NOOOOOOOOOOOO-klahoma!
August 24, 2010
Hi Oklahoma,
You know I love you, right? Well, if you love me back you will quit making the national news for bigotry and Christian extremism.
Thanks so much.
Ever yours,
Spring
So it seeeeeeeems that a non-profit, tax-exempt religious organization called Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ is trying to get Sally Kern, the anti-gay and anti-Muslim and anti-everything smart Republican from OK’s District 84, re-elected. The only problem is they’re not supposed to give money to a political cause, and now they’re being charged with illegal electioneering.
Despite federal tax law barring electioneering by non-profits, the Edmond-based Religious Right group had dived deep into partisan politics…
Why? What’s going on in Oklahoma that needs their attention so?
In [a recent] Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ e-mail, the group expressed alarm at the fund-raising potential of Kern’s opponent, Democrat Brittany Novotny, the state’s first transgendered candidate.
Oh, here we go…
“In case you missed it,” the e-mail said, “the homosexual lobby has recruited an individual that has had a sex change operation to run against Rep. Kern. The homosexual lobby from across America will be pouring money into this local race in an attempt to make a statement to the country by knocking out an outspoken Christian, pro-family representative. If they succeed, it will serve as a warning shot across the bough of all elected officials who defend Biblical values. Even if this is not your district, this race will effect [sic] you! Once a person is elected to the legislature, their voting impacts ALL Oklahomans.”
The e-mail concluded with a quote from Proverbs 29:2: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
So are you as ready as I am to give some money to Kern’s challenger, the amazing Brittany Novotny, even though you don’t live in her district? Or even if you don’t live in Oklahoma? If yes, go here! I’m ready to do some rejoicin’!
And you might also want to check out this amazing site. Seriously, Sally, how could you not buy your own domain name?
How to Get Married
August 8, 2010
A week ago I went to a wedding. It was the wedding of my college roommate, the girl with whom I discovered girls. She married her longtime girlfriend, the girl with whom she has bought a house and a car, built a garden and a career and a life, all over the past 10 years or so they’ve been together. They are each 30. They are endlessly in love.
The wedding was lovely. I know that’s what everybody says about everybody’s wedding…”it was lovely”… but I don’t. In fact, I have never said such a thing about anybody’s wedding. I hate weddings, actually. I think they are uncomfortable and spooky examples of how people just do what they think they’re supposed to do and not what their intelligence would have them do. I don’t cry at weddings. Weddings are robotic and soul-less, as a general law.
But when the general law is skirted, it is amazing how much soul and humanity can be shared at a wedding. The two brides wanted all of their very closest friends and family to come to the wedding. They sent out invitations. Some people told them they were sorry but they had to decline because of personal religious beliefs. But the people who did what their intelligence would have them do, we came and supported the young couple with all our soul and humanity and with respect for the couple’s bravery and for their right to kiss in private.
Photo by Helen Stoilas
I didn’t tell them this at the time, but if I could have spoken through those obnoxious tears I would have:
Unfortunately, we have lawmakers who are not representative of good people like us. But good people in love and determined to be happy do exactly what they want. Especially when we all know that love came far before politics anyhow.
The Queer Art of Leidy Churchman
February 4, 2010
Berries 2008. 1" x 1" x 1.5" Oil on rock.
Butts 2008. (approx) 2 3/4" x 1/2" x 1/2" Oil on stick.
Art book 2008. 7" x 9" x 4" Oil on log of wood.
Books 2008. 6" x 2" x 2" Oil on wood and matches.
Claw 2008. 15" x 8" x 1" Oil on stick and crab claw.
Roquefort 2008. 5.5" x 5.5" x 5.5" Oil on rock.
Ruler 2008. 11 1/4" x 12" x 1 3/8" Oil on wood.
Works of art, like people and Transformers, are more than meets the eye. To me, art is also the resources available to the artist, the medium, the message, the feel, what’s inside or behind or underneath the image. To me, art is also the thoughts that start running through my head when I experience the artwork; it’s my gut reaction AND the reaction that lingers and the questions that arise.
These sculptures of Leidy Churchman are so interesting to me because they blur the line between art and craft; art becomes less prestigious and craft less lowly. I love how he takes time to create individually-made, commonplace items that are usually mass-produced. His sculptures blur the line between practical and aesthetic. And, because they’re such cute, queer little things, I would love a bowl-full of the berries painted on rocks on my breakfast table! (By the way, my 9-year-old and I are both equally impressed with his rock painting because we have tried it, and it’s not as easy as it looks).
As his name might hint, he is a transgender artist who says of himself:
I make transgender pictures. My painting is informed by transitions, the humor of uncertainty, and relationships of supposed opposites.
I see people and their environments morphing into transsexual, not as a definitive destination but a space of complexity and amusement. As a transgender artist, I imagine “trans” as suggestive and paradoxical, where gender is always contradictory and in a state of flux.
Also, here’s a video that Leidy did for the really rad band MEN (MEN is a band and art/performance collective that speaks to issues such as trans awareness, wartime economies, sexual compromise, and demanding liberties through lyrical content and an exciting stage show).
Here’s to queer art and those who queer it! Cheers!
Spring
