nobody comes to our help in these parts. The officials and the police are corrupt and anti-poor. So sometimes we have to take the law in our hands.” To do this, she started the “gulabi gang,” or pink gang, two years ago. The gang members wear pink and uses beatings and humiliation to combat domestic abuse and corruption.

Devi and her fellow vigilantes are a sign of how bad things can be for women in India — Banda natives say it’s no surprise that women have resorted to violence to combat discrimination. But it’s also a sign that things may be improving, that after generations of second-class status, Indian women are taking unprecedented social power.

They have a lot to fight against. Though prenatal gender testing and gender-selective abortion are now illegal in India, having a baby girl is still widely considered shameful, and over 10 million baby girls have been killed in the last 20 years. Only 798 girls were born in Punjab last year for every 1,000 boys. Because of dowry requirements, many families think of girls as a financial liability, and stories of women being abused are common. The problem isn’t confined to poor areas like Banda — Delhi pediatrician Mitu Khurana is taking legal action against her husband and his family for trying to force her to abort her twin girls. “Even as an educated woman,” she says, “I am pushed around.”

The Times of India, however, tells a different story. According to an article called “Macho girls!,” “women in every sphere have come into their own in the last two decades.” They are entering traditionally male professions, becoming collections agents and security guards on the India-Pakistan border. They are dressing in Western suits in order to appear more “businesslike.” Fitness expert Leena Mogre says “the Madonna influence” has caused 40 percent more women in the last year to seek “defined arms, something that was earlier only demanded by men.”

Sangeeta Singh, executive director of international accounting firm KPMG, says “economic independence has made women feel more confident about their personal lives. Hence, they are taking more personal decisions or forming their own support networks.” Many women in Banda don’t have economic independence. And many throughout India still suffer from the prejudice against girls. But if the pink gang is any indication, women across Indian society are indeed “forming their own support networks.” Sampat Pal Devi says, “village society in India is loaded against women. [...] Village women need to study and become independent to sort it out themselves.” And although their methods may be a little disturbing (thrashing a policeman, for instance), the pink gang is doing exactly that.

India’s ‘Pink’ Vigilante Women [BBC]
Where A Baby Girl Is A Mother’s Awful Shame [Guardian]
Macho Girls! [Times of India]

Where’s Obama: World Leaders don’t shake Bush’s hand (VIDEO)

Watch as during the G20 summit hosted by George Bush, none of the other 19 world leaders shake his hand. I mean not one, it is obvious and blatantly clear they are all too ready for him to be gone and await Obama with baited breathe. Its almost unbelievable (almost) as he walks in with his head down, he looks like the kid in school with the kooties. Well as it says in the CNN report “What goes around, comes around”.

WTF: Al-Qaida leader calls Obama a house negro

AP WIRE: CAIRO,Egypt — Al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri insulted Barack Obama in the terror group’s first reaction to his election, calling him a demeaning racial term implying that the president-elect is a black American who does the bidding of whites.

The message appeared chiefly aimed at persuading Muslims and Arabs that Obama does not represent a change in U.S. policies. Al-Zawahri said in the message, which appeared on militant Web sites Wednesday, that Obama is “the direct opposite of honorable black Americans” like Malcolm X, the 1960s African-American rights leader.

Al-Zawahri also called Obama _ along with secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice _ “house negroes.”

Speaking in Arabic, al-Zawahri uses the term “abeed al-beit,” which literally translates as “house slaves.” But al-Qaida supplied English subtitles of his speech that included the translation as “house negroes.”

The message also includes old footage of speeches by Malcolm X in which he explains the term, saying black slaves who worked in their white masters’ house were more servile than those who worked in the fields. Malcolm X used the term to criticize black leaders he accused of not standing up to whites.

The 11-minute 23-second video features the audio message by al-Zawahri, who appears only in a still image, along with other images, including one of Obama wearing a Jewish skullcap as he meets with Jewish leaders. In his speech, al-Zawahri refers to a Nov. 5 U.S. airstrike attack in Afghanistan, meaning the video was made after that date.

Al-Zawahri said Obama’s election has not changed American policies he said are aimed at oppressing Muslims and others.

“America has put on a new face, but its heart full of hate, mind drowning in greed, and spirit which spreads evil, murder, repression and despotism continue to be the same as always,” the deputy of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden said.

He said Obama’s plan to shift troops to Afghanistan is doomed to failure, because Afghans will resist.

“Be aware that the dogs of Afghanistan have found the flesh of your soldiers to be delicious, so send thousands after thousands to them,” he said.

Al-Zawahri did not threaten specific attacks, but warned Obama that he was “facing a Jihadi (holy war) awakening and renaissance which is shaking the pillars of the entire Islamic world; and this is the fact which you and your government and country refuse to recognize and pretend not to see.”

He said Obama’s victory showed Americans acknowledged that President George W. Bush’s policies were a failure and that the result was an “admission of defeat in Iraq.”

But Obama’s professions of support for Israel during the election campaign “confirmed to the Ummah (Islamic world) that you have chosen a stance of hostility to Islam and Muslims,” al-Zawahri said.
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U PEOPLE OMMENTARY: I’m having my morning coffee and becoming sick to my still empty stomach. who in the hell is this fool to speak either Obama’s or El Hajj Malik Shabazz’s name with such inaccuracy and venom. this ass is like many who refuse to acknowledge the complete life and legacy of “Malcolm X’ and rather shosse to pick this line or that line from speeches that did not reflect his views post the Nation of Islam. What does this clown know about Malik and who is he to even speak on the painful yet triumphant legacy of Black American slaves. Arabs continue to enslave Africans to this day in addition to their deplorable history of African enslavement. And you Mr. Ayman “Kiss my black -ass” Alqaida are using this same racism to group black people together (Condeleeza, Powell, Obama) and forsake their humanity and individuality. And if you are unable to see, rather feel, a man for who he is because you are stuck in a cycle of hate and anger “and they liked the taste of their flesh”, then who are you to speak towards change. Because you yourself are refusing to meet change half-way. You have lost your hope and have become addicted to your condition and power within. In the years leading up to Malik’s death he refuted those who those as Ayman al-Zawahri and embraced the unifying force of today’s Barack Obama. But Ayman al-Zawahri like others who still call him Malcolm X draw the line when he was Malcolm if not Detroit Red. They stop short of his brilliance not yet matured. Because it is easy to hate and change doesn’t taste as sweet to tongues numbed by rhetoric.

Wanda Sykes: Speaks on Gay Marriage (VIDEOS)

Wanda Sykes recently exited out the closet, though she claimed never to be in. Outraged after loosing her rights to marry and essentially having her own marriage to a woman revoked she has openly spoken her mind. The video below is at a recent rally in California. The following video is an excerpt from her comedy special about gay marriage and her appearance on Ellen Degeneres:

Prince: God has had it with gays

In the 80’s there were two musicians that reigned supreme in my teenage idol loving heart. Michael Jackson and Prince. Michael has long since broken my heart when I realized in high school that his nose was getting thinner and skin lighter. And even as my disappointment in Michael grew with the very believable accusations of child molestation and the two little white kids he claims to be his biological children, I still, though with some reservation, dance to the music of who he was and not who he has become. Prince on the other hand, whose music challenged sexual norms and  has for decades been the background beat to lovemaking for all sexualities, has done little to disappoint me. Even when he  converted to Jehovah Witness and refused to play any of the songs that has given the world so much joy and quite a few babies, we, his fans, just quietly excepted his new found truth and instead went to Prince tribute parties to remember what was. His faith is no business of ours. That is until he made it.   I stumbled upon an interview with Prince in this week’s New Yorker (excerpt):

…And then on the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got blue, you’ve got the Democrats, and they’re, like, ‘You can do whatever you want.’ Gay marriage, whatever. But neither of them is right.”…

When asked about his perspective on social issues—gay marriage, abortion—Prince tapped his Bible and said, “God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough.’ ”

Where does one begin? Prince has been accused throughout his entire career of being gay. Even just a couple of superbowls ago when I found myself screaming to top of my lungs in harmony with football loving straight dudes and fellow butches; we had all become that teenager again as he sang Purple Rain in the rain at halftime. Even still he caught flack from homophobes who believed his stylee was that of ‘a gay’. And I would be hard pressed to disbelieve that throughout all of the sexual escapades made available to him in the earlier and more fruitful parts of his career he did not try at least once or thrice to lay with another man. But aside from the accusations, levels of nakedness and tight fitting costumes he still appeared at his core, to me atleast, to be heterosexual.  Heterosexual, but not homophobic. But as he ages and his hips are needing to be replaced (from years of wearing high heels) and his new religion is found, it seems he is on the fast food track to proving this to everyone and maybe even to himself. We have all done 180s in our lives, had epiphanies and either moved in a more positive direction or headed further down the rabbit hole. But who is this man or any man to judge, tapping his bible as if his bible were to say amen. Ya know brother, do what you will and believe what your believe, but who are you or any of the door knockers to judge what the rest of us need to prosper. Just live your life and leave me mine to love, explore and further understand.

This man’s ego is enormous. You may want  to leave the sex, drugs and rock and roll behind, but you have simply found another place to rest your elphant sized ego. Now you are speaking for God and getting frustrated and impatient for God. When will the fundamentally judgemental faith pushers realize God don’t need you to do a damn thing for God but live and love and even if you choose not to, then God is not effected either way; cause well its God. I seriously doubt if God gets upset, holds tantrums, gets pissed, disappointed or enraged. Those are the attributes of something much smaller, man. Eh, whatever. I will simply stick with my memories of running home to play my 45 of ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ because I’m sure God would not mind a child simply having fun in the kingdom of music.

JUST ADDED: According to Perez Hilton,

Contrary to what a recent interview with the New Yorker is reporting, a source close to the rocker tells us that Prince was grossly misquoted and misinterpreted as not down with gay rights.

Apparently, the interviewer did not even use a recorder when she spoke with His Holy Purpleness, and that when she called his people to fact check, it turned out she had several factual inaccuracies, including a little bit about Prince recovering from hip surgery, which he never even had. Like Prince is really made of bones or something and not nebulous gold glitter – come on!

What His Purpleness actually did was gesture to the Bible and said he follows what it teaches, referring mainly to the parts about loving everyone and refraining from judgment.

That sounds better, considering he’s a man who caused his own Controversy!

“We’re very angry he was misquoted,” says our Prince insider.

Live with U People #52: Black Folks Guide to Black Folks

This week on Live with U People we discuss the sticky issue of having to bridge talks among black folks across sexualities.  How do we reachout and create understanding within the conundrum of being both gay and Black. How do we deal with a larger black community that often sees gay as white and black gays as separate. We want to talk honestly about methods of effective approach that involve love and understanding. Did we do our part in regards to Prop 8? Where do we stand when white gays attack the black community as if we (LGBT folks of color) are not of it?

Funny People Episode 3 “Yes I Can!”

The newest notorious odd couple are back! Jerry Beige a Jewish-Italian retiree and PLAYher an Oakland transplant of dubious means talk about everything and anything. They have a couple tips for Barack Obama administration that you wont want to miss.

Live with U People #51: Prop 8

Tonight we talk about the issues within the issues around Prop 8. Racism within the gay community, civil rights and the increasing violence in LA around Prop 8.

Notes: This is our first live episode so pardon the technical difficulties with audio distortion within the first couple of minutes. If you want to see the U People Prop 8 PSA featured at the top of this broadcast click here.

SHOWTIME: EVERYDAY THURSDAY, 9PM

CHAT DIALOGUE

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09:09 ustreamer-39705 : I can hear you
09:09 ustreamer-42899 : hear ya
09:09 ustreamer-75972 : yes
09:11 ustreamer-42899 : Whats up!
09:11 ustreamer-75972 : Olive mic needs to be adjusted
09:11 ustreamer-42899 : lol
09:11 ustreamer-75972 : yes
09:11 ustreamer-75972 : this is Z
09:11 ustreamer-75972 : you are too loud
09:18 ustreamer-75972 : I think Hispanol is now DR
09:19 ustreamer-37705 : its a trip here in LA.  it is getting violent.  and black folks should be ashamed
09:22 ustreamer-37705 : the protests in general are getting violent. my roomate ran over a prop 8 yes personal through a bottle at him yesterday and he ran over him with his bike.  but everyday someone is getting hurt and general fights are breaking everyday
09:23 Journey_Wmn : I saw a documentary about the log cabin republicans. When they were campaigning for gay marriage they completely disregarded all POC communities, because they assumed we’d be anti gay marriage
09:24 Dreamwalker : Im not sure what prop is really being used for…will it be the gauge for the nation? So if it flys or fails in CA then the rest of the nation will follow suit?! This is’nt a one state decision
09:25 ustreamer-75972 : I think we in the Gay community must create an agenda that transcends race.  The ballot was not only lost in California, it was also lost in Arizona and Florida.
09:26 ustreamer-37705 : we should be ashamed as black people because 90 plus black voters got behind obama but gays dont have rights.  a black preacher here said “they need to just give up”  huh?
09:27 ustreamer-37705 : here in LA….sorry  and i am a woman.  i will call
09:27 Journey_Wmn : I loved that workout video you guys put up the other day
09:29 Journey_Wmn : holla
09:29 zakiyyah : yes
09:33 Journey_Wmn : I love you guys!!
09:36 zakiyyah : Hard to hear her
09:37 zakiyyah : great
09:42 Dreamwalker : tru dat
09:43 Journey_Wmn : you’re absolutely right, because i’m hesitant to protest on saturday, because if someone tries to blame me or dare call me out my name. I’ll get arrested and I’m not hard enough to go to jail
09:43 Dreamwalker : Do you think the recent election will open a door into this topic
09:44 souloperator : Dream walker I will bring up your point
09:44 Dreamwalker : thxs
09:46 zakiyyah : Coretta Scott King had to say, in an address to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. “Homophobia is as morally wrong and as unacceptable as racism,” “We ought to extend to gay and lesbian people the same respect and dignity we claim for ourselves. Every person is a child of Go
09:46 zakiyyah : God
09:46 zakiyyah : and every human being is entitled to full human rights.”
09:48 ustreamer-73569 : how about a protest for the lgbt youth homeless
09:48 zakiyyah : Ths was beautiful–Thank you.
09:48 Dreamwalker : Alright ya’ll…cya next week
09:48 ustreamer-73569 : how about protest for low rates for colleges
09:48 ustreamer-73569 : how abut jobs
09:48 ustreamer-73569 : This is angel b
09:49 ustreamer-73569 : I tuned in late but this is great

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This guy voted YES on Prop 8: We gotta give him praise!

I was browsing Pam’s Hot Blend and came buy this jewel. The video is simply entitled “Voted yes on Prop 8″ and is featured on GodTube.com. It is a house music driven workout video that will have you questioning how some gay folks of color really do not see themselves beyond the choir! Note: at 5:46 he says ‘I gotta pee”, I almost fell out at that point. And with all jokes aside, the workout does make you sweat a little something.

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