2007 Gay Pittsburgh Pride
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'Paper Dolls' cuts below the surface
Like a lot of drag queens, the ones in Tomer Heymann's highly affecting documentary, ``Paper Dolls," don't lead a glamorous life. They've come to a suburb of Tel Aviv from the Philippines and work, mostly, as caregivers to the elderly, some of whom are Orthodox Jews. They do so in their street clothes, as men, and when their weekend shifts end, they change into their costumes (tubby Jan Jan slips into his evening gown in the stairwell of his client's building) and head to a drag show where they perform as an entertainment collective called the Paper Dolls. Heymann's approach to the Dolls -- who, unfortunately, are referred to only by their drag names -- is curious and friendly. He appears in the film, following them to work (the day jobs and the shows) and to a gay pride parade.
Poland spins a gay-friendly fable
Faced with raised eyebrows in Brussels, Polands prime minister is furiously back peddling and spinning a laughable fable of a gay-friendly Poland thats been an unfortunate victim of bad press. Jaroslaw Kaczynsky is the leader of the ruling Law and Justice Party and took over as prime minister last month. Hes caused understandable consternation in Brussels by inviting two fringe parties to join the government. One of the parties is anti-European, while the other, the League of Polish families is ultra homophobic, anti-Semitic and Catholic fundamentalist. Earlier this year, in reference to the gay pride march, the Leagues Wojciech Wierzejski, a front-bench member of Parliament stated; If the deviants will start demonstrating, they need to be bashed with a thick club. While allowing this years Warsaw gay march, city authorities also gave official approval to an anti-gay march staged by the League of Polish Families, and along the same route, as the Gay Pride March.
Gay restores pride with third-fastest 200m ever
TYSON Gay equalled the third fastest time ever run in the 200 metres to clinch victory in 19.68 seconds on the closing day of the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart yesterday. The American, disappointed to lose out again to Asafa Powell in the 100m on Saturday, came back on day two to win with a searing run on the fast green track at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion. Sanya Richards was equally dominant in the women's 400, crossing the line in 49.25sec for a championship record. The best hope of a world record yesterday had looked to be from Yelena Isinbayeva in the pole vault, but the Russian did not get close to claiming the $100,000 bonus on offer. The world and Olympic champion, who holds the record at 5.01m, won the event with a clearance of 4.75m.
No gay pride at protest
There were dozens of banners, demanding everything from an end to racial profiling to free chocolate and tampons, but a common theme running through the protesters was against government control over their lives and rights.
There was not, however, any protesters present to highlight issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).
Nor was there any representation from the main political parties, though this is little surprise as merely talking to Brian Haw has been seen in the past as problematic for Westminster types.
The only political party represented was the Monster Raving Loony party.
Protest organisations such as Greenpeace were represented, with both serious and satirical protesters present.
In light of the serious protesters that made up the majority it is surprising that no LGBT protesters were present.
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