End US Hunger NOW: The Campaign and My Personal Video

On Friday, May 29th 2009, Ashton Kutcher sent out a tweet to his list of Twitter followers (just shy of 2 million) asking everyone to create a video that will become part of a viral video campaign for US Hunger. Ashton announced that a large US corporation would be willing to donate 10 million US dollars worth of products in US food aid but without the help of able and willing Americans everywhere, the donation may not happen.

The action alert was simply this (from HungerLimit.com):

1. Record a video of you or your friends saying "Are you hungry?", "Hungry?", "You look hungry", etc... then looking at the camera and saying "Eat!" or "Go Eat!" also saying "Some people Can't!" and finally a video of you or your friends eating something.

2. Upload your videos to YouTube and tag them with "endhungernow" or send them over to endushunger [at] gmail.com until Tuesday, June 2nd 2009.. All videos will be cut into a single viral video clip and posted online.

3. Follow @aplusk, @mrskutcher and @FeedingAmerica on Twitter to get the latest updates about the campaign.

4. Tweet about #HungerLimit, #Hunger and #USHunger to raise hunger awareness of your friends, colleagues and family members.

5. Visit FeedingAmerica.org online and contribute with a donation or become an advocate for the cause.

I decided to take action for once, hopped on my webcam and made my own little action alert. Here it is, I hope you like it.

Olivia Wilde is Number One

Olivia Wilde has always been #1 hottie in my book, but now Maxim has finally seen the light and come on board, picking Olivia Wilde as Maxim's 2009's Hottest Woman of the Year, topping their yearly Hot 100 list.

If you follow this blog, than you know I've mentioned Olivia Wilde quite a bit. I'm not the only one, though. Even Megan Fox proclaimed this about Olivia Wilde:

I don’t want it to come off as a Lindsay Lohan vibe. You know? Are you going to push an ‘Is she a lesbian’ angle? Oh man, you are going to do that to me… Look, I’m not a lesbian — I just think that all humans are born with the ability to be attracted to both sexes. I mean, I could see myself in a relationship with a girl — Olivia Wilde is so sexy she makes me want to strangle a mountain ox with my bare hands. She’s mesmerizing. And lately I’ve been obsessed with Jenna Jameson, but… Oh boy.

And with that, here is my Tribute to the hotness that is Olivia Wilde. First, the articles dedicated to Olivia Wilde:

Wilde about Olivia

Still Wilde About Olivia

Help Olivia Wilde Save Mountain Ox

And then the photo gallery (do you like better as a brunette or a blonde?):

About Olivia Wilde from Maxim...

Birthday: March 10, 1984
Born: New York City, New York

How You Know Her: Presently starring on House M.D.; got bloodied in Turistas; got catty on The O.C.; and was just plain sexy in The Girl Next Door—where she spent a month on set before finally joining the cast. Pretty much the same strategy we used to get hired here.

Hungry Like a Fox: “Once, in Australia, I ate 33 pancakes in 20 minutes... I won against these giant men, and they were convinced I was cheating. Guys have some sort of sick fascination with girls who can eat.” –Women's Health

We may not know a McDreamy from a McNugget, but when it comes to TV doctors, there is only one who makes our body temperature rise. The pulse-quickening internist played by Olivia Wilde on House, M.D. is named Thirteen (which we presume is out of 10) and has a terminal illness that causes her to dabble in drugs and casual sex. (That's how we want to go!) But we were drooling over this N.Y.C. native long before she was injected into Fox's hit medical drama. Roles on small-screen faves The Black Donnellys and The O.C. introduced Olivia to the world, but it's her prehistoric part in this month's Year One that will put her on top of it. As the object of Cro-Magnon lust in the Judd Apatow-produced, Harold Ramis-directed, Jack Black-starring comedy, Olivia will surely knock moviegoers back to the Stone Age. Ugh!

Renee Gannon's Creative Voyage

Hey Lesbiatopians! You've probably wondered why I'm not posting as much to LT and the reason is, I've been working on a new project. I've decided to start a new blog that's exclusive to my own creative explorations. Of course I will still update Lesbiatopia as much as possible, but if you like my stuff, I would love for you to subscribe to Creative Voyage too. It will cover lots of topics, including my love for cheeseburgers, photoshop, cats and digital photography. I try not to limit myself and you shouldn't either, so stop on by. And don't forget to follow me on twitter; use it as inspiration to start your own site! Knowledge & creativity are freedom!

Also, I will be building up my blogroll, so head over and leave a message or comment with a link to your site and I will be sure to add you to the blogroll asap.

Happy blogging!

Remembering Bea Arthur: My Favorite Golden Girls Moment

- Renee Gannon

Recently, beloved Bea Arthur most commonly known as the tall, sarcastic Dorothy on the Golden Girls, passed away. It was a sad day for young and old, alike, for Bea Arthur was a funny woman who was part of one of the most famous sitcoms ever to grace the TV screen. Golden Girls is probably one of the funniest shows ever written and many of us grew up watching it with our own sisters, moms, grandmothers, aunts, cousins and the like.

I was browsing through YouTube the other day and came across one of my favorite scenes of all time from the Golden Girls. It's rather ironic that I love this scene so much; it became a favorite of mine waaay before I even came out of the closet! As a tribute to Bea Arthur, I am sharing it with you today. Enjoy!

New Hampshire Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill

The New Hampshire State Senate just passed a bill making same-sex marriage law -- by a single vote, 13-11.

The same bill already passed the House, and now goes to the desk of Governor John Lynch, a Democrat who has said he opposes same-sex marraige, but hasn't said how he'd act on the legislation.

Now Hampshire reports that it's a big win for Democratic Chairman Ray Buckley, and a New Hampshire politico describes "insane behind-the-scenes wrangling," with two votes switching in the last 24 hours.

Lindsay Lohan Clears Up the Break-Up Rumors on Ellen

- Renee Gannon

Lindsay Lohan went on the Ellen show today and cleared up some of the rumors between her and Samantha Ronson. She never cheated. She didn't even know the break-up was coming and the restraining order "came out of nowhere". She wants to focus on getting her career in focus and getting back on the right track.

I think Lohan kept it together pretty well on the show. She's still so young and has a lot to learn about life and relationships, especially having her life in the limelight all the time. Hopefully she can stay on a positive track. Personally, I like Lindsay Lohan, especially back to her days of Herbie Fully Loaded and Mean Girls, when she had that adorable girl-next-door appeal. I'm rooting for her. Are you?


Lohan, 2009


Lohan, 2004

A Tribute to Redheads Plus Your Favorites

Red heads. They have fiery hair and fiery personalities. What can I say, they make me weak in the knees. Look through all the redheads here and then vote for your favorite at the end! May the hottest redhead win...

Amy Adams

Isla Fisher

Toni Collette

Debra Messing

Julia Roberts

Jillian Anderson

Julianne Moore

Jenna Fisher

Cynthia Nixon

Lindsay Lohan

Emma Stone

Tori Amos

Diane Neal

Tori Amos was added post-poll creation, so if you want to vote for her, leave it as a comment!
Winners will be posted on Friday via Twitter:

Help Me Get on Ellen's Show!!

For those of you who watch The Ellen Show like it's going out of style, then you certainly know about her quest to get on the cover of Oprah's "O" Magazine. Oprah has committed to doing it but she hasn't set the date yet! I've decided to help Ellen expedite her quest to get on the cover by creating a cover shot that I think would be fabulous and perfect. Send Ellen an email and tell her to show my artwork on her show. How can Oprah say no to this?

My Wife, Sandra Bullock, Coming to the Big Screen: June 2009

- Renee Gannon

Most people probably won't be as excited as I am about the release of Sandra Bullock's latest movie, The Proposal, but you have to admit, it does look funny and who doesn't love Ryan Reynolds and Betty White?? Sandra Bullock is like a fine wine, she only gets better with age as you can clearly see in the HD trailer for The Proposal, set to be released in theaters June 12, 2009.

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile

Ok ladies, for those of you who love a fiery red head (and who doesn't), Lindsay Lohan just released her eHarmony video profile. I don't know about you, but as much as a trainwreck Lohan is, she's still a total hottie. I wonder if the carpet matches the drapes...

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

Craigslist Is For Lovers

A friend sent me this Craigslist posting in the missed connection section that was just too hilarious not to share...

Missed Connection with Every Lesbian Girl I've Ever Swooned Over - m4w

Reply to:
Date: 2009-02-28, 8:02PM
Dear hot/nerdy/self-possessed/

athletic/capable/charismatic lesbian,
First of all, thanks for looking good.
Thanks also for not kicking me out of your bars when I've visited. For future reference, here are my responses to your questions:
No, I'm not here with my boyfriend. Yes I am here with some ladies. No, I'm not gay. Because I'd rather look at women than men. No, you use the washroom first. Any local microbrew will do, thanks.
In the past, I've described myself as a male lesbian but I don't know if that's quite right. I do know that the type of women I like are way better represented among you. And I'm certain that whoever installed the wiring in my brain did some unconventional things. Does that make me a lesbro? I don't really know. Regardless, the result of these cross-over tendencies is a kind of disconnect. Similar, I imagine to gay guys who like straight boys.
"Forget about it," their friends say, "it will only lead to heartache."
Heartache schmartache, I don't want to gay-marry you, oh sizzling Sapphite. I just want to wrassle you (hard) and then maybe later talk about gender theory over beer.
Still, even my humble wishes seem out of reach.
Can't we get over my penis? It's not even that impressive; more like an extra-large clit. What are you, sizeist now?
I guess we could just be buddies. I can resign myself to the friend-zone if you promise to go girl-watching with me once in a while. Maybe then you'll see that I don't want to "turn" you (for the sake of either ego or Jesus). I just want to get physical in a way that would make a straight girl's over-sized purse explode. I fully trust you've got some knowledge to drop.
Don't judge me, oh hot diggity dyke, if I don't fit into your worldview. Just hold me once in a while and tell me that I'm simply another colour in our glorious rainbow.
Thanks,
XYZ

NY Appeals Court Denies Parental Rights to Lesbian

A New York state appeals court has ruled that a lesbian whose partner gave birth to a boy after their Vermont civil union has no parental rights because she never legally adopted the child.

The Appellate Division denied the petition by Debra H. for joint legal and physical custody after she and Janice R. broke up.

The court said Debra H. lacked parental rights although the now-5-year-old boy was born a month after the Vermont civil union and two months after the women registered as domestic partners in New York City.

Debra H.'s lawyer Bonnie Rabin said the child thinks of her client as one of his mothers and seeing her is in his best interest. Rabin said she intends to appeal.

Breaking News: Will the Real NOM TV Ad Please Stand Up?

On 4/09, at 4:30PM PST, we posted an article about the newly launched National Organization for Marriage's new TV ad campaign. Since that time, we have stumbled across several strikingly similar, yet much more tastefully done, video advertisements that have left us dazed and confused. Will the real NOM TV ad please stand up?

Flutter: The New Twitter

Hilarious!

National Organization for Marriage's TV Ad - Don't Let Them Spread Their Lies

- Renee Gannon, Publisher

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) announced yesterday that they are launching a new nationwide '2 Million for Marriage' (2M4M) initiative. According to their website:

Over the next two years, we will be organizing two million marriage activists from every state in the nation to form an online army of marriage activists willing to stand up for marriage on a moment's notice, sending emails and making phone calls to legislators whenever marriage is threatened.

The initiative represents the most ambitious effort ever of its kind, using a combination traditional TV and radio advertising and direct mail, coupled with the internet technology and social networking tools that President Obama used so effectively in his presidential campaign. To assist with this ambitious new initiative, we've enlisted the expertise of Schubert Flint Public Affairs -- the same group that managed the Prop 8 Campaign in California last year.

A Gathering Storm
The centerpiece of the new initiative is a $1.5 million nationwide ad campaign launched today highlighting the threat that same-sex marriage poses to the core civil rights of all Americans who believe in marriage as the union of a husband and wife.

This is the ad campaign, filled with lies about the "detriment" that a nationwide repeal of DOMA would cause:



Who's behind NOM, anyway?
Maggie Gallagher, President
Brian S. Brown, Executive Director
Robert P. George, Chairman of the Board

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Other members of the NOM board of directors include:

Neil Corkery, Treasurer
Chuck Stetson
Ken Von Kohorn
Luis Tellez
Matthew Holland

Yesterday Brian S. Brown released this statement:
"In the wake of the Iowa Supreme Court decision and Vermont Legislature's action, the National Organization for Marriage will tomorrow launch a new national ad campaign that highlights how same-sex marriage undermines the core civil rights of those who believe in the simple truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman."

Let NOM know that their efforts to "protect" marriage as a union between one man and one woman are universally unconstitutional.

National Organization for Marriage
20 Nassau Street, Suite 242
Princeton, NJ 08542

Phone: (609) 688-0450
Fax: (888) 894-3604
Email: contact@nationformarriage.org

Maggie Gallagher, President

DON'T Support THESE California businesses that NOM is highlighting on their website under "busttheblacklist.com". These businesses have contributed, in some way or another, to YES on Prop 8 and don't deserve our hard-earned dollars.

Tell Congress: it’s time to repeal DOMA.

It’s time for some real change we can believe in. It’s time for the federal government to stop punishing loving same-sex couples. It’s time to repeal DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act).

President-elect Obama says he supports the repeal. Take action right now to make sure Congress sends him the legislation.

If OurChart is Dead...

.... than why the hell am I still getting emails from their site if it doesn't exist anymore??

Is this happening to anyone else or am I the only one? I get the following email, subject line "New private messages at OurChart", at least once a week:

Hi Renee Gannon, This is an automatic reminder from the site OurChart. You have received a new private message.

And when I click on the link I get this message:

Sorry, we couldn't find what you were looking for. This site is updated regularly and certain links may no longer work.

It's like an unending circle of torturous emails that promise everything and give nothing. It really messes with a girl's head. As if I don't have enough going on right now with a struggling economy, global warming and the constant pain of deciding who to vote for on American idol... it's really all too much for me to handle right now.

p.s. I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.

Prop 8: It Breaks My Heart

Watch this video. Keep tissues handy. Sign the petition. Invalidate Prop 8.


"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.
Tell the Supreme Court to invalidate Prop 8, reject Ken Starr's case, and let loving, committed couples marry. DEADLINE: Valentine's Day

We, the undersigned, share President Barack Obama's view that "for too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited
by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond
polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect."

Yet, on December 19, 2008, Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality
of Prop 8 and seeking to nullify the marriages of 18,000
devoted same-sex couples solemnized before Prop 8 passed.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, with a decision expected within 90 days. We, the undersigned, ask that the Court enforce the equality promised
to each of us by our constitution and invalidate Prop 8. So
doing will protect all loving, committed couples in California -– including the 18,000 who said "I do" last year –- and prevent
the initiative process from being a tool for stripping vulnerable minorities of precious constitutional rights.

As Americans who believe in the rule of law and fundamental civil rights, we know that Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund's shameful attempt to nullify equal protection
and all these bonded unions will be condemned in the eyes of
history. We know that, ultimately, love will prevail, no matter
how hard they try to fight it.

173,807 people have signed this letter*.
GOAL: 200,000 signers. Please add your name now!

BREAKING NEWS! California Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Prop 8 Legal Challenge on March 5

This just in from...

The California Supreme Court announced today that it will hear oral arguments on Thursday, March 5, 2009 in the Proposition 8 legal challenge.

On November 19, 2008, the California Supreme Court agreed to hear the legal challenges to Proposition 8 and set an expedited schedule. Briefing in the case was completed on January 21, 2009.

The California Supreme Court must issue its decisions within 90 days of oral argument.

On January 15, 2009, 43 friend-of-the-court briefs urging the Court to invalidate Prop 8 were filed, arguing that Proposition 8 drastically alters the equal protection guarantee in California’s Constitution and that the rights of a minority cannot be eliminated by a simple majority vote. The supporters represent the full gamut of California’s and the nation’s civil rights organizations and legal scholars, as well as California legislators, local governments, bar associations, business interests, labor unions, and religious groups.


In May of 2008, the California Supreme Court held that laws that treat people differently based on their sexual orientation violate the equal protection clause of the California Constitution and that same-sex couples have the same fundamental right to marry as other Californians. Proposition 8 eliminated this fundamental right only for same-sex couples. No other initiative has ever successfully changed the California Constitution to take away a right only from a targeted minority group. Proposition 8 passed by a bare majority of 52 percent on November 4.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, and the ACLU filed this challenge on November 5, representing Equality California, whose members include many same-sex couples who married between June 16 and November 4, 2008, and six same-sex couples who want to marry in California. The California Supreme Court has also agreed to hear two other challenges filed on the same day: one filed by the City and County of San Francisco (joined by Santa Clara County and the City of Los Angeles, and subsequently by Los Angeles County and other local governments); and another filed by a private attorney.

Serving as co-counsel on the case with NCLR, Lambda Legal, and the ACLU are the Law Office of David C. Codell, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

The case is Strauss et al. v. Horton et al. (#S168047). Click here for more information.

OurChart.com Says Goodbye Forever

Today, at 3:35pm, Ilene Chaiken posted OurChart's very last blog. Ever. It may come as no surprise to you if you've been a faithful OurChart user for the past two years. The site has been at a standstill since mid-November with no new content posted on the site at all. OurChart aficianados waited with baited breath to see what the true fate of OurChart would be. Would the site come back alive for the L Word's Sixth Season or would the axe come down, as it has on so many others sites in this crappy economy we all get to live in. I was lucky enough to be invited to blog for OurChart; unfortunately my time spent there was short-lived because it was only a month later that the site stopped updating and all the bloggers were let go. It's not a total loss, though. OurChart will be moving to Sho.com, but I can tell you one thing, the well-known L Word "social networking" site will be very different.

So... you're probably wondering, what did Ilene have to say? Here's her blog, straight from OurChart.com:

A New Year, A New OurChart
January 19, 2009 - 3:35pm — ilene
OurChart came into existence over two years ago because of you, this incredible community—Our Community—that has coalesced and congregated around The L Word. You came together with dynamic visibility and with many voices and opinions and ideas that seemed, in a way, unprecedented.

But you were always out there—before Bette and Tina or Alice’s chart—and that’s why I know you’ll continue to be there as OurChart goes through some changes.

From the moment The L Word premiered, Showtime has provided an online, interactive home for our community at sho.com. When OurChart launched, we continued to partner with Showtime to bring you some of our best content, including exclusives with cast members, advanced streamings of episodes and much more.

Indeed, Showtime is not only OurChart’s parent but one of Our Community’s greatest champions. They are not explicitly mandated to produce LGBT themed programming—or the first lesbian social network—but they have and do and for that, I’m eternally grateful. I can’t think of a family (because that’s what I consider Showtime to be) to which I would rather entrust this community. And that’s why in our final season of The L Word, we’ve decided to combine forces and host OurChart on sho.com.

Over the next week, we’ll be outfitting sho.com with a special OurChart page where you will find L Word exclusives like an interactive Q&A with me about Season 6, updates on the spin-off pilot I’ve been working on with Leisha Hailey, and OurChart’s collection of behind-the-scenes podcasts. You'll also be able to watch video specials, connect with your friends on message boards, virtual chat with other fans, shop for L Word swag, and download full episodes.

Unfortunately, sho.com is not set up as a social networking site in quite the same way as OurChart was, which means we won’t be able to host your OurChart profiles at our new home. If you haven’t already, we invite you to create a profile on sho.com and take this week to save any personal information from your OurChart profile.

As of Monday, January 26th, OurChart will automatically redirect to sho.com and you will no longer be able to access your OurChart account or any of the photos, blogs, personal messages, notes or comments associated with that account.

I understand this change might be upsetting to some of you. But I hope you’ll stick with us to celebrate the final season of The L Word, which is here—six seasons later—only because of your overwhelming support…and because I think you get it. Get that telling our stories—whether as a blog, in the broadcast arena, or at the box office—is a vitally important way to effect change and ensure that we have the final word on how our community is represented both on and off the screen.

So... what do you make of this news?

L Word Season 6: Who Killed Jenny Schecter?

Ok, all you L Word conspiracy theorists, let's hear your theories on this one...