Sunday, January 29, 2012

fights by knockout


MMA Convert: - "...Six years later, Rutten, now a 20-year old physical specimen, finally moved out of Valkenswaard. His first order of business: get back in the gym and fulfill his self-imposed destiny. He worked quickly, earning black belts in both Tae Kwon Do and Karate, and then decided to try Thai boxing, which had already begun to take Holland by storm. “My first day in the gym, I got my ass kicked,” says Rutten. “I had never been dropped before, but that day I went hard, and it came from a liver punch.” Rutten went home and shadow-boxed in front of his mirror for four straight hours. “My wife at the time, she said I was crazy, but I came back the next day and just cleaned the place out. I beat the shit out of everybody. Six weeks later, the guys who ran the place got me my first fight.” Rutten won that bout 43 seconds into the first round, courtesy of a spinning back kick to the opponent’s liver. He went on to win his first 13 fights by knockout, all but one coming in the first round..." (The Origin Of Bas Rutten’s Love Of The Liver Shot…?)

Sebastiaan "Bas" Rutten (born February 24, 1965) is a retired Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He was the UFC Heavyweight Champion, a three time King of Pancrase world champion, and finished his career on a 22 fight unbeaten streak (21 wins, 1 draw). Rutten has beaten many MMA champions over the course of his career, including wins over UFC champions Frank Shamrock, Kevin Randleman, Guy Mezger and Maurice Smith, and wins over King of Pancrase world champions Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. He is currently the co-host of Inside MMA on HDNet. As a fighter, one of his favorite tactics was the liver shot (both punch and kick), and he popularized its use in MMA. Rutten is known for his charisma and has capitalized on his celebrity since retiring from fighting in 1999. He has worked as a color commentator in several MMA organizations, including Pride, and has appeared in numerous television shows, movies, and video games. He also coaches MMA and has authored several instructional materials (Wikipedia).

RELATED READING:



Friday, January 27, 2012

a joke and real bullying


Businessinsider: "If you don't know the difference between a joke and real bullying, then are you going to call the ghost of Johnny Carson a bully? Are you going to call the entire cast of SNL a bully? The late night hosts? I mean, that's what comedians do. We make jokes about people, places and things...When her daughter Willow posted on her Facebook wall, and I don't follow her on Facebook, I am not on Facebook, when I saw on all the, you know, news coverage about the daughter using the f-word, the pejorative for gay people, and I don't mean the fun four letter word that I use... When you're 16 you know you're not supposed to use that word. That's a word you really do kind of tie in with bullying, especially in the LGBT community, a community I think that she doesn't care about, but that's completely obvious to me that's very, very different. You can see if you look at that posting, that's not a joke" (Kathy Griffin Will Make Fun Of Sarah Palin's Children AS MUCH AS SHE WANTS).

Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin (born November 4, 1960) is an American actress, model, stand-up comedian, television personality, New York Times best-selling author and a LGBT rights advocate. Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episodes of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan. She was the star of the Bravo reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, for which she won two Emmy Awards as executive producer. She has also worked as a voice artist and red carpet commentator, in addition to several other career pursuits. In 2009, 2010 and 2011 she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. In her bid to win a Tony Award, she will be making her Broadway debut in Kathy Griffin Wants a Tony in March 2011 (Wikipedia).




Wednesday, January 25, 2012

authority-isms


Buzzgrinder: "Well yeah, it’s interesting because, you know, there’s got to be some shifts along the way when you start out as a high school band. Talking about high school, talking about relationships, talking about authority. And, you know, just sort of blanket “I hate authority-isms” (chuckles). And then growing up, paying bills, mortgage. Making a career out of music. You know … as a songwriter I try really hard to, for one, be honest and not write about something I have no idea about. Or something I can’t relate to. And, at the same time, keep things interesting. You know, I’m not going to write a song about paying bills … So there are parallels to being in a band and everybody else being part of the workforce. It’s a different type of job, but we are out there, working really hard and traveling. It’s kind of like a circus in a way (chuckles). But I try to use that and draw parallels to what our normal listener may be going through. And, you know, as far as subject matter, I try to keep things fresh. But at the same time it’s always usually pretty universal. Sometimes maybe about relationships. A lot of it may be just about experiences. Social ideas, social struggles. Politics definitely come into that a lot … Ever since, I think around Teenage Politics, I had a couple of songs that were about politics. But ever since then I really haven’t had too many songs directly involving politics. Usually more of, like, the ideals around politics or comments on the status quo. Authority or an administration. Stuff like that. But it’s usually a little bit broader (An Interview with Mike Herrera of MxPx).

Michael Arthur Herrera (b. November 6, 1976) is an American musician most widely known as the vocalist and bass guitarist for the pop punk band MxPx, as well as being the front-man of his new band Tumbledown. Herrera married his wife Holli in 2001. The two currently reside in Bremerton, Washington, with their cat and two dogs. Herrera not only plays bass but guitar and piano as well. Herrera is a Christian, along with the other members of Mxpx, although they prefer to not be called a Christian band. On the topic of their faith Mike Herrera has been quoted saying "We are Christian. It’s not a cult or something. It’s part of our story and I guess it’s different and controversial. But it’s a personal thing. It’s what we choose to believe. That’s all there is to it. We don’t preach to anyone." (Wikipedia).

RELATED READING:



Monday, January 23, 2012

“Believe in life.”


CTV News: Caro wrote a book published in France in 2008 titled "The Little Girl Who Didn't Want to Get Fat," served as a member of the jury on Top Model France, and worked periodically as a film and television actress. In one appearance, she was interviewed by Jessica Simpson for the VH1 show "The Price of Beauty." In one online video, Caro ends with words of advice for aspiring models: "Believe in life." Her agent, Sylvie Fabregon, told The Associated Press that the Italian campaign was intended "to show what it is like to be anorexic." Some groups working with anorexics warned, however, that the attention paid to Caro did a disservice to others afflicted with the disorder. Images of Caro appeared on so-called pro-ana, or pro-anorexia websites. On Wednesday, one posted a notice about her death and a photo of her, large blue-green eyes peering over a child-size upper arm, with the caption, "die young, stay pretty." Anorexic model Isabelle Caro dead at 28

styleite: Caro was perhaps best known for the No Anorexia billboards and commercials that popped up in Milan in 2007. Photographer Oliviero Toscani photographed her naked, and images of her fragile body were used to shock people into the realities anorexia and its prevalence among fashion models. A CBS News report, included below along with the billboard, called her “The Face of Anorexia.” She also famously talked about her struggle with the disease on Jessica Simpson’s show The Price of Beauty. Model Isabelle Caro, The ‘Face Of Anorexia’ Is Dead

Isabelle Caro (12 September 1982 – 17 November 2010) was a French model from Marseille, France, who became well-known after appearing in a controversial ad campaign "No Anorexia" which showed Caro with vertebrae and facial bones showing under her skin in a picture by photographer Oliviero Toscani. She was the 3rd cousin of poker author Mike Caro (Wikipedia: Isabelle Caro).

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight, often coupled with a distorted self image which may be maintained by various cognitive biases that alter how the affected individual evaluates and thinks about her or his body, food and eating. Persons with anorexia nervosa continue to feel hunger, but deny themselves all but very small quantities of food. The average caloric intake of a person with anorexia nervosa is 600-800 calories per day, but there are extreme cases of complete self-starvation. It is a serious mental illness with a high incidence of comorbidity and the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder (Wikipedia: Anorexia).

RELATED READING:



Saturday, January 21, 2012

Just The Way You Are


NY Times: When history books address the pop seismology of the early 21st century, a chapter will have to be set aside for a discussion of the Sheraton Waikiki in the late 1980s. That’s where Bruno Mars, then just a few years old, performed as part of a tourist-trap family band, singing doo-wop, Elvis and more. He even made a cameo as a baby Elvis in the 1992 film “Honeymoon in Vegas,” appearing as a bouffant-haired tyke in a blue jumpsuit, with a fierce hip shake. Bruno Mars in his Elvis period, performing in “Honey- moon in Vegas” (1992). “I can’t believe that’s my past,” Mr. Mars said in an interview before his first solo New York performance, a sold-out show at the Bowery Ballroom in late August. “I wish I could tell you me and my rock band were traveling around, strung out. No, we were a family band. Straight Partridge Family” (Jon Caramanica Oct 2010). Bruno Mars in Ascension

USA Today: Success certainly hasn't come overnight for the Hawaii-born Mars, who toiled for years to get his solo career started after moving to Los Angeles at 17 in 2003. But he is finally doing what he has dreamed of since he started doing Elvis Presley impersonations at age 4. He also impersonated the late Michael Jackson, who also happens to be nominated for male pop performance. "That's probably the most surreal thing," Mars says. "I've studied him since I can remember. As far as capturing an emotion, Michael was one of the best to do that" (Steve Jones Jan 2011). Bruno Mars' musical orbit seems inescapable

Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), better known by his stage name Bruno Mars, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Raised in Honolulu, Hawaii by a family of musicians, Mars began making music at a young age. After performing in various musical venues in his hometown throughout his childhood, he decided to pursue a musical career and moved to Los Angeles after graduating from high school. Mars began producing songs for other artists, joining production team The Smeezingtons. After an unsuccessful stint with Motown Records, Mars signed with Atlantic Records in 2009. He became recognized as a solo artist after lending his vocals and co-writing the hooks for the songs "Nothin' on You" by B.o.B, and "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy. He also co-wrote the hits "Right Round" by Flo Rida featuring Ke$ha, "Wavin' Flag" by K'naan. In October 2010, he released his debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans. Anchored by the worldwide number one singles "Just the Way You Are" and "Grenade", the album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. He was nominated for seven Grammys at the 53rd Grammy Awards, winning Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Just the Way You Are". Mars' music is noted for displaying a wide variety of styles and influences, and contains elements of many different musical genres. He has worked with an assortment of artists from different genres; Mars acknowledges the influences that his collaborations have had on his own music. As a child, he was highly influenced by artists such as Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson and would often impersonate these artists from a young age. Mars also incorporates reggae and Motown inspired sounds into his work. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times referred to Mars as "one of the most versatile and accessible singers in pop" (Wikipedia: Bruno Mars).

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Priscilla’s Will Swenson, Nick Adams and Tony Sheldon


Theatermania: Will Swenson, Nick Adams and Tony Sheldon have become the first performers to be featured in a television public service announcement for the "It Gets Better" campaign, which had previously been limited to online videos. The PSA featuring the stars of Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical is scheduled to begin airing on February 22. The It Gets Better Project was begun by writer Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller last year after a rash of suicides by gay students who had faced bullying or harassment at school. The endeavor has included thousands of videos, both amateur and professional, and featured both famous and average Americans addressing young gay people and reiterating the concept that life will get better in adulthood (Andy Prost Feb 2011). VIDEO FLASH: Priscilla's Will Swenson, Nick Adams and Tony Sheldon in Anti-Bullying "It Gets Better" PSA


Nick Adams (born 10 June 1983, Erie, Pennsylvania) is an American musical theater dancer and actor. Adams was born in Erie, Pennsylvania to Kenneth Mark Adams and Janet Rose Wojtalik. He attended high school at Mercyhurst Preparatory School in Erie. His first professional theatrical job was at age 16. Wikipedia: Nick Adams

Will Swenson (born October 26, 1973 in Provo, Utah) is an American actor, writer and film director best known for his work in musical theatre. He also has developed a cult film career, primarily in Mormon cinema. He is well known among Utahn Mormons, particularly for his role as Jonathan Jordan in the LDS Cinema movie The Singles Ward (2002) and its sequel, The Singles 2nd Ward (2007). Swenson also co-wrote, directed and acted in the LDS Cinema movie Sons of Provo (2004). Wikipedia: Will Swenson

Tony Sheldon (born 12 September 1955, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) is an award winning Australian actor/singer best known for his work in theatre; he is also a writer. He comes from one of Australia's leading theatrical families: his mother is Toni Lamond, his aunt Helen Reddy, and his grandmother Stella Lamond. He appeared in the television show, In Melbourne Tonight, at the age of eight. He played in the Sydney production of Oliver. After leaving Cranbrook School, where he had been a boarder, he was in the premiere production of A Hard God, and was a foundation actor with the Hunter Valley Theatre Company. Wikipedia: Tony Sheldon

RELATED READING:




Tuesday, January 17, 2012

combat all the negativity


The Star: He’s lighting up the stage of the Princess of Wales Theatre these days as one of the stars of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, with critics and audiences alike raving about his performance, as well as his ultra-toned physique. What they don’t know is that Pennsylvania-born Adams first achieved those six-pack abs, “to combat all the negativity I got when I was a kid, the mockery, the bullying, the abuse. “I had always wanted to have a more masculine physical presence, but I could never get it until I started really working out in college. I felt I was developing a kind of armour against those elements in the world outside that didn’t want to be so kind to me because I was gay” (Richard Ouzounian Feb 2011). Now no one bullies this Priscilla star

Nick Adams (born 10 June 1983, Erie, Pennsylvania) is an American musical theater dancer and actor. Adams was born in Erie, Pennsylvania to Kenneth Mark Adams and Janet Rose Wojtalik. He attended high school at Mercyhurst Preparatory School in Erie. His first professional theatrical job was at age 16. Wikipedia: Nick Adams

RELATED READING:



Sunday, January 15, 2012

facts about psychotropic drugs



derekw6826: This video provides the facts about psychotropic drugs and the huge profits they create for the pharmaceutical industry. These drugs are not safe and have not been on the market long enough to provide sufficient long term studies regarding their effects. These drugs do cause addiction, however most "doctors" would call this dependence because you do not have to take an increasing dose over time. They are completely fine with you being addicted to the same amount of any given drug on a daily basis. Over half of the people that commit suicide in the United States are prescribed to psychotropic drugs. (Ex: Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Seroquil, etc.)

CCHR: The trouble is that their worldwide propaganda on the subject of children and education has thoroughly duped well-meaning parents, teachers and politicians alike, that “normal”—there’s that word again—childhood behavior is no longer normal; that it is a mental illness. And further, that only by continuous, heavy drugging from a very early age, can the “afflicted” child possibly make it through life’s worst. Child Drugging: Psychiatry Destroying Lives

AJC: Giovan Bazan was 6 when a doctor first gave him medicine to treat his diagnosis of hyperactivity. Bazan admits he was unruly at the time. Perhaps it was because the only parent he had ever known, his foster mother since he was an infant, had just died. No one asked about that. Nor did anyone check years later to see that he was on a double dose of Ritalin when another physician, seeing a boy so mellowed out that he barely reacted, prescribed an antidepressant. “They start you on one thing for a problem, then the side effects mean you need a new medicine,” Bazan said. “As a foster kid, I’d go between all these doctors, caseworkers, therapists, and [it] seemed like every time there was a new drug to try me on.” Concern over high medication rate among foster kids

RELATED READING:




Friday, January 13, 2012

Clay’s experience


People: Clay Aiken's upsetting junior high school days come to light on Tuesday's Dr. Phil show, with the multiplatinum-selling singer opening up to Dr. Phil McGraw. "He talks about his own experiences being bullied," a publicist for Aiken's label, RCA Records, tells the Associated Press. The rep, Roger Widynowski, adds that the future American Idol star was bullied "verbally ... throughout his whole school career. Mostly through elementary and junior high." Aiken's mother, Faye Parker, confirms that her son was picked on, though to what extent was a mystery to her. "I don't know that he was bullied so much as he was just ignored," she said. "So I don't know. We'll have to hear more about his story when he tells it on TV" (Stephen Silverman Apr 2005) (Clay Aiken to Dr. Phil: I Was Bullied).

Clayton Holmes "Clay" Aiken (né Grissom; born November 30, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer, and author who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released in October 2003. He released four more albums on the RCA label: Merry Christmas with Love (2004), A Thousand Different Ways (2006), and the Christmas EP, All is Well (2006).[2][3] His fourth studio album (the first album of original material since 2003's Measure of a Man), On My Way Here was released on May 6, 2008 (Wikipedia: Clay Aiken).

RELATED READING:




Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Stacey’s Sunflower


The Chronicle-online: In the video, Zegers shows a picture of herself as a child -- wearing her thick-rimmed glasses. Throughout the song, she strips off hair extensions, fake eyelashes and eventually her make-up as she sings about a young girl who bullied another girl. By the end of the song, the singer sees the young girl she bullied in a new way. The video ends with Zegers wearing her glasses and holding up a sign with the website for the Kids Help Phone. They conceived, shot and released the video in three days. It hit YouTube Feb. 4 and by three days later Sunflower had become Zegers' top-selling song on iTunes. The song hasn't been released for radio yet. Platero sent the video to Kids Help Phone, which plans to use it on its website. The agency has already posted the video on its Facebook page, linked to it via Twitter and asked Zegers to be a celebrity ambassador for the organization. Everyone is taking away their own story from the video, said Platero. "From what I've found, it's hitting people on a very profound level, causing a deep emotional connection between the song and the video," said Platero, whose son has been bullied. The response has been incredible, he added. Since the video was released, viewers have contacted Platero and Zegers through e-mail and Facebook, thanking the two for shooting the video and sharing its story. "It's nice because (people) feel they've developed a connection with the video. They love the message behind it," said Platero. Zegers was in Nashville co-writing songs for her album, Famous, when she heard the song Sunflower and started crying and knew she had to add the song to her album. Zegers will perform the song at the annual walk for Kids Help Phone May 1 in London (Music video fights bullying).

Canadian singer/songwriter Stacey Zegers has come along way since growing up and working on her dads farm. A dynamic and energetic stage performance, coupled with a genuine passion for music and music listeners alike, its no surprise that in her first year of touring Stacey (who currently books and manages her own career) will play upwards of 100 shows. A great talent and unmatched ambition is what sets Stacey apart, and she proves over and over that she is one artist who is here to stay (staceyzegers.com).




Monday, January 9, 2012

Avan Is Not Narrow


just jared jr: Avan Jogia is speaking out against the bullying that gay youth face from young straight guys in a new campaign called Straight But Not Narrow (SBNN). The 19-year-old Nickelodeon star was the one who first approached SNMM to help him bring this idea to life. What a great cause! (Avan Jogia: It's Okay For Men To Like Men).

Avan Tudor Jogia (born February 9, 1992) is a Canadian actor and artist best known for playing Beck Oliver on Victorious. Although he is from Vancouver, he spends most of his time between Los Angeles and London. Jogia was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is of Indian and European descent. His Indian father is from London, England, and was raised by Gujarati Indian parents. His mother is a mix of Irish, Welsh and French descent. He spent a lot of his youth between Canada and England where his mother's family is from. He went to a few different schools in Vancouver, including Killarney Secondary School and King George Secondary School, as well as being home-schooled. In tenth grade he left school altogether to pursue a career in acting (Wikipedia: Avan Jogia).

RELATED READING:



Saturday, January 7, 2012

support from steven


CNN: England cricketer Steven Davies -- the sport's first professional to come out as gay -- says he wants to support other sports personalities struggling with their sexuality. Davies, 24, a wicketkeeper-batsman with county side Surrey who has played in a string of limited-overs internationals for England, revealed his long-held secret earlier this week. "For me it really isn't a big issue, it's something I was comfortable to do," he told CNN. "I'd been thinking about doing it for a while. I'm really relieved to get it off my chest. "Doubts do go through your head, it's only natural... but I was really comfortable with who I am, I was ready to do it, I needed to do it... and I felt the time was right." Davies hopes England can win World Cup Despite the groundbreaking nature of his revelations, the sportsman said he did not regard himself as a pioneer, but simply wanted to help others in similar situations. He said the decision of Welsh international rugby player Gareth Thomas to reveal he was gay had helped him to take the same step. "It's a very personal matter, and everyone is different, but it is important to have people to look up to and the Gareth Thomas story proved that it can be done, it made it a little easier for me" (Cricketer offers help to other gay sportsmen).

Steven Michael Davies (born 17 June 1986 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire) is an English cricketer, a wicket-keeper-batsman who currently plays for Surrey. A stylish and aggressive left-handed batsman who can open the batting in both first-class and limited-overs cricket (though in the former he generally now bats in the middle order). He has played ODI and Twenty20 cricket for England. Davies is the first openly gay international cricket player. Davies is openly gay. He came out publicly on 27 February 2011 in an interview with The Daily Telegraph. He had come out to his family five years earlier, and he was also already out to his teammates. He became the first international cricketer to announce his homosexuality (Wikipedia: Steven Davies).

RELATED READING:



Thursday, January 5, 2012

gareth’s positive message


L.A.Pride: Before he married his childhood sweetheart, Thomas said he often "prayed to be straight." "I remember before we got married, I used to go to the church, where we were due to get married, and I would sit there in the graveyard and look up at the steeple and I couldn't say nothing to anybody and I'd sit there and I'd clench my hands and just close my eyes as tight as I could and just pray. Pray to be straight. Pray to be everything that the world thought I should be," Thomas told DeGeneres. Thomas added that athletes coming out gay can send a positive message. "Sport is something that can change the world. And with somebody being gay in sport and being able to continue that sport sends such a positive message to children and adults" (Rugby star Gareth Thomas says he 'prayed to be straight').

Pinknews: “When I was on the field at Castleford I could hear some chants from a small section of the crowd. “It wasn’t very nice and I was pretty hurt by what I could hear. I’m only human and I can’t deny I was hurt. I think the RFL have taken action against Castleford over their fans and I’ve been told there were people in the crowd telling those chanting to shut up. “Perhaps we need to go through this so that those few people realise no one else will stand for it and then it hopefully won’t happen to the next person who comes out.” Speaking to the Guardian, Thomas also revealed he has never actually come out to his parents. He said: “I don’t think I’ve ever told them I’m gay. When me and Jemma split they kind of put two and two together. At the time I couldn’t really say the word ‘gay’ because I wasn’t ready. Now I know they know and so we haven’t had the big dramatic conversation.” He added that his mother insisted on opening champagne when the news of his homosexuality broke as a “celebration of the rest of my life” (Fans hurl homophobic abuse at Gareth Thomas).

Gareth Thomas (born 25 July 1974 in Sarn near Bridgend), known as Alfie, is a Welsh professional rugby footballer who plays rugby league for the Crusaders in Europe's Super League. He previously played rugby union for the Cardiff Blues and Wales in a number of positions including fullback, wing and centre. On 26 May 2007, he surpassed Gareth Llewellyn as the most-capped Wales player with his 93rd appearance. Thomas is listed ninth in the world on the all-time Test try scoring list and he is the 2nd highest Wales try scorer behind Shane Williams. During the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Thomas scored a try in what was his final game for Wales, and in the process created sporting history when he become the first Welshman to win 100 international caps in rugby union. On 6th October 2010 Thomas became a dual code international when he represented the Wales rugby league team against Italy at the Wrexham Racecourse Ground. In December 2009 Thomas announced publicly that he is gay. He told the Daily Mail, "I don't want to be known as a gay rugby player. I am a rugby player, first and foremost I am a man". Thomas' public confirmation of his sexuality made him the first openly gay professional rugby union player (Wikipedia: Gareth Thomas (rugby)).

RELATED READING:



Tuesday, January 3, 2012

stand tall, be proud


Marquee Blogs CNN: In a recorded message for MTV, the 37-year-old openly gay "How I Met Your Mother" star - who is expecting twins with partner David Burtka – acknowledged, "When you're young, when you're in elementary school, when you're in high school, it's important to try and fit in and be accepted and to be part of the average. Everyone does it, that's the way it goes." But, Harris added, those who get bullied or feel like an outsider should know things will get better. "When you get older, you find that people are actually drawn to individuals with different points of view who are proud of who they are and who make interesting and different and unique choices...at least I am," he said. Ultimately, he wants struggling youth to not harm themselves and hold their heads up high. "You can act with strength, you can act with courage, you can act with class and stand tall, be proud of who you are," Harris said. "This is a good time that we live in, and we're being granted more and more rights, and that's awesome, and it will continue in that direction. And, yeah, be proud" (Neil Patrick Harris speaks out on anti-gay bullying).

Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, and magician. Prominent roles of his career include the title role in Doogie Howser, M.D., Colonel Carl Jenkins in Starship Troopers, the womanizing Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, a fictionalized version of himself in the Harold & Kumar series, and the title role in Joss Whedon's musical web series Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Harris is openly gay, confirming this in November 2006 by saying "...I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love" (Wikipedia: Neil Patrick Harris).

RELATED READING:



Sunday, January 1, 2012

life worth sticking around


Examiner: "When a gay teenager commits suicide, it's because he can't picture a life for himself that's filled with joy and family and pleasure and is worth sticking around for. So I felt it was really important that, as gay adults, we show them that our lives are good and happy and healthy and that there's a life worth sticking around for after high school." In his minute-and-a-half video, Lambert tells gay teens to have "pride in themselves" and that he "believes in [them]" and to not give bullies the power to affect them and their lifestyle. Lambert also confided that while he is a big pop star, he's still struggling with personal gay bashing, saying: "Even someone like me, someone that has recently come into some success in his career. I'm touring the world, I have a CD out, I do music videos, I'm living my dream. Even I get bullied. You look under any comment section on any article, and there's bullies in there telling me that I'm a f*ggot, that I'm ugly, that I'm gross -- 'Ew, gross, nasty, he's a girly' -- all this crap. I'm singled out and it's all 'gay, gay, gay, gay, gay,' even though there is so much more than just who I choose to sleep with" (Adam Lambert joins 'It Gets Better' project against gay bullying).


Adam Mitchel Lambert (born January 29, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor from San Diego, California. In May 2009, he finished as the runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol. The Times identified Lambert as one of the few openly gay mainstream pop artists to launch a career on a major label in the United States. Lambert released his debut album, For Your Entertainment, in November 2009, via RCA Records/19 Recordings. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 in December 2009, selling 198,000 copies in the United States in the first week. In 2010, Lambert was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Whataya Want from Me" (Wikipedia).




Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Search This Blog

Bullying is an abusive treatment, the use of force or coercion to affect others, particularly when habitual and involving an imbalance of power. It may involve verbal harassment, physical assault or coercion and may be directed persistently towards particular victims, perhaps on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexuality, or ability. The "imbalance of power" may be social power and/or physical power. The victim of bullying is sometimes referred to as a "targeted individual" (Wikipedia).